JPH04142996A - Portable display medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a repeatedly printable and erasable portable display medium by displaying an image by transferring an image forming member forming an image from the outside and removing the image by melting the image forming member under heating. CONSTITUTION:A variable display layer 10 is constituted of a material made opaque by mixing pigment such as silicon dioxide or talc with a resin such as polyethylene terephthalate or polyurethane. If necessary, said material may be made opaque or colored before use. Herein, a white layer with 3mum thickness wherein minute particles of silicon dioxide are mixed with polyurethane is used. For example, a use date and the balance are recorded on the variable display layer 10 being the display layer provided on the rear 6b of a card 6 as the use state of the card 6. When it is judged that there is no blank in the variable display layer 10 of the card on the basis of the use history data already read by a reading head, a heat roll is driven to heat the variable display layer 10 and the ink image of the variable display layer 10 is removed by lift-off.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Purpose of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) This invention relates to a reduction-of-amount card used in telephones, ticket vending machines, etc., namely, a private card, an ID card of a financial institution, It relates to portable display media that are repeatedly used for identification such as employee ID cards or securities.

(Prior art) Conventionally, with a deductible card used in telephones, ticket vending machines, etc., in other words, a buribate card, if the amount is a large amount that cannot be limited to the number of times it can be used, even if there is a balance, it cannot be printed. Due to reasons such as running out of area and making it unusable or difficulty printing small characters, updating records (printing) of balances, etc. are not adopted. Therefore, the remaining amount to be used (or the number of usable degrees) is roughly notified by punching a hole or the like. Therefore, there was a problem in that it was not possible to know the usage history and accurate balance.

For example, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 55-39351, a transfer sheet with a transfer ink layer provided on a backing material is brought into close contact with a plastic card, and a thermal head is driven to record an image. It is fixed by a fixing device,
Some cards are issued with images formed on them. Furthermore, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-125071, there is a device in which a hole is drilled to roughly indicate the usable power.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, these cards can only display within a limited limit or roughly display the number of points that can be used, and cannot display the usage history and accurate balance. There was a problem that it was not possible to know.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a portable display medium that can repeatedly print and erase usage history and accurate balance information.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an image forming member that displays an image by transferring an image from the outside, and an image forming member that forms an image. The image is removed by heating and melting the forming member.

(Function) The portable display medium of the present invention displays an image by transferring an image forming member from the outside, and removes the image forming member by heating and melting it. That is, the image can be displayed by transferring the image forming member from the outside again.

(Example) Next, the present invention will be explained in detail using the drawings.

Figure 1 shows an amount subtraction card (
This figure shows a cross-sectional structure of a card (such as a prepaid card). The card 6 has a preprint layer 8 on one side of a base material 7, and a magnetic recording layer 9 and a variable display layer 10 as a display layer on the other side. The base material 7 is made of plastics such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, or paper, and here, polyvinyl chloride with a thickness of 188 μm was used. The base material 7 may be transparent or colored. The variable display layer 10 is made of a material made of a resin such as polyethylene terephthalate or polyurethane mixed with a pigment such as silicon dioxide or talc to make it opaque. It may be opaque or colored if necessary.

Here, a 3 μm thick white layer made of polyurethane mixed with silicon dioxide fine particles was used. As shown in FIG. 2, the pre-print layer 8, that is, the surface 6a of the card 6 has
The available usage limit, pattern, etc. are printed on the card. Variable display layer which is a display layer provided on the back surface 6b of the card 6]0
(Within the dashed line frame), as shown in FIG. 3, the usage status (usage history) of the card 6, such as the usage date and remaining amount, are recorded. The variable display layer 10 may be provided on a part of the card 6 or may be provided on the entire surface. The magnetic recording layer 9 stores the initial state and usage status (usage history) of the card 6, such as the usage limit, usage date, and remaining amount. In addition, the variable display layer 10 is capable of printing that receives an externally supplied image forming body on its surface to form a visible image, and lift-off of the formed visible image (an image that is adhered to the variable display layer). This is a rewritable recording layer that is erased by adhering another object to the surface of the forming object, transferring the image forming object to the other object by peeling, and removing the image forming object from the variable display layer. The variable display layer 10 must receive and fix an externally supplied image forming body on its surface during recording, and must completely remove the formed image during erasing. The recorded image must not be damaged or erased by contact with a magnetic head, conveyance roller, etc., or by contact with other objects. Furthermore, the recorded image must be completely removed from the variable display layer 10 by lift-off. For this purpose, it is preferable that the surface of the variable display layer 10 has excellent affinity with the image forming body and excellent smoothness. Excellent affinity with the image forming body contributes to the stability of the recorded image, and smoothness contributes to complete removal of the recorded image. A suitable affinity is indicated by the surface of the variable display layer 10 providing a contact angle of 0 degrees to 60 degrees with respect to the image forming body in a liquid state. Suitable smoothness is a Bekk smoothness of 50 seconds or more and 5000 seconds or less. If the time is less than 50 seconds, the recorded image may not be completely removed or the tη slip caused by the card conveying roller will become noticeable. If the time exceeds 5000 seconds, the stability of the recorded image will deteriorate. The frame of the structure in which the variable display layer [0] is provided on the magnetic recording layer 9 as shown in FIG. The thickness of layer 10 is limited and may be less than 10 μm, preferably less than 5 μm. The variable display layer 10 preferably has a density contrast or color difference with respect to the image forming body so that the formed visible image can be easily recognized. Density contrast is necessary when the image forming body and the variable display layer 10 are achromatic or the same color, and it is desirable that the difference in reflection density is 0.5 or more. In a card usage system with a visual check system by a third party, not only the card owner but also
It must also be readable by a third party.

