Abstract:
A device for holding a print with a multi-image and for holding viewing material. An alignment mechanism engages the viewing material for translational and rotational movement relative to the print to achieve correct alignment for a three dimensional effect. The alignment mechanism is held in place so that the viewing material may be lifted from the print and replaced thereon without disturbing correct alignment to facilitate bonding the viewing material to the print.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/292,361 filed May 21, 2001. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a mechanism used to aid in the alignment of lenticular material with an image where the image is comprised of combined exposures to create multiple perspectives for three-dimensional and animation effects. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Photographs taken with multiple lenses produce a print on photographic image stock that contains multiple images, often referred to as multi-view or integral images. Such a print can be used with an appropriate viewing device such as lenticular material to create a three-dimensional or animation effect. Additionally, multiple exposures taken from different angles with a single lens can be combined digitally such that normally printed computer output can contain the multiple perspectives needed to produce the autostereoscopic or animation effect. Software to produce the combination of exposures is commercially available. It is necessary, however, to have precise registration of the viewing material with the image stock or with the computer produced print in order that the three-dimensional or animation effect is properly produced. Hereinafter, the words “image stock” are used to include any combination of exposures whether produced on photographic image stock or on computer print material. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a mechanism to move viewing material relative to image stock containing an image with combined exposures in order that correct horizontal and vertical alignment of the viewing material with the image can be obtained. Once alignment is complete the invention allows removal of the viewing material so that cement can be placed on the viewing material and/or image material or so that a dry pressure sensitive adhesive material can be exposed. The invention then allows replacement of the viewing material onto the image stock with the same correct alignment that had been previously obtained so that the image stock and viewing material can be bound together thereby producing a finished product with the viewing component and the image component properly aligned for three-dimensional or animation effect. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the assembled apparatus of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the positioning of image stock and lens material on the work surface of the device of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 shows a section of lenticular lens material. 
     FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 1 but with a cutaway view to show certain features of the device. 
     FIG. 5 shows the alignment guide sub-assembly utilized in the apparatus of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 6 shows an alternative alignment guide sub-assembly. 
     FIG. 7 shows another alternative for the inventive apparatus. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description will refer to lenticular screen material, lenticular lens material or simply lens. It should be understood that these words are intended to include any type of appropriate viewing material that can be utilized, including lenticular, barrier strip, fly&#39;s eye, etc., used to obtain the three-dimensional and/or animation effect. 
     FIGS. 1-5 show a first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the invention with a work surface  10  upon which has been placed image stock  11  bearing the image of a mountain scene  11 A. The image stock  11  is held in place in a stationary manner with a clip mechanism  13 . Lenticular screen lens material  12  is placed over the image stock on the work surface  10  with holes  22  and  23  in the lens material mating with pins  18  and  19 . Pins  18  and  19  are attached to lever  16  which is in turn attached to lever  14 . The lens material  12  is moved horizontally by lever  14  acting through its connection to pins  18  and  19 . Fine adjustment mechanism  15  is shown for precise horizontal positioning. Lens material  12  is moved into vertical alignment with the image by lever  16 , acting through pins  18  and  19 . The mechanism allows vertical alignment without disturbing the already obtained horizontal alignment. Once correct alignment has been achieved the horizontal and vertical alignment mechanisms are fastened in place by clamping mechanism  17  and  17 A. 
     Lever  16  is attached to pins  18  and  19  such that when lever  16  is rotated around pivot  32 , the image material  12  is also rotated through the movement of pins  18  and  19 . Once appropriate vertical and horizontal alignment has been achieved, lens material  12  can be lifted up from the image stock and, if desired, completely removed from pins  18  and  19  so that cement can be applied to the back of lens material  12  and/or to the front side of image stock  11 . Thereafter, replacement of lens material  12  onto pins  18  and  19  is performed in order to fasten the lens and image stock together in correct alignment. 
     FIG. 3 shows a section of lenticular lens material  12 , but it should be noted that any appropriate viewing material can be utilized with this invention. 
     In using the device shown in FIG. 1, image stock  11  is placed on the work surface  10  and held fixedly in place. The lenticular screen  12  of appropriate size and orientation is placed over the image and held in place on the alignment guides of the device. The user can then adjust the alignment mechanisms so that the lenticular screen is positioned precisely with optical correctness over the image. Once the correct position is achieved, the alignment mechanism is clamped in place so the lenticular screen can be removed and reinserted as often as needed, without affecting correct optical alignment for viewing or for the application and curing of optically clear adhesive. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing work surface  10 , image stock  11  containing an image  11 A, and lens material  12 . As FIG. 2 shows, image stock  11  extends beyond lenticular material  12  to engage clip  13  in a manner that keeps movement of material  12  unimpeded. Slots  20  and  21  are provided in the work surface  10  through which pins  18  and  19  can protrude from the alignment sub-assembly below the work surface. Pins  18  and  19  mate with holes  22  and  23  in the lenticular material  12  such that movement of the pins  18  and  19  results in movement of the lens material  12 . Slots  24  and  25  accommodate the lock down clamps  17  and  17   a  shown in FIG.  1 . It should be noted that slots  20 ,  21 ,  24  and  25  are designed large enough to accommodate horizontal and vertical movement of pins  18  and  19  and clamps  17  and  17 A during the alignment operation. Holes  22  and  23  in lens material  12  are sized just large enough for a snug fit on pins  18  and  19 . 
