JPH0796290B2 - Band film alignment device - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a belt-shaped transfer film used in a transfer printing apparatus such as a thermal transfer apparatus or a simultaneous molding transfer apparatus, or another belt-shaped film alignment apparatus.

(Prior Art) For example, in a thermal transfer device called a hot stamp, a pattern on a transfer film is made to correspond to a transfer target, and in this state, the transfer pad heats the transfer film and presses it against the transfer target. According to the above, the pattern is transferred onto the transferred material, but the transfer film is transferred by one pitch to the thermal transfer device when the transfer operation onto one transferred material is completed. A transfer film feeding device is provided to position the untransferred pattern on the film in correspondence with the next transfer target.

Further, even in a simultaneous molding transfer device in which a transfer film is sandwiched between a fixed mold and a movable mold and a pattern on the film is transferred to the molded product at the same time as injection molding of a resin molded product, the fixed mold is also used. Alternatively, one of the movable molds is provided with a feeding device for moving the transfer film by passing between the two molds, and the transfer film is moved by one pitch before the mold clamping of the corner forming work by the device. There is.

However, when transferring a transfer film in this kind of apparatus, unless the film transfer target or the molding die is properly stopped in a predetermined positional relationship, an error occurs in the transfer position of the pattern to the transfer target or the molded product. Will occur. Therefore, this type of apparatus is provided with a transfer film alignment device that stops the feeding device when alignment marks provided at every transfer pitch on the transfer film are detected by an optical sensor. It is customary. However, in the conventional alignment device, there is a dislike that the transfer film cannot be accurately aligned at a predetermined position due to a time delay from the detection of the mark by the sensor to the complete stop of the feeding device. . Further, in order to deal with this, it is sufficient to slow down the feeding speed of the transfer film, but if this is done, the efficiency will remarkably deteriorate.

With respect to such a problem, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-204522 discloses the following invention as a transfer film alignment device in a simultaneous molding transfer device.
That is, according to the present invention, two sensors are arranged at appropriate intervals along the feeding direction of the transfer film, and first, when the upstream sensor detects the mark, the feeding speed is switched from the high speed to the low speed. In addition, the feeding is stopped when the downstream side sensor detects the mark. According to this, it can be expected that the positioning error due to the delay of the stop of the film is reduced.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, even with such a method, there is a limit to the accuracy of alignment due to the characteristics of the sensor itself, and it is not possible to perform alignment with higher accuracy. That is, FIG. 14 (a),
As shown in (b), as the transfer films A and A ′ are moved in the X direction, a transparent or light-shielding alignment mark C, which is provided on the light receiving surface B of the sensor, is provided on the film A. When C'is located, a signal is output from the sensor, but this type of sensor only distinguishes whether or not a predetermined amount of light or more is incident on the entire light receiving surface, and Since hysteresis occurs when distinguishing, positions (a) and (a ') indicated by solid lines and positions (b) and (b') indicated by chain lines.
The positions of the marks C and C'cannot be distinguished between and, and an error in this range x always occurs.

The marks C and C ′ as described above are provided by printing the light-shielding portions D and D ′ (in the case of the light-shielding mark C ′, the mark itself) on the light-transmitting base film. In that case, the film feeding direction X of the marks C, C '
On the other hand, it is necessary that the boundaries between the light-transmitting portion and the light-shielding portion on the front side and the rear side are clearly printed. However, in the gravure printing method using the rotation of the plate cylinder that is generally used for printing transfer patterns and marks on this type of transfer film, as shown in FIGS. 15 (a) and 15 (b), the mark C,
Boundary lines C ₁ and C ₁ ′ between the light-transmitting portion and the light-shielding portion on either the front side or the rear side in C ′ are likely to be disturbed, so that the detection error of the mark by the sensor may occur or the alignment accuracy may deteriorate. The problem arises. On the other hand, it is conceivable to print the mark by another method with higher accuracy than the normal printing method so that both the front and rear boundaries are clear. If this is set, the printing efficiency will decrease and the cost will increase.

