JP3224644B2 - Apparatus for removing image-forming substance from image carrier, provided with peeling means having means for detecting the amount of image-forming substance adhering to the surface of the peeling member - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for removing an image-forming substance from an image-holding body on which the image-forming substance is stably adhered by an image-forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, a printing machine or the like. And an image forming substance removing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various methods and apparatuses for removing an image forming substance such as toner from a sheet as a recorded image holding member are known. For example, a method using a solvent is disclosed in
No. 1576 discloses that a sheet with toner attached thereto is immersed in a soluble solvent of a toner resin, and ultrasonic vibration is applied thereto.
There is disclosed a method for removing an image forming substance that releases toner dissolved in a solvent from the paper surface. Also, JP-A-4-3003
No. 95 discloses that a solvent is immersed in the printed portion of waste paper, adhered by a method such as spraying or coating to dissolve the toner,
There is disclosed an image forming substance removing method in which a dissolved toner is removed by a method such as washing, air suction, adsorbent contact, mechanical peeling, or electrostatic adsorption.

On the other hand, as a method using no solvent, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-255195 discloses a hot-melt ink or an electrophotographic method in which a release agent is coated on a support and placed on a printed material by an electrophotographic method or a thermal transfer method. An image-forming substance removing method in which toner is adhered to the ink peeling body by removing the ink peeling body after cooling the ink by passing the ink peeling body over the print body, passing between a heating roller and a pressure roller, and then cooling. Is disclosed. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-64472 discloses at least an endless sheet having a hot-melt resin on the surface, a heat roller and a cooling roller for supporting and rotating the endless sheet, and a paper (erasable paper) with a release treatment on the surface. There is disclosed an eraser comprising a pressing roller for pressing the resin onto a softened or molten hot-melt resin, and a drive unit capable of moving the rollers in conjunction with each other. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-829
No. 83 discloses two rollers provided in parallel to rotate in contact with each other to pass paper through a press-contact portion, a heater for heating at least one of the two rollers, and a roller passing through the press-contact portion. A scraper for separating paper from the roller;
There is disclosed an image forming substance removing device including a peeling device for removing the image forming substance attached to the roller from the roller.

By the way, a method and an apparatus which do not use the above-mentioned solvent can be used, for example, to remove an image-forming substance from a recorded image carrier on which an image is recorded on ordinary paper having paper fibers exposed on the surface. In the fixing step of the electrophotographic method, the image forming substance is firmly fixed to the fibers on the surface of the image holding member, for example, by fusing the image forming substance mainly composed of the heat-fusible resin to the image holding member. When the imaging substance is removed, the paper fibers on the surface are peeled off together with the imaging substance, thereby damaging the paper quality.
In particular, when heat or pressure is applied to the ink exfoliated body, the endless sheet or the roller in order to enhance the removability of the image forming substance, depending on various conditions, conversely, the fixing between the image forming substance and the image holding body may be performed. In some cases, the removal properties were increased, making removal difficult.

