JP2003521735A - Method of applying observation device - Google Patents

Abstract

  (57) [Summary] A method of applying an observation device to an overlapping image and thereby forming a special effect image, comprising: (a) preparing a medium having a printed overlapping image; (b) preparing an observation device; (C) applying a wetting liquid to at least one surface of the medium or the observation device; (d) covering the observation device with the medium while disposing the wetting liquid between the two; and (e). Positioning the observation device with the medium to obtain a special effect image; and (f) extruding the wetting liquid.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to methods of assembling layers for special effects images. In particular, it provides an alignment method used for lenticular lenses and black line screens that are overlaid on overlapping images.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Three-dimensional viewing of an image or picture is based on the phenomenon that a human can combine two dissimilar images of the same object visually and merge them into one image.
Historically, in order to achieve a 3D view, an observer has been required to wear filters or glasses that combine multiple images (ie, a combined stereo pair) and enhance distance perception. The goal is to achieve parallax simulation, a physical phenomenon that causes the observer to sense distance.

More recent developments have been placed on overlapping images to achieve autostereoscopic imaging,
It requires the use of lenticular lens sheet or barrier strip systems, also known as black line screens. The lenticular sheet and the black line screen are useful viewing devices (Vie) that can be mounted or laminated on the image to provide the optical devices needed to bring about the perception of distance (3D or stereoscopic images).
Wing Device).

The viewing device is also useful in achieving other high impact / special effects images, such as moving image type images that are visible to one eye. For example,
The flip-motion effect can be seen in a specially designed image, one image being observable at one angle and a different or second image being observable at different angles at the same time.

US Pat. No. 5,942,062 teaches a method of laminating two sheets together using a pair roller laminator with a low viscosity adhesive between the sheets.
The adhesive is hardened after the laminating process. A normal laminating method is, for example, a sheet (layer)
Various problems can be introduced, including trapped air between, poor coupling, or unwanted voids.

US Pat. No. 4,927,238 provides a method and apparatus for rendering a three-dimensional photographic image. The method of the '238 patent teaches that proper registration of rigid images can be accomplished through the use of various hardware, including bolts, springs, and nails. The '238 method and apparatus can tend to be rather laborious and time consuming for the operator. For semi-rigid images, the '238 patent teaches that photographic images and viewing screens can be sandwiched.

US Pat. No. 5,942,062 relates to a method of controlling the spread of low viscosity adhesive during lamination of sheets. This method is particularly useful for laminating an image to a lenticular array sheet to provide a three dimensional surface development.

US Pat. No. 5,959,718 teaches a method of aligning an image with a lenticular sheet. The lenticular sheet has lens elements that are distinct, distinct and adjacent to each other. The method of aligning a sheet with an image includes 1) directly sensing the position of a reference element on a lens sheet and 2) lenticular to an image receiving medium, each associated with a corresponding lens element, according to the sensed position of the reference element. It comprises drawing a part of the image.

The exact placement of the direct-applied viewing device on the image requires minimal distortion and maximum clarity,
Desirable to ensure that special effects images can be achieved. Conventional methods used in the industry generally present difficulties in viewing equipment and image registration. The image generally comprises a double stick adhesive and a release liner. The employee
One can peel off a portion of the liner, then register the image on the viewing device, peel off the rest of the liner, and then place the laminated assembly on the laminator. The final product is considered unacceptable and waste if the layers shift or are not exactly registered at the beginning. Unacceptable products are generally those that the observer has found to be unclear or unaesthetic. Moreover, if too much waste is produced, production efficiency and costs can be adversely affected. It would be advantageous to provide a method of aligning the viewing device that is flexible and easy to operate for the installer / worker and achieves accurate mounting of the viewing device with respect to the overlaid image.

SUMMARY In order to apply the viewing device accurately and easily to the overlaid image, providing the viewing device and the overlaid image, wetting the viewing device or either side of the image with a wetting liquid. A method is provided that includes the steps of aligning the viewing device with the overlay image and pushing the wetting liquid out of between the substrates.

One aspect of the invention is a method of applying a lenticular lens to overlapping images.

Another aspect of the invention is a method of applying a black line screen to an overlaid image.

As used herein, the following terms are intended to have the following meanings. "Overlapping image" means a composite image created using the process of overlaying thin slices or strips taken from a number of different images. A "registration mark" is a series of monochromatic lines with the same pitch as the overlapping image pitch. "Pitch" means the distance from a point on the edge of a line or lens to the corresponding point on the edge of the next line or lens measured perpendicular to the line or lens. For example,
Pitch can be measured by counting the number of lines or lenses per inch.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments The present invention provides a method of applying a viewing device to overlapping images to generate a special effects image. As used herein, a "special effect image" is, for example, 3D graphics, flip image, animation, motion, flip motion,
Or the image in the viewing device to produce a combination thereof (eg, via stacking)
Used to describe the type of graphic image achieved by assembling. The viewing device can be directly adjacent to the overlay image or separated from the overlay image by a spacer.

