A method of heat transfer printing and an article comprising a heat transfer printed image

Abstract

The application provides a heat transfer printing method and an article containing a heat transfer printed image, the heat transfer printing method comprising the following steps: S1: a host computer controls a process cartridge to print carbon powder on a transfer belt according to a preset pattern to form a visible image; S2: the host computer controls the transfer belt to move the visible image formed in the step S1 above a first heating device; S3: a material to be transferred is placed on a bearing part, and a side of the material to be transferred, which needs to be transferred with a pattern, faces the transfer belt; and S4: the host computer controls a heating part to heat, so that heat sublimation dyes in the carbon powder sublimate, and thus the visible image is transferred onto the material to be transferred at one time. The carbon powder is used as a medium to realize the heat transfer printing image transfer process, and the transfer process time is short, the cost is relatively low, and the transfer quality is improved. Meanwhile, one-time color imaging can be realized, and the imaging is transferred again, and the one-time multi-color imaging and one-time heat transfer printing technology bring better printing effect and more convenient operation.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the field of print transfer, in particular to a heat transfer method and an article comprising a heat transferred image. BACKGROUND

[0002] Heat transfer technology is a technology that transfers patterns or text from a carrier to a target material. Through heat and pressure, pigments or inks are transferred and combined with the material to achieve fine and durable printing effects. The most common method is to first design and print the desired pattern or text onto special heat transfer paper. Then place the heat transfer paper on the target material and use a heat press or heat transfer machine to apply heat and pressure. The heat transfer machine usually has a heating plate that can control temperature and pressure. During heating, the adhesive on the heat transfer paper begins to melt and comes into contact with the surface of the target material. The pigments or inks in the adhesive are released and combined with the material surface. At the appropriate time and temperature, the heat transfer paper separates from the target material. At this point, the pattern has been transferred to the material surface and combined with it.

[0003] In the textile industry, traditional heat transfer technology requires the use of inkjet to transfer media to specific heat transfer paper. It takes a lot of time and is expensive to spray a visible image. Moreover, the pigments or inks of inkjet heat transfer technology usually cannot fully combine with the material surface, resulting in fading or peeling during long-term use or cleaning. At the same time, inkjet heat transfer technology is usually suitable for relatively smooth fabrics and cannot be used on rough or high-fiber fabrics, which has great limitations. In addition, inkjet heat transfer technology requires a certain amount of heat and pressure, and if the time control of heat and pressure is not proper, it may damage the transferred image and cause burn marks on the fabric.

[0004] In the ceramic industry, the patterns on ceramic surfaces are usually achieved by hand-drawing or screen printing. However, hand-drawing is slow and inefficient, and is limited by the artist's skills. Although screen printing is acceptable for general patterns, it is not suitable for portrait photos because the colors of the photo cannot be accurately represented, resulting in problems such as unnatural color transitions and low resolution. Therefore, this method is not suitable for making portrait photos. Based on this, some people have invented a method of making ceramic portraits using inkjet technology. The method is to first separate the colors of the portrait using a computer, then use an inkjet printer to print a pattern on the ceramic plate using a color of glue, then pour the color of the color powder onto the pattern and sweep it with a brush. The color powder sticks to the pattern, and the temperature is baked to 100 degrees. After drying the layer, the cyan, yellow, and magenta are printed with glue, the powder is swept, and the image is finally baked at 800°C. Due to the complexity and tediousness of the process and the need to use imported carbon powder, the transfer efficiency is low and the cost is high.

[0005] Therefore, there is an urgent need to invent a heat transfer printing method to solve the problem that the existing printing transfer method cannot be well adapted to different fields, and the operation is complex, low efficiency and high cost. SUMMARY

[0006] The first object of the present application is to provide a heat transfer printing method to solve the problem that the existing printing transfer method cannot be well adapted to different fields, and the operation is complex, low efficiency and high cost.

[0007] The second object of the present application is to provide an article containing a heat transfer image, which is prepared by the above-mentioned heat transfer printing method.

