JP4041470B2 - Inkjet printer for button manufacturing and button manufacturing method using the same - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an ink jet printer for manufacturing a button having a design made of various pictures or / and characters on its surface using the ink jet printer, and a button manufacturing method using the printer.

The button is generally manufactured by molding with a compression molding machine or the like using resin powder such as nylon resin, acrylic resin, polyester resin or urea resin as a raw material. At that time, various disperse dyes, acid dye colorants, pearl foil, and the like are added to the resin powder of the button raw material, and the button is colored to a desired color. Alternatively, a button-shaped material molded into a button shape is immersed in a plating solution, and a button colored in a desired color is manufactured.
From page 134 to page 153 of "Button Dictionary" issued by Bunzoen Co., Ltd. (address: 1-35-28-606, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo) dated June 26, 1999

However, it is difficult to color the button as desired by adding the above colorant, pearl foil, etc. to the resin powder of the button raw material, and it is difficult to color the button as expected. It cost.
On the other hand, the method of immersing the button-type material in the plating solution and coloring the button to the desired color requires a great deal of labor and cost from the viewpoint of environmental protection to the waste solution treatment of the plating solution used for coloring the button. It cost.
In addition, buttons used for diversified modern clothes are required to have buttons with various pictorial drawings and / or designs on the surface, but such various designs are applied to the surface. The conventional button manufacturing method described above cannot be easily and freely manufactured and supplied to the fashion world and the like.

Therefore, as a result of earnest research, the present inventors have made a plurality of ink droplets ejected from the inkjet head of the inkjet printer land on the desired portion of the button-shaped material surface formed into a button shape in the form of dots, respectively. Even if the button type material surface is intricately curved, etc., by printing a picture, pattern, or character consisting of an array of multiple ink dots on the button type material surface, the button type material surface In addition, the present inventors have conceived that a desired picture or / and character comprising an array of a plurality of ink dots can be printed freely and accurately.
In this case, the ink droplets ejected from the inkjet head of the inkjet printer are UV-curable ink droplets that are cured when irradiated with ultraviolet rays, or thermosetting ink droplets that are cured when heated. If the ink droplet landed on the surface of the button-type material is irradiated with ultraviolet rays to cure the ink droplet, or the ink droplet landed on the surface of the button-type material is heated and cured, the ink droplet I was able to stabilize it so that it would not fall off easily on the surface of the button-type material. Then, the inventors have conceived that a desired pictorial figure or / and character comprising an array of a plurality of ink dots can be stably and fixedly printed on the surface of the button-type material so as not to easily peel off.
Then, based on these ideas, a desired picture consisting of an array of a plurality of ink dots on the button-type material surface by UV curable ink droplets or thermosetting ink droplets ejected from an inkjet head of an inkjet printer, or Inkjet printers that can easily and freely manufacture buttons with various designs on the surface by fixing characters and printing them on the surface, and a button manufacturing method using the printer have been developed.

That is, the present invention relates to a desired picture or / and character composed of an array of a plurality of ink dots on a button-type material surface by UV curable ink droplets or thermosetting ink droplets ejected from an inkjet head of an inkjet printer. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet printer for manufacturing buttons having various designs on the surface thereof, and a button manufacturing method using the printer.

In order to achieve the above object, a first ink jet printer of the present invention has a button-type material molded into a button shape on a bed, and its picture or character, or the surface of the material on which the picture and character are fixedly printed. A plurality of UV-curable ink droplets at a predetermined timing from the inkjet head that moves relative to the bed direction toward the bed direction from the inkjet head that moves relative to the bed surface substantially parallel to the bed surface. An ink ejecting means for ejecting each of the plurality of ink droplets in a dot shape on a desired portion of the button-type material surface; and a plurality of ink droplets landed on the desired portion of the button-type material surface in a dot shape, respectively. And ultraviolet irradiation means for irradiating the ink droplets with ultraviolet rays and curing the plurality of ink droplets.

Further, the first button manufacturing method of the present invention using the first ink jet printer of the present invention is a method of fixing a button-type material formed into a button shape on the bed, its picture or character, or fixing the picture and character . Supporting the surface of the material to be printed upward via support means;
The ink ejecting means ejects a plurality of UV curable ink droplets at a predetermined timing from the inkjet head that moves relative to the bed surface in the XY direction substantially parallel to the bed surface toward the bed direction. Each of the plurality of ink droplets landing on a desired portion of the button-type material surface in the form of dots,
The ultraviolet irradiation means irradiates a plurality of ink droplets landed in a dot shape on a desired portion of the button-type material surface, respectively, to cure the plurality of ink droplets, and a plurality of ink droplets are applied to the button-type material surface And a step of fixing and printing a picture or character consisting of an array of ink dots.

The second ink jet printer of the present invention supports a button-shaped material molded into a button shape on a flat bed with its picture or character or the surface of the material for fixing and printing the picture and character facing upward. And a plurality of thermosetting ink droplets are ejected at predetermined timing from the inkjet head that moves relative to the bed in the XY direction substantially parallel to the bed surface in the bed direction. Ink jetting means for causing the plurality of ink droplets to land on the desired part of the button-type material surface in dots, respectively, and heating the plurality of ink droplets for landing on the desired part of the button-type material surface. And heating means for curing.

Further, in the second button manufacturing method of the present invention using the second ink jet printer of the present invention, the button-type material formed into a button shape on the bed is fixed to the picture or character or the picture and character . Supporting the surface of the material to be printed upward via support means;
By the ink ejecting means, a plurality of thermosetting ink droplets are ejected at a predetermined timing from an ink jet head that moves relative to the bed surface in the XY direction substantially parallel to the bed surface in the bed direction. Each of the plurality of ink droplets landing on a desired portion of the button-type material surface in the form of dots,
A plurality of ink droplets landed in a dot shape on a desired portion of the button-type material surface by the heating means to be cured by heating, and a picture or character comprising an array of a plurality of ink dots on the button-type material surface Or a step of fixing and printing pictures and characters .

