JP2001121730A - Recording and erasing apparatus and recording and/or erasure method using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording and erasing apparatus and a recording and/or erasure method using the same whereby a good recording and erasure state can be formed to heat-sensitive recording media and thermally reversible recording media, and which are particularly effective to record and/or erase to media of a large area. SOLUTION: The recording and erasing apparatus has a heating head 10. The heating head is constituted of at least one block 12 with a heat stability. A heat- generating source 18 is set in the block. A self control type heat cell is used as the heat-generating source. The method of recording and/or erasing information to recording media with the use of the heating head includes a method in which while a relative scanning speed between the heating head maintained at a constant temperature and the recording medium is kept constant and a distance therebetween is selected, at least one process of recording, non-recording and erasing is carried out, and a method in which while the distance between the heating head maintained at the constant temperature and the recording medium is kept constant and the relative scanning speed therebetween is selected, at least one process of recording, non-recording and erasing is carried out.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention mainly relates to a recording and erasing apparatus having a heating head and a recording and / or erasing apparatus using the same, which can be used for a thermosensitive recording medium and a thermoreversible recording medium.
Or, it relates to an erasing method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, thermosensitive recording media and thermosensitive recording devices represented by thermosensitive paper have been widely used in the world, including household fax machines, because of their simple recording method and easy maintenance of the recording device. did. In recent years, the amount of emissions during recording is small compared to other recording methods,
It is being reviewed from the viewpoint of environmental protection. In addition, from the viewpoint of environmental protection, while OA paper and the like are actively recycled, a thermoreversible recording medium capable of repeatedly recording and erasing by heat has been proposed. This thermoreversible recording medium is a functional recording medium that is more excellent in that it is reused but not recycled.

[0003] As this thermoreversible recording medium, for example, a thermoreversible recording material composed of a matrix polymer and a small organic molecule mainly composed of a linear saturated carboxylic acid dispersed in the matrix polymer is used. There was a recording medium that was
It has been put to practical use in applications such as cards. In this thermoreversible recording medium, by changing the light scattering property of the thermoreversible recording material reversibly by heat energy, the transparency and
An opaque (cloudy) part is formed. Therefore, there is a problem that the contrast between the image forming portion and the unformed portion is insufficient.

Further, in order to solve this problem, there has been proposed a coloring / erasing type thermoreversible recording medium which repeats coloring and erasing reversibly. As the color reversible / decolorable thermoreversible recording medium, for example, there is a recording medium using a thermoreversible recording material containing a leuco dye and a color-developing agent as main components, which is disclosed in JP-A-2-188294. .

[0005] In these thermoreversible recording media, information recording and erasing are performed at different temperatures (temperature difference type).
And recording and erasing are performed depending on whether rapid cooling or slow cooling is performed after heating (rapid / gradual cooling type). The former temperature difference type performs recording or erasing by heating a recording medium to a recordable temperature range or an erasable temperature range, respectively. According to this method, since the recordable temperature range and the erasable temperature range are different, recording and erasing can be performed separately. The latter rapid cooling type is generally recorded by heating a medium to a predetermined temperature and then rapidly cooling, and is erased by slow cooling. In general, thermoreversible recording media utilizing the above-mentioned change in light scattering properties are often of a temperature difference type, and color developing / erasing type thermoreversible recording media are of a rapid / slow cooling type.

[0006] As a recording apparatus for recording and erasing on these thermoreversible recording media, a dot-type heating apparatus called a thermal head, which has been used for recording on a conventional thermosensitive recording medium, is used in all existing recording apparatuses. Is used.

This thermal head is characterized in that a heating element having a small heat capacity in the thermal head is heated by applying a pulse voltage, so that the portion of the recording medium heated by the thermal head can be rapidly cooled. .

As a method for recording information on a thermosensitive recording medium and a thermoreversible recording medium, recording is performed by heating a thermal head to a temperature at which the recording medium can be heated to a recordable temperature range. In the rapid / slow cooling type thermoreversible recording medium, as described above, recording is performed utilizing the property of rapid cooling after heating by the thermal head.

As a method for erasing recorded information, a heat block or a heat roller prepared separately from the thermal head can be used to erase the entire surface of the thermoreversible recording medium in the erasable temperature range. (Almost the same as the possible temperature range)
By heating to a low temperature, the temperature gradually cools down and can be erased.
However, in the rapid / slow cooling type, a heat block at a temperature lower than the erasable temperature range is used for a long time (0.5 to
1.0 s) By heating, the recording of the thermoreversible recording medium can be degraded and erased, and is generally used.

[0010]

However, a recording apparatus using a conventional thermal head (hereinafter, referred to as a head) has various problems as described below.

As a first problem, as described above, in the conventional head, a heating element having a small heat capacity generates heat by applying a pulse voltage, but the resistance value of the heating element varies. 20-30 ° C depending on the heating element
The variation of ° C. occurs. For this reason, there has been a problem that the temperature varies depending on the position of the head and the recording state deteriorates during recording. Specifically, the heating area of the recording medium, that is, the recording scheduled area did not reach the recording temperature, and as a result, there was a portion that could not be recorded. On the other hand, by setting the heating temperature of the head to be high, the recording medium can be reliably heated to the recordable temperature range regardless of the variation in the temperature depending on the position of the head. However, in this case, the protective layer of the recording medium may be destroyed by high heat. The reason is that, in general, the recording medium has a structure in which a recording layer and a protective layer are sequentially provided on a substrate, so that when the recording layer reaches a predetermined temperature, the protective layer is heated to a higher temperature. Because. This destructive recording has no problem in a heat-sensitive medium capable of recording only, but cannot be used in a thermoreversible recording medium in which recording and erasing must be repeated many times. Typically,
In order to maintain a good recording state, it is desirable to keep the temperature variation of the heating element within 10 ° C., but it is difficult to manufacture a head having such a heating element, and it is costly. I will.

As a second problem, as recording proceeds with the conventional head, the head itself is heated as a whole, so that the head is heated to a room temperature or higher to an area other than the area to be recorded. As a result, the heated area of the recording medium, that is, the area to be recorded is gradually cooled rather than rapidly cooled. Because the rapid cooling is performed by the recording layer in the heated recording area,
This is performed when the temperature difference between the surrounding area and the room temperature area (particularly, the substrate) is large. If the area other than the recording area is heated to room temperature or higher, or if the substrate is heated enough to warm up, it is gradually cooled. It is because it becomes a state. Therefore, in the rapid / slow cooling type recording medium, erasing may be performed instead of recording in the recording scheduled area. In particular,
This problem becomes conspicuous when recording is performed for each scan by the head over a wide area, that is, specifically when thick printing is performed. in this case,
For example, the central portion of the recording area falls off and no recording occurs, or the edge of the recording area blurs. When recording on a large-area recording medium, the area of the recording area also increases, so the width of the recording area needs to be increased. Also,
In large area recording, the head itself is heated and the head temperature tends to increase.

There have been some other structural problems. For example, because the recording medium comes into contact with the head,
The surface of the recording medium is damaged, or the head itself is deteriorated or worn. In addition to the recording head, an erasing head is required. Furthermore, with the spread of thermal recording media,
Recording on a large area medium such as A3 to A0 is required. On the other hand, it is difficult to align the heads when using a head in a line-type printing apparatus, or when a head in a serial-type printing apparatus is used, an operation time is required for a larger area. There was a problem each.

[0014] An object of the present invention is to solve a part or all of the above-mentioned problems, whereby a good recording and erasing state can be formed on a thermosensitive recording medium and a thermoreversible recording medium. Recording on large area media and / or
Another object of the present invention is to provide a recording and erasing device and a recording and / or erasing method using the same, which are effective for erasing.

[0015]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve this object, the inventors of the present invention have conducted intensive studies and studies, and as a result, an apparatus and a heating head having a heating head having the following structure have been developed. I found a good way to operate it. That is, in the heating head, it is sufficient that the heating head is always kept at a constant temperature during the processing such as recording, and the operation method of the heating head kept at the constant temperature corresponds to the type of processing such as recording. What is necessary is just to select the distance between the medium and the head or the scanning speed. From these, it was found that the recording layer of the recording medium could be heated without variation to the temperature at which the desired processing could be performed.

According to the apparatus of the present invention, a heating head is provided, and information is recorded and / or recorded on a recording medium by the heating head.
Alternatively, in a recording and erasing apparatus that performs erasing, the heating head is composed of at least one block having thermal stability.

The fact that the block has thermal stability means that the temperature of the block is small with respect to time during operation such as recording and non-operation, and the temperature difference is small depending on the position in the block. In order for the block to have thermal stability, it is naturally necessary that the heat capacity of the block is large. However, when selecting the material of the block, it is preferable that the block be made of a material having good heat conductivity in addition to the heat capacity. The reason is that when there is a temperature change in a part of the block, it is considered that the temperature change of the entire block becomes small due to the large heat capacity, and the stable temperature is quickly reached due to the good thermal conductivity. It is. In addition, the material having good thermal conductivity also has an effect of shortening the time required to reach a predetermined temperature when heating the block. Therefore, in order to have thermal stability, select a material with good thermal conductivity,
It is considered desirable to increase the heat capacity by giving the block a certain size. But,
If the size of a block must be reduced due to the need for fine recording, a material having a specific heat as large as possible should be selected as a material. Here, the block means a lump, and the shape, size, material, and the like are not limited.
The inside of the block may be clogged or hollow.

