Patent · US10913291B2 · B2 · US

Structure forming method, structure forming apparatus, structure forming program and structure forming processing medium

(11) Publication number

US10913291B2

(21) Application number

15/777,346

(22) Filing date

2016-10-28

(30) Priority date

2015-11-18

(43) Publication date

2021-02-09

(45) Date of grant

2021-02-09

(51) IPC

B41J 11/00; B41J 2/01; B41J 3/407; B41M 3/06; B41M 7/00

(52) CPC

B41J Typewriters; selective printing mechanisms, i.e. mechanisms printing otherwise than from a forme; correction of typographical errors: 3/50, 11/002, 2/01, 2/4753, 3/407, 3/4075
B29C Shaping or joining of plastics; shaping of material in a plastic state, not otherwise provided for; after-treatment of the shaped products, e.g. repairing: 2035/0822, 35/0266, 35/0272, 44/022, 44/3415
B41M Printing, duplicating, marking, or copying processes; colour printing: 3/06, 3/16, 5/26, 7/009
B42D Books; book covers; loose leaves; printed matter characterised by identification or security features; printed matter of special format or style not otherwise provided for; devices for use therewith and not otherwise provided for; movable-strip writing or reading apparatus: 25/324, 25/41, 25/425

(73) Assignee

Casio Computer Co Ltd

(72) Inventors

Fusao Nishiura

(54) Title

Structure forming method, structure forming apparatus, structure forming program and structure forming processing medium

(57) Abstract

A structure forming method of present invention includes a first step including forming a first pattern serving as a fine pattern using an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material on a first surface, on the side on which an expansion layer which expands by heating is provided, of a medium including the expansion layer and then irradiating an electromagnetic wave toward the electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material to expand a portion, corresponding to the first pattern, of the expansion layer, and a second step including forming a second pattern including a coarser pattern than the first pattern using an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material on a second surface, on the opposite side to the side on which the expansion layer is provided, of the medium and then irradiating an electromagnetic wave toward the electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material to expand a portion, corresponding to the second pattern, of the expansion layer.

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Claims (18)

