JPH11334222A - Recording medium, method and device for recording - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To form a color image of high picture quality by using a recording device of a simple structure. SOLUTION: This recording medium 1 is constituted of a color layer 31 formed of a plurality of different hue coloring material layers Y, M and C formed of arc patterns and disposed alternately and a rewritable layer 4. Alternatively the recording medium 1 is constituted of a color layer formed of a plurality of different hue coloring material layers Y, M and C disposed alternately and a masking layer masking the coloring layers in the initial state and removed locally by heat or light irradiation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a recording medium on which a color image is formed by an optical recording head or a thermal head, a recording method on the recording medium, and a recording apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Numerous recording methods have been developed for forming images such as characters and natural images. For example, as such a recording method, an optical recording method of writing on a film for an instant camera using a fluorescent tube composed of a plurality of phosphors (recording elements), a recording medium containing photosensitive microcapsules is used as an optical recording head. (Laser and LE
D, liquid crystal, etc.), and a reciprocating thermoautochrome method, in which a recording is performed by destroying the microcapsules, and recording is performed by a thermal recording head, and the image is fixed with ultraviolet rays. . They are,
In each case, a dedicated recording medium is used, and light energy or heat energy is applied to the recording medium while modulating it, thereby obtaining an image quality close to a photograph.

[0003] In any of the above recording methods, an image is formed by directly applying energy to a recording medium itself. Other methods include an ink sheet containing a pigment or dye ink and a recording paper. Is also widely known. In this thermal recording method, an image is formed by selectively applying energy to the ink sheet by a thermal head having a plurality of heating resistors (recording elements) and thermally transferring pigment or dye ink of the ink sheet to recording paper. Form. In this thermal recording method, gradation recording can be performed by controlling the amount of heating (heating energy) to the recording element by the number, duration, and applied voltage of energizing pulses applied thereto.

On the other hand, as a simpler method than these recording methods, a plurality of color material patterns and a rewritable layer capable of reversibly changing transparent / non-transparent (white turbidity) depending on temperature on a base material. There is known a method of using a recording medium on which is formed. Hereinafter, an example of the recording method will be described. FIG. 19 is a configuration diagram showing a recording medium disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-80682. In FIG. 19, 1 is a recording medium, 2 is a base material, 3 is a color of yellow Y, magenta M, and cyan C. Colored layers in which materials are alternately formed in a thin striped pattern, 4 is a rewritable layer, and 100 is a surface protective layer. The rewritable layer 4 includes:
For example, a material in which fine particles such as fatty acids are dispersed in a resin base material is used.

Next, the operation of recording on the recording medium 1 will be described. To perform recording on the recording medium 1, first, the entire surface of the recording medium 1 is heated to a temperature T3 by heating, and the entire rewritable layer 4 is brought into a transparent state (initialized state). In this state, through the rewritable layer 4, gray of the mixed color of yellow Y, magenta M, and cyan C of the colored layer 3 is visually recognized.

[0006] The recording medium 1 thus initialized
Next, blue light is radiated corresponding to the image pattern. Then, only the yellow Y absorbs the blue light and generates heat in the light-irradiated region. The temperature due to this heat generation is set to, for example, a temperature T4 higher than the temperature T3. In this case, only the rewritable layer 4 in the region corresponding to the heated yellow Y becomes cloudy, and the mixed color blue of magenta M and cyan C becomes visible.

When the recording medium 1 is irradiated with red light corresponding to the image pattern, in this case, only the cyan C absorbs the red light in the irradiated area,
Only the rewritable layer 4 in the area corresponding to cyan C becomes clouded. As a result, red of a mixed color of yellow Y and magenta M is visually recognized.

Further, the recording medium 1 contains blue and red
When the light of the color is irradiated, the rewritable layer 4 in the area corresponding to both the yellow Y and the cyan C becomes turbid in the area irradiated with the light, so that only the magenta M is visually recognized, and the blue and green When the light of three colors of red is irradiated, the entire surface of the irradiated area becomes clouded, and the colored layer is blocked.

A color image is formed by irradiating light in accordance with the image pattern by the combination of light as described above.

[0010]

Since the conventional recording medium and recording method using a rewritable layer are configured as described above, in order to obtain a fine-grained image, it is necessary to form a thin stripe on the recording medium. It is necessary to accurately irradiate light on the color material. However, if such optical recording is to be performed by, for example, serially or line-driving an optical recording head in which light emitting portions are arranged in parallel, a very high-precision mechanism is required, and the cost of the apparatus increases. There is.

Further, since the rewritable layer 4 as described above has a slightly low transparency, the hue visually recognized through the rewritable layer 4 is inferior to the hue of the actual color material, and there is a limit to high quality image recording. There is. The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and has as its object to provide a recording medium, a recording method, and a recording apparatus capable of forming a high-quality color image by a recording apparatus having a simple mechanism.

[0012]

According to the present invention, there is provided a recording medium comprising: a colored layer in which a plurality of color material layers having different hues formed in an arc-shaped pattern are regularly arranged alternately; It has a rewritable layer that changes between two states of white turbidity and transparent by irradiation.

In the recording medium according to the present invention, the color material layers formed in an arc-shaped pattern are constituted by alternately arranging a plurality of color material layers having different hues for each pixel.

The recording medium according to the present invention comprises a colored layer in which a plurality of color material layers having different hues are regularly and alternately arranged, and a colored layer which is shielded in an initial state and is locally heated or irradiated with light. And a shielding layer to be removed.

In the recording medium according to the present invention, the color material layer is formed in an arc-shaped pattern.

In the recording medium according to the present invention, the color material layers are alternately arranged for each pixel.

The recording medium according to the present invention has a base material and a coloring layer in which coloring material layers that develop colors with different hues by heating or light irradiation are regularly and alternately arranged.

In the recording medium according to the present invention, the coloring material layer has
It is formed in an arc-shaped pattern.

In the recording medium according to the present invention, the coloring material layer has
They are arranged alternately for each pixel.

The recording medium according to the present invention has a magnetic recording layer on the surface of the substrate opposite to the side on which the colored layer is formed.

The recording medium according to the present invention has an optical recording layer on the surface of the substrate opposite to the side on which the colored layer is formed.

