JP2014235382A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To apply a flat pigment constituting an image so that the flat faces can be parallel to a recording medium, and then ensure the color reproducibility of the image.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming unit that forms a first image by using a toner Gm including a flat pigment 100, and a second image forming unit that forms a second image by using a toner Gc not including the flat pigment 100. In an image formed by overlapping the first image with the second image, the coverage E of the flat pigment 100 to the second image is 20% or more and 50% or less.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  The gold toner contains a flake-like substance that reflects light, and a gold toner image developed on the photoreceptor and a toner image of other colors including yellow or transparent colors other than the gold toner image are used as an image carrier. 2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus that forms an image after fixing by laminating is conventionally known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 4820110

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of ensuring the color reproducibility of an image after the flat pigment constituting the image has an orientation in which the flat surface is aligned with the recording medium.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a first image forming unit that forms a first image using toner containing a flat pigment, and does not include a flat pigment. A second image forming unit that forms a second image using toner, and in the image formed by superimposing the first image and the second image, the flat image is coated on the second image. It is characterized by being comprised so that a rate may be 20% or more and 50% or less.

  An image forming apparatus according to a second aspect is the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the flat pigment is a pigment that totally reflects on a flat plane.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the flat pigment constituting the image has a flat surface as compared with the case where the flat pigment coverage to the second image is not configured to be 20% or more and 50% or less. The color reproducibility of the image can be ensured with the posture along the recording medium.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the metallic luster of the image can be improved compared to the case where the flat pigment is not a pigment that totally reflects on the flat surface.

Schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment as viewed from the front side. Schematic showing the configuration of the image forming unit according to the present embodiment Schematic showing the configuration of a toner image forming unit according to the present embodiment (A) Schematic diagram showing unfixed metallic color toner and other color toner transferred to the sheet member, (B) Schematic diagram showing metallic color toner and other color toner fixed on the sheet member. (A) Schematic diagram showing unfixed metallic color toner and other color toner transferred to the sheet member, (B) Schematic diagram showing metallic color toner and other color toner fixed on the sheet member. Explanatory drawing which shows the calculation formula of a flop index

  Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following, the direction indicated by the arrow H is the device height direction, and the direction indicated by the arrow D is the device width direction. First, the overall configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus 10 will be described, and then the main part of the present embodiment will be described.

[Overall configuration of image forming apparatus]
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 includes an image forming unit 12 for forming an image on a sheet member P as an example of a recording medium by an electrophotographic method, and a medium transport unit 50 for transporting the sheet member P. And a post-processing unit 60 that performs post-processing and the like on the sheet member P on which the image is formed. Further, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a control unit 70 that controls the above-described units and a power supply unit 80 described later, and a power supply unit 80 that supplies power to the units and the control unit 70.

<Configuration of image forming unit>
2 and 3, the image forming unit 12 includes a toner image forming unit 20 that forms a toner image, and a transfer device 30 that transfers the toner image formed by the toner image forming unit 20 to a sheet member P. And a fixing device 40 that fixes the toner image transferred to the sheet member P to the sheet member P.

  A plurality of toner image forming units 20 are provided so as to form a toner image for each color. In the present embodiment, the toner image forming section 20V for a total of six colors of the first special color (V), the second special color (W), yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). , 20W, 20Y, 20M, 20C, 20K are provided.

  Note that the first special color (V) in the present embodiment is a metal color for imparting a metallic luster to the image, and the second special color (W) is used more frequently than other colors. User-specific corporate colors and transparent colors. The toner image forming unit 20V is an example of the first image forming unit, and the toner image forming units 20W, 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K are examples of the second image forming unit.

  Each toner image forming unit 20 includes a photosensitive drum 21, which is an example of a latent image holding member, a charger 22, an exposure device 23, a developing device 24, a cleaning device 25, and a charge removal device 26. It is configured. The transfer device 30 also transfers a toner image for six colors onto a sheet member P at a transfer nip NT from a transfer belt 31 as an example of a toner image holding member on which toner images for six colors are primarily transferred. Is to be transferred.

