JP2012233957A - Recording medium processor and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem in which an image forming apparatus is increased in size since means for realizing each of a blocking prevention function and a function for imparting glossiness is independently required when an image forming system is made to have the functions.SOLUTION: Switching means 30 of a processor 20 switches a state in which a glosser belt 25a and a heating roller 22a are in contact with each other and a state in which the glosser belt 25a is separated from the heating roller 22a. By the switching, the processor 20 is capable of selectively executing glossiness generation processing and cooling processing without being separately provided with the glossiness generation device and the cooling device, thereby providing effects that an increase in the size of the image forming apparatus can be suppressed.

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording medium processing apparatus for processing a recording medium having toner fixed on a recording surface.

  Conventionally, an image forming apparatus that forms an image by fixing a toner image on a sheet is known. Image forming apparatuses having various functions have been proposed in accordance with the diversification of uses of image forming apparatuses or requests from users such as higher image quality and higher speed.

  For example, in order to prevent the occurrence of blocking when an image is formed at high speed, an image forming apparatus including a cooling unit that cools the lower surface of a sheet in the vicinity of a sheet discharge tray has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). The proposed image forming apparatus is provided with a cooling means for cooling the lower surface of the sheet in the vicinity of the paper discharge tray, so that the high-temperature toner image on the image forming surface can be quickly cooled to prevent blocking of the sheets. .

  Further, in order to obtain a high gloss image formed product, the film member and the paper are separated after being transported while being cooled while keeping the state where the film member and the surface of the paper carrying the toner image are in close contact with each other. A heating apparatus configured as described above has been proposed (see Patent Document 2). When this proposed heating device is used, the toner on the paper is separated while maintaining smoothness, so that a high-gloss image formed product can be obtained.

  However, when a single image forming system is provided with a function for preventing blocking and a function for imparting glossiness, means for realizing each function is required independently. However, there was a problem that the size would increase.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a belt that conveys a recording medium in which toner is fixed on a recording surface in a state where the recording surface is in contact with the plurality of rollers is circulated, and the recording medium is conveyed A heating unit that heats the belt by being in contact with the belt, and at least one of the plurality of rollers or the heating unit is moved on the upstream side of the conveyance path. A switching unit that switches between a contact state and a state in which the belt and the heating unit are separated from each other, a pressurizing unit that pressurizes the recording medium on the transport path, and a downstream side of the pressurizing unit in the transport path And a cooling means for cooling the recording medium.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: a transfer unit that transfers a toner image to a recording medium; and a fixing unit that fixes the toner image transferred by the transfer unit to the recording medium. And a medium processing apparatus.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the recording medium processing apparatus moves at least one of the plurality of rollers or the heating unit, so that the belt and the heating unit are in contact with each other, and the belt and the heating unit. Has a switching means for switching between the separated states. Thereby, there exists an effect that the enlargement of an apparatus can be suppressed.

1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of a control unit 160 of the image forming system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows arrangement | positioning of each part of the processing apparatus 20 at the time of a gloss generation process. It is a schematic diagram which shows arrangement | positioning of each part of the processing apparatus 20 at the time of a cooling process. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating an example of the image formed by an image forming system. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the gloss range and non-gloss range of the image formed with an image forming system. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a cross section of a sheet on which toner is fixed. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a cross section of a sheet subjected to gloss generation processing. It is a schematic diagram which shows arrangement | positioning of each part of the processing apparatus 20 at the time of a gloss generation process. It is a schematic diagram which shows arrangement | positioning of each part of the processing apparatus 20 at the time of a cooling process. It is a schematic diagram which shows arrangement | positioning of each part of the processing apparatus 20 at the time of a gloss generation process. It is a schematic diagram which shows arrangement | positioning of each part of the processing apparatus 20 at the time of a cooling process.

[First Embodiment]
<< Overall Configuration of Embodiment >>
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. First, the overall configuration of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment includes an image forming apparatus 10 and a processing apparatus 20. The image forming apparatus 10 forms an image by fixing a toner image on a sheet as an example of a recording medium. The processing device 20 has a function of performing a gloss generation process for generating a gloss on the fixed toner image, or a function of performing a cooling process for cooling the paper on which the toner image is fixed.

<Configuration of image forming apparatus>
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a paper feeding unit 110, a conveyance unit 120, an image forming unit 130, a transfer unit 140, a fixing unit 150, and a control unit 160. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the paper feeding unit 110 includes a paper feeding cassette 111 on which papers to be fed are stacked, and a paper feeding roller 112 that feeds the papers stacked on the paper feeding cassette 111 one by one. It has.

  The conveyance unit 120 waits by sandwiching a plurality of rollers 121 that convey the sheet fed by the sheet feeding roller 112 in the direction of the transfer unit 140 and the leading end of the sheet conveyed by the roller 121, and A pair of timing rollers 122 that are sent to the transfer unit 140 at a timing and a conveyance belt 123 that conveys the sheet sent from the transfer unit 140 to the fixing unit are provided. Further, the transport unit 120 includes a guide member (not shown) that guides the transported paper along a predetermined transport path.

  The image forming unit 130 includes, in order from the left to the right in FIG. 1 at a predetermined interval, an image forming unit A that uses a developer having a first clear toner, and a yellow toner (colored toner). Image forming unit B using a developer having a toner), image forming unit C using a developer having a cyan toner (colored toner), and image formation using a developer having a magenta toner (colored toner). A unit D, an image forming unit E using a developer having black toner (colored toner), and an image forming unit F using a developer having a second clear toner.

  In this embodiment, the developer is not particularly limited, but is a two-component developer having a carrier and a toner, respectively. In the present embodiment, the colored toner means resin particles attached or containing a coloring material such as a pigment or a dye. Further, the clear toner means resin particles configured so that a base recording medium or an image formed on the recording medium can be visually recognized after fixing. Accordingly, the clear toner may contain a coloring material such as a fluorescent pigment or a colored pigment as long as the amount is such that the base recording medium or the like can be visually recognized after fixing.

  In this embodiment, the lower limit fixing temperature of the second clear toner and the lower limit fixing temperature of the colored toner are set lower than the transition temperature of the first clear toner by adjusting the molecular weight of the polymer constituting the toner. ing. That is, the molecular weight of the second clear toner and the molecular weight of the colored toner are smaller than the molecular weight of the first clear toner.

  In the present exemplary embodiment, the fixing lower limit temperature means a lower limit temperature at which toner is fixed. Hereinafter, a method for measuring the minimum fixing temperature will be described. However, the method is not particularly limited to the following method as long as the difference in the relative minimum fixing temperature of the toner can be determined.

