JP2000019877A - Method and device for fixing image by liquid development - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a fixing method and a fixing device by which irregularities in copying are prevented even in the case of a supporting body having low oil absorptiveness by contacting and heating an image developed by liquid development and transferred to a sheet type supporting body from back surface of the sheet type supporting body. SOLUTION: An electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor A is developed with liquid toner T so as to form an image I, and transferred to a transfer supporting body sheet S on a carrying belt P. Next, the image I is heated and fixed from the back surface of the sheet S on a heat roller K made of silicone rubber and incorporating halogen lamps L1 to L5, and the sheet S is ejected by the belt P. In such a case, the sheet S is carried in a tensioned state by a 1st carrying means constituted of a guiding roller Ka and a carrying roller Kc arranged at a position where it is mechanically tensioned on the roller K, and a 2nd carrying means constituted of a guiding roller Kb and a carrying roller Kd, and contact and adhesion between the sheet S and the roller K are kept.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fixing method and an apparatus for fixing an image carried on a photoreceptor by a liquid development in an electrophotographic copying machine and transferred to a support sheet or a roll-shaped support using a heating roller. It is about. This technique can also be used for ink jet recording, drying and fixing of printing materials in the printing field, coating field, and other printing fields.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a fixing device of the type described above,
For example, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-260174, which includes a heating roller for fixing located below and a fixing nip arranged above and cooperating with the heating roller to form a fixing nip. When the support sheet passes through the fixing nip, the developer carrier of the image transferred to the support sheet is removed to fix the development.

[0003] Also, JP-A-63-34572,
JP-A-52-102736 and JP-A-57-7-7
No. 0258 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 63-150967 describe a fixing method using a pressure heating roller. Such a pressure heating roller fixing method includes liquid toner, inkjet ink, When a printing material containing a liquid dispersion medium such as printing ink is used, when a heat roller is pressed against the pressure roller or the image surface, the toner or ink easily penetrates the paper to easily cause image bleeding. Since the ink adheres and is offset, the image surface is soiled.

[0004] Further, there is a problem that copying is disturbed with a sheet or a roll of a support having a low oil absorption. In other words, an image formed by a printing material containing a liquid dispersion medium has a low oil absorption support in a conventional fixing device, such as a tracing paper, an OHP film, and an art paper. In the case of the sheet existing on the support sheet, when the support unit is pressed between the two rollers, the toner in the image area is disturbed and the copy is disturbed.

In general, a low-speed copying / printing speed of 20 sheets A4 / min or less is a low-speed copying / printing speed of 20 sheets A4 / min or less.
Medium-speed copying of 1 to 60 sheets A4 / min can be handled by the conventional heat fixing method.
Hereinafter, copying and printing using cut (sheet) paper of a small size such as B4, A4, B5, and A5 can be performed by a conventional heat-fixing method. Cannot be coped with, and cannot be coped with a copy using a large cut sheet of B3 or more. further,
In a conventional fixing device, when printing or copying on roll paper, roll film, roll processed paper, or the like, the fixing roller is pressed against the surface, so that wrinkles are likely to occur during high-speed fixing and thermal efficiency is poor.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional fixing device and to produce a copy disorder even with a support having a low oil absorption. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a fixing method and an apparatus free from defects. Another object of the present invention is to provide a fixing method and a fixing device capable of coping with high-speed copying and printing and wide-width copying and printing. Further problems that the present invention particularly seeks to solve are that the copying / printing speed is 150 sheets A4 / min or more, the copy size is A3 or more, A2, A1, A0, B3, B2, B
An object of the present invention is to provide a fixing method and a fixing device that enable printing / copying on a roll paper, a roll film, a rolled paper, or the like, instead of cut paper, in the case of a large size such as 1. It is still another object of the present invention to provide an image having good image density, solid uniformity and sharpness resolution without wrinkles and bleeding.