[0005] Therefore, the applicant of the present invention has previously reported that a recorded image carrier contains water as a destabilizing agent, an aqueous solution containing a surfactant, an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble polymer, and a mixture of a surfactant and a water-soluble polymer. Holding at least one kind of water or an aqueous solution selected from the group consisting of aqueous solutions containing, and interposing a peeling member, and peeling the image forming substance from the image holding member by heat bonding or pressure bonding to the peeling member. A method for removing an image forming substance has been proposed (for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 4-255).
No. 916). According to this, only the image forming substance can be removed without relatively damaging the paper quality of the image holding member.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional apparatus for removing an image forming substance from an image carrier, when the peeling member is repeatedly used, the image forming material removed from the image carrier on the surface of the peeling member is repeatedly used. The substance adheres unevenly in accordance with the image pattern, causing unevenness in the peeling performance of the peeling member, which may cause local peeling failure or the like. It is conceivable that the uneven image forming substance on the surface of the peeling member is smoothed by a smoothing means such as a pressing roller pressed against the surface of the peeling member, thereby suppressing the occurrence of unevenness in the peeling performance.
However, when an image forming substance exceeding a predetermined limit adheres to the surface of the peeling member, it becomes impossible to transport the image carrier in contact with the surface of the peeling member, and jamming of the image carrier occurs. There is a risk that it will.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has as its object to damage an image carrier.
Reliably removes only image-forming substances from the image carrier
It is possible to, is to provide an image forming substance removing apparatus from long period peeling unevenness and image carrier name has an image carrier of jam.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus , comprising: an image forming apparatus which is output from an image forming apparatus and has an image forming substance stably adhered to a surface thereof; In an apparatus for removing an image-forming substance from an image carrier for removing a substance, the state of adhesion between the image carrier and the image-forming substance is checked.
Applying a liquid destabilizing agent to a stable state to the image carrier
Means on the image carrier provided with the destabilizing agent.
The adhesive force between the image carrier and the image forming substance is
The larger the peeling member than adhesion, the adhesion amount detecting a peeling means disposed in contact with said image forming substance on the image holding member, the adhesion amount of the image forming substance adhering to the surface of the該剥release member And a detecting means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus for removing an image-forming substance from an image carrier according to the first aspect, the apparatus is controlled so as to stop driving based on a detection result of the adhesion amount detecting means. A control means is provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus for removing an image-forming substance from the image carrier according to the first aspect, the removing means for removing the image-forming substance adhered to the peeling member and the adhering amount detecting means are provided. And control means for controlling the driving of the removing means based on the control means.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid destabilizing agent.
Is applied to the image carrier, and the adhesion between the image carrier and the image forming substance is
Image formation from the image carrier by making the state unstable
The substance is easier to separate. In addition, a destabilizing agent was added
The above, which is arranged to be in contact with the image forming substance on the image carrier.
The peeling member of the peeling means is adapted to hold the image forming substance against the image forming substance.
Has an adhesive force greater than the adhesive force between the carrier and the image forming substance
To form an image forming substance on the release member and the image carrier.
Then, when the separating member is separated from the image carrier after the contact, the image forming substance can be surely separated from the image carrier and can be adhered only to the peeling member. Then, the adhered amount is detected on the surface of the peeling member by the attached amount detecting means.
By detecting the amount of adhered the said imaging material, so that variation in the coating weight of said image forming substance is understood.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the control means controls the driving of the apparatus to be stopped based on the detection result of the adhesion amount detecting means. For example, when the value of the adhesion amount of the image forming substance detected by the adhesion amount detecting means becomes larger than a preset reference value, control is performed so that the driving of the apparatus is stopped. The reference value is set to, for example, an upper limit value at which the image carrier can be transported while being in contact with the surface of the peeling member. By this control, the driving of the apparatus can be stopped before the image carrier is brought into contact with the surface of the peeling member and cannot be transported.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the control means controls the driving of the removing means for removing the image forming substance adhered to the peeling member based on the attached amount detecting means. For example, when the value of the adhesion amount of the image forming substance detected by the adhesion amount detection means becomes larger than a preset reference value, the driving of the removal means is started and stopped after a predetermined time elapses. I do. The reference value is set to, for example, an upper limit value of the amount of adhesion to which a decrease in the peeling performance of the peeling member is allowable. By this control, the image forming substance attached to the surface of the peeling member can be removed before the deterioration of the peeling performance becomes unacceptable.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention is applied to an image holding apparatus for removing a heat-fusible toner (hereinafter, referred to as a toner) as an image forming substance from a transfer paper as an image holding body on which an image is formed by a transfer type electrophotographic copying machine. An embodiment applied to an apparatus for removing an image forming substance from a body (hereinafter, referred to as a toner removing apparatus) will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an example of a toner removing device to which the present invention can be applied. First, an outline of the whole will be described. This toner removing device includes a sheet feeding unit 1 that separates and feeds, one by one, transfer papers 10 on which toner images formed in a stacked state are formed; A liquid application unit 2 for supplying liquid to the transferred transfer paper 10, a toner peeling unit 3 for removing toner from the transfer paper 10 to which liquid has been supplied, and a drying unit for drying the transfer paper 10 from which toner has been removed 4 and a paper receiving unit 5 for receiving the transfer paper 10 discharged from the drying unit 4. Then, the transfer paper 10 conveyed from the paper supply unit 1 is subjected to a liquid destabilizing agent (hereinafter referred to as a processing liquid) 20 that makes the adhesion state between the transfer paper 10 and the toner unstable in the liquid application unit 2. The treatment liquid 20 is applied to at least the transfer paper 1
It penetrates into the interface between 0 and the toner. Then, the processing liquid 20 is released by the peeling roller 302 of the toner peeling unit 3.
After the toner is peeled off from the transfer paper 10 at the interface where the ink has penetrated, the transfer paper 10 is dried by the drying roller 402 of the drying unit 4 and discharged to the paper receiving unit 5.

Here, the treatment liquid 20 includes water, an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble polymer, an aqueous solution containing a surfactant,
And at least one kind of water or an aqueous solution selected from the group consisting of an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble polymer and a surfactant. In addition, the water or the aqueous solution may contain a predetermined organic solvent. Further, as the treatment liquid 20, only an organic solvent can be used.

Examples of the above water-soluble polymer include starchy substances (potato starch, potato starch, tapioca starch, wheat starch, corn starch, etc.),
Mannan (konjac, etc.), seaweed (funori, agar, sodium alginate, etc.), plant mucilage (trolo-mallow,
Tragacanth gum, gum arabic, etc.), microbial mucilage (dextran, levan, etc.), protein (paste,
Natural polymers of gelatin, casein, collagen, etc., cellulose-based (viscose, methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, etc.) and starch-based (soluble starch, carboxymethylstarch, dialdehyde starch) semi-synthetic polymers, Examples include, but are not limited to, synthetic polymers.

Further, as the above-mentioned surfactant, for example,
Anionic (carboxylate, sulfonate, sulfate, phosphate, phosphonate, etc.), Cation (amine, quaternary ammonium, benzalkonium, benzethonium chloride, pyridinium Salts, imidazolinium salts, sulfonium salts, polyethylenepolyamines, etc.), amphoteric (amino acids, carboxybetaines, sulfobetaines, aminosulfates, aminocarboxylates, imidazoline derivatives, etc.), nonionics (ether type, ether ester type) , An ester type, a nitrogen-containing type, a polyhydric alcohol, an amino alcohol, a polyethylene glycol and the like), a general surfactant, a fluorine-based surfactant, and the like, but are not limited thereto.

