JPH0449097A - Visible recording card - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make a formed image sharp and easy to look by adding a fluorescent dye to an image forming layer or the certain layer under the image forming layer. CONSTITUTION:In a card 1, a smooth layer 11 composed of a synthetic resin and a support layer 12 composed of a polyethylene terephthalate sheet or paper having high strength are laminated and a part of the smooth layer 11 is used as a recording part 16 and printing 17 is applied to the surface other than the recording part 16 of the smooth layer 17 to display necessary explanation or a decorative design. A metallic mirror surface layer 13 is formed between the smooth layer 11 and the support layer 12. Usually, a magnetic recording layer 14 and a protective layer 15 are provided to the under surface of the support layer 12 to provide function performing data recording or operation. A fluorescent dye is added to the smooth layer 11 composed of a synthetic resin. This fluorescent dye emphasizes the whiteness of the frost formed to the smooth layer 11 to make an image easy to look.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Application Fields> The present invention relates to repeatedly forming and erasing clearly visible recorded images on cards that are used repeatedly, such as commuter passes, admission permits, and various prepaid cards. Regarding cards that can be used.

(Prior Art) Commuter passes for public transportation, permits for entering event venues and buildings, etc. are used repeatedly every day, but due to management reasons, there is no way to check for unauthorized boarding or unauthorized entry.

In recent years, a method of checking using magnetic cards has been adopted in some areas, and since the presence or absence of a check cannot be visually checked, there is a risk of a check being omitted due to a problem with the equipment, which is inconvenient for both administrators and users. .

Also, various prepaid cards include magnetic cards and I/O cards.
A C card is being used, but since the recorded contents cannot be viewed directly, it is not possible to easily check the payment amount or balance.
There was a problem in terms of guaranteeing the content to users.

Previously, there were methods to print usage details on the card each time the card was used, or to display the approximate value of the remaining amount by punching a hole, but these methods could not erase the records, so there was a limit to the number of times the card could be used. It is not suitable for cards that have a large number of charges or that require accurate balance display.

Therefore, the present applicant has previously proposed a method that can repeatedly create and erase visible records on commuter passes and various prepaid cards.

The method involves using a card with a smooth layer made of synthetic resin on the surface, forming a heat-erasable frosted surface on the smooth layer, and heat-erasing the frosted surface to return it to a smooth surface. This method creates a visually visible image based on the contrast between the frosted surface and the smooth surface, that is, the difference in light reflectance.

In this case, it is important to be able to clearly recognize the formed image, but if the image is simply formed, it may be difficult to see.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention provides cards such as commuter passes, admission tickets, and various prepaid cards that can form clear images that can be easily recognized visually. The point is that the forming layer or the layer below the image forming layer contains a fluorescent dye.

The present invention will be explained in detail below with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the card of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line -■ of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing another example of the card of the invention, and Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the card of the invention FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are cross-sectional views showing still another example of the card. FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are cross-sectional views showing how to use the card.

To explain the card of the present invention with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the card 1 includes a smooth layer 11 made of synthetic resin, and a support layer 1 made of strong polyethylene terephthalate sheet or paper.
A part of the smooth layer 11 is used as a recording part 16, and the other surface is printed 17 to display necessary explanations and decorative designs. Further, a metallic mirror layer 13 is formed between the smooth layer 11 and the support layer 12. Also, usually
A magnetic recording layer 14 and a protective layer 15 are provided on the lower surface and have functions for storing information, calculating, etc.

Figure 5 (A), (B), (C) shows how to use this card.
To explain, the recording portion 16 of the card 1 having the smooth layer 11 as shown in (A) is subjected to frost (surface roughening) treatment as shown in (B) to form the frosted surface 2.

By performing this frosting at a temperature not lower than the glass transition temperature (Tg) and lower than the melting point (Tm) of the resin of the smooth layer 11, the frosted surface 2 retains a strain that tends to return to its original smooth surface upon heating.