[0007]

The object of the present invention is to provide (1) a method for fixing an image developed by liquid development and transferred to a sheet-like support using a heating roller. A method for fixing an image, characterized by fixing by contact heating from the back of the body. "
(2) “The method for fixing an image according to the above (1), characterized in that a hot air or a cold air is used together”, (3)
"The method for fixing an image according to the above (1) or (2), wherein light fixing is used together".
(4) A method for fixing an image developed by liquid development and transferred onto a roll-shaped support using a heating roller, wherein the image is fixed by contact heating from the back surface of the roll-shaped support. How to fix the image you want. ",
(5) “The method for fixing an image according to the above (4), characterized by using hot air or cold air together”, (6)
(7) The method of fixing an image according to the above (4) or (5), wherein light fixing is used in combination.
"The method for fixing an image according to any one of the above items (1) to (6), wherein the back side is brought into contact with the heating roller in a state where the support is tensioned.", (8) The method for fixing an image according to any one of the above items (1) to (7), wherein the light fixing is ultraviolet fixing, infrared fixing, or fixing with a tungsten lamp. (9) "The method for fixing an image according to any one of the above items (1) to (7), wherein the number of heat rollers is multi-stage.", (10) "First stage." (9) The method for fixing an image according to the above (9), wherein the fixing of the eyes is the fixing of the back surface, and the second and subsequent steps are the fixing of the front surface. Are the same as the direction of movement of the support. Item 12. The method according to any one of Items 1 to 11, wherein the heat roller is made of a metal or a rubber-like substance. (13) The method of fixing the image according to (12), wherein the heat source of the heat roller is a halogen lamp or a tungsten lamp. And (14) The fixing method according to any one of the above items (1) to (13), wherein the ink jet image and the printed image are fixed. .

Another object of the present invention is to provide (15) a fixing device using a heat roller for heating an image developed by liquid development and transferred to a sheet-like support from the back surface. And (16) the sheet-like image fixing device, wherein the image fixing device is arranged so that the sheet and the back surface of the support come into contact with each other, and has a rotation unit for the heat roller and a conveyance unit for the support. (15) The image fixing device according to the above (15), further comprising a blower that applies hot air or cold air to the support. ”(17)“ The image fixing device further includes an optical device for light fixing. (18) The image fixing device according to the above (15) or (16), wherein the image fixing device is configured to heat the image developed by liquid development and transferred onto the roll-shaped support from the back surface. Fixing using heat roller An image fixing device, wherein the heat roller and the back surface of the support are arranged so as to be in contact with each other, and the device includes a rotating unit for the heat roller and a conveying unit for the support. " (19) "The image fixing device according to the above (18), characterized by having a blowing means for applying hot air or cold air to the sheet-shaped support.", (20) "Optics for light fixing." Means (18) or (1).
The image fixing device according to the item 9). (21) "The image fixing device according to the above (17) or (20), wherein the optical means includes a flash light irradiation device.", (22) "The optical means is The image fixing device according to the item (21), further comprising an ultraviolet irradiation unit, an infrared irradiation unit, or a tungsten lamp. "
(23) Any one of the above items (19) to (20), wherein the transporting means for transporting the supporter transports the supporter in a tensioned state to bring the back side into contact with the heating roller. (24) "A first sensor for monitoring the on / off state of an energizing circuit to the conveying means, and the presence of the support on the contact heating roller (off)." A second sensor for monitoring the on / off state; a signal from the first sensor that senses the on state of the energizing circuit of the conveying means, and a signal on the heat roller of the support. The output of the AND circuit to which the inverted signal from the second sensor that senses the existence (off) state is input is
The image fixing device according to any one of the above items (19) to (23), wherein a heating power supply circuit for the heat roller is cut off. (25) "The apparatus for fixing an image according to any one of the above (15) to (24), wherein the heat roller is provided in multiple stages", (26) (25) The image fixing device according to the above (25), wherein the first-stage heat roller is arranged on the back surface of the support, and the second-stage heat roller is arranged on the front surface. 27) The method according to any one of the above items (15) to (26), wherein the rotating direction of the rotating means of the heat roller is the same as the moving direction of the support by the transport means. (28) The apparatus according to any one of the above (15) to (27), wherein the material of the heat roller is a metal or a rubber-like substance. (29) “The heat source of the heat roller is halo. Said first characterized in that it is a Nranpu or tungsten lamp (15) one of claim to the (28) in claim 1
2. An apparatus for fixing an image according to 1. (30) The fixing device according to any one of the above (15) to (29), wherein the ink jet image and the printed image are fixed.

