JP2003348280A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which compactly realizes both of an electrophotographic mode and an electronic sheet printing mode. <P>SOLUTION: The apparatus is provided with: image forming parts 2 and 3 for visualizing an electrostatic latent image corresponding to image information onto a paper 12; a transport part 4 for transporting the paper 12 to the image forming parts 2 and 3 and carrying away the paper 12 from the image forming parts 2 and 3; and a control part 6 which controls the image forming parts 2 and 3 and the transport part 4 and which is provided with a plurality of processing modes with respect to a plurality of kinds of papers 12. A plurality of the processing modes are selected by the control part 6 depending on the request contents of visualizing the image and the kind of the paper 12 to be transported. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus which can use a recording material such as an electronic sheet (electronic paper) capable of rewriting an image by applying a voltage.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, recording paper printed (visualized) by an image forming apparatus includes printing for long-term storage,
There are two types for the purpose of confirming the printed content in a short term. In any case, printing has been performed on paper mainly composed of ordinary pulp. When printing is performed on a sheet mainly containing such pulp by an image forming apparatus, a developing member (for example, toner, ink, etc.) for visualizing image information permeates the pulp on the sheet,
It has been difficult to reuse paper that has been used once, for example because it has entered between pulp and pulp.

In recent years, the “paperless movement” has been called out from the viewpoint of the spread of computers and the protection of resources. However, printing by a widely used image forming apparatus has not been reduced, and paper printing has been customarily performed. Many people print information on the top of the image, perform corrections such as addition / deletion of the information, and then collectively rewrite image information from a computer, etc., and the number of sheets for image forming apparatuses is increasing year by year. That is the current situation.

[0004] As one of such measures, for example, a "decolorized toner" which erases the visual material on the paper by passing the paper printed by the visualizing member again through the apparatus, and the like. Equipment is being developed. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-51669 discloses a method in which a normal printing process and a decoloring process are provided together as an image forming apparatus using the decolorized toner.

According to this method, when erasing image information on a sheet printed with the decoloring toner, the document conveying path of the document reading section of the image forming apparatus is switched to reduce the amount of light irradiation.
A method is used in which the amount of light is different from that at the time of normal document reading, and the decolored toner on the paper is erased.

[0006] However, the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-51669.
According to the technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-209, it is possible to erase a visible member (erasable toner) once printed on paper, but it has the following problems. That is, firstly, there is an evaporative gas generated when erasing the visualizing member, and secondly, there is an increase in the size of a device provided in combination.

The first problem is that, as described above, the method of disassembling the visualizing member by the irradiation light of the light source for reading the original and the amount of irradiation heat and removing it from the paper is used. (A resin, a charge controlling material, a pigment, and the like) that occupies most of the composition of the resin is decomposed, and the decomposed gas may cause air pollution around the device. That is, it is necessary to take measures to prevent air pollution, which leads to an increase in the size of the apparatus, which is the second problem.

In order to increase the size of the apparatus, it is not possible to consider an apparatus having only the decoloring process in accordance with the problem of the decoloring process, and it is appropriate to provide an image forming apparatus having a normal printing process with the decoloring process. Such a device is not suitable for the recent trend toward downsizing of the device.

Further, in order to realize paperless operation, image information is visualized on a sheet by applying a predetermined voltage such as an “electronic sheet” or a “liquid crystal sheet”. The development of a sheet for erasing image information on the sheet by applying a static elimination voltage is in progress.

The electronic sheet has a thickness of 200 μm to 3 μm.
It is as thin as 00 μm and has paper-like flexibility. By enclosing a toner used for a copying machine between two plastic films and applying a voltage (electric field) of several volts to 10 volts, In addition, the color is changed by toner adsorption / separation.

Another electronic sheet is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
No. 179706 (publication date: July 12, 1996)
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-260, at least one magnetic fluid and a dispersion medium which disperses the magnetic fluid and exhibits a solid phase state at room temperature are interposed between at least one support made of a nonmagnetic material having transparency. A magnetic recording medium having a magnetic recording layer formed by dispersing and enclosing microcapsules in a binder is also included.

In the above magnetic recording medium, the magnetic recording layer is heated and
By applying magnetism (similarly when applying an electric field), the magnetic fluid in the dispersion medium that has decreased in viscosity and has flowed by the movement of the fluid moves to record an image using the magnetic fluid or to make the surface of the magnetic recording medium a uniform color tone. The image can be erased.

[0013]

The image forming apparatus using such a sheet has a compact design without increasing the size of the apparatus as compared with the conventional image forming apparatus, and has been developed in recent years. It is an essential condition that the design is "energy saving".

Therefore, the present invention proposes an image forming apparatus capable of executing a printing step and an erasing step using the writable / erasable sheet while avoiding an increase in the size of the conventional image forming apparatus. The purpose is.

[0015]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises: an image forming unit for visualizing an electrostatic latent image corresponding to image information on a recording material; A transport unit that transports the recording material to the image forming unit and transports the recording material from the image forming unit, and a control unit that controls the image forming unit and the transport unit, and includes a plurality of processing modes for a plurality of types of recording materials. The control unit is characterized in that the plurality of processing modes are selected according to the contents of the visualization request and the type of paper being conveyed.

