JP2001296778A - Image forming and removing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming and removing device capable of efficiently removing an image from paper where the image is formed unnecessarily or erroneously in an image forming part by integrating an image forming device with an image removing device. SOLUTION: In this image forming and removing device 1 provided with image forming parts (100 to 400) for forming images paper 4A by supplying toner 6 to the paper 4A in accordance with image information and image removing parts (500 to 1200) for removing the toner 6 from the already printed paper 4B, the paper 4A is temporarily ejected to a tray 404 in a state where a switching pawl 308 is set on the position of a solid line when interruption is designated in the midst of forming the image. Thereafter, the pawl 308 is set to the position of a dotted line, and the paper 4A' on the tray 404 is carried to the image removing part according to the designation of a user or automatically.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus,
An image forming apparatus that integrates an image removing device that removes a printing material (for example, toner and ink) printed on a recording medium (for example, copy paper, print paper, and OHP sheet).
It relates to a removing device.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION From the viewpoint of resource reuse, recording materials (copied materials, copied materials, etc.) created by image forming apparatuses such as copiers and printers are used.
An apparatus for removing a printing material from a printed material to reproduce a recording medium is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-140554.

In such a recording medium reproducing apparatus (image removing apparatus), a recording material is immersed in a liquid mainly composed of water, so that the liquid penetrates into a surface layer of the recording material, and a printing material and Decrease contact force between surface layers. continue,
The printing material is separated from the recording material by a mechanical rubbing means such as a brush.

On the other hand, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, when it is desired to interrupt the image formation for some reason during the image forming process, usually, after issuing the interruption instruction, a few extra sheets of the image formed are discharged. Paper. Instead of discarding such paper, it is desirable that the printing material on the paper be removed using the above-described image removing device so that the paper can be recycled.

[0005] In view of this background and the desire to save as much space as possible when installing the image removing apparatus in an office or the like, the present invention integrates the image forming apparatus and the image removing apparatus and further forms an image forming unit. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming / removing apparatus for efficiently removing an image on a sheet on which an image is formed more than necessary or erroneously.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achieve the above object, a first embodiment of an image forming / removing apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming section for forming an image on a recording medium, and a printing material is removed from the recording medium. In an image forming / removing apparatus having an image removing unit that performs, when an instruction is given during image formation in the image forming unit, the recording medium is discharged to the recording medium accommodating unit, and thereafter,
The recording medium is conveyed from the recording medium accommodating section to the image removing section by a user's instruction or automatically.

A second embodiment of the image forming / removing apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus including an image forming section for forming an image on a recording medium and an image removing section for removing a printing material from the recording medium. In the removal apparatus, when an interruption is instructed during image formation in the image forming section, the recording medium is automatically conveyed from the image forming section to the image removing section.

[0008]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(1) First Embodiment of Image Forming / Removing Apparatus FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a first embodiment of an image forming / removing apparatus according to the present invention. The device 1 has a housing 2 that forms the exterior of the device 1, and within the housing 2,
An image forming unit and an image removing unit are provided. The image forming section of the apparatus 1 forms an image of a toner on the surface of a special sheet described later by an electrophotographic method in the image forming mode, and the image removing section is formed by the image forming section in the image removing mode. The toner is removed from the copied or printed material, and the paper is reproduced in a reusable state. As will be described later in detail, the image removing unit is also configured to be able to reproduce a sheet on which an image is created more than necessary or incorrectly in the image forming mode.

