Prints

Abstract

To provide printed matter formed with a mark hardly visible at only a glance but visible without a particular instrument.SOLUTION: A method of producing printed matter includes: a process of preparing an intermediate transfer medium provided with a transfer layer on one side plane of a support medium releasably from the support medium, a thermal transfer sheet having a coloring material layer, and a convexoconcave-applied layer formed with a convexoconcave on the surface disposed on a substrate in a plane order, and a body to be transferred; a process of forming an image on the transfer layer by transferring the coloring materials contained in the coloring material layer of the thermal transfer sheet onto the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium; a process of transferring the convexoconcave-applied layer from the thermal transfer sheet onto the transfer layer formed with the image; and a process of producing printed matter by transferring the transfer layer and the convexoconcave-applied layer onto the body to be transferred from the intermediate transfer medium.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to printed matter.

Background Art

[0002] As one of printers for forming a thermal transfer image on an arbitrary object, an intermediate transfer medium in which a receiving layer is provided detachably on a base material and a thermal transfer sheet having a coloring material layer are used. A thermal transfer printer has been proposed in which a coloring material is transferred to the receiving layer of the intermediate transfer medium to form an image, and then a transfer layer including the receiving layer on which the image is formed is transferred from the intermediate transfer medium onto a transfer object.

[0003] Printed matter produced by this thermal transfer printer is used, for example, as ID cards such as driver's licenses, credit cards, cash cards, employee IDs, and identification cards. Since such printed matter may be forged, a security mark may be applied for the purpose of preventing forgery. A method is known in which a security mark is formed with an invisible ink and the security mark can be made visible by irradiating ultraviolet light or heating. However, it has been inconvenient because special equipment such as an ultraviolet irradiation device or a heating device is required. There is a demand for forming a security mark that is not visually recognized at first glance but can be visually recognized when one looks closely.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The object of this disclosure is to provide a printed material and a method for manufacturing the same, which have a mark that is difficult to see at first glance but is visible without the use of special equipment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present disclosure's method for manufacturing a printed object comprises the steps of: preparing an intermediate transfer medium having a transfer layer provided on one side of a support in a manner that it can be peeled off from the support; a thermal transfer sheet having a colorant layer provided sequentially on a substrate and a texture-granting layer having irregularities formed on its surface; and a transfer object; transferring the colorant contained in the colorant layer of the thermal transfer sheet to the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium to form an image on the transfer layer; transferring the texture-granting layer from the thermal transfer sheet onto the transfer layer on which the image has been formed; and manufacturing a printed object by transferring the transfer layer and the texture-granting layer from the intermediate transfer medium onto the transfer object.

[0007] The print of the present disclosure comprises a texture-imparting layer provided on one surface of the transfer object and having irregularities formed on its surface, and a transfer layer provided on the one surface of the transfer object so as to cover the texture-imparting layer and including a receiving layer on which an image is formed, wherein irregularities corresponding to the irregularities of the texture-imparting layer are formed on the surface of the transfer layer. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to this disclosure, a print can be obtained in which a mark that is difficult to see at first glance is formed, but is visible without the use of special equipment. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of a thermal transfer printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a plan view of the intermediate transfer medium according to the same embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in Figure 2. [Figure 4] This is a plan view of a heat transfer sheet. [Figure 5] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along the VV line. [Figure 6] Figures 6a and 6b are enlarged plan views of the layer that imparts the uneven surface. [Figure 7] This figure shows an example of transferring the textured layer. [Figure 8] This is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in Figure 9. [Figure 9] This is a plan view of the print. [Figure 10] This is a cross-sectional view of the layer that provides the uneven surface. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

[0011] As shown in Figure 1, a thermal transfer printer according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a printing unit 50 that uses a thermal transfer sheet 20 to print an image onto a receiving layer 14 (see Figure 3) provided on an intermediate transfer medium 10, and a transfer unit 60 that transfers the transfer layer T (see Figure 3) of the intermediate transfer medium 10 onto a transfer target 40.

