JP2004148842A - Image data-producing device, method for recording image, and method for producing image data - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image-recording device capable of improving precision of a printing position when a plurality of images are to be printed by deviding them. <P>SOLUTION: An image data-producing device comprises an image-inputting means 1706 to input a plurality of images, a positioning means 2901 to position, on a specified partial image in one of the plurality of images, partial images corresponding to the specified partial image in the remaining images among the plurality of images, and an image data format conversion means 1703 to divide each of the positioned images to specified areas and arrange them in a specified arrangement to produce images for a moving image printer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

  The present invention relates to image data generation and the like that can present different images depending on a viewing direction, for example, printing a plurality of images on the back of a lenticular sheet.

  Conventionally, in order to make pictures and photographs look three-dimensional, it has been known that a lenticular sheet made up of a plurality of lens-shaped lenses is pasted on a picture or picture printed for the left and right eyes. Has been. As shown in FIG. 22, the images A1, A2,. . . And images B1, B2,. . . Is printed through the above-mentioned lenticular sheet 2001 affixed thereon in a stripe shape, and A1, A2,. . . Image appears in the eyes, and B1, B2,. . . Can be seen three-dimensionally in the eyes.

  Here, in order to make the image look three-dimensional with high accuracy, the left-eye image and the right-eye image to be printed need to match the positions of the lenses of the lenticular sheet 2001. However, since the lenticular sheet 2001 is usually manufactured by heat-molding a plate made of vinyl chloride or the like, the width, the lens pitch, and the like of each lens differ due to a temperature change after the manufacture. Also, when printing a picture with a printer or the like, high printing accuracy is required.

As a technique for solving the above problems, for example, an invention described in Patent Document 1 has been proposed. In this method, when printing a striped image, printing is performed using the detected position while detecting the position of the lenticular sheet by an optical method.
JP-A-6-340099

  However, in the above-described method, when the position of the lenticular sheet is shifted with respect to the position of the print head, or the direction in which the lenticular sheet is shifted with respect to the feed direction by, for example, one lens pitch, the picture printed by the print head is shifted. Does not coincide with the lens position of the lenticular sheet, that is, the lens and the picture are shifted. In particular, in order to print a moving image using not only a stereoscopic picture but also three or more pictures (see FIG. 23), the position and direction of the lenticular sheet must be adjusted more precisely. There is a problem that.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image data generation apparatus and the like that can improve the accuracy of a printing position when a plurality of images are divided and printed in consideration of such a problem in a conventional printed matter such as a lenticular sheet. Is what you do.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image input means for inputting a plurality of images, and a predetermined portion of a remaining image among the plurality of images at a position of a predetermined partial image of one of the plurality of input images. Alignment means for adjusting the position of a partial image corresponding to an image, and image data format conversion means for generating an image for a moving image printer by dividing each of the aligned images into predetermined regions and arranging them in a predetermined arrangement And an image data generation device comprising: Thereby, regardless of the viewing angle, even if the target object changes, it can be seen at the same position, so that an easy-to-view image can be obtained.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image input means for inputting a plurality of images, and a predetermined portion of a remaining image among a plurality of images at a position of a predetermined partial image of one of the plurality of input images. Alignment means for adjusting the position of a partial image corresponding to an image, and image deformation processing for generating a predetermined number of intermediate deformed images that transition between the images based on the plurality of aligned images by digital arithmetic processing Means, for some or all of the aligned plurality of images and the generated deformed image, divide each of the images into predetermined regions, and correspond to the order of the aligned plurality of images and the deformed image An image data generating apparatus comprising: an image data format conversion unit that generates a print image by arranging the print image in a predetermined arrangement; and an image print unit that prints the generated print image. . Regardless of the viewing angle, even if the object is deformed, it can be seen at the same position, so that an easy-to-view image is obtained.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image input unit for inputting a plurality of images, a selection unit for selecting a predetermined number of images including the order from the input images, and an image selected and determined by the selection unit. Order information adding means for adding a number, a symbol, or an image representing the order of each image to each selected image, and dividing each image from the order information adding means into a predetermined area and arranging them in a predetermined arrangement corresponding to the order And an image data format conversion unit for generating an image for a moving image printer. This makes it possible to clearly grasp the order of the images, such as when editing the images.

  The present invention has an advantage that the accuracy of the printing position when a plurality of images are divided and printed can be improved.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. That is, the image recording apparatus is provided with a lenticular sheet holder 104 as a lenticular sheet holder for holding a lenticular sheet 101 having a plurality of cylindrical lenses 109 (hereinafter simply referred to as lenses) formed on one surface. A ball screw 113 and a drive unit 112 for moving the lenticular sheet holder 104 in the direction of the arrow are provided. On the lenticular sheet holding body 104, a flexible layer 105 for preventing deformation and the like when the lenticular sheet 101 is placed is provided, and a regulating member 106 and a pressing member 107 for accurately holding the lenticular sheet 101 are provided. Is provided. The regulating member 106 is fixed on the lenticular sheet holder 104. There is a gap between the flexible layer 105 and the regulating member 106 and the pressing member 107 to prevent the flexible layer 105 from being deformed by the pressing of the pressing member 107. For example, a rubber (NBR or the like) having a hardness of 20 to 60 degrees and a thickness of 1 to 5 mm may be used as the flexible layer 105, and a surface having a low friction coefficient is obtained by including a fluoropolymer material on the surface. The lenticular sheet 101 can be smoothly moved by the pressing of the pressing member 107. The pressing member 107 is urged by using, for example, a solenoid 108 or the like.

