Method for manufacturing printed matter, thermal transfer printing device, determination system and printed matter

Abstract

Micro characters are expressed by hot melt transfer. A method for manufacturing a printed matter comprises heating a thermal transfer sheet based on image data, the thermal transfer sheet comprising a substrate, a release layer disposed on the substrate and comprising a wavelength conversion material that emits visible light when excited by invisible light, and a hot melt ink layer disposed on the release layer, and transferring the hot melt ink layer to a transfer object to manufacture a printed matter. In the method, the image data comprises a first pattern and a second pattern disposed on the first pattern and having a maximum width that is less than a specified value. When transferring the hot melt ink layer to the transfer object, a region corresponding to the first pattern other than the second pattern is heated, a region corresponding to the second pattern is set to non-heating, and the hot melt ink layer in a region corresponding to the first pattern including the second pattern is transferred to the transfer object.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing printed matter, a thermal transfer printing device, a determination system and a printed matter. Background Art

[0002] In the past, thermal transfer methods have been known as simple printing methods. For example, the following sublimation thermal transfer method is known: a thermal transfer sheet having a dye layer containing a sublimable dye is superimposed on an image receiving sheet, and the thermal transfer sheet is heated by a thermal head of a thermal transfer printer to transfer the sublimable dye in the dye layer to the image receiving sheet to form an image.

[0003] In addition, the following hot melt transfer method is known: a thermal transfer sheet having a hot melt ink layer containing hot melt ink is superimposed on an image receiving sheet, and the thermal transfer sheet is heated by a thermal head of a thermal transfer printer to transfer the hot melt ink layer to the image receiving sheet to form an image. The image formed by the hot melt transfer method has high density and excellent clarity, and is therefore suitable for recording text patterns, line drawings, etc.

[0004] Printing micro text on documents, cards, etc. that require suppression of forgery and tampering. The resolution of the thermal head of a general thermal transfer printer is 300 dpi (about 84 μm width / dot). If 8×8 dots are used to represent one character, it is calculated that a character of about 1 mm in size can be printed.

[0005] However, in practice, when printing characters of a minute size of about 1 mm by hot melt transfer, print deformation (transfer failure) is noticeable, making it difficult to print in a legible manner.

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-31955

[0007] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-306471 Summary of the invention

[0008] The present invention aims to provide a thermal transfer printing device and a method for producing a printed product that can express a recognizable micro-pattern. In addition, the present invention aims to provide a printed product that expresses a micro-pattern and a determination system for determining the authenticity of the printed product.

[0009] The method for manufacturing a printed object of the present invention heats a thermal transfer sheet based on image data, the thermal transfer sheet comprising a substrate, a release layer disposed on the substrate and containing a wavelength conversion material that emits visible light when excited by invisible light, and a hot melt ink layer disposed on the release layer, and the hot melt ink layer is transferred to a transfer object to manufacture a printed object, wherein the image data comprises a first pattern and a second pattern arranged on the first pattern and having a maximum width less than a specified value, and when the hot melt ink layer is transferred to the transfer object, an area corresponding to the first pattern other than the second pattern is heated, an area corresponding to the second pattern is set to non-heating, and the hot melt ink layer in an area corresponding to the first pattern including the second pattern is transferred to the transfer object.

[0010] The thermal transfer printing device of the present invention comprises: a thermal transfer section, which sandwiches a thermal transfer sheet and a transfer body between a thermal head and a pressure roller, the thermal transfer sheet having a substrate, a release layer provided on the substrate and containing a wavelength conversion material that emits visible light when excited by invisible light, and a hot melt ink layer provided on the release layer, the thermal transfer sheet is heated by the thermal head based on image data to transfer the hot melt ink layer from the thermal transfer sheet to the transfer body; and a control section, which sends the image data to the thermal transfer section, the image data containing a first pattern and a second pattern arranged on the first pattern and having a maximum width less than a specified value, the thermal head heats an area of ​​the thermal transfer sheet corresponding to the first pattern except the second pattern, and sets the area corresponding to the second pattern to non-heating.

[0011] The determination system of the present invention comprises: an irradiation unit for irradiating invisible light to the printed matter manufactured by the above method; a photographing unit for photographing the printed matter in which the wavelength conversion material is made to emit light by the irradiation of the above invisible light; and a determination device for comparing the non-luminous pattern in the captured image obtained by the above photographing unit with the information of the above second pattern, and determining the authenticity of the above printed matter based on the comparison result.