[0008] In order to achieve the above-mentioned first object, the present application provides a heat transfer printing method, which is applied to a heat transfer printing device, the heat transfer printing device comprising a host computer, a processing cartridge, a transfer belt, a bearing component and a heating component, the number of processing cartridges is at least two, and each processing cartridge is provided with carbon powder; the processing cartridge is located above the transfer belt, the heating component comprises a first heating device, the first heating device is located below the transfer belt, and the first heating device is located at the rear end of the processing cartridge; the bearing component is located above the transfer belt, and the bearing component is arranged opposite to the first heating device; the host computer is used to control the processing cartridge, the transfer belt, the bearing component and the heating component; the heat transfer printing method comprises the following steps: S1: the host computer controls the processing cartridge to print carbon powder on the transfer belt according to a predetermined pattern to form a visible image; S2: the host computer controls the transfer belt to move the visible image formed in step S1 above the first heating device; S3: the material to be transferred is placed on the bearing component, and the side of the material to be transferred which needs to be transferred is facing the transfer belt; S4: the host computer controls the heating component to heat, so that the thermal sublimation dye in the carbon powder sublimates, thereby transferring the visible image to the material to be transferred at one time.

[0009] As can be seen from the above scheme, carbon powder is used as a medium to realize heat transfer printing image, the transfer process is short in time and low in cost. The bearing object can complete heat transfer printing without contacting the carbon powder, which maximizes the guarantee of the bearing object not being damaged and improves the transfer quality. At the same time, one-color imaging can be realized, and the technology effect brought by one-time multi-color imaging and one-time heat transfer printing makes the printing effect better and the operation more simple. In addition, the carbon powder and the thermal sublimation dye used in the heat transfer printing method of the present application are common materials on the market, which are easy to obtain, have high carbon powder adaptation degree, and reduce the cost of consumables. The heat transfer printing method of the present application is suitable for articles of various materials such as clothes, textile fabrics, ceramics, metals, paper and high molecular materials. It has a wide range of applications.

[0010] Further, the end of the transfer belt is provided with a recycling device, the recycling device includes a scraper and a recycling box, the scraper abuts against the end of the transfer belt, and the recycling box is located at the end of the transfer belt; after step S4, the method further includes step S5, and step S5 is specifically as follows: S5: the host computer controls the heating component to stop heating, the material to be transferred is removed, the transfer belt continues to move, and the scraper collects residual toner on the transfer belt into the recycling box.

[0011] As can be seen from the above scheme, after the heat transfer is completed, the recycling device is used to recycle the adhesive resin with residual toner on the surface of the transfer belt, the residual toner particles are recycled and reused, the untransferred material is reused, and the toner is repeatedly used to save production cost.

[0012] Further, the heating component further includes a second heating device, the second heating device is located above the bearing component, the second heating device is in contact with the bearing component, and the second heating device and the bearing component can move close to or away from the transfer belt; before step S4, the method further includes step S41, and step S41 is specifically as follows: S41: the host computer controls the second heating device and the bearing component to move close to the transfer belt to abut against the bearing component and the toner.

[0013] As can be seen from the above scheme, the second heating device makes the bearing component abut against the toner on the transfer belt, so that a downward hot-pressing pressure is applied, the definition of pattern transfer is further improved, and the transfer quality of the visible pattern is promoted.

[0014] Further, after step S4, the method further includes step S42, and step S42 is specifically as follows: S42: the host computer controls the second heating device and the bearing component to move away from the transfer belt to an initial position.

[0015] As can be seen from the above scheme, after the heat transfer is completed, the second heating device, the bearing component and the transfer belt are separated, the movement of the transfer belt and the taking of the material to be transferred are facilitated.

[0016] Further, the number of the processing boxes is four, and the toner in the four processing boxes is black ceramic toner, yellow ceramic toner, cyan ceramic toner and red ceramic toner respectively.

[0017] Further, the black ceramic toner, the yellow ceramic toner and the cyan ceramic toner all contain inorganic ceramic pigments, the inorganic ceramic pigments are heat sublimation dyes, the particle size of the inorganic ceramic pigments is less than 1 micron, and the particle size of the black ceramic toner, the yellow ceramic toner and the cyan ceramic toner is 7 microns to 12 microns.

[0018] Further, the red ceramic toner includes wrapped red pigment powder, the wrapped red pigment powder is a heat sublimation dye, the particle size of the wrapped red pigment powder is 2 microns to 8 microns, and the particle size of the red ceramic toner is 10 microns to 20 microns.

[0019] From the above scheme, it can be seen that the heat transfer printing method of the present application can realize the transfer of color patterns at one time, which is convenient, fast and has high automation degree. The above-mentioned carbon powder and heat sublimation dye limit the ejection performance and heat sublimation performance of the carbon powder, thereby ensuring the transfer quality of the visible pattern.

