JPH08287211A - Method and device for image recording - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide the image recording method and image recording device which hides and makes an unerased image at the time of image erasure inconspicuous even unless the erasure is performed under strict erasure conditions or up to texture density, and can obtain a recording image having superior forging protectiveness. CONSTITUTION: A recording medium 1 on which an inputted balance image and a ground pattern image are recorded and displayed is carried by back platen rollers 5, 6, and 7 and sent to a heat roller 3. The heat roller 3 is controlled to specific temperature by a heat roller temperature control part 23 and comes into contact with the surface of the carried recording medium 1 to heat and erase the recorded balance image and ground pattern image. The recording medium 1 after the erasure is carried to a thermal head 4, which updates and records a composite recording image of a new balance image and the ground pattern image.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus for rewriting and recording an image on a recording medium capable of reversibly developing and erasing colors.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, magnetic cards and IC cards having an information recording section are used in a wide variety of fields such as so-called telephone cards, prepaid cards, and personal identification cards (ID cards). However, with the spread of cards, problems such as forgery, alteration, and unauthorized use of cards have occurred. In these recording media, the processing regarding the usage status is invisiblely processed by the recording medium processing device based on the recording information. Therefore, if there is a suspicion about the act of using the recording medium, the information must be displayed on the display device by the recording medium processing device, and it is not always possible for the user to fully understand the suspicion. It was

On the other hand, a display unit is provided on the recording medium so that the user of the recording medium can recognize the information on the usage state without going through the recording medium processing device, and a part of the recorded information is recorded and displayed. Is being done. With this recording medium and system, the user can directly check the usage status,
Moreover, since the information can be confirmed by collating the recorded information with the display information, higher reliability of the user can be obtained.

Various proposals have been made for such a system (see, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-174171 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-212790). However, since the recording medium is generally used repeatedly and a plurality of times, it may not be possible to record and display sufficient information on the display unit as many times as necessary.

To solve such a problem, there is an idea of using a reversible recording material in the recording portion (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 3).
-116594, 3-218898, etc.). These are excellent in that images can be repeatedly recorded and erased. However, if the erasing conditions are strict, the display image (recorded image) before rewriting may remain after rewriting. In addition, when a plurality of pieces of information are simultaneously displayed on the display unit, it is often inconvenient for the user. For example, the latest display is not always the one displayed at the bottom, and in order to know this, it is necessary to compare the display contents.

In order to make it difficult to see the remaining image,
There has been proposed a printing paper provided with a pattern for camouflaging print marks that have been previously erased on a printing paper to be printed with an ink using a coloring agent that decolorizes under predetermined conditions, for example, infrared light irradiation as a decoloring condition. (For example, the actual Kaihei 6
-17963).

Further, a non-color-change image composed of at least one reversible thermo-color-change image which reversibly changes color by heat and a combination of a number of fine lines having a visual density higher than that of the support which indicates the image is overprinted. A thermochromic printed matter is proposed (for example, see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 6-59059).

[0008]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention
According to the techniques disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 7963 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 6-59059, the visual interference due to the unerased printed image that can be reversibly recorded and erased is reduced.

However, in both the techniques, the pattern for camouflaging the print mark must be printed in advance, so that the area for printing the reversible image is limited. Alternatively, it is necessary to prepare various print media provided with a pattern having a high effect of reducing print marks according to the characteristics of the reversible image. Further, since the pattern is fixed, it is easy to make a counterfeit product having the same pattern, and there is a problem that the security of the recording medium cannot be maintained.

In the prior art method of printing a tint block image in advance on the display portion of a recording medium and recording the main image on the tint block image, the tint block image is printed at a constant density. On the other hand, in the image recording apparatus, there are variations in the thermal head and the thermal head drive control section, or variations in the sensitivity of the material of the recording medium display section. As a result, a density difference occurs between the main image recorded by the image recording apparatus and the tint block image printed in advance. If there is a density difference between the main image, the tint block image, and the remaining unprinted image, there is a difference in the performance of suppressing visual interference due to the unprinted remaining image of the tint block image.
The effect may not be fully exerted.

