JP6672692B2 - Apparatus for producing printed matter, printed matter, method for producing printed matter, apparatus for discharging liquid - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing a printed matter, a printed matter, a method for producing a printed matter, and an apparatus for discharging a liquid.

  2. Description of the Related Art As a device for obtaining a printed material, a device is known in which a transfer foil provided with a metal layer or the like is attached to a medium on which a printed film is formed to obtain a printed material having a foil provided on the printed film.

  Conventionally, it has been known to mask an area where the foil is not transferred by using a mask forming ink and transfer the foil only to an unmasked area (Patent Document 1).

JP 2013-256050 A

  By the way, in the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is a problem that the apparatus becomes large-sized and complicated because the ink for forming a mask is used separately from the ink for forming an image.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to enable selective transfer of a foil with a simple configuration.

In order to solve the above-described problems, an apparatus for manufacturing a printed matter according to the present invention includes:
Printing means for ejecting liquid to the medium and printing an image,
Transferring a transfer foil to the medium on which the image is printed, a foil applying means for applying a desired foil by heating ,
With
The printing means discharges the liquid used for printing the image, and prints the area corresponding to the non-transfer area where the transfer foil is not transferred to the area corresponding to the transfer area where the transfer foil is transferred. Also has means for forming a thick print film,
When transferring the transfer foil before SL medium, wherein in the region corresponding to the region of the film thickness is thick printing layer by heating was <br/> configuration where the transfer foil is not applied.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, selective transfer of foil can be performed with a simple structure.

It is an explanatory view of an apparatus for manufacturing a printed matter according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a device that discharges liquid. It is a front explanatory view of a mechanism part. FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the control of the discharge amount from the liquid discharge head. It is explanatory drawing provided with description of the transfer foil used in the apparatus which gives foil. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a manufacturing process in which the method for manufacturing a printed matter according to the present invention is performed by the apparatus for manufacturing the printed matter. It is explanatory drawing provided for description of the manufacturing process. It is explanatory drawing provided for description of the smoothing of the area | region which transfers a transfer foil. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining another embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing provided for description of a specific example similarly.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. An example of an apparatus for manufacturing a printed matter according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the device.

  The apparatus 1 for manufacturing a printed matter according to the present invention is a printing unit that forms (prints) an image by discharging a liquid onto the medium 300. And a device 200 for applying a foil, which is a foil applying means for transferring the transfer foil to the printed (printed) medium 300 and applying the foil. By providing a transfer device for transferring the medium 300 from the device 100 to the device 200, the transfer of the medium 300 can be easily performed.

  First, an example of the device 100 for discharging liquid will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the apparatus.

  The device 100 is communicably connected to a computer (PC) 120 as an external control device. The computer 120 has a printer driver, and transmits image data to the apparatus 100 as recording data (print data) printable by the apparatus 100. The print data includes command data for operating the transport unit 150 and the like of the apparatus 1 and pixel data relating to an image. The pixel data is composed of, for example, 2-bit data for each pixel and is expressed in four gradations.

  The apparatus 1 includes a transport unit 150, a carriage unit 160, a head unit 170, an irradiation unit 180, a maintenance unit 190, a detection group 140, a controller unit 130, and the like.

  The controller unit 130 also serves as control means in the present invention, and includes a CPU 133, a memory 132, an interface (I / F) 134, and a unit control circuit 131. The memory 132 stores and holds a program for causing the CPU 133 to perform control in the present invention.

  The controller unit 130 controls the transport unit 150, the carriage unit 160, the head unit 170, and the irradiation unit 180 based on the print data received from the computer 120 and the detection signal of the detection group 140 to control the printing operation. . The program stored in the memory 132 is a program for causing the CPU 133 to perform processing for controlling a printing operation.

  Further, the controller unit 130 controls the maintenance unit 190 to perform maintenance of the head unit 170.

  Next, the mechanism of the apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a side view of the mechanism, and FIG. 4 is a plan view of the same.