  Further, a thermal head 102 for printing an image and an ink sheet 103 coated with a sublimable dye are provided on the back of the lenticular sheet 101, and image data is sent to the thermal head 102 from a print data processing unit 110. come. The print data processing unit 110 and the above-described drive unit 112 are connected to a recording control unit 111 that controls the feeding of the lenticular sheet 101 and the timing of print data. A roller 114 is provided to prevent the lenticular sheet 101 from sticking and lifting when the thermal head 102 is lifted after printing.

  Here, the thermal head 102, the ink sheet 103, and the like constitute recording means, the driving unit 112, the ball screw 113, and the like constitute a moving mechanism, and the regulating member 106, the pressing member 107, and the like constitute a positioning mechanism.

  FIG. 2 is a view of the lenticular sheet 101 as viewed from the lens 109 side. One end surface of the lenticular sheet 101 is formed with a surface 115 as a predetermined surface that contacts the regulating member 106. By holding this surface 115 against the regulating member 106 and pressing it from the opposite surface 116 with the pressing member 107, the holding position can be accurately determined. Here, the thickness of the lenticular sheet 101, the size and the number of the lenses 109, and the like are schematically illustrated, and are actually on the order of mm or less. This is the same in the following embodiments.

  In the present embodiment, the lenticular sheet 101 is placed on the flexible layer 105 of the lenticular sheet holder 104 with the surface 115 facing the regulating member 106, and pressed by the pressing member 107 from the surface 116, so that the lenticular sheet 101 is The lenticular sheet holding member 104 is held at a predetermined position. Since the predetermined position is determined in advance, the subsequent printing operation can be easily and accurately controlled.

  In the first embodiment, the surface 115 contacting the regulating member 106 is cut out by using the end of the lenticular sheet. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a groove shape may be used. Any shape may be used as long as it has a surface that can fix the holding position when pressed by the pressing member 107. When the surface 115 is manufactured, the surface may be formed by compression molding at the same time when the lenticular sheet is integrally molded.

  In the first embodiment, the lenticular sheet is held in a direction in which the longitudinal direction of the lens is perpendicular to the feed direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the longitudinal direction of the lenticular sheet is parallel to the feed direction. It may be held in the direction.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the flexible layer 105 is provided up to the lower side of the pressing member 107. However, instead of this, for example, as shown in FIG. The size of the lenticular sheet 101 may be slightly smaller than that of the lenticular sheet 101, and the pressing member 107 may be directly above the lenticular sheet holder 104.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, between the moving mechanism including the driving unit 112 and the ball screw 113 and the lenticular sheet holder 104, a rotation mechanism 303 for rotating the lenticular sheet holder 104, and a lenticular sheet holder A ball screw 305 and a drive unit 304 for moving the 104 together with the rotating mechanism 303 in a direction perpendicular to the feed direction by the moving mechanism are provided. In addition, a light emitting unit 301 as a light irradiating unit that irradiates light toward the lenticular sheet 101 is provided above an end of the lenticular sheet holding body 104, and a light receiving unit that receives light from the light emitting unit 301 is provided below. Are disposed. The light emitting unit 301 and the light receiving unit 302 constitute angle detection means. In the present embodiment, the above-described angle detection means, rotation mechanism 303, and the like constitute a positioning mechanism.

  Here, the operation of the image recording apparatus of the present embodiment will be described. First, the lenticular sheet 101 is held on the flexible layer 105 of the lenticular sheet holder 104 with the longitudinal direction of the lens being perpendicular to the feed direction. You. Then, the drive unit 304 is driven to rotate the ball screw 305 and move the lenticular sheet holding body 104 as shown by the double-headed arrow in FIG. Therefore, the lenticular sheet 101 held thereon also moves. At this time, light is emitted from the light emitting unit 301, and light transmitted through the lenticular sheet 101 is received by the light receiving unit 302. Here, by detecting the change in the light along with the amount of movement of the lenticular sheet 101, it is possible to determine how much the longitudinal direction of the lens of the lenticular sheet 101 forms an angle with the direction perpendicular to the direction of feed by the moving mechanism. That is, since the detection value of the light receiving unit 302 periodically changes each time the lens crosses an adjacent lens, the above angle can be detected by knowing the lens pitch and the amount of movement when a change of one cycle is detected.

  Next, based on the angle detected as described above, if the rotating mechanism 303 is controlled to rotate the lenticular sheet holding body 104, the longitudinal direction of the lens of the lenticular sheet 101 and the moving direction by the moving mechanism are determined. Be vertical. When the direction of the lenticular sheet 101 is corrected, the drive unit 304 returns the lenticular sheet holder 104 to the initial position, and the positioning operation for the lenticular sheet 101 ends. Then, the printing operation is performed while rotating the ball screw 113 by the driving unit 112 and feeding the lenticular sheet 101.

  In the second embodiment, the lenticular sheet 101 is set so that the longitudinal direction of the lens is perpendicular to the feed direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. May be set so that the longitudinal direction is parallel to the feed direction. In this case, since the movement for detecting the angle is the same as the feed direction, the movement by the drive unit 304 is not necessary. Therefore, when the lenticular sheet 101 is held only in a direction in which the longitudinal direction of the lens is parallel to the feed direction, the moving mechanism in the direction perpendicular to the feed direction by the moving mechanism can be omitted. is there.

