JP2000309169A - Thermal recording card, label, image processing method, image display method and image processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thermal recording card which enables forming of a uniform image, even when it is a thick card and is free from the generation of peeling, even when a printing and erasing cycle is repeated and further, is characterized in that especially a uniform image is formed and also is completely erased and further, no peeling occurs, even when a printing and erasing cycle is repeated, in the form of a thermal reversibly recording card, and also a label using this card, an image processing method, an image display method and an image processing device. SOLUTION: In the thermal recording card with a thermal recording part which is formed in at least a part of a card base material and shows a change in transparency and color tone by heat, the amount of deformation of the card (Y) is 5 mm or less and the absolute value of a surface swell (X) of the thermal recording part and the amount of deformation of the card (Y) meet the formula: |X|<=0.075.Y1.4. In addition, the label using this card, the image processing method, the image display method and the image processing device are used in connection with the thermal recording card. The surface swell of the thermal recording part is desirably 70 μm or less.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal recording card, a label, an image processing method, an image display method, and an image processing apparatus. Thermal recording card that can be formed, especially a thermoreversible recording card that can repeatedly perform the formation and erasure of an image using transparency or color change due to the temperature of the heat-sensitive layer, and a thermal recording label using these, The present invention relates to an image processing method, an image display method, and an image processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a thermal recording medium whose transparency or color tone changes due to heating, among which a temporary image can be displayed, and the image can be erased when it becomes unnecessary,
A thermoreversible recording medium having a heat-sensitive layer whose transparency reversibly changes depending on the temperature has attracted attention. Typical examples thereof include thermoreversible recording materials in which an organic low-molecular substance such as a higher fatty acid is dispersed in a resin base material such as a vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer (JP-A-55-154198).
Thermoreversible recording materials using a leuco dye and a long-chain alkyl developer (JP-A-5-124360, JP-A-6-210)
954) is known. These recording media are
Usually, a polyester film of about 180 to 250 μm is used as a support, on which the above-mentioned thermoreversible recording material and the protective layer are formed, and on the back surface, a magnetic storage layer is formed to form the thermoreversible recording material. It is used for a part of information stored in the magnetic recording layer at the designated portion, for example, a point card or the like for displaying points given according to the purchase price.

Recently, there has been an increasing demand for displaying a part of stored information even on thick cards of 700 μm or more, such as credit cards, cash cards, IC cards and the like. These thick cards have the advantage of being more luxurious than the above-mentioned thin cards and can be used for conventional credit cards because they can be embossed.However, since the cards are thick and rigid, a thermal head is used. When an image is formed / erased using a ceramic heater or a heat roll, the image cannot be uniformly formed or the image cannot be completely erased.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-290583 discloses a method of peeling and transferring a thermoreversible recording layer in which a low-molecular organic material is dispersed in a resin base material, and a method of forming a thermoreversible recording layer on one surface of a thin polyester film. There has been proposed a method of forming an adhesive layer on the other surface and attaching the adhesive layer to a part of a card. However, the former method of peeling and transferring the thermoreversible recording layer has a drawback that when the thermoreversible recording layer is formed on the peeling layer, it is difficult to form the layer uniformly and the image becomes non-uniform. . In the latter method, a thermoreversible recording layer is formed on one side of the film and an adhesive layer is formed on the other side of the film, and the adhesive is applied to a card because the pressure at the time of heat lamination is as low as 1 kg / cm ² or less. The thermoreversible recording part is weaker and the pressure of the thermal lamination is lower, so that the thermoreversible recording portion is higher than the card substrate surface, and the film provided with the thermoreversible recording layer is peeled off as printing and erasing of an image are repeated.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-76779 proposes a method in which a thermoreversible recording layer is formed on one side of a thin polyester film and an adhesive layer is formed on the other side, and the entire surface of the card is adhered. Have been. However, when pasted on the entire surface, when the card is repeatedly transported to erase and print the image, the end face of the card hits the inside of the device and peels off, and it is usually used for credit cards etc. However, there is a disadvantage that the emboss cannot be formed.

Further, JP-A-10-76780 discloses a thermoreversible recording label having a thermoreversible recording layer formed on one side of a support and an adhesive layer formed on the other side of an oversheet and a center. It has been proposed to temporarily apply heat to a predetermined position on a card base material made of a core, and then embed the card base material by a hot press of 100 to 1000 kg / cm ² ,
As a result, the step between the thermoreversible recording section and the card base material could be eliminated, but this method causes surface undulation on the thermoreversible recording section surface, making it difficult to form a uniform image and completely erase the image. Was.

It is presumed that this surface waviness is caused by the difference in the amount of shrinkage deformation when the thermoreversible recording label and the card base material are cooled. That is, as shown in FIG. 6A, the oversheet and the center core, on which the thermoreversible recording label is temporarily attached at a predetermined position, are simultaneously bonded by a hot press as shown in FIG. By embedding the reversible recording label in the card base material, if the shrinkage amount of the thermoreversible recording label is smaller than the shrinkage deformation amount of the card base material, the thermoreversible recording part is deformed so as to rise to the card surface (FIG.
(C)). A new problem is that uniform surface image formation and complete erasure of the thermal recording section are prevented by the surface undulation occurring on the surface of the thermal recording section.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above situation, it is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal recording card capable of forming a uniform image even on a thick card. A second object of the present invention is to provide a thermoreversible recording card in which peeling does not occur even when the heat reversible recording card, particularly a uniform image can be formed, and the image can be completely erased, and the peeling does not occur even by repeated printing and erasing. Make it an issue. Another object of the present invention is to provide a label, an image processing method, an image display method and an image processing apparatus using such an excellent thermal recording card.

[0009]

According to the present invention, first, in a thermal recording card having at least a part of a card base material provided with a thermal recording portion whose transparency or color tone changes by heating, a card deformation is provided. The thermal recording card is characterized in that the amount (Y) is 5 mm or less and the absolute value of the surface waviness (X) of the thermal recording section and the amount of card deformation (Y) satisfy the following expression (1). You. | X | ≦ 0.075 · Y ^1.4 (1)

Second, the surface waviness of the thermal recording section is 70 μm.
The first thermal recording card is provided as follows.

Third, there is provided the first or second thermal recording card wherein the step at the boundary between the thermal recording section and the card base is 50 μm or less.

Fourth, the thermal recording card according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the thermal recording section is provided with a thermoreversible recording section whose transparency or color tone changes reversibly by heating. .

Fifth, a heat recording layer whose transparency or color tone changes upon heating is provided on a support, and an adhesive layer or a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is provided on the opposite surface of the support. The thermal recording card according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein a thermal recording portion is provided on a part of the card base material via a layer.

