JP2020074050A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image forming apparatus that can efficiently perform reuse of sheets.SOLUTION: There is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming part that forms images; a fixing unit that executes fixing processing of fixing the images formed by the image forming part at a target temperature or erasing processing of erasing the images formed on recording media; a driving part that drives the fixing unit at a plurality of driving speeds; an input part that receives the input of processing information; a storage part that stores a target temperature of the fixing unit when performing the fixing processing and a target temperature of the fixing unit when performing the erasing processing; and a control part that, when the input part receives the input of processing information on the fixing processing and the erasing processing and the two types of processing are continuously performed, reads out lower one of the target temperature for fixing and the target temperature for erasing from the storage part and sets the read-out target temperature as the target temperature of the fixing unit, and controls the fixing unit through the driving part at the driving speeds according respectively to the fixing processing and the erasing processing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  Embodiments of the present invention relate to an image forming apparatus.

  As one form of the image forming apparatus, an image is printed on a sheet using a recording material, for example, decolorizable toner, and an image is formed by heating with a fixing device for reuse of the sheet on which the image is formed. It is known to provide a so-called decoloring device for decoloring the toner to be erased to erase the image printed on the paper.

  Such an image forming apparatus is used for various purposes such as image formation with a decolorizable toner, image formation with a non-decolorable toner, and erasing processing of an image formed on paper with a decolorizable toner. To be done. These processes are realized by applying heat to the image formed on the paper. That is, the temperature required to fix the erasable toner, the temperature required to fix the non-erasable toner, and the temperature required to erase the image formed on the paper with the erasable toner. It is necessary to set a plurality of temperatures such as the erasing temperature to operate the image forming apparatus. In this way, when there are multiple set temperatures for the fixing device, it is necessary to lower the temperature of the fixing device in order to shift from the high setting temperature to the low setting temperature depending on the processing content. Takes a long time, and there is a problem in that the usability is poor for the operator.

Japanese Patent No. 5453504

  A problem to be solved by the embodiment of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus which is easy for an operator to use when performing a fixing process and an erasing process.

  Therefore, in order to achieve the above object, the following measures are taken in the embodiment of the present invention. An image forming unit for forming an image on a recording medium, and a fixing process for heating the recording medium at a predetermined driving speed and a target temperature to fix the image formed by the image forming unit at the target temperature, or forming on the recording medium. A fixing unit for executing an erasing process for erasing the formed image at a target temperature different from the target temperature for fixing, a driving unit for driving the fixing unit at a plurality of driving speeds, and a process for the fixing process or the erasing process. An input unit for inputting information, a storage unit for storing a target temperature of the fixing device when performing the fixing process and a target temperature of the fixing device when performing the erasing process, and the fixing unit for performing the fixing by the input unit. When the processing information of the processing and the erasing processing is input and the processing is continuously performed, the lower one of the fixing target temperature and the erasing target temperature is read from the storage unit and the target temperature of the fixing device is read. Set, and an image forming apparatus and a control unit that controls to drive the fixing device through the drive portion at a driving speed corresponding to each processing of the fixing process and the erasing process.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view schematically showing the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows roughly the process information file in this Embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows the setting file in this Embodiment roughly. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the relationship among the registration roller, the fixing device, and the transfer portion in the present embodiment. 3 is a flowchart showing steps of a print / erase job of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows roughly the process information file after a change in this Embodiment.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, an MFP (Multi-Function Peripherals) will be described as an example of the image forming apparatus.

  This embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. FIG. 1 is a sectional view schematically showing a configuration example of the MFP 100 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the MFP 100 has a scanner unit 1, a printer unit 2, an operation panel 4, and a system control unit 5.

  The scanner unit 1 is, for example, a device that is installed on the upper side of the main body of the MFP 100 and reads an image of a document and converts it into image data. The scanner unit 1 has a well-known configuration and is configured by, for example, a CCD line sensor that converts an image of a document on a reading surface into image data. The scanner unit 1 may scan a document placed on a platen glass (not shown), or may read an image of a document conveyed by an automatic document feeder (ADF: Auto Document Feeder). May be The scanner unit 1 is controlled by the system control unit 5.

