Dyeing system

Abstract

A transport device 10 transports a transport unit comprising a resin body. A transfer device 40 transfers a dye onto the resin body in a state where a substrate onto which the dye has been adhered is caused to face the resin body of the transport unit. A laser fixation device 50A fixes the dye onto the resin body by radiating laser light to heat the surface of the resin body onto which the dye has been transferred. An oven fixation device 50B fixes the dye onto the resin body by heating the entirety of the resin body onto which the dye has been transferred. The transport unit comprising the resin body, for which the dye transfer has been completed and onto which the laser fixation device 50A will fix the dye, is transported on a laser transport route 15A. The transport unit comprising the resin body, for which the dye transfer has been completed and onto which the oven fixation device 50B will fix the dye, is transported on an oven transport route 15B.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Various techniques for dyeing a resin body such as a plastic lens have been proposed. For example, in a dyeing method called the dip dyeing method, the resin body is dyed by immersing the resin body in a dyeing solution. However, in the dip dyeing 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) onto 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 surface of the resin body is heated by scanning laser light onto the resin body, and the dye is fixed. Also, in the dyeing method described in Patent Document 2, the resin body is heated by an oven, so that the dye is fixed to the resin body.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

[0005] When fixing dyes to a resin body using laser light, the time required for the fixing process is generally shorter compared to using an oven. Furthermore, using an oven offers advantages such as easier and more efficient dye fixation to the resin body regardless of the type of resin substrate or the color being dyed. Conventional methods used either laser light or an oven to fix dyes to the resin body, making it difficult to significantly improve the efficiency of the dyeing process.

[0006] A typical object of this disclosure is to provide a dyeing system that can dye resins more effectively.

[0007] A staining system provided by a typical embodiment in this disclosure First aspect The dyeing system for dyeing a resin body comprises: a conveying device for conveying a conveying unit including a resin body; a transfer device for transferring dye to the resin body with a substrate to which dye has been attached facing the resin body of the conveying unit conveyed by the conveying device; a laser fixing device for fixing the dye attached to the surface of the resin body to the resin body by irradiating the surface of the resin body to which dye has been transferred by the transfer device with laser light and heating it; an oven fixing device for fixing the dye attached to the surface of the resin body to the resin body by heating the entire resin body to which dye has been transferred by the transfer device; a laser conveying path for conveying the conveying unit including a resin body to which dye transfer by the transfer device has been completed and dye has been fixed by the laser fixing device; and an oven conveying path for conveying the conveying unit including a resin body to which dye transfer by the transfer device has been completed and dye has been fixed by the oven fixing device. A sorting unit that sorts the transport unit, which has completed the transfer of dye by the transfer apparatus, into either the laser transport path or the oven transport path, Equipped with By doing so, the dye fixing process is performed on the resin body of the transport unit using either the laser fixing device or the oven fixing device. . A second aspect of the dyeing system provided by a typical embodiment of the present disclosure is a dyeing system for dyeing a resin body, comprising: a conveying device for conveying a conveying unit including a resin body; a transfer device for transferring dye to the resin body with a substrate to which dye has been attached facing the resin body of the conveying unit conveyed by the conveying device; a laser fixing device for fixing the dye attached to the surface of the resin body to the resin body by irradiating the surface of the resin body to which dye has been transferred by the transfer device with laser light and heating it; an oven fixing device for fixing the dye attached to the surface of the resin body to the resin body by heating the entire resin body to which dye has been transferred by the transfer device; and a device for dyeing a resin body after the transfer of dye by the transfer device is complete and the laser fixing device has been used The system comprises a laser transport path through which the transport unit containing the resin body on which the dye is fixed is transported; an oven transport path through which the transport unit containing the resin body on which the dye transfer by the transfer device is completed and on which the dye is fixed by the oven fixing device is transported; a sorting unit that sorts the transport unit on which the dye transfer by the transfer device is completed into either the laser transport path or the oven transport path; and a control unit that controls the dyeing system, wherein the control unit sorts the transport unit into either the laser transport path or the oven transport path by controlling the drive of the sorting unit for each transport unit according to whether the time required to perform the fixing process by the laser fixing device is below a threshold. A third aspect of the dyeing system provided by a typical embodiment of the present disclosure is a dyeing system for dyeing a resin body, comprising: a conveying device for conveying a conveying unit including a resin body; a transfer device for transferring dye to the resin body with a substrate to which dye has been attached facing the resin body of the conveying unit conveyed by the conveying device; a laser fixing device for fixing the dye attached to the surface of the resin body to the resin body by irradiating the surface of the resin body to which dye has been transferred by the transfer device with laser light and heating it; an oven fixing device for fixing the dye attached to the surface of the resin body to the resin body by heating the entire resin body to which dye has been transferred by the transfer device; and after the transfer of dye by the transfer device is completed, The system comprises a laser transport path through which the transport unit containing the resin body on which the dye is fixed by the laser fixing device is transported; an oven transport path through which the transport unit containing the resin body on which the dye has been transferred by the transfer device and on which the dye is fixed by the oven fixing device is transported; a sorting unit that sorts the transport unit on which the dye has been transferred by the transfer device into either the laser transport path or the oven transport path; and a control unit that controls the dyeing system, wherein the control unit sorts each transport unit into either the laser transport path or the oven transport path by controlling the drive of the sorting unit according to the operating state of the laser fixing device. A fourth aspect of the dyeing system provided by a typical embodiment of the present disclosure is a dyeing system for dyeing a resin body, comprising: a conveying device for conveying a conveying unit including a resin body; a transfer device for transferring dye to the resin body of the conveying unit conveyed by the conveying device, with the substrate on which the dye is attached facing the resin body; a laser fixing device for fixing the dye attached to the surface of the resin body to the resin body by irradiating the surface of the resin body to which the dye has been transferred by the transfer device with laser light and heating it; and heating the entire resin body to which the dye has been transferred by the transfer device and the dye attached to the surface of the resin body The system comprises an oven fixing device for fixing the dye to the resin body, a laser transport path for transporting the transport unit including the resin body on which the dye transfer by the transfer device has been completed and the dye has been fixed by the laser fixing device, an oven transport path for transporting the transport unit including the resin body on which the dye transfer by the transfer device has been completed and the dye has been fixed by the oven fixing device, and a color information measuring instrument for measuring the color information of the resin body on which the dye has been fixed, wherein the color information measuring instrument measures the color information of both the resin body on which the dye has been fixed by the laser fixing device and the resin body on which the dye has been fixed by the oven fixing device.

