CA1332182C - Image transfer sheet and apparatus for the formation of images - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
The present invention relates to image-formation on any selected kind of objective body. The characterizing features reside in such that, based upon fed image data, required images are formed on an image-transferable sheet acting for image carry-over service and in reliance on sublimation image transfer technique, and then, by the use of said sheet with said images thus formed thereon, the formed images thereon are transferringly applied on the objective body. By adopting the above measures, the objective body can be formed sharply and clearly with any desired images, irrespective of kind and configuration thereof, with such superior results of highly improved unity and solidability between the formed images and the objective body to be decorated with.

Description

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This invention relates to an apparatus for the formation of images as prints on objective bodies through transfer or images preformed by the sublimation transfer technique, and more specifically it relates to such systems as adapted for the formation of images on any selected objective body, such as cards, clothes, papers, and transparent sheets, although these are not limitative to the present invention.
This application is a divisional application of applicant's copending Canadian application Serial No 457,746 filed September 24, 1987.
Reliance is made generally upon the normal printing technique for formation of images on objective bodies.
For the execution of the printing technique, provision and use o printing plates ~forms or blocks) are requ}site. No ma.ter how simple the image-printing is, the plate-making is a ver`y time-consuming the laborious .~ , .
procedure. This is much more so in the printing of ~-various and complexed image combinations, such as tho.se of graphic or portrait images combined with characters, letters or barcodes, as an example, representing I extremely complicated and troublesome work. ~;-;~ Purther, in the normal printing operation, various operating conditions, including ink selection and the ,: . -;:
like, must be carefully considered, depending upon the kind and nature of the printing ob~ect, thus the best .
selection thereof is highly delicate and not as simple as expected.
The present invention is proposed upon careful consideration of the foregoing facts, and an object of the invention is to provide a unique apparatus for the formation of sharp and clear images regardless of the kind and nature of the object to be printed upon, and : usable and effective materials and apparatUses for ~, carrying out this unique process.
10The method of thermal image transfer (suhlimation image transfer) on clothes or fabrics with the use of thermal transfer dyestuffs has been practiced for a long time.:~ ~ In thiS ~conventional process, a dyestuff picture layer~carrying thermal transfer dyestuff is formed on a 5~ substrate~ sheet~ which is then subjected to heat in an ove:rl~apped ;state ~on a aloth; :or fabric, the dyestuff ;thereby ;~bel~ng~t~ransferred thermally~onto the lat~ter for formi~ng~the~;deslred image~s thereon.~ By utilizing this m~ `teC ~ què,~and ~with ~reCent~ development of the image;
f;o~ing t~echnology~co~ncer~ning~fine: thermal prin~ters and the~ like~var~iou~s~;fine~image~`forming processes have~been proposed to provide fine images whiCh are comparable to photographic images and are transferred onto pIastic films from~ ther~mal~ transfer ~sheets carryinq~: thermal According to~ ~he3e ~rece tlj~ proposed ~proce~J~s, varioUs~images~oe ~camera9,: or TVs;, graphic~images~ of ~o~

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personal computers and the like can be reproduced easily in the form of hard copies on the surface of a transferred material such as a paper or the like sheet carrying thereon a fixedly attached layer of polyester 5 resin, as an example. These images thus reproduced represent an amply high level comparable to those obtained by photography or fine printing arts.
The thermal transfer process so far set forth has an advantage in that it can form any image in a convenient 10 manner yet entails a problem in that it is limited to image-transferred products preferably of polyester and the like materials which must be dyed with thermal ; transfer dyes. On the other hand, the image-transferred products must be limited to specifically selected shapes, lS preferably film, sheet or the like configuration, and thus, such materials as wood, metal, glass or ceramics i: :
cannot be formed with images in this way. Further, even ~ if the material is plastics such as polyester or the g~ like, and when the image-forming surface is curved or ~-~ 20 undulated, or physical body other than sheet, even if it c. ~ ~
represents a plane surface, it is almost impossible to reproduce images precisely thereon, which naturally ~ constitutes a grave problem in the art. ~;~
!`'C~ With recent development and enlargement of utilizing ~fields of various card-style products, such as cash-~;- cards, telephone-cards, prepayment cards; and ID-cards, ~ -there are increasing demands for providing these cards ~-, ~ , . , ~ S~2 1 82 with images, symbols and codes, so as to give various other functional and/or decorative effects. Most of these cards are of planar form, but they are frequently not pliable and/or have uneven rough portions due to provision of characters and symbols, resulting in great difficulty in the scheduled image formation relying upon the thermal image transfer process.
There is therefore an urgent demand among those skilled in the art for the provision of a unique technique capable of forming sharp and clear images of desired patterns on the surface of an objective body of any preferred kind of material and having any shape and ; configuration and surface condition of any kind, and ndeed, for combining and uniying image- and decoration 15~ ;effects.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is basically based on such a princl~ple that a~first image transfer pattern i9 formed on~ an~ image transfer material, preferably an image 20~ ~ tr~ansfer sheet, and in the form of dyestuff images through~the~sublima~tion image transfer process executed by first image transfer means, depending upon given image data, ~preferably including those of letters, characters, symbols, line~images, graduated graphic representations, a5: ~ and~then ~the firs~t transfer pattern i5 transferred to second transfer means for retransferring the images onto ;an objective~body so as to provide a final product.

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sased upon the image data fed from various image data input means and at the first image-transfer means, a thermal head is actuated to execute printing operation through a dyestuff film ~thermal image-transfer sheet) on an image-transfer material or more specifically on an image-transfarable matetial which means an image-transferable sheet. This image-printing is carried out according to the sublimation or sublimative image transfer technique. Thus, in this case, the dyestuff on the dyestuff film is transferred or shifted under the influence of heat energy from the thermal head onto the image-transfer material through sublimation,` thus providing the first image-transferred means. Since this first image-transferred means has been thus formed with the images by the sublimated dyestuff, they are, then, transferred onto the second image-transferable means which will be brought into tiyht contact with the object to be decorated and subjected to heat and pressure for execution of further image-transfer operation to provide the final desired product.
In the present invention, the image-transfer material ~image-transferable sheet) is, as above referred : : :
to, formed with images by the sublimative image tansfer ~'2 ~, ~ technique for providing first image-transfer means which ;~
has highly sharp and clear images as the operation and ~, :
`~ results of the characterizing feature of the sublimation ~ image-transfer technique. Therefore, because of the ~: :

~` 1332182 transfer of such sharp and clear images onto the object, it becomes possible to form the images thereon, and indeed, practlcally irrespective of the kind and nature of the object. In this way, thus, fine image-formation is assured onto practically any objective substance.
And further, by execution of control of the thermal energy applied during the sublimative image-transfer step, the resulting color effect is superior and the image quality is good. -The images sublimatingly applied and formed in the foregoing way are subjected to a further transfer, and onto a substrate product, for providing a final ~decorative product as desired. In this final product, it should be noted that the underlying layer underneath the lS ~ images during the sublimative image-transfer stage appears now at the top,~ acting thus as a kind of protecting layer upon up-and-down positional conversion during~execution~of the second and final image-transfer stage, ~resulting in~realization of various and. numerous ;20;~ efeects. ~ As~ an examplei attainment of substan~tial reduc~tion~of~ co~nt~;amination, improvement of light resistance, weather rèsistance and chemical resistance;
substantial ~reduction of color fading; provisiolh of glazing effec:t; easier and simpler introduction of 25 ~ granulqr and/or undulated~image appearance.
Thls ~ prooess is carried into effect basically in such a manner that an image-reception layer :, . ~ . ' ,'`. ,, `` 1332182 ~

provided on one surface of an image-transferable sheet is subjected to an image-forming step with the use of ;
dyestuff capable of depositing therein depending upon the fed image data, so as to form the required images, and then, the image-reception layer of the image-transferable sheet, having been image-fixed and thus now image- ~; ;
carrying, is stuck onto the surface of the object to be decorated upon.
The image-transferable sheet adapted for use 10in the image-transfer during execution of the ;
process, it consists basically of a sheet-like substrate and a reception layer attached, howevert in a separable man~er, onto one surface thereof. As a modification of the process from the basic mode set for~h 15~ above, the sheet-like substrate is caused to remain, even `after comp~letion oE the image-transfer step, as may be occasionally required. In th~is modified case, it~ is unnecessary~to~make the lmage-reception layer of the imàge-transEer~sheet~separab1e.
20 ~Under occasion, the process may be brought into eEEeot~in~such a~way that the image-reception layer ;~
of~the image-transfer sheet is transferred upon execution of~ the image-forming step, and indeed, once onto an ntermedlate~;~image-transfer s~ubstrate which is then 2~retransEerred, together with the ~once transferred image-reception layer, onto~the surEace of an object to be de~corated on,~ and thus, in a retransferring manner. -~

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. lA is a block diagram, showing a preferred -embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention;
Fig. lB is a schematic view illustrating at (a), (b) and (c), several image-transfer steps for the execution ;
of a process according to the invention;
Fig. lC is a schematic view of an image-transfer ~-step, using a platen roll;
Fig. lD is a plan view of part of a multi-color ~;dyestuff ilm adapted for use in an image-forming step; -~ -Fig. lE iS a schematic view for the illustration of several image-transer steps; ;~
15 ~ ~ ~ Flg. 2 is a flow chart of successive operation steps ~-~?~wlth use of a data-processor, shown in Fig. 1, functioning as an operating center;
Fig. 3A is a schematic block~ diagram, showing a data-processorifor~the printer; ~-2~0~ Fig.~3B~is a block diagram of a sublimative image- ; `~
transferring printer adopted in the present invention, as a preferred embodiment thereof;
Fig. 4~is a chematic block diagram, showing a color correction ~unit showo in Fig. 3A, and several related 25~ parts~cooperat~ing therewith;
Fig. S is a schematic block diagram of a comparator ; ~.
and several related parts cooperating therewith;

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Fig. 6 is a circuit block diagram of an image-transfer head shown in Fig. lB;
Fig. 7 is a graph showing operational characteristics of a color tone or -gradation corrector unit shown in Fig. 3A:
Fig. 8 is a table for the illustration, as an example, of picture- or image-elements, as expressed in binary signals;
Fig. 9 is a table showing a conversion operation, as ;~10 an example, of a parallel/series converter shown in Fig.
3A;
Fig. 10 is a flow chart, illustrating the operation of the sublimative image transfer printer;
Fig. 11 is a plan view of a final decorative ~"~
lS product prepared according to the inventive technique;
Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the product card shown in Fig. 11, and taken along a section line A-A
shown therein;
; Figs. 13 through 31 are a series of sectional views, 2~0 ~ respectively illustrating several structural examples of `~
image-transferable sheets, suitable for use in the ~ ;~
invention; and ~'Figs.' 32 (a), (b), and (c) are sectional views, indicating final transfer steps.
a5 ~DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to Fig. lA and Fig. lB, (a), (b) and ~ ~c), a basic schema of the inventive image data '',`~: ' ., .,~ , , :` , ":,, ~ 332 1 82 .

processing and image formation will be illustrated.
Firstr in Fig. lA, numeral 101 represents an image input means which is adapted for forming image data based upon optical and the like inputs delivered from a TV-camera, line sensor or the like. Other than those above enlisted only by way of example, video; CD; TV; scanner; personal computer, captain system, capable of providing R.G.B.-and picture image and the like signals may also be utilized in a similar way. The image signal data delivered from the image input means are fed through a data processor 104 to a memory 105 for being stored therein. These stored data can be taken out from the memory and fed through data processor 104 to display means 102 for being displayed thereat.
lS~ To the data processer 104, a mouth/tablet digitizer and/or the like position data processer 103 is electrically connected for~ introducing position data ;concernlng displayed~images appearing at the display 102.
In~addition, key~board and the like character data input méans~ lQ6 ~and font generator 109 are provided for ntroducing character ~data. Still further, a barcode generator 110 is provided for introducing barcode when ; necessary. By the use of these means and units, various additional processing modes can be executed.
25~ The~thus pr~ocessed data ~are subjected to conversion at a data converter 107 into proper data adapted for ,~;,,, ;~: :

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operating a sublimation transfer printer and fed forward through a driver 108 to the thermal head.
In this case, by controlling the current duration period to the thermal element of the thermal head, the transfer quantity from the dyestuff film (thermal transfer sheet) is controlled depending upon the thermal .
energy of the element for realization of the desired gradation degree of concentration on the transfer sheet.
',, ~There are two different modes of such control of current ."~ , , ~
duration period as follows~

(a) A method for controlling the pulse l'ength -,~
corresponding to the picture element in the impressed data to the thermal element of the thermal head or, more ~;
specificallyi a series data introduced as input to the 5~ shift register shown in~Fig. 6 and to be described more '-speci~fically hereinafter. ~
b) A method for controlling the number of pulses of th~e:~pulse serles~corres~ponding to the picture elements of thè~data impre;ssed upon the thermal element in the ,' ~ ~th-~rmal~ hesd ~in~thls case, the~ pulse length being ,' ;
constant~
The deyres of gradation of the transfer,image can be, controlled in the~above mentioned way by the regulation ~ ' of~ the current-conducting period depending upon the 5, ~desired gradstion degree.~ On the~other hand, the image concentration can be controlled by adjusting the pulse length or the number of pulses contained in the pulse ~': ', ~

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t 332 1 82 series in correspondence to the picture elements contained in the data as introduced in the shift register and depending upon the driving mode of the thermal head.
Further in this case, if the number of gradation of introduced image data is larger than that which can be expressed by the printer unit, a proper conversion operation can be performed by the known strobe control :
method. As an example, in such case, the conversion of gradation number 256 to 64 may be executed by a ROM, and ;
;10 the thus reduced gradation number can be used as output.
. . .
Next, referring to Fig. lB at (a) and (b), reference numeral 121 represents a thermal head which receives ~
~; signals from the driver 108 shown in Fig. lA. This ~h thermal head 121 is arranged in opposition to platen roll 122, forming the printing position therebetween. The dyestuff film (thermal transfer sheet) is fed from a .~ . . .
delivery roll 123 to a winding roll 124 through this -~
printing position, these structural and functional features being commonly employed in both the arrangements showll in Fig. lB at ~a) and (b).
In the case of Fig. lB, (a), the mechanism is so arranged that card or sheet style transfer sheets are printed with dyestuff images.
On the other hand, in the case of Fig. lB, (b), the vi 2~ mechanism is so arranged that cards are continuously -produced with the use of a film style transfer sheet and a dyestuff film in combination.
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: . -Now turning back to Fig. lB, (a), a number of transfer sheets (cards, sheets or the like) have been stacked and stored within a storage casing 125 and are being thrust upward from below by a spring so that the uppermost sheet is kept in pressure contact with a take-out roll 126. With the rotation of the roll 126, the sheets are` successively delivered from the casing 125 by conveyer belts 127, 128 onto a platen roll 122. Each one of the sheets is fixed on the peripheral surface of the platen roll, now positionally indexed, by means of a gripper or the like mechanical attaching and separating ~; means, static attracting means, or electromagnetic attaching means. Then, the roll 122 is so rotated that :: the transfer sheet is positioned at the ready-for-printing-position.
: Next, the thermal head 121 is brought into pressure contact with the transfer sheet through- the intermediary of:~the dyestuf film, and then the thermal head 121 is energized with electric current while the dyestuff film 20~ and ~platen roll ~122 are moved in synchronism ~for the ~ execution of image transfer ~first image transfer).
`.": Upon execution of the image transfer, the platen : roll 122 ls rotated, the gripper is released and the take-out roll 129 ~s rotated and brought into pressure 25~ contact for taking out the image transfer sheet onto a tray 130.

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The thus taken-out sheet is brought into overlapped state with a new image transfer sheet, not shown, and then, both the sheets are fusingly united together by pressure application of a heated roll, not shown, for execution of a second transfer step job. The whole operation has thus been completed. Before the rusion process, the sheets may be subjected to punching, trimming and/or the like processing, if necessary.
By execution of the foregoing operational steps, a monocolor printing operation has been completed.
However, in the case of multicolor print;.ng, use is made of tricolored or quadruple colored dyestuff film and the corresponding printing operations must be repeated. In this case, upon completion of a single monocolor printing 5~ procedure, the platen roll is rotated without contact of the~take-out roll 129,~until it arrives again at the printing-1nitlation position, and so on.
In the following, a tricolor printing job~will be ustrat~ed;with; reference to Fig. lB, (b), and;with use of three differeAt s;er~ies color zones, of ~cyan,~m-genta First, a platen ~roll 122 is positionally indexed, and an image transfer sheet taken out from the roll 131 6nd~ a~-dyestuEf `film~taken out from the roll-~123 are 25~ brought; into~ pre~ssure ;oontact in an overlapped st~ate.
Then~ a the~rmal head l21 is pressed againat the platen rol 1 122 through the intermediary of the overlapped r~;

1 332 ~ 82 sheets. At this stage, the platen roll 122 is rotated counterclockwise while synchronism is kept between the platen roll 122 and the dyestuff film, and the thermal head 121 is kept electrically energized. In this way, the first color printing is executed.
Further, the dyestuff film is fed to the second color zone position, and then, the platen roll 122, the dyestuff film and the image transfer sheet are fed forward clockwise around the center roll 122. Thus a second color printing step is executed.

