JPH07257049A - Heat reversible record display medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a heat reversible record display medium having good visual recognition of a visual information and good efficiency of reading a bar code information. CONSTITUTION:A heat reversible record display layer 12 and a protective layer 14 are laminated successively on a main surface 10a of a transparent substrate 10. A colored layer 16 with an absorption layer 18 and a reflection layer 20 is formed on the rear face 10b side of the main surface 10a of the transparent substrate 10. The absorption layer 18 is provided with reflection density higher than the reflection density at the time of slightly opaque state of the heat reversible record display layer 12, while the reflection layer 20 is provided with lower reflection density. The absorption layer 18 is formed on an area right under a letter recording area, and a silver reflection layer 20 is formed by aluminum deposition on an area right under a bar code information area, and both of them are formed respectively exposing to the transparent substrate 10.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermoreversible recording display medium capable of repeatedly recording and erasing visual information by thermal means such as a thermal head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An example of a conventional thermoreversible recording display medium is
Reference: It is disclosed in "Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-48352". The thermoreversible recording display medium disclosed in this document (in the document,
The thermosensitive recording medium is referred to as a thermosensitive recording medium, and a thermoreversible recording display layer (referred to as a thermosensitive recording layer in the literature) and a protective film are sequentially laminated on a colored support. The thermoreversible recording display layer reversibly changes its transparency upon heating and becomes transparent and opaque (white). Further, as the colored support, an example in which a colored layer (in the literature, a colored coating layer) is provided on the front surface or the back surface of a synthetic resin film or the like is described.

Further, recent thermoreversible recording display media have a resolution equal to or higher than that of general-purpose thermal paper. For this reason, it is possible to record and display not only characters and figures but also information such as barcodes to be read by a machine on the thermoreversible recording display medium.

[0004]

However, the conventional thermoreversible recording display medium (hereinafter, also abbreviated as a display medium).
In the case, when the information such as characters recorded and displayed for the purpose of being visually recognized by human beings and the information such as the barcode recorded and displayed for the purpose of being read by a machine are recorded and displayed on the same display medium, the It was not possible to satisfy both the requirement for the readability and the reading efficiency by the machine at the same time.

Specifically, for example, when a black colored layer is provided on the display medium, the visibility of the recorded and displayed character information can be improved. However, black has an optical high reflection density, and therefore has a problem that the reading efficiency when reading a bar code recorded and displayed on a display medium with a bar code reader becomes low (the reading error rate increases). there were.

On the other hand, for example, when a silver film vapor-deposited on aluminum is provided as the coloring layer on the display medium, the reading efficiency of the bar code can be improved. However, when the silver-colored film is provided, the visual contrast between silver and white is small, so that there is a problem that the visibility is significantly inferior to the case where the black colored layer is provided.

Therefore, it has been desired to realize a thermoreversible recording display medium which has good visibility and good bar code reading efficiency.

[0008]

According to the thermoreversible recording display medium of the first invention of the present application, a thermoreversible recording display layer (hereinafter, also abbreviated as a display layer) is formed on the main surface of a transparent support. And a protective layer are sequentially laminated, and the display layer is made of a material that reversibly becomes transparent or cloudy by a thermal means. Further, a colored layer is provided on the back surface side of the transparent support.

The colored layer comprises an absorption layer and a reflection layer. This absorption layer has a reflection density higher than the reflection density of the display layer in the opaque state, and a transparent support is provided on the colored layer portion of the display layer immediately below the area where visual information is recorded and displayed. It is provided so that it can be seen from the body.

On the other hand, this reflection layer has a reflection density lower than the reflection density of the display layer in the opaque state, and in the area of the display layer where the bar code information is recorded and displayed. It is provided on the colored layer portion immediately below so that it can be seen from the transparent support. A transparent film may be interposed between the colored layer and the transparent support.

According to the thermoreversible recording display medium of the second invention of the present application, the coloring layer, the display layer and the protective layer are sequentially laminated on the main surface of the support,
The display layer is made of a material that reversibly becomes transparent or cloudy by a thermal means.

