JP4406925B2 - Thermal recording device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a thermal recording apparatus that performs recording using a recording medium that can be reversibly recorded and erased by heating.

  Recording media that can be recorded and erased reversibly by heating can be recorded by heating means such as a thermal head and the recorded information can be erased, so that the recorded information can be easily rewritten. it can. Therefore, it is suitable for a point card for shopping or the like that requires frequent rewriting, such as rewriting every time information such as a use date and a remaining amount display recorded on the card is used.

  When such a recording medium is used, if new recording is performed with the recorded information being incompletely erased, the recorded information overlaps and becomes very difficult to see. Various proposals have been made to do this.

For example, in Patent Document 1, in a decoloring apparatus for a reversible thermosensitive recording medium, the decoloring temperature is applied a plurality of times, and the decoloring temperature application for decreasing the decoloring temperature to be applied each time the number of times increases. The point which provided the means is described. In Patent Document 2, the rewrite card is reciprocated on the thermal head, and the erasing energy (preliminary heating) applied in the forward direction and the erasing energy applied in the backward direction are combined, whereby the recording layer of the rewritable card is recorded. The point which made the heating uniform is described.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-52422 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-78082

  In the above-mentioned prior literature, the thermal head recording medium is heated a plurality of times to change the decoloring temperature stepwise, or the applied energy is changed when reciprocating, and complicated heating control is performed. ing. Thus, repeatedly performing heating control has the disadvantages that it takes time to perform erasure and the overall processing time becomes long. Further, since the heating control is repeatedly processed, the apparatus itself becomes complicated, and it is difficult to make the apparatus compact.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a thermal recording apparatus that can perform an erasing process reliably and efficiently by a simple control process.

A thermal apparatus according to the present invention includes a recording medium that can be reversibly recorded and erased by heating, a thermal head, a moving unit that relatively moves the recording medium and the thermal head, and the moving unit. In a thermal recording apparatus comprising a control means for recording or erasing the recording medium by controlling the movement and heating the thermal head by energizing the thermal head for a predetermined time at predetermined intervals, the temperature in the vicinity of the thermal head is detected. Detection means, and storage means for storing a reference value corresponding to the detected temperature data and indicating a range that can be erased by energizing the thermal head for a predetermined time. The control means includes: Reading means for reading the corresponding reference value from the storage means based on the detected temperature data, and reading the set erase range data of the recording medium And a comparing means for comparing the reference value, the erasing range data is divided into erase range corresponding to the reference value if the large and the comparing means than said reference value is determined the recording medium and wherein the TURMERIC line to erase. Furthermore, before Symbol control means, and performs the heating control of the thermal head by a predetermined drive signal in the erase range corresponding to the reference value.

  By having the configuration as described above, when the temperature in the vicinity of the thermal head is detected and the erase range data set is larger than the reference value corresponding to the detected temperature data, the erase range corresponding to the reference value Since the erasing is divided into two, the control process related to erasing can be simplified. That is, when performing a predetermined heat treatment necessary for erasing, it is stored in advance as a reference value to what extent the temperature can be reliably erased depending on the temperature near the thermal head, and an erasing range larger than the reference value is set. In this case, the set erasure range can be surely erased by dividing the erasure range corresponding to the reference value and performing a predetermined heat treatment in each erasure range. Since the erase range set as in the prior art is not repeatedly erased, it can be erased efficiently.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram in the case where information recorded on the recording medium 100 is erased by the thermal head 101. As shown in FIG. 4A, the thermal head 101 is heated and slid on the recording medium 100 and moved by a distance D. As shown in FIG. 4C, the thermal head 101 is controlled to move after being energized and heated for a predetermined time T1 from time t0. The energy applied to the recording medium 100 by energization of the thermal head 101 is close to the upper limit E1 of energy necessary for erasing. Thus, when the thermal head 101 is moved after energy for erasing is applied to the recording medium, the thermal head 101 heats the recording medium 100 while moving, but diffusion of heat due to constant contact with the card. For example, the energy applied to the recording medium gradually decreases as shown in FIG. When the energy is lower than the lower limit E2 required for erasing, erasing by the thermal head 101 becomes incomplete. Accordingly, since the recording medium 100 is surely erased during the distance D1 from when the thermal head 101 starts to move until the applied energy decreases from the lower limit E2, it is erased by the distance D1 and then again for the time T1. If energized, the remaining portion can be erased reliably.