When such a head is used, the temperature variation is reduced regardless of the position and time in the head, so that good thermal control can be performed on the recording medium.

In practicing the apparatus of the present invention, the block preferably has thermal stability as described below. The heating head causes a temperature change during recording. However, even if a temperature change occurs, the temperature of the recording-scheduled area of the recording medium can be maintained at the recordable temperature on the recording medium.
That is, there is no problem if the record is not lost. That is, the block preferably has thermal stability that can be kept within the range of such a temperature change.

Here, the recording-scheduled area means an area of the recording medium where recording is to be performed during the recording process. In addition, the recordable temperature is a temperature higher than the minimum temperature at which recording is possible in a thermosensitive recording medium capable of recording only, and is a temperature equal to or higher than the minimum temperature at which recording is possible in a thermoreversible recording medium, and the Temperature below the temperature at which the layer is destroyed. With such thermal stability, the recording layer of the recording medium is surely in the recording state during recording, so that a favorable recording state can be obtained. In addition, with such thermal stability, the recording layer of the recording medium is reliably erased even during erasing,
A good erased state can be obtained.

Preferably, the temperature change range of the heating head is ± 5 ° C.

Variation in heating temperature due to the head is ± 5 ° C.
Within this range, the temperature variation of the recording medium is also maintained within ± 5 ° C., which is close to the actual recordable temperature range of the recording medium, so that in practice, good recording or good recording on the thermoreversible recording medium is performed. Erasing can be performed.

It is preferable to provide a heat generating source in the block. Thereby, the block can be heated to a predetermined temperature.

At this time, a self-control type heat cell may be used as a heat generating source.

The self-control type heat cell is generally a resistor having a positive temperature coefficient, and its resistance increases as the temperature rises. Therefore, when the same voltage is applied, a current flowing therethrough is reduced. As the amount of heat is reduced, the calorific value is reduced.
As a result, the upper limit temperature is determined and becomes constant.
The use of this self-control type heat cell eliminates the need for an external system for controlling the temperature, and simplifies the apparatus because only a power supply for applying a constant voltage is required.

In practicing the apparatus of the present invention, the heating head is composed of a plurality of blocks, and each block has a facing surface of a block facing the recording medium.
The blocks are arranged so as to be arranged in the direction perpendicular to the scanning direction of the heating head, and each block may be movable so that the relative position between the blocks changes in the direction perpendicular to the main surface of the recording medium.

With the heating head having such a configuration, when each block is set in a predetermined positional relationship in advance and a process such as recording is performed, the width of a region for recording or the like can be selected. If the structure is such that the relative position between the blocks can be freely changed, it is possible to perform dot-type recording equivalent to a conventional thermal head.

In implementing the apparatus of the present invention, the heating head is composed of a plurality of blocks, and each block has a surface facing the recording medium facing the recording medium.
The blocks are arranged so as to be arranged in a direction parallel to the scanning direction of the heating head, and each block may be movable so that the relative position between the blocks changes in a direction perpendicular to the main surface of the recording medium.

With the heating head having such a configuration, by setting the blocks in a predetermined positional relationship and then scanning the heating head, the blocks can be selectively used for recording and erasing depending on the blocks. Erasure and recording can be performed simultaneously on a recorded recording medium.

In implementing the apparatus of the present invention, the heating head is composed of a plurality of blocks, and each block has a surface facing the recording medium facing the recording medium.
The heating head is arranged so as to be arranged in both directions perpendicular and parallel to the scanning direction.Each block is movable even in a direction perpendicular to the main surface of the recording medium so that the relative position between the blocks changes. good.

By using the heating head having such a configuration, it is possible to select the width of an area for recording or the like, to perform dot-type recording equivalent to a conventional thermal head, or to erase a recorded medium. And recording can be performed simultaneously with one head.

In implementing the apparatus of the present invention, a structure having a plurality of heating heads may be employed.

At this time, in each heating head, the size of the facing surface of each heating head facing the recording medium is changed, and the width of the area for recording or the like can be changed by selectively using the heating heads. it can. Also, recording and erasing heads can be separately provided and used separately.

Further, in implementing the apparatus of the present invention,
The heating head may include a movable shaft for moving on the main surface of the recording medium.

According to the first method of the present invention, recording and / or recording of information on a recording medium using a heating head is performed.
When performing erasing, the relative scanning speed between the heating head and the recording medium held at a constant temperature is kept constant, and the distance between the heating head and the recording medium is selected. Perform at least one process.

By using this method, the amount of heat transmitted to the recording medium changes according to the distance between the heating head held at a constant temperature and the recording medium. At this time, the temperature at which the recording medium is heated is also determined according to the distance. Accordingly, by setting the distance to a predetermined value while maintaining a constant relative scanning speed with a heating head at a constant temperature, the recording layer of the recording medium can be heated without causing a variation in the predetermined temperature. Therefore, by selecting one of the distances at which the recording layer of the recording medium can be heated to a temperature within the recordable, non-recordable, and erasable temperature range, one of the recording, non-recording, and erasing processes is performed. A predetermined process can be performed, and the remaining two processes that are not determined are not performed. Therefore, each process is performed reliably, and both the recording state and the erasing state are improved. In the case where the same heating head has a portion in which the distance between the heating head and the recording medium is different, the recording medium can be heated to different temperatures, so that recording, non-recording, and erasing can be performed by the same heating head. Can be performed at the same time. Here, “non-recording” means performing a process of not performing recording in an area of the recording medium where recording is not performed.

In this case, as described above, when the predetermined processing is performed, the recording medium can be heated to a predetermined temperature without variation. For example, when performing the recording, the predetermined temperature is set to a temperature slightly higher than the minimum temperature at which the recording can be performed. Therefore, unlike the conventional case, the recording medium is not heated to a high temperature, and the protective layer is not destroyed.

Further, since all the processes of recording, non-recording or erasing can be performed by one heating head, it is not necessary to provide a separate erasing head as in the prior art.

Further, according to the second method of the present invention, when recording information on the thermal recording medium using the heating head, the heating head held at a constant temperature and the recording scheduled area of the thermal recording medium are used. While keeping the relative scanning speed at a constant value, the distance between them is kept at a distance where the recording scheduled area changes to a temperature within the recordable temperature range of the thermal recording medium, and a heating head kept at a constant temperature. Recording is performed by keeping the relative scanning speed between the non-scheduled recording area of the thermal recording medium at the above-mentioned constant value and maintaining the distance between the non-scheduled recording medium and the non-scheduled recording area at a temperature within the recording temperature range. I do.

By using this method, a predetermined recording area and a non-recording area can be formed in a good state on a thermosensitive recording medium on which only recording can be performed, and thus a good recording state can be obtained. be able to. Here, the recording area is an area on the recording medium on which recording is performed at the time of recording, and the non-recording area is
It means an area of the recording medium on which recording was not performed. Further, the non-scheduled recording area means an area of the recording medium where recording is not to be performed during recording.

According to the third method of the present invention, recording and / or recording of information on a thermoreversible recording medium is performed by using a heating head and utilizing a difference between a recordable temperature range and an erasable temperature range. When performing erasing, when performing recording, the relative scanning speed between the heating head held at a constant temperature and the recording scheduled area of the thermoreversible recording medium is maintained at a constant value, and the distance therebetween is recorded. The scheduled area is kept at a distance that changes to a temperature within the recordable temperature range, and the relative scanning speed between the heating head held at a constant temperature and the non-scheduled area of the thermoreversible recording medium is set to the above-mentioned constant value. While keeping
The distance between them is maintained by keeping the non-scheduled area at a distance that does not change to a temperature within the recordable temperature range. When erasing is performed on the recorded thermoreversible recording medium, heating at a constant temperature is performed. This is performed by keeping the relative scanning speed between the head and the recorded thermoreversible recording medium at the above-mentioned constant value, and keeping the distance therebetween at a distance that changes to a temperature within the erasable temperature range.

By using this method, a predetermined recording area and a non-recording area can be used for recording on a thermoreversible recording medium on which recording and erasing are performed using the difference between the recordable temperature range and the erasable temperature range. And the erased area can be manufactured in a good state at the time of erasing, so that a good recorded state or erased state can be obtained.

According to the fourth method of the present invention, when recording and / or erasing information on a recording medium using the heating head, the distance between the heating head kept at a constant temperature and the recording medium is reduced. The distance is kept constant, and the relative scanning speed between them is selected to perform at least one of the recording, non-recording, and erasing processes.

By using this method, the amount of heat transmitted to the recording medium changes according to the relative scanning speed between the heating head held at a constant temperature and the recording medium. At this time, the temperature at which the recording medium is heated is also determined according to the relative scanning speed. Therefore, by setting the relative scanning speed to a predetermined value while maintaining a constant distance with a heating head at a constant temperature, the recording layer of the recording medium can be heated without causing a variation in the predetermined temperature.

