JP3119412B2 - Natural leather coloring method and inkjet natural leather coloring device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for coloring a leather, such as dyeing and painting, and more particularly to an improvement in a dyeing method which can be performed simply and at high speed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The processing of leather is generally carried out in the following steps. First of all, the raw leather is subjected to a preparatory process consisting of water pickling and washing, backing, lime pickling, hair removal, splitting of the back strainer, exudation, and water washing, and then to a tanning process consisting of deashing, water washing, acid pickling, and tanning to produce leather. After that, finish the dyeing and fattening process consisting of water squeezing, back grinding, neutralization, dyeing, and grease, and finally water squeezing,
It reaches the finishing process consisting of stretching, drying, seasoning, leather, edges, silvering, gloss coating, polishing, and measuring. After these steps, the final product is a leather product.

[0003]

[Technical problem] Among them, coloring methods such as dyeing or painting on leather are performed by dyes and pigments, and these coloring materials are obtained from dyes and pigments conventionally used for dyeing fibers. Most are incorporated. A coloring method suitable for each of the raw leather, the tanning method, and the application is used. For example, there are methods such as rocket dyeing, dip dyeing, and printing.

[0004] However, leather has various properties depending on its kind, and the actual work still depends on the experience in many cases. Even if the coloring is only a single color, depending on the kind of leather, In some cases, the work for coloring required a long time, the work process was complicated, and the same process had to be repeated many times. Therefore, it has been very difficult to mass produce the same dyed product and to dye a high-definition image or a multicolor image.

On the other hand, the surface of leather, especially the surface of natural leather, has irregularities and large dents due to pores, various wrinkles, etc., which have already existed in the state of raw hides. In this case, the staining agent is remarkably concentrated in this area, causing a high density area. Or irregularities,
Even if dyeing is performed after performing a smoothing treatment on a large recess in the processing step, it is difficult to achieve complete smoothing,
As a result, a single coloring operation tends to cause color unevenness and color omission, and in order to solve this drawback, it is necessary to improve many steps and repeat a dyeing and washing operation a plurality of times. Here, what is important is desired dyeing conditions, difficult to obtain shades, as a result, is that the problem can not be provided only leather there is a change in color is present.

[0006] In general, while there is a tendency to desire a high-quality product in daily necessities or decorations, if it is possible to easily obtain a high-definition image-dyed material for leather, the high-quality leather originally possesses. If it is possible to further enhance the feeling and to easily perform multicolor images and partial dyeing, the range of application of dyed leather will be expanded.

However, as described above, in the conventionally known methods of dyeing and coating leather, the number of steps and the processing time are long in order to maintain the density and fastness. Further, conventionally, dyeing of a single color is almost always performed, and in order to express a multicolor image on leather, it is necessary to bond or sew a plurality of leathers added in different colors. Further, even if a plurality of kinds of colors can be expressed on the same leather to some extent, the number is limited. In any case, the method of dyeing or painting often differs for each color, and the processing is often performed manually, and experience has to be a major factor. As described above, dyeing on leather has been occupied mostly by know-how,
It is also difficult to automate, resulting in high costs.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and has an object to perform inexpensive and rapid dyeing on leather, and to simplify the process, thereby enabling multicolor dyeing. Is provided. As a result, the field of use of dyed leather, which has not been available in the past, is also expanded.

[0009] One representative invention of the present invention is partial degreasing or partial degreasing.
Is the partial degreasing or low degreasing of natural leather.
Coloring by ink jetting is performed in the low-level degreased area.
A method for coloring natural leather,
You. According to the present invention, the problem of the conventional leather coloring method can be eliminated, and the partial region can be brought into a desired coloring state,
Partial multicolor printing can be performed. Of course, application of the present invention to applying color by ink ejection to the entire leather to be colored by changing the present invention to the entire leather is not denied.

[0010] The present invention has the advantage that the coloring by ink jetting can be made more efficient, and in particular, the area that has been degreased at a low level can be dealt with in a short time in order to recover the state of the leather.

[0011] Another representative invention of the present invention is to provide a method for forming an ink-receiving layer in a partially degreased or low-level degreased natural leather in a partially degreased or low-level degreased area. This is a method for adding color to natural leather, which comprises adding color by ink jetting. According to the present invention, the dyeing of the leather itself and its high density can be comprehensively achieved by the presence of the ink receiving layer, and the ink receiving layer itself is also easily fixed to the leather, and therefore, as a whole leather, High quality can be achieved. A representative invention of the present invention, which is a characteristic part of the present invention, is a natural leather coloring method for coloring natural leather or natural leather that has undergone a degreasing step. A method for coloring natural leather, comprising a step of coloring an area by ink ejection. In other words, it is more preferable to provide natural leather having an ink receiving layer formed thereon, and this natural leather coloring method is a more practical invention.