The colored layer comprises an absorption layer and a reflection layer. This absorbing layer has a reflection density higher than the reflection density of the display layer in the opaque state, and the display layer is formed in the colored layer portion directly below the area of the display layer where visual information is recorded and displayed. It is provided so that you can see it. On the other hand, this reflective layer has a reflection density lower than that of the display layer in the opaque state, and the coloration of the display layer immediately below the area where the bar code information is recorded and displayed. The layer portion is provided so as to be visible from the display layer.
A transparent film may be interposed between the colored layer and the display layer.

However, the term "visual information" as used herein includes information recorded and displayed for the purpose of being visually recognized by humans, such as characters, symbols and figures.

Here, the "bar code information" means
It includes information that is recorded and displayed for the purpose of being read by a machine, such as a two-dimensional bar code, rather than simply a bar code.

The expression "absorption layer" is used herein.
It merely means that the reflection density is higher than that of the display layer when it is cloudy, and is not defined by its absorption spectrum.

[0016]

According to the thermoreversible recording and displaying medium of the first and second inventions, the reflection density is directly below the visual information recording area, as compared with the reflection density in the cloudy state of the thermoreversible recording and displaying layer. A high absorption layer is provided, and on the other hand, a reflection layer having a reflection density lower than that of the reversible thermosensitive recording / recording display layer in the white turbid state is provided immediately below the barcode information recording area. Therefore, while improving the visibility of visual information,
The reading efficiency of barcode information can be improved.

[0017]

EXAMPLES Examples of the first and second thermoreversible recording and display media according to the present application will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the drawings merely schematically show the sizes, shapes, and positional relationships of the respective constituent components to the extent that the present invention can be understood. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to this illustrated example. In addition, in each drawing, hatching showing a cross section is partially omitted. In the cross-sectional view, the transparent portion and the cloudy portion of the display layer are shown without distinction.

<First Embodiment> In a first embodiment, an example of the thermoreversible recording display medium of the first invention will be described. Figure 1
[FIG. 3] is a sectional view for explaining the first embodiment.

In the thermoreversible recording display medium of the first embodiment,
A thermoreversible recording display layer (display layer) 12 and a protective layer 14 are sequentially laminated on the main surface 10a of the transparent support 10. Then, on the back surface 10b side of the transparent support 10,
The colored layer 16 is provided.

Here, a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) film having a thickness of 75 μm is used as the transparent support 10.

The display layer 12 is made of a material which reversibly becomes transparent or cloudy by a thermal means. In this example, polyvinyl acetal is 5
Parts by weight, 5 parts by weight of phenolic resin and 3 parts of behenic acid.
A coating solution prepared by dissolving 50 parts by weight of THF (tetrahydrofuran) in 50 parts by weight is applied on the main surface 10a of the transparent support 10 by a bar coating method to form a display layer 12 having a film thickness after drying of 10 μm. is doing. In the first embodiment, polyvinyl acetal was used as Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.
S-REC KS-1 (trade name) manufactured by Daihoku Ink and Chemicals Co., Ltd. Priofen 5030 (trade name) is used as the phenol resin.

The protective layer 14 was laminated by the method described below. First, the preparation of the protective layer coating liquid will be described. 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate 1 part by weight, 2,6-tolylene diisocyanate 1 part by weight, 1,
1 part by weight of 6-hexanediol is mixed using a roll mill and left standing for 24 hours. To this, a mixture of 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate in an equal amount of ethyl acetate is added so that the viscosity of the liquid becomes 10 (cSt). Then, in the dark, add isobutyl benzoin ether 5
% (Weight ratio), and the mixture is stirred and allowed to stand for about 1 hour to form a protective layer coating solution. Next, this protective layer coating liquid was applied onto the display layer by a bar coating method, heated at a temperature of 80 ° C. for 1 minute to evaporate the solvent, and then 2 kW (8
0 W / cm) 100 UV rays under high pressure mercury lamp
The protective layer 14 is formed by irradiating mJ / cm ² to cure the protective layer coating liquid.