(Photosensitive drum)
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the photosensitive drum 21 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and is driven to rotate around its own axis by a driving means (not shown). As an example, a photosensitive layer having a negative charging polarity is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21. The photosensitive drum 21 may have a configuration in which an overcoat layer is formed on the outer peripheral surface. The photosensitive drums 21 of the respective colors are arranged in a straight line along the apparatus width direction when viewed from the front.

(Charger)
The charger 22 charges the outer peripheral surface (photosensitive layer) of the photosensitive drum 21 to a negative polarity. The charger 22 in the present embodiment is, for example, a corona discharge type (non-contact charging type) scorotron charger.

(Exposure equipment)
The exposure device 23 is configured to form an electrostatic latent image on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21. Specifically, the exposure light L modulated according to the image data received from the image signal processing unit constituting the control unit 70 is irradiated on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 charged by the charger 22. An electrostatic latent image is formed.

  As an example, the exposure apparatus 23 in the present embodiment exposes the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 while scanning the light beam emitted from the light source with an optical scanning unit (optical system) including a polygon mirror and an Fθ lens. It is configured.

(Developer)
The developing device 24 forms a toner image on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 by developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 with the developer G containing toner. Yes. The developing device 24 includes at least a storage container 241 that stores the developer G, and a developing roll 242 that supplies the developer G stored in the storage container 241 to the photosensitive drum 21 while rotating. .

  A toner cartridge 27 for replenishing the developer G is connected to the storage container 241 via a replenishment path (not shown). The toner cartridges 27 for the respective colors are arranged above the exposure device 23 in the apparatus width direction when viewed from the front, and can be individually replaced.

  Further, a developing bias voltage is applied to the developing roll 242. The developing bias voltage is a voltage applied between the photosensitive drum 21 and the developing roll 242, and the photosensitive member is caused by a potential difference generated between the developing roll 242 and the photosensitive drum 21 by applying the developing bias voltage. The electrostatic latent image on the drum 21 is visualized as a toner image.

(Cleaning device and static eliminator)
The cleaning device 25 includes a blade 251 that scrapes off toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductive drum 21 from the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductive drum 21 after the toner image is transferred to the transfer device 30. The neutralizing device 26 neutralizes the outer surface of the photosensitive drum 21 by irradiating light.

  Although not shown, the cleaning device 25 includes a housing that collects the toner scraped by the blade 251 and a transport mechanism that transports the toner in the housing to a waste toner box.

(Transfer device)
The transfer device 30 performs primary transfer by superimposing the toner images formed on the respective photosensitive drums 21 on the transfer belt 31, and secondarily transfers the superimposed toner images to the sheet member P. The transfer belt 31 has an endless shape and is wound around a plurality of rolls 32 to determine the posture. The transfer belt 31 in the present embodiment has an obtuse triangular shape that is long in the apparatus width direction when viewed from the front.

  Of the plurality of rolls 32, the roll 32 </ b> D functions as a drive roll that rotates the transfer belt 31 in the direction of arrow A by a driving force of a motor (not shown). Of the plurality of rolls 32, the roll 32T functions as a tension applying roll that applies tension to the transfer belt 31, and the roll 32B functions as an opposing roll of the secondary transfer roll 34. It has become.

  The transfer belt 31 is in contact with each photosensitive drum 21 from the lower side at the upper side extending in the apparatus width direction with the above-described posture, and the image on each photosensitive drum 21 is transferred from the primary transfer roll 33 to the transfer bias voltage. The image is transferred upon application of. Further, the transfer belt 31 forms a transfer nip NT by contacting the secondary transfer roll 34 at the apex on the lower end side forming an obtuse angle. The transfer nip NT receives the transfer bias voltage from the secondary transfer roll 34 and receives the transfer nip NT. The toner image is transferred to the sheet member P passing through the NT.

(Fixing device)
The fixing device 40 fixes the toner image onto the sheet member P to which the toner image has been transferred by the transfer device 30. The fixing device 40 in the present embodiment includes a fixing belt 41 wound around a plurality of rolls 44, 45, 46 and a pad member 48, and a fixing nip NF formed by the fixing belt 41 and the pressure roll 42. The toner image is fixed to the sheet member P by applying pressure while heating.