Further, the print-serviced two color sections of the film is fed back counter clockwise around the center of the platen roll 122 for the execution of a third color `~ printing step. Then, each card sheet is taken out from ~ lS the stack 200 under the action of take-out rolls or the :, .. . :, ., ; like, not shown, towards and between a pair of thermal ;

transfer rolls 132, 133, brought into overlapping state r~
~ With the image tran~fer sheet positionally indexed and P~ already subjected to image transfer steps as was 20~ described above,~ and finally subjected to a picture printing operation by pressurizing application of the thermal image transfer rolls 132, 133 from both sides of each taken-out card, and so on.
The color-printing step With the use of the thermal head~is carried into effect in the following manner, as an example.
(First color printing) -.
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Platen roll, image transfer sheet and dyestufE film perform the printing while they are moved in the counterclockwise direction.
(Second color printing) Platen roll and image transfer sheet are moved in the clockwise direction while the dyestuff film is moved at the same speed and in the counterclockwise direction for performing the color printing under consideration.
(Third color printing) ;
Platen roll, image transfer sheet and dyestuff film are moved in the counterclockwise direction for exe~ution ~
~ of the color printing under consideration. ~ `
-~ In the modified arrangement shown in Fig. lB, (c), thermal image transfer rolls 132, 133 have been replaced ~
by a flat press type image transfer head having up-and-'A~''~''~'' ~down movable flat printer elements 132', 133'. ` ;
It should be noted that in the course of the foregoing first and second image transfer steps, image `~
reversal phenomenon is necessarily brought about upon execution of each image transfer step. In other words and more specifically, when two successive image trans~er steps in the foregoing sense are executed, reverse images which have once appeared will return to the original .~.
normal images. Therefore, when the printed-out products 2~ are to be provided upon execution of the first image transEer step, it is necessary to provide reversed image ~ data in the signal porocessing system. For this purpose, ,.':~ ' - ':, .' --- 1 3~2 1 82 it is only necessary to reverse the addressing order at the data introduction or readout stage into or from the memory.
In the modified arrangement shown in Fig. lC, the foregoing platen roll means has been replaced by a metal block 141 lined with a rubber plate 142 in an overlapped manner. The image transfer sheet and dyestuff film are fed out from respective rolls 131 and 123. With the use of this modified arrangement, the dyestuff surface layer of the dyestuff film can be brought into tight contact with the image-receiving surface layer of the image transfer sheet, and thermal energy will be transferred evenly form the thermal head 121 to the dyestuff film.
In this case, the image transfer sheet is delivered from the roll 131, and the desired zone or region of the sheet is set underneath the rubber plate 142 (step 1).
At the same time, the dyestuff film shown in Fig. lD
on an~enlarged scale is delivered from the roll 123 and a se1ected~one of~the different color regions is set 20~ underneath the rubber plate 142 (step 2).
Next,~ the~thermal~head 121 is brought into the rear -~ ~ surface of the dyes~tuff film which is the opposite surface to the dyestuff-coated front layer, and the head 121~ is~ driven whl~le it is being translated in the 5 ~ dir~ect~ion; shown by~an arrow A, images thereby being formed at the specifically allocated zone(s) or region(s) ~; of the image transfer sheet (step 3).

~ ~ ' '.',~ ,,' ` ~ 1 3 3 2 1 ~, 2 Further, the thermal head 121 and rolls 416 and 418 are shifted downwards as shown by arrows B, so as to form an idle gap between the image transfer sheet and the dyestuff film for allowing the latter to shift towards the next following color region (step 4).
Further, the thermal head 121 and rolls 416 and 418 are returned to their original positions, whereupon the third and further succeeding steps are repeatedly executed until a certain predesired number of color printings are completed.
As shown in Fig. lD, the dyestuff film is colored to have several different color regions denoted by Y
(yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan) and Bk (black). However, ` the arrangement order is not limited to that shown: Y; M;
~::
C and Bk. In addition, as occasionally required, the Bk-region may be dispensed with. Further, as the color elements to be adopted in the Y, M, C-system may not be limited to the three primary colors provided by the subtractive color mixture. On occasion, a characterizing 20~ color Which means such a color as preadjusted to provide an objective speclfically selected one may be used to form the images concerned. As a further modif~cation, the arrangement shown in Fig. lC may be so modified that the traveling direction of the image transfer sheet is selected to be perpendicular to that of the dyestuff ~: .
~ film.
" "~; ~' ~ -18-~ ~33~1~2 Fig. 2 is an operation flow chart for showing schematically operational modes taking the data processor 104 adopted in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 as the centrum of description. The operational contents of several working parts downstream of the data converter 107 will be set forth separately hereinbelow. Now referring to Fig. 2, in combination with Fig. 1 and at the step of S101, image pickup operation is carried out by means of the image pickup means 101. For execution of this step, it may be better to pick up the face of a person per se which is to be represented on the card, or alternatively, a photograph, portrait or imagery product thereof will do. Depending upon the nature of the object, a TV camera, line sensor or the like instrument may naturally be selectively utilized.
The data taken by the image pickup means 101 are " ~ :
stored through the data processor 104 at a memory 105 5102). By the use of these stored data, image or images , ,c . ~
is/are displayed at the display 102 (S103). Since this 20~ display image is not yet subjected to any processing, it is~ g~enerally unsuitable for representing on the card.
~` However, under certain circumstances, it may be represented thereon as it is.
Then, the operator observed the displayed image or Z6~ images on~ the display unit 102 and adjudges whether additional processing is necessary or not (S104). If it is not necessary, he will manipulate the key board 106 to : ` 1 3 3 2 1 8 2 make a certain operation, resulting in the termination of processing at the data processing unit 104, data being fed out therefrom to the succeeding data converter 107.
On the contrary, when additional processing is 5 necessary, the operator observes carefully the displayed image or images on the unit 102 and adjudges whether the picture image data, or character data or barcode data should be processed. If the picture image data should be processed, such an operation is made for selecting the 10 proper mass of trimming or layout within the menu range of position-data input means 103. By the execution of this operation, functions and operations at steps S105 , ~
and S106 can be executed at one stroke. If trimming is taken as an example, the next step is executed in such a 15 way that position data are fed from the position input f means 103 to the data-processer 104 with the use of a carsor. When a tablet digitizer is used as the position data input means, the carsor image displayed in an overlapped~ manne~r on the displayed picture image 2o~ appearinq~at the dispIay unit 102 by carsor manipulation is~positionally specified beforehand in registration with the specified position on the card, for determining the trimming range. Then the operation is carried out in such~a way that the picture image data outside the 25 ~ ~ specified trimming range are canceled. By completing these operations, data processing operations relating to step 107 are executed, and, then, the mass for completion ~ , ' '~ ' ~` 13321g2 oE the menu range is selected out. By these measures, steps progress through S109 to S102, and data storing is executed, and further, display representation is brought about through step S103. If there is no need for additional processing, an operation termination manipulation is carried out as before at key board 106, and further operations will be made through data converter 107.

As for the layout, the operation is carried out with the position data input means 103, similarly as in the foregoing trimming operation. More specifically, layout is selected out in the menu range of position data input ~`~ means 103, and the overall configuration of the card and the display position of picture image are shown at 5~ ~ display unit 102. Then, image inclination correcting operation and the like are carried out so as to realize correspondence thereo with the displayed positional information, the processing operations relating to step S108~thereby being brought about. After completion of ~th~ese~operations, the~mass for the ending in the menu range~ lS ~selected.
; In this way, when selection is made from the menu range by reliance on the position data input means 103, tr`imming or layout operation can be brought about. At this~stage, when manual operation is carried out at the key~board~106, lntroduction of character data is executed (S110~. As the character data in this sense, in the case of ID card, as an example, the name and/or birthday, month and year of the owner may be used. The data introduced from the key board 106 in accordance with the output character style from the font generator 109 are shown at the display unit 102 in the specified positions on the displaying surface and respectively arranged in accordance with display items. The operator acknowledges these items and detailed displays of the represented images. When he acknowledges them as being true, he will operate the key board 106 for showing the operation ending (Slll).
Upon ending the operations as described above, the ~; data are stored in memory 105 (S102) and represented at the display 102. The operator will acknowledge again this fact, and upon the execution of this, the operations are terminated.
As for the barcode introduction, the data are subjected to inputing at steps S112 and S113, as in a manner similar to the character data introduction as set ~forth above. The barcodes and the like data may be ntroduced separately through printing or other mechanical method.
In Fig. 3A, a data processing circuitry usable in the sublimation image transfer printing method is shown only schematically. As shown, the circuitry 107 comprises a picture element density converter 3; a color corrector 4; a gradation corrector 10; a memory 11; a .~;

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switch 12; a buffer 13 and parallel/series converter 14.
The picture element density converter 3 is connected to a picture image input unit 100.
The unit 100 serves for generation of three primary color data of R.G.B.- or Y.M.C.-mode from original picture images and is connected through the picture element density converter 3 to the color corrector 4.
The converter 3 conv2rts the picture element density of the image data fed from the unit 100 to the desired one, ~i 10 by subtracting or supplementing, as the case may be, - .~:~ -,:. - .
image data for each color element. It should be ;~
mentioned that for attaining high quality hard copies, conversion of the picture element density to at least 10 lines/mm or so is preferable. -15 ~ Color corrector 4 consists preferably of a color ~;
decoder, level adjuster or color converter, and serves to correct~three primary color data converted to those of a p~rede~termined den~sity of picture elements in ~`
ccn~sideraticn of characteristics of the image transfer ~-~
ink~in ~the image~ transfer sheet and in addition to ;~
prov~ide~black~color~data.
The data processing circuitry 107 is connected through; a driver 108 to the sublimation image transfer ;-pr~i~nter.
25 ~ ~ In~Fig. 4, an example of the color corrector 4 is ~
shown schematically in structure. As shown, it comprises ~ j`
adders~`~6Y; 6M and 6C, a black color data calculator 7, --23~

`"- ! 3321 82 `

and primary and secondary color correction circuits 8 and 9. Primary color correction circuit 8 serves for making correction of turbidity of the image transfer ink, while secondary color correction circuit 9 provides a capability of arbitrary and selective correction control relative to speciEically selected color hue.
The gradation corrector 10 is so arranged as to make correction of the gradation of the data for each color Y, M, C or K (representing black color) fed from the foregoing color corrector 4 when necessary. For this purpose, the corrector 10 includes a gradation circuit (not shown) and the like, whereby a certain mode of i~
highlight stressing or shadow stressing is introduced and realized.
15~The memory 11 functions to preserve temporarily the data of each color delivered Erom the gradation corrector lOr a selection ~switch 12 being provided at the output side o the memory for selective writing-in of the data ;~
oE each color to the buffer 13. The buffer 13 is capable Oe wr~iting-in the data of one line of the image transfer~ head~ 16 and kept in connection with the parallel/series converter 14 adapted for converting parallel data into series data. Additionally, in the simplified machine, black color data series is dispensed 25 ~ with~ in some instances. ~ ~-In Fig. 5, a schematic construction o~f the ~ ~
, j . ., ~ ~
parallel/serles converter 14 is shown. As shown, 3~2 parallel data delivered from the buffer 13 are fed to an input side of a comparator 22, while outputs from a counter 23 are fed to another input side of the comparator 22 which delivers the converted series data to the driver 15 for driving a thermal head 121.
If necessary, however, the comparator 22 may be replaced by a converter table, not shown, utilizing a parallel/series converting ROM.
In Fig. 6, a detailed circuit schema of the ther~al head 121 is shown. As shown, series data delivered from the comparator 22 are fed into a shift register SR and thence, after being subjected to latching at a latch circuit LT, fed to thermal elements HE through NAND gates NA which are fed at respective one side inlets with 15~ strobe signals.
Next, referring to Fig. 3A, the operation of the ;data~ p~rocessing circuitry 107 will be described more specifically.
First,~ when three pr~imary color image data are fed from ~the picture lmage inlet circuit 100 to the -picture element~density converter 3, the latter converts these three primary color data to those which represent a ;predetermined picture element density and then are fed to the~color correction unit 4. In this case, it is assumed ~;~that~the unit 4 is fed with three primary color data expressed in respective concentration signals, which are j ! ', ~ : ' -- ~ t 3~2 1 82 ;
, .

of yellow: Y0; of magenta: M0 and of cyan: C0, respectively, in the present example.
These data: Y0; M0 and C0 are, as shown in Fig. 4, fed throu~h respective adders 6Y; 6M and 6C to the black color data calculator 7, to provide a K-output as expressed mathematically by the following formula:

:, K = min (Y, M, C) 10 wherein, "min" represents a function which provides a ;~

possible minimum value.
These data: Y0, M0 and C0 are fed from the converter 3 to the primary color correction circuit 8 to provide prlmarily corrected data Yl, Ml and Cl which are thence 15 ~j fed to the secondary color correction circuit 9 to provide, through calculation, secondarily corrected data: t Y2, ~M2 and C2, respectively. These are then fed to -~
respective~adders 6Y, 6M abd 6C, which add them to re~spective :data YO~, ~MO~and C0, to provide respectively 20~ added~output~data~Y, M, and C to be fed to the gradation correcter~ circuit lO,;;~respectively, after being utilized for calculation Oe the K-output signal value.
The primary color correction circuit 8 serves to calculate~primarily~oorrected data: Yl, Ml and Cl which 5; ~are~necessarily~ utilized for~oorrect-out of transfer ink ~ turbit. ~In~ this case, the original data: Y0, M0 and C0 $~

., ::

: . .

- 1 3 3 2 1 ~ Z ! : ~ :

are subjected to matrix calculation to provide the primarily corrected data Yl, Ml and Cl, as folows~

Yl = kll C0 ~ kl2 M0 + kl3 Ml = k21 C0 + k22 ~ M0 - k23 Y0 Cl = k31 C0 + k32 M0 - k33 u yo . .
where, kij represents weight coefficients: `~:
; i = 1 - 3; and The secondary color correction circuit 9 serves to :~
calculate secondary color correction data Y2, M2 and C2 ,-from primary color correction data Yl, Ml and Cl by modifying the latter to make certain thereto by . .`.`~
~ performing~ matrix calculations so as to~ provide a capability~ for making an ~arbitral and selective color contr~ol~at~a~certain spe~cifically selected-out color hue, ` ~?~ "~
in~:the~following manner~

2`0~ Y2~= Y1 +~e~ B + el2 ~ aC + 413 aG ~-t:~ el4 - ~y + el5 ~R + el6 M2 - Ml + e21 ' ~ aB + e22 ~C e23 ! ~ ` .` . -` .
aG + e24 ~ ~Y~+ e25 ~ aR + e26 aM~ and C2 =~Cl + ~e3~ B~+:~e32 ~C + e33 ~ .` ~`-25~ ; aG + e34:; ~Y:+ e35 ~ R + e36 aM ;~
:wh~rein, eij represents weight coefficients~
: `i = 1 - 3;
l ~

: ~: 27 ,:

.. .
':.';. ! ' ~

j = 1 - 6;
~B, ~C, ~G, ~Y, ~R, ~M:
characterizing color data.

Thus, when these secondary correction data Y2, M2 and C2 are added to the corresponding original data YO, -~
MO and CO by means of respective adders 6Y, 6M and 6C and - under proper selection of weight coefficients kij for primary color correction circuit 8, any color discrepancy ,, of the ideal color of the ink appearing on the printed ,;
~;~ picture images under the action of the sublimation transfer printer can be arbitrarily ammended. In this case~ when the weight coefficients ei j for the secondary oorr~ection circuit 9 are selected out properly, the color 5~ tone: of the printing~picture images~can be modified to an ar~bitra~ry degree.
Fùr~her~, as for the~black color data K, correction data~K2~can~be~c~lLul~ted~by~the ollowing formula. With Us~e~of;~these;~correction data K2,~which are added to the iginal~black~color~dàta~K, the~ desired oorrection can be~ exe;cuted~ in a~ similar manner.

K2. = K + ml ~B ~ m2 ~C ~ m3 ~G + m4 Y~ m5 ~ ~R ;~:: m6 ~M
5~ wherein,~mi~r~epr~esents~ weight ~coeff icients~

i~ : . :,' - ~ 1 s32 1 82 :: ~

In this way, output data: Y, M, C and K delivered from the color correction circuit 4 are introduced into the gradation corrector 10 as inputs thereof, and each constituent of these data can be subjected to correction as desired.
Fig. 7 shows several characteristic curves illustrating corrections by means of the gradation corrector 10. More specifically, fO represents a standard characteristic curve; fl a highlight-stressing operation curve; f2 a shadow-stressing operation curve;

f3 a highlight-and-shadow stressing operation curve; and f4 a medium tone stressing operation curve.
As indicated in Fig. 7, by presetting, as necessary, the tone-reproducing characteristics, which determine the ~relationship between that concentration of color data and that~ Oe the prints printed by means of a sublimation image transferring printer, a color tone similar to that pos~s~essed by~ the original image can be reproduced. More speeifically, when no~correction is adopted, the curve fO
s~ùsed, while~ln the case of correction, any selected one~oE these curves fl~to f4 may be utilized depending ; upon the part of gradation to be stressed. Further, it should be noted that the tone reproducing characteristic cur;ves are not exclusively limited to those which have 5 ~ ~been specifically shown and described above. As an example, ~the control of gradation correction by color tone reproducing characteristic mentioned above is ,:
~: . ; ,.: , .

~2~82 . .

executed by a gradation circuit, not shown, and the setting of the color tone reproducing characteristic is brougnt about by manipulation of any selected one of the control knobs, not shown, which are provided separately for "highlight"; "medium tone" and "shadow".
Y.M.C.K.-data subjected to correction by the ~ ~-gradation corrector 10 are once stored in the memory unit 11. The thus stored data may be read out from the memory for each color by manipulation of the selection switch 12 and, after provisional storing, per one line of transfer head 16, at the buffer 13, introduced into the paralleltseries converter 14 for conversion thereby into corresponding series data.
~; Another example o~ the data processing circuit for the subllmation transfer printer is shown only ; ~ - schematically in Fig. 3B. As shown, the processing circuit in 107' comprises a level regulator 503; a color converter 504: an A/D converter 505 and a parallel/series converter~l4.
~ ~As the image data introduced into the processing circu~it 107', those which have been subjected to . ;
conversion into R.G.B.-signals in the color decoder 502 from composite video signals delivered from a T.V.
camera, VTR ~or the like are used. On the other hand, R~G.B.-signals delivered from a personal computer, captain System or the like means are introduced as input into the level adjuster 503.

30~ ~
~ .

~ ~` 1 332 1 82 ; ,,," " ;; , As the color correction method with the use of the foregoing arrangements, it is possible, more specifically, to adjust the hue saturation and/or brightness in the color decoder 502, or to adjust the signal level of each color light of R.G.B.-system in the level regulator 503.
As an example, the color conversion from R.G.B.- to Y.M.C.-system can be executed in the color converter 504.
The simplest possible method in this color conversion is to procure the opposite color to each of the normal colors.
The thus produced color signals of Y.M.C.-system is ; subjected to A/D conversion and then fed successively through the parallel/series converter 14 and the driver S ~108 ~to the thermal~ head, not shown, to carry out ;printi~ng in the sublimation transfer principle.
Addltionally,~ ln normal cases, with the use of the for~egoi;ng system composition, input image data must be of stat1c mode. However, by provision of memory means in 20~ E}ont~ of~;the color~decoder or at an intermediate position bet_ en ;the~A/O converter~and parallel/series converter, anlmating images can be processed.
The aeriés data converted in the foregoing manner in the~data con~verter ~107 or 107' are fed to the shift 25~; register sR~shown in Fig. 6 by n-image elements~and then, upon being subjected to latching in the latch circuit LT
are further delivered to NAND gate~ NA as its inputs.