[0008] According to the dyeing system described herein, the resin body is dyed more appropriately.

[0009] The dyeing system illustrated in this disclosure comprises a transport device, a transfer device, a laser fixing device, an oven fixing device, a laser transport path, and an oven transport path. The transport device transports transport units containing a resin body. The transfer device transfers the dye to the resin body of the transport unit transported by the transport device, with a substrate to which the dye has been attached facing the resin body. The laser fixing device heats the surface of the resin body to which the dye has been transferred by the transfer device by irradiating it with laser light, thereby fixing the dye attached to the surface of the resin body to the resin body. The oven fixing device heats the entire resin body to which the dye has been transferred by the transfer device, thereby fixing the dye attached to the surface of the resin body to the resin body. Transport units containing a resin body to which the dye transfer by the transfer device has been completed and which will be fixed by the laser fixing device are transported to the laser transport path. Transport units containing a resin body to which the dye transfer by the transfer device has been completed and which will be fixed by the oven fixing device are transported to the oven transport path.

[0010] According to the staining system of this disclosure, the transport unit is transported from the transfer device to either the laser fixing device or the oven fixing device via either a laser transport path or an oven transport path. In other words, the staining system of this disclosure can perform the fixing process using either the laser fixing device or the oven fixing device. Therefore, it is easier to improve the efficiency of the staining process compared to when only one of the laser fixing device or the oven fixing device is used.

[0011] The dyeing system may further include a printing device. The printing device prints the dye onto the substrate. In this case, the dye is transferred to and fixed onto the resin body from the dye-coated substrate, in which at least one of the following, such as the amount, concentration, and distribution of the dye, has been appropriately adjusted by the printing device. Therefore, the dyeing quality of the resin body is appropriately improved.

[0012] Furthermore, this disclosure exemplifies a vapor-phase transfer method for transferring dye to a resin body, in which the resin body and the dye-coated substrate are placed facing each other in a vacuum without contact, and the sublimable dye printed on the substrate is sublimated to transfer the dye to the resin body. However, the transfer method can be changed. For example, the dye may be transferred to the resin body while the dye-coated substrate is in contact with the resin body.

[0013] The transport device may automatically transport the transport unit to the laser fixing device via a laser transport path. In this case, the operator does not need to transport the transport unit from the transfer device to the laser fixing device themselves. Therefore, the efficiency of the dyeing process is further improved.

[0014] Alternatively, the conveying device may automatically transport the conveying unit to the oven fixing device via a conveying path for the oven. In this case, the operator does not need to transport the conveying unit from the transfer device to the oven fixing device themselves. Therefore, the efficiency of the dyeing process is further improved.

[0015] At least one of the laser transport path and the oven transport path may be provided in the transport device. In other words, the transport device may have at least one of the laser transport path and the oven transport path. In this case, the transport device may have both the laser transport path and the oven transport path. The transport device may also have a laser transport path. The transport device may also have an oven transport path. With such a configuration, the transport unit is appropriately transported on the transport path of the transport device. Furthermore, the method of transporting the transport unit can be appropriately selected, for example, by a belt conveyor or by a robot arm.

[0016] The dyeing system may further include a sorting unit that sorts the transport units, after the dye transfer by the transfer device is complete, into either a laser transport path or an oven transport path. In this case, the transport units are automatically sorted into either the laser transport path or the oven transport path without the operator having to sort them. Therefore, the efficiency of the dyeing process is further improved.

[0017] The dyeing system may further include a control unit. The control unit may acquire the dyeing process conditions for each transport unit and, according to the acquired conditions, allocate the transport unit to either a laser transport path or an oven transport path. In this case, each transport unit is appropriately allocated to the appropriate transport path among the laser transport path and the oven transport path according to the dyeing process conditions. Therefore, the efficiency of the dyeing process is further improved.

