JP2000325840A - Coloring system of optical plastic lens - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently manufacture an optical plastic lens colored in a desired pattern and stable in coloration in a short time. SOLUTION: This coloring system of the optical plastic lens comprises a lens coloring information storing means, an information selecting means for selecting optional coloring information, a control means for controlling the amount of a coloring agent to be discharged of an ink jet printer based on the selected information and a transmitting means for transmitting the selected coloring information to the control means through a communication line.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical plastic lens coloring system, and more particularly, to an optical plastic lens such as a spectacle lens which is colored in a desired coloring pattern and has a stable coloring, and in particular, gradation coloring. The present invention relates to a system for coloring an optical plastic lens for efficiently producing a spectacle lens obtained in a short time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, spectacle lenses are often worn not only for the purpose of correcting visual acuity but also for cosmetic effects or medical effects, for example, for protecting an eyeball from ultraviolet rays. Is becoming increasingly popular. In particular, higher-grade tinted (gradation-colored) spectacle lenses having a cosmetic effect account for a considerable proportion of the tinted spectacle lenses. Conventionally, in order to color a spectacle lens, (1) a method in which a liquid having a coloring ability is adhered to a base lens and fixed.
(2) a method of attaching a colored film to an eyeglass lens and transferring a colorant contained in the film (diffusion transfer method);
(3) A method of heating and sublimating an organic dye in the gas phase to color it (Japanese Patent Publication No. 35-1384) has been performed.

As a method of coloring spectacle lenses by the above method (1), for example, a method disclosed in JP-A-60-235101 is known. The method for coloring a spectacle lens disclosed in this publication is a method in which an organic hard coat solution in which a dye is dissolved is applied to the surface of a synthetic resin lens, and a curing treatment is performed. Examples of the method of applying to the surface include a dipping method, a spray method, and a spinning method (spinner method). In order to apply gradation coloring by the method (1), a spectacle lens is immersed in a liquid having coloring ability, and the immersion time is adjusted for each lens portion.

In the method (1), when the entire surface of the lens is uniformly colored, the film thickness is uniform, there is no color unevenness on the entire surface, there is no variation in color tone and density, and color fading and change in color tone are not caused. No tinted spectacle lenses are obtained. However,
In the method (1), when gradation coloring is performed by an immersion method, it takes a long time to color the lens, and a colored lens cannot be manufactured efficiently. Further, the spray method and the spinning method are not suitable for gradation coloring of a small object such as a spectacle lens.

In the method (2), a film having a gradation is produced by the method (1), and the colorant is transferred by attaching the film to a lens. However, in such a method, a flat spectacle lens may be used. However, in the case of a curved (R) spectacle lens, it is difficult to paste a colored film neatly, and the accuracy is low. There is a problem.

On the other hand, in the method (3), since the degree of sublimability of the colorant is different between yellow, red and blue, it is difficult to obtain stable coloring, which is not industrial, and is not industrial. There is a problem that coloring is extremely difficult.

[0007]

Under these circumstances, the present invention provides an optical plastic lens such as a spectacle lens which is colored in a desired coloring pattern and which is stable in coloration, and in particular, is colored in gradation. It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical plastic lens coloring system for efficiently manufacturing a spectacle lens in a short time.

[0008]

The inventor of the present invention has made intensive studies to develop a coloring system for efficiently producing, in a short time, a spectacle lens which has been subjected to gradation coloring. The object can be achieved by a coloring system including a lens coloring information storage unit, a coloring information selection unit, a colorant ejection amount control unit in an inkjet printer, and an information transmission unit that transmits the coloring information to the control unit. Heading that
Based on this finding, the present invention has been completed.

That is, the present invention provides (A) lens coloring information storage means having a plurality of pieces of information relating to coloring of an optical plastic lens, and (B) lens coloring information stored by the lens coloring information storage means. And (C) controlling the amount of one or more colorants to be discharged from the colorant discharge mechanism of the ink jet printer based on the information obtained by the selection means. And (D) a transmission system for transmitting the information obtained by the selection unit to the control unit via a communication line. .

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The optical plastic lens coloring system of the present invention (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as the "coloring system of the present invention") is an inkjet plastic optical lens, preferably an eyeglass lens. The coloring system includes (A) a lens coloring information storing unit, (B) a coloring information selecting unit, (C) a coloring agent discharge amount controlling unit, and (D) a coloring information transmitting unit.

In the coloring system of the present invention, an ink jet method is used for coloring the base lens. The method of applying a colorant by the ink jet method is as follows.
Ink (colorant) can be effectively used, (2) it can be applied to a desired color tone and density based on a database and an application stored in a computer, (3)
It has the advantage that it can be applied in a short time.

