JP2004249541A - Recorder for reversible multicolor recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recorder for a reversible multicolor recording medium capable of recording/erasing information repeatedly. <P>SOLUTION: The recorder for a reversible multicolor recording medium comprises a laser beam oscillating means 31a-31c irradiating a plurality of laser beams having different wavelengths modulated based on recording information, an optical system for converging the laser beam linearly in the main scanning direction, a laser beam deflector 36 located at the condensing position of laser beam, and a mirror 38 having a free curved surface designed such that a laser beam deflected by the deflector 36 is condensed on the reversible multicolor recording medium 10(20) in order to scan the recording medium at a uniform speed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a recording apparatus that is applied to a reversible multicolor recording medium capable of recording and erasing various data such as images, characters, and symbols in an arbitrary color tone.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, from the viewpoint of global environment, the necessity of rewritable recording technology for various recording media has been strongly recognized. For example, paperless use in offices and homes is advancing due to advances in computer network technology, communication technology, OA equipment, recording media, storage media, and the like.
[0003]
Recording media, which are one of the display media that can replace printed matter, and record and erase information reversibly by heat, so-called reversible thermosensitive recording media, are becoming popular with various prepaid cards, point cards, credit cards, IC cards, etc. It has been put to practical use in visualization and readability of balances and other recorded information, and is also being put to practical use in copying machines and printers.
[0004]
Regarding the reversible thermosensitive recording medium as described above and a recording method using the same, various proposals have been made in the past (for example, see Patent Documents 1 to 4).
In these, a so-called low-molecular dispersion type, that is, a recording medium in which an organic low-molecular substance is dispersed in a resin base material, is disclosed. To change it. Therefore, there is a disadvantage that the contrast between the image forming portion and the non-image forming portion is insufficient, and only a medium having improved contrast by providing a reflective layer under the recording layer has been put to practical use. .
[0005]
On the other hand, a leuco dye type, ie, a leuco dye, which is an electron-donating color-forming compound in a resin matrix, and a recording medium having a recording layer in which a developer and a color reducing agent are dispersed, and a recording method using the same. It is also disclosed (for example, see Patent Documents 5 to 9).
In these, an amphoteric compound having an acidic group for forming a leuco dye and a basic group for decolorizing the formed leuco dye, a phenol compound having a long-chain alkyl, or the like is used as a developing and reducing agent. Since this recording medium and recording method utilize the color development of the leuco dye itself, it has an advantage that the contrast and visibility are better than those of the low molecular dispersion type, and has recently been widely put into practical use.
[0006]
However, in the above-described prior art, only two types of colors, that is, the color of the material of the base material, that is, the color of the background, and the color discolored by heat can be expressed. In order to improve fashionability and fashionability, and to expand a practical use range, there is a great demand for displaying multicolor images and recording various data by color identification.
[0007]
In view of such problems, various recording methods that apply the above-described conventional method and display a multicolor image have been proposed.
For example, a recording medium that performs multicolor display by visualizing or concealing layers and particles coated in multiple colors with a low molecular dispersion type recording layer, and a recording method using the same have been disclosed ( For example, see Patent Documents 10 to 12.)
However, in a recording medium having such a configuration, the colored recording layer cannot completely hide the color of the surface of the lower layer, or the color of the base material is transparent, and a high contrast is obtained. It has the disadvantage that it cannot be obtained.
[0008]
Further, there is disclosed a reversible thermosensitive multicolor recording medium using a leuco dye (for example, see Patent Documents 13 and 14). However, since the recording media shown in these publications have a configuration in which repeating units having different hues are formed in one plane, the area ratio where each hue is actually recorded becomes smaller, and as a result, There is a problem that the recorded image becomes very dark or faint.
[0009]
In addition, there has been proposed a reversible thermosensitive multicolor recording medium having a configuration in which recording layers using leuco dyes having different coloring temperatures, decoloring temperatures, cooling rates, and the like are separated and formed independently. See Patent Documents 15 to 23.).
However, since these disclosed recording media perform recording or erasing by contacting a heat source such as a thermal head, it is difficult to precisely control the temperature with the heat source, and it is difficult to obtain a good contrast, There is a problem that fogging cannot be avoided.
Furthermore, when performing multi-color recording of three or more colors, control must be performed only by the difference in heating temperature and / or cooling rate after heating with a thermal head or the like, which complicates the operation and lowers the contrast. There are problems such as dripping and color fogging.
[0010]
Furthermore, in a recording method using a thermal head, since contact recording is performed on the recording medium, physical deterioration of the recording medium surface is inevitable, and when the recording medium surface has irregularities, or when the recording medium is curved, In some cases, recording is impossible.