[0020] In order to achieve the second purpose, the present application provides an article containing a heat transfer image, which is prepared by the heat transfer printing method according to any one of the above schemes.

[0021] From the above scheme, it can be seen that the article containing a heat transfer image obtained by the heat transfer printing method of the present application has clear and firm patterns and low manufacturing cost. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 is a structural schematic diagram of the heat transfer printing equipment in Example 1.

[0023] Figure 2 is Figure 1 an enlarged view of A in FIG.

[0024] Figure 3 is a structural schematic diagram of the heat transfer printing equipment in Example 2.

[0025] Figure 4 is Figure 3 an enlarged view of B in FIG.

[0026] The present application will be further described below in combination with the drawings and examples. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Example 1

[0028] The heat transfer printing method of the present embodiment is applied to the heat transfer printing equipment as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 .

[0029] Referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2The thermal transfer printing device of the embodiment comprises a host computer (not shown in the figure), a processing cartridge, a transfer belt 13, a bearing component 14, a heating component, and a recycling device. The number of the processing cartridges is at least two, and each of the processing cartridges is internally provided with carbon powder 12 containing thermal sublimation dye. The processing cartridges are located above the transfer belt 13. The heating component comprises a first heating device 151 located below the transfer belt 13 and at the rear end of the processing cartridges. The bearing component 14 is located above the transfer belt 13 and is oppositely arranged with the first heating device 151. The recycling device is arranged at the end of the transfer belt 13 and comprises a scraper 161 abutting against the end of the transfer belt 13 and a recycling cartridge 162 located at the end of the transfer belt 13. The host computer is used to control the processing cartridges, the transfer belt 13, the bearing component 14, and the heating component.

[0030] In the embodiment, the number of the processing cartridges is four, including a red carbon powder processing cartridge 111, a cyan carbon powder processing cartridge 112, a yellow carbon powder processing cartridge 113, and a black carbon powder processing cartridge 114. The four processing cartridges are sequentially arranged along the length direction of the transfer belt 13, wherein the black carbon powder processing cartridge 114 is close to the end of the transfer belt 13, and the red carbon powder processing cartridge 111 is close to the front end of the transfer belt 13. The red carbon powder processing cartridge 111 is internally provided with red ceramic carbon powder 121, the cyan carbon powder processing cartridge 112 is internally provided with cyan ceramic carbon powder 122, the yellow carbon powder processing cartridge 113 is internally provided with yellow ceramic carbon powder 123, and the black carbon powder processing cartridge 114 is internally provided with black ceramic carbon powder 124. Each of the four kinds of carbon powder 12 comprises 30%-60% of thermal sublimation dye, 35%-65% of adhesive resin, 0%-10% of wax, 1%-2% of charge control agent, and 0%-2% of hydrophobic silicon dioxide. The thermal sublimation dye in the black ceramic carbon powder 124, the yellow ceramic carbon powder 123, and the cyan ceramic carbon powder 122 is inorganic ceramic pigment, the particle size of the inorganic ceramic pigment is less than 1 micron, and the particle size of the black ceramic carbon powder 124, the yellow ceramic carbon powder 123, and the cyan ceramic carbon powder 122 is 7-12 microns. The thermal sublimation dye in the red ceramic carbon powder 121 is wrapped red pigment powder, the particle size of the wrapped red pigment powder is 2-8 microns, and the particle size of the red ceramic carbon powder 121 is 10-20 microns.

[0031] The thermal transfer printing method of the embodiment is specifically as follows:

[0032] S1: The host computer controls the processing cartridges to print the carbon powder 12 onto the transfer belt 13 according to a preset pattern to form a visible image;

[0033] S2: The host computer controls the transfer belt 13 to move the visible image formed in step S1 above the first heating device 151;

[0034] S3: Place the material to be transferred on the bearing part 14, with the side of the material to be transferred facing the transfer belt 13;

[0035] S4: The host computer controls the heating part to heat, causing the thermal dye in the carbon powder 12 to sublimate, thereby transferring the visible image to the material to be transferred in one go;

[0036] S5: The host computer controls the heating part to stop heating, the material to be transferred is removed, the transfer belt 13 continues to move, and the scraper 161 collects the residual carbon powder 12 on the transfer belt 13 into the recycling box 162.

