JP3279798B2 - Decolorable toner image processing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for forming an image and transferring the toner image to transfer paper, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus using a decolorable toner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Since a decolorizable toner is made transparent by a decolorizing process (heating and light irradiation), a transfer sheet on which a decolorizable toner image is recorded can be reused by the decolorizing process. Conventionally, the relationship between an image forming apparatus and an apparatus for performing the decoloring process is as follows. 1) Separately from the image forming apparatus, an erasing device (clearing processor for erasing toner) is an independent device; 2) Decoloring processing means is added to a fixing section of the image forming device; 3) Image formation Decoloring means is added between the paper feeding device and the transfer device.

[0003]

The prior art 1) has the advantage that there is no change in the configuration of the image forming apparatus.
Since the decoloring device is separate and independent, the image forming device +
Considering the system of the decoloring apparatus, the duplication of the mechanical elements also included in the image forming apparatus such as the paper conveying means and the heating means in the decoloring apparatus increases the cost as a system, increases the installation space, and wastes energy. And the like.

In order to improve the above drawbacks, there are proposals of the above 2) and 3) in which the image forming apparatus incorporates a decoloring means, but these have the following drawbacks; The configuration in which the means is added has the drawback that the cost of the fixing unit is increased and the reliability is reduced due to the complexity of the mechanism due to the switching of the fixing condition and the addition of the decoloring lamp.
This configuration has the drawback that the above-mentioned weaknesses increase as a conventional apparatus which only requires image formation which does not require the decoloring process. Disadvantage of 3): The addition of the decoloring means to the paper transport path has the same disadvantage as the change of the fixing device described above, and it is necessary to increase the size of the machine and increase the cost.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus which improves the disadvantages of the above 1) while maintaining the advantages of the above 2) and 3).
An erasing apparatus system is provided. In other words, it is an object of the present invention to make it possible to select the image forming apparatus alone or the image forming apparatus and the erasing apparatus system without substantially changing the mechanical elements of the image forming apparatus.

[0006]

The decolorizable toner image processing apparatus of the present invention forms an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductive photoreceptor and develops the electrostatic latent image with a decolorable toner. an image forming apparatus for fixing a decolorizing toner image obtained on the transfer paper, and a unit structure removable after the fuser of the image forming apparatus, a paper conveying unit, Ma the decoloring means and the transfer sheet
And a post-processing device having means for recording a mark , the post-processing device being connected to the image forming apparatus.

[0007]

Since the post-processing apparatus is detachable from the image forming apparatus, the post-processing apparatus can be removed and used alone. The image forming apparatus does not require a substantial change in hardware (mechanism) as a stand-alone machine, and the above 2) and 3)
The disadvantages are improved. Since the post-processing apparatus uses the feeding / discharging system and the fixing device of the image forming apparatus for the decoloring process, the disadvantage of the above 1) is improved as an image forming apparatus + decoloring apparatus system.

