JP2018008480A - Printing apparatus and printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a printing apparatus and a printing method capable of extending and enlarging a printing pattern from a printing plate, and allowing a pattern to be freely formed on a curved surface such as the surface of a three-dimensional structure. In a printing apparatus capable of printing on a printed material 41 having a curved surface having a concavo-convex shape, an intermediate transfer body 3 for transferring an ink layer 2 patterned on the printed material, and an ink patterned on the intermediate transfer body An ink pattern forming means 1 for forming a layer, an intermediate transfer body stretching means 8 capable of holding and stretching the intermediate transfer body by a gripping means 7 for gripping an end thereof, and an intermediate transfer body stretching means; The patterned ink layer on the intermediate transfer body is transferred to the printing material by transporting it to the position where the printing material is placed, and then driving it in the direction of the printing material to bring it close to the printing material. An ink pattern transfer means 9; [Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing method capable of enlarging or reducing printing on a printed material having a curved surface including irregularities.

  In printing technology, a large amount of images and characters have been duplicated by placing ink on a printing plate and transferring the ink to a medium such as paper. A number of printing methods have been proposed so far to accurately transfer ink to a medium and duplicate a large number of images and characters. Among them, as a technique for printing on a medium having a curved surface or an uneven surface, there are pad printing and resin relief printing flexographic printing.

  In addition, if ink jet technology is used, it is possible to print on a curved surface or uneven surface by direct drawing by scanning and transporting the ink jet head to a predetermined position.

  In Patent Document 1, in pad printing (tampo printing), pattern transfer printing on a curved surface is possible without deformation by applying a spherical pad shape and pressurization from the inside of the pad.

  However, in the conventional printing method, when the pattern size of the printing plate is transferred to the printing medium as it is and the printing size is enlarged, it is necessary to produce a new printing plate. Although it is possible to form a printed pattern on a curved surface or an uneven surface by pad printing or flexographic printing, it is impossible to form a pattern by freely increasing the printing size.

  In addition, when forming a pattern on a curved surface or an uneven surface using inkjet technology, it is necessary to scan and convey the inkjet head at a certain distance. If the shape becomes complicated, the conveyance of the head becomes impossible. There was a problem that formation was difficult.

  In the method of Patent Document 1, the shape of the transfer target is limited to the pad shape to be used, and it is necessary to prepare a pad shape that matches the shape of the print medium.

  Furthermore, in any of the methods, if the print medium side is a structure such as a custom made one-sheet and the surface shape is different, pattern printing that flexibly responds to individual surface shape changes is not possible. It was.

JP 2008-183833 A

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of such circumstances, the present invention is capable of extending and enlarging a printing pattern from a printing plate, and capable of freely forming a pattern on a printed material having a curved surface having a concavo-convex shape such as a three-dimensional structure surface. It is an object to provide a method.

As a means for solving the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is a printing apparatus capable of printing on a printed material having a curved surface having an uneven shape.
An intermediate transfer member for transferring the patterned ink layer to the substrate;
An ink pattern forming means for forming the ink layer patterned on the intermediate transfer member;
An intermediate transfer body stretching means capable of gripping and stretching with a gripping means for gripping opposite opposing ends of the intermediate transfer body, and maintaining the state thereof;
The intermediate transfer member is transported to a position where the substrate is placed, and then driven in the direction of the substrate to be brought into close proximity, and further brought into close contact with the substrate to form a pattern on the intermediate transfer member. And an ink pattern transfer means for transferring the ink layer to the substrate.

  The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the ink pattern forming means forms a patterned ink layer on the intermediate transfer body using any one of a relief printing plate, a planographic printing plate, an intaglio printing plate, and a stencil printing plate. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is a printing apparatus.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ink pattern forming means is any one of an ink jet method, an electrophotographic method, and a thermal transfer method. is there.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the material constituting the intermediate transfer body is an elastic body.

  The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the elastic body includes at least one of natural rubber, silicone rubber, urethane rubber and acrylic rubber. It is.

