JP2003211898A - Image engraving method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image engraving method excellent in reproducibility of a delicate image and improved in ink retention properties. <P>SOLUTION: A synthetic resin sheet 23 is mounted on the whole upper surface of a lithographic plate 22 through a peel paper 24. Irradiation with a laser beam 26 is effected through control based on binarized data from above the synthetic resin sheet 23, and through-holes 27 are formed in the synthetic resin sheet 23 and the peel sheet 24. Sand blast 31 is applied on the whole surface of the synthetic resin sheet 23 from above the synthetic resin sheet, and an engraved hole 34 having a depth larger than its diameter is formed in the portion of the lithographic plate 22 positioned opposite to the through hole 27. Ink 36 is coated on the whole upper surface of the synthetic resin sheet 32, and the internal part of the engraved hole 34 is filled with the ink 36. When the synthetic resin sheet 23 and the peel sheet 24 are removed after the ink 36 is dried, a state that the fine engraved hole 34 is filled with the ink 36 comes out, and a desired image is formed on the lithographic plate 22. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image engraving method, and more particularly to an image engraving method for engraving an image on an object to be engraved based on binarized data for gray scale representation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a schematic process of a conventional image engraving method.

Referring to the figure, as shown in (1), a photographic film 62 is attached to the upper surface of a photosensitive resin plate 61 to be a mask. The photographic film 62 is
It is a negative film obtained by photographing an image composed of binarized data for expressing a photographic image or the like in gray scale.
That is, the photographic film 62 has the transparent portion 64 and the opaque portion 65 formed at predetermined positions in accordance with the binarized data.

In this state, the photographic film 62 is exposed to ultraviolet light 67. The irradiated ultraviolet rays sensitize the photosensitive resin plate 61 through the transparent portion 64 of the photographic film 62 to form a photosensitive portion 68. On the other hand, the opaque portion 65 of the photographic film 62 is left unexposed because the ultraviolet rays from the exposure 67 do not pass therethrough.

When the exposure 67 for a predetermined time is completed, the photographic film 62 is removed from the photosensitive resin plate 61, the photosensitive resin plate 61 is washed with a predetermined chemical, and the photosensitive portion 68 is removed from the photosensitive resin plate 61. . At this time, since the lower portion of the exposed portion 68 remains as an unexposed portion, the photosensitive resin plate 6
In No. 1, the lower surface is continuous, so that the entire shape is maintained, and there is no inconvenience in transferring the photosensitive resin plate 61.

Next, the mask 73 thus obtained
Is set on the upper surface of the stone plate 22 to be engraved as shown in FIG. And in this state the mask 73
Sandblast 70 is applied from above. The fine particles 71 used in the sandblast 70 are the defective portions 7 of the mask 73.
4 It is necessary to penetrate the remaining portion 75 at the bottom, so that the particle diameter is relatively large. The fine particles 71 are sprayed onto the mask 73 at high pressure, and the remaining portion 7 of the mask 73
Penetrate 5 Then, when the spraying of the fine particles 71 is further continued, as shown in (3) of FIG.
An engraving hole 78 is formed on the upper surface of the stone plate 22 through the through hole 77 formed in No. 3.

Next, in this state, the ink 36 is applied to the entire upper surface of the mask 73 to fill the through holes 77 of the mask 73 and the engraving holes 78 of the stone plate 22 with the ink 36.

After the application of the ink 36 is completed and the ink 36 is dried, the mask 73 is removed from the stone plate 22. Then, as shown in (4) of FIG. 3, a state in which the ink 36 is filled in the engraving hole 78 formed on the upper surface of the stone plate 22 appears. Since the ink 36 appears so as to correspond to the binarized data for the gray scale, a desired photographic image or the like is engraved and transferred on the surface of the stone plate 22.

[0009]

In the conventional image engraving method as described above, the photosensitive resin plate 61 needs a washing step because the mask is formed by photosensitization.
Therefore, it is necessary to transfer the photosensitive resin plate 61 from the cleaning place to the upper surface of the stone plate 22, and it is necessary to form the defective portion 74 leaving the remaining portion 75 as described above. Therefore, the sandblast 70 must use fine particles 71 having a large particle diameter in order to penetrate the remaining portion 75 which is unnecessary as a mask.

