JP2014174218A - Contact lens colored by dot pattern and method for manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a colored contact lens having a new structure in which a mark or a pattern is attached to the lens by a color dot pattern, and a method for manufacturing the same.SOLUTION: In a colored contact lens having a color region provided by arranging a plurality of color dots in a predetermined pattern, a collection dot constituted by a collection region having a plurality of adjacent element dots 14 formed by adhesion of the minimum unit of a colorant is used as a unit color spot 16, and the color region is provided by arranging the unit color spots 16 used as a color dot in a predetermined pattern separated at an interval 18 of at least one element dot.

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a colored contact lens provided with a colored region and a manufacturing method thereof, for example, a colored contact lens that is attached to a lens by a dot pattern colored with a mark or an iris pattern that represents a wearing direction or a left or right distinction. And its manufacturing method.

  Conventionally, in the field of contact lenses, colored contact lenses have been proposed in which various marks are added in consideration of user convenience and various patterns are added in consideration of cosmetic effects and the like.

  And as a method of attaching such a mark or pattern to a lens, pad printing described in JP 2005-537376 A (Patent Document 1) is known. However, it has been difficult to obtain sufficient accuracy by the pad printing method to give a fine mark or pattern to a small contact lens.

  Incidentally, in recent years, the accuracy of ink jet printing using digital technology has been improved, and it has also been proposed to apply ink jet printing to coloring contact lenses. For example, Japanese Translation of PCT International Publication No. 2004-503810 (Patent Document 2) describes that a colored contact lens with a pattern or the like is obtained by inkjet printing on the surface of the contact lens.

  Such ink jet printing is performed by attaching ink droplets to the lens surface, and controls the positions of element dots formed by one droplet to correspond to each pixel constituting the target digital image. By arranging element dots at the respective positions, a pattern is added on the lens as a whole.

  However, a print head of an ink jet printer is generally provided with 1 to several thousand nozzle holes for ejecting ink droplets. If any of these nozzle holes is not ejected, printing is lost and printing is performed. It is known to cause quality degradation. In particular, Patent Document 2 proposes a method of printing pixels having a diameter of less than 150 μm adjacent to each other with a separation distance of 80 μm. Accordingly, one ink droplet ejected from one nozzle is one on a contact lens. It is understood that it is expressed as a colored dot.

  In such ink jet printing, the nozzle non-ejection due to a defect causes a missing print dot as it is, so that there is a problem in that a significant quality deterioration of the printing due to the nozzle non-ejection tends to occur.

  In addition, if the ink landing accuracy decreases due to a decrease in the quality of the printer head during continuous printing, and the regularity such as the position and size of the colored dots is lost, this directly reduces the printing quality. There was also a problem that it actually appeared.

  In particular, when a mark or a pattern is represented by a dot pattern formed by arranging colored dots in a predetermined area, a drop in printing quality is noticeable when dot missing or irregular dot positions occur.

  In order to solve such problems of ink jet printing, the same colored dots are printed by overlapping a plurality of nozzles in a multi-pass recording method in which dot printing is performed by scanning a plurality of nozzles on the same line. It is also possible. When one line is printed in one pass, one line is printed by one nozzle, but one line is printed by using a plurality of nozzles by a multi-pass printing method. Therefore, for example, when 8 passes are used, even if a single nozzle fails, printing can be complemented with the remaining 7 passes, improving the quality assurance performance of the printed results. To do. However, when the multi-pass method is used, it is unavoidable that the printing process at the mass production site has a fatal defect in that the number of scans increases and the printing time becomes long, and there is no problem with colored dots. Further reduction in efficiency becomes a problem due to necessary overcoating.

JP 2005-537376 JP-T-2004-503810

  Here, the present invention has been made in the background as described above, and the problem to be solved is a colored contact lens having a novel structure in which a mark or a pattern is attached to the lens by a colored dot pattern. And providing a manufacturing method thereof. In particular, in the present invention, even when a defect such as missing or disorder occurs in the element dots formed by the adhesion of the minimum unit of the colorant, a stable colored region is suppressed by suppressing a decrease in the print quality of the target mark or pattern. It is an object of the present invention to provide a colored contact lens having a novel structure that can be obtained and a method for producing the same.

