JP2018028578A - Image formation device and cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image formation device and a cartridge that can form an image on different kinds of recording materials.SOLUTION: When an image is formed on a paper P1, the image is transferred on a printing surface P1a in a laminated state in an order of toner images T10W1, T10K, T10C, T10M, T10Y. That is, the toner image T10W1 is in a position close to the printing surface such that it is not possible to see a base color transparently and color development of a toner is good. When the image is formed on a film P2, the image is transferred on a printing surface P2a in the laminated state in the order of the toner images T10K, T10C, T10M, T10Y, T10W2. In order to perform reverse printing to fix the toner on a reverse side, the toner image T10W2 is in the position far from the printing surface. It is possible to surely fix, because transmittance to transmit a laser beam Bm of the toner image T10W2 is higher than the toner image T10W1 and light energy of the laser beam Bm reaches a bottom layer.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a cartridge.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that n toners having different color tones are repeatedly developed n times, and toner layers from the first layer to the nth layer are stacked on the recording medium in order from the lower side, and then flashed. An image forming method for forming a color image by adopting a sequential development batch fixing method in which a batch is fixed by light, and the PAS intensity of the toner forming the n-th layer, which is the uppermost layer, is different from that of other toner layers. It discloses that the setting is made to be larger than the PAS intensity of the toner to be formed.

JP 2003-295497 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a cartridge capable of forming an image on different types of recording materials.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a first image including a reflecting material and a second image including an absorbing material are stacked on a recording material to form an image, and a third image including the reflecting material and an absorbing material are included. An image forming unit that forms an image by stacking two images on the recording material; a fixing unit that fixes the image by irradiating the image formed on the recording material with the laser beam; When the second image is positioned between the first image and the recording material, the third image is between the second image and the recording material. And a control unit that controls the third image so as to be higher than the transparency of the third image when the image is positioned.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the image forming unit forms the first image with a first toner containing a reflective material, forms the third image with a second toner containing a reflective material, and the first image forming means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner has a lower content of the reflective material than the second toner.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the first toner includes a transparent toner so that the content ratio of the reflective material is lower than that of the second toner. An image forming apparatus.
The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the control means reduces the amount of toner per unit area when forming the first image compared to when forming the third image. The image forming apparatus according to 1.
The invention according to claim 5 is capable of forming a first image including a reflecting material and a second image including an absorbing material, and an image capable of forming a third image including a reflecting material and a second image including an absorbing material. A cartridge that is detachably attached to the main body of the forming apparatus and has at least a storage space for storing toner used for forming the first image, and the toner in the storage space is used for forming the third image. The cartridge is characterized in that the content ratio of the reflective material is lower than that of the toner.

According to the first aspect, it is possible to form an image on a different type of recording material as compared with a case where no control means is provided.
According to the second aspect, it is possible to suppress variation in permeability due to the influence of the model characteristics as compared with the case where the first toner and the second toner are not provided.
According to the third aspect, the manufacturing cost can be reduced as compared with the case where no transparent toner is used.
According to the fourth aspect, even when the first toner and the second toner are not provided, an image can be formed on different types of recording materials.
According to the fifth aspect, compared to the case where the toner of the cartridge is not supplied to the image forming apparatus main body, it is possible to form an image on a different type of recording material in the image forming apparatus main body.

1 is a diagram when an image forming apparatus to which the exemplary embodiment is applied is viewed from the front side. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a fixing device. FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating a case where a full-color image secondarily transferred to a recording material is fixed. FIG. 5A illustrates a case where the recording material is paper, and FIG. 5B illustrates a case where the recording material is a film. 2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating a state where a user views an image of a recording material output from the image forming apparatus, where FIG. 3A illustrates a case where the recording material is paper, and FIG. 3B illustrates a case where the recording material is a film. .

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram of an image forming apparatus 100 to which the exemplary embodiment is applied as viewed from the front side.
An image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 has a so-called tandem configuration, and has a plurality of image forming units 10 (10W1, 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K) that form toner images of respective color components by electrophotography. , 10W2). That is, in the present embodiment, the yellow (Y) image forming unit 10Y, the magenta (M) image forming unit 10M, the cyan (C) image forming unit 10C, and the black (K) in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side. The image forming unit 10K is disposed on the most upstream side (upstream side of the image forming unit 10Y), and the white (W) image forming unit 10W1 is disposed on the most downstream side (on the image forming unit 10K). A white (W) image forming unit 10W2 is disposed on the downstream side. Each color of yellow, magenta, and cyan may be referred to as a normal color, and other white colors may be referred to as special colors. A toner image is an example of an image.

