JP6255887B2 - Roughness forming apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an unevenness forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-133867 specifies designation means for designating a region or contour to be processed for unevenness in a print target image in accordance with a drawing operation using a mouse, keyboard, or touch panel, and adjustment of a pressing force for the drawing operation using a mouse, keyboard, or touch panel. Accordingly, there is disclosed a printing apparatus including an adjusting unit that adjusts the degree of unevenness.
Further, Patent Document 2 discloses an expansion in which one of two different types of image data created by an application is printed on a printing medium by a normal ink print head, while the other of the image data is ejected with a transparent expansion ink. A method for creating a three-dimensional image to be printed on the same substrate by an ink print head is disclosed.

JP 2010-191925 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-225459

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a feeling of unevenness to a sheet without using a mold that presses against the sheet.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a transparent material is adhered to an image forming surface, which is a surface on which an image has been formed, on a predetermined portion of a sheet, and the image forming surface A convex portion forming means for forming a convex portion that allows the image forming surface to be visually recognized through the material, and a reverse side of the predetermined portion of the opposite surface located on the opposite side of the image forming surface And a recess forming means for forming a recess at a location corresponding to the back side.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, when a plurality of sheets of paper on which the convex portions and the concave portions are formed are overlapped, the convex portions formed on one paper are positioned next to the one paper. The concave-convex forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the convex portion and the concave portion are formed so as to be accommodated in the concave portion of another sheet.
The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the recess forming means adheres the material to the entire surface of the opposite surface except for the portion corresponding to the back side. Forming device.
The invention described in claim 4 is characterized in that at least one of the material used by the convex portion forming means and the material used by the concave portion forming means is transparent. It is an unevenness forming apparatus.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, an image forming unit that forms an image on a first surface of a sheet, and a transparent material is attached on the image formed on the first surface by the image forming unit, and the image Corresponding to the rear side of the portion where the convex portion is formed on the second surface of the paper, and a convex portion forming means for forming a convex portion through which the image can be visually recognized through the material. An image forming apparatus comprising: a recess forming unit that attaches a material around a portion to be formed and forms a recess in a portion corresponding to the back side.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the image forming means forms an image on the first surface using an image forming material, and the convex portion forming means has the transparent material on the image. The convex portion is formed by attaching the concave portion, and the concave portion forming means forms the concave portion by attaching the image forming material around the portion corresponding to the back side. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, when the convex portion forming means attaches the material on the image, the convex portion forming means attaches the high density portion and the low density portion of the image. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the amount of the material is varied.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the convex portion forming means forms the image on the image by using the image data and the material that are the basis of the image, so that the image is formed on the image. The deposition of the material is performed, and the concave portion forming unit forms the image on the second surface by using the image data and the material that are the basis of the image. One of the image data used by the convex portion forming means and the image data used by the concave portion forming means is subjected to gradation inversion processing and mirror image with respect to the other image data. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image forming apparatus is image data generated by performing processing.
The invention according to claim 9 is characterized in that a material is attached to a predetermined portion of the first surface of the paper and a convex portion forming means for forming a convex portion at the predetermined portion, and a second surface of the paper A concave portion forming means for depositing a material around a portion corresponding to the back side of the predetermined portion and forming a concave portion in the portion corresponding to the back side, wherein the convex portion forming means comprises: The original image data and the material are used to form the image on the first surface, thereby performing the adhesion of the material on the first surface, and the recess forming unit includes: Using the image data and the material that is the source of the image, the image is formed on the second surface, so that the material adheres to the second surface, and the convex forming means One of the image data used and the image data used by the recess forming means Image data is an unevenness forming apparatus is an image data generated by performing the gradation reversal processing and mirror processing to other image data.
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, an image forming unit that forms an image on a first surface of a sheet, and a material is deposited on the image formed on the first surface by the image forming unit, thereby forming the image. A convex portion forming means for forming a convex portion in the portion that is formed, and a material on the second surface of the paper that corresponds to the back side of the portion where the convex portion is formed, and corresponds to the back side A concave portion forming means for forming a concave portion at a location to be formed, and the convex portion forming means uses the image data and the material that are the basis of an image to form the image on the image, The adhesion of the material on the image is performed, and the concave portion forming unit forms the image on the second surface by using the image data and the material as an image base, The adhesion of the material to the second surface is performed, and the projection forming means is used. One of the image data and the image data used by the recess forming means is image formation that is image data generated by performing gradation inversion processing and mirror image processing on the other image data. Device.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to give a feeling of unevenness to the paper without using a mold that presses against the paper.
According to the invention of claim 2, the thickness of the sheet bundle generated by stacking a plurality of sheets can be reduced.
According to invention of Claim 3, the 2nd surface of a paper can be made into a flat state except the location in which a recessed part is formed.
According to the invention of claim 4, even if the material is attached to the paper, it becomes possible to visually recognize characters and the like behind the attached material.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to give a feeling of unevenness to the paper without using a mold that presses against the paper.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to give a feeling of unevenness to a sheet without preparing a dedicated material for giving a feeling of unevenness.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to impart the stereoscopic effect of the image to the convex portion formed on the image.
According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the image data can be easily prepared when the image is formed on the sheet based on the image data and the material is adhered to the sheet.
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the image data can be easily prepared when the image is formed on the paper based on the image data and the material is attached to the paper.
According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily prepare image data when forming an image on a sheet based on the image data and attaching a material to the sheet.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming system. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus. It is a figure for demonstrating the specific example of a process. It is sectional drawing in the arrow IV-IV line in (B-1) of FIG. 3 (B). (A) and (B) are diagrams showing clear toner layers respectively formed on the front and back sides of a sheet. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a plurality of sheets on which a clear toner layer is formed are stacked. It is the figure which showed the state of the back surface of a paper. It is the figure which showed the other shape of the convex part and the recessed part. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state of a sheet when the thickness of a clear toner layer is increased or decreased.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an image forming system 1 of the present embodiment.
The image forming system 1 in the present embodiment is provided with an image data output device 100 that is configured by a PC (Personal Computer) or the like and outputs image data. In addition, an image forming apparatus 200 is provided that forms an image on a sheet of a predetermined size (for example, a business card size) based on the image data output from the image data output apparatus 100.

