JP2005301030A - Electronic bin tag - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic bin tag having a display part which can perform display with a memory property and with colors varying from a part to another part. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic bin tag 1 is constructed by arranging a display part 2 of an image display medium transferring mode, comprising a panel for image display which displays an image by enclosing a image display medium 13 in a sealed space between two sheets of substrates 11, 12 which are placed opposite to each other and in which at least one is transparent, applying an electric field to the image display medium 13 and transferring the image display medium 13, on at least one position as the display part 2, and arranging the image display mediums 13 with mutually different colors or a combination of them in a region inside the display part 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic shelf label used for displaying a description of a content of a product and a price.

Conventionally, as an electronic shelf label used to display the description and price of a product, a display unit for displaying numerical information, etc., using a liquid crystal display element, a reversible thermosensitive recording material, leuco One using a display unit made of a dye or a magnetically rewritable recording material is known (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-195659 A

  The conventional shelf label display unit described above has a problem that it can only display numbers and cannot display character information. For this reason, the character information has been printed on a shelf label in advance or displayed in handwriting in advance. In addition, the display part of the shelf label using liquid crystal has no memory property, and it is necessary to always supply power in order to continue displaying, so there is a problem that the energy cost is increased. Furthermore, the conventional shelf label display section requires a color filter for two-color display other than black and white, and there is a problem that brightness is impaired.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide an electronic shelf label having a display portion capable of displaying a display having a memory property and a display partially different in color.

  An electronic shelf label according to the present invention includes an image display medium enclosed in a sealed space between two opposing substrates, at least one of which is transparent, as a display unit, and an electric field is applied to the image display medium. The image display medium moving type display unit configured by an image display panel for displaying an image by moving the image display device is provided in at least one place.

  As a preferred example of the electronic shelf label of the present invention, the combination of colors displayed by the image display medium in at least one area in the display unit is at least one combination for each area in the display unit, A matrix electrode and a segment electrode are provided in an area where image display media of the same color combination in the same display section are arranged, and character information is displayed in the area where the matrix electrode is provided, and numbers are displayed in the area where the segment electrode is provided. There are cases where information is displayed and the image display medium is a particle group or a powder fluid.

  According to the electronic shelf label of the present invention, the display unit has a memory property, that is, an image display medium movement type display unit having a characteristic that an image once displayed can be continuously displayed even when the power is turned off. It is possible to obtain an electronic shelf label having a display portion that can display a characteristic.

  Further, in a preferred example of the electronic shelf label of the present invention, a matrix electrode and a segment electrode are provided in an area where an image display medium of the same color combination in the same display section is arranged, and character information is provided in the area where the matrix electrode is provided. And the numerical information is displayed in the region where the segment electrode is provided, so that the character information and the numerical information can be mixed and displayed on the same display portion.

  Furthermore, in the preferred example of the electronic shelf label of the present invention, the combination of colors displayed on the image display medium in each display unit is configured to be at least one combination for each area in the display unit. The combination of colors of the display medium (particle group or powder fluid) can be freely set to “black and white”, “white red”, “white blue”, “red black”, etc., so that the numbers and letters you want to stand out are displayed in red on a white background Can be displayed in white on a black background, black on a yellow background, and the electronic shelf label can be designed completely freely without using a color filter, as in the case of using a color filter The screen brightness is not impaired.

  1 and 2 are diagrams for explaining an example of the electronic shelf label according to the present invention. In the example shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the display unit 2 of the electronic shelf label 1 is sealed with an image display medium in a sealed space between two opposing substrates, at least one of which is transparent. The image display medium moving display unit includes an image display panel that displays an image by applying an electric field to move the image display medium.

  In the example shown in FIG. 1, the image display panel constituting the display unit 2 of the electronic shelf label 1 is composed of only matrix electrodes (not shown), and all displays of character information and numeric information are displayed in a matrix display. Is going. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the display of “advertisement item” displayed in white on a black background is printed on the electronic shelf label 1 itself. In the blue display area 3 for displaying blue characters on a white background, merchandise is displayed. Further, in the black character display area 4 for displaying black characters on a white background, the normal price of the product is displayed. Furthermore, in the red display area 5 for displaying red characters on a white background, the service price of the product is displayed. In this way, by using multiple colors for display, the degree of attention of the shelf label is increased, and the appeal to consumers who see the product can be increased.

