Dyeing system

Abstract

To provide a dyeing system capable of stably measuring color information of a dyed resin body.SOLUTION: A dyeing system includes a dye fixation device, a color information measurement device 61, and a temperature reduction part 90. The dye fixation device heats a resin body to which a dye is attached, and thereby fixes a dye to the resin body. The color information measurement device 61 measures color information of the resin body to which the dye is fixed by the dye fixation device. The temperature reduction part 90 lowers the temperature of the resin body heated by the dye fixation device before the color information is measured by the color information measurement device 61. In a state in which the influence of discoloration of the resin body that may occur according to the temperature is suppressed by the temperature reduction part 90, the color information measurement device 61 measures the color information of the resin body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a dyeing system for dyeing a resin body.

Background Art

[0002] Various techniques for dyeing resin bodies such as plastic lenses have been proposed. For example, in a dyeing method called the dipping method, the resin body is dyed by immersing the resin body in a dyeing solution. However, in the dipping method, it is difficult to improve the working environment, and it is also difficult to dye some resin bodies (for example, lenses with a high refractive index).

[0003] Therefore, a technique has been proposed in which a dye is transferred to the surface of a resin body, and the resin body is heated to dye the resin body. For example, in the dyeing method described in Patent Document 1, a sublimable dye is applied (printed) to a substrate by an inkjet printer. Next, in a state where the resin body and the substrate are arranged non - contact in a vacuum, the sublimable dye applied to the substrate is sublimated, so that the dye is transferred to the resin body. Next, the resin body is heated by scanning a laser beam with respect to the resin body, and the dye is fixed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] For the purpose of confirming or improving the quality of transfer dyeing, it is also conceivable to measure the color information of the actually dyed resin body with a color information measuring device. Here, the inventor of the present invention newly found that the measurement result of the color information of the resin body by the color information measuring device may become unstable depending on the state of the resin body in which the dye has been fixed by heating. If the color information of the resin body cannot be stably measured, it is difficult to fully utilize the measured color information.

[0006] A typical object of the present disclosure is to provide a dyeing system capable of stably measuring the color information of a dyed resin body.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The dyeing system provided by a typical embodiment in the present disclosure is a dyeing system for dyeing a resin body, including a dye fixing device for fixing the dye to the resin body by heating the resin body to which the dye has adhered, a color information measuring device for measuring the color information of the resin body to which the dye has been fixed, and a temperature lowering unit for suppressing the influence of discoloration of the resin body that may occur according to the temperature by lowering the temperature of the resin body heated by the dye fixing device before the color information is measured by the color information measuring device. The temperature lowering unit includes a conveyance unit that suppresses the influence of discoloration of the resin body that may occur according to temperature by lowering the temperature of the resin body heated by the dye fixing device while conveying the resin body toward the measurement position by the color information measuring device. The color information measuring device By measuring the color information of the resin body automatically conveyed from the dye fixing device to the measurement position by the conveyance unit, measures the color information of the resin body in a state where the influence of discoloration of the resin body that may occur according to the temperature is suppressed by the temperature lowering unit.

[0008] According to the dyeing system according to the present disclosure, the color information of the dyed resin body is stably measured.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009] ​ It is a block diagram showing the system configuration of the dyeing system 1. ​ It is a perspective view of the dyeing tray 80 with two lenses L installed, seen from obliquely above to the right. ​ It is a schematic configuration diagram of the color measuring device 60. ​ This is a flowchart of the colorimetric control process executed by the dyeing system 1.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] <Summary> The dyeing system exemplified in the present disclosure includes a dye fixing device, a color information measuring instrument, and a temperature reducing unit. The dye fixing device fixes the dye to the resin body by heating the resin body to which the dye has adhered. The color information measuring instrument measures the color information of the resin body to which the dye has been fixed. The temperature reducing unit suppresses the influence of discoloration of the resin body that may occur according to the temperature by reducing the temperature of the resin body heated by the dye fixing device before the color information of the resin body is measured by the color information measuring instrument. The color information measuring instrument measures the color information of the resin body in a state where the influence of discoloration of the resin body that may occur according to the temperature is suppressed by the temperature reducing unit.

[0011] According to the findings obtained by the inventor of the present invention, discoloration (for example, yellowing, etc.) may occur in the base material of the resin body according to the temperature of the resin body. In addition, discoloration may occur in the dye itself fixed to the resin body according to the temperature of the dyed resin body. On the other hand, the dyeing system of the present disclosure reduces the temperature of the resin body heated by the dye fixing device by the temperature reducing unit before the color information of the resin body is measured by the color information measuring instrument. As a result, the color information of the resin body is measured by the temperature reducing unit in a state where the influence of discoloration of the resin body and the dye that may occur according to the temperature is suppressed. Therefore, the color information of the dyed resin body is stably measured.

[0012] The temperature reduction unit may reduce the temperature of the resin body until it reaches a measurement reference temperature at which the color information of the resin body can be stably measured by the color information measuring device. In this case, the influence of discoloration that may occur according to the temperature is more appropriately suppressed. The measurement reference temperature may be appropriately set according to at least one of, for example, the type of the base material of the resin body and the type of the dye. As an example, if the measurement reference temperature is set to 80°C or lower, the influence of discoloration of the resin body and the dye is easily suppressed. Further, by setting the measurement reference temperature to 60°C or lower, the influence of discoloration is more easily suppressed regardless of the type of the base material of the resin body and the like. Furthermore, by setting the measurement reference temperature to 50°C or lower, the influence of discoloration due to temperature is more appropriately suppressed.