According to the recording method of the present invention, there is provided a recording layer in which a plurality of color material layers having different hues formed in an arc-shaped pattern are arranged regularly and alternately, and a opaque and transparent layer is formed by heating or light irradiation. A recording medium having a rewritable layer that changes between two states is heated or irradiated with light based on the arrangement of the color material layers and input image data to selectively change the rewritable layer from a transparent state to a cloudy state. Is changed.

According to the recording method of the present invention, a colored layer in which a plurality of color material layers having different hues are regularly and alternately arranged, and a colored layer is shielded in an initial state, and locally heated or irradiated with light. A recording medium having a shielding layer to be removed is heated or irradiated with light based on the arrangement of the color material layers and input image data to selectively remove the shielding layer.

[0024] The recording method according to the present invention is directed to a recording medium having a base material and a coloring layer in which coloring material layers that develop colors with different hues by heating or light irradiation are arranged regularly and alternately. The color material layer is selectively colored by heating or irradiating light based on the arrangement of the color material layer and input image data.

In the recording method according to the present invention, after the coloring material layer is colored, the entire recording area of the recording medium is irradiated with ultraviolet rays.

A recording apparatus according to the present invention has a recording head and a rotating body on which the recording head is mounted, and while rotating the rotating body to rotate the recording head, a color material layer or a coloring material is formed. The recording is performed on a recording medium in which the layers are formed in an arc shape.

[0027]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Embodiment 1 FIG. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a recording medium according to the first embodiment, in which (a) is a sectional view of the recording medium,
(B) is a schematic diagram showing an arrangement pattern of a color material layer. In FIG. 1, 1 is a recording medium, 2 is a base substrate (substrate),
31 is a coloring layer, 4 is a rewritable layer.

Here, the base material 2 serves as a support for supporting the recording medium 1 and is made of glass, metal, or the like.
A polymer film, paper, or the like can be used.

The coloring layer 31 is formed by alternately arranging a plurality of color material layers Y, M, and C having different hues and formed in an arc-shaped pattern. As the hues of this color material layer, for example, yellow Y, magenta M, and cyan C, which are the three primary colors of a color image, are selected as shown in FIG. 1. In this case, the color material layers of these hues are yellow Y, magenta M , Cyan C, yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C... As a material of the color material layers Y, M, and C, any of a coloring pigment, a dye, an organic substance, and an inorganic substance can be used. The width of each of the color material layers Y, M, and C is appropriately selected according to the use of the recording medium 1, and is usually in the range of 10 μm to 10 mm. For example, if the recording medium 1 is used in a size such as a prepaid card, the width of the color material layers Y, M, and C is 20 μm to 200 μm.
It is desirable to be about.

On the other hand, the rewritable layer 4 is a layer that changes between two states of white turbidity and transparent by heating or light irradiation. The rewritable layer 4 can use, for example, the melting and solidifying behavior of the organic crystal particles dispersed in the matrix polymer (using the change in transparency of the particles due to solidification conditions). Examples of the organic molecular substance exhibiting such a behavior include stearic acid and behenic acid. Further, polyvinyl chloride, polyester, or the like can be used as the matrix polymer. The rewritable layer 4 made of these materials becomes cloudy when heated to, for example, 110 ° C. or more, and is heated once to a temperature range of 70 to 110 ° C.
After returning to room temperature, it becomes transparent. The temperature at which the opaque state and the temperature at which the transparent state is reached can be arbitrarily selected by changing the material constituting the rewritable layer 4.

The configuration example of the recording medium 1 having the rewritable layer 4 has been described above, but the configuration of the recording medium 1 is not limited to this. If necessary, a surface protective layer may be provided on the rewritable layer 1, or the base material 2 may be omitted if the coloring layer 31 and the rewritable layer 4 have sufficient strength.

Next, a method of recording a color image on the recording medium will be described. FIGS. 2A and 2B are configuration diagrams illustrating an example of a recording apparatus used in this recording method. FIG. 2A is a side view of the recording apparatus, and FIG. 2B is a plan view of the recording apparatus. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a recording medium, and reference numeral 5 denotes an optical recording head including an LED, a laser light source, and the like, and three light emitting portions R, G, and B for emitting respective lights of red light, green light, and blue light. have. The optical recording head 5 is attached to an outer peripheral portion of a rotating body 7 provided to face the recording medium 1, and three emitting portions R, G, and B are arranged from the outer peripheral side to a blue light emitting portion B and a green light emitting portion. G and red light emitting portions R are mounted in parallel in the radial direction at substantially the same interval as the pattern pitch of the color material layers Y, M, and C in the order of red light emitting portion R. Reference numeral 6 denotes recording head control means for controlling the light irradiation timing and exposure time of the optical recording head 5, 7 a rotating body for supporting the optical recording head 5, and 8 a rotating body for controlling the operation of the rotating body 7. Control means.

Next, the operation will be described. In order to record a color image by this recording apparatus, first, the entire surface of the rewritable layer 4 of the recording medium 1 is initialized to a transparent state by a heating means (not shown). In this state, through the rewritable layer 4, the yellow Y, magenta M,
Gray, which is a mixed color of cyan C, is visually recognized. After initialization, image data is input from an external host device or the like, and image recording is performed.

In the recording apparatus, when image data is input, the rotating body 7 is driven by the rotating body
Starts to rotate clockwise (in the direction B in the figure) around. At this time, the optical recording head 5 attached to the outer periphery of the rotating body 7 also rotates in accordance with the rotation of the rotating body 7, and its rotation locus is the arc-like shape of the color material layers Y, M, and C of the recording medium 1. It roughly matches the pattern.

Then, when the rotation of the rotating body 7 reaches a certain speed, the recording head control means 6 drives the optical recording head 5 according to image data from an external host device or the like. That is, the recording head control means 6 synchronizes the rotation position of the rotating body 7 by the rotating body control means 8 with the light irradiation timing from the optical recording head 5 based on the image data, and The optical recording head 5 is driven so that blue light, green light, and red light are selectively irradiated to M and the color material layer C, respectively.

As a result, the portion of the color material layer Y irradiated with the blue light generates heat, and the rewritable layer 4 corresponding to the portion is heated to be clouded. In the color material layer M, a portion irradiated with green light generates heat, in the color material layer C, a portion irradiated with red light generates heat, and the rewritable layer 4 corresponding to the portion irradiated with each light is heated. It becomes cloudy. As a result, a mixed color of the color material layers Y, M, and C in a region where the rewritable layer 4 is not clouded becomes visible.

