JP3066440B2 - Electrophotographic equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention comprises monochrome recording means by electrophotography and color recording means, and conveys paper so that color recording can be performed on a surface on which a toner image has been recorded by electrophotography. The present invention relates to an electrophotographic apparatus having a sheet transporting means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional electrophotographic apparatus, when a color illustration is output to a monochrome image, the color illustration output by the color recording means of another apparatus is attached to the monochrome image, or a monochrome image is output. The image and the illustration of the color are configured to be performed by another color recording means.

[0003]

In a conventional electrophotographic apparatus, when an image in which a color image is pasted on a monochrome image is output by a color electrophotographic apparatus as a color image output apparatus, the apparatus is required to have a color image output apparatus. There is a problem that the cost is high and the maintenance cost increases. Further, when output is performed by an ink jet recording apparatus or a thermal transfer recording apparatus, there is a problem that the monochrome image output result and the color image output result need to be aligned in the page order, and the image quality of the monochrome image deteriorates. Further, since the recording speed of the color image output device is lower than the recording speed of the monochrome image, there is a problem that the average recording speed of the monochrome image is significantly reduced.

In addition, when a color picture is pasted on a monochrome image, two output devices for outputting a monochrome image and a color image are required, and the picture must be cut and pasted from the color image output result. There was a problem that it did not become.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic method for toner.
An object of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic apparatus capable of performing color recording of different recording systems on a surface of a sheet on which an image is recorded.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is directed to a conveying means for separating and feeding sheets one by one, and a sheet on which a toner image formed by a recording unit is conveyed. Transfer means for transferring the toner image onto the sheet, and a fixing means for fixing the toner image transferred by the transfer means to the sheet.
Has a transport path to rotate and temporarily
Temporary stacking means for stacking, and the fixing means
Place the paper on which the toner image is fixed in the stacker or the temporary
A first switching gate for conveying to the tacking means,
Is a color printer that performs color printing on paper at different printing speeds.
Recording means and the conveyed paper
If you have a return transport path that reverses the
The paper that has been reversed again in the return transport path is
Return transport means for transporting to the copying means;
Temporary stack to separate and feed the paper stacked on
Paper from the temporary stack separating means.
Convey to the color recording means or the return conveyance path
A second switching gate, the first switching gate and the second
And control means for controlling switching of the exchange gate.
The photographic apparatus is intended to have configured.

The present invention also provides a method for separating and feeding sheets one by one.
Transport means for transporting the toner image formed by the recording unit
Transfer means for transferring to the transferred paper, and the transfer means
Fixing means for fixing the transferred toner image to paper, and transport
It has a transport path for reversing the
Temporary stacking means for temporarily stacking the stacked sheets;
The paper on which the toner image has been fixed by the fixing means
Or a first switching gate for conveying to the temporary stacking means
And color recording on paper at a recording speed different from that of the recording unit.
Color recording means for performing
The paper is turned upside down on the upstream side and is carried in from the color recording means.
Paper is loaded as it is and the loaded paper is reversed at the downstream side
Return return path,
Transports the inverted paper downstream of the transport path to the transfer means;
Return transportation means, and a return transportation means
The sub is set to reverse the paper from the return conveyance path.
Having a return transport path and the sub-return transport
Transports the inverted paper on the path to the temporary stacking means
The sub-return conveying means and the temporary stacking means
Temporary stack separation means for separating and feeding backed sheets
And the paper color-recorded by the color recording means.
Discharging means for discharging color recording paper, and the temporary stack
The paper from the separating means is transferred to the color recording means or the refill.
From the color recording paper discharge means
Second switching gate for transporting the sheet of paper to the return transport path
And the retarder disposed in the middle of the return transport path.
Paper returned from the upstream side of the
Convey to the downstream side of the transport path or to the sub return transport path
A third switching gate, the first switching gate, and the second switching
Control for controlling the switching of the gate and the third switching gate
And an electrophotographic apparatus comprising:
You.

In configuring the electrophotographic apparatus,
Toner - can be provided separately Rukoto each stack means for discharging the sheet having the recorded image the image - image only and stack means for discharging the sheet having an image of color
You.

