JPH10314446A - Jigsaw, jigsaw preparing device and preparing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a jigsaw improving the freedom of print contents and giving visual variation, a device speedily and inexpensively preparing the jigsaw and a system efficiently preparing it. SOLUTION: The jigsaw includes a group of pieces 17Σ and two different content pieces 52 and 53. The group of pieces 17Σconsists of most of general shape pieces 17a whose shapes are difficult to discriminate from each other and special shape pieces 17b and 17c which shapes are easy to discriminate from the shapes of the pieces 17a and first content is printed. The different content piece 52 is formed to make the same ellipse as the piece 17b in order to replace with the piece 17b, the different content piece 53 is formed to make the same heart as the piece 17c in order to replace with the piece 17c and second contents are respectively printed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a jigsaw puzzle, a jigsaw puzzle creation apparatus and a jigsaw puzzle creation system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional commercial jigsaw puzzle is manufactured by printing a first content such as a photograph or a picture on a thin paper, bonding the thin paper to a base paper to make a thick paper, and punching the thick paper into a punch roll or a punching Thomson type. Was cut into pieces by a cutting device using, and separated into individual pieces.
In addition, there are also products for children which are commercially available in a state where they are cut into pieces and not separated into individual pieces (assembled state).

[0003]

However, the jigsaw puzzle created in this way has a problem that the print content is determined by a trader and lacks a degree of freedom, and the jigsaw puzzle is unified and lacks a visual change. there were. In addition, although individual pieces are classified into several shape patterns, all the pieces in each shape pattern have a similar shape in which a difference in shape is difficult to understand, so that the visual There was little change.

[0004] A first object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, to provide a part in which a difference in shape from most pieces can be easily recognized, and to provide a first content printed on most pieces. Another object of the present invention is to provide a jigsaw puzzle in which a different second content is printed on some of the pieces, thereby increasing the degree of freedom of the printed content and giving a visual change. A second object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that can quickly and inexpensively create the jigsaw puzzle and a system that can efficiently create the jigsaw puzzle.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a jigsaw puzzle according to the present invention is constructed so that a hole having a shape which is easy to discern a difference from each piece when assembled is formed. A piece group on which the first content is printed and a different content piece on which the second content different from the first content is formed in the same shape as the hole to be fitted into the hole. A configuration was provided.

Further, another jigsaw puzzle of the present invention is composed of a majority of general shaped pieces whose shapes are hard to be distinguished from each other and a part of special shaped pieces whose shapes are easily distinguished from the general shaped pieces. And a piece group on which the first content is printed, and a different content piece on which the second content different from the first content is formed in the same shape as the special shape piece to replace the special shape piece. And a configuration including:

[0007] Here, the "first content" is also the "second content".
, But not limited to, tourist attractions, outdoor landscapes, indoor landscapes, people, animals, paintings, animations, geometric patterns,
Examples include computer graphics, dates, messages, and the like. The shape of the "different content piece" is not particularly limited, but, for example, a circle, an ellipse, an ellipse, a triangle to an octagon, a star,
Examples include flowers and hearts.

Next, the jigsaw puzzle making apparatus of the present invention is composed of at least one printing apparatus, and most of the general shape pieces whose shape difference is difficult to understand, and a part where the shape difference between the general shape pieces is easy to understand. A first material supply device for supplying a jigsaw puzzle material for forming a piece group composed of special shaped pieces to the printing device, and a different content for forming a different content piece having the same shape as the special shaped piece A second material supply device for supplying piece material to the printing device, a jigsaw puzzle material on which the first content is printed by the printer, and a different content piece material on which the second content different from the first content is printed. And a discharge device for preparing and discharging the jigsaw puzzle product.

The “printing device” may be configured to print on both the jigsaw puzzle material and the different content piece material with one or more common devices, or print on the jigsaw puzzle material with one or more devices. Another or more units may be configured to print on the different content piece material. The “first feeding device” and the “second feeding device” may supply both a jigsaw puzzle material and a different content piece material with one common device, or separately supply each material with two devices. Is also good.

The "material for jigsaw puzzle" and the "material for different content pieces" are not particularly limited, but paper, wood (thin plate-like material), synthetic resin (soft material, hard material), fired material, stone material, woven fabric, nonwoven fabric , Cork, metal, and the like, and it is preferable to use a special material suitable for printing (for example, processed gravure printing paper). Further, it is preferable to apply a surface treatment to the surface of the dedicated material, and examples of the surface treatment include glossy and non-glossy treatments.