[0013] The control unit of the dyeing system may change the measurement reference temperature according to at least one of the type of the base material of the resin body and the type of the dye. In this case, a more appropriate measurement reference temperature is set. As an example, the dyeing system may include a reading unit (for example, an identifier reading unit, etc.) that reads information about the resin body to be dyed. The control unit may set the measurement reference temperature for each unit of the resin body to be dyed according to the reading result by the reading unit.

[0014] Further, after the dye fixing process by the dye fixing device is completed, the temperature reduction unit may perform cooling (at least one of natural cooling and forced cooling) of the resin body until a required time elapses during which the color information of the resin body is likely to be stably measured by the color information measuring device. That is, the configuration and operation of the temperature reduction unit and the like may be determined based on the temperature of the resin body, or may be determined based on the elapsed time after the dye fixing process is completed.

[0015] The temperature reduction unit may include a conveying unit. While conveying the resin body heated by the dye fixing device toward the measurement position by the color information measuring device, the conveying unit reduces the temperature of the resin body, thereby suppressing the influence of discoloration of the resin body that may occur according to the temperature. In this case, the resin body on which the dye is fixed by the dye fixing device is automatically conveyed toward the measurement position of the color information. Further, the time for the temperature of the heated resin body to be naturally cooled is appropriately ensured during conveyance. Therefore, for example, even if an operator does not perform operations such as moving the resin body to the measurement position of the color information and reducing the temperature of the resin body, the resin body is appropriately conveyed and the color information is appropriately measured. In addition, when the resin body is naturally cooled, the possibility of damage to the base material due to the temperature difference generated in each part of the resin body is also reduced. Therefore, the color information of the resin body is measured by the color information measuring device in a state where the influence of discoloration of the resin body that may occur according to the temperature is more appropriately suppressed by the temperature reduction unit.

[0016] The conveying unit may suppress the influence of discoloration of the resin body that may occur according to the temperature by waiting for the resin body on the conveying path of the resin body and reducing the temperature of the resin body. In this case, during conveyance by the conveying unit, the time for the temperature of the resin body to decrease (that is, the time for the resin body to be naturally cooled) is appropriately ensured. There is no need to deliberately design the conveying path of the resin body by the conveying unit to be long in order to reduce the temperature of the resin body. In addition, when the resin body is naturally cooled, the possibility of damage to the base material due to the temperature difference in each part of the resin body is also low. Therefore, the conveyance of the resin body and the temperature reduction are both performed efficiently. As a result, the color information of the resin body is measured in a state where the influence of discoloration of the resin body that may occur according to the temperature is appropriately suppressed.

[0017] The method for the conveying unit to wait for the resin body on the conveying path can be appropriately selected. For example, the conveying unit may include a stack unit that stacks a plurality of resin bodies sequentially heated by the dye fixing device. In this case, while a plurality of resin bodies are stacked and waiting by the stack unit, the temperature of the resin body heated by the dye fixing device appropriately decreases. An increase in the area for waiting a plurality of resin bodies is also suppressed.

[0018] However, it is also possible to change the method of waiting for the resin body on the conveyance path. For example, the conveyance unit may wait for a plurality of resin bodies on which the dye has been fixed in a state of being arranged horizontally without stacking. Even in this case, the temperature of the resin body appropriately decreases during the waiting. Further, the conveyance unit can also lower the temperature while conveying the resin body without waiting for the resin body on the conveyance path. In this case, at least either the length of the conveyance path of the resin body or the conveyance speed may be set so that the time required for the temperature of the resin body to decrease is secured during the conveyance. Further, the temperature lowering unit may lower the temperature of the resin body by another method (for example, a method using a cooling unit described later) without lowering the temperature of the resin body by the conveyance unit.

[0019] The dyeing system may further include a temperature measurement unit that measures the temperature of the resin body on which the dye has been fixed by the dye fixing device. The control unit of the dyeing system may acquire the measurement result of the color information of the resin body by the color information measuring device in a state where the temperature of the resin body measured by the temperature measurement unit has dropped below the measurement reference temperature. In this case, the possibility that the color information affected by discoloration due to temperature is used is appropriately reduced.

[0020] Note that the control unit may execute the measurement of the color information by the color information measuring device after the temperature of the resin body has dropped below the measurement reference temperature. Specifically, when the dyeing system includes a conveyance unit, the control unit may convey the resin body to the measurement position by the color information measuring device by the conveyance unit and cause the color information to be measured after the temperature of the resin body has dropped below the measurement reference temperature. Further, the control unit may wait at the measurement position by the color information measuring device until the temperature of the resin body becomes below the measurement reference temperature, and cause the color information to be measured when the temperature becomes below the measurement reference temperature. Further, the control unit may cause the color information measuring device to measure the color information of the resin body regardless of whether the temperature of the resin body has become below the measurement reference temperature. In this case, the control unit may use the color information measured after the temperature of the resin body has dropped below the measurement reference temperature for various processes.