A further developed invention of the present invention is a method for coloring natural leather or natural leather which has been subjected to a degreasing step, which is a method for coloring natural leather, wherein the natural leather is heated to a predetermined temperature of 60 ° C. or lower. A natural leather coloring method comprising a step of coloring leather by ink jetting. The present invention is preferable since a color-added state can be efficiently obtained without deteriorating the leather itself by heat. In this case, if the ink jet method is performed by the “bubble jet” method proposed by Canon Inc. using film boiling, the ink temperature is increased, but the ink temperature is 60 ° C.
Since it reaches the leather in the state of (57-58 degrees C ) below,
It is possible to further improve the coloration state.

[0013] The practical apparatus invention of the present invention comprises means for changing the amount of ink by ink jetting in accordance with an added color signal in accordance with the natural leather to be colored, ink jetting means, and the natural leather for ink. And a transporting means for transporting the ink jetting means to the coloration area of the jetting means without contact with the ink jetting means. According to this invention, in addition to the above-described method invention, the ink amount for the leather can be changed to an appropriate amount, so that the added color state can be further improved.

As an invention which can achieve improved automation and colorization of this device invention, a host for outputting a plurality of color information to be added to natural leather, a color ink ejecting means, and a natural leather to be added. Ink having a means for changing the amount of ink by ink jetting according to a plurality of color information in response thereto, and a conveying means for conveying natural leather to the color-added area of the ink jetting means in a non-contact manner with the ink jetting means. It is a spraying device for natural leather.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned invention, but also includes intermediate articles and final articles obtained by the above-mentioned invention, and further includes any functional combination of the above-mentioned invention and ink-jet printing on leather. The system includes an ink - jet coloring system including steps from coloring by, drying, and fat-grinding by inkjet.

The term "added color" as used herein is a generic term including a single color or multiple colors, including dyeing, painting, coloring, etc., which has been conventionally used as a general technical term. Therefore,
After the addition operation, the color material that becomes the base of the color is in a form that has penetrated into the inside of the leather, a form that is attached or partially penetrated only near the surface layer of the leather, a form that is laminated on the surface of the leather, Both forms are included.

Here, the ink jet system used as the ink jetting means used in the present invention employs an image of 300 dpi.
, Or 360 dpi or more, divided into dots of 600 dpi, etc., and these individual dots can be landed on natural leather as a medium by colored droplets ejected from fine nozzles. Therefore, it is possible to achieve a clear image by coloring in units of dots, and to obtain a uniform color tone, so that the entire image can be made uniform. In addition, since the ink jet method is a non-contact recording method, it is not always necessary to maintain strict uniformity in the smoothness of the leather surface and the support of the back surface of the leather. It can be applied in a single step, which leads to a very large reduction in the time for the subsequent leather treatment step.

Further, in the ink jet system, a plurality of nozzle rows of the ink ejecting means are moved relative to the leather together with the ejection of the ink to add color, thereby further increasing the density and increasing the color area. The sharpness can be improved. Furthermore, according to the present invention, an image or a mark of a single color or a composite color by ink ejection can be formed in a specific color only in a specific partial region of the leather surface by the inkjet method,
It is also possible to emphasize or soften a partial characteristic region. In particular, by making the pre-processing step for only a partial special color region different by using a mask or the like, the added color region by ink ejection can be further emphasized. Furthermore, if the advantage of the coloring of the leather surface by ink ejection is given, even if there is a non-smooth portion such as pores and wrinkles on the leather surface, the ink ejection amount is adjusted only for that portion, and other portions are adjusted. It is also possible to prevent color unevenness and color omission from occurring (smooth portions and peripheral regions). Conversely, even if the leather surface is uniform, it is possible to obtain the desired density distribution and gradation by adjusting or changing the amount of ink applied by a program or image processing on the system host, etc. The disadvantages of the color method can be eliminated .

When recording is performed using plain paper, the maximum amount of ink to be applied is limited in terms of reduced resolution, bleeding between colors, strikethrough, and an increase in fixing time. Means that the maximum amount of ink to be applied is 16 to
It is general to design so as to be within about 28 nl / mm ² . However, in the case of the leather coloring method as in the present invention, it depends on the leather , but it is preferable to give more ink.
It is preferably about 16 to 50 nl / mm ^2, and further coloring and stabilization can be achieved by the presence of the ink receiving layer. In particular, high-density printing at a speed lower than the speed corresponding to the frequency in the printing as an additive color, for example, double-density printing at a speed of 1/2 , or printing scan of the same printing area a plurality of times. Further improvement can be achieved by ink jet head drive control for overlapping printing and increasing the ink ejection amount.