After recording is performed for one line of each of the color material layers Y, M, and C in this manner, a recording medium feeding means (not shown) divides the recording medium 1 into three color material layers Y, M, and C. The pitch is fed in the radial direction of the rotating body 7 (the direction of arrow B in the figure) by the total width. That is, in this recording apparatus, the driving in the main scanning direction is performed by the rotation of the rotating body 7, and the driving in the sub-scanning direction is performed by scanning the recording medium 1. Then, light irradiation is selectively performed on the arc-shaped patterns of the next color material layers Y, M, and C in the same manner according to image data, and thereafter, the pitch feed and light irradiation of the recording medium 1 are further repeated. A color image is formed on the entire recording area of the recording medium 1.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the recording medium 1 includes the color material layers Y, M, and C having an arc-shaped pattern.
A rewritable layer 4 is formed thereon,
The optical recording head 5 mounted on the rotating body 7 irradiates the recording medium with light while rotating the optical recording head 5. Therefore, a polygon mirror may be used or a light emitting unit may be provided in parallel. Light irradiation can be stably performed on the color material layers Y, M, and C at a constant speed with a simple device configuration as compared with serial or line driving of the optical recording head. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a high-accuracy color image and to simplify and downsize the printing apparatus.

The configuration of the recording method is not limited to this, and various changes can be made. For example, in the first embodiment, the optical recording head 5 that irradiates three types of light, red light, green light, and blue light, is used. However, as shown in FIG. The wavelength of the irradiation light and the absorption wavelength of the color material layer are adjusted so that absorption occurs in any of the color material layers Y, M, and C of yellow, magenta, and cyan by using the optical recording head 5 that irradiates light. You may do it. When one type of light is used, first, the optical recording head 5 is adjusted to the yellow color material layer Y, and light irradiation corresponding to the image pattern is performed.
Is pitch-fed in the B direction by the width of the color material layer Y. Then, light irradiation is performed on the magenta color material layer M in accordance with the image pattern. Thereafter, the recording medium 1 is pitch-fed in the B direction by the width of the color material layer M, and the cyan color material is Layer C
Light irradiation is performed corresponding to the image pattern above. By repeating this operation, a color image is formed on the entire recording area. In the method using one type of light, the driving time of the recording head control means 6 may be changed for each of the color material layers Y, M, and C as necessary.

The optical recording head 5 may be constituted by a semiconductor laser. However, in this case, the rewritable layer 4 contains an electron-donating colorless dye that absorbs light in the wavelength range of 650 nm to 1200 nm (near-infrared to infrared region), or the rewritable layer 4 as shown in FIG. It is desirable to provide an infrared absorbing layer 9 between the color layer 4 and the colored layer 31 or to provide the infrared absorbing layer 9 on the rewritable layer 4.

As another modification, as shown in FIG. 5, the optical recording head 5 and the reflector 10 are fixed to the outside, and two reflectors 11 and 12 are mounted on Light from the recording head 5 is reflected by the reflection plates 10, 11, and 12.
And the recording medium 1 may be reflected.

Further, as shown in FIG.
Alternatively, the thermal recording head 13 may be mounted on the rotating body 7 and the rewritable layer 4 may be directly heated. In this case, efficient recording can be performed by using a thermal recording head 13 having a plurality of heating resistors and heating the rewritable layer 4 over a plurality of color material layers by one operation. .

Further, the rotating body 7 may be of various shapes, and is not particularly limited as long as it is a rotating body such as a ring shape, a rod shape shown in FIG. 7, a cross shape, and a star shape.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 8 shows the second embodiment.
1A is a cross-sectional view of a recording medium taken along a longitudinal direction of a color material layer, and FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram illustrating an arrangement pattern of the color material layer. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 32 denotes a colored layer formed by alternately arranging a plurality of color material layers Y, M, and C having different hues in a stripe shape.
Reference numeral 20 denotes a shielding layer.

The shielding layer 20 has a white color in an initial state, and covers the colored layer 32 formed thereunder. The shielding layer 20 is locally shrunk or broken by heating or light irradiation. And the colored layer 32 is exposed. As a material of the shielding layer 20, for example, a metal such as tin or a white pigment is used.

The recording medium 1 has the same configuration as that of the recording medium 1 except that the coloring material layers Y, M, and C of the coloring layer 32 are formed in stripes, and the shielding layer 20 is provided instead of the rewritable layer 4.
It has the same configuration as the recording medium 1 shown in FIG.
In FIG. 1, the same reference numerals as those in FIG.

Next, a method of recording a color image on the recording medium 1 will be described. FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram showing a recording apparatus used in this recording method. In FIG. 9, 1
Is a recording medium, 6 is a recording head control means, 21 is a thermal recording head configured by arranging a plurality of heating resistors in a line shape, and each heating resistor has a color material layer Y,
It is supported by the recording head control means 6 so as to coincide with the longitudinal direction of M and C. The sub-scanning length of the heating resistor substantially matches the pattern length of the color material layer.

Next, the operation will be described. In the above-described recording apparatus, when image data is input from an external host device or the like, first, the recording medium 1 is moved by a recording medium driving unit (not shown) in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the color material layers Y, M, and C (arrow D in the figure). Direction). Then, the thermal recording head 21
When the color material layer Y is detected by the sensing unit mounted on the printer, the recording head control unit 6 drives the thermal recording head 21 according to image data from an external host device or the like.

That is, the recording head control means 6
In accordance with the image data, the scanning of the recording medium 1 by the recording medium driving unit and the driving timing of the thermal recording head 21 are synchronized, and the shielding layer 20 on the stripe pattern of the color material layers Y, M, and C is selectively heated. The thermal recording head 21 is driven as described above. In the heated portion, the shielding layer 20 contracts, and the color material layers Y, M, and C existing thereunder are exposed on the surface.
The mixed color of the exposed color material layers Y, M, and C becomes visible. By selectively heating the shielding layer 20 according to the image data over the entire recording area of the recording medium 1, a color image is formed.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the recording medium 1 has a configuration in which the shielding layer 20 is formed on the color material layers Y, M, and C. In the recording, the shielding layer 20 is erased by heating, and the color material layers Y, M, C
Is exposed, so that the hue of the image by the color material layers Y, M, and C is directly visually recognized without passing through the rewritable layer 4 or the like. Therefore, there is an effect that a high-quality color image can be obtained.

