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

A thermal transfer ribbon including a substrate, the substrate has a surface provided with dye layer parts and transferable protective layer parts repeatedly formed thereon, and the transferrable protective layer parts include first layer parts formed on the substrate, and second layer parts formed on the respective first layer parts. The first layer parts contain a charge control agent, and the second layer parts contain an antistatic agent and a lubricant.

A thermal transfer ribbon comprising a dye layer and a transferable protective layer repeatedly formed on one surface of a substrate, the transferable protective layer having a first layer formed on the substrate, and a second layer formed on the first layer. The first layer comprises an acrylic resin (X) containing methyl methacrylate, an acrylic resin (Y) containing a styrene resin, and a polyester resin (Z). X has a weight average molecular weight of 120000 or more, the mass ratio of X and Y is within the range of 1:9 to 9:1, and the mass of Z is 1% or more and 3% or less of the total mass of X and Y.

Described herein are embodiments of thermal donor laminate formulations and thermal transfer donor elements comprising the same. Thermal donor elements described herein can be used to transfer the laminate onto thermal receiver elements using thermal transfer means to create a transparent, protective overcoat film. In certain embodiments, the laminate is formulated without colloidal silica. Laminate formulations comprise appropriate solvent packages to account for the removal of colloidal silica, including, in some embodiments, solvent packages that do not include DEK. Certain embodiments described herein exhibit advantageous performance characteristics, such as avoiding and/or mitigating flash, satin back transfer, and print artifacts, and resist scratches.

A thermal transfer sheet, a combination of an intermediate transfer medium and a thermal transfer sheet, method for producing a printed material using the thermal transfer sheet, and a decorative material, wherein the thermal transfer sheet includes a transfer layer on one surface of a substrate, the transfer layer having a single layer structure consisting only of a heat seal layer or a multilayer structure including a heat seal layer, and in a case where the transfer layer has the multilayer structure, the heat seal layer among the layers constituting the transfer layer is positioned closest to the substrate. The heat seal layer contains one or both of (i) a polyester having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 55 C. or more and a number average molecular weight (Mn) of 15000 or less, and (ii) a polyester having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of less than 55 C.

In accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure, a printing apparatus includes: a supply spool support for supporting a supply spool and a take-up spool support for supporting a take-up spool, the supply spool support and the take-up spool support being drivable by at least one motor; a housing defining an enclosure; and a device having an input for receiving an input voltage and an output for delivering an output voltage to the at least one motor, the output voltage being lower than the input voltage, wherein the device is located within the enclosure, and the printing apparatus including a heat sink for dissipating heat away from the device.

A visual security feature is provided that is disposed on a target. The visual security feature includes two substantially transparent layers. At least one of the two substantially transparent layers is present in an image-wise pattern.

In accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure, a printing apparatus includes: a housing including at least one removable portion, a pair of spool supports which are rotatably drivable by at least one motor, a supply spool, a take-up spool, each spool being receivable on a respective spool support, such that, in use, a ribbon extends along a ribbon path between the supply spool and the take-up spool, a ribbon identification system comprising: a tag for storing information concerning a property of the ribbon, a reader, wherein the tag is attached to one of the supply and take-up spools and the reader is attached to the removable portion or one of the removable portions, and wherein a signal emitted by the tag and received by the reader allows the reader to identify a property of the ribbon.

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

In accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure, a printing apparatus includes: a housing including at least one removable portion, a pair of spool supports which are rotatably drivable by at least one motor, a supply spool, a take-up spool, each spool being receivable on a respective spool support, such that, in use, a ribbon extends along a ribbon path between the supply spool and the take-up spool, a ribbon identification system comprising: a tag for storing information concerning a property of the ribbon, a reader, wherein the tag is attached to one of the supply and take-up spools and the reader is attached to the removable portion or one of the removable portions, and wherein a signal emitted by the tag and received by the reader allows the reader to identify a property of the ribbon.