JPH11334116A - Method for non-impact recording - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a clear copied recording image without making an impact force. SOLUTION: There is disclosed a non-impact recording method wherein conductive recording media 2 in which plural sheets thereof are laminated are nipped between an individual electrode 5 and a common electrode 6 and a character or an image is formed by thermal energy generated when an electric power is applied across the electrodes. An electrode layer 3 is disposed on at least a part of a region in one of the laminated conductive recording media 2 at a predetermined number in the order from the side of the individual electrode 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a non-impact recording method for forming a character or an image by Joule heat generated by selectively energizing a conductive thermosensitive recording medium or a recording medium based on an image signal. More particularly, the present invention relates to a non-impact recording method capable of simultaneously forming characters and images on a plurality of superposed conductive recording media or recording media.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an impact dot printer has been widely used as a means for simultaneously forming characters and images on a plurality of recording media to copy and record the characters and images. This impact dot printer applies a mechanical impact force to a recording medium to form a pressure-sensitive coloring agent applied to a base material of the recording medium, or applies a pressure-sensitive transfer ink to another recording medium. Transcribed and copied.

[0003] However, such an impact dot printer is required to reduce vibration and noise generated by mechanical shock, and in particular, to reduce the size and weight and battery power required when the printer is incorporated in a portable information device. However, there remains a problem in reducing the power consumption due to the capacity constraint.

For this reason, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 52-115229 and 56-75894 disclose means for simultaneously copying and recording on a plurality of recording media superimposed by a so-called non-impact printer. Discloses a thermal system technology, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 69463/1995 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-37307 / 1994 disclose an ink jet type technology.

[0005] First, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 52-11522 discloses a thermal method.
The technology described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-29139 discloses a first recording paper provided with a thermosensitive coloring layer on the surface of a base material, an ink permeation preventing layer and a heat-meltable ink layer on the back surface, and a transfer paper superimposed on the recording paper. A second recording paper is provided, and a thermal head is brought into contact with the surface of the first recording paper to form an image by coloring the heat-sensitive coloring layer, and at the same time, the heat-melted ink on the back surface is used for the second recording paper. To obtain a copy image. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 56-75894 discloses a technique for improving a recording medium used in such a copy recording method.

Next, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
The technique described in Japanese Patent No. -24833 discloses a technique in which a part of a liquid ink particle colliding with a first recording paper is penetrated and absorbed by a second recording paper having a high ink permeability, which is superimposed on the back of the first recording paper. Is what you get. Also, JP-A-55-6
The technique described in Japanese Patent No. 9463 discloses a heat-sensitive recording method in which heated ink particles are adhered to a first recording paper, and the thermal energy of the ink particles is applied to a second recording paper or the like superposed on the back thereof. A copy image is obtained by the above. Further, the technique described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-37307 discloses a method in which a droplet of a volatile color-inducing solvent is attached to a first recording medium coated with a color-forming substance that reacts with the solvent to form an image. The remaining color-forming inducing solvent is allowed to reach the second recording medium through the first recording medium, and the color-forming substance applied to the second recording medium is colored to form a copy image.

On the other hand, the present applicant has previously filed Japanese Patent Application No.
In the patent application No. 107203, proposed a means to simultaneously record characters and images on each recording medium with the thermal energy generated when current is applied in the thickness direction of a plurality of conductive thermosensitive recording media stacked did. The gist is to form a thermosensitive coloring layer or a thermosensitive transfer ink layer provided with conductivity by mixing conductive fine powder on the front or back surface of a base material provided with conductivity by electroless plating of metal or the like. Occurs when a recording medium is used and a plurality of these recording media are superimposed and electricity is passed through electrodes in the thickness direction of each recording medium in accordance with a character / image signal from electrodes that are in contact with both sides of the recording medium. Characters and images are simultaneously recorded on each recording medium by Joule heat.

On the other hand, in this field, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 64-55280 proposes a technique for recording by energizing a conductive recording medium in the thickness direction. The technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 64-55280 discloses a method in which an electrochemical color-decoloring material and a solid electrolyte are mixed and coated or impregnated on a support, or the electrochemical color-decoloring material and a solid electrolyte are mixed. Each layer was formed on a support as an energizing recording paper, and the recording was obtained by an electrochemical coloring / decoloring reaction generated when direct current was applied to the recording paper from the electrodes contacting the front and back surfaces. Is what it is.

