JP6903909B2 - Method of manufacturing light irradiation device and modeled object - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a light irradiation device and a method for manufacturing a modeled object.

Using a heat-expandable sheet (or a heat-expandable sheet) provided on one side of the base material with a heat-expandable layer containing foamable microcapsules that expand by heat, embossed irregularities are formed on the one side. A technique for forming a stereoscopic image, which is a printed matter to be possessed, is known. Specifically, a pattern of a region to be made convex is formed on the surface of the heat-expandable sheet on the heat-expandable layer side or the surface on the base material side (hereinafter referred to as the back surface) with black ink, and near-infrared rays or the like is formed on the formed surface. By irradiating with the light of, the black ink generates heat and the thermal expansion layer is expanded to a thickness corresponding to the shade of the black ink, so that a stereoscopic image can be easily formed. Since the heat-expandable sheet has flexibility using thick paper or the like as a base material, a pattern of black ink can be printed using a general printing machine such as an inkjet printer. Further, the light irradiation can be performed by using a sheet-fed processing type device as in the case of pattern printing. Like a laser printer or the like, this light irradiation device is provided over the entire width direction so as to collectively process the entire width direction orthogonal to the transport direction while transporting the heat-expandable sheet in one direction. Light is emitted from a light source (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

The light irradiation device needs to have a structure in which the surface side of the heat-expandable sheet to be conveyed is open so as not to hinder the expansion of the heat-expandable layer. Then, in order to dissipate heat so as to be easily propagated in the thickness direction, it is preferable that the light irradiation device has at least one side open in the area of the heat-expandable sheet to be irradiated with light, and both sides are open, that is, both sides are open. More preferably, it is non-contact with the heat-expandable sheet. Further, when the heat-expandable sheet expands in the thickness direction, the flexible heat-expandable sheet tends to shrink in the surface direction on the surface side which is not fixed to the base material, so that the heat-expandable sheet expands and contracts in the light irradiation device. It tends to be rolled up in the transport direction (with the width direction as the axis) and warped in a rounded manner with the low-quality base material side (back surface) on the outside. Therefore, it is preferable to transport the heat-expandable sheet so that it is irradiated with light in a flat state. Therefore, for example, the transport mechanism of the light irradiation device is provided with a pair of transport rollers for sandwiching the heat-expandable sheet from both sides in front of and behind the light source, and transports the heat-expandable sheet in a state of being pulled back and forth. The structure is disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 3). Alternatively, four transport belts are provided in front of and behind the light source, and each of the outer edges (edges near the two sides parallel to the transport direction) in the width direction of the heat-expandable sheet is provided with two transport belts from both sides. The sandwiching structure is disclosed (see Patent Document 4).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1-28660 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-150812 Japanese Patent No. 521504 Japanese Patent No. 5862276

However, in the light irradiation device provided with the transport mechanism disclosed in Patent Document 3, when the front and rear edges of the heat-expandable sheet face the light source, the heat-expandable sheet is the transport roller of only one of the rear side and the front side. Since they are sandwiched between the two, they tend to hang down or, on the contrary, rise up, and it is difficult to irradiate these edges with a certain amount of light. Therefore, it can be said that it is desirable that the heat-expandable sheet does not expand, such as not printing a black ink pattern on the front and rear edges. Further, in order to prevent the transport roller on the front side from crushing the foamed convex portion of the heat-expandable sheet, the transport roller is moved on both outer edges in the width direction of the heat-expandable sheet (direction of rotation axis of the transport roller). It is necessary to provide the two parts separately so that both edges do not expand. Alternatively, if the transport roller on the front side is provided with a soft material on the outer peripheral surface and is sandwiched with a weak force so as not to crush the heat-expandable sheet, the heat-expandable sheet may not be properly transported.

The light irradiation device provided with the transfer mechanism disclosed in Patent Document 4 cannot irradiate light on both edges sandwiched between the transfer belts of the heat-expandable sheet, and prints a pattern of black ink. Cannot be inflated. That is, as in Patent Document 3, it is necessary to have a configuration in which at least two opposite edges of the heat-expandable sheet are not expanded. Further, the heat-expandable sheet to be processed has a fixed length in the transport width direction because both edges are sandwiched by the transport belt, and is limited to two types, for example, A4 paper size and A3 paper size.

An object of the present invention is to provide a light irradiation device and a method for manufacturing a modeled object capable of expanding a desired region of the entire surface including the peripheral edge of a heat-expandable sheet.

In order to solve the above problems, the light irradiation device according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a light irradiation means for irradiating one surface of a heat-expandable sheet that expands by heat with light containing light having a predetermined wavelength. The heat-expandable sheet is sandwiched and conveyed by a pressing member provided on one surface side for transmitting light having at least the predetermined wavelength and a conveying roller provided on the other surface side, and is conveyed from the light irradiation means. It is characterized by including a conveying means for passing through a light irradiation region irradiated with light and a temperature measuring means for measuring the surface temperature of the conveying roller .
Further, the light irradiation device according to the second aspect of the present invention includes a light irradiation means for irradiating one surface of a heat-expandable sheet with light containing light having a predetermined wavelength, and the heat-expandable sheet. Is sandwiched between a pressing member provided on the one surface side for transmitting light having at least the predetermined wavelength and a conveying roller provided on the other surface side, and the light is irradiated from the light irradiating means. It is characterized by including a transport means for passing through a light irradiation region and a transport roller temperature control means for controlling the surface temperature of the transport roller.
Further, the method for manufacturing a modeled object according to the present invention is a method for producing a modeled object in which irregularities are formed on the surface by expanding a heat-expandable sheet that expands due to heat, and is formed on one surface of the heat-expandable sheet. A light irradiation step of irradiating light containing light of a predetermined wavelength toward the light by a light irradiation means, a holding member provided on the one side of the heat-expandable sheet for transmitting light of at least the predetermined wavelength, and the like. A transport step that is sandwiched between a transport roller provided on the surface side and conveyed to pass through a light irradiation region irradiated with light from the light irradiation means, and a transfer roller temperature that controls the surface temperature of the transfer roller. It is characterized by having a control step.

According to the present invention, it is Rukoto expands the desired area of the entire surface, including the periphery of the heat-expandable sheet.

It is sectional drawing parallel to the side surface which shows the structure of the main part of the light irradiation apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a model explaining the processing of the medium by the light irradiation apparatus which concerns on embodiment, (a) corresponds to the main part of FIG. 1, (b) and (c) are the partially enlarged views of (a). It is a model for explaining the processing of the medium by the light irradiation apparatus according to another embodiment and the modified example, and corresponds to the main part of FIG. 1, (a) is another embodiment, and (b) is the modified example. Is.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to each figure. However, the embodiment shown below is an example of a light irradiation device for embodying the technical idea of the present embodiment, and is not limited to the following. The members of the light irradiation device and the medium which is the object to be processed shown in the drawings may be exaggerated in size, positional relationship, etc., and may have a simplified shape in order to clarify the explanation. .. Further, in the following description, members of the same or the same quality are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[Embodiment]
The configuration of the light irradiation device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view parallel to a side surface showing a configuration of a main part of the light irradiation device according to the embodiment. 2A and 2B are models for explaining the transfer of the medium by the light irradiation device according to the embodiment, in which FIG. 2A corresponds to a main part of FIG. It is a figure. In the present specification, the light irradiation device is a heat-expandable sheet which is a sheet-like medium provided with a layer that expands when heated, and is irradiated with light to expand the layer. It is a device that manufactures stereoscopic images.

(Light irradiation device)
As shown in FIG. 1, in the light irradiation device 10 according to the present embodiment, the light irradiation unit (light irradiation means) 2 for irradiating the heat-expandable sheet (medium) 9 with light and the heat-expandable sheet 9 are shown by white arrows. A seat loader (conveying means) 50 composed of a drive roller 51 to 55 and a seat holding plate 56 for transporting in one direction (right direction in the drawing), a heat radiating roller 46, guide plates 61 to 64, and the vicinity of the light irradiation unit 2. A cooler 3 for cooling the light is provided inside the housing 11 (showing a part of the front surface and the rear surface). The light irradiation device 10 further reads a temperature sensor 42 that detects the temperature of the light irradiation unit 2, a temperature sensor 45 that detects the temperature of the main drive roller 55, and barcodes attached to the back surface of the thermal expansion sheet 9. A control circuit (not shown) for controlling the operation of the machine 43 and the mirror 44, the light irradiation device 10, a supply tray 12 on which a heat-expandable sheet 9 is placed outside the housing 11, and after light irradiation. It is provided with a discharge tray 13 for discharging the heat-expandable sheet 9 (three-dimensional image), switches for operation, a display panel (not shown), and the like. The light irradiating device 10 according to the present embodiment has a structure in which the upper surface of the light irradiating device 10 is irradiated with light while the heat-expandable sheet 9 is horizontally conveyed. In addition, in this specification, unless otherwise specified, the top and bottom in FIGS. 1, 2 and other cross-sectional views are also described as top and bottom. Here, the heat-expandable sheet will be described with reference to FIG. 2 (b).

