JPH07242007A - Visible image erasing method and recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] A visible image erasing method capable of surely erasing a visible image regardless of the erasing performance of a recording medium, obtaining a high image quality without erasing, and shortening the rewriting time. A recording device is provided. A recording medium 2 capable of repeatedly recording / erasing a visible image by heat is conveyed with its recording surface side in contact with a heating body 1. The recording medium 2 is transported by the transport roller 3 and the transport guide 4. The heating body 1 is heated and controlled to a temperature at which the existing image on the recording medium 2 can be erased, and is moved at a constant speed while being in contact with the recording medium 2 by the heating body moving unit 7 to heat the existing image on the recording medium 2. After erasing, it returns to the initial position. The recording medium 2 from which the existing image has been erased is the heating body 1.
After being separated, the transfer roller 3 further transfers the transfer roller 3 to the thermal head 8, and the thermal head 8 performs selective heating in pixel units to record a new image.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention provides, for example, by making heat cloudy or transparent by controlling heat energy,
A visible image erasing method for thermally erasing a visible image using a thermal erasing means for a recording medium on which recording or erasing of a visible image is possible, and the above recording using the visible image erasing method. The present invention relates to a recording device that records a visible image on a medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional hard copy forms an image on a recording medium such as paper from the outside with a visual material such as ink or toner, or, like a thermal recording paper,
A permanent image is recorded by providing a recording layer on a substrate such as paper and forming a visible image on the recording layer.

However, with the recent construction of various network networks and the widespread use of facsimiles and copying machines, a rapid increase in the consumption of these recording media is caused by the problems of natural destruction such as deforestation and social problems such as waste disposal. Is causing. In order to deal with these problems, it is strongly demanded to reduce the consumption amount of the recording medium such as reproduction of recording paper. In response to such a problem, a recording medium that can be repeatedly recorded / erased has recently attracted attention.

Therefore, as a recording medium having such characteristics, there has been proposed a recording medium capable of reversibly changing both the transparent state and the cloudy state depending on the temperature applied to the recording material (for example, JP-A-55-154198). (See the official gazette).

For example, as shown in FIG. 15, this recording medium has a temperature in the transparent state from T1 to T4.
When raised to T5, it changes from transparent to cloudy,
Even when the temperature returns to T1, the cloudiness is maintained as it is. Then, when the temperature of the recording medium is raised from T1 to T2 to T3 and returned to T1 again, the cloudy state is changed to the transparent state and the transparent state is maintained as it is. This change can be repeatedly reproduced.

A study on deterioration of resolution in repetitive recording when recording with a thermal head using such a recording medium has been reported (for example, the 4th non-exact printing technology symposium, 3
-2, p57 (1987)).

Further, a display changing device for displaying and erasing a display having a thermoreversible recording material has been proposed (for example, see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 19568/1990).
This apparatus is provided with an erasing means for thermally erasing the display on the display body and a printing means for thermally printing. As a specific example, there is disclosed an apparatus for erasing and recording a display on an information recording card having a thermoreversible recording layer by using a heat roller (heat erasing means) and a thermal head (thermal recording means) (for example, See Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-3876).

Further, a recording material using a leuco dye, which gives a reversible color tone change only by controlling thermal energy, as a color-developing source has been announced (for example, Japan Hardcod).
y'90, NIP-2, p147 (1990)).

The present inventors have also used a recording method of simultaneously recording and erasing a visible image using a single thermal head (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-197647), and a belt-shaped heat generating resistor on a substrate. There is proposed a recording system (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-4447) for erasing a visible image using a plate-shaped erasing head provided with a body.

In recent years, research on these rewritable recording media and recording methods has become more active, and various presentations have been made at various international conferences. The present inventors have confirmed the effectiveness of a recording method for simultaneously recording and erasing a visible image on these recording media by using a single thermal head, and referred to “AN OVERWRITE PRINTING
METHOD FOR THE THERMOSENSITIVE REWRITABLE PRINTING
MEDIA ”(Advanced in Non-Impact Printing Technolo
Gies / Japan Hardcopy'93 (1993)) is being presented at the conference.

However, in the case of heat erasing while moving and contacting the recording medium such as a heat roller, a thermal head, or a plate-shaped erasing head, when the moving speed becomes faster, heat transfer to the recording medium occurs. Will not catch up, and a temperature gradient will occur in the recording layer.

These recording materials differ greatly in the temperature range of visible image erasing due to the difference in composition and additives, and in order to perform uniform visible image erasing, there is a part that depends on the erasing performance of the recording medium. It was great.

When the erasing performance of the recording medium is inferior, the temperature gradient described above causes the upper layer portion of the recording layer in the recording medium to be overheated and the lower layer portion to be insufficiently heated, and thus the entire recording layer is erased within the erasing temperature range. It becomes difficult to fit inside. Therefore, unless a process such as slowing down the moving speed of the recording medium to suppress the temperature gradient is performed, the visible image remains unerased and the image quality is deteriorated.

In order to solve such a problem, a heat roller, a surface heater, a belt heater or the like is used to perform heat erasing from the back surface of the recording medium to suppress the temperature gradient in the recording layer by thermal diffusion. Proposals have also been made (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-142279).

In order to erase the visible image without erasing, there is also a method in which the movement of the recording medium is completely stopped and then a planar heater or the like is brought into static contact to perform heat erasing. In the method, the recording medium is temporarily stopped,
There is a problem that the total time for rewriting becomes very long and it cannot be applied to equipment that requires high-speed processing.

[0016]

As described above, in the conventional recording apparatus capable of recording / erasing a visible image on a recording medium capable of repeatedly recording / erasing a visible image by heating. When a recording medium having poor erasing performance is used, there are problems that the unerased portion causes the image quality to deteriorate and the rewriting time to become long.

Therefore, according to the present invention, a visible image erasing method which can surely erase a visible image regardless of the erasing performance of a recording medium, can obtain a high image quality without being left unerased, and can shorten rewriting time, and It is an object to provide a recording device.