In the above-described image forming apparatus, the plurality of processing modes are such that a developer (hereinafter, referred to as a developer) is applied to paper as a recording material.
(Hereinafter referred to as toner), an electrophotographic mode in which the image is visualized by applying a voltage corresponding to image information, and an electronic sheet visualization mode in which the image is visualized on an electronic sheet as a recording material. And an electronic sheet initialization mode for initializing the electronic sheet.

In the above image forming apparatus, the image forming unit forms an electrostatic latent image according to image information, and a process unit for developing an image corresponding to the electrostatic latent image, a developer The fixing unit for fixing the image visualized by heating by heating, the conveying unit includes an idle roller that adjusts the timing of conveying the recording material to the image forming unit, the processing unit in a plurality of processing modes, It is preferable that the fixing unit and the idle roller perform different operations.

In the above-described image forming apparatus, it is preferable that in the electrophotographic mode, the process unit, the fixing unit, and the idle roller perform an electrophotographic visualizing operation.

In the above-described image forming apparatus, in the electronic sheet visualization mode and the electronic sheet initialization mode, the voltage application to the electrostatic latent image carrier of the process section is different from the voltage application in the electrophotographic mode. Preferably, it is set low.

In the above-described image forming apparatus, the process unit includes a transfer unit to which a voltage is applied for transferring toner to a recording material, and in the electronic sheet visualization mode and the electronic sheet initialization mode, the transfer unit Is preferably grounded.

In the above-described image forming apparatus, the process unit includes a photosensitive member for forming an electrostatic latent image, and a developing unit for supplying toner to the photosensitive member for visualizing the electrostatic latent image. In the electronic sheet visualization mode and the electronic sheet initialization mode, it is preferable that the developing unit avoids approaching / contact with the photoconductor and is separated therefrom.

In the above image forming apparatus, the fixing section includes a pair of fixing rollers, and in the electronic sheet visualization mode and the electronic sheet initialization mode, visualization in the electrophotographic visualization mode is performed. It is preferable that the fixing roller pair formed at that time is released from the pressure contact and is separated therefrom.

In recent years, reduction in the number of sheets used in an image forming apparatus has been promoted. As one of the methods, a method using decolorized toner or using recycled paper has been used to temporarily print (improve visualization). ) Is being promoted.

However, although there is a device for initializing the decolorized toner or recycled paper to produce a fake new paper, there has not been developed any device having both the initialization and a normal image forming system.

In particular, recycled paper (for example, electronic sheets)
In order to write image information with a voltage (several volts to several tens of volts), an image forming apparatus of a type different from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is being developed. Since an image forming apparatus provided with such an apparatus (using recycled paper) and a conventional electrophotographic apparatus has different printing processes,
There is a problem that the size is increased.

In order to solve such a problem (providing a plurality of devices), according to the configuration of the present invention, a normal electrophotographic mode and an electronic sheet print mode for writing image information on an electronic sheet are temporarily set. A potential sheet initialization mode for initializing a used electronic sheet (initialization) is provided in combination with the potential sheet initialization mode, thereby eliminating the necessity of arranging a plurality of apparatuses and reducing the amount of paper used by the image forming apparatus. Can be provided.

More specifically, the same exposure can be achieved by changing the voltage applied to the photoreceptor of the image forming unit of the commonly used image forming apparatus from the main charger between the image forming apparatus and the electronic sheet. A potential gap (electrostatic latent image) is formed on the photoreceptor by the amount of light, and in a normal electrophotographic mode, visualization with toner is performed. In an electronic sheet mode, a voltage is applied to an electronic sheet based on the potential gap by a transfer unit. By performing visualization by performing both methods, both methods can be easily realized with the same apparatus.

Further, it is necessary to make the operating conditions of each part in the ordinary image forming apparatus different in the electronic sheet visualization mode and the electronic sheet initialization mode from the operation in the electrophotographic mode.

First, in the process section, the developing section is necessary in the electrophotographic mode (for visualizing an electrostatic latent image), but the electronic sheet visualizing mode and the electronic sheet initializing mode Is unnecessary. Therefore, it is preferable to move the developing unit to a retracted position separated from the photoconductor.

Second, the charging potential of the main charger is used to form an electrostatic latent image in an electrophotographic mode, and to make the surface of the photosensitive member 800 to 1000 volts for visualization with toner. Although an applied voltage is required, in the electronic sheet visualization mode, approximately 100 volts is required to form an electrostatic latent image and transfer the voltage of the image information latently formed on the electronic sheet in the transfer unit. An applied voltage is required to obtain a photoconductor surface potential of up to 300 volts. Therefore, switching control of the applied voltage of the main charger is required.

