JP2004286875A - Method for dyeing plastic lens - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for dyeing a plastic lens which is excellent in uniform dyeing property in comparison with a conventional dipping method and a conventional vapor phase method, and by which the plastic lens is dyed to high density and treatment after dyeing is made easy. <P>SOLUTION: In the method, the plastic lens is dyed by heating the plastic lens in a state where water soluble paper containing sublimating dye is brought into contact with the plastic lens. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for dyeing a plastic lens, which can be dyed at a high level with superior leveling properties as compared with the conventional immersion method and gas phase method, and which can be easily treated after dyeing.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, plastic lenses have been used in various fields instead of glass lenses, and among them, contact lenses and eyeglass lenses used for vision correction have been actively dyed for the purpose of cosmetic effects and the like. I have. The reason why the glass lens is replaced by the plastic lens is that the plastic lens can be easily dyed in addition to its light weight and safety.
[0003]
With respect to dyeing of plastic lenses, an immersion method has conventionally been used. This method involves heating a dyeing solution in which a disperse dye having a coloring ability for a plastic lens is dissolved and / or suspended in water, immersing the plastic lens to be dyed therein for a predetermined time, Is heated to further diffuse the dye that has penetrated the inside of the lens and stabilize the dye.
[0004]
However, in this method, depending on the concentration of the disperse dye in the dyeing solution, the temperature of the dyeing solution, the coloring ability of the plastic lens, and the like, the color tone of the colored lens is easily changed, and a colored lens having a uniform color tone is stabilized. Difficult to obtain. In recent years, plastic lens materials have been diversified in response to market needs for high added value, and as a result, materials that are difficult to dye by the immersion method have been increasing.
[0005]
A gas phase method has been proposed as a method that can easily dye a plastic lens that has been difficult to dye by the immersion method. As this method, for example, a method of dyeing a plastic lens by sublimating a sublimable dye with a substrate having a sublimable dye and a plastic lens at a fixed interval [for example, JP-A-1-277814, JP-A-2000- No. 329901 (Patent Documents 1 and 2)] is known. However, in these methods, dyeing is performed with a certain distance between the substrate and the lens in order to prevent uneven dyeing of the colored lens, so that there is a limit to the dyeing density of the colored lens.
[0006]
Therefore, the present applicant first provided an intermediate medium made of paper or the like on the surface of the plastic lens, then contained a sublimable dye in the intermediate medium, and dyed the plastic lens in a heated steam atmosphere to efficiently improve the efficiency. It has been proposed to dye a plastic lens to a concentration (Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-198852).
[0007]
However, when an intermediate medium made of paper is used, the adhesion between the paper and the plastic lens is not so high, and the coloring density and levelness of the obtained colored lens are not so excellent. Further, it is difficult to completely remove the intermediate medium from the tinted lens by this method.
[0008]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-1-277814 [Patent Document 2]
JP 2000-329901 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for dyeing a plastic lens, which can be dyed at a high concentration with excellent leveling properties as compared with the conventional immersion method and gas phase method, and which can be easily processed after dyeing. .
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In light of the above objects, as a result of intensive studies, the present inventors have found that, while containing a sublimable dye and adding a small amount of water to water-soluble paper in contact with a plastic lens, the flexibility of the water-soluble paper increases, Adheres to the plastic lens, so that the plastic lens can be dyed at a high concentration with excellent leveling properties, and after dyeing, the water-soluble paper can be easily removed from the plastic lens by immersing the colored lens in a large amount of water. Discovered and conceived of the present invention.
[0011]
That is, the method for dyeing a plastic lens of the present invention is characterized in that the plastic lens is heated while the water-soluble paper containing a sublimable dye is in close contact with the plastic lens, thereby dyeing the plastic lens.
[0012]
In the first preferred dyeing method of the present invention, an ink containing a sublimable dye is printed on water-soluble paper, and the plastic lens is heated while the plastic lens is in close contact with the sublimable dye side of the water-soluble paper.
