Thermal transfer printer and method for manufacturing printed matter

Abstract

To sufficiently foam foamed particles using a thermal head.SOLUTION: A thermal transfer printer has a thermal head and a platen roller, which overlaps a thermal transfer sheet provided with a foamed particle-containing layer containing foamed particles and an image receiving sheet, conveys the overlapped sheets between the thermal head and the platen roller, makes the thermal head heat the thermal transfer sheet, and transfers the foamed particle-containing layer to the image receiving sheet in a predetermined pattern shape. The thermal transfer printer comprises: a heating part, provided to be able to approach and separate from the platen roller, which heats the platen roller when approaching the platen roller; and a control part that moves the heating part so that the heating part approaches the platen roller, before making the thermal head heat the foamed particle-containing layer on the image receiving sheet to foam the foamed particles, after transferring the foamed particle-containing layer onto the image receiving sheet.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a thermal transfer printer and a method for producing a printed matter. [Background technology]

[0002] Various thermal transfer methods using dyes or pigments have been proposed. Prints produced by thermal transfer methods are used for a wide range of purposes, including photo cards such as ID cards and credit cards, composite photos used in amusement facilities, and trading cards.

[0003] In recent years, there has been an increase in printed matter that has a simple three-dimensional shape with unevenness, achieved by heating a card containing foam particles in a desired pattern to form expanded portions. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a method of forming a three-dimensional image by applying foam capsules that expand when heated to the surface of a recording medium and then heating it with a thermal head.

[0004] However, in the conventional method, the thermal energy from the thermal head is diffused from the recording medium such as the image receiving sheet, making it difficult to sufficiently expand the foam particles. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6126731 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a thermal transfer printer and a method for producing a printed matter that can sufficiently expand foam beads using a thermal head. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The thermal transfer printer disclosed herein is a thermal transfer printer having a thermal head and a platen roller, in which a thermal transfer sheet provided with a foamed bead-containing layer containing foamed beads and an image receiving sheet are superimposed and transported between the thermal head and the platen roller, and the thermal head heats the thermal transfer sheet to transfer the foamed bead-containing layer to the image receiving sheet in a predetermined pattern shape, and is equipped with a heating unit that is arranged to be able to approach or separate from the platen roller and heats the platen roller when it approaches, and a control unit that moves the heating unit so as to approach the platen roller after the foamed bead-containing layer is transferred onto the image receiving sheet and before the foamed bead-containing layer on the image receiving sheet is heated by the thermal head to foam the foamed beads.

[0008] The method for producing a print according to the present disclosure includes the steps of: conveying a thermal transfer sheet provided with a foamed particle-containing layer containing foamed particles and an image receiving sheet between a thermal head and a platen roller; heating the thermal transfer sheet with the thermal head; and transferring the foamed particle-containing layer onto the image receiving sheet in a predetermined pattern; and heating the foamed particle-containing layer on the image receiving sheet with the thermal head while heating the platen roller by bringing a heating unit close to the platen roller. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present disclosure, the expanded particles can be sufficiently expanded using a thermal head. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a thermal transfer printer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a thermal transfer sheet. [Figure 3] FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the image-receiving sheet, and FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the image-receiving sheet. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a method for heating a platen roller. [Figure 5] FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the image-receiving sheet, and FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the image-receiving sheet. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a thermal transfer sheet. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. To clarify the description, the drawings may show the width, thickness, etc. of each part more schematically than in the actual embodiment. However, these are merely examples and are not intended to limit the interpretation of the present disclosure. In the present specification and drawings, elements similar to those previously described with reference to the preceding drawings are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions may be omitted as appropriate.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a thermal transfer printer according to this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a thermal transfer sheet 1 used in the thermal transfer printer.

[0013] The thermal transfer sheet 1 has a yellow colorant layer 11, a magenta colorant layer 12, a cyan colorant layer 13, a foamed particle-containing layer 14, and a heating release layer 15 provided in this order on one surface of a substrate 10.

[0014] The coloring materials contained in the yellow coloring material layer 11, the magenta coloring material layer 12, and the cyan coloring material layer 13 are, for example, sublimation dyes.

[0015] The expanded bead-containing layer 14 contains expanded beads. The expanded beads have an outer shell made of a thermoplastic resin and a foaming agent encapsulated in the outer shell that vaporizes when heated. Therefore, the expanded beads expand when heated.

