JP2002148843A - Method and device for image forming and transparent film - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a transparent recorded image in which an unnecessary opaque part other than a formed image does not exist and whose quality is excellent on obtained transparent film even though image forming is performed on the transparent film. SOLUTION: The transparent film which is constituted of an optically transparent sheet-like member having an opaque part at least at one part and from which the opaque part is thermally separated and removed, an image forming method and an image forming device by which an image is formed by using the transparent film are provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a transparent film as a transparent recording medium to be projected by an overhead projector (OHP), which can be used in an image forming apparatus such as electrophotography, electrostatic recording and thermal transfer recording. More particularly, the present invention relates to an image forming method, an image forming apparatus, and a transparent film for use in the image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a marking for optically detecting the position of the transparent film in the image forming apparatus, or an image forming apparatus. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an image forming method and an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a transparent film having an opaque portion serving as a marking for optically detecting the state of transport of the transparent film in the inside, and a transparent film used for them.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Forming an image on an OHP sheet by a recording apparatus such as electrophotography, ink jet, or thermal transfer recording has been widely used, and it is considered that its importance will be further increased in the future.

[0003] As an OHP sheet, generally 100 to 100
A resin sheet of PET or the like having a thickness of about 150 μm is often used, and a desired recording image holding layer is provided thereon for the purpose of improving the fixing property, holding property or resolution of the image as necessary. ing.

An opaque mark is previously provided on a transparent film for the purpose of being used together with an opaque recording paper in an image forming apparatus, and the opaque mark is detected by an optical sensor of the image forming apparatus, and the opaque mark is detected. Detecting the position of a film is often performed.

[0005] Further, in many cases, instructions for indicating to the user how to use the transparent film such as a method of inserting the transparent film into the transparent film image forming apparatus are indicated by opaque ink.

The fixing roller 31 is a metal pipe whose surface is coated with silicon rubber and fluorine rubber, and the pressing roller 32 is a metal roller whose surface is coated with silicon rubber, and is attached to the surface thereof. Thermistor 3
6 and a temperature control circuit (not shown)
a and 32b are controlled, and the surface temperature is controlled to a constant value suitable for fixing. The oil application device 33 pumps the silicone oil in the oil reservoir 33a toward the application roller 33d via the rollers 33b and 33c, and makes contact with, separates from, and rotates with the fixing roller 31. The silicone oil is applied on the base 31, and the application amount is controlled by a control blade 33e.

The cleaning devices 34 and 35 are cleaning webs 34a and 34, which are belt-shaped cleaning members.
5a, pressing rollers 34b and 35b for pressing the cleaning webs 34a and 35a against the fixing roller 31 or the pressing roller 32, and cleaning webs 34a and 3
Rollers 34c and 35c for feeding 5a
And take-up rollers 34d and 35d for sequentially winding the used cleaning webs 34a and 35a whose cleaning ability has been reduced and the like.
Since the toner is more likely to adhere to the fixing roller 31 side than the pressure roller 32, the cleaning web 35a on the pressure roller 32 side is made of felt using a nonwoven fabric made of ordinary aromatic polyamideimide. On the other hand, the cleaning web 34a on the fixing roller 31 side is
The felt is made of a web having a large cleaning ability, which is provided with nickel electrolytic plating on the side of the felt contacting the fixing roller 31.

When the recording material S carrying the toner image T on the fixing roller 31 side is conveyed toward the fixing device 30, the application roller 33 d of the oil application device 33 comes into contact with the fixing roller 31. Silicon oil is applied to the fixing roller 31. When the recording material S is conveyed while being nipped between the fixing roller 31 and the pressure roller 32, the toner image T on the recording material S is heated and pressed during this time to be fused and fixed on the recording material S. Is fixed.

However, since the opaque mark for detecting the position of the transparent film remains after image formation, it remains as an image irrelevant to the recorded image.
When projected on a computer, it is extremely unsightly, and furthermore, there is a problem that the image becomes invisible when it overlaps with the recorded image.

Conventionally, in an apparatus such as an electrophotographic apparatus for forming an image on a recording material such as a plain paper or a resin film using ink particles having a coloring material such as a toner, the conveyance state of the recording material inside the apparatus is monitored. A so-called jam detection sensor is provided to detect a paper jam called JAM at an early stage and to prevent a machine damage caused by the jam.

Such a jam detection sensor can be easily installed by a combination of a mechanical lever and a photocoupler if the recording material conveyance path in the apparatus is a simple one such as a substantially straight line. It is.

However, in recent years, in the above-described image forming apparatus, the recording material conveyance path has become complicated due to downsizing of the machine or multifunctionalization. In addition, in order to diversify the types of recording materials to be used, the transport condition of the recording material is directly changed from the conventional mechanical sensor to the optical sensor, that is, the optical reflection or transmission of the recording material. We are moving in the direction of sensors that can detect them.

As described above, when directly detecting the optical reflection or light transmission of the recording material, it is difficult to detect with a transparent film such as that used for OHP. (Marking) is performed to form an opaque portion.

However, even if these films are printed for optically detecting the state of conveyance of the recording material inside the apparatus, when these films are projected by OHP,
This printing part (mark) itself is also projected, and there is a problem that it is very unsightly. Further, there is a disadvantage that an image cannot be formed on the opaque portion on which the printing for detection has been performed.

[0015] In response to this, a proposal has been made to attach a peelable opaque member for detection capable of detecting the state of conveyance to a part of the transparent film as a marking and to peel it off before use. I have.

However, this method has a problem that if the user does not peel off the opaque member carefully, the film may be broken or scratched.

Further, there is a problem that glue for adhering the opaque member for detection may remain on the film and a dirty image is presented when projected by OHP.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a general image forming apparatus.
This will be described using a laser beam printer capable of forming a full-color image shown in FIG.

The printer has four image forming stations including a charging device, a developing device, a cleaning device, and a scanning optical device around a photosensitive drum as an image carrier, and moves a recording material to each image forming station. A transfer device for transferring the toner image from the photosensitive drum to the transfer device, a paper feeding device for supplying the recording material to the transfer device, and a fixing device for fixing the toner image on the recording material. I have.
Magenta, cyan, yellow, and black image forming stations PM, PC, PY, and PK respectively have photosensitive drums 410M, 410C, and 41 rotating in predetermined directions.
0Y and 410K are provided, and the photosensitive drums 410M,
Chargers 411 around 410C, 410Y and 410K
M, 411C, 411Y and 411K, scanning optical device 4
12M, 412C, 412Y and 412K, developing unit 41
3M, 413C, 413Y and 413K and cleaning units 414M, 414C, 414Y and 414K are provided, respectively.

The transfer device moves in the direction of the arrow in the figure to transfer the recording material S to the photosensitive drums 410M, 410C, 410Y and 410K of the image stations PM, PC, PY and PK.
Endless transfer belt 420 to be moved toward the photosensitive drums 410 M, 410 M via the transfer belt 420.
The transfer chargers 421M, 421C, 421Y, and 421K disposed below C, 410Y, and 410K. The sheet feeding device includes a sheet feeding cassette 422, a sheet feeding roller 423, and a registration roller 424.

That is, in the magenta image station PM, when the photosensitive drum 410M uniformly charged by the charger 411M is exposed to the magenta image light L from the scanning optical device 412M, the photosensitive drum 410M receives the magenta image light. An electrostatic latent image is formed. The electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing device 413M having magenta toner,
It is visualized as a magenta toner image. The toner image is transferred onto the transfer paper S on the transfer belt 420 via the transfer charger 421M, and the transfer of the photosensitive drum 410 is completed.
M is prepared for the next image formation after the residual toner is cleaned by the cleaning device 414M.

Similarly, in the other image forming stations PC, PY, and PK for cyan, yellow, and black, a cyan image, a yellow image, and a black image are formed on the photosensitive drums 410C, 410Y, and 410K with a slight time lag. A toner image of an image is formed, and the toner image is sequentially multiplex-transferred onto the recording material S on the transfer belt 420 via transfer chargers 414C, 414Y, and 414K.

On the other hand, the recording material S in the paper feed cassette 422 is taken out one by one by the paper feed roller 423 and then sent to the registration roller 424, where it is taken out.
After being adjusted in timing, the sheet is conveyed onto the transfer belt 420. The transfer paper S positioned and supported on the transfer belt 420 is moved by the transfer belt 420 toward the photosensitive drums 410M, 410C, 410Y and 410K of the image forming stations PM, PC, PY and PK. Photosensitive drums 410M, 410C, 410
After receiving the transfer of the toner images from Y and 410K, the toner images are sent to a fixing device 430, and the multiply-transferred toner images are fixed by the fixing device 430.

As shown in FIG. 35, the fixing device 430 has halogen heaters 431a and 431 as heat sources therein.
2a, a fixing roller 431 that rotates while being pressed against each other
A pressure roller 432, an oil application device 433 for applying silicone oil as a release agent to the fixing roller 431, and cleaning devices 434 and 435 for cleaning toner adhered around the fixing roller 431 and the pressure roller 432. Have been.

When an image is formed on a transparent film by the image forming apparatus as described above, a mechanical type, light reflection and light transmission sensor is used when feeding the film.
For the conveyance failure during the process of forming an unfixed image on a transfer belt or the like, since a mechanical method is not used, a light reflection and light transmission sensor is often used. When a recording material having a specific function-imparting coating layer coated on only one side is used in order to obtain a high-quality, high-performance recording material at low cost, the image forming apparatus requires front / back detection means. The detection means at this time also required some sensors as in the case of paper feeding. As described above, if the recording material itself is completely transparent, the optical sensor cannot be used for the recording material requiring various detection means. In order to solve this, the shape of the recording material is made asymmetric, and the front and back sides are detected, printing is performed on the non-image area of the recording material, or paper or film is pasted to create an optically asymmetric shape. Was.

For example, as shown in FIG. 34 as an example of a conventional transparent film, a gray print of about 10 mm width is applied to one of the left and right from the center at one end in the horizontal and vertical directions of the recording material. Things are used. In this printing, the transmittance of infrared light having a wavelength of 800 to 1000 nm is 10% or less. As a result, the light having a width of about 10 mm at one of the right and left ends of the recording material, which is 800 to 1000 nm, is hardly transmitted, thereby making it possible to detect the recording material.

For example, a case where a transparent film as shown in FIG. 34 is detected by using a recording material detecting means as shown in FIG. 33 will be described. FIG. 33 shows a recording material detecting means having a mechanical sensor 434 and a light transmission type optical sensor (light emitting element 444 and light receiving element 445). In FIG. 33, before the transparent film shown in FIG. 34 is fed and passes through the registration rollers 446, the mechanical sensor 443 is tilted down by the conveying force of the recording material, and it is detected that the sheet has been fed. At the same time, the recording material is conveyed between the light emitting element 444 and the light receiving element 445 of the light transmission type optical sensor, so that the front and back and the type of the recording material are detected.

For example, the light from the light emitting element 444 that has reached the light receiving element 445 is conveyed by the recording material, is reflected by the gray printing portion, and does not reach the light receiving element 445. Transmitted light receiving element 4
When the image reaches 45, the image formation on the regular transparent laminated film is detected. If the recording material is upside down, the printing section does not pass through the optical sensor section, so that the light always passes through and passes to the light receiving element 445. And the opposite is detected. Further, the light is always reflected and the light receiving element 44
If it does not reach 5, it can be determined that it is plain paper. In this manner, conventionally, the detection of the front and back of the transparent film and the type of recording material has been performed.