  The image data output apparatus 100 stores an application (application program) 110. In this embodiment, the application 110 is used to generate image data that is the basis of an image formed on a sheet. The Further, the image data output apparatus 100 is provided with an output instruction unit 120 that outputs image data to the image forming apparatus 200.

  The output instruction unit 120 includes a printer driver 121 and a concavo-convex job generation unit 122. Here, the concavo-convex job generating unit 122 generates concavo-convex forming data used when concavo-convex is imparted to the paper (described later). Here, the output instruction unit 120 outputs the image data received from the application 110 to the image forming apparatus 200. Further, the output instruction unit 120 outputs the unevenness forming data to the image forming apparatus 200 together with the image data when the unevenness on the paper is performed.

  Here, the printer driver 121 can generally turn on / off a unique function of the image forming apparatus 200 and specify an adjustment level. The printer driver 121 can determine what function the image forming apparatus 200 has. You can see if you have In this embodiment, the uneven job generating unit 122 is provided at a position close to the printer driver 121.

In this case, the concavo-convex job generation unit 122 can generate the concavo-convex formation data in consideration of the function of the image forming apparatus 200. In this case, the concavo-convex formation data generated by the concavo-convex job generation unit 122 is generated. As a result, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of inconveniences such as the image forming apparatus 200 being unable to form irregularities based on the above.
The uneven job generating unit 122 is not limited to a position close to the printer driver 121, and can be provided in, for example, an image processing unit 210 described later.

  Next, the image forming apparatus 200 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 200 is an image that performs predetermined image processing on the image data transmitted from the image data output apparatus 100. A processing unit 210 is provided. Further, the image forming apparatus 200 is provided with an image forming unit 220 that forms an image on a sheet based on image data that has been subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 210.

Next, a specific configuration of the image forming apparatus 200 will be described.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus 200.
As shown in the figure, as described above, the image forming apparatus 200 is provided with an image processing unit 210 that performs image processing on image data. Further, an image forming unit 220 that performs image formation on a sheet based on the image data that has been subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 210 is provided.

Here, the image forming unit 220 is provided with a paper feeding unit 1A.
The paper feeding unit 1 </ b> A includes a first paper storage unit 11 to a fourth paper storage unit 14 that store the paper 50. Further, delivery rolls 15 to 18 are provided corresponding to each of the first paper storage unit 11 to the fourth paper storage unit 14 and send out the paper 50 stored in each paper storage unit toward the paper transport path R. ing.
Further, the image forming unit 220 includes six image forming units 30T, 30P, 30Y30M, 30C, and 30K (hereinafter, simply referred to as “image forming unit 30”) that are arranged in parallel at intervals. Is provided.

  Each image forming unit 30 includes a photosensitive drum 31 on which an electrostatic latent image is formed while rotating in the direction of arrow A, a charging roll 32 that charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 31, and a static electricity formed on the photosensitive drum 31. A developing unit 33 that develops the electrostatic latent image and a drum cleaner 34 that removes untransferred toner and the like on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 are included. Further, a laser exposure device 26 that scans and exposes the respective photosensitive drums 31 of the image forming units 30T, 30P, 30Y, 30M, 30C, and 30K with laser light is provided.

