JPH11344609A - Production of microsphere projection type retroreflector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a process capable of forming colored films in the front surface parts and flank parts of microspheres to an extremely small and uniform thickness and executing the coloring and designing of patterns, characters, etc., in a displayable form as a process for producing microsphere projection type retroreflectors. SOLUTION: The colored films 13 of about 1 μ in thickness are laminated at 120 deg.C in thermal softening temp. at the time of thermal-pressurizing via peelable temporally adhesives 12 of 90'C in thermal softening temp. at the time of thermal pressurizing on a temporally adhesive base material 11 and thereafter, the transparent microspheres 14 are arrayed in a single layer thereon. The entire part is thermal-pressurized in this state at 110 deg.C to adhere the colored films 13 to the parts corresponding to the front surfaces of the microspheres 14 by the pressing deformation of the colored films 13 into the temporally adhesives 12 by the microspheres 14. Light reflective films 15 are then laminated on the microspheres 14 and after an adherend material 17 is adhered via adhesives 16 thereon, the temporally adhesive base material 11 is peeled together with the temporally adhesives 12, thereby, the retroreflectors 20 having the colored films 13 adjacent to the front surface parts of the microspheres 14 are formed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a retroreflector which is frequently used in accessories such as clothes, hats, shoes, bags and the like for the purpose of traffic safety and the like in terms of an identification action based on glittering properties by retroreflection. In particular, the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a retroreflector in which a large number of transparent microspheres are arranged in a single layer with a front part (surface part) protruding from an adjacent part.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In this type of protruding microsphere retroreflector, microspheres are usually used in a colorless state (retroreflection is lost due to refraction of light rays when colored). Coloring for improving decorativeness is performed by providing a colored film (layer) on the front and side surfaces thereof, and conventionally, a colored film is formed on the front and side surfaces of the microspheres. Is performed by applying a coloring liquid to the corresponding portion of the microsphere with the corresponding portion being exposed.

However, in such a method in which a coloring liquid is poured into a so-called concave portion, it is practically difficult to control the amount of the coloring liquid attached, so that the thickness of the coloring film is extremely thin so that the retroreflectivity is not impaired. In addition to the difficulty of achieving a uniform thickness without unevenness in thickness and coloring, it is not possible to display colored designs such as patterns and characters (coloring of design shapes) that are preferable from the viewpoint of improving aesthetics and decorativeness. There are problems.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a microsphere-projecting retroreflective body, in which the colored film on the front and side surfaces of the microsphere is made extremely thin and has a uniform thickness. It is a main object of the present invention to provide a device capable of displaying patterns and characters in a form capable of displaying a colored design.

[0005]

According to the method of manufacturing a retroreflector according to the present invention, firstly, a colored film is formed on a temporary adhesion substrate (transfer substrate) via a heat-softening / peeling temporary adhesion agent. After the transparent microspheres are arranged in a single layer on the colored film, and then the whole is heat-pressed in this state, a light-reflective coating is laminated on the microspheres, and then the light-reflective After adhering the adherend onto the coating via an adhesive, the temporary adhesion substrate and the temporary adhesion agent are peeled off, and the temporary adhesion agent and the colored film have different thermal softening temperatures during hot pressing. In addition, the hot press temperature is not lower than the temperature (Chinese temperature) between the heat softening temperatures of the temporary adhesive and the colored film during hot press.

In the above description, generally, the thermal softening temperature of the colored film at the time of hot pressing is set higher than that of the temporary adhesive (for example, a difference of about 30 ° C. is provided), and the temperature of the hot pressing is set at the colored film. Temperature between the heat-softening temperature of the temporary adhesive and the heat-pressing temperature of the temporary adhesive, that is, higher than the thermal softening temperature of the temporary adhesive during the heat-pressing and lower than that of the colored film, or the heat of the colored film. The thermal softening temperature during pressurization is lower than that of the temporary adhesive (for example, about 2
A difference of about 0 ° C. is provided), and the hot pressing temperature is higher than both hot softening temperatures, that is, higher than the hot softening temperature of the temporary adhesive during hot pressing (for example, about 20 ° C. higher).

