JP2024165627A - Transfer sheet and three-dimensional pattern printed using the transfer sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a transfer sheet which uses two kinds of sheets of a sheet A and a sheet B, and enables formation of such a three-dimensional pattern that a pattern and a figure copied using an electronic image formation device (copying machine) are swollen on the surface of an article such as a fabric on one of the sheets, the sheet A.SOLUTION: A sheet A is constituted by stacking three layers of a base material a, a peeling layer b and a porous resin layer c, and a sheet B is constituted by stacking five layers of a base material a, a peeling layer b, an adhesive layer e, a foam adhesive resin layer d containing a foaming agent, and a porous resin layer c.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to three-dimensional figures, letters, and patterns that are formed on the surface of articles such as T-shirts and jumpers, and to transfer sheets used in this process.

In recent years, there has been a growing trend towards individualization by printing colorful figures, letters, patterns, etc. on T-shirts and other clothing, which has forced the production of a wide variety of products in small lots.
However, in order to keep manufacturing costs down, a major issue is how to easily and inexpensively produce patterns and designs to be formed on the surface of fabrics such as T-shirts.
Therefore, as a printing method that meets this demand, an electronic image forming device (copy machine) is used, which projects a desired image onto a thermal transfer sheet, which is then placed against the surface of the fabric and pressurized at high temperature, allowing the user to print desired figures and patterns onto the surface of the fabric.

Incidentally, there have been various printing methods of this kind in the past, and the applicant has previously filed patent applications for printing methods, such as "Transfer sheet and printing method using the transfer sheet" in Japanese Patent No. 5265301 and "Transfer printing method and transfer sheet for electronic images" in Japanese Patent No. 5913786.
The "Electronic Image Transfer Printing Method and Transfer Sheet" of Japanese Patent No. 5,913,786 is a method for printing on T-shirts and the like using an electronic image forming device that uses liquid ink or powder toner containing a plastic resin.

In other words, this transfer printing method uses sheet A, which is constructed by laminating a release layer, a resin layer, and a porous resin layer on a substrate, and sheet B, which is constructed by laminating a release layer, an adhesive layer, and a white porous resin layer on a substrate, and uses an electronic image forming device that uses liquid ink containing a plastic resin or resin powder toner to print a mirror image of a pattern, which is an electronic image, on sheet A. After combining sheet B and heat pressing, the sheets are peeled off from each other to create a transfer sheet in which the white porous resin layer and adhesive layer of sheet B are laminated only on the printed part of sheet A, and this is placed on a subject such as a T-shirt, heated and pressed from above, and the transfer sheet is peeled off via the release layer to form the transfer sheet.

By the way, by using conventional transfer methods, various patterns and figures can be easily formed on the fabric of a T-shirt, etc. However, the figures and patterns that are transferred and printed are colorful but flat, and are not three-dimensional patterns or figures that are raised from the surface of the fabric.
Even if the figures or patterns have the same shape, if they are formed three-dimensionally, a sense of dignity is added to the patterns or figures, making them look more luxurious.

Although it is possible to create gorgeous three-dimensional patterns and figures by embroidering fabric, it is time-consuming and expensive.
It is also possible to use a stencil to print directly onto the fabric using screen printing, or to print on transfer paper first and then transfer it to the fabric and heat press it, but it is difficult to form fine patterns or figures. Of course, using a stencil makes the work complicated and expensive, so it is not easy for amateurs to do this.

"Transfer sheet and printing method using the transfer sheet" according to Patent No. 5265301 "Electronic image transfer printing method and transfer sheet" per Patent No. 5913786

Thus, the conventional printing methods and the patterns and graphics formed have the problems described above.
The problem to be solved by this invention is the above problems, and to provide a transfer sheet for use in printing, which allows complex figures and patterns to be easily printed by using an electronic image forming device (copy machine), and which is formed three-dimensionally by protruding from the surface of the material (cloth surface).

The printing method according to the present invention uses two types of sheets, A sheet and B sheet, and a desired pattern or figure is copied onto one of the A sheets using an electronic image forming device (copy machine).
Here, the A sheet is generally composed of three layers, namely, a substrate, a release layer, and a porous resin layer, while the B sheet is generally composed of five layers, namely, a substrate, a release layer, an adhesive layer, a foamed adhesive resin layer, and a porous resin layer, and the adhesive layer or the porous resin layer contains a foaming agent.
However, the specific laminated structure of the A sheet and the B sheet is not limited, and the B sheet may be constructed by laminating a base material, a release layer, an adhesive layer, and a porous resin layer. Also, the B sheet may be used as a release surface without providing the release layer.

