Abstract: There is provided a thermal transfer sheet capable of being identified by a thermal transfer printing apparatus, as well as being capable of preventing color property changes in high-resolution printing and reducing production cost. The thermal transfer sheet 5 of an embodiment includes a dye layer 52 and a protective layer 54 on one surface of a substrate 50. The protective layer 54 contains an invisible light absorbing material and is provided with an identification mark 55 having at least one of a recessed portion and a protruding portion.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet support that can be used to obtain a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet that maintains its gloss and that has excellent handleability and high condition uniformity while preventing the formation of air bubbles in an adhesive layer. A resin is supplied to one side of a substrate, which is passed between a cooling roller A and a rubber roller A. A porous film is stacked on another side of the substrate through a resin, and the substrate is passed between a cooling roller B and a rubber roller B. The cooling rollers A and B have surfaces with a ten-point average roughness (Rz) of 5 to 30 ?m and 0 to 20 ?m, respectively. The rubber rollers A and B have a rubber hardness (durometer (Type A)) of 60 to 95 and 50 to 80, respectively.

Abstract: There is provided a thermal transfer sheet capable of being identified by a thermal transfer printing apparatus, as well as being capable of preventing color property changes in high-resolution printing and reducing production cost. The thermal transfer sheet 5 of an embodiment includes a dye layer 52 and a protective layer 54 on one surface of a substrate 50. The protective layer 54 contains an invisible light absorbing material and is provided with an identification mark 55 having at least one of a recessed portion and a protruding portion.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a support for a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet, including laminating a substrate and a porous film by a melt-extruded resin while passing the substrate and the porous film through a portion between rollers in a pair, wherein a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet excellent in adhesiveness between the substrate and the porous film and excellent in the texture of a print surface can be obtained.

Abstract: The present invention aims principally to provide a protective layer transfer sheet that can prevent occurrence of fusion between a receiving layer and a transfer layer and occurrence of peeling traces when the transfer layer is peeled from the receiving layer, even in the case that thermal energy applied on transfer of the transfer layer is increased and can obtain a high quality printed article and to provide a protective layer transfer sheet that can impart extremely good scratch resistance to the surface of a printed article. The protective layer transfer sheet includes a substrate, and a transfer layer provided on a surface of the substrate, and the transfer layer includes a binder resin and one or more substances selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acid esters, olefin-maleic acid copolymers, and amino polyether-modified silicone oils.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet support that can be used to obtain a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet that maintains its gloss and that has excellent handleability and high condition uniformity while preventing the formation of air bubbles in an adhesive layer. A resin is supplied to one side of a substrate, which is passed between a cooling roller A and a rubber roller A. A porous film is stacked on another side of the substrate through a resin, and the substrate is passed between a cooling roller B and a rubber roller B. The cooling rollers A and B have surfaces with a ten-point average roughness (Rz) of 5 to 30 ?m and 0 to 20 ?m, respectively. The rubber rollers A and B have a rubber hardness (durometer (Type A)) of 60 to 95 and 50 to 80, respectively.

Abstract: Provided is a support for a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet, capable of obtaining a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet that has favorable stability against curl and is excellent in the texture of a print surface in the case of print under the environmental conditions of high temperature and high humidity. A support for a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet according to the present invention includes a porous layer composed of a porous film, a first polyolefin resin layer, a substrate layer, and a second polyolefin resin layer that are layered in the order mentioned, in which the first polyolefin resin layer has a density of 0.93 g/cm3 or less; and the second polyolefin resin layer has a density of more than 0.93 g/cm3.

Abstract: There is provided a bobbin for a thermal transfer sheet or an image-receiving sheet which can reduce the number of parts and can have a smooth surface. The bobbin includes a cylindrical bobbin body 11. A gear 12 including a number of teeth 13 is formed in one end surface of the bobbin body 11. The teeth 13 of the gear 12 each have the shape of a trapezoid when viewed from the side. One lateral side 13b of the trapezoid extends in the axial direction of the bobbin body 11.

Abstract: The present invention aims principally to provide a protective layer transfer sheet that can prevent occurrence of fusion between a receiving layer and a transfer layer and occurrence of peeling traces when the transfer layer is peeled from the receiving layer, even in the case that thermal energy applied on transfer of the transfer layer is increased and can obtain a high quality printed article and to provide a protective layer transfer sheet that can impart extremely good scratch resistance to the surface of a printed article. The protective layer transfer sheet includes a substrate, and a transfer layer provided on a surface of the substrate, and the transfer layer includes a binder resin and one or more substances selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acid esters, olefin-maleic acid copolymers, and amino polyether-modified silicone oils.

Abstract: The present invention aims principally to provide a protective layer transfer sheet that can prevent occurrence of fusion between a receiving layer and a transfer layer and occurrence of peeling traces when the transfer layer is peeled from the receiving layer, even in the case that thermal energy applied on transfer of the transfer layer is increased and can obtain a high quality printed article and to provide a protective layer transfer sheet that can impart extremely good scratch resistance to the surface of a printed article. The protective layer transfer sheet includes a substrate, and a transfer layer provided on a surface of the substrate, and the transfer layer includes a binder resin and one or more substances selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acid esters, olefin-maleic acid copolymers, and amino polyether-modified silicone oils.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a support for a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet, including laminating a substrate and a porous film by a melt-extruded resin while passing the substrate and the porous film through a portion between rollers in a pair, wherein a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet excellent in adhesiveness between the substrate and the porous film and excellent in the texture of a print surface can be obtained.

