WO1991017887A1

WO1991017887A1 - Apparatus for printing synthetic resin molded piece

Info

Publication number: WO1991017887A1
Application number: PCT/JP1991/000614
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tadashi Suzuki
Original assignee: Tecs Corporation; Optec Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 1990-05-11
Filing date: 1991-05-09
Publication date: 1991-11-28
Also published as: CA2062939A1; EP0485638A4; EP0485638A1; KR920702654A

Abstract

An apparatus for pressing a printing sheet against a multiplicity of molded pieces supported on the top surface of a substructure and heating, wherein a heating member serving as a print head is supported on a superstructure and the pressing force of the heating member can be controlled from the top surface of the superstructure.

Description

Specification

Printing equipment for synthetic resin molded products

Technical field

The present invention relates to an apparatus for simultaneously printing a large number of small molded products such as a synthetic resin key top attached to a keyboard, particularly a synthetic resin molded product.

λ technology

A keyboard is used as an operating means for an electronic control device such as a word processor, a computer, an electronic music device, or a machine tool. The keyboard includes alphabetic keys, numeric keys, cursor keys, and control keys. A large number of key tops are installed as one set according to their functions.

The material of the key top for writing characters and figures by printing is, for example, a material molded using a synthetic resin such as Ρ Β (polybutylene terephthalate). The size-shape, especially the inclination angle of the upper surface, is changed depending on the position where the tip is arranged.

The outer shape of this key top Τ is a truncated quadrangular pyramid-shaped hollow body with the tip cut off. Has sides. The bottom and top surfaces of this key top are not parallel, and the height of the front side of the front and rear sides is higher than the height of the rear side, that is, the height of the front side. It is formed high. The shape, especially the side shape, of this key top differs depending on the arrangement position and function depending on the arrangement location. Each key top is marked with a letter or figure indicating the function at the location where it is to be installed.Conventionally, this letter or figure was entered using a multicolor molding method using resins of different colors However, this molding method has the problems of complicated processes and high manufacturing costs, and it is difficult to mold delicate characters and figures, and transfer printing has recently been implemented. ing.

In this transfer printing method, inverted characters and figures are printed on a transfer sheet using a disperse dye having a melting temperature lower than the melting temperature of the synthetic resin constituting the key top, and this transfer sheet is used as a key. The main method is sublimation printing, in which the dye is applied to the printing surface of the top and heated so that the disperse dye is in a molten state so as to penetrate the key top and print.

In the transfer printing step, a receiving surface is formed on the surface of a jig to be attached to a printing press in accordance with the shape of the keytop, and the inclination angle of the receiving surface is changed to thereby obtain the upper surface of a set of kits Support so as to form a substantially horizontal plane. Then, when the key top is prepared in this manner, the transfer sheet is then placed on the key top, and the print head heated from the upper surface of the transfer sheet is removed. Printing is performed by pressing for a predetermined time.

Upside down characters and figures are printed on the transfer sheet. The characters and figures made of the disperse dye in the transfer sheet are sublimated by the pressing force and heating of the print head, and the top sheet is printed. And prints. This transfer sheet is a laminate of paper, synthetic resin film, and aluminum foil paper, the shape of which is a flat sheet, and in some cases, cuts are made to fit the side shape of the key top. Has been put in.

By the way, as described above, the upper surface of the key top is concavely recessed in accordance with the fingertip and is inclined in the front-rear direction. Therefore, a large number of key tops are arranged to support the upper surface in a plane. This is difficult, and even if a flat transfer sheet is applied to the top surface of this key top, a considerable gap will be generated between the transfer sheet and the printing surface. Due to such technical problems, the printing head is provided with a heater on the lower surface of the mounting plate, and a thicker elastic material such as silicon rubber (about 30 to 40 mm) provided on the lower surface of the heater. It is configured to press the transfer sheet via the. An elastic body provided at the tip of the print head is a kind of cushion material that accurately presses the transfer sheet onto the top surface (printing surface) of a keytop having a complicated shape. And acts as a heat transfer material for transferring the heat of the heater section to the printing surface of the key top. In recent years, key top production requirements include producing a large number of varieties in small quantities, printing delicate characters and figures clearly, and using fingertips that use cosmetics such as hand cream. There is a demand for durability such that characters do not disappear when rubbed, and furthermore, transfer printing at a predetermined high temperature in a short time is required due to a problem in the process.