Examples of the organic solvent to be contained in the water or aqueous solution include turpentine, dipentene, butyl acetate, carbon tetrachloride, cellosolve acetate, xylene, toluene, ethyl acetate, diacetone alcohol, methyl cellosolve acetate, benzene, methyl ethyl ketone. Examples include, but are not limited to, methyl acetate, methylene chloride, ethylene dichloride, cyclohexane, cellosolve, dioxane, acetone, methyl cellosolve, cyclohexanol, butanol, and the like.

Examples of the organic solvent used alone include hexane, heptane, octane, nonane, spirilit, naphtha N01-6 (trade name of Shell Petroleum), isoper E, L, K, V (trade name of Exxon Corporation), IP Solvent (trade name of Idemitsu Oil Co., Ltd.), Shell Solsol 70, 71, Solvesso 100,
150 (trade name of Shell Oil Company), Ascom OMS,
460 (trade name of Spirits), Vegasol 103
0, 2130, 3040 (trade name of Mobile Oil Co., Ltd.) and the like. Further, Fluorinert FC 40, 43, 70, 77 (a trade name of Sumitomo 3M), which is a fluorinated solvent,
Fluid E10, 16, 18, etc., silicone solvent Shin-Etsu Silicone KF96 (trade name), Toray Silicone SH200, 344 (trade name), Toshiba Silicone T
SF431 (trade name) and the like, but are not limited thereto.

Next, each of the units 1, 2, 3, and 3 in the illustrated example will be described.
4 and 5 will be described. The paper feed unit 1 feeds the transfer paper 10 stacked on the bottom plate 101 from the lowermost one by a paper feed roller 102, separates the multi-fed paper by a separation mechanism (not shown), and forms one transfer paper 10 Is sent out by the registration roller pair 104 for timing adjustment and skew correction. Since the specific configuration and operation are the same as those of the paper feeding mechanism in the electrophotographic copying machine, detailed description is omitted.

The liquid application unit 2 contacts the liquid container 201 filled with a predetermined amount of the processing liquid 20 and one surface (upper surface in the drawing) of the transfer paper 10 while holding the processing liquid 20 in the liquid container 201.
The submerged transport roller 202 that transports the paper so as to be guided inside, a drive unit (not shown) of the submerged transport roller 202, and the other surface (the lower surface in the figure) of the transfer paper 10 are placed in the processing liquid 20 of the liquid container 201. A guide plate 203 for guiding the liquid, a pair of squeezing rollers 204 also functioning as a holding and conveying means, a squeezing rod 205 biting into the lower squeezing roller 204, and the like are provided.
In this unit 2, the transfer paper 10 fed from the paper supply unit 1 is guided into the processing liquid 20 in the liquid container 201 by the submerged conveying roller 202 and the submerged guide plate 203, and is immersed in the processing liquid 20. After that, the squeezing roller pair 204
As a result, the excess processing liquid 20 is removed and transported to the next toner peeling unit 3.

The toner peeling unit 3 has a built-in heating lamp 301 as a means for softening the toner T, and a pair of peeling rollers 302 which are arranged in pressure contact with each other and a peeling roller 302 near the pressure contact portion on the transfer paper discharge side. Separating claw 303 and peeling roller 30 arranged to be in contact with the surface
Cleaning device 304 for cleaning the surface of No. 2;
A driving unit (not shown) and the like are provided. A specific example of the toner peeling unit 3 will be described later in detail.

The surface of the peeling roller 302 is made of a material having an adhesive force greater than the adhesive force between the transfer paper 10 and the toner, at least with respect to the softened toner. Specifically, a toner component resin that is the same as or similar to the above toner, or a component resin of an adhesive can be used,
In addition, metal materials such as aluminum, copper, nickel, and iron can be used, but are not limited thereto. Further, the resin may be a water-soluble resin or a water-insoluble resin.

Examples of the toner component resin include a polystyrene resin, an acrylic resin, a methacrylic resin, a styrene-butylacrylic copolymer, a styrene-butadiene copolymer, a polyester resin, and an epoxy resin, but are not limited thereto. Not something.

The resin components of the adhesive include protein adhesives such as glue, gelatin, albumin, and casein; and carbohydrate adhesives such as starch, cellulose, and complex polysaccharides (eg, gum arabic and tragacanth). Agent, vinyl acetate polymer and copolymer, acrylic,
Thermoplastic adhesives such as ethylene copolymers, polyamides, polyesters, and polyurethanes; rubber adhesives such as polychloroprene, nitrile rubber, recycled rubber, SBR, and natural rubber; Pressure-sensitive adhesive, polyethylene terephthalate (PE) with titanium oxide dispersed
T), and the like, but are not limited thereto.

When the above resin is used, it is desirable to form a multilayer structure of at least two layers of a support and a surface layer from the viewpoints of prevention of elongation due to tension and heat, durability and the like. That is, in the case of a roller-shaped peeling member as in the illustrated example, it is desirable to form the peeling member by forming a surface layer made of the above resin or the like on a base roller as a support.

As a support for supporting the above resin, etc.,
For example, a rubber roller, a sheet, a cellophane tape, a kraft paper adhesive tape, a polyvinyl chloride tape, an acetone tape, a tape such as a filament reinforcing tape, and the like can be used, but are not limited thereto.