The present invention addresses the above-mentioned situation regarding the alignment of a belt-shaped film that is intermittently transferred by one pitch such as a transfer film used in a thermal transfer device or a simultaneous molding transfer device, and a mark or the like printed on the film. As an optical sensor for detecting the boundary line of the other side by using a sensor capable of detecting the boundary line on the front side or the rear side of the light shielding portion forming the mark or the like with high accuracy. An object of the present invention is to realize a positioning device capable of accurately positioning a film at a predetermined position even when the film is disturbed.

(Means for Solving Problems) That is, according to the present invention, a belt-shaped film in which a light-transmitting base film is provided with light-transmitting portions intermittently at a constant pitch and which is intermittently transferred by one pitch by a feeding means at a predetermined position. And a light receiving means for irradiating the passing position of the light shielding portion with detection light, and a light receiving means opposed to the light projecting means with a film interposed therebetween directly or through the light transmitting means. With. As the light receiving means, a light receiving surface having a certain dimension in the film feeding direction, and an output value when the distribution of the amount of light incident on the light receiving surface is biased to the front side or the rear side with respect to the feeding direction, respectively. It has a first output terminal and a second output terminal that become large, and when the detection light is uniformly incident on the light receiving surface, both the first and second output values from the first and second output terminals are large and The values are equal, and when the light incident on the entire light receiving surface is blocked, the first, second
A sensor in which both output values are small and the second output value is larger than the first output value is used. Also, from this sensor
1, when the second output value is input, and when the second output value is larger than the first output value and when both output values are large and equal, the film feeding speed by the above-mentioned feeding means is made high and When the second output value becomes smaller than the first output value from the state where the values are both large and equal, the feed speed is switched from the high speed to the low speed.
Control means is provided to stop the feeding means when the second output values become substantially equal.

Here, while the film is configured to be able to be advanced or retracted at a very low speed by the feeding means, the control means controls the second output value from the state where the first and second output values of the sensor are both large and equal. When the feed rate becomes smaller than the first output value, the feed rate is switched from the high rate to the low rate, and the feed rate is further increased when the difference between the two output values, which has once increased in the low feed rate, decreases again to the predetermined value or less. If the first output value is greater than the second output value in the state of switching to the slow speed and the slow speed feeding, the film is advanced, and the first output value is set to the second value.
When the output value is smaller than the output value, the film may be retracted, and when the difference between the output values falls within a predetermined allowable error range, the feeding may be stopped.

Further, as the light-shielding portion provided on the film, a transfer pattern itself printed on the transfer film can be used in addition to the light-shielding portion for forming the mark provided on the base film.

(Operation) According to the above configuration, the detection light is incident on the light-receiving surface of the sensor from the rear side in the sending direction due to the state where the sensor is completely covered by the light-shielding portion and the movement of the light-shielding portion when the film is transferred. The second output value of the sensor is
The output value is larger than the output value, and both output values are large and equal when the detection light is incident on the entire light-receiving surface. Therefore, in such a state, the film can be sent at high speed. become. Then, when the light-shielding portion next approaches the light-receiving surface of the sensor from the rear side, the second output value starts to decrease and becomes smaller than the first output value, so that the feed speed is switched from the high speed to the low speed. Furthermore, the first output value also begins to decrease as the light-shielding portion gradually moves to the front side of the light-receiving surface, but when the entire light-receiving surface is covered with the light-shielding portion, the first output value becomes smaller than the second output value. Immediately before that, there is a moment when both output values become equal, and at this time, the film feeding is stopped. Therefore, the sensor detects only the boundary line on the front side in the feeding direction of the light shielding unit and stops the feeding, and when the boundary line on the rear side in the feeding direction of the light shielding unit passes over the light receiving surface of the sensor, As described above, since the state in which the second output value is larger than the first output value is maintained,
High-speed feed is continued.

After the second output value becomes smaller than the first output value and the high speed is switched to the low speed, when the difference between the two output values which has once increased decreases to a predetermined value or less, the speed is further switched to the fine speed. In this state, if the film is moved forward or backward so that the difference between the two output values converges within the allowable error range, the alignment accuracy will be further improved.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example in which the present invention is applied to a simultaneous molding transfer device will be described.