  Here, each image forming unit 30 has the same configuration except for the toner stored in the developing device 33. In each of the image forming units 30Y, 30M, 30C, and 30K that function as a part of the image forming unit, toner images of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are formed. The In this embodiment, in addition to the image forming units 30Y, 30M, 30C, and 30K, image forming units 30T and 30P are provided. In the image forming units 30T and 30P, clear toner (colorless and transparent toner), An image is formed using foamed toner.

  In addition, the image forming unit 220 performs primary transfer of the intermediate transfer belt 41 onto which the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drums 31 of the image forming units 30 are transferred, and the color toner images of the image forming units 30. The primary transfer roll 42 that sequentially transfers (primary transfer) to the intermediate transfer belt 41 at the portion T1 and the superimposed toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 41 are collectively transferred to the paper 50 (secondary transfer) at the secondary transfer portion T2. ) Secondary transfer roll 40, belt cleaner 45 that removes untransferred toner and the like on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 41, and a fixing device 80 that fixes the secondary transferred image on the paper 50.

  Here, when an image is formed on the sheet 50, first, image data from the image processing unit 210 is supplied to the laser exposure device 26. For example, in the image forming unit 30M of magenta (M), the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 is charged with a predetermined potential by the charging roll 32, and then obtained from the image processing unit 210 by the laser exposure device 26. Laser light modulated by the image data is scanned and exposed on the photosensitive drum 31.

  Thereby, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 31. The formed electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 33, and a magenta toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 31. Similarly, yellow, cyan, and black toner images are formed in the image forming units 30Y, 30C, and 30K. In the image forming units 30T and 30P, clear toner (colorless and transparent toner) or foamed toner is used as an image forming material to form an image.

  Each toner image formed by each image forming unit 30 is sequentially electrostatically transferred (primary transfer) by the primary transfer roll 42 onto the intermediate transfer belt 41 rotating in the direction of arrow C in FIG. A toner image superimposed thereon is formed. Note that untransferred toner or the like remaining on the photosensitive drum 31 at the time of primary transfer is removed (discarded) by a drum cleaner 34 disposed on the downstream side of the primary transfer roll 42.

  The superimposed toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 41 is conveyed toward the secondary transfer portion T2 where the secondary transfer roll 40 and the backup roll 49 are disposed as the intermediate transfer belt 41 moves. The On the other hand, the paper 50 is taken out from the first paper storage unit 11 by, for example, the delivery roll 15, passes through the paper transport path R, and is transported to the position of the registration roll 74.

  When the superimposed toner image is conveyed to the secondary transfer portion T2, the paper 50 is supplied from the registration roll 74 to the secondary transfer portion T2 in accordance with the timing. The superimposed toner images are electrostatically transferred collectively onto the paper 50 by the action of a transfer electric field formed between the secondary transfer roll 40 and the backup roll 49.

  Thereafter, the sheet 50 on which the superimposed toner image is electrostatically transferred is peeled off from the intermediate transfer belt 41 and conveyed to the fixing device 80. The unfixed toner image on the paper 50 conveyed to the fixing device 80 is fixed on the paper 50 by being subjected to fixing processing by heat and pressure by the fixing device 80. Then, the paper 50 on which the fixed image is formed is stacked on the paper discharge stacking unit 97.

  In the above description, the normal image forming process has been described as an example. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, irregularities (described later) can be imparted to the paper 50, and when the irregularities are imparted, an image forming unit that functions as a part of the convex part forming unit and a part of the concave part forming unit. A toner image is formed using 30T and 30P, and the toner image is transferred to the paper 50.

  Although not described above, in this embodiment, a reversing conveyance mechanism 240 is provided for reversing the paper 50 that has passed through the fixing device 80 and feeding it again to the secondary transfer portion T2. Here, the reversal transport mechanism 240 will be described. The reversal transport mechanism 240 of this embodiment has a branch branched from the paper transport path R on the downstream side in the paper transport direction from the fixing device 80 as shown in FIG. A path 813 is provided. An inversion path 814 extending further downward from the branch path 813 is provided.

  Further, a return path 815 is provided that is connected to the reverse path 814 and connected to the paper transport path R upstream of the registration roll 74 in the paper transport direction and returns the paper 50 to the paper transport path R. Further, a branch roll 854 is provided in the branch path 813, and a reverse roll 855 is provided in the reverse path 814. A return roll 856 is provided on the return path 815.

  Here, the reverse roll 855 provided in the reverse path 814 is configured to be able to rotate in both forward and reverse directions. Further, switching gates (not shown) for switching the transport path are provided between the paper transport path R and the branch path 813, and between the branch path 813 and the return path 815, respectively. The transport path can be switched according to the mode.

