JP2016124238A - Three-dimensional object formation method, device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique for forming a three-dimensional shape, in which, there are less parts on which, during seal, a seal impression is lacked, on a surface of a member such as a thermal expansion sheet.SOLUTION: A three-dimensional object formation device 1 acquires first height information (step S10) for designating a height of a first three-dimensional shape which is determined based on a draft; creates second height information which designates a height of a second three-dimensional shape (step S20) so that, height difference contained in the second three-dimensional shape becomes within a threshold, based on height information in a predetermined range, in which a step position on which a first step having height difference which is included in the first three-dimensional shape and exceeds the threshold, is formed is a standard position; then, forms the second three-dimensional shape according to the second height information on a surface of a member (step S30).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to a solid formation method, a solid formation apparatus, and a program.

  As one type of three-dimensional forming technology, a desired pattern is printed with black ink or toner on a thermally expandable sheet that is foamed by heating to increase its volume, and then the entire surface of the thermally expandable sheet is uniformly irradiated with light. Technology is known. This technology utilizes the fact that areas printed with black ink or toner have a higher heat absorption rate than non-printed areas and are heated to a higher temperature. In other words, the sheet in the area is foamed and raised. Patent Literature 1 describes a three-dimensional printing apparatus using this technique.

JP 2012-171317 A

  Consider a case where a three-dimensional stamp 100 with unevenness is produced by the above technique. In the three-dimensional stamp 100 with unevenness, there is a large step between the surface of the stamp 100 and the surface of the postcard 300 as compared to the conventional flat stamp. For this reason, when the postmark is pressed on the stamp 100, an area R1 that cannot contact the postcard 300 is generated on the stamp face 210 as shown in FIG. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, a part of the imprint 200 corresponding to the region R1 that has not been touched is missing, and it becomes difficult to read information included in the postmark.

  In light of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for forming a three-dimensional shape on a surface of a member such as a heat-expandable sheet with few portions where an imprint is missing at the time of stamping.

  One aspect of the present invention is a step included in the first three-dimensional shape of the first height information that specifies the height of the first three-dimensional shape determined based on the design, and has a threshold value. Second height information for designating the height of the second three-dimensional shape based on height information within a predetermined range based on a step position where the first step having a height difference exceeding the height is formed, A three-dimensional forming method for generating a second three-dimensional shape corresponding to the second height information on a surface of a member by generating a difference in level of a step included in the second three-dimensional shape to be equal to or less than the threshold value. I will provide a.

  In the above three-dimensional formation method, the height difference of the step formed in the predetermined range is equal to or less than the threshold value, and the height difference of both ends of the predetermined range is the height difference of the first step. The second height information may be generated by correcting the height information within the predetermined range included in the first height information. Further, the end corresponding to the lower side constituting the first step of the both ends from the end corresponding to the higher side constituting the first step of the both ends. The second height information may be generated by correcting the height information within the predetermined range included in the first height information so that the height gradually decreases toward the portion. Good.

  In the three-dimensional formation method, the larger predetermined range may be determined as the height difference of the first step is larger.

  In the above three-dimensional forming method, the member may be a heat-expandable sheet. In that case, the second expandable shape may be formed by expanding the heat-expandable sheet.

  In the above three-dimensional forming method, the member on which the second three-dimensional shape is formed may be a stamp.

  Another aspect of the present invention is a step included in the first three-dimensional shape of the first height information specifying the height of the first three-dimensional shape determined based on the design, and is a threshold value. Second height information for designating the height of the second three-dimensional shape based on the height information within a predetermined range based on the step position where the first step having a height difference exceeding According to the height information generating means for generating the height difference of the step included in the second three-dimensional shape to be equal to or less than the threshold, and the second height information generated by the height information generating means And a three-dimensional shape forming unit that forms the second three-dimensional shape on the surface of the member.

  According to still another aspect of the present invention, the computer includes a step included in the first three-dimensional shape in the first height information that specifies the height of the first three-dimensional shape determined based on the design. And a second height that designates the height of the second three-dimensional shape based on height information within a predetermined range with reference to the step position where the first step having a height difference exceeding a threshold value is formed. Height information generating means for generating height information such that a difference in level of a step included in the second three-dimensional shape is less than or equal to the threshold, and the second height information generated by the height information generating means A program for functioning as a three-dimensional shape forming means for forming the second three-dimensional shape according to the above on the surface of the member is provided.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technique for forming a three-dimensional shape on a surface of a member such as a heat-expandable sheet with few portions where a seal is missing at the time of stamping.

