JP3613533B2 - Image removal accelerating liquid used in the reproduction method of recording materials - Google Patents

Description

（式中、Ｒ_１、Ｒ_２：同一または相異なっていてもよく、かつ分岐していてもよい炭素数４〜１４のアルキル基、Ｍ：アルカリ金属イオン、第４級アンモニウム、 第４級ホスホニウム、アルカノールアミン陽イオン）
さらに前式（１）のＭがナトリウムイオン、リチウムイオン、下式（２）で示される第４級アンモニウム、第４級ホスホニウムおよびアルカノールアミン陽イオンよりなる群から選ばれたものであるジアルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩を用いると、画像除去促進液の経時変化が小さく、安定した除去特性が得られるのでさらに好ましい。
【化４】

（式中、Ｘは窒素またはリン、Ｒ_３〜Ｒ_６は水素、炭素数１〜４のアルキル基、ヒドロキシアルキル基、ハロゲン化アルキル基）
【０００９】
次に本発明に用いる界面活性剤の具体例を以下に遊離酸型で示すが、本発明に用いる界面活性剤は以下のものに限定されるものではない。
【化５】

【化６】

これら界面活性剤を主成分として含有する市販の界面活性剤としてはエアロゾールＩＢ４５、エアロゾールＡＹ１００、エアロゾールＭＡ８０、エアロゾールＯＴ１００、エアロゾールＴＲ７０（以上三井サイアナミド製）、エアロールＯＢ７０（東邦化学製）、ネオコール（第一工業製薬製）、ペレックスＯＴ−Ｐ（花王製）等が挙げられるがこれらに限定されるものではない。
これら界面活性剤の添加量は０．０１〜２０重量％、好ましくは０．１〜５重量％の範囲で添加される。
【００１０】
本発明の画像除去促進液は、水のほかに、前記ジアルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩を単独、あるいはそれらの複数のものを混合して用いることができる。またジアルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩以外の他の界面活性剤を混合したものも用いることができる。
本発明で使用するアルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩の作製は、例えばナトリウム塩、リチウム塩の場合は対応する遊離酸に水酸化ナトリウム、水酸化リチウムをそれぞれ添加することにより導入することができ、また、第４級アンモニウム塩、ホスホニウム塩、アルカノールアミン陽イオンの場合は対応する遊離塩に、例えば以下の（２−Ａ）〜（２−Ｆ）に示す水酸化物及びアルカノールアミンを添加することにより導入することができる。
【化７】

