Raster printer

Abstract

An image forming apparatus (23) for lenticular printing, the apparatus comprising: a housing (3) enclosing a plurality of rollers (11) and a dye sublimation print head (14) comprising a heating element; wherein the plurality of rollers (11) are configured to load a dye sublimation ribbon (8) into the dye sublimation print head (14) and to move an image substrate (9) from a store (19) of image substrates to the dye sublimation print head (14) or to move a lenticular substrate from a store (20) of lenticular substrates to the dye sublimation print head (14), wherein the dye sublimation print head is configured to form an image on the image substrate (9) or on a surface of the lenticular substrate (10) using the ribbon (8), the image comprising a plurality of interlaced images; wherein the plurality of rollers (11) are configured to move the lenticular substrate (10) or the image substrate (9) into contact with the other of the lenticular substrate or the image substrate and wherein the image forming apparatus (23) is configured to secure the lenticular substrate (10) to the image substrate (9) to form a lenticular image.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure describes an image forming apparatus for raster image printing, a box used with the image forming apparatus, and a method of using the apparatus. Background Technology

[0002] Raster printing is a technique that uses lenticular lenses (also used in 3D displays) to generate printed images that have the illusion of depth or the ability to change or move when viewed from different angles.

[0003] Examples of raster printing include flipping and animation effects, such as blinking, and modern advertising graphics that change their information based on viewing angle.

[0004] Raster printing is a multi-step process that involves creating a raster image from at least two images and combining the raster image with a lenticular lens. This process can be used to create various animation frames (for motion effects), offset individual layers with different increments (for 3D effects), or simply show a set of alternative images that may be interchangeable. Once the various images are collected, they are flattened into separate, distinct frame files and then digitally combined into a single final file in a process known as interlaced scanning.

[0005] From there, the interlaced image can be printed onto a substrate, such as photographic paper, and laminated onto a lenticular lens substrate. The lenticular lens substrate is the base that carries the lenticular lenses; it is also referred to as a lenticular array, such as an array of cylindrical lenses. The substrate material can include polymers; for example, the array can be molded from plastics such as PMMA, PETG, or polycarbonate.

[0006] Combined lenticular printing simply displays two or more different images by changing the angle at which the print is viewed. If more (30+) images are taken sequentially, they can even display a short animated sequence of about one second. Although typically produced in sheet form, lenticular images can also be generated in rolls with 3D effects or multi-color variations by interleaving simple images or different colors throughout the artwork. Alternatively, one or more images of the same object taken from slightly different angles can be used to create a lenticular print that displays a stereoscopic 3D effect. The 3D effect is achieved along a left-to-right direction, as the observer's left eye then looks to the right from a slightly different angle to create the stereoscopic effect. Other effects such as distortion, motion, and scaling are more effective (less ghosting or latent effects) compared to top-to-bottom effects but can be achieved in both directions.

[0007] The problem with known raster printing methods is that they are not suitable for use in desktop-sized or smaller consumer devices and typically require a large amount of manual input from skilled experts, which is time-consuming, impractical on a large scale, and therefore expensive. This makes raster printing inaccessible to the average consumer.

[0008] This disclosure is intended to address these and other issues. Summary of the Invention

[0009] In summary, this disclosure provides a miniaturized, desktop-sized or smaller raster printing device suitable for use by ordinary consumers.

[0010] According to a first aspect, an image forming apparatus for raster image printing is provided. In one implementation, the apparatus includes a housing enclosing a plurality of rollers and a dye-sublimation printhead including a heating element. In another implementation, the apparatus also includes a reservoir for a dye-sublimation ribbon, an image substrate such as photographic paper, white vinyl, one or more layers of coating or other coating, and a reservoir for a lenticular substrate. Although photographic paper is used herein as the primary example, it is contemplated that other image substrates may also be used where applicable (e.g., in implementations where an image is first formed on a lenticular substrate and the image substrate is applied to the lenticular substrate, as described below). These image substrates may be disposed commonly or separately in one or more cassettes or packages, such as one or more removable cassettes, which are coupled to, for example, held within the housing. The removable cassette may include one or more, or two or more, of the following, for example configured to accommodate one or more, or two or more, of the following: a dye-sublimation ribbon, a reservoir for the photographic paper substrate, and a reservoir for the lenticular substrate. In one implementation, multiple rollers are configured to load a belt into a dye-sublimation printhead and move a photographic paper substrate from a reservoir to the printhead. In another implementation, the dye-sublimation printhead is configured to form an image on the photographic paper substrate or on the surface of a lenticular lens substrate using the belt. In yet another implementation, the image comprises multiple interlaced images. In yet another implementation, the multiple rollers are configured to move the lenticular lens substrate into contact with the photographic paper substrate, or vice versa. In yet another implementation, the image forming apparatus is configured to fix the lenticular lens substrate to an image substrate to form a raster image.

[0011] In some implementations, the surface of the lenticular lens substrate is provided with an adhesive having a backing layer, and one or more of the plurality of rollers are configured to peel the backing layer off the lenticular lens substrate when the lenticular lens substrate is moved to contact the image substrate.