(Thermal expandable sheet)
The heat-expandable sheet 9 includes a base material 92 and a heat-expandable layer 91 laminated on one surface of the base material 92 to a certain thickness. The thermal expansion layer 91 contains microcapsules that are thermally expandable using a thermoplastic resin as a binder. The microcapsules are formed of a thermoplastic resin, contain a volatile solvent, and are heated to about 80 ° C. or higher in the expansion temperature range, specifically, depending on the type of the thermoplastic resin or the volatile solvent. It expands to a size according to the heating temperature and further the heating time. The minimum value (the above-mentioned about 80 ° C.) of the thermal expansion layer 91 in the expansion temperature range is referred _{to as an expansion start temperature T s.} By heating in the expansion temperature range, the thermal expansion layer 91 can be expanded to a maximum thickness of about 10 times that before expansion. Therefore, when the heat-expandable sheet 9 is partially heated, the heat-expandable layer 91 foams and expands at this portion to increase the thickness, and the surface on the side where the heat-expandable layer 91 is provided is uneven. Is formed. The base material 92 supports the thermal expansion layer 91 on its surface, and has a strength (rigidity) such that the thermal expansion sheet 9 does not wrinkle or wavy significantly when the thermal expansion layer 91 partially expands. It is formed of a material and thickness that can sufficiently propagate the heat released by the photothermal conversion layer 93 (see FIG. 2B) formed on the back surface side to the thermal expansion layer 91 on the front surface side. .. Specifically, the base material 92 is made of thick paper or the like. By providing such a base material 92, the heat-expandable sheet 9 has flexibility and rigidity.

In order to limit the heat-expandable sheet 9 to a desired region and to form a convex shape at a desired height, the surface or base material 92 on the heat-expandable layer 91 side is formed before the treatment with the light irradiation device 10. A material that converts light in a specific wavelength range, for example, near infrared rays (wavelength 780 nm to 2.5 μm) into heat, is attached to the front surface (hereinafter referred to as the back surface) or both surfaces. Specifically, the photothermal conversion layer 93, which is a two-dimensional pattern having shades in the shape of the region, is printed with a general black ink for printing containing carbon black. The darker and darker the black ink, that is, the higher the concentration of carbon black, the higher the heat generation temperature when irradiated with light, and as a result, the thermal expansion layer 91 in this region expands more and has a high convex surface. Is formed in. In order to obtain a stereoscopic image in which an image that does not depend on unevenness is attached to the surface of the heat-expandable sheet 9, black ink is further applied to the surface, that is, the surface of the heat-expandable layer 91, before the treatment by the light irradiation device 10. A desired image pattern (not shown) may be printed with a color ink that does not contain the ink. The black color in the image pattern is expressed by a mixture of color inks. The image pattern can be printed using a general printing machine in the same manner as the photothermal conversion layer 93. Hereinafter, returning to the light irradiation device, the configuration of each member will be described in detail.

(Light irradiation part)
The light irradiation unit 2 is a main member of the light irradiation device 10, and is provided above the transport path of the heat-expandable sheet 9 so as to irradiate the upper surface of the heat-expandable sheet 9 that is horizontally transported with light. The light irradiation unit 2 includes a light source 21 that emits light including near infrared rays that are converted into heat, and a reflector 22, and the heat-expandable sheet 9 is provided in the transport width direction within a predetermined length range in the transport direction. Light is applied to the entire (total width) in (direction orthogonal to the transport direction). The range in which light is irradiated from the light irradiation unit 2 is referred to as a light irradiation region 1i (see FIG. 2). The light source 21 is, for example, a halogen lamp, and is provided on the heat-expandable sheet 9 over its entire width. The reflector 22 is provided to efficiently irradiate the heat-expandable sheet 9 with light from the light source 21, is formed on a substantially semi-cylindrical columnar curved surface, has a mirror surface inside, and heats the light source 21. It covers the side opposite to the inflatable sheet 9, that is, the upper side. The light irradiation region 1i is directly below the light irradiation unit 2, and is between both ends of the inner surface of the reflector 22 (from the start end to the end) in the transport direction.

(Sheet loader)
The sheet loader 50 is a transfer mechanism in the light irradiation device 10, and horizontally conveys the heat-expandable sheet 9 so as to pass through the light irradiation region 1i. In addition, in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and subsequent cross-sectional views, the transport direction is shown to the right, that is, the right side in the drawing is the front. The seat loader 50 includes a carry-in side drive rollers 51 and 52, a carry-out side drive rollers 53 and 54, a main drive roller 55, and a seat holding plate 56. The pair of carry-in side drive rollers 51 and 52 are arranged so as to sandwich the heat-expandable sheet 9 from the upper and lower surfaces behind the light irradiation region 1i (carry-in side). Another pair of carry-out side drive rollers 53, 54 are arranged so as to sandwich the heat-expandable sheet 9 from the upper and lower surfaces in front of the light irradiation region 1i (carry-out side). The main drive roller 55 and the seat holding plate 56 are arranged so as to sandwich the heat-expandable sheet 9 from both sides between the carry-in side drive rollers 51 and 52 and the carry-out side drive rollers 53 and 54. The seat loader 50 further includes a motor, pulleys, gears, and the like (not shown).

The main drive roller 55 is arranged on the side opposite to the light-irradiated side of the heat-expandable sheet 9, that is, on the lower side, and holds the heat-expandable sheet 9 from both sides together with the sheet holding plate 56 arranged on the upper side. It is driven to rotate in this state. Specifically, the main drive roller 55 conveys the heat-expandable sheet 9 by itself while pressing the heat-expandable sheet 9 against the sheet holding plate 56 and sliding it. Therefore, the main drive roller 55 can hold the heat-expandable sheet 9 together with the seat holding plate 56 from both sides over the entire width, so that the length (width) of the heat-expandable sheet 9 can be held in the transport width direction, that is, the axial direction. It is preferable that it is formed as described above. By setting the length of the main drive roller 55 in the transport width direction as such, the contact area with the heat-expandable sheet 9 can be widened to prevent slipping on the contact surface. Further, since the main drive roller 55 makes uniform contact over the entire width of the heat-expandable sheet 9, the heat-expandable sheet 9 does not cause temperature unevenness in the transport width direction. Further, as will be described in detail later, the main drive roller 55 presses the heat-expandable sheet 9 having flexibility and a certain degree of rigidity against the lower surface of the horizontal flat plate-shaped sheet holding plate 56 from below to come into contact with the main drive roller 55. Hold flat and horizontal in the portion (contact area 1c shown in FIG. 2B). As a result, the heat-expandable sheet 9 is prevented from hanging down on the front side of the contact portion even if it is not gripped, so as not to come into contact with the main drive roller 55. By providing the main drive roller 55 over the entire width of the heat-expandable sheet 9, the holding area (contact portion) can be widened and the effect can be enhanced. Further, with such a main drive roller 55, the size of the heat-expandable sheet 9 is not limited as long as it is equal to or less than the length of the main drive roller 55 in the transport width direction, and processing can be performed under the same conditions. In other words, in the light irradiation device 10, the main drive roller 55, the light irradiation unit 2, and the like are designed according to the heat-expandable sheet 9 having the maximum size as the object to be processed.

The main drive roller 55 is arranged so as to sandwich the heat-expandable sheet 9 at a position closest to the light irradiation region 1i with respect to the other drive rollers 51 to 54, preferably within the light irradiation region 1i. .. Therefore, it is preferable that the main drive roller 55 is provided with a heat-resistant member (surface member) 55o such as heat-resistant rubber on the outer peripheral surface (contact surface with the heat-expandable sheet 9). When the main drive roller 55 has high thermal conductivity, heat is easily transferred from the light irradiation unit 2 arranged in the vicinity to be heated. Especially when the main drive roller 55 is arranged in the light irradiation region 1i, the sheet holding plate 56 and heat are easily generated. Light is irradiated from the light irradiation unit 2 through the expandable sheet 9, and the temperature tends to be higher. As a result, it becomes difficult to operate the main drive roller 55 while maintaining the surface temperature in a constant temperature range, and continuous processing of a plurality of heat-expandable sheets 9 and one sheet from the front end to the rear end The temperature of the heat-expandable sheet 9 changes during the treatment, and the expansion height becomes non-uniform. Further, the main drive roller 55 may become excessively hot, and the heat-expandable sheet 9 in contact may be unnecessarily expanded. In the present specification, the heat resistance refers to the heat resistance to the maximum temperature of the peripheral members and the heat-expandable sheet 9 heated by the light irradiation unit 2, that is, the heating temperature for expanding the heat-expandable layer 91. ..

Further, it is preferable that the outer peripheral surface of the main drive roller 55, that is, the surface of the surface member 55o has an appropriate friction. As described above, the main drive roller 55 presses the heat-expandable sheet 9 against the seat holding plate 56 and conveys the heat-expandable sheet 9 while sliding the sheet, so that the main drive roller 55 has friction so as not to slip the heat-expandable sheet 9. .. Further, in the main drive roller 55, it is preferable that the surface member 55o has elasticity, and it is more preferable that the surface member 55o is as soft as or more soft than the thermal expansion layer 91 of the thermal expansion sheet 9. Specifically, it is preferable that the surface member 55o has a softness corresponding to 30 ° to 70 ° in rubber hardness. Since the surface member 55o has elasticity, the main drive roller 55 can hold the heat-expandable sheet 9 by pressing it strongly against the non-elastic sheet holding plate 56 so as not to partially lift it. Since the surface member 55o has softness, the heat-expandable sheet 9 can be conveyed without slipping together with the friction of the outer peripheral surface. Therefore, the main drive roller 55 is arranged so that the gap between the main drive roller 55 and the seat holding plate 56 is slightly smaller than the thickness of the heat-expandable sheet 9. Unless otherwise specified, the thickness of the heat-expandable sheet 9 refers to the thickness of the heat-expandable layer 91 before it expands. Further, since the surface member 55o of the main drive roller 55 is soft, it is difficult to leave a mark on the surface (thermal expansion layer 91) of the treated heat-expandable sheet 9. Further, the main drive roller 55 presses the heat-expandable sheet 9 from below against the lower surface of the horizontal flat plate-shaped sheet holding plate 56 by the elastic soft surface member 55o, and has a certain length in the transport direction at the contact portion. Hold flat and horizontal. However, if the surface member 55o of the main drive roller 55 is too soft, the force for pressing the heat-expandable sheet 9 against the sheet holding plate 56 becomes weak, and it becomes difficult for the heat-expandable sheet 9 to be held flat, and further, for transportation. There is a risk of malfunction. The contact portion where the heat-expandable sheet 9 is in contact with and sandwiched between the main drive roller 55 and the seat holding plate 56 is referred to as a contact region 1c (see FIG. 2B).