[0018]

A visible image erasing method according to a first aspect of the present invention shows two states of recording and erasing a visible image due to thermal history of different temperatures, and a recording medium to be conveyed is On the other hand, a visible image erasing method for erasing a visible image using a heat erasing means, wherein the heat erasing means is brought into contact with a visible image recording surface of the conveyed recording medium, and It is characterized in that the visible image is erased by heating while moving with the recording medium.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a recording device, which conveys a recording medium showing two states of recording and erasing a visible image by thermal history of different temperatures, and a visible image recording surface of the recording medium. Heat erasing means for heating and erasing the visible image by contacting with
When erasing a visible image, the thermal erasing means is brought into contact with the visible image recording surface of the recording medium conveyed by the conveying means, and
The recording medium includes a moving unit that moves together with the recording medium, and a thermal recording unit that records a visible image on the recording medium from which the visible image has been erased by the thermal erasing unit.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording device which conveys a recording medium showing two states of recording and erasing a visible image by thermal history of different temperatures, and a visible image recording surface of the recording medium. Heat erasing means for heating and erasing the visible image by contacting with
A first moving means for moving the heat erasing means in the conveying direction of the recording medium, and a second moving means for moving the heat erasing means in a direction of coming in contact with and separating from the visible image recording surface of the recording medium. Means for controlling the first moving means so that the heat erasing means moves together with the recording medium conveyed by the conveying means when erasing the visible image, and the heat erasing means conveys by the conveying means. First control means for controlling the second moving means so as to come into contact with the visible image recording surface of the recording medium, and the thermal erasing means is separated from the recording medium after the visible image is erased. The first moving means is controlled so that the thermal erasing means returns to the erasing start position.
And a thermal recording means for recording a visible image on the recording medium from which the visible image has been erased by the thermal erasing means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus, wherein first recording means for conveying a recording medium showing two states of recording and erasing a visible image by thermal histories of different temperatures, and the visible recording medium. A heat erasing means for heating and erasing a visible image by contacting an image recording surface, and a visible image of a recording medium including a part of the first conveying means and being conveyed through the heat erasing means in a part thereof. Second conveying means having a means for contacting the recording surface and capable of repeatedly returning the heat erasing means in the conveying direction of the first conveying means; and when erasing a visible image, the heat erasing means The visible image is conveyed by the second conveying means, and the second conveying means is controlled so as to move while being in contact with the visible image recording surface of the recording medium conveyed in a part of the first conveying means. After erasing, the thermal erasing means is separated from the recording medium, The control means for controlling the second transport means so as to return to the erasing start position by the second transport means, and the visible image on the recording medium from which the visible image has been erased by the thermal erasing means. Thermal recording means for recording.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording device which conveys a recording medium showing two states of recording and erasing a visible image according to thermal histories of different temperatures, and a width of the recording medium in a conveying direction. The recording medium has a heating portion which is narrower than a region where a visible image is erased and which is provided on the substrate in a band shape to generate heat when energized. The heating portion is used for recording a visible image on the recording medium. A heat erasing means for heating and erasing a visible image by contacting the surface, and at the time of erasing the visible image, the heat erasing means is brought into contact with the visible image recording surface of the recording medium conveyed by the conveying means, and A moving means for moving the recording medium together with the recording medium at a speed slower than its conveying speed; and a thermal recording means for recording a visible image on the recording medium from which the visible image has been erased by the thermal erasing means. There is.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus which conveys a recording medium showing two states of recording and erasing a visible image by thermal histories of different temperatures, and a rotation means in a direction of conveying the recording medium. A heat erasing unit that heats and erases the visible image of the recording medium while sandwiching and transporting the recording medium by the heating roller and a supporting member that also serves as a part of the transporting unit. At the time of erasing the visible image, with respect to the recording medium from which the visible image is erased by the thermal erasing means, moving means for moving the thermal erasing means in the state of sandwiching and conveying the recording medium in the conveying direction of the recording medium. Thermal recording means for recording a visible image.

[0024]

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, the heat erasing means is not moved by bringing the heat erasing means into contact with the conveyed recording medium and erasing the visible image while moving the recording medium along with the recording medium. In comparison with the case where only the recording medium is moved and contacted for heat erasing, the temperature gradient in the recording layer of the recording medium is suppressed, and it becomes possible to eliminate the unerased portion,
The visible image can be surely erased without stopping the movement of the recording medium, the deterioration of the image quality due to the unerased portion can be prevented, and the high image quality can be obtained.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the first moving means for moving the heat erasing means in the conveying direction of the recording medium and the second moving means for moving the heat erasing means in the direction of contacting with and separating from the recording medium. And moving the thermal erasing means together with the recording medium by the first moving means, while bringing the thermal erasing means into contact with the recording medium by the second moving means to heat and erase the visible image on the recording medium, After erasing, the second moving means separates the thermal erasing means from the recording medium, and the first moving means returns the thermal erasing means to the erasing start position to enable next visible image erasing. Thus, it becomes possible to eliminate the unerased portion and surely repeatedly erase the visible image without stopping the movement of the recording medium.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the first erasing means includes a part of the first carrying means for carrying the recording medium, and has a means for bringing the heat erasing means into contact with the recording medium in the part. Second transporting means capable of repeatedly returning and transporting in the transporting direction of the transporting means is provided, and the heat erasing means is transported by the second transporting means, and the heat erasing means is brought into contact with the recording medium at a part of the first transporting means and integrally. After erasing by heating while conveying, after erasing, the heat erasing means is separated from the recording medium and conveyed by the second conveying means, returned to the erasing start position, and erased by enabling the next visible image erasing. A visible image can be surely repeatedly erased without leaving a residue and without stopping the movement of the recording medium.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the width of the recording medium in the conveying direction is narrower than the area in which the visible image of the recording medium is erased, and the heat generating portion is provided on the substrate in the form of a strip and has a heat generating element that generates heat when energized. By shortening the contact time with the recording medium, the heat erasing means is brought into contact with the recording medium to be conveyed, and the visible image is erased by heating while moving at a speed lower than the conveying speed of the recording medium. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the erasing time while suppressing the temperature gradient in the recording layer of the recording medium. Further, it is possible to make the heat erasing means small in size, eliminate the unerased portion, and surely repeatedly erase the visible image without stopping the movement of the recording medium.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the heat erasing means is composed of a heating roller which rotates in the direction in which the recording medium is conveyed, and this heating roller also serves as at least a part of the recording medium conveying means. In addition to simplifying the transporting means, it is possible to eliminate the unerased portion and reliably erase the visible image repeatedly without stopping the movement of the recording medium.