[0012] Advantageously, this provides an improved user experience because the user does not need to manually remove the backing layer before inserting the lenticular lens substrate into the device (e.g., with a case), and because this allows the adhesive on the lenticular lens substrate to have a longer shelf life due to the backing layer holding the adhesive in place and preventing it from curing during storage. Furthermore, this method reduces the energy consumption of using heating elements or UV light to bond the lenticular lens and photographic paper. Another advantage of this method is how it minimizes the internal risks of adhesive secretion or adhesive bonding with other internal components of the invention.

[0013] In some implementations, the heating element of the dye sublimation printhead is configured to heat the cylindrical lens substrate and / or the photographic paper substrate to bond the cylindrical lens substrate to the photographic paper substrate to form a printed raster image.

[0014] Advantageously, using a heating element in the dye-sublimation printhead to bond the lenticular substrate to the photographic paper substrate means that there is no need to provide a bulky and expensive additional heating element in the device to bond the two substrates together to form a raster image. This is particularly advantageous because multiple rollers align the substrates below the dye-sublimation printhead that forms the image, without needing to move them to a separate alignment module or location in the device and without specific user input, thereby reducing the space requirements of the device and ensuring that the user does not need to manually align the lenticular substrate to the photographic paper substrate as in known methods. In this implementation, the photographic paper substrate comprises a substrate suitable for dye-sublimation printing.

[0015] Additional or alternative bonding methods are also envisioned. For example, in some implementations, one or more rollers are configured to apply pressure to the lenticular lens substrate and / or image substrate to bond the lenticular lens substrate to the image substrate to form a raster image. Additionally or alternatively, the image forming apparatus includes an ultraviolet light source configured to irradiate the lenticular lens substrate and / or image substrate to bond the lenticular lens substrate to the image substrate to form a raster image. In each case, the adhesive used is envisioned to be heat, pressure, and / or UV light enabled where applicable.

[0016] As will be understood, these arrangements allow for a variety of different ways of forming grating images, depending on whether the image is first formed on the image substrate or on the back of the lenticular lens substrate and how the image substrate is fixed to the lenticular lens substrate.

[0017] For example, consider each of the following methods, classifying them as whether the image is first formed on an image substrate or first formed on the back side of a lenticular lens substrate.

[0018] First, an image is formed on the image substrate:

[0019] Example 1: First, an image is formed on an image substrate. The lenticular lens substrate is pretreated using an adhesive. A backing layer (e.g., a plastic backing) is provided on the adhesive layer, which can be removed, for example peeled off, by a printer using rollers or other suitable mechanisms when the lenticular lens substrate is moved to contact the image substrate and / or pressed onto the image substrate to adhere it to the image substrate.

[0020] Example 2: First, an image is formed on an image substrate. The lenticular lens substrate is pretreated using a heat-activated adhesive, which is activated by the image forming apparatus, for example, by the heating element described above, when the lenticular lens substrate is moved to contact the image substrate and / or pressed onto the image substrate to adhere it to the image substrate.

[0021] Example 3: First, an image is formed on an image substrate. The lenticular lens substrate is pretreated with a pressure-enabled adhesive, which is activated by an image forming apparatus, such as by one or more rollers or other suitable mechanism, as the lenticular lens substrate is moved into contact with and / or pressed onto the image substrate to adhere it to the image substrate.

[0022] Example 4: First, an image is formed on an image substrate. The lenticular lens substrate is pretreated with a UV-enabled adhesive, which is activated by the aforementioned UV source when the lenticular lens substrate is moved to contact the image substrate and / or pressed onto the image substrate to adhere it to the image substrate.

[0023] In each of these examples, the image substrate can be photographic paper, white vinyl, or other materials.

[0024] First, an image is formed on the cylindrical lens substrate:

[0025] Example 6: An image is formed on the back side of a lenticular lens substrate, and once the image is formed, a layer of white vinyl or other material is heat-pressed onto the backing of the lenticular lens substrate using a suitable pressing mechanism. The heat source may also be the heating element described above.

[0026] Example 7: Applying a coating or layer to the backing of a cylindrical lens. The material of the coating and / or layer is strong and flexible enough that no additional protective layer, such as that provided by a white vinyl base, is required. In this context, the coating or layer itself is the image substrate.

[0027] In summary, the above arrangement is advantageous for many reasons.

[0028] First, a pre-filled removable cartridge—which can also be called a box—ensures compatibility between the photo paper substrate and the lenticular lens substrate. The photo paper substrate and the lenticular lens substrate are correctly positioned for multiple rollers to receive the substrate into the device, thereby simplifying the user's loading of the device. Therefore, in some implementations, the multiple rollers include a first roller and a press configured to align the photo paper substrate and the lenticular lens substrate, for example, at the dye sublimation printhead, during the heating process.