[0018] However, the control unit may determine whether a transport unit is suitable for laser fixing or oven fixing based on the dyeing process conditions acquired for each transport unit, and output the determination result. In this case, the operator can appropriately allocate the transport units to one of the transport paths based on the output determination result. The method of outputting the determination result can be at least one of the following: display on a display unit, printing on paper, etc., and data transfer.

[0019] The control unit may sort the transport units according to whether at least one of the resin body contained in the transport unit and the color intended to be dyed onto the resin body is suitable for dye fixing by a laser fixing device. In other words, if at least one of the resin body contained in the transport unit and the color intended to be dyed onto the resin body is suitable for laser fixing, the control unit may sort the transport unit into the laser transport path. If at least one of the resin body contained in the transport unit and the color intended to be dyed onto the resin body is not suitable for laser fixing, the control unit may sort the transport unit into the oven transport path.

[0020] As described above, according to the laser fixing device, the time required for the fixing process is likely to be shortened. However, depending on the resin body, it may be impossible or difficult to fix the dye by the laser fixing device. Also, depending on the color (for example, at least either the type or the concentration of the color to be dyed) to be dyed on the resin body, it may be impossible or difficult to fix the dye by the laser fixing device. Generally, when the concentration of the color to be dyed on the resin body is high, it is more likely to be difficult to fix the dye by the laser fixing device compared to when the concentration is low. According to the oven fixing device, since the temperature of the resin body gradually rises over a long period of time, it is difficult for a temperature difference to occur between each part of the resin body. Therefore, according to the oven fixing device, the dye is likely to be properly fixed on the resin body. Also, the possibility of damage or the like occurring in the resin body due to the temperature difference is reduced. When the transport unit is sorted according to whether the resin body is suitable for laser fixing, for the resin body suitable for laser fixing, the fixing process is performed in a short time by laser. On the other hand, for the resin body not suitable for laser fixing, the fixing process is properly performed by the oven. Therefore, the efficiency of the dyeing process is appropriately improved.

[0021] Note that the control unit can determine whether the resin body is suitable for fixing the dye by the laser fixing device based on various conditions. For example, the control unit may determine whether the type of the base material of the resin body is a base material suitable for laser fixing. Also, the control unit may determine whether the shape of the resin body is a shape suitable for laser fixing. The control unit may determine whether the concentration of the color to be dyed on the resin body is a concentration suitable for laser fixing. The control unit may determine whether the resin body is suitable for laser fixing based on a plurality of conditions (for example, the type and shape of the base material, etc.).

[0022] When executing the fixing process by the laser fixing device, the control unit may allocate the transport unit according to whether the time required is less than or equal to a threshold value. That is, when the time required for laser fixing of the resin body is less than or equal to the threshold value, the control unit may allocate the transport unit to the laser transport path. When the time required for laser fixing of the resin body is longer than the threshold value, the control unit may allocate the transport unit to the oven transport path. When the time required for the fixing process (laser fixing) by the laser fixing device becomes longer, the number of transport units in the standby state before laser fixing increases, and the time required for the entire dyeing process may become longer. In contrast, by allocating resin bodies with a laser fixing time longer than the threshold value to the oven transport path, it becomes difficult for the number of transport units in the laser fixing standby state to increase. Therefore, multiple resin bodies can be dyed more efficiently.

[0023] The control unit may allocate the transport unit according to the operating state of the laser fixing device. In this case, it becomes difficult for the number of transport units in the laser fixing standby state to increase. Therefore, multiple resin bodies can be dyed more efficiently.

[0024] In addition, a specific method for allocating the transport unit according to the operating state of the laser fixing device can be appropriately selected. For example, when the laser fixing device is in operation, the control unit may allocate the transport unit to the oven transport path. Also, the control unit may obtain the standby time until the laser fixing process by the laser fixing device is performed as information on the operating state of the laser fixing process. In this case, when the standby time until the laser fixing process is performed is less than or equal to the threshold value, the control unit may allocate the transport unit to the laser transport path and, when the standby time becomes longer than the threshold value, allocate the transport unit to the oven transport path. Further, the control unit may allocate the transport unit according to whether the number of transport units waiting for laser fixing is greater than or equal to the threshold value.

[0025] The oven fixing device may be capable of fixing multiple resin units (e.g., a pair of eyeglass lenses) at once, exceeding the number of units that a laser fixing device can fix in a single fixing step. In this case, even if the fixing process by the oven fixing device takes time, the overall dyeing process proceeds smoothly because the oven fixing is performed on multiple resin units at once.

[0026] The control unit may initiate the oven fixing process for multiple units of resin that are in a standby state for the oven fixing process when the number of units in a standby state reaches a predetermined number. In this case, the oven fixing of the multiple units of resin is performed more efficiently and automatically.

[0027] Furthermore, the control unit may perform a notification operation to the operator when the number of units in a standby state for the fixing process by the oven fixing device reaches a predetermined number. In this case, the operator can appropriately understand the timing to start the fixing process by the oven fixing device through the notification.

[0028] The dyeing system may include a reading unit that reads information about the transport units. The control unit may acquire the dyeing process conditions for each transport unit based on the information read by the reading unit, and control the drive of the sorting unit according to the acquired conditions. In this case, the dyeing process conditions are appropriately acquired for each transport unit, and the transport unit is sorted into either the laser transport path or the oven transport path. As a result, multiple resin bodies are dyed automatically and appropriately.