[0029]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 schematically shows the configuration of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a heating body as a heat erasing means, and a detailed description thereof will be described later. Reference numeral 2 denotes a recording medium on which a visible image can be repeatedly recorded / erased by heat, and the recording surface (visible image recording surface) on which recording / erasing is performed is conveyed in a direction in which it contacts the heating body 1. ing.

The recording medium 2 is driven by a driving force of a conveying roller 3 which is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown) and a conveying guide 4.
And the position detector 5 detects it. The heating element 1 is controlled to be heated to a temperature at which the existing image on the recording medium 2 can be erased by the control of a temperature control circuit (not shown) connected via the harness 6.

The heating element 1 is attached to a heating element moving section 7 as a moving means which will be described in detail later, and is moved by the heating element moving section 7 along a locus indicated by a two-dot chain line in the figure. While moving while contacting the recording medium 2 at a constant speed, the existing image on the recording medium 2 is erased by heating and then returned to the initial position to enable the next visible image erase.

After the recording medium 2 from which the existing image has been erased is separated from the heating body 1, the recording medium 2 is further conveyed by the conveying roller 3 to the thermal head 8 as a thermal recording means, and rotated by the common motor described above. While being conveyed by the driving force of the platen roller 9 being held, the thermal head 8 comes into contact with the thermal head 8 pressed against the platen roller 9 by a pressure spring (not shown), and at the timing based on the detection signal of the position detector 5, the thermal head A new image is recorded by performing selective heating in pixel units by 8.

By repeating the above operation, rewriting recording of a visible image on the recording medium 2 is realized.
Next, the heating element 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. The heating body 1 is, for example, a nichrome wire (NiCr).
Heat resistance wire 1 made by coating exothermic wire with electric insulation
0s are arranged in a meandering pattern, sandwiched by a thermistor 11 for detecting the temperature, and a metal plate 12 such as aluminum having good thermal conductivity, and the contact surface with the recording medium 2 is kept in contact with the recording medium 2. In order to improve the heat resistance, a silicon rubber film 13 having high heat resistance is formed.

Power supply to the heating resistance wire 10 and the thermistor 1
The output signal of No. 1 is received by a temperature control circuit (not shown) via the harness 6, so that the heating element 1
Is controlled to a temperature at which the visible image on the recording medium 2 can be erased.

In this embodiment, a metal wire such as a nichrome wire is used as the heating element of the heating element 1, but a ceramic heater or a heating resistor compound such as silver-palladium (Ag-Pd) may be used. A heating element having a similar function can be constructed.

Next, the heating body moving section 7 will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, 14 is a ball screw mechanism for reciprocating the heating body 1 in the conveying direction of the recording medium 2 (direction of arrow A), which is composed of a ball screw 14a and a nut 14b screwed to the ball screw 14a.
Is driven by the rotation of the ball screw movement motor 15, so that the nut 14b reciprocates in the direction of arrow A.

The nut 14b of the ball screw mechanism 14 includes
The heating element 1 is attached via an extruding solenoid 16 for pressing the heating element 1 in the direction of coming into contact with the recording surface of the recording medium 2. A tension spring 17 for separating the heating body 1 from the recording medium 2 is provided between the nut 14b and the heating body 1 when the existing image on the recording medium 2 is not erased.
17 are provided.

The ball screw mechanism 14, the ball screw moving motor 15, the pushing solenoid 16, and the tension spring 17 compose the heating body moving unit 7, and the ball screw mechanism 14 is operated at a timing based on the detection signal of the position detector 5 described above. The reciprocating motion of the recording medium 2 is combined with the push-pull motion of the push-out solenoid 16 and the tension spring 17.
When the existing image is erased, the heating body 1 is pressed against the recording medium 2 and moved in contact with the recording medium 2 in the conveying direction, and the operation of returning to the initial position after separation is repeated.

The harness 6 is constantly pulled by the harness guide spring 18, which prevents the harness 6 from slackening or curling when the heating element 1 is moved.

In this embodiment, the heating body moving section 7 is formed by combining the ball screw mechanism and the pushing solenoid. However, it is sufficient that a movement similar to the locus shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 can be realized. The frame to which the heating element 1 is fixed on the guide rail corresponding to the above-mentioned locus may be moved by the pulley and the belt, and the path may be switched between the forward path and the return path by the gate.

Next, the recording medium 2 used in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The recording medium 2 uses a sheet material in which a recording material which changes to a transparent state and a cloudy state depending on a heating temperature and which can be repeatedly used is applied to a base material. In FIG. 15, T2 to T3 are clearing temperatures, and T4 to
T5 is the clouding temperature. As for the recording material that causes such a state change, research reports have been made on its characteristics, as described in the related art.

Therefore, by selectively applying cloudy heating and transparent heating to a partial area of the recording layer, it is possible to create a cloudy part and a transparent part, and a transparent part and a cloudy part where the background color can be seen. A visible image is formed by the contrast of the part. Furthermore, it is possible to repeatedly rewrite an arbitrary visible image by changing the areas to which cloudy heating and transparent heating are applied.

Such a recording material is mainly composed of a high molecular weight / low molecular weight composite film material in which a lower fatty acid is dispersed in a high molecular matrix, and the temperature at which it changes to a transparent state or a cloudy state depends on the component ratio of the material. It can be changed depending on the kind of the additives. In this embodiment, under the condition that the hot plate is pressed for 2 seconds, the transparency is about 70 to 100 ° C. (T2 to T).
3), a material exhibiting a white turbidity of about 110 to 180 ° C. (T4 to T5) is used.