  The printer unit 2 forms an image on a sheet P as a recording medium. In the present embodiment, the printer unit 2 is an electrophotographic image forming unit. In the case of a color image, the printer unit 2 uses a plurality of types of toner (for example, five types of yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), black (K), and decolorization (D)) to form an image. To form. Yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K) toners are non-erasable toners that cannot be erased even when heat of a predetermined fixing temperature or higher is applied. The decolorizable toner (D) is a toner that can be decolored by heating at a predetermined temperature or higher that exceeds the fixing temperature. The color of the decoloring toner (D) is, for example, dark blue or black. Details of the well-known configuration for generating an image by the printer unit 2 will be described later.

  The decolorizable toner used in this embodiment is made of, for example, a binder resin containing a coloring material. The decolorizable color material includes a color developable compound, a color developing agent, and an erasing agent. Examples of the color developable compound include leuco dyes. Examples of the color developer include phenols. Examples of the erasing agent include substances that are compatible with the color developing compound when heated and have no affinity with the color developing agent. An erasable color material develops color due to the interaction between the color-developing compound and the color-developing agent, and the interaction between the color-developing compound and the color-developing agent is cut off by heating above the decolorization temperature. To be done.

  In the configuration example shown in FIG. 1, the printer unit 2 has a paper feed cassette 20 (20A, 20B, 20C) as a paper feed unit. For example, each of the paper feed cassettes 20A, 20B, and 20C is provided in the lower portion of the main body of the MFP 100 in a removable state. Each of the paper feed cassettes 20A, 20B, and 20C accommodates a paper P of a type (for example, size and paper quality) set in the paper feed cassette. Further, it is also possible to store, for example, sheets P having different sizes in the sheet feeding cassettes 20A, 20B, and 20C, and then set the respective sizes to the corresponding sheet feeding cassettes. Each of the paper feed cassettes 20A, 20B, 20C is provided with a paper feed unit sensor. The paper feed unit sensor detects the amount of paper stored in the paper feed tray 22. The paper feed unit sensor is, for example, an infrared sensor. Alternatively, a mechanical sensor such as a well-known micro switch may be used. The paper feed unit sensor sends the detection result to the system control unit 5 described later. Further, the printer unit 2 may include a well-known manual feed tray (not shown) as another paper feeding unit. In the present embodiment, for example, a blank paper P is placed on the paper feed cassette 20A to form an image. Then, the paper P intended for erasing is placed on the paper feed cassette 20B. In other words, the paper P on which the image has already been formed by the decolorizable toner is placed on the paper feed cassette 20B.

  The setting information and the like regarding the paper P stored in each of the paper feed cassettes 20A, 20B, and 20C is stored in the nonvolatile memory. The printer unit 2 selects a paper feed cassette accommodating the paper P used in the printing process according to the setting information. The printer unit 2 prints an image on the paper P fed from the selected paper feed cassette. When the printer unit 2 has a manual feed tray, the size of the paper P set in the manual feed tray input from the operation panel 4 may be stored in the above-mentioned nonvolatile memory. The nonvolatile memory is the HDD 55 described later.

  In the following description, since the paper is conveyed from the paper feed unit 20 to the paper ejection unit 30, the paper feed unit 20 side is the upstream side in the paper conveyance direction, and the paper ejection unit 30 side is the paper conveyance unit. Downstream with respect to the direction.

  The conveyance roller 22 shown in FIG. 1 is arranged along the paper conveyance path in the printer unit 2 and conveys the paper P. The transport roller 22 is driven by a motor (not shown). The conveyance roller 22 conveys the paper P supplied from the corresponding paper feed cassette 20A, 20B, or 20C by the pickup roller 21A, 21B, or 21C to the registration roller 24 arranged on the upstream side of the transfer unit 28 described later. To do. The registration roller 24 conveys the paper P to the transfer position at the timing when the image is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 27 described later to the paper P.

