Image forming apparatus and image forming method

An image forming apparatus capable of recording image information and additional information added separately from the image information to a photographic printing medium is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes: image information acquisition means for acquiring the image information, additional information acquisition means for acquiring the additional information, and recording means for recording the image information acquired by the image information acquisition means and the additional information acquired by the additional information acquisition means to the photographic printing medium, wherein the recording means can record the additional information by applying a transparent material that absorbs light of a specific wavelength to the area that does not absorb the light on a recording surface of the photographic printing medium.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention contains subject matter related to Japanese Patent Application JP 2005-370377 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Dec. 22, 2005, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming method capable of recording image information and additional information added separately from the image information to a photographic printing medium, particularly to an image forming apparatus and an image forming method capable of recording additional information in an invisible manner under normal conditions without compromising the photographic printing quality of image information.

2. Description of the Related Art

As an image forming apparatus, there has been known a thermal printer that uses a thermal head that faces a platen. In such a thermal printer, a plurality of heat-generating elements (for example, heat-generating resisters) linearly arranged on the thermal head are selectively energized according to grayscale levels, and heat energy generated during this process is used to record image information.

That is, after a photographic printing medium and an ink ribbon are transported to the platen, the thermal head is lowered so that the photographic printing medium and the ink ribbon are sandwiched between the platen and the thermal head. Then, the heat-generating elements on the thermal head are selectively energized and the ink on the ink ribbon is transferred onto the photographic printing medium so as to record image information.

The ink ribbon used in such a thermal printer is wound over a supply reel and a take-up reel in an ink cassette and configured such that a plurality of different color inks (for example, inks of yellow (Y), magenta (M) and cyan (C)) and a transparent laminate ink (L) are sequentially and repeatedly arranged on a base film in the direction perpendicular to the unreeling direction of the ink ribbon.

The color inks (Y, M and C) are sequentially applied to the photographic printing medium based on the image information so that the image information is recorded. On the other hand, the laminate ink (L) is provided to protect the image recorded with the color inks (Y, M and C) from ultraviolet light and includes an ultraviolet light absorber. Therefore, the laminate ink (L) is laminated over the area of the photographic printing medium where the image information has been recorded.

As thermal printers are finding application in various fields, in addition to image information, additional information is recorded in quite a few cases. That is, in recent years, thermal printers have been used in various fields, for example, for amusement and medical purposes. Their applications are not limited to simply printing for personal enjoyment but are as diverse as ID cards, passports and the like. Accordingly, in addition to image information, additional information associated or accompanied with the image information is recorded for numerous purposes, such as for preventing counterfeit and tampering, and recording photographing information, such as date and time as well as imaging conditions.

There has been proposed an image forming apparatus capable of recording image information and additional information added separately from the image information to a photographic printing medium. That is, there is disclosed an image forming method for, for example, manufacturing an ID card that provides an anti-counterfeit effect by laminating transparent plastic members, each having different thickness for each pixel, on a recorded image previously formed by using a dye (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,990,918, for example).

There has also been disclosed an image forming apparatus that provides a film-like sheet (laminate film) coating on the image information recorded surface of a photographic printing medium so as to provide difference in surface glossiness, thereby rendering additional information, such as photographing information including date and time as well as imaging conditions, invisible when viewed from the front of the photographic printing medium but visible only when viewed from an oblique direction (see JP-A-2002-240402, for example).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The technologies described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,990,918 and JP-A-2002-240402 are considered effective in that additional information other than image information can be recorded to a photographic printing medium not only without compromising the photographic printing quality of the image information but also without interfering with recording of the image information.

However, the additional information recorded by using the technologies described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,990,918 and JP-A-2002-240402 is relatively easily visible under normal conditions. When the additional information should not be easily visible or need not be visible to a third party, recording such additional information to a photographic printing medium in an easily legible manner often causes inconvenience.

For example, when the recorded additional information is a shop reference product number for recording image information, information on addresses of a recording device on which image information is saved, a URL of a sender's personal webpage added on a printed postcard, or a URL of an advertisement website for a specific user, the additional information is preferably recorded to a photographic printing medium such that it is not easily legible under normal conditions.

Accordingly, when image information together with additional information that should not or need not be visible to a third party has to be recorded to a photographic printing medium, there is a need for recording the additional information in an invisible manner under normal conditions without compromising the photographic printing quality of the image information.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method for recording image information to a photographic printing medium, in which when image information and additional information added separately from the image information is recorded, the additional information is not easily legible under normal conditions but is legible under certain conditions.