  The transport unit 150 includes a transport device 152 for fixing the medium 300. The transport device 152 has a suction mechanism, and fixes the medium 300 by suction.

  A carriage unit 160 is disposed above the transport unit 150 so as to be movable in the horizontal direction. The carriage unit 160 has, for example, a liquid ejection head (hereinafter, simply referred to as a “head”) that is a liquid ejection unit that ejects a UV curable liquid as an active energy ray-curable liquid that is a liquid used for forming an image. 170K, 170C, 170M, 170Y, 170CL, 170W are mounted.

  The heads 170K, 170C, 170M, 170Y, 170CL, and 170W (hereinafter, referred to as “head 170” when not distinguished from each other) are similarly moved by reciprocating the carriage unit 160 in the arrow X direction. The medium 300 is scanned.

  The heads 170K, 170C, 170M, 170Y, and 170W respectively discharge black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and white (W) UV curable colored liquids. The head 170W is also a means for discharging white liquid. Note that the type of color of the colored liquid is not limited to the above-described configuration.

  The head 170CL discharges a UV-curable transparent liquid (clear liquid). The clear liquid can also be used to change the tint of an image or to add thickness (bumps) to an image.

  The “liquid used for forming an image” includes both a colored liquid and a clear liquid.

  The head 170 has, for example, two nozzle rows in which a plurality of nozzles for discharging liquid are arranged.

  The carriage unit 160 is provided with an ultraviolet irradiation lamp 181 of an irradiation unit 180 as a curing unit for irradiating ultraviolet light (UV light) as an active energy ray.

  The carriage unit 160 is disposed so as to be able to move up and down with respect to the surface of the transport device 152, and includes a height sensor 141. The height sensor 141 measures the height from the medium 300, and the controller unit 130 performs control to raise and lower the carriage unit 160 to a position where the gap between the head unit 170 and the medium 300 becomes a predetermined amount.

  Further, maintenance units 190A and 190B are arranged on both sides of the transport unit 150. The maintenance unit 190A includes a wiper 191 for wiping the nozzle surface of the head 170. The maintenance unit 190B includes a cap 192 for capping the nozzle surface of the head 170.

  When maintenance of the head 170 is performed, the liquid is supplied to the head 170 under pressure and discharged from the nozzles, and then wiped and cleaned with the wiper 191. In a standby state or the like, the head 170 is capped with the cap 192 to maintain the moisturizing state. maintain.

  Next, control of the discharge amount from the liquid discharge head will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a drive signal for driving the liquid ejection head and a selection signal for selecting a drive pulse included in the drive signal.

  In the present embodiment, a head using a piezoelectric actuator as a pressure generating unit is used as the head 170.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 5A, a driving signal including the driving pulses P1 to P4 is generated and output in one driving cycle (within one printing cycle). Then, by giving a selection signal (mask signal: selected by ON) shown in FIGS. 5B to 5E according to the dot size to be formed, droplets of a required size are ejected.

  When the selection signal shown in FIG. 5B is given, none of the driving pulses P1 to P4 is selected, so that no liquid is ejected from the head 170.

  When the selection signal shown in FIG. 5C is given, the driving pulses P1 and P2 are selected, and a small droplet forming a small dot is ejected. The droplets ejected by the drive pulses P1 and P3 are united during flight and land on the medium (the same applies hereinafter).

  When the selection signal shown in FIG. 5D is given, the drive pulses P1 to P3 are selected, and a medium droplet forming a medium dot is ejected.

  When the selection signal shown in FIG. 5E is given, the driving pulses P1 to P4 are selected, and a large droplet forming a large dot is ejected.

  Therefore, the selection signal is selected according to the gradation of the pixel, and the ejection amount is thereby determined.

  When an image is formed on the medium 300 by the apparatus 100, after the medium 300 is set on the transport device 152 of the transport unit 150, the carriage unit 160 descends to a predetermined height.

  Thereafter, while scanning the head 170 by reciprocating the carriage unit 160, required liquid is ejected from the head 170 to form an image corresponding to the width of the head 170 (width in a direction orthogonal to the scanning direction).