The following embodiments 1 to 3 can be exemplified as jigsaw puzzle materials at the time of printing. Pieces made of thick material that have been cut into pieces but are not separated into individual pieces. In this specification, "thick material"
The term “material” means a material that is thick enough to be used as a jigsaw puzzle. Combination of a piece of thick material that has been cut into pieces but is not separated into individual pieces, and a frame that surrounds the periphery of the piece. Pieces made of thick material that have been cut into pieces but are not separated into individual pieces, a frame surrounding the periphery of the pieces, and a base material stacked on the back side of the pieces and the frame Combination with

Thick material that has not been cut into pieces. In this case, a cutting device is required which cuts the thick material after printing into pieces into pieces. A combination of a thick material that has not been cut into pieces and a base material stacked on the back side of the thick material. In this case, a cutting device is required which cuts the thick material after printing into pieces into pieces. Thin material that has not been cut into pieces. In the present specification, “thin material” refers to a material that is thin enough to withstand use as a jigsaw puzzle as it is. For example, if this material is paper, it depends on the type of paper.
Most of the paper having a size of m ² or less corresponds to a thin material. In this case, a laminating device for laminating a thin material after printing to a base material to form a thick material and a cutting device for forming a piece group by cutting the laminated thick material into pieces are necessary. In addition, in the case of thin materials, a laminating device for laminating a thin material after printing to a base material to make a thick material, a polymerization device for stacking a base material on the back side of the thick material after laminating, And a cutting device that cuts the thick material into pieces into pieces.

The cutting device in the form of the material is
It is also possible to form a piece group by cutting the parts other than the peripheral part of the thick material into pieces, and to cut the peripheral part of the thick material into a frame.

In the embodiment of the material or in the preceding paragraph, the printing apparatus may be configured not to print on the frame, or may be configured to print also on the frame.

The "cutting device" is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a device for cutting a material using a die such as a punching roll or a punching Thomson type.

The "discharge device" includes the following (1) to
(5) can be exemplified. (1) A discharge device configured to discharge a piece group without separating the pieces into individual pieces. (2) A discharge device configured to discharge the group of pieces that are not separated in the above (1) together with the package. (3) A discharge device configured to discharge a group of pieces into individual pieces. (4) A discharge device configured to discharge the group of pieces that are not separated in the above (2) together with the package. (5) A discharge device configured to discharge the pieces in a state surrounded by the frame without separating the group of pieces into individual pieces. (6) A discharge device configured to discharge a group of pieces without being separated into individual pieces, surrounded by a frame, and with a base material stacked on the back side.

As the package in the above (2),
The following can be exemplified. A: A straight-style carton made of a transparent resin sheet (a carton that is used in a box such as caramel and has a door at the end of the body where a product is placed) B: A tray style made of a transparent resin sheet Cartons (cartons with side walls rising from the bottom of the tray) These cartons are provided with means (self-supporting legs,
It is preferable to provide a support base or the like, or to provide a means for hanging on a wall (a locking hole, a hanging string, or the like).

As the package in the above (4),
The following can be exemplified. a; strip package (package of medicine tablets etc. divided into a continuous band in a fixed amount unit) b; shrink package (package of a product wrapped in plastic film and heated and shrunk) c; stretch package (vegetables and vegetables) A package in which meat is wrapped with a polyvinyl chloride film and the product is pressed with the adhesive force of the film) d; Blister package (a product in which a product is placed in a concave portion of a plastic sheet processed into a product shape and thermally bonded to a mount) e; Press sluice package (Used for medicine tablets, etc., the package of blister pack is an aluminum foil package) f. Skin package (Place the product on the backing with a small hole, and apply adhesive around the backing , Place the softened plastic film over the product, and then Vacuum degassed from the hole, the package is a film sealing) g; straight style carton h; tray-style carton

Further, it is preferable to provide a check device for checking whether or not a piece is missing before discharging. The following types of check devices can be exemplified. (A) When the printed piece group is ejected without being separated into individual pieces, a method of detecting that all the pieces are at predetermined positions by an optical sensor or the like, or a method of detecting the weight of all the pieces. Checking device for measuring method. (B) A check device of a method of counting the number of all pieces or a method of measuring the weight of all pieces when a printed piece group is discharged in a state of being separated into individual pieces.

