JP2006062185A - Processor for reversible recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a processor for a reversible recording medium that can issue an alarm of quantitatively judged defective erasing or defective printing to a user whereby the user can surely take an adequate measure and always carry out the printing work in a better condition. <P>SOLUTION: This processor comprises a density detection means (10) for measuring a surface density of a recording medium (1) which is provided between an erasing means (2) and a printing means (5), and an erasure judging circuit (11) for judging an erasing condition of the recording medium according to the measured result by the density detection means (10). Alternatively, the density detection means (10) is disposed at the downstream side of the erasing means (2) and the printing means (5). The processor has a printing judgment circuit (15) that prints a density measurement pattern at a predetermined position on the recording medium and judges the printing condition according to the measured result of the density measurement pattern by the density detection means (10). The judged result is displayed on a display or transmitted by a communication function. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a processing device for a reversible recording medium that has a recording layer that reversibly forms a colored state and a decolored state, and that performs rewrite recording for a reversible recording medium that can be rewritten repeatedly by printing and erasing, In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus having a function of feeding back information on the erasing quality of the erasing means and the printing quality of the printing means to the operator.

  A reversible recording medium having a recording layer that can reversibly and repeatedly realize a colored state and a decolored state by controlling the thermal energy applied from the heating means, and capable of being rewritten by repeating printing and erasing, and 2. Description of the Related Art Processing apparatuses for reversible recording media are conventionally known.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, visible information can be recorded / erased on a reversible thermosensitive recording medium by laser light in a non-contact manner, and energy is efficiently used, and the structure is simple, small, light, and inexpensive. "Reversible thermosensitive recording medium recording and erasing apparatus" is disclosed.

  Conventionally, in a printing apparatus using a reversible recording medium, even if a document printed in the previous operation is supplied to the paper feeding unit while remaining on the recording medium, the document is heated to a specific erasing temperature during the rewriting operation. The entire surface is once erased by an erasing means such as a heating roller, and then printing is performed by heating only the print dots to a specific color temperature by a heating means such as a thermal head.

  In a reversible recording medium, it is necessary to erase past recorded contents so that the recorded contents cannot be read. For example, Patent Document 2 discloses a “rewritable recording display” that can appropriately erase recorded contents to cope with this point. Device "is described. Since the erasing unit and the printing unit rewrite the document only by the heating operation, a warning of printing failure is issued by the remaining amount of supply of toner or the like for printing as in the case of a general laser printer or the like. It is not possible. In general, since there is no erasing means, no warning about erasing quality is required.

  In addition, Patent Document 3 discloses a “reversible thermosensitive recording medium printing apparatus, erasing apparatus, printing / erasing apparatus, which can satisfactorily perform printing or erasing on a reversible thermosensitive recording medium without reducing the durability of repeated printing / erasing. The erasing apparatus, printing method, erasing method, and printing / erasing method "are described.

JP 2002-113889 A JP-A-5-221129 JP-A-11-320931

  In a printing apparatus using a reversible recording medium, the printing quality is generally determined by the user by looking at the printing result of the recording medium actually printed / erased. However, the judgment of the user is quite different, and there is a possibility that the printer may continue to be used without worrying about some erasing / printing defects for printing for a single purpose.

  If there is a slight erasing / printing failure and the erasing / printing function is deteriorated due to the deterioration of the recording medium, this may not be a problem. In some cases, erasing / printing defects may occur due to dirt or the like due to contamination, etc., and at this time, there is a possibility of causing a problem leading to breakage of the printing apparatus. However, it is difficult for the user to quantitatively judge the print / erase defect.

  Therefore, in the present invention, the apparatus itself can quantitatively determine the printing / erasing failure, and can give the user a warning of the erasing failure / printing failure quantitatively determined by the user. It is an object of the present invention to provide a reversible recording medium processing apparatus that can recognize and appropriately take appropriate measures, and can always perform a printing operation in a better state.

