JP2021003815A - Printed matter, method for manufacturing the same, book, and apparatus for manufacturing printed matter - Google Patents

Abstract

To suppress bleeding and express highly precise characters and patterns with respect to such a small book as generally called as miniature book, especially a book having a maximum length of a printed surface of 5 mm or less, and observed using a magnifying glass.SOLUTION: A method for manufacturing a printed matter includes a step of constituting a printing pattern with a print ink in a printing step followed by intentionally reducing a solvent from the ink. There is ±15 μm or less in design with respect to a pattern of a bottom layer printed at first when the pattern is expressed by overlapping a large number of colors.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention is a technique relating to a printed matter which is expressed by superimposing two or more kinds of printing patterns such as color printing (multicolor printing) and has a printed content having a fine size.

As a general printing method in commercial printing, gravure printing, offset printing, inkjet, electrophotographic and the like are known. Of these, offset printing and gravure printing are mainly used when printing a large amount of books (magazines, booklets, etc.), packaging materials, etc. at one time. On the other hand, inkjet and electrophotographic are mainly used for printing a wide variety of small lots such as on-demand printing.

The ink used for printing differs depending on the printing method. For example, in printing methods such as gravure printing, offset printing, and inkjet, liquid ink is used. Liquid ink is adjusted so that it has a relatively high viscosity, but considering that the recesses of the intaglio on which the print pattern is drawn are filled with high accuracy, the viscosity of the ink should be set too high. Can't. On the other hand, immediately after the ink adheres to the printing substrate such as paper, the liquid ink is not dried or cured, and the printing edge is bleeding due to the penetration into the printing substrate or the spread of the liquid. Occur. Here, the ink (toner) used in electrophotographic is in the form of powder. However, the toner scatters when it lands on the printing substrate, and the edges of the printing bleed as in the case of using the liquid ink.

Conventionally, measures against bleeding on these printing base materials are mainly taken by adjusting the ink viscosity and surface treatment of the printing base material. Further, as in Cited Document 1, bleeding is suppressed by defining the surface tension of the ink.
As described above, in ordinary commercial printing, bleeding is suppressed by various methods, and it is difficult to visually confirm the presence or absence of bleeding in magazines, books, catalogs, etc. of ordinary size.

Japanese Patent No. 4111104

However, for small books such as miniature books, especially books with printed contents such as letters and patterns printed on a small printed surface with a side of 5 mm or less, the printed contents are observed using a magnifying glass. Used by In a book having such a small printing surface, even if bleeding is suppressed to the level of normal commercial printing, problems such as unclear pattern and unreadable characters occur due to the influence of slight bleeding. A very small book that can be visually recognized using such a magnifying glass is called a microbook, and although it is not industrially mass-produced, there is a predetermined need.

Further, in a microbook, the width of the printed line is generally 10 μm or less, so that two or more types of printing patterns are superimposed using a general color printing method such as black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. Matching accuracy is also important. Generally, the overlay accuracy in commercial printing is ± 30 μm or more, but as a result of the examination by the present inventor, in the microbook, each color is completely deviated at that accuracy, and the expression of the printed content consisting of patterns and colors is expressed. It was found that it would cause problems.
For this reason, in the conventional microbook, when the purpose is to print with high accuracy, each print content is often composed of one print pattern in a single color.

The present invention focuses on the above points, and an object of the present invention is a printed matter represented by a color microbook or the like having high-definition printed contents.

In order to solve the problem, one aspect of the present invention has a printing surface having a maximum length of 5 mm or less on the surface of a printing substrate, and one or more printed contents formed of ink on the printing surface. At least one print content of the above 1 or 2 or more print contents is expressed by superimposing at least two or more types of print patterns, and the above two or more types of print patterns are superposed on each other. It is a gist that the superimposition accuracy of each superposed print pattern in the represented display portion is ± 15 μm or less with respect to the print pattern of the lowest layer.

Further, one aspect of the present invention is a book having a plurality of printed matter having the above structure.
Further, one aspect of the present invention is the method for producing a printed matter of the above aspect, in which the solvent in the ink is intentionally removed from the ink constituting the print pattern before the print pattern is transferred to the print surface. The gist is to have a solvent reduction step to reduce.

According to one aspect of the present invention, even if the printing surface is small, bleeding to the printing substrate in printing can be suppressed, and accurate superposition of each color can be realized by superimposing two or more types of printing patterns. It is possible to improve the accuracy of the printed content to be expressed. Therefore, according to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a fine color printed matter represented by, for example, a color microbook.

It is a figure which shows the example of the printed matter which has the color fine print content which concerns on embodiment based on this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example in a book. It is a schematic structure of the printing apparatus which concerns on embodiment based on this invention. It is a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus using an intaglio according to an embodiment based on the present invention. It is a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus using a screen printing plate according to an embodiment based on the present invention. It is a figure explaining the manufacturing process of the color fine printed matter manufactured using this invention. It is a figure explaining the manufacturing process of the color fine printed matter manufactured without using this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Here, the embodiment shown below exemplifies a configuration for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the technical idea of the present invention describes the shape, structure, etc. of the component parts as follows. It is not specific to. The technical idea of the present invention may be modified in various ways within the technical scope specified by the claims stated in the claims.