However, in the above conventional example, since the front and back detection marks remain after the image is output, there is a problem that the handleability and the aesthetic appearance at the time of viewing the image are impaired.

Further, as the translucent recording material used in the above-mentioned image forming apparatus, in addition to the OPH film,
Two films are bonded together, a heat-resistant binder is applied between them, and after the image is recorded, the recording surface side film can be pasted by a recording material (so-called label paper) or half-printed by the action of the binder. A recording material for decoration that can be viewed by projecting light from a surface opposite to the visual direction of an image formed on a transparent film, a layer for holding an image forming agent (developer) on a transparent (or colored) base film. Are provided, and a mirror image of the image to be viewed is formed on the surface, and there are many recording materials to be viewed from the opposite surface.

In the case of using an optical sensor, such a means for detecting the size of the light-transmitting recording material is provided with some special mark in advance according to the size of the light-transmitting recording material.
Further, in order to determine the size only with a mechanical sensor, a part of the light-transmissive recording material is changed to a special shape, or a number of sensors equal to the number of types of the recording material are provided. Was. In addition, a method of manually inputting the size of the translucent recording material to the operation panel without using a sensor has been used.

However, since the translucent recording material such as the above-mentioned OHP film transmits light, the front and back and the position of the paper are detected by optical detecting means generally used in the case of paper. There was a problem that it was difficult.

That is, since the image formation on the translucent recording material is not normally performed on the back surface but only on the front surface,
Some of the surfaces are subjected to special processing such as coating, and in this case, it is necessary to identify the front and back.
In order to accurately maintain the position of image formation on the translucent recording material, it is necessary to supply a transparent film at an accurate timing when transferring a toner image. If the recording material is paper, there is often no need to distinguish between the front and back,
The position is effectively detected by using an optical sensor to shield the light from the paper. However, this is not possible with a light-transmitting recording material through which light is transmitted. As countermeasures against this, for example, a transparent film is formed asymmetrically and detected by a mechanical sensor, or a mark (mark) that can be detected by an optical sensor is provided on the transparent film. When asymmetrical is formed, not only extra processing is required for the transparent film, but if the detection accuracy is low and the transparent film is provided with a mark that can be detected by an optical sensor, the final product However, there is a problem that an unnecessary or harmful mark remains.

[0034]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming method, an image forming apparatus and a transparent film which have solved the above-mentioned problems.

That is, the present invention is to obtain a high-quality transparent recorded image in which an unnecessary opaque portion other than the formed image does not exist in the obtained transparent film even when an image is formed on the transparent film. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming method and an image forming apparatus which can be used, and a transparent film as a recording material used for them.

[0036]

The above object is achieved by the following constitution of the present invention.

That is, the present invention provides a transparent member constituted by an optically transparent sheet member having at least a part of an opaque part formed by an opaque member which can be thermally separated and removed. An image forming method of optically detecting the opaque portion of a film, forming an image on the surface of the transparent film, and separating and removing the opaque portion by heating, wherein the opaque portion is formed on a transparent sheet member. The present invention relates to an image forming method which is fixed via an adhesion adjusting layer, and wherein the opaque portion is separated and removed from the transparent sheet-like member by a separating and removing means in contact with the surface of the transparent film.

Further, according to the present invention, an opaque portion formed of an opaque member which can be separated and removed by heating is formed on at least a part of an optically transparent sheet member via an adhesion adjusting layer. Detecting means for optically detecting the opaque portion of the transparent film fixed thereon, image forming means for forming an image on the surface of the transparent film, and separating and removing the opaque portion by heating And an image forming apparatus comprising:

Further, the present invention provides a transparent film constituted by an optically transparent sheet member having at least a part of an opaque part formed of an opaque member which can be separated and removed by heating. Wherein the opaque portion is fixed to a transparent sheet-like member via an adhesion-adjusting layer in a state capable of being separated and removed by heating, and relates to a transparent film for image formation.

In the transparent film of the present invention, an opaque portion (mark) is provided on at least a part of the transparent sheet member, and the opaque mark is detected by the optical detecting means of the image forming apparatus. In addition, the position, front and back of the film, and the transport status can be detected. Further, the opaque portion (mark) can instruct the user on how to insert the film or the like.

Further, since the transparent film of the present invention separates and removes the opaque portion provided on at least a part of the transparent sheet-like member by heating, the image-formed transparent film is actually projected with OHP. In this case, the opaque portion (mark) does not appear as an image.

As a first embodiment of the transparent film of the present invention, a transparent film capable of separating and removing an opaque portion of an optically transparent sheet member by heating will be described.

As the opaque portion which can be separated and removed by heating used in the transparent film of the present invention, the opaque portion which can be thermally separated and removed and has at least a part on the transparent sheet member Any material can be used as long as it can form an opaque member.

One example is a dispersion of a colored pigment or dye in a polyester resin or ester wax having a relatively low melting point and a low viscosity at a relatively low temperature, or a mixture of carnauba wax and ester wax. Preferably, a metal foil such as an aluminum foil is laminated on the layer of the mixture of the above to form an opaque portion. Using these opaque members, desired opaque parts (marks) on a transparent sheet
If it is provided, detection of the position of the transparent sheet, and furthermore,
The user can be instructed on how to use the sheet, such as a sheet insertion method.

On the other hand, in such an opaque member, the resin is easily softened by heating, and the viscosity is reduced to cause tackiness. Peeled and removed. As a result, an opaque portion (mark) made of these opaque members does not remain in the obtained recorded image, and a high-quality transparent recorded image can be obtained.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the transparent film 110 of the present invention comprises a transparent sheet-like member 113 on which an anchor coat layer 112 is used to form a sensing mark 111.
The opaque portion can also be formed by forming the opaque portion.

As the transparent sheet-like member 113, any of conventionally known ones can be used. Specifically, polyester resin, diacetate resin, triacetate resin, polystyrene resin, polyethylene resin, polycarbonate resin, polymethacrylate resin, cellophane ,celluloid,
Examples include a plastic film, a plate, and a glass plate such as a polyvinyl chloride resin and a polyimide resin. The thickness of these sheet-shaped members may be any, but is generally about 1 to 5,000 μm, preferably 70 to 150 μm.
m is good.

A preferred embodiment of the sensing mark 111 for increasing the haze value before the fixing process is a resin layer having a porous structure having cracks and communication holes therein, and is transparent by heating and / or pressing. It can be transformed. The sensing mark 111 for satisfying the above characteristics mainly includes resin particles and a binder.

Such a sensing mark 111 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG.
13 can be formed by applying a thermoplastic resin powder (resin particles) and an emulsion in layers, and can be fused and homogenized by heating and / or pressing.

Examples of the resin powder include polyethylene, polymethacrylate, elastomer, ethylene-vinyl acetate polymer, styrene-acryl copolymer, polyester, polyacryl, and polyvinyl ether. The above can be used.

The resin particles used in the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned resin powder, but have a non-binding property to a recording material, a transparent film, and a toner for forming an image on the transparent film. Other well-known materials can be used as long as they are transparent and can be made transparent. The binder used has a function of binding the resin particles to each other and / or the sheet-like member, and is preferably non-binding to the toner similarly to the resin particles.

As the preferable material for the binder, any known materials can be used as long as they have the above-mentioned functions. For example, polyvinyl alcohol, acrylic resin,
Styrene-acrylic copolymer, polyvinyl acetate, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, starch, polyvinyl butyral, gelatin, casein, ionomer, gum arabic, carboxymethylcellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylamide, polyurethane, melamine resin, epoxy resin, Examples thereof include styrene-butadiene rubber, urea resin, phenol resin, α-olefin resin, chlorobrene, and nitrile rubber, and at least one of them can be used.

Further, various additives may be added as needed to improve the function as the sensing mark 111.
For example, a surfactant, a fluorescent whitening agent, a preservative, an antibacterial agent, a penetrant, and a crosslinking agent may be added.

Regarding the mixing ratio (weight ratio) between the resin particles and the binder, if the amount of the binder is large, the sensing mark 11
The number of cracks and communication holes of No. 1 decreases, and the pre-fixing phase decreases. If the resin particles are too large in the mixing ratio, the resin particles have insufficient adhesion between the sheet-like member and the resin particles, and the sensing marks 111 are easily peeled off.

The thickness of the sensing mark 111 depends on apparatus conditions such as a required phase value and a release agent amount, but is preferably 1 to 200 μm, more preferably 3 to 200 μm.
５０50 μm.

As a method of forming the sensing mark 111 as a surface layer on the sheet-like member 113, a coating liquid is prepared by dissolving or dispersing the above-described material in an appropriate solvent, and preparing this coating liquid. It is applied on the sheet-like member 113. At this time, the adhesion adjusting layer 112 is formed on the sheet-like member 113 in advance, so that the sheet-like member 113 is formed.
It is preferable to make the adhesion between the sensor mark 111 and the sensing mark 111 appropriate, apply it in a layered form by a known method such as a roller coating method, a rod bar coating method, or a spray coating method, and then quickly dry it.

When the solubility parameter of the material between the sheet member 113 and the sensing mark 111 is distant from the adhesion adjusting layer, the adhesion between the sheet member 113 and the sensing mark 111 is increased. Conversely, if the material solubility parameters of the sheet member 113 and the sensing mark 111 are the same or too close, the sheet member 11
3 is a layer that acts to reduce the adhesion between the sensing mark 111 and the sensing mark 111.

When the sensing mark 111 is separated and removed, the adhesion between the sheet-like member 113 and the adhesion adjustment layer 112 is A, the adhesion between the adhesion adjustment layer 112 and the sensing mark is B, and the sensing mark is It is preferable that the following condition be satisfied, where C is the adhesion force with the roller for offsetting the sensing mark (the pressing roller in the fourth embodiment).

Adhesive force A <Adhesive force B <Adhesive force C Further, when the sensing mark is composed of resin particles and a binder, the adhesive force of the resin particles by the binder in the opaque portion is expressed by D It is preferable that the following condition is satisfied.

Adhesion A <Adhesion B <Adhesion D <Adhesion C As the resin used for the adhesion adjusting layer 112, specifically, polyvinyl alcohol, acrylic resin, styrene-
Acrylic copolymer, polyvinyl acetate, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, starch, polyvinyl butyral, gelatin, casein, ionomer, gum arabic, carboxymethyl cellulose, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyacrylamide, polyurethane, melamine resin, epoxy resin, styrene- Examples thereof include butadiene rubber, urea resin, phenol resin, α-olefin resin, chlorobrene, and nitrile rubber, and it is preferable to use at least one or more of these to satisfy the above conditions.

In the present invention, as the removing means for removing the sensing mark 111 forming the opaque portion of the transparent film 6, the fixing device 7, which is most frequently used in the electrophotographic system, that is, both pressurizing and heating are used. Although a fixing method is suitable, a pressure fixing method may be used, and a fixing method using only heating such as hot air fixing and flash fixing, or a fixing method using a heater and a heat-resistant belt instead of a heat roller. In general, a separate removing unit may be provided in association with a device that can realize the condition that the toner can be suitably fixed to the recording material 110.

Using such a fixing device, the transparent film 1
When fixing the toner image formed on the surface of the transparent film 6 using a heat roller fixing device, the amount of the release agent applied to the pressure roller in contact with the sensing mark, which is the opaque portion of the transparent film 6, is used during normal fixing. By controlling the application amount less than the set application amount, the sensing mark 1
11 is offset to the pressure roller to make the transparent film 11
What is necessary is just to separate and remove the sensing mark 111 from 0.