A structure forming method comprising: a first step comprising forming a first pattern serving as a fine pattern using an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material on a first surface, on the side on which an expansion layer which expands by heating is provided, of a medium including the expansion layer and then irradiating an electromagnetic wave toward the electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material to expand a portion, corresponding to the first pattern, of the expansion layer; and a second step comprising forming a second pattern including a coarser pattern than the first pattern using an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material on a second surface, on the opposite side to the side on which the expansion layer is provided, of the medium and then irradiating an electromagnetic wave toward the electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material to expand a portion, corresponding to the second pattern, of the expansion layer.
The structure forming method according to claim 1, further comprising a third step comprising forming a third pattern corresponding to an image using a coloring material including an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material in a region, corresponding to the second pattern, of the first surface of the medium after forming the first pattern in the first step and before expanding a portion corresponding to the second pattern in the second step.
The structure forming method according to claim 2, wherein the first pattern is a pattern representing a contour of the third pattern, and the first step includes irradiating the electromagnetic wave from the side of the first surface of the medium, to expand the expansion layer.
The structure forming method according to claim 1, further comprising forming a third pattern corresponding to an image using a coloring material not including an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material in a region, corresponding to the second pattern, of the first surface of the medium at the same time as forming the first pattern.
The structure forming method according to claim 1, wherein the first step includes irradiating the electromagnetic wave from the side of the first surface of the medium, to expand the expansion layer, the second step includes irradiating the electromagnetic wave from the side of the second surface of the medium, to expand the expansion layer, and expanding the expansion layer in the first step and expanding the expansion layer in the second step are simultaneously performed.
The structure forming method according to claim 1, wherein the first step includes irradiating the electromagnetic wave from the side of the first surface of the medium, to expand the expansion layer, and the second step includes irradiating the electromagnetic wave from the side of the second surface of the medium, to expand the expansion layer, and expanding the expansion layer in the second step is performed before expanding the expansion layer in the first step.
The structure forming method according to claim 1, wherein the first pattern is a pattern representing at least one of Braille and a line region, and the first step includes irradiating the electromagnetic wave from the side of the first surface of the medium, to expand the expansion layer.
The structure forming method according to claim 1, wherein the second step includes irradiating the electromagnetic wave from the side of the second surface of the medium, to expand the expansion layer.
A structure forming apparatus comprising: a forming unit which forms an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material on an expansion layer, which expands by heating, in a medium including the expansion layer; an irradiation unit which irradiates an electromagnetic wave toward the electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material, to expand the expansion layer on which the electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material is formed; and a control unit which performs a first step of causing the forming unit to form a first pattern serving as a fine pattern using an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material on a first surface, on the side on which the expansion layer is provided, of the medium and then causing the irradiation unit to expand a portion, corresponding to the first pattern, of the expansion layer, and a second step including causing the forming unit to form a second pattern including a coarser pattern than the first pattern using an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material on a second surface, on the opposite side to the side on which the expansion layer is provided, of the medium, and then causing the irradiation unit to expand a portion, corresponding to the second pattern, of the expansion layer.
The structure forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control unit further performs a third step including forming a third pattern corresponding to an image using a coloring material including an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material in a region, corresponding to the second pattern, of the first surface of the medium after forming the first pattern in the first step and before expanding a portion corresponding to the second pattern in the second step.
The structure forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first pattern is a pattern representing a contour of the third pattern, and the first step includes irradiating the electromagnetic wave from the side of the first surface of the medium, to expand the expansion layer.
The structure forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control unit causes the forming unit to form a third pattern corresponding to an image using a coloring material not including an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material in a region, corresponding to the second pattern, of the first surface of the medium at the same time as forming the first pattern.
The structure forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first step includes irradiating the electromagnetic wave from the side of the first surface of the medium, to expand the expansion layer, the second step includes irradiating the electromagnetic wave from the side of the second surface of the medium, to expand the expansion layer, and expanding the expansion layer in the first step and expanding the expansion layer in the second step are simultaneously performed.
The structure forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first step includes irradiating the electromagnetic wave from the side of the first surface of the medium, to expand the expansion layer, and the second step includes irradiating the electromagnetic wave from the side of the second surface of the medium, to expand the expansion layer, and expanding the expansion layer in the second step before expanding the expansion layer in the first step.
The structure forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first pattern is a pattern representing at least one of Braille and a line region, and the first step includes irradiating the electromagnetic wave from the side of the first surface of the medium, to expand the expansion layer.
The structure forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the second step includes irradiating the electromagnetic wave from the side of the second surface of the medium, to expand the expansion layer.
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a structure forming program stored thereon for controlling a structure forming apparatus comprising a forming unit which forms an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material on an expansion layer, which expands by heating, in a medium including the expansion layer, an irradiation unit which irradiates an electromagnetic wave toward the electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material, to expand the expansion layer on which the electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material is formed, wherein the structure forming program is executable by a computer to perform: a first step including causing the forming unit to form a first pattern serving as a fine pattern using an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material on a first surface, on the side on which the expansion layer is provided, of the medium, and then causing the irradiation unit to expand a portion, corresponding to the first pattern, of the expansion layer, and a second step including causing the forming unit to form a second pattern including a coarser pattern than the first pattern using an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material on a second surface, on the opposite side to the side on which the expansion layer is provided, of the medium, and then causing the irradiation unit to expand a portion, corresponding to the second pattern, of the expansion layer.
A structure forming processing medium comprising an expansion layer which expands by heating, wherein an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material is formed in a first pattern serving as a fine pattern on a first surface, on the side on which the expansion layer is provided, of the medium, and a thickness of a portion, corresponding to the first pattern, of the expansion layer is larger than a thickness of a remaining portion of the expansion layer, wherein an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material is formed in a second pattern including a coarser pattern than the first pattern on a second surface, on the opposite side to the side on which the expansion layer is provided, of the medium, and a thickness of a portion, corresponding to only the second pattern, of the expansion layer is smaller than a thickness of a portion corresponding to the first pattern.

Description

The present invention relates to a structure forming method, a structure forming apparatus, a structure forming program and a structure forming processing medium.

Conventionally, a foam molding method for forming a gray scale image to have a desired pattern on a surface, on the opposite side to the side on which an expansion layer which expands by heating is provided, of a medium including the expansion layer and irradiating the medium on which this gray scale image is formed with light from the opposite side thereto, to expand and raise a site, where the gray scale image is formed, of the expansion layer in the medium has been known (e.g., Patent Document 1). In Patent Document 1, the gray scale image absorbs light to generate heat, this heat is conducted to the expansion layer through a base material layer of the medium, and the expansion layer is expanded depending on an amount of the conducted heat.

Patent Document 1: JP 2001-150812

However, a base material layer has a relatively large thickness. Thus, an amount of heat is easily dispersed in a planar direction of the base material layer while being conducted through the base material layer. Accordingly, there has been a problem that if a gray scale image having a fine pattern is formed on a surface on the opposite side of a medium, for example, irregularities faithfully corresponding to the gray scale image having such a pattern cannot be formed on the side, on which an expansion layer is provided, of the medium.

