JP4740975B2 - Thermal recording medium recording device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a thermal recording medium recording apparatus for writing and erasing data by irradiating a thermal recording medium with laser light.

  2. Description of the Related Art There is a thermal recording medium recording apparatus that can record and erase data by irradiating a rewritable thermal recording medium with laser light. Such a thermal recording medium recording apparatus is disclosed in, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2. Among them, Patent Document 1 scans a laser beam irradiation means for irradiating a reversible thermosensitive recording medium with a plane scanning mechanism within a predetermined range of unit drawing area, and moves the plane scanning mechanism based on drawing information. And selectively irradiating with laser light. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228561 discloses irradiating a laser beam from above a reversible thermosensitive recording medium being conveyed.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 discloses controlling the magnitude of laser light output when writing visible information in a reversible thermosensitive recording area and when writing visible information in an irreversible thermosensitive recording area by laser light irradiation. To do. Patent Document 2 also discloses that laser light is irradiated from above the reversible thermosensitive recording medium being conveyed.

Further, the technology of a laser printer using a line head is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 3 and the like.
JP 2001-88333 A JP 2002-59575 A JP-A-6-198952

  In Patent Documents 1 and 2, data is written and erased by irradiating a laser beam from above the reversible thermosensitive recording medium to be conveyed. However, Patent Documents 1 and 2 have a structure in which a mechanism for preventing leakage of the laser beam irradiated to the reversible thermosensitive recording medium or the reflection laser from the reversible thermosensitive recording medium to the outside is provided. is not. For this reason, for example, when the exterior cover is removed, data is written and erased by irradiating laser light from above the reversible thermosensitive recording medium.

However, in Patent Documents 1 and 2, there is a possibility that the laser light irradiated from above the reversible thermosensitive recording medium is reflected from the reversible thermosensitive recording medium and leaks outside the apparatus. In addition, since it is necessary to provide a laser light source or the like above the reversible thermosensitive recording medium, a space for providing a laser light source or the like is required above the apparatus. For this reason, the whole apparatus enlarges.
As a thermal recording medium transport mechanism, a system is known in which a thermal recording medium is placed on, for example, a roller and the thermal recording medium is transported by driving the roller. Even when such a transport mechanism is used, since the laser beam is irradiated from above the thermal recording medium placed on the roller, the reflected laser from the reversible thermosensitive recording medium may leak out of the apparatus.
An object of the present invention is to provide a thermal recording medium recording apparatus that realizes a miniaturization capable of improving safety without leakage of laser light.

  A thermal recording medium recording apparatus according to a main aspect of the present invention includes an endless first belt mechanism formed between a pair of rollers and at least two endlessly formed belts. A second belt mechanism formed by placing two second belts between a pair of rollers is provided so as to face each other, and a thermal recording medium is sandwiched between the first belt mechanism and the second belt mechanism and conveyed. A laser beam is applied to the thermal recording medium conveyed by the conveying mechanism through an opening formed between the conveying mechanism and the first belt mechanism and the second belt mechanism, and the thermal recording medium A light irradiation source for writing and erasing data.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a thermal recording medium recording apparatus that realizes a miniaturization capable of improving safety without leakage of laser light.

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a thermal recording medium recording apparatus. The transport mechanism 1 includes an upper roller portion 2 that is a first belt mechanism and a lower roller portion 3 that is a second belt mechanism. The upper roller portion 2 and the lower roller portion 3 are provided to face each other in the vertical direction in the apparatus. FIG. 2 is an exploded configuration diagram in which the transport mechanism 1 is divided into an upper roller portion 2 and a lower roller portion 3.

  The upper roller unit 2 includes a pair of rollers 4 and 5. These rollers 4 and 5 are each formed in a cylindrical shape, and are provided at predetermined intervals. Between these rollers 4 and 5, the 1st belt 6 formed in the endless and strip shape is hung. The width of the first belt 6, that is, the length in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction S of the thermal recording medium H is formed to be the same as or longer than the length in the longitudinal direction of the rollers 4 and 5. Each roller 4, 5 is covered with the first belt 6 by covering the first belt 6 formed in such a width between the rollers 4, 5. The first belt 6 is formed of a light absorbing member that absorbs light such as laser light, for example, an elastic member formed in black, for example, a resin such as rubber.