The colored layer 16 also includes an absorbing layer 18 and a reflecting layer 20. The absorbing layer 18 and the reflecting layer 20 are provided according to the arrangement pattern of the visual information and the barcode information recorded and displayed on the display layer 12.

In this embodiment, visual information and bar code information are recorded in the arrangement pattern shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the letters “thermoplastic recording medium” and the letters “XX Co., Ltd.” are arranged as visual information, and the bar code information is displayed in the area below the letters as seen in the arrangement pattern of FIG. Record the barcode as.

Therefore, the absorption layer 18 and the reflection layer 20 of the colored layer 16 are arranged in accordance with the arrangement pattern shown in FIG.
It is provided in the arrangement pattern shown in. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the arrangement pattern of the absorption layer 18 and the reflection layer 20 of the colored layer 16 of the first embodiment, and FIGS. 2 and 3 a, b, c, d.
Corresponds to FIG. 2 so that the corners indicated by are overlapped.
Further, FIG. 1 corresponds to a part of the cross section of the thermoreversible recording display medium taken along the line II of the colored layer shown in FIG. Note that FIG. 3 is not a cross-sectional view, but is shown with hatching to emphasize a partial region.

In the colored layer 16, as shown in FIG. 3, the letters "thermoplastic recording medium" are provided in the region immediately below the recording region, and the black printing layer as the first absorbing layer 18a is provided on the transparent support 10. In addition, a red printing layer as the second absorbing layer 18b is exposed to the transparent support 10 in a region immediately below the recording region where the characters "OO Co., Ltd." are exposed. Further, a silver-colored reflective layer 20 is exposed to the transparent support 10 by vapor deposition of aluminum in a region immediately below the recording region of the bar code information.

The absorption layer 18 composed of the first and second absorption layers 18a and 18b has a higher reflection density than the reflection density of the display layer 12 in the opaque state, while the reflection layer 20 is provided. Has a reflection density lower than the reflection density when the display layer 12 is in the cloudy state.

By the way, in the first embodiment, the colored layer 16
Is first formed on the plastic film 22.
Then, the colored film 24 including the colored layer 16 and the plastic film 22 and the transparent support 10 are connected to each other by the colored layer 16
The side is made to face the back surface 10b of the transparent support 10 so as to be in close contact therewith,
It is glued together. In forming the colored layer 16 on the plastic film 22, first, the reflective layer 20 having a thickness of 10 μm is formed on the entire surface of the plastic film 22 by vapor deposition of aluminum. Next, the opening 26 is formed on the reflective layer 20 in an area corresponding to the area directly below the recording area of the bar code information.
To form the first and second absorption layers 18a and 18b. As a result, the colored layer 16 in which the reflective layer 20 is exposed is formed in the opening 26.

In the first embodiment, the black first absorption layer and the red second absorption layer are provided as the absorption layers, but by using the absorption layers of a plurality of colors, the visibility is improved, for example, It is possible to read a plurality of character information without difficulty.

Incidentally, in the sectional view shown in FIG.
A blank area indicated by P is drawn in the portion of 6. In an actual thermoreversible recording display medium, the absorption layer 18 and the reflection layer 20 are extremely thin. Therefore, the reflective layer 20 is in close contact with the back surface 10b of the transparent support 10 in the opening 26.

In the sectional view, the transparent portion and the cloudy portion of the display layer 12 are shown without distinction.

<Second Embodiment> In the second embodiment, an example of the thermoreversible recording display medium of the first invention will be described. Figure 4
[FIG. 8] is a cross-sectional view for explaining a second embodiment.

In the second embodiment, the constitution and materials of the transparent support 10, the display layer 12 and the protective layer 14 of the display medium are the same as those of the display medium of the first embodiment. Also,
In the second embodiment, the arrangement pattern of the recorded visual information and the bar code information is the same as the arrangement pattern shown in FIG.