  Here, when the paper 50 is reversed by the reverse conveyance mechanism 240, the paper 50 that has passed through the fixing device 80 is sent to the branch path 813 and conveyed to the reverse path 814. Next, the reverse roll 855 is reversely rotated, and the paper 50 is guided by the switching gate, so that the paper 50 is sent to the return path 815.

  The paper 50 is supplied to the paper transport path R on the upstream side of the registration roll 74. At this time, the paper 50 is reversed upside down. Thereafter, when the paper 50 reaches the secondary transfer portion T2, the toner image is transferred to the back surface of the paper 50. Thereafter, the paper 50 reaches the fixing device 80, and the toner image transferred on the back surface is fixed to the paper 50.

  Although not shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of transport rolls are provided at predetermined intervals in the paper transport path R and the plurality of paths (paper transport paths) provided in the reverse transport mechanism 240. In this embodiment, a small size paper 50 such as a business card size paper 50 is also conveyed.

  By the way, in the image forming apparatus 200 in the present embodiment, unevenness can be imparted to the paper 50 by using clear toner or the like accommodated in the image forming unit 30T or the like. In other words, the unevenness on the paper is generally applied by so-called embossing in which the mold is pressed against the paper to provide the unevenness. However, in this embodiment, the unevenness can be provided regardless of the embossing. It is like that.

In this way, when the unevenness can be given without using the embossing, the mold can be omitted, and the unevenness can be given to the paper at a lower cost than the embossing. Further, when embossing is not used, the time required to create the mold can be omitted, and the shape of the unevenness can be quickly changed.
Hereinafter, description will be given of the application of unevenness to the paper 50 performed in the present embodiment. In the following, an example in which unevenness is given to the business card size paper 50 will be described.

This will be described with reference to FIG. 3 (a diagram for explaining a specific example of processing).
3A shows a typical business card, and FIG. 3B shows a business card created by the image forming apparatus 200 of the present embodiment. FIG. 3B shows both the front and back surfaces of the business card.

  In the business card created by the image forming apparatus 200 of the present embodiment, as shown in (B-1) of FIG. 5B, the “copier image” is formed on the front surface (first surface) of the business card. Clear toner is deposited (attached) to the portion (hereinafter referred to as “specific portion”), and the thickness of this portion is increased. On the other hand, on the back surface (second surface) of the business card, clear toner is applied to the portion excluding the specific portion, and the thickness of the portion other than the specific portion is increased. In addition, on the back side of the business card, clear toner is deposited around the portion corresponding to the back side of the “copier image”, and the thickness of the portion other than the portion corresponding to the back side is increased.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in (B-1) of FIG.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a toner image (4) containing any of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toner on the front side of the paper 50. An image layer (hereinafter referred to as “normal image layer”) formed by a toner image formed of at least one of the colors) is formed.

In this embodiment, the clear toner is deposited on the normal image layer at the position where the specific portion is located, and the thickness of this portion is increased. Further, on the back surface side of the paper 50, clear toner is accumulated in a portion excluding a specific portion.
As a result, in this embodiment, as in the case where embossing is performed, unevenness is imparted to the paper 50. In other words, in the present embodiment, the paper 50 is provided with unevenness similar to the unevenness formed by pressing the mold from the back side of the paper 50.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, when the unevenness is applied to the paper 50, the image data is sent from the image data output device 100 (see FIG. 1) to the image forming device 200, and the unevenness is provided. Forming data is sent. In this embodiment, the normal image layer is first formed based on the image data. Next, the clear toner is supplied to the front and back of the paper 50 based on the unevenness formation data, and a clear toner layer is formed on each of the front and back of the paper 50. The formation of the clear toner layer gives the paper 50 unevenness.

The normal image layer is formed by toner images formed by the image forming units 30Y, 30M, 30C, and 30K (at least one of the four image forming units 30Y, 30M, 30C, and 30K). The toner image) is transferred to the paper 50 and formed. The clear toner layer is formed by transferring an image of clear toner formed by the image forming unit 30T onto the paper 50, for example.
When forming the normal image layer, the image forming units 30T, 30P are driven in addition to the image forming units 30Y, 30M, 30C, 30K, and the normal image layer is formed after adding clear toner and foaming toner. Sometimes it is done.

Here, the details of the method for forming the normal image layer and the clear toner layer will be described.
In forming the normal image layer and the clear toner layer, the normal image layer is formed by transferring the toner images formed by the image forming units 30Y, 30M, 30C, and 30K onto the paper 50. Next, in the present embodiment, the clear toner layer is formed on the back surface of the paper 50 by using the reverse conveyance mechanism 240 and supplying the paper 50 with the front and back reversed to the secondary transfer unit T2. Next, the reverse conveyance mechanism 240 is used to reverse the front and back of the paper 50 again and supply the paper 50 to the secondary transfer portion T <b> 2, thereby forming a clear toner layer on the surface of the paper 50.

