WO2022244043A1 - 印刷装置及び印刷方法 - Google Patents
印刷装置及び印刷方法 Download PDFInfo
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- WO2022244043A1 WO2022244043A1 PCT/JP2021/018567 JP2021018567W WO2022244043A1 WO 2022244043 A1 WO2022244043 A1 WO 2022244043A1 JP 2021018567 W JP2021018567 W JP 2021018567W WO 2022244043 A1 WO2022244043 A1 WO 2022244043A1
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- Prior art keywords
- printing
- ink
- pad
- plate
- head
- Prior art date
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- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 82
- 239000000976 ink Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 204
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- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 claims description 23
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- 238000001994 activation Methods 0.000 description 22
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- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 4
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Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
- B41F17/00—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for
- B41F17/30—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for for printing on curved surfaces of essentially spherical, or part-spherical, articles
- B41F17/34—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for for printing on curved surfaces of essentially spherical, or part-spherical, articles on articles with surface irregularities, e.g. fruits, nuts
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
- B41F16/00—Transfer printing apparatus
- B41F16/0006—Transfer printing apparatus for printing from an inked or preprinted foil or band
- B41F16/0073—Transfer printing apparatus for printing from an inked or preprinted foil or band with means for printing on specific materials or products
- B41F16/008—Transfer printing apparatus for printing from an inked or preprinted foil or band with means for printing on specific materials or products for printing on three-dimensional articles
- B41F16/0086—Transfer printing apparatus for printing from an inked or preprinted foil or band with means for printing on specific materials or products for printing on three-dimensional articles for printing on articles with cylindrical surfaces
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
- B41F17/00—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for
- B41F17/001—Pad printing apparatus or machines
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
- B41F17/00—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for
- B41F17/30—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for for printing on curved surfaces of essentially spherical, or part-spherical, articles
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
- B41M1/00—Inking and printing with a printer's forme
- B41M1/40—Printing on bodies of particular shapes, e.g. golf balls, candles, wine corks
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2002/012—Ink jet with intermediate transfer member
Definitions
- the present invention relates to offset printing, and more particularly to a printing apparatus and printing method using an inkjet system.
- the offset printing method uses a printing pad, and presses the printing pad (also called a printing pad) against a printing plate on which ink is placed in a pattern corresponding to the printing pattern to print the ink in a printing pattern. Transfer to a pad for printing. Subsequently, a printing pattern is printed on the surface to be printed by pressing the printing pad against the surface to be printed and transferring the transferred ink to the surface to be printed.
- the printing pad also called a printing pad
- printing is performed on a printing original plate by an inkjet method, the printed image on the printing original plate is transferred to a printing pad, and printing is performed by pressing the printing pad against the object to be printed.
- the ink used has a low viscosity so that the printing plate can be printed by an inkjet method.
- UV (ultraviolet) curable ink is used for the ink.
- the UV curable ink on the original printing plate is semi-cured by ultraviolet irradiation to form the printed image on the original printing plate.
- the ink is transferred to the printing pad without being crushed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
- a method is also known in which air passed through a heater is applied to the ink on the original printing plate to evaporate the solvent in the ink and semi-cure the ink before the printed image is transferred to the printing pad ( For example, see Patent Document 2).
- red, blue, yellow, and black inks are formed on a printing original plate by a head and ejected from nozzles to form dots of each color in a predetermined range.
- An image can be expressed by arranging them at a predetermined ratio.
- Each color ink placed on the original printing plate is semi-cured, transferred to the printing pad, and pressed against the surface of the printed material.
- Patent Documents 1 and 2 four colors of red, blue, yellow, and black are used as printing inks, and by arranging a plurality of these in a predetermined ratio per unit area, A printed image is obtained.
- the printing methods disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 since the number of ink dots arranged in a unit area is limited, a plurality of color ink dots arranged in a unit area There was a problem that the ratio was limited and it was not possible to express subtle color differences.
- the present invention is intended to solve the above problems, and is a printing apparatus and a printing method for transferring a print image created on a printing original plate by an ink-jet method from the printing original plate to a printing material using a printing pad.
- An object of the present invention is to obtain a printing apparatus and a printing method with improved accuracy.
- a printing apparatus includes a printing pad having a printing surface that deforms following the shape of a surface to be printed, a printing plate having a mounting surface on which ink is placed, and the printing plate on which the printing plate is placed.
- the head is movable between above and above the printing stage, and is configured to move vertically with respect to the printing original plate stage or the printing stage, and the head carries a plurality of inks including intermediate color inks.
- a plurality of reservoirs for reservoirs and nozzles for ejecting each of the plurality of inks toward the printing original plate are provided.
- a plurality of inks including intermediate color inks composed of different colors are ejected from the head onto the original printing plate by an inkjet method, and the image is formed on the original printing plate.
- full-color (multicolor) printing can be performed on the original printing plate by an inkjet method in one step without exchanging the original printing plate, and a finer image than before can be obtained. can be printed.
- FIG. 1 is a side view showing an example of a printing device 100 according to Embodiment 1;
- FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a printing pad 10 included in the printing apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1;
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view when the printing pad 10 included in the printing apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 is pressed against the printed matter 70;
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view when the printing pad 10 included in the printing apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 is pressed against the printed matter 70;
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view when the printing pad 10 included in the printing apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 is pressed against the printed matter 70;
- FIG. 4 is a process explanatory diagram for printing using the printing pad 10 having a curved surface such as a hemisphere, a semicylinder, or a paraboloid according to Embodiment 1; 3A and 3B are schematic diagrams for explaining the structure of the head 30 according to Embodiment 1.
- FIG. FIG. 4 is a process explanatory view when printing using the printing pad 110 in the printing apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1; 3 is a flow of a printing method by the printing apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1; 4 is a flow of operations of the printing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment; It is a modification of the printing pad 10 used in the printing apparatus 100 of Embodiment 1.
- FIG. It is a modified example of the head 30 of the printing apparatus 100 of the first embodiment.
- Embodiment 1 A printing apparatus and a printing method according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited by the embodiments described below. Further, the same reference numerals are given to the same parts in each figure, and part of the description is omitted. Each figure is drawn schematically, and the present invention is not limited to the illustrated shape. Moreover, in this specification, the term “elastic body” or “elasticity” is not limited to a body having a linear relationship between the load applied thereto and the amount of deformation caused by the load. A non-linear relationship between the applied load and the amount of deformation caused by the load, including a return to the original shape, either immediately or after a predetermined time delay, when the applied load is removed. .
- FIG. 1 is a side view showing an example of a printing device 100 according to Embodiment 1.
- the printing apparatus 100 includes a printing pad 10 that is linearly movable in the vertical direction.
- the printing pad 10 is vertically moved by the vertical movement device 11 provided in the printing apparatus 100 to press the printing surface 4 against the printing surface 71 of the printed material 70 .
- the printing device 100 also includes a horizontal movement device 12 .
- the horizontal movement device 12 horizontally moves the printing pad 10 and the vertical movement device 11 .
- the printing pad 10 is moved by the horizontal movement device 12 above the printed material 70 as well as the cleaning device 60 , the activation device 61 , the air blow device 62 , or the original printing plate 50 .
- the printing pad 10 is moved up and down by the vertical movement device 11 to press the printing surface 4 against each of the printed matter 70 , the cleaning device 60 , the activation device 61 or the printing original plate 50 .
- the printing apparatus 100 has, from the left side, a printing stage 87 on which the printed material 70 is placed, a surface treatment stage 86 with a cleaning device 60, and a printing original plate stage 85.