When the sensing mark 111 is offset from the pressure roller, the amount of the release agent applied to the pressure roller needs to be appropriately selected according to the composition of the material to be used. In the case of the material configuration as shown (that is, (i) H
A pressure roller having a lower layer of TV silicone rubber and further coated with polytetrafluoroethylene as a surface layer, (ii) 3
A mold release agent having 00 centistokes of dimethyl silicone oil and (iii) a thermoplastic elastomer resin emulsion / ionomer resin emulsion / sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate (mixing ratio 100/12)
/0.3), the amount of the release agent applied to the fixing roller in contact with the pressure roller is preferably 40 μg / cm ² or less, more preferably 20 μg. / Cm ² or less, the pressure roller may be offset to the pressure roller in a state where the release agent is hardly absorbed.

As a second embodiment of the transparent film of the present invention, a transparent film capable of making an opaque portion of an optically transparent sheet member transparent by heating will be described.

The transparent film capable of making the opaque portion of the transparent film transparent by heating has a diffuse reflection layer which reflects irregularly when light is transmitted, and this layer becomes a smooth film by heating. When the light is transmitted, it is made transparent without irregular reflection. As a specific example of the layer that irregularly reflects when this light is transmitted, for example, an opaque portion is formed by roughening a part of the surface of a transparent sheet member, and this opaque portion is heated by heat treatment. An example in which an opaque portion is made transparent by melting and smoothing it.

When a toner image on a recording material such as plain paper is visually observed, the reflected image of light radiated on the fixed image is visually observed. Few. However, when observing or projecting a toner image on a screen with transmitted light such as OHP, if the residual shape caused by the toner particles is clear, light scattering causes deterioration in transmittance. Therefore, a transparent laminate film for a color toner in which the granularity of the toner after fixing is reduced and the light transmittance is improved is widely used. This is formed from a transparent resin which is compatible with the binder resin in the toner powder to be used for color image formation and has a different heat melting property at the fixing temperature from the binder resin on the first transparent resin layer having heat resistance. This is a laminated film having a second transparent resin layer formed thereon, which will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 19, reference numeral 441 denotes a base film as a transparent sheet-like member which is the first transparent resin layer of the transparent film. The base film 441 undergoes significant thermal deformation due to heat fixing or heating during hot pressure fixing. Must have heat resistance. Specifically, base film 4
41 is exemplified by polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide or polyimide having a heat deformation temperature of 145 ° C. or more and a heat resistance of a maximum use temperature of 100 ° C. or more. Among them, polyethylene terephthalate is particularly preferred in terms of heat resistance and transparency. The base film 441 needs to have a thickness that does not cause wrinkles even when the film is softened by heating during fixing, and may be 50 μm or more in the case of the above-described resin. Even if it is a transparent film, the transmittance decreases as the thickness increases, so that the thickness of the base film 441 is preferably 50 to 200 μm, and more preferably 70 to 150 μm.

In FIG. 19, reference numeral 442 denotes an overcoat layer for forming a second transparent resin layer for improving the light transmittance of a color image after fixing. The overcoating layer 442 is compatible with the binder resin of the toner for forming a color image at the temperature at the time of heat fixing, and is mainly used for the toner (50% by weight based on the binder resin). The value of the solubility parameter of the overcoat layer 442 is within ± 1.5, preferably ± 1.0 around the value of the solubility parameter of the main resin contained above. The solubility parameter of a resin is described in a publication such as a polymer handbook. For example, when a polyester resin is used as a binder resin for a toner, the value of the solubility parameter is 1
Since it is around 1.0, as the resin of the layer 442, a polyester resin, a polymethyl methacrylate resin, an epoxy resin, a polyurethane resin, a vinyl chloride resin, a vinyl chloride resin having a solubility parameter in the range of 11.0 ± 1.5.
It is possible to use a thermoplastic resin such as a vinyl acetate copolymer, and generally the same resin as the main resin of the toner is widely used.

The resin used for the overcoat layer 442 has a temperature of 1
60 ° C. storage modulus (G ′) of 100 to 10,000 dyn
/ Cm ² is used. When a resin having a storage modulus (G ') of less than 100 dyn / cm ^{2 at a} temperature of 160 ° C. is used for the overcoat layer 442, an offset phenomenon is likely to occur when a toner image is fixed by a hot-press roller. 442 is partially peeled off from the base film 441 and is easily broken. On the other hand, when a resin having a storage elastic modulus (G ′) of more than 10,000 dyn / cm ² at a temperature of 160 ° C. is used for the overcoat layer 442, the toner image is fixed even if the toner image is fixed by a hot-press roller.
Since the degree of intrusion into 42 is very small, the projected image shows a gray tone as a whole. Here, the storage elastic modulus (G ') of the resin used for the overcoat layer 442 is determined by Rheometrics Inc.
DynamicSpectrometer RDS77
It is possible to measure using 00series II. Although the optimum thickness of the overcoat layer 442 varies depending on the particle diameter of the toner to be fixed, it is preferably 3 to 30 μm.

As a method of forming an opaque portion by roughening the transparent film, the surface of the transparent film, particularly preferably the second transparent resin layer to which the toner is to be fixed, is polished using a polishing means such as sandpaper. By applying fine scratches to the overcoat layer.

As another example of the irregular reflection layer, which irregularly reflects when the light forming the opaque portion of the transparent film is transmitted,
It is possible to use a transparent film having the same configuration as that used for the transparent film capable of separating and removing the opaque portion of the transparent film shown in FIG. 1 by heating.

That is, as the opaque portion on the surface of the transparent sheet member 113, the sensing mark 1 composed of resin particles or emulsion particles and a binder is used.
11 if necessary via an adhesion adjusting layer.

In this transparent film, since resin particles or emulsion particles are fixed to the surface of the sheet-like member, opaque portions are formed by irregular reflection when light is transmitted, and the opaque portions are formed of resin particles or emulsion particles. Since the particles are softened and smoothed by heating, a transparent film-like coat layer is formed on the surface of the transparent sheet-like member, whereby irregular reflection of light is eliminated and the particles are made transparent.

The adhesion adjusting layer is a layer that acts to improve the adhesion between the sheet member 113 and the sensing mark 111.

The resin particle binder and the adhesion adjusting layer of this transparent film are made of the same material as that described for the transparent film capable of separating and removing the opaque portion of the transparent film shown in FIG. 1 by heating. It is preferable to select and use a combination of materials that enhances the adhesion between the sheet-shaped member and the opaque portion.

It is necessary that the melting temperature of the resin forming the sensing mark 111 is lower than the softening temperature of the sheet member 113. Usually, when a preferably used polyethylene terephthalate film is used as the sheet-like member 113, the temperature at which the sheet-like member softens, 150
It is necessary that the material can be made transparent when the temperature is below ℃.

Further, when the opaque portion is made transparent by heating, the amount of the release agent applied to the pressure roller is increased as compared with the case where the opaque portion of the transparent film is separated and removed by heating. What is necessary is just to avoid offsetting the sensing mark 111 as an opaque part on the pressure roller.

The amount of the release agent applied to the pressure roller when the sensing mark 111 is made transparent by heating must be appropriately selected depending on the composition of the material used. (I) a pressure roller having a lower layer of HTV silicone rubber on the surface of an aluminum core material and further coated with RTV silicone rubber as a surface layer, and (ii) dimethyl silicone oil of 300 centistokes. Release agent having (iii) thermoplastic elastomer resin emulsion / ionomer resin emulsion / sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate (mixing ratio 100/12 / 0.3)
(A), the amount of the release agent applied to the fixing roller in contact with the pressure roller is preferably 100 μg / cm ² or more, and more preferably 1 μm / cm ² or more.
The opaque portion may be made transparent at a pressure of 50 μg / cm ² or more while the release agent is sufficiently absorbed by the pressure roller.

A third embodiment of the transparent film of the present invention will be described with respect to a transparent film capable of making an opaque portion of an optically transparent sheet member transparent by heating and / or light irradiation.

The opaque part of the transparent film of the present invention may be formed by using a printing ink, and the printing ink may be a dye formed by a material which undergoes sublimation or structural change by heating and / or light irradiation. Alternatively, any material may be used as long as it uses a pigment. For example, as such an ink, an ink using a coloring material such as a sublimation dye or a cationic dye is preferably used.

The transparent film of the present invention is printed on a transparent sheet-like member using the above-described ink to form an opaque portion. Since these printing inks are formed of dyes or pigments which undergo sublimation or structural change by heating and / or light irradiation, the printing inks are sublimated by heating and / or light irradiation in a later step in the apparatus described later. And / or discoloration due to structural change, OH
It has no effect on the projected image by P.

FIG. 2 illustrates the form of the opaque portion printed on the film 100.

Conventionally, in order to prevent the influence on the projected image,
The opaque portion for detection was formed on a very small part of the end face of the film as shown at 101. For this reason, only a small signal to the reading sensor was obtained, and there was a severe demand for the density and surface properties of the printing itself of the opaque portion (mark) for detection.

However, in the transparent film of the present invention, since the opaque portion for detection is formed by printing with decolorable ink, the opaque portion for detection is formed in a large area in the center of the film as indicated by 102. It is also possible to form a large area at the end like 103. Further, although not shown, there is no problem if the entire surface of the film is printed to form an opaque portion. The thickness of the print layer to be formed is preferably about 0.5 to 10 μm.

Further, it is preferable that the opaque portion is formed on the surface of the transparent film opposite to the surface on which the toner image is fixed.

The optically transparent sheet-like member used in the transparent film of the present invention may be any material used for OHP such as a film made of polystyrene terephthalate. ,
For the purpose of improving transportability, it is preferable to apply a water-soluble polyester resin containing silica or an antistatic agent to a layer thickness of 1 to 20 μm, preferably 1 to 5 μm. As a coating method, any conventionally known method may be used, and the surface to be coated is coated on one of the front and back surfaces or both surfaces.

The antistatic treatment agent may be added as needed.
It is a more preferable form to adjust and add so as to have a surface specific resistance of 5 × 10 ^{7 to} 5 × 10 ¹⁰ Ω at 0 ° C. and a humidity of 60% RHF.

The image forming apparatus which can use the transparent film of the present invention will be specifically described.

First, an outline of a four-color full-color copying machine will be described as an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention with reference to FIG.

In the main body of the copying machine, four image forming units, namely, image forming units Pa, Pb, Pc and Pd are arranged in order from the upstream side (the right side in the figure).
Through different processes such as exposure, development and transfer, images of four different colors (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) are formed. Each of the image forming units Pa, Pb, Pc and Pd has a dedicated image carrier, in this embodiment, an electrophotographic photosensitive drum (hereinafter simply referred to as “photosensitive drum”) 1a, 1
b, 1c, and 1d are provided, and the toner images formed on these photosensitive drums are carried and conveyed by a recording material carrier 8 that moves adjacent to each image forming unit. The recording material 6 to which the toner image has been transferred and the toner image has been further transferred is heated and pressed by a fixing unit 7 so that the toner image is fixed and then discharged outside the apparatus.

Next, description will be made in order from the latent image forming section. The photosensitive drums 1aA1b, 1c and 1
Exposure lamps 21a, 21b, 21
c and 21d, chargers 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d, a light source device (not shown), a polygon mirror 17 for scanning light emitted from the light source device, and a potential sensor 22aA
22b, 22c and 22d are provided. First, the photosensitive drum 1 is charged by the chargers 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d.
a, 1b, 1c and 1d are uniformly charged. A laser beam emitted from a light source device (not shown) is scanned by a rotatable polygon mirror 17, and the scanning light deflected by the reflection mirror is condensed on the generatrix of the photosensitive drums 1 a, 1 b, 1 c and 1 d ( (Not shown)
A latent image corresponding to an image signal is formed on each photosensitive drum.