The image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment can form a full color image using toners of normal colors, that is, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, and further superimpose an image using a special color, that is, white toner. It is also possible to form full color images.
In addition, as a special color, an example in which an image forming unit of another color such as gold (G), silver (S) or metallic is arranged can be considered. An example in which an image forming unit of transparent toner is provided is also conceivable.
In addition, instead of one of the white toner image forming units 10W1 and 10W2, an example in which an image forming unit of another special color, for example, an image forming unit of silver toner is arranged may be considered. In such an example, an image can be formed such that silver toner and white toner are superimposed on the printing surface of the recording material P.

Here, a white pigment as an example of white toner (white toner for developing an electrostatic image) will be briefly described. The white toner is composed of, for example, a binder resin, a white pigment, white toner particles containing a release agent and other additives as necessary, and an external additive as necessary. More specifically, as the white pigment, at least a first white pigment having a specific gravity D1 satisfying a relationship of 3.5 <D1 <6.0 and a specific gravity D2 satisfying a relationship of 0.3 <D2 <1.2. 2 white pigments. A white toner image having a high bending strength can be obtained by using at least two kinds of white pigments in combination.
Specifically, the first white pigment here is not particularly limited as long as the above specific gravity relationship is satisfied. For example, inorganic pigments (for example, titanium dioxide, barium sulfate, zinc oxide, lead titanate, potassium titanate) , Barium titanate, strontium titanate, zirconia, antimony trioxide, white lead, zinc sulfide, barium carbonate, etc.). The second white pigment is not particularly limited as long as the specific gravity relationship is satisfied. For example, organic pigments (for example, polystyrene resin particles, urea formalin particles, polyacrylic resin particles, polystyrene / acrylic) Resin particles, polystyrene / butadiene resin particles, alkylbismelamine resin particles, and the like) and irregular particles (flat resin particles, fine particle aggregate particles, red blood cell resin particles, through-hole resin particles, hollow particles). The first white pigment and the second white pigment both preferably have a specific gravity greater than that of the binder resin.

The white toner for developing an electrostatic image includes at least the white toner according to this embodiment, and the electrostatic image developer may be a one-component developer including only the white toner according to this embodiment. Alternatively, a two-component developer mixed with the white toner and the carrier may be used. There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a carrier, A well-known carrier is mentioned. Examples of the carrier include a resin-coated carrier, a magnetic dispersion carrier, a resin dispersion carrier, and the like.
In the white toner image (fixed image thereof), the white pigment used generally uses an inorganic material (for example, titanium oxide, zinc oxide, zinc sulfide, etc.).

  As a method for using such white toner, for example, a colored transfer object such as colored paper or black paper or a transfer object such as a transparent material is subtracted with a white toner image, that is, a concealing layer is formed with white toner. There is a method of reducing the influence of the ground color and improving the color developability by forming the image, forming a color image thereon, and drawing it. In addition, there is a method in which a white toner image itself is drawn on a colored transfer material such as colored paper or black paper or a transfer material such as a transparent material.

The image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. And the control part 60 which controls operation | movement of each part is provided. The control unit 60 is an example of a control unit.
In addition, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a user interface (UI) unit that receives an operation input from a user and displays various information for the user.

In addition, the image forming apparatus 100 sequentially transfers (primary transfer) each color component toner image formed by each image forming unit 10 and holds each color component toner image, and the intermediate transfer belt 20. And a secondary transfer device 30 that collectively transfers (secondary transfer) the color component toner images on the recording material P formed in a rectangular shape. The recording material P is a fixing target medium such as paper or film.
The intermediate transfer belt 20 and the secondary transfer device 30 are examples of image forming means.

Further, the image forming apparatus 100 is provided with a paper supply device 40 for supplying the recording material P. In addition, a plurality of transport rolls 41 that transport the recording material P positioned on the paper transport path are provided between the paper supply device 40 and the secondary transfer device 30.
In the present embodiment, a fixing device 50 is provided for fixing the image secondarily transferred onto the recording material P by the secondary transfer device 30 to the recording material P. Further, between the secondary transfer device 30 and the fixing device 50, a conveyance device 42 that conveys the recording material P that has passed through the secondary transfer device 30 to the fixing device 50 is provided.
The fixing device 50 is an example of a fixing unit.