In the first and second button manufacturing methods using the first and second ink jet printers, the button-type material formed into a button shape on the bed of the first and second ink jet printers is shown in the drawing. Alternatively, it can be stably supported so that it does not move easily through the support means with the surface of the material , or the surface of the material for fixing and printing the figure and the character , facing upward.
Next, a plurality of UV curable inks are directed toward the bed direction from an inkjet head that moves relative to the bed surface in an XY direction substantially parallel to the bed surface by the ink ejecting means of the first and second ink jet printers. A plurality of ink droplets or thermosetting ink droplets are ejected at predetermined timing, respectively, and the plurality of ink droplets are respectively formed into dots at desired portions on the surface of the button-type material supported on the bed via support means. Can land.
After that, the UV irradiating means of the first ink jet printer irradiates a plurality of UV curable ink droplets landed in a dot shape on the desired part of the surface of the button type material, respectively. It can be cured. Alternatively, it is possible to heat and cure a plurality of thermosetting ink droplets that are landed in dots on the desired portion of the button-type material surface by the heating means of the second ink jet printer. Then, it is possible to fix and print a picture or character consisting of an array of a plurality of ink dots , or a picture and character on the surface of the button-type material.

In the first inkjet printer of the present invention, the ultraviolet irradiation means includes an ultraviolet light emission source that emits ultraviolet light toward the bed, and a button that supports the ultraviolet light emission source on the bed via a support means. Preferably, it comprises a first moving means for relatively moving the upper part of the bed up to the upper part of the plurality of ink droplets landed in a dot shape on the desired portion of the surface of the mold material in the XY direction substantially parallel to the bed surface. Yes.

In the first ink jet printer, a plurality of inks that are landed in dots on the desired portions of the surface of the button-type material supported by the first moving means on the bed via the supporting means by the first moving means. The upper part of the bed can be relatively moved in the XY direction substantially parallel to the bed surface up to the upper side of the droplet. Then, a plurality of inks that emit ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light source toward the bed and land the ultraviolet rays in a dot shape on desired portions of the surface of the button-type material supported on the bed via support means. The drops can be irradiated and the multiple ink drops can be cured.

In the second inkjet printer of the present invention, the heating means radiates heat toward the bed direction, and the button-type material surface on which the heating source is supported on the bed via the support means And a second moving means for moving the upper part of the bed relative to the XY direction substantially parallel to the bed surface to above the plurality of ink droplets landed in the form of dots respectively.

In the second ink jet printer, a plurality of ink droplets that are landed in dots on the desired portion of the surface of the button-type material supported by the second moving means on the bed via the supporting means by the second moving means. The upper part of the bed can be relatively moved in the XY direction substantially parallel to the bed surface. Then, a plurality of ink droplets radiated in the direction of the bed from the heating source and landed in the form of dots on the desired part of the surface of the button-type material supported on the bed via the supporting means by the heat. And the plurality of ink drops can be cured.

In the first and second ink jet printers of the present invention, the support means is two or four guide rods arranged side by side on the bed, and penetrates the button-type material vertically. Each of the two or four button holes provided in this manner may be inserted into a guide rod that supports the button-type material on the head.
The guide bar is preferably formed with a rough surface having fine irregularities on the peripheral surface of the guide bar inserted through the button hole. At the same time, when the guide bar is inserted into the button hole, the sub-support that supports the button type material around the guide bar so that the tip of the guide bar is buried inside the button hole below the button type material surface. It is good to have a means.

In such a case, two or four guide rods of the support means that are arranged upright on the bed are inserted through two or four button holes provided vertically through the button-type material, respectively. Thus, the button-type material can be stably supported so as not to move in a predetermined direction on the head with the picture or character or the surface on which the picture and character are printed facing upward.
In that case, the guide bar inserted through the button hole is formed with a rough surface with fine irregularities, or the tip of the guide bar inserted through the button hole is in the button hole below the button type material surface. In order for the button-type material to be supported around the guide bar by the sub-supporting means so that it is buried in the direction, the periphery of the guide bar inserted through the button hole and the inner peripheral surface of the button hole facing it In the meantime, a fine gap is formed, and capillary action acts on the gap to prevent some of the ink droplets that have landed on the surface of the button-type material from entering, and around the upper end of the guide rod inserted through the button hole A fine gap is formed between the top and the inner peripheral surface of the button hole that faces it, and capillarity works in the gap to prevent some of the ink droplets that land on the button-type material surface from entering. it can.

Further, in the first and second ink jet printers of the present invention, the position information for obtaining the position information of the picture or character supported on the bed via the supporting means or the surface of the button type material on which the picture and character are printed. Based on the position information of the button type material surface obtained by the recognizing means and the position information recognizing means, UV curing is performed from the ink jet head that moves the upper part of the bed relatively in the XY direction using the ink ejecting means. Control means for ejecting a plurality of ink droplets of a mold or a thermosetting type at a predetermined timing and landing each of the plurality of ink droplets on a desired portion of the button-type material surface supported on the bed. It is better to have the structure.

In such a case, the position information recognition means can obtain the position information on the surface of the button-type material on which the picture or character supported on the bed via the support means or the picture and character is printed. Then, based on the position information on the button-type material surface obtained by the position information recognition means, using the control means, the ink ejecting means relatively moves the upper part of the bed in the XY direction from the inkjet head to UV. A desired portion of the button-type material surface in which a plurality of curable ink droplets or a plurality of thermosetting ink droplets are respectively ejected at a predetermined timing, and the plurality of ink droplets are supported on the bed via support means. Can be landed accurately. Then, on the surface of the button-type material supported on the bed via the supporting means, as described above, a picture or character composed of an array of a plurality of ink dots , or a picture and letter can be printed easily and accurately. .

