JP2008149478A - Rapid heating rapid cooling device for heat-sensitive recording medium, and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To uniformly color a heat-sensitive recording medium without influences given by a variation in outside temperature. <P>SOLUTION: A heating machine 3 and a cooling machine 4 are installed both of which are cylindrical. An interval d between the heating machine 3 and the cooling machine 4 is set to be as narrow as possible to prevent the heating machine 3 and the cooling machine 4 from contacting each other so as to achieve rapid heating and rapid cooling to the heat-sensitive recording medium 2 by the heating machine 3 and the cooling machine 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a rapid thermal quenching device for a thermal recording medium that uniformly develops or decolors the entire surface of a rewritable thermal recording medium capable of at least thermal recording without directly contacting a heating device such as a thermal head, and the like. The present invention relates to a printer using the apparatus.

  There are thermosensitive recording systems using leuco dye-based and diazo compound-based thermosensitive materials, reversible thermosensitive recording paper that can repeat color development and decoloration at a specific temperature, and the like. The heat-sensitive recording paper is heated and decolored by using a heating device such as a thermal head. As a recording method for such a thermal recording paper, there is a method in which a recording head such as a thermal head is brought into direct contact.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an information recording technique using heat-sensitive recording paper. Patent Document 1 relates to an initialization method, a rewriting method, and an apparatus for obtaining a good recorded image having no afterimage (color unevenness) when rewriting an image on a reversible thermosensitive recording medium. The entire surface or recording area of a reversible thermosensitive recording medium that develops or decolors due to the difference in color is heated to a coloring temperature by a thermal head to cause coloration and perform an operation of making the recording layer uniform.
JP 2001-341429 A

  When recording information on a reversible thermosensitive recording medium, the entire surface of the thermosensitive recording medium is uniformly colored, for example, solid black, and then information is recorded. On the other hand, as a recording method for the thermal recording medium, there is a method in which a recording head such as a thermal head is brought into direct contact. In this method, since the recording head is brought into direct contact with the thermal recording medium, the recording head is likely to be worn and soiled, and the recording surface of the thermal recording medium is rubbed and soiled, short-circuited due to deposits, excessive power supply, etc. Cause the life of the recording head to be shortened. For this reason, a method of uniformly coloring the heat-sensitive recording medium in a non-contact manner is employed.

  In Patent Document 1, an afterimage (uneven color unevenness) is avoided by full-color coloring using a contact-type recording head such as a thermal head. In this method, coloring is one of the coloring conditions of a reversible thermosensitive recording medium. Heating up to a temperature depends on a contact-type recording head such as a thermal head, and rapid cooling, which is another color development condition, is realized by natural cooling caused by the difference between the room temperature and the color development temperature. For this reason, when the outside air temperature becomes high, the time required for natural cooling is prolonged, and a difference occurs in the color density. The thermosensitive recording medium cannot be colored uniformly without contact.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a rapid thermal quenching apparatus and printer for a thermal recording medium that can uniformly color the thermal recording medium without being affected by fluctuations in the outside air temperature.

  The present invention relates to a rapid thermal quenching device for a thermal recording medium that is transported in one direction and uniformly develops or decolors the entire surface of a rewritable thermal recording medium that enables at least thermal recording. A heater that heats the recording medium in a line in the vertical direction, and is arranged downstream of the heater in the conveyance direction and close to the heater, and the thermal recording medium is perpendicular to the conveyance direction immediately after the heating by the heater. And a rapid cooling / quenching device for a thermal recording medium comprising a cooler that rapidly cools in a line.

  The present invention is a printer comprising the rapid thermal quenching apparatus for the thermal recording medium and a recording apparatus for recording information on the thermal recording medium whose color is uniformly developed or erased on the entire surface by the rapid thermal quenching apparatus. .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a rapid thermal quenching device and a printer for a thermal recording medium that can uniformly color the thermal recording medium without being affected by fluctuations in the outside air temperature.

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 and 2 show a configuration diagram of a printer to which a rapid thermal quenching device for a thermal recording medium is applied, FIG. 1 shows an external configuration diagram, and FIG. 2 shows a side configuration diagram. A thermal recording medium 2 is held on the conveyor belt 1. The transport belt 1 transports the thermal recording medium 2 in the direction of arrow A by a transport mechanism (not shown).
The heat-sensitive recording medium 2 is a rewritable and reversible medium that repeats color development and decoloring by heating control at a specific temperature and enables heat-sensitive recording and heat-erasing. As shown in FIG. 3, when the melting point of 180 ° C. or higher is applied, the heat-sensitive recording medium 2 is in a state where the dye existing in the printing layer and the developer are melted together, and by rapidly cooling from this state, the dye and the developer are developed. Crystallizes and develops color while mixing with the agent. When the thermal recording medium 2 is slowly cooled, the dye and the developer are crystallized, so that the colored state cannot be maintained and the erased state is obtained. Further, the thermal recording medium 2 is a temperature range where the dye and the developer are gradually separated and crystallized by heating for a certain time which is not more than the melting point of the dye and the developer, for example, about 130 ° C. There is also about -170 degreeC.

