JPH10203030A - Thermal transfer sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To print a high quality image even on the rear surface of image receiving paper by providing a heat-melt transfer layer capable of printing in monochrome or color as well as a thermal sublimation transfer layer required in color print. SOLUTION: Thermal sublimation transfer layers of YS, MS, and CS are formed of thermal sublimation dye each color-developing yellow, magenta, and cyan. A heat-melt transfer layer KT is formed of a heat-melt pigment for coloring black. While a platen 6 is rotated to feed an image receiving paper P and thermal transfer sheet, a thermal head 12 is heated in accordance with image information. As such, a thermal sublimation transfer layer YS of the thermal transfer sheet is printed on the surface of the image receiving paper P. When printing of the same layer YS is completed, the same layer MS of the thermal transfer sheet is printed, and then the same layer CS is printed. When printing of the same layer CS is completed, the image receiving paper P is fed from a printing passage E to a reversing passage G. When the image receiving paper P is reversed, the thermal head 12 is heated so as to print the heat-melt transfer layer KT on the rear surface of the image receiving paper P.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal transfer sheet, and more particularly to a thermal transfer sheet having a heat-sensitive sublimation transfer layer and a heat-sensitive melt transfer layer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a thermal transfer printer using a thermal transfer sheet having a heat-sensitive sublimation transfer layer has been widely used as a color printer for outputting a color image with good gradation from an A3 size business use to an A6 size video printer. Until,
Various types are on sale. In particular, many A6 size color printers prepare a postcard medium or prepare an image receiving paper that can be directly posted as a postcard, and can easily use a color image for a greeting card, a New Year's card, and the like. Conventionally, this type of thermal transfer color printer is configured to obtain a color image by repeating the operation of printing one color at a time on an image receiving paper and overlapping a plurality of colors. The spread of such high-quality color printers has made it possible to easily use color output.

[0003]

However, although high-quality color output can be easily used for postcards and the like, printing by thermal sublimation transfer does not include an image-receiving layer of a thermosublimable color material of an image-receiving paper. You cannot print on the back. Therefore, when writing addressing paper when printing the receiving paper printed for postcards, etc., replace the thermal transfer sheet with a sheet that can be printed on the back of the receiving paper, or use other printing that can print on the surface without the image receiving layer. You had to either use equipment or rely on handwriting.

[0004]

Means for Solving the Problems To solve the above problems,
The thermal transfer sheet according to the present invention is capable of printing in monochrome or color on the back surface of an image receiving paper having no image receiving layer of a sublimable color material, in addition to the thermal sublimation transfer layer required for color printing of one image receiving paper. By providing a thermal transfer sheet having a transfer layer and configured so that the thermal sublimation transfer layer and the thermal fusion transfer layer correspond to one image receiving paper, the thermal transfer sheet exchange at the time of printing on the back side of the image receiving paper is eliminated, and the The purpose is to reduce labor.

[0005]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 shows a thermal transfer sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention.
This will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the thermal transfer sheet T1 has a thermal sublimation transfer layer YS, a thermal sublimation transfer layer M
S and a thermal sublimation transfer layer CS, and a hot-melt transfer layer KT indicated by oblique lines.

As shown in FIG. 2, the thermal transfer sheet T3
Are the same thermal sublimation transfer layers YS, M as the thermal transfer sheet T1.
S, CS, and a hot-melt transfer layer YT, a hot-melt transfer layer MT, and a hot-melt transfer layer CT indicated by oblique lines. Each part of the above configuration will be described. The thermal sublimation transfer layer YS is composed of a thermal sublimable dye that produces yellow. The dye is sublimated in the thermal sublimation transfer layer YS by being heated, and is printed on the image receiving paper P.

