JP2002127478A - Perfecting recorder for rewritable recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem that a rewritable recording medium, having a recording layer exhibiting color developing properties upon application of first thermal energy and exhibiting fading properties upon application of second thermal energy on the opposite sides of support, must be taken out and turned over upon finishing recording on one side thereof and then must be reset before starting recording on the opposite side when the rewritable recording medium is recorded on the opposite sides. SOLUTION: Carriers are disposed, at a specified interval, between feed rollers provided in the housing of a recorder to form a traveling path such that rewritable recording media travel simultaneously on the surface side and rear surface side in the housing along the traveling path. A changeover unit is disposed in the way of the traveling path so that the traveling path of the rewritable recording medium can be changed over on the surface side and rear surface side in a display. Furthermore, a head for recording on the rewritable recording medium and a head for erasing the record are disposed oppositely to the traveling path.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for recording on both sides of a rewritable recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 11, a rewritable recording medium comprises a support 1 on which a group exhibiting color development with respect to a leuco dye by the action of heat and a group exhibiting color-reduction are formed of the same molecule. Forming a recording layer 2 made of a compound such as a color-reducing agent and a binder contained therein, and protecting the surface with a protective layer for improving the durability, a UV protective layer, or a protective layer for abrasion resistance, if necessary. The layer 3 is configured to overlap. The support 1 is generally a synthetic resin film.

In general, a leuco dye thermally reacts with a phenolic compound to open the lactone ring of the leuco dye,
The color changes from colorless to colored. However, a colored compound having a lactone ring opened returns to a colorless compound having a lactone ring when the basic substance is touched. Thus, due to the reversibility of the color-reducing agent and the leuco dye, the color-reducing agent turns the colorless leuco dye into a colored compound by opening the lactone ring only by controlling thermal energy, or by closing the colorless leuco dye. It is a rewritable recording medium utilizing the property that it can be returned several times.

[0004] The rewritable recording medium having such a configuration can be used for a high temperature, short time first thermal energy, for example, 150 thermal energy.
When heat energy of 1 to 3 msec is applied at ~ 180 ° C, the portion is black (for example, blue, red, etc.).
become. Next, low-temperature, long-time second heat energy,
For example, when a thermal energy of 5 msec to 2 sec is applied at 130 to 150 ° C., the black at that point is erased.

As a recording apparatus for recording on such a rewritable recording medium, there is a technique as disclosed in, for example, JP-A-5-131722.

[0006]

Such a conventional recording apparatus is a technique for performing recording on one side of a rewritable recording medium. In addition, some rewritable recording media have a recording layer formed on both surfaces on which both surfaces can be recorded, but when recording is performed on both surfaces of such a rewritable recording medium, recording on one surface is completed. Then, there is a problem that the rewritable recording medium must be taken out, turned upside down, set again, and then recorded on the opposite side, so that the recording must be performed twice.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention provides a rewritable recording layer having a recording layer on both sides of a support, which exhibits a color developing property by applying a first thermal energy and a fading property by applying a second thermal energy. Using a recording medium, a transport device is arranged at predetermined intervals between feed rollers provided in the apparatus housing to form a traveling path, and along this traveling path, the rewritable recording medium is simultaneously placed on the front side and the rear side in the apparatus casing. It is made to run, and a switching device is provided in the middle of the running path to enable switching between the front side and the back side of the rewritable recording medium in the display device, and further, recording on the rewritable recording medium facing the running path. The recording head and the erasing head for erasing the recording are arranged separately, so that recording can be automatically performed on both sides of the rewritable recording medium. So that it is possible to perform the change of various display while.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The rewritable recording medium used in the present invention is, as shown in FIG.
Forming a recording layer 2 comprising a group exhibiting a color developing property to the leuco dye by the action of the leuco dye and heat and a developing agent and a binder which are compounds having a group exhibiting a color reducing property in the same molecule. If necessary, a protective layer 3 such as a protective layer for improving durability, a UV protective layer, or a protective layer for abrasion resistance is laminated on the surface. The support 1 is preferably made of a synthetic resin film, and in this embodiment, is made of a PET material in consideration of durability and resource properties.

Generally, the leuco dye thermally reacts with a phenolic compound to open the lactone ring of the leuco dye,
The color changes from colorless to colored. However, a colored compound having a lactone ring opened returns to a colorless compound having a lactone ring when the basic substance is touched. Thus, due to the reversibility of the color-reducing agent and the leuco dye, the color-reducing agent turns the colorless leuco dye into a colored compound by opening the lactone ring only by controlling thermal energy, or by closing the colorless leuco dye. It is a rewritable recording medium utilizing the property that it can be returned several times.

