JP2001150812A - System and method for foam molding, printed foamed sheet, and foamed molding - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system and a method for foam molding having high degree of freedoms and capable of deciding the raised amount of each part without being restricted by the expression of a visible image of a foamable sheet. SOLUTION: A visible plane image 97 such as a color image or the like is formed on the surface of a foaming layer 92 of the foamable sheet 9 having many microcapsules to be expanded by heating therein. A light absorbable pattern 95 of a gray level image is formed on the surface of a base material layer 91 corresponding to the rear surface of the layer 92 of the sheet 9 based on distance image data or the like expressing a stereoscopic shape regarding the image 97. The layer 91 side formed with the pattern 95 is irradiated with a light LT, a heat responsive to the gray level of the image is generated, and the microcapsules in the layer 92 are expanded. As a result, raised parts 96f, 96g each having a predetermined height are generated on the image 97, and foam molding having high degree of freedoms of deciding the raised amount of each part can be conducted without being restricted by the expression of the visible image of the sheet.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a foam molding technique for selectively foaming a foamable sheet to perform molding.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional shaping techniques for semi-stereoscopic images using a foamable sheet are mainly used for creating images such as Braille arrangements. Such a technique is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 59-35359, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 64-28660 discloses a foam molding technique. Hereinafter, the outline of these conventional foam moldings will be described.

First, in a foamable sheet having a large number of microcapsules which expand when heated, an image pattern colored with black toner is formed on the surface of the sheet, or a visible image which is foamed on the backside of the sheet is turned over. The image pattern thus formed is formed. By irradiating the image pattern with light including infrared rays, heat is generated in the image pattern, and the heat expands the microcapsules. As a result, a selective bulge occurs in the foamable sheet, and an uneven image is formed. Here, the concavo-convex image has a substantially binary shape of whether or not each part on the foamable sheet is foamed.

[0004]

However, in the above-described molding technology, when an image pattern is formed on the surface of the foamable sheet by using a black toner, the bulge occurs only in the image pattern colored with the black toner, and the bulge portion is formed. And the black image pattern always match. That is, it is difficult to cause a protuberance to occur in a portion other than the portion colored in black, or to prevent a protuberance from occurring in a portion colored in black, which limits the degree of freedom in modeling.

When an image pattern corresponding to a visible image is formed on the back surface of the foamable sheet, the portion to be raised is colored in a light color because the degree of absorption of irradiation light varies depending on the coloring density of the visible image. In this case, there is a problem that heat required for foaming is not generated, and a desired amount of protrusion cannot be obtained as compared with a portion colored in dark color. In this case, although it can be said that the appearance is multi-valued in appearance, the light-colored portion does not reach the desired amount of protrusion, and thus is substantially a two-valued formation.

Further, in the conventional molding technology, substantially two
It is only possible to perform value-based modeling, and it is difficult to perform a desired multi-valued modeling with reality. Here, in this specification, “multi-valued” is a term that includes both the case of three or more discrete steps and the case of refinement such that it can be determined to be substantially continuous.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a foam molding technique having a high degree of freedom in which the amount of protrusion of each part can be determined without being restricted by a visible image representation of a foamable sheet. That is the purpose.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the invention of claim 1 selectively foams the foam layer in a foam sheet provided with a foam layer on a base material layer,
A foam shaping system for shaping a semi-stereoscopic image thereby, comprising: (a) an image forming a visible planar image on the surface of the foam layer and forming a light absorbing pattern on the surface of the base layer / Pattern forming means, and (b) light irradiating means for irradiating the foamable sheet with light, wherein the light absorbing pattern selectively raises the foam layer by heat generated by absorbing the light. To form a semi-stereoscopic image.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the foam molding system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the light-absorbing pattern is a region corresponding to at least a part of the planar image on the surface of the base material layer. Formed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the foam molding system according to the second aspect of the present invention, the light absorbing pattern has a pattern distribution corresponding to a distance image of a predetermined three-dimensional object.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the foam molding system according to any one of the first to third aspects, the light-absorbing pattern includes a plurality of materials having different light-absorbing degrees. Form by distributing.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the foam molding system according to any one of the first to third aspects, the light absorbing pattern is formed as an area gradation pattern of a light absorbing material. .

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the foam molding system according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the image / pattern forming means comprises: (a-1) a color having a light absorbing property; A color medium supply unit that supplies a set of visible color media including a medium as a specific color medium, and (a-2) selectively applying the set of color media from the color medium supply unit onto the foam layer. By this, image formation control means for forming the planar image on the foam layer, (a-3) by selectively applying the specific color medium from the color medium supply means on the substrate layer, Pattern formation control means for forming the light absorbing pattern on the base material layer.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the foam molding system according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the set of color media is a set of toners of different colors, and the specific color medium is a set of the color media. Is the toner with the highest density.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the foam molding system according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the visible image is divided into a first image portion and a second image portion. The light-absorbing pattern is formed on the surface of the base layer, avoiding a region corresponding to the second image portion, and does not cause foaming in the second image portion of the foam layer.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the foam molding system according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, the light-absorbing pattern is formed on the visible image of the surface of the base material layer. It is also formed in a non-image area that does not correspond, and also causes the foam layer to foam in the non-image area.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the foam molding system according to any one of the first to ninth aspects except for the sixth and seventh aspects, the base material layer transmits the light. The light irradiating means irradiates the light from the surface side of the base material layer on both sides of the foamable sheet.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the foam molding system according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, the base material layer is formed of a material that substantially transmits the light. The planar image is substantially formed of a light transmissive material, and the light irradiating unit irradiates the light from the front surface side of the foam layer among both sides of the foam sheet.

Further, the invention of claim 12 is a foam molding method for selectively foaming the foam layer in a foam sheet having a foam layer provided on a base material layer, thereby forming a semi-stereoscopic image. (A) an image / pattern forming step including: a first step of forming a visible planar image on the surface of the foam layer; and a second step of forming a light absorbing pattern on the surface of the base layer. (B) a light irradiation step of irradiating the foamable sheet with light, wherein the light absorption pattern is selectively foamed and raised by heat generated by receiving the light. Gives a semi-stereoscopic image.

The invention according to claim 13 is a printed foamed molding sheet used for molding a semi-stereoscopic image, wherein (a) a substrate layer having a light-absorbing pattern printed on one surface thereof. And (b) a foam layer provided on the other surface of the base material layer and having a planar image printed on the surface thereof, wherein the foam layer is selected by irradiating the light absorbing pattern with light. Foams and bulges, thereby obtaining a semi-stereoscopic image.

