JP3501522B2 - Optical card and method for manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical card used for credit cards, cash cards, medical cards and the like, and a method for manufacturing the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a card-type recording medium, an optical card having a storage capacity larger than that of a magnetic card or an IC card has been developed. There are a ROM type, a write-once type, and an erasable type as the recording system of this optical card, and a recording medium and a structure of each are being studied. Among such optical cards, those in which an optical recording member is embedded in a card base material in an island shape are known (for example,
See Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 22222/1990).

[0003]

The embedded optical card described in the prior art has the advantage that it can have other functions by effectively utilizing the area other than the optical recording surface. Since the recording member is embedded in the rectangular recess formed on the card base material with an adhesive, repeated bending of the card may cause cracks in the recess or the optical recording member may pop out. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a light resistant to bending despite the fact that an optical recording member is embedded in a card base material. It is to provide a card and a manufacturing method thereof.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, an optical card according to the present invention comprises an optical recording member having a planar rectangular shape in which an optical recording layer is laminated so as to cover a track pattern on the back surface of a transparent protective layer. An optical card which is embedded in a card base material with its surface exposed, wherein the transparent protective layer is provided with flange portions on at least both sides in the longitudinal direction due to a step from the surface side, The optical recording member is embedded in and bonded to the card base material such that a part of the card base material covers the brim portion and a surface of a protruding portion excluding the brim portion is exposed from the card base material. The optical card of this configuration is characterized by the following 3
Manufactured in one of two ways.

In the first manufacturing method, the card base material is composed of a back sheet and a front sheet, and a recess is formed in the back sheet so as to be embedded below the flange portion of the optical recording member. An opening having a size corresponding to the projecting portion is formed in the front sheet having the same thickness as the projecting portion of the member, and the optical recording member is adhesively fixed or fitted into the recess of the back sheet, and then the front sheet is The opening is fitted to the protruding portion of the optical recording member, and the whole is adhered by being superposed on the upper surface of the back side sheet.

In the second manufacturing method, the card substrate is composed of a back sheet, an intermediate sheet and a front sheet, and the flange portion is fitted to the intermediate sheet having the same thickness as the flange portion of the optical recording member. In addition to forming an opening having a size, an opening having a size corresponding to the protruding portion is formed on the front sheet having the same thickness as the protruding portion of the optical recording member, the back sheet and the intermediate sheet are overlapped, and the opening of the intermediate sheet is formed. After fitting the optical recording member in the recess formed by
The front side sheet is superposed on the upper surface of the intermediate sheet so that the opening fits into the protruding portion of the optical recording member, and the entire sheet is bonded.

In the third manufacturing method, the card substrate is composed of a back side sheet and a front side sheet, and the front side sheet having the same thickness as the optical recording member has a step in which the optical recording member is fitted from the back side. The opening is formed in advance, the optical recording member is bonded and fixed to the opening, and then the back side sheet is attached to the back surface of the front side sheet.

[0009]

In the optical card having the above-mentioned structure, the optical recording member is in a state in which the flange portion is pressed by the front side sheet,
When the card is bent, the optical recording member does not pop out of the card base material, and the stress against bending is relieved, so that the card base material does not bend.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an optical card according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic view taken along line XX in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, this optical card has a form in which a planar rectangular optical recording member 1 is embedded in a card substrate 2 with its surface exposed. As shown in FIG. 2, the optical recording member 1 includes a transparent protective layer 5 having a surface hardened layer 3 on the upper surface and a track pattern 4 on the lower surface, and an optical recording layer 6 laminated to cover the track pattern 4. The transparent protective layer 5 is provided with flange portions 5a on both sides in the longitudinal direction due to a step from the surface side thereof. Then, a part of the card base material 2 covers the brim portion 5 and the surface of the protruding portion 5b of the transparent protective layer 5 excluding the brim portion 5a is exposed from the card base material 2. It is embedded in 2 and is adhesively fixed by the adhesive layer 7. It is preferable that the surface of the protruding portion 5b is flush with the card substrate 2, but it may be slightly protruding or recessed.

The optical recording member 1 having the above-mentioned shape is prepared as follows. First, an optical recording member is prepared in which the surface hardened layer 3 is formed on one surface of the transparent protective layer 5 and the pattern layer of the track pattern 4 and the optical recording layer 6 are formed on the other surface. Cutting the end face of
A step is provided to form a predetermined shape. A protective layer is provided so as not to damage the optical recording layer 6 during this cutting. As the protective layer, an acrylic type, vinyl chloride-based type, polyester type, or the like that does not affect the optical recording layer is used. If a protective film is used, it is not necessary to provide this protective layer.