[0010] The rewritable recording medium having such a configuration can be used for a high-temperature, short-time first thermal energy, for example, 150 thermal energy.
When heat energy of 1 to 3 msec is applied at ~ 180 ° C, the portion is black (for example, blue, red, etc.).
become. Next, low-temperature, long-time second heat energy,
For example, when a thermal energy of 5 msec to 2 sec is applied at 130 to 150 ° C., the black at that point is erased.

The embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view, FIG. 2 is a side view, and FIG. 3 is a view showing the arrangement of a rewritable recording medium and the state of a traveling path. In the figure, reference numeral 4 denotes a display device. Such a device is incorporated. 5
1, 52 are feed rollers provided at predetermined intervals;
61, 62, 63, 64 are feed rollers 51, 5,
It is a transport device of a pin tractor, a transport roller, and the like (in this embodiment, a pin tractor is shown) disposed between the two.
A plurality of, in this embodiment, four are arranged at predetermined intervals to form a traveling path. This traveling path allows the two rewritable recording media 71 and 72 to travel simultaneously on the front side (display air side) and the back side (standby air side) in the apparatus housing.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a switching device for a blade or the like (in the present embodiment, a blade is shown), which switches the running of the rewritable recording medium between the front side and the back side in the display device 4. As shown, a plurality of blades are controlled simultaneously by the same axis. 9 is a rewritable recording medium 7
A recording head for performing heating recording on the recording media 1 and 72. The erasing / recording head assembly is supported by the moving shaft 12 so as to have a fixed heating width and move in the width direction of the rewritable recording media 71 and 72 to perform recording. Have been.

Numeral 10 denotes an erasing head for heating and erasing the recording on the rewritable recording media 71 and 72. The erasing head has a constant heating width, and moves in the width direction of the rewritable recording media 71 and 72 to perform erasing and recording. The head assembly is supported on the movement shaft 12. 111, 112, 11
A driving source 3 uses a motor in the present embodiment.

The drive source 111 is for running the rewritable recording medium on the front side in the apparatus housing, and drives the feed roller 51 and the pin tractors 61 and 62. Drive source 1
Numeral 12 is for running the rewritable recording medium on the back side inside the apparatus housing, and drives the pin tractor 63. Drive source 1
Numeral 13 is for moving the erasing head 10 and the recording head 9 and for running the rewritable recording medium, and drives the feed roller 52 and the pin tractor 64.

Therefore, the two rewritable recording media 7
Numerals 1 and 72 each have a recording layer on both front and back surfaces as described above. In the rewritable recording medium 71, the outer surface shown in the drawing is the A surface, the inner surface is the B surface, and as shown in FIG. When the medium 71 is displaying in the display area, the rewritable recording medium 72 is in a standby state on the back side.

Next, the operation of the display device having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 shows a display state in the display area of the display device. One rewritable recording medium 71 is in a display state, and the other rewritable recording medium 72 is waiting in a standby area behind. FIG. 5 shows a state in which display contents changed to the rewritable recording medium 71 being displayed are recorded on the rewritable recording medium 72 while the rewritable recording medium 71 is displaying.
To erase characters, images, and the like recorded by the erasing head 10, and record new contents by heating with the recording head 9. At this time, in the present embodiment, the assembly in which the erasing head and the recording head are integrated moves so that erasing and recording can be performed simultaneously.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the newly recorded rewritable recording medium 72 is
While 1 is displayed, the blade 8 is opened to run to the inside of the apparatus. As shown in FIG. 7, the display is stopped in the standby area and waits until the display of the rewritable recording medium 71 is replaced.

When it is time to change the displayed contents, as shown in FIG. 8, both rewritable recording media 71 and 72 are run. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, both the rewritable recording media 71 and 72 are run, the blade 8 is closed, and the rewritable recording medium 72 is run in the display area direction. Further, depending on the traveling distance and the traveling speed, the rewritable recording medium 71 stops in the standby area on the back side, and enters a standby state until the next display change is determined.

In FIG. 10, a rewritable recording medium 7
2 is located in the display area and is replaced with the display of the changed new content. The display can be sequentially changed by repeating the above steps. Next, when recording is performed on both surfaces of the rewritable recording medium 72, the steps shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are performed again until the state shown in FIG. 7 changes to the state shown in FIG. Can be recorded on the opposite side of the rewritable recording medium 72 on which the recording has been performed earlier, thereby enabling recording on both sides. In this case, in the process of FIG. 5,
Since both sides have been erased by the first erasure, only recording is performed. By performing recording on both sides in this way, since the rewritable recording medium is transparent, the recording on both sides is displayed, and it is possible to perform recording with different colors on the front and back, or to give a ground pattern. it can.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 and 8, it can be seen that the surface of the rewritable recording medium 72 in contact with the recording head 9 has changed from the A surface to the B surface. Therefore, by performing the steps of FIG. 4 to FIG. 7 twice, it is possible to perform recording on both sides of the rewritable recording medium. As described above, the recording layers having different colors are provided on the A side and the B side. By using a transparent rewritable recording medium, the display color on the A side (for example, blue) and the display color on the B side (for example, red), and the composite color (for example, green) where the display colors on the A and B sides overlap each other ), Three colors can be generated by one rewritable recording medium.

