JP6677450B2 - Method for manufacturing molded object and method for manufacturing medium for manufacturing molded object - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for producing a shaped article,及 Beauty, a method for producing a shaped article for the production medium.

  Conventionally, on a thermal expansion layer of a medium having a thermal expansion layer that expands and expands in accordance with the amount of heat absorbed on the upper surface (for example, a thermal expansion sheet), a site selected from a color image to be printed later, A three-dimensional image forming apparatus is known in which a heat absorbing portion (for example, black toner) is to be formed, a heat absorbing portion is printed in the region, and the printed portion of the heat absorbing portion is foamed and expanded by radiation of radiant heat. (For example, see Patent Document 1). In this three-dimensional image forming apparatus, after a printing portion of a heat absorbing section is foamed and expanded and raised, a solid white image is printed on the entire surface of the medium, and then a color image is printed.

  Further, as another three-dimensional image forming apparatus, a peelable adhesive seal is attached to the back surface of the medium opposite to the surface on which the thermal expansion layer and the color image are formed and foamed and expanded. A three-dimensional image forming apparatus that prints a heat absorbing portion on the upper surface (the surface opposite to the sticking surface), expands a portion corresponding to the printed portion of the heat absorbing portion of the thermal expansion layer by radiating heat, and swells the portion. It is known (for example, see Patent Document 2). In this three-dimensional image forming apparatus, the adhesive seal printed with the heat absorbing portion is peeled off after the expansion of the thermal expansion layer.

Japanese Patent No. 522504 JP 2013-220647 A

  However, in the above-described three-dimensional image forming apparatus in which the heat absorbing portion is printed on the surface of the medium, if the color image is formed without printing the solid white image on the heat absorbing portion on the upper surface of the medium, the color image becomes dull. As a result, there was a problem that the intended coloring was not obtained. Here, in the above-described three-dimensional image forming apparatus, the heat absorbing portion is formed directly on the upper surface of the medium, but the heat absorbing portion cannot be separated from the upper surface of the medium without breaking the thermal expansion layer. Therefore, in order to solve the dullness of the color image, there is a problem that the heat absorbing portion must first be covered with a solid white image before forming the color image. Further, in order to suppress dullness of a color image, for example, it is conceivable to suppress the black density of the heat absorbing portion to a density that can be covered by a solid white image or the like.In this case, by suppressing the black density, Also, the amount of swelling due to foaming expansion is suppressed. Further, in order to suppress dullness of a color image, it is necessary to print a solid white image so as to cover at least the heat absorbing portion. Therefore, a material such as white ink is required, or a color caused by the heat absorbing portion is required. In order to suppress the dullness of the image, there has been a problem that the consumption of the color ink must be increased. Further, if the heat absorbing portion cannot be completely covered and covered with a solid white image or the like, the color image printed on the heat absorbing portion will be dull, which prevents formation of a high-quality three-dimensional image. Was.

  On the other hand, in the above-described three-dimensional image forming apparatus in which an adhesive seal is attached to the back surface of the medium, the distance between the heat absorbing portion and the thermal expansion layer is longer than when the heat absorbing portion is formed directly on the surface of the thermal expansion layer. Become. Due to this, when the heat absorbed by the heat absorbing portion is conducted to the thermal expansion layer, the amount of heat is diffused in a direction parallel to the surface of the thermal expansion layer, and a desired region in the thermal expansion layer is formed in a desired area. There is a problem that it is difficult to expand and expand by the amount. In addition, since the base material of the medium is very thick compared to the thermal expansion layer or the release layer described later in the embodiment of the present invention, the heat quantity is easily diffused, and a desired area in the thermal expansion layer is formed by a desired amount. It was difficult to expand only the foam. Furthermore, when the substrate of the medium is made of a material having low thermal conductivity such as paper, it is difficult to conduct the heat conduction itself. For this reason, even if a large amount of heat is absorbed by the thermal expansion layer, it is not possible to secure a sufficient amount of foaming of the thermal expansion layer, and it is difficult to expand and expand the thermal expansion layer by a desired amount. Therefore, it has been difficult to form a high-quality three-dimensional image even in the above-described three-dimensional image forming apparatus in which an adhesive seal is attached to the back surface of the medium.

An object of the present invention, print quality and uneven quality is increased, it is possible to produce a high-quality molded product, a method of manufacturing a shaped article,及 beauty, to provide a method of producing a molded article prepared medium is there.

The method for manufacturing a modeled object according to the present invention is characterized in that the film on which the first image is printed is irradiated with a predetermined energy toward a medium provided on the thermal expansion layer in a releasable manner. A first step of expanding the thermal expansion layer in an area corresponding to an image to form an interface with the film on an uneven surface, and peeling the film on the uneven surface formed in the first step. A second step of exposing, and a third step of printing a second image on the uneven surface exposed in the second step by a non-contact printing method , wherein the first image is subjected to the thermal expansion. It is characterized by being printed on the surface on the side facing the layer.

The method for manufacturing a medium for manufacturing a molded article according to the present invention includes a first step of printing a first image for expanding a thermal expansion layer in a corresponding region on a predetermined surface of a film; and providing the thermal expansion layer. Affixing the film to the medium such that the surface on the side on which the first image is printed faces the surface on the side on which irregularities are formed due to the expansion of the thermal expansion layer on the surface of the applied medium. And a second step of performing the above.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, a high-quality modeled product with improved printing quality and unevenness quality can be manufactured.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a processing medium for forming a three-dimensional image according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an image forming method according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a stereoscopic image forming system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows typically the internal structure of the film sticking part in 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an internal structure of a black toner printing unit and a thermal expansion processing unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of an inkjet printer unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram including a control unit of the stereoscopic image forming system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a table | surface which shows an example of the material of the peeling layer in 1st Embodiment of this invention, and those breaking elongation and breaking strength. It is a table | surface which shows the print quality and the uneven | corrugated quality in 1st-4th embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the processing medium for three-dimensional image formation which concerns on the 1st modification of 1st Embodiment of this invention. 9 is a flowchart for explaining an image forming method according to a first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the processing medium for three-dimensional image formation which concerns on the 2nd modification of 1st Embodiment of this invention. 9 is a flowchart for explaining an image forming method according to a second modification of the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a sectional view showing the processing medium for three-dimensional image formation concerning a 2nd embodiment of the present invention. 9 is a flowchart for explaining an image forming method according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a three-dimensional image forming method, a three-dimensional image forming system, and a three-dimensional image forming processing medium according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<First embodiment>

First, a processing medium for forming a three-dimensional image and a three-dimensional image forming method before foaming and expansion will be described, and then a three-dimensional image forming system will be described.
[Processing medium for stereoscopic image formation and stereoscopic image forming method]

FIG. 1A is a sectional view showing a processing medium M13 for forming a three-dimensional image according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 1B is a flowchart for explaining the image forming method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The processing medium for stereoscopic image formation (hereinafter, simply referred to as “processing medium”) M13 illustrated in FIG. 1A is processed from a medium M11 having a base material 101 and a foamed resin layer 102. This is a state before foaming and expansion.