The developing devices 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d are filled with a predetermined amount of developer (toner) of each color of cyan, magenta, yellow and black by a supply device (not shown). The developer is supplied to developing devices 3a, 3b, 3
c and 3d form a visible image (toner image) on the photosensitive drums 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d according to the latent image by the scanning light.

The recording material 6 to which the toner image is to be transferred is accommodated in a recording material cassette 60,
a, each photosensitive drum 1a, 1b, 1c carried on a belt-shaped recording material carrier 8 via a registration roller 13b
And 1d. Here, the recording material carrier 8 is made of a polyethylene terephthalate resin film sheet (PET).
Sheet), a dielectric resin film such as a polyvinylidene fluoride resin film sheet or a polyurethane resin film sheet. Both ends are overlapped and joined to form an endless shape, or have a seam. A non-seamless belt is used (in the case of a belt having a seam, there may be a configuration in which a means for detecting the seam position is provided, and the toner image is not transferred on the seam. ). The recording material carrier 8 is stretched over rollers 11 and 11 on the upstream side and a roller 10 on the downstream side. When the recording material carrier 8 starts rotating, the recording material 6 is transferred from the registration roller 13b to the recording material carrier. It is transported onto the body 8. At this time, the image writing signal is turned ON, and an image is formed on the most upstream photosensitive drum 1a at a certain timing. And the photosensitive drum 1
In the lower part of a, the transfer charger 4a applies an electric field under uniform pressure conditions by the transfer pressing member 41a,
The toner image on the photosensitive drum 1a is transferred onto the recording material 6. The recording material 6 is held on the recording material carrier 8 by an electrostatic attraction force, and is then conveyed to the next image forming unit Pb, and, similarly to the above, this time, the magenta toner The image is transferred. Hereinafter, yellow and black toner images are transferred by the photosensitive drums 1c and 1d, respectively, in the same manner as described above. The recording material 6 to which the four color toner images have been transferred is neutralized by the separation charger 14 and the peeling charger 15, and the electrostatic attraction force is attenuated.
The sheet is detached from the recording material carrier 8 and transported to the fixing unit 7.

The fixing section 7 includes a fixing roller 71, a pressure roller 72, heat-resistant cleaning members 73 and 74 for cleaning the respective rollers, heaters 75 and 76 for heating the rollers 71 and 72, and a release mold such as dimethyl silicon. An oil application roller 77 for applying the agent oil to the fixing roller 71, an oil reservoir 78 for supplying the oil,
A thermistor 79 for fixing temperature control is provided. The recording material 6 conveyed from the recording material carrier 8 to the fixing unit 7 is heated and pressed to fix the toner image on the surface of the recording material 6. The recording material 6 on which the toner image has been fixed is then discharged out of the apparatus.

After the transfer, that is, each of the photosensitive drums 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d from which the toner image has been removed, the developer remaining on the surface is removed by the cleaning sections 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d, and the photosensitive drums 1a, 1b, 5c and 5d are continuously removed. In preparation for the next latent image formation. The developer remaining on the recording material carrier 8 is neutralized by the belt neutralizer 12 to remove the electrostatic attraction force, and then scraped into the collection chamber 9 by the rotatable fur brush 16. As another means for removing the developer, a blade or a nonwoven fabric and a combination thereof are also used.

An image forming apparatus and an image forming method according to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 21 shows an example of a full-color electrophotographic apparatus which is an image forming apparatus of the present invention to which the above-mentioned transparent film of the present invention can be applied.

In this full-color electrophotographic apparatus, 207
Recording material such as paper stored in a cassette of 205
Of the photosensitive drum 2
01, four developing units 2 according to the electrostatic latent image formed on
Magenta, cyan, yellow, and black toner images developed by 04M, 204C, 204Y, and 204B are sequentially transferred onto the recording material to form a full-color image. Thereafter, the recording material is conveyed again to the thermal curl fixing device 209, where the toner is melted by heating, and a full-color image is fixed.

In this full-color electrophotographic apparatus,
The light reflection type sensor for detecting the conveyance state of the recording material is 211
a, 211b and 211c.
These sensors are, for example, 9 as shown in FIG.
LED capable of irradiating near-infrared light of around 80 nm
221 and a photodiode 222 for detecting the light reflected by the opaque portion (mark) 231 of the recording material 230 and returned.

In particular, it is preferable that the above-mentioned optical system is appropriately designed so that reflected light from various papers can be efficiently detected. However, it is not possible to use irregular reflection of LED light. This is a more preferred embodiment.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention is characterized by having means for forming an arbitrary image on the transparent film of the present invention as described above and means for separating and removing opaque portions by heating.

As described above, any known method can be used as a means for forming an arbitrary image on a transparent film.

As a means for removing the opaque portion by heating, the transparent film of the present invention is heated to soften the opaque member forming the opaque portion, to cause peelability or tackiness, and to apply this to the fixing roll. The opaque portion can be separated and removed by bonding or transferring, or the opaque portion can be offset from the pressure roller by separating the opaque portion from the transparent film by reducing the amount of the release agent applied to the pressure roller.

As a means for making the opaque portion transparent by heating, the opaque portion formed by roughening the surface of the transparent film is made transparent by heating to smooth the opaque portion, or thermoplastic resin particles or The opaque portion formed by coating the emulsion particles in a layered form is melted by heating to make the particle shape into a film, whereby the opaque portion is made transparent.

As means for making the opaque portion transparent by heating and / or light irradiation, the opaque portion is made transparent by sublimating the printing ink forming the opaque portion by heating or by changing the structure by light irradiation. You.

As a means for optically clearing the opaque portion, there is a method of irradiating the opaque portion with a halogen lamp or a semiconductor laser.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Examples, but this does not limit the present invention in any way.
In addition, in the formulations of the examples, "parts" and "%" all represent "parts by weight" and "% by weight".

[0108]

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 3 is a plan view of the transparent film of the present invention used in Embodiment 1, and 1 is provided on a surface of a transparent sheet member 104 by an opaque member. The opaque portion 105 is shown. FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of the transparent film in the direction A.

As shown in FIG. 4, the melting temperature was set to 70 ° C. on a transparent sheet member 104 obtained by cutting polyethylene terephthalate (PET) having a thickness of 150 μm into A4 size.
Was applied to a thickness of 4 μm, and a color pigment (blue) dispersed in a polyester resin having a softening temperature of 140 ° C. in an amount of about 8 wt% was applied at a thickness of 5 μm to form an opaque portion 105. .

The transparent film having the above structure was applied to the electrophotographic color image forming apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG. 23, and a transparent recorded image was formed as follows.

The electrophotographic color image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 23 includes a transfer material transport system I provided from one side of the apparatus main body (right side in FIG. 23) to a substantially central portion of the apparatus main body. And a latent image forming section II provided near the transfer drum 309 constituting the transfer material transport system I, and a latent image forming section II. Developing means, i.e., a rotary developing device III, and a developer replenishing device disposed close to the rotary developing device III;
That is, it is constituted by the developer supply device 302.

The transfer material transport system I includes transfer material replenishment trays 320a and 320b detachable from an opening formed on one side (the right side in FIG. 23) of the apparatus main body, and a paper feed roller 306. Paper feed guides 305a and 305b,
The contact roller 308, the gripper 307, the transfer material separating charger 314, which is provided near the paper feed guide 305 b, and is arranged in the vicinity of the outer peripheral surface from the upstream side to the downstream side in the rotation direction.
A transfer drum 309 rotatable in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 23 in which a separating claw 315 is provided, and a transfer charger 310 and a transfer material separating charger 313 are provided on the inner peripheral side.
A transport belt 316 provided close to the separation claw 315, and a transport belt 316 which is disposed close to the end of the transport belt 316 in the transport direction and is detachable from an apparatus main body extending outside the apparatus main body. It is composed of a discharge tray and a fixing device 317 provided near the discharge tray.

The latent image forming section II is provided with an image carrier, that is, a photosensitive drum 303 rotatable in the direction indicated by an arrow in FIG. 23, the outer circumferential surface of which is in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the transfer drum 309. A charger 311 for static elimination and a cleaning unit 3 disposed near the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 303 from the upstream side to the downstream side in the rotation direction of the photoconductor drum 303.
12 and a primary charger 304, and an image exposure unit such as a laser beam scanner for forming an electrostatic latent image on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 303 and an image exposure reflection unit.

The rotary developing device III is provided with a rotatable rotating body 301 and mounted on the rotating body 301, respectively.
A magenta developing device 301M for visualizing (developing) an electrostatic latent image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 303 at a position facing the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 303;
It has a cyan developing device 301C, a yellow developing device 301Y, and a black developing device 301BK.

Further, the developer replenishing devices 302 are disposed adjacent to each other, and hold a developer for each color supplied from the outside for each color.
Y, magenta hopper 302M, cyan hopper 302C,
A black hopper 302BK is provided.

The paper feed unit 32 of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
The transparent film of A4 size shown in FIG. 3 is set at 0a. At this time, the opaque portion 105 is set so that the surface on which the opaque portion 105 is provided is on the upper side, and is arranged so as to be on the opposite side to the surface on which the toner rides.

Reference numeral 317 denotes a heat-pressure fixing unit constituted by a fixing roller 317a and a pressure roller 317b, and is fixed at a linear speed of 60 mm / sec. At this time, the surface temperature of the fixing roll was controlled to be 150 to 160 ° C.

In the heat-pressure fixing section 317, the surface of the opaque portion 105 of the transparent recording medium of the present invention described above softens and becomes tacky, and exhibits an adhesive force with the surface of the pressure roller 317b. Since the lower paraffin wax layer is also melted to a low viscosity, the opaque portion 105 loses the adhesive strength with the completely transparent sheet-like member 104, and the entire surface pressure roller 3
17b.

The resin layer forming the opaque portion 105 transferred to the pressure roller 317b is removed from the roller surface by a cleaning wave indicated by 317c. The cleaning wave 317c is formed using a non-woven fabric having a surface smoothness of about 10 seconds, and is wrapped around a roller and a counter at a linear velocity of 5 mm / sec in a counter direction.

The recorded image obtained as described above has an image formed on a transparent film entirely, and does not leave unsightly opaque portions (marks) as in the prior art. On the other hand, in the apparatus, since the position of the sheet is accurately detected by the opaque portion (mark), highly accurate registration can be secured.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 24 is a schematic view of an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, which is different from Embodiment 1 used in Embodiment 2.

In this apparatus, as shown in FIG.
A recording medium is conveyed by an electrostatic attraction belt 252 under a full multi-bubble jet (registered trademark) print head 251 arranged in the order of M, Y, and Bk to form a color image. Is blown with hot air to dry the ink.

The recording medium that has gone through the above steps is 100
C to 120 ° C, the cleaning web 25
If the recording medium 5 is conveyed at the same speed as the recording medium, the opaque portion composed of the heat-fusible opaque member can be removed from the transparent film as the recording medium.

FIG. 5 shows the transparent film used at this time. On a transparent sheet-like member 106 made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) having a thickness of 100 μm, a dispersion obtained by dispersing titanium oxide as a white pigment in an ester wax having a melting point of 60 ° C. to a thickness of 6 μm is applied. An opaque portion (mark) 107 was used.