  The processing apparatus for a reversible recording medium of the present invention has a reversible recording layer that reversibly changes its state, and is capable of recording and erasing a visible image by changing the state of the reversible recording layer. Concentration detecting means comprising an erasing means and a printing means for rewriting the recording medium by heating the recording medium to a specific temperature, and measuring the surface density of the recording medium disposed between the erasing means and the printing means And an erasure determination circuit for determining the erasure state of the recording medium based on the measurement result by the density detection means.

  Further, the erasure determination circuit compares the measurement result of the surface density after erasing the printable area of the recording medium with reference to the measurement result of the surface density of a predetermined non-printable area of the recording medium, It is characterized by determining the erasure failure of the reversible recording medium. Display means for displaying that the determination result by the erasure determination circuit is an erasure failure may be provided, and an erasure failure may be displayed as a warning.

  In addition, an image processing circuit for superimposing an erasure failure warning comment on a printing target document on a recording medium when printing is determined to be erasure failure by the erasure determination circuit is provided. Further, it has a communication function, receives a print command from an external terminal, returns a determination result indicating that the erasure is defective in the erasure determination circuit, and returns a warning comment to the display device of the terminal. Can be displayed.

  The reversible recording medium processing apparatus of the present invention has a reversible recording layer whose state changes reversibly, and can record and erase a visible image by changing the state of the reversible recording layer. Concentration detection for measuring the surface density of a reversible recording medium that is disposed downstream of the erasing means and the printing means and includes a erasing means and a printing means for rewriting the recording medium by heating to a specific temperature. Means for printing a specific density measurement pattern for measuring the print density at a predetermined position on the recording medium, and the measurement result obtained by measuring the density measurement pattern by the density detection means A print determination circuit for determining the print state is provided.

  The print determination circuit uses the measurement result of the surface density of the density measurement pattern printed at a predetermined position in the printable area of the recording medium as a reference and the measurement result of the surface density of the predetermined non-printable area of the recording medium. Thus, the printing failure of the reversible recording medium may be determined, and the determination result of the printing determination circuit for determining the printing state of the recording medium indicates that the printing is defective. It is good also as a structure provided with the display means to display a warning about a printing defect.

  An image processing circuit is provided for printing a print defect warning comment superimposed on a print target document on the recording medium when printing is determined to be defective by the print determination circuit for determining the print state of the recording medium. Anyway. In addition, it has a communication function, receives a print command from an external terminal, and returns a result of determination of print failure in the print determination circuit to the terminal that performed the print operation, and gives a warning comment to the display device of the terminal May be displayed.

  In the above configuration, a specific density measurement pattern for measuring the print density is printed at a predetermined position on the recording medium, and a non-print area where only the erasing unit erases the area other than the density measurement pattern. A control circuit for controlling the arrangement, and the density detecting means measures the surface density of each of the density measurement pattern and the non-printing area, and determines the erased state and the printed state of the recording medium from each measurement result. A determination circuit may be provided.

  The determination circuit uses the measurement result of the surface density of the density measurement pattern printed at a predetermined position in the printable area of the recording medium based on the measurement result of the surface density of the predetermined non-printable area of the recording medium. A configuration may be adopted in which a printing failure of the reversible recording medium is determined by comparison, and an erasing failure of the reversible recording medium is determined by comparing the detection result of the surface density of the non-printing area.

  Display means for displaying the determination result of the erasure defect and / or the print defect in the determination circuit for determining the erasure state and the print state of the recording medium is arranged in a part of the processing device to warn of the erasure defect and / or the print defect. It may be displayed. Further, the determination result of the erasure failure and / or the printing failure in the determination circuit for determining the erasing state and the printing state of the recording medium is superimposed on the document to be printed with the warning comment of the erasing failure and / or the printing failure on the recording medium. An image processing circuit for printing may be provided. In addition, it has a communication function, and the determination result of the erasure failure and / or the printing failure in the determination circuit for determining the erasure state and the print state of the recording medium is returned as a warning comment to the terminal that has performed the print operation. A warning comment may be displayed on the display device of the terminal.