  The details of image formation will be described below. The image forming unit 25, the exposure unit 26, the intermediate transfer belt 27, and the transfer unit 28 illustrated in FIG. 1 function as a known image forming unit that forms an image. The image forming unit 25 forms an image to be transferred onto a sheet. In the configuration example for generating the color image shown in FIG. 1, as will be described in detail later, the image forming unit 25Y forms an image corresponding to yellow by color separation of the original image with yellow toner. The image forming unit 25M similarly forms a corresponding image with magenta toner. The image forming unit 25C forms a corresponding image with cyan toner. The image forming unit 25K forms a corresponding image with black toner. Then, the image forming units 25Y, 25M, 25C, and 25K transfer the toner images of the respective colors on the intermediate transfer belt 27 in an overlapping manner. On the other hand, the image forming unit 25D is a decolorizable toner and is used when the paper is reused, and forms an erasable original image. As described above, the color of the decolorizable toner is dark blue or black. Therefore, the image formed by the image forming unit 25D is a monochrome (monochromatic) image. Each of the image forming units 25Y, 25M, 25C, 25K, and 25D has a well-known configuration, for example, a photosensitive drum, a charger, a developing unit including toner, a charge eliminating unit, and the like (only shown in FIG. 1). The image forming unit 25D is used only when the paper is reused. However, only the toner to be used is different and the configuration and operation are similar to those of the other image forming units, and therefore the following description will be given at the same time.

  The image formation by the electrophotographic method will be described in detail below. Each of the image forming units 25Y, 25M, 25C, 25K, 25D has well-known sensors such as a potential sensor and a density sensor, which are not shown. The potential sensor is a sensor that detects the surface potential of a well-known photosensitive drum included in each image forming unit. In each of the image forming units 25Y, 25M, 25C, 25K and 25D, a well-known charging charger charges the surface of the photoconductor drum before the photoconductor drum is exposed by the exposure unit 26 described later. The system control unit 5 can change the charging condition by the charging charger. The potential sensor detects the surface potential of the photosensitive drum whose surface is charged by the charging charger. The density sensor detects the density of the toner image transferred on the intermediate transfer belt 27 described later. Further, the density sensor may detect the density of the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum.

  The exposure unit 26 forms the electrostatic latent image of the original image acquired by the scanner unit 1 by the laser light on the charged photoconductor drums of the image forming units 25Y, 25M, 25C, 25K, and 25D as described above. .. The electrostatic latent image formed on each photoconductor drum is an image developed with toner of each color. That is, the exposure unit 26 irradiates each photoconductor drum with a laser beam corresponding to each image forming unit that is controlled according to image data, via an optical system such as a polygon mirror. The exposure unit 26 controls the power of the laser light according to the control signal from the system control unit 5. The exposure unit 26 also controls the modulation amount of the pulse width for controlling the emission of the laser light and the like according to the control signal from the system control unit 5.

  As described above, each of the image forming units 25Y, 25M, 25C, 25K, 25D develops the electrostatic latent image formed on each photoconductor drum with the toner of each color by the developing unit. Each of the image forming units 25Y, 25M, 25C, 25K, 25D forms a toner image as a visible image on the photosensitive drum. The intermediate transfer belt 27 is an intermediate transfer body. When forming a color image with the above-described non-erasable toner, each image forming unit 25Y, 25M, 25C, 25K transfers the toner image formed on the photoconductor drum onto the intermediate transfer belt 27 (1 Next transfer). Specifically, each of the image forming units 25Y, 25M, 25C, and 25K applies a transfer bias to the toner image at the primary transfer position (for example, the part where the photosensitive drum and the transfer belt are in contact). Each of the image forming units 25Y, 25M, 25C and 25K controls the transfer bias with the transfer current. The toner image on each photoconductor drum is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 27 by a transfer bias at each primary transfer position. The system control unit 5 controls the transfer current used by each image forming unit in the primary transfer process. On the other hand, when the paper is reused, that is, when a monochrome image is formed with the decolorizable toner, the image forming unit 25D forms a toner image as a visible image on the photosensitive drum. This toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 27 as described above.

  The transfer unit 28 has a support roller 28a and a secondary transfer roller 28b provided along the conveyance path of the paper P, and transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 27 onto the paper P at the secondary transfer position. To do. The secondary transfer position is a position where the support roller 28a and the secondary transfer roller 28b face each other with the intermediate transfer belt 27 interposed therebetween. The transfer unit 28 applies a transfer bias controlled by the transfer current to the belt 27 at the secondary transfer position. The transfer unit 28 transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 27 to the paper P by the transfer bias. The system controller 5 controls the transfer current used in the secondary transfer process.

  The fixing device 29 arranged on the downstream side of the transfer unit 28 has a function of fixing the toner on the paper P. For example, in the embodiment, the fixing device 29 fixes the toner image on the paper P by the heat and pressure applied to the paper P.