- the surface treatment stage 86 has an activation device 61 and an air blow device 62 .
- the original printing plate 50 is placed on the original printing plate stage 85 . Further, a cleaning device 88 for cleaning the head 30 may be installed on the printing original plate stage 85 . However, in the printing apparatus 100, these stages can be freely arranged, and can be appropriately changed according to the convenience of the operator and the location where the printing apparatus 100 is installed. Also, the cleaning device 60 , activation device 61 , air blow device 62 and cleaning device 88 of the printing device 100 may not be installed in the printing device 100 .
- FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the printing pad 10 included in the printing apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1.
- FIG. 2 shows a cross-section through the top 6 of the printing pad 10 and perpendicular to the plane 13 to which the substrate 5 is fixed.
- the base material 5 of the printing pad 10 comprises an inner layer 1 and an outer layer 2 covering the surface of the inner layer 1 .
- the printing pad 10 shown in FIG. 2 has, for example, a substantially hemispherical shape. Note that the shape of the printing pad 10 is not limited to this.
- the printing pad 10 may have a cannonball shape, a shape having a curved surface formed by rotating a parabola around its axis of symmetry, a shape such as a cut part of an ellipsoid, a cannonball shape, or a semicircular cross section that is aligned on a straight line.
- the shape can be appropriately changed according to the specifications of the printed matter 70, such as a continuously stretched shape.
- the printing pad 10 comprises an apex 6 that first comes into contact with the printed product 70 or the original printing plate 50, and the apex 6 consists of dots or lines.
- a predetermined area around the top 6 of the surface of the printing pad 10 serves as the printing surface 4 on which ink is transferred from the original printing plate 50 and transferred to the printed matter 70 .
- the base material 5 is formed by molding silicone rubber, for example.
- the base material 5 has elasticity (flexibility) and is mixed with silicone oil to facilitate deformation.
- the base material 5 has a substantially hemispherical shape, but the shape can be appropriately changed according to the specifications of the printed matter 70 or the like.
- the substrate 5 is deformed when the printing pad 10 is pressed against the original printing plate 50 , and transfers the ink 40 (see FIG. 3 ) placed on the placing surface 51 of the original printing plate 50 to the printing surface 4 .
- the ink 40 placed on the placement surface 51 of the original printing plate 50 is arranged corresponding to the image printed on the printed matter 70, forming a print pattern corresponding to the print image.
- the material of the substrate 5 is not limited as long as the ink 40 can be transferred to the printing surfaces 71, 72, and 73 when the printing pad 10 is pressed against the printing surfaces 71, 72, and 73. .
- the base material 5 may be made of two different hardness materials.
- the material of the outer layer 2 that constitutes the portion near the printing surface 4 is set in the Asker C hardness range of 50 to 70 points.
- the Asker C hardness of the material forming the inner layer 1 inside the outer layer 2 is set to 100 points.
- the inner layer 1 is located on the side where a force is applied to press the printing surface 4 against the printed surfaces 71, 72, and 73 during printing, and is located closer to the support member 7 than the outer layer 2 is.
- the support member 7 is connected to the vertical movement device 11 and is a part that transmits the force from the vertical movement device 11 to the printing pad 10 .
- the upper portion of the substrate 5 has an Asker C hardness of 100 points
- the lower portion of the substrate 5 (the side where the top portion 6 is located) has an Asker C hardness of 50 to 50 points. Set to a range of 70 points.
- it is desirable that the hardness of the printing pad 10 is set low. Therefore, the hardness of the portion of the printing pad 10 on the side of the printing surface 4 that is pressed against the printed matter 70 is set lower than that of the upper portion thereof.
- the outer layer 2 which is directly pressed against the printing surfaces 71, 72, and 73, is not only the printing surface 71, but also the printing surface 72, which is a curved surface, and is inclined with respect to the direction in which the printing pad 10 moves. There is an advantage that it is easy to deform so as to follow the printing surface 73 .
- the hardness of each portion of the base material 5 is not limited to the hardness described above.
- a surface treatment stage 86 is arranged next to the printing stage 87 of the printing apparatus 100 .
- a cleaning device 60 is installed on the surface treatment stage 86 .
- Cleaning device 60 comprises, for example, paper or adhesive tape.
- the printing surface 4 of the printing pad 10 is pressed against the surface of paper or adhesive tape to remove ink 40 remaining after printing, dirt, dust, or the like.
- the activation device 61 includes a reservoir for storing liquid and an absorption unit for absorbing and retaining the liquid.
- the liquid retained by the absorbent unit adheres to the printing surface 4 of the printing pad 10 by being pressed against the surface of the absorbent unit.
- the printing pad 10 makes it easier to transfer the ink 40 placed on the original printing plate 50 to the printing surface 4 by attaching or impregnating the base material 5 with water or a solvent.
- the liquid is appropriately selected according to the properties of the ink 40 and has the property of softening the hard ink 40 .
- the ink 40 is a mixture of synthetic resins such as acrylic resins or urethane resins, and water, thinner, xylene, or toluene.
- the liquid used in the activation device 61 is not limited to the above.
- the absorption unit of the activation device 61 is constructed by stacking, for example, thin sheet-like absorption materials.
- the absorbent material is made of paper, for example, but is not limited to paper, and may be made of other material such as cloth or resin as long as it absorbs liquid.
- the absorbent unit may be formed by laminating paper on a sponge-like resin. The surface of the absorbent unit against which the printing surface 4 of the printing pad 10 is pressed is stained with ink 40 remaining on the printing surface 4 of the printing pad 10, or the surface of the absorbent unit is scraped.
- the paper located on the top layer of the absorbent unit can be removed by peeling it from the top layer of the absorbent unit, and the stack can be removed one by one, or the upper layer can be replaced mechanically.
- the method of replacing the paper located in the uppermost layer is not limited to this method. Since the absorbent unit is configured such that the paper constituting the uppermost layer can be removed or replaced, the surface of the absorbent unit is always kept clean and permeated with liquid. Pressing surface 4 activates the printing surface.
- Air blow device 62 adjusts the amount of water or solvent adhering to the printing surface 4 of the printing pad 10 by the activation device 61 to an appropriate amount.
- the air blow device 62 blows air toward the printing surface 4 to remove excess water or solvent from the printing surface 4 .
- the type, quantity, and direction of blowing air of the air blow device 62 are not limited.
- FIG. 5 is a process explanatory diagram for printing using the printing pad 10 having a curved surface such as a hemisphere, a semicylinder, or a paraboloid according to the first embodiment.
- FIG. 5 is an explanatory view extracting the original printing plate stage 85 of FIG.
- the printing original plate 50 is placed on the upper surface of the printing original plate stage 85, and the head 30 is installed above it so as to be freely movable in the horizontal direction.
- the head 30 applies ink to the surface of the original printing plate 50 by an ink jet method, and is configured to be movable along a moving rail 33 .
- ⁇ Printing original plate 50> The original printing plate 50 is placed on the original printing plate stage 85, and the ink 40 is placed on the placing surface 51. By pressing the printing surface 4 of the printing pad 10 against the placing surface 51, Ink 40 is transferred to the printing surface 4 .
- the original printing plate 50 has an appropriate surface roughness, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 9-39431 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-235989, title of the invention: offset printing method using an inkjet method) filed by the applicant. An aluminum plate adjusted to the thickness is used.