  A heater 3 and a cooler 4 as a rapid heating and quenching device are provided on the upper surface side of the conveyor belt 1. Among them, the heater 3 heats the thermosensitive recording medium 2 in a line shape perpendicular to the transport direction A. For example, the heater 3 is formed in a cylindrical shape and has a longitudinal direction arranged perpendicular to the transport direction A. ing. The heater 3 heats the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 in a line by making line contact with the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2. In the heater 3, a heating-side rotating roller 5 is disposed opposite to the lower surface side of the conveyor belt 1 through the conveyor belt 1. The heater 3 may be provided with a rotatable roller structure or fixed. The heating-side rotating roller 5 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and its longitudinal direction is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction A, and forms a pair with the heater 3.

  The cooler 4 is provided on the downstream side of the heater 3 and close to the cooler 4. The cooler 4 rapidly cools the thermosensitive recording medium 2 in a line shape in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction A immediately after heating by the heater 3. The cooler 4 is formed, for example, in a cylindrical shape, and the longitudinal direction is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction A. The cooler 4 cools the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 in a line by making line contact with the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2. In the cooler 4, a cooling-side rotating roller 6 is disposed opposite to the lower surface side of the conveyor belt 1 via the conveyor belt 1. The cooler 4 may be provided with a rotatable roller structure or fixed. The cooling side rotating roller 6 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the longitudinal direction thereof is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction A, and forms a pair with the cooler 4.

  The distance d between the heater 3 and the cooler 4 is determined so that the heater 3 and the cooler 4 come into contact with each other in order to realize rapid heating and quenching to the thermal recording medium 2 by the heater 3 and the cooler 4. Do not set as narrow as possible. The radius of the heater 3 is set to be smaller than the radius of the cooler 4 in order to reduce the distance d between the heater 3 and the cooler 4. The size of the radius of the heater 3 is set as small as possible due to the structure of the heater 3. Accordingly, the heater 3 can enter the gap s between the cylindrical arc surface upstream of the cooler 4 and the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2. The interval d can be narrowed.

  The radius of the heating side rotating roller 5 is set larger than the radius of the cooling side rotating roller 6 in order to reduce the distance d between the heater 3 and the cooling machine 4 in both the heating side rotating roller 5 and the cooling side rotating roller 6. Yes. Each radius of the heating-side rotating roller 5 and the cooling-side rotating roller 6 is set so that the large-diameter heating-side rotating roller 5 has a larger diameter than the small-diameter heater 3 in order to make the addition to the heat-sensitive recording medium 2 uniform. A pair of a small-diameter cooling side rotating roller 6 is paired with a large-diameter cooler 4. For example, the radii of the heater 3 and the cooling side rotating roller 6 are the same, and the radii of the cooling machine 4 and the heating side rotating roller 5 are the same.

  A recording device 7 is provided on the downstream side of the heater 3 and the cooler 4. The recording device 7 records information on the thermal recording medium 2 whose entire surface is uniformly colored or erased by a rapid heating and quenching device including a heater 3 and a cooler 4. The recording device 7 includes a semiconductor laser 8 that outputs a semiconductor laser beam, a collimator lens 9 that collimates the semiconductor laser beam output from the semiconductor laser 8, and a semiconductor laser beam that is collimated by the collimator lens 9. A scanner 10 that scans the recording surface of the medium 2 and an LED light emitting unit 11 that irradiates the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 with linear light are provided. The scanner 10 includes, for example, a polygon mirror or a galvanometer mirror, and includes a drive unit 12 such as a motor that rotationally drives the polygon mirror or the galvanometer mirror.

  Accordingly, the semiconductor laser beam output from the semiconductor laser 8 is collimated by the collimator lens 9 and scanned on the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 by the scanner 10 such as a polygon mirror or a galvanometer mirror. The scanning direction of the semiconductor laser beam is a main scanning direction that is perpendicular to the conveyance direction A of the thermal recording medium 2. At the same time, the LED light emitting unit 11 irradiates the line light so as to overlap the main scan of the semiconductor laser beam on the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2.