Also in the second embodiment, the colored layer 16 is formed on the plastic film 22. In forming the colored layer 16c on the plastic film 22, first, the absorption layer 18c including the first and second absorption layers is formed so as to cover the entire surface of the plastic film 22. Next, a layer having a thickness of 1 is formed on the absorption layer 18c by aluminum vapor deposition in a region corresponding to the region directly below the recording region of the bar code information.
A reflective layer 20c of 0 μm is formed. As a result, the arrangement pattern of the first and second absorption layers of the colored layer and the reflective layer exposed on the transparent support is the same as the pattern shown in FIG. In the sectional view shown in FIG. 4, the reflection layer 20c
A blank area indicated by P is drawn on both sides of. In an actual thermoreversible recording display medium, the absorption layer 18c and the reflection layer 20c are extremely thin. Therefore, the reflective layer 20c
The absorption layer 18c is provided on both sides of the transparent support 10 on the back surface 1
It is in close contact with 0b.

<Third Embodiment> In the third embodiment, an example of the thermoreversible recording display medium of the first invention will be described. Figure 5
[FIG. 8] is a sectional view for explaining a third embodiment.

In the first and second embodiments, an example in which the colored layer has a two-layer structure of an absorption layer and a reflection layer has been described. However, as shown in FIG. 5, the absorption layer 18d and the reflection layer 20d are formed as one layer. May be. Also in the third embodiment, the arrangement pattern of the absorption layer 18d of the colored layer 16d and the reflection layer 20d exposed to the transparent support is the same as the pattern shown in FIG. 3, but in the sectional view of FIG. In the same layer, the reflection layer 20d is provided only in a region corresponding to the bar code information directly below the recording region, while the absorption layer 18d is provided in a region corresponding to the visual information immediately below the recording region.

<Comparative Example> Next, the test of the visibility and the reading efficiency of the bar code information of the thermoreversible recording display medium described in the first and second examples will be described.

In this test, a display medium having a sectional structure shown in FIG. 6 was used as Comparative Example 1, and a display medium having a sectional structure shown in FIG. 7 was used as Comparative Example 2. In the display media of Comparative Example 1 and Comparative Example 2, the configurations and materials of the transparent support, the display layer and the protective layer are the same as those of the display medium of the first embodiment. The arrangement pattern of the recorded visual information and the bar code information is the same as the arrangement pattern shown in FIG.

In Comparative Example 1, instead of the colored layer of the first invention, a thickness of 10 μm was formed on the back surface side of the transparent support 10.
Only the black plastic film 30 is provided. In Comparative Example 2, instead of the colored layer of the first invention, only the plastic film 32 having a thickness of 10 μm and having aluminum vapor-deposited on the entire surface is provided on the back surface side of the transparent support 10.

A thermal printer having a resolution of 200 dpi was used for recording the visual information and the bar code information on the display medium. The pattern shown in FIG. 2 was recorded and displayed by changing the display layer in the portion heated by the thermal head from the cloudy state to the transparent state.

In the test, the visibility was visually evaluated, and the reading efficiency was defined as the percentage of the number of times the bar code reader was read correctly 100 times (%).
It was evaluated by.

The test results are shown in Table 1 below.

[0043]

[Table 1]

As shown in Table 1, in Comparative Example 1, the visibility is good (indicated by a circle in Table 1). On the other hand, the reading efficiency of the barcode is reduced to 76%. Also,
Since a black plastic film is provided on the entire surface,
Differentiation cannot be achieved by changing the color of the absorbing layer (eg, black and red in the first embodiment). Therefore, as a comprehensive evaluation of Comparative Example 1, a triangular mark is attached in Table 1.

In Comparative Example 2, the bar code reading efficiency is as good as 100%. On the other hand, the visibility is poor and a cross mark is shown in Table 1. Further, since a plastic film vapor-deposited with aluminum is provided on the entire surface, it is not possible to distinguish by color. Therefore, as a comprehensive evaluation of Comparative Example 2, a triangular mark is attached in Table 1.

On the other hand, in the first and second embodiments, both the visibility and the bar code reading efficiency are good, and by providing the first and second absorption layers as shown in FIG. It is also possible to make a distinction.
Therefore, as a comprehensive evaluation of the first and second examples, Table 1
Inside, there is a circle.