~332182 : ~

When a strobe signal ST is fed as input to the NAND gate NA, the foregoing n-image element data is fed ~o the thermal element HE.
Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram, showing signals for S respective image elements. The gradation has been so selected that the first image element is at the highest gradation level, while the n-th image element corresponds to the lowest gradation level, and that the second to (n-l)th image elements vary linearly in gradation levels, so as to provide representatively a better understandable example of the invention.
Next, the operation of the parallel/series converter 14 will be described.
First, as shown in Fig. 5, image elements data A, consisting of parallel data, more specifically, i~comprising parallel eight bit data A0 - A7, are fed to cne-side inputs of comparator 22, while another side inputs thereof are fed with outputs B, comprising eight b1t increment outputs B0 - B7, of counter 23. The ~counter 23 counts clock signals in increments, the ;, . ;; ~ ~ -outputs B0~- B7 being successively varied.
;The comparator 22 performs comparison between the two inputs A and B, so as to deliver successively outputs of~binary "1" until the increment output B is brought 2i5 ~into coincidence with image elements data A, or more speciically, under the condition of A>B~and A=B, while, thereafter, binary "0"-outputs are delivered therefrom.

.~, ~ . .

~ 32 ; ~ A ;, ", . ,;; .

~32182 More specifically, comparator 22 will continue to deliver binary "1" until an increment value which corresponds to the weight of concentration of image element data A is given thereto. As an example, if the image element data :., :. :.
A has a concentration of gradation 128 of a total 256, output "1" will be repeated to deliver 128 times first and then, output "0" will follow after again 128 times, so as to provide in total a specific series data peculiarly in this case.

These series data are taken out from the comparator 22 in the form of A>B- and A>B-outputs and of A = B-outputs through an attributed OR-gate 24, and in the present example, the gradation consists of 256 steps or -~ ~ increments. However, in practice, the gradation may represent a smaller number of steps. As an example, if the incrementing bit is Bl instead of hitherto employed B0, the gradation will have 128 steps; and if B2 is employed, it will have only 64 steps. In this way, the gradation setting may be varied in a simple manner.

20 ~ When in the foregoing way, the output B from the counter 23 is stepwise incremented, such series data ~ i consisting of a first series of "1" will be delivered - ~ until the relationship between the image elements data A
and the output B from counter 23 becomes A = B, and of a second series of "0" issued thereafter, as shown in Fig.

- ; 8.

J' ~

~ 33- ~

~ r t332182 In Fig. 9, a conversion mode at the parallel/series converter 14, which, however, is different from that shown in Fig. 8, as an example, is shown again in the form of a matrix. As shown, when the image data are of 8-bit parallel kind, as an example, the gradation data are ranged from O to 255, providing, therefore, binary series data from "00 ...... 00" to "11 ...... 11".
In this way, the data, per line in the transfer head 16, kept preserved in the buffer 13 are fed to the ; 10 parallel/series converter 14 for providing as outputs therefrom into corresponding series data which are then delivered through the driver 15 to the transfer head 16 ~`and thus recorded on a print paper P supported on the ,~:
transfer drum 17.
Fig. 10 represents a flow chart illustrating the ` ~ ; operation of the sublimate printer as employed in the present invention.
; At the first step Sl, print papers are set in pos~ltion and the prlnting ribbon is also set in position ready for performing~the required procedure.
At the second step S2, printing operation is initiated, and line printings are executed, line by line, accompanying necessary intermitte`nt line shifts, !with relation to any selected one of four colors: C (cyan); M
(magenta); Y ~yellow) and K ~black) being carried out.
Ree~r ~to S3 and S4. When line printings wlth the selected-out single color have been completed ~S5), the `~ ~34~
.

: .

1332182 :
';" :.

image transfer sheet is replaced by another color sheet (S6) and so on. In this way, line printings are completed in all four colorsr In this case, it is ~-naturally most preferable to use a long extended single 5 transfer sheet on which four color ink regions are --~
repe~tedly printed in a certain predetermined pattern. ::
The image reception paper is initiated to make print from . - , .: :.
a certain prescribed position for each of these colors (S8). When all of the printing steps have been completed with the four colors, the paper is discharged from position (S9) and the printing operation is terminated to be repeated.
In Fig. ll, a card style sample of the final products according to this invention is shown in front 15view at 200. Fig. 12 is a sectional view thereof.
Numeral 201 represents the substrate material of the card; 20~ a display layer; 203 a surface protecting layer; and 204 a display image as an example. Depending upon the kind of usage and when necessary, the protecting layer 203 may be dispensed with. It should be noted that the display image 204 on the display layer 202 is . ~ ~
; ~ represented by a sublimative dyestuff, as a - -characterizing feature of the present invention.
~ As the main and substantial material of the image `~;25 transfer sheet, various plain papers, converted papers, , c~plastic resin sheets or the like may be used Per se or in ~ .
combination. When a plastic resin sheet which can be ;
~35~

colored directly with a sublimative dye or dyes is used, these image transfer substrates (articles or objects) as a. 201 can be united each with the display layer 202.
Each of these substrate materials, when it is of the card style, may have generally such dimensions: thickness of 0.68 to 0.80 mm and size: ll to 8 x 8 to 5 cm.
As the material of the display layer 202, various known materials which may be colored with sublimative ; dyestuffs, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, ABS, AS, polyvinylchloride, polyvinyl/vinyl acetate copolymer, polystyrene, polyacrylate, polyester, polyamide, pulyurethane and the like plastic material, may be advantageously utilized. As will be more specifically described hereinafter, this material layer 15 ~ can be united with the~substrate material layer 201. In the case of such unified structure with substrate layer 201,~ the thickness and size dimensions may be substantially as ~the sams as before. However, when ~ normal ;and/or converted papers or metals, which are k ~ 20~ p~rscti~cal1y ~impossible to color with sublimative dy99tuef9l ~are ussd ag the substrate layer 201, various methods can be utilized for desired coloring. As an example,~a solution including at least any selected one of~ plastic resin~ materials capable of coloring with 25~ sublimative ~dyestuffs may be coated on the substrate surfacs, or~ alternatively used in the form of a film which i9 laminated thereon. This kind of film preferably ~ 332 ~ 82 ~......
has à thickness of about 3 to 50 ~m or so. One of main characterizing features represented in and by the final products 200 is that the appearing display image or images as at 204 is/are formed at least partially or wholly with a sublimative dyestuff or dyestuffs.
Additionally, the process for formation of such images can be executed in the conventional art.
As an example, the processing method may be executed conventionally as follows.
10As an example, a sublimative image transferable sheet, such as a pa~er sheet, plastic resin film or sheet capable of acting as the carrier is coated on its surface with any suitable binder resin carrier carrying ~; sublimative a dyestuff or dyestuffs under heat, is : , .
~ 15 overlapped on the display layer 202 and then subjected to ~ .
heat from behind the heat-transferable sheet, preferably in the pattern mode, so as to transfer the dyestuff or dyestuffs into the display layer 202. It is proper to select the molecular weight of 250 or larger of the ~ dyestuff, for improving the fastness thereof. However, a molecular weight higher than 370 is more favorable. In the case of provision of the surface protecting layer, there is practically no limitation to the selectability ~ . ~
of the dyestuff molecular weight.
The sublimative image transfer may be executed directly on the surface of substrate 201 provided with ,-~ the display layer 202. Or alternatively, a ca~rrying, -~

'`' ~
~37~ ;~

:, image transferable sheet is prepared separately and, after formation of the image 204 thereon, may be stuck onto or laminated on the substrate 201.
Imaqe-carryinq and imaqe-transferable sheet In the following, structure, material, usage and application purpose of the image-transferable sheet to be employed in the present invention will be described in detail~

Fig. 13 illustrates only basically and in schematic sectional view the image-transferable sheet adopted in the present invention, while Figs. 14 through 19 and 22 through 24 illustrate preferable embodiments thereof.
!.. : ~ ' . -' :
The basic structure of the image transferable sheet 310 is characterized in that, as shown in Fig. 13, a ~sheet-like substrate 301 is provided at its one surface with an image-reception layer 302 capable of peel-off from the substrate. By adopting such a structural ; conf~1guratlon of the image-transferable sheet, the image-reaeption layer 302 can be ormed with the required image or ~images ~with~ the use of an image transferable sheet having thermally~shiftable dyestuff, and then, the image-formed, image-r~eception layer 302 is peeled off from substrate 301 and attached firmly, preferably as by sticking, on the surace of any selected object or 25~ artic~le~ with use of any suitable means. In this way, various convention~al drawbacks inherent in the - t332182 comparative conventional technique can be basically overcome.
More specifically, as the material of the aforementioned image-reception layer 302, limitation must be imposed to those which can be colored with thermally shiftable or transferable dyestuff. ~owever, upon formation of necessary images and upon peel-off from the sheet-like substrate 301, the image-reception layer 302 may be attached fixedly onto the surface of glass-made, metal-made or wooden-made products or plastic-resin made ones which are very difficult to color with thermally shiftable and transferable dyestuffs, indeed, by reliance on conventional sticking techniques as properly adopted in consideration of the specific nature and kind of the lS material of decorative products to be ornamented.
:, Further, the image-formed and peeled-off, image-reception layer 302 from the sheet substrate 301, is highly thin and thus sufficiently pliable so~that it may be applied even onto any uneven and complicated surace of a product to~ be decorated or ornamented, having undulations, convexities, concavities, recesses and projections.
Therefore, a maximum possible better fitness of the " k ~ image-reception layer to be ornamented is attained and guaranteed by the~present invention. Thus, practically ~;~; 25 ~ no limitation in the attaching use thereof may be encountered. Further, in sharp contrast to conventional sealing seals and the like, the very thin image-reception layer bearing necessary images can be applied easily to the product per se in a very uniform manner, thus providing no raised and thickened feeling, and giving rise to no foreign feeling upon attachment.
Fig. 14 shows a further example of the image transferable sheet 310. In this case, there is provided a partiny agent layer 303 on the surface Oe image-reception layer 302. Between the latter and the sheet substrate 301, there is provided a parting agent layer 303'. If necessary, however, any one of the two layers 303; 303' may be dispensed with.
The first parting agent layer 303 is provided for prevention of thermal fusion between the image-reception layer 302 and an image transferable shee;t, not shown, as S~ may~ occur during image transfer and formation on the fi~rs~t ~layer~ 302 through transfer ~ of thermally ;transferable dyestuff~from the said transferable sheet to the~ eirs~t~;layer. ~If there is no risk of such thermal us~lon ;of the ~above;~ nature, ; or when the image-0~ ;transferable sheet has b~een already provided with such a`parting agent~layer~the present provision thereof may be unnecessary. As for another parting agent layer 303', it is~ Eor~ the purpose of making the latter peel-off - ~ ` operatlon~,~ to~ be~ executed after ~image-forming ~step, 2b ~ easier~ When t~he ~sheet-like subgtrate 301 ig~ made~o polyeste~or t~he lik~e material which has, as it is, suffioient separability from image-reception layer 3~02, ~-~ ` - t 3 3 2 1 8 2 . -~

provision of parting agent layer may naturally be dispensed with.
Fig. 15 illustrates a still further example of image transferable sheet 310. In this case, between the image-S reception 302 and the sheet-like substrate 301, an intermediate layer 304 and/or parting agent layer 303' is!are provided. The laminating order is optional and thus not binding. The intermediate layer 304 will serve to assist the image formation to be rather firm and beautiful, the image formation being carried out by transferring the thermally shifting and transferring dyestuff from the image transfera~ble sheet to the image-reception layer 302. For this purpose, the intermediate layer 304 may take, for example, the form of a cushioning lS~ layer~or heat insulating layer. When a cushioning layer is provided as the intermediate layer 304, the 'cohesion ` ' ;'~- between the image ;transferabIe sheet and the image recept~ion~layer ~30Z~is greatly improved and the thermal shlft~and~tran~sfer~oE the dyestuf during image fcrmation with~ the~use~o ~a ~th~rmal ;head ls evenly executed, the 'image~ formatlon~thereby being ~càrried out amply in correspondence with the supplied image signals. Further, when~a ~heat insulating layer consisting of a highly heat~
~J~ ` ' 'insulàt1ve~ma~t~erial is~used as the intermediate~layer~
5~ 304,~inefective release;of the heat applied durin~g shift and ~trans~fer ;of the ~dyestuff from the image transferable sheet to~the image-reoeption layer 302 can be reduced to ~ 3321 ~2 : ~
. ~ ~ .; .
, ...:
a minimum possible, the eEfective thermal efficiency thereby being correspondingly improved and ample image formation being accelerated. If necessary, however, ~ ;
these cushioning layer and heat-oinsulating layer can be ;~
prepared independently and arranged concurrently in any arranging order.
Additionally, when the intermediate layer 304 is arranged at a higher level than the parting agent layer 303', the intermediate layer 304 will be conjointedly peeled off in the case of peel-o~f of the image-reception layer 302. On the contrary, when the intermediate layer 304 is arranged at a lower level than the parting agent layer 303', the intermediate layer will remain on the ~;
sheet-like substrate 301 aEter execution of the separation of 1mage-reception layer 302. In this case, therefore, the intermediate layer 304 may be made prefer~ably and at least substantially transparent, when ~
the peeled-off image-reception layer 302 is stuck on a n-;decorative product,~ wbile directing the surface of ~parting agent layer 303 towards the latter In the modifications shown in Figs. 16, 17, and 18, modified from the foregoing embodiment shown in Fig. 15, . .
` ' ` a furtherl pfotecting layer 305 is provided between the image-reception layer 302 and the sheet-like substrate ~ `
5 ~ 301. This protecting layer 305 serves to prevent ~1 deterioration of the formed images in the image-reception layer 302 when the latter is stuck on the decorating J~ "; ' ,; ~

-42~
. ; ., . ~ .

- ~ 332 1 82 product while directing the surface (more specifically the image-formed surface) towards the product. For eY.ample, this protecting layer 305 is prepared from a superior material which exhibits at least one of desirous properties such as antiwearing, light-fast, weather proofing and anti-chemical qualities. With the use of the protecting layer 305 having these superior qualities, the images can represent improved fastness in the above various aspects, even after execution of the foregoing sticking procedure.
In the modification shown in Fig. 16, the protecting layer 305 is arranged between the intermediate layer 304 ~; and the parting agent layer 303'.
In the further modification shown in Fig. 17, the protectlng layer 305 is arranged between the image-reception layer 302 and the parting agent layer 303'.
In still another modification shown in Fig. 18, the intermediate layer 304 takes the role of the protecting layer 305.
20~ In each of these modifications, the protecting layer 305 is arranged in~ neighboring relationship with the partition agent layer 303', whereby the image-formed and re~motely arranged, image-reception layer 302, kept in its up-and-down reversed state, is capable of adhering ; ~ 26 securely to the decorative product, so as to be positioned as an uppermost layer, as may be required. In a still further modification shown in Fig. 19, derived ~ 43 ~ 3 3 2 1 8 ,~ ~ ~

from that shown in Fig. 1~, a sticking layer 306 is further provided between the image-reception layer 302 and the partition agent layer 303. It should be noted, however, that such a sticking layer as at 306 may be 5 provided in any one of other foregoing examples and B ;~
modifications, if necessary, in neighboring relationship with the parting agent layer 303'.
-~ The provision of such a sticking layer as at 306 is ; highly valuable when the image-formed and peeled-off, image-reception layer is adhering without position reversal onto the decorative product. With this -~
. .
arrangement mode, the protecting layer 305 shown in Figs.
16, 17, and 18 may be dispensed with. If, however, the protecting layer 305 is composed of a material in the S~ form of a sheet-like substrate, the part to be peeled off is thereby strengthed, the peel-of~ procedure thus being gr~eatly facilitated.
By prev~oUs~provlsion of the sticking layer 306, the image-formed and peeled-off, image-reception sheet 302 àan ~;be~caused to adhere as it is onto the decorative product w1thout use~of a separate sticking agent. As the ; sticklng layer 306, an ordinary sticking agent which is active at room temperature can be used. Or alte~rnatively! a heat-sensible or light-sensitive 25~ ~sticking~agent may be used, if necessary.
In ~the foregolng, the main structure of the image trans~erable sheet employed in the present invention has . i. ' !
,';; ' 'i",. `'";'''' - ~532182 been described in detail. However, other structural modes than those set forth hereinbefore which occur easily to those skilled in the art may be employable in the invention, and thus they may be included within the scope of the invention without departing rrom the appended claims.
It should be further noted that, in the present invention, the sheet-like substrate may be provided on its one surface with an image-transferable layer capable of peeling off through the intermediary of only one weakly sticking layer.
Eig. 22 shows only schematically in a sectional view ` a preferred embodiment of such an image-transferable ; sheet, denoted with same reference numeral 310.
As shown in Fig. 22, the image-transferable sheet 310 represents a basic structural characteristic such that any suitable sheet-like substrate 301 is provided on one of the surfaces with an image-reception layer 302 through an only weakly sticking intermediate layer 402, ~ . : .
the layer 302 thus being easily peeled-off when desired.
By providing the image-transferable sheet with such a structural characteristic as set forth above, desired positive or negative images are formed by transferring thermally shlftable and transferable dyestuff from the image heat transferable sheet to the image-reception .... ~ .~
i layer 302, and the thus image-formed layer is peeled off i~ .
~ from the sheet-like substrate 301 and then attached onto :: :

~ 45 .;;,~'`

- ~332~82 ~:

any suitably selected product with the use of proper means or attached per se thereon without the peeling-off operation, the substrate then being peeled off, whereby an image-formed final product can be obtained.
In the foregoing example, it should be noted that the image reception sheet 302 per se has only a thin thickness and thus represents only poor feedability during the sheet-feeding period within the printer at the time of image formation, insufficient cushioning effect and only insufficient thermal efficiency during the printing operation, and further, it is very dif~icult to treat ln advance of as well as after execution ~f the image formation. Therefore, the coexistence of the ~;~ image-reception layer 302 and the sheet-like substrate 301 is absolutely necessary. In addition, it is a requisite requirement that the image reception layer 302 be easily peeled off from the sheet-like substrate 301 upon execution of the lmage-forming operation, and thus, the layer 302 and the sheet 301 should not be stuck too ~s~trongly together. In order to satisfy this requirement, provlsion is made of weakly stuck layer 402 therebetween.
Thus, it should be noted that the term "weakly stuck"
~' ~employed in this specification and appended claims may be defined as "to be separable by finger's end and the like `25 means from each other without entailing destruction or f~breakage of the parts originally stuck together". It is worthwhile to say, in considering the relative ,\~ ;~ -~ -46-;:

` ~ ~332182 :
. .~ .