[0021] Further, the invention of claim 14 is a foamed molded product in which the foamed layer is selectively foamed in a foamable sheet having a foamed layer provided on a base material layer, wherein (a) The base layer on which the light-absorbing pattern is formed, and (b) a visible image is provided on the other surface of the base layer, and a portion corresponding to the light-absorbing pattern is selected. And a foamed layer that forms a semi-stereoscopic image by being foamed and raised.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the foamed molded article according to the fourteenth aspect, wherein the visible image is divided into a first image portion and a second image portion, and the light absorbing pattern is The foaming layer is formed on the surface of the base layer so as to avoid a region corresponding to the second image portion, and does not foam in the second image portion of the foamed layer.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the foamed molded article according to the fourteenth or fifteenth aspect, wherein the light absorbing pattern corresponds to the visible image on the surface of the base material layer. The non-image area is also formed, and the foam layer is foamed also in the non-image area.

[0024]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS <Outline of Modeling of Semi-Stereoscopic Image> Before describing a specific configuration and operation of an embodiment of the present invention, an outline of a process of forming a semi-stereoscopic image on a foamable sheet will be described. I do.

As shown in FIG. 1, when forming a semi-stereoscopic image that reproduces the shape of the stereoscopic model MD, the photographing device CM first comprises a fish model MDa representing a fish and a water plant model MDb representing aquatic plants. The basic data DO expressing the three-dimensional shape and surface color of the three-dimensional model MD is obtained. Among these, the three-dimensional shape is expressed by the height distribution of each part of the fish model MDa and the water plant model MDb from the virtual background plane IP.

The photographing device CM includes a two-dimensional photographing device CM2 and a three-dimensional measuring device CM3. The two-dimensional photographing device CM2 photographs the surface color of the three-dimensional model MD in color,
Obtain two-dimensional image data DP. The three-dimensional measuring device CM3 measures distance information from a measurement reference point in the three-dimensional measuring device CM3 to each measuring point on the opposing surface of the three-dimensional model MD, and obtains distance image data DS representing a shape of the three-dimensional model.
To get. Here, the two-dimensional image data DP and the distance image data DS are associated with each other in position. The distance image data DS here is a virtual background plane IP
From the camera to the three-dimensional measuring device CM3 in the height direction Dh
Is the shape data relating to the height distribution of each part of each of the three-dimensional models DMa and DMb.

Note that the shape data of the three-dimensional model MD may be obtained from a parallax image of a contact type three-dimensional shape measuring instrument, a stereo camera, or the like, or the shape data created by three-dimensional CAD or the like may be used. May be.

Next, a semi-stereoscopic image is formed on the foamable sheet based on the basic data DO. In the following, the principle and procedure for forming the semi-stereoscopic image will be described.

<Principle of Modeling> FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the foamable sheet 9. In addition, this cross-sectional view has shown the dimension in the thickness direction enlarged for convenience of explanation. The principle of forming a semi-stereoscopic image will be described with reference to FIG.

The foamable sheet 9 is, as shown in FIG.
It has a base layer 91 and a foam layer 92 laminated on the base layer 91.

The base layer 91 has a surface 91S that substantially scatters and reflects light LT, which will be described later.

The foam layer 92 has a large number of microcapsules 93 spatially distributed, and a covering 94 covering these microcapsules 93.

The microcapsules 93 are made of a thermoplastic resin such as vinylene chloride-acrylonitrile, methacrylic acid ester-acrylic acid copolymer, vinylidene chloride-acrylic acid copolymer, vinylidene chloride-acrylic acid ester copolymer or the like. It is encapsulated in resin and has a particle size of 10
It is about 30 μm. When the microcapsules 93 are heated, when the microcapsules 93 reach a predetermined temperature,
The substance inside starts to evaporate, and the microcapsules 93 expand.

The coating portion 94 is fixed by using a thermoplastic coating agent such as a vinyl acetate polymer or an acrylic polymer so that the microcapsules 93 are distributed at a substantially uniform density. The bonding with the foam layer 92 is performed.

Then, as shown in FIG. 2B, a light absorbing pattern 95 is formed on the lower surface 91S of the base material layer 91. The light absorbing pattern 95 is configured by a combination of a low light absorbing pattern 95a and a high light absorbing pattern 95b. This light-absorbing pattern 95
The “a” and the high pattern 95b may be formed of different materials from each other, and when a single material is used, the shading may be formed by an area gradation method. Among these, examples of the plurality of materials having different light absorbances include a combination of a black toner and a gray toner. The gray toner is obtained, for example, as a mixture of a black toner and a white toner.
As in this example, “a plurality of materials having different light absorbances” have different light absorbances depending on the content ratio of a specific light absorbing material (black toner in the above example). It may be a set of mixed mixtures. The magnitude of the light absorbency (light absorbance) can be realized by the shading (density) of the coloring. When the light absorbing pattern 95 is formed by the visible shading of the light absorbing material, Advantageously, even before actually foaming, the height distribution on the foaming pattern can be visually predicted and confirmed only by visually observing the light absorbing pattern 95 on the base material layer 91. There is.

When light LT including infrared rays is uniformly irradiated on the light absorbing pattern 95, the light absorbing pattern 95
Absorbs the light LT to generate heat TM, and the space pattern of the heat is transmitted through the base material layer 91 to reach the foam layer 92. Then, the microcapsules 93 in the foamed layer 92 expand due to the heat TM, and the bulges 96 (96) that selectively bulge are formed.
a, 96b). Here, the amount of heat generated in the pattern 95a having a low light absorption is smaller than the amount of heat generated in the pattern 95b having a high light absorption.
The foaming height Ha of 6a is lower than the foaming height Hb of the raised portion 96b.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the concept of the relationship between the coloring density and the foaming height H of the foamable sheet 9. The horizontal axis of this graph indicates the coloring density, and the vertical axis indicates the foaming height H. This graph shows the case where the foamable sheet 9 is irradiated with light under the condition that the light irradiation amount is constant, and the foaming height H increases as the coloring density increases.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the coloring density, the foaming height H of the foamable sheet 9 and the light irradiation energy. The horizontal axis of this graph indicates the coloring density, and the vertical axis indicates the foaming height H. Curves Ga, Gb, Gc, G
d is a graph when different light irradiation energies are given to the foamable sheet 9, and the light irradiation energy has a relationship of Ga <Gb <Gc <Gd. As can be seen from FIG. 4, the slope increases in the order of curves Ga, Gb, Gc, and Gd as the light irradiation energy increases. This is because the amount of heat generated in the light absorbing pattern 95 increases as the irradiation energy of light increases, and the foaming height H increases accordingly, even if the coloring density is equal. Note that these curves Ga, G
The point at which b, Gc, and Gd substantially rise from the origin O is from the critical temperature at which foaming starts in the foamable sheet 9.