In addition, there is no proposal of a recorded image which can be easily distinguished from the alteration of the reversible image which is relatively easy to rewrite as compared with the irreversible image. Therefore, the present invention makes it possible to camouflage the unerased image at the time of image erasure to make it difficult to see even when the erasure condition is severe or the background density cannot be erased, and moreover, a recorded image having excellent alteration resistance is obtained. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image recording method and an image recording device that are capable of recording.

[0012]

The image recording method of the present invention is an image recording method for recording an image on a recording medium capable of reversibly developing and erasing colors, and A feature is that a predetermined tint block image is recorded at the same time.

Further, the image recording method of the present invention is an image recording method for recording an image on a recording medium capable of reversibly developing and erasing color. It is characterized in that predetermined tint block images are continuously recorded simultaneously.

Further, the image recording method of the present invention is an image recording method for recording an image on a recording medium capable of reversibly developing and erasing color, and when recording the image, the periphery of the image is recorded. It is characterized in that a predetermined tint block image is recorded at the same time except for the copy.

The image recording apparatus of the present invention is an image recording apparatus for rewriting and recording an image on a recording medium capable of reversibly developing and erasing color, and the image recorded on the recording medium is recorded. Erasing means for erasing, image recording means for recording a new image on the recording medium from which an image has been erased by this erasing means, and recording medium for which an image has been erased by the erasing means And a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image recording means for recording a predetermined copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image with a second recording energy at a density lower than that of the image.

Further, the image recording apparatus of the present invention is an image recording apparatus for rewriting and recording an image on a recording medium capable of reversibly developing and erasing color, and the image recorded on the recording medium is recorded. With respect to the erasing means for erasing and the recording medium from which the image has been erased by the erasing means, the predetermined copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image having the density lower than the density of the image and higher than the density of the erased image A new image is recorded on the tint block image with a density higher than that of the tint block image on the tint block image recording means for superimposing the tint block image and the recording medium on which the tint block image is recorded by the tint block image recording means. Image recording means for performing the same.

[0017]

According to the present invention, by recording the main image and the tint block image at the same time or continuously, the main image can be recorded even if there is a difference in the image recording device or the erasing sensitivity or recording sensitivity of the recording medium varies. Since there is no density difference between the tint block image and the tint block image, the effect of the tint block image on the main image can always be exhibited. Therefore, even when the erasing conditions are severe or the background density cannot be erased, the unerased image at the time of erasing the image can be camouflaged to make it difficult to see.

Further, when the main image is recorded, a predetermined tint block image is recorded at the same time except the peripheral portion of the image, so that the width of the blank space around the altered portion is changed, so that alteration can be easily determined. . Therefore, even if the reversible image is relatively easy to rewrite as compared with the irreversible image, a recorded image having excellent alteration resistance can be obtained, and the security of the recording medium is improved.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, a first embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 schematically shows the configuration of the image recording apparatus according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a card-shaped recording medium having a display portion (recording layer) capable of recording and erasing an image by heat described later and a magnetic recording layer, and 2 is a recording medium 1.
Magnetic head for reading or writing magnetic information from or on the magnetic recording layer, 3 is a heat roller as erasing means for erasing a thermoreversible image recorded on the display portion of the recording medium 1, and 4 is a recording medium of the recording medium 1. A thermal head as an image recording means for recording a thermoreversible image on the display section, for example, an effective recording width of 60 mm and a heating element density of 8 dots / m.
I am using m. Back platen rollers 5, 6 and 7 are provided to face the magnetic head 2, the heat roller 3, and the thermal head 4, respectively, and sandwich and convey the recording medium 1 in the direction of the arrow in the figure.

The recording medium 1 has, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, a width of 57 mm, a length of 85 mm, and a thickness of 188 μm.
Display unit (recording layer) 11 capable of reversibly recording and erasing a visible image on one surface of a support 10 formed of polyethylene terephthalate or a synthetic resin such as polyvinyl chloride, and a protective layer 12. Are sequentially laminated, and the magnetic recording layer 13 is provided on the other surface.