[0007] The thermal sublimation transfer layer MS is composed of a thermal sublimable dye that develops magenta. The dye is sublimated in the thermal sublimation transfer layer MS by being heated, and is printed on the image receiving paper P.
The heat sublimation transfer layer CS is made of a heat sublimation dye that develops cyan. In the thermal sublimation transfer layer CS, the dye is sublimated by being heated, and is printed on the image receiving paper P. Hot melt transfer layer Y
T is composed of a heat-fusible pigment that develops yellow. The pigment is melted by being heated in the hot-melt transfer layer YT, and is printed on the image receiving paper P.

The hot-melt transfer layer MT is made of a hot-melt pigment that develops magenta. The pigment is melted by heating the hot-melt transfer layer MT, and is printed on the image receiving paper P.
The hot-melt transfer layer CT is made of a hot-melt pigment that develops cyan. The pigment is melted by being heated in the hot-melt transfer layer CT, and is printed on the image receiving paper P. Hot melt transfer layer K
T consists of a heat-fusible pigment that develops black. The pigment is melted by being heated in the hot-melt transfer layer KT, and is printed on the image receiving paper P.

Next, an example of printing when the thermal transfer sheet of the present embodiment is used by being mounted on the printer 20 shown in FIG. 3 will be described. The thermal transfer printer 20 has a mechanism for reversing the image receiving paper P. As shown in FIG.
Are feed / discharge roller 1, feed roller 2, feed roller 3, capstan roller 4, pinch roller 5, platen 6, direction changing member 7, direction changing member 8, reversing feed roller 9,
It includes a reversing feed roller 10, a paper discharge roller 11, a thermal head 12, a control unit (not shown), and a paper feed tray (not shown).

In FIG. 3, a paper feed path for feeding the image receiving paper P from a paper feed tray (not shown) to the thermal head 12 is indicated by an arrow D. Similarly, the printing path for recording an image on the image receiving paper P is indicated by an arrow E. An ejection path for ejecting the image receiving paper P is indicated by an arrow F. An arrow G indicates a reversing path for reversing the front and back of the image receiving paper P. The printer 20 includes an ink ribbon cassette 1 having the above-described thermal transfer sheet built therein.
3 is used.

The image receiving paper P used for printing has an image receiving layer on at least one side on which a thermosublimable dye is fixed. Here, for convenience, the surface on the side having the image receiving layer is referred to as the front surface, and the surface on the opposite side is referred to as the back surface. Next, each part of the printer 20 will be described. The paper feed / discharge roller 1 feeds the image receiving paper P. The paper feed / discharge roller 1 feeds the image receiving paper P to the paper feeding rollers 2 and 3 when feeding the image receiving paper P. Further, the paper feed / discharge roller 1 sends out the image receiving paper P to the discharge port when the image receiving paper P is discharged. Further, the paper supply / discharge roller 1 reciprocally feeds the image receiving paper P between the paper discharge path F and the print path E during the printing operation.

The paper feed rollers 2 and 3 press the image receiving paper P when feeding the image receiving paper P, and feed the paper P to the capstan roller 4 and the pinch roller 5. The capstan roller 4 and the pinch roller 5 sandwich and feed the image receiving paper P. The capstan roller 4 and the pinch roller 5 reciprocally feed the image receiving paper P between the printing path E and the paper discharging path F during a printing operation. In addition, the capstan roller 4 and the pinch roller 5
During the reversing operation of the image receiving paper P, the image receiving paper P is fed from the printing path E to the reversing path G.

The platen 6 is arranged at a position facing the thermal head 12. The thermal head 12 will be described later. The platen 6 presses and supports the thermal transfer sheet and the image receiving paper P. When the platen 6 rotates, the image receiving paper P sandwiched between the platen 6 itself and the thermal head 12 is transported. The direction changing members 7 and 8 change the feeding direction of the image receiving paper P. The direction changing member 7 is disposed at a position where the sheet feeding path D and the sheet discharging path F intersect. The direction changing member 8 is disposed at a position where the sheet discharge path F and the reverse path G intersect. The direction changing members 7 and 8 have plate-like members that change the feeding direction of the image receiving paper rotatably mounted around the shafts 7a and 8a as rotation axes. The rotation of the direction changing member is controlled by a control unit (not shown). In the direction changing members 7 and 8, the angle formed by the direction in which the image receiving paper P enters the direction changing member and the feeding direction after the direction change becomes an obtuse angle, and the feeding direction of the image receiving sheet P after the direction changing is changed. Rotate to a position facing the entrance of the feed target path. Thus, when the image receiving paper P fed to the direction changing member contacts the direction changing member, the image receiving paper P turns in the direction of the path to be fed, and thereafter moves along the surface of the direction changing member. The direction changing member guides the image receiving paper P to the feeding target path in this way.

