JP2004205562A - Toner, image reading apparatus, copying apparatus, image forming apparatus and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner with which identification accuracy for a part to be recognized as a solid can be enhanced, an image forming apparatus using the toner, an image reading apparatus reading the toner, a copying apparatus forming images based on the read solid image data, and a recording medium with images formed by using the toner. <P>SOLUTION: The toner is used for electrophotographic image forming, and is characterised by being obtained by blending an infrared absorption material with a heat foamable material. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a copying machine, an image reading apparatus, and a toner using an electrophotographic method (electrostatic transfer method), and more particularly, to an improvement in a special readable marking technique.
[0002]
[Prior art]
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 08-152771 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 08-227455 [0003]
As a method of reading minute three-dimensional information on a planar document represented by Braille, there has been a method of using a shadow of document illumination as proposed in Patent Documents 1 and 2. In this proposal, two illumination lamps that illuminate from both sides of a reading line are alternately turned on to dynamically change the illumination conditions, and to separate and identify characters and braille on a target document.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when Braille and printed figures / characters are mixed, and the three-dimensional information is also colored, the S / N of separation and identification is reduced, and the recognition accuracy is deteriorated. In addition, the configuration of the apparatus becomes complicated, which is disadvantageous in cost.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such technical problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a toner capable of improving the identification accuracy of a part to be recognized as a three-dimensional object, an image forming apparatus using the toner, and the toner. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image reading apparatus for reading an image and a copying apparatus for forming an image based on the read three-dimensional image information.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
That is, when the present invention is grasped as a toner, the present invention is a toner in which an infrared absorbing material and a thermofoamable material are mixed.
[0007]
Further, when the present invention is grasped from another viewpoint, the present invention is a developing device which visualizes an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier by using the toner, and a recording medium ( This is an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording sheet, and is a recording medium (recording sheet) on which an image is formed with the toner.
[0008]
Further, when grasping the present invention from another viewpoint, an irradiating unit that irradiates the original with infrared light, a light receiving unit that receives reflected light of the original irradiated with the infrared light by the irradiating unit, and a light receiving unit that receives light reflected by the light receiving unit A three-dimensional image information acquisition unit that acquires, as stereoscopic image information, an image of a document at a location where the amount of infrared light is equal to or less than a predetermined amount. An image reading apparatus that reads an original and obtains image information of the original, a storage unit that stores in advance a threshold value of an amount of infrared light to be a three-dimensional image, and a determination unit that obtains a specific portion in the original as three-dimensional image information based on the amount of infrared light An image reading apparatus comprising: In addition, the light source unit may include a light receiving unit that receives the reflected light from the document, and a first filter that mainly transmits an infrared light component in the reflected light. Further, a light receiving unit that receives the reflected light from the document, a first filter that mainly transmits the infrared light component in the reflected light, and a second filter that mainly transmits the visible light component in the reflected light And a control unit for switching between the first and second filters.
[0009]
Further, when the present invention is grasped from another viewpoint, a three-dimensional image using a toner obtained by mixing a foaming material based on the three-dimensional image information among these image reading devices and the image information obtained by the image reading device. And an image output device for forming the image. Further, the present invention is a copying apparatus including an image reading device and an image output device that forms an image with toner mixed with an infrared absorbing material based on three-dimensional image information among image information obtained by the image reading device. . Further, these image reading devices, and an image output device that forms a three-dimensional image with a toner obtained by mixing an infrared absorbing material and a foamable material based on the three-dimensional image information among the image information obtained by the image reading device, Is also a copying machine having
[0010]
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Embodiment Hereinafter, a three-dimensional copying system using an image reading apparatus and a copying apparatus (image forming apparatus) according to the present invention will be described as an embodiment.
[0011]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the entire three-dimensional copying system. FIG. 2 illustrates input originals (a flat input original G1 and a three-dimensional input original G2) to be copied in the three-dimensional copying system.
[0012]
The first copying apparatus 1A forms an image with four color toners of yellow Y, cyan C, magenta M, and black Bk, as described later. The black toner contains an infrared absorbing material. The second copying apparatus 1B forms an image using four color toners of yellow Y, cyan C, magenta M, and transparent T, as described later. The transparent toner contains a foaming material and an infrared absorbing material.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 2A, the (flat) input document G1 has a flat character (ABC) L (f) and a flat braille B (f) on a background BG. Since the input document G1 is output by the first copying apparatus 1A (see arrow {circle around (1)} in FIG. 1), an infrared absorbing material is mixed with the toner constituting the black character L (f). ing. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2B, the (solid) input document G2 and the (solid) output document C have two-dimensional characters (ABC) L (f) and three-dimensional braille B (s) on the background BG. Is formed. Since the input document G2 is output by the second copying apparatus 1B (see the arrow {circle around (2)} in FIG. 1), the toner constituting the Braille B (s) contains an infrared absorbing material. .