  When measuring the minimum fixing temperature, first, a fixing device for measurement is prepared. As this fixing device, a fixing device provided in a commercially available copying machine as an example of an image forming apparatus, which has been modified so that it can be driven independently, is easily used. When measuring the lower limit fixing temperature, the fixing temperature, the pressure applied to the paper during fixing, or the contact width generated by applying the pressure is managed. This is because the lower limit fixing temperature is determined by the pressure and thermal energy received by the paper. Therefore, in addition to the above, it is needless to say that when there is a characteristic that affects the thermal energy and pressure received by the paper, it is necessary to control it so as to keep it constant. As the conditions such as temperature and pressure, conditions set by default in a fixing device of a commercially available copying machine may be used.

  Next, a certain amount of toner is adhered to the paper. As the paper, it is only necessary to standardize the measurement, but paper that is widely distributed in the market is preferably used. The toner adhesion amount varies depending on the use conditions of each apparatus, but it is sufficient that the toner is unified to a constant amount in the measurement. Subsequently, the paper on which a certain amount of toner is adhered is passed through the fixing device for measurement while changing the fixing temperature, and the toner on the paper is fused to the paper. As the fixing temperature is lowered, the toner on the paper is less likely to be melted, and the degree of adhesion to the paper, that is, the fixability is lowered. Thus, by fixing the fixing temperature and fusing the toner to the paper, it is possible to obtain samples having different fixing properties at each fixing temperature.

  Finally, the fixing property is evaluated for the obtained sample, and the fixing temperature of the sample having the lowest fixing temperature among the samples having acceptable fixing properties is set as the minimum fixing temperature. Although the evaluation of the fixing property is not particularly limited, in the present embodiment, the evaluation was made by scratching a fixed toner image with a needle applied with a certain amount of load and removing the toner on the mark. The acceptable fixing degree may be set to a certain level. Specifically, a sample showing an acceptable limit of fixability can be prepared, and the sample and the sample obtained in the test can be compared with the degree of toner removal of the scratches scratched by the needle.

  In the present embodiment, the glossiness Gs (60 °) after fixing the first clear toner is preferably 30% or less in order to increase the difference in glossiness between images. Here, the glossiness Gs (60 °) means a 60 ° specular glossiness defined by JIS Z 8741. Further, the glossiness Gs (60 °) after fixing of the colored toner and the second clear toner is usually smaller than 70%. This is because the contact surface of the fixing belt 151 (described later) with the paper is uneven, or the surface of the paper 40 is uneven, so that the smoothness of the surface is lowered and the glossiness is lowered in the process of solidifying the toner. It is to do.

  In FIG. 1, the six image forming units have substantially the same mechanical configuration except that the developers used are different. Each of the image forming units is provided to be rotatable counterclockwise, and a photosensitive drum (131a, 131b, 131c, 131d, 131e, 131f) on which a latent image and a toner image are formed, and a photosensitive drum (131a, 131b, 131f). 131c, 131d, 131e, 131f) are charged by a charger (132a, 132b, 132c, 132d, 132e, 132f) that uniformly charges the surface and a charger (132a, 132b, 132c, 132d, 132e, 132f). Exposure units (133a, 133b, 133c, 133d, 133e, 133f) that irradiate light on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums (131a, 131b, 131c, 131d, 131e, 131f) based on the respective image data to form latent images. ) And exposure units (133a, 133b, 133c, 133) , 133e, 133f) and magnetic brush type developing devices (134a, 134b, 134c, 134d) for developing a latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum (131a, 131b, 131c, 131d, 131e, 131f) into a toner image. 134e, 134f) and static eliminators (135a, 135b, 135c, 135d) for neutralizing the surfaces of the photosensitive drums (131a, 131b, 131c, 131d, 131e, 131f) after the toner image is primarily transferred to the transfer medium. 135e, 135f) and the transfer residual toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum (131a, 131b, 131c, 131d, 131e, 131f) that has been neutralized by the static eliminator (135a, 135b, 135c, 135d, 135e, 135f). Cleaning devices (136a, 136b, 136c, 136d, 1 6e, it is equipped with a 136f) and.

  In the present embodiment, the “photosensitive drum 131” is used when any photosensitive drum among the photosensitive drums (131a, 131b, 131c, 131d, 131e, 131f) is shown. The “charger 132” is used when an arbitrary charger is shown among the chargers (132a, 132b, 132c, 132d, 132e, 132f). Further, when an arbitrary exposure device is shown among the exposure devices (133a, 133b, 133c, 133d, 133e, 133f), the “exposure device 133” is used. Further, the “developing unit 134” is used to indicate an arbitrary developing unit among the developing units (134a, 134b, 134c, 134d, 134e, 134f). Further, in the case of indicating any static eliminator among the static eliminators (135a, 135b, 135c, 135d, 135e, 135f), the “static eliminator 135” is used. Further, in the case where any cleaning device among the cleaning devices (136a, 136b, 136c, 136d, 136e, 136f) is indicated, the “cleaning device 136” is used.

  The transfer unit 140 includes a driving roller 141 and a driven roller 142, a secondary opposing roller 143 provided below the rollers, and a tension roller 144 provided between the driven roller 142 and the secondary opposing roller 143. And an intermediate transfer belt 145 that is wound around these rollers and can rotate clockwise as the driving roller 141 is driven.

  In addition, the transfer unit 140 includes primary transfer rollers (146a, 146b, 146c, 146c, 146c, 146c, 146c, which are provided between the driving roller 141 and the driven roller 142, with the intermediate transfer belt 145 interposed therebetween. 146d, 146e, 146f). When an arbitrary primary transfer roller among the primary transfer rollers (146a, 146b, 146c, 146d, 146e, 146f) is indicated, the “primary transfer roller 146” is used. The toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 131 is sequentially transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 145 by applying a primary transfer bias by the primary transfer roller 146.

  Further, the transfer unit 140 includes a secondary transfer roller 147 provided to face the secondary opposing roller 143 with the intermediate transfer belt 145 interposed therebetween. As a result, a secondary transfer bias is applied to the sheet being conveyed sandwiched between the secondary transfer roller 147 and the transfer belt 145, whereby the toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 145 is transferred to the sheet.

  The fixing unit 150 includes a conveyance upstream roller 151 provided so as to be positioned above the rear end of the conveyance belt 123 and a conveyance downstream roller 152 provided so as to be substantially at the same level as the conveyance belt 123. . The fixing unit 150 is stretched over the roller portions of the above-described rollers, and can be rotated clockwise by a driving motor (not shown), a heater 154 for heating the sheet via the fixing belt 153, and a fixing belt. And a pressure roller 155 that forms a contact surface by pressing and pressing the roller 153 against the conveyance downstream roller 152 with the roller 153 interposed therebetween.

  The control unit 160 controls the overall operation of the image forming system 1. Therefore, the control unit 160 includes a storage device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) described later, a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory).