  Further, in the second embodiment, the light emitting unit 301 and the light receiving unit 302 are arranged on the opposite sides with respect to the lenticular sheet 101. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. The configuration may be such that the unit 301 and the light receiving unit 302 are arranged on the same side of the lenticular sheet 101, and the reflection member 401 is provided on the opposite side to the lenticular sheet 101.

  Further, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5A, if the deviation angle of the lenticular sheet 101 is small, even if the lenticular sheet 101 is moved from one end to the other end, it is sufficient. In some cases, it is not possible to detect the deviation angle because no change in the detection output is obtained. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5B, if the lenticular sheet 101 is rotated by a predetermined angle or more by the rotation mechanism and then the angle detection operation is performed, the light detection value changes over the lenses. Since it appears, the angle to be rotated can be accurately obtained from the movement amount L.

  As the angle detecting means, instead of the light emitting unit 301, the light receiving unit 302, the rotating mechanism 303, etc., the surface of the flexible layer 105 of the lenticular sheet holder 104 (the surface on which the lenticular sheet 101 is placed) as shown in FIG. Means for forming a line pattern 601 and detecting moire fringes formed when the lenticular sheet 101 is placed is provided. If there is an inclination between the line pattern and the direction of the lens, moire fringes are generated, and the angle can be detected by observing the moire fringes with an image sensor or a camera.

  Further, as the angle detecting means, an unevenness detecting means 701 having a probe 702 as shown in FIG. 7 may be used instead of the light emitting unit 301, the light receiving unit 302, the rotating mechanism 303, and the like. This is because the tip of the probe 702 urged upward with a constant force as shown by the arrow is brought into contact with the groove between the lenses of the lenticular sheet 101, and the lenticular sheet 101 is moved. This is performed by detecting the movement of the probe 702 at that time. The tip of the probe 702 always moves along one groove between the lenses, which makes the probe come into contact first, like a record needle for the movement of the lenticular sheet 101. If the direction of the lenticular sheet 101 is deviated from the feeding direction by the moving mechanism, the lenticular sheet 101 rotates in a plane parallel to the surface of the lenticular sheet 101. it can. In this case, even if the rotation of the probe 702 in the vertical direction (the direction perpendicular to the above-described in-plane direction) is detected, the angle of the displacement can be detected in the same manner as described above. is there.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of a lenticular sheet in an image recording apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 described above, the regulating member 106 and the pressing member 107 for positioning the lenticular sheet 101 are one set, but in the present embodiment, two sets of The regulating members 801 and 803 and the pressing members 802 and 804 are arranged. Other basic configurations are the same as those in FIG. That is, in the present embodiment, the pressing member 802 of the pressing force F1 corresponds to the regulating member 801 in the same direction as the feeding direction by the moving mechanism, and the regulating member 803 corresponds to the direction perpendicular to the feeding direction. On the other hand, the pressing member 804 of the pressing force F2 corresponds, and accurate positioning can be performed in both the feed direction by the moving mechanism and the direction perpendicular to the feed direction.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 9A, when the longitudinal direction of the lens of the lenticular sheet 101 is perpendicular to the feed direction by the moving mechanism, it is necessary to eliminate the displacement in the feed direction. It is made larger than the pressure F2. In this case, F2 may be set to 0. At that time, F2 is set to 0 after being once pressed with the pressing force F2. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9B, when the longitudinal direction of the lens of the lenticular sheet 101 is parallel to the moving direction by the moving mechanism, it is necessary to eliminate the displacement in the direction perpendicular to the moving direction. F2 is made larger than the pressing force F1. Since the mechanism for adjusting the pressing forces F1 and F2 to increase or decrease becomes complicated, F2 is set to be larger than F1 from the beginning, and in the case of F1> F2 in FIG. Can be easily realized by setting F2 to 0 after pressing with F2.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a planar heater 1002 as a heating means is provided on the back of the lenticular sheet holder 1003, and a pressure roller 1001 for pressing the lenticular sheet 101 against the flexible layer 1004 of the lenticular sheet holder 1003 is provided. I have. Further, in order to read the lens pitch of the lenticular sheet 101, a light emitting unit 301 and a light receiving unit 302 are provided as lens pitch reading means, and the amount of heat generated by the heater 1002 is controlled according to the lens pitch read by the lens pitch reading means. A heater control unit 1005 is provided. The moving mechanism, recording means, and the like of the lenticular sheet holder 1003 are basically the same as those in the above-described embodiment, and thus are omitted here.

  As described in the above conventional example, since the lenticular sheet is manufactured by heating and molding vinyl chloride, variations occur in the lens pitch and the like. For this reason, a gap occurs between the heating element pitch of the thermal head and the heating element pitch. Further, if the feed pitch by the moving mechanism is fixed, a deviation from the lens pitch also occurs. Therefore, in the present embodiment, in order to obtain a desired lens pitch, the degree of heating of the lenticular sheet 101 is controlled by feeding back the value of the lens pitch read by the light emitting unit 301 and the light receiving unit 302. Further, the lenticular sheet 101 is pressed against the flexible layer 1004 from the back surface of the lenticular sheet 101 by the pressing roller 1001 so that heating is performed uniformly as a whole.

  In the fourth embodiment, the light emitting unit 301 and the light receiving unit 302 are used as the pitch reading unit. However, the present invention is not limited to this. If the lens pitch can be read, another method such as a contact method may be used. May be used.

  In the fourth embodiment, the lenticular sheet 101 is described as holding the longitudinal direction of the lens perpendicular to the feed direction. However, the lenticular sheet 101 is held parallel to the feed direction. May be. In that case, the lens pitch reading means may be adjusted to that direction.

