JP2008137371A - Sheet handling method and image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet handling method and an image formation device in which while they are easy configuration, when an image is formed, the image having good shelf life, photography tone, and easy color tone recognition and a normal image which is not reversed can be acquired, and a sheet excellent in stock nature and conveying nature can be formed. <P>SOLUTION: The sheet handling method is characterized in that a transparent sheet in which a mirror image is formed and a non-transparent sheet are prepared, an image forming surface of the transparent sheet is made to face the non-transparent sheet, and thereby the transparent sheet and the non-transparent sheet are overlapped through an adhesion medium. The method is a main configuration. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet processing method and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a technique capable of suitably forming an image on a recording medium used for, for example, a digital camera print using an electrophotographic technique and extracting excellent characteristics.

Conventionally, various attempts have been made to obtain glossy photographic image quality.
For example, in Patent Document 1, after a normal image is formed on a sheet using a special toner for producing gloss, a transparent toner is uniformly formed on the entire surface before going to the fixing unit, and fixed. Thus, an invention has been proposed in which photographic image quality can be obtained.

  In Patent Document 2, a special recording medium is used to give gloss, a thermoplastic resin layer is provided on the front and back of the paper, and after fixing the image normally, pressure and heat are further applied. Inventions that can realize uniform gloss on the surface have been proposed.

  In Patent Document 3, a special fixing device is used to give gloss, and after normal fixing (first fixing), a second fixing unit composed of a belt having high smoothness is provided, and toner is again supplied. There has been proposed an invention that can be cooled and peeled after being melted to obtain a uniform gloss utilizing the smoothness of the belt.

Patent Document 4 proposes an invention for forming an adhesive layer on a transparent film.
Further, Patent Document 5 proposes an invention for producing an image display plate using a light retroreflective sheet material.
Patent Document 6 also proposes an invention relating to a heat-sensitive adhesive in which adhesiveness is generated by applying heat.
JP 2002-341623 A JP 2004-191678 A JP 2003-270991 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-278183 JP 2004-302044 A JP 2003-206455 A

  However, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 has problems such as always supplying uniform transparent toner to the entire surface, and a high load on the fixing unit due to a difference in toner thickness between the image portion and the non-image portion. .

Further, in order to use the technique of Patent Document 2, an effect is obtained in combination with a special fixing device, and there are problems in terms of configuration, cost, power consumption, and the like.
The technique of Patent Document 3 also has problems in terms of configuration, cost, power consumption, and the like, as in Patent Document 2.

Moreover, since patent document 4 adheres a transparent film to an image surface (printing surface), there exists a problem that the adhesiveness of an image and a transparent film is bad and photographic image quality cannot be reproduced.
Moreover, since it is difficult to print on a light retroreflective sheet material, patent document 5 aims at processing using a transparent film, and is not the objective of pursuing photographic image quality.
Patent Document 6 is an invention related to a heat-sensitive adhesive.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and has a simple configuration, but when an image is formed, the image has good storage stability and is photographic-like and easy to recognize color tone. An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet processing method and an image forming apparatus capable of obtaining a normal image that is not formed and forming a sheet excellent in stockability and transportability.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a transparent sheet on which a mirror image is formed and a non-transparent sheet, and the transparent sheet is formed so that the image forming surface of the transparent sheet faces the non-transparent sheet. And a non-transparent sheet overlaid with an adhesive medium.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that the above sheet processing method includes a step of pressure-bonding the transparent sheet and the non-transparent sheet when the transparent sheet and the non-transparent sheet are overlapped via an adhesive medium. There may be.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the sheet processing method described above, a step of heating the transparent sheet and the non-transparent sheet when the transparent sheet and the non-transparent sheet are superposed via an adhesive medium is provided. There may be.

  In the sheet processing method according to the invention, the non-transparent sheet has an adhesive medium composed of a thermoplastic resin and a solid plasticizer as a heat-sensitive adhesive layer on a surface facing the image forming surface of the transparent sheet. It may be.

  In the sheet processing method, the present invention is characterized in that the melting point of the thermoplastic resin and the solid plasticizer constituting the adhesive medium is lower than the melting point of the toner used for forming the mirror image. There may be.

  Further, the present invention may be characterized in that, in the sheet processing method described above, the transparent sheet and the non-transparent sheet are integrally formed as a single sheet.

  In the sheet processing method, the present invention includes a step of folding the transparent sheet and the non-transparent sheet integrally formed as one sheet when the transparent sheet and the non-transparent sheet are overlapped with each other through the adhesive medium. It may be characterized by including.

