US 4,871,408 A · Image recording material for recording images in three dimensions and three-dimensional image processing method using same

Abstract

A three-dimensional image recording material for recording images in three dimensions and a three-dimensional image processing method using the said recording material. In forming the recording material, thermoexpansive microspheres each formed by encapsulating a low boiling, vaporizable substance into a microcapsule of a thermoplastic resin are applied onto sheet together with a binder. In forming a three-dimensional image, a desired image is formed on the thermoexpansive coating layer according to an electrophotographic method and then irradiated with light, whereby the toner image area is heated selectively and so that thermoexpansive coating layer expands to raise the image. Then, a laminate film having a heat transferable coloring material layer is put thereon followed by the application of heat and pressure to color the raised image area in a desired color. By providing a film layer on the thermoexpansive coating layer as the surface layer of the image recording material it is possible to not only improve the adhesion of the coloring material layer of the laminate film but also prevent its adhesion to the other portion than the image area.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An image recording material for recording an image in three dimensions suitable for use in a three-dimensional image forming method wherein a toner image of an original is formed on the recording material according to an electrophotographic method and heat is applied selectively to the image area formed by the toner to raise the image area, said image recording material comprising:

a sheet of base material;
a thermoexpansive coating layer formed by application on the base material, said thermoexpansive coating layer comprising thermoexpansive microspheres and a binder for bonding to the base material, said microspheres being dispersed in said binder;
and
a film layer formed on the upper surface of said thermoexpansive coating layer said film layer comprising a material having a heat resistance capable of resisting heat generated from said image area by light irradiation or heat generated at the time of coloring said image area using a laminate film having a heat transferable coloring material layer;
wherein said film layer material permits substantial fixation of said toner image thereto and substantially prevents bonding thereto by an adhesive of said laminate film;
and wherein said film layer is substantially void of cracks when expanded in a planar direction of the raised image area.

3 more elements

An image processing method for recording an image on a recording material in three dimensions and coloring the image, which method comprises the steps of:

providing a recording material, said recording material comprising a base material, a thermoexpansive coating layer provided on the base material, said thermoexpansive coating layer comprising thermoexpansive microspheres and a binder for the microspheres, and a film layer formed on the thermoexpansive coating layer;
forming a toner image of an original on said film layer of said recording material;
applying heat selectively to the toner image area formed on said recording material, whereby the toner image-existing area is raised to effect a three-dimensional image recording;
thereafter applying to said film layer of said recording material a laminate film comprising a coloring material layer of a desired color bonded to a heat- and pressure-sensitive adhesive layer whereby said adhesive layer contacts said film layer of said recording material followed by the application of heat and pressure whereby said adhesive layer bonds to said toner image and does not bond to said film layer;
and
peeling said laminate film from the recording material, whereby the three-dimensional toner image is colored in the desired color.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Image recording material for recording images in three dimensions and three-dimensional image processing method using same

Life of this patent

Image recording material for recording images in three dimensions and three-dimensional image processing method using same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20