Moreover, invention of Claim 6 is a printing method using the printing apparatus in any one of Claims 1-5,
Forming a desired patterned ink layer on the intermediate transfer member; and
Step B for stretching and fixing the intermediate transfer body by the intermediate transfer body stretching means;
And a step C of transferring the patterned ink layer on the intermediate transfer member onto the substrate by the transfer means in this order.

Moreover, invention of Claim 7 is a printing method using the printing apparatus in any one of Claims 1-5,
Step B for stretching and fixing the intermediate transfer body by the intermediate transfer body stretching means;
Forming a desired patterned ink layer on the intermediate transfer member; and
After step A, the intermediate transfer member is released from fixing, and the stretched intermediate transfer member is contracted by returning to an arbitrary position and then fixed, and
And a step C of transferring the patterned ink layer on the intermediate transfer member to the substrate by the transfer unit in this order.

  The invention according to claim 8 is a step in which the intermediate transfer body on which the patterned ink layer is formed is caused to follow and adhere to the curved surface of the printing material having a curved surface having the concavo-convex shape. The printing method according to claim 6, wherein the printing method is provided in C.

  According to the printing apparatus of the present invention, an ink pattern formed on an intermediate transfer body that can be stretched by printing using a printing plate or non-plate printing can be stretched and enlarged to be printed on a printing material. In addition, by using a material that can be stretched and follow a curved surface such as a three-dimensional structure having irregularities as an intermediate transfer member, it can be freely transferred onto a curved surface such as a three-dimensional structure having irregularities. The possible print pattern formation became possible.

It is explanatory drawing explaining an example of a structure of the printing apparatus of this invention. It is process drawing which shows an example of the printing method using the printing plate which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is process drawing which shows an example of the printing method in the case of plateless printing which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is process drawing which shows an example of the printing method using the printing plate which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is process drawing which shows an example of the pattern formation method to the curved surface printing medium which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

The printing apparatus of the present invention is a printing apparatus capable of printing even on a printed material having a curved surface having an uneven shape.
The printing apparatus of the present invention includes an intermediate transfer body for transferring an ink layer patterned on a substrate, an ink pattern forming means for forming an ink layer patterned on the intermediate transfer body, and an intermediate transfer body at an end thereof. The intermediate transfer body stretching means capable of gripping and stretching by the gripping means for gripping and holding the state, and the intermediate transfer body stretching means are transported to the position where the substrate is placed and then driven in the direction of the substrate And an ink pattern transfer means for transferring the patterned ink layer on the intermediate transfer body to the printing material by bringing them close to each other and further bringing them into close contact with the printing material.

  The printing plate that is an example of the ink pattern forming means is not particularly limited, as long as the ink can be transferred and printed on the intermediate transfer body, and includes a planographic printing plate, a relief printing plate, a planographic printing plate, and a screen printing plate (stencil plate). A method is mentioned. In addition, the layout of the components of the printing apparatus of the present invention may be appropriately laid out so that the printing process can be performed without delay.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printing apparatus 10 according to the present invention. Ink pattern forming means 1 which is a printing plate or the like for patterning an ink layer by inking, and a blanket for transferring the patterned ink layer 2 temporarily for offset printing of the patterned ink layer 2 The intermediate transfer body 3 and the printed material 4 such as paper or film which transfers the patterned ink layer 2 on the intermediate transfer body 3 to form the ink pattern 5.

  The end of the intermediate transfer body 3 is gripped by the gripping means 7, and the intermediate transfer body 3 is pulled by one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally by gripping the gripping means 7. A stretching mechanism for stretching is provided. Since the gripping means 7 is a means for gripping with a wide and uniform force at the end of the intermediate transfer body 3, even when the intermediate transfer body 3 is pulled with a strong force, the intermediate transfer body 3 is not easily damaged. Has function.

  When the intermediate transfer body 3 is pulled and stretched, a stretching force is applied by the stretching mechanism through the gripping means 7. For this reason, the intermediate transfer body 3 can be stretched without being damaged.