[0029] The reading unit may include an identifier reading unit that reads an identifier provided for each transport unit. The control unit may obtain the dyeing conditions for the transport unit corresponding to the identifier read by the identifier reading unit from a database that stores the dyeing process conditions (dyeing conditions) for each transport unit. In this case, even if the order of multiple transport units changes, for example, the dyeing conditions for each transport unit can be appropriately determined by the control unit. The identifier may be provided, for example, on the dyeing tray on which the resin body is placed, or on the substrate used in the transfer process.

[0030] Furthermore, the reading unit may include a tag reading unit that reads information from writable tags provided on the transport unit. The control unit may acquire the dyeing conditions contained in the information read by the tag reading unit. In this case, by pre-storing the dyeing conditions in the tags, the control unit can appropriately grasp the dyeing conditions for each transport unit, even if, for example, the order of multiple transport units changes.

[0031] The dyeing system may further include a color information meter for measuring the color information of the resin body to which the dye has been fixed. The color information meter may measure the color information of both the resin body to which the dye has been fixed by a laser fixing device and the resin body to which the dye has been fixed by an oven fixing device. In this case, the color information measurement results from the color information meter can be used, for example, to confirm or improve the dyeing quality. Furthermore, the color information of both the resin body that has been laser-fixed and the resin body that has been oven-fixed is measured by a common color information meter. Therefore, the color information of the resin body is measured appropriately while keeping the configuration of the dyeing system from becoming overly complex.

[0032] The specific method of using the measured color information can be selected as appropriate. For example, the control unit may perform 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, according to the determination procedure, the amount of dye discharged onto the substrate by the printing device to dye the resin body with the planned color (planned color). In the result color information acquisition step, the control unit acquires result color information, which is color information measured by a color information measuring instrument, for the resin body that has actually been dyed by the printing device, transfer device, and dye fixing device using the amount of dye discharged in the discharge amount determination step. In the correction step, the control unit corrects the amount of dye discharged in the discharge amount determination step based on the result color information and the planned color, thereby bringing the color of the resin body dyed in subsequent dyeing processes closer to the planned color. In this case, since the amount of dye discharged to print on the substrate to dye with the planned color in subsequent dyeing processes is corrected, the color of the resin body that is actually dyed approaches the planned color appropriately.

[0033] The control unit may also perform 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 actual color information measured for the dyed resin body is within a threshold. In the error output step, the control unit outputs an error if the difference between the planned color and the actual color information is not within the threshold and there is a large difference between the planned color and the actual color. In this case, resin bodies with poor dyeing quality are appropriately excluded. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0034] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing the system configuration of staining system 1. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of the staining tray 80 with two lenses L installed, seen from the upper right. [Figure 3] This is a flowchart of the resin body sorting process performed by dyeing system 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0035] Hereinafter, one typical embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The dyeing system 1 automatically and continuously dyes resin bodies. In this embodiment, the resin body to be dyed is a plastic lens L used in eyeglasses (see Figure 2, etc.). However, at least a part of the technology exemplified in this disclosure can also be applied when dyeing resin bodies other than lenses L. For example, at least a part of the technology exemplified in this disclosure can be applied when dyeing various resin bodies such as goggles, mobile phone covers, light covers, accessories, toys, films (e.g., with a thickness of 400 μm or less), and sheet materials (e.g., with a thickness of 400 μm or more). The resin bodies to be dyed also include resin bodies attached to materials other than resin bodies (e.g., wood or glass, etc.). Furthermore, the dyeing system 1 of this embodiment dyes multiple resin bodies while continuously transporting them. However, at least a part of the technology exemplified in this disclosure can also be adopted in a dyeing system that transports and dyes resin bodies one set at a time.

[0036] (System Configuration) Referring to Figure 1, the system configuration of the dyeing system 1 of this embodiment will be outlined. The dyeing system 1 of this embodiment comprises a transport device 10, a printing device 30, a transfer device 40, a laser fixing device 50A, an oven fixing device 50B, a color information measuring instrument 60, and a control device 70. Furthermore, the dyeing system 1 of this embodiment comprises a laser transport path 15A, an oven transport path 15B, a sorting unit 5, and an oven standby position 8.

[0037] The conveying device 10 continuously conveys the conveying unit U (see Figure 2) to each device in the dyeing system 1. The conveying unit U is a unit that is conveyed by the conveying device 10. In this embodiment, the conveying unit U includes a dyeing tray 80 (see Figure 2) and a lens L placed on the dyeing tray 80. Furthermore, the conveying unit U may also include a sheet-like substrate (dye-coated substrate) with dye attached to its surface. In this embodiment, the conveying device 10 includes a belt conveyor that conveys the conveying unit U along the conveying path. However, the configuration of the conveying device 10 can be changed. For example, the conveying device 10 may include a robotic arm or the like that grips and conveys the conveying unit U.