relationship between the image-reception layer 302 and the sheet-like substrate 301, there is no necessity to provide the weakly-stuck layer 402 if the aforementioned peeling-off is very easy to bring about.
Fig. 23 illustrates still another modification of the image-transferable sheet 310 denoted by the same reference numeral 310 only for simplicity and convenience, wherein a further parting agent layer 303 is provided on the surface of image-reception layer 302.
This layer 302 is provided for occasional thermal ~ sticking between the thermal image transferable sheet, :~ not shown, and the image reception layer 302 in the progress of thermal shift and transfer of the dyestuff from the sheet to the layer 302. This provision of:the il5 parting agent layer 303 may be dispensed with if there is no~risk~o occurrence of :such disadvanta~geous sticking attachment or the sheet under consideration has already been fitted~with~such a~ parting agent laye:r.
A~modi~ficatlon~shown in;Fig. 24 from that shown in ;20 ~ :Fig.~2:3 has such a~ modified structure that a protecting layer 305 i5~ provided~:between the image-reception layer 302 and the weakly stuck layer 305. This layer 305 se~rves to prevent otherwise occurring deterioration of the~ 1mages ~a:t~:the image-reception layer 302~which has 25~ been;formed with~pr~eferably reversed~images and subjected : ::: to-~peeling-off, ~together~ with proteoting layer 305, : preferably a plasti~c sheet layer, from the sheet-like ~;: 47.
~ ~

~3321~2 ~

substrate 301 and finally stuck onto the decorative product, while directing the image-formed surface of the im2ge-reception layer towards the product. The protecting layer 305 is made of a material having various excellent physical properties, such as anti-wearing-, ligh~-.astness and antichemical characteristics.
Provision of such a protecting layer improves various fastness performances of the formed images after sticking attachment of the image-reception layer 302.
When necessary, a separate parting agent layer, not shown, may be provided between the protecting layer 305 and the weakly stuck layer 402 for providing easy peel-off capability between these two layers 305 and 402, as being applicable to the example shown in F1g. 24. If the surface of the protecting layer 305 should have su;eficient peel-off capability, it is natural to provide such an int6rmediate~parting agent layer as above.
Purther, in~the case of the image-transferable sheet 310~ it is natural1y ~easy to separate from~ each other 20~ through~ a peel-off operation, upon the formation of neces6a~ry images~thereon and before practical use thereof as the image-transfer sheet, and a cut-out slit as at 407 n the sheet-like substrate 301 may be provided for attaining such an easy s~eparation as stated above at a 25 ~ port1on of the sheet 310 in proximity to one end thereof.
Upon the provislon of such a cut-out slit as at 407, the thus formed 1ap-like portion can be easily folded out by ~`"

., ~ .

the operator's finger-tip, thereby affording convenience in a peel-of~ operation.
The usable materials and composing methods of the foregoing image transferable sheets will now be described.
As a material usable for the sheet-like substrate may be any one or any combination of the following -~-categories:
~; (1) synthetic paper (polyolefin-series; polystyrene series and the like); ~-(2) fine quality paper; art paper; coated paper; cast-coated paper, wall paper; back-up paper; backing paper; resin-, emulsion- or synthetic rubber- j-~
imprignated paper; resin-admixed paper; paper ;~
15 ~ board; cellulose fiber paper;
(3) polyolePin , polyvinyl chloride-, polyethylene terephth~alate; polystyrene; polymethacrylate polycarbonate and the like plastic film or sheet.
Use of the synthetic paper belonging to the ;20~ foregoing ca~tegory (1) is highly suitable for the purpose oE~ the ~present lnvent;ion since the surface thereof ;gene~rally represents a microvoid layer which provides a low heat iconductivity and thus a high heat-insu~ating ;peEormance. A laminated material representing any ~combination of the; forego~ing categories (1), ~2) and l3) aan~be used in the present invention. A representative and~recommendable example of such a laminate is that of ~ ' ' `'~ ~ ' ' -`- 1 3321 82 cellulose fiber paper and synthetic paper or that of cellulose fiber paper and plastic resin film or sheet.
Among others, use of the first mentioned kind of laminate will provide an advantage in that the thermal instability such as thermal elongation or shrinkage possessed by the synthetic paper component is compensated for by the cellulose fiber paper, whereby a high thermal sensibility is demonstrated during the printing step due to low thermal conductivity of the synthetic paper component.
Further, in the case of the present paper combination, however, a further modified combination of a three-layer laminate: synthetic paper-cellulose fiber paper-synthetic paper may be more advantageously employed for making the : . :
frequently appearing lesser by providing a well-balanced structure between both the surfaces of the final laminate.
As the synthetic paper mentioned above, any suitable one usable as a synthetic paper substrate used as a component of the image-transferable sheet layer may be used. As a recommendable example thereof, having a Line porous fine paper structure layer, the synthetic paper called "YVPO", manufactured and sold by Oji Yuka Goseishi Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, may be mentioned. This .
paper layer having a fine pore structure may be prepared 25 in such a way that a suitable plastic resin material -i `
containing a filler of finely divided state is subjected to a mechanical elongation step. When the image~

, :~
-~:

transferable sheet composed of the synthetic paper sheet containins finely divided air as above mentioned is formed with images through a thermal image transfer setp, the concentration of the thus formed images is surprisingly high and no fluctuation of image configuration and concentration is encountered, thanks to the heat insulation effect provided by the very existence of fine air pores, in addition to the improved thermal energy efficiency. Especially, due to the advantageous cushioning effect provided by the air-filled fine pores, the image-receiving layer is supposed to be rather advantageously affected during the image formation step.
As an alternative measure, the paper-like layer containing the above-mentioned fine air pores may be, if desired, provided directly with the core material , consisting of the cellulose fiber paper or the like. -~
It is further possible to use plastic film in add1tion to the cellulose fiber paper in the laminate descr1bed above.~ Still further, a laminate of said ~ ce11u10se fiber paper and plastic film composed together Gan be used. ;~
As the method for co-sticking of synthetic paper and ~;~` cellulose fiber paper, use of a known adhesive agent is naturally adopted,;as an example. Or alternatively, the 5~ ex~trus1on-1aminating, heat-adhesion, or the like process may be relied upon, as the case may be. On the other hand, as the sticking-process between the synthetic paper ~ ~''''"'',`"-;,' ~ 51- -;
~", :- ,. :.

. 1332182 : :~
... .. . .
and the plastic film, the lamination process to be '''' carried out simultaneously with the formation of the film :
may be adopted. Calendering or the like method may be ' utilized for the same purpose. Selection of any suitable ' 5 one of the several foregoing sticking processes depends '~' upon the kind o' material or the like condition of the partner member to be stuck together with the synthetic paper. As for t'he adhesive agent mentioned above, emulsion adhesive such as ethylene-vinyl acetate '~
10 copolymer, polyvinyl acetate or the like, aqueous ' -~
solution type adhesive polyester containing carboxyl ' radicals or the like may be mentioned. On the other ~ ~ ~
; hand, as the laminating use adhesive, organic solvent ''~;
solution type one such as polyurethane-, acrylic- or the ~;' like, may be mentioned.
The material for the image-reception layer must be sui;table for rec~eptlon of heat-transfer dyestuff, such as subllmative disperse dye from the image transEer sheet -'~
and holdlng and maintaining the thus formed images 20 ~the~reon. ~From the view point of image-holding and `~
blocking preventlon, use of such synthetic resin as ` ~
having glass transition temperature higher than 40C may ~;;
be;advanta'geous. For example, the synthetic resins set ~' Eor~th in the following items (a) through (e) may be used 26 separately or in combination.
(a) Ester bond-bear'ing resins:

,.: ~ :;.

Polyester resin; polyacrylic ester resin;
polycarbonate resin; polyvinyl acetate resin;
styrene acrylate resin; vinyltoluene acrylate resin and the like.
(b) Urethane bond-bearing resins:
Polyurethane resin and the like.
(c) Amide-bond carrying resins:
Polyamide resins (nylons).
(d) Urea-bond carrying resins: ''~
' Urea resins and the like.
(e) Other high polar-bond carrying substances~
Polycaprolacton resin; polystyrene resin;
polyvinylchloride resin; polyacrylonitrile resin and the like. ;''~
`15 ~ The image-reception layer may be prepared from a resin~ mixture of saturated polyester and ;;''"~' vinyl~chlorid~evinyl~acetate copolymer. As the saturated ''" '' polyester, ~such commercialized products: "Vylon 200"; ' ~ ~ '''' "Vylon;~290~ Yylon 600~ "Vylon 103" and the like,~
~Z0~ manufactured~ a;nd~sold~ by ~Toyoboseki K.K., Osaka, Japan;~"KA-1038C"~ manufactured and sold by Arakawa Kagaku`~K~.K., Osaka, ~apan; "TP 220"; "TP 235", ~
manuEactur~ed'and sold by Nippon Gosei K.K., Osaka, Japan; ' ';' ma~y~ be~;~advantageously used. The vinyl chloride-vinyl `~;' Z5~ acetate~ copolymer~ -ay have preferably 85 - 97 wt.
vinyl chloride component, the polymerization degree being ' >~
;between about 200~and 800. The vinyl chloride-vinyl ~ ' ''"''' .'~'. .- . - ':
i~'~

`t 1332182 ~ :

acetate copolymer may further contain a vinyl alcohol component, maleic acid component within the purpose of the invention in addition to the main co~ponents.
According to our experiments, it has been found that S these modified copolymers should have rather superior compatibility with polyester resin. The image-reception layer may be, if necessary, composed of polystyrene resin, for example, in this case, styrene monomer, preferably styrene, a-methyl styrene, and vinyl toluene may be used separately or in the form of copolymer or saying in general sense polystyrene resin. Further, such styrene copolymer resin may be used as specifically , . .
recommendable material in the above sense, comprising said styrene monomer(s) with other monomer, preferably for example, acrylic acid ester, methacrylic acid ester, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile and the acrylic or methacrylic monomer, or further styrene copolymer resin ; comprlsing maleic acid anhydride.
It should be noted, however, that among others, 20~ po~lyester~ series resin is especially superior for the purpose of the present invention.
~; In any of the foregoing embodiments, however, white pigment is preferably admixed with the material of the image-reception layer for improving the whiteness thereof and further accentuating the sharpness and fineness of the images when transferred thereto and to provide a ~` manually writing-on performance. As the white pigment .. . .
54 ~

, for this purpose, the following materials may be used separately or in any combination: titanium oxide; zinc oxide; china clay calcium carbonate; finely divided silica and the like.
5For further improving the whiteness fluorescent whiteness-increasing agent or -bleaching agent may be added to. Further, for improving the light fastness of transferred images, ultraviolet absorption agent and~or photostabilizing agent may be added to, preferably in a .,, : 10quantity of 0.05 to 10 and 0.5 to 3 weight parts per 100 weight parts of the material resin composing the image-reception layer.
The image-transferable sheet used in the present -~
invention is preferably constituted for improving the 15 ~ ~separability from the image-transfer sheet in such a way ;;
that the surface of the image-reception layer is formed with a partition agent layer, or instead, such agent is - ~-a~dmixed to the image-reception layer. As for the -~
partition agent to be used for this purpose, polyethylene -~wax; Amido Wax, Teflon Powder or the like solid wax;
surEace aative agents Such as fluorine-contained agent or phosphoric acid ester series surfactant; silicone oil or ; the like may be selectively used. Among others, siIicone oil may be advantageous}y utilized.
25 ~ The silicone oil may be used in oily state, but a ~ -hardenable type thereof may be rather advantageous. As `~-the hardenable silicone oil, reaction-hardening one, `

~:

~ 1 332 1 82 ~
-photo-hardening one, catalytically hardening or the like one may be used selectively according to necessity.
However, use of the reaction-hardenable one is most highly recommendable. Silicone oil of this type may be obtained, as example, by reacting amino-modified silicone oil with epoxy-modified silicone oil to obtain a reaction-hardened product. As for the amino-modified silicone oil, "KF-394", "KF-857", "KF-858"; and "X-22-3680"; "X-22-3801C" (manufactured and sold~by Shinetsu Kagaku Kogyo K.K., (Tokyo, Japan)) and equivalents thereof may be used. As for the epoxy-modified silicone oil, "KF-lOOT"; "KF-101"; "KF-60-164"; and "KF-103"
(manufactured by Shinetsu, above mentioned) and equivalents thereo may be used. Further, as the l5~ catalytically hardenable and photohardenable silicone oils in the above sense, "KS-705F"; 'iKS-770" of the eatalytic hardenable or hardened silicone oils, manufaotu~red by~Shinetsu; and "KS-7ZO" and "KS-774" ~of the~;photo-hardenable or ~hardened silicone oils 20 ~ (manufactured equally by~ Shinetsu) and equlvalents thereof may be used. ~ The adding quantity of each of these hardenable or hardened silicone oils may advantageousiy range from 0.5 to 30 wt.% depending on the materi~l of the resin eomposing the image-reception layer.
At least~ a~ part of the image-reception layer is coated with a solution or dispersion of any of the ~ -56-`.` ~:`

~ 332 1 82 foregoing partition agents in a suitable solvent and dried and further treated, a suitable parting layer being provided thereon. A particularly suitable partition agent for the formation of this kind of partition layer is the aEorementioned reaction type hardenable one obtainable by reacton of an amine-modified silicone oil with an epoxy-modified one. The thickness of the partition layer is 0.01 - 5 ~, preferably 0.05 - 2 ,u.
It should be noted that when silicone oil is admixed during formation of the image-reception layer, the silicone oil will bleed out after coating and the parting - :.,, agent layer can be formed by the hardening even after such bleeding. In order to improve the parting ability between the image transferable layer and sheet-like lS~ substrate, it is possible to provide a parting layer ; co~nsisting of a heat-hardenable resin, preferably of the melamine series,~and having better affinity for the image tran~sfe~rable layer compositions. For the same purpose as abov~e,~ however~, without special provision of the parting 1ay~er,~ a; protectlng layer consisting of polymethyl methac~rylate resin or cellulose acetate propionate can be provided.
For the formation of the image transferable layer, a solution or dispersion of a material composition suitable 26~ ;;for~the~purpose is applied on the sheet-like substrate through conventional coating or printing. As an alternative wa~, a separate film or sheet for the image ;

- ~332182 transferable layer 302 is formed preparatorily on a provisional carrier sheet or film and then, as a succeeding step, subjected to an image-transfer onto the substrate.
The intermediate layer is made of either a cushioning or a porous material. In some cases, the intermediate layer may additionally function as the adhesive layer.
The cushioning layer is mainly composed of such a resin which has a value of lO0~-modulus as defined at JIS-K-6031 (Japanese Industrial Standard) of less than ~; lO0 kg/cm2. If this value should exceed the above prescribed value, the rigidity will become much higher . ~
than that recommended for the intermediate layer. When ~ the layer is formed with such disadvantageous material resin, sufficient adhesion between the heat image-transfer sheet and ~the image-reception layer cannot be ;`maintalned during the printing step. The lower limit of the prescribed lO0~-modulus is of the order of 0.5 kg/cm2 20~ n actual practice.
Preferable hinds of resin to be used for the above purpose, may be enlisted as follows:
polyurethane resin; polyester resin; polybutadine resin; polyacrylic acid ester resin; epoxy resin;
25~ polyamide resin; rosin-modified phenol resin;
terpene phenol resin; ethylene/vinylacetate copolymer resin; and the like.

.. . .

~ -58- ~

3 3 2 1 8 2 ! ~ ~ ~

These resins can be used independently or in ;;
combination of two or more kinds. Since these resins are rather viscous and tend to give rise to manufacturing troubles inorganic additives may be admixed, such as, for ~
5example, silica; alumina; clay; calcium carbonate; amide ; ~;
. . ~ . .
series substance such as amide stearate; and/or the like.
The cushioning layer is preferably formed with the use of one or more of the above specified resins, occasionally with the addition of suitable additive(s);

10solvent or diluent, prepared into a coating agent or printing ink which is then applied on, according to a k~nown ooating or printing process and then subjected to dryi~ng to provide a coating. The thickness of the coating should be between 0.5 - 50 ~um, preferably 2 20 ~15~m or so. With a thickness less than 0.5 ~m, the coating wi~ not ~be~ able to compensate for the surface irregulari~ties on~the substrate, thus being lneffective Eor~ the deslred purpose. On the other hand, when the~
tllickness~exceeds~the~above ~speclEied maximum value or more`~spec-~f~i~cal~ly 50~m, the overall thickness of the ima~ge-transferable layer becomes much too large, so that handling troubles may be encountered during wind-up and ove~rlapping~procedures, without attaining further effect as~ desired. ~ ~ In~ addition, in this case, a loss of 5~ production~economy~will~be inevitably introduced.
The thus obtainable improvement of intimate adhesion between~the heat-image transfer sheet and the thermally .:................................................................ ..
... . .

lmage-transferable sheet by the provision of the above intermediate layer may be conceivably attributed to the lower rigidity of the intermediate layer ~ se, whereby it is liably to be deformed under the influence of the printing pressure, and further to the generally relatively low glass transition temperature and softening temperature of the aforementioned kinds of resin resulting in further lowering of rigidity and tendency to deform than at room temperatures upon reception of heat energy during the image printing step.
The porous layer may be formed generally in the following four ways: 1) through 4).
lj Emulsion of polyurethane or the like resin, methylmethacrylate-butadiene~ series synthetic rubber 15 ~ ~latex is foamed by mechanical agitation, coated, and drled on the sheet substrate into a layer.
2) The synthetic resin emulsiosl or synthetic rubber latex is admixed~ with a foaming agent and the liquid mlx~tùre ~is coated and dried on the substrate into a 20~ ay;er. ~ ~ ~
3) Vinyl chlorlde-plastisol, polyurethane or the like synthetic resin or styrene-butadiene series or the like syntshetic rubber is added with a foaming agent and the liquid mlxture~ is coated on the substrate and 5~ ~;subjected ~to heating to provide a foamed layer formed thereon.

~," ~

~ 332 1 82 4) A thermopla~tic resin or synthetic rubber is dissolved in an organic solvent to provide a solution, and a non-solvent (including that containing aqueous main component), and the latter solution are mixed together to provide a liquid mixture, said nonsolvent being less volatile than the organic solvent and having a considerable mutual solubility with the solvent, and showing, however, non-solubility with the thermoplastic resin or synthetic rubber. The thus prepared liquid mixture is then coated on the sheet-like substrate and dried, to provide a porous membrane upon micro-coagulation of the constituents. The resulting microporous layer can be utilized for the above purpose.
, - :, ~ .- ~ ` :
It should be noted that the layers produced by any of the foregoing three processes 1) to 3) have rather large foams contained therein, and thus when the foaming solution for the image-transferable layer is applied ; thereon and dried, the latter may exhibit excessively coarse surface conùitions. ThereEore, in order to obtain 20~ ;an optimumly image-transferable smooth surface capable of providing transferred images of high uniformity, provision of the micro-porous layer prepared by the process as set forth in the foregoing item 4) is highly ., ~ ,. -., - .
recommendable. - i;
~ As the thermoplastic resin suitable for the formation of the above porous layer, saturated polyester; ~ ~`
polyurethane; vinylchloride-vinylacetate copolymer; l ~
: ~ : , -, .