A pattern or figure is formed on the surface of the porous resin layer on the surface of sheet A that has been copied by an electronic image forming device. Sheet A on which the pattern or figure has been formed is superimposed on sheet B, and heated to a high temperature and heat pressed. Sheets A and B are then separated, but sheet B adheres to the pattern or figure copied onto sheet A, and is peeled off from the release layer.
That is, the layer containing the foaming agent on sheet B is transferred in an unfoamed state to the portion of the pattern or figure copied onto sheet A, completing a foaming thermal transfer sheet.

Therefore, if the foamable thermal transfer sheet is applied to a fabric such as a T-shirt and then hot-pressed with an iron, the pattern or figure will be printed on the fabric. If a release paper is applied and the temperature of the iron is increased to a high temperature, the foaming agent contained in the foaming adhesive resin layer will expand and the pattern or figure will swell up. In other words, the pattern or figure will not be flat, but will be swelled up and three-dimensional.
Furthermore, by adjusting the amount of foaming agent contained in the foamed adhesive resin layer depending on the position, the height of the raised pattern or figure can be partially (by position) adjusted. In other words, a three-dimensional pattern or figure with different heights can be formed.

This invention is a printing method using a transfer sheet, and it is possible to form three-dimensional raised patterns and figures, resulting in more gorgeous and luxurious patterns. By mixing a foaming agent inside the adhesive resin layer of the B sheet without using a mold, the mixed foaming agent will expand and swell when pressed at high temperature. Therefore, it is possible to easily produce elegant and luxurious three-dimensional patterns and figures at low cost without much effort.
The object to which the image is to be transferred is not limited to fabric such as a T-shirt, but may also be formed on wood, metal, or other objects.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of sheet A of an embodiment. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of sheet B according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a foamable thermal transfer sheet in which sheets A and B are bonded together and then pulled apart; A cross-sectional view of a toner image formed with a pattern or figure from a foaming thermal transfer sheet printed on fabric such as a T-shirt. This is an example showing a three-dimensional pattern formed by pressing a pattern or graphic portion printed on a fabric such as a T-shirt at high temperature again, causing the foaming agent to expand.

The printing method according to the present invention uses two types of sheets, sheet A and sheet B, and various patterns and figures can be copied onto one of the sheets, sheet A, using an electronic image forming device (copy machine). When the copied sheets A and B are then pasted together and peeled off, a part of sheet B is peeled off and adhered to the area of the copied pattern or figure.

Fig. 1 is an embodiment showing a cross section of sheet A, which is one of the transfer sheets according to the present invention, and Fig. 2 is an embodiment showing a cross section of sheet B, which is the other transfer sheet. However, sheets A and B shown in the figures are merely examples, and the laminate structure is not limited thereto.
In the figure, a represents the substrate, b represents the release layer, c represents the porous resin layer, d represents the foamed adhesive resin layer, e represents the adhesive layer, f represents the toner layer, and g represents the fabric such as a T-shirt.
Sheet A is a rectangular sheet having a given length and width and has a three-layer structure in which a substrate a, a release layer b, and a porous resin layer c are laminated.
Similarly, sheet B is a rectangular sheet having the same length and width dimensions, and has a five-layer structure consisting of a porous resin layer c, a foamed adhesive resin layer d, an adhesive layer d, a release layer b, and a substrate a.

By copying with an electronic image forming apparatus, a pattern or figure is formed with a toner layer f on the surface of the porous resin layer c of the sheet A. Here, the specific type of electronic image forming apparatus is not limited, but for example, a Microline VINCI 941 white toner mounted LED printer manufactured by Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. is used to mirror print the pattern or figure.
Sheet A and sheet B, on which a pattern or figure is formed using toner layer f, are superimposed and heated to a high temperature (e.g., 120° C.) and heat pressed. Sheet A and sheet B are then separated, but sheet B is adhered to the toner layer f on which the pattern or figure is copied onto sheet A, and sheet B is peeled off from the release layer b.

That is, the adhesive layer containing the foaming agent of sheet B is transferred in an unfoamed state to the portion of toner layer f on sheet A where a pattern or figure has been copied, and a foamable thermal transfer sheet h is completed.
FIG. 3 is an embodiment showing a cross section of a foamable thermal transfer sheet h, in which the porous resin layer c, foamed adhesive resin layer d, and adhesive layer e of sheet B are transferred to the toner layer f in the form of a copied pattern or figure, forming the foamable thermal transfer sheet h.

Therefore, if the foamable thermal transfer sheet h is placed on a fabric g such as a T-shirt and heat-pressed with an iron at a high temperature of about 120°C, the adhesive layer e will adhere, and if the foamable thermal transfer sheet h is peeled off, the pattern or figure will be printed on the fabric g.
That is, the foaming thermal transfer sheet h is peeled off leaving the porous resin layer c fixed to the toner layer f, and the patterned fabric i is completed in which five layers, namely the adhesive layer e, the foaming adhesive resin layer d, the porous resin layer c, the toner layer f, and the porous resin layer c, are laminated on the fabric g. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the patterned fabric i on which a pattern or figure has been copied.

