JP2005144700A - Non-contact repetitive recording method and its device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a non-contact repetitive recording method capable of writing and erasing in a short time without damaging a tag and also capable of writing on the tag and erasing a plurality of times. <P>SOLUTION: The non-contact repetitive recording method capable of repeating the writing of information comprising characters and graphics on a tag 2 and erasing it is equipped with an ink containing a reversible thermosensitive coloring agent in the coloring state as a coloring agent, an inkjet printer 1 for writing information on the tag 2 by ejecting the ink, and a heating lamp 5 for erasing the information written on the tag 2 by the inkjet printer 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a non-contact repetitive recording method and apparatus for repeatedly writing and erasing information consisting of characters, figures and the like on an object to be written.

  Conventionally, as a tag to be affixed to a distribution container or the like, a method in which characters or symbols printed on a printer are affixed to the container is generally used, and the tag is disposable only once.

  However, as a method of using a tag multiple times in response to a request for cost reduction, a reversible thermosensitive color former (see, for example, Patent Document 1) is applied to the surface of the tag, and information such as characters and symbols is written / erased on the tag. How to do is known. The principle is the same as that of a thermal printer. The head is pressed against a thermal medium (a tag coated with a reversible thermal colorant on the surface) to develop a color, and the head is pressed against the thermal medium for erasing. Temperature or temperature holding time is different).

In addition, as another method of writing information multiple times, writing of characters and symbols on reversible thermal paper is performed in a non-contact manner by heating and quenching a portion to be developed by scanning a laser beam with an XY mirror, A method is known in which erasing is performed in a non-contact manner by heating and cooling a heat-sensitive medium using a flash lamp, an infrared lamp, or the like (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP-A-7-179043 JP 2000-141892 A

  However, if writing / erasing is performed using the same principle as a thermal printer, the thermal medium and the heating head will rub against each other, so the surface of the thermal medium will become scratched during repeated writing / erasing, resulting in poor writing or erasing. There is a disadvantage that occurs. Furthermore, there is a drawback that the heat sensitive medium is warped due to heat and pressing pressure during erasing.

  In addition, the writing method in Patent Document 2 does not cause a problem of scratching the reversible thermal paper, but has a drawback that the cost of the apparatus increases because a laser is used. Furthermore, since it is basically line writing, there is a drawback that it takes time to write.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the prior art, and its object is to perform writing / erasing in a short time without damaging the object to be written, and to the object to be written. It is an object of the present invention to provide a non-contact repetitive recording method and apparatus capable of performing writing / erasing a plurality of times.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is a non-contact repetitive recording method for repeatedly writing / erasing information consisting of characters, figures and the like on a writing object, and a reversible thermosensitive color former as a color former. Ink is used to write information in a non-contact manner on the object to be written by an ink jet method.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the non-contact repetitive recording method according to the first aspect, when erasing information written on the writing object, the writing object is heated and slowly cooled using a heating lamp. It is what you do.

  The invention according to claim 3 is a non-contact repetitive recording apparatus that repeats non-contact writing and erasing of information consisting of characters, figures and the like on a writing object, and includes a reversible thermosensitive color former as a color former. Ink, an ink jet printer that jets information on the object to be written by ejecting the ink, and a heating lamp that erases information written on the object to be written by the ink jet printer.

  As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since writing is performed in a non-contact manner, writing can be performed in a short time without damaging the object to be written, and an ink containing a reversible thermosensitive coloring agent is used. The object can be used multiple times.

  According to the invention of claim 2, since writing / erasing is performed in a non-contact manner, writing / erasing can be performed in a short time without damaging the object to be written, and an ink containing a reversible thermosensitive coloring agent is used. Can be used multiple times.

  According to the invention of claim 3, since writing / erasing is performed in a non-contact manner, writing / erasing can be performed in a short time without damaging the object to be written, and an ink containing a reversible thermosensitive coloring agent is used. Can be used multiple times. Furthermore, even if there is some unevenness on the object to be written, it can be written well.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a writing operation by the non-contact repetitive recording method according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is also an explanatory view of an erasing operation, and FIG. 3 is an application of the non-contact repetitive recording apparatus according to the present invention to a container transport line. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, an ink jet printer 1 is used for writing in the non-contact repetitive recording method according to the present invention. The ink contains a reversible thermosensitive color former (for example, a mixture of a leuco dye and a developer) as a color former. The reversible thermosensitive color former is directly mixed in a liquid (colorless) as a medium, or microencapsulated and mixed with the liquid.

  In order to write information such as characters, symbols and figures on the tag 2 of the object to be written, the print head 3 of the ink jet printer 1 is placed facing the tag 2, and the tag 2 is moved in the direction of the arrow at a predetermined speed. However, it is performed without contact with the tag 2. It is also possible to write by fixing the tag 2 and moving the print head 3.

  When writing to the tag 2, the ink containing the reversible thermosensitive coloring agent in the colored state is jetted onto the tag 2, or the reversible thermosensitive coloring agent is jetted in a high temperature state and immediately cooled when it is attached to the tag 2. To make it color. With the latter method, a reversible thermosensitive color former that has been decolored during storage can be used as it is.

Any material can be used for the tag 2 as long as the ink ejected from the print head 3 does not bleed or flow. For example, a cardboard box or the like can be directly printed without preparing a dedicated tag. 4 is a one-dimensional or two-dimensional code.
Next, as shown in FIG. 2, a heating lamp 5 such as a flash lamp or an infrared lamp is used for erasing in the non-contact repetitive recording method according to the present invention. Erasing information consisting of characters, symbols, figures, etc. written on the tag 2 is performed by placing the heating lamp 5 facing the tag 2 and moving the tag 2 in the direction of the arrow at a predetermined speed without touching the tag 2 This is performed by heating and slow cooling. It is also possible to erase by fixing the tag 2 and moving the heating lamp 5. Further, both may be fixed and erased.