Citations (15)

JPS56144998A
JP2001150812A
US8870327B2
US20120218338A1
JP2012171317A
US20130168903A1
JP2013136171A
US9522490B2
US20130280498A1
JP2014083740A
US20150070452A1
JP2015071286A
US9162486B2
JP2015063130A
JP2017094706A

Record as JSON

{
  "publication_number": "US10913291B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Structure forming method, structure forming apparatus, structure forming program and structure forming processing medium",
  "abstract": "A structure forming method of present invention includes a first step including forming a first pattern serving as a fine pattern using an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material on a first surface, on the side on which an expansion layer which expands by heating is provided, of a medium including the expansion layer and then irradiating an electromagnetic wave toward the electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material to expand a portion, corresponding to the first pattern, of the expansion layer, and a second step including forming a second pattern including a coarser pattern than the first pattern using an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material on a second surface, on the opposite side to the side on which the expansion layer is provided, of the medium and then irradiating an electromagnetic wave toward the electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material to expand a portion, corresponding to the second pattern, of the expansion layer.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A structure forming method comprising: a first step comprising forming a first pattern serving as a fine pattern using an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material on a first surface, on the side on which an expansion layer which expands by heating is provided, of a medium including the expansion layer and then irradiating an electromagnetic wave toward the electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material to expand a portion, corresponding to the first pattern, of the expansion layer; and a second step comprising forming a second pattern including a coarser pattern than the first pattern using an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material on a second surface, on the opposite side to the side on which the expansion layer is provided, of the medium and then irradiating an electromagnetic wave toward the electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material to expand a portion, corresponding to the second pattern, of the expansion layer.",
    "2. The structure forming method according to claim 1, further comprising a third step comprising forming a third pattern corresponding to an image using a coloring material including an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material in a region, corresponding to the second pattern, of the first surface of the medium after forming the first pattern in the first step and before expanding a portion corresponding to the second pattern in the second step.",
    "3. The structure forming method according to claim 2, wherein the first pattern is a pattern representing a contour of the third pattern, and the first step includes irradiating the electromagnetic wave from the side of the first surface of the medium, to expand the expansion layer.",
    "4. The structure forming method according to claim 1, further comprising forming a third pattern corresponding to an image using a coloring material not including an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material in a region, corresponding to the second pattern, of the first surface of the medium at the same time as forming the first pattern.",
    "5. The structure forming method according to claim 1, wherein the first step includes irradiating the electromagnetic wave from the side of the first surface of the medium, to expand the expansion layer, the second step includes irradiating the electromagnetic wave from the side of the second surface of the medium, to expand the expansion layer, and expanding the expansion layer in the first step and expanding the expansion layer in the second step are simultaneously performed.",
    "6. The structure forming method according to claim 1, wherein the first step includes irradiating the electromagnetic wave from the side of the first surface of the medium, to expand the expansion layer, and the second step includes irradiating the electromagnetic wave from the side of the second surface of the medium, to expand the expansion layer, and expanding the expansion layer in the second step is performed before expanding the expansion layer in the first step.",
    "7. The structure forming method according to claim 1, wherein the first pattern is a pattern representing at least one of Braille and a line region, and the first step includes irradiating the electromagnetic wave from the side of the first surface of the medium, to expand the expansion layer.",
    "8. The structure forming method according to claim 1, wherein the second step includes irradiating the electromagnetic wave from the side of the second surface of the medium, to expand the expansion layer.",
    "9. A structure forming apparatus comprising: a forming unit which forms an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material on an expansion layer, which expands by heating, in a medium including the expansion layer; an irradiation unit which irradiates an electromagnetic wave toward the electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material, to expand the expansion layer on which the electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material is formed; and a control unit which performs a first step of causing the forming unit to form a first pattern serving as a fine pattern using an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material on a first surface, on the side on which the expansion layer is provided, of the medium and then causing the irradiation unit to expand a portion, corresponding to the first pattern, of the expansion layer, and a second step including causing the forming unit to form a second pattern including a coarser pattern than the first pattern using an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material on a second surface, on the opposite side to the side on which the expansion layer is provided, of the medium, and then causing the irradiation unit to expand a portion, corresponding to the second pattern, of the expansion layer.",
    "10. The structure forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control unit further performs a third step including forming a third pattern corresponding to an image using a coloring material including an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material in a region, corresponding to the second pattern, of the first surface of the medium after forming the first pattern in the first step and before expanding a portion corresponding to the second pattern in the second step.",
    "11. The structure forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first pattern is a pattern representing a contour of the third pattern, and the first step includes irradiating the electromagnetic wave from the side of the first surface of the medium, to expand the expansion layer.",