[0012] The printed matter of the present invention comprises a substrate and a hot-melt ink layer arranged on the substrate, wherein the hot-melt ink layer has: a first pattern that emits visible light when excited by invisible light; and a second pattern that is arranged on the first pattern and does not emit visible light when excited by invisible light, or emits visible light weaker than that of the first pattern when excited by invisible light, and has a maximum width below a specified value.

[0013] Effects of the Invention

[0014] According to the present invention, a recognizable fine pattern can be expressed by the hot melt transfer method. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of a thermal transfer sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of a thermal transfer sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of a thermal transfer printing device.

[0018] Figure 4 It is a diagram for explaining image data.

[0019] Figure 5 It is a figure which shows the transfer pattern.

[0020] Figure 6 is a diagram showing a light emission pattern.

[0021] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of the determination system.

[0022] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of a pattern detector. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 It is a cross-sectional view of the thermal transfer sheet 10 according to the embodiment.

[0024] In the thermal transfer sheet 10, a release layer 12 and a hot melt ink layer 13 are sequentially laminated on one surface of a substrate 11. Other coloring material layers such as a dye layer may be provided in another region on one surface of the substrate 11. A back layer 15 is provided on the other surface of the substrate 11.

[0025] like Figure 2 As shown, a release layer 14 may be provided between the release layer 12 and the hot melt ink layer 13 .

[0026] Hereinafter, each layer included in the thermal transfer sheet 10 will be described.

[0027] (Base material)

[0028] The substrate 11 of the thermal transfer sheet 10 can be any substrate known to the public and having a certain degree of heat resistance and strength. For example, a polyethylene terephthalate film, a polyethylene 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol terephthalate film, a polyethylene naphthalate film, a polyphenylene sulfide film, a polystyrene film, a polypropylene film, a polysulfone film, an aromatic polyamide film, a polycarbonate film, a polyvinyl alcohol film, a cellophane, a cellulose derivative such as cellulose acetate, a polyethylene film, a polyvinyl chloride film, a nylon film, a polyimide film, an ionomer film and other resin films can be used. In addition, in addition to the resin film, a paper such as capacitor paper, wax paper or a nonwoven fabric, or a composite of paper or nonwoven fabric and a resin can also be used. The thickness of the substrate is preferably 0.5 μm or more and 50 μm or less, and more preferably 3 μm or more and 10 μm or less.

[0029] (Release layer)

[0030] The release layer 12 is provided to improve the releasability of the hot melt ink layer 13 (or the release layer 14). The release layer 12 of the present embodiment comprises a resin material and a wavelength conversion material. Examples of the resin material include (meth) acrylic resins, polyurethanes, acetal resins, polyamides, polyesters, melamine resins, polyol resins, cellulose resins, and silicone resins.

[0031] As an example of wavelength conversion material, a fluorescent brightener can be cited. A fluorescent brightener refers to a fluorescent agent that absorbs ultraviolet light and emits visible light from a wavelength of purple to a wavelength of blue (including a wavelength of at least 400 nm or more and 450 nm or less). As a fluorescent brightener, for example, fluorescein compounds, thioflavin compounds, eosin compounds, rhodamine compounds, coumarin compounds, imidazole compounds, oxazole compounds, triazole compounds, carbazole compounds, pyridine compounds, imidazolide compounds, naphthalene dicarboxylic acid derivatives, stilbene disulfonic acid derivatives, stilbene tetrasulfonic acid derivatives, stilbene hexasulfonic acid derivatives, etc. can be used. The fluorescent brightener preferably uses a material with a molecular weight of 800 or less.

[0032] The fluorescent whitening agent is preferably contained in the release layer 12 in a range of 5 wt % to 50 wt % on a dry weight basis.

[0033] The mold release layer may contain one or more mold release materials such as silicone oil, phosphate ester plasticizer, fluorine compound, wax, metal soap, and filler.

[0034] The thickness of the release layer is not particularly limited, and can be, for example, 0.5 μm or more and 5.0 μm or less.

[0035] The release layer can be formed as follows: a coating liquid containing the above-mentioned resin material added with the above-mentioned fluorescent whitening agent is applied to the substrate 11 by a known method such as a roll coating method, a reverse roll coating method, a gravure coating method, a reverse gravure coating method, a bar coating method, and a rod coating method, and then dried.