  The first aspect of the present invention, which has been made to solve such a problem, is the adhesion of the smallest unit of colorant in a colored contact lens provided with a colored region by arranging a plurality of colored dots in a predetermined pattern. The unit dots formed by a plurality of adjacent group regions of element dots formed as a unit colored spot are used as unit colored spots, and the unit colored spots are arranged as the colored dots in a predetermined pattern with a gap of at least one element dot. Thus, the colored contact lens according to the dot pattern is characterized in that the colored region is provided.

  That is, in the prior art as described in Patent Document 2, the minimum unit dot of the colorant is used as it is as a colored dot that is a unit dot that forms a target mark or pattern in the colored region. On the other hand, in the colored contact lens according to the present embodiment, a unit coloring spot composed of a set of dots composed of a plurality of element dots that are the minimum unit dots of the colorant is employed as the colored dot that is the unit dot. did.

  In short, in the colored contact lens of this aspect, since the colored dots themselves, which are unit dots, are formed by collecting a plurality of element dots that are the minimum unit dots of the colorant, for example, ink droplets that are the minimum unit dots When an element dot is formed by landing on the lens, even if the element dot is chipped due to a defect such as a discharge nozzle for ink droplets, it does not directly lead to missing of the colored dot. Even if one element dot is missing, etc., the presence of the colored dot is maintained by the presence of the other element dot that constitutes one colored dot in cooperation with the one element dot. Without increasing the number of times more than necessary, it is possible to effectively prevent complete coloring dot omission while maintaining good coloring efficiency and tact in the manufacturing process.

  Moreover, the colored dots formed by aggregating a plurality of element dots, which are the minimum unit dots of the colorant, are larger in area than the element dots. Therefore, for example, even when the landing accuracy of ink droplets in a printing device is low or deteriorates, irregularities in the regular landing position of one element dot are absorbed by the droplets that are the other element dots constituting the colored dots. Can be done. As a result, the influence on the disorder of the regularity of the colored dots due to the disorder of the regularity of one element dot is alleviated, and one element dot is used as it is as one colored dot as described in Patent Document 2. Compared to the prior art, it is possible to obtain a colored region with a more stable dot pattern.

  A second aspect of the present invention is a colored contact lens according to the first aspect, wherein two or more unit colored spots having the same configuration are continuously arranged in the colored region.

  By continuously arranging a plurality of the unit colored spots having the same configuration such as the size and color of the element dots, the transparency, the number, the arrangement mode, etc., the formation of the unit colored spots, and thus the formation of the colored regions, It becomes possible to carry out the process more easily and efficiently, and the mass productivity can be improved.

  A third aspect of the present invention is a colored contact lens according to the first or second aspect, wherein a plurality of types of unit colored spots having different configurations are arranged in the colored region.

  Diversified expression and visual recognition of colored areas by forming colored areas by combining different colored dots, such as the size, color, transparency, number, and arrangement of the element dots constituting the unit colored spots. It becomes possible to improve performance.

  A fourth aspect of the present invention is a colored contact lens according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the unit colored spots are arranged in orthogonal row and column directions in the colored region. It is.

  By setting the arrangement pattern (coloring pattern) by arranging the unit coloring spots and the element dots that make up the unit coloring spots in two orthogonal directions, the coloring process such as the design design and printing of the colored area is used, for example, using digital processing. By doing so, it becomes possible to carry out more efficiently, easily and accurately.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the colored contact lens according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, a unit element pattern is configured including the unit colored spot and the gap provided around the unit colored spot. In addition, the unit element pattern is defined by a plurality of pixels that are divided in the orthogonal row and column directions and designated as colored or non-colored, and the unit element pattern is colored corresponding to the unit colored spot. The area of the designated collective region of the pixels is 25 to 65%.

  By setting the area of the unit coloring spot in the unit element pattern between 25 to 65%, it is possible to color between adjacent unit coloring spots while ensuring good visibility of the colored region by the set of unit coloring spots. It is possible to suppress problems such as bleeding and beads due to absorption and integration of liquid droplets.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the colored contact lens according to the fifth aspect, the unit element pattern is set in a square shape, and the color-designated pixel indicating the position of the unit colored spot is displayed. The gathering area is also set in a square shape.

  By making the unit element pattern and the collection region of the designated pixels into a square shape, the resolution and drawing accuracy in the orthogonal biaxial directions can be made substantially equal, and the target mark or pattern can be expressed more accurately. It becomes possible.

A seventh aspect of the present invention is the colored contact lens according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the unit colored spots are 16 pieces / mm ² or less in the colored region. is there.