  However, the recording surface of the heat-sensitive recording medium 2 is preheated by irradiation with line-shaped light from the LED light emitting unit 11. When the semiconductor laser beam is scanned onto the pre-heated recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 in this state, the scanned surface of the thermal recording medium 2 is colored black, for example. At this time, when the semiconductor laser 8 turns on / off the output of the semiconductor laser beam according to information such as characters, symbols, and patterns, for example, information such as characters, symbols, and patterns on the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2. Is recorded.

Next, the uniform color development operation and recording operation of the thermal recording medium by the apparatus configured as described above will be described.
The heat-sensitive recording medium 2 is conveyed in the direction of arrow A by the movement of the conveying belt 1, and first reaches the installation position of the heater 3 of the rapid heating and quenching device. Since the heater 3 is formed in a cylindrical shape, it makes line contact with the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 while rotating, and heats the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 in a line shape. As a result, the line on the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 in line contact with the heater 3 is rapidly heated by the heater 3 and rapidly heated to the coloring temperature shown in FIG. Since the heat-sensitive recording medium 2 is continuously conveyed by the movement of the conveying belt 1, the recording surface of the heat-sensitive recording medium 2 is rapidly heated by the heater 3 in sequence and rapidly heated to the coloring temperature shown in FIG.

Next, the thermal recording medium 2 reaches the installation position of the cooler 4 by the movement of the conveyance belt 1. Since the cooler 4 is formed in a cylindrical shape, the cooler 4 makes line contact with the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 while rotating, and rapidly cools the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 in a line shape. Thereby, the line on the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 in line contact with the heater 3 is rapidly cooled by the cooler 4.
Here, the distance d between the heater 3 and the cooler 4 is set as narrow as possible so that the heater 3 and the cooler 4 do not contact each other. The heat-sensitive recording medium 2 is subjected to rapid heating and cooling. As a result, the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 1 is colored, for example, solid black.

  Since the thermosensitive recording medium 2 is continuously conveyed by the movement of the conveying belt 1, the recording surface of the thermosensitive recording medium 2 is rapidly heated by the heater 3 in sequence, and as a result, the recording surface of the thermosensitive recording medium 1 is changed. The entire surface is colored, for example, solid black. Note that if the heating temperature of the heat-sensitive recording medium 2 by the heater 3 is varied, the heat-sensitive recording medium 2 enters the erasing mode.

  Next, the thermal recording medium 2 reaches the installation position of the recording apparatus 7 by the movement of the conveyance belt 1. The recording device 7 performs a main scan on the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 being conveyed with the semiconductor laser beam output from the semiconductor laser 8 as described above. At the same time, the linear light from the LED light emitting unit 11 is irradiated so as to overlap the main scan of the semiconductor laser beam on the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2. At this time, when the semiconductor laser 8 turns on / off the output of the semiconductor laser beam according to information such as characters, symbols, and patterns, for example, information such as characters, symbols, and patterns on the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2. Is recorded.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the cylindrical heater 3 and the cooler 4 are provided, and the distance d between the heater 3 and the cooler 4 is set to the heater 3 and the cooler. 4 is set as narrow as possible so that the heater 3 and the cooler 4 do not come into contact with each other in order to realize the rapid heating and quenching to the thermal recording medium 2 according to 4, the rapid cooling immediately after the thermal recording medium 2 is rapidly heated. The thermal recording medium 2 can be uniformly colored, for example, black without being affected by fluctuations in the outside air temperature.
Since the radius of the heater 3 is set to be smaller than the radius of the cooler 4, the heater 3 has a gap between the cylindrical arc surface upstream of the cooler 4 and the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2. It is possible to enter s, and the distance d between the heater 3 and the cooler 4 can be narrowed. Thus, the thermal recording medium 2 can be rapidly cooled immediately after being rapidly heated, and the thermal recording medium 2 can be stably and uniformly colored, for example, black.
If the heater 3 and the cooler 4 are respectively rotated with the conveyance of the thermal recording medium 2 as a roller structure, the place where the heater 3 and the cooler 4 are in line contact with the thermal recording medium 2 moves. Can prevent heat from being taken away.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
FIG. 4 shows a configuration diagram of a printer to which a rapid thermal quenching device for a thermal recording medium is applied. The heater 20 heats the thermosensitive recording medium 2 in a line shape in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction A. For example, a hollow roller 21 as a rotating cylindrical body formed in a cylindrical shape, and the hollow roller 21 And a halogen lamp 22 as a cylindrical heat source provided inside. The hollow roller 21 is formed of a metal having good thermal conductivity, such as aluminum, and is provided so as to be rotatable about the central axis of the hollow.