[0009]

In the distribution and distribution industries, there is a great demand for simultaneously copying and recording on a recording medium having three to four or more sheets. However, there is a case where it is not always necessary to always copy the same number of copies or there is a case where it is desired to partially change the number of copies. With the conventional technology, it is difficult to change the number of copies at the same time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a non-impact recording method capable of recording three to four or more copies in a non-impact manner and partially changing the number of copies.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
In a non-impact recording method in which a plurality of stacked conductive recording media are sandwiched between an individual electrode and a common electrode, and characters and images are formed by thermal energy generated when current is applied between the two electrodes, An electrode layer was arranged in at least a partial area of a desired number from the individual electrode side of the conductive recording medium, and current was supplied. Therefore, the number of copies in a partial area can be changed. For example, a conductive underlay is sandwiched between a suitable number of positions of a plurality of layers of a conductive recording medium, and thereby, a desired number of copies can be printed. In addition, the number of copies can be made different from the number of copies other than the area of the underlay, and it is also possible to perform individual backside printing by providing individual electrodes on the backside.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a conductive recording medium and a conductive recording medium having an electrode layer on at least a part thereof are laminated, and the conductive recording medium is interposed between the electrode layer and an individual electrode disposed outside the electrode layer. Characters and images are formed by the heat energy generated when power is supplied to the device. Therefore, the number of copies in a partial area can be determined in advance, and by providing the conductive recording medium with the electrode layer, the degree of freedom in designing the apparatus is increased, and it is possible to cope with various forms, and the back side printing and recording can be performed. An unusable area can be provided, or recording can be performed on the remaining recording medium even when several sheets are peeled off.

[0013]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
It will be described based on. First, the recording medium 1 includes two conductive recording media 2 from above, and one recording medium 4 having an electrode layer in which the electrode layer 3 is partially formed on one surface of the conductive recording medium 2.
The sheet, the conductive recording medium 2 and the recording medium with electrode layer 4 are laminated one by one and a total of five sheets are bundled. The individual electrodes 5 are arranged opposite to the common electrode 6 and the platen 7 so as to sandwich them. The platen 7 responds to the paper thickness variation by rubber elasticity. The common electrode 6 is movably supported by an elastic member or the like so as to flexibly respond to the vertical direction. The platen 7 also has conductivity as a common electrode, and is set to the same potential as the common electrode 6. And whether to use the platen 7 or the common electrode 6
It is appropriately selected.

With such a configuration, it is possible to copy and record five sheets in the entire recordable area of FIG.
As a result, the unrecorded portions of the fourth and fifth sheets cannot be recorded unless the third sheet is peeled off, for example, by breaking from the perforation. When a voltage is applied to the portion above the third electrode layer 3 at the same potential as the recording portion of the fifth sheet, the density becomes high, so that the sensitivity of the conductive recording medium 2 and the recording medium 4 with the electrode layer is reduced. Alternatively, means for controlling the potential of the common electrode 6 or the platen 7 during recording is used. Alternatively, the number of copies can be partially limited even when the third electrode layer 3 is in an electrically floating state without setting a potential.

Although not shown, one conductive recording medium 2
A plurality of sheets and one recording medium with an electrode layer 4 constitute one set, and a plurality of the sets are closed and closed, and a binding margin is made conductive. The binding margin and the individual electrodes 5 constitute the recording medium. When the energization recording is performed on one bundle, only the first set can be color-recorded, and this set can be peeled off and the same number of copies can be recorded again from above. That is, the individual electrode 5 can be used for handwriting as a pen type. In this case, the underlayment is made of an insulating material. Even if the binding margin is not made conductive, the same usage can be achieved by piercing the bundle of the recording medium 1 to reach the electrode layer 3 using the needle electrode as a common electrode. Conversely, if the underlay is a common electrode, the required number of copies can be recorded by placing the underlay under the required number of a stack of a plurality of conductive recording media 2 only and conducting recording. . In this case, if the position of the underlay is changed, it is possible to leave additional recording on the recording medium 1 below the previous underlay position while additionally recording on the higher-order recording medium 1. Also, without peeling off the upper recording medium 1, it is possible to copy and record an arbitrary number of copies from the back side by turning over the bundle of recording media 1. When a set of the conductive recording medium 2 and the recording medium 4 with an electrode layer is bundled, an arbitrary number of sheets can be recorded by peeling the recording medium 4 with an electrode layer or the conductive recording medium 2. In these cases, the common electrode 6 or the platen 7, which is at the shortest distance from the individual electrode 5, or a portion that functions as the electrically floating state without setting the potential of the common electrode 6 or the platen 7 in particular. Can be limited to

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same parts as those described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. First, in FIG. 2, the recording medium 1 includes two conductive recording media 2 from the top, one recording medium 4 with an electrode layer provided with an electrode layer 3 in a part, one conductive recording medium 2, The recording medium 2 and the recording medium with electrode layer 4 are laminated one by one, for a total of five sheets. As in the case shown in FIG. 1, the individual electrodes 5 are arranged to face the common electrode 6 and the platen 7 so as to sandwich the conductive recording medium 2 and the recording medium 4 with electrode layers.

