JPH03264178A - Mask for laser marker - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow simultaneous printing of fixed characters and variable characters on a printing object with high quality by segmenting a single substrate to a fixed printing part forming area and a variable printing part forming area. CONSTITUTION:A laser beam 8 with which the mask 4 is irradiated transmits only the laser beam penetrating hole 12 in a rotating printing part 10. The transmitted beam is condensed to the printing object 7 via an imaging lens 6. The laser beam 8 with which the variable printing part 11 is irradiated transmits only the part impressed with the voltage of dot matrix electrodes where the voltage is impressed to a dot matrix system liquid crystal 13. This beam passes a beam splitter 5 and is condensed via the imaging lens 6 to the printing object 7, by which the printing on the object is executed. The simultaneous printing of the fixed characters and graphics formed by the laser beam penetrating hole 12 and the variable characters formed by the dot matrix system liquid crystal 13 in the variable printing part 11 on the printing object 7 is executed in this way.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a mask for a laser marker, in which fixed characters and figures such as a company name and a mark can be printed on an object using a single mask.
The present invention relates to a laser marker mask suitable for printing variable characters such as advertisements and explanatory texts at the same time.

[Prior Art] As prior art related to this type of laser marker mask, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 174671/1983 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 174671/1983
There is a technique described in Japanese Patent No. 111790.

The technique described in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-174671 is as follows:
As shown in FIG. 9, a mask 40 having a laser beam through hole 41 in the shape of a printed character is installed, and this mask 4ohe
A laser beam 8 is irradiated toward the mask 40, and the light that passes through a laser beam through hole 41 provided in a mask 40 is imaged onto a printing target 7 such as an IC by an imaging lens 6, and printing is performed. .

On the other hand, in the technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-111790, a plurality of sets of laser marking devices are installed on the straight optical path of a linearly polarized laser beam, and each laser marking device is connected to a liquid crystal light valve and a polarizing element. , a mask disposed on the optical path of the laser beam polarized by the polarizing element, and an imaging lens. Then, the liquid crystal light valve of each laser marking device is irradiated with a linearly polarized laser beam, and an electric field of several volts is applied to the transparent conductive electrode of the liquid crystal light valve, and depending on the presence or absence of this electric field, the laser beam is Switching to polarized light or P-polarized light, the S-polarized light is guided to one of the two optical paths by a polarizing element, the P-polarized light is guided to the other optical path, and the laser beam guided to the other optical path is sent to a set of laser marking devices. The laser beam that is irradiated onto the mask and transmitted through the mask is focused on the object to be printed by an imaging lens and printed. In addition, the laser beam guided to one optical path is emitted to another set of laser marking devices, guided to two optical paths by the polarizing element of this set of laser marking devices, and focused on the printing target in the same way as described above. It is designed to illuminate and print.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, when we consider the actual marking content, in addition to the parts where the printed content changes depending on the printing target, there are also places where the company name,
It was found that there are places where fixed characters and complex fixed figures are printed, such as company marks and marks including trademarks. In other words,
There are many cases where it is desired to simultaneously print fixed characters or figures such as a company name or mark, and variable characters such as advertising text or explanatory text on a printing target.

On the other hand, in the technology described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 60-174671, each time the printed content is changed,
It is necessary to replace the mask with a mask provided with a laser beam through hole according to the printed content, and there is a problem that it cannot handle printing in which the printed content changes every time.

Furthermore, although the technology described in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-111790 can easily accommodate changes in printed content,
There are the following problems.

In other words, in order to display all printed content, including fixed characters such as company names and marks, and complex figures, on the liquid crystal mask and mark them with high quality, the liquid crystal must be made highly accurate, that is, the dot pitch must be made small. The number of dots must be increased, which results in an increase in the size of the liquid crystal mask, and it is necessary to irradiate the entire surface of the enlarged liquid crystal display with laser light.

As a result, not only the liquid crystal mask becomes expensive, but also the beam expander for irradiating the entire surface of the liquid crystal display with laser light becomes expensive, resulting in an increase in equipment costs.

The purpose of the present invention is to be able to simultaneously print fixed characters such as company names and marks, complex figures, and variable characters such as advertising texts and explanatory texts on a printing target with high quality, while reducing equipment costs. An object of the present invention is to provide a mask for a laser marker that can be suppressed.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The object is to divide a single substrate into a fixed part character forming area and a variable printing part forming area, and to divide the fixed part forming area into a variable printing part forming area. It is distantly related by providing a laser beam through-hole in which a fixed character or figure is formed in the area, and providing a liquid crystal for forming variable characters in the variable printing area.