The heating lamp 301 of the upper and lower peeling rollers 302 heats and softens the toner adhered to the front and back surfaces of the transfer paper 10 and adhered to the transfer paper 10.
This is to make the toner easy to peel off from the fibers of the transfer paper 10. This heating is desirably performed to such an extent that the toner on the transfer paper 10 does not melt at the pressure contact portion. This is because if the toner is melted, it is difficult to transfer the toner on the transfer paper 10 to the separation roller 302 without separating the toner between the paper and the separation roller 302. If the paper is excessively heated, the transfer paper 1
0 is too dry, and the fixing force of the toner to the transfer paper 10 is increased as compared with the case where the transfer paper 10 is wet. There is a risk that separation will not be possible. Therefore,
It is desirable to heat the transfer paper 10 after passing through the heating unit to such an extent that some moisture remains on the transfer paper 10 to prevent the toner from re-adhering.

The cleaning device 304 includes a cleaning roller 305 for removing the toner T on the surface of the peeling roller 302, a scraper blade 306 for scraping off the toner T on the cleaning roller 305, and a toner T scraped off by the scraper blade 306 with the scraper blade. A toner receiver (toner container) 307 to be stored is provided.

A belt having the same surface characteristics is used in place of the peeling roller 302, or a cleaning blade or a scraper directly in contact with the surface of the peeling roller 302 instead of the cleaning roller 305 of the cleaning device 304. Or the like may be used. These modifications will be described later in detail.

The drying unit 4 is for drying the transfer paper 10 and is composed of an upper drying roller 402 made of, for example, aluminum and having a built-in heating lamp 401, and a lower drying roller 404 pressed from below against the roller. . The lower drying roller 404 has a surface layer made of a liquid-supplying member, and is in contact with an aperture blade 405 that squeezes the liquid on the surface layer. Instead of or in addition to such a pair of drying rollers 404, a belt-shaped member, a hot-air fan, an infrared lamp, or the like may be used. These modifications will be described later in detail.

The paper receiving unit 5 has a paper discharge tray 501 for receiving the transfer paper discharged from the drying unit 4.

Although not shown, the toner removing device includes a detecting unit for detecting whether or not the transfer sheet 10 is present on the sheet supply table, a unit for detecting a double feed of the transfer sheet 10 by the sheet supply unit 1, Liquid remaining amount detecting means in liquid container 201, liquid container 201
Means for automatically replenishing liquid to the paper, means for detecting jam in the apparatus of the transfer paper 10, lighting control means for each heating lamp, and toner receiving container 3.
There is provided a means for filling the inside of the box.

In the above configuration, the transfer paper 10 sent from the paper supply unit 1 is supplied uniformly to the toner image surface by the liquid application unit 2, and is sent to the toner peeling unit 3. In the toner peeling unit 3, the toner adhered to the paper is softened by heating from the peeling roller 302 and adheres to the surface of the peeling roller 302. The paper from which the toner has been removed is dried in the drying unit 4 and discharged to the paper receiving unit 5.

As described above, according to this toner removing apparatus, the liquid is supplied to the paper on which the toner has adhered, and the toner is peeled off while the liquid permeates the interface between the paper and the toner. And toner can be removed.

Further, since the paper surface is brought into contact with the peeling roller 302 while being wet with the liquid, and the paper is heated to such a degree that the paper can be kept moist even when it is separated from the peeling roller 302, so that the surface of the peeling roller 302 is toner Even in the case of using a material having an adhesive property, it is possible to prevent the paper surface itself from adhering to the surface of the peeling roller 302 and to prevent the occurrence of separation failure. Metastases can be prevented.

Further, in this toner removing device, the transfer paper 10 is sandwiched between the two peeling rollers 302 and the toner is removed from both sides of the transfer paper 10, so that the toner is placed on the bottom plate 101 of the paper feed unit 1. When setting the transfer paper 10 to be removed, it is not necessary to consider the front and back. Also, when it is desired to remove the toner on both sides of the transfer paper used on both sides, it is only necessary to pass through the apparatus once.

Next, a control section for operating the toner removing device will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a control block diagram for operating the toner removing device of FIG. 1. When AC power is supplied from the commercial power supply 901 and the main switch 902 is turned on, a DC power supply (PSU) 9
From 03, a DC power supply voltage is supplied to each control IC. The CPU 904 to which power has been supplied resets the program counter and the like, and starts control based on the contents of the program written in the ROM 905. CLK oscillator 9
06 supplies a reference clock (CLK) necessary for CPU operation.

First, data for turning on the relay 909 is sent to the parallel interface 908 through the address data bus 907. The output port of the parallel interface has a driver 910 for driving each load.
Are connected, and a contact drive coil of the relay 1 is further connected to a part thereof, and the contact 911 of the relay 1 is closed.

Then, SSR1 (912), SSR2
Data is sent to the driver 910 in the same manner as described above so that (913) is turned on. Two or one resistors 914a and 914b corresponding to the heating lamp 301 for heating the peeling roller 302 are connected to the end of the SSR1, and the heating of the roller 302 is started. On the other hand, a resistor 915 corresponding to the heating lamp 401 for heating the drying roller 402 is connected to the end of the SSR 2 and starts heating similarly. The temperature of each roller is detected by the thermistors 916 and 917, respectively, input to the A / D converter 918, and converted from analog data to digital data. RAM919
Is written with the control temperature of each roller, and the temperature is controlled by comparing the value. This data is sent from the operation display unit 920 through the serial interface 921.
It can also be written in the RAM 919.

