JP2003205638A - Processing system for reversible recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remove even a substance written onto a recording medium, e.g. a paper, by means of a writing instrument and adhering to the surface of a reversible recording medium with high adhesion strength surely up to a level causing no practical problem. <P>SOLUTION: A cleaning section 40 is provided in an image rewriting unit comprising an erasing section 11 or a recording section 17 where a thermal recording medium 100 having a reversible recording layer 102 varying the state reversibly is subjected to erasing or recording processing by touching a heat roller 12 or a thermal head 18 thereto. At the cleaning section 40, surface of the thermal recording medium carrying a cleaning sheet 45 is pressed, at the edge thereof, by a member 41 pressed through a pressing mechanism 43. A substance 100a written onto a recording medium, e.g. a paper, by means of a writing instrument and adhering thereto with high adhesion strength can thereby be removed effectively from the surface of the thermal recording medium. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a reversible recording medium capable of repeatedly recording and erasing a visible image by reversibly changing its state by energy such as heat, light, electricity and magnetism. The present invention relates to a retouched image erasing apparatus for erasing a retouched image when a retouched image is written by a writing instrument, a reversible recording medium recording / erasing apparatus and a reversible recording medium image recording apparatus including the retouched image erasing apparatus. It is a thing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional hard copy forms a visible image by externally adhering and fixing a coloring agent such as ink or toner to a recording medium such as paper, or a thermosensitive reversible recording layer on a substrate such as paper. The permanent image is recorded on the recording medium by applying heat energy to the recording medium such as the thermal recording paper to form a visible image. However, in recent years, due to the widespread use of copying machines and facsimiles and the frequent output of information from computers, the consumption of recording media has sharply increased, which has become a social problem from the viewpoint of nature conservation, energy consumption, waste disposal, etc. There is. Therefore, a reusable recording medium that can erase a visible image recorded on a recording medium and record an image again has attracted attention.

As such a recording medium, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 and the like, a light-scattering property of a polymer film in which organic low-molecular-weight crystal particles such as fatty acid are dispersed is used to make a transparent state. A recording medium capable of reversibly forming a cloudy state is known. This recording medium has already been put to practical use as the content display unit of a magnetic card. However, the displayed image is a black or blue colored background or a white print on the light reflective background such as an aluminum vapor-deposited film, so it is very suitable as a normal hard copy. Not not. Therefore, a reversible thermosensitive recording medium capable of recording an image colored on a white background by using a leuco dye capable of reversibly developing and erasing a color as a reversible recording layer (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as "thermosensitive recording medium"). However, it is proposed in Patent Document 2 and the like. This heat-sensitive recording medium can be controlled to switch between its color-developed state and its color-erased state depending on the difference in heating temperature and cooling rate. Since such a thermal recording medium can repeatedly record and erase images, it can be used in place of the recording medium such as paper in the conventional environment where the recording medium such as paper was used. is there. In this case, the reusability is higher than that of a recording medium such as paper, which is advantageous in terms of resource saving and energy saving.

By the way, in an environment such as an office or a school, for example, information displayed on a display of a computer is added to a recording medium such as paper which is output by an image forming apparatus such as a printer with a writing instrument to make corrections. Frequently, an important part is marked with a highlighter pen. Therefore, in order to widely disseminate the reversible recording medium as described above instead of the recording medium such as paper, the retouched image can be written by rewriting or marking on the reversible recording medium on which the image is recorded. There is a need. Therefore, conventionally, various reversible recording media capable of writing the retouched image have been proposed.

[0005]

[Patent Document 1] JP-A-55-154198

[Patent Document 2] JP-A-5-124360

[0006]

However, an erasing apparatus for a reversible recording medium that erases a visible image recorded on the reversible recording layer of the reversible recording medium or records a visible image on the reversible recording layer. In the recording device for reversible recording medium or the rewriting device for reversible recording medium, a processing member such as a thermal head or an erasing heater for performing a process for changing the state of the reversible recording layer of the reversible recording medium, Some are brought into contact with the surface of the reversible recording medium. When processing is performed by such an apparatus, if the retouched image is attached to the surface of the reversible recording medium, the retouched image is attached to the processing member. In particular, in an apparatus that heat-treats the reversible recording layer of the reversible recording medium by the processing member, the retouched image attached to the processing member will be burned in. When the retouched image adheres to the processing member as described above, there is a problem that the erasing quality and the recording quality of the reversible recording medium are remarkably deteriorated, and the unerased portion and the print blur are generated.

As a method for solving the above problem, for example, there is a method of coloring the reversible recording layer of the reversible recording medium with a heating pen having a heating element or the like and additionally writing. According to this method, by using a hot pen or the like instead of the writing tool when writing on paper, it is possible to form a writing image on the reversible recording medium, as in the case of using the writing tool. The retouched image can be erased by a conventional reversible recording medium erasing device. However, with this method, it is possible to add only with the same color as the color developed by the reversible recording layer, and it is not possible to write in red characters, which is usually performed. Further, in the case of this method, since a hot pen or the like is used, contact with the hot pen or the like may cause burns, which is not preferable for safety. Therefore, in this method, it is not practical to use a reversible recording medium instead of a recording medium such as paper, and it is difficult to widely spread it.

Therefore, in order to make the reversible recording medium having the retouched image attached thereto practically reusable, the processing member is brought into contact with the reversible recording layer of the reversible recording medium having the retouched image attached thereto. It is desirable to completely remove the retouched image from the surface of the reversible recording medium prior to processing.
However, if the retouched image adhered on the reversible recording medium is easily removed by hand contact or contact between recording media during normal handling, replace the reversible recording medium with a recording medium such as paper. It is not practical to use.
Therefore, as an added object that constitutes an added image on the reversible recording medium, an object that adheres to the reversible recording medium with an adhesive force that cannot be taken by ordinary handling is used. Therefore, in order to make the reversible recording medium to which the retouched image adheres practically reusable, it is necessary to provide a means capable of removing the retouched object having a strong adhesive force with the reversible recording medium. In this respect, when a reversible recording medium is used instead of a recording medium such as paper, and when it is used on a whiteboard or the like that can wipe and erase the retouched image written by a marker or the like, it is required for the retouched image. The adhesive strength and the erasing quality are very different.

On the other hand, the present applicant has at least to solve the problem that deposits such as writing substances adhered to the surface of the reversible thermosensitive recording medium adhere to the above-mentioned processing member to cause unerased portions or faint prints. A print erasing apparatus has been proposed which has means for removing a substance adhering to a reversible thermosensitive recording medium having a recording layer containing a leuco dye and a color developing material. In this device, a sheet-like substance removing member is wound around a pressure contact roller or the like, and the surface of the thermal recording medium is rubbed by the sheet-like substance removing member portion having a convex curved surface to remove substances such as writing substances on the surface. Remove. However, with this device, it is difficult to remove, from the surface of the reversible recording medium, the writing substance adhered to the surface of the reversible recording medium with a strong adhesive force by being applied with a writing tool used for a recording medium such as paper. Met.

The present invention is an improvement of the device previously proposed by the present applicant, and its purpose is to provide a strong adhesive force by being added with a writing instrument used for a recording medium such as paper. Reversible recording that can be applied to the reversible recording layer of the reversible recording medium, even if it is a substance added to the surface of the reversible recording medium, after being reliably removed to a level that does not cause any practical problems. A media processing device is provided.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 has a reversible recording layer whose state reversibly changes, and is visible by changing the state of the reversible recording layer. For a reversible recording medium capable of recording and erasing an image, a processing means for bringing a processing member into contact with the surface of the reversible recording medium to change the state of the reversible recording layer; What is claimed is: 1. A reversible recording medium processing apparatus, comprising: a writing substance removing unit that removes an writing substance that forms an writing image that has been written on the surface of a recording medium, wherein the writing substance removing unit is a sheet formed into a sheet. And a pressing means for pressing the sheet-shaped removing member against the surface of the reversible recording medium from the side opposite to the surface of the sheet-shaped removing member that contacts the surface of the reversible recording medium. Pressed by The sheet-shaped removing member and the reversible recording medium surface are relatively moved, and the pressing means is inclined with respect to the surface moving direction of the reversible recording medium viewed from the sheet-shaped removing member. The sheet-shaped removing member is pressed against the surface of the reversible recording medium at an edge portion extending in the direction of the reversible recording medium. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the sheet-shaped removing member is formed of a fibrous material at a portion in contact with the surface of the reversible recording medium. It is what The invention of claim 3 is the reversible recording medium processing apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the edge portion is formed of an elastic body. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to the third aspect, the pressing means has a plurality of edge portions having different hardnesses, and the edge having a high hardness is included in the plurality of edge portions. The portion is arranged on the upstream side in the surface moving direction of the reversible recording medium as viewed from the sheet-shaped removing member, compared to the edge portion having a low hardness. The invention of claim 5 is the same as claim 1,
In the reversible recording medium processing device of 2, 3 or 4, the pressing means has a plurality of pressing portions for pressing the sheet-shaped removing member against the surface of the reversible recording medium, and among the plurality of pressing portions. At least one of the above is the edge portion. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the plurality of pressing portions remove the sheet in the surface moving direction of the reversible recording medium viewed from the sheet removing member. It is characterized in that the sheet-shaped removing members are pressed so that the contact widths of the members and the surface of the reversible recording medium are different from each other. According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to the sixth aspect, a pressing portion that presses the sheet-shaped removing member so that the contact width of the plurality of pressing portions is narrowed is provided. It is characterized in that it is arranged on the upstream side in the surface moving direction of the reversible recording medium as seen from the sheet-shaped removing member, with respect to the pressing portion for pressing the sheet-shaped removing member so that the contact width becomes wide. Further, the invention of claim 8 relates to claim 1, 2, 3,
In the processing device for reversible recording medium of 4, 5, 6 or 7, it has a fixing means for fixing the sheet-shaped removing member on the upstream side in the surface moving direction of the reversible recording medium viewed from the sheet-shaped removing member. It is characterized by. The invention of claim 9 is the reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8, wherein the edge portion is orthogonal to the extending direction of the edge portion. The cross-section has a radius of curvature of 0.3 mm or less. Further, the invention of claim 10 relates to claim 1, 2, 3,
In the reversible recording medium processing device of 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, the edge portion has an angle formed by two surfaces forming the edge portion of 60 degrees or more and 120 degrees or less. It is what The invention according to claim 11 is the reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10, wherein the edge portion forms the edge portion. The angle between the surface located on the upstream side in the surface moving direction of the reversible recording medium as viewed from the sheet-shaped removing member and the surface of the reversible recording medium is located on the downstream side in the surface moving direction. It is characterized in that it is larger than the angle formed by the surface of the reversible recording medium and the surface of the reversible recording medium. Further, the invention of claim 12 relates to claim 1, 2, 3,
In the reversible recording medium processing device of 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or 11, the reversible recording medium processing device is arranged at a position facing the sheet-shaped removing member portion pressed by the pressing means,
When the sheet-shaped removing member is pressed against the surface of the reversible recording medium by the pressing means, it has a supporting member for supporting the back surface of the reversible recording medium portion against which the sheet-shaped removing member is pressed. . According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to the twelfth aspect, the supporting portion for supporting the back surface of the reversible recording medium portion of the supporting member is formed of an elastic body provided in the pressing means. It is characterized by being formed of an elastic body having a hardness smaller than the hardness of the edge portion formed. The invention according to claim 14 is the reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, further comprising switching means for switching between a pressing state in which the sheet-like removing member is pressed by the pressing means and a release state in which the sheet-shaped removing member is not pressed. And
The switching means until the leading end of the reversible recording medium passes between the sheet-shaped removing member portion pressed by the pressing means and the supporting portion supporting the back surface of the reversible recording medium portion of the supporting member. The holding state of the pressing means is maintained. The invention according to claim 15 is the reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, further comprising switching means for switching between a pressing state in which the sheet-like removing member is pressed by the pressing means and a release state in which the sheet-shaped removing member is not pressed. In the switching means, the rear end of the reversible recording medium is between the sheet-shaped removing member portion pressed by the pressing means and the support portion supporting the back surface of the reversible recording medium portion of the supporting member. It is characterized in that the pressing means is switched to the released state before passing through. According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the reversible recording medium processing device according to the fourteenth or fifteenth aspect, the switching means has an edge portion of the pressing means and a support portion of the support member in the released state. The edge portion and the support portion are separated from each other so as not to contact with each other via the sheet-shaped removing member. Further, the invention of claim 17 relates to claims 1, 2, 3,
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 1
The reversible recording medium processing device of 4, 15 or 16 has a changing means for changing a portion of the sheet-shaped removing member pressed against the surface of the reversible recording medium to another portion of the sheet-shaped removing member. It is what Further, the invention of claim 18 is the reversible recording medium processing apparatus of claim 17, wherein the changing means is such that after the change, the portion of the sheet-shaped removing member pressed against the reversible recording medium surface before the change is changed. It is characterized in that the reversible recording medium is changed so as not to come into contact with it. According to a nineteenth aspect of the invention, in the reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to the eighteenth aspect, the pressing means has a plurality of pressing portions that press the sheet-shaped removing member against the surface of the reversible recording medium, At least one of the plurality of pressing portions is the edge portion, and the changing unit is located on the most upstream side in the surface moving direction of the reversible recording medium as viewed from the sheet-shaped removing member of the edge portion. It is characterized in that the portion of the sheet-shaped removing member pressed by the edge portion before the change is changed so as not to contact the surface of the reversible recording medium after the change. In addition, the invention of claim 20 is,
In the reversible recording medium processing device of 18 or 19, the changing means moves the sheet-shaped removing member by a predetermined amount. In addition, claim 21
The invention of Claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 1
The reversible recording medium processing device of 7, 18, 19 or 20 is characterized in that it has an exchanging means for exchanging the sheet-shaped removing member with another sheet-shaped removing member. According to a twenty-second aspect of the invention, in the reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to the twenty-first aspect, the exchanging means has a discharging means for discharging the sheet-shaped removing member to the outside of the writing substance removing means. It is characterized by. Further, the invention of claim 23 is,
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 1
4, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 or 2
In the reversible recording medium processing apparatus of No. 2, it is characterized in that it has a detection means for detecting the usage state of the sheet-shaped removing member. According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the invention, in the reversible recording medium processing apparatus of the twenty-third aspect, the reversible recording medium processing apparatus further comprises replacement instruction means for giving an instruction to replace the sheet-shaped removing member based on the detection result of the detection means. It is a feature. The invention of claim 25 is the reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 23 or 24,
Based on the detection result by the detection means, a determination means for determining whether or not the usage state of the sheet-shaped removing member has reached a predetermined usage limit, and the determination means has determined that the usage limit has reached a predetermined usage limit. At this time, it has a stopping means for stopping the processing by the processing means.
Further, the invention of claim 26 relates to claims 1, 2, 3, 4,
5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,
15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 2
In the processing device for reversible recording medium of 3, 24 or 25, the relative movement direction by the relative movement means in the state in which the removal member is pressed against the writing substance constituting the writing image added to the surface of the reversible recording medium is pressed. Is characterized in that the removing member and the surface of the reversible recording medium are relatively moved in different directions, and a second writing substance removing means for removing the writing substance from the surface of the reversible recording medium by the removing member is provided. It is what According to a twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention, in the reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to the twenty-sixth aspect, the second writing substance removing means is in contact with the surface of the reversible recording medium of the sheet-like removing member. From the side opposite to the side,
It has a second pressing means for pressing the removing member against the surface of the reversible recording medium, and the second pressing means is in a direction inclined with respect to the surface moving direction of the reversible recording medium viewed from the removing member. The extending member presses the removing member against the surface of the reversible recording medium. Further, the invention of claim 28 is the reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 26 or 27, wherein the relative moving means conveys the reversible recording medium, and the pressing means is fixedly arranged. And having an edge portion extending in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the reversible recording medium, and the removal of the writing substance by the second writing substance removing means stopped the feeding by the relative moving means. In this state, the removing member is pressed against the surface of the reversible recording medium and moved in a direction orthogonal to the carrying direction.

The reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 28 is an erasing process for erasing a visible image recorded on the reversible recording layer of the reversible recording medium, and a visible image on the reversible recording layer of the reversible recording medium. It has a processing means for performing a recording process for recording or a rewriting process for erasing the visible image recorded on the reversible recording layer of the reversible recording medium and recording the visible image on the reversible recording layer. Further, the present reversible recording medium processing apparatus is to press the sheet-shaped removing member against the surface of the reversible recording medium by pressing means to remove the writing substance attached to the surface of the reversible recording medium. This sheet-shaped removing member
The surface of the reversible recording medium is brought into contact with the surface of the reversible recording medium by being pressed by the pressing means, and the relative movement of the sheet-like removing member and the surface of the reversible recording medium by the relative moving means causes the surface of the reversible recording medium to be removed by the sheet-like removing member. Rubbed.
Here, when the sheet-shaped removal member is pressed against the surface and the sheet-shaped removal member is rubbed against the reversible recording medium surface,
Since the contact area is large, the pressing force per unit area is small, and the adhesion between the reversible recording medium surface and the sheet-shaped removing member is often not sufficient. This is because the surface of the reversible recording medium has minute irregularities. Further, in order to remove the writing substance that has entered and adhered to such a minute recess by the sheet-shaped removing member pressed by the surface, the sheet-shaped removing member is pressed against the surface of the reversible recording medium with a large pressing force. The need arises. In this case, the frictional force between the surface of the reversible recording medium and the sheet-shaped removing member becomes large, and the relative movement between the reversible recording medium and the sheet-shaped removing member cannot be performed smoothly. The additive substance will remain. Therefore, the reversible recording medium processing apparatus employs a configuration in which the sheet-shaped removing member is pressed against the surface of the reversible recording medium by the edge portion of the pressing means. With this configuration, it is possible to secure the adhesion between the surface of the reversible recording medium and the sheet-shaped removing member with a smaller pressing force than in the case where the sheet-shaped removing member is pressed by the surface. Therefore, the sheet-shaped removing member can be rubbed against the surface of the reversible recording medium while the relative movement of the reversible recording medium and the sheet-shaped removing member is smooth. Moreover, at the time of the rubbing, the effect of peeling off the writing substance from the surface of the reversible recording medium is obtained by the edge portion of the pressing means. Further, since the pressing force of the pressing means is concentrated on the edge, the stripping effect is more effective. Therefore, even if the writing substance adheres to the surface of the reversible recording medium with a writing tool used for a recording medium such as paper with a strong adhesive force, the writing substance can be removed to a practical level.
Note that this effect has been confirmed by various experiments, as will be described in Examples described later. As described above, according to the reversible recording medium processing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to remove the writing substance adhered with a strong adhesive force to a practical level. It is possible to effectively prevent deterioration of the erasing quality or recording quality of the reversible recording medium due to the addition of the writing substance to the processing member when the processing for changing the state of the reversible recording layer is performed.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION [Embodiment 1] The present invention is described below.
An embodiment (hereinafter, this embodiment is referred to as “embodiment 1”) applied to a recording / erasing device, an image recording device, and a recording rewriting device as a reversible recording medium processing device will be described. The reversible recording medium to be processed by the recording / erasing apparatus, the image recording apparatus, and the recording rewriting apparatus according to the first embodiment has a reversible recording layer whose state changes reversibly,
A visible image can be recorded and erased by changing the state of the reversible recording layer by performing a treatment with energy such as light, electricity and magnetism. In this process, only one type of energy may be used or two or more types of energy may be used in combination. Hereinafter, representative reversible recording media will be exemplified, but the invention is not limited thereto.

As a reversible recording medium (hereinafter referred to as "thermosensitive recording medium") in which an image is recorded and erased by using heat energy, one using a reversible color development of a leuco dye is a typical example. This is the most suitable for a document because a color image having a high contrast can be formed. Details of this thermal recording medium will be described later. Other heat-sensitive recording media include, for example, recording media having a reversible recording layer that utilizes the reversible change of the light scattering property of a composite film in which crystal particles of a low-molecular compound are dispersed in a polymer, and a polymer liquid crystal layer. A recording medium having a reversible recording layer that utilizes the reversible change of the light scattering property of is mentioned. In the former case, generally, the reversible recording layer becomes cloudy and an image can be recorded when heated above the melting point of the low molecular weight compound, and when the temperature is lower than this, the reversible recording layer becomes transparent and the image can be erased. On the other hand, in the latter case, the reversible recording layer becomes transparent and an image can be recorded when it is rapidly cooled after heating to the isotropic point or more, and when it is slowly cooled after heating to the isotropic point or more, it becomes a cloudy state and the image can be erased. In addition to this, there is also a recording medium in which a liquid crystal material or a polymer material is used alone or in combination, and an image is recorded or erased by a difference in heating temperature or a cooling rate after heating.

There is also known a reversible recording medium having a memory property that can record an image using electric energy and does not require electric power to hold the image. Among such reversible recording media, one having a reversible recording layer capable of recording and erasing an image by an electric field is preferable in that the power consumption can be reduced. A liquid crystal material can be used for the reversible recording layer. For example, a ferroelectric polymer liquid crystal layer having a stable memory property is useful when used for a rewritable recording medium. . In addition, a smectic liquid crystal having a memory property or a cholesteric liquid crystal material can be used. These liquid crystal materials are
An image can be recorded by utilizing the change in polarization characteristics of the reversible recording layer, but it is also possible to reversibly record a colored image by incorporating a dichroic dye. These reversible recording layers generally record images reversibly by an electric field, but combine other energy such as heat and the electric field to enable recording and erasing of images to improve image retention characteristics. Some were made.

Further, as a reversible recording medium capable of recording and erasing an image by using electric energy, there is one using an electrophoretic material. Examples of such a reversible recording medium include one in which white fine particles such as titanium oxide are dispersed in a colored solvent, and the particles are moved by an electric field to reversibly record and erase an image. In particular, a reversible recording medium having a reversible recording layer in which such an electrophoretic material is enclosed in a microcapsule and fixed on a support such as a polymer film with a resin is a document instead of a recording medium such as paper. It can be suitably used as a recording medium for recording. Also, half of the spherical particles are colored and the other half are white, and they are enclosed together with the medium in a microcapsule, the microcapsules are held on a support, and the spherical particles are rotated by an electric field to reversibly produce an image. A reversible recording medium for recording and erasing can also be used. In the processing for a reversible recording medium capable of recording and erasing an image using the electric energy described above, writing is performed by using an electrostatic stylus or a head in which the stylus is arranged in a line, or by an ion flow, Alternatively, a known processing method such as transferring an electrostatic latent image onto a reversible recording medium by using an electrophotographic photoreceptor or the like for writing can be used.

Among the reversible recording media described above, a heat-sensitive recording medium using a material such as a leuco dye, which reversibly develops and decolors by heat-treating the reversible recording layer, is particularly high in white background with high contrast. In terms of being able to record an image, a recording medium such as paper is most preferable as a practical recording medium that replaces the conventional role of document use. This thermosensitive recording medium includes one that develops and decolors due to the difference in heating temperature and / or cooling rate after heating. Regarding such a thermal recording medium, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI-1
0-58724, JP-A-5-124360, JP-A-11-268419, JP-A-11-1.
This is also described in detail in Japanese Patent No. 927373.

The thermal recording medium as the reversible recording medium used in the first embodiment will be described in detail below. Figure 2
1 is a cross-sectional view in the thickness direction showing a schematic configuration of a thermal recording medium 100 which is a processing target of a recording / erasing apparatus, an image recording apparatus and a recording rewriting apparatus according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2A shows a typical example of the thermosensitive recording medium 100. The thermosensitive recording medium 100 has a structure in which a reversible recording layer 102 and a protective layer 103 are sequentially laminated on an upper surface of a support 101. Have. 2B shows another typical example of the thermal recording medium 100. The thermal recording medium 100 is shown in FIG.
The reversible recording layer 102 and the protective layer 103 are laminated on the upper surface of the support 101, and the back coat layer 104 is provided on the lower surface of the support 101.

As the support 101, paper, synthetic paper, plastic film or the like is used. When using paper as the support 101, it is preferable to use coated paper in which a filler is applied together with a binder in order to enhance smoothness and whiteness in advance. When a plastic film is used as the support 101, a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film or the like is used. The film may be transparent or may be white in which a filler is dispersed. Further, image information may be printed in advance on the surface of the support 101, if necessary. The thickness of the support 101 is 0.05 to 0.5 m
Although it is preferably about m, particularly when used for a document, it is preferably about 0.05 to 0.25 mm, which is the same level as that of commonly used paper in terms of handling.

The reversible recording layer 102 is a material whose optical properties such as absorption, transmission, reflection, and scattering with respect to visible light change depending on application conditions such as heating temperature. Materials that can fix the color state can be used. Specifically, JP-A-5-124360
JP-A-6-210954, JP-A-10-
95175, JP 2000-33776 A,
JP-A-2000-118142 and JP-A-2001-1
Thermal recording medium 1 described in Japanese Patent No. 62941
00 can be used. Particularly, as the reversible recording layer 102,
It is preferable to use a leuco dye having high visibility and excellent visibility. As the leuco dye, for example, a phthalide compound, an azaphthalide compound, a fluoran compound, a phenothiazine compound, a leuco auramine compound, or the like can be used. Further, as a developer that reversibly develops a leuco dye, a compound in which an acidic group such as a phenolic hydroxyl group, a carboxylic acid group, or a phosphonic acid group and a long-chain hydrocarbon group that controls intermolecular cohesive force are linked is used. Can be used. A divalent group containing a hetero atom may be present between the linking group and the long-chain hydrocarbon group of these developers. The reversible recording layer 102 is formed of a resin and a reversible color-developing material such as the above-mentioned leuco dye. This resin is a curable resin that is resistant to thermal stress and mechanical stress due to repeated rewriting. Is desirable. The reversible recording layer 102 has a thickness of 3 to 15
It is preferably about μm.

The protective layer 103 is a layer for protecting the reversible recording layer 102 from thermal stress or mechanical stress applied from a thermal head for recording an image and preventing damage to the surface thereof. Further, in order to prevent decomposition of the leuco dye by ultraviolet rays, those having a function of absorbing ultraviolet rays are preferable. Note that the protective layer 103 may have a structure of two or more layers that individually have the function of absorbing ultraviolet rays and the function of protecting from thermal and mechanical stress. In any case, it is preferable to use a curable resin for the protective layer 103 from the viewpoint of strength. Further, when recording an image, slippage of the thermal head which comes into contact with the surface is also important, and a filler may be added in order to form a certain degree of unevenness on the surface. In addition, it is required that the gloss of the surface is low to some extent for use for documents, but this can also be achieved by adding a filler. In addition to this, the protective layer 103 may contain a colorant. In this case, for example,
When used for a document, it is possible to easily distinguish the paper and the thermal recording medium 100 even when mixed with ordinary paper. The thickness of the protective layer 103 is 1 to 10 μm.
It is preferably about m.

The back coat layer 104 is the support 10
When 1 is paper, it has a function of suppressing the occurrence of curling when the paper absorbs moisture and expands and contracts. Back coat layer 1
It is preferable to use a curable resin as the material of 04, and the hardness and film thickness of the material are selected in consideration of the balance between the support 101, the reversible recording layer 102, and the protective layer 103.

In addition to the above, the thermal recording medium 100 may have an undercoat layer, a heat insulating layer or the like on the support 101, if necessary. Also, the support 1
A reversible recording layer 102 and a protective layer 103 are provided on both sides of 01,
Images can be recorded on both sides. Further, the thermal recording medium 100 used in the first embodiment is
It is also possible to use the support 101 provided with an information recording section such as a magnetic memory, an optical memory, a magneto-optical memory, or an IC memory. Further, various information such as image information, document identification information, coordinate information, etc. coded by a barcode or a two-dimensional code may be held on the thermosensitive recording medium 100 used in the first embodiment. In particular, the coordinate information is useful when writing a retouched image on the thermosensitive recording medium 100 with a writing tool such as a pen, and at the same time, when the retouched image is captured as digital information in an image processing apparatus such as a personal computer and used.

Next, a thermal recording medium 1 using a leuco dye
The basic coloring / erasing process of No. 00 will be described.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are graphs showing the basic coloring / decoloring process of the thermal recording medium 100. Figure 3 (a)
And FIG. 3B show two typical examples in which the coloring / decoloring process is different depending on the material. In both graphs, as shown by the solid line, when heating from the decolored state A to a state B heated to a temperature T ₂ or higher at which the reversible color-forming component melts and then rapidly cooled, the coloring state C of the leuco dye is obtained. Is fixed. Thereby, the thermal recording medium 10
The image is recorded on 0. In addition, from the color development state C to the temperature T
_When the leuco dye is heated to the decoloring temperature range (T _{1 to} T ₂ ) lower than ₂ , the leuco dye is in the decoloring state D and then fixed in the decoloring state A. Thereby, the thermal recording medium 100
You can erase the image recorded above. The process of recording an image is usually performed using a thermal head, but it is also possible to perform the process of recording an image using laser light. In addition, for processing when erasing an image, a ceramic heater substrate having a belt-shaped heating element on a substrate and having a protective layer formed of glass or a heat roller having a heat source inside is practically used. .

Next, the recording / erasing apparatus according to the first embodiment,
The configurations and operations of the image recording device and the recording rewriting device will be described. FIG. 1A shows a recording and erasing apparatus 10 using a heat roller 12 as an erasing heating member as a processing member.
2 is a schematic configuration diagram of FIG. The recording / erasing apparatus 10 includes an erasing section 11 as a processing means for performing heat treatment on the reversible recording layer 102 of the thermosensitive recording medium 100 so as to bring the reversible recording layer 102 into a decolored state, and a surface of the thermosensitive recording medium 100. And a cleaning unit 40 that configures a writing substance removing unit that removes the writing substance 100a that forms the writing image that has been touched. Further, the recording / erasing apparatus 10 includes a sheet feeding unit 14 for feeding the thermal recording medium 100, and a medium transporting unit serving as a relative moving unit that constitutes a writing substance removing unit for transporting the thermal recording medium 100 fed out from the sheet feeding unit 14. A conveyance roller 15 as a means, a guide member 16 for guiding the thermosensitive recording medium 100, and the like are provided. Although not shown, a power supply unit for supplying electric power to each unit, a drive unit for supplying a driving force to each unit, a control unit for controlling the operation of each unit, and the like are also provided.

The erasing section 11 includes a heat roller 12 for heating the thermal recording medium 100 and the thermal recording medium 10.
The pressure roller 13 is provided to press 0 against the heat roller 12 and convey it. Inside the heat roller 12, a halogen lamp (not shown) is installed as a heat source. When the pressure roller 13 also functions as a medium carrying unit for carrying the thermal recording medium 100, the carrying roller 15 may not be provided.

When the user operates an erasing button (not shown) as an operating means or the sensor detects insertion of the thermosensitive recording medium 100, and an instruction to start erasing the thermosensitive recording medium 100 is issued, the thermosensitive recording medium 100 is instructed. Is sent out from the paper feed roller 14 a of the paper feed unit 14. Then, the thermal recording medium 100 is first transported to the cleaning unit 40 by the transport roller 15. This cleaning unit 4
At 0, the writing substance 100a adhering to the surface of the thermal recording medium 100 is removed, and the writing image on the thermal recording medium 100 is erased. Then, the thermal recording medium 100
Is sent to the erasing unit 11. In the erasing unit 11, the reversible recording layer 10 is heated by the heat energy from the heat roller 11.
2 is heated to the erasing temperature range to erase the image formed on the reversible recording layer 102. The thermal recording medium 100 from which the image has been erased in this way is ejected out of the apparatus by the transport roller 14 located on the downstream side in the transport direction.