When the shielding layer 20 is used, similarly to the first embodiment, the color material layers Y, M, and C are formed in an arc-shaped pattern, and the thermal recording mounted on the rotating body is used. The recording may be performed while the thermal recording head is rotated by the head. By doing so, it is possible to perform stable printing with a simple apparatus configuration, and it is possible to obtain a high-accuracy color image and to achieve an effect that the printing apparatus can be simplified and downsized.

Embodiment 3 FIG. 10A and 10B are configuration diagrams of a recording medium according to the third embodiment, in which FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional view of the recording medium taken along the longitudinal direction of the coloring material layer, and FIG. FIG. In FIG. 10, reference numeral 33 denotes a plurality of coloring material layers Y, M, and C having different colors.
Are colored layers alternately arranged in stripes. The coloring material constituting the colored layer 33 is selected from those which exhibit white in an initial state, develop a color by heating, and have a hue after the coloring of, for example, three primary colors of a color image, such as yellow, magenta, and cyan. Specific examples of the coloring material include leuco dye-based crystal violet.

The recording medium 1 has the same configuration as the recording medium 1 shown in FIG. 8 except that a coloring material is used for the coloring layer 33 and the shielding layer 20 is not provided. The same reference numerals denote the same or corresponding parts, and a description thereof will not be repeated.

Next, a method of recording a color image on the recording medium will be described. FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram showing a recording apparatus used in this recording method. This recording device,
Recording medium 1 on which recording is performed using a coloring material
Except for this, the configuration is the same as that of the recording apparatus shown in FIG. 9. The same reference numerals in FIG. 11 as those in FIG. 9 denote the same or corresponding parts, and a description thereof will not be repeated.

Next, the operation will be described. In the above-described recording apparatus, when image data is input from an external host device or the like, first, the recording medium 1 is moved by a driving unit (not shown) in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the coloring material layers Y, M, and C (the direction of arrow E in the figure). Go to Then, when the leading end of the recording medium 1 is detected by the sensing unit mounted on the thermal recording head 21, the recording head control unit 6 selectively selects the thermal recording head 21 according to image data from an external host device or the like. Drive.

That is, the recording head control means 6
In accordance with the image data, the scanning of the recording medium 1 by the recording medium driving unit and the driving timing of the thermal recording head 21 are synchronized, and heat is applied so as to selectively heat the stripe pattern of the coloring material layers Y, M, and C. The recording head 21 is driven.

In the heated portion, the coloring material is yellow,
The color develops as magenta or cyan, and the mixed color becomes visible. By selectively heating the coloring material layers Y, M, and C according to the image data over the entire recording area of the recording medium 1, a color image is formed.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, the recording medium 1 has the coloring material layers Y, M, and C in the outermost layer, and the recording on the recording medium 1 is performed in the outermost layer. Is performed by coloring the color-forming material layers Y, M, and C, so that the hue of the image due to the coloring is directly viewed without passing through the rewritable layer 4 or the like. Therefore, there is an effect that a high-quality color image can be obtained. In addition, since the coloring of the coloring material layers Y, M, and C has higher sensitivity than the removal of the shielding layer 20 by heating, the effect of saving power of the recording apparatus can be obtained.

When the color material layers Y, M, and C are used, similarly to the first embodiment, the color material layers Y, M, and C are used.
M and C may be formed in an arc-shaped pattern, and recording may be performed by the thermal recording head 21 mounted on the rotating body. By doing so, there is an effect that the device configuration is simplified and downsized, and a highly accurate color image corresponding to the image data is obtained.

In the above description, the drive timing of the thermal recording head 21 is determined by detecting the end of the recording medium. However, as shown in FIG. May be determined to determine the drive timing. This marker 23
Is provided for each pattern unit of the coloring material layers Y, M, and C,
The coloring material layers Y, M, and C may be provided in one group unit. Further, a marker 23 may be provided on the back surface of the recording medium 1.

Further, the coloring material layer can be used as a marker. In other words, the end of the recording medium 1 may be heated by the thermal recording head 21 to develop a color, and the developed portion may be detected by a photo sensor or the like as a marker.

Embodiment 4 The recording medium according to the fourth embodiment has the same configuration as the recording medium shown in FIG. 10, and in a recording medium 1 shown in FIG. 13 described later, a plurality of coloring material layers Y, M, and C having different colors are formed. The colored layers are arranged alternately in a stripe pattern. However, in the fourth embodiment, a mixture of a diazonium compound having a coloring property and a coupler compound is used as a coloring material. When the coloring material layer containing the coloring material is heated by the thermal recording head,
In the heated portion, the diazonium compound and the coupler compound react to develop color. Then, when the entire surface is irradiated with ultraviolet light after color development, the diazonium compound is decomposed in the unheated portion, so that the color development is further suppressed. As the diazonium compound used as the color former,
For example, para-diazo N, P-diazo-N-ethyl and the like can be mentioned, and as the coupler compound, phenol, α-
Naphthol and the like.

Next, a method of recording a color image on the recording medium will be described. FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram showing a recording apparatus used in this recording method. In FIG.
Reference numeral 24 denotes an ultraviolet fixing unit for fixing a recorded image by irradiation with ultraviolet light.

In this recording apparatus, the ultraviolet fixing means 24
The configuration is the same as that of the recording apparatus shown in FIG. 11 except that the recording apparatus is arranged closer to the medium moving direction than the thermal recording head 21. In FIG. 13, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. Description is omitted.

Next, the operation will be described. To perform recording by this recording apparatus, first, the ultraviolet fixing unit 24 is turned on to stabilize the irradiation light, and then image data is input from an external host device or the like.

In this recording apparatus, when image data is input, first, the recording medium 1 is moved by a recording medium driving means (not shown) in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the coloring material layers Y, M, and C (the direction of arrow F in the figure). I do. When the leading end of the recording medium 1 is detected by the sensing unit mounted on the thermal recording head 21, the recording head control unit 6 drives the thermal recording head 21 according to image data from an external host device or the like. That is, the recording head control unit 6 synchronizes the scanning of the recording medium 1 by the recording medium driving unit with the driving timing of the thermal recording head 21 in accordance with the image data, and forms the stripes of the coloring material layers Y, M, and C. The thermal recording head 21 is driven so as to selectively heat the pattern.