  In the configuration example shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the fixing device 29 includes a heat roller (heating unit) 29b having a built-in heat source 29a and a pressure roller (pressure unit) 29c that is in contact with the pressure mechanism 29d in a pressure state. It consists of and. The heating source 29a may be a well-known temperature controllable heater. For example, the heating source 29a may be a heater lamp such as a halogen lamp or an induction heating (IH) type heater. The heating source 29a may be composed of a plurality of heaters. Further, the fixing device 29 further has a temperature sensor 29e for measuring the temperature of the heat roller 29b. The temperature sensor 29e transmits the temperature of the heat roller 29b to the system control unit 5 described later. The system controller 5 controls the heating source 29a based on the temperature sent from the temperature sensor 29e to control the temperature of the heat roller 29b. The pressure mechanism 29d presses the pressure roller 29c against the heat roller 29b. The pressure mechanism 29d is composed of an elastic member or the like. When the pressure roller 29c is not pressed against the heat roller 29b by the pressure mechanism 29d, the pressure roller 29c and the heat roller 29b are separated from each other, and a gap is formed therebetween. The heat roller 29b is rotationally driven by the drive unit 29f. When pressed by the heat roller 29b, the pressure roller 29c is driven and rotated by the heat roller 29b. Note that, as shown in FIG. 5, the registration roller 24, the transfer unit 28, and the fixing device 29 are provided in the downstream of the transport direction.

  When the fixing process for fixing the toner image on the paper P or the erasing process for erasing the image formed on the paper P is performed, the system controller 5 causes the temperature of the fixing device 29 to become a predetermined fixing temperature or a predetermined decoloring temperature. Control.

  In the fixing process, the paper P stored in the paper feed cassette 20A is picked up by the pickup roller 21A to the conveyance path, and the paper P is conveyed to the transfer unit 28. The image is transferred to the paper P by the transfer unit 28 as described above. The fixing device 29 pressurizes the paper P on which the toner image is transferred by the heat roller 29b and the pressure roller 29c, which have reached a predetermined fixing temperature, and heats the paper P at the fixing temperature. As a result, the fixing device 29 fixes the toner image on the paper P. Also, in the erasing process, the paper P stored in the paper feed cassette 20B is picked up by the pickup roller 21B to the conveyance path and conveyed to the fixing device 29. At this time, transfer by the transfer unit 28 is not performed. The fixing device 29 heats the paper P on which the image is formed with the decolorizable toner by the heat roller 29b and the pressure roller 29c that have reached the predetermined decoloring temperature at the decoloring temperature while applying pressure. As a result, the fixing device 29 erases the toner and erases the image formed on the paper P.

  When the fixing process or the erasing process is completed, a well-known branching mechanism (not shown) disposed downstream of the fixing device 29 removes the sheet P subjected to the fixing process from the paper discharge unit 30 or the ADU (Automatic Duplex) in response to the user's processing request. (Unit) 31. When ejecting the paper P that has been subjected to the fixing processing by the fixing device 29, the paper P is carried out to the paper ejection unit 30. When an image is also formed on the back surface of the paper P that has been subjected to the fixing processing by the fixing device 29, the paper P is once transported to the paper discharge unit 30 side, then switched back and transported to the ADU 31. In this case, the ADU 31 supplies the sheet P reversed by the switchback to the upstream side of the registration roller 24 again as shown in FIG.

  The operation panel 4 is a user interface. The operation panel 4 is normally disposed on the upper front side of the main body of the MFP 100 and has a display unit 4a including various known input buttons and a touch panel 4b. The system control unit 5 controls the content displayed on the display unit 4 a of the operation panel 4. Further, the operation panel 4 outputs the information input by the touch panel 4b of the display unit 4a or the input button to the system control unit 5. The operator operates the operation panel 4 to select either one of the print mode and the erase mode. As described above, the print mode is a mode in which an image is formed on the paper P set in the paper feed cassette 20A with non-erasable toner or erasable toner, and the fixing process is executed. The erasing mode is a mode for erasing the image formed on the paper P set in the paper feeding cassette 20B. In other words, in the erasing mode, the image forming unit 25, the exposure unit 26, the intermediate transfer belt 27, and the transfer unit 28 of the printer unit 2 are not used, and the sheet feeding unit 20, the transport unit 22, and the fixing unit 29 are used to print the sheet. The image formed on is erased. Information related to each process such as information necessary for printing such as the number of printed sheets and density input in the print mode, and the number of erased sheets input in the erase mode is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 54 described later as process information ( This operation panel 4 corresponds to the input unit).