If the number of unit coloring spots exceeds 16 / mm ² , each unit coloring spot becomes too small and the visibility of each unit coloring spot with the naked eye is inferior. It expresses with high accuracy, and more labor than necessary is required in the design of the colored region and the coloring process. Therefore, by providing a colored region with the unit colored spots being 16 pieces / mm ² or less, it is possible to form the target mark or pattern appropriately and visually with the naked eye.

Further, in consideration of the size of unit coloring spots that can be realized, if the number of unit coloring spots exceeds 16 / mm ² , the contact lenses that are inferior in the absorbability of ink solvent or the like, especially unlike paper, are colored. At this time, adjacent unit coloring spots may be connected to cause uneven coloring.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the colored contact lens according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the element dot constituting the unit colored spot is 360 dpi or more.

  By setting the element dots constituting the unit coloring spot to 360 dpi or more, one unit coloring spot is formed while ensuring the visibility and drawing accuracy of the mark or pattern represented by the target coloring area. For example, the number of element dots can be appropriately set within a range of 4 to 36. Thereby, it is also possible to more effectively suppress the adverse effect on the visibility of the unit colored spot due to the lack of element dots.

  A ninth aspect of the present invention is the colored contact lens according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, wherein the ratio of the maximum diameter to the minimum diameter in the plurality of unit colored spots constituting the colored region is 0. .1 or more.

  If the unit colored spots constituting the colored region are combined with ones having a remarkably large difference in size, the visibility of the small unit colored spots is remarkably inferior and does not substantially function. Therefore, by combining unit colored spots in which the ratio of the maximum diameter to the minimum diameter is 0.1 to 1.0, it becomes possible to represent the target mark or pattern in a manner that can be visually recognized more effectively. . Note that the unit coloring spot does not need to have a perfect circle on the outer periphery, and the diameter-size ratio of this aspect can be applied with the diameter of the circumscribed circle.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the colored contact lens according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, the element dot is formed by coloring at least one of the lens surface and the lens interior. is there.

  The element dots colored in the present invention are realized by coloring the surface and / or the inside of the lens by, for example, adhesion of a pigment or the like to the lens surface or impregnation with a dye or the like on the lens surface and inside. Also, ink droplets can be landed on the lens surface with an ink jet printer, or the dye attached to the lens mold can be deposited on the lens surface during lens molding, printed on electrophotographic prints, or by thermal transfer or photo development. In addition to coloring, the surface of the lens or the inside thereof may be colored directly or indirectly by various known methods such as coloring the surface of the lens with a high-accuracy pad transfer method described in JP-T-2011-76105. It is possible to attach.

  The present invention is also characterized by a method for producing a colored contact lens having a structure according to the present invention as described above. That is, the present invention is a method of manufacturing a colored contact lens in which a colored region is provided by arranging a plurality of colored dots in a predetermined pattern, and is adjacent to an element dot formed by adhesion of a minimum unit of a colorant. A unit colored spot composed of a set dot composed of a plurality of matching set areas is adopted as the color dot, and the unit color spot is arranged in a predetermined pattern with a gap corresponding to at least one element dot. A method of manufacturing a colored contact lens by a dot pattern that forms the colored region by printing is also a feature.

  According to such a method of the present invention, a colored contact lens having a structure according to the present invention as described above can be efficiently manufactured. The preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention will be omitted for the purpose of duplicating the description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention relating to the colored contact lens described above, but for realizing the preferred embodiment of the present invention relating to the colored contact lens. Any process or configuration may be suitably employed in the method of the present invention.

  In addition, in the method of the present invention, it is preferable that the unit coloring spot is directly ink-jet printed on the lens. For example, the unit coloring spot which is ink-jet printed on the mold is transferred to the lens surface when forming the lens to form a colored region. However, it is possible to further improve work efficiency and printing accuracy by printing directly on the lens surface.

  According to the present invention, a unit coloring spot formed by collecting a plurality of element dots, which are the minimum unit dots of the colorant, is adopted as a coloring dot that is a unit dot that forms a target mark or pattern in the coloring region. As a result, even when the element dots formed by the adhesion of the smallest unit of the colorant have defects such as missing or disorder, a stable colored region is obtained by suppressing a decrease in the print quality of the target mark or pattern. It is possible to provide a colored contact lens having a novel structure that can be applied.