[0011]
On the other hand, as a device capable of non-contact recording, there is disclosed a recording device that performs monochromatic recording on a reversible recording medium by using a light-heat conversion effect by laser light irradiation (for example, Patent Document 24). , 25).
However, the recording apparatuses disclosed in these publications perform recording only in a single color using a laser beam of a predetermined wavelength. From a practical point of view, only a practically inferior one was obtained.
[0012]
In view of the problems of the prior art as described above, recording and erasing in any color tone on a multicolor recording medium capable of reversibly performing clear recording and erasing with clear colors without deteriorating the medium. There has been an increasing demand for possible recording devices.
For example, a recording apparatus that uses a laser deflector and an fθ lens to scan laser light on a recording medium is conceivable.
However, the f-theta lens for scanning a plurality of laser beams of different wavelengths with high accuracy has a complicated design, and usually requires a combination of a plurality of lenses. There has been a problem that a sufficient solution has not been achieved and that the cost is high.
[0013]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-54-119377 [Patent Document 2]
JP-A-55-154198 [Patent Document 3]
JP-A-63-39377 [Patent Document 4]
JP-A-63-41186 [Patent Document 5]
JP-A-2-188293 [Patent Document 6]
JP-A-2-188294 [Patent Document 7]
JP-A-5-124360 [Patent Document 8]
JP-A-7-108761 [Patent Document 9]
JP-A-7-188294 [Patent document 10]
JP-A-5-62189 [Patent Document 11]
JP-A-8-80682 [Patent Document 12]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-198275 [Patent Document 13]
JP-A-8-58245 [Patent Document 14]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-25338 [Patent Document 15]
JP-A-6-305247 [Patent Document 16]
JP-A-6-328844 [Patent Document 17]
JP-A-6-79970 [Patent Document 18]
JP-A-8-164669 [Patent Document 19]
JP-A-8-300825 [Patent Document 20]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-52445 [Patent Document 21]
JP-A-11-138997 [Patent Document 22]
JP 2001-162941 A [Patent Document 23]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-59654 [Patent Document 24]
JP 2001-88333 A [Patent Document 25]
JP-A-2002-113889
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In view of the above-described problems of the prior art, the inventors of the present invention have conducted intensive studies to reduce the deterioration of the medium into a multicolor recording medium capable of reversibly performing clear recording and erasing with clear colors. It was decided to propose a recording device capable of recording and erasing in any color tone without coming.
[0015]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The recording apparatus for a reversible multicolor recording medium according to the present invention is provided with a plurality of reversible thermosensitive coloring compositions having different coloring colors in the plane direction of the support substrate, each of which is provided separately and independently. The thermochromic composition is for recording on a reversible multicolor recording medium that contains a light-to-heat conversion material that absorbs infrared rays in different wavelength ranges and generates heat. A laser light oscillating means for irradiating a plurality of laser beams having different wavelengths modulated based on the laser beam, an optical system for converging the laser beam into a long linear shape in the main scanning direction, and a condensing position where the laser beam converges And an optical deflector for deflecting the laser light, and the laser light deflected by the optical deflector is turned back to converge on a reversible multicolor recording medium and to be condensed on a reversible multicolor recording medium. To scan at high speed. It shall have the structure having a free-form surface mirror having a curved surface that is.
[0016]
Further, the recording apparatus for a reversible multicolor recording medium of the present invention is provided with an information erasing means for erasing already recorded information by heating the reversible multicolor recording medium with a heat source.
[0017]
According to the present invention, information is recorded in an arbitrary color tone on a reversible multicolor recording medium capable of reversibly converting between a color-developed state and a decolored state with a simple configuration and erased. Is provided.
Further, according to the apparatus of the present invention, since it is not necessary to use a complicated fθ lens, the utilization efficiency of laser light is increased, and the cost is reduced.
Further, according to the apparatus of the present invention, recording can be performed in a non-contact state with a reversible multicolor recording medium. Therefore, even if the medium surface has irregularities, the recording surface is physically deteriorated. , And clear information recording with an arbitrary color tone can be performed.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a recording apparatus for a reversible multicolor recording medium according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.
First, an example of a reversible multicolor recording medium applied to the recording apparatus of the present invention is shown in FIG. In the reversible multicolor recording medium 10, a first recording layer 11, a second recording layer 12, and a third recording layer 13 are laminated on a supporting substrate 1 via heat insulating layers 14 and 15, respectively. It has a configuration in which a protective layer 16 is formed on the uppermost layer.