However, as described above, in the conventional apparatus, an elastic body such as a silicon dam is provided on the surface of the heater section as thick as 30 to 40 mm as described above, and the transfer sheet is keyed by utilizing the deformation of the elastic body. Pre-heating is required to raise the keytop to the proper printing temperature in a short time because heat is not transferred from the heater part because it is pressed against the top printing surface of the top. There is a problem to say. In addition, a support member having a receiving surface is fixed on a jig to be mounted on the printing press according to the shape of the key top, and the key top is supported on this. When the transfer sheet is pressed through the elastic body heated by the heater after the transfer sheet is applied to the upper side, the elastic body and the transfer sheet are concaved on the upper surface of the key top. It will be deformed according to the shape of. In other words, the elastic body does not deform significantly at the part applied to the upper surface of the top, but it expands greatly at the part outside of the upper surface, so that the transfer sheet is locally deformed with the deformation. Large You will be pulled. Conventionally, in order to prevent this phenomenon, slits are inserted into the transfer sheet to prevent large deformation on the printing surface.

As described above, in the conventional transfer printing method, since the elastic body made of silicon rubber or the like used for pressing the transfer sheet on the upper surface of the key top is thick, the printing of the transfer sheet is performed. After the portion is pressed, it expands greatly at a position off the top surface of this keytop, so the transfer sheet in this portion is pulled laterally. As a result, the transfer sheet cannot be pressed accurately on the key top.

Furthermore, in the conventional transfer printing method, the heating is performed while pressing the upper surface of the key top through a thick silicone rubber or the like, so that the temperature of the heater and the temperature of the surface in contact with the transfer sheet are required. In addition, there was a problem that a considerable temperature difference occurred, making it difficult to heat to the optimum temperature, and that the heating time was prolonged.

On the other hand, individual key tops differ in the concave shape on the top surface, the area on the top surface, the size of characters and figures printed, etc., depending on the type of electronic device, and there are various printing conditions. Therefore, an optimal pressing force can be obtained by finely adjusting the force pressing the transfer sheet against the surface of the key top for each key top.

However, conventional printing devices have many key tops. The jig supporting this is configured so that the vertical position can be adjusted with a bolt or the like with respect to a support plate fixed to the frame of the printing press. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the height of the key top with respect to the print head simultaneously, but it is not possible to adjust them individually. <The key top depends on the position where it is arranged on the keyboard. In addition to the difference in the inclination angle, shape, size, etc., it is necessary to print a predetermined character or figure on a key top arranged at a predetermined position. Conventionally, when printing this key-top, a method of manually fitting various key-tops directly into a jig attached to a printing press has been adopted. The problem of having to prepare a large number of jigs according to the requirements, and the work of attaching to the jigs while checking the dimensions and shapes of the key tops is extremely complicated. In addition, when the manufacturing period is limited, it cannot respond at all.

In order to solve the problem of the complicated supply of the key tops to the printing press, a storage case is prepared, in which the key tops are stored in advance similarly to the arrangement of the keyboard, and the printing is performed. In the process, a method of transferring to a jig attached to the printing press is adopted.

However, there is a serious problem with this printing method. That is, the work of arranging the key tops in the storage case is a key. The key tops are arranged with the top side facing up as in the arrangement of one board. However, when attaching the key top to the positioning member of the jig to be set on the printing press, the key top stored in the storage case is manually removed and attached to the printing press. It must be transferred to the positioning member to which the jig is fixed and fitted.

As a method of omitting this manual work, a reversing jig is placed on a storage case that stores a set of key tops, and then these are reversed to reverse the key tops. It is a method of shifting to the tool side. By this reversing operation, the key top is turned over. Then, a jig to be attached to the printing press is overlaid on the back-facing key top, and the key top is attached to the jig in a proper state by re-inverting the jig.

As described above, the method of manually fitting the key tops into the predetermined positions of the jig one by one by hand is extremely complicated. In addition, although the method using a reversing jig has improved workability compared to the manual method, reversing work is necessary and various types of storage cases, reversing jigs, printing jigs, etc. There is a problem that a jig is required, which requires a considerably large storage space.

On the other hand, the number of electronic devices equipped with keyboards is diversified, and at present the production volume is not so large. With the diversification of electronic devices, keyboards —The array of codes is also diverse. In other words, how to efficiently produce small-quantity and high-mix products at present is an issue in the key-top manufacturing process.

The present invention has been achieved to solve various problems of a conventional printing apparatus, and has the following objects.

(1) The force that presses the heating element against the synthetic resin molded product, especially the key top, depends on the printing conditions such as characters, figures, and the complexity of the top (top) shape of the key top. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus which can be easily adjusted for each kit or as a small group.

(2) In order to eliminate misalignment between the printing material and the transfer sheet, printing that can use substantially no elastic body at the tip of the heating element, or even if it is used, a thin one can be used It is to provide a device.

(3) An object of the present invention is to provide a device capable of heating a transfer sheet and the surface of a printing material quickly to a predetermined printing temperature to perform precise transfer printing.

(4) An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus which can easily print a small amount of various kinds of printing materials by being able to easily adjust the pressing force of a heating element.

(5) Still another object is to easily supply key tops to a printing device in a predetermined arrangement in a printing process to complete printing. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a printing method which can take out the paper from the printing device and transport it.