- 1 332 1 ~2 cellulose acetopropionate and the like can be used.
Further, as the synthetic rubber usable for the same purpose, those of styrene-butadiene series, isoprene seriesr urethane and the like series may be used. Still urther, as the organic solvent and non-solvent liquid used for the formation of the microporous layer, various known substances may be used. Generally speaking, however, methyl ethyl ketone; alcohol and the like are representatively used. On the other hand, as the non-solvent, water is mostly used.

The thickness of the porous layer usable in the present invention is preferably greater than 3 ~um, . ~
especially preferably in the range of 5 to 20 ~m. With the use of a porous layer having a thickness of less than 5; ~ 3 ~um, the desired cushloning and heat-insulating effects ~
cannot be attained. ~ -As was referred to hereinbefore in the description s ~ stage for the formation of the image-transferable layer, the ~intermediate layer may act simultaneously as the 20~ sticking laye~r~ in some~cas~es. - ~;
This kind of intermediate layer(s) may be provided on one or both of thé surfaces of the thermally image-transferable sheet.
In ~practice, howeverj an electrostatic charge may ~;;
25 ~ ~accumulate ~in the material of the thermally image-transferable sheet during its processing step or during ~-~
running through the printer. As a countermeasure, a i;,, , ~

1 332 1 82 ~

proper antistatic agent may be applied on one surface of the image-transferable layer or on the bottom surface of the thermally image-transferable sheet or it can be included in the material of the image-transferable layer.
As the antistatic agent in this sense, a surfactant such as a cation-exchange agent (for example, a quaternary ammonium salt, polyamide derivatives and the like) may be advantageously used. Further, an anion exchange type surfactant, such as alkyl sulfonate may be used.
Otherwise, amphoteric ion type surfactants or even, non-ionic surfactants may be used for the same purpose.
On the other hand, the antistatic agents may becoated on the surface of image-reception layer by gravure-coating, bar-coating or the like process or ` 15alternatively, these agents may be kneaded with the material resin and then subjected to transfer towards the surface during the coating formation and drying step for preparing and providing the image-transferable layer. As the antistatic agents to be admixed with the image-tr~an~Eerable layer material resin, cation-type acrylic polymers may be employed.
`~ The protecting layer is peeled off together with the image-transferred layer, from the sheet-like substrate, and then stuck, in inverted reversed state, onto any , .... , ~:
desired decorative object, the protecting layer thereby being positioned at the uppermost position, for improving the anti-wearing-light-proofing and anti-chemical ; ~ '' ~''`

133218~ -performances of the image-bearing layer. As the material adapted for the formation of the protecting layer, for example, alkyd resin; phenol-modified alkyd resin;
aminoalkyd resin; phenol resin; urea resin, melamine resin; silicone resin, thermosetting acryl resin, thermosetting polyurethane resin and the like thermosetting resin or normal temperature setting resin:
further, ultraviolet hardenable resin; electron ray hardenable and the like activating energy flux hardenable resins or thermoplastic resins such as polyester~

polyurethane-; polyvinyl acetate resin; vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer resin; polyolefin resin, acryl ~ resin and the like, can be used.
i~ Preparation and use of a protecting layer comprising ~ 15 one or more of the above-mentioned resins are made in ,~ .
such a way that the material resin is dissolved in a properly selected solvent according to the necessity, so as to provide a coating liquid or ink, as the case may be,;which is p~rovided between the parting layer and the --~
~; image trans~erable~ layer. The thickness thereof is ` ~ generally 0.5 to 20~m. It is also possible to form the protecting layer with the use of a resin film which consists of polyester-; acryl-; acrylpolyol-; polyvinyl chloride-; olefin resin or the like resin. It iSr further ~;~
~25 ~ possible advantageous1y to admix an ultraviolet ray absorbing agent and/or photostabilizer to the material of ~
the protecting layer. ~ ~;
~: ~ ~.,.
s".~

~ 64-.. ~,: .

^:1 3 3 2 1 8 2 ~ ~ `

The protecting layers prepared and formed in the foregoi.ng way are thus not made integral with the sheet-like substrate or parting layer and, therefore, the peel-off operation of the sheet-like substrate upon execution of the image transfer is very simple and easy.
It is further recommendable, if necessary, to provide a slip-promoting layer on the bottom surface of the sheet-like substrate, which surface is naturally the ~ .. ~..
one opposite to the image-transferable layer side, so as ~-~ 10to properly adjust the friction between the image~
transferable sheet and feed roll paper or carrier belt -. .. .
acting during passage through the printer and to improve the running performance of the thermally image-transferable sheet in the printer.
15~ The slip-promoting layer can be formed by adding an organic powder such as polyethylene wax fluorine resin powder or an inorganic powder such as talc, according^to necessity, to a resin such~as polymethyl methacrylate r~esin; vinyl chloride-vinylacetate copolymer; vinyl ;~ chloride copolymer; cellulose acetate butylate; cellulose acetate propionate; styrene-acryl series or the like resin -and kneading the resulting mixture to prepare a composition, applying this composition as a coating on the sheet substrate elther directly or after application of a suitable primer treatment, and drying the coating thus applied. A suitable quantity of the slip-promo~ing layer is 0.5 to 5 g/m2 after drying.

` 1 332 1 82 In the embodiments shown in Figs. 22, 23, and 24, as the adhesive agent to be used in the slightly weak or weak adhesive layer, it should be noted that those conventionally used adhesives for adhesive tapes and seals can all be used. Preferred examples are polyisoprene rubber: polyisobutyl rubber; styrene butadiene rubber; butadiene acrylonitrile rubber and the like rubber-series resins; (meth)acrylic acid ester-series resins; polyvinyl ether-series resins; polyvinyl acetate-series resins; vinylchloride-acetate copolymer series resins; polystyrene-series resins; polyester-series resins; polyamide-series resins; polychlorinated olefin-series resins; and polyvinyl butyrol-series resins. To the suitably selected adherent may be added a ~`~ lSproper quantity of a stickness improver, such as rosin;
dammar; polymerized rosin; partially hydrogenated rosin;
ester rosin; polyterpene-series resins, terpene-modified substances; petroleum-originated resins; cycropentadiene-series resins; phenol resins; styrene resins; xylene 20 ~resins; and coumarone-indene resin. Further, when necessary, to the mixture may be added a softening agent, filler; antiaging substance or the like conventional agent(s).i As the material for the formation of slightly or weak-adherent layer said above, emulsion type adhesive, preferably of acryl acid ester series can be used. As for the part.ing function after a long time of ~ ~preservation, emulsion type adhesives are highly ! 6 1332182 :~ :
- `
recommendable. These adhesive agents are easily procurable from market.
When necessary, these adhesives are added with proper organic solvent~s) for the adjustment of the viscosity, and then applied by roll coating, die-coating, knife coating, gravure coating or the like conventional technique on the surface of the sheet-like substrate, image-reception layer or protecting layer, so as to provide an adhesive agent layer. The thus formed adhesive layer is preferably of a thickness of 1 - 50 ym, although this is not limitative.
~ Formation of Imaqes ; ~ ~ In the following, the decorating process according to this invention will be set forth in detail.
Utilization of the image-transferable sheet according to this invention constitutes an important main feature thereof.
In Figs. 20 and 21, basic practising processes will be described first.
2;0~ The embodiment shown in Fig. 20 is a result of the use of the transferable sheet shown in Fig. 13. First, a known transfer sheet 320 is applied onto the image~
transferable sheet 310 in an overlapped manner such that t~he dye-carrying layer 321 is kept in opposition to the 25~ image-reception layer 302 of image-transfer sheet 320, and heat energy is applied, as schematically shown by a plurality of arrows, in accordance with image signals fed ` 1 332 1 82 at a thermal head, not shown, from the side of image-transferable sheet 310, or preferably, from the side of the image-transfer sheet 320, thereby forming the desired images as at 307 in the image-reception layer 302. Next, the image-reception layer 302 formed therein with the desired images 307 is peeled off from sheet-like substrate 301 and stuck onto the decorative product 306.
~;~ Or alternatively, both the sheets 302; 301 are stuck onto the product 306 without preparatory peeling-off. In the latter case, the peel-off step may be executed after . ., ~
execution of the stickingly attaching step. In the above former case, and in such a case where an adhesive agent : :
layer 306 has preparatorily provided between image-reception layer 302 and sheet-like substrate 3Cl as was 15 ~` set forth hereinbefore, the sticking attachment is carried into effect in such a way that the adhesive layer 306 i~s kept in opposing contact with the product 330, and then the sticking operation is brought about by application of heat and pressure or light and pressure, 20~ depenùlng upon the nature and structure of the layer 306.
~ In~ this ~way,~ the decoration according to the present I ~ invention is completed as a preferred one mode thereof.
On the ~other hand, if there is no preparatory provislon ~of~the adhesive layer, either the surface of 2~5 ~ produot ~330 ~or of~ the peeled-off image reception layer 302,~may be coated with the adhesive agent, and the latter layel 302 ~ se or otherwise in the up~and-down 1 332 1 2 ~ ~ ~

reversed state may be stickingly attached onto the product 330 ~refer to Fig. 21).
Since the image-reception layer 302 is composed generally of such thermoplastic resin material as is liable to be colored with thermally transferable dyestuff, it can be thermally and fusingly attached to plastic resin-made formings, clothes or metals even with provision of an adhesive layer, if necessary.

In this case, the image-bearing layer 302, the image thereof having been formed in the aforementioned way, is stuck on, through the intermediary of the adhesive agent layer 306 as shown in Fig. 25, while retaining the sheet-like substrate 301 on the surface of the image-reception layer 302.
A modification of the last-mentioned mode is shown ; in Fig. 26. In this case, sheet-like substrate 301 is formed on the surface of the product 330 and the image-reception layer 302 is formed as the outermost layer.
Further, in this case, sheet-like substrate 301 and 20~ `;product~ 330 may ~be stuck together, and, through the intermediary of a suitable adhesive layer, sticking layer ~; or heat-sealable sheet or the like.
As for the transparent film usable as the said sheet-like substrate, it must be transparent to such a 5 ~degree as not to conceal the images formed in the image-reception layer, and, in addition, it must have superior surface properties such as, for instancej antiwearing .;", ~., - , .. ~ ' . . h ; , ;, . ~

characteristics. As an example, polyolefine; polyvinyl chloride; polyethylene terephthalate; polystyrene;
polymethacrylate; polycarbonate and the like plastic resin-made films may be used upon variously surface conditioning. If these transparent films should be too thick, the images will be raised, and the unitary feelings may be lost when these are stuck on respective products to be decorated. Therefore, the film thickness is preferably of the order of 0.5 to S0 ~m.
In the case of a further embodiment of the present invention, the image reception layer of image transferable sheet which has been, however, formed with necessary images is sub~ected to image transfer treatment onto an intermediate image transferable substrate, the lS latter is then subjected to an image-retransfer with the images, and the thus retransferred images are again transferred onto the surEace of the product to be decorated. In the following, this image transfer mode will be set forth in detail.
20~ Embodiments shown in Figs. 27, 28 and 29 represent such a~process for execution of image transfer operation ~as by the intermediary of intermediate image transfer sheèt 510. First, as shown in Fig. 27, a thermally imag~e-transfer sheet 320 having a thermal transferable 2~ ~ dyestuff layer 321 is overlapped to image-transfer sheet 510 which is, at this stage, not formed with images 307 and thus consists oE a thermal image-transferablo sheet, ~;~` 70 1i 82 ::

in such a way that the dyestuff layer 321 or more specifically the parting layer 322 is in opposition to the image-reception layer 302 of the foregoing sheet 510.
In such a case, however, that heat energy is supplied in accordance with image-forming signals delivered from the thermal head, not shown, and, indeed, preferably from the side of the sheet 320 as hinted by a plurality of double~
line arrows for thermal formation of desired images ~positive images) as at 307 in the image-reception layer 302, it is highly recommendable to provide an adhesive layer 402 between the layer 302 and sheet-like substrate 301.
-~ Then, with the use of the image transfer sheet 510 :~ formed with positive images 307, the images of layer 302 ;:: 15 are transferred, as shown in Fig. 28, to a separate in~ermediate substrate 501, which is, however, fitted with a ~protecting film layer 305, thus, the transfer being carried out, in fact, onto the latter, and indeed, with the correspondingly inverted images, attached with 20 : ~same: reference numeral only for convenience, from the foregoing layer 302. In this case, it is preferable to subject the adhesive layer 402 of the image-transfer sheet 510 ito the image-transfer operation, together with the image-reception layer 302. Further, as for the ~intermediate image-transfer substrate S01, it is ~ recommendable to provide the protecting film layer 305 .~; through the intermediary of a weak-adhesive layer 402' as , -. .

shown. The thus provided intermediate image-transfer sheet 610 represents generally the image-transferable sheet.
Fig. 29 illustrates the step for transfer of the image-reception layer 302 now carrying positive images 307 onto the object 330 to be decorated and under utilization of the previously described intermediate image-transfer sheet 610.

More specifically, the intermediate image-transfer sheet 610 iS overlapped onto the said ob ject 330 in such a way that the adhesive layer 402 of the former in opposition to the surface of the object 330 and pressurized together. Then, the intermediate transfer ;substrate S01 together with the weak-adhesive layer 402' 15~ is peeled off from the remainder of the thus-pressurized :, . ,.:; :. , assembly, the now image-carrying layer 302 formed with ~-po~sl~t1ve ima~ges~ 307 covered With~ protecting the film ;layer 305 thereby remaining in the transferred state on . :: `
the~ product~330.;~ ~In the case of no provision of the 20~;; protecting~ film layer 305 on the intermediate image- "`'!'':'' "' t~ra~nsferable Sheet 610, the layer 302 remains in an .
exposed state. Therefore, an overcoat layer, if `-`
necessary~ can be provided on the now image-carrying ~ ~;
layer 302.
25~ The previously~ set f~orth process carried oUt by the : ~ u~e~of ald inter~ediate lmage-transferable sbeet can b- `

~' ' ` "~

1 3 3 2 1 ~ 2 executed by means of the apparatus which is shown schematically in Fig. lE.
In this apparatus, more specifically, there is provided a carrier system comprising a series of rolls 411, 412, 413 and 414 for conveying the intermediate transfer substrate (sheet)j arranged in addition to the apparatus shown in Fig. lB. More specifically, the substrate is drawn out from feed roll 414, conveyed through successive rolls 413; 412 and retransferred onto one of the products 200. Other operations are same as set forth hereinbefore with reference to Fig. lB.
Further, in the case of Fig. lE, the final product may take the form of a roll-like substrate which is subjected to an image transfer operation through the intermediate 15~ ~subst;rate, by transferring its image-carrying, image-transferable layer, for later being punched out properly.
Alternatively, under occasion, it may be subjected to half-cut operations downstream of roll 122.
As was set forth herein abov~e, the preferable method for ~the formation ~of ~desired images on the image~
transferable sheet is~carried out by use of a heat image-transfer sheet comprising a sheet-like substrate having a ~n~ iayer including a thermally transferable dye (e~aporative dye)~.; Th~e heat~ image-transer sheet which can be ~utl11zed in this method is known per se. And almost every~kind of these known sheets can be useful in the ~ practice of the present invention. It should be noted $ .~ ~:

~ 73 1 '321'32 that by employing the foregoing image-transfer method, mono-color or full-color images can be easily formed as occasion may desire.
It should be further noted that details of such heat mage-transferable sheet can be easily understood with reference to applicant's U.S. Patent No. 4,720,480, issued January 19, 1988. As for the heat image-transferable sheet usable in the present invention, the coating layer of the sheet (coating film) may include a parting agent. By adopting this measure, the image-reception layer of the image~
transferable sheet or the surface thereof, to be subjected to sublimative image-transfer, must not have a separate parting agent layer, the adhesive ability lS between the image-reception and the surface of object to be decorated can be still further improved upon execution o~ the sublimative image-transfer and image-formation at the image-reception layer and adherent attachment thereof to the object. As the parting agent to be included in 20~ ~ the coating layer of the thermally image-transferable sheet; ~coating film), silicone oil; silicone resin;
phosphoric ester or the like surfactant: and/or chelate-and the like agents, may be selectively utilized. These agents, upon mixed, will ooze out from inside to the outer surface of the coating layer, resulting in ~`~` providing a better parting quality. However, it is preferable to properly select the kind and nature of the ,, : .
parting agent to be used for this purpose, being such ~;

:........

~",~", ~

that the agent cannot transfer to the image-reception layer of the image transferable sheet during the sublimating image-transfer stage. The adding quantity of the parting agent may preferably be 3 ~ 75 wt. parts based upon the total amount of resin and coating composing the coating layer taken as lOO wt.%.
In practice, any kind of conventionally known heat transfer sheets is overlapped on the thermally image-transfer sheet employed in the present invention, and10 then necessary heat energy of 5 - lOO mJ/mm2 is applied by use of a conventionally known heat transfer unit, for instance, "Video-printer: VY-lO0" manufactured and sold by Hitachi Seisakusho, Tokyo, or its equivalent machine, for the formation of necessary images on the image-reception layer of the image-transfer sheet as set forth hereinbefore.
Peel-oEf operation for removal of the image-reception layer formed with necessary images in the above manner may be carr1ed into effect in a very easy manner, ~ so as to provide it in a thin film carrying the images thereon. In case where the thus-peeled off film carrying the images is provided beforehand with an adhesive layer, composed of a suitable adhesive agent as was referred to, a~t the opposite surface to the image-carrying one, the peeled-off film can be, as it is, stuck on the object to be decorated. It is natural that this adhesive ~ , ~attachment procedure can be performed only partially and ~ . , ~ 75 ~

t 8 2 "; ' '...
locally on selected part of the whole surface of the object, or totally thereon, as the case may be. On the contrary, if the peel-off film is provided beforehand with no adhesive layer, the film can be subjected occasionally to a heat fusion onto the surface of the object, if the physical properties or material kind thereo~ is suitable for such kind of thermal fusion. Or alternatively, a properly selected adhesive agent can be preparatorily applied onto the surface of the film or object, and then, the stick-on job can be executed.
If the image-reception layer is proyided preparatorily with a parting layer thereon, as was referred to, the latter layer can be removed off partia1ly or wholly, by grinding or rubbing operation ~after execution of the sublimating image-transfer job, for avoiding otherwise occurrence of ill effect by the ; very presence of parting layer in the adhesive attachment of the~ image-carr~ying layer film onto the decorative object~
2~0~ In cage of that where the image-transferabIe sheet 15 provided with a protecting layer and the latter is composed of a plastic resin film, this film may prefsrably be cut into pieces or subjscted to punch-Cut~tings. ~
25 ~ Fig. 32 illustrates successive die-cutting steps in sectional views, serving for the above purpose. In this casej as shown in~Fig. 32 at (a), only image-reception . ~ ,.