To record on this card, as shown in (C), when the frosted surface 2 of the card is partially heated at a temperature higher than the 70 stroke processing temperature, only the heated portion returns to a smooth surface.
Images 3 such as letters, figures, and symbols appear due to differences in reflectance between the frosted surface and the smooth surface.

When erasing a record, the entire surface of the recording section 16 is frosted to erase the image 3. This frost treatment, like the first frost treatment, is performed using a synthetic resin of 7 g or more and Tm or less to retain distortion inside. As a result, the card 1 returns to the state shown in (B) before image formation, and can be used repeatedly thereafter.

The structure of the card of the present invention will be explained again with reference to FIG. 2. The smooth layer 11 of synthetic resin contains a fluorescent dye. This fluorescent dye is used to enhance the whitishness of the frost formed on the smooth layer 11 to make the image easier to see.

Further, the metallic mirror layer 13 is provided when the smooth layer 11 is transparent, and has the effect of making the formed image stand out and clear by reflecting light rays.

As this metallic mirror layer 13, a vapor deposited layer or foil of aluminum, chromium, nickel, copper, etc. is used, especially JI
60 degree specular gloss specified by 5-Z-8741 is 100
It is better to set it to % or more.

In another example of the card of the present invention shown in FIG. 3, an intermediate layer 18 containing a fluorescent dye is formed under the transparent smooth layer 11. Fluorescent dyes are easily degraded and decomposed by heat, but this problem can be solved by using a fluorescent dye-containing layer as an intermediate layer.

The material of the intermediate layer 18 is not particularly limited, but like the smooth layer 11, it is preferably made of synthetic resin.

In another example of the card of the invention shown in FIG.
Contains fluorescent dye.

Since the support layer 12 is generally thick, it is provided in the smooth layer 11 etc. even if the fluorescent dye content is the same.

In the present invention, the resin constituting the smooth layer 11 includes polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polymethyl (meth)acrylate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide,
Various resins such as ABS resin or copolymer resins thereof can be used alone or in combination. Among these, non-grade resins such as polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, and polymethyl (meth)acrylate are preferred because they are easy to handle.

Furthermore, crosslinkable acrylic resins, crosslinkable urethane resins, or the various resins mentioned above can be treated with crosslinking agents, electron beams, gamma rays, etc.
It is also possible to use a resin that has been crosslinked to the extent that it does not lose its heat fluidity.

These resins preferably have a Tg in the range of 50 to 140°C.

Fluorescent dyes include yellow dyes such as perylene, pyrazolone, and quinophthalone, anthraquinone, benzobylane,
Red dyes such as azo dyes, as well as blue, green, and purple dyes can be used.

Yellow dye has the highest fluorescent effect.

Generally, the amount of fluorescent dye added is 10% of the synthetic resin of the smooth layer.
It is about 0.01 to 10% by weight compared to 0% by weight.

The thickness of the smooth layer 11 is usually in the range of 5 μm to 3 mm,
There is no particular limit to the overall thickness of Mana Card 1, but it is 0.1
It is about ~3 mm.

As this smooth layer 11, a film or sheet formed by extrusion molding or the like may be used, or it may be formed by coating.

The frosting shown in FIG. 5(B) is performed at a temperature not lower than the glass transition temperature (Tg) and lower than the melting point (Tm) of the resin of the smooth layer 11 in order to maintain distortion.

At temperatures lower than Tg, frosting produces only distortions, or the resulting distortions are rapidly released without heating; at temperatures higher than Tm, the resulting frost has no distortion and cannot be reheated. Even if you can't erase it,
The purpose of the present invention cannot be achieved.

In the case of non-quality resins, they often do not show a clear Tm, but in that case, the flow start temperature is defined as Tm, and in the case of crosslinked resins that generally do not show a Tm, the flow start temperature (
or decomposition temperature) or below. Furthermore, when a mixed resin or a copolymer resin exhibits two or more Tg's, the higher Tg may be used as the reference.

