JPH0639152A - Color change tool - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a convenient color change tool which causes the contacted part to undergo cold color change by touching the tip member with the thermal color change layer of a toy, learning material, writing board, etc., which are coated with thermal color change layer. CONSTITUTION:A thermoelectric transducing element 2 having Pertier effect is used as a coldness source, and a heat conducting member 4 and a radiator 3 are installed in tight contacting on the heat absorption side end heat emission side of this transducing element 2, respectively. The transducing element 2 is actuated with impression of a DC voltage. The radiator 3 is composed of a bottom surface 31a and a fin 31b provided extending on the bottom surface 31a. Thereby the thermal color change layer of object concerned is allowed to undergo cold color change instantly and simply at any time and in any place, compared with a conventional coldness giving means which uses cold water, ice fragments. etc., as a coldness medium.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color changing tool. More specifically, the present invention relates to a color-changing tool that causes the contact point to undergo cold-thermochromic change by bringing it into contact with the thermochromic layer of various thermochromic objects.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a means for discoloring a thermochromic layer of a thermochromic object, an electric heating tool equipped with a resistive heating element such as tungsten or nickel has been disclosed. An attempt to bring a color-changing material into contact and change the color of the contact portion is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 62-139573. As described above, attempts for heating means for discoloring the thermochromic layer have been disclosed, but effective cooling means for discoloring the thermochromic layer with cold color have not yet been disclosed, and cold water, ice chips, etc. The application of the cold heat medium and the target thermochromic element were put in the refrigerator, and the color change operation by the cold air in the refrigerator was forced.

[0003]

Even if the cooling / heating means has applicability in a specific place such as a home, when necessary,
The thermochromic layer of the object could not be instantly discolored from any place, and the function of the thermochromic element having a discoloration point in the low temperature region could not be effectively exhibited. Further, the application of the cold heat medium has a limit in the cold heat duration, and it has been troublesome to prepare these media each time.
Further, in the case of a non-water resistant thermochromic element, not only the direct contact with the cooling / heating medium but also the indirect contacting operation in which the cooling / heating medium is accommodated in the container and applied to the container surface is generated. The thermochromic element tends to be deteriorated due to the dew condensation layer, water droplets, water leakage or the like.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems due to the application of the conventional cooling and heating means all at once, and satisfies the portability, immediate effect, cooling heat sustainability, convenience, etc., and easily at any time, in any place. An object of the present invention is to provide a discoloring tool that discolors a thermochromic layer with cold heat.

In particular, the thermochromic element of interest has a color-memory sensitizing thermochromic dye (which exhibits a large hysteresis characteristic due to temperature change and discolors, and has two color changing points, a low temperature side changing point and a high temperature side changing point. , A colored state and a colorless state, or a tautomerism between colored [1] and colored [2] is exhibited, and by applying cold heat below the low temperature side discoloration point or heat above the high temperature side discoloration point, a state different from the normal state appears. By applying in combination with a system provided with a thermochromic layer colored with a coloring material containing a coloring material containing a dye which has a function of being able to change and store the characteristics in an alternating manner at room temperature. The present invention intends to provide a color-changing tool that effectively develops the function of a color-memory thermosensitive dye to enable diversification of products and application and development in various fields.

[0006]

The color changing tool 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention relates to a color-changing tool that causes a contact portion to undergo a thermochromic change by bringing it into contact with a thermochromic element on which a thermochromic layer is formed, in which a P-type semiconductor element 21 and an N-type semiconductor element 22 are alternately metal pieces 23. A thermochromic conversion element 2 having a Peltier effect having a structure in which the upper and lower surfaces are sandwiched by a heat conductive insulating plate 24 as a heat source and used as a heat source. Is connected to a heat transfer member 4, and a heat radiator 3 made of a metal piece is connected to the heat generating side A. The heat radiator 3 includes a base bottom surface 31a and a heat radiation leg piece 31b extending from the base bottom surface 31a. The color changing tool 1 is configured so as to be operable by applying a DC voltage. Furthermore, the thermochromic layer of the thermochromic element exhibits a large hysteresis characteristic due to a temperature change, and exhibits a mutual change between a colored state and a colorless state or a colored [1] and a colored [2] state. The color changing tool 1 that is applied in combination with a system that is colored with a color material containing a color-memory thermochromic dye capable of selectively storing and holding any of the states is required.