In the heated portion, the coloring material is yellow,
The color develops as magenta or cyan, and the mixed color becomes visible. Then, the recording medium 1 that has passed through the thermal recording head 21 passes through the ultraviolet fixing unit 24,
At this time, the entire surface is irradiated with ultraviolet rays to fix the hue. A color image is formed by performing selective heating and ultraviolet irradiation of the coloring material layers Y, M, and C in accordance with such image data over the entire recording area of the recording medium 1.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the recording medium 1 has the coloring material layers Y, M, and C in the outermost layer, and the recording on the recording medium 1 is performed on the outermost layer. Is performed by coloring the color-forming material layers Y, M, and C, so that the hue of the image due to the coloring is directly viewed without passing through the rewritable layer 4 or the like. Therefore, there is an effect that a high-quality color image can be obtained. In addition, since the coloring of the coloring material layers Y, M, and C is higher in sensitivity than the disappearance of the shielding layer 20 due to heating, the effect of saving power of the recording apparatus can be obtained.

Further, according to the fourth embodiment, since the ultraviolet irradiation is performed after the color-forming agent layers Y, M, and C are colored, it is possible to suppress the color development during storage of the recording medium 1. The effect is that a color image having excellent fixability can be formed.

When the color material layers Y, M, and C are used, similarly to the first embodiment, the color material layers Y, M, and C are used.
M and C may be formed in an arc-shaped pattern, and recording may be performed by rotating the thermal recording head by a thermal recording head mounted on a rotating body. By doing so, it is possible to perform stable printing with a simple apparatus configuration, and it is possible to obtain a high-accuracy color image and to achieve an effect that the printing apparatus can be simplified and downsized.

In the above description, the drive timing of the thermal recording head 21 is determined by detecting the end of the recording medium 1.
The drive timing may be determined by detecting this. The marker 23 includes a coloring material layer Y,
Even if the coloring material layers Y, M, and
C may be provided in one group unit. Further, a marker 23 may be provided on the back surface of the recording medium 1.

Further, the coloring material layers Y, M and C can be used as markers. In other words, the end of the recording medium 1 may be heated by the thermal recording head 21 to develop a color, and the developed portion may be detected by a photo sensor or the like as a marker.

Embodiment 5 FIG. 14 shows the fifth embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an arrangement pattern of a coloring material layer of a recording medium according to the present invention. The recording medium 1 is the same as the recording medium according to the fourth embodiment except that the coloring layer 34 is configured by alternately arranging a plurality of coloring agent layers Y, M, and C having different colors so as to correspond to pixels. In FIG. 14, the same reference numerals as in Embodiment 4 denote the same or corresponding parts, and a description thereof will not be repeated.

The recording of a color image on the recording medium 1 is also performed by a device having the same configuration as the recording device of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. That is, to record
First, after stabilizing the ultraviolet fixing means 24 and moving the thermal recording head 21 to the recording start position, the scanning of the recording medium 1 and the driving timing of the thermal recording head 21 are synchronized in accordance with the image data, and The color former layers Y,
M and C are selectively heated.

In the heated portion, the coloring material is yellow,
The color develops as magenta or cyan, and the mixed color becomes visible. Then, the recording medium 1 that has passed through the thermal recording head 21 passes through the ultraviolet fixing unit 24,
At this time, the entire surface is irradiated with ultraviolet rays to fix the hue. A color image is formed by performing selective heating and ultraviolet irradiation of the coloring material layers Y, M, and C in accordance with such image data over the entire recording area of the recording medium 1.

As described above, according to the fifth embodiment, the recording medium 1 has the coloring material layers Y, M, and C in the outermost layer, and the recording on the recording medium 1 is performed in the outermost layer. Of the color forming material layers Y, M, and C, so that the hues of the color forming material layers Y, M, and C due to color development are directly viewed without passing through the rewritable layer 4 and the like, and a high-quality color image can be formed. The effect is obtained. Further, the coloring material layers Y, M,
Since the coloring of C is higher in sensitivity than the disappearance of the shielding layer 20 due to heating, the effect that the power consumption of the recording apparatus can be saved can be obtained.

Further, according to the fifth embodiment, since the ultraviolet irradiation is performed after the coloring agent layers Y, M, and C are colored, it is possible to prevent the coloring from proceeding during the storage of the recording medium 1. The effect is that a color image having excellent fixability can be formed.

Further, according to the fifth embodiment, since the coloring material layers Y, M and C formed on the recording medium 1 are arranged corresponding to the pixels, the coloring material layers Y, M and C are not The apparent resolution is higher than the arrangement in stripes,
The effect of improving image quality is obtained.

The arrangement corresponding to the pixels of the color material layer performed in the fifth embodiment may be combined with the structures of the first to third embodiments. For example, in the recording medium 1 having the rewritable layer 4 or the shielding layer 20, the color material layers Y, M, and C may be arranged for each pixel, and also in the case of the recording medium 1 using a coloring material but not performing ultraviolet fixing. The coloring material layers Y, M, and C may be arranged for each pixel. In each case, the effect of increasing the apparent resolution and improving the image quality can be obtained.

Embodiment 6 FIG. FIG. 15 shows the sixth embodiment.
1 is a configuration diagram showing a recording medium according to the present invention, and shows a cross section of the recording medium 1 taken along a longitudinal direction of a coloring material layer.
In FIG. 15, reference numeral 30 denotes a magnetic recording layer on which image data and text data are recorded as magnetic signals.

The recording medium 1 has the magnetic recording layer 30
However, the recording medium 1 according to the fourth embodiment has the same configuration as that of the recording medium 1 according to the fourth embodiment, except that it is formed on the surface of the base substrate 2 opposite to the side on which the coloring material layers Y, M, and C are formed. , FIG.
The same reference numerals as in Embodiment 4 denote the same or corresponding parts, and a description thereof will not be repeated.

Next, a method of recording on the recording medium 1 will be described. FIG. 16 is a configuration diagram showing a recording apparatus used in this recording method. In FIG. 16, reference numeral 35 denotes a magnetic head for performing recording on the magnetic recording layer 30. In this recording apparatus, the magnetic head 35 is
13 has the same configuration as that of the recording apparatus according to the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 13 except that the recording apparatus 1 is disposed on the opposite side with respect to the recording medium 1, and the same reference numerals in FIG. Or, since a corresponding portion is shown, the description is omitted.