  The upper roll 46 includes, for example, a heater inside, and is a heating roll that is rotated by a driving force transmitted from a motor (not shown). The fixing belt 41 circulates in the direction of arrow R by the rotation of the roll 46.

<Medium transport unit>
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the medium transport unit 50 includes a medium supply unit 52 that supplies the sheet member P to the image forming unit 12, and a medium discharge unit 54 that discharges the sheet member P on which the image is formed. , Including. The medium conveyance unit 50 includes a medium return unit 56 used when forming images on both sides of the sheet member P, and an intermediate conveyance unit 58 that conveys the sheet member P from the transfer device 30 to the fixing device 40. It consists of

  The medium supply unit 52 supplies the sheet members P one by one to the transfer nip NT of the image forming unit 12 in accordance with the transfer timing. The medium discharge unit 54 discharges the sheet member P on which the toner image is fixed (image formed) by the fixing device 40 to the medium receiving unit 90 outside the device. When the medium returning unit 56 forms an image on the other side of the sheet member P having an image formed on one side, the medium returning unit 56 reverses the sheet member P and returns it to the image forming unit 12 (medium supply unit 52). It is like that.

<Post-processing section>
As shown in FIG. 1, the post-processing unit 60 includes a medium cooling unit 62 that cools the sheet member P on which an image is formed by the image forming unit 12, a correction device 64 that corrects the curvature of the sheet member P, and a sheet. And an image inspection unit 66 that inspects an image formed on the member P. The medium cooling unit 62, the correction device 64, and the image inspection unit 66 constituting the post-processing unit 60 are arranged in this order from the upstream side in the discharge direction of the sheet member P between the fixing device 40 and the medium discharge unit 54. Has been placed.

[Image forming operation]
Next, an outline of an image forming process and a post-processing process on the sheet member P by the image forming apparatus 10 will be described.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the control unit 70 that has received the image formation command operates the toner image forming unit 20, the transfer device 30, and the fixing device 40. That is, the photosensitive drum 21 and the developing roll 242 are rotated, and the transfer belt 31 is rotated. Then, the pressure roll 42 is rotated and the fixing belt 41 is rotated. Furthermore, in synchronization with these operations, the control unit 70 operates the medium transport unit 50 and the like.

  The outer peripheral surface of each color photosensitive drum 21 is charged by a charger 22 while being rotated. In addition, the control unit 70 sends the image data that has been subjected to image processing by the image signal processing unit to each exposure device 23. Each exposure device 23 emits each exposure light L according to the image data, and exposes the outer peripheral surface of each charged photosensitive drum 21. Thereby, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the outer peripheral surface of each photosensitive drum 21.

  The electrostatic latent image formed on the outer peripheral surface of each photoconductor drum 21 is developed by the developer G supplied from the developing device 24. Thus, the first special color (V), the second special color (W), yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are respectively formed on the photosensitive drums 21 of the respective colors. A toner image is formed.

  The toner images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drums 21 of the respective colors are sequentially transferred to the rotating transfer belt 31 by applying a transfer bias voltage through the primary transfer rolls 33 of the respective colors. As a result, a superimposed toner image in which toner images for six colors are superimposed is formed on the transfer belt 31.

  This superimposed toner image is conveyed to the transfer nip NT by the rotation of the transfer belt 31. The sheet member P is supplied to the transfer nip NT by the medium supply unit 52 in synchronization with the conveyance of the superimposed toner image. By applying a transfer bias voltage at the transfer nip NT, the superimposed toner image is transferred from the transfer belt 31 to the sheet member P.

  The sheet member P to which the superimposed toner image has been transferred is conveyed by the intermediate conveyance unit 58 while being sucked with negative pressure from the transfer nip NT of the transfer device 30 toward the fixing nip NF of the fixing device 40. The fixing device 40 applies heat and pressure (fixing energy) to the sheet member P that passes through the fixing nip NF. As a result, the superimposed toner image transferred to the sheet member P is fixed to the sheet member P.