It is preferable that a sub-printing apparatus for printing the first content on a reference material different from the jigsaw puzzle material is provided. As reference materials, for example, thin paper,
The sticker paper, the package, and the like that can be attached can be exemplified, and those exemplified as the jigsaw puzzle material can also be used.

Further, it is preferable that the jigsaw puzzle creating apparatus of the present invention includes an image input device for inputting an image, and the input image is used as the first content or the second content.

Alternatively, an image input device for inputting an image, an image synthesizing device for synthesizing the input image with synthesizing information to obtain a synthesized image, and a display device for displaying the synthesized image to a user are provided. It is preferable that the composite image has the first content or the second content.

Examples of the "image input device" include a photographing device for photographing a subject to obtain a subject image, an image scanner for reading an image of a photograph, a film, and the like. Examples of the photographing device include a CCD camera (including a digital camera using a CCD), an imaging tube camera, and the like. A microcomputer can be exemplified as the image synthesizing device,
In that case, the subject image obtained by the photographing device is converted into digital data.

Examples of the "synthesis information" include a synthesis image serving as a background image or a border image, and characters for synthesis (including simple figures and symbols) such as messages and titles. The information for synthesis is stored in an external storage device such as a hard disk device, an optical disk device, a magneto-optical disk device, or a floppy disk device.
It is preferable to be configured to be able to select from operation devices such as a keyboard and a pointing device (trackball, mouse, etc.). In the case of combining characters, the user can also input from an operating device such as a touch panel, a keyboard, a pointing device, or the like.

It is preferable that the "image synthesizing apparatus" has an image processing function for editing the input image and the synthesizing information. Examples of image processing include processing such as morphing and photo retouching.

Examples of the "display device" include a CRT display, a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, an LED display and the like.

As the "printing apparatus", there are an ink jet printer, a thermal transfer printer (including a sublimation type thermal transfer type), an electrophotographic printer (a laser printer, a liquid crystal printer, an LED printer, etc., depending on a method of emitting light applied to a drum). ), And an optical photographic printing apparatus.

In the ink jet type, the jigsaw puzzle material at the time of printing is not limited to a thin material, but can be printed on a thick material. Further, it can be printed on a thick material that has been cut into pieces but not separated into individual pieces. Therefore, it can be preferably applied to any of the above-mentioned embodiments of the material.

In the thermal transfer method and the electrophotographic method, the material for jigsaw puzzles at the time of printing is often limited to a thin material (some materials can be specially adapted to a thick material). .

The printing device is preferably a color printing device, but may be a monochrome printing device, or a color printing device and a monochrome printing device may be provided side by side so as to be selectable.

Next, in the jigsaw puzzle creating system of the present invention, a host station and at least one terminal station are connected by a communication line, and the terminal station includes an image input device for inputting an image, a printing device, and a group of pieces. An image synthesizing apparatus comprising: a material supply device that supplies a jigsaw puzzle material for forming a printing device to the printing device; and a terminal-side image transmission device, wherein the host station synthesizes information for synthesis with the image to obtain a synthesized image. And, comprising a host-side image transmission device, sending the image input by the image input device of the terminal station from the terminal-side image transmission device to the image synthesis device of the host station via a communication line,
The synthetic image obtained by the image synthesizing device is sent from the host-side image transmitting device to the terminal-side image transmitting device via the communication line, and the synthetic image is supplied to the jigsaw puzzle material supplied from the feeding device by the printing device of the terminal station. Was configured to be printed.

The "communication line" may be a public line or a dedicated line, and the signal type may be an analog line or a digital line. Further, in this specification, a wireless line by terrestrial wireless communication or artificial satellite wireless communication is also included.

[0033]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A jigsaw puzzle for a married couple to present to relatives, friends, etc.
An embodiment example embodied in an apparatus for creating the jigsaw puzzle at a wedding hall or the like will be described with reference to the drawings.

The jigsaw puzzle created in this embodiment is
As shown in FIG. 7, a combination of a piece group 17 #, two different-content pieces 52 and 53, a frame 18 surrounding the periphery of the piece group 17 #, and a base member 19 stacked on the back side of the frame 18 It is.

