JP2002292754A - Molding with multi-color design and manufacturing method therefor and laser etching transfer foil used in this manufacturing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize the representation of a multi-color design using an optional color and an optional area after transferring a colored layer onto the surface of a molding. SOLUTION: A laser etching transfer foil is composed of a concealing layer 2 formed on a base sheet having release characteristics and further, colored layers having different colors (a first colored layer 3, a second colored layer 30 and a third colored layer 31) which can be etched by laser, laminated on the concealing layer 2. The colored layer side of the laser etching transfer foil is bonded to a plastic molding 6 by a transfer or a transfer process simultaneous with molding and the base sheet is released to obtain the plastic molding 6 having the colored layer. After that, when exposure holes 5 are formed by removing each of the layers upto the colored layer where a laser beam reaches from the concealing layer 2 by emitting a laser beam, the focal length of the laser beam or its intensity is controlled in accordance with the kind of the color. Thus it is possible to expose an optional color in an optional area by adjusting the area or/and the depth of the exposure hole 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an illuminating component used for emitting characters or symbols by partially transmitting light, such as home appliances, audio equipment, and display panels of automobile indicators. The present invention relates to a molded article having a multicolor design and a method for producing the molded article, and a laser-etched transfer foil used in the method for producing the molded article.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional technique, there is a technique based on a combination of painting and laser etching. In other words, a white paint is applied to the entire surface of the plastic molded product, a black paint is applied to the entire surface, the laser light is irradiated, the black paint is peeled off and removed by heat of the laser light, and a predetermined pattern is exposed. And / or to obtain a molded article having a multicolor design in which the color of the plastic molded article is exposed.

[0003]

In the prior art, since it is necessary to spray a coating liquid onto a plastic molded product, the plastic molded product is easily attacked and deteriorated by a solvent in the spray liquid. Adhesion of dust on the surface, unevenness of coating, etc. are likely to occur. In addition, there is an environmental problem in the workplace due to spraying of the coating liquid. Further, there is a problem that the painting itself is expensive.

[0004] Further, appearance defects of plastic molded articles having a multicolored design are likely to occur. In other words, it is difficult to control the film thickness in painting, so the film thickness tends to vary,
For this reason, a portion that cannot be completely removed by the irradiation of the laser beam occurs, but a portion that is excessively removed also occurs.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, a molded article having a multicolored design, a method of manufacturing the same, and a laser etching transfer foil of the present invention are constituted as follows. The invention according to claim 1 is directed to a colored layer side of a laser-etched transfer foil in which a concealing layer is formed on a base sheet having a releasability, and a colored layer of a different color that can be laser-etched is laminated thereon. Is adhered to a plastic molded article by a transfer method or a molding simultaneous transfer method, the base sheet is peeled off, and a plastic molded article having a colored layer is obtained. In forming the exposure hole by removing each layer up to the reaching colored layer, the focal length or intensity of the laser beam is controlled according to the type of color, and the area or / and depth of the exposure hole is adjusted. A method of manufacturing a molded article having a multicolor design, wherein an arbitrary color is exposed in an arbitrary area. The invention according to claim 2 is the method for producing a molded product having a multicolor design in which the maximum inner diameter of the exposed hole is 0.1 to 2 mm.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a molded article having a multicolor design in which different colors are exposed in one exposure hole. The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that colored layers of different colors are laminated on the surface of the molded article, a concealing layer is formed on the upper surface thereof, and a plurality of layers formed by laser etching of different depths from the concealing layer to a predetermined colored layer. It is a molded article having a multicolored design, characterized by having exposed holes. The invention according to claim 5 has a maximum inner diameter of 0.1 to 2 m.
A molded article having the multicolor design in which a pattern is formed by an aggregate of m exposed holes. In the invention according to claim 6, the color of the colored layer exposed to the exposure hole is black, blue, red, yellow or black, blue, red, yellow, and white, and the pattern represented by the aggregate of the exposure hole is A molded article having the above-described multicolor design expressed as a mixture of these colors.

The invention according to claim 7 is a laser etching transfer foil used in the method for producing a molded article having a multicolored design, wherein a concealing layer is formed on a base sheet having releasability. A laser-etched transfer foil characterized in that laser-etched colored layers of different colors are laminated on the same. In the invention according to claim 8, the brightness of each layer of the colored layer is L ^{* according to} JIS Z8729 ^.
The laser-etched transfer foil described above, which is laminated so that the L ^* value in the a ^* b ^* color system gradually changes from a low color to a high color from the base sheet side. The invention according to claim 9 is the laser etching transfer foil, wherein the color of each colored layer is black, blue, red, and yellow. The invention according to claim 10 is the laser etching transfer foil, wherein the color of each colored layer is black, blue, red, yellow, and white.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, the laser etching transfer foil of the present invention will be described.

