JP2000258860A - Printer for forming digital image for stereoscopic vision and variable vision - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To print a parallax image for accurate stereoscopic vision fit to the lens pitch of a lenticular lens sheet corresponding to the various lens pitches thereof. SOLUTION: This printer is equipped with a sheet carrying means interposing and carrying the lenticular lens sheet 10 by a driving carrying roll 3a and a pressing roll 3b pressing oppositely to the roll 3a, a position sensor 9 provided on the carrying path of the sheet 10, a printing head 6 recording the image on the sheet 10, and a platen roll 5 provided oppositely to the head 6. In such a case, the printer is equipped with plural rolls 3a or pulleys 12 having a different diameter calculated from the lens pitch and the fluctuation width of the sheet 10 and the printing accuracy of the printer and capable of being replaced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer for creating a digital image for stereoscopic / variable vision for printing a parallax image for stereoscopic vision on a lenticular lens sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a left-right parallax image for stereoscopic viewing is output by a digital printer to a lenticular lens sheet, the lens pitch of the lenticular lens sheet is reduced because the digital printer has a unique dot width. It had to be adjusted to be equal to an integer multiple of the dot width. As the adjustment method, for example, there are the following two methods. 1) A transparent lenticular lens sheet made of plastic or glass having a lens pitch corresponding to the dot width of a digital printer is prepared. 2) Produce a dedicated digital printer with a dot width that matches the lens pitch of the lenticular lens sheet.

[0003]

In any of the above methods, it is difficult to adjust with high accuracy. In the method 1), a mold for forming a lenticular lens sheet and a lenticular lens sheet after molding (hereinafter, simply referred to as a lens sheet). ) Means a dimensional error that requires careful adjustment, and this dimensional error is actually difficult because it changes due to, for example, temperature and humidity during molding in plastic molding. I had to rely on trial and error. In addition, the same difficulty occurs in the method 2).

[0004] Generally, as shown in FIG.
As a left-right parallax image for stereoscopic viewing, at a position corresponding to each of the lens-shaped lenses 10a, 10a, 10a,... With respect to a flat surface 10b on the back side of the lens sheet 10 having the lens-shaped lens 10a on the front surface. For example, four types of parallax images p1 having the same pitch p (P = np (n is an integer))
, P2, p3, and p4 are printed as the print pattern 20 to obtain a three-dimensional printed matter from which a three-dimensional image can be observed from the front side of the lens sheet 10.

[0005] As a prior art, when a generally used print drive pulse motor performs a carry drive of a predetermined carry distance x every time one-line print operation is completed, each of the parallax images p1, p2, p3 shown in FIG. , P4 and the predetermined transport distance x of the pulse motor are expressed as p = nx (n is an integer)
If so, ideal printing without a shift in pitch over the entire surface of the lens sheet 10 can be performed.

Further, one pulse of the pulse motor to be used (or a predetermined number of pulses; 1 unit pulses) when the unit carrying distance was x _0, the driving resolution m of each predetermined conveying distance x of the pulse motor 1 m = X / x ₀ and the resolution m is an integer if the pulse motor to be used is in a highly accurate and ideal state.

The relationship between the pitch p of each of the parallax images p1, p2, p3, and p4 and the predetermined transport distance x of the pulse motor p = nx
In order for n to be an integer, the relationship between the pitch p of each parallax image and the unit transport distance x ₀ is also not equal to p = nx ₀ (n is an integer). Ideal printing without deviation is not possible.

However, the possibility of an ideal printing an integral multiple for a given transport distance x and the unit conveyance distance x ₀ of the pitch p is the pulse motor is very low,
Normally, as shown in FIG. 5, the printing position of the back surface of the lens sheet 10 and the positions of the parallax images p1, p2, p3 and p4 of the printing pattern 20 printed by the printing operation of the pulse motor are slightly shifted. In many cases, the quality of the three-dimensional printed matter is impaired.

In the prior art, as a method of correcting this deviation amount, as shown in FIG. 6, the value of the driving resolution m of the pulse motor is set to be larger, and the driving of the pulse motor is driven at a finer pitch. However, the use of this method has the disadvantage that the amount of operation of the pulse motor increases rapidly, so that the printing time increases. There is a disadvantage that a motor is required and the cost increases.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above problems and to print a high-precision stereoscopic parallax image corresponding to various lens pitches of a ready-made lenticular lens sheet. An object of the present invention is to provide a printer for creating a digital image for stereoscopic / variable vision.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet conveying means for nipping and transporting a lenticular lens sheet between a driving and transporting roll and a pressing roll which presses against the roll, and the lens. In a digital printer including a position sensor provided on a sheet conveyance path, a print head for recording an image on the lens sheet, and a platen roll provided opposite the print head, the lens pitch and fluctuation of the lenticular lens sheet A printer for creating a digital image for stereoscopic / variable vision, comprising a plurality of replaceable drive conveyance rolls having different diameters calculated from the width and the printing accuracy of the printer.