[0019]
As the support substrate 1, a conventionally known material can be appropriately used as long as the material has excellent heat resistance and high dimensional stability in the planar direction. For example, in addition to polymer materials such as polyester and hard vinyl chloride, glass materials, metal materials such as stainless steel, and materials such as paper can be appropriately selected. However, for purposes other than transmission use such as an overhead projector, the support substrate 1 is made of white or metallic color to improve the visibility when information is recorded on the finally obtained reversible multicolor recording medium 10. It is preferred to be formed of a material having high reflectance to visible light having
[0020]
The first to third recording layers 11 to 13 are formed by using a material capable of performing stable repetitive recording and capable of controlling a decolored state and a colored state, and absorbs infrared rays having different wavelengths. It can be formed by applying a paint in which a heat-generating light-to-heat conversion material, a leuco dye, and a developer / reducer are dispersed in a resin base material.
[0021]
The first to third recording layers 11 to 13 are formed using a predetermined leuco dye according to a desired color to be developed, and for example, three primary colors are used in the first to third recording layers 11 to 13. When the color is developed, a full-color image can be formed on the entire reversible multicolor recording medium 10.
[0022]
As the leuco dye, an existing dye for thermal paper can be used. As the developing / color-reducing agent, organic acids having a long-chain alkyl group which have been conventionally used for these (JP-A-5-124360, JP-A-7-108761, JP-A-7-188294, JP-A-2001-2001) -105733, JP-A-2001-113829, etc.) can be applied.
[0023]
The light-to-heat conversion materials contained in the first to third recording layers 11 to 13 have absorptions in different wavelength ranges, respectively, and in the reversible multicolor recording medium 10 of FIG. the infrared recording layer 11 is a wavelength lambda _1, the second recording layer 12 is a wavelength lambda ₂ infrared, optical third recording layer 13 generates heat by absorbing the respective infrared rays of wavelength lambda ₃ - thermal conversion material Shall be contained.
[0024]
The light-to-heat conversion material contained in the first to third recording layers 11 to 13 includes phthalocyanine dyes and cyanine dyes generally used as near-infrared absorbing dyes having little absorption in the visible wavelength range. Dyes, metal complex dyes, diimmonium dyes, aminium dyes, iminium dyes and the like can be applied. Further, in order to generate heat only from an arbitrary light-to-heat conversion material, it is preferable to select a combination of materials having a narrow absorption band of the light-to-heat conversion material and not overlapping each other. From this, except for the first recording layer 11 formed closest to the support substrate 1, the recording layer contains a cyanine dye or a phthalocyanine dye having a steep absorption spectrum. This is preferable because color fogging can be prevented.
[0025]
Examples of the resin for forming the first to third recording layers 11 to 13 include polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethyl cellulose, polystyrene, styrene-based copolymer, phenoxy resin, and polyester. , Aromatic polyester, polyurethane, polycarbonate, polyacrylate, polymethacrylate, acrylic copolymer, maleic polymer, polyvinyl alcohol, modified polyvinyl alcohol, hydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, starch and the like. . If necessary, various additives such as an ultraviolet absorber may be used in combination with these resins.
[0026]
The first to third recording layers 11 to 13 are coatings prepared by dissolving or dispersing the leuco dye, the developer / decolorizer, the light-to-heat conversion material, and various additives in the resin using a solvent. Can be formed by applying them to predetermined surfaces.
The first to third recording layers 11 to 13 are preferably formed to have a thickness of about 1 to 20 μm, and more preferably about 1.5 to 15 μm. If the film thickness of the recording layer is too small, a sufficient color density cannot be obtained, while if it is too large, the heat capacity of the recording layer increases, thereby deteriorating the color developing property and the decoloring property.
[0027]
Light-transmitting heat-insulating layers 14 and 15 are formed between the first recording layer 11 and the second recording layer 12 and between the second recording layer 12 and the third recording layer 13, respectively. Is desirable. Thereby, conduction of heat of the adjacent recording layer is avoided, and an effect of preventing so-called color fogging is obtained.
[0028]
The heat insulating layers 14 and 15 can be formed using a conventionally known translucent polymer. For example, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethyl cellulose, polystyrene, styrene-based copolymer, phenoxy resin, polyester, aromatic polyester, polyurethane, polycarbonate, polyacrylate, polymethacrylate And acrylic acid-based copolymers, maleic acid-based polymers, polyvinyl alcohol, modified polyvinyl alcohol, hydroxyethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, starch and the like. Various additives such as an ultraviolet absorber may be used in combination with these polymers, if necessary.
[0029]
Further, as the heat insulating layers 14 and 15, a light-transmitting inorganic film can be used. For example, it is preferable to use porous silica, alumina, titania, carbon, or a composite of these, because the thermal conductivity can be reduced. These can be formed by a sol-gel method capable of forming a film from a liquid layer.
