JP5382028B2 - Decorative printing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention is intended for printing on a substrate to be printed having at least a plate-like main body formed in a curved surface, and at least a part of one surface in the thickness direction of the main body is a surface to be printed. Thus, the present invention relates to a decorative printing method for forming a decorative print film on a printing surface.

  Some console lids, armrest panels, center console panels, and the like, which are interior parts for vehicles, are made of a synthetic resin base material such as wood grain. One of the methods for decorating is to attach a thin plate material called a main board to a base material, but it is expensive. Therefore, a decorative printing method (ink jet printing method) using an ink jet printer is considered as one of the alternative decorating methods. In this method, ink of each color is ejected from an inkjet head toward a printing surface, and the ink is cured to form a decorative print film on the printing surface. According to this decorative printing method, it is possible to perform decoration at a low cost as compared with a method in which the main book is attached to a base material.

  As is well known, the decorative printing method is based on the premise that printing is performed on a planar printing surface such as paper. Under this premise, the inkjet head can be moved in a state of being close to the printing surface. The distance from the inkjet head to the printing surface is constant and short regardless of the portion of the printing surface. For this reason, the flight distance and time of the ink ejected from the inkjet head are short, and the ink is not easily affected by the surroundings such as air and wind. Therefore, it is possible to land the ink relatively accurately on the target portion of the printing surface.

  However, some printed materials having a non-planar surface to be printed have a large difference in distance between a short portion and a long portion from the inkjet head to the printed surface. For example, vehicle interior parts such as the above-described console lid, armrest panel, center console panel, and the like correspond to this. In this case, at a short distance, the distance and time until the ink lands on the printing surface is short, the ink is less affected by air resistance and wind, and the range in which the landing position varies on the printing surface is narrow. . However, as the distance from the inkjet head to the printing surface becomes longer, the distance and time until the ink lands on the printing surface becomes longer, and the influence of the ink on air resistance and wind becomes so large that it cannot be ignored. As a result, the ink lands on a location greatly deviated from the target position on the printing surface. That is, the range in which the landing positions vary exceeds the allowable range. There is a possibility that the ink protrudes from the predetermined print area and lands, and the print area is cut off (a border between the non-print area and the adjacent print area).

  Therefore, in Patent Document 1, for example, when ink is ejected, both the ink jet head and the printing material are displaced, and the distance from the ink jet head to the printing surface is kept substantially constant, thereby printing on a pseudo-planar surface. Is producing. This reduces the variation in distance and time until the ink reaches the printing surface, reduces the influence of the ink from air resistance and wind, and narrows the range in which the landing position varies on the printing surface. It becomes possible.

JP 2008-246855 A

  However, in the decorative printing method described in Patent Document 1, since ink is ejected from the inkjet head while displacing both the inkjet head and the substrate, there is a problem that the mechanism and control of the inkjet printing machine are complicated. is there.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and its purpose is to make it possible to make ink on the surface to be printed without complicating the mechanism of the inkjet printer or performing complicated control. An object of the present invention is to provide a decorative printing method capable of narrowing a range in which landing positions vary and forming a print film for decoration.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is directed to a printing object including at least a plate-like main body curved in a curved shape, and one of the main body portions in the thickness direction is provided. A decorative printing method in which at least a part of a surface is a printing surface, ink is ejected from an inkjet head of an inkjet printing machine toward the printing surface, and a printing film for decoration is formed on the printing surface. The gist of the invention is that the ink is ejected in a state in which the main body is temporarily elastically deformed toward the side where the printing surface approaches a flat surface by applying an external force to the main body.

  In the decorative printing method described above, when the ink is ejected from the inkjet head toward the printing surface, an external force is applied to the main body portion, whereby the main body portion is temporarily elastically deformed. Due to this elastic deformation, the printing surface of the main body portion approaches a flat surface. Along with this, the difference between the distance at the shortest part from the inkjet head to the printing surface and the distance at the longest part becomes smaller after the elastic deformation than before the elastic deformation. Therefore, even before the elastic deformation, even if the distance from the inkjet head to the printing surface is the longest, after the elastic deformation, the printing surface can be brought closer to the inkjet head and the distance can be shortened. . When this is carried out, even if the distance from the inkjet head to the printing surface is long before elastic deformation, the ink will land on the printing surface after elastic deformation as in the case where the distance is short. The distance and time of the ink are short, and the ink is less affected by air resistance and wind. The ink lands near the target position of the printing surface, and the range in which the landing position varies on the printing surface is narrowed.

  As a result, in order to narrow the range where the ink landing position varies on the surface to be printed and to form a decorative print film, the mechanism of the ink jet printer does not have to be complicated or complicatedly controlled. I'm sorry.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the printed material includes an attachment leg for attaching the main body to the adherend, and the other surface in the thickness direction of the main body. It is further provided on the side, and the main body part is elastically deformed by applying an external force to the main body part through the mounting leg part.