Next, the invention according to a second aspect of the present invention is directed to a conveying means for nipping and transporting a lenticular lens sheet between a driving and transporting roll and a pressing roll which presses against the roll, and In a digital printer comprising a position sensor provided, a print head for recording an image on the lens sheet, and a platen roll provided opposite the print head, the lens pitch and fluctuation width of the lenticular lens sheet and the printing of the printer A printer for creating a digital image for stereoscopic / variable vision, comprising: a plurality of pulleys that can be replaced with driving transport rolls having different diameters calculated from accuracy.

[0013]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printer for producing a digital image for stereoscopic / variable vision according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Then, the conveyance means for conveying the lenticular lens sheet 10 includes the driving conveyance roll 3a and the roll 3
The position sensor 9 is provided on the conveyance path of the lenticular lens sheet 10 to be conveyed, and the print head 6 that records an image on the lenticular lens sheet 10 is positioned at the position on the conveyance path. The platen roll 5 is provided downstream of the sensor 9 and faces the print head 6.

As shown in FIG. 2, interchangeable pluralities having different diameters 2r1 calculated from the lens pitch P of the lenticular lens sheet 10, the fluctuation range ± α of the lens pitch P, and the printing accuracy ± c of the printer. A drive transport roll 3a is provided.

Further, in the printer according to the first aspect of the present invention, the pressing roll 3b is pressed against the platen roll 5 so that the pressing roll 3b is positioned upstream of the print head 6 in the transport direction. Alternatively, it may be a structure that is arranged in parallel and close to the downstream side. Also,
A drive transport roll 3a and a pressing roll 3b that are pressed parallel to and close to the platen roll 5 may be disposed on one or both of the upstream and downstream sides in the transport direction.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, the lens pitch P of the lenticular lens sheet 10 is changed.
And a plurality of replaceable platen rolls 5 having different diameters 2r2 calculated from the fluctuation range ± α of the lens pitch P and the printing accuracy ± c of the printer.

The driving and rotating operation of the driving and transporting roll 3a is performed by providing a pulley 1b on a main power shaft 1a of the print driving pulse motor 1, and attaching pulleys 12 and 3d to a support shaft 3c of the driving and transporting roll 3a. The drive transport roll 3a is driven and rotated by the timing belt 2 wound around the pulley 1b of the motor 1 and the support shaft 3c of the drive transport roll 3a.

A lenticular lens sheet 10 (referred to as a lens sheet) is introduced between the driving and transporting roll 3a and the pressing roll 3b which is pressed against the driving transporting roll 3a and is transported forward (in the direction of the arrow). The lens sheet 10 is introduced between the print head 6 and the platen roll 5 rotated by the timing belt 4 at the same peripheral speed as the drive transport roll 3a.

A position sensor 9 such as a reflection type or transmission type photo sensor (photocell) having a light projecting unit and a light receiving unit is installed on the conveying path of the lens sheet 10. Alternatively, a predetermined reference position such as a valley of a lens or a crest of a lens of the lens sheet 10 is detected, and the detection time or a time after a predetermined time (after a predetermined pulse count by a timer) from the detection of the predetermined reference position is determined. The print opening position is detected as a point in time when the lens sheet 10 reaches the proper print start position below the print head 6. The output signal and operation signal for outputting a stereoscopic / variable-view digital image to the print head 6 can be transmitted from a computer digital image processing unit, a digital image signal recording medium, or a digital image signal output unit. .

Thereafter, the lens sheet 1 is placed between the print head 6 and the platen roll 5 as in a normal printer.
0 is introduced, the thermal head 5 is operated to print one line on the surface of the lens sheet 10 in a predetermined pixel shape, and then the print driving pulse motor 1 is driven to move the lens sheet 10 by one line and print again. The operation of printing one line by the head 6 is repeated. The print recording method using the print head 6 in the apparatus of the present invention includes an ink jet printing method, a thermal head printing method using a heat-sensitive transfer sheet (ribbon), and a dot pin printing method using a pressure-sensitive transfer sheet (ribbon). Various printing methods such as an engraving printing method can be adopted.