[0012] Figure 2 is a plan view of the intermediate transfer medium 10, and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in Figure 2. The intermediate transfer medium 10 comprises a support 11 and a transfer layer T provided on one surface of the support 11. The transfer layer T has a laminated structure consisting of a release layer 12 provided on the support 11, a protective layer 13 laminated on the release layer 12, and a receiving layer 14 laminated on the protective layer 13. The receiving layer 14 is located on the outermost surface of the intermediate transfer medium 10 and is the furthest from the support 11 among the layers constituting the transfer layer T. Other layers may be added, such as a primer layer between the release layer 12 and the protective layer 13.

[0013] Detection marks 18 are formed on the intermediate transfer medium 10 at regular intervals. The area between the detection marks 15 forms one screen area 16, and the colorant is heat-transferred onto the receiving layer 14 to form an image. After image formation, the area containing the image on the transfer layer T is transferred onto the transfer target 40.

[0014] In the intermediate transfer medium 10, the area 16 for one screen is larger than the transfer area R transferred onto the transfer target 40. Therefore, among the area 16 for one screen, the peripheral portion located outside the transfer area R becomes a transfer layer remaining area 17 where the transfer layer T remains even after the transfer layer T is transferred onto the transfer target 40.

[0015] Conventionally known materials can be used for the support 11, the release layer 12, the protective layer 13, and the receiving layer 14.

[0016] Next, the thermal transfer sheet 20 used in a thermal transfer printer will be described. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the thermal transfer sheet 20, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V of FIG. 4. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the thermal transfer sheet 20 includes a base material 21, and a yellow (Y) layer 22, a magenta (M) layer 23, a cyan (C) layer 24, a black (BK) melting layer 25 (fusible ink layer), and an unevenness-providing layer 26 that are provided in this order on the same surface of the base material 21.

[0017] When an aggregate consisting of the "five panels" of the Y layer 22, the M layer 23, the C layer 24, the melting layer 25, and the unevenness-providing layer 26 is regarded as "one unit", this "one unit" is repeatedly provided on one surface of the base material 21 of the thermal transfer sheet 20. An image for one screen is formed on the receiving layer 14 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 using the panels of "one unit".

[0018] There is no particular limitation on the base material 21. For example, thin paper or stretched or unstretched plastic films can be used. The Y layer 22, the M layer 23, and the C layer 24 are dye layers containing a dye and a binder resin for supporting the dye. The dye and the binder resin can be appropriately selected from those conventionally known in the field of sublimation thermal transfer sheets and used.

[0019] The melting layer 25 only needs to be a layer that satisfies the condition of being melted and softened by heating and being transferable onto the transfer layer T. For example, it contains a pigment and a binder resin.

[0020] The textured layer 26 is a resin layer in which convex portions 26a, which are areas with a large film thickness, and concave portions 26b, which are areas with a small film thickness, are repeatedly provided, thereby forming fine irregularities on the surface. Examples of resins for the textured layer 26 include acrylic resin, polyester, and vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer. The textured layer 26 may be transparent or may contain colorants or light interference pigments such as pearl pigments. The textured layer 26 is formed by pattern coating the resin onto the substrate 21.

[0021] The protrusions 26a may be striped, as shown in Figure 6a, or dotted, as shown in Figure 6b. Figure 6a shows a configuration in which multiple stripes extend parallel to each other, but they may also be in a grid pattern. Furthermore, the protrusions 26a may be concentric circles.

[0022] The height of the protrusion 26a (thickness of the protrusion 26a - thickness of the recess 26b) is preferably 0.5 μm or more and 5.0 μm or less.

[0023] When the protrusions 26a are striped as shown in Figure 6a, the stripe width is preferably 50 μm or more and 250 μm or less. The distance between stripes is preferably 0.1 times or more and 0.5 times the stripe width.