  On both edge portions of the first belt 6, raised portions 7 and 8 raised in a direction perpendicular to the planar main body 6a of the first belt 6 are provided. These rising portions 7 and 8 are provided to cover the space between the second belt mechanism 3 and each of the rising portions 7 and 8. A plurality of cuts 7a and 8a are formed in the rising portions 7 and 8 at regular intervals, for example. These notches 7a and 8a are not in close contact with each other in the linear movement region in which the rising portions 7 and 8 move in the linear direction between the rollers 4 and 5, and no gaps are formed between the rollers 4 and 5. The first belt 6 is separated from each other in order to prevent the first belt 6 from being stretched in a curve movement region that moves along a curve along the outer peripheral surface.

  A motor 9 is connected to, for example, the roller 4 among the rollers 4 and 5. The motor 9 rotates the roller 4 in the direction of arrow A, for example. As a result, the roller 4 becomes a main driving roller and the roller 5 becomes a driven roller.

  On the other hand, the lower roller portion 3 includes a pair of rollers 10 and 11. These rollers 10 and 11 are each formed in a columnar shape and provided at a predetermined interval. The distance between the rollers 10 and 11 is the same as the distance between the rollers 4 and 5 in the upper roller portion 2. The lengths of the rollers 10 and 11 in the longitudinal direction are slightly shorter than the lengths of the rollers 4 and 5 in the upper roller portion 2. That is, the rollers 10 and 11 are formed to have a length that allows the rollers 10 and 11 to enter between the rising portions 7 and 8 of the first belt 6 when combined with the upper roller portion 2.

  Further, two second belts 12 and 13 that are formed in an endless and belt-like manner are hung between the rollers 10 and 11 and at both ends thereof. The interval F between the second belts 12 and 13, that is, the interval F in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction S of the thermal recording medium H, is set shorter than the width Hw of the thermal recording medium H. For example, the interval F between the second belts 12 and 13 is such that the thermal recording medium H is placed on each of the second belts 12 and 13 and the light irradiation unit 14 is interposed between the second belts 12 and 13. This is the interval necessary to arrange the.

  Each width of the second belts 12 and 13 is formed to be shorter than the width of the second belt 6 in the upper roller portion 2. Each of the second belts 12 and 13 is formed of a light absorbing member that absorbs light such as laser light, for example, an elastic member formed in black, for example, a resin such as rubber. In addition, the opening part 15 enclosed by the said each roller 10 and 11 and each 2nd belt 12 and 13 is formed by hooking each 2nd belt 12 and 13 to the both ends of each roller 10 and 11. FIG. A motor 9 may be connected to the roller 11.

  The upper roller portion 2 and the lower roller portion 3 are arranged in a vertical direction by bringing the first belt 6 of the upper roller portion 2 and the second belts 12 and 13 of the lower roller portion 3 into surface contact with each other. It is provided facing each other. When the upper roller portion 2 and the lower roller portion 3 face each other, the lower roller portion 3 enters between the rising portions 7 and 8 provided on both edges of the belt 6 of the upper roller portion 2. . As a result, both side surfaces between the upper roller portion 2 and the lower roller portion 3 are covered with the rising portions 7 and 8, respectively, and the laser beam is emitted from the gap between the upper roller portion 2 and the lower roller portion 3 to the outside. Light leakage such as light is blocked.

  Further, the roller 4 is driven in the direction of the arrow A, for example, by the rotational drive of the motor 9 by the structure in which the first belt 6 of the upper roller portion 2 and the second belts 12, 13 of the lower roller portion 3 are in surface contact with each other. When rotating, the first belt 6 moves in the direction of arrow B in response to the rotation of the roller 4. At this time, the roller 5 also rotates in the direction of arrow A. In response to the movement of the first belt 6 in the arrow B direction, the second belts 12 and 13 that are in surface contact with the first belt 6 move in the arrow C direction. The rollers 10 and 11 rotate in the direction of arrow D by the movement of the second belts 12 and 13 in the direction of arrow C, respectively.

  A light irradiation unit 14 is provided in the opening 15. The light irradiation unit 14 is provided in the opening 15 with the upper surface 14a on which the laser irradiation unit 16 is provided, for example, in order to irradiate laser light from the lower side to the upper side. The upper surface 14 a of the light irradiation unit 14 is provided at a position slightly lower than the height position of the second belts 12 and 13. That is, the upper surface 14a of the light irradiation unit 14 is a position slightly lower than the height position of each of the second belts 12 and 13 so that the upper surface 14a of the light irradiation unit 14 does not contact the thermal recording medium H being conveyed. Provided. Thereby, the light irradiation source 15 irradiates the thermal recording medium H with laser light from below.