In such a fixing device, a fixed temperature is applied to the liquid development transferred to the surface of the support from the back surface of the support by a heating roller to fix and heat spread the toner and to disperse the dispersion medium in the toner. Penetrate the support,
Evaporate and fix efficiently without inclusion. In addition to such basic functions, hot air, cold air, flash, ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, tungsten lamps and the like are used in combination with a heat roller and used in a non-contact manner with the liquid developing surface to further improve the fixing property. . In addition, by applying mechanical tension on the heating roller, especially by roll feeding, the contact and adhesion between the heating roller and the paper are increased, and the heat conductivity from the heating roller to the paper is further enhanced, so the fixing effect is good. It becomes something.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [Apparatus Example 1] FIG. 1 shows an example of a fixing apparatus of the present invention and a fixing method using the apparatus. The photoreceptor (A) is charged by a corona discharge wire (B), and an electrostatic latent image is formed at the exposed portion (C). Next, in the developing unit (Q) using the liquid toner (T), the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor is transferred by the developing roller (D) to the liquid toner (T).
When the excess developer is squeezed by a squeeze roller (E), an image (I) is formed by liquid development. Next, this image (I) is transferred to a transfer support sheet (S) on a conveyor belt (P) by a transfer charger (F), and the photoconductor (A) is cleaned by a cleaning means (G) to remove toner. The remaining toner is scraped by the blade (H) to prepare for the next image formation.

A transfer support sheet (S) on which an image has been transferred.
Are the halogen lamps (L1), (L2), (L3),
The image (I) is fixed together with the transfer support sheet (S) from the back surface of the support sheet (S) on the heat roller (K) made of silicone rubber in which (L4) and (L5) are built, and further, the transfer belt ( It is discharged at P). At this time, the transfer support sheet (S) is made up of a first transport unit including a guide roller (Ka) and a transport roller (Kc) arranged at a position where mechanical tension is applied on the heat roller (K). , Guide roller (Kb) and transport roller (Kd)
The transfer support sheet (S) and the heat roller (K) are kept in contact with each other, and the degree of contact is maintained.

In the apparatus such as [Example 1], the support sheet (S) is heated and fixed in a state of being in good contact with the heat roller (K). It is necessary to take measures to prevent overheating of the support sheet (S) that is no longer fed due to a failure of the second transporting means and / or the rotating means of the heat roller. Therefore, this apparatus is provided with an overheating prevention means as shown in FIG. The overheating prevention means is connected to the energizing circuit (25) of the rotating means (M) of the heat roller (K) and is connected to the high power (or 1 output signal) signal when the circuit (25) is disconnected. And outputs a low output (or 0 output signal) signal when the circuit (25) is energized to monitor the ON (circuit energized) -OFF (energized disconnected) state.
And a second sensor (S2) for monitoring whether the support (S) is on (off) or not (on) on the heat roller (K). Sensor (S1)
And the output signal from the second sensor (S2) amplified by the amplifier (26) and inverted by the inverter (27) are input to the NAND circuit (28). NAN
The relationship between the two input signals of the D circuit (28) and the output signals calculated by them is as shown in the table in FIG. Is high (or 1), and the output from the second sensor that senses the existence (off) state of the support (S) on the heat roller (K) is inverted by the inverter (27). NAN when the input signal obtained is high (or 1)
When the output signal of the D circuit (28) becomes high (or 1) and this high (or 1) output signal is input to the base of the transistor (29), the collector-emitter current stops flowing, and this transistor (29) The heating circuit (30) which is turned on / off by (3) is turned off (cut off), and this circuit (3)
The heater (R) of the heat roller (K) depending on 0) does not generate heat. In this example, the first sensor (S1) is arranged on the rotating means of the heat roller, but in the present invention, it may be arranged on the first conveying means and the second conveying means. In this example, the first sensor (S
1) An electromagnetic relay type sensor is used as the second sensor (S
Although a photocoupler was used as 2), the sensor is not limited to these. This overheating prevention means is also used in other [apparatus examples].

