JP2015182324A - Screen printing stencil producing device, screen printing stencil mount and screen printing stencil producing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device and method for producing stencil for screen printing with a simple device.SOLUTION: A device comprises: a stencil forming part forming image of a desired pattern with toner containing thermoplastic resin on a stencil mount comprising a mesh screen and a sheet for fixing and transporting the screen; a fixing part fixing the image with toner; and a transporting part transporting the stencil mount. The stencil forming part comprises: a photoreceptor drum; an electrified roller, an exposing head executing latent image formation on the photoreceptor drum; a toner supplying roller; a developing roller; and a transfer roller. The screen is made of polyester or nylon. There is provided a screen printing stencil producing method comprises: a developing step of developing thermoplastic resin toner; a transferring step of transferring developed toner onto the mesh screen; and a fixing step of fixing toner having the desired pattern transferred onto the screen. In the developing step, a latent image is formed in an electric photographing manner.

Description

  The present invention relates to a screen printing stencil making apparatus for producing a screen printing stencil by an electrophotographic method, a screen printing stencil board used therefor, and a screen printing stencil making method.

  As seen in Patent Document 1, a printing method called screen printing has been conventionally used. A photo-curable photosensitive emulsion is applied to a mesh screen, exposed through a photomask, the exposed area is cured, and the unexposed area is removed to complete the stencil, and the stencil is overlaid on a substrate such as fabric. The ink is imprinted onto the printing medium by squeezing the ink (or roller pressure contact) from above the plate.

A conventional screen printing process will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 3A shows a process of applying a photocurable photosensitive emulsion 92 to a mesh mesh screen 1 made of polyester or nylon.
FIG. 3B shows a process of placing a photomask 93 on which a printed image is developed on a coated photosensitive emulsion 92 and exposing through the photomask 93.
In FIG. 3C, the exposed portion is cured to form a resist (plate film) 94, and the unexposed portion of the photosensitive emulsion 92 is removed by washing to remove the stencil 95 from which the printing portion has been removed. Indicates completion.
FIG. 3D shows a process of stacking the stencil 95 on the substrate 4 such as a fabric.
FIG. 3E shows a step of squeegeeing or roller pressing the ink 5 from above the stencil 95.
FIG. 3F shows a state in which the ink 5 is imprinted onto the printing medium 4 from the portion where the stencil 95 is removed.
FIG. 3G shows that the printing medium on which the image is printed is completed by removing the stencil 95.
In this way, screen printing is realized.

JP-A-4-310955

In conventional screen printing, it is necessary to prepare a print image with a photomask. A photomask is usually created by exposing and developing a silver salt photographic film, or a simple one by drawing an image on a transparent film with a copier or printer.
Further, since a liquid material and water are used in processes such as photosensitive emulsion coating and post-exposure cleaning, a water supply / drainage facility is required. Furthermore, different devices, tools and equipment are required for the photosensitive emulsion coating, exposure and washing processes, and a dedicated equipment must be provided as a work place.
The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method for making a stencil for screen printing using a simpler apparatus.

A screen printing stencil producing apparatus for producing a screen printing stencil according to the present invention is provided on a screen printing stencil board having a mesh-like screen and a sheet for fixing and transporting the screen. A stencil forming unit that forms an image of a desired pattern with toner containing a thermoplastic resin, a fixing unit that fixes an image formed by the toner formed by the stencil forming unit, and the stencil sheet for screen printing is discharged from the paper feeding unit. A transport unit that transports the paper to the paper unit.
The stencil board for screen printing has a mesh-shaped screen and a sheet for fixing and transporting the screen.
The method for producing a stencil for screen printing includes a development step of developing thermoplastic resin toner in a desired pattern, a transfer step of transferring the developed toner to a mesh-like screen, and fixing the toner transferred to the screen. A fixing step.

  According to the present invention, a stencil for screen printing can be produced with a simpler structure without using a photomask and without requiring steps such as application of a photosensitive emulsion and washing after exposure.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of a stencil making apparatus for screen printing according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a screen printing process according to the present invention. FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the screen printing stencil sheet supplied to the screen printing stencil manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 2B shows how the pattern of the thermoplastic resin powder toner is transferred onto the screen. FIG. 2C shows how the stencil is completed by fixing and fixing the toner after fixing. FIG. 2D shows a state in which the screen is peeled off and the screen is overlaid on the printing medium. FIG. 2E shows a state in which ink is squeegeeed or roller pressed from above the stencil. FIG. 2 (f) shows a state in which ink is imprinted on the printing medium through the stencil. FIG. 2G shows how screen printing is completed by removing the stencil. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a conventional screen printing process. FIG. 3A shows a process of coating a photosensitive emulsion on a screen. FIG. 3B shows a process of performing exposure by placing a photomask. FIG. 3C shows a process of removing the unexposed part by washing to complete the stencil. FIG.3 (d) shows the process of stacking a stencil on a to-be-printed body. FIG. 3E shows a process of squeezing ink (or roller pressure contact). FIG. 3F shows a state in which ink is imprinted on the substrate. FIG.3 (g) shows the state which removed the stencil.