In addition to this, the invention through the grease step of the present invention allows the colored portion to have a higher density and a higher strength. You can do it. On the other hand, the fatliquoring process is often performed in vegetable oil, but also leading to more processing time shortened by performing the application of the treatment liquid in an inkjet method.

The recording liquid (ink) of the ink jet system generally contains a large amount of water because it is applied to conventional paper. However, the present invention is not particularly limited to this ink, and the type of leather is not particularly limited. An ink having an appropriate component, such as an oil-based ink, may be used in accordance with the different properties depending on the content of the processing before the color addition or the like. As the inkjet method, a charge control type, an ejection method using a piezo element, an ejection method using a heating element, and the like can be adopted. Among them, the ejection method using a heating element is preferable in that the density of the recording head can be easily increased. .

It is preferable that the present invention further has a structure, a process or a means for promoting the fixing of the ink in the leather. Specific examples include lowering the wettability of the leather surface, increasing the level of degreasing in the color-added area, and adding an ink-receiving layer. Color efficiency can be improved. As the ink receiving layer, when the ink solvent used is aqueous, polyvinyl alcohol,
Water-soluble resins such as polyvinylpyrrolidone and cellulose are preferred. In order to reduce the wettability of the leather surface, it is preferable to provide a heating means, and in the case of the present invention, low-temperature heating is preferable in order to suppress the decomposition of components such as proteins of the leather. In particular, the decomposition of collagen, which is considered to exhibit a high-grade feel of leather, is likely to result in shrinkage, deterioration, or a decrease in texture, and further heating of leather is required in a later step, so that heating is performed. In the above invention, the leather is heated such that the cortex itself is maintained at a heating temperature of at most 60 ° C. (preferably about 50 ° C.) before or after or during the ink jetting of the leather. As the heating means of the present invention, a method of heating from the side opposite to the color-added surface of the leather by the hot plate, a method of heating the leather from the color-added surface by the heat roller, or a temperature adjustment so as to maintain the above set temperature A heating method provided with a blowing means having a function can be used.

In the present invention, in which a protective layer is formed on the color-added surface of the leather colored by the ink jetting of the present invention, a polyamide as a top coat is generally used. However, it is preferable to provide a protective layer capable of exhibiting light resistance, corrosion resistance, and the like.

Further, as a coloring material for adding colors , conventional dyes and pigments can be used. Among them, pigments are generally used in the finishing step in the conventional leather dyeing methods. Yes, and it was effective. For Lee <br/> need not be limited to any dye or pigment, even if performed more additive color inkjet, which is the leather itself insoluble in normal solvents in the case of the pigment does not exhibit dyeability, It is preferable to use a synthetic resin in the form of an emulsion in a dispersed state. On the other hand, in the case of dyes, many of them are easily soluble in water or alcohol, and are easy to use. Various dyes can be used, but dyes that are often used for protein fibers are relatively easy to use. For example, acid dyes, metal complex dyes, basic dyes,
Mordant dyes, acid mordant dyes, soluble vat dyes and the like are often used for dyeing conventional leather. In addition, direct dyes, cationic dyes, sulfur dyes, naphthol dyes, oxidation dyes, disperse dyes, reactive dyes and the like mainly used for cellulose and polyester fibers can be used. However, when used for dyeing leather, water resistance, sweat resistance, solvent resistance, or properties such as fastness to sunlight are important, and among these dyes, metal acetate dyes are particularly preferable. In order to satisfy these characteristics, the dye may further be subjected to a dye fixing treatment after dyeing or a treatment for reducing the activity of the dye. In addition, a dye and a pigment may be used in combination to exhibit these characteristics.

[0025]

(Example 1) FIG. 1 shows an example of a leather processing procedure employed in the present invention. From a raw leather to a leather product through a preparation step, a tanning step, a coloring step, and a finishing step. It consists of steps. FIG. 2 shows a main structure of a dyeing (recording) means in a recording apparatus which can be used for adding color to leather. The leather dyeing process of the present embodiment will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 as follows.