Here, these curves Ga, Gb, Gc,
It has been experimentally confirmed that Gd has high reproducibility in a region where the foaming height H does not exceed the controllable control height Hc, that is, in a region where the foaming height can be controlled. On the other hand, in the curves Gc and Gd, the portions Gcf and Gdf that exceed the control limit height Hc are non-reproducible foam height uncontrollable regions where a plurality of paths exist. This is because, when foaming exceeding the control limit height Hc is performed, the microcapsules 93 rupture, causing an explosive foaming state, and the base material layer 91 and the foamed layer 92 are partially peeled off, This is because the shape is also distorted. Note that the maximum foaming height Hmax indicates a foaming height when a much larger energy is applied to the foamable sheet 9 than the energy required for foaming, and almost all of the micro foams are used. The capsule 93 has been ruptured.

As described above, in the formation of a semi-stereoscopic image, the foaming height H is set to the control limit height Hc with high reproducibility.
It is preferable to set the following. That is, when the maximum height of the first height distribution represented by the basic data DO exceeds the control limit height Hc, the first height distribution is converted to control the foaming height of each part. A second height distribution that is equal to or less than the limit height Hc is obtained, and foam control may be performed in accordance with the second height distribution. In this embodiment, since the first height distribution is expressed by the distance image data DS in the basic data DO, the above conversion corresponds to the conversion of the distance image data DS. Also, since modeling control is performed using data including the converted second height distribution, data including the second height distribution is referred to as modeling data DZ.

<Procedure of Modeling> FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a procedure of forming a semi-stereoscopic image. Here, FIG.
(F) shows the position from the Pa-Pa position in FIG. 5 (a), the Pb-Pb position in FIG. 5 (b), the Pc-Pc position in FIG. 5 (c), and the Pd-Pd position in FIG. 5 (d). FIG. FIG. 6 is a view showing an image formed on the foamable sheet 9 for modeling. In the following, a process for shaping a semi-stereoscopic image using a foamable sheet will be described, and a firing shaping system for automatically performing this process will be described later.

First, the foam sheet 9 shown in FIG.
(The same as that shown in FIG. 2A) is prepared.

As shown in FIGS. 5B and 5F, a visible flat image 97 such as a color image is formed on the surface of the foam layer 92 of the foam sheet 9 based on the two-dimensional image data DP.
To form

As shown in FIG. 6 (a), for example, the two-dimensional image data DP represents
a, a fish image 97a and a water plant image 97b corresponding to the water plant model MDb, and a frame image 97c representing a rectangular frame irrelevant to the three-dimensional model MD. This frame image 9
7c plays the role of a frame for the combination of the fish image 97a and the aquatic plant image 97b.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 5 (c) and 5 (g), on the surface of the base material layer 91 corresponding to the back surface of the foam layer 92 of the foam sheet 9, it is obtained in advance by the method described above. Based on the distance image data DS, etc.
To form

The light absorbing pattern 95 is, for example, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), it is composed of a fish pattern 95f corresponding to the fish model MDa and a frame pattern 95g representing a rectangular frame.

The fish pattern 95f is obtained by shading the depth image data DS of the fish model MDa in accordance with the height of each part of the three-dimensional shape indicated by the distance data. The closer to the center of the fish pattern 95f, the darker the color becomes. It has become. Various types of shading can be used, from a height expression in several stages to a substantially continuous height distribution. When a natural object is used as a model such as “fish” in this example, it is preferable to express the height distribution in a relatively large number of stages, for example, about 8 to 32 or more.
In this embodiment as well, the number of steps is relatively large so that a delicate height expression can be obtained. However, in FIG. 6B, for convenience of illustration, the grayscale distribution is expressed by only a small number of grayscale regions. Generally, N steps of shading (where N is an integer of 2 or more, preferably 3
When the height distribution is expressed by the above integers, the region of the highest level is the highest density “black”, and the (N−2) intermediate levels are “gray” having different densities. .
Further, the region having the lowest density level (that is, the region having the same height as the background surface IP in FIG. 1) is “white”, and this “white” region is substantially free from a coloring medium. Can be expressed. In the case of the illustrated example, the background plane IP is set at a position distant backward from the fish model MDa in FIG. 1, and there is no zero level part within the range of the fish model MDa in the original height distribution. Therefore, there is no "white" area in the fish pattern 95f of FIG. 6B. Also, in this embodiment, in the height distribution of the fish model MDa represented by the basic data DO, the maximum height thereof exceeds the control limit height Hc of the foam layer 92 in the foam sheet 9; Conversion already described (more detailed conversion formula will be described later)
Is scaled so that the maximum height is substantially equal to the control limit height Hc.

The fish pattern 95f is a fish image 97a.
The position is consistent. In this case, the distance image data DS
Has data of a fish model MDa and a water plant model MDb, and a part of the data, that is, the water plant model M
Light absorption pattern 95 of only fish model MDa excluding Db
Is reflected in. That is, the fish pattern 95f corresponds to the selected image data to be formed in the distance image data DS. As described above, the light absorbing pattern 95 may be formed as a gray image pattern corresponding to a part of the distance image data DS, or may be formed over the entire distance image data DS instead.

The frame pattern 95g is colored at a uniform density without shading. The frame pattern 95g is a geometric image pattern formed independently of the distance image data DS. This corresponds to additional image data added to the above-mentioned selected image data.

Finally, as shown in FIG. 5D, the base material layer 91 on which the light-absorbing pattern 95 of the gray image is formed.
Light LT is applied from the side. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5H, the raised portions 96f and 96g are generated. The raised portion 96f has a darker color toward the center in the image pattern 95f, and thus the foaming height increases toward the center. On the other hand, the raised portions 96g have the same foaming height because the image pattern 95g is uniformly colored.

<First Embodiment><Main Configuration of Foam Molding System> FIG. 7 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
It is a schematic structure figure showing foaming modeling system 1 of an embodiment.