The main drive roller 55 is preferably arranged so as to sandwich the heat-expandable sheet 9 together with the sheet holding plate 56 in the light irradiation region 1i, and specifically, in the transport direction, at least one of the contact regions 1c. It means that the portion is located in the light irradiation area 1i. The main drive roller 55 is arranged at such a position, and the heat-expandable sheet 9 is sandwiched in the light irradiation region 1i, so that the vertical position of the heat-expandable sheet 9 is displaced in the light irradiation region 1i, that is, Since the deviation of the distance from the light irradiation unit 2 is suppressed, the intensity of the light reaching the heat-expandable sheet 9 is stabilized. Further, since at least a part of the main drive roller 55 is included in the light irradiation region 1i, the main drive roller 55 is heated by being irradiated with light from the light irradiation unit 2, and as described later, it is used as a preheating means for the heat-expandable sheet 9. can do. The main drive roller 55 is more preferably arranged so that the center of the contact region 1c, that is, the shaft is arranged in the light irradiation region 1i, and further preferably the main drive roller 55 is arranged so that the entire contact region 1c is located in the light irradiation region 1i. .. In the light irradiation device 10 according to the present embodiment, the main drive roller 55 contacts the heat-expandable sheet 9 with the center of the light irradiation region 1i as the center of the contact region 1c, that is, the position of the axis of the main drive roller 55. Arranged, the entire contact region 1c is included in the light irradiation region 1i. Other effects depending on the position of the contact region 1c within the light irradiation region 1i will be described in the operation of the light irradiation device described later.

In the present embodiment, the main drive roller 55 is a main part of the transport mechanism (seat loader 50) of the heat-expandable sheet 9 and is a preheating means for the heat-expandable sheet 9. According to the light irradiation device 10, the heat-expandable sheet 9 is in contact with the main drive roller 55 in the contact region 1c in addition to the heat generated by the light-heat conversion layer 93 due to the light emitted from the light irradiation unit 2 in the light irradiation region 1i. It is also heated by the conduction of heat from. After the heat-expandable sheet 9 is conveyed, comes into contact with the main drive roller 55 in the contact area 1c, separates from the main drive roller 55, that is, passes through the contact area 1c, and then continuously irradiates light in the light irradiation area 1i. After a certain period of time, the thermal expansion layer 91 starts to expand. In terms of the efficiency of the output of the light source 21, the fixed time is preferably short, and therefore, the temperature (surface temperature) _Tro of the outer peripheral surface of the main drive roller 55 is higher than _{the expansion start temperature T s} of the thermal expansion layer 91. Higher in the lower range is preferred. On the other hand, if the surface temperature _Tro is too close to the expansion start temperature T _s , it may be difficult to control the expansion height based on the concentration of the photothermal conversion layer 93. _{Further, the thermal expansion sheet 9 reaches the expansion start temperature T s} in a state close to the main drive roller 55 immediately after passing through the contact region 1c or while traveling in the contact region 1c, and the thermal expansion layer is formed. The 91 tries to expand in a state of being in contact with or crushed at the expanded portion of the main drive roller 55. As a result, the thermal expansion layer 91 does not have an expansion height based on the photothermal conversion layer 93. _{Specifically, the surface temperature Tro} of the main drive roller 55 is preferably controlled to a predetermined temperature, which is about 10 to 30 ° C. lower than the expansion start temperature T _s. As described above, the main drive roller 55 is _{heated by irradiating the surface temperature Tro} with light from the light irradiation unit 2 via the heat-expandable sheet 9, and further contacts the heat dissipation roller 46. By letting the temperature rise, the temperature is controlled so as not to exceed a predetermined temperature.

In the light irradiation device 10 according to the present embodiment, the main drive roller 55 preferably has a large diameter. Since the outer peripheral surface approaches a flat surface as the diameter is larger, the contact region 1c for pressing the heat-expandable sheet 9 against the sheet holding plate 56 and holding it horizontally can be provided longer (wider) in the transport direction. As a result, the flexible heat-expandable sheet 9 is delayed from hanging due to its own weight at least after its front end has passed through the contact region 1c and before being sandwiched between the carry-out side drive rollers 53 and 54. The deviation of the vertical position, that is, the distance from the light irradiation unit 2 is suppressed until the light irradiation region 1i is passed. Since the heat-expandable sheet 9 has a certain degree of rigidity mainly due to the base material 92, the rigidity (difficulty of bending) causes the heat-expandable sheet 9 to be separated from the outer peripheral surface of the main drive roller 55 to some extent outside the contact region 1c. And keep it horizontal or close to it so that it floats. Therefore, in principle, the light irradiation device 10 according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which the heat-expandable sheet 9 does not come into contact with the main drive roller 55 after passing through the contact region 1c. However, even if the heat-expandable sheet 9 hangs down due to a defect, it is received by the main drive roller 55 that protrudes greatly forward, so it does not fall below it, and it is difficult to deviate significantly from the designed transport path, for example, a paper jam. Does not lead to severe abnormalities such as. On the other hand, if the diameter of the main drive roller 55 is too large, the heat-expandable sheet 9 tends to come into contact with the main drive roller 55 irregularly after passing through the contact region 1c. In particular, when the thermal expansion layer 91 expands, the heat-expandable sheet 9 tends to be deformed so as to be rounded with the side (front surface) of the thermal expansion layer 91 inside, so that the heat-expandable sheet 9 is irradiated with light with the back surface facing upward. Then, it is easy to bend into a shape along the outer peripheral surface of the main drive roller 55. When the surface (thermal expansion layer 91) locally contacts the main drive roller 55, the temperature may change and the expansion height may vary. Further, the contact surface (contact region 1c) with the heat-expandable sheet 9 becomes excessively wide, so that heat is stored between the main drive roller 55 and the seat holding plate 56, and the heat-expandable sheet 9 becomes excessively high in temperature. The thermal expansion layer 91 may expand abnormally. Further, since the area pressed by the sheet pressing plate 56 of the heat-expandable sheet 9 becomes large, there is a possibility that a problem may occur in transportation such as an increase in friction during sliding. Further, the larger the diameter of the main drive roller 55, the more difficult it becomes for _{the light irradiation unit 2 to heat the main drive roller 55 to a predetermined surface temperature Tro.} Based on these, the main drive roller 55 is designed to have an appropriate diameter.

The sheet holding plate 56 is a plate-shaped member that is arranged on the side to be irradiated with the light of the heat-expandable sheet 9, that is, on the upper side, and sandwiches the heat-expandable sheet 9 together with the main drive roller 55. 9 is slid on the contact surface and conveyed by rotational drive of only the main drive roller 55. The sheet holding plate 56 uniformly presses the heat-expandable sheet 9 in the transport width direction to bring it into contact with the main drive roller 55, so that the length of the heat-expandable sheet 9 in the transport width direction is the same as that of the main drive roller 55. It is preferably formed to be more than (width). Further, it is preferable that the sheet holding plate 56 is arranged so that the contact surface is flat and horizontal at least in the portion (contact region 1c) in contact with the heat-expandable sheet 9, and the friction is small. Further, in the present embodiment, since the sheet holding plate 56 is provided in the light irradiation region 1i together with the main drive roller 55, it has sufficient heat resistance and transmits the light emitted by the light irradiation unit 2, particularly near infrared rays, as high as possible. It is preferably formed of a material having properties. As such a material, for example, a glass plate is applied. Since the sheet holding plate 56 is made of such a highly transparent material, the light reaching the heat-expandable sheet 9 is less attenuated, the decrease in the output efficiency of the light source 21 is suppressed, and the light irradiation is performed. It is difficult to absorb the light emitted by the part 2, and it does not generate heat and become hot.

The sheet holding plate 56 is provided with at least the entire contact region 1c and its rear side (carry-in side) so that the front end of the heat-expandable sheet 9 to be carried can be easily inserted between the main drive roller 55 and the main drive roller 55 in the carrying direction. ) To some extent, it is preferable to arrange it. In the light irradiation device 10 according to the present embodiment, the sheet holding plate 56 has this minimum length and is arranged in a rectangular flat plate shape elongated in the transport width direction with the plate surface horizontal. By making the sheet holding plate 56 short in the transport direction, the region where the heat-expandable sheet 9 is sandwiched between the seat holding plate 56 and the main drive roller 55 without a gap or with a narrow gap is shortened, and the heat-expandable sheet 9 is formed. Prevents the generated heat from being stored without escaping. With such a configuration, it is easy to control the temperature of the heat-expandable sheet 9 during continuous processing of a plurality of heat-expandable sheets 9 and further, and one sheet is processed from the front end to the rear end, and uniformly (photothermal conversion). It can be expanded (according to the setting based on the concentration of the layer 93 and the like). Further, since a part of the light irradiated from the light irradiation unit 2 in the final stage of the light irradiation region 1i reaches the heat-expandable sheet 9 directly without passing through the sheet holding plate 56, the light irradiation unit 2 heats the sheet. High efficiency. Further, since the upper side of the heat-expandable sheet 9 becomes empty immediately after passing through the contact region 1c, even if the side (surface) of the heat-expandable layer 91 is irradiated with light (see FIG. 2C), the heat-expandable layer Since the expansion of 91 is not hindered and does not come into contact with the seat holding plate 56, there is no variation in temperature.