For example, in the case of a thermal head printing system or a dot pin embossing printing system, as shown in FIG. 1, a thermal head or a dot pin embossing printing head is used as the printing head 6, and the printing head 6 and the lens sheet are used. 10, a heat-sensitive transfer sheet or pressure-sensitive transfer sheet 11 (transfer ribbon) is unwound from the unwinding roll 7 to the take-up roll 8 while being introduced therefrom. Lens sheet 10 of transfer sheet 11
Is melted, and the colored layer is transferred to the surface of the lens sheet 10 to print one line. Then, the print driving pulse motor 1 is driven to drive the lens sheet 10.
Is moved by one line, and the operation of printing one line again by the thermal print head 6 is repeated.

In the printer according to the first aspect of the present invention, only the roll diameter 2r1 is changed by exchanging the driving transport roll 3a (or the platen roll 5). Alternatively, the gear diameter 2 of the drive gear 12 for driving and rotating the platen roll 5)
Since r2 is a constant value, the rotational angular velocity θ / sec of the platen roll is constant.

For example, when the diameter 2r1 of the driving transport roll 3a (or the platen roll 5) is R, the printing accuracy (printing density) of the printer is changed to Mdpi (dpi; dots / inc).
h), if the diameter 2r1 is larger than R, the distance by which the lens sheet 10 is conveyed per unit time becomes longer, the pitch per print dot becomes larger, and when converted to dpi, it becomes smaller than Mdpi. . Also, if the diameter 2r1 of the driving transport roll 3a (or the platen roll 5) is smaller than R, the printing is larger than Mdpi and the printing is more precise.

An image conforming to the lens pitch P of the lens sheet 10 is represented by Gdpi, and considering accuracy, the following relationship is satisfied: M−m ≦ G ≦ M + m (± m; fluctuation width of printing accuracy dpi).

Therefore, from the plurality of drive transport rolls 3a (or platen rolls 5) having different diameters, the drive transport roll 3a (or platen roll 5) having the diameter 2r1 for realizing a print image within the above range is obtained. If selected, printing that satisfies the setting accuracy of the compatible image Gdpi with respect to the lens pitch P of the lens sheet 10 can be performed.

Further, for example, when the lens pitch P of the lens sheet 10 is not as designed and fluctuates with a variation width ± α with respect to a certain average value, and the printer body has a performance of a predetermined printing accuracy ± c. If so, for each correction width required to print a parallax image for stereoscopic viewing on the lens sheet 10, a drive transport roll 3a (or platen roll 5) having a diameter 2r1 that matches the correction width is selected. If it is used after replacement, it can be used for all lens sheets 10.

That is, when the lens pitch P of the lenticular lens sheet 10 made from the same mold varies individually, the drive transport rolls 3a (or platen rolls 5) having different diameters according to the variation width are used. If prepared, the lens sheet 1 can be arbitrarily adjusted with respect to all the lens sheets 10.
Printing of an image conforming to 0 is possible.

Next, the printer for creating a digital image for stereoscopic / variable vision according to the second aspect of the present invention is adapted to rotate the drive transport roll 3a shown in FIG. 2 or the platen roll 5 shown in FIG. As the pulley 12 to be used,
A plurality of pulleys 12 having different diameters 2r2 are provided for the driving transport roll 3a or the platen roll 5 having the same diameter 2r1. A pulley 12 having a diameter 2r2 is selected from the plurality of pulleys 12. Since the other parts are the same as those in the first aspect, a detailed description of the embodiment will be omitted.
The plurality of pulleys 12 having different diameters 2r2 are connected to the drive shaft 3a or the platen roll 5, respectively.
d and 5a may be arranged and fixed along the axial direction.

Hereinafter, the numerical value of the printer for producing digital images for stereoscopic / variable vision according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the diameter 2r of the drive transport roll 3a or the platen roll 5.
1 indicates that the lenticular lens sheet 10 can be adapted to a dimensional error from the design value of the lens pitch P with an accuracy of 1/300.

For example, the lens pitch P of the design value (average value) of the lens sheet 10 is set to 0.5 mm. P = 0.5 mm If 6 dots are printed in this, the printing accuracy (printing density) is converted into dpi, and (6 / 0.5) × 25.4 = 304.8 dpi The lens pitch P of the lens sheet Is within the range of 0.4983 ≦ P ≦ 0.5017, the printing accuracy G (print density) of 303.8 dpi ≦ G ≦ 305.8 dpi is 1/30.
Fits lenticular lens sheet 10 with zero precision. When the fluctuation of the lens pitch P of the lens sheet 10 is further large, for example, if the fluctuation of ± 1% is 0.4950 ≦ P ≦ 0.5050, then 0.4950 ≦ P1 ≦ 0.4983 0.4983 ≦ P2 It is necessary to perform printing such that G1 = 306.8 dpi G2 = 304.8 dpi G3 = 302.8 dpi corresponding to .ltoreq.0.5017.0.5017.ltoreq.P3.ltoreq.0.5050.