The foam molding system 1 feeds the foamable sheets 9 one by one, and prints an image by applying a color toner to the foamable sheets 9 fed from the paper feeder 10. An image printing unit 20, a front / back inversion mechanism 30 for turning the foamable sheet 9 printed by the image printing unit 20 upside down,
A shaping unit 40 for shaping the foamable sheet 9 by irradiating light
And a data processing unit 50 that controls each unit and performs data processing.
And The data processing unit 50 is provided with an operation unit 51 and a display 52. Among these, the operation unit 51 includes a media drive or an online communication device for inputting the basic data DO, in addition to a keyboard for the operator to input various conditions.

The paper supply section 10 includes a plurality of white foamable sheets 9 stacked on a paper supply tray or a paper supply cassette. Each of these foamable sheets 9 has a rectangular planar shape. The sheet feeding unit 10 has a sheet sending roller 11, and by driving the sheet sending roller 11, the foamable sheets 9 are conveyed one by one to the image printing unit 20.

The image printing section 20 is charged with a charging device and then exposed to light from an exposure device 21 to form an electrostatic latent image on its surface.
2 is provided. This exposure pattern is formed by modeling data DZ
Image data DP or range image data D at
It is determined based on S.

The rotary developing device 22 has three color toners of C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black), which are the three primary colors of the colorant.
a, 22b, 22c, and 22d. This toner is used as a material that absorbs infrared rays. In addition,
Instead of the three primary colors of the color material, R (red), G (green), and B (blue) color toners, which are the three primary colors of color light, may be used.

The rotary developing device 22 has a plurality of developing sleeves 2 for applying each toner to the photosensitive drum 23.
4, one of the developing sleeves 24 selected at that time can be brought into contact with the photosensitive drum 23.

Then, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 23 is developed with toner from the developing sleeve 24, and the toner image is once transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 25 and then to the foamable sheet 9. You. The intermediate transfer belt 25 is configured to be driven in a loop by a driving roller 25a, a driven roller 25b, a primary transfer roller 25c, and a support roller 25d. Further, a secondary transfer roller 25e is provided to face the support roller 25d.

In the image printing section 20, two heat rollers 26 (26a, 26a,
26b) are arranged vertically.

The front / back reversing mechanism 30 reverses the front and back of the foamable sheet 9 and is a general reversing mechanism used in a copying machine capable of copying both sides of a sheet. This is because it is necessary to form a flat image 97 and a light and shade image pattern 95 on both sides of the foamable sheet 9, but the coloring section 20 can only color one side of the foamable sheet 9. This is because it is necessary to reverse the front and back of the foamable sheet 9 at 30 and copy again.

The molding section 40 will be described with reference to FIG. 8 showing a detailed configuration thereof.

The modeling section 40 includes a casing 41, a light irradiating section 42 for irradiating light, and a sheet conveying section 45 for conveying the foamable sheet 9.

The light irradiator 41 includes a lamp 43 for uniformly irradiating a predetermined amount of light, and a reflector 44 for reflecting the light from the lamp 43 toward the foamable sheet 9. As the lamp 43, a lamp that emits a light beam containing many infrared wavelengths, such as a halogen lamp and an infrared lamp, is used.

The sheet conveying section 45 includes a conveying belt 46,
Driving and driven rollers 47 for driving the conveyor belt
a, 47b. Further, the sheet transport unit 45
Is provided with a sheet carry-in guide plate 48a and a sheet carry-out guide plate 48b that are used for carrying the foamable sheet 9 into and out of the casing 41.

The transport belt 46 can transport the foamable sheet 9 at a predetermined speed by controlling the number of rotations of the driving roller 47a. And foamable sheet 9
The amount of heat generated in each density region of the grayscale image pattern 95 of the foamable sheet 9 is determined according to the product of the conveyance speed of the sheet and the amount of light from the lamp 43 on the foamable sheet 9, and the foaming height is adjusted. Will be performed.

In the data processing section 50, data conversion (described later) of the data relating to the three-dimensional model MD is performed, and control of each section described above is performed.

<Operation of Foaming and Shaping System 1> FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the outline of the operation of the foaming and shaping system 1. The data processing and control operations described below are incorporated in the data processing section 50 shown in FIG. The software is executed by the microcomputer.

In step S1, modeling data DZ is generated based on the distance image data DS of the three-dimensional model MD.
The details will be described later.

In step S2, the image printing unit 20
A flat image 97 is formed on the surface of the foam layer 92 of the foam sheet 9.
Print. That is, the exposing device 21 and the rotary developing device 22 are driven for the foamable sheet 9 conveyed to the image printing unit 20 according to the two-dimensional image data DP, and each color is subjected to the same electrostatic transfer as in electrophotography. Apply toner and develop. Then, the foamable sheet 9 to which the toner is applied is heated while being conveyed by the heat roller 26, and each toner is fixed. In the heating by the heat roller 26, the heating is performed at a temperature equal to or lower than the critical temperature at which foaming in the foamable sheet 9 is substantially caused. At this time, the front end of the foamable sheet 9 enters the inside-out inversion mechanism 30, but at this stage, the inside-out inversion mechanism 30 functions as a mere buffer unit and does not perform the inside-out inversion operation. The surface of the foamable sheet 9 at this point is as shown in FIGS. 5B and 5F.

In step S3, the front and back of the foamable sheet 9 is turned over by the front and back turning mechanism 30. That is, by reversing the foam sheet 9 on which the plane image 97 is printed in step S2, the light absorbing pattern 95 can be printed on the opposite surface of the foam sheet 9 on which the plane image 97 is printed.

In step S4, a light absorbing pattern (shade image) 95 is printed on the base layer 91 of the foamable sheet 9. That is, the foamable sheet 9 whose front and back are reversed by the front and back reversing mechanism 30 is returned to the image printing unit 20 again, and the same operation as that for one color in step S2 is performed. The light absorbing pattern 95 is printed. Here, a grayscale image is formed by an area gradation method using only K (black) toner.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual enlarged view showing the principle of an example in which shading is expressed by the area gradation method. In FIG. 10A corresponding to the region having the highest density, black is applied at an area ratio of almost 100%. In FIG. 10B corresponding to the region where the toner K is applied and the density is approximately intermediate, the black toner K is applied in an area ratio of approximately 50% and FIG. 10C corresponding to the region where the density is the lowest. Does not substantially apply black toner.

In the image printing section 20, such a light and shade pattern is formed on the foam layer 91 so as to correspond to the plane image 97 in position.
A foamable sheet 9 in a state corresponding to (g) is obtained.

