JPH07276679A - Image forming and erasing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To erase and form the image of a thermal recording material by a simple and small-sized apparatus. CONSTITUTION:An image forming and erasing apparatus is constituted of at least one insulating substrate, the first and second heating resistors 7, 8 respectively formed on one and other surfaces maximally spaced apart from each other of the insulating substrate, the platen rollers 3, 4 moving a thermal recording material in the state pressed to the first and second heating resistors 7, 8 and a guide member having the curved surface for prescribing the moving route of the thermal recording material 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming / erasing apparatus capable of forming and erasing an image by heating a heat-sensitive recording material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a sheet-shaped heat-sensitive recording material which can be repeatedly written and erased has been developed. This type of heat-sensitive recording material is disclosed in, for example, Nikkei Material and Technology 93.1 (no.125), 14-15.
As described in the page, a heat-sensitive layer comprising a transparent polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin binder in which a low molecular weight aliphatic organic compound is dispersed in the form of particles.
When heated to a clearing temperature of 0 to 100 ° C., the crystal structure of the low molecular weight compound becomes a single crystal state with high light transmittance, and even if it is cooled to room temperature, the high light transmittance is maintained, while from room temperature to 120 When heated to a clouding temperature higher than ℃, the low molecular weight compound has a property of becoming a cloudy state by becoming a polycrystalline state that scatters light rays, and is expected to be applied in the field of prepaid cards and the like.

On the other hand, a recording apparatus using the heat-sensitive recording material capable of reversibly changing the state is being proposed. For example, according to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 05-004447, as shown in FIG. 6, an erasing heating head 3'provided with a platen roller 2'for transporting a heat-sensitive recording material 1 '.
An erasing section 4 ', a conveyance guide 5'for guiding the heat-sensitive recording material 1'discharged from the erasing section 4', and an image writing thermal head 7'also provided with a platen roller 6 '. There is proposed a recording device capable of erasing and writing an image, which is composed of a writing section 8 ′ composed of. According to the recording apparatus of this proposal, the heat-sensitive recording material is taken into the erasing section 4'by the platen roller 2'and is transparent while being pressed by the platen roller 2'by the erasing heat-generating head 3 '. The image formed on the heat-sensitive recording material is erased by being heated to the temperature at which it is converted. The heat-sensitive recording material from which the image has been erased is further conveyed along the conveyance guide 5'to the writing section 8 ', and an image can be formed while being pressed by the thermal head 7'by the platen roller 6'. By heating to the temperature, a desired image is formed on the thermosensitive recording material.

[0004]

However, according to the recording apparatus of the above proposal, the erasing section 4'provided with the erasing head 3'for erasing the image of the heat-sensitive recording material 1, and
The heat-sensitive recording material 1'is formed independently of each other and the writing portion 8'provided with the writing thermal head 7'for forming an image on the heat-sensitive recording material 1 '. It is necessary to separately provide a platen roller for transporting the sheet, and also to separately provide a power supply wiring according to each structure and function, which makes the structure larger and functionally complicated. There wasn't. Further, since the erasing section 4'and the writing section 8'are independently provided in this way, the image erasing heating head 3'and the writing thermal head 7'provided on them are independently provided. There was a problem that the operation had to be controlled.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming and erasing apparatus having a small size and a simple structure capable of simultaneously and easily erasing and forming an image on a thermosensitive recording material.

[0006]

According to the present invention to achieve the above object, an image forming and erasing apparatus for forming and erasing an image on a heat-sensitive recording material capable of reversibly forming and erasing an image is provided. There is at least one insulating board,
A first heat generating resistor and a second heat generating resistor respectively formed on one surface and the other surface of the insulating substrate, which are separated from each other by the maximum distance, and a heat-sensitive recording material is used as the first and second heat generating resistors. An image forming and erasing apparatus comprising: a platen roller that moves in a pressed state on a body; and a guide member having a curved surface for defining a moving path of a heat-sensitive recording material.

The first heating resistor is heated so as to heat it to a first temperature at which an image recorded on the thermosensitive recording material is erased, and the second heating resistor is heated to the first temperature for the thermosensitive recording material. The heat can be generated so as to heat to the second temperature at which higher image formation is possible.