[0009]

According to the present invention, a toner image is recorded on a sheet (sheet) by electrophotography and fixed, and then discharged to a stacker in the case of single-sided recording in monochrome recording. When recording is performed, the sheet is carried into a temporary stacking means (temporary stacker), and is separated and fed from the temporary stacker to color recording means having different recording speeds as necessary. Use In the case of double-sided monochromatic printing, stacked in the temporary stacker
The paper is temporarily transported from the stacker to the return
Turn the paper over and again, and place toner on the back of the paper.
The image is recorded and discharged to the stacker.

On the other hand, when color recording is performed after double-sided recording, toner images are first recorded on both sides, and then the paper is discharged to a temporary stacker and stacked on the temporary stacker.
The paper is conveyed to the color recording means, and the paper is
A color image is recorded on one side (front side) of the image. After the color recording is completed, the paper is returned to the return
After the paper is conveyed, the paper is
When stacking on the stacker. After this, use the temporary stacker
The paper is conveyed again to the color recording means to record a color image on the back surface of the paper .

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, a separating device 3 separates and feeds sheets (sheets) 1 accumulated in a hopper 2 one by one.
And a registration device 4 connected to the separation device 3
A photosensitive drum 5 on which an electrostatic latent image is recorded by a laser light generator (not shown), and a transfer device (not shown) for transferring a toner image on the photosensitive drum 5 visualized by a developing device onto the paper 1 ( A transfer unit 6, a static eliminator 7 for separating the sheet 1 from the photosensitive drum 5, a fixing unit (fixing unit) 8 for fixing a toner image on the sheet 1 to the sheet 1, and a D transport downstream of the fixing unit 8. Path (conveying path for reversing sheet 1) Temporary stacker (temporary stacking means) 1 provided for stacking sheets 1
3, first change換Ge for conveying paper 1 to the stacker 11 or the temporary stacker 13 - with bets 9, the stacker 19 or the return transport path has been the paper 1 discharged from the temporary stacker 13 (Rita
A second switching gate 15 for transporting to a second transporting means 20;
Ink jet recording head 16 and platen roller 17 provided between second switching gate 15 and stacker 19
And a control unit (control device) (not shown) for controlling each mechanism.

The operation of the present invention will be described.

The sheets 1 deposited in the hopper 2 are separated and fed one by one by a separation device 3 and sent to a registration device 4. On the other hand, the electrostatic latent image recorded on the photosensitive drum 5 by a laser light generator (not shown) is visualized by a developing device (not shown) and becomes a toner image. Toner on photosensitive drum 5
The image is transferred onto the sheet 1 by the transfer unit 6, and the sheet 1 is separated from the photosensitive drum 5 by the charge removing unit 7. The toner image on the sheet 1 is fixed on the sheet 1 by the fixing device 8. Thereafter, the sheet 1 is sent to the ejection roller 10 by the first switching gate 9 in the case of single-sided recording and monochrome recording, and is fed to the stacker 1.
It is discharged to 1.

In the case of double-sided recording and monochrome recording, paper 1
Is transported to the D transport path 12 by the first switching gate 9 and temporarily loaded into the stacker 13. Then, temporarily stacker 1
3, the paper 1 is separated by the temporary stacker separating device 14 by the switchback method, and is conveyed again to the registration device 4 via the return conveying path 20. At this time,
The paper 1 is transported after being inverted on the upstream side of the transport path 20.
It is reversed again downstream of the road 20. As described above, when performing double-sided printing, the temporary stacker 13 functions as a sheet 1 reversing device.

Next, with reference to the control flow shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, provided on the transport path in the case of single-sided printing in monochrome printing, in the case of performing double-sided printing in monochrome printing, and in the case of performing color printing in single-sided printing. The control of each switching gate will now be described.

When the print job command arrives at the control device, the control device first determines whether the print job command is monochrome recording or color.
Determine if it is a record. If the print job command is monochrome recording, it is further determined whether the print job command is single-sided recording or double-sided recording.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the print job command is monochrome printing and single-sided printing, the first switching gate 9 disposed behind the fixing device 10 is controlled to discharge the paper 1 from the roller. 1
0, discharge to stacker 11.