  Here, each of the image forming units 10 that function as a part of the image forming unit includes a photosensitive drum 11 that is rotatably mounted. Further, around the photosensitive drum 11, a charging device 12 that charges the photosensitive drum 11, an exposure device 13 that exposes the photosensitive drum 11 to write an electrostatic latent image, and an electrostatic on the photosensitive drum 11. And a developing device 14 that visualizes the latent image with toner. Further, a primary transfer device 15 that transfers each color component toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 11 to the intermediate transfer belt 20 and a drum cleaning device 16 that removes residual toner on the photosensitive drum 11 are provided. Yes.

Each developing device 14 of each image forming unit 10 described above includes toner storage containers 17W1, 17Y, 17M, 17C, 17K, and 117W2 (hereinafter referred to as the entirety) having spaces (accommodating spaces) for storing corresponding color toners. And may be referred to as a toner storage container 17) via a toner conveyance path. Each color toner is supplied from the toner storage container 17 to the developing device 14 by a supply screw (not shown) provided in the toner conveyance path.
The toner storage container 17W1 is an example of a cartridge, and the cartridge here is a concept including a toner cartridge and a concept including a process cartridge. The white toner in the toner storage container 17W1 is an example of a toner used for forming the first image, and the white toner in the toner storage container 17W2 is an example of another toner.

Here, the toner storage container 17 in the image forming unit 10 is a cartridge that is detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus 100, so that the toner storage container 17 is pulled out and removed from the main body, and only the cartridge is attached to the main body. It can be exchanged by the user.
The cartridge includes at least toner storage containers 17W1, 17Y, 17M, 17C, 17K, and 17W2 of the image forming units 10W1, 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10K, and 10W2.
That is, a case where the toner storage container 17 is used as a replacement unit can be cited as a toner cartridge which is an example of the cartridge. In addition, a case where the replacement unit is larger than that, that is, the case where the replacement unit is the developing device 14, the toner storage container 17, and the toner transport path connecting the toner storage container 17 and the development device 14 to each other can be cited. .
In addition, as a process cartridge which is an example of the cartridge, a configuration in which a configuration including the developing device 14, the toner storage container 17, the toner conveyance path, and the photosensitive drum 11 is integrated to be an exchange unit can be given. In addition, the charging unit 12 and / or the drum cleaning device 16 in addition to the photosensitive drum 11 may be integrated into a replacement unit.

  An example in which a nonvolatile memory unit is mounted on such a cartridge is conceivable. For example, in the case of a process cartridge, the non-volatile memory unit includes, in addition to information indicating the type of cartridge, the image forming units 10W1, 10Y, 10M, 10C, the number of rotations of the photosensitive drum 11, the high voltage application time, the number of prints, etc. An application example in which each cartridge use history information when the process cartridge is mounted at 10K and 10W2 is conceivable.

It is conceivable that such a cartridge adopts a replaceable format in which a plurality or all of these are integrated, in addition to a format that can be replaced independently for each of the image forming units 10W1, 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10K, and 10W2. . That is, it is a form of partial exchange or full exchange.
In such partial replacement, in order to prevent erroneous mounting, for example, the cartridge of the image forming unit 10W1 cannot be mounted on the image forming unit 10W2, and the cartridge of the image forming unit 10W2 cannot be mounted on the image forming unit 10W1. Adopt the configuration to do. For example, there can be considered an example realized by changing the shape of the cartridge receiving portion in each of the image forming units 10W1 and 10W2.