When the leading end of such a recording medium approaches the separation section 256 shown in FIG.
The heating was started by dropping from 20 mm / sec to 20 mm / sec. As a result, the opaque portion made of the heat-fusible opaque member was removed by the cleaning wave 255 without being transferred to the suction conveyance belt 254, and a high-quality transparent recorded image without leaving unsightly opaque portions was obtained. .

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 6 shows a laminated structure of a transparent film having a transparent sheet member 108 used in Embodiment 3 and an opaque portion 109 made of an opaque member provided thereon. .

Reference numeral 108 denotes a transparent polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film having a thickness of 150 μm;
Is a mixture of carnauba wax and ester wax having a melting point of 60 ° C. P. The following is a transparent layer having low viscosity, and 109b is an aluminum foil layer having a thickness of 10 μm.

FIG. 25 is an apparatus diagram used in this embodiment, and is an example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. 257 a is a thermal head, 257 b is an ink transfer sheet at a transfer start temperature of 90 ° C., and 257 e is a reflection type optical sensor for detecting the opaque portion 109 of the transparent film. In this image forming apparatus, the above-mentioned transparent film is applied to the opaque portion 10.
9 is used so that the surface on which the ink transfer sheet 9 is not formed is in contact with the ink transfer sheet, and the position of the sheet is reflected by the aluminum reflected light from the aluminum layer 109b of the opaque portion 109 provided on the transparent film as described above. It was accurately read by the pattern light sensor 257e.

Then, the roll 257c heated to 75 ° C.
The roller 257d for removing the silicone rubber, which is opposite to the roller 257c, was rotated at a higher speed than the roller 257c. As a result,
The transparent layer 109a has a low viscosity under the influence of heat from the roll 257c, and the removing roller 257 rotating at a high speed.
This is the opaque portion 109 shown in FIG. 6 provided on the surface of the transparent sheet by pulling the aluminum foil 109b constituting the opaque portion 109 by d.
109a and 109b could be removed, and as a result, a high-quality transparent recorded image in which unsightly opaque portions (marks) did not remain was obtained.

Example 4 As shown in FIG. 1, a 100 μm-thick polyethylene terephthalate film was used as a transparent sheet member 113, and the following composition A was formed on the sheet film 113 as an opaque portion 111. Using a bar coater, the film was coated so as to have a dry film thickness of 30 μm, and dried in a drying furnace at 140 ° C. for 6 minutes to obtain a transparent film 110.

Composition A Thermoplastic elastomer resin emulsion (Chempearl A
-100, manufactured by Mitsui Petrochemical Industries, solid content 40%) 100
Part Ionomer resin emulsion (Chempearl SA-10
0, Mitsui Petrochemical Industries, solid content 35%) 12 parts sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate (Perex O
Transparent film 110 coated with composition A having a composition of 0.3 parts or more.
The opaque portion 111 was white and opaque, and showed about 70% when measured using a direct-read haze meter.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the transparent film 110 having this configuration, when the image forming surface is the front side, the coated surface of the opaque portion 111 of the composition A comes on the opposite back side. 20 is inserted into the copying machine shown in FIG. 20, and the above-described image forming units Pa, Pb,
After transferring the toner image by Pc and Pd, the toner image is fixed by a fixing device having the following configuration.

Fixing roller 71: Surface layer RTV silicon rubber 200 μm thick Lower layer HTV silicon rubber 4 mm thick Core aluminum pressure roller 72: Surface layer polytetrafluoroethylene (PTF)
E) 20 μm thickness Lower layer HTV silicon rubber 0.5 mm thickness Core aluminum release agent 78: dimethyl silicone oil 300 centistokes Release agent application amount to fixing roller during fixing: 32 μg / cm
^The above-mentioned transparent film 110 is attached to the fixing unit 7 composed of ^two or more.
However, when the toner is conveyed at a roller temperature of 160 ° C., a fixing pressure of 3 kg / cm ² , and a fixing speed of 35 mm / sec, since the release agent 78 is hardly applied on the pressure roller,
Since the releasability between the composition A and the pressure roller 72 is poor, the opaque portion 111 peels off from the sheet-like member 113 in a film form,
Offset to the pressure roller 72, and
The cleaning is performed by the cleaning device 74. At this time, more preferably, when recording the above-described transparent film 110 than when recording a recording material such as ordinary paper, the feed amount of the heat-resistant nonwoven fabric constituting the cleaning device 74 is increased to improve the cleaning property. It is good to improve.

Here, in order to reduce the application amount of the release agent 78 on the back surface of the sheet-like film 110 and increase it on the image forming surface of the front surface, the coating roller 77 applied to the release agent 78 and the fixing roller 71 is used. The timing at which the recording material 6 is applied to the fixing roller 71 may be slightly delayed from the timing at which the leading end comes to the contact portion (nip portion) between the fixing roller 71 and the pressure roller 72 when the recording material 6 is conveyed. For example, assuming that the leading edge of the recording material 6 at the leading end of the recording material 6 is a margin portion where no image is formed, the outer peripheral surface of the oil-coated fixing roller 71 becomes transparent when the leading end 2 mm passes through the nip portion. What is necessary is just to make it contact the surface of the film 110.

(Example 5) In Example 4, the case where the coat layer of the composition A was formed on the back surface of the transparent film 110 was described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as described above, when the release agent application timing is changed, the leading end of the image of the transparent film 110 is 10 mm from the leading end of the recording material, and the opaque portion 111 is from 3 mm from the leading end of the recording material to about 6 mm in width 2 mm. ~ 3mm
Are formed on the image forming surface on the front surface side in the line shape of
The same effect can be obtained by adjusting the application so as to be stably applied to the front end of the image. However, unlike the fourth embodiment, since the roller for offsetting the opaque portion 111 is the fixing roller 71 having good releasability, it is preferable to increase the fixing temperature to about 180 ° C.

(Embodiment 6) FIG. 26 shows a case where a dedicated pressure roller cleaning blade 80 is provided in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 20, corresponding to the case where the recording material 110 shown in FIG. 1 is used. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the fixing unit 7. Normally, nonwoven fabric is often used for roller cleaning.
In the recording material 110 as shown in the above, the layer of the composition A is offset to the roller in the form of a film, so that the cleaning property of the nonwoven fabric is deteriorated. The amount is increased, leading to an increase in running cost. Therefore, the above problem can be solved by disposing the dedicated blade 80 having the pressure release mechanism.

Further, in addition to the blade 80 described above, FIG.
A good effect can also be obtained by cleaning with a brush-like rotating body 81 as shown in FIG. in this case,
The rotation direction of the rotator 81 was the same as that of the pressure roller 72, that is, when the two parts contacted each other, the two parts moved in opposite directions, thereby exhibiting better cleaning performance.

Example 7 A toner image was fixed on a transparent film in the same manner as in Example 4 except that the structure of the fixing device was changed as follows using the transparent film 110 used in Example 4. .

Fixing roller 71: Surface layer RTV silicone rubber 200 μm thick Lower layer HTV silicone rubber 4 mm thick Core aluminum pressure roller 72: Surface layer RTV silicone rubber 200 μm
Thickness Lower layer HTV silicone rubber 1 mm thick Aluminum core release agent 78: dimethyl silicone oil 300 cst Amount of release agent to fixing roller at the time of fixing: 160 μg / cm
^In the fixing unit 7 composed of ^two or more, the transparent film 110
When transported at a roller temperature of 160 ° C., a fixing pressure of 3 kg / cm ² , and a fixing speed of 35 mm / sec, since the amount of the release agent 78 applied to the fixing roller is large, oil absorption to the pressure roller is maintained sufficiently. Since the pressure roller has a good release property,
Since the releasability between the composition A and the pressure roller is good and the resin particles are smoothed by heating and pressing, a transparent smooth film-like coat layer is formed on the surface of the transparent sheet member 113. As a result, the haze value of this transparent film measured using a direct-read haze meter (Toyo Seiki Seisakusho) was about 70% before the fixing process, but was about 10% after the fixing, and was used for OHP projection. Could be used.

(Embodiment 8) Recording material 110 used in the present invention
As described above, the composition A is not limited to the configuration in which the composition A is applied to the back surface, but may be applied to the image forming surface side with toner. Further, the composition is not limited to the composition A for forming the opaque portion. For example, the following composition B can be used.

Composition B Styrene-acrylic copolymer resin (Pontcoat PP-1)
000, manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, solid content 45%) 10
0 parts polyvinyl alcohol (PVA-117, made by Kuraray, 1
30% surfactant (Peletex OT-
P, manufactured by Kao, solid content 70%) 0.3 parts or more of the composition B was applied by a bar coater,
When dried in a drying oven for 0 minutes, the same effect as in Example 7 was obtained.

(Example 9) As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, an absorbing layer 1 for absorbing moisture or a release agent into a transparent film was used.
The provision of 14 can prevent a decrease in handleability due to the adhesion of a release agent, and is particularly preferable in a color copying machine using a release agent.

In the transparent film 115 shown in FIG. 7, an absorbing layer 114 of moisture or a release agent is formed on the adhesion adjusting layer 112 on the surface of the transparent sheet member 113, and the surface is further similar to that of the fourth embodiment. The sensing mark 111 (white coat layer) is formed as an opaque portion by the composition A of the present invention. As the sheet-like film 113 having the moisture or release agent absorbing layer 114, a commercially available water-absorbing transparent film having an absorbing layer of silica-based porous particles (Pictorico: manufactured by Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.) is used. Then, a sensing mark 111 as an opaque portion was formed on the surface of this film with the composition A of Example 4.

When a toner image was fixed on a transparent film using this transparent film in the same manner as in Example 7, the haze value of the opaque portion was about 70% before the fixing process, whereas the haze value after the fixing process was about 70%. , About 15%.

It is possible to recognize an image as an OHP film if it is 20% or less, but preferably 10% or less. It is considered that the reason why the haze is slightly high at 15% in FIG. 7 is that the release agent particles in the sensing mark 111 cause irregular reflection. FIG. 8 shows that the composition A of the sensing mark 111 used in FIG. 7 is formed in the lower layer, and the amount of the binder is increased so as not to absorb much of the release agent. The layer 114 was formed. As a material of the release agent absorbing layer, although it depends on the release agent, a hydrophilic polymer such as ion-modified polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinylpyrrolidone is subjected to a cross-linking treatment to make it water-insoluble, or a porous material using silica and alumina. Particles may be used. In this example, after forming the lower layer and drying, the cation-modified polyvinyl alcohol-based absorption layer was applied by a bar coater. As a result, the haze value of the opaque area is
Before the fixing process was about 65%, after the fixing process,
It was about 10%.

(Example 10) In the same manner as in Example 4, using the composition A on the polyethylene terephthalate film 113, a size mark 132 was formed as an opaque portion as shown in FIG.

Sensing mark 1 comprising composition A
FIG. 9 shows an example in which 11 is applied as a size mark 132 to a transparent film 117.

FIG. 9 shows a transparent film 13 as a recording material.
0 is coated with a size mark 132, and the transparent film 13
0 is set along the paper feed guide 131 of the paper feed unit 130. In this figure, the mechanical sensor 1
Reference numerals 20 and 123 always indicate the recording material 11 in conjunction with the paper feed guide.
7 is configured to be recognized as being in contact with the paper feed guide 131. The detailed operation will be described later.

On the other hand, the optical sensors 121 and 122 are located at a position A away from the central position of the sheet feeding, and are not equal to the symmetric position A 'with respect to the central position (in the figure, the central position is larger than A' in the drawing). The optical sensor 122 is located at a position (distant from the position) B.