  A hardware configuration of the control unit 160 of the image forming system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the control unit 160 of the image forming system 1. The control unit 160 is used as a work area for the CPU 161 that controls the overall operation of the image forming system 1, a ROM 162 that stores an image forming system program for causing the image forming system 1 to implement various functions or various means, and the CPU 161. RAM 163, HD (Hard Disk) 164 for storing various data, HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 165 for controlling reading or writing of various data to / from the HD 164 according to the control of the CPU 161, and display for displaying the operating status of the image forming system 1 A display operation panel 166 that also functions as a panel and an operation panel that receives an operation input from a user, a network I / F (Interface) 167 for data transmission with an external device such as an information processing apparatus, and the above-described components Electrically connected as shown in Figure 2 It has an order of address bus, a data bus, and the like of the bus line 168.

<Configuration of processing device>
As shown in FIG. 1, the processing apparatus 20 includes a heating roller 22 a provided with a heater 21 a inside, a glosser roller 23 a provided near the heating roller 22 a, a plurality of rollers 24 a, and a glosser. An endless glosser belt 25a that circulates across the roller 23a and the plurality of rollers 24a, a guide roller 26a and an idler roller 27a that are movable to change the circulation path of the glosser belt 25a, and a guide roller 26a and an idler roller 27a And switching means 30 for switching the positions of the two.

  In addition, the processing device 20 is opposed to the second pressure roller 23b that presses the roller toward the glosser roller 23a to form a contact surface, a plurality of rollers 24b, and the glosser belt 25a. A pressure roller 23b and an endless conveying belt 25b that is stretched over the plurality of rollers 24b.

  Further, the processing device 20 includes a non-contact infrared sensor 28a as an example of a measuring unit that measures the temperature of the surface of the glosser belt 25a between the glosser roller 23a and a liquid cooling jacket 29a described later, and the glosser belt 25a. Liquid cooling jackets (29a, 29b) as an example of cooling means for cooling the sheet conveyed in the section facing the conveying belt 25b are provided.

  The configuration of the processing apparatus 20 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of each part of the processing apparatus 20 during the gloss generation process. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of each part of the processing apparatus 20 during the cooling process.

  At the time of gloss generation processing, the glosser belt 25a moves in the direction of the arrow A along the first path formed to wind the heating roller 22a by switching the guide roller 26a and idler roller 27a to the predetermined positions in FIG. Circulate. Thereby, the glosser belt 25a is heated by being wound around the heating roller 25a and contacting for a sufficient time.

  The heating roller 22a and the glosser roller 23a are preferably provided close to each other. Thereby, the amount of heat dissipated before the glosser belt 25a heated by the heating roller 22a circulates and contacts the paper is reduced.

  The thermal conductivity of the surface layer of the glosser roller 23a is preferably smaller than the thermal conductivity of a steel pipe material used as a glosser roller in a commercially available glosser. This makes it difficult for the heat of the heated glosser belt 25a to be transmitted to the glosser roller 23a, and the amount of heat lost before the glosser belt 25a contacts the paper is reduced.

  The glosser roller 23a is preferably a hollow roller in order to reduce the heat capacity. Thereby, when switching from the gloss generation process to the cooling process, the amount of heat transmitted to the glosser belt 25a by the heated glosser roller 23a can be reduced, and the switching time can be shortened.

  Further, the glosser roller 23a needs to have such a rigidity that it is not damaged or deformed even when pressed by the second pressure roller 23a. For this reason, as a material of the surface layer of the glosser roller 23a, a material having rigidity equal to or higher than that of a steel pipe material used as a glosser roller in a commercially available glosser is preferable.

  From the viewpoint of thermal conductivity and rigidity, the material of the surface layer of the glosser roller 23a is preferably a ceramic pipe or a thin-walled pipe made of metal such as aluminum, stainless steel or titanium. The thickness of these pipes is 5 mm or less, and preferably 0.3 mm or more and 0.9 mm or less.

  The second pressure roller 23b has a heat-resistant rubber layer as an example of an elastic layer that is deformed by pressure on the surface thereof so that heat supplied by the heater 21a is efficiently transmitted to the sheet via the glosser belt 25a. have. For this reason, when the second pressure roller 23b sandwiches the glosser belt 25a and the like and pressurizes the glosser roller 23a, the heat-resistant rubber layer is deformed and a contact surface is formed. By this contact surface, the heat of the glosser belt 25a and the pressure of the second pressure roller 23b are applied to the paper for a predetermined time. The contact surface is a surface where the glosser belt 25a and the conveyance belt 25b are in contact with each other, and means a portion sandwiched between deformed portions of the heat-resistant rubber layer of the second pressure roller 23b.

  The heat of the glosser belt 25a heated by the heating roller 22a is taken away by the second pressure roller 23b on the contact surface. The amount of heat taken away by the second pressure roller 23b differs depending on the amount of heat held by the pressure roller 23b. For this reason, even if the output of the heater 21a is controlled based on the temperature of the glosser belt 25a on the upstream side of the contact surface, if the amount of heat taken away by the second pressure roller 23b changes, the temperature of the contact surface changes. It will not be stable.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the infrared sensor 28a measures the temperature of the glosser belt 25a in a state where the temperature has dropped through the contact surface. Based on the measured temperature, the control unit 160 controls the output of the heater 21a. As a result, the temperature of the contact surface is stabilized without depending on the amount of heat taken away by the second pressure roller 23b.

  The controller 160 controls the temperature measured by the infrared sensor 28a to maintain at least the fixing lower limit temperature of toner that generates gloss among the toner fixed on the paper. In this case, the control unit 160 may control the output of the heater 21a by a thermistor or a thermopile (infrared temperature sensor) (not shown). As a result, among the toner formed on the paper passing through the contact surface between the glosser belt 24 and the pressurizing means 25, the surface layer portion of the toner that generates gloss is selectively plasticized.

  Further, the output of the heater 21a of the processing apparatus 20 is such that the temperature measured by the infrared sensor 28a is heated to a temperature lower than the temperature at which the offset phenomenon occurs in any of the toner fixed on the paper. Adjusted by. The offset phenomenon means a phenomenon in which a part of the toner image is removed from the belt. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the offset phenomenon from occurring in the processing device 20.

  The glosser belt 25a and the transport belt 25b transport the paper sandwiched between the glosser belt 25a and the transport belt 25b in a state where the surface layer portion of the plasticized toner is in contact with the glosser belt 25a. In this case, the glosser belt 25a is driven by a motor (not shown) and circulates in the direction of arrow A in FIG. The conveyor belt 25b is driven by a motor (not shown) and circulates in the direction of arrow B in FIG. As a result, the sheet is conveyed in a section where the glosser belt 25a and the conveying belt 25b face each other on the downstream side of the contact surface.

  The contact surface of the glosser belt 25a with the toner surface layer portion is smoother than the contact surface with the toner surface layer portion of the fixing belt 153 of the image forming apparatus 10 in order to make the surface smooth in the process of solidifying the surface layer portion. Is high (low surface roughness). Further, the glosser belt 25a has a toner release layer on the surface so that the contacted toner surface layer can be released. As the material of the glosser belt 25a, a material having heat resistance and low thermal conductivity is used in order to retain heat supplied from the heater 21a. A polyimide resin is mentioned as a material with low heat conductivity.