[0030]
The heat insulating layers 14 and 15 are preferably formed to have a thickness of about 5 to 100 μm, and more preferably about 10 to 60 μm. If the film thickness of the heat insulating layer is too thin, a sufficient heat insulating effect cannot be obtained, and if the film thickness is too thick, the thermal conductivity is deteriorated when the entire recording medium described below is uniformly heated, or the light transmittance is reduced. Or to do.
[0031]
The protective layer 16 can be formed using a conventionally known ultraviolet curable resin or thermosetting resin, and the thickness is desirably about 0.1 to 50 μm, and more preferably about 0.5 to 40 μm. If the thickness of the protective layer 16 is too small, a sufficient protective effect cannot be obtained, and if the thickness is too large, there is a problem that it is difficult to conduct heat when uniformly heating the entire recording medium.
[0032]
Next, the principle of performing multicolor recording using the reversible multicolor recording medium 10 shown in FIG. 1 will be described.
The entire surface of the reversible multicolor recording medium 10 shown in FIG. 1 is heated at a temperature at which each recording layer is erased, for example, at a temperature of about 120 ° C., and the first to third recording layers 11 to 13 are erased in advance. Leave in the color state. That is, in this state, it is assumed that the color of the support substrate 1 is exposed.
[0033]
Next, an arbitrary portion of the reversible multicolor recording medium 10 is irradiated with infrared light whose wavelength and output are arbitrarily selected by a semiconductor laser or the like.
For example, when the first recording layer 11 is to be colored, an infrared ray having a wavelength λ ₁ is irradiated with energy at which the first recording layer 11 reaches a coloring temperature to cause the light-to-heat conversion material to generate heat and to provide an electron donation. A color-forming reaction is caused between the color-developing compound and the electron-donating developing / reducing agent, and the irradiated portion is colored.
Similarly, the second recording layer 12 and the third recording layer 13 are also irradiated with infrared rays having wavelengths λ ₂ and λ ₃ , respectively, so as to reach a coloring temperature to cause the respective light-to-heat conversion materials to generate heat. Thus, the irradiated portion can be colored. In this manner, an arbitrary portion of the reversible multicolor recording medium 10 can be colored, and a full-color image can be formed and various information can be recorded.
[0034]
Further, the entirety of the reversible multicolor recording medium 10 partially colored as described above is uniformly heated at a temperature at which all the recording layers are decolorized, for example, at 120 ° C. Information and images can be erased, and recording can be repeated by repeating the above operation.
[0035]
Next, another example of the reversible multicolor recording medium applicable to the recording apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
In the reversible multicolor recording medium 20 shown in FIG. 2, a first chromogenic composition 22, a second chromogenic composition 23, and a third chromogenic composition 24 are respectively encapsulated on a support substrate 21. A recording layer 26 in which the formed microcapsules 25 are arranged in a plane is formed, and a protective layer 85 is formed on the recording layer 26.
[0036]
The support substrate 21 may be the same as the support substrate 1 of the reversible multicolor recording medium 10 shown in FIG.
[0037]
The first to third color-forming compositions 22 to 24, like the first to third recording layers 11 to 13 constituting the reversible multicolor recording medium 10 shown in FIG. A developer / color reducer and a light-to-heat conversion material having absorption in different wavelength ranges may be dispersed in a resin base material as needed. Further, these materials may be encapsulated in the microcapsules 25 without using a resin.
[0038]
The leuco dye, the developer / decolorizer, the resin, and various additives used in the first to third color forming compositions 22 to 24 are the first to third constituents of the reversible multicolor recording medium 10 shown in FIG. The same material as the third recording layers 11 to 13 can be used. As the light-heat conversion material, a phthalocyanine dye, a cyanine dye, a metal complex dye, a diimmonium dye, and the like, which are generally used as an infrared absorbing dye having little absorption in a visible wavelength region, can be applied. Further, in order to cause only an arbitrary light-to-heat conversion material to generate heat, it is preferable to select a combination of materials that have a narrow absorption band of irradiation light wavelength and do not overlap each other.
[0039]
The partition member forming the recording layer 26 in FIG. 2 is not limited to a microcapsule, but may be a capillary or a cell capable of enclosing a dispersion medium, and may form a minute void structure. Then it is not limited at all. Further, the resolution of the display device can be increased by making the void structure portion finer.
[0040]
The microvoid structure such as microcapsules may be dispersed in a predetermined binder. In this case, a water-based binder, a solvent-based binder, an emulsion-based binder, or the like can be used as the binder.
The recording layer 26 can be formed by applying a paint prepared by dispersing the microvoid structure in the resin using a predetermined solvent on the support substrate 21.
