JP2004286873A - Method for dyeing plastic lens - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a plastic lens dyeing method capable of dyeing a plastic lens with high dyeing uniformity and easily processing the lens after dyeing it. <P>SOLUTION: In the plastic lens dyeing method using a plastic lens 1, a peeling layer 2 and an ink receiving layer 3 containing sublimating dye, the peeling layer 2 is arranged between the plastic lens 1 and the ink receiving layer 3, and when the plastic lens 1 is heated, at least part of the sublimating dye of the ink receiving layer 3 is transferred to the plastic lens 1 through the peeling layer 2. Thus the plastic lens 1 is dyed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for dyeing a plastic lens that can be dyed with excellent levelness and that can be easily processed after dyeing.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, plastic lenses have been used in various fields instead of glass lenses, and among them, contact lenses and eyeglass lenses used for vision correction have been actively dyed for the purpose of cosmetic effects and the like. I have. The reason why the glass lens is replaced by the plastic lens is that the plastic lens can be easily dyed in addition to its light weight and safety.
[0003]
With respect to dyeing of plastic lenses, an immersion method has conventionally been used. This method involves heating a dyeing solution in which a disperse dye having a coloring ability for a plastic lens is dissolved and / or suspended in water, immersing the plastic lens to be dyed therein for a predetermined time, Is heated to further diffuse the dye that has penetrated the inside of the lens and stabilize the dye.
[0004]
However, in this method, depending on the concentration of the disperse dye in the dyeing solution, the temperature of the dyeing solution, the coloring ability of the plastic lens, and the like, the color tone of the colored lens is easily changed, and a colored lens having a uniform color tone is stabilized. Difficult to obtain. In recent years, plastic lens materials have been diversified in response to market needs for high added value, and as a result, materials that are difficult to dye by the immersion method have been increasing.
[0005]
A gas phase method has been proposed as a method that can easily dye a plastic lens that has been difficult to dye by the immersion method. As this method, for example, a method of dyeing a plastic lens by sublimating a sublimable dye with a substrate having a sublimable dye and a plastic lens at a fixed interval [for example, JP-A-1-277814, JP-A-2000- No. 329901 (Patent Documents 1 and 2)] is known. However, in these methods, dyeing is performed with a certain distance between the substrate and the lens in order to prevent uneven dyeing of the colored lens, so that there is a limit to the dyeing density of the colored lens.
[0006]
In order to increase the dyeing density of the plastic lens, an ink receiving layer made of urethane resin or the like is provided on the lens surface, and after the ink containing the sublimable dye is printed on the ink receiving layer by an inkjet printer, the plastic lens is heated. A dyeing method [for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-20080 (Patent Document 3)] has been proposed. However, in this method, when a sublimable dye is printed on the ink receiving layer by the ink jet printer, horizontal streak-like printing unevenness is formed on the ink receiving layer, so that a horizontal streak-like dyeing unevenness occurs on the colored lens. There is. There is also a problem that it is difficult to remove the ink receiving layer from the colored lens after dyeing.
[0007]
For this reason, a method of dyeing a plastic lens using an ink receiving layer made of a water-soluble polymer having a sublimable dye and removing the ink receiving layer from the obtained colored lens by washing with water [for example, Japanese Patent No. 3075403] (Patent Document 4)] has been proposed. However, it is not easy to completely remove the ink receiving layer from the colored lens even if an ink receiving layer made of a water-soluble polymer is used. In any of the methods using the ink receiving layer described above, a plastic lens dyed at a high concentration cannot be obtained only by heating and dyeing the plastic lens in the air. Long-term and / or high-temperature heat treatment is required to obtain a high-concentration colored lens. However, long-term dyeing reduces work efficiency, and high-temperature dyeing deforms plastic lenses. There is a problem of doing.