In the first and second button manufacturing methods of the present invention, it is preferable to cover the surface of the button-type material on which a picture or character, or a figure and a character are fixedly printed, with a transparent or translucent clear coat protective layer. Then, the clear coat protective layer may improve the wear fastness of a picture or character composed of a plurality of ink dots fixedly printed on the surface of the button-type material , or the picture and character .

In the first and second ink jet printers of the present invention, clear ink droplets for forming a clear coat protective layer are ejected onto an ink jet head that moves relatively above the bed in an XY direction substantially parallel to the bed surface. A plurality of sub-ink jet heads for forming the clear coat protective layer are provided from the sub ink-jet head that moves relative to the XY direction substantially parallel to the bed surface in the XY direction. The clear ink droplets are respectively ejected at a predetermined timing, and the plurality of clear ink droplets are dot-shaped on the surface of the button-type material on which the drawings or characters supported on the bed or the drawings and characters are fixedly printed. Tile landed, the pictorial or text or pictorial and text print, The button-type materials surface dots of a plurality of clear ink may clear ink ejecting means for forming a transparent or semi-transparent clearcoat protective layer formed by sequences with a provided structure side by side.

In the first and second button manufacturing methods of the present invention, a picture or character comprising an array of a plurality of ink dots , or a button-type material on which a picture and a character are fixedly printed on the surface is provided via a support means. The clear-coat protective layer is formed by the clear ink ejecting means from the sub ink-jet head that moves relative to the XY direction substantially parallel to the bed surface together with the ink-jet head in the bed direction. A plurality of clear ink droplets are ejected at a predetermined timing, and the plurality of clear ink droplets are doted on the surface of the button-type material on which the picture or character supported on the bed or the picture and character are fixedly printed. Jo Tile landed, button type that pictorial or text or pictorial and text, is fixed printed The wood surface may be so covered by a plurality of which are arranged dots side by side of the clear ink transparent or semi-transparent clearcoat protective layer.

In such a case, as described above, a picture or character comprising an array of a plurality of ink dots , or a button-type material on which a picture and character are fixedly printed on the surface is supported above the bed. A plurality of clear ink droplets for forming a clear coat protective layer are directed in the bed direction by a clear ink ejecting means from a sub ink jet head that moves relative to the XY direction substantially parallel to the bed surface together with the ink jet head. It is possible to inject at each timing. Then, the plurality of clear ink droplets are placed in a dot shape on the surface of the button-type material on which the drawings or characters supported on the bed or the images and characters are fixed and printed, and the plurality of clear ink droplets are landed. A transparent or translucent clear coat protective layer in which a plurality of clear ink dots are arranged side by side on the surface of the button-type material on which the picture or character or the picture and character are fixed and printed can be formed.

First present invention, in the second button manufacturing method, may be formed the pictorial or text, or a button-type material surface before pictorial and characters are printed on the rough surface shape having fine irregularities, the pictorial Alternatively, an undercoat treatment agent for improving the fixability of the UV curable ink droplets or the thermosetting ink droplets may be applied to the surface of the button-type material before characters or pictures and characters are printed. Then, a plurality of ink dots constituting a pictorial or text is using ink droplets or ink droplets of thermosetting UV curable printing to the button-type material surface or pictorial and text, is a button-type material surface It is good to stabilize and fix on the button type material surface so that it does not peel easily. Then, it is preferable to improve the fixability of a picture, pattern or character composed of an array of a plurality of ink dots printed on the button type material surface.

According to the first and second button manufacturing methods of the present invention using the first and second ink jet printers of the present invention, various desired illustrations are formed on the curved surface of the button-shaped button-shaped material. Alternatively, the characters can be fixed and printed easily and freely using an ink jet printer without trouble. In addition, buttons having various designs on the surface can be stably supplied to the fashion world and the like.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIGS. 1 to 4 show preferred embodiments of the first and second ink jet printers of the present invention, FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic explanatory views thereof, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are enlarged views around the supporting means. It is a front view. The first and second ink jet printers will be described below.

The first and second ink jet printers have a flat bed 10 as shown in FIGS.
On the bed 10, there is provided support means 12 for supporting the button-type material 20 formed into a button shape using a compression molding machine or the like with the surface of the material on which the drawing or / and characters are fixed and printed facing upward. ing. The support means 12 is two or four guide rods 14 inserted through the two or four button holes 22 provided vertically through the button-type material 20 as shown in FIG. The guide rods 14 are provided so as to stand on the bed 10 side by side. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4, a guide frame having a blind hole 15 at the upper end for fitting and locking a rectangular block-shaped button support 24 having a button hole 22 protruding from the center of the bottom surface of the button-type material 20. 16, which is formed from a guide frame 16 provided to stand on the bed 10. Then, the guide rod 14 is inserted into the button hole 22 or the button support 24 is inserted into and locked in the blind hole 15 at the upper end of the guide frame 16, so that the button-type material 20 is changed to the pictorial drawing or / The surface on which the characters are printed is directed upwardly on the bed 10 so that the surface can be stably supported on the bed 10 so as not to move in a predetermined direction.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the inkjet head 30 is supported above the bed 10 so as to be relatively movable in the XY direction substantially parallel to the surface of the bed 10. Specifically, the inkjet head 30 is supported by the guide rail 32 so as to be movable in the Y direction (left and right direction in the drawing) above the bed 10. At the same time, the bed 10 is supported on a base (not shown) so that it can move in the X direction (front and back direction in the figure) with respect to the ink jet head 30. Note that the inkjet head 30 can also be supported over a plurality of guide rails so as to be movable in the XY direction above the bed 10.