[0016] The heating release layer 15 is a layer formed by applying a heat-resistant, high-release material to one surface of the substrate 10 .

[0017] In the example shown in Figure 2, when an assembly consisting of "five panels" of a yellow color material layer 11, a magenta color material layer 12, a cyan color material layer 13, a foamed particle-containing layer 14, and a heating release layer 15 is defined as "one unit," this "one unit" is repeatedly provided on one side of the substrate 10 of the thermal transfer sheet 1.

[0018] The thermal transfer sheet 1 may further include other layers. For example, a back layer may be provided on the other surface of the substrate 10. A release layer may be provided between the expanded bead-containing layer 14 and the substrate 10. An adhesive layer may be provided on the expanded bead-containing layer 14. A heat-fusible ink layer may be further provided in surface order between the cyan colorant layer 13 and the expanded bead-containing layer 14.

[0019] 1, the thermal transfer printer includes a thermal head 2, a platen roller 3, a supply unit 4 that supplies (feeds out) the thermal transfer sheet 1, a recovery unit 5 that recovers the used thermal transfer sheet 1, a cutter 8 that cuts the image-receiving sheet 6 to a predetermined size, and a heating unit 9 that heats the platen roller 3. The operation of each unit of the thermal transfer printer is controlled by a control unit 20.

[0020] When the back surface of the image receiving sheet 6 is directly heated by the heating unit 9, if the heating unit 9 is, for example, a thermal head or a ceramic heater, it is inflexible, so the contact area between the thermal head 2 on the thermal transfer sheet 1 side and the thermal transfer sheet 1 becomes significantly smaller, making it easier for print blurring to occur, and also causing problems such as head wear and image receiving sheet wear dust due to contact between the back surface of the image receiving sheet 6 and the thermal head.

[0021] When the heating unit 9 is a heating roller and heats the image-receiving sheet 6 to, for example, 30 to 40°C, there is no effect on bleeding or shelf life of the dye transferred to the receiving layer of the image-receiving sheet 6, and the roller can be kept in constant contact with the image-receiving sheet 6. However, when the expanded particle-containing layer is maintained at a high foaming temperature for a predetermined time to expand the expanded particles, the heating roller must be heated to a high temperature, and the heating roller is in constant contact at a high temperature while the dye is being transferred, which creates the problem of bleeding of the dye transferred to the receiving layer of the image-receiving sheet 6 and affecting shelf life.

[0022] To avoid this, one possible method is to raise the temperature of the heating roller from a low temperature to a high temperature after transferring the foamed bead-containing layer, and then, after the foamed beads have expanded, lower the temperature of the heating roller from a high temperature to a low temperature for the next printing.However, this method requires waiting time for the temperature to rise and fall, which poses the problem of reduced productivity.

[0023] In consideration of these issues, in this embodiment, the heating unit 9 is movable toward and away from the platen roller 3. A ceramic heater, for example, is used for the heating unit 9. For example, the heating unit 9 is in a heat-generating state while the thermal transfer printer is in operation, and can heat and increase the temperature of the platen roller 3 by approaching it. For example, the platen roller 3 is heated and increased in temperature so that the temperature is higher than the expansion start temperature of the expanded beads contained in the expanded bead-containing layer 14. The platen roller 3 is preferably heated to a temperature approximately 20°C to 60°C higher than the expansion start temperature. The heating unit 9 approaching the platen roller 3 may contact the surface of the platen roller 3. When the heating unit 9 moves away from the platen roller 3, the platen roller 3 is cooled and decreased in temperature. Preferably, the temperature of the platen roller 3 is decreased to approximately 10°C to 40°C before the next sheet is printed.

[0024] In this way, by configuring the heating unit 9 to approach and move away from the platen roller 3, the platen roller can be made smaller in diameter (reduced in heat capacity) and the waiting time for heating and cooling can be shortened compared to when using a heating roller with a built-in heating unit such as a near-infrared lamp. Because it takes longer for the roller to cool down than it does to heat up, the waiting time can be shortened by using methods such as cooling the surface of the platen roller with cooling air when cooling, cooling by bringing a cooling roller equipped with a Peltier element or the like into contact with the surface of the platen roller, or making the platen roller shaft hollow and cooling with cooling air.