The above-described intermediate transfer belt 20 is provided so as to be stretched over a plurality of roll members 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26. Of these roll members 21 to 26, the roll member 21 drives the intermediate transfer belt 20. The roll member 25 is disposed opposite to the secondary transfer roll 31 with the intermediate transfer belt 20 interposed therebetween, and the secondary transfer device 30 is configured by the secondary transfer roll 31 and the roll member 25.
A belt cleaning device 27 for removing residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 20 is provided at a position facing the roll member 21 across the intermediate transfer belt 20.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the fixing device 50.
As shown in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the fixing device 50 includes a rotatable transparent rod 51 configured in a cylindrical shape with a transparent material that can transmit a light beam or a laser beam Bm, and a contact area. And a counter roll 52 that is provided so as to face the transparent rod 51 and moves and conveys the recording material P in cooperation with the transparent rod 51.
Further, the fixing device 50 is a condensing device (linear condensing) that enters the transparent rod 51 with a laser beam Bm that condenses in a linear region (narrow condensing width) over the entire width of the region of the recording material P to which an image is transferred. Device) 53.
The fixing device 50 is a laser fixing device that directly heats the toner of the recording material P with the laser beam Bm condensed on the linear region from the light condensing device 53 and welds and fixes the toner. In addition, by narrowing the width of the linear region, the light collection efficiency is improved and the fixing portion is quickly cooled.

Transparency in the transparent rod 51 means that the transmittance is high in the wavelength region of the laser beam Bm, and any material that transmits the laser beam Bm may be used. From the viewpoint of light utilization efficiency, the transmittance is high. Higher is better. For example, it is 90% or more, desirably 95% or more.
Further, the facing roll 52 is made of, for example, a copper plate plated with aluminum, stainless steel, nickel, or the like, and is arranged so that a predetermined pressing force acts between the transparent roll 51. Thereby, a contact area is formed between the transparent rod 51 and the opposing roll 52.
In the present embodiment, by having the opposing roll 52, even if the white toner is overheated, it can be quickly applied by increasing the heat conduction by applying pressure before voids or gas generation occurs. The absorbed heat energy can be transferred to the YMCK toner to prevent poor fixing.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a case where a full-color image secondarily transferred onto a recording material is fixed. FIG. 3A shows a case where a full-color image is formed on paper P1 as a recording material, and FIG. A case where a full color image is formed on a film P2 as a recording material is shown. As an application in the case of forming an image on the film P2, for example, a container level can be considered. Paper P1 or film P2 is an example of a recording material.
In the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, as described above, as the image forming unit 10, the image forming unit 10W1, the image forming unit 10Y, and the image forming unit 10M arranged from the upstream side to the downstream side. The image forming unit 10C, the image forming unit 10K, and the image forming unit 10W2 are provided (see FIG. 1). On the printing surface of the recording material P, a toner image T10W1 formed with toner in the toner storage container 17W1 in the image forming unit 10W1 and a toner image T10Y formed with toner in the toner storage container 17Y in the image forming unit 10Y The toner image T10M formed with the toner in the toner storage container 17M in the image forming unit 10M, the toner image T10C formed with the toner in the toner storage container 17C in the image forming unit 10C, and the toner storage container 17K in the image forming unit 10K. The toner image T10K formed with the toner and the toner image T10W2 formed with the toner in the toner storage container 17W2 in the image forming unit 10W2 can be formed.
The toner image T10W1 is an example of a first image, the toner images T10Y, T10M, T10C, and T10K are examples of a second image, and the toner image T10W2 is an example of a third image.

When an image is formed on the paper P1 shown in FIG. 3A, the toner image T10W1 using the toner in the toner storage container 17W1, the toner image T10Y using the toner in the toner storage container 17Y, and the toner are controlled by the control unit 60. The toner image T10M using the toner in the storage container 17M, the toner image T10C using the toner in the toner storage container 17C, and the toner image T10K using the toner in the toner storage container 17K are primarily transferred in this order (see FIG. 1). Then, under the control of the control unit 60, secondary transfer is performed on the printing surface P1a of the paper P1 in the state of being stacked in this way. That is, in the case of the paper P1, the toner image T10W1 is located close to the printing surface so that the background color cannot be seen through and the color of the toner is improved.
When an image is formed on the film P2 shown in FIG. 3B, the toner image T10Y using the toner in the toner storage container 17Y and the toner image T10M using the toner in the toner storage container 17M are controlled by the control unit 60. The toner image T10C using the toner in the toner storage container 17C, the toner image T10K using the toner in the toner storage container 17K, and the toner image T10W2 using the toner in the toner storage container 17W2 are transferred in this order (see FIG. 1). . Then, under the control of the control unit 60, secondary transfer is performed on the printing surface P2a of the film P2 in the state of being laminated in this way. In the case of the film P2, the toner image T10W2 is at a position far from the printing surface in order to perform reverse printing in which the toner is fixed on the back side.