[0029] Secondly, the inventors have recognized that dye sublimation printing is particularly suitable for raster printing in desktop or smaller consumer devices compared to methods such as inkjet printing or other printing methods. This is because printing accuracy is critical for the proper display of a raster image; even slight artifacts or incorrectly printed elements in the image can cause it to be displayed incorrectly through the lens substrate. Inkjet printers are particularly sensitive to orientation because gravity affects the trajectory of ink droplets. Since consumers often orient their devices at many different angles, this can lead to low-quality printing or device malfunction. In contrast, dye sublimation printing can be used in any orientation, thus making it particularly suitable for raster printing in consumer devices. Collaboratively, it also allows the heating element of the dye sublimation printhead to be used to bond the cylindrical lens substrate to the photographic paper substrate as described above.

[0030] In some implementations, the plurality of rollers includes: a second roller positioned at the removable cartridge for moving the photo paper substrate from the storage compartment when the removable cartridge is attached to the housing; a third roller positioned at the removable cartridge for moving the lenticular lens substrate from the storage compartment when the removable cartridge is attached to the housing; and a fourth roller positioned at the dye-sublimation printhead for moving the photo paper substrate past the dye-sublimation printhead during the formation of the image. In some implementations, a first roller and a press are positioned at an opening in the housing and configured to discharge a raster image from the device upon completion.

[0031] Advantageously, this arrangement of the rollers allows for the printing of raster images with minimal input from the user, thus making it suitable for consumer devices.

[0032] In some implementations, the image forming apparatus includes a controller unit and a motor, the motor being coupled to a plurality of rollers via one or more gear assemblies, wherein the controller unit is configured to control the motor to drive the plurality of rollers and to control the dye sublimation printhead during the formation of the raster image.

[0033] Advantageously, the controller unit, motor, and one or more gear assemblies automate the raster printing process used by the user without requiring manual alignment or positioning of the cylindrical lens substrate.

[0034] In some implementations, the image forming apparatus includes a sensor unit coupled to a controller unit and configured to detect insertion of a removable cartridge into a housing and to identify the cartridge type. In some implementations, the controller unit is configured to prevent the apparatus from forming the raster image if the sensor unit cannot identify the cartridge type. The cartridge type can be used to control the image forming apparatus, particularly to control the formation of an image on a photographic paper substrate, for example, to make the image suitable for the type of cartridge, or more specifically, for the substrate material in the cartridge, such as a type of lenticular substrate.

[0035] Advantageously, and to ensure a high standard of user experience, the sensor unit detects whether the inserted cartridge is a genuine cartridge manufactured by a known and trusted manufacturer, or whether the inserted cartridge is a pirated and potentially low-quality copy. For example, if the sensor unit cannot identify the cartridge type as coming from a known and trusted manufacturer, it can indicate that the user experience may be compromised, and the controller unit accordingly prevents the device from using the cartridge to print raster images. Conversely, if the cartridge type is detected as coming from a known and trusted manufacturer (e.g., it is a 3D columnar cartridge containing 3D lenticular lenses, photographic paper, and dye sublimation tape; or it is a moving columnar cartridge containing moving lenticular lenses, photographic paper, and dye sublimation tape; or it is a still image cartridge containing only photographic paper and dye sublimation tape), the controller unit allows the device to print.

[0036] In some implementations, the image forming apparatus includes a communication interface for coupling the controller unit to an external device, such as a mobile device, using a wired or wireless connection.

[0037] Advantageously, this allows users to send images they wish to print to the image forming device using their own mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablets, or other devices, for example, by using a software application associated with the image forming device on their device. If a wireless connection is used, the communication interface may include, for example, Bluetooth. TM WiFi TM Or other wireless connectivity interfaces. Additionally or alternatively, if a wired connection is used, the communication interface may include a USB-C connectivity interface, or one such as that used with an iPhone. TM Other connectors such as Lightning ports.

[0038] In some implementations, the housing defines a shaped receiving surface and a clamp for holding an external moving device on the shaped receiving surface.

[0039] Advantageously, the combination of the forming surface and the clamp allows a moving device of any shape or size to be held to the device, thereby improving the user experience and ensuring that any connection, wireless and / or wired connection is maintained during the printing process.

[0040] In some implementations, the image forming apparatus includes a printed circuit board (PCB) enclosed in a housing, wherein a controller unit, a sensor unit, and a communication interface are coupled to the PCB and a power supply.

[0041] Advantageously, by setting these units and interfaces on the PCB within the housing, the device is provided as a fully integrated device suitable for consumer use.

[0042] In some implementations, the image forming apparatus is also configured to print a still image, wherein the plurality of rollers are configured to move a photographic paper substrate from a storage device to a dye-sublimation printhead configured to form an image on the photographic paper substrate using a belt, and the plurality of rollers are also configured to discharge the still image from the apparatus upon completion.

[0043] Advantageously, users are thus able to print both raster and still images using the same equipment, without the need for a separate printer.