Third, it is necessary to switch the applied voltage in the transfer section. That is, in the electrophotographic mode, a potential (equivalent to 200 to 400 volts as a photoconductor surface potential) for transferring a toner image, which is visualized image information on the photoconductor, onto paper is required. . However, when the above voltage is applied to the back surface of the electronic sheet in the electronic sheet visualization mode and the electronic sheet initialization mode, the electronic sheet is destroyed or the image information written on the back surface of the electronic sheet is erased. There is fear.

For this reason, the electronic sheet visualization mode,
In addition, in the electronic sheet initialization mode, it is preferable to protect the electronic sheet by setting the voltage applied to the transfer unit to GND (ground potential).

In the fixing section, it is necessary to melt / fix unfixed toner on paper in the electrophotographic mode. However, in the electrosheet visualizing mode and the electronic sheet initializing mode, the fixing section is similar to the electrophotographic mode. When the electronic sheet passes between the pair of fixing rollers of the fixing unit heated and pressed, the electronic sheet may be broken by heat and pressure of the pair of fixing rollers.

For this reason, in the electronic sheet visualizing mode and the electronic sheet initialization mode, the fixing roller pair is separated from each other, and the power supply to the fixing roller pair is turned off to lower the temperature to prevent the destruction of the electronic sheet. It is desirable.

Further, in an idle roller disposed in a conveyance path of a recording material such as a sheet, in a normal electrophotographic mode, only a function for aligning the leading edge of the sheet and the leading edge of the image is required. By providing the function of initializing the previously visualized electronic sheet, the apparatus can be made more compact.

That is, when the electronic sheet passes through the idle roller, different voltages (several volts to several volts) are applied to a pair of (for example, upper and lower) idle rollers.
By applying several tens of volts and GND), it is possible to initialize the electronic sheet written in the previous image formation (visualization), and a necessary image can be clearly written. Also, by applying the same voltage (several volts to several tens of volts) to each idle roller, the electronic sheet can be initialized in the electronic sheet initialization mode.

In the above-described image forming apparatus, the separation of the developing unit may be performed by an eccentric cam or solenoid, and an urging member.

According to the above configuration, the eccentric cam or solenoid and the biasing member make it easy to contact and separate the developing unit, thereby improving the accuracy of contact and the accuracy of the separation distance. It is possible to improve print quality and prevent toner from adhering to and scattering on the photoconductor in the electronic sheet visualization mode and the electronic sheet initialization mode.

In the above-described image forming apparatus, the separation of the pair of fixing rollers may be performed by an eccentric cam or solenoid and an urging member.

According to the above configuration, the eccentric cam or solenoid and the biasing member can easily contact and separate the two rollers of the nip portion which is the contact portion of the fixing roller pair without damaging the rollers. In this mode, the fixing performance can be ensured, and the gap between both rollers can be kept constant in the electronic sheet visualization mode and the electronic sheet initialization mode.

In the above-described image forming apparatus, it is preferable that the control unit stops the temperature control energization of the fixing unit in the electronic sheet visualization mode and the electronic sheet initialization mode.

According to the above configuration, even if the two rollers are separated from each other, if the heating roller of the fixing section is energized and the temperature is controlled, the surface temperature of the heating roller is constant (fixing set temperature, approximately 160 ° C.). (200 ° C.), and the heat received by the passing electronic sheet is high, which may lead to the destruction of the electronic sheet. Therefore, the temperature control of the fixing unit is turned off.
Is preferred.

In the above-described image forming apparatus, in the electronic sheet visualization mode and the electronic sheet initialization mode,
It is desirable that a voltage application unit for applying a voltage to the recording material be provided on the idle roller.

In the above-described image forming apparatus, the voltage applying section may be provided for each of the pair of rollers constituting the idle roller.

In the above image forming apparatus, the voltage applying section is set so as to apply a charge removing potential of the electronic sheet to a visualized surface of the corresponding electronic sheet in the electronic sheet visualizing mode. Is preferred.

In the above-described image forming apparatus, it is preferable that the voltage applying unit is set to a ground potential with respect to a non-visualized surface of the corresponding electronic sheet in the electronic sheet visualizing mode. .

In the above-described image forming apparatus, the voltage applying unit may be set so as to apply a charge removing potential of the electronic sheet to the front and back surfaces of the electronic sheet in the electronic sheet initialization mode.

According to the above configuration, the voltage application section provided on the idle roller on the upstream side of the image forming section in the transport section performs the voltage application as described above, so that the electronic sheet suitable for the purpose can be obtained. Initialization and initialization become possible.

That is, in the electronic sheet visualization mode, the surface of the electronic sheet that needs initialization is the visualization surface, and the rear surface of the visualization surface does not require initialization. For example, at the time of double-sided visualization, data protection can be achieved by stopping voltage application to the idle roller opposing the back surface of the visualized surface and setting it to GND.

In the initialization mode of the electronic sheet, it is more efficient to initialize both sides of the electronic sheet at the same time. Therefore, it is preferable to apply a static elimination potential to each of the idle rollers at the same time.

The above-mentioned image forming apparatus may have an image reading section for reading and outputting image information in a document, or an interface for taking in and outputting image information from outside.