In the above, as the thermoelectric conversion element 2 having the Peltier effect, the one generally used conventionally is effective. The thermoelectric conversion element 2 includes a metal piece 23 (electrode) formed by a couple of P-type deficient electron and N-type excess electron semiconductor elements.
Are alternately joined, and the upper and lower surfaces are sandwiched by a heat conductive insulating plate 24 such as alumina or ceramic to form a unit. When an electric current is passed from the N side terminal to the P side terminal, the Peltier effect is applied to the upper surface. Heat is absorbed and heat is generated on the lower surface (see FIGS. 7 and 8).

The P-type or N-type semiconductor element 2 described above
1, 22 are Bi ₂ Te ₃ , Bi ₂ Se ₃ , and Sb ₂ Te.
₃ etc. can be illustrated. The semiconductor device has a logarithm of 1 to 511
Pairs, more practically 4-127 pairs, preferably 4-31
Paired systems are effective.

The radiator 3 in the present invention is made of a metal piece and is brought into close contact with the heat generating side B of the thermoelectric conversion element 2 on the base surface 31.
a and a heat dissipation leg piece 31b extending from the base surface 31a. Specifically, for example, a base piece 31a and a heat dissipation leg piece 31b are integrally formed by bending a metal piece, and a base piece 31a and a heat dissipation leg piece 31b are integrally formed by casting or cutting a metal material. Or a member formed by engaging, fitting, or adhering separate members of the base surface 31a and the heat dissipation leg 31b.
It is valid.

Further, the heat dissipation leg 31b has a flat shape,
It may be in a zigzag shape, a spiral shape, a wavy shape, a linear shape, or the like. Further, the number of pieces may be extended by one or more.
Examples of the material of the metal piece include aluminum, copper, brass, iron and the like.

The applied voltage from the DC power source for energizing the thermoelectric conversion element 2 is 0.1 to 50 V, and it is difficult to operate with a battery in a system of 0.1 V or less, and it is appropriate in a system of 50 V or more. It is necessary to increase the number of couples, and it is not suitable for general products such as fields such as toys, learning, writing materials, etc., and is unsuitable, and restricted to special applications. Usually, a combination with the thermoelectric conversion element 2 that functions by an applied voltage of 0.2 to 20 V is preferable.

As a power source, a dry battery or other various batteries or an AC / DC converter may be connected to convert AC to DC for application.

The power source section can be housed in the barrel 5 constituting the color changing tool 1 and connected to the thermoelectric conversion element 2 by the lead wire 8. However, the power source housing section 9 is constructed separately. It can also be applied. In a system using a battery as a power source, a resistor 6 is provided between the power source battery and the thermoelectric conversion element 2.
Can be connected in series by interposing. Examples of the resistor 6 include a carbon-coated resistor, an oxide-coated resistor, a metal oxide-coated resistor, a nichrome wire, a stainless wire, a processed body of copper, iron, aluminum or the like, and various alloy members. A resistance value of 10 to 10 Ω is effective. The resistor 6 suppresses the output current of the battery within the proper operating current range of the thermoelectric conversion element 2 and allows a minimum necessary current to flow, thereby maximizing the cooling capacity effectively. Therefore, the battery life is extended.