Such systems generally require deciphering the recorded contents of moving cards. A card that may be used in such a system requires a reflection density difference of 0°5 or more. It is also effective to improve legibility by using a difference in color between the variable display layer 10 and the image forming body.
a b space) It is desirable that the color difference is 10 or more.

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of a card 11 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The card 11 consists of a magnetic recording layer 9 on one side of a base material 12 made of polyethylene terephthalate with a thickness of 188 μm, and a white opaque base layer 13 of polyurethane with a thickness of 3 μm mixed with talc and a polyethylene terephthalate with a thickness of 3.5 μm on the other side. A variable display layer 14, which is a recording layer, is laminated. The surface of the variable display layer 4 of this card has been activated by ion etching.

This treatment improves compatibility with the image forming body.

In the card having this configuration, unlike the card shown in FIG. 1, the variable display layer 14 is not provided on the magnetic recording layer 9, so its thickness is not limited. Further, the white opaque underlayer 13 is configured to block the color of the magnetic recording layer 9 when viewed from the front side of the variable display layer 14. Therefore, the entire surface of this card can be used as the variable display layer 14.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional structure of a card 15 which is a third embodiment of the present invention. The card 15 has a pre-printing layer 8 on one side of the profit 12 made of polyethylene terephthalate with a thickness of 188 μm, a magnetic recording layer 9 on the other side, a cushion layer of polyurethane with a thickness of 1 to 2 μm] 6, and a vapor-deposited aluminum layer 17 with a thickness of 0.05 μm. A variable display layer 14, which is a recording layer made of polyethylene terephthalate with a thickness of 3.5 f1 m, is laminated. The surface of the variable display layer 14 of this card has been activated by plasma etching. This treatment improves compatibility with the image forming body. Vapor deposited aluminum layer 1
7 is a magnetic recording layer 9 when viewed from the surface side of the variable display layer 14
is configured to block out the colors of Cushion layer 1
6 is flexible, and when the recording head contacts the variable display layer 14 to supply an image forming body, even if the base material 12 is rigid, the contact state of the recording head is maintained well, and a good condition is maintained. Can record.

Next, an example of card processing when using a card which is an embodiment of the portable display medium of the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 schematically shows the internal configuration of the card processing device. This device uses a deductible amount card, which is an example of a card, and prints usage history data such as the date of use and remaining amount on the card each time it is used, as shown in FIG. When there is no more blank space in 14, the recorded image is removed and new data is printed. The card 6 used here is shown in FIG.
It has a magnetic recording layer 9 and a variable display layer 10.

The card processing device is composed of a card input slot 20, a known conveyance roller (not shown), etc.
Magnetic information is read from the magnetic recording layer 9 of the card 6, including the card transport path 21 that can transport the card in the directions of arrows a and b), security-related data such as the authenticity of the card, validity period, and usage history data such as the remaining amount. A read head 22, a write head 23 for updating and writing magnetic information on the magnetic recording layer 9 of the card 6, and a variable display layer 10 of the card 6.
A heat roll heating means 24 is an ink image removing means for removing the ink image by lift-off when there is no margin left on the card, and a heat roll heating means 24 is used for printing usage history data such as usage date and remaining amount on the variable display layer 10 of the card 6. This is a thermal head thermal transfer recording means 25 which is a printing means.

The thermal head thermal transfer recording means 25 heats an ink ribbon containing an image forming body (ink) to melt the ink, and transfers the ink to the variable display layer 10 of the card to form an ink image. Inks with various characteristics such as color, density, fastness, weather resistance, magnetism, fluorescence, and light absorption can be used. In addition, there is a read head 26 that reads magnetic information from the magnetic recording layer 9 of the card 6 to confirm written and updated data, and a stopper that stops the card when there is any doubt about the security of the card, such as its authenticity or validity period. 27, sensors 28, 29 and 30 for detecting the position of the leading end of the card in the transport direction, and a card ejection port 31 for ejecting the card.