The base material 101 is made of paper, cloth such as canvas, or panel material such as plastic, and the material is not particularly limited.
In the foamed resin layer 102, a thermal foaming agent (thermally expandable microcapsules) is dispersed and arranged in a binder which is a thermoplastic resin provided on the base material 101. As a result, the expanded foam layer 102 expands and expands in accordance with the absorbed heat.

Such a medium M11 is, for example, a heat-expandable sheet, and a known commercial product can be used.
A peelable release layer 103 is formed on the foamed resin layer 102, for example, by bonding a release layer 103, which is a film, with an adhesive layer 105 (Step S11 shown in FIG. 1B: release layer forming step). The medium M11 on which the release layer 103 and the adhesive layer 105 are formed is referred to as a processing medium M12. Instead of performing the release layer forming step S11, a processing medium M12 in which a release layer 103 that can be separated from the medium M11 is formed in advance may be prepared (Step S11: medium preparing step with release layer). .

  In the peeling layer forming step S11, for example, the film can be peelably bonded to the foamed resin layer 102 via the adhesive layer 105 by the film bonding section 2 shown in FIG. When a possible resin or coating agent is used as the release layer 103, the adhesive layer 105 may be omitted. The release layer 103 from which the adhesive layer 105 is omitted is merely an example, and is, for example, an ultraviolet curable resin, “Mccle C-161G” (manufactured by Kaken Tec Corporation), “Nanograss Coat SV9000” (Nanograss). Coating Japan Co., Ltd.) and coating agents such as "Before Dirty! Spray" (sold by U-Shin). Alternatively, the release layer 103 may be formed by printing a releasable ink (for example, manufactured by Mimaki Engineering Co., Ltd.) using an inkjet or the like.

  When the release layer 103 is a film, examples of the material of the film include polyimide (for example, Kapton (registered trademark)), PET (polyethylene terephthalate: polyethylene terephthalate), and PEN (polyethylene naphthalate). , An ethylene-vinyl alcohol-based resin and a polymethylpentene-based resin. Further, as an example of the adhesive layer 105 for attaching the film to the foamed resin layer 102, “3M Spray Glue” (registered trademark: manufactured by 3M Japan Co., Ltd.) may be mentioned.

  Further, in this specification, to attach a film to the foamed resin layer 102 in a releasable manner is referred to as “adhesion”, and a material disposed between the film and the foamed resin layer 102 to be attached to the foamed resin layer 102 is referred to as an adhesive. This is referred to as a layer 105. Therefore, after the film and the foamed resin layer 102 are adhered to each other and the foamed resin layer 102 is foamed and expanded through a heat energy radiating step S13 to be described later, at least the foamed and expanded foamed resin layer 102 is not broken and each other. A material that cannot be peeled off or is difficult is not suitable as the adhesive layer 105 for bonding the film and the foamed resin layer 102. Further, the film and the foamed resin layer 102 need only be releasable, so that the film and the foamed resin layer 102 may be adhered to each other via an adhesive layer. Therefore, in this specification, the term “adhering” means to adhere or adhere, and the term “adhesive layer 105” includes both an adhesive layer and an adhesive layer.

  The properties of the release layer 103 are merely examples, but they have heat resistance, high mechanical strength (for example, a breaking elongation of 80% or more, or a breaking strength of 100 MPa or more), and low thermal conductivity. (For example, 0.5 W / (m · K) or less), a thickness of 50 μm or less, little heat shrinkage, easy peeling, good printability (for example, It is desirable that the ink used for printing has good fixability and affinity and has printability.)

  When the release layer 103 has elasticity, the release layer 103 is deformed following the expansion of the foamed resin layer 102 to form a space between the release layer 103 and the adhesive layer 105 or between the adhesive layer 105 and the foamed resin. A gap is less likely to be formed between the layer 102 and the layer 102. When such a gap occurs, heat conduction from the heat absorbing toner layer 104 to be described later to the foamed resin layer 102 is hindered. In addition, since the heat-absorbing toner layer 104 absorbs heat radiation and converts light into heat, it is desirable that the peeling layer 103 conducts the heat and increases elasticity.

  The release layer 103 deforms together with the foam expansion layer 102 during the foam expansion of the foam expansion layer 102, and then returns to its original shape due to a temperature change (for example, a change to room temperature), or has its original shape by having elasticity. In the case of returning to the above, after being removed in the peeling layer removing step S14 through the heat energy radiating step S13 described later, it is possible to form (attach) again or repeatedly.

  In addition, only the film which is the release layer 103 may be applied again or repeatedly, but the adhesive layer 105 for bonding the film to the foamed resin layer 102 may be available again or repeatedly after the removal of the film. Further, the heat absorbing toner layer 104 formed on the release layer 103 may be reused while remaining on the film. Alternatively, when the film alone or the film and the adhesive layer 105 are reused, the heat absorbing toner layer 104 may be removed and then reused. In this case, a method of removing the heat absorbing toner layer 104 includes, for example, wiping using alcohol. Further, the heat-absorbing toner layer 104 to be removed is preferably made of an easily removable material such as an oil-based ink, an aqueous-based ink, and carbon black.

  As the release layer 103 is thicker and the thermal conductivity of the material of the release layer 103 is higher, not only the thickness of the processing medium M12 but also the direction intersecting the thickness direction of the processing medium M12 within the release layer 103 is increased. Is easily conducted. Therefore, when heat is conducted from the heat-absorbing toner layer 104, which will be described later, to the foam expansion layer 102, the heat is conducted to a region of the peeling layer 103 which is separated from the region where the heat-absorbing toner layer 104 is formed in the crossing direction. Easier to do. Accordingly, since the heat absorbed by the heat-absorbing toner layer 104 is diffused on the side of the medium M11 where the foaming and expansion occurs (hereinafter, referred to as “front surface”), it is difficult to realize a desired foaming state of the foaming and expanding layer 102. Therefore, it is desirable that the release layer 103 be thinner and that the material of the release layer 103 have lower thermal conductivity.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the elongation at break of the material of the release layer 103 is 80% for polyimide (Kapton), 120% for PET, 90% for PEN, 250% for ethylene vinyl alcohol-based resin, and polymethylpentene-based. Resin is 100%. Regarding the breaking strength of the material of the release layer 103, polyimide (Kapton) is 280 MPa, PET is 230 MPa, PEN is 280 MPa, ethylene vinyl alcohol-based resin is 108 MPa, and polymethylpentene-based resin is 128 MPa. All of these materials satisfy both the elongation at break of 80% or more, which is an example of the criteria for the high mechanical strength described above, and the strength at break of 100 MPa or more.