Advantageously, this method provides a process for applying and aligning the viewing device to the image and results in a high quality and clean special effect image. In order to achieve a high quality special effects image, the viewing device and the printed image should be precisely aligned and registered. It has been surprisingly found that high impact images with minimal distortion can be achieved by applying a dampening liquid before aligning the layers or components of the special effect image.

A further advantage of the adhesive-coated viewing device using a wetting liquid or the method of the invention of applying an image is that the assembled device does not cause flaws or markings during the assembly process. Therefore, the watermark is generally not visible after material (layer) alignment and adhesion. The method of the present invention is useful for a variety of imaging media including, for example, transparent or translucent images and opaque images. Conventional methods can adversely distort the image or result in marks that provide an unclear three-dimensional image. Distorted images are generally aesthetically unacceptable. The present invention's use of a liquid solution on a special effects imaging substrate having a water immiscible adhesive can substantially deliver the special effects image without detrimentally significantly distorted marks or bubbles. .

The registration method of the present invention provides a fairly flexible method for assembling special effects images. The method of the present invention is applicable to an assembly factory.
op) or from an automated manufacturing facility to a variety of locations and situations ranging from actual installation sites to manual implementations. Actual installation sites, which may have the potential for on-site installation, may include, for example, bus stops, vending machines, airport central halls, retail stores, shopping malls, theater break rooms, and the like. Advantageously,
The portability of the wetting liquid allows the invention to be practiced near any installation site, as long as the environmental conditions are fairly clean or the site can be separated from airborne debris.

The method of the present invention may be advantageously used for non-flat special effect images such as, for example, curvilinear 3D or flip images.

The overlay image is preferably printed on a substrate having a thickness in the range of about 0.002 inch to about 0.020 inch. The substrate is preferably a film. However, other suitable substrates for the method of the present invention include, for example, glass and paper. Overlay images can be screen printed, offset printed, photographs, static electricity, gravure,
Inkjet, digitization, thermocouple, electronic display,
It can be printed or deposited on the substrate by one of a variety of suitable methods, including lithographic, flexographic, electrophotographic or other conventional imaging methods.

The method of the present invention is useful for aligning a variety of viewing devices including, for example, black line screens, parallax simulating slit plates or strip barriers, or lenticular lenses. The lenticular sheet comprises a series of transparent lenses, each lens having a convex shape. A general lenticular lens has a semi-cylindrical shape. Alternatively, the lens is parabolic in shape. A preferred lenticular sheet teaches a lenticular lens suitable for registration with overlapping images to achieve a 3D effect, US Pat. No. 5,330,7.
No. 99. (Also, US Pat. No. 5,554,432 provides a lenticular lens sheet capable of providing an autostereoscopic image.) A suitable black line screen is described in US Reissue Patent Re. No. 35,029 and commonly assigned agent identification number 55231 USA1A. No. 002, US patent application.

Where the viewing device is a substrate with black lines, it is desirable to place at least one spacer between the imaged film and the black line screen substrate. Spacers are defined as visible light transmissive media. The spacer is (AS
It preferably has a light transmission of at least about 75% (based on TM D1003). The spacer functions as a gap that provides the distance (depth) between the image and the viewing device to achieve the flip or 3D effect. A suitable material for the spacer is Elf-Atochem S.L. under the trade name PLEXIGLAS. A. Is a thermoplastic polyethylene (methyl methacrylate) polymer product commercially available from. Other suitable materials that can be used as spacers include glass, acrylic materials or polycarbonate materials such as the product available from GE Plastics under the trade name LEXAN. Alternatively, the spacer may be the volume of air between the overlay image and the black line screen. In general, the amount of air or spacer thickness is a function of the viewing device pitch and the viewer's expected viewing distance from the special effects image.

Special effect image assemblies with lenticular lenses generally do not require spacers. This is due to the fact that lenticular lenses are specifically designed to allow viewing of certain angles of the image. Lenticular lenses can be thought of as having built-in or prefabricated spacers.

Any of the substrates to be aligned can be coated with a transparent adhesive. The coating step can be performed on-site at an installation site or assembler factory, or alternatively can be performed at a manufacturing facility to provide pre-coated substrates. The adhesive is preferably in the form of a precoat of a pressure sensitive adhesive that is hardened to a substrate that can provide adhesion and immobilization between the layers. More preferably, the adhesive is water immiscible to ensure that it mixes with the wetting fluid and does not migrate from the layers when performing the method of the present invention. A suitable adhesive is US Reissue Patent No. 24,9.
No. 06. The reissue patent teaches a pressure sensitive adhesive useful for sheet materials, which comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) made from an acrylic base.