- the original printing plate 50 is adjusted to have an appropriate surface roughness, so that the substantial surface energy is adjusted, and the ink applied on the original printing plate 50 by an ink jet system is appropriately applied.
- the original printing plate 50 is made of an aluminum plate whose surface roughness is adjusted to 1.5s to 3s (JIS), for example, so that the printing original plate 50 has good ink transfer, and the ink is transferred by the printing pad 10. can be performed well.
- JIS 1.5s to 3s
- the head 30 forms a fine print image on the surface of the original printing plate 50 by arranging ink dots of a plurality of colors on the surface of the original printing plate 50 by an inkjet method.
- the head 30 includes a plurality of reservoirs 31 each capable of storing a plurality of inks of different colors, and nozzles 32 for ejecting the inks stored in the reservoirs 31 .
- Nozzles 32 have small holes that deposit ink as fine droplets onto the surface of printing plate 50 .
- the viscosity of the ink 40 is set low so that it can pass through small holes, and is adjusted to, for example, 0.1 mPa ⁇ s to 1 mPa ⁇ s.
- the viscosity of the ink 40 may be adjusted to 0.5 mPa ⁇ s to 0.7 mPa ⁇ s as a more suitable viscosity.
- the ink 40 is prepared by stirring and dispersing a pigment, a monomer, a synthetic resin, a dispersant, a photopolymerization material, a photopolymerization initiator, and the like in a solvent, and is configured by appropriately adjusting the ratio of the solvent.
- a drying device 34 is arranged near the head 30 to increase the viscosity of the ink on the original printing plate.
- FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram explaining the structure of the head 30 according to the first embodiment.
- FIG. 6 conceptually shows the detailed structure of the head 30, and the specific structure can be changed as appropriate.
- the head 30 is composed of heads 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D and 30E.
- the head 30A includes a reservoir 31A and a pressure device 35 for ejecting the ink in the reservoir 31A from the nozzles 32A.
- the heads 30B to 30E similarly have any of the reservoirs 31B to 31E, and have a pressure device 35 for ejecting ink from any of the nozzles 32B to 32E.
- the head 30 comprises a plurality of reservoirs 31 , a plurality of nozzles 32 and a plurality of pressure devices 35 .
- ink jet printing is performed using three primary color inks and a black color called a key. forming a printed image; A printed image varies the colors perceived by an observer by varying the ratio of the number of red, blue, yellow, and black ink dots arranged per unit area.
- the three primary color inks 40 may be, for example, magenta as red and cyan as blue.
- the head 30 in FIG. 6 of the first embodiment stores, for example, in addition to the four color inks of red, blue, yellow and black filled in the heads 30A to 30D, intermediate color inks of the four color inks 40 are stored.
- a plurality of inks 40 including intermediate color inks may be filled in any of the heads 30A to 30E.
- the intermediate color inks are inks of hues other than the three primary colors that are produced by mixing inks of the three primary colors.
- the head 30 in FIG. 6 stores black ink in the head 30A, red ink in the head 30B, blue ink in the head 30C, and yellow ink in the head 30D. Then, intermediate color ink is stored in the head 30E.
- the intermediate color ink is ink 40 having a hue different from that of the ink 40 stored in the heads 30A to 30D, and is obtained by decomposing the print image printed on the printed matter 70 into a plurality of hues.
- the intermediate color ink is preferably set to the hue with the largest proportion of the plurality of hues of the print image printed on the printed material 70 .
- the intermediate color ink when printing a wood grain pattern in which the basic hue is brown, among the plurality of hues forming the printed image, among the plurality of hues constituting the printed image, a color with relatively high lightness is used as the intermediate color ink.
- the printed image is represented by intermediate color ink dots and other red, blue, yellow, and black inks 40, so that the color difference in each part of the wood grain pattern can be more accurately recognized. can be expressed.
- the number of dots per unit area of the ink 40 arranged on the surface of the printing pad 10 is limited.
- the intermediate color ink the number of dots of the ink used for brown, which is the base hue of the printed image, can be reduced. color difference can be expressed in more detail.
- the head 30 is not limited to the configuration in which any one of the heads 30A to 30E stores intermediate color ink, and two or more heads 30 may store different intermediate color inks.
- two or more heads 30 may store different intermediate color inks.
- different intermediate colors may be stored in all the storage sections 31 of the head 30 .
- the difference in color of each part of the wood grain pattern can be expressed with a small number of dots, the wood grain pattern can be expressed more precisely.
- FIG. 7 is a process explanatory diagram for printing using the printing pad 110 in the printing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment.
- the printing pad 10 used in the printing apparatus 100 is not limited to the one that moves vertically and presses against the original printing plate 50 or the printed matter 70 as shown in FIG.
- the printing pad 110 is formed in a columnar shape and configured to roll along the surface of the original printing plate 50 or the printed matter 70 .
- the printing pad 110 is not only pressed vertically against the original printing plate 50 or the printed matter 70, but also rolls and moves on the surface of the original printing plate 50 while being pressed.
- the printing pad 110 can accurately print on the printed material 170 having a planar shape or a shape with few unevenness. However, in the case of the printed material 70 having large convex portions as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the printable range of the printing pad 110 is limited.
- FIG. 8 is a flow of a printing method by the printing device 100 according to the first embodiment. A printing method using the printing apparatus 100 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 7. FIG.
- Print original plate preparation process OP1 As shown in FIG. 8, in the printing method, first, a printing original plate forming step OP1 of forming a print image on a mounting surface 51 of a printing original plate 50 is performed. As shown in FIG. 5 , the original printing plate 50 has a flat plate shape and is placed on the original printing plate stage 85 . In the first embodiment, the original printing plate 50 is a thin flat plate made of aluminum alloy, but it is also possible to use a sheet material called a "receiving sheet" which has excellent retention and affinity with UV ink. Further, by providing unevenness on the sheet material, it is possible to improve ink retention and affinity. The surface of the original printing plate 50 is finished to have a predetermined surface roughness.
- the head 30 is configured to be horizontally movable at least above the original printing plate 50 by a feeding device (not shown).
- the original printing plate 50 may be configured to be movable with respect to the head 30 .
- Head 30 creates an image under computer control.
- the original printing plate preparation step OP1 has the same configuration even when offset printing is performed on a printed material 70 having a curved surface.
- a printed image is obtained by ejecting fine ink droplets from nozzles and spraying them onto the original printing plate 50 .
- the head 30 includes, for example, inks of four colors, red, blue, yellow, and black, as well as a storage section 31 that stores intermediate color inks having four intermediate colors, and nozzles 32 that eject the intermediate color inks.
- the head 30 deposits dots of ink of five different colors, including at least intermediate color inks, on the surface of the original printing plate 50 .
- Ink drying process OP2 After the printing original plate preparation process OP1 is completed, the ink drying process OP2 is performed.
- the viscosity of the ink 40 on the printing plate 50 is low immediately after the printing plate making step OP1 is completed. If the viscosity of the ink 40 on the original printing plate 50 is low, the ink 40 is crushed when the printing pad 10 is pressed against the ink 40 on the original printing plate 50, and is not transferred accurately. In addition, the accuracy of the printed image is lowered due to bleeding of the ink 40 or the like. Therefore, in the ink drying process OP2, the solvent contained in the ink 40 is evaporated and the viscosity of the ink 40 is increased.
- the ink 40 on the original printing plate 50 is blown or the original printing plate 50 is heated to evaporate the solvent in the ink 40 .
- the original printing plate 50 may be placed on the original printing plate stage 85 and dried naturally for a predetermined time.