According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus capable of recording image information and additional information added separately from the image information to a photographic printing medium. The image forming apparatus includes image information acquisition means for acquiring the image information, additional information acquisition means for acquiring the additional information, and recording means for recording the image information acquired by the image information acquisition means and the additional information acquired by the additional information acquisition means to the photographic printing medium. The recording means can record the additional information by applying a transparent material that absorbs light of a specific wavelength to the area that does not absorb the light on a recording surface of the photographic printing medium.

According to another embodiment of the invention, there is provided an image forming method for recording image information and additional information added separately from the image information to a photographic printing medium. The method includes the steps of acquiring the image information and the additional information, and recording the acquired image information to a recording surface of the photographic printing medium and recording the acquired additional information by applying a transparent material that absorbs light of a specific wavelength to the area that does not have the image information recorded thereon and does not absorb the light on the recording surface of the photographic printing medium.

In the invention, additional information added separately from image information is recorded by applying a transparent material that absorbs light of a specific wavelength to an area that does not absorb light of the specific wavelength on the recording surface of a photographic printing medium. That is, for example, the image information is recorded on a photographic printing medium containing a fluorescent brightener, while the additional information is recorded with a laminate ink containing an ultraviolet absorber on an area where no image information has been recorded.

Accordingly, the additional information recorded with the laminate ink is transparent under normal conditions, so that the additional information is illegible. However, when the additional information is exposed to ultraviolet light, for example, by using a black light, the portion where the laminate ink has been applied absorbs the ultraviolet light while the portion where no laminate ink has been applied appears to emit light due to the ultraviolet light, thereby rendering the additional information legible.

According to an embodiment of the invention, although additional information is illegible under normal conditions in which the additional information is not exposed to light of a specific wavelength, the additional information becomes easily legible under certain conditions in which the additional information is exposed to light of the specific wavelength.

Therefore, when image information together with additional information that should not or need not be visible to a third party has to be recorded to a photographic printing medium, the additional information can be recorded in an invisible manner under normal conditions. Furthermore, the additional information is recorded with a transparent material, so that the photographic printing quality of the image information will not be compromised.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings and the like. In this embodiment, a thermal printer will be described as an example of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 1is a perspective view showing the thermal printer1according to this embodiment.

As shown inFIG. 1, the thermal printer1includes an enclosure2and a door3attached to the front side of the enclosure2. A sheet ejection port8is formed at the lower part of the door3, and a sheet ejection tray9is attached to the sheet ejection port8.

A power switch4is provided on the front side of the enclosure2. An interface5(corresponding to the image information acquisition means and the additional information acquisition means according to the embodiment of the invention) formed of a plurality of connectors for external connection is disposed on the rear side of the enclosure2. The interface5allows obtaining image information, additional information and the like from an external apparatus, such as a computer. That is, image information, additional information and the like can be acquired in online processing via a communication cable. Alternatively, image information, additional information and the like can be read out via various recording media, such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk and a memory card.

An operation panel6for inputting or selecting additional information (corresponding to the additional information input means according to the embodiment of the invention) is provided at the upper part of the door3. That is, the thermal printer1according to this embodiment is designed to acquire additional information not only from the interface5but also by allowing the user himself/herself to input additional information or arbitrarily select and specify additional information from multiple pieces of pre-stored additional information. The additional information acquired from the interface5or inputted or selected from the operation panel6as well as various other messages are displayed on a liquid crystal panel7.

As described above, the thermal printer1according to this embodiment is provided with a man-machine interface formed of the operation panel6for inputting or selecting additional information and the liquid crystal panel7for displaying the additional information, messages and the like. The way additional information is inputted is not limited thereto, but a keyboard, a pointing device or the like may be additionally used. A CRT or the like may also be used for displaying additional information and the like.

FIG. 2is a perspective view of the thermal printer1according to this embodiment shown inFIG. 1, with the door3open and an ink cassette30removed. The ink cassette30is shown with the outline drawn by a dotted line for clearly showing the internal structure.

FIG. 3is a side view showing the internal structure of the thermal printer1according to this embodiment shown inFIG. 1.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, a thermal head10(corresponding to the recording means according to the embodiment of the invention) is mounted on the back side of the door3. A platen11is disposed in the enclosure2at a position opposite to the thermal head10when the door3is closed. A reel drive unit14afor rotating a supply reel32in the ink cassette30is provided under the platen11, and a reel drive unit14bfor rotating a take-up reel33in the ink cassette30is provided above the platen11.