Further, the object is to divide the first glass substrate into a fixed part forming area and a variable printing part forming area, and the fixed part forming area has fixed characters and figures. A laser light reflecting film having a laser light through-hole formed therein is provided, a transparent electrode is provided in the variable print part formation area, and a transparent electrode is provided at a position facing the variable print part formation area of the first glass substrate. Also, by arranging a second glass substrate provided with , and inserting an alignment film and a liquid crystal between the variable print portion forming area of the first glass substrate and the second glass substrate,
achieved.

Further, the object is to replaceably attach the fixed printing part to the mounting frame.

Also, by fixing the variable printing section to the same mounting frame, providing the fixed printing section with a laser beam through hole in which fixed characters or figures are formed, and providing the variable printing section with a liquid crystal that forms variable characters, achieved.

The purpose is to divide a single substrate into a fixed part forming area and a variable printing part forming area, and to provide a segment type liquid crystal in the fixed part forming area. This can also be achieved by providing a matrix type liquid crystal in the variable print portion forming area.

[Function] In the invention as set forth in claim 1, fixed characters and figures such as a company name and a mark are formed in the fixed part forming area defined on the substrate using a laser beam through hole. On the other hand, a liquid crystal is provided in a variable print area formed on the same substrate, and variable characters such as advertisements and explanations are formed using the liquid crystal.

Therefore, by irradiating a laser beam through the laser beam through hole provided in the fixed part forming area, the laser beam transmitted through the laser beam through hole can be used to enhance fixed characters or complex figures on the printing target. Can be printed with high quality. In addition, arbitrary characters can be formed using the liquid crystal provided in the variable printing area, irradiated with laser light, and the laser light that has passed through this is condensed onto the object to be printed. Any variable characters can be printed with high quality.

Then, the fixed characters or figures and the variable characters can be simultaneously printed on the printing object.

Furthermore, a single substrate is divided into a fixed part character formation area and a variable print part formation area, and a laser beam through hole with fixed characters and figures formed is provided in the fixed part character formation area to form a variable print part. Since a liquid crystal is provided in the area, the entire mask can be made compact, and the area of the liquid crystal display can be kept small, so equipment such as a beam expander can be small.

Further, in the invention as set forth in claim 2, the first glass substrate is divided into a fixed print portion formation area and a variable print portion formation area.

A laser beam reflecting film having a laser beam through hole in which a fixed character or figure is formed is provided in the fixed part forming area.

A transparent electrode, a liquid crystal, an alignment film, and a second glass substrate having a transparent electrode are provided in the variable print portion formation area, and these members constitute the variable print portion.

Therefore, the invention according to claim 2 also applies to claim 1.
Works similarly to the described invention.

Furthermore, in the invention as set forth in claim 3, a fixed printing section and a variable printing section are attached to a single mounting frame, the fixed printing section being attached so as to be replaceable, and the variable printing section being fixed. Further, the fixed printing section is provided with a laser beam through hole in which fixed characters or figures are formed, and the variable printing section is provided with a liquid crystal that forms variable characters.

Therefore, by preparing a plurality of fixed printing parts each having different fixed characters or figures, and using the fixed printing parts interchangeably, it becomes possible to print various fixed characters or figures.

Other functions of the invention according to claim 3 are similar to those of the invention according to claim 1.

Furthermore, in the invention as set forth in claim 4, the single substrate is divided into a fixed part forming area and a variable printing part forming area.

A segment type liquid crystal is provided in the fixed print part formation area, and a matrix type liquid crystal is provided in the variable print part formation area.

Therefore, due to the segmented liquid crystal.

Fixed characters and figures such as company names and marks can be formed in a variety of ways, and variable characters such as advertisements and explanatory texts can be formed using matrix type liquid crystals. It is possible to simultaneously print characters and characters on a printing target.

Also, in the invention according to claim 4, a segment type liquid crystal in which fixed characters and figures are formed on a single substrate;
Equipped with a matrix-type liquid crystal display that forms variable characters, the entire mask can be made compact.
In addition, since the area of the liquid crystal display section can be reduced compared to the conventional technology, it is possible to downsize equipment such as beam expanders.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described using FIGS. 1 to 6.

Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the laser marker mask of the present invention, and is a perspective view of the mask in use, and Fig. 2 is a system diagram showing the entire laser marker.

The laser marker is a laser oscillator 1 as shown in FIG.
A more linearly polarized laser beam 8 is emitted. Laser light 8 emitted from the laser oscillator 1 is expanded by lenses 2 and 3 constituting a beam expander, and is irradiated onto a mask 4.

The laser beam 8 that has passed through the mask 4 is focused onto the printing object 7 via the beam splitter 5 and the imaging lens 6.
Printing is performed using this laser beam 8.

This embodiment of the mask 4 for the laser marker is as follows:
As shown in FIG. 1, a single substrate 9 is divided into a fixed print area and a variable print area.

A large number of laser beam through holes 12 are provided in the fixed printing portion forming area.
A fixed printing section 10 is provided. This fixed printing section 10 is capable of forming fixed characters and figures such as a company name and a mark through the laser beam through hole 12.

A variable printing section 11 using a dot matrix type liquid crystal 13 is provided in the variable printing section forming area.

This variable printing section 11 is designed to be able to print variable characters such as advertisements and explanations using the dot matrix type liquid crystal 13.

The laser beam 8 irradiated onto the mask 4 is transmitted through the fixed printing section 10 only through the laser beam through hole 12, and the transmitted light is focused on the printing object 7 via the imaging lens 6.

Further, the laser beam 8 irradiated on the variable printing section 11 is transmitted only by the dot matrix electrode pressure applied voltage applied to the dot matrix liquid crystal 13, and the light passes through the beam splitter 5 and passes through the imaging lens 6. Printing object 7 through
The light is focused on and printed.

Therefore, according to the mask 4 of this embodiment, the laser beam through hole 1 is provided in the fixed printing part 10 provided on the single substrate 9.
Fixed characters and figures formed by 2 and variable printing part 11
and variable characters formed by the dot matrix type liquid crystal 13 can be simultaneously printed on the printing object 7.

Next, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the laser marker mask of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the first glass substrate used in the mask of this embodiment.

The mask 14 of this embodiment has a first
The device includes a glass substrate 15 , a second glass substrate 19 , an alignment film 20 , and a liquid crystal 21 .

The first glass substrate 15 is divided into a fixed print part formation area and a variable print part formation area.

A laser light reflecting film 16 is provided in the fixed print area, and a transparent electrode 17 is provided in the variable print area.
is provided.

The laser light reflecting film 16 is provided by, for example, vapor-depositing aluminum on the first glass substrate 15, and the laser light reflecting film 16 is provided with fixed characters or figures such as a company name or a mark by, for example, etching. This laser light reflecting film 16 constitutes a fixed printed portion of fixed characters and figures.

The transparent electrode 17 is provided by depositing, for example, indium oxide on the first glass substrate 15, and is provided with an X electrode pattern or a Y electrode pattern by, for example, etching.

The second glass substrate 19 is similar to the first glass substrate 1.
It is arranged to face the variable printing part formation area in 5. This second glass substrate 19 is also provided with a transparent electrode (not shown), and the other of an X electrode pattern or a Y electrode pattern is formed on this transparent electrode by etching, for example.

The alignment film 20 and the liquid crystal 21 are arranged in the first. It is inserted between the second glass substrates 15 and 19, and the liquid crystal 21 is placed in the seal frame (
(not shown).

A transparent electrode 17 and an alignment film 20 are provided in a variable print portion forming area defined on the first glass substrate 15.

The liquid crystal 21 and the second glass substrate 19 having a transparent electrode constitute a variable printing section of a dot matrix type liquid crystal on which advertisements, explanations, etc. are printed.

In the mask 14 of the embodiment, the laser beam passes through the fixed characters or figures 18 formed by the laser beam reflection film 16 provided on the first glass substrate 15, and the laser beam transmitted through the fixed letters or figures 18 The light is focused on a printing object 7 shown in FIG. 2 via an imaging lens 6 shown in FIG.