That is, when printing an image including an image using white toner, in the case of paper P1, a white image is formed by the most upstream image forming unit 10W1 of the image forming unit 10W1 and the image forming unit 10W2. To do. In the case of the film P2, a white image is formed by the most downstream image forming unit 10W2 out of the image forming unit 10W1 and the image forming unit 10W2.
In other words, the white image on the paper P1 is obtained by secondarily transferring the toner image T10W1 from the image forming unit 10W1 to the printing surface P1a. In this case, the image forming unit 10W2 is not used. Further, the white image on the film P2 is obtained by secondarily transferring the toner image T10W2 from the image forming unit 10W2 to the printing surface P2a. In this case, the image forming unit 10W1 is not used.
Although it is difficult to assume a case where a white image is formed by both the image forming unit 10W1 and the image forming unit 10W2, such a case is not excluded.

More specifically, the white toner in the toner storage container 17W1 in the image forming unit 10W1 and the white toner in the toner storage container 17W2 in the image forming unit 10W2 are not the same, but have different physical property values. More specifically, the white toner in the toner storage container 17W1 and the white toner in the toner storage container 17W2 have different transmittances. That is, the white toner in the toner storage container 17W1 and the white toner in the toner storage container 17W2 have different degrees of transmission of received light. Note that the transmittance mentioned here can also be referred to as whiteness or concealment rate.
The white toner in the toner storage container 17W1 is an example of a second toner containing a reflective material, and the white toner in the toner storage container 17W2 is an example of a first toner containing a reflective material.

More specifically, the white toner in the toner storage container 17W2 has a low transmittance, and the white toner in the toner storage container 17W1 has a high transmittance. That is, when both are compared in terms of transmittance, the transmittance of the white toner in the toner storage container 17W2 is lower than that of the white toner in the toner storage container 17W1. From another viewpoint, as shown in FIG. 3B, the white toner in the case where there is a toner image of another color between the printing surface of the recording material P, that is, the white toner in the toner storage container 17W1, is highly transmissive. As shown in FIG. 3A, the white toner in the case where there is no other color toner image between the printing surface of the recording material P, that is, the white toner in the toner storage container 17W2, is low in transmission. Rate.
In other words, the transmittance of the white toner first hit by the laser beam Bm of the fixing device 50 is increased (whiteness or concealment rate is reduced), and the transmittance of the last white toner is decreased (whiteness or concealment rate is decreased). Increase).

As a method for giving such white toner a difference in transmittance, it is possible to change the amount or ratio (content ratio) of the white pigment. That is, the content ratio of the white pigment in the toner storage container 17W1 is set lower than that in the toner storage container 17W2. For example, the transmittance is made different by lowering the ratio of titanium oxide as a reflective material by the toner storage container 17W1. In other words, this is a technique in which the ratio of titanium oxide in the white toner in the toner storage container 17W1 is less than that in the white toner in the toner storage container 17W2.
As another method, for example, a white toner in the toner storage container 17W2 mixed with a transparent toner is used as the white toner in the toner storage container 17W2, thereby reducing the content or the content ratio of titanium oxide, thereby increasing the transmittance. You can mention making a difference. For example, 80% white toner in the toner storage container 17W2 is mixed with 20% transparent toner and used as the white toner in the toner storage container 17W1. In such a case, the toner storage container 17W1 and the toner storage container 17W2 have the same amount of titanium oxide, but realize different transmittances depending on the transparent toner. When the transparent toner is used, it is not necessary to manufacture different types of white toners with different amounts of titanium oxide, compared with the case where the amount of titanium oxide is reduced, so that the cost can be reduced.
Titanium oxide and aluminum described later are examples of the reflecting material. In addition, the material in which mica particles are coated with titanium oxide functions as a reflector as described here, because light is reflected in multiple layers.

In the present embodiment, when a white toner image is formed on the paper P1 and the film P2 as the recording material P, a configuration in which the transmittance of the two white toners is changed is employed. It is also conceivable to apply to a toner having a high concealing property containing aluminum that scatters light, such as silver toner and gold toner. That is, this is an application example of an image forming apparatus including two types of toners having different transmittances with respect to a toner containing a reflecting member, such as a silver toner. In other words, a normal color toner, for example, a K toner, includes an infrared absorbing member (absorbing material) but does not include a reflecting material (reflecting material), and thus there is no need to apply this embodiment.
The infrared absorbing member is an example of an absorbing material. A member that absorbs part of visible light is also an example of an absorbent.