<< Internal configuration of stencil making apparatus for screen printing >>
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an internal configuration of a stencil making apparatus for screen printing (hereinafter simply referred to as “stencil making apparatus”) according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the stencil making apparatus 20 includes a paper feed unit 22, a stencil forming unit 23, a transport unit 25, a fixing unit 26, and a discharge unit 28.
The paper feed unit 22 includes a paper feed tray 29 provided to project obliquely upward from the side surface of the stencil making apparatus 20, a paper feed roller 31 provided at a paper feed port of the paper feed tray 29, and the paper feed A standby roller pair (not shown) arranged in the paper feeding direction of the roller 31 is provided.

On the sheet feeding tray 29, a screen printing stencil mount (hereinafter abbreviated as “stencil mount”) 30 having an adhesive coated beforehand on the upper surface of the release sheet 14 and further provided with the screen 1 thereon is placed. The The release sheet 14 is a sheet-like or film-like member, and is a member that supports the screen 1 so that it can pass through the stencil making apparatus 20. It can be made of plastic film, paper, or the like. Any member may be used as long as the screen 1 can be adhesively fixed with an adhesive. It should be noted that the material constituting the release sheet 14 of the stencil board is a resin sheet or the like, and the term stencil board is used even when it is not paper.
An adhesive is applied onto the release sheet 14 to form an adhesive layer. And the screen 1 is fixed on an adhesive layer. As the adhesive, acrylic resin, silicon resin, rubber resin, or the like can be used. The pressure-sensitive adhesive has an adhesive force sufficient to firmly fix the screen 1 to the release sheet 14 until the stencil board 30 is fed to the stencil making apparatus 20 and discharged. When the release sheet 14 is peeled off from the screen 1 after the stencil is created, a material having an adhesive strength that can peel the stencil formed on the screen 1 without breaking is selected.
The screen 1 is made of synthetic fiber. For example, synthetic fibers such as polyester and nylon are configured in a mesh shape.

  The stencil forming unit 23 includes a photosensitive drum 33, a cleaner 34, a charging roller (initializing charger) 35, an exposure head disposed around the photosensitive drum 33 so as to surround the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 33. (Optical writing head) 36, powder hopper 37, developing roller 38 rotatably held in the lower opening of the powder hopper 37, a conveyance belt 49, and a photosensitive drum through an upper conveyance surface of the conveyance belt 49 The transfer roller 39 is in pressure contact with the lower surface of 33.

The powder hopper 37 contains a thermoplastic resin powder toner (stencil forming toner) 10 containing a thermoplastic resin. A powder supply roller 42 is disposed in sliding contact with the developing roller 38 so as to be buried in the stencil forming toner 10 at a lower position in the powder hopper 37. Above this, the doctor blade 43 is similarly placed in sliding contact with the developing roller 38.
A recovery pipe (not shown) is disposed between the cleaner 34 and the powder hopper 37. The recovery pipe incorporates a long conveying screw, and recovers powdery stencil forming toner deposited on the cleaner 34 from the photosensitive drum 33 to the powder hopper 37.

The conveyance unit 25 includes the conveyance belt 49 described above, a driving roller 45 and a driven roller 46 around which the conveyance belt 49 is stretched, a tension roller (not shown) that stretches the conveyance belt 49, and the like.
The fixing unit 26 includes a heat insulating casing 58, a heating roller 59 and a pressing roller 61 that are disposed so as to be opposed to each other and surrounded by the heat insulating casing 58, and a downstream side of the heating roller 59 and the pressing roller 61 (left side in the drawing). And a carry-out roller (not shown) arranged in the.
The discharge unit 28 is a pair of discharge rollers (not shown) arranged immediately after the unloading roller of the fixing unit 26, and is inclined obliquely upward from the outside of the discharge roller pair to the outside of the stencil making apparatus 20 main body (in the drawing). The paper discharge tray 69 is formed on the left side.

