JP2001001644A - Reversible heat-sensitive recording medium and reversible heat-sensitive recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a heat deformation hardly occur by adding a reversible heat-color developing composition which is formed of a non-recording region sandwiching a recording region composed mainly of an electron-donative coloring compound and an electron-receptive compound and relatively generates a color-developed state and a decolorized state. SOLUTION: The reversible heat-sensitive recording medium 11 is structured of a reversible heat-sensitive recording layer 13 as a recording region formed in a coating film on a support 12 and a transparent protecting layer 14 for preventing the recording layer 13 from being qualitatively deteriorated, formed on the recording layer 13. The recording region is located in relation to the whole reversible heat-sensitive recording medium 11 in such a state that an erasable area 100 is sandwiched between non-erasable areas 101, 102 formed vertically. When the overall width of the recording region in the longitudinal direction is given as L1, the width m1 of the erasable area 100 in the center part is equivalent to 50% or less of the L1 and the widths n1, n2 of the non- erasable areas 101, 103 are equivalent to 25% or more of the L1. Thus it is possible to minimize the deformation due to heating.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a reversible thermosensitive recording medium having a recording area in which a color-developing state and a decoloring state can be stably formed reversibly by controlling thermal energy, and which can be repeatedly printed and erased. And a reversible thermosensitive recording device used for printing / erasing the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional hard copy is generally used to form an image by attaching and fixing a colorant such as ink or toner from the outside to a recording medium such as paper, or to form a base such as paper such as thermosensitive recording paper. A permanent image was formed by, for example, providing a heat-sensitive recording layer on a material and applying energy thereto to form a visible image.

However, recently, the spread of copying machines and facsimile machines and the output of information from computers have led to a rapid increase in the consumption of recording media, and the destruction of nature due to the deforestation of trees due to the demand for wood, which is a raw material for paper and the like. It causes social problems such as waste disposal. In order to solve this problem, a recording medium that can erase a recorded visible image and that can be used repeatedly has attracted attention.

[0004] Such recording media that can be used repeatedly include, for example,
There is a recording medium capable of reversibly forming two states, transparent and cloudy, by utilizing the change in light scattering of a polymer film in which organic low-molecular crystal particles are dispersed (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 55-154198). This recording medium has already been put to practical use as a content display section of a magnetic card. However, the displayed image is printed in white on a black or blue colored background or a light-reflective background such as an aluminum vapor-deposited film, so that it is not suitable for a normal hard copy.

[0005] To solve this problem, a reversible thermosensitive recording medium capable of reversibly forming a color-printed image on a white background using a leuco dye capable of reversibly obtaining a bistable state of color development and decoloration together with a color developer. (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-1243)
No. 60, JP-A-10-119440, etc.).

However, since the leuco dye type has high printing energy and high erasing energy, this reversible thermosensitive recording medium undergoes thermal deformation (curl) due to recording / erasing, particularly erasing. When curl occurs in the reversible thermosensitive recording medium, subsequent recording / erasing is not performed smoothly, and a high-quality image cannot be obtained, or the image cannot be completely erased. Usually, erasing is performed by transporting a reversible thermosensitive recording medium to a predetermined position of a recording apparatus and heating the recording medium. The degree of the curl is remarkable in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction (width direction). The reason is that the heating state is uniform (uniform) in the transport direction of the reversible thermosensitive recording medium, and in many cases, the longitudinal edges of the support are formed in the transport direction of the reversible thermosensitive recording medium. This is probably because expansion and contraction easily occur.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a reversible thermosensitive recording medium which hardly undergoes thermal deformation (curl) even by recording and erasing, and a reversible thermosensitive recording apparatus used for recording / erasing the medium. That is.

[0008]

According to the present invention, first, a recording area is formed on the surface of a support at a central portion with a width of 50% or less of the total width in the horizontal or vertical direction. Two non-recording areas each having a width of at least 25% of the entire width are formed so as to sandwich the recording area, and the whole non-recording area has a square or rectangular shape. Compound and an electron-accepting compound as main components, heating temperature and / or
Or a reversible thermosensitive recording layer containing a reversible thermochromic composition capable of forming a relatively colored state and a decolored state due to a difference in cooling rate after heating. Is provided.