     The alignment guide sub-assembly is shown in FIG. 5 as comprising a horizontal alignment lever  14  and a vertical alignment lever  16  attached together at a pivot  32 . Pins  18  and  19  extend upwardly from the surface of vertical alignment lever  16 . Slots  24  and accommodate the clamping mechanism  17  and  17   a . Resilient material depicted as a coil spring  35  is positioned between the end of the horizontal alignment lever  14  and an adjacent abutment  40 , shown in FIG.  4 . Any type of appropriate resilient material can be substituted for coil spring  35 . Additional mounting points  36  and  37  are shown for pins  18  and  19  in order to accommodate different sizes of lens material for covering larger images. 
     FIG. 6 shows an alternative arrangement for the alignment guide sub-assembly in which pins  18  and  19  are replaced by pins  60  and  61  along one side of the lens material. In that manner, different sizes of lens material may be accommodated without changing the position of the pins since the pins are positioned on only one side of the lens material. It should also be noted in this arrangement that the pins  60  and  61  are positioned at a distance B from the pivot point  32  while the vertical adjustment lever  16  extends a much greater distance A from the pivot point to its end  16 A. As a consequence, manipulation of vertical adjustment lever  16  at the end  16 A involves a relatively large rotational distance over a subtended angle while moving the pins a much smaller distance. While the angle of motion is identical, the radial distance through which the pins  60  and  61  move is considerably less than the radial distance through which the end  16 A moves, thereby affording control over the vertical adjustment in a more precise manner. Bolts  62  and  63  are part of a hold-down clamp assembly. It should be noted, however, where compressive force between the horizontal and vertical adjustment levers at pivot point  32  is sufficient, there is no need for a hold-down clamp since the horizontal and vertical adjustment can be held without movement through the frictional force generated at pivot point  32 . The horizontal fine adjustment mechanism  15  also aids in keeping the correct alignment in place once it has been obtained. 
     FIGS. 1 and 4 show that work surface  10  is the upper flat surface of component  9 . An alignment sub-assembly such as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is located on the underside of component  9 . A platform  8  is located below the alignment sub-assembly but is not needed if hold-down clamps  17  and  17 A are utilized since the clamps can perform a second function holding the alignment sub-assembly to the underside of component  9 . FIG. 2 shows grooves  26  and  27  in the underside of component  9  to accommodate the levers  14  and  16  of the alignment sub-assembly. Grooves  26  and  27  could include rails for the levers  14  and  16 ; in any event, grooves with or without rails are an optional feature. Brackets and other mounting arrangements are possible to hold the alignment sub-assembly on the underside of component  9 . 
     FIG. 7 shows still another embodiment of the invention where both the horizontal and vertical alignment members are comprised of disk shaped member  70 . Member  70  is connected to rectangular member  70 A at pivot  75  so that it can be rotated around the pivot point. The connection of members  70  and  70 A is accomplished by a rivet or the like. Members  70  and  70 A are moved horizontally by the user who can grip member  70 A which is exposed to the user&#39;s grip at the notch  71 . Member  70  is positioned vertically by the user who can grip vertical adjustment tab  72  which is part of member  70 . Tab  72  is exposed at the notch  72 A. Pins  73  and  74  are fastened to disk member  70 A and protrude through work surface  76 A. Pins  73  and  74  are fitted by the user into sprocket holes which are pre-punched along one edge of lenticular screen material  12 . Vertical adjustment is made around the pivot point  75  utilizing tab  72  to rotate pins  73  and  74 . Image stock  11  bearing an image  11 A and lenticular material  12  are shown on the work surface  76 A. A hold-down clamp  80  is also shown. 
     FIG. 7 shows a configuration that lends itself to low cost manufacture. The case  76  which encloses members  70  and  70 A may be constructed of cardboard or plastic material with an opening along the edge  77 A to form an envelope. The assembly of members  70  and  70 A is inserted into the case  76  at edge  77 A and positioned in the case so that pins  73  and  74  protrude through the work surface  76 A which is the upper surface of case  76 . Slots  78  and  79  in the work surface  76 A provide an opening for pins  73  and  74  and are sized large enough to accommodate the rotational and translational movement of the pins during the alignment operation. Member  70 A is sized to provide a snug fit into the envelope case  76  along edges  77 B and  77 C so that horizontal translational alignment can be performed and maintained in place when correct alignment is achieved. In the low cost embodiment, the case  76  is designed with a snug fit to hold the pins  73  and  74  in place after alignment without the need for hold-down clamp  80 . Lenticular lens material  12  can be removed and replaced during the bonding operation as previously described without disturbing correct alignment of the lenticular material with the image. 
     While the invention has been shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood that changes in the form and details of the invention may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, member  70  is shown and described as a circular member of disk shape but it can take any convenient shape. Pins  73  and  74  may be designed large enough to grasp, thereby affording the capability of rotating member  70  by grasping one or both pins, thus avoiding need for tab  72 . In FIG. 1, any type of suitable clamp may be used instead of clip mechanism  13 . Work surfaces  10  and  76 A can be designed with enough friction to hold image stock  11  in place without a clip mechanism or the like. A strip of frictional material fastened to the work surface is another alternative. A simple abutment ridge to locate image stock  11  may be another suitable replacement for clip  13 . If desired, motorized mechanisms can be used to accomplish alignment. These changes in the details and form of the invention can be made and a myriad of other design detail changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention; all such design details are intended to be covered by the scope of the claims set forth below.