The carry-in side drive rollers 51 and 52 and the carry-out side drive rollers 53 and 54 are provided to assist the transfer of the heat-expandable sheet 9 by the main drive roller 55 and the seat holding plate 56. These drive rollers 51 to 54, as also in contact with the thermally expandable sheet 9 does not affect the expansion of the thermal expansion layer 91, the surface temperature T _ro the entry side drive rollers 51 and 52 the main drive roller 55 The carry-out side drive rollers 53 and 54 are arranged at a sufficient distance from the light irradiation unit 2 so as not to be heated above _{the expansion start temperature T s of the thermal expansion layer 91 so as not to be heated above.} However, if the distance between the carry-in side drive rollers 51 and 52 and the carry-out side drive rollers 53 and 54 with the main drive roller 55 (contact area 1c) is long, the heat-expandable sheet 9 is kept flat in the light irradiation area 1i. Since it becomes difficult to hold and transport the rollers, it is preferable that the rollers are arranged at a position close to the main drive roller 55 so as not to be heated to the respective temperatures.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the carry-in side drive rollers 51 and 52 hold the heat-expandable sheet 9 at the same vertical position as the support position of the heat-expandable sheet 9 by the carry-in guide plate 62 in front of the heat-expandable sheet 9. It is preferable to arrange it so as to be slightly above it. With such a structure, the front end of the heat-expandable sheet 9 that has passed between the carry-in side drive rollers 51 and 52 is slid and conveyed without rising from the upper surface of the carry-in guide plate 62, so that the seat holding plate 56 It is conveyed to a height position having a gap with respect to the horizontal contact surface (lower surface), and is sandwiched between the main drive roller 55 and the seat holding plate 56 without any trouble. On the other hand, it is preferable that the carry-out side drive rollers 53 and 54 are arranged so that the vertical positions for sandwiching the heat-expandable sheet 9 are the same as the sandwiching positions between the main drive roller 55 and the seat holding plate 56. With such a structure, the heat-expandable sheet 9 is horizontally sandwiched in the front-rear direction by the main drive roller 55, the seat holding plate 56, and the carry-out side drive rollers 53 and 54.

The positions and ranges of the carry-in side drive rollers 51 and 52 and the carry-out side drive rollers 53 and 54 for sandwiching the heat-expandable sheet 9 in the transport width direction are not defined. However, the carry-in side drive rollers 51 and 52 and the carry-out side drive rollers 53 and 54 are spread in the transport width direction or dispersed in two or more locations so as not to tilt the heat-expandable sheet 9 in the transport width direction. It is preferable to hold it. Further, as described above, the light irradiation device 10 according to the present embodiment is thermally expandable as long as it is equal to or less than the total width of the main drive roller 55 and the seat holding plate 56 (the range in which light is irradiated from the light irradiation unit 2). The dimensions of the sheet 9 in the transport width direction are not limited. Therefore, in the light irradiation device 10 according to the present embodiment, drive rollers 51 to 54 are provided at four locations including two locations near both ends (both edges) in the transport width direction at equal intervals, that is, on one shaft. Four are provided. With such a configuration, even if the heat-expandable sheet 9 is short in the transport width direction, the light irradiation device 10 can be tilted as long as it is sandwiched between at least two places (about 1/3 of the total width). It can be transported and processed without it.

The drive rollers 51 to 54 are members having elasticity similar to that of the main drive roller 55 and being as soft as or more soft than the thermal expansion layer 91 of the thermally expandable sheet 9 (corresponding to 30 ° to 70 ° in rubber hardness). Is preferably provided on the outer peripheral surface. Further, it is preferable that the carry-in side drive rollers 51, 52 and the carry-out side drive rollers 53, 54 have a force of pressing and holding the heat-expandable sheet 9 equal to or less than that of the main drive roller 55 and the seat holding plate 56. .. In particular, the carry-out side drive rollers 53 and 54 press and hold the heat-expandable sheet 9 with a surface member soft enough not to cause a problem in transportation and a restrained force so as not to crush the expanded heat-expandable layer 91. Is preferable. Then, the carry-in side drive rollers 51, 52 and the carry-out side drive rollers 53, 54, together with the contact area and softness, can hold the heat-expandable sheet 9 and carry it without slipping on both sides. On the outer peripheral surface, however, it is preferable that the main drive roller 55 is not easily slipped.

The rotations of the main drive roller 55, the carry-in side drive rollers 51, 52, and the carry-out side drive rollers 53, 54 are transmitted from the motor by pulleys, gears, etc., and rotate at the same peripheral speed. Alternatively, while pulling the heat-expandable sheet 9 back and forth, the peripheral speed is slightly changed in the order of the main drive roller 55 and the carry-in side drive roller 51, 52 at the highest speed for the carry-out side drive rollers 53 and 54. It may be transported. Further, only one of the carry-in side drive rollers 51 and 52 and the carry-out side drive rollers 53 and 54 may be driven, and the other may be rotatably supported.

(Heat dissipation roller)
The heat radiating roller 46 is rotatably supported in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the main drive roller 55 in order to adjust the temperature of the main drive roller 55. The heat radiating roller 46 is arranged so as to be in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the main drive roller 55 while keeping a distance from the light irradiation unit 2 with respect to the main drive roller 55 and to face the vent provided in the housing 11. It rotates together with the drive roller 55 and dissipates the heat of the main drive roller 55 to the outside to suppress an excessive rise in the temperature of the main drive roller 55 by the light irradiation unit 2. Therefore, the heat radiating roller 46 has a length (shaft length) in the width direction equal to or greater than that of the main drive roller 55, and is made of a material having high thermal conductivity, and is made of, for example, metal. Further, the heat radiating roller 46 may have a structure in which the refrigerant is circulated inside and cooled regardless of the outside air. Further, the heat radiation roller 46 may be provided with a movable shaft, and the temperature of the main drive roller 55 can be adjusted more appropriately by switching between contact and non-contact with the main drive roller 55.

(Carry-in information board)
The carry-in guide plate 61 is a horizontal flat plate provided at the entrance of the housing 11 to support the heat-expandable sheet 9 placed on the supply tray 12 and guide the heat-expandable sheet 9 between the carry-in side drive rollers 51 and 52. It is a member of the shape. The carry-in guide plate 61 is made of a metal such as aluminum or stainless steel, and has many small-diameter holes for weight reduction and the like. The carry-in guide plate 62 is provided between the carry-in side drive rollers 51 and 52 to guide the heat-expandable sheet 9 between the main drive rollers 55 and the seat holding plate 56, and is provided between the carry-in side drive rollers 52. As the vertical position according to the above, the gap with the sheet holding plate 56 is arranged so as to have a margin with respect to the thickness of the heat-expandable sheet 9. The front and rear end faces of the carry-in guide plate 62 are obliquely cut in accordance with the outer peripheral surfaces of the carry-in side drive roller 52 and the main drive roller 55. The carry-in guide plate 62 is arranged in the vicinity of the rear side (carry-in side) of the light irradiation region 1i in accordance with the position of the main drive roller 55. Therefore, the carry-in guide plate 62 is preferably formed of a heat-resistant material such as glass or resin that is difficult to heat, and may be formed of, for example, the same material as the sheet holding plate 56. Further, it is preferable that the carry-in guide plate 62 is arranged so that the vertical position supporting the heat-expandable sheet 9 is lower than the holding position by the main drive roller 55 and the seat holding plate 56 to some extent. With such a structure, the front end of the heat-expandable sheet 9 which is slid and conveyed on the upper surface of the carry-in guide plate 62 has a gap with respect to the horizontal contact surface (lower surface) of the sheet holding plate 56 as described above. Since it is conveyed to the height position having the above, it enters between the main drive roller 55 and the seat holding plate 56 without any trouble and is sandwiched.

(Carry-out information board)
The carry-out guide plates 63 and 64 are mainly driven to guide the heat-expandable sheet 9 (which has passed through the heat-expandable region 1f shown in FIG. 2) where the expansion of the heat-expandable layer 91 has been completed onto the discharge tray 13. The heat-expandable sheet 9 is provided so as to sandwich the heat-expandable sheet 9 from both sides from the front side (delivery side) of the roller 55 and the seat holding plate 56 to the outlet of the housing 11. In the present embodiment, the carry-out guide plates 63 and 64 are sandwiched between the heat-expandable sheet 9 even if the front end of the heat-expandable sheet 9 hangs down to some extent or rises on the contrary, and guides the heat-expandable sheet 9 while correcting the position. The end of the light irradiation region 1i side (carry-in side) is formed in a bent plate shape so as to spread vertically. Alternatively, the carry-out guide plates 63 and 64 may have a structure in which the front horizontal portion and the inclined portion on the light irradiation region 1i side are separated. Further, the upper carry-out guide plate 63 is slightly above the upper surface of the heat-expandable sheet 9 sandwiched by the carry-out side drive rollers 53, 54 in the vertical position of the lower surface on the front side of the carry-out side drive rollers 53, 54. It is preferable that they are arranged so as to be. With such a structure, after the rear end of the heat-expandable sheet 9 has passed through the contact region 1c, the front is supported between the carry-out side drive rollers 53 and 54 and the lower surface of the carry-out guide plate 63. It is prevented that the rear end greatly jumps up and comes into contact with the reflector 22, and conversely, the rear end greatly hangs down. Further, the carry-out guide plates 63 and 64 have rectangular cuts (not shown) and holes formed in the portions where the carry-out side drive rollers 53 and 54 are arranged. Like the carry-in guide plate 61, such carry-out guide plates 63 and 64 are formed of a metal plate having a large number of small-diameter holes. Therefore, the carry-out guide plates 63 and 64 are arranged at a sufficient distance from the light irradiation unit 2 so as not to be heated above _{the expansion start temperature T s of the thermal expansion layer 91.}

(Cooler)
The cooler 3 is provided in the vicinity of the light irradiation unit 2 in order to prevent an excessive temperature rise of the light irradiation device 10 by the light irradiation unit 2, and is a general water-cooled type built in, for example, a printer or a personal computer. Radiator can be applied.