The reversing feed rollers 9 and 10 sandwich and feed the image receiving paper P. Reversing feed rollers 9 and 1
0 indicates that the image receiving paper P is fed from the printing path E to the reversing path G during the reversing operation, and then the feeding direction is reversed so that the reversing path G
To the paper discharge path F. The paper discharge roller 11 feeds the image receiving paper P. The paper discharge roller 11 presses the image receiving paper P against the paper supply / discharge roller 1 and discharges the image receiving paper P to the discharge port when discharging the image receiving paper P. Further, the paper discharge roller 11 presses the image receiving paper P against the paper supply / discharge roller 1 during the printing operation, and the paper discharge path F and the print path E
, The image receiving paper P is reciprocally fed.

The thermal head 12 prints an image. The thermal head 12 is pressed against the thermal transfer sheet during operation. The thermal head 12 prints an image on the image receiving paper P by heating the pressed thermal transfer sheet according to image information to be printed. The control unit (not shown) controls driving of each unit in the printer 20. A paper feed tray (not shown) stores the image receiving paper P before printing.

FIG. 4 shows a control procedure performed by the control unit in the printing operation when double-sided printing is performed by using the above-described printer 20 with the thermal transfer sheet T1 in which the thermal fusion transfer layer shown in FIG. This will be described with reference to FIG. When the printing operation is started, first, in step 1, the paper supply / discharge roller 1 is rotated. Thus, the image receiving paper P is fed from the paper feed tray.

Next, in step 2, the direction changing member 7 changes the feeding direction of the image receiving paper P in the direction of the printing path E, and rotates the paper feed rollers 2, 3 and the capstan roller 4 to thereby receive the image receiving paper P. P is fed from the paper feeding path D to the printing path E. Next, in step 3, the thermal head 12 is heated according to the image information while the platen 6 is rotated to convey the image receiving paper P and the thermal transfer sheet T1. This allows
The thermal sublimation transfer layer YS of the thermal transfer sheet T1 is formed on the surface of the image receiving paper P.
Print.

When printing of the thermal sublimation transfer layer YS is completed, in step 4, the direction changing members 7 and 8 change the feeding direction of the image receiving paper P to the discharge path F, and the capstan roller 4 and the discharge roller 11. The image receiving paper P is fed from the printing path E to the paper discharging path F by rotating the paper feeding / discharging roller 1. After the image receiving paper P is fed to a predetermined position on the paper discharge path F, in step 5, the paper supply / discharge rollers 1 and the paper discharge rollers 11,
By rotating the capstan roller 4, the image receiving paper P is fed from the paper discharge path F to the printing path E. And platen 6
Is rotated, and the thermal head 12 is heated according to the image information while transporting the image receiving paper P and the thermal transfer sheet T1. Thus, the thermal sublimation transfer layer MS of the thermal transfer sheet T1 is printed on the surface of the image receiving paper P.

When the printing of the thermal sublimation transfer layer MS is completed, the same control as in step 4 is performed in step 6, and the image receiving paper P
To the paper discharge path F. Next, in step 7, the same control as in step 5 is performed, and the thermal sublimation transfer layer CS of the thermal transfer sheet T1 is printed on the surface of the image receiving paper P. Thermal sublimation transfer layer C
When the printing of S is completed, in step 10, the direction changing members 7 and 8 change the feeding direction of the image receiving paper P to the reversing path G, and rotate the capstan roller 4 and the reversing feed rollers 9 and 10. As a result, the image receiving paper P is fed from the printing path E to the reversing path G. The feed amount of the image receiving paper P is such that when the last sheet of the image receiving paper P is fed from the printing path E to the reverse path G, it is fed from the reverse path G to the discharge path F in the next step 11. Feed to the top position.