In the first inkjet printer, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of UV curable ink droplets are predetermined from the inkjet head 30 that moves relative to the bed 10 in the XY direction toward the bed 10. The ink ejecting means 40 that ejects each of the plurality of ink droplets at a desired position on the surface of the button-type material 20 supported on the bed 10 via the support means 12 in the form of dots, respectively. It is connected to or connected to the inkjet head 30. The ink ejecting means 40 includes an electronic circuit of a host computer 44 for driving the ink jet printer, an ink supplying means (not shown) for supplying ink to the ink jet head 30, and ink from the tip of a nozzle (not shown) arranged on the lower surface of the ink jet head 30. An ink ejecting mechanism (not shown) composed of a piezo element for ejecting droplets or the like is used.

Further, in the first ink jet printer, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of ink droplets ejected from the ink jet head 30 by the ink ejecting means 40 and landed in the form of dots on the desired portion of the button-type material 20 surface. UV irradiating means 50 is provided for irradiating the plurality of ink droplets by irradiating them with ultraviolet rays.
The ultraviolet irradiation means 50 includes an ultraviolet light emission source 52 such as a xenon lamp or a high-pressure mercury lamp that emits ultraviolet light toward the bed 10, and a button-type material in which the ultraviolet light emission source is supported on the bed 10 via the support means 12. The first moving means 54 is configured to move the upper part of the bed 10 relative to the upper surface of the bed 10 in the X and Y directions substantially parallel to the surface of the bed 10 up to the upper side of the plurality of ink droplets landed in the form of dots respectively on the 20 surface. Yes. Specifically, the ultraviolet light source 52 is supported by the guide rail 55 so as to be movable in the Y direction above the bed 10. At the same time, the bed 10 is supported on a base (not shown) so as to be movable in the X direction with respect to the inkjet head 30. The ultraviolet light emission source 52 can be supported over a plurality of guide rails so as to be movable in the XY direction above the bed 10. Further, the ultraviolet light emission source 52 can be moved relative to the upper portion of the bed 10 in the XY direction integrally with the inkjet head 30. Then, the means for moving the inkjet head 30 relative to the XY direction above the bed 10 is also used as the first moving means 54 for relatively moving the ultraviolet light source 52 above the bed 10 in the XY direction. It is also possible.

On the other hand, in the second ink jet printer, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of thermosetting ink droplets from the ink jet head 30 that moves relatively above the bed 10 in the XY direction toward the bed 10. Are ejected at predetermined timings, and the plurality of ink droplets are landed in dots on the desired portions of the surface of the button-type material 20 supported on the bed 10 via the support means 12, respectively. Are connected to or connected to the inkjet head 30. The ink ejecting means 40 includes an electronic circuit of a host computer 44 for driving the ink jet printer, an ink supplying means (not shown) for supplying ink to the ink jet head 30, and ink from the tip of a nozzle (not shown) arranged on the lower surface of the ink jet head 30. An ink ejecting mechanism (not shown) composed of a piezo element for ejecting droplets or the like is used.

Further, in the second ink jet printer, instead of the ultraviolet irradiation means 50, as shown in FIG. A heating means 60 is provided that heats and cures the plurality of ink droplets landed in a shape.
The heating means 60 includes a heating source 62 such as a halogen light or a far-infrared lamp that emits heat toward the bed 10, and the surface of the button-type material 20 that is supported on the bed 10 via the support means 12. The second moving means 64 is configured to relatively move the upper part of the bed 10 in the XY direction substantially parallel to the surface of the bed 10 up to the upper side of the plurality of ink droplets landed in the form of dots respectively. Specifically, the heat source 62 is supported by the guide rail 65 so as to be movable in the Y direction above the bed 10. At the same time, the bed 10 is supported on a base (not shown) so as to be movable in the X direction with respect to the inkjet head 30. The heating source 62 can be supported over a plurality of guide rails so as to be movable in the XY direction above the bed 10. Further, the heating source 62 can be moved relative to the upper portion of the bed 10 in the XY direction integrally with the inkjet head 30. Then, the means for relatively moving the inkjet head 30 above the bed 10 in the X-Y direction is also used as the second moving means 64 for relatively moving the heating source 62 above the bed 10 in the XY direction. Is also possible

The first and second ink jet printers shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are configured as described above.
Next, preferred embodiments of the first and second button manufacturing methods of the present invention using the first and second ink jet printers will be described.

In the first button manufacturing method using the first ink jet printer shown in FIG. 1, the button-type material 20 formed into a button shape on the bed 10 is printed on the surface of the material on which the drawing or / and characters are fixedly printed. Is supported so as not to move via the support means 12.
Next, the inkjet head 30 is moved relatively above the bed 10 in the XY direction parallel to the surface of the bed 10, while the upper portion of the bed 10 is relatively moved in the XY direction parallel to the surface of the bed 10. A plurality of UV curable ink droplets are respectively ejected from the ink jet head 30 to be moved toward the bed 10 at a predetermined timing by the ink ejecting means 40. The plurality of ink droplets are landed in dots on the desired portions of the surface of the button-type material 20 supported on the bed 10 via the support means 12. For the UV curable ink droplets ejected from the inkjet head 30, an ink in which a pigment, a polymerization initiator, or the like, which is a color material, is mixed with polyester acrylate, urethane acrylate, polyene resin polythiol, epoxy resin, or the like is used.
Thereafter, the ultraviolet irradiation means 50 irradiates the plurality of ink droplets landed in the form of dots on the desired portion of the surface of the button-type material 20 with ultraviolet rays, thereby curing the plurality of ink droplets. A pictorial figure or / and characters composed of a plurality of ink dots are fixed and printed on the surface of the button-type material 20. Specifically, a plurality of ink droplets that are landed in the form of dots by the first moving means 54 on the desired portion of the surface of the button-type material 20 supported by the ultraviolet light source 52 on the bed 10 via the support means 12. The upper part of the bed 10 is relatively moved in the XY direction substantially parallel to the surface of the bed 10 to the upper side. Then, ultraviolet light is emitted from the ultraviolet light source 52 in the direction of the bed, and the ultraviolet light is landed in a dot shape on each desired portion of the surface of the button-type material 20 supported on the bed 10 via the support means 12. And irradiating the plurality of ink drops, and curing the plurality of ink drops. Then, a picture or / and a character consisting of an array of a plurality of ink dots are fixedly printed on the surface of the button-type material 20.
The first button manufacturing method includes the above steps.