(Other parts)
The temperature sensor 42 measures the surface temperature of the reflector 22 and transmits it to the control circuit. Similarly, the temperature sensor 45 measures the surface temperature of the main drive roller 55 and transmits it to the control circuit. The temperature sensors 42 and 45 may be of a contact type or a non-contact type, and may not measure the temperature itself, and like a thermocouple, determine whether the temperature is high or low with respect to a set temperature range. It may be detected. The reader 43 is provided near the entrance of the housing 11 and determines whether the object to be processed placed on the supply tray 12 is a dedicated medium such as the heat-expandable sheet 9. The reader 43 is, for example, a barcode reader for reading barcodes attached to the back surface of the heat-expandable sheet 9, a QR code (registered trademark) reader, an OCR (Optical character recognition) reader, and further, heat-expandability. A mirror 44 is provided so that the sheet 9 can be read even if it is placed on the supply tray 12 with either front or back side facing up. The control circuit includes, for example, a CPU and a memory, and controls the light irradiation device 10 in an integrated manner by receiving an operation from the outside, signals of sensors, and the like. Specifically, for example, from ON / OFF of the light source 21, transfer start and stop of the sheet loader 50, switching of transfer speed, the reflector 22 from the temperature sensors 42 and 45, the temperature of the main drive roller 55, and the reader 43. It is judged whether or not the operation is possible based on the signal of.

(Operation of light irradiation device)
The operation of the light irradiation device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 (a) and 2 (b). Here, the heat-expandable sheet 9 having the photothermal conversion layer 93 printed on the back surface (base material 92 side) is irradiated with light.

The main power supply of the light irradiation device 10 is turned on, the light irradiation unit 2 starts irradiation of the light NIR, and the main drive roller 55 rotates. At this point, the light irradiation device 10 is in the standby state, the drive rollers 51 to 54 are stopped, and the processing start command by the user's operation is ignored. When the temperature sensor 45 detects that the surface temperature of the main drive roller 55 rises due to the light NIR over time _{and reaches a predetermined temperature Tro} (for example, 60 ± 5 ° C.), the light irradiation device 10 causes the light irradiation device 10. The processing becomes possible, and the drive rollers 51 to 54 rotate according to the processing start command to start the processing on the heat-expandable sheet 9 placed on the supply tray 12.

The heat-expandable sheet 9 is carried from the supply tray 12 into the seat holding plate 56 from above the carry-in guide plate 62 by the carry-in side drive rollers 51 and 52 with the surface (the heat expansion layer 91 side) facing downward. Then, the front end enters the light irradiation region 1i, and subsequently, the front end is sandwiched between the seat holding plate 56 and the main drive roller 55. When the heat-expandable sheet 9 enters the light irradiation region 1i, the temperature of the photothermal conversion layer 93 begins to rise due to the light NIR transmitted through the sheet holding plate 56, and accordingly, in the region where the photothermal conversion layer 93 is formed. The temperature of the base material 92 and the thermal expansion layer 91 rises. When the heat-expandable sheet 9 reaches the contact region 1c and comes into contact with the main drive roller 55, the heat-expandable sheet 9 is rapidly heated to the vicinity _{of the surface temperature Tro of the main drive roller 55 regardless of the presence or absence of the photothermal conversion layer 93, and is added.} Therefore, the region where the photothermal conversion layer 93 is formed is further heated by the optical NIR. The thermal expansion sheet 9, if it exceeds the temperature T _ro by light NIR before reaching the contact region 1c, the temperature is once lowered when reaching the contact area 1c. Then, the heat-expandable sheet 9 starts expanding when the heat-expandable layer 91 reaches the expansion start temperature T _{s due} to the heat propagated from the generated photothermal conversion layer 93. As shown in FIG. 2B, when the heat-expandable sheet 9 has the photothermal conversion layer 93 formed on the base material 92 side, generally, the heat-expandable layer 91 generates heat after the photothermal conversion layer 93 generates heat. There is a time delay before the expansion begins. Subsequently, the expansion height of the thermal expansion layer 91 increases with the passage of time traveling in the light irradiation region 1i, that is, the transfer. The temperature of the thermally expandable sheet 9 drops after passing through the light irradiation region 1i, but the expansion of the thermal expansion layer 91 proceeds until the temperature of the thermal expansion layer 91 reaches less than the _{expansion start temperature T s.} The range in which the expansion of the thermal expansion layer is progressing is referred to as a thermal expansion region 1f.

When the expansion of the thermal expansion layer 91 progresses to some extent, the thermally expandable sheet 9 tends to be deformed so as to be rolled together with the base material 92 with the side (surface) of the thermal expansion layer 91 facing downward inside. After the front end passes through the contact region 1c, the front end is curved along the outer peripheral surface of the main drive roller 55. However, since the position where the bending starts is a certain distance from the contact region 1c and the diameter of the main drive roller 55 is designed not to be too large, the main drive roller 55 does not come into contact with the main drive roller 55. When the front end of the heat-expandable sheet 9 passes through the heat-expandable region 1f and comes into contact with the upper surface (inclined surface) of the carry-out guide plate 64, the heat-expandable sheet 9 is conveyed while being slid on the inclined surface, so that the front end of the sheet 9 is transported. Since the position is shifted upward and is sandwiched between the carry-out side drive rollers 53 and 54, the position does not hang down any further, and the transportation is further corrected horizontally and the transportation proceeds. On the other hand, in the heat-expandable sheet 9, even if the rear end passes through the contact region 1c, the front end is supported by the carry-out side drive rollers 53, 54 and the carry-out guide plate 63, 64, so that the rear end is the main drive roller. It is conveyed according to the rotation of the main drive roller 55 without sliding down on the outer peripheral surface of the 55 and falling significantly downward.

Here, the light irradiation device 10 reaches the contact region 1c so that the thermal expansion layer 91 of the thermally expandable sheet 9 expands to the expansion height based on the photothermal conversion layer 93, and the surface temperature of the main drive roller 55. from being heated to T _ro vicinity until it passes the irradiation region 1i, i.e. based on the time required to proceed between Pc _S -Pi _E, the conveying speed is set. _{Further, when the thermal expansion layer 91 is heated to the expansion start temperature T s} in the region where the concentration of the photothermal conversion layer 93 is the highest, the thermal expansion sheet 9 passes through the contact region 1c, and further, the main drive roller 55 The transport speed is set so that the heat expansion layer 91 reaches a position where a space for expansion is included in the gap with the outer peripheral surface. Further, before the heat-expandable sheet 9 reaches the contact region 1c (before the starting point Pc _S ), the transport speed is prevented so that the heat-expandable layer 91 is _{not heated above the expansion start temperature T s by the optical NIR.} Is set. When the heat-expandable sheet 9 is sandwiched between the sheet holding plate 56 and the main drive roller 55 after the heat-expandable layer 91 has started to expand, that is, in a state where the expansion is in progress, the heat-expandable sheet 9 Is crushed and does not reach the expansion height based on the photothermal conversion layer 93. Further, since the heating of the heat-expandable sheet 9 (photothermal conversion layer 93) by the optical NIR does not become inefficient, the maximum temperature of the heat-expandable sheet 9 before reaching the contact region 1c is the surface of the main drive roller 55. The temperature _{is preferably Tro} or lower.

The arrangement of the light irradiation unit 2 and the main drive roller 55 in the transport direction is designed so as to satisfy all of these requirements, and the surface temperature _Tro and the transport speed of the main drive roller 55 are set. _{Specifically, it is preferable that the distance Pc S-} Pi _E from when the heat-expandable sheet 9 reaches the contact region 1c to when it passes through the light irradiation region 1i is long, and light irradiation is performed after passing through the contact region 1c. It is more preferable that _{the distance between Pc E and} Pi _E before passing through the region 1i is long. On the contrary, it is preferable that _{the distance between Pi S and} Pc _S from when the heat-expandable sheet 9 enters the light irradiation region 1i to when it reaches the contact region 1c is not too long. Therefore, it is preferable that the contact region 1c is closer to the rear (carry-in side) in the light irradiation region 1i. Specifically, in the contact region 1c, the end point Pc _{E is preferably behind the end point Pi E} of the light irradiation region 1i, and the start point Pc _S is more preferably after the center of the light irradiation region 1i. It is more preferable that the center of the region 1c, that is, the axis of the main drive roller 55 is after the center of the light irradiation region 1i.

