JP2014213456A - Pad printing apparatus and pad printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pad printing apparatus and a pad printing method for suitably performing printing even when a printing object is a large-sized component.SOLUTION: A pad printing apparatus 1 has a pad 10 capable of adsorbing liquid coating on the surface, performs printing on a printing object W by pressing the pad 10 to the printing object W, and comprises: a volatilization volume suppression part 20 which suppresses volatilization of the liquid coating adsorbed to the pad 10; a position adjustment mechanism 30 for changing a position of the volatilization volume suppression part 20 between a closed position for coating the surface of the pad 10 by the volatilization volume suppression part 20 and an open position to which the surface of the pad 10 is exposed; and a volatilization volume adjustment part 40 which is arranged on a surface on the side facing the pad 10 in the volatilization volume suppression part 20, and adjusts volatilization volume of the liquid coating from the surface of the pad 10 by containing organic solvent.

Description

  The present invention relates to a pad printing apparatus and a pad printing method.

  Conventionally, a pad printing apparatus has been proposed in which a liquid paint is adsorbed on the surface of a pad formed of an elastic member, and the pad on which the liquid paint is adsorbed is pressed against a print object to print on the print object (for example, , See Patent Document 1). According to the pad printing apparatus, it is possible to easily print a predetermined pattern not only on a flat surface portion of a printing object but also on a curved surface portion.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-143962

  By the way, when the printing object is a large part such as a sash or a pillar constituting an automobile body, the pad is moved after the liquid paint is adsorbed on the pad and before the printing is performed on the printing object. The distance gets longer. If the moving distance of the pad from when the liquid paint is adsorbed to the pad until printing is performed on the printing object becomes long, the liquid paint volatilizes from the pad while the pad is moved. As a result, an appropriate amount of liquid paint cannot be transferred to the printing object, and printing cannot be performed suitably.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a pad printing apparatus and a pad printing method capable of suitably printing even if a printing object is a large part.

  The pad printing apparatus of the present invention has a pad (for example, a pad 10 to be described later) capable of adsorbing a liquid paint on the surface, and presses the pad against a printing object (for example, a workpiece W to be described later). A pad printing apparatus that prints on an object, wherein a volatilization amount suppression unit (for example, a pad cover 20 described later) that suppresses volatilization of a liquid paint adsorbed on the pad, and a surface of the pad by the volatilization amount suppression unit A position adjustment mechanism (for example, a position adjustment mechanism 30 described later) that changes the position of the volatilization amount suppression unit between a closed position that covers the pad and an open position where the surface of the pad is exposed, and the volatilization amount suppression unit And a volatilization amount adjusting unit (for example, a sponge member 40 described later) that adjusts the volatilization amount of the liquid paint from the surface of the pad by containing an organic solvent. And wherein the Rukoto.

According to this invention, the pad printing apparatus includes a volatilization amount suppression unit that suppresses volatilization of the liquid paint adsorbed on the pad, a volatilization amount adjustment unit that is disposed on the inner surface of the volatilization amount suppression unit, and a volatilization amount suppression unit. And a position adjusting mechanism capable of changing the position between the closed position and the open position. Thereby, after the liquid paint is adsorbed on the surface of the pad, the volatilization of the liquid paint can be prevented by positioning the volatilization amount suppressing unit in the closed position until the pad is pressed against the printing object. Therefore, even if the moving distance of the pad from the time the liquid paint is adsorbed to the surface of the pad until the printing is performed, the liquid paint adsorbed on the surface of the pad does not volatilize, Even if the printing object is a large part, printing can be suitably performed.
Moreover, the volatilization amount adjustment part was arrange | positioned on the inner surface of the volatilization amount suppression part, and the organic solvent was contained in this volatilization amount adjustment part. As a result, the organic solvent can be filled in the space between the surface of the pad and the inner surface of the volatilization amount suppression unit with the volatilization amount suppression unit positioned at the closed position. Can be further reduced.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the inner surface shape of the said volatilization amount suppression part is comprised so that it may be slightly larger than the surface shape of this pad so that the surface shape of the said pad may be followed.