The recording material of the display section 11 is composed of an electron-donating color-forming compound and an electron-accepting compound. For example, there is a combination of an organic phosphoric acid having a long-chain aliphatic group, a carboxyl compound, a phenol compound and a fluorane compound. This material exhibits a colored state by heating and melting, and becomes a decolored state by heating to a temperature lower than the coloring temperature. This change can occur reversibly. Such recording materials are described, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 5-96852 and 5-193257.

Further, depending on the temperature applied to the recording material,
A recording material capable of reversibly converting both transparent and cloudy states (see, for example, JP-A-55-154198) can also be used. This reversible recording material is capable of reversibly developing and erasing color, and can reversibly convert both transparent and cloudy states depending on a given temperature. For example, in the transparent state, when the temperature of the recording material is increased from normal temperature to the clouding temperature or higher, the recording material changes from the transparent state to the cloudy state, and the cloudy state is maintained even when the temperature returns to room temperature. Then, when the temperature of the recording material is raised from room temperature to the transparent temperature range and returned to room temperature, the cloudy state is changed to the transparent state, and the transparent state is maintained as it is.

When the recording medium 1 is transported at 40 mm / s, the display section 11 shows a saturated color density when the applied energy is about 0.4 mj / dot or more when the thermal head 4 is heated. Further, the color image on the display unit 11 shows the maximum value of erasure at the temperature of the heat roller 3 at 160 ° C. due to the heating of the heat roller 3 and becomes a value close to the background density, but the background density is not erased. could not.

FIG. 3 schematically shows an electric circuit of the image recording apparatus according to the first embodiment constructed as described above. In FIG. 3, a CPU that controls the entire apparatus
(Central Processing Unit) 20,
A magnetic head drive control unit 21 that controls the drive of the magnetic head 2, a thermal head drive control unit 22 that controls the drive of the thermal head 4, a heat roller temperature control unit 23 that controls the heat roller 3 to a predetermined temperature, and the back. A transport control unit 25 that drives and controls a motor 24 that is a drive source of the platen rollers 5, 6 and 7, a decoder / encoder unit 26 that decodes encoded information or encodes information to be re-recorded on a magnetic recording layer, A recording image generation unit 27 that generates an image to be recorded and supplies the image to the thermal head drive control unit 22 is connected thereto.

The recorded image generating section 27 is a character generator 30 for generating characters as bitmap pattern information, a tint block pattern memory 31 for storing a tint block image in a bitmap pattern, and an image memory for storing a recorded image to be recorded on the display portion 11. 32, and an image memory control unit 33 that controls writing and reading to and from the image memory 32.

Next, the operation of the image recording apparatus according to the first embodiment having such a structure will be described by taking the case where the recording medium 1 is used as a prepaid card as an example. It is assumed that the balance and the tint block image are recorded and displayed on the display unit 11 of the recording medium 1. Then, at the time of payment, the recording medium 1 is loaded into a loading port (not shown) of this apparatus. The loaded recording medium 1 is operated by the conveyance control unit 25 and the motor 24 so that the back platen rollers 5, 6,
When 7 is driven, it is transported at a speed of 40 mm / s and is transported to the position of the magnetic head 2.

The magnetic head 2 includes a magnetic head drive controller 2
By being driven and controlled by 1, fixed information such as personal authentication information and usable limit amount information, and usage history information such as the current balance are read from the magnetic recording layer 13 of the recording medium 1 as code data.

The read usage history information is decoded by the decoder / encoder unit 26, the balance is calculated from the current balance information read from the recording medium 1 and the usage amount, and at the same time it is determined whether payment is possible. It These pieces of information are added to the read information, and the usage history information is updated.

Next, the recording medium 1 is conveyed to the position of the heat roller 3. The heat roller 3 and the back platen roller 6 face each other at a distance slightly smaller than the thickness of the recording medium 1. The temperature of the heat roller 3 is controlled to 160 ° C., which is the decoloring temperature of the material of the display unit 11, by the function of the heat roller temperature control unit 23.

Protective layer 12 for heat roller 3 and recording medium 1
The display portion 11 is heated as the recording medium 1 is conveyed. As a result, the balance image and the tint block image recorded on the display unit 11 are erased. Then, the recording medium 1 is conveyed to the position of the thermal head 4.

