JP2002219841A - Recorder and method of removing foreign matter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recorder and a method of removing a foreign matter capable of suppressing a defect in an image such as a white-out or a ring irregularity which may occur when a foreign matter is adhered on a flexible plate. SOLUTION: This recorder 21 comprises a recording medium fixing member 23 having a plurality of sucking holes for fixing a recording medium 1 to a fixing face, an adhesive roller 43 for cleaning the fixing face which is provided so as to be brought into contact with or separated from the recording medium fixing member 23, the flexible plate 37 attached to the fixing face of the recording medium fixing member 23 wherein the recording medium contact face of the flexible plate 37 is cleaned by the adhesive roller 43, and a recording medium fixing/sucking device for performing the sucking to fix the flexible plate 37 and the recording medium 1 to the fixing face of the recording medium fixing member 23 by sucking them through the sucking holes of the recording medium fixing member 23.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus in which a flexible plate is mounted on a recording medium fixing member, and a method for removing foreign matter therefrom.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For recording images and characters, an image receiving sheet as a recording medium and a transfer sheet also as a recording medium are superimposed and fixed on a recording medium fixing member (drum).
There is a recording method of performing laser exposure. This recording method includes a kind of image receiving sheet, K (black), C (cyan), M
A plurality of transfer sheets such as (magenta) and Y (yellow) are used. These recording media are set in the recording medium cassette of the recording apparatus in the reverse order of the recording order. Therefore, image receiving sheets, K, C,
A plurality of recording media are set in a stacked state in the order of M and Y. When a plurality of recording media are set, these are repeatedly set.

[0003] The cassette 3 in which the recording media 1 are accommodated in the recording order in this manner is mounted on a recording apparatus 5 shown in FIG. The recording device 5 is provided with a pickup mechanism 7,
The pickup mechanism 7 has a function of picking up only one uppermost recording medium 1 from the cassette 3 by, for example, a rubber roller or a suction / suction mechanism. The recording medium 1 picked up by the pickup mechanism 7 is fixed to a recording drum 9 after passing through a transport mechanism using a guide plate, rollers, and the like (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 9, a recording apparatus 5 is provided with a recording head 11 for performing, for example, laser exposure, and the recording head 11 is reciprocated in a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the drum 9. A laser beam Lb is emitted from the recording head 11 and irradiated as a plurality of spots. In this recording method, the rotation direction of the drum 9 is the main scanning direction, and the moving direction of the recording head 11 is the sub-scanning direction. Therefore, by combining the rotational movement of the drum 9 and the linear movement of the recording head 11, the spot is scanned on the transfer sheet, and a desired image is transferred to the image receiving sheet.

When the recording apparatus 5 is operated, first, the image receiving sheet is supplied and conveyed to the drum 9. At this time, the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet is fixed so as to face the outside of the drum 9.
Next, the recording device 5 applies the K color transfer sheet to the drum 9
The sheet is supplied and conveyed onto the upper image receiving sheet. At this time, the toner layer of the transfer sheet is fixed in a direction facing the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet. That is, the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet and the toner layer of the transfer sheet are superimposed. Then
The recording device 5 performs recording on the recording medium 1 fixed to the drum 9 by the recording head 11. After the recording using the K color data is completed, only the K color transfer sheet is peeled off the drum 9 and discharged out of the recording device 5. By performing the supply / recording / discharge operations of the recording medium on the transfer sheets of C, M, and Y in the same manner, a desired color image is transferred to the image receiving sheet.

[0006]