FIG. 1B is a schematic configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus 20 using a thermal head 18 as a recording heating member as a processing member. The image recording device 20 is a processing means for performing a heating process on the thermosensitive recording medium 100 in order to put the reversible recording layer 102 of the thermosensitive recording medium 100 in a colored state, instead of the erasing section 11 in the recording and erasing device 10. The configuration is different in that the recording unit 17 is provided, but the other configuration is the same as that of the recording / erasing apparatus 10. The recording unit 17 includes a thermal head 18 that heats the thermal recording medium 100 based on predetermined image information, and a pressure roller 19 that presses the thermal recording medium 100 against the thermal head 18 to convey the thermal recording medium 100.

In the same manner as the recording / erasing apparatus 10 described above, when the recording start of the thermal recording medium 100 is instructed, the thermal recording medium 100 is sent to the recording unit 17 after the added image is erased by the cleaning unit 40. To be In this recording unit 17, a large number of heat generating elements corresponding to the dots of the image provided on the thermal head 18 are individually caused to generate heat in accordance with the image information, and the heat-sensitive recording medium 100 portion corresponding to the heat generating elements is colored at the coloring temperature T _2. And the image is recorded on the reversible recording layer 102. The thermal recording medium 100 on which the image has been recorded in this manner is ejected out of the apparatus by the conveyance roller 14 located on the downstream side in the conveyance direction.

FIG. 1C is a schematic block diagram of a recording / rewriting device 30 for erasing an image recorded on the thermal recording medium 100 and recording a new image. This record rewriting device 3
0 is a processing means, and the erasing section 11 in the recording and erasing apparatus 10 and the recording section 1 in the image recording apparatus 20.
7, and the configuration of each unit is the same as that of the recording / erasing apparatus 10 and the image recording apparatus 20.

When the rewriting start of the thermal recording medium 100 is instructed in the same manner as described above, the thermal recording medium 100 is first sent to the erasing unit 11 after the retouched image is erased by the cleaning unit 40 and reversible. The image formed on the recording layer 102 is erased. Then, the thermosensitive recording medium 100 is sent to the recording unit 17, and an image is recorded on the reversible recording layer 102. The thermal recording medium 10 on which an image is recorded in this manner
0 is discharged to the outside of the machine by the transport roller 14 on the downstream side in the transport direction.

In the recording / erasing apparatus 10, the image recording apparatus 20, and the recording / rewriting apparatus 30 described above, when the retouched image is not written on the surface of the thermosensitive recording medium 100, the cleaning unit 40 for the thermosensitive recording medium 100. Instead of performing the cleaning process in step 1, the sheet may be directly conveyed to the erasing section 11 or the recording section 17. In this case, before the processing is started, a sensor or the like may be used to detect the presence or absence of the retouched image on the thermal recording medium 100 and automatically select whether or not to perform the cleaning processing in the cleaning unit 40. it can. Further, it may be configured such that the user makes a judgment and operates the operating means to select whether or not to perform the cleaning process in the cleaning section 40. still,
The operation means operated by the user for switching the processing mode may be provided in the main body of the recording / erasing device 10, the image recording device 20, and the recording / rewriting device 30.
It may also be provided on the computer side connected to these devices. Further, in the recording / rewriting device 30, only the erasing of the image from the thermal recording medium 100 or the thermal recording medium 100 is performed.
When only recording an image on the thermal recording medium 100, the unnecessary recording unit 17 or erasing unit 11 is not operated.
The recording unit 17 or the erasing unit 11 which is unnecessary
It may be conveyed on a route different from that for rewriting so as not to pass through.

The structure and operation of the cleaning section 40, which is a characteristic part of the present invention, will be described below. First, the configuration of the cleaning unit 40 will be described. 4A and 4B show the cleaning unit 40 according to the first embodiment.
3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing two examples of the most basic configuration of FIG. The cleaning unit 40 shown in FIG. 4A is a pressing member 41a as a pressing unit made of a triangular columnar elastic body extending in a direction (hereinafter, referred to as "longitudinal direction") orthogonal to the transport direction A of the thermal recording medium 100. have. The pressing member 41a is supported and fixed to the metal substrate 42,
Through the metal substrate 42, a pressure mechanism 43 having a spring as a pressure means applies a downward pressure in the figure. Further, a receiving roller 44 as a supporting member having a rotation axis parallel to the longitudinal direction is installed at a position facing the pressing member 41a via the transport surface of the thermosensitive recording medium 100. The receiving roller 44 may be rotationally driven by the driving force transmitted from a driving unit (not shown), or may be rotated together with the movement of the thermal recording medium 100. Further, a cleaning sheet 45 as a sheet-shaped sheet-shaped removing member formed of a fibrous material is stretched around the pressing member 41a.

The pressing member 41a is pressed by the pressing mechanism 43.
The sides of the triangular prism corresponding to the corners of the cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction are pressed against the receiving roller 44 side. That is, the side of the pressing member 41a becomes an edge, and the cleaning sheet 45 stretched around the pressing member 41a is pressed against the surface of the thermal recording medium 100 conveyed by the edge. Here, the term “edge” means that the angles formed by the two surfaces forming the edge and the surface of the thermal recording medium 100 are not both 0 degrees.

Further, the cleaning unit 4 shown in FIG.
0 has a pressing member 41b as a pressing means made of a plate-shaped elastic body extending in the longitudinal direction, instead of the triangular-columnar pressing member 41a of the cleaning unit 40 shown in FIG. 4 (a). The pressing member 41b is a trapezoid whose cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction has one acute angle, and the side of the pressing member 41b corresponding to the acute angle is an edge. Then, the cleaning sheet 45 stretched around the pressing member 41b is pressed against the surface of the conveyed thermal recording medium 100 at the edge thereof.

The receiving roller 44 includes a pressing member 41a,
The pressure sensitive recording medium 100 has sufficient strength to support the pressure sensitive recording medium 100 under pressure from 41b, and the heat sensitive recording medium 100 is sandwiched between the pressure sensitive members 41a and 41b.
Cleaning sheet 4 stretched on the edges of a and 41b
5 has a function of closely contacting the surface of the thermal recording medium 100. Therefore, it is preferable that the receiving roller 44 is formed of an elastic body such as rubber so that the edges of the pressing members 41a and 41b can uniformly apply pressure to the surface of the thermal recording medium 100 in the longitudinal direction.

Although the pressing mechanism 43 is installed on the pressing members 41a and 41b side in the first embodiment, it may be installed on the receiving roller 44 side. That is, what is important here is
The cleaning sheet 45 can be linearly adhered to the surface of the thermal recording medium 100, and while maintaining the adhered state,
That is, the thermal recording medium 100 is smoothly transported. In this manner, the cleaning sheet 45 is linearly adhered to the surface of the thermosensitive recording medium 100 being conveyed, so that the writing material 100a adhering to the surface of the thermosensitive recording medium 100 is peeled off by the cleaning sheet 45 while the writing is performed. A state in which the substance 100a is strongly attached to the cleaning sheet 45 is obtained.

As the cleaning sheet 45,
Conventionally known paper, cloth, non-woven fabric, etc. made of pulp fibers or chemical fibers can be used, but in order to ensure close contact with the heat-sensitive recording medium 100, it is preferable that it is thin to a certain extent and weak. preferable. However, since the cleaning sheet 45 is rubbed against the surface of the thermal recording medium 100 while being pressed by the pressing members 41a and 41b, the cleaning sheet 45 is required to have a strength that does not easily break.
Further, in order to improve the adhesion, it is preferable to use the cleaning sheet 45 formed of a fibrous material which is as soft as possible. Further, in order to surely hold the writing substance 100a peeled off from the thermal recording medium 100, it is important that the fibers of the cleaning sheet 45 are fine. The cleaning sheet 45 should contain a small amount of water or solvent in order to increase the flexibility of the fibrous material to improve the adhesiveness and to weaken the adhesive force between the surface of the thermal recording medium 100 and the writing substance 100a. You may From the above, as the cleaning sheet 45, a material such as tissue paper or thin Japanese paper can be preferably used.

Next, the operation of the cleaning section 40 will be described. 5A to 5C show a cleaning unit 40.
It is an explanatory view showing the flow of the basic operation of. When a user writes with a writing tool such as a pen and a touched image such as characters or markings is written on the surface of the thermal recording medium 100, the touched substance 100a such as ink forming the touched image is printed on the surface of the thermal recording medium 100. Adhere to. As shown in FIG. 5A, when the thermal recording medium 100 with the writing substance 100a attached thereto is sent to the cleaning unit 40,
The thermal recording medium 100 includes a pressing member 41a and a receiving roller 4
4 and the cleaning sheet 45 is linearly adhered to the surface of the thermal recording medium 100. Then, the thermal recording medium 1 conveyed by the conveying roller 15
00 moves relative to the pressing member 41a. As a result, the surface of the thermal recording medium 100 is rubbed by the cleaning sheet 45 while maintaining a close contact with the cleaning sheet 45. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5B, the writing substance 10 attached to the thermal recording medium 100.
0a is peeled off by the cleaning sheet 45 and trapped in the fibers of the cleaning sheet 45. The writing substance 100a thus captured is linearly accumulated on the portion of the cleaning sheet 45 pressed by the edge of the pressing member 41a. As described above, in the first embodiment, since the adhesiveness between the cleaning sheet 45 and the thermal recording medium 100 is sufficiently secured, as shown in FIG. 5C, the thermal recording medium 100 that has passed through the cleaning section 40. The writing material 100a does not remain on the part. In the first embodiment, since the cleaning sheet 45 has fine fibers,
Additional substance 100a captured on the cleaning sheet 45
Does not fall into the eyes of the fibers.

In the first embodiment, basically, the writing substance 100a forming the writing image on the thermal recording medium 100 is physically removed, but the thermal recording medium 100 is passed through the cleaning section 40 once. Only by doing so, the writing substance 100a on the thermal recording medium 100 can be reliably removed to a practically acceptable level. Furthermore, the removed substance 1
00a is reliably captured and held by the cleaning sheet 45, and is reattached to the thermal recording medium 100 relating to the subsequent processing, or the members such as the carrying roller 15 provided inside the machine that come into contact with the thermal recording medium 100 are soiled. Nothing.

Here, when the cleaning sheet 45 is rubbing the surface of the thermosensitive recording medium 100, the pressing member 41 is pressed.
If it deviates from the edges of a and 41b, the writing substance 100a cannot be effectively stripped off, and the writing substance 100a may partially remain on the surface of the thermal recording medium 100. When the writing substance 100a remains on the surface of the thermal recording medium 100 in this way, the heat roller 12 of the erasing unit 11 and the recording unit 17 are removed.
As a result, the writing substance adheres to the thermal head 18 and causes a trouble in the image erasing or image recording processing on the reversible recording layer 102 of the thermal recording medium 100. Therefore, FIG.
It is preferable that the end portion of the cleaning sheet 45 is fixed by the sheet fixing member 46 on the upstream side in the transport direction A of the thermal recording medium 100 as shown in FIG. When the cleaning sheet 45 is fixed in this way, the cleaning sheet 45 is pulled in the conveyance direction of the thermal recording medium 100 due to friction with the surface of the thermal recording medium 100, and the pressing member 41 is pressed.
It is possible to prevent deviation from the edge of a. Therefore, the writing substance 100a can be effectively removed from the surface of the thermosensitive recording medium 100, and adhesion of the writing substance to the heat roller 12 of the erasing unit 11 and the thermal head 18 of the recording unit 17 can be suppressed.

Further, in order to enhance the adhesion between the cleaning sheet 45 and the thermosensitive recording medium 100 and to rub the cleaning sheet 45 uniformly on the surface of the thermosensitive recording medium 100, in the first embodiment, the pressing member 41a is used. , 41b are elastic bodies having edges. The pressing members 41a and 41b can be formed of rubber or the like, and the hardness thereof is preferably 30 or more and 60 or less. If the hardness of the pressing members 41a and 41b is less than 30, the deformation of the edge portion becomes too large when pressure is applied, and when the cleaning sheet 45 is pressed against the surface of the thermal recording medium 100 by the edge, it is caused by the edge. The stripping effect is diminished. If the hardness of the pressing members 41a and 41b exceeds 60, the cleaning sheet 45 becomes difficult to adhere along the slight irregularities on the surface of the thermal recording medium 100, and the writing substance 100a adhering to the slight concave portions is removed. Becomes difficult. When the hardness of the pressing members 41a and 41b is increased, the adhesion between the cleaning sheet 45 and the surface of the thermal recording medium 100 can be increased by increasing the pressing force of the pressing mechanism 43. 41b
If the hardness is more than 60, the cleaning sheet 45 may be broken by the frictional force with the thermal recording medium 100, or the thermal recording medium 100 may not be transported smoothly. As a result of the experiment, when the pressing members 41a and 41b made of rubber having hardness within the above range were used,
It has been confirmed that good adhesion can be obtained, the writing material 100a can be effectively removed without tearing the cleaning sheet 45, and smooth transportation can be realized.

[Modification 1] Next, a modification of the cleaning unit in the first embodiment (hereinafter, this modification will be referred to as “Modification 1”) will be described. FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of the cleaning unit 140 according to the first modification. The basic configuration of the cleaning unit 140 is the same as that of the cleaning unit 40 shown in FIG. 4A, but the shape of the pressing member is different. The pressing member 141 in the present modification has two edges, and the two edges simultaneously press the cleaning sheet 45 against the thermal recording medium 100. It should be noted that although separate support members may be provided for each edge, one support member may be provided for each edge as in this modification.
It is preferable to provide the receiving roller 44, which is one support member, because the device configuration can be simplified and the size can be reduced.

By using the pressing member 141 having two edges as in this modification, the surface of the thermal recording medium 100 to which the writing material 100a is attached is rubbed twice by the cleaning sheet 45. . Therefore,
Even if some of the writing material 100a remains on the thermal recording medium 100 without being stripped off by the first rubbing performed at the upstream edge portion in the transport direction A, the downstream edge portion By the second rubbing performed in step 1, the residual writing substance 100a is removed and the thermal recording medium 10 is removed.
It is possible to remove from above. Therefore, the certainty of the removal of the writing material 100a is increased, and the thermal recording medium 1
It is possible to reduce stains on the heat roller 12 and the thermal head 18 due to the writing substance 100a adhering on the surface 00, and to further suppress defective processing of image erasing and image recording on the reversible recording layer.

[Modification 2] Next, another modification of the cleaning unit in the first embodiment (hereinafter, this modification will be referred to as "Modification 2") will be described. 8A and 8B are schematic configuration diagrams of the cleaning unit 240 according to the second modification. The basic structure of the cleaning unit 240 is the same as that of the cleaning unit 40 shown in FIG. 4B, except that two pressing members are installed. In the cleaning unit 240 shown in FIG. 8A, two pressing members 241a and 241b are installed so as to face one receiving roller 44, respectively. Also, FIG.
In the cleaning unit 240 shown in (b), the two pressing members 241a and 241b are installed so as to face the respective receiving rollers 44. According to this modified example, similarly to the modified example 1, each pressing member 241a,
At the edge of 241b, the surface of the heat-sensitive recording medium 100 to which the writing substance 100a is adhered can be rubbed twice with the cleaning sheet 45, and the effect of suppressing image erasing on the reversible recording layer and defective processing of image recording is high.