  Further, the present invention includes a step of forming a mirror image on the surface of the transparent sheet facing the non-transparent sheet before the transparent sheet and the non-transparent sheet are overlapped with each other through the adhesive medium in the sheet processing method. It may be characterized by that.

  As another aspect, the present invention provides a transparent layer, an image layer, and an opaque layer in which an image-formed transparent sheet is superposed on a non-transparent sheet having an adhesive medium composed of a thermoplastic resin and a solid plasticizer as a heat-sensitive adhesive layer. An image forming apparatus for forming a sheet having a three-layer structure, comprising: an image forming unit that forms a mirror image on a transparent sheet; and a transparent sheet and a non-transparent sheet on which a mirror image is formed. And a thermocompression-bonding unit that performs heat-compression bonding so as to face the non-transparent sheet.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when an image is formed with a simple configuration, the image has good storability and is photographic-like, easy to recognize, and a normal image that is not reversed. Can be obtained, and a sheet processing method and an image forming apparatus for forming a sheet excellent in stock property and conveyance property can be provided.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
In the present embodiment, a suitable recording medium that improves the image quality by covering the image portion with a transparent sheet is exemplified.

[Embodiment 1]
As a first embodiment of the present invention, an image is formed on a transparent sheet among a transparent sheet and a non-transparent sheet that are integrally formed as a single sheet, and then the integrally formed sheet is folded and thermocompression-bonded. A sheet processing method and an image forming apparatus for forming a toned image sheet will be described.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment includes four image forming units 1Y for forming images of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). 1M, 1C, 1K. Note that the color order of Y, M, C, and K is not limited to that shown in FIG.
Each of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K includes photosensitive drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K as image carriers, and a charging unit, a developing unit, and a cleaning unit. The arrangement of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K is set so that the rotation axes of the photosensitive drums are parallel to each other and arranged at a predetermined pitch in the transfer sheet moving direction.

  Above the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K, a light source, a polygon mirror, an f-θ lens, a reflection mirror, and the like are provided, and on the surface of each photosensitive drum 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K based on image data. The optical writing unit 3 that irradiates while scanning with laser light carries a transfer sheet as a belt driving device having a transfer conveyance belt 60 that carries a transfer paper below and conveys it so as to pass through a transfer portion of each image forming unit. Unit 6 is arranged. A cleaning device 85 including a brush roller and a cleaning blade is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the transfer conveyance belt 60 so as to come into contact therewith. The cleaning device 85 removes foreign matters such as toner adhering to the transfer conveyance belt 60.

On the side of the transfer unit 6, a belt fixing type fixing unit 7, a paper discharge tray 8, and the like are provided. Under the image forming apparatus, paper feed cassettes 4a and 4b on which transfer paper 100 is placed are provided. A manual tray MF that manually feeds paper from the side of the image forming apparatus is also provided.
In addition, a toner replenishing container TC is provided, and a waste toner bottle, a duplex / reversing unit, a power supply unit, and the like (not shown) are also provided in a space S indicated by a two-dot chain line.
The developing devices 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K as the developing means have the same configuration, and are two-component developing type developing devices 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K that differ only in the color of the toner used. A developer composed of toner and a magnetic carrier is contained.

  The developing devices 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K include a developing roller that faces the photosensitive drum 11, a screw that conveys and stirs the developer, a toner density sensor, and the like. The developing roller is composed of an outer rotatable sleeve and an inner magnet. In accordance with the output of the toner density sensor, toner is supplied from the toner supply device.

First, a predetermined voltage is applied to the charging roller 14a from a power source (not shown) to charge the surface of the opposing photosensitive drum 11. The surface of the photosensitive drum 11 charged to a predetermined potential is subsequently scanned with laser light based on image data by the optical writing unit 3 to write an electrostatic latent image. When the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 carrying the electrostatic latent image reaches the developing device 10, toner is supplied to the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum by a developing roller arranged to face the photosensitive drum 11, and the toner An image is formed.
The above operation is performed at a predetermined timing in the same manner for all the photosensitive units 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K, and toner images of predetermined colors are formed on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K, respectively. .