[0037] The processing box transfers four groups of different color carbon powder to the transfer belt 13 according to the predetermined position in the traditional developing manner, forming a color or black visible image, the transfer belt 13 bears the visible image transferred by the photosensitive drum and transfers it above the first heating device 151. The visible image is located between the first heating device 151 and the bearing part 14 when the transfer belt 13 transfers the visible image above the first heating device 151, and the bearing part 14 is close to the transfer belt. The material to be transferred, such as clothes, ceramics, etc., is placed on the bearing part 14 above the first heating device 151, the carbon powder 12 above the transfer belt 13 is heated, 30% to 60% of the thermal dye in the carbon powder 12 is heated and sublimated into gas, and sublimated above the transfer belt 13, at this time the material to be transferred placed here displays the image. Due to the heating of the carbon powder 12, the thermal dye in the carbon powder 12 sublimates, at this time 35% to 65% of the adhesive resin in the carbon powder 12, 0% to 10% of the wax in the carbon powder 12, 1% to 2% of the charge control agent in the carbon powder 12, and 0% to 2% of the hydrophobic silicon dioxide in the carbon powder 12 may be sublimated together due to high temperature. The heating part will no longer continue to heat the carbon powder 12, and the transfer belt 13 will continue to transfer the residual adhesive resin on the surface. The end of the transfer belt 13 is provided with a recycling device, and the scraper 161 on the recycling device abuts against the end of the transfer belt 13. The scraper 161 collects the remaining adhesive resin into the recycling box 162, and after being collected, the thermal dye, wax, charge control agent, hydrophobic silicon dioxide and other materials are added in appropriate proportions to restore the transfer function, and the regenerated carbon powder is added into the processing box to continue the thermal transfer image work.

[0038] The thermal transfer method of the embodiment uses carbon powder as a medium to realize thermal transfer image, and the transfer process is short in time and low in cost. The carrier can complete thermal transfer without contacting the carbon powder, thereby maximizing the guarantee of the carrier not being damaged and improving the transfer quality. Meanwhile, one-time color imaging can be realized, and the technical effect brought by one-time thermal transfer after imaging once can make the printing effect better and the operation more simple. In addition, the carbon powder and the thermal dye used in the thermal transfer method of the embodiment are common materials on the market and are easy to obtain, and the carbon powder has high adaptability, thereby reducing the cost of consumables. The thermal transfer method of the embodiment is suitable for articles of various materials such as clothes, textile fabrics, ceramics, metals, paper, and high molecular materials. The application field is wide.

[0039] After the thermal transfer is completed, a recycling device is used to recycle the adhesive resin of the residual carbon powder 12 on the surface of the transfer belt 13, and the residual carbon powder 12 particles are recycled and reused, thereby realizing the reuse of untransferred materials and saving production cost by repeated use of the carbon powder 12.

[0040] The article containing a thermal transfer pattern prepared by the thermal transfer method of the embodiment has a clear and firm pattern and low manufacturing cost.

[0041] Embodiment 2

[0042] Referring to Figure 3 and Figure 4 The difference between the thermal transfer equipment of the embodiment and the thermal transfer equipment of embodiment 1 is that the heating component of the thermal transfer equipment of the embodiment further includes a second heating device 252, the second heating device 252 is located above the carrier component 24, and the second heating device 252 is in contact with the carrier component 24. The second heating device 252 and the carrier component 24 can move close to or away from the transfer belt 23.

[0043] The number of the process cartridges of the embodiment is four, which is the same as that of embodiment 1. The process cartridges are a red carbon powder process cartridge 211, a cyan carbon powder process cartridge 212, a yellow carbon powder process cartridge 213, and a black carbon powder process cartridge 214. The four process cartridges are arranged in sequence along the length direction of the transfer belt 23. The black carbon powder process cartridge 214 is close to the end of the transfer belt 23, and the red carbon powder process cartridge 211 is close to the front end of the transfer belt 23. The red carbon powder process cartridge 211 contains red ceramic carbon powder 221, the cyan carbon powder process cartridge 212 contains cyan ceramic carbon powder 222, the yellow carbon powder process cartridge 213 contains yellow ceramic carbon powder 223, and the black carbon powder process cartridge 214 contains black ceramic carbon powder 224. The composition of each carbon powder 22 is the same as that in embodiment 1.