In addition, the heating range varies depending on the relative scanning speed, such as whether only the recording layer of the recording medium is heated or the entire substrate or the like other than the recording layer is heated. At this time, the speed at which the recording medium is cooled is also determined according to the relative scanning speed. Therefore, by setting the relative scanning speed to a predetermined value while maintaining a constant distance with a heating head at a constant temperature, the recording layer of the recording medium can be cooled at a predetermined cooling speed without variation after heating. it can.

Therefore, for a thermoreversible recording medium that performs recording and erasing by utilizing the difference between the recordable temperature range and the erasable temperature range, the recording layer of the recording medium is recorded, recorded, and recorded. By selecting one of the relative scanning speeds that can be heated to a temperature within the range, one of the recording, non-recording, and erasing processes can be performed, and the remaining non-predetermined processes can be performed. Are not performed. Therefore, each process is performed reliably, and both the recording state and the erasing state are improved. In the case where the same heating head has a portion in which the distance between the heating head and the recording medium is different, the recording medium can be heated to different temperatures, so that recording, non-recording, and erasing can be performed by the same heating head. Can be performed at the same time.

For a thermoreversible recording medium in which recording and erasing are performed by utilizing the difference in cooling rate after heating, a cooling layer within a cooling rate range in which recording, non-recording and erasing can be performed on the recording layer of the recording medium. By selecting one of the relative scanning speeds that can be cooled at the speed, it is possible to perform one of predetermined processes of recording, non-recording, and erasing, and
The remaining two processes that are not predetermined are not performed. Therefore, each process is performed reliably, and both the recording state and the erasing state are improved.

In this case, as described above, when the predetermined processing is performed, the recording medium can be heated to a predetermined temperature without variation. For example, when performing the recording, the predetermined temperature is set to a temperature slightly higher than the minimum temperature at which the recording can be performed. Therefore, unlike the conventional case, the recording medium is not heated to a high temperature, and the protective layer is not destroyed.

Further, since all the processes of recording, non-recording and erasing can be performed by one heating head, it is not necessary to provide a separate erasing head as in the prior art.

According to the fifth method of the present invention, information can be recorded and / or recorded on a thermoreversible recording medium by utilizing the difference between the recordable temperature range and the erasable temperature range using a heating head. Or, when performing erasing, when performing recording, while maintaining a constant value between the heating head held at a constant temperature and the recording scheduled area of the thermoreversible recording medium,
The relative scanning speed during that time is maintained at a relative scanning speed at which the recording scheduled area changes to a temperature within the printable temperature range, and between the heating head held at a constant temperature and the non-scheduled recording area of the thermoreversible recording medium. While keeping the distance of the above constant value,
The relative scanning speed during that period is maintained by maintaining the relative scanning speed at which the non-scheduled recording area does not change to a temperature within the recordable temperature range. Maintaining the distance between the held heating head and the recorded thermoreversible recording medium at the above-mentioned constant value, and maintaining the relative scanning speed between them at a relative scanning speed that changes to a temperature within the erasable temperature range. Done by

By using this method, when recording is performed on a thermoreversible recording medium on which recording and erasing are performed using the difference between the recordable temperature range and the erasable temperature range, a predetermined recording area and a non-recording The region and the erased region can be manufactured in a good state at the time of erasing, so that a good recorded state or an erased state can be obtained.

Further, according to the sixth method of the present invention, using the difference in cooling rate after heating using the heating head,
When recording and / or erasing information on the thermoreversible recording medium, when performing recording, the distance between the heating head held at a constant temperature and the recording area of the thermoreversible recording medium is set to a constant value. While maintaining the relative scanning speed, the relative scanning speed during which the recording area is cooled at a cooling speed within the recordable cooling speed range is maintained, and the recording of the heating head and the thermoreversible recording medium maintained at a constant temperature is performed. The recording is performed by keeping the distance between the unscheduled area at the above-mentioned constant value and maintaining the relative scanning speed therebetween at a relative scanning speed at which the unrecorded area is not cooled at a cooling rate within the recordable cooling rate range. When performing erasure on the thermoreversible recording medium, while maintaining the distance between the heating head and the recorded thermoreversible recording medium held at a constant temperature to the above-described constant value,
The relative scanning speed is maintained by keeping the relative scanning speed at a cooling speed within the erasable cooling speed range.

By using this method, a predetermined recording area and a non-recording area can be set at the time of recording and a predetermined recording area and a non-recording area can be set at the time of erasing with respect to a thermoreversible recording medium on which recording and erasing are performed by utilizing a difference in cooling rate after heating. The erased area can be manufactured in a good state, and therefore, a good recorded state or erased state can be obtained.

According to the seventh method of the present invention, the recording and / or recording of information on a thermoreversible recording medium is performed by utilizing the difference between the recordable temperature range and the erasable temperature range using a heating head. In performing erasing, the relative scanning speed between the heating head held at a constant temperature and the recording area of the thermoreversible recording medium is kept at a constant value, and the distance between them is set in the recording temperature range of the recording area. And the relative scanning speed between the heating head held at a constant temperature and the non-recording scheduled area of the thermoreversible recording medium is kept at the above-mentioned constant value, and the distance between them is kept constant. The overwrite recording is performed by maintaining the non-scheduled area at a distance that changes to a temperature within the erasable temperature range.

Here, overwrite recording means that when new recording is performed on a recorded medium, a recording process is performed on a recording-scheduled area as a new recording, and an erasing process is performed on a non-scheduled area. This means a recording method for obtaining the same recording state as when a new recording is performed on a recording medium on which recording is not performed. By using this method, it is a thermoreversible recording medium that performs recording and erasing by using the difference between the recordable temperature range and the erasable temperature range, and performs new recording on a recorded medium. At this time, there is no need to perform new recording after erasing the entire recording medium, and new recording can be performed in one process. Therefore, the process is simplified and the time required for recording is reduced. Also in this method, a good recording state can be obtained.

According to the eighth method of the present invention, recording and / or recording of information on a thermoreversible recording medium is performed by using a difference between a recordable temperature range and an erasable temperature range using a heating head. In performing erasing, the distance between the heating head held at a constant temperature and the recording area of the thermoreversible recording medium is maintained at a constant value, and the relative scanning speed between them is set in the recording temperature range of the recording area. And the distance between the heating head maintained at a constant temperature and the non-scheduled area of the thermoreversible recording medium is maintained at the above-mentioned constant value, and the relative scanning therebetween is performed. Overwrite recording is performed by maintaining the speed at a relative scanning speed at which the non-scheduled area changes to a temperature within the erasable temperature range.

By using this method, a thermoreversible recording medium that performs recording and erasing by utilizing the difference between the recordable temperature range and the erasable temperature range, When recording is performed, it is not necessary to perform new recording after erasing the entire recording medium, and new recording can be performed in one process. Therefore, the process is simplified and the time required for recording is reduced. Also in this method, a good recording state can be obtained.

Further, according to the ninth method of the present invention, using the difference in cooling rate after heating using the heating head,
When recording and / or erasing information on the thermoreversible recording medium, the distance between the heating head held at a constant temperature and the recording area of the thermoreversible recording medium is kept at a constant value, and the relative distance between them is maintained. The scanning speed is maintained at a relative scanning speed at which the recording scheduled area is cooled at a cooling rate within the recordable cooling rate range, and between the heating head held at a constant temperature and the non-scheduled recording area of the thermoreversible recording medium. Is maintained at the above-mentioned constant value, and the relative scanning speed during that period is maintained at a relative scanning speed at which the non-scheduled area is cooled at a cooling speed within the erasable cooling speed range, thereby performing overwrite recording.

By using this method, a thermoreversible recording medium that performs recording and erasing by utilizing the difference in cooling rate after heating, and performs new recording on a recorded medium, There is no need to perform new recording after erasing the entire recording medium, and new recording can be performed in one process.
Therefore, the process is simplified and the time required for recording is reduced. Also in this method, a good recording state can be obtained.

In practicing any one of the above-described first or third to ninth methods, preferably, the heating head is composed of at least one block having thermal stability. And good.

With this configuration, the heating head can be easily maintained at a constant temperature, and therefore, a good recording or erasing state can be obtained.

In implementing the first and second methods of the present invention, it is preferable that the block has thermal stability as described below. The heating head causes a temperature change during recording. However, even if a temperature change occurs, there is no problem as long as the temperature of the recording scheduled area of the recording medium can be maintained at the temperature at which recording is possible on the recording medium, that is, the recording is not lost. In other words, it is preferable that the block has thermal stability that can be suppressed within the range of such a temperature change.

With such thermal stability, the recording layer of the recording medium is reliably in the recording state during recording, so that a good recording state can be obtained. In addition, with such thermal stability, the recording layer of the recording medium is surely in the erased state even at the time of erasure, so that a good erased state can be obtained.

Preferably, the range of the above temperature change is ± 5 ° C.

With this configuration, the temperature variation of the recording medium is maintained within ± 5 ° C., which is close to the recordable temperature range of the actual recording medium. And good recording or erasing can be performed.

[0066]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the size, shape, and arrangement of each component are only schematically shown to an extent that the present invention can be understood, and numerical conditions described below are merely examples. .

(Structure of Recording and Erasing Apparatus) First, a recording and erasing apparatus having a heating head according to the embodiment will be described.

