Image forming apparatus, method and cartridge for lenticular image printing

Abstract

An image forming apparatus for lenticular image printing, the apparatus includes a housing enclosing a plurality of rollers and a sublimation print head including a heating element, the plurality of rollers configured to load a sublimation ribbon into the sublimation print head and move an image substrate from an image substrate store or a lenticular lens substrate from a lenticular lens substrate store to the sublimation print head, the sublimation print head configured to use the ribbon to form an image including a plurality of interlaced images on the image substrate or on a surface of the lenticular lens substrate, the plurality of rollers configured to move the lenticular lens substrate or the image substrate into contact with the other of the lenticular lens substrate or the image substrate, and the image forming apparatus configured to secure the lenticular lens substrate to the image substrate to form the lenticular image.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] SUMMARY This disclosure describes an image-forming apparatus for printing lenticular images, a cartridge for use therein, and a method for using the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Lenticular printing is a technique that uses lenticular lenses (technology also used in 3D displays) to create printed images that have the illusion of depth or that appear to change or move depending on the viewing angle.

[0003] Examples of lenticular printing include flip effects, animated effects such as winking eyes, and modern advertising graphics that change their message depending on the viewing angle.

[0004] Lenticular printing is a multi-step process that involves creating a lenticular image from at least two images and combining the images with a lenticular lens. This process can be used to create animations of various frames (for a motion effect), to offset various layers by different increments (for a 3D effect), or simply to present a set of alternating images that appear to morph into one another. 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 called interlacing.

[0005] From there, the interlaced image can be printed onto a substrate such as photo paper substrate and laminated onto a lenticular lens substrate, which is a substrate that supports lenticular lenses, e.g., an array of cylindrical lenses, also called a lenticular array. Substrate materials include polymers; for example, the array can be molded from a plastic such as PMMA, PETG, or polycarbonate.

[0006] Lenticular prints display two or more different images simply by changing the viewing angle of the print. When many (more than 30) images captured in succession are used, short animated sequences of approximately one second can be created. While typically produced in sheet form by interlacing a simple image or different colors throughout the work, lenticular images can also be produced in roll form with 3D effects or multicolor variations. Alternatively, lenticular prints can be produced with a stereoscopic 3D effect by using one or several images of the same object captured at slightly different angles. The 3D effect is achieved horizontally (side to side), as the viewer's left eye views from a slightly different angle than the right eye to achieve the stereoscopic effect. Other effects, such as morphing, motion, and zoom, work better (with less ghosting or cryptic effects) as vertical effects, but can be achieved in both directions.

[0007] A problem with known lenticular printing methods is that they are not suitable for use on desktop-sized or smaller consumer devices and typically require a large amount of manual input from a skilled professional, which is time-consuming, impractical at scale, and expensive, making lenticular printing less accessible to the average consumer.

[0008] The present disclosure aims to address these and other problems. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] US Patent Application Publication No. 2011 / 188124 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2009 / 037166 [Patent Document 3] US Patent Application Publication No. 2011 / 285974 Summary of the Invention

[0010] Generally, the present disclosure provides a miniaturized tabletop size or smaller lenticular printing device suitable for use by the average consumer.

[0011] According to a first aspect, an image-forming apparatus for lenticular image printing is provided. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a housing enclosing a plurality of rollers and a sublimation printhead including a heating element. In an embodiment, the apparatus also includes a sublimation ribbon, a storage section for an image substrate such as photo paper, white vinyl, or one or more layers of paint or other coating, and a storage section for a lenticular lens substrate. While photo paper is used as the primary example here, it is contemplated that other image substrates may be used where appropriate (e.g., in an embodiment described below in which an image is first formed on a lenticular lens substrate to which an image substrate is applied). These image substrates are provided, collectively or individually, in one or more cartridges or packets (e.g., one or more removable cartridges) coupled to (e.g., held within) the housing. The removable cartridges may include (e.g., be configured to hold) one or more of the sublimation ribbon, the storage section for the photo paper substrate, and the storage section for the lenticular lens substrate. In an embodiment, a plurality of rollers are configured to load the ribbon into the sublimation print head and move the photo paper substrate from the storage section to the sublimation print head. In an embodiment, the sublimation print head is configured to use the ribbon to form an image on the photo paper substrate or on the surface of the lenticular lens substrate. In an embodiment, the image includes a plurality of interlaced images. In an embodiment, the plurality of rollers are configured to move the lenticular lens substrate into contact with the photo paper substrate or to move the photo paper substrate into contact with the lenticular lens substrate. In an embodiment, the image forming device is configured to secure the lenticular lens substrate to the image substrate to form the lenticular image.