FIG. 9 shows the case where the recording material 117 is A4 size, and FIG. 10 shows the case where the recording material size is A3. Below, A4 and A4 for each configuration of FIG. 9 and FIG.
An example of a three-size detection method will be described.

In a general electrophotographic recording apparatus such as a copying machine, when a recording material other than the ordinary plain paper is used,
A manual paper cassette is often used. In this case, unlike a sheet cassette dedicated to the same size, it is not known what kind of recording material of which size is prepared.
That is, in the former cassette of the same size, when the cassette is mounted on the recording apparatus, the size can be easily detected based on the shape of the cassette as conventionally performed. However, such detection cannot be used during manual paper feeding. If such detection is not possible, the function of the device is an automatic scaling function that automatically adjusts the image to be output to the size of the output recording material. When the image size is fed, the image size is larger than the recording size, and the image is recorded on the recording material carrier 8 in the copying machine as shown in FIG. Furthermore, it leads to the problem of inducing cleaning failure. Therefore, in FIG. 9 and FIG.
The width of 7 is detected by the spread of the paper feed guide 131, and the mechanical sensors 120 and 123 detect whether the recording material 117 is appropriately prepared for the width of the paper feed guide 131. for that reason,
As described above, the mechanical sensors 120 and 123
Need to move in conjunction with the paper feed guide 131. Conventionally, the transparent film 117 needs to detect front and back, and if an image is recorded on the back, there is a case where a conveyance failure occurs at the time of fixing or an image failure occurs. The optical sensor 121 was used for this detection.

As shown in FIG. 9 or FIG. 10, the size mark 132 or 133 of the composition A also serves as front and back detection, and if the size mark 132 or 133 is reversed, the optical sensor 121 shows a reaction. On the other hand, in the case of the table, light is transmitted (when the optical sensor 121 is a transmission sensor), which is the same as the state where nothing is detected. 9 and 10, A4 and A3, where 1 indicates the case where the reaction has occurred and 0 indicates the case where the reaction does not occur.
The detection is as follows.

A4 = (sensor 121, sensor 122) = (0, 1) A3 = (sensor 121, sensor 122) = (0, 0) If there is only A4 or A3, one of sensor 121 or sensor 122 Always indicates 0. At this time, the distinction between the transparent film 117 and the plain paper is such that if either one is 0, the transparent film is used, and if both are plain paper, the preparation state of the recording material at the time of manual paper feeding, the transparent film or the plain paper, the transparent film, By recognizing the size and the size of the front and back 117 and the size of the sensing mark 111 using the composition A, the size mark on the recording material 117 can be made inconspicuous after recording and output.

(Embodiment 11) In Embodiment 10 described above, the width of the recording material 117 is detected by the width of the paper feed guide 131, and the size mark 132 or 133 is used for auxiliary size detection. However, in the case of the present invention, it is also possible to detect all by the shape of the size mark 134 or 135 like a barcode. FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate the above-described embodiment in which the recording material 1 is provided on the sheet feed guide 131 as described above.
17 is set and the optical sensors 125, 126 and 1
27 shows an example of size detection. 11 and 1
The optical sensor 124 in FIG. 2 has the same function as the optical sensor 121 in FIGS. The size can be distinguished according to the response of the area of the sensors 125, 126 and 127 shown in FIGS. At this time, sensor 1
Numerals 25, 126 and 127 are recognized at the signal level of 0 or 1 as in the tenth embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to such a sensor. For example, a CCD line sensor can be substituted for the sensors 125, 126, and 127, or can be substituted by a density level signal. When the detection is performed by the density level, if the size detection mark is not recognized at all in the detection area, the density level is 00 (H). If all the detection marks are used, FF (H) is obtained. 7F
(H) or 80 (H). In this way, it can be distinguished as 00 (H) for A4 horizontal feed, 80 (H) for A4 vertical feed, and FF (H) for A3.

As described above, if the recording material size can be recognized in the state where the recording material is set in the paper feed cassette, not only the above-described various conversions can be smoothly performed, but also if the size is not known once the sheet is not conveyed. There is no inconvenience that size detection cannot be made in a high-speed recording apparatus.

(Embodiment 12) In the present invention, the size detection mark as described above is not necessarily provided only on a part of the transparent film 117. For example, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the size detection marks 136 and 137 are formed on the opposite side so that the recording material 117 can be detected even when the insertion direction is reversed. The present invention is not limited to this, and providing at four corners is not an exception of the present invention. In addition, in the case of the present invention, since the size detection mark does not remain after recording, there was a problem that the image forming area was narrowed if provided in several places in the past,
Since the problem can be solved by using the present invention, the effect of the present invention is not only to improve the handleability of the recording material 117 after image recording, but also to improve the handleability at the time of setting in the apparatus. Furthermore, since the recording device can immediately recognize the size with the recording material 117 set,
It is also intended to improve the operability of various functions in a recording apparatus such as automatic zooming and automatic image movement.

(Embodiment 13) A case where front / back detection is performed using the configuration of the sensing mark 111 and the fixing method described above will be described. FIG. 15 shows an example of an A4 size polyethylene terephthalate film (P
(ET: manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.), the coated opaque portion is shown in black. Since the PTE is transparent, the light transmission sensor for front and back detection does not show a reaction in the uncoated portion, and shows a reaction only in the coated opaque portion to the fixing agent (before the transparency) (from the light emitting element to the light receiving element). Block the light between).

The method of front / back detection will be described for a case where one mechanical sensor and two light transmission sensors are used. In the configuration, the left side in FIG. 15 is the main body of the image recording apparatus, and the mechanical sensor is M
₁ and light transmitting sensors P ₁ , P ₂
Is provided. In this configuration, the detection statuses of the recording material 117 is carried by the machine sensors M _1. The recording material 117 is plain paper or a transparent film (OHP film, label paper,
It is the light transmission type sensor P that recognizes whether
If both P ₁ and P ₂ have reacted, it is plain paper, and if they have not reacted, the transparent film 117 is erroneously prepared. ) Or a recording material of too small size is inserted.

Therefore, in this case, an erroneous operation is displayed on the operation unit without being received by the recording device. Similarly, if the light transmission sensor P ₂ light transmission sensor P ₁ is not react do not react, it means that the transparent film 117 is prepared inside out, erroneous display, etc. In this case I do. Furthermore, without the light transmission sensor P ₁ is reacted, transparent if the light transmission sensor P ₂ is reacted Film 1
17 is prepared as usual, and the recording operation of the transparent film 117 is started. Here, since the sensing mark 111 of FIG. 15 is formed on the back surface with respect to the image forming unit, an image may be formed on the sensing mark 111. As described above, when the sensing mark 111 absorbs the mold release agent 78, the haze may not be sufficiently reduced, but when this is a concern, the sensing mark 111 is made transparent and then wiped with a soft cloth or paper. It can be peeled off and does not disturb the image even at this time.

Example 14 A conventionally used translucent recording material or a known translucent recording material having a surface coated with various coatings in order to improve image quality and handleability. There are many. In the case of the present invention, such a conventional coating can be applied while being utilized. Furthermore, like a label paper, after outputting an image, the film on the back side is peeled off, and when used by sticking it to another, the sensing mark 111 for detection is not left on the image side to be stuck,
Since it is formed on the back film side, there is no problem caused by the sensing mark 111. For example, there is a material in which silica-based porous particles are used as the absorbing layer 114 to absorb the release agent 78 and improve the handleability of the output recording material 117.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the same. Another proposal is to coat the sensing mark 111 with alumina-based porous particles having a certain orientation. Even when the present invention is applied to such a recording material 117, a favorable effect was obtained.

(Embodiment 15) The present invention is not limited to the case where the coated opaque portion is left-right asymmetric and the front and back are detected. FIG. 17 shows an example of such a case. Configuration, as in FIG. 15, the left side in the drawing and the image recording apparatus main body, the light transmission sensor P ₁ of one also, the mechanical sensor is provided the two M ₁ and M _2. In this configuration, the presence or absence of the recording material 117 is recognized by the light transmission sensor P ₁ , and the front and back sensors are detected by the mechanical sensors M ₁ and M ₂ .

For simplicity, the light transmission sensor has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The reflection sensor may be used, and the number of sensors is not limited to three. For example, mechanical sensors are provided at both ends of the recording material to detect whether or not the recording material is of an appropriate size in the recording material presence / absence detecting means,
It is not an exception to detect the presence / absence of three pieces, or to eliminate the presence / absence detection of the recording material and substitute the front / back detection.

(Example 16) In Examples 5 to 9, a substance which smoothes by heating and pressing and roughens the initial surface is coated on a colorless and transparent sheet film 113 (hereinafter referred to as "printing"). The method for forming the light-detectable diffuse reflection surface of the optical sensor has been described. However, the print for light detection has a diffuse reflection layer inside the print layer, not on the surface of the print layer, and this diffuse reflection state is eliminated by heating. The method is also contemplated by the present invention. That is, a printing surface is formed so as to contain a low-molecular organic compound substantially incompatible with the resin, for example, a resin acid, inside the printing resin constituting the sensing mark, and a void made of a fatty acid is formed inside the printing surface. . Such voids, certain heated to a temperature S ₁ or more, preferably about 10 seconds to 30 seconds at this temperature S
By maintaining at least _one temperature and cooling at room temperature, it becomes cloudy,
Heated to a temperature of lower S ₂ than S _1, immediately transparent by cooling at room temperature. The printing resin meeting this purpose may include at least polyester, polyvinyl chloride, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride copolymer, and vinylidene chloride copolymer. The substance filling the void inside the printing resin may be an alkanol, an alkanediol, a halogen alkanol, or a halogen alkane diol, an alkylamine, an alkane, an alkene, an alkyl, a halogen alkane, a halogen alkene, or a halogen alkyne, a cycloalkane, a cycloalkene, or Cycloalkyne, saturated or unsaturated mono- or dicarboxylic acids or their esters or amides or ammonium salts, saturated or unsaturated halogen fatty acids or their esters, amides or ammonium salts, allylcarboxylic acids or their esters, amides or ammonium salts , Halogen allyl carboxylic acids or their esters, amides or ammonium salts, thioalcohols, thiocarboxylic acids, or their esters, Or ammonium salt,
Alternatively, a carboxylic acid ester of thioalcohol or any of these compounds may be used.

[0165] The method of preparation is as follows.
Alternatively, the desired coating material can be obtained by mixing the prepolymer and the above-mentioned internally dispersed substance and then polymerizing. Alternatively, a desired printing can be obtained by preparing a solution of a printing resin, mixing the above-mentioned dispersing substance therein, and then subjecting it to coating.

The printing paints obtained by the above two methods are:
It is applied to required portions of the resinous sheet-like film 113 described in the above-mentioned Examples 5 to 9. further,
A light detecting possible states of interest and the printing portion is heated to a temperature S ₁ described above is cloudy.

Next, an example will be described. A 5% solution of docosanoic acid in THF is mixed at a ratio of 1: 1 with a 30% solution of vinyldene chloride-acrylonitrile copolymer in THF, and the mixture is stirred. Then, a 100 μm-thick polyethylene terephthalate film as a sheet film 113 is coated in a 10 μm-thick band. I do. After heating the obtained film to 74 ° C., 2
After holding at this temperature for 0 seconds, cooling at room temperature resulted in a white print on the leading edge of the film. The printed film was fixed at a fixing speed of 450 mm / sec under the same conditions as in Example 4, and as a result, the print became transparent,
Sufficient properties were obtained for a P film.