  In the above-described decorative printing method, an external force is applied to the main body through the mounting legs that are already provided on the printing material when ink is ejected. The main body is temporarily elastically deformed by this external force, and the printed surface approaches a flat surface. Since the existing mounting leg is used in this way, the trouble of separately providing a place to apply an external force to the main body on the substrate is eliminated or reduced.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the printed surface is a convex curved surface whose distance from the inkjet head is shorter toward the center of the main body, and the attachment A plurality of legs are provided, two of which are protruded toward the side away from the ink-jet head at locations facing each other across the center of the main body, and the elastic deformation of the main body is The gist is that an external force is applied to the two mounting leg portions in the direction in which the distance between them is increased.

  The invention according to claim 3, wherein the surface to be printed is a convex curved surface whose distance from the ink jet head is shorter toward the center of the main body. In the direction in which the interval between the two mounting legs increases. External force is applied. By this external force, the main body portion is pressed at the connecting portion of the main body portion with the mounting leg portion, and the main body portion is temporarily elastically deformed so that the printing surface approaches a flat surface.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the second aspect, the printed surface is a convex curved surface whose distance from the inkjet head is shorter toward the center of the main body, and the attachment A plurality of legs are provided, two of which protrude from the inkjet head toward the side facing the center of the main body, and elastic deformation of the main body is The two mounting legs are supported so as not to move in a direction away from the inkjet head, and in this state, an external force is applied in a direction away from the inkjet head with respect to the central portion of the main body portion or a peripheral portion thereof. The gist is what is done by being added.

  5. The invention according to claim 4, wherein the printing surface is formed of a convex curved surface whose distance from the ink jet head becomes shorter toward the central portion side of the main body portion. The two mounting legs are supported so as not to move away from the inkjet head. In this state, an external force is applied in the direction away from the ink jet head to the central portion of the main body portion or its peripheral portion. By this external force, the main body is pulled away from the inkjet head at the central portion or its peripheral portion, and the main body is temporarily elastically deformed so that the printing surface approaches a flat surface.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the printing surface is formed of a concave curved surface whose distance from the inkjet head becomes longer toward the center of the main body. The elastic deformation is supported at the outer end portion of the main body portion so that the portion facing the central portion is immovable in a direction approaching the inkjet head, and in this state, the central portion of the main body portion or The gist is that an external force is applied to the peripheral portion in a direction approaching the inkjet head.

  6. The invention according to claim 5, wherein the surface to be printed is formed of a concave curved surface whose distance from the ink jet head becomes longer toward the central portion side of the main body portion. Is supported so as not to move in the direction approaching the inkjet head. In this state, an external force is applied to the central portion of the main body portion or its peripheral portion in a direction approaching the inkjet head. By this external force, the main body is pressed in the direction close to the ink jet at the central portion or its peripheral portion, and the main body is temporarily elastically deformed so that the printing surface approaches a flat surface.

  In addition, as a to-be-printed material in the invention of Claim 5, what is formed with a transparent resin, the surface is made into the design surface, and the back surface is made into the to-be-printed surface is mentioned, for example. In this case, in a product having a printed film formed on the printed surface, the printed film on the back surface is visually recognized from the front surface (design surface) side through the printed material.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claim 5, wherein, in the outer end portion of the main body portion, the corner portion on the one surface side is closer to the other surface side than the same surface. A step portion having a support surface is provided at the biased portion, and the outer end portion of the main body portion is supported by a claw portion of a holding jig disposed on the step portion, and the main body portion is disposed on the support surface. This is done by receiving from the one surface side.

  According to the above method, when the outer end portion of the main body portion is supported so as not to move in the direction approaching the inkjet head, the claw portion of the presser jig has one surface ( It is arranged at a step portion provided at a corner portion on the (printed surface) side. And the main-body part is received from one surface side by the nail | claw part in a support surface.

  Here, since the nail | claw part which receives a main-body part is arrange | positioned in a level | step-difference part, compared with the case where there is no such level | step-difference part, the part which protrudes in the inkjet head side rather than the to-be-printed surface of a main-body part decreases. For this reason, the claw portion is unlikely to hinder the operation of the inkjet head.

  The elastic deformation of the main body is preferably performed such that the distance from the inkjet head to the printing surface is less than 7 mm. When this condition is satisfied, the ink jetted from the ink jet head is relatively less affected by air resistance and wind, and the range in which the landing positions vary on the printing surface falls within the allowable range.

  On the other hand, when the ink-jet head is separated from the printing surface by 7 mm or more, the impact of the ejected ink from the resistance of air and wind cannot be ignored, and the range in which the landing position varies on the printing surface is acceptable. Widen beyond. The ink lands on a location greatly deviated from the target position on the printing surface. That is, the ink is landed out of a predetermined printing area. As a result, the parting of the print area (the border between the non-print area and the adjacent print area) may become unclear.