[0052]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments using an electrophotographic system, which is an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, will be described below with reference to FIGS.
Note that the present invention is not limited to this.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a paper feed unit 1 and a process unit for forming an image along a conveying direction of a recording material such as recording paper or electronic paper. 2, a fixing roller pair (fixing unit) 3 and a paper discharging unit 4 are provided as a printing (visualizing) process, and an image reading unit 5 is provided above them as an image information forming unit.

An image forming unit is formed by the process unit 2 and the fixing roller pair 3. The paper feeding unit 1 and the paper discharging unit 4 form a transport unit. Further, the image forming apparatus may include an interface unit (not shown) for taking in and outputting image information from outside, for example, a network, as an image information forming unit.

In the present embodiment, a description will be given below based on a single-sided printing device (FIG. 1) and a double-sided printing device (FIG. 2) for monochrome printing (visualization), but the monochrome printing device is limited. It is apparent that the present invention can be similarly applied to a color printing apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a double-sided printing apparatus of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a single-sided printing apparatus of the image forming apparatus. Since the basic configuration of each apparatus is the same, the following embodiment will be described using the double-sided printing apparatus of FIG. In FIG. 2, members having the same functions as those in FIG. 1 are given the same member numbers, and their descriptions are omitted.

First, the image reading section 5 includes a platen glass 51 on which a document to be read is placed, and a document cover 52 for preventing the placed document from floating and placing the document at an appropriate position. And are arranged.

The original placed in this manner is placed on an optical unit (an irradiation light source 54, a reflecting mirror 55, a through lens 5) disposed below the original with the platen glass 51 interposed therebetween.
6 and the CCD 57) 53, the image information in the document is read. The read image information is subjected to image processing in the control unit 6, and is stored in a storage unit (not shown) as image information for printing or image formation.

On the other hand, the paper feed unit 1 as a part of the printing process is provided with a paper feed cassette 11 for storing paper (recording material) 12. In the present embodiment, the paper 12 includes an electronic paper and an electronic sheet.

Paper 12 stored in paper cassette 11
In response to the print request for the image information, the paper feed roller 13 rotates, and the paper 12 in the paper feed cassette 11 is selected and picked up, so that the paper 12 is conveyed to the conveyance path 14.

Further, the selection of the paper 12 is usually made by inputting a print request from an operator. However, a plain paper and an electronic sheet, which will be described later, are placed in a paper feeding process or a transport path to the idle roller 16. May be arranged to detect a difference in light reflectance between the sheets and to discriminate them from each other.

The paper 12 to be conveyed is conveyed one by one to the next process by the sabaki roller 15 arranged in the conveyance path 14. When the leading edge of the paper 12 reaches the idle roller 16, the conveyance of the paper 12 is temporarily stopped. The reason for stopping is that the leading end of the paper 12 and the
This is for temporarily stopping to adjust the leading end of the image information visualized on 1 and adjusting the transport timing.
Such an idle roller 16 is disposed upstream of the process unit 2 in the transport path of the sheet 12.

The process unit 2 for printing the image information on the paper 12 conveyed to the idle roller 16 in this way
In the figure, a main charger 22, an exposure unit 23, a developing tank (developing unit) 24, a transfer roller (transfer unit) 25, and a cleaning unit 26 are arranged around a cylindrical photoreceptor 21 and its periphery.

The main charger 22 applies a constant voltage to the photosensitive member 21 and changes the potential of the surface of the photosensitive member 21 into an electrostatic latent image of image information by exposing in the next step. Exposure unit 2
Reference numeral 3 denotes a space for writing the image information subjected to the image processing on the photosensitive member 21 by a laser light source or the like.
The photosensitive member 21 charged by the main charger 22 by writing the image information forms an electrostatic latent image based on the image information. The image information is image information read by the image reading unit 5 or transmitted from each terminal device on a network to which an image forming apparatus is connected.

The image information thus formed is visualized by supplying the toner in the developing tank 24 in the next step from the developing roller 24a to the surface of the photosensitive member 21. This visualization is performed by the toner being transferred to the photosensitive member 2 in accordance with the potential contrast of the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member 21 based on the image information.
1 by adhering to the surface. Further, toner is applied to the developing roller 24a by the developing roller 24a.
A developing bias is applied so as to easily adhere to the surface.

The image information visualized in this manner is conveyed by the rotation of the photoconductor 21 toward the transfer roller 25, and the image information and the leading end of the sheet 12 once stopped by the idle roller 16. By operating the idle roller 16 so as to align the leading end of the information, the toner image corresponding to the image information is transferred by the transfer roller 25 to an appropriate position on the paper 12.

The toner image transferred onto the paper 12 is conveyed to the fixing roller pair 3 in the next step, and the unfixed toner image of the powder is fused / fixed by the heat and pressure of the fixing roller pair 3. The fixing roller pair 3 has a heating roller 31 and a pressure roller 32. Heating roller 31 and pressure roller 32
Are each formed in a cylindrical shape, and are attached so as to be able to come and go with each other.

