JP4038314B2 - Plastic lens dyeing method and dyeing lens - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a dye lens and a manufacturing method thereof, and more particularly to a dye lens capable of obtaining various gradations and a dye method thereof.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, an immersion dyeing method (hereinafter referred to as “immersion dyeing method”) is often used as a method for dyeing eyeglass lenses. In this dip dyeing method, a dyeing solution is prepared by mixing the three primary colors of disperse dyes, red, blue, and yellow, and dispersed in water. The dyeing solution is heated to about 90 ° C., and a plastic lens is immersed therein. Dyeing is performed.
[0003]
In addition, a dyeing method using a gas phase method has been proposed as an alternative to this dip dyeing method. In this gas phase method, a solid sublimable dye is heated and sublimated to dye a plastic lens that is also in a heated state. In order to perform gradation-like dyeing having a concentration gradient on the lens using these dyeing methods, the former concentration method uses a partial change in the lens immersion time to change the concentration gradient of the dye attached to the lens surface. To be able to. In the latter gas phase method, there is a method in which a blocking plate is installed between the vapor deposition source and the lens, and gradation is formed by moving the blocking plate gradually while partially blocking evaporated dye.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described dip dyeing method, it is difficult to adjust the density of gradation, and even when dyeing is performed under the same conditions, the finished product tends to be uneven. In addition, the vapor deposition method using a blocking plate is also difficult to control, and the efficiency of performing gradation dyeing on the lens is low. Furthermore, although various gradations can be considered depending on how the gradation is applied, it has been difficult to satisfactorily dye these various gradations with the current dyeing method.
[0005]
The present invention provides a method for dyeing a plastic lens capable of obtaining various gradation-like dyeings, and producing gradation-like dyeings without unevenness in an efficient and easy manner, and a dyeable lens obtained using the method. Is a technical issue.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is characterized by having the following configuration.
[0007]
(1) a first step of obtaining a coated printed substrate so that the color density changes on the substrate based on the sublimable dye dissolved or dyeing timber obtained by fine particles dispersed in the color data set in the computer, the while arranged opposite to the plastic lens and the non-contact in a substantially vacuum state coated surface of the printed substrate obtained in the first step, sublimating a sublimable dye by heating the print base body,該昇Hua A second step of depositing the sublimable dye in a state having a concentration gradient on the surface of the plastic lens by bringing the dye into contact with the plastic lens, and the sublimable dye obtained in the second step And a third step of fixing the sublimable dye by heating the plastic lens on which the vapor is deposited under normal pressure .
(2) In the plastic lens dyeing method of (1) , the heating of the printing substrate in the second step is performed in a non-contact manner by a heating means .
(3) In the plastic lens dyeing method of (1), the substrate is coated with the dyeing material by a printer .
(4) In the plastic lens dyeing method according to (1), the density gradient of the color data applied on the substrate is different from the density gradient after dyeing scheduled on the actual plastic lens side.
(5) In the plastic lens dyeing method of (4), when a substantially linear change density gradient is planned on the plastic lens side, the majority of the print area on the substrate is printed with the same color density. The remaining area of the print area is printed with a color density different from the color density.
(6) It is a dyeing lens obtained by dyeing using the plastic lens dyeing method of ( 1) to (5).
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the flow of the dyeing method, and FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the dyeing jig used.
[0017]
In the embodiment of the present invention, dyeing is performed by an air layer method in which a dye printed (applied) on paper is deposited on a plastic lens by vacuum deposition. First, a gradation printing substrate is prepared. As sublimation dyes, a total of four colors were used: disperse dye ink red, blue, yellow and black (aqueous) from Upepo Corporation. The ink is put into a commercially available ink cartridge for an inkjet printer, and the cartridge is mounted on the inkjet printer. A commercially available inkjet printer is used.