[0012] 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 is configured to peel the backing layer from the lenticular lens substrate when the lenticular lens substrate is moved into contact with the image substrate.

[0013] Advantageously, this improves the user experience because the user no longer needs to manually remove the backing layer before inserting the lenticular lens substrate into the device (e.g., using a cartridge), and the backing layer preserves the adhesive and prevents it from hardening during storage, allowing for a longer shelf life of the adhesive on the lenticular lens substrate. Furthermore, this approach reduces the energy consumption of using either heating elements or ultraviolet (UV) light for both the lenticular lens and the photo paper. A further advantage of this approach is how it minimizes the internal risk of adhesive secretion, i.e., adhesive bonding with other internal parts of the present invention.

[0014] In some implementations, the heating elements of the sublimation print head are configured to heat the lenticular lens substrate and / or the photo paper substrate to bond the lenticular lens substrate to the photo paper substrate and form a printed lenticular image.

[0015] Advantageously, the use of heating elements in the dye-sublimation print head to bond the lenticular lens substrate to the photo paper substrate means that the device does not need to include bulky and expensive additional heating elements to join the two substrates together to complete the lenticular image. This is particularly advantageous because multiple rollers are aligned with the substrate under the dye-sublimation print head where the image was formed without the need to move to a separate alignment module or location in the device and without specific user input. This reduces the space requirements of the device and ensures that the user does not have to manually align the lenticular lens substrate to the photo paper substrate, as is the case with known methods. In an implementation, the photo paper substrate comprises a substrate suitable for dye-sublimation printing.

[0016] Additional or alternative bonding methods are also contemplated. For example, in some implementations, 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 and form the lenticular image. Additionally or alternatively, the image-forming device includes an ultraviolet light source configured to illuminate the lenticular lens substrate and / or the image substrate to bond the lenticular lens substrate to the image substrate and form the lenticular image. In either case, it is contemplated that the adhesive used may be activated by heat, pressure, and / or ultraviolet (UV) light, depending on the application.

[0017] As can be seen, these arrangements allow for a number of different ways of forming a lenticular image, depending on whether the image is first applied to the image substrate or formed on the back of the lenticular lens substrate, and depending on how the image is secured to the lenticular lens substrate.

[0018] For example, each of the following embodiments is contemplated, categorized according to whether the image is first formed on an image substrate or whether the image is first formed on the back of a lenticular lens substrate.

[0019] When the image is first formed on the image substrate

[0020] Example 1: When the image is first formed on the image substrate The lenticular lens substrate is pre-treated with an adhesive, and a backing layer (e.g., a plastic backing) is applied over the adhesive layer that can be removed (e.g., peeled) by the printing press using a roller or other suitable mechanism when the lenticular lens substrate is moved into contact with and / or pressed against the image substrate to adhere to the image substrate.

[0021] Example 2: When the image is first formed on the image substrate The lenticular lens substrate is pre-treated with a heat-activated adhesive that is activated by the image forming device (e.g., by the heating element described above) when the lenticular lens substrate is moved into contact with and / or pressed against the image substrate to adhere to the image substrate.

[0022] Example 3: When the image is first formed on the image substrate The lenticular lens substrate is pretreated with a pressure-activated adhesive that is activated by the image-forming device (e.g., by one or more of a plurality of rollers or other suitable mechanism) when the lenticular lens substrate is moved into contact with and / or pressed against the image substrate to adhere to the image substrate.

[0023] Example 4: When the image is first formed on the image substrate The lenticular lens substrate is pretreated with a UV-activated adhesive that is activated by a UV light source when the lenticular lens substrate is moved into contact with and / or pressed against the image substrate to adhere to the image substrate.

[0024] In any of these examples, the image substrate may be photo paper, white vinyl, or other material.

[0025] When the image is first formed on a lenticular lens substrate

[0026] Example 6: An image is formed on the back of a lenticular lens substrate, and once the image is formed, a layer of white vinyl or other material is heat pressed onto the back of the lenticular lens substrate using a suitable pressing mechanism. The heat source may also be a heating element as described above.

[0027] Example 7: A layer of paint or coating is applied to the back of the lenticular lens. The material of the paint and / or coating layer is strong and elastic enough that no additional protective layer, such as that provided by a white vinyl material, is needed. In this context, the paint or coating layer itself becomes the image substrate.

[0028] Generally, the above arrangement is advantageous for a number of reasons.

[0029] First, the use of a pre-filled removable cartridge (which may also be referred to as a cartridge) simplifies loading of the device by a user by ensuring that the photo paper substrate and the lenticular lens substrate are compatible and properly positioned to receive them in the device by the rollers. Thus, in some implementations, the rollers include a first roller and press configured to align the photo paper substrate and the lenticular lens substrate, for example, at the dye sublimation print head, during the heating.