First, the production of leather as a recording medium is completed by a conventional tanning process. The outline of the steps so far is as follows. First, after removing contaminants, subcutaneous tightening tissues, and hair, the raw hides of animal raw hides of cattle, horses, pigs, etc., are divided into desired thicknesses, followed by removal of fats and pigments (stain). After departure), it goes through a preparatory process of washing with water to clean the bare skin. Subsequently, the tanning process is started. Here, lime is removed (demineralized), washed with water, immersed in a mildly acidic aqueous medium, and then tanned. The tanning method is roughly divided into chromium tanning and tannin tanning, but each has a different affinity for the ionicity of the dye.In general, after chromium tanning, it has an affinity for anionic dyes and tannin tanning. In the latter case there is an affinity for the cationic dye. These types of tanning may be appropriately selected depending on the state of the finished leather and the type of dye used at the time of coloring .

[0027] In this example, using a horse hide as Raw, performs processing with chrome tanning after undergoing the above preparation step, then dehydrated, shaved and pretreated deoxidation neutralization
A leather for coloring was obtained. Furthermore, in order to secure the dyeing property by the next inkjet coloring , a filling treatment with a urea solution of casein is performed. In addition, as a filling treatment agent performed here, what is generally performed by leather dyeing,
In addition, a solution of acrylic, urethane, or the like can be used. And after this was divided by cutting to a size of a width dimension of A3 size long side, inkjet additive color (recording) device 3
1 that can pass through the color medium transport path.

Next, a description will be given of the addition of color to the leather. The leather 1 cut as described above is set on the upstream side in the transport direction of the transport roller pair (the transport drive roller 23 and the transport driven roller 24), which is the transport means of the coloring medium in the inkjet coloring (recording) apparatus 2. I do. Preparations for ink - jet coloring (recording) (recovery processing of ink-jet head and setting of image data, etc.) are performed.
When the color adding process is started, first, the transport driving roller 23 and the transport driven roller 24 driven by the transport driving roller 23 start rotating, and the leather 1 whose front end portion is in contact with the transport driving roller 23 is pressed against the transport roller pair. , The leather 1 is automatically mounted on the transporting means. Next, in synchronization with the transport of the leather 1, the ink jet recording unit 22 provided on the transport path operates to perform color addition (recording) on the leather 1 according to the image data. After the recording is completed, the colored leather 1 discharged from the inkjet coloring (recording) apparatus by the transport means is naturally dried.
The leather 1 that has been colored through such a process is then subjected to a fatliquoring process using a fat such as fish oil or vegetable oil, and the coloring process is completed. The greasing step performed here may use a conventionally performed method. Here, using a drum,
Olive oil was mixed and greased at 55 ° C for 30 minutes.
A leather with added flexibility and strength was obtained.

[0029] The colored leather thus completed is
Furthermore, the process shifts to finishing processes such as stretching, edging, polishing, etc., and after that, processing necessary for various uses is performed to produce leather products.

Next, the ink jet coloring (recording) apparatus 2 used in the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 shows a main part of an example of the configuration of an ink - jet coloring (recording) apparatus according to the present embodiment. In this drawing, the carriage 26 is provided with four color inks of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. Four ink tanks 21 packed respectively
When, four ink jet for ejecting four color inks
Integral head cartridge 22 with an integrated Toheddo 3 is mounted. These ink tanks are filled with the following inks (A) to (D), respectively.
Unless otherwise specified, parts and parts in the text are based on weight.

Production of Ink (A) ・ 2 parts of acid dye (CI Acid Brown 13) ・ 1.5 parts of acid dye (CI Acid Orange 67) ・ 1.5 parts of acid dye (CI Acid Blue 92) 0.5 part ・ Thiodiglycol 5 parts ・ Isopropyl alcohol 3 parts ・ Potassium sulfate 0.01 part ・ Sodium metasilicate 0.001 part ・ Iron sulfate 0.0005 part ・ Nickel sulfate 0.0003 part ・ Zinc sulfate 0.0003 parts ・ Water 59 parts

All the above components were mixed, the mixture was adjusted to pH 8.2 with sodium hydroxide, stirred for 2 hours, and then filtered through a Fluoropore Filter FP-100 (trade name, manufactured by Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.). ink jet ink (a) was obtained.

Production of ink (B) 9 parts of acid dye (CI Acid Blue 185) 9 parts of thiodiglycol 6 parts of triethylene glycol monomethyl ether 6 parts of potassium chloride 0.05 part of sodium metasilicate 001 parts ・ 0.0005 parts of iron chloride ・ 0.0003 parts of zinc chloride ・ 62 parts of water

All the above components were mixed, the mixture was adjusted to pH 8.3 with sodium hydroxide, stirred for 2 hours, and then filtered through a Fluoropore Filter FP-100 (trade name, manufactured by Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.). ink jet ink (B) was obtained.