Second, on the surface of the support, a recording area is formed at the center at an area of 60% or less of the total area, and a non-recording area is formed so as to surround the recording area. The recording area is composed of an electron-donating color-forming compound and an electron-accepting compound as main components, and disappears from a state in which color is relatively developed due to a difference in a heating temperature and / or a cooling rate after heating. A reversible thermosensitive recording medium is provided, which is a reversible thermosensitive recording layer containing a reversible thermochromic composition capable of forming a colored state.

Third, the first or second reversible thermosensitive recording medium is provided, wherein an adhesive layer is provided on the back surface of the support.

Fourthly, there is provided the reversible thermosensitive recording medium according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the whole form is a card shape.

Fifth, there is provided a recording means for forming an image in the recording area of the first to fourth reversible thermosensitive recording media, and an erasing means for erasing the image formed in the recording area. A reversible thermosensitive recording device is provided.

Sixth, the recording means and the erasing means are provided for recording and erasing.
The fifth aspect, wherein the recording medium is in a non-contact or non-pressure contact state with the reversible thermosensitive recording medium except at the time of erasure, and is brought into a pressure contact state only with the recording area of the reversible thermosensitive recording medium at the time of recording / erasing. Is provided.

Seventh, the fifth or sixth reversible thermosensitive recording medium is provided with a back surface heating means for heating the back surface of the reversible thermosensitive recording medium at the time of erasing, after erasing, or simultaneously with erasing. A thermal recording device is provided.

Eighthly, the reversible thermosensitive recording according to any one of the fifth to seventh aspects, further comprising a cooling means for cooling the reversible thermosensitive recording medium heated by recording or erasing. An apparatus is provided.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail. As shown in FIG. 1A, the layer structure of the reversible thermosensitive recording medium 11 of the present invention is formed on a support 12 having a thickness of 1 mm or less, preferably 50 to 500 μm, made of plastic, paper, synthetic paper, or the like. A reversible thermosensitive recording layer 13 forming a recording area formed thereon, and a transparent protective layer 14 for preventing the deterioration of the recording layer are laminated on the recording layer. However, as is clear from the above and below, the reversible thermosensitive recording layer 13 is not formed on the entire surface of the support 12. In addition to this, if necessary, an undercoat layer between the support and the reversible thermosensitive recording layer, an intermediate layer between the reversible thermosensitive recording layer and the protective layer, a colored printing ink layer on a part or the entire surface of the protective layer, Further, a transparent protective layer may be provided on the surface including the ink layer portion or non-ink adhesion.

The thickness of the reversible thermosensitive recording layer 13 is 1 to 30 μm.
m is preferable, and 2 to 20 μm is more preferable. This reversible thermosensitive recording layer is formed by dispersing a leuco dye and a color developer in a binder resin.

The binder resin used in the reversible thermosensitive recording layer preferably has a glass transition temperature of 50 ° C. or higher.
° C or more is more preferable, and 100 ° C or less is preferable,
80 ° 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. A vinylidene chloride copolymer such as polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinylidene chloride-vinyl chloride copolymer, or vinylidene chloride-acrylonitrile copolymer; polyester; polyamide; polyatalylate or polymethacrylate or acrylate; Methacrylate copolymer; examples include silicone resin, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyacrylamide, polyvinylpyrrolidone, natural rubber, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrolein, and polycarbonate. These resins may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The leuco dye used in the reversible thermosensitive recording layer is a known dye precursor such as a phthalide compound, an azaphthalide compound, a fluoran compound, a phenothiazine compound or a leuco auramine compound.

The developer used in the reversible thermosensitive recording layer is as follows:
A structure that has the ability to develop a leuco dye in the molecule, such as a phenolic hydroxyl group, a carboxylic acid group, or a phosphate group, and a structure that controls intermolecular cohesion, such as a structure in which a long-chain hydrocarbon group is linked Is a compound having 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, a known developer 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.

The melting point of the developer is preferably 120 ° C. or higher, more preferably 140 ° C. A transparent protective layer (having a thickness of 0.1 to 5 μm) provided to protect the reversible thermosensitive recording layer.
Examples of the material m) include silicone rubber, silicone resin (described in JP-A-63-221087), and polysiloxane graft polymer (JP-A-63-317385).
And UV curable resins or electron beam curable resins (described in JP-A-02-566).
These may contain an organic or inorganic filler.

