JPH04313953A - Rewritable recording display device and erasure method for rewritable recording - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a recording display device whose recording section is simplified and miniaturized and whose maintenance cost and running cost are reduced and to obtain a picture with high picture quality when a picture is formed again by completely erasing the picture recorded on a rewritable recording medium. CONSTITUTION:The rewritable recording display device employs a rewritable recording medium 5A by recording a picture through the developed color reaction caused by a 1st thermal energy at a prescribed temperature and erasing a recorded picture through the color erasure reaction with a 2nd thermal energy at a prescribed temperature so as to record/erase the picture repititively. Moreover, the rewritable recording display device is provided with a recording control means 11A heating the rewritable recording medium 5A to record a picture onto the rewritable recording medium and an erasure control means 12A erasing the picture after the picture is recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rewritable recording/displaying device using a rewritable film that allows repeated recording and erasure (rewritable), and a recording erasing method.

0002

[Prior Art] Thermal recording devices, thermal transfer recording devices, etc. that record or display using heating means such as thermal heads or laser beams are relatively simple in structure, and are used in various types of printers, facsimile machines, display devices, etc. Widely applied to recording and display devices. For example, in the recording section of a facsimile machine that uses thermal recording paper, when a recording signal is input, the heating element on the thermal head selectively generates heat at a predetermined timing, causing the thermal recording paper at a desired position to develop color. Generally, images are formed by

[0003] Also, in recording devices for computers and word processors, thermal transfer type recording devices have become widely used, in which a heating element in a thermal head selectively generates heat to melt ink on an ink ribbon and transfer it to recording paper. There is. just,
In the case of thermal recording and thermal transfer recording as described above, the recorded image cannot be erased, and therefore a desired image cannot be recorded on the same recording paper again.

[0004] Conventional display devices and facsimile devices will be explained below. Figure 36 shows, for example, ``Information display device using toner images'' (Photographic Society of Japan, Electrophotography Society, SPSE Tokyo Branch, 1989), Workshop Fine Image Paper Collection (Photographic Society of Japan, Electrophotography Society, SPSE Tokyo Branch, 1989).
FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing a conventional display device published in Yujiro Ando et al. (P119 to P122).

In the figure, a frame 1 serving as the main body of the display device is provided with a windshield 2 constituting a display screen. In this frame 1, sheet rollers 3 and 4 are arranged above and below. A recording sheet 5 as a recording medium is wound and supported between these sheet rollers 3 and 4 and conveyed. This recording sheet 5 consists of an endless belt on which a toner image is formed and displayed. A magnet roller 7 is provided for forming a toner image on the recording sheet 5, and this magnet roller 7 is controlled by a controller 8. The toner 6, the magnet roller 7, and the controller 8 constitute a recording section for forming a toner image on the recording sheet 5. 9 is a driver IC, 10
is a cleaner for scraping off the toner image on the recording sheet 5.

Next, the operation will be explained. Recording sheet 5 supported and conveyed by upper and lower sheet rollers 3 and 4
A toner image is formed thereon by the magnet roller 7 controlled by the controller 8 during the conveyance process. After the toner image is formed on one screen, the recording sheet 5 stops facing the windshield 2, and the formed toner image is displayed. The toner image on the recording sheet 5 after being displayed is scraped off by the cleaner 10 as the recording sheet 5 moves, so that both the recording sheet 5 and the toner 6 can be reused.

FIG. 37 shows, for example, Mitsubishi Electric Technical Report Vol. 5
5 No. 10 1981 P. 47 (725)
2 is a schematic vertical side view showing the conventional facsimile machine shown in FIG. Color and record. A roll of thermal recording paper 13 is pressed onto the thermal head 11 by a platen roller 14 . Further, the thermal recording paper 13 is moved to the thermal head 11 by the conveyance guide 16a.
be guided by. The above thermal recording paper 1 on which a colored image is recorded
3 is guided to the discharge tray 1a by the conveyance guide 16b. 15a and 15b are guide rollers.

Next, the operation will be explained. Thermal recording paper 1
3 is guided by a conveyance guide 16a and sent to a recording position where the thermal head 11 and the platen roller 14 face each other. When a current pulse corresponding to a recording pattern to be recorded is applied to the thermal head 11, this thermal head 1
A colored image is recorded on the thermosensitive recording paper 13 due to the color development phenomenon due to the heat generated by the recording paper 13. Then, the thermal recording paper 13 on which the colored image has been recorded is guided by guide rollers 15a, 15b and a conveyance guide 16b and sent out to the discharge tray 1a.

Since the conventional display device and facsimile device are constructed as described above, in the display device, the construction of the recording section consisting of the toner 6, the magnet roller 7, the controller 8, etc. becomes complicated. For this reason, it is not possible to downsize the recording section, it is impossible to completely collect and reuse the toner 6, and the toner 6 cannot be completely collected and reused.
Requires supply and maintenance. In addition, in the case of a facsimile machine, once recorded thermal recording paper 13
cannot be used repeatedly, and an unused thermosensitive recording paper 13 is required each time recording is performed, which poses a problem of significantly increasing running costs.

FIG. 38 shows, for example, Nikkei Electronics 19
P. of the November 16, 1987 issue. 210 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional facsimile machine shown at 210. FIG. In the figure, a control unit and the like (not shown) for controlling the device are provided on a control board 22. The original 26 is fed by a feeding roller 24 for paper feeding. When a plurality of documents 26 are set, they are separated one by one by the separation piece 25. The image of the original 26 is read by a contact image sensor 27. The original 26 is brought into close contact with the contact type image sensor 27 by a platen roller 28 . The image read by the contact image sensor 27 is recorded on the recording paper 29 by the thermal head 30. In addition, recording paper 2
9 is brought into close contact with the thermal head 30 by the platen roller 31. Note that 21 is a power source.

Next, the operation will be explained. When receiving,
Image signals received from other facsimile machines are first
It is introduced into the control board 22. A decoding unit present in the control board 22 decodes the image signal into an image line by line, and sends a recording signal corresponding to the image to the thermal head 30. The thermal head 30 performs recording on the recording paper 29 based on the recording signal. Then, the platen roller 31 rotates by an amount corresponding to one line and advances the recording paper 29 in the direction of arrow a. The above operations are performed over one page, and one page's worth of images are recorded on the recording paper 29. Naturally, when the remaining amount of recording paper 29 runs out, recording cannot be performed, and generally reception becomes impossible.

There is also a facsimile machine in which the control board 22 is provided with a memory for storing image signals. Such a facsimile apparatus automatically stores the received image signal in the memory when the remaining amount of recording paper 29 runs out during reception. When the recording paper 29 is replenished and becomes ready for recording, an image corresponding to the image signal in the memory is recorded on the recording paper 29 automatically or by a recording instruction inputted to the operation panel 23. Furthermore, even if reception is started without the recording paper 29, the received image signal is stored in the memory.