[0024] When the protrusions 26a are dot-shaped as shown in Figure 6b, it is preferable that each dot is circular with a diameter of 50 μm to 250 μm in plan view, or rectangular with a side length of 50 μm to 250 μm. Furthermore, it is preferable that the area ratio of the protrusions is 50% to 95%.

[0025] The heat transfer sheet 20 may further have other colorant layers, such as a special color layer. The molten layer 25 may also be omitted.

[0026] Next, a method for manufacturing printed materials using this thermal transfer printer will be described. As shown in Figure 1, a roll of intermediate transfer medium 10 wound into a ribbon is loaded into the supply unit 70 (first supply unit) of the thermal transfer printer. The supply unit 70 rotates the roll of intermediate transfer medium 10, and sequentially transports the intermediate transfer medium 10 in a long strip shape to the printing unit 50 and the transfer unit 60.

[0027] The printing unit 50 includes a thermal head 53, a rotatable platen roll 54 provided below the thermal head 53, and a lifting mechanism (not shown) that allows the thermal head 53 to move up and down relative to the platen roll 54. The intermediate transfer medium 10 supplied from the supply unit 70 passes between the thermal head 53 and the platen roll 54.

[0028] Furthermore, in the printing unit 50, the thermal transfer sheet 20 is wound onto the take-up roll 52 via the guide roll 55 from the supply roll 51 (second supply unit) side, passing between the thermal head 53 and the platen roll 54, and then via the guide roll 56. Between the thermal head 53 and the platen roll 54, the Y layer 22, M layer 23, C layer 24, melting layer 25, and texture-granulating layer 26 of the thermal transfer sheet 20 are facing each other, as is the receiving layer 14 of the intermediate transfer medium 10.

[0029] The thermal head 53 heats the Y layer 22, M layer 23, and C layer 24 of the thermal transfer sheet 20 from the substrate 21 side, transferring the dye to the receiving layer 14 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 to form an image. The thermal head 53 also heats the molten layer 25 of the thermal transfer sheet 20 from the substrate 21 side, transferring the heat-meltable ink to the receiving layer 14 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 to form characters or patterns.

[0030] Next, the thermal head 53 heats the texture-forming layer 26 from the substrate 21 side of the heat transfer sheet 20 and transfers the texture-forming layer 26 onto the receiving layer 14 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 in a predetermined pattern, as shown in Figure 7. The texture-forming layer 26 is transferred only to a part of the transfer area R (see Figure 2). The shape of the transfer pattern of the texture-forming layer 26 is not particularly limited and can be a figure, letters, a logo, etc.

[0031] The intermediate transfer medium 10, on which image formation and the transfer of the relief layer 26 have been performed in the printing unit 50, is transported to the transfer unit 60 via the guide roll 72.

[0032] The transfer unit 60 comprises a heat roller 61 and a pressure roll 62 provided below the heat roller 61. The transfer unit 60 transfers the transfer layer T of the intermediate transfer medium 10 to the transfer object 40 supplied from the transfer object supply unit 42 (third supply unit).

[0033] The material to be transferred supply unit 42 includes a dispensing device that dispenses one sheet of material to be transferred 40 at a time in accordance with the transport of the intermediate transfer medium 10, and a conveyor device for transporting the dispensed material to be transferred 40. In this embodiment, the case in which a sheet of material to be transferred 40 is used will be described, but the material to be transferred may also be a long roll.

[0034] The transfer unit 60 heats the receiving layer 14 surface of the intermediate transfer medium 10, on which the image has been formed, by overlapping it with the object to be transferred 40 between the heat roller 61 and the pressure roll 62. As a result, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the unevenness-forming layer 26 is transferred to the object to be transferred 40 along with the transfer layer T of the transfer region R, and an image is formed on the object to be transferred 40. In addition, unevenness is formed on the surface of the transfer layer T transferred to the object to be transferred 40 so as to follow the unevenness of the unevenness-forming layer 26.

