JP2012126019A - Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and image forming body - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus, along with an image forming method and image forming body, capable of forming an image that can be viewed stereoscopically in high definition.SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes: a conveyance section for conveying a recording medium; an image forming section for forming an element image having a plurality of parallax images on the recording medium; and an element forming section for forming a substantially flat element having a refractive index distribution at least in one direction within the surface of the recording medium on the element image.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and an image forming body.

  As a method of forming an image that can be viewed stereoscopically with the naked eye, a method of bonding a lenticular lens array or microlens array sheet on a recording medium on which an image is formed, or a method of directly forming an image on a sheet of these lens arrays There is.

  However, in any of the above-described methods, it is difficult to form an image that can be stereoscopically viewed with high definition because the images are observed through a lens array sheet having uneven portions.

Japanese Patent No. 3555420

  Provided are an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and an image forming body capable of forming a high-definition stereoscopically viewable image.

  An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment includes a transport unit that transports a recording medium, an image forming unit that forms an element image having a plurality of parallax images on the recording medium, and an in-plane of the recording medium on the element image. And an element forming portion for forming a substantially flat element having a refractive index distribution in at least one direction.

  In the image forming method in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment, the first ink is applied to the central portion of the element image, and the refractive index is smaller than the first ink at a portion adjacent to the central portion of the element image. The second ink is applied to a substantially uniform thickness.

  An image forming body according to an embodiment includes a recording medium, an element image formed on the recording medium and having a plurality of parallax images, and formed on the element image, and a refractive index distribution in at least one direction in the recording medium. And a substantially flat element.

1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an image forming unit and an element forming unit according to the first embodiment. The figure for demonstrating the structure of the image which concerns on 1st embodiment. The figure which shows the relationship between the pixel and element image which concern on 1st embodiment. The figure which shows the relationship between the element image which concerns on 1st embodiment, and a refractive index distribution lens. 1 is a schematic diagram of a gradient index lens according to a first embodiment. FIG. The schematic diagram of the modification of the gradient index lens which concerns on 1st embodiment. The block diagram of the control system which concerns on 1st embodiment. The figure for demonstrating the structure of the image which concerns on 2nd embodiment. The schematic diagram of the refractive index distribution lens which concerns on 2nd embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the invention will be described.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an image forming unit and an element forming unit according to the present embodiment.

  The image forming apparatus of the present embodiment forms an image forming body including an image that can be stereoscopically viewed with the naked eye. The image forming body is formed by forming an element image having a plurality of parallax images on a recording medium such as paper and applying a plurality of materials having different refractive indexes on the element image to a substantially uniform thickness. Is done. By observing such an image forming body from a direction perpendicular to the plane of the recording medium, stereoscopic viewing with the naked eye becomes possible.

  In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus includes a conveyance belt (conveyance unit) 15 that conveys a recording medium (hereinafter, paper) 10 for recording an image, an image formation unit 20 that forms an element image 111 on the paper 10, and a paper An element forming unit 30 for forming an element having a refractive index distribution in the horizontal direction (hereinafter referred to as a refractive index distribution lens 250) on the element image 111, a plurality of rollers relating to the transport mechanism of the paper 10, and these. A control system 200 for controlling is provided. Further, the image forming apparatus includes a paper cassette 11 in which the paper 10 is stored.

  The conveyor belt 15 is stretched by a tension roller 14 that is a support member, and is conveyed in the direction of the arrow in the drawing by the rotation of the tension roller 14. The paper 10 is transported by the transport belt 15.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming unit 20 includes ink jet heads 20-1, 20-2, 20-3, 20-4 and ink tanks 21-1, 21-2 connected to the respective ink jet heads. 21-3 and 21-4. The inkjet head is disposed to face the conveyance belt 15, and includes a plurality of nozzles that are orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the conveyance belt 15 and are disposed along a direction horizontal to the conveyance belt 15. The ink tanks contain yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) color inks, respectively. Each color ink is supplied from the ink tank to the inkjet head by an ink supply mechanism (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the element forming unit 30 includes ink jet heads 30-1, 30-2, 30-3 and ink tanks 31-1, 31-2, 31-3 connected to the respective ink jet heads. Have. Here, the ink jet head of the element forming unit 30 has the same configuration as the ink jet head of the image forming unit 20. Each ink tank contains UV curable ink (hereinafter referred to as element ink) having a different refractive index. Similarly to the image forming unit 20, the ink for each element is supplied from the ink tank to the inkjet head by the ink supply mechanism.