Manufacture of ink (C) 7 parts of acid dye (CI Acid Red 266) 15 parts of thiodiglycol 10 parts of diethylene glycol 5 parts of tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether 5 parts of potassium chloride 0.04 part of sodium sulfate 0.01 parts-Sodium metasilicate 0.001 part-Iron chloride 0.0005 part-Nickel chloride 0.0002 part-Water 63 parts

The above components were mixed, the mixture was adjusted to pH 7.9 with sodium hydroxide, stirred for 2 hours, and then filtered through a Fluoropore Filter FP-100 (trade name, manufactured by Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.). ink jet ink (C) was obtained.

Production of Ink (D) ・ 7 parts of acid dye (CI Acid Yellow 110) ・ 24 parts of thiodiglycol ・ 11 parts of diethylene glycol ・ 0.004 part of potassium chloride ・ 0.002 part of sodium sulfate ・ metasilicate 0.001 parts of sodium 0.0005 parts of iron chloride 58 parts of water

All the above components were mixed, the mixture was adjusted to pH 8.4 with sodium hydroxide, stirred for 2 hours, and filtered through a Fluoropore Filter FP-100 (trade name, manufactured by Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.). ink jet ink (D) was obtained.

Next, the operation of the ink jet coloring (recording) apparatus of this embodiment will be described. In FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the tanning process is completed and the leather 1 cut to a predetermined size is obtained.
Is provided in order to stably feed the ink into the ink jet coloring (recording) section, along which the leather 1 is transported by the transport driving roller 23 and the transport driven roller 2.
4 is inserted correctly. In this state, the transport drive roller 23 is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow A, so that the leather 1 is guided by the pressure contact portion of the transport roller pair, and is sequentially sent to the ink jet coloring (recording) portion. The carriage 26 when not performing the recording, or when performing such restoration work of the ink jet head is adapted to wait at the home position (not shown).

[0040] Before starting additive color, the carriage 26 in the position of FIG. (Home position), when the recording start command comes,
While moving along the carriage guide shaft 27, a timing is set based on the read signal of the linear encoder, and a multi-nozzle on the print head responds to the print signal in accordance with the print signal.
By discharging the color inks, the recording of only additive color width d on the additive color plane. The additive color (record) to be pressurized by the scanning
On the color surface, ink lands in the order of black ink, cyan ink, magenta ink, and yellow ink to form dots. When the print data to the additive color face end terminates carriage 26 returns to the home position again to print the next line. From the end of the first printing to the start of the second printing, the transport drive roller 23 rotates to transport the leather 1 by the added color width d. In this manner, data printing on the color-added surface is completed by repeating the recording of the added color width d of the ink jet recording head and the leather conveyance for each scan of the carriage. At the time when the color addition is completed, the platen 28, which has formed a flat color addition surface at the time of printing, is inclined in the discharge direction at the same time when the discharge is performed by the conveying means, thereby assisting the discharge of the rear end portion. In order to assist the discharge, a means such as a spur roller may be provided downstream of the color adding section.

In the case of leather, there are various thicknesses depending on the type of raw leather or the method of the preparation step or tanning step. Therefore, it is more effective to provide a mechanism that can variously set the distance between the ink ejection surface of the integrated head cartridge 22 and the platen 28 according to the thickness of the leather to be colored .

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the recording head 3 for discharging ink. One end of the wiring board 30 is interconnected with a wiring portion of the heater board 31, and the other end of the wiring board 30 corresponds to each electric / thermal energy converter for receiving an electric signal from the main unit. A plurality of pads are provided. As a result, the electric signal from the main unit is supplied to each electric / thermal energy converter. The metal support 32 that supports the back surface of the wiring board 30 on a plane serves as a bottom plate of the ink jet unit. The pressing spring 33 is formed by bending a region near the ink discharge port of the grooved top plate 34 into a substantially U-shaped section in order to elastically apply a pressing force on a line, and a relief provided on the metal support 32. It has a claw to be hooked using a hole and a pair of rear legs for receiving the force acting on the spring by the metal support 32. Due to this spring force, the wiring board 30 is pressed against the grooved top plate 34 in mounting. The attachment of the wiring board 30 to the support is performed by sticking with an adhesive or the like.

