JP2008213428A - Liquid-pressure transferring method enabling precise positioning, its apparatus, and liquid pressure transfer film enabling precise positioning - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a novel liquid-pressure transfer method which can always very correctly transfer the transfer patterns of figures, characters or the likes especially formed on a transfer film into a desired position of a transfer work in a liquid-pressure transfer method. <P>SOLUTION: The method is characterized in that when a transfer work W is immersed into a transfer liquid, an actual holding position of a transfer work W by a transfer work transferring device 5 is compared with a proper position, thereby the misregistration of a transfer work W is detected, an actual position of a transfer film F which is floated-supported on a transfer liquid surface is compared with a proper position, thereby the misregistration of a transfer film F is detected, the misregistration of either or both of them are corrected, thereafter a transfer work W is immersed into a transfer liquid, and desired transfer patterns on a transfer film F are made to transfer very correctly to desired positions of a transfer work W. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  In the present invention, a transfer film in which an appropriate transfer pattern is formed in advance is supported in a floating state on the liquid surface, and a transfer target is pressed against the transfer film to be immersed in the transfer liquid. The present invention relates to a hydraulic transfer method for transferring a pattern to a transfer medium by hydraulic pressure, and in particular, transfers a pattern such as a figure or a character formed on a transfer film to a predetermined position of the transfer target with extremely high accuracy. The present invention relates to a novel hydraulic transfer technique that can be performed.

A hydraulic pressure transfer method is known as a kind of printing method on a transfer target having a three-dimensional curved surface. In this hydraulic transfer method, a transfer film in which an appropriate transfer pattern is formed in advance is supported in a floating state on the liquid surface, and then a transferred object is pressed against the transfer film to be immersed in the transfer liquid. Is a transfer method for reproducing the transfer pattern on the film on the surface of the transfer target (see, for example, Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3). The hydraulic transfer method is characterized in that the transfer pattern on the transfer film can be reproduced neatly even if the transfer target has a relatively complicated curved surface.
However, in such a hydraulic transfer method, conventionally, a transfer pattern such as a figure or a character formed on a transfer film is transferred in a precisely positioned state (so-called pinpoint) at a predetermined position of a transfer object. Was not done. This is because in order to transfer the transfer pattern on the film to a predetermined position of the transfer target, there are many elements whose positions become unstable between the transfer target and the transfer film. Hereinafter, matters that cause a positional shift between the transfer target and the transfer film will be described.

(1) Position shift factor of transferred object (workpiece side error)
At the time of transfer, the transferred object is held by a transferred object conveying device (for example, a manipulator) and immersed in the transfer liquid. At this time, the transferred object is rarely attached directly to the transferred object conveying device. Actually, in many cases, a jig is interposed (see an enlarged view of FIG. 5B). For this reason, variations in the holding position of the transferred object, that is, errors on the workpiece side include both an error occurring between the transferred object and the jig and an error occurring between the jig and the transferred object transport device. For this reason, it has been difficult to always set the transferred body at the same holding position. By the way, attaching the transferred object to the transferred object transport apparatus with the jig interposed (holding it) is possible to attach the transferred object to the same transferred object transport apparatus with the jig even if the transferred object has a different shape. This is because it can. That is, a jig is interposed in order to commonly use the transferred object transport apparatus for a plurality of types of transferred objects.

(2) Transfer film position shift factor (film side error)
On the other hand, it is difficult to always set the transfer film at the same position and state due to the following situation. That is, since the transfer film is supplied onto the transfer liquid surface at the time of transfer, the instability due to the support surface being the liquid surface is a major factor. Of course, during transfer, the transfer is performed with the ripples on the liquid surface suppressed as much as possible. However, in normal printing or painting, the object (transfer target) is fixed. In pressure transfer, it was extremely difficult to set the transfer film at a fixed position.

In addition, in hydraulic transfer, transfer is often performed while transferring a transfer film suspended and supported on the liquid surface of the transfer tank from upstream to downstream, and the transfer film is once supplied onto the transfer liquid surface. Further, since the swelling and softening (extension to the surroundings) continues due to absorption of the transfer liquid and the like, it is difficult to further control the behavior of the transfer film.
In addition, when transferring with the transfer film flowing from upstream to downstream, the transfer tank is often provided with a chain conveyor and a blower, which may cause subtle shaking on the liquid surface. Also, it was one of the difficult factors to control the transfer film (behavior).

In addition, the following factors can be considered that it is difficult to control the transfer film supplied onto the transfer liquid surface.
First, it is mentioned that the degree of swelling of the transfer film varies somewhat depending on manufacturing conditions, that is, production lots.
In addition, when the transfer film is stored, it is normally stored in a roll-wrapped state, and the peripheral portion is closer to the outside than the central portion of the roll, so moisture is easily absorbed. Then, the point which produces a difference in swelling degree is mentioned.
Furthermore, the transfer film has a total length of about 300 m at the manufacturing stage, and is rolled up for this purpose. However, the transfer film is rarely used up in one transfer. That is, even when the same transfer is performed, the resetting is generally performed according to the lot, and an error due to the difference in the resetting condition is likely to occur.
In addition, since the transfer film easily swells when the liquid temperature (water temperature) at the time of transfer is high, the degree of swelling changes depending on the season, room temperature, and the like. In addition, when the transfer is repeated, the transfer film components (eg, PVA [polyvinyl alcohol]) are eluted in the transfer solution, so that the acetic acid degree of the transfer solution gradually increases. An error occurred.

In addition, when the transfer film swells on the liquid surface, it gradually spreads (extends) in the surface direction including water, so that the outer edge (outside) and center (inside) of the film immediately after landing ) And the degree of swelling (elongation) is different. That is, when the transfer film lands, the swelling first precedes from the outer edge, and the inside swells later (this is referred to as follow-up swelling), and after a while, the elongation becomes uniform as a whole. The difference in the degree of swelling varies depending on the amount of ink applied to the transfer film, the thickness, and the like. Therefore, in order to position the transfer film more strictly, the difference in the swelling state (the amount of extension displacement of each part of the film) Must be accurately grasped and reflected in transcription.
Of course, it takes time to move the transferred material (correct the position) from the position detection to the actual transfer operation (contact with the transfer film), and during this time the transfer film swells due to moisture. Therefore, in order to perform more accurate positioning transfer, it is preferable to consider this time lag regardless of the difference (large or small) in the degree of swelling.

As described above, there are various factors that cause misalignment in hydraulic transfer. Conventionally, even if transfer is performed in exactly the same manner using the same transfer target, transfer film, or device, the product will be Often caused subtle deviations in the transferred pattern (see FIG. 11).
That is, in FIG. 11, depending on which part of the transfer film F is transferred to the transfer target W, the product has a slightly different appearance image as shown in (a) and (b). This is an exaggeration of the end. Conventionally, such a deviation has been accepted as a technical limit on the manufacturing method in the hydraulic transfer method.
In addition, when such a shift is viewed from another point of view, it has been a factor in producing an atmosphere as a one-point object that does not feel that it is a mass-produced product in a product subjected to hydraulic transfer. In other words, the slight difference in the position of the transfer pattern was a kind of positive evaluation (so-called “sell”) for hydraulic transfer.