  Then, when the carriage unit 160 reciprocates, the liquid discharged from the head 170 onto the medium 300 is cured by the UV light irradiated from the irradiation unit 180.

  Then, each time the scanning is completed, the transport device 152 moves by a predetermined amount in a direction orthogonal to the scanning direction (pass direction: X direction), and an image of the liquid is printed on the medium 300.

  Next, returning to FIG. 1, the apparatus 200 for applying a foil will be described.

  The apparatus 200 includes a delivery roller 401 around which the transfer foil 400 is wound, and a winding roller 402 for winding the transfer foil 400. Further, a transport guide member 203 for guiding the transport of the medium 300, a heating roller 201, and a pressure roller 202 are provided.

  The heating roller 201 and the pressure roller 202 heat the transfer foil 400 while pressing the medium 300 and the transfer foil 400, and transfer the foil 410 to the medium 300.

  Here, an example of the transfer foil 400 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The transfer foil 400 includes a base film layer, a release layer, a protective layer, a coloring layer, and an adhesive layer. Here, a portion to be transferred by combining the colored layer which is a foil, the protective layer and the adhesive layer is referred to as a foil 410. Note that the coloring layer of the foil 410 may be made of any material, for example, a metal foil colored with a metal material can be used.

  When the adhesive layer of the transfer foil 400 and the medium 300 overlap and pass between the heating roller 201 and the pressure roller 202, they are heated and pressed by the two rollers 201 and 202.

  Thereby, the adhesive layer of the transfer foil 400 and the medium 300 are joined, and a printed matter in which the foil 410 is transferred to the medium 300 is obtained.

  The temperature of the heating roller 201 has an appropriate temperature for each foil, and is preferably set for each foil. As a general foil, if it is between 140 and 240 ° C., it is easy to transfer, and if it is set at 160 to 200 ° C., it becomes possible to transfer finely.

  The rubber hardness of the pressure roller 202 is preferably used for each foil. In the present embodiment, the rubber hardness is 58 HS. The pressing force of the pressing roller 202 is also preferably set to be suitable for the foil. In the present embodiment, both ends are pressed by a spring, and a total pressure of 17.6 N is applied.

  Further, since the amount of heat applied to the foil changes depending on the speed at the time of transfer, the moving speed of the transfer foil is preferably set to a speed suitable for each foil. If the speed is 100 mm / s or less, the foil is transferred. In this embodiment, the speed is set to 50 mm / s in order to reduce heat damage to the medium.

  Next, a manufacturing process in which the method for manufacturing a printed matter according to the present invention by the apparatus for manufacturing a printed matter will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the manufacturing process, and FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the manufacturing process.

  First, in the printing process, for example, a color image is formed on the medium 300.

  Thereafter, an image of a transfer area to which the foil 410 is to be transferred is input, and as shown in FIG. 8A, a liquid used for forming an image is discharged to print a transfer layer 501 as a print film having a thickness t1. I do. The printing film is formed of a material (for example, a dye, a pigment, other remaining additives, and inclusions) remaining on the medium among the liquids discharged on the medium.

  That is, when the foil 410 is transferred to the printing surface (front surface), if the unevenness of the transfer surface is large, the foil 410 is not transferred cleanly. Therefore, the transfer layer 501 is formed to smooth the surface. In this case, in order to improve the smoothness of the transfer layer 501, instead of irradiating the liquid every time the carriage unit 160 reciprocates, the liquid is entirely discharged to a desired portion, and then the entire surface is irradiated with a leveling time. Is preferred.

  When the foil 410 is transferred to the surface (back surface) opposite to the printing surface, the transfer layer 501 may not be formed. In this case, the print film in the non-transfer area becomes the image itself.

  In addition, for forming the transfer layer 501, for example, a liquid such as K, W, or CL is used. However, it is preferable to select an optimum liquid according to the color when the foil 410 is transferred. Further, the transfer layer 501 has a film thickness of preferably 10 to 40 μm for the purpose of smoothing.