  In the example shown in FIG. 2, a black character display region 6 for displaying black characters and numbers on a white background and a red character and numbers on a white background in the display region of the image display panel constituting the display unit 2 of the electronic shelf label 1. Is displayed, and a matrix electrode for displaying character information and a segment electrode for displaying numerical information are arranged in both the black display region 6 and the red display region 7. As described above, for simple numerical display, it is preferable to use segment electrodes that are easy to arrange and wire because the manufacturing cost can be reduced as compared with the case where matrix electrodes are arranged in the entire area of the display portion.

  Hereinafter, an image display panel using an image display medium, which is a feature of the electronic shelf label 1 of the present invention described above, will be described in detail.

  First, the configuration of an image display panel using an image display medium used in the electronic shelf label 1 of the present invention will be described. In the image display panel which is an object of the present invention, an electric field is applied to the image display panel in which an image display medium is sealed between opposing substrates by some means. An image display medium charged at a low potential is attracted by a Coulomb force toward a high potential electric field, and an image display medium charged at a high potential is attracted by a Coulomb force toward a low potential electric field. These image display media reciprocate along the direction of the electric field to display an image. Therefore, it is necessary to design the image display panel so that the image display medium moves uniformly and can maintain stability during repetition or storage. Here, the force applied to the particle group or powdered fluid used for the image display medium is not only the force attracted by the Coulomb force between the particles or powdered fluid, but also the electric image force with the electrode, intermolecular force, liquid crosslinking force, Gravity is considered.

  An example of an image display panel used as the display unit 2 of the electronic shelf label 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 3, two or more different types of particles 13 (in this case, white particles 13W and black particles 13B) are used as the image display medium, and the electrode 15 provided on the substrate 11 and the electrode 16 provided on the substrate 12. In accordance with the electric field generated by applying a voltage between and the substrate 11, 12, the black particles 13 </ b> B are visually recognized by the observer to display black, or the white particles 13 </ b> W are The white color is displayed by the observer. Further, a partition 14 is provided between the substrates 11 and 12 in a lattice shape, for example, to define a display cell. The above description can be similarly applied to the case where the white particles 13W are replaced with the white powder fluid and the black particles 13B are replaced with the black powder fluid. Furthermore, colors other than white and black can be freely selected and used.

  Hereinafter, each member which comprises the image display panel used as the object of this invention is demonstrated.

  As for the substrate, at least one of the substrates is a transparent substrate 12 on which the color of the image display medium can be confirmed from the outside of the apparatus, and a material having high visible light transmittance and good heat resistance is preferable. The substrate 11 may be transparent or opaque. Examples of substrate materials include polymer sheets such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethersulfone, polyethylene, polycarbonate, polyimide, and acrylic, flexible materials such as metal sheets, and flexible materials such as glass and quartz. There are no inorganic sheets. The thickness of the substrate is preferably 2 to 5000 μm, more preferably 5 to 2000 μm. If it is too thin, it will be difficult to maintain the strength and uniformity of the distance between the substrates, and if it is thicker than 5000 μm, it will be a thin electronic shelf label. Is inconvenient.

  As for the electrode provided in the display region, the electrode 16 provided on the side of the substrate 12 that needs to be transparent on the viewing side is formed of a conductive material that is transparent and can be patterned. Examples include metals such as nickel, copper, gold, and indium oxide, transparent conductive metal oxides such as ITO, conductive tin oxide, and conductive zinc oxide, and conductive polymers such as polyaniline, polypyrrole, and polythiophene. It is appropriately selected and used. As a method for forming an electrode, a method of forming the above-described materials into a thin film by sputtering, vacuum deposition, CVD (chemical vapor deposition), coating, or the like, or mixing a conductive agent with a solvent or a synthetic resin binder. The method of apply | coating is used. Note that the electrode thickness is not particularly limited as long as the conductivity can be secured and the light transmittance is not hindered, and is preferably 3 to 1000 nm, preferably 5 to 400 nm. The material and thickness of the electrode 15 provided on the substrate 11 side are the same as those of the electrode 16 described above, but need not be transparent. In this case, the external voltage input may be superimposed with direct current or alternating current.