[0008] decoloring processing the transfer paper, and used for image formation
However , as the number of uses after decoloring increases,
The quality of the transfer paper is reduced. Post-processing device marks the transfer paper
The transfer paper is erased based on the presence of the mark
You can tell if you have done it.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0010]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is a conventionally known copying machine in which a developing unit 5 has a decoloring toner.
1 shows a combination of a copier and a post-processing device 50 using the same. First, the structure of the copying machine will be described.
An automatic document feeder (AD) that automatically conveys a document, sends it from a document table to a predetermined image reading position, and further sends it to a document discharge port
F) 70 is provided. A transparent contact glass 1 is arranged at an image reading position below the automatic document feeder 70, and an optical scanning system 20 is arranged below the transparent contact glass. In the copying (image forming) mode, a document placed on the contact glass 1 is exposed by an illumination lamp 21 and light reflected from the document is reflected by a first mirror 22, a second mirror 23, a third mirror 24, Lens 25, fourth mirror 26,
An image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 disposed in the printer unit via the fifth mirror 27 and the like. Around the photosensitive drum 2, there are provided a charger 3, an eraser 4, a developing unit 5, a transfer charger 6, a separation charger 7, a cleaning unit 8, and the like. The photosensitive drum 2
After being cleaned by the cleaning unit 8, the surface thereof is uniformly charged to a predetermined high potential by corona discharge from the charging charger 3. When the charged surface of the photosensitive drum 2 is irradiated with the reflected light from the document, the surface potential of the photosensitive drum 2 changes according to the intensity of the irradiated light, and the potential distribution corresponding to the density distribution of the document image. That is, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 2. When passing through the developing unit 5, the electrostatic latent image absorbs toner according to the potential distribution, and forms a visualized toner image.
On the other hand, 3 each including paper feed cassettes 11, 12, and 13
Any one of the two paper feed systems 30 feeds the transfer paper on the paper feed cassette one by one, and the registration roller 1
The transfer paper fed by 4 is fed in such a manner that the transfer paper overlaps the toner image on the photosensitive drum 2 at the image forming timing on the photosensitive drum 2. Further, the toner image is transferred onto the overlapping transfer paper by the urging of the transfer charger 6. The transfer paper on which the toner image has been transferred further passes through the separation charger 7 and is separated from the photosensitive drum 2, and the fixing device 1
After the toner image is fixed through O, the toner image is sent out to the post-processing device 50 through a predetermined paper discharge path. In the double-sided replication process, transfer paper after one-sided copying process is not sent to the post-processing apparatus 50, is re-fed by the duplex conveyance unit 80. When the transfer and separation of the toner image are completed, the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 is cleaned again by the cleaning unit 8 to prepare for the next copy process.

In the above-described image forming process, the post-processing device 50 simply sends out the transfer paper, and sends out the transfer paper to the first tray 59 (without erasing).

The post-processing device 50 is mounted on the copying machine in place of the sorter 40 mounted on the copying machine in the manner shown in FIG. 8 and stacking or sorting the transfer paper. When the erasing mode is designated, the copier sends a post-processing device 5
The transfer paper sent to 0 is fed by a transport roller 53, and the toner image on the transfer paper surface is exposed and heated by a halogen lamp 51. By the time the transfer paper arrives, the transfer paper has been heated in advance by the fixing device 10 of the copying machine. The toner image becomes transparent by the strong light and heat of the halogen lamp 51. Roller 53
The mark on the back side of the transfer paper fed by the sensor is read by the sensor 54, and if there are N marks, the gate claw 57 is driven to rotate counterclockwise by about 60 degrees and the transfer paper is It is sent out to two trays 60. Transfer paper having no mark or having less than N marks is provided with another mark by the stamper 55.
Are additionally written and sent out onto the first tray 59.

The sensor 54 and the stamper 55 are mounted on a carriage which is movable in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 1 (perpendicular to the transfer paper transport line), and the electric motor 56 moves the carriage forward and backward. The stamper 55 incorporates a solenoid 55S (FIG. 2) for driving a mark.

The gate pawl 57 is a solenoid 56, and when it is not energized (OFF), it is in the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 1 and guides the transfer paper to the first tray 59, but the solenoid 56 is energized (ON). ), The transfer paper is rotated about 60 degrees counterclockwise to guide the transfer paper to the second tray 60.

FIG. 2 shows the copying machine and post-processing device 5 shown in FIG.
The outline of the connection relationship of the 0 electrical element is shown. The operation board of the copying machine includes a mode setting key for selecting one of a copy mode and a decoloring mode, a copy mode indicator and a decoloring mode.
An indicator light has been added. Copying machine controller (C
A driver and a triac for energizing the mechanism driving elements of the post-processing device 50 are connected to the (PU unit), and these are connected to a female outlet for connecting the post-processing device on the copying machine side. The mechanism driving element of the post-processing device 50 is connected to a male outlet for connecting a copying machine on the side of the post-processing device 50. The post-processing device 50 is pressed against the copying machine, and the transport roller driving system is transferred to the copying machine. When coupled with the paper delivery drive system (FIG. 1), the male outlet of post-processing device 50 couples to the female outlet of the copier.