The material used for the transparent protective layer 5 must have a small birefringence. Specifically, polycarbonate (PC), polymethylmethacrylate (PMM
A), acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer (AS),
Cellulose propionate (CP), cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB), polyvinyl chloride (PV
C), polyester and the like can be used, and among them, polycarbonate (PC) having a thickness of about 400 μm is suitable.

The pattern layer formed on the other surface of the transparent protective layer 5 is formed by generally known 2P method, injection method, casting method or the like. At this time, when the pattern is formed by the 2P method, a UV-curable resin is used, and by the injection method or the casting method, the same transparent protective layer 5 is used. It should be noted that this pattern layer is prepared by filling it, except that it has a dove capable of cutting. This is because the optical recording material is effectively used.

The optical recording layer 6 includes, in addition to the commonly used metal-based optical recording materials such as tellurium and bismuth,
Phthalocyanine-based and naphthoquinone-based dye recording materials can be used. Further, not only the write-once type but also the ROM type may be used.

The optical recording member 1 having the above-mentioned shape can be prepared by the following method. First, a transparent protective layer 5 with a track pattern 4 is formed by a generally known injection method or casting method using a resin such as polycarbonate or acrylic. At this time, a step is provided on the end surface of the transparent protective layer 5 to form a predetermined shape. Then, the surface hardened layer 3 is formed on the side opposite to the track pattern 4, and the optical recording layer 6 is formed on the surface of the track pattern 4. The surface hardened layer 3,
As the optical recording layer 6, the same one as described above is used.

There are roughly three methods for manufacturing the optical card shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 by embedding the optical recording member 1 manufactured as described above in the card base material 2. Next, this manufacturing method is used. This will be described with reference to FIGS. In these figures, the surface protection layer 3 and the track pattern 4 of the optical recording member 1 are omitted.

In the first manufacturing method, as shown in FIG. 3A, the card base material 2 is formed on the back sheet 11 and the front sheet 12.
It consists of and. Among them, the back sheet 11 has a three-layer structure in which a core sheet 11a made of opalescent polyvinyl chloride and oversheets 11b made of transparent polyvinyl chloride are laminated on both sides. A pattern or the like is printed on both sides of the core sheet 11a. On the other hand, as the front side sheet 12, a transparent polyvinyl chloride sheet having the same thickness as the protruding portion 5b of the optical recording member 1 is used. Then, the back sheet 11 is formed with a recess 13 that is embedded below the collar portion 5a of the optical recording member 1, and the front sheet 12 is formed with an opening 14 having a size corresponding to the protruding portion 1b. In this way, the back side sheet 11 and the front side sheet 12 are processed, and first,
The optical recording member 1 is provided in the recess 13 of the back sheet 11 with the adhesive layer 7
Fixed through.

As the adhesive used for the adhesive layer 7, conventionally known adhesives such as urethane type, epoxy type, acrylic type, vinyl type and amide type can be used, but the adhesive layer 7 is in direct contact with the optical recording layer 6. Therefore, it is preferable that the recording sensitivity is good and the temperature and humidity suitability is excellent. UV as the adhesion method
After the curable adhesive is dripped into the concave portion 13, the optical recording member 1 is fitted and pressed with a flat press corresponding to the size of the optical recording member 1 and then irradiated with ultraviolet rays, or the optical recording member 1 is irradiated. There is a method in which a hot-melt adhesive is applied by a T-die and then hot-pressed by a flat press or a roll press for adhesion. It is also possible to adhere using a double-sided adhesive tape. Further, when the track pattern and the optical recording layer 6 are formed on one surface of the transparent protective layer 5,
A plastic hot melt adhesive is applied on the optical recording layer 6, and the optical recording member laminated up to the adhesive layer 7 is cut into a predetermined shape, and the optical recording is performed in the recess 13 of the backside sheet 11. Alternatively, the member 1 may be fitted and heat-pressed with a flat press or a roll press to bond them.

Next, the transparent front side sheet 12 is adhered to the upper surface of the back side sheet 11 so that the opening 15 fits into the protruding portion 1b of the optical recording member. In this case, the adhesive layer 15 may be provided on the back surface of the front side sheet 12 by applying a hot melt adhesive, and the back side sheet 11 may be superposed and then hot pressed by a flat press or a roll press for adhesion. Since this adhesive layer 15 is not related to the optical recording layer 6,
A material having a strong adhesive force can be used.