  According to the decorative printing method of the present invention, even if the mechanism of the ink jet printer is not complicated or complicated control is performed, the range in which the ink landing position varies on the printing surface is narrowed, and the printing is performed. A printed film for decoration can be formed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a figure which shows 1st Embodiment which actualized this invention, and is a perspective view which shows schematic structure of the interior product for vehicles by which the decorative printing method was applied and the printing film was formed in the surface of the main-body part of to-be-printed material. AA sectional view taken on the line AA of FIG. 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a first embodiment, in which FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state before elastically deforming a printed material, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the printed material is elastically deformed. It is a figure which shows 2nd Embodiment which actualized this invention, and is a perspective view which shows schematic structure of the interior product for vehicles by which the decorative printing method was applied and the printing film was formed in the back surface of the main-body part of to-be-printed material. BB sectional drawing of FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the state before making the to-be-printed material elastically deform in 2nd Embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the state which elastically deformed the to-be-printed material in 2nd Embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the example of a change of 1st Embodiment. The fragmentary sectional view which shows the example of a change of 2nd Embodiment.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment in which the decorative printing method of the present invention is applied to a vehicle interior product will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, the vehicle interior article 11 to which the decorative printing method is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The vehicle interior article 11 includes (i) a relatively large size, (ii) at least one of a front surface and a back surface curved in a curved shape, and (iii) a front surface among the interior products provided in the vehicle. In addition, a condition such that a decoration such as a wood grain pattern is applied to one of the back surfaces is satisfied. Examples of vehicle interior products that satisfy these conditions (i) to (iii) include console lids (covers such as armrests and accessory compartments), armrest panels attached to doors, center console panels, and the like. Here, the center console panel will be described as an example.

About the said vehicle interior goods 11, the thing of the state before the printing film 23 is formed becomes the to-be-printed material 12. FIG. The main part of the printing material 12 is constituted by a main body 13 having a plate shape.
The main body 13 has a long shape, and has a guide hole 14 for guiding the shift lever, a long hole 15 in which a panel printed with characters indicating each shift range is assembled. The main body 13 is assembled to the vehicle (a main body portion of the center console) in a posture in which the thickness direction matches the vehicle vertical direction, the longitudinal direction matches the vehicle front-rear direction, and the short side direction matches the vehicle width direction. .

  The main body 13 is curved in a curved shape. More specifically, the front surface 16 (upper surface in FIG. 2) and the rear surface 17 (lower surface in FIG. 2) which are both surfaces in the thickness direction of the main body portion 13 (excluding the guide hole 14, the long hole 15 and the like) are the main body portion. 13 is a convex curved surface that swells upward gradually so that the height is highest at the central portion 18 in the lateral direction and gradually decreases as the distance from the central portion 18 decreases in the lateral direction. The height is lowest at both outer end portions 19 in the short direction of the main body portion 13. On the other hand, the height of the front surface 16 and the back surface 17 of the main body 13 is substantially uniform in the longitudinal direction of the main body 13.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, in the main body 13, the surface 16 is a design surface of the vehicle interior part 11. Of the design surface of the main body portion 13, most of the design surface excluding the outer end portion 19 in the lateral direction is the printing surface 21. When the inkjet head 31 of the inkjet printer described later is used as a reference, the printing surface 21 has a shorter distance from the inkjet head 31 toward the central portion 18 side of the main body 13 in the short direction of the main body 13. It is constituted by a convex curved surface.

  In addition, among the surface 16 (design surface) of the main-body part 13, the both outer end parts 19 about a transversal direction are not used as the printing surface 21 for the following reason. As described above, as a conventional technique, there is a method in which a thin plate material called a main wall is attached to a base material (main body portion 13) and decorated with a wood grain or the like. This decoration method is excellent in that the vehicle interior article 11 is made into a furniture tone and imparts a high-class feeling, but there is a limit to flexing the main wall. If the base material has a greatly curved portion (in this embodiment, both outer end portions 19 of the main body portion 13 correspond to this), it is difficult to follow the curved surface and deflect the main sheet. .

  On the other hand, in the ink jet printing method of this embodiment, which is employed as an alternative to the decoration method for attaching the main book, the aim is to perform the same decoration as that for attaching the main book. Therefore, as described above, in the present embodiment, both the outer end portions 19 in the short direction are not targeted for the printing surface 21.

  In the present embodiment, when the distance from the highest part (center part 18) to the lowest part (outer end part 19) in the short side direction on the printing surface 21 is D1, This distance D1 is a value in the range of 2 mm to 15 mm.

  The substrate 12 further includes a plurality of mounting legs 22, such as clip seats, for mounting the main body 13 on an adherend (main console main body) on the back surface 17 side of the main body 13. . Each mounting leg 22 protrudes downward, which is a direction away from the inkjet head 31. These mounting legs 22 are existing as in the conventional product, and are not newly provided. The mounting leg portion 22 and the main body portion 13 are integrally formed by molding a synthetic resin. In the present embodiment, at least two of the plurality of mounting legs 22 are provided at locations facing the short direction of the main body 13 across the central portion 18 with respect to the short direction. The two attachment legs 22 are located at a location near the outer end surface 19 </ b> A in the short direction of the main body 13. The two mounting legs 22 are preferably located at a location closer to the outer end surface 19A than a location 30 mm away from the outer end surface 19A, for example. If each mounting leg 22 is separated from the outer end surface 19A by 30 mm or more, even if an external force is applied to both mounting legs 22, the main body 13 is elastically deformed to the side where the printing surface 21 approaches the plane. Because it is difficult.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the surface 16 of the substrate 12 is used as the design surface and the surface 21 to be printed, and the decorative printing method is applied thereto to form the printed film 23. Therefore, what is located below the printed film 23 is not visually recognized from the design surface side. Therefore, the resin used for forming the printing material 12 may be transparent or opaque.