The recording and erasing device has a heating head,
This heating head records information on a recording medium and / or
Or, perform erasure.

The heating head will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of the heating head according to the embodiment, and shows a configuration viewed from three directions. 1A is a front view as viewed from the front, FIG. 1B is a plan view as viewed from above, and FIG. 1C is a right side view as viewed from the right.

The heating head 10 is composed of at least one block having thermal stability. In the heating head 10 of this embodiment, one block 12 is provided.
It is composed of

The block 12 is constructed so as to have thermal stability as described below. The temperature of the heating head 10 changes during recording. However, even if a temperature change occurs, there is no problem as long as the temperature of the recording medium 14 can be maintained at the temperature at which recording can be performed on the recording medium 14, that is, the recording is not lost. The heating head 10 has thermal stability that can be kept within the range of temperature change. The range of the temperature change of the heating head 10 is ± 5 ° C.

In order for the block 12 to have the above-mentioned thermal stability, it is necessary that the block 12 has a large heat capacity, and preferably has a good thermal conductivity. Since the magnitude of the heat capacity is also affected by the size of the block 12,
It is preferable to select a material having good thermal conductivity as a material for forming, and in this embodiment, brass (brass) is used. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, and has good thermal conductivity and specific heat. Also, brass is suitable as a material of the block 12 because it is rich in ductility and malleability and is easy to cast.
However, other materials can be used as long as the thermal conductivity and the specific heat are large. For example, gold, silver, copper, aluminum, stainless steel, other metals, and silicon rubber may be used.

Although the heat capacity can be controlled by the size of the block 12, in practice, the recording medium 14 used is
Of the recording area and the width of the recording area (thickness of printing). From the viewpoint of practicality, it is necessary to reduce the size of the block 12, however, in order to have the same thermal stability, it is necessary to use a material having a higher thermal conductivity and a specific heat.

As the shape, a shape and a material which are in good contact with the recording medium 14 and which do not damage the surface of the recording medium 14 when operating the surface of the recording medium 14 are preferable.

In this embodiment, the brass is 2 cm (depth:
D) × 2 cm (width: W) × 6 cm (height: H), and cut out into a quadrangular prism shape, and the surface facing the recording medium 14, that is, the facing surface 16
The four corners were rounded so as to form a curved surface having a radius of about 3 mm to form a block 12. By taking the corner, the surface of the recording medium 14 is hardly damaged.

However, the size and shape are not limited to this. For example, the width of the recording area is reduced by reducing the area of the facing surface 16 facing the recording medium 14, however, in order to provide thermal stability. In addition, it is conceivable to increase the size of the upper part of the block 12 apart from the facing surface 16. Further, by changing the inclination of the block 12, the shape is changed so that the area of the facing surface 16 is changed.
A structure in which the width of the recording area can be changed may be adopted.

Further, a heat source 18 is provided in the block 12, and a self-control type heat cell 18 is used as the heat source 18. In order to incorporate the heat generating source 18 in the block 12, a part of the inside of the block 12 is cut off. One block 12 incorporates four self-control heat cells 18, and each self-control heat cell 1
8 are provided with electrodes 20 on both sides, and each self-control type heat cell 1
A power supply 22 capable of applying a voltage of 100 V AC in parallel to the power supply 8 was provided outside the block 12. As the self-control type heat cells 18, three types of blocks 12 were prepared by preparing respective ones having a set temperature of 80 ° C., 110 ° C., and 150 ° C., and incorporating them in the blocks 12.

The self-control type heat cell 18
When an is used, an external system for controlling the temperature becomes unnecessary, and the power supply 22 for applying a constant voltage is sufficient, so that the apparatus can be simplified. The heat source 18 can be heated to a predetermined temperature, and thereafter, needs to be able to stably maintain the predetermined temperature. Any other material that satisfies this condition may be used. For example, a heating resistance wire such as a nichrome wire may be wound around a part of the block 12 to form the heat generating source 18, or the voltage may be externally controlled. A heat cell whose temperature is controlled by the heat generation source 18 may be used.

By manufacturing one block 12 as described above, the heating head 10 of this embodiment is completed.

The heating head 10 is heated in air by applying a voltage to the heat generating source 18 and becomes usable when it reaches a predetermined temperature. This predetermined temperature is a set temperature of the self-control type heat cell 18 used. In order to reach the predetermined temperature, the heating head 10 incorporating the self-control type heat cells 18 of 80 ° C., 110 ° C., and 150 ° C. respectively takes several minutes. Cost. However, once the predetermined temperature is reached, the heating head 10 maintains the predetermined temperature, and
No temperature distribution occurred depending on the position of the heating head 10.
In order to shorten the time required to reach the predetermined temperature, it is preferable that the block 12 has as good thermal conductivity as possible.

Next, a modification of the heating head 10 of this embodiment will be described.

First, a modified example in which the heating head 10 is composed of a plurality of blocks 12 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2A is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a first modification in which the blocks are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction of the heating head 10. The heating head 10 according to the first modification includes three blocks 12ax, 12bx, and 12cx. Each block 12ax, 12bx, 12cx is
Opposing surface 16ax, 1 of the block opposing the recording medium 14
6bx and 16cx are arranged in the scanning direction 24 of the heating head 10 and the vertical direction 26. Each of the blocks 12ax, 12bx and 12cx is arranged in a direction 28 perpendicular to the main surface of the recording medium 14 and blocks 12ax and 12bx. ,
The structure is movable so that the relative position between 12cx changes.

At this time, the opposing surfaces 16ax,
When the distances 30 between the recording media 16bx and 16cx are equal to each other, the heating head 10 is scanned so as to heat the recording medium 14 to a recordable temperature, so that the heating head among the sides of the facing surfaces 16ax, 16bx, and 16cx is heated. The width 32, which is the sum of the lengths of the sides in the scanning direction and the vertical direction 26, can be recorded. Also, for example, as shown in FIG. 2B, only the block 12cx is the other block 12ax,
The relative position with respect to 12bx may be changed. At this time, the distance 30 between the facing surface 16cx and the recording medium 14 is increased, and the recording medium 1 is controlled by the blocks 12ax and 12bx.
4 is heated to a recordable temperature, and the heating head 10 is scanned so that the recording medium 14 is heated outside the recordable temperature by the block 12ax.
6bx side in the direction perpendicular to the scanning direction of the heating head 26
Can be recorded with a width of 32, which is the sum of the lengths of the sides. Similarly, it is possible to record a width 32 which is the length of the side of the facing surface 16ax in the direction 26 perpendicular to the scanning direction of the heating head.

While scanning the heating head 10,
At the same time, the blocks 12ax, 12bx, 12cx are individually moved up and down so that they are not recorded when the blocks are up, but are recorded when the blocks are down, so that in each of the blocks 12ax, 12bx, 12cx, In each of them, an area where recording is performed on the recording medium 14 and an area where recording is not performed can be formed. Therefore, by scanning the entire recording medium 14 with the heating head 10, it is possible to perform dot-type recording equivalent to a conventional thermal head. In order to form practically fine dots, the opposing surfaces 16ax, 16bx, 1
Although it is necessary to reduce 6cx, Modification Example 1 can be used as the heating head 10 used for a large-area recording medium 14 requiring a large-width recording area.

FIG. 3A shows that the heating head 10
FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a configuration of Modification 2 arranged in a direction parallel to the scanning direction of FIG. The heating head 10 according to the second modification includes three blocks 12ax, 12ay, and 12az. Each block 12ax, 12ay, 12az
Is the facing surface 16a of the block facing the recording medium 14.
x, 16ay, 16az are arranged so as to be arranged in a direction parallel to the scanning direction 24 of the heating head 10. Each block 12ax, 12ay, 12az is arranged in a direction 28 perpendicular to the main surface of the recording medium 14, and blocks 12ax, 12ax, 12a
The structure is movable so that the relative position between y and 12az changes.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 3B, the block 12az fixes the distance 30 between the recording medium 14 and the facing surface 16az to a distance at which the recording medium 14 is heated to an erasable temperature, and When the blocks 12ax and 12ay are individually moved up and down and the heating head 10 is simultaneously scanned, the block 12az erases the recording on the recording medium 14,
The blocks 12ax and 12ay correspond to the recording medium 14 respectively.
Can be formed with an area where recording is performed and an area where recording is not performed. Therefore, all of the recorded recording medium 14 is
The block 12 is scanned by the heating head 10.
The az functions as an erasing head to erase the recording, and the blocks 12ax and 12ay function as a dot-type recording head equivalent to a conventional thermal head to perform recording. That is, erasure and dot-system recording can be performed simultaneously. As a result, the erasing head becomes unnecessary, and the erasing time can be saved.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of Modification 3 in which the blocks are arranged in both directions perpendicular and parallel to the scanning direction of the heating head 10. Heating head 10 of Modification 3
Are nine blocks 12ax, 12ay, 12az, 12
bx, 12by, 12bz, 12cx, 12cy, 12
cz. Each block 12ax, 12
ay, 12az, 12bx, 12by, 12bz, 12
The blocks cx, 12cy, and 12cz are arranged such that the opposing surfaces of the blocks opposing the recording medium 14 are arranged in both directions 26 and 24 that are perpendicular and parallel to the scanning direction 24 of the heating head 10, and the respective blocks 12ax and 12ay. , 12a
z, 12bx, 12by, 12bz, 12cx, 12c
y, 12cz are perpendicular to the main surface of the recording medium 14;
Blocks 12ax, 12ay, 12az, 12b
x, 12by, 12bz, 12cx, 12cy, 12c
The structure is movable so that the relative position between z changes.