  Thereafter, an image of the non-transfer area where the foil 410 is not transferred is input, and as shown in FIG. 8A, a liquid used for forming an image is discharged to form a film thicker than the film thickness t1 of the transfer layer 501. A mask layer 502 which is a printing film having a thickness t2 is formed.

  In other words, the mask layer 502 which is a print film having a greater thickness than the print film (including an image) in the region corresponding to the transfer region where the transfer foil 400 is to be transferred is formed in the region corresponding to the non-transfer region where the transfer foil 400 is not transferred. To form This mask layer 502 preferably has a thickness of 100 μm or more in order to make it difficult for heat to be transmitted.

  The “region corresponding to the non-transfer region” refers to the non-transfer region on the image forming surface if the image forming surface is the same as the foil transfer surface (foil application surface). If the non-transfer area is opposite to the application surface, the non-transfer area on the foil transfer surface is projected onto the image forming surface. The same applies to the “region corresponding to the transfer region”.

  In this case, since the heat transfer rate changes according to the type of the medium 300, it is preferable to change the thickness of the mask layer 502 or the thickness of the above-described transfer layer 501 according to the type of the medium 300.

  Next, the medium 300 on which the image is formed is transferred from the device 100 for discharging a liquid to the device 200 for applying a foil.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 8B, the adhesive layer of the transfer foil 400 and the medium 300 are overlapped and passed between the heating roller 201 and the pressure roller 202. At this time, heat and pressure are applied by the heating roller 201 and the pressure roller 202.

  Here, at the same temperature and pressure, in the non-transfer region where the thick mask layer 502 is formed, the amount of heat transfer is lower than that in the transfer region where the thin transfer layer 501 is formed. The adhesiveness of the foil 400 decreases.

  Therefore, in this apparatus 200, in the non-transfer area where the thick mask layer 502 is formed, the foil 410 of the transfer foil 400 is heated at a temperature at which the foil 410 is not transferred to the medium 300.

  Thus, as shown in FIG. 8C, the foil 410 of the transfer foil 400 is transferred only to the transfer area where the thin transfer layer 501 is formed, and the thick mask layer 502 is formed. The non-transferred area is not transferred. The base film and the release layer of the transfer foil 400 to which the foil 410 has been transferred are peeled off and taken up by the take-up roller 402.

  In this way, a printed material in which the foil 410 of the transfer foil 400 is transferred only to the transfer region where the transfer layer 501 is formed is obtained. At this time, the printed matter is a printed matter on which an image is formed and the foil 410 is provided, and a region corresponding to the region to which the foil 410 is provided has a printed film in an area corresponding to the region to which the foil 410 is not provided. A print film having a thickness larger than the film thickness (the print film in the region of the mask layer 502) is formed, and the print film having a larger film thickness is formed of a material forming an image.

  In this way, by discharging the liquid used to form an image and forming a print film having a greater thickness than the transfer region in the non-transfer region, the print film can be formed without using a dedicated mask ink. The transfer or non-transfer of the foil can be selected depending on the film thickness, and the selective transfer of the foil can be easily performed.

  In the above embodiment, an example is described in which a print film (image) is formed in the non-transfer area, but the print film may not be provided in the non-transfer area. That is, a film thickness that prevents transfer of the transfer foil when the transfer foil is brought into contact with a medium and heated and transferred to a region corresponding to a non-transfer region where the transfer foil is not transferred by discharging a liquid used for forming an image. The formation of the mask layer 502 may be controlled.

  Next, the smoothing of the area where the transfer foil is transferred will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram provided for the same description.

  When the image formed on the medium 300 has a small amount of liquid, such as a light color, as shown in FIG. 9A, the amount of the material 503 that forms the image remaining on the medium 300 decreases, and the printing surface becomes the transfer surface. In this case, the unevenness becomes large, and the transfer of the foil 410 becomes difficult.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9B, the transfer layer 501 is formed and smoothed by discharging a liquid of CL or W, which is a liquid for forming and using an image, so that the foil 410 is entirely formed. Make it easy to transfer. At this time, in a non-transfer area where the foil 410 is not transferred, a mask layer 502 having a greater thickness than the transfer layer 501 is formed.