(6) Still another object is to provide a printing method capable of easily performing a series of steps from a printing process of a forming process of a print substrate to an assembling process of a keyboard for an electronic device.

«Disclosure of the invention

The features of the apparatus for printing a molded product according to the present invention for achieving the above object are as follows.

)) An upper structure having a heating element that forms a printing head, a lower structure that faces the upper structure, and supports a molded article that is a printing object, and a relatively close approach between the upper and lower structures. A heating element having a pressing surface is supported on the lower surface of the upper structure so as to be able to adjust the pressing force by moving back and forth individually or in small groups. The body is configured so that the pressing force can be adjusted by pressing force adjusting means operated from the upper surface of the upper structure.

Iv) The heating element that constitutes the printing head is movably fitted back and forth in the support hole provided in the upper structure.

C) The heating element constituting the print head is supported by a spring provided in the support hole so as not to be pressed and come off. D) The pressing force adjusting means for adjusting the pressing force of the heating element against the molded product is composed of a bolt operated from the upper surface of the upper structure and a spring whose pressing length is adjusted by this bolt. Thus, an elastic pressing force is applied to the heating body via the spring.

E) The spring of the pressing force adjusting means is formed in the shape of a coil spring, which directly presses the heating element or supports the coil spring on one side like a ball. The pressing force is concentrated on the central portion of the heating element via a stress concentration member so that the other end presses the end of the heating element.

F) A thin layer of an elastic body is provided on the surface of the heating body, and the heating body applies an accurate pressing force to the surface of the molded article by the elastic body.

G) Elastic body is made of silicon rubber or tetrafluorocarbon

(Teflon) sheet, which is 0.2-1.0 Oram, preferably 0.2-0.5 mm compared to 30-40 mm thick in the case of conventional equipment And a thin one is used.

H) The heating element is heated by the heat from the electric heating device embedded in the superstructure, and the heating element is a sheathed heater consisting of two chrome wires.

I) A horizontal hole is drilled in the heating element. The spring is inserted and this heating element is movably supported by an elastic force acting in a support hole provided in the upper structure.

J) The heating element has a surface that presses the upper surface of the molded product and a surface that presses the inclined side surface.

K) The heating element is composed of a main heating element that presses the upper surface of the molded article, and an auxiliary heating element that presses the side surface of the printing material. L) The pressing force adjusting means for pressing the heating element from the upper surface of the upper structure is a cylinder device that is operated hydraulically or pneumatically.

M) The pressing force adjusting means for pressing the heating element from the upper surface of the upper structure is an electric motor.

N) Supports a set of molded articles stored in the storage case, and holds the storage case in a floating state from the storage case by supporting this storage case on a printing jig under the printing machine. The printing apparatus is configured to perform the printing operation.

0) The printing device is incorporated in a conveyor line, and the conveyor line includes a step of mounting a storage case storing molded articles, a step of disposing a transfer sheet above the storage case, and a step of heating the heating element. It consists of a step of printing by pressing from the back of the transfer sheet, a step of discharging the transferred transfer sheet, and a step of removing the printed product from the printing jig of the printing device. I have. P) In the process of taking out the molded product after printing from the printing jig, a device for vacuum-sucking and taking out this molded product is provided.

Q) Means for supplying, printing and discharging molded articles to the printing device are arranged in a circle along the turntable,

R) The storage case for storing the molded product is fitted into a printing jig, and has an opening formed to project a member that supports the molded product from below.

S) The case for accommodating the molded product is formed such that the beam portions cross each other in a grid pattern, and a portion for supporting the molded product at a predetermined position is formed at the intersection of the beam portions.

T) Cases for storing molded products are molded so that they can be stacked in multiple stages. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a front view in which a part of a main part of a printing apparatus S according to the present invention is cut away.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of the printing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a heating element provided in the upper structure and a pressing force adjusting means.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a key top is supported on a printing jig.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the storage case supporting the key top. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the storage case.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an upper structure when a cylinder device is used as a pressing force adjusting means.

FIG. 8 is a side view schematically showing an automatic printing apparatus using a belt conveyor.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a printing apparatus applied to the automatic printing apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a plan view schematically showing an automatic printing apparatus using a turntable.

FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state where storage cases accommodating key tops are stacked.

FIG. 12 is a partially cut-away sectional view showing a state in which a key top is supplied on a printing jig while being stored in a storage case. FIG. 13 is a side view showing a state in which a printing jig is attached to a printing apparatus and printing is being performed.

FIG. 14 is a side sectional view showing the relationship between the storage case and the positioning jig.

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view showing the relationship between the storage case and the positioning jig.

FIG. 16 is a front view showing the relationship between another type of heating element and a positioning jig.

FIG. 17 is a bottom view of the heating body of FIG.

