JP2009116011A - Image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming system which can form an image using a lenticular lens with high accuracy. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming system 1 is equipped with: an imaging unit 10 forming an image on a printing medium; a lens forming part 20 forming the lenticular lens on the printing medium; and a controller 30 for controlling image forming operation by the imaging unit 10 and lens forming operation by the lens forming part 20, The controller 30 generates data for controlling the image forming operation based on image data of the image, and controls the forming position of the lenticular lens on the printing medium based on the data for controlling the image forming operation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system that forms an image using a lenticular lens.

  There is a technology for visually recognizing an image in which a lenticular lens is arranged and realizing stereoscopic viewing using parallax between the left and right eyes. For example, a technique for recognizing a three-dimensional image using parallax between the left and right eyes by visually recognizing a display body in which a lenticular lens is arranged on a composite image in which stripe-like divided areas relating to two images are alternately arranged. Exists.

  In addition, in the display body using such a lenticular lens, for example, an image sheet and a lenticular plate having a lenticular lens are separately formed in different apparatuses, and both the image sheet and the lenticular plate are formed. It is created by pasting together (see Patent Document 1). At the time of pasting, a positioning operation for both is performed based on a positioning mark or the like.

JP 2001-75198 A

  By the way, when producing such a display body, it is required to bond the lenticular lens plate and the image sheet with high accuracy.

  However, in the case where both the lenticular lens plate and the image sheet are separately prepared in different apparatuses as described above and then bonded together based on the alignment mark or the like, the bonding accuracy is improved. It is not easy.

  The image forming technique using the lenticular lens is not only capable of stereoscopic viewing, but can also be applied to a technique for showing different images (changing images) depending on the viewing angle.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming system capable of forming an image using a lenticular lens with high accuracy.

  In order to solve the above problems, the invention of claim 1 is an image forming system, wherein an image forming means for forming an image on a printing medium and a lenticular lens are formed on the printing medium on which the image is formed. A lens forming unit; and a control unit that controls an image forming operation of the image forming unit and a lens forming operation of the lens forming unit. The control unit performs the image forming operation based on image data of the image. Control data is generated, and the formation position of the lenticular lens on the print medium is controlled based on the control data.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the control means uses the control data as the formation start position of the lenticular lens on the print medium in the transport direction of the print medium. And the formation processing of the lenticular lens is controlled based on the formation start position.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the second aspect of the present invention, the control unit is configured based on the formation start position, the transport speed of the print medium, and the detection timing of the end position of the print medium. The start timing of the lenticular lens forming process on the print medium is determined.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the second aspect of the invention, the control means uses the control data as the formation end position of the lenticular lens on the print medium in the transport direction of the print medium. And the formation process of the lenticular lens is controlled based on the formation end position.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the fourth aspect of the invention, the control means performs a lenticular lens forming process on the print medium based on the formation end position and the conveyance speed of the print medium. The end timing is determined.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the control unit forms the lenticular lens in a partial region of the print medium. .

  According to a seventh aspect of the invention, in the image forming system according to the sixth aspect of the invention, the control means controls the forming operation of the lenticular lens in accordance with the shape of the partial region.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the seventh aspect of the invention, the control means changes the shape of the partial region in accordance with the shape of the image constituent element in the image. To do.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the lens forming means supplies the lenticular lens forming material onto the print medium on which the image is formed, thereby the lenticular lens. It is characterized by forming.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the first aspect of the invention, the lens forming unit supplies a lenticular lens forming material onto the print medium on which the image is formed, and the supply It has a shaping | molding means which shape | molds the said lenticular lens formation material supplied by the means, and a hardening means to harden | cure the said lenticular lens formation material shape | molded by the said formation means.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the tenth aspect, the control means uses the control data as the formation start position of the lenticular lens on the print medium in the transport direction of the print medium. And the supply start timing of the material for forming the lenticular lens by the supply means is determined based on the formation start position, the conveyance speed of the print medium, and the detection timing of the end position of the print medium. Features.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the first aspect of the invention, the lens forming unit is formed in advance on the print medium on which the image is formed in a state separated from the print medium. The lenticular lens is formed on the image by bonding lenticular lenses.

  According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the first aspect of the invention, the lens forming unit generates a lenticular lens in advance in a state separated from the print medium, and the lens generating unit. And a joining means for joining the lenticular lens generated in advance onto the print medium on which the image is formed.

  According to a fourteenth aspect of the invention, in the image forming system according to the thirteenth aspect of the invention, the control means sets a joining start position that is a formation start position of the lenticular lens on the print medium in the transport direction of the print medium. The lenticular lens generated based on the control data and separated from the print medium based on the joining start position and the detection timing of the end position of the print medium is placed on the print medium. The supply start timing to supply toward is determined.

