JPH06115230A - Ink ribbon - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To ensure the durability capable of corresponding to the high speed of printers by setting the sulfuric relative viscosity of polyamide multi-filament yarn forming the longitudinal direction of an ink ribbon, a predetermined middle extension, and breakage energy within a specific numerical range respectively. CONSTITUTION:Ink ribbon is used for, e.g. printers of a computer and generally formed of polyamide multi-filament yarn fabric impregnated with ink. in this instance, the middle extension of loads in the sulfuric relative viscosity of polyamide multi-filament yarn forming the longitudinal direction of ink ribbon and breakage energy E is set respectively within the following range. Namely, it is represented as 2.8<=etar<=3.2, 10<=ME<=25(%), and 18<=E<=40(g.cm/d). In this way, the properties of weaving yarn in the longitudinal direction of ink ribbon is optimized, and thereby ink ribbon with excellent durability is obtained which can cope with the high speed and high impact of the printer.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink ribbon using polyamide multifilament yarn. More specifically, the present invention relates to an ink ribbon that has excellent durability against print embossing such as printer type characters or dot pins.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the widespread use of computers in various fields in recent years, printing systems for terminal devices have made dramatic progress. Usually, the printing system refers to type printers, dot printers, typewriters, and other office equipment.Ink ribbons are indispensable for the printing section of these printing systems. The one impregnated with ink is used.

The characteristics required of the ink ribbon are:
Damage to the base cloth due to printing is small, dimensional change of the base cloth,
There are few meanders, clear printing, and no stain on the printing paper. In particular, regarding damage to the base fabric due to printing, the material becomes fatigued and worn due to repeated printing and marking on the printer or dot pins, etc. There is a strong demand for an ink ribbon that has even better printing durability on the base cloth due to speeding up printing with increasing volume, sharpening of print characters and dot pins for clear printing, and high impact. .

As a method for satisfying this requirement, there have been conventionally known Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 57-45087 and 60-16.
Nos. 1184 and 62-92881 disclose improvements in the characteristics of the raw yarn used for the ink ribbon, and these characteristic values are defined and disclosed. However, what actually affects the printing durability of the ink ribbon is not the characteristics of the raw yarn, but rather the characteristics of the woven yarn after undergoing each process such as weaving and processing.

Therefore, the ink ribbon which is based on the conventional technique focusing only on the yarn characteristics is not sufficient to cope with the further high speed and high impact of recent printers, and satisfies the above requirements. The present situation is that such an ink ribbon has not been found yet.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an ink ribbon which is excellent in durability against print embossing such as printing characters or dot pins on a printer.

[0007]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In order to improve the printing durability of the ink ribbon, the present inventors have examined in detail the relationship between the characteristics of the raw yarn used for the ink ribbon and the printing durability of the ink ribbon. As a result, the characteristics of the raw yarn are significantly changed by undergoing various steps such as preparation, weaving, and processing until it becomes an ink ribbon, and even if the ink ribbon uses the same raw yarn, It was found that the process becomes completely different depending on the performance of each process and the conditions.

Based on the above matters, as a result of searching for a more universal printing durability improving method, the present inventors have found that in order to improve the printing durability of the ink ribbon, preparation, weaving, processing, etc. It has been found that it is necessary to optimize the characteristics of the weaving yarns that make up the ink ribbon itself, especially the weaving yarns in the length direction, after the process. In particular, it was found that the maximum effect can be obtained by optimizing the processing conditions so as to obtain an ink ribbon that satisfies the constitution of the present invention as described below, and completed the present invention.

That is, according to the present invention, the relative viscosity of sulfuric acid ηr of the polyamide multifilament yarn constituting the length direction of the ink ribbon, the intermediate elongation ME at a load of 2.5 g / d,
The breaking energy E is 2.8 ≦ ηr ≦ 3.2 10 ≦ ME ≦ 25 (%) 18 ≦ E ≦ 40 (g · cm / d), respectively.

The sulfuric acid relative viscosity ηr referred to here is 25
The polymer concentration in a 95.5% strength sulfuric acid solution at 1.degree.
It is the relative viscosity of a solution adjusted to be 0%. The breaking energy E is the maximum strength point D in the stress-strain curve (SS curve, FIG. 1) obtained by the constant-speed elongation test method specified in JIS-L1070.
Let S be the elongation at that time and DE be the energy required for the elongation from the start of elongation to the time of DE, and normally the range surrounded by the SS curve and the horizontal axis as shown by the diagonal lines in FIG. Corresponding to the area of.