In the image forming section, a first sheet feeding section 100 for feeding a sheet 4A for printing, a printing section 200 for forming a toner image on the sheet 4A, and a toner 6 on the sheet 4A are fixed. Fixing section 300 and a first sheet discharging section 400 are sequentially arranged in the sheet conveying direction in the image forming mode. Further, the image removing unit is disposed in close proximity to the first paper discharge unit 400 and supplies a printed paper 4B with a second paper supply unit 500. A pre-drying unit 600 for drying the paper 4B, an immersion unit 700 for immersing the paper 4B in the liquid, and a printing material removing unit 80 for removing the toner 6 from the paper 4B immersed in the liquid.
0, a cleaning unit 900 that cleans the paper 4B from which the toner 6 has been removed to wash away foreign substances remaining on the paper 4B, and a liquid removal unit that removes liquid from the paper 4B to which liquid has been supplied again by the cleaning unit 900. Unit 1000 and liquid material removing unit 100
A post-drying unit 1100 that re-drys the paper 4B from which the toner 6 has been removed by 0 and a second paper discharge unit 1200 are sequentially provided along the paper transport direction in the image removal mode.

(2) Paper This special paper is composed of a base material layer, an intermediate adhesive layer, and a surface layer.
It has a five-layer structure in which an intermediate adhesive layer and a surface layer are provided on both surfaces of a layer or a base material layer, respectively. As the base material layer, a plastic film, paper, or the like is used. The intermediate adhesive is for bonding the surface layer to the base material layer, and for example, a urethane resin, an acrylic resin, a styrene resin, or the like is used. If the adhesion between the substrate layer and the surface layer is good, the intermediate adhesive layer can be omitted. The surface layer is made of a water-swellable resin obtained by crosslinking a water-soluble resin. Here, “water swelling” means
It absorbs an aqueous solution (including water) and swells, but does not dissolve in the aqueous solution. The paper and the composition of each layer constituting the paper are described in detail in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-218955 by the present applicant.

(3) First Paper Feeding Unit Next, each component of the apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
In the drawing, near the right side wall of the housing 2, there is provided a first paper feeding unit 100 for feeding the printing paper 4A. First
Is separated from the tray 102 or cassette supporting the stacked paper 4A one by one and the printing paper 200 is separated from the paper 4A one by one, similarly to the paper feeding unit attached to a copying machine or a printer. It has a paper feed mechanism 103 for delivery.
The paper feed mechanism 103 is provided with a paper feed roller 104 that separates the uppermost paper 4A from the paper tray 102 and supplies the paper 4A into the housing 2.
From the paper feed roller 104 to the printing unit 200 and the fixing unit 300
And a paper guide 8 extending to the vicinity of the first paper output unit 400 via the paper output unit 400, and arranged near the printing unit 200, and rotated by receiving an image signal. , And a timing roller pair 106 for sending the sheet to the roller.

(4) Printing Unit The printing unit 200 has a photosensitive drum (image carrier) 204 rotatable in the direction of arrow 202. Around the image carrier 204, along the rotation direction 202 of the image carrier 204,
A corona charging device 206 for uniformly charging the surface of the image carrier 204;
Exposure device 208 for irradiating ultraviolet light onto the image carrier 04 to form a latent image on the image carrier 204, and supplying charged toner 6 to the image carrier 204, thereby developing the latent image into a visible image. The image carrier 20 by the developing device 210 and the developing device 210
The transfer corotron 212 electrically transfers the toner 6 supplied to the sheet 4 to the sheet 4A conveyed along the sheet guide 8, and the separation corotron 214 electrostatically separates the transferred sheet 4A from the image carrier 204. And image carrier 2 after transfer
A cleaning device (for example, a cleaning blade) 216 for removing the toner 6 remaining on the image carrier 04 and an image carrier 20 by irradiating visible light (erase light) after the transfer.
A latent image removing device (e.g., an erase lamp) 218 for erasing the latent image on the image forming apparatus 4 is sequentially provided.

(5) Fixing Unit In order to melt the toner 6 adhered on the paper 4A and fix it on the paper 4A, a downstream side of the printing unit 200 in the paper transport direction (a direction from the right side to the left side in the drawing) is provided. Fixing unit 300
Is provided. The fixing unit 300 includes heaters 30 disposed above and below the sheet conveyance path along the sheet guide 8.
Roller 304 incorporating heat roller 2 and heat roller 30
And a pressure roller 306 in contact with the pressure roller 4. One of the rollers 304 and 306 is drivingly connected to a motor (not shown). The surface temperature of the heat roller 304 depends on the transport speed of the sheet 4A and the type of toner, but is preferably set to 130 to 220 ° C. during fixing.