  There is no need to limit the stretching mechanism as long as the mechanism can mechanically stretch the intermediate transfer body 3. For example, a stretching mechanism that manually drives a screw or a stretching mechanism that uses a driving force of a hydraulic cylinder or a motor may be used.

The stretching mechanism is connected to the transport / drive mechanism. The transport / drive mechanism transports the stretching mechanism to the position where the substrate 4 is placed. Further, at the transported position, the stretching mechanism is brought close to the printing material, and the patterned ink layer 2 on the intermediate transfer body 3 is brought into close contact with the printing material 4 and transferred.
The printing apparatus 10 of the present invention includes the above-described components.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a printing process when performing enlarged printing using the printing apparatus 10 of the present invention.
FIG. 2A shows a state in which the patterned ink layer 2 is formed on the ink pattern forming means 1. This example illustrates the case where the ink pattern forming means 1 is a relief printing plate. By inking the relief printing plate, the patterned ink layer 2 is applied to the top of the relief of the relief printing plate. It is a formed state. In this case, the intermediate transfer member 3 is in a natural state where no force is applied (also referred to as a standard state).

  FIG. 2B shows a state where the patterned ink layer 2 is transferred to the intermediate transfer body 3. This state indicates that the distance between the two patterned ink layers 2 is d1.

  FIG. 2C shows a state where the intermediate transfer member 3 is pulled in a certain direction. In this state, the distance d1 between the two patterned ink layers 2 shown in FIG. 2B is d2 larger than d1.

  FIG. 2D shows a state in which the substrate 4 and the patterned ink layer 2 on the intermediate transfer body 3 are brought into close contact with each other while the intermediate transfer body 3 is held in that state.

  FIG. 2E shows a state in which the patterned ink layer is transferred onto the printing material 4 by separating the intermediate transfer body 3 from the printing material 4 from the state of FIG. Is shown.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of another printing process when performing enlarged printing using the printing apparatus 10 of the present invention, and illustrates the case of plateless printing.
FIG. 3A illustrates a state in which the patterned ink layer 2 is formed directly from the ink supply source 11 on the intermediate transfer body 3. As the ink supply source 11, for example, when an ink jet printing apparatus is used, an ink jet head corresponds.

  3B to 3E are the same as FIG.

4 exemplifies a printing method in which the patterned ink layer 2 formed on the ink pattern forming means 1 is reduced and transferred to the substrate 4 in contrast to FIG. It is a difference in which process is stretched.
In the printing method of FIG. 4, when transferring the ink layer 2 from the ink pattern forming means 1 to the intermediate transfer body 3, the intermediate transfer body 3 is stretched, and the ink layer 2 is transferred from the ink pattern forming means 1 to the intermediate transfer body. Transfer to 3. Next, by canceling the stretching of the intermediate transfer body 3, the intermediate transfer body 3 made of an elastic body returns to the state before stretching. By releasing the stretching of the intermediate transfer body 3, the patterned ink layer 2 in FIG. 4C is subjected to a stress that tends to shrink in the X-axis direction, but there is no stress escape field. The thickness of the ink layer 2 patterned in the thickness direction of the intermediate transfer body 3 increases. Then, the ink pattern 5 is transferred to the substrate 4 by bringing the surface of the patterned ink layer 2 of the intermediate transfer body 3 into close contact with the substrate 4. By using this printing method, it is possible to produce a printed matter in which the size of the ink pattern 5 is reduced as compared with the case where the patterned ink layer 2 is formed on the intermediate transfer body 3.

This will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 4A shows a state where the intermediate transfer body 3 stretched and stretched in the X direction is opposed to the ink pattern forming unit 1 in a state where the patterned ink layer 2 is formed. ing.

  FIG. 4B shows a state where the patterned ink layer 2 is transferred to the intermediate transfer body 3 side in the state of FIG. It shows that the distance between the two patterned ink layers 2 is d1.

  FIG. 4C shows a state in which the intermediate transfer body 3 is returned to the standard state. In this state, the intermediate transfer body 3 is smaller than when the patterned ink layer 2 is transferred from the ink pattern forming means 1, and the distance d1 between the two patterned ink layers 2 is smaller than d1. It is a small d2.