[0013] At the time of transmission, first, the original 26 is inserted to the position of the feeding roller 24. Then, the original 26 moves in the direction of arrow b according to the rotation of the feeding roller 24 and is conveyed to the position of the contact type image sensor 27. At this time, when a plurality of original documents 26 are inserted one on top of the other, the separation piece 25 separates the original documents one by one. The original 26 is moved by a platen roller 28 while its image is read by a contact image sensor 27. The image read by the contact image sensor 27 is encoded by an encoding unit located on the control board 22, and then transmitted to the other party input to the operation panel 23.

Conventional facsimile machines are constructed as described above, so if the facsimile machine is not equipped with a memory, recording paper must be replenished frequently if the frequency of reception is high, which is inconvenient for the user. There was also the problem of high running costs. Furthermore, even if a memory is provided, if the frequency of reception is high, the memory is likely to overflow, and after that, the reception becomes impossible and the other party has to send the document again, which is troublesome for the user. There were issues such as:

[0015] Also, word processors, computer records,
With display devices, when creating documents or programs, corrections and proofreading are often performed based on the document or program list output on recording paper (often test prints) in order to obtain a completed document or program. As a result, there is a problem that recording paper is wasted and the production cost per document and per program naturally increases.

Furthermore, in a word processor or the like, if you want to modify or check a document on a display device such as a CRT or liquid crystal display without performing a test print, you can display the entire document on one screen. The image is displayed in a reduced size, but since the resolution of the display device is generally not high, fine details cannot be displayed, and it is not possible to distinguish the characters in the document and easily refine it while displaying it on a single screen. . therefore,
There was a problem in that the number of test prints was not reduced and running costs could not be reduced.

[0017] As another prior art, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 57-1
No. 17978, JP-A-62-116191, JP-A-6
4-18353, JP-A-64-18354, and JP-A-64-18355.

On the other hand, in recent years, rewritable films that can be repeatedly recorded and erased using heating means such as a thermal head or a laser beam have been developed. As the rewritable (recording) film, US Pat.
Resin known from JP-A No. 57-82086, etc.
Organic low-molecular substance system, WO90/11898, JP-A-0
There are known examples such as a dye system known as No. 2-188294.

Specifically, the former consists of a matrix material such as a thermoplastic resin and an organic low-molecular substance dispersed in the matrix material, and when kept at a specific temperature T0 or higher, it It has the property of changing state. In other words, it has two state transition temperatures T1 and T2 (T1<T2) that are higher than the specific temperature T0, and when it is heated and held above the state transition temperature T2 and then cooled to below the specific temperature T0, it becomes cloudy and reaches a maximum temperature. This is a light-shielding state. This cloudy recording layer has a state transition temperature T
When the recording layer is heated to a temperature of 1 or more and less than T2 and then cooled to a specific temperature T0 or less, the recording layer becomes transparent. These state changes are mainly based on changes in the organic low molecular weight substance of the recording layer.

On the other hand, the latter only controls thermal energy;
That is, the lactone ring can be opened to a colored compound by heating at a high temperature, or the lactone ring can be closed to a colorless leuco compound by heating at a low temperature. This phenomenon is due to the structure of the color developer and the reversibility of the leuco dye.
Can be done repeatedly. Specifically, salts of gallic acid and fatty acid amines are known as color developing agents. In the example shown above, the first thermal energy (high temperature)
Recording is performed with a second thermal energy (low temperature), and erasing is performed with a second thermal energy (low temperature), making it possible to repeatedly record only by controlling the thermal energy.

[0021]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Conventional recording and display devices do not use rewritable film as described above as recording paper, so images cannot be repeatedly recorded and erased, resulting in high running costs. there were.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to repeatedly record and erase colored images using thermal energy, and the structure of the recording section can be simplified. An object of the present invention is to obtain a rewritable recording/displaying device that can be downsized and reduce maintenance costs and running costs. It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for erasing rewritable recording that can be completely erased (erased to a state where it can be reused) in practice and that provides a high-quality image when a colored image is re-formed after erasing.

[0023]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A rewritable recording/display device according to the invention according to claim 1 records an image using first thermal energy at a predetermined temperature, and erases the image using second thermal energy at a predetermined temperature. a rewritable recording medium on which images can be repeatedly recorded and erased; at least one heating means for heating the rewritable recording medium with the first or second thermal energy;
The recording control means is provided with a recording control means that causes the heating means to generate heat using a second thermal energy, and an erasure control means that causes the heating means to generate heat using a second thermal energy.

[0024] The rewritable recording and display device according to the invention set forth in claim 2 is the invention set forth in claim 1, further comprising a selection means for selecting whether an object on which an image is to be recorded is a recording paper or a rewritable recording medium. It is something.

The rewritable recording/displaying device according to the third aspect of the invention is provided with one heating means serving as both recording control means and erasure control means. A rewritable recording and display device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is provided with a reduced image control means for outputting reduced image data to the recording control means and recording a reduced image.

[0026] Furthermore, the method for erasing a rewritable recording according to the invention described in claim 5 includes heating a rewritable recording medium with the first thermal energy to form an image, and heating the rewritable recording medium with the second thermal energy. When erasing the formed image, the amount of feed of the rewritable recording medium for erasing one line during image erasing is set to be equal to or less than the amount of feed of the rewritable recording medium for forming one line during image formation. A method for erasing rewritable recording according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is such that, when erasing an image, a plurality of energizing pulses are applied to the heating means for each line. A method for erasing a rewritable record according to claim 7 is such that, when erasing an image, all the heating elements of the heating means or the heating elements within a range larger than the recording area are heated with the second thermal energy. .

[0027]

[Operation] The rewritable storage device according to claim 1 includes a recording medium means that causes the heating means to generate heat using first thermal energy for recording an image, and an erasing medium that causes the heating means to generate heat using second thermal energy for erasing the image. Since the control means is provided, a rewritable recording/displaying device can be obtained in which images can be freely recorded and erased on a rewritable recording medium, and maintenance costs and running costs are reduced.

[0028] Since the rewritable storage device according to the second aspect is provided with a selection means for selecting recording paper and a rewritable recording medium, the display output can be changed as necessary. Further, the rewritable storage device according to claim 3 serves as heating means for recording and erasing, so that
The device can be simplified. In the rewritable storage device according to the fourth aspect, since the recording control means is provided with a reduced image control means for outputting reduced image data, the rewritable recording medium can be used effectively.

In the method for erasing a rewritable recording according to claim 5, when erasing an image recorded on a rewritable recording medium, the feeding amount of the recording medium for erasing one line during image erasing is determined by changing the feeding amount of the recording medium for erasing one line during image formation. Since the amount is set to be less than the amount, the recorded image can be surely erased and the image quality can be improved when the image is re-formed.

In the method for erasing rewritable recording according to claim 6, images can be surely erased by applying a plurality of energizing pulses to the heating means for each line and erasing the image. Furthermore, in the method for erasing a rewritable record according to the seventh aspect, by generating heat from all the heating elements of the heating means or the heating elements within a range larger than the image recording area, reliable erasure without leaving any data unerased can be performed.

[0031]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional side view of a rewritable recording and display device, such as a display device, according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the same or corresponding parts as in FIG.