The image information fixed on the paper 12 in this manner is conveyed through the conveyance path 41, and is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 43 via the paper discharge roller 42 in the case of single-sided printing, where the image information is printed. Imaging) is completed.

When printing on the opposite side of the sheet 12 that has passed through the fixing roller pair 3, the discharge roller 42
When the paper 12 passes through, the paper 12 is temporarily stopped by chucking the rear end of the paper 12 with the discharge roller 42. The paper discharge roller 42 reverses the rotation direction of the drive source,
The sheet 12 is guided from the original transport path 41 to the sub transport path 44.

At this time, since only the paper discharge roller 42 and the transport roller in the sub-transport path 44 rotate in the reverse direction, the paper 12 immediately returns to the fixing roller pair 3 and the process section 2. Has been prevented.

As described above, the reverse transport of the sheet 12 is generally called “switchback transport”, and
4 is also called a switchback transport path. The sheet 12 that has been switched back in this way and whose front and back are reversed reaches the idle roller 16, and the back side image information newly visualized by the process unit 2 is transferred / fixed to the back side of the sheet 12, ie, The sheet is printed on both sides, and is discharged onto a discharge tray 43 via a conveyance path 41 and a discharge roller 42.

In the above description, the printing procedure and the configuration of a general electrophotographic system have been described. For example, in the image reading section 5, some apparatuses adopt a document moving system (ADF system, SPF system). The processing unit 2 includes a post-processing unit for multifunctionalization, a multi-stage paper feeding unit for storing various types of paper, and a device for arranging a multi-bin paper discharging tray for facilitating sorting of discharged paper. Obviously, there are various possibilities.

Next, the idle roller 16 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the idle roller 16 includes a drive roller 16a and a driven roller 16b that is driven by the contact of the drive roller 16a or the interposition of the paper 12. The driving roller 16a and the driven roller 16b
At least their surfaces are made of a conductive material such as aluminum, and are each formed into a cylindrical shape. Each rotation shaft 16c of the driving roller 16a and the driven roller 16b, 1
6d are set to be parallel to each other and perpendicular to the transport direction of the paper 12.

Each of the rotating shafts 16c and 16d is made of a conductive material such as copper, and is rotatably attached to the frame 10 via an insulating bearing 16e. Driven roller 16b
Is provided so as to be electrically conductive with the conductive member on the surface of the.

At one end of the rotation shaft 16c of the drive roller 16a, the rotation of a motor 16f as a drive source is provided.
An idle roller rotation gear 16h transmitted via the drive gear 16g is provided to drive the drive roller 16a.

Each of the rotating shafts 16c and 16d has conductive and springy brushes 16i and 16j made of copper or the like for applying a voltage to the driving roller 16a and the driven roller 16b, respectively. One end of each rotating shaft 16
c, 16d.

Switches 16k and 16m are connected to the other ends of the brushes 16i and 16j, respectively. The switches 16k and 16m are connected to the brushes 16i and 16j.
To apply the respective voltages of the respective power supplies 16n and 16o to the respective surfaces of the driving roller 16a and the driven roller 16b via the interface, and to exclusively switch the respective surfaces to the GND (ground) potential. belongs to.

Based on the description of the operation of the image forming apparatus, the operation of using the electronic sheet, which is the gist of the present invention, will now be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
This will be described in detail with reference to timing charts shown in FIGS. First, FIGS. 4 and 5 correspond to the single-sided printing apparatus (FIG. 2), and the description thereof will be made with reference to FIGS.
4 and FIG. 5 will be omitted because they are the same as those of FIG. 4 and FIG. 6 to FIG.

Transmission from a terminal device on a network connected to the image forming apparatus to the image forming apparatus which is in a standby state by being energized, or printing by an original reading request to the image reading unit 5 of the image forming apparatus. A request for (processing) mode is made (step 37; hereinafter, the step is referred to as S). This print mode request includes: Print mode on normal paper (double-sided print / single-sided print): Print mode on electronic sheet (double-sided print / single-sided print): Electronic sheet initialization request mode (double-sided print / single-sided print) Print).

As described above, in a plurality of print request modes,
However, as shown in FIG. 6, when selected (S38), the apparatus checks on the display unit (not shown) of the apparatus whether or not the input of the print request content, that is, the print condition is completed (S40).
If no input has been made, the user is prompted to input printing conditions using the display unit (S41).

Paper 1 used for printing input in S40
2 is determined to be plain paper (paper for electrophotography) (S42,
S43) It is determined whether or not the paper 12 that matches the printing conditions (the paper size is determined from the size of the document and the printing magnification) is stored in the paper feeding cassette 11. The display unit prompts the storage of the paper 12 (S
44, S45).

At this time, the controller 6 sets the printing mode of the apparatus as described above, and adjusts the control mode of each part shown in FIG. 11 (S46). That is, the difference between each part in the electrophotographic mode and the electronic sheet mode, which is the gist of the present invention, is as follows.
(A. charging potential of photoconductor 21, B. transfer potential, C. contact / separation of each part, and D. method of applying voltage to idle roller 16), and each of them is set to the electrophotographic mode.
Thereafter, the paper 12 is fed from the paper feed cassette 11 (S
47), a printing process in the electrophotographic mode is performed (S4).
8).