[0038] The printing device 30 prints dye onto a sheet-like substrate. In this embodiment, the substrate is made of paper or a metallic film (aluminum in this embodiment) of appropriate hardness. However, other materials such as glass plates, heat-resistant resins, and ceramics can also be used for the substrate. In the dyeing system 1 of this embodiment, in order to properly transfer the dye to the lens L while preventing the aggregation of the dye, the dye on the substrate is heated in a vacuum (including near-vacuum) environment with the substrate and lens L separated and facing each other, thereby transferring (depositing) the dye onto the surface of the lens L (the dyeing method in this embodiment is called a vapor-phase transfer dyeing method). Therefore, the printing device 30 uses an inkjet printer that prints ink containing sublimable dye onto the substrate. The printing device 30 performs printing based on print data created by the control device 70, which is an information processing device (personal computer (hereinafter referred to as "PC" in this embodiment). As a result, the appropriate amount of ink (dye) is attached to the appropriate position on the substrate. It is also easy to create a dyed substrate for gradient dyeing.

[0039] 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 a sublimation dye. Alternatively, instead of the printing device 30, the dye may be applied to the substrate by a dispenser (liquid quantitative application device), rollers, etc.

[0040] The transfer apparatus 40 transfers the dye attached to the substrate from the substrate to the lens L while the substrate is facing the lens L. As described above, in this embodiment, the dye is transferred from the substrate to the lens L by a vapor phase transfer method. However, it is 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 while the dye on the substrate and the lens L are in contact.

[0041] The laser fixing device 50A fixes the dye attached to the surface of the lens L, which has been transferred with dye by the transfer device 40, by irradiating the surface of the lens L with laser light and heating it. In detail, the laser fixing device 50A of this embodiment includes a laser light source and a scanner. The laser light source emits laser light. The scanner scans the laser light emitted from the laser light source. The surface of the lens L is heated as the laser light is scanned two-dimensionally on the surface of the lens L by the scanner. In this embodiment, the laser fixing device 50A performs one fixing process for each transport unit U (i.e., for each one or pair of lenses L included in one transport unit U).

[0042] The laser fixing device 50A can fix the dye to the lens L in a shorter time compared to the oven fixing device 50B. Furthermore, the laser fixing device 50A changes the laser irradiation conditions (for example, the time required for the fixing process by irradiating with laser light, and at least one of the laser light output control conditions) depending on at least one of the type of substrate of the lens L to be dyed and the shape of the lens L. However, depending on the type and shape of the resin substrate of the lens L, it may be difficult to properly fix the dye to the lens L using laser light.

[0043] The oven fixing device 50B heats the entire lens L to which the dye has been transferred by the transfer device 40, thereby fixing the dye attached to the surface of the lens L to the lens L. In this embodiment, the oven fixing device 50B heats the entire lens L by heating the entire heating chamber (the gas inside the heating chamber and the lens L) while the lens L is placed inside the heating chamber.

[0044] With the oven fixing device 50B, the temperature of the lens L rises gradually over a long period of time, making it difficult for temperature differences to occur in different parts of the lens L. Therefore, with the oven fixing device 50B, the dye can be properly fixed to the lens L regardless of the type of substrate used for the lens L.

[0045] Furthermore, the oven fixing device 50B of this embodiment can perform the fixing process on multiple units of lenses L, N units in total, which is more than the number of units (in this embodiment, one or a pair of lenses L included in one transport unit U) that the laser fixing device 50A can fix the dye in a single fixing process. As a result, the entire dyeing process proceeds smoothly.

[0046] The color information meter 60 is used to measure the color information of the lens L to which the dye has been fixed. The color information meter 60 in this embodiment is a spectrometer that measures the spectral spectrum (specifically, the transmission spectrum in this embodiment) of the lens L as color information. Therefore, compared to the case where an RGB camera or the like is used, the influence of ambient light such as the lighting environment is suppressed when acquiring color information. Furthermore, even when the lens L is dyed using multiple dyes, the spectral spectrum, which is the distribution of intensity for each wavelength, is acquired, so the color information of the dyed lens L is appropriately acquired. Values ​​such as the CIEL*a*b* color system, XYZ color system, L*C*h* color system, Munsell color system, etc., may be used with the acquired spectral spectrum data. However, a device other than a spectrometer (e.g., an RGB camera) may also be used as a color information meter.

[0047] The color information measuring instrument 60 in this embodiment measures the color information of both the lens L that has been dyed by the laser fixing device 50A and the lens L that has been dyed by the oven fixing device 50B. In other words, the transport unit U that has passed through the laser fixing device 50A and the transport unit U that has passed through the oven fixing device 50B are both transported to the same color information measuring instrument 60. In this embodiment, the transport device 10 transports the transport unit U from the laser fixing device 50A and the oven fixing device 50B to the color information measuring instrument 60.

[0048] In the laser transport path 15A, transport units U containing lenses L, which have had dye transfer completed by the transfer device 40 and whose dye has been fixed by the laser fixing device 50A, are transported. In addition, in the oven transport path 15B, transport units U containing lenses L, which have had dye transfer completed by the transfer device 40 and whose dye has been fixed by the oven fixing device 50B, are transported.

[0049] In this embodiment, the transport device 10 automatically transports the transport unit U to the laser fixing device 50A via the laser transport path 15A. Furthermore, the transport device 10 also automatically transports the transport unit U towards the oven fixing device 50B (more specifically, the oven standby position 8, which will be described later) via the oven transport path 15B. In other words, the transport device 10 of this embodiment includes a laser transport path 15A and an oven fixing device 50B. Therefore, the transport unit U is efficiently transported without the need for an operator to manually transport it.