The recording layer 26 is desirably formed to have a thickness of about 1 to 20 μm, and more desirably about 3 to 15 μm. If the film thickness of the recording layer is too small, a sufficient color density cannot be obtained, while if it is too large, the heat capacity of the recording layer increases, thereby deteriorating the color developing property and the decoloring property.
[0041]
As the protective layer 27, the same as the protective layer 16 shown in FIG. 1 can be used.
[0042]
Next, a method of manufacturing the reversible multicolor recording medium 20 shown in FIG. 2 will be described. In the following, a core substance containing the above-mentioned leuco dye, a developer / reducer, a light-heat conversion material, etc. A configuration in which the microcapsules covered with a shell material such as a microcapsule are arranged on the support substrate 21 will be described as an example.
[0043]
Microcapsules can be produced by a phase separation method in which a concentrated phase of the polymer is separated around a core material composed of a dispersion medium dispersed in a polymer solution, a polymer curing test agent around the core material in the polymer solution, etc. In-liquid curing coating method to cure polymer, in-situ polymerization method in which monomer or polymerization catalyst is supplied from either inner phase or outer phase of emulsion in which core substance is dispersed, and the surface of core substance is covered with polymer, core Microencapsulation techniques such as interfacial polymerization, in which monomers are supplied from both the internal and external phases of the emulsion in which the substance is dispersed, are preferred, but are not limited to these methods.
In particular, by manufacturing using an in-situ polymerization method or a phase separation method, microcapsules having a uniform particle size and in which colored magnetic particles are uniformly dispersed can be manufactured. As the polymerizable monomer used here, acrylates, methacrylates, styrene, and derivatives thereof, isocyanates, various amines, compounds having an epoxy group, and the like are preferable.
Examples of the resin used for the microcapsules include commonly used resins such as acrylic resins, methacrylic resins, polystyrene, polyester resins, polyurethane resins, polyurea resins, polyamide resins, epoxy resins, and natural resins. May be used alone or in combination of two or more.
[0044]
The recording layer 26 is formed by, for example, a known printing method such as an offset printing method, a gravure printing method, or a silk screen printing method, a coating method such as a roll coating method or a knife edge method, or a transfer having a transfer layer mixed with the above-described microcapsules. It is produced by a transfer method using a sheet, an ink jet method in which the ink containing the above-described microcapsules is sprayed onto a substrate, a method of filling a solution containing the above-described microcapsules between a supporting substrate and a protective layer, or the like. [0045]
Next, the principle of performing multicolor recording using the reversible multicolor recording medium 20 shown in FIG. 2 will be described.
The reversible multicolor recording medium 20 shown in FIG. 2 is entirely heated at a temperature at which each color-forming composition is decolorized, for example, at a temperature of about 120 ° C., and the first to third color-forming compositions 22 to 24 is previously erased. That is, in this state, it is assumed that the color of the support substrate 21 is exposed. Next, an arbitrary portion of the reversible multicolor recording medium 20 is irradiated with an infrared ray whose wavelength and output are arbitrarily selected by a semiconductor laser or the like.
For example, when the color is developed first chromogenic composition 22, an infrared ray having a wavelength lambda ₁ first chromogenic composition 22 is irradiated with energy enough to reach the coloring temperature, light - exothermed thermal conversion material As a result, a color-forming reaction between the electron-donating color developing compound and the electron-donating color developing / reducing agent is caused, and the irradiated portion is colored.
Similarly, the second chromogenic composition 23 and the third chromogenic composition 24 are irradiated with infrared rays having wavelengths λ ₂ and λ ₃ at an energy level to reach the color development temperature, respectively, to perform light-to-heat conversion. The material is heated to cause the irradiated part to develop color.
In this manner, an arbitrary portion of the reversible multicolor recording medium 20 can be colored, and a full-color image can be formed and various information can be recorded as a whole.
[0046]
Further, the entire reversible multicolor recording medium 20, which is partially colored as described above, is uniformly heated at a temperature at which all the color forming compositions are decolorized, for example, at 120 ° C. The recording information and the image can be erased, and the recording can be repeatedly performed by performing the above-described arbitrary operation.
[0047]
Next, a recording apparatus of the present invention for recording and erasing information on the above-described reversible multicolor recording medium will be described with reference to the drawings.
[Embodiment 1]
In this example, FIG. 3 described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 is a schematic perspective view of an example of a recording apparatus 100 for a reversible multicolor recording medium of the present invention, and FIG. Show.
[0048]
Reference numerals 31a, 31b, and 31c in FIG. 3 denote laser oscillation means (semiconductor laser elements in this embodiment) that oscillate laser lights having different wavelengths. These can be driven by a laser driver (not shown).