When the temperature of each roller reaches a temperature (set value in RAM) sufficient for peeling or drying, the operation display section 920 displays an indication of operability (LED lighting, etc.).
When operation command data is transmitted from the operation display unit 920, the CPU 904 operates the main drive motor 922. When the load of the motor can be driven at a constant speed, the CPU 904 drives the paper feed motor 923 to start paper feed. Here, the registration motor 924 rotates while measuring the timing with the sheet feeding motor to prevent skew, and sends out the sheet. The subsequent steps are the above-described process liquid impregnation, peeling, and drying steps.

The loads other than the feed roller 102 and the registration roller 104 are synchronously driven by the main drive motor 922. The LCT has a paper end sensor 925 for detecting the presence or absence of paper. When paper runs out, the paper end data is transmitted through the parallel interface. The CPU 904 that has detected the absence of paper stops the operation of the machine, and displays an operation stop (LED lighting or the like) on the operation display unit 920.

Next, a more specific configuration example of the toner peeling unit 3 of the above-described toner removing device will be described in detail. In the overall configuration of the toner removing device shown in FIG. 1, the transfer paper 10 is sandwiched between two peeling rollers 302, and the transfer paper 10
Although the configuration is such that the toner is removed from both sides, a case of the toner peeling unit 3 that removes the toner from one side of the transfer paper 10 with one peeling roller 302 will be mainly described below. Of course, the following configuration can also be applied to the toner peeling unit 3 configured to sandwich the transfer paper 10 between the two peeling rollers 302 and remove the toner from both sides of the transfer paper 10 as shown in FIG.

With reference to FIG. 3, a specific example of the toner peeling unit 3 having a smoothing means for smoothing uneven toner adhered on the peeling roller 302 will be described. The toner peeling unit 3 includes a hollow peeling roller 302 having a built-in heating lamp 301 as a means for softening the toner T, a backup roller 308 disposed in contact with the surface of the peeling roller 302, A pressing roller 309 as a pressing member of the smoothing means, which is disposed so as to press while rotating, a driving unit (not shown) and the like are provided.

The backup roller 308 and the driving unit constitute a peeling member moving means for moving the surface of the peeling roller 302 in contact with the surface of the copy paper 10. The transfer paper 10 having the toner T adhered to the upper surface is sandwiched between the backup roller 308 and the peeling roller 302, and is transported to the left. The driving unit includes a peeling roller 30
2, only the backup roller 308, or both of them can be driven in the direction of the arrow. Here, when the backup roller 308 is driven and the peeling roller 302 is driven to follow the backup roller 308, the amount of toner adhesion increases due to repeated use of the peeling roller 302, and the diameter of the peeling roller 302 increases. However, the moving speed of the surface of the peeling roller 302 at the holding portion and the transport speed of the transfer paper 10 can be kept constant.

The material of the surface of the pressing roller 309 is preferably a material having excellent releasability from the toner T, and specific examples include Teflon.

In this embodiment, the heating lamp 30 is used as the softening means. Alternatively, a pressing device or the like for softening the toner by pressing may be provided. The heating lamp and the pressurizing device are used for the separation roller 302 and the transfer paper 10.
May be provided on the upstream side of the contact portion.

In this embodiment, the transfer paper 10 on which the toner T has adhered is held between the peeling roller 302 and the backup roller 308 and is transported to the left. In this holding portion, the surface of the transfer paper 10 and the toner T
Roller 302 having an adhesive force greater than the adhesive force
The surface of the transfer paper 10 to which the toner T adheres is pressed against the front surface,
Thereafter, when the transfer paper 10 passes through the holding portion, the transfer paper 10 is kept while the toner T adheres to the surface of the peeling roller 302.
Peeled from the surface.

At this time, the peeling roller 302 is heated by the heating lamp 301, and the toner T on the transfer paper 10 sandwiched between the peeling roller 302 and the backup roller 308.
Is softened, the adhesive force between the toner T and the transfer paper 10 is further reduced, and the toner T and the separation roller 302
Adhesive force to the surface increases, and toner T
02 easily from the surface.

The toner T peeled off from the surface of the transfer paper 10 and adhered to the surface of the peeling roller 302 has irregularities corresponding to the image pattern on the transfer paper 10. The adhesion is smoothed by a pressing roller 309 pressing the surface of the peeling roller 302.
The surface of the peeling roller 302 on which the toner adhesion is smoothed comes into contact with the surface of the transfer paper 10 to which the toner T is adhered, and is used for the next peeling process.

Further, another specific example of the toner peeling unit 3 having the above-mentioned smoothing means will be described with reference to FIG. The toner peeling unit 3 is provided with a pressing blade 310 arranged to press the surface of the peeling roller 302 instead of the pressing roller 309 as a pressing member of the smoothing means. In this embodiment, the peeling roller 3 becomes uneven in accordance with the image pattern on the transfer paper 10.
The toner non-uniformly adhering to the surface 02 is smoothed by the pressing blade 310 pressing. The surface of the peeling roller 302 on which the toner adhesion is smoothed comes into contact with the surface of the transfer paper 10 to which the toner T is adhered, and is used for the next peeling process.