Although various materials can be used for the base material, in this embodiment, in consideration of repeated use, heat resistance and cost, PE having a thickness of about 188 μm is used.
T (polyethylene terephthalate) is used.

FIG. 5 schematically shows an electric circuit of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment configured as described above. That is, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 19 that controls the overall control includes a ROM that stores a control program for the CPU 19 and various fixed data.
(Read only memory) 20, RAM (random access memory) 21 for storing various data, carry motor drive circuit 22, ball screw movement motor drive circuit 24,
Extrusion solenoid drive circuit 25, erase temperature control circuit 26,
The thermal head drive circuit 27 and the position detector 5 are connected to each other.

The carry motor drive circuit 22 drives the carry motor 23 to rotate based on the speed data set in the ROM 20 and the RAM 21 in accordance with a command from the CPU 19. The conveyance motor 23 rotationally drives the conveyance roller 3 and the platen roller 9 to convey the recording medium 2.

The ball screw moving motor drive circuit 24 and the push-out solenoid driving circuit 25, based on the detection signal of the position detector 5 incorporated in the CPU 19, at the timing matched with the conveyance of the recording medium 2, the ball screw movement motor 15, Further, by driving the pushing solenoid 16, the heating element 1 is moved in contact with the recording medium 2 being conveyed, the existing image on the recording medium 2 is erased, and then the heating element 1 is separated from the recording medium 2 and returned to the initial position. It has become.

The erasing temperature control circuit 26 includes the thermistor 11
The heating body 1 is controlled to a temperature at which the existing image on the recording medium 2 can be erased by controlling the energization of the heating resistance wire 10 of the heating body 1 based on the detection signal.

The thermal head drive circuit 27 includes the CPU 1
Based on the detection signal of the position detector 5 fetched by the ROM 9, the ROM 20 and the RAM 21 are set at preset timings.
Based on the data set in the thermal head 8
On the other hand, a new image is recorded by applying a pulsed current to the recording medium 2 at a temperature at which a new image can be recorded on a pixel-by-pixel basis.

As described above, the CPU 19 controls each control based on the data set in the ROM 20 and the RAM 21.
By centrally managing with, it is possible to realize control for recording / erasing a visible image.

Next, with reference to FIG. 6, the difference between the recording apparatus of the present embodiment and the conventional recording apparatus will be described, focusing on the conveyance speed of the recording medium 2. The conventional recording apparatus is, for example, the heating member moving unit 7 in the present embodiment.
With the configuration excluding, the heating body 1 is fixed without moving in the transport direction, the movement of the recording medium 2 is temporarily stopped, and then the heating body 1 is brought into contact with the recording medium 2 to form a visible image. This is the case of a recording device that erases data.

In FIG. 6, the vertical axis represents the conveying speed of the recording medium 2, the horizontal axis represents the moving time, the solid line represents the case of the recording apparatus of the present embodiment, and the broken line represents the case of the conventional recording apparatus. This is the case where the movement is once stopped. Here, when the visible image is recorded by the thermal head 8, the recording speed is regulated by the problem of thermal response for rapidly heating the minute area, as described in the conventional technique. Therefore, in this embodiment, the recording medium 2 is conveyed at a speed of 40 mm / s.

The thermal head 8 is, for example, 8
0.4mJ / do using a dot / mm resolution
By applying the energy of t, the recording layer of the recording medium 2 described above could be made cloudy in pixel units. In addition, the temperature of the heating element 1 is set to 90 ° C. (the temperature detected by the thermistor 11) and the heating element 1 is brought into contact with the recording medium 2 for 0.3 seconds, so that the recording layer of the recording medium 2 described above can be made uniformly transparent. did it.

Here, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 6, in order to shorten the entire rewriting time in this embodiment, after inserting the recording medium 2 into the apparatus, the recording medium 2 is conveyed at, for example, 500 mm / s. Then, immediately before recording the visible image with the thermal head 8, the speed is reduced to 40 mm / s, and after recording the visible image,
It is controlled to accelerate again to 500 mm / s and discharge. The erasing by the heating element 1 is performed in the area a in the figure, and the contact time with the recording medium 2 is the same as in the conventional case.

Further, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 6, in order to erase the visible image of the recording medium 2 in the related art, the contact with the heating element 1 is completely stopped for 0.3 seconds or more. ,
It takes an extra time before the recording medium 2 is ejected, including the time required for acceleration / deceleration at that time.

Therefore, as is clear from FIG.
It can be seen that, compared with the conventional case, the recording apparatus of the present embodiment does not need to be temporarily stopped when erasing the visible image, and thus the time until the rewriting is completed and the sheet is discharged is shortened. .

Although not added in this embodiment, image information and other information can be obtained by providing a magnetic recording layer on the recording medium 2 and a recording / erasing head for magnetic information in the recording device. Can be written on the magnetic recording layer,
The use of the recording medium 2 and the recording device can be expanded,
It is possible to increase added value.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 7 schematically shows the structure of the recording apparatus according to the second embodiment. In the present embodiment, the heating element 1 supported by the heating element moving part 7 used in the first example.
Instead of this, a thin plate-shaped heating element 28 that is not supported or fixed anywhere is used. Therefore, without using the heating body moving unit 7 used in the first embodiment, the heating body conveying roller 29 is used.
Also, since the heating member transfer means including the heating member transfer guide 30 is used and the other structure is exactly the same as that of the first embodiment, the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

The structure of the heating element 28 is almost the same as that of the heating element 1 used in the first embodiment, but the heating element conveying roller 29 is used.
The total thickness is set to 1 mm in order to enable transportation by. Further, instead of the metal plate 12 in the heating element 1, a silicon rubber film reinforced by glass fiber is used to sandwich the exothermic resistance wire 10 so that the heating element 2
8 can be made flexible and the transportability can be improved.