[0008]

[Operations and effects] At least one insulating substrate, and the first heating resistor formed on one surface and the other surface which are spaced apart from each other in a positional relationship that forms an outer surface of the insulating substrate. And a second heating resistor, a platen roller for moving the heat-sensitive recording material onto the first and second heat-generating resistors in a pressed state, and a guide member including a curved surface for defining a moving path of the heat-sensitive recording material. Since it is composed of and, the structure of the entire apparatus can be greatly simplified and downsized. In addition, since it is easy to electrically connect the wirings formed on the front and back surfaces of the insulating substrate to each other by using a conductor,
The electric wiring system such as each power supply wiring and ground wiring of the heating resistor can be simplified by the interconnection with the conductor. Further, since the respective platen rollers for pressing and moving the heat-sensitive recording material onto the first and second heating resistors can be arranged symmetrically with respect to these heating resistors, these platen rollers can be arranged. It is possible to provide the drive mechanism in common.

Further, the first heating resistor is heated so as to be heated to a first temperature for erasing an image recorded on the heat-sensitive recording material, and the second heating resistor is firstly applied to the heat-sensitive recording material. Since the heat is generated so as to heat to the second temperature at which image formation is possible, which is higher than the above temperature, the heating by the first heating resistor acts as a preliminary heating of the heating by the second heating resistor in the heat retaining state. This can contribute to energy saving of heat generation of the second heat generating resistor.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
Will be described in detail with reference to. 1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention. The image forming and erasing apparatus of the present embodiment, as shown schematically in FIG. 1, generates heat for forming and erasing an image on a thermosensitive recording material 1 capable of reversibly forming and erasing an image by heating. The main body 2, the first and second platen rollers 3 and 4 for moving the thermosensitive recording material 1 in a pressed state with respect to the heat generating main body 2, and the first and second platen rollers 3 and 4.
And a guide member 5 having a curved surface for guiding the heat-sensitive recording material 1 moved by the second platen rollers 3 and 4 along a desired movement path. The heating body 2 is
As best shown in FIG. 2, an electrically insulating substrate 6 made of ceramic or the like, a first heating resistor 7 formed on the upper side surface of the insulating substrate 6, and a second heating resistor 7 formed on the lower side surface. And a heating resistor 8. In this embodiment, the positional relationship between the heat generating main body 2 and the guide member 5 is the longest distance L between the first or second heat generating resistors 7 and 8 and the guide means 5 and the radius of curvature R of the guide means 5. But L = 100 mm and R = 15
Each of these values is set to 0 mm, but it is desirable to appropriately determine these values according to the size and flexibility of the heat-sensitive recording material.

On the surface side of the insulating substrate 6, as best shown in FIG. 3, the first heating resistor 7 is made of a material having an electrical resistance, for example, silver palladium, and has a line width of about 400 μm. It is formed in the longitudinal direction of the substrate 6. At both ends of the first heating resistor 7, end electrodes 9 made of silver,
Are formed so as to cover both ends thereof, and the first heating resistor 7 can be energized through the electrodes 9 at both ends. A convex portion 10 is provided on the upper surface of the insulating substrate 6 so as to be parallel to the first heating resistor 7. The convex portion 10 is made of, for example, an epoxy resin and is an insulating substrate 6.
After being formed separately from the above, it is fixed on the insulating substrate 6 with an adhesive. This convex portion 10 is provided in order to define a smoother moving path when the thermosensitive recording material 1 being conveyed is guided along the guide member 5 when the thermosensitive recording material 1 is conveyed into the apparatus. To be

On the other hand, on the back surface side of the insulating substrate 6, as shown in FIG. 4, the individual electrode wiring 11 made of a conductor such as gold is used.
And common electrode wirings 12 made of a conductor such as gold and silver are formed so as to alternately form a predetermined pitch between the electrode wirings at their opposing ends. The common electrode wiring 12 is commonly connected on the side opposite to the individual electrode wiring, and the insulating substrate 6
On the other hand, the individual electrode wiring 11 is connected to an IC for driving heat generation (not shown) at the end on the side opposite to the common electrode wiring. Further, on the individual electrode wirings 11 and the common electrode wirings 12, the second heating resistor 8 containing ruthenium oxide as a main component is arranged so as to cross over the respective opposite end portions of these individual and common electrode wirings 11 and 12. It is formed linearly in the longitudinal direction of the insulating substrate 6, and each part of the second heating resistor 8 between the individual electrode wiring 11 and the common electrode wiring 12 is configured to function as a so-called heating dot. ing.