However, in the current situation where a wide variety of products are distributed in the market and the user's design requirements for products are becoming more sophisticated, a desired transfer pattern can be applied to a specific position on the transfer target even with hydraulic transfer. There is a growing demand for accurate transfer. For example, FIG. 11 is an example in which a transfer is applied to the main body of a mobile phone, but sales of (A) are better than those of (B). In other words, although the quality of (b) is acceptable as the quality on the hydraulic transfer, it is not popular with the user and is somewhat inferior in commercial value.
Patent Document 3 is an idea of determining a transfer position by two-point marking, but this is only an idea of correcting only an overall position shift on the film side, and has the following problems. . First, as described above, there are various factors that cause the positional deviation in the transfer. However, in Patent Document 3, the positional deviation on the transfer target side is not taken into consideration. It was still insufficient. Further, the time lag from the position detection to the actual transfer operation is not considered. Furthermore, in Patent Document 3, although there is a concept of grasping the overall position of the transfer film, there is a problem that a difference in extension (following swelling) occurring between the outer edge portion and the inner side of the film is not taken into consideration. . For this reason, Patent Document 3 is a so-called passive method that follows the conventional transfer even if it is called positioning.

For this reason, the present invention has further intensively researched and developed a technical idea that has not been envisaged by the conventional hydraulic transfer method, that is, the idea of accurately performing a desired transfer pattern at a predetermined position of a transfer target. It is a technical idea that has been embodied to a level that is feasible.
JP-A-8-258498 JP-A-10-297194 JP 2006-168056 A

  The present invention has been made by recognizing such a background, so that a desired transfer pattern such as a figure or a character previously formed on a transfer film can be transferred to a predetermined position of a product very accurately at all times. This is an attempt to develop a new hydraulic transfer technique.

  That is, in the hydraulic transfer method capable of precise positioning according to claim 1, a transfer film having an appropriate transfer pattern coated on a carrier sheet is supported by floating on a liquid surface in a transfer tank, and transferred from above. In the method of transferring the transfer pattern to the transfer body by the pressure generated by pressing the transfer object held by the body transfer device, the transfer of the transfer object is carried out when the transfer object is immersed in the transfer liquid. The actual holding position of the transferred object by the device is compared with the normal position to detect the positional deviation of the transferred object, while the actual position of the transfer film suspended on the transfer liquid surface is compared with the normal position. After detecting the positional deviation of the transfer film and correcting one or both of the positional deviations, the transferred body is immersed in the transfer liquid, and a desired position on the transferred film is placed on the transferred body at a predetermined position. Those comprising as a feature that it has a copy pattern to be transferred almost exactly.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the requirement of the first aspect, the positional displacement correction between the transferred object and the transfer film is performed by the transferred object conveying apparatus. It is characterized in that it is corrected by changing the holding position of the body.

  In addition to the requirements described in claim 1 or 2, the hydraulic transfer method capable of precise positioning according to claim 3 is characterized in that the correction of the positional deviation is performed by comparing the transferred object and the transfer film with the normal position multiple times. , The correction can be repeatedly performed.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the requirements of the first, second, and third aspects, in detecting the actual holding position of the transferred body, the transferred body is moved to the front. The holding position is detected by photographing from the three directions of the side and the plane.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the requirements of the first, second, third, or fourth aspect, in correcting the positional deviation on the film side, the positional deviation of the transfer film is adjusted. The correction is performed in consideration of the degree of swelling of the film during the period from detection until immersion of the transferred material.

  In addition to the requirement described in claim 5, the hydraulic transfer method capable of precise positioning according to claim 6 includes a transfer film for correcting the positional deviation of the transfer film in consideration of the degree of swelling of the transfer film. Taking into account that the water swells first from the outer edge due to water landing while the inner side of the film swells following the outer edge later than the outer edge, the amount of extension displacement due to swelling is detected at least at the outer edge and the inner side of the film Then, the time when the degree of swelling of the film is made uniform overall is estimated, and the transferred object is brought into contact with the transfer film after the time has elapsed.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hydraulic transfer apparatus capable of precise positioning, comprising a transfer tank for storing a transfer liquid and a transfer body transport apparatus for transporting a transfer body to the transfer tank, on the transfer liquid surface. In an apparatus for transferring a transfer pattern to a transfer object by a fluid pressure generated by pressing the transfer object from above the transfer film supported in a floating state in an appropriate posture by a transfer object transport apparatus, the apparatus includes A workpiece side detection device that detects the actual holding position of the transfer object held by the transfer body conveyance device, a film side detection device that detects the actual position of the transfer film suspended and supported on the transfer liquid surface, and these A processing device that detects the actual position on the workpiece side and the film side by comparing the actual position with the normal position, and a control panel that determines how to correct both detected position shifts are provided. In addition, the transfer object transporting device is additionally provided with a function for correcting the holding position of the transfer object, and the transfer object transporting device corrects at least one position shift on the work side or the film side. After that, the transfer object is immersed in the transfer liquid, and a desired transfer pattern on the transfer film is transferred almost accurately to a predetermined position of the transfer object.

  In addition to the requirement described in claim 7, the hydraulic transfer device capable of precise positioning according to claim 8 corresponds to the width direction of the transfer film supported on the transfer liquid surface in addition to the requirements of claim 7. X direction, Y direction corresponding to the feeding direction or longitudinal direction of the transfer film, Z direction corresponding to the height from the transfer film, and θ corresponding to the rotation angle of the transfer film on the transfer liquid surface It is characterized in that a manipulator capable of correcting the above is applied.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the requirement of the seventh or eighth aspect, an image recognition video camera or a high-quality digital camera is applied to the work side detection device. At the time of detection, the object to be transferred is photographed from three directions of front, side and plane, and the actual holding position of the object to be transferred is detected.

  The hydraulic transfer film capable of precise positioning according to claim 10 is formed by forming an appropriate transfer pattern on a carrier sheet in a dry state, and in transferring, the ink surface on which the transfer pattern is formed faces upward. In a transfer film that is suspended and supported on the liquid level in the transfer tank in a state, the transferred object is pressed from above, and the transfer pattern on the ink surface is transferred to the transferred object by the liquid pressure by the transfer liquid. The ink surface is provided with a target serving as a mark for detecting the position of the transfer film suspended and supported on the transfer liquid surface.

  In addition to the requirements of claim 10, the hydraulic transfer film capable of precise positioning according to claim 11 is a marking that is applied to a site that is not substantially involved in transfer. Is a feature.

  In addition to the requirement described in claim 11, the hydraulic transfer film capable of precise positioning according to claim 12 is additionally provided with a stamp after the film is formed to form a transfer pattern in a dry state. It consists of features.

  In addition to the requirements described in claim 10, the hydraulic transfer film capable of precise positioning according to claim 13 is not limited to markings that can be clearly distinguished in appearance, but also magnetic or optical. It is characterized by including markings that can be recognized visually.

  In addition to the requirements described in claim 10, the hydraulic transfer film capable of precise positioning according to claim 14 is characterized in that the transfer film is formed by a transfer ink on which a transfer pattern is formed. This is characterized in that it is applied only to a substantially developed shape portion of the decorative surface, and the position of the transfer film is detected using this developed shape as a target.

The above-described problems can be solved by using the configuration of the invention described in each of the claims.
That is, according to the first or seventh aspect of the present invention, the technical idea that has never existed in the conventional hydraulic transfer method is realized. That is, in the conventional hydraulic transfer method, there are many factors that cause misalignment in the transfer film or work, such as floating the transfer film on an unstable liquid surface. Although there was no idea of transferring in a precisely positioned state (so-called pinpoint), this is actualized in the present invention. Such a technical idea can be said to overturn the common sense of the conventional hydraulic transfer method.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the positional deviation on the film side is also corrected by changing the posture of the transfer object, the specific feasibility of the hydraulic transfer method capable of precise positioning is further enhanced. In other words, it is extremely difficult to directly correct the misalignment of the transfer film supplied on the transfer liquid surface on the film side, so this is corrected on the workpiece side, and hydraulic transfer that allows precise positioning is more realistic. It shall be

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, position detection, displacement amount detection, and correction can be repeatedly performed. Therefore, positional displacement (error) can be minimized, and hydraulic transfer reliability that enables precise positioning is ensured. And accuracy can be further improved.