As a material for the intermediate layer (0.2 to 2 μm in thickness) provided for protecting the reversible thermosensitive recording layer from a solvent, a monomer component, and the like of the transparent protective layer forming solution, a material used for the reversible thermosensitive recording layer is used. Thermosetting resin, thermoplastic resin, UV curing resin, E
B cured resin can be used. That is, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl alcohol,
Examples thereof include polyvinyl butyral, polyurethane, saturated polyester, unsaturated polyester, epoxy resin, phenol resin, polycarbonate, and polyamide.

An undercoat layer (having a thickness of 0.1 to 2 μm) provided for improving the adhesion between the support and the reversible thermosensitive recording layer
It is preferable that the material of m) is appropriately selected from conventionally known water-soluble polymers and / or aqueous polymer emulsions. Specific examples thereof include water-soluble polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol, starch and derivatives thereof, methoxycellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, methylcellulose, cellulose derivatives such as ethylcellulose, sodium polyacrylate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, acrylamide-acrylic acid. Ester copolymer, acrylamide-acrylate-
Examples include methacrylic acid terpolymer, styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer alkali salt, polyacrylamide, sodium alginate, gelatin, casein and the like. Examples of the aqueous polymer emulsion include latexes such as styrene-butadiene copolymer and styrene-butadiene-acrylic copolymer, vinyl acetate resin, vinyl acetate-acrylic acid copolymer, and styrene-acrylate copolymer. Coalescence, an emulsion of an acrylic acid ester resin, a polyurethane resin or the like can be used.

The reversible thermosensitive recording medium of the present invention is shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), a layer (for example, a magnetic layer 15 or the like) containing a recording / memory material of a different type from the reversible thermosensitive recording layer 13 may be provided on the back surface of the support 12. The magnetic layer 15 has a thickness of about 5 to 15 μm, and is formed on the back surface of the support using a commonly used iron oxide, barium ferrite, or the like, and a PVC-based, urethane-based, or nylon-based resin. It is formed without using a resin by a method such as sputtering.

Further, the reversible thermosensitive recording medium of the present invention is shown in FIG.
As shown in (c), the reversible thermosensitive recording layer 1 of the support 12
An adhesive layer 16 may be provided on the side opposite to 3 so that the adhesive layer 16 can be attached to another support 12 ', or a reversible thermosensitive recording label can be obtained. As the material for the adhesive layer (thickness: 10 to 30 μm), those generally used as an adhesive can be used. As specific examples, urea resin, melamine resin, phenol resin, epoxy resin, vinyl acetate resin, vinyl acetate-acrylic copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, acrylic resin, polyvinyl ether-based resin,
Vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polystyrene resin, polyester resin, polyurethane resin, polyamide resin, chlorinated polyolefin resin, polyvinyl butyral resin, acrylate ester copolymer, methacrylate ester copolymer Polymers, natural rubber, cyanoacrylate resin, silicone resin and the like,
It is not limited to these. The material of the adhesive layer may be a hot melt type. A release paper may be used, or a non-release paper type may be used.

A reversible thermosensitive recording medium using these leuco dyes and a developer develops and decolors in the process shown in FIG. That is, when heating the initial colorless state (A) the temperature above T ₁ in leuco dye and the developer are colored by mixing melted (B), it remains fixed in the colored state and quenching the state (C) . As it heats the colored state (C), decolorized with a color temperature T ₁ of lower temperatures T ₂ (D), the initial and the same decolored state if cooled. Here, if the cooling from the melting and coloring state (B) is gradually cooled, the concentration decreases in the course of the temperature drop,
In extreme cases, the color is almost completely erased.

In a reversible thermosensitive recording medium, it is a usual usage method to erase a color image already printed and to perform a new printing by rewriting. Generally, the erasing process and the printing process are continuously performed. Done. In the erasing step, the reversible thermosensitive recording medium is heated to an erasing temperature (usually 100 to 180 ° C.). A heating time of about 0.1 to 2 seconds is required to completely erase the printed colored portion of the reversible thermosensitive recording medium.