[0021] The temperature lowering part may further include a forced cooling part that lowers the temperature of the resin body by a temperature lowering amount greater than the temperature lowering amount by natural cooling. In this case, after the dye fixing step by the dye fixing device is completed, the time required until the measurement result of the color information by the color information measuring device is acquired is shortened by the forced cooling part. Therefore, the time required for the dyeing step of the resin body is appropriately shortened.

[0022] Note that the temperature lowering amount indicates the amount by which the temperature of the resin body heated by the dye fixing device decreases per unit time. The temperature lowering amount by natural cooling indicates the temperature lowering amount of the heated resin body while it is simply waiting or being conveyed in the installation environment of the dyeing system.

[0023] The specific configuration of the forced cooling part can be appropriately selected. For example, a cooling fan that blows a gas (such as air, etc.) onto the resin body may be used as the forced cooling part. Also, at least one of a refrigerator and a Peltier element, etc. may be used as the forced cooling part. Further, the temperature lowering part of the dyeing system can also lower the temperature of the resin body only by natural cooling without including the forced cooling part.

[0024] The dyeing system may include a temperature measuring part that measures the temperature of the resin body. The control part of the dyeing system may execute the cooling of the resin body by the forced cooling part in a state where the temperature of the resin body measured by the temperature measuring part has dropped below the forced cooling reference temperature. If the temperature of the resin body is rapidly lowered by the forced cooling part when the temperature of the resin body is very high, as a result, the temperature difference between each part in the resin body (for example, the temperature difference between the surface and the inside of the resin body) becomes large, and there is a possibility that the resin body may be deformed or damaged. On the other hand, by executing forced cooling in a state where the temperature of the resin body has dropped below the forced cooling reference temperature, the temperature of the resin body rapidly drops in a state where deformation, etc. of the resin body is suppressed.

[0025] Note that the forced cooling reference temperature may be set to be equal to or lower than the glass transition temperature of the base material of the resin body. In this case, the possibility of deformation or the like occurring in the resin body due to forced cooling is further reduced. Note that the forced cooling reference temperature is a temperature higher than the measurement reference temperature described above.

[0026] The control unit may change the forced cooling reference temperature according to the type of the base material of the resin body. In this case, an appropriate forced cooling reference temperature corresponding to the type of the base material is set. As an example, the dyeing system may include a reading unit (for example, an identifier reading unit or the like) that reads information about the resin body to be dyed. The control unit may set a forced cooling reference temperature corresponding to the type of the base material of the resin body according to the reading result by the reading unit.

[0027] Note that the temperature measurement unit used to determine whether the temperature of the resin body has become equal to or lower than the measurement reference temperature and the temperature measurement unit used to determine whether the temperature of the resin body has become equal to or lower than the forced cooling reference temperature may be the same or different.

[0028] The dyeing system may further include a disturbing light blocking unit that suppresses the arrival of disturbing light to the resin body by covering the periphery of the resin body disposed at the measurement position by the color information measuring instrument. In this case, the color information of the resin body is measured in a state where the influence of disturbing light is suppressed. Therefore, the color information of the resin body is measured more appropriately.

[0029] The dyeing system may further include a printing device and a transfer device. The printing device prints a dye on the substrate. The transfer device transfers the dye to the resin body in a state where the resin body is opposed to the substrate (substrate with dye printed thereon). In this case, the dye is transferred from the substrate with dye printed thereon, in which at least any one of the amount, concentration, distribution, etc. of the dye is appropriately adjusted by the printing device, to the resin body and fixed. Therefore, the dyeing quality of the resin body is appropriately improved.

[0030] In the present disclosure, as a transfer method for transferring a dye to a resin body, a vapor transfer method is exemplified in which a sublimable dye printed on a substrate is sublimated in a state where the resin body and the dye-attached substrate are opposed to each other without contact in a vacuum, thereby transferring the dye to the resin body. However, it is also possible to change the transfer method. For example, the dye may be transferred to the resin body in a state where the dye-attached substrate is in contact with the resin body.

[0031] The control unit of the dyeing system may execute a discharge amount determination step, a result color information acquisition step, and a correction step. In the discharge amount determination step, the control unit determines the discharge amount of the dye onto the substrate by the printing device for dyeing the resin body with the color to be dyed (planned color) according to the determination procedure. In the result color information acquisition step, the control unit acquires the result color information, which is the color information measured by the color information measuring device, for the resin body actually dyed by the printing device, the transfer device, and the dye fixing device by using the dye with the discharge amount determined in the discharge amount determination step. In the correction step, the control unit corrects the discharge amount of the dye determined in the discharge amount determination step based on the result color information and the planned color, so as to make the color of the resin body to be dyed in the subsequent dyeing process approach the planned color.

[0032] In this case, according to the planned color to be dyed and the color of the actually dyed resin body (result color), the discharge amount of the dye determined in the subsequent discharge amount determination step (that is, the discharge amount of the dye for dyeing the planned color on the resin body) is corrected. As a result, in the subsequent dyeing process, the discharge amount of the dye printed on the substrate for dyeing the planned color is corrected, so that the color of the actually dyed resin body appropriately approaches the planned color. Therefore, the planned color is appropriately dyed on the resin body.

[0033] A specific method for correcting the discharge amount of the dye determined in the discharge amount determination step can be appropriately selected. For example, the control unit may correct the discharge amount of the dye according to the result of the comparison process between the result color information and the color information of the planned color. The comparison process may be, for example, a process of obtaining the difference between the result color information and the color information of the planned color, or a process of obtaining the ratio between the result color information and the color information of the planned color.

