JP-2026514501-A - Lenticular image display and method for manufacturing the same

JP2026514501AJP 2026514501 AJP2026514501 AJP 2026514501AJP-2026514501-A

Abstract

The invention describes a method for manufacturing lenticular, fly-eye, or other type of lens array-based image display using a configuration in which prints are superimposed by a lens array but are not adhered to the lens array, including configurations in which either the lens array or the image moves during operation, and a method for ensuring precise alignment between the printed image and the lens array during manufacturing and use of the device. These can take the form of image display frames or handheld viewers, folding cards, or other display displays with interchangeable images, aligned by a manually and/or optically sensor-driven servo control mechanism, and can display three-dimensional images and/or animated images, and other types of images, and can also accommodate printouts from standard computer printers created with compatible software. Such devices can be used as greeting cards and novelty cards, educational or informational books, toys, advertising premiums, various displays (including point-of-sale displays), or works of art, and can be wall-mounted or motor-driven. [Selection Diagram] Figure 1

Inventors

カイネン，ダニエル

Assignees

カイネン，ダニエル

Dates

Publication Date: 20260511
Application Date: 20240425
Priority Date: 20230426

Claims (20)

The present invention provides a sheet of a certain width having a flap portion that is pre-cut along its length, which includes an image flap, an inner upper flap hinged to the image flap, an outer upper flap hinged to the inner upper flap, and a bottom flap hinged to the outer upper flap. The image flap includes an image area and a register mark in a strip that extends along the width of the image flap. The bottom flap includes a lenticular lens array and has an adhesive strip area at its periphery. Folding the aforementioned image flap onto the aforementioned inner upper flap, Folding the outer upper flap onto the inner upper flap, The bottom flap is folded onto the outer upper flap so that the image flap overlaps the bottom flap, A method for manufacturing a lenticular lens array image display, comprising: positioning a lenticular lens array on the bottom flap; aligning it with the registered marks on the image flap; bonding the lenticular lens array along the edges corresponding to the adhesive strip area, thereby covering the image area; and enabling relative motion between the image area and the lenticular lens array when the inner upper flap and the outer upper flap are hinged to the bottom flap.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the width of the image flap is smaller than the constant width of the inner upper flap.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the width of the lenticular lens array is approximately the same as the width of the image flap.
The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing a punch-out flap on the edge of the bottom flap to overlap and align the image flap as it slides beneath the lenticular lens array.
The method according to claim 1, further comprising a wrap-around flap hinged to the bottom flap, which covers the bottom flap but defines a central opening that allows viewing of the image area through the lenticular lens array.
The step of placing the lenticular lens array on the bottom flap is: Lifting the lenticular lens array from the supply stack for the lenticular lens array, Applying adhesive to the edge of the lenticular lens array, Using the aforementioned registration mark, the lenticular lens array is aligned onto the bottom flap, and the lenticular lens array is attached to the bottom flap. The method according to claim 1, comprising curing the adhesive.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of arranging the lenticular lens array on the bottom flap and aligning it with the register mark on the image flap includes using an optical sensor to detect the position of the lenticular lens array and move it to obtain the alignment.
The method according to claim 7, wherein the step of positioning the lenticular lens array on the bottom flap includes lifting the lenticular lens array using an adsorption cup.
The method according to claim 6, wherein the step of positioning the lenticular lens array on the bottom flap includes using an arm that is movable from a first rotational position in which the lenticular lens array is lifted from a supply stack, to a second position in which the lenticular lens array receives adhesive, and to a third position in which the lenticular lens array is aligned with the bottom flap.
The method according to claim 9, wherein the arm rotates around a central axis to the first position, the second position, and the third position.
The method according to claim 6, wherein the curing step includes curing with an ultraviolet (UV) curing flash lamp.
The method according to claim 9, wherein the first position, the second position, and the third position are along a straight path.
A lenticular lens array image display manufactured by the method described in claim 1.
A housing having a rear, bottom, front with a lenticular lens array, and a top hinged cover hinged to the upper part of the rear; and a platen attached to the top hinged cover and connected to the rear, which defines an image medium storage area between the platen and the front. A lenticular lens array image display wherein the movement of the upper hinge connecting cover causes the platen to move toward and away from the front surface having the lenticular lens array.
The lenticular lens array image display according to claim 14, wherein the image media storage area has a size that allows for holding a plurality of image media plates.
The lenticular lens array image display according to claim 14, further comprising a manual adjustment knob that can be operated to shift the image media plate within the image media storage area and to align the image stored on the image media plate with the lenticular lens array using a register mark on the peripheral edge of the image media plate.
The lenticular lens array display according to claim 16, further comprising a servo adjustment mechanism and an optical cell, wherein the servo adjustment mechanism and the optical cell detect the position of the image medium plate relative to the lenticular lens array using a register mark, and shift the image medium plate using the servo adjustment mechanism so as to be aligned with the lenticular lens array.
Surrounding it is an inner cylinder containing a lenticular image, The device comprises an outer cylinder of a lenticular lens array, the lenses of which are formed generally horizontally but at an angle of inclination, and which are arranged to surround the inner cylinder. A lenticular lens array image display in which an animated image can be displayed when viewed from the outside of the outer cylinder by the relative rotation of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder.
The lenticular lens array image display according to claim 18, further comprising a light source disposed inside the inner cylinder.
A roughly rectangular frame having a front, back, and bottom, and defining a slot for receiving an image plate containing a lenticular display image, The frame comprises a lenticular lens array on the front surface, The lens array has a lenticular lens array that is inclined with respect to the rectangular frame, A lenticular lens array image display in which, when the image plate is moved from side to side within the frame, an animated image visible from the front of the frame is displayed.

