Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Thermal transfer donor – Specialized non-transferable layer on support
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-18
2004-06-22
Hess, Bruce (Department: 1774)
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Thermal transfer donor
Specialized non-transferable layer on support
C428S032800
Reexamination Certificate
active
06753052
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat transfer sheet and a light-heat-conversion type image forming material used in an image forming method in which an image having high resolution is formed using a laser beam. More particularly, the present invention relates to a heat transfer sheet and a light-heat-conversion type image-forming material in which deterioration of a light-heat-conversion layer due to the passage of time when the heat transfer sheet and the light-heat conversion type image forming material is stored or the like is prevented, and in which a transfer image showing no reduction in image quality is obtained.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, as a recording material used in a method of formation of transferred images using laser beam, heat transfer sheets are known in which a light-heat-conversion layer containing a light-heat-conversion colorant such as an infrared light absorbing colorant and the like and which light-heat-conversion layer absorbs laser beams and generates heat, and an image formation layer containing a pigment dispersed in components such as heat waxes which melt when heated, binder and the like, are provided in that order on a support. In an image forming method using this sheet, due to heat generated in regions irradiated with laser beam in the light-heat-conversion layer, portions of the image formation layer corresponding to these regions are melted, and transferred onto an image receiving material which has been laminated on the heat transfer sheet, to thereby form transferred images.
However, when a heat transfer sheet is stored, particularly when stored under conditions of high temperature and high humidity, problems occur such as decrease in sensitivity and deterioration of resolution. Further, even if a heat transfer sheet is stored at room temperature, when the period of storage is long, the problem of reduction in recording ability also arises. Further, even if the heat transfer sheet is stored before the formation of a light-heat-conversion layer, that is, even if a coating solution is stored, a problem exists that due to deterioration as a result of the passage of time, a desired optical density can not be obtained, leading to lowering of image quality.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a heat transfer sheet and a light-heat-conversion type image forming material which are excellent in stability during storage and in which recorded images showing little variation in sensitivity and resolution can be obtained.
A first embodiment of the present invention is a heat transfer sheet comprising a light-heat-conversion layer which includes an infrared light absorbing colorant and an image formation layer, the layers being provided in that order on a support, wherein said light-heat-conversion layer further includes one or more compounds having at least one functional group selected from a phosphate group, a phosphite group, an acid halide group, a sulfonic halide group, an acid anhydride group and an isocyanate group.
A second embodiment of the present invention is a heat transfer sheet comprising a light-heat-conversion layer which includes an infrared light absorbing colorant and an image formation layer, the layers being provided in that order on a support, wherein said light-heat-conversion layer includes at least one of compounds having an acidic group.
A third embodiment of the present invention is a heat transfer sheet comprising a light-heat-conversion layer which includes an infrared light absorbing colorant and an image formation layer, the layer being provided in that order on a support, wherein said light-heat-conversion layer further includes at least one or more compounds selected from compounds represented by the following general formula (10) and tautomers thereof, and compounds represented by the following general formula (13):
A—S—B General formula (10)
wherein, A represents an aromatic ring or a heterocyclic ring which may have a substituent; B represents a hydrogen atom, —S—A′, or —C(═O)R
1
; A′ represents an aromatic or heterocyclic ring which may have a substituent, and may be the same as said A; R
1
represents an alkyl group which may be branched, has 1 to 18 carbon atoms, and may include a functional group,
S═D General formula (13)
wherein, D represents a 5-membered or 6-membered nitrogen-containing heterocyclic or aromatic ring; said aromatic or heterocyclic ring may have a substituent, and further, the aromatic or heterocyclic ring may be condensed.
A fourth embodiment of the present invention is a light-heat-conversion type image formation material comprising a heat transfer sheet and an image receiving material, wherein said heat transfer sheet comprises a light-heat-conversion layer which includes an infrared light absorbing colorant and an image formation layer, the layers being provided in that order on a support, wherein said light-heat-conversion layer further includes one or more compounds having at least one functional group selected from a phosphate group, a phosphite group, an acid halide group, a sulfonic halide group, an acid anhydride group and an isocyanate group.
A fifth embodiment of the present invention is a light-heat-conversion type image formation material comprising a heat transfer sheet and an image receiving material, wherein said heat transfer sheet comprises a light-heat-conversion layer which includes an infrared light absorbing colorant and an image formation layer, the layers being provided in that order on a support, wherein said light-heat-conversion layer further includes at least one of compounds having an acidic group.
A sixth embodiment of the present invention is a light-heat-conversion type image formation material comprising a heat transfer sheet and an image receiving material, wherein said heat transfer sheet comprises a light-heat-conversion layer which includes an infrared light absorbing colorant and an image formation layer, the layers being provided in that order on a support, in which said light-heat-conversion layer further includes at least one or more compounds selected from compounds represented by the following general formula (10) and tautomers thereof and compounds represented by the following general formula (13):
A—S—B General formula (10)
wherein, A represents an aromatic ring or heterocyclic ring which may each have a substituent; B represents a hydrogen atom, —S—A′, or —C(═O)R
1
; A′ represents an aromatic ring or heterocyclic ring which may each have a substituent, and may be the same as said A; and R
1
represents an alkyl group which may be branched, has 1 to 18 carbon atoms, and may include a functional group,
S═D General formula (13)
wherein, D represents a 5-membered or 6-membered nitrogen-containing heterocyclic or aromatic ring; said aromatic or heterocyclic ring may have a substituent, and further, the aromatic or heterocyclic ring may be condensed.
According to the present invention, decomposition of an infrared light absorbing colorant with the lapse of time when the heat transfer sheet and the light-heat-conversion type image forming material is stored or the like, can be suppressed by adding an additive to a light-heat-conversion layer.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A heat transfer sheet and a light-heat-conversion type image forming material of the present invention will be illustrated in detail below.
Heat Transfer Sheet
A heat transfer sheet of the present invention comprises a light-heat-conversion layer containing an infrared light absorbing colorant and an image formation layer, disposed in that order on a support, the light-heat-conversion layer further contains at least one compound from any one of the groups which include a) compounds having at least one functional group selected from a phosphate group, a phosphite group, an acid halide group, a sulfonic halide group, an acid anhydride group and an isocyanate group, b) compound
Miyake Kazuhito
Nakamura Hideyuki
Yamamoto Mitsuru
Yoshimura Kosaku
Fuji Photo Film Co. , Ltd.
Hess Bruce
Sughrue & Mion, PLLC
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