(Printed matter 1 with fine print contents)
As shown in FIG. 1, the printed matter 1 has a printing base material 2 and a printed content 3 printed on the printing base material 2.
<Printing substrate 2>
At least the surface layer of the printing substrate 2 is made of, for example, processed printing paper, a plastic plate, a plastic film, or the like. Examples of the processed paper for printing include coated paper, matte paper, and calendar paper. Examples of the material of the plastic plate and the plastic film include polyethylene terephthalate (PET), triacetyl cellulose (TAC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and polycarbonate (PC). The printing substrate 2 may be made of metal. Even if the surface roughness of the material used as the printing base material 2 is larger than 50 μm at the maximum height Rz, it is possible to obtain a printing base material having suppressed surface roughness by processing the material. The printing base material may have a structure in which the above-mentioned processed paper for printing or the like is attached to the surface of a material made of metal or the like.

Examples of processing to reduce the surface roughness include a method of applying pressure to the surface of the base material to make it flat, and a method of applying a pigment or the like to the unevenness of the surface of the base material such as paper to make the surface flat. Can be exemplified.
The shape of the printing substrate 2 does not have to be a two-dimensional planar shape such as a paper shape, and may be a three-dimensional shape. A printing substrate can be formed as long as a printing surface described later can be formed on a part of the surface of the printing substrate.

<Printed surface>
The surface of the printing substrate 2 has one or more printing surfaces 2A.
The surface roughness of the printed surface 2A is preferably 50 μm or less at the maximum height Rz, and more preferably 30 μm or less at the maximum height Rz. By setting the print roughness to 50 μm or less at the maximum height Rz, it is possible to provide the print base material 2 with fine print contents that are less affected by the breakage of the lines constituting the print contents.

In a printed matter of normal size, the height difference (surface roughness) on the surface of the printing substrate, particularly the height difference on the paper surface, has a small effect on the print quality. On the other hand, in fine printing such as the object of the present invention in which the width of the printed line is 10 μm or less, the printed line is broken due to the surface roughness of the printing base material 2, and the printed content 3 is accurately printed. It may not be recognized. Therefore, it is desirable that the printing surface 2A provided with the fine print content 3 has a roughness as flat as possible. By setting the maximum height Rz, which is one of the general indicators of roughness, to 50 μm or less, printing with little influence of the height difference becomes possible.

The maximum height Rz can be measured by a measuring device conforming to the measuring method described in JIS B 0601-2001.
Further, in the present embodiment, the size of the printed surface 2A is premised on a region having a small area having a maximum length of 5 mm or less.
The minimum length of the printed surface 2A is preferably 0.3 mm or more. That is, the print surface 2A is designed so as to have the minimum area and shape that can form fine print contents.
Here, in the present specification, the "maximum length of the printing surface 2A" refers to the maximum length in the area of the target printing surface 2A.
For example, when the outer peripheral contour shape that defines the area of the printing surface 2A is a rectangular shape, the diagonal line of the rectangular shape is set as the maximum length. When the outer peripheral contour shape is circular, the diameter is set as the maximum length. When the outer peripheral contour shape is an elliptical shape, the major axis is the maximum length.

When the outer contour shape that defines the area of the printing surface 2A is a polygonal shape such as a rectangular shape (square shape or rectangular shape), the maximum side length of the polygonal shape is simply set to the length of the maximum side of the polygonal shape. It may be defined as the maximum length and used as a reference for determining the maximum length.
The outer peripheral contour shape that defines the region of the printing surface 2A is not limited to a rectangular shape, a circular shape, an elliptical shape, or the like in the shape obtained by developing or projecting the printing base material 2 on a plane, and may be a polygonal shape or an irregular shape. It may be in shape.
Further, the shape of the printing surface 2A of the printing substrate 2 may be a planar shape constituting one page of a book, or a curved surface shape arranged on a three-dimensional surface such as a cone or a sphere. You may.

<Printed content 3>
As shown in FIG. 1, each print surface 2A represents one or more print contents 3 formed of ink. FIG. 1 is an example in which two print contents 3A and 3B are represented on one print surface 2A.
In the present embodiment, at least one print content of one or more print contents 3 formed on one print surface 2A is represented by superimposing at least two or more types of print patterns.

In the display portion expressed by superimposing the two or more types of print patterns, the superimposition accuracy of each superposed print pattern is adjusted to a deviation amount of ± 15 μm or less with respect to the print pattern of the lowest layer. ..
Each print content 3 formed by the print pattern is not particularly limited, but consists of, for example, at least one of a pattern and a symbol. Symbols are letters, numbers, signs, signs and the like.
When multicolor printing is performed and the print content 3 is formed by color printing, the print content 3 is generally composed of cyan, magenta, yellow, black, and other special colors, which are sequentially printed on the print surface 2A as individual print patterns. It is expressed by being superimposed.

The example of the print content 3 shown in FIG. 1 is an example in which the print content is formed on the print surface 2A by a combination of color fine print patterns. Specifically, FIG. 1 is an example of being represented by two print contents 3 of a print content 3A called "sun" and a print content 3B composed of a pattern. The "sun" is composed of two letters, one of which is magenta and the other is "yang". The size of the character is 100 μm in length and width, and the line width of the character is 10 μm. Further, in the pattern of FIG. 1, the border 3Ba is printed in black, and the magenta single color portion 3Bb and the red portion 3Bc in which magenta and yellow are superimposed are arranged inside. The size of the pattern is 300 μm in length and width, and the line width of the border is 10 μm. The superposition accuracy of each of the superposed print patterns is ± 15 μm or less with respect to the print pattern of the lowermost layer.