  An ink jet printer is used to implement the decorative printing method of the present embodiment. The ink jet printing machine includes an ink jet head 31 having a plurality of (only one is shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B) operating in response to a command signal from a control device (not shown). . Each ejection unit 32 atomizes the ink into droplets and ejects the droplets toward the printing surface 21 of the printing material 12.

  Further, the ink jet printing machine includes a moving mechanism (not shown) of the ink jet head 31. This moving mechanism moves the inkjet head 31 in the short direction of the main body 13 (see FIGS. 3A and 3B) on a horizontal plane that is separated from the outer edge 21A of the printing surface 21 of the main body 13 by a predetermined distance. The ink-jet head 31 is moved in the longitudinal direction of the main body 13 (direction orthogonal to the paper surface of FIGS. 3A and 3B) while reciprocating in the left-right direction. By this moving mechanism, the position of the inkjet head 31 on the horizontal plane can be changed, so that a predetermined pattern such as a wood grain pattern, an inscription stone (marble, etc.) pattern, etc. is formed on the printing surface 21 of the fixed substrate 12. Can be formed.

Further, the ink jet printing machine is provided with a holding portion (not shown) that holds the printing material 12 so as not to move.
Here, the substrate 12 is arranged in the above-described form, that is, in a posture in which the main body part 13 is on the upper side and the mounting leg part 22 is on the lower side, and held by the holding part in a form in which the distance D1 is 2 mm to 15 mm. Assuming that And about the short side direction of the main-body part 13, let the distance in the site | part (outer edge 21A) with the longest distance from the inkjet head 31 to the to-be-printed surface 21 be the distance D2. In the present embodiment, the inkjet head 31 moves in the horizontal direction at a position where the distance D2 is in the range of 7 mm to 17 mm, that is, a horizontal plane that is separated from the outer edge 21A by the distance D2 (the short side of the main body 13). The vertical position of the inkjet head 31 is set so as to reciprocate in the direction and move in the longitudinal direction.

  If the ink jet printer is operated and ink is ejected from the ejecting section 32 of the ink jet head 31 toward the printing surface 21 of the printing material 12, the same phenomenon as in the above-described conventional technology occurs. This is because there is a large difference in the distance (distance D2 is long) between the shortest part (central portion 18) and the longest part (outer edge 21A) from the inkjet head 31 to the printing surface 21.

  In other words, the effect of the ink on the printing surface 21 becomes so large that the influence of the air resistance and the wind is not negligible, and the ink lands on a position greatly deviated from the target position of the printing surface 21, and the range in which the landing position varies exceeds the allowable range. And become wider. There is a possibility that the ink protrudes from the predetermined print area and lands, and the print area is cut off (a border between the non-print area and the adjacent print area).

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the above problem is addressed by devising a part of the decorative printing method.
Next, as an operation of the first embodiment, a decorative printing method for forming a decorative print film 23 on the printing surface 21 of the printing material 12 using the above-described inkjet printer will be described.

  In carrying out this decorative printing method, as shown in FIG. 3A, the thickness direction of the printing material 12 is matched with the vertical direction. In this state, using a jig (not shown), as shown in FIG. 3 (B), the distance A between the lower ends of the two mounting legs 22 increases in the direction in which the two mounting legs 22 extend. Apply external force. By this external force, the main body portion 13 is pushed up at the place where both the mounting leg portions 22 are provided. By this pushing up, the main body 13 is temporarily elastically deformed, and the printing surface 21 approaches a flat surface. The push-up is performed until the following condition is satisfied for the main body 13.

Condition 1: A distance D1 from a portion having the highest height (center portion 18) to a portion having the lowest height (outer edge 21A) in the short side direction on the printing surface 21 is 5 mm or less.
Condition 2: The distance D2 at the portion (outer edge 21A) having the longest distance from the inkjet head 31 to the printing surface 21 in the short direction of the main body 13 is less than 7 mm.

  When the printing surface 21 of the main body 13 approaches a flat surface as described above due to elastic deformation, the distance from the inkjet head 31 to the printing surface 21 is the shortest portion (central portion 18) and the longest portion. The difference from the distance at the (outer edge 21A) is smaller after the elastic deformation than before the elastic deformation. In other words, even before the elastic deformation, even the portion (outer edge 21A) having the longest distance from the inkjet head 31 to the printing surface 21 becomes short after the elastic deformation, The distance to the printing surface 21 approaches that distance at the shortest part.