As shown in FIG. 4, the group of pieces 17 # is composed of most of the general shape pieces 17 in which it is difficult to distinguish the shapes from each other.
and the special shape pieces 17b, 1 (here, two pieces) in which the difference between the shape of the general shape piece 17a and the general shape piece 17a can be easily understood.
7c and the first content (in this example,
A composite image Ic) of a couple's face and the church described later is printed. The general shape piece 17a is a substantially square 2
It is formed in a shape provided with engaging concave and convex portions on sides to four sides. One special shape piece 17b is formed in an elliptical shape,
The other special shaped piece 17c is formed in a heart shape. In addition, the size, number, shape type, and the like of the specially shaped pieces 17b and 17c can be appropriately increased or decreased according to the size and the number of pieces of the piece group 17 #.

One of the different content pieces 52 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, the special shape piece 17b is formed in the same elliptical shape as the special shape piece 17b in order to replace the special shape piece 17b, and the second content different from the first content (in this example, "1997 The date 47) of “day” is printed.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the other different content piece 53 is formed in the same heart shape as the special shape piece 17c to replace the special shape piece 17c, and the second content piece 53 is different from the first content. (In this example, the message 48 of "we got married") is printed.

According to this jigsaw puzzle, as shown in FIG. 4, special shape pieces 17b and 17c are provided in a part of which the difference in shape from most of the general shape pieces 17a is easily recognized, so that visual change Can be given.
Also, different content pieces 52, 53 on which the second content different from the piece group 17 # is printed can be arbitrarily replaced and fitted with the special shape pieces 17b, 17c as shown by arrows in FIG. Therefore, the degree of freedom of the print content can be increased (in this example, a message or the like is transmitted in addition to the image), and further a visual change can be given. Therefore, it is suitable as a jigsaw puzzle presented by a married couple.

The special shaped pieces 17b and 17c can be omitted. In this case, when the general-shaped piece 17a is assembled, a part (two places) of an elliptical shape and a heart-shaped shape in which a difference in shape from the piece 17a can be easily recognized is formed. 52 and 53 are fitted. In this case as well, although the above substitution cannot be made, substantially the same effect can be obtained.

Next, an apparatus for creating the above jigsaw puzzle is assembled in a housing 20 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and is a photographing apparatus 1 for photographing a subject to obtain a subject image Is (see FIG. 4). And an image synthesizing device 2 that synthesizes the subject image Is with the synthesizing information Id to obtain a synthesized image Ic (see FIG. 4).
A display device 3 for displaying the composite image Ic to the user, an operation device 4 for the user to select / input, etc.
An inserted money determination device 5 that determines the authenticity and the amount of money inserted by a user, a printing device 6, a common material supply device 7 that supplies a jigsaw puzzle material 16 and materials 50 and 51 for different content pieces to the printing device 6. And a discharge device 8 for preparing the jigsaw puzzle material 16 and the different contents piece materials 50 and 51 after printing into a jigsaw puzzle product and discharging the jigsaw puzzle product, and a check device 9 for checking for missing pieces of pieces before discharge.
And a sub-printing apparatus 10 for printing the composite image Ic on a reference material different from the jigsaw puzzle material.

The photographing apparatus 1 may be mounted inside the housing 20 as shown by a solid line in FIG. 1, may be freely portable outside the housing 20 as shown by a two-dot chain line, or may be both. The imaging device 1 uses a CCD camera that outputs a subject image Is as a video signal. In this example, the subject is often considered to be the user himself, that is, a married couple. However, the subject is not limited thereto, and may be, for example, all or a part of attendees of a wedding or reception.

The image synthesizing device 2 includes a CPU, ROM, RA
A microcomputer 11 includes an M, a connection bus, an input / output interface, etc., a video capture device 12 for connecting the photographing device 1, and an external storage device 13 using a hard disk device.

The video capture device 12 includes the photographing device 1
Is converted into digital data and taken into the microcomputer 11. When a digital camera is used as the photographing device 1, the video capture device 12 can be omitted.

The external storage device 13 stores, as the synthesizing information Id, a synthesizing image serving as a background image or a border image (specifically, a tourist attraction, an outdoor scene, an indoor scene, a person, an animal, a painting, an animation, a geometric image, or the like). Many synthetic images such as school patterns and computer graphics) are digitized and stored as graphic data, and characters for synthesis such as messages and titles are stored as characters or graphic data. Then, when the user operates the operation device 4 to select a desired combination image, the combination image is taken into the microcomputer 11.