  According to the present invention, the inner surface shape of the volatilization amount suppressing portion is configured to be along the surface shape of the pad and slightly larger than the surface shape of the pad. As a result, the space formed between the inner surface of the volatilization amount suppression unit (the inner surface of the volatilization amount adjustment unit) and the surface of the pad can be reduced with the volatilization amount suppression unit positioned at the closed position. The amount of liquid paint that volatilizes inside the suppression unit can be further reduced.

  Moreover, it is preferable that a pad printing apparatus is further provided with the solvent supply part (for example, the below-mentioned solvent supply part 50) which supplies an organic solvent to the said volatilization amount adjustment part.

  According to this invention, the pad printing apparatus includes the solvent supply unit that supplies the organic solvent to the volatilization amount adjusting unit. Thereby, since the organic solvent can be supplied to the volatilization amount adjusting unit at a desired timing, the amount of the liquid paint that volatilizes from the surface of the pad can be suitably adjusted.

  The pad includes a pad main body (for example, a pad main body 11A described later) formed of an elastic member, and a fluid introduction space (for example, a fluid introduction space 12A described later) that is formed in the pad main body and into which a fluid can be introduced. ) And a pressure detection unit (for example, a pressure sensor 13A described later) that detects the pressure of the fluid introduction space, and a pressure control unit (for example, a pressure control unit 91 described later) that controls the pressure of the fluid introduction space. ).

  According to the present invention, the pad includes the pad main body and the fluid introduction space, and the pad printing apparatus includes the pressure control unit that controls the pressure of the fluid introduction space. Thereby, for example, when printing on a narrow area in a flat part or one surface in a bent part, the pressure of the fluid introduction space is increased to make the pad difficult to deform along the shape of the printing object. Can print accurately in a narrow area. In addition, when printing on a wide range in a flat part or a plurality of surfaces in a bent part, the pressure of the fluid introduction space is lowered so that the pad is easily deformed along the surface shape of the printing object. Can print on a wide area at once.

  In addition, the pad printing apparatus includes a pad moving mechanism (for example, a pad moving mechanism 60 described later) that moves the pad forward and backward with respect to the printing object, and a pressing force that detects a pressing force applied to the printing object by the pad. A detection unit (for example, a pressing force detection unit described later) and a pressing force control unit (for example, a pressing force control unit described later) that controls the operation of the pad moving mechanism based on the pressing force detected by the pressing force detection unit. ).

  According to the present invention, the pad printing apparatus includes a pad moving mechanism that moves the pad forward and backward with respect to the printing object, a pressing force detection unit that detects a pressing force applied to the printing object by the pad, and the pressing force detection unit. And a pressing force control unit that controls the operation of the pad moving mechanism based on the detected pressing force. Thus, for example, when printing is performed on a narrow area in a flat part or one surface in a bent part, the pad moving mechanism is controlled so as to reduce the pressing force to the printing object by the pad, thereby Is difficult to deform along the shape of the printing object, and printing can be accurately performed in a narrow range. In addition, when printing on a wide range in a flat part or a plurality of surfaces in a bent part, the pad moving mechanism is controlled so as to increase the pressing force on the printing object by the pad, thereby controlling the pad. Can be easily deformed along the surface shape of the printing object, and printing can be performed over a wide range at a time.

  Further, the pad printing method of the present invention includes a pad capable of adsorbing a liquid paint on the surface, a volatilization amount suppressing unit for suppressing volatilization of the liquid paint adsorbed on the pad, and a surface of the pad by the volatilization amount suppressing unit. A position adjusting mechanism for changing the position of the volatilization amount suppression unit between a closed position covering the pad and an open position where the surface of the pad is exposed, and a surface on the side facing the pad in the volatilization amount suppression unit And a volatilization amount adjusting unit that adjusts the volatilization amount of the liquid paint from the surface of the pad by containing an organic solvent, and presses the pad against the print object to perform printing on the print object. A pad printing method in which printing is performed on the object to be printed by a pad printing apparatus to be applied, wherein the volatilization amount suppression unit is positioned in an open position before the liquid paint is adsorbed to the pad; After the liquid paint is adsorbed on the substrate, the post-adsorption closing step of positioning the volatilization amount suppression unit at the closed position, and before pressing the pad on which the liquid paint is adsorbed against the printing object, the volatilization amount suppression unit is And a pre-printing opening step positioned at the open position.