A switching claw pair 308 is provided near the left side of the nip portion of the rollers 304 and 306 in the drawing. The pair of switching claws 308 can be moved between a solid line position and a dotted line position. When the switching claw pair 308 is set to the solid line position, the sheet 4A sent from the printing unit 200 to the left side of the drawing along the sheet guide 8 is sent out through the nip by the rotation of the rollers 304 and 306, and the housing 4A 2 is guided to the first paper discharge unit 400 arranged near the left side wall. When the switching claw pair 308 is set at the dotted line position, as described later, the printed paper 4A ′ sent from the first paper discharge unit 400 (the paper once discharged to the first paper discharge unit 400 Is denoted by reference numeral 4A '.) Indicates a pair of conveying rollers 310 and 312 and paper guides 314 and 3 if necessary.
The immersion unit 700 is disposed at the lower right side of the fixing unit 300 in FIG. Note that the sheet 4A ′ sent to the first sheet discharging unit 400 is not placed in a high humidity environment, and thus does not require a pre-drying step as described later. It is directly guided to the immersion part 700 without going through.

(6) First paper discharge unit In the first paper discharge unit 400, the paper 4A passing from the nip portion of the rollers 304 and 306 to the switching claw pair 308 set at the solid line position is located on the left side of the housing 2 in the drawing. The sheet is discharged to a tray 404 by a roller 402 provided on a wall. The roller 402 is drivingly connected to a motor (not shown) capable of rotating forward and backward, and the tray 40
The sheet 4A ′ on the sheet 4 is guided again into the apparatus 1.

(7) Second Paper Feeding Unit In the vicinity of the lower side of the first paper discharging unit 400 in the drawing, a second paper feeding unit 500 for feeding the printed paper 4B is provided. The second sheet supply unit 500 includes a tray 502 or a cassette that supports the stacked sheets 4B, and a sheet supply roller 504 that transfers the uppermost sheet 4B to the predrying unit 600.

(8) Pre-drying unit From the paper feed roller 504 of the second paper feed unit 500 to the dipping unit 70
The paper guide 601 extends to near zero, and a pre-drying unit 600 is provided in the middle of the paper guide 601. The pre-drying section 600 includes a heat roller 604 having a built-in heater 602 and a pressure roller 606 in contact with the heat roller 604, which are disposed above and below the sheet conveyance path along the sheet guide 601. These rollers 604,
Either 606 is drivingly connected to a motor (not shown).

The pre-drying step is a step provided to solve a phenomenon in which the rate at which the printing material is removed (the deinking property) is significantly reduced when the printed paper is stored in a high-humidity environment. By dehumidifying the moisture in the surface layer of the paper, deinking can be performed in the dipping step at the same level as in a low humidity environment. In the pre-drying step, the heat roller 604
The surface temperature depends on the transport speed of the paper 4A and the type of toner, but if it is too high, the toner will be melted. Therefore, it is preferable to set the surface temperature lower than the surface temperature of the heat roller 304 (50 to 180 ° C.). That is, the amount of heat supplied to the paper in the pre-drying step needs to be smaller than the amount of heat supplied in the fixing step. In consideration of shortening the pre-drying time and regenerating a five-layered sheet 4B having an intermediate adhesive layer and a surface layer on both sides of the base material layer, a heater is also provided inside the pressure roller 606. Thus, the sheet 4B may be heated from both sides.

(9) Immersion Unit The immersion unit 700 has a container 702 of a predetermined shape and size, and the container 702 contains the liquid 10. The liquid 10 typically comprises water and a surfactant that enhances the penetration of water into the surface of the paper. However, the surfactant is not an essential material, and the liquid 10 may include only water. Further, another material may be added to the liquid 10 as needed.