Next, the card processing operation in this device will be explained. First, the user inserts the card 6 into the entrance 20. The inserted card 6 is transferred to the conveyance path 21
The card is transported in the direction of arrow a by a transport roller (not shown), and the reading head 22 reads security-related data such as the authenticity of the card, validity period, etc., and usage history data such as the remaining amount. Based on the read data, the validity of the card 6 is determined. If there is a problem with the card 6, the stopper 27 is operated to stop the card 6, and the transport path 2
The card 1 is conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow by a conveyance roller (not shown) or the like, and the card 6 is discharged to a separate tray (not shown). If the card 6 is valid, the usage history data is updated and written in the magnetic recording layer 9 by the next write head 23 of the card 6. In the heat roll heating means 24, when it is determined that there is no margin in the variable display layer 10 of the corner 6 based on the usage history data already read by the reading head 22, the heat roll (not shown) is driven to remove the variable display layer 10. is heated, and the ink image on the variable display layer 1o is removed by lift-off. Further, when it is determined that there is a margin in the variable display layer 10 based on the usage history data already read by the reading head 22, the variable display layer 10
The card 6 is conveyed as it is to the next thermal head thermal transfer recording means 25 so that the heat roll (not shown) of the heat roll heating means 34 does not come into contact with the heat roll heating means 34 . Here, based on the usage history data already read by the reading head 22, necessary information such as the date and time of usage and the remaining amount is displayed on the image forming body by a thermal head (not shown) in a predetermined field in the margin of the variable display layer 1o of the card 6. is transferred and recorded as an ink image by being melted. After printing is performed by the thermal head thermal transfer recording means 25, the read head 26 reads the updated data of the magnetic recording layer 9 by the write head 23, and confirms the updated data. Sensors 28, 29 and 3o provided upstream of each means detect the tip of the card 6,
Outputs reference signals for lift-off, print positioning, or reading magnetic information. Finally, the card is ejected from port 41.
is discharged and returned to the user.

] 3 As a result of repeating printing and displaying on the variable display layers 10 and 14 of the card 6 as described above, it was possible to perform printing and displaying repeatedly 10 times or more. In addition, the printed ink image undergoes over 100 card processing operations (transport, etc.)
Even after repeated use, no chipping of the image or staining of the background occurred. Furthermore, problems such as staining of the magnetic head due to ink images did not occur. Further, when reading or writing magnetic information recorded in the magnetic recording layer, there was no problem in which the output of the read head changed or the input of the write head changed depending on the presence or absence of an ink image.

In addition, the cards 11 and 1 in the second and third embodiments
The usage method of card 5 and its effect are the same as the usage method and effect of card 6, so the explanation will be omitted.

As explained above, according to the present invention, it has become possible to rewrite the printed display on the card. In addition, since the image forming body for displaying characters or images is supplied from outside, the image forming body can be installed according to the function, so it can be visually recognized by the contrast of the density of the image, the difference in color, etc. This makes it possible to display highly flexible and rewritable displays. Furthermore, since the image forming body is made of a material that is solid at room temperature, highly reliable display can be obtained.

Furthermore, when creating a rewritable display, the image forming body that forms images etc. is not used repeatedly, so
Stable display can be performed for a long time without deterioration due to fatigue of the image forming body. Furthermore, since the display area can be set to any desired area, the degree of freedom in the display area is high, and the position of the display area can be easily changed even for the same cart.

In addition, characteristics that meet the requirements for image forming bodies, such as repeatability and anti-scratch properties, can be independently designed without mutual interference.

Further, by simply changing the characteristics of the image forming body supplied from the outside, it is possible to change the specifications of the display form without changing the card body or the device. Further, by combining a plurality of colors of the image forming body, various types of display are possible. The surface quality of the display area is an important characteristic of the display area, and since it is possible to use an image forming material with a high unit density, sufficient image density can be obtained even for thin ink images. Extremely thin display area (layer)
It became possible to form. Therefore, even if a display area (layer) is provided by laminating it on a magnetic recording layer, it does not cause any trouble in reading or writing magnetic information, and it is a portable display medium that can perform rewritable display without damaging the magnetic head. I was able to realize this.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the portable display medium of the present invention, usage history, accurate balance, etc. can be repeatedly printed and erased.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of an amount subtraction type card which is an embodiment of the portable display medium of the present invention, and FIGS.
4 and 5 are cross-sectional configuration diagrams of a card which is another embodiment of the portable display medium of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining card processing means when using the portable display medium of the invention. 6, ] 1.15... Portable display medium, 10... Variable display layer

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A portable display medium characterized in that an image forming member forming and displaying an image on the medium body is heated, melted, and removed. (2) A portable display characterized in that an image forming member that forms an image is transferred from the outside to display the image, and the image is removed by heat treating the image forming member. Medium.