[0044] The thermal transfer method of the embodiment is specifically as follows:

[0045] S1: the host computer controls the cartridge to print the carbon powder 22 onto the transfer belt 23 according to a preset pattern, forming a visible image;

[0046] S2: the host computer controls the transfer belt 23 to move the visible image formed in step S1 above the first heating device 251;

[0047] S3: place the material to be transferred on the bearing part 24, with the side of the material to be transferred facing the transfer belt 23;

[0048] S41: the host computer controls the second heating device 252 and the bearing part 24 to move close to the transfer belt 23 until the bearing part 24 abuts against the carbon powder 22;

[0049] S4: the host computer controls the heating part to heat, causing the thermal sublimation dye in the carbon powder 22 to sublimate, thereby transferring the visible image onto the material to be transferred at one time;

[0050] S42: the host computer controls the second heating device 252 and the bearing part 24 to move away from the transfer belt 23 to the initial position;

[0051] S5: the host computer controls the heating part to stop heating, removes the material to be transferred, and continues to move the transfer belt 23, and the scraper 261 collects the residual carbon powder 22 on the transfer belt 23 into the recycling box 262.

[0052] The second heating device 252 makes the bearing part 24 abut against the carbon powder 22 on the transfer belt 23, thereby applying downward heat-pressing pressure, further improving the clarity of pattern transfer, and promoting the transfer quality of the visible image.

[0053] The above embodiments are only preferred examples of the present application, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present application. Any equivalent changes or modifications made to the structure, features and principles of the present application within the scope of the present application should be included in the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A heat transfer method, the heat transfer method being applied to a heat transfer device, the heat transfer device comprising a host computer, a transfer belt, a carrier component, and a heating component; Its features are: The heat transfer equipment also includes processing boxes, and the number of processing boxes is at least two. Each processing box contains toner containing sublimation dye. The processing box is located above the transfer belt. The heating component includes a first heating device located below the transfer belt and at the rear end of the processing box. The supporting component is located above the transfer belt and is disposed opposite to the first heating device. The host computer is used to control the processing box, the transfer belt, the supporting component, and the heating component. The heat transfer method includes the following steps: S1: The host computer controls the processing box to spray the toner onto the transfer belt according to a preset pattern to form a visible image; S2: The host computer controls the transfer belt to move the visible image formed in step S1 above the first heating device; S3: Place the material to be transferred on the carrier component, with the side of the material to be transferred facing the transfer tape; S4: The host computer controls the heating component to heat the toner, causing the sublimation dye in the toner to sublimate, thereby transferring the visible image to the material to be transferred in one step.

2. The heat transfer method as described in claim 1, characterized in that: A recycling device is provided at the end of the transfer belt. The recycling device includes a scraper and a recycling box. The scraper abuts against the end of the transfer belt, and the recycling box is located at the end of the transfer belt. Step S4 is followed by step S5, which specifically involves: S5: The host computer controls the heating component to stop heating, removes the material to be transferred, the transfer belt continues to move, and the scraper collects the remaining toner on the transfer belt into the recycling box.

3. The heat transfer method as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The heating component further includes a second heating device, which is located above the supporting component and in contact with the supporting component. The second heating device and the supporting component can move closer to or further away from the transfer belt. Step S4 is preceded by step S41, which specifically involves: S41: The host computer controls the second heating device and the carrier component to move close to the transfer belt until the carrier component comes into contact with the toner.

4. The heat transfer method as described in claim 3, characterized in that: Step S4 is followed by step S42, which specifically involves: S42: The host computer controls the second heating device and the supporting component to move away from the transfer belt to the initial position.

5. The heat transfer method as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The number of processing boxes is four, and the toner in the four processing boxes is black ceramic toner, yellow ceramic toner, cyan ceramic toner and red ceramic toner, respectively.

6. The heat transfer method as described in claim 5, characterized in that: The black ceramic toner, the yellow ceramic toner, and the cyan ceramic toner all contain inorganic ceramic pigments, which are the thermal sublimation dyes. The particle size of the inorganic ceramic pigments is less than 1 micrometer, and the particle size of the black ceramic toner, the yellow ceramic toner, and the cyan ceramic toner is 7 to 12 micrometers.

7. The heat transfer method as described in claim 5, characterized in that: The red ceramic carbon powder includes coated red pigment powder, which is the thermal sublimation dye. The particle size of the coated red pigment powder is 2 micrometers to 8 micrometers, and the particle size of the red ceramic carbon powder is 10 micrometers to 20 micrometers.

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