It is the figure which illustrated the relationship between the stamp 100, the postcard 300, and the stamp face 210 when a postmark is pressed on the three-dimensional stamp 100. It is the figure which illustrated the imprint 200 formed when a postmark is pressed on the three-dimensional stamp 100. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a three-dimensional forming apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment. It is the figure which showed the structure of the thermally expansible sheet. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an ink jet printer unit 4. FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram including a control device of the three-dimensional forming apparatus 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of a solid formation process performed by the solid formation device 1. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the 2nd height information generation process shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the correction method of 1st height information. It is another figure for demonstrating the correction method of 1st height information. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the solid shape formation process shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the relationship among a stamp 103, a postcard 300, and a stamp face 210 when a postmark is pressed on the stamp 103 on which a three-dimensional shape is formed by the three-dimensional forming apparatus 1; It is the figure which illustrated the imprint 201 formed when a postmark is pressed down on the stamp 103 by which the solid shape was formed with the solid formation apparatus 1. FIG. It is the figure which illustrated the composition of solid formation device 60 concerning Example 2, and is the figure which looked at solid formation device 60 from the side. It is the figure which illustrated the composition of solid formation device 60 concerning Example 2, and is the figure which looked at solid formation device 60 from the upper part. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of a solid shape forming process performed by the solid forming device 60.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the three-dimensional forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. The three-dimensional forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 3 is an apparatus that forms a three-dimensional shape corresponding to height information specifying a height on the surface of a member (recording medium 17) to which a design is applied, and is provided at the bottom. A black toner printing unit 2, a thermal expansion processing unit 3 provided on the black toner printing unit 2, and an ink jet printer unit 4 provided on the top.

  The black toner printing unit 2 includes an endless transfer belt 6 that extends in the horizontal direction at the center inside the apparatus housing 5. The transfer belt 6 is stretched by a tension mechanism (not shown) and is stretched between a driving roller 7 and a driven roller 8. The transfer belt 6 is driven by a driving roller 7 to circulate in a counterclockwise direction indicated by an arrow a in FIG.

  A photosensitive drum 11 of the image forming unit 9 is disposed in contact with the circulation moving surface on the transfer belt 6. A developing roller 12 and the like are arranged on the photosensitive drum 11 so as to surround the peripheral surface thereof, following a cleaner, an initialization charger, and an optical writing head (not shown).

  The developing roller 12 is disposed in the side opening of the toner container 13. A black toner K is stored in the toner container 13. The black toner K is made of a non-magnetic one-component toner.

  The developing roller 12 carries a thin layer of black toner K accommodated in a toner container 13 on its surface, and blackens the electrostatic latent image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 11 by the optical writing head. Develop with toner K.

  A primary transfer roller 14 is pressed against the lower portion of the photosensitive drum 11 via the transfer belt 6, thereby forming a primary transfer portion. A bias voltage is supplied to the primary transfer roller 14 from a bias power source (not shown).

  The primary transfer roller 14 applies a bias voltage supplied from a bias power source to the transfer belt 6, and transfers an image developed with black toner K on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 11 to the transfer belt 6.

  A secondary transfer roller 15 is brought into pressure contact with the driven roller 8 over which the right end portion of the transfer belt 6 shown in FIG. 3 is stretched, thereby forming a secondary transfer portion. A bias voltage is supplied to the secondary transfer roller 15 from a bias power source (not shown).

  The secondary transfer roller 15 applies a bias voltage supplied from a bias power source to the transfer belt 6, and an image of the black toner K primarily transferred to the transfer belt 6 is indicated by an arrow along the image forming conveyance path 16. Thus, the image is transferred to the recording medium 17 conveyed from below in FIG.

  Note that a thermally expandable sheet is used as the recording medium 17 (also referred to as a printing medium) of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the thermally expandable sheet includes a base material 17a and a foamed layer 17b coated on the base material 17a. The base material 17a is made of a cloth such as paper or canvas, a panel material such as plastic, and the material is not particularly limited. The foam layer 17b is a layer that has the property of being foamed by heating to increase its volume, and is made of a resin containing thermally expandable microcapsules. 4A shows a thermally expandable sheet in a state where the foamed layer 17b is not foamed, and FIG. 4B shows a thermally expandable sheet in a state where a part of the foamed layer 17b is foamed. It is shown.

  The recording medium 17 is stacked and stored in a recording medium storage unit 18 including a paper feed cassette, and the uppermost sheet is taken out by a paper supply roller (not shown) and sent out to the image forming conveyance path 16. Thereafter, the image is conveyed through the image forming conveyance path 16, and the image of the black toner K is transferred when passing through the secondary transfer portion.

  The recording medium 17 to which the image of the black toner K is transferred is conveyed along the fixing conveyance path 19 to the fixing unit 21. The heating roller 22 and the pressing roller 23 of the fixing unit 21 sandwich the recording medium 17 and convey it while applying heat and pressure.