The laser light oscillating means 31a to 31c are provided with the number of recording layers 11 to 13 provided in the reversible multicolor recording medium 10 described above or the number of types of microcapsules provided in the reversible multicolor recording medium 20, ie, It is provided corresponding to the number of types of light-to-heat conversion materials that absorb infrared light of an arbitrary wavelength.
[0049]
In the present embodiment, a recording apparatus having a configuration in which laser light oscillating means is provided at three locations corresponding to the reversible multicolor recording medium 10 (20) will be described, but the present invention is not limited to this example. Instead, for example, a plurality of laser light oscillating units that oscillate at the same wavelength may be provided for speeding up information recording.
[0050]
The laser light oscillating means 31a to 31c are provided for the recording layers 11 to 13 constituting the reversible multicolor recording medium 10 of FIG. 1 and the microcapsules 25 constituting the recording layer 26 of the reversible multicolor recording medium 20 of FIG. , And λ ₁ , λ ₂ , and λ ₃ , respectively, when the symbols in FIGS. 1 and 2 are used. In consideration of selectivity of the oscillation wavelength, cost, ease of modulation, and the like, semiconductor lasers are suitable as the laser light oscillation devices 31a to 31c.
[0051]
The laser beams oscillated from the laser beam oscillating units 31a to 31c are converted into parallel light beams by the collimator lenses 32a to 32c, respectively. Thereafter, the light is converged to a long linear shape in the main scanning direction near the optical deflector (polygon mirror in this embodiment) 36 by an optical system including the cylindrical lenses 33a to 33c.
Next, the laser light is made coaxial by the dichroic mirrors 34a and 34b. At this time, an optical coupling element other than the dichroic mirror may be used to make the laser light coaxial, and examples thereof include a half mirror, a prism, and an optical fiber.
[0052]
The coaxial laser light enters the optical deflector (polygon mirror in this embodiment) 36 as shown by the laser light trajectories 43a and 43b, is deflected, and scans over the free-form surface mirror 38. Done. At this time, the laser light is scanned by the polygon mirror 36 at a constant angular velocity.
When the coaxial laser light is incident on the optical deflector 36, the recording device 100 can be made compact by bending the laser light path using a return mirror 35 or the like as necessary. it can.
Further, as the optical deflector 36, a rotating single-sided mirror can be applied in addition to a rotating polygonal mirror (polygon mirror).
[0053]
The free-form surface mirror 38 in FIG. 3 is designed so that the laser beam scanned at a constant angular speed by the optical deflector 36 is condensed on the surface of the reversible multicolor recording medium 10 (20) and scanned at a constant speed. It is assumed that the curved surface has a curved surface, that is, a curved surface that simultaneously corrects the distortion and the field curvature.
[0054]
In order to simultaneously correct the distortion in the main scanning direction (broken line A in FIG. 3) and the curvature of field, the curvature of the free-form surface mirror 38 in the main scanning direction generally changes gradually depending on the angle of view. Preferably it is designed.
In order to correct the curvature of field in the sub-scanning direction (dashed line B in FIG. 3), the free-form surface mirror 38 has a curvature different from that in the main scanning direction also in the sub-scanning direction.
At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, if the laser irradiation position 36a on the optical deflector 36 and the laser irradiation position 40a on the reversible multicolor recording medium 10 (20) are set to be conjugate, The tilting of the optical deflector 36 can be corrected.
[0055]
The laser beam is scanned in the direction of arrow 41 along the main scanning direction A, and at the same time, the reversible multicolor recording medium 10 (20) is moved in the direction of arrow 42 along the sub-scanning direction B by the transport means 44 shown in FIG. By conveying the laser beam, an arbitrary area on the reversible multicolor recording medium can be irradiated with laser light.
[0056]
Further, the laser scanning position detector 39 detects the scanning position of the laser light on the reversible multicolor recording medium, and is modulated based on the synchronization signal from the laser light oscillating means 31a to 31c according to the recording information. Laser light may be oscillated. As the laser scanning position detector 39, a photodetector such as a photodiode can be applied.
[0057]
Further, the information erasing means 45 provided with a predetermined heat source shown in FIG. 4 performs an information erasing process on the reversible multicolor recording medium 10 (20) before recording desired information with a laser beam. Shall be.
As the information erasing means 45, a metal, a ceramic bar, a heat-resistant rubber roller or the like can be applied, and the information can be erased by bringing the reversible multicolor recording medium 10 (20) into contact therewith.
As information erasing means, it is also possible to erase information by heating in a non-contact manner using various lamps such as a halogen lamp and the energy of light such as laser light.