By the way, in order to perform such heating,
Conventionally, a stamping type erasing means 51 called a stamper as shown in FIG. 3 has been used. This is because the heating member 54 controlled at the erasing temperature by the heating resistor, for example, a metal plate or a metal block, covers the entire erasing portion (recording area) of the reversible thermosensitive recording medium 11.
This is a method of pressing with a pressing member 52 having an elastic member 53 (hot stamping method). However, in the hot stamping method, only the erasing area 100 is pressed on a recording medium having a large reversible thermosensitive recording portion, that is, a recording area (corresponding to the erasing area 100 here) as shown in FIGS. Without heating, partial thermal deformation (curl) of the medium occurs. 4A and 4B, 101 and 102
Is a non-erasing area (non-recording area).

However, such partial thermal deformation (curl) of the medium is reversible at the center or a narrow portion of the center of the reversible thermosensitive recording medium as shown in FIGS. 5 (a), 5 (b) and 6. When a thermosensitive recording portion (erasing area 100) is present, thermal deformation (curl) occurs but remains at that portion, and the degree of deformation (degree of curl) is significantly reduced, leading to the present invention.

FIG. 5A is an example showing the positional relationship of the recording area (erasing area 100) in the entire reversible thermosensitive recording medium of the present invention, and the non-erasing areas 101 and 102 in which the erasing area 100 is provided above and below. It is a form sandwiched between. Here in the drawing, if the total width of the longitudinal direction is L _1, the width m ₁ erase zone 100 of the central portion is less than 50% of L _1, non-erased area 10
The widths n ₁ and n ₂ of ₁ , 102 are each at least 25% of L ₁ . Here, it is preferable that n ₁ = n ₂ . FIG. 5B shows the reversible thermosensitive recording medium of FIG.
° Rotated or the total width in the horizontal direction is L
_In the case of ₂ , the width m ₂ of the erasure area 100 at the center is 5 of L ₂ .
0% or less, and the widths n ₃ and n _{4 of the} non-erased areas 101 and 102
It is obtained by 25% or more of L _2, respectively. In addition,
Here, it is preferable that n ₃ = n ₄ .

In the reversible thermosensitive recording mediums shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, thermal deformation (curl) can be remarkably reduced by moving in the directions of arrows at the time of recording / erasing.

FIG. 6 shows another example of the positional relationship of the erase area 100 in the entire reversible thermosensitive recording medium of the present invention.
It is in the state surrounded by. Here, in the drawing, the erasure area 1
00 occupies an area of 60% or less of the entire medium. Further, in the widths n ₅ , n ₆ , n ₇ , and n ₈ of the non-erased area 103, n ₅ =
Preferably, n ₆ and n ₇ = n ₈ . The reversible thermosensitive recording medium shown in FIG. 6 is different from those shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B in that, when recording or erasing, it is thermally deformed (curled) regardless of whether it is moved vertically or horizontally in the drawing. Can be significantly reduced.

As a matter of course, the smaller the area of the recording area, the less the curl due to heating. Therefore, the reversible thermosensitive recording medium shown in FIG. 5 and FIG.
Deformation is further improved by performing the same heat treatment as in (b) or (c). This is because heat is also applied to the back surface of the medium, and the back surface shrinks as much as the front surface shrinks. In FIG. 7, (a) shows both-side heating (non-simultaneous), (b) shows both-side heating (simultaneous), and (c).
Denotes the both-side heating (non-simultaneous) after inversion. In the hot stamp method, since heat is stored in the medium, a cooling device is required in some cases, and curling is reduced when cooling is performed immediately after erasing. Further, as a characteristic of curling, there is a characteristic that the curling is less when the contact is made at a high temperature for a short time than when the contact is made at a low temperature for a long time.

From this point, the erasing means in the reversible thermosensitive recording apparatus increases the surface temperature and shortens the width of the erasing means.
It is preferable to achieve the same medium temperature by short contact.
As a result of the experiment, the contact width of the erasing means is preferably in the range of 1.2 to 5.0 mm, depending on the surface temperature. If it is less than 1.2 mm, sufficient heat supply cannot be obtained, and if it is more than 5.0 mm, curling cannot be reduced.