The recording on the rewritable recording medium is performed by using a rewritable recording medium having recording layers of the same color on both sides by a mechanism capable of recording on one side each time the recording head 9 travels and recording on both sides. When the rewritable recording medium is replaced, the rewritable recording medium has twice the durability of use by alternately recording one side at a time, and two rewritable recording media are mounted as an apparatus. The period is quadrupled.

In the above description, the case where two single-sheet rewritable recording media are used has been described. However, a method of using the display that may require a long exchange time, for example, it may be exchanged during the nighttime. Rewritable recording medium is 1
The operation is also possible, and its operation will be described below. 4 shows a state in which only the rewritable recording medium 71 is used. As shown in FIG. 8, the rewritable recording medium 71 is moved to the back side of the apparatus to perform erasing and recording, and the blade 8 is closed as shown in FIG. Move to the display area.

Here, when recording is performed on both sides, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 8, the blade 8 is opened, and the rewritable recording medium 71 is reversed to stop at the position shown in FIG. 7 by running to the rear side of the apparatus. Further, recording is performed on the surface opposite to that shown in FIG. Move to the display area through the position. In this case, erasure is not necessary since it has already been performed above.

Although the above-described rewritable recording medium has been described as being transparent, it is not always necessary to be a transparent rewritable recording medium. If the rewritable recording medium is opaque and has different colors on each side, two colors of front and back are used. Display becomes possible, whereby different colors can be displayed at different times, and the display effect is great. Also, in the above description, a single-paper rewritable recording medium has been described,
An endless rewritable recording medium may be used, and in that case, the recording surface is only the inside, so that a transparent rewritable recording medium is used.

Further, since the installation place and size of the apparatus are free, and the apparatus can be of a free-standing type or a wall-mounted type, it can be installed on a ceiling or the like at a high place of a building. It is possible to perform public announcements, public notices, guidance, various displays, etc. at various facilities, inns, shops, etc.

[0026]

According to the present invention described in detail above, recording layers exhibiting a color developing property by applying the first thermal energy and exhibiting a fading property by applying the second thermal energy are provided on both surfaces of the support. Using a rewritable recording medium, a transport path is formed at predetermined intervals between feed rollers provided in the apparatus housing to form a traveling path, and along this traveling path, the rewritable recording medium is moved between the front side and the rear side in the apparatus casing. At the same time, it is possible to switch between the front side and the back side of the rewritable recording medium display device by providing a switching device in the middle of the traveling path, and further record on the rewritable recording medium facing the traveling path. By arranging the recording head for performing and the erasing head for erasing the recording, the recording can be automatically and arbitrarily performed on each side of the rewritable recording medium having the recording layers on both sides. The Ukoto has the effect that it is possible to automatically change a variety of display.

In addition, the apparatus can be of a free-standing type, a wall-mounted type, or a type embedded in a wall, which has an effect that it can be applied to any place.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory front view of an apparatus showing an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory side view of the same.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an arrangement state and a traveling road state of a rewritable recording medium.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation state.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation state.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation state.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation state.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation state.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation state.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation state.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a rewritable recording medium.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 support 2 recording layer 3 protective layer 4 display device 51, 52 feed roller 61, 62, 63, 64 transport device 71, 72 rewritable recording medium 8 switching device 9 recording head 10 erasing head 111, 112, 113 drive source

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A rewritable recording medium having recording layers on both sides of a support, which has a color developing property by applying a first thermal energy and a fading property by applying a second thermal energy, and is provided in an apparatus housing. A traveling path having a transport device is formed, and the rewritable recording medium travels simultaneously on the front side and the back side in the apparatus housing along the traveling path, and a switching device is provided in the middle of the traveling path to provide a rewritable recording medium. A rewritable recording medium characterized in that a recording head for recording on a rewritable recording medium facing the traveling path and an erasing head for erasing the recording are arranged so as to be capable of switching between a front side and a rear side traveling path in the display device. Double-sided recording device. 2. The front and back double-sided recording apparatus for a rewritable recording medium according to claim 1, wherein one single rewritable recording medium is disposed on each of the front and rear traveling paths in the apparatus housing. 3. A double-sided rewritable recording medium recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a transparent rewritable recording medium is used. 4. The double-sided recording apparatus for a rewritable recording medium according to claim 1, wherein an opaque rewritable recording medium is used.