In addition, a transparent electrode 17 provided on the first glass substrate 15
When a voltage is applied between the second glass substrate 19 and a transparent electrode (not shown) provided on the second glass substrate 19, the alignment structure of the liquid crystal 21 changes according to a pattern previously formed by the alignment film 20, and the laser beam passes through. Variable characters in dot matrix 2
2 is formed. As a result, the laser light that has passed through the variable characters 22 of the dot matrix is transmitted to the imaging lens 6.
The light is focused on the printing target 7.

Therefore, by using the mask 14 of this embodiment, the fixed characters or figures 18 formed on the first glass substrate 15 and the transparent electrodes 17 of the first glass substrate 15 and the transparent electrodes of the second glass substrate 19 can be Electrode, alignment film 20 and liquid crystal 2
1 and variable characters 22 formed by
can be printed simultaneously.

Next, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the laser marker mask of the present invention.

The mask 23 of this embodiment includes an attachment frame 24, fixed printing sections 25-1 and 25-2, and a variable printing section 26.

In the fixed printing parts 25-1 and 25-2, fixed characters and figures different from each other are formed on the substrates by laser light through holes 27. This fixed printing part 25-1.25-2 is
It is attached to the attachment frame 24 in a replaceable manner. Note that this fixed printing section is prepared with several kinds of fixed characters or figures formed thereon as required.

The variable printing section 26 has a dot matrix liquid crystal display 28.
This allows variable characters to be formed arbitrarily. Further, this variable printing section 26 is fixed to the mounting frame 24.

In the mask 23 of this embodiment, for example, the fixed printing section 25-1 can be replaced with another fixed printing section 25-2, or even another fixed printing section. 7, various fixed characters and figures as well as variable characters can be printed.

The other features of the mask 23 of this embodiment are the same as those of the mask 4 shown in FIG. 1 above.

Next, FIGS. 6 to 8 show different embodiments of the laser marker mask of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the entire mask, and FIG. 7 shows a segment type electrode constituting the fixed printing part. The figure shown in FIG. 8 is a diagram showing dot matrix type electrodes constituting the variable printing section.

In the mask 29 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, a single glass substrate 30 is divided into a fixed print area and a variable print area.

A fixed print section 31 formed by a segment type liquid crystal 33 is provided in the fixed print section forming area. The segment type liquid crystal 33 has segment electrodes 35 shown in FIG.

A variable printing section 32 using a dot matrix type liquid crystal 34 is provided in the variable printing section forming area.

The dot matrix type liquid crystal 34 is formed by combining an X electrode 36 and a Y electrode 37, as shown in FIG.

In the mask 29 of this embodiment, the segment type liquid crystal 33
By this, fixed characters and figures of various shapes can be formed.

On the other hand, the dot matrix type liquid crystal 34 allows various variable characters to be formed.

Then, fixed characters and figures formed by the segment type liquid crystal 33 and variable characters formed by the dot matrix type liquid crystal 34 are simultaneously printed on the printing object 7 using the laser beam 8 shown in FIG. I can do it.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the invention described in claim 1 described above, a single substrate is divided into a fixed print part formation area and a variable print part formation area, and the fixed print part formation area has fixed characters and A laser beam through hole in which a figure is formed is provided, a liquid crystal for forming variable characters is provided in the variable printing area, and the laser beam transmitted through the laser beam through hole provided in the fixed printing area of the substrate is provided. Fixed characters and complex figures can be printed with high quality on the printing target using light.The liquid crystal provided in the variable printing section on the same board forms arbitrary characters, and the laser light that passes through this forms the desired characters on the printing target. It is possible to print arbitrary variable characters with high quality, and there is an effect that these fixed characters and figures and variable characters can be printed at the same time. Moreover, a single substrate is divided into a fixed printing part layer formation area and a variable printing part formation area, and the fixed printing part formation area is provided with a laser beam through hole in which fixed characters and figures are formed. Since the area is equipped with a liquid crystal, the entire mask can be made compact, and the area of the liquid crystal display can be kept small, allowing equipment such as beam expanders to be made smaller, thus reducing equipment costs. Further, according to the invention as claimed in claim 2, the first glass substrate is divided into a fixed printing part layered area and a variable printed part layered area, and the fixed printing part layered area is A laser light reflecting film having a laser light through-hole with fixed characters or figures formed therein is provided, a transparent electrode is provided in the variable print area, and a transparent electrode is provided in the variable print area of the first glass substrate. A second glass substrate provided with a transparent electrode is disposed at an opposing position, and an alignment film and a liquid crystal are mounted between the variable printing portion layered area of the first glass substrate and the second glass substrate. Because it's in.