By the way, the above-mentioned drum of the recording apparatus suffers from image defects due to irregularities on the surface of the drum (cutting marks during cutting of the drum, cutting streaks, grooves and holes of the recording medium fixing release mechanism, etc.). There is a case where a flexible plate (plate) is attached to avoid such a situation or to enable the recording medium of various sizes. Even in such a recording apparatus, a recording defect due to the adhesion of a foreign substance to the flexible plate poses a problem. Recording defects due to foreign matter adhesion are roughly classified into two types. One is a recording defect (a so-called "white spot" occurs) when a foreign substance on the flexible plate adheres to the image receiving sheet. The other is a recording defect (so-called "ring unevenness" occurs) when a foreign substance adheres to the flexible plate. White spots occur when foreign matter is present on the image receiving sheet due to poor adhesion between the transfer sheet and the image receiving sheet due to the foreign matter. Further, ring unevenness occurs when a foreign substance exists on the flexible plate. That is, although the transfer sheet and the image receiving sheet are in close contact with each other at the center where foreign matter is present, a gap can be formed between the transfer sheet and the image receiving sheet in the periphery thereof, and transfer cannot be performed at this gap. And a white untransferred portion is formed in a ring shape. Further, the foreign matter adhering to the flexible plate causes the image receiving sheet and the transfer sheet to be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the drum. In some cases, image density unevenness or the like occurs, resulting in image unevenness. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus capable of reducing image defects such as white spots and ring unevenness caused by foreign substances adhering to a flexible plate, and a method of removing the foreign substances. And

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus comprising: a recording medium fixing member having a plurality of intake holes on a fixing surface for fixing a recording medium; An adhesive roller which is provided so as to be able to come into contact with and separate from the recording medium fixing member and cleans the fixing surface; A flexible plate, and a suction device for fixing the recording medium, which sucks the flexible plate and the recording medium onto the fixing surface by suctioning the air from the suction hole of the recording medium fixing member.

In this recording apparatus, the flexible plate can be cleaned by bringing the adhesive roller into contact with the flexible plate mounted on the recording medium fixing member and causing the foreign matter adhering to the flexible plate to be attracted to the adhesive roller. As a result, image defects such as white spots and ring unevenness caused by the attachment of foreign matter to the flexible plate are reduced. Further, it becomes possible to operate the recording medium fixing suction device and to clean the flexible plate that has been attracted to the recording medium fixing member by the adhesive roller. That is,
The flexible plate is attracted to the fixing surface of the recording medium fixing member and is held with a high fixing force, so that the flexible plate does not shift, float or come off with respect to the recording medium fixing member due to the adhesive force of the adhesive roller. As a result, a color shift or a device error due to a displacement of the flexible plate or the like does not occur in a later step, and the stability of the device operation after the cleaning is improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus, the adhesive roller has an adhesive force of 10 to 65 HPa.

[0010] In this recording apparatus, the adhesive force of the adhesive roller is in the range of 10 to 65 HPa, so that the adverse effect of the adhesive roller is suppressed, and a good cleaning function is ensured. That is, when the adhesive force of the adhesive roller is 65 HPa or more, the adhesive force is too strong, and even if the flexible plate is suction-fixed to the recording medium fixing member by the recording medium fixing suction device, The detachment may cause the flexible plate to float up from the recording medium fixing member. on the other hand,
When the adhesive force of the adhesive roller is 10 HPa or less, the adhesive force is too weak, and a sufficient foreign matter removing effect cannot be obtained.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the adhesive roller has a hardness of 10 to 70 °.

In this recording apparatus, the hardness of the adhesive roller is
When the angle is in the range of 10 to 70 ° (JIS A), adverse effects due to the adhesive roller are suppressed, and a good cleaning function is secured. That is, when the hardness of the adhesive roller is 10 ° or less, when the adhesive roller is too soft and the adhesive roller is pressed against the flexible plate, the adhesive roller is significantly crushed, and the contact area with the flexible plate increases, and the adhesive roller has The detachment may cause the flexible plate to float up from the recording medium fixing member. On the other hand, when the hardness of the adhesive roller is 70 ° or more, when the adhesive roller is too hard and the adhesive roller is pressed against the flexible plate, the adhesive roller is not easily deformed, and the contact area with the flexible plate is reduced, A portion that does not come into contact in the axial direction of the adhesive roller occurs, and a sufficient foreign matter removing effect cannot be obtained.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus, at least one of the recording medium fixing member and the adhesive roller in contact with each other is driven to rotate synchronously.