  The sheet member P discharged from the fixing device 40 is processed by the post-processing unit 60 while being conveyed toward the medium receiving unit 90 outside the apparatus by the medium discharging unit 54. That is, the sheet member P heated in the fixing process is first cooled in the medium cooling unit 62. Next, the curvature of the sheet member P is corrected by the correction device 64. Further, the superimposed toner image fixed on the sheet member P is detected by the image inspection unit 66 for the presence or absence of toner density defects, image defects, image position defects, and the like. Then, the sheet member P is conveyed to the medium discharge unit 54.

  Further, when an image is formed on the back surface of the sheet member P on which no image is formed (in the case of double-sided printing), the control unit 70 discharges the medium along the conveyance path of the sheet member P after passing the image inspection unit 66. The unit 54 is switched to the medium return unit 56. As a result, the sheet member P is reversed and fed into the medium supply unit 52. An image is formed (fixed) on the back surface of the sheet member P in the same process as the image forming process on the front surface. The sheet member P is discharged to the medium receiving unit 90 outside the apparatus by the medium discharging unit 54 through the same process as the post-processing step after the image formation on the surface.

<Main part configuration>
(toner)
Next, the toner according to the exemplary embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a metallic toner (hereinafter referred to as “metallic toner”) Gm as an example of the first toner used as the first special color (V) has a flat shape with a disc shape as a whole. Has been. The metallic toner Gm has a structure in which a flat pigment 100 constituting an image, a charge control agent (not shown), and the like are internally added to a binder resin such as a styrene acrylic resin.

  Note that the metallic toner Gm (including the flat pigment 100) in the unfixed state shown in FIG. 4A is schematically represented in an elliptical shape so that it can be easily distinguished from other color toners Gc described later. ing. The particle size of the metallic color toner Gm is set to 3.5 μm to 17 μm as an example.

  The flat pigment 100 is made of flaky and flat aluminum. That is, the flat pigment 100 according to the present embodiment has a flat shape in which the horizontal dimension is longer than the vertical dimension when viewed from the side placed on a plane, and the diameter in plan view is 3 μm as an example. ˜16 μm.

  Further, the flat pigment 100 has a reflective surface 100A as an example of a flat surface (flat surface) facing upward or downward in FIG. The reflected light totally reflected by the reflecting surface 100A and the diffused light that has reached the other color toner Gc through the gap between the flat pigments 100 and has come out on the sheet member P are used in the metallic toner Gm. A metallic gloss is imparted to the formed image.

  On the other hand, toners of other colors (hereinafter referred to as “other colors” as examples of the second toner used as the second special color (W), yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). Gc) (referred to as “toner”) is substantially spherical or potato-shaped. The other color toner Gc has a structure in which a color pigment (not shown), a charge control agent, etc. other than the flat pigment 100 are internally added to a binder resin such as a styrene acrylic resin.

  The other color toner Gc (not including the flat pigment 100 and other than the metal color) in the unfixed state shown in FIG. 4A is schematically represented in a circular shape. Thus, it has a substantially spherical shape or a potato shape. The other color toner Gc is not limited to a substantially spherical shape or a potato shape, and may be formed in a different shape such as a pulverized toner.

  A toner image (an example of a first image) of the metal color toner Gm is formed on the photosensitive drum 21V of the first special color (V) toner image forming unit 20V. The second special color (W) other than the first special color (V), yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toner image forming units 20W, 20Y, 20M, On the 20C and 20K photoconductor drums 21W, 21Y, 21M, 21C, and 21K, toner images of the other color toner Gc (an example of a second image) are formed, respectively.

  The toner images on the photosensitive drums 21 for the respective colors are primarily transferred to the transfer belt 31 by the transfer device 30 as described above. That is, a superimposed toner image is formed on the transfer belt 31 by superimposing the toner image of the other color toner Gc on the toner image of the metal color toner Gm. As shown in FIG. 4A, the superimposed toner image transferred from the transfer belt 31 to the sheet member P is a toner image of the other color toner Gc in the lower layer and a toner image of the metal color toner Gm in the upper layer. It is said.