According to the present invention, the pad printing method includes a pre-adsorption step of positioning the volatilization amount suppressing unit at the open position before adsorbing the liquid paint on the pad, and closing the volatilization amount suppressing unit after the liquid paint is adsorbed on the pad. And a post-adsorption closing step that is positioned at the position, and a pre-printing opening step that positions the volatilization amount suppression unit at the open position before the pad on which the liquid paint is adsorbed is pressed against the printing object. Thereby, after the liquid paint is adsorbed on the surface of the pad, the volatilization of the liquid paint can be prevented by positioning the volatilization amount suppressing unit in the closed position until the pad is pressed against the printing object. Therefore, even if the moving distance of the pad from the time the liquid paint is adsorbed to the surface of the pad until the printing is performed, the liquid paint adsorbed on the surface of the pad does not volatilize, Even if the printing object is a large part, printing can be suitably performed.
Moreover, the volatilization amount adjustment part was arrange | positioned on the inner surface of the volatilization amount suppression part, and the organic solvent was contained in this volatilization amount adjustment part. As a result, the organic solvent can be filled in the space between the surface of the pad and the inner surface of the volatilization amount suppression unit with the volatilization amount suppression unit positioned at the closed position. Can be further reduced.

  The pad printing method includes a cleaning step of cleaning the surface of the pad after pressing the pad against the object to be printed, and a post-cleaning closing that positions the volatilization amount suppression unit at a closed position after the cleaning step. It is preferable to further include a process.

  According to the present invention, the pad printing method includes the cleaning step and the post-cleaning closing step. Thereby, after the pad is pressed against the printing object, the liquid paint remaining on the surface of the pad can be removed. Thereafter, the amount of the organic solvent contained in the volatilization amount adjusting unit can be reduced by setting the volatilization amount suppressing unit to the closed position again.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the pad printing method further includes a positioning step that is provided between the post-adsorption closing step and the pre-printing opening step and positions the pad with respect to the printing object.

  According to the present invention, the pad printing method includes the positioning step provided between the post-adsorption closing step and the pre-printing opening step. Thereby, while positioning the pad with respect to the printing object, the volatilization amount suppression unit can be kept in the closed position. Therefore, since the amount of liquid paint that volatilizes from the surface of the pad can be reduced, printing can be more suitably performed on the print object.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, even if a printing target object is a large sized part, the pad printing apparatus and pad printing method which can perform printing suitably can be provided.

It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the pad printing apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the pad printing apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the open position and closed position of the pad cover of the pad printing apparatus which concern on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which looked at the pad printing apparatus shown in FIG. 3 in the arrow A direction. It is a figure which shows the process of performing pad printing, and is a figure which shows the standby process before printing. It is a figure which shows the process of performing pad printing, and is a figure which shows the opening process before adsorption | suction. It is a figure which shows the process of performing pad printing, and is a figure which shows an adsorption | suction process. It is a figure which shows the process of performing pad printing, and is a figure which shows an adsorption | suction process. It is a figure which shows the process of performing pad printing, and is a figure which shows the closing process after adsorption | suction. It is a figure which shows the process of performing pad printing, and is a figure which shows the opening process before printing. It is a figure which shows the process of performing pad printing, and is a figure which shows a printing process. It is a figure which shows the process of performing pad printing, and is a figure which shows the state after printing. It is a figure which shows the process of performing pad printing, and is a figure which shows a cleaning process. It is a figure which shows the process of performing pad printing, and is a figure which shows the post-cleaning closing process. It is a figure which shows the pad printing apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention, and is a figure which shows the outline | summary of printing when the pressing force of a pad is made high. It is a figure which shows the pad printing apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention, and is a figure which shows the outline | summary of printing when the pressing force of a pad is made low.