  The liquid cooling jackets (29a, 29b) are provided on both sides of the upper side of the glosser belt 25a and the lower side of the conveying belt 25b in the above section in order to improve the cooling performance. As a result, the liquid cooling jacket (29a, 29b) cools and solidifies the surface layer portion of the plasticized toner while the sheet is conveyed through this section.

  The liquid cooling jackets (29a, 29b) on both sides may be arcuate. As a result, the glosser belt 25a or the transport belt 25b circulates in contact with the liquid cooling jacket (29a, 29b) due to its tension, so that the sheet is efficiently cooled. Similarly, each liquid cooling jacket (29a, 29b) may be pressed against the glosser belt 25a or the conveyor belt 25b by an elastic member such as a spring. As a result, the glosser belt 25a or the conveyance belt 25b circulates in contact with the liquid cooling jacket (29a, 29b), so that the sheet is efficiently cooled.

  A small-diameter roller (a roller having a diameter of 15 mm or more and 30 mm or less) is used as the roller 24a disposed at the end of the section in which the sheet is conveyed by the glosser belt 25a and the conveyance belt 25b. As a result, the glosser belt 25a is bent with respect to the sheet at the end of this section, and the sheet is separated (radius separation method).

  In addition, when the glosser belt 25a circulates, the glosser belt 25a passes through the parallelism and diameter accuracy of the rollers 24a and the like, the circumferential error of the glosser belt 25a, the expansion of the glosser belt 25a due to heating, and the like. There is a case where the position of the belt 25a is shifted in the roller axis direction to cause meandering.

  In order to prevent this, a non-contact optical sensor for detecting the occurrence of meandering may be provided in the meandering allowable position at the end in the width direction of the glosser belt 25a. In this case, when the optical sensor detects meandering, the control means 160 controls the parallelism of the rollers that pass the glosser belt 25a so as to incline in the direction in which the meandering returns to normal. Specifically, the control unit 160 may control the operation of an actuator such as a stepping motor to move the roller 24a provided with a mechanism for inclining parallelism. By preventing malfunction due to meandering, there is an effect of improving the durability of the glosser belt 25a.

  On the other hand, during the cooling process, the glosser belt 25a has an arrow indicating a second path formed so that the glosser belt 25a and the heating roller 22a are separated by switching the guide roller 26a and the idler roller 27a to the positions shown in FIG. Circulate in the direction of A. As a result, the glosser belt 25a is not directly supplied with heat from the heating roller 22a. For this reason, since the paper is not heated by the contact surface formed by the glosser roller 23a and the second pressure roller 23b, the processing device 20 can function as a paper cooling device.

  In the circulation path of the glosser belt 25a in FIG. 3 and the circulation path of the glosser belt 25a in FIG. 4, the switching means 30 moves the guide roller 26a in the section indicated by the arrow X and moves the idler roller 27a in the section indicated by the arrow Y. It is switched by. Here, examples of the switching unit 30 that moves the guide roller 26a include an actuator such as a stepping motor.

  On the other hand, examples of the switching unit 30 that moves the idler roller 27a include an actuator such as a stepping motor or an elastic member such as a spring or rubber. Here, when the actuator is used, the actuator moves the idler roller 27a in conjunction with the movement of the guide roller 26a. When an elastic member is used, the elastic member is arranged so that the idler roller 27a is always pressed against the glosser belt 25a. As a result, when the guide roller 26a moves, the idler roller 27a moves while being pressed against the elastic member so that the tension of the glosser belt is constant.

<< Functional Configuration of Embodiment >>
Next, the functional configuration of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6-1, and 6-2. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the image forming system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of an image formed by the image forming system. FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram for explaining a gloss range and a non-gloss range of an image formed by the image forming system.

  The image forming system 1 includes a receiving unit 1601, a CMYK image data generation unit 1602, a calculation unit 1603, and a clear toner image data generation unit 1604. Each of these units is a function or means realized by any one of the constituent elements shown in FIG. 2 operating according to a command from the CPU 161 according to a program stored in the ROM 162.

  The receiving unit 1601 is realized by the network I / F 167 illustrated in FIG. 2, and receives various data (information) transmitted by an image output terminal, device, or system via a communication network. The received data includes image data of the image to be formed, gloss range information indicating the gloss range in the image, non-gloss range information indicating the non-gloss range in the image, and the like.

  As the image data, for example, the color image 3 (see FIG. 6A) including characters, photographs, and the like is color-separated into R (Red) image data, G (Green) image data, and B (Blue) image data. The RGB image data obtained by this is mentioned. The gloss range information includes position information indicating the position set in the gloss range 32 (see FIG. 6B) that generates gloss in the image 3. The non-gloss range information includes position information indicating the position set in the non-gloss range 31 (see FIG. 6-2) where no gloss is generated in the image 3.

  The CMYK image data generation unit 1602 is formed with colored toners of yellow (Y), black (K), cyan (C), and magenta (M) in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 161 according to a program stored in the ROM 162. Image data (colored image data) of the image to be processed is generated.

  The calculation unit 1603 calculates the image area ratio of the image formed by the color toner based on the CMYK image data generated by the CMYK image data generation unit 1602 according to the instruction from the CPU 161 according to the program stored in the ROM 162. calculate.

  The CL1 image data generation unit 1604, based on the non-gloss range information received by the reception unit 1601 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 161 according to the program stored in the ROM 162, the image of the image formed by the first clear toner. Image data (non-gloss image data) is generated.

  The CL2 image data generation unit 1605 is an image of an image formed by the second clear toner based on the image area ratio calculated by the calculation unit 1603 according to an instruction from the CPU 161 according to a program stored in the ROM 162. Data (gloss image data) is generated.

<< Processing and Operation of Embodiment >>
Next, a processing method in the image forming system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. First, the receiving unit 1601 of the image forming system 1 receives image formation request information including image data, glossy range information, non-glossy range information, and the like, transmitted from the image output terminal via the communication network. In the present embodiment, a case where the image data is RGB image data will be described.

  When the reception unit 1601 receives the image formation request information, the CMYK image data generation unit 1602 displays an image formed by each color toner of yellow (Y), black (K), cyan (C), and magenta (M). Generate image data. In this case, the CMYK image data generation unit 1602 performs color conversion processing on the RGB image data included in the image formation request information, and CMYK including color separation data corresponding to each color (C, M, Y, K) of the colored toner. Generate image data. The CMYK image data generation unit 1602 may execute known image processing such as color correction processing and spatial frequency correction processing in addition to color conversion processing on image data.