  According to the present invention, since the formation position of the lenticular lens on the print medium is controlled based on the data for controlling the image forming operation, it is possible to form an image using the lenticular lens with high accuracy.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<A. First Embodiment>
<A1. Equipment overview>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus (also referred to as an image forming system) 1 according to the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 1 includes an imaging unit (also referred to as an image forming unit) 10, a lens forming unit 20, a controller 30, a transport unit 40, a paper feed unit 50, and a discharge unit 60.

  The imaging unit 10 forms a planar image (also referred to as “planar image”) CE using a toner image or the like on a printing medium (printing paper or the like) PA (see FIG. 2). In addition, the lens forming unit 20 forms a lenticular lens LS on the print medium PA. The controller 30 controls the image forming operation of the imaging unit 10, the lens forming operation of the lens forming unit 20, the transporting operation of the transporting unit 40, and the like. As will be described later, the controller 30 generates control data for the image forming operation based on the image data of the planar image CE, and controls the formation position of the lenticular lens on the print medium based on the control data. .

  Here, an electrophotographic imaging unit 10 is employed. The imaging unit 10 develops the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier to form a planar image CE.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the imaging unit 10 includes a photoconductor (image carrier) 11, a charger 12, an exposure device 13, a developing device 14, a transfer device 15, an eraser (static eliminating device) 16, and a cleaner 17, respectively. Have. Specifically, in the imaging unit 10, a charger 12, an exposure device 13, a developing device 14, a transfer device (specifically a transfer roller) 15, an eraser 16, and a cleaner so as to surround the outer periphery of the substantially cylindrical photoconductor 11. 17 are arranged counterclockwise in this order. The imaging unit 10 also includes a fixing device 18 that fixes the planar image CE to the print medium PA.

  The lens forming unit 20 includes a supply unit (also referred to as a discharge unit or a coating unit) 21, a molding unit (also referred to as a shape transfer unit) 22, and a curing unit 23. These processing units 21, 22, and 23 are fixed at predetermined positions on the transport path of the print medium PA. The supply unit 21 supplies a lenticular lens forming material onto the print medium PA on which the planar image CE is formed. Specifically, the supply unit 21 discharges the lenticular lens forming material stored in the tank 21a using a plurality of nozzles provided in the nozzle unit 21b, and the lenticular lens forming material is discharged onto the print medium PA. Form a layer. The molding unit 22 molds the lenticular lens forming material supplied on the print medium PA by the supply unit 21 into the shape of a lenticular lens (specifically, a substantially semicircular shape in cross section). The curing unit 23 cures the lenticular lens forming material molded by the molding unit 22 by ultraviolet irradiation or the like. The lens forming unit 20 further includes a detector 29. The detector 29 detects the tip position (reference position) of the print medium PA.

  In addition, the paper feed unit 50 can store a plurality of print media (printing paper or the like) PA. The transport unit 40 takes out the print media PA stored in the paper feed unit 50 one by one from the paper feed unit 50 at an appropriate timing, and transports the print media PA toward the photoconductor 11. The print medium PA supplied from the paper supply unit 50 passes between the photosensitive member 11 and the transfer unit 15 and then passes through the position of the fixing unit 18. Along with such a transport operation, the toner image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 11 is transferred onto the print medium PA. Thereafter, the print medium PA further passes through the positions of the detector 29, the supply unit 21, the molding unit 22, and the curing unit 23 in this order. Along with such a transport operation, the lens forming unit 20 executes a lens forming operation, and a lenticular lens is formed on the print medium PA. Then, a printed output with a lenticular lens is discharged from the discharge unit 60. The transport unit 40 implements the transport operation as described above under the control of the controller 30.

<A2. Operation>
The image forming apparatus 1 uses the printing mechanism as described above based on the image data transmitted from another information device (such as a personal computer) connected via a network or the like, as described above. Is output. That is, the image forming apparatus 1 functions as a printer (printing apparatus) that outputs a printed output with a lenticular lens.

  Hereinafter, a printing operation in the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.

  First, when the controller 30 (see FIG. 1) of the image forming apparatus 1 generates image data (rasterized data) DC for printing based on image data (gradation data) DA to be printed, image formation by the imaging unit 10 is performed. The action is executed. The image data DC for printing also includes position information of a composite image region RG (described later) on the print medium (printing paper), in other words, position information of the lenticular lens. The print image data DC is also referred to as print control data (in short, control data).

