JP2018039267A - Three-dimensional sheet manufacturing method, three-dimensional shape forming method, three-dimensional shape forming device, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique for forming, on a surface of a member such as a thermal expansion sheet, a three-dimensional shape for properly protecting a region where symbols such as numerals or letters are printed.SOLUTION: A three-dimensional shape forming device 1: acquires first height information that designates height of a first three-dimensional shape determined based on a draft (step S10); generates, from the first height information, second height information that designates height of a second three-dimensional shape whose protective region surrounding a symbol region 111 is higher than height of the symbol region 111 (step S20); and forms the second three-dimensional shape on a surface of a recording medium 17 based on the second height information (step S30).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

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

  By the way, in the product in which a three-dimensional shape is formed on the surface of the thermally expandable sheet by the above technique, a part of the surface may be scraped during the distribution process. For example, if a three-dimensional stamp with irregularities is manufactured by the above technique, if the portion on which the number or characters representing the face value are printed, the information on the face value of the stamp is lost, The face value of the stamp will be unknown.

  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 thermally expandable sheet, in which a region where symbols such as numbers and letters are printed is appropriately protected. And

  One aspect of the present invention is a three-dimensional formation method for forming a three-dimensional shape on a surface of a member to which a design including a symbol is applied, and a height of a protection region surrounding the symbol region to which the symbol is applied is the symbol region There is provided a three-dimensional forming method for generating height information designating a height of a three-dimensional shape higher than the height of the three-dimensional shape and forming the three-dimensional shape on the surface of the member based on the generated height information.

  In the above three-dimensional formation method, the height of the protection region surrounding the symbol region to which the symbol is applied is determined from the first height information that specifies the height of the first three-dimensional shape determined based on the design. Second height information specifying the height of the second three-dimensional shape higher than the height of the symbol region is generated, and the second height information is generated on the surface of the member based on the generated second height information. The three-dimensional shape may be formed.

  In the three-dimensional formation method, the height information of the protection area included in the first height information is changed, and the second height information is generated from the first height information. Alternatively, the second height information may be generated from the first height information by changing the height information of the symbol area included in the first height information.

  Further, in the above three-dimensional formation method, the protection area may be an edge area of the member where the design is not applied, and is an area excluding the symbol area among the areas where the design is applied. Also good.

  In the three-dimensional formation method, the member may be a thermally expandable sheet, and the second expandable shape is formed by expanding the thermally expandable sheet based on the second height information. It may be formed.

  In the above three-dimensional forming method, the member having the second three-dimensional shape formed on the surface may be a stamp, and the symbol may be a number or a character representing a face value of the stamp. .

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the height of the three-dimensional shape is such that the height of the protective region surrounding the symbol region to which the symbol is applied on the surface of the member to which the design including the symbol is applied is higher than the height of the symbol region. Height information generating means for generating height information to be specified, and solid shape forming means for forming the solid shape on the surface of the member based on the height information generated by the height information generating means; A three-dimensional forming apparatus is provided.

  According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer of a three-dimensional forming apparatus that forms a three-dimensional shape on a surface of a member to which a design including a symbol is applied, wherein the height of a protection region surrounding the symbol region to which the symbol is applied is Based on the height information generated by the height information generating means, the height information generating means for specifying the height of the three-dimensional shape higher than the height of the symbol area, on the surface of the member A program that functions as a three-dimensional shape forming unit that forms the three-dimensional shape is provided.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the technique which forms the solid shape in which the area | region where symbols, such as a number and a character, are printed can be protected appropriately can be provided on the surface of members, such as a thermally expansible sheet.

It is the figure which illustrated the composition of solid formation device 1 concerning one embodiment of the present invention. 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. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a stamp design printed by the inkjet printer unit 4 of the three-dimensional forming apparatus 1. FIG. It is the figure which showed an example of arrangement | positioning of a protection area. It is the figure which showed another example of arrangement | positioning of a protection area. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the 2nd height information generation process shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the modification of the 2nd height information generation process shown in FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a three-dimensional forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The three-dimensional forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an apparatus that forms a three-dimensional shape according to height information specifying a height on the surface of a member to which a design including symbols is applied. A toner printing unit 2, a thermal expansion processing unit 3 provided on the toner printing unit 2, and an inkjet printer unit 4 provided on the uppermost part are provided.

  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 the figure.

  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 pressed against the driven roller 8 across the right end portion of the transfer belt 6 shown in FIG. 1 via the transfer belt 6, 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 for the recording medium 17 (also referred to as a printing medium) of this example. As shown in FIG. 2, 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. 2A shows a thermally expandable sheet in a state where the foamed layer 17b is not foamed, and FIG. 2B 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. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the inkjet printer unit 4. In the ink jet printer section 4 shown in FIG. 3, an internal frame 37 shown in FIG. 3 is arranged between the transport path c shown in FIG. 1 and the medium discharge port 28 provided with a discharge tray 29 outside. .

  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. 3 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. 4 is a circuit block diagram including the control device of the three-dimensional forming apparatus 1. Note that the control device of the three-dimensional forming apparatus 1 is a computer of the three-dimensional forming apparatus 1 and is a height information generating unit that generates second height information to be described later. As shown in FIG. 4, the circuit block has a central processing unit (CPU) 45 as a center, and an I / F_CONT (interface controller) 46 and a PR_CONT (printer controller) 47 via the data bus. 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. Further, the printer printing unit 49 controls the operation of each unit of the inkjet printer unit 4 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

  Then, 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 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. 4, 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. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of the solid formation process performed by the solid formation apparatus 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a stamp design printed by the inkjet printer unit 4 of the three-dimensional forming apparatus 1. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of the protection areas. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another example of the arrangement of the protection areas. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of the second height information generation process shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of a modification of the second height information generation process shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 5 to 10, a three-dimensional forming process for forming a three-dimensional shape in which a predetermined area is protected, which is performed by the three-dimensional forming apparatus 1 described above, taking a case of manufacturing a three-dimensional stamp as an example Will be described in detail.

  First, the solid formation apparatus 1 acquires first height information (step S10). 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 for designating the height of the first three-dimensional shape determined based on the design of the stamp 100 shown in FIG. 6, and the region where the design is applied (design region 110). Height information and height information of an edge area (edge area 120) outside the design area where no design is applied.

  The height information of the area to which the design is applied (design area 110) further includes the height information of the area to which the symbol included in the design (symbol area 111) is applied and the symbol area 111 of the design area 110. The height information of the area to be excluded (outside symbol area 112) is included. Note that the symbols included in the design are letters or numbers (for example, 52) representing the face value of the stamp 100 in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the design area 110, the symbol area 111, the non-symbol area 112, and the edge area 120 in the first three-dimensional shape have heights of 0 mm to Ymm, 0 mm to Xmm, 0 mm to Ymm, and 0 mm, respectively. Suppose you are. Here, X is less than Y, that is, X <Y.

  Next, the control device of the three-dimensional forming device 1 generates second height information from the first height information (step S20). The second height information generated by the control device of the 3D forming device 1 is stored in the frame memory 55.

  The second height information is height information that specifies the height of the second three-dimensional shape that protects the symbol area 111, and the second three-dimensional shape is the height of the protection area that protects the symbol area 111. Is a shape higher than the height of the symbol region 111.

  The protection area only needs to be an area surrounding the symbol area 111. Specifically, the protection area may be the edge area 120 or the entire non-symbol area 112. Further, the protection region is desirably a region that completely surrounds the symbol region 111 such as the edge region 120, but a region (region 113, 113) that at least partially surrounds the symbol region 111 as shown in FIGS. 114). FIG. 7 shows an example in which protection regions (regions 113) are formed on three sides of the symbol region 111, and FIG. 8 shows a plurality of protection regions (discretely arranged around the symbol region 111). An example in which the region 114) is formed is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the second height information may be generated by changing the height information of the protection area included in the first height information. In this case, first, the first three-dimensional shape is specified from the first height information (step S21), and then the height of the protection area is set such that the height of the protection area is higher than the maximum height of the symbol area 111. Information is changed (step S22). Thereby, 2nd height information is produced | generated from 1st height information.

  Specifically, for example, in step S21, the maximum height of the symbol region 111 having the first three-dimensional shape is specified from the height information of the symbol region 111 included in the first height information. In step S <b> 22, the height information of the edge region 120 included in the first height information is changed to height information indicating a height that exceeds the maximum height of the symbol region 111. Thereby, the second height information in which the edge region 120 functions as a protection region can be generated. Note that the heights of the symbol region 111 and the edge region 120 in the second three-dimensional shape are 0 mm to X mm and X + α mm, respectively. Therefore, the relationship of the height of the symbol region 111 <the height of the edge region 120 is established.

  In this case, since the height information of the design area 110 included in the second height information is the same as that included in the first height information, in step S30 described later, the design area 110 It is possible to reproduce a three-dimensional shape determined based on.

  Further, for example, in step S21, the maximum height of the symbol region 111 having the first three-dimensional shape and the outside of the symbol are calculated from the height information of the symbol region 111 and the height information of the non-symbol region 112 included in the first height information. The height of the area 112 is specified. In step S22, the height information of the non-symbol area 112 included in the first height information is obtained by adding the height exceeding the maximum height of the symbol area 111 to the height of the non-symbol area 112. Change to the height information shown. Thereby, the second height information in which the non-symbol area 112 functions as a protection area can be generated. Note that the heights of the symbol region 111 and the non-symbol region 112 in the second three-dimensional shape are 0 mm to X mm, and X + α mm to Y + X + α mm, respectively. Therefore, the relationship of the height of the symbol area 111 <the height of the non-symbol area 112 is established.

  In this case, a region adjacent to the symbol region 111 (hereinafter referred to as a symbol adjacent region) becomes higher than the symbol region 111 in step S30 described later, and thus the symbol region 111 can be more reliably protected.

  If the second height information in which the non-symbol region 112 functions as a protection region is generated by the above-described procedure, the height of the non-symbol region 112 is the height of a three-dimensional shape that can be formed by a thermally expandable sheet (hereinafter, , It may be over the limit height.)

  In this case, in step S22, first, the height of the non-symbol region 112 having the first three-dimensional shape is reduced uniformly as a whole. After that, the height information of the non-symbol area 112 included in the first height information is added to the height information of the non-symbol area 112 after the reduction and the height exceeding the maximum height of the symbol area 111 is added. Change the height information to indicate.

  According to this method, by adjusting the reduction ratio, the height of the non-symbol region 112 can be suppressed within the limit height, so that the symbol region 111 is maintained while maintaining the height relationship in the non-symbol region 112. Can be more reliably protected.

  The second height information may be generated by changing the height information of the symbol area 111 included in the first height information, as shown in FIG. In this case, first, the first three-dimensional shape is specified from the first height information (step S23), and then the height of the protection area becomes higher than the height (preferably the maximum height) of the symbol area 111. Thus, the height information of the symbol area 111 is changed (step S24). Thereby, 2nd height information is produced | generated from 1st height information.

  Specifically, for example, in step S23, the maximum height of the symbol region 111 having the first three-dimensional shape is calculated from the height information of the symbol region 111 and the height information of the non-symbol region 112 included in the first height information. And the minimum height of the symbol adjacent region in the non-symbol region 112 is specified. In step S24, the height information of the symbol region 111 included in the first height information is changed to height information indicating a height lower than the minimum height of the symbol adjacent region. Thereby, the second height information in which the non-symbol region 112 (particularly, the symbol adjacent region) functions as a protection region can be generated.

  In this case, since the height information of the non-symbol area 112 included in the second height information is the same as that included in the first height information, the non-symbol area 112 is determined in step S30 described later. The three-dimensional shape determined based on the design can be reproduced. Further, since the symbol adjacent region becomes higher than the symbol region 111, the symbol region 111 can be more reliably protected.

  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 step S30, first, the black toner printing unit 2 performs printing with black toner on the surface of the thermally expandable sheet. 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. The adjustment of the print density can be realized by area gradation, for example.

  Thereafter, the thermally expandable processing unit 3 heats the thermally expandable sheet, whereby the thermally expandable sheet is foamed, and the surface of the thermally expandable sheet is raised to a height corresponding to the printing density. Thereby, based on 2nd height information, a thermally expansible sheet expand | swells and a 2nd solid shape is formed. That is, in the three-dimensional forming apparatus 1, the black toner printing unit 2 and the thermal expansion processing unit 3 are a three-dimensional shape forming unit that forms a second three-dimensional shape on the surface of the thermally expandable sheet based on the second height information. is there.

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

  A solid shape in which a region where symbols such as numbers and letters included in the design are printed is appropriately protected on the surface of a member such as a thermally expandable sheet by the solid forming device 1 executing the process shown in FIG. Can be formed. For this reason, even when a three-dimensional stamp is manufactured using a heat-expandable sheet, a portion on which a number or a character representing a face value is printed, and information on the face value of the stamp may be lost. Since it can prevent, the situation where the face value of a stamp becomes unknown can be avoided.

  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.

  For example, FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 show examples in which the second height information is generated by changing the height information of the symbol area 111 or the protection area, but the heights of both the symbol area 111 and the protection area are shown. The second height information may be generated by changing the height information. Moreover, although the example which manufactures a stamp using a thermally expansible sheet was shown, as long as the design containing a symbol is given, for example, a revenue stamp, a postcard, etc. may be manufactured.

Hereinafter, the invention described in the scope of claims at the beginning of the application of the present application will be added.
[Appendix 1]
A three-dimensional formation method for forming a three-dimensional shape on the surface of a member to which a design including a symbol is applied,
Generating height information specifying a height of a three-dimensional shape in which a height of a protection region surrounding a symbol region to which the symbol is applied is higher than a height of the symbol region;
A three-dimensional formation method, wherein the three-dimensional shape is formed on a surface of the member based on the generated height information.

[Appendix 2]
In the three-dimensional formation method according to attachment 1,
From the first height information specifying the height of the first three-dimensional shape determined based on the design, the height of the protection area surrounding the symbol area to which the symbol is applied is higher than the height of the symbol area. Generating second height information designating a height of a high second three-dimensional shape;
A three-dimensional formation method characterized by forming the second solid shape on the surface of the member based on the generated second height information.

[Appendix 3]
In the three-dimensional formation method according to attachment 2,
A three-dimensional formation method, wherein the height information of the protection area included in the first height information is changed, and the second height information is generated from the first height information.

[Appendix 4]
In the three-dimensional formation method according to attachment 2,
A three-dimensional formation method, wherein height information of the symbol area included in the first height information is changed to generate the second height information from the first height information.

[Appendix 5]
In the three-dimensional formation method according to attachment 3,
The three-dimensional forming method, wherein the protection area is an area of an edge of the member to which the design is not applied.

[Appendix 6]
In the three-dimensional formation method according to appendix 3 or appendix 4,
The three-dimensional formation method, wherein the protection area is an area excluding the symbol area among areas to which the design is applied.

[Appendix 7]
In the three-dimensional formation method according to any one of supplementary notes 2 to 6,
The member is a thermally expandable sheet,
Based on the second height information, the thermally expandable sheet is expanded to form the second three-dimensional shape.

[Appendix 8]
In the three-dimensional formation method according to any one of supplementary notes 2 to 7,
The member on which the second three-dimensional shape is formed is a stamp,
The three-dimensional forming method, wherein the symbol is a number or a character representing a face value of the stamp.

[Appendix 9]
Generating height information for designating a height of a three-dimensional shape in which a height of a protection area surrounding a symbol area to which the symbol is applied on a surface of a member to which a design including the symbol is applied is higher than a height of the symbol area; Height information generating means;
A three-dimensional shape forming apparatus comprising: a three-dimensional shape forming unit that forms the three-dimensional shape on a surface of the member based on the height information generated by the height information generating unit.

[Appendix 10]
A computer of a three-dimensional forming apparatus that forms a three-dimensional shape on the surface of a member to which a design including symbols is applied,
Height information generating means for generating height information for designating a height of a three-dimensional shape in which the height of the protection area surrounding the symbol area to which the symbol is applied is higher than the height of the symbol area;
Three-dimensional shape forming means for forming the three-dimensional shape on the surface of the member based on the height information generated by the height information generating means,
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 Device housing | casing 6 Transfer belt 7 Drive roller 8 Driven roller 9 Image forming 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 paths 26, 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d Conveying roller pair 27 Heat ray emitting section 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 Drive with teeth Belt 36 Flexibu Communication cable 37 inside the frame 38 platen 39 paper feed roller pair 41 discharge rollers 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 100 Stamp 110 Design area 111 Symbol area 112 Symbol outside area 113, 114 area 120 Edge area

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional sheet, a three-dimensional forming method, a three-dimensional forming apparatus, and a program.

One aspect of the present invention is a method of manufacturing a three-dimensional sheet having a three-dimensional symbol formed on a surface, the first pattern having a planar shape of the symbol, and protection surrounding the symbol continuously or discretely. A first step of printing the second pattern having the planar shape of the region on the surface of the thermally expandable sheet using a photothermal conversion material as a printing material so as to have a predetermined printing density, and in the first step, the first pattern An area corresponding to the first pattern and an area corresponding to the two patterns in the thermally expandable sheet by irradiating light toward the surface of the thermally expandable sheet on which one pattern and the two patterns are printed And a second step of expanding the second pattern, wherein the printing density is set so that the second pattern is darker than the first pattern. To provide a method.

