JP2002052305A - Filtration method, filtration device and sheet regeneration device to which filtration device is assembled - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a filtration device efficiently filtering solid substances (e.g. printing materials) in liquid. SOLUTION: The filtration device 52 conducts liquid flowing from a first flow passage 76 into a lower housing 74 to a second flow passage 78 through a filter (filtration material) 88. A partition wall 86 is provided on the way of the first flow passage 76 and a flow passage of the filter 88. Thereby, a liquid flow is obstructed and an area 82 with a slow flow speed is formed. The solid substance 94 is not fluttered up by an influence of a liquid flow flowing from the first flow passage 76 to the second flow passage 78 and is not again deposited on the filter 88.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a filter method and an apparatus for removing solid matter in a liquid, and a sheet (for example, copy paper, print paper,
The present invention relates to a sheet reproducing apparatus for removing a printing material (for example, toner or ink) printed on an OHP sheet) using a liquid.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art From the viewpoint of resource reuse, various apparatuses have been proposed for reproducing a sheet by removing toner from a sheet (copied or printed) on which an image has been formed by an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer. I have.

[0003] Among such sheet regenerating apparatuses, one using a dedicated sheet having a water-swellable surface layer as a sheet is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-7-140554 (here, "water-swellable"). Means that it absorbs an aqueous solution (including water) and swells, but does not dissolve in the aqueous solution.) When the dedicated sheet is used, the liquid is immersed in a liquid mainly composed of water, so that the liquid penetrates into the surface layer and the contact force between the toner and the surface layer is reduced (immersion step). Subsequently, the toner is removed by a toner removing unit using a mechanical rubbing force such as a brush. Finally, the dedicated sheet is dried so that an image can be formed again.

Since the liquid for immersing the sheet in the immersion step contains foreign matter (particularly, toner separated from the sheet), it is preferable to remove the foreign matter and purify the liquid. For this purpose, for example, one end of a pipe provided with a pump and a foreign matter collecting filter part on the way is connected to a container for storing liquid, and the other end of the pipe is connected to another tank, and the liquid is once collected in the tank. And then supplying the sheet from which the toner has been removed by the toner removing means as a rinsing liquid, or
It is conceivable that the liquid is circulated through a pipe by directly connecting to the container.

FIG. 8 shows an example in which a generally known filter device is used as a foreign matter collecting filter section. This device 1
00 has a cylindrical housing 102. The housing 102 has a cylindrical filter (filter material) 104 provided concentrically with the housing 102.
The space inside 02 is separated into an outer chamber 106 and an inner chamber 108 by a filter 104. A liquid is fed into the outer chamber 106 from a first channel 110 connected to a container (not shown) using a pump (not shown). The inner chamber 108 has one end connected to the second flow path 112 and the other end closed by a cap 114, whereby the filter 1 is separated from the outer chamber 106.
04 through the inner chamber 108
Flows out to the second flow path 112 from the second flow path 112.

[0006]

When the amount of the toner 116 collected by the filter 104 increases, the outer peripheral surface of the filter is covered with the toner 116 as shown in FIG. The liquid flow decreases. For this reason, in the case of a configuration in which the purified liquid is supplied to the sheet as a rinsing liquid, the rinsing liquid cannot be sufficiently supplied to the sheet due to a decrease in the flow rate. As a result, foreign matters such as toner remaining on the sheet are sufficiently removed. Can not be washed away.

Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to provide a filter device which improves this filter device and further effectively collects toner and the like, and a filter method used in the filter device.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a sheet reproducing apparatus incorporating the above filter device.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a filter device having a housing and a filter material provided in the housing, wherein the liquid flowing into the housing is filtered by the filter material. Out of the housing through
Thus, in the filter device for removing solids from the liquid, the first device for retaining the solids in the housing is provided.
Is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a filter device.
In the filter device of (1), a partition is provided in the housing, whereby the inside of the housing is provided with the first region, an inlet for liquid flowing into the housing, a filter material, and an outlet for liquid flowing out of the housing. And the partition has a hole communicating the first region and the second region.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a filter device according to the second aspect.
In the above filter device, the surface of the partition wall facing the second region has a portion inclined toward the communication hole at a predetermined angle with respect to the direction of gravity.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet reproducing apparatus having a filter section for applying a liquid to a printed sheet to remove a printing material from the sheet and purifying the liquid applied to the printed sheet. , The filter section
Comprising a housing and a filter medium provided in the housing,
The liquid introduced into the housing is caused to flow out of the housing through the filter medium, thereby removing solids from the liquid and providing a first region for retaining the solids in the housing. Is what you do.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the sheet reproducing apparatus of the fourth aspect, a partition is provided in the housing, whereby the inside of the housing has the first region and an inlet for liquid flowing into the housing. , A filter medium, and a second area provided with an outlet for the liquid flowing out of the housing, wherein the partition wall has a hole communicating the first area and the second area. is there.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the sheet reproducing apparatus of the fifth aspect, the surface of the partition wall facing the second region is inclined toward the communication hole at a predetermined angle with respect to the direction of gravity. It is characterized by having a portion to perform.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a filter method for removing solid matter from a liquid, comprising: (a) first and second openings, and a first opening from the first opening to a second opening; A housing having a filter medium provided in the middle of the flow path, and in the middle of the flow path from the first opening to the filter medium,
Providing a first region in which a solid material can be retained; and (b) allowing the liquid to flow into the housing through the first opening, passing the filtering material through the second opening, And flowing out of the housing through the housing.

[0016] The filtering method according to claim 8 is based on claim 7.
In the filter method according to the above, a partition is provided in the housing, whereby the housing is provided with the first region, an inlet for a liquid flowing into the housing, a filter medium, and an outlet for a liquid flowing out of the housing. And the partition has a hole communicating the first region and the second region.

A ninth aspect of the present invention is a filter method.
Or the filter method according to 8, further comprising, after the step (b), a step of causing the liquid to flow backward from the second opening toward the first opening via the filter medium. is there.

[0018]

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

(1) Schematic Configuration of Sheet Reproducing Apparatus FIG. 1 shows a sheet reproducing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as "reproducing apparatus") which removes toner attached to the sheet from the sheet to make the sheet reusable. .) 10. The reproducing apparatus 10 generally includes a sheet supply unit 12 that accommodates and supplies the sheet S to be reproduced by the reproduction apparatus 10, and a dipping unit that applies liquid to the sheet S sent from the sheet supply unit 12 to wet the sheet S. 14 and the sheet S to which the liquid is applied
Removing unit 16 for removing toner from the sheet, and a rinsing unit 18 for spraying liquid onto the sheet S from which toner has been removed to remove foreign matters such as toner remaining on the sheet S
A liquid removing unit 20 that removes liquid attached to the surface of the sheet S from which toner has been removed; and a sheet S from which liquid has been removed.
A drying unit 22 for drying the sheet S to a reusable state, and a sheet discharging unit 24 for discharging and storing the dried sheet S.

(2) Sheet The sheet S used in the reproducing apparatus 10 has a three-layer structure in which an intermediate adhesive layer and a surface layer are sequentially laminated on one surface of a base material layer, or an intermediate adhesive layer on both surfaces of the base material layer. 5 with surface layer
It has a layer structure. 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. The composition of the sheet and each layer constituting the sheet is described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
This is described in detail in Japanese Patent Publication No. 218955.

(3) Sheet Supply Unit The sheet supply unit 12 is a supply tray 2 for storing sheets S.
6. The sheet supply unit 12 also includes a supply tray 26.
Mechanism 28 for sending out only the uppermost sheet from the plurality of sheets S stacked and accommodated in
And a feeding mechanism 32 for feeding the uppermost sheet separated from the lower layer sheet along the sheet conveying path 30. In the present embodiment, as the separation mechanism 28, a separation device having a pickup roller that contacts the uppermost sheet and a separation pad that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the pickup roller is used, but a separation device of another form is used. You may. Further, the delivery mechanism 32 generally has a first shaft connected to a drive system and a second shaft arranged in parallel with the first shaft. A plurality of rollers are provided at a predetermined interval from these shafts. (For example, a rubber roller), and a roller transport conventionally used as a paper transport device of a copying machine or a printer, in which a sheet is nipped and transported by a roller attached to one axis and a roller attached to the other axis. The device is used.

(4) Immersion Unit The immersion unit 14 has a container 36 for storing a cleaning liquid (liquid) 34. Water is used as the cleaning liquid 34. Note that a surfactant may be added in an amount of about 0.01% (= weight of surfactant / weight of water) in order to easily remove the toner attached to the sheet S. Further, another material may be added to the cleaning liquid 34 as needed.