  Next, the configuration of the control system of the MFP 100 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the MFP 100 of this embodiment. Via a system bus 52, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 51, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 53, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 54, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 55, an external I / F (Interface) 56, and a transfer unit. 57, the printer unit 2, and the operation panel 4 are connected. The CPU 51, the ROM 53, and the RAM 54 constitute the system control unit 5.

  A program executed by the CPU 51 and a threshold value are stored in the ROM 53 in advance.

  In the RAM 54, various memory areas such as an area for developing a program executed by the CPU 51 and a work area as a work area for data processing by the program are dynamically formed. The RAM 54 has an image storage area for storing image information to be printed. An image is formed based on the image information stored in the image storage area, and the primary transfer is performed on the intermediate transfer belt 27. The image information stored in the image storage area is received from the outside through the external I / F 56, or the image of the sheet P is captured and stored through the scanner unit 1.

  Further, the RAM 54 has a processing information file 70 (see FIG. 3) that stores processing information input from the operation panel 4 or the like. The processing information is information that is input to execute each processing regardless of whether it is automatic or manual. As shown in FIG. 3, the processing information file 70 includes a number area, a processing area, a number of sheets area, an image area, and the like. The print information stored in the processing information file 70 includes density, paper size, etc., but FIG. The number area is the priority of the printing. Corresponding processing is performed in ascending order of this number. The processing area is an area for storing whether the process is a process of deleting an image or a process of printing an image. In this processing area, three processes are stored: erasing and fixing for printing with erasable toner, normal fixing for printing with erasable toner, and erasing process for erasing the image formed on the paper P. To be done. The system control unit 5 reads the contents of this processing area and determines the processing to be executed. The number of sheets to be printed in the process is stored in the number of sheets area. The image area stores information for specifying the image information to be printed in the process, such as the name of the image information to be printed and the path of the saved destination.

  Then, system control unit 5 refers to the processing area of processing information file 70 to determine whether to operate MFP 100 in the temperature change mode or the speed change mode. The temperature change mode is a mode in which the target temperature of the heat roller 29b is changed for each process and the heat roller 29b is driven at a temperature most suitable for fixing and erasing the paper. The temperature change mode is selected by the system controller 5 when a single process is stored in the process area of the RAM 54. The transport speed of the paper P is constant in the temperature change mode. The conveyance speed of the paper P is preferably the maximum speed of the MFP. In this embodiment, it is assumed that it is 60 CPM (COPYPER MINUTES: the number of sheets processed in 1 minute. 60 CPM performs 60 sheets in 1 minute). The speed change mode is a mode in which the CPM is changed for each process. The speed change mode is selected by the system control unit 5 when a plurality of processes are stored in the processing area of the RAM 54. In the speed change mode, the target temperature of the heat roller 29b is constant. In the speed change mode, the target temperature of the heat roller 29b is the lowest temperature among the three temperatures of the decolorizable toner fixing temperature, the non-decolorable toner fixing temperature, and the erasing process decolorizing temperature. To do. In the present embodiment, the lowest fixing temperature of the color erasable toner, for example, 96 degrees is set as the target temperature.