  According to the reversible recording medium processing device of the present invention, it is possible to easily determine the erasure status of the recording medium during a normal printing operation. Further, by detecting the surface density at the end of the recording medium, it is possible to determine the erasing state of the recording medium that has been corrected in consideration of deterioration of the recording medium in the actual environment. Furthermore, it is possible to easily display a warning to the user regarding the determination of the erasure status of the recording medium.

  Further, another reversible recording medium processing apparatus is effective for test printing or the like, and can easily determine the printing status of the recording medium. In addition, it is effective for test printing and the like, and by detecting the surface density at the edge of the recording medium, it is possible to determine the printing condition of the recording medium in consideration of the deterioration of the recording medium in the actual environment. . Furthermore, it is possible to easily display a warning to the user for determining the printing status of the recording medium.

  Furthermore, another reversible recording medium processing apparatus is effective for test printing or the like, and can easily determine the printing status and erasing status of the recording medium. In addition, it is effective for test printing and the like, and by detecting the surface density at the edge of the recording medium, it is possible to determine the printing condition and erasing condition of the recording medium corrected in consideration of the deterioration of the recording medium in the actual environment. It becomes possible. Furthermore, it is possible to easily display a warning to the user regarding the determination of the printing status and erasing status of the recording medium.

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  First, FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a reversible recording medium (1) used in the reversible recording medium processing apparatus of the present invention. Prior to the description of the embodiments, for reference, a conventional printing apparatus (reversible recording medium processing apparatus) using the reversible recording medium (1) will be described. The general arrangement of the erasing means (2) and the printing means (5) is shown in the schematic block diagram of the reversible recording medium processing apparatus in FIG.

  In an example of the reversible recording medium (1) according to the present invention, as shown in the sectional view of FIG. 1, a reversible recording layer (1b) is formed on a synthetic resin thin plate support (1c). Furthermore, it has a laminated structure in which transparent thin protective layers are stacked. In the reversible recording layer (1b), for example, reversible thermosensitive recording such as a phase change recording material that can be erased by heating, a polymer liquid crystal, a polymer-liquid crystal composite film, and a thermochromic material using a leuco dye. A medium or the like is used.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the conventional reversible recording medium processing apparatus (100J) in FIG. 2 has a reversible recording medium (1) (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a recording medium) in the apparatus casing (100a). ) Erasing means (2) configured to include a large number of rollers for transporting the roller) and a heater roller (3) for erasing that is disposed upstream along the transport path by these rollers, and this erasing means (2) And a printing means (5) arranged including a color thermal head (6), pressure adjusting mechanisms (2a), (5a) and the like. The upstream side and the downstream side refer to the direction in which the reversible recording medium (1) is conveyed during erasing or printing.

  An erasing drive circuit (4) is connected to the heater roller (3) of the erasing means (2), and a print driving circuit (7) is connected to the thermal head (6) of the printing means (5). The erasing drive circuit (4) and the print drive circuit (7) are controlled by the control circuit (8J), respectively. The control circuit (8J) controls the entire apparatus including a conveyance mechanism (not shown). A communication circuit (9) is connected to the control circuit (8J), and can communicate with a terminal (T) such as a PC outside the apparatus via a LAN or a connection cable.

  As is well known, in this type of reversible recording medium processing apparatus (hereinafter also simply referred to as a processing apparatus), when the reversible recording medium (1) passes through the erasing means (2), a heater roller (3), etc. The entire surface is erased by heating to a predetermined erasing temperature, and when passing through the printing means (5), printing is performed by heating the printing dod to a predetermined coloring temperature by a thermal head (6) or the like. ing.

  Now, the reversible recording medium processing apparatus of the present invention includes all of the same configurations as those of the conventional reversible recording medium processing apparatus of FIG. 2, and further includes components that will be described in detail later. In the following description, the same numerals are given to the parts common to FIG. 2, and the detailed description thereof is omitted.