  In the imaging unit 10, the exposure device 13 operates based on the image data for printing to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 11 uniformly charged by the charger 12, and the electrostatic latent image is developed. The toner image is formed by development by the container 14. The formed toner image is transferred to the print medium PA by applying an electric field by the transfer unit 15. At this time, the print medium PA is conveyed toward the photoconductor 11 at an appropriate timing based on the control data DC. As a result, a toner image is formed at a designated position in the print medium PA. Specifically, the leading position of the toner image on the photoconductor 11 is a designated position in the print medium PA in the transport direction of the print medium PA (specifically, the theoretical position from the end (paper end) of the print medium PA). The toner image is formed so as to meet the above. Further, the fixing process is performed by the fixing device 18, and the print medium PA on which the planar image CE is printed advances to the lens forming unit 20. Note that excess toner is removed from the surface of the photoconductor 11 by a charge removal process (specifically, an optical erase process) by the eraser 16 and a physical removal process by the cleaner 17 in contact with the photoconductor 11.

  Thereafter, the lenticular lens LS is formed by the lens forming unit 20 on the print medium PA on which the planar image CE is printed.

  Hereinafter, a case where the lenticular lens LS is formed not only on the entire surface of the print medium PA but only on a partial area (rectangular area) RG (see FIG. 2) of the print medium PA will be described in detail. This partial region RG is also expressed as a lens formation region RG where the lenticular lens LS is formed. The control data DC includes the distance L between the leading position of the partial area RG and the leading position of the printing medium PA in the transport direction AX of the printing medium PA, and the length (size) H of the area RG. And information about. Further, the control data DC includes information on the width (size) W of the partial region RG in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction AX. The length (size) H of the lens formation region RG is also expressed as the length of the lenticular lens LS, and the width (size) W of the partial region RG is expressed as the width of the lenticular lens LS. The control data DC also includes information on the width (size) W of the partial region RG, that is, the width W of the lenticular lens LS in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction AX.

  In the partial region RG, a planar image (toner image) CE is laminated on the print medium PA, and a lenticular lens LS is further laminated on the planar image CE. The planar image CE includes a composite image for forming a stereoscopic image. Here, the planar image CE coincides with the composite image (and is therefore also referred to as the composite image CE). As the composite image CE, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, striped divided areas DAi and DBi are alternately arranged for two images GA and GB (for the left eye and for the right eye), respectively. Images synthesized in this way may be used. Here, the composite image CE is formed in the partial region RG, and the lenticular lens LS is formed on the composite image CE. Here, the toner image is formed only in the partial region RG, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a toner image may be formed in addition to the partial region RG. In other words, the planar image may have an image (toner image or the like) other than the composite image.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the lenticular lens LS has a shape in which a plurality of very elongated substantially semi-cylindrical portions are arranged adjacent to each other. The diameter d2 (for example, 0.25 mm) of the approximately semicircular cross section of each approximately semi-cylindrical portion of the lenticular lens LS is the width d (for example, 0.125 mm) of the divided region in the planar image (specifically, the composite image) CE. (D2 = d × 2).

  When an observer views a display body including such a lenticular lens LS, the left and right eyes of the observer visually recognize different images, and stereoscopic viewing is realized using the parallax between the left and right eyes. As described above, the image forming technique using the lenticular lens is not only capable of stereoscopic viewing, but can also be applied to a technique for showing different images (changing images (variable viewing images)) depending on viewing angles. . Specifically, for example, as the above-described composite image (CE), an image obtained by combining (sequentially) (circularly) stripe-shaped divided regions for a plurality of completely different (for example, three) images. Use it.

  The controller 30 calculates position information of the lenticular lens in the print medium PA based on the control data DC. Specifically, the formation start position PS of the lenticular lens LS on the print medium PA and the formation end position PE of the lenticular lens LS on the print medium PA in the transport direction AX of the print medium PA are calculated. (See FIG. 5). For example, the formation start position PS is calculated in terms of a distance L from the leading end position of the print medium PA to the leading position of the region RG (formation start position PS). Further, the formation end position PE is calculated as a position moved from the formation start position PS by the length H of the lenticular lens LS in the transport direction AX. In other words, the formation end position PE is calculated in terms of a value obtained by adding the length H to the distance L (L + H). As described above, the formation start position PS and the formation end position PE are calculated as relative positions to the front end position of the print medium PA in the transport direction AX, respectively.

  Then, the controller 30 controls the formation process of the lenticular lens LS based on the formation start position PS (distance L), the formation end position PE (distance (L + H)), and the like.

  5 to 9 are diagrams schematically illustrating processing in the image forming apparatus 1. In each of FIGS. 5 to 9, the processing units and the like are arranged from left to right according to the processing order. Specifically, the imaging unit 10, the detector 29, the supply unit 21, the molding unit 22, and the curing unit 23 are arranged in this order from left to right.