In the figure, a rewritable recording medium (thermoreversible recording medium) 5A is wound and supported between sheet rollers 3 and 4 and conveyed. The rewritable recording medium 5A is, for example, a dye-based coloring agent that causes a coloring reaction (records an image) with thermal energy at a predetermined temperature, and that causes an erasing reaction (erases the recorded image) with thermal energy at a lower temperature than that at the time of coloring. It has a configuration using , the details of which will be described later.

A thermal head 11A, for example, is arranged at the lower part of the frame 1 as heating means for color development. The thermal head 11A generates heat under the control of the controller 8, and generates heat on the rewritable recording medium 5A.
heating element 11 for heating to a predetermined temperature (coloring temperature)
It is equipped with a.

In the frame 1, the controller 8
An eraser 12A is provided as a color erasing heating means that heats the retitable recording medium 5A after a colored image has been recorded and displayed to a low temperature below the coloring temperature.

The controller 8 that controls the thermal head 11A and the eraser 12A is configured to control any one of the voltage, energization time, and number of energization pulses applied to the thermal head 11A and eraser 12A.

[0036] Here, the details of the above-mentioned rewritable recording medium 5A will be described.
The recording layer is composed of a support, a leuco dye made of a leuco compound, a developer/reducer that thermally reacts with the leuco dye to develop or reduce color, a binder, and the like, and a protective layer.

[0037] The color developing and reducing agent is a compound having in the same molecule a group that exhibits color developing properties for leuco dyes by the action of heat and a group that exhibits color reducing properties. This developer/subtractor exhibits acidic or basic properties under the action of heat, and for example, as shown in the chemical reaction formula below, it is a salt of phenolic carboxylic acid and organic amine acid. .

[0038]

[Chemical formula 1]

In this structural formula, the phenolic hydroxyl group is a group that exhibits color development for leuco compounds,
It functions to open the lactone ring of the leuco compound and make the leuco compound colored. In addition, the amine salt of carboxylic acid is a group that exhibits color-reducing properties for leuco compounds, and functions to close the lactone ring of the leuco compound and return the leuco compound to colorlessness.

Generally, a leuco compound changes from colorless to colored by thermally reacting with a phenolic compound to open the lactone ring. Furthermore, when a colored leuco compound with an open lactone ring contacts a basic substance, the lactone ring closes and returns to a colorless leuco compound. A colored leuco compound and a colorless leuco compound are represented by the following structural formulas.

[0041]

[Chemical 2]

[0042] As described above, due to the reversibility of the color developer and the leuco dye, the color developer and the color developer can open the lactone ring of the colorless leuco dye only by controlling thermal energy, as shown in the above chemical reaction formula. It has the property of being able to form a colored compound by ringing, or return to a colorless leuco compound by closing the lactone ring.

Next, the operation will be explained. When the rewritable recording medium 5A supported by the upper and lower sheet rollers 3 and 4 is conveyed in the vertical direction, and the controller 8 controls any of the voltage applied to the thermal head 11A, the energization time, and the number of energization pulses, the thermal head 11A As the heating element 11A generates heat, the rewritable recording medium 5A being conveyed is heated to the coloring temperature. As a result, a coloring reaction occurs on the rewritable recording medium 5A, and a colored image is recorded on the rewritable recording medium 5A due to this coloring reaction.

After one screen worth of colored images is thus recorded on the rewritable recording medium 5A, the rewritable recording medium 5A is stopped and used for display. Further, after the display, the rewritable recording medium 5
The colored image A (image recording portion) is erased by being heated by the eraser 12A to a decoloring temperature lower than the coloring temperature. Therefore, it is possible to repeatedly record a colored image on the rewritable recording medium 5A as described above, display the colored image after this recording, and erase the colored image after this display.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are longitudinal sectional side views of a facsimile machine according to another embodiment of the present invention, and the same or equivalent parts as in FIGS. omitted.

In the figure, between the left and right sheet rollers 3 and 4 is an endless belt-shaped rewritable recording medium 5B.
, 5C are wound and supported and transported laterally. The rewritable recording media 5B and 5C have the same properties as those of the display device. Thermal head 11B, 1
1C is a rewritable recording medium 5B by coloring the rewritable recording medium 5B, 5C using thermal energy.
, 5C, and the thermal head 11
B can erase (decolorize) the recorded colored image.

A platen roller 14 is provided for pressing the rewritable recording media 5B, 5C onto the thermal heads 11B, 11C. Further, the rewritable recording media 5B, 5 are connected to the sheet rollers 3, 4.
Pinch rollers are provided to pinch and convey C. Reference numeral 2 denotes a display window for transparently confirming the recording results on the rewritable recording media 5B and 5C.

Further, in FIG. 3, a static heating element (image erasing means) 12C is provided as an eraser for erasing the colored image recorded on the rewritable recording medium 5C. Therefore, the rewritable recording medium 5B,
The colored image recorded on the recording medium 5C can be erased by controlling the thermal head 11B or the static heating element 12C.

Next, the operation will be explained. In FIGS. 2 and 3, rewritable recording media 5B and 5C supported by left and right sheet rollers 3 and 4 are conveyed in the horizontal direction, and
When the voltage applied to the thermal heads 11B, 11C, the energization time, and the number of energization pulses are controlled, the heating elements of the thermal heads 11B, 11C generate heat, and the rewritable recording media 5B, 5C being transported reach the coloring temperature. heated up to. As a result, a coloring reaction occurs on the rewritable recording media 5B, 5C, and a colored image is recorded on the rewritable recording media 5B, 5C due to this coloring reaction. In this way, after one screen worth of colored images is recorded on the rewritable recording media 5B, 5C, the rewritable recording media 5B, 5C stop,
Provided for display.

After the display, the colored images (image recording portions) on the rewritable recording media 5B, 5C are erased at a decoloring temperature lower than the coloring temperature by the erasing function of the thermal heads 11B, 11C or by the static heating element 12C. It is erased by heating. Therefore, recording of colored images on the rewritable recording media 5B, 5C as described above,
Displaying the colored image after this recording and erasing the colored image after this display can be repeated.

In the embodiment of the display device shown in FIG. 1, the rewritable recording medium 5A is scrolled in the vertical direction, but the rewritable recording medium 5A is scrolled in the horizontal direction using the same principle and structure as in this case. The same effect can be achieved by scrolling. Also, in the embodiment of the facsimile machine described above, the rewritable recording media 5B, 5C are scrolled in the horizontal direction, but the rewritable recording media 5B, 5C are scrolled in the vertical direction using the same principle and structure as in this case. You may also do this, and the same effect will be achieved.

Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, a case has been described in which the colored image for one screen is erased after being recorded and displayed on the rewritable recording mediums 5A to 5C.
Windshield and display window 2 that make up the display screen
In contrast, the rewritable recording media 5A to 5C may be made sufficiently long, and in this case, the rewritable recording media 5A to 5C can be stocked with several screens worth of colored images. Therefore, by adding a display screen selection function to the controller 8, it is possible to selectively display several screens of colored images stocked on the rewritable recording media 5A to 5C.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the rewritable recording media 5A to 5C are constructed in the shape of an endless belt, but the rewritable recording media 5A to 5C are constructed in the shape of a finite belt, and both ends of the rewritable recording media 5A to 5C are Alternatively, it may be a roll type in which one end is wound. In this case, it is possible to record several screens worth of colored image information on the rewritable recording mediums 5A to 5C, and it is possible to develop a system in which several screens worth of recorded colored images are selected and displayed.

