Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Collapsible article
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-15
2001-05-08
Hess, Bruce H. (Department: 1774)
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Collapsible article
C428S034100, C428S034900, C428S035700, C428S036900, C428S195100, C428S913000, C346S076100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06228441
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image-recording substrate coated with an image-developing layer, an image-recording apparatus for developing and recording an image on the image-developing layer of the image-recording substrate, and an image-erasing apparatus for erasing a developed and recorded image from the image-developing layer of the image-recording substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a representative type of image-recording substrate coated with an image-developing layer, a photographic paper coated with a photosensitive emulsion layer is well known. Of course, after an optical image is once developed and recorded on the photographic paper, it is impossible to erase the recorded image from the photographic paper. Namely, the photographic paper cannot be repeatedly used for recording an image.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a rewriteable image-recording substrate coated with an image-developing layer, on which an image can be eraseably developed and recorded.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an image-recording apparatus for developing and recording an image on such a rewritable image-recording substrate.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an image-erasing apparatus for erasing a developed and recorded image from such a rewriteable image-recording substrate.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rewriteable image-recording substrate comprising a base member, and an image-developing layer, that coats a surface of the base member, composed of a plurality of split-tube elements formed of a shape memory resin exhibiting a predetermined glass-transition temperature. A split is formed along a central axis of each of the split-tube elements, and the each split-tube element is securely adhered to the surface of the base member such that the split is oriented away from the surface of the base member. An outer peripheral surface of the each split-tube element is colored with a first single-color, an inner cylindrical surface of the each split-tube element is colored with a second single-color.
Preferably, the surface of the base member exhibits the first single-color. The first single-color may be white, and the second single-color may be black.
In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, there is also provided an image-recording apparatus, that develops and records an image on the image-developing layer according to the first aspect of the present invention, comprises a thermal heater that selectively heats a localized area of the image-developing layer of the image-recording substrate to a temperature beyond the predetermined glass-transition temperature in accordance with image-pixel information, and a pressure applicator that exerts a predetermined pressure on the localized area, heated by the thermal heater, such that a split-tube element, included in the localized area, is deformed and spread out so as to exhibit the second single-color.
Preferably, the image-recording apparatus further comprises a cooling unit that cools the deformed and spread-out element to a temperature below the predetermined glass-transition temperature.
In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, there is further provided an image-erasing apparatus that erases an image, developed and recorded by the image-recording apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, on the image-developing layer of the image-recording substrate, comprising a thermal heater that heats the image-recording substrate to a temperature beyond the predetermined glass-transition temperature.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rewriteable image-recording substrate comprising a base member, and an image-developing layer, that coats a surface of the base member, composed of a plurality of split-tube elements including a first type of split-tube element formed of a shape memory resin exhibiting a first predetermined glass-transition temperature, and a second type of split-tube element formed of a shape memory resin exhibiting a second predetermined glass-transition temperature. The first and second types of split-tube elements are regularly and uniformly oriented and arranged over the surface of the base member. A split is formed along a central axis of each of the split-tube elements, and the each split-tube element is securely adhered to the surface of the base member such that the split is oriented away from the surface of the base member. An outer peripheral surface of the first and second types of split-tube elements is colored with a first single-color. An inner cylindrical surface of the first type of split-tube element is colored with a second single-color, and an inner cylindrical surface of the second type of split-tube element being colored with a third single-color. Preferably, the surface of the base member exhibits the first single-color, which may be white.
In accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, there is also provided an image-recording apparatus that develops and records a color image on the image-developing layer of the image-recording substrate according to the second aspect of the present invention, comprising a first thermal heater that selectively heats a localized area of the image-developing layer of the image-recording substrate to a temperature beyond the first predetermined glass-transition temperature in accordance with first image-pixel information, first pressure applicator that exerts a first predetermined pressure on the localized area, heated by the first thermal heater, such that only the first type of split-tube element, included in the localized area, is deformed and spread-out to exhibit the second single-color, a second thermal heater that selectively heats a localized area of the image-developing layer of the image-recording substrate to a temperature beyond the second predetermined glass-transition temperature in accordance with second image-pixel information, and a second pressure applicator that exerts a second predetermined pressure on the localized area, heated by the second thermal heater, such that only the second type of split-tube element, included in the localized area, is deformed and spread-out to exhibit the third single-color.
Preferably, the image-recording apparatus further comprises a first cooling unit that cools the first type of deformed and spread-out element to a temperature below the first predetermined glass-transition temperature, and a second cooling unit that cools the second type of deformed and spread-out element to a temperature below the second predetermined glass-transition temperature.
In accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, there is further provided an image-erasing apparatus that erases a color image, developed and recorded by the image-recording apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, on the image-developing layer of the image-recording substrate, comprising a thermal heater that heats the image-recording substrate to a temperature beyond the first and second predetermined glass-transition temperatures.
In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rewriteable image-recording substrate comprising a base member, and an image-developing layer, that coats a surface of the base member, composed of a plurality of split-tube elements including a first type of split-tube element formed of a shape memory resin exhibiting a first predetermined glass-transition temperature, a second type of split-tube element formed of a shape memory resin exhibiting a second predetermined glass-transition temperature, and a third type of split-tube element formed of a shape memory resin exhibiting a third predetermined glass-transition temperature. The first, second and third types of split-tube elements are regularly and uniformly oriented and arranged over the surface of the
Furusawa Koichi
Orita Hiroshi
Saito Hiroyuki
Suzuki Katsuyoshi
Suzuki Minoru
Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Greenblum & Bernstein P.L.C.
Hess Bruce H.
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