Preferred embodiments of the pad printing apparatus and pad printing method of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
First, the configuration of the pad printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
The pad printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment is, for example, when printing is performed on a workpiece W (see FIG. 8 or the like) as a long print object such as a sash or a pillar constituting a part of a car body of an automobile. Used. As shown in FIG. 1, the pad printing apparatus 1 is used by being attached to the tip of a robot arm 100 having a plurality of joint portions 110 and capable of changing the position in a predetermined direction.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the pad printing apparatus 1 adjusts the positions of the printing apparatus main body 120, the pad 10, the pad cover 20 as a volatilization suppressing unit, and the pad cover 20 between an open position and a closed position. A position adjustment mechanism 30; a sponge member 40 as a volatilization amount adjustment unit; a solvent supply unit 50 for supplying an organic solvent to the sponge member 40; a pad moving mechanism 60 for moving the pad 10 forward and backward with respect to the workpiece W; 10 is provided with an intaglio 70 for adsorbing a liquid paint and a workpiece receiving jig 80 for positioning the workpiece W.

  The printing apparatus main body 120 constitutes a skeleton part of the pad printing apparatus 1 and is attached to the robot arm 100. The printing apparatus main body 120 is provided with a path for supplying air to a pad moving mechanism 60 and the like to be described later, and a path for supplying an organic solvent to the solvent supply unit 50 (both not shown).

The pad 10 is made of an elastic member such as rubber. The pad 10 is formed in a shape that swells downward. The surface of the pad 10 is configured smoothly so that the liquid paint can be adsorbed and removed.
The pad cover 20 is formed in a shape that can cover the surface of the pad 10. In the present embodiment, the inner surface shape of the pad cover 20 is configured to be along the surface shape of the pad 10 and slightly larger than the surface shape of the pad 10.

The position adjustment mechanism 30 changes the position of the pad cover 20 between the open position and the closed position, as shown in FIG. The open position of the pad cover 20 means a position where the pad 10 is exposed. The closed position of the pad cover 20 refers to a position where the pad 10 is covered with the pad cover 20.
The position adjustment mechanism 30 includes, for example, a servo motor 31, a pulley 32, and a fan belt 33 that connects the servo motor 31 and the pulley 32. The position adjusting mechanism 30 opens and closes the pad cover 20 by driving the servo motor 31 and transmitting the rotational force to the pulley 32 connected by the fan belt 33. More specifically, one of the base end portions of the pad cover 20 is connected to the pulley 32 in a hinge shape. Then, the rotational force transmitted to the pulley 32 rotates the pad cover 20.

  The sponge member 40 is disposed on the inner surface that is the surface of the pad cover 20 facing the pad 10. In the present embodiment, the sponge member 40 is disposed on substantially the entire inner surface of the pad cover 20. A predetermined gap is formed between the inner surface of the sponge member 40 and the surface of the pad 10 with the sponge member 40 attached to the inner surface of the pad cover 20.

  The solvent supply unit 50 supplies an organic solvent to the sponge member 40. An organic solvent is supplied to the solvent supply unit 50 via the robot arm 100 and the printing apparatus main body 120. And the solvent supply part 50 supplies an organic solvent to the inside (sponge member 40) of the pad cover 20 in the state located in the closed position of the pad cover 20. FIG.

  The pad moving mechanism 60 moves the pad 10 forward and backward with respect to the workpiece W. In the present embodiment, the pad moving mechanism 60 moves the pad 10, the pad cover 20, the position adjusting mechanism 30, the sponge member 40, and the solvent supply unit 50 in the vertical direction. The pad moving mechanism 60 is configured by a driving mechanism such as an air cylinder.

  The intaglio 70 is constituted by a plate-like member having a concave portion corresponding to a predetermined pattern formed on the upper surface. The intaglio 70 is used for adsorbing liquid paint on the pad 10 (see FIG. 5C). Printing ink is applied from the ink pod 71 to the upper surface of the intaglio 70.

  The workpiece receiving jig 80 positions the workpiece W. In the present embodiment, the workpiece receiving jig 80 is disposed below the pad 10 in the printing apparatus main body 120. The workpiece receiving jig 80 is exchanged according to the type and shape of the workpiece W.