Next, the electronic sheet initialization mode and the electronic sheet printing (visualization) mode will be described. If it is determined in S42 that the paper 12 used for printing is an electronic sheet, as shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 6 adjusts the control mode of each part to match (S50). The following description is a method for recording image information on an electronic sheet.

That is, the mode, which is the gist of the present invention, refers to the A.D. mode as shown in FIG. B. Reduction of the charging potential of the photoconductor 21; Reduction of transfer potential, C.I. This is each control of contact and separation of each part.

A. Reduction of the charging potential of the photoconductor 21 (in a normal electrophotographic mode, the potential on the surface of the photoconductor 21 is approximately 800 volts to 10 volts by applying a voltage from the main charger 22).
It becomes 00 volts, and a potential contrast is generated in the potential of the photoconductor 21 depending on the presence or absence of the image information by the exposure of the image information. The toner adheres to the contrast in the developing tank 24 and is visualized. On the other hand, the electronic sheet does not need to adhere toner on the sheet, and the image information is represented by a potential contrast, and is visualized when a potential gap is generated in the electronic sheet. Therefore, the electronic sheet is further visualized. The potential required for this is usually in the range of 10 to 50 volts. For this reason, the voltage applied to the main charger 22 is approximately 100 volts to 300 volts in consideration of the potential transfer efficiency of the electronic sheet. B.). Reduction of transfer potential (in a normal electrophotographic mode, a voltage for suction is applied to transfer the toner on the photoreceptor 21 onto the paper 12. Therefore, there is a possibility that the electronic sheet on the back side of the surface of the electronic sheet may be broken, so that the transfer voltage is not applied, but is set to GND (ground potential), the protection of the back side electronic sheet and the image already written are performed. Protect information.) C. Attachment / separation of each part (Because toner in the developing tank 24 is not necessary for visualizing image information by generating a potential gap in the electronic sheet, it is preferable to separate the developing tank 24 from the photoconductor 21.
The separation distance at this time is determined by the potential on the photosensitive member 21. As described above, the distance for protecting the toner from flying with respect to the potential of 100 to 300 volts is approximately 3 m.
A separation distance of m to 5 mm is desirable. In the conveyance path of the paper 12, it is preferable that the fixing roller pair 3 is separated.

A method of switching the conveyance path of the paper 12 between the above-described electrophotographic mode and the electronic sheet printing mode is also considered. However, since the size of the apparatus is increased, the method of separating the heat generating fixing roller pairs 3 from each other is best. It is. The separation distance is set at 5 from the viewpoint of preventing thermal history (thermal shrinkage / thermal expansion and discoloration / destruction of the sheet due to heat) by the fixing roller pair 3.
A separation distance of 10 mm to 10 mm is desirable.

Further, in the electronic sheet printing mode, the transfer rollers 25 may be separated from each other, but the transfer rollers 25 press the electronic sheet against the photosensitive member 21 and
It is better not to make the above-mentioned separation because it also has a role of transferring the potential gap on the electronic sheet to the electronic sheet. D. Voltage application to the idle roller 16 (normally, the leading edge of the paper 12 to be transported is matched with the leading edge of image information. The idle roller 16 arranged to adjust the transport timing of the paper 12 has an electrophotographic mode. Voltage is not applied, but in order to initialize the transported electronic sheet (initialization mode) and erase unnecessary information (print mode), a voltage is applied to the image information writing surface of the electronic sheet, When the electronic sheet print mode is selected in S50 as described above, whether the print request is double-sided printing or single-sided printing is selected (S51). When double-sided printing is selected, the electronic sheet is fed after confirming that the electronic sheet is placed in the sheet feeding cassette 11 (S52).

When the leading edge of the electronic sheet reaches the idle roller 16, the electronic sheet stops once, the idle roller 16 resumes rotation at a timing coincident with the leading edge of the image information, and the photosensitive member 21 serving as a transfer portion and the transfer roller 25 are transferred. Conveyed between. The voltage for initialization (voltage for static elimination) is applied to the idle roller 16 for restarting the conveyance at the timing of restart of rotation, and the electronic sheet on the printing surface is initialized (S53).

Then, the printing process is executed (S54, S54).
55) Using the switchback conveyance path, the sheet is conveyed again with the front and back turned over to the idle roller 16 (S56,
S57). S58 to S60 thereafter are (S53 to S5
5 is performed, printing is performed on the back surface of the electronic sheet, and the electronic sheet on which image information is written on the front and back sides through the transport path 41 to the discharge tray 43 is provided to the user ( S61).

If the electronic sheet write request is for single-sided printing (NO in S51), the above-mentioned S52 to S5
The same processing as in step 5 is performed in steps S62 to S66 shown in FIG. 8, and the sheet is discharged to the sheet discharge tray 43 via the transport path 41 (S67).