The transfer paper 100 is conveyed from any of the paper feed cassettes 4a and 4b or the manual feed tray MF, and stops once when it reaches the registration roller 5. Then, the transfer paper 100 is sent out by the registration rollers in synchronization with the above-described image forming operations of the photoconductor units 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K, and is conveyed by the transfer conveyance belt 60 while being transferred onto each photoconductor drum 11. The toner images are sequentially transferred. The transfer of the toner image onto the transfer paper is performed by a power supply (not shown) from primary transfer rollers 67Y, 67M, 67C, and 67K arranged to face the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K with the transfer conveyance belt 60 interposed therebetween. This is done by applying a voltage having a polarity opposite to the polarity of the toner on the photosensitive drum 11.
Then, the transfer paper 100 that has passed through the position facing the photosensitive drum 11K and on which the four color toner images are superimposed is subsequently conveyed to the fixing unit 7, where heat and pressure are applied to fix the image.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of a recording sheet used in the present embodiment which is partially transparent. As shown in FIG. 2, in the recording medium of the present embodiment, a part of the recording sheet may be transparent, for example, half may be transparent and half may be non-transparent, or all may be transparent.

FIG. 3 is a plan view for explaining a process of obtaining a photographic image by superimposing and integrating the recording media of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the original image 12 is formed on the transparent portion of the recording sheet (in FIG. 3A, an inverted image of the image “A” is formed), and the heat-sensitive adhesive layer is formed of the transparent layer of the recording sheet 13 and non-transparent Form on one side of the layer, fold and bond to integrate.
In this case, since the non-transparent surface of the sheet is the background color, when a full-color photographic image is output, the non-transparent surface is usually white. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a process in which a photographic image is obtained by superimposing and integrating a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 14 having a heat-sensitive adhesive layer on the image-formed surface side of the recording sheet 13. In the present embodiment, since the non-transparent surface of the sheet is the background color, it is not necessary to limit the background color to white. The background color may be dealt with after being selected by the user.

<Image formation flow>
First, a predetermined voltage is applied to the charging roller 14 (14K, 14C, 14M, 14Y) from a power source (not shown) using the image forming apparatus as shown in FIG. 1, and the opposing photosensitive drum 11 (11K, 11C) is used. , 11M, 11Y) The surface is charged. On the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 charged to a predetermined potential, a laser beam is subsequently scanned based on the image data by the optical writing unit 3 to write an electrostatic latent image. When the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 carrying the electrostatic latent image reaches the developing device 10 (10K, 10C, 10M, 10Y), the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 is electrostatically charged by a developing roller disposed opposite to the photosensitive drum 11. Toner is supplied to the latent image to form a toner image (FIG. 3A).
In the same manner as the above operation, all of the photosensitive units 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K are performed at a predetermined timing, and toner images of predetermined colors are formed on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K, respectively. The

As shown in FIG. 1, the transfer paper 100 is conveyed from any of the paper feed cassettes 4 a and 4 b or the manual feed tray MF and stops once when it reaches the registration roller 5. Then, the transfer paper 100 is sent out by the registration rollers in synchronization with the above-described image forming operations of the photoconductor units 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K, and is conveyed by the transfer conveyance belt 60 while being transferred onto each photoconductor drum 11. The toner images are sequentially transferred. The transfer of the toner image onto the transfer paper is performed by a power supply (not shown) from primary transfer rollers 67Y, 67M, 67C, and 67K arranged to face the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K with the transfer conveyance belt 60 interposed therebetween. This is done by applying a voltage having a polarity opposite to the polarity of the toner on the photosensitive drum 11.
Then, the transfer paper 100 that has passed through the position facing the photosensitive drum 11K and on which the four color toner images are superimposed is subsequently conveyed to the fixing unit 7, and the image is fixed by receiving heat and pressure.

  The image forming apparatus is provided with a boundary detection sensor (not shown), and detects a boundary portion between the transparent medium 26 and the non-transparent medium 28 of the recording medium. The boundary detection sensor is, for example, a transmissive photosensor, and includes an issuing unit that emits light toward the conveyance surface of the recording medium, and a light receiving unit that is provided at a position opposite to the light emitting unit and detects light from the light emitting unit. The light receiving signal at is detected by the control unit to detect the boundary portion of the recording medium. In the image forming apparatus, an image forming operation is performed using the signal received by the light receiving unit as a write trigger.

  Thus, by using the boundary detection sensor, not only the boundary line passes through the center of the recording medium as shown in FIG. 2A, but also a part of the recording medium is transparent as shown in FIG. In some cases or even when the transparent medium is smaller than the non-transparent medium as shown in FIG. 6, an image can be formed at the target position of the transparent medium. The boundary detection sensor may be a reflective photosensor. In this case, the boundary portion between the transparent medium and the non-transparent medium can be detected by utilizing the difference in reflectance between the transparent medium and the non-transparent medium. In addition, the boundary detection sensor may be provided at a position downstream of the registration roller in the conveyance direction. In this case, a detection error due to a difference in the amount of slack to the registration roller or an oblique shift of the front end of the recording medium hardly occurs. The boundary position between the medium and the non-transparent medium can be detected with high accuracy.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of a recording medium used as the transfer paper 100 in this embodiment. For example, the recording medium used in the processing step shown in FIG. 3 is a medium in which half of the recording medium shown in FIG. 2A is transparent and half is white. However, this is one form of the recording medium used for the description. In this embodiment, the recording medium may have a shape in which a part of the recording medium is transparent as shown in FIG. ), The white portion is not limited to white as long as it is also opaque.