At this time, in the recording image generating unit 27, the balance information to be updated is generated based on the magnetic information read from the recording medium 1, and the display unit 11 of the recording medium 1 in which the new balance information and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image are combined. A recorded image to be updated and recorded is generated. The generated recording image is input to the thermal head drive control unit 22 and is recorded by the thermal head 4 at a recording energy of 0.42 mj / dot, which is a condition that enables the display unit 11 to color.

Next, the recording medium 1 is fed backward toward the loading slot. At this time, the updated information is encoded by the decoder / encoder unit 26 and then supplied to the magnetic head drive control unit 21 to drive the magnetic head 2 to be recorded on the magnetic recording layer 13 of the recording medium 1. Written.

The operation of the recorded image generating section 27 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7. FIG. 4 shows a procedure of generating a recording image recorded on the display unit 11 of the recording medium 1 in the recording image generating unit 27. 5 to 7 schematically show the state of information at each address of the image memory 32, where a to j indicate columns and 1 to 10 indicate rows. Hereinafter, the address on the memory is represented by (column, row).

A recorded image (characters in this case) which is generated based on the magnetic recording information read from the recording medium 1 and is newly recorded on the display unit 11 of the recording medium 1 is stored in the image memory control unit 33 under the control of the CPU 20. Is entered. As a result, the selected character pattern is read from the character generator 30 (S1), the character is developed into a bitmap in the image memory 32, and the address on the image memory 32 corresponding to the position of the display unit 11 to be recorded is recorded. Is written in (S2). FIG. 5 shows, for example, a state in which the character “T” is written in the image memory 32, the black circles indicate the bit information to be recorded, and the white circles indicate the non-recording bit information.

Then, under the control of the image memory control unit 33, the information in the image memory 32 is transferred from the address (a, 1) to (a,
2) The information developed into the bit map is sequentially read from the tint block pattern memory 31 in synchronism with the sequential reading (S3). FIG. 6 shows an example of a bitmap of a tint block pattern (tint pattern image) stored in the tint block pattern memory 31. Black triangles indicate recorded bit information, and white circles indicate unrecorded bit information.

Next, in the image memory control unit 33, the bit information of the same address in the image memory 32 and the tint block pattern memory 31 are combined (S4). In both cases, the non-recorded bits are combined as non-recorded bits (white circles) and the other bits are recorded bits (black circles and black triangles), and the contents of the image memory 32 are rewritten according to the result (S5). The state of the rewritten image memory 32 is shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 to FIG. 10 schematically show rewriting and recording with the recorded image which has been subjected to the above-mentioned processing by the present apparatus. For example, the recording medium 1 on which the character “A” is recorded on the display unit 11 is put into the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and the image “A” is erased by the heat roller 3. At this time, as shown by x in FIG. 8, the character “A” may remain unerased. FIG. 10 shows a state in which a new image “T” and a tint block image are recorded according to the above-described recording method. The character “T” is indicated by a black circle and the tint block image is indicated by a black triangle.

FIG. 9 shows a state in which the character "T" is simply recorded. Rewrite recording by conventional recording method (Fig. 9)
Since the old image "A" that has disappeared can be recognized as a part of the character, the visibility of the character "T" is obstructed and the character "T" becomes difficult to read. On the other hand, in the image recorded by the recording method according to the present embodiment, the image "A" that has been left behind is also made a part of the background pattern image by the background pattern image, and the visibility of the new image "T" is disturbed. There is no.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the main image and the tint block image are recorded at the same time, so that the image recording device is different or the erasing sensitivity or recording sensitivity of the display portion of the recording medium varies. Even if there is, there is no difference in density between the tint block image and the main image, so that the effect of the tint block image on the main image can always be exerted.

Next, the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 11 schematically shows the configuration of the image recording apparatus according to the second embodiment. The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is that the main image and the tint block image are recorded separately and they are continuously recorded, and the other points are the same. Therefore, the same reference numerals are given and the description thereof is omitted, and only different portions will be described.