  The ink tanks of the image forming unit 20 and the element forming unit 30 are detachably installed, and can be newly replaced when the ink runs out. In addition, regarding the ink jet head, a known technique can be used for the structure and the method for ejecting ink from the head.

  In addition, although UV curable ink is used here, it is possible to use photocurable ink other than UV, thermosetting ink, or thermoplastic that has been melted by applying heat in advance. It is also possible to use ink.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the drive mechanism of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  The uppermost sheet 10 of the sheet cassette 11 is disposed so as to be in contact with the pickup roller 12. When the pickup roller 12 rotates, the contacted sheet 10 is taken out to the conveying roller 13 one by one. . The taken paper 10 is sent to the transport belt 15 by the rotation of the transport roller 13.

  At this time, the paper 10 is not limited to being supplied from the paper cassette 11, and may be supplied from the manual feed base 41 to the transport roller 13 by manual feeding and sent to the transport belt 15. Further, the number of paper cassettes 11 is not limited to one, and a plurality of paper cassettes 11 may be provided as shown in FIG.

  A chucking roller 16 having a bias voltage applied to the surface is provided at the carry-in entrance of the carry belt 15. The first intermediate product is obtained by applying static electricity to the paper 10 by the chucking roller 16. This first intermediate product adheres to the surface of the conveyor belt 16 by electrostatic force. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the image from being displaced due to the first intermediate product being displaced on the conveyor belt 15 during the conveyance. Then, the first intermediate product is transported to the image forming unit 20 by the transport belt 15.

  In the image forming unit 20, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) dots (the nozzles of the inkjet head each discharge color ink onto the first intermediate product ( An image is formed by (spot). As a result, a second intermediate product having an image formed on the first intermediate product is obtained.

  The second intermediate product is further transported by the transport belt 15, and the light transmissive transparent film 100 is superimposed on the second intermediate product by the film laminating roller 17. This transparent film 100 is formed in a two-layer structure. The base material of the first layer is made of a resin such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and a thermoplastic resin as the second layer is applied on the base material. The second layer side of the transparent film 100 is brought into contact with the second intermediate product and attached by a heat treatment described later.

  In this embodiment, the transparent film 100 is prepared as a roll-shaped roll film 101 as shown in FIG. 1, and the roll film 101 is conveyed to the film laminating roller 17 by the film conveying roller 18.

  In this conveyance process, the transparent film 100 is obtained by cutting and adjusting the roll film 101 to the same size as the paper 10 by the cutter 102 according to the length of the paper 10. The transparent film 100 is superimposed on the second intermediate product by the film laminating roller 17.

  The third intermediate product obtained by superimposing the transparent film 100 on the image forming surface of the second intermediate product in this way is conveyed to the element forming unit 30 by the conveying belt 15.

  In the element formation part 30, according to the manufacturing method of the gradient index lens array 251 mentioned later, the inkjet heads 30-1, 30-2, and 30-3 apply the inks for elements having different refractive indexes on the third intermediate product. By applying, a fourth intermediate product is obtained.

  An ultraviolet lamp unit 40 is disposed downstream of the element forming unit 30 in the conveyance direction of the conveyance belt 15. Here, a mercury lamp having a main wavelength of 365 nm is used as the ultraviolet lamp unit 40. The element ink is fixed as a gradient index lens array 251 by the ultraviolet lamp unit 40.

  Further, on the downstream side of the ultraviolet lamp unit 40 in the conveyance direction of the conveyance belt 15, a heat roller pair 19 is provided that bonds the contact surface of the fourth intermediate product with the transparent film 100 by heat treatment. The heat roller pair 19 includes upper and lower rollers that sandwich the fourth intermediate product.