  FIG. 4D shows a state in which the patterned ink layer 2 on the ink pattern forming unit 1 is in close contact with the substrate 4 in the state of FIG.

  FIG. 4E shows a state where the ink pattern 5 is formed on the substrate 4 by pulling the intermediate transfer body 3 away from the state of FIG. The ink pattern 5 is a pattern that is reduced from the patterned ink layer 2 on the ink pattern forming means 1.

FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged printing method in the case where the printing material 4 is a printing material 41 having a curved surface in which a curved surface having unevenness exists on the surface thereof.
The process until the ink layer is formed on the intermediate transfer body 3 is performed in the same manner as the process of FIG. The intermediate transfer body 3 is stretched so as to match the size of the substrate 41 having a curved surface, and the patterned ink layer 2 is formed. Next, the patterned ink layer 2 side of the intermediate transfer member 3 is faced and matched. In accordance with the surface shape of the printed material 41 having a curved surface, the intermediate transfer body 3 in an insufficiently adhered portion is brought into close contact with the concave portion of the curved surface while being stretched by applying an external force from the back surface of the intermediate transfer body 3. As an actual method, for example, if a vacuum laminator is used, the intermediate transfer member 3 can be uniformly stretched and brought into close contact with the concave portion by atmospheric pressure. Alternatively, a method of applying a uniform pressure due to the static pressure of the liquid by pressing the liquid in close contact with the back surface of the intermediate transfer member 3 in a flexible bag. In this way, the intermediate transfer body 3 can be brought into close contact with the bottom of the concave portion of the curved surface, and the patterned ink layer 2 can be transferred in accordance with the surface shape of the substrate 41 having the curved surface. It is. In this way, the ink pattern 5 is formed on the printed material 41 having a curved surface. Thereafter, the ink pattern 5 is dried under a predetermined condition to be fixed on the substrate 41 having a curved surface. In FIG. 5, a printing method in which the size of the ink pattern 5 is enlarged as compared with the case where the ink layer 2 is formed on the intermediate transfer body 3 is used for the printed material 41 having a curved surface. For example, by using the printing method shown in FIG. 4, it is possible to produce a printed matter in which the size of the ink pattern 5 is reduced as compared with the case where the ink layer 2 is formed on the intermediate transfer body 3.

Next, it demonstrates in order of a process using Fig.5 (a)-(e).
FIG. 5A shows a state in which the patterned ink layer 2 is formed on the ink pattern forming means 1 in the standard state.

  FIG. 5B shows a state where the intermediate transfer body 3 is stretched.

  FIG. 5C shows a state in which the intermediate transfer body 3 is brought into contact with the printed material 41 having a curved surface in the state shown in FIG.

  FIG. 5D shows a state where the intermediate transfer body 3 is also brought into close contact with the concave portion of the printed material 41 having a curved surface by applying an external force from the back surface of the ink pattern forming means 1 in the state of FIG. ing. As a means for applying an external force from the back surface of the ink pattern forming means 1, it is preferable to use a vacuum contact technique. Further, in order to ensure the followability of the intermediate transfer body 3 corresponding to the size of the concave portion of the substrate 41 having a curved surface, the elastic coefficient of the material constituting the intermediate transfer body 3 and the thickness of the intermediate transfer body 3 are adapted. Design is required.

  FIG. 5E shows a state in which the ink pattern 6 is formed on the printed material 41 having a curved surface by separating the intermediate transfer body 3 from the state shown in FIG.

  Next, each component of the printing apparatus 10 of the present invention will be described.

(Printed version)
The ink pattern forming means 1 is not particularly limited as long as it is a general printing plate. Examples thereof include a relief printing plate, an intaglio printing plate, a lithographic printing plate, and a stencil printing plate. Further, inking into a plate other than stencil printing is not particularly limited, and may be performed by a generally performed method. Further, since the stencil printing plate is printed simultaneously with inking, printing is performed in a state of being in close contact with the intermediate transfer member 3, but the printing method may be performed using a stencil printing method.

