JP2011178025A - Printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing method in which controlling in which accuracy of a printing shape is high is possible. <P>SOLUTION: Two or more combinations consisting of one of two or more test printing plates 10<SB>1</SB>-10<SB>n</SB>and one of two or more test inks 11<SB>1</SB>-11<SB>m</SB>are set, each of the established combinations 14<SB>1</SB>-14<SB>q</SB>is used to form two or more test printing patterns 13<SB>1</SB>-13<SB>p</SB>to test printing surfaces 12<SB>1</SB>-12<SB>p</SB>, a correlation (k) among a plate thickness (a), an additive addition amount, and a printing film thickness (t) is investigated based on a measurement result of each printing film thickness (t) of the test printing patterns 13<SB>1</SB>-13<SB>p</SB>, a requested printing film thickness (t) is collated with the correlation (k), and thereby the plate thickness (a) and the additive addition amount corresponding to the requested film thickness (t) are acquired. A printing plate 1 which has the acquired plate thickness (a), and an ink 3 to which an additive has been added with the acquired additive addition amount are used to form a printing pattern 4 on a printing surface 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for printing on a molded article or plate-shaped member made of resin, metal, glass or the like.

  In recent years, the surface of various industrial products (metal surface / resin surface / glass surface) is sometimes given a dark color (for example, piano black) in order to enhance the sense of quality. The product surface to which the mark is applied has a feature that the user's fingerprint is easily attached. Since fingerprint attachment is a factor that impairs the aesthetics of industrial products, conventionally, it has been practiced to form a convex printed pattern on the product surface to alleviate fingerprint attachment. The thickness of general printing ink is as thin as 10 to 12 microns, and the convex print pattern having the thickness (height dimension) cannot be said to be sufficiently effective in preventing the attachment of fingerprints. Therefore, the convex print pattern for preventing fingerprint attachment is formed by a thick film printing method using a stainless mesh or the like and ultraviolet curable ink (hereinafter referred to as UV ink).

JP 2009-119678 A

  However, in the convex print pattern for preventing fingerprint attachment, if the height dimension becomes too large, the convex print pattern becomes conspicuous on the product surface, and the aesthetic appearance is impaired. Therefore, in order to prevent the attachment of fingerprints without impairing the aesthetic appearance, it is necessary to accurately form a convex print pattern having a thickness (height dimension) of about several tens to 100 microns including its cross-sectional shape. However, in the conventional thick film printing method, it is difficult to control the thickness (height) and the shape of the cross section with high accuracy.

  The main object of the present invention is to easily and accurately control the thickness of a finished printed pattern in a thick film printing method for forming a convex printed pattern for preventing fingerprint attachment.

In order to solve the above problems, the printing method of the present invention comprises:
A printing method for forming a printing pattern on the printing surface by applying and curing ink on the printing surface via a printing plate,
A plurality of test printing plates having different plate thicknesses and a plurality of test inks having the same components as the ink but having various additive amounts that affect ink viscosity are prepared. A first step of setting a plurality of combinations consisting of one of the printing plates and one of the plurality of test inks, and forming a plurality of test print patterns on the test print surface using each of the set combinations;
A second step of measuring the print film thickness of each of the plurality of test print patterns, and examining a correlation between the plate thickness, the additive addition amount, and the print film thickness based on the measurement result;
A third step of obtaining the plate thickness and the additive addition amount corresponding to the desired film thickness by collating the desired printed film thickness with the correlation;
The printing plate having the plate thickness obtained in the third step and the ink to which the additive is added in the additive addition amount obtained in the third step are prepared, and these printing plates are prepared. And a fourth step of forming the print pattern on the print surface using ink and ink;
including.

  In the present invention, the plate thickness and additive addition corresponding to the desired film thickness are verified by collating the desired print film thickness with the created correlation after previously creating the above correlation based on the shape measurement result of test printing. Since the quantity is acquired and actual printing is performed, the printing result (printing shape) can be controlled with high accuracy.

In the present invention,
In the second step, a database showing the correlation is created,
In the third step, the plate thickness and the additive addition amount corresponding to the desired film thickness are obtained by collating the desired printed film thickness with the database.
There is a mode. By creating a database showing the correlation, the second and third steps can be performed quickly and accurately using a computer.

In the present invention,
In the second step, as the correlation, the correlation between the plate thickness, the additive addition amount, the printing film thickness, and the cross-sectional shape of the printing pattern is examined,
In the third step, the plate thickness and the additive addition amount corresponding to the desired film thickness and the desired cross-sectional shape are obtained by collating the desired printed film thickness and the cross-sectional shape with the mutual relationship, respectively. And get the
There is a mode.