When the two edges are obtained by separate pressing members 241a and 241b as in this modification, the pressing members 241a and 241b can be made of different materials and shapes. In particular, it is effective to make the two pressing members 241a and 241b different in hardness. When the hardness of the pressing member is relatively high, the edge of the cleaning sheet 45 is excellent in peeling effect, but when the surface of the thermal recording medium 100 has minute irregularities, the cleaning sheet 45 is present on the surface. Are difficult to adhere to each other, and it becomes difficult to remove the writing substance 100a attached to the minute recesses. Conversely, when the hardness of the pressing member is relatively low, the effect of stripping the cleaning sheet 45 by the edge is relatively low, but the thermal recording medium 100.
Even if there is minute unevenness on the surface of the cleaning sheet, the adhesion between the surface and the cleaning sheet 45 is high, and the writing substance 100a adhering to the minute recess can be effectively removed. Therefore, by using the pressing member having a relatively high hardness and the pressing member having a relatively low hardness in combination, the thermosensitive recording medium 1 can be utilized by utilizing the advantages of both.
Since the writing substance 100a can be removed from the surface of No. 00, the removal performance of the cleaning unit 240 can be further enhanced.

Here, an experiment was conducted in which the cleaning sheet 45 was rubbed only once with the pressing member of various hardnesses on the thermal recording medium 100 to which the writing material 100a was attached. As a result of the experiment, with the pressing member having a relatively high hardness, the amount of the writing substance 100a that can be removed was large, and most of the writing substance 100a adhering to the thermal recording medium 100 could be removed. On the other hand, in the pressing member having a relatively low hardness, the amount of the writing substance 100a remaining on the thermal recording medium 100 by one rubbing was slightly larger than that in the pressing member having a relatively high hardness. However, when the pressing member having a relatively high hardness is rubbed twice, the thermal recording medium 10 is slightly
0 may remain on the marking material 100a, but when the rubbing is performed once by the pressing member having a relatively high hardness and then by the pressing member having a relatively low hardness, the hardness is relatively high. Compared to the case where the high pressing member was rubbed twice, it was possible to suppress the amount of the writing material 100a that clearly remained. Therefore, when a pressing member having a relatively high hardness and a pressing member having a relatively low hardness are used in combination, the pressing member having a relatively high hardness is conveyed in the transport direction A of the thermal recording medium 100 more than the pressing member having a relatively low hardness. If it is arranged on the upstream side of, the removal performance of the cleaning unit 240 can be further enhanced.

When a pressing member having a relatively high hardness and a pressing member having a relatively low hardness are used in combination, the pressing member having the highest hardness has a hardness of 40 or more and 60 or less, and the pressing member having the lowest hardness is used. It is preferable that the hardness is 20 or more and 30 or less in order to improve the removal performance of the cleaning unit 240.

[Modification 3] Next, another modification of the cleaning unit in the first embodiment (hereinafter, this modification will be referred to as “Modification 3”) will be described. FIG. 9 (a)
9B are schematic configuration diagrams of a cleaning unit 340 according to Modification 3. FIG. The cleaning unit 340 is provided with two pressing members as in the second modification,
Only the pressing member 341a located on the upstream side in the transport direction A of the thermal recording medium 100 has an edge for cleaning sheet 45.
Is pressed against the thermal recording medium 100, and the pressing member 341b located on the downstream side presses the cleaning sheet 45 onto the thermal recording medium 100 with a surface having a relatively large contact area. Therefore, the surface of the thermal recording medium 100 is rubbed with the cleaning sheet 45 on the edge portion of the pressing member 341a on the upstream side, and then the pressing member 34 on the downstream side.
The surface 1b is rubbed by the cleaning sheet 45.

With this structure, the powdery writing substance 100a that may remain slightly after the majority of the writing substance 100a is removed by the effect of stripping off the cleaning sheet 45 by the edge of the pressing member 341a on the upstream side.
Can be reliably captured on the cleaning sheet 45 by the pressing member 341b on the downstream side having a large contact area. As a result, even if the cleaning unit 340 repeats the process of removing the writing substance 100a from a large number of thermal recording media 100, it is possible to maintain the high removal performance of the cleaning unit 340 over time. The contact surface of the pressing member 341b located on the downstream side may be a flat surface as shown in FIG. 9 (a) or a curved surface as shown in FIG. 9 (b).

When a plurality of pressing members for pressing the cleaning sheet 45 are installed as in the modified examples 2 and 3, the contact surface of each pressing member for bringing the cleaning sheet 45 into contact with the thermal recording medium 100 is conveyed in the conveying direction. The width (nip width) in A is preferably different. In the third modification, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the nip widths of the pressing members 341a and 341b are different as described above. On the other hand, when the nip widths of the pressing members 241a and 241b are made different from each other in Modification Example 2, for example, by forming the pressing members 241a and 241b with elastic bodies having different hardnesses as described above, the respective nip widths can be reduced. The width can be different. In the first embodiment, at least the pressing member having the smaller nip width has the edge, and therefore the edge has a high peeling effect, and most of the writing substance 100a on the thermal recording medium 100 can be removed. Further, the pressing member having the wider nip has a relatively lower stripping effect, but the powdery writing substance 100a or the writing substance 100a adhered to the concave portion which is difficult to remove by the pressing member having the narrow nip width is effective. Can be removed. Therefore, by using the pressing member having a narrow nip width and the pressing member having a wide nip width in combination, the thermosensitive recording medium 1 can be utilized by utilizing the advantages of both.
Since the writing substance 100a can be removed from the surface of No. 00, the removal performance of the cleaning unit 240 can be further enhanced.

When a pressing member having a narrow nip width and a pressing member having a wide nip width are used in combination as described above,
For the same reason as the case where a plurality of pressing members having different hardnesses are used, a pressing member having a narrow nip width is conveyed in the transport direction A of the thermal recording medium 100 more than a pressing member having a wide nip width.
If it is arranged on the upstream side of, the removal performance of the cleaning unit 240 can be further enhanced.

In the first embodiment and the first to third modifications described above, the cleaning units 40, 140, 240, 340.
In order to make the cleaning sheet 45 linearly and uniformly adhere to the thermal recording medium 100 that moves relative to the cleaning sheet 45 by the transport roller 15 by the edge of the pressing member, the writing substance 100a is added from the thermal recording medium 100. Is important for stripping off. Here, in order to obtain a good stripping effect by the edge, it is desirable that the radius of curvature of the edge portion in the cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is small, specifically, 0.3 mm or less. If the edge has a larger radius of curvature, the peeling effect by the edge may not work effectively, and it becomes difficult to efficiently remove the writing substance 100a from the thermal recording medium 100.

Further, in order to obtain a good stripping effect by the edge, it is desirable that the angle formed by the two surfaces forming the edge of the pressing member is 60 degrees or more and 120 degrees or less. When the angle is smaller than 60 degrees, a stress in the transport direction A is applied to the edge of the pressing member due to the friction between the thermal recording medium 100 and the cleaning sheet 45 that move relative to each other, and the stress easily deforms the edge portion of the pressing member. ,
The scraping effect due to the edge is diminished. Also,
When the angle exceeds 120 degrees, it is difficult to form an acute edge on the surface of the thermal recording medium 100, and it becomes impossible to obtain a sufficient scraping effect by the edge. Therefore, if the angle formed by the two surfaces forming the edge of the pressing member is within the above range, a sufficient scraping effect by the edge can be obtained, and the cleaning sheet 45 can be linearly and uniformly applied to the thermal recording medium 100. The writing substance 100a can be effectively peeled off from the heat-sensitive recording medium 100 by making it adhere to.

In order to obtain a good stripping effect by the edge, of the two surfaces forming the edge of the pressing member, the surface located on the upstream side in the transport direction A and the surface of the thermosensitive recording medium 100. The angle formed by and is also important. Specifically, when the angle is 40 degrees or more, a sufficient edge removing effect was obtained, and the writing substance 100a could be effectively removed from the thermal recording medium 100. In particular, when the angle was 40 degrees or more, the writing substance 100a could be almost completely removed from the thermosensitive recording medium 100.

In addition, the first embodiment and the modified example 1 described above
3 to 3, the thermal recording medium 100 includes the cleaning sheet 45 and the receiving roller 4 which are pressed by the pressing member.
It is conveyed in a state of being held between 4 and 4. Therefore,
If the carrying force of the thermal recording medium 100 is overwhelmed by the frictional force received at the sandwiched portion and stable carrying performance cannot be secured, the thermosensitive recording medium 100 is installed downstream of the cleaning units 40, 140, 240, 340 in the carrying direction A. Erase unit 11 and recording unit 1
It becomes difficult to properly perform the processing in 7. Therefore, it is important not only to make the cleaning sheet 45 linearly and uniformly adhere to the surface of the thermal recording medium 100, but also to ensure the transportability of the thermal recording medium 100 in the sandwiched portion. As described above, in order to secure both the adhesion of the cleaning sheet 45 and the transportability of the thermal recording medium 100, the role of the support member that supports the thermal recording medium 100 from the back surface in the sandwiched portion is important. Therefore, as the supporting member, the thermal recording medium 10 such as a roller-shaped member such as the receiving roller 44 or a belt-shaped member is used.
It is preferable to use a member whose surface can be moved along the transport direction A of 0.

Further, the thermosensitive recording medium 10 in the sandwiched portion
In order to obtain a high transportability of 0, it is desirable to rotationally drive the receiving roller 44 so that the receiving roller 44 has a transporting force. Is insufficient, and it becomes difficult to obtain stable transportability. Therefore, FIGS. 1 (a) to 1 (c)
As shown in FIG.
It is preferable to install the transport roller 15 as a transport unit on the upstream side of the transport direction A with respect to 0, 340. Incidentally, as the conveying means, the conveying force may be transmitted to a part of the thermosensitive recording medium 100 like the conveying roller 15 to convey, but it is preferable to convey to the entire surface of the thermosensitive recording medium 100. It is better to be able to transmit the force evenly. In the latter case, for example, when the tip of the thermal recording medium 100 is caught on the edge of the pressing member, the thermal recording medium 100 is less likely to be deformed, and stable conveyance can be realized. Note that, similarly to the above, in order to realize stable transportation, the transportation roller 15 as a transportation unit may be installed on the downstream side of the cleaning units 40, 140, 240, 340 in the transportation direction A. As the carrying means, the heat roller 12 of the erasing section 11 installed on the downstream side in the carrying direction A with respect to the cleaning sections 40, 140, 240 and 340.
The pressure roller 13 and the thermal head of the recording unit 17 and the pressure roller 19 may be used, but they may be provided separately.

In order to bring the cleaning sheet 45 into uniform contact with the surface of the thermal recording medium 100,
A receiving roller 44 that supports the thermal recording medium 100 from the back side.
Is formed of an elastic body, and the hardness of the receiving roller 44 is preferably lower than the hardness of the pressing member facing the receiving roller 44. When such a receiving roller 44 is used, the edge of the pressing member is the cleaning sheet 45 and the thermal recording medium 10.
It is in a state of biting into the receiving roller 44 while sandwiching 0.
By thus biting, it is possible to effectively ensure uniform contact between the cleaning sheet 45 and the surface of the thermal recording medium 100, and by rubbing the cleaning sheet 45 and the surface of the thermal recording medium 100 in that state, The writing substance 100a on the thermal recording medium 100 can be effectively removed. Incidentally, the receiving roller 44 generally has a structure in which an elastic body such as rubber is covered with a metal core. In this case, an appropriate biting state is obtained by adjusting the hardness and thickness of the elastic body. be able to. However, if the biting amount is too large, the transportability of the thermosensitive recording medium 100 in the sandwiched portion deteriorates. Therefore, it is preferable to appropriately adjust the biting amount into the receiving roller 44 in consideration of the hardness of the pressing member. When a belt-shaped member is used as the support member instead of the receiving roller 44, a rigid support roller made of metal or the like is installed at a position facing the pressing member, and an elastic belt-shaped member is stretched over the support roller. It is desirable to have a configuration that allows it. The adjustment of the bite amount at this time is the same as that of the receiving roller 44.

In addition, the first embodiment and the first modification described above
In Nos. 3 to 3, the conveyance roller 15 conveys the cleaning sheet 45 stretched between the pressing members 41, 141, 241 and 341 pressed by the pressure mechanism 43 and the receiving roller 44. The thermal recording medium 100 is sandwiched, and the thermal recording medium 10 is sandwiched by the cleaning sheet 45.
Rub the surface of 0. At this time, the pressing members 41, 14
When pressure is applied between the 1, 241, 341 and the receiving roller 44, the tip of the thermal recording medium 100 that tries to enter the pinched portion is pressed by the pressing members 41, 141, 24.
There is a possibility that the edge portions of 1,341 may be caught and the stable transportability may not be secured.

Therefore, the pressing member 4 by the pressing mechanism 43
It is also desirable to consider adjusting the pressurization start timing of 1, 141, 241 and 341 from the viewpoint of ensuring stable transportability. Specifically, for example, the thermal recording medium 10
The pressing mechanism 43 releases the pressing force of the pressing members 41, 141, 241 and 341 until the front end of the thermal recording medium 100 passes through the holding portion. The pressing mechanism 43 presses the pressing members 41, 14
The pressurizing mechanism 43 is controlled so as to pressurize 1, 241, 341. By such control, the leading edge of the thermal recording medium 100 can smoothly enter the sandwiched portion, and the pressing is started immediately after the leading edge of the thermal recording medium 100 enters the sandwiched portion, so that the cleaning sheet 45.
The surface of the thermosensitive recording medium 100 can be rubbed in the state of being in close contact with. Further, when the receiving roller 44 is configured to be rotationally driven, by performing the control as described above, by the surface of the receiving roller 44 and the pressing member until the thermal recording medium 100 reaches the sandwiched portion. It is possible to prevent the cleaning sheet 45 that is pressed against from rubbing against each other, suppress deterioration and damage of the cleaning sheet 45, and extend the life of the cleaning sheet 45.

Further, in order to surely convey the thermal recording medium 100 and extend the life of the cleaning sheet 45, the pressure is applied by the pressure mechanism 43 until the leading edge of the thermal recording medium 100 passes through the sandwiched portion. Not only releasing but also pressing roller 41, 141, 241 and 341
It is desirable to move it to a position away from. That is, a contact / separation mechanism is provided instead of the pressure mechanism 43, and the pressing members 41, 141, 241 and 341 are separated from the receiving roller 44 by the contact / separation mechanism until the tip of the thermosensitive recording medium 100 passes through the sandwiched portion. The thermal recording medium 100
The pressing members 41, 141, 241 and 341 are moved by the contact / separation mechanism immediately after the tip of the recording medium 1 passes through the sandwiched portion.
00 to make contact with the surface with a predetermined pressing force,
Controls the contact / separation mechanism. In this case, the pressing members 41, 14
While the cleaning sheet 45 is preferably separated from the receiving roller 44 when the 1, 241 and 341 are separated from the receiving roller 44, the pressing members 41, 141 and 1
Cleaning sheet 45 with only 41 and 341 separated
If the contact pressure between the receiving roller 44 and the receiving roller 44 is not substantially applied, the reliable transport of the thermal recording medium 100 and the long life of the cleaning sheet 45 can be sufficiently achieved.

Further, not only when the front end of the thermal recording medium 100 passes the sandwiched portion, but also when the rear end of the thermal recording medium 100 passes the sandwiched portion, the life of the cleaning sheet 45 is extended. It is preferable to perform the same control as described above. That is, the pressurizing mechanism 43 is released so as to release the pressurization of the pressing members 41, 141, 241 and 341 by the pressurizing mechanism 43 immediately before or after the rear end of the thermal recording medium 100 passes through the sandwiched portion. Control. The same applies when the contacting / separating mechanism is used instead of the pressurizing mechanism 43.

