JP5176796B2 - Base material holder and image recording body manufacturing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a base material holder and an apparatus for producing an image recording body.

  Conventionally, as a method for forming an image on the surface of a plastic or metal substrate, a sublimation thermal transfer method is known (see Patent Document 1). In this sublimation thermal transfer system, the ink applied to the ink donor film is transferred to the intermediate transfer film by the first heating unit to form an ink image, and the ink image transferred to the intermediate transfer film is subjected to the second heating. This is a method in which the image is retransferred to the image receiving member by the unit.

  On the other hand, a method of forming an image on the surface of a substrate by an electrophotographic method has also been proposed. (See Patent Document 2). In this method, first, an image forming material transfer film provided with an image receiving layer on the surface of a substrate is used to form an image once on the transfer film by an existing electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and then a substrate such as a plastic sheet. An electrophotographic image is formed on the base material by laminating on the material, laminating with heat and pressure, subsequently peeling off the image forming material transfer film and transferring the image onto the base material.

  Moreover, as a method of forming an image on a card-shaped substrate by an electrophotographic method, there is a method disclosed in Patent Document 3, for example. In this method, a card-like base material is inserted and bonded to a holding plate provided with card-shaped recesses, and printing is performed by passing the holding plate through an electrophotographic image recording apparatus.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-067019 JP 2005-227377 A JP-A-7-014633

  An object of the present invention is to provide a base material holder for positioning in which dust adherence is suppressed and a good product rate is obtained, and an image is formed on the surface of a base material having a specific shape.

The above problem is solved by the following means. That is,
The invention according to claim 1
A base material holder body;
At least one window hole provided in the base material holder body;
An adhesive layer provided on the entire surface of the substrate holder other than at least one of the window holes; and
Comprising
A substrate is inserted into the window hole, and a transfer body having an image portion on at least one surface with respect to the surface provided with the adhesive layer is laminated so that the image portion of the transfer body faces the substrate. A positioning base material holder for positioning the image portion of the transfer body and the base material.

The invention according to claim 2
The base material holder for positioning according to claim 1, wherein the thickness is reduced by pressurization.

The invention according to claim 3
The positioning substrate holder according to claim 1, wherein the substrate holder body is made of paper.

The invention according to claim 4
The image portion is provided on at least one surface of the surface of the positioning base material holder according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the base material is inserted into the window hole. Positioning means for laminating and positioning the transfer body having the image portion of the transfer body facing the substrate;
A transfer means for heating and pressurizing the positioned transfer body and the positioning base material holder to transfer the image portion to the surface of the base material;
An apparatus for producing an image recording body, comprising:

According to the first aspect of the present invention, adhesion of dust is suppressed, and an image is formed on the surface of the substrate having a specific shape with a good product rate.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, as compared with the case where the thickness is not reduced by pressurization, an image is formed on the surface of the substrate having various thicknesses, and dust adhesion is suppressed.
According to the invention of claim 3, the substrate surface of various thicknesses can be provided at a low cost while maintaining the substrate holding ability compared to the case where a substrate holding body body composed of another type of material is employed. As a result, an image is formed and dust adhesion is suppressed.
According to the fourth aspect of the invention, it is possible to obtain a base material having a specific shape in which an image is formed on the surface with a good product rate with reduced dust adhesion.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment of the present invention, an image recording body manufacturing method will be described together with an image recording body manufacturing apparatus. It should be noted that components having substantially the same functions and actions are described with the same reference numerals throughout the drawings, and description thereof may be omitted in some cases. Further, in the following description, terms indicating directions such as “orthogonal” and “parallel” do not strictly indicate the directions, and may be deviated as long as the action / mechanism can be realized.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an image recording body manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic top view showing a collating unit in the collating apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing a collating unit in the collating apparatus according to the embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image recording body manufacturing apparatus 10 according to the embodiment includes a collating apparatus 20 (lamination means) and a transfer apparatus 30 (transfer means).

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the collating apparatus 20 stores and discharges the back transfer film storage portion 41 </ b> A that stores and discharges the back transfer film 41 (transfer body) and the front transfer film 42 (transfer body). A front transfer film storage portion 42A for storing and discharging, a collating portion 50 (positioning means), a conveyance path 41B for supplying the back transfer film 41 from the back transfer film storage portion 41A to the collating portion 50, and a surface transfer A conveying path 42B for supplying the surface transfer film 42 from the film storage part 42A to the collating part 50.

  The conveyance paths 41B and 42B may have a configuration in which a plate-like member and a conveyance roller for conveying a member to be conveyed (the back transfer film 41 and the front transfer film 42) are provided and rotate. You may be comprised with the belt-shaped conveyance body. Then, at a timing when the transported member is discharged from each storage unit, the transport roller and the belt rotate to transport the transported member to the collating unit 50.

  The back transfer film storage unit 41A stores, for example, a back transfer film 41 in which a specific image is printed on at least one side by an electrophotographic printer, and also includes a feed roller and a paper feed provided in a normal paper feeder. A roller is provided, and a paper feed roller or the like rotates at a specific timing to discharge the back transfer film 41 to the collating unit 50.

  The surface transfer film storage unit 42A stores, for example, a surface transfer film 42 on which a specific image is printed on at least one side by an electrophotographic printer, and also includes a feed roller and a paper feed provided in a normal paper feeder. A roller is provided, and after the card core holding holder 43 is laminated on the collating unit 50, a paper feed roller or the like rotates to convey the surface transfer film 42 to the collating unit 50.