In step S5, the modeling section 40
The foamable sheet 9 is irradiated with light. In other words, while the foamed sheet 9 printed on both sides is transported at a constant speed by the transport belt 46 with the base layer 91 side facing upward, the lamp 43
To irradiate light. Thereby, the light absorbing pattern 9
5, the foam layer 92 of the foam sheet 9
The microcapsules 93 in the inside expand, and the foamable sheet 9
In FIG. 5, a semi-stereoscopic image having a foaming height H is formed downward, and the states shown in FIGS. 5D and 5H are obtained.

When the plane image 97 is formed of a material that substantially transmits infrared rays, such as a dye-based ink, without absorbing much infrared rays, the base layer 91 of the foamable sheet 9 is exposed to the light LT. And a substantially transparent material,
Light may be irradiated with the foam layer 92 of the foam sheet 9 facing upward. In this case, steps S2 and S4
In other words, after the light absorbing pattern 95 is printed on the base material layer 91, the front and back sides are reversed, and the foamed layer 92 is formed.
Can be printed with the flat image 97.

Regarding the foaming height H of the foamable sheet 9,
Specifically, the following equation is obtained. Here, D is the coloring density of each part of the light absorbing pattern 95, R is the light amount per unit time from the lamp 43, and V is the transport speed of the foamable sheet 9 by the transport belt 46.

H = f (D; R × V) (Equation 1) where the function f corresponds to the characteristic curve group in FIG. 4 in which the parameter of the irradiation energy is a value (R × V). This is a function expressing a characteristic curve.

<Formation Data Generation Operation> FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the process of converting the data expressing the height distribution in the formation data generation operation corresponding to step S1.

In step S11, the distance image data DS
, The part corresponding to the water plant model MDb is deleted, and the data corresponding to the height distribution of the fish model MDa is left. this is,
For example, this can be achieved by detecting the contour of the distance image corresponding to the fish model MDa and selectively deleting the data so that only the range surrounded by the contour is left in the distance image data DS.

In step S12, the distance image data DS
As additional image data prepared separately from the above, data corresponding to the height distribution of the frame pattern 95g is added to the basic data DO. If there is no additional image data, the number of data added to the basic data DO is zero.

In step S13, the maximum height of the first height distribution represented by the basic data D0 after the correction such as the selective deletion or addition of data as described above is specified, and the maximum height thereof is specified. It is determined whether the height is not less than the control limit height Hc. When the maximum height is higher than the control limit height Hc, the process proceeds to step S14, and when the maximum height is equal to or less than the control limit height Hc, the process proceeds to step S17. The value of the control limit height Hc is stored in advance in a memory in the data processing unit 50 for each type of the foamable sheet, and the operator inputs the type of the foamable sheet 9 from the operation unit 51. Is selected. However, if the type of the foamable sheet 9 used in the foam molding system 1 is fixed, the control limit height Hc
May be set as a fixed value. In any case, the control limit height Hc is a value smaller than the maximum foam height as a characteristic of the foam layer 92.

In step S14, it is determined whether data is to be linearly converted. The operator determines in advance whether to perform the linear conversion or the non-selective conversion.
(FIG. 7), and information of the selection result is stored in the memory of the data processing unit 50. Therefore, whether to perform linear conversion or non-linear conversion can be determined by referring to this information. When the linear conversion is performed, the process proceeds to step S15. When the linear conversion is not performed, the process proceeds to step S16.

In step S15, the shaping data DZ is generated by linear compression conversion. This linear compression conversion will be specifically described below.

FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 are diagrams for explaining linear compression conversion of data. Among them, FIG.
(A) is a figure which shows the relationship between the 1st height distribution represented by basic data DO, and the 2nd height distribution represented by modeling data DZ. The function FL is a linear function such that the maximum height Zmax of the first height distribution is converted into the control limit height Hc. Then, as shown in FIG. 12B, the basic data DO is compression-converted into the molding data DZ corresponding to the second height distribution having the control limit height Hc as the maximum value by the function FL, as shown in FIG. For example, FIG.
The first height distribution Z1 (X, Y) of the pyramid 51 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 13B, a quadrangular pyramid 5 having a lower vertex
2 is converted to the second height distribution Z2 (X, Y).

Here, data conversion as in the following equation 2 is performed. However, the first height distribution represented by the basic data D0 is Z1 (X, Y), the second height distribution represented by the shaping data DZ is Z2 (X, Y), and the first height distribution Z1
The maximum height at (X, Y) is Zmax, and the linear conversion coefficient is Kz.

Zmax = max {Z1 (X, Y)}: Kz = Hc / Zmax: Z2 (X, Y) = Kz × Z1 (X, Y) (Equation 2) Further, the symbol max ｛is a bubble. Represents a calculation that takes the maximum value when the two-dimensional coordinate values X and Y defining the plane parallel to the permeable sheet 9 are changed within the range of the foamable area of the foamable sheet 9.

In step S16, the first height distribution Z1
(X, Y) is non-linearly compressed and converted into a second height distribution Z2.
(X, Y) is generated. This non-linear compression conversion will be specifically described below.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show the first height distribution Z
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining non-linear compression conversion of data expressing 1 (X, Y). FIG. 14A shows the basic data DO.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a relationship between a height value of the modeling data DZ and a height value of the shaping data DZ. The function FC is a non-linear function such that the maximum height Zmax of the first height distribution Z1 (X, Y) expressed by the basic data DO is converted to the control limit height Hc. The function FC has an S-shaped curve,
In the semi-stereoscopic image, the difference in height is emphasized in the region (the unevenness emphasizing region) SR having a larger inclination than the inclination of the straight line Ka connecting the origin and the point (Zmax, Hc), that is, the average inclination of the function FC. It will be.

Then, as shown in FIG. 14 (b), the first height distribution Z1 (X, Y) is converted into the second height distribution Z2 (X, X, Y). In this case, unlike the linear transformation, FIG.
(A) shows a first height distribution Z1 (X,
Y) is converted into a second height distribution Z2 (X, Y) of the quadrangular pyramid 54 having a lower vertex as shown in FIG. 15B, and the ridge line has a shape corresponding to the function FC. It has become.

Such a non-linear conversion is achieved by data conversion as shown in the following Expression 3.

Zmax = max {Z1 (X, Y)}: Kz = Hc / Zmax: Z2 (X, Y) = Kz × FC0 (Z1 (X, Y)) (Equation 3) where the function FC0 () Is a non-linear function corresponding to the curve FC of FIG. 14 standardized so that its maximum value is “1”.

The function form of the non-linear function FC0 may be fixedly set in a memory in the data processing unit 50 (FIG. 7), or may be selected by the operator for each object. .