<Books and others>
As shown in FIG. 2, a booklet or other book 5 is obtained by superimposing and binding a plurality of printed matter 1 having the above-described structure.
When a plurality of printed matter 1 is used as a book 5, in addition to the printed surface 2A, a margin other than the printed surface 2A required in the post-printing process such as glue margin, folding margin, and binding margin is provided on the printed substrate 2. It is easily understood by those skilled in the art that a paper surface larger than the size of the printing surface 2A is used for the printing substrate 2 because it needs to be provided.

The printing surface 2A is not limited to the position (center position, etc.) of the text on the surface of the printing substrate 2. For example, the printing surface 2A may be set in the area at the end of the printing substrate 2 that constitutes a poster or the like.
The printed content does not have to be a symbol such as a pattern or characters. For example, a square mark provided at the corner of the two-dimensional code, a circle or a square provided at the center of the two-dimensional code, etc., can be printed on the printing base material 2. It is also possible to apply the printed content 3 of the present application to a portion constituting a part of the entire printed content.

That is, printed contents of a normal size (for example, 1 cm square or more) other than the printed contents 3 based on the present invention may be printed on the printed base material 2. The present invention is applicable as long as the maximum length of at least one printing surface 2A on the printing substrate 2 is 5 mm or less.
As the printed matter 1, one printed matter, a leaflet, a pamphlet, or the like can be exemplified. The book 5 may have a plurality of the above-mentioned printed matter 1, and the printed matter 1 may be printed by a multi-imposition printed matter.

Here, in the portion where two or more types of print patterns are superimposed and expressed, the overlay accuracy of each superimposed print pattern can be set to ± 15 μm or less with respect to the print pattern of the lowest layer. For example, it can be realized by performing alignment adjustment.
For example, the overlay accuracy is realized by printing a plurality of print patterns in order while aligning with an alignment camera so that preset alignment marks match with reference to the first printed print pattern. By performing the alignment alignment operation by automatic control based on the image taken by the alignment camera, it is possible to superimpose and print each print pattern with a deviation amount of ± 15 μm or less with respect to the print pattern of the lowest layer.

Further, when the ink constituting the print pattern is transferred to the print surface 2A, a solvent reduction step, which is a process of reducing the solvent of the ink forming the print pattern, is performed after the print pattern is formed (drawn). The bleeding of the print content 3 is suppressed, and the fine print content 3 can be accurately formed on the print surface 2A.
Here, if ink with a small amount of solvent is used from the beginning of the printing process, if the viscosity of the ink is too high, for example, the ink cannot be well filled in the recesses of the intaglio for forming (drawing) a printing pattern. Due to a defect, a desired print pattern cannot be drawn with high accuracy, and accurate printing becomes difficult.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, before transferring the print pattern to the print surface 2A, a solvent reduction step of intentionally reducing the solvent constituting the ink from the ink on which the print pattern is formed is performed.
For example, in a printing method in which a print pattern is transferred to a transfer body and the ink of the print pattern transferred to the transfer body is transferred from the transfer body to the printing surface 2A of the printing base material 2, the ink is transferred to the transfer body as a solvent reduction step. Reduce the amount of ink used. For example, in a configuration in which a print pattern is transferred to a transfer body and the ink of the print pattern transferred to the transfer body is transferred from the transfer body to the printing surface 2A of the printing substrate 2, the surface layer of the transfer body is used as an ink solvent. Formed from a material that absorbs.
The treatment of the solvent reduction step of intentionally reducing the solvent is not limited to the method of absorbing the solvent from the ink, and is realized by, for example, a treatment of applying heat such as warm air to the ink to remove the solvent from the ink. You can do it.

<Ink>
As the ink used in this embodiment, the ink usually used may be used depending on the printing method.
As the color-developing pigment of the ink 208, organic pigments and inorganic pigments known in the printing field can be appropriately used.
Inorganic pigments include oxides such as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and iron black, as well as hydroxides, sulfides, serenes, ferrocyanides, chromates, sulfates, carbonates, and silicates. Examples thereof include phosphate, carbon, gold, silver, copper, zinc, aluminum, pearl pigment alone, or an alloy thereof. Examples of the organic pigment include carbon compounds, nitroso-based, nitro-based, azo-based, rake-based, phthalocyanine-based, and condensed polycyclic materials.

Any solvent can be used in the ink. For example, quick-drying inks have low boiling point solvents (MEK, ethanol, acetone, etc.) that dry at room temperature, water-based inks use water (purified water), and oil-based inks do not evaporate at room temperature (aliphatic hydrocarbons, etc.). Glycol ether, higher alcohol, etc.) can be used as the solvent.
As the resin material used as the ink material other than the pigment and the particles, a transparent resin, a colored resin, or an opaque resin may be used. That is, for example, polycarbonate resin, acrylic resin, fluoroacrylic resin, silicon acrylic resin, epoxy acrylate resin, polystyrene resin, acrylonitrile styrene resin, cycloolefin polymer, methylstyrene resin, fluorene resin, PET (polyethylene terephthalate), polypropylene. , Phenolic resin, melamine resin, PEN (polyethylene naphthalate), PI (polykimide) and other thermoplastic resins and thermosetting resins and other general-purpose plastics can be used.