  In the region on the release layer 103 arranged on the surface of the medium M11, a region corresponding to a portion where the foamed resin layer 102 is desired to be three-dimensionally printed with the black toner based on the foaming data. Is formed (Step S12: heat absorbing portion forming step). That is, when the processing medium M13 is viewed in a plan view, a region corresponding to a portion where the foamed resin layer 102 is desired to be three-dimensionally overlaps with a region where the heat absorbing toner layer 104 is formed on the release layer 103. . This heat absorbing section forming step S12 is performed by, for example, the black toner printing section 3 shown in FIG. The processing medium M12 on which the heat absorbing toner layer 104 is formed is referred to as a processing medium M13.

  The heat-absorbing toner layer 104 absorbs heat energy more easily than the medium M11 (for example, both the base material 101 and the foamed resin layer 102). Further, since the heat-absorbing toner layer 104 is formed on the release layer 103, the heat-absorbing toner layer 104 can be peeled off integrally with the release layer 103.

  When the heat-absorbing toner layer 104 receives the same amount of heat energy, the foam resin layer 102 generates more heat energy in a region corresponding to a portion having a higher density (for example, area gradation) of the heat-absorbing toner layer 104. Absorb. Basically, since the foaming height of the foamed resin layer 102 has a positive correlation with the amount of heat absorbed by the foamed resin layer 102, the higher the concentration of the heat-absorbing toner layer 104, the higher the foaming height. The foaming height of the resin layer 102 increases.

Therefore, the density of the heat-absorbing toner layer 104 is determined so as to correspond to the target height of the three-dimensional shape formed by expanding and expanding the foamed resin layer 102.
Note that when the density exceeds a certain concentration threshold that changes depending on various conditions such as the material of the foamed resin layer 102 and the material of the heat-absorbing toner layer 104, the above-described positive correlation tends to be weakened. The heat-absorbing toner layer 104 is formed on the back surface of the base material 101, that is, on the surface of the base material 101 opposite to the surface on which the foamed resin layer 102 is formed, in order to supplement the expansion of the foamed resin layer 102. May be further formed.

  The processing medium M13 is subjected to a foaming process by emitting thermal radiation (an example of thermal energy) (step S13: thermal energy emitting step). This heat energy emission step S13 is performed by, for example, the thermal expansion processing section 4 shown in FIG. As a result, the heat-absorbing toner layer 104 absorbs the heat radiation, and the heat is conducted to the thermal foaming agent contained in the foamed resin layer 102, and the thermal foaming agent causes an expansion reaction. Therefore, the foamed resin layer 102 foams and expands to an extent corresponding to the black density of the heat absorbing toner layer 104.

  Note that even if the portion of the foamed resin layer 102 where the heat-absorbing toner layer 104 is not formed absorbs thermal energy, the amount of heat is suppressed to a sufficiently small level. The change in height is sufficiently small as compared with the portion where the layer 104 is formed.

  After the foamed resin layer 102 expands and expands, the release layer 103 is removed from the processing medium M13 (step S14: release layer removal step). When the peeling layer 103 is peeled, the heat absorbing toner layer 104 and the adhesive layer 105 are also integrally peeled. The release layer removing step S14 can be performed manually, for example, but may be performed automatically using a release device (not shown) or the like.

  On the foamed resin layer 102 from which the release layer 103, the heat-absorbing toner layer 104, and the adhesive layer 105 have been removed, a color ink layer (not shown) constituting a color image is formed as an example of an image (Step S15: Image) Forming step). This image forming step is performed by, for example, the inkjet printer unit 5 shown in FIG. The image formed in the image forming step S15 may be a black and white image, and is not limited to a color image.

[3D image forming system]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the stereoscopic image forming system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 2, the three-dimensional image forming system 1 includes a film sticking unit 2 as an example of a release layer forming unit, a black toner printing unit 3 as an example of a heat absorbing unit forming unit, and a thermal energy emitting unit. The image forming apparatus includes a thermal expansion processing section 4 as an example and an ink jet printer section 5 as an example of an image forming unit. These will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the film sticking section 2 in the first embodiment of the present invention.
The film sticking unit 2 includes a release layer supply roller 43, an under film supply roller 44, and a roller pair 45.

  The release layer 103 shown in FIG. 1A is wound around the release layer supply roller 43. The release layer 103 is, for example, a film, and the adhesive to be the adhesive layer 105 is a known adhesive for thermocompression bonding.

  The under film supply roller 44 is disposed on the opposite side of the release layer supply roller 43 with respect to the transport path of the medium M11 indicated by the arrow a. An under film U, which is, for example, PET (polyethylene terephthalate), is wound around the under film supply roller 44.

  The under film U is peeled off on the side of the medium M11 opposite to the peeling layer 103 side so as to face the whole of the peeling layer 103 and the medium M11 in order to protect the peeling layer 103 sticking out of the medium M11. It is larger than the layer 103 and the medium M11. The portion of the release layer 103 and the under film U that protrude from the medium M11 are thereafter cut. In addition, the under film U may be peeled off before cutting.

  The roller pair 45 has a pair of rollers 45a and 45b arranged so as to sandwich the transport path of the medium M11. The pair of rollers 45a and 45b rotate and bring the medium M11 into close contact with the release film 103 pulled out from the release layer supply roller 43 and the under film U pulled out from the under film supply roller 44 with high pressure. Then, the release layer 103 and the under film U are pressed toward the transported medium M11.

  One of the pair of rollers 45a and 45b is a heating roller 45a having a built-in heat source. The heating roller 45a is set to a temperature at which the peeling layer 103 and the medium M11 can be thermocompression-bonded by the adhesive layer 105. Further, the pair of rollers 45a and 45b are oriented in the direction of the roller 45b, and the roller 45b is oriented in the direction of the roller 45a so that a pressure capable of thermocompression bonding the separation layer 103 and the medium M11 with the adhesive layer 105 can be applied. Being energized.