  An OS (Operating System) for operating the MFP 100 is installed in the HDD 55. Further, as described above, in the predetermined area of the HDD 55, what kind of paper is stored in each of the paper feed cassettes 20A, 20B and 20C is stored. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, it has a setting file 80. The setting file 80 stores values to be set in the temperature change mode and the speed change mode. The setting file 80 has a CPM area and a temperature area corresponding to the processing area. The processing area is an area for storing the processing performed by the MFP 100. In this processing area, erasing and fixing for printing with erasable toner, normal fixing for printing with non-erasable toner, and erasing processing for erasing the image formed on the paper P are stored. The CPM area is a CPM value corresponding to the processing stored in the processing area. In the temperature area, the target temperature of the heat roller 29b corresponding to the processing stored in the processing area is stored. The value of each mode will be described. In the temperature change mode, the temperature change file as shown in FIG. The value stored in FIG. 4A is the set value used in the temperature change mode. In the temperature change mode, it is fixed at 60 CPM as described above. In normal fixing, which is fixing with non-decolorable toner, the target temperature of the heat roller 29b is, for example, 160 degrees. In erasing fixing, which is fixing of erasable toner, the target temperature of the heat roller 29b is, for example, 96 degrees. The target temperature of the heat roller 29b in the erasing process for erasing the image formed on the paper P is, for example, 130 degrees. In the speed change mode, the speed change file as shown in FIG. 4B is referenced. The values shown in FIG. 4B are the set values used in the speed change mode. In the speed change mode, the target temperature of the heat roller 29b is fixed at 96 degrees, for example. Then, in the normal fixing, which is the fixing with the non-erasable toner, the MFP 100 is driven at 30 CPM, for example. In erasing and fixing, which is fixing of erasable toner, the MFP 100 is driven at, for example, 60 CPM. In the erasing process for erasing the image formed on the paper P, the MFP 100 is driven at 45 CPM, for example.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the external I / F 56 is an interface for communicating with an external device such as a client terminal (PC). The external I / F 56 receives print data corresponding to a print request from an external device. The external I / F 56 may be an interface that performs data communication with an external device, and may be, for example, a device (USB memory or the like) that is locally connected to the external device, or a network for communicating via a network. It may be an interface (this external I / F 56 may serve as an input unit).

  The transport unit 57 includes a plurality of motors and rollers for transporting the paper P, such as each transport roller in the MFP 100, the registration roller 24, and the drive unit 29f. The system control unit 5 controls the motor of the conveyance unit 57, and changes the rotation speed of each roller such as the heat roller 29b and the registration roller 24. Note that each roller can be individually stopped, driven, changed in speed, and the like, if necessary.

  The configurations of the scanner unit 1, the printer unit 2, and the operation panel 4 have been described above, and will be omitted.

  In the MFP 100 having the above configuration, the MFP 100 executes the print / erase job shown in FIG. 6 based on a preset program.

  The speed change mode and the temperature change mode will be described. Regarding the case where the speed change mode is selected, as described above, the blank paper P is placed in the paper feed cassette 20A of the paper feed unit 20. Then, the paper P on which the image is already formed by the decolorizable toner is placed on the paper feed cassette 20B. Further, in order to perform three processes of erasing and fixing, normal fixing, and erasing process, the operator operates the operation panel 4 to input the processing information as shown in FIG. Further, it is assumed that the process information file 70 of the RAM 54 stores three processes of erasing and fixing, normal fixing, and erasing process, and the corresponding number of sheets and image information as shown in FIG. In the temperature change mode, the case where “normal fixing” is stored in all the processing information files 70 of the RAM 54 will be described as an example.

  First, the speed change mode will be described. The system control unit 5 detects the input of the key signal of the start key of the operation panel 4 (ACT 101).

  When confirming the input of the key signal of the start key, the system control unit 5 accesses the processing area of the processing information file 70 of the RAM 54 and determines whether a plurality of processings are stored or a single processing is stored. Perform (ACT102).

  As shown in FIG. 3, when a plurality of processes are stored in the process area of the process information file 70 of the RAM 54 (Yes in ACT 102), the system control unit 5 operates the MFP 100 in the speed change mode. Specifically, the system control unit 5 reads the value of the temperature area of the speed change file of the setting file 80 of the HDD 55 shown in FIG. 4B, and heats the heat roller 29b to 96 degrees (ACT 103).

  Then, the content of the processing area corresponding to the lowest numerical value stored in the number area of the processing information file 70 of the RAM 54 is read. In this embodiment, “erase fixing” is read. Then, the value of the processing area read from the RAM 54 is searched from the processing area of the speed change file of the setting file 80 of the HDD 55. Then, based on the value of the corresponding CPM area of the setting file 80 of the HDD 55, the system control unit 5 controls the transport unit 57. In the case of FIG. 4B, the sheet is conveyed at 30 CPM (ACT 104).

  The system control unit 5 refers to the contents of the processing area corresponding to the lowest numerical value stored in the number area of the processing information file 70 of the RAM 54, and executes the processing (ACT 105). In the case of FIG. 3, printing is performed using decolorizable toner. The image area of the processing information file 70 of the RAM 54 is referred to, the image information to be stored in the image storage area is specified, and printing is performed for the number of sheets stored in the number of sheets area. In the case of erasing and fixing, the system control unit 5 drives the pickup roller 21A to feed the blank paper P. The system control unit 5 drives the image forming unit 25, the exposure unit 26, the intermediate transfer belt 27, and the transfer unit 28 to transfer the image formed by the decolorizable toner onto the paper P. When the transfer of the image to the paper P is completed, the paper P is conveyed to the fixing device 29, and the image formed on the paper P is fixed. Then, the fixed image is printed and discharged to the paper discharge unit 30. This process is executed for the number of sheets (three sheets).