  As a result, the sheet 50 as shown in FIG. 4 is formed. In many cases, unevenness is small by forming a single clear toner layer. In this case, the reversing of the front and back in the reversing and conveying mechanism 240 is repeated a plurality of times, and the clear toner layer is transferred to the paper 50 a plurality of times. As a result, the thickness of the clear toner layer is increased, and larger unevenness is imparted to the paper 50.

  5A and 5B are diagrams showing clear toner layers formed (transferred) on the front and back sides of the paper 50, respectively. In addition, FIGS. 5A and 5B are clear toner layers formed on the intermediate transfer belt 41 (see FIG. 2) based on the unevenness formation data, and are cleared before being transferred to the paper 50. FIG. The state of the toner layer is shown. 3A shows the clear toner layer formed (transferred) on the front surface of the paper 50, and FIG. 1B shows the clear toner layer formed (transferred) on the back surface of the paper 50. Yes.

  In FIG. 3A, clear toner adheres to a part of the intermediate transfer belt 41 (not shown), and a part of this clears up, and the clear toner located in this part is transferred onto the paper 50. Then, a part of the paper 50 (the specific part) protrudes. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5B, in the clear toner layer formed on the back surface of the paper 50, the clear toner adheres to a portion other than the portion corresponding to the specific portion. By being transferred to the paper 50, a concave portion is formed on the back surface of the paper 50.

Although not described above, when the unevenness forming data is generated by the unevenness job generating unit 122 (see FIG. 1), the target object to be projected is first specified by the user. Here, this specification is performed by a UI (User Interface) 130 shown in FIG. The UI 130 is composed of, for example, a mouse and a display.
A specific example will be described. In this example, as shown in FIG. 3B-1, a rectangular area surrounding the “copier image” protrudes. In this case, the rectangular area is It is specified as the target object.

Next, in the present embodiment, the unevenness job generation unit 122 generates unevenness formation data based on the identified target object.
Specifically, the concavo-convex job generating unit 122 first forms concavo-convex forming data (surface concavo-convex forming data) used for forming the clear toner layer formed on the surface of the paper 50 based on the specified target object. Is generated. Next, the concavo-convex job generating unit 122 generates concavo-convex forming data (rear concavo-convex forming data) used for forming the clear toner layer formed on the back surface of the paper 50.

  In the present embodiment, the generated two data for forming unevenness (surface unevenness forming data and back surface unevenness forming data) are supplied to the laser exposure device 26 (see FIG. 2). Thus, a clear toner layer (image with clear toner) as shown in FIG. 5 is formed.

  In other words, in the present embodiment, on the basis of the unevenness forming data (front surface unevenness forming data and back surface unevenness forming data) as an example of the image data, the laser exposure device 26 or the like is used. Images with clear toner are formed on the front and back sides. In this embodiment, the formation of this image on the paper 50 causes the clear toner to partially adhere to the front and back of the paper 50, thereby providing the paper 50 with unevenness.

  The unevenness job generating unit 122 according to the present embodiment, when generating the unevenness forming data for the back surface, performs gradation reversal processing and mirror image processing on the unevenness forming data for the front surface, so The data for forming the unevenness is generated.

  In this embodiment, the clear toner layer forming position on the front surface of the paper 50 and the clear toner layer forming position on the back surface of the paper 50 are not overlapped on the front and back of the paper 50. Accordingly, the same unevenness as that provided when embossing is performed is applied to the paper 50. In the case of such a processing form, the concave / convex forming data for the back surface can be easily obtained by performing gradation inversion processing on the concave / convex forming data for the front surface.

  In this embodiment, when the front and back of the paper 50 are reversed by the reverse conveyance mechanism 240, the front and back of the paper 50 in the paper conveyance direction are reversed. In such a case, the position of the specific portion (“the image of the copier” The position of the rectangular area surrounding "" is changed each time the front and back of the paper 50 are reversed. For this reason, in this embodiment, when the unevenness formation data for the back surface is generated, mirror image processing is performed on the unevenness formation data for the front surface.

  In the present embodiment, based on the target object specified by the user, first, surface irregularity formation data is generated, and gradation inversion processing and mirror image are performed on the surface irregularity formation data. As an example, the case where the back surface unevenness forming data is generated by performing the processing has been described. By the way, the present invention is not limited to such a mode. First, back surface unevenness formation data is generated based on the target object, and gradation inversion processing and mirror image processing are performed on the back surface unevenness formation data. By doing so, data for forming irregularities for the surface may be generated.