  In the fourth embodiment, the lens pitch is read to control the degree of heating. However, if the relationship between the lens pitch and the temperature is determined within an allowable range, the lens pitch reading means and the heater control are controlled. The temperature of the lenticular sheet holder 1003 may be maintained at a desired constant temperature without using the part 1005.

  In the fourth embodiment, the lens pitch is read and the degree of heating is controlled in accordance with the lens pitch to control the heating of the lenticular sheet. Instead, instead of reading the lens pitch, the heating is controlled in accordance with the lens pitch. The entire length of the lenticular sheet may be read, and the degree of heating may be controlled based on the read entire length.

  FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment is different from the fourth embodiment in that two lenticular sheet holders 1003a and 1003b having heating heaters 1002a and 1002b, respectively, are provided. As a result, it is possible to prevent the time for heating the lenticular sheet 101 (1 minute or more), and thus the waiting time from becoming long. That is, the printing of the lenticular sheet 101a is completed by heating the lenticular sheet 101b on the flexible layer 1004b of the lenticular sheet holder 1003b while printing the lenticular sheet 101a on the flexible layer 1004a of the lenticular sheet holder 1003a. Then, when printing the lenticular sheet 101b next time, only a short waiting time is required.

  FIG. 12 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a thermal head tilting mechanism that can mount the thermal head 102 at an angle with respect to a direction perpendicular to the feed direction of the moving mechanism is provided. As a result, as shown in FIG. 12, the pitch of the heating elements 1201 can be made variable with respect to the lens pitch of the lenticular sheet 101, and the heating element pitch of the thermal head 102 can be adjusted so that the lens pitch ΔN (N is 2 or more). If the value is larger than an integer, correction is possible.

  FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, first, the ball screw 113 is driven by the driving unit 112 to move the lenticular sheet holder 104, and the lens pitch of the lenticular sheet 101 is read by the lens pitch reading unit 1301.

  The lens pitch reading means 1301 may be of an optical type as shown in FIG. 10 described above, or as shown in FIG. 15 (a), a projection 1503 provided at a side end of a lenticular sheet 1501 and a position. A combination of the detecting means 1504 may be used. In this case, as shown in FIG. 15B, a convex portion is formed at a notch 1502 at the end of the lenticular sheet 1501 at a pitch (here, 1) which is a fraction of the lens pitch. As shown in FIG. 15A, it is possible to detect the lens pitch or the position by moving the lenticular sheet 1501 by bringing the tip of the probe 1505 of the position detecting means 1504 into contact with the notch 1502. It becomes possible.

  When the lens portion is read by an optical method or the like, a detection output as shown in FIG. 16A is obtained, but in the above method, as shown in FIG. Is obtained, it may be used not only for reading the lens pitch but also for position detection, and the accuracy of position detection is improved.

  After reading the lens pitch of the lenticular sheet 101, the recording control unit 1302 causes the drive unit 112 and the print data processing unit 110 to perform a printing operation in response to a command using the read lens pitch. Thereby, recording can be performed at a desired position on the lenticular sheet 101.

  In the seventh embodiment, the recording operation is performed by directly reading the lens pitch. However, instead of the lens pitch reading unit, a temperature detecting unit that detects the temperature of the lenticular sheet 101 is provided, and the lenticular sheet 101 is provided. The lens pitch may be estimated from the temperature of 101, and the recording operation may be performed based on the estimated lens pitch. In this case, the temperature detecting means may be a contact type or a non-contact type, and the temperature of the lenticular sheet 101 may not be directly detected. For example, if it is possible to estimate the lens pitch such as the room temperature, the internal temperature of the apparatus, and the temperature of the lenticular sheet holder 104, the temperature of other parts may be detected.

  FIG. 14A is a partial configuration diagram showing the vicinity of a thermal head in an image recording apparatus according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment is different from the seventh embodiment in that the printing operation is performed after the lens pitch is once read in the seventh embodiment, but the lens of the lenticular sheet 101 is changed in the present embodiment. The point is that an image printing operation is performed based on the read position while the position is read by the position detecting unit constituted by the light emitting unit 301 and the light receiving unit 302. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14A, the lens position is detected as close as possible to the thermal head 102 using the reflection member 401.

  Further, in this embodiment, when performing the printing operation twice or three or more times on the same lenticular sheet in the case of color printing, the second and subsequent times are performed using the lens position detected at the time of the first printing. By performing the above printing operation, the color shift can be reduced.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 14B, the position detecting means is arranged such that the reflecting member 401 is inclined so as to reflect the light emitted from the light emitting unit 301 in the original direction, and the position at which the light returns. The light receiving section 302 may be arranged at the bottom.

  Further, as the position detecting means, the above-described method based on contact shown in FIG. 15 may be used.

  In the above embodiments, the moving mechanism is configured using the driving unit and the ball screw. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and another method such as a linear motor method may be used.

  Further, in the above-described embodiments, a thermal head and an ink sheet of a sublimable dye are used for the recording means, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other printing methods such as thermal transfer and ink jet may be used.

  In the above embodiments, the lenticular sheet is moved relative to the recording unit. However, the recording unit and the lenticular sheet may be moved relatively, and the lenticular sheet is moved relative to the lenticular sheet. May of course be moved.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, the lenticular sheet has a planar shape. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the lenticular sheet holder may be a rotating drum, and the lenticular sheet may have an arcuate curved surface.