To summarize the configuration of the stencil making apparatus for screen printing (stencil making apparatus) according to the present invention, as described above, it has a paper feeding part, a stencil forming part, a conveying part, a fixing part, and a discharging part.
The stencil forming unit includes a photosensitive drum, a charging roller that charges the photosensitive drum, and an exposure head (LED) that exposes an arbitrary pattern to form a latent image. Further, the stencil forming unit is provided with a powder hopper filled with thermoplastic resin powder toner, and has a developing roller for developing the toner on the latent image after exposure.
The image forming apparatus further includes a transfer roller that transfers the toner developed on the photosensitive drum to the transfer target, and a fixing unit that fixes the toner transferred onto the transfer target.

《From stencil making process to screen printing process》
2A to 2G are diagrams schematically showing a stencil manufacturing process and a screen printing process manufactured by the stencil manufacturing apparatus 20 having the above-described configuration.
First, FIG. 2A shows a stencil mount 30 placed on the paper feed tray 29 of the stencil making apparatus 20 (screen printing stencil mount: the screen 1 adhered to the release sheet 14 with an adhesive). Is shown. As shown in FIG. 2A, the stencil mount 30 has a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer (not shown) provided in advance on the release sheet 14, and further provided with a screen 1 on the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. It has a structure in which a sheet, an adhesive layer, and a screen are laminated. While the stencil board 30 is transported in the stencil making apparatus 20 described above, the adhesive securely fixes the release sheet 14 and the screen 1 so that the screen 1 is transported while maintaining flatness. In that sense, strong adhesive strength is required. On the other hand, in order to realize screen printing after completion of stencil formation, it is necessary to peel off the screen 1 from the release sheet 14. At that time, it is necessary to peel off the finished stencil so as not to damage it. In that sense, the magnitude of the adhesive force needs to be adjusted appropriately.

This stencil mount 30 (hereinafter also simply referred to as “mount 30”) is carried into a stencil making apparatus by a paper feed roller and fed toward a standby roller pair (not shown). The standby roller pair temporarily stops rotating, and the tip of the mount 30 is brought into contact with the holding portion to stop the progress, and waits for the conveyance timing.
In the stencil forming unit 23, the photosensitive drum 33 rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG. The charging roller (initializing charger) 35 applies a uniform high negative charge to the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 33. The exposure head (optical writing head) 36 performs exposure according to an exposure signal on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 33 to form a low potential portion.

As a result, an electrostatic latent image composed of a high negative potential portion due to initialization of the charging roller and a low negative potential portion due to exposure is formed in a state of being transferred to a desired shape. The powder supply roller 42 supplies powdery stencil forming toner (thermoplastic resin powder toner) so as to rub against the developing roller 38. The doctor blade 43 regulates the stencil forming toner 10 on the surface of the developing roller 38 to a constant layer thickness. As a result, the stencil forming toner 10 is charged with a weak negative potential due to friction and adheres to the surface of the developing roller 38.
The developing roller 38 conveys the stencil-forming toner 10 adhered to the surface with a constant layer thickness to a portion facing the photosensitive drum 33, that is, a developing portion while rotating. For example, a developing bias of “−250 V” is applied to the developing roller 38 from a bias power source (not shown). Further, the potential of the low potential portion of the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 33 is lowered to, for example, “−70 V” by exposure.

  As a result, a potential difference of “−180 V” is formed between the photosensitive drum 33 and the developing roller 38 in the developing unit. That is, the low potential portion of the electrostatic latent image forms a positive polarity potential relative to the developing roller 38. Due to the potential difference, the negatively charged stencil forming toner is transferred to the negative negative potential portion of the positive polarity of the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 33 and transferred to a desired shape by the stencil forming toner. Is formed (reversal development). The image transferred to a desired shape by the stencil forming toner is conveyed to a transfer portion where the photosensitive drum 33 and the transfer roller 39 face each other as the photosensitive drum 33 rotates. At the timing when the leading edge of the stencil forming toner image on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 33 is rotated and conveyed to the portion facing the transfer roller 39, the stencil sheet 30 is conveyed to the opposite portion.

  The transfer roller 39 applies a transfer current (or transfer voltage) output from a transfer bias power source (not shown) to the stencil sheet 30 via the conveyance belt 49. As a result, the image of the stencil forming toner 10 on the photosensitive drum 33 is transferred to the mount 30. As the stencil forming toner, various thermoplastic resin powders can be used. For example, a polyester-based toner can be used.

