Multi-article printing method using water-based ink

Abstract: Various articles, including game balls (41), doll heads, fruit and vegetables, glass or other transparent objects, including recording media cases have water-based ink applied thereto. An article support (46) positioned and moved through an ink jet printer, the print head (47) of which may be positioned in plural home positions transversely of the path of the article support so as to apply water-based ink to multiple articles (41).

Description: This invention is related to the printing method that prints on the surfaces of various materials or objects by using an ink jet printer. Background of the Invention Since ink jet printers use water ink, their printing media are generally restricted to materials with good water-based ink absorption. It is extremely convenient for an ink jet printer to print on various materials. Especially, it is convenient for the ink jet printer to print with water ink on products on which the surfaces heretofore have been painted by hand with oil ink, paints and the like. That is, selected images are easily created by using the image processing function of personal computers and the created images printed repeatedly within a short period of time by using an ink jet printer with water-based ink. The present invention in its various aspects is as claimed in the claims. Summary of the Invention Embodiments of this invention may provide a printing method that can simply and efficiently create ink images on the surfaces of various products with water-based ink by using the ink jet head. They may also provide a printing method that prints on the surfaces of various materials by using water-based ink, including glass objects, game balls, heads for toy dolls, fruits and vegetables of some types, and other objects. In order to print with water-based ink using a movable print head, embodiments may provide a method of moving the print head to multiple printing positions transversely of a support of the objects to which the ink image is being applied so as to print upon multiple articles or objects arranged transversely of the width of the range of movement of the print head. The above may be attained by printing on the objects using an ink jet printer of the type disclosed in the pending EP patent application 00309938.9 filed 9 th November 2000 and assigned to the assignee of the present application. The printer disclosed in that pending application is one which has an ink jet print head for printing upon articles which may require adjustment of the distance between the object of the printing and the print head to enable printing upon articles of different thicknesses or heights from the article support and the surface upon which the head applies the water-based ink. A copy of that application included in this application at annex A and which forms part of this application. Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to Figure 1(a) and Figures 1(b) through 1(d), an embodiment is shown that prints on the surface of the board medium 32 by applying the first printing P1 with the specified width W1 on the surface of the said board medium by the said ink jet head 31, then moving the home position HP1 to the specified distance L1 of the printing head and applying printing P2 at the adjacent position in the transversely spaced home position HP2 with water-based ink. These views indicate an example of the printing by three printing movements transversely relative to the surface of a medium 32 by shifting the home position of the print head to HP1, HP2 and HP3 for each printing. The number of movements of the home position, can be any necessary or desired plurality of home positions. The medium may also be fed longitudinally by the usual feed mechanism of such ink jet printers, as more fully disclosed in the aforementioned patent application. Referring to the Figures 2(a) and 2(b), there is created a water ink image receiving layer 42 on the surface 41a of the medium 41, which in this case is spherical and may be a game ball or other similar articles, including fruit and vegetables of appropriate shapes and sizes, followed by printing with water ink on the surface of this image receiving layer 42. Next, a protection layer 44 is applied on the surface of the printing layer 43. The protection layer 44 has at least one layer of ultraviolet ray resistance or absorption agent, or layer 44 may provide water resistance. The said medium 41 is a golf ball 48 or other similarly shaped article. In this case, as indicated in Figure 2(a), for example, the game ball 48 can be placed on one or more indented parts 45 that can fit the game ball 48 or the medium transporting tray 46 with a hole on the surface of and transported through the printing position of the ink jet head 47 that moves back and forth within the specified position that is perpendicular to the transportation direction of the medium tray 46. The movement of the tray 46 as indicated by arrow 46a may be caused by the feed mechanism of the aforementioned EP patent application or other convenient transport means. Embodiments of the present invention may also include a method that creates a water ink image receiving layer on the surface of other types of media, applies printing with water ink on the surface on this image receiving layer, and creates the protection layer on the surface of the created printing layer. The medium may be a food product with water resistant surface such as a fruit like an apple and a pear and the like, and a vegetable like a green pepper. The image receiving layer is made of a water absorbent food product such as seaweed and gelatin or materials that are harmless to the human body. Also, the printing method may be employed to print with water ink on the surface of still other edible media such as a food product with water absorbent surface such as a vegetable, a takoyaki, and a rice cracker, and the like. The said water ink is made of food materials such as food coloring or other materials that are harmless to the human body. Referring to Figures 3(a) and 3(b), there is shown an embodiment of the present inventive method of printing on items such as a doll's head 73 by printing on the first material 71 and the second material 72. It has a step of printing on the surfaces 71a and 72a of the said first material 71 and the said second material 72 by using an ink jet head. An example indicated is an example for printing the face side of the first material 71 and the back side of the second material 72, as the transport moves through the ink jet printer, while the print head is moved, as described above. The method of creating the protection layer 75 on the surface of the created printing layer 74 on the surfaces 71a and 72a of each material 71 and 72, the protection layer 75 has at least one characteristic of ultraviolet ray resistance or absorption, or water resistance. Furthermore, it is desirable for the said image receiving layer 76 to have water absorption including the steps of creating the water ink image receiving layer 76 on the surfaces 71a and 72a of each material prior to printing. Next, referring to Figures 4(a) and 4(b), there is shown the creation of indented portion 103 of the panel 102 on the surface of tombstone body, printing on the surface 102a of the panel 102 with the ink jet head, and inserting the said panel 102 in indented part 103 on the surface of the said tombstone to be stabilized according to the present invention. It is a manufacturing method of tombstones that has features of creating the water ink absorbent image receiving layer 104 on the surface 102a of the said panel, printing on the surface of this image receiving layer 104, and creating the ultraviolet ray resistant or absorbent protection layer 106 or a water proof layer on the surface of the created printing layer 105. In practice, a number of the panels or blocks can be printed in a printing method as previously described. Referring to Figure 5, the method of the present invention may include the steps of painting a primer 2 with an ultraviolet rays resistant or absorbent characteristic on the back 1a of the water resistant light penetrating medium 1, creating the water ink image receiving layer 3 on the surface of this primer 2, applying specific printing 4 on the surface of image receiving layer 3, and creating an ultraviolet ray resistant or absorbent protection layer 5 on the created printing 4. The light penetrating media 1 can be glass, a clear plastic board, a CD case, a DVD case, or a cassette tape case, and other transparent media. Referring to Figure 6, a mirror manufacturing method according to the present invention has the steps of creating an ultraviolet ray resistant or absorbent protection layer 22 on the back 21a of a glass panel 21, creating a water ink image receiving layer 23 on the surface of this protection layer 22, applying the specified printing on the surface of this image receiving layer 23, creating a water proof layer 25 on the surface of the created printing layer 24, and creating a reflection film 26, such as silver, on the surface of this water proof layer 25. The water ink image receiving layer can be created by a spray gun painting method, a spin coating painting method, screen printing or hand painting. Also, the protection film on the printing surface can be created by a spray gun painting method, a spin coating painting method, screen printing, or hand painting. The image receiving layer has excellent water ink absorption. For example, its main components are water (emulsion, water solution) acrylic resin, vinyl alcohol resin, and acetic acid vinyl resin. It is created by painting and drying a mixed solution of foam remover, surface adjuster, surfactant, adherence enhancer, water, and alcohol solution. Also, the protection film on the printing surface is a layer to prevent discoloration of the printing layer and to improve water resistance. For example, its main components are acrylic resin, silicon acrylic resin, and polyester resin. It is created by painting and drying the mixed solution of organic and inorganic ultraviolet ray absorbent material, oxidization preventing material, hulse, foam remover, surface adjuster, and solution.