Explanatory drawing for demonstrating the structure of the unit coloring spot as a colored dot employ | adopted in this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows one structural example of the coloring area | region represented using the unit coloring spot shown by FIG. Explanatory drawing corresponding to FIG. 2 which shows the example of 1 structure of the colored area | region of a conventional structure. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram corresponding to FIG. 1, showing unit coloring spots constituting the coloring region of the conventional structure shown in FIG. 3. Explanatory drawing which shows some specific examples of the unit coloring spot employ | adopted in this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the pixel pattern of the digital image as a 1st Example of this invention, and the printing result to the contact lens surface with the pattern of a unit coloring spot. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram corresponding to FIG. 6, showing a pixel pattern of a digital image as a comparative example and a printing result on a contact lens surface together with a pattern of unit coloring spots. Explanatory drawing which shows the pixel pattern of the digital image as a 2nd Example of this invention.

  Hereinafter, in order to clarify the present invention more specifically, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, FIG. 1 shows a specific example of a unit element pattern 10 as a colored dot that forms a colored region on a contact lens in the present invention. That is, in the contact lens according to the present invention, in a colored region visually recognized as a mark or pattern, the target mark or pattern is visually recognized by a dot pattern in which a plurality of colored dots are appropriately arranged. . The unit element pattern 10 constitutes a dot which is the minimum unit for forming such a dot pattern.

  The unit element pattern 10 of the present embodiment is colored dots formed by an ink jet printer and is grasped as a digital image that is basic data for controlling the printing operation of the ink jet printer. That is, the unit element pattern 10 is grasped as digital pixel information as rectangular pixel information of a total of 9 squares divided into 3 × 3 squares in the orthogonal two-axis directions.

  Here, each square (pixel) represents a pixel 12 as a minimum unit of a digital image. In general, an orthogonal biaxial direction as an arrangement direction of the pixels 12 is a main scanning direction in order to control the ink jet printer. A certain raster direction and a column direction which is the sub-scanning direction are used. Further, the nine pixels 12 constituting one unit element pattern 10 are composed of four colored pixels 12α gathered at one corner and the other five non-colored pixels 12β.

  The size of each pixel 12 is that a single droplet (a circle indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 1) that is ejected from one nozzle of an inkjet printer is the smallest unit of ink as a colorant. The size is such that it can be substantially covered and colored with the element dots 14 formed in the above. In each of the four colored pixels 12α, element dots 14 colored by the landing of ink droplets are formed. In the inkjet printing, coloring / non-coloring is designated for each pixel 12 constituting the target digital image. Then, one element dot 14 is arranged on the pixel 12 designated to be colored, and this pixel 12 is set as a colored pixel 12α. However, the pixel 12 is grasped in a rectangular shape, while the element dot 14 formed by ink landing or the like is substantially circular. Therefore, the outer edge of the element dot 14 does not need to exactly match the outer edge of the colored pixel 12α, and a non-colored region remains at the corner of the colored pixel 12α or the element dot 14 extends to the adjacent non-colored pixel 12β. The outer edge of the may protrude.

  In addition, four adjacent colored pixels 12α are gathered to form one rectangular region as a whole, so that the appearance is a single colored dot (a circle indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1). A unit colored spot 16 that can be glazed is configured. This unit coloring spot 16 becomes a unit dot that expresses a target mark or pattern with a dot pattern, and is grasped as one minimum ink spot. In addition, the unit coloring spot 16 represented with a circular outer periphery shape in the drawing is a curved outer periphery shape in which the curvature is varied on the circumference, which is an aggregate region of four adjacent colored pixels 12α, that is, four element dots 14. However, it will be treated as a circle in the specification and drawings.

  Furthermore, a gap region 18 is formed around the unit coloring spot 16 by five non-coloring pixels 12β arranged in a hook shape so as to surround the substantially half circumference. The unit colored spot 16 and the gap region 18 constitute one unit element pattern 10. In the present embodiment, the gap region 18 is formed in the size of one pixel 12 in the biaxial direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the pixels 12 on the outer periphery of the unit coloring spot 16.

  As a specific example of a colored region configured by arranging a plurality of such unit element patterns 10, a rectangular colored region 20 is shown in FIG. The colored region 20 in this specific example is formed by continuously arranging six unit element patterns 10 shown in FIG. 1 in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, which are two orthogonal axes. Although FIG. 2 is an enlarged display, it is difficult to understand, but for example, if each pixel 12 of the unit element pattern 10 is formed with a pixel resolution of 360 dpi or more realized by a general ink jet printer, the naked eye It is possible to grasp the entire square area shown in FIG. 2 as one colored area.