  Inside the lower roller of the heat roller pair 19, a heating source such as a halogen lamp is disposed. The surface temperature of the lower roller is detected by a temperature detection element (not shown), and the power supply to the halogen lamp is controlled to be kept constant. The lower roller is driven and controlled by a control system, which will be described later, and rotates at a constant speed. Accordingly, the fourth intermediate product is conveyed while being heated by the heat roller pair 19. At this time, the thermoplastic resin of the transparent film 100 is melted, and the contact surface between the transparent film 100 and the second intermediate product is adhered to obtain an image forming body.

  The image forming body thus obtained is transported to the take-out port 42 installed on the downstream side of the transporting belt 15 in the transport direction of the heat roller pair 19.

  In this embodiment, the refractive index distribution lens array 251 is formed on the transparent film 100 as described above. The image formed on the paper 10 needs to be positioned at the focal length of the lens. For this reason, when the gradient index lens array 251 is formed directly on the paper 10, it is necessary to have a certain thickness, so that the amount of element ink used is increased.

  Therefore, by using the transparent film 100, the necessary focal length can be ensured even when the thickness of the gradient index lens array 251 is reduced, so that the amount of element ink used is greatly reduced. be able to.

  Further, the surface on which the gradient index lens array 251 is formed is required to have a property excellent in the adhesion of the element ink, but the transparent film 100 is appropriately made of a material excellent in the adhesion of the element ink to be used. By selecting, it can respond to various inks for elements.

  Hereinafter, a method for producing the gradient index lens array 251 on the paper 10 on which an image is formed will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of an image formed on the sheet 10.

  The image formed on the paper 10 is formed, for example, by combining divided images obtained by dividing a plurality of parallax images 110 taken at the same viewing distance in the horizontal direction (FIG. 3C) into rectangular shapes. It is configured as an array of element images 111. The element image 111 is formed by pixels 112 of each color ink ejected from the inkjet head.

  Here, for the sake of explanation, a state in which two parallax images 110 are distributed to form an element image 111 is shown.

  Specifically, first, as shown in FIG. 3A, parallax images A and B are a1, a2,..., Ai,... AN, b1, b2,. The letter i is divided into an integer of 1 or more and N or less. At this time, as the division direction, the image is divided in the direction in which the parallax is desired, that is, in the horizontal direction of the parallax image 110 in this case.

  Next, the element image 111 is formed by arranging the divided images having the same subscript number so as to maintain the positional relationship between the locations where the respective parallax images 110 are captured. Here, since the parallax image 110 can be obtained at two points, left (A) and right (B), centered on the point O in FIG. 3C, the horizontal direction is maintained so as to maintain this positional relationship. The first element image 111 is formed by arranging a1 on the left and b1 on the right (in the coordinate system x-axis direction in FIG. 3B). In the same manner, up to the Nth element image 111 is formed.

  In the present embodiment, the inkjet head of the image forming unit 20 forms pixels 112 having an aspect ratio of 3: 1 (vertical 3 Pp, horizontal 1 Pp) by ejecting ink onto the paper 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the pixel 112 is applied in a matrix form to form an element image. Here, as an example, when the above-mentioned divided image is expressed as a set of pixels of 12 rows and 9 columns (vertical 36 Pp, horizontal 9 Pp), a set of pixels of 12 rows and 18 columns (vertical 36 Pp, horizontal 18 Pp) is represented. The element image 111 can be used. At this time, since the parallax image 110 having two parallaxes is allocated to the element image 111, the image composed of the element images 111 is a stereoscopic image that gives two parallaxes in the horizontal direction by the gradient index lens array 251. It can be seen that display is possible.

  At this time, the element image 111 is formed by distributing a plurality of parallax images 110. However, if the element image 111 is formed by distributing a plurality of different images, for example, the element image 111 depends on the angle observed by the gradient index lens array 251. It is also possible to make a special image that is a different image.

  Here, the image is configured as a set of element images 111 obtained by dividing and allocating the parallax image 110, but for example, only a part is synthesized from the plurality of parallax images 110 as described above. By configuring the image 111 and others as normal images, it is also possible to form an image that allows stereoscopic viewing of only a part of the region.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the element image 111 and the gradient index lens 250. FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the image forming body, and FIG. 5B is a top view of the image forming body.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5A, one refractive index distribution lens 250 is formed in a range (hereinafter referred to as a corresponding position) covering the element image 111 on the transparent film 100. Then, the refractive index distribution lens 250 is continuously formed over the entire image range, thereby producing a substantially flat refractive index distribution lens array 251 as shown in FIG.

  Here, the above-mentioned substantially flat is, for example, a curvature that is a design parameter of a lenticular lens that is determined according to an appropriate viewing distance when stereoscopically viewing an image formed from a certain element image when using a lenticular lens array. On the basis of the above, the difference between the thickness of the central portion and the peripheral portion of the gradient index lens 250 designed from the same element image as above is the thickness of the central portion and the peripheral portion of the lens having the curvature. The smaller the difference, the more flat. However, in this case, the central portion and the peripheral portion are based on the same position on the element image 111, respectively.

  The element forming unit 30 discharges ink using different inkjet heads so that the inks for elements having refractive indexes n1, n2, and n3 are sequentially adjacent to each other.

  At this time, in the central portion of the corresponding position of the element image 111 on the transparent film 100 (in the width direction of the element image 111), the element ink having the highest refractive index among the element inks used is applied. In the peripheral part of the position (in the width direction of the element image 111), the inks for elements having different refractive indexes are applied adjacent to each other so that the refractive index gradually decreases as the distance from the central part increases. To do.

  Assuming that n3> n2> n1 holds as the magnitude relationship of the refractive index of the element ink, specifically, the element inks are adjacent to each other so that the positional relationship is n1, n2, n3, n2, n1. Then, the refractive index distribution lens 250 is formed by coating.

  At this time, as the order of application of the element ink, it is assumed that the element inks of refractive indexes n1, n2, and n3 are respectively stored in the ink tanks 31-1, 31-2, and 31-3. The order of the ink tanks in the 15 transport directions, that is, the order of the refractive indexes n1, n2, and n3 can be used.

  The refractive index distribution lens 250 obtained in this way is a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis direction of the refractive index distribution lens 250 (the coordinate system z-axis direction in FIG. 5B) and the element image 111. It has a refractive index distribution in the horizontal direction (the coordinate system x-axis direction in FIG. 5B).

  Here, since it is assumed that the element images 111 are formed at a predetermined interval, the width of the gradient index lens 250 is larger than the lateral width (18 Pp) of the element image 111. It is stipulated in. However, when the element images 111 are formed adjacent to each other, the width of the gradient index lens 250 can be determined to be equal to the lateral width of the element image 111.

  Here, the substantially uniform thickness is, for example, a design parameter of a lenticular lens determined according to an appropriate viewing distance when stereoscopically viewing an image formed from a certain element image when using a lenticular lens array. The ratio of the thickness of the central portion of the gradient index lens 250 designed from the same element image as described above to the thickness of the peripheral portion is the thickness of the central portion of the lens having the curvature. The thickness can be made uniform as it is closer to 1 than the ratio to the thickness of the peripheral portion. However, in this case, the central portion and the peripheral portion are based on the same position on the element image 111, respectively.

  In the present embodiment, the refractive indexes of the element inks used are 1.5, 1.6, and 1.7, respectively. That is, in the element forming unit 30, ink for elements having refractive indexes of 1.5, 1.6, and 1.7 are respectively stored in the ink tanks 31-1, 31-2, and 31-3, and the ink jet head 30- 1, 30-2, and 30-3 are configured to supply respective element inks.

  In addition, an inkjet head having 1200 nozzles per inch (1200 dpi) is used.

  Therefore, for example, when the width of the refractive index distribution lens 250 is 1/10 inch, as shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. By ejecting element ink so that different ink regions 254 are applied adjacently, one refractive index distribution lens 250 is formed from a total of 120 dots of ink droplets.

  The number of dots for forming the ink region 254 can be appropriately changed according to the width of the element image 111. At this time, a finer stereoscopic image can be obtained by reducing the width of the gradient index lens 250.

  And the refractive index distribution lens array 251 is produced by repeatedly forming the refractive index distribution lens 250 at the corresponding positions of all the element images 111 constituting the image on the transparent film 100.

  In the present embodiment, one ink region 254 is all formed from ink droplets having an equal number of dots, but as shown in FIG. 7, the ink region 254 is formed with a smaller number of dots as the distance from the center portion increases. By forming it, it is possible to have a non-equal structure. This makes it possible to freely control the optical characteristics equivalent to the curvature of the lenticular lens without changing the surface shape of the gradient index lens 250 compared to the case where the gradient index lens 250 is equally divided. It becomes possible.

  Here, the refractive index distribution lens 250 is formed using three kinds of element inks, but the kind of element ink used is not limited to three kinds, and more than one kind of refractive index. By using the element ink, the refractive index distribution lens 250 having a smoother refractive index distribution can be manufactured.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, since UV curable ink is used, affinity is generated at the interface between inks of different refractive indexes adjacent to each other before UV curing, and the refractive index is continuously changed. The distribution lens 250 can be manufactured.

  In the present embodiment, element inks having different refractive indexes are used as materials for producing the gradient index lens 250. As the inks having different refractive indexes, it is possible to use a plurality of inks having different refractive indexes, for example, by mixing a small amount of a different amount of pigment with a common transparent ink.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the control system 200 according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, each part of the image forming apparatus is controlled by the main controller 201. Hereinafter, the operation of the control system 200 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The main controller 201 gives a control signal to the motor control unit 203. Based on this control signal, the motor control unit 203 outputs a pulsed motor drive signal to each motor drive circuit 206. The motor drive circuit 206 controls the drive of the motor 207 of each part by this motor drive signal.

  Although only three motors are shown in FIG. 8 for the sake of simplicity, the motor driving circuit 206 actually uses rollers such as the pickup roller 12, the conveyance rollers 13, 14 and the chucking roller 16 and the conveyance belt. The tension roller 14 for conveying 15 is driven and controlled. The drive control of the ink supply mechanism based on ink detection is performed in the same manner, not limited to the driving of the rollers related to the transport mechanism.

  The main controller 201 is supplied with an image information signal corresponding to this data from the computer 300 that holds the data of the parallax image 110. The computer 300 includes, for example, an arithmetic processing device 301, a storage device 302, an input device 303, an output device 304, and the like, and is connected to the main controller 201 so as to be able to transmit and receive data. The computer 300 may be provided in the image forming apparatus or may be provided outside the image forming apparatus.

  The main controller 201 gives this image information signal to the image processing unit 202. As described with reference to FIG. 3, the image processing unit 202 forms an element image 111 from a plurality of parallax images 110 to form an image. Then, each color component signal of the image configured as described above is output to the inkjet control unit 204.

  At the same time, the main controller 201 provides the image processing unit 202 with a lens pattern signal for instructing a pattern of the gradient index lens 250 (such as a gradient index pattern). The image processing unit 202 outputs a lens generation signal generated as a timing signal to the inkjet control unit 204 based on the lens pattern signal in order to produce the gradient index lens array 251 corresponding to the configured image. To do.

  The inkjet control unit 204 outputs an inkjet drive signal corresponding to each color component signal and lens generation signal to the inkjet drive circuit 205. The ink jet drive circuit drives and controls the ink jet heads 20-1, 20-2, 20-3, and 20-4 and the ink jet heads 30-1, 30-2, and 30-3 based on the ink jet drive signal.

  As a result, color ink is ejected from the inkjet heads 20-1, 20-2, 20-3, and 20-4, and yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black ( An image with the dots of B) is formed.

  Further, the ink for the element having a refractive index of 1.5, 1.6, 1.7 is ejected from the inkjet heads 30-1, 30-2, 30-3, respectively, so that the refractive index is formed on the transparent film 100. A distributed lens array 251 is produced.

  In the control system described above, the inkjet head of the image forming unit 20 divides the conveyance speed of the conveyance belt from the installation interval between the inkjet head driven immediately before and the inkjet head driven immediately before. Driving is performed with the drive timing shifted by the obtained delay time.

  With respect to the ink jet head of the element forming unit 30, the width of one ink area determined based on the width of the element image 111 is further divided by the number of dots, that is, a value obtained by dividing by 24 in this embodiment. When the time obtained by dividing by the speed is set as the delay time, the control system controls the driving of each inkjet head based on this delay time to form the gradient index lens 250 as follows.

  First, the inkjet head 30-1 forms a first ink region 254-1 by ejecting 24 dots of element ink having a refractive index of 1.5 continuously for each delay time, and then forming a 72-dot region. The second ink region 254-2 is formed by discharging the element ink continuously for 24 delay intervals and again.

  Then, the inkjet head 30-2 is adjacent to the first ink region 254-1 formed by the inkjet head 30-1, and continuously ejects 24 dots of element ink having a refractive index of 1.6 for each delay time. Thus, a third ink region 254-3 is formed, and then a 24 dot region is formed, and then the fourth ink region 254-4 is formed by ejecting element ink continuously for 24 delay intervals. Form.

  The ink-jet head 30-3 is adjacent to the third ink region 254-3 formed by the ink-jet 30-2, and discharges element ink having a refractive index of 1.7 continuously for 24 delay times. A fifth ink region 254-5 is formed.

  The delay in driving timing between the ink jet heads can be determined based on the installation interval of the ink jet heads, the transport speed of the transport belt 15, the width of the ink region 254, and the like.

  After forming one refractive index distribution lens 250 as described above, the refractive index distribution lens array 251 is manufactured by sequentially repeating the above-described inkjet driving.

  As described above, by controlling the driving of the inkjet head by the above-described control system, the image and the gradient index lens array 251 can be aligned with high accuracy, and thus a high-definition image is obtained. be able to.

(Second embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the image forming apparatus uses the refractive index distribution lens 250 having a refractive index distribution only in the horizontal direction of the element image 111, thereby enabling creation of a stereoscopic image that gives parallax only in the horizontal direction. .

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, it is possible to produce a stereoscopic image that gives vertical parallax in addition to the above horizontal parallax. Here, since the operation of the image forming apparatus and the operation of the control system are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted, and the manufacturing of the gradient index lens 252 is different from the first embodiment. This will be described in detail.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of an image according to the present embodiment.

  In the first embodiment, for example, by dividing a plurality of parallax images 110 that are photographed while being shifted horizontally in the same viewing distance into rectangular divided images and distributing them as shown in FIG. An image 111 is formed.

  In the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, in addition to shooting images shifted in the horizontal direction on the same viewing distance, in each of the locations shot shifted in the horizontal direction, further vertically Consider a case where an image is photographed by sliding (FIG. 9C) and four parallax images 113 are obtained as shown in FIG. 9A, for example.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 9B, the parallax image 113 is divided into M × N matrix-like divided images aij, bij, cij, dij (subscript i is an integer of 1 to M, and j is 1 to N. The element image 114 is formed by arranging the divided images having the same subscript number so as to maintain the positional relationship of the place where the parallax image 113 is captured. That is, here, the parallax image 113 can be obtained at the four points of the upper left (A), the upper right (B), the lower left (C), and the lower right (D) with the O point in FIG. 9C as the center. Therefore, the element image 114 can be formed by arranging aij at the upper left, bij at the upper right, cij at the lower left, and dij at the lower right so as to maintain this positional relationship. The image forming unit 20 can form an image as a set of the element images 114.

  The element forming unit 30 forms the refractive index distribution lens 252 at a position corresponding to the element image 114 described above. At this time, unlike the first embodiment, the element image 114 has a parallax in the vertical direction in addition to the horizontal direction. Therefore, the refractive index distribution is not only in the horizontal direction but also in the vertical direction of the element image 114. It is necessary to form a gradient index lens 252 having

  FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a gradient index lens 252 according to this embodiment. In the case where the width of the refractive index distribution lens 252 is the same as that of the first embodiment, in this embodiment, an ink region 255 formed of 24 × 24 dots of ink is formed as a refractive index as shown in FIG. By applying so as to be arranged, a refractive index distribution lens 252 having a refractive index distribution in a two-dimensional direction and a substantially uniform thickness can be formed.