[0030] Second, the inventors have realized that dye sublimation printing is particularly well-suited for tabletop or smaller lenticular printing, compared to, for example, inkjet printing or other printing methods. This is because printing accuracy is crucial for the correct display of lenticular images, and even slight artifacts or incorrectly printed elements in the image can result in the image being displayed incorrectly through the lenticular substrate. Inkjet printers are particularly sensitive to orientation because gravity affects the trajectory of ink droplets. Consumers often orient their devices at many different angles, which can result in poor print quality or device malfunction. In contrast, dye sublimation printing can be used in any orientation, making it particularly well-suited for lenticular printing in consumer devices. Synergistically, this also allows the heating elements of a dye sublimation printhead to be used to bond the lenticular lens substrate to a photo paper substrate, as described above.

[0031] In some implementations, the plurality of rollers includes a second roller positioned on the removable cartridge to move the photo paper substrate from the storage bay when the removable cartridge is coupled to the housing, a third roller positioned on the removable cartridge to move the lenticular lens substrate from the storage bay when the removable cartridge is coupled to the housing, and a fourth roller positioned on the sublimation print head to move the photo paper substrate past the sublimation print head during the formation of the image. In some implementations, the first roller and press are positioned in an opening in the housing and configured to eject the lenticular image from the device upon completion.

[0032] Advantageously, this roller arrangement allows lenticular images to be printed with little to no input from the user, making it suitable for consumer devices.

[0033] In some implementations, the image forming device includes a controller unit and a motor, the motor coupled to a plurality of rollers by one or more gear assemblies, and the controller unit configured to control the motor to drive the plurality of rollers and to control the sublimation print head during the formation of the lenticular image.

[0034] Advantageously, the controller unit, motor, and one or more gear assemblies automate the lenticular printing process so that no manual alignment or positioning of the lenticular lens substrate is required by the user.

[0035] In some implementations, the image forming device includes a sensor unit coupled to a controller unit configured to detect insertion of a removable cartridge into the housing and identify the cartridge type of the removable cartridge. In some implementations, the controller unit is configured to prevent the device from forming the lenticular image when the sensor unit cannot identify the cartridge type. The cartridge type may be used to control the image forming device, particularly to control the image formed on a photo paper substrate, so that the image is appropriate for the cartridge type, particularly the substrate material in the cartridge, such as the type of lenticular lens substrate.

[0036] Advantageously, to ensure that the user experience of the device is maintained at a high level, the sensor unit detects whether the inserted cartridge is an authentic cartridge manufactured by a known, trusted manufacturer, or whether it is a pirated, potentially low-quality copy. For example, if the sensor unit cannot identify that the cartridge type is from a known, trusted manufacturer, it may indicate that the user experience may be affected, and in response, the controller unit prevents the device from using the cartridge to print lenticular images. In contrast, if the cartridge type is detected to be from a known, trusted manufacturer (e.g., a 3D lenticular cartridge including a 3D lenticular lens, photo paper, and dye-sublimation ribbon, or a motion lenticular cartridge including a motion lenticular lens, photo paper, and dye-sublimation ribbon, or a still image cartridge including only photo paper and dye-sublimation ribbon), the controller unit allows the device to continue printing.

[0037] In some implementations, the image forming apparatus includes a communication interface that couples the controller unit to an external device, such as a mobile device, using a wired or wireless connection.

[0038] Advantageously, this allows a user to use their mobile device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or other device, to send images they wish to print to the device, for example, by using a software application on the device associated with the image forming device. If a wireless connection is used, the communication interface may include, for example, Bluetooth®, WiFi®, or other wireless connection interface. Additionally or alternatively, if a wired connection is used, the communication interface may include a USB-C® connection interface or other connection, such as an iPhone® Lightning® port.

[0039] In some implementations, the housing defines a shaped receiving surface and a clamp thereon for holding the external mobile device.

[0040] Advantageously, the combination of the molding surface and clamp can hold mobile devices of any shape or size to the device, both improving the user experience and ensuring any wireless and / or wired connection during the printing process.

[0041] In some implementations, the imaging device includes a printed circuit board (PCB) enclosed in a housing, with the controller unit, the sensor unit, and the communication interface coupled to the printed circuit board and a power supply.

[0042] Advantageously, by providing these units and interfaces on a PCB within the housing, the device is presented as a fully integrated device suitable for consumer use.

[0043] In some implementations, the image forming device is further configured to print a still image, the plurality of rollers are configured to move the photo paper substrate from the storage section to the sublimation print head, the sublimation print head is configured to form an image on the photo paper substrate using a ribbon, and the plurality of rollers are further configured to eject the still image from the device upon completion.