  In the colored region 20 shown in FIG. 2, the unit colored spots 16 as a total of 36 colored dots are formed in the gap region 18 formed by one non-colored pixel 12β in the unit element pattern 10 in the orthogonal biaxial direction. Are arranged independently at substantially equal intervals. Such a colored region 20 is, for example, based on the digital data by creating digital data in which each pixel 12 constituting each unit element pattern 10 is a pixel of a digital image and whether or not coloring is set for each pixel. It can be formed by operating an ink jet printer.

  More specific data processing at the time of inkjet printing can be performed according to a known method as described in known literature such as “Inkjet” (edited by the Japan Imaging Society) published by Tokyo Denki University Press. At that time, line printers and serial printers can be used as appropriate in consideration of printing accuracy, printing speed, etc., and interlace scanning using a multi-head, multi-pass method, etc. are appropriately adopted in consideration of nozzle density and the like Can be done.

  In such a colored region 20, the colored dots themselves, which are the unit dots of the dot pattern, are unit colored spots that are aggregates of element dots 14 that are the smallest units that can be colored and are individually colored. 16, even if one element dot 14 is not printed due to a failure of an ink droplet discharge nozzle or the like, and the element dot 14 is missing, the unit colored spot 16 cooperates. The unit colored spot 16 itself does not disappear due to the presence of the other element dots 14 configured as described above.

  The unit coloring spot 16 as a colored dot which is a unit dot of the dot pattern is formed by a plurality of element dots 14 each consisting of a single droplet which is a minimum unit to be individually colored. It is formed with a sufficiently large area as compared with the above. Therefore, for example, even when the printing accuracy of the ink jet printer is low or lowered, the adverse effect on the regularity of the unit colored spots 16 due to the irregularity of the regular landing position of one element dot 14 is alleviated.

  Therefore, a mark or pattern comprising a target dot pattern can be prevented by preventing the missing of the colored dots without requiring a technique such as printing more than necessary by coloring a single element dot 14 with a plurality of nozzles. Can be stably attached to the contact lens.

  In addition, since the unit colored spots 16 as the colored dots, which are unit dots of the dot pattern, are formed with a large area, the visibility of the surface of the contact lens, which has a low affinity for the solvent of the colorant, is particularly low. It is possible to easily and stably form colored dots excellent in the above.

  Incidentally, FIG. 3 shows, as a comparative example, a colored region based on a dot pattern configured in accordance with the prior art as described in Patent Document 2 in which an element dot 14 composed of one droplet is directly adopted as one colored dot. That is, the colored region in this comparative example is formed by forming the same range as the colored region in the present embodiment shown in FIG. 2 according to a conventional printing method in which one dot is one droplet. FIG. 4 shows a unit element pattern 22 in the comparative example. The unit element pattern 22 of this comparative example is provided with a total of 4 pixels of 2 × 2 pixels in the orthogonal two-axis directions as pixels 12 as a minimum unit in digital processing of images and printing, and one of them is a colored pixel 12α. It is said that.

  Comparing the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the comparative example shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the density in the entire pixel range of the colored pixels 12α, which is the colored area ratio in the unit element pattern 10 of this embodiment, is 4. Compared to pixels / 9 pixels, the comparative example has a smaller size of 1 pixel / 4 pixels. Therefore, if one pixel has the same size, not only one dot constituting the colored region is enlarged in the embodiment as compared with the comparative example, but also the coloring density, which is the ratio of the colored area in the colored region, is large. Has been. Thereby, for example, if an aspect in which each pixel 12 of the unit element patterns 10 and 22 is displayed at a pixel resolution of 360 dpi or more is assumed, the visibility of the naked eye is far superior to the comparative example. Understandable.

  In addition, when there is a defect in the landing of a droplet on one colored pixel 12α, the unit colored spot 16 itself is maintained in the embodiment, whereas in the comparative example, the dot is missing and the quality of the colored region is reduced. It can also be easily understood that a significant decrease in visibility is inevitable.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the unit element pattern 10 that is digitally processed as 3 × 3 9 pixels is used has been described. However, the specific number of pixels in the unit element pattern 10 and the unit coloring spots provided there The configuration of the 16 modes and the like is not limited, and the performance of the hardware and software such as the arithmetic device and the printing device used for image processing and printing processing, and the display mode of the target mark and pattern, etc. It can be set as appropriate.