Next, the operation will be described. To perform recording by this recording apparatus, first, the ultraviolet fixing means 24 is turned on to stabilize the irradiation light, and then image data is input from an external host device or the like.

When image data is input, first, the recording medium 1 is moved in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the color forming material layers Y, M, and C (the direction of arrow G in the figure) by a driving unit (not shown). Then, when the leading end of the recording medium 1 is detected by the sensing unit mounted on the thermal recording head 21,
While the recording head control means 6 drives the thermal recording head 21 according to image data from an external host device or the like,
The magnetic head 35 generates a signal magnetic field corresponding to the image data.

That is, the recording head control means 6
In accordance with the image data, the scanning of the recording medium 1 by the recording medium driving unit and the driving timing of the thermal recording head 21 are synchronized, and heat is applied so as to selectively heat the stripe pattern of the coloring material layers Y, M, and C. The recording head 21 is driven. In the heated portion, the coloring material develops a yellow, magenta or cyan color, and the mixed color becomes visible. Then, the recording medium 1 that has passed through the thermal recording head 21
Thereafter, the light passes through the ultraviolet fixing means 24, and at this time, the entire surface is irradiated with ultraviolet light to fix the hue.

On the other hand, the magnetic head 35
A signal magnetic field corresponding to the image data is generated in synchronization with the scanning of the image data, and is applied to the magnetic recording layer 30.

By performing recording by the thermal recording head 21 and the magnetic head 35 on the entire surface of the recording medium 1, a color image is formed on the colored layer 34 side, and the magnetic recording layer 30 is formed.
On the side, a magnetic signal corresponding to the image data is recorded.

As described above, according to the sixth embodiment, the recording medium 1 is configured to have the coloring material layers Y, M, and C in the outermost layer, and the recording on the recording medium 1 is performed in the outermost layer. Is performed by causing the color forming material layers Y, M, and C to form a color, so that the hue of the image due to the color formation is directly viewed without passing through the rewritable layer 4 and the like, and an effect that a high-quality color image can be formed can be obtained. In addition, since the coloring of the coloring material layers Y, M, and C has higher sensitivity than the removal of the shielding layer 20 by heating, the effect of saving power of the recording apparatus can be obtained.

Further, according to the sixth embodiment, since the ultraviolet irradiation is performed after the color-forming agent layers Y, M, and C are colored, the color development during storage of the recording medium 1 is suppressed. The effect is that a color image having excellent fixability can be formed.

In addition to the above effects, according to the sixth embodiment, since the magnetic recording layer 30 on which image data and text data are recorded is formed on the recording medium 1, a so-called electronic album-like structure is obtained. The effect that it can be used as a simple information card is obtained.

The magnetic recording layer 30 may be provided on the entire back surface of the substrate or may be provided partially. Further, in the above-described example, the image recording on the coloring layer 34 and the magnetic recording on the magnetic recording layer 30 are performed at the same time, but may be performed in separate steps. That is, a magnetic signal may be read into the magnetic recording layer 30 on the back surface after image recording on the colored layer 34, and conversely, after a magnetic signal is read into the magnetic recording layer 30 on the back surface, May be recorded. When this recording medium 1 is used as an electronic album, all of the image data recorded on the magnetic recording layer 30 may be printed on the coloring layer 34, but only a part of the image data is enlarged or reduced. You can also print.

Various changes other than the change of the magnetic recording layer 30 are possible. For example, similar to the first embodiment,
The coloring material layers Y, M, and C may be formed in an arc-shaped pattern, and recording may be performed while rotating the thermal recording head by a thermal recording head mounted on a rotating body. By doing so, it is possible to perform stable printing with a simple apparatus configuration, and it is possible to obtain a high-accuracy color image and to achieve an effect that the printing apparatus can be simplified and downsized.

Further, the formation of the magnetic recording layer may be combined with the structures of the first to fifth embodiments.
For example, a magnetic recording layer may be provided on the recording medium 1 having the rewritable layer 4 or the shielding layer 20, or a magnetic recording layer may be provided on a recording medium that uses a coloring material but does not perform ultraviolet fixing. Further, the magnetic recording on the magnetic recording layer 30 may be performed while the magnetic head 35 is mounted on a rotating body and the magnetic head 35 is rotated, as in the image recording in the first embodiment.

Embodiment 7 FIG. FIG. 17 shows the seventh embodiment.
1 is a configuration diagram showing a recording medium according to the present invention, and shows a cross section of the recording medium 1 taken along a longitudinal direction of a coloring material layer.
In FIG. 17, reference numeral 40 denotes an optical recording layer on which image data and text data are recorded by laser beam irradiation.

The optical recording layer 40 is formed by applying an organic dye such as a cyanine dye. In the optical recording layer 40 using the organic dye as a recording material, when laser light is locally irradiated by the optical recording head, the organic dye absorbs light in the light irradiation portion and generates heat, thereby forming pits. . Information recording is performed by forming such pits in a pattern corresponding to the information signal (write operation). In order to read an information signal from the pit pattern, the optical recording layer 40 is irradiated with laser light at a lower power than in the write operation, and the reflected light is detected. At this time, since the reflectance is different between the portion where the pit is formed and the portion where the pit is not formed, the pit pattern is detected by detecting the magnitude of the reflected light, and the written information signal is reproduced. Become.

The recording medium 1 has the same structure as that of the embodiment except that the optical recording layer 40 is formed on the surface of the base 2 opposite to the side on which the coloring material layers Y, M and C are formed. The recording medium 1 has the same configuration as that of the recording medium 1 according to the fourth embodiment, and the same reference numerals as those in the fourth embodiment denote the same or corresponding parts in FIG.

Next, a method of recording on the recording medium 1 will be described. FIG. 18 is a configuration diagram showing a recording apparatus used for this recording method. In FIG. 18, reference numeral 5 denotes an optical recording head that irradiates the optical recording layer 40 with laser light.

This recording apparatus differs from the recording apparatus of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 13 in that the optical recording head 5 is arranged on the opposite side of the thermal recording head 21 with the recording medium 1 interposed therebetween. The configuration is the same as FIG.
The same reference numerals denote the same or corresponding parts, and a description thereof will not be repeated.