Next, a pad printing method by the pad printing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A to 7C.
The pad printing method of this embodiment includes a standby process, a pre-adsorption opening process, an adsorption process, a post-adsorption closing process, a pre-printing opening process, a printing process, a cleaning process, and a post-cleaning closing process.

  In the standby process, as shown in FIG. 5A, the pad printing apparatus 1 operates the pad moving mechanism 60 to move the pad 10 to the standby position (upward). In this state, the pad cover 20 is in the closed position.

  Next, in the opening process before suction, as shown in FIG. 5B, the pad printing apparatus 1 drives the position adjusting mechanism 30 to change the position of the pad cover 20 from the closed position to the open position. Thereby, the pad 10 is exposed.

  Next, in the adsorption process, as shown in FIG. 5C, first, an intaglio 70 coated with a liquid paint is disposed below the pad 10 in the pad printing apparatus 1. Next, as shown in FIGS. 5C and 5D, the pad printing apparatus 1 lowers the pad moving mechanism 60 to press the pad 10 against the upper surface of the intaglio 70, and then raises the pad moving mechanism 60 to move the pad 10. Raise. Then, as shown in FIG. 5D, the liquid paint applied to the upper surface of the intaglio 70 is adsorbed on the surface of the pad 10.

  Next, in the post-adsorption closing process, as shown in FIG. 6A, the pad printing apparatus 1 drives the position adjusting mechanism 30 to change the position of the pad cover 20 from the open position to the closed position. As a result, the pad 10 having the liquid paint adsorbed on the surface is covered with the pad cover 20, and the volatilization of the liquid paint is suppressed. In this state, the workpiece W is arranged and positioned on the workpiece receiving jig 80.

  Next, in the pre-printing opening process, as shown in FIG. 6B, the pad printing apparatus 1 drives the position adjusting mechanism 30 to change the position of the pad cover 20 from the closed position to the open position. Thereby, the pad 10 having the liquid paint adsorbed on the surface is exposed, and printing is possible.

  Next, in the printing process, as shown in FIGS. 6C and 7A, the pad printing apparatus 1 lowers the pad moving mechanism 60 and presses the pad 10 against the workpiece W, and then raises the pad moving mechanism 60 to raise the pad. Raise 10 Thereby, the liquid paint is transferred to the workpiece W (printing is performed).

  Next, in the cleaning process, as shown in FIG. 7B, after the workpiece W is removed from the workpiece receiving jig 80, a cleaning member 90 with an adhesive tape or the like attached to the upper surface is disposed on the workpiece receiving jig 80. Thereafter, the pad printing apparatus 1 lowers the pad moving mechanism 60 and presses the pad 10 against the work W. As a result, the liquid paint remaining on the surface of the pad 10 is removed.

  Next, in the post-cleaning closing process, as shown in FIG. 7C, the pad printing apparatus 1 drives the position adjusting mechanism 30 to change the position of the pad cover 20 from the open position to the closed position. Thus, the pad 10 whose surface has been cleaned by the cleaning process is covered with the pad cover 20. The pad printing apparatus 1 is in a standby state until the next printing is performed.

  In the pad printing method described above, the organic solvent is supplied from the solvent supply unit 50 to the sponge member 40 in a state where the pad cover 20 is located at the closed position. Thereby, volatilization of the liquid paint adsorbed on the surface of the pad 10 can be more effectively suppressed. Moreover, excessive volatilization of the organic solvent can be prevented.

  According to the pad printing apparatus 1 and the pad printing method of the first embodiment described above, the following effects are obtained.