First, the schematic structure of the simultaneous molding transfer device will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The device 1 includes a pair of a fixed mold 2 and a movable mold whose surfaces facing each other are molding surfaces 2a, 3a having a predetermined shape. 3, a fixed mold 2 is provided with a molten resin injection nozzle 4 at the back, and the movable mold 3 is moved in the front-rear direction (left-right direction in FIG. 2) by a driving means (not shown) such as a cylinder. It is attached to a movable table 5 that reciprocates, and can be brought into contact with and separated from the fixed mold 2. And
Forming surface 2 of both molds 2 and 3 when fixed mold 2 and movable mold 3 are in contact with each other
A cavity having a predetermined shape is formed between a and 3a, and the molten resin injected from the injection nozzle 4 is supplied and filled in the cavity through an injection passage 2b provided in the fixed mold 2. .

Further, the movable table 5 is provided with a feeding device for a belt-shaped transfer film 6 in which a large number of transfer patterns 6a ... 6a are drawn in a line. This feeding device is composed of a film supply unit 7 provided above the movable table 5 and a film winding unit 8 provided below the movable table 5.
Between the left and right side frames 9, 9 of the supply unit 7, a roll support shaft 10 for supporting the roll 6'of the transfer film 6 and a feed roller 11 for pulling out the transfer film 6 from the roll 6'and sending it forward. And a pressing roller 12 for sandwiching the transfer film 6 between the roller 11 and the roller 11, and
A first pulse motor 15 that drives the feed roller 11 via a pair of gears 13 and 14 is attached to one side frame 9. Further, rack shafts 16 and 16 are supported on the side frames 9 and 9 so as to be slidable forward and backward, and a connecting member 1 is installed between front end portions of both rack shafts 16 and 16.
A guide roller 18 for guiding the transfer film 6 between the fixed die 2 and the movable die 3 located below is pivotally supported on the transfer roller 7. A pinion shaft 19 having pinions 19a, 19a meshing with the rack shafts 16, 16 is provided, and by rotating the pinion shaft 19, the guide roller 18 is moved back and forth to move with the fixed mold 2. The passing position of the transfer film 6 with respect to the mold 3 is adjusted back and forth.

On the other hand, in the case of this embodiment, the film winding unit 8 has rails 22, 22 in which the engaging blocks 21 ... 21 fixed to the upper surface of the substrate 20 are fixed laterally to the lower surface of the movable table 5 in this embodiment.
The second pulse motor 24 for lateral feed is provided on the bracket 23 fixed to the movable table 5 while being engaged with the.
A screw shaft 26 which is rotated via the screw shaft 26 is supported, and the screw shaft 26 is screwed to a screw member 27 fixed to the substrate 20. As a result, the entire winding unit 8 is slid laterally via the screw shaft 26 according to the rotation of the motor 24. The transferred film 6 is provided between the left and right side frames 28, 28 of the unit 8.
A roll supporting shaft 29 for supporting the take-up roll 6 ″, a slack eliminating roller 30 for the transfer film 6, and a pressing roller 31 for sandwiching the transfer film 6 between the roller 30 and the film. Similarly to the guide roller 18 in the supply unit 7, the rotation of the pinion shaft 32 causes the pinion 32a,
A guide roller that is moved back and forth via 32a and rack shafts 33, 33.
34 are equipped. A slack eliminating motor 36 for rotating the slack eliminating roller 30 is attached to one of the side frames 28 via a belt 35.
Is for constantly pulling the transfer film 6 in the winding direction via the slack eliminating roller 30. As a result, the transfer film 6 is interposed between the guide roller 18 in the film supply unit 7 and the guide roller 34 in the winding unit 8. Is always kept in a predetermined tension. As shown in FIG. 2, clamp members 37 ... 37 for fixing the transfer film 6 when the two molds 2 and 3 are in contact with each other are provided on the surface of the fixed mold 2 facing the movable mold 3.