  Here, the front transfer film storage portion 42A and the back transfer film storage portion 41A are arranged, for example, arranged in this order from the upper side to the lower side in the gravity direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the collating unit 50 is located at the same position as the exit of each conveyance path that conveys the member to be conveyed so that the member to be conveyed discharged from each storage unit is conveyed, or It arrange | positions so that raising / lowering is possible by the drive mechanism not shown so that it may be located below a gravity direction rather than the said exit. The collating unit 50 is, for example, a rectangular collating receptacle 51 that is represented by an arrow in the drawing and in which two of the four sides are orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the transfer film, and a side downstream in the conveyance direction. And the reference wall 53 arranged along one of the two sides orthogonal to the side, and the surface of the collation receiver 51 in the direction of arrow A (a direction parallel to the transport direction) And a regulating member 54 arranged so as to be movable by a driving mechanism (not shown), and a regulation member arranged so that the surface of the collation receiver 51 can be moved by a driving mechanism (not shown) in the direction of arrow B (direction orthogonal to the direction of arrow A). A member 55 and a transport roller 57 for transporting the laminated body after the holding holder holding the transfer film and the card core are stacked are provided. Here, you may further provide the pressurization member 56 (for example, press board) pressurized to temporarily fix, after laminating | stacking the holding holder holding the transfer film and the card core.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the transfer device 30 heats and presses the laminated body, thereby transferring the surface of the card core 44 (the card core 44 held by the card core holding holder 43) to a transfer film (the surface transfer film 42, and A device for laminating with a back transfer film 41). The transfer device 30 employs a belt nip method composed of a pair of belts 31 so that an image recording body can be easily produced on-line (details will be described later). A discharge receptacle 71 is provided in the pair of belt 31 discharge portions.

  The pressure bonding method in the transfer device 30 is not particularly limited, and any of various conventionally known laminating techniques and laminating devices can be suitably employed. For example, by using the ordinary laminating technique and laminating apparatus, or the laminating apparatus, or the hot pressing technique and the hot pressing apparatus, the laminated body is inserted into a nip portion by a pair of heat rollers or the like so as to be melted and thermally fused to some extent. Can be crimped.

  In the apparatus for producing an image recording body according to the present embodiment, first, in the collating apparatus 20, the back transfer film 41 is conveyed from the back transfer film storage unit 41A to the collation receiver 51 via the conveyance path 41B, and is at a specific position. Are positioned by the regulating members 54 and 55 (see FIG. 5A). Next, the card core holding holder 43 in which the card core 44 is set in advance is supplied to the collation receiver 51 manually (manually). The supplied card core holding holder 43 is positioned at a specific position of the collation receiver 51 by the regulating members 54 and 55 (see FIG. 5B). At this time, the image portion 61 of the back transfer film 41 is positioned so as to coincide with the window hole 43 </ b> A (card core 44) of the card core holding holder 43. Next, the surface transfer film 42 is conveyed from the surface transfer film storage portion 42A to the collation receiver 51 via the conveyance path 42B, and is positioned at a specific position by the regulating members 54 and 55 (see FIG. 5C). At this time, the image portion 61 of the surface transfer film 42 is positioned to coincide with the window hole (card core 44) of the card core holding holder 43.

  The back transfer film 41 and the front transfer film 42 are laminated so that, for example, the surface having the image portion 61 faces the card core 44 disposed in the card core holding holder 43. Moreover, although the conveyance direction of each member is made so that the transversal direction of the card core holding holder 43 is parallel to the conveyance direction, it is not limited to this.

  Here, FIG. 5 is a process diagram showing a stacking process in the collating unit of the collating apparatus according to the embodiment.

  Here, in the positioning, the back transfer film 41, the card core holding holder 43, and the front transfer film 42 are sequentially collated in this order 51 through the conveyance paths 41B and 42B from each storage unit and manually (manually). By pressing the regulating members 54 and 55 against the reference walls 52 and 53 against the laminated body P (the member indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 2). carry out. Specifically, the regulating member 54 is pressed against one of the two orthogonal sides of the stacked body P (first side), and in this state, the regulating member 54 is moved to the downstream side in the transport direction to stack the layers. The side facing the regulating member 54 of the body P is abutted against the reference wall 52, and the regulating member 55 is pressed against the side (second side) orthogonal to the first side. The member 55 is moved in the direction of the reference wall 53 (direction orthogonal to the conveying direction), and the side facing the side that contacts the regulating member 55 of the stacked body P is abutted against the reference wall 53.

  As described above, by using the two restricting members 54 and 55 and the two reference walls 52 and 53 in combination, even if the size of the laminate P is various such as A4 or A3, the collation that is accurately positioned can be obtained. Made.

  In addition, since the reference wall 52 is provided at a position orthogonal to the conveyance direction, the positioning (collation) is completed, and after the temporary fixing performed as necessary, the conveyance of the stacked body P is hindered. It must be movable so that there is no. In order to give this function to the reference wall 52, for example, it is desirable that the reference wall 52 is movable. Specifically, for example, the reference wall 52 moves in the direction of arrow D (that is, up and down movement), and moves to a position indicated by a dotted line in the drawing, thereby transporting the stacked body P downstream in the transport direction. (See FIG. 3). Of course, the reference wall 52 is not limited to this as long as it is retracted from the conveyance path.

  Next, the laminated body of the back surface transfer film 41, the card core holding holder 43, and the front surface transfer film 42 will be described. Here, FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the card core holding holder (laminated state with the transfer film) according to the embodiment. FIGS. 7A and 7B are cross-sectional views taken along line AA in FIG. 6, where FIG. 7A illustrates a non-pressurized state and FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 to 7, the card core holding holder 43 includes, for example, a plate-like holding holder main body 43B (base material holder main body: holder base material) and an adhesive layer formed on both surfaces of the holding holder main body 43B. 43C.