  For example, when the resolution in the X direction × Y direction, which is two orthogonal axes, is set to 360 dpi × 360 dpi, 720 dpi × 360 dpi, and 720 dpi × 720 dpi, unit element patterns that are preferably employed are respectively used. Some specific examples are schematically shown together as unit element patterns 10, 10a to 10h in FIG. The unit colored spots 16, 16a to 16h are substantially circular or substantially elliptical. In FIG. 5, the unit colored spots 16, 16a to 16h are shown by coloring the colored pixel 12α. .

  Here, as shown in the upper left of FIG. 5, the resolution in the X direction × Y direction is 360 dpi × 360 dpi, the unit element pattern 10 is 3 × 3 square (pixel 12), and the unit coloring spot 16 is 2 × 2 Assuming the case of a square (colored pixel 12α), the area ratio of the collection region of the colored pixels 12α indicating the position of the unit colored spot 16 in the unit element pattern 10 is (2 × 2) / (3 × 3) ≈44. (%) Is calculated. Similarly, regarding the unit element patterns 10a to 10h, when the area ratio of the collection region of the colored pixels 12α indicating the position of the unit coloring spot in the unit element pattern is calculated, it is within a range of about 44 (%) to about 65 (%), respectively. It is said. These numerical values do not limit the present invention in any way, but the area ratio of the collection region of the colored pixels 12α indicating the position of the unit colored spot in the unit element pattern in the present invention is 25 (%) to 65 (% ), And more preferably 40 to 60%. When the area ratio is smaller than 25%, the visibility of the colored region may be insufficient. On the other hand, when the area ratio is larger than 65%, the unit colored spots 16 are too close to each other, and the adjacent ink liquid This is because droplets may be absorbed or integrated and the target mark or pattern may not be clearly visible.

  These unit element patterns 10, 10a to 10h may form a target colored region with only one type of unit element pattern, but a plurality of types of unit element patterns, that is, a plurality of units arranged in different configurations. It is also possible to form a colored region by combining various types of unit coloring spots. Further, the unit element patterns 10, 10a to 10f, and 10h illustrated as examples have outer peripheries in which the outer peripheral shape and the collection region of the colored pixels 12α indicating the respective unit colored spots 16, 16a to 16f, and 16h are substantially square. For example, a unit element pattern composed of pixels 12 whose outer peripheral shape is arranged in a rectangle, a collection region of colored pixels 12α arranged in a rectangle, or a substantially elliptical unit coloring spot can be used. Further, the collection region of the colored pixels 12α may have a step with an uneven outer peripheral shape, for example, like a cross shape. Furthermore, it is also possible to set a plurality of colors in the colored region by making the colors of the unit colored spots 16, 16a to 16h different in a plurality of unit element patterns configured by cooperating the colored region.

In addition, it is preferable that such unit colored spots are formed at 16 pieces / mm ² or less in the colored region. When the number of unit colored spots is set to more than 16 / mm ² and a gap area of a predetermined size is set, it is required to set the unit colored spots, that is, the element dot diameter size to be smaller than necessary. This is because the production efficiency may be deteriorated. Also, if the number of unit coloring spots is set to more than 16 / mm ² and the diameter size of a predetermined unit coloring spot is set, the gap area becomes too small and adjacent ink droplets are absorbed or integrated. This is because the target mark or pattern may not be clearly recognized.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that the dot density of the element dots constituting the unit colored spot is 360 dpi or more. This is because if the lid is covered and the dot density is smaller than 360 dpi, the element dots are excessively dispersed, and the visibility of the unit coloring spot composed of a plurality of element dots may be deteriorated.

  Further, as described above, when a colored region is configured by combining a plurality of types of unit colored spots arranged in different configurations, the ratio of the minimum diameter size to the maximum diameter size of the unit colored spots in the colored region is 0. It is preferably 1 or more. This is because if the ratio of the minimum diameter dimension to the maximum diameter dimension is smaller than 0.1, the visibility of small unit colored spots deteriorates and the target mark or pattern may not be clearly recognized. In addition, as a diameter of the unit coloring spot, a diameter of a perfect circle circumscribing the unit coloring spot is adopted.

  Various marks and patterns can be applied to the hard type or soft type contact lens by the colored region formed according to the present invention. Specifically, in the contact lens of a decenter type that is set by displaying a mark indicating whether the contact lens is left or right, or by deviating the optical center from the lens geometric center in one circumferential direction, Marks for displaying different colors, marks for displaying upper and lower marks in multifocal and bifocal presbyopic contact lenses, as well as patterns for coloring irises and limbal ring patterns that make the corneal borders stand out greatly Can be formed by colored regions according to the invention.