[0018]
Next, using this ink jet printer, printing is performed using a commercially available personal computer (hereinafter referred to as PC) in order to print a desired color having a density gradient (here, a gradation pattern). The hue, saturation, brightness, etc. (hereinafter referred to as color data) are adjusted. Color data is prepared by PC drawing software, CCM software (computer color matching software), or the like. The density gradient can be obtained by a gradation function provided in draw software or the like. It is also conceivable that gradations according to preferences are set in advance and stored as unique gradation data (color data) in the PC. By storing the color data in the PC in this way, the same color data can be obtained as many times as necessary.
[0019]
FIG. 1 is a view showing a printing substrate 1 on which a dye is printed by an ink jet printer. Insert commercially available white paper 3 (high-quality PPC paper) into the printer, and operate the PC to prepare color data for printing. As shown in FIG. 1, the colored layer 2 is printed on the white paper 3 output from the printer, and the printing substrate 1 for dyeing the plastic lens is obtained. In this way, since the dye is printed on paper and used as a substrate for dyeing, handling is much easier than liquid dyes used in the dip dyeing method, and processing problems such as waste liquid after dyeing are eliminated. In addition, the amount for sublimation, dyeing density (color density), etc. can be easily adjusted compared to solid dyes used in the conventional gas phase method.
[0020]
In addition, when gradation-like dyeing is performed, color data such as the printing shape and hue of the colored layer 2 slightly differs depending on the desired type of gradation. For example, when a plastic lens is dyed in a gradation shape with a linear density gradient, the printed shape of the colored layer 2 is not a perfect circular print that matches the lens shape, but a circular portion is cut out as shown in FIG. It is preferable to print in a substantially semicircular shape as described. The relationship between the gradation dyed on such a plastic lens and the printed shape of the colored layer 2 printed on the blank paper 3 will be described in an embodiment.
[0021]
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the mechanism of a dyeing jig placed inside the vacuum vapor deposition machine 20 for dyeing plastic lenses using the printing substrate 1.
[0022]
Reference numeral 11 denotes a lens support with a cylindrical shape. A mounting table 12 is attached to the upper part of the lens support 11, and the plastic lens 10 is mounted on the mounting part 12 a provided on the inner wall of the mounting table 12 with the convex surface down as shown in the figure. The material of the plastic lens 10 is polycarbonate resin (for example, diethylene glycol bisallyl carbonate polymer (CR-39)), polyurethane resin, allyl resin (for example, allyl diglycol carbonate and its copolymer, diallyl phthalate and its Copolymers), fumaric acid resins (for example, benzyl fumarate copolymers), styrene resins, polymethyl acrylate resins, fiber resins (for example, cellulose propionate), and the like are used.
[0023]
Reference numeral 13 denotes a base support base having a cylindrical shape on which the printing base 1 is placed, and is placed so that the lens support base 11 is accommodated in the inner cylinder thereof. Reference numeral 14 denotes a substrate holder. The printed substrate 1 placed on the substrate support 13 is sandwiched between the substrate holder 14 and the substrate support 13 so that the printing substrate 1 is firmly fixed and held so as not to move. Reference numeral 15 denotes a halogen lamp provided in the vacuum vapor deposition machine 20. The halogen lamp 15 is turned on to heat the surface of the printing substrate 1 and sublimate the dye of the colored layer 2. Here, since the surface of the printing substrate 1 may be heated, a heater may be used without being limited to the halogen lamp.
[0024]
Further, when the plastic lens 10 is dyed by the air-layer method, if the space between the printing substrate 1 and the plastic lens 10 is extremely narrow, the dye is not sufficiently dispersed, and the lens surface is unevenly dyed and deposited. Tend to. Therefore, it is preferable that the distance from the geometric center of the plastic lens 10 on the dyed surface side to the printing substrate 1 is at least about 5 mm.