[0025] The installation position of the heating unit 9 is not particularly limited, but for example, it may be on the opposite side of the platen roller 3 from the thermal head 2 and approach / move away from the platen roller 3.

[0026] The thermal transfer sheet 1 fed from the supply unit 4 is superimposed on the image-receiving sheet 6 between the thermal head 2 and the platen roller 3. The image-receiving sheet 6 has a substrate 60 and a receiving layer 61 provided on one side of the substrate 60 (see FIG. 3A), and is fed from an image-receiving sheet roll 7. Any known image-receiving sheet can be used as the image-receiving sheet 6.

[0027] Based on a control signal from the control unit 20, the thermal head 2 heats the yellow color material layer 11, the magenta color material layer 12, and the cyan color material layer 13 of the thermal transfer sheet 1 in order from the back side, transferring the dye to the receiving layer 61 of the image receiving sheet 6 to form an image.

[0028] Next, the thermal head 2 heats the foamed bead-containing layer 14 of the thermal transfer sheet 1 based on a control signal from the control unit 20, and transfers the foamed bead-containing layer 14 in a predetermined pattern shape onto the receiving layer 61 of the image-receiving sheet 6, as shown in Figures 3A and 3B. For example, the foamed bead-containing layer 14 is transferred onto the image formed on the receiving layer 61 or in the vicinity of the image.

[0029] The heat energy applied to the thermal transfer sheet 1 when transferring the expanded bead-containing layer 14 is set to a level that does not cause the transferred expanded beads to expand.

[0030] 4, after the foamed bead-containing layer 14 is transferred, the control unit 20 controls the heating unit 9 to move closer to the platen roller 3, thereby heating the platen roller 3. The recovery unit 5 takes up a predetermined amount of the thermal transfer sheet 1, and the thermal transfer sheet 1 and the image receiving sheet 6 are superimposed on each other so that the heating release layer 15 of the thermal transfer sheet 1 faces the transfer area of ​​the foamed bead-containing layer of the image receiving sheet 6.

[0031] Then, the thermal head 2 heats the foamed bead-containing layer 14 on the image-receiving sheet 6 through the heating release layer 15 of the thermal transfer sheet 1 based on a control signal from the control unit 20. By heating, the foamed beads in the foamed bead-containing layer 14 expand, as shown in Figures 5A and 5B.

[0032] Since the platen roller 3 is heated by the heating section 9, the thermal energy from the thermal head 2 is prevented from being used to heat the image receiving sheet 6 or the platen roller 3, and sufficient heat is applied to the foam particles to heat and expand them, thereby forming an expanded section with a large step.

[0033] After the expansion portion is formed, the image-receiving sheet 6 is cut to a predetermined size with a cutter 8 to produce a print P. The heating portion 9 is separated from the platen roller 3 so that the temperature of the platen roller 3 has dropped to a predetermined value by the time the next image is formed.

[0034] Thus, according to this embodiment, when expanding the foaming beads, the image receiving sheet 6 can be heated from the back side (substrate 60 side) as well by the platen roller 3 heated by the heating section 9, so that the thermal energy from the thermal head 2 can be efficiently applied to the foaming beads, allowing them to expand sufficiently.

[0035] If the thermal energy supplied from the thermal head 2 is excessive, the expanded beads in contact with the thermal head 2 will be overheated, causing damage to the expanded beads and preventing the desired expansion amount from being achieved. However, in this embodiment, the thermal energy supplied from the thermal head 2 can be used mainly to raise the temperature of the expanded beads, so it is sufficient to supply appropriate thermal energy, and overheating of the expanded beads can be prevented.

[0036] When a heat roll mechanism is used to expand the foamed beads, the entire image-receiving sheet 6 is heated, not just the foamed bead-containing layer 14 on the image-receiving sheet 6, which can cause deterioration such as bleeding in the image formed on the receiving layer 61. Furthermore, when a heat roll mechanism is used, the thermal transfer printer becomes larger and costs increase. However, in this embodiment, the thermal head 2 is used, which makes it possible to selectively heat the foamed bead-containing layer 14 on the image-receiving sheet 6, thereby suppressing deterioration of the image formed on the receiving layer 61. Furthermore, since it is only necessary to provide a heating unit 9 that heats the platen roller 3, the cost of the thermal transfer printer can be reduced compared to when a heat roll mechanism is used.

[0037] In addition, when the foamed beads are expanded, a heating release layer 15 is interposed between the thermal head 2 and the image-receiving sheet 6 (the foamed bead-containing layer 14 on the image-receiving sheet 6), which prevents the foamed bead-containing layer 14 from being damaged by frictional shear load and prevents the softened foamed bead-containing layer 14 from adhering to the thermal head 2 and causing stains.

[0038] The heating process of the foamed bead-containing layer 14 on the image-receiving sheet 6 (expanding process of the foamed beads) may be started a predetermined time after the heating unit 9 is brought close to the platen roller 3. This allows the foamed beads to expand in a state where the temperature of the platen roller 3 has been sufficiently increased. A temperature sensor may be provided to measure the temperature of the platen roller 3, and the expanding process of the foamed beads may be started after the temperature of the platen roller 3 has reached a predetermined value.

[0039] 6, a protective layer 16 may be provided between the cyan colorant layer 13 and the foamed bead-containing layer 14, and an assembly of six panels may be treated as one unit. In this case, after an image is formed on the receiving layer 61 of the image-receiving sheet 6, the protective layer 16 is transferred onto the receiving layer 61. The foamed bead-containing layer 14 is transferred onto the protective layer 16 that has been transferred to the image-receiving sheet 6.

[0040] The heating release layer 15 may be omitted, and during the foaming process of the foamed beads, the area where the surface of the substrate 10 (the release layer provided between the substrate 10 and the protective layer 16) of the thermal transfer sheet 1 is exposed by the transfer of the protective layer 16 may be interposed between the thermal head 2 and the foamed bead-containing layer 14.

[0041] Next, the structure of each layer of the thermal transfer sheet 1 will be described.

[0042] (base material) The substrate 10 of the thermal transfer sheet 1 is not limited in any way, and any conventionally known material in the field of thermal transfer sheets can be appropriately selected and used. Examples include stretched or unstretched films of plastics such as highly heat-resistant polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyphenylene sulfide, polyether ketone, or polyether sulfone, polypropylene, polycarbonate, cellulose acetate, polyethylene derivatives, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polystyrene, polyamide, polyimide, polymethylpentene, or ionomers. Composite films made by laminating two or more of these materials can also be used. The thickness of the substrate is not particularly limited, but a range of 2 μm to 10 μm is preferred.

[0043] (Foam particle-containing layer) The expanded bead-containing layer 14 contains expanded beads and a binder resin. The expanded beads are heat-expandable microspheres composed of a thermoplastic resin shell and a blowing agent (core) encapsulated within the shell. The expanded beads have a core-shell structure, and the microspheres as a whole exhibit heat expandability (the property of expanding the entire microsphere when heated). The thermoplastic resin is a polymer of a polymerizable component.

[0044] The polymerizable component refers to a monomer having at least one polymerizable group in its molecule, which polymerizes to form the thermoplastic resin that forms the shell of the expanded beads. Examples of polymerizable components include non-crosslinkable monomers having one reactive carbon-carbon double bond (hereinafter simply referred to as non-crosslinkable monomers) and crosslinkable monomers having two or more reactive carbon-carbon double bonds (hereinafter simply referred to as crosslinkable monomers). The crosslinkable monomers can introduce a crosslinked structure into the polymer. The reactive carbon-carbon double bond here refers to a carbon-carbon double bond that exhibits radical reactivity, and does not refer to carbon-carbon double bonds in aromatic rings such as benzene rings or naphthalene rings, but includes carbon-carbon double bonds contained in vinyl groups, (meth)acryloyl groups, allyl groups, vinylene groups, etc. Here, the (meth)acryloyl group refers to an acryloyl group or a methacryloyl group.

[0045] The blowing agent is a component that vaporizes when heated. The blowing agent is not particularly limited, but examples thereof include hydrocarbons having 3 to 13 carbon atoms such as methane, ethane, propane, (iso)butane, (iso)pentane, (iso)hexane, (iso)heptane, (iso)octane, (iso)nonane, (iso)decane, (iso)undecane, (iso)dodecane, and (iso)tridecane, hydrocarbons having more than 13 but 20 or less carbon atoms such as (iso)hexadecane and (iso)eicosane, pseudocumene, petroleum ether, normal paraffins and isoparaffins having an initial boiling point of 150°C to 260°C and / or a distillation range of 70°C to 360°C, Examples of suitable compounds include hydrocarbons such as petroleum distillates such as vinylene; halogenated hydrocarbons having 1 to 12 carbon atoms such as methyl chloride, methylene chloride, chloroform, and carbon tetrachloride; fluorine-containing compounds such as hydrofluoroether; silanes having an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms such as tetramethylsilane, trimethylethylsilane, trimethylisopropylsilane, and trimethyl-n-propylsilane; and compounds that undergo thermal decomposition to generate gases when heated, such as azodicarbonamide, N,N'-dinitrosopentamethylenetetramine, and 4,4'-oxybis(benzenesulfonylhydrazide).

[0046] The blowing agent may be composed of one type of compound or a mixture of two or more types of compounds. The blowing agent may be linear, branched, or alicyclic, and is preferably aliphatic.

[0047] The encapsulation rate of the blowing agent in the expanded beads is defined as the percentage of the weight of the encapsulated blowing agent relative to the weight of the expanded beads. The encapsulation rate of the blowing agent is not particularly limited, but is preferably 2% by weight or more and 50% by weight or less relative to the weight of the expanded beads.

[0048] The expansion starting temperature of the expanded beads is not particularly limited, but is preferably at least 70° C. The average particle diameter (D50) of the expanded beads is 5 μm or more and 30 μm or less.

[0049] Examples of the binder resin contained in the expanded particle-containing layer include cellulose resin, vinyl resin, acrylic resin, and polyester.

[0050] The thickness of the expanded bead-containing layer before the expanded beads are expanded is preferably 5 μm or more and 50 μm or less, and the thickness of the expanded bead-containing layer after the expanded beads are expanded is preferably 250 μm or more and 600 μm or less.

[0051] (heat release layer) Examples of heat-resistant, highly releaseable materials that constitute the heating release layer 15 include waxes, silicone wax, silicone resin, silicone-modified resin, fluororesin, fluororesin-modified resin, polyvinyl alcohol, acrylic resin, thermally crosslinkable epoxy-amino resin, and thermally crosslinkable alkyd-amino resin, etc. The thickness of the heating release layer is approximately 0.5 μm or more and 5 μm or less.

[0052] (protective layer) Examples of binder resins constituting the protective layer 16 include polyester, polyester urethane resin, polycarbonate, acrylic resin, epoxy resin, acrylic urethane resin, silicone-modified resins of these resins, and mixtures of these resins. The protective layer may contain an ultraviolet-absorbing resin or an actinic ray-curable resin. Actinic rays refer to rays that chemically react with actinic ray-curable resins to promote polymerization, and specifically include visible light, ultraviolet light, X-rays, electron beams, α rays, β rays, γ rays, etc. A release layer may be provided between the substrate and the protective layer to improve the transferability of the protective layer.

[0053] (color material layer) The colorant layers 11 to 13 contain a colorant and a binder resin. Examples of the colorant contained in the colorant layers include diarylmethane dyes, triarylmethane dyes, thiazole dyes, merocyanine dyes, pyrazolone dyes, methine dyes, indoaniline dyes, pyrazolomethine dyes, azomethine dyes such as acetophenoneazomethine, pyrazoloazomethine, imidazoleazomethine, imidazoazomethine, and pyridoneazomethine, xanthene dyes, oxazine dyes, and cyanostyrene dyes such as dicyanostyrene and tricyanostyrene. Examples of the dyes include azo dyes such as benzene dyes, thiazine dyes, azine dyes, acridine dyes, benzene azo dyes, pyridone azo dyes, thiophene azo dyes, isothiazole azo dyes, pyrrole azo dyes, pyrazole azo dyes, imidazole azo dyes, thiadiazole azo dyes, triazole azo dyes, and disazo dyes, spiropyran dyes, indolinospiropyran dyes, fluoran dyes, rhodamine lactam dyes, naphthoquinone dyes, anthraquinone dyes, and quinophthalone dyes. The colorant layer may contain one type of colorant alone, or two or more types.

[0054] The binder resin contained in the colorant layer is not particularly limited, and can be appropriately selected from those having a certain degree of heat resistance and a suitable affinity for the sublimation dye. Examples of such binder resins include cellulose resins such as nitrocellulose, cellulose acetate butyrate, and cellulose acetate propionate, vinyl resins such as polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl butyral, and polyvinyl acetal, acrylic resins such as poly(meth)acrylate and poly(meth)acrylamide, polyurethane, polyamide, and polyester.

[0055] (peeling layer) A release layer can be provided on the substrate 10 to improve the transferability of the foamed bead-containing layer 14. Examples of binder resins constituting the release layer include thermoplastic resins exemplified by cellulose derivatives such as ethyl cellulose, nitrocellulose, and cellulose acetate; acrylic resins such as polymethyl methacrylate, polyethyl methacrylate, and polybutyl acrylate; vinyl resins such as polyvinyl chloride, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, and polyvinyl butyral; thermosetting resins exemplified by saturated or unsaturated polyester, polyurethane resin, thermosetting epoxy-amino copolymer, and thermosetting alkyd-amino copolymer (thermosetting aminoalkyd resin); silicone wax, silicone resin, silicone-modified resin, fluororesin, fluoro-modified resin, and polyvinyl alcohol.

[0056] (adhesive layer) An adhesive layer may be provided on the foamed bead-containing layer 14 to improve adhesion between the foamed bead-containing layer 14 and the image-receiving sheet 6. Examples of materials for the adhesive layer include cellulose derivatives such as ethyl cellulose and cellulose acetate butyrate, styrene copolymers such as polystyrene and poly-α-methylstyrene, acrylic resins such as polymethyl methacrylate, polyethyl methacrylate, and polyethyl acrylate, vinyl resins such as polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, and polyvinyl butyral, polyester, nylon resin, epoxy resin, and polyurethane.

[0057] (back layer) The material for the back layer is not limited, and examples thereof include cellulose resins such as cellulose acetate butyrate and cellulose acetate propionate, vinyl resins such as polyvinyl butyral and polyvinyl acetal, acrylic resins such as polymethyl methacrylate, polyethyl acrylate, polyacrylamide and acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer, natural or synthetic resins such as polyamide resin, polyamideimide, polyester, polyurethane, silicone-modified or fluorine-modified urethane, etc. The back layer may contain one type of these resins alone, or two or more types.

[0058] 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]

[0059] 1 heat transfer sheet 2 Thermal head 3 Platen roller 4 Supply section 5. Collection Section 6 Receiving sheet 9 Heating section 14. Foam particle-containing layer

Claims

1. A thermal transfer printer having a thermal head and a platen roller, in which a thermal transfer sheet provided with a foamed particle-containing layer containing foamed particles and an image receiving sheet are superimposed on each other and transported between the thermal head and the platen roller, and the thermal head heats the thermal transfer sheet to transfer the foamed particle-containing layer to the image receiving sheet in a predetermined pattern, a heating unit that is provided so as to be able to approach and move away from the platen roller and heats the platen roller when the heating unit approaches the platen roller; a control unit that moves the heating unit so as to approach the platen roller after the foamed bead-containing layer is transferred onto the image-receiving sheet and before the foamed bead-containing layer on the image-receiving sheet is heated by the thermal head to foam the foamed beads; A thermal transfer printer.

2. the thermal transfer sheet has the foamed particle-containing layer and the heating release layer provided in surface order, 2. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1, wherein the foamed particle-containing layer on the image-receiving sheet is heated by the thermal head through the heating release layer.

3. 3. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1, wherein the control unit moves the heating unit away from the platen roller after expanding the foam beads in the foam bead-containing layer on the image-receiving sheet.

4. a cooling unit that cools the platen roller, 4. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 3, wherein the cooling unit cools the platen roller after the heating unit has moved away from the platen roller.

5. 5. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1, wherein the heating unit is a ceramic heater.

6. a step of conveying a thermal transfer sheet provided with a foamed particle-containing layer containing foamed particles and an image receiving sheet between a thermal head and a platen roller, and heating the thermal transfer sheet with the thermal head to transfer the foamed particle-containing layer to the image receiving sheet in a predetermined pattern; a step of heating the foamed bead-containing layer on the image-receiving sheet with the thermal head to foam the foamed beads while bringing a heating unit close to the platen roller to heat the platen roller; A method for manufacturing a printed matter comprising the steps of:

7. the thermal transfer sheet has the foamed particle-containing layer and the heating release layer provided in surface order, The method for producing a print according to claim 6, wherein the foamed particle-containing layer on the image-receiving sheet is heated by the thermal head through the heating release layer.

Images