In this recording apparatus, at least one of the recording medium fixing member and the adhesive roller, which are in contact with each other, are driven and both are rotated synchronously, so that one of them is free and the other is free. It is driven and rotated. However, when the weight balance of the recording medium fixing member in the rotation direction is extremely poor or the rotational load of the recording medium fixing member itself is large, the rotation of the adhesive roller alone causes the flexible plate to be displaced or dropped. Therefore, in such a case, it is desirable that the recording medium fixing member and the adhesive roller be rotationally driven in synchronization with each other. With these configurations, when the rotation difference between the recording medium fixing member and the adhesive roller is eliminated, the peeling force due to the rotation difference is not generated between the recording medium fixing member and the flexible plate, and the displacement, floating, and detachment of the flexible plate are prevented. Is prevented.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for removing foreign matter in a recording apparatus, comprising: a recording medium fixing member having a plurality of suction holes on a recording medium fixing surface; an adhesive roller for cleaning the fixing surface of the recording medium fixing member; A flexible plate mounted on a fixing surface of the recording medium fixing member, and a recording medium fixing unit for suctioning the flexible plate and the recording medium to the recording medium fixing member by sucking air from the air inlet of the recording medium fixing member. A method of removing foreign matter in a recording apparatus comprising a suction device for cleaning, wherein the flexible plate mounted on a fixing surface of the recording medium fixing member is cleaned by the adhesive roller.

In the foreign matter removing method of the recording apparatus, the flexible plate mounted on the recording medium fixing member is cleaned by the adhesive roller, and the foreign matter is removed from the flexible plate immediately before coming into contact with the recording medium. Further, the recording medium can be brought into contact with the flexible plate immediately after the cleaning, and the recording medium is mounted unlike the case where the cleaned flexible plate is transported and supplied and mounted on the recording medium fixing member. The probability of foreign matter adhering to the flexible plate is reduced. As a result, image defects such as white spots and ring unevenness caused by the attachment of foreign matter to the flexible plate are reduced.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for removing foreign matter in a recording apparatus, comprising: a recording medium fixing member having a plurality of suction holes on a fixing surface of the recording medium; an adhesive roller for cleaning the fixing surface of the recording medium fixing member; A flexible plate mounted on a fixing surface of the recording medium fixing member, and a recording medium fixing unit for suctioning the flexible plate and the recording medium to the recording medium fixing member by sucking air from the air inlet of the recording medium fixing member. A method of removing foreign matter of a recording device, comprising: a flexible plate attached to a fixing surface of the recording medium fixing member and suction-fixed to the fixing surface by the recording medium fixing suction device. The cleaning is performed by the adhesive roller.

In this foreign matter removing method of the recording apparatus, the flexible plate attached to the fixing surface of the recording medium fixing member and suction-fixed to the fixing surface by the recording medium fixing suction device is cleaned by an adhesive roller. Done. Therefore, similarly to the operation of the fifth aspect, foreign matter is removed from the flexible plate immediately before coming into contact with the recording medium, and the probability of foreign matter adhering to the flexible plate until the recording medium is mounted is reduced. In addition to reducing image defects such as white spots and ring unevenness, the flexible plate is attracted to the fixing surface and is held with a high fixing force. Floating and detachment do not occur. This eliminates color shifts and device errors in subsequent processes,
The stability of the operation of the apparatus after cleaning is improved.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for removing foreign matter in a recording apparatus, comprising: a recording medium fixing member having a plurality of suction holes on a recording medium fixing surface; an adhesive roller for cleaning the fixing surface of the recording medium fixing member; A flexible plate mounted on a fixing surface of the recording medium fixing member, and a recording medium fixing unit for suctioning the flexible plate and the recording medium to the recording medium fixing member by sucking air from the air inlet of the recording medium fixing member. A method for removing foreign matter of a recording apparatus, comprising: a suction device for cleaning the fixed surface of the recording medium with the adhesive roller before the flexible plate is mounted on the fixed surface of the recording medium fixing member. And