The information for combination Id is stored in the external storage device 1
3 as well as characters for composition such as a shooting date output from the internal clock of the microcomputer 11, a message input by the user from the operation device 4, and a title.

The microcomputer 11 has an image processing function of editing the subject image Is captured as described above, and can perform image processing such as morphing and photo retouching on the subject image Is. I have. Further, the microcomputer 11 combines the subject image Is after the image processing and the combining information Id to create a combined image Ic. At this time, when the user operates the operation device 4, the subject image I in the composite image Ic is obtained.
The position, size, number, etc. of s and the position, size, number, etc., of the information for combination Id can be arbitrarily changed, and the layout can be set freely.

The microcomputer 11 stores not only the function as the image synthesizing device 2 but also the contents (date 47 and message 48) to be printed on the different-content piece materials 50 and 51 based on the decision made by the operation device 4. It also has a function of sending the data to the printing device 6.

Further, the microcomputer 11 has not only the above functions, but also the components 1 to 4 of the jigsaw puzzle creating apparatus.
It is configured so as to function also as a control device that controls the entirety (FIG. 6, described later).

The display device 3 uses a CRT display. The display device 3 displays the subject image Is obtained by continuous photographing by the photographing device 1 in real time when the subject image Is is input,
The combined information Id combined with this is displayed in a stationary state. In other words, if the subject moves, the subject image Is also moves and is displayed, so that the user can change and confirm the pose, expression, and the like. Also, the display device 3
Also, an editing screen for performing image processing on the subject image Is and a cursor (not shown) for pointing a figure such as a button displayed on the screen are displayed.

The operation device 4 includes a trackball 40 for moving a cursor displayed on the display device.
Also, a determination button 41 to be pressed when deciding the current operation content and proceeding to the next operation, and other operation buttons are provided. The user operates the operation device 4 in accordance with the operation guide displayed on the display device 3 by the microcomputer 11 to select the above-described image for synthesis, input the characters for synthesis, set the layout, and instruct the print start. Etc. can be operated. In addition, as the operation device 4, a touch panel provided on the surface of the CRT of the display device 3 may be employed.

The inserted money judging device 5 judges the authenticity and the amount of the bills or coins inserted into the device 5, and if the bill or the coin conforms to the prescribed fee, the operation of the operating device 4 and the operation of the operating device 4 will be continued. It is configured to enable processing by the computer 11 and discharge necessary change. The inserted money determination device 5 can be omitted.

As the printing apparatus 6, a color ink jet printer of a special specification is used. Commercially available color inkjet printers are typically 0.2 mm thick
Although it is configured to be able to print only on the following thin materials, the color inkjet printer of the present embodiment is
Not only thin materials with a thickness of 0.2 mm or less, but also
It has been modified so that it can be printed on thick materials of about 3.0 mm.

The material supply device 7 stores a large number of jigsaw puzzle materials 16 in a stacked state and simultaneously pushes up the top jigsaw puzzle material 16 to a fixed level position. 50, and a cartridge 55 that also stores a number of pieces 51 of different contents.
And a material feeder 15 using a roller mechanism for feeding the jigsaw puzzle material 16, the different content piece material 50, or the different content piece material 51 to the printing device 6 one by one from the top. Note that the material supply device 7 may be configured to supply the jigsaw puzzle material 16 and the like to the printing device 6 one by one from the bottom.

The jigsaw puzzle material 16 at the time of storage or printing according to the present embodiment is made of a special thick material obtained by processing a gravure printing material, and is cut into pieces, but is not separated into individual pieces 17. And a frame 18 surrounding the periphery of the piece group 17 #. The cutting into pieces is performed by a cutting device (not shown) separate from the jigsaw puzzle creating device.
This is performed in advance before setting to. Also, the material pieces 50 and 51 for different contents at the time of storing or printing are also made of a special thick material obtained by processing a gravure printing material, and a plurality of different contents pieces 52 and 53 are cut into pieces in advance.

The ejection device 8 is provided with a piece group 17 after printing.
Σ is removed from the frame 18 and the individual pieces 17a, 17b, 1
A piece separating device 21 that separates the material pieces 50 and 51 for different pieces while separating the pieces 17 and 7c into pieces 7c;
a, 17b, 17c, 52, 53 (of course, each of 52, 53 is one) in the package 34, and the pieces 17a, 17a,
A piece discharging member 23 for discharging the frames 17b, 17c, 52, 53; a frame feeding device 24 for feeding the frame 18;
A stacking device 25 for stacking the base material 19 on the back side of the frame, and a frame / base material discharging member 2 for discharging the stacked frame 18 and the base material 19
6 is comprised.