[0034] For example, the control unit may correct the determination procedure for determining the discharge amount of the dye in the discharge amount determination step, thereby correcting the discharge amount of the dye determined in the subsequent discharge amount determination step. Various procedures can be adopted for the determination procedure for determining the discharge amount of the dye (that is, the algorithm for determining the discharge amount of the dye). For example, a table associating each color for dyeing the resin body with the discharge amount of each dye may be stored in the storage device. The control unit may determine the discharge amount by obtaining the discharge amount of each dye corresponding to the planned color from the table. In this case, in the correction step, the determination procedure may be corrected by correcting the information in the table. Also, information on the discharge amount (base color information) of each dye for dyeing the resin body with a plurality of dyes of different colors (for example, red, yellow, and blue) at a planned concentration may be stored in the storage device. The control unit may determine the discharge amount by calculating the discharge amount of each dye for dyeing the planned color based on the base color information. In this case, in the correction step, the determination procedure may be corrected by correcting the base color information.

[0035] In addition, the control unit of the dyeing system may execute a pass / fail determination step and an error output step. In the pass / fail determination step, the control unit determines whether the difference between the planned color and the result color information measured for the actually dyed resin body is within the threshold value. In the error output step, the control unit outputs an error when the difference between the planned color and the result color information is not within the threshold value and the planned color and the result color are significantly different. In this case, resin bodies with poor quality of the actually performed dyeing are appropriately excluded.

[0036] However, it is also possible to change the method of utilizing the color information measured by the color information measuring device. For example, simply, the color information measured by the color information measuring device may be referred to in order to confirm the dyeing quality of the resin body or the like.

[0037] <Embodiment> Hereinafter, one typical embodiment according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The dyeing system 1 automatically and continuously dyes resin bodies. In the present embodiment, the resin body to be dyed is a plastic lens L (see FIG. 2 etc.) used for glasses. However, at least a part of the technology exemplified in the present disclosure can also be applied when dyeing resin bodies other than the lens L. For example, when dyeing various resin bodies such as goggles, covers for mobile phones, covers for lights, accessories, toys, films (for example, with a thickness of 400 μm or less), plate materials (for example, with a thickness of 400 μm or more), etc., it is also possible to apply at least a part of the technology exemplified in the present disclosure. The resin body to be dyed also includes a resin body added to a member (for example, wood or glass, etc.) different from the resin body. Further, the dyeing system 1 of the present embodiment dyes while continuously conveying a plurality of resin bodies. However, at least a part of the technology exemplified in the present disclosure can also be adopted for a dyeing system that conveys and dyes resin bodies one set at a time.

[0038] (System Configuration) With reference to FIG. 1, the system configuration of the dyeing system 1 of the present embodiment will be schematically described. The dyeing system 1 of the present embodiment includes an overall conveyance device 10, a printing device 30, a transfer device 40, a dye fixing device 50, a color measuring device 60, and a control device 70.

[0039] The overall conveyance device 10 conveys a dyeing tray 80 (see FIG. 2) on which the lens L, which is a resin body, is placed to each device in the dyeing system 1. Specifically, the overall conveyance device 10 of the present embodiment continuously conveys a plurality of dyeing trays 80 throughout the dyeing system 1. The overall conveyance device 10 of the present embodiment conveys the dyeing tray 80 in the order of the printing device 30, the transfer device 40, the dye fixing device 50, and the color measuring device 60 (that is, from left to right in FIG. 1).

[0040] The printing device 30 prints dyes on a sheet-like substrate. In this embodiment, paper with appropriate hardness or a film made of metal (aluminum in this embodiment) is used as the substrate. However, other materials such as glass plates, heat-resistant resins, and ceramics can also be used as the material of the substrate. In the dyeing system 1 of this embodiment, in order to appropriately transfer the dye to the lens L while preventing aggregation of the dye, etc., the substrate and the lens L are separated and opposed in a vacuum (including a substantially vacuum) environment, and the dye on the substrate is heated, so that the dye is transferred (vapor-deposited) onto the surface of the lens L (the dyeing method in this embodiment is referred to as a gas-phase transfer dyeing method). Therefore, an inkjet printer that prints ink containing sublimable dye on the substrate is used as the printing device 30. The printing device 30 executes printing based on print data created by a control device 70 that is an information processing device (a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as "PC") in this embodiment). As a result, an appropriate amount of ink (dye) adheres to an appropriate position on the substrate. It is also easy to create a dye-attached substrate for performing gradation dyeing.

[0041] Note that it is also possible to change the configuration of the printing device 30. For example, the printing device may be a laser printer. In this case, the toner may contain sublimable dye. Further, instead of the printing device 30, a dispenser (liquid metering coating device), a roller, or the like may be used to attach the dye to the substrate.

[0042] The transfer device 40 transfers the dye attached to the substrate to the lens L in a state where the dye is opposed to the lens L. As described above, in this embodiment, the dye is transferred from the substrate to the lens L by the gas-phase transfer method. However, it is also possible to change the method of transferring the dye to the lens L. For example, the dye may be transferred from the substrate to the lens L in a state where the dye on the substrate is in contact with the lens L.