[0010] The laser etching transfer foil of the present invention comprises:
A concealing layer 2 is formed on a base sheet 1 having releasability, and a colored layer of a different color that can be laser-etched is laminated thereon.

The base sheet 1 is made of a polyester resin, a polypropylene resin, a vinyl chloride resin,
Transparent plastic films and plastic sheets such as polyethylene resin, polyethylene terephthalate resin, polycarbonate resin, nylon resin, vinylon resin, acetate resin, polyamide resin, and polyacryl resin can be used. The base sheet 1 may have a thickness of 0.02 to 0.1 mm. A matte surface can be formed by forming a hairline design on the surface of the base sheet 1 on which the colored layer is formed, or by forming a matte design by forming an uneven layer with a pigment ink. The base sheet 1 itself may be made of a material having a releasability from the concealing layer 2 itself. However, in order to further stabilize the releasability, a release layer is provided between the base sheet 1 and the concealment layer 2. Can be formed by coating or the like. The release layer is removed together with the base sheet 1 after the transfer. As a material of the release layer, a curable resin such as silicone, melamine, alkyd, or epoxy can be used.

The concealing layer 2 is a layer for preventing the color of the colored layer laminated thereon from being seen directly. It is preferable that the color of the colored layer be completely hidden by the presence of the concealing layer 2. By doing so, the concealing layer 2 can be made to recognize the color of the colored layer by removing a part of the concealing layer 2 by laser etching. The masking layer 2 is a layer that can be removed by laser etching. A thinner layer is preferable in order to be able to be removed by laser light, but a thicker one is preferable in order not to impair the concealing property. For this purpose, the material is preferably made of a resin mixed with a black or near black pigment such as carbon black. Further, the thickness is preferably 0.001 to 0.003 mm.

In order to stabilize the releasability between the base sheet 1 and the concealing layer 2, a transparent resin layer can be formed on the concealing layer 2 as a release layer. For the release layer, a thermoplastic resin, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, or the like can be used. The release layer is removed together with the masking layer 2 by laser etching.

The colored layer is formed by laminating colored layers of different colors (first colored layer to n-th colored layer). The more the number of stacked colored layers, the more diverse the expression. As for the colored layer, each colored layer may be formed entirely or a part of the colored layer may be partially formed. The thickness of each of the plurality of colored layers is preferably 0.001 to 0.03 mm.

The brightness of each layer of the colored layer is determined according to JIS Z872.
L at 9^*a^*b^*L in color system^*Low value color
From the base sheet side to the high color
They may be stacked. Laser light is applied to the colored layer with lower brightness.
Tends to be absorbed and laser etched.
You. Therefore, L in the above JIS Z8729 ^*
a^*b^*L in color system^*The colored layer with the lower value
Laser etching by disposing it on the concealing layer 2 side
Colored layers that are more likely to be placed on top
Required color layers are accidentally laser etched.
Hue and lightness can be prevented
Variations in hue and brightness
Can be wider.

The colors of the respective colored layers include black, blue, red and yellow. The reason is that if there are at least these colors, it is possible to express designs using a large number of hues by any combination, and if the plastic molded product is made white, it is possible to obtain images with photographic gradation Because you can. Blue, red, and yellow are the three primary colors, and any combination of these colors can be represented by any combination of white and white, and these hues can have a difference in lightness due to the combination of black and white. The coloring layer can be formed by printing with an ink containing a coloring pigment and a resin solvent.

Further, the colors of the colored layers are black, blue,
In addition to red and yellow, white may be further included. In this case, even if you do not leave the plastic molding white
An image having a photographic gradation can be arbitrarily formed only by the coloring layer.

The order of lamination of the colored layers is preferably black, blue, red, yellow, and white in order from the base sheet 1 side. The reason for this is that the colored layer on the base sheet side is more easily etched by laser, so that it is possible to prevent the required colored layer from being erroneously laser-etched, and it is hard to be restricted by variations in hue and brightness. This is because the variation in hue and brightness can be broadened.