[0058]
As described above, according to the recording apparatus 100 of the present invention, information on the reversible multicolor recording medium 10 (20) on which information has already been recorded is erased, and a new position is set at a desired position on the reversible multicolor recording medium. Any information could be recorded in any color tone.
[0059]
[Embodiment 2]
In this example, FIG. 5 described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 is a schematic perspective view of another example of the recording apparatus of the reversible multicolor recording medium of the present invention, and FIG. Is shown.
[0060]
In the recording apparatus 200 for the reversible multicolor recording medium shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the arrangement of the laser light oscillating means 31a to 31c is changed, and the other components are the same as those in the first embodiment. I do.
The laser light oscillating means (for example, semiconductor laser elements) 31a to 31c are arranged in a plane perpendicular to the main scanning direction indicated by the broken line A in FIG. 5 and including the sub-scanning direction indicated by the dashed line B in FIG. It is assumed that That is, in FIGS. 5 and 6, the laser light oscillating means 31a to 31c are arranged so as to be vertically stacked with respect to the vertical direction of the reversible multicolor recording medium 10 (20). The oscillated laser beams 46a to 46c are applied to a laser irradiation position 36a of an optical deflector 36, for example, a polygon mirror.
The collimating lenses 32a to 32c and the cylindrical lenses 33a to 33c (optical system) are arranged so that the laser beams 46a to 46c are converged in a long straight line in the main scanning direction near the optical deflector 36. And
[0061]
The laser beams 46a to 46c are condensed and reflected on the surface of the optical deflector 36, and respectively enter different positions on the free-form surface mirror 38. In this example, the incident positions of the laser beams 46a to 46c are different along the sub-scanning direction B.
At this time, the free-form surface mirror 38 is designed so that the laser irradiation position 36a of the optical deflector 36 and the laser irradiation position 40a on the reversible multicolor recording medium 10 (20) are in a conjugate relationship. 46a to 46c irradiate the same position 40a on the reversible multicolor recording medium. It should be noted that the same method as that of the surface tilt correction similar to that of the first embodiment is employed.
[0062]
Also in the present embodiment, the recording information is erased in advance by the information erasing means 45 in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and thereafter, the arbitrary information is newly added at an arbitrary position on the reversible multicolor recording medium in an arbitrary color tone. Could be recorded.
Further, in the present embodiment, since the optical coupling elements such as the dichroic mirrors 34a and 34b shown in FIG. 3 are not required, the light use efficiency is improved, the apparatus configuration is simplified, and the cost is reduced. Can be
[0063]
[Embodiment 3]
In this example, FIG. 7 described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 is a schematic perspective view of another example of the recording apparatus of the reversible multicolor recording medium of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a state diagram in which a trajectory of a laser beam is developed on a plane in a recording apparatus for a multicolor recording medium.
[0064]
In the recording apparatus 300 for a reversible multicolor recording medium shown in FIG. 7, the arrangement of the laser light oscillating means 31a to 31c is changed, and the other components are the same as those in the first and second embodiments. .
The laser light oscillating means (for example, semiconductor laser elements) 31a to 31c are arranged in a plane perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction indicated by a dashed line B in FIG. 7 and including the main scanning direction indicated by a broken line A in FIG. It is assumed that
That is, in FIG. 7, the laser light oscillating means 31a to 31c are arranged in parallel with respect to the plane direction of the reversible multicolor recording medium 10 (20), and the laser light 46a oscillated from each laser light oscillating means 31a to 31c. 46c are applied to the laser irradiation position 36a of the optical deflector 36, for example, a polygon mirror. The collimating lenses 32a to 32c and the cylindrical lenses 33a to 33c (optical system) are arranged so that the laser beams 46a to 46c are converged in a long straight line in the main scanning direction near the optical deflector 36. And
[0065]
The laser beams 46a to 46c are condensed and reflected on the surface of the optical deflector 36, and respectively enter different positions on the free-form surface mirror 38. In this example, the incident positions of the laser beams 46a to 46c are different along the main scanning direction A.
The laser beams 46a to 46c folded by the free-form surface mirror 38 are applied to different positions 47a to 47c on the reversible multicolor recording medium 10 (20), respectively.
The free-form surface mirror 38 is assumed to have distortion corrected on the reversible multicolor recording medium, and the relative positional relationship between the laser irradiation positions 47a to 47c does not always change even when the laser is scanned.
[0066]
Therefore, when information is recorded on the reversible multicolor recording medium 10 (20), the relative positions (deviations of irradiation positions) of the laser irradiation positions 47a to 47c on the reversible multicolor recording medium 10 (20) are expected. If the laser light is modulated by the laser light oscillating means 31a to 31c, arbitrary information is recorded in an arbitrary color tone at an arbitrary position on the reversible multicolor recording medium as in the first and second embodiments. be able to.