[Example 2 of Apparatus] FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of a fixing apparatus of the present invention in which a support is a roll paper feeding system and a fixing method using the apparatus. (1) to (9) show a process of forming an image by liquid development. The photoreceptor (1) is charged by the corona discharge unit (2), exposed to light by the image exposure unit (3), and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoreceptor (1).
The photoreceptor (1) is cleaned by the cleaning means (8), and the remaining toner is scraped by the toner removing blade (9) to prepare for the next image formation.

The roll-shaped transfer support (17) is developed with the liquid toner (5) in the developing section (4), and the excess developer is removed by a squeeze roller (6) to form an image (10) on the photoreceptor. It is formed. The image (10) on the photoconductor (1) is transferred onto the roll paper (17) by corona discharge (7) onto the roll paper (17). This roll paper (17)
The upper image (10) is a roll paper (1) by a nitrile rubber heat roller (11) incorporating a halogen lamp (12).
7) The transfer roller (14) (1) is heated and fixed from the back side.
The copy is conveyed by 5) and the copy is wound up to obtain a roll copy (16). At that time, roll paper (17)
Are guide rollers (13) and (13a) arranged at positions where mechanical tension is applied on the heat roller (11).
Transported under tension by the heat roller (11)
The contact property and the degree of adhesion between the sheet and the roll paper (17) are maintained.

[Device Example 3] to [Device Example 10] As shown in FIG.
And the fixing device of [Apparatus Example 3] was manufactured. FIG. 4
As shown in (1), the hot air blowing means (O)
And a fixing device of [Apparatus Example 4] was manufactured. FIG.
As shown in the figure, a far-infrared lamp (1
9) was provided, and the fixing device of [Apparatus Example 5] was manufactured. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a halogen lamp (L) was provided in the apparatus of Example 1, and a fixing apparatus of Example 6 was manufactured. Also, as shown in FIG. 7, the air blower (1
8) and a far-infrared lamp (19) were provided to produce the fixing device of [Example 7 of the device]. As shown in FIG. 8, the apparatus of Example 1 was provided with a blowing means (O) for hot air and a halogen lamp (L) to produce a fixing device of [Example 8 of the apparatus]. As shown in FIG. 9, a heating roller made of stainless steel (20) was added to the apparatus of Example 2 to enhance the heat fixing unit, and the tension rollers (13b) (13)
[Example 9] in which the roll paper (17) was tensioned via a platen roller (21) for suspending the roll paper (17) during c). Also, as shown in FIG. 10, the guide roller (13) in the apparatus of Example 2 is the first heat-fixing unit that also serves as the heat roller (23) for surface fixing, and the fixing apparatus of [Apparatus Example 9]. Was replaced with a platen roller (21) also serving as a heat roller (23) for backside fixing, and this was used in combination with the backside fixing roller (24) to produce a second heat fixing unit [Example 10]. .

[0016]

[Embodiment 1] Liquid development (Recopy DT-12) was performed using the image forming / fixing apparatus of [Apparatus Example 1] shown in FIG.
Liquid toner type 1000) and fixed by the fixing method of the present invention, an image having an image density of 1.25, a resolution of 6.3 lines / mm, a gradation of 8 steps, and a fixing property of 76% can be obtained. did it.