  A laser irradiation unit 16 and a thermal recording medium sensor 17 are provided on the upper surface 14 a of the light irradiation unit 14. The laser irradiation unit 16 is a line laser light source, and is formed by arranging a plurality of laser elements that output laser light in a line shape. The line direction in which these laser elements are arranged is perpendicular to the conveyance direction S of the thermal recording medium H. The thermal recording medium sensor 17 detects the leading end in the transport direction A of the thermal recording medium H transported in the direction of arrow A by the transport mechanism 1 and outputs a detection signal K thereof.

  The control unit 18 receives the detection signal K output from the thermal recording medium sensor 17, and outputs each laser beam output from each laser element of the laser irradiation unit 16 based on the detection timing of the tip of the thermal recording medium H. An output timing control signal L for controlling the output timing is sent to the laser irradiation unit 16. That is, when the leading end of the thermal recording medium H is detected by the thermal recording medium sensor 17, the control unit 18 detects that the leading end of the thermal recording medium H is, for example, a certain time from the detection of the leading end of the thermal recording medium H. Each laser beam from each laser element of the laser irradiation unit 16 is passed after the time required for the recording start position on the thermal recording medium H to reach the upper position of the laser irradiation unit 16 after passing the upper position of the thermal recording medium sensor 17. Output. Note that the time from the detection of the leading end of the thermal recording medium H to the start of output of each laser beam from the laser irradiation unit 16 varies according to the conveyance speed of the thermal recording medium H by the conveyance mechanism 1.

Next, the operation and action of the apparatus configured as described above will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, the transport mechanism 1 is provided with the upper roller portion 2 and the lower roller portion 3 facing each other by bringing the first belt 6 and the second belts 12 and 13 into surface contact with each other. It is done. As a result, the lower roller portion 3 enters between the rising portions 7 and 8 provided at both edges of the belt 6 of the upper roller portion 2. Thus, both side surfaces between the upper roller portion 2 and the lower roller portion 3, that is, the space between the first belt 6 and the second belts 12 and 13, are covered by the rising portions 7 and 8, respectively.

  Further, since the upper roller portion 2 and the lower roller portion 3 are opposed to each other, the upper surface side of the transport mechanism 1 composed of the upper roller portion 2 and the lower roller portion 3 is completely shielded from light. At the same time, since the lower roller part 3 enters between the rising parts 7 and 8 of the first belt 6 of the upper roller part 2, the upper roller part 2, the lower roller part 3, and both side surfaces are For example, it is covered like a wall by the rising portions 7 and 8 of one belt 6 and is completely shielded from light.

  On the other hand, the light irradiation unit 14 is provided in the opening 15. The light irradiation unit 14 is provided in the opening 15 with the upper surface 14 a provided with the laser irradiation unit 16 facing upward. In this case, the upper surface 14 a of the light irradiation unit 14 is provided at a position slightly lower than the height position of the second belts 12 and 13. Thereby, the light irradiation unit 14 irradiates the laser beam from the lower side to the upper side.

  When writing or erasing data on the thermal recording medium H, for example, the motor 9 in the transport mechanism 1 is driven to rotate. The rotation of the motor 9 causes the roller 4 to rotate in the direction of arrow A, for example, and the first belt 6 moves in the direction of arrow B in response to the rotation of the roller 4.

  In this state, when the thermal recording medium H enters between the first belt 6 of the upper roller portion 2 of the transport mechanism 1 and the second belts 12 and 13 of the lower roller portion 3, the thermal recording medium H Is in surface contact with the first belt 6 and is transported in the transport direction S along with the movement of the first belt 6 in the arrow B direction. Since the thermal recording medium H is in surface contact with the second belts 12 and 13 of the lower roller unit 3, each of the lower roller units 3 is transported in the transport direction S of the thermal recording medium H. 2 belts 12 and 13 move in the direction of arrow C. Then, the rollers 10 and 11 rotate in the direction of arrow D by the movement of the second belts 12 and 13 in the direction of arrow C, respectively. As described above, the thermal recording medium H is transported in the transport direction S while being sandwiched between the first belt 6 of the upper roller portion 2 and the second belts 12 and 13 of the lower roller portion 3. .