At this time, the blocks 12az, 12bz,
12cz fixes the distance between the recording medium 14 and the opposing surface to a distance at which the recording medium 14 is heated to an erasable temperature, and blocks 12ax, 12ay, 12bx, 12by, 1
2cx and 12cy are individually moved up and down, and the heating head 10 is scanned at the same time.
2bz and 12cz erase the recording of the recording medium 14, and the blocks 12ax, 12ay, 12bx, 12by and 12c
x and 12cy can form an area where recording is performed on the recording medium 14 and an area where recording is not performed, respectively.
Therefore, all of the recorded recording medium 14 is transferred to the heating head 1.
By scanning at 0, the blocks 12az, 12b
z, 12cz act as an erase head to erase the record,
Blocks 12ax, 12ay, 12bx, 12by, 1
The recording heads 2cx and 12cy work as a dot type recording head equivalent to a conventional thermal head, and can perform recording. That is, erasure and dot-system recording can be performed simultaneously in three rows.

Next, a recording and erasing apparatus of this embodiment having the above-described heating head 10 will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the recording and erasing device of this embodiment, and is a diagram viewed from above. The recording and erasing apparatus includes a heating head 10, a heating head 1
An external power supply 22 for heating the recording medium 14, a movable shaft 34 for the heating head 10 to move on the main surface of the recording medium 14, and a table 36 for mounting the recording medium 14 are provided. Heating head 1
0 is movable only in the direction of the movable axis 34, and since the recording medium 14 is fixed with respect to the recording and erasing device, recording and / or erasing is performed in the one-dimensional direction in the direction of the movable axis 34. Can only be done in the direction of.

However, for example, the recording medium 14 is
By moving the movable shaft 34 itself in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the movable shaft 34 by using a structure that can be moved by a roller or the like in the direction perpendicular to the direction 4, the recording medium 14 can be two-dimensionally recorded. And / or erase. As a recording method, a pen plotter type recording or heating head 10 that uses the heating head 10 instead of a pen and moves the heating head 10 on the recording medium 14 in accordance with the shape of recording to perform recording is used. The recording and erasing apparatus may use any of the serial recording methods in which dot scanning is performed by scanning the entire surface.

As a modification of the recording and erasing apparatus of this embodiment, a plurality of heating heads may be provided.
By changing the size of the facing surface of each heating head facing the recording medium and using each heating head properly, the width of the recording area can be changed. In addition, two heating heads each having a built-in heating element having a different set temperature can be separately used as a heating head for recording and a heating head for erasing.

(Recording and / or erasing method) Next, the recording and / or erasing method of this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a recording method and a recording medium after recording. This method can be roughly divided into two. One is the method of the first method, in which the relative scanning speed 40 between the heating head 10 and the recording medium 14 kept at a constant temperature is kept constant, and the distance 42 therebetween is selected to perform recording. , At least one of non-recording and erasing processes. The other is a fourth method, in which a heating head 10 maintained at a constant temperature is used.
While keeping the distance 42 between the recording medium 14 and the
In this method, at least one of the recording, non-recording, and erasing processes is performed by selecting the relative scanning speed 40 during that time. These two methods are mainly used depending on the type of the recording medium 14 to be used.

The recording and erasing apparatus used in the recording and / or erasing method of this embodiment is the recording and erasing apparatus of this embodiment shown in FIG. In this recording and erasing apparatus, the heating head 10 moves one-dimensionally along one movable shaft 34, and since the recording medium 14 is fixed, recording and / or erasing can be performed only one-dimensionally. I can't. However, it has structures to enable the two methods described above. That is, in order to enable the former method, the heating head 10 has a structure that can be mechanically moved in a direction perpendicular to the main surface of the recording medium 14.
Thereby, the distance between the heating head 10 and the recording medium 14 can be changed. In order to enable the latter method, the scanning speed of the heating head 10 along the movable axis 34 is mechanically changed. Also,
As the heating head 10, the above-described heating head 10 of this embodiment was used.

First, a recording method using the second method for the thermosensitive recording medium 14 that can only perform recording will be described with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B and FIG. FIG. 6A is a perspective view schematically showing a state in which the heating head scans over the recording medium, that is, a method of recording or the like, and FIG. 6B is a schematic view showing the recording medium after recording. is there. FIG. 7 is a comparison diagram showing various setting conditions in the second and third methods.

The thermosensitive recording medium 14 is white in the initial non-recording state, and develops color when the recording layer in the thermosensitive recording medium 14 is heated to a recording temperature of 80 ° C. or higher, and enters a recording state.

First, the distance 42 between the heating head 10 maintained at the constant temperature TH1 and the recording area 44 of the thermal recording medium 14 is maintained at a predetermined distance D1. This distance D1 is
The recording area 44 is selected so as to satisfy the condition that the recording area 44 changes to a temperature T1 within the recordable temperature range of the thermal recording medium 14. Thereafter, the heating head 10 is set to a fixed relative scanning speed V.
Scan with 1. At this time, since the temperature, the relative scanning speed, and the distance of the heating head are kept constant, the heating temperature of the recording medium can be kept constant at T1, which is the recordable temperature. Therefore, recording can be performed, and the recording area 4
4 can be formed. Next, the non-scheduled recording area 46 of the heating head 10 and the thermal recording medium 14 maintained at the constant temperature TH1.
Is maintained at a predetermined distance D2. This distance D
2 indicates that the non-scheduled recording area 46 does not change to a temperature within the recordable temperature range, that is, the temperature T2 outside the recordable temperature range.
To meet the condition that changes to Thereafter, the relative scanning speed V of the heating head 10 is set to the same constant value as at the time of recording.
Scan with 1. At this time, since the temperature, the relative scanning speed, and the distance of the heating head 10 are kept constant, the heating temperature of the recording medium 14 can be kept constant at T2, which is the temperature at which no recording is performed. Therefore, there is no recording,
The non-recording area 46 can be formed.

In this embodiment, when printing is performed, during one scan of the heating head 10, the heating head 10
By changing the distance 42 between the recording medium 14 and
A recording area 44 and a non-recording area 46 were formed. That is,
The scanning distance 48 of the heating head 10 is not less than 0 and not more than L1, L2
The area within L3 and the area above L4 are to be recorded.
Then, the region 44 may be heated to T1, and the other region 46 may be heated to T2. To do this,
Assuming that the depth 50 of the heating head 10 is D, the scanning distance 48 is not less than 0 (L1-D) and not less than L2 (L3-D).
The distance 42 between the heating head 10 and the recording medium 14 may be D1 in the following and L4 or more regions, and the distance 42 may be D2 in other regions. here,
The scanning distance 48 of the heating head 10 is defined as the surface of the heating head perpendicular to the scanning direction 41 of the heating head 10 when the surface behind the scanning direction starts scanning, that is, immediately after the start of recording, the scanning direction. 41 means the distance traveled. At this time, the width 54 of the recording area is the width (W) 52 of the heating head.
become.

Actually, a heating head 10 having a built-in heat cell 18 with a set temperature of 110 ° C. is used as the heating head 10, and after several minutes, the temperature reached 110 ° C., which is the above-mentioned constant temperature TH1. In order to form the recording area 44, the distance D1 between the heating head 10 and the recording area 44 of the thermal recording medium 14 is set in a state where the distance D1 is pressed with a force of 0.98 N in a contact state, Set the relative scanning speed V1 to 20
cm / s. In order to form the non-recording area 46,
Non-scheduled recording area 4 of heating head 10 and thermal recording medium 14
6 was 2 mm. At this time, in the recording area, the recording medium is colored and the recording state is well recognizable. In the non-recording area, the recording medium 14 remains white and a good non-recording state is obtained. The recording state shown was obtained. Note that FIG. 7 conceptually shows changes in various parameters with respect to the scanning distance of the heating head, and it should be understood that the actual values may not be as shown in FIG.

Next, a thermoreversible recording medium capable of recording and erasing reversibly, which is of a light scattering type,
FIGS. 6A and 6B show a recording method using the fifth method.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a comparison diagram showing various setting conditions in the fifth method.

The thermoreversible recording medium 14 is transparent in the non-recording state, and becomes turbid when the recording layer in the thermoreversible recording medium 14 is heated to a recording temperature or higher, and enters a recording state. When the recording layer of the thermoreversible recording medium 14 in the recording state is heated to the erasable temperature range, it becomes transparent and is erased. The recording layer of the light scattering type thermoreversible recording medium 14 used in this embodiment is composed of a mixture of vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate polymer, palmitic acid and behenic acid.
The recordable temperature range is about 80 ° C. or higher, and the erasable temperature range is about 60 to 78 ° C.