The halogen lamp 22 transmits heat to the hollow roller 21 by emitting light. The halogen lamp 22 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and is provided, for example, on the central axis of the hollow roller 21. Since the halogen lamp 22 emits light substantially uniformly on the circumference and is provided on, for example, the central axis of the hollow roller 21, the entire surface of the hollow roller 21 is heated to a uniform temperature.
The heater disposed in the cavity of the cavity roller 21 is not limited to the halogen lamp 22 but may be a heater that generates heat.

  The cooler 23 is a cold water pipe, for example. In the cold water pipe 23, for example, cooling water 24 flows as a cooling medium. The cooling water 24 is circulated between the cooling device and the cold water pipe 23 by, for example, a circulation pump 25. The cold water pipe 23 is made of a metal having good thermal conductivity. The cold water pipe 23 may be provided with a rotatable roller structure or fixed. Further, the cold water pipe 23 is provided in contact or non-contact with the thermosensitive recording medium 2. For example, the cold water pipe 23 is in contact with the thermal recording medium 2 if it is a roller structure, and is not in contact with the thermal recording medium 2 if it is fixed.

Next, the uniform color development operation and recording operation of the thermal recording medium by the apparatus configured as described above will be described.
The thermal recording medium 2 is transported in the direction of arrow A by the movement of the transport belt 1 and first reaches the installation position of the heater 20. The halogen lamp 22 of the heater 20 transmits heat to the hollow roller 21 by emitting light. The hollow roller 21 is heated to a uniform temperature by receiving light from the halogen lamp 22. The hollow roller 21 is in line contact with the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 while rotating, and heats the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 in a line shape. Thereby, the line on the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 in line contact with the hollow roller 21 is rapidly heated by the hollow roller 21 and rapidly heated to the coloring temperature shown in FIG.

Next, when the thermal recording medium 2 reaches the installation position of the cold water pipe 23 by the movement of the conveying belt 1, for example, the cooling water 24 circulates in the cold water pipe 23 as a cooling medium by the circulation pump 25. As a result, the entire surface of the cold water pipe 23 is cooled to a uniform temperature by the cooling water 24. The cold water pipe 23 makes line contact with the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 while rotating, and rapidly cools the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 in a line shape. As a result, the line on the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 in line contact with the hollow roller 21 is rapidly cooled by the cold water pipe 23.
As a result, rapid cooling is performed immediately after the rapid heating of the thermal recording medium 2 by the hollow roller 21 and the cold water pipe 23, and the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 1 is colored, for example, solid black. Note that if the heating temperature of the thermal recording medium 2 by the hollow roller 21 is varied, the thermal recording medium 2 enters the erasing mode.

  Similarly to the above, the recording apparatus 7 performs a main scan on the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 being transported by turning on / off the semiconductor laser 8 and turning on the semiconductor laser beam. Is irradiated onto the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2. As a result, information such as characters, symbols, and patterns is recorded on the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, by providing the heater 20 including the hollow roller 21 and the halogen lamp 22 and the cold water pipe 23, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. be able to. If the cold water tube 23 is formed in a cylindrical shape and makes line contact with the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 while rotating, the cooling recording on the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 is not reduced, and the thermal recording is not performed. The recording surface of the medium 2 can be efficiently cooled.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
FIG. 5 shows a configuration diagram of a printer to which a rapid thermal quenching device for a thermal recording medium is applied. The heater 30 heats the thermosensitive recording medium 2 in a line shape perpendicular to the transport direction A, and includes a halogen lamp 31 and a condensing mirror 32. The condensing mirror 32 reflects the lamp light emitted from the halogen lamp 31 and condenses it in a line shape in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction A of the thermal recording medium 2, and on the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2. Heat. The condensing mirror 32 irradiates lamp light onto the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 from obliquely above the thermal recording medium 2.