As described above, by providing the above-mentioned smoothing means,
The uneven toner adhesion corresponding to the image pattern on the peeling roller 302 is smoothed, and the contact state of the surface of the peeling roller 302 with the surface of the transfer paper 10 is eliminated, so that peeling unevenness such as local peeling failure occurs. Can be prevented, and the peeling roller 302 can be used repeatedly.

In the toner release unit 3, as shown in FIG. 5, a release agent application roller 311 as a release agent application unit for applying a release agent such as silicone oil to the surface of the pressure roller 309, A scraper blade 312 may be provided as an image forming substance removing unit that scrapes off the toner T on the 309. In this case, the release agent is applied to the surface of the pressing roller 309 by the release agent applying roller 311 so that the toner T on the surface of the pressing roller 309 is removed.
The toner T attached to the surface of the pressing roller 309 can be scraped off by the scraper blade 312.
The toner can be prevented from adhering to the surface, and the toner T adhering in an uneven shape on the peeling roller 302 can be surely smoothed.

Next, a specific example of the toner peeling unit 3 having the toner removing device 304 as an image forming substance removing means for removing the toner T attached to the surface of the peeling roller 302 will be described with reference to FIG. The toner peeling unit 3 has the same configuration as that of FIG. 1 described above, and is disposed so as to be in contact with a hollow peeling roller 302 having a built-in heating lamp 301 as a means for softening the toner T and a surface of the peeling roller 302. A backup roller 308, a drive unit (not shown), and the like are provided. As the toner removing means, a cleaning roller 305 for removing the toner T on the surface of the peeling roller 302, a cleaning roller 305
A scraper blade 306 for scraping off the toner T above and a toner receiver (toner container) 307 containing the toner T scraped off by the scraper blade 306 are provided.

At least the surface of the cleaning roller 305 has the toner T adhered on the peeling roller 302.
Of the release roller 302 is less than the releasability of the toner on the surface of the separation roller 302. Specific examples of the material include a metal material such as aluminum, copper, and nickel, and a polymer material such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in which titanium oxide is dispersed, but are not limited thereto. is not.

In this embodiment, the toner T that is peeled off from the surface of the transfer paper 10 and adheres to the surface of the peeling roller 302
Is removed by the cleaning roller 305. The toner T adhering to the cleaning roller 305 is scraped off by the scraper blade 306, and the toner is received (toner container).
307.

Further, the toner removing device 304 is provided as shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), the toner T on the peeling roller 302 may be directly scraped off by the scraper blade 313. Toner T scraped off by scraper blade 313
Are stored in a toner receiver (toner container) 307. Here, the scraper blade 313 is made of, for example, metal and has good releasability from the toner T by being coated with Teflon or the like, so that it is possible to prevent the toner from adhering to the surface. it can. Further, the upper portion of the toner receiver (toner container) 307 is configured to be movable along a guide rail 314 provided on the apparatus main body side.
307 is taken out of the apparatus and the toner is received (toner container)
307 can be discarded.

Further, the toner removing device 304 is provided as shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), the toner T on the peeling roller 302 may be removed by a web (belt) 315 stretched so as to be in pressure contact with the peeling roller 302. Web 31 supplied from unused web roll 316
5 is driven with a speed difference with respect to the moving speed of the surface of the peeling roller 302 while being pressed against the surface of the peeling roller 302 to which the toner T is adhered, and after being removed from the toner T, is taken up by a take-up roll 317. .

As described above, by providing the toner removing device 304, the toner T adhering to the surface of the peeling roller 302 can be removed constantly or as needed, and excessive toner adhesion can be prevented. 302 can be used while maintaining the peeling performance over a long period of time.

It is to be noted that a toner collecting device as a collecting means for collecting the toner T removed by the toner removing device 304 may be provided. As a specific example of this toner collecting device,
As described in FIG. 7, the toner receiver (toner container)
307 is configured to be movable along a guide rail 314 provided on the apparatus main body side.
As a result, the toner receiver (toner container) 307 can be taken out of the apparatus as needed, and the toner in the toner receiver (toner container) 307 can be discarded.

Further, a toner collecting device as shown in FIGS. 9A to 9C can be provided. In this toner collecting device, the backup roller 308 also serves as a transfer paper transporting body that sucks and transports the transfer paper 10,
Transport path 319 and toner transport path 31 having a built-in 18
9 and toner container 30 provided at the end of
7, a compression member 321 as compression means for compressing the toner T in the toner container 307, a driving unit (not shown) for the screw 318, a heater power supply (not shown), and the like. Note that the compression member may be driven manually, or may be provided with a drive unit that is driven automatically. In this example, as shown in FIG. 9A, the toner T adhered to the surface of the peeling roller 302 is removed by the scraper blade 31.
At 3, the toner is scraped into the toner transport path 319. Then, as shown in FIG. 9B, the toner T in the toner transport path 319 is transported to the end of the toner transport path 319 by the screw 318, and the toner transport path 31 heated by the heater 320.
9 while being melted in the toner container 9. Then, as shown in FIG.
The toner T stored in the inside 7 is compressed by the compression member 321, and the density of the toner T is increased and solidified. The toner T in the toner container 307 is discarded as needed.