  FIG. 17 is a configuration diagram of an image data generation device according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention. The image data generating apparatus 1701 stores, for example, an image storage unit 1702 that stores a plurality of images input from an image input unit 1706 such as a camera, and selects or selects a predetermined number of images from the stored plurality of images. Selection instruction input means 1705 for deciding an image, image display means 1704 for reducing and displaying a plurality of images stored in the image storage means 1702 and displaying the selected image in a time-division manner, and selection instruction input means An image data format converter 1703 converts the image determined by 1705 into data and outputs it to the moving image printer 1707. The selection instruction input unit 1705 includes a selection instruction unit and an image determination unit. Here, the multi-display unit also serves as the image display unit 1704, but the multi-display unit may be provided separately.

  Next, the operation of the image data generation device of the ninth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, a plurality of, for example, 16 images are input from the image input unit 1706 and stored in the image storage unit 1702. As shown in FIG. 18A, the accumulated 16 images are reduced and displayed in multiple on the image display unit 1704. Looking at the multi-display screen 1801, the user selects six images which are considered appropriate from the sixteen images 1802 by using the selection instruction input means 1705, in this example, six images.

  Next, when six images are selected, the multi-display screen of the image display means 1704 is switched to a time-division display screen as shown in FIG. 18B, and the selected images 1802 are sequentially displayed at fixed time intervals. Will be displayed. At this time, a frame display 1803 indicating the number of images being displayed on the side of the display image 1802 is performed. Thus, the appearance of the selected image as a moving image can be confirmed, so that the image to be selected can be changed and the image most suitable for the scene can be selected.

  Next, when the selected optimum image is determined by the selection instruction input unit 1705, the determined six images are output to the image data format conversion unit 1703. The image data format converter 1703 converts the six images into image data for the moving image printer 1707. The moving image printer 1707 prints on a lenticular sheet such as the above-described image recording apparatus of the present invention, and the conversion of image data will be described here for the sake of simplicity. As shown in FIG. 20, considering three images 20a, 20b, and 20c in which black circles move from left to right, the three images are divided into stripes so as to correspond to each lens of the lenticular sheet. Then, as shown in FIG. 21, a synthesized image 21 is generated by arranging each of the divided striped images in the order of the images. By outputting this image data to the moving image printer 1707 and printing the image data on a lenticular sheet, it is possible to create a picture, a photograph, or the like that can be seen moving by changing the viewing direction.

  In the ninth embodiment, an example in which image data is printed on a lenticular sheet has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and after printing on a normal sheet or the like, a lenticular lens may be attached from above.

  In the ninth embodiment, the number of images to be selected is six, but the number of selected images is not limited to this.

  In the ninth embodiment, printing is performed on a lenticular sheet. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is also applicable to a format in which a plurality of images can be viewed using a slit or the like. Further, the present invention may be applied to lens sheets corresponding to both vertical and horizontal directions.

  FIG. 19 is a configuration diagram of an image data generation device according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention. The image data generating apparatus includes an image input unit 1706 for inputting an image, an image recognition unit 1901 for recognizing the image input from the image input unit 1706 and performing matching with reference model data 1902 stored in advance. A transformation combining unit 1904 that transforms and combines the output of the image recognition unit 1901 using the reference model data transformation rule 1905 to combine a plurality of images whose state transitions, and an interval designating unit that designates a state transition interval. 1903, an image data format conversion unit 1703 that converts a plurality of images output from the transformation synthesis unit 1904 into image data for printing, and a printing unit 1906 that prints output data of the image data format conversion unit 1703. I have. Here, the image data format conversion means 1703 is the same as that shown in FIG. The image recognizing unit 1901, the reference model data 1902, the deformation synthesizing unit 1904, and the reference model data deformation rule 1905 constitute an image deformation processing unit.

  In the present embodiment, for example, two or more images input from the image input unit 1706, or two or more different images among one or more input images and one or more images recorded in advance, The recognizing unit 1901 uses the reference model data to perform recognition, and the transformation / synthesis unit 1904 uses the reference model data transformation rule 1905 to intermediately transition between the two recognized images (gradual transition between the two images). Are synthesized. The plurality of images to be synthesized are usually generated by interpolating two images at regular intervals. In this case, if two extremely different images are interpolated at regular intervals, such as when combining an intermediate image of a horse and a human face, the intermediate image may become unnatural. Therefore, if an interval to be interpolated is designated by the interval designating means 1903 and a change is made, an intermediate image having a natural feeling can be synthesized. At this time, the number of intermediate images to be combined may be determined based on the number of intermediate images to be combined with the number of images to be printed, and the required number of intermediate images may be combined. , May be selected after the combination.

  Further, assuming that the number of images to be printed is six, the gradually changing six images are divided into stripes, and the order in which the images change to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 as shown in FIG. When the eyes are moved from position 1 to position 6, the image suddenly changes from position 1 "to position 6" to 1 "(1 and 1" is the same image divided), causing a sense of incongruity. In this embodiment, in order to prevent this, it is possible to print 5, 6 as 3, 2 so that the order in which the divided images are arranged is, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2. In this way, the change in the image can be observed without discomfort like 1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 1, 2,.

  In the tenth embodiment, the interval specifying means 1903 is provided to change the interpolation interval. However, this may not be provided. In this case, if a part of the plurality of intermediate images interpolated and synthesized at equal intervals is selected, it is possible to obtain an image having non-equal intervals.

  Next, a recording method according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  A lens sheet (lenticular sheet) was produced by forming a lenticular lens on one surface of vinyl chloride by compression molding.