Description

This invention relates to a lenticular image display, as well as a manufacturing method and method for ensuring alignment between a lenticular lens and an image medium. Lenticular lens array technology is well-known. Since the 1950s, when plastic technology became available for use as lenses, lenticular images have been laminated onto plastic lens arrays. Subsequently, registration printing on flexible lens arrays using high-speed printing presses, and printing/embossing of the transparent lenses themselves by registration on interleaved images, have also been explored. Folded cards and books are well-known, but they suffer from alignment problems due to inaccurate guiding techniques. While lenticular images can be UV-cured and bonded to lens arrays, this method is used solely for permanently bonding the image medium to the lenses and not for enabling reciprocating motion between the image medium and the lens array. Cylindrical lenticular arrays are also well-known, utilizing both slits and lenses, sometimes appearing in a holographic form, sometimes called a "360-degree hologram." In this case, the lenticular array is created holographically with very high resolution, giving the illusion of a three-dimensional object inside the cylinder. Some degree of animation is possible, but blurring occurs due to binocular vision caused by the vertical lens. U.S. Patent No. 6,277,232 relates to a lenticular folding card, but does not disclose a method for achieving precise alignment between the lenticular lens array and the image medium. This invention provides a method for aligning a print with respect to a lens array in a display using a non-adhered, movable print and/or lens array. It also addresses the issue of wear on the print and lens array, even when they move relative to each other. This invention provides a method for positioning a servo device to align a printed material and/or a lenticular screen using alignment marks on the printed material. These marks can be optically detected both through and outside the lens array, and the servo device can move the lens array or print to perform alignment. These methods can be used in the manufacture of interchangeable image display frames, cards, books, or card cases, which, when opened, can move the print and/or screen to produce optical effects such as motion or three-dimensional images. They can also be used during user operation of the device, for example, in interchangeable image display frames. This invention provides a method for ensuring alignment between a print and a lens array, where the user observes registered trademarks on the print through the lens array and moves the lens array using a manual control for movement. Alternatively, the print may be moved instead of the lens array. An optical sensor can be used to determine the position of one or more registered trademarks on the print, and a servo-controlled motion device can adjust the position of the lens array to correspond to the print. The printed image may also be adjusted instead of the lens array. The optical sensor may detect the registered trademarks through the lens array itself. The optical sensor may detect the registered trademarks outside the lens array or through a transparent area of the lens array that does not have lens properties. The lens array may be rectangular, covering the print and extending beyond the print on opposing sides, with the extended area bonded to a support, sandwiching the print between the array and the support. In the completed assembly, the print can be moved in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the bonded side. The adhesive may be cured with ultraviolet light or by time curing. The lens array may be a scroll moving in front of a stationary printed image. The printed image may be a scroll moving behind a stationary lens array. This invention provides an arrangement that reduces wear on the print and/or lens array during reciprocating motion by setting the focal length of the lenses away from the surface of the lens array so that the parallel surfaces of the print and the array do not come into contact. The parallel surfaces of the lens array rest on at least two equally raised regions adjacent to at least two opposing sides of the print and can move above the print. A thin, transparent layer of silicon or a scratch-resistant coating such as diamond-like carbon (DLC) may be applied to the sides of the lens array that normally come into contact with the print or to the print itself. This invention provides an arrangement that ensures a straight trajectory for the lens array and print during reciprocating motion by applying a slight spring force to the side of the movable lens array, pressing it against a linear edge, and further reducing friction by ensuring that the linear edge opposite the spring contacts each component with only a small contact area. The print may be carried and moved by a platen rather than the lens array. The lens array may be guided by