If the print job command is monochrome recording and double-sided recording, the first switching gate 9 provided behind the fixing device 10
To transport the paper 1 to the D transport path 12. Thereafter, the sheet 1 is carried into the temporary stacker 13 and synchronized with the timing of the back side recording output from the printer control device, the sheet 1 is transferred to the temporary stacker 13 in the switchback format.
To temporary stacker separation device (temporary stack separation means) 1
4 and separated and fed. After being separated and fed, the second switching gate 15 is controlled to convey the sheet 1 to the return conveying path 20 and again to the registration device 4. Then, the paper 1 goes through a transfer and fixing process,
It is deposited on the stacker 11. The paper 1 may be discharged to the stacker 19 and accumulated by controlling the first switching gate 9.

On the other hand, when the print job command performs one-sided monochrome recording and one-sided color recording, as shown in FIG.
By controlling the first switching gate 9, the paper 1 is carried into the temporary stacker 13 via the D transport path 12. Thereafter, the sheet 1 is separated and fed by the temporary stacker separation device 14 at the timing of the start of color recording output from the printer control device, and a color image is printed on a monochrome recording surface. There is a large difference between the recording speed in color printing and the recording speed in monochrome printing. In most cases, the recording speed is lower in color recording, and the paper 1 is temporarily deposited on the stacker 13. Then, the sheet 1 is switched from the temporary stacker 13 in the switchback format.
Is separated by a temporary stacker separating device 14, and is conveyed by a second switching gate 15 to color recording means, for example, between an ink jet recording head 16 and a platen roller 17, and is recorded. Thereafter, the sheet is discharged to the stacker 19 by the discharge roller 18. The color recording means may be a thermal transfer type color recording. FIG. 4 shows a control flow of the switching gate for double-sided monochrome and single-sided color recording.

Next, another embodiment capable of performing double-sided color recording will be described with reference to FIG. A third switching gate 21 in the middle of the return transport path 20 and a transport path (sub return transport) connecting the third switching gate 21 to the temporary stacker 13.
Means) 22 are provided, and the other configuration is the same as that of the embodiment shown in FIG. The temporary stacker is located upstream of the transport path 22.
The sheet 1 from the separation device 14
The paper 1 from the platen 17 side
A carrying path for carrying in is formed. If the print job command is double-sided monochrome and double-sided color recording, the first switching gate 9
And transports the sheet 1 to the temporary stacker 13 via the D transport path 12. Thereafter, the paper 1 is separated and fed from the temporary stacker 13 in a switchback format in synchronization with the start timing of the back side recording output from the control device.
After the sheet is separated and fed, the second switching gate 15 is controlled to convey the sheet 1 to the return conveying path 20, and the registration is performed again.
Transported to the device 4. Thereafter, the sheet 1 passes through the transfer and fixing processes, and under the control of the first switching gate 9 again, the sheet 1 passes through the D transport path 12 and temporarily enters the stacker 13.
Transported to Then, the color output from the control device
At the recording start timing, as shown in FIG. 6, the sheet 1 is separated from the temporary stacker 13 in a switchback format by the temporary stacker separation device 14, and is conveyed to the color recording means by the second switching gate 15. Then, the platen roller 17 and the discharge roller 18 (color recording paper discharge means) are reversed, the paper 1 is transported to the return transport path 20 by the second switching gate 15, and the third switching gate 21 is controlled. To temporarily stack on the stacker 13. The paper 1 is turned upside down in the transport path 22, and is again colored by the second switching gate 15.
Convey to recording means. FIG. 7 shows a control flow of the switching gate in the case of single-sided monochrome and double-sided color recording.

According to the present invention, when an image obtained by attaching a color illustration to a monochrome image is output by a color image output device, if the image is output by a color electrophotographic device, the cost of the device is high, and the maintenance cost is high. When output by an ink jet recording device or thermal transfer recording device,
It is necessary to arrange the page order of the monochrome image output result and the color image output result, and the image quality of the monochrome image is deteriorated, and the recording speed of the color image output device is lower than the recording speed of the monochrome image. When the average recording speed is significantly reduced, and when a color illustration is attached to a monochrome image, the monochrome image and the color
You need two printers to output images,
It is possible to solve the problem such as the need to cut and paste an illustration from a color image output result.