  The shape of the partition wall 14 provided as necessary is optimally set according to the type of image display medium involved in the display, and is not limited in general. However, the partition wall width is 2 to 100 μm, preferably 3 to 50 μm. Is adjusted to 10 to 500 μm, preferably 10 to 200 μm. As shown in FIG. 4, the display cells formed by the partition walls made up of these ribs are exemplified by a square shape, a triangular shape, a line shape, a circular shape, and a hexagonal shape as viewed from the plane of the substrate. The shape and the mesh shape are exemplified. It is better to make the portion corresponding to the cross section of the partition wall visible from the display side (the area of the frame portion of the display cell) as small as possible, and the sharpness of the image display increases.

  Next, for example, particles used as an image display medium in the image display panel of the present invention will be described. The particles can contain a charge control agent, a colorant, an inorganic additive, and the like, if necessary, in the resin as the main component, as in the conventional case. Examples of resins, charge control agents, colorants, and other additives will be given below.

  Examples of the resin include urethane resin, urea resin, acrylic resin, polyester resin, acrylic urethane resin, acrylic urethane silicone resin, acrylic urethane fluororesin, acrylic fluororesin, silicone resin, acrylic silicone resin, epoxy resin, polystyrene resin, styrene Acrylic resin, polyolefin resin, butyral resin, vinylidene chloride resin, melamine resin, phenol resin, fluororesin, polycarbonate resin, polysulfone resin, polyether resin, polyamide resin and the like can be mentioned, and two or more kinds can be mixed. In particular, acrylic urethane resin, acrylic silicone resin, acrylic fluororesin, acrylic urethane silicone resin, acrylic urethane fluororesin, fluororesin, and silicone resin are suitable from the viewpoint of controlling the adhesive force with the substrate.

  The charge control agent is not particularly limited. Examples of the negative charge control agent include salicylic acid metal complexes, metal-containing azo dyes, metal-containing oil-soluble dyes (including metal ions and metal atoms), and quaternary ammonium salt systems. Examples thereof include compounds, calixarene compounds, boron-containing compounds (benzyl acid boron complexes), and nitroimidazole derivatives. Examples of the positive charge control agent include nigrosine dyes, triphenylmethane compounds, quaternary ammonium salt compounds, polyamine resins, imidazole derivatives, and the like. In addition, metal oxides such as ultrafine silica, ultrafine titanium oxide, ultrafine alumina, nitrogen-containing cyclic compounds such as pyridine and derivatives and salts thereof, various organic pigments, resins containing fluorine, chlorine, nitrogen, etc. are also charged. It can also be used as a control agent.

  As the colorant, various organic or inorganic pigments and dyes as exemplified below can be used.

Examples of the black colorant include carbon black, copper oxide, manganese dioxide, aniline black, activated carbon and the like.
Examples of blue colorants include C.I. I. Pigment blue 15: 3, C.I. I. Pigment Blue 15, Bituminous Blue, Cobalt Blue, Alkaline Blue Lake, Victoria Blue Lake, Phthalocyanine Blue, Metal-free Phthalocyanine Blue, Phthalocyanine Blue Partial Chlorides, Fast Sky Blue, Indanthrene Blue BC and the like.
Examples of red colorants include bengara, cadmium red, red lead, mercury sulfide, cadmium, permanent red 4R, risor red, pyrazolone red, watching red, calcium salt, lake red D, brilliant carmine 6B, eosin lake, rhodamine lake B, Alizarin Lake, Brilliant Carmine 3B, C.I. I. Pigment Red 2 etc.

Yellow colorants include chrome yellow, zinc yellow, cadmium yellow, yellow iron oxide, mineral first yellow, nickel titanium yellow, navel yellow, naphthol yellow S, Hansa Yellow G, Hansa Yellow 10G, Benzidine Yellow G, Benzidine Yellow GR, Quinoline Yellow Lake, Permanent Yellow NCG, Tartrazine Lake, C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 12 etc.
Examples of green colorants include chrome green, chromium oxide, pigment green B, C.I. I. Pigment Green 7, Malachite Green Lake, Final Yellow Green G, etc.
Examples of the orange colorant include red yellow lead, molybdenum orange, permanent orange GTR, pyrazolone orange, Vulcan orange, indanthrene brilliant orange RK, benzidine orange G, indanthrene brilliant orange GK, C.I. I. Pigment Orange 31 etc.
Examples of purple colorants include manganese purple, first violet B, and methyl violet lake.
Examples of white colorants include zinc white, titanium oxide, antimony white, and zinc sulfide.