  An image is formed and fixed on the transparent portion of such a recording medium as described with reference to FIG. At this time, the mirror-inverted image is printed on the transparent portion (FIG. 3A). After passing through the fixing, it is conveyed to the post-processing device (there is a branching claw 6 after the fixing, and by switching it, it is discharged to the main body discharge 8 or discharged to the post-processing device (C direction). To switch). In the post-processing apparatus, after the leading edge of the paper is advanced in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 3A (see FIG. 3B), the rotation direction of the roller 121 is switched at a predetermined timing so that the paper is folded in half. Then, the roller 122 is sent out toward the roller 122 (see FIG. 3C), and pressure is applied by the roller 122 to fold it in half (see FIGS. 3D to 3E).

In the post-processing apparatus, after the leading edge of the paper is advanced in the H direction, the rotation direction of the roller 121 is switched at a predetermined timing, and the paper is fed toward the roller 120 so that the paper is folded in half. Fold it in half and output it.
The folded image output in this way is output in such a form that there is a toner layer 27 between the transparent medium 26 and the non-transparent medium 28 as shown in FIG. The image is mirrored and printed assuming that it is folded (see FIG. 3).

  When forming an image obtained by mirroring the original image left and right or up and down (that is, a mirror image), the control unit reverses the image data read by the reading device. Then, the image data after the reversal process is written as an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member by the optical writing unit 3, and the reversal image is transferred to the recording medium, whereby an image is formed on the transparent medium 26.

  In this way, by forming an image by mirroring the original image left and right or up and down on the surface of the transparent medium 26 of the recording medium, the recording medium is bent at the boundary and the transparent medium 26 and the non-transparent medium 28 are overlapped. When the image is viewed from the non-image surface of the recording medium, a normal image that is not reversed can be obtained.

  FIG. 4 is a layer configuration diagram schematically showing the configuration of the heat-sensitive adhesive layer of the recording sheet used in the present embodiment. FIG. 4A is a sectional shape when folded (section AA ′ in FIG. 3C). (B) represents the cross-sectional shape at the time of thermocompression bonding (cross-section BB ′ in FIG. 3 (e)). The image output after being mirrored is output in such a form that there is a toner layer 27 between the transparent medium 26 and the non-transparent medium 28 as shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, the transparent medium 26 and the non-transparent medium 28 are overlapped with the toner layer 29 sandwiched therebetween, and heat-pressed to form a recording sheet. Since the image is mirrored and printed on the assumption that it is bent, the toner image surface is viewed from the back side through the transparent medium as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, a normal printed image has no smoothness because the toner surface having irregularities is seen. However, when the toner image is viewed through the transparent medium as created by the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, a smooth image appears because there is an uneven toner surface in the viewing direction. Furthermore, since the reflected light on the surface of the transparent medium is also visible, it looks like a photographic image due to the flatness of the toner image and the reflected light of the transparent medium.

The heat-sensitive adhesive formed on the heat-sensitive sheet 14 on which the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 15 is formed will be described below with reference to FIG.
The heat-sensitive adhesive (heat-sensitive adhesive) layer 15 uses a solid plasticizer 17 and a thermoplastic resin emulsion (for example, acrylic emulsion) 18 as essential components, and these are mixed with a tackifier or the like, and support these mixtures. By applying on the base medium 16 which is a body, a heat-sensitive adhesive (heat-sensitive adhesive material) as shown in FIG. 4 is obtained. The adhesive layer surface of the heat-sensitive adhesive does not show any adhesiveness at room temperature, but develops adhesiveness when heated, and maintains the adhesiveness for a while after removing the heat source (at room temperature) The adhesive state is maintained semi-permanently in a sticking state), and the solid plasticizer is first melted by heating, and the adhesiveness is considered to be developed by the compatibility of the thermoplastic resin and the tackifier. This type of heat-sensitive adhesive material is advantageous in terms of resource saving and environmental problems because it does not use a release paper unlike general adhesive materials. Furthermore, since it can adhere | attach if it heats a heat-sensitive adhesive material after making it contact | abut to a to-be-adhered body, a sticking mistake can be prevented.

