Patent Application
20070268319
“Reversible display recording medium” which is processed by the image processing apparatus of the present invention will be explained hereinbelow.
For the reversible recording material used for the reversible display recording medium capable of reversibly display-recording and display-erasing information, materials in which color condition change may be mainly used, for example, materials of which color or tone changes by heat, laser, light, electric voltage, or electric current and which show thermochromism, photochromism and electrochromism. Examples of the change of color condition include transmittance, reflectivity, absorption wavelength and scattering coefficient. Record display and record erasure may be performed by one of the changes or the combination of the changes. The reversible recording material will be specifically exemplified hereinbelow, but not limited thereto.
Examples thereof include the known reversible display recording mediums in which tone changes by changing energy of heat and laser to be applied: (i) a polymer which takes advantage of physical change; (ii) a dye which takes advantage of chemical change; and (iii) a liquid crystal which takes advantage of the change from cholesteric liquid crystal phase to non-cholesteric liquid crystal phase in a cholesteric liquid crystal compound.
Examples of (i) polymers taking advantage of physical change of transparent or opaque include a layer in which particles of an organic low-molecular material are dispersed in a resin matrix which is disposed on a support.
Examples of (ii) dyes include a combination of gallic acid and phloroglucinol, phenolphthalein, or thymolphthalein as a color developer; homogeneously dissolved composition of a coloring agent, a color developer and a carboxylate is contained in a recording layer; an ascorbic acid derivative as a color developer; a salt of bis(hydroxyphenyl) acetic acid or gallic acid, and a higher aliphatic amine as a color developer; and an electron donating compound having long-chain aliphatic group as a color developer.
Examples of (iii) the liquid crystals include a recording material containing a cholesteric liquid crystal compound or a mixture of a cholesteric liquid crystal compound, which can repeatedly display record in a manner such that a reflecting color can maintain at a room temperature for a prolonged period by rapidly cooling from the condition of the cholesteric liquid crystal and then reverse to the condition of liquid crystal, and a recording material of a thermotropic liquid crystal compound which forms cholesteric liquid crystal phase, in which the thermotropic liquid crystal compound is heated to the temperature where shows isotropic phase or cholesteric liquid crystal phase, and then rapidly cooled at a predetermined cooling rate so as to form cholesteric glass phase which is a solid state of spiral molecular arrangement of the cholesteric liquid crystal phase, in which a heat-sensitive phase exhibiting a selective reflective color from the spiral molecular arrangement is contained.
The reversible display recording medium changes tone by changing energy of light. For example, the reversible display recording medium in which a mixture of three kinds of photochromic fulgide compounds of yellow, magenta, and cyan in a coloring condition is exposed by a UV lamp so as to color-develop all kinds of the photochromic compound, and then is selectively erased by exposing a visible light of wavelength range corresponding to the maximum absorption wavelength of each color-developed photochromic compound, and a reversible display recording medium containing two or more kinds of sensitive layers disposed on a substrate, in which each layer contains photochromic compounds having different maximum absorption wavelengths and absorption edge wavelengths in a coloring condition, comes in a coloring condition by exposing UV light, and in an erasing condition by exposing a visible light.
The reversible recording material used for the reversible display recording medium processed by the image processing apparatus of the present invention may be provided in a part of or entire surface of the medium, and in one surface or both surfaces of the medium.
The shape, the configuration, the size of the support contained in the reversible display recording medium is not limited, and may be properly selected depending on the application. For, example, the shape may be plate-like; the configuration may be a single layer or a laminated layer; and the size may be properly selected depending on the size of the reversible display recording medium.
The materials of the support in the reversible display recording medium may be an inorganic material or an organic material. Examples of the inorganic materials include glass, quartz, silicon, silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, SiO2 and metal. Examples of the organic materials include paper, cellulose derivatives, such as triacetyl cellulose, synthetic paper, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polystyrene and polymethylmethacrylate. These materials may be used alone or in combination.
For improving the adhesion properties of a coat layer, the support is preferably subjected to surface reforming by means of corona discharge processing, oxidation reaction processing (with chromium oxide and the like), etching processing, adherable processing or anti-static processing. Further, the support is preferably rendered to be white by incorporating white pigment, such as titanium oxide.
The thickness of the support is not limited, and may be properly selected depending on the application. The thickness is preferably 1 μm to 2,000 μm, more preferably 5 μm to 1,000 μm, still more preferably 10 μm to 300 μm, and particularly preferably 15 μm to 200 μm.