  Further, a pattern as shown in FIG. This utilizes the fact that one refractive index distribution lens 252 is formed from a 120 × 120 dot pattern, so that an area within a radius of 20 dots from a dot at the center of the lens is removed from a radius of 20 with ink having a refractive index of 1.7. By forming a 40-dot region with an ink with a refractive index of 1.6 and an outer peripheral region with an ink with a refractive index of 1.5, it becomes possible to distribute the refractive index on concentric circles, resulting in smoother Lens characteristics can be realized.

  Here, in FIG. 10A, the number of dots constituting one side of the ink region 255 is made equal, and in FIG. 10B, the number of dots in the radial direction of the ink region 255 is made uniform. Although the rate distribution is equally divided, it is also possible to change the pattern distribution by changing the pattern arrangement.

  As described above, by forming the refractive index distribution lens array 253 having a refractive index distribution in the two-dimensional direction on the image composed of the element images 114, stereoscopic viewing in the two-dimensional direction becomes possible.

  According to the image forming apparatus of at least one embodiment described above, it is possible to form a high-definition image without an uneven portion by a lens array having a smooth planar shape.

  These embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Paper 11 ... Paper cassette 12 ... Pickup roller 13 ... Conveying roller 14 ... Stretching roller 15 ... Conveying belt 16 ... Catching roller 17 ... Film lamination roller 18 ... Film transport roller 19 ... Heat roller pair 20 ... Image forming units 20-1, 20-2, 20-3 ... Inkjet heads 21-1, 21-2, 21-3 ... Ink tank 30: Element forming units 30-1, 30-2, 30-3 ... Inkjet heads 31-1, 31-2, 31-3 ... Ink tank 40 ... UV lamp unit 41 .... Manual feed tray 42 ... Taking-out port 100 ... Transparent film 101 ... Roll film 102 ... Cutter 110, 113 ... Parallax image 111, 114 ... Element image DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Pixel 200 ... Control system 201 ... Main controller 202 ... Image processing part 203 ... Motor control part 204 ... Inkjet control part 205 ... Inkjet drive circuit 206 ... Motor Drive circuit 207... Motor 250, 252... Refractive index distribution lens 251, 253... Refractive index distribution lens array 254, 255, 254-1, 254-2, 254-3, 254-4, 254 5 ... Ink area 300 ... Computer 301 ... Arithmetic processing device 302 ... Storage device 303 ... Input device 304 ... Output device

Claims (7)

A transport unit for transporting the recording medium;
An image forming unit for forming an element image having a plurality of parallax images on the recording medium;
An element forming portion for forming a substantially flat element having a refractive index distribution in at least one direction within the plane of the recording medium on the element image;
An image forming apparatus comprising: Further comprising a laminating portion for laminating a light transmissive film on the recording medium on which the element image is formed,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the element forming unit forms the element on the film laminated by the lamination unit. The element forming portion is
A plurality of inkjet heads installed in the conveyance direction of the recording medium;
A supply unit for supplying a plurality of inks having different refractive indexes for forming the element to the inkjet head;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The element forming portion is
A control unit for driving the inkjet head;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control unit calculates a drive timing based on a width of the element image in the transport direction and a transport speed of the transport unit, and drives the inkjet head at each drive timing. . A transport unit for transporting the recording medium;
An image forming unit for forming an element image having a plurality of parallax images on the recording medium;
A plurality of inkjet heads installed in the conveyance direction of the recording medium;
A supply unit that supplies a plurality of inks for forming the element to the inkjet head;
An image forming method in an image forming apparatus comprising:
Apply the first ink to the center of the element image,
An image forming method in which a second ink having a refractive index smaller than that of the first ink is applied to a portion adjacent to the central portion of the element image in a substantially uniform thickness. A recording medium;
An element image formed on the recording medium and having a plurality of parallax images;
A substantially flat element formed on the element image and having a refractive index distribution in at least one direction within the plane of the recording medium;
An image forming body comprising:   The image forming body according to claim 6, further comprising a light transmissive film between the element image and the element.