Another aspect of the present invention is a three-dimensional formation method for forming a three-dimensional shape on the surface of a thermally expandable sheet on which a design including a symbol is applied, the first three-dimensional shape being determined based on the design. A second height designating the height of the second three-dimensional shape in which the height of the protection area surrounding the symbol area to which the symbol is applied is higher than the height of the symbol area, based on the first height information designating the height Set height information, based on the generated second height information, to form the second three-dimensional shape on the surface of the thermally expandable sheet, based on the second height information, There is provided a three-dimensional forming method characterized in that a thermally expandable sheet is expanded to form the second three-dimensional shape.

Still another aspect of the present invention is a three-dimensional forming apparatus for forming a three-dimensional shape on the surface of a thermally expandable sheet on which a design including a symbol is applied, wherein the first three-dimensional shape is determined based on the design. The second designating the height of the second three-dimensional shape in which the height of the protection area surrounding the symbol area to which the symbol is applied is higher than the height of the symbol area from the first height information designating the height. Setting means for setting the height information, forming means for forming the second three-dimensional shape on the surface of the thermally expandable sheet based on the generated second height information, and the second height And a expansion unit configured to expand the thermally expandable sheet to form the second three-dimensional shape based on the depth information.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer of a three-dimensional forming apparatus that forms a three-dimensional shape on a surface of a thermally expandable sheet on which a design including a symbol is applied, with a first three-dimensional shape determined based on the design. The second designating the height of the second three-dimensional shape in which the height of the protection area surrounding the symbol area to which the symbol is applied is higher than the height of the symbol area from the first height information designating the height. Setting means for setting the height information, forming means for forming the second three-dimensional shape on the surface of the thermally expandable sheet based on the generated second height information, and the second height information Based on the above, there is provided a program that functions as expansion means for expanding the thermally expandable sheet to form the second three-dimensional shape.

Claims (10)

A three-dimensional formation method for forming a three-dimensional shape on the surface of a member to which a design including a symbol is applied,
Generating height information specifying a height of a three-dimensional shape in which a height of a protection region surrounding a symbol region to which the symbol is applied is higher than a height of the symbol region;
A three-dimensional formation method, wherein the three-dimensional shape is formed on a surface of the member based on the generated height information. In the three-dimensional formation method of Claim 1,
From the first height information specifying the height of the first three-dimensional shape determined based on the design, the height of the protection area surrounding the symbol area to which the symbol is applied is higher than the height of the symbol area. Generating second height information designating a height of a high second three-dimensional shape;
A three-dimensional formation method characterized by forming the second solid shape on the surface of the member based on the generated second height information. In the three-dimensional formation method of Claim 2,
A three-dimensional formation method, wherein the height information of the protection area included in the first height information is changed, and the second height information is generated from the first height information. In the three-dimensional formation method of Claim 2,
A three-dimensional formation method, wherein height information of the symbol area included in the first height information is changed to generate the second height information from the first height information. In the three-dimensional formation method of Claim 3,
The three-dimensional forming method, wherein the protection area is an area of an edge of the member to which the design is not applied. In the three-dimensional formation method of Claim 3 or Claim 4,
The three-dimensional formation method, wherein the protection area is an area excluding the symbol area among areas to which the design is applied. In the solid formation method of any one of Claims 2 thru | or 6,
The member is a thermally expandable sheet,
Based on the second height information, the thermally expandable sheet is expanded to form the second three-dimensional shape. In the solid formation method of any one of Claims 2 thru | or 7,
The member on which the second three-dimensional shape is formed is a stamp,
The three-dimensional forming method, wherein the symbol is a number or a character representing a face value of the stamp. Generating height information for designating a height of a three-dimensional shape in which a height of a protection area surrounding a symbol area to which the symbol is applied on a surface of a member to which a design including the symbol is applied is higher than a height of the symbol area; Height information generating means;
A three-dimensional shape forming apparatus comprising: a three-dimensional shape forming unit that forms the three-dimensional shape on a surface of the member based on the height information generated by the height information generating unit. A computer of a three-dimensional forming apparatus that forms a three-dimensional shape on the surface of a member to which a design including symbols is applied,
Height information generating means for generating height information for designating a height of a three-dimensional shape in which the height of the protection area surrounding the symbol area to which the symbol is applied is higher than the height of the symbol area;
Three-dimensional shape forming means for forming the three-dimensional shape on the surface of the member based on the height information generated by the height information generating means,
A program characterized by functioning as