  For the above reasons, a range in which the recording medium can be surely erased when a predetermined thermal head heating control is performed is stored as a reference value (distance D1 in FIG. 4), and based on the reference value. If the erasing range is divided and the respective heating control is performed (in FIG. 4, erasing by the distance D1 and then energizing again for the time T1), reliable erasing can be performed. The range where the erase is surely performed by the predetermined heating control changes depending on the environmental temperature in the vicinity of the thermal head. Therefore, the erase range corresponding to each temperature is determined and stored as a reference value. If the corresponding reference value is read and erase control is performed on the basis of the detected temperature, the erasing process of the recording medium can be surely performed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail. The embodiments described below are preferable specific examples for carrying out the present invention, and thus various technical limitations are made. However, the present invention is particularly limited in the following description. Unless otherwise specified, the present invention is not limited to these forms.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a card processing apparatus 1 provided with a thermal recording apparatus according to the present invention. The card processing apparatus 1 includes a lower frame 2 and an upper frame 3, and a predetermined interval is provided between the upper surface plate 4 of the lower frame 2 and the bottom surface plate 5 of the upper frame 3 so that the card transport path 6 is formed. Is formed.

  A card insertion portion 7 is provided on the front end side (right side in FIG. 1) of the lower frame 2, and a card insertion port 8 communicating with the card transport path 6 is formed in the card insertion portion 7. A card discharge port 9 is formed on the rear end side (left side in FIG. 1) of the card transport path 6.

  Conveying roller pairs 10a and 10b are disposed in the hole 4a formed in the top plate 4 and the hole 5a formed in the bottom plate 5 so as to face the hole 4a. Conveying roller pairs 11a and 11b are arranged in the hole 4c and the hole 5c formed in the bottom plate 5 so as to face the hole 4c. The transport rollers 10a and 11a are pivotally supported by the lower frame 2 and are rotationally driven by a stepping motor 12 via a drive transmission mechanism (not shown). A known gear mechanism or belt mechanism can be used as the drive transmission mechanism. The transport rollers 10b and 11b are pivotally supported by the upper frame 3, and are pressed against the transport rollers 10a and 11a by urging means (not shown).

  Between the two conveying roller pairs, a thermal head 13 and a platen roller 14 are disposed in a hole 4b drilled in the top plate 4 and a hole 5b drilled in the bottom plate 5 opposite to the hole 4b. ing. The thermal head 13 is pivotally supported by the lower frame 2 and is reciprocally swung as indicated by an arrow by a solenoid (not shown). The platen roller 14 is pivotally supported by the upper frame 3 so that a thermal head 13 that reciprocally swings is separated from and connected to the platen roller 14.

Further, a magnetic head 15 and a touch roller 16 are disposed in parallel with the transport rollers 10a and 10b (the back side in FIG. 1). The magnetic head 15 is fixed to the lower frame 2, and the touch roller 16 is pivotally supported on the upper frame 3 so as to be in pressure contact with the magnetic head 15 by an urging means (not shown).
A card detection sensor 17 is disposed at a position entering the card transport path 6 from the card insertion port 8 of the upper frame 3, and a temperature detection sensor 18 is disposed near the thermal head 13 of the lower frame 2. Yes.

  The card CA is provided with a known magnetic stripe for performing magnetic recording and a known recording medium capable of recording or erasing information by heating.

  FIG. 2 shows a circuit block configuration diagram of the card processing apparatus 1. The control unit 20 includes an arithmetic processing device such as a CPU, and performs control processing for the entire device. The external interface 21 transmits / receives information to / from an external system. The ROM 22 stores programs and setting data necessary for control processing, and also stores a reference value table 30 described later. As the ROM 22, for example, information can be easily written by using an EEPROM or a flash memory. The RAM 23 stores data necessary for processing by the control unit 20. As the RAM 23, for example, an SRAM can be used to read and write information at high speed. The magnetic recording / reproducing circuit 24 is a circuit for outputting a write signal to the magnetic head 15 based on a control signal from the control unit 20 and outputting a signal read by the magnetic head 15 to the control unit 20. The motor driver circuit 25 is a circuit that outputs a drive signal to the stepping motor 12 based on a control signal from the control unit 20.

  The reference value table 30 stores a reference value Dr corresponding to the temperature data K as shown in FIG. As described with reference to FIG. 4, the reference value Dr indicates the erasable range in the case where the thermal head is energized for the time T1 and controlled in response to the temperature data indicating the environmental temperature in the vicinity of the thermal head. In this example, the number of steps of the stepping motor 12 when the thermal head is heated and controlled while carrying the card at a predetermined carrying speed is stored. The reference value Dr is set for each temperature data within a predetermined range, and is set such that the reference value Dr decreases as the temperature decreases.

  Next, the operation of the card processing apparatus 1 will be described. When the card CA is inserted into the card transport path 6 from the insertion port 8, the card detection sensor 17 detects the front end of the card. When the card is detected, the control unit 20 transmits a control signal to the motor driver circuit 25 based on the detection signal, the stepping motor 12 starts to rotate, and accordingly, the transport rollers 10a and 11a are driven to rotate. When the card CA is inserted into the card transport path 6, the front end is sandwiched between the transport rollers 10a and 10b, and the card CA is carried into the apparatus. The carried-in card CA is checked whether the card is authentic, and then conveyed while being held between the magnetic head 15 and the touch roller 16, and the magnetic recording information recorded on the card CA is read. Meanwhile, the thermal head 13 is set at a retracted position separated from the platen 14 by the thermal head solenoid 26 and does not come into contact with the card CA.