In the immersion section 700, the paper supplied from the upstream side of the container 702 in the paper transport direction (the direction from the left side to the right side in the drawing) is held downstream of the container 702 while being held in the liquid 10. Paper transport mechanism 7 that transports paper
04 is provided. The paper transport mechanism 704 includes a paper 4A ′ transported along the paper guides 314 and 316 from the first paper output unit 400 through the switching claw pair 308 set at the dotted line position, and the second paper supply unit 500. And a roller pair 705 for guiding the sheet 4 </ b> B conveyed along the sheet guide 601 into the immersion unit 700. Paper transport mechanism 70
Reference numeral 4 also denotes a printing material removing unit 80 inside the container 702 from the vicinity of the nip portion of the roller pair 705 on the downstream side in the paper transport direction.
0, a guide 12 extending to the vicinity of the liquid removing unit 1000 via a watering position in the washing unit 900. The paper transport mechanism 704 further includes a plurality of (three in the figure) rotatable rollers 7 arranged at a slight distance from the guide 12.
06. Thereby, the printed paper 4B pre-dried by the pre-drying unit 600 or the printed paper 4A ′ conveyed from the first discharge unit 400 passes between the guide 12 and the plurality of rollers 706, The sheet is conveyed to the printing material removing section 800.

In this embodiment, only one container 702 is provided in the immersion section 700. However, in order to always keep a constant amount of the liquid 10 in the container 702,
2, a liquid replenisher may be provided, and these containers 702 and the liquid replenisher may be appropriately connected by a liquid supply pipe.

In order to collect foreign matter (for example, printing material separated from paper) in the liquid 10, a foreign matter collecting filter, a pipe connecting the foreign matter collecting filter and the container 702, and a pipe in the middle of the pipe are provided. A liquid circulating section having a provided pump is provided, while circulating the liquid along the piping,
Foreign matter may be collected by a foreign matter collection filter.

(10) Printing Material Removal Unit In order to remove the toner 6 from the paper 4A ', 4B immersed in the liquid 10, a printing material removal unit 800 is arranged in the middle of the guide 12. In the present embodiment, the printing material removing unit 800 includes a pair of brush rolls 802 arranged vertically above and below a paper transport path along the guide 12. Each of the brush rolls 802 includes a central shaft connected to a motor (not shown) and a number of brushes implanted around the central axis. The brush tips are conveyed along the guide 12 on the paper 4A ′. , 4B can be brought into contact with each other.

In addition, the printing material removing means may use a mechanical rubbing force such as a cloth or a blade other than a brush, or may use heat or pressure.
It is not limited to these. For example, for example, see JP-A-7-31
As shown in Japanese Patent No. 1523, the toner may be peeled off from the paper by pressing the peeling member against the paper.

(11) Washing unit Paper 4 from which toner has been removed by printing material removing unit 800
A cleaning unit 900 is arranged downstream of the printing material removing unit 800 in order to wash A 'and 4B and wash away foreign substances remaining on the paper 4A' and 4B. This cleaning unit 90
0 is a tank 902 arranged below the container 702 in the drawing.
The cleaning liquid 14 is stored in the tank 902. A liquid supply pipe 906 arranged such that one end is located below the level of the cleaning liquid 14 via the pump 904.
The other end of the cleaning liquid 14, which is located downstream of the printing material removing unit 800 and above the guide 12 at the watering position 908, is consequently pumped up by the pump 904.
Are the sheets 4A ', 4B passing through the printing material removing section 800
Is sprayed on the surface at a watering position 908.