  Also, a titanium oxide (R-42, Sakai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) is mixed with a copolymer of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate (S-Lec A, Sekisui Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) at a weight ratio of 1: 2, and dissolved and dispersed in a solvent. A paint was prepared. This coating material was applied on the other surface of a 6 μm-thick PET film having a heat-resistant lubricating layer on the back surface, and dried to obtain a white sheet having a 3 μm-thick white layer.

  Using this white sheet and the above lens sheet, an image was formed by transferring a dye by thermal transfer to the surface of the lens sheet opposite to the lens as described in the above embodiment. Next, the white sheet is superimposed on the surface of the lens sheet on which the image is recorded, sandwiched between the thermal head and the platen, and a recording signal is applied to the thermal head so that a part of the white layer of the white sheet is placed on the lens sheet. Was heat-transferred.

  When the image of the lens sheet obtained as described above was viewed from the lens surface, the image that had been viewed through transmission could be viewed as an image due to reflection with good contrast. The white layer transferred to the lens sheet was well adhered to the lens sheet, and was not easily peeled off even with a cellophane tape.

  In the eleventh embodiment, titanium oxide is used as a white pigment. However, the white pigment is not limited to this, and has a white color such as barium sulfate, calcium carbonate, gypsum, and silica. Any pigment can be used. In the case of using titanium oxide, a rutile type having a larger coloring and hiding power than an anatase type is preferable.

  The mixing ratio between the resin of the white layer and the white pigment is such that if the amount of the white pigment is small, the whiteness of the white layer is reduced, and if the amount of the white pigment is large, it is difficult to form the resin layer. The mixing weight ratio is desirably 0.5 to 5 parts of a white pigment with respect to 1 part of the resin.

  As for the thickness of the white layer, if the thickness is small, the amount of light transmitted from the back surface of the white layer becomes too large. If the thickness is too large, curling of the film at the time of coating on the PET film becomes a problem. The thickness of the white layer is desirably 0.5 μm to 50 μm.

  Note that an adhesive layer may be further formed on the white layer so that it can be fixed to another object. If the adhesive layer itself is white, the white layer can be omitted, or the adhesive layer may be formed directly on the recording layer on which an image is printed.

  Further, an image may be formed by transferring a dye by thermal transfer to be superimposed on the surface of the white layer formed as described above. That is, after recording an image of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) on the surface opposite to the lens of the sheet, transferring a white layer, and further recording by Y, M, and C. Do. For this recording, for example, an ink sheet of Y, M, C, a white layer, and a fusible ink is used.

  When the sheet obtained as described above is observed from the lens surface, an image that changes depending on the viewing angle can be seen. When this is observed from the lens back surface, the same image can be seen regardless of the viewing angle. .

  FIG. 24 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of an image recording apparatus according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in FIG. 1 in that a holding member 117 is provided instead of the roller 114 for pressing the lenticular sheet 101 from above, and the pressing member 107 is indicated by a dotted line. The point is that you can retreat. Here, the size of the flexible layer 105 is set slightly smaller than the size of the lenticular sheet 101 in the sheet feeding direction. Other configurations and operations are the same as those in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, after pressing the predetermined surface 115 of the lenticular sheet 101 against the regulating member 106 by the pressing member 107, the lenticular sheet 101 is sandwiched by the lenticular sheet holder 104 by the sandwiching member 117. After fixing the lenticular sheet 101 by this pinching, the pressing member 107 is retracted as shown by a dotted line.

  This makes it difficult for the lenticular sheet 101 to be displaced. When the lenticular sheet 101 has a small thickness, the pressing force of the pressing member 107 cannot be increased because the rigidity of the lenticular sheet 101 is low. However, no deviation occurs even in such a case. Further, at the time of recording, since the pressing member 107 is not located at the place where the lenticular sheet 101 is pressed, recording can be performed up to the rear end of the lenticular sheet 101, and the thermal head 102 does not hit the pressing member 107, so that the degree of freedom of movement is reduced. spread.

  Further, as a modification of the image recording apparatus using the holding member according to the present embodiment, a configuration as shown in FIG. 25 can be considered. This is provided with a lenticular sheet storage body 118 for storing a plurality of lenticular sheets and a lenticular sheet supply means 119 for supplying the lenticular sheet to the lenticular sheet holder 104. The lenticular sheet supply means 119 controls the pressing member. It has a dual configuration. That is, the lenticular sheet supply unit 119 pushes out the stored lenticular sheet and supplies the lenticular sheet onto the lenticular sheet holder 104, and then presses the lenticular sheet 101 as a pressing member toward the regulating member 106. Next, after the lenticular sheet 101 is sandwiched by the sandwiching member 117, the lenticular sheet supply unit 119 is returned to the original position of the lenticular sheet storage body 118. At this time, only the lenticular sheet supply means 119 may be moved, but if the lenticular sheet holder 104 is also moved to the lenticular sheet storage 118 side at the same time, the supply time of the lenticular sheet is shortened, which is more preferable. . In this example, it is not necessary to provide a special pressing member.

  FIG. 26 is a perspective view of an image recording apparatus according to a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention. The feature of the image recording apparatus of the present embodiment is that, as shown in FIG. 26, there is no lenticular sheet holder for holding the lenticular sheet 101, and the lenticular sheet 101 is supported by the conveying means 120 using a roll platen. It is a point. The positioning mechanism of the lenticular sheet 101 is a roll-shaped supporting member rotatably supported on a plane substantially parallel to the surface of the regulating member 106 and the lenticular sheet so that the lenticular sheet 101 can be pressed in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the lenticular sheet 101. It is composed of a pressing member 107. This pressing member 107 is moved by a solenoid 108. According to this, the configuration for supporting the lenticular sheet 101 is simplified.