':` ;. ' ' ; ~ ' ~ ~ `, !", ' ~ ~

~ 1 332 1 82 layer 305 of the image-transferable sheet 310, which has been image-formed through the way of the foregoing image-transfer step, are die-cut by operation of a cutter 801.
Next, as shown in Fig. 32 at (b), a pair of hot stamps 5132'; 133' are used to execute a pressurizing job under heat from opposite sides, thereby the decorative product 330 being processed into a Einal product provided tightly with an image-reception layer and a protecting layer, as shown in Fig. 32 at (c).
Further, when occasion desires, the image-carrying film is reversed up-and-down in position after execution of the peel-off job, and, the film is stuck onto the product to be decorated in such a state that the image-carrying surface of the film is kept in direct opposition 15to the product's decorating surface. In this case, however, it would be rather preferable that in advance of preparatory peel-off of the image-reception layer, the image-carrying trar.sferable sheet is stuck onto the surface~ of the product to be decorated, and indeed, refetably with use of an adhesive agent, in such a way that~ the image-carrying layer is kept in direct opposition to the product surface and finally, the sheet-ke substrate ls peeled off, so as to leave the image-carrying surface on the product's surface.
; 25 ~As in the foregoing, when the images are once~
`reversed and then stuck onto the object to be decorated, ~ the~forming images are preferable to reverse in mode .;
;.
77 ;
' '' - `- 1332182 (mirror-like relationship) the original to those of reversed mode.
It is further possible that the transfer or sticking-on of the image-carrying layer is carried out through the intermediary of a separate fusing sheet.
In Fig. 30, use of such fusing sheet 701 for reimage-transfer operation of image-carrying layer 2 already formed with necessary images 307, however, of reversed mode, and onto the surface of a product.
More specifically, the image-transferable sheet 310 is overlapped onto the product 330 to be decorated in such a way that the image-reception layer 302 carrying ~ the necessary images 307 is kept in opposition to the -~ surface of the product, and indeed, through the intermediary of a fusing seat 701 and then these three components are pressurized together. Further, sheet-like substrate 301, together with parting layer 303', is peeled off, thereby the image-reception layer 302, now having positive images 307 formed thereon, and protecting the latter, being transferred onto the product 330. It will be seen in this case, that there is no need for this transfer job, to provide in advance on adhesive layer on the surface of`image-reception layer 302 and/or on the surface of the product 330, and further that a direct heat fusion onto the surface of the product 330 which may be composed of plastic resin, textile fabric, metal or , the like common material, however, through the intermediary of a heat-fusible or heat-sealable sheet.
In case where the protecting layer 305 is of plastic resin, similar composing technique as mentioned above may be employed by substituting a weak-sticking layer 402' for parting layer 303'.
As the heat-fusible or heat-sealable sheet as at 701 employable in the present invention, it may be composed of one or other material capable of adhering under heat, pressure or both, especially suitable one of those which become adhesive upon subjected to heating and softening.
These heat adhering materials in the form of sheets will ~; be, upon softening, charge the pores, meshes or stitches of the product material composed preferably of textiles, woven or non-woven; knits, rough-surface papers or meshed ; materials, thereby the surface of the product becoming highly smooth for well receiving the image-reception layer 302 for desired image-retransfer with trouble, which eff~ect is superior in the art.
20~ On the contrary, when such heat-fusible or heat adhesive sheet~materials which may be called "heat bond sheets" as at 701 are not utilized, it is highly difficult to realize the image-retransfer operation onto certain kind of objects such as rough-surfaced or rough-meshed fabric or the like. Even if the retransfer jobcould~be executed, the obtained imageis may be blurred and the adhesive may be insufficient, on account of the very c -`` 1332182 . ~
thin thickness of the image-reception layer 302, thus giving rise to technical and commercial troubles.
As for the heat fusible sheet 701 to be used in the foregoing manner, ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer, nylon copolymer; epoxy/phenol copolymer; epoxy/vinyl copolymer;
acrylic resin; polyester resin; or polyolefin resin and the like thermoplastic resins (heat sensible adhesive ~; ~ agents) may be used formed into sheets or films. These materials must be softened at 100 - 250C or so to ~ represent viscous adhesive characteristics. These materials are, when used, capable of being stuck to both ~ , - th~e image-transferred product 330 and the image-carrying layer 302.
These heat bond sheets 701 have generally thickness lS~ of 1 - 200 ,um. When the surface of the product 330 to be -~
decorated is relatlvely smooth, the sheet selected out .;-~
may ~be of relatively thin thickness, while, on the -`~
contrary,~when~ the surface~of the decorative product 330 s~relatively rough,~as;in~the case of textile fabrics, unwoven fabrics, ~meshed fabrics or the like, use of thicker heat bond sheets is rather recommendable.
, ~
As set forth above, the use of heat bond sheets is highly reco~mendable in the decorative image-transfer `~
onto ~rough surace ~products, such as those of rough 26~ ~ fab~r~lcs, woven or non-woven, knitted clothes, meshed one or the like, the~eby a better quality image-transfer 1~. ~ ~ '' '' being executed, in spite of the meshed or highly -80~

~ 332 ~ 8~

undulating surface conditions of the objects to be decorated.
Further in the present invention and during the adhering attachment of the image-reception layer already formed with necessary images onto the object or product, the parting layer provided on the surface of the now image-carrying layer, an additional processing step must preferably be introduced for prevention of occasional interference in the foregoing adhering attachment step, by rubbing-off or grinding-off part or whole of the ;~ parting layer agent, and indeed, upon com~letion of the sublimating image-transfer step.
Still further, in such a case that the image~
transferable sheet is fitted with a protecting layer 5~ ~which ~is composed of a plastic resin film, the latter must in advance be subjected to punching or the like cuttlng~s~tep for ~cutting the~film into desirously sized pieces.
Flg. 3~2 represents such a die-cut (half-cut) process~
~20 ~in~ sect1onal~schema.;~ In this~case, at first, as shown at a~ o~ Pig.~ 3Z~ t~he imaqe~-reception layer 302~ of an image-transferable sheet 310, now formed with~necessary images through a sublimative image-transfer stepr and the ;proèecting~ layer 30~5, are subjected to a die-cutting 25~ pr~Qcess by~ means~ of a cutter 801 to shape a~ desired , ~ shape.~ And then, as shown at (b) in Fig. 32, the cut-out piéce is subjected to a pressurizing step under heat by ~332182 ;~;

means of a pair of hot stamps 132'; 133' to provide a final decorative object, as shown at (c) in Fig. 32, which is co~posed of a product 330 to be decorated, however, now attached integrally and jointly with image~
carrying layer 302 and protecting layer 305.
Applied Products The products applicable with the inventive process for decorating purposes are not limited to occasionally employed kind, shape and nature of the materials.
Preferred examples of the usable product may be: cartons;
vessels or packages; bags; cassette cases; cassette halves; floppy cases; paper packages and envelopes; stock certificates; personal and bank cheques; bills; bonds;
certificates; notifications; car tickets; travel tickets;
betting tickets; tax stamps; postage stamps; entrance tickets, money-exchangeable papers and documents; cash cards, credit cards, orange cards, telephone cards;
member's cards; greeting cards; postcards, name cards;
~ driver's cer-tificates; IC-cards; optical cards and the S ~ 20 ~ liks~ various aards; accounting cards and documents-;envelopes; tags; OHP-sheets; slide films; bookmark slips;
calendars; posters; pamphlets; menus; passports; POP-. ` '~1 ! ' I :
goods and articles; coasters; displays; nameplates;
keyboards; cosmetics; personal ornaments (watches; -~ cigarette lighters); stationaries; construction materials; radio-receiving sets; T.V.-sets; speakers;
table calculators; automotive gauge boards; emblems;
: ~:

: : :

t3~2182 : .
keys; clothes; wearing commodities; footwears;
appliances; OA-instruments; sample books; tickets in general; albums; computer graphic and/or medicare graphic image printouts; and the like, where the material kinds, sizes and configurations are regardless for purposes of the invention.
The aforementioned goods and instruments may have printed or the like other images in advance of execution of the process of the invention. Or conversely, the goods and instruments can be formed with necessary images in accordance with the present process, and then, additional images may be formed in conventional printing or the like process.
As an example, when the invention is applied to a 15~ card style intermediate product, it is possible to combine image-forming means of the present invention with conventional recording means. As the latter, magnetic `recording by use~ of a magnetic material layer; optical recording~ ~by ~:Use of an: optical recording ~layer;
-0~ prefe~rably composed of a~ membrane having low me~lting ` point~metal; applicatio~n of~hologram; emboss1ng formation o~ :characters~a~nd~nume:rals;;application of personal face photograph; engraved format~ion of persona} face or the he; human signatUres; recorded information with use of 25`~ IC~mémory mechani~cal printing; formation of bar codes;
formatlon:~ aE characteFs and patterns by use of printer~

1 3 3 2 1 8 2 ` -`

typewriter or pen plotter may be used independently or in any combination. ;;~
In the following, the present invention will be more -fully described by way of preferred embodiments. In these embodiments, parts or % will be given by weight, not otherwise specifically referred to.
As the image transfer film (dye film) used for sublimating transfer onto the image-transferable sheets, a polyester film, 6 ,um thick, subjected to a heat-resisting treatment on one surface thereof only, andbearing color ink composition areas of yellow, magenta and cyan, respectively, was used. The coating rate of ~
the color ink composition was 1.0 g/m2 when measuring at ~-the dry state. '~'! ~', These color ink compositions were as follows.
Yellow ink comPosition polyvinyl butyral resin `~
("Eslek-BX-l", manufactured and sold by Sekisui Kagaku K.K., Tokyo)... 4.80 parts 20~ ~ ~ dispersion dye "PTY-52, Disperse Yellow-141", ~- manufactured and sold by Mitsubishi ! 1 Kasei Kogyo Co., Ltd., Tokyo......... 5.50 parts, methyl ethyl ketone ................... 55.00 parts:
25 ~ toluene ..............34.70 parts;
parting agent ........................ 1.03 parts) Maqenta ink comPosition i .~ " . . i ~ 84- ~ ~
~- ~.,.

~- 1332182 polyvinyl butyral resin tsame as above in the case of yellow color ink) ................... 3.92 parts:
dispersion dye ("MS Red G, disperse red 60", .-manufactured and sold . :~
by Mitsui Toatsu K.K.) .............. 2.60 parts; ~ :
dispersion dye ~: :

("Macrolex Red Violet R, :
Disperse Violet 26", manufactured ;:

and sold by Beyer A.G., West Germany) ....................... 1.40 parts;
methyl ethyl ketone ................... 43.34 parts; ` ~
toluene .......... 43.34 parts; ~- :
(parting agent ........................ 0.40 part) Cyan color ink composition polyvinyl butyral resin ............... 3.92 parts; -same as:in said yellow color ink ~ ::
composition) ~ ~ dispersion dye ayaset*Blue-714, solvent : :;
: blue-63",:manufactured and sold by ~,.,i i' Nippon Kayaku K.K., Tokyo)...........5.50 parts; ; ~ `;
methyl ethyl ketone ............................ 68.18 parts; ~-`:,.
:(parting agent ................................. 0.94 parts) `.
Each of the foregoing color ink compositions was prepared with and without addition of parting agent.

: *trade-marks '.~ ,~ ' ' ""','''','''-'"' ~ 332 1 82 - ,.`.

As the parting agent occasionally used in each of the foreyoing color ink compositions, any of the following specific agents may be employed:
(a) silicone alkyd parting agent, "KR-5206", -~
manufactured and sold by Shinetsu Kagaku Kogyo K.K., Tokyo;
(b) graft polymer of silicone and acryl, "GS-30", -manufactured and sold by Toa Gosei Kagaku K.K.;
(c) silicone graft polymer, "US-3000", manufactured and sold by the above company; ~-(d) phosphoric acid ester, natrium salt, "RE-410", manufactured and sold by Toho Kagaku Kogyo R.K.; ~;
; (e) natural phosphoric acid ester, "Lecytin", ; ;
manufact~red and sold by Ajinomoto Co., Ltd., Tokyo;
(f) silicone oil, "KF 412", manufactured and sold by Shinetsu Kagaku Kogyo K.K., Tokyo;
- (g) aluminum chelate agent, "ALM", manufactùred and sold by Ajinomoto; and ~
(h) titanium chelate agent, "TTS", manufactured and ~soLd by Nippon Soda K.K., Tokyo.
Example A-l As the substrate, a laminate of a synthetic paper, "~Yupo* FPG 150 ~m thick" manufactured and sold by : -Oji Yuka Co., Ltd.j Tokyo, and a polyester film, 6 ~m 5 ~ thick, was prepared and ccated on the polyester film side surfaco by a wire bar wlth a mixture of pull-separating . ~: varn'sh, "Hakurinis.u* 45" manu~actured and sold by Showa *trade-marks ~`~ A~ -86-~

t S3 2 1 8 2 ~ -Ink Co., Ltd., Tokyo, with an ultra-violet absorbing agent, or more specifically/ 2.5-bis(5'-tert-butylbenzoxazolyl (2))-thiofin, 0.5~ based on the resin content of the varnish, and dried up to provide a protecting layer of 1 g/m2, when weighed upon drying.
Then, on the surface of the foregoing protecting layer, an ink composition adapted for the formation of an image-reception layer was coatingly applied and dried up.

The applied quantity amounted to 7 g/m2 when measured upon drying.

Ink composition for the formation of imaqe-reception layer polyester resin (manufactured and sold 5~ by Toyobo K.K.) .................... 100 parts; ~ -amino-modified silicone "KF~~393", manuactured and sold by Shi~netsu Kagaku Kogyo ~ .-~
K.;K.~,;;Tokyo~ .................... 5 parts~;
20 ~ epoxy-modif~ied silicone ("X-22-34~3",~manufactured and~sold by Shinetsu Kagaku Kogyo)........... 5 parts; ;
solvent~
(methyl~ethyl kétone/toluene/
oy¢lohexanon;~4/2/2i ~.. ~....... ~. 900 parts. ~-The~ink; compositlon~was coated, dried up and cured --;
one~ dil under ~normal temperature. Then, the layer was i~

1 332 1 ~2 .

kept at 100C for 30 minutes under heat, for letting the silicone to bleed up to the surface, to provide an image-transferable layer formed on its surface with a hardened silicone layer.
On the thus-provided image-reception layer, a sublimating image-transfer film was overlapped which is composed of cyan color sublimative dye (molecular weight being higher than 250) carried by a proper binder resin and thermal energy is fed thereon from a thermal head adapted for receiving electric signals representing cyan color components obtained by a color analysis of a portrait photograph, as an example, for providing portrait images corresponding thereto. Then, two successive sublimative image-transfer jobs were executed : with use of respective sublimating image-transfer films carrying sublimative magenta and yellow color dyes, each molecular weight being higher than 250, and substantially in~the ma~n~ner set forth above. In this way, after all, an overall combined display image composed of a full color~ portrait, in combination with several characters and~graphics, was~;provided.
~::: The image-reception layer of the sheet, now carrying `~ ~ Lhese display images, was overlapped on the card ;; substrate eomposed of a polyester resin sheet, 100 ~m 25~ thick, which had been primed to white-opaque state, and pressurized together at 160C by means of heated pressure rolls. Then, the polyester film was peeled off at .the -88~

~i332182 interface with the protecting layer, thereby providing a final product card transferrd with image-reception layer now carrying the desired image display.
It was found that the overall surface of the product card was generally smooth and showing no raised feeling o~ the thus-formed and displaying images. Even upon an accelerated testing of the product card for three months held in an atmosphere of 40C, the images showed no : ~
blurrings as well as no interlayer separation. Further, according to an accelerated light-proof test carried out as prescribed in JIS-Standard with use of a carbon arc lamp, the results showed to be classified to JIS-4 or -5 corresponding to an acceptable superior performance.
Additionally, a surface scratch test and the like showed 15;~ also superior durability.
Example A-2 The foregoing image-transferable sheet, now image-; carrying, as processed in Example A-l, is then subjected ; to a~ p~eel-off operation for separating the image-carrying 20~ layer from the sheet. Then, an adhesive agent of ~ polyester series was coa~ted on the exposed sureace of the i.~ 13 ! ~ ~ peeled-off film, and stuck under pressure on a curved surface part of a telephone set. The images could follow up~to the stuck curvature into a unitary solid mass, and 26 ~ indeed, without inviting any stuch-on feeling, contrary to the case when a sticky loose-leaf stamp should have been stuck on. In this way, miracle viewing feelings as ,:~ ~; ~
; ., ~ -3~2 ~ 82 obtainable with direct-printing operation only, were created and maintained.
Example A-3 A white polyester film, baked on one surface thereof with melamine coating, "E 20", l00 ~m thick, manufactured and sold by Toray Co., Ltd. Tokyo, is formed on the opposite surface with a slipping layer, same as in the - following Example C-2, through application of polyurethane primer. And an identification mark was provided thereon through the way of regular printing technique. On the melamine resin-baked surface of the white polyester resin film, a layer of peeling varnish (of polymethyl methacrylate-series), manufactured and ; sold by Showa Inc. Co., Ltd., Tokyo) was applied in dry quantity of 2 g/m2 and dried up to provide a definite layer.
On the thus-formed protecting layer, the following image-reception layer-forming composition was coated and dried~up, so as~to form an i~mage-heat transferable sheet.
20 ~ The coated composition was in quantity of 6 g/m2 by dry weight.~
~`~ Imaqe-reception laYer-forminq composition ~r ~ ~ ' polyester r~esin ("Vylon*600", Tg: 47C, æ~ manufactur~ed and sold by Toyobo, Osaka) ........... 80 parts;
polyester resin *trade-mark ~: A

("Vylon 290", Tg: 77C, manufactured and sold by .~
Toyobo) ............................. 20 parts; ~ :
amino-modified silicone .. ~
("KF-393", manufactured and sold ~- `
by Shinetsu Kagaku Kogyo) ........... 7 parts; .
epoxy-modified silicone ("X-22-343", manufactured and sold :. :
by Shinetsu Kagaku Kogyo) ........... 7 parts; .
~: 10 solvent . .
(methyl ethyl ketone/toluene ~-= 1/1) .............................. 800 parts.
On the image-reception layer of the foregoihg heat ; : imag~e-transferable sheet, reversed images composed of 5 ~ full color portrait lmages together with characters and .`-~
graphics by use of a thermal head, as in the same way ` .. ~.
with~ Example A-l,~were formed. ~.
Next,~:the imàge-reception layer, however, now : -.
ca~rrying the :reversed images formed in the foregoing -~
.Z~ manner.was~brought into contaoting and overlapping state .
with ~ the ~:~image :displayable: surface on a card style : substrate made of white color polyester resin, 125 ~m ; thick, preparatorily primed as before, and pressurized together~under the~actlon of thermal rolls, and the white ``;; .
25 ~ polyester~ film, ~100 ~m, was peeled off ~between the .; .
protecting layer and the melamine-baked layer, thus 91~

,.. " .

providing a final card-style product transferred with the image-reception layer now carrying the necessary images.
The surface of the final ~ard style product represented a smooth and slippery, without fear of interlayer separation and with superior light resistant power.
Example A-4 A white foam polyester resin film, "Merinex", 125 ~m thick, manufactured and sold by ICI, was provided with an identification mark on one surface thereof, with regular ~

printing technique. ~-Then, on the opposite surface of the white foam polyester resin film to the foregoing surface formed with the identification mark, a coating of a polyurethane~

.: ~
series primer was applied and dried up. Further, the `~
following protecting layer-forming composition was ~`
applied in dry ~uantity of 3 g/m2 and dried up to form a ~; ;; ;proteoting layer.