The cleaning liquid 14 is preferably the same liquid as the liquid 10 contained in the container 702. In this case, below the guide 12, there is provided a liquid returning means (for example, a plate arranged at a downward slope toward the container 702) for collecting the washing liquid 14 sprinkled on the sheets 4A 'and 4B and returning it to the container 702. You may. The tank 902 and the container 70
2, a pump for sending the liquid 10 (cleaning liquid 14) from the container 702 to the tank 902 or from the tank 902 to the container 702 through this piping, a detector for measuring the liquid level of the container 702, and the like. The pump is driven in accordance with the output of the detector, so that the liquid level of the container 702 can be kept constant.

It should be noted that the above-described five-layered paper 4A ', 4B
In consideration of the reproduction of the paper, a device for spraying the cleaning liquid 14 on the back surfaces of the sheets 4A 'and 4B may be further provided.

(12) Liquid Removal Unit In order to remove the liquid 10 from the paper 4A ', 4B on which the liquid 10 (the cleaning liquid 14) has been sprayed again by the washing unit 900, a liquid removal unit is provided downstream of the watering position 908. 1000 are provided. In the present embodiment, the liquid removing unit 1000 adopts a method of compressing the paper 4A ', 4B by sandwiching the paper from the front and back surfaces, thereby squeezing out moisture, and is disposed vertically above and below the paper transport path. A pair of squeezing rollers 1002 are provided. These squeezing rollers 1002 are arranged in parallel with each other and with one outer peripheral surface pressed against the other outer peripheral surface. In addition, the liquid 10 contained in the paper 4A ', 4B
In order to squeeze as much as possible, the pressing force between the squeezing rollers is set to be larger than when the roller pair simply conveys the papers 4A 'and 4B. Note that the sheets 4A ', 4
In order to recover the liquid 10 squeezed out of B, it is preferable to extend the above-mentioned liquid returning means to below the liquid removing unit 1000.

(13) Post-drying unit In order to dry the paper 4A ', 4B from which the liquid 10 has been squeezed out to a state where an image can be formed again, the liquid removing unit 100
A post-drying unit 1100 is provided on the downstream side of “0”. The post-drying unit 1100 includes one or more (two in the figure) blowers 1102. The blower 1102 simply outputs the paper 4
A blower that only blows normal-temperature air to A ′ and 4B may be used, or a blower with a built-in heater that can blow hot air may be used. If necessary, a heater, a dehumidifier, or the like (not shown) may be used instead of or together with the blower.

In the post-drying section 1100, the sheets 4A ', 4B
A paper transport mechanism 1104 that transports the liquid from the liquid removing unit 1000 to the second paper discharge unit 1200 in the transport direction (the direction from the upper side to the lower side in the drawing) is provided. The paper transport mechanism 1104 includes the squeezing roller pair 10 of the liquid removing unit 1000.
02 from the vicinity of the lower roller, the second paper discharge unit 1200
Guide 11 extending to the vicinity of the nip portion of the pair of paper ejection rollers
06, a right guide 1108 extending from the vicinity of the upper roller of the pair of squeezing rollers 1002 to an end of the blower 1102 on the downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction substantially in parallel with the left guide 1106;
A conveying roller pair 1110 disposed between the squeezing roller pair 1002 and the blower 1102; and a rotatable roller disposed near the downstream end of the right guide 1108 and slightly spaced from the left guide 1106. 1112. In the left and right guides 1106 and 1108, at least a region facing the blower 1102 is formed of a mesh-like or porous member.
4A ′, 4 passing between the right guide 1108 and
Air is blown to B.

(14) Second paper discharge unit After the paper 4A ', 4B from which the liquid 10 has been squeezed out is dried in the post-drying unit 1100, a paper discharge roller pair 1202 provided on the right side wall of the housing 2 in the drawing. Is discharged to the discharge tray 1204.