  Examples of extender pigments include barite powder, barium carbonate, clay, silica, white carbon, talc, and alumina white. Examples of various dyes such as basic, acidic, disperse, and direct dyes include nigrosine, methylene blue, rose bengal, quinoline yellow, and ultramarine blue.

Examples of inorganic additives include titanium oxide, zinc white, zinc sulfide, antimony oxide, calcium carbonate, lead white, talc, silica, calcium silicate, alumina white, cadmium yellow, cadmium red, cadmium orange, titanium yellow, Examples include bitumen, ultramarine blue, cobalt blue, cobalt green, cobalt violet, iron oxide, carbon black, manganese ferrite black, cobalt ferrite black, copper powder, and aluminum powder.
These pigments and inorganic additives can be used alone or in combination. Of these, carbon black is particularly preferable as the black pigment, and titanium oxide is preferable as the white pigment.

  The particles of the present invention preferably have an average particle diameter d (0.5) in the range of 0.1 to 50 μm and are uniform and uniform. If the average particle diameter d (0.5) is larger than this range, the display is not clear. If the average particle diameter d (0.5) is smaller than this range, the cohesive force between the particles becomes too large, which hinders the movement of the particles.

Furthermore, in the present invention, regarding the particle size distribution of each particle, the particle size distribution Span represented by the following formula is less than 5, preferably less than 3.
Span = (d (0.9) −d (0.1)) / d (0.5)
(However, d (0.5) is a numerical value expressed in μm that the particle size is 50% larger than this and 50% smaller than this, and d (0.1) is a particle whose ratio is 10% or less. (Numerical value expressed in μm, and d (0.9) is a numerical value expressed in μm for a particle diameter of 90% or less.)
By keeping Span within a range of 5 or less, the size of each particle is uniform, and uniform particle movement becomes possible.

  Furthermore, regarding the correlation between the particles, the ratio of d (0.5) of the particles having the minimum diameter to d (0.5) of the particles having the maximum diameter among the used particles is set to 50 or less, preferably 10 or less. It is essential. Even if the particle size distribution Span is reduced, particles with different charging characteristics move in opposite directions, so that the particle size is close to each other and each particle can be easily moved in the opposite direction by the equivalent amount. This is within this range.

The particle size distribution and the particle size can be obtained from a laser diffraction / scattering method or the like. When laser light is irradiated onto particles to be measured, a light intensity distribution pattern of diffracted / scattered light is spatially generated, and this light intensity pattern has a corresponding relationship with the particle diameter, so that the particle diameter and particle diameter distribution can be measured. .
Here, the particle size and particle size distribution in the present invention are obtained from a volume-based distribution. Specifically, using a Mastersizer2000 (Malvern Instruments Ltd.) measuring instrument, particles are introduced into a nitrogen stream, and the attached analysis software (software based on volume-based distribution using Mie theory) The diameter and particle size distribution can be measured.

  The charge amount of the particles naturally depends on the measurement conditions, but the charge amount of the particles in the image display panel almost depends on the initial charge amount, the contact with the partition wall, the contact with the substrate, the charge decay with the elapsed time, In particular, it was found that the saturation value of the charging behavior of the particles is the dominant factor.

  As a result of intensive studies, the present inventors have found that the range of the appropriate charging characteristic value of the particles to be used can be evaluated by measuring the charge amount of the particles using the same carrier particles in the blow-off method.

  Next, the powder fluid used as an image display medium in the image display panel of the present invention will be described. In addition, about the name of the powder fluid used with the image display apparatus of this invention, the present applicant has acquired the right of "electronic powder fluid (trademark)".

  The “powder fluid” in the present invention is a substance in an intermediate state of both fluid and particle characteristics that exhibits fluidity by itself without borrowing the force of gas or liquid. For example, liquid crystal is defined as an intermediate phase between a liquid and a solid, and has fluidity that is a characteristic of liquid and anisotropy (optical properties) that is a characteristic of solid (Heibonsha: Encyclopedia) . On the other hand, the definition of particle is an object with a finite mass even if it is negligible, and is said to be affected by gravity (Maruzen: Physics Encyclopedia). Here, even in the case of particles, there are special states of gas-solid fluidized bed and liquid-solid fluids. When gas is flowed from the bottom plate to the particles, upward force is applied to the particles according to the velocity of the gas. Is a gas-solid fluidized bed that is in a state where it can easily flow when it balances with gravity, and it is also called a liquid-solid fluidized state that is fluidized by a fluid (ordinary) Company: Encyclopedia). As described above, the gas-solid fluidized bed body and the liquid-solid fluid are in a state of using a gas or liquid flow. In the present invention, it has been found that a substance in a state of fluidity can be produced specifically without borrowing the force of such gas and liquid, and this is defined as powder fluid.