A filter 3 is provided at the end of the ink supply pipe 35.
6 are provided. The ink supply member 37 is formed by molding, and the grooved top plate 34 is formed integrally with the orifice plate portion 341 and a flow path leading to each ink supply port. To fix the ink supply member 37 to the support 32, two pins (not shown) on the back side of the ink supply member 37 are projected through the two holes 38 and 39 of the support 32, respectively, and this is thermally fused. This is easily done. At this time, the gap between the orifice plate portion 341 and the ink supply member 37 is sealed, and further, the gap between the orifice plate portion 341 and the front end of the support substrate 32 is completely sealed through the groove 40 provided in the support substrate 32. Stop.

FIG. 4 shows the ink tank of the four-head integrated ink-jet cartridge 22 in which the four heads 3 capable of discharging the four color inks of black, cyan, magenta and yellow are integrally assembled in a frame 50. The structure of the part is shown. Four ink jets
The print heads are fixed in the frame 50 at predetermined intervals, and are fixed in a state where the resist in the nozzle row direction is also adjusted. In this embodiment, the mutual landing position accuracy between colors is improved by adjusting using the mechanical reference surface of the ink jet head. However, the recording head is temporarily fixed to the frame and then actually ejected to reach the landing position. May be further adjusted by directly adjusting the mutual landing positions between the colors based on the data obtained by measuring. 51 is a frame cover, and 5
Reference numeral 3 denotes a connector for connecting a pad provided on each of the wiring boards 30 of the four inkjet heads to an electric signal from the printing apparatus main body. Assembling the four heads integrally is effective in improving the mutual landing position accuracy between the heads as described above, in addition to the superiority in handling, but the number of signal line connections to the recording apparatus main body can be reduced. It is also very effective in terms of point. For example, signal lines common to the four heads such as GND lines can be shared on the connector board 52 to reduce the number of lines as they are, and if an integrated circuit board is provided to perform time-division driving for each head It is also possible to use a common recording signal line. Such a reduction in the number of electrical connections is effective in an apparatus having a large number of signal lines, such as a color machine or a multi-nozzle high-speed machine.

As described above, since the coloring process was carried out by the ink jet dyeing (recording) apparatus, it took about one day conventionally, including dehydration after tanning, back grinding, and neutralization of deoxidation. among dyeing and greasing step, it is possible to dispense the additive color requiring the most time required in just a few tens of minutes, yet was possible multicolor additive color without using a plate.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 5 is a view showing another embodiment of an ink jet coloring (recording) apparatus, and shows an example of an apparatus which does not require leather to have a fixed size. The size of the leather varies depending on the kind of the raw leather, and many leathers have an area larger than that of the A3 plate as described in the first embodiment even after the tanning step. Therefore, the present embodiment provides an ink - jet coloring (recording) apparatus 6 which can perform coloring without being influenced by the size of leather as a coloring medium.

In this figure, the basic dyeing operation is the same as that of the coloring apparatus described in the first embodiment, but in order to be able to cope with a large-sized coloring medium (leather). The ink - jet coloring (recording) section includes a large-sized ink-jet head 60 having many nozzles, and a large-sized ink supply device 61 capable of supplying a large amount of ink, on the carriage 62 and the carriage 63, respectively. . These are connected via a tube 64 to supply ink from the ink supply device 61 to the ink jet head 60, and the two carriages are connected to the frame 66 by a signal sent from the electrical system 65 to the ink jet head 60. Guide rail 6 attached to
7 and guide rail 68 in the direction of the arrow C in the figure to scan and reciprocate, and at the same time, start ink jetting from the ink jet head 60 according to the image signal, so that the leather 9 can be colored .

The operation of adding color to leather using this ink - jet coloring (recording) apparatus will be described below. First, cow hide is used as a raw hide, which is subjected to processing up to the stage before coloring in the same manner as in Example 1 to obtain a leather for coloring . One end of the rear surface is fitted to the platen 69 (the mounting portion is not shown). Thereafter, an ink ejection timing signal for each nozzle of the inkjet head is generated from an image signal supplied to the electrical system 65 from a separately prepared image signal generator, and ink for adding color is ejected to the leather 9. Each time one scan of the ink jet head is completed, the leather is moved in the direction of arrow B by the width of the color added at that time. By repeating this operation, the colored portion 91 appears sequentially on the leather 9 and finally the coloring is completed over the entire surface of the leather 9.