On the other hand, if the contact area 1c is too close to the rear (carry-in side), the front end and the rear end of the heat-expandable sheet 9 pass through the contact area 1c and are released from being pinched by the main drive roller 55 and the seat holding plate 56. In the light irradiation region 1i, the distance between Pc _{E and} Pi _E and the distance to reach the carry-out guide plates 63 and 64 become excessively long, and the vertical positions near the front end and the rear end of the heat-expandable sheet 9 become excessive. It is easy for slippage and transport problems to occur. Therefore, it is preferable that the distance between Pc _{E and} Pi _E is set to a length that satisfies the above-mentioned requirements for thermal expansion and is not excessively long. Further, it is preferable that the main drive roller 55 protrudes to the front side of the light irradiation region 1i so that the front end and the rear end of the heat-expandable sheet 9 do not hang down significantly.

As described above, in the light irradiation device 10 according to the present embodiment, the heat-expandable sheet 9 has a certain area (contact area 1c) in the light irradiation region 1i due to the elastic main drive roller 55 and the horizontal sheet holding plate 56. ), And further sandwiched, supported and transported by the carry-in side drive rollers 51, 52 and the carry-out side drive rollers 53, 54, etc. at appropriate positions before and after the light irradiation region 1i, thereby carrying the heat-expandable sheet 9. Light can be uniformly applied to the entire surface.

(Modified example of operation of light irradiation device)
The light irradiation device 10 also irradiates the entire surface of the heat-expandable sheet 9 (9A) on which the photothermal conversion layer 93 is printed on the surface (the side of the heat-expansion layer 91) with light to expand the heat-expansion layer 91. be able to. Such a heat-expandable sheet 9A is conveyed in the light irradiation device 10 with the surface (the heat-expandable layer 91 side) facing upward as shown in FIG. 2 (c). In the light irradiation device 10, the sheet holding plate 56 is _{provided right in front of the end point (end point Pc E} ) of the contact region 1c, and the upper side of the heat-expandable sheet 9A is vacant in front of the sheet holding plate 56. Since the expansion is not hindered and the expanded portion of the surface does not come into contact with the sheet holding plate 56, the temperature of the thermal expansion layer 91 is not locally changed, and the thermal expansion layer 91 expands uniformly (based on the photothermal conversion layer 93). Can be made to. In the light irradiation on the front surface of the thermal expansion sheet 9A, since the photothermal conversion layer 93 is formed directly on the front surface of the thermal expansion layer 91, it is compared with the light irradiation on the back surface shown in FIG. 2 (b). Then, if the expansion of the thermal expansion layer 91 is started at an early stage and the transfer speeds are the same, the start point of the thermal expansion region 1f comes closer to the contact region 1c. On the other hand, since the main drive roller 55 comes into contact with the base material 92, it is difficult for the surface temperature _Tro to be transmitted to the thermal expansion layer 91.

Further, the heat-expandable sheet 9A, like the heat-expandable sheet 9, tends to be deformed so as to be rounded with the side (surface) of the heat-expandable layer 91 inside as the expansion of the heat-expandable layer 91 progresses. In the light irradiation device 10, since the heat-expandable sheet 9A is processed with its surface facing upward, the front end that has passed through the contact region 1c is curved so as to approach the upper light irradiation unit 2. On the other hand, although it depends on the length (contact area) of the contact region 1c, the rigidity of the base material 92 of the heat-expandable sheet 9A, and the like, the front end of the heat-expandable sheet 9A is as shown in FIG. 2 (c). After passing through the contact area 1c and progressing to some extent, it begins to hang down due to its own weight. _{Therefore, by adjusting the surface temperature Tro} of the main drive roller 55 to be low or increasing the transport speed to some extent, the start position of the curvature of the heat-expandable sheet 9A is set further forward and the end point Pc _{E of the contact region 1c is set to some extent.} It is preferable to leave it open. As a result, the heat-expandable sheet 9A prevents the front end and the rear end that have passed through the contact region 1c from coming into contact with the reflector 22 by canceling the curvature due to the expansion of the heat expansion layer 91 and the sagging due to its own weight to some extent. It is also possible to make it difficult for the vertical position to shift.

(Modification example)
The light irradiation device 10 according to the present embodiment includes a sheet holding plate 56 having a flat plate shape as a whole, but the contact area 1c and its vicinity are horizontal, and the rear side (carry-in side) is inclined upward. It may be in shape. In this case, even if the vertical position of the heat-expandable sheet 9 supported by the carry-in guide plate 62 is aligned with the holding position of the seat holding plate 56 horizontal to the main drive roller 55, the end of the seat holding plate 56 on the carrying-in side. There is a margin in the gap between the and the carry-in guide plate 62. Along with this, the heat-expandable sheet 9 is sandwiched and supported by the carry-in side drive rollers 51 and 52 and the carry-in guide plate 61. The structure is such that the sex sheet 9 is horizontally conveyed. Further, the sheet holding plate 56 may be stretched by inclining the front side of the contact region 1c upward. In particular, since the sheet holding plate 56 is provided so as to include the entire area directly under the reflector plate 22 (light irradiation region 1i), the heat-expandable sheet 9 (9A) comes into contact with the reflector plate 22 even if it floats upward. There is no need to improve safety. In this case, the sheet holding plate 56 thermally expands when the thermal expansion layer 91 side (surface) of the thermally expandable sheet 9A is irradiated with light to expand the thermal expansion layer 91 (see FIG. 2C). The shape is formed so as not to come into contact with the expanded thermal expansion layer 91, including the upward curvature of the sex sheet 9A. Further, the seat holding plate 56 may be inclined upward and extended to the end of the thermal expansion region 1f in the same manner as described above. With such a configuration, an air-cooled cooling fan is applied to the cooler 3. Then, it can be used as a windbreak (see another embodiment described later with reference to FIG. 3A).

Further, the light irradiation device 10 may be provided with rail-shaped guide plates extending in the transport direction on both edges of the carry-in guide plates 61 and 62 and the carry-out guide plates 63 and 64, respectively. By placing the heat-expandable sheet 9 on the supply tray 12 so that one end surface of both edges of the sheet 9 slides on the guide plate and is conveyed, the carry-in side drive rollers 51 and 52 and the carry-out side drive roller 51 and 52 are placed. Even if it is sandwiched between 53 and 54 at only one place, it can be transported without being tilted, and the heat-expandable sheet 9 which is shorter in the transport width direction can be processed. Alternatively, the light irradiation device 10 may be provided with two carry-in side drive rollers 51 and 52 and two carry-out side drive rollers 53 and 54 movably along the shaft. By manually moving the drive rollers 51 to 54 according to the length of the heat-expandable sheet 9 in the transport width direction before the operation, the heat-expandable sheet 9 short in the transport width direction can be processed. In such a light irradiation device 10, the carry-out guide plates 63 and 64 are separated in front of and behind the carry-out side drive rollers 53 and 54 so as not to interfere with the movement of the carry-out side drive rollers 53 and 54.

Further, although the light irradiation device 10 is configured to cool the main drive roller 55 by the heat dissipation roller 46, a metal plate may be provided so as to slide on the outer peripheral surface of the main drive roller 55 instead of the heat dissipation roller 46. Good. Further, the main drive roller 55 may be directly air-cooled by facing the ventilation port of the housing 11 without providing the heat radiating roller 46. Further, the main drive roller 55 may have a built-in heater, and can be heated to a predetermined temperature not only by light irradiation from the light irradiation unit 2. In particular, in the light irradiation device 10 according to the present embodiment, since the main drive roller 55 has a large diameter and is arranged so as to protrude from both the front and rear of the light irradiation region 1i, only the light NIR from the light irradiation unit 2 is arranged. When it is difficult to heat to a predetermined surface temperature _Tro , it is preferable to provide such a heater.

[Embodiment]
The light irradiation device according to the embodiment of the present invention may have a structure of irradiating the lower surface of the heat-expandable sheet with light. Hereinafter, the configuration of the light irradiation device according to another embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

(Light irradiation device)
As shown in FIG. 3A, the light irradiation device 10A according to the present embodiment includes the main drive roller 55, the sheet holding plate 56, and the light irradiation unit 2 of the light irradiation device 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It is a structure in which the top and bottom of the are replaced. Further, the light irradiation device 10A includes a main drive roller 55A having a smaller diameter than the light irradiation device 10, a seat holding plate 56A extending in the transport direction, and a heat-expandable sheet 9 behind the main drive roller 55A. A carry-in guide plate 62A is provided on the upper side of the above. Further, the heat radiating roller 46 (see FIG. 1) is arranged on the upper side so as to be in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the main drive roller 55A. Further, the light irradiation device 10A includes a cooler 3A instead of the cooler 3 in the vicinity below the light irradiation unit 2 (reflector 22). Other configurations of the light irradiation device 10A are the same as those of the light irradiation device 10 described with reference to FIG. Hereinafter, what is different from the light irradiation device 10 in the configuration of each member will be described in detail.

The sheet holding plate 56A is arranged on the side irradiated with the light of the heat-expandable sheet 9, that is, on the lower side in the present embodiment, and sandwiches the heat-expandable sheet 9 together with the main drive roller 55A. Further, in the present embodiment, the heat-expandable sheet 9 is supported instead of the main drive roller 55. Therefore, the sheet holding plate 56A has a flat plate shape extending in the entire transport direction extending in front of the entire light irradiation region 1i. In FIG. 3A, the seat holding plate 56A extends to the vicinity of the starting ends of the carry-out guide plates 63 and 64. The length of the sheet holding plate 56A protruding forward of the light irradiation region 1i is not particularly specified, but the front end and the rear end of the heat-expandable sheet 9 do not hang down and enter between the carry-out guide plates 63 and 64. It suffices if it is provided up to a suitable position. Further, the sheet holding plate 56A is preferably extended to a position where it passes through the thermal expansion region 1f in order to prevent the blown air (cold air CB) from the cooler 3A with respect to the thermally expandable sheet 9. The seat holding plate 56A has the same structure as the seat holding plate 56 except for the shape.