As described above, by providing the toner collecting device, the toner T in the toner container 307 can be collected and discarded, so that the toner peeling unit 3 can be used for a long time. In addition, since the density of the toner T in the toner container 307 can be increased and the volume of the toner T can be reduced, the efficiency of accommodating the toner can be increased, and the apparatus can be made more compact. Further, since the collected toner can be easily discarded, maintenance and maintenance of the apparatus can be facilitated, that is, operability and serviceability of the apparatus can be improved.

Next, the amount of toner adhering to the peeling roller 302 is detected, and based on the detection result, the peeling roller 302 is detected.
A description will be given of the toner peeling unit 3 having the control unit for performing control such as stopping the use of the toner and having the characteristic portion of the present invention. A specific example of the toner peeling unit 3 having the above-described control means will be described with reference to FIG. The toner peeling unit 3 includes a peeling belt 323 as a peeling member stretched over the transport rollers 322a, b, and c, and a pressing roller urged to press the surface of the peeling belt 323 by a biasing member 324 such as a spring. 309, biasing member 324 such as a spring
And a backup roller 308 urged so as to be in pressure contact with the transport roller 322a via the peeling belt 323, a toner attached amount detecting device 325 as an attached amount detecting means for detecting an attached amount of toner on the peeling belt 323, and the like. I have. As the control means, the control unit described using FIG. 2 can be used. Further, the toner adhesion amount detection device 325 irradiates light to the reflection plate 327 and the reflection plate 327 which have a light reflection surface 327a and are urged by an urging member 324 such as a spring to contact the surface of the peeling belt 323. And a reflection type photo sensor 328 for detecting the intensity of the reflected light. Output voltage V of photo sensor 328
The sp is converted from analog data to digital data by the A / D converter 918, used for data processing by the CPU 904, and temporarily stored in the RAM 919 if necessary.

In this embodiment, the transfer paper 10 with the toner T adhered to the upper surface is conveyed to the left in the figure while being sandwiched between the peeling belt 323 and the backup roller 308. When the transfer paper 10 passes through the holding portion, the toner T
Is peeled off, adheres to the surface of the peeling belt 323, and is laminated. After the toner layer is smoothed by the pressing roller 309, the left end of the reflection plate 327 contacts the toner layer. At this time, according to the thickness of the toner layer on the peeling belt 323, the reflection plate 327 moves in the left-right direction in the drawing, and the intensity of the light reflected from the reflection surface 327a fluctuates. As a result, the output voltage Vsp of the photo sensor 328 Varies depending on the thickness of the toner layer on the peeling belt 323. The output voltage Vsp of the photo sensor 328 is input to the control unit and can be used for various controls described below.

The output voltage V of the photo sensor 328
In the control based on sp, the output voltage V1 of the photosensor 328 corresponding to the toner layer thickness that requires replacement of the peeling belt 323 is set as a reference value, and the ROM of the control unit is set in advance.
905 or the RAM 919. Then, the output voltage Vsp of the photo sensor 323 is compared with the reference value V1, and when it is determined that the peeling belt 323 needs to be replaced,
When it is determined that the replacement time is approaching, control can be performed so as to notify the operator by a display on the operation display unit 920 or a warning sound.

In another example of the above control, the transfer paper 10
The output voltage V2 of the photo sensor 328 corresponding to the toner layer thickness at which the holding / conveying becomes impossible is set as a reference value.
It is stored in the ROM 905 or the RAM 919 of the control unit in advance. Then, when the output voltage Vsp of the photo sensor 323 becomes substantially equal to the reference value V2, the control is performed so that the driving of the entire apparatus is stopped. In this case, transfer paper 1
Since the apparatus can be stopped before it becomes impossible to pinch and transport 0, jamming of the transfer paper 10 can be prevented. Here, the entire apparatus may be stopped after the peeling belt 323 has rotated a predetermined number of times. In that case, for example, a convex detection mark is formed on the peeling belt 323, and the output voltage Vs of the photo sensor 323 is set.
After p becomes substantially the same as the reference value V2, the passage of the detection mark is detected by the toner adhesion amount detection device 325, the number of rotations of the peeling belt 323 is counted, and the counting result is used for control.

In still another example of the above control, a cleaning member (not shown in FIG. 10) as a removing means for removing the toner adhered on the peeling belt 323 is provided to clean the surface of the peeling belt 323. The output voltage V3 of the photo sensor 328 corresponding to the thickness of the toner layer when it becomes necessary is set as a reference value, and the RO of the control unit is set in advance.
It is stored in M905 or RAM 919. Then, the output voltage Vsp of the photosensor 323 is compared with the reference value V3, and when it is determined that the surface of the peeling belt 323 needs to be cleaned, the cleaning member is driven for a predetermined time or until the toner layer thickness becomes equal to or smaller than a predetermined value. As a result, the thickness of the toner layer on the surface of the peeling belt 323 is controlled to be equal to or less than the predetermined layer thickness, and the peeling performance can be maintained for a long time.

Although the above control examples have been described with respect to the case where the peeling belt 323 is used as the peeling member, the present invention can be applied to the case where another peeling roller 302 or the like is used. In each of the above control examples, as the adhesion amount detecting means for detecting the amount of toner adhesion on the peeling member such as the peeling roller 302 and the peeling belt 323, the toner adhesion amount constituted by the reflection plate 327, the reflection type photo sensor 328, and the like. Detection device 32
However, instead of this, a photosensor that directly irradiates the surface of the peeling member with light and detects the intensity of the reflected light, or the amount of toner adhering on the peeling member electrostatically or magnetically is used. You may use the sensor etc. which detect.