The heat transfer member 4, which is brought into close contact with the insulating plate 24 (heat absorption side) of the thermoelectric conversion element 2, is not limited to a metal material, and is made of thin heat conductive rubber, plastic, ceramic material, or the like. It may be the body. Further, in the system in which the heat transfer member 4 is made of a metal material, the portion which becomes the contact tip to the thermochromic layer can be subjected to silicone resin processing or fluorine resin processing to impart lubricity.

Further, a porous body having continuous pores can be attached to the front end of the heat transfer member 4 made of a metal material, and the porous body can be impregnated with water or the like to impart a soft touch and a smooth coating property.

The temperature lowering function on the heat absorption side A in the above system has a lowering temperature of at least 3 ° C. or more, more specifically 3 ° C. to 40 ° C., with respect to the temperature in the above range at an environmental temperature of 10 ° C. to 35 ° C. A falling temperature (preferably 10 to 25 ° C.) is developed.

When the temperature falls within the above-mentioned 3 ° C., the color changing function cannot be sufficiently exerted against the fluctuation of the room temperature. On the other hand, when the temperature falls below 40 ° C., water vapor freezes, which is not practical.
In the discoloration tool of the present invention, by switching the polarity,
The heat absorption side A can be converted to the heat generation side to function as a heat discoloration tool.

Various forms of the color changing tool 1 are effective, and examples thereof include a writing tool, a stamp, a toy element (for example, a comb of a doll toy, other makeup tools, etc.). Next, the thermosensitive color-changing material constituting the thermochromic layer of the thermochromic element applied in combination with the color-changing tool 1 of the present invention will be described.

A thermochromic material containing a conventionally known thermochromic dye, for example, liquid crystal, an electron-donating color-forming organic compound, a developer for the compound and a medium for causing a color reaction between the two. Thermochromic material containing three components of a compound or a thermochromic material exhibiting a color-changing property in the form of fine particles of a resin solid solution of the components (for example, JP-B-51-35414, JP-B-51-44706, Japanese Patent Publication 52-77
No. 64, Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-29398, etc.). In the above, the color changes before and after a predetermined temperature (color change point) as a boundary, and only one specific state can exist in the normal temperature region of both states before and after the change. That is, the other state is maintained while the heat or cold required to develop that state is applied, but returns to the state exhibited in the normal temperature range when the application of the heat or cold is lost, so-called, It is a type that changes color by showing a small hysteresis width (ΔH) with respect to temperature-color density due to temperature change.

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-
A system described in Japanese Patent No. 264285, which is colored with a thermochromic material containing a color-memory thermochromic dye that exhibits large hysteresis characteristics and is discolored, is effective. The dye exhibits a large hysteresis width (ΔH) and changes color. That is, the shape of the curve plotting the change of the coloring density due to the temperature change is the case where the temperature is increased from the lower temperature side than the color change temperature range and the other is the temperature is decreased from the higher temperature side than the color change temperature range. It is a type that changes color by following a significantly different route.

The above-mentioned thermochromic dye and color-memory thermochromic dye are usually encapsulated in microcapsules and dispersed in a medium containing a binder to obtain a color material in the form of ink, paint or paint. Applied to form a thermochromic layer on the surface of the support. Further, thermochromic elements of various shapes obtained by kneading the above-mentioned microcapsule pigment in thermoplastics and melt-molding are effectively applied in combination with the color changing tool 1 of the present invention.

The thermochromic element has a thermochromic sheet, a thermochromic linear body, a thermochromic molded article having an uneven surface, and a thermochromic layer formed of the thermochromic material described above on the surface layer. Including all that have been done. Examples include writing boards, teaching materials, learning materials, picture books, and other toy elements.

The thermochromic layer having a color changing point in the range of -10 ° C to + 100 ° C (preferably -5 ° C to + 70 ° C) is effective from a practical viewpoint.