Specifically, the condensing mirror 32 integrally forms, for example, a reflecting surface 32a formed in a concave shape and each light surface 32c that closes toward the light exit port 32b. The reflection surface 32a is formed in a horizontally long shape. Each light guide surface 32c is formed in a flat plate shape, and is disposed opposite to each other. The light emission port 32b is formed in a horizontally long slit shape.
The condensing mirror 32 is provided so as to incline the heat-sensitive recording medium 2 upstream in the transport direction A. Thereby, the condensing mirror 32 and the cold water pipe 23 can be provided close to each other. Therefore, the distance d between the condensing mirror 32 and the cold water pipe 23 is set so that the condensing mirror 32 and the cold water pipe 23 are separated from each other in order to realize rapid heating and quenching to the thermosensitive recording medium 2 by the condensing mirror 32 and the cold water pipe 23. Are provided as close as possible without contacting each other.

Next, the uniform color development operation and recording operation of the thermal recording medium by the apparatus configured as described above will be described.
The thermal recording medium 2 is transported in the direction of arrow A by the movement of the transport belt 1 and first reaches the installation position of the heater 30. In the heater 30, lamp light is emitted from the halogen lamp 31. The lamp light emitted from the halogen lamp 31 is reflected by the concave reflecting surface 32a of the condensing mirror 32, is condensed and directly emitted from the light exit port 32b, and at least once on each light surface 32c. The light is reflected and further emitted from the light exit port 32b while being repeatedly reflected between the light guide surfaces 32c. Thereby, the lamp light emitted from the light emission port 32b is condensed in a line shape.
However, the line-shaped lamp light emitted from the light emission port 32 b of the heater 30 is irradiated in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction A of the thermal recording medium 2 to heat the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2. Thereby, the line on the recording surface of the heat-sensitive recording medium 2 irradiated with the line-shaped lamp light is rapidly heated and rapidly heated to the coloring temperature shown in FIG.

  Next, when the thermal recording medium 2 reaches the installation position of the cold water pipe 23 by the movement of the conveying belt 1, the cold water pipe 23 is in line contact with the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 while rotating as described above. In addition, the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 is rapidly cooled in a line shape. As a result, immediately after the rapid heating to the thermal recording medium 2 is completed, rapid cooling is performed, and the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 1 is colored, for example, solid black.

  Next, in the same manner as described above, the recording device 7 performs a main scan on the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 being conveyed by turning on and off the semiconductor laser 8 and turning on the semiconductor laser beam. Is irradiated onto the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 to record information such as characters, symbols, and patterns on the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, by providing the heater 30 including the halogen lamp 31 and the condensing mirror 32, it is possible to achieve the same effect as the first embodiment.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same parts as those in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
FIG. 6 shows a configuration diagram of a printer to which a rapid thermal quenching device for a thermal recording medium is applied. A linear heater 40 as a heater is provided. The linear heater 40 is formed in a linear shape and is disposed in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction A of the thermal recording medium 2. Specifically, the linear heater 40 is formed in a horizontally long shape having an elliptical cross section and a bar shape in the longitudinal direction. The linear heater 40 shown in FIG. 6 has a horizontally long bottom surface in contact or non-contact with the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2, but is not limited to this, for example, a state in which the horizontally long direction is rotated by 90 ° The curved surface portion may be provided in contact or non-contact with the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2.

  The linear heater 40 includes a heating element that generates heat by supplying power, for example. Further, the linear heater 40 may be formed, for example, in a hollow shape, and hot air may be circulated in the hollow space. The linear heater 40 contacts the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 and heats the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 in a line shape. The linear heater 40 is disposed so as not to contact the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 and is disposed as close to the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 as possible above the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2. Also good.

Since the linear heater 40 is formed of a heating element, it can be downsized. Therefore, the linear heater 40 and the cold water pipe 23 can be provided close to each other. The distance d between the linear heat generator 40 and the cold water pipe 23 is set so that the linear heat generator 40 and the cold water pipe 23 can be rapidly and rapidly cooled to the thermal recording medium 2 by the linear heat generator 40 and the cold water pipe 23. Are provided as close as possible without contacting each other.
Since the heating side rotating roller 5 is paired with the linear heater 40, the radius of the heating side rotating roller 5 can be reduced.

Next, the uniform color development operation and recording operation of the thermal recording medium by the apparatus configured as described above will be described.
The thermal recording medium 2 is transported in the direction of arrow A by the movement of the transport belt 1 and first reaches the installation position of the linear heater 40. The linear heater 40 contacts the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 and heats the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 in a line shape. Thereby, the line on the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 heated by the linear heater 40 is rapidly heated and rapidly heated to the coloring temperature shown in FIG.

  Next, when the thermal recording medium 2 reaches the installation position of the cold water pipe 23 by the movement of the conveying belt 1, the cold water pipe 23 is in line contact with the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 while rotating as described above. In addition, the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 is rapidly cooled in a line shape. As a result, immediately after the rapid heating to the thermal recording medium 2 is completed, rapid cooling is performed, and the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 1 is colored, for example, solid black.