  FIG. 27 shows an example in which the configuration for heating and controlling the lenticular sheet 101 is applied to the image recording apparatus of the present embodiment. In FIG. 27, a light emitting unit 301 and a light receiving unit 302 are provided above and below the lenticular sheet 101, a heating control unit 2701 is connected to an output of the light receiving unit 302, and a heating unit 2702 is connected to the heating control unit 2701. Configuration. In this embodiment, the lens pitch of the lenticular sheet 101 is read by the light emitting unit 301 and the light receiving unit 302, and the lens pitch of the lenticular sheet 101 is set to a desired pitch via the heating control unit 2701 according to the read lens pitch. The heating amount of the heating means 2702 is controlled so that Here, as the heating means 2702, a method of blowing heated air, irradiating far infrared rays, or the like can be considered.

  FIG. 28 is a schematic perspective view showing a positioning mechanism according to a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3 described above, when the lens longitudinal direction of the lenticular sheet held on the lenticular sheet holder 104 is shifted from a direction perpendicular or parallel to the transport direction, the lenticular sheet Although the entire holding body 104 is rotated to adjust its direction, the configuration such as a rotating mechanism becomes complicated and the size becomes large. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 28, positioning is performed by a pressing member 121, a regulating member 122 rotatable about a shaft 125, a motor 123 for adjusting the direction of the regulating member 122, and a spring 124. Make up the mechanism. Among them, the shaft 125, the motor 123, and the spring 124 constitute a regulating member relative position variable mechanism. Further, it is more preferable that the pressing member 121 is configured so that the pressing surface can swing in accordance with the direction of the regulating member 122. Here, the direction of the regulating member 122 can be changed by driving the motor 123 to pull or loosen one end of the regulating member 122. This simplifies the configuration of the device. Here, it goes without saying that the configuration of the regulating member relative position variable mechanism is not limited to the configuration of the present embodiment as long as the relative position of the regulating member 122 can be changed.

  FIG. 29 is a configuration diagram of an image data generation device according to a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention. The image data generating apparatus includes image input means 1706 for inputting a plurality of images, positioning means 2901 for adjusting the positions of the plurality of input images, and image data for generating an image for a moving image printer from the aligned images. It is constituted by a format conversion means 1703.

  For example, the images shown in (a), (b), and (c) of FIG. 30 are images taken by the same person while changing their costumes, and the image shown in (d) overlaps the three images as they are. It is an image synthesized together. In this image, the position of the person has shifted because the standing position at the time of shooting was different. Therefore, when an image for a moving image printer is generated from the image as it is, the resulting image card is very difficult to see because the position of a person changes depending on the viewing angle. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a configuration in which three images are aligned so that the position of a person is at the same position as shown in (e), and then an image for a moving image printer is generated. And In this way, even if the viewing angle changes, the person appears to be in the same position, only the costume appears to be replaced, and an easy-to-view image card can be created.

  Here, the function of the positioning means 2901 may be any of manual, semi-automatic, and automatic methods. In the manual operation, the image is moved in the XY directions while viewing the screen to perform positioning. In the semi-automatic mode, first, a corresponding point (for example, the center position of the face) is manually input to each image, and the coordinate conversion of the image is automatically performed so that the coordinates of the input corresponding point match in each image. Go to the position to align. In the automatic mode, the place where a corresponding point is manually input during semi-automation is automated. As a method of automatically finding a corresponding point, a known method such as a block matching method may be used.

  FIG. 31 is a configuration diagram of an image data generation device according to a sixteenth embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of the present embodiment is different from the image data generating apparatus of the tenth embodiment shown in FIG. 19 in that the above-described positioning means 2901 is provided between the image recognition unit 1901 and the deformation synthesis unit 1904. The configuration is the same, and the other configurations and operations are the same as those in FIG.

  In this configuration, by recognizing the image by the image recognizing unit 1901, a corresponding point can be found, and alignment can be performed using this. For example, when synthesizing an intermediate image from two face images, the main parts of the face are recognized using the reference model data for the input two face images. The corresponding point may use one of the recognized main parts, and for example, a nose or a mouth can be used as the corresponding point.

  FIG. 32 is a configuration diagram of an image data generation device according to a seventeenth embodiment of the present invention. The image data generating apparatus includes an image input unit 1706 for inputting a plurality of images, a selecting unit 3201 for selecting a predetermined number of images including the order from the input plurality of images, and It comprises order information adding means 3202 for adding information about the order, and image data format converting means 1703 for generating an image for a moving image printer from the image from the order information adding means 3202.