Sixth, there is provided the fifth thermal recording card, wherein the adhesive strength between the support provided with the thermal recording layer and the card base is 300 g / cm or more.

Seventh, there is provided the thermal recording card according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the support has an information storage section.

Eighth, the information storage unit includes a magnetic storage unit,
The seventh thermal recording card, which is at least one selected from the group consisting of C storage means and optical storage means, is provided.

Ninthly, there is provided any one of the first to eighth thermal recording cards having an image formed by printing on at least a part thereof.

Tenthly, there is provided any one of the first to ninth thermal recording cards wherein the ratio of the thermal recording section to the card is 5 to 90% by area.

Eleventh, the thermal recording card according to any one of the first to tenth, wherein the thickness of the thermal recording section is 1 to 15% of the thickness of the card base material.

Twelfthly, a thermal recording label used in any one of the first to eleventh thermal recording cards, wherein a thermal recording layer whose transparency or color tone changes upon heating is provided on a support, There is provided a thermal recording label having an adhesive layer or a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer on the opposite side of the support.

A thirteenth aspect of the present invention provides an image processing method characterized in that an image is recorded or recorded and erased by heating using any one of the first to eleventh thermal recording cards.

Fourteenthly, there is provided the thirteenth image processing method for performing recording and / or erasing using a thermal head.

Fifteenthly, there is provided the fourteenth image processing method for overwriting a recorded image by using a thermal head to erase the image and record a new image.

Sixteenth, there is provided the fourteenth or fifteenth image processing method, wherein the pressure for pressing the thermal head against the thermal recording section is 2 to 100 g / mm.

Seventeenth, the above-mentioned thirteenth to thirteenth methods for erasing an image by using a ceramic heater or a heat roll.
An image processing method according to any one of the sixteenth aspect is provided.

Eighteenth, there is provided the seventeenth image processing method, wherein the pressure for pressing the ceramic heater against the thermal recording section is 0.1 to 100 g / mm.

Nineteenthly, an image display characterized in that at least a part of the information stored in the information storage part is displayed on the heat recording part by using any one of the seventh to ninth thermal recording cards. A method is provided.

Twenty, an image processing apparatus to which any one of the thirteenth to eighteenth image processing methods is applied, wherein a recording means for recording a recorded image on a thermal recording unit, Erasing means for erasing, card transport means for transporting the thermal recording card, card position detecting means for detecting the transport position of the thermal recording card transported by the card transport means, and control means for controlling the operation of each of the above means An image processing apparatus comprising:

Twenty-first, there is provided the twentieth image processing apparatus wherein the pressure for pressing the thermal head against the thermal recording section is 2 to 100 g / mm.

Twenty-second, there is provided the twentieth image processing apparatus wherein the pressure for pressing the ceramic heater against the thermal recording section is 0.1 to 100 g / mm.

[0031]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example of the thermoreversible recording card of the present invention. FIG. 1A shows a configuration in which a thermoreversible recording section is provided in a stripe shape, and a magnetic storage unit is provided in another part of a card shape. The magnetic storage means may be provided on the other side of the card. FIGS. 1B and 1C show the thermoreversible recording portion formed so that the thermoreversible recording portion is not located at the end of the card. Even when image formation and erasure are repeated, the card base material and the thermoreversible recording portion are peeled off. It is difficult and preferable. FIG. 1 (c)
Is provided with IC storage means. The IC storage means may be provided on the other side of the card.

The information storage unit is an information storage unit that can be mechanically written / read, and is a known magnetic storage unit.
IC storage means or optical storage means is provided alone or in combination.

The magnetic storage means is usually formed on a card substrate as a tape-shaped magnetic stripe. This magnetic stripe is a magnetic stripe formed of a magnetic stripe (not shown) formed on a support via a release layer. After placing the transfer tape on the card substrate and transferring the magnetic stripe onto the card substrate by thermal transfer, the entire card substrate is subjected to flush processing by hot pressing and embedded in the card substrate. The magnetic stripe is pushed into the inside of the card base material and is flush with the surface of the card base material.

The IC storage means includes a CPU and / or a memory or an IC chip obtained by integrating them into one chip.
An IC module in which electrical elements including a wiring circuit and an external connection terminal that are electrically connected to the IC chip are integrated. The IC module has an external connection terminal in a concave portion formed in a card base material. It is embedded as a table and fixed with an adhesive or the like. The external connection terminal surface and the card substrate surface are flush with each other.

Further, the optical storage means utilizes a phase change or a magneto-optical change of a metal alloy, and usually stores information by using a thermal mode of a laser and reads out the information by using a laser. .

The card base material is usually composed of a center core and oversheets provided on both sides of the center core, and a white, colored or transparent plastic sheet having printability can be applied to the center core. For example, polyvinyl chloride resin, polyester, polyolefin such as polyethylene and polypropylene, polycarbonate, ABS
Materials such as resin can be used. 400 to 10 as thickness
00 μm is preferable, and 550 to 700 μm is more preferable.

The oversheet is white having printability,
A colored or transparent plastic sheet can be applied.
For example, materials such as vinyl chloride resin, polyester, polyolefin such as polyethylene and polypropylene, polycarbonate, and ABS resin can be used. 5 for thickness
It is preferably from 0 to 200 µm, more preferably from 50 to 150 µm.

An image (picture, character) can be formed by printing between the center core and the oversheet or on an arbitrary portion of the card surface.

The thermal recording material used in the thermal recording section of the present invention changes its transparency and color tone by heat. For example, a thermal film comprising a combination of a leuco dye and a color developer, a hot-melt transfer film, Although a thermoreversible recording film can be used, a thermoreversible recording film is particularly often used. The thermoreversible recording material used in the thermoreversible recording film changes its transparency and color tone reversibly due to heat, so that the color tone and / or
Alternatively, it is preferable that two or more forms having different degrees of transparency can be maintained. For example, two or more kinds of polymers are mixed to change the state of transparency and opacity depending on the difference of the compatibility state (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 61-258853), and one utilizing the phase change of a liquid crystal polymer (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 62-66990), the first color is brought into the state of the first color at a first specific temperature higher than the normal temperature, the second color is heated at a second specific temperature higher than the first specific temperature, and then cooled to a second color. And the like that can be in a color state.