[0036] (Hot-melt ink layer)

[0037] The hot melt ink layer 13 is a layer containing a conventionally known coloring material and a binder. As required, a layer to which various additives such as mineral oil, vegetable oil, higher fatty acid such as stearic acid, plasticizer, thermoplastic resin, filler, etc. are added is used. Wax components used as binders include, for example, microcrystalline wax, carnauba wax, paraffin wax, etc. In addition, various waxes such as Fischer-Tropsch wax, various low molecular weight polyethylenes, Japan wax, beeswax, spermaceti, worm wax, wool wax, shellac wax, candelilla wax, vaseline, polyester wax, partially modified wax, fatty acid ester, fatty amide, etc. are used.

[0038] As the resin component used as the binder, for example, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-acrylate copolymer, polyester, polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene, polybutene, petroleum resin, vinyl chloride resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl alcohol, vinylidene chloride resin, acrylic resin, methacrylic resin, polyamide, polycarbonate, fluororesin, polyvinyl formal, polyvinyl butyral, acetyl cellulose, nitrocellulose, hydrophobically modified cellulose nanofiber, polyvinyl acetate, polyisobutylene, ethyl cellulose or polyacetal, etc. Among these, acrylic resin and hydrophobically modified cellulose nanofiber are preferred.

[0039] The coloring material is not particularly limited and may be a dye or a pigment, and examples thereof include: red coloring materials such as cadmium red, cadmopone red, chrome red, vermilion, red iron oxide, azo pigments, alizarin lake, quinacridone, cochineal lake, etc.; yellow coloring materials such as chrysoprase, cobalt yellow, cadmium yellow, cadmium orange, chrome yellow, zinc yellow, Naples yellow, nickel yellow, azo pigments, onion yellow, etc.; cyan coloring materials such as ultramarine, verdigris, cobalt, phthalocyanine, anthraquinone, indigo, etc.; vermilion green Green coloring materials such as cadmium green, chrome green, phthalocyanine, azomethine, and perylene; black coloring materials such as carbon black; white coloring materials such as silicon dioxide, calcium carbonate, and titanium oxide; metallic pigments such as aluminum, nickel, chromium, brass, tin, brass, bronze, zinc, silver, platinum, gold and their oxides, and particles of metal-deposited glass; and pearlescent pigments such as scale-like aluminum oxide pigments and mica pigments coated with metal oxides such as titanium, iron, zirconium, silicon, aluminum, and cerium.

[0040] In order to reduce the melt viscosity of the hot melt ink layer, cellulose nanofibers may be blended into the hot melt ink layer.

[0041] The hot melt ink layer can be formed by applying a coating liquid for forming a hot melt ink layer prepared by mixing a coloring material and a binder component and, if necessary, mixing a solvent component such as water or an organic solvent therein by means of conventionally known hot melt coating, hot lacquer coating, gravure coating, gravure reverse coating, roller coating, etc., and drying the coating liquid. The thickness of the hot melt ink layer is about 1 μm to 20 μm.

[0042] (Peeling layer)

[0043] The release layer 14 facilitates the release of the hot melt ink layer 13 during thermal transfer and is a layer that is transferred onto the transfer target together with the hot melt ink layer 13 during thermal transfer.

[0044] The release layer contains a binder resin. Examples of the binder resin include vinyl resins such as polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyvinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymers, and vinyl acetate-vinyl pyrrolidone copolymers; polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, and polyethylene naphthalate; polyamides such as nylon 6 and nylon 6,6; polyolefins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and polymethylpentene; (meth) acrylic resins, and the like.

[0045] The peeling layer can be formed as follows: the above-mentioned materials are dispersed or dissolved in water or a suitable solvent to prepare a coating liquid for peeling layer formation, which is applied onto the release layer using a known means such as a roll coater, a reverse roll coater, a gravure coater, a reverse gravure coater, a barcoater, and a rod coater, and then dried.

[0046] (Back layer)

[0047] The back layer 15 is provided on the surface (back surface) of the substrate 11 opposite to the surface provided with the release layer 12 and the like, and suppresses thermal adhesion between a heating element such as a thermal head and the substrate and enables smooth movement.

[0048] Examples of the resin that forms the back layer include polyvinyl butyral, poly(vinyl acetoacetal), polyester, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyether, polybutadiene, styrene-butadiene copolymer, acrylic polyol, polyurethane acrylate, polyester acrylate, polyether acrylate, epoxy acrylate, prepolymer of urethane or epoxy resin, nitrocellulose resin, nitrocellulose resin, cellulose levulinate resin, cellulose acetate butyrate resin, cellulose acetate hydrogenated diene phthalate resin, cellulose acetate resin, polyamide, polyimide, polyamideimide, polycarbonate, chlorinated polyolefin, and the like.