The internal space of the container 36 is divided by an overflow wall 38 into an immersion tank 40 for immersing the sheet S and an overflow tank 42 for containing the cleaning liquid 34 overflowing from the immersion tank 40. ing. The cleaning liquid 34 flowing into the overflow tank 42 from the immersion tank 40 and flowing into the overflow tank 42 is again sent to the immersion tank 40 and the cleaning liquid 34 is sent from the overflow tank 42 to the immersion tank 40. A liquid circulating unit 44 for collecting foreign substances (for example, toner) contained in the cleaning liquid 34 in the process is provided.

The liquid circulation section 44 has a liquid circulation path 48. One end of the liquid circulation path 48 is connected to the overflow tank 42,
The other end is located above the immersion tank 40. Therefore,
The cleaning liquid 34 accumulated in the overflow tank 42 is supplied to the immersion tank 4.
0 is supplied from above the liquid level. In addition, the liquid circulation path 48
It has a pump 50 for forcibly circulating the cleaning liquid 34 along the liquid circulation path 48 and a filter section 52 for removing foreign substances contained in the cleaning liquid 34. The filter unit 52 will be described later in detail.

In order to keep the liquid level in the overflow tank 42 constant, the liquid level is measured. When the water level in the overflow tank 42 falls below a predetermined level, the cleaning liquid is transferred from a preliminary tank (not shown) to the immersion tank 40. 34 may be replenished.

In the immersion tank 40 of the container 36, a plurality of transports are carried along the sheet transport path 30 in order to transport the sheet S sent from the sheet supply unit 12 in the cleaning liquid 34 in the immersion tank 40. It has a mechanism 56 and a guide member (not shown) that guides the sheet S between the plurality of transport mechanisms 56. As the transport mechanism 56, the above-described roller transport device is used. As the guide member, a pair of guide plates (a plate having a plurality of openings through which the cleaning liquid 34 can enter and exit) or a guide wire (a sheet extending in the sheet transport direction and facing the sheet transport path 30 with a predetermined interval therebetween). A plurality of wires arranged at predetermined intervals in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction can be suitably used.

(5) Toner Removal Unit The toner removal unit 16 has a pair of brush rollers 58 that face each other with the sheet transport path 30 interposed therebetween. The brush roller 58 uses a shaft connected to a drive system and a base cloth on which nylon fibers are planted around the shaft, and the sheet S conveyed along the sheet conveyance path 30 is used.
Are arranged such that the bristles of the respective brush rollers 58 are in contact with the front surface and the back surface. Further, in order to remove the toner from the sheet S by contacting the toner adhering to the front and back surfaces of the sheet S passing between the brush rollers 58,
Each of them is drivingly connected to a motor (not shown).

The peripheral speed of the brush roller 58 is set to several times to several tens times the conveying speed of the sheet S. Also,
The rotation direction of the brush roller 58 will be briefly described. When the leading end of the sheet S enters the facing portion of the brush roller 58, the bristle of the brush roller 58 moves in the sheet conveying direction, and the leading end of the sheet S passes through the facing portion. After that, it is preferable to control the drive motor of the brush roller 58 so that the bristle moves in the direction opposite to the sheet conveying direction.

In this embodiment, the brush roller 58 is used as a member that comes into contact with the sheet S and removes toner from the sheet S. However, a soft member such as a sponge or cloth is attached around the rotation shaft. Rollers can also be used. Alternatively, for example, as disclosed in JP-A-7-84395, a type in which a cleaning liquid is applied to a sheet and then toner is removed by a peeling member can be applied.

(6) Rinsing section The rinsing section 18 sandwiches the sheet transport path 30 and brushes the sheet S in order to supply the cleaning liquid 34 to the front and back surfaces of the sheet S that has passed or has passed between the pair of brush rollers 58. Spray nozzle 6 arranged above roller 58
Has zero. The spray nozzle 60 is connected to the other end of the liquid circulation path 48 described above.
The cleaning liquid 34 purified in step 8 is supplied. Note that, in the present embodiment, the spray nozzle 60 is formed by folding a tube having liquid injection holes formed at predetermined intervals by 180 ° in the middle thereof.

(7) Liquid Removal Section The liquid removal section 20 has a pair of squeezing rollers 62 composed of two rollers which are opposed to each other with the sheet transport path 30 interposed therebetween and come into contact with each other on the sheet transport path 30. One of the two rollers constituting the squeezing roller pair 62 is drivingly connected to a motor (not shown).

(8) Drying Unit The drying unit 22 is disposed downstream of the liquid removing unit 20 in order to dry the sheet S from which the cleaning liquid 34 has been removed until it can be reused by a copying machine or the like. Drying section 22
In the present embodiment, two rollers 64 and 66 are opposed to each other with the sheet conveyance path 30 interposed therebetween and come into contact with each other on the sheet conveyance path 30. At least one of the rollers 64, 66 has a heater 68 therein as a heating source.

As the drying means of the drying section 22, instead of the roller-type heater described above, for example, a blower that only blows normal-temperature air to a sheet, or a built-in heater that can blow hot air is used. A type blower may be used. Further, a configuration in which air dried by a dehumidifier is blown may be used.

(9) Sheet Discharge Unit The sheet discharge unit 24 is a unit for discharging the sheet S dried in the drying unit 22.
And a discharge tray 70 for stacking the sheets.

(10) Sheet Reproduction Processing The operation of the reproduction apparatus 10 having the above configuration will be described. Specifically, the sheets S to be reproduced are stored in a stacked state on the supply tray 26. When the playback device 10 starts in this state,
The plurality of sheets S stored in the supply tray 26 are sequentially sent out from the uppermost sheet by a separating mechanism 28, and are supplied to the immersion unit 14 by a sending out mechanism 32.

The sheet S supplied to the immersion section 14 is transported by the transport mechanism 56 while being guided by the guide member, is immersed in the cleaning liquid 34 in the immersion tank 40 for a predetermined time, and completely cleans the entire surface of the sheet S. Liquid 34
Penetrates. As a result, the surface layer of the sheet S swells, the adhesive force between the toner fixed on the surface and the surface layer is lost, and the toner becomes separable only by applying a mechanical force. The sheet S discharged from the cleaning liquid 34 in the immersion tank 40 has a pair of brush rollers
8, the toner adhering to the front and back surfaces is removed. At this time, the cleaning liquid 34 is applied from the spray nozzle 60 to the front and back surfaces of the sheet S, respectively.
Is ejected, and the toner adhering to the sheet portion that has passed through the facing portion of the brush roller 58 is washed away. Further, the toner adhered to the brush roller 58 is washed off into the immersion tank 40.

The toner dropped into the immersion tank 40 and the toner separated from the sheet S in the process of transporting the sheet S through the immersion tank 40 pass over the overflow wall 38 from the immersion tank 40 to the overflow tank 42. Overflow tank 4 with cleaning liquid 34 flowing to
Flow into 2. The toner contained in the cleaning liquid 34 in the overflow tank 42 is sent through a liquid circulation path 48 by a pump 50 and removed by a filter unit 52. The cleaning liquid 34 from which the toner has been removed is supplied to the spray nozzle 60
From the front and back surfaces of the sheet S and the brush roller 58.

The sheet S from which the foreign matter has been removed is squeezed by the pair of squeezing rollers 62 of the liquid removing section 20, and the cleaning liquid 34 on the surface is removed. Subsequently, the sheet S is sent to the drying unit 22 and dried, and then is discharged onto the discharge tray 70 of the sheet discharge unit 24.

(11) Filter Section As shown in FIG.
An upper housing 72 connected to the
And a lower housing 74 detachably mounted on the lower housing 74. The lower housing 74 is a cylindrical housing attached to the upper housing 72 and having a central axis in the vertical direction. The upper housing 72 includes a circulation path 48 a disposed downstream of the pump 50 and a lower housing 74.
And a second flow path 78 that fluidly connects the hollow part of the lower housing 74 and the circulation path 48b disposed downstream of the filter unit 52. I have. More specifically, one end of the first flow path 76 is connected to the vicinity of the side wall (inner wall) of the hollow portion of the lower housing 74. On the other hand, one end of the second flow path 78 is connected to the vicinity of the central axis of the hollow portion of the lower housing 74.

The hollow portion of the lower housing 74 is divided into a toner settling portion (first region) 82 and a toner collecting portion (second region) 84, and is directed from the side wall of the lower housing 74 toward the center (inward). A conical ring-shaped partition wall 86 inclined downward (ie, inclined at a predetermined angle to the center with respect to the direction of gravity) forms a communication hole 87 between the toner settling portion 82 and the toner collecting portion 84. ing. This partition 86
The flow of the liquid flowing from the first flow path 76 along the side wall of the lower housing 74 is blocked, so that the flow velocity of the liquid flow in the toner sedimentation section 82 is extremely reduced.

The toner collecting section 84 is provided with a cylindrical filter (filter material) 88. One end of the space inside the filter 88 is connected to the one end of the second flow passage 78, and the other end extends from the bottom center of the lower housing 74 to the upper side of the partition wall 86 in parallel with the side wall of the lower housing 74. It is closed by a cap 92 supported by a column 90. As a result, the first flow path 76
Flows into the hollow portion of the lower housing 74 through the filter 88 and flows out of the second flow path 78 to the circulation path 48b.

The partition wall 86 and the support column 90 may be formed integrally with the lower housing 74 or may be another member. Further, it is preferable that at least a part of the lower housing 74 is transparent so that the inside of the housing can be observed from the outside.

When the liquid containing the toner 94 is passed through the filter unit 52 having the above-described structure and the filtration is continued, a layer of the toner 94 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the filter 88. Further, a part of the toner 84 carried by the liquid flow is carried to a slightly lower portion of the communication hole 87 formed in the center of the partition wall 86, and the flow velocity in the vicinity thereof becomes extremely slow. (Generally, the toner for electrophotography is made of a resin material and has a specific gravity of about 1.1 to 1.3. Therefore, when the flow of the liquid containing water as a main material is stationary or nearly stationary, Settles under the effect of gravity.)

The partition wall 86 has a shape inclined from the toner collecting section 84 to the toner settling section 82.
Therefore, the toner can settle in the toner settling section 82 without being deposited on the partition wall 86.

Further, if the flow of water is stopped or the backflow is performed in a state where a large amount of toner 94 adheres to the outer peripheral surface of the filter 88, the toner 94 drops off from the outer peripheral surface of the filter 88, and the lower housing 74 by gravity. The sediment passes through the communication hole 87 of the partition wall 86 and accumulates on the toner sedimentation part 82. In this state, when the liquid flows again through the filter unit 52, the flow velocity in the toner precipitation unit 82 is extremely high even if the velocity of the liquid flowing into the filter unit 52 and flowing out of the filter unit 52 through the filter 88 is high. Since the toner is late, the toner 94 that has settled / accumulated or stayed in the toner settling portion 82 does not soar up and re-adhere to the outer peripheral surface of the filter 52. Therefore, the flow rate does not decrease until the toner included in the liquid flowing through the first flow path 76 covers the outer peripheral surface of the filter 88. As a result, the liquid that has been purified by passing through the filter unit 52 can sufficiently wash away foreign substances such as toner remaining on the sheet S from the spray nozzle 60 of the rinsing unit 18.

As means for causing the liquid to flow slightly backward in the filter section 52, for example, as shown in FIG.
It is conceivable that a three-way valve 95 is provided at least on the downstream side of 2 and vertically above the liquid level of the overflow tank 42. In this case, the three-way valve 95 is switched after the pump 50 is stopped,
The circulation path 48b between the filter unit 52 and the three-way valve 75
And the pipe 96 connected to the atmosphere, the liquid receives the atmospheric pressure and acts in the opposite direction (the direction from the second flow path 78 to the first flow path 76 in FIG. 2) by the action of gravity. The liquid flows (a pump capable of moving the liquid from right to left in the drawing in a stopped state is used as the pump 50).

(12) Another embodiment of the filter section The partition of the filter section divides the lower housing of the filter section into a toner collection section and a toner precipitation section, and the liquid in the toner precipitation section is smaller than the toner collection section. The shape is not limited to that shown in FIG. 2 as long as the flow velocity can be reduced, and may be any shape. For example, the filter unit 52A shown in FIG.
The partition wall 86A is configured so that the inclination becomes gentle toward the toner settling portion 82. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a plate provided with a plurality of communication holes is provided with a partition wall 86B.
(86B (1), 86B (2)). The shape of the communication hole may be, for example, an arc shape as shown in FIG. 4B, or a circular shape as shown in FIG. 4C. Further, a plurality of partitions 86C may be provided as shown in FIG.

Further, by fitting one end of the second flow passage 78 and the inner peripheral surface of the filter 88 via an O-ring 98 as in a filter device 52D shown in FIG. If the upper housing 72 is configured to support the filter 88, a support for supporting the filter 88 and the cap 92 is unnecessary. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6B, it is not necessary to provide a hole for passing the support in the partition wall 86D.

FIG. 7 shows an example in which no partition is provided in the filter section 52 of FIG. 2A. In order to suppress a decrease in the flow rate due to the toner covering the outer peripheral surface of the filter, the toner 94 adheres to the outer peripheral surface of the filter 88 to form a layer when the collection of the toner 94 is continued by the filter portion 52E.
However, after the pump (not shown) is stopped to stop the flow of water or the liquid is caused to flow back from the second flow path 78 toward the first flow path 76 appropriately using appropriate means, and then the flow of the water is stopped. When it stops, the toner 94 attached to the outer peripheral surface of the filter 88 falls off from the outer peripheral surface as shown in FIG.
By thus removing the toner 94 attached to the outer peripheral surface of the filter 88, the maximum collection amount of the filter unit 52E can be increased.

However, when water flows again in the direction from the first flow path 76 to the second flow path 78 in the filter section 52E, if the speed of flowing through the filter device 88 is high, the toner that has settled and deposited There is a possibility that a large amount of the toner 94 covers the outer peripheral surface of the filter 88 due to the sowing of the liquid 94 and the re-adherence to the outer peripheral surface of the filter 88. At this time,
The flow rate drops significantly in a short time. In order to prevent the settled / deposited toner 94 from rising when the water flows again, it is necessary to reduce the velocity of the liquid flowing through the filter 52E. For this reason, in a case where the purified liquid is supplied to the sheet as a rinsing liquid, a flow rate for sufficiently supplying the rinsing liquid to the sheet cannot be secured.

Therefore, the lower housing 74 of the filter section 52E is provided with a region where the flow of the liquid is hardly affected and therefore the toner 94 can always stay there, so that the toner 94 staying at the time of the backflow is prevented from rising. It is possible to do. For example, it is possible to provide the above region by making a part or the whole of the lower housing 74 deep. However, a filter section provided with a partition wall is preferable in that the filter section can be made compact.

(13) Experiment (Example 1) A sheet on which a toner image having a B / W ratio of about 23% was formed using a copying machine Dialta Di80 manufactured by Minolta Co., Ltd.
A plurality of sheets were passed through the reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. Even when about 1,800 sheets were passed, no rinsing defect (the liquid supplied from the spray nozzle of the rinsing part was not sufficient and foreign matters such as toner remained on the sheet) did not occur. The flow rate injected from the spray nozzle was 4-4.5 L / min.

(Comparative Example 1) A filter device without a partition wall (FIG. 7) was employed in the filter section of FIG. 1, and a plurality of sheets were passed through a reproducing device. When about 800 sheets were passed, a rinsing defect occurred, and a large amount of toner adhered to the sheet discharged from the reproducing apparatus. In the state of poor rinsing, the flow rate injected from the spray nozzle is 1.5 to
It was 2 L / min. In addition, the backflow of the liquid flowing through the filter was not performed.

(Comparative Example 2) Commercially available filter device (FIG. 8)
Was adopted in the filter section of FIG. 1, and when a plurality of sheets were passed through the reproducing apparatus, a rinsing defect occurred when about 1,000 sheets were passed. In the state of poor rinsing, the flow rate injected from the spray nozzle was 2 L / min.

As described above, the sheet regenerating apparatus provided with the filter section provided with the partition wall does not need to replace the filter (the filtering material) as compared with the conventional filter apparatus or the filter apparatus provided with no partition wall. A large number of reproduction processes are possible.

(14) Others In order to sufficiently remove toner, a sheet provided with a surface layer having water swelling properties is optimal, but the reproducing apparatus according to the present invention employs a sheet other than the sheet. The application of the liquid is effective for all sheets having a configuration in which the toner is easily peeled.

The reproducing apparatus according to the present invention includes, in addition to the electrophotographic toner, a thermal transfer ink, a printing ink, a printing material written by a writing instrument (a crayon, a pencil, a ballpoint pen, a marker pen, a marker pen, etc.), an ink jet printer, It is also possible to remove ink that forms a film on the paper surface, such as ink for use.

It goes without saying that the filter device according to the present invention can be applied to devices other than the sheet reproducing device.

[0059]

According to the filter device and the method according to the present invention, by providing a region where the liquid flow is slow in the housing of the filter device, the solid matter (for example, printing material) staying in this region is subjected to the flow of the liquid flow. As a result, the filter can be prevented from adhering to the soaring filter (filter material), so that the life of the filter can be extended. This can reduce the frequency of filter replacement and reduce maintenance costs.

Further, by providing the partition in the housing,
The flow velocity of the liquid flow in the area provided for retaining the solid matter can be easily reduced.

Further, by inclining the partition toward the above-mentioned region, the solid can be settled in the above-mentioned region through the communication hole without depositing the solid on the partition.

According to the sheet reproducing apparatus of the present invention, the life of the filter section can be extended, so that the frequency of maintenance such as filter replacement can be reduced, and therefore the running cost of the sheet reproducing apparatus can be reduced. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a sheet reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a sectional view of a filter device according to the present invention.
(B) An enlarged perspective view of the partition wall of FIG.

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the filter device according to the present invention. (B) An enlarged perspective view of the partition wall in FIG.

FIG. 4 (a) is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the filter device according to the present invention. FIG. 4B is an enlarged perspective view of the partition wall shown in FIG.
FIG. 4C is an enlarged perspective view of the partition wall of FIG.
FIG. 7B shows a partition wall having a communication hole different from the example shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of still another embodiment of the filter device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 (a) is a cross-sectional view of still another embodiment of the filter device according to the present invention. (B) An enlarged perspective view of the partition wall in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a filter device without a partition.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional filter device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10: Sheet recycling device 12: Supply unit 14: Immersion unit 16: Toner removal unit 18: Rinse unit 20: Liquid removal unit 22: Drying unit 24: Discharge unit 34: Cleaning liquid 36: Container 40: Immersion tank 42: Overflow Tank 44: liquid circulation section 48: liquid circulation path 52: filter section 72: upper housing 74: lower housing 76: first flow path 78: second flow path 82: toner sedimentation section (first area) 84: Toner collecting portion (second region) 86: partition wall 87: communication hole 88: filter (filter material) 94: toner

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) B29B 17/02 B01D 29/10 520B B41J 29/26 520Z G03G 21/00 578 530A 29/38 510C 520A 29 / 42 520 35/02 FF term (reference) 2C061 GG03 GG06 GG15 GG23 GG37 2H034 FA00 4D064 AA40 BC13 BC17 BC23 CD03 CD05 DC05 4F301 BF06 BF25 BF27 BF31 BG33 BG36 BG38 BG40

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A filter device having a housing and a filter material provided in the housing, wherein the liquid flowing into the housing flows out of the housing through the filter material, thereby removing solid matter from the liquid. 3. The filter device according to claim 1, further comprising a first region for retaining solid matter in the housing. 2. A partition provided in the housing, whereby the interior of the housing is provided with the first region, an inlet for liquid flowing into the housing, a filter medium, and an outlet for liquid flowing out of the housing. 2. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein the partition has a hole communicating the first region and the second region. 3. A surface of the partition wall facing the second region,
3. The filter device according to claim 2, further comprising a portion inclined toward the communication hole at a predetermined angle with respect to the direction of gravity. 4. A sheet reproducing apparatus having a filter section for applying a liquid to a printed sheet to remove a printing material from the sheet and purifying the liquid applied to the printed sheet, wherein the filter section includes a housing and And a filter material provided in the housing, wherein the liquid flowing into the housing flows out of the housing through the filter material, thereby removing solids from the liquid and retaining the solids in the housing. A sheet reproducing apparatus provided with a first area for reproducing. 5. A partition provided in the housing, wherein the interior of the housing is provided with the first region, an inlet for a liquid flowing into the housing, a filter material, and an outlet for a liquid flowing out of the housing. 5. The sheet reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the partition has a hole communicating the first region and the second region. 6. 6. The surface of the partition wall facing the second region,
6. The sheet reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a portion inclined toward the communication hole at a predetermined angle with respect to the direction of gravity. 7. A filter method for removing solid matter from a liquid, wherein (a) the filter is provided in the middle of a flow path from the first opening to the second opening and from the first opening to the second opening. A step of preparing a housing having a filter medium and having a first region in which a solid material can stay in the middle of a flow path from the first opening to the filter medium; First
Flowing through the opening into the housing, allowing the filter media to pass through, and flowing out of the housing through the second opening. 8. A partition provided in the housing, whereby the interior of the housing is provided with the first region, an inlet for liquid flowing into the housing, a filter material, and an outlet for liquid flowing out of the housing. The filter method according to claim 7, wherein the partition has a hole communicating the first region and the second region. 9. The method according to claim 7, further comprising, after the step (b), flowing back the liquid from the second opening to the first opening via the filter medium toward the first opening. the method of.