[0025]
On the other hand, if the dyed surface of the plastic lens 10 and the printing substrate 1 are too far apart, the dyeing density on the plastic lens 10 becomes thin, making it difficult to obtain the desired dyeing density. In addition, since the dye particles are not uniformly dispersed in the gas layer but conversely gather together, there is a tendency that the dyed surface of the plastic lens 10 is unevenly deposited. From this point, the distance from the geometric center on the dyed surface side of the plastic lens 10 to the printing substrate 1 is preferably 5 to 30 mm, more preferably 5 to 20 mm.
[0026]
Such a dyeing jig is placed in the vacuum vapor deposition machine 20 to dye the plastic lens 10. The vacuum vapor deposition machine 20 is evacuated by the pump 21. The vacuum state may be about 133 Pa (1 mmHg) to 6.66 KPa (50 mmHg). Moreover, although it may be less than 133 Pa, a high performance exhaust device is required. Furthermore, since the higher the atmospheric pressure in the apparatus, the higher the temperature necessary for sublimating the dye, the upper limit of the pressure is preferably up to 6.66 KPa. More desirably, it is 1.33 to 4 KPa.
[0027]
After the vacuum state, the printing substrate 1 is heated from above using a heat source of the halogen lamp 15 to sublimate the dye. When the heating temperature is lower than 100 ° C. on the printing substrate 1, it is difficult for the dye to sublime from the substrate, and when the heating temperature is higher than 200 ° C., the dye is easily deteriorated or the lens is easily deformed. Accordingly, the heating temperature is preferably 100 to 200 ° C., but it is preferable to select a temperature as high as possible according to the material of the lens.
[0028]
Here, the reason why the temperature in the case of heating during sublimation is as high as possible is that the heating time for color development to a desired hue and density can be shortened and productivity can be improved. .
[0029]
After vapor deposition in the vacuum vapor deposition machine 20, the dyed plastic lens 10 is taken out and placed in an oven and heated under normal pressure to fix the dye. This process heats the inside of the oven to a temperature set as high as possible below the heat-resistant temperature of the plastic lens 10, and after a predetermined time has passed to obtain a desired hue and density, the plastic lens is taken out of the oven. The process is executed by taking out 10. The actual heating temperature is 50 to 150 ° C., and the heating time is about 30 minutes to 1 hour.
[0030]
In addition, when the plastic lens 10 is subjected to gradation-like dyeing, the gradation is generally dyed so as to have a linear density gradient from the colored region to the non-colored region of the lens. However, when the plastic substrate 10 is dyed using the printing substrate 1 on which a colored layer having a linear gradation of gradation is printed, the printing substrate 1 and the plastic lens are dyed in an actual gas phase method. Since the dye is dyed at a predetermined distance from 10, the dye is dispersed during sublimation, so that the concentration gradient of the dye deposited on the plastic lens 10 is not linear.
[0031]
In this way, since different density gradients are obtained between the gradation printed on the printing substrate 1 and the gradation stained on the actual plastic lens 10, it is necessary to grasp the correlation in advance.
[0032]
Examples of gradation dyeing in the case of using this embodiment will be described below, and the correspondence between the shape of the colored layer on the printing substrate and the gradation dyeing state on the actual lens in hue is shown in FIGS. Will be described below.
[0033]
<Example 1>
The base material of the plastic lens used in the examples was CR-39. By operating the PC, a colored layer 41 as shown in FIG. 3A is printed on the white paper 40 with the hue and density set in advance using an ink jet printer (Epson MJ-520C), and the printing substrate 50a is printed. It was. The ink used for printing was a sublimable dye (disperse dye ink red, blue, yellow, black (aqueous) of Upepo Co., Ltd.). The colored layer 41 is printed with color data such that the gradation density gradient is almost a straight line.
[0034]
The printed colors (R, G, B) were set to R = 0, G = 255, and B = 255 by drawing software in the PC. Here, the color combination is (R, G, B) = (0, 255, 255), but is not limited to this, and the color combination may be appropriately selected according to preference.