  As the order information, numbers, symbols, and the like corresponding to the order can be applied. FIG. 33A is a diagram illustrating an example in which numerals are displayed together with an image. For example, FIG. 33B is a diagram illustrating an example in which the order of images is displayed by changing a mark position.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can improve the accuracy of a printing position when a plurality of images are divided and printed, and can be used, for example, to print a plurality of images on the back surface of a lenticular sheet.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a lenticular sheet used in the image recording apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11A shows another example of angle detection in the second embodiment, and FIG. 10B shows an example of angle detection using a reflecting member in the second embodiment. FIG. FIGS. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating an example of angle detection in the case where the shift angle is small in the second embodiment. It is a figure showing the example which uses the phenomenon of a moire fringe for angle detection in the 2nd embodiment. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of using the unevenness amount detecting means for angle detection in the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of a lenticular sheet in an image recording apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 14A and 14B are diagrams for explaining the relationship of the pressing force depending on the direction of the lenticular sheet in the third embodiment. FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the image recording device of the fifth embodiment according to the present invention. FIG. 14 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic structure figure of the image recording device of a 7th embodiment concerning the present invention. FIG. 13A is a partial configuration diagram showing the vicinity of a thermal head in an image recording apparatus according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 14B is a diagram illustrating a position detecting unit according to the eighth embodiment. FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram showing another example of the above. FIG. 13A is a configuration diagram showing an example of the position detecting means in the seventh or eighth embodiment, and FIG. 14B is a perspective view showing a lenticular sheet used for the position detecting means. . FIG. 15A is a diagram showing a detection output when the lens section is read by the position detecting means, and FIG. 15B is a diagram showing an output of the position detecting means in FIG. FIG. 19 is a configuration diagram of an image data generation device according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 29A shows a multi-image display screen according to the ninth embodiment, and FIG. 28B shows a display screen of the selected image. It is a lineblock diagram of the image data generation device of a 10th embodiment concerning the present invention. FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating an image from which image data is converted according to the ninth embodiment. 21 is a diagram illustrating image data generated by converting the image in FIG. 20. FIG. It is a figure explaining that a printed image looks three-dimensional using a lenticular sheet. It is a figure explaining that a print image looks like a moving image using a lenticular sheet. It is a schematic structure figure of the image recording device of a 12th embodiment concerning the present invention. FIG. 33 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another example of the twelfth embodiment. It is a perspective view of an image recording device of a 13th embodiment concerning the present invention. It is a schematic structure figure showing the case where heating control of a lenticular sheet is carried out in a 13th embodiment. FIG. 33 is a schematic perspective view showing a positioning mechanism according to a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention. It is a lineblock diagram of the image data generation device of a 15th embodiment concerning the present invention. It is a figure explaining position alignment in the 15th embodiment. It is a lineblock diagram of the image data generation device of a 16th embodiment concerning the present invention. It is a lineblock diagram of an image data generation device of a seventeenth embodiment according to the present invention. It is a figure showing the example of an image display in a 17th embodiment.

Explanation of reference numerals

Reference Signs List 101 lenticular sheet 102 thermal head 103 ink sheet 104 lenticular sheet holder 106 regulating member 107 pressing member 112 driving unit 117 sandwiching member 120 transporting unit 301 light emitting unit 302 light receiving unit 303 rotating mechanism 701 unevenness detecting unit 1001 pressure contact roller 1301 lens pitch reading Means 1503 Convex part 1504 Position detecting means 1701 Image data generating device 1703 Image data format converting means 1704 Image displaying means 1705 Selection instruction input means 1706 Image input means 1903 Interval specifying means 1904 Deformation synthesizing section 2901 Positioning means 3202 Order information adding means

Claims (7)

Image input means for inputting a plurality of images, and a partial image corresponding to the predetermined partial image of the remaining image of the plurality of images at a position of a predetermined partial image of one of the plurality of input images And an image data format converting means for generating an image for a moving image printer by dividing each aligned image into a predetermined region and arranging the divided images in a predetermined arrangement. An image data generating device characterized by the following. Image input means for inputting a plurality of images, and a partial image corresponding to the predetermined partial image of the remaining image of the plurality of images at a position of a predetermined partial image of one of the plurality of input images Image deformation processing means for generating a predetermined number of intermediate deformed images that transition between the images based on a plurality of images that have been aligned by digital arithmetic processing, For some or all of the generated plurality of images and the generated deformed image, the respective images are divided into predetermined regions, and the plurality of aligned images and the predetermined corresponding to the order of transition of the deformed image. An image data format conversion unit for generating a print image by arranging the print image in an array, and an image printing unit for printing the generated print image. Data generating device. Image input means for inputting a plurality of images, selecting means for selecting a predetermined number of images including the order from the input images, and a number or symbol representing the order of the images selected and determined by the selecting means or An order information adding unit for adding an image to each of the selected images, and each image from the order information adding unit is divided into a predetermined area and arranged in a predetermined arrangement corresponding to the order, so that a moving image printer can be used. An image data generating apparatus, comprising: an image data format conversion unit that generates an image. Inputting a plurality of images and, at a position of a predetermined partial image of one of the input plurality of images, a position of a partial image corresponding to the predetermined partial image of the remaining image of the plurality of images And an image data generating method for generating an image for a moving image printer by dividing the aligned images into predetermined regions and arranging the divided images in a predetermined arrangement. Inputting a plurality of images and, at a position of a predetermined partial image of one of the input plurality of images, a position of a partial image corresponding to the predetermined partial image of the remaining image of the plurality of images And, based on the plurality of aligned images, generating a predetermined number of intermediate deformed images transitioning between the images by digital arithmetic processing, and the plurality of aligned images and For some or all of the generated deformed images, the respective images are divided into predetermined regions, and arranged in a predetermined arrangement corresponding to the order of the plurality of aligned images and the transition of the deformed image. Generating an image for printing. A step of inputting a plurality of images, a step of selecting a predetermined number of images including the order from the input images, and a step of selecting a number, a symbol, or an image representing the order of the selected and determined images. A step of adding to each image, dividing each image to which a number, a symbol, or an image representing the order is added into a predetermined area, and arranging the images in a predetermined arrangement corresponding to the order to obtain an image for a moving image printer. Generating the image data. Drawing an image on the back of the lenticular sheet, forming a white layer on the drawn image, and further drawing an image on the formed white layer. Image recording method.

Images