(1) The pad printing apparatus 1 includes a pad cover 20 that suppresses the volatilization of the liquid paint adsorbed on the pad 10, a sponge member 40 disposed on the inner surface of the pad cover 20, and a position of the pad cover 20 closed. And a position adjusting mechanism 30 that can be changed between the open position and the open position. Thereby, after the liquid paint is adsorbed on the surface of the pad 10, the pad cover 20 is positioned in the closed position until the pad 10 is pressed against the work W, thereby preventing the liquid paint from volatilizing. Therefore, even if the moving distance of the pad 10 from when the liquid paint is adsorbed on the surface of the pad 10 until the work W is printed is increased, the liquid paint adsorbed on the surface of the pad 10 does not volatilize. Therefore, even if the workpiece W is a large part, printing can be suitably performed.
Further, a sponge member 40 was disposed on the inner surface of the pad cover 20, and the sponge member 40 contained an organic solvent. As a result, the organic solvent can be filled in the space between the surface of the pad 10 and the inner surface of the pad cover 20 with the pad cover 20 positioned at the closed position, so that the liquid paint volatilizes from the surface of the pad 10. Can be further reduced.

  (2) The inner surface shape of the pad cover 20 is configured to be along the surface shape of the pad 10 and slightly larger than the surface shape of the pad 10. Accordingly, the space formed between the inner surface of the pad cover 20 (the inner surface of the sponge member 40) and the surface of the pad 10 can be reduced with the pad cover 20 positioned at the closed position. The amount of liquid paint that volatilizes inside can be further reduced.

  (3) The pad printing apparatus 1 includes a solvent supply unit 50 that supplies an organic solvent to the sponge member 40. Thereby, since the organic solvent can be supplied to the sponge member 40 at a desired timing, the amount of the liquid paint volatilized from the surface of the pad 10 can be suitably adjusted.

(4) The pad printing method includes a pre-adsorption step of positioning the pad cover 20 in the open position before adsorbing the liquid paint on the pad 10, and the pad cover 20 in the closed position after the liquid paint is adsorbed on the pad 10. And a post-adsorption closing step, and a pre-printing opening step in which the pad cover 20 is positioned in the open position before the pad 10 on which the liquid paint is adsorbed is pressed against the workpiece W. Thereby, after the liquid paint is adsorbed on the surface of the pad 10, the pad cover 20 is positioned in the closed position until the pad 10 is pressed against the work W, thereby preventing the liquid paint from volatilizing. Therefore, even if the moving distance of the pad 10 from when the liquid paint is adsorbed on the surface of the pad 10 until the work W is printed is increased, the liquid paint adsorbed on the surface of the pad 10 does not volatilize. Therefore, even if the workpiece W is a large part, printing can be suitably performed.
Further, a sponge member 40 was disposed on the inner surface of the pad cover 20, and the sponge member 40 contained an organic solvent. As a result, the organic solvent can be filled in the space between the surface of the pad 10 and the inner surface of the pad cover 20 with the pad cover 20 positioned at the closed position, so that the liquid paint volatilizes from the surface of the pad 10. Can be further reduced.

  (5) The pad printing method includes a cleaning process and a post-cleaning closing process. Thereby, after pressing the pad 10 against the workpiece W, the liquid paint remaining on the surface of the pad 10 can be removed. Thereafter, the amount of the organic solvent contained in the sponge member 40 can be reduced by setting the pad cover 20 to the closed position again.

  Next, a second embodiment of the pad printing apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The pad printing apparatus 1A of the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment mainly in the configuration of the pad 10A. In the description of the second embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted or simplified.

In the pad printing apparatus 1A of the second embodiment, the pad 10A is a pad main body 11A, a fluid introduction space 12A formed inside the pad main body 11A, and a pressure detection unit that detects the pressure of the fluid introduction space 12A. Pressure sensor 13A.
The pad printing apparatus 1A of the second embodiment further includes an air supply line 92 that supplies air as a fluid to the fluid introduction space 12A, and a pressure control unit 91 that controls the pressure of the fluid introduction space 12A.

The air supply line 92 supplies air to the fluid introduction space 12A. The air supply line 92 is provided with a valve 93 that adjusts the amount of air supplied to the fluid introduction space 12A.
The pressure control unit 91 controls the pressure in the fluid introduction space 12 </ b> A by controlling the opening degree of the valve 93.