When it is desired to further reduce the fixing speed, the white layer is insulated by covering the printed surface with a polyester transparent film having a thickness of 25 to 50 μm, and it is possible to make the layer transparent at a desired temperature.

(Example 17) FIG. 18 shows a transparent film according to an example of the present invention. In this example, the transparent laminated film was biaxially stretched to a thickness of 100 μm.
m, maximum service temperature 150 with heat distortion temperature of 152 ° C
Storage modulus (G ') at 160 ° C. is 1000 dy on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film at 1000 ° C.
a n / cm ^3, the thickness after the polyester resin is a softening point 116 ° C. (the solubility parameter of about 11) was applied by a bar coater method and a solution in acetone drying 16
A transparent film having an overcoat layer formed so as to have a thickness of μm was used. Conventionally, the recording material front / back detection mark 460 is printed thereon, but the present invention is characterized in that the front / back detection of the recording material is performed without performing this printing. That is, the part 46 on the overcoat layer 442 (FIG. 19) where printing was conventionally performed.
0 with sandpaper to an appropriate roughness (hereinafter referred to as MA
T processing), the light from the light emitting element 444 of the optical sensor is scattered by the minute scratches, and the transmitted light is blocked to detect the front and back of the recording material.

The appropriate roughness means the thickness of the overcoat layer (16 μm in the present embodiment) without transmission between the fine scratches.
The extent not exceeding m) is a suitable range. As the range, the pitch interval is 50 μm or less, and the surface roughness is Rz1 to Rz1.
It is preferably 10 μm, and if the value is within this range, it was possible to suppress the transmittance to an appropriate value.

Using a full-color image forming apparatus as shown in FIG. 36, MAT processing was performed, and the transparent laminated film of the present example in which the transmittance at the infrared end of 800 to 1000 nm was changed was fed. FIG. 28 shows the detection rate at which the front side of the transparent laminate film was detected at the same recording material detection mark portion. According to this, the transmittance is 0 to 40.
%, That is, when 60 to 100% of the light was blocked, it could be detected as the front surface of the transparent film. When the transmittance is greater than 40%, the light is always
5 was reached, and it was incorrectly detected as the opposite side and was unusable. Further, a color image was formed on a transparent film with a sharp melt toner containing a polyester resin having a softening point of 105 ° C. as a main component, and heat pressure fixing was performed in a fixing device shown in FIG.

Here, as the fixing conditions, when the surface temperature of the fixing roller is 180 ° C., the peripheral speed of the fixing and pressing roller is 45 mm /
A good image could be obtained in sec. At this time, since the polyester resin of the overcoat layer of the transparent laminate film has a softening point of 116 ° C., at the time of fixing, the overcoat layer 442 is also softened at the same time as the toner, and the MAT processing section (detection mark section) for recording material detection is also performed. After fixing, smooth
The recording material detection mark 460 disappeared after fixing because it was no different from the part of the overcoat layer that had not been subjected to the AT treatment, and a sufficient effect was obtained. In the present invention, a configuration using the belt-shaped recording material carrier of the present embodiment, a system for performing multiple transfer with one photosensitive drum a plurality of times, and further, either analog or digital, and a system for single transfer of a single black color may be used.

(Example 18) In this example, as a transparent laminated film, the overcoat layer 442 had a solubility parameter value of 10.5 and a weight average molecular weight of 20,000.
And the storage elastic modulus (G ′) at 160 ° C. is 800
An epoxy resin having a dyn / cm ³ and a softening point of 114 ° C. dissolved in methyl ethyl ketone was applied and the thickness after drying was set to 15 μm, which was applied on the same PET film as in Example 17. As a result, a MAT process is performed on the recording material detection mark in the same manner as in the seventeenth embodiment.
By changing the transmittance of infrared light of 00 to 1000 nm, FIG.
In the full-color image forming apparatus as shown in FIG. 6, when the image was formed, the detection rate of detecting the front surface of the transparent film in the same recording material detecting section as in the prior art has some errors as shown in FIG. However, almost the same results as in Example 17 were obtained. That is, when the transmittance of the infrared light of 800 to 1000 nm is 40% or less, that is, when the light of 60% to 100% is blocked, the front surface of the transparent film can be normally detected.

Further, a color image was formed on this transparent film using the same toner as in Example 18, and heat-fixing was performed using the same fixing device. Peripheral speed of pressure roller 4
A good image could be obtained at 0 mm / sec. Then, the recording material detection mark 60 after fixing was melted in the same manner as in Example 17.

(Embodiment 19) The present invention relates to Embodiments 17 and 1.
The method is characterized in that the transparent laminated film used in No. 8 is detected by using a reflection type optical sensor as shown in FIG. The reflection type optical sensor is described in FIG.
Reference numeral 44 denotes a light-emitting element 445, which irradiates the recording material with light from the light-emitting element 444, receives the reflected light from the light-receiving element 445, and performs detection. FIG. 31 shows a case where the transparent laminated film used in Examples 17 and 18 in which the recording material detection mark portion 460 has been subjected to MAT processing to the same roughness is fed, and the front surface of the transparent laminated film and the reflective optical film are used. Indicates the detection rate detected by the sensor. As a result, the case where the reflectance was 20% or more could be detected as the front surface of the transparent laminate film. When the reflectance was less than 20%, the sheet was erroneously detected as the opposite side and was unusable. A color image was formed on this transparent film using the same toner as in Examples 17 and 18, and heat fixing was performed using the same fixing device. Under the same fixing conditions as in Examples 17 and 18, good results were obtained. The image was obtained. The recording material detection mark 460 after fixing is the same as that of the first embodiment.
Melted as in 7 and 18.

(Embodiment 20) This embodiment employs a film-type heat fixing apparatus as shown in FIG.
A color image was formed on the same transparent film as in Example 8. Hereinafter, FIG. 32 will be described in detail.

Reference numeral 447 denotes an endless belt-shaped heat-resistant fixing film. The left driving roller 448, the right driven roller 449, the driving roller 448 and the driven roller 4.
The three members 448, 449, 4 parallel to each other of the low heat capacity linear heating element 450 serving as a heating element disposed below between 49.
It is stretched between 50.

The driven roller 449 also serves as a tension roller for a fixing film 447 in the form of an endless belt, and the fixing film 447 has a predetermined peripheral speed in the clockwise direction accompanying the clockwise rotation of the driving roller 448, ie, not shown. Is rotated at the same peripheral speed as the transfer speed of the transfer material sheet S as the recording material carrying the unfixed toner image T conveyed from the image forming unit side, without wrinkles, meandering, and speed delay.

Reference numeral 451 denotes a pressure roller having a rubber elastic layer having good releasability, such as silicone rubber, serving as a pressure member. The heating roller 451 sandwiches the descending film portion of the endless belt-shaped fixing film 447. The lower surface of the body 450 is pressed against the lower surface of the body 450 by urging means (not shown) with a total pressure of 4 to 7 kg, for example, and rotates counterclockwise in the forward direction of the transfer material sheet P in the transport direction. The pressure roller 451 is a silicone rubber roller having an outer diameter of 30 mm and a wall thickness of 7 mm which is formed concentrically and integrally with the outer periphery of a cored bar by molding.

The heating element 450 is a low-heat-capacity linear heating element whose longitudinal direction is the direction intersecting with the plane movement direction of the fixing film 447 (the width direction of the film), and includes a heater substrate 452, a current-generating resistor (heating element) 453. , And is fixedly supported by being attached to and held by the heater support 455.

When the recording material carrying the unfixed toner image on its upper surface is transported between the fixing film 447 and the pressure roller 451 in the film-type heat fixing device having such a configuration, the recording material is heated by the heating element 450. Fixing is performed.

When an image is formed in a color image forming apparatus having a fixing device having such a configuration as shown in FIG. 36, the recording material is detected at the time of sheet feeding in the same manner as in Examples 17 and 18. . In the fixing, when the temperature of the heating element 450 is 180 ° C., the speed 25 of the fixing film 447
A good image could be obtained at mm / sec, and the recording material detection mark 460 after fixing was melted in the same manner as in Example 17.

(Example 21) For improving the transportability of an A4 size polystyrene terephthalate film (trade name: Lumirror, manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.) having a thickness of 100 μm, silica and antistatic were used by a known method. A water-soluble polyester resin containing a treating agent is applied in a thickness of 5 μm on both sides.

The amount of the antistatic treatment agent added was determined at a temperature of 20.
It is adjusted at a temperature of 60 ° C. and a humidity of 60% RH so as to have a surface specific resistance of 5 × 10 ^{7 to} 5 × 10 ¹⁰ Ω, and then added.

Next, using a printing ink obtained by dispersing a sublimation dye kayak (manufactured by Dainippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.) in a polyester resin, as shown in FIG.
An opaque printed layer 103 having a width of m × 10 cm and a thickness of about 1 μm was formed.

When the thus obtained transparent film of the present invention was applied to the full-color electrophotographic apparatus shown in FIG. 21, irregularly reflected light by the printing layer was obtained without any problem.
The state of transport of the film in the apparatus could be detected.

Further, when the film was passed through the heat fixing unit 209 in the subsequent process, the fixing roller temperature was 180 ° C., and the heating time was 5 minutes.
It was confirmed that the dye in the printing ink in the opaque portion 102 sublimated sufficiently between 0 and 200 msec, and the printed portion became transparent.

(Example 22) The same polyethylene terephthalate film as in Example 21 which had been subjected to a mat treatment and an antistatic treatment was used as a sheet film.

As a printing ink for forming an opaque portion,
A compound having a structure represented by the following formula (IR820
B: Showa Denko KK) and a mixture of tetrabutylammonium / butyltriphenylborate [mixing molar ratio, 100: 0.3 (preferably used in the range of 100: 0.1 to 100: 50)] ] Was kneaded into a styrene resin to prepare a powder hot melt printing ink.

[0190]

[Outside 1]

Next, the powder thus formed was electrostatically coated on the above film, heated to 150 ° C., and then slightly pressed to print on the film to form a blue opaque portion. . The print thickness was 6 μm.

Next, the full-color electrophotographic apparatus shown in FIG.
When the light source 1c was changed to a white tungsten lamp and the film on which the opaque portion was printed was passed through, a sufficient amount of irregularly reflected light of ink was obtained, and the transport status could be accurately detected. done.

Further, a halogen lamp 213 used for image exposure is placed on the conveyance path T after image formation shown in FIG.
Is collected by a lens 212 using a mirror 214,
When projected onto the opaque print layer, the blue color was decolored, and the film to which the toner image was fixed by the fixing roller did not have this print layer, and a good full-color trapene film was obtained.

In this case, the amount of light irradiation by the halogen lamp 213 is determined by the transport speed of the film.
It is sufficient if an amount exceeding 1 mW / cm ² per unit area is applied, but at least 0.2 mW / cm ² or more is required.

(Example 23) IR used in Example 22
820B, a cationic dye having a structure represented by the following formula (2) was used, and a mixture of this cationic dye and an organic boron ammonium salt [mixing molar ratio, 100:
0.3 (preferably used in the range of 100: 0.1 to 100: 50)], and a transparent film was obtained in the same manner as in Example 22 except that a dispersion of styrene in styrene was used. .

[0196]

[Outside 2]

Next, this film was applied to the apparatus shown in FIG. In this case, erasing of the opaque portion formed with the above ink can be performed using a near-infrared semiconductor laser (Ga-As-Al-based semiconductor laser) instead of a halogen lamp.