  By using at least one compound having a benzoate group, a benzophenone group, a phenylenediamine group or a benzothiazole group as the compound used for the solid plasticizer 17, the low-temperature adhesive force can be further promoted. Examples of such compounds include compounds 1 shown in Table 1 for compounds having a benzoate group, compounds 2, 3 and 4 for compounds having a benzophenone group, compounds 5 and 6 for compounds having a phenylenediamine group, Examples of the compound having a benzothiazol group include compound 7, compound 8, compound 9, compound 10, and compound 11, but not necessarily limited thereto. Among them, the compound 1 having a benzoate group, the compound 2 having a benzophenone group, the compound 5 having a phenylenediamine group, and the compound 7 having a benzothiazol group are highly compatible with a thermoplastic resin and a tackifier. High tackiness in a low temperature environment.

  The thermoplastic resin emulsion constituting the heat-sensitive adhesive layer is listed below, but not necessarily limited thereto. As the kind of the thermoplastic resin emulsion 18, (meth) acrylic acid ester copolymer, styrene-isoprene copolymer, styrene-acrylic acid ester copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer, Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, vinyl acetate-acrylic ester copolymer, ethylene-vinyl chloride copolymer, ethylene-acrylic ester copolymer, vinyl acetate-ethylene-vinyl chloride copolymer, vinyl acetate-ethylene -Resins such as acrylic ester copolymer, vinyl acetate-ethylene-styrene copolymer, polybutadiene, polyurethane and the like. When an acrylic ester copolymer is used as the thermoplastic resin emulsion of the heat-sensitive adhesive layer, it is possible to achieve high adhesion, and among them, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate is particularly preferably a resin that increases the adhesive strength.

  A tackifier 19 can be added to the heat-sensitive adhesive layer in order to improve the adhesive force. Specific examples of the tackifier include terpene resins, aliphatic petroleum resins, aromatic petroleum resins, coumarone indene resins, styrene resins, phenol resins, terpene phenol resins, rosin derivative resins, and the like. These tackifiers are used in a mixture of 2.0 parts or less, preferably 0.2 to 1.5 parts, relative to 1.0 part of the thermoplastic resin. When the added part of the tackifier exceeds 2.0 parts, blocking tends to occur.

By adding an antiblocking agent to the heat-sensitive adhesive layer, blocking in a high temperature environment is further improved. Examples of the anti-blocking agent include wax and inorganic filler, and are listed below, but are not limited thereto.
Examples of waxes include waxes such as animal and vegetable waxes and synthetic waxes, higher fatty acids, N-hydroxymethyl stearic acid amides, higher fatty acid amides other than stearic acid amides, higher fatty acid anilides, acetylated aromatic amines, paraffin wax, wood Examples thereof include wax, carnauba wax, shellac, montan wax, oxidized paraffin, polyethylene wax, and oxidized polyethylene. Examples of higher fatty acids include stearic acid and behenic acid. Examples of the higher fatty acid amide include stearic acid amide, oleic acid amide, N-methyl stearic acid amide, erucic acid amide, methylol behenic acid amide, methylol stearic acid amide, methylene bis stearic acid amide, and ethylene bis stearic acid amide. It is done. Examples of the higher fatty acid anilide include stearic acid anilide and linoleic acid anilide. As an acetylated product of an aromatic amine, for example, acetoluizide is exemplified. (Addition of heat-meltable materials other than wax can include leuco dyes and developers generally used in heat-sensitive recording materials.) Heat-meltable materials including these waxes have an effect on adhesive strength as much as possible. In order not to give it, a high melting point is desirable. As inorganic fillers, inorganic pigments containing carbonates such as aluminum, zinc, calcium, magnesium, barium and titanium, oxides, hydroxides, sulfates, and clays such as natural silica, zeolite, carion and calcined carion Is mentioned. These inorganic fillers desirably have a low oil absorption as much as possible so as not to affect the adhesive force as much as possible. These antiblocking agents are used by mixing in an amount of 1.5 parts or less, preferably 0.6 to 1.0 parts, relative to 1.0 part of the thermoplastic resin. If the added part of the anti-blocking agent exceeds 1.5 parts, the adhesive strength tends to decrease.