Since the heating element 28 is not supported or fixed anywhere, it can be conveyed by the conveying roller like the recording medium 2. That is, the ball screw mechanism 14, the ball screw moving motor 15, and the pushing solenoid 16 which constitute the heating body moving unit 7 in the first embodiment as shown in FIG.
There is no need to take a complicated configuration using parts such as
The device configuration is simplified.

The heating element 28 is moved in accordance with the conveyance of the recording medium 2 by the conveyance of the heating element conveying roller 29 based on the detection signal of the position detector 5, and comes into contact with the recording medium 2 on the way, and the conveying roller is conveyed. The existing image on the recording medium 2 is erased while being integrally conveyed by 3.

The heating body 28 is separated from the recording medium 2 after the existing image on the recording medium 2 is erased, and the heating body conveying roller 2
9 and the heating element transfer guide 30, the transfer is carried out along the locus shown by the chain double-dashed line in the figure and returns to the initial position.

Although not shown, the method of preventing the harness 6 from being caught by the harness guide spring 18 connected to the heating body 28 is the same as that of the first embodiment. Further, since the recording of the new image is exactly the same as that of the first embodiment, it is understood that the rewriting recording of the visible image can be realized with the configuration shown in FIG.

Further, since the heating element 28 can be configured to have substantially the same size as that of the recording medium 2, it is possible to provide a plurality of heating elements in one recording device, and the visible image rewriting of the recording medium 2 is continuously performed. In this case, if the existing image is erased sequentially by the next heating element 28, continuous rewriting can be performed in a short time.

Since the heating element 28 used in this embodiment has a small heat capacity by itself, it is possible to raise the temperature in a short time, and the recording medium 2 is only in contact with the recording medium 2. It is possible to heat the existing image to a temperature at which it can be erased. Therefore, if the heating of the heating element 28 is started based on the detection signal of the position detector 5 and the heating element 28 is separated from the recording medium 2 and then the heating is stopped, the power consumption can be suppressed.

The structure of the electric circuit in this embodiment is basically the same as the circuit structure of FIG. 5 shown in the first embodiment, but as shown in FIG. Instead of the heating element conveying motor drive circuit 51, instead of the ball screw moving motor 15, the heating element conveying roller 29.
If a heating body transport motor 52 for driving the motor is provided and is centrally managed by the CPU 19, the others can be realized with the same configuration.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 9 schematically shows the configuration of the recording apparatus according to the third embodiment. In the present embodiment, instead of the heating element 1 used in the first embodiment, the width of the recording medium 2 in the transport direction is narrower than the area where the visible image of the recording medium 2 is erased, and heat is generated by energization. A heating element 31 having a heating resistor provided in a strip shape on a substrate is used. Other configurations are the first.
Since it is exactly the same as the embodiment described above, the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

The heating element 31 is moved by the heating element moving unit 7 at a speed lower than the conveying speed of the recording medium 2 so as to have a relative speed, so that the heating element 31 is brought into sliding contact with the recording medium 2 to erase the existing image. It has become. In addition, the recording medium 2 is at a high speed (500
mm / s).

As in the first embodiment, the heating element 31 moves along the locus indicated by the two-dot chain line in the figure by the heating element moving unit 7. The heating element 31 is brought into contact with the tip of the visible image erasing area of the recording medium 2 while moving in the transport direction of the recording medium 2 by the movement operation of the heating element moving unit 7 based on the detection signal of the position detector 5. . Then, the heating body 31 is moved at a speed slower than the conveying speed of the recording medium 2 so that the existing images of the recording medium 2 are sequentially brought into contact with each other from the leading end portion thereof by erasing heat to erase the existing images. ing.

In this case, the moving speed of the heating element 31 is set to 400
mm / s (the relative speed between the recording medium 2 and the heating body 31 is 10
0 mm / s), it was possible to erase the existing image on the recording medium 2 without erasing it by performing the heating control described later. Further, after the already-erased image on the recording medium 2 is finished, the heating body 31 is returned to the initial position by the heating body moving unit 7 so that the next visible image can be erased.

Here, the recording medium 2 is attached to the fixed heating body 31.
In the case of a conventional recording device that makes sliding contact with
At the transport speed of 500 mm / s used in this embodiment, heat cannot be propagated in time, the recording layer of the recording medium 2 cannot be made transparent uniformly, and 100 mm / s can be eliminated at the time of heat erasing.
You will have to transport it below. Therefore, there is a limitation on the conveying speed, such as decelerating to a predetermined speed and then performing heat erasing, or always lowering the speed to 100 mm / s or less.

That is, according to the present embodiment, the existing image on the recording medium 2 can be erased without slowing the conveying speed of the recording medium 2. Therefore, the recording medium 2 being conveyed at high speed can be conveyed. It can be seen that it is not necessary to temporarily reduce the speed for heat erasing, and the visible image can be rewritten in a short time when the lengths of the transport paths are the same.

In a general recording apparatus, in addition to the visible image recording unit, components such as a supply unit for the recording medium 2, a jam detection unit, and a slack prevention unit are provided in the preceding stage of the recording unit. The transport path of the medium 2 exists also in a portion other than the portion for recording a visible image. Therefore, by applying the above-described heat erasing method on the conveyance path other than these visible image recording units,
The recording apparatus according to the present embodiment can be realized without providing an extra transport path as compared with the conventional case, and the visible image can be rewritten in a short time.

Further, as described incidentally in the first embodiment, the magnetic recording layer is provided on the recording medium 2 and the recording / erasing head for magnetic information is arranged in the recording device to obtain the image information, By writing other information on the magnetic recording layer, it is possible to previously determine where on the recording medium 2 the already recorded image is recorded. Even if the width or position changes, the width and position of the heating element 31 in sliding contact with the recording medium 2 are changed to the necessary minimum according to the width or position, so that heat erasing without waste is achieved. Can be done.

Next, the heating element 31 will be described with reference to FIGS.
Will be described. The heating body 31 is made of, for example, Al2 O.
A thick film heating resistor 33, which is made of a silver-palladium (Ag-Pd) compound or the like as a heating element and generates heat by energization, is formed in a strip shape with a thickness of 20 μm and a width of 2 mm on a substrate 32 having a thickness of 1 mm made of ceramics such as 3. In addition to being formed, power supply electrodes 34, 34 are formed at both ends thereof, respectively.