- Solvents are more volatile than other components in ink 40 .
- the solvent is evaporated from the ink 40 to increase the proportion of other components in the ink, thereby increasing the viscosity of the ink.
- the ink drying process OP2 is completed, the viscosity of the ink 40 is adjusted to 3 Pa ⁇ s to 1000 Pa ⁇ s.
- the drying time of the ink is desirably matched with the time required for the subsequent transfer process OP3 and printing process OP4. By configuring in this way, a large number of prints 70 and 170 can be printed continuously and efficiently.
- the printing original plate 50 may be moved from the printing original plate stage 85 or may be left on the printing original plate stage 85.
- the printing original plate 50 is moved from the printing original plate stage 85, the other printing original plate 50 can be immediately placed on the printing original plate stage 85 and the printing original plate preparation process OP1 can be started. has the advantage of shortening the cycle time of
- Drying of the ink 40 on the original printing plate 50 is performed by, for example, installing a drying device 34 equipped with, for example, a blower and a heater next to the head of the head 30, and sending air that has passed through the heater onto the original printing plate 50 by means of the blower. .
- the heater installed together with the blower is set to a temperature as high as possible below the boiling point of the solvent contained in the ink 40 .
- the solvent contained in the ink 40 is selected such that it does not dry in the head portion of the head 30 and semi-dries in the ink drying step OP2.
- the solvent is selected to have a flash point of 40° C. or higher and a boiling point of 120° C. or higher.
- the temperature of the heater installed beside the head of the head 30 is set to 100° C., for example.
- the photopolymerizing agent and the initiator contained in the ink 40 should be contained at a ratio of 1/3 to 1/2 of the total ink 40. good to adjust. It should be noted that a solvent with a low dissolving power is desirable because a solvent with a high dissolving power will damage the head of the head 30 .
- the ink 40 used in the printing device 100 is not limited to the above.
- Transfer process OP3 As shown in FIG. 5B, in the transfer step OP3, when printing is performed using the printing pad 10 having a curved surface such as a parabolic surface, the printing pad 10 is A print image is transferred by pressing the printing platen 50 from the vertex. When using the cylindrical printing pad 110 according to the modification, the cylindrical printing pad 110 is rolled on the original printing plate 50 . Then, the ink 40 placed on the original printing plate 50 is transferred to the surface of the printing pad 110 .
- Print process OP4 As shown in FIG. 5(3), in the printing process OP4, the printing pad 10 is pressed against the printed matter 70. As shown in FIG. The ink 40 adhering to the surface of the printing pad 10 is transferred to the surface of the printed material 70 . When the printing pad 10 is used for printing, even if the surface of the printed matter 70 has a curved surface, the printed matter can be printed following the curved surface. As shown in FIG. 7(3), when the surface of the printed matter 70 has a flat plate shape or a curved surface close to a flat plate, printing is performed by rolling the cylindrical printing pad 10 on the surface of the printed matter 70. Also good.
- the ink 40 transferred onto the surface of the printed matter 70 in the printing step OP4 is fixed.
- the surface of the printed matter 70 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation device 80 to cure the ink 40 .
- an electron beam may be used instead of ultraviolet rays.
- an ultraviolet irradiation device 80 having a plurality of light sources 81 for irradiating ultraviolet rays along the curved surface is used. It is desirable to use
- the means for curing the ink 40 is not limited to the means for curing the ink 40 by irradiating ultraviolet rays or electron beams. You can use the means of Furthermore, the ink 40 may be cured by natural drying.
- FIG. 9 is an operational flow of the printing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment. In carrying out the printing method shown in FIG. 8, the printing apparatus 100 operates according to the flow shown in FIG.
- the start process is a process that is performed immediately after the printing apparatus 100 is activated. Since the surface of the printing pad 10 may not be activated immediately after the production of printed matter is started, a process is performed to properly activate the printing surface 4 of the printing pad 10 .
- the printing apparatus 100 moves the printing pad 10 above the activation device 61 and lowers it toward the activation device 61 .
- the printing pad 10 is lifted after the printing surface 4 is pressed against the absorbent unit of the activation device 61 and a predetermined area including the printing surface 4 is in contact with the absorbent unit. This is called an activation step (SP1).
- liquid such as water or solvent soaked into the absorbent unit of the activation device 61 adheres to or soaks into the printing surface 4 of the printing pad 10 .
- the printing pad 10 has irregularities formed on its surface and soaks into the absorbent unit. This step is referred to as the first starting step.
- the printing device 100 After the start first step is completed, it is determined whether or not the amount of liquid adhering to the printing surface 4 of the printing pad 10 is appropriate (SP2). If the amount of liquid adhering to the printing surface 4 is not appropriate (NO in SP2), the printing device 100 performs an air blow process (SP3). In the air blowing process, the air blowing device 62 blows air onto the printing surface 4 of the printing pad 10 to remove excess liquid adhering to the printing surface 4 . It should be noted that the case where the amount of liquid adhering to the printing surface 4 is not appropriate means the case where an excessive amount of liquid is adhering to the printing surface 4 . The above process is called a start second process.
- the printing device 100 After completing the start second step, it is determined whether or not the amount of liquid adhering to the printing surface 4 of the printing pad 10 is appropriate (SP4). If excess water or solvent is still adhered to the printing surface 4 of the printing pad 10 (NO in SP4), the printing device 100 performs an absorption step (SP5). In the absorption process, the printing device 100 presses the printing surface 4 of the printing pad 10 against the cleaning device 60 . As a result, excess liquid adhering to the printing surface 4 of the printing pad 10 is removed. The above steps are referred to as the starting third step.
- the air blowing step (SP3) and the absorbing step (SP5) may be omitted. Also, the air blowing process and the absorbing process may be performed in a different order. Furthermore, the air blowing process and the absorbing process may be performed multiple times.
- the repeated steps include an ink placement step (S1), an ink transfer step (S2), a printing step (S3), a cleaning step (S4), an activation step (S5), an air blowing step (S7), and an absorption step (S9).
- the printing apparatus 100 includes an ink placement process (S1), an ink transfer process (S2), a printing process (S3), a cleaning process (S4), an activation process (S5), and an air blow process. (S7) and the absorption step (S9).
- the repeating steps are not limited to this order.
- the printing apparatus 100 performs the absorption step (S9) from the printing step (S3).
- the printing apparatus 100 may perform the next ink placing step (S1) in parallel while performing the printing step (S3) to the absorbing step (S9).
- the ink placement step (S1) corresponds to the printing original plate preparation step OP1 of the printing method shown in FIG.
- the ink transfer step (S2) corresponds to the transfer step OP3 of the printing method shown in FIG.
- the printing step (S3) corresponds to the printing step OP4 of the printing method shown in FIG.
- the printed matter 70 is completed each time the printing process (S3) is performed.
- the printed matter 70 is not limited to one, and a plurality of printed matter may be printed at the same time.
- a plurality of printing pads 10 may be installed in the printing apparatus 100 .
- the cleaning step ( S ⁇ b>4 ) the printing surface 4 of the printing pad 10 after transferring the ink 40 to the printing surfaces 71 , 72 and 73 is pressed against the flat cleaning surface of the cleaning device 60 . Ink 40 remaining on the printing pad 10 is caused to adhere to the cleaning surface.
- the cleaning surface is composed of paper or adhesive tape, but is not limited to these.
- the activation step (S5) has the same content as the activation step (SP1) in the start step.
- the air blow step (S7) has the same content as the air blow step (SP3) in the start step.