In addition, the thermal heads 11A to 11C and the eraser (heating means for decoloring) 12A described in each of the above embodiments
, 12C may be arranged at different positions from those in each of the above embodiments, and the arrangement positions are not limited. Further, the thermal heads 11A to 11C and erasers 12A and 12C may be either fixed or movable.

A facsimile machine according to another embodiment of the present invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 4, a roller 52 transports a rewritable (recording) film (rewritable recording medium) 55 and brings the rewritable film 55 into close contact with the thermal head 50. The rotatable head fixing table 56 fixes the thermal head 50 and switches the position of the thermal head 50 to the roller 52 side or the platen roller 51 side.

The support rod 57 fixes the rotating shaft of the head fixing table 56 at its right end. The right end of the spring 58 is fixed to the main body of the device and is held in a hole passing through the support rod 57, and the left end is held by an annular projection on the support rod 57 and tries to push the support rod 57 to the left. The cam 59 moves the head fixing base 56 supported by the support rod 57 left and right using the elastic force of the spring 58.

In this embodiment, the thermal head 50 is an example of realizing a recording means and also an example of realizing a rewriting recording means. In other words, it is used for both purposes.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing electrical circuits present on the control board 42 that are related to the recording operation. In FIG. 5, a control circuit (control means) 61 controls other blocks and rotates the head fixing table 56. As shown in FIG. The modem 62 is connected to a telephone line via a network control unit (NCU), and demodulates an image signal, which is a signal in which an image is encoded, from a signal received from the telephone line. The decoding unit 63 decodes the image signal and outputs an image. memory 6
4 stores image signals. A reduction circuit 65 performs image reduction. The recording circuit 66 supplies recording signals corresponding to the pixels of the image to the thermal head 50. The drive circuit 67 is
A drive signal is supplied to a motor (not shown in FIG. 4) that rotates the cam 59, roller 52, etc.

Although not shown in FIG. 4, the control board 42 and the thermal head 50 etc. are connected by a cable. Further, the control circuit 61 is realized by a microprocessor.

Next, the operation of the facsimile machine will be explained. First, a case where the user selects and uses the rewritable film 55 and the recording paper 49 will be described. If the user wishes to record the received image on the rewritable film 55, the user inputs the request to the operation panel 43 in advance, and the control circuit 61 recognizes the request. At this time, the control circuit 61 does nothing when the thermal head 50 is already located on the rewritable film 55 side, but when the thermal head 50 is located on the recording paper 49 side and in close contact with the platen roller 51, the control circuit 61 controls the motor. A rotation instruction is given to the motor that rotates the cam 59 via the drive circuit 67.

Then, the cam 59 rotates 180°, and the support rod 57 moves to the left together with the head fixing base 56 due to the elastic force of the spring 58. Subsequently, the head fixing base 56 rotates counterclockwise to a predetermined position for the thermal head 50 to record on the rewritable film 55. Furthermore, the cam 59 rotates 180 degrees, and the support rod 57 is pressed rightward accordingly. Therefore, the head fixing table 56 supported by the support rod 57 is pressed rightward, and the thermal head 50 fixed to the head fixing table 56 comes into close contact with the rollers 52.

In contrast, the received image is transferred to the recording paper 49.
If the user wishes to record the information, the user inputs the information to the operation panel 43 in advance. Then, the control circuit 61 recognizes this fact. At this time, the control circuit 61 does nothing when the thermal head 50 is already located on the recording paper 49 side, but when the thermal head 50 is located on the rewritable film 55 side and in close contact with the roller 52, the thermal head 50 Outputs an instruction to switch the position of. The switching operation is similar to the above-described switching from the recording paper 49 side to the rewritable film 55 side. However, in this case, the head fixing base 56, which has moved leftward due to the rotation of the cam 59, rotates clockwise to a predetermined position.

After the position of the thermal head 50 is set, the image signal received from the telephone line and demodulated by the modem 62 is decoded into an image by the decoding section 63. Then, the image becomes a predetermined recording signal in the recording circuit 66, and is recorded on the recording paper 49 or the rewritable film 55 by the thermal head 50.

Note that the copying operation in the conventional facsimile machine is performed in the same manner as in the conventional apparatus shown in FIG. That is, when the original 46 is inserted to the position of the feeding roller 44, the original 46 moves in the direction of arrow b according to the rotation of the feeding roller 44, and is conveyed to the position of the contact type image sensor 47. At this time, when a plurality of originals 46 are inserted one on top of the other, the separation piece 45 separates the originals one by one. It is also possible to perform an operation of directly recording the image read by the contact image sensor 47, and in this case, it is of course possible to use the rewritable film 55 as the recording target. Furthermore, when a memory overflow occurs while the received image signal is being stored in the memory 64, the received image can be recorded on the rewritable film 55. The operation in this case will be explained with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the thermal head 50 is set on the recording paper 49 side. Then, when there is recording paper 49,
The received image is recorded on the recording paper 49 (step ST
1 to ST3). When the recording paper 49 runs out and it becomes impossible to record on the recording paper 49 (step ST4)
), the control circuit 61 instructs the operation panel 43 to display an error. Further, the received image signal is transferred from the modem 62 to the memory 64 according to instructions from the control circuit 61.
4 (step ST5). If reception continues in this state and the image signal exceeds the size of the memory 64, an overflow will occur. Conventional facsimile machines have no choice but to interrupt reception in such cases.

However, in the facsimile apparatus according to this embodiment, recording on the rewritable filter 55 is possible. That is, when the recording paper 49 runs out, the output destination of the image signal is changed to the memory 64, and at the same time, the thermal head 50 is moved to the rewritable film 5 by the above-described method.
5 side (step ST6). Then, when an overflow occurs, the control circuit 61 controls to output the image in the memory 64 to the thermal head 50 (
Steps ST7, ST8). Since the thermal head 50 is in close contact with the rewritable film 55, the received image is recorded on the rewritable film 55.

The subsequently received image signals are sequentially stored in the area of the memory 64 where the image signals have already been output. Then, when the rewritable film 55 reaches the film end, reception is interrupted (step ST9). The above operations are repeated until reception is completed normally (step ST10). Here, if the reception ends normally without memory overflow, from that point on, the image signal in the memory 64 is decoded by the decoding unit 63, and the image is output to the thermal head 50 via the recording circuit 66. be done. Therefore, the received image that is not recorded on the recording paper 49 is recorded on the rewritable film 55.

In the case of a configuration that does not have the memory 64, just before the recording paper 49 runs out (normally, the facsimile machine
It is detectable that it is about to disappear. ),
When reception of a certain page is finished, the thermal head 50 is switched to the rewritable film 55 side. From the next page, the received image is transferred to the rewritable film 55.
can be recorded.