【化８】

経時においても良好な画像形成物質の除去特性が得られるためには、前記式（２−Ａ）〜（２−Ｆ）で示すような水酸化物及びアルカノールアミンの量は、前式（１）の化合物のモル数に対して３０重量％以上、より好ましくは５０重量％以上となるように添加されることが好ましい。
【００１１】
本発明で使用するアルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩のカチオンイオンのすべてが、アルカリ金属、第４級アンモニウム、第４級ホスホウニムおよびアルカノールアミン陽イオンよりなる群から選ばれたものである必要はなく、前記陽イオンの一部は前記の群以外の陽イオンであってもよい。
化合物（１）は単独で水溶液として用いる場合より、脂肪族アルコールと併用すると、さらに除去特性が向上し、また経時においても安定した除去特性の画像除去促進液を得ることができる。前記脂肪族アルコールの例として、エタノール、２−プロパノール、プロパノール、ブタノール等が挙げられる。脂肪族アルコールの含有量は、０．０１重量％〜２０重量％の範囲で、さらに好ましくは０．１重量％〜５重量％の範囲で添加することができる。
【００１２】
本発明において、アルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩を画像除去促進液に用いることにより、良好な画像形成物質の除去特性が得られる理由、特に、画像除去促進液の被記録材への付与量を少なくした場合にも、良好な画像形成物質の除去特性が得られる理由について記す。本発明の再生方法において、画像除去促進液の付与により、画像形成物質の被記録材への接着力が低下するのは、主として、前述したように皮膜状画像形成物質と被記録材の膨潤量の差により、両者の間に剪断力が発生するためと推定される。従って、実用となる速度の処理により被記録材を再生する為めには、付与される画像除去促進液の特性として、付与後速やかに画像除去促進液が被記録材に浸透し、画像が形成されている側の被記録材表面近傍を膨潤させ得ることが必要である。画像形成物質と被記録材との間の剪断力は、被記録材の画像形成物質と接する界面に極力近い部分にまで画像除去促進液が浸透することにより、特に大きくなると推定される。それゆえ、画像除去促進液が被記録材と画像形成物質とが接触する界面にまで画像除去促進液が浸透することにより、良好な画像形成物質の除去特性が得られる。画像除去促進液が被記録材と画像形成物質とが接触する界面にまで画像除去促進液が浸透することは、単に膨潤による剪断力を生じるばかりではなく、画像除去促進液の成分、特に水が、画像形成物質と被記録材との間に介することにより、画像形成物質と被記録材との間に働いていた接着力を弱める作用をすることも考えられる。
【００１３】
本発明において、アルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩が、良好な画像形成物質の除去特性を与える理由のひとつは、アルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩を含む画像除去促進液が、画像形成物質および被記録材への濡れ性が高いため、被記録材への浸透が速やかに生じ、特に画像形成物質と被記録材との界面にまで、画像除去促進液が速やかに浸透してゆくためと推測される。
また、画像除去促進液の付与により被記録材と画像形成物質との接着力を弱めた後、画像形成物質を加熱して剥離部材に圧接させて剥離部材と画像形成物質との間に接着力を与え、その後に剥離部材と被記録材とを分離して、被記録材上の画像形成物質を除去する再生方法において、アルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩を含む画像除去促進液を用いることにより、特に、画像形成物の除去特性が向上する。この効果は、以下の作用に基づくものと推定される。
すなわち、この被記録材の再生方法において、画像形成物質を加熱して剥離部材に圧接せしめる工程が、画像形成物質と剥離部材との間に接着力を発生させる作用をするのみならず、画像除去促進液の付与により一旦低下した被記録材と画像形成物質との間の接着力を、再度、高める作用をもたらす（以後、この働きを再付着作用と呼ぶ）。アルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩を含む画像除去促進液が、画像形成物質の除去特性向上する第２の作用は、加熱後、被記録材と剥離部材とを圧接するときに生じる再付着作用を低減ないし消滅することにあると考えられる。
前記の再付着作用は、通常は、特に、画像除去促進液の被記録材への付与量を少なくした場合に顕著となる。被記録材に画像除去促進液を大量に付与する場合、特に、水が含まれる画像除去促進液を大量に付与する場合においては、被記録材に付与された画像除去促進液の成分、特に水が、被記録材と画像形成物質との接着力を弱めるとともに再付着作用が生じることを防ぐ作用を有する。
従って、アルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩を含む画像除去促進液は、特に画像除去促進液の被記録材への付与量を少なくした場合においても、良好な画像形成物質の除去特性を得るために効果がある。
【００１４】