  According to the invention described in claim 4 or 9, when detecting the transfer object, since the transfer object is photographed from three directions, the position can be detected more precisely, and the misalignment amount can be accurately grasped and corrected. It can be done.

  According to the invention described in claim 5, since the degree of swelling (extensibility) from when the position of the transfer film is detected until the workpiece is immersed is taken into account, the positional deviation correction on the film side is performed. Further, hydraulic transfer can be performed with high accuracy.

  Further, according to the invention described in claim 6, since the transfer is performed in consideration of the difference in swelling degree (following swelling) generated between the outer edge portion and the inner side of the transfer film immediately after landing, further accurate positioning transfer can be performed. .

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, since the manipulator capable of correcting X, Y, Z, and θ is applied as the transfer object transporting device, the positional deviation correction can be instantaneously and relatively freely performed. Actually, it is difficult to take a long time from the position detection to the work immersion, and this tendency becomes remarkable particularly when the transfer is continuously performed in the mass production stage. In consideration of this, the present invention in which the manipulator is applied to the transfer object transporting apparatus can perform the correction operation (posture change) in a very short time, and perform the correction in almost real time following the position detection. Can do.

  According to the invention described in claim 10, since the position detection target is formed on the transfer film, it is possible to accurately detect the position of the film supplied on the unstable transfer liquid surface, and the amount of positional deviation thereafter. As a result, the correction can be performed precisely.

  According to the invention described in claim 11, since marking is performed on a film portion that is not substantially involved in transfer, and this is targeted, even if it is difficult to see a transfer pattern formed in advance on the film, The position of the transfer film can be accurately detected.

  According to the invention described in claim 12, since the marking is separately formed on the completed transfer film by a stamp, for example, the transfer film can be marked immediately before the transfer. Depending on the shape of the stamp, the position of the stamp can be changed as appropriate. Therefore, even if one type of transfer film is used, the marking position can be changed as appropriate according to a plurality of types of transfer objects.

  According to the invention of claim 13, since the target includes magnetic markings that cannot be discerned by human eyes, it is possible to mark the transfer film in a part that is greatly involved in transfer, for example, a decorative surface. Become. In other words, as far as possible, it is possible to provide a marking on the transfer pattern to be transferred to the transfer object, and the position of the desired transfer pattern can be recognized in a direct manner.

  According to the invention of claim 14, the transfer film is formed with transfer ink (transfer pattern) only on the substantially developed shape portion of the decorative surface, and in order to target this developed shape, the transfer film is particularly marked. Without applying, the target can be obtained as it is at the time of manufacture. Further, in the present invention, since the development shape of the decorative surface can be targeted, even if the transfer pattern is difficult to distinguish from the film background, for example, the position of the transfer film can be clearly detected by the contour of the development shape. it can.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The best mode for carrying out the present invention includes one described in the following examples, and further includes various methods that can be improved within the technical idea.
The present invention is a technical idea that, as described above, a desired transfer pattern P such as characters and figures formed on the transfer film F is always accurately transferred to a predetermined position of a transfer target (workpiece) W (hereinafter referred to as “transfer”). In the present specification, this is called “hydraulic transfer capable of precise positioning” or “pinpoint hydraulic transfer”). For this reason, in reality, a positional deviation amount with respect to the normal position of the transfer body W held by the transfer body conveying device 5 and a positional deviation amount with respect to the normal position of the transfer film F supplied on the liquid surface are detected. In this case, the actual transfer (immersion) is performed after correcting one or both of the positional deviations until the transfer target W is immersed, and more preferably, the degree of swelling or transfer of the transfer film F Transfer is performed in consideration of timing. Examples will be described below.

  In the description, after describing an example of a hydraulic transfer device capable of precise positioning (hereinafter referred to as “pinpoint hydraulic transfer device 1”) as the device of the present invention, the hydraulic pressure capable of precise positioning according to the method of the present invention. A transfer method will be described, and then a transfer film F suitable for hydraulic transfer capable of precise positioning will be described.

  First, the pinpoint hydraulic transfer device 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 as an example, the pinpoint hydraulic transfer device 1 includes a transfer tank 2 for storing the transfer liquid L, a transfer film supply device 3 for feeding the transfer film F into the transfer tank 2, and a transfer film. An activator coating device 4 that activates F to be in a transferable state, and a transfer object transport that presses the transfer object W in an appropriate posture from above the transfer film F that is suspended and supported on the transfer liquid surface of the transfer tank 2 How much the apparatus 5 and the transfer target W held by the transfer target transport apparatus 5 are deviated from the normal position, and how much the transfer film F supplied onto the transfer tank 2 is relative to the normal position. The apparatus includes a position deviation detection device 6 that detects whether the position is shifted and a position deviation correction device 7 that corrects the detected position deviation. Hereinafter, each component will be further described.

  First, the transfer tank 2 will be described. This comprises a treatment tank 21 and an overflow tank 22, and in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a transfer liquid L such as water is stored in the treatment tank 21, and overflowed from the treatment tank 21. After the transfer liquid L has passed through the overflow tank 22, the pump 24 is configured to gently return to the processing tank 21 via the circulation line 23 without any liquid level ripple. As the transfer liquid L, other liquid can be used instead of water as long as it can swell or dissolve the support sheet of the transfer film F.

  In addition, a pair of chain conveyors 25 wound around sprockets are provided in the vicinity of the left and right side walls in the processing tank 21, and the transfer film F is an overflow tank on the upper liquid level circulation side of the chain conveyor 25. It is driven in the same direction to assist in traveling toward the 22 side. A blower 26 can be provided above the starting end side of the processing tank 21, thereby achieving uniform extension around the transfer film F and progress of the transfer film F toward the overflow tank 22. It supplements.

  Next, the transfer film supply device 3 will be described. The transfer film supply device 3 includes a film roll 31 composed of a roll-wrapped transfer film F, a heat roll 32 that heats the transfer film F drawn from the film roll 31, and a draw roll 33 that pulls out the transfer film F. It is made up of. The upper side of the drawing roll 33 is preferably in contact with only both ends of the transfer film F so as not to rub the activator-coated surface.

  Here, the basic structure of the transfer film F will be described. The transfer film F uses a water-soluble film made of, for example, gelatin, sodium alginate, polyvinyl alcohol resin, or the like as a supporting sheet. On one surface of the supporting sheet, an appropriate character, figure, pattern, or the like can be formed by transfer ink. The transfer pattern P is formed in a dry state (this surface is an ink surface). The transfer ink for forming the ink surface contains a binder component that can be transferred from the carrier sheet when it is activated.

Next, the activator coating device 4 will be described. The activator coating device 4 is provided between the heat roll 32 and the drawing roll 33 of the transfer film supply device 3 as an example, and includes a roller coater 41 that coats the transfer film F with the required activator K. .
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the activator coating device 4 is provided between the heat roll 32 and the drawing roll 33 to activate the transfer film F and then supply it to the transfer tank 2. Although illustrated, the activator coating device 4 can be provided in the subsequent stage of the drawing roll 33. That is, in this case, for example, the form in which the activator K is applied from above immediately before the transfer film F is supplied to the transfer tank 2, or the transfer film F is supplied to the transfer tank 2 and after landing, A form in which the activator K is applied may be employed.