The coloring layers are the first coloring layer 3, the second coloring layer 30,
The way of expressing the color by laser etching when using the layer composed of the third colored layer 31 will be described with reference to FIGS. For example, for a single color, a plurality of exposed holes 5 are formed in the concealing layer 2, the first colored layer 3, or the second colored layer 30 so that only the first colored layer, the second colored layer 30, or the third colored layer 31 is visible. Is represented by In the single color C in FIG. 2, the exposure hole 5 is formed so that only the second colored layer 30 can be seen. The maximum inner diameter of one exposed hole is 0.1 to 2 m
m. The number of the exposed holes 5 is 10 to 100.
There are 00 pieces / square cm. Since only the single color C is exposed, the focal length or intensity of the laser light becomes the same when all the exposure holes 5 are formed.

If a mixed color is desired, a plurality of exposed holes through which different colored layers can be seen may be formed adjacent to each other. For example, the mixed color A in FIG. 2 is expressed by the exposed holes 5 where the second colored layer 30 can be seen and the exposed holes 5 where the third colored layer 31 can be seen. The hue of the mixed color A can be changed by changing the ratio of the two exposed holes 5. Since the second coloring layer 30 and the third coloring layer 31 having different depths of the exposure holes 5 are exposed, the focal length or the intensity of the laser light is different from when the exposure holes 5 that expose the second coloring layers 30 are formed. This is different from the case where the exposure hole 5 for exposing the third colored layer 31 is formed.

The mixed color B in FIG. 2 is composed of the exposed hole 5 where the first colored layer 3 can be seen, the exposed hole 5 where the second colored layer 30 can be seen, and the two of the first colored layer 3 and the second colored layer 30. It is represented by the exposed holes 5 in which colors are seen side by side. The hue of the mixed color B can be changed by changing the ratio of each exposure hole. The connection point between the exposed hole 5 where the first colored layer 3 is visible and the exposed hole 5 where the second colored layer 30 is visible is 1
Two exposure holes expose two colors. When two or more colors are exposed by one exposure hole, the maximum inner diameter of the exposure hole is 0.4 to 8 m.
m may be used, but there is a mode in which it is set to 0.2 to 0.4 mm (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

In one pattern, the mixed color D
To a mixed color E (see FIG. 3).

If necessary, an adhesive layer 4 may be formed on the colored layer 3. The adhesive layer 4 has a role of bonding the colored layer 3 and the molded product 6. A description will be given of a case in which simultaneous molding and transfer is employed as a means for bonding the colored layer 3 and the molded product 6. When the molding resin is injected into a mold, the adhesive layer is bonded to the surface of the cooled and solidified plastic molded product 6. Will be. When the material of the plastic molded product 6 is a polyacrylic resin, it is preferable to use a polyacrylic resin as the material of the adhesive layer 4. When the material of the plastic molded article 6 is a polyphenylene oxide / polystyrene resin, a polycarbonate resin, a styrene copolymer resin, or a polystyrene blend resin, a polyacryl resin or a polystyrene resin having an affinity for these resins. A polyamide resin or the like may be used as the material of the adhesive layer 4.
Examples of the method for forming the adhesive layer 4 include coating such as gravure coating, roll coating, and comma coating, and printing such as gravure printing and screen printing. The dry film thickness of the adhesive layer 4 is 1-5 × 10 ⁻³ mm (1-5 μm).
m).

The ink forming each of the above layers includes silica,
A filler composed of inorganic fine powder such as barium sulfate, talc, and alumina, and an organic filler such as acrylic beads and urethane beads can be included. Also,
Additives such as a leveling agent, an abrasion resistance enhancer, an antistatic agent, and an antibacterial agent can be added to improve the productivity when forming each layer and the resistance of a molded product having a multicolor design. .

Next, a method for producing a plastic molded article having a multicolor design using a transfer foil will be described.