FIG. 3 shows an outline of a processing operation of the CPU unit shown in FIG. 2 according to a program incorporated therein. When the copy mode is designated, the CPU unit executes a conventionally known copy processing cycle (C
M1, PM1). Before starting the image forming process, the output to the post-processing device 50 is in a standby state (all the functional elements O
FF). Since the transport roller 53 of the post-processing device 50 is mechanically coupled to the transfer paper sending drive system in the copying machine on the upstream side, the transport roller 53 rotates in conjunction with the discharge driving of the transfer paper in the copy machine.

When erasing the used (used) transfer paper (copy paper), the operator places the transfer paper bundle in one of the cassettes 11 to 13 and designates the erasing mode. And specify the cassette. When the print key is pressed, the CPU unit causes the copier to erase the color passing paper (fixing device 10).
ON, paper feeding from the designated cassette, direct feeding to the fixing device 10, discharging to the post-processing device 50; no image formation, development, and transfer) (CM2). Lighting of the halogen lamp 51 is instructed. Then, at the timing when the leading end of the transfer paper has passed just below the sensor 54, the electric motor 56 of the post-processing device 50 is driven to perform processing such as mark detection on the back surface of the transfer paper to detect the detection mark. Number is N
In this case, the gate claw 57 is moved down to the second tray side (58 is turned on). If it is less than N, it is left as it is (58 is OFF) (PM2).

Mark detection processing on the back side of the transfer paper (FIG.
FIG. 4 shows the contents of 4). Here, the carriage on which the sensor 54 and the stamper 55 are mounted is driven forward, and the detection signal of the sensor 54 is monitored during that time, and the number of detected marks is incremented by one each time a mark is detected. And Ma - when no longer detects the click, detection Ma - number of clock is energized solenoid 55S of the scan data damper 55 is less than N. As a result, one mark is added. When the number of detected marks reaches N, the solenoid 58 is energized. This allows
The transfer paper whose number of detected marks is less than N is placed on the first tray 59.
The transfer paper having the detected mark number N is sent out onto the second tray 59. The transfer paper having been subjected to the decoloring process in this way can be used again for image formation by being loaded into the cassettes 11 to 13. However, as the number of times of use per transfer paper increases, the quality of the transfer paper deteriorates. I do. For example, folds and wrinkles may be formed, corners may be folded, or the surface may become dirty or fluffy. As a result, paper jam occurs in the copying machine or the image becomes rough.

Therefore, in this embodiment, as described above, transfer paper having a mark number of N or more (transfer paper reused N times or more)
Was separated from those less than N and separately collected in a second tray. Subsequent actions are left to the operator,
By excluding the transfer paper collected in the tray from subsequent copying use, the probability of occurrence of paper jam or the like in the copying machine is reduced.

The copier shown in FIG. 1 can be used as a copier alone without the post-processing device 50, as a copier using a decolorable toner or as a copier using a non-decolorable toner. As shown in FIG. 8, the post-processing device 50 can be removed and a sorter 40 can be connected instead.

Second Embodiment FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the number of marks on the transfer paper is first detected in the post-processing device 50, and when the number of marks is N or more, the gate pawl 57 is rotated to transfer the transfer paper to the second tray. When the number is less than N, a mark is additionally entered and sent to the transport roller 53 to send the halogen lamp 5.
The mark sensor 54 and the stamper 55 are arranged at the entrance of the transfer paper so that the decoloring process is performed in step 1, and the halogen lamp 51 is arranged between the gate claw 57 and the first tray 59. Accordingly, the decoloring processing program is slightly modified so that the CPU unit of the copying machine performs the processing shown in FIG. Other configurations and processing operations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

In the second embodiment, the decoloring process is not performed on the transfer paper having the mark number N or more.

Third Embodiment FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is based on the first
In addition, the gate claw 57 of the second embodiment is omitted, and its function is replaced by the sorter 40. The sorter 40 is the same as that shown in FIG. In the decoloring mode, the CPU unit according to the third embodiment sends transfer papers having the number of marks N or more to the lowermost tray of the sorter 40, and every time the number reaches the set number. Switch to the upper tray and collect
The transfer paper having the number of marks less than N is sent to the uppermost tray of the sorter 40, and is switched to the lower tray and collected each time the number reaches the set number. Other configurations and processing operations are:
This is the same as the first embodiment.