[0024]

Operation: By applying a DC voltage (0.1 to 50 V), N
When a current is passed from the side terminal to the P side terminal, heat is absorbed on the upper surface and heat is generated on the lower surface due to the Peltier effect, and the heat is transferred to the heat conductive insulating plates 24 on both upper and lower surfaces to form a heat absorbing side A and a heat generating side B (FIGS.
(See FIG. 8). The temperature of the heat absorption side A is lowered and maintained in the desired temperature range by the action of the radiator 3 which is closely arranged on the heat generation side B (which is converted to the heat absorption side by reversing the polarity). The radiator 3 is made of a processed metal piece, has a simple structure with improved productivity, and has an appropriate heat radiation function.

When the color-changing tool 1 of the present invention is applied, in the system in which the thermo-color-changing layer is formed of a color material containing a thermosensitive dye exhibiting a thermo-color-changing characteristic having a small hysteresis width (ΔH), the color-changing point is used as a boundary before and after the color-changing point. Of both states before and after the change, one specific state exists at room temperature, and the other state is maintained while the heat or cold heat required for that state to appear is applied. However, if the heat or cold heat is no longer applied, the state returns to the normal temperature range.

On the other hand, the thermochromic layer formed of a color material containing a color-memory thermochromic dye has a cold temperature below the low-temperature side discoloration point,
Alternatively, by applying heat above the high-temperature side discoloration point, the colors change each other in an aspect different from the normal state, and even if the application of cold heat or heat required to develop that state is eliminated, that state is stored and retained at room temperature. Then, the memory-retained aspect changes its color to the original state by the thermal means opposite to that required for the development of the state, and retains it in the normal temperature range.

[0027]

EXAMPLE A first example will be described (see FIGS. 1 to 4).
The thermoelectric conversion element 2 (the number of pairs of semiconductors: 11 pairs) is attached to the front portion of the shaft body 5 having a large number of heat dissipation holes 51 on its side portion, and the metal plate of the writing tip shape is attached to the insulating plate 24 on the heat absorption side A. The heat member 4 is closely arranged, and the radiator 3 is arranged on the insulating plate 24 on the heat generating side B. The radiator 3 is 1 mm thick x 8 mm wide x 17
A processed body 31 in which a central portion 10 mm width of a 0 mm long aluminum plate piece is used as a base bottom surface 31a and is bent and formed in a "U" shape.
As shown in FIG. 4, two (FIG. 3) are combined to form a base surface 31a.
Are closely attached to each other. A heat conducting grease is applied to the parts of the radiator 3 that are in close contact with each other (between the bottom face 31a and the heat generating side edge plate 24, and between the bottom face 31a and the bottom face 31a) to be in close contact with each other. Sex is retained. The dry cell 7 is connected to the thermoelectric conversion element 2 via the lead wire 8.
It is connected to (1.5 V), and the circuit is configured to be energized and operable via a resistor 6 (about 0.3 Ω).

A second embodiment will be described (see FIG. 5). Figure 3
As described above, the color changing tool 1 was constructed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the radiator 3 was constructed by combining and engaging three single pieces of the bent body 31 of the metal plate piece.

A third embodiment will be described (see FIG. 6). This is a modified example of the bent body 31 of a metal plate piece, in which two heat dissipation leg pieces 31b are bent in a zigzag shape to increase the heat dissipation area.

A fourth embodiment will be described (not shown). The color changing tool 1 was configured in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the power supply housing 9 was configured separately.

At the room temperature of 25 ° C., the temperature of the writing tip of the color-changing tool 1 was about 0 ° C. 20 seconds after the start of energization and about −7 ° C. 60 seconds later.

By using the above-mentioned color changing tool 1 (for cold heat), a color material containing a color-storing temperature-sensitive dye [black ← → colorless (low temperature side color changing point 15 ° C., high temperature side color changing point 35 ° C.)] on a white sheet material When writing was made on a thermochromic element having a thermochromic layer formed on the entire surface (white at room temperature), the white color of the written portion was discolored, and black handwriting was revealed. The handwriting is 17
It was kept in memory at room temperature of 30 ° C to 30 ° C. When the sheet material is heated to 35 ° C. or higher, the black handwriting disappears, and the entire surface is repeatedly used as a white writing surface for practical use.