  The holding holder main body 43B has one or more through-hole windows 43A, into which the card core 44 is inserted. The shape of the window hole 43A is in accordance with the shape of the card core 44, but the wall surface constituting the window hole 43A may be tapered so that the card core 44 does not fall out of the card core holding holder 43. The dimensional relationship between the window hole 43A and the card core 44 may be an interference fit. In the present embodiment, the card core holding holder 43 has six window holes 43 </ b> A in which the longitudinal direction of the card core holding holder 43 is parallel to the short direction of the card core 44, in other words, the short length of the card core holding holder 43. 2 × 3 are arranged so that the hand direction is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the card core 44.

The holding holder main body 43B may be made of, for example, paper (for example, cardboard, cardboard, etc.), plastic material, rubber material, metal, or a composite material thereof. Among these, paper is particularly preferable because the thickness decreases when the card core holding holder 43 is applied with pressure. In particular, the holding holder body 43B is made of paper, so that images can be formed on the surface of the substrate with various thicknesses while maintaining the holding ability of the substrate at a lower cost than when other types of materials are used. In addition, dust adhesion is suppressed.
The thickness of the holding holder main body 43B is, for example, desirably 400 μm or more and 1000 μm or less, more desirably 600 μm or more and 900 μm or less, and further desirably 680 μm or more and 840 μm or less.

  The adhesive layer 43C is provided on the entire surface of both sides of the holding holder main body 43B (the entire region other than the window hole 43A). The adhesive layer 43C is made of, for example, an acrylic adhesive, a urethane adhesive, or the like.

  The thickness of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 43C is, for example, desirably 5 μm or more and 100 μm or less, more desirably 10 μm or more and 50 μm or less, and further desirably 20 μm or more and 30 μm or less.

  The adhesive strength of the adhesive layer 43C is preferably, for example, 5 (N / 25 mm) or more and 350 (N / 25 mm) or less, more preferably 10 (N / 25 mm) or more and 300 (N / 25 mm) or less, More desirably, it is 20 or more (N / 25 mm) and 250 or less (N / 25 mm). When this adhesive force is within the above range, dust adhesion is effectively suppressed and an image is formed on the surface of the substrate having a specific shape with a good product rate.

  In addition, the adhesive force of this adhesion layer 43C is adjusted with a constituent material and its thickness, for example. For example, when the thickness of the adhesive layer 43C is increased with the same constituent material, the adhesive force tends to increase.

  The adhesive strength of the adhesive layer 43C is a value measured by the following method. That is, a PET film (width 25 mm, thickness 25 μm) is bonded to the card core holding holder, and the PET film is peeled off in the direction of 90 degrees. The measured peeling force is taken as the adhesive strength.

It is desirable that the card core holding holder 43 configured as described above be reduced in thickness by pressurization. The card core holding holder 43 is reduced in thickness by compression (compression ratio: [thickness when not pressurized−thickness when pressurized] / thickness when not pressurized × 100). It is desirable that it is 5% or more and 20% or less, more desirably 10% or more and 20% or less under the condition that the whole is pressurized at a pressure of 1 N / mm ² .

  Then, the card core holding holder 43 and the transfer film (the back transfer film 41 and the front transfer film 42) are laminated and collated, and the pressure layer 56 is pressed to apply the adhesive layer of the card core holding holder 43. The transfer film is adhered by 43C, positioned, and temporarily fixed.

  Next, when the back transfer film 41, the card core holding holder 43, and the front transfer film 42 are positioned and temporarily fixed, the reference wall 52 is moved downward by a mechanism (not shown), and the back transfer film 41, the card core holding holder 43, the laminate P composed of the surface transfer film 42 is transported by the transport roller 57 to the transfer device 30 which is the next process.

  Next, in the transfer device 30, the laminate P composed of the back transfer film 41, the card core holding holder 43, and the front transfer film 42 is passed between the nips of the pair of belts 31 to perform heating / pressurization processing ( Laminating) (transfer process). Specifically, for example, heating / pressurizing treatment (laminate) is performed as follows.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the transfer device 30 employs a belt nip system composed of a pair of belts 31. In the pair of belts 31, tension rolls 32 and inlet rolls 35 are arranged in this order in the laminate conveyance direction inside (inner peripheral side). The pair of belts 31 are configured so as not to be distorted when the tension roll 32 is pulled by the tension spring 36 while being stretched by the tension roll 32 and the inlet roll 35. The pair of tension rolls 32 and the pair of inlet rolls 35 are installed so as not to nip each other. Thereby, even if the belt 31 meanders by continuous operation, the belt is returned to a specific position while being operated.

  Here, it is desirable to use a metal material having a small amount of thermal deformation as the material of the belt 31, but a plastic material may be used which has a small thermal deformation by prescription such as mixing glass. The inlet roll 35 and tension roll 32 that return to a predetermined position when the belt 31 meanders are low friction materials having a friction coefficient of 0.3 or less (both metal and plastic materials are acceptable). It is desirable to use

  Although not shown as a method of returning the belt 31 to a predetermined position when the belt 31 meanders, a stopper may be installed so that the belt 31 does not deviate from the predetermined position, or the spring force of the tension spring 36 installed on the left and right. May be controlled to prevent the belt 31 from meandering.

  Further, inside each of the pair of belts 31 (inner peripheral side), a heating and pressing roll 34, a cooling plate 39, and a cooling roll 33 are provided between the inlet roll 35 and the tension roll 32 in the laminate transport direction. Arranged in order. These form a nip portion via a pair of belts 31.