On the other hand, in the second button manufacturing method using the second ink jet printer shown in FIG. 2, the button-type material 20 formed into a button shape on the bed 10 is fixedly printed with its pictures or / and characters. The surface of the material 10 is supported upward so as not to move via the support means 12.
Next, the inkjet head 30 is moved relative to the XY direction parallel to the bed 10 surface while the inkjet head 30 is moved relative to the XY direction approximately parallel to the bed 10 surface. A plurality of thermosetting ink droplets are ejected from the inkjet head 30 to be ejected toward the bed 10 at a predetermined timing by the ink ejecting means 40. The plurality of ink droplets are landed in dots on the desired portions of the surface of the button-type material 20 supported on the bed 10 via the support means 12. For the thermosetting ink droplets ejected from the ink jet head 30, an ink is used in which a coloring pigment as a coloring material is added to and mixed with an ink material whose main component is a thermosetting resin.
Thereafter, the heating means 60 heats the plurality of ink droplets landed in a dot shape on the desired portion on the surface of the button-type material 20 to cure the plurality of ink droplets. A pictorial figure or / and characters composed of a plurality of ink dots are fixed and printed on the surface of the button-type material 20. Specifically, above the plurality of ink droplets, each of which is landed in a dot shape on a desired portion of the surface of the button-type material 20 supported by the second moving unit 64 on the bed 10 via the support unit 12 by the second moving unit 64. The upper portion of the bed 10 is relatively moved in the XY direction substantially parallel to the surface of the bed 10. Then, heat is radiated in the direction of the bed 10 from the heating source 62, and the heat is caused to land on the desired portions of the surface of the button-type material 20 supported on the bed 10 via the support means 12 in the form of dots. A plurality of ink droplets are heated. The plurality of ink droplets are cured. Then, a picture or / and a character consisting of an array of a plurality of ink dots are fixedly printed on the surface of the button-type material 20.
The second button manufacturing method includes the above steps.

In the first and second ink jet printers, as shown in FIG. 3, the support means 12 is two or four guide rods 14 arranged in a standing manner on the bed 10 and includes a button. It is preferable to include guide rods 14 that are inserted through two or four button holes 22 that are vertically penetrated through the mold material 20 and support the button mold material 20 on the bed 10. Then, the two or four guide rods 14 that are arranged side by side on the bed 10 are respectively inserted into the two or four button holes 22 that are provided so as to penetrate the button-type material 20 vertically. Thus, it is preferable that the button-type material 20 can be stably supported on the bed 10 so as not to move in a predetermined direction.

In such a case, the peripheral surface of the guide rod 14 inserted through the button hole 22 may be formed into a rough surface having a fine texture or the like. At the same time, when the guide rod 14 is inserted through the button hole 22, the tip of the guide rod 14 inserted through the button hole 22 has a button hole below the surface of the button-type material 20 as shown in FIG. The sub-supporting means 17 for supporting the button-type material 20 around the guide rod 14 may be provided so as to be buried in the inner side. A fine gap is formed between the periphery of the guide rod 14 inserted through the button hole 22 and the inner peripheral surface of the button hole 22 opposite to the guide bar 14, and a capillary phenomenon acts on the gap so that the surface of the button-type material 20. A small gap is formed between the periphery of the upper end of the guide rod 14 inserted through the button hole 22 and the inner peripheral surface of the upper end of the button hole 22 facing the same. Then, it is preferable to prevent a part of the ink droplets that have landed on the surface of the button-type material 20 from entering the gap due to capillary action. The sub-supporting means 17 may be constituted by a stopper 18 or the like that protrudes around the lower end of the guide rod 14 as shown in FIG.