When the ink cassette30is mounted in the enclosure2, the supply reel32and the take-up reel33are disposed parallel to the platen11and an ink ribbon31is placed such that it passes above the platen11. When the door3is closed, the ink ribbon31is placed between the platen11and the thermal head10. When the reel drive unit14bis rotated in this state, the ink ribbon31is wound onto the take-up reel33. Conversely, when the reel drive unit14ais rotated, the ink ribbon31is wound back onto the supply reel32.

A roll of paper41(corresponding to the photographic printing medium according to the embodiment of the invention) is mounted in the enclosure2. The roll of paper41is made of photographic printing paper fabricated by applying a dye reception layer composition to synthetic paper on a base sheet and curing the resultant product. The recording surface of the roll of paper41is coated with a fluorescent brightener for emphasizing white.

The roll of paper41is formed by winding the photographic printing paper onto a paper holder42in a cylindrical manner with the recording surface facing upward. The unreeled roll of paper41passes between a capstan roller12and a pinch roller13provided in the vicinity of the platen11and is ejected after passing between the platen11and the thermal head10. Thus, by rotating the capstan roller12in the forward and reverse directions as necessary, the roll of paper41is transported in the forward and backward directions.

The thermal head10is provided with a plurality of heat-generating resisters linearly arranged in the width direction (line direction) of the roll of paper41. Heat energy generated when these heat-generating resisters are energized is used to transfer color inks applied on the surface of the ink ribbon31onto the recording surface of the roll of paper41so as to record image information.

FIG. 4is a plan view showing the ink ribbon31used in the thermal printer1according to this embodiment.

As shown inFIG. 4, the ink ribbon31is wound over the supply reel32and the take-up reel33in the ink cassette30(seeFIG. 2) and configured such that color inks of yellow (Y), magenta (M) and cyan (C) as well as a transparent laminate ink (L) are sequentially and repeatedly arranged on a base film in the direction perpendicular to the unreeling direction of the ink ribbon31.

The laminate ink (L) is made of thermoplastic resin with an ultraviolet absorber added thereto. The laminate ink (L) is inherently laminated over an image information recorded area formed by transferring the color inks (Y, M and C) so as to protect the recorded image from ultraviolet light and the like and improve light fastness.

At the same time, the laminate ink (L) corresponds to the transparent material according to the embodiment of the invention. That is, in the thermal printer1according to this embodiment, the laminate ink (L) containing an ultraviolet absorber is applied on the fluorescent brightener-containing recording surface of the roll of paper41(seeFIG. 3), allowing additional information added separately from image information to be recorded.

Next, a description will be made of how image information and additional information is recorded by using the ink ribbon31shown inFIG. 4.

FIG. 5is a block diagram showing the main part of the circuit configuration for recording image information and additional information in the thermal printer1according to this embodiment.

To record image information, the image information is first acquired through the interface (the interface5shown inFIG. 1), as shown inFIG. 5. The image information acquired from the interface is sent to a JPEG unarchiver and an RGB/size converter via a predetermined signal line.

That is, when the image information is compressed in the JPEG format, the image information is unarchived, converted into data of Y (brightness), Cb and Cr (color difference), and converted into a recording size in the RGB/size converter. Then, primary-color data of R (red), G (green) and B (blue) are stored in an image memory. On the other hand, when the image information is not compressed, the image information is converted into a recording size in the RGB/size converter, and the primary-color data are stored in the image memory. In unarchiving and converting processes, a buffer memory (not shown) is used as a work area.

To record additional information, the additional information is first inputted or selected from the operation panel (the operation panel6shown inFIG. 1). The additional information acquired by the inputting or selecting operation is sent to a CPU (central processing unit) via a predetermined signal line. Then, the CPU refers to data stored in a font ROM (read only memory) provided in the CPU to convert the additional information into bitmap data. The CPU then displays the additional information on the liquid crystal panel (the liquid crystal panel7shown inFIG. 1) and stores the converted bitmap data in the image memory. The additional information can also be acquired from the interface as in the case of image information.

The image information and the additional information corresponding to one screen thus stored in the image memory is read out and sent to an YMC/gamma converter, undergoes a color conversion process in which the primary color system (R (red), G (green) and B (blue)) is converted into the complementary color system (Y (yellow), M (magenta) and C (cyan)), undergoes a gamma conversion (concentration conversion) process, and is sent to the thermal head (the thermal head10shown inFIG. 3) via a PWM (pulse width modulation) processor.