In the present embodiment, the sheet holding plate 56A is further extended to the rear of the light irradiation region 1i so as to be integrated with the carry-in guide plate 62 (see FIG. 2A) in the light irradiation device 10, and is carried in. The end surface on the side is cut diagonally according to the outer peripheral surface of the carry-in side drive roller 52. Therefore, in the light irradiation device 10A, the vertical positions of the carry-in side drive rollers 51 and 52 holding the heat-expandable sheet 9 are as shown in FIG. 3A, and the heat-expandable sheet 9 on the sheet holding plate 56A is located. It is preferable that the arrangement is the same as or slightly above the above.

The main drive roller 55A is arranged in the light irradiation region 1i on the side opposite to the light-irradiated side of the heat-expandable sheet 9, that is, on the upper side in the present embodiment. The main drive roller 55A has the same structure as the main drive roller 55 except for the arrangement and diameter, and is provided with a surface member 55o (see FIG. 1) having appropriate elasticity, softness, and friction on the outer peripheral surface, and also has light. The heat-expandable sheet 9 is preheated so that _{the surface temperature is set to Tro} by the irradiation unit 2.

In the present embodiment, the main drive roller 55A preferably has a small diameter. In the light irradiation device 10A, since the main drive roller 55A is arranged on the upper side of the heat-expandable sheet 9, it is not necessary to support the heat-expandable sheet 9. In the light irradiation device 10A, since the flat plate-shaped sheet holding plate 56A arranged under the heat-expandable sheet 9 is provided long in the transport direction over the entire light irradiation region 1i, the heat-expandable sheet 9 is provided. The structure is such that the lower side is not empty. Due to the small diameter of the main drive roller 55A, the upper side of the heat-expandable sheet 9 (the side opposite to the side irradiated with light) is generated on the heat-expandable sheet 9 with a small contact area and a space. Makes it easier for heat to escape. Further, the smaller the diameter of the main drive roller 55A, the shorter the distance after the thermally expandable sheet 9 passes through the contact region 1c (see FIG. 2B) with the main drive roller 55A, the shorter the distance with the main drive roller 55A. Since the intervals are wide, for example, even if the surface temperature _Tro is set high, the expansion of the thermal expansion layer 91 is not hindered. On the other hand, if the diameter of the main drive roller 55A is small, the force pressing the heat-expandable sheet 9 is strongly biased in the contact region 1c at the center of the transport direction, although it depends on the elasticity of the surface member 55o and the like. The heat-expandable sheet 9 may be easily lifted from the sheet holding plate 56A before and after. Further, if the diameter of the main drive roller 55A is too small, it becomes difficult to insert the front end of the heat-expandable sheet 9 to be conveyed between the main drive roller 55A and the sheet holding plate 56A, which hinders the transportation of the heat-expandable sheet 9. Design the diameter so that it does not exist.

In the light irradiation device 10A, the main drive roller 55A has the same range as the light irradiation device 10 for the position of the contact region 1c in the transport direction, that is, the position of the shaft. However, in the present embodiment, the sheet holding plate 56A does not cause the front end and the rear end of the heat-expandable sheet 9 that have passed through the contact region 1c to hang down and come into contact with the reflector plate 22 or cause a transport failure. .. Therefore, after the heat-expandable sheet 9 has passed through the contact region 1c, it is greatly lifted until it passes through the light irradiation region 1i, is not too far from the light irradiation unit 2, and the front end is between the carry-out guide plates 63 and 64. The arrangement may be such that it does not enter. In FIG. 3A, the main drive roller 55A is arranged so that the contact region 1c is behind the center of the light irradiation region 1i.

The carry-in guide plate 62A has a structure in which the top and bottom of the carry-in guide plate 62 in the light irradiation device 10 are exchanged, but is arranged so as to have a certain gap with respect to the heat-expandable sheet 9 on the sheet holding plate 56A. The carry-in guide plate 62A prevents the front end of the heat-expandable sheet 9 that has passed between the carry-in side drive rollers 51 and 52 from rising from the seat holding plate 56A so as to be sandwiched between the seat holding plate 56A and the main driving roller 55A. It is provided to guide the vehicle, and may not be provided if there is no problem in transportation.

Like the cooler 3, the cooler 3A is provided to prevent an excessive temperature rise of the light irradiation device 10A by the light irradiation unit 2, and is a general air-cooled cooling fan built in a printer, a personal computer, or the like. Can be applied. The cooler 3A is provided below the light irradiation unit 2 (reflector 22) by one or two or more in the transport width direction, and takes in outside air from the ventilation holes formed in the housing 11 to take in the light irradiation unit. Blow toward 2.

(Operation of light irradiation device)
The operation of the light irradiation device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 3 (a). FIG. 3A is a model for explaining the processing of the medium by the light irradiation device according to another embodiment, and corresponds to the main part of FIG. Here, as in the above-described embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the heat-expandable sheet 9 having the photothermal conversion layer 93 printed on the back surface (base material 92 side) is irradiated with light. .. Therefore, the heat-expandable sheet 9 is conveyed in the light irradiation device 10A with the surface (the heat-expandable layer 91 side) facing upward.

As in the embodiment, thermally expandable sheet 9, the contact reaches the region 1c, the main drive roller 55A is rapidly heated to a surface temperature T _ro vicinity of region sheet presser, which is further formed in the light-to-heat conversion layer 93 It is further heated by the light NIR transmitted through the plate 56A. Then, the heat-expandable sheet 9 starts expanding when the heat-expandable layer 91 reaches the expansion start temperature T _{s due} to the heat propagated from the generated photothermal conversion layer 93. Further, when the expansion of the thermal expansion layer 91 progresses to some extent, the thermally expandable sheet 9 tends to be deformed so as to be rounded with the side (surface) of the thermal expansion layer 91 facing upward inward, so that the front end thereof is After passing through the contact region 1c, it is curved so as to rise from the seat holding plate 56A. When the front end of the heat-expandable sheet 9 comes into contact with the lower surface (inclined surface) of the carry-out guide plate 63, the heat-expandable sheet 9 is conveyed while being slid on the inclined surface, so that the position of the front end is shifted downward. It is sandwiched between the carry-out side drive rollers 53 and 54.

As described above, in the light irradiation device 10A, the main drive roller 55A is arranged so that the contact region 1c is behind the center of the light irradiation region 1i, so that the heat-expandable sheet 9 reaches the contact region 1c. _{The distance between Pc S and} Pi _E (see FIG. 2 (b)) from the time when the light irradiation region 1i is passed is long. Therefore, the light irradiation device 10A can set the transport speed to a high speed and increase the processing capacity. By conveying speed is high, the main drive roller 55A be set higher the surface temperature T _ro of thermal expansion sheet 9, and the outer circumferential surface of the main driving roller 55A through the contact area 1c After reaching a position where the gap includes a space for the thermal expansion layer 91 to expand, the expansion of the thermal expansion layer 91 is started. Further, since the curvature of the heat-expandable sheet 9 is started further forward, the front end can easily enter between the carry-out guide plates 63 and 64. Further, by setting the transport speed and the like so as not to cause a transport failure due to the curvature of the heat-expandable sheet 9, the main drive roller 55A has the longest _{distance between Pc S and} Pi _E. It may be arranged rearward until the end of the contact region 1c (end point Pc _E ) coincides with the start end (start point Pi _{S) of the light irradiation region 1i.} By arranging the main drive roller 55A further rearward, even if the diameter is designed to be large to some extent so as to widen the contact area 1c, the space above the heat-expandable sheet 9 in the light irradiation area 1i, especially in the final stage. Can be widely opened to facilitate the escape of heat generated in the heat-expandable sheet 9.

Further, since the air-cooled cooler 3A is provided as the cooler, the cold air CB is blown from the cooler 3A toward the light irradiation unit 2 above the cooler 3A. The cold air CB flows along the outer wall of the reflector 22 of the light irradiation unit 2 and further toward the heat-expandable sheet 9 above it, but in the present embodiment, it is blocked by the sheet holding plate 56A. Although it depends on the structure of the cooler 3A, the cold air CB does not flow uniformly in the transport width direction, and therefore, if a member for shielding is not provided under the heat-expandable sheet 9 in front of the light irradiation region 1i, The cold air CB reaches the heat-expandable sheet 9 immediately after passing through the light irradiation region 1i with a non-uniform strength. Then, the heat-expandable sheet 9 is rapidly cooled by the cold air CB, the temperature drops, and the expansion of the thermal expansion layer 91 is unintentionally completed. Therefore, the thermal expansion region 1f is limitedly short in this portion. Become. As a result, even if the concentration of the photothermal conversion layer 93 is the same, the expansion height of the thermal expansion layer 91 is formed non-uniformly in the transport width direction. That is, the light irradiation device 10A can prevent the shape defect of the heat-expandable sheet 9 due to the cold air CB from the cooler 3A by extending the sheet holding plate 56A in front of the light irradiation region 1i to a sufficient length. it can.