  The activator K is a transferable state that imparts adhesiveness to the dry transfer ink applied to the ink surface of the transfer film F so that it can be transferred. For example, the activator K comprises only a solvent component such as thinner. In this embodiment, a mixture of a resin component, a solvent component, a plasticizer component, an extender pigment and the like is applied. This is because the solvent component dissolves the transfer ink and restores the tackiness, the resin component ensures initial adhesion and prevents ink diffusion, and the plasticizer component imparts plasticity to the resin component. Furthermore, each component can share or supplement the function, for example, the extender measures the apparent drying of the ink surface and provides the extensibility while regulating ink misalignment. Incidentally, the component of the activator K is not particularly limited, and those obtained by ultraviolet curing can be appropriately applied.

  Next, the transferred object transport device 5 will be described. As described above, the transfer object transport device 5 immerses the transfer object W in an appropriate posture (immersion liquid) in the transfer liquid L on which the transfer film F is suspended and supported. This transfer object transport device 5 is provided with a function of correcting the holding position (holding posture) of the transfer object W. In other words, the transferred object transport device 5 can appropriately change the posture while holding the transferred object W, and has a function of correcting (correcting) the positional deviation.

For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a manipulator (robot arm) 51 having a high degree of freedom in correction operation is desirable as such a transfer object transport device 5. The manipulator 51 includes one or more arms 52 and a hand (chucking 53) that holds the transfer target W at the distal end portion of the arms 52. The manipulator 51 preferably includes a mechanism that moves linearly along the flow from the upstream side to the downstream side of the transfer film F.
Note that the transfer target W may be directly attached to the manipulator 51 (transfer target transfer device 5), but in general, the transfer target W is often attached via a jig J (see an enlarged view of FIG. 5). ). This is because a wide variety of transfer objects W can be attached to one manipulator 51 as much as possible.

  Further, as the transfer object transport device 5, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, it is also possible to apply a conveyor 55 that draws a triangular transport track as viewed from the side surface. A holder 56 for gripping W directly or indirectly through a jig J is provided. In this case, the transfer target W is transferred into the transfer liquid L for a predetermined time at the lower part of the transfer track while being transferred by the conveyor 55 in an appropriate posture. Of course, also in this embodiment, the conveyor 55 has a correction function for appropriately changing the holding position of the transfer target W until the transfer target W is immersed.

  The correction function in the conveyor 55 will be described in detail. For example, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 2 above, the immersion position of the transfer target W is moved back and forth with respect to the film flow direction. A correction function for appropriately rotating (turning) along the mounting surface (conveying surface) is required. Incidentally, since the degree of freedom of the correction operation is generally low in the conveyor 55 that forms such a triangular conveyance track, it is desirable to apply the manipulator 51 as the transfer medium conveyance device 5 in the present invention. However, if the shape of the transfer target W, in particular, the shape of the decorative surface to which the transfer is performed, is simple, there is no need to use an expensive and large manipulator 51 (in general, the manipulator is expensive as the degree of freedom increases). The conveyor 55 which added the correction function to the conventional triangular conveyor can be applied, and an installation cost can be restrained cheaply.

  Next, the positional deviation detection device 6 will be described. The positional deviation detection device 6 is configured so that the transfer film F supplied onto the transfer object W and the transfer liquid L surface (on the transfer tank 2) held by the transfer object transport device 5 is in relation to each normal position. This is to detect whether or not there is a deviation. That is, the positional deviation detection device 6 can be divided into a work side and a film side. Here, the “regular position” means a position at which a desired transfer pattern P can be accurately transferred to a predetermined position of the transfer target W, and is a position with no deviation. The normal position itself can be theoretically determined by, for example, the shape of the transfer target W, the immersion position, or a desired transfer pattern P for which precise positioning transfer is desired. It should be noted that an actual position having a deviation is generally referred to as an “actual holding position (actual position)” or a “detection position” in this specification with respect to the “regular position” with no deviation.

  As shown in FIG. 1 as an example, such a positional deviation detection device 6 includes a workpiece-side detection device 61 that detects the posture (actual holding position) of the transferred object W held by the transferred object conveying device 5. The film side detection device 62 for detecting the actual position of the transfer film F suspended and supported on the surface of the transfer liquid L, and the detected position and the normal position of the transfer target W and the transfer film F are captured on a screen or the like. Comparing and processing unit 63 for detecting how much the actual position is deviated from the normal position. As the workpiece side detection device 61 and the film side detection device 62, an image recognition video camera or a high quality digital camera can be used. Further, it is realistic that the processing device 63 compares the detection position with the normal position by image processing and detects a positional deviation. As described above, in this embodiment, the position detection (photographing) of the transfer target W and the position detection (photographing) of the transfer film F are performed by separate apparatuses (cameras). It is determined by the device 63.

Next, the positional deviation correction device 7 will be described. The misalignment correcting device 7 corrects at least one of the misalignment on the workpiece side and the film side detected by the misalignment detecting device 6. In this embodiment, the holding position of the transfer target W is corrected. To correct the misalignment on both the workpiece and film sides. In addition, since it is extremely difficult to freely operate the position of the transfer film F once supplied onto the surface of the transfer liquid L, not only the positional deviation of the transfer target W but also the transfer film F is used here. Is also corrected by changing the posture of the transfer target W.
Incidentally, the case where only one of the work side or film side position shifts is corrected by the position shift correcting device 7 is because the case where either one of the position shifts hardly occurs is taken into consideration. That is, for example, when the conveyor 55 is applied as the transferred object conveying device 5 or when the workpiece is attached to the transferred object conveying device 5 without using the jig J, the position deviation on the workpiece side is suppressed accordingly. This is because only the positional deviation on the film side needs to be considered as long as this does not affect the pinpoint hydraulic transfer.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 1 as an example, such a positional deviation correcting device 7 indicates how to perform correction based on the detected positional deviation data (deviation data) (this is used as correction data). The control panel 71 to be determined and the transferred object transport device 5 (manipulator 51) that actually corrects the holding position of the transferred object W based on the correction data are provided. That is, in the present invention, the transferred object transport device 5 is a component of the misalignment correction device 7. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 1, the deviation data on the workpiece side and the film side is sent from the processing device 63 to the control panel 71, and the correction data is sent from the control panel 71 to the transfer body conveying device 5.

As described above, the transfer film F supplied to the transfer tank 2 gradually swells and spreads on the surface of the transfer liquid L. However, at the beginning of landing, the transfer film F is spread at the outer edge and the inner side. The degree is different, and a certain amount of time is required until the degree of swelling becomes uniform as a whole. For this reason, the position deviation detection device 6 (film side detection device 62) and the position deviation correction device 7 measure the amount of extension (swelling amount) between the outer edge and the inner side of the transferred transfer film F and the amount of extension. The function of estimating the time until the film becomes uniform is also appropriately taken.
Specifically, the position of the transfer pattern P formed on the transfer film F, the marking M, which will be described later, and the like are repeatedly recognized several times, and the amount of displacement is calculated from the difference between the changed positions. Based on this, the difference in the amount of extension (swelling degree) between the outer edge and the inner side is read, and the time until the swelling degree is stabilized as a whole is estimated. Then, after such an analysis, the transfer target W is brought into contact with the transfer film F at an appropriate transfer position and transfer timing, and thereby precise pinpoints taking into account differences in swelling and time lag. Transcription can be performed.