As a result, the defective portion 74 must be set to the minimum diameter necessary for the fine particles 71 to pass through.
Therefore, the defective portion 74 has a relatively large diameter, which also increases the diameter of the engraving hole 78 formed in the stone plate 22, which is not suitable for reproducing fine image data accompanied by gradation.

Further, since the depth of the engraving hole 78 formed in the stone plate 22 is relatively small with respect to its diameter, the filled ink 36 is easily dropped from the stone plate 22.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image engraving method having good reproducibility for delicate images and improved ink retention.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 forms an image on an object to be engraved based on binarized data for representing a photographic image or the like in gray scale. An image engraving method for engraving, comprising a step of forming a protective sheet on one surface of an engraving body so as to cover the engraving body, and irradiating or not irradiating the protective sheet with a laser beam based on the binarized data. Then, a step of forming a plurality of through holes at predetermined positions of the protective sheet, and a step of performing sandblasting on the entire surface of the protective sheet to form an engraved hole in a portion of the object to be engraved at a position facing the through hole. Be prepared.

According to this structure, fine through holes are formed in the protective sheet, so that the particles used for sandblasting have a small particle size.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the structure of the first aspect of the invention, a step of applying ink to the upper surface of the protective sheet to fill the co-engraving hole with less ink, and the protective sheet from the object to be engraved. And a step of removing.

According to this structure, the ink is filled in the engraving hole which is relatively deep with respect to the diameter, and the image appears clearly.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the second aspect of the invention, the protective sheet comprises a synthetic resin sheet and a release paper.

With this structure, the release paper protects the object to be engraved and facilitates the removal of the synthetic resin sheet from the object to be engraved.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the configuration of the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the binarized data is halftone dot type data, and the object to be engraved includes a stone plate.

[0020]

As described above, according to the invention described in claim 1, since the particles used for sandblasting have a small particle diameter, the engraving hole formed in the object to be engraved has a small diameter, and It becomes deeper relative to the diameter. for that reason,
The reproducibility of delicate images is improved and the quality of the object to be engraved is improved.

According to the invention of claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1, since the ink is filled in the engraving hole which is relatively deep with respect to the diameter, the ink holding property is enhanced and the engraved object is engraved. Improves body quality.

According to the invention of claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 2, the quality of the object to be engraved is improved, and
Usability is improved.

According to the invention of claim 4, in addition to the effect of the invention of any one of claims 1 to 3, the change in gradation of the image becomes more natural, and the stone plate has less deflection. Therefore, the ink holding property is further improved.

[0024]

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image engraving apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawing, the image engraving apparatus 10 is mainly composed of a control unit 12, and an image reading unit 13 for reading image data from a photographic image of an image scanner or the like.
And a binarization processing unit 14 for converting the image data read by the image reading unit 13 into binarized data for representing in gray scale, and binarized data processed by the binarization processing unit 14. And a laser drive unit 16 for driving a laser engraving machine (not shown) based on the binarized data stored in the storage unit 15.

The control unit 12 can also be configured to be used in cooperation with a blasting device 18 and an ink applying device 20 for performing blasting processing and ink application as described later.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic process of an image engraving method performed by using the image engraving device, blasting device and ink coating device shown in FIG.

Referring to the figure, as shown in (1), on one surface of the stone plate 22, which is one of the objects to be engraved,
Release paper 24 made of Japanese paper with weak glue so as to cover this
Is attached, and an acrylic synthetic resin sheet 23 is further attached thereon. And synthetic resin sheet 23
The laser beam 26 is controlled to be turned on and off based on the binarized data from above, and irradiation or non-irradiation is performed on the entire surface of the synthetic resin sheet 23.

At the position irradiated with the laser beam 26, the synthetic resin sheet 23 and the release paper 24 are penetrated to form a plurality of through holes 27, and the stone plate 22 at a position facing the through holes 27 is formed. The upper surface is also slightly recessed, and a recessed portion 28 is formed. At this time, since the through hole 27 is formed by the irradiation of the laser beam 26, it has an extremely fine diameter.