Next, at step 11, the direction changing member 8 changes the feeding direction of the image receiving paper P toward the paper discharge path F, and rotates the reversing feed rollers 9 and 10, thereby reversing the image receiving paper P. The sheet is fed from the path G to the sheet discharge path F. The feed amount of the image receiving paper P is such that when the last sheet of the image receiving paper P is fed from the reverse path G to the paper discharge path F, the paper is fed from the paper discharge path F to the printing path E in the next step. Feed to the top position.

When the image receiving paper P is reversed, step 25
Then, the direction changing members 7 and 8 change the feeding direction of the image receiving paper P toward the printing path E, and rotate the feeding / discharging roller 1, the discharging roller 11, and the capstan roller 4.
The image receiving paper P is fed from the paper discharging path F to the printing path E. Then, the thermal head 12 is heated according to the image information while the platen 6 is rotated to transport the image receiving paper P and the thermal transfer sheet T1. Thus, the heat-melt transfer layer KT of the thermal transfer sheet T1 is printed on the image receiving paper P on the back surface of the image receiving paper P.

Finally, in step 30, the capstan roller 4, the paper supply / discharge roller 1, and the paper discharge roller 11 are rotated to feed the image receiving paper P from the paper discharge path F to the discharge port and discharge the paper. Then, the printing operation ends. A control procedure in the case where double-sided printing is performed using the thermal transfer sheet T3 in which the thermal fusion transfer layer shown in FIG. 2 is composed of three colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the control procedure of the printing operation of the thermal sublimation transfer layer and the reversing operation of the image receiving paper P is the same operation as the case where the thermal fusion transfer layer is of a single color, and the description is omitted here.

First, the steps 1 to 7 of FIG. 5 are executed to print the thermal sublimation transfer layer. Next, steps 10 and 11 are executed to reverse the front and back of the image receiving paper P. Next, at step 20, the image receiving paper P is fed from the paper discharge path F to the printing path E by rotating the paper supply / discharge roller 1, the paper discharge roller 11, and the capstan roller 4. Then, the thermal head 12 is heated according to the image information while the platen 6 is rotated to transport the image receiving paper P and the thermal transfer sheet T1. As a result, the thermal fusion transfer layer YT of the thermal transfer sheet T3 is printed on the back surface of the image receiving paper P.

Next, at step 21, the direction changing members 7 and 8 change the feeding direction of the image receiving paper P to the direction of the paper discharging path F, and move the capstan roller 4, the paper discharging roller 11, and the paper feeding and discharging roller 1 to each other. By rotating, the image receiving paper P is transferred to the printing path E.
To the paper discharge path F. Next, in step 22,
The same control as in step 20 is performed to print the hot-melt transfer layer MT of the heat transfer sheet T3 on the back surface of the image receiving paper P.

Next, in step 23, the same control as in step 21 is performed to feed the image receiving paper P to a predetermined position on the paper discharge path F. Next, in step 24, the same control as in step 20 is performed to print the hot-melt transfer layer CT of the thermal transfer sheet T3 on the back surface of the image receiving paper P. Finally, step 30
Then, the capstan roller 4, the paper supply / discharge roller 1, and the paper discharge roller 11 are rotated to feed the image receiving paper P from the paper discharge path F to the discharge port, discharge the paper, and end the printing operation.

In addition to printing on both sides of the image receiving paper P, it is also possible to print a thermal sublimation transfer layer on the image receiving paper P and print a hot-melt transfer layer thereon. The control procedure in this case is shown in FIGS. The control procedure of the printing operation of the thermal sublimation transfer layer, the printing operation of the hot-melt transfer layer, and the discharging operation of the image receiving paper P is the same control as that described above, and the description is omitted here. .