Further, the first embodiment and the modified example 1 described above.
In Nos. 3 to 3, the writing substance 100a peeled off by the cleaning sheet 45 is captured by the fibers of the cleaning sheet 45. Therefore, the pressing members 41, 141, 241 and 3 are increased as the removal process is repeated for a large number of the thermal recording media 100 to which the writing material 100a is attached.
Cleaning sheet 45 pressed by 41
The amount of the writing substance 100a adhering to the portion will increase. At this time, if the adhered amount becomes too large, the fibers of the cleaning sheet 45 are clogged, and the removal performance of the writing substance 100a deteriorates. Also,
If the adhesion amount becomes too large, the cleaning sheet 4
There is a case where a part of the writing substance 100a once captured in the eye of the fiber 5 falls off and contaminates other components such as the receiving roller 44 and the conveying roller 15 installed in the machine. In this case, the writing substance 100a attached to the contaminated component
Adheres to the back surface or the like of the thermal recording medium 100 relating to the subsequent processing, and finally adheres to the heat roller 12 or the thermal head 18 to cause image sticking, and image erasing or image recording processing in the erasing section 11 or the recording section 17. This will result in trouble.

Therefore, it is preferable that the part of the cleaning sheet 45 pressed by the pressing members 41, 141, 241 and 341 is changed to another part when the writing substance 100a is attached to some extent. As an example of the configuration, the cleaning sheet 45 is moved in the transport direction A by a constant amount, and a new portion is pressed by the pressing members 41, 1.
41, 241 and 341 may be configured to be in close contact with and rub against the surface of the thermal recording medium 100. In this case, for example, instead of the fixing member 46 that fixes the cleaning sheet 45, as shown in FIG. 10, a sheet feeding mechanism 47 as a changing unit that moves the cleaning sheet 45 to the upstream side in the transport direction A by a fixed amount. It can be realized by providing.

When the cleaning sheet 45 is moved by such a sheet feeding mechanism 47, the user himself / herself judges the amount and timing of the movement of the cleaning sheet 45, by determining the amount of the substance 100a to be added to the cleaning sheet 45. The sheet feeding mechanism 47 may be determined or the attached amount may be detected by a sensor or the like. The cleaning sheet 45
The sheet feeding mechanism 47 may be simply controlled according to the number of the heat-sensitive recording media 100 that have been subjected to the removal processing regardless of the amount of the writing substance 100a attached to the sheet. in this case,
The number of processed sheets that determines the movement timing is experimentally set mainly according to the holding ability of the writing material 100a of the cleaning sheet 45. At this time, the editing material 10
It is desirable to set 0a based on the holding capacity with a sufficient margin to hold it.

When the cleaning sheet 45 is moved by the sheet feeding mechanism 47, the moving direction of the cleaning sheet 45 is as shown by an arrow B in FIG.
It is preferable that the transport direction A of 00 is the opposite direction. When the moving direction of the cleaning sheet 45 is the same as the transport direction A, when the writing substance 100a held on the cleaning sheet 45 falls off, the writing substance 100a is removed by passing through the pinching portion. Medium 100
This is because there is a risk that the added substance 100a that has fallen off will be attached to the portion.

When the cleaning sheet 45 is moved by such a sheet feeding mechanism 47, the amount of movement is such that the portion of the cleaning sheet 45 pressed by the pressing members 41, 141, 241 and 341 is moved after the movement. It is desirable to set so that the surface of the thermal recording medium 100 is not reliably contacted. Here, even if the cleaning sheet 45 is fixed upstream in the transport direction A, the cleaning sheet 4 on the surface of the thermal recording medium 100 is fixed.
At the time of rubbing 5, the cleaning sheet 45 is pulled in the transport direction A by the friction with the thermal recording medium 100. At this time, the cleaning sheet 45 itself expands,
The portions pressed by the pressing members 41, 141, 241 and 341 may be slightly displaced. Therefore, the portion of the cleaning sheet 45 holding the writing material 100a, including the portion that comes into contact with the surface of the thermal recording medium 100 due to such a displacement, is surely moved so as not to come into contact with the thermal recording medium 100. It is desirable to set the amount. However, if the amount of movement per time is too large, the number of heat-sensitive recording media 100 that can be processed by one cleaning sheet 45 will decrease, so in practice it is better not to make the amount of movement excessively large. preferable.

In Modification 1 and Modification 2, the cleaning sheet 45 is rubbed against the thermal recording medium 100 by a plurality of edges of the pressing members 141 and 241. In Modification 3, the edges are changed. Of the heat-sensitive recording medium 10 at a plurality of points by the pressing member 341a having the edge and the pressing member 341b having no edge.
Rub it against 0. Such a cleaning unit 14
0, 240, 340, when the cleaning sheet 45 is moved by the sheet feeding mechanism 47 as described above, the movement amount is at least the portion of the cleaning sheet 45 pressed on the most upstream side in the transport direction A.
It is desirable to set so as not to come into contact with the surface of the thermal recording medium 100 after the movement. This is because the writing substance 100a on the heat-sensitive recording medium 100 is largely peeled off at the portion of the cleaning sheet 45 that is initially rubbed and is captured there. In particular, when the portion of the cleaning sheet 45 that is pressed on the most upstream side in the transport direction A is pressed by the edge, most of the writing substance 100a on the thermal recording medium 100 is peeled off and captured by the portion. It will be. Further, the portion which is rubbed against the surface of the thermal recording medium 100 after the second time is the writing material 1
Even if 00a is captured, the amount is small. Therefore, the cleaning 4 rubbed on the downstream side in the transport direction A
The portion 5 is conveyed in the conveyance direction A by the sheet feeding mechanism 47.
Even if it is moved to the most upstream rubbing portion and is reused in that rubbing portion, the cleaning portion 45 still has sufficient holding ability.
It has almost no effect on the removal performance of 0, 240, 340.

Further, as described above, when the sheet-like cleaning sheet 45 is moved by a constant amount by the sheet feeding mechanism 47 and continuously removed, the cleaning sheet 45 which can be newly used is finally used. The part will be lost. Generally, even if the cleaning sheet 45 is used up, the cleaning units 40, 140, 24
The other components of 0,340 have not reached the end of their lives. Therefore, it is desirable to provide an exchanging means for exchanging the used cleaning sheet 45.
Various publicly known means can be used for such an exchange means.

In particular, the replacement means facilitates the replacement work of the cleaning sheet 45, and the writing substance 100a attached to the used cleaning sheet 45 does not fall into the machine during the replacement work and contaminate the inside of the machine. As described above, it is advantageous to adopt a configuration that allows the cleaning unit 40 to be smoothly taken out. For example, in order to prevent the hand from being soiled with the writing substance 100a when the used cleaning sheet 45 is pulled out by the user, or to prevent the inside of the machine from being contaminated by the writing substance 100a, the surface of the cleaning sheet 45 to which the writing substance 100a adheres is not touched. An ejecting unit that ejects the cleaning sheet 45 to the outside of the machine is provided. Various known means can be used for such discharging means.

When the cleaning sheet 45 needs to be replaced, the cleaning sheet 45 can be visually inspected and the writing material 1 can be replaced.
This can be confirmed by detecting with a sensor or the like as a detection unit that detects the usage state of the cleaning sheet 45 from the adhesion state of 00a. However, since the user usually carries out the replacement work of the cleaning sheet 45, it is desirable to provide a replacement instruction means for instructing the user to replace the cleaning sheet 345 when the cleaning sheet 45 replacement time comes. Specifically, a sensor or the like detects the remaining amount of the cleaning sheet 45 wound around the feed side roller of the sheet feeding mechanism 47, and the replacement instruction means notifies the user of the replacement time according to the detection result. As such an exchange instruction means, for example, a means for instructing the user by hearing a buzzer sound or the like, a means for instructing the user by sight such as a lamp, or the like can be used. A plurality of cleaning sheets 45 are provided in the apparatus as the replacement means.
If the means for stocking the cleaning sheets and automatically replacing the cleaning sheet 45 at the time of replacement is adopted, the device cost will increase, but the convenience for the user will be greatly improved.

Further, even if the user instructs the user to replace the cleaning sheet by the above-described replacement instruction means, the cleaning sheet 45 is generally not replaced unless the user replaces it. At this time, if the cleaning sheet 45 that has not been replaced is used as it is even after the replacement time has passed, the cleaning units 40, 140, 240, 3 are continuously operated.
The removal performance of 40 deteriorates, and the erasing section 11 and the recording section 17 remain while the writing substance 100a remains attached on the thermal recording medium 100.
And is contaminated with the heat roller 12 and the thermal head 18 and interferes with the image erasing or image recording process on the reversible recording layer 102 of the thermal recording medium 100. Further, the writing substance 100a once attached to the cleaning sheet 45 is easily dropped, and the dropped writing substance 100a is attached to the heat roller 12 or the thermal head 18 to erase or erase an image on the reversible recording layer 102 of the thermal recording medium 100. This may interfere with the image recording process. Therefore, the processing operation of the recording / erasing device, the image recording device, and the recording / rewriting device is stopped at the same time as the replacement instruction by the replacement instruction means, or after a lapse of a predetermined period from the replacement instruction, until the cleaning sheet 45 is completely replaced. It is desirable to provide a means for stopping. By providing such a stopping means, the image erasing or image recording processing capability of the reversible recording layer 102 of the thermosensitive recording medium 100 can be maintained for a long period of time. Specifically, a control unit (not shown) is used as the stopping means, and the user's operation of the erase button or the like for starting the processing operation is invalidated, or the insertion of the thermal recording medium 100 for starting the processing operation is detected. Deactivate the sensor. This is because both the erasing and printing of the printed image are performed by heat, and rewriting can be achieved with a device having a relatively simple structure using a conventional heater or thermal head. The basic configuration of the rewriting device is shown in FIG.
As shown in, the installation area of the device and the thermal recording medium 1
In consideration of the size of 00, it is possible to further enhance the convenience by vertically arranging the respective parts or bending the conveying path. Such flexibility on the device is particularly excellent in the case of the reversible thermosensitive recording medium 100, and the miniaturization of the device itself is easier to realize than other methods. In the reversible thermosensitive recording medium 100, an erasing heating unit including an erasing heating heater such as a heat roller or a ceramic heater substrate for erasing a printed image on the reversible recording layer, and a thermal head as a unit for coloring the reversible recording layer on the image. It suffices if at least a printing means such as the above is installed.

Example 1 An example of the present invention will be described below. This example (hereinafter referred to as "Example 1")
Then, the rewriting process is performed on the following thermal recording medium 100 using the recording rewriting device 30 shown in FIG. 1C having the cleaning unit 40 shown in FIG. 4A. In addition, as a writing tool for writing a retouched image on the reversible thermosensitive recording medium 100, an alcohol-based marker "piece" manufactured by Mitsubishi Pencil was used.

First, an example of manufacturing the thermal recording medium 100 used as the processing target of this embodiment will be described. Regarding the reversible recording layer 102, 2 parts of 2-anilino-3-methyl-6dibutylaminofluorane, 8 parts of a color developer having a structure shown in the following chemical formula 1 and color development having a structure shown in the following chemical formula 2 A composition comprising 3 parts of a decoloring control agent, 15 parts of an acrylic polyol resin (_LR503 manufactured by Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.), and 130 parts of a tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution was pulverized and dispersed by a ball mill to an average particle size of about 1 μm, 20 parts of Coronate HL (adduct type hexamethylene diisocyanate 75% ethyl acetate solution) manufactured by Nippon Polyurethane Co., Ltd. was added to the obtained dispersion liquid and well stirred to prepare a reversible recording layer coating liquid. The coating solution for the reversible recording layer was applied onto Shiraioi coated paper manufactured by Daishowa Paper Co., Ltd. using a wire bar, dried at 100 ° C. for 2 minutes, and then heated at 60 ° C. for 24 hours to give a film thickness of about A reversible recording layer of 9.0 μm was provided.

[0075]

[Chemical 1]

[Chemical 2]

For the protective layer 103, 10% acrylic polyol resin (LR327 manufactured by Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.) was used.
Part, 4 parts of silica (P-832 manufactured by Mizusawa Chemical Co., Ltd.), 1.2 parts of silicon graft polymer (GS1015 manufactured by Toagosei Co., Ltd.), and 50 parts of MEK were used, and an average particle diameter of about 50 μm was obtained using a ball mill. It was pulverized and dispersed to 1.0 μm, and 4 parts of Coronate HX manufactured by Nippon Polyurethane Industry Co., Ltd. was added to the obtained dispersion and well stirred to prepare a protective layer coating solution. And
This protective layer coating liquid was applied onto the reversible recording layer 102 using a wire bar and dried at 100 ° C. for 2 minutes,
By heating at 60 ° C. for 24 hours, a protective layer having a film thickness of about 3.0 μm was provided.

The thermosensitive recording medium 1 produced in this way
00, first, the image recording device 2 shown in FIG.
1 is used to record an image on the reversible recording layer 102, and the marker is added on the thermosensitive recording medium 100.
Rewriting processing was performed using the recording / rewriting device 30 shown in (c). Here, a tissue paper is used for the cleaning sheet 45 in the cleaning unit 40 of the recording / rewriting device 30, and a rubber material having a hardness of 45 is used for the pressing member 41a.
The pressure was applied by the pressing mechanism 43 so that the linear pressure was 2 kg. A rubber roller having a hardness of 30 was used as the receiving roller 44. As a result, the marker ink (writing substance) written on the thermosensitive recording medium 100 is the same as the thermosensitive recording medium 10.
The reversible recording layer 102 of the thermosensitive recording medium 100 could be completely rewritten with a new image. Similar results were obtained with the recording / rewriting device 30 having the cleaning unit 40 shown in FIG. 4 (b).

[Embodiment 2] Next, the cleaning sheet 4
FIG. 1C has the cleaning unit 40 shown in FIG.
An example in which the rewriting process is performed by using the recording / rewriting device 30 shown in FIG. The processing target in this embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment, and the various materials and settings are also the same as those in the first embodiment. As a result, the marker ink written on the thermal recording medium 100 could be completely removed from the thermal recording medium 100, and the reversible recording layer 102 of the thermal recording medium 100 could be rewritten with a new image. Further, the ink could be stably removed from the thermal recording medium 100 even if the rewriting process was repeated 10 times for the plurality of thermal recording mediums 100 on which the marker was written.

[Embodiment 3] Next, an embodiment in which a rewriting process is performed by using the recording / rewriting device 30 shown in FIG. 1C having the cleaning unit 140 shown in FIG. "Example 3") will be described. The objects to be treated in this example are the same as those in Examples 1 and 2, and the various materials and settings are the same as those in Examples 1 and 2 except that the linear pressure by the pressure mechanism 43 is 1.5 kg. Is. As a result, the marker ink written on the thermal recording medium 100 can be completely removed from the thermal recording medium 100, and the reversible recording layer 1 of the thermal recording medium 100 can be removed.
In 02, I was able to rewrite a new image. In this embodiment, since the cleaning sheet 45 is rubbed against the surface of the thermal recording medium 100 by the two edges, it is preferable to lower the pressure applied by the pressure mechanism 43 as compared with the first and second embodiments. The ink could be removed.

[Fourth Embodiment] Next, as in the third embodiment, FIG. 1 having the cleaning unit 140 shown in FIG.
An example in which the rewriting process is performed by using the recording / rewriting device 30 shown in (c) (hereinafter, this example is referred to as "Example 4").
Will be described. The processing target in this embodiment is the same as in the above-described first to third embodiments. In addition, the record rewriting device 3
Cleaning sheet 4 in the cleaning unit 40 of 0
Tissue paper was used for No. 5, rubber materials having various hardnesses were used for the pressing member 141, and pressure was applied by the pressing mechanism 43 so that the linear pressure was 2 kg. The receiving roller 4
For No. 4, a rubber roller having the same hardness as in Examples 1 to 3 was used. As a result, when the pressing member 141 is a rubber material having a hardness of 30 or more, the ink of the marker written on the thermosensitive recording medium 100 can be completely erased, and a new image is formed on the reversible recording layer 102 of the thermosensitive recording medium 100. I was able to rewrite it. However, when the pressing member 141 is a rubber material having a hardness of 70, if the ink removal process is repeated 5 times,
A part of the cleaning sheet 45 was damaged, and a small amount of ink remained on the thermal recording medium 100. When the pressing member 141 was a rubber material having a hardness of 20, some ink remained on the thermal recording medium 100 near the ink edge in the longitudinal direction.