In order to ensure the clarity of the assembled special effect image, it is desirable that the adhesive on the substrate be smooth. The substrate can be a medium that carries spacers, overlay images, viewing devices, or a combination thereof. The surface roughness of the PSA can be influenced by the release liner due to the close contact that the release liner has with the PSA.
Therefore, in order to achieve an optically clear special effect image, pre-coated P
It is preferred that the substrate with SA be provided with a release liner that provides low surface roughness. Very rough surfaces can lead to blurred images. The smoothness of the adhesive also ensures continuous contact between layers and good adhesion.

Quantitatively, the surface roughness of the release liner calculates the surface parameters that provide information about roughness and surface contours, the "RST Plus Surface Prof".
iling system (RST plus surface profiling system) "(RST Plus Technical Re
ference Manual, Wyko Corp. , April 1995 2nd, ed. 980-078 Rev. A). The substrate with precoated PSA preferably comprises a release liner having a surface roughness R _t of less than 15 μm, more preferably less than about 10 μm. A preferred material used as a release liner for PSA coated substrates is silicone coated polyester (PET).

In practicing the present invention, it is preferred and desirable that the surface of the overlapping images as well as the surrounding area be clean and free of foreign matter before aligning the viewing device with the images.

The component of this application method is a wetting liquid, which is applied between the layers of the special effect image. Aqueous mixing of the surfactant into water is preferably used as the wetting liquid in the process of the present invention. The surfactant is preferably a soft synthetic detergent. The surfactant is water whose balance is about 0.1% by weight (percentage by weight) to about 20% by weight.
Can be present in the solution at the level of. The wetting liquid preferably comprises from about 0.25% to about 15% by weight of the surfactant. More preferably, the wetting liquid comprises from about 0.5% to about 5% by weight of surfactant. Detergents (surfactants) containing oils, emollients, fragrances, dyes, etc. are undesirable as their components can result in application and / or adhesion problems. Therefore, it is preferred that the detergent used in the liquid be compatible with the adhesive used to adhere the components of the special effect image. Suitable detergents useful in the practice of the present invention include clear liquid (hand) dishwashing detergents such as the product available under the trade name JOY, available from Procter & Gamble (Cincinnati, Ohio).

In a preferred method of the invention, the wetting liquid is sprayed onto the image side of the film or substrate. Application of the mixture can be carried out by using conventional sprays. Alternatively, the wetting liquid can be cast onto the substrate. The imaging surface should be completely wet for optimal registration and positioning. More preferably, the imaging surface is entirely filled with wetting liquid. Once the imaging surface is totally wet, the viewing device can then be placed or positioned with respect to the overlapping image. Utilizing the slippery, moist surface, the user can then manipulate, adjust or reposition the viewing device to ensure maximum clarity and three-dimensional effect. For optimal stereoscopic images or 3D effects, the viewing device should match or be aligned with the overlay image. Accurate registration is achieved when the overlapping images are transformed into a special effect image that can be clearly seen. For example, in the case of an overlay image optionally having a black line screen and registration marks, proper registration is achieved when the registration marks appear either substantially opaque or substantially transparent.

It is generally preferred in the practice of the invention that the light source provides sufficient illumination to ensure proper alignment of the viewing device pitch to the registration mark of the overlaid image. The light source preferably projects light from behind the image, especially when the image is not opaque (ie translucent or transparent).

For black line screens, spacers can be positioned between the screen and the overlapping image substrate. Alternatively, the spacer may be pre-attached to or adjacent to either the media or the black line screen. As used herein, "adjacent" means that the surface between the medium and the spacer or the surface between the spacer and the black wire screen are in contact with, attached to, or mechanically connected to each other. Means The faces are preferably attached with an adhesive. In the case where a spacer is used, the alignment process using a wetting liquid aligns the viewing device with respect to the spacer as well as (in combination with the overlay image) to align the spacer with the overlay image. Can be implemented to