In recent years, digital copiers using this semiconductor laser have been sold by many manufacturers, and the printing inks described above are practically more effective inks.

That is, when decoloring, it is only necessary to allow the laser to irradiate the printing surface using an exposure path different from image exposure, so that several foldable mirrors and shutters are placed on the optical path. It is possible to erase the color simply by adding a kind.

In such a system, if necessary for printing for detection, it is possible to add character and image information by the above laser. For example, if an opaque portion is provided on the entire surface, OHP It is also possible to easily make a film frame or the like.

[0201]

As described above, according to the present invention, an opaque portion which can be detected by an optical sensor and is easily eliminated (removed or made transparent) by a predetermined process is formed on a transparent sheet member. By forming a transparent film (translucent recording material) by applying the opaque portion, the transparent film can accurately detect the size and the front and back sides during image formation. After the image is formed, the opaque portion disappears, so that the opaque portion does not appear as an image on the screen when the opaque portion is applied to, for example, an OHP device.

When the image forming apparatus has an optical sensor for detecting an opaque portion and an erasing means for eliminating (removing or making transparent) the opaque portion, the size and the front and back of the transparent recording material are detected and unnecessary. The opaque portion that has disappeared can be easily eliminated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a transparent film of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a printing form of an opaque portion of the transparent film of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the transparent film of the present invention used in Example 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the transparent film shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the transparent film of the present invention used in Example 2.

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the transparent film of the present invention used in Example 3.

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the transparent film of the present invention used in Example 9.

FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the transparent film of the present invention used in Example 9.

FIG. 9 is a top view illustrating the operation of the tenth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a top view illustrating the operation of the tenth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a top view illustrating the operation of the eleventh embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a top view illustrating the operation of the eleventh embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a top view illustrating the operation of the twelfth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a top view illustrating the operation of the twelfth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a top view illustrating the operation of the thirteenth embodiment.

FIG. 16 shows a cross-sectional view of the transparent film of the present invention used in Example 14.

FIG. 17 is a top view illustrating the operation of the fifteenth embodiment.

18 shows a plan view of the transparent film of the present invention used in Example 17. FIG.

FIG. 19 shows a cross-sectional view of a transparent film.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram of a four-color full-color copying machine as an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory view of a copying machine in which the transparent film of the present invention can be used.

FIG. 22 shows an example of a method for detecting the transport state of a transparent film according to the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a schematic sectional view of the electrophotographic color image forming apparatus used in Example 1.

FIG. 24 is a schematic view of an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus used in Example 2.

FIG. 25 is a schematic view of an image forming apparatus used in Example 3.

FIG. 26 is a longitudinal sectional view of a fixing unit of the image forming apparatus used in the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a longitudinal sectional view of a fixing unit of the image forming apparatus used in Example 26.

FIG. 28 is a view showing the relationship between the transmittance and the detection rate of the transparent film of the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a view showing the relationship between the transmittance and the detection rate of the transparent film of the present invention.

FIG. 30 shows a schematic view of a detecting means for detecting a transparent film.

FIG. 31 is a view showing the relationship between the reflectance and the detection rate of the transparent film of the present invention.

FIG. 32 is a schematic view of a film-type fixing device.

FIG. 33 shows a schematic view of a detecting means for detecting a transparent film.

FIG. 34 shows a plan view of a conventional transparent film.

FIG. 35 is a schematic sectional view of a roller fixing device.

FIG. 36 is a schematic sectional view of a conventional color image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1a, 1b, 1c, 1d Image carrier (photosensitive drum) 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d Latent image forming means (charging device) 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d Developing means (developing device) 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d Transfer Means (transfer charger) 6 Transparent film (recording material) 7 Separation removing means or clarifying means (fixing device) 11a, 11b, 11c Light detection sensor 100 Transparent films 101, 102, 103 Opaque part 111 printed Opaque part 121 , 122, 124, 125, 126, 127 Optical sensor 430 Roller type fixing device 431 Fixing roller 432 Pressure roller 433 Oil coating device 434, 435 Cleaning device 436 Thermistor 437 Blade 438 Inlet guide 439 Discharge guide 440a Discharge roller 440b Discharge Paper roller S Recording material T Toner 441 First resin Layer (base film) 442 Second resin layer (overcoat layer) 443 Mechanical sensor 444 Light emitting element 445 Light receiving element 446 Registration roller 447 Fixing film 448 Drive roller 449 Follower roller 450 Heater 451 Pressurizing roller 452 Motor substrate 453 Heating element 454 Temperature sensor 455 Motor support 460 Transparent laminated film detection mark

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G03G 21/00 370 B41M 5/26 H (72) Inventor Nobuhiko Takekoshi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo (72) Inventor Jiro Ishizuka 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term (reference) 2C056 EA04 EB12 EB36 FB02 2H027 DA21 DA32 DC01 DC02 DC03 DC05 DE02 DE03 DE07 DE09 EA09 EC06 EC12 EC18 ED17 ED19 ED25 ED27 EE01 EF09 FA15 FA30 ZA07 2H033 AA16 AA18 AA45 BA43 BA51 BA54 BA59 BB01 BB29 BB30 CA16 CA22 CA37 2H111 AA01 AA02 CA05 CA25

Claims (31)

[Claims] 1. An opaque portion of a transparent film constituted by an optically transparent sheet member having at least a portion of an opaque portion formed by an opaque member which can be separated and removed by heating. Is an image forming method in which an image is formed on the surface of the transparent film, and the opaque portion is separated and removed by heating.The opaque portion is provided with an adhesion adjusting layer on a transparent sheet member. An image forming method, wherein the opaque portion is separated from the transparent sheet-like member by a separating and removing means which comes into contact with the surface of the transparent film. 2. The adhesion between the transparent sheet member and the adhesion adjusting layer is A, the adhesion between the adhesion adjusting layer and the opaque portion is B, and the adhesion between the opaque portion and the separation / removal means is C. 2. The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the adhesion A, the adhesion B, and the adhesion C satisfy the following condition: adhesion A <adhesion B <adhesion C. 3. 3. The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the opaque portion is a resin layer in which a pigment or a dye is dispersed. 4. The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the opaque portion is a metal foil. 5. The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the opaque portion is a resin layer having a porous structure. 6. The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the opaque portion is a layered material composed of resin particles or emulsion particles and a binder. 7. The adhesion between the transparent sheet-like member and the adhesion adjusting layer is A, the adhesion between the adhesion adjusting layer and the opaque portion is B, and the adhesion between the opaque portion and the separation and removal means is C. When the adhesive force between the resin particles or the emulsion particles by the binder in the opaque portion is D, the adhesive force A, the adhesive force B, the adhesive force C, and the adhesive force D are as follows. 7. The image forming method according to claim 6, wherein the following formula is satisfied: Adhesion B <Adhesion D <Adhesion C. 8. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein said opaque portion is optically detected by an optical sensor which reads and detects the amount of transmission or reflection of light as detection means for optically detecting the opaque portion. Or the image forming method as described above. 9. The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the opaque portion is formed on a surface of the transparent film opposite to a surface on which an image is formed. 10. The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the opaque portion is separated and removed by a heat roller in contact with the surface of the transparent film. 11. An image is formed by fixing a toner image on the surface of the transparent film by a fixing unit, and the opaque portion is fixed for fixing the toner image in contact with the surface of the transparent film. The image forming method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the image is separated and removed by a fixing roller or a pressure roller heated by a means. 12. An opaque portion formed by an opaque member which can be separated and removed by heating is fixed to at least a part of an optically transparent transparent sheet member via an adhesion adjusting layer. Detecting means for optically detecting the opaque portion of the transparent film, image forming means for forming an image on the surface of the transparent film, and separating and removing means for separating and removing the opaque portion by heating An image forming apparatus comprising: 13. The adhesion between the transparent sheet-like member and the adhesion adjusting layer is A, the adhesion between the adhesion adjusting layer and the opaque portion is B, and the adhesion between the opaque portion and the separation / removal means is C.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the adhesion A, the adhesion B, and the adhesion C satisfy the following condition: adhesion A <adhesion B <adhesion C. 14. An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said separation and removal means is means for removing an opaque portion formed by a resin layer in which a pigment or a dye is dispersed by heating. . 15. An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said separating and removing means is means for removing an opaque portion formed by a metal foil by heating. 16. An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said separating and removing means is means for removing an opaque portion formed by a resin layer having a porous structure by heating. 17. The method according to claim 17, wherein the separation and removal means is a means for removing an opaque portion formed by a layered material composed of resin particles or emulsion particles and a binder by heating. Item 13. The image forming apparatus according to Item 12. 18. The adhesion between the transparent sheet member and the adhesion adjusting layer is A, the adhesion between the adhesion adjusting layer and the opaque portion is B, and the adhesion between the opaque portion and the separation / removal means is C.
When the adhesive force between the resin particles or the emulsion particles by the binder in the opaque portion is D, the adhesive force A, the adhesive force B, the adhesive force C, and the adhesive force D are as follows. 18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the following formula is satisfied: Adhesion B <Adhesion D <Adhesion C. 19. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said detecting means is means for optically detecting said opaque portion by an optical sensor for reading and detecting the amount of transmission or reflection of light. The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above. 20. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said detecting means is means for optically detecting an opaque portion formed on a surface of the transparent film opposite to a surface on which an image is formed. 20. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 19 to 19. 21. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the separation and removal unit is a heat roller that contacts a surface of the transparent film. 22. An image is formed by fixing a toner image on a surface of the transparent film by a fixing unit, and the separation and removal unit is provided for fixing the toner image in contact with the surface of the transparent film. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the image forming apparatus is a heated fixing roller or a pressure roller in a fixing unit. 23. A transparent film composed of an optically transparent sheet member having at least a part of an opaque part formed of an opaque member which can be separated and removed by heating, A transparent film for image formation, wherein the opaque portion is fixed to a transparent sheet-like member via an adhesion adjusting layer so as to be separated and removed by heating. 24. The adhesion between the transparent sheet-like member and the adhesion adjusting layer is A, the adhesion between the adhesion adjusting layer and the opaque portion is B, and the adhesion between the opaque portion and the separation and removal means is C.
24. The transparent film for image formation according to claim 23, wherein the adhesion A, the adhesion B, and the adhesion C satisfy the following conditions: adhesion A <adhesion B <adhesion Cm. . 25. The opaque part is a resin layer in which a pigment or a dye is dispersed.
5. The transparent film for image formation according to 4. 26. The transparent film for image formation according to claim 23, wherein the opaque portion is a metal foil. 27. The transparent film for image formation according to claim 23, wherein the opaque portion is a resin layer having a porous structure. 28. The transparent film for image formation according to claim 23, wherein said opaque portion is a layered material composed of resin particles or emulsion particles and a binder. 29. The adhesion between the transparent sheet-like member and the adhesion adjusting layer is A, the adhesion between the adhesion adjusting layer and the opaque part is B, and the adhesion between the opaque part and the separation and removal means is C.
When the adhesive force between resin particles or emulsion particles by the binder in the opaque portion is D, the adhesive force A, the adhesive force B, the adhesive force C, and the adhesive force D are as follows: 29. The image-forming transparent film according to claim 28, wherein an adhesive force B <adhesive force D <adhesive force C is satisfied. 30. The image forming transparent film according to claim 23, wherein the opaque portion is formed in a non-image forming area of the transparent film where no image is formed. 31. The image forming transparent film according to claim 23, wherein the opaque portion is formed on a surface of the transparent film opposite to a surface on which an image is formed.