[0008]
Therefore, the present applicant previously provided an ink receiving layer made of a water-soluble polymer on the surface of a plastic lens, printed an ink containing a sublimable dye on the ink receiving layer with an inkjet printer, and placed the obtained plastic lens in a heated steam atmosphere. (Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-198852) to efficiently dye a plastic lens at a high concentration by performing a dyeing treatment. However, even with this method, horizontal streak-like dyeing unevenness occurs in the colored lens due to the horizontal streak-like print unevenness of the ink receiving layer. There is also a problem that it is difficult to remove the ink receiving layer from the colored lens.
[0009]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-1-277814 [Patent Document 2]
JP 2000-329901 A [Patent Document 3]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-20080 [Patent Document 4]
Japanese Patent No. 3075403
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for dyeing a plastic lens, which can dye with excellent levelness and can easily remove the ink receiving layer after dyeing.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
As a result of intensive studies in view of the above object, the present inventors have found that if a release layer is provided between an ink receiving layer containing a sublimable dye and a plastic lens to dye the plastic lens, (1) the ink receiving layer When the sublimable dye is transferred to the plastic lens, the print pattern of the ink receiving layer is transferred by blurring through the release layer, so that horizontal streak-like unevenness in the colored lens cannot be obtained. (2) Dyeing Later, they discovered that the release layer could be released together with the ink receiving layer from the plastic lens, and reached the present invention.
[0012]
That is, the method for dyeing a plastic lens of the present invention is a method using a plastic lens, a release layer, and an ink receiving layer containing a sublimable dye, wherein a release layer is formed between the plastic lens and the ink receiving layer. When the plastic lens is heated, at least a part of the sublimable dye of the ink receiving layer is transmitted to the plastic lens through the release layer, thereby dyeing the plastic lens.
[0013]
After dyeing, it is preferable to release the release layer together with the ink receiving layer from the plastic lens. It is also preferable to remove the ink receiving layer at the same time as removing the release layer from the plastic lens using a release agent.
[0014]
As a method of including a sublimable dye in the ink receiving layer, it is preferable to print the ink receiving layer in a desired pattern by an ink jet printer using an ink containing the sublimable dye. The heat treatment is preferably performed in a steam atmosphere.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[1] Release Layer The release layer used in the present invention adheres to the plastic lens at the time of heat treatment, and at the same time, quickly transmits at least a part of the sublimable dye of the ink receiving layer and transfers it to the plastic lens. After the dyeing treatment, it is preferable that the release layer can be removed from the plastic lens together with the ink receiving layer, or that the release layer can be removed from the plastic lens using a release agent.
[0016]
As a material for forming a release layer that can be released from a plastic lens, for example, silicon resin, natural rubber, acetylcellulose, or the like is preferable. As a material for forming a release layer that can be removed from a plastic lens using a release agent, a polymer having high solubility in an organic solvent is preferable, and an acrylic resin, a polystyrene resin, an ABS resin, and a vinyl chloride resin are particularly preferable.
[0017]
The release agent is not particularly limited as long as it does not dissolve the plastic lens and has high solubility in the release layer. As such a release agent, for example, ketones, esters, aromatic compounds, chlorinated hydrocarbons and the like are preferable.
[0018]
The thickness of the release layer is preferably from 1 to 50 μm. If the thickness of the release layer is less than 1 μm, the horizontal streak-like printing unevenness of the ink receiving layer is not sufficiently blurred, and the horizontal streak-like dyeing unevenness occurs in the colored lens. If the thickness of the release layer is more than 50 μm, it takes too much time for the sublimable dye of the ink receiving layer to be transferred to the plastic lens, which is not preferable.
[0019]
[2] Ink receiving layer The ink receiving layer used in the present invention preferably has a low affinity for a sublimable dye. When dyeing a plastic lens in a heated steam atmosphere, it is preferable that the ink receiving layer absorbs water and does not lose its shape. As a material for forming such an ink receiving layer, for example, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylic acid, water-soluble polyester, water-soluble nylon, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, water-soluble cellulose ether, and the like are preferable. These polymers may be used alone or in combination.