Here, as the thermoplastic resin, PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PC (polycarbonate), PS (polystyrene), COC (cyclic olefin copolymer), PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate (polymethylmethacrylate, acrylic resin)), COP (Cycloolefin polymer), MS (styrene methacrylate copolymer), AS (acrylonitrile styrene copolymer), PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate (polymethylmethacrylate, acrylic resin)), PEN (polyethylene naphthalate), PI ( It is possible to use a thermoplastic resin such as polyimide).

Further, as the thermosetting resin, a thermosetting resin well known in the art such as a phenol resin, a melamine resin, an epoxy resin, and an alkyd can be used. In addition to the above, as resin materials used as ink materials, engineering plastics such as PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), POM (polyoxymethyl), PA (polyamide), PPS (polyphenylsulfide), and super engineer plastics It is also possible to use. In addition to this, resins such as acrylic, urethane, Eposiki, polyester, and thiol that are cured by ionizing radiation can be used.

(Printing equipment)
Next, an example of a printing apparatus provided with a solvent reduction step capable of producing the printed contents with high accuracy will be described.
<Outline configuration of printing device>
As shown in FIG. 3, the printing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment includes a printing pattern drawing unit 101, a transfer body 102, a solvent reduction step, and a transfer mechanism for transferring ink of a printing pattern from the transfer body 102 to the printing substrate 2. Be prepared. The transfer mechanism includes an alignment camera 104 for alignment.
Further, the printing apparatus 100 includes a printing base fixing surface plate 103 to which the printing base 2 is attached.

The print pattern drawing unit 101 draws ink on a target print pattern.
The transfer body 102 of the present embodiment has a cylinder shape, and an ink solvent absorbing material 105 for performing a solvent reduction step is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the transfer body 102.
That is, a tubular ink solvent absorbing material 105 is provided on the surface of the transfer body 102 (the surface on which the ink is transferred). Then, the outer peripheral surface of the ink solvent absorbing material 105 constitutes a transfer surface on which the ink of the print pattern drawn by the print pattern drawing unit 101 is transferred.
The ink solvent absorbing material 105 automatically performs a process of intentionally reducing the solvent from the ink transferred to the transfer body 102 by absorbing the solvent (liquid portion) of the transferred ink.

Prior to the transfer of the ink to the transfer surface, the temperature of the ink solvent absorbing material 105 may be higher than that of the outer peripheral atmosphere to promote the absorption of the ink.
The transfer mechanism comprises a known mechanism (not shown) capable of axially rotating and vertically moving the transfer body 102. The transfer mechanism transfers the printing pattern to the ink solvent absorbing material 105, and after a time estimated that a predetermined amount or more of the solvent is absorbed by the ink solvent absorbing material 105 from the transferred ink, the transfer material is printed on the printing base material. Upon contact with 2, the ink on the transfer body is transferred to the printing substrate 2. As this transfer mechanism, a known mechanism may be adopted.
During this transfer process, the transfer mechanism automatically adjusts the position of the transfer body based on the image captured by the alignment camera 104 for alignment, and adjusts the alignment of the transferred print pattern with respect to the print surface 2A. ..

<Ink solvent absorption material>
At least the surface layer of the ink solvent absorbing material 105 is a rubber layer. As the rubber material used as the rubber layer, various known rubber materials can be used. Examples of the rubber material include nitrile rubber, chloroprene rubber, butadiene rubber, natural rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, butyl rubber, silicone rubber, fluororubber and the like.
These rubber materials are selected according to the type of ink and the type of solvent used in the ink, and it is preferable to use one having high ink solvent absorption. When the solvent is an organic solvent, silicone rubber is suitable because it has solvent absorbability and is rich in variety. As the silicone rubber, an addition reaction type (heat curing type) silicone rubber material is particularly suitable because it does not generate by-products and has good dimensional stability. However, a condensation reaction type (normal temperature curing type) silicone rubber It may be a material. When selecting the rubber material, it is advisable to refer to the contact angle between the rubber material and the solvent and the solubility parameter (SP value) of both.

Further, although the rubber layer alone can be used as the ink solvent absorbing material 105, the ink solvent absorbing material 105 may have a structure in which the rubber layer is provided on the base base material. The rubber layer made of the rubber material can cure the rubber material on the base base material or can bond the rubber material on the film to the base base material.
Since the base base material is attached to the outer periphery of the transfer body 102, a flexible film or a thin metal plate may be used. As the base base material, a polyester film such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or a polyimide film is suitable from the viewpoint of cost and dimensional stability. Further, a primer layer and an adhesive layer are provided between the base base material and the rubber layer as needed. Further, a cushion layer is provided under the base base material as needed. A sponge-like material can be used as the cushion layer. The ink solvent absorbing material 105 is fixed to the substantially cylindrical transfer body 102 by winding both ends in the width direction with an attachment (not shown).