[0044] In some implementations, the reservoir of the lenticular lens substrate comprises a continuous strip (e.g., a continuous strip of plastic or other backing material) having a plurality of lenticular lens substrates on which an adhesive is disposed. The backing material is configured to peel off as described above. Optionally, the lenticular lens substrates are disposed on the continuous strip, the continuous strip being spaced apart at predetermined intervals on the same side of the strip, each interval being substantially the length of the lenticular lens substrate, and wherein the continuous strip is folded multiple times, each fold at the beginning and end of a corresponding interval, which optionally allows the folded continuous strips to be disposed in a stacked configuration within the reservoir of the lenticular lens substrate.

[0045] Advantageously, this configuration allows for less energy consumption when a single roller is used to wind up the plastic layer waste. Furthermore, compared to configurations where individual lenticular lens substrates are stacked discontinuously, this arrangement is less prone to jamming because the roller mechanism that pulls the lenticular lens substrate strip forward does not rely on the previous sheet having to pull the next sheet into contact with the roller, which could be a problem with single-piece configurations. This correspondingly improves the reliability of the image forming apparatus. This configuration also allows for easy collection of discarded backing tape at the roller without the risk of jamming caused by separate backing tape components.

[0046] According to another aspect, an image forming apparatus for raster image printing is provided, the apparatus comprising: a housing enclosing a plurality of rollers and a dye sublimation printhead including a heating element; and one or more removable cartridges coupled to the housing for receiving a reservoir of dye sublimation tape and a lenticular lens substrate, wherein the plurality of rollers are configured to load the tape into the dye sublimation printhead and move the lenticular lens substrate from the reservoir to the dye sublimation printhead, wherein the dye sublimation printhead is configured to form an image on the surface of the lenticular lens substrate using the tape, the image comprising a plurality of interlaced images; and wherein the dye sublimation printhead is configured to form a protective layer on the printed image using the tape.

[0047] Advantageously, this provides a means for printing directly onto a lens without the need for photographic paper or other image substrates, as described in many of the above implementations.

[0048] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a method for printing a raster image is provided, the method comprising: inserting a dye sublimation tape, an image substrate, and a lenticular lens substrate into a housing of an image forming apparatus; loading the tape into a dye sublimation printhead using a plurality of rollers, and moving a photographic paper substrate from a storage device to the dye sublimation printhead; forming an image on the photographic paper substrate using the dye sublimation printhead, the image comprising a plurality of interlaced images; moving the lenticular lens substrate into contact with the photographic paper substrate using the plurality of rollers; and heating the lenticular lens substrate and / or the photographic paper substrate using a heating element of the dye sublimation printhead to bond the lenticular lens substrate to the photographic paper substrate, thereby forming a raster image.

[0049] In one implementation, the insertion step includes inserting a removable cartridge comprising the storage of the dye sublimation belt, the image substrate, and the storage of the lenticular lens substrate into the housing of the image forming apparatus.

[0050] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a computer program is provided, the computer program including instructions for causing the above-described device to perform the steps of the above-described method.

[0051] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a computer-readable storage medium is provided on which the aforementioned computer program is stored.

[0052] According to another aspect of the invention, a cartridge for use with the above-described image forming apparatus is provided, the cartridge comprising one or more, or two or more of the following: a dye sublimation tape for loading into a dye sublimation printhead of the image forming apparatus; a storage container for an image substrate; and a storage container for a lenticular lens substrate.

[0053] The box may include physical or electronic mechanisms for instructing the image forming apparatus whether the lenticular lens substrate is suitable for producing an animated raster image or a stereoscopic raster image. In this context, an animated raster image may be an image that presents one or more image flips or image distortions (wherein an image is discretely or quasi-continuously changed from one image to another as the viewing angle changes) or image scaling.

[0054] In some implementations, the lenticular substrate (and software) is adapted to produce animated stereoscopic (3D) raster images, for example, to create animated 3D images that change with the viewpoint.

[0055] The method, computer program, computer-readable storage medium, and box provide the same advantages as described above.

[0056] According to another aspect of this disclosure, an image forming apparatus for printing raster images from a mobile phone or similar device is provided. The apparatus includes a tray for supporting the mobile phone, the tray having a base, a raster printing mechanism, and, in one implementation, a wireless communication system for wireless coupling to the mobile phone. The raster printing mechanism is built into the base of the tray, i.e., the raster printing mechanism is substantially contained within the thickness of the base.

[0057] The image forming apparatus may also include a removable cartridge for receiving at least two of the following: a dye sublimation belt for loading into a dye sublimation printhead of the image forming apparatus; a reservoir for an image substrate; and a reservoir for a cylindrical lens substrate. The tray may have a first slot at one edge for receiving the cartridge.

[0058] The tray may have a second groove at another edge, which may be an opposing edge or any edge. The orientation between the first and second grooves may define the direction of the transport path through the raster printing mechanism, which may be direct or via multiple other paths. For example, the cartridge may be inserted into the first groove in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel. Other orientations and configurations are also contemplated. The raster printing mechanism may include a first roller and a second roller that are vertically and / or laterally displaced from each other to roll away the image substrate and the lenticular lens substrate from the removable cartridge, respectively. The base of the tray may include a dye-sublimation printer positioned along the transport path between the first and second rollers and the second groove. The dye-sublimation printer may have a dye-sublimation printhead configured to both print on the photographic paper substrate and hold the lenticular lens substrate to the photographic paper substrate. This can be achieved using any of the holding methods described above.