That is, the thermal head 4 of FIG.
The second thermal head 8 and the back platen roller 9 facing the second thermal head 8 are provided, and the first thermal head 4 displays the tint block image on the display portion 11 of the recording medium 1. Is recorded, and subsequently the main image is recorded on the display portion 11 of the recording medium 1 by the second thermal head 8.

FIG. 12 schematically shows an electric circuit of the image recording apparatus according to the second embodiment constructed as described above. The difference from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is that
The thermal head drive control unit 28 for controlling the drive of the second thermal head 8 is added, and the other components are the same, so the same reference numerals are given and the description thereof is omitted.

Next, the operation of the image recording apparatus according to the second embodiment having such a structure will be described by taking the case where the recording medium 1 is used as a prepaid card as an example. It is assumed that the balance and the tint block image are recorded and displayed on the display unit 11 of the recording medium 1. Then, at the time of payment, the recording medium 1 is loaded into a loading port (not shown) of this apparatus. The loaded recording medium 1 is operated by the conveyance control unit 25 and the motor 24 so that the back platen rollers 5, 6,
By driving Nos. 7 and 9, it is conveyed at a speed of 40 mm / s and is conveyed to the position of the magnetic head 2.

The magnetic head 2 includes a magnetic head drive controller 2
By being driven and controlled by 1, fixed information such as personal authentication information and usable limit amount information, and usage history information such as the current balance are read from the magnetic recording layer 13 of the recording medium 1 as code data.

The read usage history information is decoded by the decoder / encoder unit 26, the balance is calculated from the current balance information read from the recording medium 1 and the usage amount, and at the same time it is determined whether payment is possible. It These pieces of information are added to the read information, and the usage history information is updated.

Next, the recording medium 1 is conveyed to the position of the heat roller 3. The heat roller 3 and the back platen roller 6 face each other at a distance slightly smaller than the thickness of the recording medium 1. The temperature of the heat roller 3 is controlled to 160 ° C., which is the decoloring temperature of the material of the display unit 11, by the function of the heat roller temperature control unit 23.

Protective layer 12 for heat roller 3 and recording medium 1
The display portion 11 is heated as the recording medium 1 is conveyed. As a result, the balance image and the tint block image recorded on the display unit 11 are erased. As described above, when the heat roller 3 is erased, the background density cannot be completely erased. In some cases, the image may not be completely erased, and the image may remain unerased. This situation is shown in Figure 1.
3 (a), and in the figure, only the erased main image "A" is shown. In this case, the image density of the remaining image was about 0.3.

Next, the recording medium 1 is conveyed to the position of the thermal head 4. The display unit 1 of the conveyed recording medium 1
When the predetermined position of 1 comes to the position of the heating element row (not shown) of the first thermal head 4, the recording image generation unit 27
A tint block pattern (polka dot pattern in this example) is read from the tint block pattern memory 31 and is supplied to the thermal head drive controller 22 as bit information corresponding to recording on the display unit 11 of the recording medium 1.

The thermal head drive controller 22 drives and controls the first thermal head 4 in accordance with the supplied bit information, so that the energy applied to the heating element of the first thermal head 4 is 0.35 mj / dot. The background pattern image disappears and is recorded over the remaining image. FIG. 13B shows the state of the display unit 11 of the recording medium 1 on which the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is recorded.
In this case, the image density of the recorded polka dots was about 0.6.

In this way, the recording medium 1 on which the tint block image is recorded by the first thermal head 4 is conveyed to the position of the second thermal head 8 which records the main image. At this time, the recorded image generation unit 27 generates the balance information to be updated based on the magnetic information read from the recording medium 1. Then, the image memory control unit 33 selects a required character from the character generator 30 based on the generated balance information, and writes it in the image memory 32 in the form of a bitmap based on the balance information.

When the predetermined position of the display unit 11 of the conveyed recording medium 1 reaches the position of the heating element array (not shown) of the second thermal head 8, the image memory control unit 33 records the image from the image memory 32. The image is read as bit information and supplied to the thermal head drive controller 28.