Common electrode wiring 12 on the back surface side of the insulating substrate 6
At the one end in the longitudinal direction of the insulating substrate 6 is the first side on the front surface side.
The end electrode 9 on one side (near side) of the heating resistor 7 is electrically connected by a conductor (not shown) such as a conductor lead or a conductor layer using a through hole formed in the insulating substrate 6. The other end electrode 9 is a first ground (G) (not shown) made of a conductor such as silver formed by connecting to the end electrode 9.
ND) wiring. The second GND wiring (not shown) is also electrically connected to the individual electrode wiring 11 via the heat generation driving IC on the back surface side of the insulating substrate 6. These wirings are electrically connected to an external power source or the like through a connector (not shown) together with the wirings of the IC for driving heat generation as needed. As shown in FIG. 2, an overcoat glass layer made of SiO ₂ is formed on the first and second heating resistors 7 and 8 and the individual and common electrode wirings 11 and 12 so as to cover and protect them. 13 is formed.

Since the image forming / erasing apparatus of the present embodiment is constructed as described above, it is electrically connected to the external power source through the connector so that the one end electrode on the upper surface side of the insulating substrate 6 is formed. A constant potential, for example, 24V is always applied to the common electrode wirings 12 on the 9 side and the back side. Therefore, the first heating resistor 7 has 24
A voltage of V is applied and G is applied to the other end electrode 9.
A constant current is constantly supplied to the first heating resistor 7 by being held at the ground potential of 0 V, for example, through the ND wiring. On the other hand, in the second heating resistor 8, the common electrode wiring 12 is held at 24V, and the individual electrode wirings 11 are energized and controlled to a predetermined potential, for example, 0V through the heating driving IC. 2 Each heating dot in the portion between the individual and common electrode wirings 11 and 12 of the heating resistor 8 is selectively heat-controlled based on the control signal from the heat-driving IC.

Referring again to FIG. 1, thermosensitive recording material 1
Is a first temperature T at which an image is erased by heat generated from the first heating resistor 7 while being moved into the apparatus while being pressed onto the first heating resistor 7 as the first platen roller 3 rotates.
₁ , when the image is erased by being heated to, for example, 75 ° C., and further moved along the curved surface formed on the guide member 5 to the second heating resistor 8 in a heat-retaining state, the second heat is generated here. The resistor 8 selectively heats up to a _second temperature T ₂ at which an image is formed, for example, 130 ° C. to form a desired image.

Next, a method of manufacturing the image forming / erasing apparatus of this embodiment will be described. First, width 10mm, length 250m
On the surface of the insulating substrate 6 having a thickness of m and a thickness of 1 mm, a resistor paste containing silver palladium as a main component is linearly printed in a length of about 230 mm in the longitudinal direction of the insulating substrate 6, and is baked. As a result, the first heating resistor 7 having a line width of about 400 μ
To form. Then, the end electrodes 9 are formed by printing and firing a conductor paste containing silver as a main component so as to cover both ends of the first heating resistor 7.