  As shown in FIG. 5, first, when the planar image CE is formed by the imaging unit 10 in a portion including the region RG on the print medium PA, and the end of the print medium PA is detected by the detector 29 at time T10, While the conveyance of the print medium PA is continued, the following processing is further executed. Here, at time T12 (see FIG. 6) when the leading end position of the print medium PA is detected by the detector 29, the supply of the lenticular lens forming material by the supply unit 21 has not yet started.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the controller 30 starts the supply of the lenticular lens forming material by the supply unit 21 at time T14 (= T10 + ΔT1) after time ΔT1 from time T10. The time T14, that is, the supply start timing of the lenticular lens forming material is based on the formation start position PS (distance L), the conveyance speed V of the printing medium PA, and the detection timing (time T10) of the tip position of the lenticular lens forming material. Determined.

  Specifically, for example, a value obtained by dividing the value (D + L) obtained by adding the distance D and the distance L by the conveyance speed V is determined as the time ΔT1 (= (D + L) / V). Here, the distance D is a transport distance between the detector 29 and the supply unit 21 (a distance on the transport path), and the distance L is a distance from the front end position of the print medium PA to the formation start position PS of the region RG. is there. The time T14 when the time ΔT1 has elapsed from the detection timing (time T10) of the leading edge position of the print medium PA is determined as the supply start timing of the lenticular lens forming material (start timing of the lenticular lens formation process). In more detail, in consideration of the time ΔTD until the lenticular lens forming material discharged from the nozzle portion 21b of the supply portion 21 actually reaches the print medium PA, the supply is started slightly earlier. (T14 = T10 + ΔT1-ΔTD) is preferable.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 8, the controller 30 stops the supply of the lenticular lens forming material by the supply unit 21 at time T16 after ΔT2 from time T14. Time T16, that is, the supply end timing of the lenticular lens forming material (end timing of the lenticular lens forming process) is determined based on the formation start position PS and the conveyance speed V of the print medium PA. Specifically, for example, a value obtained by dividing the distance H by the conveyance speed V is first determined as ΔT2 (= H / V). Here, the distance H is the length (size) of the lenticular lens LS in the transport direction AX. Then, the time T16 (= T14 + ΔT2) when the time ΔT2 has elapsed from the supply start timing (time T14) of the lenticular lens forming material is determined as the supply end timing of the lenticular lens forming material.

  Further, during the supply period (time T14 to time T16) by the supply unit 21, the lenticular lens forming material is discharged from a plurality of nozzles arranged in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction AX in the nozzle unit 21b. The nozzle to be determined is determined according to the width W of the region RG. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 9, in the supply unit 21, a plurality of discharge nozzles are linearly arranged in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction AX. The supply unit 21 discharges the lenticular lens forming material only from the nozzle corresponding to the region RG (the nozzle corresponding to the width W) among the plurality of discharge nozzles.

  In this way, the lenticular lens forming material is supplied and applied to the region RG on the print medium PA by the supply unit 21. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state immediately after the lens forming material is supplied. As shown in FIG. 10, at this stage, the lenticular lens forming material ZL is laminated on the print medium PA in an unmolded state. In FIG. 10, the layer of the planar image (toner image) CE existing between the print medium PA and the lenticular lens forming material ZL is omitted. The same applies to FIGS. 11 and 12.

  Further, when the region RG reaches the forming unit 22 as the printing medium PA is conveyed, the forming roller 22b of the forming unit 22 forms the lenticular lens forming material ZL into the shape of the lenticular lens. For example, as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 11, the forming roller 22 b has a shape in which a substantially semicircular concave portion is continuously provided in the longitudinal direction of the forming roller 22 b at the outer peripheral portion thereof. By pressing the molding roller 22b against the lenticular lens forming material ZL, the lenticular lens forming material ZL has a shape in which semicylindrical portions having a substantially semicircular convex cross-sectional shape are arranged adjacent to each other. Molded. In other words, by pressing the lenticular lens forming material ZL between the forming roller 22b and the pressure roller facing the forming roller 22b, the lenticular lens forming material ZL is formed into a desired shape. Is done.

  Thereafter, when the printing medium PA is further conveyed and the region RG reaches the curing unit 23, the lenticular lens forming material ZL is cured by ultraviolet irradiation (or heat irradiation or the like) of the curing unit 23 as shown in FIG.

  As described above, the lenticular lens LS is formed in the partial region RG in the print medium PA (see FIG. 9).

  According to such an operation, since the formation position of the lenticular lens on the printing medium is controlled based on the control data DC for the image forming operation, an image using the lenticular lens LS can be formed with high accuracy. It is.

  In particular, under the control of the controller 30, the lenticular lens LS is formed in the partial region RG of the print medium PA. Therefore, it is not always necessary to form the lenticular lens LS on the entire surface of the print medium PA. Therefore, it is possible to form a stereoscopic image (or variable vision image) or the like more flexibly.