Protectinq 1aYer-forminq comPosition 20 ~ acryIic polyole ("Acrit*6416MA", manufactured and ~;;
sold by Taisei Kako K.K.) .............. ~. 41 parts;
toluene ...................................... 36 parts; ;
.. : . i methyl ethyl ketone .......................... 27 parts;
26~ diisocyanate "Colonate"* manufactured and sold by Nippon Polyurethane K.K.) .... 6 parts.

*trade-marks 1 3 3 2 1 ~

:;

On the above protecting layer, the following composition was applied in dry quantity of 3 g/m2 and dried up, to provide an intermediate layer.
Intermediate layer-forminq_composition polyester resin , :~ ,.
("Vylon 290", manufactured and sold by Toyo Boseki (Toyobo) -~ . , K.K., Osaka) ....................... 15 parts;
toluene/methyl ethyl ketone = 1/1 ... 85 parts.
On the thus-formed intermediate layer, an image~
..~ - , reception layer which is substantially same with th;at in the foregoing Example A-3 was provided, so as to form an -;
image-transferable sheet. Then, as same in the foregoing -Example A-3, correspondingly inverted images were formed on the;image-reception layer and further then, subjected ~-5~ to ~transfer onto the card substrate by use of thermal rollers. In this way, a final product card, having an image transferable, yet now image-formed layer, was `
provided. ~ ~ -20~ This card showed favorable results of light- ~ ~
resisting te8t. Purther, it showed a better scratch test ~.~ f .','.
result than the foregoing card obtained in Example A-3.
Example A-5 Substrate ~ ~A white polyester~ film, "E-20", 100 ~m thick, !~
~ manufactured and sold by Toray Co., Ltd., Takyo, was ',j ' used . ',, ~'' ' ." ' ,.

, ~: ., .:
- . .. :::
~93~ ~
, ..: . .,:
:.. -::

" `` ~ 332 1 82 Intermediate layer-forminq comPosition Polyester resin ("Vylon 600", manufactured and sold by Toyo Boseki K.K., Osaka) ......... 15 parts;
toluene/methyl ethyl ketone = 1/1 ...... 85 parts.
(dry weight: 5 g/m2) Protectinq laYer-forminq comPosition :
"Hakuri-Nisu" *
(acrylic resin varnish, manufactured and sold by Showa Ink K.K.) --. 2 g/m2 (dry weight) Imaqe-reception layer-forminq composition polyester resin "Vylon 600" r manufactured and sold by Toyo Boseki K.K., Osaka) ......... 10 parts; ~ -polyester resin ("Vylon 200", supplied by Toyo Boseki K.K.) ................... 5 parts;
taluenejmethyl ethyl ketone = l/l ... 85 parts;
amino-modified silicone ("KF-393", manufactured and sold by ~-~ Shinetsu Kagaku Kogyo) .............. 1 part;
, j ' I epoxy-modified silicone -("X-22-343"~ supplied by ;~
Shinetsu Kagaku Kogyo) ............... 1 part.
(coated quantity (dry)5 g/m2) *trade-mark ~:.. '~ : ' '' , 1 3 3 2 1 8 ~

With use of the foregoing composition and processed ;~ .
. ;, .. .
in similar way as in Example A-3, to provide a final card product, having an image-reception layer transferred with necessary images~
Example A-6 Substrate White polyester resin film, "E-20", 100 um thick, manufactured and sold by Toray was coated with polyurethane series primer and dried up. .;~
1 0 ~ :
~ Partinq layer-forminq composition ; melamine resin ~:~
("Meran 45"* manufactured and ~:
sold by Hitachi Kasei) ............. 100 parts;
hardener ~.~t ,~
15 ~ (para-toluenesulfonic acid) ........ 20 parts; .~(coating quantity (dry), 2 g/m2) `~-.
Protectinq laYer-forminq comPosition vinylchloride-vinylacetate "Vlnyl~i~te*VYHH", manufactured and 20~ sold by Union Carbide Corp.) ....... 15 parts; i.. ..
methyl e~thyl~ketone = 2/1 ............ 85 parts; . -coating quantity (dry): 2 g/m2) `}ntermediate laYer-forminq composition :polyurethane resin 25~ ("Takelac*T-3350", manufactured and : sold by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, : Osaka, of 23%-concentration) ....... 50 parts;

*trade-marks ~ ;: A 95 ; -~-:
isopropyl alcohol ...................... 15 parts, toluene ................................ 25 parts;
methyl ethyl ketone ..................... 10 parts.
(coating quantity (dry) 5 g/m2) 5Imaqe-reception laYer composition polystyrene resin ("Picolastic*D125" (Tg = 53C), manufactured and sold by Hercules.... 15 parts;
toluene/methyl ethyl ketone = 1/1 ...... 85 parts;
10- amino-modified silicone ("KF-393", manufactured and sold by Shinetsu Kagaku) ............ 1 part;
epoxy-modified silicone ("X-22-343", manufactured and sold ,: ~ .
by Shinetsu Kagaku) ................. 1 part. --(coating quantity (dry): 6 g/m2) The foregoing composition was prepared and used as in the same manner ~with Example A-3, to provide a card witb the image-reception layer subjected to image-20~ ~ transfer as desired.
Example B~
As the substrate, a polyester resin film, 6 ~um , ~thick, was used and a polyester resin-series primer was coated on one sur~face thereof and dried up. Further, the 26 ~ Çollowing ink compositlon was applied and dried up. The -;~`
~coating ~uantity of the composition was set to about 7 gjm2, *trade-mark .. ~, I ~ ::
"

1 332 1 82 ~ ~

Imaqe-reception laYer-forminq composition polyester resin ("Vylon 200", manufactured and sold :.
by Toyo Boseki K.K.) ................ 100 parts; ;
amino-modified silicone ~`~
("KF-393", manufactured and sold by ,, .
Shinetsu Kagaku) .................... ..5 parts; .
epoxy-modified silicone ~; ("X-22-343", manufactured and sold ~ .
10by Shinetsu Kagaku) ................. ..5 parts~

solvent .
`-~ (methyl ethyl ketone/toluene/ ;:~
cyclohexanone = 4/2/2) ............ 900 parts.
The ink composition was coated, dried up and left 15 ~ standing for a full day, and then subjected to heat : .. . ..
treatment at lOO~C for 30 minutes, so as to bleed the si1icone towards the film surface for providing thereon an~acceptable image-reception layer ccmposing the active surface.
2 0 ~ Thé n, a 9ublimative ~image-transferable film, composed~of~a~res~in~ blnder evenly mixed with a~proper amount of sublimative cyanic dye, the molecular weight being hi`~her than 250,~ was overlapped on the above image-recept~ion:layec and applied with heat energy by means of 25 ~ a~ thermal~ head~ supplied ~with electric ~ s i g n a l s ccrresponding to cyan1c color components of a portrait ~:
~:

.
., full color photograph as determined by regular color analysis, thus providing cyanic color component images.
Next~ as for magenta and yellow color components, similar respective processings were executed and finally, full color display portrait images could be formed.
Then, the exposed surface of image-reception layer of the thus-display image-formed film was overlapped on a -~
card substrate composed of a white opaqUe, hard vinyl ~ ;
chloride resin sheet, 100 ~um thiCk and pretreated with a !,: I . ' ~ 10 conventional primer, and then this assembly was subjected ~
~ .
to heat and pressure by meanS of a pair of heated rolls. ~-In this way, a card product stuck with an image-transferable and now carrying layer was provided. ;~
The surface of this card was generally smooth and 5 ~ ~ slippy, the thus-formed images thereon providing no raised~ feelings. In an accelerated test of these formed ;~
images in~hot atmosphere oE~ iOC for a continuous period -oe~three months,~there were no app~eciable image~blurring~
and~interlayer~separation.~ Upon execution of a llght ~ ;
~20~; expos~ure te9t~in accordance with prescribed conditions in`~
JIS:~with- use~of an ar~c lamp, the results were alassified to JIS-4 to 5 Classes which means as acceptable and ~` -better image quality. Scratch test results were also A tDCk ng I _ r~ 1 F thick, was fcr-e With a polyamide~resln~ stlcking agent cn the image-carrying 1 ~ 3 2 1 8 2 surface of the image-transferable sheet, image-formed in the manner as described in foregoing Example B-l, and the thus provided sheet was stuck on the curved sur~ace of a glass tumbler. These images express practically no stuck-on feelings, rather providing such a touch and viewing feeling as if they had been formed by the regular ;
and diriect printing technique. ;
Example C-l ;~
With use of the image-transferable sheet prepared in the foregoing Example A-l, images were formed substantially in accordance with procedures mentioned therein, however, with exception of the formation of reversed imagesl and then, the image-carrying layer was, without execution of the foregoing peel-off operation, stuck on a portion of curved outer surface of a glass tumbler, whereupon the sheet-like substrate was peeled off, together with the weak-sticking layer. The thus- -applied images did not represent almost no sticking-on ~-grip and viewing feeling, as if they should have been applied through regular and direct-printing technique.
Example C-2 On the surface of a transparent polyester film, 12 i~
um thick, employed as a protecting film, the following ~;~
image-reception layer forming composition was applied to 25~ form a coated layer (in quantity of 6 g/m2 when measuring upon drying), dried up and left as it was for full one day. Then, it was held at 100C for 30 minutes, to form ;~

1 332 ~ 82 an image-reception layer. On the surface thereof, a parting surface layer was found to exist, which was composed of a combined hardened product of amino-modified silicone resin and epoxy-modified silicone resin.
Imaqe-reception laYer-forminq composition polyester resin ("Vylon 600", manufactured and sold by Toyo Boseki) ...................... 100 parts;
amino-modified silicone resin ("KF-393", manufactured and sold by Shinetsu) .................... 7 parts; ~
epoxy-modified silicone resin ~- -("X-22-343", manufactured and sold by Shinetsu) ......................... 5 parts;
solvent , .
methyl ethyl ketone/toluene = 1/1) ................................ 800 parts.
As the substrate, on the other hand, white polyester -resin film, "E-20", 75 ~um, manufactured and sold by ,.. ~ ~ :
20 ~ Toray, was used and;coated on one surface thereof with a polyurethane-series primer` and dried up. Then, the following composition (in the dried quantity of 1 g/m2) i~ -~., . , , : .: :
~and driediup, so as to provide a smooth and stick layer. ; ~;-. ~ . - ;~. . : -Smooth layer-forminq composition ~ -~ polymethyl methacrylate resin ~C ~"Dianal*BR-85", manufactured and sold by Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.

`~`- *trade-mark -~

:c , ;~
~`~' i ~ ~.

t 332 1 82 Tokyo) .............................. 12 parts; :
polyethylene wax ("MF8F", manufactured and sold by Dulacon Co.) ................ Ø5 part;
toluene/methyl ethyl ketone = 1~1 ...... 85 parts.
. On the opposite surface of the white-polyester resin sheet to the smoothed surface there, a primer coating of :~ polyurethane-series is applied and drie-d up, and further : coated thereon with the following composition, in quantity of 3 g/m2, so as to provide a weak-sticky layer.
Weak-stickY laYer-forminq composition weak-sticky adhering agent ("Esdyme*AE-206", manufactured and .
sold by Sekisui Kagaku Kogyo K.K., Tokyo) ................ -............. 50 parts; . ~
water: ................................. 50 parts. ~
The weak-sticky adherlng layer is brought into . :
:contact ~with ~the protecting film consisting of a ...
polyes~ter~:11m~, 12;~m ~thi~ck,:~at the opposite suiace to :.
~20~ the~image-reception layer, and then subjected to heat and ~ ~
pressure,: to provide~-an image-transferable sheet. Upon -:.,.
bringin~g~: the~ image-reception layer of the image~
transferable sheet and the dyestuff layer of the Iheat~
image~ transEs~r shee~t into contact with each other,; heat . `~
25~ snergy~was~applied from~a thermal head, as.in the similar mannsr::msntioned~;in the ~foregoing Example A-l, and thus `.;`~
heat ~lmage-transfer; job was~ executed, so as to proYide '~

*trade-mark :~ :
A

1 332 1 ~2 reversed mode images for expressing a full color portrait as well as characters and graphics.
Next, the image-reception layer formed with the reversed images thereon was overlapped onto the image-displayable surface of a card style substrate, lon ,umthick, made of a white color polyester resin material preparatorily applied with a primer layer by coating a composition, consisting of "Vylon 200", 100 ~m thick, manufactured and sold by Toyo Boseki K.K., and then ~ 10 subjected together to heat and pressure by means of at ;~ least a heated roll at 160C. Then, the white polyester film, 75 ym thick, and the weak-sticky adhesive layer ` were peeled off in unison, for providing a final decorative product card having the image-reception layer transferred with images and carrying dislay images.
This card had a highly smooth surface and was not liable to invite any interlayer separation and showed sUperior light fastness.
In ~place of ~ white color polyester-made card substrate~preparatorily formed with a primer layer, such a modification was prepared and experimented that the white polyester sheet was formed on its rear surface with a magnetic layer, while, on its front surface there îs formed~with a write-on layer whlch consists of proper 5~ filler a~nd resin as conventionally, so as to provide a telephone card. This processed telephone card had the ~ -102-- ~332182 ~ ~ ~

write-on layer provided with display images formed by image-transfer.
Example C-3 On the surface of a transparent polyester film, 9 ~m thick, used as the protectinq layer, an intermediate layer was provided by coating. The coated amount was 5 g/m2 as measured upon being dried up.
Intermediate layer-forminq composition .. . ..
polyurethane resin ; 10 ("Takelack T-3350", solid content 23%, manufactured and sold by Takeda Pharmaceutical Co.l Ltd., Osaka)..... ..50 parts;
isopropyl alcohol ...................... ..15 parts;
::"
- toluene ................................ ..25 parts;
methyl ethyl ketone .................... ..10 parts.
Onto the intermediate layer, the following composition was applied for the formation of an image~
reception layer. The coated quantity was 5 g/m2 as ~ -measured upon being dried up. ~ ;~
~" ~
;~Imaqe-~reception~layer-forminq comPosition polyester resin ("Vylon 600", manufactured and sold by Toyo Boseki) ................ 10 parts;
polyester resin 25 ~ ; ("Vylon 200", manufactured and sold by Toyo Boseki) ........ 5 parts;
amino-modified silicone ~-~ : ~
~ -103~

;~:: . -1 332 1 ~2 ("KF-393", manuEactured and sold by Shinetsu) ............................. 1 part;
epoxy-modified silicone ~ ;
("X-22-343", manufactured and sold by Shinetsu) .......................... 1 part;
.. ... .
solvent (methyl ethyl ketone/toluene = 1/1) ............................... 85 parts.

On tbe other handt a white color polyester film, whiCh was similar to that employed in the foregoing . - ~
Example C-2 was formed with a slidingly smooth layer, as well as a weak-sticking adhesive layer, the latter being ~ -brought into intimate contact With a transparent ~i~
polyester film, 9 ~m thiCk~ at the oppoLite surEace to ~-the image-reception layer and then, subjected to heat and 5~ pre~sLur~e,~ for providing~ a heat image-transferable sheet.
; AS ~Eu~rther ~procesLe~d ~ln the similar manner in the for~egoing; Example~ C-2, full-color photographic images i-(reve~sed~imageL~ ~were thus formed on the image-reception surEace~ In~ this way, a final product card~ having itS
~ ~image-rFcep~t~on l~yer transEer~ringly formed With display ample C-4 W~lFe~color~polyeLtel sheet, "E-20"r 100 ~m thiCk, 25~ nanuactur;ed~and~sold by~Toray was formed thereon with~ a polyurethane-~e~ie~ primer coating Then, a weak--104 ~!-1 332 1 8~
, sticking layer was applied thereon with use of the following composition.
Weak-stickinq laYer-forminq comPosition weak-sticking aqent ("Esdyne AE-206", manufactured and sold by Sekisui Kagaku Kogyo K.K., Tokyo) .............................. 50 parts;
water .................................. 50 parts.
Prot.ectinq laYer-forminq comPosition .
polyester resin ~;
. ...
("Vylon-200", manufactured and -~
:, .~: .
sold by Toyo Boseki) ............... 15 parts;
diisocyanate ("Colonate L", manufactured and 5~ ~ sold by Nippon Polyurethane s~ Co., Ltd.) ......................... 1 part;
toluene/methyl ethyl ketone = 1/1 ...... 84 parts.
;Imaq~e-reception layer-forminq composition polyester~resin - ;
20~ ; ("Vyloo 600", manufactured and sold by Toyo Boseki K.K.) 10 parts;
vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer resih ("Vinylite VAGH" (Tg = 79C), `
manufactured and sold by Union 25~ Carbide Corp) ...................... 5 parts;
toluene/methyl ethyl ketone = 1/1....... 85 parts;
amino-modified silicone 105- "~

("KF-393", manufactured and sold by Shinetsu) ................... 1 part;
epoxy-modified silicone ("X-22-343", manufactured and sold by Shinetsu) ................... 1 part.
With use of the above composition and processed substantially same as in the foregoing Example C-2, a final card product was obtained.

ExamPle D-l An image-transferable sheet was prepared as in the foregoing Example A-l and thermally image-transferred ~ -. :. .:.... .
with reversed mode images of a full color portrait photograph~ to provide an intermediate image-transfer medium. The latter is overlapped by its image-reception 15~ layer onto the surface of a sheet of rough-textured cotton cloth, however, through the intermediary of an acrylic acld ester-vinyl acetate copolymer sheet, 100 ym ;thick. Then j the assembly was subjected to heat and pre~ssure~. ~ Then, the~ substrate sheet and weak-sticky adhesi;ve ~layer, together, were peeled off. The thus transfered images~have sufficient surface smoothness, showing superior surface conditions.
Without use of the bond-attaching sheet in the abovè
process and when 5imilar image-transfer job as above was 5~ performed, ~the resulted lmages followed the surface undulations appearing disadvantageously on the material .~.~,; ,. ~;:
product of the rough fabrics and thus were highly uneven, ~

,~ `~ ,,',,,:., ',.:

and further, on account of insufficient adhering performance acting between the image-receiving layer and the woven fabrics serving as product material, easy and frequent separations took place therebetween.
Example D-2 ;
In the similar way as was disclosed in the foregoing Example D-l, an intermediate image-transfer medium carrying reversed images was prepared and overlapped on a polymethacrylate board preparatorily subjected to surface-roughening operation through a conventional sand- `
blasting step, and through the intermediary of a bond-adhering sheet pressurized together under heat, as was employed in Example D-l. Then, the sheet-like substrate was peeled off, together with the weak adhesive layer.
~ The thus-provided images were highly smooth and even in sp1te of the highly rough and undulating conditions at the~surface~to be image-transferred. In addition, the mage-carrying surface showed superior results in various resisting tests. ~ ;~
Z~~ ;Wlthout use of ;the foregoing bond-sticking layer, the similarly transferred images showed considerable undulations and distortions. Further, on account of insufficient adhering performance, easy and frequent pee1-ofes of applied images were feared.
25 ~ ExamPle D-3 Qn the surface of a polyester resin film, 2S ~m~ `~
thick, the following composition adapted for the ,, `~ -107- ~

1 332 1 8~

formation of bond-sticking layer was coated and dried up, in dried quantity of 5 g/m2, to provide a film formed thereon a bond sticking sheet. ~ ~:
Bond-stickinq sheet-forminq comPosition ~ :
polyester resin ("Vylon 600", manufactured and :~
sold by Toyo Boseki) ............... 15 parts; :-methyl ethyl ketone/toluene = 1/1 ..... 84 parts.
, The bond-sticking sheet surface, together the polyester resin film proper, was brought into contact . with the image-representing surface of a white color polyester made-card substrate, 25 ~m thick, and then, subjected to heat and pressure by means of at least a heat roll kept at 200C, arranged to supply heat energy from~ the side of the polyester resin surface, thereby heat bonding the bond-sticking sheet onto the card su~rface, whereupon the polyester resin film being ;forcedly;peeled off.
Further then,~as in the similar way as adopted in ; 20~ foregoing Examples C-2; A-3; A-4 and C-3, use is made of the image-reception layers representing reversed imayes I'` . .' ": ` ~
thereon, the respective image-reception layers were whereupon brought into contact with the card's bond~
sticklng surface of the card and subjected to heat and ~i : 25~ ~pressure by use of at least a heat roll ~ept at 200C. : :.
Then, the white~ color polyester resin substrate was peeled off, together with the weak-sticky adhering layer.
.~. ~ '' j,.. .
~ -108-: ` '~ "'''~', ~ 1 3 3 2 1 8 2 In this way, a final product card displaying the portrait photograph.
Exam~le D-4 Substrate A white color polyester resin sheet, "E-20", l00 Aum thick, manufactured and sold by Toray Co. Ltd., was coated with a polyurethane-series primer. On the surface of the thus precoated sheet, the following composition to form a weak-sticking adhesive layer.
: :. .
Weak-stickinq adhesive component weak-sticking adhesive agent, ~; ("Esdyne AE-206"r manufactured and sold by Sekisui Kagaku) ......... 50 parts.
}maqe-recep-t-ion layer-forminq compo ition 15~ ~ polyester resin ("Vylon 200", manufactured and~sold~by~Toyo Boseki) ............ 7.5 parts;
polyester resin ("Yylon~290",~manufactured 20~ and sold by Toyo Boseki) ............ 7.5 parts; ~-toluene/me~thyl~hetone = l/l ........... 85 parts; ;~
amino-modified silicone - ;~
("KP-393", manufactured and ;sold by~Shinetsu) .................. 1 part;
25~ epoxy-modified silicone 'X-22-343~ manufactured and so1d by Shlnetsu) ................ l part.

109~
,~ :
~ .

1 332 1 ~2 The ~oregoing compositions were prepared. On the other hand, a polyester resin film, 25 ~m thick, was coated on one surface thereof with a 15%-solution of polyester resin, "Vylon 200", manufactured and sold by Toyo Boseki, in toluene/methyl ethyl ketone = 1/1 and dried up- The coating quantity was adjusted to 5 g/m2 when measuring in dried state. In this way, a bond-sticking sheet was provided.

Then, the coated surface of the thus prepared bond-sticking sheet was brought into contact with the image display surface of a card style substrate of white colorhard vinyl chloride or the like resin material preparatori~y subjected to a primer coating treatment in overlapping state and then, the whole assembly was ~ .
subjected to heat and pressure with use of at least a heated roll to 130C, thus the bond-sticking layer being stuck on the card surface. ~nder this condition, the polyester resin film, 25 ~m thick, was peeled off.
Th~en, the image-reception layer, now carrying ~thereon reversed images, was brought into contact with ;the~ bond-sticking sheet and the resulted whole was ;~ subjected to heat and pressure by use of at least a heated roll and the white color polyester resin substrate, together with the weak-sticking adhesive .,,~g: . . ~
layer, was peeled off. In this way, the card, now displaying the portrait images, was provided.
Example ~-5 - .

;~ ~' ' ;

t S32 1 82 Substrate Same as in the foregoing Example D-4. :
Weak-sticklnq adhesive layer Same as in the foregoing Example D-4.
5 Protectina laYer-forminq comPosition polyester resin ("Vylon 200", manufactured and sold by Toyo Boseki) ............... 15 parts; ~ ;
dii~ocyanate ("Colonate L", manufactured and :~
: sold by Nippon Polyurethane) ....... 1 part; ;
: toluenejmethyl ethyl ketone = 1/1 ..... 84 parts. -:~
: Imaqe-reception layer-forminq composition : polyester resin ~ ("Vylon 600", manufactured and sold by Toyo Boseki) ............... 10 parts; : -:
toluene/methyl ethyl ketone = lfl ..... 85 parts;
amino-modified silicone KF-393", manufactured and: .
20~ sold~by Shinetsu) .~................ 1 part;
epoxy-modified silicone ~.
(''X-22-343", manufactured and sold by Shinetsu? .................. 1 part.
:Wlth use of the foregoing materials and ~-2~ ~: compositions, the procesaings were carried out as in the .
:: foregoing Example D-4, :to provide a final product card displaying portrait images as was desired. -~, . - .

~!` ' ' , . . ". ` ~ . ~ " '. "' ~

Example D-6 Substrate Same as in the foregoing Example D-4. ~ -Weak-stickinq adhesive layer Same as in the foregoing Example D-4.
Imaqe-reception layer-forminq composition polyester resin ~"Vylon 600", manufactured and sold by Toyo Boseki) ............... 10 parts;
vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer resin ("Vinylite VAGH", manufactured and sold by Union Carbide Corp.) ....... 5 parts; - -toluene/methyl ethyl ketone = 1/l ........... 85 parts.
The foregoing materials and compositions were prepared and processed in the similar way as in the foregoing Example D-4, to provide a final product card, ; displaying the desired portrait images as were desired.
Example E-1 On a polyethylene terephthalate film, 9 ~m thick, a ~ `
~soluti~on oE saturated~ polyester resin, "Vylon 600", manu~actured and sold by Toyo Boseki, in toluene/methyl ~-ethyl ketone = l/l, was coated by reliance of the known reverse roll-coating process, and dried up. The coated quantity was 7 g/m2 when measuring in dry condition. In 25 ~ this way, a weak-s~ticking adhesive layer could be formed.
On the weak-sticking adhesive layer, the following composition, 3 g/m2 (dry), was coated by means of an ;~
. :~

;~ -112 oblique-lined gravure roll for solid and full printing use and in the reverse roll-coating process, and then dried up, to provide an image-reception layer.
Imaqe-reception layer-forminq com~osition polyester resin ("Vylon 200", manufactured and sold by Toyo Boseki) ................ 70 parts;
polyester resin, ~`
"Vylon 290", manufactured and ~ -sold by Toyo Boseki) ................ 30 parts;
amino-modified silicone "KF-393", manufactured and soId by Shinetsu) ................... 5 parts; `~
epoxy-modified silicone l5~ "X-22-343", manufactured and ; sold by Shinetsu) ................... 5 parts;
methyl ethyl ketone wt.~ratio l/l)~ ...... ~........... 700 parts.
On the~opposite surEace to the image-reception layer 2;0 ~ of~ the ~thus-prepared image-transferable sheet, a synthet~io~paper~substrate, "Yupo FPG 110", 110 ~um thick, manuEactured and sold by Oji Yuka K`.K., coated ;~
with "Vylon 600" as the adhesive agent in quantity of 10 g/m2~ dry)~was stuck intimately together.
5~On ;the other hand, a polyethylene terephthalate film i ~
subs~trate, 6 um thick,~ preparatorily provided on one surEace thereof w~ith a heat-resiGting layer was used and ~;

,:

the following composition was applied on the opposite surface of the substrate with use of a wire bar and dried up, in the quantity of l g/m2 (dry), so as to provide a dyestuff layer. In this way, a heat image-transferable sheet was prepared and provided.
Dyestuff layer-formin~ position dispersion dye ~ `
: " ::
("Kayaseo Blue-136", manufactured and sold by Nippon Kayaku K.K.) ........ 4 parts: ;
ethylhydroxyethyl cellulose ........... 6 parts; ~;~

methylethylketone/toluene (wt. ratio: 1/l) ................... 90 parts.
The dyestuff layer of the foregoing heat image- ~ ~ -transfer sheet was brought into contact with the image-receptlon layer of the image-transferable sheet in overlapping manner, then, heat energy was applied from a thermal head from the side of heat-resisting layer of the n~heat image-transfer sheet, thereby dyestuff being `;~;
transferred to the image-reception layer of image~
2~0~; transferable sheet, and indeed, for the formation of positive images.
Then, the image-transferable sheet, now carrying 'he required positive images was stuck together under heat and pressure at 140C for 5 seconds on the intermediate ~ image-transfer substrate prepared in the following manner, in mutually opposed manner. Then, the synthetic paper "Yupo" was peeled off at the intersurface between 1 332 1 8~

the polyester resin ~ilm and the "Vylon 600" layer. In thus way, the inventive image-transfer sheet (intermediate image-transfer medium) carrying the corresponding reverse images was provided.
Method for the preparation of intermediate imaqe-transfer substrate A sheet of fine quality or stick paper, unit weight:
82 g/m2 was applied with a coating, about 20 Aum thick, of polyethylene resin through conventional extrusion coating process. Thereon, further, a catalyst-added toluene solution of a parting agent silicone, "KS-707", manufactured and sold by Shinetsu was applied and dried up in quantity of about 2 g/m2 (dry), for the purpose of curing. Thereon, still further, the following coating 5~ ~ 1iquid composition was applied by means of a conventional coating ~bar and dried up, to provide an intermediate imag~e~transfe~r substrate. The thus coated and dried resi~n~quantity~was measured to 7 g/m2.
Coati~nq liquid composition D~ polyester re~sin ~ ; ;
"Vylon 200",~manufactured and ~ -sold by Toyo Boseki) ............... lO0 parts;
methyl ethyl ketone/toluene mixing ratio by weight ~ 1/l) ..... 700 parts.
5~ A~sheet Oe ~ coated paper, pretreated for pore~
fil~ling~,~was coated, in the similar manner as above, with the ~foreqoing liquid composition, to provide an image-115- ~`

- 1 3 3 2 1 8 2 : ~ ~
.`:.

transferable medium. On and with the presently coated surface, the image carrying surface of the foregoing intermediate image-transfer medium is brought into opposing contact and stuck together under heat and pressure at 140C for 7 seconds. Finally, the laminate of fine-quality paper and polyethylene was peeled off, to provide a final decorative product now displaying the positive images as required. ~
It will thus be seen that by adopting the above ~ -processing steps, the positive images formed under the action of the thermal head are transferred, through the intermediary of intermediate image transfer medium, onto -~
~ the final object to be decorated, and indeed, in the form `~ of positive mode. It will be further seen that, since lS the dyestuff is well distributed within the image- ~;
reception layer, the transferred positive images are highly sharp and fxesh, in addition to much profunditi~s.
Since a resin layer was overlappingly applied on the thus-formed images, weather fastness, frictional 20 ~ durability and light-fastness of the finally formed `~;
images could be highly and amazingly improved. When -~ -suitable ultraviolet absorbing agent, antioxydant, ;
quenching agent and/or radical scavenger is added to, ~-~
' further improvement of the light-fastness can be ; 25 attained.
; Example E-2 '.' ' .' ~ -116- ~ ~

The substrate of image-transferable medium adopted in the foregoing Example E-l was replaced by a hard polyvinyl chloride card, 100 ~m thick, and other processing modes were same as in Example E-l. In this way, a high quality, positive-image transferred, decorative final product was successfully provided. When the image include human portrait photograph, the final product was highly useful for ID-card.
Example E-3 The substrate of image-transferable medium adopted in the foregoing Example E-l was replaced by a transparent polyester film, and other processing modes were same as employed therein. In this way, a transparent ~ilm formed with the wanted positive images ~ of better quality as before was obtained. This film was highly~useful in OHP-services.
Example E-4 A~sheet~ of high quality paper, unit weight: 104 g/m2,~was eoated~with a layer of polypropylene resin, ~ thicknes6: about~20 um, through the way of conventional extrusion coating technique, then the coating was further coated with a silicone solution for use in parting service and hardenable under electron rays and dried up.
The ;quantit~y of the coating silicone was about l g/m2 26~ upon~ drying.~ In~ this way, an electron-hardened, provisional~substrate`was provided. On this substrate, th~e following,~ image-recep~ion layer-forming composition , . ,: ~. .:

~ 1 332 1 82 was applied as a layer by use of a coating bar, and then dried up, for providing an image-reception layer. The coated resin quantity in the above last step aMounted about 5 g/m2.
5Ima~e-reception laYer-forminq comDosition polystyrene ("Picolastic D 150" (Tg = 69C), manufactured and sold by Rika-Hercules Co., Ltd. ............ 100 parts:
amino-modified silicone ("KF-393", manufactured and sold by Shinetsu) .................. 7 parts;
~; epoxy-modified silicone ;~ ("X-22-343", manufactured and ~ 15 sold by Shinetsu) .................. 7 parts. ;~
.
Further processing was carried out as was set forth in the foregoing Example E-2, for providing a final product card, carrying thereon the wanted positive images of same superior quality, as was in Example E-2.
ExamPle E-5 ~ On the image transferable medium used in the `~ foregoing Example E-4, however, in the present Example, a ~l!; thermoplastic resin, adhesive, polyolefine-series film, -: .
"Adwin*500", manufactured and sold by Showa Denko K.K., ~; 25 Tokyo, was applied as a layer. Other materials were used and processed as set forth therein. In thisl way, a *trade-mark ~ ' ' ;'~'.

~` 1 332 1 ~

decorative final product formed with necessary positive was obtained with superior results.
Industrial Availabilities As will be well understood from the foregoing detailed description of the invention, it is possible according to the present inventive system, to form highly easily and evenly the desired images sharply and `~
attractingly on any product and object to be decorated or ~-graphically ornamented, substantially irrespective of ~ -lO material kind and configuration thereof, and indeed, with -~
:. ~ . : .
a surprising unitary touch and feeling with the substrate. Therefore, the invention can be utilized broadly and conveniently in such various industrial flelds, where unitary formation of various images, -5~ characters, symbols, numerals and graph1cs, on and to the ;artlcles, objects and; substrate products to a sufficie~ntly miracle and attracting degree. ~-;

25~

119- ` ~

Claims (6)

1. A sublimatingly image-transferred product comprising:
a plastic card on which a transferred image is to be placed;
an image-reception layer provided on said card;
a transferred image formed between said card and said image-reception layer; and a protecting film layer formed on said image-reception layer;
said image-transferred product being formed by a two transfer step process comprising (1) sublimation transferring by thermal energy an image on an image-receiving sheet comprising a substrate, the protecting film layer and the image-reception layer provided on the substrate in this order to form said image-reception layer and thereafter (2) transferring said image-reception layer having the transferred image formed by the sublimation transfer step (1) and said protecting film layer from said image-receiving sheet onto said card, transferring step (2) occurring by adhesion of thermal fusion between the surface of said card and said image-reception layer and peeling off the substrate from the image-receiving sheet thereby to form said transferred image on the interface side between the card and the image-reception layer.

2. The sublimatingly image-transferred product of claim 1, wherein said protecting film layer has a thickness of 0.5-20µm.

3. The sublimatingly image-transferred product of claim 1, wherein said protecting film layer comprises a resin selected from the group consisting of an epoxy resin, alkyd resin, phenol-modified alkyd resin, aminoalkyd resin, phenol resin, urea resin, melamine resin, silicone resin, thermosetting acryl resin, thermosetting polyurethane resin, ultraviolet hardenable resin or EB hardenable resin.

4. The sublimatingly image-transferred product of claim 1, wherein said image-reception layer comprises a resin selected from the group consisting of a polyester resin, polycarbonate resin, polyacrylic ester resin, polyvinyl acetate resin, styrene acrylate resin, vinyltoluene acrylate resin, polyurethane resin, vinylacetate/vinylchloride copolymer or polystyrene.

5. The sublimatingly image-transferred product of claim 1, wherein a parting agent layer is provided on the surface of the protecting film layer.

6. The sublimatingly image-transferred product of claim 1, wherein said card is a member selected from the group consisting of cash cards, credit cards, prepaid cards, member's cards, greeting cards, postcards, name cards, driver's certificates, IC cards and light-sensitive cards.