(15) Control Unit FIG. 2 shows a part of the control unit of the apparatus 1 of FIG. The controller 20 of the device 1 includes a mode changeover switch 22 for selecting either the image forming mode or the image removing mode of the device 1, a start key 24 for starting the image forming or image removing operation of the device 1, The switch 22 and the key 24 are connected to a sheet number input key 26 for inputting the number of sheets 4 to be subjected to image formation or image removal processing in the apparatus 1 and a stop key 28 for interrupting image creation in the image formation mode. , 26, and 28, the user instructs the controller 20 to perform a desired process. The controller 20 also controls the number of processed sheets input via the number-of-sheets input key 26 or the first sheet discharge unit 400 in FIG.
Has a number display panel 30 for displaying the number of sheets 4A 'discharged to the tray 404 of the printer.

The controller 20 is further connected to a driving means (for example, a solenoid) 32 for moving the switching claw pair 308 in FIG. 1 between a solid line position and a dotted line position.

(16) Operation The image forming operation of the apparatus 1 in the image forming mode and the image removing operation in the image removing mode will be described with reference to FIGS. Figure 1 shows the operation when
2 and FIG. 3 which is an example of a flowchart of the operation when the interruption command is issued in the image forming mode.

Image Forming Operation in Image Forming Mode The image forming operation in the printing section 200 has been known in the art and will not be described. The printing paper 4 </ b> A is stacked on the tray 102 of the first paper feeding unit 100. The mode changeover switch 22 is switched to the image forming mode, and the number of sheets to be subjected to the image forming process is input by the number input key 26 (at this time,
The number is displayed on the number display panel 30. ), The start key 24 is pressed to start the image forming operation. At this time, the driving means 32 receives the signal from the controller 50 and moves the switching claw pair 308 to the solid line position. As a result, the paper 4A is discharged onto the tray 404 of the first paper discharge unit 400 via the printing unit 200 and the fixing unit 300 (the discharged paper is denoted by reference numeral 4A '). .

Image Removal Operation in Image Removal Mode The printed paper 4B is placed in the tray 5 of the second paper supply unit 500.
02 is loaded. The mode changeover switch 22 is switched to the image removal mode, and the start key 24 is pressed to start the image removal operation. Before pressing the start key 24, only the number of images to be removed may be input by the number input key 26.

The paper 4B loaded on the tray 502 is sent out from the uppermost paper in contact with the paper feed roller 504, and supplied to the heat roller 604 of the pre-drying unit 600 and the nip of the pressure roller 606. Then, the paper 4B is preliminarily dried to increase the liquid permeability to the surface layer. The preheated paper 4B is then sent into the container 702 of the immersion section 700, and is immersed in the liquid 10. The paper 4B immersed in the liquid 10 is supplied to the printing material removing unit 800 by the paper transport mechanism 704. If necessary, the paper 4B waits in the container 702 until the liquid 10 has completely penetrated the entire surface of the paper 4B. As a result, the surface layer of the sheet 4B swells, the adhesive force between the toner fixed on the surface and the surface layer is lost, and the toner becomes separable by applying a slight mechanical force.

Paper 4B in which sufficient liquid 10 has penetrated into the surface layer
In the printing material removing section 800, the front and back surfaces of the rotating brush roller 802 come into contact with the bristle tips, and the printing material, that is, the toner 6, attached to the front surface (and the back surface) is scraped off. Subsequently, the liquid 10 (the cleaning liquid 14) is sprayed on the paper 4B at the water spraying position 908 of the cleaning unit 900, and foreign matter remaining on the front surface (and the back surface when the cleaning liquid is also sprayed on the back surface of the paper 4B) is removed. And the liquid removal unit 10
00, the liquid 10 is squeezed out, and
And is discharged to the tray 1204 of the second paper discharge unit 1200.

It is to be noted that the presence of the sheet 4B on the tray 502 is detected by a sensor (not shown), and the mode changeover switch 22 is simply switched to the image removal mode, so that the image removal processing is automatically performed without pressing the start key 24. May be adopted. Alternatively, a configuration may be adopted in which the mode is automatically set to the image removal mode by detecting the presence of the sheet 4B on the tray 502 without providing the mode switch 22.