Preferably, as in the case of a gamma correction parameter in image processing, a function form of a non-linear function is defined as 1
Alternatively, the data processing unit 5 can adjust a plurality of parameter values.
0, and the operator selects the parameter value with the operating unit 51 for each modeling object, and sets the nonlinear function FC0
The concrete function form of can be determined. In this case, the display 52 attached to the data processing unit 50
It is preferable to display the curve shape of this nonlinear function so that the operator can visually recognize the change in the curve when the operator changes the parameter value. In addition, a simulation function for displaying the three-dimensional shape before and after the conversion as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B may be provided as to what kind of conversion is performed by the nonlinear function. The same applies to the linear transformation described above.

On the other hand, in step S17, the maximum height Zmax of the first height distribution Z1 (X, Y) is compared with a predetermined threshold Zth, whereby the maximum height Zmax is equal to or smaller than the threshold Zth. Is determined. This threshold value Zth is determined according to the control limit height Hc, and has a predetermined ratio R (0 <
R ≦ 1), there is a relationship of Zth = R × Hc. The ratio R is desirably in the range of, for example, 1/3 to 2/3.
Further, １ ／ is preferable.

In step S18, the first height distribution Z1 (X, Y) of the basic data DO is subjected to expansion conversion to generate molding data DZ. FIG. 16 shows the first height distribution Z1.
It is a figure for explaining expansion conversion of (X, Y). This expansion conversion is performed, as shown in FIG.
The first height distribution Z1 (X, Y) of O
This is to expand to a second height distribution Z2 (X, Y) with c being the maximum height. In this conversion, it is possible to perform linear data conversion using a linear function. Specifically, the first height distribution Z1 (X, Y) shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 16C, the quadrangular pyramid 55 corresponding to
The second height distribution Z2 of the quadrangular pyramid 56 having a higher vertex
(X, Y).

Although the linear conversion is performed here, the nonlinear conversion may be performed. In addition, the control limit height Hc
A value Hmid between the threshold value and the threshold value Zth may be determined, and the conversion may be performed so that the maximum height Zmax in the first height distribution corresponds to this value Hmid in the second height distribution.

With the above configuration and operation, heating such that the microcapsules are ruptured is not performed, so that the shape of the semi-stereoscopic image is not distorted at a portion higher than the control limit height Hc and the semi-solid image has a uniform shape. A stereoscopic image can be formed.

<Other Embodiments and Modifications> FIG. 17 is a view showing a molding apparatus 40A used in the foam molding system of the second embodiment. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. The operation of the foam molding system according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment except for the operation described later.

In the shaping apparatus 40A, the sheet conveying section 4
The transfer belt (endless belt) 46A of No. 5 is formed of a material that transmits infrared rays, preferably a transparent material in the vicinity of the infrared wavelength region, and the light irradiation section 42 Is arranged. In the operation of the foam molding system, the light irradiation unit 42 is located below the conveyor belt (endless belt) 46A.
Is reversed, that is, after printing the light-absorbing pattern 95 on the base material layer 91, the front and back are reversed, and the plane image 97 is printed on the foam layer 92. Thereby, it is possible to form a semi-stereoscopic image with the foam layer 92 of the foam sheet 9 facing upward.

When the plane image 97 is formed of a material that substantially transmits infrared light, such as a dye-based ink, without absorbing much, the base layer 91 of the foamable sheet 9 is protected from light LT. And a substantially transparent material,
Light may be irradiated with the foam layer 92 of the foam sheet 9 facing downward. In this case, it is not necessary to reverse the order of step S2 and step S4 in the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example in which the light absorbing pattern 95 is formed also in the region where the planar image 97 is not formed on the foam layer 92 in the first embodiment described above.
As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 18A, of the surface of the base material layer 91 of the foamable sheet 9, the
In addition to providing the light absorbing pattern 95p in the portion 91p corresponding to the region 92p where the 7 is formed, the portion 91p corresponding to the region 92r where the planar image 97 is not formed.
r may be provided with a light absorbing pattern 95r. In this case, after the heating, as shown in FIG.
Any of 92r foams and protrudes. By doing so, it is possible to set a foaming region regardless of the presence of the planar image 97, and the degree of freedom of expression in foam molding is further increased.

In the linear transformation of the basic data, the maximum height Zma of the first height distribution represented by the basic data
A linear function that converts a specific height lower than x into the control limit height Hc may be used. In this case, the first
The portion of the height distribution above the specific height is the second
In order to exceed the control limit height Hc in the height distribution of
The modeling accuracy in the excess is not guaranteed. However, rather than the reproducibility near the peak of the first height distribution,
When importance is placed on the fineness in reproduction near the intermediate height, such a deformation is also possible.

Also in this case, the expressiveness of the semi-stereoscopic image is enhanced in the sense that the operator can freely adjust the range for obtaining a well-shaped semi-stereoscopic image.

When the range of the first height distribution in the basic data D0 is the hatched portion SS shown in FIG. 12B, the maximum height difference of the hatched portion SS is the second height in the molding data. Data conversion may be performed so as to be substantially equal to the limit height Hc of the height distribution.

That is, the first height distribution Z1 (X, Y)
Is the actual data distribution of Zmin to Zmax (where Zmin>
0), in the data conversion as in the first embodiment, the entire range 0 to H in which the data of the molding data DZ can be taken.
c is not effectively used up by the second height distribution Z2 (X, Y). For this reason, the range from 0 to Zmin where the first height distribution Z1 (X, Y) does not actually have a value is excluded from the modeling range. As a result, the compression ratio in the compression conversion can be kept low.

Specifically, as a preferable conversion, an operation according to the following equation 4 is performed.

Zmax = max {Z1 (X, Y)}: Zmin = min {Z1 (X, Y)}: Kzd = Hc / (Zmax−Zmin); Z2 (X, Y) = Kzd × (Z1 (X1 , Y) -Zmin) (Equation 4) where the symbol min {} is a two-dimensional coordinate value X, Y that defines a plane parallel to the foamable sheet 9, and is defined by the range of the foamable area of the foamable sheet 9. Represents a calculation for taking the minimum value when it is changed in the equation, and Kzd is a conversion coefficient.

When the minimum value Zmin is larger than 0, when the conversion coefficient Kz in the linear conversion of the equation 1 is compared with the conversion coefficient Kzd of the equation 4, Kzd / Kz = Zmax / (Zmax−Zmin)> 1 (Equation 1) 5) Therefore, the conversion coefficient Kzd is larger than the conversion coefficient Kz, and in terms of the compression rate (the reciprocal of the conversion coefficient), Equation 4 results in a smaller compression rate.