- the absorption step (S9) also has the same content as the absorption step (SP5) in the start step.
- the air blowing step (S7) and the absorbing step (S9) are performed according to the amount of liquid such as water or solvent adhering to the printing surface 4 of the printing pad 10, and one of them may be omitted, At least one of them may be performed multiple times.
- the air blowing step (S7) and the absorbing step (S9) are carried out according to the activation state of the printing surface 4 after confirming the state of the printing surface 4 of the printing pad 10 before each step. (S6 and S8).
- the confirmation step (S6 and S8) the state of the printing surface 4 of the printing pad 10 is confirmed, and if the activation state of the printing surface 4 is appropriate, in the repeated judgment step (S10), whether to perform printing again. determine whether or not When printing is to be performed again (YES in S10), the steps from the ink placement step (S1) are repeated again. If the printing is not to be repeated (NO in S10), the production of the printed matter ends.
- the printing apparatus 100 performs printing on a large number of printed materials 70 by performing the start process at startup and then performing the repeated process. Note that if the printing pad 10 is in an activated state, the above starting steps (SP1 to SP5) may be omitted.
- the printing pad 10 or 110 having the printing surface 4 in contact with the surface to be printed, the printing plate 50 having the mounting surface 51 on which the ink 40 is placed, and the printing plate 50 are placed.
- a printing plate stage 85 on which to place a printing plate, a printing stage 87 on which a printed material 70 or 170 having a surface to be printed is placed and fixed, and a head 30 for printing an ink image on the printing plate 50 by an inkjet method.
- the printing pad 10 or 110 is movable between above the printing original plate stage 85 and above the printing stage 87, and is configured to vertically move up and down with respect to the printing original plate stage 85 or the printing stage 87. ing.
- the head 30 includes a plurality of reservoirs 31 that respectively store a plurality of inks, and nozzles 32 that eject each of the plurality of inks 40 toward the original printing plate 50 .
- the plurality of reservoirs 31 is composed of at least five reservoirs 31 .
- the printing apparatus 100 can store a plurality of colors of ink in each of the plurality of storage portions 31 of the head 30, and particularly any of red, blue, yellow, and black. Intermediate colors can be stored.
- the printed image formed on the surface of the original printing plate 50 of the printing apparatus 100 expresses different colors by combining dots of a plurality of colors. can express colors by combining intermediate colors.
- one of the four colors is arranged at a certain ratio to express a color.
- one intermediate color ink can be added for printing, so that at least one intermediate color ink can be added to the conventional four colors. Therefore, for example, when a print image is mostly occupied by a specific hue, it is possible to print using a neutral color ink that matches the specific hue. As a result, it is possible to reduce the number of ink dots per unit area that are used to express a specific hue. improves.
- the printing apparatus 100 uses the printing pad 10 to transfer the print image formed on the original printing plate 50 to the printed material 70 instead of printing directly onto the printed material 70 using an inkjet method. Therefore, high-precision printing can be performed even on three-dimensionally shaped surfaces to be printed, such as the surfaces to be printed 71 , 72 and 73 of the printed matter 70 .
- the neutral color ink used for printing is selected according to the printed image. Therefore, each of the plurality of reservoirs 31 of the head 30 is detachably attached to the head 30 . This facilitates replacement of the intermediate color ink, and the printing apparatus 100 can handle various printed materials.
- FIG. 10 is a modification of the printing pad 10 used in the printing apparatus 100 of Embodiment 1.
- the printing pad 10 according to Embodiment 1 may include a protective coating layer 3 covering the surface of the substrate 5 .
- the protective coating layer 3 constitutes the outer printing surface 4 of the printing pad 10 .
- the protective coating layer 3 is formed by attaching a 0.5 mm silicone rubber sheet to the surface of the outer layer 2, for example.
- the protective coating layer 3 prevents the silicone oil contained in the soft silicone rubber inside from seeping out onto the printing surface 4 .
- the outer surface of the protective coating layer 3 constitutes the printing surface 4 and is repeatedly pressed against the original printing plate 50 and the surfaces to be printed 71, 72, and 73, so durability against scratches and wear is required.
- the protective coating layer 3 uses a material having a higher hardness than the outer layer 2, and when the printing surface 4 is pressed against the printing surfaces 71, 72, and 73, the printing surfaces 71, 72, and 73 It is thin to follow 73.
- the thickness of the protective coating layer 3 is configured to be as thin as possible, preferably in the range of 0.1 mm to 1 mm, for example.
- the material for the protective coating layer 3 is not limited to silicone rubber, and any material can be selected as appropriate as long as it follows the deformation of the inner layer 1 and the outer layer 2 .
- the printing pad 10 may be formed to have a multi-layer structure.
- the inner layer 1 or the outer layer 2 of the printing pad 10 shown in FIG. 10 may be formed in a multi-layer structure with materials having different hardness.
- the protective coating layer 3 is attached to the surface of the base material 5, but when damage such as scratches or wear occurs, it can be peeled off from the surface of the base material 5 and replaced with a new one.
- the protective coating layer 3 is less expensive than the base material 5, and the inner base material 5 can be used as it is by replacing it. Therefore, by renewing the protective coating layer 3, the expensive base material 5 can be used repeatedly, and the state of the printing surface 4 of the printing pad 10 can be kept suitable for printing. As a result, the printing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment can reduce printing costs.
- the base material 5 is composed of the inner layer 1 and the outer layer 2, but it may be composed of the inner layer 1 alone.
- the protective coating layer 3 may be provided on the base material 5 formed of only one inner layer 1 .
- the base material 5 may be damaged by peeling off the protective coating layer 3, or the surface of the base material 5 may be deteriorated such as hardening. be. Therefore, it is desirable that the base material 5 is composed of multiple layers as shown in FIG.
- FIG. 11 is a modification of the head 30 of the printing apparatus 100 of Embodiment 1.
- the printing apparatus 100 is provided with the head 30 configured such that one of the plurality of reservoirs 31 stores intermediate color ink. It may be configured to store the ink 40 .
- FIG. 11 conceptually shows the detailed structure of the head 30, and the specific structure can be changed as appropriate.
- the head 30 in FIG. 11 is composed of at least four heads 30A to 30D, and the heads 30A to 30D are provided with nozzles 32A to 32D, respectively.
- a reservoir 31A of the head 30A is connected to an ink tank unit 36A.
- the ink tank unit 36A includes sub reservoirs 31AA, 31AB, 31AC, and 31AD, and is configured to be able to store four types of ink 40 therein.
- the sub reservoirs 31AA, 31AB, 31AC, and 31AD store, for example, three primary color inks and black ink, respectively.
- the sub-reservoirs 31AA, 31AB, 31AC and 31AD each comprise a pressure device 35 .
- the head 30A is configured such that the inks 40 stored in the sub reservoirs 31AA, 31AB, 31AC, and 31AD can flow into the reservoir 31A at an arbitrary ratio and be mixed.
- the heads 30B-30D other than the head 30A also have ink tank units 36B-36D.
- the ink tank units 36B to 36D have the same structure as the ink tank unit 36A, and may be collectively called the ink tank unit 36 in some cases.
- a plurality of inks 40 stored in the sub reservoirs 31AA, 31AB, 31AC and 31AD of the ink tank unit 36 can be mixed in the reservoirs 31B to 31D in the same manner as the head 30A. Therefore, in the reservoirs 31B to 31D as well, the inks 40 stored in the plurality of sub reservoirs 31AA, 31AB, 31AC and 31AD can be mixed at an arbitrary ratio.