In addition, since a release layer is provided between the ink receiving layer and the base material, the ink receiving layer only needs to receive ink, and does not have to be water-soluble. Many commonly used ink receiving layers can be used, and typical examples thereof include a polyester resin, a polyurethane resin, and a polyacrylic resin.
Further, a fibrous substance such as silicon oxide may be mixed into the ink receiving layer in order to improve ink absorption.
[0020]
The thickness of the ink receiving layer is preferably from 1 to 50 μm. If the thickness of the ink receiving layer is less than 1 μm, it is impossible to contain a sufficient amount of the sublimable dye to be transferred to the plastic lens. If the thickness of the ink receiving layer exceeds 50 μm, it takes too much time for the sublimable dye of the ink receiving layer to be transferred to the plastic lens, which is not preferable.
[0021]
[3] Material of Plastic Lens The material of the plastic lens to which the dyeing method of the present invention is applied is not particularly limited. Applicable materials include, for example, methyl methacrylate homopolymer, copolymer of methyl methacrylate and one or more other monomers, diethylene glycol bisallyl carbonate homopolymer, diethylene glycol bisallyl carbonate and one or more other monomers , A sulfur-containing copolymer, a halogen-containing copolymer, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, unsaturated polyester, polyethylene terephthalate, polyurethane and the like.
[0022]
[4] Sublimable dye The sublimable dye is not particularly limited as long as it has a property of sublimating by heating. Examples of such sublimable dyes include Kayaset Blue N (Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.), Sumikaron Yellow EG (Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.), Kayaset Blue 906 (Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.), Kayaset Brown 939 (Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.) and the like. A dispersed sublimation dye may be used. Examples of such a dye include HANAE II (Sanryu Co., Ltd.) and a sublimation ink cartridge for an ink jet printer (L-Tex Co., Ltd.).
[0023]
[5] Dyeing Method for Plastic Lens The preferred dyeing method of the present invention will be described in detail below, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
[0024]
(1) Formation of Each Layer (a) Formation of Release Layer The method of forming the release layer on the surface of the plastic lens is not particularly limited. For example, the material of the liquid release layer may be directly coated on the plastic lens or may be solid. A method of dissolving the material of the release layer in an organic solvent to prepare a release layer solution, coating the obtained release layer solution on a plastic lens, and then drying the release layer solution to form a release layer may also be used. Good. Drying of the release layer solution may be performed at room temperature, but if necessary, the plastic lens may be heated to 20 to 150 ° C.
[0025]
When the material of the solid release layer is dissolved in an organic solvent, the organic solvent is not particularly limited as long as it is easily volatilized and does not dissolve the plastic lens. Examples of such an organic solvent include acetone, methylene chloride, toluene, and ethanol. These solvents may be used alone or as a mixed solvent.
[0026]
The content of the material of the release layer in the release layer solution is preferably 1 to 30% by weight. When the content is less than 1% by weight, the viscosity of the solution becomes too low, and when coating the surface of the plastic lens, the release layer solution easily flows, and it becomes difficult to form a release layer having a required thickness. If the content is more than 30% by weight, the viscosity of the release layer solution becomes too high, making it difficult to form a release layer having a uniform thickness on the surface of the plastic lens.
[0027]
The method for coating the release lens solution on the surface of the plastic lens is not particularly limited as long as it can be coated uniformly with a uniform thickness. Examples of such methods include brush coating, dipping, spin coating, and spraying.
[0028]
(B) Forming the ink receiving layer The method for forming the ink receiving layer on the release layer provided on the surface of the plastic lens in (a) is not particularly limited. For example, a method in which a polymer is dissolved in water or an organic solvent to form the ink receiving layer is used. It is preferable to prepare a receiving layer solution, coat the ink receiving layer solution on a release layer, and then heat to form an ink receiving layer. As the organic solvent, for example, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, ethyl cellosolve, dimethylformamide, and the like are preferably used. These solvents may be used alone or as a mixed solvent. The method of coating the release layer with the ink receiving layer solution may be the same as the coating method of (a).