After the side having the colored layer of the laser etching transfer foil is adhered to the plastic molded product 6 by a transfer method or a molding simultaneous transfer method, the base sheet is peeled off to obtain the plastic molded product 6 having the colored layer. When forming each of the exposed holes by removing each layer from the concealing layer to the colored layer to which the laser light reaches by irradiating the laser light,
By controlling the focal length or intensity of the laser beam according to the type of color and adjusting the area and / or depth of the exposure hole, an arbitrary color may be exposed in an arbitrary area.
The transfer method means that the transfer sheet is heated and pressurized so that at least the concealing layer 2 and the colored layer are in close contact with the surface of the plastic molded product 6, and then the base sheet 1 is peeled off, and the surface of the plastic molded product 6 is removed. This is a method of performing decoration by transferring only the transfer layer. Simultaneous molding transfer method means that the transfer foil is sandwiched in a molding die, the molding resin is injected and filled in the cavity, and cooled to obtain a plastic molded product 6, and at the same time, the transfer foil is adhered to the surface thereof. In this method, the base sheet 1 is peeled off, and at least the concealing layer and the colored layer are transferred to the surface of the plastic molded article 6 to perform decoration.

As the laser device, a carbon dioxide laser device, a YAG laser device, a ruby laser device, or the like can be used. When laser irradiation is performed from the surface of the molded article having the concealing layer 2 and the plurality of colored layers using these laser devices, the layer above the portion where the laser light is focused can be removed (FIG. 4). reference). A YAG laser device is preferable for producing a fine pattern.

In the molded article having the multicolored design of the present invention, colored layers of different colors are laminated on the molded article surface, a concealing layer is formed on the upper surface, and different depths from the concealed layer to a predetermined colored layer. A plurality of exposure holes are formed by laser etching. The maximum inner diameter of the exposed hole is 0.1 to 2
mm, and when a large number of them form an aggregate, a pattern can be formed. In this case, the exposed holes act as printing dots. In addition,
Exposed holes having a maximum inner diameter of less than 0.1 mm are technically difficult depending on the laser device. When the maximum inner diameter exceeds 2 mm, the outline of the exposed hole is recognized, and the exposed color of the exposed hole is a mixed color. It becomes difficult to recognize that there is. The colored layer exposed in the exposure hole is black, blue, red, yellow or black, blue,
When composed of red, yellow, and white, a pattern represented by an aggregate of exposed holes is represented as a mixture of these colors.

The molded article having the multicolored design of the present invention may be one in which the concealing layer 2 is covered with a transparent protective layer (not shown).

When a material having transparency is used as the material of the plastic molded product 6, light is transmitted from a portion where the concealing layer 2 does not exist, thereby illuminating a pattern such as a character or a symbol. It can be used as a conductive part.

[0031]

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. The method for producing a molded article having a multicolored design according to the present invention uses a laser-etched transfer foil on which colored layers of different colors are laminated, and controls the focal length or intensity of laser light according to the type of color. , The area of the exposed hole or /
By adjusting the depth and depth, an arbitrary color is exposed in an arbitrary area, so that a multicolor design can be expressed.

In the molded article having a multicolored design according to the present invention, a colored layer of a different color is laminated on the molded article surface, a concealing layer is formed on the upper surface, and the opaque layer extends from the concealed layer to a predetermined colored layer. Since a plurality of exposure holes are formed by laser etching of different depths, a multicolor design can be expressed.

Further, since the laser-etched transfer foil according to the present invention has a concealing layer and a colored layer of a different color,
It is suitable for obtaining a molded article having a multicolor design.

Further, according to the present invention, the problems of the prior art can be solved as follows. That is, since there is no need to spray the coating liquid on the plastic molded product, deterioration of the plastic molded product, adhesion of dust, and uneven coating do not occur. In addition, the environment and cost of the workplace are improved.

Further, poor appearance of a plastic molded product having a multicolor design is unlikely to occur. That is, since the thickness of the colored layer using the transfer foil is easily controlled, the thickness does not vary. For this reason, there is no generation of a concealing layer or a colored layer which cannot be completely removed by the irradiation of the laser beam, and no unnecessary portion is removed.

Further, the number of colors to be exposed becomes large.
In other words, the number of colors that can be exposed is an arbitrary combination of the colors of the respective colored layers, so that the hues and brightness variations that can be expressed are widened. Also, there is no need to print on the plastic molded product.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an example of a laser etching transfer foil of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing one example of a laser etching transfer foil of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing one example of a laser etching transfer foil of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing one step of a method for manufacturing a molded article having a multicolored design of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Base sheet 2 Hiding layer 3 1st coloring layer 30 2nd coloring layer 31 3rd coloring layer 4 Adhesion layer 5 Exposed hole 6 Plastic molded article

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] December 12, 2001 (2001.12.
12)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claim 1