Next, the operation will be described. To perform recording by this recording apparatus, first, the ultraviolet fixing means 24 is turned on to stabilize the irradiation light, and then image data is input from an external host device or the like.

In this recording apparatus, when image data is input, first, the recording medium 1 is moved by a driving means (not shown) in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the color material layers Y, M, and C (the direction of arrow H in the figure). . Then, when the leading end of the recording medium 1 is detected by the sensing unit mounted on the thermal recording head 21, the recording head control unit 6 drives the thermal recording head 21 according to image data from an external host device or the like. Then, the optical recording head 5 emits a laser beam according to the image data.

That is, the recording head control means 6
According to the image data, the scanning of the recording medium 1 by the recording medium driving means and the driving timing of the thermal recording head 21 are synchronized to selectively heat the stripe patterns of the coloring material layers Y, M, and C. 21 is driven. In the heated portion, the coloring material develops a yellow, magenta or cyan color, and the mixed color becomes visible. Then, the recording medium 1 that has passed through the thermal recording head 21 then passes through an ultraviolet fixing unit 24, and at that time, the entire surface is irradiated with ultraviolet rays to fix the hue.

On the other hand, the optical recording head 5 is a recording medium 1
The laser beam is emitted corresponding to the image data in synchronization with the scanning of the optical recording layer 40 to form pits in the optical recording layer 40.

By performing recording by the thermal recording head 21 and the optical recording head 5 on the entire surface of the recording medium 1, a color image is formed on the colored layer 34 side and a signal corresponding to image data is formed on the optical recording layer 40 side. Will be recorded.

As described above, according to the seventh embodiment, the recording medium 1 has the coloring material layers Y, M, and C in the outermost layer, and the recording on the recording medium 1 is performed in the outermost layer. Is performed by causing the color forming material layers Y, M, and C to form a color, so that the hue of the image due to the color formation is directly viewed without passing through the rewritable layer 4 and the like, and an effect that a high-quality color image can be formed can be obtained. In addition, since the coloring of the coloring material layers Y, M, and C is higher in sensitivity than the disappearance of the shielding layer 20 due to heating, the effect of saving power of the recording apparatus can be obtained.

Further, according to the seventh embodiment, since the ultraviolet irradiation is performed after the coloring agent layers Y, M, and C are colored, it is possible to prevent the coloring from proceeding during the storage of the recording medium 1. The effect is that a color image having excellent fixability can be formed.

In addition to the above effects, according to the seventh embodiment, since the optical recording layer 40 on which image data and text data are recorded is formed on the recording medium 1,
The effect is obtained that it can be used as a so-called electronic album-like information card. In addition, since the optical recording layer 40 has a larger recording capacity than the magnetic recording layer 30, an effect of realizing an information card that can handle more information can be obtained.

The optical recording layer 40 may be provided on the entire back surface of the substrate, or may be provided partially. Also,
In the above example, the image recording on the coloring layer 34 and the optical recording layer 40
Although the magnetic recording is performed at the same time, it can be performed in separate steps. That is, after the image is recorded on the colored layer 34, the data may be read into the optical recording layer 40 on the rear surface. Image recording may be performed. When the recording medium 1 is used as an electronic album, all of the image data recorded on the optical recording layer 40 may be printed on the coloring layer 34, but only a part of the image data may be enlarged or reduced. You can also print.

Various changes other than the change of the optical recording layer 40 are possible. For example, as in the first embodiment, the coloring material layers Y, M, and C are formed in an arc-shaped pattern, and recording is performed while rotating the thermal recording head by a thermal recording head mounted on a rotating body. You may do it. By doing so, it is possible to perform stable printing with a simple apparatus configuration, and it is possible to obtain a high-accuracy color image and to achieve an effect that the printing apparatus can be simplified and downsized.

Further, the formation of the optical recording layer 40 may be combined with the structures of the first to fifth embodiments. For example, the optical recording layer 40 may be provided on the recording medium 1 having the rewritable layer 4 or the shielding layer 20, or the optical recording layer 40 may be provided on the recording medium 1 using a coloring material but not performing ultraviolet fixing. Further, the optical recording on the optical recording layer 40 may be performed while the optical recording head 5 is mounted on a rotating body and the optical recording head 5 is rotated, as in the image recording in the first embodiment. .

[0110]

As described above, according to the present invention, a colored layer in which a plurality of color material layers having different hues formed in an arc-shaped pattern are regularly and alternately arranged; Since the recording medium is constituted by a rewritable layer that changes between two states of cloudy and transparent, the heating or light irradiation can be stably performed on the color material layer by a recording apparatus having a simple configuration. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a high-accuracy color image and to simplify and downsize the printing apparatus.

According to the present invention, in a recording medium having a rewritable layer, a plurality of color material layers having different hues are alternately arranged for each pixel in a color material layer formed in an arc-shaped pattern. Therefore, there is an effect that the apparent resolution is increased and the image quality is improved.

According to the present invention, the colored layer in which a plurality of color material layers having different hues are regularly and alternately arranged, and the colored layer is shielded in an initial state, and is locally removed by heating or light irradiation. Since the recording medium is constituted by the shielding layer, the hue of the image by the color material layer exposed by the removal of the shielding layer is directly visually recognized, so that a high-quality color image can be obtained.

According to the present invention, in the recording medium having the shielding layer, the color material layer is formed in an arc-shaped pattern, so that the hue of the image by the color material layer exposed by removing the shielding layer is directly recognized, There is an effect that a color image with high image quality can be obtained, and the recording apparatus can be simplified and downsized.

According to the present invention, in the recording medium having the shielding layer, the color material layers are alternately arranged for each pixel.
This has the effect of increasing the apparent resolution and improving the image quality.

According to the present invention, the recording medium is constituted by the base material and the coloring layers in which the coloring materials having different hues are formed by heating or light irradiation. The hue of the image is directly visually recognized without passing through the rewritable layer or the like, and there is an effect that a high-quality color image can be obtained. Further, since the coloring of the coloring material layer is higher in sensitivity than the removal of the shielding layer by heating, there is an effect that power saving of the recording apparatus can be achieved.

According to the present invention, in the recording medium using the coloring material layer, the coloring material layer is formed in an arc-shaped pattern, so that a high-quality color image can be obtained and the power consumption of the printing apparatus can be reduced. In addition to the effect that the recording device can be achieved, the recording device can be simplified and downsized.