Claims: The method of printing on the surface of one or more objects including the steps of moving an ink jet head back and forth for a specific distance for printing on the one or more objects within a specified range from a standard home position, moving a specified distance in the direction of movement of said ink jet head to establish another home position, and printing an image on the object or different object next to said first printed image by moving the said ink jet head back and forth for a specific distance from said newly established home position. The printing method of claim 1, including a water-based ink image receiving layer on a surface of the object printing on the surface of said image receiving layer with water-based ink, and forming a protection layer on the surface of said printing which includes ultraviolet ray resistant or absorbing or water resistant material. The method of claim 2 in which said water-based ink image receiving layer and said printing are applied to one or more game balls. The method of claim 2 in which said printing is applied to one or more food products with water resistant surfaces and said image receiving layer is applied to said water resistant based layer and said water-based ink are made by water absorbent materials that are safe for human consumption. The method of claim 2 in which said printing is applied to one or more food products with a water absorbent surface that provides said water-based ink image receiving layer and said water-based ink is made with materials that are safe for human consumption. The printing method of claim 1, including manufacturing a doll head by painting the first material and a second material with printed surfaces using an ink jet head and water-based ink, and applying said first and second materials to the front and rear of said doll head. The method of claim 6, including forming a protection layer on the surface of each of said materials having at least one characteristic of ultraviolet ray resistance or absorption or water resistance. The method of claim 7, including the step of creating a water ink absorbing image receiving layer on the surface of each said material prior to printing. The method of any preceding claim in which the one or more objects are supported by a board or tray. The method of claim 9 in which the one or more objects are located in indented parts of the board or tray.

Inventors: OZAWA CHIZUO, OZAWA, CHIZUO
Applicants: MASTER MIND CO LTD, MASTER MIND, CO., LTD.
Application year: 2001
Main classification: B41J11
IPC codes: B41M7, B41J3, B41J2, B41M5