The pinpoint hydraulic transfer apparatus (hydraulic transfer apparatus capable of precise positioning) 1 of the apparatus of the present invention has the basic structure as described above, but various modifications can be made to this apparatus. For example, as mentioned in the above description, the activation of the transfer film F is not limited to the stage before the transfer film F is supplied to the transfer tank 2, but is activated after the liquid is supplied to the transfer tank 2. It doesn't matter.
In the pinpoint hydraulic transfer device 1 described above, the so-called continuous transfer in which the transfer film F is fed out to the transfer tank 2 sequentially from the roll film roll 31 has been described. For example, the transfer was cut into a rectangular shape from the beginning. It is also possible to perform so-called batch transfer, in which the transfer film F is supplied to the transfer tank 2 one by one and the transfer target W is pressed from above.

  Hereinafter, a pinpoint hydraulic transfer method (operation mode) using the pinpoint hydraulic transfer device 1 of the present invention device will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. In the explanation, the actual position on the workpiece side and the film side, the detection of how much the position shift (determination of the shift amount), or the correction method for making the detected shift amount zero is described. The explanation will be centered. Here, various settings described in the processing step a of FIG. 3, for example, the normal positions of the transfer target W and the transfer film F will be described as being preloaded in the processing device 63. In determining the normal position, it is possible to theoretically determine the position, or based on such a theory, several trials are actually repeated to reflect the measured data that has been successfully transferred. It is also possible to decide.

[1] Work-side (a) Work-side position shift detection (error detection) [Process steps b to c in the flowchart]
In order to detect a positional deviation (error) on the workpiece side, as shown in FIG. 1 as an example, an image recognition video camera or the like in which the transferred object W held by the transferred object conveying device 5 is fixed at a fixed position. Photographing is performed by the workpiece side detection device 61 (processing step b). Then, the photographed image data is sent to the processing device 63, where it is compared with the normal position to determine the amount of positional deviation on the workpiece side (processing step c).

In detecting the actual holding position of the transfer target W, for example, the following forms are possible.
(i) Form in which the transfer target W is photographed from one direction in the front
(ii) A form of photographing from three directions so as to surround the transfer target W
(iii) Form in which the three-dimensional data of the transferred object W is used while photographing the transferred object W from one direction in the front.

(i) is a method of recognizing the position of the transfer object W by photographing the transfer object W (decorative surface) only from the front as shown in FIG. Specifically, for example, the position of the transfer target W is represented by the coordinates (X ₁ , Y ₁ ) of a certain point (here, one point on the contour line) on the transfer target W and the inclination angle θ of the contour line. (It has recognized). Then, the positional deviation (amount) of the transfer target W is detected by comparing these with a reference value (normal position data). Of course, in order to recognize the holding position of the transfer object W, not only the method represented by the coordinates (X ₁ , Y ₁ ) of one point and the inclination angle θ, but also, for example, as shown in FIG. It is also possible to represent the coordinates of at least three points on the transfer target W. Incidentally, in FIG. 4B, as an example, the position of the transferred object W is determined by the coordinates (X ₁ , Y ₁ ), (X ₂ , Y ₂ ), (X ₃ , Y ₃ ) of three points on the contour line. Represents.

In determining the amount of positional deviation, not only the coordinates of the points are compared but also the image of the contour of the transfer target W is captured and taken as a surface and compared with the surface data (contour data) at the normal position. It is also possible to determine the amount of deviation.
In FIG. 4, as can be seen from the coordinate display example, the Z-direction component, that is, the distance between the workpiece-side detection device 61 such as a camera and the transfer target W is not considered. This is because if the position detection and correction are performed while keeping the distance from the transfer body W constant, it is not necessary to consider this Z-direction component.
Of course, in the actual transfer performed after such position detection, the transfer object W and the transfer object W are transferred to the transfer film F when the distance between the transfer object F and the transfer film F is gradually reduced. It is preferable to accurately detect (correct) the distance from the film F (Z direction) again. This is because, in particular, when the object to be transferred W is immersed obliquely with respect to the transfer liquid L (transfer film F), if there is a positional shift in the Z direction, this results in a shift before and after the immersed position. is there.

(ii) is a method of recognizing the position of the transfer target W by photographing the transfer target W from the three directions of the front, side, and plane as shown in FIG. Specifically, the coordinates (X ₁ , Y ₁ ) of one point on the transfer target W, the tilt angle θ ₁ on the front screen, the tilt angle θ ₂ on the side screen, and the tilt angle on the flat screen θ ₃ represents (recognizes) the position of the transfer target W. Also in this case, these are compared with a reference value to detect a positional deviation (amount) of the transfer target W.
Further, in this case as well, as in the case of FIG. 4, the coordinates of one point are expressed without considering the Z-direction component. However, here, since the transfer target W is photographed from three directions, the coordinates including the Z-direction component are also included. It can also be expressed as a system. For this reason, in recognizing the position of the transfer target W, the method is not necessarily limited to the above method, and at least three different points on the transfer target W are represented by a rectangular coordinate system, that is, X, Y, It is possible to recognize the position expressed by each direction component of Z.

  (iii) is an example in which the three-dimensional shape of the transfer target W is estimated while photographing the transfer target W from one front direction as shown in FIG. 6, for example. In this case, since the photographing by the camera or the like is only the front image of the transfer target W, the photographed image at this stage is only two-dimensional data as shown in the figure. The three-dimensional data of the transfer target W that has been captured in advance is fused with this to estimate the overall three-dimensional shape of the transfer target W, thereby obtaining data similar to the above (ii). it can.

(A) Position shift correction of transfer target [processing steps de to e in the flowchart]
After determining the positional deviation amount of the transfer target W as described above, this time, how to perform correction on the control panel 71 based on the deviation amount data, that is, for example, the arm 52 and chucking of the manipulator 51 It is studied and set whether the object 53 can be moved back to the normal position by moving 53 (processing step d). Next, the set correction data is sent to the manipulator 51 and the like, and the holding position of the transfer target W is corrected (processing step e).
It should be noted that the positional deviation of the transfer target W can be corrected by, for example, matching the detected (photographed) point (surface) on the workpiece and the reference point (surface) with cells of the number of pixels. . By the way, when a 10 cm square area (1: 1) is photographed with a 10-million pixel camera, the accuracy of one pixel is theoretically 31.6 μm (theoretically, it can be matched with this dimensional accuracy of 31.6 μm. it can).

  In the case where the manipulator 51 is applied as a device for correcting the positional deviation of the transfer target W (transfer target transfer device 5), it is preferable to set the degree of freedom of the manipulator 51 in accordance with the shooting level. This is because the manipulator 51 is generally more expensive and larger as the degree of freedom is increased. That is, when photographing the transfer target W from only one direction in the front, the manipulator 51 may be three axes for correction + one axis for movement, and may have a relatively low degree of freedom. On the other hand, when photographing the transfer target W from the three directions of the front, side, and plane, it is preferable to apply a manipulator 51 having a relatively high degree of freedom of 6 axes for correction + 1 axis for movement. The “moving single axis” indicates a function capable of linear movement along the flow of the transfer liquid L (flow from upstream to downstream).

  Various timings can be used for the correction. For example, when the image of the transfer target W is photographed and a deviation of the actual holding position is detected, the correction is performed on the spot and the positional deviation is set to zero. A correction form is possible, or a form in which a deviation of each direction component is detected and corrected during the movement of the object to be transferred W after it has been photographed until it is immersed is also possible. In particular, in the latter case, comprehensive correction including correction of the Z-direction distance (distance between the transfer target W and the transfer film F) that gradually shrinks immediately before immersion can be performed.