Further, using the received image as a guide, the recording paper and the rewritable film 5 are attached to the rewritable film 55.
It is also possible for the user to confirm the image on 5 and record the necessary pages on the recording paper 49. In this case, the thermal head 50 is set in advance on the rewritable film 55 side. The received image signal is then input from the modem 62 to the memory 64 and stored in the memory 64. At the same time, the received image signal is decoded into an image by the decoding section 63. This image is then converted to 1/1 by the reduction circuit 65.
reduced to 4. The reduced image is held in the reduction circuit 65 along with the page number. When four pages worth of images are received, or when the reception is completed, the reduction circuit 65 outputs the images to the thermal head 50 via the recording circuit 66. Therefore, images for four reduced pages are recorded on the retytable film 55. Here, all of the above controls are managed by the control means 61.

Next, the user removes the rewritable film 55.
Look at the image above and enter the page number you need on the operation panel 43.
Enter. The control circuit 61 outputs an instruction to move the thermal head 50 toward the recording paper 49, and upon receiving the input page number, causes the memory 64 to output an image signal corresponding to the page number to the decoding unit 63. Then, the decoding unit 63 decodes an image from the image signal and outputs it to the thermal head 50 via the recording circuit 66. Since the thermal head 50 is set on the recording paper 49 side,
The necessary image is recorded on the recording paper 49 in its original size. and,
When recording of the necessary images is completed, the recording on the rewritable film 55 is erased.

[0071] Here, a method for erasing recording on the rewritable film 55 will be explained. When the recording on the rewritable film 55 becomes unnecessary, the user inputs an erasing instruction to the operation panel 43. The control circuit 61 is
In response to this erase instruction, or even if there is no instruction, an instruction to move the thermal head 50 to the rewritable film 55 side is automatically output when reception is not in progress. Then, the thermal head 50 comes into close contact with the rewritable film 55. Then, the control circuit 61 provides the recording circuit 66 with the following information:
An instruction is given to energize the thermal head 50 so as to heat the rewritable film 55 at a lower temperature than when recording. At the same time, the roller 52 is rotated to cause a decoloring reaction, and the rewritable film 55 is moved. And for all lines, rewritable film 5
5. Delete the image above. In addition, since the operation during transmission is the same as that of conventional facsimile machines,
The explanation will be omitted.

In the above embodiment, one thermal head 50 can handle the rewritable film 55 and the recording paper 49.
Although a device for recording on the rewritable film 55 and decoloring the rewritable film 55 has been shown, the same effect as in the above embodiment can be obtained even if a thermal head for the rewritable film 55 and a recording head for the recording paper 49 are provided separately.

In this case, a head switching mechanism is not required, and the recording paper 49 is not limited to thermal recording paper. That is, plain paper recorded by an electrophotographic method using a laser or LED can also be used. Further, a recording head and an erasing head for the rewritable film 55 may be provided separately.

In the above embodiment, the rewritable film 55 is used when the memory 64 overflows, but the rewritable film 55 is used for normal recording.
5, and the recording paper 49 may be used at the time of overflow. Although an endless belt-like rewritable film 55 is shown in FIG. 4, it may be wound up using one platen.

As described above, in this embodiment, 1) recording is performed in the same manner as in a normal facsimile machine, 2) recording is performed on the rewritable film 55 when the recording paper 49 runs out, 3) recording is performed only on the rewritable film 55, and 4) Record on the rewritable film 55 and record only what is necessary on the recording paper 4
9 can be recorded.

The present embodiment will now be explained in more detail. A control means 61 that selects and controls whether to record on the recording paper 49 or the rewritable film 55 includes 3
It has two meanings. That is, the first step is to set the heating means (thermal head 50) at a desired position, the second step is to control the energy (thermal energy) applied to the heating means, and the third step is to set the heating means (thermal head 50) at a desired position.
Performs management when recording reduced images.

In FIG. 4, the thermal head 50 is configured to rotate 180° as shown by the two-dot chain line using a head fixing table 56, a support rod 57, a spring 58, and a cam 59, and the same thermal head 50 can rotate recording paper 49 and rewritable paper. film 5
Recording or erasing can be performed in step 5. However, as shown in FIG. 7 (only the main parts are shown), the thermal head 50
It may be configured to slide up and down. As shown in FIG. 8, the sliding mechanism includes a thermal head 5.
It is comprised of a rail 72 installed parallel to a head support stand 71 on the back side of the head 0, and a rotation support rod 73 connected directly or indirectly by a motor (not shown) or the like.

Note that FIG. 8 shows the movement in the horizontal direction in order to make it easier to understand the movement in the vertical direction in FIG. In operation, when recording on the rewritable film 55 side, a motor (not shown) is rotated through a motor drive circuit 67 in response to a command from the control means 61.
Rotate the motor rotation support rod 73 to the left. When the motor rotation support rod 73 is rotated to the left, the thermal head 50 fixed to the head support stand 71 is moved to the front side and set to a specified position according to an instruction from the control means 61. here,
A head support stand 71 is used to press the thermal head 50.
A head pressure contact mechanism may be provided that acts on the upper side of the head. On the other hand, when recording on the recording paper 49, the control means 61
Move to the rear according to instructions.

In another configuration, as shown in FIG.
The thermal head 50 is adhered to a belt 75 made of metal or rubber, and the belt 75 is wound around a roller 74 that is rotated by a motor (not shown) in a horizontal direction (Fig. 7).
Then move it vertically). These controls are instructed by the control means 61. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the control means 61 or the control board 42
The CPU 80 controls the RO and the RO stores the operation details.
It is composed of an M81, a rewritable RAM 82, an I/O 83 that outputs an input signal for an operation panel or a sensor or a drive signal for a motor, a counter 84 that manages recording time and motor rotation time, and performs the operations described above. Here, in addition to the configuration shown in FIG. 10, the control means 61 also includes means for selecting a recording target and moving a heating means such as the thermal head 50.

Another configuration is as shown in FIG. 11, in which a thermal head 50 is installed between a roller 52 on the rewritable film 55 side and a platen roller 51 on the recording paper 49 side. In this case, the thermal head 50 is on the upper side,
It has a structure in which heating elements are arranged on both sides of the lower side, and a cam 59 similar to that shown in FIG. ) on the roller 52 side or platen roller 51
Can be selectively moved to the side.

In another example, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, there is a configuration in which the thermal head 50 is not moved. In this case, the content of the instruction from the control means 61 is different from the content described above. That is, when recording on the recording paper 49, the contents are the same as those described above, but when recording on the rewritable film 55, the operation is different. This is rewritable film 55
This is because the recording paper 49 is inserted between the recording paper 49 and the thermal head 50, so recording cannot be performed. Therefore, the instruction from the control means 61 is that when recording or erasing on the rewritable film 55, turn the recording paper 49 clockwise, return it to the platen roller 54 (roller 54 on the right side), and directly connect the rewritable film 55 and the thermal head 50. Let them come into contact.