[0049] The back layer may contain a slip agent and a filler (talc, etc.). As a result, the slip properties of the transfer surface of the thermal transfer sheet and the back surface (back layer) of the thermal transfer sheet become good, and the roll coarsening caused by the generation of wrinkles when rolling can be suppressed. As the slip agent, silicone polymers such as phosphate ester, silicone oil, graphite powder, silicone graft polymer, fluorine graft polymer, acrylic silicone graft polymer, acrylic siloxane, and aryl siloxane can be cited, preferably polyols, such as polyol polymer compounds and polyisocyanate compounds and phosphate ester compounds, and more preferably fillers are further added.

[0050] The back layer can be formed by dissolving or dispersing the above-mentioned resin, slip imparting agent and filler in a suitable solvent, preparing ink for back layer formation, applying it to the back of the substrate film and drying it, thereby forming it. As the coating means, for example, gravure printing, screen printing, reverse coating using gravure, etc. can be cited. The thickness of the back layer is about 0.1 μm or more and about 2 μm or less.

[0051] Figure 3 Show use Figure 1 , Figure 2 The thermal transfer sheet 10 shown in the figure is a schematic structure of a thermal transfer printing device in which a heat-melting ink layer is transferred to a transfer body 20 to form an image. The thermal transfer printing device includes a printing section P and a control section 5. The printing section P heats the thermal transfer sheet 10 from the back layer 15 side based on image data received from the control section 5, transfers the heat-melting ink layer 13 from the thermal transfer sheet 10 to the transfer body 20 to form an image, and manufactures a printed object. The transfer body 20 is not particularly limited, and image-receiving paper, a card substrate, etc. can be used.

[0052] In the printing section P (thermal transfer section), the thermal transfer sheet 10 is wound around the supply section 3 , and the thermal transfer sheet 10 fed out from the supply section 3 passes through the thermal head 1 , and is wound up in the collection section 4 and collected.

[0053] A rotatable platen roller 2 is provided on the side opposite to the thermal head 1 that sandwiches the thermal transfer sheet 10. The thermal transfer sheet 10 and the transfer target 20 are sandwiched between the thermal head 1 and the platen roller 2.

[0054] The image data sent from the control unit 5 to the printing unit P is a combination of at least two patterns with different line widths, and a second pattern with a second line width thinner than the first line width is arranged on a line (straight line, curve) of a first pattern with a first line width. The first pattern is a text, a symbol, etc. The second pattern is not particularly limited, and is a text, a symbol, an identifier, a barcode, a logo, an identification number, a company name, a user name, an owner name, a design, an image, or a combination thereof.

[0055] Figure 4 An example of image data is shown. In this example, a second pattern C2 having a second line width L2 is arranged on a line of a first pattern C1 having a first line width L1. Figure 4 In the example shown, the first pattern C1 is the text "ABC", and the second pattern C2 is the text "XYZ". The first pattern C1 is a pattern transferred (printed) onto the transfer body 20, and corresponds to the heating area when the thermal head 1 transfers the hot melt ink layer onto the transfer body 20. The first line width L1 is greater than 254 μm (about 3 dots at 300 dpi).

[0056] The second pattern C2 corresponds to the non-heating area when the thermal head 1 transfers the hot melt ink layer to the transfer body 20, like so-called penetration text. However, the second pattern C2 is a fine pattern with a second line width L2 of 28 μm or more and 170 μm or less (about 1 dot or more at 900 dpi and 2 dots or less at 300 dpi), and even if the second pattern C2 portion is not heated, the hot melt ink layer of the second pattern C2 portion is transferred to the transfer body 20 together with the hot melt ink layer of the heated area.

[0057] Therefore, based on Figure 4 When the thermal head 1 heats the thermal transfer sheet 10 to transfer the hot melt ink layer to the transferee 20, the transferee 20 forms a Figure 5 The pattern C10 (characters ABC) shown does not include the penetrating characters (characters XYZ) corresponding to the second pattern C2.

