Fluorescent latent image transfer film, fluorescent latent image transfer method using the same, and security pattern formed matter

• US 6,368,684 B1
• Filed: 08/12/1999
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Company Limited
• Inventors: Onishi, Jiro, Oshima, Katsuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess, Bruce H.
• Application Number:
  US09/373,442
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 428/195, 428/913, 428/914, 428/690, 428/29, 503/227, 503/204, 156/235
• US Class Current: 428/32.6
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 2205/06 relating to melt (thermal) mass transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/144 using fluorescent, luminescent or iridescent effects
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/345 by thermal transfer of dyes or pigments
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/385 characterised by the transferable dyes or pigments infrared absorbing dyes B41M5/465
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/3854 Dyes containing one or more acyclic carbon-to-carbon double bonds, e.g., di- or tri-cyanovinyl, methine
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/395 Macromolecular additives, e.g. binders
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 7/0027 using protective coatings or layers by lamination or by fusion of the coatings or layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/913 Material designed to be responsive to temperature, light, moisture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/914 Transfer or decalcomania
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]

Abstract

An object is to provide a fluorescent latent image transfer film which makes it possible to form a fluorescent latent image excellent in transferability and gradiation-property; a fluorescent latent image transfer method using the same; and a security pattern formed matter. To attain the object, there are provided a fluorescent latent image transfer film wherein a fluorescent ink layer formed of a resin binder comprising a fluorescent agent represented by the following formula (1) is formed on one surface of a heat-resistant substrate film; and a fluorescent latent image transfer method comprising the steps of putting this fluorescent latent image transfer film onto a transfer receiving material; heating the resultant in any pattern from the heat-resistant substrate film side of the fluorescent latent image transfer film by means of a heating element to transfer the fluorescent ink layer of the fluorescent latent image transfer film, correspondingly to the pattern of the heating element, onto the transfer receiving material, thereby forming a fluorescent latent image composed of the fluorescent agent on the transfer receiving material.

wherein R1 is

(n is a positive integer),

and R2 and R3 each represents H or an alkyl group.

Claims

1. A fluorescent latent image transfer film wherein a fluorescent ink layer formed of a resin binder comprising a fluorescent agent represented by the following formula (1) is formed on/above a heat-resistant substrate film,

wherein R1 is

n is a positive integer,

and R2 and R3 each represents H or an alkyl group.

2. The fluorescent latent image transfer film according to claim 1, wherein the resin binder is composed mainly of a polyvinyl acetal resin, a polyvinyl butyral resin, or a mixture thereof.

3. The fluorescent latent image transfer film according to claim 1, wherein one or more layers selected from the group consisting of at least one of yellow, magenta, cyan and black thermal sublimation dye layers, and a heat fusible black ink layer are formed on and successively along a transfer face on which the fluorescent ink layer is formed.

4. The fluorescent latent image transfer film according to claim 3, wherein the total area of the yellow, magenta, cyan thermal sublimation dye layers formed on and successively along the transfer face, is smaller than the total area, on/above the same substrate film, of at least one or more layers selected from the group consisting of the thermal sublimation black layer, the heat-meting black ink layer, the fluorescent ink layer, the protective layer, and the thermal transfer intermediate adhesive layer.

5. The fluorescent latent image transfer film according to claim 1, wherein a protective layer is formed on the successively along the transfer face on which the fluorescent ink layer is formed.

6. The fluorescent latent image transfer film according to claim 1, wherein a thermal transfer adhesive layer is formed on and successively along the transfer face on which the fluorescent ink layer is formed.

7. A fluorescent latent image transfer method comprising the steps of putting, onto a transfer receiving material, a fluorescent latent image transfer film wherein a fluorescent ink layer composed of a resin binder comprising a fluorescent agent represented by the following formula (1) is deposited on/above a heat-resistant substrate film;

heating the resultant in any pattern from the heat-resistant substrate film side of the fluorescent latent image transfer film by means of a heating element to transfer the fluorescent ink layer of the fluorescent latent image transfer film, correspondingly to the pattern of the heating element, onto the transfer receiving material, thereby forming a fluorescent latent image composed of the fluorescent agent on the transfer receiving material,

wherein R1 is

n is a positive integer,

and R2 and R3 each represents H or an alkyl group.

8. The fluorescent latent image transfer method according to claim 7, wherein the fluorescent latent image is formed after an image composed of a visible ink is formed on the surface of the transfer receiving material.

9. The fluorescent latent image transfer method according to claim 8, wherein a protective layer is formed after the image composed of the visible ink is formed, and the fluorescent latent image is formed on the surface of the protective layer.

10. The fluorescent latent image transfer method according to claim 7, wherein an image composed of a visible ink is formed after the fluorescent latent image is formed on the surface of the transfer receiving material.

11. The fluorescent latent image transfer method according to claim 7, wherein the fluorescent latent image is formed in the middle of forming an image composed of a visible ink on the surface of the transfer receiving material.

12. The fluorescent latent image transfer method according to claims 7, wherein a protective layer is formed on the topmost surface of the transfer receiving material.

13. The fluorescent latent image transfer method according to claim 12, wherein a hologram pattern is formed in the protective layer.

14. The fluorescent latent image transfer method according to claim 7, wherein there is used a fluorescent ink layer integrated film wherein one or more layers selected from the group consisting of at least one of yellow, magenta, cyan and black thermal sublimation dye layers, a heat fusible black ink layer and the protective layer are formed on and successively along a transfer face on which the fluorescent ink layer is formed, so as to form the fluorescent latent image, the image composed of the visible ink, the protective layer and the like successively.

15. The fluorescent latent image transfer method according to claim 7, wherein the transfer receiving material is a card.

16. The fluorescent latent image transfer method according to claim 7, wherein the transfer receiving material is a passport.

17. The fluorescent latent image transfer method according to claim 7, wherein the transfer receiving material is a license.

18. A printed matter having a fluorescent latent image formed by the fluorescent latent image transfer method according to claim 7.