[0013]
In a second preferred dyeing method of the present invention, after the ink containing the sublimable dye is printed on the water-soluble paper while the water-soluble paper is in close contact with the plastic lens, the plastic lens is heated. As a method for printing a sublimable dye on water-soluble paper, it is preferable to use an ink jet method or a thermal transfer method.
[0014]
In any of the above dyeing methods, the heat treatment is preferably performed in a steam atmosphere. The water-soluble paper is preferably removed from the plastic lens with water.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[1] Water-soluble paper When the water-soluble paper used in the present invention contains a small amount of water in contact with the plastic lens, the flexibility of the water-soluble paper increases and the water-soluble paper adheres to the plastic lens. Water-soluble paper can be printed with an ink containing a sublimable dye. When the plastic lens is heated (or heated in a steam atmosphere) while the printed water-soluble paper is in close contact with the plastic lens, the sublimable dye is removed from the water-soluble paper. Immediately transferred to plastic lens. After dyeing, it is preferable to dissolve the water-soluble paper with a large amount of water and remove it from the plastic lens.
[0016]
Specific examples of the water-soluble paper having the above-mentioned characteristics include MISHIMA DISSOLVE PAPER (manufactured by Mishima Paper Co., Ltd., 30MDP, 30MDP-S, 60MDP, 60MDP-S, 120MDP, 120MDP-S, 30CD-2, 60CD-2, 120CD-2) and the like.
[0017]
[2] Material of Plastic Lens The material of the plastic lens to which the dyeing method of the present invention is applied is not particularly limited, but the effect of the present invention is remarkable particularly when the material is difficult to dye. Applicable materials include, for example, methyl methacrylate homopolymer, copolymer of methyl methacrylate and one or more other monomers, diethylene glycol bisallyl carbonate homopolymer, diethylene glycol bisallyl carbonate and one or more other monomers , A sulfur-containing copolymer, a halogen-containing copolymer, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, unsaturated polyester, polyethylene terephthalate, polyurethane and the like.
[0018]
[3] Sublimable dye The sublimable dye is not particularly limited as long as it has a property of sublimating by heating. Examples of such sublimable dyes include Kayaset Blue N (Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.), Sumikaron Yellow EG (Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.), Kayaset Blue 906 (Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.), Kayaset Brown 939 (Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.) and the like. A dispersed sublimation dye may be used. Examples of such a dye include HANAE II (Sanryu Co., Ltd.) and a sublimation ink cartridge for an ink jet printer (L-Tex Co., Ltd.).
[0019]
[4] Plastic Lens Dyeing Method The preferred dyeing method of the present invention will be described in detail below, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
[0020]
(1) First dyeing method In the first dyeing method, an ink containing a sublimable dye is printed on the water-soluble paper described in [1], and the sublimable dye side of the water-soluble paper is brought into contact with a plastic lens. After adding a small amount of water to the water-soluble paper to increase the flexibility of the water-soluble paper and bring the water-soluble paper into close contact with the plastic lens, the plastic lens is heated (or heated in a steam atmosphere) to dye the plastic lens. How to As a printing method, it is preferable to use an ink jet method, a thermal transfer method, or the like.
[0021]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the first staining method of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1A, an ink 3 containing a sublimable dye is jetted from a nozzle 2 of an ink jet printer onto a water-soluble paper 1 described in [1] to form a print layer 4 of the sublimable dye. Next, as shown in FIG. 1 (b), with the sublimable dye side of the water-soluble paper 1 being in contact with the plastic lens 5, water 7 is blown out from the nozzle 6 of the sprayer to discharge a small amount of water 7 into the water-soluble paper 1. The water-soluble paper 1 is brought into close contact with the plastic lens 5. At this time, if necessary, the plastic lens 5 may be heated to dry the water-soluble paper 1 on the plastic lens 5. The lens 5 is fixed to an appropriate lens holding member (not shown), and is placed in an apparatus for heating (or heating in a steam atmosphere) the plastic lens 5.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 1C, when the plastic lens 5 is heated (heated in a steam atmosphere), the molecules of the sublimable dye are sublimated and transferred from the water-soluble paper 1 to the plastic lens 5, and furthermore, the inside of the plastic lens 5 To spread. After the dyeing, as shown in FIG. 1D, the plastic lens 5 is immersed in a container 8 containing water 7 and the water-soluble paper 1 is removed from the plastic lens 5 to obtain a colored layer 9 having excellent levelness and dyeing density. Is obtained.
