JPH05165002A - Both-side recording sheet and image forming device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance the optical stability of recording by providing a conducting layer to be an electrode, a base body formed on both surfaces of the conducting layer, and an optical recording layer which shows either a transparent state or an opaque state depending on the wavelength of lights in an electric field of a predetermined frequency. CONSTITUTION:A substrate 2 is formed on the both surfaces of a conducting layer 1 for an electrode, and subsequently a light recording layer 3 is formed thereon. The recording layer 3 changes from a transparent state to an opaque state when an ultraviolet ray 11 is irradiated with an electric field of a predetermined frequency applied, or on the contrary it changes from an opaque state to a transparent state when a visible ray 12 is irradiated in an opaque state. When the electric field is removed in the changed state, the resultant state remains unchanged even when the ultraviolet ray 11 or the visible ray 12 is irradiated. Moreover, when an electric field of another predetermined frequency is applied, it changes to an opaque state or as transparent state depending on the frequency) irrespective of the wavelength of the irradiated ray. As the substrate used for the light recording layer 3, a ternary composite membrane consisted of a polymeric liquid crystal, and a light responsive molecule is known.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording sheet which is writable and erasable on both sides and an image forming apparatus using the sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 4, an optical recording layer 40 using a cholesteric liquid crystal containing cholesterol having a photochromic functional group as one component is known. By irradiating an optical recording medium having the optical recording layer 40 formed between two slide glasses 41 with a laser beam 43 having a specific wavelength, photoisomerization is caused in the photochromic functional group, and a spiral of cholesteric liquid crystal is generated. The recording points 42 can be formed by changing the pitch. When the recording point 42 thus formed is irradiated with the erasing wavelength light again, the optical recording layer 40 returns to the original state and the recording point 42 can be erased.

[0003]

However, although the optical recording medium using the above cholesteric liquid crystal has the thermal stability, the optical stability cannot be obtained. When left in the light, the light erases the record, and the light stability of the record is poor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a double-sided recording sheet excellent in light stability of recording and an image forming apparatus using the sheet.

[0005]

According to the present invention, a conductive layer serving as an electrode, a substrate formed on both surfaces of the conductive layer, and a transparent state and an opaque state are exhibited by light having different wavelengths in a specific frequency electric field. A double-sided recording sheet having an optical recording layer formed on a substrate.

[0006]

According to the present invention, an electric field having a specific frequency is applied between the conductive layer and the transparent electrode of the image forming apparatus disposed on the surface of the optical recording layer, and light of a predetermined wavelength is emitted through the transparent electrode. By irradiating the recording layer, writing or erasing of recording is performed.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings showing its embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a case where one side of a double-sided recording sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention is used. That is, in the double-sided recording sheet used in a digital copying machine which is an image forming apparatus, the conductive layer 1 is formed in the central portion by, for example, a metal vapor deposition film or a resin in which metal powder, carbon or the like is dispersed. On both sides of the conductive layer 1, for example, white paper, resin or the like
Further, on the substrate 2, there is formed an optical recording layer 3 (details will be described later) which changes into a transparent state or an opaque state by light having different wavelengths in a specific frequency electric field.

On the other hand, the copying machine is provided with a carrying section (not shown) for carrying the double-sided recording sheet in the direction of the arrow. A transparent electrode 4 is arranged on the upper side and a recording medium support 10 supporting the double-sided recording sheet is arranged on the lower side so that the double-sided recording sheet can pass therethrough. Is connected to one output of the high frequency generating means 5 for generating. Above the transparent electrode 4,
An erasing light irradiating means 6 for irradiating ultraviolet rays is arranged on the upstream side, and a laser unit 7 as a light irradiating means for irradiating visible laser light is arranged on the downstream side of the erasing light irradiating means 6. The laser unit 7 is connected to a recording control means 8 for controlling the emitted visible laser light according to the information of the original to be copied. The other output of the high frequency generating means 5 is brought into contact with the end of the conductive layer 1 of the double-sided recording sheet being conveyed, and a high frequency electric field can be applied between the conductive layer 1 and the transparent electrode 4. It (The above copying machine is of a type that records on one side of a double-sided recording sheet.) Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.

First, as the substance used for the optical recording layer 3 of the double-sided recording sheet, for example, a polymer liquid crystal (Chemical formula 1), a low molecular liquid crystal (Chemical formula 2) and a photoresponsive molecule (Chemical formula 3) represented by the following chemical formulas are used. Ternary composite membranes are known. (Reference, Chemistry Express, 1991.Vol.6, No.9.pp 719-72
2, "New functionality of self-supporting liquid crystal film", Faculty of Engineering, Kyushu University, Chisato Kajiyama)

[0011]

[Chemical 1]

[0012]

[Chemical 2]

[0013]

[Chemical 3] When the optical recording layer 3 containing the above substances is irradiated with ultraviolet rays in a state in which a specific frequency electric field is applied, the optical recording layer 3 changes to an opaque state when it is in a transparent state, and vice versa. When irradiated, it changes to a transparent state. Then, if the electric field is removed in the changed state, the state can be maintained even if ultraviolet rays or visible light is irradiated. When an electric field of another specific frequency is applied, it is opaque (depending on the frequency or transparent) regardless of the wavelength of the emitted light.
Change to a different state. That is, in the double-sided recording sheet, when the optical recording layer 3 is transparent, the incident light is reflected by the substrate 2 under the optical recording layer 3 to become white, and when the optical recording layer 3 is opaque, The incident light is internally scattered or absorbed by the optical recording layer 3 to become black.

When copying is performed using the above-mentioned double-sided recording sheet, the double-sided recording sheet used may be in a transparent state (white) or may be unnecessary after copying.
Alternatively, the entire surface may be opaque (black) from the beginning.