<Fourth Embodiment> In the fourth embodiment, an example of the thermoreversible recording display medium of the second invention will be described. Figure 8
[FIG. 9] is a sectional view for explaining a fourth embodiment.

According to the thermoreversible recording display medium of the fourth embodiment, a coloring layer, a thermoreversible recording display layer (display layer) and a protective layer are sequentially laminated on the main surface of a support. Cage,
The thermoreversible recording display layer is composed of a material which is reversibly brought into a transparent state or a cloudy state by a thermal means.
In the display medium of the second invention, the support does not necessarily have to be transparent, but here, the materials of the support, the display layer and the protective layer are the same as those in the first embodiment. Further, in the fourth embodiment, the arrangement pattern of the recorded visual information and the bar code information is the same as the arrangement pattern shown in FIG.

In the fourth embodiment, the colored layer 16e is
It is formed directly on the main surface 34a of the support 34. In forming the colored layer 16e on the support 34, first, the absorption layer 18e including the first and second absorption layers, in which the opening 36 is provided in a region corresponding to directly below the recording region of the barcode information, is formed. To do. Next, a reflective layer 20e having a thickness of 10 μm is formed on the entire surface of the absorption layer 18e by vapor deposition of aluminum. As a result, the arrangement pattern of the first and second absorption layers (not shown in FIG. 8) of the colored layer and the reflective layer exposed with respect to the display layer 12 is the same as the pattern shown in FIG.

Incidentally, in the sectional view shown in FIG.
A blank area indicated by P is drawn. In an actual thermoreversible recording display medium, the absorbing layer 18e and the reflecting layer 20
The film thickness of e is extremely thin. Therefore, the reflective layer 20c is in close contact with the main surface 34a of the support 34 at the opening 36.

<Fifth Embodiment> In the fifth embodiment, an example of the thermoreversible recording display medium of the second invention will be described. Figure 9
[FIG. 8] is a sectional view for explaining a fifth embodiment.

According to the thermoreversible recording display medium of the fifth embodiment, the materials and structures of the support, display layer and protective layer are the same as those of the display medium of the fourth embodiment. Further, in the fifth embodiment, the arrangement pattern of the recorded visual information and the barcode information is the same as the arrangement pattern shown in FIG.

In the fifth embodiment, the colored layer 16f is
It is formed directly on the support 34. In forming the colored layer 16f on the support 34, first, the absorption layer 18e including the first and second absorption layers is formed so as to cover the entire main surface 34a of the support 34. Next, a 10 μm thick reflective layer 20f is formed by aluminum vapor deposition in a region corresponding to the region directly below the recording region of the bar code information. As a result, the layout pattern of the first and second absorption layers (not shown in FIG. 9) of the colored layer and the reflective layer exposed with respect to the display layer 12 is the same as the pattern shown in FIG.

Incidentally, in the sectional view shown in FIG.
A blank area indicated by P is drawn on both sides of f. In an actual thermoreversible recording display medium, the absorption layer 18f and the reflection layer 20f are extremely thin. Therefore, the reflective layer 20
The reflection layer 20f is in close contact with the main surface 34a of the support 34 on both sides of f.

<Sixth Embodiment> In a sixth embodiment, an example of the thermoreversible recording display medium of the second invention will be described. Figure 1
Reference numeral 0 is a sectional view for explaining the fifth embodiment.

In the fourth and fifth embodiments, an example in which the coloring layer has a two-layer structure of an absorbing layer and a reflecting layer has been described. However, as shown in FIG. 10, the absorbing layer 18g and the reflecting layer 20g.
You may make one layer. Also in the sixth embodiment, the colored layer 16 g
Although the arrangement pattern of the absorbing layer 18g and the reflecting layer 20g of FIG. 6 exposed to the display layer 12 is the same as the pattern shown in FIG. 3, in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 10, the bar code information in the same layer is used. The reflective layer 20g is provided only in the area corresponding to the area immediately below the recording area, while the absorbing layer 18g is provided in the area corresponding to the area directly below the recording area.