[0007] In the former of the conditions of the heat softening temperature and the heat press temperature during the heat press, the microspheres are formed by the softening of the colored film and the temporary adhesive due to the heat press and the difference in the state. Is pressed and deformed into the temporary adhesive, whereby the colored film adheres to the surface facing the colored film corresponding to the front surface of the microspheres. The colored film continuously extending on the front surface of the microspheres in a state becomes adjacent to the front surface of the microspheres. In this case, the colored film laminated on the temporary adhesive is made extremely thin in advance, so that the colored film on the front surface of the microspheres is formed. As desired (eg, less than about 1/50 of the diameter of the microsphere)
Can be

On the other hand, under the conditions of the heat softening temperature and the heat press temperature during the heat press, the microspheres penetrate the color film due to the difference between the softened state of the colored film and the temporary adhesive due to the heat press. When the colored film sticks to the side surface of the microspheres and protrudes into the side surface of the microspheres, and the temporary adhesion substrate is peeled off together with the temporary adhesion agent, the colored film is continuously formed on the side surface of the microspheres in the single layer arrangement. The extending colored films are adjacent to each other, and in this case also, the thickness of the colored film on the side surface of the microsphere can be arbitrarily adjusted according to the thickness of the colored film previously laminated on the temporary adhesive.

The colored film in the present invention can be formed into a colored design film by printing such as gravure printing or screen printing from the viewpoint of lamination on a substantially flat temporary adhesive. Can be formed as a series of films that represent a continuous pattern, or as a partial film that represents characters, partial patterns, etc. Alternatively, a two-layer structure of a colored layer portion and a non-colored layer portion (for example, a support layer or a coating layer of the colored layer portion) may be employed.

[0010] A method of manufacturing a retroreflector according to the present invention comprises:
Second, after laminating a colored film on a temporarily adhered substrate via a thermal softening / peeling temporary adhesive, a single layer of transparent microspheres is arranged on the colored film, and then the entirety is placed in this state. After heating, laminating the light-reflective coating on the microspheres, subsequently bonding the adherend on the light-reflective coating via an adhesive, and then peeling off the temporary adhesion base material together with the temporary adhesion agent The temporary adhesive and the colored film have different heat softening temperatures during heating, and the heating temperature is
It is characterized by a temperature exceeding both the thermal softening temperatures during heating of the temporary adhesive and the colored film, that is, a temperature higher than both of the thermal softening temperatures during heating.

Here, as in the case of the above-mentioned thermal pressurization, the thermal softening temperature during heating of the colored film is usually higher than that of the temporary adhesive (for example, a difference of about 30 is provided). In addition, the heating temperature is appropriately selected in relation to the heating time (for example, when heating is performed for about 30 seconds to one and a half minutes, the heating temperature of the colored film exceeds the thermal softening temperature during heating, for example, about 100 to 50 ° C.). The heating temperature of the colored film is lower than that of the temporary adhesive (for example, a difference of about 20 ° C. is provided), and the heating temperature is appropriately selected in relation to the heating time ( For example, as described above, the heating time is about 30 seconds to
In the case of one and a half minutes, the thermal softening temperature during heating of the temporary adhesive can be raised to, for example, about 100 to 50 ° C.).

[0012] In the former condition of the heat softening temperature and the heating temperature during heating, the difference between the softened state of the colored film and the temporary adhesive due to heating causes the microspheres to form the temporary adhesive based on its own weight. When the colored film adheres to the front part of the microspheres and peels off the temporarily adhered substrate together with the temporary adhesive, the colored film is continuously applied to the front part of the microspheres in a single-layer arrangement. The colored films that extend are adjacent. In this case, the coloring film to be laminated on the temporary adhesive is made extremely thin in advance, so that the coloring film on the front surface of the microsphere is made extremely thin as desired (for example, about 1/50 or less of the diameter of the microsphere). be able to.