(Modification example)
The light irradiation device 10A according to the present embodiment may include a water-cooled cooler 3, and in this case, a windbreak is not required. Therefore, the sheet holding plate 56A is irradiated with light unless there is a transfer problem or the like. It does not have to extend forward of the region 1i. Further, the sheet holding plate 56A may be flat and horizontal at least in the contact area 1c as in the sheet holding plate 56, and is slightly on the front side (unloading side) of the contact area 1c, for example, as shown in FIG. 3 (b). The sheet holding plate 56B shortened to overhang may be used. By providing the sheet holding plate 56B having such a shape, the light irradiation device 10B has a lower surface that is vacant immediately after the heat-expandable sheet 9 passes through the contact region 1c, so that not only the heat-expandable sheet 9 but also the lower surface is open. The heat-expandable sheet 9A (see FIG. 2C) can be irradiated with light. Hereinafter, the operation of the light irradiation device according to the modified example of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 3 (b). FIG. 3B is a model for explaining the processing of the medium by the light irradiation device according to the modified example of another embodiment, and corresponds to the main part of FIG.

In the light irradiation device 10B according to this modification, the heat-expandable sheet 9A is rolled so that the side (surface) of the heat-expandable layer 91 facing downward is turned inward as the expansion of the heat-expandable layer 91 progresses. Tends to transform into. Further, in the light irradiation device 10B, the diameter of the main drive roller 55A is small and the length (contact area) of the contact region 1c is small as in the light irradiation device 10A. Therefore, the heat-expandable sheet 9A has the rigidity of the base material 92. Although it depends on the above, there is a tendency for the front end to hang down immediately after passing through the contact region 1c. Therefore, the light irradiation device 10B further includes a lower carry-out guide plate 65 below and behind the seat holding plate 56B. In the lower carry-out guide plate 65, the hanging front end and the rear end of the heat-expandable sheet 9A do not come into contact with the reflector plate 22, and the front end can enter between the carry-out guide plates 63 and 64, and the heat The expandable sheet 9A is arranged at a position where it does not contact at least until it passes through the light irradiation region 1i, preferably until it passes through the thermal expansion region 1f. Here, the lower carry-out guide plate 65 is provided from the final stage of the light irradiation region 1i to the front in the vicinity of the carry-out guide plate 64, and is therefore arranged so as to cover immediately above the end of the reflector 22. Therefore, the lower carry-out guide plate 65 is preferably made of a material having heat resistance and transmitting light NIR, and preferably has low friction, that is, is made of the same material as the sheet holding plate 56B (56). Is preferable. With such a configuration, even if the front end of the heat-expandable sheet 9A passes through the contact region 1c and then hangs downward, the front end abuts on the upper surface of the lower carry-out guide plate 65 and is transported while sliding. Then, the guide is guided on the inclined surface of the carry-out guide plate 64. Therefore, it is prevented that the front end and the rear end of the heat-expandable sheet 9A come into contact with the reflector 22, and the surface (the heat-expandable layer 91) locally comes into contact with the lower carry-out guide plate 65 to change the temperature. Is suppressed. Further, the lower carry-out guide plate 65 shields the cold air CB from the cooler 3A to the heat-expandable sheet 9A.

In FIG. 3B, the lower carry-out guide plate 65 is provided horizontally in a flat plate shape, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the lower carry-out guide plate 64 may be an extension of the inclined surface of the carry-out guide plate 64. It may be tilted. Further, in the light irradiation device 10B, the lower carry-out guide plate 65 is provided so as to be separated from the seat holding plate 56B in front of the sheet holding plate 56B, so that the light NIR is directly thermally expandable in a part of the light irradiation region 1i. The sheet 9A is irradiated. Alternatively, the lower carry-out guide plate 65 may be extended rearward to just below the end of the seat holding plate 56B. The narrower the gap between the sheet holding plate 56B and the lower carry-out guide plate 65 in the transport direction is arranged, the more difficult it is for the front end and the rear end of the heat-expandable sheet 9A to come into contact with the reflector 22, and the safety is improved. .. Further, the seat holding plate 56B may have a step or an inclined surface and may be integrated so as to be connected to the lower carry-out guide plate 65, and the safety is further improved because there is no gap.

In the light irradiation devices 10A and 10B according to the present embodiment and its modifications, the front and rear ends of the heat-expandable sheet 9 (9A) that has passed through the contact region 1c are the sheet holding plates 56A and 56B and the lower carry-out guide plate. Supported by 65. Therefore, the distance from passing through the contact region 1c to passing through the light irradiation region 1i ( _{between Pc E and} Pi _{E in} FIG. 2B) can be lengthened. Therefore, as described above, the main drive roller 55A May be arranged closer to the rear (carry-in side), and the main drive roller 55A may be arranged so that the contact area 1c is further behind the light irradiation area 1i. In this way, when the contact area 1c does not overlap behind the light irradiation area 1i (the end point Pc _{E of the contact area 1c is after the start point Pi S} of the light irradiation area 1i), the main drive roller 55A is the heat-expandable sheet 9. _{The surface temperature Tro} may be controlled to be low by a heat radiating roller 46 or the like instead of using the preheating means. The main drive roller 55A, the surface temperature T _ro is low, by expanding the height of the thermal expansion layer 91 is set so as not to be changed by the presence or absence of contact between the thermal expansion sheet 9, the total width of the heat-expandable sheet 9 It does not have to be configured to make uniform contact over the entire surface. Such a main drive roller 55A secures a sufficient contact area together with friction on the outer peripheral surface so as not to slip the heat-expandable sheet 9, and for example, like the drive rollers 51 to 54, in the transport width direction. It is possible to have a configuration in which short objects in the (axial direction) are dispersed in two or more locations.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the entire surface including the peripheral edge of the heat-expandable sheet can be uniformly irradiated with light.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

The inventions described in the claims originally attached to the application of this application are added below. The claims in the appendix are as specified in the claims originally attached to the application for this application.
[Additional Notes]
<< Claim 1 >>
A light irradiation means for irradiating one surface of a sheet-like medium with light containing light having a predetermined wavelength,
The medium is sandwiched and conveyed by a pressing member provided on one surface side for transmitting light having at least the predetermined wavelength and a conveying roller provided on the other surface side, and light is irradiated from the light irradiating means. A light irradiation device comprising: a transport means for passing through a light irradiation region to be formed.
<< Claim 2 >>
The light irradiation device according to claim 1, wherein the transport means sandwiches the medium over the entire transport orthogonal direction.
<< Claim 3 >>
The light irradiation device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the transport means sandwiches the medium within the light irradiation region.
<< Claim 4 >>
The light irradiation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the transport roller is provided with an elastic member on its surface.
<< Claim 5 >>
The light irradiation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a temperature measuring means for measuring the surface temperature of the transport roller.
<< Claim 6 >>
The light irradiation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a transfer roller temperature control means for controlling the surface temperature of the transfer roller.
<< Claim 7 >>
The light irradiation device according to claim 6, wherein the transfer roller temperature control means is a heating means for heating the transfer roller.
<< Claim 8 >>
The light irradiation device according to claim 6, wherein the transfer roller temperature control means is a cooling means for cooling the transfer rollers.

10, 10A, 10B Light irradiation device 1c Contact area 1i Light irradiation area 2 Light irradiation part (light irradiation means)
21 Light source 22 Reflector 3,3A Cooler 45 Temperature sensor (Temperature measuring means)
46 Heat dissipation roller (conveyor roller temperature control means)
55,55A Main drive roller (conveyor roller)
55o Surface member (elastic member)
56, 56A, 56B Seat holding plate (holding member)
9,9A Thermally expandable sheet (medium)

Claims (9)

A light irradiation means that irradiates light containing light of a predetermined wavelength toward one surface of a heat-expandable sheet that expands due to heat.
The heat-expandable sheet is sandwiched and conveyed by a pressing member provided on one surface side for transmitting light having at least the predetermined wavelength and a conveying roller provided on the other surface side, and is conveyed from the light irradiation means. A transport means for passing through a light irradiation area to be irradiated with light,
A temperature measuring means for measuring the surface temperature of the transport roller and
A light irradiation device characterized by comprising. A light irradiation means that irradiates light containing light of a predetermined wavelength toward one surface of a heat-expandable sheet that expands due to heat.
The heat-expandable sheet is sandwiched and conveyed by a pressing member provided on one surface side for transmitting light having at least the predetermined wavelength and a conveying roller provided on the other surface side, and is conveyed from the light irradiation means. A transport means for passing through a light irradiation area to be irradiated with light,
A transport roller temperature control means for controlling the surface temperature of the transport roller, and
A light irradiation device characterized by comprising. The light irradiation device according to claim 2 , wherein the transfer roller temperature control means is a heating means for heating the transfer roller. The light irradiation device according to claim 2 , wherein the transfer roller temperature control means is a cooling means for cooling the transfer rollers. The one according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the pressing member is located on the side where the heat-expandable sheet is carried in, rather than the position where the expansion of the heat-expandable sheet proceeds. Light irradiation device. The light irradiation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the transport means sandwiches the heat-expandable sheet over the entire transport orthogonal direction. The light irradiation device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the transport means sandwiches the heat-expandable sheet within the light irradiation region. The light irradiation device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the transport roller is provided with an elastic member on its surface. It is a method for manufacturing a modeled object in which irregularities are formed on the surface by expanding a heat-expandable sheet that expands due to heat.
A light irradiation step of irradiating one surface of the heat-expandable sheet with light containing light having a predetermined wavelength by a light irradiation means.
The heat-expandable sheet is sandwiched and conveyed by a pressing member provided on one surface side for transmitting light having at least the predetermined wavelength and a conveying roller provided on the other surface side, and is conveyed from the light irradiation means. And a transport step that passes through the light irradiation area where the light of
A transfer roller temperature control step for controlling the surface temperature of the transfer roller, and
A method for manufacturing a modeled object, which is characterized by having.

Images