The present invention is a wide ribbon for a type printer,
Narrow width endless ribbon with both ends joined in a Mobius shape,
Alternatively, the effect is exhibited in any ink ribbon such as a seamless ribbon obtained by cutting a tubular fabric. A multifilament yarn made of a polyamide polymer such as nylon 6 or nylon 66 is preferably used as the weaving yarn constituting the length direction of the ink ribbon of the present invention, and more preferably a nylon 66 multifilament yarn.

The sulfuric acid relative viscosity ηr of the polyamide polymer at this time must be 2.8 or more and 3.2 or less. If ηr is less than 2.8, the effect of improving the printing durability expected by the present invention is weak, and if ηr exceeds 3.2,
Since the degree of polymerization is high, the fibers become hard, it is difficult to increase the crimp rate of the base fabric, and problems arise in the dimensional stability of the ink ribbon and the ink retention.

The intermediate elongation M of the weaving yarn constituting the length direction of the ink ribbon of the present invention at a load of 2.5 g / d.
E needs to be 10% or more and 25% or less. When the ME is less than 10%, the ink ribbon has a high elongation elastic modulus, so-called hard and brittle, and is weak in printing and embossing. On the contrary, when the ME is more than 25%, the base fabric is soft. Since it becomes too much, it is easy to get worn out due to printing and embossing, which causes a problem in running property in the cartridge.

Further, the breaking energy E of the weaving yarn constituting the length direction of the ink ribbon of the present invention is 18 g · cm /
It is necessary that it be d or more and 40 g · cm / d or less. When E is less than 18 g · cm / d, the ink ribbon has low impact absorption and is not sticky to print embossing. Further, in the case of a woven yarn having E of more than 40 g · cm / d, the dimensional stability of the base fabric is deteriorated, which is not preferable in practical use.

The ink ribbon of the present invention can be obtained by the following manufacturing method. First, a polyamide polymer having a sulfuric acid relative viscosity ηr of 2.8 or more and 3.2 or less and a water content of 0.1% or less is heated and compressed and melted, and discharged from a spinneret having a single yarn hole diameter of 0.1 mm or more. Linear velocity 15m / mi
When it is n or more, it is extruded to form filaments and then cooled and solidified. This yarn is subjected to an intermediate treatment such as application of a spinning oil agent and application of interlacing by an interlacer, and then taken up by a first godet roll (hereinafter referred to as GD roll) at room temperature at a speed of 1000 m / min or more.

Subsequently, the first GD roll and 100 ° C.
Between the second GD roll heated above, then between the second GD roll and the third GD roll heated to 100 ° C. or higher,
By performing a two-stage hot drawing with a total draw ratio of 1.4 times or more, the intermediate elongation at a load of 2.5 g / d is 4.0 to 10.0.
%, The breaking energy E is adjusted to 35 to 50 g · cm / d for the polyamide multifilament yarn.

The polyamide multifilament yarn constructed as described above is woven so as to be a weaving yarn constituting the length direction of the ink ribbon, and then subjected to processing steps such as scouring and heat setting to obtain the ink of the present invention. A ribbon is obtained, but the performance and conditions of each process, especially the processing process, are
It has a significant influence on the printing durability of the ink ribbon.

This is because the characteristics of the weaving yarn of the ink ribbon, particularly the weaving yarn in the length direction, largely changes depending on the difference in the performance and conditions of the processing step as described above. Therefore, in order to maximize the effect of the present invention, it is important to perform processing under conditions such that the characteristics of the weaving yarn in the length direction of the ink ribbon satisfy the constitution of the present invention. is there.

Specifically, in the scouring step, continuous scouring with an open soaper, relaxing scouring with a vibrating scouring machine or hanging kneading can be applied. At this time, the rinsing with hot water and the scouring bath temperature are 60 to 90. C, and the immersion time is 20 to 1 when using an open soaper or a vibration type scouring machine.
It is preferably 20 seconds and 10 to 60 minutes in the case of hanging and kneading.

In the drying process, no matter what kind of device such as a cylinder dryer, a short loop dryer, a net-free dryer, etc. is used, 100
It is important to keep the heating to a minimum of ~ 120 ° C.
After that, heat setting and width setting are performed by a pin tenter. The conditions at this time are set temperature 160 to 190 ° C., timing 10 to 60 seconds, width setting ratio 0 to 5.0%, overfeed ratio 0 to 10. It is preferable to set it within each range of 0%.