In this way, the image forming unit 10W1 that forms the toner image that is located on the most upstream side and that will be secondarily transferred first, and the toner image that is located on the most downstream side and that will be secondarily transferred last. The reason why the white toner is changed in the image forming unit 10W2 to be formed will be described. That is, the transmittance is different between the white toner in the toner storage container 17W1 and the white toner in the toner storage container 17W2.
Hereinafter, the reason why the white toner of the image forming unit 10W2 has a low transmittance and the reason why the white toner of the image forming unit 10W1 has a high transmittance will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3B, since the white toner of the image forming unit 10W1 is the outermost layer, the laser beam Bm first hits the fixing device 50 with the laser beam Bm. In the lower layer, which is the lower layer, there are black, yellow, magenta and cyan toner layers. Therefore, when the transmittance of the white toner of the image forming unit 10W1 is lowered, the laser beam Bm of the fixing device 50 is reflected by the white toner layer of the image forming unit 10W1 which is the outermost layer and enters the laminated toner layer. The amount of laser beam Bm that travels decreases, affecting the fixing of the toner layers of other colors.
Therefore, by setting the white toner (the outermost layer white toner) of the image forming unit 10W1 to a high transmittance, the amount of the laser beam Bm reflected by the outermost layer white toner is reduced, and the lower layer toner (black, yellow, magenta and The light energy of the laser beam Bm reaches the cyan toner layers), and fixing can be ensured.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3A, the white toner of the image forming unit 10W2 is the lowermost layer, and the laser beam Bm of the fixing device 50 is absorbed sequentially from the upper toner layer. Even if a large amount of laser light Bm is reflected by the white toner layer of the lowermost image forming unit 10W2, fixing of the toner layers of other colors is not affected, and deterioration of image quality can be prevented. That is, the image quality can be improved.
In this way, by changing the transmittance of the outermost layer white toner (white toner of the image forming unit 10W1) and the lowermost layer white toner (white toner of the image forming unit 10W2), an image including white toner is formed. The toner fixability can be obtained.
In the present embodiment, the case where the white toner of the image forming unit 10W1 is the outermost layer and the white toner of the image forming unit 10W2 is the lowermost layer has been described (see FIG. 3), but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the image forming unit 10W2 is not limited to this as long as the image forming unit 10W2 is positioned downstream of the image forming unit 10W1 (see FIG. 1).

4A and 4B are diagrams for explaining a state in which the user views the recording material image output from the image forming apparatus 100. FIG. 4A illustrates a case where a full-color image is formed on the paper P1, and FIG. 4B illustrates a film P2. Shows a case where a full-color image is formed. FIGS. 5A and 5B show eyes for clarifying the user's line of sight with respect to the recording material P. FIG.
The printed surface P1a of the paper P1 shown in FIG. 4A is the front surface, and the opposite surface P1b is the back surface. On the other hand, the printing surface P2a of the film P2 shown in FIG. 5B is a surface that the user does not touch when the film P2 is attached to, for example, a container. That is, in the case of the film P2, the surface P2b that is the surface opposite to the printing surface P2a is the surface.

In other words, as shown in FIG. 4A, when the user views the full color image formed on the paper P1, the toner image T10W2 is located far from the user's eyes. Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the user views a full color image formed on the film P2, the toner image T10W1 is located far from the user's eyes.
For this reason, in any case, since the scattered white toner image is at the farthest position, white is maintained so that the user can visually recognize a solid white, and in front of the white toner image. The user feels a certain color of YMCK vividly.