  For the heat-sensitive adhesive layer, an aqueous polymer binder such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, oxidized starch, etherified starch, carboxymethyl cellulose is used for the purpose of increasing the adhesion between the heat-sensitive adhesive layer and the support or the cohesive force in the heat-sensitive adhesive layer. Cellulose derivatives such as hydroxyethyl cellulose, casein, gelatin, sodium alginate and the like can be added. The mixing ratio of the aqueous polymer binder is added within a range that does not impair the original adhesive strength of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet. Specifically, it is 30% by weight or less, more preferably 10%, based on the total solid content of the heat-sensitive adhesive layer. It is used in the range of weight percent or less. In addition to the above components, various additives such as a hardening agent, preservative, dye, developer, pH adjuster, antifoaming agent may be added to the heat-sensitive adhesive layer according to this embodiment as necessary. it can.

The heat-sensitive adhesive layer (heat-sensitive adhesive layer) is formed on the other sheet surface that is superimposed on the image forming surface, but does not show any adhesiveness at room temperature. In addition, sheet conveyance can be easily performed without the need to provide a special release layer, and alignment can be easily performed when the sheet is superimposed on a recording medium on which a toner image is formed.
Then, since the adhesiveness is developed by heating, the recording surface and the sheet whose alignment is determined can be heated and bonded.
The melting point of the solid plasticizer and the thermoplastic resin of the heat-sensitive adhesive layer is lower than the melting point of the toner, and if the heating is performed at a temperature between the melting points, the toner can be bonded and the image is not disturbed. .

  An image is formed on the transparent portion of such a recording medium by the method described above (FIG. 3) and fixed. At this time, a mirror-inverted image is printed on the transparent portion (mirroring printing). After fixing, the sheet is conveyed to a post-processing apparatus shown in FIG. 3 (final fixing: a fixing apparatus for forming a recording medium having a photographic image by folding the image forming medium in a folded manner as shown in FIG. 3C). Is done. In some cases, the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment has the branch claw 6 after fixing, and is switched to be discharged to the main body discharge 8 or discharged to the post-processing apparatus (C direction). It can also be switched. In the post-processing apparatus, as described above with reference to FIG. 3, after the leading edge of the paper is advanced in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3A, the rotation direction of the roller 121 is switched at a predetermined timing to fold the paper in half. Then, the roller 122 is sent to the roller 122, pressure is applied by the roller 122, and the sheet is folded in half.

  FIG. 2A shows an example of a recording medium used as one sheet. As this recording medium, a recording medium in which half of the recording medium is transparent and half is non-transparent is used. In this sheet, as shown in FIG. 2B, a part of the recording medium may be transparent, and the non-transparent part may be opaque, and is not limited to white.

  The heat-sensitive adhesive layer used in the recording medium of the present embodiment has a low fixing time and fixing pressure when fixing an image such as toner. Even if the softening temperature or melting point of the plastic resin is exceeded, the fixing time is short, so that the image forming apparatus of this embodiment can be adjusted so that the effect as an adhesive is not sufficiently exhibited. In the toner image, when the toner image is fixed, when the surface of the toner image comes into contact with the temperature application surface of the fixing roller, the toner portion preferentially contacts and melts. At this time, it is considered that the toner is melted and fixed mainly and fixed. If the toner image in contact with the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer becomes a toner image in which the portion is firmly adhered to the heat-sensitive pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, a mirroring image is obtained. In a recording medium in which such a mirrored image has a photographic-like image obtained by folding in two as shown in FIG. 3, the heat-sensitive adhesive layer melts and the toner does not melt. It does not move, and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is fixed by applying pressure together with heat.

  As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, at least a part of the sheet has a recordable part and an adhesive part, and the sheet has a transparent part and a non-transparent part. By folding, at least a part of the image displayed on the recordable part can be seen through the transparent part, and at least a part that can be passed by the image forming apparatus using an image recording medium that can be bonded. Since a recording medium having a transparent portion and a medium having a heat-sensitive adhesive layer on at least one side are integrated after forming an image on the recording medium, the storability is good and the formation of a photographic image is possible. The present invention provides a recording medium excellent in medium stockability and medium transportability, and capable of easily aligning a recording medium and a sheet having a transparent portion, and an image forming apparatus capable of forming such a recording medium. It becomes ability.

In addition, the recording medium having at least a part of the transparent portion covers the recording medium in the form of a film so that at least the image-formed surface of the transparent portion covers the recording medium. A glossy photographic quality recording medium can be obtained.
In addition, in a recording medium having a transparent part at least in part, an image of the recording medium formed by inverting the original image on the recording medium from side to side or up and down, when viewing the image after the formed image recording medium is output, A normal image that is not inverted can be obtained.
In addition, since the recording medium and the sheet with the transparent portion are arranged in a single sheet, and the recording medium portion is bonded by bending the sheet, the image forming apparatus can omit the paper feeding / conveying system. Become.