Next, each means in the coloring system of the present invention will be described. (A) Lens coloring information storage means: This lens coloring information storage means is a means for storing various information relating to the coloring of an optical plastic lens for coloring the lens, and is representative of this means. Examples of such a method include a method of storing the lens coloring information in a computer. Examples of the various kinds of information on the coloring of the lens include a coloring database for each dye and lens regarding the thickness of the cured film, the amount of the dye to be brought into contact with the lens, the heat treatment temperature, the heat treatment time, and the like.

(B) Coloring information selecting means: This coloring information selecting means is means for selecting and extracting necessary information from various lens coloring information stored by the above-mentioned lens coloring information storing means. In this system, a plurality of selection means can be provided.

(C) Colorant discharge amount control means: one or more colorants discharged from the colorant discharge mechanism of the ink jet printer based on the lens color information obtained by the (B) color information selection means described above. Means for controlling the amount of With this control means, a colored optical plastic lens having a desired color tone and color density can be obtained. In this system, a plurality of colorant discharge amount control means can be provided.

(D) Coloring information transmitting means: This coloring information transmitting means transmits the lens coloring information obtained by the (B) coloring information selecting means to the (C)
This is a means for transmitting to the colorant discharge amount control means. Preferred examples of the communication line include those utilizing the Internet, intranet, WAN, LAN, and the like. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. By using such coloring information transmitting means, remote control is possible.

FIG. 1 shows the coloring system for an optical plastic lens of the present invention described above. In the coloring system of the present invention, examples of the optical plastic lens to be colored include optical lenses used for eyeglass lenses, contact lenses, camera lenses, projector lenses, telescope lenses, magnifying lenses, and the like. However, those used for spectacle lenses are particularly preferable. Specifically, methyl methacrylate homopolymer, a copolymer containing methyl methacrylate and one or more other monomers as monomer components, diethylene glycol bisallyl carbonate homopolymer, diethylene glycol bisallyl carbonate and one or more other Examples of the plastic lens include a copolymer containing a monomer as a monomer component, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, polyurethane, polythiourethane, and a sulfur-containing polymer.

In the coloring system of the present invention, the optical plastic lens to be colored is preferably one having a cured film of a water-soluble polymer formed on the surface thereof. The water-soluble polymer is excellent in solubility in an aqueous medium, high in safety, inexpensive, and may be any one that does not react with or hardly react with a disperse dye, and is not particularly limited. Can be appropriately selected from various compounds. Examples of such a water-soluble polymer include polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylic acid, metal salts of polyacrylic acid, polyacrylamide, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyethylene glycol, and the like. Polyethylene glycol and the like are preferred. These water-soluble polymers may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The method for forming a cured film of the water-soluble polymer on the surface of the plastic lens for optics is not particularly limited. For example, the water-soluble polymer is dissolved in an aqueous medium to prepare an aqueous solution of the water-soluble polymer. It is advantageous to form a cured film of a water-soluble polymer by preparing and applying a coating treatment to the surface of an optical plastic lens using this, followed by heating. The aqueous solution of the water-soluble polymer is prepared by adding and dissolving the water-soluble polymer in an amount of preferably 2 to 20 parts by weight, more preferably 5 to 10 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the aqueous medium. The viscosity of the aqueous solution of the water-soluble polymer is preferably in the range of 5 × 10 ^{−3 to} 500 × 10 ⁻³ Pa · s (pascal · second) at room temperature, and particularly preferably in the range of 10 × 10 ^{−3 to} 100 × 10 ^−3.
A range of × 10 ⁻³ Pa · s is preferable. If the viscosity is too low, the aqueous solution of the water-soluble polymer coated on the surface of the optical plastic lens easily flows, and it is difficult to form a cured film of the water-soluble polymer having a required thickness. It becomes difficult to coat the lens surface with a uniform thickness. As the aqueous medium, water is used, but if necessary, water to which an organic solvent miscible with water is appropriately added can be used as long as the object of the present invention is not impaired.

As a method for coating an aqueous solution of a water-soluble polymer on the surface of an optical plastic lens,
Any method may be used as long as it can uniformly coat the surface of the optical plastic lens without unevenness, and there is no particular limitation, and a conventionally known method, for example, a method of directly coating the lens surface by a method such as brush coating or spin coating, or a dipping method , A spray method or the like can be used. Any of these methods can be suitably used, taking care to coat the lens surface with the aqueous solution of the water-soluble polymer as uniformly as possible. After coating the surface of the plastic lens for optics with the aqueous solution of the water-soluble polymer in this way, the lens is usually 100 to 200
C., preferably at a temperature in the range of 120-150.degree.
By heating and drying for about 1 minute to 6 hours, preferably about 30 minutes to 3 hours, a cured film of a water-soluble polymer is formed.