Another configuration is as shown in FIG. 14, in which the cut paper-shaped recording paper 49 is
As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, a cut paper-like rewritable film 55, a recording paper 4
This configuration allows the use of 9. In this case, the applied energy (thermal energy) of the heating means is controlled (
(described later). In such a case, either set whether to use the rewritable film 55 or the recording paper 49 on the operation panel 43 and input the information to the control means 61, or connect to a rewritable recording device. Control means 6 by setting commands from an interface (for example, Centro interface)
1 by inputting the above information.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 17, thermal transfer recording and rewritable recording can be used simultaneously. However, the recording paper 49 is plain paper, and the reference numeral 86 is an ink ribbon. The operation in this case is also substantially the same as described above.

Next, control of applied energy (thermal energy) to the heating means will be explained. FIG. 18 shows the control means 6
1 and a recording circuit 66, the recording circuit 66 further includes a rewritable recording control section 91, a rewritable erasure control section 92, a recording paper recording control section 93, and a selector 94. Each of the control units 91 to 93 stores an energy table for heating the thermal head 50, and a selector 94 connects one of them to the thermal head 50 according to an instruction from the control means 61.

FIG. 19 shows an example in which the rewritable film 55 is used as a guide. This is done by reducing the received image in a facsimile machine and printing it on rewritable film 5.
This is what was recorded in 5. The received image may be recorded without being reduced, but if the resolution of the thermal head 50 is set to 6 lines per mm, preferably 12 lines, it is possible to visually see whether the reduced image or text is necessary or not, and to save it. If necessary, it is possible to record on the recording paper 49. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 19, the number in the center is the page number, and when this number is input from the operation panel 43, recording can be performed on the recording paper 49. Note that the reduction method in the reduction circuit of FIG. 5 is realized by, for example, a method of thinning the image data in half, or a method of reduction using a perspective method.

As mentioned above, since the recording target can be selected, recording on the rewritable film 55,
Only the final image or necessary images can be recorded on the recording paper 49, and running costs can be reduced. In addition, in a facsimile machine etc., when the recording paper 49 runs out,
Since it is possible to automatically record the received image on the rewritable film 55, it is possible to reduce the chances of interruption of reception. In addition, the control means controls the rewritable film 55.
A reduced image is formed on the document, and revisions and the like can be easily performed without recording the document that is currently being corrected or proofread on the recording paper 49.

[0087] In the above embodiment, an example of a facsimile machine has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to various recording and display devices, and can be modified in various ways. For example, a recording device such as a word processor does not require the modem 62, decoder 63, etc. shown in FIG. Although the thermal head 50 is rotated by the cam 59 in FIG. 4 of this embodiment, the thermal head 50 may be rotated by a motor or the like with the same effect.

Furthermore, although a single thermal head 50 records on the rewritable film 55 and the recording paper 49 and erases the rewritable film 55, it is possible to use separate heads for the rewritable film 55 and the recording paper 49. The same effect as in the above embodiment can be obtained. In this case, a mechanism for moving the head is not required. Further, although a recording method using the thermal head 50 is described in the above embodiment, it is also possible to use plain paper that is recorded by a recording method using a laser or an LED as a light source, or by inkjet recording. Further, a recording head and an erasing head for the rewritable film 55 may be provided separately.

Further, in the above embodiment, the rewritable film 55 is used when the memory 64 overflows, but the rewritable film 55 may be used during normal recording and the recording paper 49 may be used when the memory 64 overflows. Although an endless belt-like rewritable film 55 is shown in FIG. 4, it may be wound up using one platen.

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a rewritable recording apparatus using a rewritable film. In the figure, a rewritable film 101 that can be rewritten repeatedly
is held by a platen roller 102 and a roller 104 that are in pressure contact with a thermal head 103 so as not to loosen. The thermal head 103 having a plurality of heating elements (not shown) also serves as a heating means for applying first energy and second energy. Rewritable film 1
The platen roller 102 that sends the 01 has gears 105,
It is driven by a motor 107 via 106.

[0091] Motor 107 is controlled by control circuit 108. The recording control means 109 has a recording data terminal 109a.
The thermal head 103 outputs an image signal corresponding to a desired display image input from the thermal head 103 with the first thermal energy.
generates heat. The erasing control means 110 outputs an image erasing signal according to a desired erasing instruction inputted from the erasing data terminal 110a, and causes the thermal head 103 to generate heat with second thermal energy.

[0092] Here, the rewritable film 101
forms a colored (single color, e.g. blue) image by applying the first thermal energy (h1) of a thermal medium such as the thermal head 103, and this image has no memory property in a normal environment (temperature, humidity). have In addition, the second thermal energy (
h2) is a repeatedly rewritable recording film that allows the formed image to be erased.

The structure of this rewritable film 101 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 22, consisting of a protective layer 101a for improving durability, a recording layer 101b made of a dye, a developer/decreaser, a binder, etc., and a base 101c. ing. This rewritable film 101 is irradiated with a thermal head 103 or the like from the direction of arrow P for a short period of time (1 ms).
An image is formed by applying the first thermal energy (h1) at a high temperature (about 200°C to 350°C) for a long time (about 5ms to 2s) and at a low temperature (80°C to
It can be erased by applying second thermal energy (h2) at a temperature of about 150°C.

Next, the operation of the rewritable recording device will be explained. The rewritable film 101 is the motor 10
7 through the drive transmission system of the second gear 106 and the first gear 105, and the platen roller 10 is driven by the friction between the platen roller 102 and the thermal head 103.
2, it is sent in the direction of arrow Z. When a recording signal is input to the recording data terminal 109a, the recording control means 109 sends a current to the thermal head 103 at a predetermined timing, which causes a heating element (not shown) to generate heat and color the rewritable film 101. (synonymous with forming an image). Then, when coloring for one line is completed, the driving means moves one line in the direction of arrow Z, and coloring is performed in the same manner.

[0095] By repeating these operations,
A planar image is formed on the rewritable film 101, and the film feed amount for one line (hereinafter referred to as pitch) corresponds to the resolution of the thermal head 3 (for example, if the number of heating elements is 6 pieces/mm) The pitch is approximately 167 μm).

[0096] As shown in the pitch diagram 21,
When a signal of, for example, 4 pulses/line is applied from the control circuit 108, the first gear 105 changes in the order of A→B→C→D→E.
and the second gear 106 are driven, and the platen roller 10
2 and the rewritable film 101 are fed in the direction of arrow Z. The above is the image forming operation (coloring operation), and the viewer can view the image from the direction of arrow Y.

Next, the operation of erasing the image formed on the rewritable film 101 will be explained. When erasing an image, the erasure control means 110 controls the thermal head 10 at a predetermined timing input from the erasure data terminal 110a.
Decoloring (synonymous with erasing an image) is performed by causing the heating element in the desired erasing range (3) to generate heat. The second thermal energy (h2) applied to the thermal head 103 at this time lowers the temperature of the heating element (for example, about 80 to 150 degrees Celsius) compared to the first thermal energy (h1) during color development, as described above. ), the energizing pulse to the thermal head 103 is made longer (for example, 5ms to 2s).
The power supply time to the thermal head 103 is set so that the degree of
Controls applied voltage, energizing pulse, etc.