  Note that the clear toner layer is formed on the front and back sides of the paper 50 only once, and the thickness is small, and the unevenness to be formed tends to be small. Therefore, the formation of the clear toner layer on the front surface of the paper 50 and the formation of the clear toner layer on the back surface of the paper 50 are preferably performed a plurality of times. Note that the number of times the clear toner layer is formed may be set based on an instruction from the user, or may be a predetermined number.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a plurality of sheets 50 on which a clear toner layer is formed are stacked.
In the present embodiment, as described above, the clear toner layer is not formed on the back side of the paper 50 at the location on the back side of the specific portion. As a result, in the present embodiment, a recess is formed at a location on the back side of the paper 50 that is behind the specific portion.
In this case, when a plurality of sheets 50 are stacked, the convex portion of the paper 50 positioned below the concave portion enters the concave portion. If it adds, a convex part comes to be accommodated with respect to a recessed part.

Here, when a concave portion is not formed on the back surface side of the paper 50 (when a clear toner layer is not formed on the back surface side of the paper 50), when a plurality of paper sheets 50 are stacked and a paper bundle is formed, the convex portion is formed. In the formed portion, the thickness of the sheet bundle increases, and the sheet bundle becomes thin at a place other than the convex portion. In such a case, the stackability of the sheet bundle tends to deteriorate.
Further, when the paper 50 is a business card, a business card bundle is generated. However, when the concave portion is not formed on the back side of the paper 50, a part of the business card bundle becomes thick and the other part becomes thin. . In such a case, the business card storage capacity in the business card holder deteriorates.
On the other hand, in the case of the configuration of the present embodiment, the thickness of the sheet bundle is likely to be constant, and such a problem is less likely to occur.

  In the above description, the clear toner layer is formed on the entire back surface (the entire surface excluding the specific portion) of the paper 50. However, there is a mode in which the clear toner layer is not formed on the entire back surface.

  For example, in the configuration example shown in FIG. 7A (showing the state of the back surface of the paper 50), a rectangular clear toner layer surrounding the periphery of the specific portion is formed, and the outer periphery of the paper 50 is cleared. A toner layer is formed, and a lattice-like clear toner layer is formed inside the outer peripheral edge. In the configuration example shown in FIG. 5B, a plurality of dot-like clear toner layers are formed in place of the lattice-like clear toner layer.

Note that the sheets 50 may be stacked as shown in FIG. In such a case, this stacking is easier to perform in the mode shown in FIG. 3B-2 than in the mode shown in FIG.
In the aspect shown in FIG. 7, another sheet 50 that is superimposed on the sheet 50 with respect to the clear toner layer (a lattice-like clear toner layer or a dot-like clear toner layer) formed on the back surface of the sheet 50. Projections and corners (not shown) are easily caught. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3 (B-2), when the clear toner layer is formed on the entire back surface of the paper 50, the back surface becomes flat and the above-mentioned catching is less likely to occur. In this case, the operation of stacking a plurality of sheets 50 is facilitated.

  Further, in the above, as shown in FIG. 4, the cross-sectional shape of the convex portion formed on the front surface side of the paper 50 and the cross-sectional shape of the concave portion formed on the back surface side of the paper 50 are respectively rectangular ( However, the cross-sectional shape is not limited to a rectangular shape, and may be a trapezoidal shape as shown in FIG. 8 (a diagram showing other shapes of convex portions and concave portions), for example. More specifically, in the form shown in FIG. 8, the convex portion formed on the front surface side of the paper 50 is formed so that the width gradually decreases as the distance from the paper 50 increases, and is formed on the back surface side of the paper 50. The concave portion is formed so that its width gradually increases as the distance from the paper 50 increases.

  Although not described above, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the width W2 of the concave portion is made larger than the width W1 of the convex portion, and the dimension L (= ( A gap W2-W1) (not shown) is formed. Thereby, a convex part becomes easy to enter with respect to the inside of a concave part.

  In addition, it is preferable to enlarge the said dimension L, so that the height dimension of a convex part becomes large. In addition, the dimension L is not constant and is preferably increased in accordance with the increase in the height dimension of the convex portion. Here, in the present embodiment, as described above, a convex portion is formed by laminating a plurality of clear toner layers. However, due to an error or the like, the clear toner layer is formed at the position where the clear toner layer is formed. Different things can happen each time.

  In such a case, the width W1 of the convex portion is larger than the originally planned width. Further, the increase in the width W1 is more likely to occur as the height of the convex portion is greater (the greater the number of clear toner layers). In this case, the greater the height of the convex portion, the worse the accommodation of the convex portion in the concave portion. Here, as described above, when the dimension L is increased in accordance with the increase in the height dimension of the convex part, the capacity (accommodation capacity of the convex part in the concave part) accompanying the increase in the height dimension of the convex part is increased. Deterioration is less likely to occur.