In the pad printing apparatus 1A of the second embodiment, for example, printing is performed by changing the pressure of the fluid introduction space 12A according to the type of the workpiece W or the location where printing is performed on the workpiece W.
That is, for example, when printing is performed on a narrow range of a flat part of the workpiece W or one surface of the bent part, the pressure control unit 91 sets the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 13A to a preset first pressure. The pressure of the fluid introduction space 12A is increased until it becomes. After that, by pressing the pad 10A against the workpiece W, the pad 10A can be brought into contact with the workpiece W without much deformation, so that printing can be accurately performed in a narrow range.

  On the other hand, when printing is performed on a wide range of a flat portion of the workpiece W or a plurality of surfaces of the bent portion, the pressure control unit 91 sets the pressure of the fluid introduction space 12A to a second pressure smaller than the first pressure. adjust. Thereafter, by pressing the pad 10A against the work W, the pad 10A can be deformed so as to follow the surface shape of the work W even with a weak pressing force, so that printing can be performed over a wide range at one time (see FIGS. 8 and 9).

Thereby, the pressure of the fluid introduction space 12 can be adjusted according to the shape of the place where printing is performed on the workpiece W and the deformation of the pad 10A can be controlled, so that printing can be suitably performed regardless of the shape of the place where printing is performed. Can be applied.
That is, according to the pad printing apparatus 1A of the second embodiment, printing can be suitably performed on the workpiece W having various shapes without changing the operation amount of the pad moving mechanism 60 (the pressing force to the workpiece W by the pad 10A). .

  According to the pad printing apparatus 1A of the second embodiment described above, the following effects are obtained in addition to the effects (1) to (5) described above.

(6) The pad 10A includes the pad main body 11A and the fluid introduction space 12A, and the pad printing apparatus 1A includes the pressure control unit 91 that controls the pressure of the fluid introduction space 12A. Accordingly, when printing is performed on a narrow range of a flat portion of the workpiece W or on one surface of the bent portion, the pressure of the fluid introduction space 12A is increased and the pad 10A can be brought into contact with the workpiece W without much deformation. So you can print accurately in a narrow area. Further, when printing is performed on a wide range of a flat portion of the workpiece W or on a plurality of surfaces of the bent portion, the pressure of the fluid introduction space 12A is lowered to deform the pad 10A so as to follow the surface shape of the workpiece W. By doing so, you can print over a wide area at once.

The preferred embodiments of the pad printing apparatus and the pad printing method of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be modified as appropriate.
For example, in the second embodiment, the pad 10A is configured to include the fluid introduction space 12A, and the pressure of the fluid introduction space 12A is changed according to the shape or the like of the portion to be printed on the workpiece W. However, the present invention is not limited to this. . In other words, the amount of deformation of the pad can be adjusted in the same manner as described above by adjusting the pressing force applied to the work by the pad (the pressure inside the pad is constant). For example, the pad printing apparatus includes a pressing force detection unit that detects the pressing force applied to the workpiece by the pad, and a pressing force control unit that controls the operation of the pad moving mechanism based on the pressing force detected by the pressing force detection unit. , And may be configured. In this case, the pressing force to the work by the pad is set in advance according to the shape of the place to be printed. Then, when printing is performed by the pad printing apparatus, the pressing force control unit controls the operation of the pad moving mechanism so that the pressure detected by the pressing force detection unit becomes a preset pressing force.

Specifically, for example, when printing on a narrow area in a flat part or one surface in a bent part, by controlling the operation of the pad moving mechanism so as to reduce the pressing force to the workpiece by the pad, Makes it difficult to deform along the shape of the workpiece, and can print accurately in a narrow area. In addition, when printing on a wide range in a flat part or multiple surfaces in a bent part, the pad is moved by controlling the operation of the pad moving mechanism to increase the pressing force to the work by the pad. It can be easily deformed along the surface shape of the paper and can be printed over a wide area at once. As a result, the pressing force applied to the work by the pad can be adjusted in accordance with the shape of the part to be printed on the work, so that printing can be suitably performed regardless of the shape of the part to be printed.
Further, the same effect as described above can be obtained by combining the pressure control inside the pad and the pressure control to the work by the pad.