In the first and second ink jet printers, as shown in FIG. 5, the position of the surface of the button-type material 20 on which a picture or / and character supported on the bed 10 via the support means 12 is printed. Based on the positional information recognizing means 70 for obtaining information and the positional information on the surface of the button-type material 20 obtained by the positional information recognizing means, the ink ejecting means 40 moves the upper part of the bed 10 relatively in the XY directions. Desirable surface of the button-type material 20 on which a UV curable ink droplet or a thermosetting ink droplet is ejected from the inkjet head 30 at a predetermined timing and the ink droplet is supported on the bed 10 via the support means 12. It is preferable to provide a control means 80 for landing on the part in a dot shape. The position information recognizing means 70 analyzes the CCD camera 72 attached to the ink jet head 30 that moves relative to the bed 10 in the X and Y directions, and the image taken by the camera, and supports the support means 12 on the bed 10. It is preferable that the position information on the surface of the button-type material 20 on which the pictures or / and characters supported by the printer are printed is recognized by an electronic circuit or the like that causes the host computer 44 for driving the inkjet printer to recognize the position information. Based on the position information on the surface of the button-type material 20 that prints the picture or / and the character supported on the bed 10 via the support means 12 obtained by the position information recognition means 70, the control means 80 is controlled by the ink ejecting means 40. A means (not shown) for ejecting UV curable ink droplets or thermosetting ink droplets at a predetermined timing from the inkjet head 30 that moves relative to the XY direction above the bed 10; An electronic circuit (not shown) of the host computer 44 that gives a command may be used.
The image captured by the CCD camera 72 attached to the inkjet head 30 that moves relative to the bed 10 in the X and Y directions is analyzed by an electronic circuit and supported on the bed 10 via the support means 12. It is preferable to obtain positional information on the surface of the button-type material 20 on which the printed picture and / or character is printed. Then, based on the position information on the surface of the button-type material 20 obtained by the position information recognizing means 70, the ink jet means 40 relatively moves the upper part of the bed 10 in the XY direction using the control means 80. A plurality of UV curable ink droplets or thermosetting ink droplets may be ejected from the head 30 at a predetermined timing. Then, it is preferable that each of the plurality of ink droplets is appropriately landed on a desired portion of the surface of the button-type material 20 supported on the bed 10 via the support means 12. Then, it is preferable to easily and accurately fix and print a picture or / and a character composed of an array of a plurality of ink dots on the surface of the button-type material 20 as described above.

In the first and second button manufacturing methods, as shown in FIG. 6, the surface of the button-type material 20 on which a pictorial drawing or / and characters are fixedly printed is made of a clear resin such as an acrylic resin or a polyester resin. It is preferable to cover with a transparent or translucent clear coat protective layer 90. The clear coat protective layer 90 may improve the wear fastness of a pictorial figure and / or character composed of an array of a plurality of ink dots fixedly printed on the surface of the button-type material 20. The clear coat protective layer 90 made of a clear resin may be formed on the surface of the button-type material 20 on which a picture or / and characters are fixed and printed by using a spray method, an electrostatic coating method, a screen coating method, or the like. In this case, after the picture or / and characters fixed and printed on the surface of the button-type material 20 are sufficiently dried and cured, the clear coat protective layer is formed on the surface of the button-type material 20 on which the picture or / and characters are fixed and printed. 90 may be formed. Then, it is preferable to prevent a part of the picture or / and character fixed and printed on the surface of the button-type material 20 from eluting into the clear coat protective layer 90 and bleeding the picture or / and the character.

In the first and second ink jet printers, as shown in FIG. 5, the sub ink jet head 33 that moves relatively above the bed 10 in the XY direction substantially parallel to the surface of the bed 10 is provided in the ink jet head 30. It is good to prepare. A plurality of clear coat protective layer forming clear layers are formed from the sub inkjet head 33 that moves relative to the XY direction parallel to the bed 10 surface together with the inkjet head 30 toward the bed 10. Each of the ink droplets is ejected at a predetermined timing, and the plurality of clear ink droplets are landed in a dot shape on the surface of the button-type material 20 on which the picture or character is fixed and printed, and the picture or character is fixed. A clear ink ejecting means 100 may be provided that covers the surface of the printed button-type material 20 with a transparent or translucent clear coat protective layer 90 in which a plurality of clear ink dots are arranged side by side. The clear ink ejecting means 100 is preferably constituted by an electronic circuit of the host computer 44, an ink ejecting mechanism such as a piezo element built in the sub inkjet head 33, and the like.

In such a case, as described above, the button-type material 20 on which the pictorial figure or / and the characters composed of the arrangement of the plurality of ink dots is fixedly printed on the surface is supported above the bed 10 on which the support means 12 is supported. A plurality of clear ink droplets for forming a clear coat protective layer are formed by the clear ink ejecting means 100 from the sub ink jet head 33 that moves relative to the XY direction substantially parallel to the surface of the bed 10 together with the ink jet head 30. The plurality of clear ink droplets can be ejected at predetermined timings in the direction, and can be landed in the form of dots on the surface of the button-type material 20 on which pictures or / and characters are fixedly printed. A transparent or translucent clear coat protective layer 90 in which dots of a plurality of clear inks are arranged side by side on the surface of the button-type material 20 on which pictures or / and characters are fixed and printed can be easily and accurately formed. The clear coat protective layer 90 is preferably formed on the surface of the button-type material 20 on which the picture or / and characters are printed after the picture or / and characters printed on the surface of the button-type material 20 are sufficiently dried and cured. Then, it is preferable to prevent a part of the picture or / and characters printed on the surface of the button-type material 20 from eluting into the clear coat protective layer 90 and bleeding the picture or / and letters.

In the first and second button manufacturing methods, the surface of the button-type material 20 before printing a picture or / and characters is formed into a rough surface with fine irregularities, or before the picture or / and characters are printed. When an undercoat treatment agent (not shown) such as an epoxy resin or a vinyl chloride resin is applied to the surface of the button-type material 20 to improve the fixability of UV-curable ink droplets or thermosetting ink droplets. good. Then, a plurality of ink dots constituting a picture or / and character printed on the surface of the button-type material 20 using UV curable ink droplets or thermosetting ink droplets can be easily formed on the button-type material 20 surface. It is good to stabilize and fix so as not to peel off. Then, it is preferable to improve the fixability of a picture, pattern, or character comprising an array of a plurality of ink dots printed on the surface of the button-type material 20.

According to the first and second button manufacturing methods of the present invention using the first and second ink jet printers of the present invention, a plurality of ink dots are formed on the curved surface of a button-shaped material formed into a button shape. It can be widely used effectively for supplying buttons having various designs to the fashion world and the like by stably printing and fixing the pictorial figures and / or characters composed of arrays so as not to easily peel off.