The thermal head drive controller 28 drives and controls the second thermal head 8 in accordance with the supplied bit information, so that the energy applied to the heating element of the second thermal head 8 is 0.42 mj / dot. Then, the balance image and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image are erased and recorded on the remaining image. A state of the display unit 11 of the recording medium 1 on which the balance image is recorded is shown in FIG.
It is shown in (c). In this case, the recorded balance image was designated by the letter "T" and its image density was about 1.3.

Next, the recording medium 1 is fed back toward the insertion port. At this time, the updated information is encoded by the decoder / encoder unit 26 and then supplied to the magnetic head drive control unit 21 to drive the magnetic head 2 to be recorded on the magnetic recording layer 13 of the recording medium 1. Written.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, since the tint block image is recorded with the image density higher than the image density of the unerased image and lower than the image density of the main image, the unerased image is shielded. However, the effect of not disturbing the main image can be obtained.

Next, the third embodiment will be described. The configuration of the image recording apparatus according to the third embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 schematically shows an electric circuit of the image recording apparatus according to the third embodiment. 3 is different from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3 in that a tint block image generation unit 34 is provided in place of the tint block pattern memory 31 in the recorded image generation unit 27. The description is omitted.

The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation unit 34 includes a mask pattern generation unit 35, a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern memory 36 for storing the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image in a bitmap pattern, and a recording copy-forgery-inhibited pattern memory 37 for storing the processed copy-forgery-inhibited pattern in a bitmap pattern. And is controlled by the image memory control unit 33.

Next, the operation of the image recording apparatus according to the third embodiment having such a configuration will be described by using the recording medium 1 as a prepaid card as an example. It is assumed that the balance and the tint block image are recorded and displayed on the display unit 11 of the recording medium 1. Then, at the time of payment, the recording medium 1 is loaded into a loading port (not shown) of this apparatus. The loaded recording medium 1 is operated by the conveyance control unit 25 and the motor 24 so that the back platen rollers 5, 6,
When 7 is driven, it is transported at a speed of 40 mm / s and is transported to the position of the magnetic head 2.

The magnetic head 2 includes a magnetic head drive controller 2
By being driven and controlled by 1, fixed information such as personal authentication information and usable limit amount information, and usage history information such as the current balance are read from the magnetic recording layer 13 of the recording medium 1 as code data.

The read usage history information is decoded by the decoder / encoder unit 26, the balance is calculated from the current balance information read from the recording medium 1 and the usage amount, and at the same time it is determined whether payment is possible. It These pieces of information are added to the read information, and the usage history information is updated.

Next, the recording medium 1 is conveyed to the position of the heat roller 3. The heat roller 3 and the back platen roller 6 face each other at a distance slightly smaller than the thickness of the recording medium 1. The temperature of the heat roller 3 is controlled to 160 ° C., which is the decoloring temperature of the material of the display unit 11, by the function of the heat roller temperature control unit 23.

Protective layer 12 for heat roller 3 and recording medium 1
The display portion 11 is heated as the recording medium 1 is conveyed. As a result, the balance image and the tint block image recorded on the display unit 11 are erased. Then, the recording medium 1 is conveyed to the position of the thermal head 4.

At this time, in the recording image generating unit 27, the balance information to be updated is generated based on the magnetic information read from the recording medium 1, and the display unit 11 of the recording medium 1 in which the new balance information and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image are combined. A recorded image to be updated and recorded is generated. The generated recording image is input to the thermal head drive control unit 22 and is recorded by the thermal head 4 at a recording energy of 0.42 mj / dot, which is a condition that enables the display unit 11 to color.

Next, the recording medium 1 is fed back toward the insertion port. At this time, the updated information is encoded by the decoder / encoder unit 26 and then supplied to the magnetic head drive control unit 21 to drive the magnetic head 2 to be recorded on the magnetic recording layer 13 of the recording medium 1. Written.

Here, the operation of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generator 34 will be described with reference to FIGS. Figure 15 shows
6 shows a procedure of generating a recorded image recorded on the display unit 11 of the recording medium 1 in the tint block image generation unit 34.
16 to 19 schematically show the state of information at each address of each memory, where a to j are columns and 1 to 10 are shown.
Indicates a row. Hereinafter, the address on the memory is represented by (column, row). 16 and 19 show the image memory 3
2, FIG. 17 shows the state of the tint block pattern memory 36, and FIG. 18 shows the state of the recorded tint block memory 37.