  Further, since the heat-sensitive adhesive layer is composed of at least a thermoplastic resin, a solid plasticizer, and a tackifier as necessary, it does not exhibit any tackiness at room temperature, but it can be tackified by heating. It becomes possible to provide a heat-sensitive pressure-sensitive adhesive layer that develops and remains semi-permanent after adhesion.

  When such an image is formed on a recording medium using toner, the melting point of the thermoplastic resin and the solid plasticizer is lower than the melting point of the toner. Therefore, heat is applied to the heat-sensitive adhesive layer. Even if the adhesiveness is developed, the toner image is not disturbed, and the image fixing and the recording medium are integrated by the adhesion, so that the cost of the image forming apparatus can be prevented and the photographic image recording medium can be obtained. Is possible.

[Embodiment 2]
As a second embodiment of the present invention, for a transparent sheet and a non-transparent sheet prepared as separate sheets, after forming an image on the transparent sheet, the transparent sheet and the non-transparent sheet are conveyed to the bonding position and bonded together. A sheet processing method and an image forming apparatus for forming a photographic tone image sheet will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is a first embodiment in that the transfer unit includes a primary transfer unit and a secondary transfer unit, includes a bonding apparatus as a post-processing apparatus, and the arrangement of each unit and each apparatus is different. Although the configuration is different from that of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1, the functions and image forming operations of the respective configurations are the same, and the description thereof is omitted. In the present embodiment, since the transparent sheet and the non-transparent sheet are not integrally formed, it is not necessary to detect the boundary portion, and the boundary detection sensor may not be mounted. Then, the image formation on the transparent sheet is performed in the same manner as on a normal recording sheet.

  FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a bonding apparatus that is a post-processing apparatus of the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment. The non-transparent medium 91 on which the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is formed is wound on a roll in a state of being cut into a predetermined size by the release paper 92. The release paper 92 of the non-transparent medium roll 90 is taken up by a release paper take-up roller 94. At this time, the non-transparent medium 91 is peeled off from the release paper 92 by the separation plate 93 by curvature separation. Sensors 111 and 112 that can detect the transparent medium 101 and the non-transparent medium 91 are provided in front of the pressure roller 95. With this signal from the sensor, the bonding apparatus can finely adjust the leading end positions of the transparent recording medium and the non-transparent medium.

  A guide member 96 that regulates the position of the non-transparent medium 91 is provided between the position where the release paper of the non-transparent medium 91 is separated and the position where the transparent medium 101 and the non-transparent medium 91 are attached. It is guided along the member 96 to the pressure roller 95. Since the guide member 96 is pressed by a spring (not shown) or the guide member 96 is formed of an elastic body, when a strong force (force that pulls the pressure roller) is generated, the guide member 96 is retracted. Does not get in the way of crimping.

  A state in which the non-transparent medium is actually bonded is shown in FIGS. Since the non-transparent medium 91 that has left the separation plate 93 is in a free state that is not restricted as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 11, the non-transparent medium 91 is bonded so that θ3 ≦ θ1 ≦ θ2 with respect to the bonding angle θ1 in FIG. The angle varies, and as shown in FIG. 12, it sticks in an unintended state, and wrinkles and bubbles enter. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 13, by setting the mounting angle (θ4) of the guide member 96 to θ2 or more, the bonding angle θ1 = θ4 is obtained, and a stable bonding angle is always obtained, which is desired between the two media. Avoid contact at no position.

  At this time, if the guide member 96 is fixed and does not move as shown in FIG. 15, not only the non-transparent medium 91 is bent when the pressure is pressed by the pressure roller 95, but the two media are in contact with each other before the pressure is applied. This makes it easier for small bubbles to enter. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, a configuration is adopted in which the spring is retracted in the directions of arrows A and D by the pressure of the spring and the elastic force of the guide member. With such a configuration, since pressure is applied in the direction of arrow B at the pressure roller nip portion, it is possible to prevent bubbles from being pushed out in the direction of arrow C and mixed.