[0044] Advantageously, a user can therefore print both lenticular and still images on the same device without the need for separate printing presses.

[0045] In some implementations, the lenticular lens substrate storage section includes a continuous strip (e.g., of plastic or other backing material) having a plurality of lenticular lens substrates provided with adhesive. The backing material is configured to be peeled off in the manner described above. Optionally, the plurality of lenticular lens substrates are provided in the continuous strip, on the same side of the strip, spaced apart by predetermined intervals. Each interval is substantially the length of the lenticular lens substrate, and the continuous strip is folded multiple times, with folds at the beginning and end of each interval, optionally allowing the folded continuous strip to be provided in a stacked configuration inside the lenticular lens substrate storage section.

[0046] Advantageously, this configuration reduces energy consumption in that it allows one roller to wrap around the plastic layer waste. Furthermore, this arrangement is less prone to jamming than configurations in which individual pieces of lenticular lens substrate are stacked in a non-continuous manner, because the roller mechanism pulling the lenticular lens substrate strip forward does not rely on the previous sheet having to pull the next sheet into contact with the roller, as may be the case in individual piece configurations. This therefore improves the reliability of the imaging device. This configuration also allows discarded backing strips to be easily recovered at the roller without the risk of the individual pieces of backing strip causing jams.

[0047] According to a further aspect, there is provided an image forming apparatus for printing lenticular images, the apparatus including a housing and one or more removable cartridges, the housing enclosing a sublimation print head including a plurality of rollers and a heating element, the one or more removable cartridges coupled to the housing to hold a sublimation ribbon and a store for a lenticular lens substrate, the plurality of rollers configured to load the ribbon into the sublimation print head and move the lenticular lens substrate from the store to the sublimation print head, the sublimation print head configured to use the ribbon to form an image on a surface of the lenticular lens substrate, the image including a plurality of interlaced images, and the sublimation print head configured to use the ribbon to form a protective layer on the printed image.

[0048] Advantageously, this provides a means to print directly onto the lens without the need to use photo paper or other image substrate, as described in certain of the implementations above.

[0049] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of printing a lenticular image, the method including inserting a sublimation ribbon, an image substrate, and a lenticular lens substrate into a housing of an image forming device, loading the ribbon into a sublimation print head and moving the photo paper substrate from a storage section to the sublimation print head by a plurality of rollers, forming an image on the photo paper substrate by the sublimation print head, the image including a plurality of interlaced images, moving the lenticular lens substrate into contact with the photo paper substrate by a plurality of rollers, and heating the lenticular lens substrate and / or the photo paper substrate by a heating element of the sublimation print head to bond the lenticular lens substrate to the photo paper substrate and form the lenticular image.

[0050] In an implementation, the inserting step includes inserting a removable cartridge containing the sublimation ribbon, a storage portion for the image substrate, and a storage portion for the lenticular lens substrate into a housing of an image forming device.

[0051] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions for causing the apparatus to perform the steps of the method.

[0052] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon the computer program described above.

[0053] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cartridge for use with the imaging device described above, the cartridge including one or more of a sublimation ribbon for loading into a sublimation print head of the imaging device, an imaging substrate storage section, and a lenticular lens substrate storage section.

[0054] The cartridge may include a physical or electronic mechanism that indicates to the image forming device whether the lenticular lens substrate is adapted to generate an animated lenticular image or a stereoscopic lenticular image. In this context, an animated lenticular image may be an image that exhibits one or more image flips or image morphs (discrete or quasi-continuous changes from one image to another as the viewing angle changes), or image zooms.

[0055] In some implementations, the lenticular lens substrate (and software) is adapted to produce animated stereoscopic (3D) lenticular images, for example, to generate animated 3D that varies with viewpoint.

[0056] The method, computer program and computer readable storage medium, as well as the cartridge, provide the same advantages as those mentioned above.

[0057] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an image forming apparatus for printing lenticular images from a mobile phone or similar device. The apparatus includes a tray for supporting the mobile phone, the tray having a base, a lenticular printing mechanism, and, in an exemplary implementation, a wireless communication system for wireless coupling to the mobile phone. The lenticular printing mechanism is fabricated into the base of the tray, i.e., the lenticular printing mechanism is substantially contained within the thickness of the base.

[0058] The imaging device may further include a removable cartridge that holds at least two of the sublimation ribbon, the image substrate storage portion, and the lenticular lens substrate storage portion for loading into the sublimation print head of the imaging device. The tray may have a first slot on at least one edge for receiving the cartridge.