(C) Re-photographing and re-comparison [process step f in the flowchart]
The processing step f is a process for rechecking whether the holding position of the transfer target W has actually returned to the normal position by the series of correction processes described above. Of course, as a result of the recheck, if the positional deviation has not been corrected yet, the correction is performed again.
In addition, this processing step is a step that should be called a security function for more reliably performing pinpoint hydraulic pressure transfer.Therefore, when the positional deviation can be corrected almost certainly by one correction operation, etc. This is not necessarily an essential step. However, when such a guarantee function is incorporated into the program, it is possible to take a form in which the transferred object W is continuously photographed by a high-performance image recognition video camera and quickly compared with the normal position in real time. Is.

[2] Film side (d) Film side misalignment detection (error detection) [Processing steps b ′ to c ′ in the flowchart]
The processing for detecting and correcting the positional deviation of the transfer film F is also performed in the same manner as the work side. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, as an example, the transfer film F supplied onto the surface of the transfer liquid L is photographed by a film side detection device 62 such as an image recognition video camera installed at a certain position. The positional deviation of the transfer film F is determined by comparing this image with the normal position.
Since the position of the transfer film F is detected on a substantially flat liquid surface with as few ripples as possible, the point on the transfer film F is indicated by a two-dimensional direction component (X, Y coordinates) and an inclination angle in a planar image ( It is possible to represent (recognize) the position of the transfer film F with the rotation angle θ.

(E) Correction of misalignment of transfer film [process steps d ′ to e ′ in the flowchart]
After detecting the positional deviation amount of the transfer film F, based on the deviation amount data, how to correct by the control panel 71, that is, the arm 52 such as the manipulator 51 holding the transfer target W or the chatter. Study and set how the king 53 can be moved to correct the misalignment of the transfer film F.
Next, the set correction data is sent to the transfer object transport device 5 such as the manipulator 51 to correct the holding position of the transfer object W.

(F) Re-photographing and re-comparison [processing step f ′ in flowchart]
The processing step f ′ is a process for rechecking whether or not the positional deviation of the transfer film F has been correctly corrected by the series of correction processes described above. Of course, as a result of the recheck, if the positional deviation has not been corrected yet, the correction is performed again.
In addition, this processing step is a step that should be called a security function for more reliably performing pinpoint hydraulic pressure transfer.Therefore, when the positional deviation can be corrected almost certainly by one correction operation, etc. This is not necessarily an essential step. However, when such a guarantee function is incorporated in the program, it is possible to take a form in which the transfer film F is continuously photographed by a high-performance image recognition video camera and quickly compared with the normal position in real time. It is.
Incidentally, in the steps on the film side from b ′ to f ′ in FIG. 3 described above, correction that also takes into account the degree of swelling of the transfer film F can be performed in an integrated manner, which will be described later.

In addition, when performing the position detection (correction) of the transfer film F, it will be described below which element in which direction it is preferable to detect, including the Z direction (the distance between the transfer target W and the transfer film F). Incidentally, the following description is considered to be a desirable form mainly when the transfer liquid L is circulating in the transfer tank 2, that is, when the transfer liquid L has a flow.
-Order (1)-Detection in the Z direction-Order (2)-Detection of the angular displacement θ corresponding to the rotation angle of the transfer film F on the surface of the transfer liquid L-Order (3)-X corresponding to the width direction of the transfer film F Direction detection / order (4)-Detection of the Y direction corresponding to the feeding direction (longitudinal direction) of the transfer film F

[About Order (1)]
When the transfer liquid L has a flow, the transfer target W is often thrown into the transfer film F at an angle, and therefore the liquid landing position can be set accurately by detecting the distance in the Z direction (accurate Pinpoint transfer is possible). The reason for detecting the Z direction first is that the deviation in the Z direction is relatively less likely to occur because the deviation in holding and setting the transfer target W is a main factor, and in correcting the Z direction, This is because it is only necessary to move the transfer target W up and down, and correction can be performed easily.

(About (2) and (3))
For example, the transfer apparatus shown in FIG. 7 has guides (chain guides) on the left and right sides of the transfer tank 2, and even if the transfer film F swells with moisture, the guide is in contact with the guide. Acts to stop the subsequent swelling (swelling in the X direction). Therefore, the transfer film F in contact with the guide also reduces (substantially disappears) the subsequent θ displacement. Therefore, here, the Z direction is detected at a timing after the transfer film F contacts the guide, and then θ The displacement and then the X direction are detected.

[About order (4)]
The transfer film F swells in all directions due to the landing liquid, but as described above, the swelling in the X direction hardly occurs due to the contact with the guide. That is, the transfer film F has the largest displacement (displacement factor) in the Y direction (longitudinal direction) where there is no restriction. For this reason, detection in the Y direction is performed last.

In order to detect and correct the position, it is only necessary to perform from the element with the smallest displacement amount to the element with the larger displacement amount (preferably), and even if each element is corrected one by one after detecting each element. Of course, correction may be performed at once after all the elements are detected. In other words, it may be in the form of Z detection / correction → θ detection / correction →..., Z, θ, X, Y detection → all correction.
In the above description, the case where there is a flow in the transfer liquid L has been described. However, in the case of a batch type in which there is no flow of the transfer liquid L, it is preferable to detect the position from the side where the regulation width is shorter. This is because the film is hardly displaced when it comes into contact with the regulation width, and detection and correction can be set easily and accurately.
Note that the above-described order does not necessarily apply to all hydraulic transfer, and can be changed as appropriate. For example, in some transfers, the matching of the angle of the transfer pattern P is given the highest priority depending on the product. Especially when there is no flow of the transfer liquid L, the transfer film F hits the surrounding guide or remains untouched. It is assumed to move around. In this case, since the amount of displacement of θ becomes large, the last detection of θ is preferable.

(G) Immersion start [Process step g in the flowchart]
As described above, at the stage where the positional deviation correction of both the transfer target W and the transfer film F is completed, the transfer target W is immersed in the transfer liquid L, and substantial transfer is performed. In other words, the positional deviation generated between the transfer object W and the transfer film F is detected and corrected before the transfer object W is immersed.

  In the program shown in FIG. 3, the control flow for separately correcting the positional deviation on the workpiece side and the film side has been shown. These are the stages of considering the correction operation (for example, processing steps d and d ′ in FIG. 3). ) Etc., and the correction operation can be performed at once. In the above description, the positional deviation correction on the workpiece side is explained first, and the positional deviation correction on the film side is explained later. However, in actual transfer, which processing is not first, and usually the processing is performed in parallel. It is practical to complete the correction of the positional deviation between the two before the transferred object W is advanced.

  In addition, the transfer film F supplied on the surface of the transfer liquid L contains water and swells and spreads around, but the film normally swells behind the outer edge portion (following swelling). . For this reason, in order to perform pinpoint transfer more accurately, it is preferable to grasp the difference in the degree of swelling between the outer edge portion of the film and the inner side and perform transfer in a state in which this is uniform. In particular, in the present invention, the film-side detection device 62 can photograph the transfer pattern P on the outer edge and the inner side of the transfer film F after landing many times, thereby enabling precise transfer considering follow-up swelling. It can be done.

  In addition, it is very effective to capture the outer edge portion and the inner side of the film many times and grasp the swelling degree of each part even when the difference in the swelling degree of each part is relatively small. This is because there is a time lag between the detection of the position of the transfer film F and the actual transfer (immersion) to move the transfer target W or change the posture. This is because the film gradually swells and softens and includes an error. In other words, if the displacement rate due to the swelling of the film (the elongation rate of the film) is detected, the transferred object W can be immersed when the degree of swelling reaches a desired value, and more precise pinpoint transfer is possible. It becomes.

