JP2005134559A - Three-dimensional image forming apparatus, three-dimensional image forming method, and three-dimensional image printed matter - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a three-dimensional image forming apparatus and a three-dimensional image forming method, which can form a three-dimensional image printed matter having superior strength/durability, in which there is no risk of deformation, breakage, or deficiency of a three-dimensional image part, with respect to applications of many users. <P>SOLUTION: The electrophotographic type three-dimensional image forming apparatus is provided with an electrostatic latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier, on the basis of three-dimensional image forming information; a developing means for forming the toner image by developing the electrostatic latent image; a transfer means for transferring the toner image on a recording medium; a conveyance means for carrying to a fixing means the recording medium, on which a transparent protective sheet is overlaid, wherein the toner image is sandwiched between the transparent protective sheet and the recording medium; and the fixing means for fixing the toner image, as the three-dimensional image, on the recording medium and for bringing the transparent protective sheet into close contact with the recording medium so that the three-dimensional image is confined between the transparent protective sheet and the recording medium. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrophotographic stereoscopic image forming apparatus, a stereoscopic image forming method, and a stereoscopic image printed matter such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, and a multifunction machine of these.

JP 2000-131875 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-134091

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, image forming apparatuses such as monochrome copying machines, full-color copying machines, and full-color printers using an electrophotographic method or an electrostatic transfer method are widely known. In these image forming apparatuses, a monochrome image using black toner or a full color image using four color toners of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (Bk) is usually recorded on a recording sheet or the like. It is formed flat on a medium and output.

  Further, a technique for obtaining a three-dimensional (bump-printed) image using an expandable toner, for example, a heat-expandable toner, has been proposed, unlike an ordinary flat image.

  The present applicant has already proposed an image forming toner, a production method thereof, a stereoscopic image forming method using the toner, and a stereoscopic image forming apparatus in Patent Documents 1 and 2 and the like.

  In Patent Document 1, by using a toner containing a foaming agent, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a general copying machine or printer is used, and the foaming agent in the toner is foamed at the same time as fixing. Therefore, it is possible to form a stereoscopic image forming apparatus capable of forming both a normal image (planar image) and a stereoscopic image simply by adding a means for controlling the fixing temperature to a conventional electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The effect is described.

  In Patent Document 2, in a rotary developing device (developing unit), at least one of four color developing devices of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (BK) is used. Using an example configured to contain toner containing a binder resin and a foaming agent, or a rotary developing unit equipped with five developing units, foaming is performed only in that one developing unit (W). In an example in which a heat-sensitive toner is used, a non-foamable toner such as a normal color and a heat-foamable toner are formed on a recording medium in a laminated state, and the heat-foamable toner is foamed by a fixing device. And a method of forming a color stereoscopic image has been proposed.

  All of these are problems in the embossing that is the conventional bulge printing technology and the method that uses UV-curable ink for silk screen printing technology, such as limited use place and time consuming It solves the problem. In addition, this is a very useful technique because an individual can easily create a three-dimensional (raised) image print using an electrophotographic printer or the like in a general office or public facility.

  However, in the case of forming a three-dimensional image by the conventional technique of the above-mentioned document, there are the following problems.

  The purpose of use of the three-dimensional (raised) printed material is for universal users targeting visually impaired persons such as Braille and tactile diagrams, and for general users targeting general users. In the former application for universal use, it is often treated consciously and politely for that purpose. Therefore, with respect to the strength and durability of the three-dimensional (raised) image portion, the one created by the above-described conventional technique is sufficient. However, when targeting the latter general user, it is used for various purposes such as a field using a technology having excellent design properties, and its handling is extreme. When handled as a high-quality printed material such as a distribution in a formal scene or a design card for viewing, it is handled relatively carefully. On the other hand, postal items such as New Year's cards and postcards, posters, naming cards for children, and the like are subject to various types of streaks, such as rubbing during transportation, excessive weight, artificial scratching and pressing.

  Factors that determine the strength of a three-dimensional (bumped) image using a thermally foamable toner include the types of binder resin contained in the toner, the type of foamed material, and their content ratios, and the physical properties of the toner and the recording medium. Examples thereof include adhesive strength, permeability of the binder resin to the recording medium, and the height and shape of the stereoscopic image portion to be formed.

  Even if the strength is increased by optimizing the binder resin type, foam material type, and content ratio of each contained in the toner, there may be cases where it becomes weak due to factors such as recording media and image structure. .

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and for a greater number of user applications, there is no risk of deformation, breakage, or loss of the stereoscopic image portion, which is extremely strong and durable. It is to provide a three-dimensional image forming apparatus and a three-dimensional image forming method capable of forming a three-dimensional image printed matter having excellent properties.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, an electrostatic latent image forming unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier based on stereoscopic image formation information, and developing the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image Developing means, transfer means for transferring the toner image onto a recording medium, and sandwiching the toner image between a transparent protective sheet and the recording medium, the recording medium having the transparent protective sheet superimposed thereon A transporting means for transporting to the fixing means; and the transparent protection so that the toner image can be fixed as a stereoscopic image on the recording medium, and the stereoscopic image is confined between the transparent protective sheet and the recording medium. An electrophotographic stereoscopic image forming apparatus including a fixing unit capable of closely attaching a sheet to the recording medium.