As described above, by forming a cured film of a water-soluble polymer on the surface of an optical plastic lens, when a colorant comprising a water-based dyeing solution is applied by an ink jet printer, the colorant is applied to the water-soluble polymer. The dye is absorbed and the dye is held uniformly in the cured film, and the effect of preventing the applied colorant from flowing down, agglomerating, or unevenly distributed from the surface of the optical plastic lens is exhibited. . Further, as described later, the optical plastic lens coated with the coloring agent is subjected to a heat treatment to allow the dye held in the water-soluble polymer film to penetrate and diffuse into the plastic lens, and then the lens surface is cleaned. When the water-soluble polymer is washed away with water, the dye remaining on the surface also flows and the dye can be easily removed. In addition, since the water-soluble polymer has poor affinity for the dye, it also plays a role in facilitating the penetration and diffusion of the dye into the plastic lens during heat treatment.

As the coloring agent used in the coloring system of the present invention, an aqueous dyeing solution obtained by dissolving and / or suspending a disperse dye in an aqueous medium is suitable. The disperse dye is generally a poorly soluble dye in water, and is dissolved and / or dissolved in water.
Or, as a dispersed suspension, it is widely used for dyeing plastic lenses for optics and often has sublimability, so it is sometimes called a sublimation dye or a sublimation dye. Particularly preferred dyes include Dystar Japan
Dianix Blue A manufactured by Co., Ltd.
CE and DIANIX Red AC-
E, Kayalon polyester color yellow (Kayalon Polyester Colors) manufactured by Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.
(Yellow) 4G-E and Kayalon Polyester Color Scarlet (Kayalon Polyester Colors Scarle)
t) 2R-E and the like.

In the present invention, these disperse dyes are
It is preferable to dissolve and / or suspend in an aqueous medium to prepare an aqueous staining solution. The concentration of the disperse dye in the aqueous dyeing solution is preferably as high as possible in order to increase the dyeing concentration of the optical plastic lens. Also,
Since it is used as an ink for an inkjet printer, in order to avoid clogging of the inkjet printer nozzle, the particle diameter of the disperse dye, which is completely dissolved or suspended without being completely dissolved, is equal to or less than the diameter of the inkjet printer nozzle, That is, it is preferable that the treatment is carried out by a method such as filtration or centrifugation so as to be several tens of microns or less, preferably 20 microns or less. The concentration of the disperse dye in the aqueous dyeing solution is selected in the range of usually 0.1 to 20% by weight, preferably 3 to 10% by weight.

As the above aqueous medium, water is used, and if necessary, as long as the object of the present invention is not impaired.
Water to which an organic solvent having miscibility with water, a pH adjuster, a surfactant, an antifoaming agent, a preservative and the like are appropriately added can also be used. In the present invention, the colorant is applied by an inkjet printer to the surface of the optical plastic lens, particularly preferably the optical plastic lens surface on which a cured film of a water-soluble polymer is formed.In this case, according to the coloring system described above, From the lens coloring information stored by the lens coloring information storage unit,
The necessary color information is selected by the information selecting means, and the amount of the colorant discharged from the colorant discharge mechanism of the ink jet printer is controlled by the discharge amount control means based on the selected color information. Note that one colorant may be used, or a plurality of colorants may be used.

As described above, the colorant is applied to the surface of the cured film by the ink jet printer, and the dye held in the cured film is diffused into the lens by a heat treatment based on the selected coloring information. The heating temperature at this time is usually 80 to 200 ° C., preferably 85 to 1 ° C.
It is selected in the range of 50 ° C. The heating time is usually 10
Minutes to 24 hours, preferably 30 minutes to 3 hours. In general, when the heating temperature is high and the heating time is long, the dyeing density becomes high, so that the surface shape of the optical plastic lens is deformed or yellowed. It is desirable to select the optimal values of the heating temperature and the heating time for each lens material and desired dyeing concentration in consideration of the balance of the above. The heating furnace used for this heat treatment is not particularly limited as long as it can uniformly heat the plastic lens for optical use, and is not particularly limited. For example, an electric furnace, a hot-air circulation furnace, an infrared oven, a microwave oven, or the like is used. be able to.

After the heating is completed, a water-soluble polymer (cured film) and a dye that has not been completely diffused remain on the surface of the optical plastic lens. It is desirable to perform a wiping process. In that case, removing the water-soluble polymer with the remaining dye will make the lens surface almost clean,
In order to efficiently clean a large number of optical plastic lenses in a short period of time, it is preferable to carry out a water washing treatment, particularly an ultrasonic washing in water.