Therefore, when data conversion is performed according to Equation 4, the range in which data values actually exist in the first height distribution can be expressed with a wider dynamic range in the second height distribution. Therefore, it becomes easy to express a subtle difference in height in three-dimensional modeling. In addition, Zmi
Equation 4 is equivalent to Equation 1 when n = 0.

As an extension of the above principle, the maximum height difference (Zmax−Zmin) of the first height distribution is larger than the control limit height Hc of the second height distribution by a predetermined width ΔHc (0 ≤
ΔHc <1) or predetermined ratio r (where 0 ≦ r <1)
The conversion can be performed so as to correspond to the smaller value Hc1, that is, Hc1 = (Hc1−ΔHc) (Equation 6) or Hc1 = (1-r) × Hc1 (Equation 7). Preferably, ΔHc <(１ ／) × ΔHc: r <(１ ／) (Equation 8), and more preferably, ΔHc <(１ ／) × ΔHc: r <(１ ／). (Equation 9). In Equations 6 and 7, ΔHc = 0 or r = 0
Corresponds to equation 5.

The control limit height of foaming depends on the properties of the material of the foaming layer and the thickness of the foaming layer. Therefore,
The control limit height may be experimentally determined in advance for a foam layer of the same material and the same thickness, but only the control limit height per unit height is determined, and the control limit height is determined according to the thickness of the foam layer. Even if it is corrected numerically, an almost accurate value can be obtained.

When a two-dimensional image is formed using a plurality of color media (such as toner), the light-absorbing pattern is formed by using the toner having the highest visual density among the plurality of color media. preferable. This is because in general, the higher the visual density, the higher the heat absorption rate,
This is because light irradiation time can be reduced.

The state in which the two-dimensional image and the light-absorbing pattern are printed on the front and back sides by the image printing unit 22 (FIG. 5).
The foamable sheet 9 of (c) and (g)) can be distributed in the market before foaming. Further, if the light absorbing pattern 95 is covered with a coating layer which is substantially opaque for visible light and transparent for infrared light, the user cannot know the foaming result until the foaming is actually performed. Therefore, it can be used as a three-dimensional “hidden picture” or as a “three-dimensional authentication seal”. Further, the present invention is particularly useful for creating a multi-valued semi-stereoscopic image having three or more height steps, but it cannot be used for the purpose of binary foaming like Braille. You may use it like that.

In the image printing section of each of the above embodiments, printing may be performed on the foamable sheet by an ink jet method. In this case, since the ink receiving layer is further overcoated on the foam layer of the foam sheet, the applied ink can reproduce an image without bleeding.

Regarding the shaping portion of the first embodiment, uniform light irradiation may be performed on the entire surface of the foamable sheet at one time.
Alternatively, the entire foamable sheet may be uniformly irradiated with light by irradiating slit light of a predetermined width and conveying the foamable sheet at a constant speed.

In each of the above embodiments, the foamable sheet is not limited to the one having microcapsules. When water is applied to a sheet in which fibers are compressed, the foamed sheet in which the compressed state of the fibers is relaxed and rises, A foamable sheet that foams by heating the portion where the ink is attached may be used.

FIG. 19 is a view showing a foam molding system 8 according to the third embodiment. This foam molding system 8
Although similar to the first embodiment, the configuration of an image printing unit functioning as an image / pattern forming unit is different.

In the image printing section 20A of the foam molding system 8, the rotary developing device 22A functioning as a color medium supply means is connected to the developing devices 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d having C, M, Y, and K toners. In addition, the configuration further includes three developing units 22e, 22f, and 22g. Then, these developing devices 22e, 22f, 22
g has three types of gray toners having different lightness (light absorption). Of these toners,
A visible planar image is provided on the surface of the foam layer by each of the Y, M, C, and K toners, and a light absorbing pattern is provided on the back surface of the foam layer by the gray toner and the K toner.
The light absorptive pattern in this case includes a region to which the K toner is applied (the maximum amount of protrusion) and each region to which three types of gray toner are applied (three regions having three intermediate levels of protrusion). And a region to which no toner is applied (a region with no raised height), a total of five levels of height can be expressed.

In the foaming molding system 8 having the above-described configuration, for example, FIG. 6 ( It is possible to form a light-absorbing pattern of a grayscale image as shown in b). The gray toner is not limited to three types, but may be one type, two types, or four types.
More than kinds may be used.

[0119] In the case where a three-dimensional object formed by the three-dimensional molding of each of the above embodiments is displayed in various places as a three-dimensional advertisement panel, it is less bulky to transport the sheet with the planar image and the light absorbing pattern printed thereon. The transportation cost can be reduced. In addition, at least the modeling unit 40
It is also effective to sell in the state of a sheet in which a planar image and a light-absorbing pattern are printed when the above-mentioned device is held.

In the above embodiments, the height distribution (Z direction) is described as being converted.
The scale in the Y direction may be converted, or only the Z direction may be converted in the XY directions without changing the basic data.

[0121]

As described above, according to the first to sixteenth aspects of the present invention, a visible planar image is formed on the surface of the foam layer, and the light-absorbing pattern is formed on the surface of the base layer. In order to form, it is possible to determine the amount of foam ridge of each part without being bound by the visible image representation of the foamable sheet,
The degree of freedom in foam molding increases.

In particular, in the second, eighth, ninth, fifteenth, and sixteenth aspects of the present invention, the range of the area where the light absorbing pattern is provided and the range of the area where the planar image is provided are different. Can be used without completely matching them, and the degree of freedom in modeling is increased.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the light-absorbing pattern has a pattern distribution corresponding to the distance image of a predetermined three-dimensional object, it is restricted by the surface color of the three-dimensional object. Instead, a distribution of the foaming height corresponding to the three-dimensional shape of the three-dimensional object can be obtained.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the light-absorbing pattern is formed by spatially distributing a plurality of materials having different light-absorbing degrees, a material suitable for a desired foaming height is prepared. Thereby, modeling can be appropriately performed.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the light-absorbing pattern is formed as an area gradation pattern of the light-absorbing material, the foaming height can be variously controlled with only a small number of light-absorbing materials. .

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the image /
Since the pattern forming means includes a color medium supply means for supplying a visible color medium set including a color medium having a light absorbing property as a specific color medium, the color medium for providing a planar image is formed of a light absorbing pattern. Can be diverted to give the device, and the device can be prevented from becoming complicated.

In the present invention, the set of color media is a set of toners of different colors, and the specific color medium is the toner having the highest density in the set of color media. By changing the application ratio of the medium (area ratio such as area gradation) in a wide range, the expression range of the height in foam molding can be expanded.