As described above, in this embodiment, the white toner in the toner storage container 17W1 (see FIG. 1) and the white toner in the toner storage container 17W2 (see FIG. 1) have different transmittances, and two types of white toner are used. A configuration using toner is adopted. That is, the toner storage container 17W1, which is the outermost layer in the fixing stage, employs a configuration in which the white toner transmittance is higher than that of the white toner of the toner storage container 17W2, which is the lowermost layer. However, other configurations are possible.
For example, the white toner in the toner storage container 17W1 and the white toner in the toner storage container 17W2 are the same, that is, the same transmittance, and one type of white toner is used. The transmission amount of the toner image T10W1 (see FIG. 3B) and the transmission amount of the toner image T10W2 (see FIG. 3A) are different from each other. More specifically, the control unit 60 controls the thickness of the toner image T10W1 to be thinner than the toner image T10W2 (thinning), thereby making it difficult to scatter the laser beam Bm and forming the laser beam Bm in the lower layer. Makes it easy to penetrate. In addition, the control unit 60 controls the toner image T10W1 to be a dot pattern, a halftone pattern, or the like, thereby making it difficult for the toner image T10W1 to scatter the laser beam Bm. That is, by reducing the amount of white toner per unit area, the amount of laser light Bm transmitted from the toner image T10W1 (see FIG. 3B) to the lower layer becomes the toner image T10W2 (see FIG. 3A). In this case, the lower layer fixing property can be secured.
The configuration when one type of white toner is used can be defined as follows. That is, the control unit 60 determines whether the toner image formed with the white toner including the reflective material is positioned between the recording material P and the toner image formed with the K toner including the absorbing material. Control is performed such that the transmittances for transmitting the light Bm are different from each other, and the latter transmittance is higher than the former transmittance.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the physical property values of the white toner stored in the toner storage container 17W1 (see FIG. 1) and the white toner stored in the toner storage container 17W2 (see FIG. 1) are different from each other. The case where the physical property values are the same is described.

  That is, as the former, it has been described that the white toner in the toner storage container 17W1 has a higher transmittance for transmitting the laser beam Bm than the white toner in the toner storage container 17W2. A toner image T10W1 (see FIG. 3B) of white toner in the toner storage container 17W1 is positioned on the outermost layer in the film P2, and a toner image T10W2 of white toner in the toner storage container 17W2 (FIG. 3A). Reference) is located at the lowermost layer in the paper P1. The transmittance of the toner image T10W1 is higher than the transmittance of the toner image T10W2.

Further, as the latter, the white toner in the toner storage container 17W1 and the white toner in the toner storage container 17W2 have substantially the same transmittance, and the unit is changed by thinning the white toner layer or changing the pattern (dot pattern, halftone pattern, etc.). The amount of toner per area is reduced, thereby adjusting the amount of transmission through which the laser beam Bm is transmitted.
That is, the transmission amount of the toner image T10W1 (see FIG. 3B) is larger than the transmission amount of the toner image T10W2 (see FIG. 3A).

  Such a difference in transmittance and amount of transmission can be rephrased as a difference in transmittance for transmitting the laser beam Bm. That is, the transparency of the toner image T10W1 (see FIG. 3B) is higher than the transparency of the toner image T10W2 (see FIG. 3A).

  Although the present invention has been described using the embodiment, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternative embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

10W1, 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10K, 10W2 ... Image forming unit, 17W1, 17W2 ... Toner storage container, 30 ... Secondary transfer device, 50 ... Fixing device, 60 ... Control unit, 100 ... Image forming device, T10W1, T10Y , T10M, T10C, T10K, T10W2 ... Toner image

Claims (5)

A first image including a reflecting material and a second image including an absorbing material are stacked on the recording material to form an image, and a third image including the reflecting material and a second image including the absorbing material are stacked on the recording material. Image forming means for forming an image,
A fixing unit that irradiates an image formed on the recording material by the image forming unit with a laser beam and fixes the image;
When the second image is positioned between the first image and the recording material, the third image is between the second image and the recording material. Control means for controlling to be higher than the transparency of the third image when
An image forming apparatus comprising: The image forming unit forms the first image with a first toner containing a reflective material, and forms the third image with a second toner containing a reflective material;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first toner has a lower content ratio of the reflective material than the second toner.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first toner includes a transparent toner so that the content ratio of the reflective material is lower than that of the second toner.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the first image is formed, the control unit reduces a toner amount per unit area as compared with a case where the third image is formed. A first image including a reflecting material and a second image including an absorbing material can be formed and detachably attached to an image forming apparatus main body capable of forming a third image including a reflecting material and a second image including an absorbing material. A cartridge,
Having at least a storage space for storing toner used for forming the first image;
The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the toner in the storage space has a lower content ratio of a reflective material than other toners used for forming the third image.

Images