  Further, the superimposed toner image (the toner image of the other color toner Gc and the toner image of the metal color toner Gm) transferred to the sheet member P is transferred to the sheet member P by the fixing device 40 as shown in FIG. And is smoothed. Actually, the binder resin of each toner is melted and the metal color toner Gm and the other color toner Gc are integrated. However, in FIG. 4, in order to facilitate understanding of the present embodiment, the respective toners are integrated. It is expressed without converting.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 4B, in the image region on the sheet member P on which the superimposed toner image is fixed, the coverage E of the flat pigment 100 with respect to the toner image formed with the other color toner Gc is 20% or more and 50% or less. In other words, the ratio of the covered area S (= S1 + S2) of the flat pigment 100 to the area Sc of the toner image of the other color toner Gc is set to 20% to 50%.

That is, the coverage E is expressed by the equation E = S / Sc × 100 (%). The coverage E adjusts the toner amount (g / cm ² ) per unit area on the photosensitive drum 21 in at least one of the metal color toner Gm and the other color toner Gc (both as an example in the present embodiment). By doing so, it is set to 20% to 50%.

  Specifically, the amount of exposure light L of each exposure device 23, the potential of the developing bias applied to the developing roll 242 of each developing device 24, the charge amounts (charging characteristics) of the metal color toner Gm and the other color toner Gc, the metal The amount of toner per unit area on the photosensitive drum 21 is adjusted by adjusting the supply amount of the color toner Gm and the other color toner Gc to each developing device 24 by the control unit 70 as an example of an adjusting unit. It has become so.

  Here, the metallic glossiness of the image fixed on the sheet member P is proportional to the covering area S of the flat pigment 100. In order to be visually recognized as an image with a metallic luster, it is necessary to be “8 or more” in the evaluation of a physical index called Flop Index (hereinafter referred to as “FI”). In order to satisfy this value, the coverage E of the flat pigment 100 is required to be 20% or more. Therefore, the lower limit of the coverage E is set to 20%.

  Note that F.I. is obtained by the calculation formula shown in FIG. That is, a lightness index L * 45 ° obtained by irradiating light from a direction inclined by 45 ° with respect to the normal direction perpendicular to the surface of the sheet member P and receiving light in the normal direction of the sheet member P, Lightness index L * 15 ° obtained by receiving light in the direction of −30 ° with respect to the normal direction of P, and lightness index L * 110 obtained by receiving light in the direction of + 65 ° with respect to the normal direction of the sheet member P. Is substituted into the calculation formula shown in FIG.

  When the regular reflectance (L * 15 °) is increased and the diffuse reflectance (L * 110 °) is decreased (F.I. value is increased), the metallic gloss is improved. Further, the covering ratio E of the flat pigment 100 is set to 50% or less (the upper limit of the covering ratio E is set to 50%) in the image fixed on the sheet member P when the covering ratio E exceeds 50%. This is because the other color toner Gc in the lower layer becomes difficult to see and the color reproducibility is lowered. That is, in order to achieve both metallic luster and color reproducibility, in this embodiment, the coverage E of the flat pigment 100 is set to 20% to 50%.

<Operation of main components>
Next, the operation of the main configuration will be described.

  In order to give a metallic gloss to at least a part of the image, the metal color toner image forming unit 20V is operated in the same manner as the other color toner image forming units 20W, 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K. That is, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21V and at a portion corresponding to at least a part of the image that gives a metallic gloss.

  The electrostatic latent image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21V is developed with the developer G containing the metal color toner Gm supplied from the developing device 24V. As a result, a metallic toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 21V.

  On the other hand, the electrostatic latent images formed on the outer peripheral surfaces of the photosensitive drums 21W, 21Y, 21M, 21C, and 21K are the toners (other colors) supplied from the developing devices 24W, 24Y, 24M, 24C, and 24K. Development is performed with developer G containing toner Gc). As a result, toner images of other colors (other colors) are formed on the photosensitive drums 21W, 21Y, 21M, 21C, and 21K.