[0067]
Also in the present embodiment, since the optical coupling elements such as the dichroic mirrors 34a and 34b shown in FIG. 3 are not required, the utilization efficiency of the laser light is improved, the apparatus configuration is simplified, and the cost is reduced. Is achieved.
[0068]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, information can be recorded in an arbitrary color tone by scanning within a predetermined range on the surface of a reversible multicolor recording medium while modulating laser light of a plurality of wavelengths in accordance with recording information. A recording device capable of performing the above is provided.
[0069]
According to the recording apparatus of the present invention, since a complicated fθ lens for correcting laser beams of a plurality of wavelengths is not used, the apparatus configuration and the scanning system are simplified, the utilization efficiency of laser light is improved, and The cost was reduced.
[0070]
According to the recording apparatus of the present invention, recording can be performed in a non-contact state with a reversible multicolor recording medium. Therefore, even when the recording surface has irregularities, the reversible multicolor recording medium can be used. Arbitrary information could be recorded without causing physical deterioration on the surface of the recording medium.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of a reversible multicolor recording medium applied to the apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of another example of the reversible multicolor recording medium applied to the apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of an example of the recording apparatus of the reversible multicolor recording medium of the present invention. .
FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of a main part of an example of a recording apparatus for a reversible multicolor recording medium of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of another example of a recording apparatus for a reversible multicolor recording medium of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of a main part of another example of a recording apparatus for a reversible multicolor recording medium of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of another example of a recording apparatus for a reversible multicolor recording medium of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a state diagram in which a trajectory of a laser beam is developed on a plane in a recording apparatus for a reversible multicolor recording medium according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Support substrate, 10 ... Reversible multicolor recording medium, 11 ... 1st recording layer, 12 ... 2nd recording layer, 13 ... 3rd recording layer, 14, 15 ... Heat insulation layer , 16 ... protective layer, 20 ... reversible multicolor recording medium, 21 ... support substrate, 22 ... first color-forming composition, 23 ... second color-forming composition, 24 ... third 25 ... microcapsules (microvoid structure), 26 ... recording layer, 27 ... protective layer, 31a to 31c ... laser light oscillation means, 32a to 32c ... collimator lens, 33a 33c cylindrical lenses, 34a and 34b dichroic mirrors, 35 mirrors, 36 mirrors, optical deflectors, 38 free-form mirrors, 39 laser scanning position detectors, 44 transporting means, 45 Information erasing means, 46a to 46c Za optical recording apparatus 100, 200, 300 ...... reversible multicolor recording medium

Claims (7)

In the plane direction of the supporting substrate, a plurality of reversible thermosensitive coloring compositions having different coloring tones are provided separately and independently, and the plurality of reversible thermosensitive coloring compositions are respectively different wavelength ranges. A recording apparatus for a reversible multicolor recording medium, which performs recording on a reversible multicolor recording medium that contains a light-heat conversion material that absorbs infrared rays and generates heat,
Laser light oscillating means for irradiating a plurality of laser lights having different wavelengths modulated based on recording information,
An optical system for converging the laser light into a long linear shape in the main scanning direction,
An optical deflector that deflects the laser light, at a focusing position where the laser light is converged,
The laser beam deflected by the optical deflector is turned back, and condensed on the reversible multicolor recording medium, and has a curved surface designed to scan at a constant speed on the reversible multicolor recording medium. A recording device for a reversible multicolor recording medium, comprising a free-form surface mirror. 2. The recording apparatus for a reversible multicolor recording medium according to claim 1, further comprising a medium conveying means for conveying the reversible multicolor recording medium. The reversible multicolor recording medium according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an information erasing means for erasing the recorded information by heating the reversible multicolor recording medium on which information is recorded in advance by a heat source. A recording device for a color recording medium. The recording apparatus for a reversible multicolor recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a light source of the laser light is a semiconductor laser that oscillates in a red or near infrared region wavelength. The plurality of laser beams are made coaxial by using an optical coupling element, are incident on the optical deflector, and are irradiated on the same position on the reversible multicolor recording medium. The recording apparatus for a reversible multicolor recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of laser beams are incident on the optical deflector from different directions, and the plurality of laser beams are respectively radiated to the same position on the reversible multicolor recording medium. 5. The recording device for a reversible multicolor recording medium according to any one of items 4 to 4. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of laser beams are incident on the optical deflector from different directions, and the plurality of laser beams are respectively applied to different positions on the reversible multicolor recording medium. 5. The recording device for a reversible multicolor recording medium according to any one of items 4 to 4.

Images