[0029]
The content of the polymer in the ink receiving layer solution is preferably 1 to 30% by weight. When the content is less than 1% by weight, the viscosity of the ink receiving layer solution becomes too low, and the ink receiving layer solution easily flows when coating the release layer, and an ink receiving layer having a required thickness is formed. It becomes difficult. When the content is more than 30% by weight, the viscosity of the ink receiving layer solution becomes too high, and it becomes difficult to form an ink receiving layer having a uniform thickness on the release layer.
[0030]
After coating the surface of the plastic lens with the ink receiving layer solution, the ink receiving layer is preferably formed by heating and drying the plastic lens at 20 to 150 ° C. for about 1 minute to 12 hours.
[0031]
(2) Method for Dyeing Plastic Lens The method for dyeing a plastic lens according to the present invention comprises forming a release layer and an ink receiving layer on a plastic lens in order by the method of (1), and adding an ink containing a sublimable dye to the ink receiving layer. After printing with an inkjet printer, the plastic lens is heated (or heated in a steam atmosphere) to dye the plastic lens. After dyeing, the release layer together with the ink receiving layer is peeled off from the plastic lens, or the release layer is removed from the plastic lens using a release agent, and at the same time the ink receiving layer is peeled off.
[0032]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the staining method of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1A, after a release layer 2 and an ink receiving layer 3 are sequentially formed on a plastic lens 1 by the method (1), a sublimable dye is applied to the ink receiving layer 3 from a nozzle 4 of an inkjet printer. The ink 5 containing the dye is ejected to form a print layer 6 of a sublimable dye. The lens 1 is fixed to an appropriate lens holding member (not shown), and is placed in an apparatus for heating (or heating in a steam atmosphere) the plastic lens 1.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 1B, when the plastic lens 1 is heated (heated in a steam atmosphere), the molecules of the sublimable dye are sublimated and transmitted from the ink receiving layer 3 to the release layer 2 and transferred to the plastic lens 1. Is further diffused into the plastic lens 1. Even if the print layer 6 of the ink receiving layer 3 has horizontal streak-like print unevenness, the print pattern of the print layer 6 is blurred when the sublimable dye passes through the release layer 2, so that the plastic lens 1 has horizontal streak-like dyeing unevenness. Can not.
[0034]
As shown in FIG. 1C, when the release layer 2 is separated from the plastic lens 1, the release layer 2 is separated together with the ink receiving layer 3. As shown in FIG. 1D, when the release layer 2 is removed from the plastic lens 1 using a release agent, the plastic lens 1 is immersed in a container 9 containing a release agent 8, and the release layer 2 is removed from the plastic lens 1. Is dissolved and removed, and at the same time, the ink receiving layer 3 is peeled off. Thereby, the plastic lens 1 having the coloring layer 7 having excellent leveling properties is obtained.
[0035]
The heat treatment may be performed in the air, but is preferably performed in a steam atmosphere. In the case of performing heat treatment in a steam atmosphere, the coloring effect is improved when the relative humidity in the steam atmosphere is 50 to 100%. When the relative humidity is 50% or more, the dyeing effect is improved. An electric furnace or the like can be used for heat treatment in the atmosphere, but an autoclave or pressure cooker or the like is used for dyeing in a steam atmosphere.
[0036]
The heating temperature depends on the desired dyeing concentration, but is preferably from 80 to 200 ° C. If the heating temperature is lower than 80 ° C., a sufficient dyeing effect cannot be obtained. If the heating temperature is higher than 200 ° C., discoloration and deformation of the plastic lens 1 occur. A more preferred heating temperature is 100 to 150 ° C.