In particular, after the heating to the first specific temperature and the first
Those which change the state of color such as transparency, turbidity, and color tone after heating to a second specific temperature higher than the specific temperature are preferably used because the temperature is easily controlled. As a specific example thereof, a resin in which a long-chain low molecule such as a fatty acid is dispersed in a resin becomes a transparent state at a first specific temperature, and becomes a cloudy state when cooled after heating to a second specific temperature (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. -154
198), a specific resin and a fatty acid, etc., which become cloudy at a first specific temperature and become transparent at a second specific temperature (JP-A-3-169590), a leuco dye and a long-chain alkyl. After heating to a second specific temperature using a color developer, the color develops into black, red, blue, etc., and is erased at the first specific temperature (JP-A-5-124360, JP-A-5-29)
No. 4063, JP-A-6-171225), a color is formed at a first specific temperature using a leuco dye and an amphoteric developer,
One that erases color at a second specific temperature (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 18-18829)
No. 3, JP-A-2-188294).

Among these, those obtained by dispersing an organic low-molecular substance such as a fatty acid in a resin and becoming transparent at a first specific temperature and becoming opaque after heating to a second specific temperature include those which undergo physical change. Therefore, there is an advantage that storage stability is good, sensitivity and durability are good, and it is preferably used. In addition, those which produce black, red, blue, etc. using a leuco dye are preferably used because of good contrast, and among those using a leuco dye, those using a long-chain alkyl developer develop and decolor. Is more preferably used because the temperature of the solution is easily controlled.

The resin base material and an organic low-molecular substance dispersed in the resin base material as main components become transparent at a first specific temperature, and become opaque when heated to a second specific temperature and then cooled. The thermoreversible display recording material will be specifically described.

The resin used for the thermoreversible display recording material preferably has a glass transition temperature of 50 ° C. or higher.
0 ° C. or higher is more preferable, 100 ° C. or lower is preferable,
0 ° C. or lower is more preferable. Specifically, polyvinyl chloride, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate-vinyl alcohol copolymer, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate-maleic acid copolymer, vinyl chloride-acrylate copolymer, etc. Vinylidene chloride copolymers such as polyvinylidene chloride, vinylidene chloride-vinyl chloride copolymer, vinylidene chloride-acrylonitrile copolymer; polyesters; polyamides; polyacrylates or polymethacrylates or acrylates and methacrylates Copolymers include silicone resin, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyacrylamide, polyvinylpyrrolidone, natural rubber, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrolein, polycarbonate and the like. These resins may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

In order to further improve the repetition durability,
It is preferable to crosslink the resin, and heat, ultraviolet rays, and electron beams are preferable as a method of crosslinking the resin. When crosslinking the resin, various crosslinking agents may be used. For example, in the case of thermal crosslinking, there is a method of crosslinking by combining a material having an isocyanate group with a resin having a hydroxyl group such as vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate-vinyl alcohol copolymer,
In the case of ultraviolet crosslinking or electron beam crosslinking, there is a method of crosslinking using an acrylic or methacrylate monomer or oligomer together with a resin, but the method is not limited thereto.

On the other hand, any organic low-molecular substance may be used as long as it becomes particulate in the thermoreversible recording layer.
C. to 200.degree. C., preferably about 50 to 200.degree. As such an organic low-molecular substance, a long-chain hydrocarbon-containing compound having a long-chain hydrocarbon is preferable. The carbon number of the long-chain hydrocarbon is preferably 6 or more, more preferably 8 or more, particularly preferably 10 or more, preferably 50 or less, more preferably 40 or less, and particularly preferably 30 or less. This carbon number may be divided into two or more places in one molecule, and represents the total carbon number of the hydrocarbon chain in one molecule.

The organic low molecular weight substance is preferably used in combination with a low melting point material and a high melting point material. The temperature difference between the melting points of the low-melting organic low-molecular substance and the high-melting low-molecular substance is 3
0 ° C. or higher is preferable, and 40 ° C. or higher is more preferable.
0 ° C. or higher is particularly preferred. By using a combination of organic low-molecular substances having different melting points, the range of the temperature at which the material becomes transparent can be expanded.

The melting point of the low-melting organic low-molecular substance is preferably at least 50 ° C., more preferably at least 70 ° C., particularly preferably at least 80 ° C., and preferably less than 100 ° C. As the melting point of the low-melting organic low-molecular substance increases, the image heat resistance improves.
Further, the melting point of the high-melting organic low-molecular substance is preferably 100 ° C. or higher, more preferably 120 ° C. or higher, particularly preferably 130 ° C. or higher, more preferably 140 ° C. or higher, and 20 ° C. or higher.
0 ° C. or lower is preferable, and 180 ° C. or lower is more preferable.
170 ° C. or lower is particularly preferred. When the melting point of the high-melting organic low-molecular substance increases, the temperature difference from the melting point of the low-melting organic low-molecular substance increases, the transparency temperature range increases, and even when the processing speed increases, it becomes easy to become transparent. When the melting point of the molecular substance is lowered, the sensitivity of image formation is improved.

Specific examples of the low-melting organic low-molecular substance include:
Examples include, but are not limited to, fatty acid esters, dibasic acid esters, polyhydric alcohol difatty acid esters, ketones having higher alkyl groups, fatty acids, alkyl amides, and alkyl ureas. These are at least one
These are used alone or in combination of two or more.

Next, the high-melting organic low-molecular substances used in the present invention include: aliphatic saturated dicarboxylic acids, semicarbazones derived from ketones having higher alkyl groups, α-phosphono fatty acids, fatty acid amides, and aliphatic bisamides. , Alicyclic dicarboxylic acids, fatty acids having a steroid skeleton, and the like, but are not limited thereto. These are used alone or in combination of two or more.

The mixing weight ratio of the low-melting organic low-molecular substance to the high-melting organic low-molecular substance is preferably 95: 5 to 5:95, more preferably 90:10 to 10:90, and
0:20 to 20:80 is particularly preferred.

The weight ratio of the organic low-molecular substance to the resin in the thermoreversible recording layer is preferably about 2: 1 to 1:16, more preferably 1: 2 to 1: 8, and more preferably 1: 2 to 1: 8. ~ 1:
4 is particularly preferred. When the ratio of the resin is small, it is difficult to form the organic low-molecular substance in a film held in the resin, and when the ratio is large, the amount of the organic low-molecular substance is small, so that it is difficult to make opaque.

In addition to the above components, additives such as a surfactant and a plasticizer can be added to the thermoreversible recording layer in order to facilitate formation of a transparent image. These are described, for example, in JP-A-63-104879 and JP-A-63-17807.
No. 9 and other publications. However, additives that can be used in the present invention are not limited to these.

Next, the details of a thermoreversible display recording material capable of coloring and decoloring using a leuco dye and a long-chain alkyl developer will be described. This thermoreversible display recording material is formed by dispersing a leuco dye and a developer in a resin binder.

The leuco dye used here is, for example,
It can be selected from triphenylmethanephthalide compounds, fluoran compounds, phenothiazine compounds, leuco auramine compounds, indolinophthalide compounds and the like.