Operation when an interruption instruction is issued in image forming mode (Example 1) Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, an interruption command is issued via the stop key 28 during image forming processing in the image forming mode (step 1). 1). When the interruption command is issued, all sheets including the sheet 4A for which an image is being created by the printing unit 200 are once discharged onto the tray 404.

Subsequently, the number display panel 30 is displayed on the tray 4
The number of sheets 4A 'discharged onto the sheet 04 is displayed (step 2). The displayed number of sheets discharged is blinked only within a predetermined time (for example, within one minute) after the stop key 28 is pressed so that the user can easily distinguish the number of sheets displayed with the number input key 26 for image formation from the user. Is preferred.
Further, the driving means 32 receives the signal from the controller 50 and switches the switching claw pair 308 to the dotted line position.

Subsequently, when the image removal processing is performed on all the sheets 4A 'on the tray 404 (step 3), the start button 24 is pressed without inputting the number of sheets within the above-mentioned predetermined time (steps 4 and 5).

In FIG. 1, the sheet 4 on the tray 404
A ′ is supplied to the immersion section 700 without passing through the pre-drying step through the switching claw 308 set at the dotted line position by the reverse rotation of the roller 404, and the above-described image removal processing is performed. (Step 6). After that, the tray 40
The processing operation ends when all the sheets 4A 'on 4 have been image-removed.

In step 4, the sheet 4A 'on the tray 404
When the image removal processing is unnecessary, the number of processed sheets is input by the number input key 26 within the predetermined time (step 7), and the start button 24 is pressed (step 5). When a predetermined number of sheets 4A 'on the tray 404 have been image-removed (step 6), the processing operation ends.

In step 3, the sheet 4A 'on the tray 404
If the image removal processing is not performed, the predetermined time (for example, 1
Within minutes), the number of processed sheets is input as 0 with the number input key 26 (step 8), the start button 24 is pressed (step 9), and the operation is terminated.

The reason why the predetermined time is provided as described above is to perform the image removing process on the sheet 4A 'on the tray 404 even in the image forming mode. When the operation is not performed within the predetermined time, the display number of the number display panel 30 stops blinking. Therefore, if the start key 24 is pressed as it is, the image forming process is performed. When the image of the sheet 4A 'on the tray 404 is to be removed after the predetermined time, the mode switch 22 is switched to the image removing mode. The tray 404 can be selected from the trays 404 and 502 on which sheets for removing an image are stacked.

(Example 2) A stop command is issued via the stop key 28 during the image forming process in the image forming mode.
At the time when the interruption command is issued, the paper 4A for which an image is being created by the printing unit 200 is all discharged onto the tray 404. continue,
The driving means 32 receives the signal from the controller 20 and switches the switching claw pair 308 to the position indicated by the dotted line. Thereafter, all the sheets 4A 'on the tray 404 are automatically conveyed again into the apparatus 1, and are subjected to image removal processing without performing a pre-drying step.

(17) Second Embodiment of Image Forming / Removing Apparatus FIG. 4 shows a schematic configuration of an image forming / removing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. This device 1 'is the same as the device 1 of FIG.
Therefore, the same reference numerals are given to the same members and portions, and only different points will be described here.

In the image forming section, the heat roller 304 and the pressure roller 306 of the fixing section 300 and the first sheet discharging section 4
A switching claw pair 318 is provided between the roller 402 and the roller 402. The switching claw 318 is connected to a solid line position that guides the sheet 4 </ b> A that has passed the rollers 304 and 306 to the first sheet discharge unit 400, and via the transport roller pair 320, the paper guide 322, the transport roller pair 312, and the paper guide 316. Immersion part 700
To be moved to a dotted line position leading to