  That is, the pulverulent fluid in the present invention is in an intermediate state having both the characteristics of particles and liquid, as in the definition of liquid crystal (liquid and solid intermediate phase), and is the characteristic of the above-mentioned particles. It is a substance that is extremely unaffected and exhibits a unique state with high fluidity. Such a substance can be obtained in an aerosol state, that is, a dispersion system in which a solid or liquid substance is stably suspended as a dispersoid in a gas, and the solid substance is used as a dispersoid in the image display device of the present invention. Is.

The image display panel that is the subject of the present invention encloses a powder fluid that exhibits high fluidity in an aerosol state in which solid particles are stably suspended as dispersoids in a gas between, for example, transparent substrates at least one of which is transparent Such a powder fluid can be easily and stably moved by a Coulomb force or the like by applying a low voltage.
As described above, the powder fluid used as the image display medium in the present invention is a substance in an intermediate state between the fluid and particles, which exhibits fluidity by itself without borrowing the force of gas or liquid. It is. This powder fluid can be in an aerosol state in particular, and in the image display device of the present invention, a solid substance is used in a state of relatively stably floating as a dispersoid in the gas.

The range of the aerosol state is preferably such that the apparent volume of the pulverized fluid when it is floated is twice or more that when it is not suspended, more preferably 2.5 times or more, and particularly preferably 3 times or more. Although an upper limit is not specifically limited, It is preferable that it is 12 times or less.
If the apparent volume of the pulverized fluid is less than twice that of the unfloating state, it is difficult to control the display, and if it is more than 12 times, the powder fluid will be overloaded when sealed in the device. Inconvenience in handling occurs. The apparent volume at the maximum floating time is measured as follows. That is, the powdered fluid is put into a closed container that allows the powdered fluid to permeate, and the container itself is vibrated or dropped to create a maximum floating state, and the apparent volume at that time is measured from the outside of the container. Specifically, in a container with a lid (trade name: iBoy: manufactured by ASONE Co., Ltd.) having a diameter (inner diameter) of 6 cm and a height of 10 cm, a powder fluid equivalent to 1/5 of the volume as a powder fluid when not floating. And set the container on a shaker, and shake at a distance of 6 cm at 3 reciprocations / sec for 3 hours. The apparent volume immediately after stopping shaking is the apparent volume at the maximum floating time.

Moreover, what the time change of the apparent volume of a powder fluid satisfy | fills following Formula is preferable.
V ₁₀ / V ₅ > 0.8
Here, V ₅ represents an apparent volume (cm ³ ) 5 minutes after the maximum floating time, and V ₁₀ represents an apparent volume (cm ³ ) 10 minutes after the maximum floating time. In the image display device of the present invention, the apparent volumetric change V ₁₀ / V ₅ of the powder fluid is preferably larger than 0.85, and more preferably larger than 0.9. When V ₁₀ / V ₅ is 0.8 or less, it becomes the same as when ordinary so-called particles are used, and the effects of high-speed response and durability are not sufficient.

  Moreover, the average particle diameter (d (0.5)) of the particulate material constituting the powder fluid is preferably 0.1 to 20 μm, more preferably 0.5 to 15 μm, and particularly preferably 0.9 to 8 μm. . If it is smaller than 0.1 μm, it is difficult to control the display, and if it is larger than 20 μm, the display is not clear. The average particle diameter (d (0.5)) of the particulate material constituting the powder fluid is the same as d (0.5) in the next particle diameter distribution Span.

The particle substance constituting the powder fluid preferably has a particle size distribution Span represented by the following formula of less than 5, more preferably less than 3.
Particle size distribution Span = (d (0.9) -d (0.1)) / d (0.5)
Here, d (0.5) is a numerical value expressed in μm of the particle diameter that 50% of the particulate material constituting the powder fluid is larger than this and 50% is smaller than this, and d (0.1) is less than this. A numerical value in which the ratio of the particle substance constituting the powder fluid is 10%, expressed in μm, and d (0.9) is the particle diameter in which the particulate substance constituting the powder fluid is 90% μm It is a numerical value expressed by By setting the particle size distribution Span of the particulate material constituting the powder fluid to 5 or less, the sizes are uniform and uniform powder fluid movement becomes possible.