  According to this aspect, the printing result (printing shape) including the cross-sectional shape can be controlled with high accuracy.

  In practicing the present invention, the ink is preferably composed of a light-curing ink that is cured with a light beam having a specific wavelength. As such a light curable ink, a UV ink can be preferably exemplified.

  Moreover, as an additive which affects ink viscosity, a thickener or a diluent can be mentioned suitably.

  In the second step, it is preferable to measure the printed film thickness as a film thickness reduction rate of the printed film thickness after the print curing with respect to the printed film thickness before the print curing. It becomes possible to carry out.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible to control the thickness (height) and the cross-sectional shape which were difficult with the conventional thick film printing method with high precision.

(A), (b) is a principal part expanded sectional view which shows the printing method of one Embodiment of this invention. (A), (b) is a principal part expanded sectional view which shows the test printing in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part expanded sectional view which shows the cross-sectional shape of the printing pattern printed with the printing method of embodiment. It is a graph which shows the printing result of the test printing of embodiment. 1 is a configuration diagram of a computer system used to implement a printing method of an embodiment. FIG. (A), (b), (c) is a 1st graph which shows the correlation calculated by the test printing of embodiment. It is a 2nd graph which shows the correlation calculated by the test printing of embodiment.

  When printing a thick film with a thickness of about 100 microns on the surface of various industrial products using UV ink, which is one of the light-curing inks that are cured with light of a specific wavelength (hereinafter, such printing is referred to as UV printing). Since the shape shrinkage occurs with the ultraviolet curing after molding, the printed shape after the printing molding (after curing) decreases and fluctuates. In a printing method in which such shape variation occurs, the printing film thickness can be controlled to some extent by adjusting the thickness of the printing plate. However, there is a limit to adjusting the printing shape by adjusting the thickness of the printing plate, and the printing shape cannot be adjusted with high accuracy only by adjusting the thickness of the printing plate.

  In UV inks containing UV curable resins, it is customary not to use diluents (such as thinner) that are used in solvent-based inks. By adjusting, the UV ink is imparted with a viscosity suitable for general printing. When printing, use the UV ink as shipped without adjusting its viscosity, that is, without adjusting the amount of additive, and after printing, use UV lamps (such as metal hydrolamps) on the printed pattern. The UV ink is cured by irradiating with ultraviolet rays.

  The present invention adjusts the printing shape with high accuracy by adjusting the amount of UV ink additive (diluent or thickener, hereinafter simply referred to as additive) along with the thickness of the printing plate. Have the first feature.

  Here, the addition amount of the additive and the thickness of the printing plate influence the printing shape while being correlated with each other. Therefore, the amount of additive added, the thickness of the printing plate, and the printing shape are intricately related to each other. By simply adjusting the amount of additive added and the thickness of the printing plate, the printing shape can be accurately increased. I can't control it.

Therefore, in the present invention,
In the first step,
After preparing a plurality of test printing plates having different plate thicknesses and a plurality of test inks having the same components as the ink but having different additive amounts affecting the ink viscosity, the plurality of test printing plates A plurality of combinations consisting of one of the plurality of test inks and one of the plurality of test inks, and after forming a test print pattern on the test print surface using each of the set combinations,
In the second step,
The print film thickness of the test print pattern is measured, and the correlation among the plate thickness, the additive addition amount, and the print film thickness is examined based on the measurement result.

  The present invention has a second feature in examining such interrelationships. Accordingly, the present invention can control the printing shape with high accuracy.

  Furthermore, the present invention has a third feature in creating a database indicating the correlation. This makes it possible to quickly and accurately carry out the correlation construction process and the correlation verification process using a computer.

Moreover,
When the ink viscosity varies by adjusting the additive amount, the cross-sectional shape slightly changes in the print result (print pattern). This invention pays attention to this, and has the 4th characteristic in building the correlation between the thickness of a plate | plate, the mixture ratio of an additive, and cross-sectional shape. As a result, the printing result (printing shape) including the cross-sectional shape can be controlled with high accuracy, and variations in the cross-sectional shape to be formed increase.

  Next, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, printing in which a printing pattern 4 is formed on the printing surface 2 by applying and curing the ink 3 on the printing surface 2 via the printing plate 1. A method comprising first to fourth steps.

