Seal type thermal transfer image receiving sheet

Abstract

To prevent frame detachment when printing a skin design image by a thermal transfer printer.SOLUTION: A seal type thermal transfer image receiving sheet 10 includes a release sheet 11, and a seal part 15 as one united body. The seal part 15 is provided releasably from the release sheet 11, and has a laminae configuration where an adhesive layer 12 and an elastic sheet 13 are laminated in this order from the release sheet 11 side. The seal part 15 is divided into a frame part 4 and a remaining part 5 by a half cut 2. The half cut 2 surrounding the frame part 4 is discontinuous by bridge parts 3. The bridge parts 3 are provided at a tip end part and a rear end part in a longitudinal direction MD of the seal type thermal transfer sheet 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a seal-type thermal transfer image-receiving sheet. [Background technology]

[0002] Tattoo stickers, body paint stickers, and other skin-impression stickers that are applied to the skin are becoming popular. These stickers, with various designs printed on them, are sold at variety stores, sporting and music event venues, amusement parks, and other locations, and are used to create a lively atmosphere.

[0003] Skin-design stickers are made by laminating a release sheet, an adhesive layer, and a stretchable sheet in that order, and are used by peeling off the release sheet and attaching the adhesive layer of the sticker to the skin. It is also known to apply a half-cut process to the sticker so that the desired shape of the frame can be easily peeled off.

[0004] There is a demand for on-demand printing of highly decorative images on stretchable sheets, and the use of dye-sublimation and melt-type thermal transfer printers is being considered. However, conventional thermal transfer printers form images on substrates with rigid base materials such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and PP (polypropylene), and are not designed to form images on stretchable materials such as skin-design stickers. As a result, when printing skin-design images with a thermal transfer printer, the half-cut frame parts peel off, causing problems such as poor printing and jamming. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-157316 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a seal-type thermal transfer image-receiving sheet that can suppress frame peeling when printing a skin design image with a thermal transfer printer. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The seal-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet of the present disclosure is a seal-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet in which a release sheet and a seal portion are integrated, the seal portion being provided so as to be releasable from the release sheet, the seal portion having a laminated structure in which an adhesive layer and an elastic sheet are laminated in this order from the release sheet side, the seal portion being divided into a frame portion and a remaining portion by a half cut, the half cut surrounding the frame portion being discontinuous by a bridge portion, and the bridge portion being provided at the leading and trailing ends of the seal-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet in the longitudinal direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to suppress frame peeling when printing a skin design image using a thermal transfer printer. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a seal-type thermal transfer image-receiving sheet. [Figure 2] 1(a) and 1(b) are cross-sectional views of a seal-type thermal transfer image-receiving sheet. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a seal-type thermal transfer image-receiving sheet. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a seal-type thermal transfer image-receiving sheet. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a seal-type thermal transfer image-receiving sheet. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the position of a bridge portion. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the position of a bridge portion. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the position of a bridge portion. [Figure 10] FIG. [Figure 11] 10(a) to 10(c) are diagrams showing a modified example of a frame part. [Figure 12] 10(a) to 10(d) are diagrams showing a modified example of a frame part. [Figure 13] 10(a) and 10(b) are diagrams showing a modified example of a frame part. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings, etc. Note that the present disclosure can be implemented in many different forms, and should not be construed as being limited to the description of the embodiments exemplified below. Furthermore, to clarify the explanation, the drawings may show the width, thickness, etc. of each part more schematically than in the actual form, but these are merely examples and do not limit the interpretation of the present disclosure.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a sticker-type thermal transfer image-receiving sheet 10 used to manufacture a skin design sticker according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The sticker-type thermal transfer image-receiving sheet 10 is formed by integrating a release sheet 11 and a seal portion 15, and the seal portion 15 is provided so as to be releasable from the release sheet 11. The seal portion 15 has a layered structure in which, from the release sheet 11 side, an adhesive layer 12 and a stretchable sheet 13 are layered in this order. As shown in Fig. 2(a), the seal portion 15 may also have a layered structure in which, from the release sheet 11 side, an adhesive layer 12, a stretchable sheet 13, and a receiving layer 14 are layered in this order.

[0012] If the adhesion between the stretchable sheet 13 and the receiving layer 14 is insufficient, a primer layer 19 may be provided between these two layers as shown in Figure 2(b). The release sheet 11 may be composed of only the substrate 17, or may have a laminated structure in which a release layer 18 is provided on the surface (front surface) of the substrate 17 facing the seal portion 15, or a back surface layer 16 is provided on the back surface of the substrate 17.