  Next, in the same manner as described above, the recording device 7 performs a main scan on the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 being conveyed by turning on and off the semiconductor laser 8 and turning on the semiconductor laser beam. Is irradiated onto the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 to record information such as characters, symbols, and patterns on the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2.

  As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, by providing the linear heater 40, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. Since the linear heater 40 is heated in contact with the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 1, the thermal conductivity with respect to the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 1 can be improved.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same parts as those in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
FIG. 7 shows a configuration diagram of a printer to which a rapid thermal quenching device for a thermal recording medium is applied. An air blower 50 is provided as a cooler. The air blower 50 blows cooling air in a line shape on the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 without contact with the thermal recording medium 2. The air blower 50 includes a blower source 51 and a blower nozzle 52. The blowing source 51 blows cooling air compressed by, for example, a compressor or cooling air cooled by cooling water to the blowing nozzle 52. The blower nozzle 52 has a discharge port 53 that is formed in a tapered shape and is formed in a horizontally long slit shape at the tip. The discharge port 53 is provided in a direction substantially perpendicular to the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2.

  As described above, the condenser mirror 32 of the heater 30 is provided with the thermal recording medium 2 inclined toward the upstream side in the transport direction A. On the other hand, the blower nozzle 52 is tapered. Thereby, the condensing mirror 32 and the ventilation nozzle 52 can be provided close to each other. Therefore, the distance d between the condenser mirror 32 and the blower nozzle 52 is set so that the condenser mirror 32 and the blower nozzle 52 can be rapidly cooled to the thermal recording medium 2 by the condenser mirror 32 and the blower nozzle 52. Are provided as close as possible without contacting each other.

  One rotating roller 54 is provided at a position where the air blower 50 and the heater 30 face each other. Since the air blower 50 and the heater 30 can be provided close to each other by reducing the distance d between the condenser mirror 32 and the blower nozzle 52, the heating unit 30 and the air are heated by the heater 30 by one rotating roller 54. A load of cooling air blown from the blower 50 can be received.

Next, the uniform color development operation and recording operation of the thermal recording medium by the apparatus configured as described above will be described.
The thermal recording medium 2 is transported in the direction of arrow A by the movement of the transport belt 1 and first reaches the installation position of the heater 30. The heater 30 emits line-shaped lamp light from the light exit port 32b as described above. The line-shaped lamp light is irradiated in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction A of the thermal recording medium 2 to heat the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2. Thereby, the line on the recording surface of the heat-sensitive recording medium 2 irradiated with the line-shaped lamp light is rapidly heated and rapidly heated to the coloring temperature shown in FIG.

  Next, when the thermal recording medium 2 reaches just below the installation position of the air blower 50 by the movement of the conveying belt 1, the air blower 50 is cooled by air compressed by a compressor or the like from the blow source 51 or cooling water. The blown air is blown to the blowing nozzle 52. The blower nozzle 52 discharges the blown cooling air from the discharge port 53. The cooling air is formed in a line-like shape in which the discharge port 53 is formed in the shape of a horizontally long slit perpendicular to the conveyance direction A of the thermal recording medium 2, and is thus formed on the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2. Sprayed in a substantially vertical direction. By blowing this cooling air, the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 is rapidly cooled in a line. As a result, immediately after the rapid heating to the thermal recording medium 2 is completed, rapid cooling is performed, and the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 1 is colored, for example, solid black.

  Next, in the same manner as described above, the recording device 7 performs a main scan on the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 being conveyed by turning on and off the semiconductor laser 8 and turning on the semiconductor laser beam. Is irradiated onto the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 to record information such as characters, symbols, and patterns on the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2.

  As described above, according to the fifth embodiment, by providing the air blower 50 as a cooler, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained. Both the heater 30 and the air blower 50 are not in contact with the thermal recording medium 2, and the influence on the thermal recording medium 2 can be reduced. Further, since both the heating device 30 and the air blower 50 have a thin shape at each tip, the distance d between the heating device 30 and the air blower 50 can be narrowed, and the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 can be reduced. Rapid heating and rapid cooling can be ensured, and the thermal recording medium 2 can be uniformly colored, for example, black without being affected by fluctuations in the outside air temperature.

Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
FIG. 8 shows a configuration diagram of a printer to which a rapid thermal quenching device for a thermal recording medium is applied. The heater 60 and the cooler 61 are integrally provided via a Peltier element 62. A heating member 63 having high thermal conductivity is provided on one side surface of the Peltier element 62, that is, on the upstream side in the transport direction A of the thermal recording medium 2. The upstream side in the conveyance direction A of the thermal recording medium 2 of the Peltier element 62 is the high temperature side. However, a heater 60 is formed by the Peltier element 62 and the heating member 63. The heating member 63 is formed in a flat plate shape with a material having high thermal conductivity, for example. The lower end of the heating member 63 is formed in a line shape. The lower end of the heating member 63 is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction A of the thermal recording medium 2.

  A cooling member 64 with high thermal conductivity is provided on the other side surface of the Peltier element 62, that is, on the downstream side in the transport direction A of the thermal recording medium 2. The downstream side in the transport direction A of the thermal recording medium 2 of the Peltier element 62 is the low temperature side. However, the cooler 61 is formed by the Peltier element 62 and the cooling member 64. The cooling member 64 is formed in a flat plate shape with a material having high thermal conductivity, for example. The lower end of the heating member 63 is formed in a line shape. The lower end of the cooling member 64 is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction A of the thermal recording medium 2.

  The heating member 63 and the cooling member 64 are arranged in the transport direction A of the thermal recording medium 2 at an interval d determined by the thickness of the Peltier element 62. Since the thickness of the Peltier element 62 is thin, the distance d between the heating member 63 and the cooling member 64 can be arranged at the same distance d as the thickness of the Peltier element 62.

  Note that the heating member 63 and the cooling member 64 have their respective lower ends provided at a height position in contact with the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2, or have their respective lower ends with respect to the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2. The recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 may be disposed as close to the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 as possible.

Next, the uniform color development operation and recording operation of the thermal recording medium by the apparatus configured as described above will be described.
The thermal recording medium 2 is conveyed in the direction of arrow A by the movement of the conveyance belt 1, first reaches below the heating member 63, and contacts the lower end of the heating member 63. The heating member 63 is provided on the high temperature side of the Peltier element 62 and is heated by the Peltier element 62. Accordingly, the heating member 63 heats while being in contact with the recording surface of the conveyed thermal recording medium 2. Thereby, the line on the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 is rapidly heated and rapidly heated to the coloring temperature shown in FIG.

  Next, the thermal recording medium 2 is transported in the direction of arrow A by the movement of the transport belt 1, reaches below the cooling member 64, and contacts the lower end of the cooling member 64. The cooling member 64 is provided on the low temperature side of the Peltier element 62 and is cooled by the Peltier element 62. Therefore, cooling is performed while contacting the cooling member 64 and the recording surface of the conveyed thermal recording medium 2. Thereby, the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 is rapidly cooled in a line shape. As a result, immediately after the rapid heating to the thermal recording medium 2 is completed, rapid cooling is performed, and the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 1 is colored, for example, solid black.

  Next, in the same manner as described above, the recording device 7 performs a main scan on the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 being conveyed by turning on and off the semiconductor laser 8 and turning on the semiconductor laser beam. Is irradiated onto the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 to record information such as characters, symbols, and patterns on the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2.

  As described above, according to the sixth embodiment, the heating member 63 is provided on the high temperature side of the Peltier element 62, and the cooling member 64 is provided on the low temperature side of the Peltier element 62. By forming the above, the same effect as the first embodiment can be obtained. Since the distance d between the heating member 63 and the cooling member 64 can be arranged as narrow as the thickness of the Peltier element 62, rapid heating and rapid cooling of the recording surface of the thermosensitive recording medium 2 can be ensured, resulting in fluctuations in the outside air temperature. The thermal recording medium 2 can be uniformly colored, for example, black without being affected.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.
As means for rapid heating and rapid cooling of the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2, the following combinations of heaters and coolers are possible. Even if the heating machine 20 comprising the halogen lamp 22 and the hollow roller 21 shown in FIG. 4 and the cooling machine comprising the air blower 50 shown in FIG. 7 are combined, the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2 is rapidly heated and rapidly cooled. Good. 6 may be combined with a cooler comprising the air blower 50 shown in FIG. 7 to perform rapid heating and rapid cooling on the recording surface of the thermal recording medium 2.

1 is a configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of a printer to which a rapid thermal quenching device for a thermal recording medium according to the present invention is applied. FIG. The side surface block diagram in the same apparatus. The figure which shows the recording / erasing characteristic of the thermal recording medium used for the apparatus. The block diagram which shows 2nd Embodiment of the printer to which the rapid thermal quenching apparatus of the thermal recording medium which concerns on this invention is applied. The block diagram which shows 3rd Embodiment of the printer to which the rapid thermal quenching apparatus of the thermal recording medium which concerns on this invention is applied. The block diagram which shows 4th Embodiment of the printer to which the rapid thermal quenching apparatus of the thermal recording medium which concerns on this invention is applied. The block diagram which shows 5th Embodiment of the printer to which the rapid thermal quenching apparatus of the thermal recording medium which concerns on this invention is applied. The block diagram which shows 6th Embodiment of the printer to which the rapid thermal quenching apparatus of the thermal recording medium which concerns on this invention is applied.

Explanation of symbols

  1: transport belt, 2: thermal recording medium, 3: heating machine, 4: cooling machine, 5: heating side rotating roller, 6: cooling side rotating roller, 7: recording device, 8: semiconductor laser, 9: collimator lens, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10: Scanner, 11: LED light emission part, 12: Drive part, 20: Heating machine, 21: Hollow roller, 22: Halogen lamp, 23: Cooling machine, 24: Cooling water, 25: Circulation pump, 30: Heating machine 31: Halogen lamp, 32: Condensing mirror, 32a: Reflecting surface, 32b: Light exit port, 32c: Light emitting surface, 40: Linear heater, 50: Air blower, 51: Blower source, 52: Blower nozzle, 53: discharge port, 60: heating machine, 61: cooling machine, 62: Peltier element, 63: heating member, 64: cooling member.

Claims (14)

In a rapid and rapid cooling apparatus for a thermal recording medium that is conveyed in one direction and that uniformly develops or decolors the entire surface of a rewritable thermal recording medium that enables at least thermal recording.
A heater for heating the thermosensitive recording medium in a line shape in a direction perpendicular to the direction of conveyance;
A cooler that is arranged downstream of the heater in the transport direction and close to the heater and rapidly cools the thermal recording medium in a line perpendicular to the transport direction immediately after heating by the heater. When,
A rapid heating and quenching device for a thermal recording medium, comprising: The heater and the cooler are each formed in a cylindrical shape,
2. The rapid thermal quenching of a thermal recording medium according to claim 1, wherein each of the radii of each cylindrical shape is formed such that the radius of any one of the cylindrical shapes is larger than the radius of the other cylindrical shape. apparatus.   The rapid heating of the thermal recording medium according to claim 2, wherein each of the rotating rollers is disposed opposite to the heater and the cooler formed in the cylindrical shape via the thermal recording medium. Quenching device.   2. The rapid thermal quenching apparatus for a thermal recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the heater and the cooler are not in contact with the thermal recording medium, respectively. The heater has a cylindrical heat source that generates heat, a rotating cylindrical body that has the heat source disposed therein, and has high thermal conductivity that conducts heat generated from the heat source to the thermosensitive recording medium;
2. The rapid thermal quenching apparatus for a thermal recording medium according to claim 1, wherein:   6. The rapid thermal quenching apparatus for a thermal recording medium according to claim 5, wherein the heat generation source includes a light source that emits light or a heater that generates heat.   7. The rapid thermal quenching apparatus for a thermal recording medium according to claim 6, wherein the light source includes a halogen lamp. The light source has a halogen lamp, and a condenser mirror that reflects and collects the lamp light emitted from the halogen lamp,
7. The rapid thermal quenching apparatus for a thermal recording medium according to claim 6, wherein the condensing mirror irradiates the thermal recording medium with the lamp light obliquely from above the thermal recording medium.   6. The rapid thermal quenching device for a thermal recording medium according to claim 5, wherein the rotating cylindrical body has a metallic roller.   2. The rapid thermal quenching apparatus for a thermal recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the heater has a linearly formed heater.   2. The rapid thermal quenching apparatus for a thermal recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the cooling machine has a cylindrical cooling pipe through which the cooling medium flows and rotates.   2. The rapid thermal quenching device for a thermal recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the cooler has an air blower for blowing cooling air to the thermal recording medium. The heater is composed of a Peltier element and a heating member with high thermal conductivity provided on one side of the Peltier element,
The cooler includes the Peltier element and a cooling member with high thermal conductivity provided on the other side surface of the Peltier element,
2. The rapid thermal quenching apparatus for a thermal recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the heater and the cooler are integrally provided via the Peltier element. A rapid heating and quenching device for a thermal recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 13,
A recording apparatus for recording information on the thermal recording medium in which the entire surface is uniformly colored or erased by the rapid thermal quenching apparatus;
A printer comprising:

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