After alignment, the wetting liquid may be squeezed out of between the substrates by a squeegee, sponge or other force application device. Air bubbles are trapped between the substrates and pins or other sharp, rounded and pointed tools can be used to punch the film. The trapped air or wetting liquid can then be extruded. Alternatively, the trapped air or liquid can be moved by blowing an area and squeezing it out with a quick squeegee or sponge stroke.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (81) Designated countries EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, I T, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE), OA (BF, BJ , CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG), AP (GH, GM, K E, LS, MW, MZ, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG , ZW), EA (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), AE, AG, AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, CA, C H, CN, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, DZ , EE, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, K G, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT , LU, LV, MA, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MZ, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, S D, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR , TT, TZ, UA, UG, UZ, VN, YU, ZA, ZW (72) Inventor Morris, Terry El.             Minnesota 55133-3427, USA,             St. Paul, Pea. Oh. Box             33427 (72) Inventor Oden, James L.             Minnesota 55133-3427, USA,             St. Paul, Pea. Oh. Box             33427 F term (reference) 2H059 AB11

Claims (22)

[Claims] 1. A method for applying a viewing device to an overlapping image, thereby forming a special effect image, comprising: a) providing a medium having a printed overlapping image; b) providing an viewing device; c. ) Applying a wetting liquid to at least one surface of the medium or the observing device, d) covering the observing device with the medium while arranging the wetting liquid between them, and e) positioning the observing device with the medium. A special effect image is obtained together, and f) the wetting liquid is extruded. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising g) an intermediate step of applying an adhesive to the surface of the medium, wherein step g) is performed before applying the wetting liquid. 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising g) an intermediate step of applying an adhesive to the surface of the viewing device, wherein step g) is performed before applying the wetting liquid. . 4. The method further comprises: g) an intermediate step of applying an adhesive to the surface of the medium and the surface of the viewing device, wherein the surfaces to which the adhesive is applied are placed in contact with each other, step g). The method of claim 1, wherein is performed before applying the wetting liquid. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the viewing device is a black line screen. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the viewing device is a lenticular screen. 7. A method for applying a black line screen observation device to an overlapping image, thereby forming a special effect image, comprising: a) preparing a medium having a printed overlapping image; and b) preparing a spacer. , C) a black line screen observation device is prepared, d) a wetting liquid is applied to the first surface, which is the surface of the medium or the surface of the spacer, and e) the wetting liquid is arranged between the two, and the medium is arranged. Is contacted with the spacer, f) a wetting liquid is applied to the surface of the spacer or the second surface which is the surface of the black line screen, and g) the wetting liquid is arranged between the two to place the spacer in the black color. Contacting a line screen, h) aligning the viewing device with the medium to obtain a special effect image, i) between the medium and the spacer, and between the spacer and the black line screen. Push out wetting liquid , Method. 8. A method of applying a black line screen observing device to an overlapping image, thereby forming a special effect image, comprising: a) providing a medium having a printed overlapping image and adjacent to a spacer, b) preparing a black line screen observation device, c) applying a wetting liquid to the surface of the spacer or at least one surface which is the surface of the observation device, and d) placing the wetting liquid between the spacers. With the black line screen, e) aligning the viewing device with the medium to obtain a special effect image, and f) extruding the wetting liquid between the spacer and the black line screen. 9. A method of applying a black line screen observing device to an overlapping image, thereby forming a special effect image, comprising: a) providing a medium having a printed overlapping image; b) adjoining a spacer. A black line screen observation device is prepared, c) a wetting liquid is applied to at least one surface which is the surface of the medium or the surface of the spacer, and d) the wetting liquid is arranged between the two, and the medium is the spacer. And e) aligning the viewing device with the medium to obtain a special effect image, and f) extruding the wetting liquid between the medium and the spacer. 10. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: j) an intermediate step of applying an adhesive to the surface of the medium, wherein step j) is performed before applying the wetting liquid to the first surface. 7. The method according to 7. 11. The method further comprises: j) an intermediate step of applying an adhesive to the surface of the viewing device, wherein step j) is performed before applying the wetting liquid to the second surface. Item 7. The method according to Item 7. 12. The method of claim 7, further comprising: j) an intermediate step of applying an adhesive to the surface of the spacer, wherein step j) is performed before applying the wetting liquid. 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the medium is pre-coated with an adhesive. 14. The observation device is pre-coated with an adhesive, as claimed in claims 1 and 7.
The method according to any one of 1. 15. The method of claim 7, wherein the spacer is pre-coated on at least one side with an adhesive. 16. The method of any one of claims 13, 14 and 15, wherein the adhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive. 17. The method of claim 7, wherein the overlay image comprises registration mark borders. 18. The method of claim 7, wherein the wetting liquid comprises water and a surfactant. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the surfactant is present in the wetting liquid at about 0.1% to about 20% by weight. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the surfactant is present in the wetting liquid at about 0.25% to about 15% by weight. 21. The method of claim 18, wherein the surfactant is present in the wetting liquid at about 0.5% to about 5% by weight. 22. The method of claim 7, wherein the black line screen comprises a polyester film.