On the other hand, under the conditions of the heat softening temperature and the heating temperature at the time of heating, due to the difference between the softened state of the colored film and the temporary adhesive due to the heating, the microspheres penetrate the colored film by their own weight and pass through the temporary adhesive. The colored film sticks out to the side surface of the microspheres, and when the temporary adhesion substrate is peeled off together with the temporary adhesive, the colored film continuously extends on the side surface of the single-layer array of microspheres. Are adjacent to each other, and also in this case, the thickness of the colored film on the side surface of the microsphere can be arbitrarily adjusted in advance by the thickness of the colored film laminated on the temporary adhesive.

Also in this method, the colored film can be in the form of a colored design film formed by printing such as gravure printing or screen printing, and the colored design film is a series of films showing a continuous pattern or the like. Alternatively, it can be formed as a partial film representing a character, a partial pattern, or the like. In any case, a single-layer structure in which the whole is a colored layer can be formed, or a colored layer portion and an uncolored layer portion (for example, a colored layer portion) can be formed. (A support layer and a coating layer of a portion).

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a method for manufacturing a retroreflector according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

Example 1 As shown in FIG. 1 from left to right, a 30 μm thick temporary resin substrate 11 made of a 50 μm thick polyester resin film was placed on one side of Has a thermal softening point of 9
Temporary adhesive 12 made of 0 ° C peelable polyethylene resin
Is laminated thereon, and coated with an adhesive polyester resin solution containing a transparent red pigment and having a heat softening point of 120 ° C. during hot pressing, to form a red transparent colored film 13 having a dry thickness of about 1 μm. Is formed, and the surface has a refractive index of 1.9.
2. Transparent glass microspheres 14 having a sphere diameter of 53 to 74 μm
And adhered in a single layer arrangement,
Using a metal roller and a rubber roller, heated at a linear pressure of about 1 kg / cm, the colored film 13 is adhered along a substantially hemispherical portion of the microspheres 14. After forming a light-reflective coating 15 having a thickness of 800 angstrom by vapor deposition of aluminum, an adherend 17 made of a polyester taffeta cloth is adhered via an adhesive 16 made of a polyurethane resin. Lumber 11
Is removed together with the temporary adhesive 12, and the retroreflector 20 in which the 1 μm thick colored film 13 is adjacent to the front surface of the microsphere 14
Was formed. In this retroreflector 20, red color of the colored film 13 appears in the reflected light and appearance.

Example 2 As shown in FIG. 2 from left to right, a 30 μm thick temporary adhesive base material 11 made of a polyester resin film having a thickness of 50 μm as in the case of Example 1 After laminating a temporary adhesive 12 made of a releasable polyethylene resin having a heat softening point of 90 ° C. at the time of hot pressing, the material contains transparent and opaque applications and has a heat softening point of 70 at the time of hot pressing. A multi-colored pattern is screen-printed with an adhesive polyester resin ink at a temperature of .degree. C. to form a colored film 13 in a pattern form, and microspheres 14 are dispersed on the surface thereof in the same manner as in Example 1 to form a single-layer arrangement. After being adhered in a state, the whole is heated under a condition of a temperature of 110 ° C. and a linear pressure of about 1 kg / cm, so that almost hemispherical portions of the microspheres 14 penetrate through the coloring film 13 and enter the temporary adhesive 12. The side surface of the microsphere 14 is coated with the colored film 13. And then forming a light-reflective coating 15 having a thickness of about 800 angstroms on the microspheres 13 by vapor deposition of aluminum, as in Example 1, and an adhesive made of polyurethane resin. Through the adhesion of the adherend 17 made of polyester taffeta cloth via the base material 16 and the subsequent separation and removal of the temporary adhesion base material 11 and the temporary adhesion agent 12, a multicolor pattern is formed on the side surface of the microsphere 14. The colored film 14 formed the adjacent retroreflector 21. In this retroreflector 21, the reflected light is colorless, but a beautiful multicolor pattern appears in the appearance.

Example 3 In substantially the same manner as in Example 1, on one surface of a temporary adhering base material 11 made of a polyester resin film having a thickness of 50 μm, a heat softening point of 30 μm and a heat softening point of 90 μm upon heating was applied. Temporary adhesive 12 made of a polyethylene resin that can be peeled at a temperature of 120 ° C., and coated thereon with an adhesive polyester resin solution containing a transparent red pigment and having a heat softening point of 120 ° C. when heated. Forms a red transparent colored film 13 of about 1 μm, and on the surface thereof, the same transparent microspheres 14 made of glass as in the above embodiment are scattered and adhered in a single-layer arrangement state. Heat at 180 ° C for about 1 minute to add temporary adhesive 1
2. The colored film 13 is softened, the microspheres 14 are settled by their own weight, and the colored film 13 is adhered almost along the hemispherical portion. Then, the microspheres 14 are formed in the same manner as in the first embodiment. The thickness is 80
After forming a light-reflective coating 15 of 0 angstrom, an adherend 17 made of a polyester taffeta cloth is adhered via an adhesive 16 made of a polyurethane resin. By peeling and removing, a retroreflector 20 equivalent to that of Example 1 was formed.

Example 4 In the same manner as in Example 2, peeling was carried out on a temporary adhering substrate 11 made of a polyester resin film having a thickness of 50 μm and having a thickness of 30 μm and a heat softening point of 90 ° C. upon heating. After laminating a temporary adhesive 12 made of a conductive polyethylene resin, screen printing a multicolor pattern with an adhesive polyester resin ink containing a transparent or opaque color application and having a heat softening point of 70 ° C. when heated. To form a colored film 13 in the form of a pattern. The same fine spheres 14 as in the above embodiment are scattered and adhered in a single-layer arrangement state on the surface, and then the whole is heated at a temperature of 150 ° C. for about one and a half minutes. By heating, the semi-spherical portion penetrates through the colored film 13 by the sedimentation of the microspheres 14 by its own weight, and the temporary adhesive 1
2, the side surfaces of the microspheres 14 are connected to each other via the colored film 13. Then, as in the case of the second embodiment, the thickness of the microspheres 13 is reduced by vapor deposition of aluminum. Light-reflective coating 1 of about 800 angstroms
Example 5 through the formation of 5, the bonding of the adherend 17 made of polyester taffeta cloth via the adhesive 16 made of a polyurethane resin, and the subsequent separation and removal of the temporary adhesive base material 11 and the temporary adhesive 12 A retroreflector 21 equivalent to that of No. 2 was formed.

The present invention can be carried out in various other modes, and is not limited to the above-described embodiments.

[0021]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the method of manufacturing a retroreflector according to the present invention, the front and side surfaces of the microsphere in the microsphere protruding retroreflector are structurally inconvenient. In addition, it is possible to easily form a colored film having an extremely thin or uniform thickness, which has been conventionally difficult, and it is possible to display a colored design such as a pattern or a character which has been impossible in the related art.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a method for manufacturing a retroreflector according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of another embodiment of the method for manufacturing a retroreflector according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Temporary adhesion base material 12 Temporary adhesion agent 13 Colored film 14 Microsphere 15 Light reflective coating 16 Adhesive 17 Adhering material 20 Retroreflector 21 Retroreflector

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] July 14, 1998

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0016

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Example 1 As shown in FIG. 1 from left to right, a 30 μm thick temporary resin substrate 11 made of a 50 μm thick polyester resin film was placed on one side of Has a thermal softening point of 9
0 consists ° C. peelability Polyethylene resin temporary bonding agent 12 is laminated, on its heat softening of a heat pressurized with a transparent red pigment is coated with adhesive polyester resin solution of 120 ° C., A red transparent colored film 13 having a dry thickness of about 1 μm is formed, and a refractive index of 1.92,
A glass transparent microsphere 14 having a sphere diameter of 53 to 74 μ is scattered and adhered in a single-layer arrangement, and then the linear pressure is reduced to about 1 by using a metal roller and a rubber roller heated to 110 ° C.
By applying heat and pressure at a pressure of kg / cm, the colored film 13 is adhered substantially along the hemispherical portion of the microspheres 14, and then, the exposed side of the microspheres 14 is evaporated to a thickness of 800 Å by aluminum deposition.
After forming the light-reflective coating 15 of the ROHM, bonding the adherend 17 made of polyester taffeta fabric with an adhesive 16 made of a polyurethane resin, a temporary attachment substrate 11 after this with the temporary bonding agent 12 By peeling and removing, a retroreflector 20 having a colored film 13 having a thickness of 1 μ adjacent to the front surface of the microsphere 14 was formed. In this retroreflector 20, red color of the colored film 13 appears in the reflected light and appearance.

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0017

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Example 2 As shown in FIG. 2 from left to right, a 30 μm thick temporary adhesive base material 11 made of a polyester resin film having a thickness of 50 μm as in the case of Example 1 after thermal softening point of the heat pressing time was laminated temporary bonding agent 12 made of 90 ° C. peelability polyethylene resins, thermal softening point of the heat pressurized with a transparent or opaque colors in Ganryo 70 A multi-colored pattern is screen-printed with an adhesive polyester resin ink at a temperature of .degree. C. to form a colored film 13 in a pattern form, and microspheres 14 are dispersed on the surface thereof in the same manner as in Example 1 to form a single-layer arrangement. After being adhered in a state, the whole is heated under a condition of a temperature of 110 ° C. and a linear pressure of about 1 kg / cm, so that almost hemispherical portions of the microspheres 14 penetrate through the coloring film 13 and enter the temporary adhesive 12. The side surface of the microsphere 14 is coated with the colored film 13. And in the form of linked, then as in the case of Example 1, on the microspheres 1 4, formation thickness by vapor deposition of aluminum in light-reflective coating 15 of about 800 Ongusuto ROHM,
Through the bonding of the adherend 17 made of polyester taffeta cloth via the adhesive 16 made of polyurethane resin, and the subsequent separation and removal of the temporary adhesion base material 11 and the temporary adhesion agent 12, the side surface of the microsphere 14 colored film 1 3 multicolored pattern shaped to form a retro-reflector 21 which is adjacent to. In this retroreflector 21,
The reflected light is colorless, but a beautiful multicolored pattern appears on the appearance.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0018

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Example 3 In substantially the same manner as in Example 1, on one surface of a temporary adhering base material 11 made of a polyester resin film having a thickness of 50 μm, a heat softening point of 30 μm and a heat softening point of 90 μm upon heating was applied. the ° C. temporary bonding agent 12 made of a peelable <br/> polyethylene resin laminated, thereon by coating a adhesive polyester resin solution of 120 ° C. thermal softening point upon heating with a transparent red pigment Then, a red transparent colored film 13 having a dry thickness of about 1 μm was formed, and the same transparent glass microspheres 14 as in the above embodiment were scattered on the surface and adhered in a single layer arrangement. Thereafter, the whole is heated at 180 ° C. for about 1 minute, and the temporary adhesive 1
2. The colored film 13 is softened, the microspheres 14 are settled by their own weight, and the colored film 13 is adhered almost along the hemispherical portion. Then, the microspheres 14 are formed in the same manner as in the first embodiment. The thickness is 80
After forming the 0 Ongusuto ROHM light reflective coating 15,
An adherend 17 made of a polyester taffeta cloth is adhered via an adhesive 16 made of a polyurethane resin, and thereafter, the temporarily adhered substrate 11 is peeled off and removed together with the temporarily adhered agent 12, and the same retroreflection as in Example 1 is performed. Body 20 was formed.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0019