[0026]

Next, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

Example 1 (1) Preparation of ink for ink jet printer 60 parts by weight of distilled water, 7 parts by weight of glycerin, 18 parts by weight of ethylene glycol, 8 parts by weight of urea, 2 parts by weight of diethanolamine, surfactant [manufactured by Nikko Chemicals Co., Ltd. , Polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether, trade name NP-
7.5) Disperse dye Kayalon polyester color manufactured by Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd. in 0.2 parts by weight of aqueous solvent
Yellow (Kayalon Polyester Colors Yellow) 4
5 parts by weight of GE-E was added, and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 24 hours to prepare a dyeing solution in which some disperse dyes were suspended. This suspension was subjected to suction filtration using Whatman filter paper No. 3 to remove a small amount of insoluble matter, thereby preparing an ink for an ink jet printer.

(2) Coating of Water-Soluble Polymer 5 parts by weight of N-vinylpyrrolidone polymer [manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd., molecular weight: about 25,000] was added to 100 parts by weight of distilled water and stirred at room temperature for 24 hours. Completely dissolved. At room temperature, the base lens of a sulfur-containing plastic lens (trade name: Teslalid) of HOYA CORPORATION
1.00 diopter, center thickness 2.5mm, outer diameter 75m
m), and the lens was placed on a donut-shaped jig that can be fixed around the lens and heated in an oven at 120 ° C. for 30 minutes to form a coating of N-vinylpyrrolidone polymer on the surface. .

(3) Dyeing of Optical Plastic Lenses A coloring database for each dye and lens relating to the thickness of the cured film prepared in advance, the amount of disperse dye to be brought into contact with the lens, the heat treatment temperature, and the heat treatment time. Based on the individual coloring data (cured film thickness, amount of disperse dye contacting the lens,
Heat treatment temperature, heat treatment time) were determined, and dyeing was performed based on this data.

Using the ink prepared in (1) above, a desired dyeing pattern was printed on one side of the lens obtained in (2) by an ink jet printer. The lens with the ink attached was placed on a donut-shaped jig that can be fixed around and heated in an oven at 130 ° C. for 60 minutes. After cooling, it was taken out, ink was adhered to the opposite surface in the same manner, and heated under the same conditions. After cooling, both surfaces of the lens were washed with water to remove the dried water-soluble polymer and the remaining disperse dye, thereby producing a spectacle lens which was colored in gradation. The colored lens did not lose color even when wiped with a cloth to which acetone was applied, and the dyeing density near the center measured using a spectrophotometer at a light transmittance of 550 nanometers was 3%.
It was 0%. Moreover, the whole was uniformly dyed.

[0031]

According to the coloring system for an optical plastic lens of the present invention, a desired coloring pattern is obtained.
In addition, an optical plastic lens such as a spectacle lens whose coloring is stable, in particular, a gradation-colored spectacle lens can be efficiently manufactured in a short time. In addition, by providing a plurality of information selecting means and a plurality of ink jet printers, it is possible to efficiently color an optical plastic lens by an ink jet method, and further, by using communication means such as the Internet, an intranet, a WAN, and a LAN. , Remote control becomes possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of a coloring system for an optical plastic lens of the present invention.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A lens coloring information storage means having a plurality of pieces of information relating to coloring of an optical plastic lens, and (B) an optional lens coloring information stored by the lens coloring information storage means. Selecting means for selecting coloring information; and (C) controlling means for controlling the amount of one or more colorants discharged from the colorant discharging mechanism of the ink jet printer based on the information obtained by the selecting means. , (D) the information obtained by the selection means,
A coloring system for an optical plastic lens, comprising a transmission means for transmitting to the control means via a communication line. 2. The optical plastic lens coloring system according to claim 1, further comprising (C) a plurality of control means. 3. The system for coloring an optical plastic lens according to claim 1, wherein (D) the communication line in the transmission means uses at least one selected from the Internet, an intranet, a WAN, and a LAN. . 4. The optical plastic lens has a cured film of a water-soluble polymer formed on its surface, and the colorant has a disperse dye dissolved and / or suspended in an aqueous medium. 4. The coloring system for an optical plastic lens according to 1, 2, or 3. 5. The optical plastic lens according to claim 4, wherein the surface of the optical plastic lens is subjected to a coating treatment using an aqueous solution of a water-soluble polymer and then heated to form a cured film of the water-soluble polymer. Coloring system for plastic lens for optics. 6. The optical device according to claim 4, wherein the water-soluble polymer is at least one selected from polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylic acid, metal polyacrylate, polyacrylamide, polyvinylpyrrolidone and polyethylene glycol. Plastic lens coloring system.