JP2019003673A - Manufacturing method of sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a sheet, an information reading device, an information reading method, and a program, and to read specified information from a sheet used for delivery on the basis of an information specification element other than a visible pattern.SOLUTION: Sheets 10-1, 20-1, and 30-1 has a pair of principal surfaces and used for delivery. The sheets include at least one projection 40 projecting from one of the pair of principal surfaces in a thickness direction of the sheets 10-1, 20-1, and 30-1, and the at least one projection 40 constitutes an information specification element corresponding to specified information including first information unique to a type of the sheets 10-1, 20-1, and 30-1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5A

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet.

  Conventionally, a technique for automatically recognizing the face value of a stamp is known. As such a technique, there is known a method of directly detecting a visual design representing a face value printed on a stamp and determining the face value based on the detection result (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-122084

  However, in the technology for automatically recognizing the face value of a stamp as described above, it is possible to read the same information as a visually recognizable design, but it is associated with information other than the face value related to the stamp or an object to which the stamp is attached. Other information cannot be read out.

  By the way, especially in the case of sheets used for delivery of stamps, postcards, etc., if the information becomes undetectable simply by reading the information from the visible design, for example, because the design becomes wet or rubbing, the information is specified. It becomes difficult to do.

  Moreover, since there are a plurality of types of designs even on the stamp with the same face value, information is read from the face value portion because of the difficulty of registering a plurality of types of designs in advance. Therefore, it becomes difficult to specify information only by getting the face portion of the design wet or rubbing.

  Further, if information is simply read from a design in which a sheet can be visually recognized, problems may arise from the viewpoint of preventing counterfeiting and the viewpoint of information confidentiality, for example.

  The objective of this invention is providing the sheet | seat which can read specific information based on information specific elements other than the design which can be visually recognized.

A sheet according to one aspect is a sheet that expands when heated to a predetermined temperature or more, and includes at least one convex portion that protrudes in a thickness direction of the sheet formed in a peripheral region of the sheet. Each of the at least one convex portion expands according to the amount of heat absorbed to constitute an information specifying element corresponding to the information to be specified on the sheet, the presence or absence of each convex portion, a different protruding height, and The information specifying element is configured by a combination of sizes when viewed in plan.
Further, the sheet according to another aspect is a sheet that expands when heated to a predetermined temperature or higher, and at least one of the plurality of convex portion forming regions provided on the periphery of the sheet includes the sheet of the sheet. A protrusion protruding in the thickness direction, the protrusion being expanded in accordance with the amount of heat absorbed to constitute the information specifying element corresponding to the specified information of the sheet, and for each protrusion forming region The information specifying element is configured by a combination of the presence / absence of the convex portion, a different protruding height, and a size in plan view.

  According to the present invention, the specified information can be read from the sheet based on the information specifying element other than the visually recognizable design.

It is a control block diagram which shows the information read-out system containing the information read-out apparatus which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. 1 is a hardware configuration example of a computer capable of operating as an information reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the reading of the information specific element in one embodiment of this invention. It is a top view (the 1) showing a sheet concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is a top view (the 2) which shows the sheet | seat which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a top view (the 3) which shows the sheet | seat which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing (the 1) for demonstrating the information specific element of the sheet | seat which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing (the 2) for demonstrating the information specific element of the sheet | seat which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows typically the internal structure of the three-dimensional image forming apparatus in one embodiment of this invention. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of an inkjet printer unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a sheet, an information reading device, an information reading method, and a program according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a control block diagram showing an information reading system 100 including an information reading device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration example of a computer 200 that can operate as the information reading apparatus 1.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining reading of the information specifying element in the present embodiment.

An information reading system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes an information reading device 1 and a reading device 101.
The information reading apparatus 1 has a pair of main surfaces and reads information from, for example, sheets 10, 20, and 30 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4A to 4C used for delivery.

  As an example, the reader 101 is a laser displacement meter (line sensor) having a light emitting part and a light receiving part, and the sensor part 301 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and the sheet 10, 20, and 30 in FIG. A conveying unit 302 shown.

  In the example of FIG. 3, since the sheets 10, 20, and 30 are affixed to the delivery item D, the transport unit 302 transports the delivery item D, thereby transporting the sheets 10, 20, and 30 as a result. The conveyance unit 302 may be a relative movement unit that moves the sensor unit 301 to relatively move the sensor unit 301 and the sheets 10, 20, and 30.

  For example, when the information reading device 1 and the reading device 101 are an integrated device, as in the case where the information reading device 1 is incorporated in the reading device 101, this integrated device is not used in the information reading system 100. It can be said that it is an information reading device.

The information reading apparatus 1 includes a reading result acquisition unit 2, a correspondence relationship information acquisition unit 3, a specific information determination unit 4, and a correspondence relationship information storage unit 5.
The reading result acquisition unit 2 acquires the information specifying element read by the reading device 101. This information specifying element will be described later with reference to FIGS. 4A to 5B.

  The correspondence relationship information acquisition unit 3 acquires correspondence relationship information between the information identification element and the identified information from the correspondence relationship information storage unit 5. The correspondence information acquired by the correspondence information acquisition unit 3 may be correspondence information between only the information specifying element acquired by the reading result acquisition unit 2 and the specified information corresponding thereto.

  The identified information determining unit 4 determines the identified information corresponding to the information identifying element from the information identifying element acquired by the reading result acquiring unit 2 based on the correspondence information acquired by the corresponding relationship information acquiring unit 3. .

  The correspondence information storage unit 5 stores the above-described correspondence information between the information specifying element and the specified information. For example, the correspondence relationship information storage unit 5 stores correspondence relationship information in which the information specifying element and the specified information correspond one-to-one.

FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration example of a computer 200 that can operate as the information reading apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment.
A computer 100 illustrated in FIG. 2 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201, a storage unit 202, an input unit 203, a display unit 204, an interface unit 205, and a recording medium driving unit 206. These components are connected via a bus line 207 and exchange various data with each other.

  The CPU 201 is an arithmetic processing unit that controls the operation of the entire computer 200. The CPU 201 reads the specific information from the sheets 10, 20, and 30 using the above-described reading device 101 by executing a predetermined control program. The CPU 201 functions as the reading result acquisition unit 2, the correspondence relationship information acquisition unit 3, and the identified information determination unit 4 illustrated in FIG. 1.

The storage unit 202 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a hard disk, and the like.
The ROM is a read-only semiconductor memory in which a predetermined basic control program is recorded in advance. Note that as the ROM, a memory such as a flash memory in which stored data is nonvolatile when power supply is stopped may be used.

  The RAM is a semiconductor memory that can be written and read at any time and used as a working storage area as necessary when the CPU 201 executes various control programs. The hard disk stores various control programs executed by the CPU 201 and various data.

  The storage unit 202 functions as the correspondence relationship information storage unit 5 illustrated in FIG. 1, but the correspondence relationship information storage unit 5 may be another storage device connected to the computer 200 via the interface unit 205. Good.

  The input unit 203 is, for example, a keyboard device or a mouse device. When operated by a user of the computer 200, the input unit 203 acquires various input information from the user associated with the operation content, and the acquired input information is stored in the CPU 201. Send to.

The display unit 204 is a display, for example, and displays various texts and images.
The interface unit 205 manages the exchange of various information with various devices. For example, the interface unit 205 is connected to the sensor unit 301 and the conveyance unit 302 that function as the reading device 101 illustrated in FIG. 1 as described above.

  The recording medium driving unit 206 is a device that reads various control programs and data recorded on the portable recording medium 208. The CPU 201 can perform each process of reading the specified information by reading and executing a predetermined control program recorded on the portable recording medium 208 via the recording medium driving unit 206. .

  Examples of the portable recording medium 208 include a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disc Read Only Memory), and a flash memory equipped with a USB standard connector.

  In order to operate the computer 200 as described above as the information reading device 1, first, a control program for causing the CPU 201 to perform each process is created. The created control program is stored in advance in the hard disk device or the portable recording medium 208 of the storage unit 202. Then, when a predetermined instruction is given to the CPU 201, the control program is read and executed. As a result, the computer 200 operates as the information reading device 1.

Next, the information specifying element constituted by the convex portions 40 formed on the sheets 10, 20, and 30 and the specified information corresponding to the information specifying element will be described.
4A to 4C are plan views showing the sheets 10, 20, and 30 according to the present embodiment.

  5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams for explaining the information specifying elements of the sheets 10, 20, and 30 according to the present embodiment. 5A and 5B, for convenience, the shapes of the sheets 10, 20, and 30 are different from those of FIGS. 4A to 4C, and thus the sheets are denoted by reference numerals 10-1, 20-1, 30-1, and 10-2, respectively. , 20-2, 30-2.

  The sheets 10, 20, and 30 shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C are, for example, stamps, but may be postcards on which stamps are printed. Although this is an example of a sheet other than the sheets 10, 20, and 30 used for delivery, the present embodiment is applied to securities such as revenue stamps, securities such as checks and promissory notes, and other securities. Is also possible.

  The sheets 10, 20, and 30 include design areas 11, 21, 31, and peripheral areas 12, 22, 32, on which the visually recognizable patterns appear on the upper surface (an example of one main surface) shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C. Have.

Although it is an example, the sheet | seat 10,20,30 and the design area | regions 11,21,31 exhibit rectangular shape in planar view, and the peripheral area | regions 12,22,32 exhibit rectangular frame shape in planar view.
The design areas 11, 21, 31 include visually identifiable symbol areas 11 a, 21 a, 31 a taking the face value as an example.

  The peripheral areas 12, 22, and 32 are areas located around the design areas 11, 21, and 31 in the present embodiment. However, the peripheral regions 12, 22, and 32 may be regarded as regions formed by portions closer to the periphery than the centers (centers of gravity) of the sheets 10, 20, and 30 when the sheets 10, 20, and 30 are viewed in plan.

  In the sheet 30 shown in FIG. 4C, perforations 32 a in which a plurality of perforations are regularly arranged are formed at the peripheral edge of the peripheral region 32. The perforations are formed at a boundary portion between the sheets 30 in order to cut and use the sheets 30 one by one from the plurality of sheets 30 formed integrally.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the peripheral regions 12, 22, and 32 are provided with a plurality of convex portions 40 that protrude from the upper surface in the thickness direction of the sheets 10-1, 20-1, and 30-1. Note that at least one protrusion 40 may be provided. Moreover, the convex part 40 is good to be provided in the area | region which does not overlap with the design area | regions 11,21,31.

The convex part 40 comprises the information specific element corresponding to the specific information containing 1st information and 2nd information.
The first information is information specific to the type of the sheets 10-1, 20-1, and 30-1. For example, the first information is information specifying at least one of the face value and the issuing country.

  The second information is information associated with the sheets 10-1, 20-1, and 30-1 independently of the types of the sheets 10-1, 20-1, and 30-1. For example, the second information is a type of the delivery item D shown in FIG. Information specifying at least one of the type of the delivery item D, the transmission source of the delivery item D, and the reception source of the delivery item D.

The information specifying the type of the delivery item D is, for example, information such as a delivery method (for example, whether it is air mail), a size, and a weight of the delivery item D.
The information specifying the sender and the receiver is, for example, at least one information of a name and a name, and an address and a residence (may be a part of information such as only a zip code or only a country name).

  In the case where the sheets 10, 20, and 30 are stamps, the convex portion 40 may be provided in advance before delivery (before use of the stamp), for example, before sale of the stamp, but at the time of delivery, for example, at a post office At the time of use of the stamp, the specified information such as the address transmitted from the caller may be added by forming the convex portion 40 and configuring the information specifying element. Alternatively, instead of stamping the receipt stamp at the post office, the specified information included in the receipt stamp may be added by forming the convex portion 40 and configuring the information identifying element.

  The information specifying element includes the presence or absence of at least one convex portion 40 in the plurality of convex portion forming areas S (S1 to S20) where the convex portions 40 are formed, the arrangement shape of the plurality of convex portion forming areas S when viewed in plan, or The array size (the size of the arrayed convex portion forming region S as a whole), the protruding height from the upper surface of at least one convex portion 40 in the plurality of convex portion forming regions S, and at least one in the plurality of convex portion forming regions S It includes at least one of the sizes of the two protrusions 40 when viewed in plan.

  In addition, in FIG. 5A, although the several convex part formation area S is surrounded and shown with the continuous line, the boundary of the convex part formation area S does not need to be visually recognizable. For example, this is because the information reading system 100 shown in FIG. 1 can determine the convex portion formation region S from the positions of the plurality of convex portions 40 or from the stamp positions recognized by image processing or the like.

  In the sheet 30 shown in FIG. 4C, the perforated portion 32a is formed with a perforation at the peripheral edge portion of the main surface, so that a protruding portion (substantially wavy shape) protrudes from the peripheral edge portion in a direction parallel to the main surface of the sheet 30. Convex portions of the unevenness are provided continuously. Therefore, each of the plurality of convex portion forming regions S is preferably provided in a region corresponding to each of the plurality of perforations so as to be in a range including the projecting portion of the perforated portion 32a or adjacent to the projecting portion.

  The plurality of convex portion forming regions S are located at a total of 20 locations excluding the four corners at five locations on each side of the peripheral regions 12, 22, and 32 of FIGS. 4A to 4C. Therefore, it can be said that the arrangement shape of the plurality of convex portion formation regions S is a substantially rectangular frame shape.

  Since the arrangement size of the plurality of convex portion formation areas S is different from each other in plan view of the sheets 10, 20, and 30 shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, the peripheral areas 12, 22, and 32 of the sheets 10, 20, and 30 are different from each other. The arrangement size of the plurality of convex portion forming areas S provided in the sheet is also different for each of the sheets 10, 20, and 30.

  When the presence or absence of the convex portion 40 in the plurality of convex portion forming areas S is an information specifying element, if the region having the convex portion 40 is “1” and the region having no convex portion 40 is “0”, the convex portion forming region S1 The numerical value “10101100011010000101” is the information specifying element in the order of to S20. The correspondence between the numerical information and the specific information may be stored in the correspondence information storage unit 5 shown in FIG. 1 as described above.

  In the example of the sheets 10-2, 20-2, and 30-2 in FIG. 5B, the convex portion 40 has a size when viewed from above (for example, a size of a base end portion on the main surface side) and a protrusion from the upper surface. There are two heights each. Therefore, the convex part 40 is provided in a total of four ways: a large and high convex part 41, a large and low convex part 42, a small and high convex part 43, and a small and low convex part 44. When there are the convex portions 40, the four types of the convex portions 41 to 44 and one type when the convex portions 40 are not provided can have a total of five types of information in each convex portion forming region S. . Of course, there may be three or more sizes in a plan view and a protruding height from the upper surface.

  In addition, as an example which comprises an information specific element other than the convex part 40, the structure which cannot be normally visually recognized, such as the coating material visualized by irradiating an ultraviolet-ray, is mentioned. The paint that is visualized by irradiating with ultraviolet rays may be applied, for example, with “82” as it is.

  As another example, a structure in which the shape, size, array shape, array size, array interval, and the like in plan view of the perforated portion 32a formed on the periphery of the sheet 30 shown in FIG. .

It can be said that the paint and the perforated portion 32a that are visualized by irradiating the above-described ultraviolet rays are information specifying elements other than the visually recognizable design.
By the way, as the sheet | seat 10,20,30 shown to FIG. 4A-FIG. 4C, the thermally expansible sheet which expands and expands according to the absorbed heat quantity can be used, for example. When using a thermally expansible sheet, the above-mentioned at least 1 convex part 40 is provided when a thermally expansible sheet expands and expands. In addition, as another method for forming the convex portion 40, overcoating with an ultraviolet curable ink or the like is given as an example.

  Here, a three-dimensional image forming apparatus that is an example of a convex portion forming apparatus that forms the convex portions 40 on the sheets 10, 20, and 30 will be described. The stereoscopic image forming apparatus can also form a stereoscopic image in the design areas 11, 21, and 31 shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C described above at the same time when the convex portion 40 is formed.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the stereoscopic image forming apparatus 401 in the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 6, the stereoscopic image forming apparatus 401 includes a lowermost black toner printing unit 402, a thermal expansion processing unit 403 thereon, and an uppermost inkjet printer unit 404. The black toner printing unit 402 is an example of a heat absorption unit forming unit, and the thermal expansion processing unit 403 is an example of a thermal energy applying unit.

  The black toner printing unit 402 includes an endless transfer belt 406 extending in the horizontal direction at the center inside the apparatus housing 405. The transfer belt 406 is stretched between a driving roller 407 and a driven roller 408 while being stretched by a tension mechanism (not shown), and is driven by the driving roller 407 to be counterclockwise as indicated by an arrow a in FIG. Circulate to

  A photosensitive drum 411 of the image forming unit 409 is disposed in contact with the upper circulation moving surface of the transfer belt 406. The photoconductive drum 411 is provided with a developing roller 412 and the like following a cleaner, an initialization charger, an optical writing head (not shown) and so on so as to surround the peripheral surface.

  The developing roller 412 is disposed in the side opening of the toner container 413. A black toner K is stored in the toner container 413. The black toner K is made of a nonmagnetic one-component toner.

  The developing roller 412 carries a thin layer of black toner K contained in a toner container 413 on its surface, and an electrostatic latent image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 411 by an optical writing head. Then, an image of black toner K (images corresponding to the convex portion 40 and the design areas 11, 21, 31) is developed.

  A primary transfer roller 414 is pressed against the lower portion of the photosensitive drum 411 via a transfer belt 406 to form a primary transfer portion. The primary transfer roller 414 is supplied with a bias voltage from a bias power source (not shown).

  The primary transfer roller 414 applies a bias voltage supplied from a bias power source to the transfer belt 406 in the primary transfer unit, and transfers an image of the black toner K developed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 411 to the transfer belt 406. Transcript to.

  A secondary transfer roller 415 is brought into pressure contact with the driven roller 408 across the right end portion of the transfer belt 406 shown in FIG. 6 via the transfer belt 406, thereby forming a secondary transfer portion. A bias voltage is supplied to the secondary transfer roller 415 from a bias power source (not shown).

  The secondary transfer roller 415 applies a bias voltage supplied from a bias power source to the transfer belt 406 in the secondary transfer unit, and the image of the black toner K primarily transferred to the transfer belt 406 is transferred to the image forming conveyance path. As indicated by arrows along 416, the image is transferred to the thermally expandable sheet 500 conveyed from below in FIG.

  Further, the image of the black toner K transferred to the thermally expandable sheet 500 is an example of a heat absorbing portion that is formed on the surface of the thermally expandable sheet 500 and more easily absorbs heat energy than the thermally expandable sheet 500. .

  The thermally expandable sheet 500 is stacked and stored in a sheet storage unit 418 including a paper feed cassette and the like, and the uppermost sheet is taken out by a paper feed roller (not shown) and sent out to the image forming conveyance path 416. . Further, the thermally expandable sheet 500 is conveyed through the image forming conveyance path 419, and the image of the black toner K is transferred while passing through the secondary transfer portion.

  The thermally expandable sheet 500 that has passed the secondary transfer portion while transferring the image of the black toner K is conveyed along the fixing conveyance path 419 to the fixing unit 421. The heating roller 422 and the pressing roller 423 of the fixing unit 421 sandwich the thermally expandable sheet 500 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 paper surface of the thermally expandable sheet 500, further conveyed by the heating roller 422 and the pressing roller 423, and taken over by the fixing unit discharge roller pair 424. , And is discharged to the upper thermal expansion processing unit 403. Here, since the conveying speed of the heat-expandable sheet 500 in the fixing unit 421 is relatively fast, the black toner print portion of the heat-expandable sheet 500 does not expand due to the heating of the heating roller 422.

  In the thermal expansion processing unit 403, a medium transport path 425 is formed in the upper part, and four transport roller pairs 426 (426a, 426b, 426c, 426d) are placed along the medium transport path 425. A light source unit 427 is disposed almost below the center of the medium conveyance path 425.

  The light source unit 427 includes an elongated halogen lamp 427a and a reflecting mirror 427b having a substantially semicircular cross section surrounding the lower half of the halogen lamp 427a, and the thermally expandable sheet 500 is arranged in the depth direction of FIG. The whole is heated.

  In the present embodiment, a 900 W lamp is used as the halogen lamp 427a, and the halogen lamp 427a is disposed at a position 4 cm away from the surface of the thermally expandable sheet 500 conveyed through the medium conveyance path 425. The conveyance speed of the conveyance roller pair 426 that conveys the thermally expandable sheet 500 is 20 mm / second. Under this condition, the thermally expandable sheet 500 is heated to 100 ° C. to 110 ° C., and the portion of the thermally expandable sheet 500 on which the black toner image is printed is thermally expanded.

  Note that the conveying speed of the thermally expandable sheet 500 of the black toner printing unit 402 is fast and the conveying speed of the thermally expandable sheet 500 of the thermal expansion processing unit 403 is slow, but the thermally expandable sheet 500 is one sheet from the sheet storage unit 418. The continuous conveyance is not performed until the conveyance of the thermal expansion processing unit 403 is completed.

  Therefore, the thermally expandable sheet 500 conveyed to the thermal expansion processing unit 403 is transported between the fixing unit discharge roller pair 424 of the black toner printing unit 402 and the first conveyance roller pair 426a of the thermal expansion processing unit 403. In a state of being bent by the above, there is no inconvenience in conveyance as a whole only by staying for a short time.

  The thermally expandable sheet 500 in which the black solid print portion is thermally expanded by the thermal expansion processing unit 403 and the convex portions 40 and the design regions 11, 21, and 31 are raised is carried into the inkjet printer unit 404 along the conveyance path c. .

  Note that the conveying roller pair 426 may be constituted by a pair of long rollers extending in the width direction of the thermally expandable sheet 500 orthogonal to the conveying direction, or only on both side ends of the thermally expandable sheet 500. It is also possible to constitute a pair of short rollers that sandwich and convey the roller.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the inkjet printer unit 404 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
In the ink jet printer unit 404 shown in FIG. 7, an internal frame 437 shown in FIG. 7 is disposed between the conveyance path c shown in FIG. 6 and a medium discharge port 428 provided with a discharge tray 429 on the outside.

  The ink jet printer unit 404 includes a carriage 431 that can be reciprocated in a direction indicated by a double-directional arrow d orthogonal to the paper transport direction. A print head 432 for performing printing and ink cartridges 433 (433w, 433c, 433m, 433y) for containing ink are attached to the carriage 431.

  The cartridges 433w, 433c, 433m, and 433y contain white W, cyan C, magenta M, and yellow Y color inks, 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 432 having respective nozzles for ejecting each color ink.

  The carriage 431 is slidably supported by the guide rail 434 on the one hand, and is fixed to the toothed drive belt 435 on the other hand. As a result, the print head 432 and the ink cartridge 433 (433w, 433c, 433m, 433y) are driven to reciprocate together with the carriage 431 in the direction orthogonal to the paper conveyance direction indicated by the double arrow d in FIG. The

  A flexible communication cable 436 is connected via an internal frame 437 between the print head 432 and a control unit (not shown) of the stereoscopic image forming apparatus 401. Print data and control signals are sent from the control unit to the print head 432 through the flexible communication cable 436.

Further, a platen 438 that is opposed to the print head 432 and extends in the main scanning direction of the print head 432 and that constitutes a part of the sheet conveyance path is disposed at the lower end portion of the internal frame 437.
Further, the thermally expandable sheet 500 is in contact with the platen 438 and the pair of feed rollers 439 (the lower roller is hidden behind the thermally expandable sheet 500 and cannot be seen in FIG. 7) and the discharge roller pair 441 (lower roller) Is not seen in the same manner), and is intermittently conveyed in the printing sub-scanning direction indicated by arrow e in FIG.

  During the period during which the intermittent conveyance of the thermally expandable sheet 500 is stopped, the print head 432 is driven by the motor 442 via the toothed drive belt 435 and the carriage 431 while being in the vicinity of the thermally expandable sheet 500. Is printed on the paper surface. In this manner, printing (printing) is performed on the entire surface of the thermally expandable sheet 500 by repeating the intermittent conveyance of the thermally expandable sheet 500 and the printing during the reciprocating movement by the print head 432.

  In addition, in order to cover the black toner on the above-described heat absorbing portion, which is an image of the black toner K printed by the black toner printing portion 402, white ink, for example, overlaps at least the heat absorbing portion. Printed as follows.

  It is preferable to print the images corresponding to the design areas 11, 21, 31 on the white ink by overlapping them with full-color printing. In this case, the thermally expandable sheet 500 on which the white ink is printed is reversely conveyed in the direction opposite to the printing sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow e, and full color printing is performed while being conveyed again in the arrow e direction.

  In the present embodiment described above, the sheets 10, 20, and 30 have a pair of main surfaces and are used for delivery. Moreover, the sheet | seat 10,20,30 is provided with the at least 1 convex part 40 which protrudes in the thickness direction of a sheet | seat from one main surface of a pair of main surfaces. The at least one convex portion 40 constitutes an information specifying element corresponding to the specified information including the first information unique to the type of the sheet 10, 20, 30.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the specified information can be read from the sheets 10, 20, and 30 used for delivery based on the information specifying elements other than the visually recognizable design. By the way, when reading information from the sheets 10, 20, and 30 from a design that is visible as is well known, the design may become undetectable due to wetness or rubbing. By using the configured information specifying element, such reading failure can be suppressed. Further, the information specifying element configured by the convex portion 40 is difficult to counterfeit compared to a visually recognizable design.

  In the present embodiment, the specified information further includes second information associated with the sheets 10, 20, 30 independently of the type of the sheets 10, 20, 30. Thereby, for example, the type of the delivery D to which the sheets 10, 20, and 30 are pasted, the type of the delivery D to which the sheets 10, 20, and 30 will be pasted, the sender of the delivery D, and the receiver of the delivery D Since the information different from the type of the sheet 10, 20, 30 or the like can be read out, the information amount of the specified information can be increased and the confidentiality of the specified information can be enhanced.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the sheets 10, 20, and 30 further include design areas 11, 21, and 31 in which a visually recognizable design is applied to one main surface, and at least one convex portion 40 includes the design. It is provided in a region that does not overlap the regions 11, 21, 31. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the appearance of the design areas 11, 21, 31 from being damaged by the convex portion 40 when the design areas 11, 21, 31 are planar. Moreover, the convex part 40 can be formed in the sheet | seat 10,20,30 also when the design area | regions 11,21,31 are three-dimensional shapes.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment, the at least 1 convex part 40 is provided in the peripheral area | regions 12, 22, 32 of one main surface. Therefore, the convex part 40 can prevent that the external appearance of the area | region (for example, design area | region 11, 21, 31) of the center (gravity center) side surrounded by the peripheral area | regions 12, 22, and 32 is impaired.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment, the at least 1 convex part 40 contains two convex parts from which the protrusion height from a main surface differs mutually. Therefore, it is possible to increase the information amount of the specified information on the sheets 10, 20, 30 with a simple structure in which a difference is provided in the protruding height of the convex portion 40.

  In the present embodiment, at least one convex portion 40 includes two convex portions having different sizes when viewed in plan along the thickness direction of the sheets 10, 20, 30. Therefore, it is possible to increase the information amount of the specified information on the sheets 10, 20, and 30 with a simple structure in which a difference is provided in the size of the convex portion 40.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the information specifying element includes a plurality of information when viewed in plan along the thickness direction, the presence / absence of at least one convex portion 40 in the plurality of convex portion formation regions S where the convex portions 40 are formed. Arrangement shape or arrangement size of the convex portion forming region S, a protruding height from the main surface of at least one convex portion 40 in the plurality of convex portion forming regions S, and at least one convex portion in the plurality of convex portion forming regions S It includes at least one of 40 sizes in plan view. Therefore, the information specifying element can be selected from various structures, and the information amount of the specified information on the sheets 10, 20, and 30 can be increased.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment, a thermally expansible sheet can be used as the sheet | seat 10,20,30. In this case, at least one convex part 40 is provided by foaming and expanding in accordance with the amount of heat absorbed. Therefore, the convex part 40 can be formed reliably.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the information reading device 1 has a reading result acquisition unit 2 that acquires the information specifying element read by the reading device 101, and a correspondence that acquires correspondence information between the information specifying element and the specified information. Based on the relationship information acquisition unit 3 and the corresponding relationship information acquired by the corresponding relationship information acquisition unit 3, the specified information corresponding to the information specifying element is determined from the information specifying element acquired by the reading result acquisition unit 2. A specific information determining unit 4. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the specified information can be read from the sheets 10, 20, and 30 used for delivery based on the information specifying elements other than the visually recognizable design.

  In the present embodiment, the specified information further includes second information associated with the sheets 10, 20, 30 independently of the type of the sheets 10, 20, 30. Sheets 10, 20, and 30 are stamps. The first information includes information specifying at least one of the face value and the issuing country of the stamp, and the second information includes the type of the delivery item D on which the stamp is pasted and the type of the delivery item D on which the stamp is pasted. , Information that specifies at least one of a sender of the delivery item D and a reception source of the delivery item D. Therefore, the information amount of the specified information can be increased, and the confidentiality of the specified information can be improved. Moreover, although it is an example, by creating an original stamp to which an information specifying element corresponding to the second information such as the address of the sender and receiver of the delivery item D is created, the delivery without the address information is described. Can be requested. Moreover, it becomes possible to automatically check forgetting to put a stamp on the basis of information specifying elements such as the presence or absence of the convex portion 40.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment, the sheet | seat 30 protrudes in the direction parallel to the main surface of the sheet | seat 10,20,30 from a peripheral edge part by forming several perforations in the peripheral edge part of a main surface. Each of the plurality of convex portion forming regions S is provided in a region corresponding to each of the plurality of perforations. Thereby, the position of the convex part formation area S can be recognized by recognizing the perforated part 32a. Moreover, since the convex part 40 can be formed using the space of the protrusion part of the perforation part 32a, the external appearance (for example, design area | region 11, 21, 31) of the center (center of gravity) side of the convex part 40 is obtained. It can be prevented from being damaged.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention includes the invention described in the claim, and its equivalent range. The invention described in the scope of claims at the beginning of the filing of the present application will be appended.

[Appendix 1]
A sheet having a pair of main surfaces and used for delivery,
Including at least one convex portion projecting in the thickness direction of the sheet from one main surface of the pair of main surfaces;
The at least one convex portion constitutes an information specifying element corresponding to the specified information including the first information specific to the type of the sheet,
A sheet characterized by that.

[Appendix 2]
The sheet according to appendix 1, wherein the specified information further includes second information associated with the sheet independently of the type of the sheet.

[Appendix 3]
The sheet further includes a design area in which a visually recognizable design is applied to the one main surface,
The at least one convex portion is provided in a region that does not overlap the design region.
The sheet according to supplementary note 1 or 2, characterized by:

[Appendix 4]
The sheet according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 3, wherein the at least one convex portion is provided in a peripheral region of the one main surface.

[Appendix 5]
The sheet according to any one of appendices 1 to 4, wherein the at least one convex portion includes two convex portions having different protrusion heights from the main surface.

[Appendix 6]
The sheet according to any one of appendices 1 to 5, wherein the at least one convex portion includes two convex portions having different sizes when viewed in plan along the thickness direction of the sheet.

[Appendix 7]
The information specifying element includes the presence or absence of the at least one convex portion in the plurality of convex portion forming regions where the convex portions are formed, and the arrangement of the plurality of convex portion forming regions when viewed in plan along the thickness direction. The shape or arrangement size, the protruding height of the at least one convex portion from the main surface in the plurality of convex portion forming regions, and the plan view of the at least one convex portion in the plurality of convex portion forming regions. Including at least one of the magnitudes of times,
The sheet according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 6, characterized in that:

[Appendix 8]
The sheet is a thermally expandable sheet,
The at least one convex portion is provided by foaming and expanding according to the amount of heat absorbed,
The sheet according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 7, characterized in that:

[Appendix 9]
An information reading device that reads information from a sheet that has a pair of main surfaces and is used for delivery,
The sheet includes at least one convex portion protruding from one main surface of the pair of main surfaces in the thickness direction of the sheet, and the at least one convex portion is a first specific to the type of the sheet. An information specifying element corresponding to the specified information including one information is configured,
The information reading device includes:
A reading result acquisition unit for acquiring the information specifying element read by the reading device;
A correspondence information acquisition unit for acquiring correspondence information between the information identification element and the identified information;
A specific information determining unit that determines the specific information corresponding to the information specific element from the information specific element acquired by the reading result acquisition unit based on the correspondence information acquired by the correspondence information acquisition unit. When,
An information reading device comprising:

[Appendix 10]
The sheet is a stamp,
The specified information further includes second information associated with the sheet independently of the type of the sheet,
The first information includes information specifying at least one of a face value and an issuing country of the stamp,
The second information includes at least one of a type of a delivery item to which the stamp is attached, a type of a delivery item to which the stamp is attached, a sender of the delivery item, and a reception source of the delivery item. Including identifying information,
The information reading device according to appendix 9, wherein

[Appendix 11]
The information specifying element includes the presence or absence of the at least one convex portion in the plurality of convex portion forming regions where the convex portions are formed, and the arrangement of the plurality of convex portion forming regions when viewed in plan along the thickness direction. The shape or arrangement size, the protruding height of the at least one convex portion from the main surface in the plurality of convex portion forming regions, and the plan view of the at least one convex portion in the plurality of convex portion forming regions. Including at least one of the magnitudes of times,
Supplementary sheet 9 or 10 characterized by the above-mentioned.

[Appendix 12]
The sheet is formed with a plurality of perforations at the peripheral edge portion of the main surface, so that a protrusion portion that continuously protrudes from the peripheral edge portion in a direction parallel to the main surface of the sheet is provided. Have
Each of the plurality of convex forming regions is provided in a region corresponding to each of the plurality of perforations,
12. The information reading device according to any one of appendices 9 to 11, wherein

[Appendix 13]
An information reading method for reading information using a computer from a sheet having a pair of main surfaces and used for delivery,
The sheet includes at least one convex portion protruding from one main surface of the pair of main surfaces in the thickness direction of the sheet,
The at least one convex portion constitutes an information specifying element corresponding to the specified information including the first information specific to the type of the sheet,
Obtaining the information specific element read by the reader;
Obtaining correspondence information between the information identification element and the identified information;
Based on the acquired correspondence information, the specified information corresponding to the information specific element is determined from the acquired information specific element.
An information reading method characterized by the above.

[Appendix 14]
A program for causing a computer to read information from a sheet having a pair of main surfaces and used for delivery,
The sheet includes at least one convex portion protruding from one main surface of the pair of main surfaces in the thickness direction of the sheet,
The at least one convex portion constitutes an information specifying element corresponding to the specified information including the first information specific to the type of the sheet,
Processing for acquiring the information specifying element read by the reading device;
A process of acquiring correspondence information between the information specifying element and the specified information;
Based on the acquired correspondence information, a process for determining the specified information corresponding to the information specifying element from the acquired information specifying element;
The information reading method characterized by causing the computer to execute.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information reading apparatus 2 Reading result acquisition part 3 Correspondence relation information acquisition part 4 Specific information determination part 5 Correspondence relation information storage part 10, 20, 30 Sheet 11, 21, 31 Design area 11a, 21a, 31a Symbol area 12, 22 , 32 Peripheral area 40, 41, 42, 43, 44 Convex part 100 Information reading system 101 Reading device S (S1 to S20) Convex part forming area

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a sheet.

The manufacturing method according to one embodiment, the provision of a method for producing a sheet of expanded by being heated above a temperature, the heat in the region to form at least one protrusion protruding in the thickness direction before Symbol sheet Including a step of laminating an absorption layer and a step of applying thermal energy to the sheet on which the heat absorption layer is laminated, wherein each of the at least one convex portion specifies information corresponding to information to be specified on the sheet It expands according to the amount of heat absorbed through the heat absorption layer to constitute an element, and the information identification is determined by a combination of the presence / absence of the protrusions, different protrusion heights, and a size in plan view. that make up the elements.

Claims (3)

A sheet that expands when heated above a specified temperature,
Comprising at least one protrusion protruding in the thickness direction of the sheet formed in a peripheral region of the sheet;
Each of the at least one convex portion expands according to the amount of heat absorbed so as to constitute the information specifying element corresponding to the specified information on the sheet, and the presence / absence of each convex portion, the different protruding height, and the plane The information specifying element is configured by a combination of sizes when viewed.
A sheet characterized by that. The sheet has a perforation portion in which a plurality of perforations are formed at a peripheral edge portion so that protrusions projecting in a direction parallel to the sheet from the peripheral edge portion are provided continuously,
Each of the plurality of convex portion forming regions where the convex portions are formed is provided in a region corresponding to each of the plurality of perforations,
The sheet according to claim 1. A sheet that expands when heated above a specified temperature,
At least one of the plurality of convex portion forming regions provided on the peripheral edge of the sheet is a convex portion protruding in the thickness direction of the sheet, and constitutes an information specifying element corresponding to the specific information of the sheet It has a convex part that expands according to the amount of heat absorbed as much as possible,
The information specifying element is configured by a combination of the presence or absence of the convex portion, different projecting height, and the size when viewed in plan for each convex portion forming region.
A sheet characterized by that.