S in the flowchart shown in FIG.
38, when the initialization mode of the electronic sheet is selected in S39, as shown in FIG. 9, the control unit 6 of the image forming apparatus adjusts the photosensitive member in accordance with the processes of B to D as shown in FIG. The application of the voltage to 21 is stopped, and the electronic sheet is set to the transport mode (S21).

After the control of each part of the image forming apparatus is completed, it is confirmed whether initialization of both sides or one side is performed (S22), and when initialization of both sides is performed, in accordance with the drive of each part (S23),
Both rollers (upper and lower rollers) constituting the idle roller 16
Then, a voltage is applied to neutralize (initialize) the electronic sheet (S25). By transporting the electronic sheet and S23 to S27 in such a state, the initialization of the front and back of the electronic sheet is completed at the same time.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, at the time of initialization on one side of the electronic sheet (S28), a voltage for static elimination is applied to the idle roller 16 facing the side to be initialized.
The other idle roller 16 is set to GND (S34).
By carrying the electronic sheet in S29 to S35 in such a state, the initialization of one side of the electronic sheet is completed.

In the above description of each flowchart,
One image forming apparatus can perform a printing process using a normal toner, a printing process using an electronic sheet, and an initialization process of an electronic sheet by providing a voltage applying means to the idle roller 16 to make the image forming apparatus compact and large in size. It is understood that changes can be made and implemented.

FIGS. 11 to 13 show timings of required parts, as shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, in which the control unit 6 controls each part at this time. This FIG.
13 to 13, the description of the flowchart can be more fully understood.

Next, the distance between the developing tank 24 and the fixing roller pair 3 in the description of the above flowchart will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In both of the embodiments, an eccentric cam and a spring (biasing member) are used in the present embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment as long as it can be separated and connected by another method, for example, a solenoid. Is clear. Since the mechanism for separating the developing tank 24 and the fixing roller pair 3 is basically the same as each other, the description will be made based on the mechanism for separating the fixing roller pair 3.

As shown in FIG. 14, the fixing roller pair 3 as a fixing section is constituted by a heating roller 31 and a pressure roller 32. Inside the heating roller 31, a heater lamp 33 serving as a heat source is built. By supplying power to the heater lamp 33, the heating roller 31 is heated, and the unfixed toner on the paper 12 in the electrophotographic mode is melted / fixed by the pressing force of the pressing roller 32 pressing the heating roller 31. Is done. Although the surface temperature of the heating roller 31 varies depending on the apparatus (the melting point of the toner used), it is generally about 15 degrees.
It is in a state of being heated to 0 ° C to 200 ° C.

When the electronic sheet passes through the heated fixing roller pair 3 in the pressed state as described above, each of the cells constituting the electronic sheet (the cells which react by voltage and visualize image information). .) Can be destroyed by heat and pressure.

For this reason, in the present invention, in the electronic sheet printing mode or the electronic sheet initializing mode, it is desirable that the pressing roller 32 be separated from the heating roller 31. The eccentric cam 34, the eccentric cam gear 3
5 and a spring 36 for pressure contact.

When the electronic sheet printing mode or the electronic sheet initialization mode is selected as described above, the eccentric cam gear 35 is rotated by the signal from the control section 6 and the eccentric cam is rotated, so that the eccentric cam is rotated. The pressure roller 32 is forcibly separated from the heating roller 31 against the urging force of the spring 36. The electronic sheet is conveyed in a state in which the risk of the electronic sheet being generated by the electronic sheet passing through the separated space is avoided.

When the conveyance of the electronic sheet is completed, the eccentric cam 34 is rotated again so that one is fixed to the frame 10 of the apparatus and the other is fixed so that the printing in the electrophotographic mode can be immediately performed in the next printing step. The pressure roller 32 is pressed against the heating roller 31 by a spring 36 which comes into contact with the shaft of the pressure roller 32, and is set so as to form a predetermined nip width.

[0102]

As described above, the image forming apparatus of the present invention conveys an electrostatic latent image corresponding to image information to a recording material, and conveys the recording material to the image forming portion. A conveying unit that unloads the recording material from the image forming unit, a control unit that controls the image forming unit and the conveying unit, and includes a control unit that includes a plurality of processing modes for a plurality of types of recording materials. , The control unit is configured to be selected according to the contents of the visualization request and the type of paper being conveyed.

Therefore, the above-mentioned structure is required for visualization,
In addition, by providing a plurality of processing modes selected according to the type of paper being conveyed, it is possible to eliminate the need to arrange a plurality of apparatuses and to reduce the amount of use of recording materials such as paper. To play.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment (double-sided printing) of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of another embodiment (single-sided printing) of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an idle roller of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a part of each operation of another embodiment (single-sided printing) of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a remaining part of each operation in another embodiment (single-sided printing) of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a part of each operation of an embodiment (double-sided printing) of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating another part of each operation of the embodiment (double-sided printing) of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing yet another portion of each operation of the embodiment (double-sided printing) in the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating still another part of each operation of the embodiment (double-sided printing) of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a remaining part of each operation of the embodiment (double-sided printing) in the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a timing chart showing each operation in an electrophotographic printing mode in one embodiment (double-sided printing) of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a timing chart showing each operation in an electronic sheet print mode in one embodiment (double-sided printing) of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 13 is a timing chart showing each operation in an electronic sheet initialization mode in an embodiment (double-sided printing) of the image forming apparatus.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are front views showing separation and contact of a fixing roller in the image forming apparatus, wherein FIG.