Further, in the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to the transfer paper 10 on which an image is formed by a transfer type electrophotographic copying machine. The present invention is also applicable to an image carrier such as a recording paper used in the apparatus. Further, the present invention is not limited to an image carrier having a fibrous structure, but can be applied to an image carrier capable of forming an image. The image carrier to which the present invention can be applied may be, for example, a laminate in which the surface layer of a base sheet such as a plastic layer is a material layer such as paper.

[0070]

According to the first to third aspects of the present invention, unstable
The image forming material is transferred from the image carrier by applying the agent to the image carrier.
Quality is easy to separate, and the release member is
When the separation member and the image carrier are separated from each other after being brought into contact with the material, the image forming substance can be surely separated from the image carrier and adhered only to the separation member. , the image holding body or et al without damaging the image holding member
This has the effect that only the image forming substance can be reliably removed. Further, in the above-mentioned adhesion amount detecting means,
By detecting the amount of the image-forming substance adhered to the surface of the peeling member, a change in the amount of the image-forming substance adhered can be determined. When the amount of the image-forming substance exceeds a predetermined amount, the replacement time of the peeling member can be determined. Control such as notifying the operator with a display by means of a display or a warning sound can be performed, so that a drop in peeling performance such as the occurrence of peeling unevenness and the occurrence of jamming of the image carrier can be prevented for a long period of time. There is an effect that can be.

In particular, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the control means controls the driving of the apparatus to be stopped based on the detection result of the adhesion amount detecting means. For example, when the value of the adhesion amount of the image forming substance detected by the adhesion amount detecting means becomes larger than a preset reference value, control is performed so that the driving of the apparatus is stopped. The reference value is set to, for example, an upper limit value at which the image carrier can be transported while being in contact with the surface of the peeling member. By this control, the drive of the apparatus can be stopped before the image carrier is brought into contact with the surface of the peeling member and cannot be transported, so that the occurrence of a jam of the image carrier can be prevented beforehand. This has the effect.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the image forming substance adhered to the peeling member is removed, so that even when the peeling member is used repeatedly, the image forming substance is excessively present on the surface of the peeling member. Since it does not adhere, there is an effect that the peeling performance of the peeling member can be maintained for a long time without lowering. Further, the control means controls the driving of the removing means for removing the image forming substance adhered to the peeling member based on the attached amount detecting means. For example, when the value of the adhesion amount of the image forming substance detected by the adhesion amount detection means becomes larger than a preset reference value, the driving of the removal means is started and stopped after a predetermined time elapses. I do. The reference value is set to, for example, an upper limit value of the amount of adhesion to which a decrease in the peeling performance of the peeling member is allowable. By this control, the image-forming substance attached to the surface of the peeling member can be removed before the deterioration of the peeling performance becomes unacceptable. The effect is that it can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner removing device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control unit of the toner removing device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner peeling unit of the toner removing device.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner peeling unit according to a modification.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner peeling unit according to another modification.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner peeling unit according to still another modified example.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner peeling unit according to still another modified example.

FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner peeling unit according to still another modified example.

FIG. 9A is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner peeling unit according to still another modified example. FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of a toner collecting unit of the toner peeling unit. FIG. 3C is an explanatory diagram of a compression member of the toner collection unit.

FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner peeling unit having a characteristic portion of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 transfer paper 20 processing liquid 308 backup roller 309 pressing roller 322 transport roller 323 peeling belt 324 biasing member (spring) 325 toner adhesion amount detecting device 327 reflecting plate 327a light reflecting surface 328 photo sensor T toner

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Yoshiaki Miyashita 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Ryo Kei Shingu 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shinichi Kuramoto 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Incorporation Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Yoshiyuki Kimura 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Company, Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazuhiro Ando 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Company (72) Tadashi Saito 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stock Company (56) References JP-A-4-82983 (JP, A) JP-A-58-59483 (JP, A) JP-A-58-59482 (JP, A) JP-A-64-15266 (JP, A) U) JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 21/00 570-578 B41J 29/26-29/373

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] An image carrier for removing an image forming substance from an image carrier which is output from an image forming apparatus and has an image forming substance stably adhered to a surface of the image carrier is provided. To the unstable state of adhesion between
Means for applying a liquid destabilizing agent to the image carrier, and the image forming substance on the image carrier to which the destabilizing agent is applied
Is higher than the adhesion between the image carrier and the image forming substance.
Even large peeling member, and peeling means disposed in contact with said image forming substance on the image holding member, and the adhesion amount detection means for detecting the adhesion amount of the image forming substance adhering to the surface of the該剥release member An apparatus for removing an image forming substance from an image carrier, comprising: 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising control means for controlling the operation of the apparatus to stop based on the detection result of the adhesion amount detecting means. apparatus. 3. A removal means for removing the image forming substance adhering to the separating member, based on the adhesion amount detection means, according to characterized in that a control means for controlling the driving of said removal means Item 1. An apparatus for removing an image forming substance from an image holding member according to Item 1 .