In this foreign matter removing method of the recording apparatus, before the flexible plate is mounted on the fixed surface of the recording medium fixing member, the fixed surface is cleaned by the adhesive roller, and the fixed surface is cleaned with no foreign matter. The flexible plate can be attached to the flexible plate. Therefore, when the flexible plate is mounted on the fixed surface, the foreign matter adhering to the fixed surface does not adhere to the flexible plate. If the flexible plate is mounted on the pre-cleaned recording medium fixing member, and the flexible plate after being mounted on the recording medium fixing member is further cleaned by the adhesive roller, the cleanliness of the flexible plate is further improved. Will be done.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a recording apparatus and a foreign matter removing method thereof according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing the configuration of a recording apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a recording apparatus in which a flexible plate is mounted on a recording medium fixing member. FIG. 4 is a side view showing a fixing / releasing mechanism of a flexible plate, FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing cleaning states by an adhesive roller in (a) to (c), and FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a recording medium. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a recording procedure on a recording medium.
Note that the same members as those shown in FIG. 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

The recording section of the recording apparatus 21 is provided with a drum 23 as a recording medium fixing member. The drum 23 has a hollow cylindrical shape, and is rotatably held by a frame 25 shown in FIG. In the recording device 21,
The rotation direction of the drum 23 is the main scanning direction. The drum 23 is connected to a rotating shaft of a motor (not shown) and is driven to rotate by the motor.

Further, the recording section is provided with a recording head 27. The recording head 27 can emit the laser light Lb. The toner layer of the transfer sheet 29 at the position irradiated with the laser beam Lb is transferred to the surface of the image receiving sheet 31. The recording head 27 can be moved linearly along a guide rail 33 in a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the drum 23 by a driving mechanism (not shown). This movement is controlled by the control unit 35 sending control signals to the motor and the drive mechanism based on the input image data. In the recording device 21, this moving direction is the sub-scanning direction. Therefore, a desired position on the transfer sheet 29 covering the image receiving sheet 31 can be exposed by laser exposure by a combination of the rotational movement of the drum 23 and the linear movement of the recording head 27. Therefore, the drawing laser light L
The desired image can be transferred to the image receiving sheet 31 by scanning the transfer sheet 29 with b and exposing only the corresponding position based on the image information with laser.

It should be noted that the recording head 27
The heating method is not limited to the method of emitting b, for example, a heating method in which a plurality of heating elements are arranged in the sub-scanning direction,
A system using a so-called thermal head may be used.

The drum 23 is used to avoid image defects due to irregularities on the drum surface (cutting marks, cutting streaks, grooves and holes of the recording medium fixing release mechanism during drum processing), or for recording media of various sizes. A flexible plate (plate) 37 for enabling the response is mounted. The plate 37 is formed of a synthetic resin such as an acetal resin, a phenol resin, a urethane resin, a high hardness rubber, a synthetic resin such as a tetrafluoroethylene resin, or a metal, and has a flexible shape so that it can be wound around the outer peripheral surface of the drum 23. Has the property. As shown in FIG. 3, the plate 37 is supplied to the outer peripheral surface of the drum 23 and mounted before the image receiving sheet 31 is supplied onto the drum 23.
The plate 37 is wound around the outer periphery of the drum 23 by rotation of the drum 23, and both ends in the circumferential direction of the drum are fixed by fixing / releasing clamps 39 shown in FIG. Here, at least one of the front end fixing portion 39a and the rear end fixing portion 39b of the fixing / releasing clamp 39 extends on the outer periphery of the drum 23 so that recording media of various lengths can be fixed on the drum 23. Preferably, it is movable in the circumferential direction.

In the plate 37, holes (through grooves, through holes, or slits) 41 can be formed in advance. When the plate 37 can be transported to an accurate drum position, it is desirable that a hole 41 corresponding to an intake hole of the drum 23 described later is formed in the plate 37. This hole 41
May not completely match the suction holes on the drum 23, or the holes 41 may be formed by thinning. In this case, when the original recording medium is supplied to and fixed to the drum 23, the recording medium is not dropped from the drum 23 or displaced.
The holes 41 need to be provided so as to coincide with the intake holes, or a minimum number of holes 41 must be provided. In this way, by forming the holes 41 in the plate 37, in addition to the suction holes at the upper, lower, left and right ends, which will be described later, provided in the drum 23, the portion for sucking the recording medium increases, so that the recording medium is
Can be fixed.