The present invention according to claim 8 provides an electrostatic latent image forming means, a developing means, a transfer means, a fixing means, and a conveying means,
The electrostatic latent image forming means forms an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier based on the stereoscopic image formation information, the developing means develops the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image, and the transfer means The toner image is transferred onto a recording medium by the transfer means, the toner image is sandwiched between the transparent protective sheet and the recording medium by the conveying means, and the recording medium on which the transparent protective sheet is superimposed is fixed to the fixing means. The toner image is fixed as a stereoscopic image on the recording medium by the fixing means, and the transparent protective sheet is attached to the transparent protective sheet so as to confine the stereoscopic image between the transparent protective sheet and the recording medium. This is a three-dimensional image forming method for closely contacting a recording medium.

  In the stereoscopic image forming method of the present invention, the toner image is a thermally foamable toner image, and the electrostatic latent image forming unit forms an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier based on stereoscopic image formation information. The electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing means to form a thermally foamable toner image, the thermally foamable toner image is transferred onto a recording medium by the transfer means, and the fixing medium is used to transfer the thermally foamable toner image onto the recording medium. The heat-expandable toner image is foamed and assumed as a three-dimensional image on the recording medium, and the three-dimensional image is sandwiched between the transparent protective sheet and the recording medium by the conveying means, and the transparent protective sheet is overlapped. The recording medium on which the stereoscopic image is supposedly attached is conveyed again to the fixing unit, and the toner image is fixed as a stereoscopic image on the recording medium by the fixing unit, and the transparent protective sheet and the recording medium are fixed. The stereo image between Flip manner put, the transparent protective sheet may be a method of adhering on the recording medium.

  In the stereoscopic image forming method of the present invention, the toner image is a thermally foamable toner image, and the electrostatic latent image forming unit forms an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier based on stereoscopic image formation information. The electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing means to form a thermally foamable toner image, the thermally foamable toner image is transferred onto a recording medium by the transfer means, and the fixing medium is used to transfer the thermally foamable toner image onto the recording medium. A heat-foamable toner image is assumed to be deposited on the recording medium, and the heat-foamable toner image is sandwiched between the transparent protective sheet and the recording medium by the conveying means, and the transparent protective sheet is overlaid. The recording medium on which the foamable toner image is assumed is conveyed again to the fixing means, and the heat-foamable toner image is foamed by the fixing means to be permanently fixed as a three-dimensional image on the recording medium. Between the protective sheet and the recording medium To confine stereo image, a transparent protective sheet may be a method of adhering on the recording medium.

  In the three-dimensional image forming apparatus or the three-dimensional image forming method of the present invention, the fixing unit copies the surface shape of the three-dimensional image onto the surface of the transparent protective sheet so that the transparent protective sheet is in close contact with the three-dimensional image and the recording medium. It is preferable.

  In the three-dimensional image forming apparatus or the three-dimensional image forming method of the present invention, the toner image is a thermally foamable toner image, and the fixing unit foams the thermally foamable toner image on the recording medium to foam the recording medium. It is preferable that the image is fixed as a three-dimensional image and the transparent protective sheet is adhered to the recording medium.

  In the three-dimensional image forming apparatus or the three-dimensional image forming method of the present invention, the recording medium on which the transparent protective sheet is stacked is supplied from the manual feed tray with the toner image sandwiched between the transparent protective sheet and the recording medium. However, the three-dimensional image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a transparent protective sheet-dedicated tray, and the transport unit records the transparent protective sheet fed from the transparent protective sheet-dedicated tray on which a toner image is assumed. It is preferable that the toner image is superimposed on a medium and conveyed to the fixing unit.

  In the three-dimensional image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that switching can be performed between the case where the transparent protective sheet is closely attached to the recording medium and the case where the transparent protective sheet is not closely attached.

  In the three-dimensional image forming apparatus or the image forming method of the present invention, it is preferable that the fixing unit can set respective conditions depending on whether or not the transparent protective sheet is brought into close contact with the recording medium.

  In the stereoscopic image forming apparatus or the stereoscopic image forming method of the present invention, the transparent protective sheet is provided with a heat-sealing layer, and the fixing unit sandwiches the toner image between the transparent protective sheet and the recording medium. It is preferable that heat fusion is possible.

  According to the invention of claim 12, a toner image is fixed as a stereoscopic image on a recording medium, the stereoscopic image is confined between the transparent protective sheet and the recording medium, and the transparent protective sheet is It is a three-dimensional image printed matter that is in close contact with a recording medium.

  The stereoscopic image printed matter of the present invention is preferably formed by copying the surface shape of the stereoscopic image onto the surface of the transparent protective sheet and bringing the transparent protective sheet into close contact with the stereoscopic image and the recording medium.

  Further, in the stereoscopic image printed matter of the present invention, the toner image is a thermally foamable toner image, and the thermally foamable toner image on the recording medium is foamed and fixed on the recording medium as a stereoscopic image. The transparent protective sheet is preferably heat-sealed to the recording medium via a heat-sealing layer.