  In the transfer device 30, the laminate P is heated and pressed by the heating and pressing roll 34 disposed behind the inlet roll 35. Through this step, the laminate P is heat-sealed. Here, since the pair of inlet rolls 35 is not nipped, the laminated body P is separated from the nip force of the pair of belts 31 and the heating and pressing roll 34 before entering the nip portion by the pair of heating and pressing rolls 34. While being pre-laminated by preheating, it is conveyed to the nip portion by the heating and pressing roll 34.

  The nip portion by the heating and pressing roll 34 is an adhesion process of the laminated body P, and the laminated body P that has passed through the nip portion enters the nip portion by the cooling plate 39. Thereby, the laminated body P is cooled by the nip part by the cooling plate 39, maintaining flatness. The cooling plate 39 is made of a material having high thermal conductivity such as aluminum, and a Teflon (registered trademark) tape or the like is stuck on the surface in contact with the belt 31 in order to improve friction. The pair of cooling plates 39 are pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the belt 31 with a desired load by an elastic member such as a spring (not shown) to form a nip portion.

  Here, a cooling fan 37 (air flow generating means) that generates an air flow for cooling the cooling plate 39 is installed on the cooling plate 39 in order to cool the heat transmitted from the belt 31. The cooling fan 37 is disposed inside each of the pair of belts 31 and downstream of the heating and pressing roll 34 in the conveyance direction of the stacked body P, that is, between the heating and pressing roll 34 and the cooling roll 33. The cooling plate 39 is cooled by blowing the air flow generated by the cooling fan 37 onto the cooling plate 39.

  The cooling fan 37 is surrounded by a box-shaped member 46 (blocking member) together with the cooling plate 39. Thereby, the air flow generated from the cooling fan 37 does not reach other than the cooling plate 39, that is, does not reach the heating and pressing roll 34. The box-shaped member 46 surrounding the cooling fan 37 is connected to a duct (not shown) that communicates with the outside, and is configured to take in air from the outside.

  The laminated body P that has passed through the cooling plate 39 enters the cooling roll 33. The nip force by the pair of cooling rolls 33 is set higher than the nip pressure by the cooling plate 39, and the temperature of the laminate P when passing through the cooling roll 33 is equal to or lower than the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the light transmissive film. Thus, since the temperature profile of the transfer device 30 (laminating device) is designed, the laminate P passes through the nip formed by the pair of cooling rolls 33 while maintaining the flatness. A cleaning device (not shown) is installed to remove dirt and the like on the belt 31 due to continuous operation.

  Next, the laminated body P that has passed through the transfer device 30 (through the bonding process and the cooling process) is laminated (heated / pressurized) while maintaining flatness, and discharged to the discharge receiver 71. As a result, image portions are transferred and formed on both surfaces of the card core 44. By removing the card core 44 from the card core holding holder 43, an image recording body in which the image portion 61 of the transfer film is transferred and formed on the surface of the card core 44 is obtained.

  Here, the transfer / formation of the image portion to the card core 44 is a mode in which only the image portion is transferred from the transfer film (the back transfer film 41 and the front transfer film 42), and the image portion is transferred together with the image holding layer of the transfer film. There is a form.

  As described above, in the image recording body manufacturing apparatus according to the present embodiment, for example, a card core holding unit composed of a plate-like holding holder main body 43B and an adhesive layer 43C formed on both surfaces of the holding holder main body 43B. A holder 43 is employed. In the card core holding holder 43, the adhesive layer 43C is simply provided on the entire surface of both sides of the holding holder body 43B (the entire area other than the window hole 43A), so that all the transfer films laminated by the adhesive layer 43C other than the window hole 43A can be obtained. Sticky. Therefore, even if the card core 44 is detached from the card core holding holder 43 after being laminated with the transfer film, the adhesive of the card core holding holder 43 is the same except for the transfer film (image portion or image holding layer) transferred to the card core 44. It remains adhered to layer 43C. In other words, the transfer film (image portion or image holding layer thereof) other than the region laminated on the card core 44 that causes dust is adhered by the adhesive layer 43C, and the transfer to the card core 44 is suppressed. Further, dust or the like adhering to the transfer film is also adhered by the adhesive layer 43C, and the shift to the card core 44 is suppressed. In addition, also when positioning the card core holding holder 43 and the transfer film (that is, positioning the card core 44 and the image portion of the transfer film), the transfer film is misaligned by the adhesive layer 43C of the card core holding holder 43. It is suppressed.

  Therefore, dust adhesion is suppressed and a good product rate is obtained, and an image is formed on the surface of the card core 44 (a substrate having a specific shape).

  In the present embodiment, the card core holding holder 43 is configured to have a thickness that is reduced by pressurization (for example, the holding holder body is made of paper). An image is formed on the surface of the substrate and dust adhesion is suppressed.

  Here, it is desirable that the thickness of the card core holding holder 43 is the same as the thickness of the card core 44. However, if the card core holding holder 43 is configured so that the thickness does not vary due to pressure, for example, the card core holding holder 43 When the thickness of 43 is thicker than the thickness of the card core 44 (when the thickness of the card core 44 is thinner than the thickness of the card core holding holder 43), a transfer film (back transfer film) is formed on the edge of the card core 44. 41 and the surface transfer film 42) may not be in contact with each other (a region indicated by R1 in FIG. 8A, that is, a region where an image is not transferred). A defective product may be obtained as an image recording body on which the portion 61 is transferred and formed.