In the vicinity of the drum 23, an adhesive roller 43 rotatable about a rotation axis in the same direction as the rotation axis of the drum 23 is provided. The rotating shaft 45 of the adhesive roller 43 can be moved in parallel by a moving mechanism (not shown), and the outer peripheral surface can contact the outer peripheral surface of the drum. This adhesive roller 4
Numeral 3 includes a metal core 47 and an adhesive rubber 49 provided around the metal core 47 to remove the foreign matter on the recording medium by the adhesive property, and the foreign matter adhered on the drum 23 and the plate 37. Can be removed.

The adhesive force of the adhesive roller 43 is 10 to 65H.
By being in the range of Pa (hectopascal), the adverse effect of the adhesive roller 43 is suppressed, and the cleaning function is ensured. That is, the adhesive force of the adhesive roller 43 is 65 HPa.
In the case described above, the adhesive force is too strong, and the plate 37 may rise from the drum 23 due to the contact of the adhesive roller 43. On the other hand, the adhesive force of the adhesive roller 43 is 10
If the pressure is lower than HPa, the adhesive strength is too weak, and a sufficient foreign matter removing effect cannot be obtained.

The hardness of the adhesive roller 43 is 10-7.
0 ° (JIS A), the adhesive roller 4
3 is suppressed, and the cleaning function is ensured. That is, when the hardness of the adhesive roller 43 is 10 ° or less, when the adhesive roller 43 is too soft and the adhesive roller 43 is pressed against the plate 37, the adhesive roller 43 is greatly crushed, and the contact area with the plate 37 increases. Similarly, plate 3
7 may rise from the drum 23. on the other hand,
When the hardness of the adhesive roller 43 is 70 ° or more, when the adhesive roller 43 is too hard and the adhesive roller 43 is pressed against the plate 37, the adhesive roller 43 is less deformed, and the contact area with the plate 37 is reduced. A portion that does not contact in the axial direction occurs, and a sufficient foreign matter removing effect cannot be obtained.

That is, the adhesive strength of the adhesive roller 43 is determined by a balance between the foreign matter removing effect and the allowable level of the floating of the plate.

[0031]

[Table 1]

Table 1 shows the results of Carboless MIMOZA ST,
The results of analysis of the rubber properties of Carboless MIMOZA LT, Cleaner Green, and Under LT and comparison of overall performance are shown. According to this, even with the same adhesive roller, Carboless MIMOZA ST, Carboless MIM
TiOx as a filler, like the rubbery material of OZA LT
(Titanium oxide) and CO or Si as a plasticizer
It can be seen that the pressure-sensitive adhesive roller containing a hydrocarbon compound having a -O functional group is optimal because it has good transportability and the adhesive force is slowly degraded over time.

On the other hand, an adhesive roller containing Ba (barium) is not good because of its transportability and natural deterioration of adhesive force with time. Therefore, the adhesive roller containing Ba (barium) is
It can be seen that the method is not suitable for removing the foreign substance of No. 1.

The hollow portion of the drum 23 communicates with, for example, an intake pipe 51 also serving as a rotating shaft. The intake pipe 51 is a blower (or a suction device (not shown)) for fixing a recording medium (not shown) for performing vacuum suction. Vacuum pump).
On the other hand, on the outer peripheral surface of the drum 23, a plurality of suction holes 53 for sucking air are formed. Therefore, drum 2
When the recording medium is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the drum 3 and the blower is driven, the recording medium is attracted to the outer peripheral surface of the drum 23, and the image receiving sheet 31 and the transfer sheet 29 as the recording medium are fixed to the drum 23. Similarly, by supplying the plate 37 before these recording media are fixed, the plate 37 can be fixed to the drum 23. That is, as shown in FIG.
7, the image receiving sheet 31 and the transfer sheet 29 are integrally fixed in a state of being sequentially stacked.

