JP6531350B2 - Three-dimensional image forming apparatus, three-dimensional image forming method, and three-dimensional image forming program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a three-dimensional image forming apparatus and a three-dimensional image forming method, and in particular, a three-dimensional image forming apparatus and a three-dimensional image forming method for selectively expanding a thermally expandable sheet to form a three-dimensional image with high quality and low cost easily. About.

  Conventionally, a thermally expandable sheet (or thermally foamable sheet) is known in which a thermally expandable layer (or foamed layer) is formed on one side of a substrate sheet, the foamable microcapsules being expandable by heating. . After printing an image pattern having high light absorbency on this thermal expansion sheet, the light expansion layer in the region corresponding to the image pattern is selectively heated and expanded by irradiating light including infrared rays. A three-dimensional image corresponding to the above image pattern can be formed on one side of the material sheet.

  With regard to such a three-dimensional image forming technology, for example, Patent Document 1 prints on the surface on the thermal expansion layer side of the thermally expandable sheet or the back surface on the substrate sheet side with black toner or ink having high light absorbability. After forming an image, light is irradiated by a halogen lamp or the like to cause the printed image to absorb light and cause heat generation, and heat is applied to expand (or foam) the microcapsules of the thermal expansion layer in the region corresponding to the printed image Thus, a method for forming a stereoscopic image is described.

  Further, for example, in Patent Document 2, a color image or the like is formed on the surface of the thermal expansion layer side of the thermally expandable sheet, and on the back surface of the base sheet side After forming a light absorption pattern, light is irradiated from the back side of the thermally expandable sheet to generate heat according to the light and shade of the light absorption pattern to control the amount of expansion of the thermal expansion layer, thereby producing a stereoscopic image. Techniques for adjusting the height of the ridges of the

  In addition, after raising the three-dimensional image in advance on the thermally expandable sheet, for example, a white ink of background color is applied to the entire surface of the thermally expandable layer side, or a color image is formed thereon without being applied. Is also proposed.

JP-A-64-28660 JP 2001-150812 A

  According to the method described in Patent Document 2 described above, an arbitrary bump height (foaming height) is determined according to a pattern such as a color image formed on the surface of the thermally expandable sheet on the thermal expansion layer side. Can be formed into a controlled three-dimensional image.

  However, as a result of the inventors of the present invention verifying a method of forming such a three-dimensional image, when the three-dimensional image is formed by irradiating the heat-expandable sheet with light using a long halogen lamp or the like, the thermal expansion layer expands. The problem is that the height of expansion (foaming) at the time of raising is different from what was supposed to be and becomes uneven. This is a defect that occurs because the temperature of the halogen lamp that light-heats the heat-expandable sheet gradually increases with time.

  Generally, while the halogen lamp is moved relative to the thermally expandable sheet along a direction (generally perpendicular direction) crossing the longitudinal direction, the thermally expandable sheet is irradiated with light heat. During the movement, the temperature of the halogen lamp gradually increases with the passage of time. Therefore, normally, with regard to the temperature gradient along the moving direction of the halogen lamp, control is performed to keep the temperature of the halogen lamp constant at all times.

  However, even if control is performed to keep the temperature constant as described above, there is a problem that it is difficult to keep the temperature of the light-heat irradiated portion such as a halogen lamp completely constant. The problems in the prior art will be described in detail in the embodiments for carrying out the invention described later.

  Therefore, in view of the problems described above, the present invention forms a three-dimensional image by irradiating light to a thermally expandable sheet while moving a photothermally irradiated unit such as a halogen lamp relative to the thermally expandable sheet. In this case, even when control is not performed to keep the temperature of the light-heat-irradiated part constant as time passes, the expansion (foaming) height when the thermal expansion layer of the thermally expandable sheet expands and bulges The density of the converted image to be printed is adjusted so as to be constant, so that a three-dimensional image can be formed easily and inexpensively, and finally a final image such as a color image is desired. An object of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensional image forming apparatus and a three-dimensional image forming method capable of forming a three-dimensional image having a sense of luxury.

Further, in order to solve the above problems, the stereoscopic image forming apparatus of the present invention is
A heat absorbing member forming portion that forms a heat absorbing member having a thermal energy absorbing property higher than that of the medium on the surface of the medium having a thermal expansion property;
The heat absorbing member is irradiated with light heat while moving relative to the medium along the surface of the medium, and heat energy generated in the heat absorbing member causes the heat absorbing member to be formed. A light heat source portion which expands a medium to form a convex portion on the medium;
When the degree of expansion of the medium of the portion where the heat absorbing member is formed is set to be the same, the heat absorption formed in the first region corresponding to the longitudinal center of the light heat source portion in the medium the area occupied per unit area of the surface of the medium member is smaller than the area of the heat absorbing member formed in a second region corresponding to the opposite ends of the long side direction of the optical heat source in the medium A density control unit for controlling the area of the heat absorbing member so that
Configured to have

Moreover, in order to solve the above-mentioned subject, the stereo image formation method of the present invention is
Forming on the surface of the thermally expandable medium a heat absorbing member having higher thermal energy absorption than the medium;
The heat absorbing member is irradiated with light heat while moving relative to the medium along the surface of the medium, and heat energy generated in the heat absorbing member causes the heat absorbing member to be formed. The medium is expanded to form a protrusion on the medium,
When the degree of expansion of the medium of the portion where the heat absorbing member is formed is set to be the same, the heat formed in the first region corresponding to the end point side of the direction of movement of the light heat source portion in the medium The area occupied per unit area of the surface of the medium of the absorbing member is smaller than the area of the heat absorbing member formed in the second region corresponding to the starting point side of the direction of movement of the light heat source in the medium To control the area of the heat absorbing member.