The piece separating device 21 includes a frame press 28 for pressing the frame 18, and a vertical movement in the frame press 28 to remove the piece group 17 か ら from the frame 18 and separate the individual pieces 17.
And a stirrer 30 for stirring the pieces 17 to completely separate them.
The separator 29 is configured so that the different content pieces 52 and 53 can also be separated.

The package 34 of this embodiment comprises a tray-shaped package main body 35 and an upper lid seal 36 sealed on the flange surface.

The package device 22 includes a package body 3
5 are stored in a stacked state, and the cartridge 31 which always pushes the uppermost package main body 35 to a fixed level position, and the package feeder which supplies the uppermost package main body 35 one by one directly below the stirring device 30. It comprises a device (not shown) and a cover device 33 for sealing and covering the upper cover seal 36 with the package body 35 in which the pieces 17 falling from the stirring device 30 are placed.

The polymerization apparatus 25 stores a large number of base materials 19 in a stacked state and constantly pushes the uppermost base material 19 to a fixed level position. And a pressing member (not shown) for pressing against the back side of the body 18.

By the discharging device 8 having the above-mentioned structure, the printed jigsaw puzzle material 16 and the different content piece materials 50 and 5 are printed.
1 is a piece 17a, 17b, 1 in a package 34
7c, 52, 53, the frame 18 and the base material 19 overlapped
And a jigsaw puzzle product consisting of a shooter-shaped piece discharging member 23 and a slit-shaped frame
It is separately discharged from the base material discharge member 26. Note that an adhesive and a peeling material 37 are attached to a peripheral portion of the upper surface of the base member 19 of the present embodiment, so that even when the base member 19 is overlaid on the frame body 18 by the polymerization device 25, it does not adhere. Therefore, the user peels off and adheres the release material 37 after discharging. However, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the peeling material 37 is peeled off and bonded by the polymerization device 25. The discharging device 8 can be further simplified or omitted.

As the checking device 9, a device of a type that measures the weight of all the pieces put in the package 34 together with the package 34 is used. If the measured weight is smaller than the prescribed weight, it is determined that the piece before ejection has a missing item, and the printing is restarted via the microcomputer 11 again.

As the sub-printing apparatus 10, a commercially available color ink jet printer is used. The reference material 38 is used by the user when assembling the discharged pieces 17, and in the present embodiment, a sealing material provided with an adhesive and a release material thereof is used.

The jigsaw puzzle creating apparatus configured as described above is used as follows and is controlled by the microcomputer 11.

The number of jigsaw puzzles that the user desires for the inserted money judging device 5 (when used at a wedding hall,
It is thought to be several tens. ) Is inserted, and when the inserted money judging device 5 judges that the specified fee is met, a general operation guide for creating a jigsaw puzzle is displayed on the display device 3. .

An image photographed by the photographing apparatus 1 (in this example, the face of a couple) is input via the video capture apparatus 12 and displayed on the screen. The user performs layout setting and the like while viewing this image, and at the same time, changes and confirms the pose, facial expression, and the like. Then, when the user decides the image and presses the decision button, the image displayed on the display device 3 is stored as the subject image Is. In addition, several subject images Is may be photographed, and one of them may be selected by the user. Also, when the decision button is pressed,
Next, a screen for confirming with the user whether or not the processing may be advanced may be displayed so that the user can select to start over.

Next, the image when the subject image Is is printed vertically and the image when the subject image Is is printed horizontally are displayed on the display device 3, and the direction of the jigsaw puzzle material 16 when the image is printed to the user is determined. Select and let me decide. The determined image will be the image to be edited below. At this time, while the user is pressing the predetermined operation button, it is also possible to combine and display the cutting line at the time of the piece cutting on the image.

If necessary, the user is caused to apply a special effect to the image to be edited and to determine it. Further, the user is allowed to combine a decorative frame (in this example, an image of a church), which is the information for combination Id, with the image to be edited, and to determine it. Further, if necessary, the user is allowed to combine a character, which is the information for combination Id, with the image to be edited and to determine the character. With the above, the composite image I
c is determined.