FIG. 18 is a front view showing the relationship between yet another type of heating element and a positioning jig. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Example 1 1

1 and 2, the printing apparatus 20 includes a lower structure 21 and an upper structure 22. The lower structure 21 fixes a fixing plate 23 to a frame of a device (not shown). The column 24 is fixed to the column 24 with bolts 24a, and the movable plate 26 is further movably supported on the column 24 via a bearing 25 (not shown but having a built-in ball bearing). ing.

The movable plate 26 is fixed to the tip of a screw rod 28 of a cylinder device 27 fixed to the lower surface of the surface fixing plate 23 with a bolt 28a, and moves along the column 24. Is configured. Further, a support plate 29 is sandwiched and fixed on the movable plate 26 by a guide member 30, and the support plate 29 is moved forward and backward with respect to the paper surface while being guided by the guide member 30 by an adjustment bolt 29a. The position of the direction (front and back) can be adjusted. Further, bins 31 for holding the transfer sheet S are planted at the four corners of the support plate 29. Further, a printing jig 32 is fixed on the upper surface of the support plate 29, and a key top T which is a molded product is fitted and supported on the printing jig 32 via a positioning jig 33. I have.

The upper structure 22 has a support plate 36 supported by a fixing jig 37 on the lower surface of a fixing plate 35 fixed on a column 24 with a bolt 24 b. A heater support plate 38 is supported on the lower surface of the support plate 36 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction by a guide member 39 fixed by a bonnet 40, and the heater support plate 38 is adjusted. It is configured such that its position can be adjusted by bolts 41.

An upper plate 42 is fixed to the upper surface of the fixing plate 35 by a port 43. Further, a bolt 44 and a collar 45 are provided through the upper plate 42 and the fixing plate 35, and the guide member 39 is supported by the bolt 44. The reason why the bolt 44 is provided so as to extend to the surface of the upper plate 42 is that the position of the heater support plate 38 and the mounting and dismounting of the heater support plate 38 can be operated from the upper plate 42 side. is there.

A heater 47 is incorporated in the support plate 36 so as to heat a heating body 46 for heating the key top T to a predetermined temperature. Further, a pressing force adjusting bolt 48 is screwed onto the upper plate 42, and a ball 50 is pressed by a spring 49 provided at the lower end of the bolt 48, and a heating element is inserted through the ball 50. The upper end of 46 is pressed. Therefore, by adjusting the bolts 48 from the upper surface of the upper plate 42, the pressing force of the heating member 46, that is, the pressing force of pressing the transfer sheet S against the printing surface of the key top T by the heating member 46. It can be adjusted from the upper plate 42 side.

Also, a hole 51 is opened laterally in the heating element 46, and this hole The pressing plate 53 is pressed by the spring 52 inserted into the 51, and the inner surface of the hole 54 provided in the heating element support plate 38 is pressed by the pressing plate 53 to support the heating element 46 in the hole 54. However, the vertical position can be adjusted. Therefore, the heating element 46 can be automatically moved up and down by the counterpart T, which is the counterpart, against the elastic force of the spring 49. In addition, the provision of the pressing plate 53 allows the heating element 46 to be easily attached to and detached from the hole 54 below the heating element support plate 38. FIG. 3 shows the details of the support structure of the heating element 46. A hole 54 is opened in the lower surface of the heating element support plate 38, and this hole 54 is reduced upward to penetrate a small-diameter hole 54a. I have. The pressing body 50a is inserted into the hole 54a. The pressing body 50a is composed of a head 50b having a larger diameter than the hole 54a and a neck 50c extended below the head 50b, and a recess is formed on the upper surface of the head 50b. The ball 50 is inserted in the inside. The ball 50 is a member for concentrating the elastic force of the spring 49 at the center.

Therefore, even if the heating element 46 can be moved up and down with respect to the heating element support plate 38 by this structure, the heating element 46 can be mounted and exchanged casually.

The heating body 46 is for heating the top surface u of the key tob T, and an auxiliary heating body provided on a side of the heating body 46 is provided. The front surface f is heated by 46a, so that the top surface u and the front surface f of the key top T can be heated simultaneously to print both surfaces.

As shown in FIG. 3, the heating element 46 is supported in the hole 54 so as to be able to move upward. In this state, the head 50b of the pressing element 50a is connected to the heating element supporting plate 38. Is in contact with the upper surface of the Printing by simultaneously heating and pressing the top surface u and the side surface of the key top T is an effective method for printing on the key top T with multiple functions. As shown in FIG. 17 and FIG. 17, the lower surface of the heating body 46 is formed in a concave shape, and a scart portion 46c is integrally formed around the circumference. Then, the top surface u of the key top is pressed by the top surface of the concave portion, and the side surface is pressed by the scar portion 46c to heat and perform transfer printing.

Fig. 18 shows still another type of heating element 46, in which a frame-shaped auxiliary heating element 46C having a pyramid-shaped inner surface is formed below the heating element 46, and a formed scar is formed on the auxiliary heating element 46C. The side of the key top T can be heated and pressed by the part 46c.