“A reversible display recording medium integrated with a digital information storage medium” of the present invention will be explained hereinbelow. The reversible display recording medium of the present invention contains a digital information storage medium which is integrated with the reversible display recording medium, and further contains other members. The reversible display recording medium of the present invention contains a display part which can display record and display erase (hereinafter referred to as “reversible display part”), and a digital information storage medium, in which they are integrated or composite in a sheet or card (hereinafter referred to as “integrated”). The reversible display recording medium of the present invention may be configured to display a part of or all information stored in the digital information storage medium. Thus, a user who sees the sheet, etc. can read the information stored in the digital information storage medium due to the display in the display part. When the information stored in the digital information storage medium is updated, the display of the display part is updated according to the information stored in the digital information storage medium. Thus, it improves the convenience to a user.
The reversible display recording medium integrated with the digital information storage medium of the present invention has the following two embodiments:
(1) A part of the member having the digital information storage medium is directly formed into a support of the reversible display recording medium.
(2) A surface of the support of the reversible display recording medium is bonded on a member having the digital information storage medium, in which the reversible display recording medium has a display part on the support.
In (1) and (2), a digital information storage medium and a reversible display part may be configured to exhibit their own functions, and the configurations are not limited to (1) and (2) as long as their functions are exhibited. For example, the digital information storage medium may be an opposite surface from the surface in which the reversible display part of the reversible display recording medium is disposed (hereinafter referred to as “back layer”), between the support and the reversible recording material, or a part of the reversible display part.
Examples of members having the digital information storage medium include magnetic memories such as a magnetic tape, a magnetic stripe and a magnetic layer, an optical memory, a hologram, and semiconductor memories such as a contact IC memory and noncontact IC memory. For example, a semiconductor memory is preferably used for a sheet-like reversible display recording medium which is larger than a card size. The semiconductor memory contains an IC chip and an antenna connected to the IC chip. As the hologram, a rewritable one is preferable, for example, a rewritable hologram in which interference light is written in a polymer azobenzene liquid crystal film.
“A reversible display recording medium on which a code is formed” of the present invention will be explained hereinbelow. The reversible display recording medium on which a code is formed of the present invention contains a code formed on a part of or entire surface on which the reversible display part is disposed, or a part of or entire surface opposite from the surface on which the reversible display part is disposed. The code formed on the reversible display recording medium may be formed by offset printing or gravure printing, by means of printers such as an inkjet printer, heat transfer printer, sublimation printer or a thermal printer, or by other methods.
The “image processing apparatus” and “image processing method” of the present invention will be explained hereinbelow. The image processing apparatus of the present invention contains an image forming unit configured to form an image, an image erasing unit configured to erase the image, a digital information obtaining unit configured to obtain a digital information and a condition setting unit configured to set a preferable image forming condition or image erasure condition by the obtained digital information, and further contains other units.
An image forming unit contained in the image processing apparatus of the invention is configured to form an image on the reversible thermosensitive display recording medium by heating the reversible display recording medium of the present invention such as a reversible thermosensitive display recording medium. Examples of the image forming units include a thermal head printer and a laser printer. These may be selected depending on the purpose, and used alone or in combination.
An image erasing unit contained in the image processing apparatus of the invention is configured to erase an image formed on the reversible thermosensitive display recording medium by heating the reversible display recording medium of the present invention such as the reversible thermosensitive display recording medium. Examples of the image erasing units include a hot stamp, a ceramic heater, a heat roller, a heat block, warm blow, a thermal head and a laser irradiation device.
By using the ceramic heater, the size of the apparatus can be downsized, the erasure condition may be stabilized and images with good contrast can be obtained. The preset temperature of the ceramic heater is not specifically limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the purpose, or the property of the reversible thermosensitive display recording medium.
The use of the thermal head enables the apparatus to be still more downsized compared to the use of the ceramic heater. In addition, the electric power consumption can be lowered so that an apparatus of a handy type which is driven by a battery can be used. One thermal head serving as the image forming unit and the image erasing unit enables the apparatus to be still further more downsized. In case of performing display record and display erasure by one thermal head, any of a method in which the formed image is erased, and then a new image is formed, and a method in which a control element for the thermal head is changed for each image, the formed image is erased and a new image is formed at once (overwrite system) can be adopted. By the overwrite system, the total time of forming and erasing an image can be reduced.
The image processing apparatus of the invention may further contain a conveying unit configured to convey the reversible display recording medium, and a controlling unit. The conveying unit is not limited as long as the unit is configured to convey the reversible display recording medium and may be properly selected depending on the application. Examples of the conveying unit include a conveying belt, a conveying roller and a combination of conveying belt and conveying roller.