Next, a list of contents to be printed on the different content pieces 52 and 53 is displayed on the display device 3.
When the user determines the contents (date 47 and message 48) and presses the determination button while watching this display, the contents are stored.

Next, the material supply device 7 supplies the jigsaw puzzle material 16 to the printing device 6 (may be supplied before the instruction), and as shown in FIG. The determined composite image Ic is printed only on the group 17 # (a mode in which the composite image Ic is also printed on the frame 18). At the same time, the sub-printing device 1
0 prints the composite image Ic on the reference material 38.

Next, the material supply device 7 sets the material 5 for the different content piece.
0 is supplied to the printing device 6, and as shown in FIG. 6, the printing device 6 prints the date 47 only on the piece 52 having the different content.

Next, the material supply device 7 feeds the material 5 for the different content piece.
1 is supplied to the printing device 6, and as shown in FIG.
Print 8.

When each printing is completed, the discharging device 8 separates the jigsaw puzzle material 16 and the different content piece materials 50 and 51 as described above. And
The pieces 17a, 17b, 17c in the package 34,
The jigsaw puzzle product is made up of the frame 18 and the base member 19, 52 and 53, and the pieces are separately discharged from the piece discharge member 23 and the frame / base material discharge member 26. At the same time, the printed reference material 38 is also discharged from the piece discharge member 23.

According to the present jigsaw puzzle creating apparatus, it takes only a short time from when a user photographs a subject to when it becomes a jigsaw puzzle product. In addition, the creation device can be configured relatively inexpensively, and jigsaw puzzles can be provided at low cost.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the present invention can be embodied with the following modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention.

(1) The printed piece group 17 # is discharged as it is without being separated into individual pieces 17. Pieces 52 and 53 with different contents

(2) A material supply device capable of supplying two types of lumber subjected to a glossy or non-glossy surface treatment so that either one of the lumbers is supplied according to a user's selection. To do.

(3) The piece cutting shape of the jigsaw puzzle material and the outer shapes of the jigsaw puzzle material and the base material are each arbitrary shapes such as a triangle, a circle, a flower, etc., in addition to a square.

(4) A material supply device capable of supplying a plurality of materials having different numbers of pieces is provided, and one of the materials is supplied according to a user's selection.

(5) By providing transparent windows in the material supply device 7 and the discharge device 8, the user can see the process of completing the jigsaw puzzle product.

(6) A plurality of dies having different piece cutting shapes are incorporated in the cutting device, and the material is cut using any one of the dies according to the user's selection.

(7) As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a straight-style carton formed of a transparent resin sheet is adopted as the package 60 and discharged together with the jigsaw puzzle. The package 60 includes a body 61 having a front surface and a back surface and an upper surface and a lower surface having a small depth, a door 62 provided on the left and right end surfaces of the body 61 so as to be openable and closable,
A stand 63 is provided on the back of the body 61. Open the door 62 and store the jigsaw puzzle in the trunk 61, and use the stand 63 to stand up like a photo stand

(8) As shown in FIG. 10, a thick material 43 having a half-cut portion 44 is adhered to the back surface of the base member 19, and a photo stand is formed by a stand portion 45 having the half-cut portion 44 upright. To be self-sustaining like

(9) The first content and the second content can be freely determined. For example, FIG. 11 shows that a church image is printed as the first content on a piece group 17 #, and a different content piece 52 is displayed.
In this example, the face of a couple wearing everyday clothes is printed as the second content, and the face of the couple at the wedding is printed as the second content on the different content piece 53.

(10) The jigsaw puzzle creating device is
To develop a jigsaw puzzle creation system as shown in FIG. This jigsaw puzzle creation system is configured by connecting a host station 80 and a large number of terminal stations 70 via a communication line 90. In each terminal station 70, the photographing device 1, the display device 3, the printing device 6, the material supply device 7,
And a discharge device 8, and an image scanner 72 and a terminal-side image transmission device 71 are added. The host station 80 is provided with the image synthesizing device 2, the display device 3, and the operation device 4, and further includes a host-side image transmission device 81. Each image transmission device 7
Reference numerals 1 and 81 each include an image encoding device, a modem device, and the like according to the signal type of the communication line 90 (as described in the section of means), and further include an image compression device (provided in the image synthesizing device 2). May be preferable). For example, a terminal station 70 is provided at each wedding ceremony, and a specialty company is provided with a host station 80.
Is provided, it is possible to construct a very low-cost and efficient system as a whole.