First, the distance 42 between the heating head 10 kept at the constant temperature TH2 and the recording scheduled area 44 of the thermoreversible recording medium 14 is kept at a constant distance D4. Thereafter, the heating head 10 is caused to scan at a predetermined relative scanning speed V2.
The relative scanning speed V2 is selected so as to satisfy the condition that the recording scheduled area 44 changes to a temperature T4 within the recordable temperature range of the thermoreversible recording medium 14. At this time, since the temperature, the relative scanning speed, and the distance of the heating head 10 are kept constant, the heating temperature of the recording medium 14 can be kept constant at T4, which is the recordable temperature. Therefore, recording can be performed, and the recording area 44 can be formed. Next, the distance 42 between the heating head 10 kept at the constant temperature TH2 and the non-scheduled recording area 46 of the thermoreversible recording medium 14 is maintained at the same constant distance D4 as during recording. Thereafter, the heating head 10 is caused to scan at a predetermined relative scanning speed V3. The relative scanning speed V3 is selected so as to satisfy the condition that the non-printable area 46 does not change to a temperature within the printable temperature range, that is, changes to a temperature T5 outside the printable temperature range. At this time, since the temperature, the relative scanning speed, and the distance of the heating head 10 are kept constant, the heating temperature of the recording medium 14 can be kept constant at T5, which is the temperature at which no recording is performed. Therefore, no recording is performed, and the unrecorded area 4
6 can be formed. Further, the distance 42 between the heating head 10 held at the constant temperature TH2 and the recorded thermoreversible recording medium 14 is kept at the same constant distance D4 as during recording.
Thereafter, the heating head 10 is scanned at a predetermined relative scanning speed V4. The relative scanning speed V4 is set in the non-recording area 4
6 is selected so as to satisfy the condition that the temperature changes to a temperature T6 within the erasable temperature range. At this time, since the temperature, the relative scanning speed, and the distance of the heating head 10 are kept constant, the heating temperature of the recording medium 14 is a temperature at which the heating temperature of the recording medium 14 can be erased.
6 can be kept constant. Therefore, erasing can be performed. Here, in FIG. 8, V4> V3 and T6>
Although it is T5, the size may be opposite because there are many overlapping portions outside the erasable temperature range and the recordable temperature range.

In this embodiment, when printing is performed, during one scan of the heating head 10, the heating head 10
The recording area 44 and the non-recording area 46 were formed by changing the relative scanning speed 40 between the recording medium 14 and the recording medium 14. That is, when the scanning distance 48 of the heating head 10 is 0 or more and L1 or less, L2 or more and L3 or less, and L4 or more as the recording scheduled area 44, this area 44 is heated to T4, and the other area 46 is What is necessary is just to heat to T5. For this purpose, the scanning distance 48 is set to 0 or more (L1-D) or less, and
In the region above (L3-D) and below L4, the relative scanning speed 40 between the heating head 10 and the recording medium 14 is set to V
2, and in other areas, the relative scanning speed 40 may be V3. At this time, the width 54 of the recording area
Becomes the width (W) 52 of the heating head. In erasing, one scan of the heating head 10 was performed separately from recording. At this time, the relative scanning speed 40 is set to V4 to heat the recording medium 14 to T6 over the entire area.
What should I do?

Actually, a heating head having a built-in heat cell 18 with a set temperature of 110 ° C. is used as the heating head 10.
10 ° C. was reached. In order to form the recording area 44, the constant distance D4 described above is pressed in a contact state with a force of 0.98 N, and the predetermined relative scanning speed V2 is set to 20 cm / s.
It was as follows. In order to form the non-recording area 46,
The above-described predetermined relative scanning speed V3 was set to 20 cm / s or more. At this time, in the recording area 44, the thermoreversible recording medium 14 becomes cloudy and the recording state can be recognized well. In the non-recording area 46, the thermoreversible recording medium 14 remains transparent and no change occurs. No good recording state was obtained, and a recording state as shown in FIG. 6B was obtained. In order to perform erasing, the above-described relative scanning speed V4
Was set to 25 to 30 cm / s or more. At this time, the thermoreversible recording medium 14 became transparent, and a good erased state was obtained.

When the set temperature of the heating head 10 is 1
Scanning was performed at a predetermined relative scanning speed 40 with the above-mentioned constant temperature TH2 of 150 ° C. and the above-mentioned constant value of distance D4 of about 2 mm using a built-in heat cell 18 of 50 ° C. Also at this time, good recording, no recording, and erasing could be performed.

At this time, the heating head 10 and the recording medium 14
Therefore, the recording medium 14 is not damaged, and the heating head 10 is not worn.

Further, the heating head 1 for recording and erasing is used.
Recording and erasing were carried out by using 0 for different purposes. For recording, the same constant temperature TH2 as that described above was used at 110 ° C., and for erasing, the same constant temperature TH2 was used at 80 ° C. Also at this time, recording and erasing were successfully performed.

FIG. 8 conceptually shows changes in various parameters with respect to the scanning distance of the heating head, and it should be understood that the actual values may not be as shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, the fifth method is used for the light-scattering type thermoreversible recording medium. However, the third method may be used. The reason for this is that in both the third method and the fifth method, the heating temperature of the recording medium 14 can be changed, and therefore the temperature difference type thermoreversible recording medium 14 such as a light scattering type can be used. This is because recording and / or erasing can be performed even by using the above method. In this case, various setting conditions are set as shown in FIG. At the time of recording, it is the same as the third method. At the time of erasing, a distance 42 between the heating head 10 and the recording medium 14 is applied to heat the entire area of the recording medium 14 to the erasable temperature T3. Should be D3. Also at this time, recording and erasing were successfully performed.

Next, a thermoreversible recording medium capable of recording and erasing reversibly, which is of a color developing / erasing type,
FIGS. 6A and 6C show a recording method using the sixth method.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6C is a diagram showing a state recorded on a recording medium, and FIG. 9 is a comparison diagram showing various setting conditions in the sixth method.

This thermoreversible recording medium is white in a non-recording state, and develops a color when the recording layer in the recording medium is cooled at a speed within a recordable cooling rate range after heating, and enters a recording state. When the recording layer of the medium in the recording state is cooled at a speed within the erasable cooling speed range after heating, the medium becomes transparent and is erased. The recording layer of the coloring / decoloring type thermoreversible recording medium used in this embodiment is composed of a leuco dye, a phenolic color developer, and polyvinyl alcohol as a binder resin.

First, the distance 42 between the heating head 10 kept at the constant temperature TH3 and the recording scheduled area 44 of the thermoreversible recording medium 14 is kept at a constant value D5. Thereafter, the heating head 10 is caused to scan at a predetermined relative scanning speed V5.
The relative scanning speed V5 is such that the scheduled recording area 44 has a cooling rate C1 within the recordable cooling rate range of the thermoreversible recording medium 14.
To meet the condition of cooling with At this time, since the temperature, the relative scanning speed, and the distance of the heating head 10 are kept at constant values, the cooling speed of the recording medium 14 can be kept constant at the recordable cooling speed C1. Therefore, a recording area can be formed. Next, the distance between the heating head 10 held at the constant temperature TH3 and the non-scheduled recording area 46 of the thermoreversible recording medium 14 is set to the above-mentioned constant value distance D.
Keep at 5. Thereafter, the heating head 10 is caused to scan at a predetermined relative scanning speed V6. The relative scanning speed V6 is selected so as to satisfy the condition that the non-scheduled area 46 is not cooled at the cooling rate within the recordable cooling rate range, that is, is cooled at the cooling rate C2 outside the recordable cooling rate range. At this time, since the temperature, the relative scanning speed, and the distance of the heating head 10 are kept constant, the cooling speed of the recording medium 14 can be kept constant at C2, which is the cooling speed at which no recording is performed. Therefore, a non-recording area can be formed without performing recording. Further, the distance 42 between the heating head 10 held at the constant temperature TH3 and the recorded thermoreversible recording medium 14 is kept at the above-mentioned constant distance D5. Thereafter, the heating head 10 is caused to scan at a predetermined relative scanning speed V7. The relative scanning speed V7 is selected so as to satisfy the condition that the non-scheduled area 46 is cooled at the cooling speed C3 within the erasable cooling speed range. At this time, since the temperature, the relative scanning speed, and the distance of the heating head 10 are maintained at constant values, the cooling speed of the recording medium 14 can be maintained at C3, which is the erasable cooling speed. Therefore, erasing can be performed. Here, in FIG. 9, V7> V6 and C3> C2
However, since there are many overlapping portions between the erasable cooling speed range and the outside of the recordable cooling speed range, the sizes may be opposite.

In this embodiment, when printing is performed, during one scan of the heating head 10, the heating head 10
The recording area 44 and the non-recording area 46 were formed by changing the relative scanning speed 40 between the recording medium 14 and the recording medium 14. That is, the scanning distance 48 of the heating head 10 is not less than L1 and L2.
When the area within L3 and L3 or more and L4 or less is set as the recording scheduled area 44, the area 44 may be cooled at C1 and the other area 46 may be cooled at C2. For this purpose, the scanning distance 48 is not less than L1 (L2-D) and not more than L3.
In the region above (L4-D) and below, the heating head 10
The relative scanning speed 40 between the recording medium 14 and the recording medium 14 may be set to V5, and the relative scanning speed 40 in other areas may be set to V6. At this time, the width 54 of the recording area becomes the width (W) 52 of the heating head. When erasing,
One scan of the heating head 10 was performed separately from the recording. At this time, the relative scanning speed 40 may be set to V7 in order to cool the entire area of the recording medium 14 at C3.