  The particle size distribution and particle size of the particulate material constituting the above powder fluid can be obtained from a laser diffraction / scattering method or the like. When laser light is irradiated to the powder fluid to be measured, a light intensity distribution pattern of diffracted / scattered light is generated spatially, and this light intensity pattern has a corresponding relationship with the particle diameter, so the particle diameter and particle diameter distribution are measured. it can. This particle size and particle size distribution are obtained from a volume-based distribution. Specifically, using a Mastersizer2000 (Malvern Instruments Ltd.) measuring machine, the powdered fluid was introduced into the nitrogen stream, and the attached analysis software (software based on volume reference distribution using Mie theory) Measurements can be made.

  Preparation of powder fluid can be done by kneading and pulverizing the necessary resin, charge control agent, colorant, and other additives, or by polymerization from monomers, and adding existing particles to resin, charge control agent, colorant, and other It may be coated with an agent. Hereinafter, the resin, charge control agent, colorant, and other additives constituting the powder fluid will be exemplified.

  Examples of the resin include urethane resin, acrylic resin, polyester resin, urethane-modified acrylic resin, silicone resin, nylon resin, epoxy resin, styrene resin, butyral resin, vinylidene chloride resin, melamine resin, phenol resin, fluorine resin, etc. Two or more types can also be mixed. In particular, acrylic urethane resin, acrylic urethane silicone resin, acrylic urethane fluororesin, urethane resin, and fluororesin are preferable from the viewpoint of controlling the adhesive force with the substrate.

  Examples of charge control agents include quaternary ammonium salt compounds, nigrosine dyes, triphenylmethane compounds, imidazole derivatives and the like in the case of imparting positive charges, and metal-containing azo compounds in the case of imparting negative charges. Examples thereof include dyes, salicylic acid metal complexes, and nitroimidazole derivatives.

  As the colorant, various organic or inorganic pigments and dyes as exemplified below can be used.

Examples of the black colorant include carbon black, copper oxide, manganese dioxide, aniline black, activated carbon and the like.
Examples of blue colorants include C.I. I. Pigment blue 15: 3, C.I. I. Pigment Blue 15, Bituminous Blue, Cobalt Blue, Alkaline Blue Lake, Victoria Blue Lake, Phthalocyanine Blue, Metal-free Phthalocyanine Blue, Phthalocyanine Blue Partial Chlorides, Fast Sky Blue, Indanthrene Blue BC and the like.
Examples of red colorants include bengara, cadmium red, red lead, mercury sulfide, cadmium, permanent red 4R, risor red, pyrazolone red, watching red, calcium salt, lake red D, brilliant carmine 6B, eosin lake, rhodamine lake B, Alizarin Lake, Brilliant Carmine 3B, C.I. I. Pigment Red 2 etc.

Yellow colorants include chrome yellow, zinc yellow, cadmium yellow, yellow iron oxide, mineral first yellow, nickel titanium yellow, navel yellow, naphthol yellow S, Hansa Yellow G, Hansa Yellow 10G, Benzidine Yellow G, Benzidine Yellow GR, Quinoline Yellow Lake, Permanent Yellow NCG, Tartrazine Lake, C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 12 etc.
Examples of green colorants include chrome green, chromium oxide, pigment green B, C.I. I. Pigment Green 7, Malachite Green Lake, Final Yellow Green G, etc.
Examples of the orange colorant include red yellow lead, molybdenum orange, permanent orange GTR, pyrazolone orange, Vulcan orange, indanthrene brilliant orange RK, benzidine orange G, indanthrene brilliant orange GK, C.I. I. Pigment Orange 31 etc.
Examples of purple colorants include manganese purple, first violet B, and methyl violet lake.
Examples of white colorants include zinc white, titanium oxide, antimony white, and zinc sulfide.

  Examples of extender pigments include barite powder, barium carbonate, clay, silica, white carbon, talc, and alumina white. Examples of various dyes such as basic, acidic, disperse, and direct dyes include nigrosine, methylene blue, rose bengal, quinoline yellow, and ultramarine blue.