[0035]
The printing substrate 50a obtained in this way is attached to the dyeing jig shown in FIG. The distance between the geometric center of the stained side of the plastic lens and the printing substrate 50a was 15 mm. After the atmospheric pressure in the vacuum vapor deposition machine 20 is lowered to 1.33 KPa by the pump 21, the surface temperature of the printing substrate 50 a is heated to 200 ° C. by the halogen lamp 15. The temperature in the vicinity of the printing substrate 50a was measured by a temperature sensor not shown, and when the temperature reached 200 ° C., the halogen lamp was turned off and the dye was sublimated and evaporated. Then, after returning the atmospheric pressure in the vacuum vapor deposition machine 20 to normal pressure, it was placed in an oven at 135 ° C. for about 30 minutes in order to fix the color of the dyed plastic lens 10. After fixing, visual observation was performed from the viewpoint of appearance defect, color unevenness, color omission, and the like to match the target color, but there was no problem in all, and a clean gradation dyed lens was obtained.
[0036]
<Example 2>
A printing substrate 50b was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1. However, the colored layer 42 printed on the white paper 40 has a semicircular shape having no single-color density gradient as shown in FIG. 3B, and has a brightness of 255, a hue of 180, and a saturation in the PC drawing software. It is printed with color data having a degree of 255.
[0037]
Using the obtained printing substrate 50b, the plastic lens 10 was dyed using the same dyeing jig as in Example 1. The plastic lens 10 was made of the same material as in Example 1, and the dyeing conditions were the same as those in Example 1. After dyeing, visual observation was performed in view of whether there was no appearance defect, uneven color, missing color, and the like, and there was no problem, and a clean gradation dyed lens was obtained.
[0038]
<Example 3>
A printing substrate 50c was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1. However, as shown in FIG. 3C, the colored layer 43 printed on the white paper 40 has color data (lightness) in which about 2/3 of the entire colored layer 43 (colored layer 43a) does not have a single-color density gradient. 255, hue 180, saturation 255), and the remaining one-third (colored layer 43b) has the same color and the same density as the colored layer 43a and has a gradation in which the density gradient decreases almost linearly. It is printed in a substantially semicircular shape based on the data.
[0039]
Using the obtained printing substrate 50c, the plastic lens 10 was dyed using the same dyeing jig as in Example 1. The plastic lens 10 was made of the same material as in Example 1, and the dyeing conditions were the same as those in Example 1. After dyeing, visual observation was performed in view of whether there was no appearance defect, uneven color, missing color, and the like, and there was no problem, and a clean gradation dyed lens was obtained.
[0040]
<Example 4>
A printing substrate 50d was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1. However, as shown in FIG. 3D, the colored layer 44 printed on the white paper 40 has an area of about 2/3 of the entire colored layer 44 (colored layer 44a) having a lightness of 255, a hue of 180, and a saturation of 255. Is printed based on the color data, and the remaining area (colored layer 44b) is about half the color density of the sublimation dye printed on the colored layer 44a. Printing was done.
[0041]
Using the obtained printing substrate 50d, the plastic lens 10 was dyed using the same dyeing jig as in Example 1. The plastic lens 10 was made of the same material as in Example 1, and the dyeing conditions were the same as those in Example 1. After dyeing, visual observation was performed in view of whether there was no appearance defect, uneven color, missing color, and the like, and there was no problem, and a clean gradation dyed lens was obtained.
[0042]
Moreover, the transmittance | permeability of the plastic lens 10 dye | stained by Example 1-Example 4 (printing base 50a-printing base 50d) was measured, respectively. The measuring method was measured with a spectrophotometer (Asahi Spectral Model 304) every 5 mm step from the darkest stained side.