  Moreover, in 1st Embodiment and 2nd Embodiment, although the intaglio 70 was moved to the downward direction of the pad 10 and the liquid coating material was made to adsorb | suck to the pad 10 in the adsorption | suction process, it is not restricted to this. That is, in the adsorption process, the liquid paint may be adsorbed by moving the pad 10 to the place where the intaglio is arranged without moving the intaglio.

  In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the workpiece receiving jig 80 is configured integrally with the printing apparatus main body 120 connected to the robot arm 100, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the workpiece receiving jig may be configured as a separate body from the printing apparatus main body (see FIGS. 8 and 9). In this case, it is preferable that the pad printing method includes a positioning step of positioning the pad with respect to the workpiece between the post-adsorption closing step and the pre-printing opening step. Accordingly, the pad cover can be kept in the closed position while the pad is positioned with respect to the workpiece. Therefore, since the amount of liquid paint that volatilizes from the surface of the pad can be reduced, printing can be more suitably performed on the workpiece.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1A pad printing device 10, 10A pad 11A pad main body 12A Fluid introduction space 13A Pressure sensor (pressure detection part)
20 Pad cover (Volatilization suppression part)
30 Position adjustment mechanism 40 Sponge member (volatile amount adjustment unit)
50 Solvent Supply Unit 60 Pad Movement Mechanism 100 Robot Arm

Claims (8)

A pad printing apparatus having a pad capable of adsorbing a liquid paint on the surface, and printing the print object by pressing the pad against the print object,
A volatilization amount suppression unit that suppresses volatilization of the liquid paint adsorbed on the pad;
A position adjusting mechanism for changing the position of the volatilization amount suppressing unit between a closed position where the surface of the pad is covered by the volatilization amount suppressing unit and an open position where the surface of the pad is exposed;
A volatilization amount adjusting unit that is disposed on the surface of the volatilization amount suppressing unit facing the pad and that adjusts the volatilization amount of the liquid paint from the surface of the pad by containing an organic solvent;
A pad printing apparatus.   The pad printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an inner surface shape of the volatilization amount suppression unit is configured to be along the surface shape of the pad and slightly larger than the surface shape of the pad.   The pad printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a solvent supply unit that supplies an organic solvent to the volatilization amount adjustment unit. The pad has a pad body made of an elastic member;
A fluid introduction space formed inside the pad body and capable of introducing a fluid;
A pressure detector for detecting the pressure of the fluid introduction space;
The pad printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure control unit that controls the pressure of the fluid introduction space. A pad moving mechanism for moving the pad forward and backward with respect to the print object;
A pressing force detection unit that detects a pressing force applied to the print object by the pad;
A pressing force control unit that controls the operation of the pad moving mechanism based on the pressing force detected by the pressing force detection unit;
The pad printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: A pad capable of adsorbing liquid paint on the surface;
A volatilization amount suppression unit that suppresses volatilization of the liquid paint adsorbed on the pad;
A position adjusting mechanism for changing the position of the volatilization amount suppressing unit between a closed position where the surface of the pad is covered by the volatilization amount suppressing unit and an open position where the surface of the pad is exposed;
A volatilization amount adjusting unit that is disposed on the inner surface of the volatilization amount suppressing unit and that adjusts the volatilization amount of the liquid paint from the surface of the pad by containing an organic solvent;
A pad printing method for printing on the print object by a pad printing apparatus for printing on the print object by pressing the pad against the print object,
Before adsorbing the liquid paint on the pad, the pre-adsorption opening step of positioning the volatilization amount suppressing unit in the open position;
After the liquid paint is adsorbed on the pad, a post-adsorption closing step of positioning the volatilization amount suppressing unit in a closed position;
A pre-printing opening step of placing the volatilization amount suppressing unit in an open position before pressing the pad on which the liquid paint is adsorbed against the printing object, and a pad printing method. A cleaning step of cleaning the surface of the pad after pressing the pad against the print object;
The pad printing method according to claim 6, further comprising a post-cleaning closing step of positioning the volatilization amount suppressing unit at a closed position after the cleaning step.   The pad printing method according to claim 6, further comprising a positioning step that is provided between the post-adsorption closing step and the pre-printing opening step and positions the pad with respect to the printing object.

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