Heat-Resistant Lubricating Layer for Thermal Sticking Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed printing in dye-diffusion transfer recording systems often results in thermal sticking and deformation of heat-sensitive transfer sheets, leading to image defects and printer head damage due to insufficient lubricity and material adherence.
Innovation Solution
A heat-sensitive transfer sheet with a base film, a dye layer containing heat-transferable dyes, and a heat-resistant lubricating layer with inorganic particles of specific hardness, size, and shape, which reduces thermal sticking and material adherence, ensuring proper sheet alignment and printer head protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-speed printing is performed, then productivity is improved, but thermal sticking and sheet deformation occur due to insufficient lubricity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the lubricating layer by controlling the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the binder resin to be 80°C or higher, and adjusting the thickness to 0.5-2.0 μm. This parameter optimization ensures the layer maintains its structural integrity at high printing speeds while providing sufficient lubrication to prevent thermal sticking and sheet deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite structure consisting of a binder resin with high glass transition temperature (such as polyvinyl butyral or polyvinyl acetoacetal) combined with specific inorganic fillers. This composite material provides both the thermal stability needed for high-speed printing and the lubricating properties required to prevent thermal sticking between the sheet and printer head.
2Reliability
If heat-resistant lubricating layer is formed to prevent thermal sticking, then reliability is improved, but material adheres to thermal printer head causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the glass transition temperature parameter of the binder resin (Tg ≥ 80°C) and controls the layer thickness (0.5-2.0 μm) to create a lubricating layer that releases materials cleanly at printing temperatures. This parameter control prevents material adherence to the thermal printer head while maintaining thermal sticking prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a lubricating layer with specific local properties: a thickness of 0.5-2.0 μm and binder resin with Tg ≥ 80°C, positioned between the sheet and printer head. This localized optimization ensures sufficient lubrication for thermal sticking prevention while the controlled thickness and material properties prevent excessive material transfer to the printer head.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional lubricating layer is used, then ease of manufacture is maintained, but image defects occur due to sheet deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention specifies precise parameter ranges for the lubricating layer: thickness of 0.5-2.0 μm and binder resin glass transition temperature of 80°C or higher. These parameter specifications maintain compatibility with conventional coating processes while ensuring the layer provides sufficient thermal resistance and lubrication to prevent sheet deformation and image defects.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a composite binder resin system (such as polyvinyl butyral or polyvinyl acetoacetal) that combines ease of application with high glass transition temperature. This composite material can be applied using conventional coating methods while providing the thermal stability needed to prevent sheet deformation and ensure high image quality.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents sheet deformation and material adherence, enhancing image quality and printer performance by maintaining sheet integrity and reducing defects during high-speed printing.
Implementation Method 1
a heat-resistant lubricating layer is formed on the heat-sensitive transfer sheet surface contacting the thermal printer head... to give the thermal printer head and the heat-sensitive transfer sheet a slipping property therebetween
Implementation Method 2
the ink sheet is heated by a thermal head whose exothermic action is controlled by electric signals, in order to transfer the dyes contained in the ink sheet to the image-receiving sheet
Implementation Method 3
dye diffusion transfer recording systems... transfer the dyes contained in the ink sheet to the image-receiving sheet, thereby recording an image information
Data Source
AI summary
A heat-sensitive transfer sheet comprising a base film, a dye layer formed over one surface of the base film and containing a heat-transferable dye and a resin, and a heat-resistant lubricating layer formed over the other surface of the base film and containing inorganic particles and a resin, wherein the inorganic particles contained in the heat-resistant lubricating layer has a Mohs' hardness of 3 to 7 and a mean particle size of 0.3 to 5 µm, and the ratio of the maximum width of each of the inorganic particles to the sphere equivalent diameter thereof is from 1.5 to 50.