  Incidentally, by adopting the unit element pattern 10f of 6 × 6 pixels in FIG. 5, a digital pattern in which a circular colored region is formed with a resolution of 720 dpi × 720 dpi as shown in FIG. 6A is created. FIG. 6B shows an enlarged photograph of the first embodiment in which ink jet printing is performed based on this digital pattern. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, a circular mark is displayed as a colored region with a dot pattern corresponding to the digital pattern on the surface of the peripheral portion near the edge of the contact lens 24. Recognize.

  As a comparative example, a digital element in which a circular colored region is formed at a resolution of 360 dpi × 360 dpi as shown in FIG. 7A by adopting the unit element pattern 22 of 2 × 2 pixels shown in FIG. FIG. 7B shows an enlarged photograph of a result of creating a pattern and performing ink jet printing based on this digital pattern in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment. In FIG. 4, a circular unit coloring spot 16 is shown. In FIG. 7A, a rectangular coloring pixel 12 α is shown as the unit coloring spot 16. Comparing the comparative example shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B with the example shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, no dot defect occurs in this comparative example. However, in the comparative example in which one colored dot is composed of a single minimum unit dot (droplet), a relatively large variation in the dot interval is recognized, and the embodiment is more accurate at a substantially constant interval. It can be confirmed that the colored dots are aligned.

  Further, a specific example of the case where the unit element pattern 10f of 6 × 6 pixels in FIG. 5 is adopted, and the colored region 26 of the iris pattern is created as a digital pattern at the periphery of the contact lens at a resolution of 720 dpi × 720 dpi. FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B show the second embodiment. FIG. 8A is a digital pattern corresponding to the front view of the contact lens, and FIG. 8B is an enlarged view of the left part thereof. The digital pattern of this embodiment gives a dot pattern similar to an iris to the peripheral part provided on the outer peripheral side of the optical part at the center of the contact lens. That is, in order to resemble the iris pattern of the human eye, a high-density dot pattern consisting of a ring-shaped rim-shaped portion extending in the circumferential direction with a predetermined width on the outer peripheral portion that overlaps the peripheral portion of the cornea is provided. A low-density dot pattern composed of a plurality of spoke-like portions that are tapered and extend from the inner peripheral edge inward in the radial direction is provided.

  The digital pattern of the present embodiment may be formed in a region reaching the outer peripheral edge of the contact lens, or a transparent region having a predetermined width may be left on the outer peripheral side of the contact lens. In general, in the case of a soft contact lens that covers up to the sclera, a digital pattern is formed so that a colored region of an iris pattern is formed in the region overlapping the cornea and a transparent region is left on the outer peripheral edge overlapping the sclera. Is set. Further, as shown in FIG. 8B, the 6 × 6 pixel unit element pattern 10f is colored at the outer peripheral edge portion of the circular colored region 26 or the spoke-like portion that is curved. By appropriately adjusting and setting the position and number of the colored pixels in the dot 16f, the shape of the colored dot 16f itself can be changed. In such a case, it is preferable to adjust the number of colored pixels within a range of 2 to n, where n is the number of colored pixels in the basic unit element pattern. Even when the number of colored pixels of the unit element pattern is changed in this way, it is possible to stably maintain the presence of colored dots by maintaining the number of colored pixels in plural, and the effect of the present invention is advantageous. Achieved.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described solution and the specific description in the embodiment, and is within the scope of the present invention. The present invention can be implemented in a mode with appropriate modifications and improvements.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, colored regions, that is, unit colored spots, or element dots constituting the unit colored spots are printed on the contact lens by ink jet printing, but directly on the contact lens by ink jet printing, or In addition to being able to print indirectly, various known printing methods can be employed. Also, various known dyes and pigments can be used as the ink as the colorant. Further, for example, a coloring agent such as a dye can be allowed to penetrate into the contact lens, and the element dots constituting the coloring region, that is, the unit coloring spot, can be formed on at least one of the contact lens surface and the inside of the contact lens. It ’s fine.