FIG. 2B shows a state in which the image 42 of the stencil forming toner is transferred onto the surface of the screen 1 on the stencil mount 30 as described above. That is, the pattern of the stencil forming toner (thermoplastic resin powder toner) 10 is transferred from the photosensitive drum 33 onto the screen 1. The stencil forming toner 10 remaining on the photosensitive drum 33 without being transferred is removed from the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 33 by the cleaner 34, and a powder hopper 37 by a recovery pipe (not shown) with a built-in conveying screw. To be recovered.
When the pattern of the stencil forming toner 10 is transferred from the photosensitive drum 33 onto the screen 1, the application of the developing bias to the developing roller 38 of the stencil forming unit 23 and the application of the transfer bias to the transfer roller 39 are stopped ( Alternatively, a reverse potential bias is applied), and the stencil forming function is stopped.

The stencil sheet 30 to which the image of the stencil forming toner 10 has been transferred is carried into the fixing unit 26, and the image of the stencil forming toner 10 formed into a stencil by heating by the heating roller 59 and pressing by the pressing roller 61 is displayed on the screen 1. To be established.
Then, when the stencil sheet 30 passes through the fixing unit 26, the stencil forming toner 10 is melted and fixed and fixed, thereby closing the mesh of the screen 1 and completing the stencil.
FIG. 2C shows a state in which the image of the stencil forming toner 10 is fixed as a stencil on the screen 1 of the stencil mount 30 as described above.
It is considered that the fibers constituting the screen 1 and the stencil formed by the stencil forming toner 10 are bonded to each other because a part of the components constituting each screen is polymerized to become a polymer. It is done.

FIG. 2D shows that the stencil formed on the screen 1 of such a release sheet 14 is peeled off from the state in which the stencil sheet 30 is integrated with the release sheet 14 as a stencil mount 30, and only the stencil is obtained. A state in which the stencil is superposed on a printing medium (for example, cloth) is shown.
In the conventional stencil shown in FIGS. 3 (c) and 3 (d), a stencil of a photosensitive emulsion is formed on a screen. However, the stencil of the present invention shown in FIGS. 2 (c) and 2 (d) is used. Since it is formed by binding with a mesh-like screen made of synthetic fibers, it is drawn integrally as shown in the figure.
The stencil superimposed on the printing medium is fixed by a necessary fixing tool.

FIG. 2E shows a state in which ink is squeegeeed or roller pressed from above the stencil formed integrally with the screen 1 as described above.
FIG. 2 (f) shows a state where ink is imprinted onto the printing medium 4 from the portion where the stencil has been removed.
FIG. 2G shows a state in which a printing medium on which a desired image is printed is completed by removing the stencil from the printing medium 4. That is, this completes screen printing.

<Summary of invention>
The stencil production apparatus for screen printing according to the present invention is an apparatus having a structure similar to that of an electrophotographic printer apparatus, and passes a mesh screen for screen printing to the stencil production apparatus as a transfer object of the electrophotographic printer. It can be said that this is an apparatus for producing a stencil for screen printing by transferring and fixing the thermoplastic resin powder toner there and selectively covering the screen mesh in accordance with a desired image pattern.
The stencil board for screen printing according to the present invention is a board that passes through a screen stencil making apparatus having the same structure as the electrophotographic printer apparatus instead of the printer paper, and has an adhesive layer on the release sheet. It is provided with a mesh-like screen made of synthetic fibers adhered.
The screen printing method according to the present invention passes a stencil sheet through the stencil board for screen printing according to the present invention to the stencil making apparatus for screen printing according to the present invention to produce a stencil, and screen printing using the stencil Is to implement.

"Effect of the invention"
Since the present invention has the above configuration, it has the following effects.
・ There is no need to prepare a print image with a photomask.
・ Emulsion handling and washing are not necessary in the plate making process, and since it is a dry process, no water supply / drainage facilities are required.
-An exposure apparatus necessary for exposure of the photosensitive emulsion is unnecessary.
・ No need for photomask, no exposure, no need for emulsion coating / cleaning, so platemaking efficiency can be increased.
・ As a screen printing facility, “Everywhere, space saving, low cost” can be realized.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, the present invention is included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof. For example, in the above embodiment, the screen 1 is fixed on the release sheet 14 with an adhesive, but the release sheet 14 and the screen 1 are securely fixed while the stencil mount 30 is conveyed in the stencil production apparatus 20. Then, the screen 1 is transported while maintaining flatness. On the other hand, when the stencil formation is completed and screen printing is executed, the screen 1 and the release sheet 14 can be separated cleanly so as not to damage the completed stencil. If it is a form, you may employ | adopt another arbitrary methods. Hereinafter, the invention described in the scope of claims of the present application will be appended.