  Next, the calculation unit 1603 calculates the image area ratio of an image formed with colored toner based on the CMYK image data generated by the CMYK image data generation unit 1602. In the present embodiment, the image area ratio indicates the ratio of the pixel area on the image data to the image area. In this case, the calculation unit 1603 calculates the sum of the numerical values of the color separation data corresponding to each color (C, M, Y, K) of the colored toner for each pixel of the image indicated by the CMYK image data. The area ratio can be calculated. In this embodiment, in order to shorten the calculation time, the calculation unit 1603 calculates the image area ratio only for each pixel in the gloss range 32 (see FIG. 6-2) in the image indicated by the CMYK image data. To do.

  The CL1 image data generation unit 1604 generates image data (non-gloss image data) of an image formed by the first clear toner (CL1) based on the non-gloss range information included in the image formation request information. In this case, the CL1 image data generation unit 1604 generates non-gloss image data of an image (solid image) having an image area ratio of 100% corresponding to the non-gloss range 31.

  On the other hand, the CL2 image data generation unit 1605 generates image data (glossy image data) of an image formed by the second clear toner (CL2) based on the image area ratio calculated by the calculation unit 1603. In this case, for each pixel in the gloss range 32, the CL2 image data generation unit 1605 calculates the sum of the image area ratio of the image formed with the second clear toner and the image area ratio of the image formed with the colored toner. Glossy image data is generated so as to be 100%. That is, the CL2 image data generation unit 1605 subtracts the image area ratio (%) calculated by the calculation unit 1603 for each pixel from an image (solid image) corresponding to the gloss range 32 with an image area ratio of 100%. Glossy image data is generated.

  When the generation of the color image data, the non-glossy image data, and the glossy image data is completed, the paper feed roller 112 of the paper feed unit 110 feeds the paper stored in the paper feed cassette 111 one by one in the image forming apparatus 10. Feed the paper. Subsequently, the roller 121 of the transport unit 120 transports the fed paper in the direction of the transfer unit 140. The timing roller 122 sandwiches the leading end portion of the sheet conveyed by the roller 121 and waits until the timing at which the transfer unit 140 transfers the sheet.

  On the other hand, each image forming unit of the image forming unit 130 uses toner of each toner (C, M, Y, K, CL1, CL2) based on the generated color image data, non-gloss image data, and gloss image data. Create a statue. In this case, the charger 132 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 131 that rotates counterclockwise.

  Subsequently, the exposure unit 133 irradiates light on the surface of the photosensitive drum charged by the charger 132 based on each image data to form a latent image. In this case, the exposure unit 133a irradiates the surface of the charged photosensitive drum 133a with a laser based on the non-gloss image data. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image indicated by the non-glossy image data is formed on the photosensitive drum 131a after charging.

  Similarly, the exposure units (133b, 133c, 133d, 133e) are charged photosensitive drums (131b, 131c) based on color separation data (Y, C, M, K) included in the color image data. , 131d, 131e) is irradiated with a laser. Thereby, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image indicated by each color separation data (Y, C, M, K) is formed on the charged photosensitive drums (131b, 131c, 131d, 131e).

  Similarly, the exposure device 133f irradiates a laser on the surface of the charged photosensitive drum 133f based on the gloss image data. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image indicated by the glossy image data is formed on the charged photosensitive drum 131f.

  When each electrostatic latent image is formed, the developing unit 134 converts the electrostatic latent images on the photosensitive drums (131a, 131b, 131c, 131d, 131e, and 131f) into toners (CL1, Y, C, M, K, CL2). ) To develop toner images (CL1, Y, C, M, K, CL2).

  The developed toner image is applied with a primary transfer bias by a primary transfer roller 146, so that the toner image is sequentially transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 145 that circulates clockwise in FIG. 1 (primary transfer). After the toner image is primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 145, the surface of the photosensitive drum 131 is neutralized by the neutralizer 135. Further, the transfer residual toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 131 that has been neutralized is removed by the cleaner 136.

  The primary transferred toner image moves while attached to the intermediate transfer belt 145, and is transferred onto the sheet by applying a secondary transfer bias by the secondary transfer roller 147 (secondary transfer). This sheet is fed by the timing roller 122 in accordance with the timing at which the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 145 moves. When the secondary transfer is completed, the conveyance belt 123 conveys the sheet sent from the transfer unit 140 to the fixing unit 150.

  When the sheet conveyed to the fixing unit 150 passes through the contact surface formed by the fixing belt 153 and the pressure roller 155, the lower limit of fixing of the transferred toner (CL1, C, M, Y, K, CL2). Heat at a fixing temperature above the temperature is applied. As a result, all the toners (CL1, C, M, Y, K, CL2) transferred to the paper reach the fixing temperature and are plasticized. Further, pressure is applied to the plasticized toner and the paper by the pressure roller 155, so that the toner adheres to the paper and is fixed by entering between the fibers of the paper. The upper limit of the fixing temperature is preferably a temperature at which no offset phenomenon occurs in the first toner, the second clear toner, and the colored toner. Here, the offset phenomenon means a phenomenon in which a part of the toner image is removed from the fixing belt.

  Here, the state of the paper on which the toner is fixed will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a cross section of a sheet on which toner is fixed. As shown in FIG. 7, the paper 40 includes a first toner image 51 having at least a first clear toner 41 and a colored toner 43, and a second toner having a second clear toner 42 and a colored toner 43. Toner image 52 is formed.

  The first toner image 51 is a toner image formed in the non-gloss range 31 based on the non-gloss image data generated by the CL1 image data generation unit 1604 and the image data generated by the CMYK image data generation unit 1602. is there. The surface layer portion of the first toner image 51 is composed of the first clear toner 41. This is because the non-glossy image (solid image) of the first clear toner is first transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 145 in the primary transfer.

  The second toner image is a toner image formed in the gloss range 32 based on the gloss image data generated by the CL2 image data generation unit 1605 and the image data generated by the CMYK image data generation unit 1602. The surface layer portion of the second toner image is composed of the second clear toner 42 and the colored toner 43. In the second toner image, the amount of toner in each pixel is the same. This is because the CL2 image data generation unit 1605 calculates the sum of the image area ratio of the image formed by the second clear toner and the image area ratio of the image formed by the colored toner for each pixel in the gloss range 32. This is because the glossy image data is generated so as to be 100%.

  The surface layer portion of the first toner image 51 and the surface layer portion of the second toner image 52 of the paper on which the toner is fixed are uniformly uneven. This is because the toner plasticized by being heated to a temperature higher than the lower limit fixing temperature is deformed and solidified based on the uneven shape on the surface of the fixing belt 153 or the uneven shape on the surface of the paper 40.

  Note that the glossiness of the first clear toner is smaller than the glossiness of the colored toner and the glossiness of the second clear toner. The gloss level can be made smaller than that of the second toner image 52. However, the surface layer portion of the first toner image and the surface layer portion of the second toner image have unevenness uniformly, and gloss is suppressed by this gloss. Therefore, an image having a large difference in glossiness between the surface layer portion of the first toner image and the surface layer portion of the second toner image cannot be obtained.