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Example 4 In the same manner as in Example 2, peeling was carried out on a temporary adhering substrate 11 made of a polyester resin film having a thickness of 50 μm and having a thickness of 30 μm and a heat softening point of 90 ° C. upon heating. Polyethylene
After stacking the temporary bonding agent 12 made of Ren resin, thermal softening point when heated together with a transparent and opaque colors of Ganryo 7
A multicolor pattern is screen-printed with an adhesive polyester resin ink at 0 ° C. to form a colored film 13 in the form of a pattern, and the same microspheres 1 as in the above embodiment are formed on the surface thereof.
4 and adhered in a single layer arrangement,
The heating is performed at 50 ° C. for about one and a half minutes.
By entering into, and the side surface portion of the microspheres 14 in a form linked via a colored film 13, followed in the same manner as in Example 2, on the microspheres 1 4, the thickness by vapor deposition of an aluminum about 800 Ongusuto ROHM light reflecting coating 1
Example 5 through the formation of 5, the bonding of the adherend 17 made of polyester taffeta cloth via the adhesive 16 made of a polyurethane resin, and the subsequent separation and removal of the temporary adhesive base material 11 and the temporary adhesive 12 A retroreflector 21 equivalent to that of No. 2 was formed.

Claims (8)

[Claims] After laminating a colored film on a temporarily adhered substrate via a thermal softening / peeling temporary adhesive, a single layer of transparent microspheres is arranged on the colored film. After heat-pressing, a light-reflective coating is laminated on the microspheres, and then the adherend is adhered to the light-reflective coating via an adhesive, and then the temporarily adhered substrate and the temporarily adhered The temporary adhesive and the colored film have different thermal softening temperatures during hot pressing, and the hot pressing temperature is between the two thermal softening temperatures during the hot pressing of the temporary adhesive and the colored film. A method for producing a microsphere-projecting retroreflector, wherein the temperature is not lower than the temperature. 2. The heat-softening temperature of the colored film at the time of heat pressing is higher than that of the temporary adhesive, and the heat-pressing temperature is between the two heat-softening temperatures of the temporary adhesive and the colored film at the time of heat pressing. 2. The temperature of claim 1.
A method for producing the microsphere protruding retroreflector according to the above. 3. The thermal softening temperature of the colored film at the time of thermal pressing is lower than that of the temporary adhesive, and the thermal pressing temperature is higher than the thermal softening temperature of the temporary adhesive at the time of thermal pressing. Item 3. The method for producing a microsphere-projecting retroreflector according to Item 1. 4. The method for producing a microsphere-projecting retroreflector according to claim 1, wherein the colored film is a colored design film formed by printing. 5. After laminating a colored film on a temporarily adhered substrate via a heat-softening / peeling temporary adhesive, a single layer of transparent microspheres is arranged on the colored film. After heating, the light-reflective coating is laminated on the microspheres, and then the adherend is adhered to the light-reflective coating via an adhesive, and then the temporary adhered substrate is peeled off together with the temporary adhesive. The temporary adhesive and the colored film have different thermal softening temperatures during heating, and the heating temperature is higher than both the thermal softening temperatures during the thermal pressing of the temporary adhesive and the colored film. A method for producing a microsphere-projecting retroreflector, which is characterized in that: 6. The microsphere according to claim 5, wherein the heating temperature of the colored film is higher than that of the temporary adhesive, and the heating temperature is higher than the heating temperature of the colored film. A method for manufacturing a protruding retroreflector. 7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the thermal softening temperature of the colored film at the time of thermal pressurization is lower than that of the temporary adhesive, and the heating temperature is higher than the thermal softening temperature of the temporary adhesive at the time of heating. A method for producing a microsphere protruding retroreflector. 8. The method for producing a microsphere-projecting retroreflector according to claim 5, wherein the colored film is a colored design film formed by printing.