[0014]
FIG. 3 illustrates the first copying apparatus 1A and the second copying apparatus 1B. As shown in FIG. 3, a document reading device 4 for reading an image of the document 2 (G1, G2) suppressed by the platen cover 3 is provided above the copying device 1 (1A, 1B). The original reading device 4 illuminates the original 2 placed on the platen glass 5 with a light source 6 and a reflector 6b, and reflects a reflected light image from the original 2 on a full rate mirror 7, half rate mirrors 8, 9 and Scanning exposure is performed on an image reading element 11 such as a CCD via a reduction optical system including an image lens 10, and the color reading light image of the original 2 is scanned by the image reading element 11 at a predetermined dot density (for example, 24 dots). / mm).
[0015]
The color material reflected light image of the document 2 read by the document reading device 4 is processed, for example, as document reflectance data of three colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) (each 8 bits). The image processing device 12 transmits the reflectance data of the document 2 to the predetermined data such as shading correction, positional deviation correction, brightness / color space conversion, gamma correction, frame erasing, color / moving editing, and the like. Image processing is performed.
[0016]
Then, the image data subjected to the predetermined image processing by the image processing device 12 as described above has four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (BK) (each 8 bits). The image data is sent to a ROS13 (Raster Output Scanner) as original color material gradation data. In the ROS13, image exposure using laser light is performed according to the original color material gradation data.
[0017]
Image forming means A capable of forming a plurality of toner images of different colors is provided inside the color printer and the copying machine main body 1. The image forming means A mainly includes a ROS 13 as an image exposing means, a photosensitive drum 14 as an image gripper on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 14. And a rotary developing device 15 as a developing means capable of developing a plurality of toner images of different colors. That is, in the case of the first copying machine 1A, the developing device 15 capable of forming four color toner images of yellow Y, cyan C, magenta M, and black Bk is used. , Cyan C, magenta M, and transparent T.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 3, the ROS 13 modulates a semiconductor laser (not shown) according to original reproduction color material gradation data, and emits a laser beam LB from the semiconductor laser according to the gradation data. The laser beam LB emitted from the semiconductor laser is deflected and scanned by a rotating polygon mirror (not shown), and is scanned and exposed on a photosensitive drum 14 as an image holding body via an f · θ lens and a reflecting mirror (not shown).
[0019]
The photoreceptor drum 14 on which the laser light LB is scanned and exposed by the ROS 13 is driven to rotate at a predetermined speed in a direction indicated by an arrow by a driving unit (not shown). The surface of the photosensitive drum 14 is charged in advance to a predetermined polarity (for example, negative polarity) and potential by a scorotron 16 for primary charging, and then scanned and exposed to laser light LB in accordance with original reproduction color material gradation data. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed. After the surface of the photosensitive drum 14 is uniformly charged to, for example, -650 V, the image portion is scanned and exposed to laser light LB to form an electrostatic latent image having an exposed portion of -200 V. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor drum 14 has four color developing units 15Y, 15M, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (BK) or transparent (T). 15C, 15BK or a rotary type developing device 15 having transparency (T), for example, is reversely developed with a toner (charged color material) charged to a negative polarity having the same polarity as the charged polarity of the photoconductor drum 14, A color toner image T is obtained.
[0020]
At this time, for example, a developing bias voltage of -500 V is applied to the developing rolls of the developing units 15Y, 15M, 15C, and 15BK. The toner image T formed on the photoconductor drum 14 is charged with a negative polarity by a pre-transfer charger 17 as necessary, and the charge amount is adjusted.
[0021]
The toner image of each color formed on the photosensitive drum 14 is transferred onto an intermediate transfer belt 18 as an intermediate transfer member disposed below the photosensitive drum 14 by a primary transfer roll as a first transfer unit. By 19, multiple transfer is performed at the first nip portion N1. The intermediate transfer belt 18 is moved at the same moving speed as the peripheral speed of the photosensitive drum 14 by a driving roll 20, a driven roll 21, a tension roll 22, and a backup roll 23 as an opposing roll constituting a part of the secondary transfer means. To be rotatable in the direction of the arrow.