<B. Second Embodiment>
In the first embodiment, the case where the lenticular lens LS is formed by directly applying the lenticular lens forming material ZL on the print medium PA is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the lenticular lens LS is formed in advance in a state separated from the print medium PA, and then the planar image is bonded to the print medium PA on which the planar image CE is formed. A lenticular lens LS may be formed on the CE. In the second embodiment, such a modification will be described.

  FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing an image forming apparatus (image forming system) 1 (1B) according to the second embodiment. Similar to the image forming apparatus 1 (1A) according to the first embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1B includes an imaging unit 10 and a lens forming unit 20. The imaging unit 10 (10B) of the image forming apparatus 1B has substantially the same configuration as the imaging unit 10 (10A) of the image forming apparatus 1A according to the first embodiment. On the other hand, the lens forming unit 20 (20B) of the image forming apparatus 1B has a different configuration from the lens forming unit 20 (20A) of the image forming apparatus 1B according to the first embodiment. Below, it demonstrates centering on difference with 1st Embodiment.

  The lens forming unit 20B includes the supply unit 21, the molding unit 22, and the curing unit 23 in the same manner as the lens forming unit 20A, and further peels off the conveying sheet 24, the detector 25, the driving roller 26, and the transfer roller 27. A part 28 and an adhesive application part 49 are provided.

  The circumferential conveying sheet 24 is wound around a plurality of rollers such as a driving roller 26, and rotates in the direction of the arrow AX2 in accordance with the rotational driving of the driving roller 26. Here, a sheet having transparency (transparent sheet) is used as the transport sheet 24.

  The supply unit 21 stacks the lenticular lens forming material ZL on the transport sheet 24 by supplying (discharging) the lenticular lens forming material ZL onto the moving transport sheet 24. The molding unit 22 molds the lenticular lens forming material ZL on the transport sheet 24 into the shape of the lenticular lens LS, and the curing unit 23 irradiates the molded lenticular lens forming material ZL with ultraviolet rays or the like. The lenticular lens forming material ZL is cured. By such an operation, the lenticular lens LS is generated in advance on the transport sheet 24 in a state separated from the print medium PA.

  The detector 25 detects the tip portion of the lenticular lens LS generated on the transport sheet 24. Specifically, the reflectance (or transmittance) in the state where only the transparent transport sheet 24 exists, and the combined reflectance (or combined transmittance) in the state where the transport sheet 24 and the lenticular lens LS are stacked. Based on these differences, the tip portion of the lenticular lens LS is detected.

  After the tip portion of the lenticular lens LS is detected by the detector 25, when a predetermined time ΔT21 is measured and it is determined that the tip portion of the lenticular lens LS has reached a position Q4 (described later), driving by the driving roller 26 is performed. Is temporarily stopped. The lenticular lens LS formed by the lens forming unit 20 waits at this position Q4 (time T50 (see FIG. 14)). The time ΔT21 is a value calculated in advance as the time required to reach the predetermined position Q4 after the tip portion of the lenticular lens LS is detected by the detector 25.

  Thereafter, the planar image CE is formed on the print medium PA by the imaging unit 10B in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

  Further, when the detector 19 detects that the leading end portion of the print medium PA has reached the position Q1, the driving by the driving roller 26 is resumed (time T52 (see FIG. 15)).

  The lenticular lens LS that has been waiting at the position Q4 moves together with the conveying sheet 24 in the direction of the arrow AX2, and is then peeled off from the conveying sheet 24 by the peeling claw of the peeling portion 28, and is then attached to the transfer roller 27. In the transfer roller 27, the lenticular lens LS rotates with its upper surface (front surface) facing inward and its lower surface (back surface) facing outward. The adhesive application unit 49 applies an adhesive to the lower surface of the lenticular lens LS exposed outward on the transfer roller 27.

  Then, the printing medium PA moved from the position Q1 side and the lenticular lens LS moved from the position Q4 side merge at the position Q3, and the lenticular lens LS is pressed and joined to the printing medium PA by the transfer roller 27. Further, the lenticular lens LS is fixed to the print medium PA by the adhesive applied to the lenticular lens LS (see FIGS. 16 to 18).

  Here, the length (conveyance distance) of the conveyance path between the position Q1 and the position Q3 is the same as the length (conveyance distance) of the conveyance path between the position Q2 and the position Q3. That is, the position Q1 and the position Q2 are positions where the transport distance to the position Q3 is the same. Further, the position Q4 is a position on the rear side of the distance L from the position Q2 in the transport direction. The position Q4 is determined by the controller 30 based on the position Q2 and the distance L included in the control data DC.