[0023]
The heat treatment may be performed in the air, but is preferably performed in a steam atmosphere. When performing the heat treatment in a steam atmosphere, the relative humidity in the steam atmosphere is preferably 50 to 100%. When the relative humidity is less than 50%, no dyeing effect is exhibited. In the case of performing the heat treatment in the atmosphere, an electric furnace or the like can be used, but in the case of dyeing in a steam atmosphere, an autoclave or a pressure cooker is used.
[0024]
The heating temperature depends on the desired dyeing concentration, but may usually be about 80 to 200 ° C. If the heating temperature is lower than 80 ° C., a sufficient dyeing effect cannot be obtained, and if it is higher than 200 ° C., discoloration and deformation of the plastic lens occur. A more preferred heating temperature is 100 to 150 ° C.
[0025]
The heating time depends on the desired dyeing concentration, but is usually about 10 to 120 minutes. If the heating time is less than 10 minutes, a sufficient dyeing effect cannot be obtained, and if the heating time is more than 120 minutes, discoloration and deformation of the plastic lens occur.
[0026]
(2) Second dyeing method In the second dyeing method, after the water-soluble paper described in [1] is brought into close contact with a plastic lens, an ink containing a sublimable dye is inkjet-printed on the water-soluble paper, and the plastic lens is heated. (Or heating in a steam atmosphere) to dye a plastic lens.
[0027]
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the second staining method of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2A, water 7 is jetted from a nozzle 6 of the sprayer while the water-soluble paper 1 is in contact with the plastic lens 5, and a small amount of water 7 is contained in the water-soluble paper 1. Closely contact the plastic lens 5. As shown in FIG. 2B, an ink 3 containing a sublimable dye is jetted from a nozzle 2 of an ink jet printer onto a water-soluble paper 1 on a plastic lens 5 to form a print layer 4 of the sublimable dye. This lens 5 is fixed to an appropriate lens holding member (not shown), and is placed in a device for heating (or heating in a steam atmosphere) the plastic lens 5, and as shown in FIG. Then, the plastic lens 5 is heated (heated in a steam atmosphere). The conditions during and after staining may be the same as in (1).
[0028]
【Example】
The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the following examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
[0029]
Example 1
As shown in FIG. 1A, an ink 3 containing a water-soluble paper 1 (MISHIMA DISSOLVE PAPER 60CD-2, manufactured by Mishima Paper Co., Ltd.) and a sublimable disperse dye for inkjet (HANAE-II, manufactured by Sanryu Co., Ltd.). Was ejected from a nozzle 2 of an ink jet printer (PM-2200C, manufactured by Seiko Epson Corporation) to form a print layer 4 on the water-soluble paper 1. As shown in FIG. 1 (b), the sublimable dye side of the water-soluble paper 1 is in contact with the surface of a plastic lens 5 made of a thiourethane-based monomer (MR-8, manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.). , Water 7 was jetted out of the substrate to bring the water-soluble paper 1 into close contact with the plastic lens 5.
[0030]
The lens 5 to which the water-soluble paper 1 adhered was placed in an oven, and the plastic lens 5 was heated to 60 ° C. for 1 hour to dry the water-soluble paper 1. Next, as shown in FIG. 1 (c), the plastic lens 5 was placed in an autoclave, the inside of the autoclave was set to a steam atmosphere of 100% relative humidity, and the plastic lens 5 was heated to 120 ° C. and dried for 1 hour.
[0031]
As shown in FIG. 1D, when the dyed lens 5 was immersed in a container 8 containing water 7, the water-soluble paper 1 was dissolved in about 50 seconds and completely removed from the lens 5 surface. The transmittance of the obtained lens was measured with monochromatic light having a wavelength of 550 nm, and was found to be 20%. Further, when the leveling property and the coloring density of the visually dyed lens 5 were examined, it was found that the lens 5 was dyed according to the pattern output by the ink jet printer, and that the entire lens 5 was dyed at a high density without unevenness. Was confirmed.