  At this time, the reversible thermosensitive color former remains on the tag 2, but the written information cannot be read due to the decolored state. Further, in the colored state, since the color former has a dark color, it absorbs light well and the surface temperature of the tag 2 rises. However, once it is in a decolored state, it becomes difficult to absorb the light. The surface temperature does not rise. Therefore, the color does not develop again.

  However, when hot air is blown on the tag 2 or a high-temperature substance is brought into direct contact with the tag 2, there is a possibility that the coloring state is restored. In such a case, if it is desired to reliably prevent the erased information from being read later, a reversible thermosensitive coloring agent may be applied to the entire surface of the tag 2 or an indefinite position in advance.

Then, information can be newly written by the inkjet printer 1 to the tag 2 whose information has been erased by erasing, as shown in FIG. In this manner, writing / erasing of information to / from the same tag 2 can be repeated a plurality of times while maintaining a predetermined quality. In order to prevent writing to the same specific location many times, the write location may be shifted a little at regular or random times each time.
Next, as shown in FIG. 3, a system in which the non-contact repetitive recording apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a container transport line includes a conveyor 7 for transporting a container 6 with a tag 2 attached to its side surface in the direction of an arrow, and a conveyor 7. The CCD camera 8, the heating lamp 5, and the inkjet printer 1 are provided in this order from the upstream side to the one side.
The CCD camera 8, the heating lamp 5, and the ink jet printer 1 are installed so as to face the tag 2 attached to the side surface of the container 6 when the container 6 positioned and placed on the conveyor 7 passes. Further, position detectors 9, 10, and 11 for detecting the passage of the container 6 are installed in the vicinity of the CCD camera 8, the heating lamp 5, and the inkjet printer 1.
A control computer 12 receives detection signals from the position detectors 9, 10, and 11, outputs a command signal to the CCD camera 8, the heating lamp 5, and the inkjet printer 1, and controls the conveyor 7. It is a main computer that manages information written in the tag 2 and controls the control computer 12 and the like.
The operation of a system in which the non-contact repetitive recording apparatus according to the present invention configured as described above is applied to a container transport line will be described.
When the container 6 with the tag 2 attached to the side surface is conveyed by the conveyor 7 in the direction of the arrow at a predetermined speed, the position detector 9 detects the container 6. Then, a command signal is input to the CCD camera 8 from the control computer 12 that has received the detection signal of the position detector 9, and the CCD camera 8 reads information (for example, one-dimensional or two-dimensional code) written in the tag 2. .

  Next, the information read by the CCD camera 8 is sent to the main computer 13, and the main computer 13 determines whether or not rewriting is necessary.

  If it is determined that rewriting is necessary, the control computer 12 sends an erasing command signal to the heating lamp 5, and when the position detector 10 detects the container 6 conveyed by the conveyor 7, the heating lamp 5 2 is heated and the information written in the tag 2 is erased.

Next, since it is determined that rewriting is necessary, when the control computer 12 sends a write command signal to the inkjet printer 1 and the position detector 11 detects the container 6 conveyed by the conveyor 7, the inkjet printer 1 Write new information to tag 2.
As described above, when rewriting is necessary, the heating lamp 5 heats the tag 2 to erase the information written in the tag 2 and then the inkjet printer 1 writes new information. Can be performed in a non-contact manner without stopping the conveyor 7.
Such a rewritable tag 2 can also be used as a composite tag by being bonded to a wireless tag (not shown). Both methods are non-contact and can read and write independently, so that they do not adversely affect each other.
Furthermore, the apparatus according to the present invention is not applied only to the container on the conveyor. If the apparatus and the tag to be written are provided with a relative movement mechanism, the apparatus is fixed and the tag is fixed. It can be applied to both the moving device and the moving device with the tag fixed.

  By providing an ink containing a reversible thermosensitive color former that is in a colored state as a color former, an ink jet printer that jets the ink to write information on the tag, and a heating lamp that erases information written on the tag by the ink jet printer Can be written / erased in a short time without damaging the tag, and can be written / erased multiple times at low cost, so it can be applied to logistics lines where containers with tags attached to the side are transported by conveyors can do.

Explanatory drawing of the writing operation by the non-contact repetitive recording method according to the present invention Explanatory drawing of the erasing operation by the non-contact repetitive recording method according to the present invention System configuration diagram in which the non-contact repetitive recording apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a container transport line

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Inkjet printer, 2 ... Tag, 3 ... Print head, 4 ... One-dimensional or two-dimensional code, 5 ... Heating lamp, 6 ... Container, 7 ... Conveyor, 8 ... CCD camera, 9, 10, 11 ... Position detector , 12 ... Control computer, 13 ... Main computer.

Claims (3)

A non-contact repetitive recording method for repeatedly writing and erasing information consisting of characters, figures, etc. on a writing object, wherein the writing object is formed by an ink jet method using an ink containing a reversible thermosensitive coloring agent as a coloring agent. A non-contact repetitive recording method characterized in that information is written in a non-contact manner. The non-contact repetitive recording method according to claim 1, wherein when erasing information written on the object to be written, a heating lamp is used to heat and cool the object to be written. A non-contact repetitive recording apparatus that repeats non-contact writing and erasing of information consisting of characters and figures on an object to be written, including an ink containing a reversible thermosensitive coloring agent as a coloring agent, and ejecting this ink. A non-contact repetitive recording apparatus comprising: an ink jet printer for writing information on the object to be written; and a heating lamp for erasing information written on the object to be written by the ink jet printer.