JP2011046023A - Image recording method and drawing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image recording method that corresponds to an uneven pattern of an image design of an image, and that can obtain a high-quality printed matter easily. <P>SOLUTION: The image recording method for recording the image and the uneven pattern corresponding to the image on a support includes: a step of generating base layer data multivalued on the boundary of a predetermined threshold of brightness based on brightness data included in image data of the image; a step of selectively forming a base layer on the support based on the base layer data; and a step of forming an image layer to touch a surface of the base layer and the support based on the image data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording method and a drawing apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing technology has been developed that prints an image having irregularities on its surface to express shades and textures more abundantly. Using such a technique, for example, if a printed material with a wood grain tone is taken as an example, the surface is uneven, so it does not seem to be a flat printed material at first glance, but an expression closer to the texture of wood is made. Prints can be obtained.

  Conventionally, such printed matter has been manufactured by forming irregularities on the surface of a printed matter on which an image is printed by embossing or foil pressing. However, embossing requires a special mold, and high-precision processing is required to provide unevenness corresponding to the already printed image, regardless of whether embossing or foil stamping is used. Thus, it is difficult to match the pattern of the printed image with the uneven pattern formed in an overlapping manner.

  Therefore, in recent years, techniques for simultaneously forming irregularities in the image printing process have been studied in order to match the pattern of the printed image with the irregular pattern (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  In Patent Document 1, an image having the same or larger outline as an outline of an image to be printed is formed on a support as a base image, and the entire pattern is formed from the support by forming the pattern image on the base image. Has realized an exciting print.

  In Patent Document 2, when printing a three-dimensional shape on a support, first, an image is printed using data on the surface of the support (two-dimensional data) among the image information of the three-dimensional shape to be printed, and then remains. By using data in the normal direction (height direction) of the surface of the support, a three-dimensional shape is printed by repeating printing with a transparent or opaque ink at a desired location on the printed two-dimensional image.

JP 2005-119243 A JP 2004-306593 A

  However, the above method has the following problems. That is, in the method of Patent Document 1, since the entire image to be printed is a printed matter that rises from the support, it is difficult to give the uneven shape in the image. In addition, as a method of imparting a concavo-convex shape in an image, a manufacturing method is disclosed in which the layer thickness of a pattern image or a base image is partially changed by increasing the amount of ink only in a desired area range during printing. There is no description on how the desired area range is set and unevenness is provided.

  In order to match the pattern of the image with the concavo-convex pattern, the most important technology is how to set the location where the concavo-convex is set, and how to match the concavo-convex pattern to be formed with the pattern image. Become. Since there is no description in this point in Patent Document 1, it is difficult to obtain a printed matter having an uneven shape corresponding to the pattern.

  In the method of Patent Document 2, a desired two-dimensional image is printed in advance and information in the height direction is given. When using opaque ink of the same color as the underlying two-dimensional image and expressing information in the height direction by printing, each layer to be stacked expresses the height and also forms an image. . In such a case, in each layer to be laminated, it is almost unavoidable that the ink spreads and spreads on the support, so when expressing the height and the pattern by laminating multiple layers, the spread of the ink spreads the image. The outline is easily blurred and it is difficult to obtain printed matter with clear image quality.

  In addition, when expressing information in the height direction using transparent ink that can visually recognize a two-dimensional image as a base, a transparent layer having irregularities is formed on the surface of the image printed on a flat surface. Therefore, it is merely recognized that the two-dimensional image has a concavo-convex shape in a pseudo manner, and the image itself can be expressed in a poor manner as compared with a printed matter having a three-dimensional representation having the concavo-convex shape.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides an image recording method in which an image pattern and an uneven pattern of an image correspond to each other, and a high-quality printed matter (recorded matter) can be easily obtained. With the goal. It is another object of the present invention to provide a drawing apparatus capable of easily drawing an image corresponding to a pattern and an uneven pattern.

  In order to solve the above problems, an image recording method of the present invention is an image recording method for recording an image and a concavo-convex shape corresponding to the image on a support, and brightness data included in the image data of the image A base layer data that is multi-valued with a predetermined brightness threshold as a boundary, and a step of selectively forming a base layer on the support based on the base layer data; Forming an image layer in contact with the underlayer and the surface of the support based on the image data.

  According to this method, the image data for forming the underlayer (underlayer data) is generated from data common to the image data for forming the image layer. By superimposing images based on such data, undulations corresponding to the pattern are generated on the surface of the image layer, and the uneven pattern of the underlayer and the pattern of the image layer can be easily aligned.

  In addition, since shadows due to unevenness are expressed in the image, the recessed portions often become shadows and become dark images. Therefore, by substituting the unevenness information based on the gray scale data (lightness data) of the image to be printed, it is possible to easily obtain the underlying layer data for expressing the unevenness.

  Further, the unevenness of the printed material is expressed by the underlayer, and an image layer that covers the underlayer and expresses the image pattern is provided, so that the image layer is not laminated in multiple layers, and therefore the outline of the image is blurred. Is unlikely to occur.

  Therefore, it is possible to easily print a high-quality printed matter by matching the pattern of the image with the uneven pattern of the image.

In the present invention, the image data preferably includes a plurality of color information, and the base layer data is generated based on at least one of brightness data included for each of the plurality of color information.
According to this method, since the underlayer can be formed based on the color component for which the unevenness is to be emphasized, rich unevenness expression can be achieved.

In the present invention, the base layer data is generated for each brightness data included in each of the plurality of color information, and the base layer is formed based on the plurality of base layer data in the step of forming the base layer. It is desirable.
According to this method, for the image data of each color, in order to generate the multi-valued base layer image data, the base layer height is increased by superimposing a plurality of base layer image data based on each color. It will change depending on the location, enabling richer unevenness expression.

In the present invention, prior to the step of generating the underlayer data, the method includes a step of actually measuring the surface unevenness of the target object of the image. In the step of generating the underlayer data, the surface unevenness is actually measured. It is desirable to correct the underlayer data using a value.
According to this method, the shading of the pattern of the image and the actual uneven shape can be matched to express unevenness with higher texture. For example, for example, although the image is represented by a dark and dark color, it is not actually recessed, but the shadow caused by the actual uneven shape, and the shade of the pattern of the object to be reproduced as a printed image, Can be matched to the actual concavo-convex shape with reference to the actually measured values.

In the present invention, in the step of forming the foundation layer, a photocurable ink is applied on the support, and the applied photocurable ink is irradiated with light to cure the photocurable ink. It is desirable to form the underlayer.
According to this method, it is possible to easily form an underlying layer having undulations based on the underlying layer data to be formed.

In the present invention, prior to the step of forming the base layer, it is desirable to have a liquid repelling step of making the surface of the support liquid repellent with respect to the photocurable ink.
According to this method, it is possible to suppress a decrease in resolution due to spreading and spreading of the photocurable ink for forming the base layer, and it is possible to form the base layer in which unevenness is well expressed.

In the present invention, in the step of forming the image layer, a photocurable ink is applied onto the underlayer and the support, and the applied photocurable ink is irradiated with light to thereby apply the photocurable ink. It is desirable to form the image layer by curing.
According to this method, the ink can be quickly cured by light irradiation immediately after the ink is placed, so that wetting and spreading of the ink can be prevented, and even on a ground layer having undulations. In addition, an image layer can be formed.

  In the present invention, in the step of forming the undercoat layer, a photocurable ink is applied, the applied photocurable ink is irradiated with light to cure a part of the photocurable ink, and the image layer is formed. In the forming step, the base layer and the image layer are formed by applying the photocurable ink onto the base layer formed of a partially cured photocurable ink and performing light irradiation. It is desirable to cure the photocurable ink together.

  Here, “partially cured” means that although the photocurable ink is partially polymerized from the initial coating state, the degree of polymerization has not reached 100%, and the functionality of the monomer or oligomer This refers to the state in which the group remains. Since the viscosity of the semi-cured ink is increased, it does not spread and spread from the place where it is placed, and it does not mix and mix when other inks are stacked.

  According to this method, by laminating the image layer on the base layer formed in a semi-cured state and curing, the functional group of the base layer remaining unreacted reacts with the photocurable ink of the image layer. In addition, the interface between the two is firmly bonded. Therefore, it becomes difficult for the foundation layer and the image layer to peel at the interface, and the scratch resistance of the surface of the printed matter to be formed can be improved.

In the present invention, it is desirable to apply the photocurable ink by using a droplet discharge method.
According to this method, an underlayer or an image layer having fine undulations can be easily formed. In addition, when both the base layer and the image layer are formed by the droplet discharge method, by superimposing the bitmap coordinates of the base layer data for forming the base layer and the image data for forming the image layer, The uneven pattern of the underlayer and the pattern of the image layer can be easily aligned.

Further, the drawing apparatus of the present invention ejects ink onto a support, and an image having a base layer selectively provided on the support and an image layer provided to cover the base layer. A drawing device for drawing, comprising: a droplet discharge head that discharges the ink; and a control device that supplies a drive signal to the droplet discharge head, the control device being included in the image data of the image Based on lightness data, multi-value is generated with a predetermined lightness threshold as a boundary to generate base layer data, and the drive signal is generated based on each of the base layer data and the image data .
According to this configuration, in the control device, a driving signal for the droplet discharge head is formed based on the image data and the underlying layer data with which the original data is common. Since the original data is common, it is easy to superimpose bitmap coordinates, and a drawing apparatus that can easily draw an image in which the concave / convex pattern of the underlayer and the pattern of the image layer are drawn can be provided.

It is a perspective view which shows an example of the printed matter printed with the image recording method of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the drawing apparatus of this invention. It is a side view which shows schematic structure of a carriage. It is a bottom view which shows schematic structure of a carriage. It is a schematic block diagram of a droplet discharge head. It is explanatory drawing of a light irradiation means. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the circuit structure which processes image data. It is a flowchart of an image data process. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a process of image data. It is process drawing which shows the printing process of the printed matter by the image recording method of this invention. It is explanatory drawing explaining the example of the printing method.

  Hereinafter, an image recording method and a drawing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In all the drawings below, the dimensions and ratios of the constituent elements are appropriately changed in order to make the drawings easy to see.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a printed material 100 formed by the image recording method of the present invention. The printed material 100 has a pattern printed on the surface of the support P. Here, as an example, a printed material 100 on which a woodgrain pattern is printed is shown. Specifically, the base layer 101 for forming irregularities is provided on the surface of the support P, and the image layer 102 for displaying the woodgrain pattern is formed on the entire surface of the support P so as to cover the base layer 101.

  For the support P, for example, a resin material is used as a forming material, and a flexible film can be used. Examples of the forming material include generally known materials such as PC (polycarbonate) and PET (polyethylene terephthalate). The support P may be light transmissive or opaque.

  The underlayer 101 is a layer that expresses irregularities on the surface of the printed material 100, and is selectively disposed at a predetermined location on the surface of the support P. A white or transparent photocurable ink is used as a material for forming the base layer 101. As the photocurable ink, an ultraviolet curable ink can be suitably used. For example, a composition obtained by mixing a commonly known urethane monomer or oligomer and a polymerization initiator that reacts with ultraviolet rays can be used as a transparent ultraviolet curable ink, and such a transparent photocurable ink can be used. Based on the above, a mixture of white pigments can be used as white ultraviolet curable ink.

  The image layer 102 is a layer expressing the pattern of the printed material 100, and is formed on the entire surface of the support P so as to cover the upper surface and side surfaces of the base layer 101. As a material for forming the image layer 102, a composition in which, for example, a pigment of C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black) is mixed with the above-described transparent photocurable ink (base ink) is used. it can. For the base ink of the base layer 101 and the image layer 102, it is preferable to use a material containing the same kind of monomer or oligomer because the adhesion at the interface between the base layer 101 and the image layer 102 is increased. It is convenient to use the same base ink.

  When such ink is colored and transparent, or even if it is colored and opaque, the image layer 102 is thin and the back can be seen through the image layer, the visibility of the image drawn on the image layer 102 is improved. In order to enhance, the support P is preferably opaque. When the support P is colored white, the color of the image layer 102 is helped and an image with good image quality can be expressed. For the same reason, when the support P is transparent, it is preferable that a white colored layer is provided on the surface of the support P and is opaque as a whole.

  Such a printed matter 100 is configured to observe an image drawn on the image layer 102 from the side opposite to the support P (image layer 102 side). In the printed material 100, the unevenness formed by the base layer 101 is reflected on the surface of the image layer 102 on which the image is drawn, and the image drawn on the image layer 102 is three-dimensionally expressed. Here, in the wood grain pattern drawn on the image layer 102, the portion corresponding to the wood grain portion drawn in dark color is expressed as a concave portion, and the portion drawn in light color is expressed as a convex portion. .

  FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the drawing apparatus of the present invention. The drawing apparatus 1 ejects photocurable ink onto the support P, irradiates the ejected photocurable ink with light, and cures the photocurable ink. It draws a picture or the like.

  The drawing apparatus 1 includes a base 2 on which the support P is placed, a transport device 3 that transports the support P on the base 2 in the X direction (first direction) in FIG. 2, and photocurable ink. , A carriage 4 including a plurality of the droplet discharge heads, and a feed device that moves the carriage 4 in the Y direction (second direction) orthogonal to the X direction 5. In the present embodiment, the conveyance device 3 and the feeding device 5 cause the support P and the carriage 4 to move relative to each other in the first direction (X direction) and the second direction (Y direction) orthogonal to the first direction. A moving device to be moved is configured.

  The transfer device 3 includes a work stage 6 and a stage moving device 7 provided on the base 2. The work stage 6 is provided so as to be movable in the X direction on the base 2 by the stage moving device 7, and is conveyed from a conveying device (not shown) arranged on the upstream side of the drawing device 1 in the manufacturing process. The support P is held on the XY plane by, for example, a vacuum suction mechanism. The stage moving device 7 includes a bearing mechanism such as a ball screw or a linear guide. The stage moving device 7 moves the work stage 6 in the X direction based on a stage position control signal indicating the X coordinate of the work stage 6 input from the control device 8. It is comprised so that it may move to.

  3 and 4 are explanatory views of the carriage 4, FIG. 3 is a side sectional view, and FIG. 4 is a bottom view. As shown in the figure, the carriage 4 has a rectangular plate shape that is movably attached to the feeding device 5, and a plurality of (four in this embodiment) droplet discharge heads 9 are provided on the bottom surface 4a side in the Y direction. It is held in a state of being arranged along (second direction).

  The plurality of droplet discharge heads 9 (9Y, 9C, 9M, 9K, 9W) are provided with a large number (a plurality) of nozzles as will be described later, and drawing data and drive control signals input from the control device 8 are provided. Based on the above, droplets of photocurable ink are ejected. In addition, these droplet discharge heads 9 (9Y, 9C, 9M, 9K, 9W) have a photocurable ink corresponding to Y (yellow), C (cyan), M (magenta), K (black), and white. Each (W) photocurable ink is discharged, and a tube (piping) 10 is connected to each droplet discharge head 9 via a carriage 4 as shown in FIG.

  A droplet discharge head 9Y corresponding to Y (yellow) is connected to a first tank 11Y filled and stored with photocurable ink for Y (yellow) via a tube 10, thereby discharging droplets. The head 9Y is supplied with photocurable ink for Y (yellow) from the first tank 11Y.

  Similarly, the droplet discharge head 9C corresponding to C (cyan) is filled with the photocurable ink for C (cyan), and the droplet discharge head 9M corresponding to M (magenta) is filled with M. The droplet discharge heads 9K corresponding to the third tank 11M and K (black) filled with the photocurable ink for (magenta) have the fourth tanks 11K and W filled with the photocurable ink for K (black). A fifth tank 11W filled with photocurable ink for W (white) is connected to the droplet discharge head 9W corresponding to (white). With such a configuration, each droplet discharge head 9 is supplied with a corresponding photocurable ink.

  These droplet discharge heads 9Y, 9C, 9M, 9K, and 9W, tubes (piping) 10, and tanks 11Y, 11C, 11M, 11K, and 11W are provided for each color (Y, C, M, K, and W) system. A heating means (not shown) such as a heater is provided. That is, in each color system, at least one of the droplet discharge head 9, the tube 10, and the tank 11 is provided with heating means for reducing the viscosity of the photocurable ink and increasing its fluidity. As a result, the photocurable ink is adjusted so that the ejectability from the droplet ejection head 9 is good.

  Here, the photocurable ink is a type that is cured by receiving light of a predetermined wavelength, such as an ultraviolet curable ink, and contains a monomer, a photopolymerization initiator, and a pigment corresponding to each color, and is further necessary. Depending on the conditions, various additives such as surfactants and thermal radical polymerization inhibitors are blended. In addition, since such a photocurable ink usually has different wavelength ranges of light (ultraviolet rays) to be absorbed depending on its components (formulations), the optimum value of the curing wavelength, that is, the optimum curing wavelength is also different for each ink. Is different.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of the droplet discharge head 9. 5A is a plan view of the droplet discharge head 9 viewed from the work stage 6 side, FIG. 5B is a partial perspective view of the droplet discharge head 9, and FIG. It is a fragmentary sectional view for 1 nozzle.

  As shown in FIG. 5 (a), the droplet discharge head 9 has a plurality (for example, 180) of nozzles N in a direction intersecting the Y direction (second direction), in this embodiment, the X direction (first direction). The plurality of nozzles N form a nozzle row NA. Although the nozzles for one row are shown in the figure, the number of nozzles and the number of nozzle rows provided in the droplet discharge head 9 can be arbitrarily changed. For example, a plurality of nozzle rows NA arranged in the X direction are arranged in the Y direction. It may be provided.

  5B, the diaphragm 20 provided with the material supply hole 20a connected to the tube 10, the nozzle plate 21 provided with the nozzle N, the diaphragm 20 and the nozzle plate 21 A reservoir (liquid reservoir) 22, a plurality of partition walls 23, and a plurality of cavities (liquid chambers) 24 are provided. The surface (bottom surface) of the nozzle plate 21 is a nozzle surface 21 a on which a plurality of nozzles N are formed. On the vibration plate 20, piezoelectric elements (drive elements) PZ are arranged corresponding to the respective nozzles N. The piezoelectric element PZ is made of a piezo element, for example.

  The reservoir 22 is filled with photocurable ink supplied through the material supply hole 20a. The cavities 24 are formed so as to be surrounded by the diaphragm 20, the nozzle plate 21, and the pair of partition walls 23, and are provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the nozzles N. In addition, the photocurable ink is introduced into each cavity 24 from the reservoir 22 through a supply port 24 a provided between the pair of partition walls 23.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5C, the piezoelectric element PZ is obtained by sandwiching the piezoelectric material 25 between the pair of electrodes 26, and when the drive signal is applied to the pair of electrodes 26, the piezoelectric material 25 contracts. It is comprised so that it may do. Therefore, the diaphragm 20 on which such a piezoelectric element PZ is disposed is integrally bent with the piezoelectric element PZ and bends outward (opposite the cavity 24) at the same time. The volume of 24 is increased.

  Therefore, the photocurable ink corresponding to the increased volume in the cavity 24 flows from the liquid reservoir 22 through the supply port 24a. Further, when the application of the drive signal to the piezoelectric element PZ is stopped from such a state, both the piezoelectric element PZ and the diaphragm 20 return to the original shape, and the cavity 24 also returns to the original volume. As a result, the pressure of the photocurable ink in the cavity 24 rises, and droplets L of the photocurable ink are ejected from the nozzle N toward the support P.

  Note that the droplet discharge head 9 having such a configuration has a bottom surface of the nozzle plate 21, that is, a formation surface (nozzle surface) NS of the nozzle N that is lower than the bottom surface 4 a of the carriage 4 as shown in FIG. 3. In such a manner, it is arranged so as to protrude from the bottom surface 4a.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the light irradiation means 12 is arranged adjacent to the carriage 4 on both sides with a plurality of (five in the figure) droplet discharge heads 9 arranged therebetween. That is, the light irradiation means 12 is arranged on both sides of the droplet discharge heads 9 arranged in the Y direction along the arrangement direction.

  These light irradiating means 12 are for curing the photocurable ink, and in the present embodiment, are constituted by a number of LEDs (light emitting diodes). However, in the present invention, the light irradiation means 12 is not limited to the LED as long as it can emit light having a wavelength that promotes polymerization of the photocurable ink, and other than this, for example, a laser diode (LD), Further, a mercury lamp lamp, a metal halide lamp, a xenon lamp, an excimer lamp or the like can be used as the light irradiation means 12. For example, when an ultraviolet curable ink is used as the photocurable ink, various light sources that emit ultraviolet light can be used.

  In the light irradiation means 12 including the LED of the present embodiment, the light to be irradiated is light having a wavelength band including the optimum curing wavelength of the photocurable ink discharged from the droplet discharge head 9. In other words, as described above, it is assumed that each photocurable ink has an optimum curing wavelength depending on its component (formulation), etc., but by irradiating the light as described above, each photocurable ink is optimal. Light having a curing wavelength is irradiated.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the light irradiation means 12. In the light irradiation means 12, for example, a commercially available LED as shown in FIG. 6A is used as the light source 13a. However, as shown in FIG. 6B, the side surface of the element body is rectangular or square. The light source 13b processed into a square is more preferably used. That is, the light source 13b is aligned vertically and horizontally as shown in FIG. 6C, and is attached to the carriage 4 and used as one large rectangular light irradiation source (light irradiation means 12). At this time, each light source 13b is formed in a rectangular shape or a square in plan view as shown in FIG. 6B, so that the light sources 13b are arranged at high density when they are aligned vertically and horizontally. Yes. Therefore, the light irradiation source (light irradiation means 12) formed has a sufficient amount of light.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 6C, the light irradiation means 12 corresponds to the length of the nozzle row NA of the corresponding droplet discharge head 9, and the light source 13b is set to have almost the same length as this. It is formed in an array. These light sources 13b are arranged such that the space 15 between the pair of adjacent light sources 13b corresponds to the space 16 between the pair of adjacent nozzles N of the plurality of nozzles N. With such a configuration, the light irradiation means 12 can reliably irradiate the light curable ink ejected from the nozzle N with the light from the light source 13b. That is, when the nozzle N is located at a position corresponding to the space 15 between the light sources 13b, the problem that the light emitted from the light source 13b is not sufficiently irradiated to the ink ejected from the nozzle N is avoided.

  In FIG. 6C, it is described that the nozzle N and the light source 13b are arranged at a ratio of 1: 1. However, the nozzle N is actually much smaller than the light source 13b. One light source 13b corresponds to the nozzle. Also in this case, as described above, the space between the pair of adjacent light sources 13b is configured to correspond to the space between the pair of adjacent nozzles N.

  In FIG. 6C, two rows of light sources 13b along the nozzle row NA are formed, but it is needless to say that one row or three or more rows may be used. Further, in FIG. 6C, the light irradiation means 12 is shown as a single light source group. However, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, one light irradiation means 12 may be constituted by a plurality of light source groups. Good.

  And the light irradiation means 12 which consists of such a light source 13b is so that the light emission surface 14 of the light source 13b shown in FIG.6 (b) may become substantially flush | planar with the bottom face 4a of the carriage 4 as shown in FIG. It is attached to the carriage 4. As a result, the light emitting means 12 has a light emitting surface positioned higher than the nozzle surface of the corresponding droplet discharge head 9. Therefore, in the droplet discharge head 9, the disadvantage that the nozzle N is irradiated with the light irradiated from the light irradiation unit 12 and the ink in the nozzle N is cured to cause nozzle clogging is reliably prevented.

  The carriage 4 is provided with cooling means (not shown) in the vicinity of the light irradiation means 12. As the cooling means, known ones such as a system for circulating cooling water and a Peltier element (Peltier element) are used. By disposing such a cooling means in the vicinity of the light irradiation means 12, the light source 13b (13a) made of LED is prevented from being deteriorated by the heat of itself or the surroundings and the life is reduced, and the light irradiation means is suppressed. The service life of 12 is extended.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the feeding device 5 for moving the carriage 4 has a bridge structure straddling the base 2, for example, in the Y direction (second direction) and the Z direction (third direction) orthogonal to the XY plane. On the other hand, a bearing mechanism such as a ball screw or a linear guide is provided. Based on such a configuration, the feeding device 5 moves the carriage 4 in the Y direction (second direction) based on the carriage position control signal indicating the Y coordinate and Z coordinate of the carriage 4 input from the control device 8. In addition to being moved, it is also moved in the Z direction (third direction).

The control device 8 outputs a stage position control signal to the stage moving device 7, outputs a carriage position control signal to the feeding device 5, and further draws drawing data and data on a drive circuit board (not shown) of the droplet discharge head 9. A drive control signal is output. Accordingly, the control device 8 performs synchronous control of the positioning operation of the support P by the movement of the work stage 6 and the positioning operation of the droplet discharge head 9 by the movement of the carriage 4 in order to move the support P and the carriage 4 relative to each other. In addition, by causing the droplet discharge head 9 to perform a droplet discharge operation, droplets of the photocurable ink are arranged at predetermined positions on the support P. The control device 8 also causes the light irradiation means 12 to perform a light irradiation operation separately from causing the droplet discharge head 9 to perform a droplet discharge operation.
The drawing apparatus is configured as described above.

  7 to 9 are explanatory diagrams for explaining the processing of the image data in the control device 8, FIG. 7 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a circuit configuration for processing the image data in the control device 8, and FIG. The flowchart and FIG. 9 are explanatory diagrams illustrating an example of processing of image data.

  In the present invention, using the image data of the image to be printed, an underlayer for expressing the irregularities on the surface of the support P shown in FIG. 2 and an image layer expressing the pattern are drawn, as shown in FIG. Such a printed matter 100 is formed. Hereinafter, image data processing will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the control device 8 includes an input unit 81 for inputting image data to be printed and an arbitrary threshold value to be described later, an underlayer data generation unit 83 for converting the image data to gray scale, and a gray scale based on the threshold value. The operation unit 85 that generates image data (underlayer data) of the underlayer by binarizing the image data represented by (2) generates a drive control signal using the binarized underlayer data and the image data. And a drive signal generation unit 87 for outputting to the droplet discharge head. In addition, it has a memory for temporarily storing each input data and calculation data.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when image data of an image to be printed is input from the input unit 81 (step S1), a gray scale of the image data is created in the underlayer data generation unit 83, and data relating to brightness is extracted ( Step S2).

  When the input image data is data including color information, the underlayer data generation unit 83 may convert the input image data itself into grayscale, and the image data is converted into R (red) G (Green) B (blue) and data separated for each color of CMYK may be converted to gray scale.

  Next, the arithmetic unit 85 binarizes the image data converted to gray scale with an arbitrary threshold as a boundary, and generates image data of the underlayer (step S3).

  FIG. 9 shows an example in which image data is binarized. For example, as shown in the figure, when woodgrain image data is input from the data input unit 81, the ground layer data generation unit 83 generates a grayscale image of a woodgrain image as shown in FIG. 9A. Is done. The arithmetic unit 85 binarizes the gray scale image based on a threshold value input in advance and displays it in black and white.

  In FIG. 9B, based on the image of FIG. 9A, the dark portion (low lightness) portion of the original image is displayed as black, and the light portion (high lightness) portion is binarized as white display. ing. In FIG. 9 (c), contrary to FIG. 9 (b), a dark portion (low brightness) is displayed in white, and a light portion (high lightness) is displayed in black. FIG. 9B and FIG. 9C are images in which black and white are just inverted.

  Here, which image data in FIGS. 9B and 9C is to be used as the image data of the underlayer is determined when the threshold value is input, and any of the image data in FIGS. 9B and 9C is selected. Only one image data is generated. For example, when obtaining a printed material in which a dark portion of the original image data is recessed, FIG. 9C is used to form a base layer in which the light portion of the original image data is raised. A drive signal is generated as image data, and a drive signal for printing on a black display portion is generated. At this time, since the line width of the binarized data obtained when the threshold value is different is changed, the underlying layer data having a desired line width can be formed using this.

  When data separated for each color of RGB or CMYK is converted into a gray scale image, the gray scale image of each color is binarized by the calculation unit 85. If there is color information for which the unevenness is to be emphasized, only the brightness data obtained from the corresponding color information is binarized.

  Next, the drive signal generator 87 generates a drive signal for the droplet discharge head using the binarized image data, and prints the underlying layer (step S4). As described above, when binarized image data is generated for data separated for each color of RGB and CMYK, the image data of a plurality of underlayers based on each color is superimposed by Since the height of the strata changes depending on the location, rich irregularities can be expressed. When only the brightness data obtained from the color information for which the unevenness is to be emphasized is binarized, a base layer corresponding to the corresponding color is formed.

  Also, by preparing a plurality of threshold values and performing steps S3 and S4 for the plurality of threshold values, it is possible to form an underlayer whose line width changes stepwise in the height direction, and to express smooth irregularities. It can also be used as an underlayer.

  When the printing of the underlying layer is completed, the drive signal generation unit 87 generates a drive signal for the droplet discharge head using the image data, and prints the image layer (step S5). By forming the image layer so as to cover the underlying layer on which the unevenness is expressed, the unevenness of the underlying layer is reflected on the surface of the image layer, and as a result, a printed matter having unevenness on the surface can be printed.

  10 and 11 are explanatory diagrams illustrating a printing process of the printed material 100, FIG. 10 is a process chart, and FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a printing method. The steps shown below correspond to the steps shown in steps S4 and S5 in the above flowchart.

  First, as shown in FIG. 10A, the underlayer 101 is printed on the support P using ultraviolet curable ink and the underlayer data created from the image data common to the image layer. The ultraviolet curable ink applied on the support P is irradiated with ultraviolet rays from a light irradiation means provided in a droplet discharge head (not shown) to form a base layer 101.

  At this time, in order to prevent the spread of the ultraviolet curable ink, it is preferable to perform a liquid repellent treatment on the surface of the support P in advance. As the liquid repellent material for the liquid repellent treatment, a conventionally known silane compound, a compound having a fluoroalkyl group, a fluororesin (resin containing fluorine), and a mixture thereof can be used. The liquid repellent property can be imparted to the surface of the support P by applying to the surface to form a liquid repellent layer.

  Further, when forming the base layer 101, by increasing the height of the foundation layer pattern having a large line width and by decreasing the height of the foundation layer pattern having a thin line width, the height distribution in the printing surface is given a width, More three-dimensional printing can be performed.

  Specifically, when printing a base layer pattern with a large line width L1, first, UV curable ink I1 that forms part of the base layer in a state of being separated from each other is disposed on the surface of the support P and cured. Then, the ultraviolet curable ink I2 is disposed between the previously disposed ultraviolet curable inks I1 (FIG. 11B), and printing is performed. By forming the base layer in this manner, the excitement can be increased as compared with the case where the ultraviolet curable ink I is arranged in a state where all are connected at once (FIG. 11C).

This is because when printing is performed in a state where all are connected at once as shown in FIG. 11C, the ink before curing is pushed by its own weight and spreads easily, and a flat printing state is likely to occur. ) When divided and printed as in (b), the ink I2 runs on the ink I1 that has already been cured and has a height, so that the height (thickness of the underlying layer) can be easily increased. .

  Of course, it is also possible to make the height distribution of the base layer pattern with a large line width and the base layer pattern with a small line width constant by performing printing that results in a flat print state as shown in FIG. is there.

  Next, as illustrated in FIG. 10B, the image layer 102 covering the base layer 101 is printed on the support P using ultraviolet curable ink. In the conventional printing method, the concavo-convex pattern of the underlayer is generated based on the pattern of the image layer, and thus has a concavo-convex pattern that corresponds well with the pattern.

  In addition, although it has been difficult to obtain a printed matter in which a pattern and an uneven pattern are combined, in the present invention, the original image data of the base layer 101 and the image layer 102 are common. Therefore, it is possible to easily align the concavo-convex pattern of the base layer 101 and the pattern of the image layer 102 by superimposing each other's bitmap coordinates.

  Further, when the amount of light irradiation is controlled when the base layer 101 is formed and the base layer 101 is in a semi-cured state, the image layer 102 is laminated on the base layer 101 in a semi-cured state. Then, upon irradiation with light at the time of forming the image layer 102, the functional group of the base layer 101 remaining unreacted reacts with the functional group of the ultraviolet curable ink of the image layer 102, and the interface between the two is firmly bonded. . Therefore, it is preferable because the base layer 101 and the image layer 102 are hardly separated at the interface, and the scratch resistance of the surface of the printed matter 100 is increased.

In such a case, after the image layer 102 is formed, a light irradiation process for completely curing the base layer 101 and the image layer 102 may be provided. In such a light irradiation process, a halogen lamp having a wide wavelength band and a large amount of illuminance is preferably used as a light source in order to completely cure the ultraviolet curable ink to be used.
As described above, the printed matter 100 is formed using the image recording method of the present invention.

  According to the image recording method of the above method, the image pattern and the uneven pattern of the image can be matched well, and the high-quality printed matter 100 can be easily printed.

  Further, according to the drawing device 1 as described above, the control device 8 forms a drive signal for the droplet discharge head 9 based on the image data and the underlying layer data that share the original data. Since the original data is common, it is easy to superimpose the bitmap coordinates of both data, and the drawing apparatus 1 can easily draw an image in which the uneven pattern of the underlayer 101 and the pattern of the image layer 102 are drawn. .

  In this embodiment, brightness data is used as information on the uneven shape to be reproduced, but in addition to this, the unevenness on the surface of the object to be reproduced by the image recording method of the present invention is measured. In addition, the actually measured value can be used as reference information. For example, when it is clear from the measured value that the portion determined to be depressed from the lightness data is not depressed, it is possible to reverse the black and white of the underlying layer data of the portion expressed in binary. It is possible to form a printed material that reproduces the surface irregularities satisfactorily.

  In the present embodiment, the base layer and the image layer are formed using the droplet discharge method. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a conventionally known printing method such as a roll screen method or a flexographic printing method can be used. . When a printing method other than such a droplet discharge method is used, when forming the underlying layer data, the underlying layer data may be formed by multi-leveling to three or more values based on the threshold value. .

  In this embodiment, the control device 8 converts the image data and forms the image data of the underlayer. However, the image data of the underlayer is calculated in advance by an external computer, and the image data is converted into the image data. It is also possible to form a base layer by inputting.

  In the present embodiment, the light irradiation device 12 is disposed on both sides of the plurality of droplet discharge heads 9. However, the light irradiation device 12 may be provided for each droplet discharge head 9. In the case of such a configuration, it is preferable that the light irradiation device irradiates light having the optimum curing wavelength of the photocurable ink ejected by the corresponding droplet ejection head 9.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such examples. Various shapes, combinations, and the like of the constituent members shown in the above-described examples are examples, and various modifications can be made based on design requirements and the like without departing from the gist of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Drawing apparatus, 8 ... Control apparatus, 9 ... Droplet discharge head, 100 ... Printed matter, 101 ... Underlayer, 102 ... Image layer, I, I1, I2 ... Ink

Claims (10)

An image recording method for recording an image and a concavo-convex shape corresponding to the image on a support,
Based on the brightness data included in the image data of the image, generating a base layer data multi-valued with a predetermined brightness threshold as a boundary;
Selectively forming an underlayer on the support based on the underlayer data;
Forming an image layer in contact with the underlayer and the surface of the support based on the image data. The image data includes a plurality of color information,
The image recording method according to claim 1, wherein the base layer data is generated based on at least one of brightness data included for each of the plurality of color information. For each lightness data included in each of the plurality of color information, the base layer data is generated,
The image recording method according to claim 2, wherein in the step of forming the underlayer, the underlayer is formed based on a plurality of the underlayer data. Prior to the step of generating the underlayer data, the step of measuring the surface irregularities of the target object of the image,
4. The image recording method according to claim 1, wherein in the step of generating the underlayer data, the underlayer data is corrected using an actual measurement value of the surface irregularities. 5.   In the step of forming the base layer, the base layer is formed by applying a photocurable ink on the support and irradiating the applied photocurable ink with light to cure the photocurable ink. The image recording method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the image recording method is performed.   The image recording method according to claim 5, further comprising a liquid repelling step of making the surface of the support liquid repellent with respect to the photocurable ink prior to the step of forming the base layer.   In the step of forming the image layer, a photocurable ink is applied on the base layer and the support, and the applied photocurable ink is irradiated with light to cure the photocurable ink. The image recording method according to claim 1, wherein the image layer is formed. In the step of forming the base layer, a photocurable ink is applied, and the applied photocurable ink is irradiated with light to cure a part of the photocurable ink,
In the step of forming the image layer, the photocurable ink is applied onto the base layer formed of a photocurable ink partially cured.
The image recording method according to claim 7, wherein the photocurable ink that forms the base layer and the image layer is cured by performing light irradiation.   The image recording method according to claim 5, wherein the photocurable ink is applied using a droplet discharge method. A drawing apparatus that discharges ink onto a support and draws an image having a base layer selectively provided on the support and an image layer provided to cover the base layer,
A droplet discharge head for discharging the ink;
A controller for supplying a driving signal to the droplet discharge head,
The control device generates base layer data by multi-valued with a predetermined brightness threshold based on the brightness data included in the image data of the image, and each of the base layer data and the image data A drawing apparatus generating the drive signal based on the drawing signal.

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