The condition of the frost is determined by the surface roughness of the frosted surface 2.
J I 5-B-0601 10 point average roughness Rz is 1~
It is preferable that the thickness is 10 μm and the number of peaks is in the range of 200 to 1000 pieces and 78 mm.

If Rz is less than 1 μm, it is difficult to determine the presence or absence of an image even if a smooth surface tIA3 is formed in the frosted surface during recording, and if it exceeds 10 μm, complete smoothing may not be possible during recording, making it difficult to reuse. Occasionally there will be problems.

The heating (recording) shown in FIG. 5(C) can be performed by a method of bringing a heated stamp close to or by pressing it, a method using a laser beam, a method using a thermal head used in a normal thermal printer, or the like. Particularly preferred is a method using a thermal head. According to this method, an image is formed by a collection of a large number of minute dots, so a clear and high-resolution image can be obtained. In addition to pre-arranged images, it is also possible to record images with arbitrary characters and sizes as needed.

In the above explanation, an image is formed by partially heating the recording section on which a frosted surface has been formed in advance, but the card of the present invention partially frosts the smooth recording surface,
It can also be applied when making frosted characters, figures, etc. appear.

The card of the present invention can visually display the main information recorded on the magnetic recording layer etc. as an image, and can be used for entrance/exit checks to transportation facilities and facilities, restaurants, shops, and vending machines. It can be used to record and display the amount spent, balance, etc. on a prepaid card used for such purposes.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, visible images can be repeatedly recorded and erased, and by providing a fluorescent dye-containing layer,
The image formed becomes clear and easy to see.

(Example) A polyethylene terephthalate sheet (thickness 188 μm) was used as the support layer 12, and the smooth layer 1 was coated on the negative side with an aluminum vapor deposited layer 13 having a 60 degree specular gloss of 200%.
1, a 15 μm thick transparent polyvinyl chloride resin layer containing 0.1% by weight of perylene yellow (7 g, 70°C, T
The cards shown in FIG. 1 were produced by stacking the 1010×20 recording area 16 and printing 17.

Then, in the recording part, a 1010 x 20 metal plate was processed by electric discharge machining to have an Rz of 3 μm and a number of peaks of 350/8 mm.
A frosted plate with a frosted surface of
The frost treatment was performed at 0° C., for 0.5 seconds, and at a pressure of 20 kg.

Next, apply a voltage of 9 to the frosted surface using a thermal head.
Characters of 24 dots and a size of 5 mm were printed under conditions of 3 msec/dot current application time. The characters could be clearly read.6 Next, the recording portion was frosted under the same conditions as above to erase the characters.

For comparison, a similar test was conducted using a card containing no fluorescent dye, and the characters formed were slightly less legible.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the card of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line -■ of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing another example of the card of the invention, and Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the card of the invention FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are sectional views showing still another example of the card; FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are sectional views showing how to use the card; FIGS. 1...Card 11...Smooth layer 13...
Metallic mirror layer 16... Recording section 18... Intermediate layer (fluorescent dye-containing layer) 2... Frosted surface 3...
Image patent applicant Mitsubishi Plastics Co., Ltd. Patent attorney Kumi Kondo. Figure 1 Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A card that has a recording section made of a smooth layer of synthetic resin on at least a part of its surface, and that records a visible image by forming a frosted surface that retains distortion on the recording section. , a visible recording card in which the synthetic resin of the recording part contains a fluorescent dye. 2. A card that has a recording section made of a smooth layer of transparent synthetic resin on at least a part of its surface, and that records a visible image by forming a frosted surface that retains distortion on the recording section; A visible recording card with a fluorescent dye-containing layer formed on the bottom surface. 3. Claim 1 or 2, wherein the layer containing a fluorescent dye is transparent, and a metallic mirror layer is formed on the lower surface of the transparent layer.
Visible record card listed.