JP2001315367A - Cassette for forming/deleting image of reversible thermal recording medium, and image-recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate limits on printing and improve a rewrite durability of thermal recording media by enabling images to be formed/deleted without setting a photothermal conversion layer to the thermal recording media. SOLUTION: Cores 12a and 12b are rotatably supported in a easing body 11 of a cassette 10. A photothermal conversion tape 1 is wound to one core 12a and a leading end of the tape 1 is secured to the other core 12b. The tape 1 is guided by rollers 13a and 14a, drawn out from a gap 15a to a front face of the easing body 11, supported by rollers 16a and 16b to be nearly parallel to the front face of the easing body 11, and taken into the easing body 11 again from a gap 15b. A laser passage 19 is formed penetrating a central part of the easing body 11, through which the tape 1 can be exposed to a laser. A lid 20 is capped to the casing body 11, whereby the cassette 10 is completed. Images can be formed/deleted by passing the thermal recording medium close to the photothermal conversion tape 1 taken out to the front face of the cassette 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cassette and an image recording apparatus used for an image recording apparatus for a thermoreversible thermosensitive recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a thermal head or a thermal stamp has been used as a method for forming and erasing images such as characters and patterns on a thermal recording medium whose transparency and color tone are reversibly changed by heat. Since the thermal head and the heat-sensitive stamp are in direct contact with the recording medium, there is a problem that the recording medium is degraded by the pressure and the durability is reduced.

In order to improve the durability, a method using a laser marker has been proposed as a means for forming and erasing an image in a non-contact manner. However, high output C
When an O ₂ laser or a YAG laser is used, an image can be formed / erased relatively easily, but there is a problem that the apparatus is large and the cost is high.

[0004]

On the other hand, since a semiconductor laser has a low output,
An image cannot be formed or erased only by directly irradiating a laser beam. Therefore, it has been proposed to provide a recording medium with a photothermal conversion layer containing carbon black or near-infrared absorbing dye for converting laser light into heat. However, such a light-to-heat conversion layer is colored to add carbon black or a near-infrared absorbing dye, and when a heat-sensitive recording medium is used, for example, as a card, there are problems such as restrictions on printing and a reduction in appearance and aesthetics. Occurs. In addition, since the near-infrared absorbing dye is easily degraded by light or heat, there is a problem that the photothermal conversion layer is deteriorated before the thermosensitive recording layer loses its function, and the image cannot be formed, in applications where the dye is repeatedly used. .

It is an object of the present invention to make it possible to form and erase an image without providing a light-to-heat conversion layer on a heat-sensitive recording medium, to eliminate printing restrictions, and to improve the rewriting durability of the heat-sensitive recording medium. That is.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in an image forming / erasing cassette according to the present invention, a pair of cores are rotatably supported in a casing, and a photothermal converter wound around one of the cores is provided. The tape is guided to the other core by a row of rollers attached to the casing, and the photothermal conversion tape unwound from one core can be wound up by the other core, and a part of the photothermal conversion tape is used for the roller row. A configuration was adopted in which the casing was provided with a through-passage through which the laser beam could be applied to the photothermal conversion tape guided outside the casing by a part thereof and guided to the outside. The photothermal conversion tape is preferably formed by a laminate in which a polymer layer in which carbon black or a near-infrared absorbing dye is dispersed is coated on a substrate.

In the image recording apparatus of the present invention, the image forming / erasing cassette is detachably mounted, an optical head is arranged corresponding to the through passage, and a photothermal conversion tape guided outside the cassette. Is provided with a feeding means capable of passing the thermal recording medium in contact with or close to the recording medium. At this time, it is preferable that the light-to-heat conversion tape and the heat-sensitive recording medium are elastically contacted.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, the photothermal conversion tape used in the cassette of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG.
The light-to-heat conversion tape 1 has a light-to-heat conversion layer 3 provided on a flexible and heat-resistant base material 2. Preferably, a protective coating layer 4 is provided on the outer surface of the light-to-heat conversion layer 3.

As the substrate 2, a polyester film, a polyphenylene sulfide film, a polyetheretherketone film, or the like is preferable, but other synthetic resin films may be used. However, during use, the substrate 2
Since the temperature is raised to about 00 to 130 ° C., further heat resistance is required. The thickness of these films is 2-100 μ
m, preferably 10 to 50 μm. If it is less than 2 μm, it is too thin and the support capacity of the light-to-heat conversion layer 3 is not sufficient, and there is a possibility that the light-heat conversion layer 3 will be damaged.

The light-to-heat conversion layer 3 is prepared by mixing carbon black or a near-infrared absorbing dye and a polymer such as a vinyl chloride resin, an acrylic resin or a polyester resin in an organic solvent such as tetrahydrofuran and dissolving the mixture.
And dried and cured to form a film.

The mixing ratio (weight ratio) of the carbon black and the polymer is (100/100) to (10/100), and the thickness of the light-to-heat conversion layer 3 is 0.1 to 50 μm (dry), preferably 1 to 50 μm. ２０20 μm. If the thickness is less than 0.1 μm, a sufficient amount of heat cannot be obtained, and if it exceeds 50 μm, the amount of heat does not increase.

The near infrared absorbing dye is a cyanine dye,
There are a quinone dye, a quinoline derivative of indnaphthol, a phenylenediamine nickel complex, a phthalocyanine dye, and the like.
Other dyes having absorptive power can also be used. The mixing ratio (weight ratio) of such a near-infrared absorbing dye and polymer is (1
0/100) to (1 to 100), and the thickness of the light-to-heat conversion layer 3 is 0.1 to 50 μm (dry), preferably 1 to 50 μm.
20 μm. The reason is the same as in the case of carbon black.

As described above, it is preferable to provide a heat-resistant protective coating layer 4 on the outer surface of the light-to-heat conversion layer 3. As the protective coating layer 4, an ultraviolet curable resin or the like is used.

FIG. 2 shows a cassette 10 in which the light-to-heat conversion tape 1 is built, and FIG.
(B) shows a lid. As shown in the figure, a substantially rectangular casing main body 11 is composed of a bottom wall 11a and a peripheral wall 11b rising from the periphery thereof, and one end of a core 12a obtained by winding the tape 1 with the light-to-heat conversion layer 3 side as an outer surface is attached to the bottom wall 11a. The unwound tape 1 is rotatably supported and unwound from the rollers 13.
a, a gap 15a provided on the peripheral wall 11b guided by 14a
From the front of the casing main body 11, is supported by rollers 16a and 16b projecting from the front of the casing main body 11 substantially in parallel with the peripheral wall 11b on the front of the casing main body 11, and is drawn into the casing main body 11 again from the gap 15b. The tape 1 is guided by the rollers 14b and 13b, and the leading end of the tape 1 is fixed to the other core 12b and wound. One end of the core 12b is rotatably supported by the bottom wall 11b of the casing main body 11, similarly to the core 12a.

Rollers 16a and 16b projecting from the front surface of the casing body 11 are rotatably supported in small boxes 17a and 17b. These boxes 17a and 17b are connected to the peripheral wall 1 of the casing body 11 by springs 18a and 18b.
1b is urged in a direction to protrude from the front surface. A laser passage 19 penetrating across the casing body 11 is provided at a substantially intermediate position between the rollers 16a and 16b. In this passage 19, a lens or the like can be attached as needed.

The lid 20 of the casing body 11 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), the peripheral wall 11b of the casing body 11
And is engaged with the casing body 11 by an elastic hook 22. The core 12a,
Corresponding to 12b, support holes 21a and 21b are provided which are fitted to the other ends of the cores 12a and 12b and rotatably support the cores 12a and 12b.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the image recording apparatus. The illustrated device shows an example in which a card C is used as a thermal recording medium. As shown in the figure, when the card C is inserted into the insertion slot 31, the transport rollers 32a and 32b feed the card C while nipping the card C. A magnetic head 3 capable of reading and rewriting a magnetic stripe provided on a card C is provided in the machine.
The image forming / erasing cassette 10 is detachably mounted on a drive shaft (not shown) for driving the cores 12a and 12b. A roller 1 for supporting the light-to-heat conversion tape 1 on the front surface of the casing body 11
6a, 16b and the feed rollers 35, 36, the card C
Can be pinched. At this time, the tape 1 is lightly pressed against the outer surface of the heat-sensitive recording layer of the card C. On the other hand, the optical head 40 having the laser diode LD
The laser light is applied to the photothermal conversion tape 1 on the card C through this passage 19. After the light-to-heat conversion tape 1 is irradiated with the laser and the recording of the heat-sensitive recording layer of the card C is completed, the core 12a or 12b is rotated by a drive shaft (not shown) so that a new surface is fed onto the card C. However, the feed drive may be performed after using the same surface of the tape 1 not only once but also several times. Note that the magnetic head 33 is provided as needed. Further, the light-to-heat conversion tape 1 has a structure in contact with the card C, but may have a slight interval, for example, an interval of about 0.2 μm to 5 μm. In that case, the rollers 16a supporting the tape 1
The structure may be such that the card C is held between the roller 16b and another roller. Further, the light source of the optical head 40 is not limited to the laser diode, but may be another light source.

[0018]

Example 1 30 parts by weight of carbon black and vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer (Solvine C, manufactured by Nissin Chemical Co., Ltd.)
After dissolving 100 parts by weight in 400 parts by weight of tetrahydrofuran to prepare a coating, it is applied to a polyester film (Diafoil T100E) having a thickness of 25 μm and dried by heating to form a light-to-heat conversion layer having a thickness of 10 μm. Was slit into a width of 15 mm and a length of 20 m, and wound into a cassette as shown in FIG. This cassette is used as a recording device for thermal recording cards equipped with a laser diode (see Fig. 3).
When printing and erasing were repeated 1000 times using a reversible thermosensitive card (manufactured by Mitsubishi Plastics, Inc., thermal recording card "Kudas") and advancing the photothermal conversion tape by 18 mm for each printing / erasing, There was no change in the sharpness of the image.

[0019]

Example 2 Cyanine dye (CY-1 manufactured by Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.)
0) 7 parts by weight and 100 parts by weight of a vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer (manufactured by Nissin Chemical Co., Ltd., Solvain C) were dissolved in 400 parts by weight of tetrahydrofuran, and prepared as a paint.
25 µm thick polyester film (Diafoil T
100E), and dried by heating to form a light-to-heat conversion layer having a thickness of 10 μm, which was slit into a width of 15 mm and a length of 20 m, and wound into a cassette as shown in FIG. This cassette is mounted on a recording device dedicated to a thermal recording card equipped with a laser diode (see FIG. 3), and a reversible thermal recording card (manufactured by Mitsubishi Plastics, thermal recording card "Kudas") is used. When printing and erasing were repeated 1000 times while proceeding 18 mm each time, the sharpness of the image did not change.

[0020]

According to the present invention, as described above, the light-to-heat conversion tape is housed in the cassette and is made separate from the heat-sensitive recording medium. Since the tape can always use a portion with good performance, the accuracy of image recording can be guaranteed.

Further, even if the light-to-heat conversion tape is consumed, it can be easily replaced because it is a cassette.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a photothermal conversion tape.

FIG. 2A is a plan view showing a casing main body of a photothermal conversion tape cassette. FIG. 2B is a plan view showing a casing lid.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing an outline of the image recording apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 light-to-heat conversion tape 2 base material 3 light-to-heat conversion layer 4 protective coating layer 10 cassette 11 casing body 11a bottom wall of casing body 11b peripheral wall of casing body 12a, 12b cores 13a, 14a, 13b, 14b rollers 15a, 15b gaps 16a, 16b Rollers 17a, 17b Boxes 18a, 18b Spring 19 Laser path 20 Casing body lid 21a, 21b Support hole 22 Elastic hook 31 Insertion port 32a, 32b Transport roller 33 Magnetic head 34, 35, 36 Feed roller 40 Optical head C Thermal recording card LD laser diode

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yasuhiko Kobayashi F19-term, 4-19-9, Taito, Taito-ku, Tokyo Mitsubishi Plastics Co., Ltd. Kanto branch office 2C065 AB03 AE02 AF01 CA03 CA08

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A pair of cores are rotatably supported in a casing, and a photothermal conversion tape wound around one of the cores is guided to the other core by a row of rollers attached to the casing, and is wound from one of the cores. The emitted light-to-heat conversion tape can be wound around the other core, a part of the light-to-heat conversion tape is guided to the outside of the casing by a part of the roller row, and a laser is applied to the light-to-heat conversion tape guided to the outside. A cassette for forming and erasing an image of a reversible thermosensitive recording medium, wherein a through-passage through which light can be irradiated is provided in the casing. 2. The image forming and erasing cassette according to claim 1, wherein the light-to-heat conversion tape comprises a laminate in which a polymer layer in which carbon black or a near infrared absorbing dye is dispersed is coated on a base material. 3. A photothermal conversion tape in which the cassette for image formation and erasure according to claim 1 or 2 is detachably mounted, an optical head is arranged corresponding to the through passage, and guided outside the cassette. An image recording apparatus for a reversible thermosensitive recording medium, further comprising a feeding means capable of passing the thermosensitive recording medium in contact with or close to the thermosensitive recording medium. 4. The image recording apparatus for a reversible thermosensitive recording medium according to claim 3, further comprising means for elastically contacting the thermosensitive recording medium with a light-to-heat conversion tape.