  Thereafter, the foil 410 is transferred as shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 9C, an image is formed with the color liquid, and the color image and the color of the foil 410 are combined by viewing the surface opposite to the printing surface side on which the foil 410 is transferred in the direction of arrow A. Images can be viewed.

  Note that the medium 300 may be of any use. For example, by using a transparent acrylic member, the medium 300 to which the foil 410 has been transferred can be seen on the back surface side, and the portion to which the foil 410 has been transferred is protected by the member, thereby preventing damage.

  Further, in the case of a substrate having a relatively high melting point, such as polycarbonate, there is a foil or the like which is difficult to be transferred to the polycarbonate itself, so that the liquid may not be ejected without increasing the film thickness for direct transfer to the medium. .

  Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the foil 410 is transferred to a surface (back surface) opposite to the surface on which the image is formed. That is, in the present embodiment, when the transfer foil 400 is transferred to the medium 300, the heating is performed such that the foil 410 is not transferred in a region corresponding to the region of the print film 502 on the surface opposite to the surface on which the print film 502 is formed. Do.

  Next, a specific example will be described with reference to FIG.

  In this example, as shown in FIG. 11A, images 311, 312 are formed in yellow (Y) on the surface of a transparent medium 300. In this case, the areas 310 and 313 other than the images 311 and 312 are transparent while keeping the state of the medium 300.

  Here, a print film having a thickness t2 is formed on the entire surface with the clear liquid as a non-transfer area except for the area 313 and the image 312 in the area 310 and the image 311.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 11B, when the transfer foil 400 is brought into contact with the printing surface side of the medium 300 and transferred, the foil 410 is transferred to the area 313 and the image 312 area.

  Here, when viewed from the back side of the medium 300 (the side opposite to the printed surface), the image 312 looks yellow with a metallic feeling (for example, gold) because the metal layer of the foil 410 overlaps the printed yellow. Similarly, in the region 313, the color of the metal layer of the foil 410, for example, silver can be seen as it is.

  On the other hand, the image 311 to which the foil 410 has not been transferred looks like printed yellow (yellow without metallic feeling), and the area 310 is clear.

  In the above embodiment, the liquid forming the transfer layer and the mask layer may be the same liquid or different liquids.

  Further, the liquid is not limited to the active energy ray-curable liquid, and the active energy ray-curable liquid is not limited to the UV-curable liquid, but may be an electron beam (EB) curable liquid.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus for manufacturing printed matter 100 Apparatus for ejecting liquid 130 Controller unit (control means)
150 transport unit 160 carriage unit 170 liquid discharge head 200 device for applying foil 201 heating roller 202 pressure roller 400 transfer foil 410 foil

Claims (4)

Printing means for ejecting liquid to the medium and printing an image,
Transferring a transfer foil to the medium on which the image is printed, a foil applying means for applying a desired foil by heating,
With
The printing means discharges the liquid used for printing the image, and prints the area corresponding to the non-transfer area where the transfer foil is not transferred to the area corresponding to the transfer area where the transfer foil is transferred. Also has means for forming a thick print film,
When transferring the transfer foil to the medium, the apparatus is characterized in that the transfer foil is not applied to a region corresponding to the region of the thick print film due to the heating. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit discharges the liquid used for printing the image to form a transfer layer that smoothes the transfer area. 3. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit changes the thickness of the thick print film according to the medium. 4. A step of printing an image by ejecting liquid to the medium,
By discharging the liquid used for printing the image, the film thickness is thinner in a region corresponding to a transfer region for transferring the transfer foil than in a non-transfer region not corresponding to the transfer region for transferring the transfer foil. Forming a printing film;
Contacting the transfer foil against the medium on which the image is printed,
Transferring the transfer foil in a region corresponding to the region of the thin print film by heating the medium in contact with the transfer foil, producing a printed matter. how to.

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