JPH034526Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a laser printing device that prints lot numbers and the like by projecting a laser beam onto objects stored in liquid, such as soft contact lenses.

Soft contact lenses must be kept submerged in water at all times for preservation purposes. However, in order to print on this soft contact lens using a laser beam, it is first necessary to take the contact lens out of the water and remove the moisture. This is because the laser beam used for this printing is absorbed by water, so it is impossible to print the desired mark on an object with water attached to its surface. However, the work of wiping off moisture as described above is complicated,
This is hindering the productivity improvement of soft contact lenses.

In view of the above points, the present invention provides a laser printing device that can print on an object placed in a liquid without removing it from the liquid. That is, the laser printing device according to the present invention includes: a light source that generates a laser beam provided with a printing pattern; a printing object holding means that stores a liquid and supports a printing object immersed in the liquid; It is provided so that it can come into contact with and separate from the printing object immersed in the liquid, and when it comes into contact with the printing object, it comes into close contact with the printing object and removes the liquid from the contact area, and the liquid is removed through the contact area. The present invention is characterized in that it includes a film-like liquid draining member that projects the laser beam directly onto the object to be printed.

The present invention will be explained below with reference to illustrated embodiments. 1st
The figure shows a first embodiment of the present invention, in which soft contact lenses 1 are placed one by one into a box-shaped holder 2. A convex support member 3 is provided in the holder 2 to support the contact lens 1 from below, and this support member 3 has one end fixed to the upper part of the holder 2 and the other end fixed to the bottom of the holder 2. It is sloping. Therefore, the soft contact lens 1 is stored in an inclined state along the support member 3, and its edge 1a is located slightly above the upper edge 2a of the holder 2. Holder 2
In order to maintain the performance of the soft contact lens 1, water W is stored inside the soft contact lens 1. However, if the film 4 described later is not covered, the water surface rises due to surface tension and completely covers the edge 1a of the contact lens 1. It is designed to cover the area.

In the printing process, the upper surface of the holder 2 is covered with a film 4 that transmits the laser beam L, and this film 4 is pressed onto the surface of the edge 1a of the contact lens 1. As a result, this edge 1
The moisture on a is removed to the side by the film 4,
In this state, when a laser beam L provided with a predetermined printing pattern is projected onto this edge 1a, the laser beam L passes through the film 4 and printing on the contact lens 1 is performed.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, that is, a printing device in which a soft contact lens 1 is housed in a relatively large holder 5. A film 8 is provided on the bottom of a frame 7 which is movably attached to a fixed support 6, as in the first embodiment. Therefore, in the printing process,
The frame body 7 is lowered, the film 8 is brought into close contact with the contact lens 1, and the laser beam L is projected as in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, in which a supporting member 10 for a contact lens 1 is provided at the bottom of a holder 9 so as to be movable up and down, and a lid having an opening 11 is provided above the holder 9. A member 12 is attached, and the opening 11 is further covered with a film 13 that transmits the laser beam L. In this configuration, printing by the laser beam L is performed by raising the support member 10 and bringing the contact lens 1 into close contact with the lower surface of the film 13.

The films 4, 8, and 13 may be made of synthetic resin such as polyethylene, but any film may be used as long as it allows the laser beam L to pass therethrough.

As described above, according to the present invention, printing can be performed while the object to be printed is placed in the liquid, so the printing process for objects stored in the liquid can be simplified and productivity can be improved. This effect can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the second embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the third embodiment. 1: Printed object (soft contact lens),
4, 8, 13: liquid drainage member (film), L: laser beam, W: liquid (water).

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] (1) A light source that generates a laser beam provided with a printing pattern; a printing object holding means that stores a liquid and supports a printing object immersed in the liquid; It is provided so that it can come into contact with and separate from the printing object immersed in the liquid, and when it comes into contact with the printing object, it comes into close contact with the printing object and removes the liquid from the contact area, and the liquid is removed through the contact area. 1. A laser printing device comprising: a film-like liquid draining member that projects a laser beam directly onto an object to be printed. (2) The laser printing device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid drainage member is a film made of synthetic resin.