- Some of the heads 30A to 30D may be configured to have only a single reservoir 31 without being connected to the ink tank unit .
- any intermediate color ink can be created in the reservoirs 31A to 31D of the heads 30A to 30D constituting the head 30, so that it is possible to print images of various hues. .
- printing can be performed while producing different intermediate color inks in each of the heads 30A to 30D.
- each of the heads 30A to 30D may flow only one color of ink stored in each of the sub-storage sections 31AA, 31AB, 31AC and 31AD.
- the printing apparatus 100 having the head 30 of FIG. 11 may include a cleaning device 88 that cleans the head 30 .
- the head 30 of FIG. 11 may be configured such that the nozzles 32A to 32D and the reservoirs 31A to 31D are replaceable.
- the printing apparatus 100 is configured so that the storage portions 31A to 31D and the nozzles 32A to 32D of the head 30 can be replaced, so that when a problem such as ink clogging occurs in the nozzles 32, production can be performed only by replacing the head 30. can continue.
- the color of the ink can be changed according to the printed matter 70, it is possible to produce a wide variety of printed matter 70.
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Abstract
Description
以下、本発明に係る印刷装置及び印刷方法について、図面を参照しながら説明する。なお、以下に説明する実施の形態によって本発明が限定されるものではない。また、各図において同じ部分には同じ符号を付し、一部の説明を省略する。また、各図は模式的に描かれたものであって、本発明は図示された形状に限定されるものではない。また、本明細書において、弾性体又は弾性とは、これに加わる荷重と該荷重によって生じる変形量とが直線的な関係にあるものに限定するものではない。加わる荷重と該荷重によって生じる変形量とが非直線的な関係であって、加わっていた荷重が除かれた場合に、即時又は所定の時間遅れの後に、元の形状に戻るものを含んでいる。
図1は、実施の形態1に係る印刷装置100の一例を表した側面図である。印刷装置100は、上下方向に直線的に移動自在な印刷用パッド10を備える。印刷用パッド10は、印刷装置100が備える上下方向移動装置11により印刷用パッド10を上下動させ、印刷物70の被印刷面71に印刷面4を押し付けるものである。また、印刷装置100は、水平方向移動装置12を備える。水平方向移動装置12は、印刷用パッド10及び上下方向移動装置11を水平方向に移動させるものである。
図2は、実施の形態1に係る印刷装置100が備える印刷用パッド10の一例を示す断面図である。図2は、印刷用パッド10の頂部6を通り、基材5が固定された平面13に垂直な断面を示している。図2に示されるように、印刷用パッド10の基材5は、内部層1と内部層1の表面を覆う外部層2とを備える。図2に示された印刷用パッド10は、例えば略半球形状である。なお、印刷用パッド10の形状はこれに限定されない。例えば、印刷用パッド10は、砲弾形状、放物線をその対称軸周りに回転させてできる曲面を有する形状、楕円体を切断した一部等の形状、砲弾形状又は半円形状の断面を一直線上に連続的に伸ばした形状等、印刷物70の仕様等に応じて適宜形状を変更できる。印刷用パッド10は、印刷物70又は印刷原版50に最初に接触する頂部6を備え、頂部6が点又は線で構成される。これにより、印刷用パッド10は、印刷物70又は印刷原版50に押し付けられた際に、印刷面4と印刷物70又は印刷原版50との間に空気を噛み込むことがない。よって、印刷物70に施される印刷画像に抜けが発生するのを防止することができる。実施の形態1においては、印刷用パッド10の表面のうち、頂部6を中心とした所定の範囲が、印刷原版50からインクを移し取り、印刷物70に転写する印刷面4となる。
基材5は、例えばシリコーンゴムを成形して構成される。基材5は、弾性(可撓(かとう)性)を備え、変形しやすくするためにシリコーンオイルが混合されている。実施の形態1においては、基材5は、略半球形状になっているが、印刷物70の仕様等に応じて適宜形状を変更することができる。基材5は、印刷用パッド10が印刷原版50に押し付けられた際に変形し、印刷原版50の載置面51に載置されたインク40(図3参照)を印刷面4に移し取る。印刷原版50の載置面51に載置されたインク40は、印刷物70に印刷される画像に対応し配置されており、印刷画像に応じた印刷パターンを形成している。なお、基材5は、印刷用パッド10が被印刷面71、72、及び73に押し付けられた際にインク40を被印刷面71、72、及び73に移し渡すことができれば、材料は限定されない。
図1に示される様に、印刷装置100の印刷ステージ87の隣には表面処理ステージ86が配置されている。表面処理ステージ86には、クリーニング装置60が設置されている。クリーニング装置60は、例えば紙又は粘着テープを備える。印刷用パッド10の印刷面4は、紙又は粘着テープの表面に押し付けられることにより、印刷後に残存するインク40、汚れ、又はゴミ等が除去される。
活性化装置61は、液体を貯留する貯留槽、液体を吸収して保持する吸収ユニットを備える。印刷用パッド10の印刷面4は、吸収ユニットの表面に押し付けられることにより、吸収ユニットが保持する液体が付着する。印刷用パッド10は、基材5に水又は溶剤を付着又は染み込ませることにより、印刷原版50に載置されたインク40を印刷面4に転写しやすくなる。液体は、インク40との性質に応じて適宜選定されるものであって、硬いインク40を軟化させる性質を有する。インク40は、アクリル樹脂又はウレタン樹脂等の合成樹脂類、及び水、シンナー、キシレン、又はトルエン等の混合剤であり、インク40に含まれる溶剤との親和性が高いものを選択すると良い。ただし、活性化装置61に用いられる液体は、上記のみに限定されるものではない。
エアーブロー装置62は、活性化装置61により印刷用パッド10の印刷面4に付着した水又は溶剤を適量に調整するものである。エアーブロー装置62は、印刷面4に向けて空気を吹き付け、印刷面4から余分な水又は溶剤を除去する。なお、エアーブロー装置62の形式、数量、及び空気を吹き付ける方向は限定されるものではない。
図5は、実施の形態1に係る半球、半円筒、又は表面が放物面形状等の曲面を有する印刷用パッド10を用いて印刷する際の工程説明図である。図5は、図1の印刷原版ステージ85を抽出した説明図である。印刷原版ステージ85は、上面に印刷原版50が載置され、その上方にヘッド30が水平方向に移動自在に設置されている。図5(1)に示されるように、ヘッド30は、印刷原版50の表面にインクジェット方式によりインクを載置するものであり、移動レール33に沿って移動できるように構成されている。