  Subsequently, a process of gloss generation processing by the processing device 20 will be described. When the gloss generation process is performed, the switching unit 30 switches the guide roller 26a and the idler roller 27a to the positions shown in FIG. Thereby, the glosser belt 25a is heated by being wound around and contacting the heating roller 22a.

  Next, the sheet on which the toner is fixed by the image forming apparatus 10 is conveyed into the processing apparatus 20. The conveyed paper is heated when it passes through the contact surface formed by the glosser roller 23a and the second pressure roller 23b. As a result, the surface layer portion of the second toner image of the paper composed of the second clear toner and the colored toner is plasticized. On the other hand, the surface layer portion of the first toner image made of the first clear toner is not plasticized. This is because the output of the heater 21a controls the controller 160 so that the sheet is heated to a temperature lower than the lower limit fixing temperature of the second clear toner and the lower limit fixing temperature of the colored toner and lower than the lower limit fixing temperature of the first clear toner. It is because it is controlled by.

  The sheet heated on the contact surface is cooled by the liquid cooling jacket (29a, 29b) while being conveyed by the glosser belt 25a and the conveying belt 25b. As a result, the surface layer portion of the second toner image composed of the plasticized second clear toner and colored toner is cooled by the liquid cooling jacket (29a, 29b) while being conveyed in contact with the glosser belt 25a. The

  Here, the output of the liquid cooling jacket (29a, 29b) or the circulation speed of the glosser belt 25a and the conveyor belt 25b is determined by the glass transition point of each toner on the surface layer portion of the second toner image within the sheet conveyance time. It is set to be below the temperature. As a result, the plasticized surface layer portion of the second toner image is solidified before it is separated from the glosser belt 25a. The sheet subjected to the gloss generation process is discharged to a predetermined storage unit of the processing device 20.

  Here, the state of the sheet subjected to the gloss generation process will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a cross section of a sheet subjected to gloss generation processing. As shown in FIG. 8, the surface layer portion of the first toner image 51 of the paper 40 that has been subjected to the gloss generation process has an uneven surface. This is because the first clear toner of the first toner image is not plasticized even when the sheet is heated to a temperature lower than the fixing lower limit temperature of the first clear toner at the contact portion, and the surface before the gloss generation processing is performed. This is because the uneven shape is maintained.

  On the other hand, the surface layer portion of the second toner image 52 of the sheet subjected to gloss generation processing is a smooth surface compared to the surface layer portion of the first toner image 51. This is because the surface layer portion of the second toner image made of the second clear toner and the color toner plasticized by the heater 21 a is solidified in contact with the surface of the smooth glosser belt 24. Thereby, a difference in smoothness of the surface layer portion can be generated between the first toner image 51 and the second toner image, so that a difference in glossiness between the toner images can be increased.

  In this embodiment, the glossiness Gs (60 °) of the first clear toner after the gloss generation processing is equivalent to the glossiness Gs (60 °) of the first clear toner before fixing and is 30% or less. is there. This is because the first clear toner is not plasticized by the gloss generation process, and the shape of the surface layer portion of the first clear toner is not greatly changed. On the other hand, the glossiness Gs (20 °) after the gloss generation processing of the color toner and the second clear toner is 64% or more. This is because, in the gloss generation process, the colored toner and the second clear toner are cooled and solidified in contact with a smooth surface, so that the surface layer portion of the colored toner becomes smooth and the glossiness increases. is there. The glossiness Gs (60 °) after the gloss generation processing of the color toner and the second clear toner is 70% or more, but the sensitivity of the measuring device may be lowered in a region with high glossiness. Therefore, in the above description, the glossiness after the gloss generation process is indicated by Gs (20 °).

  Next, a cooling process by the processing device 20 will be described. When the cooling process is performed, the switching unit 30 switches the guide roller 26a and the idler roller 27a to the positions shown in FIG. As a result, the glosser belt 25a is not directly supplied with heat from the heating roller 22a.

  In this embodiment, unlike the configuration in which the output of the heater in the glosser roller 23a is turned off and switched to the cooling process, the heating process is switched to the cooling process by separating the heating roller 22a and the glosser belt 25a. For this reason, when the processing apparatus 20 of this embodiment is used, when switching to a cooling process, the glosser belt 25a is not delayed by the heating of the glosser belt 25a due to the residual heat of the heater.

  When the temperature of the glosser belt 25a becomes lower than a predetermined temperature, the sheet on which the toner is fixed by the image forming apparatus 10 is conveyed into the processing apparatus 20. The conveyed sheet passes through the contact surface formed by the glosser roller 23a and the second pressure roller 23b and the section where the glosser belt 25a and the conveyance belt 25b face each other, and is discharged to the storage unit of the processing apparatus. Paper. In this case, the sheet is cooled by the liquid cooling jacket 25a without being heated on the contact surface formed by the glosser roller 23a and the second pressure roller 23b.

  Note that when the cooling process is performed, the sheet is not heated on the contact surface, and therefore the output of the liquid cooling jacket (29a, 29b) may be smaller than that in the case of the gloss generation process. This reduces the energy required for processing. Similarly, when the cooling process is performed, the circulation speed of the glosser belt 25a and the conveyance belt 25b may be larger than that in the case of the gloss generation process. Thereby, processing time is shortened.

[Second Embodiment]
<< Overall Configuration of Embodiment >>
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of each part of the processing apparatus 20 during the gloss generation process. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of each part of the processing apparatus 20 during the cooling process.

  In the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment, the configuration of the processing device 20 of the image forming system 1 of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is replaced with the configuration of the processing device 20 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. It is a thing. Hereinafter, differences between the processing device 20 of the image forming system 1 of the first embodiment and the processing device 20 of the image forming system 1 of the second embodiment will be described.

<Configuration of processing device>
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the processing device 20 is similar to the processing device 20 of the first embodiment in that the heater 21a, the heating roller 22a, the glosser roller 23a, the plurality of rollers 24a, and the glosser belt 25a. The first unit includes a guide roller 26a, an idler roller 27a, an infrared sensor 28a, and a liquid cooling jacket 29a. The processing device 20 is disposed so as to face the first unit, and includes a heater 21c, a heating roller 22c, a glosser roller 23c, a plurality of rollers 24c, a glosser belt 25c, a guide roller 26c, an idler roller 27c, and an infrared sensor 28c. And a second unit constituted by the liquid cooling jacket 29c. Each part of the 2nd unit is constituted by the same means or member as each corresponding part of the 1st unit.

  In the present embodiment, one or both of the glosser rollers (23a, 23c) has a heat-resistant rubber layer as an example of an elastic layer that is deformed by pressure on the surface thereof. Thereby, when one or both of the glosser rollers (23a, 23c) presses the other glosser roller (23c, 23a), the heat-resistant rubber layer is deformed and a contact surface is formed. That is, one or both of the glosser rollers (23a, 23c) has the same function as the second pressure roller 23b of the processing apparatus 20 of the first embodiment.