Although the intake holes 53 are exaggerated for the sake of illustration, they are actually much smaller and more scattered than those shown. When the air blower, which is the suction source, starts the suction operation, the suction pipe 51
The air inside the drum 23 is sucked through the
3, the plate 37 and the recording medium are attracted to the suction holes 53 formed on the surface of the drum 23, and are securely held on the drum 23.

More precisely, first, the plate 37
Is supplied to the drum 23, the fixing / release clamp 39
As a result, the plate 37 is fixed to the drum 23, and the plate 37 is suction-fixed to the drum 23 by a number of intake holes 53 located below the plate 37. Next, when the image receiving sheet 31 is supplied to the drum 23, the image receiving sheet 31 is fixed on the drum 23 by the holes 41 of the plate 37 located below the image receiving sheet 31. Next, the transfer sheet 29 is supplied onto the image receiving sheet 31. Since the transfer sheet 29 is cut larger than the image receiving sheet 31, four sides of the transfer sheet 29 protrude from the image receiving sheet 31, and the transfer sheet 29 is sucked by the holes 41 located below the protruding portion, and the drum is 23.

Next, the recording apparatus 21 constructed as described above
A method for removing foreign matter will be described. In the recording device 21, the plate 37 is supplied to the drum 23 before the recording medium is supplied. The plate 37 is mounted on the drum 23 by the fixing / release clamp 39 by being supplied to the drum 23. Next, as shown in FIG. 5B, the adhesive roller 43 is moved so as to contact the outer peripheral surface of the plate 37 (the recording medium contact surface).

At least one of the drum 23 and the adhesive roller 43 in contact with each other is driven, and both are rotated synchronously. However, if the weight balance of the drum 23 in the rotation direction is extremely poor or the rotation load of the drum 23 itself is large, the rotation of the adhesive roller 43 alone may cause the plate 37 to be displaced or fall off. In such a case, it is desirable that the drum 23 and the adhesive roller 43 be driven in synchronization with each other.
Then, with these configurations, the drum 23 and the adhesive roller 4
When there is no rotation difference between the drum 23 and the plate 37, the peeling force due to the rotation difference is not generated between the drum 23 and the plate 37.
Is prevented from coming off.

Then, by rotating the adhesive roller 43 in contact with the plate 37, the foreign matter adhering to the plate 37 is attracted to the adhesive roller 43, and the plate 37 can be cleaned. Thereby, the plate 37
Image defects such as white spots and ring unevenness caused by the attachment of foreign matter to the surface are reduced.

As shown in FIG. 5C, the plate 37 is cleaned by the adhesive roller 43 while being fixed by the fixing / releasing clamp 39 and suction-fixed on the drum 23 by the blower. Is preferred.

According to this cleaning method, the plate 37 is held on the fixing surface of the drum 23 with a high suction fixing force, and the adhesive force of the adhesive roller 43 does not cause the plate 37 to shift, float, or come off the drum 23. This allows
Foreign matter is removed from the plate 37 immediately before coming into contact with the recording medium, and the plate 37 is kept until the recording medium is mounted.
In addition to reducing the probability of foreign matter adhering to the substrate and reducing image defects such as white spots and ring unevenness, the plate 37 does not shift, float, or come off, so that color shift and device errors do not occur in later processes. In addition, the stability of the operation of the apparatus after cleaning can be improved.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5A, the cleaning by the adhesive roller 43 may be performed on the drum 23 before the plate 37 is mounted. If such preparatory cleaning is performed, it becomes possible to mount the plate 37 on the drum 23 having a clean fixing surface to which no foreign matter is attached. Therefore, when the plate 37 is mounted on the fixing surface, foreign substances adhering to the fixing surface do not adhere to the plate 37. The plate 37 is mounted on the drum 23 which has been cleaned in advance, and if the plate 37 mounted on the drum 23 is further cleaned by the adhesive roller 43, the plate 37
Is further improved.

Next, a procedure for supplying a recording medium to the drum 23 thus cleaned on the plate 37 and forming a color image will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, the image receiving sheet 31 has a support layer 31a, a cushion layer 31b, and an image receiving layer 31c.
On 1a, a cushion layer 31b and an image receiving layer 31c are sequentially laminated. As the support layer 31a, a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) base, a TAC (triacetyl cellulose) base, a PEN (polyethylene naphthalate) base, or the like can be used. Image receiving layer 31c
Has a function of receiving the transferred toner. The cushion layer 31b has a function of absorbing a step when a plurality of toners are stacked.