Furthermore, if release paper is placed on the patterned fabric i and the temperature of the iron is increased to set at a high temperature (for example, at a high temperature of about 170°C for 20 seconds), the foaming agent contained in the foaming adhesive resin layer d will reach its maximum expansion temperature at 170°C and expand, causing the pattern or figure to swell up. In other words, the pattern or figure will not be flat, but will be swelled up and three-dimensional.
FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a foamed adhesive resin layer d when the foaming agent expands and the thickness of the foamed adhesive resin layer d increases.

In this manner, the area copied by the electronic image forming device is formed as a raised, three-dimensional pattern or figure.
Furthermore, by adjusting the amount of foaming agent contained in the foamed adhesive resin layer d depending on the position, the height of the raised pattern or figure can be partially adjusted. In other words, a three-dimensional pattern or figure with a difference in height can be formed.
However, there is no particular limitation on the specific method for adjusting the amount of foaming agent contained in the foamed adhesive resin layer d depending on the position.

For example, when creating a design of a pattern or figure, the size of toner dots such as color halftones and mesh dots is processed to large, medium and small using Adobe's image editing software "Photoshop" or "Illustrator," and the pattern or figure is mirror-printed on sheet A.
When the foamed adhesive resin layer d of the B sheet is transferred to the A sheet, the amount of foaming agent can be increased or decreased by changing the size of the toner dots to large, medium or small.

The foaming heat transfer sheet h, which has an increase and decrease in the amount of foaming agent on sheet A, is placed on fabric g such as a T-shirt, and the temperature of the iron press is set to around 120°C and heat pressed, and a pattern or figure is printed on the fabric g such as a T-shirt, and then release paper is placed on the fabric again, the temperature of the iron press is set to around 170°C and heat pressed for about 20 seconds, and a foaming print pattern or figure with high and low increases and decreases in the amount of toner is created as the foaming agent expands at its maximum expansion temperature.

The object onto which the foaming thermal transfer sheet h is attached and transferred is not limited to the fabric g such as a T-shirt as shown in the example. For example, it can be transferred onto the surface of wooden furniture to form three-dimensional patterns and figures. In addition, if the foaming thermal transfer sheet h is used as a product label, it can be used to form three-dimensional patterns and figures on the surface of a glass bottle that contains sake or the like.

a Base material b Release layer c Porous resin layer d Foamed adhesive resin layer e Adhesive layer f Toner layer g Fabric such as T-shirt h Foamed heat transfer sheet i Design fabric

The printing method according to the present invention uses two types of sheets, A sheet and B sheet, and a desired pattern or figure is copied onto one of the A sheets using an electronic image forming device (copy machine).
Here, the A sheet is generally composed of three layers, namely, a substrate, a release layer, and a porous resin layer, while the B sheet is generally composed of five layers, namely, a substrate, a release layer, an adhesive layer, a foamed adhesive resin layer, and a porous resin layer, and the adhesive layer or the porous resin layer contains a foaming agent.
However, the specific laminated structure of the A sheet and the B sheet is not limited, and the B sheet may be constructed by laminating a base material, a release layer, an adhesive layer, and a porous resin layer. Also, the B sheet may be used as a release surface without providing the release layer.

Claims (2)

A transfer sheet that uses two types of sheets, sheet A and sheet B, in which a pattern or figure copied onto sheet A using an electronic image forming device (copy machine) can be used to form a raised three-dimensional pattern on the surface of an item such as fabric, and the other sheet B is constructed by laminating a base material, a release layer, an adhesive layer, and a porous resin layer, and the adhesive layer or the porous resin layer contains a foaming agent. This three-dimensional pattern is formed by using two types of sheets, A sheet and B sheet, and copying a pattern or figure onto one of the A sheets using an electronic image forming device (copy machine) and swelling up to form a three-dimensional pattern on the surface of an article such as fabric, wherein the B sheet is constructed by laminating a base material, a release layer, an adhesive layer, and a porous resin layer, and at least one of the adhesive layer or the porous resin layer contains a foaming agent, and a part of the B sheet is transferred in an unfoamed state to the toner part where the pattern or figure has been copied onto the A sheet to form a foamable thermal transfer sheet, and the foamable thermal transfer sheet is placed against the surface of the article and set at a high temperature, whereby the foaming agent reaches its maximum expansion temperature and expands, causing the pattern or figure part to swell up to form a three-dimensional pattern or figure.

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