The controlling unit is not limited as long as the unit is configured to control each process performed in the image processing apparatus and may be properly selected depending on the application. Examples of the controlling units include a sequencer and a computer.
According to the image processing method of the present invention, the reversible display recording medium of the present invention such as the reversible thermosensitive display recording medium is heated so as to form and erase an image, and obtain digital information, set a preferable image forming condition or image erasure condition by the obtained digital information, and other processes may be performed.
The embodiments of the invention will be explained with reference to the drawings hereinbelow. In the embodiments, the reversible thermosensitive display recording medium is mainly exemplified. However, the image processing apparatus, image processing method, digital information storage medium, and reversible display recording medium of the present invention are not limited to the embodiments of the reversible thermosensitive display recording medium, and may be the image processing apparatus, printing record display method, digital information storage medium, and reversible display recording medium relating to a reversible display recording medium which contains a composition having color developing-reducing property by a temperature, light, chemical factor, or other factors.
The reversible thermosensitive display recording medium of the invention includes the reversible thermosensitive display recording medium containing a compound having color developing-reducing property corresponding to the various temperature described above, and other reversible display recording media containing a composition having color developing-reducing property by other factors such as temperature, for example, the reversible optical display recording medium.
The display part 91 is an area which is used for a form in the operation of manufacture or distribution, and the code 92 is encoded property information concerning color developing and reducing of the reversible thermosensitive display recording medium 90. The code 92 may be either a one- or two-dimensional bar code. The code 92 may be a code expressed by dots or other codes. The code 92 may be formed on a part of or entire surface of the thermosensitive layer. The code 92 may be formed on the back surface.
The code 92 may contain an irreversible coloring layer and be formed on the reversible thermosensitive display recording medium 90. Thus, the property information can be maintained irrespective of display record and display erasure in the reversible thermosensitive display recording medium 90. The irreversible coloring layer may be formed by offset printing or gravure printing, by means of printers such as an inkjet printer, heat transfer printer, sublimation printer or thermal printer, or by other methods. The code 92 may contain a reversible coloring layer.
The reversible thermosensitive display recording medium 90 in the form of the rewritable sheet for industrial use may contain the RF-ID tag 85 integrated with the reversible thermosensitive display recording medium 90. The RF-ID tag 85 may be affixed on either the surface of the thermosensitive layer or the back surface. The RF-ID tag 85 may be affixed on the back surface so that the reversible thermosensitive display recording medium 90 and the RF-ID tag 85 are integrated without reducing an area of the display part, and a device performing display record or display erasure in the reversible thermosensitive display recording medium 90, and the reader-writer communicating with the RF-ID tag 85 can be disposed effectively.
In the processing step, the raw material is processed to a product by reading the processing instruction from the RF-ID tag 85. Order information is stored in the RF-ID tag 85, and the order information is display-recorded in the display part 91 of the rewritable sheet for industrial use as an order instruction 73. After the product is shipped, the display part 91 of the rewritable sheet for industrial use is erased, and the product name, quantity, process instruction and order information stored in the RF-ID tag 85 are erased.
In
The CPU 235 is a unit configured to control action by a predetermined procedure. The CPU 235 may perform the action of interrupt control routine depending on the interrupt pulse provided periodically by the pulse divided perimeter circuit. The CPU 235 executes the program data stored in the ROM 236 according to an input signal, and outputs predetermined data in a signal to the reader-writer through the I/O interface 238.
The ROM 236 stores action program data of the CPU235. The RAM 237 is a work memory which writes and reads the data necessary for execution of process.
The I/O interface 238 transmits the input data to the CPU 235 on receiving the input signal, as well as outputs externally on receiving the output signal from the CPU 235. The plural contacting terminals 234 are connected to the I/O interface 238, and the signal of the predetermined data from the reader-writer is input from the contacting terminals 234 through the I/O interface 238 to the CPU 235. The address decode circuit decodes an address data generated by CPU 235, and outputs the signal respectively to the ROM 236, the RAM 237, or the I/O interface 238.
In the image forming apparatus 100b, according to the read condition information, the formed image is erased by heating the reversible thermosensitive display recording medium 98b by means of the heat roller on the basis of the erasure condition, and an image is newly formed on the reversible thermosensitive display recording medium 98b by means of the thermal head on the basis of the record information.