The printing base material 2 can be fixed on the printing base material fixing surface plate 103. The pattern formed by the print pattern drawing unit 101 is transferred onto the ink solvent absorbing material 105, and then transferred from the ink solvent absorbing material 105 to the printing substrate 2.
As described above, the print pattern drawing unit 101 forms (draws) a print pattern using ink. The structure of the print pattern drawing unit 101 differs depending on the printing method used.
In the following description, examples of printing methods using intaglio printing and screen printing will be described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The print pattern may be formed by a printing method using a letterpress or lithographic plate, or may be configured to draw the print pattern directly on the ink solvent absorbing material 105 by using an inkjet or the like. For that purpose, a new configuration may be added on the printing apparatus.

<Structure using intaglio>
First, an embodiment of forming a print pattern using an intaglio as a printing method will be described with reference to FIG.
The printing apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 4 includes a surface plate 103 for fixing a printing base material and a printing intaglio 205 as a printing pattern drawing unit 101. The printing intaglio 205 is mounted on the printing plate fixing surface plate 201. Other device configurations are the same as those of the printing device 100 described above.
In the printing intaglio 205, it is desirable to form a groove corresponding to the printing pattern on a metal plate such as a copper plate or a nickel plate, or a glass plate by wet etching, dry etching, or a plating method. Further, in order to adjust the scratch resistance and the ink wettability on the surface thereof, a scratch resistant film may be formed by chrome plating or carbon plating.

Then, the ink 208 is filled in the recesses of the printing intaglio 205 to form a desired printing pattern on the printing intaglio 205. Next, the printing pattern formed (drawn) on the printing intaglio 205 is transferred onto the ink solvent absorbing material 105.
Subsequently, alignment is performed by the alignment camera 204 for alignment, and the print pattern on the ink solvent absorbing material 105 is configured to be transferred to the print surface 2A of the print substrate 2.
A doctor blade holder 209 for filling ink 208 is configured on the upper part of the printing plate fixing surface plate 201. A doctor blade 210 is fixed to the doctor blade holder 209.

The transfer body 102 is supported by a carriage (not shown) in a state where it can rotate and move up and down. By moving the carriage, the transfer body 102 can be moved onto the printing plate fixing surface plate 201 and the printing base material fixing surface plate 103.
The printing substrate fixing surface plate 103 has a moving mechanism such as an XY table that operates the printing substrate 2 in the horizontal two-dimensional direction with respect to the printing plane for alignment. It is possible to image the alignment pattern formed on the printing substrate 2 with the alignment camera 204, adjust the operation of the printing substrate 2 in the horizontal direction with respect to the printing plane, and perform alignment.

The printing device 200 includes a control unit (not shown) for controlling each unit of the printing device 200. The feed mechanism for the transfer body 102 and the like is electrically connected to the control unit.
The control unit is a well-known computer and includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an input / output port, a storage device, a display device, an input / output device, and the like interconnected by a data bus.
The control unit fills the printing intaglio 205 with the doctor blade 210 with ink 208, feeds and rotates and moves the transfer body 102 according to the operator's operation input, inputs from various sensors, and the control program stored in the ROM. It is possible to control the alignment operation of the printing base fixing surface plate 103 using the image captured by the alignment camera 204 and the drying operation of the ink solvent absorbing material 105 in a linked manner.

Next, a printing method for patterning the ink 208 on the printing substrate 2 using the printing apparatus 200 will be described.
Ink 208 is filled into the recesses in the printing intaglio 205 at a constant speed by the doctor blade 210 fixed to the doctor blade holder 209. The filling speed can be, for example, in the range of 10 mm / s or more and 300 mm / s or less. As a result, a predetermined print pattern is formed.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the transfer body 102 moves while rotating in the direction of the arrow (A) in the drawing (left side in FIG. 4), and the transfer body 102 is transferred to the ink 208 filled in the printing intaglio 205. By continuously contacting the surface of the ink solvent absorbing material 105 on 102, the ink 208 is transferred to the surface of the ink solvent absorbing material 105 according to the print pattern. The transfer rate to the ink solvent absorbing material 105 can be, for example, 10 mm / s or more and 200 mm / s or less.

The ink 208 forming the print pattern transferred onto the ink solvent absorbing material 105
The solvent in the ink is absorbed by the ink solvent absorbing material 105. As a result, the solid content inside the ink forming the print pattern is aggregated to increase the viscosity, and the spread of the ink 208 is suppressed.
Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the ink solvent absorbing material 105 to which the printing pattern by the ink 208 is transferred is pressed against the printing substrate 2 while rotating in the direction of arrow A in the drawing, and the printing pattern is transferred to the printing substrate 2. To do. The transfer rate to the printing substrate 2 can be, for example, 10 mm / s or more and 500 mm / s or less.

After the printing is completed, the alignment mark (not shown) in the printing pattern formed on the printing substrate 2 is imaged by the alignment camera 204 and the position is stored. After that, printing with the same printing pattern of each color is performed by superimposing each color on the pattern of the lowest layer printed first with an overlay accuracy of ± 15 μm or less of the design. As a result, the microscopic printed matter is completed. In order to achieve a superposition accuracy of 15 μm or less, a fine alignment mark and a high-resolution alignment camera are required. Fine alignment marks with a width of 10 μm can be printed by using this printing method, and for high-resolution alignment cameras, those generally used in the electronics field such as printed wiring board manufacturing should be used. desirable.
The ink 208 remaining on the printing surface 2A of the ink solvent absorbing material 105 is removed by, for example, a cleaning roller (not shown). Further, for example, by drying the ink solvent absorbing material 105 with warm air or the like, it is possible to remove the solvent absorbed by the ink solvent absorbing material 105.