(18) Operation In the image forming mode, the switching claw 318 is disposed at the position indicated by the solid line, and all the paper 4A that has passed through the printing unit 200 is guided to the first paper discharging unit 400. When an interruption command is issued via the stop key 28 during the image forming process in the image forming mode, the switching claw 31 is detected by a sensor (not shown).
8, the switching claw pair 3 is detected.
Reference numeral 18 moves from the solid line position to the dotted line position. At this time, the sheet 4A positioned upstream of the switching claw 318 in the sheet transport direction is
It is guided to the immersion section 700. If the sheet 4A is present on the switching claw 318 when the interruption command is issued, this sheet 4A is discharged to the tray 404, and immediately after that, the switching claw pair 3
18 moves from the solid line position to the dotted line position. At this time, the sheet 4 </ b> A positioned upstream of the switching claw 318 in the sheet conveyance direction is guided to the dipping unit 700.

Although the specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made. For example, in the above embodiment, the fixing unit 300 and the pre-drying unit 600
In the above, rollers 304 and 604 were used, respectively. Alternatively, fixing and drying may be performed using a belt.
Alternatively, fixing and drying may be performed by a non-contact heating method.

In order to sufficiently perform post-drying, a heat roller may be provided downstream of the blower 1102, and the heat rollers may heat the sheets 4A 'and 4B. In this case, the temperature of the heat roller is set higher than the drying temperature of the blower 1102. The heat roller is connected to the blower 110
2 (at the beginning of the post-drying step), the sheets 4A 'and 4B suddenly become hot, so that the sheets 4A' and
4B, the life of the paper 4A ', 4
The number of times B is reused is reduced. Therefore, the blower 110
After drying slowly in 2
It is preferable to dry A ', 4B.

The printing material removing apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-288927 has a means for heating a recording medium (upper printing material) before removing the printing material.
This printing material removing apparatus may be used as an image removing section of the image forming / removing apparatus according to the present invention. Specifically, the printing material removing apparatus separates a printing material on a recording medium (not having a water-swellable surface layer) by pressing a release member against the recording medium. Further, the heating means is used to soften the printing material on the recording medium to increase the cohesive force between the printing materials, thereby enabling the peeling member to reliably remove the printing material from the recording medium. Become.

[0055]

According to the image forming / removing apparatus of the present invention, since both the image forming section and the image removing section are provided, each of the image forming apparatus and the image removing apparatus (recording medium reproducing apparatus) can be used independently in the office. It requires less space compared to when it is installed inside, etc., and it has a configuration to transport the paper on which the image was created more than necessary or by mistake in the image forming unit to the image removing unit, so efficient image removal is realized it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a first embodiment of an image forming / removing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a part of a control unit of the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an example of a flowchart of an operation when an interruption command is issued in an image forming mode.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of a second embodiment of the image forming / removing apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: image forming / removing device, 4A: printing paper, 4
A ': printed paper discharged to the first paper discharge unit, 4
B: Printed paper loaded on the second paper supply unit, 10:
Liquid, 300: fixing unit, 308: switching claw pair, 318: switching claw pair, 400: first paper discharge unit, 404: tray, 50
0: second paper feeding unit, 600: pre-drying unit, 700: immersion unit.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI theme coat ゛ (Reference) B65H 29/62 B41J 29/00 HF term (Reference) 2C061 AP04 AQ06 AS02 AS13 BB37 CK01 GG03 GG06 GG07 GG15 GG22 GG40 HN04 HN15 2H027 ED19 EF09 EK10 FA10 FA35 2H034 FA00 3F053 EA01 EC02 ED17 LA01 LB03

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image forming / removing apparatus having an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording medium and an image removing unit for removing a printing material from the recording medium, wherein the image forming unit interrupts the image forming. The image forming / removing apparatus is characterized in that the recording medium is ejected to the recording medium accommodating section when the instruction is given, and then conveyed from the recording medium accommodating section to the image removing section by a user's instruction or automatically. 2. An image forming / removing apparatus comprising: an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording medium; and an image removing unit for removing a printing material from the recording medium. Wherein the recording medium is automatically conveyed from the image forming section to the image removing section.