[0013] Here, the skin design sticker is a sticker to be attached to human skin and can be used as a skin sheet. Examples of skin design stickers include nail stickers, body paint stickers, tattoo stickers, and scar concealers.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 3, the sticker-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet 10 is a long strip having a pair of long sides H, and the detection hole 1 and half cut 2 are processed using a known processing machine. As shown in Fig. 4, the half cut 2 extends in the thickness direction from the elastic sheet 13 to the middle of the release sheet 11. For example, the half cut 2 extends from the surface of the release sheet 11 on the adhesive layer 12 side to a depth of about 1 / 2 to 1 / 100 of the thickness of the release sheet 11, or to a depth of about 1 µm to 50 µm.

[0015] The half cut 2 divides the sealed portion 15 into a link portion 4 and a remaining portion 5. In the example shown in Fig. 3, the link portions 4 having a substantially rectangular shape and a circular shape are formed by the half cut processing.

[0016] The detection holes 1 are through holes that pass through the sticker-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet 10 and are formed at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the sticker-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet 10. The detection holes 1 function as detection marks when forming an image on the frame portion 4 (and the remaining portion 5) with a thermal transfer printer. The detection holes 1 and frame portions 4 are repeatedly formed on the sticker-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet 10.

[0017] As shown in Figures 3 and 5 to 7, the half cut 2 surrounding the link portion 4 is discontinuous by the bridge portion 3. The link portion 4 and the remaining portion 5 separated by the half cut 2 are connected by the bridge portion 3.

[0018] In the present disclosure, bridge portions 3 are provided at at least two locations in the half cut 2 surrounding one frame portion 4. The bridge portions 3 are also provided at the leading and trailing ends in the longitudinal direction MD of the seal-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet 10. The longitudinal direction MD refers to the machine direction when the film is manufactured and when printing with a thermal transfer printer.

[0019] 7, when a roughly rectangular frame portion 4 is formed by half-cutting 2, the frame portion 4 having a pair of sides H1, H2 parallel to the longitudinal direction MD and a pair of sides H3, H4 parallel to the transverse direction TD of the seal-type thermal transfer image-receiving sheet 10, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction MD, a bridge portion 3 is provided in the half-cut portion along the side H3 corresponding to the leading edge and in the half-cut 2 portion along the side H4 corresponding to the trailing edge. When one bridge portion 3 is provided in each of the half-cut 2 portions along the sides H3 and H4, it is preferable to provide the bridge portion 3 at the midpoints of the sides H3 and H4. The transverse direction TD refers to the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction MD when the film is manufactured and when printing with a thermal transfer printer.

[0020] When a thermal transfer printer is used to print a skin design image on the frame portion 4, the sticker-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet 10 repeatedly moves forward and backward along the longitudinal direction MD. In the present disclosure, the bridge portions 3 are provided at the leading and trailing ends in the longitudinal direction MD, which prevents the frame portion 4 from peeling off during the printing process.

[0021] The seal-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet 10 is set in the thermal transfer printer in the form of a roll wound with the stretchable sheet 13 facing outward. The longitudinal direction MD of the seal-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet 10 is the winding direction of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet 10.

[0022] When bridge portions 3 are provided in multiple locations in the half-cut 2 portions along sides H3 and H4 of the rectangular link portion 4 shown in Fig. 7, it is preferable to provide the bridge portions 3 so that the lengths of the half-cut 2 portions that are discontinuous due to the bridge portions 3 are equal. The number of bridge portions 3 provided in the half-cut 2 portion along side H3 and the number of bridge portions 3 provided in the half-cut 2 portion along side H4 may be the same or different.

[0023] The width W (see FIG. 6) of the bridge portion 3 in the short direction TD is preferably 0.1 mm or more, more preferably 0.2 mm or more. By making the width W 0.1 mm or more, peeling of the frame portion 4 can be prevented when printing an image with a thermal transfer printer. Furthermore, the width W of the bridge portion 3 is preferably 0.8 mm or less, more preferably 0.5 mm or less. By making the width W 0.8 mm or less, the bridge portion 3 is easily cut when peeling the frame portion 4 from the release sheet 11, thereby preventing deformation or wrinkling of the frame portion 4.