Further, in order to improve the surface property and protect the heat generating resistor 33 from mechanical wear and oxidation, a protective film 35 made of crystallized glass is formed on the surface of the substrate 32 excluding the power supply electrodes 34. Are formed.

With such a configuration, the shape and size of the heating element 31 are compact, and the apparatus can be downsized. Further, since the heating body 31 has a small heat capacity as in the second embodiment, it can be heated to a temperature at which the existing image can be erased only while it is in contact with the recording medium 2.

Further, since the heating resistor 33 is located in the immediate vicinity of the recording medium 2, the temperature of the recording layer of the recording medium 2 can be raised to a temperature at which it becomes transparent in a shorter time.
However, since the heating resistor 33 is provided on the substrate 32, it is difficult to detect the temperature with good response because the temperature detecting means such as the thermistor cannot be provided in the vicinity. In view of this, in the present embodiment, the heating resistor 33 is pulse-energized based on preset data to control the heating to a temperature at which the existing image can be erased.

More specifically, in this embodiment, in order to obtain sufficient heat generation and high-speed erasability, for example, a heating body 31 of 180 watts (W) is used, and 24 Volts is applied to this heating body 31. A pulse of which the pulse width was modulated was applied to turn on / off the DC voltage of (V) at a cycle of 10 ms. In this case, at the start of heating, the energizing time P0 is compared with the 10 ms cycle.
(9.9 ms) is repeatedly energized for 10 cycles to raise the temperature to a temperature at which the existing image can be erased, and then energization for maintaining the erase temperature.

Energization time (P) for maintaining erase temperature
Needs to be corrected at all times because of the effect of heat storage on the heating element 31. The correction coefficient at that time is α, and the energization time (P) is changed according to the number of repetition cycles (N) of the 10 ms cycle based on the following equation (1).

P = αP 0 (1) Further, the correction coefficient α can be expressed by the following equation (2). [alpha] =-(1/10) ln (N) +1 (2) In this way, the corrected energization is performed, and the energization is terminated when the area of the recording medium 2 to be erased passes, thereby erasing. The area could be erased uniformly.

In the present embodiment, the correction is
Although a method of performing a logical operation in a circuit in the recording apparatus for each energization cycle is used, the same heat erasing can be performed by a method of storing the data in a ROM or the like in advance and calling it.

The structure of the electric circuit in this embodiment is basically the same as the circuit structure of FIG. 5 shown in the first embodiment, but instead of the erase temperature control circuit 26 as shown in FIG. If the heating element drive circuit 53 for pulse-driving the heating resistor 33 as described above is provided and is centrally managed by the CPU 19, the others can be realized with the same configuration. According to this embodiment, since a complicated temperature control circuit can be eliminated,
The circuit configuration is simplified.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 13 schematically shows the configuration of the recording apparatus according to the fourth embodiment. In this embodiment, a heating roller 36 and a pressure roller 37 pressed against the heating roller 1 are used instead of the heating element 1 and the conveying roller 3 used in the first embodiment. Since this is exactly the same as the embodiment, the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.

The heating roller 36, for example, sequentially forms a film of heat-resistant silinco rubber or the like on the surface of a metal tube having a high thermal conductivity such as aluminum to improve contact with the recording medium 2, and A heating element such as a halogen lamp is arranged in the interior of the roller to heat the entire roller by radiant heat. Since the pressure roller 37 also needs heat resistance, it is made of heat-resistant silicone rubber or the like.

The heating roller 36 is moved by the heating member moving section 7 together with the pressure roller 37 while rotating itself. The recording medium 2 is sandwiched between the heating roller 36 and the pressure roller 37, and the existing image is erased by heating while being conveyed by the rotation of the heating roller 36 itself.

Here, since the conveying speed of the recording medium 2 is the sum of the moving speed due to the rotation of the heating roller 36 and the moving speed due to the heating member moving section 7, the rotating speed of the heating roller 36 is not increased more than necessary. However, high-speed transportation becomes possible. In the present embodiment, for example, the heating roller having an outer diameter of 30 mm is temperature-controlled at 90 ° C., the peripheral speed is rotated at 100 mm / s, and the moving speed by the heating body moving unit 7 is set to 400 mm / s to perform recording. The existing image could be erased by heating while transporting the medium 2 at 500 mm / s.

The structure of the electric circuit in this embodiment can be basically realized by the same structure as the circuit structure of FIG. 5 shown in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted. As described above, the recording apparatus of each embodiment described in detail above is used, for example, by using a rewritable recording medium (recording medium 2) in the content display portion such as a pass ticket, and a used pass ticket is collected for recycling, The effect can be maximized by using the system in which the display contents are rewritten collectively and reissued in a batch.

FIG. 14 schematically shows the construction of a ticket issuing machine incorporating the recording apparatus of this embodiment. Here, it is assumed that the ticket paper 38 has a magnetic recording portion for writing magnetic information on its surface and an image display portion made of a recording material capable of repeated recording / erasing similar to the recording medium 2.

The ticket issuing machine is provided with a stacker 39 for temporarily storing the collected used paper 38 and a paper 3 from the stacker 39.
8, a take-in roller 40 for taking in 8, a reversing roller 41 for preventing the taking of 8 sheets, a magnetic head 42 for reading the magnetic information from the magnetic recording portion of the paper 38, and a new magnetic recording portion of the paper 38. A magnetic head 43 for writing magnetic information, an image erasing unit 44 for erasing an old image, and an image recording unit 45 (corresponding to the thermal head 8) for recording a new image are provided.

Here, the recording apparatus of each of the above-described embodiments is applied to the image erasing section 44 and the image recording section 45, and in the image erasing section 44, the heat erasing means is moved as described above, and the ticket is used. The image is erased while contacting the image display portion of the paper 38.