[0021]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be given below to specifically describe the present invention.

[0022]

Example 1 34 filaments of single filament, total denier 40, made of nylon 66 polymer having ηr of 2.83
Denier, intermediate elongation under load of 2.5 g / d is 7.9%,
Nylon 66 yarn having a breaking energy of 41.6 g · cm / d was used for warp and weaving to obtain a raw machine having a warp density of 210 yarns / inch and a weft yarn density of 117 yarns / inch.

This greige was continuously scoured using an open soaper with a scouring time of 40 seconds and a process speed of 70 m / min in the order of 60 ° C. hot water washing, 90 ° C. alkaline scouring, 70 ° C. hot water rinsing, and pH adjustment. Process and remove sizing agent. After this,
After drying with a cylinder dryer at 120 ° C, using a pin tenter, the ambient temperature was 182 ° C and the timing was 12.
The fabric was tentering at a second, an overfeed rate of 1.5% and a tentering rate of 2.1%, and subjected to dry heat setting to obtain a plain woven fabric having a warp density of 215 yarns / inch and a weft yarn density of 126 yarns / inch.

This woven fabric was cut into a width of 25 mm so that the warp direction was the length direction, an oil-based ink was applied to form an ink ribbon, and both ends were ultrasonically bonded in a Mobius shape to give a circumference of 1 225 with a KD-36 line dot printer manufactured by Hitachi Koki as an 8 m endless ink ribbon
The printing durability was evaluated by visually observing the degree of damage to the base fabric after printing 10,000 characters according to the following criteria.

No damage to the base cloth: ○ Slightly fluffed: △ Remarkably fluffed: ×

[0026]

[Example 2] Example 1 was repeated except that the same equipment as in Example 1 was used, the temperature of the alkaline scouring bath was 80 ° C, the overfight rate at the time of setting was 1.8%, and the tentering rate was 2.0%. The same process as described above was performed to obtain a plain woven fabric having a warp density of 214 threads / inch and a weft density of 125 threads / inch.

Using this woven fabric as an endless ink ribbon in the same manner as in Example 1, the same printing evaluation as in Example 1 was performed.

[0028]

[Example 3] Example 1 was repeated except that the same equipment as in Example 1 was used, the temperature of the alkaline scouring bath was 70 ° C, the overfeed rate at the time of setting was 2.0%, and the tentering rate was 1.6%. The same process as described above was performed to obtain a plain woven fabric having a warp density of 212 threads / inch and a weft density of 125 threads / inch.

Using this woven fabric as an endless ink ribbon in the same manner as in Example 1, the same printing evaluation as in Example 1 was performed.

[0030]

[Example 4] 34 filaments, 40 denier total, made of nylon 66 polymer having ηr of 3.12
Denier, intermediate elongation at 2.5 g / d load is 6.0%,
A nylon 66 yarn having a breaking energy of 28.0 g · cm / d was used as a warp and weaved to obtain a raw fabric having the same weaving density as in Example 1.

This greige was processed in the same manner as in Example 2,
The same plain weave as in Example 2 was obtained. Using this as an endless ink ribbon in the same manner as in Example 1, the same printing evaluation as in Example 1 was performed.

[0032]

[Example 5] The same raw yarn as in Example 1 was used for double weaving, and both warp and weft densities were 140 yarns / inch and a perimeter of 2.0.
A cylindrical raw machine of m was obtained. Rinse with 70 ° C water for 5 minutes, 8
30 minutes alkaline scouring at 0 ℃, 5 minutes at 70 ℃ hot water, p
The sizing agent was removed by performing kneading without tension in the order of H adjustment.

Then, this woven fabric was put in a mold having a circumference of 1.8 m and subjected to dry heat treatment at 120 ° C. for 30 seconds to give a warp density of 1
A tubular plain weave having a peripheral length of 1.8 m and having a yarn count of 56 yarns / inch and a weft density of 158 yarns / inch was obtained. This woven fabric was cut into a width of 25 mm so that the circumferential direction was the length direction, and an oil-based ink was applied to form a seamless ink ribbon, and the same printing evaluation as in Example 1 was performed.