[0084]

As described in detail above, according to the jigsaw puzzle of the present invention, a piece whose shape is easily distinguishable from most pieces is provided in a part, and the first content printed on most pieces is By printing different second contents on some of the pieces, the degree of freedom of the printed contents can be increased and a visual change can be given.

Further, according to the jigsaw puzzle creating apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to quickly and inexpensively create a jigsaw puzzle having the above effects.

According to the jigsaw puzzle creation system of the present invention, a jigsaw puzzle can be created efficiently.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a jigsaw puzzle creating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the jigsaw puzzle creating apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a printing device, a material supply device, and a discharge device of the jigsaw puzzle creating device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a printed jigsaw puzzle material.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a printed material for a different content piece.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another printed material for a different content piece.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view when the created jigsaw puzzle is assembled.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a carton into which the jigsaw puzzle is put, as viewed from the rear side.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the jigsaw puzzle as viewed from the front side in a carton.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the jigsaw puzzle.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing another modification of the jigsaw puzzle.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a jigsaw puzzle creating system obtained by developing the jigsaw puzzle creating apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 photographing device 2 image synthesizing device 3 display device 4 operating device 6 printing device 7 feeding device 8 discharging device 16 material for jigsaw puzzle 17Σ piece group 17a general shaped piece 17b special shaped piece 17c special shaped piece 34 package 50 material for different content 51 different Content piece material 52 Different content piece 53 Different content piece 60 Package 70 Terminal station 71 Terminal-side image transmission device 80 Host station 81 Host-side image transmission device 90 Communication line Ic Synthetic image Id Synthetic information Is Subject image

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A piece group in which a difference in shape from each piece is easily recognized when assembled is formed in a part, and a piece group on which a first content is printed is fitted into the hole group. A jigsaw puzzle having a different content piece formed in the same shape as the hole portion and printed with a second content different from the first content. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of general shape pieces in which the shape difference between the general shape pieces is difficult to understand and some special shape pieces in which the shape difference between the general shape pieces is easy to understand, and a first content printed thereon. A jigsaw puzzle comprising: a group of pieces; and a different content piece formed in the same shape as the special shape piece to replace the special shape piece and printed with a second content different from the first content. 3. A printing apparatus comprising at least one printing apparatus and most of the general shape pieces whose shape difference is difficult to understand, and some special shape pieces whose shape difference is easy to understand. A first material supply device for supplying a jigsaw puzzle material for forming a piece group to the printing device, and a different content piece material for forming a different content piece having the same shape as the special shape piece is supplied to the printing device. A second feeding device, a jigsaw puzzle material having the first content printed by the printer, and a different content piece material having a second content different from the first content printed thereon are arranged and discharged into a jigsaw puzzle product. Jigsaw puzzle making device equipped with a device. 4. The jigsaw puzzle creating apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising an image input device for inputting an image, wherein the input image has first content or second content. 5. An image input device for inputting an image, an image synthesizing device for synthesizing the input image with synthesis information to obtain a synthesized image, and a display device for displaying the synthesized image to a user, 4. The jigsaw puzzle creating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the composite image has first content or second content. 6. The jigsaw puzzle creating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the discharging device is configured to discharge the piece group without separating the pieces into individual pieces. 7. The discharging device according to claim 6, wherein the discharging device discharges the non-separable pieces together with the package.
The described jigsaw puzzle creation device. 8. The jigsaw puzzle creating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the discharging device is configured to separate the group of pieces into individual pieces and discharge the pieces. 9. The jigsaw puzzle creating apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the discharging device is configured to discharge the separated piece group into a package. 10. A host station and at least one terminal station are connected by a communication line. The terminal station includes an image input device for inputting an image, a printing device, and a jigsaw puzzle material for forming a group of pieces. A material supply device that supplies a printing device, and a terminal-side image transmission device, wherein the host station includes: an image synthesis device that obtains a synthesized image by synthesizing synthesis information with the image; and a host-side image transmission device. Sending an image input by the image input device of the terminal station from the terminal side image transmitting device to the image synthesizing device of the host station via a communication line, and transmitting the synthesized image obtained by the image synthesizing device to the host side image transmitting device The composite image is sent from a device to a terminal-side image transmission device via a communication line, and the printing device of the terminal station prints the composite image on a jigsaw puzzle material supplied from the material supply device. Jigsaw puzzle created system.