  And the said to-be-printed material 12 and the jig | tool which applied external force to the direction where the space | interval A of both the attachment leg parts 22 spreads are hold | maintained immovably by the holding | maintenance part of an inkjet printing machine. Thereby, the main-body part 13 is hold | maintained in said state elastically deformed.

  Next, the moving mechanism causes the ink jet head 31 to reciprocate in the short side direction of the main body portion 13 and from the ejecting portion 32 of the ink jet head 31 while moving in a direction perpendicular to the main body portion 13 (longitudinal direction of the main body portion 13). Ink is ejected toward the printing surface 21.

  Therefore, before elastic deformation, even if the distance from the inkjet head 31 to the printing surface 21 is long (outer edge 21A) as described above, the elasticity is the same as the short distance (center 18). After the deformation, the distance and time until the ink lands on the printing surface 21 is short, and the influence of the ink from air resistance and wind is reduced. The ink lands near the target position of the printing surface 21, and the range in which the landing position varies on the printing surface 21 is narrowed.

  In addition, if the above-described condition 2 is not satisfied, that is, if the inkjet head 31 is separated from the printing surface 21 by 7 mm or more, the influence of the ejected ink from air resistance and wind becomes so large that it cannot be ignored. The range in which the landing positions vary on the printing surface 21 exceeds the allowable range. However, even if the main body 13 is elastically deformed so that the printing surface 21 has a flat shape, the ink lands on a location greatly deviated from the target position of the printing surface 21. That is, the ink is landed out of a predetermined printing area. As a result, the parting of the print area (the border between the non-print area and the adjacent print area) may become unclear.

When the ink that has landed on the printing surface 21 is cured, a printed film 23 having a desired thickness is formed on the printing surface 21.
After the formation of the printed film 23, the external force toward the direction in which the distance A is increased is not applied to both the mounting legs 22. Then, the main body 13 returns to the state shown in FIG. 3A described above by its own elastic restoring force. Accordingly, both mounting legs 22 also return to the state shown in FIG.

According to the first embodiment described in detail above, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) By applying an external force to the main body 13 of the substrate 12, the main body 13 is temporarily elastically deformed so that the printing surface 21 approaches a flat surface (FIG. 3B). In this state, ink is ejected from the inkjet head 31 toward the printing surface 21.

  Therefore, even before the elastic deformation, even if the distance D2 from the inkjet head 31 to the printing surface 21 is long (outer edge 21A), the distance until the ink lands on the printing surface 21 after the elastic deformation. The time can be shortened and the influence of ink on air resistance and wind can be reduced. Ink can be landed near the target position of the printing surface 21, and the range in which the landing position varies on the printing surface 21 can be narrowed.

  Therefore, in order to narrow the range in which the ink landing position varies on the printing surface 21 and form the print film 23 for decoration, the mechanism of the ink jet printer is complicated or complicated control is performed. You don't have to.

  (2) Focusing on the fact that the mounting leg 22 is originally provided on the back surface 17 of the main body 13 of the substrate 12, and applying an external force to the main body 13 through the mounting leg 22 makes the main body 13 elastic. By deforming, the printing surface 21 is brought close to a flat surface (FIG. 3B).

As described above, since the existing mounting leg portion 22 is used, the trouble of separately providing a place to apply the external force to the main body portion 13 on the substrate 12 is eliminated or reduced.
(3) With respect to the short direction of the main body 13, the printed surface 21 is a printed material 12 having a convex curved surface whose distance from the inkjet head 31 becomes shorter toward the central portion 18 side of the main body 13. . In the elastic deformation of the substrate 12, the direction in which the distance A between the two mounting legs 22 is widened with respect to the two mounting legs 22 located at positions facing each other in the short direction across the central portion 18 of the main body section 13. An external force is applied to the head (FIG. 3B).

  In this way, by simply applying an external force to the both mounting leg portions 22 in the direction in which the distance A between them increases, the connecting portion of the main body portion 13 with the both mounting leg portions 22 is pushed up. The main body 13 can be temporarily elastically deformed so that the printing surface 21 approaches a flat surface.

(4) The main body 13 is elastically deformed so that the distance from the inkjet head 31 to the printing surface 21 is less than 7 mm (FIG. 3B).
For this reason, the influence which the ink ejected from the inkjet head 31 receives from an air resistance or a wind can be made comparatively small, and the range in which a landing position varies on the to-be-printed surface 21 can be kept in an allowable range.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In 2nd Embodiment, the plate-shaped main-body part 13 in the to-be-printed material 12 is formed with transparent resin materials, such as a polycarbonate. In the main body 13, the surface 16 (upper surface in FIGS. 4 and 5) is a design surface. Further, most of the back surface 17 (the lower surface in FIG. 5) excluding both outer end portions 19 in the short direction of the main body portion 13 is a printed surface 21, and a printed film 23 is formed thereon. And when the to-be-printed object 12 is seen from the surface 16 (design surface) side, the printed film 23 formed in the to-be-printed surface 21 of the back surface 17 can be seen through the transparent main-body part 13. FIG.