  As a result, the image of the black toner K that has been secondarily transferred is fixed on the recording medium 17. Thereafter, the recording medium 17 is further conveyed by the heating roller 22 and the pressing roller 23 and is discharged to the thermal expansion processing unit 3 above the black toner printing unit 2 by the fixing unit discharge roller pair 24. Note that the conveyance speed of the recording medium 17 (thermally expandable sheet) in the fixing unit 21 is relatively fast. For this reason, the portion of the thermally expandable sheet on which the image of the black toner K is printed (hereinafter, the black toner print portion) does not expand due to the heating by the heating roller 22.

  In the thermal expansion processing unit 3, a medium transport path 25 is formed at the top, and four transport roller pairs 26 (26 a, 26 b, 26 c, 26 d) are arranged along the medium transport path 25. A heat ray radiating unit 27 is disposed substantially below the center of the medium transport path 25.

  The heat ray radiating section 27 includes a halogen lamp 27a and a reflecting mirror 27b having a substantially semicircular cross section surrounding the lower half of the halogen lamp 27a.

  In this example, a 900 W lamp is used as the halogen lamp 27a, and is arranged at a position 4 cm away from the surface of the recording medium 17 conveyed through the medium conveyance path 25. The conveyance speed of the conveyance roller pair 26 that conveys the recording medium 17 is 20 mm / second. Under this condition, the recording medium 17 is heated to 100 ° C. to 110 ° C., and the black toner print portion of the recording medium 17 is thermally expanded.

  Although the recording speed of the recording medium 17 in the black toner printing unit 2 is high and the conveying speed of the recording medium 17 in the thermal expansion processing unit 3 is low, the recording medium 17 is conveyed from the recording medium storage unit 18 one by one. Continuous conveyance is not performed until conveyance in the thermal expansion processing part 3 is completed.

  Therefore, the recording medium 17 conveyed to the thermal expansion processing unit 3 is bent along the conveyance path b between the fixing unit discharge roller pair 24 of the black toner printing unit 2 and the first conveyance roller pair 26a of the thermal expansion processing unit 3. In the state where it stays, there is no inconvenience in conveyance as a whole only by staying for a short time.

  The conveyance roller pair 26 may be constituted by a pair of long rollers extending in the width direction of the recording medium 17 orthogonal to the conveyance direction, or a short length that conveys the recording medium 17 while sandwiching only both end portions thereof. It can also be composed of a pair of rollers.

  The recording medium 17 in which the black toner printing portion is thermally expanded by the thermal expansion processing unit 3 and is three-dimensionalized is carried into the inkjet printer unit 4 along the conveyance path c.

  The transport roller pair 26 may be a long roller pair extending in the width direction of the recording medium 17 orthogonal to the transport direction, or sandwiching only both end portions of the recording medium 17. It can also be constituted by a pair of short rollers to be conveyed.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the inkjet printer unit 4. In the ink jet printer section 4 shown in FIG. 5, an internal frame 37 shown in FIG. 5 is arranged between the transport path c shown in FIG. 3 and the medium discharge port 28 provided outside with a paper discharge tray 29. .

  The ink jet printer unit 4 includes a carriage 31 provided so as to be capable of reciprocating in a direction indicated by a double arrow d orthogonal to the medium conveyance direction. A print head 32 that performs printing and an ink cartridge 33 (33w, 33c, 33m, 33y) that contains ink are attached to the carriage 31.

  The cartridges 33w, 33c, 33m, and 33y contain color inks of white W, cyan C, magenta M, and yellow Y, respectively. Each of these cartridges has a configuration in which each ink chamber is integrated into one housing, and is connected to a print head 32 having respective nozzles for ejecting each color ink.

  On the one hand, the carriage 31 is slidably supported by the guide rail 34, and on the other hand, it is fixed to the toothed drive belt 35. As a result, the print head 32 and the ink cartridges 33 (33w, 33c, 33m, 33y) are driven back and forth in the direction orthogonal to the medium conveyance direction, that is, the main scanning direction of printing, as indicated by the double arrow d in FIG. Is done.

  A flexible communication cable 36 is connected via an internal frame 37 between the print head 32 and a control device (computer) described later of the three-dimensional forming apparatus 1. Print data and control signals are sent from the control device to the print head 32 through the flexible communication cable 36.

  A platen 38, which is opposed to the print head 32, extends in the main scanning direction of the print head 32 and forms a part of the medium conveyance path at the lower end portion of the internal frame 37.

  The recording medium 17 is in contact with the platen 38 and the pair of paper feed rollers 39 (the lower roller is behind the recording medium 17 and cannot be seen in the figure) and the pair of paper discharge rollers 41 (the lower roller is also the recording medium 17. Is not visible in the shade), and is intermittently conveyed in the printing sub-scanning direction indicated by arrow e in FIG.

  During the intermittent conveyance stop period of the recording medium 17, the print head 32 ejects ink droplets in the vicinity of the recording medium 17 while being driven by the motor 42 via the toothed drive belt 35 and the carriage 31. Print on paper. Thus, printing (printing) is performed on the entire surface of the recording medium 17 by repeating the intermittent conveyance of the recording medium 17 and the printing during the reciprocating movement by the print head 32.

  FIG. 6 is a circuit block diagram including the control device of the three-dimensional forming apparatus 1. The control device of the three-dimensional forming apparatus 1 is a computer of the three-dimensional forming apparatus 1 and functions as height information generating means described later. As shown in FIG. 6, the circuit block is centered on a central processing unit (CPU) 45, and an I / F_CONT (interface controller) 46 and a PR_CONT (printer controller) 47 are connected to the CPU 45 via data buses. Is connected. A printer printing unit 49 is connected to the PR_CONT 47 described above.

  Also connected to the CPU 45 are a ROM (read only memory) 51, an EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable ROM) 52, an operation panel 53 of the main body operation unit, and a sensor unit 54 to which outputs from sensors arranged in each unit are input. Has been. The ROM 51 stores a system program. The operation panel 53 includes a touch-type display screen.

  The CPU 45 reads the system program stored in the ROM 51 and controls each part according to the read system program to perform processing.

  That is, in each unit, first, the I / F_CONT 46 converts print data supplied from a host device such as a personal computer into bitmap data and develops it in the frame memory 55.

  In the frame memory 55, storage areas corresponding to the print data of the black toner K and the print data of the color inks of white W, cyan C, magenta M, and yellow Y are set, and the image of each color is stored in this storage area. The print data is expanded. The developed data is output to PR_CONT 47, and is output from PR_CONT 47 to the printer printing unit 49.

  The printer printing unit 49 is an engine unit, and under the control of the PR_CONT 47, a rotational drive system including the photosensitive drum 11, the primary transfer roller 14 and the like of the black toner printing unit 2 shown in FIG. An applied voltage of the image forming unit 9 having a driven part such as an initialization charger and an optical writing head (not shown) and a driving output to a process load such as driving of the transfer belt 6 and the fixing part 21 are controlled.

  Further, the printer printing unit 49 controls the driving of the four pairs of conveying rollers 26 of the thermal expansion processing unit 3 shown in FIG. 3, the light emission driving of the heat ray emitting unit 27, and the timing thereof. Further, the printer printing unit 49 controls the operation of each unit of the inkjet printer unit 4 shown in FIGS. 3 and 5.

  The image data of the black toner K output from the PR_CONT 47 is supplied from the printer printing unit 49 to the optical writing head (not shown) of the image forming unit 9 of the black toner printing unit 2 shown in FIG.

  Further, the image data of each of the white W, cyan C, magenta M, and yellow Y color inks output from the PR_CONT 47 is supplied to the print head 32 shown in FIG.

  Note that the print data of the black toner K described above corresponds to height information that specifies the height of the three-dimensional shape formed by the thermal expansion processing unit 3. In the control device shown in FIG. 6, new black toner K print data (second height information) is generated from the black toner K print data (first height information) supplied from the host device. It is output to PR_CONT47.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of the solid forming process performed by the solid forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of the second height information generation process shown in FIG. 9 and 10 are diagrams for explaining the first height information correction method. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of the solid shape forming process shown in FIG. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the relationship among the stamp 103, the postcard 300, and the stamp surface 210 when the postmark is pressed on the stamp 103 on which the three-dimensional shape is formed by the three-dimensional forming apparatus 1. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an imprint 201 formed when the postmark is pressed on the stamp 103 on which the three-dimensional shape is formed by the three-dimensional forming apparatus 1.

  Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 7 to FIG. 13, taking a case of manufacturing a three-dimensional stamp as an example, a three-dimensional shape with few portions that are imprinted at the time of stamping, which is performed in the three-dimensional forming apparatus 1 described above, is formed. The three-dimensional formation process will be specifically described.

  First, the three-dimensional forming apparatus 1 acquires first height information (step S10 in FIG. 7). The first height information is supplied from the host device such as a personal computer to the I / F_CONT 46 and stored in the frame memory 55. The first height information is height information that designates the height of the first three-dimensional shape determined based on the design applied to the stamp. The first height information includes at least the height information determined for each position of the drawing guide, and may further include height information of an area on the stamp where the design is not applied.

  Next, the control device of the three-dimensional forming apparatus 1 generates second height information from the first height information (step S20 in FIG. 7). The second height information is height information for designating the height of the second three-dimensional shape, and the second three-dimensional shape does not include a step having a height difference exceeding a predetermined threshold value. And a shape obtained by correcting the first three-dimensional shape. That is, the second height information is obtained by correcting the first height information so that the difference in level of the steps included in the second three-dimensional shape is equal to or less than the above-described threshold value.

  In step S20, the control device of the three-dimensional forming apparatus 1 executes the three processes shown in FIG. 8 to generate second height information. First, based on the first height information acquired in step S10, a step position where a step having a height difference exceeding a threshold value included in the first three-dimensional shape (hereinafter referred to as a first step) is identified. (Step S21 in FIG. 8).

  Specifically, for example, the step position of the first step is specified by the following procedure. Since the height of each position in the first three-dimensional shape is known from the first height information, the height difference between adjacent positions is taken, and the heights of all the steps included in the first three-dimensional shape are determined. Calculate the difference. Then, the step where the height difference exceeds the threshold is specified as the first step, and the boundary position between two adjacent positions where the height difference of the first step is calculated is specified as the step position of the first step. To do. The first step is not limited to one, and a plurality of first steps can be specified.

  Note that, according to the first height information, the level of a step (hereinafter referred to as an edge step) formed at the boundary between the first three-dimensional shape and its outer region (for example, a postcard region on which a stamp is pasted). The difference is also known. For this reason, the expression “a step included in the first three-dimensional shape” in the present specification includes an edge step formed at the boundary between the first three-dimensional shape and its outer region.

  Next, a range to be corrected (hereinafter referred to as a correction target range) in the first three-dimensional shape is determined (step S22 in FIG. 8). Here, the predetermined range based on the step position of the first step specified in step S21 is determined as the correction target range.

  Step S22 will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 9 and FIG. 10 (that is, (a), (b), (c)), three-dimensional sectional views are described. In the lower part of FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 (that is, (d), (e), (f)), a plan view of a three-dimensional shape is described. 9 and 10, the step positions P1 and P2 are represented by bold lines for the sake of convenience. For example, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9D, if the step of the edge of the first three-dimensional shape 101a has a height difference (Xmm) exceeding a threshold, FIG. As shown in FIG. 9B and FIG. 9E, a predetermined range RC located inside the first three-dimensional shape 101a from the step position P1 from the step position P1 where the edge step is formed is set as a correction target range. decide. Further, for example, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10D, the step formed inside the first three-dimensional shape 102a has a height difference (Xmm) exceeding a threshold value. For example, as shown in FIGS. 10B and 10E, a predetermined range RC centered on the step position P2 may be determined as the correction target range. Further, the step position P2 is not necessarily located at the center of the correction target range, and may be located away from the center. Furthermore, similarly to FIG. 9B and FIG. 9E, only the region on one side with the step position P2 as the end may be determined as the correction target range. That is, the correction target range may be a predetermined range including the step position.

  In general, first, two regions adjacent to each other across the step position P1 are specified. In the cross-sectional view of FIG. 9B, the right region and the left region of the step position P1 are the two regions, and in the plan view of FIG. 9D, the inner region and the outer region of the step position P1. Are the two areas. Of the two specified areas, the area within the higher area (left area or inner area) specified by the height information, and the distance from the step position P1 will be described later. A predetermined range RC that is equal to or smaller than a predetermined size may be determined as a correction target range. As a result, a predetermined range RC that includes the step position P1 and extends along the step position P1 and has a predetermined width is determined as the correction target range. Here, the region having the step position P1 as the outer peripheral edge may be regarded as a region including the step position P1 inside.

  The size of the correction target range (predetermined range) is, for example, a predetermined size (Ymm) as shown in FIGS. The predetermined size is a size that does not depend on the height difference of the first step, but may be a size that is determined in advance according to a threshold value that is also a predetermined value. Alternatively, the size of the correction target range (predetermined range) may be determined depending on the height difference of the first step, and in step S22, the larger the first step is, the larger the predetermined range is. It may be determined. Thereby, in step S23 to be described later, the first step can be changed into a gentle shape regardless of the height difference.

  When the correction target range (predetermined range) is determined, the height information within the correction target range determined in step S22 in the first height information is corrected (step S23 in FIG. 8). Here, it correct | amends so that the level difference of the level | step difference contained in the 2nd solid shape which 2nd height information designates may become below a threshold value. Thereby, the second height information is generated. In other words, the second height information is generated based on the height information within the correction target range so that the level difference of the step included in the second three-dimensional shape is equal to or less than the threshold value.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 9C and 10C, the height information in the correction target range is corrected so that the difference in level of the step formed in the correction target range is equal to or less than the threshold value. To do. Furthermore, it is desirable to correct the height information in the correction target range so that the height difference between both ends (ends E1 and E2) of the correction target range becomes the height difference (here, Xmm) of the first step. . As a result, the height difference (Xmm) of the first step can be reproduced in the entire correction target range, so that the second three-dimensional shape (second three-dimensional shape 101b, second three-dimensional shape 102b) is used as a design. It is possible to maintain the shape close to the first three-dimensional shape (first three-dimensional shape 101a, first three-dimensional shape 102a) determined based on the above.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 9C and 9F and FIGS. 10C and 10F, the first of the two end portions (end portions E1 and E2) of the correction target range. The height information within the correction target range is set so that the height gradually decreases from the end E1 corresponding to the high side constituting the step toward the end E2 corresponding to the low side. It is desirable to correct. Thereby, the height difference of each level | step difference contained in 2nd solid shape (2nd solid shape 101b, 2nd solid shape 102b) can be made small.

  When the second height information is generated, the three-dimensional forming device 1 forms a three-dimensional shape on the surface of the thermally expandable sheet (step S30 in FIG. 7). In step S30, the three-dimensional shape forming apparatus 1 forms a three-dimensional shape by executing the two processes shown in FIG.

  First, the black toner printing unit 2 performs printing with black toner on the surface of the thermally expandable sheet (step S31 in FIG. 11). The print density is determined based on the second height information generated in step S20, and printing is performed at a higher density in a region having a higher height. That is, the height information corresponds to the print density information, and the difference in level of the step corresponds to the difference in print density. The adjustment of the print density can be realized by area gradation, for example.

  Thereafter, the thermal expansion processing unit 3 heats the thermal expansion sheet (step S32). As a result, the thermally expandable sheet is foamed, and the surface of the thermally expandable sheet is raised to a height corresponding to the printing density. That is, the thermally expandable sheet is expanded based on the second height information to form the second three-dimensional shape. In the three-dimensional forming apparatus 1, the black toner printing unit 2 and the thermal expansion processing unit 3 are three-dimensional shape forming units that form a second three-dimensional shape corresponding to the second height information on the surface of the thermally expandable sheet. is there.

  Finally, the inkjet printer unit 4 of the three-dimensional forming apparatus 1 prints a design on the surface of the second three-dimensional shape formed on the surface of the thermally expandable sheet (step S40).

  By executing the process shown in FIG. 7 by the three-dimensional forming apparatus 1, it is possible to prevent a large level difference step exceeding the threshold from being formed in the three-dimensional shape. For this reason, when the three-dimensional stamp 103 is manufactured using the thermally expansible sheet, as shown in FIG. 12, when the postmark is pressed on the stamp 103, the region R2 of the stamp face 210 that cannot contact the postcard 300 is formed. Can be small. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 13, it is possible to form a three-dimensional shape with few portions where the imprint 201 is missing at the time of stamping, and it is possible to avoid a situation where it is difficult to read information included in the postmark. it can.

  14 and 15 are diagrams illustrating the configuration of the solid forming device 60 according to the present embodiment, FIG. 14 is a view of the solid forming device 60 viewed from the side, and FIG. 15 is a solid forming device. It is the figure which looked at 60 from upper direction.

  The three-dimensional forming device 60 shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 is an ink jet printing device using an ink containing an ultraviolet curable resin (hereinafter referred to as UV ink). The three-dimensional forming apparatus 60 is an apparatus that forms a three-dimensional shape according to height information specifying a height on the surface of a member (recording medium 17) on which a design is applied. Same as 1. However, while the three-dimensional forming device 1 forms a three-dimensional shape on the surface of the member by foaming / expansion of the member (thermally expandable sheet) itself, the three-dimensional forming device 60 is configured so that the surface of the member is formed by stacking the ink layers. The difference is that a three-dimensional shape is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the three-dimensional forming device 60 irradiates a transport unit 61 that transports the recording medium 17, a head unit (printer head 64, printer head 66) that ejects UV ink onto the recording medium 17, and ultraviolet rays. A light source unit (light source 65, light source 67) is provided.

  The transport unit 61 includes a drive roller 62a, a driven roller 62b, and a transport belt 63 that is stretched over the drive roller 62a and the driven roller 62b. The conveyance unit 61 conveys the recording medium 17 in the conveyance direction by the conveyance belt 63 being driven by the rotation of the drive roller 62a and circulatingly moving in the clockwise direction indicated by the arrow in FIG.

  The head unit includes a printer head 64 and a printer head 66 that discharge UV ink at different positions in the transport direction. The printer head 64 is configured to eject color (cyan C, magenta M, yellow Y) UV ink, and the printer head 66 is configured to eject white W UV ink. The printer head 64 is used when applying a design to the surface of the recording medium 17, and the printer head 66 is used when forming a three-dimensional shape on the surface of the recording medium 17. The printer head 64 and the printer head 66 are layer forming units that form ink layers by ejecting UV ink onto the recording medium 17.

  The light source unit includes a light source 65 and a light source 67 for irradiating ultraviolet rays to cure UV ink at different positions in the transport direction. The light source 65 irradiates the color UV ink ejected from the printer head 64 with ultraviolet rays, and the light source 67 is configured to irradiate the white W UV ink ejected from the printer head 66 with ultraviolet rays. The light source 65 and the light source 67 are layer curing means for irradiating the ink layer formed on the recording medium 17 by the printer head 64 and the printer head 66 with ultraviolet rays to cure the ink layer. In the three-dimensional forming apparatus 60, the head unit (mainly the printer head 66) and the light source unit (mainly the light source 67) form a second three-dimensional shape corresponding to the second height information on the surface of the member. Shape forming means.

  As shown in FIG. 15, one light source 65 is provided on each side of the printer head 64 in the scanning direction orthogonal to the transport direction, and moves in conjunction with the printer head 64. It is configured. One light source 67 is also provided on each side of the printer head 66 in the scanning direction of the printer head 66, and is configured to move in conjunction with the printer head 66.

  Even in the solid forming device 60 configured as described above, by executing the processing shown in FIG. 7, similarly to the solid forming device 1 according to the first embodiment, there is a large difference in level difference exceeding the threshold in the solid shape. It can be prevented from being formed. Accordingly, it is possible to form a three-dimensional shape on the surface of the member with few portions where the seal is missing at the time of stamping.

  In step S30 in FIG. 7, the three-dimensional forming device 60 repeatedly forms an ink layer (step S33) and ultraviolet irradiation (step S34) based on the second height information, as shown in FIG. Thus, a second three-dimensional shape is formed on the surface of the recording medium 17.

  The above-described embodiments are specific examples for facilitating understanding of the invention, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. The three-dimensional forming method, the three-dimensional forming apparatus, and the program can be variously modified and changed without departing from the concept of the present invention defined by the claims. Several features in the context of the individual embodiments described in this specification may be combined into a single embodiment.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which a three-dimensional stamp is mainly produced by a three-dimensional forming apparatus has been shown. Therefore, for example, a revenue stamp may be produced, or a picture or the like on which a seal mark is pressed may be produced.

Hereinafter, the invention described in the scope of claims at the beginning of the application of the present application will be added.
[Appendix 1]
Of the first height information that designates the height of the first three-dimensional shape determined based on the design, the first height information is a step included in the first three-dimensional shape and has a height difference exceeding a threshold value. Second height information that specifies the height of the second three-dimensional shape based on height information within a predetermined range with respect to the step position where the step is formed is included in the second three-dimensional shape Generated so that the difference in level of the level difference is less than the threshold value,
A three-dimensional forming method, wherein the second three-dimensional shape corresponding to the second height information is formed on a surface of a member.

[Appendix 2]
In the three-dimensional formation method according to attachment 1,
The first height information is such that a difference in level of the step formed within the predetermined range is equal to or less than the threshold value, and a difference in height between both ends of the predetermined range is the level difference of the first step. A solid formation method, wherein the second height information is generated by correcting the height information within the predetermined range included in the information.

[Appendix 3]
In the three-dimensional formation method according to attachment 2,
From the end corresponding to the higher side constituting the first step of the both ends to the end corresponding to the lower side constituting the first step of the both ends. The second height information is generated by correcting the height information within the predetermined range included in the first height information so that the height decreases stepwise. 3D forming method.

[Appendix 4]
In the three-dimensional formation method according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 3,
The three-dimensional formation method characterized in that the larger the predetermined range is determined as the height difference of the first step is larger.

[Appendix 5]
In the three-dimensional formation method according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 4,
The member is a thermally expandable sheet,
A three-dimensional formation method characterized by expanding the thermally expandable sheet to form the second three-dimensional shape.

[Appendix 6]
In the three-dimensional formation method according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 5,
The three-dimensional forming method, wherein the member on which the second three-dimensional shape is formed is a stamp.

[Appendix 7]
Of the first height information that designates the height of the first three-dimensional shape determined based on the design, the first height information is a step included in the first three-dimensional shape and has a height difference exceeding a threshold value. Second height information that specifies the height of the second three-dimensional shape based on height information within a predetermined range with respect to the step position where the step is formed is included in the second three-dimensional shape Height information generating means for generating the height difference of the level difference to be equal to or less than the threshold value;
A three-dimensional shape forming apparatus comprising: a three-dimensional shape forming unit that forms the second three-dimensional shape corresponding to the second height information generated by the height information generating unit on a surface of a member.