It is a schematic structure explanatory drawing of the 1st inkjet printer of the present invention. It is a schematic structure explanatory drawing of the 2nd inkjet printer of this invention. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an enlarged structure around the supporting means of the first and second inkjet printers of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an enlarged structure around the supporting means of the first and second inkjet printers of the present invention. It is a schematic structure explanatory drawing of the 1st, 2nd inkjet printer of this invention. It is front sectional drawing of the button manufactured by the button manufacturing method of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Bed 12 Support means 14 Guide rod 15 Blind hole 16 Guide frame 17 Sub support means 18 Stopper 20 Button type material 22 Button hole 24 Button support 30 Inkjet head 33 Sub inkjet head 40 Ink ejecting means 44 Host computer 50 Ultraviolet irradiation means 52 UV light source 54 First moving means 60 Heating means 62 Heating source 64 Second moving means 70 Position information recognition means 80 Control means 90 Clear coat protective layer 100 Clear ink ejecting means

Claims (13)

An ink jet printer for manufacturing buttons for use in clothing, which is a button-shaped material molded into a button shape on a bed, and its graphic or text, or the surface of the material on which the graphic and text are fixed and printed A plurality of UV-curable ink droplets at a predetermined timing from the inkjet head that moves relative to the bed direction toward the bed direction from the inkjet head that moves relative to the bed surface substantially parallel to the bed surface. An ink ejecting means for ejecting each of the plurality of ink droplets in a dot shape on a desired portion of the button-type material surface; and a plurality of ink droplets landed on the desired portion of the button-type material surface in a dot shape, respectively. An ultraviolet irradiation means for irradiating the ink droplets with ultraviolet rays and curing the plurality of ink droplets; and
The support means is two or four guide bars provided side by side while standing on the bed, and each of the two or four button holes provided vertically through the button-type material. It consists of a guide bar that passes through and supports the button-type material on the head.
The peripheral surface of the guide rod inserted into the button hole is formed into a rough surface with fine irregularities, and the guide rod tip is lower than the button-type material surface when the guide rod is inserted into the button hole. An ink jet printer for manufacturing a button, comprising sub-supporting means for supporting the button-type material around the guide rod so as to be buried inside the button hole. The ultraviolet irradiation means has an ultraviolet light source that emits ultraviolet light in the direction of the bed, and a dot shape on a desired portion of the surface of the button-type material supported on the bed via the support means. 2. An ink jet for manufacturing a button according to claim 1, further comprising a first moving means for moving the upper part of the bed relative to the XY direction substantially parallel to the bed surface to above the plurality of landed ink droplets. Printer. Supporting the button-type material molded into a button shape on the bed, with the supporting means facing the picture or character, or the surface of the material for fixing and printing the picture and character , upward;
The ink ejecting means ejects a plurality of UV curable ink droplets at a predetermined timing from the inkjet head that moves relative to the bed surface in the XY direction substantially parallel to the bed surface toward the bed direction. Each of the plurality of ink droplets landing on a desired portion of the button-type material surface in a dot shape,
The ultraviolet irradiation means irradiates a plurality of ink droplets landed in a dot shape on a desired portion of the button-type material surface, respectively, to cure the plurality of ink droplets, and a plurality of ink droplets are applied to the button-type material surface. 3. A button manufacturing method using an ink jet printer according to claim 1, further comprising a step of fixing and printing a picture or character comprising an array of ink dots. An ink jet printer for manufacturing buttons for use in clothing, which is a button-shaped material molded into a button shape on a bed, and its graphic or text, or the surface of the material on which the graphic and text are fixed and printed A plurality of thermosetting ink droplets at a predetermined timing from the inkjet head that moves relative to the bed in the XY direction substantially parallel to the bed surface toward the bed direction. An ink ejecting means for ejecting each of the plurality of ink droplets in a dot shape on a desired portion of the button-type material surface; and a plurality of ink droplets landed on the desired portion of the button-type material surface in a dot shape, respectively. Heating means for heating and curing the ink droplets,
The support means is two or four guide bars provided side by side while standing on the bed, and each of the two or four button holes provided vertically through the button-type material. It consists of a guide bar that passes through and supports the button-type material on the head.
The peripheral surface of the guide rod inserted into the button hole is formed into a rough surface with fine irregularities, and the guide rod tip is lower than the button-type material surface when the guide rod is inserted into the button hole. An ink jet printer for manufacturing a button, comprising sub-supporting means for supporting the button-type material around the guide rod so as to be buried inside the button hole. The heating means radiates the heat toward the bed direction, and the heating source is landed in a dot shape on a desired portion of the surface of the button-type material supported on the bed via the support means. 5. An ink jet printer for manufacturing a button according to claim 4, further comprising second moving means for relatively moving the upper part of the bed above the bed in the XY direction substantially parallel to the bed surface. Supporting the button-type material molded into a button shape on the bed, with the supporting means facing the picture or character, or the surface of the material for fixing and printing the picture and character , upward;
By the ink ejecting means, a plurality of thermosetting ink droplets are ejected at a predetermined timing from an ink jet head that moves relative to the bed surface in the XY direction substantially parallel to the bed surface in the bed direction. Each of the plurality of ink droplets landing on a desired portion of the button-type material surface in the form of dots,
A plurality of ink droplets landed in a dot shape on a desired portion of the button-type material surface by the heating means to be cured by heating, and a picture or character comprising an array of a plurality of ink dots on the button-type material surface 6. A button manufacturing method using an ink jet printer according to claim 4, further comprising a step of fixing and printing a picture and a character . Position information recognizing means for obtaining position information on the surface of a button type material for printing a picture or character supported on the bed via a supporting means , or a picture and character, and the button type material obtained by the position information recognizing means Based on the positional information on the surface, a plurality of UV curable or thermosetting ink droplets are respectively ejected from the inkjet head that moves relative to the upper part of the bed in the XY direction at a predetermined timing using the ink ejecting means. Control means for causing the plurality of ink droplets to land on desired portions of the surface of the button-type material supported on the bed, respectively. 5. An ink jet printer for producing the button according to 5. The button manufacturing method according to claim 3 or 6,