The CPU controls the ink ribbon take-up reel (the take-up reel33for the ink ribbon31shown inFIG. 2) and the roll paper transport roller (the capstan roller12for transporting the roll of paper41shown inFIG. 3) via a drive controller.

FIG. 6is a conceptual view showing a method for recording image information and additional information in the thermal printer1according to this embodiment.

As shown inFIG. 6, the reel drive unit14b(seeFIG. 3) controlled by the drive controller (seeFIG. 5) rotates the take-up reel33to unreel the ink ribbon31from the supply reel32. The unreeled ink ribbon31passes between the thermal head10and the platen11and is wound onto the take-up reel33.

The roll of paper41is sandwiched between the capstan roller12and the pinch roller13, and the capstan roller12controlled by the drive controller (seeFIG. 5) is rotated to unreel the roll of paper41from the paper holder42(seeFIG. 3). The unreeled roll of paper41is then transported between the ink ribbon31and the platen11.

When the photographic printing is not in process, the thermal head10is lifted and situated at a position slightly separate from the platen11. When the image information and additional information is sent, the lifted thermal head10is lowered and presses the platen11, and the ink ribbon31and the roll of paper41are sandwiched between the heat-generating resisters arranged on the thermal head10and the platen11. That is, the heat-generating resisters on the thermal head10firmly press the roll of paper41via the ink ribbon31on the platen11.

Clockwise rotation of the capstan roller12sequentially transports the roll of paper41in the direction (the rightward direction inFIG. 6) in which the roll of paper41is wound back onto the paper holder42(seeFIG. 3), and clockwise rotation of the take-up reel33sequentially winds the ink ribbon31onto the take-up reel33at the same speed and in the same direction as the roll of paper41. At the same time, the heat-generating resisters arranged on the thermal head10are selectively energized based on the image information and heat energy is transferred from the heat-generating resisters to the ink ribbon31. According to the amount of generated heat from the heat-generating resisters on the thermal head10, the Y (yellow) color ink on the ink ribbon31shown inFIG. 4is transferred onto the fluorescent brightener-containing roll of paper41.

Thereafter, the thermal head10is lifted and the capstan roller12is counter-rotated (rotated in the counterclockwise direction) to feed the roll of paper41in the reverse direction (the leftward direction inFIG. 6). After the roll of paper41is returned to the point where the photographic printing has initiated, a similar recording operation described above is repeated. In this way, the magenta (M) and cyan (C) color inks on the ink ribbon31shown inFIG. 4are also transferred onto the roll of paper41, and the color image information is sharply recorded on the fluorescent brightener-containing roll of paper41.

After the roll of paper41is fed again in the reverse direction, a similar recording operation described above is repeated to transfer the transparent laminate ink (L) on the ink ribbon31shown inFIG. 4onto the roll of paper41. In this way, the ultraviolet absorber-containing laminate ink (L) is laminated over the image information recorded area on the roll of paper41, so as to protect the recorded image from ultraviolet light and improve the light fastness of the recorded image.

The additional information is recorded on the roll of paper41in such a way that the laminate ink (L) is partially transferred according to the additional information onto the area of the roll of paper41where no image information has been recorded. That is, the additional information is recorded with the ultraviolet absorber-containing laminate ink (L) on the area of the fluorescent brightener-containing roll of paper41where color inks (yellow (Y), magenta (M) and cyan (C)) have not been transferred.

The roll of paper41on which the image information and the additional information has been thus recorded is transported toward the sheet ejection port8by lifting the thermal head10and counter-rotating the capstan roller12(rotating in the counterclockwise direction). Then, the area of the roll of paper41where the image information and the additional information has been recorded is cut by a cutter (not shown), and ejected from the sheet ejection port8.

FIGS. 7A and 7Bare plan views showing one example of image information21and additional information22recorded by the thermal printer1according to this embodiment.

As show inFIGS. 7A and 7B, a greeting sentence for the hot season, the address and the name of the sender, a figure of a wind-bell and the like are recorded as the image information21on the recording surface of the roll of paper41cut into the size of a postcard. A two-dimensional code representing a URL of a sender's personal webpage is recorded as the additional information22on the area where the image information21has not been recorded.

Since the additional information22has been recorded with the transparent laminate ink (L), the additional information22is illegible to a third party under normal conditions. That is, as shown inFIG. 7A, the roll of paper41under normal conditions appears to have only the image information21recorded thereon. Thus, under normal visible light conditions, such as during delivery, the additional information22, which is the URL of a sender's personal webpage, will not be disclosed to a third party.