[0032]
Example 2
As shown in FIG. 2A, water 7 was sprayed from the nozzle 6 of the sprayer while the water-soluble paper 1 (MISHIMA DISSOLVE PAPER 30MDP manufactured by Mishima Paper Co., Ltd.) was in contact with the same plastic lens 5 as in Example 1. The water-soluble paper 1 was blown out and brought into close contact with the plastic lens 5. As shown in FIG. 2B, the same ink 3 containing a sublimable dye as in Example 1 is ejected from a nozzle 2 of an ink jet printer (MMP-900RT, manufactured by Master Mind Co., Ltd.), 1 was printed. After fixing the lens 5 on a lens holding member and placing it in an electric furnace, as shown in FIG. 1C, the lens 5 was heated to 130 ° C. and dyed for 120 minutes.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 1D, when the dyed lens 5 was immersed in a container 8 containing water 7, the water-soluble paper 1 was dissolved in about 20 seconds and completely removed from the lens 5 surface. The transmittance of the obtained lens 5 was measured with monochromatic light having a wavelength of 550 nm, and was found to be 18%. Further, when the leveling property and the coloring density of the visually dyed lens 5 were examined, it was found that the lens 5 was dyed according to the pattern output by the ink jet printer, and that the entire lens 5 was dyed at a high density without unevenness. Was confirmed.
[0034]
Example 3
As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the ink 3 containing the sublimable dye is printed on the water-soluble paper 1 adhered to the plastic lens 5 in the same manner as in Example 2, and the obtained lens 5 is held in a lens. After being fixed to the member, it was placed in a pressure cooker. The lens 5 was heated to 120 ° C. in a steam atmosphere having a relative humidity of 60% in the autoclave, and dyeing was performed for 100 minutes.
[0035]
As shown in FIG. 1D, when the dyed lens 5 was immersed in a container 8 containing water 7, the water-soluble paper 1 was dissolved in about 20 seconds and completely removed from the lens 5 surface. When the transmittance of the obtained lens 5 was measured with monochromatic light having a wavelength of 550 nm, it was 31%. Further, when the leveling property and the coloring density of the visually dyed lens 5 were examined, it was found that the lens 5 was dyed according to the pattern output by the ink jet printer, and that the entire lens 5 was dyed at a high density without unevenness. Was confirmed.
[0036]
Example 4
Printing was carried out on the same water-soluble paper 1 as in Example 2 by a thermal transfer printer (manufacturer: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, product name: CP700DS) using an ink ribbon for a sublimation transfer printer (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, PK700L sublimation ink ribbon). . As shown in FIG. 1B, the water-soluble paper 1 was brought into close contact with the plastic lens 5 in the same manner as in Example 1, and then dried in an oven. As shown in FIG. 1C, the plastic lens 5 was dyed in the same manner as in Example 2.
[0037]
As shown in FIG. 1D, when the dyed lens 5 was immersed in a container 8 containing water 7, the water-soluble paper 1 was dissolved in about 20 seconds and completely removed from the lens 5 surface. When the transmittance of the obtained lens 5 was measured with monochromatic light having a wavelength of 550 nm, it was 20%. Further, when the leveling property and the coloring density of the visually dyed lens 5 were examined, it was found that the lens 5 was dyed according to the pattern output by the ink jet printer, and that the entire lens 5 was dyed at a high density without unevenness. Was confirmed.
[0038]
Example 5
As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the water-soluble paper 1 on which the ink 3 containing the sublimable dye is printed is brought into close contact with the plastic lens 5 in the same manner as in Example 4, and then the water-soluble paper 1 is placed in an oven. Was dried. As shown in FIG. 1B, the plastic lens 5 was dyed in the same manner as in Example 3.
[0039]
As shown in FIG. 1D, when the dyed lens 5 was immersed in a container 8 containing water 7, the water-soluble paper 1 was dissolved in about 20 seconds and completely removed from the lens 5 surface. When the transmittance of the obtained lens 5 was measured with monochromatic light having a wavelength of 550 nm, it was 29%. Further, when the leveling property and the coloring density of the visually dyed lens 5 were examined, it was found that the lens 5 was dyed according to the pattern output by the ink jet printer, and that the entire lens 5 was dyed at a high density without unevenness. Was confirmed.
[0040]
Comparative Example 1
An ink containing a sublimation disperse dye was printed on plain paper in the same manner as in Example 1, and the sublimable dye side of the plain paper was fixed to a lens holding member in contact with a plastic lens, and the lens was placed in an electric furnace. After placing, the plastic lens was heated to 120 ° C. and dyed for 20 minutes.
[0041]
The transmittance of the obtained colored lens was measured with monochromatic light having a wavelength of 550 nm, and was found to be 90%. Further, when the leveling property and the coloring density of the colored lens were visually inspected, the entire lens was more uneven and the dyeing density was lower than that of the dyed lens using water-soluble paper.
[0042]
Comparative Example 2
In the same manner as in Comparative Example 1, plain paper on which a sublimable dye was printed was fixed to a lens holding member in a state of being in contact with a plastic lens, and the lens was placed in an autoclave. The lens was heated to 120 ° C. in a steam atmosphere with a relative humidity of 100% in the autoclave, and dyed for 20 minutes.
[0043]
When the transmittance of the obtained colored lens was measured with monochromatic light having a wavelength of 550 nm, it was 78%. Further, when the leveling property and the coloring density of the colored lens were visually inspected, the entire lens was more uneven and the dyeing density was lower than that of the dyed lens using water-soluble paper.
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the method for dyeing a plastic lens of the present invention using water-soluble paper, since the water-soluble paper adheres to the plastic lens, the plastic lens can be dyed at a high concentration without unevenness. Further, after dyeing, the water-soluble paper can be removed from the plastic lens by a large amount of water, so that the processing after dyeing is easy.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a method for dyeing a plastic lens according to the present invention. (C) shows how the obtained plastic lens is heated (heated in a water vapor atmosphere), and (d) shows dyeing. Thereafter, a state in which the water-soluble paper is removed from the plastic lens by immersing in a water bath is shown.
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another method for dyeing a plastic lens according to the present invention, wherein (a) shows a state in which water is contained in water-soluble paper on the plastic lens and the water-soluble paper is brought into close contact with the plastic lens. (B) shows a state in which ink containing a sublimable dye is printed on water-soluble paper adhered to a plastic lens by an ink jet printer.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Water-soluble paper 2 ... Inkjet printer nozzle 3 ... Ink containing sublimable dye 4 ... Sublimable dye printing layer 5 ... Plastic lens 6 ... Sprayer nozzle 7 ...・ Water 8 ・ ・ ・ Container 9 ・ ・ ・ Coloring layer of plastic lens

Claims (7)

A method for dyeing a plastic lens, wherein the plastic lens is heated while a water-soluble paper containing a sublimable dye is closely attached to the plastic lens, thereby dyeing the plastic lens. 2. The method of dyeing a plastic lens according to claim 1, wherein the ink containing the sublimable dye is printed on the water-soluble paper, and the plastic lens is adhered to the plastic lens with the side of the water-soluble dye on the water-soluble paper. Heating. The method for dyeing a plastic lens according to claim 1, wherein after printing the ink containing the sublimable dye on the water-soluble paper while the water-soluble paper is in close contact with the plastic lens, heating the plastic lens. Features method. 4. The method for dyeing a plastic lens according to claim 2, wherein an ink containing the sublimable dye is inkjet-printed on the water-soluble paper. 3. The method for dyeing a plastic lens according to claim 2, wherein the ink containing the sublimable dye is subjected to thermal transfer printing on the water-soluble paper. The method for dyeing a plastic lens according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the heat treatment is performed in a steam atmosphere. 7. The method for dyeing a plastic lens according to claim 1, wherein the water-soluble paper is removed from the plastic lens with water.

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