Actually, a heating head having a built-in heat cell at a set temperature of 150 ° C. is used as the heating head 10.
0 ° C. was reached. In order to form the recording area 44, the constant distance D5 described above is pressed with a force of 0.98 N in a contact state, and the predetermined relative scanning speed V5 is set to 13 to 20.
cm / s. Here, V5 has an upper limit because if the relative scanning speed 40 is too high, the recording medium 14 is heated only to a low temperature, and therefore does not reach the minimum temperature required for color development. In order to form the non-recording area 46,
The above-mentioned predetermined relative scanning speed V6 was set to 10 cm / s or less. At this time, in the recording area 44, the thermoreversible recording medium 14 develops a color and the recording state can be recognized well, and in the non-recording area 46, the thermoreversible recording medium 14
As a result, a good non-recording state was obtained without any change in white, and a recording state shown in FIG. 6C was obtained. In order to perform erasing, the above-described predetermined relative scanning speed V7 is set to 10
cm / s or less. At this time, the thermoreversible recording medium 14 returned to white, and a good erased state was obtained.

When the sixth method was used, a good recording state was obtained even when a recording area having a large width as in this embodiment was formed. Therefore, it is possible to solve the disadvantage of the conventional method that the recording density near the center of the recording area decreases in recording on the rapid / slow cooling type recording medium. As a result, it can be expected that good recording can be performed even on a large-area recording medium which has been a particular problem in the past.

Note that FIG. 9 conceptually shows changes in various parameters with respect to the scanning distance of the heating head, and it should be understood that the actual values may not be as shown in FIG.

When the first, third, fourth, fifth or sixth method is used, recording and erasing can be performed on the thermoreversible recording medium with the same head. Need not be obtained, and the apparatus is simplified. Further, in this embodiment, recording and / or erasing is performed only in one-dimensional direction. However, in practice, it is performed two-dimensionally. In this case, it can be performed by a pen plotter. This method has an advantage that the recording can be performed in a short time since only the recording scheduled area is scanned at the time of recording.
It is considered to be effective for a large area recording medium, which has been a problem in the past.

FIG. 10 shows a recording and / or erasing method called overwriting recording using the seventh method with respect to the light-scattering type thermoreversible recording medium used in this embodiment. It will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a comparison diagram showing various setting conditions in the seventh method.

First, the distance 42 between the heating head 10 kept at the constant temperature TH1 and the recording area 44 of the thermoreversible recording medium 14 is kept at a predetermined distance D1. This distance D1
Is selected so as to satisfy the condition that the recording scheduled area 44 changes to a temperature T1 within the recordable temperature range of the thermoreversible recording medium 14. Thereafter, by causing the heating head 10 to scan at a constant relative scanning speed V1, recording can be performed during scanning, and the recording region 44 can be formed. Next, the distance 42 between the heating head 10 kept at the constant temperature TH1 and the non-scheduled recording area 46 of the thermoreversible recording medium 14 is kept at a predetermined distance D3. This distance D2 is equal to the unrecorded area 46.
Is selected to satisfy the condition that the temperature changes to a temperature T3 within the erasable temperature range. Thereafter, by causing the heating head 10 to scan at a constant relative scanning speed V1, erasing can be performed during scanning.

FIG. 11 shows a recording and / or erasing method called overwriting recording using the eighth method for the light-scattering type thermoreversible recording medium used in this embodiment. It will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a comparison diagram showing various setting conditions in the eighth method.

First, the distance 42 between the heating head 10 maintained at the constant temperature TH2 and the recording area 44 of the thermoreversible recording medium 14 is maintained at a constant value D4. Thereafter, the heating head 10 is caused to scan at a predetermined relative scanning speed V2.
The relative scanning speed V2 is selected so as to satisfy the condition that the recording scheduled area 44 changes to a temperature T4 within the recordable temperature range of the thermoreversible recording medium 14. Thereby, recording can be performed during scanning, and the recording area 44 can be formed. Next, the distance 4 between the heating head 10 held at the constant temperature TH2 and the non-scheduled area 46 of the thermoreversible recording medium 14.
2 is kept at a constant distance D4. Then, the heating head 10
At a predetermined relative scanning speed V4. The relative scanning speed V4 is selected so as to satisfy the condition that the non-scheduled area 46 changes to the temperature T6 within the erasable temperature range. Thus, erasing can be performed during scanning.

Next, a recording and / or erasing method called overwrite recording using the ninth method will be described with respect to the coloring / erasing type thermoreversible recording medium used in this embodiment. This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a comparison diagram showing various setting conditions in the ninth method.

First, the distance 42 between the heating head 10 kept at the constant temperature TH3 and the recording scheduled area 44 of the thermoreversible recording medium 14 is kept at a constant distance D5. Thereafter, the heating head 10 is caused to scan at a predetermined relative scanning speed V5.
The relative scanning speed V5 is such that the scheduled recording area 44 has a cooling rate C1 within the recordable cooling rate range of the thermoreversible recording medium 14.
To meet the condition of cooling with Thereby, recording can be performed during scanning, and the recording area 44 can be formed. Next, the distance 42 between the heating head 10 held at the constant temperature TH3 and the non-scheduled recording area 46 of the thermoreversible recording medium 14 is kept at a constant distance D5. Thereafter, the heating head 10 is caused to scan at a predetermined relative scanning speed V7. The relative scanning speed V7 is selected so as to satisfy the condition that the non-scheduled area 46 is cooled at the cooling speed C3 within the erasable cooling speed range. Thus, erasing can be performed during scanning.

In this embodiment, the recorded recording medium 14 before overwriting is first entirely recorded in a one-dimensional sense. Next, in performing the above-described overwriting method, the heating head 10 was scanned so as to trace the recording area. At this time, in the same manner as described in the second, third, fifth and sixth methods, the distance between the heating head and the recording medium and the relative scanning speed are adjusted so as to satisfy the setting conditions shown in FIGS. Changed.

As a result, in all three types of overwriting,
A predetermined recording area and a non-recording area can be obtained favorably. In the seventh and eighth methods, the recording state shown in FIG. 6B and in the ninth method, the recording state shown in FIG. Obtained.

In this embodiment, overwriting is performed only in one-dimensional direction, but it is also possible to perform overwriting two-dimensionally. However, in the overwriting, a pen plotter type recording cannot be used because it includes a step of erasing an unnecessary previous recording, and therefore, it must be a serial type or line type device.

When the overwrite recording is used, the erasing step becomes unnecessary, so that the erasing head does not have to be used separately and the erasing step time can be shortened. Therefore, in the serial recording apparatus, the conventional problem that it takes an operation time to record and / or erase data on a large area medium is solved.

[0128]

As described in detail above, according to the apparatus of the present invention, in a recording and erasing apparatus which includes a heating head and records and / or erases information on a recording medium by the heating head, The head is composed of at least one block having thermal stability. Therefore, unlike the conventional thermal head, there is no variation in the heating temperature during recording, and as a result, good thermal control can be performed on the recording medium.

Further, by using a heating head composed of a plurality of blocks, it becomes possible to change the width of an area for recording or the like, perform dot recording, or perform simultaneous processing of recording and erasing.

According to the method of the present invention, when recording and / or erasing information on a recording medium using the heating head, the relative scanning between the heating head and the recording medium maintained at a constant temperature is performed. Since the speed is kept constant and the distance between them is selected and at least one of the recording, non-recording and erasing processes is performed, good thermal control can be performed on the recording medium, and Recording and / or erasing can be performed in a good state.

According to the method of the present invention, when recording and / or erasing information on a recording medium using the heating head, the distance between the heating head held at a constant temperature and the recording medium is increased. While keeping it constant and selecting the relative scanning speed between them, and performing at least one of the recording, non-recording and erasing processes, it is possible to perform good thermal control on the recording medium, Recording and / or erasing can be performed in a good state.

Further, since this method can be applied to a recorded recording medium to perform overwrite recording, the erasing step becomes unnecessary, and the time required for recording and / or erasing is reduced. Is done.

The apparatus and method of the present invention are suitable for performing recording and / or erasing on a large-area recording medium, which has been a particular problem in the past, at a high speed and in a good state. This is effective as an apparatus and method for area recording and / or erasing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a heating head.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a first modification of the heating head.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a modification 2 of the heating head.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a modification 3 of the heating head.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a recording and erasing device.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a recording method and a recording medium after recording.

FIG. 7 is a comparison diagram showing various setting conditions in the second and third methods.

FIG. 8 is a comparison diagram showing various setting conditions in a fifth method.

FIG. 9 is a comparison diagram showing various setting conditions in a sixth method.

FIG. 10 is a comparison diagram showing various setting conditions in a seventh method.

FIG. 11 is a comparison diagram showing various setting conditions in an eighth method.