[0043] The dye fixing device 50 fixes the dye adhered to the surface of the lens L to the resin body by heating the lens L onto which the dye has been transferred by the transfer device 40. The dye fixing device 50 of the present embodiment heats the lens L by irradiating the lens L with laser light, which is an electromagnetic wave. However, a device (such as an oven or the like) that irradiates the lens L with an electromagnetic wave other than laser light may be used as the dye fixing device.

[0044] The color measurement device 60 is used to measure the color information of the lens L on which the dye has been fixed by the dye fixing device 50. The color measurement device 60 of the present embodiment measures the color information of the lens L after reducing the temperature of the lens L heated by the dye fixing device 50. Details of the color measurement device 60 will be described later.

[0045] The control device 70 is in charge of various controls in the dyeing system 1. As the control device 70, various information processing devices (for example, at least any one of a PC, a server, and a mobile terminal, etc.) can be used. The control device 70 includes a controller (for example, a CPU or the like) 71 that is in charge of control, and a database 72 that stores various data. It should be noted that the configuration of the control device 70 can also be changed. First, a plurality of devices may cooperate to function as the control device 70. For example, a control device that is in charge of various controls in the dyeing system 1 and a control device provided with the database 72 may be different devices. Also, the controllers of a plurality of devices may cooperate to execute various controls in the dyeing system 1. For example, in many cases, at least any one of the overall transfer device 10, the printing device 30, the transfer device 40, the dye fixing device 50, and the color measurement device 60 is provided with a controller. In this case, the controller of the control device 70 and the controllers of other devices may cooperate to be in charge of the control of the dyeing system 1.

[0046] The dyeing system 1 includes a reading unit 2 that reads information regarding the lens L to be dyed for each unit to be conveyed (including the dyeing tray 80 and the lens L placed on the dyeing tray 80). As an example, the reading unit 2 of the present embodiment is an identifier reading unit that reads an identifier provided for each unit to be conveyed (for example, for each dyeing tray 80). The unit is specified by the identifier read by the reading unit 2. By specifying the unit, information on the planned color, the measurement reference temperature, and the forced cooling reference temperature (details will be described later) corresponding to the lens L included in the unit are set.

[0047] The reading unit 2 of the present embodiment is an identifier reader (for example, a QR code (registered trademark) reader, a barcode reader, an identification hole reader, etc.) corresponding to the identifier being used. Further, the reading unit 2 may be a tag reading unit that reads information from a tag (for example, an IC tag, etc.) capable of writing information. In this case, the measurement reference temperature and the forced cooling reference temperature may be stored in the tag. In the present embodiment, among the plurality of devices constituting the dyeing system 1, the reading unit 2 is provided at least in the color measurement device 60. However, a reading unit may also be provided in a part of the dyeing system 1 other than the color measurement device 60.

[0048] (Dyeing tray) Referring to FIG. 2, the staining tray 80 used in the staining system 1 of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the staining tray 80 in a state where two lenses L are installed (placed) and no substrate is installed. The staining tray 80 of the present embodiment includes a tray body 81, a mounting frame 89, and a spacer 87. A resin body to be stained (lens L in the present embodiment) is placed on the mounting frame 89. The mounting frame 89 of the present embodiment is formed in a ring shape having an outer diameter slightly larger than that of the lens L. The spacer 87 extends upward in a cylindrical shape (circular cylindrical shape) from the outer peripheral portion of the portion of the mounting frame 89 where the lens L is placed. A mounting portion 82 is formed on the tray body 81. The mounting frame 89 and the spacer 87 are detachably mounted on the mounting portion 82. In the present embodiment, two mounting portions 82 are formed on one tray body 81. Therefore, a pair (left and right) of lenses L used for one pair of glasses are stained while being placed on one staining tray 80.

[0049] Among the tray body 81, at a position outside the mounting portion 82 (specifically, outside the substrate mounting portion 85), a protruding portion 84 that protrudes upward is provided. Further, at the bottom of the tray body 81 (in the present embodiment, at two locations at the bottom of each mounting portion 82), a bottom fitting portion 86, which is a concave portion recessed upward, is formed. Among the plurality of protruding portions 84 formed on the upper portion of the tray body 81, four protruding portions 84 adjacent to the mounting portion 82 are fitted into the bottom fitting portion 86 of the stacked staining tray 80 (tray body 81) when another staining tray 80 (tray body 81) is stacked on the upper portion of the staining tray 80. Therefore, a plurality of staining trays 80 can be stacked vertically in a stable state.

[0050] (Color measurement device) Referring to FIG. 3, the color measuring device 60 of the present embodiment will be described. As described above, after the temperature of the lens L heated by the dye fixing device 50 (see FIG. 3) is decreased, the color information of the lens L is measured. Note that the dyeing system 1 of the present embodiment dyes a plurality of units of the lens L continuously with a dyeing tray 80 in which one or two lenses L are installed as one unit. The color measuring device 60 of the present embodiment continuously measures the color information of a plurality of units of the lens L. As shown in FIG. 3, the color measuring device 60 of the present embodiment includes a color information measuring instrument 61, an ambient light blocking unit 62, a temperature measuring unit 63, and a temperature decreasing unit 90.