  In the thermocompression bonding using the pair of rollers 45a and 45b, the temperature, the pressure, and the transport speed (time) are set so that cohesive failure does not occur when the peeling layer 103 is peeled and interface peeling occurs.

  In the above-mentioned film sticking section 2, the medium M11 is processed into a processing medium M12 having the release layer 103 and the adhesive layer 105. In FIG. 3, the film attachment portion 2 for forming the release layer 103 as a film has been described. However, when the release layer 103 is formed of a peelable resin or a coating agent, the release layer 103 is formed by coating or the like. It is preferable to use a means for forming a release layer.

  FIG. 4 is a sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the black toner printing unit 3 and the thermal expansion processing unit 4 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, the black toner printing unit 3 and the thermal expansion processing unit 4 are integrally arranged, but may be independently arranged as separate devices.

  The black toner printing unit 3 is arranged below the thermal expansion processing unit 4. The black toner printing unit 3 includes an endless transfer belt 6 extending in the horizontal direction at the center of the inside of the apparatus housing 3a. The transfer belt 6 is stretched over a driving roller 7 and a driven roller 8 while being stretched by a stretching mechanism (not shown), and is driven by the driving roller 7 in a counterclockwise direction indicated by an arrow b in FIG. To circulate.

  The photosensitive drum 11 of the image forming unit 9 is disposed in contact with the upper circulation moving surface of the transfer belt 6. The photosensitive drum 11 is provided with a cleaner (not shown), an initialization charger, an optical writing head, and a developing roller 12 in close proximity to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 11.

  The developing roller 12 is disposed at a side opening of the toner container 13. Black toner K is stored in the toner container 13. The black toner K is made of a non-magnetic one-component toner. The developing roller 12 carries a thin layer of black toner K contained in a toner container 13 on its surface, and forms an electrostatic latent image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 11 by an optical writing head. Then, the image of the black toner K is developed.

  A primary transfer roller 14 is pressed under 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 supply to the transfer belt 6 in the primary transfer unit, and transfers the image of the black toner K developed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 11 to the transfer belt 6. Transfer to

  A secondary transfer roller 15 presses through the transfer belt 6 with the driven roller 8 on which the right end shown in FIG. 4 of the transfer belt 6 is stretched, thereby forming 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 supply to the transfer belt 6 at the secondary transfer unit, and transfers the image of the black toner K primarily transferred to the transfer belt 6 to the image forming conveyance path. The image is transferred onto the processing medium M12 conveyed from below in FIG.

  The processing medium M12 is stacked and accommodated in a sheet accommodating portion 18 composed of a paper feed cassette or the like, and one uppermost sheet is taken out by a paper feed roller or the like (not shown) and sent out to the image forming transport path 16. Further, the processing medium M12 is conveyed along the image forming conveyance path 19, and the image of the black toner K is transferred while passing through the secondary transfer section.

  The processing medium M12 that has passed through the secondary transfer unit while the image of the black toner K is being transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 21 along the fixing conveyance path 19. The heating roller 22 and the pressing roller 23 of the fixing unit 21 hold the processing medium M12 and convey it while applying heat and pressure.

  As described above, the image of the black toner K secondary-transferred to the processing medium M12 is fixed on the paper surface, whereby the processing medium M12 is processed into the processing medium M13 having the heat-absorbing toner layer 104. The processing medium M13 is further transported by the heating roller 22 and the pressing roller 23, is transported by the fixing unit discharge roller pair 24, and is discharged to the upper thermal expansion processing unit 4. Here, since the conveying speed of the processing medium M12 (M13) in the fixing unit 21 is relatively high, the amount of expansion of the black toner printed portion of the processing medium M13 by the heating of the heating roller 22 can be ignored.

  The method for forming the heat absorbing toner layer 104 is not particularly limited, such as inkjet printing, offset printing, and silk printing. The color of the heat-absorbing toner layer 104 is not limited to black as long as it absorbs heat energy more easily than the medium M11.

  The thermal expansion processing section 4 has a medium transport path 25 formed at an upper portion, and four pairs of transport rollers 26 (26a, 26b, 26c, 26d) are arranged along the medium transport path 25. The light source unit 27 is disposed substantially below the center of the medium transport path 25.

  The light source unit 27 has an elongated halogen lamp 27a and a reflecting mirror 27b having a substantially semicircular cross section surrounding a lower half of the halogen lamp 27a. Heat over.

  For example, a 900 W halogen lamp is used as the halogen lamp 27a. The transport speed of the transport roller pair 26 that transports the processing medium M13 is 20 mm / sec. Under these conditions, the processing medium M13 is heated to 100 ° C. to 110 ° C., and the portion of the foaming resin layer 102 of the processing medium M13 shown in FIG. 1A on which the heat absorbing toner layer 104 is printed on the surface side thermally expands.

  The transport speed of the processing medium M12 of the black toner printing unit 3 is high, and the transport speed of the processing medium M13 of the thermal expansion processing unit 4 is low. However, the processing medium M12 is transported one by one from the sheet storage unit 18. Until the transfer of the thermal expansion processing section 4 is completed, the continuous transfer is not performed.

  Therefore, the processing medium M13 transported to the thermal expansion processing section 4 is bent in the transport path c between the fixing section discharge roller pair 24 of the black toner printing section 3 and the first transport roller pair 26a of the thermal expansion processing section 5. In this state, even if it stays for a short time, there is no inconvenience in transportation as a whole.

  The processing medium M13 in which the foamed resin layer 102 located on the back surface side of the heat-absorbing toner layer 104 is thermally expanded in the thermal expansion processing section 4 and swells, passes through the medium discharge port 28 along the transport path d, and is discharged from the discharge tray 29. Is discharged.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of the inkjet printer unit 5 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
The ink jet printer unit 5 is a processing medium M11-1 in which the release layer 103 is removed from the processing medium M13 expanded and expanded in the thermal expansion processing unit 4 together with the heat absorbing toner layer 104 and the adhesive layer 105 (see FIG. 1). A color ink layer is formed on the medium M11 in a state where the foamed resin layer 102 is foamed and expanded.

  The ink jet printer unit 5 includes a carriage 31 provided so as to be able to reciprocate in a direction indicated by a double-headed arrow e perpendicular to the paper transport direction. The carriage 31 is provided with a print head 32 for executing printing and an ink cartridge 33 (33w, 33c, 33m, 33y) containing ink.

  The cartridges 33w, 33c, 33m, and 33y respectively store white W, cyan C, magenta M, and yellow Y color inks. These cartridges have a configuration in which the ink chambers are integrated individually or in a single housing, and are connected to a print head 32 having respective nozzles for ejecting each color ink.

  The carriage 31 is slidably supported by a guide rail 34 on the one hand, and is fixed to a toothed drive belt 35 on the other hand. Thus, the print head 32 and the ink cartridges 33 (33w, 33c, 33m, 33y) are reciprocally driven together with the carriage 31 in a direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction indicated by the double-headed arrow e in FIG. You.

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

A platen 38 that faces the print head 32, extends in the main scanning direction of the print head 32, and forms a part of the paper transport path at the lower end of the internal frame 37 is provided.
Further, the processing medium M11-1 comes into contact with the platen 38, and the paper feed roller pair 39 (the lower roller is shaded by the processing medium M11-1 and cannot be seen in FIG. 5) and the paper discharge roller pair 41 (the lower roller Are not seen in the same manner), and are conveyed intermittently in the printing sub-scanning direction indicated by arrow f in FIG.

  While the intermittent conveyance of the processing medium M11-1 is stopped, the print head 32 is driven by the motor 42 via the toothed drive belt 35 and the carriage 31, and ejects ink droplets in a state close to the processing medium M11-1. Spray and print on paper. As described above, the color ink layer is printed (printed) on the entire surface of the processing medium M11-1 by repeating the intermittent conveyance of the processing medium M11-1 and the printing during the reciprocating movement by the print head 32. It is processed into 2. Thus, the processing of the medium M11 in the first embodiment ends.

  The inkjet printer unit 5 is not limited to the above-described configuration, and may use a known printing device that can print a color image on a medium having a three-dimensional shape formed on the surface. Before printing the color ink layer 103, white ink may be printed as a base on the foamed resin layer 102 of the processing medium M11-1. In this case, first, the processing medium M11-1 on which the white ink is formed is reversely conveyed in the direction opposite to the print sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow f, and the color ink layer 103 is printed while being conveyed again in the arrow f direction.

FIG. 6 is a circuit block diagram including a control unit of the stereoscopic image forming system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 6, the circuit block mainly includes a CPU (central processing unit) 45, and the CPU 45 supplies an I / F_CONT (interface controller) 46, a PR_CONT (printer controller) 47 via a data bus to the CPU 45, respectively. And an image clipping section 48 are connected.

  The PR_CONT 47 is connected to a printer printing unit 49. The image clipping section 48 is also connected to the I / F_CONT 46 on the other hand. An image processing application similar to that installed in a personal computer or the like is installed in the image cutout unit 48.

  The CPU 45 includes a read only memory (ROM) 51, an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM) 52, an operation panel 53 of a main body operation unit, and a sensor unit 54 to which an output from a sensor disposed in each unit is input. It is connected. The ROM 51 stores a system program. The operation panel 53 has a touch-type display screen.

The CPU 45 reads a system program stored in the ROM 51 and controls each unit according to the read system program to perform processing.
That is, in each unit, first, the I / F_CONT 46 converts print data supplied from a host device such as a personal computer into bitmap data, and develops it into 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 color inks are set. Print data is expanded. The developed data is output to the PR_CONT 47, and is output from the 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 rotary drive system including the photosensitive drum 11, the primary transfer roller 14, and the like of the black toner printing unit 3 shown in FIG. Of the image forming unit 9 having a driven portion such as an initialization charger and an optical writing head, and a drive output to a process load such as driving of the transfer belt 6 and the fixing portion 21 are omitted.

  Further, the printer printing unit 49 controls the driving of the four pairs of conveying rollers 26 of the thermal expansion processing unit 4 shown in FIG. 4, the light emission driving of the light source unit 27, and the timing thereof. Further, the printer printing unit 49 controls the operation of each unit of the inkjet printer unit 5 shown in FIG. The operation of each unit of the film sticking unit 2 shown in FIG.

  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 3 shown in FIG. The image data of each of the white W, cyan C, magenta M, and yellow Y color inks output from the PR_CONT 47 is supplied to the print head 32 of the inkjet printer unit 2 shown in FIG.

  In the first embodiment described above, the peelable release layer 103 is formed on the surface of the medium M11 that expands and expands in accordance with the absorbed heat amount before the medium M11 expands and expands. The heat absorbing toner layer 104, which is an example of a heat absorbing portion that absorbs heat energy more easily than the medium M11, is formed before the medium M11 expands and expands. Thereafter, the medium M11 (the processing medium M13) emits thermal radiation, which is an example of thermal energy. In addition, the release layer 103 is removed, for example, integrally with the heat-absorbing toner layer 104 and the adhesive layer 105, and a color image such as an image is formed on the surface of the medium M11-1.

  Hereinafter, a three-dimensional image (a processing medium M11 in which a color ink layer is printed (printed) on the foamed resin layer 102 after foaming and expansion) formed by each method of the first embodiment and a comparative example described below. The result of an experiment for comparing the quality of -2) will be described.

  In the first embodiment, since the heat-absorbing toner layer 104 is peeled off integrally with the peeling layer 103, the heat-absorbing toner layer 104 is formed directly on the foamed resin layer 102, and the heat-absorbing toner layer 104 is broken. Before forming a color image on the heat-absorbing toner layer 104, the heat-absorbing toner layer cannot be peeled off from the surface of the foamed resin layer 102 without forming the color image on the heat-absorbing toner layer 104. It is no longer necessary to cover the 104, and therefore no material such as white ink is required. Further, when the heat absorbing portion cannot be completely covered with a solid white image or the like, the color image printed on the heat absorbing toner layer 104 does not become dull. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the three-dimensional image formed by the method of the first embodiment had a very good print quality of “品質”, whereas the three-dimensional image formed by the method of Comparative Example 1 was excellent. The print quality of the stereoscopic image was “△”.

  In the first embodiment, the heat-absorbing toner layer 104 is formed on the color ink layer side of the medium M11, that is, on the surface side where the medium M11 expands and expands, with the release layer 103 interposed therebetween. Since the thickness can be made very small as compared with the material 101, the heat absorption toner layer 104 is formed on the back side of the medium M11 (described as Comparative Example 2). The distance of heat conduction to the foamed resin layer 102 can be shortened. Therefore, the amount of heat diffuses in a direction parallel to the surface of the foamed resin layer 102 before the heat absorbed by the heat-absorbing toner layer 104 is conducted to the surface of the foamed resin layer 102 as compared with Comparative Example 2. Therefore, the desired area in the foamed resin layer 102 can be easily foamed and expanded by a desired amount. Furthermore, since it is no longer necessary to cover the heat absorbing portion with a solid white image, etc., in order to suppress dullness of color images, the black density of the heat absorbing portion is suppressed to a level that can be covered with a solid white image. By doing so, the amount of swelling due to foaming expansion was not suppressed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the three-dimensional image formed by the method of the first embodiment had the unevenness quality of “「 ”, whereas the three-dimensional image formed by the method of Comparative Example 2 The unevenness quality was “△”.

  In Comparative Example 1, since the heat-absorbing toner layer 104 is formed directly on the foamed resin layer 102, it is relatively easy to foam and expand the foamed resin layer 102 by a desired amount. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the three-dimensional image formed by the method of Comparative Example 1 was “◎” having the best unevenness quality. In Comparative Example 2, as described above, since the distance between the heat-absorbing toner layer 104 and the foamed resin layer 102 is long, it is difficult to expand and expand the foamed resin layer 102 by a desired amount. Therefore, the print quality was relatively good (○) because of the small difference in unevenness.

  The print quality is a quality that changes due to the presence or absence of dullness of the color image, the resolution of the print result, and the like, and can be said to be the appearance of the color image. In addition, the area to be expanded is expanded, and the area to be suppressed is suppressed from expanding. Therefore, when the foamed resin layer 102 is expanded and expanded by a desired amount, the quality of the unevenness is determined to be good. It can be said. Then, it can be said that the higher the print quality and the unevenness quality are, the higher the quality of the stereoscopic image is formed. In the above-described first embodiment, both the print quality and the unevenness quality are described as ◎, △, and 順 に in the order of the quality, but this is only given for convenience in order to compare the quality. is there. Therefore, it should be noted that FIG. 8 does not necessarily indicate, for example, a result of determining a good product as a mass-produced product of a stereoscopic image. This is the same in the following embodiments.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, a high-quality stereoscopic image can be formed.

  In the first embodiment, the release layer 103 is formed so as to be interposed between the heat absorbing toner layer 104 and the medium M1. After the release layer 103 is formed on the surface of the medium M11, the heat-absorbing toner layer 104 is formed on the release layer 103. Therefore, the heat absorbing toner layer 104 can be formed by a simple operation of forming the heat absorbing toner layer 104 on the release layer 103.

  Further, in the first embodiment, when the release layer 103 is attached to the foamed resin layer 102 by thermocompression bonding, the thickness of the adhesive layer 105 can be reduced, whereby the heat absorbed by the heat absorbing toner layer 104 can be reduced. When the heat is transmitted to the foamed resin layer 102, it is possible to suppress the diffusion of heat in a direction parallel to the surface of the foamed resin layer 102. Therefore, a higher quality stereoscopic image can be formed.

  In the first embodiment, after the thermal energy is radiated to the medium M11 and the release layer 103 and the heat-absorbing toner layer 104 are removed, an example of an image is formed on the surface of the processing medium M11-1 in that state. A certain color ink layer is formed. As described above, since the color ink layer is formed after the expansion of the medium M11, the hardness of the color ink layer is reduced due to the hardness of the color ink layer as compared with the case where the color ink layer is formed before the expansion of the medium M11. In addition to preventing the expansion of the foamed resin layer 102 from being hindered, it is possible to prevent the color ink layer from being lightened due to the expansion of the color ink or the widening of the gap between the color inks.

  When preparing the processing medium M12 in which the peeling layer 103 that can be peeled off from the medium M11 is formed in advance, the peelable peeling layer 103 is applied onto the foamed resin layer 102 using a scraper or the like, It may be formed by printing a peelable release layer 103 on the foamed resin layer 102 using an inkjet printer or the like. In this case, the adhesive layer 105 becomes unnecessary. Therefore, the distance between the heat-absorbing toner layer 104 and the foamed resin layer 102 can be further reduced, so that when the heat absorbed by the heat-absorbing toner layer 104 is transmitted to the foamed resin layer 102, Diffusion of heat in a direction parallel to the surface can be further suppressed. Therefore, a higher quality stereoscopic image can be formed.

<First Modification of First Embodiment>
FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view illustrating a processing medium M23 according to a first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9B is a flowchart illustrating an image forming method according to a first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In the first modified example, the release layer 203 and the adhesive layer 205 are formed not in the entire surface of the medium M21 but in a region of the surface of the medium M21 where the heat-absorbing toner layer 204 is formed. This is different from the first embodiment. Other items can be the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus detailed description is omitted.

The processing medium M23 shown in FIG. 9A has been processed from the medium M21 having the base material 201 and the foamed resin layer 202, and is in a state before the foamed resin layer 202 is expanded and expanded.
On the foamed resin layer 202, a peelable peeling layer 203 is formed, for example, in an island shape in a region where a heat absorbing toner layer 204 to be described later is to be formed (Step S21 shown in FIG. 9B: Partial peeling layer formation) Process). The medium M21 on which the release layer 203 is formed is referred to as a processing medium M22. Incidentally, instead of performing the partial peeling layer formation step S21, it may be prepared machining medium M22 for peelable release layer 2 03 is formed in advance island to the medium M21 (step S21: partial peeling Step of preparing medium with layer).

  In the partial release layer forming step S21, since the release layer 203 is formed on a part of the surface of the foamed resin layer 202, not on the entire surface, the release layer 203 is, for example, printed with a releasable ink by inkjet or the like. Thus, the adhesive layer may be omitted by being formed.

  Note that the release layer 203 may be formed not only in the region where the heat-absorbing toner layer 204 is formed but also in a part of the surface of the foamed resin layer 202 including this region and other regions. As an example, when the heat-absorbing toner layer 204 is not formed on the periphery of the surface of the medium M21, one release layer 203 may be integrally formed only on a portion of the surface of the medium M21 other than the periphery. . In this case, the release layer 203 is not limited to a forming method such as printing, but may be a forming method using a film.

  The heat absorbing toner layer 204 is formed on the release layer 203 by printing black toner based on the foaming data (step S22: heat absorbing portion forming step). That is, when the processing medium M22 is viewed in a plan view, a region corresponding to a portion where the foamed resin layer 202 is desired to be three-dimensionally overlaps a region where the heat absorbing toner layer 204 is formed on the release layer 203. . The processing medium M22 on which the heat-absorbing toner layer 204 is formed is referred to as a processing medium M23. The processing medium M23 is subjected to a foaming process by emitting heat radiation (step S23: heat energy emission step).

Thereafter, the release layer 203 is removed from the processing medium M23 (Step S24: release layer removal step). When the peeling layer 203 is peeled off, the heat absorbing toner layer 204 is also peeled off integrally. Further, over the peeling layer 203 and the heat absorbing toner layer 204 foamed resin layer 2 02 that is removed, the color ink layer is formed (not shown) that constitutes the color image (step S25: imaging process).

  According to the first modification of the first embodiment described above, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained. For the sake of simplicity, detailed description is omitted here, but as shown in FIG. 8, the three-dimensional image formed by the method of the second embodiment has both print quality and unevenness quality of “◎”, High quality stereoscopic images could be formed.

  In the first modified example, in addition to the same effects as those of the above-described first embodiment, the release layer 203 includes a heat absorbing portion that is an example of a heat absorbing portion on the surface of the medium M21 (foamed resin layer 202). It is formed in a part including a region where the toner layer 204 is formed. Therefore, the consumption of the material of the release layer 203 could be suppressed.

  In addition, since the peelable release layer 203 is printed on the foamed resin layer 202 in an island shape by inkjet or the like, an adhesive layer for bonding the foamed resin layer 202 and the release layer 203 becomes unnecessary. Therefore, the distance between the heat-absorbing toner layer 204 and the foamed resin layer 202 was able to be further reduced as compared with the first embodiment. Thus, when the heat absorbed by the heat-absorbing toner layer 204 is transmitted to the foamed resin layer 202, the amount of heat diffused in a direction parallel to the surface of the foamed resin layer 202 can be further suppressed. Therefore, a higher quality stereoscopic image can be formed.

<Second Modification of First Embodiment>
FIG. 10A is a sectional view showing a processing medium M32 according to a second modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10B is a flowchart illustrating an image forming method according to a second modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.
In the second modification, the release layer 303 (that is, the processed release layer) on which the heat-absorbing toner layer 304 is formed in advance is prepared, and the processed release layer is formed on the surface of the medium M31. This is different from the first embodiment. Other items can be the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus detailed description is omitted.

  The processing medium M32 shown in FIG. 10A is processed from the medium M31 having the base material 301 and the foamed resin layer 302, and is in a state before the foamed resin layer 302 is expanded and expanded. Note that, for example, the film that is the release layer 303 returns from the shape deformed together with the foamed resin layer 302 during the foaming expansion of the foaming expansion layer 302 to the original shape due to a temperature change (for example, a change to normal temperature), or an elasticity. By returning to the original shape by having the above, it is possible to apply again or repeatedly the one after peeling in the peeling layer removing step S35 described later.

  First, a heat absorbing toner layer 304 is formed in a region corresponding to a portion of the release layer 303 corresponding to a portion where the foamed resin layer 302 is desired to be three-dimensionally formed by printing black toner on the basis of the foaming data. Step S31 shown in FIG. 10B: heat absorbing portion forming step).

  Further, an adhesive layer 305 is formed on the back surface of the release layer 303 opposite to the surface on which the heat absorbing toner layer 304 is formed (step S32: release layer forming step 1). The adhesive layer 305 is formed, for example, by applying the known adhesive for thermocompression bonding described in the first embodiment to the back surface of the release layer 303. Thereafter, the processed release layer is thermocompression-bonded on the foamed resin layer 302 on the back surface on which the adhesive layer 305 is applied, so that the processed release layer is formed on the foamed resin layer 302 (Step S33: Release Layer Forming Step 2) ).

  The formation of the adhesive layer 305 (S32) may be performed before the formation of the heat-absorbing toner layer 304 (S31). Alternatively, the adhesive layer 305 may be applied on the foamed resin layer 302, and the processed release layer may be stuck on the foamed resin layer 302 by adhesion without using thermocompression bonding.

  The medium M31 on which the processing release layer and the adhesive layer 305 are formed is referred to as a processing medium M32. The processing medium M32 is subjected to a foaming process by radiating thermal radiation (step S34: thermal energy radiation step).

  Thereafter, the processed release layer is removed from the processing medium M32 (Step S35: release layer removal step). When the processed peeling layer is peeled off, the adhesive layer 305 is also peeled off integrally. On the foamed resin layer 302 from which the processing release layer has been removed, a color ink layer (not shown) constituting a color image is formed (step S36: image forming step).

In the second modification of the first embodiment described above, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained. For the sake of simplicity, the details are omitted here.
In the second modification, a processed release layer having the heat absorbing portion 304 formed on the release layer 303 is prepared, and the processed release layer is formed on the surface of the medium M31. Alternatively, by repeatedly attaching, the consumption of the release layer 303 and the heat-absorbing toner layer 304 can be suppressed.

<Second embodiment>
FIG. 11A is a sectional view showing a processing medium M42 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11B is a flowchart for explaining an image forming method according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In the second embodiment, the release layer 403 (that is, the processed release layer) on which the heat-absorbing toner layer 404 has been formed in advance is prepared, and the processed release layer is formed on the surface of the medium M41. This is different from the embodiment. The difference from the second modification of the first embodiment is that the heat-absorbing toner layer 404 is formed on the back surface of the release layer 403 instead of the front surface. Other items can be the same as those in the first embodiment and the second modification thereof, and thus detailed description is omitted.

  The processing medium M42 shown in FIG. 11A has been processed from the medium M41 having the base material 401 and the foamed resin layer 402, and is in a state before the foamed resin layer 402 is expanded and expanded.

  First, a heat absorbing toner layer 404 is formed by printing black toner based on the foaming data on a region corresponding to a portion of the back surface of the release layer 403 where the foamed resin layer 402 is desired to be three-dimensionally formed ( Step S41 shown in FIG. 11B: heat absorbing portion forming step). Thus, a processing release layer is prepared.

  Further, an adhesive layer 405 is formed on the back surface of the release layer 403 on which the heat-absorbing toner layer 404 is formed (Step S42: Release layer forming step 1). The adhesive layer 405 is formed, for example, by applying the well-known adhesive for thermocompression bonding described in the first embodiment to the back surface of the processed release layer.

  Thereafter, the processed release layer is thermocompression-bonded on the foamed resin layer 402 on the back surface of the release layer 403 on which the heat-absorbing toner layer 404 is formed, so that the processed release layer is formed on the foamed resin layer 402 (step S43). : Release layer forming step 2).

Note that the adhesive layer 405 may be applied on the foamed resin layer 402, and the processed peeling layer may be stuck on the foamed resin layer 402 by adhesion without using thermocompression bonding.
The medium M41 on which the processing release layer and the adhesive layer 405 are formed is referred to as a processing medium M42. The processing medium M42 is subjected to a foaming process by emitting thermal radiation (step S44: thermal energy emission step).

  Thereafter, the processed release layer is removed from the processing medium M42 (Step S45: release layer removing step). When the processing release layer is peeled off, the adhesive layer 405 is also peeled off integrally. On the foamed resin layer 402 from which the processing release layer has been removed, a color ink layer (not shown) constituting a color image is formed (step S46: image forming step).

  According to the second embodiment described above, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained. For the sake of simplicity, detailed description is omitted here, but as shown in FIG. 8, the three-dimensional image formed by the method of the second embodiment has both print quality and unevenness quality of “◎”, High quality stereoscopic images could be formed.

  In the second embodiment, the same effects as those of the second modification of the first embodiment can be obtained. However, since the heat absorbing toner layer 404 is formed on the back surface of the release layer 403, The heat conduction distance from the heat absorbing toner layer 404 to the foamed resin layer 402 can be shortened as compared with the second modification of the above-described first embodiment in which the heat absorbing toner layer 404 is formed. Therefore, by preventing the heat absorbed by the heat-absorbing toner layer 404 from diffusing on the surface side of the medium M41, the foaming state of the medium M41 can be more reliably set to a desired state. Therefore, a higher-quality stereoscopic image can be formed.

  The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention includes the inventions described in the claims and equivalents thereof. Hereinafter, the inventions described in the claims at the time of filing the application of the present application are additionally described.

[Appendix 1]
On the foam-expanding surface of the medium that expands and expands according to the amount of heat absorbed, a peelable release layer is formed before the medium expands and expands, and the release layer has more thermal energy than the medium. Forming a heat absorbing portion that is easy to absorb before the medium expands and expands;
Radiating heat energy to the heat absorbing portion,
A three-dimensional image forming method, characterized in that:

[Appendix 2]
In the step of forming the release layer and the heat absorbing portion,
The release layer, the heat absorbing portion,
The release layer is formed so as to be interposed between the heat absorbing portion and the medium, or the heat absorbing portion is formed so as to be interposed between the release layer and the medium,
3. The method for forming a three-dimensional image according to claim 1, wherein

[Appendix 3]
In the step of forming the release layer and the heat absorbing portion,
Prepare a processed release layer in which the heat absorbing portion is formed on the release layer,
Forming the processing release layer on the foam-expanding surface of the medium,
3. The method of forming a three-dimensional image according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

[Appendix 4]
In the step of forming the release layer and the heat absorbing portion,
After forming the release layer on the foam-expanding surface of the medium, forming the heat absorbing portion on the release layer,
3. The method of forming a three-dimensional image according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

[Appendix 5]
In the step of forming the peeling layer and the heat absorbing portion, the peeling layer is peeled through the step of radiating the thermal energy again, or the peelable layer that can be repeatedly bonded is stuck on the foam-expanding surface of the medium. The three-dimensional image forming method according to any one of Supplementary notes 1 to 4, wherein the release layer is formed by applying the three-dimensional image.

[Appendix 6]
On the surface of the medium that expands and expands in accordance with the amount of heat absorbed, on a peelable release layer formed before the medium expands and expands, on a releasable release layer, which absorbs heat energy more easily than the medium. Forming a part before the medium expands and expands;
Radiating heat energy to the heat absorbing portion,
A three-dimensional image forming method, characterized in that:

[Appendix 7]
After radiating thermal energy to the medium, remove the release layer and the heat absorbing portion,
Forming an image on the surface of the medium;
7. The method for forming a three-dimensional image according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 6, wherein

[Appendix 8]
8. The three-dimensional image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the release layer is formed on a part of the surface of the medium including a region where the heat absorbing portion is formed.

[Appendix 9]
A heat absorbing portion that absorbs heat energy more easily than the medium, on a releasable release layer formed before the medium expands and expands on the surface of the medium that expands and expands according to the amount of heat absorbed. A heat absorbing portion forming means for forming the medium before foam expansion.
Heat energy radiating means for radiating heat energy to the heat absorbing portion,
A stereoscopic image forming system comprising:

[Appendix 10]
A medium that expands and expands according to the amount of heat absorbed,
A peelable release layer formed on the foam-expanding surface of the medium before foam-expanding,
A heat absorbing portion that is formed on the release layer before the medium expands and expands, and that easily absorbs thermal energy than the medium,
A processing medium for forming a three-dimensional image, comprising:

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 3D image forming system 2 Film sticking part 3 Black toner printing part 4 Thermal expansion processing part 5 Ink jet printer part 43 Release layer supply roller 44 Under film supply roller 45 Roller pair 45a Heating roller 45b Roller 101,201,301,401 base Materials 102, 202, 302, 402 Foamed resin layers 103, 203, 303, 403 Release layers 104, 204, 304, 404 Heat absorbing toner layers 105, 305, 405 Adhesive layers M11, M21, M31, M41 Media M12 to M14, M22, M23, M32, M42 Processing medium for forming a three-dimensional image (processing medium)

Claims (6)

The film on which the first image is printed is irradiated with a predetermined energy toward a medium provided on the thermally expandable layer in a releasable manner so that the thermally expanded layer in an area corresponding to the first image is irradiated. A first step of expanding and forming an interface with the film on an uneven surface;
A second step of exposing the uneven surface formed in the first step by peeling the film;
A third step of printing a second image on the uneven surface exposed in the second step by a non-contact printing method,
The method according to claim 1, wherein the first image is printed on a surface of the film facing the thermal expansion layer.   The method according to claim 1, wherein the film on which the first image is printed is formed not on the entire surface of the thermal expansion layer but on a part thereof.   The method according to claim 2, wherein the film including at least a region where the first image is formed is formed on a surface of the thermal expansion layer.   The method according to claim 1, wherein the non-contact printing method is an ink-jet method. Printing a first image on a predetermined surface of the film to expand a thermal expansion layer in a corresponding area;
The surface of the medium on which the thermal expansion layer is provided, and the surface on the side on which the first image is printed faces the surface on the side where irregularities are formed due to the expansion of the thermal expansion layer, A second step of attaching a film to the medium;
A method for producing a medium for producing a molded article, comprising: The film on which the first image is formed is irradiated with a predetermined energy toward a medium provided on the thermally expandable layer in a releasable manner, so that the thermal expansion layer in a region corresponding to the first image is irradiated. A first step of expanding and forming an interface with the film on an uneven surface;
A second step of exposing the uneven surface formed in the first step by peeling the film;
A third step of forming a second image on the uneven surface exposed in the second step,
The method according to claim 1, wherein the first image is formed on a surface of the film facing the thermal expansion layer.