FIG. 12 is a comparison diagram showing various setting conditions in a ninth method.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: heating head 12: block 12ax, 12ay, 12az, 12bx, 12by,
12bz, 12cx, 12cy, 12cz: block 14: recording medium 16: facing surface 16ax, 16ay, 16az, 16bx, 16cx:
Opposing surface 18: Heat generation source (self-control type heat cell) 20: Electrode 22: Power supply 24: Scanning direction of heating head 26: Direction perpendicular to scanning direction of heating head 28: Direction perpendicular to main surface of recording medium 30: Recording medium 32: width of recording area 34: movable shaft 36: table on which recording medium is mounted 38: movable direction of heating head 40: relative speed between heating head and recording medium 41: scanning direction of heating head 42: distance between the heating head and the recording medium 44: recording area (scheduled recording area) 46: non-recording area (non-scheduled recording area) 48: scanning distance of the heating head 50: depth (D) of the heating head 52: Heating head width (W) 54: Width of recording area

Claims (23)

[Claims] 1. A recording and erasing apparatus comprising a heating head for recording and / or erasing information on a recording medium by using the heating head, wherein the heating head comprises at least one block having thermal stability. A recording and erasing device characterized by being performed. 2. The recording and erasing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the block comprises: a temperature change at the time of recording by the heating head; a temperature of a recording scheduled area of the recording medium; and a recordable temperature on the recording medium. A recording and erasing device having the thermal stability so as to keep the temperature within a range that can be maintained. 3. The recording and erasing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the temperature change range is ± 5 ° C. 4. The recording and erasing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a heat generation source is provided in the block. 5. The recording and erasing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a self-control type heat cell is used as the heat generating source. 6. The recording and erasing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said heating head is composed of a plurality of said blocks, each of said blocks facing said recording medium. The blocks are arranged so that the opposing surfaces of the blocks are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction of the heating head, and each of the blocks is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the main surface of the recording medium.
A recording and erasing apparatus characterized by being movable so that a relative position between the blocks changes. 7. The recording and erasing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating head includes a plurality of blocks, each of which faces the recording medium. The blocks are arranged so that the opposing surfaces of the blocks are arranged in a direction parallel to the scanning direction of the heating head, and each of the blocks is perpendicular to the main surface of the recording medium.
A recording and erasing apparatus characterized by being movable so that a relative position between the blocks changes. 8. The recording and erasing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating head is composed of a plurality of blocks, each of which is opposed to the recording medium. The opposite surfaces of the blocks are arranged so as to be arranged in both directions perpendicular and parallel to the scanning direction of the heating head, and each of the blocks is perpendicular to the main surface of the recording medium.
A recording and erasing apparatus characterized by being movable so that a relative position between the blocks changes. 9. The recording and erasing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of heating heads. 10. The recording and erasing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said heating head further comprises a movable shaft for moving on a main surface of said recording medium. Recording and erasing device. 11. When recording and / or erasing information on a recording medium using a heating head, a relative scanning speed between the heating head and the recording medium maintained at a constant temperature is kept constant. And / or selecting a distance therebetween to perform at least one of recording, non-recording, and erasing processes.
Or the erasing method. 12. When recording information on a thermosensitive recording medium using a heating head, a relative scanning speed between the heating head held at a constant temperature and a recording scheduled area of the thermosensitive recording medium is set to a constant value. And the distance between them is maintained at a distance where the planned recording area changes to a temperature within the recordable temperature range of the thermosensitive recording medium, and the heating head and the thermosensitive recording medium maintained at the constant temperature. Recording is performed by maintaining the relative scanning speed between the non-scheduled area and the non-scheduled area at the constant value, and maintaining the distance therebetween at a distance where the unscheduled area does not change to a temperature within the recordable temperature range. A recording method characterized in that: 13. When recording and / or erasing information on a thermoreversible recording medium by using a difference between a recordable temperature range and an erasable temperature range using a heating head, when recording is performed, The relative scanning speed between the heating head held at a constant temperature and the recording scheduled area of the thermoreversible recording medium is maintained at a constant value, and the distance between them is set to the recordable temperature range. And a relative scanning speed between the heating head held at the constant temperature and the non-scheduled area of the thermoreversible recording medium at the constant value. Distance
When the non-scheduled area is maintained at a distance that does not change to a temperature within the recordable temperature range, and when erasing is performed on a recorded thermoreversible recording medium, the heating head maintained at the constant temperature is used. And maintaining the relative scanning speed between the and the recorded thermoreversible recording medium at the constant value, and maintaining the distance therebetween at a distance that changes to a temperature within the erasable temperature range. Recording and / or erasing method to be performed. 14. When recording and / or erasing information on a recording medium using a heating head, the distance between the heating head and the recording medium kept at a constant temperature is kept constant, and the distance between the heating head and the recording medium is kept constant. Recording and / or performing at least one of recording, non-recording, and erasing processes by selecting a relative scanning speed;
Or the erasing method. 15. When recording and / or erasing information on a thermoreversible recording medium by using a difference between a recordable temperature range and an erasable temperature range using a heating head, when recording is performed, The distance between the heating head held at a constant temperature and the recording area of the thermoreversible recording medium is maintained at a constant value, and the relative scanning speed therebetween is set to a value within the recordable temperature range. And the distance between the heating head held at the constant temperature and the non-scheduled area of the thermoreversible recording medium is kept at the constant value. The relative scanning speed is maintained by maintaining the relative scanning speed such that the non-scheduled area does not change to a temperature within the recordable temperature range. When erasing is performed on a recorded thermoreversible recording medium, the constant temperature is used. To The distance between the lifting has been said heated head and the recorded thermoreversible recording medium with maintaining the constant value,
A recording and / or erasing method, wherein the relative scanning speed is maintained at a relative scanning speed that changes to a temperature within the erasable temperature range. 16. When recording and / or erasing information on a thermoreversible recording medium using a difference in cooling rate after heating using a heating head, the recording is performed at a constant temperature. While maintaining a constant distance between the heating head and the scheduled recording area of the thermoreversible recording medium, the relative scanning speed between them is set at a cooling rate within the range where the scheduled recording area is recordable. Keeping the relative scanning speed to be cooled, and keeping the distance between the heating head kept at the constant temperature and the non-scheduled area of the thermoreversible recording medium at the constant value, and the relative scanning speed between them. Is performed by maintaining the relative scanning speed at which the non-recording area is not cooled at a cooling rate within the recordable cooling rate range. When erasing is performed on the recorded thermoreversible recording medium, the temperature is maintained at the constant temperature. Is With keeping the distance between the heating head and the recorded thermoreversible recording medium to the predetermined value,
A recording and / or erasing method which is performed by maintaining a relative scanning speed during that period at a relative scanning speed at which a cooling speed is within a range of an erasable cooling speed. 17. A method for recording and / or erasing information on a thermoreversible recording medium using a difference between a recordable temperature range and an erasable temperature range using a heating head. The relative scanning speed between the heating head and the recording scheduled area of the thermoreversible recording medium is maintained at a constant value, and the distance between the heating head and the recording scheduled area is changed to a temperature within the recordable temperature range. Distance, and the relative scanning speed between the heating head held at the constant temperature and the non-recording scheduled area of the thermoreversible recording medium is kept at the constant value, and the distance therebetween is set to the recording schedule. A recording and / or erasing method, wherein overwriting is performed by keeping the outer region at a distance that changes to a temperature within the erasable temperature range. 18. A method for recording and / or erasing information on a thermoreversible recording medium using a difference between a recordable temperature range and an erasable temperature range by using a heating head. The distance between the heating head and the recording area of the thermoreversible recording medium is maintained at a constant value, and the relative scanning speed therebetween changes the temperature of the recording area to a temperature within the recordable temperature range. The relative scanning speed is maintained, and the distance between the heating head and the non-scheduled area of the thermoreversible recording medium maintained at the constant temperature is maintained at the constant value, and the relative scanning speed therebetween is set to A recording and / or erasing method, wherein overwrite recording is performed by maintaining a relative scanning speed at which a non-scheduled area changes to a temperature within the erasable temperature range. 19. Recording and / or erasing of information on a thermoreversible recording medium by utilizing a difference in cooling rate after heating using a heating head, wherein the heating head and the heating head maintained at a constant temperature are used. The distance between the thermoreversible recording medium and the scheduled recording area is maintained at a constant value, and the relative scanning speed between them is set to a relative scanning speed at which the scheduled recording area is cooled at a cooling rate within a recordable cooling speed range. And the distance between the heating head held at the constant temperature and the non-scheduled area of the thermoreversible recording medium is kept at the constant value, and the relative scanning speed therebetween is set to the unscheduled value. A recording and / or erasing method, wherein overwriting is performed by maintaining a relative scanning speed at which an area is cooled at a cooling rate within an erasable cooling rate range. 20. The recording and / or erasing method according to claim 11, wherein the heating head is composed of at least one block having thermal stability. 21. The recording and / or erasing method according to claim 13, wherein the heating head is composed of at least one block having thermal stability. Records and / or methods to be performed. 22. The recording and / or erasing method according to claim 20, wherein the block is configured to control a change in temperature of the heating head during recording and a temperature of a recording area of the recording medium by the recording medium. A recording and / or erasing method having the above-mentioned thermal stability so as to keep the temperature within a range where the recording temperature can be maintained. 23. The recording and / or erasing method according to claim 22, wherein the temperature change range is ± 5 ° C.