[0051] The color information measuring instrument 61 measures the color information of the lens L on which the dye is fixed by the dye fixing device 50 (see FIG. 1). The color information measuring instrument 61 of the present embodiment is a spectroscopic measuring instrument that measures the spectral spectrum of the lens L (specifically, the transmission spectrum in the present embodiment) as color information. Therefore, compared with the case of using an RGB camera or the like, the color information is acquired in a state where the influence of ambient light such as the illumination environment is suppressed. Further, even when the lens L is dyed using a plurality of dyes, since the spectral spectrum which is the distribution of intensities for each wavelength is acquired, the color information of the dyed lens L is appropriately acquired. Values such as the CIEL*a*b* color system, the XYZ color system, the L*C*h* color system, and the Munsell color system may be used by using the acquired spectral spectrum data. However, a device other than the spectroscopic measuring instrument (for example, an RGB camera or the like) may be used as the color information measuring instrument.

[0052] The ambient light blocking unit 62 suppresses the ambient light from reaching the lens L by covering the periphery of the lens L disposed at the measurement position by the color information measuring instrument 61. Therefore, the color information of the lens L is appropriately measured by the color information measuring instrument 61 in a state where the influence of the ambient light is suppressed by the ambient light blocking unit 62.

[0053] Note that the stray light blocking unit 62 of the present embodiment covers a portion of the entire periphery of the lens L disposed at the measurement position, excluding the conveyance path of the lens L (dyeing tray 80) conveyed by the conveyance unit 91 described later. That is, the stray light blocking unit 62 of the present embodiment covers a part of the entire periphery of the lens L disposed at the measurement position. However, the stray light blocking unit 62 may cover the entire periphery of the lens L. In this case, the influence of stray light when the color information of the lens L is measured is more appropriately suppressed.

[0054] The temperature measurement unit 63 measures the temperature of the lens L on which the dye has been fixed by the dye fixing device 50 (see FIG. 1). As an example, the temperature measurement unit 63 of the present embodiment measures the temperature of the lens L placed on the dyeing tray 80 at a position where the lens L can be cooled by the forced cooling unit 95 described later. Specifically, in the present embodiment, a pair of temperature measurement units 63 are provided so that each of the two lenses L placed on the dyeing tray 80 is measured separately. However, it is also possible to change at least one of the position and the number of the temperature measurement units 63. For example, a temperature measurement unit may be provided at a position where the temperature of the lens L disposed at the measurement position by the color information measuring device 61 is measured.

[0055] The temperature reduction unit 90 reduces the temperature of the lens L heated by the dye fixing device 50 (see FIG. 1) before the color information of the lens L is measured by the color information measuring device 61. Therefore, the color information of the lens L is measured by the color information measuring device 61 in a state where the influence of discoloration that may occur according to the temperature (specifically, at least one of the influence of discoloration of the base material of the lens L and the influence of discoloration of the dye) is suppressed by the temperature reduction unit 90.

[0056] The temperature reduction unit 90 of this embodiment reduces the temperature of the lens L to a measurement reference temperature or lower at which the color information of the lens L is stably measured before the color information of the lens L is measured. Therefore, the influence of discoloration that may occur according to the temperature is more appropriately suppressed. As an example, if the measurement reference temperature is set to 80°C or lower, the influence of discoloration of the lens L and the dye is easily suppressed. Further, by setting the measurement reference temperature to 60°C or lower, the influence of discoloration is easily suppressed regardless of the type of the base material of the lens L. In this embodiment, by setting the measurement reference temperature to 50°C or lower, the influence of discoloration due to temperature change is more appropriately suppressed.

[0057] The temperature reduction unit 90 of this embodiment includes a transport unit 91 and a forced cooling unit 95. Further, the transport unit 91 of this embodiment includes a stack unit 93.

[0058] The transport unit 91 transports the lens L heated by the dye fixing device 50 toward the measurement position of the color information by the color information measuring instrument 61. Specifically, the transport unit 91 reduces the temperature of the lens L to a measurement reference temperature or lower while transporting the lens L toward the measurement position of the color information by the color information measuring instrument 61. Therefore, even if an operator does not perform operations such as moving the lens L to the measurement position and reducing the temperature of the lens L, the lens L is appropriately transported to the measurement position, and the color information of the lens L is appropriately measured.

[0059] The stack unit 93 is provided on the conveyance path of the lens L by the conveyance unit 91. The conveyance unit 91 of the present embodiment stacks a plurality of units of the lens L (in the present embodiment, a plurality of dyeing trays 80 on which the lens L is installed) sequentially heated by the dye fixing device 50 in the stack unit 93, thereby waiting for the lens L. That is, the stack unit 93 is an example of a lens waiting unit that lowers the temperature of the lens L by waiting for the lens L on the conveyance path of the lens L by the conveyance unit 91. In the present embodiment, by waiting for the lens L in the stack unit 93 of the conveyance unit 91, the time for the temperature of the lens L to decrease (that is, the time for the lens L to be naturally cooled) is ensured. Therefore, there is no need to deliberately design the conveyance path of the lens L by the conveyance unit 91 to be long in order to naturally cool the lens L.

[0060] The forced cooling unit 95 lowers the temperature of the lens L by a temperature drop amount larger than the temperature drop amount by natural cooling. That is, the forced cooling unit 95 forcibly cools the lens L (more rapidly than natural cooling). Therefore, the time required from the end of the dye fixing process of the dye by the dye fixing device 50 (see FIG. 1) until the measurement result of the color information by the color information measuring device 61 is obtained is shortened by the forced cooling unit 95.