<Configuration using screen printing plate>
Next, an embodiment using a screen printing plate as a printing method will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 5, the printing apparatus 300 includes a screen printing plate 301 fixed by a printing plate fixing jig (not shown), a squeegee 303 for filling the screen printing plate with ink 302, and a squeegee 303 as a printing pattern drawing unit 101. A squeegee holder 304 for fixing is provided. Other device configurations are the same as those of the device 100 described above.

The screen printing plate 301 constitutes the main body of the apparatus for drawing a predetermined printing pattern on the ink solvent absorbing material 105.
An ink solvent absorbing material 105 is attached to the surface of the transfer body 102. The printing base material 2 is fixed on the printing base material fixing surface plate 103. Then, the ink 302 is configured to be continuously transferred from the screen printing plate 301 to the printing substrate 2 via the ink solvent absorbing material 105.
The transfer body 102 is supported by a carriage (not shown) in a state where it can rotate and move up and down, and by moving the carriage, it can be moved to the lower part of the screen printing plate 301 and the surface plate 103 for fixing the printing substrate. It is possible.

The printing base fixing surface plate 103 has a mechanism for operating the printing base 2 horizontally with respect to the printing plane for alignment. It is possible to take an image of the alignment pattern formed on the printing substrate 2 with the alignment camera 307, adjust the operation of the printing substrate 2 in the horizontal direction with respect to the printing plane, and perform alignment.
The printing device 300 includes a control unit (not shown) for controlling each unit of the printing device 300. The feed mechanism for the transfer body 102 and the like is electrically connected to the control unit.
The control unit is a well-known computer and includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an input / output port, a storage device, a display device, an input / output device, and the like interconnected by a data bus.

The control unit prints a pattern on the ink solvent absorbing material 105 by the screen printing plate 301 and the squeegee 303 and feeds the transfer body 102 according to the operation input of the operator, the input from various sensors, and the control program stored in the ROM. It is possible to control the rotation and movement, the alignment operation of the printing substrate fixing platen 103 using the image captured by the alignment camera 307, and the drying operation of the ink solvent absorbing material 105 in a linked manner. ..

Next, a printing method for patterning the ink 302 on the printing substrate 2 will be described using the printing apparatus 300 configured as described above.
As shown in FIG. 5A, with the screen printing plate 301 fixed, the squeegee 303 is brought into contact with one side of the screen printing plate and the other side facing the screen is brought into contact with the ink solvent absorbing material 105. The ink 302 is placed on the surface of the screen printing plate 301 that is in contact with the squeegee 303. At this time, the ink 302 needs to be placed on the squeegee 303 traveling direction (direction of arrow (B) in the figure) and in front of the pattern.

After that, pressure is applied to the screen printing plate 301 by the squeegee 303 and the transfer body 102 to move the squeegee 303 and the transfer body 102 in the direction of the arrow (B) in the drawing. At this time, the transfer body 102 moves while rotating so as not to slip on the surface of the screen printing plate 301 in contact with the ink solvent absorbing material 105. As a result, the ink 302 is extruded from the holes of the screen printing plate 301 by the squeegee 303, and the ink is transferred onto the ink solvent absorbing material 105 according to the printing pattern.
As the screen printing plate 301, a commonly used one may be used. In the screen printing plate 301, a mesh-like material called a mesh is attached to a metal frame called a frame with a certain tension. A photosensitive material is applied to the mesh, and holes are formed in the photosensitive material so as to form a desired pattern.

The frame only needs to have rigidity that does not distort during printing, and aluminum is mainly used. The mesh may be a knitted or combined thread-like material made of polyester or SUS. The intersection may be fixed so as not to move by applying pressure or plating to the intersection of the filamentous materials. The ratio of the gaps of the filamentous material to the total area of the mesh, that is, the opening ratio, is preferably 35% to 60%. Further, a thin plate such as SUS that has been directly perforated may be used without using a mesh.
In the ink 302 transferred onto the ink solvent absorbing material 105, the solvent in the ink is absorbed by the ink solvent absorbing material 105. As a result, the solid content inside the ink is aggregated and the spread of the ink 302 is suppressed.

Then, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), the ink solvent absorbing material 105 to which the pattern by the ink 302 is transferred is pressed against the printing substrate 2 while rotating in the direction of the middle arrow (C) in FIG. 5 (b) to press the pattern. Transcribe. The transfer rate to the printing substrate 2 can be, for example, 10 mm / s or more and 500 mm / s or less.
After the printing is completed, the alignment mark in the printing pattern formed on the printing substrate 2 is imaged by the alignment camera 307 and the position is stored.
After that, each color is superimposed on the pattern of the lowermost layer printed first with an overlay accuracy of ± 15 μm or less of the design, and the pattern printing of each color is performed in order to complete a fine printed matter. The alignment mark and the alignment camera are carried out in the same manner as described above.