  When the processing is completed in ACT 105, the information corresponding to the lowest numerical value in the number area of the processing information file 70 in the RAM 54 is deleted (ACT 106). In the case of the setting information area of the RAM 54 shown in FIG. 3, “Erase and fix” in the processing area corresponding to the number area “01”, “03” in the number of sheets area, and “AAAAA” in the image area are deleted. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the value corresponding to the number area “02” is moved up to the number area “01”. That is, after the ACT 106 is completed, the value corresponding to the number area “01” of the processing information file 70 of the RAM 54 becomes the processing area “normal fixing”, the number of sheets area “04”, and the image area “BBBB”.

  Subsequently, the system control unit 5 determines whether the processing information file 70 in the RAM 54 stores processing information to be processed (ACT 107). When the system control unit 5 determines that the processing information is stored in the processing information file 70 of the RAM 54 (Yes in ACT 107), it returns to ACT 104 again and corresponds to the lowest numerical value stored in the number area of the processing information file 70 of the RAM 54. Read the contents of the processing area. In the present embodiment, "erase processing" is read. Then, the value of the processing area read from the RAM 54 is searched from the processing area of the speed change file of the setting file 80 of the HDD 55. Then, based on the value of the corresponding CPM area of the setting file 80 of the HDD 55, the system control unit 5 controls the transport unit 57. In the case of FIG. 4B, the sheet is conveyed at 45 CPM (ACT 104).

  On the other hand, when the system control unit 5 determines that nothing is stored in the processing information file 70 of the RAM 54 (No in ACT 107), it ends the print / erase job.

  Next, the temperature change mode will be described. As described above, the case where “normal fixing” is stored in all the processing information files 70 of the RAM 54 will be taken as an example. Under the above conditions, the system control unit 5 determines that the single processing “normal fixing” is stored in the processing area of the processing information file 70 of the RAM 54 (No in ACT 102), and the system control unit 5 determines the temperature. The MFP 100 is operated in the change mode. Specifically, the system control unit 5 reads the value of the CPM area of the temperature change file of the setting file 80 of the HDD 55 shown in FIG. 4A, and drives the transport unit 57 with the corresponding CPM value. In the example shown in FIG. 4A, it is driven at 60 CPM (ACT 108).

  Then, the value of the processing area corresponding to the lowest numerical value stored in the number area of the processing information file 70 of the RAM 54 is read. Then, the contents of the processing area read from the RAM 54 is searched from the processing area of the temperature change file of the setting file 80 of the HDD 55. Then, based on the value of the corresponding temperature area of the setting file 80 of the HDD 55, the system control unit 5 sets the target temperature of the heat roller 29b. In the embodiment, “normal fixing” is read from the processing information file 70 of the RAM 54. Then, "160 degrees" in the temperature area corresponding to "normal fixing" in the setting file 80 (see FIG. 4A) of the HDD 55 is read and set as the target temperature of the heat roller 29b. Then, the system controller 5 heats the heat roller 29b to 160 degrees (ACT 109).

  The system control unit 5 refers to the value of the processing area corresponding to the lowest numerical value stored in the number area of the processing information file 70 of the RAM 54 and executes the processing (ACT 110).

  When the processing is completed in ACT 110, the information corresponding to the lowest numerical value in the number area of the processing information file 70 in the RAM 54 is deleted. Since the processing is the same as the above-described ACT 106, detailed description thereof will be omitted (ACT 111).

  Subsequently, the system control unit 5 determines whether the processing information file 70 in the RAM 54 stores processing information to be processed (ACT 112). When the system control unit 5 determines that nothing is stored in the processing information file 70 of the RAM 54 (No in ACT 112), it ends the print / erase job.

  On the other hand, when the system control unit 5 determines that the process information is stored in the process information file 70 of the RAM 54 (Yes in ACT 112), the process returns to ACT 104 again, and the lowest numerical value stored in the number area of the process information file 70 of the RAM 54. The transport unit 57 is driven by the CPM corresponding to the value of the processing area corresponding to.