<< Functional Configuration of Embodiment >>
Second, the functional blocks of the image forming system 1 according to the embodiment are the same as the functional blocks of the image forming system 1 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. Therefore, description of the functional configuration of the image forming system 1 according to the second embodiment is omitted.

<< Processing and Operation of Embodiment >>
Next, a processing method in the image forming system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. The image forming apparatus 10 of the image forming system 1 not only forms an image on the front surface of the paper in the same manner as the processing method of the first embodiment, but also forms an image on the back surface or images on both the front and back surfaces. Can be formed. Here, a method of forming an image on the back surface or both surfaces using the image forming apparatus 10 is realized by an image forming method using a known sheet reversing unit in the image forming apparatus, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  The processing device 20 of the image forming system 1 according to the present embodiment can selectively execute either the gloss generation processing or the cooling processing for each surface of the image formed product formed by the image forming device 10. it can.

  First, a process of performing gloss generation processing on the toner images on both sides of the image formed product when images are formed on both sides of the sheet by the image forming apparatus 10 will be described. In this case, the switching means 30 switches the guide rollers (26a, 26c) and the idler rollers (27a, 27c) to the positions shown in FIG. Thereby, the glosser belt (25a, 25c) is heated by being wound around the heating roller (22a, 22c) and contacting for a sufficient time.

  Next, the sheet on which the toner is fixed on both sides by the image forming apparatus 10 is conveyed into the processing apparatus 20. The conveyed paper is heated when it passes through the contact surface formed by the glosser rollers (23a, 23c). As a result, the surface layer portions of the second toner image made of the second clear toner and the colored toner on both sides of the paper are plasticized.

  The sheet heated on the contact surface is cooled by the liquid cooling jacket (29a, 29c) while being conveyed by the glosser belt (25a, 25c). Thereby, each surface layer portion of the second toner image made of the plasticized second clear toner and colored toner is conveyed while being in contact with the glosser belt (25a, 25c), while the liquid cooling jacket (29a, 29c).

  Here, the output of the liquid cooling jacket (29a, 29c) or the circulation speed of the glosser belt (25a, 25c) depends on the glass transition of each surface layer portion of the second toner image within the paper transport time. It is set to be below the point temperature. As a result, the plasticized surface layer portions of the second toner image are solidified before they are separated from the glosser belt (25a, 25c). As a result, the sheet whose gloss has been processed on both sides is discharged to a predetermined storage portion of the processing device 20.

  Next, a description will be given of a process of performing a cooling process on the toner images on both sides of the image formed product when images are formed on both sides of the sheet by the image forming apparatus 10. In this case, the switching means 30 switches the guide rollers (26a, 26c) and idler rollers (27a, 27c) to the positions shown in FIG. As a result, the glosser belt (25a, 25c) is not directly supplied with heat from the heating roller (22a, 22c).

  When the temperature of the glosser belt (25a, 25c) becomes lower than a predetermined temperature, the sheet on which the toner is fixed on both sides by the image forming apparatus 10 is conveyed into the processing apparatus 20. The conveyed sheet passes through a contact surface formed by the glosser rollers (23a, 23c) and a section where the glosser belts (25a, 25c) face each other, and is discharged to the storage unit of the processing device 20. In this case, the sheet is cooled by the liquid cooling jacket 25a without being heated at the contact surface formed by the glosser rollers (23a, 23c).

  Subsequently, when images are formed on both sides of the sheet by the image forming apparatus 10, a process of performing gloss generation processing on the toner image on the front surface of the image formation and cooling processing on the toner image on the back surface. Will be described. In this case, the switching means 30 switches the guide roller 26a and the idler roller 27a to the positions shown in FIG. Thereby, the glosser belt 25a is heated by being wound around the heating roller 22a and contacting for a sufficient time. The switching means 30 switches the guide roller 26c and the idler roller 27c to the positions shown in FIG. As a result, the glosser belt 25c is not directly supplied with heat from the heating roller 22c.

  Next, the sheet on which the toner is fixed on both sides by the image forming apparatus 10 is conveyed into the processing apparatus 20. The surface of the conveyed paper is heated when it passes through the contact surface formed by the glosser rollers (23a, 23c). As a result, the surface layer portion of the second toner image on the surface of the sheet made of the second clear toner and the colored toner is plasticized.

  The surface of the paper heated on the contact surface is cooled by the liquid cooling jacket 29a while being conveyed by the glosser belt (25a, 25c). As a result, the sheet is cooled by the liquid cooling jacket 29a while the surface layer portion of the second toner image made of plasticized second clear toner and colored toner is conveyed in contact with the glosser belt 25a. . As a result, the surface layer portion of the plasticized surface of the second toner image is solidified until it is separated from the glosser belt (25a, 25c), and gloss is generated. On the other hand, the back surface of the paper is cooled by the liquid cooling jacket 29c without being sufficiently heated by the contact surfaces formed by the glosser rollers (23a, 23c).

  The process of performing the gloss generation process on the toner image on the back surface and the cooling process on the toner image on the front surface includes the arrangement of the guide rollers (26a, 26c) and the idler rollers (27a, 27c) in the above process. This is realized by exchanging the arrangements and performing the same processing as described above. Therefore, description of this process is omitted.

<< Supplement of Embodiment >>
In the above embodiment, the image forming apparatus 10 and the processing apparatus 20 of the image forming system 1 are housed in separate housings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the image forming apparatus 10 and the processing apparatus 20 of the image forming system 1 may be housed in the same casing.

  In the above embodiment, the switching means 30 moves the guide roller 26a and the idler roller 27a, so that the glosser belt 25a and the heating roller 22a are in contact with each other, and the glosser belt 25a and the heating roller 22a are separated from each other. And switched. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the switching unit 30 may move the heating roller 22a without moving the idler roller 27a. In this case, the switching means 30 switches the circulation path of the glosser belt 25a by moving the heating roller 22a in the section indicated by the arrow Z and moving the idler roller 27a in the section indicated by the arrow Y. As the switching means 30 for moving the heating roller 22a, for example, an actuator such as a stepping motor can be cited.

  In the said embodiment, the heating roller 22a of the processing apparatus 20 was equipped with the heater 21a inside. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the heating roller 22a may be heated by a heater 21a provided outside. An example of the heater 21a provided outside is an IH (Induction Heating) heating device.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the heater 21a of the processing device 20 has a temperature that is equal to or higher than the lower limit fixing temperature of the second clear toner and the lower limit fixing temperature of the colored toner, and lower than the lower fixing temperature of the first clear toner. It was heated to become. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the output of the heater 21a is set to a predetermined temperature at which the second clear toner and the colored toner can be selectively plasticized according to the material and structure of the toner. Just do it. For example, the output of the heater 21a may be set based on the glass transition temperature (Tg) instead of the lower limit fixing temperature. Also. When a thermosetting resin that does not remelt is used for the first clear toner, the output of the heater 21a may be set to an arbitrary temperature at which the second clear toner and the colored toner can be plasticized.