  The toner images of the respective colors formed on the respective photosensitive drums 21 are adjusted so that the coverage E of the flat pigment 100 after being fixed on the sheet member P is 20% to 50%. That is, the amount of exposure light L of each exposure device 23, the potential of the developing bias applied to the developing roll 242 of each developing device 24, the charge amount (charging characteristics) of the metal color toner Gm and the other color toner Gc, the metal color toner Gm The control unit 70 adjusts the supply amount of the other color toner Gc to each developing device 24 and the like, and a toner image of each color is formed on each photosensitive drum 21.

  Then, the metallic toner image is transferred to the rotating transfer belt 31, and the other color toner images are sequentially transferred to the transfer belt 31 after the metallic toner image is transferred to the transfer belt 31. As a result, a superimposed toner image in which toner images for six colors are superimposed is formed on the transfer belt 31. The superimposed toner image is transferred from the transfer belt 31 to the sheet member P at the transfer nip NT (see FIG. 4A).

  The sheet member P to which the superimposed toner image has been transferred is conveyed by the intermediate conveyance unit 58 from the transfer nip NT of the transfer device 30 toward the fixing nip NF of the fixing device 40. The fixing device 40 applies heat and pressure to the sheet member P that passes through the fixing nip NF. As a result, the superimposed toner image transferred to the sheet member P is fixed to the sheet member P (see FIG. 4B).

  In the image fixed on the sheet member P in this manner, the coverage E of the flat pigment 100 is 20% to 50%, and both metallic luster and color reproducibility are compatible. Further, in the image region, the flat pigment 100 is disposed (smoothed) so that the reflecting surface 100A is in a posture along the sheet member P. Therefore, irregular reflection on the reflecting surface 100A of the flat pigment 100 is suppressed or prevented, and the metallic gloss is improved in the image fixed on the sheet member P.

  The upper-layer metallic color toner Gm is smoothed by smoothing the other-color toner Gc in the lower layer (at least two layers) (the flat pigment 100 is formed on the image forming surface of the sheet member P). The reflective surface 100A is arranged so as to face each other). Further, the developer G including the metal color toner Gm as an example of the first toner may contain a toner including a color pigment other than the flat pigment 100 (other color toner Gc). According to this, for a specific metal color, the color of the metal color can be finely adjusted.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, even when the toner image formed with the other color toner Gc is divided, the coverage E of the flat pigment 100 with respect to each toner image formed with the other color toner Gc is 20 % To 50%. That is, the ratio of the covered area S of the flat pigment 100 to the area Sc of each toner image by the other color toner Gc is 20% to 50%.

<Others>
The image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is not limited to the illustrated one, and departs from the gist of the present invention. The design can be appropriately changed within the range not to be. For example, in the above embodiment, the coverage E of the flat pigment 100 is set to 20% to 50% by adjusting the toner amounts of the metal color toner Gm and the other color toner Gc, but the metal color toner Gm or the other color toner Gc is used. The coverage E of the flat pigment 100 may be set to 20% to 50% by adjusting the amount of toner.

  In the above-described embodiment, the toner image of each color is transferred to the transfer belt 31, but the toner image of each color may be transferred directly to the sheet member P. Further, in the above embodiment, the metal color toner image and the other color toner image are fixed on the sheet member P at the same time. However, after the other color toner image is fixed on the sheet member P, the metal color toner image is fixed. The image may be fixed on the sheet member P.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 20V Toner image formation part (an example of 1st image formation part)
20W toner image forming unit (an example of a second image forming unit)
20Y toner image forming unit (an example of a second image forming unit)
20M toner image forming unit (an example of a second image forming unit)
20C toner image forming unit (an example of a second image forming unit)
20K toner image forming unit (an example of a second image forming unit)
100 flat pigment 100A reflective surface (example of flat surface)
Gm metallic toner (example of toner containing flat pigment)
Gc Other color toner (an example of toner not containing flat pigment)

Claims (2)

A first image forming unit that forms a first image using toner containing a flat pigment;
A second image forming unit that forms a second image using toner that does not contain a flat pigment;
With
In the image formed by superimposing the first image and the second image, the covering ratio of the flat pigment to the second image is configured to be 20% or more and 50% or less. Image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flat pigment is a pigment that totally reflects on a flat surface.

Images