A recording image generated based on the magnetic recording information read from the recording medium 1 and newly recorded on the display unit 11 of the recording medium 1 is input to the image memory control unit 33 under the control of the CPU 20. As a result, for example, the character pattern “4” selected from the character generator 30 is read (S11), the character is expanded into the bitmap in the image memory 32, and the display unit 11 is recorded.
Is written in the address on the image memory 32 corresponding to the position (S12).

Next, under the control of the image memory control unit 33, the information in the image memory 32 is transferred from the address (a, 1) to (a,
2) ... Sequentially read (S13) and send it to the mask pattern generation unit 35 to generate a pattern (mask pattern) in which pixels adjacent to the character pixel are filled (S14). Then, the character pattern "4" in the image memory 32 is rewritten with the generated mask pattern. A state of the generated mask pattern is shown in FIG. 16. Black circles represent character pixels, white squares represent filled pixels, and the mask pattern is formed by black circles and white squares.

The above steps are steps for generating a mask pattern from the main image. Next, under the control of the mask pattern generation unit 35, the information in the image memory 32 is sequentially read from (a, 1) to (a, 2) ... The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern images are sequentially read. FIG. 17 shows an example of a bitmap of a tint block pattern (tint pattern image) stored in the tint block pattern memory 36. Black triangles indicate recorded bit (pixel) information, and white circles indicate unrecorded bit information. .

Next, in the mask pattern generation unit 35, the bit information of the same address in the image memory 32 and the tint block pattern memory 36 is combined (S15) to generate a recorded tint block pattern (recorded image) (S16). The generated recorded tint block pattern is written in the recorded tint block memory 37 (S17). FIG. 18 shows an example of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern that is written in the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern memory 37 and used for recording. White squares indicate mask patterns, black triangles indicate recording bits, and white circles and white squares indicate non-recording bits.

The above steps are the steps of generating the tint block pattern to be used for recording from the mask pattern and the tint block pattern. Next, under the control of the image memory control unit 33, the mask pattern written in the image memory 32 is rewritten to, for example, the character pattern “4”. The character pattern "4" and the processed tint block pattern are read from the image memory 32 and the recorded tint block memory 37, and the bit information of the same address in the image memory 32 and the tint block pattern memory 36 is combined (S18). If both are non-recording bits, they are combined as non-recording bits, and the others are combined as recording bits, and the image memory 32 is rewritten according to this result (S19). The state of the rewritten image memory 32 is shown in FIG. 19. Black circles and black triangles are recording bits,
White circles indicate unrecorded bits.

The above is the step of generating a recorded image from the recorded tint block pattern synthesized from the main mask pattern and tint block pattern. As described above, the image recorded in the third embodiment is characterized in that the main image, here, the blank portion having a constant width is provided between the character "4" and the tint block image.

Here, it is assumed that the image "4" recorded on the recording medium 1 shown in FIG. 19 is modified or partially erased to be transformed into the image "6". An example of a modified image is shown in FIG. 20, where x indicates an erased portion and double circles indicate an added portion. The black circle and the double circle are transformed into the image "6". In the correctly recorded image "4" (Fig. 19),
While there is a blank area with a certain width around the character "4",
In the modified image “6” (FIG. 20), the width of the blank space around the character “6” is not constant, and the intentionally erased portion (the portion X in FIG. 20) has a large width and was rewritten. The area (double circle in FIG. 20) is narrow.

As described above, when the image recorded in the third embodiment is altered, the altered portion can be easily identified. Therefore, as compared with the irreversible image, even if the reversible image is relatively easy to rewrite, the reversible image recorded in this example has excellent alteration resistance.