Abstract: Provided is a support for a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet, capable of obtaining a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet that has favorable stability against curl and is excellent in the texture of a print surface in the case of print under the environmental conditions of high temperature and high humidity. A support for a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet according to the present invention includes a porous layer composed of a porous film, a first polyolefin resin layer, a substrate layer, and a second polyolefin resin layer that are layered in the order mentioned, in which the first polyolefin resin layer has a density of 0.93 g/cm3 or less; and the second polyolefin resin layer has a density of more than 0.93 g/cm3.

Abstract: There is provided a bobbin for a thermal transfer sheet or an image-receiving sheet which can reduce the number of parts and can have a smooth surface. The bobbin includes a cylindrical bobbin body 11. A gear 12 including a number of teeth 13 is formed in one end surface of the bobbin body 11. The teeth 13 of the gear 12 each have the shape of a trapezoid when viewed from the side. One lateral side 13b of the trapezoid extends in the axial direction of the bobbin body 11.

Abstract: The present invention aims principally to provide a protective layer transfer sheet that can prevent occurrence of fusion between a receiving layer and a transfer layer and occurrence of peeling traces when the transfer layer is peeled from the receiving layer, even in the case that thermal energy applied on transfer of the transfer layer is increased and can obtain a high quality printed article and to provide a protective layer transfer sheet that can impart extremely good scratch resistance to the surface of a printed article. A protective layer transfer sheet 100 comprises a substrate 1, and a transfer layer 10 provided on a surface of the substrate 1, and the transfer layer 10 comprises a binder resin and one or more substances selected from the group of phosphoric acid esters, olefin-maleic acid copolymers, and amino polyether-modified silicone oils.

Abstract: An image forming method and a combination of a thermal transfer sheet and a thermal transfer image receiving sheet are capable of forming images of high print quality. An image forming method wherein an image is formed by combining a thermal transfer sheet, which is obtained by forming a dye layer on one surface of a substrate and forming a back surface layer on the other surface of the substrate, and a thermal transfer image receiving sheet, which is obtained by forming a dye receiving layer on one surface of another substrate. The dye layer of the thermal transfer sheet contains a sublimable dye, a binder resin and one or both of (A) a polyether-modified silicone having a viscosity of not less than 1,000 mm2/s at 25° C. and (B) a polyester-modified polysiloxane. The dye receiving layer of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet is an aqueous dye receiving layer.

Abstract: Provided is a thermal transfer sheet capable of forming an image having excellent glossiness, and having no printing wrinkle or having a lesser possibility of generating wrinkles. A thermal transfer sheet in which a dyestuff layer or a transcriptive protective layer is formed on one surface of a substrate and a back face layer is formed on another surface of the substrate, wherein the back face layer contains (A) a resin of which weight-average molecular weight (Mw) is more than 15,000; (B) a resin of which weight-average molecular weight (Mw) is not more than 15,000; and (C) a lubricant ingredient; and wherein the (B) resin is contained at an amount range of 3% by weight to 40% by weight on the basis of the total solid content weight of the back face layer.

Abstract: Provided is a thermal transfer sheet capable of forming an image having excellent glossiness, and having no printing wrinkle or having a lesser possibility of generating wrinkles. A thermal transfer sheet in which a dyestuff layer or a transcriptive protective layer is formed on one surface of a substrate and a back face layer is formed on another surface of the substrate, wherein the back face layer contains (A) a resin of which weight-average molecular weight (Mw) is more than 15,000; (B) a resin of which weight-average molecular weight (Mw) is not more than 15,000; and (C) a lubricant ingredient; and wherein the (B) resin is contained at an amount range of 3% by weight to 40% by weight on the basis of the total solid content weight of the back face layer.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal transfer sheet provided with a heat resistant slipping layer which reduces dye retransfer, has excellent heat resistance and slip properties, and prevents the defects of printed image from being generated due to wrinkles and the like during printing. A thermal transfer sheet comprising a base film, a color material layer on one surface of the base film, and a heat resistant slipping layer on the other surface of the base film, wherein the heat resistant slipping layer comprises a binder resin containing a cellulose acetate butyrate resin (A1) having a butyryl group content of 50% or more and a lubricant (B), the amount of the binder resin is 65 to 99% by weight of the total solid content of the heat resistant slipping layer, the amount of the cellulose acetate butyrate resin (A1) is 50 to 100% by weight of the binder resin, and the amount of the lubricant (B) is 1 to 30% by weight of the binder resin.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal transfer sheet provided with a heat resistant slipping layer which reduces dye retransfer, has excellent heat resistance and slip properties, and prevents the defects of printed image from being generated due to wrinkles and the like during printing. A thermal transfer sheet comprising a base film, a color material layer on one surface of the base film, and a heat resistant slipping layer on the other surface of the base film, wherein the heat resistant slipping layer comprises a binder resin containing a cellulose acetate butyrate resin (A1) having a butyryl group content of 50% or more and a lubricant (B), the amount of the binder resin is 65 to 99% by weight of the total solid content of the heat resistant slipping layer, the amount of the cellulose acetate butyrate resin (A1) is 50 to 100% by weight of the binder resin, and the amount of the lubricant (B) is 1 to 30% by weight of the binder resin.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the provision of a thermal transfer sheet that can realize a high maximum transfer density in printing, does not cause blocking during storage in a roll form, can suppress, in a roll form, the transfer of a dye onto a backside layer, which faces the dye layer, does not cause an abnormal transfer in which, in printing on an object, the dye is transferred together with a dye layer onto the object, can further reduce the density in a highlight part in printing, and can form printed matter which is excellent in reproduction of gradation from highlight to shadow without any trouble. The thermal transfer sheet comprises a base material, a heat resistant slip layer provided on one side of the base material, and a dye layer provided on the other side of the base material, wherein the dye layer comprises a binder resin having a loss modulus at 60° C. of not less than 107 Pa, a loss modulus at 100° C. of not less than 106 Pa and a loss modulus at 150° C.