In
When the condition information is a model number or lot number of the reversible display recording medium, the record condition or erasure condition corresponding to the model number or lot number may be obtained from a storage device (not shown) contained in the image forming apparatus. When the image forming apparatus contains a communicating unit configured to communicate through a network, the record condition or erasure condition may be obtained from a server connected though the network to the image forming apparatus, and stored in the storage device (not shown).
As shown in
As shown in
In
The reversible thermosensitive display recording medium 5 inserted from the entrance 30 is conveyed along the conveying route 50 where the conveying roller 31 and the guide roller 32 are located, and is processed in the magnetic head 34, the ceramic heater 38, and the thermal head 53, and then discharged from the exit 61. The illustration of the functions of the magnetic head 34, the ceramic heater 38, and the thermal head 53, and the processing to the reversible thermosensitive display recording medium 5 are omitted because they are the same as in
Alternatively, the reversible thermosensitive display recording medium 5 is conveyed along the conveying route 56b by switching the changing unit of conveying route 55a and is conveyed backwards by the conveying belt 58 driven by the limit switch 57a which is input by pressing the reversible thermosensitive display recording medium 5, and may be processed again in the thermal head 53. The reversible thermosensitive display recording medium 5 which is processed again in the thermal head 53 is conveyed along the conveying route 49b by switching the changing unit of conveying route 55b and through the limit switch 57b and the conveying belt 48 in the forward direction. Thereafter, the reversible thermosensitive display recording medium 5 is discharged through the exit 61 out of the image forming apparatus by means of the guide roller 60.
Further, a set of the above-noted branched conveying route and changing unit of conveying route may be disposed at the both sides of the ceramic heater 38. In this case, the sensor 43a is preferably disposed between the platen roller 44 and the conveying roller 45.
The image forming apparatus 300 contains a condition information obtaining unit 310, an image forming unit 320, an image erasing unit 330, a condition information holding unit 340, a condition information encoding unit 350, a condition setting unit 360, an information storage medium writing unit 370, a communicating unit 380, a record or erasure condition obtaining unit 385, and a storing unit 390.
The condition information obtaining unit 310 is a unit configured to obtain the condition information from the reversible display recording medium 500, and contains an information storage medium reading unit 311, a code obtaining unit 312, and a condition information decoding unit 313. The information storage medium reading unit 311 is a unit configured to obtain the condition information by reading the information stored in the digital information storage medium integrated with the reversible display recording medium 500.
The code obtaining unit 312 is a unit configured to obtain a code such as a bar code formed on the reversible display recording medium 500. The code obtaining unit 312 obtains the code depending on a form of the code, a coordinate in which the code is placed, and the like. The condition information decoding unit 313 is a unit configured to obtain the condition information by decoding a code obtained by the code obtaining unit 312.
The information storage medium reading unit 311, the code obtaining unit 312, and the condition information decoding unit 313 are not necessarily provided in the condition information obtaining unit 310, and they may be provided in the condition information obtaining unit 310 as necessary.
The image forming unit 320 is a unit configured to form an image on the reversible display part in the reversible display recording medium 500 on the basis of the record condition set by the condition setting unit 360 according to the condition information. The image forming unit 320 may have a condition information adding unit 321. The condition information adding unit 321 is a unit configured to add the condition information in a code on the reversible display recording medium 500. The condition information adding unit 321 adds the condition information encoded by the condition information encoding unit 350.
The image erasing unit 330 is a unit configured to erase an image formed on the reversible display part in the reversible display recording medium 500 on the basis of the erasure condition set by the condition setting unit 360 according to the condition information.
The condition information holding unit 340 is a unit configured to hold the condition information obtained by the condition information obtaining unit 310. The condition information holding unit 340 may be configured as a RAM or a hard disc drive contained in the image forming apparatus 300. The condition information encoding unit 350 is a unit configured to convert condition information to the code such as a bar code. The code generated by the condition information encoding unit 350 may be a one- or two-dimensional bar code or a dot. The condition setting unit 360 is a unit configured to set a record condition for forming an image or a erasure condition for erasing an image according to the condition information obtained by the condition information obtaining unit 310.
The information storage medium writing unit 370 is a unit configured to write a content of an image which is display-recorded by the image forming unit 320 in the digital information storage medium.
The communicating unit 380 is a unit configured to communicate with a server connected through a network. The communicating unit 380 may communicate with a computer which is connected through a serial bus or a parallel bus to the image forming apparatus 300. A record or erasure condition obtaining unit 385 is a unit configured to obtain record condition or erasure condition from the server and the like with which the communicating unit 380 communicates, and store the obtained record condition or erasure condition in the storing unit 390.