When the old magnetic information is read by the magnetic head 42 and the content of the magnetic information is determined, the writing of new magnetic information by the magnetic head 43 and the erasing of the old image by the image erasing section 44 are performed. It is not necessary to carry out sequentially, but it is possible to carry out in parallel.

Therefore, by overlapping the arrangement, the area necessary for arranging the magnetic head 43 for writing is allocated to the area where the heat erasing means is brought into contact with the image display portion of the ticket 38 to move. Therefore, the present invention can be realized without increasing the length of the ticket issuing machine as a whole.

With the above structure, the used paper sheets 38 stored in the stacker 39 are taken in one by one by the take-in roller 40 and the reverse roller 41. After the magnetic information is read by the magnetic head 42 on the taken-in ticket 38, the old image is erased by the image erasing unit 44 and the new image is recorded by the image recording unit 45 while the magnetic information is written by the magnetic head 43. The image is recorded and ejected.

Further, the length of the image erasing section 44 (area in which the thermal erasing means is brought into contact with the image display section of the ticket 38 and moved to erase the image) is 200 mm. As the transport speed of the ticket 38, the transport speed of the recording apparatus according to the above-described embodiment is applied as it is, and the width of the image display portion of the ticket 38 in the transport direction is 20.
mm. For example, by applying the recording apparatus of the third embodiment, the ticket 38 that is conveyed at 500 mm / s is
When erasing with the heating element 31 that moves at mm / s, the relative speed is 100 mm / s, and a moving distance of 100 mm is sufficient to completely erase the image display portion of the ticket 38. In the recording apparatus of the other embodiments, the shorter one is sufficient.

Therefore, it is possible to minimize the reduction of the conveyance speed by effectively using the conveyance path of the ticket issuing machine, rewrite the image in a short time, and as a result, shorten the entire processing time. Will be possible.

Further, the ticket issuing machine is required to continuously process the plurality of paper sheets 38 stored in the stacker 39. In the recording apparatus of the above-described embodiment, the image can be erased without decelerating or stopping the conveyance of the ticket 38, and the heat erasing means returns to the initial position after the image is erased. It can also support continuous rewriting processing.

Further, the thin plate-shaped heating element 28 which is not supported anywhere as shown in the second embodiment is integrally conveyed with the paper sheet 38 while the image is erased by the heating element 28. If a plurality of heating bodies 28 are provided for image erasing while one heating body 28 is being used for erasing an image or while returning to the initial position, the next heating body 28 can be adapted for image erasing of a new ticket 38 so that more continuous processing can be performed. The interval can be shortened.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the visible image is heated and erased by bringing the heating body as the heat erasing means into contact with the recording surface of the recording medium to be conveyed and moving it together with the recording medium. By doing so, the temperature gradient in the recording layer of the recording medium can be suppressed and the unerased residue can be eliminated, as compared with the case where the heating medium is not moved and only the recording medium is moved and contacted to perform heat erasing as in the conventional case. In addition, the visible image can be surely repeatedly erased without stopping the movement of the recording medium. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the image quality from being deteriorated due to the unerased portion and obtain a high image quality.

By heating the heating element to a temperature at which the visible image can be erased only while the heating element and the recording medium are in contact with each other, unnecessary power is not consumed and the unerased portion is eliminated. The erase time can be shortened.

Further, by erasing the visible image by the heating element while the recording medium is moving in the high speed transport section and the deceleration section, it is possible to further shorten the entire image rewriting time.

Further, according to the second embodiment, a part of the recording medium carrying means for carrying the recording medium is included, and a part is provided with means for bringing the thin plate-shaped heating body into contact with the recording surface of the recording medium. A heating body conveying means capable of repeatedly returning the heating body in the conveying direction of the recording medium conveying means is provided, and the heating body is conveyed by the heating body conveying means, and is brought into contact with the recording medium at a part of the recording medium conveying means to be integrated. After erasing, the heating element is separated from the recording medium and conveyed by the heating element conveying means, and returned to the erasing start position so that the next visible image erasure can be performed and the unerased portion remains unerased. Therefore, the visible image can be surely repeatedly erased without stopping the movement of the recording medium.

Further, according to the third embodiment, the width of the recording medium in the conveying direction is narrower than the area in which the visible image of the recording medium is erased, and the heating resistor which generates heat when energized is provided in a strip shape on the substrate. Recording is performed by heating and erasing the visible image while bringing the heating element with a heating unit into contact with the recording surface of the recording medium to be transported and moving it at a speed lower than the transport speed of the recording medium. Since the contact time with the medium can be shortened, the erasing time can be shortened while suppressing the temperature gradient in the recording layer of the recording medium. Further, it is possible to make the heating element small in size, eliminate the unerased portion, and reliably erase the visible image repeatedly without stopping the movement of the recording medium.

Further, according to the fourth embodiment, the heat erasing means is composed of a heating roller which rotates in the direction in which the recording medium is conveyed, and this heating roller also serves as at least a part of the recording medium conveying means. In addition to simplifying the conveying means of the recording medium, it is possible to eliminate the unerased portion and reliably erase the visible image repeatedly without stopping the movement of the recording medium.

In the embodiment, the recorded image is the cloudy state of the recording layer of the recording medium, but the clouded state is the erased state, and the recording medium is controlled so as to be in the cloudy temperature range at the time of erasing. If the medium is controlled so as to fall within the transparentization temperature range, the transparent state can be used as a recorded image.

Further, the recording material to which the present invention is applicable is not limited to the materials of the above-mentioned embodiment, and for example, a recording material using a leuco dye as a color-forming source which reversibly changes the color tone only by controlling thermal energy. Can also be adapted.

[0107]

As described above in detail, according to the visible image erasing method and the recording apparatus of the present invention, the temperature gradient in the recording layer can be maintained even if the recording medium is inferior in erasing performance without wasting power. Since it is possible to suppress the unerased portion and erase the existing image without decelerating or stopping the movement of the recording medium, it is possible to shorten the entire rewriting time. The size and power consumption can be reduced, high image quality can be obtained and the rewriting time can be shortened regardless of the erasing performance of the recording medium.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing the configuration of a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a heating body in the same example.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of the heating element according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side view schematically showing the configuration of a heating body moving unit in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of an electric circuit of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a relationship between a transport speed and a moving time of a recording medium in the embodiment, as compared with a conventional one.