    "12. The structure forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control unit causes the forming unit to form a third pattern corresponding to an image using a coloring material not including an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material in a region, corresponding to the second pattern, of the first surface of the medium at the same time as forming the first pattern.",
    "13. The structure forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first step includes irradiating the electromagnetic wave from the side of the first surface of the medium, to expand the expansion layer, the second step includes irradiating the electromagnetic wave from the side of the second surface of the medium, to expand the expansion layer, and expanding the expansion layer in the first step and expanding the expansion layer in the second step are simultaneously performed.",
    "14. The structure forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first step includes irradiating the electromagnetic wave from the side of the first surface of the medium, to expand the expansion layer, and the second step includes irradiating the electromagnetic wave from the side of the second surface of the medium, to expand the expansion layer, and expanding the expansion layer in the second step before expanding the expansion layer in the first step.",
    "15. The structure forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first pattern is a pattern representing at least one of Braille and a line region, and the first step includes irradiating the electromagnetic wave from the side of the first surface of the medium, to expand the expansion layer.",
    "16. The structure forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the second step includes irradiating the electromagnetic wave from the side of the second surface of the medium, to expand the expansion layer.",
    "17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a structure forming program stored thereon for controlling a structure forming apparatus comprising a forming unit which forms an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material on an expansion layer, which expands by heating, in a medium including the expansion layer, an irradiation unit which irradiates an electromagnetic wave toward the electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material, to expand the expansion layer on which the electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material is formed, wherein the structure forming program is executable by a computer to perform: a first step including causing the forming unit to form a first pattern serving as a fine pattern using an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material on a first surface, on the side on which the expansion layer is provided, of the medium, and then causing the irradiation unit to expand a portion, corresponding to the first pattern, of the expansion layer, and a second step including causing the forming unit to form a second pattern including a coarser pattern than the first pattern using an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material on a second surface, on the opposite side to the side on which the expansion layer is provided, of the medium, and then causing the irradiation unit to expand a portion, corresponding to the second pattern, of the expansion layer.",
    "18. A structure forming processing medium comprising an expansion layer which expands by heating, wherein an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material is formed in a first pattern serving as a fine pattern on a first surface, on the side on which the expansion layer is provided, of the medium, and a thickness of a portion, corresponding to the first pattern, of the expansion layer is larger than a thickness of a remaining portion of the expansion layer, wherein an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material is formed in a second pattern including a coarser pattern than the first pattern on a second surface, on the opposite side to the side on which the expansion layer is provided, of the medium, and a thickness of a portion, corresponding to only the second pattern, of the expansion layer is smaller than a thickness of a portion corresponding to the first pattern."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to a structure forming method, a structure forming apparatus, a structure forming program and a structure forming processing medium.\n\nConventionally, a foam molding method for forming a gray scale image to have a desired pattern on a surface, on the opposite side to the side on which an expansion layer which expands by heating is provided, of a medium including the expansion layer and irradiating the medium on which this gray scale image is formed with light from the opposite side thereto, to expand and raise a site, where the gray scale image is formed, of the expansion layer in the medium has been known (e.g., Patent Document 1). In Patent Document 1, the gray scale image absorbs light to generate heat, this heat is conducted to the expansion layer through a base material layer of the medium, and the expansion layer is expanded depending on an amount of the conducted heat.\n\nPatent Document 1: JP 2001-150812\n\nHowever, a base material layer has a relatively large thickness. Thus, an amount of heat is easily dispersed in a planar direction of the base material layer while being conducted through the base material layer. Accordingly, there has been a problem that if a gray scale image having a fine pattern is formed on a surface on the opposite side of a medium, for example, irregularities faithfully corresponding to the gray scale image having such a pattern cannot be formed on the side, on which an expansion layer is provided, of the medium.",
  "cpc": [
    "B41J 3/50",
    "B29C 2035/0822",
    "B29C 35/0266",
    "B29C 35/0272",
    "B29C 44/022",
    "B29C 44/3415",
    "B41J 11/002",
    "B41J 2/01",
    "B41J 2/4753",
    "B41J 3/407",
    "B41J 3/4075",
    "B41M 3/06",
    "B41M 3/16",
    "B41M 5/26",
    "B41M 7/009",
    "B42D 25/324",
    "B42D 25/41",
    "B42D 25/425"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B41J 11/00",
    "B41J 2/01",
    "B41J 3/407",
    "B41M 3/06",
    "B41M 7/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Casio Computer Co Ltd"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Fusao Nishiura"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-10-28",
  "publication_date": "2021-02-09",
  "grant_date": "2021-02-09",
  "priority_date": "2015-11-18",
  "application_number": "US-201615777346-A",
  "family_id": "58804347",
  "cited_by_count": 5,
  "citations": [
    "JPS56144998A",
    "JP2001150812A",
    "US8870327B2",
    "US20120218338A1",
    "JP2012171317A",
    "US20130168903A1",
    "JP2013136171A",
    "US9522490B2",
    "US20130280498A1",
    "JP2014083740A",
    "US20150070452A1",
    "JP2015071286A",
    "US9162486B2",
    "JP2015063130A",
    "JP2017094706A"
  ]
}

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