[0050] However, it is also possible to change the method of transporting the transport unit U to the laser fixing device 50A and the oven fixing device 50B, respectively. For example, a transport unit U transported to the oven transport path 15B may be manually transported to the oven fixing device 50B by an operator. Alternatively, a transport unit U transported to the laser transport path 15A may be manually transported to the laser fixing device 50A by an operator. The transport unit U may also be manually transported to both the laser fixing device 50A and the oven fixing device 50B.

[0051] The sorting unit 5 automatically sorts the transport unit U, which includes the lens L after the dye transfer by the transfer device 40 is complete, into either the laser transport path 15A or the oven transport path 15B. The specific configuration of the sorting unit 5 can be selected as appropriate. For example, the sorting unit 5 may be a robot arm or the like that transports the transport unit U into either the laser transport path 15A or the oven transport path 15B. Alternatively, a switch (for example, a rail switch) that switches the transport direction of the transport unit U may be used as the sorting unit 5. The specific control method for the operation of the sorting unit 5 will be described later with reference to Figure 3.

[0052] The oven standby position 8 is a position where the transport unit U, which includes the lens L on which the dye is fixed by the oven fixing device 50B, is stationary. The oven standby position 8 is located on the path of the oven transport route 15B. In this embodiment, the oven standby position 8 can accommodate N units (transport unit U) on which the oven fixing device 50B can fix the dye in a single fixing process.

[0053] The control device 70 is responsible for various controls in the dyeing system 1. Various information processing devices (for example, at least one of a PC, server, and mobile terminal) can be used as the control device 70. The control device 70 includes a controller (for example, a CPU) 71 that is responsible for control and a database 72 that stores various data. It is also possible to change the configuration of the control device 70. First, multiple devices may cooperate to function as the control device 70. For example, the control device that is responsible for various controls in the dyeing system 1 and the control device that has the database 72 may be different devices. Also, the controllers of multiple devices may cooperate to execute various controls in the dyeing system 1. For example, at least one of the transport device 10, printing device 30, transfer device 40, laser fixing device 50A, and oven fixing device 50B often has a controller. In this case, the controller of the control device 70 and the controllers of the other devices may cooperate to control the dyeing system 1.

[0054] The staining system 1 includes a reading unit 2 that reads information for each transport unit U (which includes a staining tray 80 and lenses L placed on the staining tray 80). As an example, the reading unit 2 in this embodiment is an identifier reading unit that reads an identifier provided for each transport unit U (for example, each staining tray 80). The transport unit U is identified by the identifier read by the reading unit 2. Once the transport unit U is identified, conditions for the staining process for the lenses L contained in the transport unit U are obtained.

[0055] In this embodiment, the reading unit 2 is an identifier reader corresponding to the identifier being used (for example, a QR code (registered trademark) reader, a barcode reader, an identification hole reader, etc.). Alternatively, the reading unit 2 may be a tag reader that reads information from a tag on which information can be written (for example, an IC tag, etc.). In this embodiment, the reading unit 2 is provided near at least the transfer device 40 among the multiple devices that constitute the dyeing system 1. However, reading units may also be provided in parts of the dyeing system 1 other than the transfer device 40.

[0056] (Conveyor unit U, staining tray) Referring to Figure 2, the transport unit U and the staining tray 80 will be described. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the staining tray 80 (transport unit U) with two lenses L installed (placed) on it and the base not installed. The staining tray 80 of this embodiment comprises a tray body 81, a mounting frame 89, and a spacer 87. The resin body to be stained (lenses L in this embodiment) is placed on the mounting frame 89. The mounting frame 89 of this embodiment is formed in a ring shape with an outer diameter slightly larger than that of the lenses L. The spacer 87 extends upward in a cylindrical shape from the outer circumference of the part of the mounting frame 89 on which the lenses L are placed. The tray body 81 has a mounting portion 82. The mounting frame 89 and the spacer 87 are detachably mounted on the mounting portion 82. In this embodiment, two mounting portions 82 are formed on one tray body 81. Therefore, a pair (left and right) of lenses L used in one pair of eyeglasses are stained while placed on a single staining tray 80.

[0057] On the tray body 81, a projection 84 is provided that protrudes upward at a position outside the mounting portion 82 (more specifically, outside the base mounting portion 85). In addition, a bottom fitting portion 86, which is a recessed part that is indented upward, is formed at the bottom of the tray body 81 (in this embodiment, at two locations at the bottom of each mounting portion 82). Of the multiple projections 84 formed on the upper part of the tray body 81, the four projections 84 adjacent to the mounting portion 82 fit into the bottom fitting portions 86 of the stacked dyeing tray 80 when another dyeing tray 80 (tray body 81) is stacked on top of the dyeing tray 80. Thus, multiple dyeing trays 80 can be stacked vertically in a stable manner.

[0058] (Resin body sorting process) Referring to Figure 3, the resin sorting process performed by the controller 71 of the dyeing system 1 will be described. In the resin sorting process, the lens L (transport unit U) after the dye transfer process by the transfer device 40 is completed is sorted into either the laser transport path 15A or the oven transport path 15B. When an instruction to start the dyeing process of the lens L is input to the controller 71, the controller 71 executes the resin sorting process illustrated in Figure 4 according to the program stored in the memory device.

[0059] First, the controller 71 determines whether the dye transfer process by the transfer device 40 is complete (S1). If the transfer process by the transport unit U to the lens L is not complete (S1:NO), the determination in S1 is repeated and the device enters a standby state.

[0060] When the transfer process of the transport unit U to the lens L is completed (S1:YES), the controller 71 acquires the conditions for the dyeing process for the transport unit U (lens L) that has completed the transfer process (S2). The conditions for the dyeing process acquired in S2 can be selected as appropriate. As an example, in this embodiment, the conditions for the dyeing process are acquired as follows: whether or not it is suitable for dye fixing by the laser fixing device 50A (suitability for laser fixing), the time required to perform the fixing process by the laser fixing device 50A (laser fixing time), and information on the operating status of the laser fixing device 50A (operating status information).

[0061] In detail, in this embodiment, the controller 71 acquires the suitability of laser fixing and the laser fixing time for each transport unit U based on the information read by the reading unit 2 (see Figure 1). The information indicating the suitability of laser fixing may be at least one of the following: information indicating whether the type of substrate of the lens L is suitable for laser fixing, information indicating whether the shape of the lens L is suitable for laser fixing, and information indicating whether the color (color density in this embodiment) to be dyed onto the lens L is suitable for laser fixing. The controller 71 also acquires information on the operating status of the laser fixing device 50A from the laser fixing device 50A, etc. The operating status information may be at least one of the following: information indicating whether the laser fixing device 50A is in operation, information on the waiting time required before the fixing process by the laser fixing device 50A is performed, and information on the number of transport units U waiting for the fixing process by the laser fixing device 50A. Note that the timing for acquiring the conditions for the dyeing process is not limited to after the completion of the transfer process on the lens L by the transport unit U. Furthermore, each of the multiple conditions for a single transport unit U may be acquired at different timings.

[0062] Next, the controller 71 controls the drive of the sorting unit 5 according to the staining process conditions acquired in S2, thereby sorting the transport unit U, which has completed the transfer process, into either the laser transport path 15A or the oven transport path 15B (S4-S8, S12).

[0063] In detail, in this embodiment, the controller 71 determines, based on the conditions obtained in S2, whether the lens L included in the transport unit U and at least one of the colors to be dyed are suitable for dye fixing by the laser fixing device 50A (S4). If they are not suitable for laser fixing (S4: NO), the controller 71 directs the transport unit U to the oven transport path 15B (S8).

[0064] If at least one of the lens L of the transport unit U and the color to be dyed is suitable for laser fixing (S4:YES), the controller 71 determines whether the laser fixing time obtained in S2 is less than or equal to the threshold T (S5). If the laser fixing time is longer than the threshold T (S5:NO), the number of transport units U in a waiting state for laser fixing increases, which may worsen the efficiency of the dyeing process. Therefore, the controller 71 distributes the transport units U to the transport path 15B for the oven (S8).

[0065] If the laser fixing time for the transport unit U to the lens L is less than or equal to the threshold T (S5:YES), the controller 71 determines whether there is sufficient time for the fixing process by the laser fixing device 50A (whether there is sufficient time for laser fixing) (S6). For example, the controller 71 may determine that there is not sufficient time for laser fixing if the laser fixing device 50A is in operation. The controller 71 may also determine that there is not sufficient time for laser fixing if the waiting time required before laser fixing is performed on the lens L of the transport unit U is longer than the threshold. In addition, the controller 71 may determine that there is not sufficient time for laser fixing if the number of transport units U waiting for laser fixing is greater than or equal to the threshold. If there is not sufficient time for laser fixing (S6:NO), the controller 71 distributes the transport unit U to the transport path 15B for the oven (S8). If there is sufficient time for laser fixing (S6:YES), the controller 71 distributes the transport unit U to the transport path 15A for the laser (S12).

[0066] If the transport unit U is allocated to the oven transport path 15B (S8), the controller 71 determines whether the number of transport unit U in a waiting state for the fixing process by the oven fixing device 50B has reached a predetermined number (in this embodiment, the upper limit N of transport unit U that can be processed in one fixing process by the oven fixing device) (S9). If the predetermined number has not been reached (S9: NO), the process returns to S1. If the number of transport unit U in a waiting state for oven fixing has reached a predetermined number (S9: YES), the controller 71 starts the fixing process by the oven fixing device 50B for the lenses L of the N transport unit U that were in a waiting state. The controller 71 may also perform a notification operation to notify the operator if it determines in S9 that the predetermined number has been reached.

[0067] The technologies disclosed in the above embodiments are merely examples. Therefore, it is possible to modify the technologies exemplified in the above embodiments. For example, only some of the technologies exemplified in the above embodiments may be adopted. For example, in the above embodiments, the transport unit U, after the dye transfer process is completed, is automatically sorted by the sorting unit 5 to either the laser fixing device 50A or the oven fixing device 50B. However, the transport unit U may also be sorted manually by an operator to either the laser fixing device 50A or the oven fixing device 50B. Even in this case, the efficiency of the dyeing process can be improved by the operator sorting the transport unit U appropriately. Furthermore, in the resin body sorting process of the above embodiments (see Figure 3), the drive of the sorting unit 5 is controlled by information on the suitability of laser fixing (S4), the laser fixing time (S5), and the operating status (S6). However, it goes without saying that only some of the processes S4 to S6 may be adopted.