  In addition, the number of clear toner layers formed on the front side of the paper 50 and the number of clear toner layers formed on the back side of the paper 50 do not need to be the same. The number of clear toner layers may be less than the number of clear toner layers formed on the back side. In this case, the height dimension of the convex part becomes smaller than the depth dimension of the concave part, and the accommodation of the convex part in the concave part is further improved.

  In the above, the normal image layer and the clear toner layer are formed using a so-called electrophotographic method, but an ink jet method or the like can also be adopted. In this case, ink is further applied on the normal image layer formed of ink. By attaching the ink to the back surface of the paper and applying the ink to the back surface of the paper, unevenness is imparted to the paper.

  In the above description, as shown in FIG. 3B-1, a case where a rectangular area including the entire “copier image” is projected has been described as an example. The outline of the “copier” may be used as a boundary, and the inside of this boundary may be projected. Further, for example, when a character or the like is projected, a convex portion may be formed so that the inside of the boundary is projected with the outline of the character as a boundary and the character is raised.

  Further, in the above description, the clear toner layer is formed on both sides of the paper 50 so that the paper 50 is uneven. However, when forming the clear toner layer on the back surface of the paper 50, the clear toner layer is not a colorless and transparent clear toner. Colored toner such as white may be used. In addition, in the example of the present embodiment, an image such as a character is not formed on the back surface of the paper 50. In this case, the image is not formed even with a transparent toner such as a white and colored toner such as a white toner. There are no problems such as hiding.

Further, even when an image such as a character is formed on the back surface of the paper 50, colored toner can be similarly used when the toner is put on the position where the image is removed. The same applies to the front side of the paper 50. When toner is put on a position where an image such as a character is removed, colored toner can be used.
Further, in the above description, the clear toner is used to give the unevenness to the paper 50, but the firing toner may be used to give the unevenness. When the foamed toner is transparent, the foamed toner can be placed on the image. When the foamed toner is not transparent, the foamed toner is placed on the location where the image is removed.

In the above description, the thickness of the clear toner layer is constant. However, the thickness of the clear toner layer may be increased or decreased according to the density of the normal image formed on the paper 50.
More specifically, a normal image may have a portion with a high density (image density) and a portion with a low density. In this case, the thickness of the clear toner layer is determined according to the density. May be.

  More specifically, for example, when the clear toner layer is formed on the surface of the paper 50, the thickness of the clear toner layer is increased at a low density portion of the normal image, and the clear toner layer is formed at a high density portion. The thickness can be reduced. More specifically, in this embodiment, the clear toner adheres to the surface of the paper 50. For this adhesion of the clear toner, for example, the amount of toner adhering to a low density portion of the normal image is set. The amount of toner attached to a portion having a high density can be reduced.

For example, when an image (photograph or picture) of an uneven three-dimensional object is considered, a portion with a high density may be a valley and a portion with a low density may be a hill. In addition, in three-dimensional objects, shadows are generated by irradiation of light from above, and the density is high in the part located below and the valley, and the density is low in the part located above and the hill. There is.
Here, as in the present embodiment, when the thickness of the clear toner layer is reduced at the portion where the density is high and the thickness of the clear toner layer is increased at the portion where the density is low, the valleys and hills are reproduced. The three-dimensional effect of the three-dimensional object (the three-dimensional effect of the image) is reproduced.
In this case, the thickness of the clear toner layer is reduced at the portion where the density is high, and the thickness of the clear toner layer is increased at the portion where the density is low. The thickness of the clear toner layer can be reduced by increasing the density and decreasing the density.

  Here, as described above, when the clear toner layer is formed on the surface of the paper 50, the thickness of the clear toner layer is increased or decreased according to the density of the normal image. The clear toner layer formed on the surface of the paper 50 is not constant in thickness and partially increases in thickness as shown in FIG. Becomes smaller. Further, in the present embodiment, as described above, the unevenness forming data for the back surface is generated by performing the gradation inversion processing and the mirror image processing on the unevenness forming data for the front surface, and thus the paper 50 The clear toner layer to be formed is not uniform in thickness on the back surface side, and partly increases in thickness and partly decreases in thickness.

  Although not described above, the increase / decrease in the thickness of the clear toner layer based on the image density of the normal image is performed by the concavo-convex job generation unit 122 (see FIG. 1). More specifically, the concavo-convex job generating unit 122 grasps the density of the normal image by analyzing the image data transmitted from the application 110. More specifically, the concavo-convex job generation unit 122 divides the normal image into a plurality of areas and grasps the image density for each of the plurality of areas.