[0059] The tray may have a second slot on the opposite edge or on another edge, which may be any edge. The direction between the first slot and the second slot may define the direction of a transport path through the lenticular printing mechanism. This path may be direct or may involve a number of other paths. For example, a cartridge may be inserted into the first slot perpendicular to the direction of travel. Other directions and configurations are also contemplated. The lenticular printing mechanism may include first and second rollers that are vertically and / or laterally displaced from each other to entrain the image substrate and 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 slot. The dye-sublimation printer may have a dye-sublimation print head configured to both print on the photo paper substrate and secure the lenticular lens substrate to the photo paper substrate, which may be achieved using any of the above-described securing methods.

[0060] Implementation of such an arrangement may facilitate providing the lenticulars in a tray base having a relatively small thickness.

[0061] The image forming device may further include a sensor that detects whether the lenticular lens substrate in the removable cartridge is intended to produce an animated lenticular image or a stereoscopic lenticular image and generates a substrate type signal.

[0062] The image forming device may be configured to communicate the substrate type signal to lenticular printing software stored in non-volatile memory of the device, or stored in non-volatile memory of an external device such as a mobile phone, tablet, or computer, or in the cloud. In an implementation, the image forming device includes a processor controlled by instructions stored in non-volatile memory of the device to generate an interlaced image for printing from one or more images obtained, for example, from a mobile phone via a wireless communication link.

[0063] The lenticular printing software may be configured to receive one or more images from the mobile phone and convert the one or more images into one or more interlaced images that the lenticular printing mechanism prints on the image substrate. This conversion may depend on the substrate type signal, such that, for example, if the substrate type signal indicates that the lenticular lens substrate in the removable cartridge is intended to produce an animated lenticular image, the interlaced image when combined with the lenticular lens substrate generates an animated image, and if the substrate type signal indicates that the lenticular lens substrate in the removable cartridge is intended to produce a 3D lenticular image, the interlaced image when combined with the lenticular lens substrate generates a 3D image.

[0064] A removable cartridge as described above is also provided.

[0065] Overview of an Exemplary Lenticular Printing Process

[0066] An exemplary, non-limiting description of the lenticular printing process is described below: A user selects in an associated app on a mobile device, such as a phone, whether they want to capture and / or print a still image, a 3D image, or a motion image, or alternatively determines this by identifying the type of cartridge inserted.

[0067] In some implementations, application software on the phone or other device is configured to allow a user to modify / edit an image before printing it. In implementations, the application software allows a user to select multiple separate images and stitch them together to form a lenticular image, which is then output to a printing press. Additionally or alternatively, multiple images that form the lenticular image may be generated from a single initial image.

[0068] A phone or other device sends a photo to the imager via Bluetooth, Wifi, or the phone's USB-C / Lightning port. The imager uses its rollers to grab a strip of photo paper and push it toward a dye-sublimation printhead. The printhead then applies cyan, magenta, and yellow (and potentially black, other colors, and a clear coat) to the substrate in a multi-pass process.

[0069] If the image is lenticular (specifically, a processed image containing multiple interlaced image layers arranged in rows or columns), the image forming device grasps the lenticular lens and aligns it with the printed image on the photo paper (alignment can be achieved using mechanical means, including physical constraints based on the size of the photo paper and lenticular lens, but photo sensors can also be used to automatically align the lenticular lens with the photo paper). The lenticular lens and photo paper are then brought together toward a dye-sublimation print head, which heats the adhesive already placed on the back of the lenticular lens, bonding the lens to the photo paper. Alternatively or additionally, as described above, the image forming device may be provided with a mechanism for peeling off the backing layer of the lenticular lens substrate, which already has an adhesive layer applied to it. This mechanism may be provided as part of a plurality of rollers.

[0070] If the image is a still image, the imaging device applies a final protective coating on top of the image in a final pass.

[0071] The imaging device can be charged via a USB-C port, which powers the battery.

[0072] Image forming devices have the following three types of cartridges: 1. 3D cartridge (including 3D lenticular lens, photo paper and dye-sublimation ribbon); 2. Motion cartridge (including motion lenticular lens, photo paper and dye sublimation ribbon); 3. Stationary cartridge (contains photo paper and dye-sublimation ribbon) The device may have a consumable port that accepts one of the following:

[0073] The imaging device may include a sensor that detects whether the cartridge is from a known, trusted manufacturer or is non-genuine; if the latter, the imaging device may be configured not to print. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0074] These and other aspects of the present invention are further described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings and reference numbers.