Of course, if the setting is such that the transfer target W is always immersed after a certain time (for example, 0.5 seconds) after the position of the transfer film F is detected, the degree of swelling for this certain time (0.5 seconds) is empirical. Alternatively, it is possible to perform correction in consideration of the above time lag by theoretically calculating and comprehensively correcting the position deviation correction amount.
Alternatively, if a series of operations up to the detection of the transfer film F, the detection of the shift amount, and the correction can be performed in real time with almost no time difference, the first or final position detection is performed immediately before immersion and the above time lag is taken into consideration. Is also possible. Incidentally, this is because the position detection is performed in a state where the transfer film F is supported on a substantially flat liquid surface, so that the position detection is almost two-dimensional, and the position detection to correction can be performed relatively easily. It is a suitable form.
In the above description, correction and transfer have been described separately. However, since the transfer target W is often immersed relatively slowly, transfer is performed while performing correction along the moving direction during transfer. It is also possible.

  The pinpoint hydraulic transfer method (hydraulic transfer method capable of precise positioning) of the method of the present invention is carried out as described above. With such a pinpoint hydraulic transfer method, it is easy to detect the position of the transfer film F. It is preferable. That is, the transfer film F is preferably formed with a mark (target) for accurately grasping the position. By recognizing the target by, for example, a video camera or the like, the position of the transfer film F can be recognized. This makes it easy to detect the amount, and as a result, the positional deviation can be corrected precisely. Hereinafter, such a target in the transfer film F will be described. The “hydraulic transfer film” described in the name of the present invention and in the scope of the claims particularly refers to the transfer film F having such a target.

  For example, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the transfer film F is preliminarily formed with a figure or characters as a desired transfer pattern P on the film, and this is the base (transfer ink on the carrier sheet). The part other than the transfer pattern P is shown among the parts applied to the surface. In this specification, this is referred to as “film ground”). It can be a target for In this case, it is possible to target a part (one point) of a graphic or character, or it is possible to target the whole (contour) of the graphic or character. 8A is an example of the transfer film F that targets a figure (here, a heart shape), and FIG. 8B is an example of the transfer film F that targets a character (here, “ABC”). is there.

  Of course, on the transfer film F, a desired transfer pattern P such as a figure or a character may be similar in color to the film ground or similar in design, and the transfer pattern P may be difficult to distinguish from the film ground. Conceivable. In this case, it is difficult to target the transfer pattern P (graphics or characters) usually formed on the film. Therefore, in such a case, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8C, for example, marking M is applied to a portion of the transfer film F that is not substantially involved in the transfer, that is, a portion other than the desired transfer pattern P. This can be targeted. Of course, the target (marking M) in this case can be clearly identified with respect to the film ground. As the marking M, a square (so-called “solid” square) filled with an appropriate color is adopted in FIG. 7, and a round cross is given in FIG. 8C. Various types of markings M are possible.

Further, in FIG. 7, the area surrounding the desired transfer pattern P is somewhat large (taken as a transfer area, which is an area greatly involved in transfer), and is located at two diagonal corners of this area. Although the marking M is applied, the position of the marking M can be changed as appropriate. For example, in FIG. 8C, the marking M is applied to both ends of the center of the desired transfer pattern P (here, “ABC”) (both edges of the transfer film F).
The position where the marking M is applied may be anywhere on the transfer film F, such as on the boundary line of the transfer range or on the outer periphery thereof. For example, as shown in FIG. When the opening OP is formed on the decorative surface of the body W, the marking M can be applied to the film portion corresponding to the opening OP even within the transfer range. This is because the film portion corresponding to the opening OP becomes a portion that is not substantially involved in the transfer even if the position (area) is within the transfer range.

  In addition, as shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C, the normal transfer film F has an appropriate film base formed on the entire film surface by the transfer ink, and a transfer pattern P such as figures and characters is formed here. It is formed as if they were overlapped. The present invention is a technical idea of always transferring the transfer pattern P such as a figure or a character to a predetermined part of the transfer target W. Further development of this idea leads to the idea that even the film base of the transfer film F is sufficient to form only the portion corresponding to the decorative surface of the transfer target W, that is, the amount necessary for transfer, A transfer film F formed based on this idea is a film shown in FIG.

  That is, in this case, the film base (including the transfer pattern P) formed on the transfer film F has a substantially developed shape of a substantial part required for transfer, that is, a decorative surface of the transfer target W, and this developed shape is targeted. Available as Of course, the transfer film F as shown in FIG. 8D is a one-to-one transfer film F corresponding to the transfer target W (decorative surface). In FIG. 8D, a wide cross is reproduced as a substantially developed shape of the transfer target W (decorative surface), and a desired transfer pattern P is formed in the shape. Further, it is realistic that the film portion outside the film base (wide cross) is monotone or plain where the transfer pattern P can be easily identified. Of course, the transfer film F in which the transfer film P including the transfer pattern P is formed in a substantially developed shape of the transfer target W (decorative surface) is an unprecedented technical idea and is a very new transfer film. F. Incidentally, in FIG. 8D, the transfer pattern P formed on the flat film surface is illustrated as a triangular pyramid with the corners as apexes on the transferred product (transfer object W). Has been.

The transfer film F shown in FIGS. 8A to 8D is a so-called continuous type that is used for continuous transfer. As described in the description, a so-called batch-type transfer film F in which transfer is performed every time is also applicable.
In addition, the marking M is originally suitable when the transfer pattern P such as a figure or a character is difficult to discriminate as shown in FIG. 8C and is difficult to adopt as a target. Even if the transfer pattern P can be clearly discriminated as in a), (b), and (d), marking may be performed. In this case, either one or both of the transfer pattern P and the marking M can be targeted, and positional deviation detection and correction can be performed more reliably.

  In addition, when the marking M is applied to the transfer film F, it can be formed in accordance with the production of the transfer film F, or is separately applied immediately before supplying the transfer film F to the transfer tank 2 or the like. In this case, the marking formation position can be appropriately changed according to the transfer target W, and the same transfer film F can be applied to various transfer targets W. Of course, when the marking M is applied to the transfer film F separately from the film production, the conventional transfer film F can be used.

Further, the marking M is not necessarily limited to that which can be clearly recognized by appearance recognition, that is, human eyes (visual observation), and may be any one that can be clearly identified magnetically or optically even if it is not visible. In this case, taking advantage of the characteristics of the marking M, which is difficult to see, the marking M can be applied within the transfer range, for example, in the vicinity of the desired transfer pattern P. It is also possible to apply it over P, and the position of a desired transfer pattern P to be pinpointed by hydraulic pressure transfer can be directly detected. Incidentally, this is considered to be effective in that the position can be detected with high accuracy, particularly when the transfer film F is large. For the magnetic or optical marking M, it is possible to detect the position of the transfer film F, detect the amount of deviation, and the like using a magnetic sensor, a photoelectric switch, or the like.
Further, even when the marking M that is clearly formed in appearance is recognized, when the line-shaped marking M is applied, position detection or the like may be performed by a line sensor, not necessarily an image recognition device. Is possible.

  As described above, the present invention is a technical idea that a predetermined transfer pattern P is pinpointed to a predetermined position of the transfer target W, and this is further performed multiple times on the same transfer target W. New variations can be derived. For example, when only a specific pattern is transferred in the first transfer and only a specific character is transferred in the second transfer, the second character transfer may be transferred to a predetermined position with respect to the specific pattern transferred in the first time. it can. Of course, such transfer is possible even if the character is transferred at the first time and the pattern is transferred at the second time. Note that this method of repeatedly performing pinpoint hydraulic pressure transfer is particularly referred to as “specific position overlapping hydraulic pressure transfer”.