[0034]

[Example 6] The same yarn as in Example 4 was used except that ηr was 2.98, and the same weaving and processing as in Example 5 were applied to obtain a warp density of 152 yarns / inch and a weft yarn density of 154 yarns / inch. A tubular plain weave having a circumference of 1.8 m was obtained. Using this woven fabric as a seamless ink ribbon in the same manner as in Example 5, the same printing evaluation as in Example 1 was performed.

[0035]

[Comparative Example 1] The same greed machine as in Example 1 was used, the temperature of the alkaline scouring bath was 50 ° C, and the overfeed rate at the time of setting was-.
Example 1 except that the width ratio was 1.0% and the width ratio was -1.0%.
The same processing as described above was performed to obtain a plain woven fabric having a warp density of 217 yarns / inch and a weft yarn density of 122 yarns / inch.

Using this woven fabric as an endless ink ribbon in the same manner as in Example 1, the same printing evaluation as in Example 1 was performed.

[0037]

Comparative Example 2 Using the same raw machine as in Example 1, the temperature of the alkaline scouring bath was 95 ° C., the ambient temperature at the time of setting was 200 ° C.
Timing 15 seconds, overfeed rate 12.0
%, And the tentering ratio of 7.0% was processed in the same manner as in Example 1, and the warp density was 210 threads / inch and the weft density was 13
A plain weave having 0 yarns / inch was obtained. This woven fabric was used in Example 1.
An endless ink ribbon was obtained in the same manner as in, and the same printing evaluation as in Example 1 was performed.

[0038]

[Comparative Example 3] The same raw machine as in Example 4 was used, and the overfeed rate at the time of setting was -1.0% and the width setting rate was -1.0.
The same processing as in Example 4 was carried out except that the content was set to 100% to obtain a plain woven fabric having a warp density of 217 yarns / inch and a weft yarn density of 121 yarns / inch. Using this woven fabric as an endless ink ribbon in the same manner as in Example 1, the same printing evaluation as in Example 1 was performed.

[0039]

Comparative Example 4 Perimeter 2.0 obtained in the same manner as in Example 5
A mould-shaped raw machine was placed in a mold having a peripheral length of 2.0 m, and the same kneading as in Example 5 was performed. After that, a dry heat treatment was carried out at 120 ° C. for 30 seconds in a state of being fitted in this mold to obtain a tubular plain woven fabric having a warp density of 140 yarns / inch and a weft yarn density of 142 yarns / inch and a peripheral length of 2.0 m. .

The same printing evaluation as in Example 1 was carried out except that this woven fabric was used as a seamless ink ribbon in the same manner as in Example 5 and the number of characters to be printed was 2.5 million.

[0041]

[Comparative Example 5] A peripheral length of 2.0 obtained in the same manner as in Example 6
A mould-shaped raw machine was placed in a mold having a peripheral length of 2.0 m, and the same kneading as in Example 5 was performed. After that, a dry heat treatment was carried out at 120 ° C. for 30 seconds in a state of being fitted in this mold to obtain a tubular plain woven fabric having a warp density of 140 yarns / inch and a weft density of 141 yarns / inch and a perimeter of 2.0 m. .

The same printing evaluation as in Example 1 was carried out except that this woven fabric was made into a seamless ink ribbon in the same manner as in Example 5 and the number of characters to be printed was 2.5 million. The above results are shown in Table 1. Further, the physical properties of the weaving yarn in the length direction of the ink ribbon shown in Table 1 were determined as follows. First, the weaving yarns in the lengthwise direction of the ink ribbons of the above examples are unraveled from the weave design so that tension is not applied as much as possible. This loosening yarn is applied with an initial load (g) corresponding to a numerical value of 1/10 of its positive amount denier, and the constant speed elongation test method (JIS-L
1070) and the SS curve obtained here (FIG. 1)
I ask more.

[0043]

[Table 1]

From Table 1, the printing durability of Comparative Examples 1 to 5 is
It turns out that it does not reach the embodiment of the present invention.

[0045]

The ink ribbon of the present invention has excellent durability and can sufficiently cope with high speed and high impact of recent printers.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a stress-strain curve (SS curve) of a fiber.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A sulfuric acid relative viscosity ηr of a polyamide multifilament yarn constituting a length direction of an ink ribbon,
An ink ribbon characterized in that the intermediate elongation ME and the breaking energy E under a load of 2.5 g / d are in the following ranges, respectively. 2.8 ≦ ηr ≦ 3.2 10 ≦ ME ≦ 25 (%) 18 ≦ E ≦ 40 (g · cm / d)