[Embodiment 5] Next, FIGS. 8A and 8B
In addition, an example in which the rewriting process is performed by using the recording rewriting device 30 shown in FIG. 1C having the four kinds of cleaning units 240 and 340 shown in FIGS. An example will be described as "Example 5"). The processing target in this embodiment is the above-described first to first embodiments.
It is the same as 4. Further, a tissue paper is used for the cleaning sheet 45 in the cleaning unit 40 of the recording / rewriting device 30, and a rubber material having a relatively high hardness of 60 is used for the pressing members 241a and 341a located on the upstream side in the transport direction A. A rubber member having a relatively low hardness of 40 was used for the pressing members 241b and 341b located on the downstream side of A, and pressure was applied by the pressure mechanism 43 so that the linear pressure was 1.5 kg. The receiving roller 44 is the same as in the first to fourth embodiments.
A rubber roller having the same hardness of 30 was used. As a result, the ink of the marker written on the thermal recording medium 100 is
It could be completely removed from the thermal recording medium 100, and a new image could be rewritten on the reversible recording layer 102 of the thermal recording medium 100. In this embodiment, since the cleaning sheet 45 is rubbed against the surface of the thermal recording medium 100 at the two edges, even if the pressure applied by the pressing mechanism 43 is lowered as in the case of the third embodiment, the cleaning sheet 45 can be satisfactorily operated. The ink could be removed. Moreover, since the edge on the downstream side in the transport direction A in the present embodiment is formed of a rubber material having a hardness of 40 lower than that in the third embodiment, the plurality of thermal recording media 100 written by the markers are used. Even if the rewriting process is repeated 10 times, the thermal recording medium 10
Ink could be stably removed from above.

[Sixth Embodiment] Next, similar to the fifth embodiment, FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b) and FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (b).
An example in which the rewriting process is performed by using the recording rewriting device 30 shown in FIG. 1C having the four types of cleaning units 240 and 340 shown in FIG. 1 (hereinafter, this example is referred to as “Example 6”). ) Will be described. In this embodiment, the pressing members 241a and 341a located on the upstream side in the transport direction A are used.
A rubber material having a relatively high hardness of 50 is used for the above, and a rubber material having a relatively low hardness of 25 is used for the pressing members 241b and 341b located on the downstream side in the transport direction A. Is the same. In this case, the ink can be stably removed from the thermal recording medium 100 even if the rewriting process is repeated 10 times for the plurality of thermal recording mediums 100 written by the marker, and the thermal recording medium 10 can be removed.
The reversible recording layer 102 of 0 could be rewritten with a new image. However, the pressing members 241a and 341 on the upstream side are
When "a" and the pressing members 241b and 341b on the downstream side are exchanged and set, and the rewriting process is repeated 10 times in the same manner, the thermosensitive recording medium 100 is rewritten in the 10th rewriting process.
It was observed that a small amount of ink remained near the ink edge in the longitudinal direction above.

[Embodiment 7] Next, an embodiment in which the rewriting process is performed by using the recording / rewriting device 30 shown in FIG. 1C having the cleaning unit 240 shown in FIG. The embodiment will be described as "Embodiment 7"). In this embodiment, the pressing members 241a and 241b are pressed by the pressurizing mechanism 43 so that the linear pressure becomes 1.5 kg, the nip width of the upstream pressing member 241a is 0.5 mm, and the downstream pressing member 241b. The nip width was set to 0.8 mm. As a result, the ink can be completely removed from the thermal recording medium 100 even if the rewriting process is repeated 10 times for the plurality of thermal recording mediums 100 written by the marker, and the reversible recording layer 102 of the thermal recording medium 100. I was able to rewrite it with a new image. However, in the same device 30 as this embodiment, the nip widths of the pressing members 241a and 241b are both 0.5 mm.
Alternatively, when it was set to 0.8 mm, it was observed that the ink partially remained in the vicinity of the ink edge in the longitudinal direction on the thermal recording medium 100 in the 10th rewriting process.

[Embodiment 8] Next, an embodiment (hereinafter, referred to as the present embodiment) in which the rewriting processing is performed by using the recording rewriting device 30 shown in FIG. 1C having the cleaning unit 340 shown in FIG. 9B. An example will be described as "Example 8"). In this embodiment, the pressing members 341a and 341b are pressed by the pressurizing mechanism 43 so that the linear pressure becomes 1.5 kg, the nip width of the upstream pressing member 241a is 0.5 mm, and the downstream pressing member 241b. The nip width was set to 3 mm. As a result, the ink can be completely removed from the thermal recording medium 100 even if the rewriting process is repeated 10 times for the plurality of thermal recording mediums 100 written by the marker, and the reversible recording layer 102 of the thermal recording medium 100. I was able to rewrite it with a new image. However, if the upstream pressing member and the downstream pressing member are replaced in the same device 30 as in the present embodiment and the rewriting process is repeated, the thermal recording medium 10 is rewritten in the tenth rewriting process.
It was observed that a part of the ink remained near the ink edge in the longitudinal direction on 0.

[Embodiment 9] Next, an embodiment in which rewriting processing is performed by using the recording / rewriting device 30 shown in FIG. 1C having the cleaning unit 40 shown in FIG. An example will be described as "Example 9". In this embodiment, a tissue paper is used for the cleaning sheet 45 in the cleaning unit 40 of the recording / rewriting device 30, a rubber material having a hardness of 50 is used for the pressing member 41a, and a pressing mechanism 43 is used so that the linear pressure becomes 2 kg. Pressurized.
A rubber roller having a hardness of 30 was used as the receiving roller 44. Further, in the present embodiment, the radius of curvature of the edge portion in the cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is 0.2 mm and 0.4.
The rewriting process was performed using the one having a size of mm. As a result, the pressing member 41a having an edge with a radius of curvature of 0.2 mm
In the case of 1, the ink can be completely removed from the thermal recording medium 100 even if the rewriting process is repeated 10 times for the plurality of thermal recording mediums 100 written by the marker, and the reversible recording of the thermal recording medium 100 is performed. Layer 102
I was able to rewrite it with a new image. On the other hand, in the case of the pressing member 41a having an edge with a radius of curvature of 0.4 mm, the thermal recording medium 100 can be rewritten only by repeating the rewriting process several times for the plurality of thermal recording mediums 100 on which the marker is written. It was observed that a part of the ink remained near the ink edge in the longitudinal direction above.

[Embodiment 10] Next, an embodiment in which the rewriting process is performed by using the recording / rewriting device 30 shown in FIG. 1C having the cleaning unit 40 shown in FIG. An example will be described as "Example 10".
In this embodiment, the cleaning unit 40 of the recording / rewriting device 30.
Tissue paper was used for the cleaning sheet 45 and rubber material having a hardness of 50 was used for the pressing member 41a, and pressure was applied by the pressing mechanism 43 so that the linear pressure was 2 kg. A rubber roller having a hardness of 30 was used as the receiving roller 44. Further, in the present embodiment, the rewriting process is performed by using the pressing member 41a whose two surfaces forming the edge have different angles of 10 degrees from 50 degrees to 130 degrees.
As a result, the pressing member 4 with an angle of 60 to 120 degrees
When 1a is used, the ink can be completely removed from the thermal recording medium 100 even if the rewriting process is repeated 10 times for the plurality of thermal recording media 100 on which the marker writing has been performed, and The reversible recording layer 102 could be rewritten with a new image. On the other hand, in the case of the pressing member 41a having the angles of 50 degrees and 130 degrees, when the rewriting process is repeated for the plurality of thermal recording media 100 on which the writing is performed by the marker, 10 is obtained.
In the rewriting process of the first time, it was observed that the ink partially remained near the ink edge in the longitudinal direction on the thermal recording medium 100.

[Embodiment 11] Next, an embodiment in which a rewriting process is performed by using the recording / rewriting device 30 shown in FIG. 1C having the cleaning unit 40 shown in FIG. An example will be described as "Example 11".
In this embodiment, the cleaning unit 40 of the recording / rewriting device 30.
Tissue paper was used for the cleaning sheet 45 and rubber material having a hardness of 50 was used for the pressing member 41a, and pressure was applied by the pressing mechanism 43 so that the linear pressure was 1.5 kg. A rubber roller having a hardness of 30 was used as the receiving roller 44. Further, in this embodiment, the pressing member 41a is used in which the angle formed by the two surfaces forming the edge is 90 degrees, and the surface forming the edge and the surface located on the upstream side in the transport direction A and the thermal recording medium. The rewriting process was performed by changing the angle between the surface of 100 and 40 degrees from 90 degrees at intervals of 10 degrees. As a result, when the pressing member 41a whose angle is from 40 degrees to 80 degrees is used, even if the rewriting process is repeated 10 times with respect to the plurality of thermal recording media 100 on which writing is performed by the marker, the thermal recording medium 1
It was possible to completely remove the ink from the top of No. 00 and rewrite a new image on the reversible recording layer 102 of the thermosensitive recording medium 100. On the other hand, in the case of the pressing member 41a whose angle is set to 30 degrees, if the rewriting process is repeated for the plurality of thermosensitive recording media 100 on which the marker has been written, the thermosensitive recording medium is rewritten in the tenth rewriting process. It was observed that some of the ink remained near the longitudinal ink edges on 100. Further, in the case of the pressing member 41a whose angle is set to 90 degrees, the thermal recording medium 100 is pressed on the surface located on the downstream side in the transport direction A among the surfaces forming the edge of the pressing member 41a. However, since the pressing force applied to the edge is reduced, the ink cannot be completely removed from the thermal recording medium 100.

[Embodiment 2] Next, another embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a recording / erasing apparatus, an image recording apparatus and a record rewriting apparatus as in the case of Embodiment 1 (hereinafter, this embodiment will be referred to as "embodiment"). 2 ”). As a result of the research conducted by the present inventors, if the relative movement direction between the cleaning sheet 45 and the thermal recording medium 100 is only one direction as in the first embodiment, the above-described Examples 4, 6, 7, 8,
As described in 9, 10, and 11, it has been found that it may be difficult to completely remove the writing substance 100a. To describe in detail with a specific example, as shown in FIG. 11A, when the extending direction of the writing image by the writing substance 100a is parallel to the conveyance direction A (vertical line),
As shown in FIG. 1B, the cleaning residue 100b may remain at the upstream end (ink edge) in the transport direction of the retouched image. Further, as shown in FIG. 12A, when the extension direction of the retouched image is the longitudinal direction (horizontal line),
As shown in (b), a cleaning residue 100b may remain at the upstream end (ink edge) in the transport direction of the retouched image. This phenomenon was remarkable especially when the retouched image was a horizontal line. The reason why such cleaning residue 100b remains is considered as follows. That is, at the moment when the cleaning sheet 45 that moves while contacting the portion to which the writing substance 100a is not attached contacts the writing substance 100a, the cleaning sheet 45 collides with the edge of the raised writing substance 100a. At the time of this collision, a momentary load is applied to the cleaning sheet 45, so that the cleaning sheet 45 gets over the edge of the writing substance 100a without completely wiping it off. Therefore, as shown in FIG.
It is considered that the cleaning residue 100b as shown in (b) remains. In particular, in the case of a horizontal line as shown in FIG. 12A, the amount of the writing substance 100a contacting the cleaning sheet 45 at one time is large, and the adhering state of the writing substance 100a on the thermal recording medium 100 is not uniform. is there. Therefore, in the case of the horizontal line, the contact pressure of the cleaning sheet 45 with respect to the writing substance 100a is generally weaker than in the case of the vertical line, and the contact state varies. As a result, the cleaning residue is 10
0b tends to remain.

Therefore, in the second embodiment, the second writing substance for removing the writing substance 100a adhering to the surface of the thermal recording medium 100 on the upstream side of the cleaning unit 40 in the carrying direction A in the first embodiment. A second cleaning unit is provided as a removing unit. The reversible recording medium that is the processing target of the recording / erasing apparatus, the image recording apparatus, and the recording / rewriting apparatus according to the second embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the second embodiment
Since the basic configurations and operations of the recording / erasing apparatus, the image recording apparatus, and the recording / rewriting apparatus according to the first embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram of the recording / rewriting device 430 according to the second embodiment as viewed from the surface side (above) of the thermal recording medium 100. Although a recording / rewriting device will be described as an example here, the same applies to the recording / erasing device shown in FIG. 1A and the image recording device shown in FIG. 1B. The recording / rewriting device 430 of the second embodiment
In addition, a second cleaning unit 440 is added to the configuration of the recording / rewriting device 30 of the first embodiment. The second cleaning section 440 is arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction of the cleaning section 40, but may be arranged on the downstream side. Further, the recording / rewriting device 430 includes the thermal recording medium 10
A paper detection sensor 450 for detecting the intrusion of 0 is also provided.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the second cleaning section 440. A user operates an erase button (not shown) as an operating means, or the thermal recording medium 100.
When the paper detection sensor 450 detects that the paper has entered, the start of erasing the thermal recording medium is instructed. As a result, the thermal recording medium 100 is first transported to the second cleaning unit 440. This second cleaning section 440
Then, the writing substance 100a attached to the surface of the thermal recording medium 100 is removed, and the writing image on the thermal recording medium 100 is erased. After that, the thermal recording medium 100 is
It is sent to the cleaning unit 40. Subsequent processing is the same as that in the first embodiment.

As the second cleaning section 440, all known writing substance removing means can be used.
In the second cleaning unit 440 of the second exemplary embodiment, a removing member 445 made of the same material as that of the cleaning sheet 45 of the first exemplary embodiment is provided on the surface of the metal substrate 442 facing the thermal recording medium 100. It has a cleaning block 441. The removing member 445 is supported and fixed to the metal substrate 442, and pressure is applied to the thermal recording medium 100 side via the metal substrate 442 by a pressure mechanism having a spring as a pressure means (not shown). Further, a receiving member (not shown) is installed at a position facing the removing member 445 via the transport surface of the thermal recording medium 100. Further, the cleaning block 441 is
It is attached to a rail 443 extending in the longitudinal direction.
The cleaning block 441 can reciprocate along the first rail 443 by a first driving mechanism (not shown) as a relative moving unit. Further, the first rail 443 to which the cleaning block 441 is attached is
It is possible to reciprocate along the second rail 444 by a second drive mechanism as a relative moving means (not shown).

When the thermosensitive recording medium 100 is conveyed to the second cleaning section 440, the conveyance of the thermosensitive recording medium 100 is once stopped. Then, this thermal recording medium 10
With the removal member 445 being pressed against 0, the cleaning block 441 is moved to the first rail 44 by the first drive mechanism.
It reciprocates in the direction of arrow C in FIG. This reciprocating movement is performed over the full width of the thermal recording medium 100. In the second embodiment, the length of the removing member 445 in the transport direction A is shorter than the length of the thermal recording medium 100 in the transport direction A. Therefore, after the reciprocating movement is completed, the cleaning block 441 is moved in the direction of the arrow D in the figure along the second rail 444. After that, the cleaning block 441 is moved again and again along the first rail 443 in the direction of arrow C in the figure. By repeating this, it is possible to perform the cleaning process of the writing substance 100a over the entire surface of the thermal recording medium 100.