[First Embodiment]
In order to achieve some of the above objects, in the present invention, the density detecting means (10) for detecting the surface density of the reversible recording medium (1) at an optimal position with respect to the erasing means (2) and the printing means (5). ) Is arranged to constitute a reversible recording medium processing apparatus.

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to the present invention. In the reversible recording medium processing apparatus of FIG. 3, in addition to the components equivalent to those of FIG. 2, the density detecting means (10) disposed between the erasing means (2) and the printing means (5) and this density detection An erasure determination circuit (11) to which the output of the means (10) is input, and an image processing circuit (14) controlled by the control circuit (8) and connected to the print drive circuit (7). Yes. The output of the erasure determination circuit 11 is input to the control circuit. In addition, a warning lamp (12) and a buzzer (13) are connected to the control circuit (8), and a telephone line is further connected to the communication circuit (9) so that it can communicate with a remote terminal. .

  A recording medium in which the entire surface is erased by the erasing means (2) by disposing the density detecting means (10) for detecting the surface density of the recording medium (1) between the erasing means (2) and the printing means (5). The surface concentration of (1) can be detected. The detection result of this concentration detection means (10) is quantified by the erasure determination circuit (11), and the current erasure level in the erasure determination circuit (11) is evaluated relative to the best criterion. Can be determined automatically. In the case where the erasing state is checked using a specific area where printing is not performed, or when the erasing state is checked without performing any printing operation, the arrangement position of the density detecting means (10) is at least the erasing means ( It suffices if it is downstream of 2), and it may be arranged downstream of the printing means (5).

  In addition, the recording medium (1) may generate yellowing as a whole due to environmental conditions such as ultraviolet rays, and the judgment result in the actual environment is compared with the best level in the ideal environment in the judgment circuit. There may be slight differences from the results. To cope with this, as shown in the plan view of FIG. 4, the surface density of the non-printable area (16) such as the end of the recording medium (1) and the printing area of the recording medium (1) to be evaluated. If the surface concentration in (17) is detected, it is possible to correct and evaluate the amount of change in surface concentration due to the usage environment of the recording medium (1).

  As described above, the surface density detected by the density detection means (10) is quantitatively judged by the erasure judgment circuit (11) to judge the erasure state quantitatively. Since it is necessary to urge the user to warn of an erasure failure, a display device (display means) including an erasure failure warning lamp (12) is arranged as a notification means in a part of the processing apparatus of the present invention. A warning is urged (notified) to the user by lighting or flashing the lamp (12). In addition to the display device, a warning form using a buzzer (13) or the like is also effective. Of course, these may be used together as a notification means.

  In addition, since the processing apparatus of the present invention is not always installed near the user, in this embodiment, the communication circuit (9) is provided, and the user can connect a PC or the like via a connection cable. When printing from the terminal, the processing unit's communication function distributes the result of erasure failure such as error display to the terminal (T) such as a PC that performed the printing operation as a warning, and the user It is possible to display an erasure failure warning such as an error display on the display of a terminal such as a PC that has been operated. As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to easily display a warning to the user when determining the erasure status of the recording medium.

  In this embodiment, an example in which the terminal and the processing apparatus of the present invention are connected by a connection cable has been described. However, a warning comment such as an error display can also be returned in the same way for connection via a network such as a LAN. is there. It becomes possible to prompt the user who has performed the printing operation to directly determine the erasure status of the recording medium. In addition, if a communication function using a telephone line is provided as a communication function of the processing apparatus of the present invention, it becomes possible to distribute a failure status to a service station in a remote place, and before receiving a report of a failure from the user. This makes it possible to grasp the failure status and allow the service person at the service station to grasp the erase failure status. As a matter of course, it becomes possible to respond promptly to subsequent maintenance. A wireless communication network can be used instead of a telephone line.

  In addition to this, when the erasure determination circuit (11) determines an erasure failure, a warning comment (20) that clearly indicates the erasure failure is printed at one corner (21) of the document of the recording medium (1). It is also effective to perform control so as to be superimposed on the content of the target document.

  Therefore, in the processing apparatus of the present embodiment, as shown in the plan view of the recording medium (1) in FIG. 4, an image processing circuit (14) that prints a warning comment (20) superimposed on a part of the print document is provided. In addition, by printing a document on which the warning comment (20) is superimposed and displaying the warning comment (20) on a part of the print result that the user always sees, it is possible to prompt the warning of erasure failure more reliably. Further, since it remains as a printing result, it becomes possible to grasp the history of erasure defects.

[Second Embodiment]
In the above-described embodiment example, the example of detection / notification regarding the erasure failure has been described, but the density detection means (10) for detecting the surface density of the recording medium (1) is arranged downstream of the printing means (5). It is also possible to detect the print status as the print density and determine whether the print status is good or bad. FIG. 5 shows a schematic configuration diagram of the reversible recording medium processing apparatus (100B) of the second embodiment in which an example of the arrangement of such density detection means (10) is clearly shown. Compared to the previous embodiment, the position of the density detection means (10) is different, and the density detection means (10) is connected to the print determination circuit (15) instead of the erasure determination circuit (11).

  The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is particularly effective for test pattern printing or the like. The recording medium (1) is once erased by passing through the erasing means (2), and then the printing means (5). For example, a density measurement pattern (22) such as black solid printing for measuring the print density is printed at a predetermined position of the recording medium (1) when passing through. This density measurement pattern (22) is detected by the density detection means (10) arranged downstream of the printing means (5), the density of the relevant part is measured, and a print determination circuit for determining the print state based on the measurement result ( In step 15), the print quality is determined.

  In this determination, the print density to be developed at the print temperature generated from the heat generating part of the thermal head (6) when a predetermined energy is applied to the thermal head (6) of the printing means (5) is set to the best level, and the density detection is performed. The detection result from the means (10) may be relatively compared to judge the print state quantitatively. In this way, it is possible to easily determine the printing status of the recording medium.

  However, as described above, the recording medium (1) may generate yellowing as a whole due to environmental conditions such as ultraviolet rays. 6 may be slightly different from the determination level of the printing state in the ideal environment, and in order to cope with this, the plan view of the recording medium of FIG. As described above, the surface density of the non-printable area (16) such as the end of the recording medium (1) and the density measurement pattern (22) printed in the printing area (17) of the recording medium (1) to be evaluated. By detecting the surface concentration of the recording medium, it is possible to correct and evaluate the amount of change in the surface concentration due to the use environment such as the deterioration of the recording medium in the actual environment of the recording medium (1).

  Also in this embodiment, the surface density detected by the density detection means (10) is quantitatively determined by the print determination circuit (15) to determine the print state, and the quality of the print state is determined. In the case of printing failure due to printing, it is necessary to urge the user to warn of printing failure. Therefore, a display device including a printing failure warning lamp (12) disposed in a part of the processing apparatus of the present invention ( The display unit and the notification unit) are lit or flashed to prompt the user to be warned, and the user can easily display a warning for determining the printing status of the recording medium. In addition to the display device, an embodiment in which warning is given by a sound of a buzzer (13) or the like is also effective.

  In addition, since the processing apparatus of the present invention is not always installed near the user, when the user is printing from a terminal such as a PC via a connection cable, the processing of the present invention is performed. Distributes printing error warnings such as error displays to terminals that have performed printing operations such as PCs using the communication function of the device, and displays error warnings such as error displays on the terminals of PCs operated by the user. be able to. In the above description, the terminal and the processing device are connected with a connection cable. However, a warning comment such as an error display can be returned similarly for a terminal connected via a network such as a LAN. . In addition, if a communication function using a telephone line is provided as a communication function of the processing apparatus of the present invention, it becomes possible to deliver a failure status to a service station at a remote location, and a failure notification from the user. It is also possible to grasp the defect status before receiving.

  When the print determination circuit (15) determines a print failure, it is also effective to print a print failure warning comment (24) on a part of the document on the recording medium (1). For this purpose, the processing apparatus of the present invention includes an image processing circuit (14) for superimposing a warning comment (24) on a part of a printed document (see FIG. 6), and outputs the warning comment (24) to the print drive circuit (7). ) Is printed, and a warning comment (24) is displayed on a part of the print result that the user always sees, so that a warning about printing failure can be more reliably urged. In addition, since it remains as a printing result, it is possible to grasp the history of printing defects.

[Third Embodiment]
In the description so far, detection, judgment, and warning of each of the erasure failure and printing failure have been described in order. However, the processing device of the present invention can simultaneously detect, judge, and warn erasure failure and printing failure by the same operation. is there. That is, it is possible to deal with erasing defects and / or printing defects. Such a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  This embodiment is also particularly effective when printing test patterns. In the third embodiment, the density detecting means (10) for detecting the surface density of the recording medium (1) is arranged downstream of the printing means (5). FIG. 7 shows a schematic configuration diagram of the reversible recording medium processing apparatus (100C) of the third embodiment. The arrangement of the concentration detection means (10) can be realized at the same arrangement position as in FIG. The output of the density detection means (10) is input to both the erase determination circuit (11) and the print determination circuit (15).

  When the recording medium (1) passes through the erasing means (2), the recording medium (1) is once completely erased, and when passing through the printing means (5), the recording medium (1) is used for measuring the print density at a predetermined position. Control that prints the density measurement pattern (22) such as black solid printing, and arranges the non-print area (26) that has been erased only in a predetermined area other than this density measurement pattern (22) A circuit (8) is provided (FIG. 8).

  Under the control of the control circuit (8), at two predetermined positions (23, 27) of the recording medium (1), an area of the density measurement pattern (22) for detecting the print density, and the erased recording medium (1 ) Can be arranged on the recording medium (1). When the density measurement pattern (22) area and non-printing area (26) on this recording medium (1) pass through the density detection means (10), the surface density of each is measured, and based on the measurement results. The pass / fail judgment circuit (15) and the erasure state judgment circuit (11) judge the quality (FIG. 8).

  For these judgments, the print density that should be developed at the print temperature generated from the heat generating part of the thermal head (6) when a predetermined energy is applied to the thermal head (6) of the printing means (5) is the best level. Then, the detection result from the density detection means (10) is relatively compared to quantitatively evaluate the printing state. In the erasure determination, the detection result detected from the density detection means (10) and the best level of the erasure determination standard in the erasure determination circuit (11) are relatively evaluated to quantitatively evaluate the erasure state. To do.

  In addition, the recording medium (1) may generate yellowing as a whole due to environmental conditions such as ultraviolet rays, and even in a non-printing state, a difference from the surface density of the best state occurs, and the printing state in the actual environment Since there is a possibility that a slight difference may occur between the judgment level of the erased state and the judgment level of the printing state and erased state in the ideal environment, or as a judgment method, the unprintable area (16 ) And the surface density of each evaluation area (23, 27) in the printing area (17) of the recording medium (1) to be evaluated for the printing state and the erasing state. In this method, it is possible to correct and evaluate the amount of change in surface density due to the usage environment of the recording medium (1).

  The surface density of the evaluation area (23, 27) of the printing state and the erasing state detected by the density detecting means (10) is determined by the printing judgment circuit (15) and the erasing judgment circuit (11), respectively. In the case of printing failure or erasing failure, it is necessary to prompt the user to warn of the failure status.Therefore, a warning lamp (12) indicating the failure status is included in a part of the processing apparatus of the present invention. A display device is arranged, and a warning is urged to the user by lighting or flashing the lamp (12).

  In the case of the warning lamp (12), two lamps (12) are displayed to indicate printing failure and erasure failure, or one warning lamp (12) as shown in the example of FIG. It is also effective to use different warnings by using different warnings or by changing the light emission / flashing pattern with one warning lamp (12). In addition to the display device, it is also effective to warn with a sound such as a buzzer (13).

  In addition, since the processing apparatus of the present invention is not always installed near the user, when the user is printing from a terminal such as a PC via a connection cable, the processing of the present invention is performed. Distributes warnings of failure status such as error display to terminals that have performed printing operations such as PCs by the communication function of the device, and displays warnings of failure status such as error indications on the display of terminals operated by the user be able to. In the above description, the terminal and the processing apparatus of the present invention are connected with a connection cable. However, it is also possible to return a warning comment such as an error display for connection via a network such as a LAN. . In addition, if a communication function using a telephone line is provided as a communication function of the processing apparatus of the present invention, it becomes possible to distribute a failure status to a service station in a remote place, and before receiving a report of a failure from the user. It is also possible to grasp the defect status.

  When the print determination circuit (15) and the erasure determination circuit (11) determine an erasure failure and / or a print failure status, a warning comment (20, 24) of the failure status is included in a part of the document of the recording medium (1). ) Is also effective. For this purpose, the processing apparatus of the present invention includes an image processing circuit (14) for superimposing a warning comment (20, 24) on a part of a printed document, and a document on which the warning comment (20, 24) is superimposed if necessary. By printing and displaying a warning comment (20, 24) on a part of the print result that the user always sees, it is possible to more reliably prompt a warning of a defective state. Moreover, since it remains as a printing result, it becomes possible to grasp the history of defect status.

  After performing maintenance corresponding to the failure situation warned by the processing apparatus of the present invention, even if the print determination and the erasure determination are performed by performing the print operation again, the print failure and the erasure failure are warned again. The recording medium (1) can be determined as a defective recording medium (1) due to the life of the recording medium (1), and the recording medium (1) is warned of the defect due to the deterioration of the recording medium (1) by evaluating the number of printings and the determination result. An embodiment for determining a defect is also conceivable.

It is a block diagram of the reversible recording medium based on the processing apparatus of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the conventional processing apparatus for reversible recording media. It is a schematic block diagram of the processing apparatus for reversible recording media of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is an example of arrangement | positioning of the density | concentration measurement area | region and warning comment on the reversible recording medium which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the processing apparatus for reversible recording media of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is an example of arrangement | positioning of the density | concentration measurement area | region and warning comment on the reversible recording medium which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the processing apparatus for reversible recording media of 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is an example of arrangement | positioning of the density | concentration measurement area | region and warning comment on the reversible recording medium which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

(1) ... Reversible recording medium
(2) ... Erasing means
(3)… Heater roller
(4)… Erase drive circuit
(5) ... Printing means
(6)… Thermal head
(7) ... Print drive circuit
(8)… Control circuit
(9)… Communication circuit
(10) Concentration detection means
(11) ... Erasing judgment circuit
(12)… Warning lamp (display means, notification means)
(13)… Buzzer (notification means)
(14) Image processing circuit
(15) ... Print judgment circuit
(16)… Unprintable area
(17)… Printing area
(20)… Warning comment
(21)… A corner of the document
(22)… Density measurement pattern
(23)… Evaluation area
(24)… Warning comment
(26)… Non-printing area
(27)… Evaluation area
(100), (100B), (100C) ... Reversible recording medium processing device (printing device)
(T) ... terminal

Claims (15)

By having a reversible recording layer that reversibly changes its state and heating the reversible recording medium capable of recording and erasing a visible image by changing the state of the reversible recording layer to a specific temperature. In a reversible recording medium processing apparatus including an erasing unit and a printing unit for rewriting a recording medium,
A density detecting means arranged between the erasing means and the printing means for measuring the surface density of the recording medium;
A processing apparatus for a reversible recording medium, comprising: an erasure determination circuit that determines an erasure state of the recording medium based on a measurement result by the density detection means.   The erasure determination circuit compares the measurement result of the surface density after erasing the printable area of the recording medium with reference to the measurement result of the surface density of a predetermined non-printable area of the recording medium. 2. The reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the erasing failure of the recording medium is determined.   The reversible recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a display unit that displays that the determination result by the erasure determination circuit is an erasure defect, and displays an erasure defect warning.   2. An image processing circuit for superimposing an erasure defect warning comment on a print target document and printing it on a recording medium when printing is determined to be erasure failure by the erasure determination circuit. The processing apparatus for reversible recording media of any one of -3.   It has a communication function, receives a print command from an external terminal, returns a determination result indicating that the erasure is defective in the erasure determination circuit, and displays a warning comment on the display device of the terminal. The reversible recording medium processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the processing device is reversible. By having a reversible recording layer that reversibly changes its state and heating the reversible recording medium capable of recording and erasing a visible image by changing the state of the reversible recording layer to a specific temperature. In a reversible recording medium processing apparatus including an erasing unit and a printing unit for rewriting a recording medium,
A density detecting means for measuring the surface density of the recording medium is arranged downstream of the erasing means and the printing means, and
Printing that prints a specific density measurement pattern for measuring the print density at a predetermined position on the recording medium, and determines the printing state of the recording medium based on the measurement result obtained by measuring the density measurement pattern by the density detection means A processing apparatus for a reversible recording medium, comprising a determination circuit.   The print determination circuit uses the measurement result of the surface density of the density measurement pattern printed at a predetermined position in the printable area of the recording medium as a reference and the measurement result of the surface density of the predetermined non-printable area of the recording medium. The processing device for a reversible recording medium according to claim 6, wherein a printing failure of the reversible recording medium is determined by comparing the above.   7. A display means for displaying that the determination result of the print determination circuit for determining the print state of the recording medium is a print failure, and displaying a print failure as a warning. 8. A processing apparatus for a reversible recording medium according to 7.   An image processing circuit is provided for printing a print defect warning comment superimposed on a print target document on a print medium when printing is determined to be defective by the print determination circuit for determining the print state of the recording medium. The reversible recording medium processing device according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the processing device is a reversible recording medium processing device.   It is equipped with a communication function, receives a print command from an external terminal, and returns a result of print failure in the print determination circuit to the terminal that performed the print operation and displays a warning comment on the display device of the terminal The processing device for a reversible recording medium according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the processing device is made possible. A specific density measurement pattern for measuring the printing density is printed at a predetermined position on the recording medium, and a non-printing area that is only erased by the erasing means is arranged in an area other than the density measuring pattern. A control circuit for controlling,
The density detecting means includes a determination circuit that measures the surface density of each of the density measurement pattern and the non-printing area, and determines an erasing state and a printing state of the recording medium from each measurement result. The reversible recording medium processing device according to claim 6.   The determination circuit uses the measurement result of the surface density of the density measurement pattern printed at a predetermined position in the printable area of the recording medium based on the measurement result of the surface density of the predetermined non-printable area of the recording medium. The printing failure of the reversible recording medium is determined by comparison, and the erasing failure of the reversible recording medium is determined by comparing the detection result of the surface density of the non-printing area. Item 12. The processing device for a reversible recording medium according to Item 11.   Display means for displaying the determination result of the erasure defect and / or the print defect in the determination circuit for determining the erasure state and the print state of the recording medium is arranged in a part of the processing device to warn of the erasure defect and / or the print defect. The reversible recording medium processing device according to claim 11, wherein the reversible recording medium processing device is displayed.   The determination result of the erasure failure and / or the printing failure in the determination circuit for determining the erasure state and the printing state of the recording medium is superimposed on the document to be printed with a warning comment of the erasure failure and / or the printing failure on the recording medium. The reversible recording medium processing device according to claim 11, further comprising an image processing circuit for printing. The determination result of the erasure failure and / or the printing failure in the determination circuit that has a communication function and determines the erasure state and print state of the recording medium is returned as a warning comment to the terminal that has performed the print operation, and the terminal The reversible recording medium processing device according to claim 11, wherein a warning comment can be displayed on the display device.

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