Next, the diameter 2r1 of the driving transport roll 3a or the platen roll 5 for performing such printing is calculated. The printing performance of the digital printer that replaces the drive transport roll 3a or the platen roll 5 is 300 dpi, and the diameter of the drive transport roll 3a or the platen roll 5 at this time is 2 dpi.
r1 is set to 20 mm. Since the print drive pulse motor 1, the timing belt 2, and the pulley 12 are constant without being replaced, the rotational angular velocity (θ / sec) of the drive transport roll 3a or the platen roll 5 is the same. Here, for example, if the diameter 2r1 of the drive conveyance roll 3a or the platen roll 5 is doubled, the rotational peripheral speed (mm / sec) and the conveyance speed of the lens sheet 10 are doubled, and the printing performance is halved to 150 dpi. That is, since the diameter and the printing performance are inversely proportional, the diameter 2r1 of the driving transport roll 3a or the platen roll 5 at the printing accuracy G1, G2, G3 is: printing accuracy G1... 2r1 = 19.55 mm printing accuracy G1 ... 2r1 = 19.68 mm Printing accuracy G1 ... 2r1 = 19.82 mm is obtained.

The printer of the present invention has a lens sheet 10
When printing left and right parallax images for stereoscopic viewing on the back surface 10b (flat surface) of the lens sheet, the printing position accuracy of the lens sheet 10 to be conveyed and introduced into the print head 6 and printed is one line or less. Further, a printer with a print head 6 having a printing accuracy of 300 dpi can be easily obtained, and it is possible to produce the drive transport roll 3a or the platen roll 5 having different diameters.

As described above, the variation ± 1 of the lens pitch P of the lenticular lens sheet 10 having the design value of 0.5 mm.
%, Three types of driving transport rolls 3a having different diameters.
Alternatively, by preparing the platen roll 5, 1/30
Compatible printing is possible with an accuracy of 0.

In the above description, the diameter of the drive transport roll 3a or the platen roll 5 is changed. However, the diameter of the rolls 3a and 5 is the same, and the case where the diameter 2r2 of the pulley 12 is changed is exactly the same.

[0035]

According to the present invention, there is provided a printer for producing a digital image for stereoscopic / variable vision, which comprises a plurality of drive conveyance rolls or platen rolls having different diameters calculated from the lens pitch and fluctuation width of the lenticular lens sheet and the appropriate printing accuracy. Or a plurality of pulleys having a plurality of different diameters for rotationally driving a driving transport roll or a platen roll, and by selecting and replacing a roll or a pulley having a suitable diameter from among them, all lenses made from the same mold. It is possible to print an image with stereoscopic parallax for left and right parallax, or to print a heterogeneous image for variable vision (changing picture, moving image) and a temporally changing image on a sheet.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an embodiment of a printer according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a driving transport roll used in the printer of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a platen roll used in the printer of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating a relationship between a general lenticular lens sheet and a print output of a digital image for stereoscopic / variable vision.

FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating a relationship between a general lenticular lens sheet and a print output of a digital image for stereoscopic / variable vision.

FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating a relationship between a general lenticular lens sheet and a print output of a digital image for stereoscopic / variable vision.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Print drive pulse motor 2. Timing belt
Reference numeral 3a: drive conveyance roll 3b: press roll 4: timing belt 5: platen roll 6: print head 7: transfer sheet unwinding side roll 8 ... transfer sheet winding side roll 9 ... position sensor 10 ... lenticular lens sheet 11 ... Transfer sheet 12 ... Pulley

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A sheet conveying means for nipping and conveying a lenticular lens sheet by a driving conveyance roll and a pressing roll opposing the roll, a position sensor provided on a conveyance path of the lens sheet, and an image on the lens sheet. In a digital printer having a print head for recording and a platen roll provided opposite to the print head, a plurality of interchangeable plural diameters having different diameters calculated from the lens pitch and fluctuation width of the lenticular lens sheet and the printing accuracy of the printer. A printer for creating a digital image for stereoscopic / variable vision, comprising: a drive transport roll for books. 2. A conveying means for nipping and conveying a lenticular lens sheet between a driving conveying roll and a pressing roll opposing the roll, a position sensor provided on a conveying path of the lens sheet, and an image on the lens sheet. In a digital printer having a print head for recording the image and a platen roll provided opposite to the print head, the drive conveyance having different diameters calculated from the lens pitch and the fluctuation width of the lenticular lens sheet and the printing accuracy of the printer. A printer for creating digital images for stereoscopic / variable vision, comprising a plurality of pulleys that can be attached to rolls.