With this configuration, it is possible to provide a five-copy part, a three-copy part, a part that cannot be recorded by the apparatus, and a part that can be endorsed. In FIG. 3, the bundle of the recording media 1 is formed by laminating three conductive recording media 2 and one recording medium with an electrode layer 4. The individual electrodes 8 and the insulating rubber platen 9 are arranged so as to sandwich the bundle, and the bundle is arranged so as to be sandwiched between the electrode roller 10 as a common electrode and the insulating roller 11 on the front side.

Therefore, recording is not possible if the platen 9 is insulative, but recording is possible if the platen 9 has a conductive potential.

The electrode layer 3 can be formed into an arbitrary pattern by a known means such as coating or printing.
Even if it is not the individual electrode 8, it is possible to record the pattern so that the pattern emerges when energized by being sandwiched between the solid electrodes. In the example shown in FIG. 2, if the electrode layer 3 is electrically floating, the fourth and fifth sheets are recorded thin. If the electrode layer 3 has a common electrode potential, the density is high up to the third sheet and the fourth and fifth sheets can be prevented from coloring. If the electrode layer 3 is colorless or the same color as the ground color, or if it is sandwiched inside the recording medium 1, the pattern can be hidden and used for special purposes such as forgery prevention.
Note that the solid electrode can be substituted for the individual electrode 8.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The recording medium 1 includes a conductive recording medium 2 and a recording medium with an electrode layer 4 which are laminated one by one in total. The individual electrode 12 and the common electrode 13 are respectively opposed to the two platens 14 and 15 so as to sandwich this. The individual electrode 12 and the common electrode 13 are in contact with the recording medium 1 from the same direction and are usually arranged integrally with one head, and the difference in the contact area with each recording medium 1 is two digits or more, When electricity is supplied, only the area between the individual electrode 12 and the platen 14 develops color. Also,
The apparatus can be simplified by forming the platens 14 and 15 in one piece.

[0021]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of conductive recording media are sandwiched between an individual electrode and a common electrode, and characters and images are formed by thermal energy generated when a current is applied between the two electrodes. In the non-impact recording method, the electrode layers are arranged in at least a partial area of a desired number from the individual electrode side of the laminated conductive recording medium, and current is supplied. Energy efficiency is higher than the method of applying heat energy from the outside of the recording medium, and even if the number of superimposed sheets is large, a clear copy recorded image can be simultaneously formed on each recording medium. The number of copies can be changed. For example, a conductive underlay is sandwiched between a suitable number of layers of conductive recording media having a plurality of layers, whereby a desired number of copies can be made. Possible and to, moreover, other than the region of the underlay may be a different number of copies, also has the effect of equal provided the individual electrode on the back side is also possible to perform the backside printing.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a conductive recording medium and a conductive recording medium having an electrode layer on at least a part thereof are laminated, and the conductive recording medium is disposed between the electrode layer and an individual electrode disposed outside the electrode layer. Since the characters and images are formed by the heat energy generated when the power is supplied to the device, the number of copies in a partial area can be determined in advance, and by providing the conductive recording medium with an electrode layer, The degree of freedom in design of the apparatus is increased, it is possible to cope with various forms, and there is an effect that it is possible to provide reverse printing or a non-recordable area, or to enable recording when several sheets are peeled off.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing an example of the voltage application.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 conductive recording medium 3 electrode layer 5 individual electrode 6 common electrode

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A non-impact recording method in which a plurality of stacked conductive recording media are sandwiched between an individual electrode and a common electrode, and characters and images are formed by thermal energy generated when current is applied between the two electrodes. 3. The non-impact recording method according to claim 1, wherein an electrode layer is arranged in at least a partial region of a desired number of sheets from the individual electrode side of the stacked conductive recording media, and current is supplied. 2. A layer formed by laminating a conductive recording medium and a conductive recording medium having an electrode layer on at least a part thereof, and is generated when a current is applied between the electrode layer and an individual electrode disposed outside the electrode layer. A non-impact recording method characterized in that characters and images are formed by the generated thermal energy.