FIG. 15 shows the recording / rewriting device 4 of the second embodiment.
30 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations in 30.
In the figure, the transport speed of the thermal recording medium 100 is v [mm
/ Sec], the distance from the detection position of the paper detection sensor 450 to the upstream end of the second cleaning unit 440 in the transport direction is L2 [mm], and the distance from that to the upstream end of the cleaning unit 40 in the transport direction is L1. [Mm], and the distance from there to the thermal head 18 of the recording unit 17 is L0
[Mm]. The distances L0 and L described here are
1 and L2 are not linear distances but distances along the transport path of the thermal recording medium 100. The distance L0 is A4
The length is shorter than the vertical size of 297 mm. Further, the longitudinal direction of the A4 size thermal recording medium 100 coincides with the transport direction.

First, the thermal recording medium is set in the recording / rewriting device 430.
Set the body 100 and instruct the start of rewriting from a computer, etc.
Then, the heat roller 12 is turned on (S1). Hey
The temperature of the track 12 is detected by the thermistor and
Based on the detection signal of the
The control unit determines whether or not it has reached the limit (S2). Set temperature
When the temperature reaches the limit, the conveyance of the thermal recording medium 100 is started.
(S3). Then, the front end of the thermal recording medium 100 is
Simultaneously with (S4) when detected by the detection sensor 450
Then, the timer is set (S5). After that,
Immersion time t _L2= L2 / v (S6), heat sensitive
The conveyance of the recording medium 100 is stopped (S7). By this
The tip of the thermal recording medium 100 is located at the second cleaning unit 4
In the state of being positioned at the upstream end of the transport direction of 40, the thermal recording medium
The body 100 stops.

When the thermal recording medium 100 is stopped in this way, as described above, the second cleaning unit 440 is operated (S8) and reciprocated at least once to clean the thermal recording medium 100. Then, when this cleaning process is completed (S9), the operation of the second cleaning unit 440 is stopped (S10). Then, the conveyance of the thermal recording medium 100 is immediately restarted (S11), the timer is reset (S12), and the timer time is t _L1.
= L1 / v (S13), the cleaning unit 40
Are operated (S14). Also, the timer time is t = t
_{When L1} + t _L0 is reached (S15), since the tip of the thermal recording medium 100 has reached the position facing the thermal head 18 of the recording unit 17, image recording by the thermal head 18 is started (S16). Also, the timer time is t = t _L1 +
When t _A4 is reached (S17), since the trailing edge of the thermal recording medium 100 has passed through the cleaning unit 40, the operation of the cleaning unit 40 is stopped (S18). When the image recording operation by the thermal head 18 is completed (S1
9) The heat roller 12 is turned off (S20). By such an operation, the cleaning process of the writing substance 100a, the image erasing process, and the image recording process can be performed as a series of operations.

It should be noted that, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 15, if the processes of S6 to S12 related to the cleaning process of the second cleaning section 440 are omitted, the above-described first embodiment is omitted.
The operation is similar to that of the recording / rewriting device 30.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the thermal recording medium 1 is used.
The second cleaning unit 440 and the cleaning unit 40 are subjected to two cleaning processes for the writing material 100a on 00. Moreover, the relative movement direction of the removing member 445 with respect to the thermal recording medium 100 in the second cleaning unit 440 is orthogonal to the relative movement direction of the cleaning unit 40. In this case, one cleaning unit 4
Even if the edge portion of the retouched image extending in the direction orthogonal to the relative movement direction that is difficult to remove with 0,440 remains,
The cleaning residue 100b is not difficult to remove for the other cleaning units 440, 40, so it can be easily removed.

In the second embodiment, in the second cleaning section 440, the cleaning block 441 moves back and forth a plurality of times to clean the entire surface of the thermal recording medium 100. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Not a thing. For example, if the length of the removing member 445 in the transport direction A is longer than the length of the thermal recording medium 100 in the transport direction A, the entire surface of the thermal recording medium 100 can be cleaned by one reciprocating movement. . Also in this case, the conveyance of the thermal recording medium 100 is stopped during the cleaning process. In addition, the second embodiment
In the above, the configuration in which the cleaning process in the second cleaning unit 440 is performed in a state where the transport of the thermal recording medium 100 is described has been described, but the cleaning process can be performed while the thermal recording medium 100 is transported.

Further, as the second cleaning section 440 of the second embodiment, the same configuration as the cleaning section 40 described in the first embodiment (including the modified examples 1 to 3) may be adopted. That is, the cleaning sheet 45 may be used as the removing member 445, and the cleaning sheet 45 may be pressed against the surface of the thermal recording medium 100 by the edge of the pressing member 41a serving as the second pressing unit.

[Embodiment 12] Next, an embodiment (hereinafter, this embodiment is referred to as “Embodiment 12”) in which rewriting processing is performed by using the recording / rewriting device 430 described in the second embodiment will be described. . As the second cleaning unit 440 in the twelfth embodiment, the cleaning unit 45 that presses the cleaning sheet 45 with the pressing member 41a is used similarly to the cleaning unit 40. Further, the object to be processed in this embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment, and the various materials and settings are also the same as those in the first embodiment. However, in Example 12, the thermosensitive recording medium 100 in which the line (horizontal line) shown in FIG. 12A was added with a marker was used. As a result, the marker ink (horizontal line) written on the thermal recording medium 100 can be completely removed from the thermal recording medium,
A new image could be rewritten on the reversible recording layer of the thermosensitive recording medium. In addition, when the second cleaning unit 440 is removed from the apparatus used in the twelfth embodiment and the image is rewritten in the same manner, FIG.
The cleaning residue 100b as shown in FIG.

As described above, according to Embodiments 1 and 2 and Modifications 1 to 3, the reversible recording layer 102 whose state is reversibly changed is provided, and visible by changing the state of the reversible recording layer. With respect to the thermosensitive recording medium 100 as a reversible recording medium capable of recording and erasing images, the heat roller 12 or the thermal head 18 as a processing member is brought into contact with the surface of the thermosensitive recording medium, and the state of the reversible recording layer 102 is changed. Erasing unit 1 as processing means for performing processing for changing
1 or the recording unit 17, and the cleaning units 40, 140, 24 constituting the writing substance removing means for removing the writing substance 100a constituting the writing image written on the surface of the thermosensitive recording medium.
In the recording / erasing device 10, the image recording device 20, or the recording / rewriting device 30 as a reversible recording medium processing device including the cleaning units 40, 140, 2
Reference numerals 40 and 340 denote a cleaning sheet 45 formed as a sheet and serving as a sheet-shaped removing member, and the cleaning sheet 45 from the surface opposite to the surface of the cleaning sheet 45 in contact with the surface of the thermal recording medium. Pressing members 41 and 14 forming pressing means for pressing against the surface
1, 241 and 341 and the pressing mechanism 43, and the conveyance roller 15 as a relative moving unit that relatively moves the cleaning sheet 45 pressed by the pressing member and the surface of the thermal recording medium 100. Member 4
1, 141, 241, 341, by the pressurizing mechanism 43,
Since the cleaning sheet 45 is pressed against the thermal recording medium 100 at the edge portion extending in the direction inclined with respect to the transport direction A which is the surface moving direction of the reversible recording medium viewed from the cleaning sheet 45, the cleaning sheet 45 is pressed onto the recording medium such as paper. The writing substance 100a adhered with a strong adhesive force can be effectively removed from the surface of the thermal recording medium 100 by being written with the writing instrument used. Further, the cleaning sheet 45 is
Since the portion that comes into contact with the surface of the thermal recording medium 100 is made of a fibrous material, it is flexible and the sheet surface has fine irregularities. Therefore, the cleaning sheet 45 is pressed against the pressing members 41, 141, 241 and 341.
The cleaning 45 can be more firmly brought into close contact with the surface of the heat-sensitive recording medium 100 by pressing the cleaning portion 45 at the edge portion thereof. Moreover, when the cleaning sheet 45 is rubbed against the surface of the thermosensitive recording medium, the effect of scraping the writing substance from the surface of the reversible recording medium is obtained due to the fine irregularities of the fiber surface. In this way, the adhesion between the cleaning sheet 45 and the surface of the thermosensitive recording medium 100 is enhanced, and the scraping effect due to the fine irregularities on the fiber surface is obtained, so that the high removal performance is combined with the stripping effect by the edge portion. Can be demonstrated. Further, the writing substance 100a that has been removed and adhered to the cleaning sheet 45 will be captured and held by the eyes of the fibers of the cleaning sheet 45. It does not pollute. In addition, the pressing members 41, 141, 241 and 34
Since the edge portion 1 is made of an elastic material, the cleaning sheet 45 can be more surely brought into close contact with the surface of the thermal recording medium 100, and the writing substance 10 is more effective.
0a can be removed from the surface of the thermal recording medium 100. Further, as in the above-described modified examples 1 to 3, the pressing member 14
When 1, 241, 341 have a plurality of edge portions having different hardnesses, the edge portion having a higher hardness among the plurality of edge portions should be arranged upstream of the edge portion having a lower hardness in the transport direction A. Then, after removing most of the writing substance 100a at the cleaning sheet portion of the high hardness edge portion, the remaining writing substance 100a that is difficult to remove at the cleaning sheet portion of the high hardness edge portion is removed by the low hardness edge portion. The cleaning sheet portion can be effectively removed, and the removal performance of the cleaning units 140, 240, 340 can be improved. In addition, the above-described modified examples 1 to 3
As described above, when the pressing members 141, 241 and 341 are provided with a plurality of pressing portions that press the cleaning sheet 45 against the surface of the thermal recording medium 100, at least one of the plurality of pressing portions is the edge. Since it is a part, the cleaning sheet 45 can be rubbed against the surface of the thermal recording medium 100 a plurality of times, compared to the case where the cleaning sheet 45 is rubbed against the surface of the thermal recording medium 100 only once. Cleaning section 14
The removal performance of 0, 240, 340 can be improved.
In particular, if a pressing portion having an edge portion and a pressing portion having no edge are used in combination, higher removal performance can be exhibited as compared with the case where only the pressing portion having an edge portion is used as described above. . In particular, as in the third modification, the plurality of pressing portions of the pressing member 340 have different nip widths as the contact width between the cleaning sheet 45 and the surface of the thermal recording medium in the transport direction A so that the cleaning sheet 45 has different nip widths. And a pressing portion having a narrow nip width suitable for removing most of the writing substance 100a from the surface of the thermal recording medium 100, and removing the fine writing substance 100a from the surface of the thermal recording medium 100. A pressing portion having a wide nip width suitable for this purpose can be used together, and as described above, the removal performance of the cleaning portions 140, 240, 340 can be enhanced as compared with the case where only the pressing portion having the same nip width is used. Further, among the plurality of pressing portions of the pressing member 340, the pressing portion that presses the cleaning sheet 45 so that the nip width becomes narrower is arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction A than the pressing portion that presses so that the nip width becomes wider. Thus, after removing most of the writing substance 100a in the cleaning sheet portion having the narrow nip width, the remaining writing substance 100a which is difficult to remove in the cleaning sheet portion having the narrow nip width is effective in the cleaning sheet portion having the wide nip width. Therefore, it is possible to improve the removal performance of the cleaning units 140, 240, and 340 as compared with the case where the cleaning units 140, 240, and 340 are arranged in reverse. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, by having the fixing member 46 as a fixing means for fixing the cleaning sheet 45 on the upstream side in the transport direction A, the friction generated by the relative movement between the cleaning sheet 45 and the thermal recording medium 100. It is possible to prevent the cleaning sheet 45 from being displaced by force, and to perform stable removal processing. Also,
As described in the ninth embodiment, the pressing members 41, 14
If the edges of 1, 241 and 341 are formed so that the radius of curvature of the cross section orthogonal to the extending direction is 0.3 mm or less, the effect of stripping by the edges is high and high removal performance is exhibited. You can In addition, the above-mentioned Example 1
As described in 0, the pressing members 41, 141, 241,
The angle formed by the two surfaces forming the edge of 341 is 60
If the edge portion is formed so as to be not less than 120 degrees and not more than 120 degrees, a sufficient scraping effect by the edge portion can be obtained, and the cleaning sheet 45 is linearly and evenly adhered to the heat-sensitive recording medium 100, so that the heat The writing substance 100a can be effectively peeled off from the recording medium 100. Also,
The angle between the surface of the thermal recording medium 100 and the surface of the pressing member 41, 141, 241 or 341, which is located on the upstream side in the carrying direction A, of the two surfaces forming the edge is the carrying direction. By being larger than the angle formed by the surface located on the downstream side in the direction A and the surface of the thermal recording medium 100, a high stripping effect by the edge is obtained, and the writing substance 100a is effectively stripped from the thermal recording medium 100. be able to. Also, the pressing members 41, 141, 24
Cleaning sheet 4 pressed by 1,341
By having the receiving roller 44 as a supporting member which is arranged at a position facing the portion of No. 5, and when the portion is pressed against the surface of the thermal recording medium, the rear surface of the thermal recording medium 100 on which the portion is pressed is supported. The cleaning sheet 45 can be firmly pressed against the surface of the heat-sensitive recording medium via the pressing members 41, 141, 241 and 341 by the pressing force of the pressing mechanism 43.
It is possible to enhance the adhesion between the surface of the thermal recording medium 100 and the recording medium 5 and effectively remove the writing substance 100a from the surface of the thermal recording medium 100. In particular, the support portion for supporting the back surface of the thermosensitive recording medium in the receiving roller 44 is formed of an elastic body having a hardness smaller than the hardness of the edge portions of the pressing members 41, 141, 241 and 341 formed of the elastic body. Then, the edge portion of the pressing member is in a state of biting into the receiving roller 44 while sandwiching the cleaning sheet 45 and the thermal recording medium 100, and the uniform adhesion between the cleaning sheet 45 and the surface of the thermal recording medium 100 is effectively obtained. The writing substance 100a on the thermal recording medium 100 can be effectively removed. Further, the pressing members 41, 141,
A pressurizing mechanism 43 and a control unit are provided as switching means for switching between the pressing state in which the cleaning sheet 45 is pressed by 241 and 341 and the release state in which the cleaning sheet 45 is not pressed, and the control unit controls the pressing operation of the pressing mechanism 43. The thermal recording medium 100 is held in the released state until the leading end of the thermal recording medium 100 passes through the sandwiched portion between the cleaning sheet 45 pressed by the pressing member and the receiving roller 44. It is possible to easily carry the sheet and extend the life of the cleaning sheet 45. In addition, the control unit controls the pressing operation of the pressing mechanism 43 so that the pressing members 41, 141, 241 and 341 are provided before the rear end of the thermal recording medium 100 passes through the sandwiched portion.
By switching to the release state, cleaning sheet 4
5 can be extended in life. In particular, when the pressing mechanism 43 constituting the switching means is in the released state, the edge portions of the pressing members 41, 141, 241 and 341 and the receiving roller 44 do not come into contact with each other via the cleaning sheet 45. If the edge portion and the receiving roller 44 are separated from each other, it is possible to achieve more reliable conveyance and a longer life of the cleaning sheet 45. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, if a sheet feeding mechanism 47 is provided as a changing means for changing the portion of the cleaning sheet 45 pressed against the surface of the thermal recording medium 100 to another portion of the cleaning sheet 45, Cleaning section 40, 14
0, 240, and 340 are practical because they can exhibit and maintain stable removal performance for a long period of time. In particular, the sheet feeding mechanism 47 changes the cleaning sheet portion pressed against the surface of the heat-sensitive recording medium before the change so as not to contact the surface of the heat-sensitive recording medium after the change, thereby providing a more stable removal performance for a long period of time. You can maintain your performance. In addition, the first modification
When the pressing members 141, 241 and 341 have a plurality of pressing portions, and at least one of the plurality of pressing portions is the edge portion, the sheet feeding mechanism 47 causes the edge to move. By changing the cleaning sheet portion, which was pressed before the change at the edge portion located on the most upstream side in the transport direction A of the part, so as not to contact the surface of the thermal recording medium after the change, the most added substance 1
Do not use the cleaning sheet part with 00a attached,
More stable removal performance can be maintained. Also,
If the sheet feeding mechanism 47 moves the cleaning sheet 45 by a fixed amount, the removal performance can be maintained for a long period of time with a simple structure. In addition, since the cleaning sheet 45 has a replacement unit for replacing the cleaning sheet with another cleaning sheet, the reversible recording medium processing apparatus can be used for a long period of time. In particular, the replacement means causes the cleaning sheet 45 to clean the cleaning units 40, 1.
By having a discharging means for discharging to the outside of 40, 240, 340, the replacement work by the user is facilitated, and the user's hand is soiled with the writing substance 100a attached to the used cleaning sheet 45, or at the time of replacement. It is possible to prevent the writing substance 100a from scattering and contaminating the inside of the machine. Further, by providing a sensor as a detection means for detecting the usage state such as the remaining amount of the cleaning sheet 45, it becomes possible to inform the user of the replacement time or to automatically replace the cleaning sheet 45. In particular, by having a buzzer or the like as a replacement instructing means for issuing an instruction to replace the cleaning sheet 45 based on the detection result of the sensor, the user can be prompted to replace the cleaning sheet 45,
It is possible to prevent the removal process from being continued due to the cleaning sheet 45 whose removal performance has deteriorated. Also,
Based on the detection result by the sensor, a control unit as a determination unit that determines whether the usage state of the cleaning sheet 45 has reached a predetermined usage limit, and that the control unit has reached a predetermined usage limit. At this time, the removal processing is continued by the cleaning sheet 45 whose removal performance is lowered by having the control section as a stopping means for stopping the processing by the heat roller 12 and the thermal head 18 of the erasing section 11 and the recording section 17. Heat roller 1
It is possible to prevent the writing substance 100a from adhering to the 2 or the thermal head 18. In the second embodiment, the relative movement direction (conveyance direction A) in the cleaning unit 40 in a state in which the removing member 445 is pressed against the writing material 100a that forms the writing image that is touched on the surface of the thermal recording medium 100.
A second writing substance that removes the writing substance 100a from the surface of the heat-sensitive recording medium by relatively moving the removing member 445 and the surface of the heat-sensitive recording medium 100 in a different direction (direction orthogonal to the transport direction A). A second cleaning unit 440 is provided as a removing unit. As a result, the residual portion of the edge portion of the retouched image 100a that is difficult to remove in the cleaning unit 40 and extends in the direction orthogonal to the relative movement direction can be removed by the second cleaning unit 440, so that the retouching substance 100a can be removed. 100
Can be more effectively removed from the surface. In particular, if the same configuration as the cleaning unit 40 in the first embodiment (including each modification) is adopted as the second cleaning unit 440, the same effect as the effect described in the first embodiment can be obtained. . In the second embodiment,
The relative moving means in the cleaning section 40 conveys the thermosensitive recording medium 100. The pressing member 41 a of the cleaning unit 40 is fixedly arranged and has an edge portion extending in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction A of the thermal recording medium 100. Then, the second cleaning unit 44
The writing substance is removed by 0 by moving the removal member 445 in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction A while pressing the removal member 445 against the surface of the heat sensitive recording medium while the transport of the thermal recording medium 100 is stopped. As a result, the relative movement directions of the cleaning units 40 and 440 with respect to the thermal recording medium 100 are orthogonal to each other, and the edge portion of the writing substance 100a extending in the direction orthogonal to the relative movement direction remains. , Can effectively supplement each other.