The developer has a structure capable of developing a leuco dye in a molecule, such as a phenolic hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, or a phosphoric acid group, and a structure that controls the cohesive force between the molecules, such as a length. A compound having a structure in which chain hydrocarbon groups are linked. The linking portion may be via a divalent group containing a hetero atom, or the long chain hydrocarbon group may contain a divalent group containing a hetero atom or an aromatic group. Specifically, known developers described in JP-A-5-124360 can be used. The melting point of the developer is preferably 120 ° C. or higher, more preferably 140 ° C. or higher, preferably 200 ° C. or lower, more preferably 180 ° C. or lower.

As a method for providing a thermoreversible recording portion on a part of a card base, for example, a thermoreversible recording layer is provided on a support and an adhesive or pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is provided on the opposite surface of the support. There is a method of using a recording label and attaching the thermoreversible recording label on a card base material. Here, an adhesive is more preferable than an adhesive, and among the adhesives, a hot lamination type is more preferable because the adhesive strength is further increased and the substrate and the label are hardly peeled off even when printing or printing / erasing is repeated. The temperature of the hot lamination is preferably 60 ° C. or higher, more preferably 70 ° C. or higher, particularly preferably 80 ° C. or higher, and preferably 200 ° C. or lower, more preferably 180 ° C. or lower. If this temperature is too low, the card base material and the label tend to peel off when printing or printing / erasing is repeated, and if this temperature is too high, the card base material is deformed, making uniform printing and complete erasure impossible.

The laminating temperature is preferably the image erasing temperature of the thermoreversible recording layer material. That is, a thermoreversible display recording mainly comprising a resin base material and an organic low-molecular substance dispersed in the resin base material, becomes transparent at a first specific temperature, becomes opaque when cooled to a second specific temperature, and then cooled. The lamination temperature of the material is preferably the clearing temperature, and the laminating temperature is preferably the decoloring temperature of a thermoreversible display recording material capable of developing and decoloring using a leuco dye and a long-chain alkyl developer. When the laminating temperature is the image erasing temperature, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to reheat the thermoreversible recording section to bring the thermoreversible recording section into the image erasing state, and it is not necessary to increase the number of card manufacturing steps by one.

Further, in the case of hot lamination, when the surface of the thermoreversible recording label on which the thermoreversible recording layer is provided and the surface of the thermoreversible recording label on which the adhesive or pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is provided are overlaid at 40 ° C. or lower. In this case, it is preferable that adhesion, adhesion or transfer does not occur. If a part of the adhesive or the pressure-sensitive adhesive is transferred to the surface on the side provided with the thermoreversible recording layer at a temperature of 40 ° C. or lower, a problem arises that a uniform image cannot be formed when printing with a thermal head or the like. Therefore, the softening temperature of the adhesive used in hot lamination is preferably 50 ° C. or higher, more preferably 60 ° C. or higher, and particularly preferably 70 ° C. or higher.

A resin which is mainly composed of a resin base material and an organic low-molecular substance dispersed in the resin base material, becomes transparent at a first specific temperature, and becomes a cloudy state when cooled to a second specific temperature and then cooled. FIG. 2A shows an example of a thermoreversible recording label using a reversible display recording material. A light reflecting layer is provided on a support, an adhesive layer is provided thereon, a thermoreversible recording layer and a protective layer are further provided, and an adhesive or pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is provided on the opposite surface of the support.

As the support, a polyester film, a polyethylene film, a polypropylene film, a plastic film made of a polymer material or the like having a relatively small thickness having mechanical toughness and having flexibility and flexibility can be used. The thickness of the support is preferably 12 μm to 100 μm,
25-50 μm is more preferred.

The light reflecting layer is a layer for improving the opacity / transparency contrast of the thermoreversible recording layer, and also has the effect of hiding the lower layer of the light reflecting layer. The light reflection layer can be provided by a conventionally known vacuum deposition layer, a sputtering method, an ion plating method, or the like. The film thickness is 200-20
00 ° is preferred. The material is, for example, Al, Cr, S
Metals such as n, Ni and Cu are preferred.

The adhesive layer is provided with a resin having a thickness of about 0.1 μm to 10 μm by a printing method, a coating method, or the like, if necessary, to secure the adhesiveness between the light reflection layer and the thermoreversible recording layer. is there. Examples of usable resins include, for example, conventionally known thermoplastic resins such as vinyl chloride resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyester resin, polyethylene resin, polyurethane resin, acrylic resin, epoxy resin, and the like. A curable resin, an ultraviolet or electron beam curable resin is used alone or as a mixture.

The protective layer is made of, for example, a known thermoplastic resin such as an acrylic resin, a urethane resin or an epoxy resin, a thermosetting resin, a resin using an ultraviolet or electron beam curable resin alone or as a mixture thereof. Is provided to a film thickness of about 1 to 10 μm by a known printing method, coating method or the like. Further, in order to improve the resistance of the protective layer, a curing agent such as an isocyanate type, an organic or inorganic filler, or the like can be added in a range that does not impair the transparency.

Examples of the material of the adhesive or pressure-sensitive adhesive layer include urea resin, melamine resin, phenol resin, epoxy resin, vinyl acetate resin, vinyl acetate-acrylic copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, Acrylic resin,
Polyvinyl ether resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polystyrene resin, polyester resin,
Polyurethane resin, polyamide resin, chlorinated polyolefin resin, polyvinyl butyral resin, acrylate copolymer, methacrylate copolymer, natural rubber, cyanoacrylate resin, silicon resin, etc. However, the present invention is not limited to these. The thickness of the adhesive or pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is 0.5 to 15
It is preferably about μm, more preferably 2 to 12 μm.

FIG. 2B shows an example of a thermoreversible recording label using a thermoreversible display recording material capable of coloring and decoloring using a leuco dye and a long-chain alkyl developer. A thermoreversible recording layer is provided on a support, an intermediate layer and a protective layer are provided thereon, and an adhesive or pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is provided on the opposite surface of the support. The intermediate layer is provided as needed, and a general thermoplastic resin, thermosetting resin, or ultraviolet or electron beam curable resin is used. An ultraviolet absorber may be added to prevent the photolysis of the leuco dye. The thickness of the intermediate layer is preferably about 0.5 to 5 μm. The protective layer and the adhesive or pressure-sensitive adhesive layer are formed in the same manner as the above-mentioned thermoreversible recording material mainly composed of an organic low-molecular substance dispersed in a resin base material.

When the card base and the thermoreversible recording label are bonded by hot lamination, it is preferable to apply pressure by a press device and embed the label in the card base. The pressure at this time is preferably 10 to 50 kg / cm ² . If the pressure is too low, it is difficult to embed the label to the same surface as the card substrate, and if this pressure is too high, the inside of the card substrate is distorted and irregularities are formed on the surface of the thermoreversible recording portion, and the uniformity is obtained. Image formation and complete image formation cannot be performed. The step between the surface of the embedded thermoreversible recording label and the boundary of the card substrate is preferably 50 μm or less,
0 μm or less is more preferable, and 30 μm or less is particularly preferable. If this step is large, a problem arises in that the card substrate and the label are peeled off when printing or printing / erasing is repeated. The boundary step is measured with a surface roughness meter.

The adhesive strength between the card substrate and the thermoreversible recording label is preferably at least 300 g / cm, more preferably at least 500 g / cm, particularly preferably at least 700 g / cm.
000 g / cm or more is more preferable. If the adhesive strength is lower than this, there is a problem that the card substrate and the label are peeled off when printing or printing / erasing is repeated. The adhesive force is measured by a 180 degree peeling method using a surface tester (manufactured by HEIDON) at a peeling speed of 150 mm / min.

The card deformation indicates the rigidity of the card. A smaller card deformation indicates a more rigid card, and a larger card deformation indicates a softer card. The card deformation (Y) is measured as follows. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, two glass plates having a thickness of about 10 mm are placed in parallel at an interval of about 65 mm, and a card having a long side of 85 mm and a short side of 54 mm is placed on both ends in the card longitudinal direction. Are placed so that each of them contacts the glass plate by about 10 mm. As shown in FIG. 3B, a 1N force is applied to the center of the card in the vertical direction. FIG.
The distance that the card sinks as shown in (c) is defined as the card deformation amount (Y). When applying a force of 1N, it is preferable that the contact area with the card is not so large.
About the diameter. For example, it is preferable to use a metal bar or the like, and it is also possible to use a spring or the like.

The card deformation amount is determined by the thickness and the material of the card. When the amount of card deformation is 20 mm or more, even if there is a large undulation on the surface of the thermoreversible recording part, when pressure is applied with a platen with a thermal head or ceramic heater, etc. The heater and the card are in uniform contact, and uniform image formation and complete image erasure are possible. This is the case when a conventional polyester film having a thickness of about 180 to 250 μm is used as a card base material. However, if there is a large undulation on the surface of the thermoreversible recording part of the card when the card deformation is 5 mm or less, the thermal head or ceramic heater and the card cannot contact uniformly even if pressure is applied, and uniform image formation and complete Images cannot be erased.

The surface undulation of the thermoreversible recording portion indicates the level of surface irregularities. As a specific method of measuring the surface waviness (X), first, a thermoreversible recording section embedded in a thermoreversible recording card is measured with a surface roughness meter (SURFC manufactured by Tokyo Seimitsu Co., Ltd.).
OM) to measure a length of 10 mm in the transverse direction of the card to obtain a sectional curve. Next, as shown in FIG. 4, a straight line connecting the starting point (A) and the ending point (A ') of the sectional curve is drawn, and the distance (X) between this straight line and a line parallel to this line and tangent to the sectional curve is read. . FIG. 6 shows a method of determining whether the value of X is positive or negative.
X is a positive value when the shape of the cross-sectional curve is convex upward as shown in (c), and is a negative value when it is convex downward as shown in FIG. The surface undulation is preferably 70 μm or less,
μm or less is more preferable, and 50 μm or less is particularly preferable. If the surface waviness is larger than this, uniform image formation and complete image erasure become difficult.

The surface undulation and the amount of card deformation are given by the following equation (1).
It is necessary to satisfy | X | ≦ 0.075 · Y ^1.4 (1) Here, X indicates the surface undulation of the thermal recording unit, and Y indicates the amount of card deformation. The measurement length of the surface waviness is usually 10 mm, but the length of the thermal recording portion in the main scanning direction of the thermal head is 10 mm.
If it is less than mm, the maximum length of the thermal recording section is used. The above equation (1) indicates that the smaller the amount of deformation of the card, the more rigid the card becomes. Therefore, the surface undulation must be reduced. If the surface undulation becomes larger than the numerical value calculated by the equation 1, the thermal head or the ceramic is used. The heater and the card cannot be uniformly contacted, and uniform image formation and complete image erasure cannot be performed.

Examples of the method for controlling the surface waviness of the thermoreversible recording portion to 70 μm or less or within the range of the above formula (1) include a method of controlling the temperature and pressure of hot lamination,
There are a method of bringing the thermal shrinkage of the card substrate and the support of the thermoreversible recording label close to a certain range, and a method of increasing the thickness of the card substrate. As described above, the temperature and pressure of the hot lamination are preferably 60 to 200 ° C. and 10 to 50 kg / cm ² . Further, it is preferable that the difference between the thermal shrinkage of the card base material and the support of the thermoreversible recording label is within 30% under the temperature conditions of hot lamination. Further, the thickness of the card base material is preferably about 750 to 1000 μm.

The surface roughness of the thermoreversible recording portion is determined by the surface roughness (R
a) is preferably 0.05 to 5 μm. If the surface roughness is too large, the thermal sensitivity will decrease or the contrast will change if the type changes between transparent and opaque. There is a problem that the image remains on the surface of the reversible recording portion and uniform image formation and complete erasure cannot be performed.

The ratio of the thermal recording portion to the card is preferably 5% or more, more preferably 10% or more, more preferably 90% or less, and preferably 70% or less in terms of area ratio. Is more preferable. If the area ratio is smaller than this, visibility becomes poor when displaying information as an image, and if it is larger than this, embossing cannot be formed on the card.

The thickness of the thermal recording section is 1% of the thickness of the card base material.
Or more, more preferably 2% or more, and preferably 15% or less,
More preferably, it is 10% or less. If the ratio of the thickness of the thermal recording portion to the thickness of the card base material is smaller than this, wrinkling is likely to occur in the thermal recording portion when the substrates are bonded, and if the ratio is larger than this, the surface waviness increases.

As a method and apparatus for recording an image on the thermal recording card, an image recording means, such as a thermal head or a laser, capable of partially heating the thermal recording portion in an image-like manner is used.
When the thermal recording portion of the thermal recording card is made of a thermoreversible recording film, the method and apparatus for erasing the image on the thermal recording card include a hot stamp, a ceramic heater, a heat roller, hot air, a thermal head, a laser, and the like. An image erasing means is used. Among them, a ceramic heater is preferably used. By using the ceramic heater, the device can be miniaturized, a stable erased state can be obtained, and an image with good contrast can be obtained. The set temperature of the ceramic heater is preferably 110 ° C. or more,
C. or higher is more preferred, and 115.degree.

The pressure at which the thermal head is pressed against the thermal recording section is preferably 2 g / mm or more, more preferably 5 g / mm or more, particularly preferably 10 g / mm or more, and 100 g / mm or less. Is preferably 80 g / mm or less, more preferably 5 g / mm or less.
It is particularly preferred that it is 0 g / mm or less. If the pressure of pressing the thermal head against the thermal recording section is less than 2 g / mm, uniform image formation or complete image erasure cannot be performed, and if it exceeds 100 g / mm, failure of the thermal head tends to occur.

The pressure at which the ceramic heater is pressed against the thermal recording section is preferably 0.1 g / mm or more, and more preferably 1 g / mm.
The above is more preferable, and the amount is particularly preferably 5 g / mm or more, more preferably 100 g / mm or less, further preferably 80 g / mm or less, and particularly preferably 50 g / mm or less. The pressure to press the ceramic heater against the heat recording part is 0.1g
/ Mm, complete image erasure cannot be performed and 1
If it exceeds 00 g / mm, failure of the ceramic heater is likely to occur.

Further, by using a thermal head, the size of the apparatus can be further reduced, the power consumption can be reduced, and a hand-held apparatus driven by a battery can be realized. If a single thermal head is used for both recording and erasing, the size can be further reduced. When recording and erasing with one thermal head, after erasing all previous images once, a new image may be recorded again, or the previous image may be erased at once by changing the energy for each image, and An overwrite method of recording an image is also possible. The overwrite method has the advantage that the time required for recording and erasing is reduced, leading to an increase in the recording speed. When a card having a thermal recording layer and an information storage unit is used, the above device includes a unit for reading the storage of the information storage unit and a unit for rewriting.

FIG. 5 shows a specific example of a thermoreversible recording apparatus useful for implementing the present invention. FIG. 5A shows a schematic example of an apparatus in which an image is erased by a ceramic heater and an image is formed by a thermal head. In the thermoreversible recording apparatus shown in FIG. 5A, information recorded on a magnetic recording portion of a recording medium is first read by a magnetic head, and then an image recorded on a thermoreversible recording layer is heated and erased by a ceramic heater. Further, the processed new information is recorded on the thermoreversible recording layer by the thermal head based on the information read by the magnetic head. Thereafter, the information in the magnetic recording unit is also rewritten with new information.

That is, in the thermoreversible recording apparatus shown in FIG. 5A, the thermoreversible recording medium (1) provided with a magnetic recording section on the opposite side of the thermoreversible recording layer is transported by a reciprocating arrow. It is conveyed along a path or conveyed in a reverse direction in the apparatus along a conveyance path. The thermoreversible recording medium (1) is magnetically recorded or erased in a magnetic recording portion between the magnetic head (34) and the transport roller (31), and is used for image erasure between the ceramic heater (38) and the transport roller (40). The sheet is heated, an image is formed between the thermal head (53) and the transport roller (47), and then is carried out of the apparatus. As described above, the ceramic heater (38)
Is preferably 110 ° C. or higher, more preferably 112 ° C. or higher, and particularly preferably 115 ° C. or higher. However, rewriting of magnetic recording may be performed before or after image erasure by the ceramic heater. Also, if desired,
After passing between the ceramic heater (38) and the transport roller (40), or after passing between the thermal head (53) and the transport roller (47), the paper is transported in the reverse direction through the transport path, and is again regenerated by the ceramic heater (38). Heat treatment and reprinting by the thermal head (53) can be performed.

In the thermoreversible recording apparatus shown in FIG. 5B, the thermoreversible recording medium (1) inserted from the entrance (30) advances along the transport path (50) shown by a dashed line. Alternatively, it travels in the device in the reverse direction along the transport path (50). The thermoreversible recording medium (1) inserted from the entrance (30) is conveyed in the recording apparatus by the conveying roller (31) and the guide roller (32), and when it reaches a predetermined position on the conveying path (50), the sensor (33). ), The presence of which is recognized through the control means (34c), magnetic recording or erasing is performed on the magnetic recording portion between the magnetic head (34) and the platen roller (35), and the guide roller (36) and the transport roller (37), a ceramic heater which passes between the guide roller (39) and the transport roller (40), and operates by recognizing the presence thereof by the sensor (43) via the ceramic heater control means (38c). (38) and the platen roller (44) are subjected to heat treatment for image erasing, and are transported by the transport roller (45).
(46) transported in the transport path (50) by (47),
A thermal head (53) and a platen roller (52) which operate by recognizing the presence thereof through a thermal head control means (53c) by a sensor (51) at a predetermined position.
An image is formed between the rollers (59a) and the transport roller (59) and the guide roller (60).
It is carried out of the apparatus via 1). Here, the set temperature of the ceramic heater (38) is 1 as described above.
10 ° C. or higher is preferable, 112 ° C. or higher is more preferable,
115 ° C. or higher is particularly preferred.

If desired, the transfer path switching means (55
a) is led to the transport path (56b) by switching
The thermoreversible recording medium (1) is again transferred to the thermal head (53) and the platen roller (5) by the transport belt (58) that moves in the opposite direction to the operation of the limit switch (57a) input by pressing the thermoreversible recording medium (1). After the heat treatment in step 52), the sheet is transported in the forward direction via a transport path (49b), a limit switch (57b), and a transport belt (48) which are opened by switching the transport path switching means (55b). ) Can be carried out of the apparatus via the outlet (61) by the transport roller (59) and the guide roller (60). Further, such a branched conveyance path and conveyance switching means are provided with a ceramic heater (3.
8), the sensor (43a) is desirably provided between the platen roller (44) and the transport roller (45).

As described above, the thermoreversible recording card is provided with the information storage section comprising the information recording means capable of mechanically writing / reading, and at least a part of the information stored in the information storage section is provided. Thermoreversible recording layer (thermoreversible recording section)
For example, a card that records value information such as premiums and points records and displays the latest value information. Further, the same information as that in the information storage unit may not be recorded. For example, when part or all of the information stored in the information storage unit is to be erased or rewritten, the confirmation code is stored in the thermoreversible recording unit. , The history of erasing or rewriting of information performed on the card can be easily confirmed. As described above, the description has been made mainly on the case where a reversible material is used as the material for forming the thermal recording section. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to the case where an irreversible material is used.

[0085]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the following Examples, which should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Note that “parts” are based on weight.

Example 1 A polyester film having a thickness of 38 μm was coated with about 60
A solution consisting of 10 parts of vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate-phosphate ester copolymer (manufactured by Denki Kagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd., Denka Vinyl # 1000P) and 80 parts of tetrahydrofuran is applied on the light reflecting layer by evaporating 0 mm thick aluminum. And dried by heating to 130 ° C for about 1μ.
An m-thick adhesive layer was provided. Furthermore, behenic acid (manufactured by NOF Corporation) 5 parts Eicosane diacid (manufactured by Okamura Oil Co., Ltd., SL-20-99) 5 parts PVC resin (manufactured by Zeon Corporation, MR-110) 27 parts isocyanate 3 (Coronade 2298-90T, manufactured by Nippon Polyurethane Co.) A solution consisting of 150 parts of tetrahydrofuran was applied and dried by heating to provide a thermoreversible recording layer having a thickness of about 10 μm. On this thermoreversible recording layer, a solution consisting of 45 parts of a 75% butyl acetate solution of a urethane acrylate-based ultraviolet-curable resin (manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc., Unidic C7-157) 3 parts of calcium carbonate and 45 parts of isopropyl alcohol After fully dispersing, apply, and after heating and drying 1
Cured by UV lamp of 20W / cm, about 3.0μm
A thick protective layer was provided. After forming an easy-adhesion layer made of a polyester-based resin on the other surface of the film at a thickness of about 1 μm, a polyester-based adhesive is applied and dried to a thickness of 3 μm.
m of the adhesive layer was provided. Next, a center core made of a white vinyl chloride sheet having a thickness of 560 μm,
A card base having a card base thickness of 760 μm is formed by laminating an oversheet made of a transparent vinyl chloride sheet of 0 μm, and an information recording section made of a 650 Oe magnetic transfer tape and a thermoreversible recording section are provided on the card base. Press temperature 100 ° C, press pressure 10k by thermal lamination method
An information recording section and a thermoreversible recording section were embedded in a card base at g / cm ² to obtain a thermoreversible recording card.

When the surface waviness of this thermoreversible recording card was measured, it was 0.045 mm at a measured length of 10 mm. The measured amount of card deformation was 1.0 mm, and the adhesive strength between the thermoreversible recording portion support and the card base material was 35 mm.
It was 0 g / cm. This card was set on a card reader / writer for a thermoreversible recording card (R-3000, manufactured by Kyushu Matsushita Electric Co., Ltd.) and printing was performed on the thermoreversible recording section. Could be erased.

Example 2 When the thermoreversible recording section used in Example 1 was embedded in a card base material, the thermoreversible recording card was obtained by sticking at a pressing temperature of 90 ° C. and a pressing pressure of 20 kg / cm ² . The surface waviness of this card was 0.040 μm at a measurement length of 10 mm, the card deformation was 1.0 mm, and the adhesive strength between the thermoreversible recording portion support and the card base was 250 g / cm. Printing on the thermoreversible recording part of this card with a card reader / writer
When the recording was performed a number of times, good recording was achieved. When this recording was further erased, complete erasing was possible. However, when printing / erasing was repeatedly performed, peeling occurred between the thermoreversible recording portion support and the card base material, making printing / erasing impossible.

Example 3 When embedding the thermoreversible recording portion used in Example 1 in a card base material, a press temperature of 120 ° C. and a press pressure of 10 kg / cm ^{2 were used.}
To obtain a thermoreversible recording card. The surface undulation of this card was 0.070 mm with a measured length of 10 mm, the deformation of the card was 1.0 mm, and the adhesive strength between the thermoreversible recording portion support and the card base was 450 g / cm. When printing was performed on the thermoreversible recording portion of the card with a card reader / writer, good recording was possible, and when this recording was erased, complete erasing was possible.

Example 4 A thermoreversible recording layer was made of a thermoreversible recording material using the following leuco dye and a long-chain alkyl developer, and was formed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the light reflecting layer and the adhesive layer were not formed. A reversible recording card was created. (Preparation of coating liquid for thermoreversible recording layer) The following composition was pulverized and dispersed using a ball mill until the particle size became 1 to 4 μm or less. 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-dibutylaminofluorane 2 parts Electron-accepting compound having the following structural formula (long-chain alkyl developer) 8 parts

Embedded image 150 parts of a 15% tetrahydrofuran solution of a phenoxy resin (PKHH, manufactured by Union Carbide) 150 parts of a dispersion obtained by Nippon Polyurethane Co., Ltd.
20 parts of an adduct-type hexamethylene diisocyanate (75% ethyl acetate solution) was added, and the mixture was stirred well to prepare a coating solution for a recording layer.

When the surface waviness of this thermoreversible recording card was measured, it was 0.045 mm at a measurement length of 10 mm. The card deformation was measured to be 1.0 mm. This card was set on a card reader / writer for a thermoreversible recording card (R-3000, manufactured by Kyushu Matsushita Electric Co., Ltd.) and printing was performed on the thermoreversible recording section. Could be erased.

Example 5 A thermoreversible recording card having a card base material thickness of 600 μm was obtained in the same manner as in Example 3 except that a center core made of a white vinyl chloride sheet having a thickness of 400 μm was used. When the surface undulation of this thermoreversible recording card was measured, the measurement length was 1
It was 0.100 mm at 0 mm. When the amount of card deformation was measured, it was 2.0 mm. When printing was performed on the thermoreversible recording portion of the card with a card reader / writer, good recording was possible, and when this recording was erased, complete erasing was possible.

Example 6 A thermoreversible recording card having a card base material thickness of 1000 μm was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1, except that a center core made of a 800 μm thick white vinyl chloride sheet was used. When the surface waviness of this thermoreversible recording card was measured, it was 0.007 mm at a measurement length of 10 mm. The measured amount of card deformation was 0.5 mm. When printing was performed on the thermoreversible recording portion of the card with a card reader / writer, good recording was possible, and when this recording was erased, complete erasing was possible.

Example 7 When embedding the thermoreversible recording portion used in Example 6 in a card base material, a press temperature of 120 ° C. and a press pressure of 10 kg / cm ^{2 were used.}
To obtain a thermoreversible recording card. The surface undulation of this thermoreversible recording card is 0.022 mm at a measurement length of 10 mm.
And the card deformation was 0.5 mm. When printing was performed on the thermoreversible recording portion of the card with a card reader / writer, good recording was possible, and when this recording was erased, complete erasing was possible.

Example 8 A thermoreversible recording material using the leuco dye prepared in Example 4 and a long-chain alkyl developer was used to prepare a 65 mm long side and 45 mm short side.
And a press temperature of 100 at the position shown in FIG.
C. and a press pressure of 10 kg / cm ² to obtain a thermoreversible recording card. The surface undulation of the thermoreversible recording card was 0.050 mm at a measurement length of 10 mm, and the card deformation was 1.0 mm. When printing was performed on the thermoreversible recording portion of the card with a card reader / writer, good recording was possible, and when this recording was erased, complete erasing was possible.