The button-type material surface on which the picture or character or the figure and character is fixedly printed is covered with a transparent or translucent clear coat protective layer, and consists of an array of a plurality of ink dots fixedly printed on the button-type material surface. A button manufacturing method using an ink jet printer, characterized by improving the fastness to wear of a picture, pattern or character. A sub ink jet head for ejecting clear ink droplets for forming a clear coat protective layer is provided on an ink jet head that moves relative to the bed surface in the X and Y directions substantially parallel to the bed surface. A plurality of clear ink droplets for forming the clear coat protective layer are respectively ejected at a predetermined timing from the sub inkjet head that relatively moves in the XY direction substantially parallel to the bed surface toward the bed direction, The plurality of clear ink droplets are placed in the form of dots on the surface of the button-type material on which the figure or character supported on the bed or the figure and letter are fixedly printed, and the figure or character, or the figure and character are Multiple clear ink dots are lined up on the printed button-type material surface. 8. An ink jet printer for manufacturing a button according to claim 1, further comprising: clear ink ejecting means for forming a transparent or translucent clear coat protective layer arranged in a line. . Pictorial or characters comprising the plurality of ink dots sequence or pictorial and text is substantially parallel to the fixing printed button type material is supported via a support means the bed above the bed surface together with the ink jet head to the surface X, A plurality of ink droplets for forming the clear coat protective layer are respectively ejected at a predetermined timing by the clear ink ejecting means from the sub inkjet head that is moved relatively in the Y direction toward the bed direction. A plurality of clear ink droplets are placed on the surface of a button-type material on which a picture or character supported on the bed is fixed and printed, and landed in a dot shape to fix the picture or character, or the picture and character. A plurality of clear ink dots are arranged side by side on the printed button type material surface. Button manufacturing method using an ink jet printer according to claim 9, wherein the covering of a transparent or semi-transparent clearcoat protective layer becomes. The button-type material surface before printing the picture or character, or the figure and character is formed into a rough surface with fine irregularities , or the button-type material surface before printing the picture or character, or the picture and character. An undercoat treatment agent for enhancing fixability of the UV curable or thermosetting ink droplets is applied to the surface of the button type material, and the UV curable or thermosetting ink droplets are used on the surface of the button type material. 11. Button manufacturing using an ink jet printer according to claim 3, 6, 8, or 10, characterized in that it improves the fixability of a picture or character comprising an array of dots of ink to be printed or a picture and character. Method. An ink jet printer for manufacturing buttons for use in clothing, which is a button-shaped material molded into a button shape on a bed, and its graphic or text, or the surface of the material on which the graphic and text are fixed and printed A plurality of UV-curable ink droplets at a predetermined timing from the inkjet head that moves relative to the bed direction toward the bed direction from the inkjet head that moves relative to the bed surface substantially parallel to the bed surface. An ink ejecting means for ejecting each of the plurality of ink droplets in a dot shape on a desired portion of the button-type material surface; and a plurality of ink droplets landed on the desired portion of the button-type material surface in a dot shape, respectively. An ultraviolet irradiation means for irradiating the ink droplets with ultraviolet rays and curing the plurality of ink droplets; and
A sub ink jet head for ejecting clear ink droplets for forming a clear coat protective layer is provided on an ink jet head that moves relative to the bed surface in the X and Y directions substantially parallel to the bed surface. A plurality of clear ink droplets for forming the clear coat protective layer are respectively ejected at a predetermined timing from the sub inkjet head that relatively moves in the XY direction substantially parallel to the bed surface toward the bed direction, The plurality of clear ink droplets are placed in the form of dots on the surface of the button-type material on which the figure or character supported on the bed , or the figure and character are fixedly printed, and the figure or character, or the figure and character are Multiple clear ink dots are lined up on the printed button-type material surface. Arranged Te is and becomes transparent or translucent ink jet printer button production, wherein a clear ink injection means provided for forming a clear coat protective layer. An ink jet printer for manufacturing buttons for use in clothing, which is a button-shaped material molded into a button shape on a bed, and its graphic or text, or the surface of the material on which the graphic and text are fixed and printed A plurality of thermosetting ink droplets at a predetermined timing from the inkjet head that moves relative to the bed in the XY direction substantially parallel to the bed surface toward the bed direction. An ink ejecting means for ejecting each of the plurality of ink droplets in a dot shape on a desired portion of the button-type material surface; and a plurality of ink droplets landed on the desired portion of the button-type material surface in a dot shape, respectively. Heating means for heating and curing the ink droplets,
A sub ink jet head for ejecting clear ink droplets for forming a clear coat protective layer is provided on an ink jet head that moves relative to the bed surface in the X and Y directions substantially parallel to the bed surface. A plurality of clear ink droplets for forming the clear coat protective layer are respectively ejected at a predetermined timing from the sub inkjet head that relatively moves in the XY direction substantially parallel to the bed surface toward the bed direction, The plurality of clear ink droplets are placed in the form of dots on the surface of the button-type material on which the figure or character supported on the bed or the figure and letter are fixedly printed, and the figure or character, or the figure and character are Multiple clear ink dots are lined up on the printed button-type material surface. Arranged Te is and becomes transparent or translucent ink jet printer button production, wherein a clear ink injection means provided for forming a clear coat protective layer.

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