[0022]
On the intermediate transfer belt 18, the yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), cyan (C), black (BK), or transparent (T) formed on the photosensitive drum 14 is formed according to the color of the image to be formed. The toner images of all or a part of the four colors are transferred by the primary transfer roll 19 in a state of being sequentially superimposed. The toner image T transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 18 is provided on a recording paper 24 as a recording medium conveyed to a secondary transfer position N2 at a predetermined timing, with a backup roll 23 supporting the intermediate transfer belt 18 and The transfer is performed by the pressing force and the electrostatic attraction force of the secondary transfer roll 25 that forms a part of the second transfer unit that presses against the back-up flower 23.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 3, the recording paper 24 has a predetermined size from a feed cassette 27 serving as a plurality of recording medium storage members disposed in a lower portion of the color printer and the copying machine main body 1. Is fed by The fed recording paper 24 is transported by a plurality of transport rolls 28 and registration rolls 29 to the secondary transfer position N2 of the intermediate transfer belt 18 at a predetermined timing. Then, as described above, the toner image of a predetermined color is collectively transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 18 to the recording paper 24 by the backup roll 23 and the secondary transfer roll 25 as secondary transfer means. It has become so.
[0024]
The recording paper 24 on which the toner image of a predetermined color has been transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 18 is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 18 and then conveyed to a fixing device 30 where a heating roll 31 of the fixing device 30 is heated. Then, the toner image is fixed on the recording paper 24 by heat and pressure by the pressure roll 32, and is discharged to the outside of the color printer and the copying machine main body 1, thereby completing the color image forming process.
[0025]
In the drawing, reference numeral 33 denotes a cleaning device for removing residual toner and paper dust from the surface of the photoreceptor drum 14 after the completion of the transfer process, and reference numeral 34 denotes an intermediate transfer belt for cleaning the intermediate transfer belt 18. Reference numeral 35 denotes a cleaner for cleaning the secondary transfer roll 25, respectively. Further, the intermediate transfer belt cleaner 34 and the cleaner 35 of the secondary transfer roll 25 are configured to come into contact with and separate from the intermediate transfer belt 18 at a predetermined timing.
[0026]
Here, when the second copying machine 1B is used and the transparent toner (T) is included in the toner image, the portion is foamed by the action of heat from the fixing device 30 to form a three-dimensional image. More specifically, in the second copying apparatus 1 </ b> B capable of forming a three-dimensional color image on the recording paper 24, the non-foamed non-foamed toner image is formed on the toner image formed of the thermally foamable toner formed on the surface of the recording paper 24. After forming a color toner image composed of a non-foamable full-color toner and a color toner image composed of a non-foamable full-color toner on the surface of the recording paper 24, the toner image is heated and fixed. By performing the processing, the thermally foamable toner is foamed to form a three-dimensional image, and a color toner image composed of a non-foamable toner is melt-fixed to form a color image. .
[0027]
That is, in the second copying machine 1B of this embodiment, the heat-foamable toner image and the non-foamable full-color toner image are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 18 on a recording paper 24 such as paper. A non-foamable full-color toner image is formed so that a non-foamable full-color toner image is formed only on the upper surface of the toner image, and a non-foamable full-color toner image is not formed on the side surface (inclined surface) of the thermally foamable toner image. Is formed, a color superimposed image is formed so that the non-foamable full-color toner image at that time is not continuously brought into contact with the recording paper 24 such as paper, and is collectively transferred to the recording paper 24 such as paper. By simultaneously (one-shot) performing the foaming / thermal fusion of the thermally foamable toner and the thermal fusion of the non-foamable full-color toner, a three-dimensional full-color image is formed.
[0028]
Here, a reading wavelength switching filter 10b is provided in front of the image forming lens 10 of the document reading device 4, and by switching this optical filter, the visible light component and the infrared light component in the reading light component are changed. It can be switched.
[0029]
FIG. 4 shows the spectral characteristics of the two types of optical filters (first filter and second filter) that perform this switching. FIG. 5 shows the spectral sensitivity characteristics of the sensor. The spectral sensitivity characteristics of the sensor have unnecessary sensitivity in the infrared region due to the characteristics of the sensor-on-chip filter. Here, the two filters of the optical filter 10b are exchanged, and the transmitted light component is switched, so that the unnecessary sensitivity component is effectively used. The mode for reading information can be switched.
[0030]
By employing such a configuration, reading can be performed in four wavelength ranges including the near-infrared wavelength range of 800 nm to 900 nm, in addition to the three normal RGB wavelength ranges. Further, the principle of copying thermal foamable toner information using the infrared image read by these will be described.