  When recording on the recording medium of the card CA by the thermal head 13, the card CA is conveyed by the thermal head solenoid 26 after the card CA is conveyed so that the thermal head is positioned at the recording start position of the recording medium of the card CA. Rotate to an operating position that presses against CA. The card CA is sandwiched between the platen 14 and the thermal head 13, and when the thermal head 13 is heated and controlled for one line of recording, the stepping motor 12 is rotated by a predetermined number of steps to rotate the card CA for one line. Carry a minute. Necessary information is recorded by repeating such a recording operation.

  When the information recorded on the recording medium of the card CA is erased by the thermal head 13, the processing flow shown in FIG. 3 is performed. First, the erase range on the recording medium is set, and the step number D of the stepping motor 12 corresponding to the number of lines in the erase range is set as erase range data together with the erase start position data (S100). Next, temperature data is detected based on a detection signal from the temperature detection sensor 18 (S101), and a reference value Dr corresponding to the temperature data is read from the reference value table 30 of the ROM 22 based on the detected temperature data (S101). S102).

  Then, the erase range data D and the reference value Dr are compared (S103), and if it is determined that the erase range data D is larger than the reference value Dr, an erase control process based on the reference value Dr is performed ( S104). Here, after the conveyance control of the card CA is performed so that the thermal head 13 is positioned at the erasing start position, the thermal head 13 is energized for a time T1 as shown in FIG. The upper limit E1 of energy required for erasing is applied to the recording medium of the card CA. Thereafter, the stepping motor 12 is driven and rotated by the number of steps of the reference value Dr, and an erasing process in a range corresponding to the reference value Dr is performed.

  A value obtained by subtracting the reference value Dr from the erase range data D after the erase process is set in the erase range data D, and the process returns to step S103 (S105). When both are compared again and the erase range data D is large, the erase process in step S104 is repeated. Therefore, the erasure range is divided and processed in the range corresponding to the reference value Dr. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), the thermal head 13 is energized at time T1 at a predetermined interval to control heating, and the interval corresponds to the reference value Dr as shown in FIG. 6 (b). Therefore, the erasing process is surely performed without lowering the energy E2 required for erasing. Since the predetermined erasing process is repeatedly performed, the control process is simplified.

In step S103, if the erase range data D is smaller than the reference value Dr, an erase process is performed based on the erase range data (S106). Here, the thermal head 13 is energized for a time T1 to perform heating control, and the stepping motor 12 is driven and rotated by the number of steps of the erasure range data D, and the range corresponding to the erasure range data D is erased. In this case, since the erase range data D is small again Ri by reference value Dr, the thermal head 13 when the same heat control and step S104, it is possible to reliably erase process.

  As described above, a range that can be reliably erased by a predetermined erasing process is stored as a reference value, and the erasing range is divided and erased based on the reference value. Can also be simplified.

  Incidentally, in the above example, each means of the present invention is such that the transport rollers 10a, 10b, 11a and 11b are moving means, the temperature detection sensor 18 is a detection means, the ROM 22 is a storage means, and the control unit 20 is a control means. Although it corresponds, it is not limited to these.

  In the above-described example, the thermal head is energized for the time T1 in order to perform the erasing process. However, a plurality of driving pulses may be applied within a range where similar erasing is possible. It is also possible to adjust appropriately by changing the pulse period and duty ratio.

It is a schematic sectional drawing regarding the card processing apparatus provided with embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a circuit block block diagram of a card processing apparatus. It is a flow regarding an erasing process. It is explanatory drawing regarding erase | elimination operation | movement. It is explanatory drawing regarding a reference value table. It is explanatory drawing regarding an erasure | elimination process.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Card processing apparatus, 2 ... Lower frame, 3 ... Upper frame, 10 ... Conveyance roller, 11 ... Conveyance roller, 12 ... Stepping motor, 13 ... Thermal head, 14 ... Platen roller, 18 ... Temperature detection sensor.

Claims (2)

A recording medium capable of reversible recording and erasing by heating, a thermal head, a moving means for relatively moving the recording medium and the thermal head, and moving the movement means to control the thermal head. In a thermal recording apparatus provided with a control means for performing recording or erasing on the recording medium by conducting heating control by energizing for a predetermined time at predetermined intervals ,
Detection means for detecting the temperature in the vicinity of the thermal head, and storage means for storing a reference value corresponding to the detected temperature data and indicating a range that can be erased by energizing the thermal head for a predetermined time ,
The control means reads out a corresponding reference value from the storage means based on the temperature data detected by the detection means;
And a comparing means for comparing the set reference values read and erase range data of said recording medium, said reference if the deletion range data is determined as large as the comparing means than the reference value thermal recording apparatus according to claim and TURMERIC line erasing of the recording medium is divided into erase range corresponding to the value. Before SL control means, thermal recording apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating control of the thermal head by a predetermined drive signal in the erase range corresponding to the reference value.

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