It should be noted that the leather coming out of the tanning step is generally not uniform in shape, and the ends are not in a straight line. Therefore, when the ink is passed through the ink - jet coloring (recording) apparatus shown in FIG. 5 in this shape, the ink jet for forming an image may protrude from the surface of the leather. As a result, ink is ejected on the platen 69, and the surface of the platen is contaminated. When such a symptom occurs, the back side of the color-added surface is contaminated when passing through the leather to be colored , and the ink jetted on the platen dries and deposits on the platen. It may inhibit the slippage of the leather or cause the leather to be poorly transported. In order to avoid this, when the leather is attached to the ink jet coloring (recording) device, a paper formed by applying an easily peelable adhesive after the coloring is completed is attached to the non -colored surface of the leather. It is also effective to detect the edge of the leather on the platen every time the carriage is scanned during the color adding operation, and to add a process to delete the image data from the portion outside the edge. It is.

[0050] can further leather 9 additive color is finished performing similarly fatliquoring treatment as in Example 1, the leather performs product processing proceeds to a finishing step.

According to the example described above, it is not necessary to cut the tanned leather into a fixed shape, and the efficiency and speed of the coloring process can be further improved. In addition, processing of a free shape can be realized.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the steps in the case where the grease treatment after coloring is also performed using an ink jet recording apparatus by applying the present invention. Here, up to the pre- addition process, that is, the preparation process,
The steps up to the tanning process and the steps of dehydration, back grinding, and neutralization with deoxidation are the same as those in Example 1, and thus the description thereof is omitted. The leather for coloring, which has been completed up to the deoxidation neutralization, is cut into the size of the A3 plate and guided to the coloring section 10 by ink jet recording. Additive color to leather in the additive color <br/> unit 10 may use the same apparatus as in Example 1. Coloring is performed by this ink jet coloring (recording) device, and the delivered leather subsequently enters a drying device 11, where it is dried at 50 ° C. for 1 minute and fixed.

After that, the leather is transferred to the greasing device 12 and the greasing process is started. Here, when the ink jet is used, it is necessary to fly the fat and oil, and the dot density is lower than that at the time of image formation. Since there is no need to make detailed settings, an ink-jet method using an electro-mechanical converter, that is, an ink-jet method in which droplets are ejected by a piezoelectric element is preferable to the ink-jet method using an electric-thermal converter described in the above-described dyeing. In this greaser, drum processing is performed after fats and oils are attached. According to the present example, the treatment liquid used for the grease treatment preferably has a relatively low viscosity in consideration of characteristics at the time of injection.
Here, castor oil having a viscosity of 100 cP at 25 ° C. was used. The leather that has been subjected to the fat treatment then enters a finishing process and is connected to leather products.

[0054] As described above, since the pressurized color and greasing steps performed by an inkjet additive color (recording) apparatus, of course, be able to reduce the time required for additive color-greasing, steps involved in additive color Can be easily automated as a series of flows, leading to a reduction in processing costs.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 7 shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a system in which various kinds of leather can be processed by the same apparatus in the step of adding color . In this example, three types of ink jets are used so that various types of leather can be processed in one system.
An additional color (recording) device is incorporated. First, for the leather to be colored , the leather property setting unit 13 applies data required to color the leather, that is, the type of raw leather, the method used when tanning in the tanning process, and the thickness of the leather. The user can send data such as the processing method of the surface to be colored before color addition (filling process), the size or area of the surface to be colorized , and the temperature and humidity at the time of color addition to the device by using the keyboard. And settings using switches on the panel. On the basis of the set data, the arithmetic unit 14 automatically determines an optimal method for adding colors . This operation unit 1
4 is connected to a CPU 141 to manage the processing. The data previously set in the leather characteristic setting unit 13 is stored in the RAM 143, and the contents of the ROM 142 in which the data of the appropriate processing method which is already determined in advance according to various leather conditions are stored. The calculation is performed based on the data of the added color image storage unit and the result is output to the added color method determination unit 15. The color addition method determining unit 15 determines the method of attaching the leather at the time of color addition , the type of ink jet head used for color addition , the driving conditions including the number of scans of the ink jet head, and the color addition.
Color scanning method (distance ejecting color order and each color in the case of multi-color additive color, etc.), basic unit of the additive color image, the type of colorant species (dye or content at the time of additive color and containing them Add
Color liquid type) and the like are outputted is determined. These decisions are transmitted to the power source required to operate the ink jet coloring apparatus, and the contents are also displayed on the CRT 146 to ask the user for confirmation. Here by the user
When the addition method needs to be changed, a feedback circuit is incorporated so that data can be further input from the keyboard 146 and the setting can be changed. Based on the coloring method determined as described above, a signal is sent from the inkjet coloring device 161 to one of the 163. By setting the leather on the determined ink jet color adding device in each appropriate method, the color is added to the leather in the best way.