(Ink pattern forming means)
The ink pattern forming means 6 is a means for forming the pattern of the ink layer 2 on the intermediate transfer body 3.
When a plate is used, the specific method differs depending on the type of relief plate, planographic plate, intaglio plate, etc., but in any case, a patterned ink layer 2 is formed by inking the plate, Is transferred to the intermediate transfer body 3 to form the pattern of the ink layer 2.
In plateless printing, for example, a desired ink layer 2 pattern is formed on the intermediate transfer body 3 by using an inkjet printing apparatus, a thermal transfer printing apparatus, an electrophotographic printing apparatus, or the like.

(ink)
The ink material of the ink layer 2 is not particularly limited as long as general ink used in each printing method is used.

(Intermediate transfer member)
The intermediate transfer body 3 may be a sheet-like elastic body, and examples thereof include natural rubber, synthetic rubber PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane), urethane rubber, and acrylic rubber. The size of the sheet may be any size that can accommodate the pattern of the plate. The thickness is not particularly limited, but is preferably 50 μm to 500 μm so that the stretching operation and the ink transfer operation are not hindered.

(Intermediate transfer member stretching means)
The intermediate transfer body 3 is subjected to a stretching operation, and may be any mechanism that holds both opposite ends of the intermediate transfer body 3, extends toward the outside of the intermediate transfer body 3, and is fixed. The stretching method is not limited. Further, instead of the sheet-like intermediate transfer member, a roll-like intermediate transfer member may be unwound and a predetermined stretching amount may be extended by a winding device. The stretching direction may be a uniaxial direction, or may be biaxial or multiaxial.

(Ink pattern transfer means)
The ink pattern transfer means 9 for transferring the pattern of the ink layer 2 formed on the intermediate transfer body 3 to the substrate 4 is not particularly limited, and the intermediate transfer body 3 on which the pattern of the ink layer 2 is formed is not limited. It is sufficient that the ink layer 2 can be transferred by being in close contact with the printed material 4. As a means for bringing the flexible intermediate transfer member 3 into close contact with the uneven printed material 4, for example, by exhausting the space between the printed material 4 and the intermediate transfer member 3, the printed material 4 and the intermediate transfer member 3 are exhausted. A vacuum contact apparatus that firmly adheres can be suitably used.

(Printed material)
The printed material 4 may be any material that can form the ink pattern 5, and examples thereof include paper, plastic sheet, metal foil, wood, and ceramic sheet. Further, as a variation of the substrate 4, not only the planar or sheet-like substrate 4 but also a substrate 41 having a curved surface or uneven surface, such as a substrate 41 having a curved surface, may be used.

(Ink pattern)
As for the ink pattern 5, the ink layer 2 is transferred to the intermediate transfer body 3 in a steady state that is not stretched, and the pattern of the ink layer 2 that is enlarged is formed by stretching in that state. When the stretching is X (%), the distance between the patterns of the ink layer 2 is d1, and the distance between the patterns of the ink pattern 5 transferred to the substrate 4 is d2, so that d2 = d1 × X / 100. It is expanded to become.

<Example 1>
An embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As the ink pattern forming means 1, a relief printing plate in which a pattern of L / S = 50/50 μm was engraved in a size of 50 mm square was used. An ink layer 2 was formed on the relief printing plate so that ink was deposited and the film thickness was 3 μm. As the intermediate transfer member 3, a 100 mm square PDMS (silicone rubber) having a sheet thickness of 150 μm was used. The relief printing plate on which the ink layer 2 was formed was pressed against the intermediate transfer body 3 to transfer the patterned ink layer 2. Both ends in the uniaxial direction of the intermediate transfer member 3 were clamped and stretched to 150 mm to form an enlarged patterned ink layer 2. An ink formed on the substrate 4 by transferring the enlarged patterned ink layer 2 on the intermediate transfer body 3 to the substrate 4 using a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) sheet having a thickness of 100 μm. Pattern 5 was obtained.
When the ink pattern 5 was observed, a pattern of L / S = 75/75 μm was formed. A pattern enlarged about 1.5 times the pattern size of the relief printing plate was formed.