  Such a transport operation will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 14 to 18 are diagrams illustrating the positions of the lenticular lens LS and the print medium PA at each time T50, T52, T54, T56, and T58 during the transport operation. 14 to 18, for convenience of explanation, the transport direction of the lenticular lens LS is shown aligned with the transport direction of the print medium PA (from left to right).

  As described above, the lenticular lens LS generated by the lens forming unit 20B stands by at the position Q4 behind the position Q2 by the distance L (time T50 (see FIG. 14)). Thereafter, the printing medium PA and the lenticular lens LS move at the same speed when the printing medium PA reaches the position Q1 (see also FIG. 13) (time T52 (see FIG. 15)) with the printing operation by the imaging unit 10B. To start. That is, the supply start timing for supplying the lenticular lens LS toward the print medium PA is determined based on the time T52 (the detection timing of the end position of the print medium) when the print medium PA reaches the position Q1. Note that the standby position Q4 is determined based on the distance L (corresponding to the joining start position PS). Therefore, the supply start timing for supplying the lenticular lens LS toward the print medium PA is also expressed as being determined based on the joining start position PS.

  Thereafter, at time T54 (see FIG. 16), the leading end portion of the print medium PA reaches the position Q3, and further at time T56 (see FIG. 17), the leading end portion of the lenticular lens LS reaches the position Q3. At time T56, the front end portion of the print medium PA passes through the position Q3 by a distance L, and the front end portion of the lenticular lens LS is disposed at a distance L from the front end portion of the print medium PA. At time T56, the joining of the lenticular lens LS to the print medium PA is started. Then, the conveyance of the lenticular lens LS and the print medium PA is further continued, and the lenticular lens LS is joined to the print medium PA by the transfer roller 27 (see FIG. 18). As a result, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 18 and the like, the lenticular lens LS is adhered to the partial region RG of the print medium PA. That is, the lenticular lens LS is formed at a designated position in the print medium PA.

  As described above, also in the second embodiment, the formation position of the lenticular lens on the print medium is controlled based on the image forming operation control data DC. Therefore, an image using the lenticular lens LS can be formed with high accuracy.

  In determining the stop position Q4 of the lenticular lens LS at time T50, strictly speaking, the lenticular lens in the time ΔTD required until the moving speed of the lenticular lens LS after the resumption of movement becomes equal to the moving speed of the printing medium PA. It is preferable to consider the difference ΔLD between the conveyance distance of the lens LS and the conveyance distance of the print medium PA. For example, at time T50, the lenticular lens LS may be stopped on the front side of the distance ΔLD (position Q2 side) from the position Q4.

  In the above embodiment, the position Q2 where the conveyance distance to the position Q3 is the same as the position Q1 is set as the reference position, and the lenticular lens LS stops at the position Q4 on the rear side of the distance L from the reference position Q2. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, the reference position is set to a position Q6 (see FIG. 13) different from the position Q2, specifically, a position Q6 on the front side of the position Q2 in the transport direction, and a position Q8 on the rear side of the distance L from the reference position Q6. The lenticular lens LS may be temporarily stopped. In this case, it stopped at the position Q8 at time T53 (= T52 + ΔTE) after a lapse of time ΔTE (= L26 / V) from time T52 when the leading edge of the print medium PA reached the position Q1. The movement of the lenticular lens LS may be resumed. Here, the time ΔTE is the time required for the lenticular lens LS to move the transport distance L26 between the position Q2 and the position Q6. Thus, the joining timing of the lenticular lens LS can be determined based on the detection timing (time T52) of the tip position of the lenticular lens LS and the conveyance speed V of the printing medium PA. Since the standby position Q8 is also determined based on the distance L (corresponding to the joining start position PS), the supply start timing for supplying the lenticular lens LS onto the print medium PA is the joining start position PS. It is also expressed that it is determined based on.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the lenticular lens LS temporarily stops (at position Q4), waits, and starts moving again is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the lenticular lens LS and the print medium PA may be joined at the position Q3 with an appropriate positional relationship while the lenticular lens LS generated by the lens forming unit 20 continues the moving operation without stopping. . Specifically, the controller 30 sets the generation start timing of the lenticular lens LS and the image of the print medium PA so that the timing at which the lenticular lens LS reaches the position Q4 and the timing at which the print medium PA reaches the position Q1 coincide. What is necessary is just to determine the start timing of formation operation.

<C. Other>
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the contents described above.

  For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the conveyance direction of the print medium PA and the arrangement direction of each semi-cylindrical portion in the lenticular lens LS are orthogonal to each other is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. Specifically, the conveyance direction of the print medium PA and the arrangement direction of the semicylindrical portions in the lenticular lens LS may be parallel.

  FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a print medium PA according to such a modification, a lenticular lens LS formed in a partial region RG of the print medium PA, and the like. In FIG. 19, the conveyance direction (direction of arrow AX3) of the print medium PA and the arrangement direction of the semicylindrical portions in the lenticular lens LS are parallel to each other. In other words, the conveyance direction of the printing medium PA (the direction of the arrow AX3) and the extending direction of each lens element having a substantially semi-cylindrical shape in the lenticular lens LS are perpendicular to each other.

  In such a lenticular lens LS, a roller 22c having a shape as shown in FIG. 20 may be used as the molding portion 22 in FIG. 1 or FIG. As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 20, the roller 22c has a shape in which a concave portion corresponding to the shape of the substantially semi-cylindrical portion of each lenticular lens LS is continuously provided in the outer peripheral portion along the outer peripheral direction. is doing. When such a roller presses the lenticular lens forming material ZL, a lenticular lens LS as shown in FIG. 19 is generated.

  Alternatively, a pressing member 22d as shown in FIG. Specifically, the lenticular lens LS as shown in FIG. 19 is generated by repeatedly pressing such a pressing member against the lenticular lens forming material ZL while shifting the position in the transport direction by a predetermined distance.

  In particular, when the conveyance direction of the printing medium PA and the arrangement direction of the semicylindrical portions in the lenticular lens LS are parallel (see FIG. 19), relatively high alignment accuracy is required. Even in such a case, according to the configuration and operation as described above, the formation position of the lenticular lens LS in the print medium PA is controlled using the control data DC, so that the desired accuracy is compared. Can be easily achieved.

  In each of the above embodiments, the imaging unit 10 and the lens forming unit 20 are illustrated as being integrated in the image forming apparatus 1, but the present invention is not limited to this. Specifically, the imaging unit 10, the lenticular lens forming unit 20, and the controller 30 are configured to be stored in separate housings, and the imaging unit 10 and the lenticular lens forming unit 20 are connected. Good. In this case, the controller 30 may communicate with both the imaging unit 10 and the lenticular lens forming unit 20 using a communication line or the like and control both. Specifically, the controller 30 controls the formation operation of the imaging unit 10 using the control data DC to form the planar image CE on the print medium PA, and uses the control data DC to form the lenticular lens forming unit. The forming operation of 20 may be controlled. According to this, the lenticular lens LS can be formed with high accuracy on the print medium PA on which the planar image CE is formed. Furthermore, the controller that controls the imaging unit 10 and the controller that controls the lenticular lens forming unit 20 may be configured separately.

  Moreover, in each said embodiment, although the case where partial area | region RG was a rectangular area was illustrated, it is not limited to this.

  For example, as shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, the partial region RG may have any shape such as a triangle and a circle. In this case, the controller 30 may control the lenticular lens forming operation according to the shape of the partial region RG. Specifically, the supply timing (supply start timing and supply end timing) of the lenticular lens forming material ZL may be controlled for each nozzle of the supply unit 21.

  In addition, the shape of the partial region RG is preferably changed according to the shape of an image component (photo region or the like) in the planar image CE. For example, when the shape of the image component in the planar image CE is circular (see FIG. 23), the shape of the lenticular lens LS may be circular. Further, when the shape of the image constituent element (photo region) in the planar image CE is a triangle (see FIG. 22), the shape of the lenticular lens LS may be a triangle. According to this, it is possible to easily form the lenticular lens LS on a partial region having a shape corresponding to the image component.

  In each of the above embodiments, the case where the lenticular lens LS is provided only in the partial region RG of the print medium PA is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, conversely, the lenticular lens LS may be provided on the entire surface of the print medium PA.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, the case where the image on the photoconductor 11 is directly transferred onto the print medium PA in the imaging unit 10 is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the image forming apparatus 1C as shown in FIG. 24, the toner image formed on the photoconductor 11 may be transferred once to the intermediate belt MS and then transferred again to the print medium PA. Note that the image forming apparatus 1C in FIG. 24 shows a configuration in which a lenticular lens LS generated in advance is bonded to a specified position of the print medium PA, as in the image forming apparatus 1B according to the second embodiment.