The ink 302 remaining on the printing surface 2A of the ink solvent absorbing material 105 is removed by, for example, a cleaning roller (not shown).
Here, when the pattern printing of each of the above colors is completed, a process of curing the ink is performed on the printed content. The curing treatment method uses a method suitable for ink, and examples thereof include heat curing, oxidative curing, and UV curing.
In the above embodiment, the flat plate-shaped printing base material is given as an example as the printing base material 2, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a roll-shaped printing base material may be used.
After that, by binding a plurality of printed matter, a book 5 composed of color fine printed matter whose print contents are produced by color fine printing on a printed surface 2A of 5 mm or less is completed.

(effect)
(1) The present embodiment is a printed matter having a printed surface having a maximum length of 5 mm or less on the surface of a printing substrate, and one or more printed contents formed of ink on the printed surface. .. At least one print content of one or more print contents is represented by superimposing at least two or more types of print patterns. In the display portion represented by superimposing two or more types of print patterns, the superimposition accuracy of each superposed print pattern is a deviation amount of ± 15 μm or less with respect to the print pattern of the lowermost layer.
According to this configuration, even if the print surface is small and the print content is fine, the overlay accuracy of the print pattern is set to ± 15 μm or less with respect to the print pattern of the lowest layer, so that there are two or more types. It is possible to improve the accuracy of the print content expressed by superimposing the print patterns. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide a fine color printed matter represented by, for example, a color microbook.

(2) The surface roughness of the printed surface is such that the maximum height Rz is 50 μm or less.
According to this configuration, it is possible to provide a color printed matter with high accuracy even in fine color printing.

(3) In the present embodiment, before transferring the print pattern to the print surface, the solvent in the ink is intentionally reduced from the ink after the print pattern is formed.
According to this configuration, while forming (drawing) a print pattern with high accuracy, bleeding on the print surface is further suppressed, and as a result, even if the print content becomes fine, the print content is more accurately improved. It becomes possible.

(Example of manufacturing process of color fine printed matter 503)
The manufacturing process of the color fine printed matter 503 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. That is, this is an example of a case where the pattern printing of each color is performed after the process of reducing the solvent from the ink is performed after the printing pattern is formed by the solvent reducing step described above.
First, the outlines of characters and patterns are printed with lines having a width of 10 μm using black ink to produce a black single color printed matter 501 (FIG. 6A). Next, printing with magenta was superimposed on the monochromatic printed matter 501 so as to be a two-color printed matter 502 with magenta (FIG. 6B). The superposition accuracy at this time was assumed to deviate by 10 μm toward the bottom of the paper surface. Finally, yellow was superimposed on the two-color printed matter 502 to produce a color fine printed matter 503 (FIG. 6 (c)). The overlay accuracy at this time was assumed to deviate by 5 μm toward the upper left of the paper surface.

Next, the manufacturing process of the color fine printed matter 603, which manufactures the printed content without performing the treatment of reducing the solvent from the ink after forming the print pattern by the solvent reducing step described above, is shown with reference to FIG. 7. ..
First, the outlines of characters and patterns are printed with lines having a width of 10 μm using black ink to produce a black single color printed matter 601 (FIG. 7A). At this time, bleeding occurs due to the spread of the ink, and the printed line becomes 20 to 30 μm. This makes it difficult to decipher complicated Chinese characters (such as the yang in this production example). Next, printing with magenta was repeated from above the monochromatic printed matter 601 so as to be a two-color printed matter 602 with magenta. The overlay accuracy at this time was assumed to deviate by 40 μm in the downward direction of the paper surface, which is the same as that of general commercial printing (Fig. 7 (b)). Finally, yellow was superimposed on the two-color printed matter 602 to produce a color fine printed matter 603 (FIG. 7 (c)). The superposition accuracy at this time was assumed to deviate by 30 μm toward the upper left of the paper surface as in general commercial printing.

Comparing the color fine printed matter 503 and 603 completed in the above steps, it was found that the difference in the printed content was clear, and it was difficult to decipher the color fine printed matter without using the present invention.

<Example 1>
The first embodiment is an example in which each printing pattern is printed by using the apparatus of the above embodiment (FIG. 3) using the printing intaglio. The content printed on the printing surface 2A is the display shown in FIG.
The size of the printing surface 2A was set to a square shape of 0.9 mm in length and width, and a pattern for color fine printing was produced so that the outer shape of the book was 1 mm. Based on each of these printing patterns, an intaglio for printing corresponding to each of the four types of printing patterns of black, magenta, cyan, and yellow was produced by using an electroforming method. The lines forming the outlines of letters and patterns were uniformly set to 10 μm.
As the printing substrate 2, an extra-thick white glassine (Nippon Paper Industries) having a ream weight of 20 kg was prepared. The surface roughness of the printing substrate 2 was 18 μm at the maximum height Rz.

A silicone rubber blanket (# 700 STD manufactured by Fujikura Rubber Industries) was prepared as an ink solvent absorbing material and wound around the ink solvent absorbing material fixing portion.
The recesses of the intaglio for printing were filled with black ink (in-house developed product) with a doctor blade at a speed of 100 mm / s. After that, the black ink was received by the silicone rubber blanket at a speed of 200 mm / sec while applying a constant pressure, and then the black ink of the printing pattern was transferred from the silicone rubber blanket to the printing substrate 2 (FIG. 5 (a)). reference). The transfer rate to the printing substrate 2 was set to 200 mm / sec.
Next, the position of the alignment mark of the black ink pattern printed on the printing substrate 2 is memorized, and each printing pattern of magenta, cyan, and yellow is printed with the above black ink with an overlay accuracy of 10 μm with respect to the black ink pattern. In the same manner as the method, the printing was performed in order.