[0043]
The result is shown in the graph of transmittance gradient by pattern in FIG. The horizontal axis represents the measurement position, and the vertical axis represents the transmittance. In the graph, a to d are plots of the results of the lenses dyed by the printing substrates 50a to 50d, respectively. As shown in FIG. 4, no matter what printing bases 50a to 50d are used, the plastic lens 14 is dyed in gradation, but for example, the printing base 50a has few dark parts and becomes thinner rapidly. In addition, the printing bases 50c and 50d are easy to obtain a gradation pattern with a constant density gradient, and the printing base 50b has many dark portions, and then a gradation pattern that becomes sharply thin thereafter.
[0044]
In the conventional staining method, it was very difficult to perform such fine staining. However, in this staining method, conditions such as color data are set in advance and stored in the PC, when necessary. The desired gradation pattern can be easily obtained by calling the color data and manufacturing the printing substrate. In the present embodiment, the shape (printing shape) of the colored layer is a substantially circular shape or a substantially semicircular shape. However, the shape is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a square shape or other shapes.
[0045]
As described above, the water-based ink is used in the above embodiment, but the same effect can be obtained even when oil-based ink is used. In the case of oil-based ink, since the head portion of the ink cartridge is easily dried and clogged, it is preferable to perform printing by inkjet using a piezo method.
[0046]
Further, the heating method of the printing substrate is performed from the upper side, but is not limited to this, and the dye can be sublimated in the same manner in the heating from the plate side and from the side.
[0047]
In addition, the material on which dye is printed uses white paper, but is not limited to this, and any material that can withstand the temperature during sublimation can be used for a printer or the like. Is possible.
[0048]
Furthermore, the data output device used in the present embodiment is an ink jet printer, but is not limited to this, and a laser printer using a toner cartridge instead of a sublimation printer or ink cartridge, An output device that outputs data from a PC such as a plotter can be used.
[0049]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to dye a plastic lens with a stable hue that is easy to adjust the concentration and to perform a dyeing operation comfortably without impairing the working environment.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a printing substrate on which a sublimable dye is printed on white paper.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a dyeing jig used in Examples.
FIG. 3 is a view showing a printing substrate used in Examples.
FIG. 4 is a graph showing the transmittance gradient of the plastic lens dyed in Examples 1 to 4.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow from creation of a printing substrate to completion of dyeing.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an entire apparatus used in the present embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Print base 2 Colored layer 3 Blank paper 10 Lens 11 Lens support stand 12 Mounting stand 13 Base support stand 14 Base press 15 Halogen lamp 20 Vacuum vapor deposition machine

Claims (6)

A first step of obtaining a printing substrate by applying a dyeing material in which a sublimable dye is dissolved or finely dispersed on a substrate so as to change the color density based on color data set by an electronic computer; and the first step. with resulting arranging face is brought to a plastic lens and a non-contact coating surface of the printed substrate in a substantially vacuum state at, sublimating a sublimable dye by heating the print base body, the該昇Hua dye A second step of depositing the sublimable dye in a state having a concentration gradient on the surface of the plastic lens by contacting with the plastic lens, and the sublimable dye obtained in the second step was deposited. by heating the plastic lens under normal pressure, Senshokukata plastic lens characterized by having a third step for fixing the sublimable dye, the . 2. The plastic lens dyeing method according to claim 1, wherein the heating of the printing substrate in the second step is performed in a non-contact manner by a heating means . 2. The method for dyeing plastic lenses according to claim 1 , wherein the base is coated with the dyeing material by a printer .   2. The method for dyeing plastic lenses according to claim 1, wherein the density gradient of the color data applied on the substrate is different from the density gradient after staining on the actual plastic lens side. Method.   The dyeing method for a plastic lens according to claim 4, wherein when a density gradient of a substantially linear change is scheduled on the plastic lens side, a majority of the print area on the substrate is printed with the same color density, A plastic lens dyeing method, wherein a remaining area of a print area is printed with a color density different from the color density. Dyed lens, characterized in that it is obtained by being dyed with a plastic lens dyeing method according to claim 1-5.

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