印刷原版50は、印刷原版ステージ85の上に載置されるものであり、載置面51にインク40が載置され、印刷用パッド10の印刷面4を載置面51に押し付けることにより、印刷面4にインク40を転写する。印刷原版50は、当該出願人の出願である特願平9-39431号(特開平10-235989号公報、発明の名称:インクジェット方式によるオフセット印刷方法)に開示されるように、適度な表面粗さに調整されたアルミ板などが用いられる。印刷原版50は、適度な表面粗さに調整されることにより、実質的な表面エネルギーが調節され、インクジェット方式により印刷原版50上に載せられたインクが適度に乗るように構成されている。つまり、表面エネルギーは小さ過ぎればインクは印刷原版50の表面上ではじかれてしまい十分な「インクの乗り」を期待することができない。また、表面エネルギーが大き過ぎると印刷原版50上でインクが拡散してしまい、印刷用パッド10の表面にインクによる印刷画像を適正に転写することができない。よって、印刷原版50は、例えば表面粗さを1.5s~3s(JIS)に調整されたアルミ板にすることにより、印刷原版50のインクの乗りも良好で、印刷用パッド10によるインクの転写を良好に行える。ただし、印刷原版50は、上記の形態に限定されるものではなく、インクを印刷用パッド10への転写が良好であればその他の形態をとることもできる。
ヘッド30は、インクジェット方式により印刷原版50の表面に複数の色のインクのドットを配置することにより、精細な印刷画像を印刷原版50の表面に形成するものである。ヘッド30は、複数の異なる色のインクをそれぞれ貯留できる複数の貯留部31と、貯留部31に貯留されたインクを吐出するためのノズル32を備える。ノズル32は、小さな孔を有し、インクを細かい液滴として印刷原版50の表面に配置する。インク40は、小さな孔を通過できる様に粘度が低く設定されており、例えば0.1mPa・s~1mPa・sに調整されている。また、インク40のさらに適した粘度として0.5mPa・s~0.7mPa・sに調整されていても良い。インク40は、溶剤に顔料、モノマー、合成樹脂、分散剤、光重合材及び光重合開始剤等を攪拌し分散させたものであり、溶剤の割合を適宜調整して構成される。また、ヘッド30の近傍には、印刷原版上のインクの粘度を高くするための乾燥装置34が配置されている。
図7は、実施の形態1に係る印刷装置100において印刷用パッド110を用いて印刷する際の工程説明図である。印刷装置100に用いられる印刷用パッド10は、図5において示したように、印刷原版50又は印刷物70に対し垂直方向に移動し押し付けるだけのものに限定されない。図7においては、印刷用パッド110は、円柱形状に形成され、印刷原版50又は印刷物70の表面に沿って転動するように構成されている。印刷用パッド110は、印刷原版50又は印刷物70に対し垂直方向に押し付けられるだけでなく、押し付けられた状態のまま印刷原版50の表面を転動して移動される。印刷用パッド110は、平面形状又は凹凸が少ない形状の印刷物170に対して精度良く印刷することができる。ただし、図3及び図5に示すような凸部が大きい印刷物70の場合は、印刷用パッド110は、印刷可能な範囲が限定される。
図8は、実施の形態1に係る印刷装置100による印刷方法のフローである。以下に、印刷装置100による印刷方法について図5及び図7を参照しながら説明する。
図8に示す様に、印刷方法は、まず印刷原版50の載置面51に印刷画像を形成する印刷原版作成工程OP1が行われる。図5に示されているように、印刷原版50は、平板形状であり印刷原版ステージ85上に載置されている。実施の形態1において、印刷原版50はアルミ合金製の薄平板であるが、「ガラ受けシート」とよばれる、UVインクとの保持性、親和性に富むシート材を使用することもできる。また、シート材に凹凸を設けることによりインクの保持性及び親和性をよくすることができる。印刷原版50の表面は、所定の表面粗さに仕上げられている。また、ヘッド30は、図示省略されている送り装置により少なくとも印刷原版50の上方において水平方向に移動自在に構成されている。又は、印刷原版50をヘッド30に対し移動自在に構成しても良い。ヘッド30は、コンピュータ制御により画像を作成する。なお、図4及び図5に示されているように、曲面を有する印刷物70にオフセット印刷する場合であっても、印刷原版作成工程OP1は同様の構成になっている。また、インクジェット方式による印刷においては、微細なインク滴をノズルから吐出し、印刷原版50に吹き付けることにより印刷画像を得る。ヘッド30は、例えば赤、青、黄、黒の4色のインクの他に、4色の中間色を有する中間色インクを貯留する貯留部31と中間色インクを吐出するノズル32とを備える。ヘッド30は、少なくとも中間色インクを含めた5つの異なる色のインクのドットを印刷原版50の表面に配置する。
印刷原版作成工程OP1が終了した後、インク乾燥工程OP2が行われる。印刷原版作成工程OP1が終了した直後は、印刷原版50上のインク40は、粘度が低い状態である。印刷原版50上のインク40の粘度が低いままでは、印刷用パッド10を印刷原版50上のインク40に押し付けたときにインク40がつぶれ精度良く転写されない。また、インク40の滲み等により印刷画像の精度が低下する。そのため、インク乾燥工程OP2では、インク40に含まれる溶剤を蒸発させてインク40の粘度を増加させる。
図5(2)に示されているように、転写工程OP3においては、表面が放物面形状等の曲面を有する印刷用パッド10を使用して印刷する場合には、印刷用パッド10は、頂点から印刷原版50に押し付けられることにより印刷画像が転写される。なお、変形例に係る円筒形状の印刷用パッド110を用いる場合は、印刷原版50上を円筒状の印刷用パッド110を転動させる。そして、印刷原版50上に載置されているインク40を印刷用パッド110の表面に転写させる。
図5(3)に示す様に、印刷工程OP4においては、印刷用パッド10を印刷物70に押し付ける。印刷用パッド10の表面に付着していたインク40は、印刷物70の表面に転写される。印刷用パッド10を使用して印刷をする場合は、印刷物70の表面が曲面を有していてもその形状に追従して印刷することができる。図7(3)に示す様に、印刷物70の表面が平板状又は平板に近い曲面を有する場合は、円筒形上の印刷用パッド10を印刷物70の表面上で転動させて印刷を行っても良い。
図5(4)及び図7(4)に示されているように、定着工程OP5においては、印刷工程OP4において印刷物70の表面上に転写したインク40を定着させる。インク40としてUVインクを用いた場合、ここで紫外線照射装置80により印刷物70の表面に紫外線を照射し、インク40を硬化させる。または紫外線の代わりに電子ビームを照射しても良い。図5(4)に示されるように、印刷物70の形状が曲面を有している場合は、曲面で構成されている表面に沿って紫外線を照射する複数の光源81を備える紫外線照射装置80を用いるのが望ましい。
図9は、実施の形態1に係る印刷装置100の動作のフローである。上記の図8に示す印刷方法を実施するにあたり、印刷装置100は、図9に示すフローにより動作する。
開始工程は、印刷装置100を起動した直後に行われる工程である。印刷用パッド10は、印刷物の製造を開始した直後は、表面が活性化されていない場合があるため、印刷用パッド10の印刷面4が適正に活性化する工程を行う。まず、印刷装置100が起動されたら、印刷装置100は、印刷用パッド10を活性化装置61の上方に移動させ、活性化装置61に向かって降下させる。印刷用パッド10は、印刷面4が活性化装置61の吸収ユニットに押し付けられ、印刷面4を含む所定の範囲が吸収ユニットに接触した後に、上昇される。これを活性化工程と称する(SP1)。これにより、活性化装置61の吸収ユニットにしみ込んでいる水又は溶剤等の液体が、印刷用パッド10の印刷面4に付着又はしみ込む。なお、印刷用パッド10は、表面に凹凸が形成されており、吸収ユニットにしみ込んでいる。この工程を開始第1工程と称する。
開始工程が完了し、印刷用パッド10の印刷面4の状態が適正に活性化処理されると、繰返し工程に移行する。繰返し工程は、インク載置工程(S1)、インク転写工程(S2)、印刷工程(S3)、クリーニング工程(S4)、活性化工程(S5)、エアーブロー工程(S7)、及び吸収工程(S9)を備える。図7に示される様に、印刷装置100は、インク載置工程(S1)、インク転写工程(S2)、印刷工程(S3)、クリーニング工程(S4)、活性化工程(S5)、エアーブロー工程(S7)、及び吸収工程(S9)の順に工程を進める。ただし、繰り返し工程は、この順番のみに限定されるものではない。例えば、インク載置工程(S1)及びインク転写工程(S2)が完了した後に、印刷装置100は、印刷工程(S3)から吸収工程(S9)を実施する。その一方で、印刷装置100は、印刷工程(S3)から吸収工程(S9)を実施している間に次の回のインク載置工程(S1)を並行して行っても良い。
クリーニング工程(S4)では、被印刷面71、72、及び73にインク40を転写した後の印刷用パッド10の印刷面4を、クリーニング装置60の平坦なクリーニング面に押し付ける。印刷用パッド10に残存するインク40を、クリーニング面に付着させる。クリーニング面は紙又は粘着テープで構成されるが、これらに限定するものではない。
活性化工程(S5)は、開始工程における活性化工程(SP1)と同じ内容の工程である。エアーブロー工程(S7)は、開始工程におけるエアーブロー工程(SP3)と同じ内容の工程である。吸収工程(S9)も、開始工程における吸収工程(SP5)と同じ内容の工程である。エアーブロー工程(S7)及び吸収工程(S9)は、印刷用パッド10の印刷面4に付着している水又は溶剤などの液体の量に応じて実施され、一方を省略しても良いし、少なくとも一方を複数回実施しても良い。エアーブロー工程(S7)及び吸収工程(S9)は、それぞれの工程の前において、印刷用パッド10の印刷面4の状態を確認した後に、印刷面4の活性化状態に応じて実施されるものである(S6及びS8)。確認工程(S6及びS8)において印刷用パッド10の印刷面4の状態を確認して、印刷面4の活性化状態が適正である場合は、繰り返し判断工程(S10)において再度印刷を実施するか否かを判断する。再度印刷を行う場合(S10においてYESの場合)は、再度インク載置工程(S1)からの工程が繰り返される。印刷を繰り返さない場合(S10においてNOの場合)は、印刷物の製造を終了する。
実施の形態1によれば、被印刷面に当接する印刷面4を有する印刷用パッド10又は110と、インク40が載置される載置面51を備える印刷原版50と、印刷原版50を載置する印刷原版ステージ85と、被印刷面を有する印刷物70又は170を載置し固定する印刷ステージ87と、インクジェット方式により印刷原版50にインク画像を印刷するヘッド30と、を備える。印刷用パッド10又は110は、印刷原版ステージ85の上方と印刷ステージ87の上方との間を移動自在であって、かつ印刷原版ステージ85又は印刷ステージ87に対し垂直に上下移動するように構成されている。ヘッド30は、複数のインクのそれぞれを貯留する複数の貯留部31と、複数のインク40のそれぞれを印刷原版50に向けて吐出するノズル32を備える。複数の貯留部31は、少なくとも5つ以上の貯留部31から構成される。このように構成されることにより、印刷装置100は、ヘッド30の複数の貯留部31のそれぞれに複数の色のインクを貯留することができ、特に赤、青、黄、黒の何れか複数の色の中間色を貯留することができる。これにより、印刷装置100の印刷原版50の表面に形成される印刷画像は、複数の色のドットを組み合わせて異なる色が表現されるが、従来の赤、青、黄、黒の4色に対して中間色を組み合わせて色を表現できる。単位面積当たりに限定された数量のインクのドットのうち、従来は4色の何れかをある比率で配置して色を表現していた。これに対し、実施の形態1における印刷装置100によれば、例えば中間色インクを1つ追加して印刷できるため、従来の4色に少なくとも中間色インクを1色加えて表現できる。よって、例えば印刷画像の大部分が特定の色相で占められるような場合において、その特定の色相に合わせた中間色インクを用いて印刷することができる。これにより、単位面積当たりのインクのドットのうち特定の色相を表現するために使うドットの数を少なくすることができるため、印刷装置100は、微妙な色の違いを表現でき、印刷画像の精度が向上する。
Claims (7)
- 被印刷面の形状に追従して変形する印刷面を有する印刷用パッドと、
インクが載置される載置面を備える印刷原版と、
前記印刷原版を載置する印刷原版ステージと、
前記被印刷面を有する印刷物を載置し固定する印刷ステージと、
インクジェット方式により前記印刷原版に画像を印刷するヘッドと、を備え、
前記印刷用パッドは、
前記印刷原版ステージの上方と前記印刷ステージの上方との間を移動自在であって、かつ前記印刷原版ステージ又は前記印刷ステージに対し垂直に上下移動するように構成され、
前記ヘッドは、
中間色インクを含む複数のインクを貯留する複数の貯留部と、
前記複数のインクのそれぞれを前記印刷原版に向けて吐出するノズルを備える、印刷装置。 - 前記複数の貯留部は、
少なくとも5つの貯留部から構成され、
前記複数の貯留部のうち少なくとも1つは、
中間色インクが充填されている、請求項1に記載の印刷装置。 - 前記複数の貯留部のうち少なくとも1つは、
複数のインクをそれぞれに貯留する複数の副貯留部を備え、
前記複数の副貯留部に貯留される前記複数のインクを混合できるように構成されている、請求項1に記載の印刷装置。 - 前記ヘッドを洗浄する洗浄装置を更に備える、請求項1~3の何れか1項に記載の印刷装置。
- 前記複数の貯留部のそれぞれは、
前記ヘッドに着脱自在に構成されている、請求項1~4の何れか1項に記載の印刷装置。 - 請求項1~5の何れか1項に記載の印刷装置を用いた印刷方法であって、
異なる色で構成された中間色インクを含む複数のインクを前記ヘッドからインクジェット方式により前記印刷原版に吐出し、前記画像を前記印刷原版上に印刷する印刷原版作成工程と、
前記印刷原版上の前記画像を構成するインクに含まれる溶剤を蒸発させインクの粘度を増加させるインク乾燥工程と、
前記画像を印刷用パッドの表面に写しとる転写工程と、
印刷用パッドを印刷物に押し付ける印刷工程と、を有する、印刷方法。 - 前記印刷原版作成工程は、
前記画像の少なくとも一部において、単位面積当たりに中間色インクのドットと中間色インク以外の色の前記インクのドットとを所定の比率で配置する、請求項6に記載の印刷方法。
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JP2018008480A (ja) * | 2016-07-15 | 2018-01-18 | 凸版印刷株式会社 | 印刷装置および印刷方法 |
WO2018235165A1 (ja) | 2017-06-20 | 2018-12-27 | 株式会社秀峰 | オフセット印刷方法 |
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- 2021-05-17 KR KR1020217034773A patent/KR20230002022A/ko active Search and Examination
- 2021-05-17 CN CN202180003240.5A patent/CN115643803A/zh active Pending
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JP2011156847A (ja) * | 2010-02-04 | 2011-08-18 | Trinity Industrial Co Ltd | ワーク表面装飾方法及びワーク表面装飾システム |
JP2018008480A (ja) * | 2016-07-15 | 2018-01-18 | 凸版印刷株式会社 | 印刷装置および印刷方法 |
WO2018235165A1 (ja) | 2017-06-20 | 2018-12-27 | 株式会社秀峰 | オフセット印刷方法 |
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EP4342680A1 (en) | 2024-03-27 |
JPWO2022244043A1 (ja) | 2022-11-24 |
US20240017540A1 (en) | 2024-01-18 |
CN115643803A (zh) | 2023-01-24 |
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