Each of the above-described embodiments is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made based on the technical idea of the present invention.
For example, when the LED is used instead of the laser as the writing method, the developing unit may be one component instead of the two components, and the fixing unit may be a roller or induction heating method instead of the belt. In addition, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is not limited to an electrophotographic type, and may be an inkjet type.
Furthermore, in this embodiment, an image having a structure as shown in FIG. 4 is formed by bending the integrated medium. However, the transparent medium and the opaque medium are separated from each other, and are superposed to form a structure as shown in FIG. The image forming apparatus may output the image.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view which shows the example of the recording medium of this embodiment, and is a top view which shows the example from which ratios of a transparent part and a non-transparent part differ. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an operation process of folding and transporting a sheet to obtain a photographic image by superimposing a heat-sensitive adhesive portion on the image forming surface of the recording medium according to the present embodiment. It is a plane sectional view of a recording medium of this embodiment which constituted a recording part and a thermosensitive adhesion part on one sheet. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the transparent part which has a heat-sensitive adhesive layer used for this embodiment. It is a top view for demonstrating mirroring printing required for the folding image formation of this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a plan sectional view of a recording medium having a normal toner image as an outermost layer. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a bonding apparatus of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation | movement process which bonds a transparent medium and a non-transparent medium in this embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation | movement process which bonds a transparent medium and a non-transparent medium in this embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation | movement process which bonds a transparent medium and a non-transparent medium in this embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation | movement process which bonds a transparent medium and a non-transparent medium in this embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation | movement process which bonds a transparent medium and a non-transparent medium in this embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation | movement process which bonds a transparent medium and a non-transparent medium in this embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation | movement process which bonds a transparent medium and a non-transparent medium in this embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation | movement process which bonds a transparent medium and a non-transparent medium in this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K Image forming unit 2Y, 2M, 2C, 2K Photosensitive unit 3 Optical writing unit 4a, 4b Paper feed cassette 6 Transfer unit 7 Fixing unit 8 Paper discharge tray 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10K Developing device 11Y, 11M, 11C, 11K Photosensitive drum 12 Original image 13 Recording sheet 14 Thermal adhesive sheet 15 Thermal adhesive layer (thermal adhesive layer)
16 Base sheet (support)
17 Solid Plasticizer 18 Thermoplastic Resin Emulsion 19 Tackifier 26 Transparent Member 27, 29 Layer Containing Toner Image 28 Non-Transparent Member 60 Transfer Conveying Belt 67Y, 67M, 67C, 67K Primary Transfer Roller 85 Cleaning Device 90 Non-Transparent Media Roll 91 Non-transparent medium 92 Release paper 93 Separation plate 94 Release paper take-up roller 95 Pressure roller 96 Guide member 100 Transfer paper 101 Transparent medium 111, 112 Sensor 120-122 Roller (roller)

Claims (9)

  A transparent sheet on which a mirror image is formed and a non-transparent sheet are prepared, and an adhesive medium is attached between the transparent sheet and the non-transparent sheet so that an image forming surface of the transparent sheet faces the non-transparent sheet. A sheet processing method, wherein the sheet processing is performed through the sheet.   The sheet processing method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of pressure-bonding the transparent sheet and the non-transparent sheet when the transparent sheet and the non-transparent sheet are overlapped via an adhesive medium.   The sheet processing method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of heating the transparent sheet and the non-transparent sheet when the transparent sheet and the non-transparent sheet are overlapped with each other via an adhesive medium. .   The non-transparent sheet has an adhesive medium made of a thermoplastic resin and a solid plasticizer as a heat-sensitive adhesive layer on a surface facing the image forming surface of the transparent sheet. The sheet processing method according to item.   The sheet processing method according to claim 4, wherein the melting point of the thermoplastic resin and the solid plasticizer constituting the adhesive medium is less than the melting point of the toner used for forming the mirror image.   The sheet processing method according to claim 1, wherein the transparent sheet and the non-transparent sheet are integrally formed as a single sheet.   2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of folding the transparent sheet and the non-transparent sheet integrally formed as a single sheet when the transparent sheet and the non-transparent sheet are overlapped via an adhesive medium. 7. The sheet processing method according to any one of items 1 to 6.   The method includes forming a mirror image on a surface of the transparent sheet facing the non-transparent sheet before the transparent sheet and the non-transparent sheet are overlapped with each other via an adhesive medium. 8. The sheet processing method according to any one of 7 above. The image-formed transparent sheet and a non-transparent sheet having an adhesive medium made of a thermoplastic resin and a solid plasticizer as a heat-sensitive adhesive layer are superimposed to form a sheet having a three-layer structure of a transparent layer, an image layer, and an opaque layer. An image forming apparatus,
An image forming means for forming a mirror image on the transparent sheet;
A thermocompression-bonding means for pressure-bonding the transparent sheet on which the mirror image is formed and the non-transparent sheet, by superposing and heat-pressing the transparent sheet so that the image-forming surface of the transparent sheet faces the non-transparent sheet;
An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images