FIG. 8 shows a main part of a preferred reversible thermosensitive recording apparatus of the present invention. The erasing means 6 has a heating element 62 provided on a ceramic substrate 61, and an upper portion thereof is covered with a protective layer 63. Opposite is a platen roller 71 composed of a rotating roller (automatic or driven). This platen roller may be heated.

[0036]

Next, the present invention will be described specifically with reference to examples. Here, the "curl degree" means that an image is formed on a reversible thermosensitive recording medium and the operation of erasing the image is repeated 10 times, and then left in an atmosphere of 20 ° C. and 50% RH for 1 hour. And the value measured with a ruler by observing the maximum displacement (x) from the position of the side surface perpendicular to the traveling direction of the reversible thermosensitive recording medium.

Example 1 A JIS size card (8.6 cm × 5.4 cm, thickness 0.3 m) with a magnetic recording layer of the reversible thermosensitive recording medium of FIG.
m) recording area (27.9 cm ² , 60% of the entire card)
), Hot stamping of metal block to temperature 1
30-140 ° C, 1 sec, load 1200g-1500
When the image erasing process was performed under the condition of g, the deformation was as shown in FIG. 9A, and the curl degree (x) was 3.5 mm.

Example 2 FIG. 5 (a) type reversible thermosensitive recording card (8.6 cm × 5.
4 cm, thickness 0.3 mm) and the area of the recording area is 23.2.
When the same procedure as in Example 1 was performed except that the density was set to ² cm (50%), the deformation was as shown in FIG.
Was 3.0 mm. The image deletion here is shown in FIG.
The card is moved in the direction of the arrow in FIG.

Example 3 FIG. 5 (b) type reversible thermosensitive recording card (8.6 cm × 5.
4 cm, thickness 0.3 mm) and the area of the recording area is 23.
Except that it was set to 2 cm ² (50%), the same operation as in Example 1 was performed, and the deformation was as shown in FIG. 9C, and the curl degree (x) was 3.0 mm. The image deletion here is shown in FIG.
The card is moved in the direction of the arrow in FIG.

Example 4 FIG. 6 type reversible thermosensitive recording card (8.6 cm × 5.4 c)
m, thickness 0.3 mm) and the area of the recording area 27.9 cm ²
(60%), the image was erased in the same manner as in Example 1, and then immediately brought into contact with the metal plate and cooled.
The deformation is as shown in (d), and the curl (x) is 3.0 m.
m.

Example 5 The same reversible thermosensitive recording medium as in Example 4 was used together with an erasing (heating) bar as shown in FIG. 7 (b) and a heated backside heating bar as a receiver. When the image was erased by the apparatus, the deformation was as shown in FIG. 9E, and the curl degree (x) was 3 mm. The length of the erasing bar was 70% of the width of the card, and the pressure of the erasing bar was controlled to be released / released by a device (not shown) to erase approximately 70% of the length of the card.

Example 6 FIG. 5 (a) type reversible thermosensitive recording medium (8.6 cm × 5.4)
cm, thickness 0.3 mm) and the area of the recording area is 23.2.
cm ² (50%), the erasing means is a ceramic heater having a contact width of 2 mm in the medium traveling direction shown in FIG.
0 g, 25% release in the longitudinal direction, 50% erasure, 25% (length) and the erase bar were controlled to erase the recorded image.
The deformation is as shown in FIG. 9F, and the curl degree (x) is 2.
5 mm. The erasure was performed at a speed of 30 mm / sec.
c, temperature 150-160 ° C, treatment length 4.3cm (50
%).

Example 7 A reversible thermosensitive recording medium (8.6 cm.times.) Of the type shown in FIG. 6 having a support as paper and an adhesive layer on the back side was provided on the opposite side of a magnetic card of DS-1731 manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc. 5.4cm,
Thickness of 0.3mm) (500μm thick)
Was erased in the same manner as in Example 6, the deformation was as shown in FIG. 9G, and the curl degree (x) was 1.5 mm.

Comparative Example 1 FIG. 4 (b) type reversible thermosensitive recording medium (8.6 cm × 5.
When a single-sided erasing process of the recording area with the upper 50% recording area and the lower 50% non-recording area by the erasing method of Example 1 is performed as shown in FIG. It was deformed, and the curl degree (x) was 5 mm.