(First step)
A plurality of test printing plates 10 ₁ to 10 _n having different plate thicknesses (thicknesses) a, and additives having an equivalent component to ink 3 but affecting ink viscosity (in this embodiment, diluent and thickener) A plurality of test inks 11 _{1 to} 11 _m having different addition amounts are prepared. Prepared test printing plate ₁₀ 1 to 10 _n one 10 _x test inks also prepared with ₁₁ 1 to 11 _m, one 11 consisting of a _x plurality of combinations ₁₂ 1 _{to 12} p in in the (P = n Xm) is set. Then, test print patterns 13 _{1 to} 13 _p are formed on the test print surfaces 12 _{1 to} 12 _p using the set combinations 12 _{1 to} 12 _p, respectively.

Specifically, the following test printing plates 10 ₁ to 10 ₄ and test inks 11 _{1 to} 11 ₁₁ are prepared. The test printing plates 10 ₁ to 10 ₄ are each formed with a circle (several patterns) having a diameter of 2 mm and a rectangular (several patterns) having a line width of 2 mm and a length of 5 mm.
・ Test printing plate 10 ₁ :
Stainless steel mesh with plate thickness a = 64 microns (Stainless steel mesh 325: Opening ratio 41%)
Test printing plate 10 ₂ :
Stainless steel mesh with plate thickness a = 100 microns (Stainless steel mesh 180: Opening ratio 42%)
・ Test printing plate 10 ₃ :
Stainless steel mesh with plate thickness a = 210 microns (Stainless steel mesh 100: Opening ratio 38%)
・ Test printing plate 10 ₄ :
Metal mask with plate thickness a = 400 microns (aperture ratio 100%)
Test ink 11 ₁ :
Prepared standard UV ink (hereinafter referred to as standard ink)
Test ink 11 ₂ :
A diluent (acrylic resin solution) is added to the standard ink at a weight ratio of 1%. Test ink 11 ₃ :
A diluent (acrylic resin solution) is added to the standard ink at a weight ratio of 2%. Test ink 11 ₄ :
A diluent (acrylic resin solution) is added to the standard ink at a weight ratio of 3%. Test ink 11 ₅ :
A diluent (acrylic resin solution) is added to the standard ink at a weight ratio of 4%. Test ink 11 ₆ :
A diluent (acrylic resin solution) is added to the standard ink at a weight ratio of 5%. Test ink 11 ₇ :
A thickener (acrylic monomer) is added to the standard ink at a weight ratio of 1%. Test ink 11 ₈ :
A thickener (acrylic monomer) is added to the standard ink at a weight ratio of 2%. Test ink 11 ₉ :
A thickener (acrylic monomer) is added to the standard ink at a weight ratio of 3%. Test ink 11 ₁₀ :
A thickener (acrylic monomer) is added to the standard ink at a weight ratio of 4%. Test ink 11 ₁₁ :
A thickener (acrylic monomer) is added to the standard ink at a weight ratio of 5%. The standard ink is not particularly limited, and the UV ink used as a standard by the person performing this printing method in the printing. Anything may be used.

The combinations 14 _{1 to} 14 ₄₄ of the test printing plates 10 ₁ to 10 ₄ and the test inks 11 _{1 to} 11 ₁₁ prepared as described above are set as follows.
Combinations 14 _{1 to} 14 ₁₁
(Combination of the respective test printing plate 10 ₁ and the test ink _{11 to 11)}
・ Combination 14 _{12 to} 14 ₂₂
(Combination of the respective test printing plate 10 ₂ and the test ink _{11 to 11)}
・ Combination 14 _{23 to} 14 ₃₃
(Combination of the respective test printing plate 10 ₃ and Test Ink _{11 1 to 11)}
・ Combination 14 _{34 to} 14 ₄₄
(Combination of the respective test printing plate ₁₀₄ and the test ink _{11 to 11)}
After setting more combinations _1-44, with each combination _1-44, FIG. 2 (a), the (b), the test printing on the test printed surface ₁₂ 1 _{to 12 44} patterns ₁₃ 1 to ₁₃₄₄ is formed. Sonouede, a test print pattern _{131-134 44} each print thickness t of the formed, a sectional shape d measured. In the embodiment, as the sectional shape d, and measure the surface flatness of the test print patterns _{131-134 44.} That is, as shown in FIG. 3, if the surface is flat, the flatness is 0 (see FIG. 3 (a)), and if the surface is deformed in a concave shape, the deformation is negative (see FIG. 3 (b)). If it was deformed, it was regarded as positive deformation (see FIG. 3C). Further, in the convex / concave deformation, a score proportional to the degree of the deformation was given.