[0075] [Figure 1] 1 shows a plan view of a front cover according to the present disclosure. [Figure 2] 1 shows a top view of a back cover according to the present disclosure. [Figure 3] 1 illustrates an isometric view of an outer casing introducing a consumable port according to the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 1 shows an exploded view of the interior of a casing according to the present disclosure, including a PCB, battery, gears and rollers, a sublimation consumable cartridge containing a sublimation ribbon, photo paper, and a lenticular lens. [Figure 5] 1 shows a cross-sectional side view of a consumable cartridge, a sublimation print head, and rollers associated with the consumable cartridge and a peeling method for peeling off the lenticular lenses in the plastic lining and storing the plastic lining inside the consumable cartridge according to the present disclosure. [Figure 6] 1 illustrates a cross-sectional isometric view of a consumable cartridge, a sublimation print head, and rollers associated with a consumable cartridge according to the present disclosure. [Figure 7] 1 shows a series of lenticular lenses applied to a strip of plastic substrate according to the present disclosure. [Figure 8] 1 shows a single lenticular lens according to the present disclosure. [Figure 9] 1 illustrates a process for interlacing two images to generate a two-image lenticular flip image according to the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0076] Front cover 1, seen in Figure 1, is designed to fit into back cover 2, seen in Figure 2. These covers form a hollow shell 3 that contains the internal mechanisms of the present invention. This shell may be configured to surround a small tablet or mobile device 4. Front cover 1 or back cover 2 may include a clamping system 5 that may be used to hold small tablet or mobile device 4 in place.

[0077] The imaging device shown in the figures is envisioned to include a near field communication module that allows the present invention to connect to other wireless devices, for example via Bluetooth, NFC, or Wi-Fi. The imaging device may include a wired port 6, such as a USB-C or Lightning port, that allows direct wired communication with electronic devices.

[0078] The image forming device is configured to include a slot 7 into which a consumable cartridge, as seen in FIG. 3, is inserted, or a series of slots into which specific consumable components, such as sublimation ribbon 8, photo paper 9, and lenticular lens 10, are inserted.

[0079] Based on the exemplary configuration of the system shown in the figures, the image forming device uses gears and rollers 11 mounted on a printed circuit board 12 containing a controller unit, sensor unit, and communication interface that is coupled to a power supply 13. The exemplary power supply 13 is rechargeable via a charging connection to another power source. Other configurations of the power supply 13 may include replaceable and insertable batteries. The gears and rollers 11, visible in Figure 4, grip the substrate and drive it to the sublimation print head 14. The sublimation print head 14 prints an image directly onto the substrate.

[0080] In the configuration seen in FIG. 5 , the imaging device first grips the photo paper 9 using roller 15 and drives it toward the dye-sublimation print head 14. The photo paper 9 is driven using mechanical constraints, which may be configured to include photo sensor constraints to maintain the photo's position. Once the photo is printed, it exits the invention via final roller 16. If another layer of color needs to be printed, the imaging device recaptures the photo and uses mechanical constraints to maintain the photo's position. The imaging device may use photo sensors to ensure the photo is positioned in the desired location. Depending on the configuration, after the imaging device finishes printing the photo's colors, the imaging device can either print a clear protective layer or pull the photo into a specific location within the invention in preparation for bonding the lenticular lens 10 to the photo paper 9. The positions of the photo paper 9 and lenticular lens 10 can be controlled by mechanical and photo sensor constraints to ensure the desired alignment. In one configuration, the photo paper 9 can be adhered to the lenticular lens 10 via a heating element that bonds the lenticular lens 10 to the photo paper 9. In another configuration, not shown, the image forming device prints the photograph directly onto the lenticular lenses, and then heat bonds a backing material, such as a white vinyl backing, to the lenticular lenses 10.

[0081] 5 and 6 show a consumable cartridge 17 containing a sublimation ribbon container 18, a photo paper container 19, and a lenticular lens container 20. These figures additionally illustrate the step of bonding a lenticular lens 10 to photo paper 9. In this configuration, the image-forming device uses rollers 21 to pull the lenticular lens 10 forward. The rollers 21 pull the lenticular lens 10 toward a plastic layer 22 that protects the adhesive layer applied to the lenticular lens and is peeled off. Once peeled, the layer 22 retracts into a cavity inside the consumable cartridge 17, allowing for easy storage for disposal. The plastic layer 22 attached to the lenticular lens 10 can either be attached separately to each lenticular lens 10, requiring a hollow cavity in the consumable cartridge 17 to house the plastic layer 22, or the plastic layer 22 can be a continuous layer with the lenticular lens 10 affixed at distinct points. The latter method allows one roller 21 to wrap the plastic layer 22 around itself, eliminating the need for a distinct hollow cavity to house the plastic layer 22.

[0082] FIG. 7 depicts the configuration of a series of lenticular lenses 10 attached to a continuous strip of plastic substrate layer 22 as described above.