[0059] This arrangement allows for the provision of a raster printer within the base of a tray with relatively low thickness.

[0060] The image forming apparatus may also include a sensor for sensing whether the lenticular lens substrate in the removable cartridge is used to generate an animated grating image or a stereo grating image and to generate a substrate type signal.

[0061] Image forming apparatus can be configured to transmit substrate-type signals to raster printing software stored in non-volatile memory within the apparatus, or in non-volatile memory on an external device such as a mobile phone, tablet, or computer, or in the cloud. In one implementation, the image forming apparatus includes a processor controlled by stored instructions in the non-volatile memory within the apparatus to generate an interlaced image for printing based on one or more images, for example, obtained from a mobile phone via a wireless communication link.

[0062] Lattice printing software can be configured to receive one or more images from a mobile phone and convert said one or more images into one or more interlaced images for use by a lenticular printing mechanism to print on an image substrate. This conversion can depend on a substrate type signal, for example, such that when the substrate type signal indicates that a lenticular substrate in a removable cartridge is used to generate an animated lenticular image, the interlaced images, when combined with the lenticular substrate, produce an animated image; and when the substrate type signal indicates that a lenticular substrate in a removable cartridge is used to generate a 3D lenticular image, the interlaced images, when combined with the lenticular substrate, produce a 3D image.

[0063] A removable box, as described above, is also provided.

[0064] Exemplary raster printing process overview

[0065] An exemplary, non-limiting description of the raster printing process is now provided. In associated applications on mobile devices such as smartphones, users select whether they wish to capture and / or print still images, 3D images, or moving images, or alternatively, this is determined by identifying the type of insertable cartridge.

[0066] In some implementations, the application software on the phone or other device is configured to allow the user to modify / edit the image before printing. In one implementation, the application software allows the user to select multiple individual images and stitch them together to form a raster image, which is then output to the printer. Alternatively, multiple images used to form the raster image can be generated from a single initial image.

[0067] Telephones or other devices via Bluetooth TM WiFi TMAlternatively, a photo can be sent to the image forming apparatus via a USB-C / Lightning port. The image forming apparatus uses its rollers to hold a sheet of photographic paper and pushes it toward a dye-sublimation printhead. The printhead then applies layers of cyan, magenta, yellow (and possibly black, other colors, and a clear coat) onto the substrate in multiple passes.

[0068] If the image is raster-based (the processed image contains multiple layers of interlaced images, particularly rows or columns), the image forming apparatus holds a lenticular lens and aligns it with the printed image on photographic paper. This alignment is accomplished using mechanical means including physical constraints based on the dimensions of the photographic paper and the lenticular lens, but it can also be accomplished automatically using photoelectric sensors to align the lenticular lens with the photographic paper. The lenticular lens and photographic paper are then carried together to a dye-sublimation printhead. The dye-sublimation printhead heats the adhesive already applied to the back of the lenticular lens and bonds the lens to the photographic paper. Alternatively or additionally, and as described above, the image forming apparatus may be provided with a mechanism for peeling off a backing layer from the lenticular lens substrate to which the adhesive layer has been applied. This mechanism may be part of a plurality of rollers.

[0069] If the image is a still image, the image forming device applies a final protective coating on top of the image during the last pass.

[0070] The image forming device can be charged via a USB-C port fed into the battery.

[0071] Image forming apparatus may have a consumable port that can acquire one of three types of cartridges:

[0072] 1. 3D Box (includes 3D cylindrical lens, photographic paper, and dye sublimation tape)

[0073] 2. Motion box (containing motion cylindrical lens, photographic paper, and dye sublimation tape)

[0074] 3. Static box (including photographic paper and dye sublimation tape)

[0075] Image forming apparatus may include a sensor that senses whether the cartridge comes from a known, trusted manufacturer or whether it is a counterfeit product. If the cartridge is a counterfeit product, the image forming apparatus may be configured not to print. Attached Figure Description

[0076] These and other aspects of the invention will now be described further by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings and reference numerals.

[0077] Figure 1 A plan view of the front cover according to this disclosure is shown.

[0078] Figure 2A plan view of the back cover according to the present invention is shown.

[0079] Figure 3 An isometric view of the housing showing the consumable port according to this disclosure is shown.

[0080] Figure 4 An exploded internal view of the casing according to this disclosure is shown. The view includes a PCB, battery, gears and rollers, a dye sublimation consumable cartridge containing a dye sublimation belt, photographic paper, and a cylindrical lens.

[0081] Figure 5 A cross-sectional side view is shown of a consumable cartridge, a dye sublimation printhead, a roller associated with the consumable cartridge, and a peeling method for peeling a cylindrical lens from its plastic backing and storing the plastic backing inside the consumable cartridge, according to the present disclosure.

[0082] Figure 6 Cross-sectional isometric views of a consumable cartridge, a dye sublimation printhead, and a roller associated with the consumable cartridge, according to this disclosure, are shown.