[0024]

According to the present invention, since the post-processing device is connected so as to be a post-process of the image forming apparatus, the paper feeding / transporting mechanism and the fixing device of the image forming apparatus are used for passing and heating the erasing transfer paper. It can be used, and high erasing efficiency (for example, high-speed paper passing in a post-processing device) can be obtained.

Since it is not necessary to change the hardware of the image forming apparatus, the cost of the image forming apparatus alone does not substantially increase. The hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus + post-processing apparatus system as a whole system can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

The decoloring processing the transfer paper, and used for image formation
However , as the number of uses after decoloring increases,
The quality of the transfer paper is reduced. Post-processing device marks the transfer paper
The transfer paper is erased based on the presence of the mark
You can tell if you have done it.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a hardware configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of a connection relation of a control electric circuit of the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an outline of a processing operation of the CPU unit shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a part of the processing shown in FIG. 3 in more detail;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a hardware configuration of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an outline of a processing operation of a CPU unit provided in the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a hardware configuration of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a hardware configuration of a conventionally known copying system in which the post-processing device 50 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is detached from the copying machine, and a sorter 40 is connected to the copying machine instead. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 5: Developing unit 6: Transfer charger 10: Fixing device 20: Optical scanning system 30: Paper feed system 40: Sorter 50: Post-processing device 51: Halogen lamp 52: Glass plate 53: Convey roller 54: Mark sensor 55: Stamper 55S: solenoid 56: electric motor 57: gate claw 58: solenoid 59: first tray 60: second tray 70: automatic document feeder 80: duplex feeder

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] An electrostatic latent image is formed on a photoconductive photoreceptor,
Developing the electrostatic latent image by decolorizing toner, an image forming apparatus for fixing a decolorizing toner image obtained on the transfer paper, and a unit structure removable after the fuser of the image forming apparatus, Marks on paper transport , decoloring and transfer paper
A decolorizable toner image processing apparatus, comprising: a post-processing device having means for recording a mark , the post-processing device being connected to the image forming apparatus. Wherein said post-processing apparatus further includes a mark of the transfer sheet
Having a sensor for detecting the presence or absence;
The position is further on the transfer paper such that the sensor does not detect the mark.
2. A controller for recording a mark on the device;
A decolorizable toner image processing apparatus according to the above. 3. An electrostatic latent image is formed on a photoconductive photoreceptor,
This electrostatic latent image is developed with a decoloring toner, and the resulting decoloring
An image forming apparatus for fixing a toner image on a transfer sheet ; a sheet conveying means, an erasing means , and a sheet passing number detecting means for detecting the sheet passing number of the transfer sheet ;
A post- processing device having a unit structure detachable later ; separating means for separating and storing the transfer paper passing through the post- processing device ;
And, sorting control means for sorting accommodating them paper passing times in response to the detection signal of the paper feed count detecting means identifies the transfer paper under the transfer paper and a predetermined value greater than a predetermined value through said fractionation means;
Wherein the post-processing apparatus is connected to the image forming apparatus. 4. A color erasing device according to claim 3, wherein said sheet passing number detecting means includes a stamp which shifts the position at right angles to the transfer sheet conveying direction and presses a use mark and a photo sensor which detects the stamp mark on the transfer sheet. Toner image processing device. 5. The separation means includes a branch claw provided on the transfer paper transport path and two or more paper discharge trays provided after the branch claw, and the separation control means switches the branch claw to separate transfer paper. The decolorizable toner image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein 6. The decolorizable toner according to claim 3, wherein a sheet passing number detecting means is arranged downstream of the color erasing means and a separating means is arranged downstream of the sheet number detecting means along the transfer paper conveying path. An image processing device. 7. A separation unit is provided downstream of the number-of-sheet-passing detecting means along a transfer path of the transfer sheet, and a decoloring unit is provided on a transfer path on which the transfer sheet having a sheet-passing number less than a predetermined value is guided by the separating unit. Placed
The decolorizable toner image processing apparatus according to claim 3. 8. The decolorizable toner-image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the separation means has a multi-stage discharge tray and sorts and sorts the transfer paper on which the image is formed by the image forming apparatus. .