The measurement results are shown in FIG. FIG. 4 shows the printing results (printed film thickness t) using the test printing plates 10 ₁ to 10 _{4. In} the figure, the vertical axis represents the printed film thickness t, and the horizontal axis represents the amount of additive added.

(Second step)
As shown in FIG. 5, based on the measurement result obtained in the first step, the plate thickness a of the test printing plates 10 ₁ to 10 ₄ and the test inks 11 _{1 to} 11 _m (specifically, the test inks 11 ₁ to 11) the interrelationship k between 11 additive amount in _m) and the printing thickness t and cross-sectional shape d created using computer C, and stores the correlation in the database B. Hereinafter, the correlation k stored in the database B will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6A is a graph showing the correlation k ₁ between the plate thickness a and the printing film thickness t in printing using UV ink to which a thickener is added at a weight ratio of 5%. Reciprocal k ₁ is printing in combination 14 ₁₁ , 14 ₂₂ , 14 ₃₃ , 14 ₄₄ (a combination of test ink 11 ₁₁ (thickener added at 5% by weight) and test printing plates ₁₀₁ to ₄ ). Created based on the results.

6 (b) is a graph of the interrelationship k ₂ between the plate thickness a and the printing thickness t of printing with standard inks. The interrelationship k ₂ is created based on the printing results in the combinations 14 ₁ , 14 ₁₂ , 14 ₂₃ , and 14 ₃₄ (the combination of the test ink 11 ₁ (standard ink) and the test printing plates ₁₀₁ to ₄ ).

6 (c) is a graph of the interrelationship k ₃ between the plate thickness a and the printing thickness t in printing using UV ink adding diluent in a weight ratio of 4%. The interrelationship k ₃ is the printing result in the combination 14 ₆ , 14 ₁₇ , 14 ₂₈ , 14 ₃₉ (the combination of the test ink 11 ₆ (adding diluent at 4% by weight) and the test printing plates ₁₀₁ to ₄ ). Created based on

  In each figure of FIG. 6, the horizontal axis indicates the plate thickness a, and the vertical axis indicates the printed film thickness t. Also, including FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, the print film thickness t is the film thickness reduction rate of the print film thickness t after print curing with respect to the print film thickness t ′ before print cure (equivalent to the plate thickness a). (Hereinafter referred to as sink rate). In order to calculate the actual printed film thickness t in each figure of FIG. 6, the plate thickness a may be multiplied by the sink rate at the plate thickness a.

  As shown in FIG. 6, it can be seen that as the diluent increases, the reduction rate of the printed film thickness increases (the sink rate increases) and the resulting printed film thickness t decreases. This feature becomes prominent in proportion to the increase in the plate thickness a. On the other hand, it can be seen that as the thickener increases, the reduction rate (sink rate) of the printed film thickness decreases, and the resulting printed film thickness t is less likely to become thin.

  When the diluent is added to the UV ink at a weight ratio exceeding 5%, the UV ink becomes too soft and bleeding is observed during printing. Therefore, it can be judged that the diluent addition amount limit is 5%. Moreover, if the thickener is added to the UV ink in excess of 5% by weight, the printing pattern 4 will be damaged. Therefore, it can be judged that the addition amount limit value of the thickener is 5%.

Further, when printing is performed with the standard ink (test ink 11 ₁ ), the concave portion is deformed on the pattern surface of the print pattern 4. On the other hand, when the thickener is added to the standard ink and the addition amount is increased, the deformation of the concave portion is reduced. And the pattern surface becomes flat with arbitrary thickener addition amount. When the addition amount of the thickening agent is further increased beyond the arbitrary addition amount, convex deformation occurs on the pattern surface. On the other hand, when a diluent is added to the standard ink, the surface tension of the ink increases, resulting in a shape change that gently slopes downward from the center of the pattern toward the periphery. Such a shape change becomes significant when the amount of diluent added is increased. Further, the change in the shape of the print pattern 4 due to the addition of the thickener / diluent described above becomes more prominent as the surface area of the print pattern 4 increases.