When transparent vinyl chloride is used for the front side sheet 12, the front side sheet 1 as shown in FIG. 3 (b).
(2) The adhesive layer 15 on the back surface may be provided only at a place corresponding to the flange portion 5a, and the other portions may be bonded by heat fusion. In any case, the optical recording member 1
It is also possible to perform the adhesion of the inside of the concave portion 13 and the bonding of the front side sheet 12 and the back side sheet 11 at the same time.

In the second manufacturing method, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the card base material 2 is attached to the back side sheet 21 and the intermediate sheet 22.
And the front side sheet 23. Of these, the back sheet 2
1, a transparent polyvinyl chloride sheet having a predetermined thickness, an intermediate sheet 22 is a milky polyvinyl chloride sheet having the same thickness as the flange portion 5a of the optical recording member 1, and a front sheet 23 is a protrusion of the optical recording member 1. A transparent polyvinyl chloride sheet having the same thickness as the portion 5b is used, and a pattern or the like is printed on both sides of the intermediate sheet 22. And the intermediate sheet 2
An opening 2 sized to fit the collar portion 5a of the optical recording member 1 into the opening 2
4 is formed, and the optical recording member 1 is formed on the front sheet 23.
An opening 25 having a size corresponding to the projecting portion 5b of is formed. Further, the adhesive layer 26 is provided on the back surface of the front sheet 23 by applying a hot melt adhesive or the like.

Thus, the intermediate sheet 22 and the front sheet 2
3 is processed, and first, the intermediate sheet 22 is overlaid on the back sheet 21 and temporarily fixed. Then, after the optical recording member 1 is fitted into the recess formed by the opening 24 and temporarily fixed,
The front side sheet 23 is superposed on the upper surface of the intermediate sheet 22 so that the opening 25 of the front side sheet 23 fits into the protruding portion 5b of the optical recording member 1, and then the whole is hot pressed. As a result, the back side sheet 21 and the intermediate sheet 22 are adhered by heat fusion, and the optical recording member 1 is adhered and fixed to the card base material 2 at the portions of the adhesive layers 7 and 26. Since the adhesive layer 26 is not related to the optical recording layer 6, a material having a strong adhesive force can be used.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4B, the adhesive layer 26 on the back surface of the front sheet 23 may be provided only at the portion corresponding to the flange portion 5a, and the other portions may be attached by heat fusion. As the back sheet 21, a back sheet 11 having a three-layer structure like the back sheet 11 described in the first manufacturing method is used, and a similar pattern is printed on the back sheet 11, and the intermediate sheet 22 and the front sheet 23 are used. May be a transparent sheet.

In the third manufacturing method, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), the card substrate 2 is provided with the back sheet 31 and the front sheet 32.
It consists of and. Of these, a milky polyvinyl chloride sheet having a predetermined thickness is used for the back side sheet 31, a transparent polyvinyl chloride sheet having the same thickness as the optical recording member 1 is used for the front side sheet 32, and a design or the like is provided on the inner surface side of the back side sheet 31. Be sure to print it. Alternatively, a milky polyvinyl chloride sheet may be used as the front side sheet 32, a transparent polyvinyl chloride sheet may be used as the back side sheet 31, and a pattern or the like may be printed on the inner surface side of the front side sheet 32. Then, a stepped opening 33 into which the optical recording member 1 is fitted from the back side is formed in the front sheet 32 by cutting, and first, the optical recording member 1 is adhesively fixed to this opening 33 via an adhesive layer 34. . Then, the back sheet 31 is attached to the back surface of the front sheet 32 via the adhesive layer 7. In this case, the optical recording member 1 is also adhesively fixed to the backside sheet 31 by this adhesive layer 7.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, the adhesive layer 7 on the inner surface of the back sheet 3 is provided only on the portion corresponding to the optical recording layer 6, and the other portions are attached by heat fusion. Good.

As shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b),
The collar portion 5a formed on the transparent protective layer 5 of the optical recording member 1 may be inclined. The point is that the brim portion should prevent the optical recording member from popping out while it is embedded in the card base material. Further, it is desirable that the shape of the embedding portion formed on the card base material 2 conforms to the shape of the optical recording member 1, but even if there is a slight gap, it is filled with an adhesive, so there is not much problem. Further, a gap may be provided between the card base material 2 and a portion other than the bottom surface of the optical recording member 1. This gap is the optical recording member 1
When it is bonded, it becomes a pool of adhesive. When the adhesive is also on the side surface of the optical recording member 1, the bendability is further improved.