  Unlike the first embodiment, the substrate 12 does not include the mounting leg 22 on the back surface 17 side of the main body 13. This is because if the mounting leg portion 22 is present, the mounting leg portion 22 is seen through the transparent main body portion 13 and the appearance is deteriorated.

  When printing on the printing surface 21 of the printing material 12 using an inkjet printer, the printing material 12 is arranged upside down from the first embodiment, that is, as shown in FIG. Is arranged on the upper side, and the substrate 12 is arranged so that the surface 16 (design surface) is on the lower side. At this time, when the ink jet head 31 of the ink jet printer is used as a reference, the printing surface 21 has a longer distance from the ink jet head 31 toward the central portion 18 side of the main body 13 in the short direction of the main body 13. It is constituted by a concave curved surface.

  In addition, with respect to the short direction of the printing material 12 taking the above-described posture, the distance from the lowest part (center part 18) to the highest part (outer edge 21A) in the printing surface 21. D1 (not shown) is a value in the range of 2 mm to 15 mm, as in the first embodiment.

  Here, the to-be-printed object 12 is arrange | positioned with the above-mentioned form, ie, the attitude | position with the back surface (printed surface 21) being an upper side, and the surface 16 (design surface) being a lower side, and the distance D1 is 2 mm to 15 mm. In the form, it is assumed that it is held by the holding part of the inkjet printer. And about the short side direction of the main-body part 13, let the distance in the site | part (central part 18) with the longest distance from the inkjet head 31 to the to-be-printed surface 21 be the distance D2. In the present embodiment, the inkjet head 31 moves in the horizontal direction at a position where the distance D2 has a value in the range of 7 mm to 17 mm, that is, a horizontal plane that is separated from the central portion 18 by the distance D2 (the short of the main body 13). The vertical position of the inkjet head 31 is set so as to reciprocate in the hand direction and move in the longitudinal direction.

  If the ink is ejected from the ejecting section 32 of the inkjet head 31 toward the printing surface 21 of the substrate 12, the shortest part (outer edge 21 </ b> A) and the longest part from the inkjet head 31 to the printing surface 21. Since the difference in the distance between the central portion 18 and the central portion 18 is large (the distance D2 is long), the same phenomenon as in the above-described conventional technology occurs.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the above-described problem is addressed by devising a part of the decorative printing method according to the first embodiment.
Next, as an effect of the second embodiment, a decorative printing method for forming a print film 23 for decoration on the printing surface 21 of the printing material 12 (main body portion 13) using the inkjet printing machine will be described. .

In carrying out this decorative printing method, as shown in FIG. 6, the substrate 12 is arranged so that the back surface 17 (printed surface 21) is on the upper side and the front surface 16 (design surface) is on the lower side.
The outer end portion 19 of the main body portion 13 that is opposed to the central portion 18 in the short direction of the main body portion 13 is supported so as not to move in the direction approaching the inkjet head 31. For this support, for example, a pair of holding jigs 33 shown in FIG. 6 is used. Each presser jig 33 includes a main body portion 34 arranged on the outer side of the outer end portion 19 in the short direction of the main body portion 13, and an inner side from the end portion (upper end portion) of the main body portion 34 on the inkjet head 31 side. And a claw portion 35 projecting toward the top. And the claw part 35 of each holding jig 33 is arrange | positioned at the inkjet head 31 side (upper side) of the outer end part 19 about the transversal direction of the main-body part 13. The to-be-printed object 12 (main body part 13) is received from the inkjet head 31 side (upper side) by the claw part 35 of the both holding jigs 33.

  In this state, as shown in FIG. 7, an external force is applied in a direction approaching the inkjet head 31 with respect to the central portion 18 in the short direction of the main body portion 13 or its peripheral portion. By this external force, the main body portion 13 is pushed up at the central portion 18 in the short-side direction or its peripheral portion, and is temporarily elastically deformed. Along with this, the printing surface 21 approaches a flat surface. The push-up is performed on the main body 13 until the following conditions 1A and 2A corresponding to the conditions 1 and 2 are satisfied.

  Condition 1A: A distance D1 (not shown) from a portion having the lowest height (center portion 18) to a portion having the highest height (outer edge 21A) in the short side direction on the printing surface 21 is 5 mm or less. .

Condition 2A: In the short direction of the main body 13, the distance D <b> 2 at the portion (central portion 18) where the distance from the inkjet head 31 to the printing surface 21 is the longest is less than 7 mm.
When the printing surface 21 of the main body 13 approaches a plane as described above due to elastic deformation, the distance from the inkjet head 31 to the printing surface 21 at the shortest portion (outer edge 21A) and the longest portion ( The difference from the distance D2 at the central part 18) is smaller after elastic deformation than before elastic deformation. Therefore, even before the elastic deformation, even the portion (central portion 18) having the longest distance from the ink jet head 31 to the printing surface 21 becomes short after the elastic deformation, and the ink jet head 31 prints. The distance to the surface 21 approaches that distance at the shortest part.

  And the said to-be-printed material 12, the said both holding jigs 33 grade | etc., Are hold | maintained immovably by the holding | maintenance part of an inkjet printing machine. By this holding, the main body 13 is held in the above-described state that is elastically deformed.