As shown in FIG. 6, the transfer sheet 29 has a support layer 29a, a light-to-heat conversion layer 29b, and a toner layer 29c. The light-to-heat conversion layer 29b and the toner layer 29c are sequentially formed on the support layer 29a. It is laminated. The support layer 29a
Any material can be selected from general support materials (for example, the same support material as the above-described support layer 31a) as long as the material transmits laser light. The light-to-heat conversion layer 29b has a function of converting laser energy into heat. Light-to-heat conversion layer 29b
Any material can be selected from general light-to-heat conversion materials as long as they convert light energy into heat energy, such as carbon, a black substance, an infrared absorbing dye, and a specific wavelength absorbing substance.
For example, each color of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) is prepared as the toner layer 29c.

In the recording apparatus 21, a transfer sheet 29 is further wound on the image receiving sheet 31 wound on the drum 23. Then, the image receiving sheet 31
Laser exposure is performed on the transfer sheet 29 overlaid on the basis of image information to be recorded. An image is formed on the image receiving sheet 31 by the toner of the portion of the transfer sheet 29 heated by the laser exposure being adhered to the image receiving sheet 31 and transferred by deterioration of adhesion, melting or sublimation. Further, a color image can be formed on the image receiving sheet 31 by attaching the toners of the transfer sheets 29 of different colors (for example, black, cyan, magenta, and yellow) to the same image receiving sheet 31. . As will be described later, this is achieved by exchanging the exposed transfer sheet 29 with a transfer sheet 29 of another color sequentially and performing laser exposure while the image receiving sheet 31 is wound around the drum 23.

Next, a procedure for forming a desired color image on the image receiving sheet 31 using the transfer sheets 29 of four colors of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow will be described. When the cassette 3 is mounted on the recording apparatus 21, the pickup mechanism 7 operates, and first, as shown in FIG. 7, the uppermost image receiving sheet 31 is supplied to the drum 23 in step 1. Next, in step 2, the black (K) transfer sheet 29 is supplied to the drum 23.
In the next step 3, the transfer sheet 29 is laminated by heating and pressing. This laminating step may be omitted in some cases.

In the next step 4, an image is transferred and output on the image receiving sheet 31 based on the image data given in advance. Here, the given image data is further color-separated into an image for each color, and the laser exposure is
This is performed based on the image data of each color after the color separation. As a result, a part of the toner layer 29c of the transfer sheet 29 is transferred to the image receiving sheet 31, and an image is formed on the image receiving sheet 31.

Then, in step 5, only the (K) transfer sheet 29 is peeled off from the drum 23. Here, it is determined whether the transfer has been completed for the transfer sheets 29 of all colors. If another type of transfer sheet 29 needs to be supplied, the above steps 2 to 5 are repeated. That is, the operations of Steps 6 to 17 are repeated for the transfer sheets 29 of the other cyan, magenta, and yellow colors. As a result, the toner ink KCMY of the four-color transfer sheet 29 is transferred to one image receiving sheet 31.
Is transferred to the image receiving layer 31c, and a color image is formed on the image receiving sheet 31.

Thereafter, the image receiving sheet 31 is separated from the drum 23. The peeled image receiving sheet 31 is heated and pressurized in a separately provided image transfer unit (not shown) in a state where the surface on which the image is formed is overlapped with the actual paper to be printed. As a result, the toner layer on the image receiving sheet is further transferred to any actual paper (printing paper), and color printing for calibration is performed.