The storing unit 390 is configured to be a storage device in the image forming apparatus 300, and has a record or erasure condition holding unit 391. The storing unit 390 may be configured to be a mass storage device such as a hard disc device. The record or erasure condition holding unit 391 is a unit configured to store record condition or erasure condition corresponding to a model number or lot number of the reversible display recording medium, and store tables of record condition or erasure condition corresponding to a plurality of model numbers or lot numbers of the reversible display recording medium. The condition information obtaining unit 310 obtains the record condition or erasure condition from the record or erasure condition holding unit 391 according to the medium information such as a model number or lot number which is the content of the obtained condition information. The record or erasure condition holding unit 391 may be configured to be a storing unit which is integrated with the condition information holding unit 340.
The image forming apparatus 300 may not necessarily have all units, and may have only necessary units in addition to the condition information obtaining unit 310.
A reversible display recording medium 500 is a display recording medium having the reversible display part, and contains the condition information either in the digital information storage medium integrated therewith or formed in the code. The condition information may be stored in the digital information storage medium, and the content of the image formed on the reversible display part may also be stored therein. The condition information is formed in the code, which may contain an irreversible coloring layer, or may be formed by a reversible display recording method in the reversible display part.
A server 800 connects through the network or directly to the image forming apparatus 300, and holds record condition or erasure condition corresponding to the model number or lot number when the condition information is a model number or lot number of the reversible display recording medium.
In step S102, the condition setting unit 360 sets the erasure condition according to the condition information obtained in step S101. In step S103, the image erasing unit 330 erases an image formed on the reversible display surface of the reversible display recording medium 500 on the basis of the erasure condition set in step S102.
In step S104, the condition setting unit 360 sets the record condition according to the condition information obtained in step S101. In step S105 the image forming unit 320 forms an image on the reversible display surface of the reversible display recording medium 500 on the basis of the record condition set in step S104.
In step S106 the information of the image formed in step S104 is stored in the digital information storage medium which is integrated with the reversible display recording medium 500 by the information storage medium writing unit 370.
In step S201 the code obtaining unit 312 obtains a code formed on the reversible display surface of the reversible display recording medium 500. For example, the code is a bar code, and obtained from the reversible display recording medium 500 by identifying a predetermined shape or coordinate.
In step S202, the condition information decoding unit 313 decodes the code obtained in step S201 to obtain the condition information. In step S203 the condition information holding unit 340 obtains and holds the condition information decoded in step S202.
In step S204 the condition setting unit 360 sets an erasure condition according to the condition information obtained in step S202. In step S205, the image erasing unit 330 erases the image formed on the reversible display surface of the reversible display recording medium 500 on the basis of the erasure condition set in step S204.
In step S206 the condition setting unit 360 sets a record condition according to the condition information obtained in step S205. In step S207 the condition information encoding unit 350 encodes again the condition information obtained by the condition information holding unit 340 in step S203.
In step S208 the image forming unit 320 forms an image on the reversible display part of the reversible display recording medium 500, the condition information adding unit 321 forms and adds the condition information encoded in step S207 on the reversible display part.
In step S203 the condition information held by the condition information holding unit 340 may be the condition information in a form of a code obtained in step S201 instead of the condition information decoded in step S202. When the condition information holding unit 340 holds the condition information in a form of a code, the processing in step S207 is not performed, and in step S203 the condition information adding unit 321 forms and adds the condition information in a form of a code held by the condition information holding unit 340 on the reversible display part.
In step S302 the condition information obtaining unit 310 obtains the record condition corresponding to the condition information such as the model number or lot number of the reversible display recording medium 500 obtained in step S301 from the record condition and erasure condition held by the record or erasure condition holding unit 391.
In step S303, the condition setting unit 360 sets the erasure condition obtained in step S302, and the image erasing unit 330 erases the image formed on the reversible display surface of the reversible display recording medium 500 on the basis of the set erasure condition.
In step S304, the condition setting unit 360 sets the record condition obtained in step S302, and forms an image on the reversible display surface of the reversible display recording medium 500 on the basis of the set record condition.
In step S305 the information of the image formed in step S304 is stored in the digital information storage medium which is integrated with the reversible display recording medium 500 by the information storage medium writing unit 370.
In step S302 the record condition or erasure condition held by the record or erasure condition holding unit 391 may be timely obtained or updated by the record or erasure condition obtaining unit 385. The recording or erasure condition obtaining unit 385 obtains the record condition or erasure condition by the communicating unit 380 from the external server 800.
The present invention is not limited to these preferred embodiment, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing the scope of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-140345 | May 2006 | JP | national |