  Then, the unevenness job generating unit 122 determines the thickness of the clear toner layer formed on the surface of the paper 50 for each region based on the image density grasped for each region. Then, the concavo-convex job generation unit 122 generates concavo-convex formation data (surface concavo-convex formation data) in consideration of the determined thickness of the clear toner layer. Thereafter, the concavo-convex job generating unit 122 performs gradation inversion processing and mirror image processing on the concavo-convex formation data, and generates concavo-convex formation data for the back surface.

  In the above description, the normal image is formed and the clear toner layer is formed by one apparatus (image forming apparatus 200). However, the apparatus for forming the normal image and the clear toner layer are formed. A form in which the apparatus (unevenness forming apparatus for forming unevenness) is provided separately and independently is also conceivable. In this case, the first apparatus forms a normal image on the paper. Further, the clear toner layer is formed by the second apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming system, 30T, 30P, 30Y30M, 30C, 30K ... Image forming unit, 50 ... Paper, 100 ... Image data output apparatus, 200 ... Image forming apparatus

Claims (10)

A transparent material is attached to an image forming surface of a sheet on which an image has been formed and to a predetermined portion, and the image is passed through the material on the image forming surface. A convexity forming means for forming a convexity that allows the formation surface to be visually recognized;
Of the opposite surface located on the opposite side to the image forming surface, a concave portion forming means for attaching a material around a portion corresponding to the back side of the predetermined portion and forming a concave portion in the portion corresponding to the back side When,
An unevenness forming apparatus comprising:   When a plurality of the sheets having the protrusions and the recesses are stacked, the protrusions formed on one sheet fit into the recesses of another sheet positioned next to the one sheet. Thus, the convex and concave portions are formed as described above, wherein the convex portions and the concave portions are formed.   2. The unevenness forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recess forming unit adheres the material to the entire surface of the opposite surface except for the portion corresponding to the back side.   2. The unevenness forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the material used by the convex portion forming unit and the material used by the concave portion forming unit is transparent. Image forming means for forming an image on the first side of the paper;
A transparent material is adhered on the image formed on the first surface by the image forming means, and a convex portion that allows the image to be visually recognized through the material is formed on a portion where the image is formed. Convex forming means;
A concave portion forming means for attaching a material around a portion corresponding to the back side of the portion where the convex portion is formed on the second surface of the paper, and forming a concave portion in the portion corresponding to the back side;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The image forming means performs image formation on the first surface using an image forming material,
The convex portion forming means forms the convex portion by attaching the transparent material on the image,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the recess forming unit forms the recess by attaching the image forming material around the portion corresponding to the back side.   When the material is deposited on the image, the convex portion forming unit varies the amount of the material to be deposited between a portion having a high image density and a portion having a low image density in the image. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5. The convex portion forming means performs the adhesion of the material on the image by forming the image on the image by using the image data and the material that are the basis of the image,
The recess forming means performs the adhesion of the material to the second surface by forming the image on the second surface using the image data and the material that are the basis of the image,
One of the image data used by the convex portion forming means and the image data used by the concave portion forming means is generated by performing gradation inversion processing and mirror image processing on the other image data. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image forming apparatus is image data. Convex portion forming means for attaching a material to a predetermined portion of the first surface of the paper and forming a convex portion at the predetermined portion;
A concave portion forming means for attaching a material around a portion corresponding to the back side of the predetermined portion of the second surface of the paper, and forming a concave portion at a portion corresponding to the back side;
With
The convex portion forming means forms the image on the first surface by using the image data and the material from which the image is based, and thereby the adhesion of the material onto the first surface. And
The recess forming means performs the adhesion of the material to the second surface by forming the image on the second surface using the image data and the material that are the basis of the image,
One of the image data used by the convex portion forming means and the image data used by the concave portion forming means is generated by performing gradation inversion processing and mirror image processing on the other image data. An unevenness forming apparatus that is image data. Image forming means for forming an image on the first side of the paper;
A convex portion forming means for attaching a material on the image formed on the first surface by the image forming means and forming a convex portion on a portion where the image is formed;
A concave portion forming means for attaching a material around a portion corresponding to the back side of the portion where the convex portion is formed on the second surface of the paper, and forming a concave portion in the portion corresponding to the back side;
With
The convex portion forming means performs the adhesion of the material on the image by forming the image on the image by using the image data and the material that are the basis of the image,
The recess forming means performs the adhesion of the material to the second surface by forming the image on the second surface using the image data and the material that are the basis of the image,
One of the image data used by the convex portion forming means and the image data used by the concave portion forming means is generated by performing gradation inversion processing and mirror image processing on the other image data. An image forming apparatus that is image data.

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