FIGS. 15A and 15B are schematic cross-sectional views showing the separation and contact of the developing tank with the photoconductor in the image forming apparatus, wherein FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 paper feeder (transporter) 2 Process part (image forming part) 3. Fixing roller (image forming unit, fixing unit) 4 Paper ejection unit (transportation unit) 5 Image reading unit 6 control unit 12 paper (recording material)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G03G 15/20 109 G03G 15/20 109 21/00 384 21/00 384 F term (Reference) 2H027 DC02 DE07 ED03 ED08 ED24 ED25 EE07 EF06 EH06 FA30 FA35 FA37 FB06 FB13 FB18 FC03 GB05 GB19 GB20 ZA10 2H033 AA49 BA08 BB35 CA09 CA30 2H077 BA04 BA07 DA82 DB12 DB14 DB15 DB16 2H200 FA17 GA07 GA23 GA34 GA44 GB12 GB25 HA30 GB30 PA02 PA15 PA26 5C062 AA05 AB20 AB22 AB32 AB35 AB47 AC04 AC10 AC23 AE15 BA01

Claims (17)

[Claims] An image forming section for visualizing an electrostatic latent image corresponding to image information on a recording material, a conveying section for conveying the recording material to the image forming section, and carrying out the recording material from the image forming section. And a control unit that controls the image forming unit and the conveyance unit and includes a plurality of processing modes for a plurality of types of recording materials. The plurality of processing modes includes a visualization request content and a recording material to be conveyed. An image forming apparatus characterized in that the image forming apparatus is selected according to the type of the image forming apparatus. 2. An electrophotographic mode in which a plurality of processing modes are visualized by a developer on a sheet as a recording material, wherein the image is visualized by applying a voltage corresponding to image information. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an electronic sheet visualization mode for visualizing an electronic sheet as a recording material and an electronic sheet initialization mode for initializing the electronic sheet. 3. An image forming section for forming an electrostatic latent image according to image information, a process section for visualizing an image corresponding to the electrostatic latent image, and a developing section for developing the image. A fixing unit for fixing the heated image by heating, a conveying unit includes an idle roller for adjusting a timing of conveying the recording material to the image forming unit, and a plurality of processing modes, a process unit, a fixing unit, and an idle roller. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatuses perform operations different from each other. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein in the electrophotographic mode, the process unit, the fixing unit, and the idle roller perform an electrophotographic visualization operation. 5. In the electronic sheet visualization mode and the electronic sheet initialization mode, a voltage application to the electrostatic latent image carrier of the processing section is set lower than a voltage application in the electrophotographic mode. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: 6. The process section includes a transfer section to which a voltage is applied to transfer a developer to a recording material. In the electronic sheet visualization mode and the electronic sheet initialization mode, the transfer section is The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the image forming apparatus is configured to be grounded. 7. The process section comprises: a photosensitive member for forming an electrostatic latent image; and a developing portion for supplying a developer to the photosensitive member for visualizing the electrostatic latent image. 4. The electronic sheet visualization mode and the electronic sheet initialization mode, wherein the developing unit avoids approaching / contact with the photoconductor and is separated therefrom.
An image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the separation of the developing unit is performed by an eccentric cam or a solenoid, and an urging member. 9. The fixing unit includes a fixing roller pair, and in the electronic sheet visualization mode and the electronic sheet initialization mode, presses the fixing roller pair formed at the time of visualization in the electrophotographic mode. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the image forming apparatus is configured to be released and separated. 10. An image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said fixing roller pair is separated by an eccentric cam or solenoid and an urging member. 11. The electronic sheet visualization mode and the electronic sheet initialization mode, wherein the control section stops the temperature control energization of the fixing section. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 12. The idle roller according to claim 3, wherein a voltage application unit for applying a voltage to the recording material is provided in the electronic sheet visualization mode and the electronic sheet initialization mode. 12. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 11. 13. An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said voltage applying section is provided for each of a pair of rollers constituting said idle roller. 14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said voltage application section is set so as to apply a charge eliminating potential of said electronic sheet to a visualized surface of said electronic sheet in said electronic sheet visualization mode. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12. 15. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said voltage applying unit is set to a ground potential with respect to a non-visualized surface of the corresponding electronic sheet in said electronic sheet visualizing mode. 15. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 14. 16. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said voltage application section is set so as to apply a neutralization potential of said electronic sheet to both sides of said electronic sheet in said electronic sheet initialization mode. 16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein: 17. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image reading section for reading and outputting image information in a document, or an interface for taking in and outputting image information from outside. Item 10. The image forming apparatus according to item 1.