[0031]
FIG. 6 shows the spectral characteristics of the YMC color toner and the spectral characteristics of the infrared absorbing material. Each of the spectral characteristics of the color toner has an absorption band in a spectral region corresponding to the three primary colors, and all have almost no absorption in an infrared region of 800 nm to 900 nm. On the other hand, the infrared absorbing material has no light absorption in the visible region and has absorption in the infrared region. For this reason, it looks white to the naked eye and does not color even when mixed with the thermal foaming toner, but when reading limited to the infrared region, the color toner having no absorption in the infrared region disappears. Due to the absorption characteristics of the infrared-absorbing material, only a portion printed with the thermal foaming toner uses a phenomenon that can be detected as dark information.
[0032]
Thus, by mixing the infrared absorbing material with the thermal foaming toner and performing reading in the infrared wavelength range, it is possible to separate and read only the portion hit by the thermal foaming toner.
[0033]
FIG. 7 shows an outline of an image reading processing circuit used in this apparatus. A three-line CCD sensor (light receiving unit) 110 is arranged in an optical path downstream of the switching filter 10b controlled by the control unit 100. Image data read by this sensor 110 is read as an analog signal, and is subjected to AD conversion. The signal is converted into a digital signal by the device 111. At the subsequent stage, there is a pre-correction processing unit 112 for correcting unevenness at the time of reading, such as color registration correction and shading correction processing of the three-line sensor, and subsequently, a color conversion circuit 122 using read signals of three colors. Is sent to a color conversion processing unit that performs correction processing such as dust on the color. From the middle of this path, the read signal after the pre-correction of R (green) is branched and output to the thermal foaming toner detection unit (storage unit, determination unit) 129.
[0034]
Under the control of the control unit 100, the thermal foamable toner detection unit 129 switches the read data to a path for storing the read data in the infrared image storage unit 127 in the infrared reading mode, and performs a binarization process using a predetermined threshold. After being performed by the binarization processing unit 126, the read data is stored.
[0035]
Further, in the case of outputting the YMC image in the copy mode, the data is read out from the infrared image storage unit 127 in synchronization with the reading of the visible image, and the erosion / expansion processing unit 128 And excludes the area having a width of 2 pixels or less. Based on this data, processing is performed by the thermal-foamable toner contour detection unit 123, and a shadow correction processing unit 124 corrects a three-dimensional shadow caused by illumination. This process corrects the output data of the color conversion process for an area recognized as a shadow portion to be brighter by an amount determined by a correction coefficient.
[0036]
On the other hand, when the thermal foaming toner plate is output in the visible image reading mode, the result data of the above-described contraction / expansion processing is printed out as it is, so that the thermal foaming toner is output on the copy document. Is copied and output as it is.
[0037]
The operation at this time will be described below. First, a three-dimensional original reading mode using thermal foaming toner is selected by the U / I means of the apparatus. When this mode is selected, prior to normal visible light reading, infrared light reading is performed by switching the optical filter, and the read image is temporarily stored in the memory. Since the reading spectral characteristics at this time have no difference in the outputs of the reading sensors of three colors, the image read by the infrared component of the R reading sensor is stored as a representative.
[0038]
The operation in the actual copy mode will be described below. In this example, an example is shown in which copying is performed with four colors of YMC and thermal foaming toner. As for the three colors of YMC, as in the normal copy mode, color conversion is performed from the read colors of three colors of RGB to convert to the output pattern of each single color plane of YMC.
[0039]
When copying the thermal foaming toner plate, the thermal foaming toner area is determined based on infrared image data binarized by a predetermined threshold value stored in a memory in advance. For a pixel whose infrared image density is larger than a predetermined value (threshold value) stored in advance, it is assumed that the target pixel is infrared-absorbing and an infrared-absorbing material mixed with a heat-foamable toner is detected. The image is converted into a three-dimensional image plate output pattern so that copying and reproduction is performed with toner containing an infrared absorbing material (black toner ＠ first copying apparatus, transparent toner ＠ second copying apparatus). In this process, the infrared absorption information of about one pixel is cut as noise by the contraction / expansion process.
[0040]
In this way, the color information on the original is copied as it is with the YMC toner, and the three-dimensional information from the toner mixed with the infrared absorbing material is detected as an infrared pattern, output to a three-dimensional image plate, and infrared absorption is performed. Copying is performed by printing with toner containing a material (black toner ＠ first copying machine, transparent toner ＠ second copying machine).
[0041]
In this way, the use of the heat-foamable toner mixed with the infrared absorbing material, and the reading and processing of the infrared information by the reading unit and the processing unit of the copying apparatus, enables the three-dimensional original with the heat-foamable toner to be three-dimensionally copied. It is possible to do.
[0042]
FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate the results of using this three-dimensional copying system (see FIG. 1).