[0061] As an example, a cooling fan that blows gas (air) to the lens L is used for the forced cooling unit 95 of the present embodiment. However, a device other than the cooling fan (for example, at least one of a refrigerator and a Peltier element) may be used as the forced cooling unit 95.

[0062] Note that the transport unit 91 of this embodiment transports the dyeing tray 80 transported from the dye fixing device 50 (see FIG. 1) by the overall transport device 10 to the stacking unit 93. The transport unit 91 stacks a plurality of units of lenses L (in this embodiment, a plurality of dyeing trays 80) in the stacking unit 93. Specifically, the transport unit 91 of this embodiment stacks a plurality of dyeing trays 80 by transporting the dyeing tray 80 transported from the dye fixing device 50 to the lower part of the dyeing tray 80 waiting in the stacking unit 93. Further, among the lenses L located in the stacking unit 93, the transport unit 91 transports the lens L (in this embodiment, the uppermost dyeing tray 80 in the stacking unit 93) for which the dye fixing process by the dye fixing device 50 has been completed first to a position where the lens L can be cooled by the forced cooling unit 95 (hereinafter referred to as the "forced cooling position"). Furthermore, the transport unit 91 transports the lens L (dyeing tray 80) from the forced cooling position to the color information measurement position (hereinafter referred to as the "color information measurement position") of the color information measuring instrument 61.

[0063] The method of transporting the lens L (in this embodiment, the dyeing tray 80) by the transport unit 91 can be appropriately selected. For example, the transport unit 91 may include an arm unit for transporting the dyeing tray 80. Also, the transport unit 91 may transport the dyeing tray 80 using a transport belt.

[0064] (Color measurement control process) With reference to FIG. 4, the color measurement control process executed by the controller 71 of the dyeing system 1 will be described. In the color measurement control process, the measurement (color measurement) of the color information of the lens L and the like is controlled. When an instruction to start the dyeing process of the lens L is input, the controller 71 executes the color measurement control process illustrated in FIG. 4 according to the color measurement control program stored in the storage device. For the sake of easy understanding of the explanation, the color measurement control process illustrated in FIG. 4 is performed for each unit of performing dyeing (in this embodiment, one dyeing tray 80). However, the color measurement control process may be set to perform processing in parallel for a plurality of dyeing units.

[0065] First, the controller 71 confirms that the dye fixing process by the dye fixing device 50 has been completed (S1). As described above, the dye fixing device 50 fixes the dye to the lens L by heating the lens L installed on the dyeing tray 80. When the fixing process is completed (S1), the controller 71 controls the drive of the conveying unit 91 to convey the dyeing tray 80 (lens L) for which the fixing process has been completed from the overall conveying device 10 to the stacking unit 93 and waits (S2).

[0066] Next, the controller 71 determines whether there is an empty space at the forced cooling position where the lens L can be cooled by the forced cooling unit 95 (S4). If the dyeing tray 80 is arranged at the forced cooling position (S4: NO), it waits. If the dyeing tray 80 is not arranged at the forced cooling position and there is an empty space (S4: YES), the controller 71 controls the drive of the conveying unit 91 to convey the lens L in which the dye fixing process by the dye fixing device 50 was first completed among the lenses L located in the stacking unit 93 (in this embodiment, the uppermost dyeing tray 80 in the stacking unit 93) to the forced cooling position (S5). Further, the controller 71 sets the forced cooling reference temperature Tf and the measurement reference temperature Tm based on the information read by the reading unit 2 for the lens L of the dyeing tray 80 conveyed to the forced cooling position (S6). The forced cooling reference temperature Tf is a temperature for determining whether to perform forced cooling on the lens L at the forced cooling position. Also, the measurement reference temperature Tm is a temperature for determining whether to acquire the measurement result of the color information of the lens L by the color information measuring device 61. In this embodiment, the forced cooling reference temperature Tf and the measurement reference temperature Tm are set for each unit to be dyed (the dyeing tray 80 in this embodiment) according to at least one of the type of the base material of the lens L and the type of the dye.

[0067] Note that the forced cooling reference temperature Tf is set to be equal to or lower than the glass transition temperature of the base material of the lens L. Therefore, by performing forced cooling only when the temperature of the lens L drops below the forced cooling reference temperature Tf, deformation of the resin body during forced cooling is less likely to occur. Also, the forced cooling reference temperature Tf is set to be higher than the measurement reference temperature Tm.

[0068] Next, the controller 71 determines whether the temperature of the lens L at the forced cooling position measured by the temperature measurement unit 63 is equal to or lower than the forced cooling reference temperature Tf (S7). If the temperature of the lens L is higher than the forced cooling reference temperature Tf (S7: NO), the controller waits without performing forced cooling. If the temperature of the lens L is equal to or lower than the forced cooling reference temperature Tf (S7: YES), the controller 71 executes forced cooling of the lens L by the forced cooling unit 95 (S8).

[0069] Next, the controller 71 determines whether the temperature of the lens L at the forced cooling position measured by the temperature measurement unit 63 has become equal to or lower than the measurement reference temperature Tm (S10). If the temperature of the lens L is higher than the measurement reference temperature Tm (S10: NO), forced cooling continues. If the temperature of the lens L becomes equal to or lower than the measurement reference temperature Tm (S10: YES), the controller 71 controls the drive of the transport unit 91 to transport the dyeing tray 80 at the forced cooling position to the color information measurement position (S11). The controller 71 acquires the measurement result of the color information of the lens L by the color information measuring device 61 (S12). That is, the controller 71 acquires the measurement result of the color information in a state where the temperature of the lens L measured by the temperature measurement unit 63 is equal to or lower than the measurement reference temperature Tm. As a result, the possibility of using color information affected by discoloration due to temperature is appropriately reduced.