However, as shown in FIG. 1, in the case of this example, a light-shielding type alignment mark formed by printing a black coating portion on a transparent base film corresponding to each pattern 6a ... 6a on one side of the transfer film 6 6b are provided intermittently, and a mark detector 41 is attached to the connecting member 17 of the film supply unit 7 in correspondence with the passing positions of these marks 6b. As shown in FIG. 3, the detector 41 has a U-shaped main body 42 provided with a notch 42a into which a side portion of the transfer film 6 is inserted, and a light projecting optical fiber 43 and a light receiving optical fiber 44. One end portions 43a, 44a of the projection 42a are installed so as to face each other on both sides of the notch 42a, the other end portion 43b of the light projecting optical fiber 43 is provided with a light projecting lamp 45 and the light receiving light The sensor 4 is attached to the other end 44b of the fiber 44.
6 are arranged so as to face each other, and when the alignment mark 6b on the transfer film 6 is located between the opposed ends 43a, 44a of the both optical fibers 43, 44, the detection light projected from the lamp 45 is directed to the sensor 46. The incoming light is blocked.

The sensor 46 will now be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the sensor 46 has a light receiving surface 46a having a predetermined dimension along the feeding direction X of the film 6 and a film feeding direction to the light receiving surface 46a. It has first and second output terminals 46 ₁ and 46 ₂ for outputting a signal having a value corresponding to the distribution of incident light. As a characteristic of this sensor 46, as shown in FIG. 5A, the light receiving surface 46a (specifically, the light receiving optical fiber 4 shown in FIG.
The output value from the first output terminal 46 ₁ (hereinafter, referred to as the first output value) E when the rear portion of the one end 44a of 4 is shielded from the rear with respect to the film feeding direction X and the light distribution is biased to the front side ₁ becomes larger than the output value from the second output value 46 ₂ (hereinafter referred to as the second output value) E ₂ , and as shown in the figure (b), the light receiving surface
The second output value E ₂ is larger than the first output value E ₁ when the front portion of 46a is shielded and the light incident distribution is biased to the rear side. Further, as shown in FIG. 6C, when light having a predetermined intensity or more is uniformly incident on the entire light receiving surface 46a, the first and second output values E ₁ and E ₂ are both large and equal. Value, and when the light incident on the entire light-receiving surface 46a is blocked as shown in FIG.
When only a very small amount of light passing through 6b is uniformly incident), both the first and second output values E ₁ and E ₂ are small, and in this case, the second output value E ₂ Is larger than the first output value E ₁ .

The alignment mark 6b on the transfer film 6 is
As shown in the drawing, the widthwise and vertical dimensions of the film 6 are made larger than the widthwise and vertical dimensions of the light-receiving surface 46a of the sensor 46, respectively, so that the entire light-receiving surface 46a can be completely covered. It is supposed to be large.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the other side portion of the transfer film 6 is intermittently provided with alignment marks 6c in the width direction of the film 6 corresponding to the respective patterns 6a ... 6a. A mark detector 51 is provided at the lower end of the movable table 5 at the position where the mark 6c passes. This detector 51 is configured in the same manner by using the same sensor as the sensor 46 in the detector 41 of the alignment mark 6b in the feed direction, but in this detector 51, as shown in FIG. The light receiving surface 56a of the sensor 56 (specifically, the other end of the light receiving fiber whose one end corresponds to the light receiving surface 56a) is arranged with the longitudinal direction oriented in the width direction of the film 6, and the film width to the light receiving surface 56a. There are provided _first and second output terminals 56 ₁ and 56 ₂ for outputting a signal having a value corresponding to the light distribution distribution in the direction. The sensors 46, 56
Specifically, it has a shape in which a large number of terminals are projected on both sides of the main body having the light receiving surfaces 46a, 56a, and any one of these terminals is the first output terminal 46 ₁ , 56 ₁ and the second output terminal. Output terminal 4
It is 6 ₂ , 56 ₂ .