This invention also has the advantage of being able to print fixed characters and figures and variable characters simultaneously on a printing object with high quality, and also to keep equipment costs low.

Furthermore, according to the third aspect of the invention, a fixed printing section is replaceably attached to the mounting frame, a variable printing section is fixed to the mounting frame, and the fixed printing section is provided with a laser beam on which fixed characters or figures are formed. Since a through hole is provided and the variable printing section is provided with a liquid crystal that forms variable characters, a plurality of fixed printing sections each having different fixed characters or figures are prepared, and the fixed printing sections are used by replacing them. This not only makes it possible to print a variety of fixed characters and figures, but it also enables printing of these fixed characters and figures and variable characters simultaneously on a printing target with high quality, and it also has the effect of keeping equipment costs low. be.

According to the invention as set forth in claim 4, the single substrate is divided into a fixed printing section layered area and a variable printing section forming area, and a segment type liquid crystal is provided in the fixed printing section layered area. Since a matrix type liquid crystal is provided in the layered region of the variable printing section, fixed characters and figures such as company names and marks can be formed in a variety of ways using the segment type liquid crystal.
The matrix type liquid crystal allows variable characters such as advertisements and explanatory texts to be formed, as well as fixed characters, figures, and variable characters to be printed simultaneously on the printing target with high quality, while reducing equipment costs. It has a suppressive effect.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the mask for a laser marker of the present invention, and is a perspective view of the mask in use, Fig. 2 is a system diagram showing the entire laser marker, and Fig. 3 shows another embodiment of the mask for a laser marker of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the first glass substrate used in the mask of this embodiment, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the mask for a laser marker of the present invention, and FIGS. Different embodiments of the mask for laser markers are shown. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the entire mask, Fig. 7 is a diagram showing segment type electrodes forming a fixed printing part, and Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a variable printing part. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional technique. 1... Laser oscillator, 2, 3... Lens, 4...
Mask, 5... Beam splitter, 6... Imaging lens, 7... Printing target, 8... Laser light, 9...
Substrate, 10... fixed printing section, 11... variable printing section,
12... Laser light through hole. 13...Dot matrix type liquid crystal, 14 mountain mask,
15... First glass substrate, 16... Laser light reflecting film, 17... Transparent electrode, 1g... Fixed characters or figures, 19... Second glass substrate, 20... Orientation membrane, 2
1...Liquid crystal, 22...Dot matrix variable characters, 23...Mask, 24...Mounting frame, 25-1
, 25-2... Fixed printing part, 26... Variable printing part, 27... Laser light through hole, 28... Dot matrix liquid crystal, 29... Mask, 30... Glass substrate, 31...Fixed printing section, 32...Variable printing section,
33... Segment type liquid crystal, 34... Dot matrix type liquid crystal, 35... Segment electrode, 36... X electrode of dot matrix type electrode, 37.
...Same Y electrode.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A single substrate is divided into a fixed print area and a variable print area, and the fixed print area is provided with a laser beam through-hole in which fixed characters or figures are formed. . A mask for a laser marker, characterized in that a liquid crystal for forming variable characters is provided in the variable printing area. 2. The first glass substrate is divided into a fixed printed part forming area and a variable printed part forming area, and the fixed printed part forming area is provided with a laser light reflecting film having a laser beam through hole in which fixed characters or figures are formed. a transparent electrode is provided in the variable print part formation area, and a second glass substrate provided with a transparent electrode is arranged at a position facing the variable print part formation area of the first glass substrate, 1. A mask for a laser marker, characterized in that an alignment film and a liquid crystal are inserted between a variable print portion forming area of a first glass substrate and a second glass substrate. 3. A fixed printing part is replaceably attached to the mounting frame, a variable printing part is fixed to the same mounting frame, a laser beam through-hole in which fixed characters or figures are formed is provided in the fixed printing part, and a laser beam through-hole is formed in the variable printing part. is a laser marker mask characterized by being equipped with a liquid crystal that forms variable characters. 4. A single substrate is divided into a fixed printing part forming area and a variable printing part forming area, and a segment type liquid crystal is provided in the fixed printing part forming area, and a matrix type liquid crystal is provided in the variable printing part forming area. A laser marker mask characterized by: