JP2002270057A - Surface sheet for operation panel as well as operation panel using the same and method of manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a surface sheet having on-demand high resolution and high designing property as well as the operation panel using the same and a method of manufacturing the same. SOLUTION: The surface sheet comprises, at least, a thermoplastic resin sheet, a color print layer 2 printed on the reverse of the thermoplastic resin sheet 1 using a color printer, a colored layer 3 provided on the reverse of the color print layer and an adhesive layer 4 provided on the reverse of the colored layer 3. The method of manufacturing the surface sheet comprises, at least, steps of using the color printer to inversely color print patterns corresponding to various operation panels on the reverse of the thermoplastic resin sheet, applying while or solver color printing on the reverse of the color print layer and forming the adhesive layer 4 on the reverse of the colored layer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a variety of electronic equipment such as a portable telephone, a home or office telephone, a small wireless device, a personal computer, a ticket vending machine, a ticket vending machine, and a remote controller, or a printing machine. The present invention relates to a surface sheet suitable for an operation panel including a keyboard of various industrial machinery such as a machine, a feeder, and a squeezer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of surface sheet, FIG.
0 to FIG. 12 are known. As shown in FIG. 10, this conventionally known topsheet has a plurality of printing layers 31 on the back surface of a transparent or translucent thermoplastic resin sheet 30, and various characters, numerals,
A figure, a symbol, a picture, etc. are provided for each color by silk-screen printing, and a white or silver colored layer 32 of the same silk-screen printing is provided on the back surface, and an adhesive layer 33 is further provided on the back surface of the colored layer 32. After being formed, a release sheet 34 is adhered to the back surface of the adhesive layer 33.

FIG. 11 shows a structure of a portion corresponding to an optical display means such as an LED lamp or various display devices mounted on the operation panel of the conventionally known surface sheet shown in FIG. In the light transmitting portion 35 that transmits the light of No. 30, the printing layer 31, the coloring layer 32, the adhesive layer 33, and the like are not formed, and when the release sheet 34 is peeled off,
Light is transmitted through the transparent or translucent thermoplastic resin sheet 30.

[0004] Fig. 12 shows a conventional surface sheet shown in Figs. 10 to 12 which is embossed.
The adhesive layer is not formed on the embossed portion 36 on the thermoplastic resin sheet 30 that has been embossed.

[0005]

The above-mentioned known surface sheet is for performing silk-screen printing of a plurality of colors. Due to the nature of this printing technique, printing of a plurality of colors cannot be performed in a single step. When performing silk screen printing for each color and performing single color silk screen printing, it is necessary to dry naturally and then silk screen print the next color, and it is also necessary to produce a composition and screen plate for each color For this reason, there is a problem that it takes time and labor to manufacture, and the manufacturing cost is high. For this reason, it is difficult to use the above-mentioned conventionally known topsheets for operation panels of various devices that produce a small number of products. In addition, there is a problem in that the design is poor in spite of the trouble, and printing of high-resolution photographs, illustrations, pictures, and the like is practically impossible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to quickly respond not only to an operation panel for mass production but also to an operation panel for high-mix low-volume production. An object of the present invention is to provide a surface sheet having high resolution on demand, a high designability, an operation panel using the surface sheet, and a method of manufacturing the surface sheet, by greatly reducing the time and labor required for the surface sheet.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a surface sheet comprising at least a thermoplastic resin sheet and a color printed on a back surface of the thermoplastic resin sheet by using a color printer. It is configured to have a printing layer, a coloring layer provided on the back surface of the color printing layer, and an adhesive layer provided on the back surface of the coloring layer.

[0008] The present invention also provides at least a thermoplastic resin sheet, a color printing layer printed on the back surface of the thermoplastic resin sheet by using a color printer, and a coloring layer provided on the back surface of the color printing layer. And a protective sheet layer attached to the back surface of the colored layer, and an adhesive layer provided on the back surface of the protective sheet layer.

According to the present invention, an operation panel includes an operation panel main body of various devices, a guide plate provided with an insertion hole having a shape corresponding to various keys and / or display means attached to an upper portion of the operation panel main body, Consisting of a topsheet adhered to the upper surface of this guide plate, this topsheet, at least, a thermoplastic resin sheet, and a color printing layer printed using a color printer on the back of the thermoplastic resin sheet, It is composed of a coloring layer provided on the back surface of the color printing layer and an adhesive layer provided on the back surface of the coloring layer.

[0010] In the present invention, when producing a topsheet, at least a pattern corresponding to various operation panels is color-printed on a reverse side of a thermoplastic resin sheet using a color printer by a reverse printing method. The method is characterized by passing through a step of performing colored printing on the back surface of the layer and further forming an adhesive layer on the back surface of the colored printed layer.

According to the present invention, in manufacturing a topsheet, at least a design corresponding to various operation panels is color-printed on a reverse side of a thermoplastic resin sheet by a reverse printing using a color printer. Through a process of performing colored printing on the back surface of the above, then forming an adhesive layer on the back surface of the colored printed layer, further attaching a release sheet to the back surface of the adhesive layer, and embossing from the side of the release sheet. It is characterized by.

In the present invention, further, in producing a topsheet, at least a design corresponding to various operation panels is color-printed on a reverse side of a thermoplastic resin sheet by a reverse printing using a color printer. Is characterized in that a white or silver color printing is applied to the back surface of the above, and a protective sheet is adhered to the back surface of the colored print layer, and an adhesive layer is formed on the back surface of the protective sheet.

According to the present invention, the top sheet can be embossed from the back surface.

[0014]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The drawings show an embodiment of a topsheet according to the present invention. In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a transparent thermoplastic resin sheet, and reference numeral 2 denotes this thermoplastic resin sheet. This is a color printing layer reverse-printed on the back surface of the resin sheet 1. The thermoplastic resin sheet 1 is made of an amorphous thermoplastic resin, a crystalline thermoplastic resin, a copolymer or a mixture thereof, and specifically, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polycarbonate, polypropylene, poly Acrylic esters, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride and the like are exemplified. As the thermoplastic resin sheet, a colorless transparent or colored transparent or translucent sheet is used.

The color printing layer 2 is a substantially full-color on-demand printing using an on-demand printing machine described later. In the case of the present invention, symbols and printing designs are designed on a screen using a computer in the present invention. The software used for the design may be arbitrarily selected according to the function. For example, in the case of a photograph or a fine graphic, a so-called paint-based Photoshop (made by Adobe: trade name) is exemplified. In the case of a high-precision pattern centered on a symbol or a geometric pattern, a so-called draw-based illustrator (trade name, manufactured by Adobe) is exemplified.

A design created on a computer using such software can be a novel design that cannot be obtained by a conventional method. For example, in the past, printing on the top sheet was a code colored in a single color, but it is also possible to incorporate high-quality landscape photos, portrait photos, and to draw precise geometric patterns . In addition, since the number of colors is not substantially limited, it is also possible to use a method such as gradation in which the color is gradually changed instead of a single color for each symbol or geometric pattern. As a result, the degree of freedom in the design of the topsheet is increased, and it is possible to flexibly respond to diversifying design needs and increase the added value of the appearance of electronic devices.

The design data thus created is sent from a computer to a printing device, and printing is performed on the above-mentioned thermoplastic resin sheet. At this time, the printing apparatus may use at least one of a thermal transfer sublimation method, a toner electronic method, an electrostatic image method, a laser exposure heat development transfer method, an ink jet method, and a heat coloring method. These printing devices are referred to herein as "on-demand printing machines." This on-demand printing machine can perform substantially full-color printing, based on the principle that these colors are printed using at least three or several colors of CMY-based, CMYK-based, or RGB-based inks, and a minute printing point. , And substantially full-color printing by mixing three colors. The size of the minute printing point varies depending on the printing apparatus, but is generally from 0.01 mm to 0.1 mm in diameter.
If these small print colors are mixed or adjacent to each other with a size of about 2 mm, it is possible to print substantially all colors by the principle of three primary colors and the visual illusion of human beings.

Next, a white or silver colored layer 3 is printed on the back surface of the color print layer 2. The colored layer 3 is provided because the thermoplastic resin sheet 1 printed by an on-demand printing machine has insufficient lightness and is dark and has poor visibility.
This is because, due to the principle of the three primary colors of the printing colors of the GB system, the on-demand printing machine cannot print “white” and cannot sufficiently express both the brightness and the saturation.

Next, the formation of the white or silver light-shielding colored layer or the translucent colored layer on the thermoplastic resin sheet 1 is performed by printing a "white" color in principle as described above. In addition to supplementing the expression of an on-demand printing machine that cannot be used, light from the outside is effectively scattered by using a white or silver light-shielding colored layer or translucent colored layer to greatly improve visibility. There is work. The operation panel is LE
In the case of an illuminated backlight type push button switch using D or the like, translucent white or the like may be used. Other than white or silver, for example, a light cream color, gold, copper color, or the like is also effective, but a color other than white greatly changes the hue of the above-described on-demand color print layer 2, and gold or the like is substantially used. Since it can be expressed by a mixture of the silver color and the pale yellow color of the on-demand color print layer 2, it is not preferable in terms of cost to use expensive gold. Of course, it is optional to combine not only a single white layer but also multiple layers such as white and silver.

Next, an adhesive layer 4 is provided on the back surface of the colored layer 3, and the adhesive layer 4 is formed by printing, for example, a highly adhesive paste using a printing machine. When the topsheet is embossed, the adhesive layer 4 is provided except for that portion.

On the back surface of the adhesive layer 4, a release sheet 5 is further provided.
Is affixed. In the embodiment, the release sheet 5 is formed also on a portion where the adhesive layer 4 is not formed, but may be configured not to be formed on a portion where the adhesive layer 4 is not formed. Also, the release sheet 5 may not always be formed when the operation panel to which the topsheet is to be attached is available.

FIG. 2 shows a portion corresponding to the display means provided on the operation panel side of the topsheet shown in FIG. 1. As shown, the display means of the transparent or translucent thermoplastic resin sheet 1 is shown. Is not provided with the color printing layer 2, the coloring layer 3, the adhesive layer 4, and the release sheet 5.

FIG. 3 shows a case where the topsheet shown in FIG. 1 is embossed, and the embossed portion 7 which has been embossed has no adhesive layer.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the topsheet. According to the drawing, a protective sheet 8 made of a thermoplastic resin film is adhered to the back surface of the colored layer 3 to form a laminate structure. The paint is designed so that it does not come off. Other reference symbols that are the same as those in FIG. 1 indicate the same members.

FIG. 5 shows an operation panel according to the present invention. An instruction symbol 10 indicates an operation panel main body, on which various keys 11, a light emitting diode 12, a display means 13, and the like are mounted. The indication symbol 14 is the operation panel body 10
The guide plate is mounted on the upper surface. On the surface of the guide plate, insertion holes 15, 16, and 17 of various shapes are formed at locations corresponding to the keys 11, the light emitting diodes 12, and the display means 13. The indication symbol 18 is the guide plate 14
FIG. 4 is a topsheet shown in FIGS.

FIGS. 6 to 9 show a method of manufacturing the topsheet according to the present invention described above. In particular, FIG. 6 shows a case where a color printing layer is formed on the back surface of a thermoplastic resin sheet. Graphic data created by a computer 20 is converted into a thermoplastic resin sheet using a full-color laser printer 21 (on-demand printing machine). The reverse printing is performed in full color on the print No. 22, so that it is possible to appropriately cope with an order for a large variety of small quantities.

FIG. 7 schematically shows a method of manufacturing a topsheet, in which letters, numerals, symbols, and figures corresponding to the shapes of keys and display units of various operation panels are provided on the back of a thermoplastic resin sheet made of polyester. And a pattern such as a picture is created using a computer and printed in full color using a laser printer. The type of the full-color printing machine has been described above.

Next, a white colored layer is subjected to silk screen printing on the back surface of the color printing layer, an adhesive layer is formed on the back surface of the colored layer, and a release sheet is attached to the back surface of the adhesive layer. .

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the method for manufacturing a topsheet. When embossing is applied to the topsheet, a release sheet is attached to the back surface of the adhesive layer, and thereafter, this release sheet is used. The entire process is embossed, and the other steps are the same as those shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of a method of manufacturing a topsheet, in which a protective layer made of synthetic resin is attached after providing a colored layer to form a laminate structure, and then an adhesive layer is formed. , And a release sheet.
Thereafter, if embossing is required, the embossing is performed.

[0031]

EXAMPLE Next, an example of manufacturing a topsheet according to the present invention will be described.

[0032]

Embodiment 1 As a surface sheet of an operation panel of a squeezer, letters, numerals, and
Use a static transfer printer to transfer figures, symbols and pictures
Full color printing was performed on the back surface of a thermoplastic resin sheet composed of a 25-micron transparent polyester sheet by reverse printing. Next, on the back surface of the full-color printing layer, a paste-like silk printing ink was used, and a milky white screen printing was performed using a silk screen printing machine to form a colored layer, followed by natural drying. Then, an adhesive layer was formed by printing adhesive paste on the back surface of the colored layer using a printing machine. Then, a release sheet was adhered to the back surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer by using the same printing machine, and the die was cut to obtain a top sheet.

[0033]

Embodiment 2 As a surface sheet of an operation panel of a small wireless device, letters, numbers, figures, symbols, pictures, and the like designed using a computer are printed using an electrostatic transfer printer.
Full color printing was performed on the reverse side of the thermoplastic resin sheet composed of a 5 micron transparent polyester sheet using a reverse printing. Next, milky white screen printing was performed on the back surface of the full color printing layer using a silk screen printing ink using a silk screen printing machine, and a colored layer was formed, followed by natural drying. Then, an adhesive layer was formed by printing adhesive paste on the back surface of the colored layer using a printing machine, and a release sheet was adhered to the back surface of the adhesive layer using the same printing machine. Then, after embossing was performed on the portion corresponding to the key top using an embossing machine, the surface was obtained by cutting off the die.

[0034]

Embodiment 3 Characters, numbers, figures, symbols, pictures, etc., designed using a computer, are used as a surface sheet of an operation panel of a remote controller using an electrostatic transfer printer.
Full color printing was performed on the reverse side of the thermoplastic resin sheet composed of a 5 micron transparent polyester sheet using a reverse printing. Next, milky white screen printing was performed on the back surface of the full color printing layer using a silk screen printing ink using a silk screen printing machine, and a colored layer was formed, followed by natural drying. Next, in order to protect the colored layer with a transparent laminate film, the protective layer is adhered to the back surface of the colored layer as a protective sheet, and the adhesive sheet is printed on the back surface of the protective sheet using a printing machine. An adhesive layer was formed. Then, a release sheet was adhered to the back surface of the adhesive layer using the same printing machine, and then a portion corresponding to the key top was subjected to embossing using an embossing machine, and a top sheet was obtained by punching out. .

[0035]

The present invention is configured as described above.
Inexpensive operation panel with excellent design because the display printing part consisting of letters, numbers, symbols, figures, pictures, etc. of the surface sheet for the operation panel of various equipment can be made full-color on-demand printing in a short time. In addition to mass-producing the surface sheet, the same model, such as a small-volume multi-product or a ticket vending machine or a ticket vending machine, is installed at an individual (each station) location and displayed on an operation panel. Even if the contents (for example, destination name) are different from each other, it is possible to individually cope with the equipment, and it is possible to obtain an effect that it can be provided at a reasonable price and a delivery date.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged sectional view of a topsheet according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the topsheet shown in FIG. 1 that transmits light.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an embossed portion of the topsheet shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing another embodiment of the topsheet according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the operation panel according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram in a case where a color print layer is formed on the back surface of the top sheet according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a method of manufacturing a topsheet according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view illustrating another embodiment of the method for manufacturing a topsheet according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining still another embodiment of the method for manufacturing a topsheet according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a conventional technique of a topsheet.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a conventional technique of a topsheet.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a conventional technique of a topsheet.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Thermoplastic resin sheet 2 Color printing layer 3 Coloring layer 4 Adhesive layer 5 Peeling sheet 6 Light transmission part 7 Embossed part 8 Protective sheet 10 Operation panel main body 11 Key 12 Light emitting diode 13 Display means 14 Guide plates 15, 16, 17 insertion Hole 18 Surface sheet 20 Computer 21 Laser printer 22 Thermoplastic resin sheet

Claims (7)

[Claims] At least a thermoplastic resin sheet, a color printing layer printed on the back surface of the thermoplastic resin sheet by using a color printer, a coloring layer provided on the back surface of the color printing layer, and coloring A topsheet for an operation panel, comprising: a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer provided on a back surface of the layer. 2. At least a thermoplastic resin sheet, a color printing layer printed on the back surface of the thermoplastic resin sheet using a color printer, a coloring layer provided on the back surface of the color printing layer, A top sheet for an operation panel, comprising: a protective sheet layer attached to a back surface of the layer; and an adhesive layer provided on a back surface of the protective sheet layer. 3. An operation panel main body of various devices, a guide plate provided with an insertion hole having a shape corresponding to various keys and / or display means attached to an upper portion of the operation panel main body, and affixed to an upper surface of the guide plate. Consisting of a top sheet attached, this top sheet, at least, a thermoplastic resin sheet, a color printing layer printed using a color printer on the back of the thermoplastic resin sheet, on the back of this color printing layer An operation panel, comprising: a coloring layer provided; and an adhesive layer provided on a back surface of the coloring layer. 4. At least a pattern corresponding to various operation panels is color-printed on a reverse side of a thermoplastic resin sheet using a color printer by a reverse printing, and then a white or silver colored print is printed on the reverse side of the color print layer. And a step of forming a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer on the back surface of the colored print layer. 5. At least a pattern corresponding to various operation panels is color-printed on a reverse side of a thermoplastic resin sheet using a color printer by reverse printing, and then a white or silver colored print is printed on the rear side of the color print layer. Then, an adhesive layer is formed on the back surface of the colored print layer, and then a release sheet is attached to the back surface of the adhesive layer, and a step of embossing from the side of the release sheet is performed, Manufacturing method of topsheet. 6. At least a pattern corresponding to various operation panels is color-printed on a reverse side of a thermoplastic resin sheet using a color printer by reverse printing, and then white or silver colored printing is performed on the back side of the color print layer. And a step of attaching a protective sheet to the back surface of the colored print layer and forming an adhesive layer on the back surface of the protective sheet. 7. The surface sheet and the operation panel according to claim 1, wherein a release sheet is attached to the back surface of the adhesive layer, and the back surface is embossed.