  Next, the moving mechanism causes the ink jet head 31 to reciprocate in the short side direction of the main body portion 13 and from the ejecting portion 32 of the ink jet head 31 while moving in a direction perpendicular to the main body portion 13 (longitudinal direction of the main body portion 13). Ink is ejected toward the printing surface 21.

  Therefore, before elastic deformation, even if the distance from the inkjet head 31 to the printing surface 21 is long as described above, the ink is printed on the printing surface after elastic deformation, as in the case where the distance is short. The distance and time until landing on 21 is short, and the influence of ink on air resistance and wind is reduced. The ink lands near the target position of the printing surface 21, and the range in which the landing position varies on the printing surface 21 is narrowed.

When the ink that has landed on the printing surface 21 is cured, a printed film 23 having a desired thickness is formed on the printing surface 21.
Therefore, according to the second embodiment, in addition to the same effects as the above (1) and (4), the following effects can be obtained.

  (5) In the short direction of the main body portion 13, the printing surface 21 is a substrate 12 having a concave curved surface whose distance from the inkjet head 31 becomes longer toward the central portion 18 side of the main body portion 13. When the printing material 12 is elastically deformed, a portion of the outer end portion 19 of the main body portion 13 that is opposed to the central portion 18 is supported so as not to move in a direction approaching the ink jet head 31. An external force is applied to the central portion 18 of 13 or its peripheral portion in a direction approaching the inkjet head 31 (FIG. 7).

  As described above, the main body portion 13 can be moved to the central portion or its peripheral portion only by performing the simple operation of supporting the outer end portion 19 of the main body portion 13 and applying an external force to the central portion 18 of the main body portion 13 or its peripheral portion. , The main body 13 can be temporarily elastically deformed so that the printing surface 21 approaches a flat surface.

  (6) The to-be-printed object 12 (main body part 13) is formed with transparent resin, the surface 16 is made into the design surface, and the back surface 17 is made into the to-be-printed surface 21. FIG. Therefore, when the printed material 12 is viewed from the front surface 16 side (design surface side), the printed film 23 formed on the printed surface 21 on the back surface side can be viewed in three dimensions through the printed material 12. .

Note that the present invention can be embodied in another embodiment described below.
<Matters relating to the first embodiment>
As a modification example of the first embodiment, a method of elastically deforming the main body 13 toward the side where the printing surface 21 approaches a flat surface may be changed.

  FIG. 8 shows an example. In FIG. 8, in the main body 13, the two mounting legs 22 provided at locations facing each other across the central portion 18 in the short direction are directed away from the inkjet head 31 (downward in FIG. 8). It is supported immovably. This support is made, for example, by pressing the mounting leg portion 22 using a jig 36 or the like. In this state, an external force is applied in a direction away from the inkjet head 31 to the central portion 18 in the short direction of the main body portion 13 or its peripheral portion. For example, when the protrusion 24 is provided on the rear surface 17 (the lower surface in FIG. 8) of the main body portion 13 at the central portion 18 in the short direction or the peripheral portion thereof, the protrusion 24 is the ink jet head 31. It may be pulled away from the direction.

  When the external force is applied in this way, the main body 13 is pulled away from the inkjet head 31 at the central portion 18 or its peripheral portion, and the main body 13 is temporarily elastically deformed so that the printing surface 21 approaches a flat surface. Be made.

Therefore, even if it is a case where it changes in this way, the effect similar to the said 1st Embodiment is acquired.
In the decorative printing method according to the first embodiment, the surface 16 of the main body 13 has the highest height at the central portion 18 of the main body 13 at the time of implementation, and the short direction and the longitudinal direction from the central portion 18. It can be applied to the printing substrate 12 having a convex curved surface that gently swells upward so that the height gradually decreases as it moves away from at least one of the above.

<Matters related to the second embodiment>
-In 2nd Embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the nail | claw part 35 in the pressing jig 33 protrudes not a little from the back surface 17 (printed surface 21) of the to-be-printed object 12 (main body part 13) to the inkjet head 31 side. . Depending on the amount of protrusion, the claw portion 35 may interfere with the inkjet head 31 moving in the horizontal direction. In order to avoid this interference, it is necessary to move the inkjet head 31 at a location away from the printing surface 21 by the thickness T of the claw portion 35. This can be a cause of a decrease in print quality.

  Therefore, when the protrusion amount of the claw portion 35 is an amount that may cause interference with the ink jet head 31, as shown in FIG. 9, at the outer end portion 19 of the substrate 12 (main body portion 13). In this case, a stepped portion 27 having a support surface 26 may be provided at a corner portion 25 on the back surface 17 side at a position biased toward the front surface 16 side with respect to the back surface 17.

  When the outer end 19 of the main body 13 is supported so as not to move in the direction approaching the ink jet head 31, the claw 35 of the pressing jig 33 is moved so that the printed material 12 (main body Part 13) at the step part 27 at the outer end 19. The printed material 12 (main body portion 13) is received from the back surface 17 side (inkjet head 31 side) by the claw portion 35 on the support surface 26.