As described above, according to the image recording method and the image recording apparatus of the above-mentioned embodiment, even when the background density which is a strict erasing condition cannot be erased, the unerased image is camouflaged to make it difficult to see. Further, since the margin of the rewriting condition is extremely small, the rewriting recording can be performed on the reversible recording material which cannot be used conventionally. In addition, since the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image disappears or changes in the part that is intentionally deleted, alteration can be easily determined.

Even if the image recording apparatus is different or the erasing sensitivity and the recording sensitivity of the display portion of the recording medium are varied, the main image and the tint block image are recorded at the same time, so that the tint block image and the main image are separated from each other. Since there is no density difference between the two, the effect of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image with respect to the main image can always be exhibited.

Further, in the second embodiment, since the tint block image is recorded at a density higher than the density of the unerased image and lower than the density of the main image, the unerased image is shielded and the main image is masked. Has the effect of not disturbing.

Further, in the third embodiment, since the width of the margin portion around the altered portion changes, alteration can be easily determined. Therefore, as compared with the irreversible image, the reversible image recorded by the recording method according to this embodiment has excellent alteration resistance, even if the reversible image is relatively easy to rewrite.

[0078]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, even when the erasure condition is severe or the background density cannot be erased, the unerased image at the time of erasing the image can be camouflaged to make it difficult to see. An image recording method and an image recording apparatus capable of obtaining a recorded image having excellent resistance to alteration can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the configuration of an image recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view schematically showing the configuration of the recording medium in the example.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of an electric circuit of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a recorded image generation unit in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a rewrite recording method in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a rewrite recording method in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a rewrite recording method in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the effect of the rewrite recording method in the embodiment.

9A and 9B are views for explaining the effect of the rewriting recording method in the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the effect of the rewriting recording method in the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the configuration of an image recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of an electric circuit of the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the effect of the rewrite recording method in the example.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of an image recording apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the recorded image generation unit in the embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining a rewrite recording method in the example.

FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining a rewrite recording method in the example.

FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining a rewrite recording method in the example.

FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining a rewrite recording method in the example.

FIG. 20 is a view for explaining the effect of the rewriting recording method in the example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Recording medium, 3 ... Heat roller (erasing means),
4, 8 ... Thermal head (image recording means), 5, 6,
7, 9 ... Back platen roller, 10 ... Support, 1
1 ... Display unit (recording layer), 20 ... CPU, 22, 28
...... Thermal head drive control unit 23 ...... Heat roller temperature control unit 25 ...... Conveyance control unit 27 ...... Recorded image generation unit 30 ...... Character generator 31, 36 ...
... tint block pattern memory, 32 ... image memory, 33 ...
Image memory control unit, 34 ... tint block image generation unit, 35 ...
Mask pattern generation unit 37 ... Recording tint block memory.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image recording method for recording an image on a recording medium capable of reversibly developing and erasing color, wherein a predetermined tint block image is recorded at the same time when the image is recorded. Image recording method. 2. An image recording method for recording an image on a recording medium capable of reversibly developing and erasing a color, wherein a predetermined tint block image is continuously formed when the image is recorded. An image recording method characterized by simultaneously recording. 3. An image recording method for recording an image on a recording medium capable of reversibly developing and erasing a color, which is a predetermined tint block image except a peripheral portion of the image when the image is recorded. An image recording method characterized by simultaneously recording. 4. An image recording apparatus for rewriting and recording an image on a recording medium capable of reversibly developing and erasing color, and an erasing means for erasing an image recorded on the recording medium, and the erasing means. Image recording means for recording a new image on the recording medium from which the image has been erased by the means, and second recording energy on the recording medium from which the image has been erased by the erasing means. An image recording apparatus comprising: a tint block image recording means for recording a predetermined tint block image at a density lower than that of the image. 5. An image recording apparatus for rewriting and recording an image on a recording medium capable of reversibly developing and erasing color, and an erasing means for erasing an image recorded on the recording medium, and the erasing means. For a recording medium from which an image has been erased by means, a tint block image is recorded at a density lower than the density of the image and higher than the density of the erased image so as to be superimposed on the erased image. Means and image recording means for recording a new image on the recording medium on which the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image recording means is recorded at a density higher than the density of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image so as to be superimposed on the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image. An image recording device characterized by the above.