  As described above, for example, when the erasing process is performed and then the fixing process is performed with the continuously erasable toner, the MFP 100 according to the present embodiment operates in the speed changing mode (see FIG. 4B). That is, the heat roller 29b is heated to the target temperature of 96 degrees, the drive unit 57 operates at 45 CPM during the erasing process, and the drive unit 54 operates at 60 CPM when the fixing process is performed with the decolorizable toner. As a result, it is not necessary to wait for the temperature of the heat roller 29b to drop from 130 degrees, which is the temperature at which erasing processing is performed, to 96 degrees. As a result, the processing speed of the paper of the MFP 100 is improved, so that it is possible to provide the operator with a convenient MFP.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the fixing temperature of the non-erasable toner> the erasing temperature of the erasable toner> the fixing temperature of the erasable toner, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, this embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The novel embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. This embodiment and its modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the scope equivalent thereto.

5 System control unit 29 Fixing device 54 RAM
55 HDD
100 MFP

Therefore, in order to achieve the above object, the following measures are taken in the embodiment of the present invention. A recording medium, an image forming unit for forming an image, the row intends fuser heating at a predetermined temperature on the recording medium, and a drive unit for conveying the recording medium at a predetermined driving speed in the fixing device, capable of executing a plurality In the case of executing a single process of the plurality of processes , a storage unit that stores the temperature of the fixing device and the transport speed of the drive unit that correspond to each of the processes, and is stored in the storage unit. A first setting unit for setting the driving unit to a predetermined one of a plurality of conveyance speeds, and setting the fixing unit to the temperature corresponding to the single process stored in the storage unit; Control, and at least two or more of the plurality of processes are continuously executed, the fixing device is set to one predetermined temperature among the plurality of temperatures stored in the storage unit. , And stored in the storage unit An image forming apparatus comprising: a second control for selectively setting the drive unit to each of the transport speeds corresponding to the at least two or more processes .

Claims (4)

An image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium,
A fixing process of heating the recording medium at a predetermined driving speed and a target temperature to fix the image formed by the image forming unit at the target temperature, or an image formed on the recording medium is different from the fixing target temperature. A fixing device that executes the erasing process to erase at the target temperature,
A drive unit that drives the fixing device at a plurality of drive speeds;
An input unit for inputting processing information of the fixing process or the erasing process,
A storage unit that stores a target temperature of the fixing device when performing the fixing process and a target temperature of the fixing device when performing the erasing process;
When processing information of the fixing process and the erasing process is input by the input unit and the processes are continuously performed, the lower one of the fixing target temperature and the erasing target temperature is read from the storage unit and the A control unit that sets the target temperature of the fixing device, and controls the fixing device to be driven via the driving unit at a driving speed corresponding to each of the fixing process and the erasing process,
An image forming apparatus having. The image forming unit forms an image with at least one of a color material that can be erased by heat or a color material that cannot be erased by heat,
The fixing process of the fixing device executes the fixing process at a temperature corresponding to each of the decolorizable color material and the non-decolorizable color material,
The processing information of the fixing process input by the input unit includes a command to form an image with at least one of a color material that can be erased and a color material that cannot be erased,
The fixing target temperature of the storage unit includes a fixing temperature of an image formed of the color material capable of being erased and a fixing temperature of an image formed of the color material which cannot be erased,
When the processing information of the fixing process and the erasing process for the color material that can be erased and the fixing process for the color material that cannot be erased is input by the input unit, and the processing is performed continuously. Controlling the lowest target temperature of the fixing device out of the processes, setting the target temperature of the fixing device to the target temperature of the fixing device, and changing the driving speed of the driving unit in accordance with these processes. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   The control unit receives any one of the fixing process, the erasing process, and the fixing process for the non-erasable color material input by the input unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, when executing the specified process, the target temperature corresponding to the process input by the input unit is read from the storage unit and set as the target temperature of the fixing device. apparatus. A process information storage unit that stores each process input by the input unit;
The control unit determines whether a plurality of different processes are stored in the process information storage unit, and when determining that a plurality of different processes are stored, among the processes stored in the process information storage unit. The lowest target temperature of the fixing device is read from the storage unit, set to the target temperature of the fixing device, and the driving speed of the driving unit is controlled according to these processes. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 or 3.

Images