As described above, since the recording control means 109 and the erasure control means 110 can serve as heating means such as the thermal head 103, an inexpensive apparatus can be realized. Note that although the recording control means 109 and the erasure control means 110 are divided into two for convenience, there is no difference even if they are configured as one recording and erasing means.

Next, according to the erasing method according to the present invention, the pitch of one line is set to be the same as or smaller than that at the time of color development (recording, etc.) (here, the pitch of one line is the pitch at the time of color development). This corresponds to recording one line, and when decoloring, it corresponds to decoloring one line).
This is because if the pitch is made the same, high-speed erasing is possible even if there is some unerased area, and if the pitch is made small, a rewritable film 101 without any unerased area can be obtained even if it takes some time.

[0100] A method of reducing the pitch at which the rewritable film 101 is fed is, for example, when erasing an image.
The line 2 pulse signal is sent from the control circuit 108 to the motor 10.
7 (this is half of the coloring time), the motor transfers the rewritable film 101 of the platen roller 102, which is driven via the drive transmission system of the second gear 106 and the first gear 105, to the coloring state. Send it out in the direction of arrow Z at half the pitch. To explain this state using FIG. 21, A→B→C
This results in half-pitch drive, so when coloring (recording)
Since one line corresponds to two lines during erasing, it is possible to obtain a rewritable film 101 in which each pattern of the image has been erased.

[0101] Furthermore, all the heating elements of the thermal head 103 may be made to generate heat using the second thermal energy (h2), and in order to avoid unerasing, it is recommended that all the heating elements be made to generate heat during erasing. The inventor has obtained experimental results that it is the most effective.

This is because, as shown in FIG. 23, if the color is erased by causing the heating element to generate heat in the same pattern as when coloring, the position of the coloring pixel and the heating element will be shifted, and an unerased area 150 will occur. Note that in FIG. 23, diagonally lined circles indicate coloring pixels, and broken-lined circles indicate erased pixels. Also, Figure 2
4 is a diagram comparing the amount of unerased color when the heating element is heated in the same pattern as when coloring to erase the color (a in the figure) and when all the heat is generated (b in the figure). The device operates by applying a signal to all the heating elements of the thermal head 103 from the drive signal supplied to the erasing control means 110, and simultaneously feeding the rewritable film 101 to the platen roller 102 in the direction of arrow Z. Perform erasing.

[0103] In the above explanation, the thermal head 10
Although the signal was given so that all the heating elements in 3 generate heat, the signal may be given so that the heating elements generate heat within the range where the erasing area is larger than the recording area. In other words, when recording on a small area (for example, half the area of the thermal head), such as the remaining amount on a card, the data is erased by generating heat in a size larger than the recording area (for example, 3/4 of the thermal head). I'll do what I do. In other words, it is designed to generate heat within a desired range.

Furthermore, another erasing method is the conventional 1 line 1 erasing method.
Instead of a single energization pulse, multiple micro energization pulses are applied.We focused on the fact that by applying multiple micro energization pulses, the heat generation temperature can be kept almost constant, and this was confirmed through experiments.

[0105] This means that the rewritable film 101 is
Second thermal energy (about 5ms to 2s at about 20℃)
h2) can be erased by applying O
This is because by repeating N and OFF, the temperature of the heating element can be kept almost constant, and this situation is shown in FIG. In the figure, 111a is a graph showing the relationship between heat generation temperature and time when a recording energization pulse (FIG. 26) is applied, and 111b is a graph showing the relationship between heat generation temperature and time when an erasing energization pulse (FIG. 27) is applied. It is a graph showing the relationship between temperature and time.

According to the inventor's experiment, 10 μs ON,
If 500 to 1000 OFF pulses were applied, complete erasure was possible using the thermal head 103 as shown in FIG. 28 (here, the temperature of the heating element was about 120
°C), this value varies depending on the constituent materials of the rewritable film 1, etc. For example, when the optimum erasing temperature is 100 °C,
This can be achieved by setting both the ON and OFF times of the energization pulse to 9 μs, or by setting the ON time to 8 μs and the OFF time to 10 μs. In any case, by applying a plurality of energization pulses, the temperature change of the heating element can be suppressed smoothly, making complete erasure possible in practice.

Here, the energizing pulse wave system is as shown in FIG.
As shown in Fig. 30, the heat generation temperature may be set to, for example, 100 to 140°C, and the pulse length is such that the ON time is long (about 100 μs) and the OFF time is longer than the ON time (as shown in Fig. 30). 150 μs). Further, as shown in FIG. 31, an energizing pulse with ON and OFF times of 5 μs may be used, and in addition, as shown in FIG.
Waveforms with different N and OFF times may be used.

Note that a plurality of energizing pulses for erasing are applied to each line, and the film is advanced and a plurality of energizing pulses are repeatedly applied to complete erasing of one screen. Alternatively, one line may be erased by applying a plurality of energizing pulses while the film is being fed, or this may be repeated to complete erasing one screen.

FIG. 33 is a block diagram showing the configuration of erase control means 110 that implements this erase method. In the figure, the basic pulse generating means 110c generates one of the energizing pulses shown in FIGS. 30, 31, and 32. First, the basic pulse generating means 110c and the number of basic pulses to be generated are set. The erase data inputted from the pulse number setting means 110b and the erase data terminal 110a is sent to the erase controller 110d. The erasure control section 110d creates a plurality of energizing pulse signals from the signals of the basic pulse generating means 110c and the pulse number setting means 110b, and transfers/applies the erasing data and the erasing energizing pulse to the thermal head 103. and erase one line of the formed image. Then, when erasing for one line is completed, the data is advanced by one line and erased by the same operation.

[0110] In the above embodiment, a pulse motor was used as the motor 107 of the driving means.
The same effect can be achieved even in the case of a DC motor, an AC motor, etc., and the first and second gears 105, 10 of the drive transmission system
6 is also not limited to the above-described configuration. Further, in the above embodiment, the same thermal head 103 is used for coloring and decoloring, but as shown in FIG. 34, a coloring thermal head 103a is provided on the platen roller 102 side for coloring. The same effect can be obtained even if the decoloring thermal head 103b is provided on the roller 104 side and is divided into two parts.

In this case, unlike in FIG. 20, there is no need to return or rotate the rewritable film 101 to the position of the thermal head 103, so it is possible to erase at high speed. In addition, the coloring thermal head 10
3a, the position of the decoloring thermal head 103b can be changed, for example, the decoloring thermal head 103
b may be configured to be located in front of the coloring thermal head 103b, and various changes are possible without departing from the scope of the claims.