Further, in order to solve the above problems, a stereoscopic image forming program of the present invention is
A heat absorbing member forming portion for forming a heat absorbing member having a thermal energy absorbing property higher than that of the medium on the surface of the medium having thermal expansion, and moving relative to the medium along the surface of the medium; A light heat source portion which irradiates light heat to a heat absorbing member and expands the medium of a portion where the heat absorbing member is formed by heat energy generated in the heat absorbing member to form a convex portion on the medium; A program for controlling a computer provided in a three-dimensional image forming apparatus having
On the computer
When the degree of expansion of the medium of the portion where the heat absorbing member is formed is set to be the same, the heat formed in the first region corresponding to the end point side of the direction of movement of the light heat source portion in the medium The area occupied per unit area of the surface of the medium of the absorbing member is smaller than the area of the heat absorbing member formed in the second region corresponding to the starting point side of the direction of movement of the light heat source in the medium To control the area of the heat absorbing member.

  According to the three-dimensional image forming apparatus, the three-dimensional image forming method, and the three-dimensional image forming program of the present invention, the thermal expansion layer of the thermally expandable sheet expands even when control to keep the light heat irradiation temperature constant is not performed. This produces an effect that high-quality and low-cost products can be easily produced at a desired price in a color image with a constant expansion (foaming) height at the time of raising.

(A)-(c) is a figure for demonstrating the three-dimensional image formation method using the three-dimensional image formation apparatus as this embodiment. (A)-(c) is a figure for demonstrating the three-dimensional image formation method using the three-dimensional image formation apparatus as this embodiment. It is a sectional view showing typically the internal configuration of the three-dimensional image formation device as this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an inkjet printer unit of the three-dimensional image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. It is a circuit block diagram containing the control device of the three-dimensional image formation device concerning this embodiment. (A)-(d) is a figure which shows the basic concept which forms a three-dimensional image in the thermally expandable sheet | seat which concerns on this invention. (A)-(c) is a figure for demonstrating the three-dimensional image formation method which concerns on a comparative example. (A)-(c) is a figure for demonstrating the three-dimensional image formation method which concerns on a comparative example. (A)-(c) is a figure for demonstrating the production | generation method of a black gradation image using the three-dimensional image forming apparatus as this embodiment. (A)-(c) is a figure for demonstrating the correction method of the original image using the black gradation image which used the three-dimensional image formation apparatus as this embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.
<Stereo image forming apparatus>
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an internal configuration of the three-dimensional image forming apparatus as the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the three-dimensional image forming apparatus 1 is configured of the lowermost black toner printing unit 2, the thermal expansion processing unit 3 thereon, and the uppermost inkjet printer unit 4.

  The black toner printing unit 2 includes an endless transfer belt 6 extending in the horizontal direction at the center of the inside of the apparatus casing 5. The transfer belt 6 is stretched around the driving roller 7 and the driven roller 8 while being stretched by a stretching mechanism (not shown) and driven by the driving roller 7 to circulate in a counterclockwise direction indicated by arrow a in the figure. Do.

  The photosensitive drum 11 of the image forming unit 9 is disposed in contact with the upper circulation movement surface of the transfer belt 6. On the photosensitive drum 11, a cleaner, an initialization charger, an optical writing head, and the like are provided so as to surround the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 11.

  The developing roller 12 is disposed at the side opening of the toner container 13. In the toner container 13, a black toner (heat absorbing member) K is accommodated. The black toner K is made of nonmagnetic one-component toner.

  The developing roller 12 carries a thin layer of black toner K contained in the toner container 13 on the surface, and an electrostatic latent image formed on the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 11 by the optical writing head. The image of the black toner K is developed on the

  The primary transfer roller 14 is in pressure contact with the lower portion of the photosensitive drum 11 via the transfer belt 6 to form a primary transfer portion. A bias voltage is supplied to the primary transfer roller 14 from a bias power supply (not shown).

  The primary transfer roller 14 applies a bias voltage supplied from a bias power source to the transfer belt 6 at the primary transfer portion to transfer the image of the black toner K developed on the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 11 onto the transfer belt 6. Transcribe.

  The secondary transfer roller 15 is in pressure contact with the driven roller 8 having the right end portion shown in the figure of the transfer belt 6 stretched around via the transfer belt 6 to form a secondary transfer portion. A bias voltage is supplied to the secondary transfer roller 15 from a bias power supply (not shown).

  The secondary transfer roller 15 applies a bias voltage supplied from a bias power source to the transfer belt 6 at the secondary transfer portion, and the image of the black toner K primarily transferred onto the transfer belt 6 is transferred to the image forming conveyance path 16. The image is transferred onto the recording medium 17 conveyed from the lower side of the figure as indicated by the arrow along the line. A thermal expansion sheet is used for the recording medium 17 of this embodiment.

  The above-described recording medium 17 is stacked and accommodated in a recording medium accommodating portion 18 formed of a sheet feeding cassette or the like, and the uppermost sheet is taken out by a sheet feeding roller (not shown) or the like and sent out to the image forming conveyance path 16. The image is further conveyed through the image forming conveyance path 16, and the image of the black toner K is transferred while passing through the above-described secondary transfer portion.

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

  As a result, the recording medium 17 fixes the image of the black toner K that has been secondarily transferred on the surface of the sheet, is further conveyed by the heating roller 22 and the pressure roller 23, and takes over conveyance by the fixing portion discharge roller pair 24. It is discharged to the thermal expansion processing unit 3 of Note that since the conveyance speed of the recording medium 17 (thermal expansion sheet) in the fixing unit 21 is relatively high, the black toner printed portion of the thermal expansion sheet does not expand due to the heating of the heating roller 22.

  The thermal expansion processing unit 3 has a medium transport path 25 formed on the top, and four pairs of transport rollers 26 (26a, 26b, 26c, 26d) are arranged along the medium transport path 25. A light source unit (light heat source unit) 27 is disposed below the substantially central portion of the medium transport path 25.

  The light source unit 27 includes a halogen lamp 27a and a reflecting mirror 27b having a substantially semicircular cross section surrounding a lower half of the halogen lamp 27a.

  In this example, a 900 W lamp is used as the halogen lamp 27a, and the halogen lamp 27a is disposed 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 for conveying the recording medium 17 is 20 mm / sec. Under this condition, the recording medium 17 is heated to 100 ° C. to 110 ° C. by light heat irradiation from the halogen lamp 27a, and a black solid print portion of the recording medium 17 (here, black solid is gray in the density adjustment of the present invention). Thermal expansion also occurs).

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

  Therefore, the recording medium 17 conveyed to the thermal expansion processing unit 3 is bent in 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 26 a of the thermal expansion processing unit 3. In the squeezed state, merely staying for a short time does not cause any inconvenience in transport as a whole.

  The recording medium 17 in which the black solid print portion thermally expands and swells in the thermal expansion processing unit 3 is carried into the ink jet printer unit 4 along the transport path c.

  The conveying roller pair 26 may be formed by a long roller pair extending in the width direction of the recording medium 17 orthogonal to the conveying direction, or by sandwiching only both side end portions of the recording medium 17 It can also be configured by short roller pairs to be transported.

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

  The inkjet printer unit 4 includes a carriage 31 provided so as to be reciprocally movable in a direction indicated by a double arrow d perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction. The carriage 31 is attached with a print head 32 for performing printing and an ink cartridge 33 (33w, 33c, 33m, 33y) containing ink.

  The cartridges 33 w, 33 c, 33 m, and 33 y contain white W, cyan C, magenta M, and yellow Y color inks, respectively. These cartridges are configured individually or each ink chamber is integrated in a single case, and are connected to a print head 32 having nozzles for discharging ink of each color.

  Further, the carriage 31 is slidably supported by the guide rails 34 on one side, and is fixed to the toothed drive belt 35 on the other side. Thus, the print head 32 and the ink cartridge 33 (33w, 33c, 33m, 33y) are reciprocated with the carriage 31 in the direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction indicated by the double arrow d in FIG. .

  A flexible communication cable 36 is connected between the print head 32 and a control device described later of the three-dimensional image forming apparatus 1 via an internal frame 37. 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 faces the print head 32 and extends in the main scanning direction of the print head 32 and which constitutes a part of the sheet conveyance path is disposed at the lower end portion of the internal frame 37.

  The recording medium 17 is in contact with the platen 38, and the paper feeding roller pair 39 (the lower roller is behind the recording medium 17 and can not be seen in the figure) and the paper discharge roller pair 41 (the lower roller is similarly the recording medium 17). (Not visible) and is intermittently transported in the printing sub-scanning direction indicated by arrow e in the figure.

  While the intermittent conveyance of the recording medium 17 is stopped, the print head 32 is driven by the motor 42 through the toothed drive belt 35 and the carriage 31 and ejects ink droplets in the state of being close to the recording medium 17. Print on paper. In this manner, 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 at the time of reciprocating movement by the print head 32.

  When full-color printing is overlapped and printed on white-painted printing, which will be described later, the printing medium 17 printed in white is reversely conveyed in the reverse direction to the printing sub-scanning direction indicated by arrow e and conveyed again in the arrow e direction. While printing, print in full color.

  When full-color printing is performed on the thermally expanded and raised surface by heating from the back surface of the print medium 17 described later, although not shown in the figure, the normal both sides disposed above the inner frame 37 The recording medium 17 conveyed from the thermal expansion processing unit 3 through the conveyance path c is reversed from the front to the back using the same recording medium reversing mechanism as used for printing.

  FIG. 5 is a circuit block diagram including a control device of the three-dimensional image forming apparatus 1 configured as described above. As shown in FIG. 5, the circuit block is centered on a CPU (central processing unit) 45, and sends to the CPU 45 an I / F_CONT (interface controller) 46, a PR_CONT (printer controller) 47, and a data bus respectively. An image cropping unit 48 is connected.

  A printer printing unit 49 is connected to the above-mentioned PR_CONT 47. The image cropping unit 48 is also connected to the I / F_CONT 46 on the other hand. The image cutting unit 48 is mounted with an image processing application similar to that installed in a personal computer or the like.

  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 an output from a sensor arranged in each unit is input. It is done. The ROM 51 stores a system program. The operation panel 53 has a touch display screen.

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

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

  In the frame memory 55, storage areas corresponding to print data of black toner K, print data 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 of is expanded. The expanded data is output to PR_CONT 47, and 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 and the primary transfer roller 14 of the black toner printing unit 2 shown in FIG. The application voltage of the image forming unit 9 having driven parts such as an initialization charger and an optical writing head, which are not shown, and drive output to process load such as driving of the transfer belt 6 and the fixing unit 21 are controlled.

  Further, the printer printing unit 49 controls the drive of the four pairs of transport rollers 26 of the thermal expansion processing unit 3 shown in FIG. 3, the light emission drive of the light source unit 27, and the timing thereof. The printer printing unit 49 further controls the operation of each unit of the ink jet printer unit 4 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

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

  Here, as a basic characteristic of the light source unit 27 (halogen lamp 27a), the light heat irradiation temperature in the longitudinal direction is high at the center and low at the end. On the other hand, in the three-dimensional image forming apparatus 1 of the present invention, the dimension in the longitudinal direction of the light source unit 27 (halogen lamp 27a) is set as short as possible in accordance with the largest dimension of the recording medium 17 used. Therefore, when the recording medium 17 of the largest dimension is heated using the light source unit 27 (halogen lamp 27a) in the three-dimensional image forming apparatus 1 of the present invention, the recording medium 17 is applied to both ends in the longitudinal direction. Thermal energy is lower than in the central part. The light source unit 27 (halogen lamp 27 a) heats the recording medium 17 while moving relative to the recording medium 17, but the temperature of the light source unit 27 (halogen lamp 27 a) changes with the passage of time. As the temperature becomes higher, the heat energy applied to the recording medium 17 also increases with time.

  Therefore, in the present invention, as described later, the image data of the black toner K is, as its density data, a temperature gradient along the longitudinal direction of the light source unit 27 (halogen lamp 27a) and its movement direction. Special print control is performed corresponding to the temperature gradient.

  That is, instead of simply converting the data (image data to be raised) cut out by the image cutting unit 48 into a black solid image and outputting it from the PR_CONT 47, the longitudinal direction of the light source unit 27 (halogen lamp 27a) In the case of the image data of the region corresponding to the uniform photothermal irradiation temperature in the central part of the image, the white data is added to the original data and output from PR_CONT 47 so that a gray solid image with a density lower than black is obtained. If image data is present in the region corresponding to the end of the light source unit 27 (halogen lamp 27a) in the longitudinal direction, a black component is added to the image corresponding to the light heat irradiation temperature distribution. Processing control is performed so as to be output from PR_CONT 47. Similarly, when image data is present on the end point side of the direction of the relative movement of the light source unit 27 (halogen lamp 27a), the original data is obtained so that a gray solid image having a density lower than black is obtained. On the other hand, processing control is performed so as to be output from the PR_CONT 47 in consideration of white data. In short, at the central portion in the longitudinal direction or at the end side of the direction of the movement, the longitudinal end or the movement in the longitudinal direction is relatively high, with a relatively large amount of thermal energy applied by the light source unit 27 (halogen lamp 27a) The black solid image is further processed so that the density is lower than the start point side of the direction of.

  As described above, in the converted image printed image, the portion where the thermal energy applied by the light source unit 27 (halogen lamp 27a) is large (small) is the image compared to the portion where the thermal energy applied is small (large). Of the light source unit 27 (halogen lamp 27a) (the end portion in the longitudinal direction of the light source unit 27 (halogen lamp 27a) or the starting point side of the direction of movement) The expansion (foaming) height is uniformly adjusted in the portion where the thermal energy is large (the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the light source unit 27 (halogen lamp 27a) and the end point in the direction of movement).

The image data of each of the white W, cyan C, magenta M, and yellow Y color inks output from the PR_CONT 47 is also supplied to the print head 32 shown in FIG.
<Method for forming stereoscopic image>

  6 (a) to 6 (d) are diagrams showing the basic concept of creating a three-dimensional surface on the recording medium 17 in the three-dimensional image forming apparatus 1 of the above configuration. 6 (a) shows the configuration of the recording medium 17, FIG. 6 (b) is a perspective view of an apparatus for explaining the principle of processing for selectively foaming the recording medium 17 and partially raising it, FIG. 6 (c) Fig. 6 is a side view of Fig. 6 (b), and Fig. 6 (d) is a cross-sectional view showing a processing result.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the recording medium 17 is composed of a base 56 and a foamed resin layer 57 containing a thermal foaming agent coated on the base 56. The substrate 56 is made of paper, cloth such as canvas, panel material such as plastic, and the like, and the material is not particularly limited. A commercially available product known in the art can be used as the recording medium 17 composed of the base material 56 and the foamed resin layer 57 containing a thermal foaming agent.

  A portion (eg, black) solid image of a color having high thermal energy absorbability according to the degree of three-dimensionalization (expansion) in the black toner printing unit 2 of FIG. (Photothermal image for absorption) 58 is printed. The solid image 58 is an image having shading according to the height of the portion where the foamed resin layer 57 is desired to be made three-dimensional. The solid image 58 having a desired density is foamed by adjusting the area occupied by the black toner K per unit area of the surface of the foamed resin layer 57, that is, the formation density of the black toner K in accordance with the desired density. Print on layer 57. Then, as shown in FIG. 6B, the surface of the foamed resin layer 57 of the recording medium 17 on which the solid image 58 is printed is heated by the heat source heater 59.

  FIG. 6 (b) is a diagram showing the basic concept, and thus the configuration is different from that of the thermal expansion processing unit 3 shown in FIG. 3, but the principle is the same. That is, as shown in FIG. 6B, the recording medium 17 is placed on the mounting table 60 with the surface on which the solid image 58 of black toner is printed facing up, and the position is fixed by the sheet support frame 62.

  Guide grooves (not shown) are formed on both side end surfaces of the mounting table 60, and the heat source heater support columns 63 (63a, 63b) can be reciprocated along the guide grooves as shown by the double-headed arrow f. ) Is set up.

  The heat source heater 59 having its both ends supported by the heat source heater support columns 63 radiates heat radiation to the surface of the foamed resin layer 57 of the recording medium 17 while moving according to the movement of the heat source heater support columns 63. That is, heat radiation is radiated to the surface of the foamed resin layer 57 while the recording medium 17 and the heat source heater 59 move relative to each other.

  As a result, the solid image 58 of the black toner absorbs the heat radiation, and the heat is transmitted to the heat blowing agent contained in the foamed resin layer 57, causing the heat blowing agent to undergo a thermal expansion reaction, as shown in FIG. In the recording medium 17, the portion G on which the solid image 58 of black toner is printed is expanded and raised as shown in FIG.

  As described above, the recording medium 17 heated by the heat source heater 59 is a portion G printed with black toner due to the difference in the heat absorptivity between the portion G printed with black toner and the other portion not printed. Only the foaming agent of the above foams to form a three-dimensional printing surface.

  The heat source heater 59 of this embodiment constitutes a light source unit comprising a halogen lamp 27a and a reflecting mirror 27b, as shown in FIG. 6C, and the heat source heater 59 of the above-described recording medium 17 and the heat source heater 59. In the relative movement, in the thermal expansion processing unit 3 described above, the light source unit 27 is fixed, and the recording medium 17 is conveyed and moved by the conveyance roller pair 26.

  Next, a data processing method relating to the conversion image printing control in the above-described three-dimensional image forming apparatus and the function and effect thereof will be specifically verified by showing a comparative example. Here, in order to clarify the gist of the invention, in the thermally expandable sheet on which the desired colored image is formed on the surface side, the thermally expandable layer on the surface side is expanded uniformly to a desired raised height to form a solid. The case of forming an image will be described.

First, after showing the three-dimensional image formation method used as a comparative example and verifying the problem, the characteristics and effects of the three-dimensional image formation method according to the present embodiment will be described.
FIGS. 7A to 7C are diagrams for explaining a three-dimensional image forming method according to a comparative example.

  In the three-dimensional image forming method according to the comparative example of the present invention, for example, instead of the solid image 58 shown in FIG. 6B, the recording medium 17 along the longitudinal direction of the halogen lamp 27a of the heat source heater 59 (light source unit 27). The solid image 58 'spans between the two longitudinal ends and the solid line extends from the start side to the end side of the movement direction of the recording medium 17 along the moving direction of the halogen lamp 27a of the heat source heater 59 (light source unit 27). It is assumed that the image 58 ′ ′ is printed to form a stereoscopic image. In order to simplify the description, the solid images 58 ′, 58 ′ ′ are set to have the same degree of stereoscopic (expansion) I assume.

  FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view before foaming along the longitudinal direction of the light source unit 27 of the recording medium 17 on which the solid image 58 'is printed, and FIG. 7B is a recording medium on which the solid image 58' is printed. FIG. 7C is a view for explaining the relationship between the light source unit 27 and the image density and the height of the bump (foaming), after the foaming of the light source unit 27 in the longitudinal direction. 8A is a cross-sectional view before foaming along the moving direction of the light source unit 27 of the recording medium 17 on which the solid image 58 "is printed, and FIG. 8B is a printed solid image 58". FIG. 8C is a view for explaining the relationship between the position in the moving direction of the light source unit 27 and the image density and the height of the bump (foaming), after the foaming in the moving direction of the light source unit 27 of the recording medium 17. It is.

  As shown in FIG. 7C, although the light heat irradiation temperature of the light source unit 27 is constant at a predetermined dimension of the central portion C, it can be seen that the light heat irradiation temperature at the both ends T becomes lower toward the end. On the other hand, when the light source unit 27 performs photothermal irradiation on the recording medium 17 on which the solid image 58 '(constant image density, see FIG. 7C) shown in FIG. 7A is printed, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 7 (b) and 7 (c), the foam height L at both ends T 'is lower than the foam height H at the central portion C' of the solid image 58 '. Further, as shown in FIG. 8C, it can be seen that the photothermal irradiation temperature of the light source unit 27 becomes higher as it approaches the end point side than the start point side of the direction of movement. On the other hand, when the light source unit 27 performs photothermal irradiation on the recording medium 17 on which the solid image 58 '(constant image density, see FIG. 8C) shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 8 (b) and 8 (c), the foam height H 'at the end point E' is lower than the foam height L 'at the start point B' in the direction of movement of the solid image 58 '. It's getting higher. That is, the bubbling height is determined in proportion to the light heat irradiation temperature distribution of the light source unit 27.

  Therefore, when there is an image desired to be three-dimensionalized at the end T ′ of the recording medium 17 corresponding to the end T of the light source unit 27, non-uniformity occurs in the image desired to be three-dimensionalized at the central portion and the foam height. It has been found. Similarly, even if there is an image to be rendered three-dimensional on the starting point side B 'of the recording medium 17 corresponding to the starting point side B of the direction of movement of the light source unit 27, It was found that uniformity would occur. In this case, if the light source unit 27 is made longer and control is performed to keep the temperature of the light source unit 27 constant at all times, this problem is solved, but the light source unit 27 itself and the apparatus become larger. It is also difficult to keep the temperature of the light source unit 27 completely constant. Therefore, as a result of verification, the inventor of the present application has solved the above-mentioned problem by adjusting the print density of the image which is to be three-dimensional on the recording medium 17 side and is to be three-dimensional.

  In the three-dimensional image forming apparatus and three-dimensional image forming method of the present invention, based on the verification contents and the analysis result shown in FIG. Adjustment is made so that the longitudinal end of the thermally expandable sheet corresponding to the light heat-irradiated part is printed at a density gradually higher than that at the central part, and the end point side of the movement direction is printed at a density gradually lower than the starting point Adjust to

  Specifically, the print image on the thermally expandable sheet side corresponding to the central portion of the light source unit is basically adjusted to a density that results in a gray image in which the black component is slightly reduced, and corresponds to both ends of the light source unit The print image on the thermally expandable sheet side is set so as to become a black gradation image in which the black component gradually increases toward the end. Along with this, the print image on the thermally expandable sheet side corresponding to the end point side of the light source unit is basically adjusted to a density that becomes a gray image with a slight black component and corresponds to the start point side of the light source unit The print image on the thermally expandable sheet side is set so as to be a black gradation image in which the black component gradually increases as it goes to the start side.

  FIGS. 1A to 1C are views for explaining a stereoscopic image forming method using the stereoscopic image forming apparatus as the present embodiment. In addition, about the structure equivalent to the comparative example (refer FIG. 7) mentioned above, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and demonstrated.

  In the three-dimensional image forming method according to the present invention, there is provided a data processing method in which the density of the gray to black components of the image formed on the thermally expandable sheet is adjusted and set based on the verification contents and the analysis result as described above. To be executed.

  That is, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1A, the central portion C in the longitudinal direction of the light source unit 27 of the heat source heater 59 is substituted for the solid image 58 ′ shown in FIG. A solid gray image 71 of a predetermined density is printed on the corresponding portion C ', and an image whose density is adjusted in inverse proportion to the light heat irradiation temperature distribution of the light source unit 27 on the portions T' corresponding to the both ends T (solid gray to black ) Print 72). Further, as shown in FIG. 2A, instead of the solid image 58 ′ ′ shown in FIG. 8A as a comparative example, a portion E ′ corresponding to the movement direction end point E of the light source unit 27 of the heat source heater 59. A solid gray image 71 'of a predetermined density is printed on the part 72. An image (solid gray to black) 72' whose density is adjusted in inverse proportion to the light heat irradiation temperature distribution of the light source unit 27 is In the present embodiment, the start point of the movement direction of the recording medium 17 and the image (solid gray image 71 and density adjusted image (solid gray to black) 72) spanning between both ends in the longitudinal direction of the recording medium 17 An image (solid gray image 71 'and density adjusted image (solid gray to black) 72') extending between the end and the end is printed, and this image portion is raised (foamed) as shown in FIG. In the same manner as described in the comparative example of FIG. The description will be made on the assumption that the degree of three-dimensionalization (expansion) is set to be the same.

  FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view before foaming along the longitudinal direction of the light source unit 27 of the recording medium 17 on which the solid gray image 71 and the density adjustment (solid gray to black) image 72 are printed, and FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view showing how the solid gray image 71 and the density adjustment (solid gray to black) image 72 respectively foam, and FIG. 1C shows the correlation between the light source unit 27 and the image density and the height of the bump (foaming). It is a figure explaining. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the recording medium 17 on which the solid gray image 71 ′ and the density adjusted (solid gray to black) image 72 ′ are printed, along the moving direction of the light source unit 27; (B) is a cross-sectional view showing how a solid gray image 71 'and a density adjusted (solid gray to black) image 72' are respectively foamed. FIG. 2 (c) shows a light source unit 27 and an image density and bumps (foamed). It is a figure explaining correlation of height.

  As shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C, the light heat irradiation temperature distribution of the light source unit 27 is constant at a predetermined dimension of the central portion C, and becomes lower toward the end portions at both end portions T. On the other hand, when photothermal irradiation is performed from the light source unit 27 on the recording medium 17 on which the solid gray image 71 and the density adjustment (solid gray to black) image 72 are printed, the central portion C 'of the recording medium 17 and The raised (foamed) height P is corrected to be constant at both ends T ′. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, the light heat irradiation temperature distribution of the light source unit 27 becomes higher as it approaches the end point side E than the start point side B. On the other hand, when photothermal irradiation is performed from the light source unit 27 on the recording medium 17 on which the solid gray image 71 'and the density adjustment (solid gray to black) image 72' are printed, the start side B of the recording medium 17 is The raised (foamed) height P is corrected to be constant at both the 'and the end side E'.

  In the case where the black density of the image to be foamed and the height of the bump (foaming) linearly change, the outermost end of the heat lamp irradiation temperature of the halogen lamp 27a is 70% of the central portion of the lamp, for example. When the image density of the end is 1.4 times (100/70) the density of the central portion and the light heat irradiation temperature of the start point side of the halogen lamp 27a is 110% of the end point end, the end point side end It has been found that it is preferable to make the image density of the image 0.9 times (100/110) the density of the start side end.

  Therefore, a high quality three-dimensional image can be formed by applying a white ink of background color, for example, to the image thus uniformly raised (foamed) and forming a full color image.

  Since the present invention is to control the density of the color image having high thermal energy absorbability in accordance with the light heat irradiation temperature of the light heat irradiation part, in the present embodiment, it is desirable to make it three-dimensional as described above. Although the case has been described in which the degree of expansion at the specific site is set to be the same, the present invention is also applicable to the case where a stereoscopic image rich in change is desired by providing a difference in the degree of expansion at the specific site. .

  In the following, the method of generating the black gradation image described above and the method of applying the generated black gradation image to a totally variable stereoscopic image will be described in more detail. FIG. 9A is a view showing a black gradation image corresponding to the temperature gradient along the longitudinal direction of the light source unit, and FIG. 9B is a black color corresponding to the temperature gradient along the movement direction of the light source unit FIG. 9 (c) is a view showing a gradation image, and FIG. 9 (c) is a view showing a black gradation image corresponding to the temperature gradient along the longitudinal direction and the moving direction of the light source unit and the heat absorption characteristic of the recording medium. d) shows a black gradation image in consideration of the heat absorption characteristics of the recording medium.

  In the black gradation image corresponding to the temperature gradient along the longitudinal direction of the light source unit, as shown in FIG. 9A, the black density becomes darker as it approaches the end from the central portion in the longitudinal direction, and the longitudinal direction It is approximately symmetrical with respect to the middle position. In the black gradation image corresponding to the temperature gradient along the movement direction of the light source unit, as shown in FIG. 9B, the black density becomes thinner as approaching from the start side to the end side of the movement direction. Note that these black gradation images are determined in advance based on simulations or based on measured values of temperature gradients and the like. In addition, the black gradation image corresponding to the temperature gradient along the longitudinal direction and the moving direction of the light source unit is such that the maximum density does not change after adding the density of the black gradation image shown in FIGS. Generated by a synthesis process that normalizes to In the combining process, weighting may be performed when adding the black gradation image in the longitudinal direction and the moving direction. The weighting ratio is determined so that the expansion (foaming) height is uniform. Next, in consideration of the fact that the amount of absorption of thermal energy changes depending on the heat absorption characteristics of the recording medium 17 itself, a fixed value determined in advance for the entire black gradation image obtained according to the type of recording medium is obtained. Make a correction that multiplies by a factor that is This coefficient is also determined in advance based on a simulation or based on an actual measurement value of a temperature gradient or the like.

  FIG. 10 (a) is a view showing an original image as an example of a three-dimensional image having a whole variation before applying correction with a black gradation image, and FIG. 10 (b) is a correction with a black gradation image FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a corrected image after application of. When the black gradation image (FIG. 9 (d)) generated through the above process and the original image (FIG. 10 (a)) are combined, a final corrected image as shown in FIG. 10 (b) is generated. Ru.

  In the present embodiment, the case where correction is performed on the original image in consideration of the temperature gradient in the longitudinal direction and the moving direction of the light source unit 27 has been described, but for example, the width in the longitudinal direction of the stereoscopic image to be formed is If the light heat irradiation temperature of the light source unit 27 falls within a predetermined dimension of the central portion C, the correction to the original image may be performed in consideration of only the temperature gradient in the moving direction. In that case, after the black gradation image in the moving direction in FIG. 9B is generated, the black gradation image for correcting the original image can be obtained only by performing the above-mentioned correction in consideration of the heat absorption characteristics of the recording medium. Therefore, in this case, the generation process of the black gradation image in the longitudinal direction of FIG. 9A and the combination process of FIG. 9C are unnecessary for the black gradation image for correcting the original image. By combining the black gradation image for original image correction obtained in this manner and the original image, the corrected image of FIG. 10B is obtained.

  Further, in the present embodiment, an example in which an image to be extracted selectively from the image to be printed and desired to be three-dimensional is printed on the foam layer side surface of the thermally expandable sheet has been described. Of course, the same applies to mirror printing on the back side opposite to the foam layer.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, the present invention is included in the invention described in the claims and their equivalents. In the following, the invention described in the original claims of the present application is appended.
[Supplementary Note 1]
A heat absorbing member forming portion that forms a heat absorbing member having a thermal energy absorbing property higher than that of the medium on the surface of the medium having a thermal expansion property;
The heat absorbing member is irradiated with light heat while moving relative to the medium along the surface of the medium, and heat energy generated in the heat absorbing member causes the heat absorbing member to be formed. A light heat source portion which expands a medium to form a convex portion on the medium;
When the degree of expansion of the medium of the portion where the heat absorbing member is formed is set to be the same, the heat formed in the first region corresponding to the end point side of the direction of movement of the light heat source portion in the medium The area occupied per unit area of the surface of the medium of the absorbing member is smaller than the area of the heat absorbing member formed in the second region corresponding to the starting point side of the direction of movement of the light heat source in the medium And controlling the area of the heat absorbing member to control the density of the heat absorbing member;
A three-dimensional image forming apparatus having:
[Supplementary Note 2]
The heat absorbing member is black, and the density control unit is configured to absorb the heat in the first region of the medium when the degree of expansion of the medium in the portion where the heat absorbing member is formed is set to be the same. The three-dimensional image forming apparatus according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein an image formed by the member is controlled to be printed at a density gradually closer to black from gray than the image formed in the second region.
[Supplementary Note 3]
The three-dimensional image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the light-heat irradiator is a halogen lamp including an infrared wavelength.
[Supplementary Note 4]
Forming on the surface of the thermally expandable medium a heat absorbing member having higher thermal energy absorption than the medium;
The heat absorbing member is irradiated with light heat while moving relative to the medium along the surface of the medium, and heat energy generated in the heat absorbing member causes the heat absorbing member to be formed. The medium is expanded to form a protrusion on the medium,
When the degree of expansion of the medium of the portion where the heat absorbing member is formed is set to be the same, the heat formed in the first region corresponding to the end point side of the direction of movement of the light heat source portion in the medium The area occupied per unit area of the surface of the medium of the absorbing member is smaller than the area of the heat absorbing member formed in the second region corresponding to the starting point side of the direction of movement of the light heat source in the medium Controlling the area of the heat absorbing member to be
Three-dimensional image formation method.
[Supplementary Note 5]
A heat absorbing member forming portion for forming a heat absorbing member having a thermal energy absorbing property higher than that of the medium on the surface of the medium having thermal expansion, and moving relative to the medium along the surface of the medium; A light heat source portion which irradiates light heat to a heat absorbing member and expands the medium of a portion where the heat absorbing member is formed by heat energy generated in the heat absorbing member to form a convex portion on the medium; A program for controlling a computer provided in a three-dimensional image forming apparatus having
On the computer
When the degree of expansion of the medium of the portion where the heat absorbing member is formed is set to be the same, the heat formed in the first region corresponding to the end point side of the direction of movement of the light heat source portion in the medium The area occupied per unit area of the surface of the medium of the absorbing member is smaller than the area of the heat absorbing member formed in the second region corresponding to the starting point side of the direction of movement of the light heat source in the medium Control the area of the heat absorbing member to
Stereoscopic image formation program.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for a three-dimensional image forming apparatus and a three-dimensional image forming method capable of easily producing a printed matter in which desired parts of a color image are three-dimensionalized with high quality and at low cost.

1 Stereo image forming apparatus 2 Black toner printing unit (image forming unit)
Reference Signs List 3 thermal expansion processing unit 4 inkjet printer unit 5 apparatus housing 6 transfer belt 7 drive roller 8 driven roller 9 image forming unit K black toner 11 photosensitive drum 12 development roller 13 toner container 14 primary transfer roller 15 secondary transfer roller 16 image Forming conveyance path 17 recording medium 18 recording medium housing part 19 fixing conveyance path 21 fixing part 22 heating roller 23 pressing roller 24 fixing part discharge roller pair 25 medium conveyance path 26 (26a, 26b, 26c, 26d) conveyance roller pair 27 light source unit (Light source section)
27a Halogen lamp 27b Reflector 28 Media outlet 29 Ejection tray 31 Carriage 32 Print head 33 (33w, 33c, 33m, 33y) Ink cartridge 34 Guide rail 35 Toothed drive belt 36 Flexible communication cable 37 Internal frame 38 Platen 39 Supply Paper roller pair 41 Output roller pair 42 Motor 45 CPU (central processing unit)
46 I / F_CONT (Interface Controller)
47 PR_CONT (Printer Controller)
48 image cutting unit 49 printer printing unit 51 ROM (read only memory)
52 EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable ROM)
53 operation panel 54 sensor unit 55 frame memory 56 base material 57 foamed resin layer 58 solid image 58 'solid image 58 "extending between both ends in the longitudinal direction 58" solid image extending from the start side to the end side of the movement direction 59 heat source heater 60 mounting table 62 sheet support frame 63 (63a, 63b) heat source heater support column G black toner solid image printed portion 71, 71 'solid gray image 72, 72' density adjustment (solid gray to black) image

Claims (8)

A heat absorbing member forming portion that forms a heat absorbing member having a thermal energy absorbing property higher than that of the medium on the surface of the medium having a thermal expansion property;
The heat absorbing member is irradiated with light heat while moving relative to the medium along the surface of the medium, and heat energy generated in the heat absorbing member causes the heat absorbing member to be formed. A light heat source portion which expands a medium to form a convex portion on the medium;
When the degree of expansion of the medium of the portion where the heat absorbing member is formed is set to be the same, the heat formed in the first region corresponding to the end point side of the direction of movement of the light heat source portion in the medium The area occupied per unit area of the surface of the medium of the absorbing member is smaller than the area of the heat absorbing member formed in the second region corresponding to the starting point side of the direction of movement of the light heat source in the medium A density control unit for controlling the area of the heat absorbing member so that
A three-dimensional image forming apparatus having: A heat absorbing member forming portion that forms a heat absorbing member having a thermal energy absorbing property higher than that of the medium on the surface of the medium having a thermal expansion property;
The heat absorbing member is irradiated with light heat while moving relative to the medium along the surface of the medium, and heat energy generated in the heat absorbing member causes the heat absorbing member to be formed. A light heat source portion which expands a medium to form a convex portion on the medium;
When the degree of expansion of the medium of the portion where the heat absorbing member is formed is set to be the same, the heat absorption formed in the first region corresponding to the longitudinal center of the light heat source portion in the medium The area occupied per unit area of the surface of the medium of the member is smaller than the area of the heat absorbing member formed in the second region corresponding to both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the light heat source portion of the medium And a density control unit that controls the area of the heat absorbing member;
A three-dimensional image forming apparatus having:   The heat absorbing member is black, and the density control unit is configured to absorb the heat in the first region of the medium when the degree of expansion of the medium in the portion where the heat absorbing member is formed is set to be the same. The stereoscopic image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein control is performed such that an image formed by a member is printed in a density gradually closer to blackish to near gray than an image formed in the second region.   The three-dimensional image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the light heat source unit is a halogen lamp including an infrared wavelength. A heat absorbing member forming portion that forms a heat absorbing member having a thermal energy absorbing property higher than that of the medium on the surface of the medium having a thermal expansion property;
A light heat source portion which irradiates light heat to the heat absorbing member while moving relative to the medium along the surface of the medium;
The heat energy applied by the light heat source to the heat absorbing member formed in the first region of the medium corresponding to the end point side of the direction of movement of the light heat source, and the direction of movement of the light heat source The end point of the direction of movement of the light heat source in the medium in order to equalize the heat energy applied by the light heat source to the heat absorbing member formed in the second region of the medium corresponding to the starting point side The area of the heat absorbing member per unit area of the surface of the medium formed in the first area corresponding to the side corresponds to the second area corresponding to the starting point side of the direction of movement of the light heat source in the medium A density control unit for controlling the area of the heat absorbing member to be smaller than the area of the heat absorbing member to be formed;
A three-dimensional image forming apparatus having:   The density control unit is configured such that, on the surface of the medium of the heat absorbing member formed in the first region, the degree of expansion of the medium of the portion where the heat absorbing member is formed is set to be the same. The three-dimensional image formation according to claim 5, wherein the area of the heat absorbing member is controlled such that the area occupied per unit area is smaller than the area of the heat absorbing member formed in the second region. apparatus. Forming on the surface of the thermally expandable medium a heat absorbing member having higher thermal energy absorption than the medium;
The heat absorbing member is irradiated with light heat while moving relative to the medium along the surface of the medium, and heat energy generated in the heat absorbing member causes the heat absorbing member to be formed. The medium is expanded to form a protrusion on the medium,
When the degree of expansion of the medium of the portion where the heat absorbing member is formed is set to be the same, the heat absorption formed in the first region corresponding to the end point side of the direction of movement of the light heat source portion in the medium The area occupied per unit area of the surface of the medium of the member is smaller than the area of the heat absorbing member formed in the second region corresponding to the starting point side of the direction of movement of the light heat source in the medium Controlling the area of the heat absorbing member,
Three-dimensional image formation method. A heat absorbing member forming portion for forming a heat absorbing member having a thermal energy absorbing property higher than that of the medium on the surface of the medium having thermal expansion, and moving relative to the medium along the surface of the medium; A light heat source portion which irradiates light heat to a heat absorbing member and expands the medium of a portion where the heat absorbing member is formed by heat energy generated in the heat absorbing member to form a convex portion on the medium; A program for controlling a computer provided in a three-dimensional image forming apparatus having
On the computer
When the degree of expansion of the medium of the portion where the heat absorbing member is formed is set to be the same, the heat formed in the first region corresponding to the end point side of the direction of movement of the light heat source portion in the medium The area occupied per unit area of the surface of the medium of the absorbing member is smaller than the area of the heat absorbing member formed in the second region corresponding to the starting point side of the direction of movement of the light heat source in the medium Control the area of the heat absorbing member to
Stereoscopic image formation program.