In the printing operation, first, steps 1 to 7 are executed under the same control as the double-sided printing to print the thermal sublimation transfer layer. Next, in step 15, the direction changing members 7 and 8 change the feeding direction of the image receiving paper P to the paper discharging path F, and rotate the capstan roller 4, the paper discharging roller 11, and the paper feeding and discharging roller 1. As a result, the image receiving paper P is fed from the printing path E to the paper discharge path F.

Thereafter, printing of the heat-melt transfer layer is performed under the same control as in the case of double-sided printing.
Step 25 is performed, and in the case of the thermal transfer sheet T3, FIG.
Steps 20 to 24 are performed. After the printing of the hot-melt transfer layer is completed, finally, in Step 30, the image receiving paper P
Is discharged to end the printing operation.

Thus, it is possible to print a high-quality image by the hot-melt transfer layer on the image with high reproducibility by the thermal sublimation transfer layer without replacing the heat transfer sheet.
Note that FIGS. 1 and 2 show only one embodiment, and do not specify the type, order, or configuration of the thermal transfer layer depending on the application. Further, in the printing operation, printing is performed while the image receiving paper P is transported in the direction of the printing path E, and then the image receiving paper P is fed in the direction of the paper discharging path F. A method of performing printing while transporting the sheet in the direction of the paper discharge path F later may be used.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, by arranging the thermal sublimation transfer layer and the thermal fusion transfer layer on the same thermal transfer sheet, the surface of the image receiving paper P having the image receiving layer can be applied to the surface of the image receiving sheet in the conventional manner. Performs high-quality printing using the thermal sublimation transfer layer, and prints high-quality monochrome or color images with the same operation as the conventional image receiving surface without replacing the thermal transfer sheet on the back of the image receiving paper P. In addition, it is possible to reduce the trouble when printing on the back surface of the image receiving paper P.

Further, since the back surface of the image receiving paper P is printed by the hot-melt transfer layer, characters and the like are often written on the back surface in the past, and printing utilizing the sharpness of the contour, which is a feature of hot-melt transfer, is possible. Become. In addition, it is possible to perform printing with high image quality on the thermal sublimation transfer layer and then print characters and the like on the thermal fusion transfer layer without replacing the thermal transfer sheet.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a thermal transfer sheet in which a thermal fusion transfer layer according to an embodiment of the present invention is constituted by a single color.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a thermal transfer sheet in which a thermal fusion transfer layer according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured with three colors.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a printer using a thermal transfer sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure in a case where double-sided printing is performed using a thermal transfer sheet having a single-color thermal melt transfer layer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure in a case where double-sided printing is performed on a thermal transfer sheet having three colors in the thermal fusion transfer layer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure in a case where a single-sided printing is performed on a thermal transfer sheet having a single-color thermal melt transfer layer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure in a case where a single-sided printing is performed on a thermal transfer sheet including three colors of a thermal fusion transfer layer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 YS: thermal sublimation transfer layer of yellow MS: thermal sublimation transfer layer of magenta CS: thermal sublimation transfer layer of cyan YT: thermal fusion transfer layer of yellow MT: thermal fusion transfer layer of magenta CT: thermal fusion transfer layer of cyan KT: Black thermal melt transfer layer T1: Thermal transfer sheet with single color thermal melt transfer layer T3: Thermal transfer sheet with three color thermal melt transfer layer P: Image receiving paper

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A thermal transfer sheet having a thermal transfer layer, comprising a thermal sublimation transfer layer and a thermal fusion transfer layer on a surface of the thermal transfer sheet. 2. The thermal transfer sheet according to claim 1, wherein the thermal sublimation transfer layer is mainly composed of a dye. 3. The thermal transfer sheet according to claim 1, wherein the thermal transfer layer is mainly made of a pigment. 4. The heat transfer sheet according to claim 1, wherein the heat-sensitive sublimation transfer layer and the heat-sensitive fusion transfer layer are sequentially arranged according to a predetermined rule.