[Embodiment 2] [Example 2 of apparatus] shown in FIG.
By using the image forming method and the fixing method using the fixing device, high-speed fixing on a roll of plain paper, coated paper, plastic film, or the like with the liquid toner becomes possible. Recopy DT
Image formation using liquid toner type 1000 for -1200, image density 1.30, resolution 6.3 lines / m
m, gradation of 8 steps, solid uniformity and sharpness were good. The fixability was also 78%. Image flow and bleeding did not occur on the 2nd original drawing paper on film or coated paper.
High-speed copying of A4 / minute was possible.

[Embodiment 3] [Embodiment 3] shown in FIG.
The fixing ability of the image was improved to 83% by the fixing method using the hot air from the blowing means (18) on the roll paper (17) together with the fixing device. Further, high-speed copying of 100 sheets A4 / min has become possible.

[Embodiment 4] [Apparatus example 4] shown in FIG.
The hot air blowing means (O) and the hot air blowing means (1)
The image density was improved to 1.28 by the fixing method using the blowing of the warm air from 8) onto the sheet-like transfer paper (S).

[Embodiment 5] [Example 5 of apparatus] shown in FIG.
By using the fixing device (1) and using the far-infrared lamp (19) together, the fixing property of the image was 85% and the copying speed was 150 A4 / min.

[Embodiment 6] [Example 6 of apparatus] shown in FIG.
The image density is 1.28 and the resolution is 7.2 lines / mm by using together with a halogen lamp (L).
And improved.

[Embodiment 7] [Example 7 of apparatus] shown in FIG.
When the light irradiation from the halogen lamp (19) and the cool air from the cool air blowing means (18) were used together by using the fixing device of (1), the resolution was 7.6 lines / mm and the sharpness was also improved. By rapidly cooling the heated liquid toner image,
It is considered that the resolution and sharpness were improved due to the contraction of the toner image.

[Eighth Embodiment] [Embodiment 8] shown in FIG.
Using a halogen lamp (light irradiation from N and cold air from the cool air blowing means (18). The resolution was 7.6 lines / mm, the sharpness was good, and the gradation was 8 steps. Was.

[Embodiment 9] [Example 9 of apparatus] shown in FIG.
Stainless steel heating roller (20)
As a result, the fixing property was improved by 80% and the gradation property was improved by 9 steps.

[Embodiment 10] A first heat fixing unit including a backside fixing roller (11) and a frontside fixing roller (23) using the fixing device of [Apparatus Example 10] shown in FIG. The fixing method of the present invention was carried out by operating the first heat fixing unit composed of 24) and the front fixing roller (22). Compared with the case of [Example 2], the gradation was greatly improved to 10 steps. In addition, the copying speed has been improved to 300 sheets A4 / min, and the copy size has been A1
No wrinkles or the like were generated even with the 0-version roll paper, and printing was possible with perforated roll paper.

[Embodiment 11] Using the fixing device of [Apparatus Example 1] shown in FIG. 1, a printed matter on plain paper output from an ink jet printer was fixed from the back side.
An image density of 1.26 and a resolution of 5.6 lines / mm were obtained. In the conventional natural fixing, an image density of 1.18 and a resolution of 4.
It was not a good image with 2 lines / mm and the show-through or penetration of the ink was large.

Example 12 When the printing apparatus was linked with the fixing device of [Apparatus Example 2] shown in FIG. 2 to fix a printed matter, a fixing property of 85% and a resolution of 9.2 lines / mm were obtained. Was done. When the fixing device of the present invention is not used, the fixing property is 7
Since the resolution was 0% and the resolution was 7.6 lines / mm, it was found that the backside fixing method of the present invention was effective.