  As described above, since the nail portion 35 that receives the main body portion 13 is disposed on the step portion 27, compared to the case where there is no such step portion 27, the printing surface of the printing material 12 (main body portion 13) at the nail portion 35. The portion protruding toward the ink jet head 31 side is smaller than 21. For this reason, interference between the claw portion 35 and the inkjet head 31 is suppressed, and the claw portion 35 is unlikely to hinder the operation of the inkjet head 31.

-In 2nd Embodiment, as a transparent resin which forms the to-be-printed object 12, types of resin different from the said 2nd Embodiment, such as an acrylic resin, may be used.
-As the to-be-printed material 12 applicable in 2nd Embodiment, vehicle decoration members, such as a vehicle ornament, an emblem, a front grill garnish, are mentioned other than what was mentioned above, for example.

  In the second embodiment, when the printing material 12 (main body portion 13) is elastically deformed, the center portion of the main body portion 13 or its peripheral portion is supported so as not to move away from the ink jet head 31, and the both pressing jigs 33 are supported. May be pulled away from the inkjet head 31.

  -The decorative printing method in 2nd Embodiment has the back surface 17 of the main-body part 13 the lowest in the center part 18 of the same main-body part 13, and the transversal direction and a longitudinal direction from the center part 18 at the time of the implementation. It can be applied to the printing material 12 having a concave curved surface that is gradually recessed downward so that the height gradually increases as it moves away from at least one of the above.

<Matters relating to first and second embodiments>
The outer end portion 19 of the main body portion 13 may be the printing surface 21 as well as other portions.
-In general, the interior parts for vehicles are provided with ribs for the purpose of increasing rigidity. By weakening the function of increasing the rigidity by the ribs, it is possible to make the printed material 12 easily elastically deformed. For example, the substrate 12 can be easily elastically deformed by forming notches in the ribs or limiting the height and size of the ribs.

-As the to-be-printed object 12, what was formed with materials different from resin, for example, wood, a metal, ceramics, etc. may be used.
A surface protective layer (top coat) may be further formed on the printed film 23 for the purpose of improving the abrasion resistance, weather resistance (including solvent resistance, chemical resistance, etc.) of the printed film 23.

  -The decorative printing method of this invention may be applied to the product different from the vehicle interior goods.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Printed material, 13 ... Main-body part, 18 ... Center part, 19 ... Outer edge part, 21 ... Printed surface, 22 ... Mounting leg part, 23 ... Printed film, 25 ... Corner | angular part, 26 ... Support surface, 27 ... Stepped portion, 31 ... Inkjet head, 33 ... Holding jig, 35 ... Claw portion, A ... Distance, D1, D2 ... Distance.

Claims (7)

From the inkjet head of the inkjet printing machine, a printing object including at least a plate-like main body curved in a curved surface is to be printed, and at least a part of one surface in the thickness direction of the main body is the printing surface. A decorative printing method in which ink is ejected toward the printing surface to form a decorative print film on the printing surface,
The ink-jetting is performed in a state where the main body is temporarily elastically deformed toward the side where the printing surface approaches a flat surface by applying an external force to the main body. . The substrate is further provided with an attachment leg for attaching the main body to the adherend on the other surface side in the thickness direction of the main body,
The decorative printing method according to claim 1, wherein the elastic deformation of the main body is performed by applying an external force to the main body through the mounting leg. The printing surface is a convex curved surface whose distance from the inkjet head is shorter toward the center of the main body,
A plurality of the mounting legs are provided, and two of them are projected to the side away from the ink jet head at locations facing each other across the central portion of the main body,
The decorative printing method according to claim 2, wherein the elastic deformation of the main body portion is performed by applying an external force to the two mounting leg portions in a direction in which a distance between them is increased. The printing surface is a convex curved surface whose distance from the inkjet head is shorter toward the center of the main body,
A plurality of the mounting legs are provided, and two of them are protruded to the side away from the inkjet head at a location facing the central portion of the main body,
The elastic deformation of the main body is supported so that the two mounting legs are immovable in a direction away from the ink jet head, and in this state, the ink jet The decorative printing method according to claim 2, which is performed by applying an external force in a direction away from the head. The printing surface is a concave curved surface whose distance from the inkjet head is longer toward the center of the main body.
The elastic deformation of the main body is supported at the outer end of the main body so that the portion facing the central portion is immovable in a direction approaching the inkjet head. The decorative printing method according to claim 1, wherein an external force is applied to a central portion or a peripheral portion thereof in a direction approaching the inkjet head. In the outer end portion of the main body portion, a step portion having a support surface is provided at a corner portion on the one surface side that is biased to the other surface side from the same surface,
6. The support of the outer end portion of the main body portion is made by placing a claw portion of a holding jig on the stepped portion and receiving the main body portion from the one surface side on the support surface. The decorative printing method described. The decorative printing method according to claim 1, wherein the elastic deformation of the main body is performed such that a distance from the inkjet head to the printing surface is less than 7 mm.

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