[0037]
【Example】
The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the following examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
[0038]
Example 1
After applying a two-part silicone resin (KE1603-A / B, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) to the surface of a plastic lens made of a thiourethane-based monomer (MR-8, manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.) After drying, a silicon resin layer was provided as a release layer. On the release layer provided on the surface of the plastic lens, a polyvinyl alcohol layer was provided as an ink receiving layer. As shown in FIG. 1A, an ink 5 containing an ink sublimable disperse dye (manufactured by Sanryu Co., Ltd., HANAE-II) is supplied to the ink receiving layer 3 by an ink jet printer (manufactured by Master Mind Co., Ltd., MMP-900RT). ). The obtained plastic lens 1 was fixed to a lens holding member (not shown) and placed in a pressure cooker (manufactured by Hirayama Seisakusho). As shown in FIG. 1 (b), the inside of the pressure cooker was set to a relative humidity of 90%, the lens 1 was heated to 130 ° C., and dyeing was performed for 1 hour.
[0039]
As shown in FIG. 1 (c), after peeling the release layer 2 together with the ink receiving layer 3 from the plastic lens 1 and visually inspecting the leveling properties of the colored lens 1, the entire lens 1 was uniform and uniform. It was confirmed that staining was performed.
[0040]
Example 2
A plastic lens was dyed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that an acrylic resin (manufactured by Soken Chemical Co., Ltd., Chemisnow MP-1451) was used as the release layer. As shown in FIG. 1D, the dyed plastic lens 1 is immersed in a container 9 containing acetone as a release agent 8, so that the release layer 2 is dissolved and removed from the plastic lens 1 and at the same time, the ink receiving layer 3 is removed. Was peeled off. When the leveling properties of the colored lens 1 were visually inspected, it was confirmed that the entire lens 1 was dyed uniformly and without unevenness.
[0041]
Comparative Example 1
A plastic lens was dyed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that no release layer was provided. After dyeing, the ink receiving layer was removed by washing with water, but the ink receiving layer could not be completely removed. Further, when the leveling property of the colored lens was visually inspected, it was found that the colored lens had horizontal streak-like uneven dyeing.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the method for dyeing a plastic lens of the present invention, a plastic lens is dyed by providing a release layer between the ink receiving layer containing a sublimable dye and the plastic lens. Therefore, (1) when the sublimable dye of the ink receiving layer is transferred to the plastic lens, the print pattern of the ink receiving layer is blurred and transferred through the release layer. (2) It is possible to peel off the release layer together with the ink receiving layer from the colored lens, or to remove the release layer from the colored lens using a release agent, and at the same time, peel off the ink receiving layer.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a method for dyeing a plastic lens according to the present invention. FIG. 1 (a) shows a state in which an ink containing a sublimable dye is printed on an ink receiving layer provided on a release layer on the plastic lens by an ink jet printer. (B) shows a state in which the obtained plastic lens is heated (heated in a steam atmosphere), (c) shows a state in which the release layer together with the ink receiving layer is removed from the colored lens, and (d) shows a state in which the colored lens is removed. Fig. 4 shows a state in which a release layer is removed from a colored lens by immersing the lens in a release agent.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Plastic lens 2 ... Release layer 3 ... Ink receiving layer 4 ... Ink jet printer nozzle 5 ... Ink containing sublimable dye 6 ... Sublimable dye printing layer 7 ...・ Plastic lens colored layer 8 ・ ・ ・ Release agent 9 ・ ・ ・ Container

Claims (4)

A method of dyeing a plastic lens using a plastic lens, a release layer, and an ink receiving layer containing a sublimable dye, wherein the release layer is provided between the plastic lens and the ink receiving layer, A method for dyeing a plastic lens, comprising heating the lens and transferring the sublimable dye of at least a part of the ink receiving layer to the plastic lens through the release layer and thereby dyeing the plastic lens. . The method for dyeing a plastic lens according to claim 1, wherein the release layer together with the ink receiving layer is released from the plastic lens. The method for dyeing a plastic lens according to claim 1, wherein a desired pattern is printed on the ink receiving layer by an inkjet printer using the ink containing the sublimable dye. The method for dyeing a plastic lens according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the heat treatment is performed in a steam atmosphere.

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