[0058] When the thermal head 1 heats the thermal transfer sheet 10, the fluorescent whitening agent in the release layer 13 is diffusely transferred (sublimation transferred) to the hot melt ink layer 13. The fluorescent whitening agent is transferred at the molecular level, so the fluorescent whitening agent is transferred to the hot melt ink layer 13 only in the heated area using the thermal head 1, and the fluorescent whitening agent is not (basically) transferred to the hot melt ink layer 13 in the non-heated area corresponding to the second pattern C2. In the area corresponding to the first pattern C1 other than the second pattern C2, the hot melt ink layer 13 to which the fluorescent whitening agent is transferred is transferred to the transferee 20. In the area corresponding to the second pattern C2, the hot melt ink layer 13 to which the fluorescent whitening agent is not transferred (almost no fluorescent whitening agent is contained) is transferred to the transferee 20.

[0059] When the thermal transfer sheet 10 has the release layer 14, the fluorescent whitening agent in the release layer 13 is transferred to the release layer 14. The release layer 14 to which the fluorescent whitening agent is transferred is transferred to the transfer target 20 together with the hot melt ink layer 13.

[0060] Therefore, when observing the transfer body 20 on which the pattern C10 (characters ABC) is formed, Figure 5 As shown in FIG. 1 , the second pattern C2 (characters XYZ) is not observed. Figure 6 As shown, the fluorescent whitening agent contained in pattern C10 (text ABC) radiates fluorescence and emits light, while the portion corresponding to the second pattern C2 (text XYZ) does not radiate fluorescence (or the luminescence intensity is lower than that of pattern C10), and a non-luminescent pattern C20 (text XYZ) can be observed.

[0061] In this way, by forming a fine pattern that is usually invisible but can be seen by ultraviolet irradiation, the safety of the printed matter can be improved.

[0062] The authenticity of printed materials can be determined using Figure 7 The authenticity determination system 100 shown in FIG. Authenticity determination system 100 includes pattern detector 6, determination device 7, and server device 8. Determination device 7 is connected to pattern detector 6 and server device 8 so as to be communicable.

[0063] like Figure 8 As shown, the pattern detector 6 includes a light irradiation unit 6A, a pattern detection unit 6B, and transmission units 63 and 66. The light irradiation unit 6A includes two or more light emitting elements 61. The light emitting element 61 irradiates ultraviolet rays, for example.

[0064] The pattern detection unit 6B is provided with an imaging unit 64. The imaging unit 64 is, for example, a CCD camera.

[0065] The transporting sections 63 and 66 include rollers, belts, etc., and transport the printed matter 30 in the pattern detector 6. The printed matter 30 is the transfer target 20 on which the pattern C10 is formed.

[0066] The printed matter 30 inserted into the pattern detector 6 through the insertion port 60A is conveyed to the light irradiation section 6A by the conveying section 63. The light irradiation section 6A irradiates ultraviolet rays to the printed matter 30. When the ultraviolet rays are irradiated, fluorescence is emitted from the fluorescent whitening agent included in the pattern C10.

[0067] The printed matter 30 irradiated with ultraviolet rays by the light irradiation section 6A is conveyed to the pattern detection section 6B by the conveying sections 63 and 66. The imaging section 64 images the luminous pattern (non-luminous pattern surrounded by the luminous pattern) of the printed matter 30. After the image is captured, the printed matter 30 is discharged through the discharge port 60B.

[0068] The determination device 7 is a computer including a display unit, a central processing unit (CPU), a storage unit, and the like, and a personal computer, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, and the like can be used.

[0069] The determination device 7 obtains the image of the printed matter 30 captured by the imaging unit 64 from the pattern detector 6. The determination device 7 also obtains information on the non-transferred pattern (second pattern C2) of the fluorescent whitening agent included in the pattern C10 formed on the printed matter 30 from the server device 8 via a network such as the Internet.

[0070] The determination device 7 compares the non-luminescent pattern in the captured image obtained from the pattern detector 6 with the non-transferred pattern of the fluorescent whitening agent obtained from the server device 8, and determines that the printed matter 30 is authentic when they match.

[0071] Before and after the ultraviolet irradiation, the printed matter 30 may be photographed by the imaging unit 64. The image captured before the ultraviolet irradiation and the image captured after the ultraviolet irradiation are compared to extract the non-luminescent pattern.