[Appendix 1]
A stencil forming unit for forming an image of a desired pattern with a toner having a thermoplastic resin on the screen of a stencil sheet for screen printing having a mesh-like screen and a sheet for fixing and conveying the screen;
A fixing unit for fixing an image formed by the toner formed by the stencil forming unit;
A transport unit configured to transport the screen printing stencil mount from a paper feed unit to a paper discharge unit;
A stencil making apparatus for screen printing having:

[Appendix 2]
The stencil forming part is
A photosensitive drum;
A charging roller for charging the photosensitive drum;
An exposure head that exposes a desired pattern on the photosensitive drum to form a latent image; and
A toner supply roller for supplying thermoplastic resin powder toner;
A developing roller for developing the toner supplied by the toner supply roller onto the photosensitive drum on the latent image formed by the exposure head;
A transfer roller for transferring the toner developed on the photosensitive drum to a transfer target;
The stencil making apparatus for screen printing according to appendix 1, characterized by having:

[Appendix 3]
Mesh screen,
A sheet for fixing and conveying the screen;
Have
A screen printing stencil board used in the screen printing stencil manufacturing apparatus according to appendix 1.

[Appendix 4]
The stencil board for screen printing according to appendix 3, wherein the screen is made of polyester or nylon.

[Appendix 5]
A development step of developing the thermoplastic powder toner in a desired pattern;
A transfer step of transferring the developed toner to a mesh screen;
A transfer step of fixing the toner of the desired pattern transferred to the screen;
A method for producing a stencil for screen printing, comprising:

[Appendix 6]
6. The method for producing a stencil for screen printing according to appendix 5, wherein the developing step forms a latent image by electrophotography.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used as a stencil board and a stencil making apparatus for producing a screen printing stencil on demand using a screen printing stencil making apparatus similar to an electrophotographic printer.
The present invention is applicable to an apparatus for performing office stencil printing without providing a large-scale apparatus.

1 Screen 4 Substrate 5 Ink 9 Stencil 10 Thermoplastic Resin Powder Toner (Toner for Stencil Formation)
14 Release sheet (separator)
20 Stencil making equipment for screen printing (stencil making equipment)
22 Paper Feed Unit 23 Stencil Forming Unit 25 Transport Unit 26 Fixing Unit 28 Ejection Unit 29 Paper Feed Tray 30 Screen Printing Stencil Mount (Stencil Mount)
31 Feed roller 33 Photosensitive drum 34 Cleaner 35 Charging roller (initializing charger)
36 Exposure head (optical writing head)
37 powder hopper 38 developing roller 39 transfer roller 42 powder supply roller 43 doctor blade 45 driving roller 46 driven roller 49 conveying belt 58 heat insulating housing 59 heat roller 61 pressure roller 69 paper discharge tray 92 photosensitive emulsion 93 photomask 94 resist (Plate film)
95 stencil

Claims (6)

A stencil forming unit for forming an image of a desired pattern with a toner having a thermoplastic resin on the screen of a stencil sheet for screen printing having a mesh-like screen and a sheet for fixing and conveying the screen;
A fixing unit for fixing an image formed by the toner formed by the stencil forming unit;
A transport unit configured to transport the screen printing stencil mount from a paper feed unit to a paper discharge unit;
A stencil making apparatus for screen printing having: The stencil forming part is
A photosensitive drum;
A charging roller for charging the photosensitive drum;
An exposure head that exposes a desired pattern on the photosensitive drum to form a latent image; and
A toner supply roller for supplying thermoplastic resin toner;
A developing roller for developing the toner supplied by the toner supply roller onto the photosensitive drum on the latent image formed by the exposure head;
A transfer roller for transferring the toner developed on the photosensitive drum to a transfer target;
2. The stencil making apparatus for screen printing according to claim 1, comprising: Mesh screen,
A sheet for fixing and conveying the screen;
Have
A stencil board for screen printing used in the stencil making apparatus for screen printing according to claim 1.   The stencil board for screen printing according to claim 3, wherein the screen is made of polyester or nylon. A development step of developing the thermoplastic resin toner in a desired pattern;
A transfer step of transferring the developed toner to a mesh screen;
A fixing step of fixing the toner transferred to the screen;
A method for producing a stencil for screen printing, comprising:   6. The method for producing a stencil for screen printing according to claim 5, wherein the developing step forms a latent image by electrophotography.

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