FIG. 7 is a side view schematically showing the configuration of a recording apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of an electric circuit of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a side view schematically showing the configuration of a recording apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a front view schematically showing the configuration of a heating body in the example.

FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional side view schematically showing the configuration of the heating body in the example.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of an electric circuit of the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a side view schematically showing the configuration of a recording apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a side view schematically showing the configuration of a ticket issuing machine including the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining a state of a recording material that can be changed to both a cloudy state and a transparent state depending on a history temperature.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Heating body (heat erasing means), 2 ... Recording medium, 3 ...
Conveying rollers, 4 ... Conveying guide, 7 ... Heater moving part (moving means), 8 ... Thermal head (thermal recording means),
9 ... Platen roller, 10 ... Heating resistance wire, 14 ...
Ball screw mechanism, 15 ... Ball screw moving motor, 16
...... Extrusion solenoid, 17 …… Tension spring, 19 …… CP
U, 20 ... ROM, 21 ... RAM, 22 ... Conveyor motor drive circuit, 23 ... Conveyor motor, 24 ... Ball screw moving motor drive circuit, 25 ... Extrusion solenoid drive circuit, 26 ... Erase temperature control circuit , 27 ...... Thermal head drive circuit, 28 ...... Heating body (heat erasing means), 29 ......
Heater transport roller, 30 ... Heater transport guide, 31 ...
... heating body (heat erasing means), 32 ... substrate, 33 ... heating resistor, 36 ... heating roller, 37 ... pressure roller, 5
1 ... Heating body conveyance motor drive circuit, 52 ... Heating body conveyance motor, 53 ... Heating body drive circuit

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Internal reference number FI technical indication location 9121-2H B41M 5/26 102 (72) Inventor Hisahi Tanaka 70 Yanagicho, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Toshiba Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A thermal history of different temperatures indicates two states of recording and erasing of a visible image, and a thermal erasing means can be used to erase a visible image on a conveyed recording medium. A visual image erasing method, characterized in that the thermal erasing means is brought into contact with the visible image recording surface of the conveyed recording medium, and the visible image is thermally erased while moving with the recording medium. Visible image erasing method. 2. Conveying means for conveying a recording medium showing two states of recording and erasing a visible image by thermal histories of different temperatures, and a visible image contacting a visible image recording surface of the recording medium to form a visible image. Heat erasing means for erasing by heating, and at the time of erasing a visible image, the heat erasing means is brought into contact with the visible image recording surface of the recording medium conveyed by the conveying means, and
A recording apparatus comprising: a moving unit that moves together with the recording medium; and a thermal recording unit that records a visible image on the recording medium from which the visible image has been erased by the thermal erasing unit. 3. Conveying means for conveying a recording medium showing two states of recording and erasing of a visible image by thermal history of different temperatures, and a visible image by contacting a visible image recording surface of the recording medium. Heat erasing means for erasing by heat, first moving means for moving the heat erasing means in the conveying direction of the recording medium, and the heat erasing means for contacting and separating from the visible image recording surface of the recording medium. Second moving means for moving in the direction, and controlling the first moving means so that the heat erasing means moves together with the recording medium conveyed by the conveying means when erasing a visible image, and First erasing means for controlling the second moving means so that the erasing means comes into contact with the visible image recording surface of the recording medium conveyed by the conveying means, and the thermal erasing means after erasing the visible image The second moving means is arranged so as to be separated from the recording medium. Control means and second control means for controlling the first moving means so that the heat erasing means returns to the erasing start position; and a recording medium whose visible image is erased by the heat erasing means. A recording apparatus comprising: a thermal recording unit that records a visual image. 4. A first transporting means for transporting a recording medium showing two states of recording and erasing a visible image by thermal histories of different temperatures, and a visible image recording surface of the recording medium. A heat erasing means for heating and erasing the visual image; and a means for including a part of the first conveying means and for bringing the heat erasing means into contact with the visible image recording surface of the conveyed recording medium in a part thereof. A second transporting means capable of repeatedly returning the heat erasing means in the transporting direction of the first transporting means, and the heat erasing means is transported by the second transporting means during erasing of a visible image. Controlling the second conveying means so as to move while contacting the visible image recording surface of the conveyed recording medium in a part of the first conveying means, and erasing the visible image; Is separated from the recording medium by the second conveying means. Control means for controlling the second transport means to be conveyed and returning to the erasing start position; thermal recording means for recording a visible image on a recording medium from which the visible image has been erased by the thermal erasing means; A recording apparatus comprising: 5. Conveying means for conveying a recording medium showing two states of recording and erasing a visible image by thermal histories of different temperatures, and a width of the recording medium in the conveying direction is a visible image of the recording medium. It has a heat generating portion which is narrower than the area to be erased and which is formed on the substrate in the shape of a strip and generates heat when energized. The heat generating portion is brought into contact with the visible image recording surface of the recording medium to form a visible image. A heat erasing means for erasing by heat, and at the time of erasing a visible image, the heat erasing means is brought into contact with the visible image recording surface of the recording medium conveyed by the conveying means, and
A moving means for moving the recording medium together with the recording medium at a speed slower than the conveying speed thereof; and a thermal recording means for recording a visible image on the recording medium from which the visible image has been erased by the thermal erasing means. A recording device characterized by. 6. A transporting means for transporting a recording medium showing two states of recording and erasing a visible image by heat history of different temperatures, and a heating roller rotating in a direction of transporting the recording medium. A heat erasing means for heating and erasing a visible image of the recording medium while nipping and conveying the recording medium with a heating roller and a supporting member which also serves as a part of the conveying means; Moving means for moving the heat erasing means in the carrying direction of the recording medium in the state of sandwiching and carrying the recording medium, and heat for recording a visible image on the recording medium from which the visible image has been erased by the heat erasing means. A recording device comprising: a recording unit.