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0005

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, a molded article having a multicolored design, a method of manufacturing the same, and a laser etching transfer foil of the present invention are constituted as follows. The invention according to claim 1 is directed to a colored layer side of a laser-etched transfer foil in which a concealing layer is formed on a base sheet having a releasability, and a colored layer of a different color that can be laser-etched is laminated thereon. Is adhered to a plastic molded article by a transfer method or a molding simultaneous transfer method, a base sheet is peeled off, and a plastic molded article having a colored layer is obtained. When forming an exposure hole in each layer , the focal length or intensity of the laser beam is controlled in accordance with the type of color, and by adjusting the area and / or depth of the exposure hole, an arbitrary color can be formed with an arbitrary area. This is a method for producing a molded article having a multicolor design, which is characterized by being exposed. The invention according to claim 2 is the method for producing a molded product having a multicolor design in which the maximum inner diameter of the exposed hole is 0.1 to 2 mm.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0026

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

After the side having the colored layer of the laser etching transfer foil is adhered to the plastic molded product 6 by a transfer method or a molding simultaneous transfer method, the base sheet is peeled off to obtain the plastic molded product 6 having the colored layer. , when forming an exposed hole in each layer from the masking layer to the colored layer by irradiating a laser beam, by controlling the focal distance or the intensity of the laser beam depending on the type of color, area or / and the depth of the exposure hole By adjusting the length, an arbitrary color may be exposed in an arbitrary area. The transfer method means that the transfer sheet is heated and pressurized so that at least the concealing layer 2 and the colored layer are in close contact with the surface of the plastic molded product 6, and then the base sheet 1 is peeled off, and the surface of the plastic molded product 6 is removed. This is a method of performing decoration by transferring only the transfer layer. Simultaneous molding transfer method means that the transfer foil is sandwiched in a molding die, the molding resin is injected and filled in the cavity, and cooled to obtain a plastic molded product 6, and at the same time, the transfer foil is adhered to the surface thereof. In this method, the base sheet 1 is peeled off, and at least the concealing layer and the colored layer are transferred to the surface of the plastic molded article 6 to perform decoration.

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) B44C 1/17 C23F 4/04 4K057 // C23F 4/04 B29L 9:00 B29L 9:00 B41M 5/26 SF term (Ref.) 4K057 DA20 DB20 DD06 DN10

Claims (10)

[Claims] A concealing layer is formed on a base sheet having releasability, and a colored layer of a different color which can be laser-etched is laminated thereon. After being adhered to the plastic molded article by the simultaneous molding transfer method and peeling the base sheet to obtain a plastic molded article having a colored layer, the colored layer that the laser light reaches from the concealing layer by irradiating the laser light When forming the exposure hole by removing each layer up to the desired color, the focal length or intensity of the laser beam is controlled according to the type of color, and the area or / and depth of the exposure hole is adjusted. A method for producing a molded article having a multicolored design, wherein the molded article is exposed in an arbitrary area. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a maximum inner diameter of the exposed hole is 0.1 to 2 mm. 3. The method for producing a molded article having a multicolored design according to claim 1, wherein different colors are exposed in one exposure hole. 4. A colored layer of a different color is laminated on the surface of a molded article, a concealing layer is formed on the upper surface thereof, and a plurality of exposed holes are formed by laser etching of different depths from the concealing layer to a predetermined colored layer. A molded article having a multicolored design characterized by being made. 5. The molded article having a multicolored design according to claim 4, wherein the pattern is formed by an aggregate of exposed holes having a maximum inner diameter of 0.1 to 2 mm. 6. The color of the colored layer exposed in the exposure hole is black, blue,
The multicolor according to any one of claims 4 to 5, comprising red, yellow or black, blue, red, yellow, and white, wherein a pattern represented by an aggregate of exposed holes is represented as a mixture of these colors. Molded product with design. 7. A laser-etched transfer foil used in the method for producing a molded article having a multicolored design according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a concealing layer is formed on a peelable base sheet. A laser-etched transfer foil, on which a colored layer of a different color capable of being laser-etched is laminated. 8. The brightness of each layer of the colored layer is JIS Z872.
The laser etching transfer foil according to claim 7, wherein the L ^* value in the L ^* a ^* b ^* color system of No. 9 is laminated so as to gradually change from a low color to a high color from the base sheet side. 9. The laser-etched transfer foil according to claim 7, wherein the color of each colored layer comprises black, blue, red, and yellow. 10. The laser-etched transfer foil according to claim 7, wherein the color of each colored layer comprises black, blue, red, yellow, and white.