[0070] Based on the measurement result of the color information acquired in S12, the controller 71 corrects the discharge amount of the dye by the printing device 30 (S13). In the present embodiment, the controller 71 determines, according to a determination procedure, the discharge amount of the dye onto the substrate by the printing device 30 for dyeing the lens L with the color to be dyed (scheduled color) (discharge amount determination step). By using the dye with the discharge amount determined in the discharge amount determination step, the controller 71 acquires the resultant color information, which is the color information measured by the color information measuring device 61, for the lens L actually dyed by the printing device 30, the transfer device 40, and the dye fixing device 50 (resultant color information acquisition step). In S13, based on the resultant color information and the scheduled color, the controller 71 corrects the discharge amount of the dye determined in the discharge amount determination step, thereby bringing the color of the lens L to be dyed in the subsequent dyeing process closer to the scheduled color. As a result, the dyeing quality is appropriately improved.

[0071] Furthermore, based on the difference between the measurement result of the color information acquired in S12 and the scheduled color, the controller 71 determines the quality of the dyed lens L and conveys the dyeing tray 80 to a position corresponding to the determined quality (S14). In the present embodiment, positions where lenses L with good dyeing quality are conveyed and positions where lenses L with poor dyeing quality are conveyed are provided in advance. The controller 71 conveys the dyeing tray 80 to one of the two positions according to whether the dyeing quality determined based on the color information is good or not. Note that when the dyeing quality is not good (in the present embodiment, when the difference between the scheduled color and the resultant color information does not fall within the threshold), the controller 71 outputs an error by image display, sound, or the like.

[0072] Next, the controller 71 determines whether an instruction to end the process has been input (S16). If not (S16: NO), the process returns to S1, and the processes of S1 to S16 are repeated. When the end instruction is input (S16: YES), the color measurement control process ends.

[0073] The technology disclosed in the above embodiments is merely an example. Therefore, it is also possible to change the technology exemplified in the above embodiments. For example, only a part of the plurality of technologies exemplified in the above embodiments may be adopted. As an example, in the above embodiments, the forced cooling reference temperature Tf and the measurement reference temperature Tm are set for each unit to be dyed according to at least one of the type of the base material of the lens L and the type of the dye. However, at least one of the forced cooling reference temperature Tf and the measurement reference temperature Tm may be set to one value regardless of the unit to be dyed. Further, the dyeing system 1 may lower the temperature of the lens L only by natural cooling without using the forced cooling unit 95.

Explanation of Signs

[0074] 1 Dyeing system 30 Printing device 40 Transfer device 50 Dye fixing device 60 Color measuring device 61 Color information measuring instrument 62 External light shielding part 63 Temperature measuring part 70 Control device 80 Dyeing tray 90 Temperature lowering part 91 Conveying part 93 Stacking part 95 Forced cooling part L Lens

Claims

1. A dyeing system for dyeing a resin body, comprising: a dye fixing device for fixing the dye to the resin body by heating the resin body to which the dye has adhered; a color information measuring instrument for measuring the color information of the resin body to which the dye has been fixed; a temperature lowering unit for suppressing the influence of discoloration of the resin body that may occur according to the temperature by lowering the temperature of the resin body heated by the dye fixing device before the color information of the resin body is measured by the color information measuring instrument; and the temperature lowering unit includes a transport unit that suppresses the influence of discoloration of the resin body that may occur according to the temperature by lowering the temperature of the resin body while transporting the resin body heated by the dye fixing device toward the measurement position by the color information measuring instrument; the color information measuring instrument measures the color information of the resin body in a state where the influence of discoloration of the resin body that may occur according to the temperature is suppressed by the temperature lowering unit by measuring the color information of the resin body automatically transported from the dye fixing device to the measurement position by the transport unit. A dyeing system characterized by that.

2. The dyeing system according to claim 1, wherein the transport unit suppresses the influence of discoloration of the resin body that may occur according to the temperature by waiting for the resin body on the transport path of the resin body and lowering the temperature of the resin body. A dyeing system characterized by that.

3. The dyeing system according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a temperature measuring unit for measuring the temperature of the resin body to which the dye has been fixed by the dye fixing device, the control unit of the dyeing system acquires the measurement result of the color information of the resin body by the color information measuring instrument in a state where the temperature of the resin body measured by the temperature measuring unit has dropped below the measurement reference temperature. A dyeing system characterized by that.

4. The dyeing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the temperature lowering unit further comprises a forced cooling unit that lowers the temperature of the resin body by a temperature lowering amount greater than the temperature lowering amount by natural cooling. A dyeing system characterized by that.

5. The dyeing system according to claim 4, further comprising a temperature measuring unit for measuring the temperature of the resin body to which the dye has been fixed by the dye fixing device, the control unit of the dyeing system A dyeing system characterized by performing cooling of the resin body by the forced cooling unit in a state where the temperature of the resin body measured by the temperature measurement unit has dropped below the forced cooling reference temperature.

Images