[0083] 8, an example of a lenticular lens 10 and plastic substrate layer 22 is depicted. The lens refracts light based on the viewer's orientation to display the substrate image. Lenticular lens 10 can be configured to allow each eye to see the same image, a different image, or a series of different images, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

[0084] FIG. 9 illustrates the steps of how an image forming device 23 generates a lenticular photograph. The image forming device uses a sensor 24 to identify the type of cartridge 17 inserted into the system. The sensor 24 in the image forming device 23 registers the consumable 17 inserted into the system. The sensor 24 transmits information about the consumable 17 to a connected electronic device 25 connected to the image forming device 23 via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC, or a wired connection. The connected electronic device 25 may be a mobile telecommunications device, tablet, laptop, or other electronic device capable of sending and receiving information. Software 26 in the connected electronic device 25 communicates information to the image forming device 23, including, but not limited to, what type of consumable 17 is inserted, how many times the consumable 17 has been used, and how many prints remain on the consumable 17. The software 26 in the connected electronic device 25 also populates this information in an associated application 27 for the user. A user may select and / or capture one or more photos using application 27. Based on settings selected by the user, application 27 may interlace multiple photos to create different effects in the final print, such as 3D, motion, flip, zoom, pixelation, etc. After the user selects and / or captures the photos, application 27 sends information to image forming device 23 about what to print.

[0085] The image forming device 23 is provided with a computer-readable storage medium, such as a memory, on its printed circuit board (PCB). Suitable processing resources, such as one or more processors, ASICs, or other computing resources, on the PCB read the print instructions and cause the components of the image forming device to initiate the photo printing process.

[0086] If the photograph is a lenticular photograph, the imaging device first uses rollers to grip the photo paper 9 and transport it 11 to the dye sublimation print head 14. Based on information sent to the imaging device 23, the imaging device 23 prints one or more layers of color onto the photograph. As the photograph exits the imaging device, it continues to print until it reaches the end of the printing layer. If the photograph requires multiple layers to be printed, such as cyan, magenta, yellow, black, and clear, the imaging device reloads the photograph to print the next layer using the same method.

[0087] As mentioned above, the imaging device may use both photosensors and physical constraints to maintain print registration during the printing and lenticular bonding process.

[0088] When printing lenticular photographs, the present invention can align the photo paper 9 with the lenticular lens 10 using physical constraints and photosensors. Once the present invention has aligned the photo paper 9, it can use rollers 11 to pull the lenticular lens 10 forward. As the lenticular lens 10 moves forward in the present invention, the plastic coating 22 underneath the lenticular lens is grasped by another roller 21 and pulled into the hollow space within the cartridge. The purpose of this plastic primer layer 22 is to protect the adhesive coating underneath the lenticular lens 10 from bonding until desired. The lenticular lens 10 is pulled forward and pressed against the photo paper 9. The bonded lenticular lens 10 and photo paper 9 are then pulled through another set of rollers 16, tightly pressing the two substrates together and squeezing out any air bubbles that may have formed.

[0089] No doubt many other effective alternatives will occur to those skilled in the art. It is understood that the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments, but encompasses modifications obvious to those skilled in the art that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

[0090] For example, the present disclosure shown in the figures may use one or more of the other bonding methods described above, including bonding via heat, UV, or pressure activated adhesives.

[0091] For example, rather than just one port 7 (a port for sublimation ribbon 8, a port for lenticular lens 10, and a port for photo paper 9), multiple feeders for consumables may be provided in the housing and used in place of the replaceable cartridge 17.

[0092] For example, as mentioned above, the imaging device may print directly onto the lenticular lens 10 substrate so that the image substrate is a layer of white vinyl or other material bonded onto the printed image to protect it.

Claims

1. 1. An image forming apparatus for printing lenticular images, comprising: a housing enclosing a sublimation print head including a plurality of rollers and a heating element; one or more removable cartridges configured to be coupled to the housing; Including, the one or more removable cartridges include a sublimation ribbon, an image substrate storage section, and a lenticular lens substrate storage section; The plurality of rollers a sublimation ribbon roller (18) configured to load the sublimation ribbon into the sublimation print head; a second roller (15) configured to move an image substrate from the image substrate storage area to the sublimation print head when the one or more removable cartridges are coupled to the housing, or a third roller (21) configured to move the lenticular lens substrate from the lenticular lens substrate storage area to the sublimation print head when the one or more removable cartridges are coupled to the housing; Including, the sublimation print head is configured to use the sublimation ribbon to form an image on the image substrate or on a surface of the lenticular lens substrate, the image including a plurality of interlaced images; the second roller (15) or the third roller (21) is configured to move the lenticular lens substrate or the image substrate, respectively, into contact with the other of the lenticular lens substrate or the image substrate; The image forming apparatus is configured to secure the lenticular lens substrate to the image substrate using a fourth set of rollers (16) of the plurality of rollers to form a lenticular image.