[0083] Figure 7 A series of cylindrical lenses fixed to a plastic substrate strip according to the present disclosure are shown.

[0084] Figure 8 A single cylindrical lens according to this disclosure is shown.

[0085] Figure 9 The process of interleaving two images to create a two-image raster flip image according to the present disclosure is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0086] Figure 1 The front cover 1 seen in the image is designed to be similar to... Figure 2 The rear cover 2 seen in the image mates with the front cover 1. These covers form a hollow housing 3 that houses the internal mechanisms of the present invention. This housing can be configured to enclose a small tablet computer or mobile device 4. The front cover 1 or the rear cover 2 can house a clamping system 5, which can be used to hold the small tablet computer or mobile device 4 in place.

[0087] The image forming apparatus illustrated in the figure is envisioned to include a near-field communication module, thereby allowing the invention to be carried out via, for example, Bluetooth. TM NFC TM or WiFi TM Connect to other wireless devices. Image forming equipment may include a wired port 6, such as USB-C, or a Lightning port that allows direct wired communication with electronic devices.

[0088] like Figure 3As seen in the image forming apparatus, it can be configured to include a slot 7 for inserting a consumable cartridge, or a series of slots for inserting specific consumable components, such as a dye sublimation tape 8, photographic paper 9, and a cylindrical lens 10.

[0089] Based on the exemplary configuration of the system shown in the figure, the image forming apparatus uses gears and rollers 11 attached to a printed circuit board 12, which includes a controller unit, a sensor unit, and a communication interface coupled to a power supply 13. The exemplary power supply 13 can be charged via a charging connection to another power source. Another configuration of the power supply 13 may include a replaceable, insertable battery. Figure 4 As seen in the image, gears and rollers 11 clamp the substrate and drive it to a dye sublimation printhead 14, which prints the image directly onto the substrate.

[0090] exist Figure 5 In the configuration shown, the image forming apparatus first uses roller 15 to hold the photographic paper 9 and drives it forward to the dye sublimation printhead 14. The photographic paper 9 is driven using mechanical constraints, but can be configured to include photoelectric sensor constraints to maintain the photograph's position. As the photograph is printed, it is ejected from the invention via the final roller 16. If another layer of color needs to be printed, the image forming apparatus will re-capture the photograph and use mechanical constraints to maintain its position. The image forming apparatus can use photoelectric sensors to ensure the photograph is in the desired position. According to this configuration, after the image forming apparatus has finished printing the colors of the photograph, it can print a transparent protective layer or draw the photograph into a specific location in the invention to prepare for bonding the lenticular lens 10 to the photographic paper 9. The positions of the photographic paper 9 and the lenticular lens 10 can be controlled by mechanical constraints and photoelectric sensor constraints to ensure the desired alignment. In one configuration, the photographic paper 9 can be adhered to the lenticular lens 10 by a heating element that bonds the lenticular lens 10 to the photographic paper 9. In another configuration not shown, the image forming apparatus prints a photograph directly onto the lenticular lens and then applies heat to bond a backing material, such as a white vinyl backing, to the lenticular lens 10.

[0091] Figure 5 and Figure 6The figures illustrate a consumable cartridge 17 comprising a dye sublimation belt container 18, a photographic paper container 19, and a cylindrical lens container 20. These figures also illustrate the steps for attaching the cylindrical lens 10 to the photographic paper 9. In this configuration, the image forming apparatus uses a roller 21 to pull the cylindrical lens 10 forward. As the roller 21 pulls the cylindrical lens 10 forward, a plastic layer 22 protecting the adhesive layer applied to the cylindrical lens is peeled off. When the layer 22 is peeled off, it is introduced into a cavity inside the consumable cartridge 17, thereby allowing easy storage of waste. The plastic layer 22 attached to the cylindrical lens 10 can be attached individually to each cylindrical lens 10, which would require a hollow cavity in the consumable cartridge 17 to store the plastic layer 22; or the plastic layer 22 can be a continuous layer in which the cylindrical lenses 10 are fixed at different points. The latter arrangement allows a single roller 21 to wind the plastic layer 22 around itself and eliminates the need for separate hollow cavities for storing the plastic layer 22.

[0092] Figure 7 The configuration of a series of cylindrical lenses 10 fixed on a continuous plastic substrate 22 strips as described above is depicted.

[0093] exist Figure 8 An example of a cylindrical lens 10 and a plastic substrate 22 is depicted. The lens refracts light based on the observer's orientation to display an image of the substrate. The cylindrical lens 10 can be configured to allow each eye to see the same image, different images, or a series of different images, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0094] Figure 9 The illustration shows the steps of how the image forming apparatus 23 creates a raster photograph. The image forming apparatus uses a sensor 24 to identify the type of cartridge 17 inserted in this invention. The sensor 24 in the image forming apparatus 23 records the consumable 17 that has been inserted into the system. The sensor 24 communicates via Bluetooth. TM WiFi TM NFC TMAlternatively, a wired connection may be used to send information about consumable 17 to a connected electronic device 25, which is connected to the image forming apparatus 23. The connected electronic device 25 may be a mobile telecommunications device, tablet, laptop, or other electronic device capable of receiving and sending information. Software 26 in the connected electronic device 25 transmits information to the image forming apparatus 23, including but not limited to the type of consumable 17 inserted, the number of times the consumable 17 has been used, and the remaining printout in the consumable 17. Software 26 in the connected electronic device 25 also populates this information for the user in the associated application 27. Using application 27, the user can select and / or capture one or more photos. Based on the user's selected settings, application 27 can interleave multiple photos to create different effects in the final print, such as 3D, motion, flipping, scaling, pixelation, or more. After the user has selected and / or captured their photos, application 27 sends information to the image forming apparatus 23 regarding what to print.