  In the present invention, “assumed attachment” refers to a fixing process other than the final fixing process when there are a plurality of fixing processes. In the case where the heat-foamable toner is assumed to be attached to the recording medium, a heating roller is used to adhere the heat-foamable toner without swelling and peeling from the recording medium until it is fed to the final fixing process thereafter. Is preferably set to 100 to 130 ° C. In the present invention, “main fixing” refers to a final fixing process when there are a plurality of fixing processes. In the present invention, “fixing” is a concept that includes “assuming” and “main fixing”.

  In the present invention, the “toner image” includes a monochrome toner image, a color toner image, a foamable toner image, a toner image composed of a color toner and a foamable toner, and a three-dimensional image forming toner such as a foamable toner. It is a concept including a stereoscopic image and a color stereoscopic image including color toner.

  In the present invention, as the transparent protective sheet 41, a sheet that can be bonded to a recording medium and is transparent even after bonding is used. Preferably, it is formed of a transparent substrate 41a made of a transparent resin and an adhesive layer 41b made of a heat-sealable resin.

  As the transparent substrate 41a, polypropylene resin, vinyl chloride resin, ester resin, or the like can be used. Further, as the adhesive layer 41b, a heat sealing resin such as a polyethylene resin, an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin, an ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer resin, or an ionomer resin can be used.

  Moreover, the thickness of a transparent protective sheet should just be the thickness which can be expanded-contracted according to a three-dimensional shape, can be closely_contact | adhered, and the surface shape from on a transparent protective sheet does not impair the shape before transparent protective sheet adhesion | attachment. When the volume average particle diameter of the heat-foamable toner is 20 to 40 μm, the height of the stereoscopic image can be designed in the range of about 100 to 500 μm. The thickness of the transparent protective sheet applicable in this case is 10 -150 micrometers is preferable and 30-100 micrometers is more preferable.

  When a transparent protective sheet having an adhesive layer that melts at a temperature lower than the melting temperature of the color toner and the heat-foamable toner is used, it is preferable to adjust the conditions of the fixing device to the melting temperature of the adhesive layer. Thereby, only the adhesive layer of the transparent protective sheet is melted, and the transparent protective sheet can be bonded onto a recording medium such as an image portion and recording paper. Since the color toner and the heat-foamable toner do not melt, the stereoscopic image is not damaged during image formation.

  If the melting temperature of the adhesive layer of the transparent protective sheet is the same as or higher than the melting temperature of the color toner or heat-foamable toner, the conditions of the fixing device should be set so that more heat is applied than during normal toner image fixing. It is preferable to set. In this case, since the thermally foamable toner image formed on the recording sheet is foamed by receiving a higher amount of heat, it is possible to further increase the height of the stereoscopic image.

  However, if too much heat is applied, the gas in the blowing agent breaks through the wall material of the blowing agent and leaks, so that the volume decreases, and a sufficient three-dimensional image height cannot be obtained. Therefore, the upper limit is limited according to the characteristics of the foaming agent.

  In order to copy the surface shape of the stereoscopic image onto the surface of the transparent protective sheet 41, air does not enter the edge step portion of the stereoscopic image and is brought into close contact with the transparent protective sheet 41, and the stereoscopic shape is impaired even from the surface of the transparent protective sheet. It is preferable not to do so. For that purpose, it is preferable to select a stretchable material and a thickness that can be deformed according to the surface shape of the stereoscopic image.

  Further, the transparent protective sheet 41 may be air permeable so that air does not remain between the recording medium 40 and the transparent protective sheet 41.

  The fixing unit 30 can include a heating roll 31 and a pressure roll 32. It is preferable that the heating roll 31 has elasticity so that pressure is also applied to the step portion of the edge of the stereoscopic image.

  The recording medium used in the present invention includes recording paper such as plain paper mainly composed of pulp raw materials, PPC paper and the like, coated paper obtained by mixing white pigment and the like on plain paper, resin such as OHP film and polyester. A white film or the like in which a white pigment is mixed can be used. The recording medium is preferably a recording medium that can be passed through the stereoscopic image forming apparatus of the present invention and that can be heat-sealed with the transparent protective sheet and that is not deformed by the pressure and heat of the fixing means.

  The thermally foamable toner preferably used in the present invention will be described in detail. The thermally foamable toner is an image forming toner containing a binder resin and a foaming agent, and is preferably configured so that the foaming agent is not substantially exposed on the toner surface.

  The foaming agent is not particularly limited, and any foaming agent can be used as long as it expands by heat. It may be solid at room temperature or liquid. Further, the foaming agent is not limited to a material composed of a single substance, and may be a material composed of a plurality of substances or a functional material such as microcapsule particles. The preferable range of the foaming temperature of the foaming agent varies depending on which apparatus is used to form a stereoscopic image.

As the foaming agent, for example, a foaming agent mainly composed of a substance that generates gas by thermal decomposition can be used, and specifically, a bicarbonate such as sodium hydrogen carbonate that generates carbon dioxide by thermal decomposition. And a mixture of NaNO ₂ and NH ₄ Cl that generate nitrogen gas, azo compounds such as azobisirobutyronitrile and diazoaminobenzene, peroxides that generate oxygen, and the like.

  As another form of the foaming agent, a microcapsule particle foaming agent (hereinafter referred to as “microcapsule type”) containing a low boiling point substance that vaporizes at a low temperature (which may be in a liquid state or a solid state at room temperature). May be referred to as a “foaming agent”). A microcapsule type foaming agent is preferable because of its high foaming property. When using a heat-foamable toner in a normal printer or copying machine, the low-boiling substance contained in the microcapsule must be vaporized at a temperature lower than the heat fixing temperature. Specifically, it is a substance that vaporizes at 100 ° C. or lower, preferably 50 ° C. or lower. However, since the thermal responsiveness of the microcapsule type foaming agent depends not only on the boiling point of the low-boiling substance as the core material but also on the softening point of the wall material, the preferred boiling range of the low-boiling substance is not limited to the above range. . Examples of the low boiling point substance include neopentane, neohexane, isopentane, isobutylene, and isobutane. Among them, isobutane which is stable with respect to the wall material of the microcapsule and has a high coefficient of thermal expansion is preferable.

  The wall material of the microcapsule has a solvent resistance to various solvents used in the toner manufacturing process, and is impermeable to a gas when a low-boiling substance contained in the microcapsule is vaporized. The material which has is preferable. Further, when the thermally foamable toner is used in the stereoscopic image forming apparatus of the present invention such as a printer or a copying machine, the wall material needs to be softened and expanded at a temperature lower than the heat fixing temperature. Conventionally used wall materials can be widely used as wall materials for microcapsules. For example, homopolymers such as polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polystyrene, polyacrylonitrile, polybutadiene, polyacrylic acid ester, and copolymers thereof are preferably used. Among these, a copolymer of vinylidene chloride and acrylonitrile is preferable in terms of high adhesiveness to the binder resin and high solvent resistance to the solvent.

  The content of the foaming agent in the heat-foamable toner varies depending on the type of the foaming agent, but is usually 5 to 50% by weight, preferably 10 to 40% by weight. When the content of the foaming agent is less than 5% by weight, the thermal expansion of the toner may be insufficient in practical use. On the other hand, when the content exceeds 50% by weight, the proportion of the binder resin in the toner is relatively high. Insufficient fixing properties may not be obtained.

  The binder resin for the heat-foamable toner is not particularly limited, and a resin generally used as a toner resin can be used. Specifically, polyester resin, styrene resin, acrylic resin, styrene / acrylic resin, silicone resin, epoxy resin, diene resin, phenol resin, ethylene / vinyl acetate resin, and the like are more preferable. .

  In this binder resin, two or more kinds of the above polyester resins may be combined, or another resin may be further combined. Other resins include styrene resin, acrylic resin, styrene / acrylic resin, silicone resin, epoxy resin, diene resin, phenol resin, terpene resin, coumarin resin, amide resin, amideimide resin, butyral resin, urethane resin, ethylene There are natural wax resins such as vinyl acetate resin, polypropylene resin, polyethylene resin and carnauba wax. In the present embodiment, it is preferable to add polyester resin as a main component and other resins in the toner in an amount of 0 to 30% by weight. Further, in the case of preparing a toner by dispersing a foaming agent in a binder resin monomer and subjecting them to suspension polymerization, the suspension-polymerizable monomer in the binder resin can be used.

  When the toner particles of the heat-expandable toner are cut and the section is observed with a microscope, it is composed of at least a binder resin and a foaming agent particle, and the foaming agent particle is encapsulated in the toner core without losing foamability. ing. The toner particles of the heat-expandable toner have a structure in which the foaming agent is not substantially exposed on the surface, so that the toner particles have high thermal expansibility and maintain good adhesion to the recording medium and charging stability. .

  Here, “substantially not exposed to the surface” means, for example, that, as a result of observing an electron micrograph of 50 toner particles, 80% or more of the toner has no foaming agent exposed on the surface. Indicates that there is. In addition, it is preferable that the foaming agent is uniformly dispersed in the toner as particles because the adhesion of the toner to the recording medium and the charging stability can be further improved.

  The heat-foamable toner used in the following examples does not contain a colorant, but may contain a colorant and may be colored and visualized. As the colorant to be dispersed, known organic or inorganic pigments and dyes and oil-soluble dyes can be used. These colorants depend on the toner particle size and development amount, but generally a ratio of about 1 to 80 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of toner is appropriate.

  Further, the thermally foamable toner may contain a magnetic material in order to give magnetization. As the type of the magnetic material, known materials can be used as appropriate. Further, the heat-foamable toner may contain a release agent as desired. It is preferable to include a release agent since an offset phenomenon at the time of contact fixing can be prevented. Note that a charge control agent may be added to the thermally foamable toner as desired. Furthermore, a known external additive may be added to the heat-foamable toner in order to control fluidity and developability.

  As a method for producing a heat-foamable toner, for example, a step of producing particles comprising the oil phase by suspending and dispersing an oil phase in which a binder resin and a foaming agent are dissolved and / or dispersed in a solvent in an aqueous phase And a step of removing the solvent from the particles. The thermally foamable toner may be produced by a process including a process of subjecting a binder resin monomer in which a foaming agent is dissolved or dispersed to suspension polymerization in an aqueous phase.

  Incidentally, as a developing method using a foamable toner, a two-component developing method is preferable, but both a non-magnetic one-component developing method and a magnetic one-component developing method can be adopted. As the toner composition, it is preferable that a heat-foamable toner and a non-foamable full-color toner contain a wax that enables oil-less heat fixing. When a toner containing wax is used, a toner image can be fixed and formed by a soft roll fixing device without an oil system.

  The electrostatic latent image forming means provided in the stereoscopic image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a laser writing device (ROS), the transfer means includes a transfer roller and a transfer belt, and the fixing means includes a heating roller and a pressure. A normal fixing device including a roller can be used.

  According to the stereoscopic image forming apparatus and the stereoscopic image forming method of the present invention, the transparent protective sheet is adhered to the recording medium so as to confine the stereoscopic image between the transparent protective sheet and the recording medium. The three-dimensional image portion of the three-dimensional image printed matter of the invention can be made extremely excellent in strength and durability without the risk of deformation, breakage, or loss for more user applications.

  Further, since the fixing means of the stereoscopic image forming apparatus is used as both the image fixing apparatus and the transparent protective sheet bonding apparatus, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to prepare another special apparatus.

  By copying the surface shape of the stereoscopic image onto the surface of the transparent protective sheet and bringing the transparent protective sheet into close contact with the stereoscopic image and the recording medium, the protective layer can be formed while maintaining the surface shape of the stereoscopic image. Thereby, it can be made very strong against rubbing, ironing, excessive weight, scratching and the like. At the same time, durability for long-term use can be dramatically improved.

  Furthermore, in the stereoscopic image forming apparatus of the present invention having the transparent protective sheet-dedicated tray, pasting of the transparent protective sheet is automated as post-processing of the stereoscopic image forming process, and operability and productivity are improved.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a stereoscopic image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The stereoscopic image forming apparatus 1 includes an exposure device (ROS, Raster Output Scanner) 13 that forms an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum (image carrier) 14 based on stereoscopic image formation information, and a photosensitive drum 14. A developing device 15 that develops the formed electrostatic latent image to form a toner image, a secondary transfer roll 25 that transfers the toner image onto a recording medium, and foams the toner image on the recording medium. A fixing device 30 including a heating roller 31 and a pressure roller 32 for fixing is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming unit is configured around a photosensitive drum 14, around which a charger 16, an exposure device 13, a developing device 15, a primary transfer roll 19, and a photosensitive member cleaning device 33. Is arranged.

  The developing device 15 includes rotary type developing devices 15Y, 15M, 15C, 15BK, and 15F. Each developing device contains a developer obtained by mixing each color toner of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (B) or a thermally foamable toner (F) and a carrier. .

  As the thermally foamable toner, a toner containing 75% by weight of a binder polymer as a binder resin and 25% by weight of Expandel 461 as a foaming agent was used. The volume average particle diameter of the thermally foamable toner was about 25 μm.

  The developing device 15 can develop the toner 14 with each color toner to form a toner image, and can also develop with a thermally foamable toner to form a thermally foamable toner image.

  The primary transfer roll 19 color-transfers images of different types of toner to the intermediate transfer belt 18 every time the intermediate transfer belt 18 rotates, and the secondary transfer roll 25 is transferred to a recording medium such as recording paper. An image is formed by batch transfer.

  The stereoscopic image forming apparatus 1 is provided with paper feeding devices 101 and 102 that can accommodate a large amount of recording paper and a double-sided print tray 103.

  A personal computer P is connected to the stereoscopic image forming apparatus 1. The computer P has a hardware configuration including a central processing unit, a control unit, a random access memory, a hard disk, an input / output device including a display and a communication control unit, and a software configuration including basic software and application software. Realize the function. In addition, it is possible to provide word processor software and draw software as application software, and to output the created sentences and pictures to the multi-function peripheral via a network. In addition, electronic mail software is provided as application software, and electronic mail can be transmitted and received between computers connected to the network.

  The three-dimensional image forming apparatus 1 creates a braille dot consisting of a circular image, a tactile original consisting of a line segment and a solid image, and gives a print instruction from application software installed in the personal computer P, thereby giving a braille character. 3D images can be output.

  In addition, a touch-type liquid crystal panel as a user interface is disposed on the top of the stereoscopic image forming apparatus 1. On the liquid crystal panel, an operation procedure and a message are output to the user, and an operation instruction is input from the user by touching a predetermined area with a finger.

  A document reading device that reads an image of the document 2 pressed by the platen cover is disposed on the top of the stereoscopic image forming apparatus 1. In this document reading apparatus, a document placed on a platen glass is illuminated by a light source 6, and a reflected light image from the document 2 is supplied to reduction optical systems 7 to 10 including a full rate mirror, a half rate mirror, and an imaging lens. Then, scanning exposure is performed on an image reading element 11 formed of a CCD or the like, and the color material reflected light image of the original 2 is read at a predetermined dot density (for example, 16 dots / mm) by the image reading element 11. .

  The color material reflected light image of the original read by the original reading apparatus is supplied to the image processing apparatus 12 as original reflectance data of three colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) (each 8 bits). The image processing apparatus 12 performs predetermined image processing such as shading correction, position shift correction, brightness / color space conversion, gamma correction, frame deletion, color / moving editing, etc., on the reflectance data of the document. Applied.

  The image data that has been subjected to the predetermined image processing by the image processing device 12 as described above is yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (B), four-color gradation data (each 8 bit) and the gradation data (8 bit) of the height for the thermo-thermal foaming toner is sent to the exposure device 13.

  The exposure device 13 modulates a semiconductor laser (not shown) according to gradation data, emits a laser beam LB from the semiconductor laser according to gradation data, and scans and exposes the photosensitive drum 14. The photosensitive drum 14 is rotationally driven at a predetermined speed along the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 by a driving unit (not shown). The surface of the photosensitive drum 14 is charged in advance with a predetermined polarity (in this case, a negative polarity) and potential by a charger 16, and then laser light LB is scanned and exposed in accordance with original reproduction color material gradation data. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed. The surface of the photosensitive drum 14 is uniformly charged to −650 V, and then the laser beam is scanned and exposed to the image portion to form an electrostatic latent image having an exposed portion of −200 V.

  The electrostatic latent images formed on the photosensitive drum 14 are developed by developing units corresponding to yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (B), and heat and heat foamable toner (F). 15, in the development area, the toner image T is reversely developed with toner charged to a negative polarity that is the same polarity as the charged polarity of the photosensitive drum 14, and a toner image T of a predetermined color is obtained. At that time, a developing bias voltage of −500 V is applied to the developing roll of each developing device 15.

  The toner images formed by the toners of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drum are transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 18 disposed below the photosensitive drum 14 by the primary transfer roll 19 at the nip portion. That is, the respective toner images are primarily transferred at the nip portion on the intermediate transfer belt in the order of yellow, magenta, cyan, black, and heat and heat foamable toner. Therefore, the image portion formed in multiple colors is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 18 in the order of yellow, magenta, cyan, black, and heat and heat foamable toner from the lower layer.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the intermediate transfer belt 18 is stretched by a drive roll 21, a driven roll 20, a tension roll 22, and a backup roll 23 as an opposing roll that constitutes a part of the secondary transfer unit. It is supported so as to be rotatable in the direction of the arrow at the same moving speed as the peripheral speed of the photosensitive drum. The toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 18 is pressed against the backup roll 23 that supports the intermediate transfer belt 18 on a recording sheet conveyed to the secondary transfer position at a predetermined timing. The image is transferred by the pressing force and electrostatic attraction force of the secondary transfer roll 25 that constitutes a part of the second transfer portion.

  As shown in FIG. 1, recording paper (recording medium) of a predetermined size supported by a paper guide is fed by a pick-up roll 27 and a feed roll 28 from paper feeding devices 101 and 102 attached to the multifunction peripheral. Paper. The fed recording paper is conveyed to a secondary transfer position of the intermediate transfer belt 18 by a plurality of conveyance rolls 28 and registration rolls 29 at a predetermined timing. Then, as described above, a toner image of a predetermined color is collectively transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 18 to the recording sheet by the backup roll 23 and the secondary transfer roll 25 as the secondary transfer unit. It is like that.

  Further, on the recording paper on which the toner image of a predetermined color is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 18, the thermal thermal foaming toner, black, cyan, magenta, and yellow are formed in this order from the bottom. 32. By applying heat and pressure by the heating roll 31 and the pressure roll 32 of the fixing device 30, the foaming agent in the thermally foamable toner is foamed, the volume is remarkably increased, and the binder resin is melted. It is assumed that the recording paper is a stereoscopic image. At the same time, the color toner is colored by heat melting on the thermally foamable toner layer, and a color stereoscopic image is formed on the recording paper.

  In order to foam the thermally foamable toner of the present invention, the fixing temperature is preferably set to 120 ° C. to 250 ° C., more preferably 130 ° C. to 240 ° C. When the fixing temperature is 120 ° C. or lower, the foaming agent may not foam sufficiently and a sufficient image thickness may not be obtained. On the other hand, when the temperature exceeds 250 ° C., the binder resin and the like are decomposed, and the decomposed product may cause a problem in environmental safety. In this embodiment, the fixing temperature was 150 ° C. to 200 ° C. in all cases.

  As the color toner, one that melts and develops color within a temperature range using a heat-foamable toner is used.

  The recording sheet on which the color stereoscopic image is assumed as described above is discharged out of the stereoscopic image forming apparatus 1. Thereafter, the color stereoscopic image is sandwiched between the transparent protective sheet and the recording paper, and the recording medium on which the transparent protective sheet is superimposed and the toner image is presupposed is supplied to the manual feed tray 105.

  Here, a transparent protective sheet having a thickness of 70 μm was used. This transparent protective sheet 41 is shown in FIG. In the transparent protective sheet 41, the transparent substrate 41a is a transparent resin made of polyester, and the adhesive layer 41b is a heat-sealable resin made of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin. The transparent protective sheet 41 remains transparent after heat sealing.

  When the transparent protective sheet mode is instructed from the control panel of the stereoscopic image forming apparatus 1, the image forming process as described above is not executed, and the recording paper is transferred from the manual feed tray 105 between the transparent protective sheet and the recording paper. With the color stereoscopic image sandwiched therebetween, the transparent protective sheet is conveyed into the stereoscopic image forming apparatus 1 while being overlapped, and is conveyed to the fixing device 30 through the path A in FIG. The adhesive layer 41b of the transparent protective sheet 41 is melted by the heating roll 31 of the fixing device 30 so that the color stereoscopic image is fixed on the recording medium, and the transparent protective sheet 41 and the recording medium 40 are fixed as shown in FIG. The transparent protective sheet 41 is adhered to the recording paper 40 so as to confine the stereoscopic image T1 between the two. In the stereoscopic image printed matter obtained in this way, the surface shape of the color stereoscopic image is copied on the surface of the transparent protective sheet, the transparent protective sheet is in close contact with the color stereoscopic image and the recording paper, and the surface shape of the color stereoscopic image is the transparent protective sheet. It is formed so that it can be seen from above.

  At this time, the heat fusion condition of the fixing device 30 is changed to a condition suitable for heat fusion of the transparent protective sheet from the fixing condition at the time of normal image formation when an instruction from the control panel of the stereoscopic image forming apparatus 1 is received. Will be reset. In this embodiment, the fixing condition and the fusing condition of the normal toner image are different, but the same condition may be used. Specific conditions are speed, temperature, pressure, etc., and each condition can be set as appropriate. The amount of heat required for heat fusion can be adjusted by these.

  The melting point of the adhesive layer may be lower than the settable heating temperature of the fixing device 30, but in the present embodiment, the melting point is 90 to 120 ° C.

  In addition, two protective sheets having a size larger than that of the recording medium are used, and the recording medium can be sandwiched from both the front and back surfaces and conveyed from the manual feed tray to the fixing device. In this case, the transparent protective sheet is sealed to the extent that the recording medium and the stereoscopic image are in close contact with each other, and can be sealed by the adhesive force between the protective sheets even if it does not have sufficient adhesive force. This is effective when the adhesive strength with the transparent protective sheet is weak depending on the paper type.

  Conventionally, when a color three-dimensional image is formed from a color toner and a heat-foamable toner on a specific recording paper type, an image portion composed only of the color toner under a fixing condition that causes the heat-foamable toner to foam well May be offset due to excessive heat. On the other hand, under conditions where the color toner is suitably fixed, the thermal foaming toner often does not sufficiently foam.

  In the case where the color development of the color image and the height of the heat-foamable toner image portion are incompatible, even if the foaming of the heat-foamable toner is insufficient under the condition that the offset of the color toner does not occur. Once, a toner image is assumed on the recording paper. After that, by thermally fusing the transparent protective sheet under conditions where the heat-foamable toner is sufficiently foamed, the heat-foamable toner image portion can be re-foamed to obtain a sufficient height, and the color toner Can prevent the offset. In this case, the adhesive temperature of the transparent protective sheet may be lower than the melting temperature of the heat-foamable toner and the color toner as long as the transparent base material of the transparent protective sheet does not change in condition.

  The stereoscopic image forming apparatus 1 in FIG. 2 is the same as the stereoscopic image forming apparatus 1 in FIG. 1 in the image forming unit portion, etc., but is provided with a transparent protective sheet dedicated tray 104 and fed from the transparent protective sheet dedicated tray 104. The transparent protective sheet is superposed on the recording paper on which the toner image is supposedly put with the toner image sandwiched therebetween, and conveyed to the fixing device 30.

  When a stereoscopic image printing instruction from the personal computer P or a copying instruction using the document 2 is made from the touch-type liquid crystal panel, the image forming process starts. At this time, when a post-processing instruction is given by the transparent protective sheet 41, the recording paper on which the color stereoscopic image is assumed is conveyed to the path B. The process until the color stereoscopic image is assumed is the same as in the first embodiment.

  Here, the transparent protective sheet 41 is stocked in the dedicated tray 104, and the transparent protective sheet 41 is transparent at the same timing so that the recording paper 40 conveyed in the path B and the front end of the transparent protective sheet 41 are aligned at C in FIG. Supplied from the protection sheet dedicated tray 104.

  The transparent protective sheet 41 fed from the transparent protective sheet-dedicated tray 104 is superimposed on the recording medium 40 on which the toner image (curler stereoscopic image) is presumed and sandwiched with the toner image, and is conveyed to the fixing device 30. The Here, the fixing device 30 is reset to an appropriate condition for the adhesive layer 41b of the transparent protective sheet 41 to be melted and thermally fused, and the recording paper 40 and the transparent protective sheet 41 are bonded to each other when passing. It is discharged as a printed image. The conditions of the fixing device 30 at this time are the same as those in the case of heat fusion in the first embodiment.

  As described above, the provision of the transparent protective sheet-dedicated tray 104 eliminates the trouble of manually setting the manual feed tray and improves operability.

  When performing a plurality of prints, during the process of superimposing the transparent protective sheet 41 and the recording paper 40 on which the stereoscopic image is assumed, the next toner image is formed at the same time, and immediately after the toner image is assumed, Productivity can be further increased by thermally fusing the transparent protective sheet 41 to the previous recording paper 40.

  The assumed fixing temperature in Example 2 is changed to 100 to 130 ° C. and the main fixing temperature is returned to 150 to 200 ° C., and the recording paper passing speed of the fixing device in the main fixing in Example 2 is changed to the normal speed. As described above, the speed is set between the normal speed and 1/3 of the normal speed. In the hypothetical fixing process, the thermally foamable toner is fixed without foaming, and in the main fixing process, the thermally foamable toner image is foamed to be permanently fixed as a three-dimensional image on the recording medium, and a transparent protective sheet is provided on the recording medium. It was possible to adhere well.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a color stereoscopic image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the color stereoscopic image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 schematically shows the three-dimensional image print obtained in the example. FIG. 4 schematically shows a transparent protective sheet used in the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1: Three-dimensional image forming apparatus, 2 ... Original, 3 ... Platen cover, 4 ... Original reading apparatus, 5 ... Platen glass, 6 ... Illumination lamp, 7-9 ... Mirror, 10 ... Lens, 11 ... Light receiving element, 12 ... Image Processing base device, 13 ... ROS (laser writing device, electrostatic latent image forming means), 14 ... photosensitive drum (image carrier), 15 ... developer (developing means), 16 ... charger, 17 ... PTC (exclusion) 18) intermediate transfer belt, 19 ... primary transfer roll, 20-23 ... idler roll, 24 ... paper feed tray pan, 25 ... secondary transfer roll, 26 ... paper feed tray box, 27 ... paper discharge roll, 28- DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 29 ... Paper conveyance roll (feed means), 30 ... Fixing device (fixing means), 31 ... Heating roll, 32 ... Pressure roll, 33 ... Cleaning device, 34 ... Intermediate transfer belt cleaner, 35 ... Secondary transfer roller Lucrina, 40 ... recording paper (recording medium), 41 ... transparent protective sheet, 41a ... transparent substrate, 41b ... adhesive layer, 42 ... image surface, 101-102 ... paper tray, 103 ... double-sided print tray, 104 ... transparent protection Sheet tray 105, manual feed tray, P personal computer, T toner, T1 stereoscopic image

Claims (12)

  An electrostatic latent image forming unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier based on stereoscopic image formation information, a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image, and records the toner image Transfer means for transferring onto the medium; conveying means for conveying the recording medium on which the transparent protective sheet is stacked with the toner image sandwiched between the transparent protective sheet and the recording medium; Fixing that allows a toner image to be fixed as a stereoscopic image on the recording medium, and that the transparent protective sheet can be closely attached to the recording medium so as to confine the stereoscopic image between the transparent protective sheet and the recording medium. And an electrophotographic stereoscopic image forming apparatus.   The stereoscopic image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixing unit copies the surface shape of the stereoscopic image onto the surface of the transparent protective sheet and causes the transparent protective sheet to adhere to the stereoscopic image and the recording medium.   The toner image is a heat-foamable toner image, and the fixing means foams the heat-foamable toner image on the recording medium and fixes it as a three-dimensional image on the recording medium, and then the transparent protective sheet The three-dimensional image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional image forming apparatus is closely attached to the recording medium.   A tray for exclusive use of a transparent protective sheet, and the conveying unit superimposes the transparent protective sheet fed from the tray for exclusive use of the transparent protective sheet on a recording medium on which a toner image is assumed and sandwiches the toner image, The three-dimensional image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional image forming apparatus is conveyed to a fixing unit.   5. The stereoscopic image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional image forming apparatus can be switched between a case where the transparent protective sheet is adhered to the recording medium and a case where the transparent protective sheet is not adhered to the recording medium.   The stereoscopic image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the fixing unit can set respective conditions depending on whether or not the transparent protective sheet is in close contact with the recording medium.   The heat-resistant layer is provided on the transparent protective sheet, and the fixing unit heat-seal the toner image sandwiched between the transparent protective sheet and the recording medium. The three-dimensional image forming apparatus described in 1. Preparing an electrostatic latent image forming unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, a fixing unit, and a conveying unit;
The electrostatic latent image forming means forms an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier based on the stereoscopic image formation information, the developing means develops the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image, and the transfer means The toner image is transferred onto a recording medium by the transfer means, the toner image is sandwiched between the transparent protective sheet and the recording medium by the conveying means, and the recording medium on which the transparent protective sheet is superimposed is fixed to the fixing means. The toner image is fixed as a stereoscopic image on the recording medium by the fixing means, and the transparent protective sheet is attached to the transparent protective sheet so as to confine the stereoscopic image between the transparent protective sheet and the recording medium. A method for forming a three-dimensional image in close contact with a recording medium.   The toner image is a heat-foamable toner image, and the heat-foamable toner image on the recording medium is foamed by the fixing unit and is assumed as a three-dimensional image on the recording medium. The stereoscopic image is sandwiched between a protective sheet and the recording medium, and the recording medium on which the transparent protective sheet is superimposed and the stereoscopic image is assumed is transported to the fixing unit again. The three-dimensional image forming method according to claim 8, wherein the toner image is permanently fixed as a three-dimensional image on the recording medium.   The toner image is a heat-foamable toner image, and the heat-foamable toner image on the recording medium is presupposed on the recording medium by the fixing unit, and the transparent protective sheet and the recording medium are formed by the conveying unit. The recording medium on which the heat-expandable toner image is put on and the heat-expandable toner image is presupposed and transported to the fixing means again. The three-dimensional image forming method according to claim 8, wherein the thermally foamable toner image is foamed and is fixed as a three-dimensional image on the recording medium.   The heat-resistant layer is provided on the transparent protective sheet, and the fixing unit heat-seal the toner image sandwiched between the transparent protective sheet and the recording medium. The three-dimensional image forming apparatus described in 1. A three-dimensional image printed matter in which a toner image is fixed as a three-dimensional image on a recording medium, the three-dimensional image is confined between the transparent protective sheet and the recording medium, and the transparent protective sheet is in close contact with the recording medium.

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