[0023]

According to the present invention, since monochrome and color recording can be performed on both sides of a sheet, deterioration of the image quality of a monochrome image and a decrease in recording speed are prevented, and maintenance costs are reduced. Further, when a color image is pasted on a monochrome image, two devices for outputting a monochrome image and a color image are not required, and there is no need to cut and paste the image from the color image output result. is there.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a monochrome, single-sided color showing one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a recording electrophotographic apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a switching gate control flow at the time of single-sided monochrome printing and double-sided monochrome printing according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a switching gate control flow during double-sided monochrome and single-sided color recording according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a switching gate control flow in double-sided monochrome and single-sided color recording of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of an electrophotographic apparatus for monochrome and double-sided color recording showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a switching gate control flow in double-sided monochrome and double-sided color recording according to another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a switching gate control flow for single-sided monochrome and double-sided color recording according to another embodiment.

[Description of Signs] 1 Paper 13 Temporary Stacker 2 Hopper 14 Temporary Stacker Separation Device 3 Separation Device 15 Second Switching Gate 4 Registration Device 16 Inkjet Recording Head 5 Photosensitive Drum 17 Platen Roller 6 Transfer Unit 18 Discharge Roller L 7 Static eliminator 19 Stacker 8 Fixer 20 Return transport path 9 First switching gate 21 Third switching gate 10 Discharge roller 22 Transport path 11 Stacker 12 D transport path

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Shinichi Nishino 2-6-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-60-47549 (JP, A) 55-83079 (JP, A) JP-A-4-9890 (JP, A) JP-A-63-74832 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 15 / 22 G03G 15/00 106 G03G 15/01 G03G 15/36

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] And 1. A leaf transporting means and for feeding one by one separation feeding, which is formed by the recording unit toner - a transfer unit for transferring the conveyed sheet image, toner which has been transferred by the transfer means - a fixing unit that fixes the image on the paper, anti the conveyed sheet
Has a transport path to rotate and temporarily
Temporary stacking means for stacking, and the fixing means
Place the paper on which the toner image is fixed in the stacker or the temporary
A first switching gate for conveying to the tacking means,
Is a color printer that performs color printing on paper at different printing speeds.
Recording means and the conveyed paper
If you have a return transport path that reverses the
The paper that has been reversed again in the return transport path is
Return transport means for transporting to the copying means;
Temporary stack to separate and feed the paper stacked on
Paper from the temporary stack separating means.
Convey to the color recording means or the return conveyance path
A second switching gate, the first switching gate and the second
An electrophotographic apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls switching of a switching gate . 2. A conveying means for separating and feeding sheets one by one.
And transfer the toner image formed by the recording unit to the conveyed paper.
Transfer means for copying, and toner transferred by the transfer means
-Fixing means for fixing the image to the paper, and
Has a transport path to rotate and temporarily
Temporary stacking means for stacking, and the fixing means
Place the paper on which the toner image is fixed in the stacker or the temporary
A first switching gate for conveying to the tacking means,
Is a color printer that performs color printing on paper at different printing speeds.
Reverse the paper from the recording means and the temporary stacking means on the upstream side
The paper from the color recording means
Return transport that reverses the loaded paper on the downstream side
It has a feed path and has a counter
Return transporter that transports the turned paper to the transfer unit
And a step, wherein the return
Sub-return transport path to reverse the paper from the return transport path.
That has been inverted in the sub return transport path
Sub turned transport for transporting the paper in the temporary stack means
Means and a sheet stacked on said temporary stacking means.
Temporary stack separating means for separating and feeding, and the color recording
Recording that discharges paper that has been color-recorded by means
Paper discharging means, and paper from the temporary stack separating means
Transported to the color recording means or the return transport path.
The paper from the color recording paper discharging means is
A second switching gate for transporting to the return transport path and the return transport.
It is located in the middle of the transport path and is located upstream of the return transport path.
Paper transported from the downstream side of the return transport path or
A third switching gate for transporting to the sub return transport path,
The first switching gate and the second switching gate and the
An electrophotographic apparatus comprising: control means for controlling switching of three switching gates . 3. A electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein, toner - discharging the sheet having the recorded image pictures - stack means for discharging the sheet having the image of the image only, color An electrophotographic apparatus, wherein stacking means are provided separately from each other.