Each of these ink - jet coloring devices has the following configuration. Inkjet
The color adding device 161 is performed by the method described in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, and the details are omitted here. The ink jet device 162 fixes the leather, moves the ink jet head to the color-added surface, and dyes it while scanning. The color-added surface is not a complicated shape or a flat surface. It can also cope with. Inkjet device 163, there is suitable for large leather, sterically fixed leather outside the device, which moves the device after the additive color possible forms, leather additive color previous It can also be used when processing cannot be performed sufficiently. In addition, these devices can be similarly applied in any case of single color addition and multicolor addition, and a series of color addition processes by inkjet are performed on the same leather in a plurality. You may go several times.

The ink - jet coloring devices 161 to 163
The leather which has been subjected to the inkjet coloring is passed through the drying unit 17 and the fatliquoring unit 18 and then goes to a finishing step to be processed into a final product.

In the above-described example, since the coloring method can be automatically determined, a variety of kinds of leather can be arbitrarily selected.
Addition processing can be performed, and production in small lots as required can be realized at low cost.

In some of the embodiments described so far,
Is an inkjetAdditionFurther laterAdditionDo the processing
It is also possible to use dye fixing agents and the like used in the printing field.Addition
colorIt may be used during the period from the end to fat addition. furtherAddition
Inkjet for quick drying afterAddition
(Recording) deviceAdditionHeating means or warm
A wind sending means may be provided as needed. AndAddition
beforeColor materialCommonly used to promote the adhesion of
Cationization treatment, alkali treatment, etc.Color materialFits the characteristics of
Let me go againAdditionJust humidify the leather
This is an effective means.

In addition, in the inkjet coloring section,
It is also effective to be able to adjust and select the amount of ink to be applied according to the type of leather. Further, the process of adding color by the ink jet has been exemplified by one head scan, but it is not particularly limited to this, and the same process is repeated a plurality of times to overlap the color on the same portion of the leather. This is also included in the present invention.

[0061]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Compared to leather coloring that previously required labor and time, and it was difficult to produce multiple colors, it is possible to achieve a leather coloring method that can shorten processing time as well as multicolor, and that is easy to automate. did it. This, along with handling a lot,
It is possible to produce many kinds in small quantities, and it can respond to the minute demands of the market.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a procedure of leather processing in a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a main configuration diagram of an ink jet coloring apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Block diagram of an ink jet head that can be applied to the present invention; FIG.

Color ink jet heads that can be applied to the present invention; FIG
Block diagram of the de.

FIG. 5 is a main configuration diagram of an ink jet coloring apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram of ink - jet coloring in a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram of an ink jet coloring system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,9 Leather 2,6 inkjet additive color device 3 ink jet head

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hiromitsu Hirabayashi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Yuji Akiyama 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inside (72) Inventor Miyuki Matsubara Within Canon Inc. 3- 30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo (72) Inventor Tokuya Ota Inside Canon Inc. 3- 30-2, Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo ( 56) References JP-A-4-363363 (JP, A) JP-A-5-246977 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) C14C 11/00 B41J 2/01

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. A step of applying a color by ink jetting to an area of a partially degreased or low-level degreased natural leather in the partially degreased or low-level degreased leather. Natural leather coloring method. 2. An ink receiving layer is formed in the partially degreased or low-level degreased area of natural leather that has been partially degreased or low-level degreased, and then coloration is performed by ink jetting. A method for coloring natural leather, characterized in that: 3. A natural leather coloring method for coloring natural leather or natural leather that has undergone a degreasing step, in which a partial area of the natural leather on which an ink receiving layer is formed is colored by ink jetting. A method for coloring natural leather, comprising the steps of: 4. A natural leather coloring method for coloring natural leather or natural leather that has undergone a degreasing step, wherein the natural leather heated to a predetermined temperature of 60 ° C. or lower is colored by ink jetting. A method for coloring natural leather. 5. A means for changing an amount of ink by ink ejection according to an added color signal, in accordance with natural leather to be added,
An ink jet natural leather coloring apparatus, comprising: an ink jetting means; and a transporting means for transporting the natural leather to the color-added area of the ink jetting means without contacting the ink jetting means. 6. A host for outputting a plurality of color information to be added to natural leather, a color ink jetting means, and changing an ink amount by ink jetting according to the plurality of color information in accordance with the added natural leather. And a transporting means for transporting the natural leather to the color-added area of the ink jetting means in a non-contact manner with the ink jetting means. 7. A leather and a leather product which have been subjected to ink jetting according to any one of claims 1 to 6 . 8. A leather and a leather product having a protective layer on a color-added surface of a natural leather which has been subjected to ink jet coloring according to any one of claims 1 to 6 .