[0050]

As described above in detail, according to the recording apparatus of the present invention, a recording medium fixing member having a plurality of suction holes on a fixing surface, an adhesive roller for cleaning the fixing surface, and a fixing surface The flexible plate attached to the recording medium fixing member is provided with the flexible plate attached to the recording medium fixing member, and the recording medium fixing suction device for sucking and fixing the flexible plate and the recording medium to the fixing surface by suctioning from the air intake hole. The flexible plate can be cleaned by bringing the adhesive roller into contact with the sheet. In addition, the suction device for fixing the recording medium can be operated, and the flexible plate that has been attracted to the recording medium fixing member can be cleaned with an adhesive roller. It is possible to prevent color misregistration and device errors. As a result, it is possible to reduce image defects such as white spots and ring unevenness caused by foreign substances adhering to the flexible plate, and it is possible to enhance the stability of the apparatus operation after cleaning.

According to the foreign matter removing method of the recording apparatus according to the present invention, the flexible plate attached to the recording medium fixing member is cleaned by the adhesive roller. Can be removed, and the probability of foreign matter adhering to the flexible plate until the recording medium is mounted can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to reduce image defects such as white spots and ring unevenness caused by the attachment of foreign matter to the flexible plate.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing the configuration of a recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the recording apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a recording apparatus in which a flexible plate is mounted on a recording medium fixing member.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a fixing / releasing mechanism of a flexible plate.

FIGS. 5A to 5C show cleaning states by an adhesive roller.
It is explanatory drawing shown in (c).

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a recording medium.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a recording procedure on a recording medium.

FIG. 8 is a side view schematically showing the configuration of a conventional recording apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the recording apparatus shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recording medium 21 Recording device 23 Drum (recording medium fixing member) 37 Plate (flexible plate) 43 Adhesive roller 53 Intake hole

Claims (7)

[Claims] A recording medium fixing member having a plurality of intake holes on a fixing surface for fixing a recording medium; an adhesive roller provided to be able to contact and separate from the recording medium fixing member to clean the fixing surface; A flexible plate which is mounted on a fixing surface of a recording medium fixing member and whose contact surface with the recording medium is cleaned by the adhesive roller; A recording medium fixing suction device for suction-fixing a medium to the fixing surface. 2. The adhesive roller has an adhesive force of 10 to 65.
2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording apparatus is HPa. 3. The adhesive roller has a hardness of 10 to 70 °.
2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the recording medium fixing member and the adhesive roller which are in contact with each other is driven to rotate synchronously.
The recording device according to any one of the preceding claims. 5. A recording medium fixing member having a plurality of suction holes on a recording medium fixing surface, an adhesive roller for cleaning the fixing surface of the recording medium fixing member, and a recording medium fixing member mounted on the fixing surface of the recording medium fixing member. Foreign matter of a recording apparatus comprising: a flexible plate; and a recording medium fixing suction device that sucks in the air from the suction holes of the recording medium fixing member and suction-fixes the flexible plate and the recording medium to the recording medium fixing member. A method for removing foreign matter in a recording apparatus, comprising: cleaning the flexible plate mounted on a fixing surface of the recording medium fixing member with the adhesive roller. 6. A recording medium fixing member having a plurality of suction holes on a recording medium fixing surface, an adhesive roller for cleaning the fixing surface of the recording medium fixing member, and a fixing member mounted on the recording medium fixing member. Foreign matter of a recording apparatus comprising: a flexible plate; and a recording medium fixing suction device that sucks in the air from the suction holes of the recording medium fixing member and suction-fixes the flexible plate and the recording medium to the recording medium fixing member. A method for removing the flexible plate, wherein the flexible plate attached to a fixing surface of the recording medium fixing member and suction-fixed to the fixing surface by the recording medium fixing suction device is cleaned by the adhesive roller. Foreign matter removal method of the recording device to be performed. 7. A recording medium fixing member having a plurality of air holes on a fixing surface of the recording medium, an adhesive roller for cleaning the fixing surface of the recording medium fixing member, and mounted on the fixing surface of the recording medium fixing member. Foreign matter of a recording apparatus comprising: a flexible plate; and a recording medium fixing suction device that sucks in the air from the suction holes of the recording medium fixing member and suction-fixes the flexible plate and the recording medium to the recording medium fixing member. A method for removing foreign matter in a recording apparatus, comprising: cleaning the fixing surface with the adhesive roller before the flexible plate is mounted on the fixing surface of the recording medium fixing member.