  When the thickness of the card core holding holder 43 is thinner than the thickness of the card core 44 (when the thickness of the card core 44 is thicker than the thickness of the card core holding holder 43), the window hole 43A of the card core holding holder 43 is used. The transfer film (the back transfer film 41 and the front transfer film 42) may not be in contact with the transfer film (the area indicated by R2 in FIG. 8B). This may complicate the work process that has adhered to the part and had to be removed in a later process, or part of the transfer film may become dust and deteriorate the work environment.

  On the other hand, for example, in the identification card standard described in JIS X6301, the thickness of the card core 44 is set to 0.76 ± 0.08 mm, and the card core 44 and the card core holding holder 43 have the same thickness. In this case, the card core holding holder 43 is usually configured to be thinner than the lower limit value of the thickness of the card core 44.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, as described above, the card core holding holder 43 is configured such that the thickness is reduced by pressurization (for example, configured by paper), so that the card core holding holder 43 is thicker than the card core 44. In addition, the thickness is the same as that of the card core 44 at the time of pressurization (at the time of temporary fixing and at the time of laminating), and the transfer film does not contact the end side portion of the card core 44 (the region indicated by R1 in FIG. That is, the occurrence of an area where no image is transferred) or an area where the transfer film does not contact the edge of the window hole 43A of the card core holding holder 43 (area indicated by R2 in FIG. 8B) is suppressed (FIG. 7 ( B)). In addition, since the adhesive layer 43C is disposed on the entire surface of both sides of the card core holding holder 43 (the entire surface of both surfaces excluding the window hole 43A), the transfer film positioned at the edge of the card core 44 (the edge of the window hole 43A) It is suppressed by the adhesive layer 43C from being adhered and adhering as dust.

  In the present embodiment, the transfer film is laminated on both sides of the card core holding holder 43, that is, the transfer film image portion is transferred on both sides of the card core 44. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The transfer film may be laminated on one side of the core holding holder 43. In the case of this embodiment, the adhesive layer 43C disposed in the card core holding holder 43 may be provided only on the surface side on which the transfer film is laminated.

  Hereinafter, the transfer film (transfer body) and card core (base material) used in each of the above embodiments will be described.

-Transfer film (transfer body)-
The transfer film is designed to form an image using a commercially available sheet having a general thickness (about 80 μm or more and about 254 μm or less) because the card core (base material) that is an image formation target is thick. An image cannot be formed by a general image forming apparatus. For this reason, after an image is formed on a member other than the card core, a transfer film is used for the purpose of transferring the image to the card core.

The transfer film has, for example, a substrate (base layer) and an image holding layer provided on at least one side of the substrate, and one or more intermediate layers and an image holding layer are provided on the surface of the substrate as necessary. The structure which laminated | stacked these in this order may be sufficient. The image is formed on the image holding layer. Examples of the transfer film include a type that transfers only an image, and a transfer film that transfers an image together with at least a part of members constituting the transfer film.
That is, in the type transfer film that transfers only the image, the image holding layer contains at least a releasable material, and in the transfer process using this transfer film, only the image is transferred from the transfer film to the card core. Is done.

  Further, the image formed on the image holding layer is not particularly limited as long as it is formed by a known recording method. However, since the image holding layer surface is excellent in releasability, a solid image is formed on the image holding layer surface. An image formed by a method of applying a forming material is preferable, and an image formed by an electrophotographic method is particularly preferable.

  On the other hand, a transfer film of a type that transfers an image together with at least a part of a member constituting the transfer film is adjacent to the image holding layer or one or more layers adjacent to the image holding layer side, and adjacent to the substrate or the substrate side. The interface with one or more layers is peeled off. The transfer process using the transfer film is performed by peeling the image holding layer or one or more layers adjacent to the image holding layer side from the transfer film and transferring the image to the card core together with the image.

  The image formed on the image holding layer is not particularly limited as long as it is formed by a known recording method. For example, the image may be an image formed by a method of applying a solid or liquid image forming material to the surface of the image holding layer. In this case, the image is typically formed by an electrophotographic method or an ink jet recording method. Images. Further, when the image holding layer has a function of changing color or coloring when external stimuli such as heat or light are applied, it is an image formed by changing the color or coloring the surface of the image holding layer by applying external stimuli. In this case, typically, an image formed by a photosensitive recording method, a thermal recording method, or a photosensitive thermal recording method can be given.

  The two types of transfer films described above are known to be used for transferring an image to another member such as a plastic sheet after an image is formed on the surface thereof by electrophotography. These known transfer films can be used.

  Further, the size of the transfer film is not particularly limited, but A4, A3, and the like that can be used for forming an image on a commercially available image forming apparatus using a known image forming method such as an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method. A standard size is preferred.

  Further, the image is formed on the transfer film surface so as to correspond to a region where the image of the card core surface held by the holding body is to be provided. At this time, in order to facilitate the alignment between the transfer film and the card core held by the holding body, the outline of the card core, the line that is slightly outside the outline of the card core, or the outline of the card core. It is desirable that marks indicating the four corners of the outer frame are formed on the transfer film surface together with the image portion to be transferred to the card core surface.

  Hereinafter, regarding the suitable transfer film used in the embodiment divided into the above two types, the image provided on the transfer film surface will be described in more detail on the assumption that the image is formed by electrophotography as an example. .

-Type of transfer film that only transfers images-
In this type of transfer film, the image holding layer contains a releasable material, so that an image forming material such as a toner can be satisfactorily transferred to the card core.
The releasable material is used for an image holding layer for once fixing and fixing the image forming material on the transfer film and releasing the image forming material when it is heat-pressed to the card core. Accordingly, it is desirable that the releasable material has adhesion and releasability with respect to toner generally used as an image forming material in electrophotography.