[0033]

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The color-changing tool of the present invention is applied in combination with a thermochromic element provided with a thermochromic layer, and in particular, effectively exhibits the color-changing function of a thermochromic element having a color-changing point in a low temperature range. It is a cold heat discoloration tool that can be used to quickly and easily discolor the heat discoloration layer of an object at any time, in any place, as compared with conventional cold heat means using cold water, ice chips, etc. Satisfies convenience, applicability to non-water resistant objects, portability, etc. Moreover, the applied voltage can be effectively operated at a low voltage, and there is no danger of leakage. Functions can be made permanent by replacing batteries such as dry cells. Furthermore, the heat radiator is made of a member obtained by processing and combining heat conductive metal pieces, and is relatively simple and satisfies the productivity and the desired heat radiation function. Furthermore, in a system in which a resistor is interposed between the power supply battery and the thermoelectric conversion element 2 to energize and operate, the output current of the power supply battery is appropriately reduced to effectively function, Battery life can be extended. As described above, the color changing tool of the present invention can be easily applied with cold heat, and can be combined with various thermochromic elements having a structure in which a thermochromic layer having a color changing point in a low temperature region is provided. In particular, the target thermochromic element is a color memory memorizing thermochromic dye (which exhibits large hysteresis characteristics due to temperature changes and changes color, has two color changing points, a low temperature side changing point and a high temperature side changing point, and is in a colored state. And a colorless state or a tautomerism between colored [1] and colored [2], and by applying cold heat below the low-temperature side discoloration point or heat above the high-temperature side discoloration point, a state different from the normal state can be obtained. , The function of the color-memory thermosensitive color-changing dye by applying in combination with a system provided with a thermochromic layer colored with a coloring material containing a colorant containing a function capable of retaining and storing such an aspect at room temperature. Can be effectively expressed to enable diversification of products and application and development in various fields.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a color changing tool of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the color changing tool of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a radiator of the color changing tool of FIG.

4 is a perspective view of a radiator of the color changer of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another radiator applied to the color changing tool of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another radiator applied to the color changing tool of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a thermoelectric conversion element applied to the color changing tool of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory view of a thermoelectric conversion element applied to the color changing tool of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Color change tool 2 Thermoelectric conversion element 21 P-type semiconductor element 22 N-type semiconductor element 23 Metal piece 24 Insulation plate A Heat absorption side B Heat generation side 3 Radiator 31 Bent body 31a Base bottom 31b Heat dissipation leg 4 Heat transfer member 5 Shaft Body 6 Resistor 7 Power supply battery 8 Lead wire 9 Power supply housing 10 Switch

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. In a color-changing tool which causes a contact portion to be thermochromic by contacting it with a thermochromic element on which a thermochromic layer is formed, P-type semiconductor elements and N-type semiconductor elements are alternately joined by metal pieces. A color changing tool using a thermoelectric conversion element having a Peltier effect having a structure in which the upper and lower surfaces are sandwiched by heat conductive insulating plates as a heat source, and a heat transfer member is connected to the heat absorption side of the thermoelectric conversion element. However, the heat generating side is connected to a radiator made of a metal piece, and the radiator is composed of a base surface and a heat dissipation leg piece extending to the base surface, and can be operated by applying a DC voltage. A discoloration tool consisting of. 2. The thermochromic layer of the thermochromic element exhibits a large hysteresis characteristic due to a temperature change, and exhibits a metamorphosis between a colored state and a colorless state or a colored [1] and a colored [2] state, and a room temperature range. 2. The discoloration according to claim 1, wherein the discoloration is applied with a color material containing a color-memory thermochromic dye capable of selectively storing and holding one of the two states, and is applied in combination with the thermochromic element. Ingredient