10, 10a to 10h: unit element pattern, 12: pixel (mass), 12α: colored pixel, 12β: non-colored pixel, 14: element dot, 16, 16a to 16h: unit colored spot (colored dot, collective dot), 18: gap region, 20, 26: colored region, 24: contact lens

Claims (21)

In a colored contact lens provided with a colored region by arranging a plurality of colored dots in a predetermined pattern,
Collective dots composed of a plurality of adjacent collection regions of element dots formed by the adhesion of the smallest unit of colorant are set as unit coloring spots,
A colored contact lens using a dot pattern, wherein the colored region is provided by arranging the unit colored spots as the colored dots in a predetermined pattern with a gap of at least one elemental dot.   2. The colored contact lens according to claim 1, wherein two or more unit colored spots having the same configuration are continuously arranged in the colored region.   The colored contact lens with a dot pattern according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of types of unit colored spots having different configurations are arranged in the colored region.   The colored contact lens by the dot pattern as described in any one of Claims 1-3 in which the said unit coloring spot is arranged in the said coloring area | region in the orthogonal | vertical row and column direction. A unit element pattern is configured including the unit coloring spot and the gap provided around the unit coloring spot,
The unit element pattern is defined by a plurality of pixels divided in the orthogonal row and column directions and designated as colored or non-colored, respectively;
The coloring by the dot pattern according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an area of a collection region of the pixels designated to be colored corresponding to the unit coloring spot in the unit element pattern is 25 to 65%. contact lens. The unit element pattern is set in a square shape,
6. The colored contact lens with a dot pattern according to claim 5, wherein a collection region of the pixels designated to be colored indicating the position of the unit colored spot is also set in a square shape. The colored contact lens by the dot pattern as described in any one of Claims 1-6 in which the said unit coloring spot is 16 pieces / mm < ² > or less in the said colored area | region.   The colored contact lens by the dot pattern as described in any one of Claims 1-7 in which the said element dot which comprises the said unit coloring spot is 360 dpi or more.   The colored contact lens with a dot pattern according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a ratio of the maximum diameter to the minimum diameter in the plurality of unit colored spots constituting the colored region is 0.1 or more.   The colored contact lens by the dot pattern as described in any one of Claims 1-9 in which the said element dot is formed by coloring to at least one of the lens surface and the lens inside. A method for producing a colored contact lens in which a colored region is provided by arranging a plurality of colored dots in a predetermined pattern,
Adopting a unit colored spot consisting of a set dot composed of a plurality of adjacent set areas of element dots formed by adhesion of the minimum unit of the colorant as the colored dot,
A method for producing a colored contact lens using a dot pattern, wherein the colored region is formed by inkjet printing so that the unit colored spots are arranged in a predetermined pattern with a gap of at least one elemental dot.   The manufacturing method of the colored contact lens by the dot pattern of Claim 11 which inkjet-prints the said unit coloring spot directly with respect to a lens.   The method for producing a colored contact lens using a dot pattern according to claim 11 or 12, wherein two or more unit colored spots having the same configuration are continuously arranged and printed in the colored region.   The manufacturing method of the colored contact lens by the dot pattern as described in any one of Claims 11-13 which arranges and prints the multiple types of said unit coloring spots from which a structure differs in the said colored area | region.   The manufacturing method of the colored contact lens by the dot pattern as described in any one of Claims 11-14 which prints so that the said unit coloring spot may be arranged in the row and column direction orthogonal to the said coloring area | region. A unit element pattern is configured including the unit coloring spot and the gap provided around the unit coloring spot,
The unit element pattern is defined by a plurality of pixels divided in the orthogonal row and column directions and designated as colored or non-colored, respectively;
The coloring by the dot pattern according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein an area of the collection region of the pixels designated to be colored corresponding to the unit coloring spot in the unit element pattern is 25 to 65%. Contact lens manufacturing method. The unit element pattern is set in a square shape,
The method for manufacturing a colored contact lens by a dot pattern according to claim 16, wherein a collection region of the pixels designated to be colored indicating the position of the unit coloring spot is also set in a square shape. The manufacturing method of the colored contact lens by the dot pattern as described in any one of Claims 11-17 in which the said unit coloring spot is 16 pieces / mm < ² > or less in the said colored area | region.   The manufacturing method of the colored contact lens by the dot pattern as described in any one of Claims 11-18 in which the said element dot which comprises the said unit coloring spot is 360 dpi or more.   The method for producing a colored contact lens using a dot pattern according to any one of claims 11 to 19, wherein a ratio of the maximum diameter to the minimum diameter in the plurality of unit coloring spots constituting the coloring region is 0.1 or more.   The manufacturing method of the colored contact lens by the dot pattern as described in any one of Claims 11-20 in which the said element dot is formed by coloring to at least one of the lens surface and the inside of a lens.