In the tenth aspect of the present invention, since foaming is performed by irradiating light from the surface side of the base material layer on both sides of the foamable sheet, unnecessary light is not given to the planar image.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, since the light is irradiated from the plane image side, it is possible to simplify the structure of performing the light irradiation while the foamable sheet is surface-supported by a sheet supporting member (such as a conveyor belt). That is, since the foamed layer is raised by heating, it is preferable that the foamable sheet is surface-supported from the substrate layer side in the foaming step, but in the case of a configuration in which light irradiation is performed from the substrate layer side, The support member must be kept transparent. In contrast, according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, since light irradiation can be performed from the plane image side, a transparent support member is not required, and frequent maintenance related to transparency is not required.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining acquisition of basic data DO including a shape of a three-dimensional model MD and a surface color.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a foamable sheet 9;

FIG. 3 is a graph showing a concept of a relationship between a coloring density and a foaming height H of a foamable sheet 9;

FIG. 4 is a graph showing a relationship between a coloring density, a foaming height H of the foamable sheet 9, and light irradiation energy.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for forming a semi-stereoscopic image.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an image formed on a foamable sheet 9 for modeling.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a foam molding system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a modeling unit 40.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of an operation of the foam molding system 1.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual enlarged view showing the principle of an example in which shading is expressed by the area gradation method.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of an operation of generating molding data.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining linear compression conversion of data.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining linear compression conversion of data.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining non-linear compression conversion of data.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining non-linear compression conversion of data.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining data expansion conversion.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a modeling apparatus 40A according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a light absorbing pattern 95 is formed in a region where a planar image 97 is not formed.

FIG. 19 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a foam molding system 8 according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 8 Foam molding system 9 Foam sheet 20 Image printing unit 40 Molding unit 43 Lamp 46 Conveying belt 91 Base layer 92 Foam layer 95 Light absorbing pattern 97 Plan image DO Basic data DP 2D image data DS Distance image data DZ Modeling data H Foam height Hc Control limit height MD Solid model

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A foam molding system for selectively foaming a foam layer in a foam sheet provided with a foam layer on a base material layer, thereby shaping a semi-stereoscopic image, comprising: An image / pattern forming means for forming a visible planar image on the surface of the layer and forming a light absorbing pattern on the surface of the base material layer; and (b) light for irradiating the foamable sheet with light. Irradiating means, wherein the foam layer is selectively raised by heat generated by the light absorption pattern absorbing the light to form a semi-stereoscopic image. 2. The foam molding system according to claim 1, wherein the light-absorbing pattern is formed in a region corresponding to at least a part of the planar image on a surface of the base material layer. Foam molding system. 3. The foam molding system according to claim 2, wherein the light absorbing pattern has a pattern distribution according to a distance image of a predetermined three-dimensional object. 4. The foam molding system according to claim 1, wherein the light-absorbing pattern is formed by spatially distributing a plurality of materials having different light absorbances from each other. And the foam molding system. 5. The foam molding system according to claim 1, wherein the light absorbing pattern is formed as an area gradation pattern of a light absorbing material. . 6. The foam molding system according to claim 1, wherein said image / pattern forming means includes: (a-1) a color medium having a light absorbing property as a specific color medium. A color medium supply means for supplying a set of typical color media, (a-2) by selectively applying the set of color media on the foam layer from the color medium supply means, Image formation control means for forming the flat image, (a-3) by selectively applying the specific color medium on the base layer from the color medium supply means, the light on the base layer And a pattern formation control unit for forming an absorbent pattern. 7. The foam molding system according to claim 6, wherein the set of color media is a set of toners of different colors, and the specific color medium is a toner having the highest density in the set of color media. A foam molding system, characterized in that: 8. The foam molding system according to claim 1, wherein the visible image is divided into a first image portion and a second image portion, and the light absorbing pattern is: A foam molding system, which is formed on a surface of the base layer so as to avoid a region corresponding to the second image portion, and does not perform foaming in the second image portion of the foam layer. 9. The foam molding system according to claim 1, wherein the light-absorbing pattern is also formed in a non-image area of the surface of the base layer that does not correspond to the visible image. Has been
A foam molding system, wherein the foam layer is foamed even in the non-image area. 10. The foam molding system according to claim 1, wherein the base material layer is formed of a material that does not substantially transmit the light. Wherein the light irradiating means irradiates the light from the surface of the base material layer on both sides of the foamable sheet. 11. The foam molding system according to claim 1, wherein the base layer is formed of a material that substantially transmits the light, and the planar image is substantially formed. The foam molding system is formed of a light transmissive material, and wherein the light irradiating means irradiates the light from a surface side of the foam layer among both sides of the foam sheet. 12. A foam molding method for selectively foaming the foam layer in a foam sheet provided with a foam layer on a base material layer, thereby forming a semi-stereoscopic image, wherein: An image / pattern forming step comprising: a first step of forming a visible planar image on the surface of the layer; and a second step of forming a light absorbing pattern on the surface of the base layer; A light irradiating step of irradiating the sheet with light, wherein a semi-stereoscopic image is obtained by the foaming layer being selectively foamed and raised by heat generated by the light absorption pattern receiving the light. A foam molding method characterized by the above-mentioned. 13. A printed foamed shaping sheet used for shaping a semi-stereoscopic image, comprising: (a) a base layer having a light-absorbing pattern printed on one surface thereof; Provided on the other surface of the material layer, a foam layer having a planar image printed on the surface thereof, by irradiating the light absorbing pattern with light, the foam layer is selectively foamed and raised. A foamed sheet, wherein a semi-stereoscopic image is obtained thereby. 14. A foamed molded article obtained by selectively foaming the foamed layer in a foamable sheet having a foamed layer provided on a base material layer, wherein (a) a light-absorbing pattern is formed on one surface. And (b) provided on the other surface of the substrate layer, a visible image is provided on the surface, and a portion corresponding to the light-absorbing pattern is selectively foamed and raised. A foamed layer, which is a semi-stereoscopic image. 15. The foamed molded article according to claim 14, wherein the visible image is divided into a first image portion and a second image portion, and the light absorbing pattern corresponds to the second image portion. Wherein the second image portion of the foam layer is not foamed. 16. The foamed molded article according to claim 14, wherein the light-absorbing pattern is also formed in a non-image area on the surface of the base layer that does not correspond to the visible image. And
In addition, the foamed layer is foamed even in the non-image area.