<Comparative example 1>
In Comparative Example 1, printing was performed directly on the printing substrate 2 from the printing intaglio by a gravure printing machine using the same printing intaglio and ink. The overlay accuracy was adjusted manually while observing the alignment mark with a magnifying glass.
When the printed matter of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 were compared, in Example 1 based on the present invention, both the characters and the pattern printed on the color fine printed matter were within the range that can be sufficiently recognized as a book. On the other hand, the color fine printed matter of Comparative Example 2 was difficult to read.

<Example 2>
The second embodiment is an example in which each printing pattern is printed by using the apparatus of the above embodiment (FIG. 4) using the printing intaglio. The content printed on the printing surface 2A is the display shown in FIG.
The size of the printing surface 2A was set to a square shape of 2.5 mm in length and width, and a pattern for color fine printing was produced so that the outer shape of the book was 3 mm. Based on this pattern, screen printing plates corresponding to each of the five types of printing patterns of ink, magenta, cyan, yellow, and brown were produced. The lines forming the outlines of characters and patterns were in the range of 30 μm to 50 μm.
As the printing substrate 2, an extra-thick white glassine (Nippon Paper Industries) having a ream weight of 20 kg was prepared. The surface roughness was 18 μm at the maximum height Rz. A silicone rubber blanket (# 700 STD manufactured by Fujikura Rubber Industries) was prepared as an ink solvent absorbing material and wound around the ink solvent absorbing material fixing portion.

Using the above screen printing plate, black ink (in-house developed product) was received by a silicone rubber blanket at a speed of 50 mm / sec, and then the black ink of the printing pattern was transferred from the silicone rubber blanket to the printing substrate 2. The transfer rate to the printing substrate 2 was 100 mm / sec.
Next, the position of the alignment mark of the black ink pattern printed on the printing substrate 2 is memorized, and each printing pattern of magenta, cyan, yellow, and brown is printed on the above black ink pattern with an overlay accuracy of 10 μm with respect to the black ink pattern. In the same manner as the ink printing method, printing was performed in order.

<Comparative example 2>
Using the same screen printing plate and ink as in Example 2, each printing pattern was printed directly on the printing substrate 2 from the screen printing plate by a hand-printing screen printing machine. The overlay accuracy was adjusted manually while observing the alignment mark with a magnifying glass.
When the printed matter of Example 2 and Comparative Example 2 were compared, as in Example 1, the color fine printed matter of Example 2 produced based on the present invention was a printed matter in a range in which both characters and patterns could be sufficiently recognized as a book. On the other hand, the color fine printed matter of Comparative Example 2 was difficult to read.

(Other)
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the embodiments, and all modifications, applications, and equivalents included in the ideas of the present invention defined by the scope of claims are included in the present invention. Therefore, the present invention should not be construed in a limited manner and can be applied to any other technique belonging within the scope of the idea of the present invention.

1 Printed matter 2 Printed matter 2A Printing surface 3, 3A, 3B Printing content 5 Book 100 Printing device 101 Printing pattern drawing unit 102 Transferr 103 Printing substrate fixing platen 104 Alignment camera 105 Ink solvent absorbing material (solvent reduction step)
200 Printing device 201 Printing plate fixing surface plate 204 Alignment camera 205 Printing intaglio 300 Printing device 301 Screen printing plate 307 Alignment camera

Claims (7)

A printed matter having a printed surface having a maximum length of 5 mm or less on the surface of a printing substrate and having one or more printed contents formed of ink on the printed surface.
At least one print content of the above 1 or 2 or more print contents is represented by superimposing at least two or more types of print patterns.
In the display portion expressed by superimposing the above two or more types of print patterns, the superimposition accuracy of each superposed print pattern is characterized by a deviation amount of ± 15 μm or less with respect to the print pattern of the lowest layer. Printed matter. The printed matter according to claim 1, wherein the surface roughness of the printed surface is such that the maximum height Rz is 50 μm or less. The printed matter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the printed content comprises at least one of a pattern and a symbol. A book having a plurality of printed matter according to claim 1 or 2. The method for producing a printed matter according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
A method for producing a printed matter, which comprises a solvent reducing step of intentionally reducing the solvent in the ink from the ink after forming the printing pattern before transferring the printing pattern to the printing surface. The print pattern is transferred to the transfer body, and the ink of the print pattern transferred to the transfer body is transferred from the transfer body to the printing surface of the printing substrate.
The method for producing a printed matter according to claim 5, wherein the solvent reducing step is a process of reducing the solvent from the ink transferred to the transfer body. The printed matter manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
The print pattern is transferred to a transfer body, and the ink of the print pattern transferred to the transfer body is transferred from the transfer body to the printing surface of the printing substrate.
An apparatus for producing a printed matter, wherein the surface layer of the transfer body is made of a material capable of absorbing an ink solvent.

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