According to the present invention, in the recording medium using the coloring material layer, the coloring material layers are alternately arranged for each pixel, so that the apparent resolution is improved and the image quality is improved.

According to the present invention, since the magnetic recording layer for recording image data and text data is formed on the surface of the substrate opposite to the side on which the colored layer is formed, an information card like a so-called electronic album is formed. There is an effect that can be used as.

According to the present invention, since the optical recording layer for recording image data and text data is formed on the surface of the substrate opposite to the side on which the colored layer is formed, an information card like a so-called electronic album is formed. There is an effect that can be used as. Moreover, since the optical recording layer has a larger recording capacity than the magnetic recording layer, there is an effect that an information card that can handle more information can be realized.

According to the present invention, a color layer formed by alternately arranging a plurality of color material layers having different hues formed in an arc-shaped pattern and a color layer formed by heating or light irradiation between a cloudy state and a transparent state. For a recording medium having a rewritable layer that changes, the rewritable layer is selectively changed from a transparent state to a cloudy state by heating or irradiating light based on the arrangement of the color material layers and input image data. With such a configuration, there is an effect that light irradiation can be stably performed on the color material layer with a simple device configuration.

According to the present invention, a colored layer in which a plurality of color material layers having different hues are alternately arranged, and a shielding layer which shields the colored layer in an initial state and is locally removed by heating or light irradiation Is configured to selectively remove the shielding layer by heating or irradiating light based on the arrangement of the color material layers and the input image data, so that the exposure is caused by the disappearance of the shielding layer. The hue of the image due to the color material layer is directly visually recognized, so that a high-quality color image can be obtained.

According to the present invention, the arrangement of the coloring material layer is performed on a recording medium having a base material and a coloring layer in which coloring materials having different colors by heating or light irradiation are alternately arranged. And it is configured such that the coloring material layer is selectively colored by heating or light irradiation based on the input image data, so that the hue of the image by the coloring material layer is directly visually recognized without passing through the rewritable layer and the like, and the image quality is improved. There is an effect that a color image with high image quality can be obtained. Further, since the coloring of the coloring material layer is more sensitive than the disappearance of the shielding layer due to heating, there is an effect that power saving of the recording apparatus can be achieved.

According to the present invention, after the coloring material layer is colored, the entire recording area of the recording medium is irradiated with ultraviolet rays, so that a color image having excellent fixability can be obtained.

According to the present invention, there is provided a recording head and a rotating body on which the recording head is mounted, and recording is performed on a recording medium while rotating the recording head by rotating the rotating body. With such a configuration, there is an effect that stable recording can be performed with a simple device configuration.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a recording medium according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a recording method according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which an optical recording head having three light irradiation units is used.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram illustrating a recording method according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which an optical recording head having one light irradiation unit is used.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a recording medium according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, in which an infrared absorption layer is provided.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a recording method according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which a reflection plate is used.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram illustrating a recording method according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which a thermal recording head is used.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing a rotating body used in the recording method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram showing a recording medium according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram illustrating a recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram showing a recording medium according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram illustrating a recording apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram showing a case where a marker is provided on a recording medium according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram showing a recording apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram showing an arrangement pattern of a coloring material layer of a recording medium according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a configuration diagram showing a recording medium according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a configuration diagram showing a recording apparatus according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a configuration diagram showing a recording medium according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a configuration diagram showing a recording apparatus according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a configuration diagram showing a conventional recording medium.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 recording medium, 2 base substrate (substrate), 4 rewritable layer, 20 shielding layer, 30 magnetic recording layer, 31, 3
2, 33, 34 colored layer, 40 optical recording layer, C, M, Y
Coloring material layer, coloring material layer.

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A colored layer in which a plurality of color material layers having different hues formed in an arc-shaped pattern are arranged regularly and alternately, and changes between two states of cloudy and transparent by heating or light irradiation. And a rewritable layer. 2. The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the color material layers formed in an arc-shaped pattern include a plurality of color material layers having different hues alternately arranged for each pixel. 3. A coloring layer in which a plurality of coloring material layers having different hues are regularly and alternately arranged; and a shielding layer which shields the coloring layer in an initial state and is locally removed by heating or light irradiation. A recording medium having: 4. The recording medium according to claim 3, wherein the color material layer is formed in an arc-shaped pattern. 5. The recording medium according to claim 3, wherein the color material layers are alternately arranged for each pixel. 6. A recording medium having a base material and a coloring layer in which coloring material layers that develop colors with different hues by heating or light irradiation are arranged regularly and alternately. 7. The recording medium according to claim 6, wherein the coloring material layer is formed in an arc-shaped pattern. 8. The recording medium according to claim 6, wherein the coloring material layers are alternately arranged for each pixel. 9. The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein a magnetic recording layer is provided on a surface of the substrate opposite to the side on which the colored layer is formed. . 10. The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein an optical recording layer is provided on a surface of the substrate opposite to the side on which the colored layer is formed. . 11. A colored layer in which a plurality of color material layers having different hues formed in an arc-shaped pattern are arranged regularly and alternately, and changes between two states of cloudy and transparent by heating or light irradiation. A recording method for selectively changing the rewritable layer from a transparent state to a cloudy state by heating or irradiating light to a recording medium having a rewritable layer based on the arrangement of the color material layers and input image data. 12. A colored layer in which a plurality of color material layers having different hues are arranged regularly and alternately, and a shielding layer which shields the colored layer in an initial state and is locally removed by heating or light irradiation. A recording method, wherein the shielding layer is selectively removed by heating or irradiating the recording medium with light or light based on the arrangement of the color material layers and input image data. 13. A recording medium having a base material and a coloring layer in which coloring material layers that develop colors with different hues by heating or light irradiation are arranged regularly and alternately. A recording method for selectively coloring the coloring material layer by heating or irradiating light based on input image data. 14. The recording method according to claim 13, wherein after the color material layer is colored, the entire recording area of the recording medium is irradiated with ultraviolet rays. 15. The print head according to claim 1, further comprising: a printhead; and a rotating body on which the printhead is mounted, wherein the printhead is rotated by rotating the rotary body. A recording apparatus that performs recording on a recording medium.