[0043]
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which a flat input document G1 is transferred to a first copying machine 1A (see FIG. 8A, arrows {circle around (3)} and {circle over (7)} in FIG. 1) and a second copying machine 1B (see FIG. 8 (b), arrows in FIG. 1). (See (4) and (8)) and output originals C1 and C2 when copied.
[0044]
The character L (f) in the flat input document G1 contains an infrared absorbing material. Therefore, in the first copying apparatus 1A, the image of the character L is formed with the toner containing the infrared absorbing material, that is, the black toner. On the other hand, in the second copying apparatus 1B, the character L is three-dimensionally formed with a toner containing an infrared absorbing material, that is, a transparent toner and a (process) black toner.
[0045]
FIG. 9 shows a case where the three-dimensional input document G2 is transferred to the first copying apparatus 1A (see FIG. 9A, arrows (5) and (7) in FIG. 1) and the second copying apparatus 1B (FIG. 9 (b), arrows in FIG. 1). (6) and (8)) respectively show output originals C1 and C2 when copied.
[0046]
Braille B (s) in the three-dimensional input document G2 contains an infrared absorbing material. Therefore, in the first copying apparatus 1A, the image of the Braille B portion is formed with the toner containing the infrared absorbing material, that is, the black toner. On the other hand, in the second copying apparatus 1B, the Braille B portion is three-dimensionally formed with a toner containing an infrared absorbing material, that is, a transparent toner.
[0047]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a toner capable of improving the accuracy of identifying a part to be recognized as a three-dimensional object, an image forming apparatus using the toner, an image reading apparatus that reads the toner, a three-dimensional image A copying apparatus that forms an image based on image information can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a three-dimensional copying system;
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a document used in a three-dimensional copying system;
FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view illustrating a copying apparatus used in a three-dimensional copying system.
FIG. 4 illustrates the spectral characteristics of two types of optical filters (first and second filters).
FIG. 5 shows a spectral sensitivity characteristic of the sensor.
FIG. 6 illustrates the spectral characteristics of a YMC color toner and the spectral characteristics of an infrared absorbing material.
FIG. 7 is an outline of an image reading processing circuit used in this apparatus.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a use result of the three-dimensional copying system;
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a use result of the three-dimensional copying system;
[Explanation of symbols]
1A: first copying apparatus, 1B: second copying apparatus (image forming apparatus), 4: original reading apparatus (image reading apparatus), 10b: reading wavelength switching filter (first filter and second filter), 12: image processing Apparatus, 110: 3-line CCD sensor (light receiving section), 111: AD converter, 112: Pre-correction processing section, 123: Sub-scanning direction contour detection section, 124: Shadow correction processing section, 126: Binarization processing section, 127: infrared image storage unit, 129: thermal foaming toner detection unit (storage unit, judgment unit)

Claims (10)

A toner used for electrophotographic image formation, in which an infrared absorbing material and a thermofoamable material are mixed. An irradiator that irradiates the original with infrared light,
A light receiving unit that receives reflected light of the document irradiated with infrared light by the irradiation unit,
An image reading apparatus, comprising: a three-dimensional image information obtaining unit that obtains, as three-dimensional image information, an image of a document where infrared light received by the light receiving unit is equal to or less than a predetermined amount. An image reading apparatus that reads an original and obtains image information of the original, and a storage unit that stores in advance a threshold value of an amount of infrared light to be a stereoscopic image,
A determination unit that obtains a specific portion in the document as stereoscopic image information based on the amount of infrared rays. The image reading apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: a light receiving unit that receives light reflected from the document; and a first filter that mainly transmits an infrared light component in the reflected light. A light receiving unit that receives the reflected light from the original, a first filter that mainly transmits the infrared light component in the reflected light, a second filter that mainly transmits the visible light component in the reflected light, The image reading device according to claim 3, further comprising: a control unit configured to switch between the first and second filters. 6. An image reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, among image information obtained by said image reading apparatus, an image output for forming a three-dimensional image by a toner mixed with a foamable material based on three-dimensional image information. And a copying apparatus comprising: An image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5, and an image output apparatus for forming an image using toner mixed with an infrared absorbing material based on three-dimensional image information among image information obtained by the image reading apparatus. And a copying apparatus having: A three-dimensional image using a toner obtained by mixing an infrared absorbing material and a foaming material based on three-dimensional image information among image information obtained by the image reading device according to claim 2. A copying apparatus having an image output device for forming a color image. An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording sheet using the toner according to claim 1. A recording medium on which an image is formed with the toner according to claim 1.

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