By heating the key top T from the lower surface and the surrounding wall surface before and during printing, clear printing without shading can be performed efficiently.

Specifically, a so-called flat tie with a flat top surface This is a key top with a large printing area for printing key tops and blank characters, and a key top for printing solid areas other than figures, such as printing with such a large area. In such a case, it is particularly necessary to perform uniform and stable printing. Similarly, when increasing the printing speed, it is necessary to heat the top of the kite from the bottom.

As a means for this, as shown in FIG. 4, a material having good heat conductivity such as aluminum or iron is used for the printing jig 32 and the positioning jig 33a. By attaching the heater 45a to the top, the key top T is heated from the back surface before printing or during printing and good printing can be performed.

Next, the operation of the printing apparatus 20 will be described. The key top T (molded article: printed material) formed in the molding process is stored in a storage device formed of a synthetic resin as shown in FIGS. While the case is still contained in the case 60, it is fitted to the positioning jig 33 of the lower structure 21.

The storage case 60 is a type of storage box, and is a storage box for simultaneously supplying the printing device and simultaneously taking out the printed key tops T. It serves as a storage box for transporting and storing in a warehouse. In the storage case 60, a cross beam 62 and a vertical beam 63 are provided in a lattice shape inside a frame portion 61, and a positioning portion 64 is provided at an intersection of the horizontal beam 62 and the vertical beam 63. Therefore, a space portion 65 is formed in a portion surrounded by the four positioning portions 64. The space 65 protrudes a part of the positioning jig 33 provided in the lower structure 21 (see FIG. 15), and the key top T, which is a printing material, is fitted into this protruding portion. It is to be able to do.

As described above, the storage case 60 in which the key top T is fitted at a predetermined position is fitted on the positioning jig 33 on the lower structure 21 in FIG. In this fitted state, the key top T is fitted to and supported by the positioning jig 33 while slightly floating from the storage case 60.

Next, the holes of the transfer sheet S are fitted into the bins 31 erected on the support plate 29 and are supported at a predetermined position with respect to the key top T, and then the cylinder device 27 is operated. The thread opening 28 is extended to raise the substructure 21.

On the other hand, the heater 46 supported by the heater support plate 38 of the upper structure 22 is heated to a predetermined temperature by the heater 45 embedded in the support plate 36. The heating element 46 is adjusted by a ball 50, a spring 49, and an adjustment bolt 48 so that a predetermined pressing force is applied. As described above, the lower structure 21 is pushed up by the cylinder device 27. Then, the key top T is pressed against the heating body 46 with the transfer sheet S placed on the upper surface.

The ball 50 uses the elastic force of the spring 49 to heat the heating element 46. This is a member that acts on the center of the upper end of the heating element 46, thereby preventing a biased force from acting on the heating body 46. The transfer sheet S is, for example, a sheet on which reverse characters or graphics are printed with a disperse dye, and is heated at a predetermined temperature at which the disperse dye is melted for a predetermined time, thereby obtaining the sheet S. The back letters and back figures made of the disperse dye that were printed on the top are printed on the top surface u and the front surface f of the key top T in a molten state.

Now, in order to clearly print the characters and figures printed on the transfer sheet S, the elastic body which is the pressing surface of the heating body 46 must not be greatly deformed for the above-described reason. Also, from the viewpoint of heat transfer, it is preferable that the elastic body 7 is thin or not used if possible.

Therefore, in the present invention, the surface of the heating body 46 that contacts the transfer sheet S is made of metal, or the surface of this metal is thinly coated with an elastic body such as silicon rubber. The transfer sheet S can perform precise sublimation printing with good heat transfer while preventing lateral displacement due to large deformation.

In the molding process of the key top T, a predetermined key top T is produced in one set according to the arrangement of the keyboard of the electric equipment. The kit T thus produced is fitted into a predetermined position of the storage case 60 as shown in FIGS. In addition, this state In this state, the front face f and the rear face r of the key top T are aligned in a certain direction, and the top face u is inclined in the direction of keyboard operation. In addition, the storage state of the key top T is merely the alignment, and the key top T is not yet in a posture capable of printing.

The storage case 60 in which the key pump T is fitted in a predetermined position as described above is stacked on the periphery of the frame body 61 by being fitted up and down as shown in FIG. .

Then, in response to a customer request, the key top T stored as described above is transported to the printing process while being stored in the storage case 60.