[0095] The image forming apparatus 23 is provided with a computer-readable storage medium, such as memory on the printed circuit board (PCB) of the image forming apparatus. Suitable processing resources provided on the PCB, such as one or more processors, ASICs, or other computing resources, read printing instructions and enable the photograph printing process by components of the image forming apparatus.

[0096] If the photograph is a raster photograph, the image forming apparatus first uses rollers to hold the photograph paper 9 and brings the photograph paper 9 11 to the dye sublimation printhead 14. Based on the information sent to the image forming apparatus 23, the image forming apparatus 23 will print the photograph in one or more layers of color. The photograph is printed while being ejected from the image forming apparatus until it reaches the end of the printed layer. If the photograph requires multiple layers of printing, such as cyan, magenta, yellow, black, and transparent, the image forming apparatus uses the same method to re-capture the photograph to print the next layer.

[0097] As described above, the image forming apparatus can use both physical constraints and photoelectric sensors to maintain the alignment of the printed parts during the printing and raster bonding process.

[0098] If the present invention prints a raster photograph, it can use physical constraints and photoelectric sensors to align the photographic paper 9 and the lenticular lens 10. Once the present invention has aligned the photographic paper 9, the lenticular lens 10 can be pulled forward using roller 11. In the present invention, as the lenticular lens 10 moves forward, the bottom layer of the plastic coating 22 beneath the lenticular lens is held by another roller 21 and pulled into the hollow space within the cartridge. The purpose of this plastic bottom layer 22 is to protect the adhesive coating on the underside of the lenticular lens 10 from bonding until necessary. As the lenticular lens 10 is pulled forward, it is pressed against the photographic paper 9. The bonded lenticular lens 10 and photographic paper 9 are pulled through another set of rollers 16, which press the two substrates firmly, thereby expelling any air bubbles that may be generated.

[0099] Undoubtedly, those skilled in the art will conceive of many other effective alternatives. It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the described embodiments and covers modifications that are obvious to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the appended claims.

[0100] For example, the present disclosure illustrated in the figures can be bonded using one or more of the other bonding methods described above, including bonding by using an adhesive activated by heat, UV, or pressure.

[0101] For example, multiple feeders for consumables instead of just one port 7 (one feeder for dye sublimation ribbon 8, one feeder for cylindrical lens 10, and one feeder for photographic paper 9) can be housed in the housing and used in place of the replaceable cartridge 17.

[0102] For example, as described above, the image forming apparatus can print directly onto the substrate of the cylindrical lens 10, and the image substrate is a layer of white vinyl or other material bonded thereon to protect the printed image.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus for raster image printing, the apparatus comprising: A housing that encloses a plurality of rollers and a dye sublimation printhead including a heating element, wherein one or more removable cartridges are configured to be coupled to the housing, wherein the one or more removable cartridges include: a dye sublimation belt, a storage container for an image substrate, and a storage container for a lenticular lens substrate; The plurality of rollers are configured to, when the one or more removable cartridges are coupled to the housing, load the dye sublimation belt from the one or more removable cartridges into the dye sublimation printhead and move the image substrate from the image substrate storage of the one or more removable cartridges to the dye sublimation printhead, or move the lenticular lens substrate from the lenticular lens substrate storage of the one or more removable cartridges to the dye sublimation printhead. The dye sublimation printhead is configured to form an image on the image substrate or on the surface of the lenticular lens substrate using the dye sublimation tape, the image comprising multiple interlaced images; The plurality of rollers are configured to move the cylindrical lens substrate or the image substrate into contact with the other of the cylindrical lens substrate or the image substrate, and The image forming apparatus is configured to fix the cylindrical lens substrate to the image substrate to form a grating image.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The surface of the lenticular lens substrate is provided with an adhesive having a backing layer, and wherein one or more of the plurality of rollers are configured to peel the backing layer from the lenticular lens substrate when the lenticular lens substrate is moved to contact the image substrate.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The heating element of the dye sublimation printhead is configured to heat the lenticular lens substrate and / or the image substrate to bond the lenticular lens substrate to the image substrate, thereby forming the raster image.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, One or more of the plurality of rollers are configured to apply pressure to the lenticular lens substrate and / or the image substrate to bond the lenticular lens substrate to the image substrate, thereby forming the grating image.

5. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, comprising an ultraviolet light source configured to irradiate the lenticular lens substrate and / or the image substrate to bond the lenticular lens substrate to the image substrate, thereby forming the grating image.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, The plurality of rollers includes: The first roller and press mechanism cause the image substrate and the cylindrical lens substrate to be aligned during the heating process.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The one or more removable boxes are attached to the housing.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, The plurality of rollers includes: A second roller, positioned at one or more removable cartridges, is used to move the image substrate from the image substrate's storage when the one or more removable cartridges are attached to the housing; A third roller, positioned at one or more removable cartridges, is used to move the lenticular lens substrate from its reservoir when the one or more removable cartridges are attached to the housing; and A fourth roller, positioned at the dye sublimation printhead, is used to move the image substrate through the dye sublimation printhead during the formation of the image.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein, The first roller and press are positioned at an opening in the housing and configured to discharge the grating image from the device upon completion.

10. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, comprising a controller unit and a motor, the motor being coupled to the plurality of rollers via one or more gear assemblies, wherein, The controller unit is configured to control the motor to drive the plurality of rollers and to control the dye sublimation printhead during the formation of the raster image.

11. The image forming apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a sensor unit coupled to the controller unit and configured to detect insertion of the one or more removable cartridges into the housing and to identify the cartridge type of the one or more removable cartridges.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein, The controller unit is configured to prevent the device from forming the raster image when the sensor unit is unable to recognize the box type.

13. The image forming apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a communication interface for connecting the controller unit to an external device using a wired or wireless connection.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein, The housing defines a shaped receiving surface and a clamp for holding the external device on the receiving surface.

15. The image forming apparatus of claim 14, comprising a printed circuit board enclosed within the housing, wherein, The controller unit, the sensor unit, and the communication interface are coupled to the printed circuit board and the power supply.

16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The image forming apparatus is also configured to print a still image, the plurality of rollers being configured to move the image substrate from a storage container of the image substrate to the dye sublimation printhead, the dye sublimation printhead being configured to form an image on the image substrate using the dye sublimation tape, and the plurality of rollers being configured to discharge the still image from the apparatus upon completion.

17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The image substrate includes a photographic paper substrate or a white vinyl layer.

18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The reservoir of the cylindrical lens substrate includes a continuous strip having a plurality of cylindrical lens substrates disposed thereon.

19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 18, wherein, The cylindrical lens substrate is disposed on the continuous strips spaced apart at predetermined intervals, each interval being substantially the length of the cylindrical lens substrate, and wherein the continuous strips are folded multiple times, each fold at the beginning and end of the corresponding interval.

20. The image forming apparatus according to claim 19, wherein, The folded continuous strips are arranged in a stacked configuration inside the reservoir of the cylindrical lens substrate.

21. An image forming apparatus for raster image printing, the apparatus comprising: A housing that encloses multiple rollers and a dye sublimation printhead including a heating element; as well as One or more removable cartridges configured to be coupled to the housing, wherein the one or more removable cartridges include: a dye sublimation band, a storage container for an image substrate, and a storage container for a lenticular lens substrate. The plurality of rollers are configured to load the dye sublimation belt into the dye sublimation printhead and move the columnar lens substrate from the reservoir of the columnar lens substrate to the dye sublimation printhead when the one or more removable cartridges are coupled to the housing. The dye sublimation printhead is configured to form an image on the surface of the cylindrical lens substrate using the dye sublimation tape, the image comprising multiple interlaced images; and The dye sublimation printhead is configured to form a protective layer on the printed image using the dye sublimation tape.

22. A method for printing a raster image using an image forming apparatus, the method comprising: A dye sublimation tape, an image substrate, and a lenticular lens substrate are inserted into the housing of the image forming apparatus, wherein the insertion includes connecting one or more removable cartridges to the housing of the image forming apparatus, wherein the one or more removable cartridges include: a storage container for the dye sublimation tape, an image substrate, and a storage container for the lenticular lens substrate, wherein the storage container for the image substrate includes the image substrate, and the storage container for the lenticular lens substrate includes the lenticular lens substrate; The dye sublimation belt is loaded into the dye sublimation printhead using multiple rollers, and the image substrate is moved from the image substrate storage to the dye sublimation printhead. The dye sublimation printhead is used to form an image on the image substrate, the image comprising multiple interlaced images; The cylindrical lens substrate is moved into contact with the image substrate using the plurality of rollers; and The cylindrical lens substrate is fixed to the image substrate to form a raster image.

23. A computer program comprising instructions for causing a device according to any one of claims 1 to 20 to perform the steps of the method according to claim 22.

24. A computer-readable medium having a computer program according to claim 23 stored thereon.

25. One or more boxes for coupling to the housing of the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 21, said one or more boxes comprising: A dye sublimation belt for loading into a dye sublimation printhead of the image forming apparatus; Image substrate storage; as well as Storage in a cylindrical lens substrate.

26. The cartridge of claim 25, further comprising a physical or electronic mechanism for instructing the image forming apparatus whether the lenticular lens substrate is intended to produce an animated lenticular image or a stereoscopic lenticular image.

Images