In the above-mentioned embodiments, the present invention is explained by using the specific material and under the specific condition. However, the present invention (both the first and second inventions)
Can make many modifications and variations. For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the aluminum vapor deposition layer is used as the reflection layer, but in the present invention, for example, a nickel vapor deposition layer may be used as the reflection layer. In addition to the above, a metal having a high reflectance or a coloring material having metallic luster may be used as the reflective layer.

Further, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the black and red printed layers are used as the absorption layer, but in the present invention, the absorption layer may be a layer printed with other colors such as blue and green. You may use.

Further, in the above-mentioned first to third embodiments, the example in which the colored layer is formed on the plastic film at one end and then adhered to the transparent support is explained, but in the first invention, the plastic film is not used. In addition, a colored layer may be directly formed on the back surface side of the main surface of the transparent support.

The thermoreversible recording display medium of the present invention is suitable for use in, for example, entrance tickets and OHP sheets.

[0061]

According to the thermoreversible recording and displaying medium of the first and second inventions according to the present application, the reflection of the thermoreversible recording and displaying layer in the opaque state is provided immediately below the visual information recording area. An absorption layer having a reflection density higher than that of the density is provided, while a reflection layer having a reflection density lower than the reflection density of the reversible thermosensitive recording recording display layer display layer in the cloudy state is provided immediately below the barcode information recording area. Is provided. Therefore, it is possible to improve the visibility of the visual information and the reading efficiency of the barcode information.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view for explaining a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an arrangement pattern of visual information and barcode information.

FIG. 3 is a layout pattern of an absorption layer and a reflection layer.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view for explaining a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view for explaining a third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view for explaining Comparative Example 1.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a comparative example 2.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view for explaining a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view for explaining a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view for explaining a sixth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10: Transparent Support 10a: Main Surface of Transparent Support 10b: Back of Transparent Support 12: Thermoreversible Recording Display Layer (Display Layer) 14: Protective Layer 16: Colored Layer 16c to 16g: Colored Layer 18: Absorption Layer 18a: 1st absorption layer 18b: 2nd absorption layer 18c-18g: Absorption layer 20: Reflection layer 20c-20g: Reflection layer 22: Plastic film 24: Colored film 26: Opening P: Blank area 30: All black plastic Film 32: Plastic film having aluminum vapor deposited on the entire surface 34: Support 34a: Main surface of support 36: Opening

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Takeyuki Sekiya 1-7-12 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A thermoreversible recording display layer and a protective layer are sequentially laminated on the main surface of a transparent support, wherein the thermoreversible recording display layer is in a reversibly transparent state or by a thermal means. In a thermoreversible recording display medium comprising a colored layer on the back surface side of the transparent support, the colored layer comprising an absorbing layer and a reflecting layer. The absorbing layer has a reflection density higher than the reflection density of the thermoreversible recording display layer in the cloudy state, and the region of the thermoreversible recording display layer in which visual information is recorded and displayed. Is provided on the colored layer portion directly under the transparent layer so that it can be seen from the transparent support, and the reflective layer has a reflection density lower than the reflection density of the thermoreversible recording display layer in the opaque state. And a barco of the thermoreversible recording display layer. A thermoreversible recording and displaying medium, characterized in that it is provided in a portion of the colored layer immediately below a region where the record information is recorded and displayed so as to be seen from the transparent support. 2. A colored layer, a thermoreversible recording display layer and a protective layer are sequentially laminated on the main surface of a support, wherein the thermoreversible recording display layer is reversibly transparent by a thermal means. In a thermoreversible recording display medium composed of a material that is in a state or a cloudy state, the colored layer includes an absorbing layer and a reflecting layer, and the absorbing layer is a cloudy state of the transparent support. The thermoreversible recording display has a reflection density higher than the reflection density at the time, and in the colored layer portion of the thermoreversible recording display layer immediately below the region where visual information is recorded and displayed. The reflection layer is provided so as to be exposed to the layer, and the reflection layer has a reflection density lower than that of the transparent support in the cloudy state, and
The thermo-reversible recording and displaying layer is exposed to the thermo-reversible recording and displaying layer in the colored layer portion immediately below the region where the bar code information is recorded and displayed. Reversible recording display medium.