FIG. 12 shows a part of the printing apparatus. Reference numeral 32a denotes a printing jig fixed to the movable plate 26 of the printing press or a work table. A positioning jig 33a is fixed to the printing jig 32a by a screw 33b. The positioning jig 33a has a projection 33c and a positioning portion such as a portion for holding the skirt of the key top T in accordance with the shape of the back side of the key top T. In the state shown in the figure, the top surface u of the key top T is kept as flat (close to horizontal) as possible so that it can be printed, and its center position is printed on the transfer sheet S. Is adjusted to the position of the character or figure that

FIG. 13 shows a printing process, in which the key tobs T are supplied to the printing jig 32a together with the storage case 60 as described above. After positioning by fitting to a positioning jig 33a provided on the leverage printing jig 32a, the printing jig 32a is mounted on a support plate 29 of a printing apparatus. This mounting method includes a method of fitting into a protrusion provided on the support plate 29 of the printing device, and a method of fitting into a groove portion in reverse. Supply work of the key top T to the printing device is performed by fitting the storage case 60 storing the key top T to the engaging protrusion with respect to the jig 32 a fixed on the plate 29. Is completed.

Next, the transfer sheet S is fitted to the bin 31 stood at the corner of the support plate 29 and positioned at a predetermined position with respect to the top surface u of the key top T. The transfer sheet S is heated at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time by pressing a heating element 46 movably provided on the heating element support plate 38 so as to be able to move up and down as shown by an arrow D. The characters and figures printed in the opposite direction are transferred and printed by sublimation onto the key top T, which is a printed material or molded product. In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, the key top T is printed not only on the top surface u but also on the front surface 必要 if necessary, and also on the side surface.

The key top 印刷 on which printing has been completed as described above is removed from the printing jig 32a together with the storage case 60, and transported to the next step. The next process is the keyboard assembly process In some cases, or in the case of a storage shelf that is a temporary storage place before being transferred to the assembling process, or in a case where a large number of storage cases 60 are stored in a cardboard box for transportation to a distant place.

After the printing is completed as described above, the key top T transported together with the storage case 60 is manually fitted to the shaft of the keyboard in the keyboard assembling process. Thus, a plurality of objects are absorbed at the same time, and they are processed according to the respective methods adopted in the factory line, such as a method of supplying and fixing them at once to a keyboard.

14 and 15 show the details of the printing process when a specially made storage case 60 is used. Rails 32b are provided on the surface of the printing jig 32a so as to protrude in parallel. Thus, the position of the positioning jig 33a in the front-rear direction is determined. Then, the bolt 33b is projected from the hole provided in the printing jig 32a to fix the positioning jig 33a at a predetermined position. The upper surface 33d of the positioning jig 33a is provided with a reverse inclination in accordance with the inclination of the key top T, and the key top T is mounted thereon by placing the key top T thereon. The top surface u will be kept almost horizontal.

On the upper surface 33d of the positioning jig 33a, a vertical positioning protrusion 33e and a horizontal positioning protrusion 33ί are formed so as to protrude, and these protrusions have inclined surfaces toward the center. When the key tops T are fitted to these projections, the skirt of the key top 位置決め is positioned by the skirts of the projections 33e and 33f. A groove 33g is formed between the two protrusions 33e along the protrusions 33e.

On the other hand, inside the upper part of the frame 61 of the storage case 60, a positioning beam 64a is provided along the vertical beam 63, and when the storage case 60 is fitted on the positioning jig 33a, The positioning beam 64a fits into the groove 33g. As described above, when the positioning beam 64a provided on the storage case 60 is fitted into the groove 33g, the key top T supported on the storage case 60 is placed on the positioning jig 33a. It will be automatically supported and positioned. The following printing step and transporting step are as described above.

A printing apparatus according to the present invention has an upper structure, a lower structure facing the upper structure, and means for relatively approaching and separating the upper and lower structures, and a lower surface of the upper structure has a lower surface. A heating element having a pressing surface is supported individually or as a small group so as to be movable back and forth with respect to the lower structure so that the position can be adjusted, and the heating element is pressed from the upper surface of the upper structure. It is configured such that a pressing force is applied by the adjusting means, and the following operation and effect can be obtained.

(1) Pressing force adjusting means from the upper surface of the upper structure of the printing device It is possible to accurately adjust the force with which the heating element presses the printing medium by operating the adjusting bolts constituting the above.

This makes it possible to accurately or individually adjust the pressing force according to the characters and figures to be printed on the surface of the printing object, that is, the key tongue, which is a synthetic resin molded product, individually or as a small group. Printing can be performed.

In addition, since the adjustment bolt can be operated from the upper surface of the upper structure, it is possible to easily adjust to the optimum state while observing the printing state.

(2) Since the pressing force of the heating element can be adjusted individually or as a small group, to correct the error of the pressing force of each heating element like a conventional printing device, It was necessary to provide a thick elastic layer on the pressing surface, but according to the present invention, it is sufficient to provide only a thin elastic layer. It is possible to prevent the printing displacement and the shading difference from being generated by being pulled too much.

(3) Since it is not necessary to provide a thick elastic body on the surface of the heating element, the heat of the heating element can be efficiently transmitted to the surface of the printing object, and accurate printing can be performed.

Example 1 2

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a main part of the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment, in which a fixing plate 35 located at the uppermost part of the upper structure 22 is shown. (The upper plate 42 in Fig. 1 is omitted.) A cylinder device 48a operated by hydraulic pressure or pneumatic pressure is provided as a pressing force adjusting means, and a heat insulating plate is provided between the fixed plate 35 and the support plate 36. The device provided with 35a is shown.

This device is provided with a cylinder device 48a in place of the adjustment bolt 48, the spring 49 and the ball 50 of the device shown in FIG. The cylinder device 48a incorporates means for adjusting the internal pressure and means for measuring the pressure 48b, or is connected to a pressure control device.

In the former case, the pressure in the cylinder device 48a can be adjusted by operating an adjusting means such as a pressure adjusting screw. In the latter case, the printing condition can be observed with a television camera or the like, and the pressing conditions can be adjusted via the control device so that the printing can be performed in accordance with the optimum printing model. In addition, in the heat insulating plate 35a, the set pressure changes due to the heat of the heater 47 being transmitted to the cylinder device 48a and the hydraulic oil or air fluid contained in the cylinder device 48a expanding. This is to prevent things from happening.

Example 1 3

FIG. 8 shows the third embodiment, and schematically shows a series of apparatuses for automatically performing printing. Along the conveyor 100, there is a printing material supply section A, a transfer sheet supply section B, a transfer section C, a discharge sheet section D, and a print sheet removal section E. ing.

In this apparatus, a large number of key tops T as printing materials are accommodated in predetermined positions of a storage case 60 shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. The printing material is supplied by placing the assembled assembly on the printing material supply section A, which is the initial end side of the conveyor 100.

Due to the movement of the conveyor 100, the transfer sheet S having a predetermined pattern is fitted into the bin 31 on the support plate 29 in the transfer sheet supply section B, and the transfer sheet S is placed above the key top, which is the printing material. Position S. The support plate 29 is set on the movable plate 26 of the lower structure 21 at the position of the printing device P provided in the next transfer section C, and the support device 29 is raised by the lifting operation of the cylinder device 27. Then, the key top T is pressed against the heating element 46 provided on the upper structure 22 to perform sublimation printing.

In this case, the pressing force of the heating element 46 is adjusted by a pressing force adjusting means including a spring 49 and an adjusting bolt 48 in FIG. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the pressure is adjusted by the pressing force adjusting means including the cylinder device 48a.

When the printing is completed as described above, the transfer sheet S is removed from the printed key top T in the discharge sheet section D. Then, at the printed material takeout section E, The print take-out device 101 is extended on the key top T, sucked, removed from the printing jig 33 on the support plate 29, and transported to a predetermined place. In this case, the storage case 60 remaining on the printing jig 33 is removed and transported to the key top T forming process.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a device for automatically replacing the support 扳 29 of the printing device P in the third embodiment of FIG. 8, which is positioned on the movable plate 26 by the guide member 30. A device for extruding the supporting plate 29 by a cylinder device 102 to the side of the printing device P as indicated by an arrow and exchanging the same is shown. The support plate 29 is configured by setting a storage case 60 containing a key top T as a printing object on a printing jig 32 and a positioning jig 33. The printing apparatus P is disposed on the side of the conveyor 100, and the key top T before printing is transferred by the cylinder apparatus 102 together with the transfer sheet S onto the lower structure 21 of the printing apparatus P. The key top T, which has been printed, is transferred from above to the conveyor 100 along with the support plate 29 and the like, and the printed key top T can be transferred to the next process by the conveyor 100. . Example 1 4

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a printing process according to the fourth embodiment, in which a printing material supply unit A, a transfer sheet supply unit B, a transfer unit (:, a discharge sheet unit D) are provided around a rotary table 103. , Printed matter take-out section E and storage case discharge section F You. This device is obtained by arranging the device of FIG. 8 in a circular shape, and the operation thereof is as described above.

The invention's effect

Since the printing apparatus according to the present invention is configured as described above, the pressing force adjusting means is operated from above the upper structure to adjust the force for pressing the heating body against the molded article as the printing medium. While observing the printing condition, the pressing force can be finely adjusted immediately to maintain the optimum printing conditions.

In addition, the heating elements for pressing and transferring the transfer sheet to the surface of the molded article and heating it for carrying printing are supported individually or collectively in small groups on the upper structure so that they can come and go in the upper structure. Since the pressing force against the molded article is adjusted by the means, the elastic body such as silicon rubber provided on the surface of the heating body may be a thin layer as compared with the conventional one.

Therefore, not only is the heat transfer effect superior to that of conventional printing equipment, which requires heating of the molded article before printing, but also the transfer sheet is heated to the correct temperature. be able to. Also, since the elastic body is extremely thin and has a small amount of deformation, it does not generate a force to pull the transfer sheet in the lateral direction, and there is no displacement between the transfer sheet and the molded product, and clear printing can be performed. In a conventional printing device, the transfer sheet is shifted sideways by the pressing of the heating element. In order to prevent this drawback, a special transfer sheet with a slit near the print pattern was required to prevent this drawback, but in the present invention, such a transfer sheet was not used. However, clear printing can be performed.

The feature of the printing method using the special storage case according to the present invention is that a printing device is provided with a molded article to be printed, which is printed, and the storage case is used in all processes of taking out from the printing device. It is in.

This storage case serves as a case to store molded products, that is, key tops in the process of molding the key tobs, and also serves as a case to store them as they are. Then, when the printing pattern is determined, the storage case containing the unprinted top is transferred to the printing process, and printing is performed with the key top in this storage case. It is possible to perform a series of operations that take out the printed key top.

In addition, the key tops printed in the storage case are removed from the storage case by the take-out device, arranged in a predetermined position on the array tray, and stored or used in the keyboard assembly process. It can be transported. In other words, by using the storage case of the present invention, a series of steps from the molding step to the printing step and further to the assembly step of the electronic equipment can be efficiently completed. Is

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. An upper structure having a heating element that forms a print head, a lower structure that faces the upper structure, and supports a molded product that is a printing object, and a relatively close and separate space between these upper and lower structures A heating element having a pressing surface is supported on the lower surface of the upper structure so as to be able to adjust the pressing force by moving back and forth as a small group or individually. A printing apparatus for molded articles, characterized in that the pressing force can be adjusted by pressing force adjusting means operated from the upper surface of the upper structure.

2. The molded article printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating element constituting the printing head is fitted in a support hole provided in the upper structure so as to be movable back and forth.

3. The molded product printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating element constituting the printing head is supported by a spring provided in the support hole so as not to be pushed out.

4. The pressing force adjusting means for adjusting the pressing force of the heating element against the molded product consists of a bolt operated from the upper surface of the upper structure and a spring whose pressing length is adjusted by this bolt. The molded product printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an elastic pressing force is applied to the heating body via the spring.

5. The spring of the pressing force adjusting means is a coil spring. In this manner, the heating element is pressed directly, or the coil spring is supported on one side like a ball, and the end of the heating element is pressed on the other side. 2. The molded product printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressing force is concentrated on a central portion of the heating body via the stress concentration member.

6. A thin layer of an elastic body such as silicon rubber is provided on the surface of the heating body, and the elastic body is configured to apply an accurate pressing force to the surface of the molded article by the elastic body. The printing apparatus for molded articles according to claim 1.

7. The heating element is heated by heat from an electric heating device embedded in the upper structure, and the heating element is a series heater made of a nickel wire. Printing equipment for molded products.

8. The heating element is provided with a horizontal hole, into which a coil spring is inserted, and this heating element is movably supported by applying elastic force to a support hole provided in the upper structure. The molded product printing apparatus according to claim 1.

9. The molded product printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating body has a surface that presses the upper surface of the molded product and a surface that presses the inclined side surface.

10. The molded article printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating body includes a main heating body that presses the upper surface of the molded article, and an auxiliary heating body that presses a side surface of the molded article.

11. The molded article printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressing force adjusting means for pressing the heating body from the upper surface of the upper structure is a cylinder apparatus operated by fluid pressure.

12. The molded product printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressing force adjusting means for pressing the heating body from the upper surface of the upper structure is an electric motor.

13. One set of molded products stored in the storage case is supported, and the storage case is supported on a printing jig of the lower structure of the printing press, so that the molded product is held in a floating state from the storage case. 2. The apparatus for printing a molded article according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is configured to perform a printing operation.

14. The printing device is installed in a conveyor line, the conveyor line is used to mount a storage case storing molded products, a transfer sheet is disposed above the storage case, and a heating element is transferred. It consists of the step of printing by pressing from the back of the sheet, the step of discharging the transfer sheet after printing, and the step of removing the printed product from the printing jig of the printing device. Printing device.

15. The molded product according to claim 14, wherein a device for removing the molded product from the printing jig by vacuum suction is provided in the step of removing the molded product from the printing jig. Printing equipment.

16. A printing device that supplies, prints, and discharges the substrate to the printing device by means of a circular arrangement along the turntable.

17. The printing of a molded article according to claim 14, wherein the storage case for accommodating the molded article is fitted into a printing jig and has an opening formed to project a member for supporting the molded article from below. apparatus.

18. The case for storing the molded product is characterized in that the vertical beam and the horizontal beam cross each other in a grid pattern, and the intersection of these beams is formed with a part that supports the molded product at a predetermined position. A molded product printing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein:

19. The molded article printing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the cases for accommodating the molded articles are configured to be stacked in multiple stages.