  In each of the above embodiments, the imaging unit 10 capable of printing with a single color has been exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an imaging unit capable of printing with a plurality of colors may be used. Specifically, by providing a plurality of developing devices 14 and the like, toner images of a plurality of colors (for example, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black) are generated, and the toner images of the plurality of colors are printed on the print medium PA. You may make it transfer by overlapping. That is, a full color image may be formed on the print medium PA.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, the electrophotographic imaging unit 10 is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, various types of imaging units such as an ink jet system, an electrostatic recording system, and an ionography may be used.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus (image forming system) according to a first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the lens formation area on a printing medium. It is a figure which shows a plane image (composite image). It is a figure which shows a lenticular lens. It is a figure which shows typically the process in an image forming apparatus (time T10). It is a figure which shows typically the process in an image forming apparatus (time T12). It is a figure which shows typically the process in an image forming apparatus (time T14). It is a figure which shows typically the process in an image forming apparatus (time T16). It is a figure which shows typically the process in an image forming apparatus (time T18). It is sectional drawing which shows the state immediately after supply of the lens formation material. It is sectional drawing which shows a mode that the lens formation material is shape | molded. It is sectional drawing which shows a mode that the material for lens formation is hardened. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the image forming apparatus (image forming system) which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram which shows conveyance operation of both a printing medium and a lenticular lens (time T50). It is a conceptual diagram which shows both conveyance operation (time T52). It is a conceptual diagram which shows both conveyance operation (time T54). It is a conceptual diagram which shows both conveyance operation (time T56). It is a conceptual diagram which shows both conveyance operation (time T58). It is a figure which shows the lenticular lens on the printing medium which concerns on a modification. It is a figure which shows the roller for shaping | molding which concerns on a modification. It is a figure which shows the press member for shaping | molding which concerns on a modification. It is a figure which shows the partial area | region which concerns on a modification. It is a figure which shows the partial area | region which concerns on a modification. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the image forming apparatus (image forming system) which concerns on a modification.

Explanation of symbols

1,1A, 1B, 1C Image forming apparatus (image forming system)
10, 10A, 10B, 10C Imaging unit 19, 25, 29 Detector 20, 20A, 20B, 20C Lenticular lens forming part 21 Supply part 22 Molding part 23 Curing part 49 Adhesive application part 50 Paper feed part 60 Discharge part CE Plane Image (composite image)
DAi, DBi Division area PA Print medium PE Formation end position PS Formation start position RG Lens formation area

Claims (14)

An image forming system,
Image forming means for forming an image on a print medium;
Lens forming means for forming a lenticular lens on the print medium on which the image is formed;
Control means for controlling the image forming operation of the image forming means and the lens forming operation of the lens forming means;
With
The control means includes
Generating data for controlling the image forming operation based on the image data of the image;
An image forming system for controlling a formation position of the lenticular lens on the print medium based on the control data. The image forming system according to claim 1,
The control means calculates the formation start position of the lenticular lens on the print medium in the transport direction of the print medium based on the control data, and performs the formation process of the lenticular lens based on the formation start position. An image forming system characterized by controlling. The image forming system according to claim 2.
The control means determines a start timing of a lenticular lens forming process on the print medium based on the formation start position, a conveyance speed of the print medium, and a detection timing of an end position of the print medium. Image forming system. The image forming system according to claim 2.
The control means calculates the formation end position of the lenticular lens on the print medium in the transport direction of the print medium based on the control data, and performs the formation process of the lenticular lens based on the formation end position. An image forming system characterized by controlling. The image forming system according to claim 4.
The control unit determines an end timing of a lenticular lens forming process on the print medium based on the formation end position and a conveyance speed of the print medium. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The image forming system, wherein the control unit forms the lenticular lens in a partial region of the print medium. The image forming system according to claim 6.
The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls a forming operation of the lenticular lens according to a shape of the partial region. The image forming system according to claim 7.
The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes a shape of the partial region in accordance with a shape of an image component in the image. The image forming system according to claim 1,
The lens forming unit forms the lenticular lens by supplying a lenticular lens forming material onto the print medium on which the image is formed. The image forming system according to claim 1,
The lens forming means includes
Supply means for supplying a lenticular lens forming material onto the printing medium on which the image is formed;
Molding means for molding the lenticular lens forming material supplied by the supply means;
Curing means for curing the lenticular lens-forming material molded by the molding means;
An image forming system comprising: The image forming system according to claim 10.
The control means calculates a formation start position of the lenticular lens on the print medium in the transport direction of the print medium based on the control data, the formation start position, the transport speed of the print medium, and the printing An image forming system, wherein a supply start timing of the lenticular lens forming material by the supply unit is determined based on a detection timing of an end position of the medium. The image forming system according to claim 1,
The lens forming unit forms the lenticular lens on the image by bonding a lenticular lens formed in advance in a state separated from the print medium on the print medium on which the image is formed. An image forming system. The image forming system according to claim 1,
The lens forming means includes
Lens generating means for generating a lenticular lens in advance in a state separated from the print medium;
A joining unit that joins the lenticular lens generated in advance by the lens generating unit onto the print medium on which the image is formed;
An image forming system comprising: The image forming system according to claim 13.
The control means calculates a joining start position that is a formation start position of the lenticular lens on the print medium in the transport direction of the print medium based on the control data, and the joining start position and the print medium An image forming system that determines a supply start timing for supplying the lenticular lens generated in a state separated from the print medium toward the print medium based on an end position detection timing. .

Images