  At this time, the notches 7a and 8a of the rising portions 7 and 8 of the first belt 6 can be in close contact with each other in a linear movement region that moves in a linear direction between the rollers 4 and 5 to form a gap. Absent. Further, the notches 7a and 8a are separated from each other to prevent the first belt 6 from being stretched in a curve moving region that moves along the outer peripheral surface of each of the rollers 4 and 5.

The thermal recording medium sensor 17 detects the leading end in the transport direction A of the thermal recording medium H transported in the transport direction A by the transport mechanism 1 and outputs a detection signal K thereof.
The control unit 18 receives the detection signal K output from the thermal recording medium sensor 17, and for a certain time from the detection of the leading end of the thermal recording medium H, for example, the leading end of the thermal recording medium H reaches Each laser beam is output from each laser element of the laser irradiation unit 16 after the time required for the recording start position on the thermal recording medium H to reach the upper position of the laser irradiation unit 16 passes through the upper position. These laser beams are output upward from the laser irradiation unit 16 and irradiated onto the thermal recording medium H being conveyed. As a result, data is written to or erased from the thermal recording medium H.

  However, according to the first embodiment, the upper roller portion 2 and the lower roller portion 3 of the transport mechanism 1 are brought into surface contact with the first belt 6 and the second belts 12 and 13. The light irradiating unit 14 is placed upward from the lower side in the opening 15 surrounded by the rollers 10 and 11 and the second belts 12 and 13 in the transport mechanism 1. The raised portions 7 and 8 were provided at both edges of the first belt 6.

  Thereby, when each laser beam is output from the laser irradiation unit 16 and data is written to or erased from the thermal recording medium H, the conveyance mechanism including the upper roller unit 2 and the lower roller unit 3. 1 is completely shielded from light, and the upper roller 2, lower roller 3 and both side surfaces are completely shielded by the rising portions 7 and 8 of the first belt 6. The output laser light and the laser light reflected by the thermal recording medium H do not leak outside through the gap between the upper roller portion 2 and the lower roller portion 3 in the transport mechanism 1.

Further, since the light irradiation unit 14 is provided in the opening 15 with the upper surface 14a provided with the laser irradiation unit 16 facing upward, each laser beam output from the laser irradiation unit 16 is moved downward by the thermal recording medium H. Reflect towards For example, when writing or erasing data on the thermal recording medium H, the user handles the apparatus with a viewpoint above the apparatus. Accordingly, since each laser beam is reflected by the thermal recording medium H and travels downward, safety can be improved for the user who places the viewpoint above the apparatus.
Further, in an actual recording apparatus, there is often an unused empty space below the transport mechanism 1. Therefore, by providing the light irradiation unit 14 in this empty space, the empty space can be used effectively and the entire apparatus can be reduced in size.

  The thermal recording medium H is sandwiched between the upper roller portion 2 and the lower roller portion 3 in the transport mechanism 1 and transported in the linear direction, so that it is not bent during transport and data is written or erased. For example, even if it is transported by the transport mechanism 1 a plurality of times, it will not be deformed.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
FIG. 3 shows a configuration diagram of a thermal recording medium recording apparatus, and FIG. 4 shows a configuration diagram of only the lower roller section 3 of the transport mechanism 1. Light shielding plates 20 and 21 as light shielding members are provided on both side surfaces of the lower roller portion 3, respectively. The light shielding plates 20 and 21 shield light from the gaps between the light shielding plates 20 and 21 themselves and the second belts 12 and 13, that is, both side surfaces of the lower roller portion 3. In addition, these light-shielding plates 20 and 21 are provided so that each roller 10 and 11 can rotate, respectively.

  With such a structure of the present apparatus, as in the first embodiment, the upper surface side of the transport mechanism 1 composed of the upper roller portion 2 and the lower roller portion 3 is completely shielded from light, and the upper roller The part 2, the lower roller part 3 and both side surfaces can be completely shielded by the rising parts 7 and 8, and in addition to this, both side faces of the lower roller part 3 are shielded by the light shielding plates 20 and 21. Therefore, the light shielding property of the laser beam to both side surfaces of the lower roller part 3 can be further improved.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
FIG. 5 shows an exploded configuration diagram of a thermal recording medium recording apparatus. The light irradiation unit 30 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the laser irradiation unit 16 and the thermal recording medium sensor 17 are provided on one end side on one side surface 30a. The light irradiation unit 30 is arranged in parallel between the rollers 10 and 11 through the second belt 12 hung on the rollers 10 and 11, for example. A laser irradiation unit 16 and a thermal recording medium sensor 17 on the light irradiation unit 30 are disposed in the opening 15.