  As another example of this specific position superposition hydraulic transfer, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, in the first transfer, the character “A” drawn in a substantially constant width is transferred, and the second transfer is performed. Thus, if the letter “A” bordered in a substantially constant width is transferred with a slight shift, a three-dimensional letter “A” can appear as a finished product. Of course, there are various ways of shifting the second transfer as shown in FIG. 10 above, and with this configuration, even if the transfer film F to be transferred is limited to two types, the pinpoint hydraulic transfer according to the present invention. By the method, various variations can be developed in the actual finished product.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the hydraulic transfer technique which can be precisely positioned of this invention skeletally. It is another Example of the hydraulic transfer apparatus in which precise positioning is possible, and is an explanatory view showing a case where a conveyor is mainly applied as a transfer object transport apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the hydraulic transfer method which can be precisely positioned. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a way of representing when a holding position of a transfer target is recognized when the transfer target is photographed from one direction of the front. It is explanatory drawing which shows the representation method at the time of recognizing the holding position of a to-be-transferred body when image | photographing a to-be-transferred body from three directions, a front, a side surface, and a plane. An explanatory view conceptually showing a state in which the holding position of the transferred object is recognized in a three-dimensional manner by fusing the three-dimensional data of the transferred object surface captured in advance while photographing the transferred object from one direction of the front. It is. When recognizing the position of the transfer film that is suspended and supported on the transfer liquid surface, FIG. It is various Examples which mainly show planarly the hydraulic transfer film which can be precisely positioned of this invention. When a to-be-transferred body has an opening part, it is explanatory drawing which shows the transfer film which gave the mark (target) for position detection to the film part corresponding to this opening part. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the specific position superimposition hydraulic pressure transfer which repeats the hydraulic pressure transfer which can be precisely positioned. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that a transfer pattern delicately shifts as a product even if it performs the completely same transfer in the conventional hydraulic transfer method.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pinpoint hydraulic transfer apparatus 2 Transfer tank 3 Transfer film supply apparatus 4 Activating agent application apparatus 5 Transfer object conveyance apparatus 6 Position shift detection apparatus 7 Position shift correction apparatus 21 Processing tank 22 Overflow tank 23 Circulation line 24 Pump 25 Chain Conveyor 26 Blower 31 Film roll 32 Heat roll 33 Draw roll 41 Roller coater 51 Manipulator (robot arm)
52 Arm 53 Chucking (hand)
55 Conveyor 56 Holder 61 Workpiece side detection device 62 Film side detection device 63 Processing device 71 Control panel F Transfer film J Jig K Activator L Transfer solution OP Opening portion P Transfer pattern W Transfer object

Claims (14)

A transfer film having an appropriate transfer pattern coated on a carrier sheet is floated and supported on the liquid surface in the transfer tank, and the transferred object held by the transferred object conveying device is pressed from above, thereby generating the transfer film. In a method of transferring a transfer pattern to a transfer object by hydraulic pressure,
When immersing the transferred object in the transfer liquid, the actual holding position of the transferred object by the transferred object conveying device is compared with the normal position to detect the positional deviation of the transferred object, while the transferred liquid surface Compare the actual position of the transfer film that is suspended and supported above the normal position, detect the position shift of the transfer film, correct one or both of the position shifts, and then place the transferred object in the transfer liquid. Immerse yourself in
A fluid pressure transfer method capable of precise positioning, wherein a desired transfer pattern on a transfer film is transferred almost accurately to a predetermined position of a transfer object.   2. The precisely positionable liquid according to claim 1, wherein any correction of misalignment between the transfer object and the transfer film is corrected by changing the holding position of the transfer object by a transfer object conveying device. Pressure transfer method.   3. The hydraulic transfer capable of precise positioning according to claim 1, wherein the correction of the positional deviation can be repeatedly performed and compared with the normal position multiple times for both the transfer target and the transfer film. Method.   The first or second aspect of the invention is characterized in that when the actual holding position of the transferred body is detected, the transferred body is photographed from three directions of front, side and plane to detect the holding position. 3. A hydraulic transfer method capable of precise positioning according to 3.   In correcting the positional deviation on the film side, the correction is performed in consideration of the degree of swelling of the film between the detection of the positional deviation of the transfer film and the immersion of the transferred object. The hydraulic transfer method capable of precise positioning according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4.   In correcting the positional deviation of the transfer film in consideration of the degree of swelling of the transfer film, the transfer film swells first from the outer edge due to water landing, while the inner side of the film swells following the outer edge later. The amount of extension displacement due to swelling is detected at least at the outer edge and the inner side of the film, and the time for the degree of swelling of the film to be uniformed is estimated, and after the time has elapsed, The hydraulic transfer method capable of precise positioning according to claim 5, wherein the transfer film is brought into contact with the transfer film. A transfer tank for storing a transfer liquid;
Comprising a transferred object conveying device for conveying the transferred object to the transfer tank,
In an apparatus for transferring a transfer pattern to a transferred object by pressing the transferred object in an appropriate posture from above the transfer film suspended and supported on the transfer liquid surface by a transferred object conveying apparatus,
In this apparatus, a workpiece side detection device that detects an actual holding position of the transfer object held by the transfer object transport device, and
A film side detection device for detecting the actual position of the transfer film suspended and supported on the transfer liquid surface;
The actual position on the workpiece side and the film side is compared with the normal position, and a processing device that detects each position shift,
And a control panel for determining how to correct both detected positional deviations,
Further, the transferred object transporting device is additionally provided with a function of correcting the holding position of the transferred object,
After correcting the positional deviation of at least one of the workpiece side and the film side by the transferred object conveying device, the transferred object is immersed in the transfer liquid, and a desired position on the transferred film is placed on the transferred object at a predetermined position. A hydraulic transfer device capable of precise positioning, wherein the transfer pattern is transferred almost accurately.   The transfer object conveying device includes an X direction corresponding to the width direction of the transfer film supported on the transfer liquid surface, a Y direction corresponding to the feeding direction or the longitudinal direction of the transfer film, and a transfer film from the transfer film. 8. A fluid pressure capable of precise positioning according to claim 7, wherein a manipulator capable of correcting the Z direction corresponding to the height and θ corresponding to the rotation angle of the transfer film on the transfer liquid surface is applied. Transfer device.   An image recognition video camera or a high-quality digital camera is applied to the workpiece-side detection device, and when the detection is performed, the transferred object is photographed from three directions of front, side, and plane. 9. The hydraulic transfer device capable of precise positioning according to claim 7, wherein the holding position is detected. An appropriate transfer pattern is formed in a dry state on the carrier sheet, and in transferring, the ink surface on which the transfer pattern is formed is floated and supported on the liquid surface in the transfer tank. In the transfer film in which the transfer body is pressed from and the transfer pattern on the ink surface is transferred to the transfer body by the hydraulic pressure of the transfer liquid.
A hydraulic transfer film capable of precise positioning, wherein a target serving as a mark for detecting a position of a transfer film suspended and supported on the transfer liquid surface is formed on the ink surface.   The hydraulic transfer film according to claim 10, wherein the target on the transfer film is a marking that is applied to a site that is not substantially involved in transfer.   The hydraulic transfer film capable of precise positioning according to claim 11, wherein the marking is separately provided by a stamp after manufacturing a film for forming a transfer pattern in a dry state.   The hydraulic transfer film according to claim 10, wherein the target on the transfer film includes not only markings that can be clearly distinguished in appearance but also markings that can be recognized magnetically or optically.   In the transfer film, the transfer ink on which the transfer pattern is formed is applied only to the substantially developed shape portion of the decorative surface of the transfer object to be transferred, and the position of the transfer film is detected using this developed shape as a target. The hydraulic transfer film capable of precise positioning according to claim 10, wherein:

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