However, when the roll of paper41is exposed to ultraviolet light, for example, by using a black light, the additional information22becomes legible. That is, when the roll of paper41is exposed to ultraviolet light as shown inFIG. 7B, the area on the fluorescent brightener-containing roll of paper41where the image information21has not been recorded emits light and appears generally bright. On the other hand, the additional information22recorded with the ultraviolet absorber-containing laminate ink (L) appears dark because the applied ultraviolet light is absorbed. Thus, the recipient of the postcard can illuminate the postcard with ultraviolet light, for example, by using a black light to read the additional information22that appears dark against the bright, light-emitting area where the image information21has not been recorded.

FIGS. 8A and 8Bexplain a method for reading additional information22recorded by the thermal printer1according to this embodiment.

As shown inFIG. 8A, the additional information22is recorded with the ultraviolet absorber-containing laminate ink (L) on the area on the roll of fluorescent brightener-coated paper41where the image information21(seeFIGS. 7A and 7B) has not been recorded.

When such a roll of paper41is exposed to ultraviolet light from above, as shown inFIG. 8A, the additional information22on the roll of paper41on which the laminate ink (L) has been transferred appears dark because the ultraviolet light is absorbed due to the effect of the ultraviolet absorber added to the laminate ink (L). On the other hand, at the portion on which no laminate ink (L) has been transferred and the image information21(seeFIGS. 7A and 7B) has not been recorded, the roll of paper41is not blocked by the image information21but is exposed, so that that portion emits light and appears bright because the ultraviolet light is reflected due to the effect of the fluorescent brightener (the hatched portion in the figure) coated on the roll of paper41.

Thus, as shown inFIG. 8B, at the portion of the roll of paper41on which no laminate ink (L) has been transferred, the roll of paper41emits light and appears bright due to the ultraviolet light, while the portion on which the laminate ink (L) has been transferred to record the additional information22appears dark because the laminate ink (L) absorbs the ultraviolet light. Therefore, the additional information22becomes legible because of the contrast in brightness.

In this way, according to the thermal printer1of this embodiment, the image information21(seeFIGS. 7A and 7B) is sharply recorded on the roll of fluorescent brightener-coated paper41, while the additional information22is recorded with the transparent ultraviolet absorber-containing laminate ink (L) on the area where the image information21has not been recorded. As a result, the additional information22, such as a URL of a sender's personal webpage, can be recorded in an invisible manner under normal conditions without compromising the photographic printing quality of the image information21. The additional information22easily becomes legible by exposing it to ultraviolet light, for example, by using a black light.

Although the embodiment of the invention has been described above, the invention is not limited thereto. For example, the following various variations are possible:

(1) Although the embodiment has been described with reference to the thermal printer1as an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus is not limited to the thermal printer1. That is, the invention can be applied to various image forming apparatuses, such as printers and copying machines of other types. Although the roll of paper41is used as the photographic printing medium, the photographic printing medium is not limited thereto. For example, the photographic printing medium may be a cut sheet and the like.

(2) In this embodiment, although the additional information22is recorded to the fluorescent brightener-containing roll of paper41with the transparent ultraviolet absorber-containing laminate ink (L), the way the additional information22is recorded is not limited thereto. For example, the additional information22may be recorded by applying a transparent material that absorbs light of a specific wavelength to an area that does not absorb light of the specific wavelength on the recording surface of the photographic printing medium. That is, for example, the additional information22may be recorded with a transparent material that absorbs infrared light or the like. Since the fluorescent brightener-containing roll of paper41and the transparent ultraviolet absorber-containing laminate ink (L) are universally used, use of these materials provides economical superiority.

(3) Conceivable additional information22is not limited to a URL of a sender's personal webpage, but may include any information that should not be easily visible or need not be visible to a third party under normal conditions. For example, URLs of websites for providing advertising campaigns and various services are displayed in magazines, on street posters and the like, so that users can start a dedicated application stored in a mobile phone that support two-dimensional codes so as to take a close-in shot of a two-dimensional code. Then, a URL for a mobile phone browser is displayed on the liquid crystal screen of the mobile phone, and the user can select the URL to access the corresponding website. Therefore, by recording such a URL as additional information22, a specific user can access the corresponding website.

(4) The additional information22is not limited to an URL but may be a reference product number for a printout, information on addresses of a recording device on which image information is saved or the like. Furthermore, the additional information22is not limited to a two-dimensional code, but may be a one-dimensional code or the like in which a barcode (JAN code) is included in the horizontal direction.