Comparative Example 1 When embedding the thermoreversible recording portion used in Example 1 in a card base material, a press temperature of 120 ° C. and a press pressure of 300 kg / cm.
² and a thermoreversible recording card was obtained. The surface undulation of this card was 80 μm at a measurement length of 10 mm, and the card deformation was 1.0 mm. When printing was performed on the thermoreversible recording portion of this card with a card reader / writer in the same manner as in Example 1, printing defects occurred. Further, when this record was erased, the erasure remained.

Comparative Example 2 When embedding the thermoreversible recording portion used in Example 5 in a card base material, a press temperature of 120 ° C. and a press pressure of 10 kg / cm ^{2 were used.}
After pasting with 5
Aging was performed at 0 ° C. for 100 hours to obtain a thermoreversible recording card. The surface undulation of this thermoreversible recording card is measured length 1
0 mm is 0.220 mm, and the amount of card deformation is 1.0
mm. When printing was performed on the thermoreversible recording portion of this card with a card reader / writer in the same manner as in Example 5, printing defects occurred. When I deleted this record,
Erasure left.

Comparative Example 3 When embedding the thermoreversible recording portion used in Example 6 in a card base material, a press temperature of 150 ° C. and a press pressure of 10 kg / cm ^{2 were used.}
To obtain a thermoreversible recording card. The surface undulation of this thermoreversible recording card is 0.040 mm at a measurement length of 10 mm.
And the card deformation was 0.5 mm. When printing was performed on the thermoreversible recording portion of this card using a card reader / writer in the same manner as in Example 6, printing defects occurred. Further, when this record was erased, the erasure remained. Table 1 shows the surface waviness (X) and the amount of card deformation (Y) of the thermal recording section in the examples and comparative examples.

[Table 1]

[0099]

According to the present invention, a thermal recording card capable of forming an image by utilizing a change in transparency or color tone due to the temperature of the heat-sensitive layer, particularly utilizing a change in transparency or color tone due to the temperature of the heat-sensitive layer. A thermoreversible recording card capable of repeatedly forming and erasing an image, a thermorecording label using the card, an image processing method, an image display method, and an image processing apparatus are provided. It is.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D are diagrams showing four examples of a thermoreversible recording card of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are views showing two examples of a thermoreversible recording label according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for measuring a card deformation amount.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for measuring the surface undulation of a thermoreversible recording unit.

FIG. 5A is a diagram schematically showing how an image is erased and an image is formed, and FIG. 5B is a diagram schematically showing a thermoreversible recording device.

FIGS. 6 (a), (b), (c) and (d) are schematic views for explaining a thermoreversible recording card bonding step of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the relationship between the surface waviness (X) of the thermal recording unit and the amount of card deformation (Y) in Examples and Comparative Examples.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) B42D 15/10 501 G06K 1/12 G 521 17/00 A G06K 1/12 B41J 3/20 109E 17/00 B41M 5/18 101A 19/08 G06K 19/00 F 19/06 BC (72) Inventor Nobuyoshi Sugiyama 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Company, Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoshihiko Hotta Tokyo Ricoh, 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo (72) Inventor Atsushi Kudami 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Tetsuya Amano, Ota-ku, Tokyo 1-3-6 Nakamagome Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd.

Claims (22)

[Claims] 1. A thermal recording card in which a thermal recording portion whose transparency or color tone changes by heating is provided on at least a part of a card base material, wherein a card deformation amount (Y) is 5 mm.
A thermal recording card, wherein the absolute value of the surface waviness (X) of the thermal recording section and the card deformation (Y) satisfy the following expression (1). | X | ≦ 0.075 · Y ^1.4 (1) 2. The thermal recording card according to claim 1, wherein the surface undulation of the thermal recording section is 70 μm or less. 3. A step at the boundary between the thermal recording section and the card base material,
The thermal recording card according to claim 1, wherein the thickness is 50 μm or less. 4. The thermal recording card according to claim 1, wherein the thermal recording section is provided with a thermoreversible recording section whose transparency or color tone changes reversibly by heating. 5. A heat recording layer whose transparency or color tone changes upon heating is provided on a support, and an adhesive layer or a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is provided on the opposite surface of the support. The thermal recording card according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a thermal recording part is provided on a part of the card base material. 6. The thermal recording card according to claim 5, wherein the adhesive strength between the support provided with the thermal recording layer and the card substrate is 300 g / cm or more. 7. The thermal recording card according to claim 1, wherein the support has an information storage section. 8. The thermal recording card according to claim 7, wherein the information storage unit is at least one selected from a magnetic storage unit, an IC storage unit, and an optical storage unit. 9. The thermal recording card according to claim 1, wherein the thermal recording card has an image formed by printing on at least a part thereof. 10. The thermal recording card according to claim 1, wherein an area ratio of the thermal recording section to the card is 5 to 90%. 11. The thermal recording card according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the thermal recording section is 1 to 15% of the thickness of the card base material. 12. A thermal recording label for use in the thermal recording card according to claim 1, wherein a thermal recording layer whose transparency or color tone changes upon heating is provided on the support. A heat recording label having an adhesive layer or a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer on the opposite side of the label. 13. An image processing method using the thermal recording card according to claim 1 to record an image or record and erase the image by heating. 14. The image processing method according to claim 13, wherein recording and / or erasing is performed using a thermal head. 15. The image processing method according to claim 14, wherein a recorded image is overwritten by using a thermal head, and the image is erased and a new image is recorded. 16. The pressure for pressing the thermal head against the thermal recording section is 2 to 100 g / mm.
6. The image processing method according to 5. 17. The image processing method according to claim 13, wherein the image is erased using a ceramic heater or a heat roll. 18. The pressure for pressing a ceramic heater against a thermal recording section is 0.1 to 100 g / mm.
8. The image processing method according to 7. 19. An image display method using the thermal recording card according to claim 7, wherein at least a part of information stored in the information storage unit is displayed on the thermal recording unit. 20. An image processing apparatus to which the image processing method according to claim 13 is applied, wherein: a recording unit for recording a recording image on a thermal recording unit; and an erasing unit for erasing the image. Card transport means for transporting the thermal recording card, card position detecting means for detecting the transport position of the thermal recording card transported by the card transport means, and control means for controlling the operation of each of the above means. An image processing apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. 21. The image processing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the pressure for pressing the thermal head against the thermal recording unit is 2 to 100 g / mm. 22. The pressure for pressing the ceramic heater against the thermal recording section is 0.1 to 100 g / mm.
0. The image processing apparatus according to 0.