[0112] Thermal head 103 as shown in FIG.
If two heating means for recording and erasing are provided above and below as shown in FIG. 34, recording or erasing can be performed at the same time. You will be able to see it from any direction. In this case, recording and erasing at the same time requires a large power supply, so recording on the upper side and recording on the lower side may be performed alternately. It is also possible to erase the upper side and record on the lower side, and in this case, image information can be read only from the side opposite to Y. In addition, in the above description, the direction in which the rewritable film 101 advances is one direction of the Z direction, but it may advance in the opposite direction to the Z direction.
It goes without saying that it may be configured to move back and forth with the direction.

[0113] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a dye-based rewritable film was used as the rewritable film 101, but the present invention is not limited to this. ) can be used. Other examples of the above-mentioned films include resin-organic low-molecular substance-based films, thermochromic-based films, polymer blend-based films, etc. that utilize changes in transparency due to temperature.

[0114] In the above embodiment, a thermal head is used as an example of a heating means, but in addition to means for directly applying heat, LED heads, liquid crystal heads, and lasers that apply heat indirectly using light can also be used. A similar effect can be obtained even if the heating means is composed of a head or the like. Further, in the above embodiment, the rewritable film 101 was made into a roll, but as shown in FIG.
The same effect can be obtained even if coloring and decoloring are performed using Step 3.

[0115]

As described above, according to the invention as set forth in claim 1, the recording control means causes the heating means to generate heat using the first thermal energy, and the heating means is activated by an image erasing signal corresponding to a desired image erasing range. Since the rewritable recording/display device is provided with the erasing control means that generates heat using the second thermal energy, it is possible to obtain a rewritable recording/displaying device that allows recording and erasing freely and has reduced maintenance costs and running costs.

According to the second aspect of the invention, by providing means for selecting recording paper and a rewritable recording medium, display output can be performed as required. Further, according to the third aspect of the invention, the apparatus can be simplified by serving as heating means for both coloring and erasing. moreover,
According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the rewritable recording medium can be effectively used by providing the coloring heating means with a reduced image control means for outputting reduced image data.

According to the invention described in claim 5, when erasing an image recorded on a rewritable recording medium, the amount of feed of the recording medium for erasing one line during image erasing is changed from the feed amount of one line during image formation. Since the amount is set to be less than the amount, the recorded image can be surely erased and the image quality can be improved when the image is re-formed.

Furthermore, according to the invention as set forth in claim 6, the image can be reliably erased by applying a plurality of energizing pulses to the heating means for each line and erasing the image. Furthermore, according to the seventh aspect of the invention, by generating heat from all the heating elements of the heating means or from the heating elements in an area larger than the image recording area, it is possible to perform reliable erasing without leaving any unerased areas.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a display device in a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a facsimile apparatus in a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the facsimile machine shown in FIG. 2 equipped with a static heating element.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a facsimile apparatus in a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing electrical circuitry related to recording in the facsimile machine shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the facsimile machine shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of main parts of a facsimile apparatus in a fourth embodiment of the invention.

8 is a perspective view showing a slide mechanism in the facsimile machine of FIG. 7. FIG.

9 is a perspective view showing another configuration of the slide mechanism in the facsimile machine of FIG. 7. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a control circuit in the facsimile machine of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of main parts of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of main parts of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of main parts of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of main parts of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of main parts of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of main parts of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of main parts of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

18 is a block diagram of a recording circuit in the facsimile machine of FIG. 7. FIG.

19 is a perspective view showing an example of a reduced display of the rewritable recording film in the facsimile machine of FIG. 7; FIG.

FIG. 20 is a schematic configuration diagram of a rewritable recording and display device in a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

21 is a schematic enlarged view of gears of the rewritable recording and display device shown in FIG. 20. FIG.

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram of a rewritable recording film.

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an operation when erasing a rewritable recording film.

24 is a diagram showing the relationship between the pixels shown in FIG. 23 and the amount of unerased pixels; FIG.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing changes over time in the heat generation temperature of the thermal head.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing energization pulses for recording.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing energizing pulses for erasing.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing the relationship between the number of pulses and recording density.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing changes over time in the heat generation temperature of the thermal head.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing energization pulses.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing energization pulses.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing energization pulses.

33 is a block diagram of an erase control section in the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 20. FIG.

FIG. 34 is a schematic configuration diagram of a rewritable recording and display device in a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

35 is a schematic diagram of a thermal head and a rewritable recording film of the rewritable recording/displaying device shown in FIG. 34. FIG.

FIG. 36 is a side sectional view showing a conventional display device.

FIG. 37 is a side sectional view showing a conventional facsimile device.

FIG. 38 is a side sectional view showing a conventional facsimile device.

[Explanation of symbols]

5A, 5B, 5C Reliable recording medium 8 Controller 11A, 11B, 11C Thermal head 11a
Heating element 12A Eraser 49 Recording paper 50, 103 Thermal head 55, 101 Rewritable film 61, 108
Control circuit 65 Reduction circuit 66 Recording circuit 91 Rewritable recording control section 92 Rewritable erasure control section 93 Recording paper recording control section 109 Recording control means 110 Erasing control means

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A rewritable recording medium capable of repeatedly recording and erasing an image by recording an image with first thermal energy at a predetermined temperature and erasing the recorded image with second thermal energy at a predetermined temperature; at least one heating means for heating the rewritable recording medium with first thermal energy or second thermal energy; and heating means for outputting an image recording signal according to a desired display image and using the first thermal energy. A rewritable recording/display device comprising: a recording control means that generates heat; and an erasure control means that outputs an image erasure signal according to a desired image erasure range and causes the heating means to generate heat using second thermal energy. [Claim 2] A recording paper on which an image is recorded, and a rewritable paper that can repeatedly record and erase an image by recording the image with thermal energy at a predetermined temperature and erasing the recorded image with thermal energy at a lower temperature than that at the time of recording. a recording medium;
A recording control means for recording an image on the rewritable recording medium by causing a coloring reaction by heating the rewritable recording medium, an erasing control means for erasing the image after recording the image, and a recording control means for recording the image on the rewritable recording medium; A rewritable recording/displaying device comprising a selection means for selecting from the recording paper or the rewritable recording medium. 3. The rewritable recording and display device according to claim 1, further comprising one heating means serving as both the recording control means and the erasure control means. 4. The rewritable recording and display device according to claim 1, wherein the recording control means further includes reduced image control means for outputting reduced image data and recording the reduced image. 5. When the rewritable recording medium is heated with first thermal energy to form an image, and then the rewritable recording medium is heated with second thermal energy to erase the formed image, during image erasing. Rewritable recording in which the heating means is heated with second thermal energy to erase the image, with the feed amount of the rewritable recording medium for erasing one line being set to be less than or equal to the feed amount of the rewritable recording medium for line formation during image formation. Erase method. 6. When erasing an image recorded on a rewritable recording medium, a plurality of energizing pulses are applied to the heating means for applying second thermal energy for each line, and the heating means is applied in accordance with the energizing pulses. Claim 5, wherein the image is erased by generating heat with second thermal energy.
Described method for erasing rewritable records. 7. A claim characterized in that when erasing an image recorded on a rewritable recording medium, all heating elements of the heating means or heating elements within an area larger than the recording area are heated with second thermal energy. The method for erasing rewritable recording as described in item 5.