On the other hand, on the back surface of the insulating substrate 1, a gold paste is screen-printed, and after firing the paste, the individual electrode wiring 11 made of gold and having a wiring width of about 35 μ and a wiring interval of 125 μ is common by etching. The electrode wirings 12 are formed respectively. In this case, it is preferable that printing and firing of the gold paste be repeated a plurality of times to obtain a required wiring layer thickness. On the common electrode wiring 12, a layer made of silver is laminated on the gold layer using silver paste. When the individual and common electrode wirings 11 and 12 are formed in this way,
A resistor paste containing ruthenium oxide as a main component is linearly printed in a length of about 230 mm in the longitudinal direction of the insulating substrate 6 so as to traverse over the opposite ends of the electrode wirings 11 and 12. The second heating resistor 8 having a line width of about 200 μ is formed by firing. Next, the overcoat glass layer 13 is formed on the electrode wiring 11 formed as described above,
12, the first and second heating resistors 7, 8 and the like are formed over the front and back surfaces of the insulating substrate 6, and a heat-driving IC is formed on the back surface of the insulating substrate 1 on the individual electrode wiring side. The image forming and erasing apparatus of this embodiment can be obtained by carrying out necessary wire bonding and the like after mounting on the.

Next, a second embodiment of the image forming / erasing apparatus of the present invention will be described. In the image forming / erasing apparatus of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the first heating resistor 7 and its related elements are formed on the surface of one of the two insulating substrates 6a, and the other insulating substrate is formed. Second on the surface of the flexible substrate 6b.
The heating resistor 8 and the elements related thereto are formed. The configuration and manufacturing method of the first and second heating resistors 7 and 8 and the elements related thereto may be carried out in the same manner as described in the first embodiment. Overcoat glass layers 13a and 13b are formed on the first and second heating resistors 7 and 8, respectively, as in the first embodiment.

The insulating substrates 6a and 6b are mounted on the front and back surfaces of the heat dissipation plate 14 which is integrally formed with the convex portion 10 and has a good heat conductivity, such as aluminum, by an adhesive or the like (not shown). It The heat dissipation plate 14 dissipates the heat of the insulating substrates 6a and 6b due to the heat generation of the first and second heat generating resistors 7 and 8 during the operation of the image forming and erasing device, and the heat dissipation causes the first heat generating resistor 7 to operate. Although the heat-sensitive recording material is heated to the first temperature (75 ° C.) at which the image is erased, it is kept warm by the second heating resistor 8 while being moved toward the second heating resistor 8. Second image is formed
Since it is selectively heated to the temperature (130 ° C.), the heat radiating plate 14 acts as a preliminary heating for the image formation by the second heating resistor 8 and the convex portion 10 provided integrally. Thereby, the moving path of the heat-sensitive recording material is made smoother.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the structure in which the first and second heating resistors are operated together when the image forming / erasing apparatus is operated has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and, for example, in the wiring path. It is also possible to provide an appropriate switch so that only one of the first and second heating resistors is deactivated and only the other is activated to erase or form an image. Needless to say.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a configuration of an image forming / erasing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a heating unit of the image forming / erasing apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a heating unit of the image forming / erasing apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a heating unit of the image forming / erasing apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a heating unit of an image forming / erasing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a conventional recording device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1. ． ． Thermosensitive recording material 2. ． ． Heat generating body 3. ． ． First platen roller 4. ． ． Second platen roller 5. ． ． Guide member 6. ． ． Insulating substrate 7. ． ． First heating resistor 8. ． ． Second heating resistor 9. ． ． Edge electrode 10. ． ． Convex portion 11. ． ． Individual electrode wiring 12. ． ． Common electrode wiring 13. ． ． Overcoat glass 14. ． ． Heat sink

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image forming and erasing apparatus for forming and erasing an image on a thermosensitive recording material capable of reversibly forming and erasing an image, comprising at least one insulating substrate and the insulating substrate. A first heat generating resistor and a second heat generating resistor respectively formed on one surface and the other surface which are maximally separated from each other, and a thermosensitive recording material is pressed onto the first and second heat generating resistors. An image forming and erasing apparatus comprising: a platen roller which is moved in a state and a guide member having a curved surface for defining a moving path of a heat-sensitive recording material. 2. The first heating resistor is heated so as to be heated to a first temperature at which an image recorded on the heat-sensitive recording material is erased, and the second heating resistor is heated to the heat-sensitive recording material. The image forming and erasing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming and erasing apparatus is capable of generating heat so as to be heated to a second temperature capable of forming an image higher than the first temperature.