<Example 2>
A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In Example 2, the printing plate is not used, and the ink supply source 11 is an example except that a pattern of L / S = 50/50 μm is directly formed on the intermediate transfer body 3 from the nozzle of the ink jet apparatus. The ink pattern 5 was obtained in the same manner as in No. 1.
When the ink pattern 5 was observed, a pattern of L / S = 75/75 μm was formed. A pattern about 1.5 times larger than the pattern size of the printing plate was formed.

<Example 3>
An ink pattern 5 was formed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the printed material 41 having a curved surface with a sinusoidal curve with an amplitude of 10 mm and a period of 10 mm in one direction was used instead of the printed material 4. . The formed ink pattern 5 was transferred from the intermediate transfer body 3 onto the curved surface of the printed material having a curved surface.

<Comparative Example 1>
In Example 1, the ink pattern 2 was directly transferred to the printing material 4 without passing through the intermediate transfer member, and the same operation was performed except for a portion to obtain an ink pattern, whereby an ink pattern 5 was obtained.
When the ink pattern 5 was observed, a pattern of L / S = 50/50 μm was formed. This was a dimension equivalent to the pattern dimension of the printing plate.

<Comparative example 2>
In Example 3, the ink layer 2 was directly transferred to the printed material 41 having a curved surface without passing through the intermediate transfer member, and the same operation was performed to form the ink pattern 5. However, although the ink of the convex part of the to-be-printed material 41 having a curved surface was transferred, the ink of the concave part was not transferred, and the pattern 5 was a defective pattern.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ink pattern formation means 2 Ink layer 3 Intermediate transfer body 4 Substrate 5 Ink pattern 6 Ink pattern 7 Grip means 8 Intermediate transfer body extension means 9 Ink pattern transfer means 10 Printing device 11 Ink supply source 41 Substrate having a curved surface

Claims (8)

In a printing apparatus capable of printing on a printed material having a curved surface having an uneven shape,
An intermediate transfer member for transferring the patterned ink layer to the substrate;
An ink pattern forming means for forming the ink layer patterned on the intermediate transfer member;
An intermediate transfer body stretching means capable of gripping and stretching with a gripping means for gripping opposite opposing ends of the intermediate transfer body, and maintaining the state thereof;
The intermediate transfer member is transported to a position where the substrate is placed, and then driven in the direction of the substrate to be brought into close proximity, and further brought into close contact with the substrate to form a pattern on the intermediate transfer member. And an ink pattern transfer means for transferring the ink layer to the substrate.   The ink pattern forming means is means for forming a patterned ink layer on the intermediate transfer body using any one of a relief printing plate, a planographic printing plate, an intaglio printing plate, and a stencil printing plate. The printing apparatus as described.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink pattern forming unit is any one of an ink jet system, an electrophotographic system, and a thermal transfer system.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the material constituting the intermediate transfer body is an elastic body.   The printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the elastic body includes at least one of natural rubber, silicone rubber, urethane rubber, and acrylic rubber. A printing method using the printing apparatus according to claim 1,
Forming a desired patterned ink layer on the intermediate transfer member; and
Step B for stretching and fixing the intermediate transfer body by the intermediate transfer body stretching means;
And a step C of transferring the patterned ink layer on the intermediate transfer member onto the substrate by the transfer means in this order. A printing method using the printing apparatus according to claim 1,
Step B for stretching and fixing the intermediate transfer body by the intermediate transfer body stretching means;
Forming a desired patterned ink layer on the intermediate transfer member; and
After step A, the intermediate transfer member is released from fixing, and the stretched intermediate transfer member is contracted by returning to an arbitrary position and then fixed, and
And a step C of transferring the patterned ink layer on the intermediate transfer member onto the substrate by the transfer means in this order.   The step C includes a step of causing the intermediate transfer body on which the patterned ink layer is formed to follow and adhere to the curved surface of the printed material having a curved surface having the concavo-convex shape. Item 8. The printing method according to Item 6 or 7.