[0103]

According to the invention of claims 1 to 28, the writing substance adhered with a strong adhesive force by being written with a writing tool used for a recording medium such as paper is effectively removed from the surface of the reversible recording medium. Therefore, it is possible to sufficiently suppress the adhesion of the retouched image to the processing member, prevent the deterioration of the erasing quality and the recording quality of the reversible recording medium, and repeatedly rewrite the image while maintaining the high image quality on the reversible recording medium. It has an excellent effect that it can be performed. Further, according to the present invention of claims 1 to 28, there is also an excellent effect that it is not necessary for the user to previously delete the retouched retouched image before performing the processing. Further, according to the present invention of claims 1 to 28, not only the writing substance but also the dirt, hand marks, dust and the like attached to the surface of the reversible recording medium can be simultaneously removed by the sheet-shaped removing member. It is possible to prevent stains other than the writing substance on the processing member, and realize highly reliable processing without deteriorating the image quality even if the processing is repeatedly performed. With such high reliability, the above-mentioned effect that even a writing substance adhered with a strong adhesive force by being written with a writing instrument used for a recording medium such as paper can be effectively removed from the reversible recording medium surface This makes it possible to practically use a reversible recording medium instead of a recording medium such as paper. Therefore, while maintaining the work efficiency of an office or the like as in the case of a recording medium such as paper, it is possible to reduce the amount of paper used and contribute to the mitigation of environmental, resource and energy problems. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1A is a schematic configuration diagram of a recording / erasing apparatus according to a first embodiment. FIG. 1B is a schematic configuration diagram of the image recording apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3C is a schematic configuration diagram of the recording / rewriting device according to the first embodiment.

2A and 2B are cross-sectional views in the thickness direction showing a schematic configuration of a thermal recording medium.

3A and 3B are graphs showing a basic coloring / erasing process of a thermal recording medium.

4A and 4B are schematic configuration diagrams showing two examples of the most basic configuration of a cleaning unit.

5A to 5C are explanatory views showing a flow of a basic operation of the cleaning unit.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example in which the end portion of the cleaning sheet of the cleaning unit is fixed on the upstream side in the transport direction of the thermal recording medium.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cleaning unit according to a first modification.

8A and 8B are schematic configuration diagrams of a cleaning unit according to a second modification.

9A and 9B are schematic configuration diagrams of a cleaning unit according to Modification 3. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a cleaning unit having a sheet feeding mechanism.

11 (a) and 11 (b) are explanatory views showing a state of a cleaning residue when the direction in which the retouched image extends is parallel (vertical line) to the transport direction of the thermosensitive recording medium.

12 (a) and 12 (b) are explanatory views showing a state of residual cleaning when the direction in which the retouched image extends is a direction (horizontal line) orthogonal to the transport direction of the thermosensitive recording medium.

FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram when the recording / rewriting device according to the second embodiment is viewed from the surface side (above) of the thermal recording medium.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a second cleaning unit of the recording / rewriting device.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations in the recording / rewriting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Record eraser 11 Eraser 15 Conveyor roller 17 Recording section 20 Image recording device 30,430 Record rewriting device 40 Cleaning section 41, 141, 241 and 341 Pressing member 43 Pressurization mechanism 44 receiving roller 45 cleaning sheet 46 Fixing member 47 sheet feeding mechanism 100 thermal recording medium 101 support 102 recording layer 103 protective layer 104 Back coat layer 440 Second cleaning unit 441 cleaning block 445 removal member

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Kyoji Tsutsui             1-3-3 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stocks             Company Ricoh (72) Inventor Takeshi Shibuya             1-3-3 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stocks             Company Ricoh (72) Inventor Yasumori Nagahara             1-3-3 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stocks             Company Ricoh (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Denawa             1-3-3 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stocks             Company Ricoh F term (reference) 2C065 AC04 AF01 CZ05 CZ13 CZ16

Claims (28)

[Claims] 1. A reversible recording medium having a reversible recording layer whose state changes reversibly, and capable of recording and erasing a visible image by changing the state of the reversible recording layer. A processing means for bringing a processing member into contact with the surface of the recording medium to perform a process for changing the state of the reversible recording layer, and a writing substance for removing the writing substance constituting the writing image added to the reversible recording medium surface. A reversible recording medium processing apparatus comprising a removing means, wherein the writing substance removing means contacts a sheet-like removing member formed in a sheet shape and the reversible recording medium surface of the sheet-like removing member. Pressing means for pressing the sheet-shaped removing member against the reversible recording medium surface from the side opposite to the side surface, and a relative movement for relatively moving the sheet-shaped removing member and the reversible recording medium surface pressed by the pressing means. The pressing means is an edge portion extending in a direction inclined with respect to the surface moving direction of the reversible recording medium viewed from the sheet-shaped removing member, and the reversing means for reversing the sheet-shaped removing member. A processing device for a reversible recording medium, characterized by being pressed against the surface of a reversible recording medium. 2. The reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet-shaped removing member has a portion in contact with the surface of the reversible recording medium made of a fibrous material. Recording medium processing device. 3. The reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the edge portion is formed of an elastic body. 4. The reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the pressing means has a plurality of edge portions having different hardnesses, and the edge portion having a high hardness among the plurality of edge portions is hardened. A reversible recording medium processing apparatus, wherein the reversible recording medium processing apparatus is arranged on the upstream side in the surface moving direction of the reversible recording medium as viewed from the sheet-shaped removing member, relative to the lower edge portion. 5. The reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressing means has a plurality of pressing portions that press the sheet-shaped removing member against the surface of the reversible recording medium. And at least one of the plurality of pressing parts
The reversible recording medium processing apparatus is characterized in that one is the above-mentioned edge portion. 6. The reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of pressing portions are reversible with the sheet-shaped removing member in the surface moving direction of the reversible recording medium viewed from the sheet-shaped removing member. A reversible recording medium processing device, wherein the sheet-shaped removing members are pressed so that the contact widths with the recording medium surface are different from each other. 7. The reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a pressing portion for pressing the sheet-shaped removing member so as to narrow the contact width among the plurality of pressing portions has a wide contact width. The reversible recording medium processing apparatus is arranged on the upstream side in the surface moving direction of the reversible recording medium as viewed from the sheet-shaped removing member, as compared with the pressing portion that presses the sheet-shaped removing member. 8. The reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, wherein the sheet-shaped removing member is a reversible recording medium viewed from the sheet-shaped removing member. A reversible recording medium processing apparatus, comprising a fixing means for fixing on the upstream side in the surface moving direction. 9. A method according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8.
2. The reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to item 1, wherein the edge portion has a radius of curvature of 0.3 mm or less in a cross section orthogonal to the extending direction of the edge portion. 10. Claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Alternatively, in the reversible recording medium processing apparatus of Item 9, the edge portion has an angle of 6 between two surfaces forming the edge portion.
A processing device for a reversible recording medium, characterized in that it is 0 degree or more and 120 degrees or less. 11. Claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
In the processing device for reversible recording medium according to 8, 9 or 10,
The edge portion is an angle formed by the surface of the reversible recording medium and a surface of the two surfaces forming the edge portion, which is located upstream of the surface moving direction of the reversible recording medium when viewed from the sheet-shaped removing member. Is larger than the angle formed by the surface located on the downstream side in the surface moving direction and the surface of the reversible recording medium. 12. A method according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
In the reversible recording medium processing device of 8, 9, 10 or 11, the sheet-shaped removing member is arranged at a position facing the sheet-shaped removing member portion pressed by the pressing means, and the sheet-shaped removing member is surfaced by the pressing means. A reversible recording medium processing apparatus comprising a support member that supports the back surface of the reversible recording medium portion against which the sheet-shaped removing member is pressed when pressed against the reversible recording medium. 13. The reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the support portion of the support member which supports the back surface of the reversible recording medium portion is an edge portion formed of an elastic body provided in the pressing means. A reversible recording medium processing device, wherein the reversible recording medium processing device is formed of an elastic body having a hardness smaller than that of the above. 14. The reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, further comprising switching means for switching between a pressing state in which the sheet-like removing member is pressed by the pressing means and a release state in which the sheet-like removing member is not pressed. The switching means is
Until the leading end of the reversible recording medium passes between the sheet-shaped removing member portion pressed by the pressing means and the support portion supporting the back surface of the reversible recording medium portion of the supporting member, the pressing means A reversible recording medium processing device, characterized in that it holds a released state. 15. The reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, further comprising switching means for switching between a pressing state in which the sheet-like removing member is pressed by the pressing means and a released state in which the sheet-shaped removing member is not pressed. The switching means is
Before the rear end of the reversible recording medium passes between the sheet-shaped removing member portion pressed by the pressing means and the supporting portion of the supporting member that supports the back surface of the reversible recording medium portion, the pressing is performed. A reversible recording medium processing device, characterized in that the means is switched to a released state. 16. The reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the switching means, when in the released state, has the edge portion of the pressing means and the support portion of the support member removed in the sheet form. A processing device for a reversible recording medium, characterized in that the edge portion and the support portion are separated from each other so as not to contact with each other via a member. 17. A method according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16
In the reversible recording medium processing apparatus, the reversible recording having a changing means for changing a portion of the sheet-shaped removing member pressed against the surface of the reversible recording medium to another portion of the sheet-shaped removing member. Media processing device. 18. The reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the changing means has the sheet-shaped removing member portion pressed against the surface of the reversible recording medium before the change, after the change. A processing device for a reversible recording medium, which is modified so as not to come into contact with the surface. 19. The reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the pressing means has a plurality of pressing portions that press the sheet-shaped removing member against the surface of the reversible recording medium. At least one of the parts is the edge part, and the changing means is the edge part located on the most upstream side in the surface moving direction of the reversible recording medium viewed from the sheet-shaped removing member of the edge part. A reversible recording medium processing apparatus, characterized in that the portion of the sheet-shaped removing member pressed before the change is changed so as not to contact the surface of the reversible recording medium after the change. 20. The reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 17, 18 or 19, wherein the changing means moves the sheet-shaped removing member by a predetermined amount. . 21. Claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16,
The reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to 17, 18, 19 or 20 further comprises a replacement means for replacing the sheet-shaped removing member with another sheet-shaped removing member. . 22. The reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the exchanging means has a discharging means for discharging the sheet-shaped removing member to the outside of the writing substance removing means. Reversible recording medium processing device. 23. Claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16,
The reversible recording medium processing device of 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 or 22 is characterized in that the reversible recording medium processing device has a detecting means for detecting a usage state of the sheet-shaped removing member. 24. The reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising exchange instruction means for instructing exchange of the sheet-shaped removing member based on a detection result of the detection means. Recording medium processing device. 25. The reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 23, wherein it is determined whether the usage state of the sheet-shaped removing member has reached a predetermined usage limit based on the detection result of the detection means. A reversible recording medium having an added matter erasing means, characterized by having a judging means for judging and a canceling means for canceling the processing by the processing means when the judging means judges that a predetermined use limit has been reached. Processing equipment. 26. Claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16,
In the reversible recording medium processing device of 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25, the removing member was pressed against the retouching substance constituting the retouched image added to the reversible recording medium surface. In a state, the removing member and the reversible recording medium surface are relatively moved in a direction different from the relative moving direction by the relative moving means, and the writing material is removed from the reversible recording medium surface by the removing member. 2. A reversible recording medium processing apparatus, characterized in that it is provided with the second addition substance removing means. 27. The reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the second addition substance removing means is a surface of the removing member formed in a sheet shape, the surface being in contact with the surface of the reversible recording medium. Has second pressing means for pressing the removing member against the surface of the reversible recording medium from the opposite surface side.
The pressing means is an edge portion extending in a direction inclined with respect to the surface moving direction of the reversible recording medium viewed from the removing member, and the removing member is pressed against the surface of the reversible recording medium. Recording medium processing device. 28. The reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 26 or 27, wherein the relative moving means conveys the reversible recording medium, and the pressing means is fixedly arranged and The reversible recording medium has an edge portion extending in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction, and the removal of the writing substance by the second writing substance removing means is performed in the state where the feeding by the relative moving means is stopped. A reversible recording medium processing apparatus, characterized in that the removing member is pressed against the reversible recording medium surface and moved in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction.