JP2002072613A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device by which a glossy color toner image is changed into a nonglossy color image or the nonglossy color toner image is changed into the glossy color image. SOLUTION: In the image forming device by which a color toner image transferred on a transfer material is fixed to a transparent toner layer, the glossiness of the color toner image is different from that of the transparent toner layer, and the transparent toner layer is provided at a specified forming area on the color toner image.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus in which a color image portion or a designated area is covered with a transparent toner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, it is generally required that a document image be faithfully reproduced. For example, since a photo document has a gloss, a copy image is also a gloss image. It is required that there be. Japanese Patent No. 3030576 proposes to use a transparent toner for a range where gloss is required and to make the range glossy. The transparent toner used here is a toner in which a colorant is removed from the toner for developing a color image, and the fixing temperature of the fixing unit is set high, the pressure during fixing is increased, and the fixing time is increased. There is disclosed means for obtaining a glossy image in a range where the transparent toner adheres.

In general, a glossy or non-glossy image is obtained from a toner image depending on the relationship between characteristics such as the glass transition temperature of the toner and fixing conditions.

[0004]

Generally, a photographic image is required to be a glossy image, but a character image is required to be a non-glossy image because characters are easy to read. .

[0005] A first object of the present invention is to provide a developing range using a transparent toner when an image to be formed is non-glossy so that the range is glossy after fixing, and to form a formed image. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which, when is glossy, a developing range using a transparent toner is provided to make the range non-glossy after fixing.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which a transparent toner layer is provided on a toner image to obtain a gloss image having a clearer hue or a moist mat image. is there.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A first object of the present invention is to:
In an image forming apparatus in which a color toner image transferred onto a transfer material and a transparent toner layer are fixed, the glossiness of the color toner image is different from that of the transparent toner layer, and the color toner image is transparent on the color toner image. In an image forming apparatus provided with a toner layer (the invention of claim 1) and an image forming apparatus in which a color toner image transferred onto a transfer material and a transparent toner layer are fixed. This is achieved by an image forming apparatus (invention of claim 3), wherein a transparent toner image having a gloss level different from that of a color toner image is formed by superimposing on a color toner image corresponding to the color toner image.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus for forming and fixing a color toner image on a substrate, wherein the substrate is a glossy substrate having a transparent resin layer formed on a white layer. An image forming apparatus comprising: a transparent toner layer superposed on an image;
Invention).

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described.
This will be described with reference to the cross-sectional configuration diagrams of FIGS. This image forming apparatus includes an image reading unit A, an image processing unit B, an image forming unit E, and the like.

As shown in the sectional configuration diagrams of FIGS. 1 and 2,
At the top of the image forming apparatus, there is a document table made of a transparent glass plate or the like, and a document placing section 111 made up of a document cover or the like that covers the document D placed on the document table. , A first mirror unit 112 in the apparatus body,
Second mirror unit 113, main lens 120, color C
An image reading unit A including a CD 123 or the like is provided. The first mirror unit 112 includes an exposure lamp 114 and a first mirror 115, and is attached in parallel with the platen so as to be linearly movable in the horizontal direction in the drawing.
Is optically scanned over the entire surface. The second mirror unit 113 integrally includes a second mirror 116 and a third mirror 117, and linearly moves in the same direction on the left and right at half the speed of the first mirror unit 112 so as to always maintain a predetermined optical path length. Of course, the movement of the second mirror unit 113 is parallel to the platen similarly to the first mirror unit 112.
The image of the document D on the document table illuminated by the exposure lamp 114 is transmitted to the first mirror 115 by the main lens 120.
Color CC through the second mirror 116 and the third mirror 117
The image is formed on D123. When the scanning is completed, the first mirror unit 112 and the second mirror unit 113 return to their original positions, and wait for the next copy.

The image data of each color obtained by the color CCD 123 is subjected to image processing in an image processing section.
Laser writing is performed on an image forming unit E described below as an image signal.

The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is a tandem type color image forming apparatus using an intermediate transfer member as an image forming portion E, and a yellow (Y) mark is formed on the peripheral portion of a transfer belt 14a as an intermediate transfer member. , Magenta (M), cyan (C), black (K), and transparent (T) are provided, and each process unit 100 includes Y, M, C, K, and T toners. An image is formed, the toner image is superimposed and transferred on the transfer belt 14a, and the transferred color toner image is collectively transferred onto a recording paper as a transfer material, fixed and discharged outside the apparatus. ing.

The five process units 100 all have a common structure, and only one of them will be described. The photoconductor drum 10, which is an image forming body, has a photoconductor layer of a conductive layer and an organic photoconductor layer (OPC) formed on the outer periphery of a cylindrical substrate.

The photosensitive drum 10 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction indicated by an arrow with the conductive layer grounded by power from a driving source (not shown) or by the transfer belt 14a.

Numeral 11 denotes a scorotron charger as charging means, which is attached to the photosensitive drum 10 in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the photosensitive drum 10 so as to face and be close to the photosensitive drum 10.
The photosensitive drum 1 is driven by corona discharge having the same polarity as the toner.
A uniform potential is given to 0.

Reference numeral 12 denotes Y, M, C,
An exposure optical system that performs image exposure of K and T in accordance with an instruction from the control unit, and is a scanning optical system that performs scanning in parallel with the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum 10 using, for example, a polygon mirror. Exposure optical system 1 on photoreceptor drum 10 uniformly charged
The latent image is formed by performing the image exposure by the method 2.

A developing unit 13 containing a two-component developer composed of a negatively charged conductive toner and a magnetic carrier is provided at the periphery of the photosensitive drum 10, and has a magnet body built therein to hold the developer. The reversal development is performed by the rotating developing sleeve 13a.

The developer comprises a carrier having ferrite as a core and an insulating resin coated around the core, and a pigment having a weight average particle diameter of 3 to 10 μm to which a coloring agent such as a pigment or carbon black is added or which does not contain a coloring agent. A charge control agent, silica, titanium oxide, or the like is added to the toner and mixed so that the toner concentration becomes 5 to 10% by mass. The toner is regulated on the developing sleeve 13a to a layer thickness of 0.1 to 0.6 mm and developed. Transported to the area.

The gap between the developing sleeve 13a and the photosensitive drum 10 in the developing area is larger than the layer thickness of the developer.
As 2～1.0Mm, applies an AC bias voltage obtained by superposing an AC voltage V _AC to a DC voltage V _DC between the developing sleeve 13a and the photosensitive drum 10. Since charging of the toner is a DC voltage V _DC of the same polarity (negative), the toner given the opportunity to leave from the carrier by the AC voltage V _AC, the part of the high V _H absolute value of the potential from the DC voltage V _DC And the toner amount corresponding to the potential difference adheres to the portion of _VL where the absolute value of the potential is low, and the image is visualized (reversal development).
Further, only the DC voltage _VDC may be applied between the developing sleeve 13a and the photosensitive drum 10. The development may be contact development. This toner image is transferred onto a transfer belt 14a described later at a transfer position. The transfer residual toner remaining on the drum after the transfer is cleaned by a cleaning device 19 that electrostatically collects the toner.

The transfer belt 14 in which the Y, M, C, and K four-color and transparent (T) process units 100 face in parallel.
a is a volume resistivity of 10 ¹⁰ to 10 ¹⁵ Ω · cm, and a surface resistivity of 1
It is an endless belt having a thickness of 0 ¹⁰ to 10 ¹⁵ Ω / □, which is obtained by dispersing a conductive material in an engineering plastic such as a modified polyimide, a thermosetting polyimide, an ethylene tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, a polyvinylidene fluoride, and a nylon alloy. A fluorine coating having a thickness of 5 to 50 μm was formed on the outside of a semiconductive film substrate having a thickness of 1 to 1.0 mm, preferably as a toner filming preventing layer.
It is a seamless belt having a layer configuration. In addition, as the base of the transfer belt 14a, a semiconductive rubber belt having a thickness of 0.5 to 2.0 mm in which a conductive material is dispersed in silicon rubber or urethane rubber can be used. The transfer belt 14a is stretched in contact with a driving roller 14d, a driven roller 14e, a tension roller 14k, and a backup roller 14j. During image formation, the driving roller 14d is rotated by a driving motor (not shown). At the transfer position for each color, the transfer belt 14a is pressed against the photosensitive drum 10 by the primary transfer device 14c, and the transfer belt 14a is pressed.
a is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in the figure.

A primary transfer device 14c composed of a transfer roller as a transfer means for each color including transparent is provided to face the photosensitive drum 10 for each color with the transfer belt 14a interposed therebetween.
A transfer area (no symbol) for each color is formed between the transfer belt 14a and the photosensitive drum 10 for each color. A DC voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner (positive polarity in the present embodiment) is applied to the primary transfer device 14c for each color, and a transfer electric field is formed in the transfer area. The toner image is transferred onto the transfer belt 14a.

A static eliminator 14n, which is a static eliminator for each color, comprises:
Preferably, the primary transfer unit 1 is constituted by a corona discharger.
The transfer belt 14a charged by 4c is neutralized.

When the image recording starts, the photosensitive drum driving motor (not shown) is started to rotate the photosensitive drum 10 of the transparent (T) process unit 100 in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. The application of a potential to the T photoconductor drum 10 is started by the charging action.

After the electric potential is applied to the T photosensitive drum 10, image writing is started by an electric signal output from a control unit described later by the T exposure optical system 12, and the surface of the T photosensitive drum 10 is exposed. Then, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the output image from the control unit is formed.

The latent image of T is a developing unit 1 for transparent toner.
3, the reversal development is performed in a non-contact state, and a T transparent toner image is formed in accordance with the rotation of the T photoconductor drum 10.

The T toner image formed of the transparent toner formed on the T photosensitive drum 10 serving as an image forming body by the above-described image forming process is primarily transferred in the T transfer area (no symbol). The transfer belt 14
a.

Slightly behind the operation of the transparent (T) process unit 100, the black (K) process unit 100
Is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG.
At the same time, application of a potential to the K photoconductor drum 10 is started by the charging action of the K scorotron charger 11A.

After the potential is applied to the K photosensitive drum 10, the K exposure optical system 12 starts image writing by an electric signal corresponding to the K image data in synchronization with the T toner image. An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the K image of the original image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 10.

The K latent image is subjected to reversal development in a non-contact state by the K developing unit 13, and a toner image is formed by K toner in accordance with the rotation of the K photosensitive drum 10.

The K toner image formed on the K photoreceptor drum 10 as an image forming body by the above-described image forming process is transferred by the K primary transfer unit 14c in the K transfer area (no symbol). The image is transferred onto the T toner image on the transfer belt 14a.

Next, the transfer belt 14a is synchronized with the C toner image, and the cyan (C) process unit 10
0, the C toner image corresponding to the C image data formed on the C photoreceptor drum 10 is transferred by the C primary transfer unit 14c in the C transfer area (no symbol) in the T primary transfer unit 14c. A toner image of C is superposed on the toner image of.

By the same process, the image is synchronized with the superposed toner image of T, K, and C, and is converted into the M image data formed on the M photosensitive drum 10 by the magenta (M) process unit 100. The corresponding M toner image is
In the M transfer area (unsigned), the M primary transfer device 14
c, the toner images of M are superimposed on the toner images of T, K, and C, and the toner images of T, K, C, and M are further formed.
Is synchronized with the superimposed toner image of yellow (Y)
Y photosensitive drum 10 by the process unit 100
The Y toner image corresponding to the Y image data formed above is transferred to the T, K, C, and M toner images by the Y primary transfer unit 14c in the Y transfer area (no sign). Are formed on top of each other, and a superposed color toner image of T, K, C, M and Y is formed on the transfer belt 14a.

The transfer residual toner remaining on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 10 for each color after the transfer is cleaned by a cleaning device 19 which is a cleaning means of the image forming body for each color.

In synchronization with the formation of the color toner image on the transfer belt 14a, the recording paper P is transferred from the paper supply cassette 15 as the transfer material storage means via the timing roller 16 as the transfer material supply means to the second transfer. The superimposed color toner image on the transfer belt 14a is recorded by the secondary transfer device 14g, which is conveyed to a transfer area (no symbol) of the secondary transfer device 14g, which is a unit, and to which a DC voltage having the opposite polarity to the toner is applied. It is transferred onto the paper P at once. Y on the recording paper P
The transparent layer of T exists on the M, C, and K color toner images.

The recording paper P on which the color toner image has been transferred is
The charge is removed by a charge removing electrode 16b, which is a separating means formed of a sawtooth electrode plate, conveyed to the fixing device 17, and heat and pressure are applied between the fixing roller 17a and the pressure roller 17b, so that the recording paper P After the toner image is fixed,
It is discharged to a tray outside the device.

The untransferred toner remaining on the peripheral surface of the transfer belt 14a after the transfer is cleaned by a cleaning device 19a which is a transfer belt cleaning means provided opposite to the driven roller 14e with the transfer belt 14a interposed therebetween. .

The image forming apparatus having the image forming section E for forming the transparent toner (T) layer on the Y, M, C, and K color toner images has been described above with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus showing another embodiment having the same effect. Y, M, C, K in the image forming unit E
1 and the process units 100 for forming T toner images are arranged in parallel, but in this embodiment, the toner images are superimposed on a transfer material without an intermediate transfer member. Like that.
Only the differences from FIG. 1 will be described. In the image formation, the recording paper P discharged from the paper supply cassette 15 passes through the timing roller 16 in synchronization with the toner image formation on the process unit 100, and is conveyed to the transport belt 14. Transported to

The transported recording paper P is charged to the same polarity as the toner by the paper charger 14m, and the rotating transport belt 1 is rotated.
The Y toner image formed on the process unit 100 </ b> Y is transferred onto the recording paper P in close contact with the primary transfer device 1.
4c, on which the process unit 10
The M, C, K, and T toner images formed on 0M, 100C, 100K, and 100T are transferred in an overlapping manner, and a color toner image having the T toner layer as the uppermost layer is formed on the recording paper P. .

The recording paper P carrying the color toner image is neutralized by the separation electrode 14n, separated from the transport belt 14 and transported to the fixing device 17, where the color toner image on the recording paper P is fixed and Discharge to an external tray.

Each of the image forming units E shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a structure in which a transparent toner image is provided on a transfer material by a tandem method so as to overlap a multi-layered color toner image. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any image forming apparatus may be used as long as the color toner image and the transparent toner image transferred onto the transfer material are fixed.

Next, the developer used in the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described. Both the color toner and the transparent toner are spherical toners having a weight average particle diameter of 3 to 10 μm, and polymerized toners by an emulsion polymerization association method are used. In the method for producing a polymerized toner by the emulsion polymerization association method, first, a colorant is dispersed in water using a surfactant. (A colorant is not used for a transparent toner.) On the other hand, a surfactant, an emulsion polymerization initiator, a styrene monomer and an acrylic monomer are added to water, and a resin emulsion is formed by emulsion polymerization. Next, the colorant dispersion and the resin emulsion are mixed and slowly aggregated while balancing the repulsive force of the particle surface generated by pH adjustment and the cohesive force due to the addition of the electrolyte. At the same time, by heating and stirring, fusion and shape control between the fine particles are performed.
The obtained particles are filtered, washed and dried to obtain a spherical toner having a weight average particle diameter of 3 to 10 μm.

The toner obtained by the emulsion polymerization association method thus obtained has a sharp particle size distribution and a small amount of fine powder, reduces toner contamination of the carrier, so-called toner spent, improves the durability of the developer, and improves the charge amount distribution. Is uniform, and a high quality image can be obtained as compared with a conventional pulverized toner.

The carrier is formed by forming a spherical ferrite particle having an average particle diameter of 40 μm and a coating layer of styrene resin having a thickness of 0.5 μm. The toner is mixed with the carrier in an amount of 5 to 10% by mass. At the same time, 0.5% by mass of hydrophobic silica is added to form a developer.

Next, the relationship between the color toner and the transparent toner of the present invention will be described. In the present invention, when the color toner image after fixing is non-glossy, the relationship between the color toner and the transparent toner is set so that the transparent toner image after fixing is glossy. With this setting, by providing a transparent toner image on the color toner image, the portion becomes a glossy portion after fixing.
When the fixed color toner image is glossy, the relationship between the color toner and the transparent toner is set so that the fixed transparent toner image is non-glossy. With this setting, by providing the transparent toner image on the color toner image, the portion becomes a non-glossy portion after fixing.

It is preferable to use a transparent toner according to the gloss of the recording paper. Specifically, when forming an image on glossy paper using a non-glossy color toner, use a glossy transparent toner, and when forming an image on non-glossy paper using a glossy color toner, use a non-glossy transparent toner. As a result, it is possible to form an image having no strange feeling with the recording paper. These glossy / non-gloss areas can be arbitrarily provided in one print.

When the toner image is non-glossy, gloss 5
° to 15 °, and when the toner image is glossy, the glossiness is 20 ° to 80 °, and the gloss difference between the non-gloss and gloss of the toner image is set to 10 ° or more, preferably 15 ° or more. . Here, the measurement of the glossiness is performed after fixing the solid image adhered on the recording paper with the toner in close contact with the second and third layers. The gloss and non-gloss of the toner image vary depending on the fixing means to be applied, and it is difficult to numerically set the characteristics of the color toner and the transparent toner. However, the glass transition temperature of the gloss toner is higher than that of the non-gloss toner. In the case where the toner is required to be lower by 5 ° C. to 25 ° C. and the toner is manufactured by the emulsion polymerization association method, a difference occurs in the glass transition temperature by changing the addition ratio of the styrene monomer and the acrylic monomer.

In the present invention, the glossiness of the color toner is different from that of the transparent toner, but it is preferable that the color toner is a glossy toner and the transparent toner is a non-glossy toner. For color reproduction, it is necessary to sufficiently melt the color toner, which makes it inevitable that the color toner has gloss. For this reason, it is more preferable that the glossiness is imparted to the color toner and the glossiness is imparted to the transparent toner, and the glossy color is set to be non-glossy.

In the image processing section B according to the present invention, as shown in FIG.
The analog signal (S1) amplified by b is subjected to A / D conversion (S
According to 2), a digital signal of 8 to 10 bits is converted for each pixel. Then, the light distribution characteristics are equalized by shading correction (S3), and the output luminance signal is subjected to complementary color conversion by density conversion (S4) to be converted into 256-level density information, followed by masking, UCR, and color. Color processing such as correction (S5) is performed. Generally, linear masking is used as masking, or non-linear masking or masking using a look-up table is used when performing advanced color correction. In UCR, the gray component is removed from the three color components and replaced with black (K).
Processing for improving the reproducibility of the shadow part and the character part is performed. Subsequently, the obtained image data is γ for each toner.
After performing the correction (S6) and performing the multi-value processing (S8), the image data is output to the exposure optical system 12 (S9) to form a latent image on the photosensitive drum 10.

In the image processing section B of the present invention, together with the image processing corresponding to each color for forming the color toner image, a T exposure range for forming a transparent (T) toner image on a transfer material ( S7) circuit is provided,
The T exposure is performed by any one of the two methods (A) and (B) of (A) by specifying the formation area of the transparent toner layer and (B) by forming the transparent toner image on the color toner image. Will be

(A) By specifying the formation area of the T toner layer,
A process for providing a T toner layer in a designated area will be described.

Prior to image formation, pressing the T toner layer area setting button on the operation panel (not shown) sets the transparent toner area designation mode. (The transparent toner area may be a glossy area or a non-glossy area.) To specify an area, the area is placed at a specified position on the editor F shown in FIG. A T toner layer formation range is determined, and for example, a range (X1Y1, X2Y2, X
3Y3, X4Y4) using the light pen LP (S
7A), the designated T toner layer forming range indicated by the oblique line is temporarily stored in the RAM in the T exposure range setting (S7) circuit.

By pressing the copy button, image formation is started in the manner already described, and the exposure optical system 12T of the process unit 100T is used for the (X1Y1, X2Y2, X3Y3, X4Y4) toner layer forming range called from the RAM. Exposure is performed. The exposed latent image portion is subjected to reversal development by the developing device 13T,
After the transfer is performed, (X1Y1, X2Y2, X
3Y3, X4Y4), a toner layer is formed.

Here, for the T toner layer within the T toner layer formation range, one of the following two formation states is selected and executed by a program provided in advance.

(A) As shown in the enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 5A, the exposure optical system 12T has a constant exposure intensity so that the T toner layer has a uniform adhesion amount H ₀ in the T toner layer formation range. Is exposed to form a latent image. Adhesion amount H ₀ is preferably 3~20μm as thick.

(B) As shown in the enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 5B, the adhesion amount of the T toner layer in the area where the T toner layer is formed is smaller than the adhesion amount H _S in a portion where no color toner image exists. T at the target pixel position at three locations where the color toner image exists
Adhesion amount of the toner layer H is, H = H _S - is set to _{(h Y + h M + h} C + h K). Here, h _Y , h _M , h _C , and h _K are adhesion amounts of the Y, M, C, and K color toner images at the target pixel position. H _S is set so that H is always positive. H _S is preferably 20 to 40 μm in thickness.

The arithmetic processing is performed by setting the T exposure range (S7).
The exposure is performed in a circuit, and the exposure optical system 12T performs exposure so that the toner adhesion amount H _S is applied to a portion where no color toner image exists, and the toner adhesion amount H is applied to a portion where a color toner image exists. Exposure. Such T
In order to change the amount of the T toner adhered within the toner layer forming range, the intensity modulation or the pulse width modulation of the exposure optical system 12T is performed.

In the present embodiment, by providing a gloss difference between the color toner and the T toner, the T toner layer forming region can be a gloss region or a non-gloss region.

(B) A process for forming a transparent toner image on a color toner image will be described.

Prior to image formation, by selecting a mode for forming a T toner image on a color toner image and pressing a copy button, image formation is started as described above. The image processing unit B sets the T exposure range (S
7) The circuit detects the position where at least one color toner image is formed among the Y, M, C, and K color toners over the entire screen, and totalizes the detected color image exposure positions as an area. The formation range of the color toner image can be known.

A T toner image is formed in the detected color toner image forming range, and one of the following two forming states is selected and executed by a program provided in advance.

(C) As shown in the enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 6A, the T toner image on the color toner has a uniform adhesion amount H _0.
The exposure optical system 12T performs exposure with a constant exposure intensity so as to form a latent image.

(D) As shown in the enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 6B, the adhesion amount H _V of the T toner image on the color toner is expressed as H _V = α (h _Y + h _M + h _C + h _K ). I have. Here, h _Y , h _M , h _C , and h _K are adhesion amounts of the Y, M, C, and K color toner images at the target pixel position. Α is preferably set as a proportional coefficient between 0.1 and 0.3. Since H _V changes at a coverage of the color toner is preferably 5~15μm at most as thick.

The arithmetic processing is performed by setting the T exposure range (S7).
Performed in the circuit, performs exposure so that the toner adhesion amount H _V against existing position of the exposure optical system color toner image at 12T. In order to change the amount of the T toner, the exposure optical system 12T is modulated by intensity modulation or pulse width modulation.

The above-described T toner provided on the color toner image has a glossiness of 5 ° to 15 ° and 20 ° to 80 ° with the color toner, respectively, and a gloss difference of 1 °.
It is 0 °, preferably 15 ° or more, and it is desirable that the image data of the T toner is subjected to a blurring process by an MTF filter so as to cover the color toner image.

The present invention also provides a mode other than a mode in which a T toner image is formed on all color toner images over the entire area of a screen.
Specifying an area, forming a T toner image on the color toner image only for the specified area, and not forming a T toner image on the color toner image outside the specified area, or vice versa A sequence in which a T toner image is formed on a color toner image only outside the region may be adopted. Note that specifying an area has already been described with reference to FIG.

In the present embodiment, by providing a gloss difference between the color toner and the T toner, the formed color image is changed from a glossy image to a non-glossy image or from a non-glossy image to a glossy image. Becomes possible.

(C) In this embodiment, a color toner image is formed on a glossy substrate having a transparent resin layer formed on a white layer.
Further, a transparent toner layer is superposed thereon and fixed after formation. By providing the transparent toner layer, the thickness of the toner layer portion is made uniform, and a high quality image having a clear hue is obtained. A glossy image or a moist high quality matte image is obtained.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view showing a state in which a T toner layer is provided on a color toner image on a glossy substrate. The technique of providing the T toner layer on the color toner image so that the surface becomes flat has been described in the above (B).

When a color toner image is formed on a substrate having a transparent resin layer provided on a white layer which is a diffuse reflection layer in which titanium oxide or the like is dispersed, light passes through the transparent resin layer and is reflected by the white layer. An image with transparency is obtained.

When a glossy T toner layer is provided on a color toner, a high quality image having a clear hue can be obtained. It is desirable that the glossy T toner used here has a gloss difference of 10 ° or less with the underlying transparent resin layer. It is desirable that the amount (thickness) of the T toner layer provided on the color toner image is 0.5 to 3 layers.

When a non-glossy T toner layer is provided on a color toner image, a moist mat image can be obtained. The non-glossy T toner used here has a glossiness of 5 ° to 15 ° and 20 ° to 80 ° with the transparent resin layer as the base.
It is desirable that the gloss difference is 10 °, preferably 15 ° or more.

[0072]

According to the present invention, a desired area or a desired color toner image can be changed from a non-glossy area or image to a glossy area or image. It is also possible to change from a glossy area or image to a non-glossy area or image.

Further, by forming an image having a T toner layer by transfer onto a substrate having a transparent resin layer, a high quality transparent color image or a high quality moist mat image can be obtained. Was.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an image processing system.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of area designation using an editor.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a color toner image and a transparent toner layer.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a color toner image and a transparent toner image.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a color toner image and a transparent toner image on a substrate.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 photoconductor drum 11 scorotron charger 12 (Y, M, C, K, T) exposure optical system 13 (Y, M, C, K, T) developing device 14 transport belt 14a transfer belt 14c primary transfer device 14g 2 Next transfer unit 15 Paper cassette 16 Timing roller 17 Fixing device 100Y (M, C, K, T) Process unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G03G 9/08 G03G 9/08 9/09 15/00 106 15/00 106 9/08 361 (72) Invention Person Yotaro Sato 2970 Ishikawa-cho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo Konica Corporation F-term (reference) 2H005 AA21 EA10 2H028 BD04 2H030 AA02 AD01 AD08

Claims (10)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus in which a color toner image transferred onto a transfer material and a transparent toner layer are fixed to each other, wherein the color toner image and the transparent toner layer have different gloss levels, and An image forming apparatus, wherein a transparent toner layer is provided on an image. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the formation area of the transparent toner layer is set by designation. 3. An image forming apparatus in which a color toner image transferred onto a transfer material and a transparent toner layer are fixed, a transparent toner image having a gloss level different from that of the color toner image corresponds to the color toner image. An image forming apparatus formed by superimposing on a color toner image. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the color toner image has higher gloss than the transparent toner image. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the color toner image has a lower gloss than the transparent toner image. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an area for forming a transparent toner image can be selected. 7. An image forming apparatus for forming and fixing a color toner image on a substrate, wherein the substrate is a glossy substrate having a transparent resin layer formed on a white layer, and the transparent toner layer is formed on the color toner image. An image forming apparatus characterized by being fixed after superimposed formation. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the transparent toner layer is non-glossy. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the transparent toner layer is glossy. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the formation area of the transparent toner layer can be selected from an area corresponding to the color toner image or a designated area including the color toner image. The image forming apparatus as described in the above.