Next, as shown in (2) of FIG.
Sandblast 31 is applied to the entire surface of the synthetic resin sheet 23 from above the synthetic resin sheet 23. At this time, the fine particles 32 used in the sandblast 31 have a finer diameter according to the fine diameter of the through hole 27. The fine particles 32 are sprayed onto the synthetic resin sheet 23 at a high pressure, but the penetrating force with respect to the mask is not large as compared with the particles having a large particle diameter. However, in this embodiment, since the synthetic resin sheet 23 and the release paper 24, which serve as a mask, have already been penetrated, there is no inconvenience due to the reduction in penetrating force.

When the sandblast 31 is performed in this manner, the recess 28 formed on the upper surface of the stone plate 22 is formed deeper, and the engraving hole 34 having a relatively large depth with respect to the diameter penetrates. It is formed at a position facing the hole 27. At this time, since the particle diameter of the fine particles 32 is small, the action of expanding the diameter of the engraving hole 34 by the sandblast 31 is small.

When the formation of the engraving hole 34 having a predetermined depth is completed, in this state, the ink 36 having, for example, water resistance and weather resistance is applied to the entire upper surface of the synthetic resin sheet 23 as shown in FIG. To do. As a result, the ink 36 is filled inside the engraving hole 34 formed on the upper surface of the stone plate 22.

When the filling of the ink 36 is completed and the ink is in a dry state, the synthetic resin sheet 23 together with the release paper 24 is removed from the stone plate 22. Then, as shown in (4) of FIG. 2, the ink 36 filled in the fine engraving holes 34 formed on the surface of the stone plate 22 appears on the surface. As a result, the photographic image etc.
It is possible to represent an image in which extremely fine engraving is made as binary data on the surface of.

As described above, since the engraved hole 34 has a larger depth than its diameter, the ink 36 filled in the engraved hole 34 does not easily fall off from the stone plate 22 and its holding property is improved. Further, since the stone plate 22 has almost no bending as an object to be engraved, the ink 36 is more easily held.

In the above embodiment, the ink is applied after forming the engraving hole, but depending on the material of the object to be engraved, it is also possible to represent the transfer image only by the engraving hole without applying the ink. Is.

Further, in the above embodiment, the synthetic resin sheet is attached on the release paper, but the release paper protects the surface of the object to be engraved and facilitates the removal of the synthetic resin sheet. Is used for. Therefore, if these advantages are not taken into consideration, it is also possible to directly use the synthetic resin sheet directly on the surface of the object to be engraved without using a release paper.

Further, in the above embodiment, a stone plate is used as the object to be engraved, but it goes without saying that a resin plate, a glass plate or the like may be used instead.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image engraving device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic process of an image engraving method performed by using the image engraving device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a schematic process of a conventional image engraving method.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Image engraving device 22 ... Stone plate 23 ... Synthetic resin sheet 24 ... Release paper 26 ... Laser beam 27 ... Through hole 31 ... Sandblast 32 ... Fine particles 34 ... Engraving hole 36 ... Ink In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image engraving method for engraving an image on an object to be engraved based on binarized data for expressing a photographic image or the like in gray scale, wherein one surface of the object to be engraved is covered with the image engraving method. A step of forming a protective sheet so that the protective sheet is irradiated with a laser beam based on the binarized data, non-irradiated, and a plurality of through holes are formed at predetermined positions of the protective sheet; Sandblast the entire surface of the protective sheet,
And a step of forming an engraving hole in a portion of the object to be engraved at a position facing the through hole. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of applying ink to the upper surface of the protective sheet to fill the engraving hole with a small amount of the ink, and a step of removing the protective sheet from the object to be engraved. 1. The image engraving method described in 1. 3. The image engraving method according to claim 2, wherein the protective sheet comprises a synthetic resin sheet and a release paper. 4. The binarized data is halftone dot type data, and the object to be engraved includes a stone plate.
The image engraving method according to any one of 1.