  Even with this structure of the apparatus, as in the first embodiment, the upper surface side of the transport mechanism 1 composed of the upper roller portion 2 and the lower roller portion 3 is completely shielded from light, and the upper side The roller portion 2, the lower roller portion 3, and both side surfaces can be completely shielded by the rising portions 7 and 8.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.
For example, each of the rollers 4 and 5 and each of the rollers 10 and 11 is a light absorbing member that absorbs light such as a laser beam, for example, an elastic member formed in black, such as rubber, like the belts 6, 12, and 13. You may form with resin of.
Further, each of the light irradiation units 14 and 30 may be colored black, for example.

  The transport mechanism 1 is transported by the rotational drive of the motor 9. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the transport mechanism 1 is moved by the inertia of the first belt 6 in the upper roller portion 2 and each of the lower roller portions 3. The thermal recording medium H may be transported by movement of the second belts 12 and 13 due to inertia. In this case, when the thermal recording medium H enters between the first belt 6 of the upper roller section 2 of the transport mechanism 1 and the second belts 12 and 13 of the lower roller section 3, thermal recording at the time of entering the thermal recording medium H is performed. In response to the pressing force of the medium H, the first belt 6 moves in the arrow B direction, and the second belts 12 and 13 move in the arrow C direction. The first belt 6 continues to move in the direction of arrow B due to the inertia when receiving the pressing force of the thermal recording medium H, and each of the second belts 12 and 13 also receives the pressing force of the thermal recording medium H. It continues to move in the direction of arrow C due to inertia. As a result, the thermal recording medium H is transported in the transport direction S while being sandwiched between the first belt 6 of the upper roller portion 2 and the second belts 12 and 13 of the lower roller portion 3.

1 is a configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of a thermal recording medium recording apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. The disassembled block diagram which shows the conveyance mechanism in the same apparatus separately in an upper roller part and a lower roller part. The block diagram which shows 2nd Embodiment of the recording apparatus of the thermal recording medium which concerns on this invention. The block diagram which shows only the lower roller part of the conveyance mechanism in the apparatus. FIG. 6 is an exploded configuration diagram illustrating a third embodiment of a thermal recording medium recording apparatus according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

  1: transport mechanism, 2: upper roller unit, 3: lower roller unit, 4, 5: roller, 6: first belt, H: thermal recording medium, 7, 8: start-up unit, 7a, 8a: notch , 9: motor, 10, 11: roller, 12, 13: second belt, 14: light irradiation unit, 15: opening, 16: laser irradiation unit, 17: thermal recording medium sensor, 18: control unit, 20 , 21: light shielding plate, 30: light irradiation unit, 30a: one side surface of the light irradiation unit.

Claims (8)

A first belt mechanism in which a first belt formed in an endless and belt-like shape is hung between a pair of rollers, and a first belt mechanism in which at least two second belts formed in an endless state are hung between a pair of rollers. Two belt mechanisms that face each other, a conveyance mechanism that conveys a thermal recording medium between the first belt mechanism and the second belt mechanism, and
A laser beam is irradiated to the thermal recording medium conveyed by the conveyance mechanism through an opening formed between the first belt mechanism and the second belt mechanism, and the thermal recording medium is irradiated A light source for writing and erasing data;
A thermal recording medium recording apparatus comprising:   2. The thermal recording according to claim 1, wherein the first belt mechanism and the second belt mechanism are arranged such that the first belt and each of the second belts are in surface contact with each other. Media recording device.   2. The thermal recording medium recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the first belt and the second belt is formed by a light absorbing member that absorbs light. The length in the width direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the thermal recording medium in the first belt mechanism is formed longer than the length in the width direction in the second belt mechanism,
The first belt is formed by forming rising portions covering both the edge portions and the second belt mechanism, respectively.
The thermal recording medium recording apparatus according to claim 1.   5. The thermal recording medium recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the rising portion is formed with a plurality of cuts.   2. The thermal recording medium recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light irradiation source is arranged to irradiate the thermal recording medium with the laser beam from the lower side toward the upper side. The second belt mechanism is formed by hanging the second belts on both ends of the pair of rollers,
2. The thermal recording medium recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light irradiation source is disposed so as to enter into the opening formed between the second belts.   2. The thermal recording medium recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second belt mechanism includes a light shielding member that shields both side surfaces of the pair of rollers formed by the second belts. .

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