[Appendix 8]
Computer
Of the first height information that designates the height of the first three-dimensional shape determined based on the design, the first height information is a step included in the first three-dimensional shape and has a height difference exceeding a threshold value. Second height information that specifies the height of the second three-dimensional shape based on height information within a predetermined range with respect to the step position where the step is formed is included in the second three-dimensional shape Height information generating means for generating the height difference of the level difference to be less than the threshold value,
A solid shape forming means for forming the second solid shape corresponding to the second height information generated by the height information generating means on a surface of a member;
A program characterized by functioning as

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Three-dimensional formation apparatus 2 Black toner printing part 3 Thermal expansion process part 4 Inkjet printer part 5 Apparatus housing 6 Transfer belt 7, 62a Drive roller 8, 62b Follower roller 9 Image formation unit 11 Photosensitive drum 12 Developing roller 13 Toner container 14 Primary transfer roller 15 Secondary transfer roller 16 Image forming conveyance path 17 Recording medium 17a Base material 17b Foam layer 18 Recording medium container 19 Fixing conveyance path 21 Fixing section 22 Heating roller 23 Pressing roller 24 Fixing section discharge roller pair 25 Medium conveyance path 26, 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d Conveying roller pair 27 Heat ray emitting portion 27a Halogen lamp 27b Reflector 28 Media outlet 29 Discharge tray 31 Carriage 32 Print head 33 Ink cartridges 33w, 33c, 33m, 33y Cartridge 34 Guide rail 35 Toothed drive belt 36 Flexible communication cable 37 Internal frame 38 Platen 39 Paper feed roller pair 41 Paper discharge roller pair 42 Motor 45 CPU
46 I / F_CONT
47 PR_CONT
49 Printer Printer 51 ROM
52 EEPROM
53 Operation panel 54 Sensor unit 55 Frame memory 60 Three-dimensional forming device 61 Conveying unit 63 Conveying belts 64 and 66 Printer heads 65 and 67 Light sources 100 and 103 Stamps 101a and 102a First three-dimensional shapes 101b and 102b Second three-dimensional shapes 200, 201 Imprint 210 Stamp 300 Postcard

Claims (8)

Of the first height information that designates the height of the first three-dimensional shape determined based on the design, the first height information is a step included in the first three-dimensional shape and has a height difference exceeding a threshold value. Second height information that specifies the height of the second three-dimensional shape based on height information within a predetermined range with respect to the step position where the step is formed is included in the second three-dimensional shape Generated so that the difference in level of the level difference is less than the threshold value,
A three-dimensional forming method, wherein the second three-dimensional shape corresponding to the second height information is formed on a surface of a member. In the three-dimensional formation method of Claim 1,
The first height information is such that a difference in level of the step formed within the predetermined range is equal to or less than the threshold value, and a difference in height between both ends of the predetermined range is the level difference of the first step. A solid formation method, wherein the second height information is generated by correcting the height information within the predetermined range included in the information. In the three-dimensional formation method of Claim 2,
From the end corresponding to the higher side constituting the first step of the both ends to the end corresponding to the lower side constituting the first step of the both ends. The second height information is generated by correcting the height information within the predetermined range included in the first height information so that the height decreases stepwise. 3D forming method. The solid formation method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:
The three-dimensional formation method characterized in that the larger the predetermined range is determined as the height difference of the first step is larger. In the solid formation method of any one of Claim 1 thru | or 4,
The member is a thermally expandable sheet,
A three-dimensional formation method characterized by expanding the thermally expandable sheet to form the second three-dimensional shape. In the three-dimensional formation method according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The three-dimensional forming method, wherein the member on which the second three-dimensional shape is formed is a stamp. Of the first height information that designates the height of the first three-dimensional shape determined based on the design, the first height information is a step included in the first three-dimensional shape and has a height difference exceeding a threshold value. Second height information that specifies the height of the second three-dimensional shape based on height information within a predetermined range with respect to the step position where the step is formed is included in the second three-dimensional shape Height information generating means for generating the height difference of the level difference to be equal to or less than the threshold value;
A three-dimensional shape forming apparatus comprising: a three-dimensional shape forming unit that forms the second three-dimensional shape corresponding to the second height information generated by the height information generating unit on a surface of a member. Computer
Of the first height information that designates the height of the first three-dimensional shape determined based on the design, the first height information is a step included in the first three-dimensional shape and has a height difference exceeding a threshold value. Second height information that specifies the height of the second three-dimensional shape based on height information within a predetermined range with respect to the step position where the step is formed is included in the second three-dimensional shape Height information generating means for generating the height difference of the level difference to be less than the threshold value,
A solid shape forming means for forming the second solid shape corresponding to the second height information generated by the height information generating means on a surface of a member;
A program characterized by functioning as