Claims

1. A dyeing system for dyeing resin bodies, A conveying device for conveying a conveying unit containing a resin body, A transfer device for transferring dye to the resin body of the transport unit, with the substrate on which the dye is attached facing the resin body of the transport unit that has been transported by the transport device, A laser fixing device that fixes the dye attached to the surface of the resin body to the resin body by irradiating the surface of the resin body to which the dye has been transferred by the transfer device with laser light and heating it, An oven fixing device that heats the entire resin body onto which the dye has been transferred by the transfer device, thereby fixing the dye attached to the surface of the resin body to the resin body, A laser transport path through which the transport unit, which includes a resin body on which the dye transfer by the transfer device has been completed and on which the dye has been fixed by the laser fixing device, is transported. An oven transport path through which the transport unit, which includes a resin body on which the dye transfer by the transfer device has been completed and on which the dye has been fixed by the oven fixing device, is transported. A sorting unit that sorts the transport unit, which has completed the transfer of dye by the transfer apparatus, into either the laser transport path or the oven transport path, A dyeing system characterized by performing a dye fixing process on the resin body of the transport unit using either the laser fixing device or the oven fixing device, by providing the above-mentioned equipment.

2. A dyeing system for dyeing resin bodies, A conveying device for conveying a conveying unit containing a resin body, A transfer device for transferring dye to the resin body of the transport unit, with the substrate on which the dye is attached facing the resin body of the transport unit that has been transported by the transport device, A laser fixing device that fixes the dye attached to the surface of the resin body to the resin body by irradiating the surface of the resin body to which the dye has been transferred by the transfer device with laser light and heating it, An oven fixing device that heats the entire resin body onto which the dye has been transferred by the transfer device, thereby fixing the dye attached to the surface of the resin body to the resin body, A laser transport path through which the transport unit, which includes a resin body on which the dye transfer by the transfer device has been completed and on which the dye has been fixed by the laser fixing device, is transported. An oven transport path through which the transport unit, which includes a resin body on which the dye transfer by the transfer device has been completed and on which the dye has been fixed by the oven fixing device, is transported. A sorting unit that sorts the transport unit, which has completed the transfer of dye by the transfer apparatus, into either the laser transport path or the oven transport path, A control unit that is responsible for controlling the aforementioned staining system, Equipped with, The dyeing system is characterized in that the control unit controls the drive of the distribution unit for each of the transport units according to whether the time required to perform the fixing process by the laser fixing device is below a threshold, thereby distributing the transport units to either the laser transport path or the oven transport path.

3. A dyeing system for dyeing resin bodies, A conveying device for conveying a conveying unit containing a resin body, A transfer device for transferring dye to the resin body of the transport unit, with the substrate on which the dye is attached facing the resin body of the transport unit that has been transported by the transport device, A laser fixing device that fixes the dye attached to the surface of the resin body to the resin body by irradiating the surface of the resin body to which the dye has been transferred by the transfer device with laser light and heating it, An oven fixing device that heats the entire resin body onto which the dye has been transferred by the transfer device, thereby fixing the dye attached to the surface of the resin body to the resin body, A laser transport path through which the transport unit, which includes a resin body on which the dye transfer by the transfer device has been completed and on which the dye has been fixed by the laser fixing device, is transported. An oven transport path through which the transport unit, which includes a resin body on which the dye transfer by the transfer device has been completed and on which the dye has been fixed by the oven fixing device, is transported. A sorting unit that sorts the transport unit, which has completed the transfer of dye by the transfer apparatus, into either the laser transport path or the oven transport path, A control unit that is responsible for controlling the aforementioned staining system, Equipped with, The dyeing system is characterized in that the control unit controls the drive of the distribution unit for each of the transport units according to the operating status of the laser fixing device, thereby distributing the transport units to either the laser transport path or the oven transport path.

4. A dyeing system for dyeing resin bodies, A conveying device for conveying a conveying unit containing a resin body, A transfer device for transferring dye to the resin body of the transport unit, with the substrate on which the dye is attached facing the resin body of the transport unit that has been transported by the transport device, A laser fixing device that fixes the dye attached to the surface of the resin body to the resin body by irradiating the surface of the resin body to which the dye has been transferred by the transfer device with laser light and heating it, An oven fixing device that heats the entire resin body onto which the dye has been transferred by the transfer device, thereby fixing the dye attached to the surface of the resin body to the resin body, A laser transport path through which the transport unit, which includes a resin body on which the dye transfer by the transfer device has been completed and on which the dye has been fixed by the laser fixing device, is transported. An oven transport path through which the transport unit, which includes a resin body on which the dye transfer by the transfer device has been completed and on which the dye has been fixed by the oven fixing device, is transported. A color information measuring instrument for measuring the color information of the resin body on which the dye has been fixed, Equipped with, The dyeing system is characterized in that the color information measuring instrument measures the color information of both the resin body on which the dye has been fixed by the laser fixing device and the resin body on which the dye has been fixed by the oven fixing device.

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