  The releasable material is not particularly limited, and a silicone-based hard coat material can be used. The silicone-based hard coat material may include a condensate resin containing a silane-based composition or a material composed of a mixture of a condensate resin containing the silane-based composition and a colloidal silica dispersion.

  The image holding layer may contain a resin in addition to the releasable material, and may contain, for example, a polyester resin or a styrene acrylic resin. Since polyester resins and styrene acrylic resins are used as binder resins for toners, the image retention material can be fixed to the transfer film surface appropriately by including the same type of resin in the image holding layer. Can be controlled. In addition, as said polyester resin, you may use silicone modified polyester resin, urethane modified polyester resin, acrylic modified polyester, etc. other than general polyester resin, for example.

  Furthermore, in order to improve the adhesiveness to the substrate or improve the blocking property, a conventional known resin can be mixed as necessary and used as a resin material constituting the image holding layer. As this resin material, it is preferable to use polyvinyl acetal resin.

  In order to improve the transfer film transfer in the electrophotographic apparatus, the image holding layer may contain a filler. The volume average particle size of the filler is preferably 0.1 μm or more and 30 μm or less, but considering the image holding layer thickness, it is preferably 1.2 times or more the image holding layer thickness. If it is too large, the filler may be detached from the image holding layer, the transfer film surface may be easily damaged by wear, and the haze (degree of haze) may increase.

  As the shape of the filler, spherical particles are generally used, but may be a plate shape, a needle shape, or an indefinite shape. Moreover, as a material which comprises a filler, a well-known resin material and an inorganic material can be utilized.

  Although it does not specifically limit as a base | substrate, A plastic film can be used typically. Among these, polyacetate film, cellulose triacetate film, nylon film, polyester film, polycarbonate film, polysulfone film, polystyrene film, polyphenylene sulfide film, polyphenylene ether film, cyclohexane film, which are light transmissive films that can be used as OHP films. An olefin film, a polypropylene film, a polyimide film, a cellophane, an ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) resin film, or the like can be preferably used. Paper (plain paper, coated paper, etc.), metal (aluminum, etc.), ceramics (alumina, etc.) can also be used.

  Further, since the thickness of the image holding layer is about 0.1 μm or more and 20 μm or less, the thickness of the transfer film is determined by the thickness of the substrate. Therefore, the thickness of the substrate is preferably in the range of 50 μm to 200 μm, and more preferably in the range of 75 μm to 150 μm. If the thickness is less than 50 μm, a conveyance failure may be caused in the electrophotographic apparatus. If the thickness exceeds 200 μm, it becomes difficult to transfer the toner image to the transfer film surface in the electrophotographic apparatus. An image defect may occur.

-Type of transfer film that transfers an image together with at least a part of members constituting the transfer film-
In this type of transfer film, at least one layer including an image holding layer is provided on the same surface of a substrate, and at least one of these layers is a layer containing a curable resin. Particularly preferred. In this case, the layer containing the curable resin is a layer that can be peeled from the substrate or a layer adjacent to the substrate.
When the layer containing the curable resin is peeled off from the substrate or the adjacent layer on the substrate side, an image formed by electrophotography is transferred onto the card core. The layer containing the curable resin is peeled off from the adjacent layer, and the image transferred onto the card core is covered and this image is protected.

  The peel force at the interface between the layer containing the curable resin and the layer in contact with the substrate or the layer containing the curable resin in the transfer film is 0.098 N / cm or more and 4.90 N / cm or less ( 10 gf / cm or more and 500 gf / cm or less), preferably 0.196 N / cm or more and 3.92 N / cm or less (20 gf / cm or more and 400 gf / cm or less), more preferably 0.490 N / cm or more. More preferably, it is 2.41 N / cm or less (50 gf / cm or more and 250 gf / cm or less).

When the peeling force is less than 0.098 N / cm (10 gf / cm), the release layer and the layer containing the curable resin are easily peeled off, and the curable resin is applied to the fixing device of the electrophotographic apparatus at the time of image fixing. The contained layer is transferred, or slippage occurs at the interface between the layer containing the curable resin and the substrate or the adjacent layer on the substrate side when producing an image recording body, and the image is finally May be disorganized and transferred. On the other hand, if the peeling force exceeds 4.90 N / cm (500 gf / cm), a layer partially containing a curable resin may remain on the surface of the substrate or the adjacent layer on the substrate side. In some cases, defects on the surface of the image recording body may be caused.
Here, the peeling force is a measured value when measurement is performed according to the 180-degree peeling adhesive strength in the measurement of adhesive strength according to JIS standard Z0237.

  In addition, regarding the electrical characteristics such as the surface of the image holding layer in the transfer film of the type that transfers only the image, the filler, and various additives used in the substrate and the image holding layer, the image is taken together with a part of the members constituting the transfer film. The present invention can also be applied to transfer type transfer films.

-Card core-
The material constituting the card core is not particularly limited. In addition to the resin, paper, metal, ceramic, and the like can be used, but the resin is most preferable. By using a resin, an image recording body using a plastic sheet as a card core can be obtained.
Specific examples of the plastic include PET (polyethylene terephthalate), vinyl chloride, acetate, cellulose triacetate, nylon, polyester, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polypropylene film, polyimide, and cellophane. Among them, PET and polyester are preferably used. It is done. In particular, modified PET (PETG) or biaxially stretched polyethylene terephthalate in which about half of the ethylene glycol component of PET is replaced with 1,4-cyclohexanemethanol component is preferable.

  Further, the plastic may be thermosetting, but is more preferably thermoplastic. Furthermore, the plastic is preferably opaque and more preferably colored white.

  When the material constituting the card core is resin or paper, it can be colored by adding pigments or dyes thereto. The card core may be in the form of a film, but is more preferably in the form of a plate, and unlike a commercially available electrophotographic or inkjet recording paper, it has a rigidity that cannot be easily folded by hand. It is desirable.

  In order to manufacture an image recording body that can be used as an IC card or a magnetic card, an IC memory, an antenna, an external terminal, or the like may be embedded in the card core in advance. Moreover, a magnetic stripe, a hologram, etc. may be separately printed on the card core.

  The image recording body obtained in each of the above embodiments can be used for a cash card, employee card, student card, personal membership card, residence card, various driver's licenses, various qualification certificates, and the like.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

(Example A)
-Transfer device-
As the transfer device, the transfer device (lamination device) shown in FIG. 4 was used.

-Card core-
The card core used for image formation is made of PETG (Made by Mitsubishi Plastics, Diafix WHI), and the thickness is 820 μm (card core A), 760 μm (card core B), 680 μm (card core C) and 3 Types were prepared, and each was punched into a size of 85.6 mm × 54 mm in advance.

-Transfer film-
A transfer film having a two-layer structure of a base (base layer) and an image holding layer was used. As the substrate (base layer), an A4 size film (thickness: 100 μm) in which a release treatment was previously performed on one side of a PET film (polyethylene terephthalate film) was used.
The image holding layer uses a polyester resin (Byron: manufactured by Mitsubishi Plastics) mixed with 15% by weight of acrylic resin having a diameter of 15 μm as a matting agent, and is formed on one side of a PET film so as to have a thickness of 10 μm. .
The transfer film is arranged on the image holding layer side of the film by Fuji Xerox DocuColor 1256GA (electrophotographic apparatus) so that two images are arranged at equal intervals in the short direction and three at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction. A total of 6 pieces were formed by left-right reversal printing, and a transfer body having an image on the surface was produced.
The pattern is formed in a size (85.6 mm × 54 mm) corresponding to the card core to be used.

-Card core holder holder-
The card core holder was A4 size, and cardboard holder holder bodies (base material for the holder) were 0.8 mm, 0.72 mm, and 0.66 mm thick paper. A 20 μm acrylic adhesive (manufactured by Kuramoto Sangyo Co., Ltd., the same applies below) was applied to the front and back of each cardboard to produce card core holders with total thicknesses of 0.84 mm, 0.76 mm, and 0.7 mm, respectively. . The compression rate of this card core holder is 5%.
The card core holder is provided with six window holes slightly larger than the card core in order to hold the card core (85.6 mm × 54 mm). When the film is overlapped with the card core holder holder, the contour lines of the individual images formed on the transfer film match the individual window holes (areas holding the image recording body). Is provided.

-Image transfer to card core (formation)-
Transfer (formation) of an image to a card core is performed by laminating a transfer film having an image on two surfaces so that a card core holder holding a card core is interposed, and heating in a transfer device (laminating device) The temperature was set to 125 degrees, the pressure between a pair of heating / pressurizing rolls was set to 1 N / mm ² , and the belt feed speed was set to 5 mm / s.

(Example B)
An image was transferred (formed) to the card core in the same manner as in Example A except that the following card core holder was used.

-Card core holder-
As the card core holder, cardboard holder bodies (holder base materials) of A4 size were used with cardboard thicknesses of 0.8 mm and 0.72 mm. A 20 μm acrylic adhesive was applied to each of the front and back sides of the cardboard to produce card core holding holders having a total thickness of 0.84 mm and 0.76 mm, respectively. The compression ratio of this card core holding holder is 10%.

(Example C)
An image was transferred (formed) to the card core in the same manner as in Example A except that the following card core holding holder was used.

-Card core holder-
As the card core holding holder, A4 size cardboard having a thickness of 0.8 mm was used as the card core holder holding body (base material of the holder). A 20 μm acrylic adhesive was applied to the front and back of the cardboard to produce a card core holding holder with a total thickness of 0.84 mm. The compression ratio of this card core holding holder is 20%.

(Example D)
An image was transferred (formed) to the card core in the same manner as in Example A except that the following card core holding holder was used.

-Card core holder-
The card core holder is a stainless steel plate (thickness 0.8 mm, 0.72 mm, 0.66 mm) for the card core holder holder body (holder base material), and 20 μm acrylic adhesive is attached to the front and back of the stainless steel plate, respectively. The agent was applied to produce card core holding holders having total thicknesses of 0.84 mm, 0.76 mm, and 0.7 mm, respectively. The compression rate of this holding body is 2%.

(Comparative Example E)
An image was transferred (formed) to the card core in the same manner as in Example A except that the following card core holding holder was used.

-Card core holder-
The card core holder is made of a stainless steel plate (thickness 0.5 mm, 0.4 mm) as the card core holder holder body (holder base material), and Teflon (registered trademark) tape (thickness 80 μm) is placed on the front and back of the stainless steel plate. A card core holding holder having a total thickness of 0.66 mm and 0.56 mm was prepared. The compression rate of this holding body is 1%.
In this case, a commercially available double-sided tape (TE-E210 manufactured by KOKUYO, thickness of about 0.1 mm) was used to temporarily fix the card core holding holder and the transfer film.

(Evaluation)
The rigidity of the card core holding holder, the processability of the holding body, the transferability of the image to the card core (defect around the edge of the card core), and the dust (after the image transfer) Table 1 shows the results of evaluation of the image holding layer due to peeling from the transfer film.

  The evaluation methods and evaluation criteria for rigidity, workability, and transferability shown in Table 1 are as shown below.

-Rigidity-
Rigidity is a work process in which a card core is set in a card core holding holder, a transfer film is integrated with the card core holding holder to form a laminate, and inserted into a transfer device (laminate device). It was evaluated by whether or not it can be maintained.
A: The laminated structure of the card core holding holder, the card core, and the transfer film can maintain the laminated structure.
N: The laminated structure of the card core holding holder, the card core, and the transfer film cannot maintain the laminated structure.

-Workability-
In the manufacturing process of the card core holding holder, the workability was evaluated as to whether or not the card core holding holder can be processed into a desired window hole shape at the time of opening the window hole in the card core holding holder. When the compression ratio increases, the processed surface may be crushed and the desired hole shape may not be obtained.
A: A window hole can be opened in the card core holding holder without any problem.
B: Although a window hole can be opened without any problem in the card core holding holder, the card core is easily detached from the window hole due to crushing of the cut surface.
N: The cut surface of the card core holding holder is crushed and a desired window hole cannot be formed.

-Transferability-
The transferability was evaluated as to whether or not a defect occurred in the image-transferred card core and whether or not the image holding layer peeled off from the transfer film and became dust.
A: There is no image defect in the card core, and there is no dust due to peeling of the image holding layer.
N1: An image defect is seen in the card core.
N2: The image holding layer peeled off from the transfer film is not adhered to the card core holding holder and becomes dust.

(Evaluation results)
The evaluation results are as follows.

-Example A-
In this case, since the compression ratio of the card core holding holder is as small as 5%, it was necessary to prepare card core holding holders with different thicknesses according to the thickness of the three types of card cores. The result was that the transferability could be used without any problem.

-Example B-
In this case, the compression ratio of the card core holding holder was 10%, and two types of card core holding holders having different thicknesses were prepared according to the thickness of the three types of card cores. As a result, the rigidity, workability, and transferability were all usable without problems. It was confirmed that if two types of card core holding holders were prepared, all card cores could be supported.

-Example C-
In this case, the compression ratio of the card core holding holder is 20%, and only one type of card core holding holder is required according to the thickness of the three types of card cores. It was a result that it was possible to use it without any problem in both transferability and transferability.

-Example D-
In this case, the compression rate of the card core holding holder was as low as 2%, and there was a problem that the image defect of the card core and dust generation due to peeling of the image holding layer occurred for the three types of card cores. Further, when the compression ratio of the card core holding holder is 2%, it is necessary to prepare and operate a card core holding holder having a thickness of 10 types or more, which is practically difficult to realize.

-Comparative Example E-
In this case, the compression rate of the card core holding holder was as low as 1%, and there was a problem of generation of dust due to image defects of the card core and peeling of the image holding layer with respect to two types of card cores. In addition, since it is necessary to use a double-sided tape, it has been confirmed that the image portion of the transfer film other than the region laminated on the card core that causes dust or the image holding layer thereof is surely generated as dust.

  The evaluation results are listed below.

  From the above results, it can be seen that in this example, the applicable card core thickness width is wide and the rigidity, workability, and transferability are excellent as compared with the comparative example.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. It is a schematic top view which shows the collation part in the collation apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a schematic side view which shows the collation part in the collation apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is process drawing which shows the lamination | stacking process in the collation part of the collation apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the transfer apparatus (laminating apparatus) which concerns on embodiment. It is a top view which shows the card core holding holder (laminate state with a transfer film) which concerns on embodiment. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. 6, (A) shows the time of non-pressurization, (B) shows the time of pressurization. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the effect | action by the difference in the thickness of the card core holding holder which concerns on embodiment, (A) shows an example in case a card core holding holder is thicker than a card core, (B) is An example in which the card core holding holder is thinner than the card core is shown.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image recording body preparation apparatus 20 Collating apparatus 30 Transfer apparatus 31 Belt 32 Tension roll 33 Cooling roll 34 Heating and pressing roll 35 Inlet roll 36 Tension spring 37 Cooling fan 39 Cooling plate 41 Back surface transfer film 41A Back surface transfer film storage part 42B Conveying path 42 Surface transfer film 42A Surface transfer film storage portion 43 Card core holding holder 43A Window hole 43B Holding holder body 43C Adhesive layer 44 Card core 46 Box-shaped member 50 Collating portion 52 Reference wall 52, 53 Reference wall 54, 55 Restriction Member 56 Pressure member 57 Conveying roller 61 Image section

Claims (4)

A base material holder body;
At least one window hole provided in the base material holder body;
An adhesive layer provided on the entire surface of the substrate holder other than at least one of the window holes; and
Comprising
A substrate is inserted into the window hole, and a transfer body having an image portion on at least one surface with respect to the surface provided with the adhesive layer is laminated so that the image portion of the transfer body faces the substrate. A positioning base material holder for positioning the image portion of the transfer body and the base material.   The base material holder for positioning according to claim 1, wherein the thickness is reduced by pressurization.   The positioning substrate holder according to claim 1, wherein the substrate holder body is made of paper. The image portion is provided on at least one surface of the surface of the positioning base material holder according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the base material is inserted into the window hole. Positioning means for laminating and positioning the transfer body having the image portion of the transfer body facing the substrate;
A transfer means for heating and pressurizing the positioned transfer body and the positioning base material holder to transfer the image portion to the surface of the base material;
An apparatus for producing an image recording body, comprising:

Images