[0072] In the above embodiment, the image data of the penetrating text of the second line width L2 is described as being arranged on the line of the first line width L1, but it may also be an area where the first pattern C1 is a solid coating such as a circle or a polygon, and the image data of the penetrating text of the second line width L2 is arranged in the area. When the second pattern C2 is a symbol or a graphic, the maximum width of the second pattern C2 is set to be greater than 28 μm and less than 170 μm (about greater than 1 dot at 900 dpi and less than 2 dot at 300 dpi).

[0073] A transparent heat seal layer may be provided on the thermal transfer sheet 10 instead of the hot melt ink layer 13 .

[0074] In the above embodiment, an example of directly transferring the hot melt ink layer 13 to the transfer body 20 is described, but the transfer layer may be transferred to the transfer body after being transferred to the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium. In this case, it is preferred to make the heat seal layer of the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium transparent, or to make the transfer body transparent.

[0075] In the above embodiment, the release layer 12 includes a fluorescent whitening agent, but the release layer 12 is not limited to the fluorescent whitening agent. An organic compound (wavelength conversion material) with a molecular weight of 800 or less that is excited by irradiation with invisible light such as ultraviolet rays or infrared rays and emits visible light can be used. As a material that emits visible light when irradiated with infrared rays, a light upconversion material or an organic nonlinear optical material can be used. As a material that emits visible light when irradiated with ultraviolet rays, a known fluorescent agent or phosphor can be used.

[0076] Although the present invention has been described in detail using specific embodiments, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0077] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-134748 filed on August 7, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0078] Explanation of symbols

[0079] 10 Thermal transfer film

[0080] 11. Substrate

[0081] 12 Release layer

[0082] 13 Hot melt ink layer

[0083] 14 Peeling layer

[0084] 15 Back layer

Claims

1. A method for producing a printed matter, the method comprising heating a thermal transfer sheet based on image data, the thermal transfer sheet comprising a substrate, a release layer disposed on the substrate and containing a wavelength conversion material that emits visible light when excited by invisible light, and a hot melt ink layer disposed on the release layer, transferring the hot melt ink layer to a transfer object to produce a printed matter, wherein: The image data includes a first pattern and a second pattern arranged on the first pattern and having a maximum width equal to or smaller than a predetermined value. When transferring the hot melt ink layer to the transfer body, the area corresponding to the first pattern except the second pattern is heated, the area corresponding to the second pattern is set to non-heating, and the hot melt ink layer in the area corresponding to the first pattern including the second pattern is transferred to the transfer body.

2. The method for producing a printed matter according to claim 1, wherein: The first pattern includes lines having a first line width, and the second pattern is arranged in a linear shape.

3. The method for producing a printed matter according to claim 2, wherein: The second pattern is a pattern having a second line width thinner than the first line width.

4. The method for producing a printed matter according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: A release layer is provided between the release layer and the hot melt ink layer.

5. A thermal transfer printing device, comprising: a thermal transfer unit, wherein a thermal transfer sheet and a transfer object are sandwiched between a thermal head and a platen roller, the thermal transfer sheet comprising a substrate, a release layer provided on the substrate and containing a wavelength conversion material that emits visible light when excited by invisible light, and a hot melt ink layer provided on the release layer, the thermal transfer sheet is heated by the thermal head based on image data, and the hot melt ink layer is transferred from the thermal transfer sheet to the transfer object; and a control unit, sending the image data to the thermal transfer unit, The image data includes a first pattern and a second pattern arranged on the first pattern and having a maximum width equal to or smaller than a predetermined value. The thermal head heats a region of the thermal transfer sheet corresponding to the first pattern except for the second pattern, and sets a non-heating state to a region corresponding to the second pattern.

6. A determination system comprising: an irradiation unit for irradiating invisible light to the printed matter produced by the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4; an imaging unit that images the printed matter in which the wavelength conversion material emits light by irradiation with the invisible light; and The determination device compares the non-luminescent pattern in the captured image obtained by the imaging unit with the information of the second pattern, and determines the authenticity of the printed matter based on the comparison result.

7. A printed matter, comprising: substrate; and A hot melt ink layer is disposed on the substrate, The hot melt ink layer has: The first pattern emits visible light when excited by invisible light; and The second pattern is arranged on the first pattern, does not emit visible light due to the excitation of the invisible light, or emits visible light weaker than the first pattern due to the excitation of the invisible light, and has a maximum width less than a specified value. The first pattern includes a line having a first line width, and the second pattern is arranged on the line. The second pattern is a pattern having a second line width thinner than the first line width, The second line width is greater than or equal to 28 μm and less than or equal to 170 μm.

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