When the double-sided recording sheet is set and the copying operation is started, first, the information of the original is scanned by the reading device provided in the image forming apparatus and read into the memory. Then, the double-sided recording sheet moves from the right side of the transparent electrode 4 in the direction of the arrow, that is, to the left side in the drawing, between the transparent electrode 4 and the recording medium support 10. At the same time, a high frequency generator 5 applies a specific frequency electric field between the transparent electrode 4 and the conductive layer 1 of the double-sided recording sheet, and the upper side optical recording of the double-sided recording sheet between the transparent electrode 4 and the conductive layer 1 is performed. The layer 3 is in a state where an electric field is applied. Then, the erasing light irradiation means 6 irradiates the optical recording layer 3 under the ultraviolet light 11 through the transparent electrode 4. When the optical recording layer 3 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays 11, as described above, the opaque portion (black) of the optical recording layer 3 remains as it is, and the transparent portion (white) of the optical recording layer 3 remains opaque ( Changes to black). That is, when it passes the position where the ultraviolet rays 11 hit, it becomes black.

After that, when the black-colored portion of the double-sided recording sheet is sent to the lower side of the laser unit 7, the recording control means 8 irradiates the visible laser light 12 of the laser unit 7 according to the information of the read document. Is controlled to irradiate the double-sided recording sheet with the visible laser light 12 through the transparent electrode 4 in the portion corresponding to the white color of the original, and the opaque state (black) portion thereof is changed to the transparent state (white). Also, the part corresponding to the black color of the original (the part corresponding to normal characters)
Is controlled so that the visible laser light 12 is not emitted from the laser unit 7, and that portion is in an opaque state (black)
Remain as is.

As described above, with the passage of the double-sided recording sheet, the portion to which the specific frequency electric field is applied and the ultraviolet ray 11 is irradiated is first changed to the opaque state (black),
An image is formed by irradiating the portion with the visible laser light 12 according to the information of the document, so that the recording medium 6 can be easily reused.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a case where both sides of the double-sided recording sheet of the embodiment are used. That is, this is an example of a copying machine that simultaneously writes records on both sides of the double-sided recording sheet of the above embodiment.

A transparent electrode 20 is provided in place of the recording medium support 10 of the above-mentioned copying machine.
An erasing light irradiation means, a light irradiation means, and a recording control means (not shown) are arranged, and the optical recording layer 3 under the double-sided recording sheet is arranged.
It is also configured to be able to write records. As for the operation, the above-mentioned erasing and writing proceed simultaneously on both sides as the double-sided recording sheet passes.

In the above embodiment, the edges of the double-sided recording sheet are aligned in each layer, but in order to reliably apply the high frequency electric field, for example, as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b),
An end portion parallel to the sheet passing direction may be formed so that a part 15 of the conductive layer 1 protrudes so that the electrode 16 of the high frequency generating means 5 can slide as the double-sided recording sheet advances. ..

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the optical recording layer 3 is initially in an opaque state (black), but conversely, the erasing light irradiating means is changed to one capable of irradiating visible light, and the light irradiating means is The recording control means 8 controls the light irradiating means to irradiate with ultraviolet rays in the case of a portion corresponding to the black color of the original, by changing to a transparent state (white) at first, instead of the one capable of irradiating with ultraviolet rays. Of course you can.

Further, in the above embodiment, the image forming apparatus is described as an example of a digital copying machine, but the image forming apparatus is not limited to this and may be an analog copying machine. Alternatively, it is not limited to a copying machine, but may be a fax machine, a printer, or the like.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the writing of the recording is performed by the visible laser light, but the visible light is not limited to the laser light.

[0024]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a conductive layer serving as an electrode, a substrate formed on both surfaces of the conductive layer, and a transparent state by light having different wavelengths in a specific frequency electric field. And an optical recording layer formed on a substrate, which exhibits an opaque state, have the advantage of excellent light stability of recording.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a case where one side of a double-sided recording sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention is used.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a case where both sides of the double-sided recording sheet of the embodiment are used.

FIG. 3 (a) is a partial plan view of another embodiment, and FIG. 3 (b) is a partial sectional view thereof.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a conventional optical recording material.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 conductive layer 2 substrate 3 optical recording layer 4 transparent electrode 5 high frequency generation means 6 erasing light irradiation means 7 laser unit 8 recording control means 20 transparent electrode

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification number Internal reference number FI Technical display location G03C 1/73 503 8910-2H G06F 3/12 P 8323-5B 15/62 X 8125-5L G06K 19 / 06 G11C 11/42

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A conductive layer to be an electrode, a substrate formed on both surfaces of the conductive layer, and a transparent layer and an opaque layer formed on the substrate by light having different wavelengths in a specific frequency electric field. A double-sided recording sheet comprising an optical recording layer. 2. The double-sided recording sheet according to claim 1, wherein the optical recording layer contains a high molecular liquid crystal, a low molecular liquid crystal, and a photoresponsive molecule. 3. The double-sided recording sheet according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of an end of the conductive layer protrudes from the substrate. 4. At least one transparent electrode, which is capable of passing the double-sided recording sheet according to claim 1, 2 or 3 along a predetermined surface of the transparent electrode, the electrode means and the conductive material. A high frequency generating means for applying an electric field of the specific frequency between the layer and the layer, and light of a predetermined wavelength from a side opposite to the predetermined surface of the transparent electrode through a part of the upstream side of the transparent electrode. Erase light irradiating means for irradiating the conductive layer, light irradiating means for irradiating the photoconductive layer with light of a predetermined wavelength other than the predetermined wavelength through a part of the downstream side of the transparent electrode, and the light irradiating means. An image forming apparatus comprising: a recording control unit that controls irradiation of light according to information to be recorded.