[0035] The transfer medium 40 (printed material) on which the image and relief are formed is transported to the discharge section 44 and stacked one by one. After the transfer layer T has been transferred to the transfer medium 40, the intermediate transfer medium 10 is wound onto the winding roll 71 (winding section).

[0036] Thus, according to this embodiment, it is possible to manufacture a printed product in which embossed marks are formed on the surface of the transfer layer T. The embossed marks on the surface of the transfer layer T are minute, formed by the embossing layer 26, and are difficult to see at a glance at the entire printed product, thus having little effect on the design of the printed product. However, if someone who knows the location of the embossed marks on the printed product looks closely, they can be seen with the naked eye. Therefore, it is possible to easily determine whether a printed product is genuine or counterfeit without using special equipment.

[0037] When transferring the textured layer 26 from the thermal transfer sheet 20 to the intermediate transfer medium 10, the position, size, shape, etc. of the textured layer 26 may be changed for each image. This makes it possible to manufacture printed materials with different positions of textured marks. Transfer information (position, size, shape, etc.) of the textured layer 26 may be stored in a database for each printed material. The authenticity of the printed material can be determined by checking whether there are textured marks at the positions indicated in the transfer information in the database.

[0038] The texture-forming layer 26 may contain foamed particles. The foamed particles have an outer shell made of thermoplastic resin and a foaming agent enclosed within the outer shell that vaporizes when heated. Therefore, the foamed particles expand when heated. After transferring the transfer layer T and the texture-forming layer 26 from the intermediate transfer medium 10 to the transfer target 40, the transfer target 40 is heated to expand the foamed particles in the texture-forming layer 26 and form irregularities on the surface of the transfer layer T.

[0039] In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the resin thickness differs between the protrusions 26a and the recesses 26b in the textured layer 26 of the heat transfer sheet 10. However, as shown in Figure 10, resin may not be provided in the recesses 26b, and the surface of the lower layer (for example, the substrate 21) may be exposed.

[0040] In the above embodiment, examples were described in which the protrusions 26a of the textured layer 26 are striped or dotted, but they may also be in the shape of letters or stars when viewed from above. Furthermore, the shape of the recesses 26b when viewed from above may also be in the shape of letters or stars when viewed from above.

[0041] Although this disclosure has been described in detail using specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications are possible without deviating from the intent and scope of this disclosure. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0042] 10 Intermediate transfer medium 11 Support 12. Exfoliation layer 13 Protective layer 14 Receptive layer 17. Transfer layer remaining area 18 detection marks 20 Heat Transfer Sheets 26 Unevenness imparting layer 40 Transferred object 50 Printing Department 60 Transfer section T transfer layer R transcription region

Claims

1. A surface-forming layer is provided on one side of the object to be transferred, and the surface has irregularities formed on it. A transfer layer is provided on one of the surfaces of the object to be transferred so as to cover the surface-forming layer, and includes a receptive layer on which an image is formed, Equipped with, The surface of the transfer layer has irregularities that correspond to the irregularities of the irregularity-granting layer. The unevenness-imparting layer is provided only on a part of one of the surfaces of the object to be transferred. The aforementioned textured layer has a plurality of stripe-shaped or dot-shaped protrusions, When the uneven layer has multiple stripe-shaped protrusions, the stripe width of the protrusions is 50 μm or more and 250 μm or less, and the distance between stripes is 0.1 times or more and 0.5 times the stripe width. When the uneven layer has multiple dot-shaped protrusions, each dot is circular in shape with a diameter of 50 μm to 250 μm in plan view, or rectangular with a side length of 50 μm to 250 μm, and the area ratio of the protrusions in the uneven layer is 50% to 95%. A printed object in which the raised or recessed portions of the aforementioned textured layer form characters or figures when viewed from above.

2. The print according to claim 1, wherein the height of the protrusion is 0.5 μm or more and 5.0 μm or less.

3. The print according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the layer that imparts the unevenness contains a coloring agent or a light interference pigment.

Images