Comparative Example 2 A recording medium (8.6 cm × 5.
After erasing the entire surface (4 cm, thickness 0.3 mm), erasing with a metal plate as in Example 4 resulted in FIG.
And the degree of curl (x) was 5.0 mm.

[0046]

As is clear from the description of the embodiments, the use of the reversible thermosensitive recording medium and the reversible thermosensitive recording apparatus of the present invention requires less deformation due to heating.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1 (a), 1 (b) and 1 (c) are diagrams showing the layer structure of three examples of a reversible thermosensitive recording medium of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating that coloring and decoloring of a recording layer are performed.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing that a conventional pot stimp is used as a decoloring means.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing a positional relationship between a decolored area and a non-erased area in two examples of a conventional reversible thermosensitive recording medium.

FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b) are diagrams showing the positional relationship between an erasing area and a non-erasing area in two examples of the reversible thermosensitive recording medium of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between an erased area and a non-erased area of another reversible thermosensitive recording medium of the present invention.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C are diagrams showing three examples of heating an erasing area and heating a back surface of a medium when erasing an image.

FIG. 8 is a view schematically showing an erasing section of a preferable reversible thermosensitive recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 9 (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g)
FIGS. 4A and 4B schematically show the curl of the reversible thermosensitive recording media of Examples 1 to 7, and FIGS. 4H and 4L show the curl of the reversible thermosensitive recording media of Comparative Examples 1 and 2. FIGS. It is.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 6 erasing means 11 reversible thermosensitive recording medium (color-decoloring type recording medium) 12 support 12 'other support 13 reversible thermosensitive recording layer 14 transparent protective layer 15 magnetic layer 16 adhesive layer 51 erasing means (erasing bar) 51 '' Back heating bar 52 Pressing member 53 Elastic member 54 Heating member 61 Ceramic substrate 62 Heating element 63 Protective layer 71 Platen roller 100 Erase area 101, 102, 103 Non-erase area

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kazumi Suzuki 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term in Ricoh Co., Ltd. 2H026 AA07 AA09 BB02 BB21 FF17

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A recording area having a width of 50% or less of a total width in a horizontal direction or a vertical direction is formed in a central portion on a surface of a support, and each of the recording areas has a width of 25% or less so as to sandwich the recording area. Two non-recording areas are formed with the above width, and have a square or rectangular shape as a whole, and the recording area contains an electron-donating color-forming compound and an electron-accepting compound as main components, and has a heating temperature and And / or a reversible thermosensitive recording layer containing a reversible thermochromic composition capable of forming a relatively colored state and a decolored state due to a difference in cooling rate after heating. Medium. 2. On the surface of the support, a central area of 60
% Of the recording area is formed, a non-recording area is formed so as to surround the recording area, and the recording area has a square or rectangular shape as a whole. Reversible thermosensitive recording containing a reversible thermochromic composition containing an electron-accepting compound as a main component and capable of forming a relatively colored state and a decolored state depending on a difference in heating temperature and / or cooling rate after heating. A reversible thermosensitive recording medium, which is a layer. 3. The reversible thermosensitive recording medium according to claim 1, wherein an adhesive layer is provided on the back surface of the support. 4. The reversible thermosensitive recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the whole form is a card. 5. A recording means for forming an image in a recording area of the reversible thermosensitive recording medium according to claim 1, and an erasing means for erasing an image formed in said recording area. A reversible thermosensitive recording device comprising: 6. The recording means and the erasing means are in a non-contact or non-pressure contact state with the reversible thermosensitive recording medium except during recording / erasing, and only in the recording area of the reversible thermosensitive recording medium during recording / erasing. 6. A pressure contact state.
The reversible thermosensitive recording apparatus according to the above. 7. The reversible sensation according to claim 5, further comprising a back surface heating means for heating the back surface of the support of the reversible thermosensitive recording medium at the time of erasing, after erasing, or simultaneously with erasing. Thermal recording device. 8. The reversible thermosensitive recording apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a cooling means for cooling the reversible thermosensitive recording medium heated by recording or erasing.