As is clear from the interrelationships k _{1 to} k ₃ shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C, even if the test printing plates 10 having all plate thicknesses are not prepared, arbitrary plural types of test printing plates 10 _{1 are used.} We are prepared _{to 4,} if you create a mutual relationship k ₁ ~k ₃ on the basis of the data was collected the data of the print thickness t doing a test print in their test printing plate 10 _{1 to 4} By collating the created correlations k _{1 to} k ₃ , it is possible to estimate a printing result (printing film thickness t) using the printing plate 10 _x whose test print data is unknown. In FIG. 7, based on the interrelationships k _{1 to} k ₃ shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the printing plate 10 ₅ with the unknown test print data a = 240 microns and the plate thickness a with the unknown test print data = 170 microns of the printing plate ₁₀₆ and the print result using respective estimates (print thickness t).

(Third step)
The plate thickness a and the additive corresponding to the desired film thickness t are checked by checking the desired print film thickness t against the correlation k created in the second step using the computer C and stored in the database B. Acquire a combination with the addition amount. Here, it is possible to extract a plurality of combinations of the plate thickness a and the additive addition amount for a desired printing result (printed film thickness t). As described above, the amount of additive added is a factor that greatly affects the cross-sectional shape of the print pattern 4, so that the desired cross-sectional shape of the print pattern 4 can be selected from a plurality of combinations having different additive amounts. It becomes possible to select a combination that can create a printed pattern having the most approximate cross-sectional shape.

(Fourth step)
Prepare printing plate 1 having plate thickness a obtained in the third step, and ink 3 to which an additive (thickener or diluent) is added in the additive addition amount obtained in the third step. A printing pattern 4 is formed on the printing surface 2 using the printing plate 1 and the ink 3. The thickness t and the cross-sectional shape of the printed pattern 4 to be formed are as close as possible to the desired values.

  In the embodiment described above, the correlation is stored in the database B in order to improve processing accuracy and speed up the processing speed. However, the correlation in the present invention may not be stored in the database B. Needless to say.

  In the above-described embodiment, the cross-sectional shape is added as a correlation factor. However, it goes without saying that the cross-sectional shape can be excluded from the correlation factor in the present invention.

  In practicing the present invention, the ink is preferably composed of a light-curing ink (particularly a UV ink) that is cured with a light beam having a specific wavelength, but it goes without saying that the present invention can be practiced with other than the light-curing ink. Nor. Needless to say, the additive affecting the ink viscosity may be other than the thickener or diluent.

1 printing plate 2 printing surface 3 ink 4 printing pattern 10 ₁ to 10 _n test printing plate 11 _{1 to} 11 _m test ink 12 _{1 to} 12 _p test printing surface 13 _{1 to} 13 _p test printing pattern 14 _{1 to} 14 _q combination B database C Computer a Plate thickness t Printing film thickness d Cross-sectional shape k Correlation

Claims (6)

A printing method for forming a printing pattern on the printing surface by applying and curing ink on the printing surface via a printing plate,
A plurality of test printing plates having different plate thicknesses and a plurality of test inks having the same components as the ink but having various additive amounts that affect ink viscosity are prepared. A first step of setting a plurality of combinations consisting of one of the printing plates and one of the plurality of test inks, and forming a plurality of test print patterns on the test print surface using each of the set combinations;
A second step of measuring the print film thickness of each of the plurality of test print patterns, and examining a correlation between the plate thickness, the additive addition amount, and the print film thickness based on the measurement result;
A third step of obtaining the plate thickness and the additive addition amount corresponding to the desired film thickness by collating the desired printed film thickness with the correlation;
The printing plate having the plate thickness obtained in the third step and the ink to which the additive is added in the additive addition amount obtained in the third step are prepared, and these printing plates are prepared. And a fourth step of forming the print pattern on the print surface using ink and ink;
including,
Printing method. In the second step, a database showing the correlation is created,
In the third step, the plate thickness and the additive addition amount corresponding to the desired film thickness are obtained by collating the desired printed film thickness with the database.
The printing method according to claim 1. In the second step, as the correlation, the correlation between the plate thickness, the additive addition amount, the printing film thickness, and the cross-sectional shape of the printing pattern is examined,
In the third step, the plate thickness and the additive addition amount corresponding to the desired film thickness and the desired cross-sectional shape are obtained by collating the desired printed film thickness and the cross-sectional shape with the mutual relationship, respectively. And get the
The printing method according to claim 1 or 2. The ink is a light curable ink that cures with light of a specific wavelength.
The printing method according to claim 1. The additive is a thickener or diluent.
The printing method according to claim 1. In the second step, the printed film thickness is measured as a film thickness reduction rate of the printed film thickness after the print curing with respect to the printed film thickness before the print curing.
The printing method according to claim 1.

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