Examples of inorganic additives include titanium oxide, zinc white, zinc sulfide, antimony oxide, calcium carbonate, lead white, talc, silica, calcium silicate, alumina white, cadmium yellow, cadmium red, cadmium orange, titanium yellow, Examples include bitumen, ultramarine blue, cobalt blue, cobalt green, cobalt violet, iron oxide, carbon black, manganese ferrite black, cobalt ferrite black, copper powder, and aluminum powder.
These pigments and inorganic additives can be used alone or in combination. Of these, carbon black is particularly preferable as the black pigment, and titanium oxide is preferable as the white pigment.

However, even if such a material is kneaded and coated without any ingenuity, a powder fluid that shows an aerosol state cannot be produced. The production method of the powder fluid showing the aerosol state is not clear, but is exemplified as follows.
First, it is appropriate to fix inorganic fine particles having an average particle diameter of 20 to 100 nm, preferably 20 to 80 nm, to the surface of the particulate material constituting the powder fluid. Furthermore, it is appropriate that the inorganic fine particles are treated with silicone oil. Here, examples of the inorganic fine particles include silicon dioxide (silica), zinc oxide, aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, cerium oxide, iron oxide, and copper oxide. The method for fixing the inorganic fine particles is important. For example, using a hybridizer (manufactured by Nara Machinery Co., Ltd.), mechanofusion (manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Co., Ltd.) or the like, under certain limited conditions (for example, processing time) ), A powder fluid showing an aerosol state can be produced.

Furthermore, in the present invention, it is important to manage the gas in the gap surrounding the image display medium between the substrates, which contributes to improved display stability. Specifically, it is important that the relative humidity at 25 ° C. is 60% RH or less, preferably 50% RH or less, more preferably 35% RH or less with respect to the humidity of the gas in the gap.
In FIG. 3, the void portion refers to the portion between the substrate 11 and the substrate 12 facing each other, the electrode 15, 16, the occupied portion of the image display medium (particle group or powdered fluid 13), the partition wall 14 (if present) ), And a gas portion in contact with a so-called image display medium, excluding the occupied portion and the device seal portion.
The gas in the gap is not limited as long as it is in the humidity region described above, but dry air, dry nitrogen, dry argon, dry helium, dry carbon dioxide, dry methane, and the like are preferable. This gas needs to be sealed in the apparatus so that the humidity is maintained. For example, the image display medium is filled and the substrate is assembled in a predetermined humidity environment. It is important to apply a sealing material and a sealing method to prevent the above.

The distance between the substrates in the image display panel used as the display unit 2 of the electronic shelf label 1 of the present invention is not limited as long as the image display medium can be moved and the contrast can be maintained, but is usually 10 to 500 μm, preferably It is adjusted to 10 to 200 μm.
The volume occupancy of the image display medium (particle group or powdered fluid 3) in the space between the opposing substrates is preferably 5 to 70%, more preferably 5 to 60%. If it exceeds 70%, the movement of the image display medium (particles or powdered fluid 3) is hindered. If it is less than 5%, the contrast tends to be unclear.

  An electronic shelf label according to the present invention has an electronic shelf having a display unit capable of displaying a display having a memory property and a partially different color when digitizing a shelf label for displaying product prices and information. It can be suitably used as a bill.

It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the electronic shelf label of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the other example of the electronic shelf label of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the panel for image display used with the electronic shelf label of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the shape of the partition in the image display panel used with the electronic shelf label of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electronic shelf label 2 Display part 3 Blue display area 4 Black display area 5 Red display area 6 Black display area which arranged matrix electrode and segment electrode 7 Red display area which arranged matrix electrode and segment electrode 11, 12 Substrate 13 Particles (powder fluid)
13W white particles (white powder fluid)
13B Black particles (black powder fluid)
14 Bulkhead 15, 16 Electrode

Claims (4)

  As a display unit, an image display medium is sealed in a sealed space between two opposing substrates, at least one of which is transparent, an electric field is applied to the image display medium, and the image display medium is moved to display an image. An electronic shelf label, characterized in that an image display medium moving display unit comprising an image display panel is provided at at least one location.   2. The electronic shelf label according to claim 1, wherein a combination of colors displayed by the image display medium in at least one area in the display unit is at least one combination for each area in the display unit. .   A matrix electrode and a segment electrode are provided in an area where image display media of the same color combination in the same display section are arranged, and character information is displayed in the area where the matrix electrode is provided, and numbers are displayed in the area where the segment electrode is provided. Information is displayed, The electronic shelf label of Claim 1 or 2 characterized by the above-mentioned.   The electronic shelf label according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the image display medium is a particle group or a powder fluid.

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