[0024] It is preferable to provide 0.2 or more bridge portions 3 of the above width W per 10 mm of half-cut length along sides H3 and H4, and more preferably 0.3 or more. It is also preferable to provide 1.1 or fewer bridge portions 3 per 10 mm of half-cut length, more preferably less than 1, and even more preferably 0.9 or fewer. For example, if one bridge portion 3 with a width of 0.3 mm is provided in half-cut 2 along side H3, which is 15 mm long, the number of bridge portions 3 per 10 mm of half-cut length is 0.25 (= 1 ÷ (40 ÷ 10)).

[0025] By setting the number of bridge portions 3 per 10 mm half-cut length to 0.2 or more, peeling of the frame portions 4 can be prevented when printing an image with a thermal transfer printer. By setting the number of bridge portions 3 per 10 mm half-cut length to 1.1 or less, the frame portions 4 can be easily peeled off from the release sheet 11, and deformation or wrinkling of the frame portions 4 when peeling them off can be prevented.

[0026] The ratio of the total width of the bridge portions 3 (width W of bridge portions 3 × number of bridge portions 3) to the length of sides H3 and H4 is preferably 0.2% to 10%, more preferably 0.5% to 8%, and even more preferably 1% to 5%. For example, if two bridge portions 3, each 0.3 mm wide, are provided in half cut 2 along side H3, which is 15 mm long, the ratio of the total width of the bridge portions 3 to the length of side H3 is 4%.

[0027] By setting the ratio of the total width of the bridge portion 3 to the length of the side H3 to 0.2% or more, peeling of the frame portion 4 can be prevented when printing an image with a thermal transfer printer. By setting the ratio of the total width of the bridge portion 3 to the length of the side H3 to 10% or less, the frame portion 4 can be easily peeled off from the release sheet 11, and deformation or wrinkling of the frame portion 4 when peeling it off can be prevented.

[0028] Bridge portions 3 may be further provided in the half cut 2 portions along the sides H1 and H2.

[0029] The corners of the rectangular link portion 4 may not be right angles but may be curved and rounded. For example, one end of the linear side H1 and one end of the linear side H3 may be connected by a curve.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 8, when the frame portion 4 is circular (or elliptical), bridge portions 3 are provided at the leading and trailing ends of the seal type thermal transfer image receiving sheet 10 in the longitudinal direction MD.

[0031] When the link portion 4 is circular, as shown in Figure 9, an arc K1 having a central angle of 45° centered on the tip of the longitudinal direction MD is regarded as the tip side edge, and an arc K2 having a central angle of 45° centered on the rear end of the longitudinal direction MD is regarded as the rear side edge, and it is preferable to provide 0.2 to less than 1 bridge portion 3 having the above width W per 10 mm of half-cut length along arc K1 and arc K2, and more preferably 0.3 to 0.9.

[0032] Each component of the seal type thermal transfer image receiving sheet 10 will be specifically described below.

[0033] <Release sheet> Examples of the substrate 17 of the release sheet 11 include stretched or unstretched plastic substrates such as polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene naphthalate, polypropylene, polycarbonate, cellulose acetate resin, polyethylene derivatives, polyamide and polymethylpentene, as well as paper substrates such as fine paper, coated paper, resin-coated paper, art paper, cast-coated paper, paperboard, emulsion-impregnated paper, synthetic rubber latex-impregnated paper, synthetic resin-loaded paper and cellulose fiber paper.

[0034] Furthermore, a layer having microvoids therein can also be used as the substrate 17. An example of a layer having microvoids therein is a polyolefin resin layer having microvoids therein. Examples of polyolefin resin layers include highly heat-resistant polyesters such as polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polyethylene naphthalate, as well as polyolefin resins such as polypropylene, polybutene, polyisobutene, polyisobutylene, polybutadiene, polyisoprene, and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers.

[0035] A release layer 18 for adjusting the peel strength between the release sheet 11 and the adhesive layer 12 may be provided on the surface of the base material 17 of the release sheet 11. In addition, a back surface layer 16 for controlling the transportability and electrostatic charge of the seal may be provided on the back surface of the base material 17.

[0036] Examples of resins that can form the release layer 18 include waxes, silicone wax, silicone resins, silicone-modified resins, fluororesins, fluororesins, polyvinyl alcohol, acrylic resins, thermally crosslinkable epoxy-amino resins, and thermally crosslinkable alkyd-amino resins. The release layer may be made of one type of resin, or two or more types of resins. The release layer 18 may be formed using a crosslinking agent such as an isocyanate compound, a tin-based catalyst, an aluminum-based catalyst, or the like, in addition to a release resin.

[0037] The thickness of the release layer 18 is generally about 0.1 μm to 5.0 μm. The release layer can be formed by dissolving or dispersing the resin in an appropriate solvent to prepare a coating liquid for the release layer, and then applying and drying this on the substrate by a conventionally known method such as gravure printing, screen printing, or reverse coating using a gravure plate.

[0038] Furthermore, instead of providing the release layer 18, the substrate 17 itself can be imparted with releasability by incorporating a release agent into the substrate 17. Examples of the release agent include solid waxes such as polyethylene wax, amide wax, and Teflon (registered trademark) powder, fluorine-based or phosphate ester-based surfactants, various modified silicone oils such as silicone oil, reactive silicone oil, and cured silicone oil, and various silicone resins.

[0039] The thickness of the release sheet 11 may be determined in consideration of the overall thickness of the seal type thermal transfer image receiving sheet 10, and is, for example, 50 μm or more and 250 μm or less.

[0040] <Adhesive layer> The adhesive layer 12 is preferably made of a urethane or acrylic adhesive that is less likely to cause rashes or inflammation on the skin. A gel-type adhesive is also preferred to ensure close contact with the skin. The thickness of the adhesive layer is, for example, 12 μm or more and 30 μm or less.

[0041] <Stretchable sheet> The stretchable sheet 13 preferably has an elongation of 10% to 10,000%, more preferably 100% to 1,000%, and even more preferably 150% to 400%, as determined by a test method conforming to JIS-K-7127:1999. Hereinafter, the elongation of the stretchable sheet determined by a test method conforming to JIS-K-7127:1999 may be referred to as the elongation of the stretchable sheet.

[0042] The elongation measured by the test method conforming to JIS-K-7127:1999 was measured by using a tensile tester to pull the test object at a speed of 200 mm / min until the test object broke (fractured), and was calculated by the following formula (1): Elongation (%) = 100 × (L - L0) / L0 Equation (1) (L is the length of the test object at break, and L0 is the length of the test object before the test)

[0043] As the tensile tester, for example, a small tabletop tester (EZ Test series, manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation), a Tensilon universal material testing machine, or the like can be used.

[0044] Known examples of substrates having such elongation include polyester film (PET) as a substrate having an elongation of about 50% to 200%, polypropylene as a substrate having an elongation of about 100% to 600%, soft polyvinyl chloride (PVC) as a substrate having an elongation of about 150% to 500%, high-density polyethylene as a substrate having an elongation of about 10% to 300%, medium-density polyethylene as a substrate having an elongation of about 100% to 700%, low-density polyethylene as a substrate having an elongation of about 100% to 1000%, and polyurethane as a substrate having an elongation of about 100 to 10,000%.

[0045] These materials can be used alone or in combination of two or more. In addition to the resin materials not exemplified here, pigments and other additives can also be included to adjust the elongation percentage of the base sheet within this range, thereby making it possible to produce a sheet that meets the objectives of the present invention.

[0046] During the tensile test, the elongation of the raw fabric differed between the machine direction (MD) and the transverse direction (TD). For example, the elongation of a PET film (50 μm thick, manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd.) was 130% in the machine direction (MD) and 100% in the transverse direction (TD). Furthermore, the elongation of a PVC sheet was 250% in the machine direction (MD) and 170% in the transverse direction (TD).

[0047] The bridge direction of each frame should be aligned with the transverse direction TD of the raw web. The bridge direction refers to the direction sandwiched between one end of the half cut 2 and the other end of the half cut 2, in the case of a half cut that is discontinuous at the bridge portion 3. For example, in the case of Figure 5, the bridge direction is aligned with the transverse direction TD.

[0048] The stretchable sheet 13 can be made of urethane film, polyvinyl chloride film, polyester film, or the like. The stretchable sheet can have a thickness that allows it to be formed into a film, for example, a thin film of a thickness from 1 μm to 300 μm that has the desired stretchability. To prevent wrinkles from forming during application and to improve workability, the thickness is preferably 10 μm or more. Furthermore, to reduce discomfort during application, the stretchable sheet preferably has a thickness of 150 μm or less, more preferably 30 μm to 100 μm. When the image formation method using a thermal transfer printer is melt transfer using a pigment as a coloring material, the pigment is transferred to the stretchable sheet to form the desired image.

[0049] Furthermore, when the image formation method using a thermal transfer printer is sublimation transfer using dye as the coloring material, if the stretchable sheet 13 contains a resin capable of dyeing the sublimation dye, the dye is transferred onto the stretchable sheet 13 to form the desired image.

[0050] The resin capable of adsorbing sublimation dyes contained in the stretchable sheet 13 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include polyolefin resins such as polypropylene, halogenated resins such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyvinylidene chloride, vinyl resins such as polyvinyl acetate, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, or polyacrylic ester, polyester resins such as polyethylene terephthalate or polybutylene terephthalate, polystyrene resins, polyamide resins, copolymers of olefins such as ethylene or propylene with other vinyl polymers, cellulose resins such as ionomers or cellulose diastase, polycarbonate, acrylic resins, polyurethane, polyamide, polyimide, and styrene resin. The stretchable sheet 13 may contain one type of resin capable of adsorbing sublimation dyes alone or two or more types. Furthermore, the stretchable sheet 13 may contain a resin capable of adsorbing sublimation dyes and a resin that is not capable of adsorbing sublimation dyes.

[0051] Among these, it is preferable that the stretchable sheet 13 contains polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin, urethane resin, polyethylene resin, polyester resin, acrylic resin, or cellulose resin as a resin capable of adsorbing sublimation dyes, and it is particularly preferable that the stretchable sheet 13 contains polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin, urethane resin, or polyethylene resin. These resins have high dye adsorption properties among resins capable of adsorbing sublimation dyes. Among these, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin has high dye adsorption properties.

[0052] Furthermore, the stretchable sheet 13 may contain, in addition to the resin capable of dyeing the sublimation dye, a plasticizer for adjusting the elongation percentage of the stretchable sheet 13 within the above range. By incorporating a plasticizer into the stretchable sheet 13, the elongation percentage of the stretchable sheet 13 can be easily adjusted within the desired range.

[0053] Examples of plasticizers include phthalate-based plasticizers such as dioctyl phthalate, diisononyl phthalate, octyldecyl phthalate, and diisodecyl phthalate, adipic acid-based plasticizers such as di-2-ethylhexyl adipate, diisononyl adipate, and diisodecyl adipate, di-2-ethylhexyl azelaate, di-2-ethylhexyl sebacate, tricresyl phosphate, trixylyl phosphate, tributyl phosphate, tri-2-ethylhexyl phosphate, octyldiphenyl phosphate, chlorinated paraffin, chlorinated fatty acid ester, and epoxidized soybean oil. The stretchable sheet 13 may contain one type of plasticizer or two or more types of lubricants.

[0054] There are no particular limitations on the amount of plasticizer contained, and it may be set appropriately depending on the type of resin that can be dyed with the sublimation dye contained in the stretchable sheet 13 .

[0055] By positioning the stretchable sheet 13 on the outermost surface of the sealing portion 15, a thermal transfer image can be formed on the surface of the stretchable sheet 13 using a sublimation thermal transfer method without providing any other layer for receiving the sublimation dye, such as a receiving layer.

[0056] In other words, according to the seal-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet used in one embodiment of the image forming method, there is no particular need to provide any other layer on the elastic sheet 13, and by positioning the elastic sheet 13 on the outermost surface, manufacturing costs can be reduced.

[0057] When the seal part 15 including the stretchable sheet 13 on which the thermal transfer image is formed is applied to the skin, the occurrence of wrinkles can be suppressed. In particular, even if the surface to which the seal part 15 is applied has a curvature, the occurrence of wrinkles can be suppressed when the seal part 15 is applied. In other words, the seal part 15 can be easily attached to the skin.

[0058] The stretchable sheet 13 may contain, in addition to resins other than those exemplified above and plasticizers added as needed, additives such as stabilizers, titanium oxide, silica, and the like.

[0059] The stretchable sheet 13 may be transparent. It is sufficient that the sheet is transparent enough to allow light to pass through, and so long as this is the case, the sheet may be translucent or colored and transparent. The stretchable sheet 13 may also have opacity. In this specification, the term "transparency" used with respect to the stretchable sheet 13 refers to transparency sufficient to allow light irradiated from one side of the base sheet through the stretchable sheet 13 to be visible from the other side, and refers to a visible light transmittance within a measurement wavelength range of 380 nm to 780 nm, for example. Visible light transmittance is determined as the average value of the transmittance at each wavelength measured using a spectrophotometer (Shimadzu Corporation's "UV-3100PC," compliant with JIS K 0115) within a measurement wavelength range of 380 nm to 780 nm.

[0060] There are no particular limitations on the method for forming the stretchable sheet 13, but the stretchable sheet 13 can be formed by mixing the resins exemplified above, plasticizers added as needed, and optional additives in any desired ratios and thermally processing them so that the elongation of the resulting stretchable sheet 13 is the desired value. Alternatively, instead of thermal processing, the stretchable sheet 13 can be formed by dispersing or dissolving the resins exemplified above, plasticizers added as needed, and optional additives in an appropriate solvent, and applying and drying the resulting coating liquid onto the adhesive layer 12 or any layer provided on the adhesive layer 12.

[0061] The seal-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet 10 used in one embodiment of the image forming method may have an optional layer between the adhesive layer 12 and the elastic sheet 13, or on the elastic sheet 13, to enhance the decorativeness of the seal portion 15 or to impart a specified function to the seal portion 15.

[0062] Although it is not excluded that any layer may be provided on the elastic sheet 13, as described above, the elastic sheet 13 can be located on the outermost surface of the seal-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet 10.

[0063] <Receptor layer> When the image formation method using a thermal transfer printer is sublimation transfer using a dye as a coloring material, instead of incorporating a resin capable of dyeing the sublimation dye into the stretchable sheet 13, a dye-receiving layer 14 capable of receiving the dye may be provided on the stretchable sheet 13. The components of the receiving layer are not particularly limited, and examples include polyolefins such as polypropylene; halogenated resins such as polyvinyl chloride or polyvinylidene chloride; vinyl resins such as polyvinyl acetate, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, or polyacrylic ester; polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate or polybutylene terephthalate; copolymers of polyolefins such as ethylene or propylene with other vinyl polymers; cellulose resins such as ionomers or cellulose diacetate; and solvent-based resins such as polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyamide, and acrylic resin. These materials may be used alone or in combination. The thickness of the receiving layer is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.5 μm to 10 μm, and more preferably 2 μm to 6 μm. [Example]

[0064] The present disclosure will now be described in more detail with reference to examples, but the present disclosure is not limited to these examples.

[0065] (Preparation of sticker-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet) A silicone release agent (Shin-Etsu Silicone KS847) was applied to the surface of a PET sheet (Toray Miller S10 100 μm) to create a release sheet. An acrylic weak adhesive was applied to this release sheet to form a 15 μm thick adhesive layer. A 50 μm thick polyvinyl chloride film (stretchable sheet) was then laminated onto the adhesive layer to create a long, strip-shaped, seal-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet with the release sheet, adhesive layer, and stretchable sheet layered in that order.

[0066] (Half cut processing) Using a Thomson-type half-cut processing machine, half cuts were made in the seal-type thermal transfer image-receiving sheet, reaching from the surface of the elastic sheet to the middle of the release sheet, and bridge sections were created to form rectangular frame shapes F1, F2, F3, and F5 and a circular frame shape F4 with the dimensions shown in Figure 10.

[0067] Using any of the rectangular frame shapes F1, F2, F3, and F5, the number of bridge portions and / or bridge width per side of the leading edge and trailing edge in the longitudinal direction MD (a pair of edges parallel to the lateral direction TD) were changed to produce the frame parts of Examples 1 to 3, Examples 5 to 13, and Comparative Examples 1 to 3 and 5 to 10. The frame shape, number and width of bridge portions per edge, ratio of the total width of the bridge portions to the length of the edge, and number of bridges per 10 mm edge of each Example and Comparative Example are as shown in Table 1.

[0068] A bridge portion of Example 4 was produced by providing one bridge portion with a width of 0.3 mm at each of the front and rear ends of a circular bridge shape F4. A bridge portion of Comparative Example 4 was also produced by not providing a bridge portion in the circular bridge shape F4. As described above, in a circular bridge shape, the arc having a central angle of 45° centered on the front end in the longitudinal direction MD is considered to be the front edge side, and the arc having a central angle of 45° centered on the rear end in the longitudinal direction MD is considered to be the rear edge side (see FIG. 9). In Example 4 and Comparative Example 4, the number of bridges per side is one.

[0069] (Production of skin design stickers) The sticker-type thermal transfer image-receiving sheets having frame portions of Examples 1 to 13 and Comparative Examples 1 to 10 were set in a thermal transfer printer (DS620, manufactured by Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.), and images were printed on each frame portion to produce skin design stickers.

[0070] <<Evaluation of peeling during transportation>> The frame of the seal-type thermal transfer image-receiving sheet was observed as it was conveyed through the thermal transfer printer during printing, and peeling during conveyance was evaluated based on the following evaluation criteria. The results are shown in Table 1.

[0071] "Evaluation Criteria" A: 100 sheets were printed and no peeling occurred. B: 100 sheets printed, 1 or 2 sheets peeled off C: 100 sheets printed and 3 or more sheets peeled off

[0072] <<Frame deformation evaluation>> The frame of the prepared skin design sticker was peeled off from the release sheet and observed, and the degree of deformation of the frame was evaluated based on the following evaluation criteria. The results are shown in Table 1.

[0073] "Evaluation Criteria" A: No deformation B: A little stretched, but no practical problems C: Largely deformed

[0074] [Table 1]

[0075] In the above embodiment, rectangular or circular link portions have been described, but the shape of the link portion is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in FIG. 11(a), the link portion may be a concave polygonal shape having multiple isosceles triangular protrusions 21 extending outward from the circumference of the circular link portion. As shown in FIGS. 11(b) and 11(c), the apex corners of the protrusions 21 may be rounded. The protrusions 21 may not be provided on the entire circumference, but only on a portion of it. Such a rounded apex corner is referred to as a "corner R." In the following description, for example, a corner R of 1.0 mm means that the curve of the apex angle has a radius of 1.0 mm.

[0076] As shown in Figures 12(a) to 12(d), the frame may be a (substantially) pentagonal (home base-shaped) frame having a (substantially) rectangular portion 22 and a (substantially) triangular portion 23 connected to the rectangular portion 22. In Figures 12(a) and 12(c), the rectangular portion 22 and the triangular portion 23 are aligned in the longitudinal direction MD, while in Figures 12(b) and 12(d), the rectangular portion 22 and the triangular portion 23 are aligned in the lateral direction TD. The corners of the pentagon of frame 4B shown in Figure 12(c) and frame 4C shown in Figure 12(d) are rounded.

[0077] 13(a), a link portion may be formed having a pair of sides H5, H6 parallel to the longitudinal direction MD, a concavely curved semicircular arc side H7 connecting the tips of the sides H5, H6, and a convexly curved semicircular arc side H8 connecting the rear ends of the sides H5, H6. As shown in FIG. 13(b), a link portion 4D may be formed in which the intersection of the side H7 and the sides H5, H6 is rounded.

[0078] In the link portion shown in Fig. 11(a), a bridge portion 3 is provided at the end of the apex side of one of the two oblique sides that form the apex angle of each protrusion 21. When the apex corner of the protrusion 21 is rounded, as shown in Fig. 11(b), the bridge portion 3 may be provided at the apex instead of the oblique side for the protrusions 21 on the leading and trailing end sides in the longitudinal direction MD, or the bridge portion 3 may be provided at the apex of all of the protrusions 21, as in the link portion 4A shown in Fig. 11(c).

[0079] 12(a) and 12(b), in a pentagonal link portion, a bridge portion 3 is provided at the end portion on the apex side of at least one of the two oblique sides of the triangular portion 23 and at one of the three sides of the rectangular portion 22 that is parallel to the short direction TD. In link portions 4B and 4C in which the apex corners of the triangular portion 23 are rounded, a bridge portion 3 may be provided at the apex of the triangular portion 23, as shown in FIGS. 12(c) and 12(d).

[0080] In the frame part shown in Fig. 13(a), bridge parts 3 are provided slightly inside both ends of curved side H7 and at the midpoint of curved side H8. In the frame part 4D shown in Fig. 13(b), bridge parts 3 are provided at both ends of rounded side H7.

[0081] The present disclosure will now be described in more detail with reference to examples, but the present disclosure is not limited to these examples.

[0082] Using a Thomson-type half-cut processing machine, half cuts were formed in the same seal-type thermal transfer image-receiving sheet as in Example 1, and a frame portion 4A shown in Figure 11(c) was produced with the following dimensions, which was used as the frame portion of Example 14. Similarly, a frame portion 4B shown in Figure 12(c), a frame portion 4C shown in Figure 12(d), and a frame portion 4D shown in Figure 13(b) were produced with the following dimensions, which were used as the frame portions of Examples 15 to 17.

[0083] Example 14 Angle formed by the oblique sides where the base ends of adjacent convex portions 21 are connected: 90° Length of the oblique side of the protrusion 21: 30 mm (corner R = 1.0 mm) Bridge width: 0.3mm

[0084] Examples 15 and 16 Shape of rectangular portion 22: Square with a side length of 15 mm (corner R = 1.0 mm) Shape of triangular portion 23: equilateral triangle with side length of 15 mm and angle R = 1.0 mm Bridge width: 0.3mm

[0085] Example 17 Length of sides H5 and H6: 38.5mm Curved sides H7 and H8: semicircular arc with a diameter of 15 mm (corner R = 1.0 mm) Bridge width: 0.3mm

[0086] Comparative Example 11 A link portion of Comparative Example 11 was produced in the same manner as in Example 14, except that the bridge portions along the oblique sides of the two protrusions 21 on the rear end side in the longitudinal direction MD were omitted.

[0087] Comparative Example 12 A link portion of Comparative Example 12 was produced in the same manner as in Example 17, except that one of the bridge portions at both ends of the curved side H7 was omitted.

[0088] (Production of skin design stickers) The sticker-type thermal transfer image-receiving sheets having frame portions of Examples 14 to 17 and Comparative Examples 11 and 12 were set in a thermal transfer printer (DS620, manufactured by Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.), and images were printed on each frame portion to produce skin design stickers.

[0089] <<Evaluation of peeling during transportation>> The frame of the seal-type thermal transfer image-receiving sheet was observed as it was conveyed through the thermal transfer printer during printing, and peeling during conveyance was evaluated based on the following evaluation criteria. The results are shown in Table 2.

[0090] "Evaluation Criteria" A: 100 sheets were printed and no peeling occurred. B: 100 sheets printed, 1 or 2 sheets peeled off C: 100 sheets printed and 3 or more sheets peeled off

[0091] <<Frame deformation evaluation>> The frame of the prepared skin design sticker was peeled off from the release sheet and observed, and the degree of deformation of the frame was evaluated based on the following evaluation criteria. The results are shown in Table 2.

[0092] "Evaluation Criteria" A: No deformation B: A little stretched, but no practical problems C: Largely deformed

[0093] [Table 2]

[0094] Although the present disclosure has been described in detail with reference to specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0095] 1 Detection hole 2 Half Cut 3 Bridge section 4 Frame section 5 Remaining part 10. Sticker-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet 11 Peel-off sheet 12 Adhesive layer 13 Elastic Sheet 14 Receptor 15 Seal part 16 Back layer 17 Base material 18 Release layer 19 Primer layer

Claims

1. A seal-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet in which a release sheet and a seal portion are integrated, the seal portion is provided so as to be releasable from the release sheet, the sealing portion has a laminated structure in which an adhesive layer and a stretchable sheet are laminated in this order from the release sheet side, The seal portion is divided into a frame portion and a remaining portion by a half cut, The half cut surrounding the link portion is discontinuous due to a bridge portion, The bridge portions are provided at the leading and trailing ends in the longitudinal direction of the seal type thermal transfer image receiving sheet.

2. the link portion has a pair of first and second sides parallel to the longitudinal direction, a third side connecting one ends of the first and second sides, and a fourth side connecting the other ends of the first and second sides, 2. The seal-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet according to claim 1, wherein the bridge portions are provided in the half-cut portion along the third side and the half-cut portion along the fourth side.

3. The seal-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet according to claim 2 , wherein the third side and the fourth side extend perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

4. 4. The seal-type thermal transfer image-receiving sheet according to claim 3, wherein the number of bridge portions provided per 10 mm of half-cut length along the third side or the fourth side is 0.2 or more and less than 1.

5. The seal type thermal transfer image receiving sheet according to claim 2 , wherein the third side or the fourth side is curved.

6. 2. The seal-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet according to claim 1, wherein the frame portion is circular.

7. 2. The seal-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet according to claim 1, wherein detection holes penetrating the seal portion and the release sheet are provided at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction.

8. 2. The seal-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet according to claim 1, wherein the bridge portion has a width in a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the sheet of 0.1 mm to 0.8 mm.

9. 2. The seal-type thermal transfer image-receiving sheet according to claim 1, wherein the stretchable sheet has an elongation percentage of 10% or more and 10,000% or less.

10. A seal-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet in which a release sheet and a seal portion are integrated, the seal portion is provided so as to be releasable from the release sheet, the sealing portion has a laminated structure in which an adhesive layer and a stretchable sheet are laminated in this order from the release sheet side, The seal portion is divided into a frame portion and a remaining portion by a half cut, The half cut surrounding the link portion is discontinuous due to a bridge portion, The link portion has a circular portion and a plurality of triangular protrusions that protrude outward from the circumference of the circular portion, A seal-type thermal transfer image-receiving sheet, wherein a bridge portion is provided on one of two oblique sides that form the apex angle of the convex portion.

Images