[0028]

As apparent from the above detailed and specific description, the present invention relates to a conventional press-contact heat roller for fixing liquid development indirectly by fixing the back surface of the support with a heating roller. Compared with the fixing method, less wrinkles occur during high-speed copy fixing, and the rollers are not stained with toner. Also, no wrinkles occur when fixing a wide copy such as an A1 or A0 plate or fixing a copy made on roll paper. In addition, there is an advantage that image deletion does not occur even when fixing a liquid development on a support having low oil absorption or OHP. Backside heat roller fixing method, non-contact light fixing,
Fixing, resolution,
The effect of improving the sharpness and the effect of improving solid uniformity, gradation, and fixability by using the front surface heating roller together after the liquid development is almost completely fixed by 70 to 80% with the rear surface heating roller. Have. Also printing ink,
The present invention can also obtain an image excellent in fixing property and resolution in fixing an inkjet ink.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a fixing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing another example of the fixing device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing still another example of the fixing device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view showing still another example of the fixing device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view showing still another example of the fixing device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view showing still another example of the fixing device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view showing still another example of the fixing device of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view showing still another example of the fixing device of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view showing still another example of the fixing device of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a view showing still another example of the fixing device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List A Photoconductor B Wire for corona discharge C Exposure section D Developing roller E Squeeze roller F Transfer charger G Cleaning means H Toner removal blade I Image (heat roller made of silicon rubber) K Heat roller Ka Guide roller Kb Guide roller M Rotating means L Halogen Lamp L1 Halogen lamp L2 Halogen lamp L3 Halogen lamp L4 Halogen lamp L5 Halogen lamp O Hot / cold air blowing means P Conveyor belt Q Developing unit R Heater T Liquid toner S Transfer support sheet S1 First sensor S2 Second sensor 1 Photoconductor 2 Corona Discharger 3 Image exposure means 4 Developing unit 5 Liquid toner 6 Squeeze roller 7 Corona discharge 8 Cleaning means 9 Toner removal blade 10 Liquid development 11 Heat roller 12 Halogen lamp 13 Guide roller -13a Guide roller 13b Tension roller 13c Tension roller 14 Transport roller 15 Transport roller 16 Rolled copy 17 Roll paper 18 Hot air (cold air) 19 Far infrared lamp 20 Stainless steel heating roller 21 Platen roller 22 Surface fixing roller 23 Surface fixing roller 24 Back fixing roller 25 Rotating means circuit 26 Amplifier 27 Inverter 28 NAND circuit 29 Transistor 30 Heating circuit

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Aiko Ishikawa 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term in Ricoh Co., Ltd. (reference) 2C056 EB14 FD07 HA46 HA47 2H033 BA58 BB12 BE00 2H074 BB41 3K058 AA34 AA61 AA64 AA65 AA82 AA86 BA18 CB02 CE12 CE17 CE29 DA02 GA06 3K092 PP08 PP18 QA02 QB26 RA03 UA04 VV22 VV26

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A fixing device using a heat roller for heating an image developed by liquid development and transferred to a sheet-like support from the back surface, wherein the heat roller contacts the back surface of the support. An image fixing device, comprising: a rotating unit of the heat roller; and a conveying unit of the support. 2. The image fixing device according to claim 1, further comprising a blowing unit that applies hot air or cold air to the sheet-like support. 3. The image fixing device according to claim 1, further comprising an optical device for light fixing. 4. A fixing device using a heat roller for heating an image developed by liquid development and transferred onto a roll-shaped support from the back surface, wherein the heat roller contacts the back surface of the support. An image fixing device comprising: a rotating unit for the heat roller; and a conveying unit for the support. 5. The image fixing device according to claim 4, further comprising a blowing unit that applies hot air or cold air to the sheet-like support. 6. The image fixing device according to claim 4, further comprising an optical unit for fixing light. 7. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the optical unit includes an ultraviolet irradiation unit, an infrared irradiation unit, or a tungsten lamp. 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat rollers are provided in multiple stages. 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first-stage heat roller is disposed on the back surface of the support, and the second-stage heat roller and the heat roller are disposed on the front surface. 10. The image fixing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a rotation direction of a rotating unit of the heat roller is the same as a moving direction of the support by the transport unit. Equipment to do. 11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat roller is made of a metal or a rubber-like material. 12. The image fixing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a heat source of the heat roller is a halogen lamp or a tungsten lamp. 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an ink jet image and a printed image are fixed.
3. The fixing device according to claim 1.