Next, the mark detector in the film feeding direction and the width direction
A control circuit for controlling the operation of the first and second pulse motors 15 and 24 in the feeding device according to the outputs of the sensors (hereinafter, first and second sensors) 46 and 56 of 41 and 51 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 7, the control circuit 60 first outputs the output signals a ₁ from the _first and second output terminals 46 ₁ and 46 _{2 of} the first sensor 46 for controlling the first pulse motor 15. The first comparison in which a ₂ is input and a signal b indicating the difference ΔE (= E ₁ −E ₂ ) between the _first and second output values E ₁ and E ₂ indicated by both signals a ₁ and a ₂ is output Vessel 61
And a high-speed feed determination device 62, a first low-speed fine-speed feed determination device 63, and a first feed direction determination device 64, to which the output signal b of the comparator 61 is input, respectively. 1 A signal indicating the first output value E ₁ of the sensor 46 to the low-speed fine-feed judging device 63
The signal a ₁ (or the signal a ₂ indicating the second output value E ₂ ) may be input. The high-speed driving determiner 62 uses the signals a ₁ , b
Output the high-speed signal c based on the first output value E ₁ and the difference ΔE between the two output values. Then, the high frequency oscillator 65 is operated by the signal c, and the high frequency pulse signal d is output. In addition, the first low speed very slow running judging device 63
Also outputs the low speed signal e based on the first output value E ₁ and the difference ΔE between the two output values to operate the first low frequency oscillator 66 and further output the switching signal f to output the first signal. The frequency of the low-frequency pulse signal g output from the low-frequency oscillator 66 is switched from low frequency to extremely low frequency. Furthermore, when the difference ΔE between the first and second output values is positive, the first feed direction determiner 64 rotates the first pulse motor 15 in the forward direction corresponding to the forward direction of the transfer film 6, and the negative direction At this time, the rotation direction instruction signal h is output so as to rotate the motor 15 in the reverse direction corresponding to the backward direction of the transfer film 6. Then, the high frequency pulse signal d, the low frequency (or extremely low frequency) pulse signal g, and the rotation direction instruction signal h
And the first pulse motor 15 via the driver 67.
The rotation speed and the rotation direction of the are controlled. Here, on the output circuits of the high frequency pulse signal d, the low frequency pulse signal g and the rotation direction instruction signal h, respectively,
First, second and third gates 68, 69 and 70 are provided, the first gate 68 is opened by the high speed signal c and the second and third gates 6 are provided.
9,70 have been closed. Therefore, the high-frequency pulse signal d is output to the first pulse motor 15 only when the high-speed feed determination unit 62 outputs the high-speed signal c.
The low frequency pulse signal g and the rotation direction instructing signal h are output to the first pulse motor 15 only when is not output.

In addition, the control circuit 60 includes a first output terminal 56 ₁ and a second output terminal 56 ₁ in the second sensor 56 for controlling the second pulse motor 24.
56 the output signal i ₁ from _2, i ₂ is input, both signals i _1, i ₂ is first shown respectively, a second output value E ₁ ', E _2' difference ΔE of '(=
A second comparator 71 that outputs a signal j indicating E ₁ ′ −E ₂ ′),
A second low-speed / fine-speed feed determination device 72 and a second feed direction determination device 73, to which the output signal j of the comparator 71 is input, are provided. Then, the second low speed fine speed determiner 72 outputs the low speed signal k based on the difference ΔE ′ between the first and second output values, operates the second low frequency oscillator 74, and further outputs the switching signal 1. The frequency of the low-frequency pulse signal m output from the second low-frequency oscillator 74 is switched from low frequency to extremely low frequency. Also, the second feed direction determiner 73 is the sixth
In the positional relationship between the sensor 56 and the mark 6c as shown in the figure, when the difference ΔE 'between the first and second output values is positive, the difference ΔE' is negative in the direction of moving the film 6 to the left. At this time, the rotation direction instruction signal n is output so as to rotate the second pulse motor 24 in the direction of moving the film 6 to the right. Then, the rotation speed and the rotation direction of the second pulse motor are controlled via the driver 75 by the low frequency (or extremely low frequency) pulse signal m and the rotation direction instruction signal n. The output circuits for the low-frequency pulse signal m and the rotation direction instruction signal n are also provided with the fourth and fifth gates 76, 77 which are closed when the high-speed signal c is output. The second pulse motor 24 is operated only when c is not output.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, a predetermined initialization is performed at the start of the work, and the alignment mark 6b in the feeding direction on the transfer film 6 is set to 1
8A to the light receiving surface 46a of the first sensor 46, that is, the boundary line 6b 'on the front side of the mark 6b in the film feeding direction X is closer to the front end of the sensor light receiving surface 46a. It is assumed that the position is set (step S _{1 in} the flowchart of FIG. 12). Then, in this state, the high speed signal c from the high speed feed judging device 62 in the control circuit 60 of FIG.
Is output and the high frequency pulse signal d is output from the high frequency oscillator 65 accordingly.
Is rotationally driven at high speed, and high-speed feeding of the transfer film 6 is started (step S ₂ ).

In this high-speed feed, the mark 6b on the transfer film 6
Shows a state where the sensor light receiving surface 46a shown in FIG. 8 (a) covers a portion other than the front end portion of the sensor light receiving surface 46a shown in FIG. 8 (b).
After the state of completely covering a and the state in which the rear boundary line 6b ″ shown in (c) of the figure is located on the light-receiving surface 46a and covers the front part thereof, the light-receiving shown in (d) of FIG. Although it has completely passed over the surface 46a, at this time, the first and second sensors 46
The output values E ₁ and E ₂ change as shown in FIG. That is,
First, by completely blocking light from a state where light is incident only on the front end portion of the light-receiving surface 46a, as shown by reference numeral (a),
The output value E ₁ decreases from the predetermined value (the second output value E ₂ also decreases slightly), and when the light receiving surface 46a is completely covered, both output values E ₁ , E Both ₂ are small values, and the second output value E ₂ is larger than the first output value E ₁ . Next, as shown in FIG. 8 (c), when the light reception surface 46a starts to enter light from the rear side, first, the second output value increases as shown by the reference numeral (c) in FIG. As it starts, the first output value E ₁ also increases after this. Then, when the mark 6b shown in FIG. 8 (d) passes over the light receiving surface 46a, both output values E ₁ and E ₂ become large and equal as shown by the reference numeral (d) in FIG. Therefore, the second output value E ₂ is larger than the first output value E ₁ from the start of the high-speed feed shown in FIG. 8 (a) to the passage of the mark 6b shown in FIG. 8 (d). Since (E ₁ <E ₂ ) is maintained and the difference ΔE (E ₁ −E ₂ ) between the two output values is held at a negative value during this period, the high speed feed in which the difference ΔE is input by the signal b Judge 62
Continues to output to the high speed signal c. That is, mark during this
The boundary line 6b ″ behind the 6b passes over the light receiving surface 46a, but the high-speed feed determination device 62 ignores this passage. Therefore, the boundary line 6b ″ behind the mark 6b is shown in FIG. Even when the film is disturbed as shown by the chain line, the film 6 is fed without being affected by this. Also, after the mark 6b has passed over the light receiving surface 46a,
Even when both output values E ₁ and E ₂ are equal to each other with a large value, the high-speed feed determination unit 62 is based on the signal a ₁ indicating the first output value E ₁ and the signal b indicating the difference ΔE between the two output values. And outputs the high speed signal c.

Next, when the film 6 moves, the next mark 6b approaches the light receiving surface 46a from the rear side as shown in FIG. 8 (e). Value E ₂
Starts to decrease, and the difference ΔE between the output values EE ₁ and E ₂ turns to positive, whereby the arrival of the mark 6b is detected (step S ₃ ). At this time, the high-speed feed determining unit 62 stops the output value of the high-speed signal c, and the first low-speed fine-speed feeding determining unit 63 outputs the low-speed signal e.
And the low frequency pulse signal g is output from the first low frequency oscillator 66, and the first step motor 15
Rotational speed of the is switched to a low speed (step S _4). After that, as the mark 6b covers the light receiving surface 46a, both output values E ₁ , E ₂
Difference decreases while maintaining a positive ΔE,
Since the difference ΔE becomes negative when the 46a is completely covered, the difference ΔE gradually approaches zero while holding the positive value. And both output values E ₁ and E ₂ are small values,
When the difference ΔE becomes equal to or smaller than the predetermined value ΔE ₀ (> 0), the first low-speed / fine-speed feed determination unit 63 outputs the switching signal f, and the frequency of the pulse signal g output from the first low-frequency oscillator 66 is changed to the low frequency. To a very low frequency, and along with this, the first pulse motor
The rotation speed of 15 or the feeding speed of the film 6 is switched to a fine speed (steps S ₅ and S ₆ ).

Then, with this fine speed feed, as shown in FIG. 8 (a), the mark 6b is covered except for the front end portion of the light receiving surface 46a,
When the difference ΔE between the two output values is zero or within a predetermined tolerance range close to zero, the operation of the first low-speed / fine-speed feed determiner 63 or the first low-frequency oscillator 66 is stopped and the film 6 is fed. However, in this case, the first feed direction determiner 64 outputs the rotation direction instruction signal h so as to rotate the first pulse motor 15 in the forward direction or the reverse direction in accordance with whether the difference ΔE is positive or negative. , The film 6 is moved forward or backward in the state of slow speed feeding and is reliably stopped within a predetermined range corresponding to the allowable error range of the difference ΔE, whereby the alignment of the film 6 in the feeding direction is performed. The process ends (steps S ₇ and S ₈ ).

Further, in this embodiment, after the first sensor 46 detects the alignment mark 6b in the feed direction, the alignment control in the width direction of the film 6 is performed as follows.

That is, as shown by the symbol (f) in FIG. 10, when the film 6 is too close to the left side, the light receiving surface 56 of the second sensor 56.
Since a is completely shaded by the mark 6c, the sensor 56
When the difference ΔE '(E ₁ ′ -E ₂ ′) between the two output values E ₁ ′ and E ₂ ′ becomes negative and the film 6 is excessively offset to the right side as indicated by the sign (g), The difference ΔE 'becomes positive. Therefore, in such a case, when the absolute value of the difference ΔE ′ exceeds the predetermined value ΔE ′, the second low speed fine speed feed determiner 72 outputs the low speed signal k and the second low frequency oscillator 74 outputs the low speed signal k. While outputting the low-frequency pulse signal m, the second feed direction determiner 73 causes the pulse motor to respond to the positive or negative of the difference ΔE ′.
A rotation direction instruction signal n for instructing the rotation direction of 24 is output. As a result, the film 6 is on the right side when it is too close to the left side, and is on the left side when it is too close to the right side.
Both are moved at low speed (step S ₉ ). Then, when the absolute value of the difference ΔE ′ becomes equal to or less than the predetermined value ΔE ₀ ′,
The second low-speed / fine-feed judgment device 72 outputs the switching signal 1 and the second
The frequency of the pulse signal m output from the low frequency oscillator 74 is switched from low frequency to extremely low frequency, and the rotation speed of the second pulse motor 24 or the moving speed of the film 6 is switched from low speed to very low speed (steps S ₁₀ , S ₁₁ ), in this fine speed feed state, the second pulse motor 24
Are reversely rotated, and the motor 24 is stopped when the error ΔE 'falls within a predetermined allowable error range. In this way, the alignment of the film 6 in the width direction is also completed (step S
₁₂ , S ₁₃ ).

When the alignment of the film 6 in the feeding direction and the width direction is completed as described above, one of the patterns 6a of the film 6 becomes the first
1, the stationary die 2 and the movable die 3 shown in FIG. 2 are stopped in the correct positional relationship. And then both types
A few molds are clamped, injection molding and the above pattern on the molded product 6
a will be transcribed.

In addition, although the marks 6b and 6c for alignment of the transfer film 6 are provided in the above embodiments, when the pattern printed on the film 6 has a required light-shielding property, FIG. As shown in the drawing, the light receiving surfaces (or the other end of the optical fiber whose one end faces the light receiving surface) 46a ', 56a' of the first and second sensors are arranged with respect to the design 6a ', and the front of this design 6a' is arranged. Can be aligned in the feed direction and the width direction by using the boundary line 6a ″ of one side and the boundary line 6a on one side. Here, when an optical fiber is used, the end portion on the film side is moved. It can be applied to the case of detecting either the mark or the pattern.

(Advantages of the Invention) As described above, according to the belt-shaped film alignment apparatus of the present invention, the film can be stopped at a predetermined position by utilizing one boundary line of the light shielding portion provided on the film. It will be possible. Therefore, even when the other boundary line of the light-shielding portion is disturbed due to printing, the alignment can be performed with high accuracy. Further, particularly in the case of a transfer film used in a simultaneous molding transfer device or a thermal transfer device, a transfer pattern can be used, and it is not necessary to separately print a positioning mark.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 12 show an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a simultaneous molding transfer device. FIGS. 1 and 2 are a front view and a central longitudinal side view of the simultaneous molding transfer device, and FIG. Fig. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of the container.
Schematic diagram showing the positional relationship of the sensors, FIG. 5 (A) to (D)
Is an explanatory view showing the characteristics of the sensor, FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the positional relationship between the alignment mark in the width direction and the second sensor, FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control circuit, and FIG. 8 is the feed direction. Schematic showing the positional relationship between the alignment mark and the first sensor, FIG. 9 is a graph showing changes in the output value of the first sensor, and FIG. 10 is the alignment mark in the width direction and the position of the second sensor. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship, FIG. 11 is a graph showing changes in the output value of the second sensor, and FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing the film feeding operation. Further, FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing the positional relationship between the transfer pattern and the sensor in another embodiment,
The figures are illustrations of conventional problems. 6 ... band-shaped film (transfer film), 6b, 6a '... light-shielding part, (6b ... alignment mark, 6a' ... transfer pattern),
15 …… Feeding means (first pulse motor), 44 …… Light transmitting means (optical fiber), 45 …… Light emitting means (lamp), 46 ……
Light receiving means (first sensor), 46a ... Light receiving surface, 46 ₁ , 46 ₂ ......
First and second output terminals, 60 ... Control means (control circuit).

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A positioning device comprising a light-transmitting base film, which is provided with light-shielding portions intermittently at a constant pitch, and which stops a belt-shaped film which is intermittently transferred by one pitch by feeding means at a predetermined position. A light emitting means for irradiating the passing position of the light shielding portion with the detection light, and a light receiving means arranged so as to face the light emitting means directly or via a light transmitting means with a film interposed therebetween, and When the light receiving means has a light receiving surface having a certain dimension in the film feeding direction and the distribution of the amount of light incident on the light receiving surface is biased toward the front side or the rear side with respect to the feeding direction, the output value increases respectively. It has a first output terminal and a second output terminal, and when the detection light is uniformly incident on the entire light receiving surface, the first and second output values from the first and second output terminals are both large and equal. Value, and the entire light-receiving surface When the light entering the
It is composed of a sensor in which both the first and second output values are small and the second output value is larger than the first output value. Furthermore, these first and second output values are input, and the second output value is the first output. When the value is larger than the value and when both output values are equal to each other with a large value, the film feeding speed by the above-mentioned feeding means is made high, and
When the second output value becomes smaller than the first output value from the state where both output values are large and equal, the feed speed is switched from the high speed to the low speed, and the first, second
A device for aligning a strip-shaped film, which is provided with a control means for stopping the feeding means when the output values are both small and substantially equal. 2. The feed means is capable of advancing and retracting the film at a very low speed, and the control means controls the second output value from the state where the first and second output values of the sensor are large and equal to each other. When the film feed speed becomes smaller than the first output value, the film feed speed is switched from the high speed to the low speed, and the difference between the first output value and the second output value, which has once increased in the state of the low speed feed, is reduced again to a predetermined value. When it becomes the following, the speed is further switched to a fine speed, and in this fine speed feed state, when the first output value is larger than the second output value, the film is advanced, and when the first output value is smaller than the second output value. The position of the strip-shaped film according to claim 1, wherein the film is retracted, and the feeding is stopped when the difference between the two output values falls within a predetermined allowable error range. Matching device. 3. The belt-shaped film is a transfer film used in transfer printing, and the light-shielding portion provided on the film is a transfer pattern printed on the base film. The alignment device for a strip-shaped film according to item 1.