2. 2. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein a surface of the lenticular lens substrate is provided with an adhesive having a backing layer, and the third roller (21) is configured to peel the backing layer from the lenticular lens substrate when the third roller (21) moves the lenticular lens substrate into contact with the image substrate.

3. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heating element of the sublimation printing head is configured to heat the lenticular lens substrate and / or the image substrate so as to bond the lenticular lens substrate to the image substrate and form the lenticular image.

4. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the set of fourth rollers (16) is configured to apply pressure to the lenticular lens substrate and / or image substrate to bond the lenticular lens substrate to the image substrate and form the lenticular image.

5. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an ultraviolet light source configured to illuminate the lenticular lens substrate and / or the image substrate so as to bond the lenticular lens substrate to the image substrate to form the lenticular image.

6. An image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a controller unit and a motor, the motor coupled to the plurality of rollers by one or more gear assemblies, the controller unit configured to control the motor to drive the plurality of rollers and to control the sublimation printing head during the formation of the lenticular image, and the controller unit configured to prevent the image forming apparatus from forming the lenticular image when a sensor unit coupled to the controller unit cannot identify the cartridge type of the removable cartridge.

7. An image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a sensor unit coupled to a controller unit, the sensor unit configured to detect insertion of the removable cartridge into the housing and identify the cartridge type of the removable cartridge.

8. An image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising a communication interface for coupling the controller unit to an external device using a wired or wireless connection.

9. the housing defines a shaped receiving surface and a clamp thereon for holding the external device; 9. The image forming apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a printed circuit board enclosed in said housing, said controller unit, sensor unit and communication interface coupled to said printed circuit board and a power supply.

10. 10. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, further configured to print a still image, wherein the second roller (15) is configured to move the image substrate from the image substrate storage area to the sublimation print head, the sublimation print head being configured to form the still image by forming an image on the image substrate using the sublimation ribbon, and the set of fourth rollers (16) is further configured to eject the still image from the image forming apparatus upon completion.

11. 11. The imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image substrate comprises a photo paper substrate or a layer of white vinyl.

12. the lenticular lens substrate storage section includes a continuous strip having a plurality of lenticular lens substrates disposed thereon; the lenticular lens substrates are provided in the continuous strip at predetermined intervals, each interval being substantially the length of the lenticular lens substrate, the continuous strip being folded multiple times, each fold being at the beginning and end of a respective interval; 12. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the folded continuous strip is provided in a stacked configuration inside a storage portion of the lenticular lens substrate.

13. 1. An image forming apparatus for printing lenticular images, comprising: a housing enclosing a sublimation print head including a plurality of rollers and a heating element; one or more removable cartridges configured to couple to the housing; Including, the one or more removable cartridges include a sublimation ribbon, an image substrate storage section, and a lenticular lens substrate storage section; The plurality of rollers a sublimation ribbon roller (18) configured to load the sublimation ribbon into the sublimation print head; a third roller (21) configured to move the lenticular lens substrate from the lenticular lens substrate storage area to the sublimation print head when the one or more removable cartridges are coupled to the housing; and Including, the sublimation print head is configured to use the sublimation ribbon to form an image on a surface of the lenticular lens substrate, the image including a plurality of interlaced images; The sublimation print head is configured to form a protective layer on the image printed using the sublimation ribbon.

14. 1. A method for printing a lenticular image, comprising: inserting one or more removable cartridges into a housing of an image forming device, the one or more removable cartridges including a sublimation ribbon, an image substrate storage section, and a lenticular lens substrate storage section; loading the sublimation ribbon into a sublimation print head by a sublimation ribbon roller (18); moving the image substrate from the image substrate store to the sublimation print head by a second roller (15); forming an image on the image substrate with the dye sublimation printhead, the image including a plurality of interlaced images, the image substrate including photo paper; moving the lenticular lens substrate into contact with the image substrate by the second roller (15) or the third roller (21); heating the lenticular lens substrate and / or the image substrate with heating elements of the sublimation print head to bond the lenticular lens substrate to the image substrate to form a lenticular image; A method comprising:

15. 13. A cartridge for use with an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, a sublimation ribbon for loading into a sublimation print head of said image forming device; a storage unit for image substrates; A storage section for the lenticular lens substrate; Including, cartridge.

16. 16. The cartridge of claim 15, further comprising a physical or electronic mechanism that indicates to the image-forming device whether the lenticular lens substrate is for producing an animated lenticular image or a stereoscopic lenticular image.

Images