In order to diversify the use of cards,
As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, a magnetic stripe 8 is provided on the same surface or the opposite surface of the optical recording member 1 or both surfaces of the card substrate 2, or an IC is formed on the same surface or the opposite surface of the optical recording member 1.
The module 9 may be provided. Further, it is of course possible to apply embossing to a region avoiding these.

[0030]

As described above, in the optical card of the present invention, the transparent protective layer of the optical recording member is provided with the flange portions on both sides in the longitudinal direction, and a part of the card base material covers the flange portion and the flange portion. By embedding and fixing the optical recording member in the card base material so that the surface of the projecting part except for is exposed from the card base material, the periphery of the optical recording member is pressed down, and the optical recording during bending Since the members are prevented from popping out, it is possible to obtain an optical card that is resistant to bending.

Since the optical recording member is embedded in a part of the card substrate, by utilizing the remaining area of the card substrate, an optical card of a form that could not be manufactured up to now, for example, a magnetic stripe is formed on both sides. Optical card,
It is possible to manufacture an embossed optical card, an optical card in which the optical recording unit and the IC module are not on the same surface, and the like.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an optical card according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view taken along the line XX in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the first manufacturing method.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the second manufacturing method.

FIG. 5 is a drawing for explaining the third manufacturing method.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of the shape of the optical recording member.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of an optical card provided with a magnetic stripe on the same surface as an optical recording member.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an example of an optical card in which a magnetic stripe and an IC module are provided on the same surface as an optical recording member.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Optical recording member 2 card base material 4 track pattern 5 Transparent protective layer 5a Collar part 5b protruding part 6 Optical recording layer 7 Adhesive layer 11 Back sheet 12 front sheet 13 recess 14 openings 21 Back sheet 22 Intermediate sheet 23 Front sheet 24 openings 25 openings 31 Back Sheet 32 front sheet 33 openings

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-6-150386 (JP, A) JP-A-62-202796 (JP, A) JP-A-62-271797 (JP, A) JP-A-3- 114788 (JP, A) JP-A-3-202397 (JP, A) Actual development 2-22299 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06K 19/00 G06K 19 / 06 B42D 15/10

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An optical card in which an optical recording member having a planar rectangular shape in which an optical recording layer is laminated so as to cover a track pattern on the back surface of a transparent protective layer is embedded in a card base material with its surface exposed. The transparent protective layer is provided with flange portions at least on both sides in the longitudinal direction due to a step from the surface side, and a part of the card base material covers the flange portion and protrudes except the flange portion. An optical card, wherein the optical recording member is embedded in and adhered to the card base material such that a surface of a portion of the optical recording member is exposed from the card base material. 2. The method for manufacturing an optical card according to claim 1, wherein the card base material is composed of a back side sheet and a front side sheet, and the back side sheet is embedded below a flange portion of the optical recording member. A recess is formed, and an opening having a size corresponding to the protruding portion is formed in the front sheet having the same thickness as the protruding portion of the optical recording member, and the optical recording member is adhesively fixed in the recess of the back sheet. A method for manufacturing an optical card, characterized in that, after being fitted in, the front side sheet is superposed on the upper surface of the back side sheet so that the opening fits in the protruding portion of the optical recording member and the whole is adhered. 3. The method for manufacturing an optical card according to claim 1, wherein the card base material is composed of a back sheet, an intermediate sheet and a front sheet, and has an intermediate thickness of the same as that of the flange portion of the optical recording member. An opening having a size to fit the flange portion is formed in the sheet, and an opening having a size corresponding to the protruding portion is formed in a front sheet having the same thickness as the protruding portion of the optical recording member, and a back sheet and an intermediate sheet are formed. And the optical recording member is fitted into the recess formed by the opening of the intermediate sheet, and the front side sheet is stacked on the upper surface of the intermediate sheet so that the opening fits in the protruding portion of the optical recording member. A method of manufacturing an optical card, which comprises bonding the whole together. 4. The method for manufacturing an optical card according to claim 1, wherein the card base material is composed of a back side sheet and a front side sheet, and the front side sheet having the same thickness as the optical recording member is attached to the front side sheet. Is formed with a stepped opening that fits in from the back side, the optical recording member is bonded and fixed to the opening, and then the back side sheet is attached to the back side of the front side sheet.