<< Main effects of embodiment >>
As described above, the switching unit 30 of the processing apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment switches between the state where the glosser belt 25a and the heating roller 22a are in contact with each other and the state where the glosser belt 25a and the heating roller 22a are separated from each other. By this switching, the processing device can selectively execute the gloss generation processing and the cooling processing without separately providing the gloss generation device and the cooling device, so that an increase in the size of the device can be suppressed. Play.

  Moreover, according to this embodiment, the switching means 30 of the processing apparatus 20 moves the guide roller 26a and the idler roller 27a. Thereby, there exists an effect that the state in which the glosser belt 25a and the heating roller 22a are in contact and the state in which the glosser belt 25a and the heating roller 22a are separated can be switched by a simple mechanism.

  Moreover, according to this embodiment, the switching means 30 of the processing apparatus 20 moves the heating roller 22a and the idler roller 27a. Thereby, there exists an effect that the state in which the glosser belt 25a and the heating roller 22a are in contact and the state in which the glosser belt 25a and the heating roller 22a are separated can be switched by a simple mechanism.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the processing device 20 determines the temperature of the glosser belt 25a between the glosser roller 23a and the second pressure roller 23b in the paper conveyance path and the liquid cooling jacket (29a, 29b). An infrared sensor 28a for measurement is included. Thereby, there is an effect that the temperature of the contact surface formed by the glosser roller 23a and the second pressure roller 23b can be stabilized.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the glosser roller 23a can be a hollow roller. This makes it difficult for the heat of the heated glosser roller 23a to be transferred to the glosser belt 25a, so that the switching time for switching from the gloss generation process to the cooling process can be shortened.

  In addition, the switching unit 30 of the processing apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment switches between a state where the glosser belt 25a and the heating roller 22a are in contact with each other and a state where the glosser belt 25a and the heating roller 22a are separated from each other, and the glosser belt 25a. And the state where the heating roller 22c is in contact with the state where the glosser belt 25a and the heating roller 22c are separated. Accordingly, the processing device 20 can selectively execute either the gloss generation processing or the cooling processing on each surface of the image formed product formed by the image forming device 10.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming system 3 Paper 10 Image forming apparatus 20 Processing apparatus 21 Heater (an example of a heating means, a 1st heating means, a 2nd heating means)
22 Heating rollers 23a, 23c Glosser rollers (an example of pressure means)
23b Second pressure roller (an example of pressure means)
24 Rollers 25a, 25c Glosser belt (an example of a belt and a first belt)
25b Conveyor belt (example of second belt)
26 Guide roller 27 Idler roller 28 Infrared sensor (an example of measuring means)
29 Liquid cooling jacket (an example of cooling means)
30 switching means 31 non-gloss range 32 gloss range 40 paper 41 first clear toner 42 second clear toner 43 colored toner 51 first toner image 52 second toner image 110 paper feed unit 111 paper feed cassette 112 paper feed Roller 120 Conveying unit 121 Roller 122 Timing roller 130 Image forming unit 131 Photosensitive drum 132 Charger 133 Exposure unit 134 Developing unit 135 Charger 136 Cleaner 140 Transfer unit 141 Drive roller 142 Driven roller 143 Secondary counter roller 144 Tension roller 145 Intermediate Transfer belt 146 Primary transfer roller 150 Fixing unit 151 Transport upstream roller 152 Transport downstream roller 153 Fixing belt 154 Heater 155 Pressure roller 160 Control unit 1601 Reception unit 1602 CMYK image data generation unit 1603 Calculation unit 1604 CL1 image data Generator 1605 CL2 image data generator

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-167232 JP 2008-287000 A

Similarly, the exposure units (133b, 133c, 133d, 133e) are charged photosensitive drums (131b, 131c, 131d, 131d, based on color separation data (Y, C, M, K) included in the color image data. 131e) is irradiated with a laser. Thereby, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image indicated by each color separation data (Y, C, M, K) is formed on the charged photosensitive drums (131b, 131c, 131d, 131e).

Here, the state of the paper on which the toner is fixed will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a cross section of the sheet obtained by fixing the toner. As shown in FIG. 7, the paper 40 includes a first toner image 51 having at least a first clear toner 41 and a colored toner 43, and a second toner having a second clear toner 42 and a colored toner 43. Toner image 52 is formed.

In the said embodiment, the heating roller 22a of the processing apparatus 20 was equipped with the heater 21a inside. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the heating roller 22a may be heated by a heater 21a provided outside. It is a heater 21a provided on the outside, IH (Induction Heating) heating devices.

Claims (7)

A belt that circulates over a plurality of rollers and conveys a recording medium in which toner is fixed on the recording surface in a state where the recording surface is in contact;
Heating means for heating the belt by being in contact with the belt on the upstream side of a conveyance path through which the recording medium is conveyed;
Switching means for switching between a state where the belt and the heating means are in contact with each other and a state where the belt and the heating means are separated by moving at least one of the plurality of rollers or the heating means;
A pressurizing unit that pressurizes the recording medium on the transport path;
A cooling means for cooling the recording medium on the downstream side of the pressure means in the transport path;
A recording medium processing apparatus comprising:   The switching means moves at least one of the plurality of rollers to change the circulation path of the belt so that the belt and the heating means are in contact with each other, and the belt and the heating means. The recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium processing apparatus switches between the separated states.   2. The switching unit switches between a state in which the belt and the heating unit are in contact with each other and a state in which the belt and the heating unit are separated by moving the heating unit. 2. A recording medium processing apparatus according to 1.   4. The recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a measuring unit that measures a temperature of the belt between the pressurizing unit and the cooling unit of the transport path. 5.   The recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the rollers is a hollow roller. A first belt that circulates across a plurality of first rollers;
A second belt that circulates across a plurality of second rollers and conveys a recording medium on which toner is fixed while being sandwiched between the first belt and a section facing the first belt. When,
A first heating means for heating the first belt by contacting the first belt on an upstream side of a conveyance path along which the recording medium is conveyed;
A second heating means for heating the second belt by contacting the second belt on the upstream side of the conveying path;
By moving at least one of the plurality of first rollers or the first heating unit, the first belt and the first heating unit are in contact with each other, the first belt, A switching means for switching between the state where the first heating means is separated;
By moving at least one of the plurality of second rollers or the second heating means, the second belt and the second heating means are in contact with each other; the second belt and the A switching means for switching between the state where the second heating means is separated, and
A pressurizing unit that pressurizes the recording medium on the transport path;
A cooling means for cooling the recording medium on the downstream side of the pressure means in the transport path;
A recording medium processing apparatus comprising: Transfer means for transferring a toner image to a recording medium;
A fixing unit that fixes the toner image transferred by the transfer unit to the recording medium;
A recording medium processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6;
An image forming system comprising:

Images