本出願人は、少量の画像除去促進液を付与した場合にも良好な画像形成物質の除去特性が得られる方法として、画像形成物質の剥離部材への接着と剥離部材と被記録材の分離を同一の被記録材について複数回繰り返す方法、密着した被記録材と剥離部材との間に”ずれ”を生ぜせしめて複数回の画像形成物質の剥離部材への接着と剥離が生じる方法を提案した。
この再生方法において、良好な画像形成物質の除去特性を得るためには、複数回の画像形成物質の剥離部材への接着と剥離を行う過程を伴うので、その過程において、前記の再付着作用が生じないように被記録材の表面を保つことが重要となる。特にこの方法において、画像除去促進液の被記録材への付与量を、約３．２ｍｇ／ｃｍ^２（２ｇ／Ａ−４）以下とした場合、再付着作用が生じないように調整された画像除去促進液を用いることが画像形成物質の除去特性を向上するために大きな効果を有する。アルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩を含有する画像除去促進液は、前記のように再付着作用を防止する効果も大きいので、特に、前記の複数回の画像形成物質の剥離部材の接着と剥離を行う過程を伴う被記録材の再生方法において良好な再生品質を与える効果がある。
本発明者は、アルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩とフッソ系界面活性剤とを画像除去促進液に併用することにより、それぞれを単独で用いる場合に比較して、より画像形成物質の除去特性が向上すること、すなわち、被記録材の表面を傷めることなく、より少ない量の画像除去促進液の付与で、被記録材上の画像形成物質が除去できることを見いだした。
アルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩とフッソ系界面活性剤とを画像除去促進液に併用することにより、画像形成物質の除去特性が向上するのは、以下の作用によるものと考えられる。
すなわち、被記録材へ、フッソ系界面活性剤を含む画像除去促進液を付与すると、画像形成物質が除去された被記録材の表面部分において、フッソ系界面活性剤が被記録材の表面の画像形成物質への濡れ性を低下し、画像形成物質と被記録材との再接着が行われにくくなるために、フッソ系界面活性剤を添加した画像除去促進液は大きな再付着作用防止効果を有する。
ところが、画像除去促進液にフッソ系界面活性剤を単独で用いた場合は、被記録材や画像形成物質への濡れ性が不十分であり、十分に被記録材と画像形成物質との接着力を低下することが出来ないため、好ましい除去特性が得られないが、アルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩とフッソ系界面活性剤を混合使用することで、被記録材や画像形成物質への濡れ性と再付着作用防止効果との両者を満足できる相乗効果を発現でき、極めて優れた画像形成物質の除去特性を得ることができる。
【００１５】
本発明で前記の効果をもたらすことのできるフッ素系界面活性剤の具体例としては、フロロアルキルカルボン酸塩、フロロアルキルスルホン酸塩、フロロアルキルリン酸エステル等のアニオン系、フロロアルキル導入ベタイン等の両性系、フロロアルキルエチレンオキサイド付加物、フロロアルキルオリゴマー、フロロアルキルアミンオキサイド等のノニオン系、フロロアルキルトリメチルアンモニウム塩等のカチオン系等が挙げられる。
フッソ系界面活性剤とアルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩との混合比率は、画像形成物質を除去するための方法、速度等のプロセス条件、用いる画像形成物質や被記録材の種類等の条件により、好ましい範囲は異なるが、通常、０．０１〜５の範囲で用いることが特に好ましい。
【００１６】
本発明における画像除去促進液には、前記のアルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩，フッソ系界面活性剤の他に、目的に応じて他の界面活性剤を含有させることもできる。添加できる他の界面活性剤の具体例としては、陰イオン界面活性剤として、、アルキルカルボン酸塩、Ｎ−アシルアミノ酸塩、アルキルエーテル酢酸塩、アシル化ペプチド等のカルボン酸塩、アルキルスルホン酸塩、アルキルベンゼンスルホン酸塩、アルキルナフタレンスルホン酸塩、スルホ琥珀酸塩、α−オレフィンスルホン酸塩、Ｎ−アシルスルホン酸塩等のスルホン酸塩、硫酸化油、アルキル硫酸塩、アルキルエーテル硫酸塩、アルキルアミド硫酸塩等の硫酸エステル塩、アルキルリン酸塩、アルキルエーテルリン酸塩、アルキルアリールリン酸塩等のリン酸エステル塩が挙げられる。
陽イオン界面活性剤としては脂肪族アミン塩、アルキル第４級アンモニウム塩、芳香族第４級アンモニウム塩、複素環第４級アンモニウム塩等が挙げられる。
両性界面活性剤としては、カルボキシベタイン、スルホベタイン等のベタイン型、アミノカルボン酸塩、イミダゾリン誘導体等が挙げられる。
非イオン性界面活性剤としては、ポリオキシエチレンアルキル及びアリールエーテル、ポリオキシエチレンスチロールエーテル、ポリオキシエチレンラノリン誘導体、アルキルアリルホルムアルデヒド縮合物の酸化エチレン誘導体、ポリオキシエチレンポリオキシプロピレンブロック共重合体、ポリオキシエチレンポリオキシプロピレンアルキルエーテル等のエーテル系、ポリオキシエチレングリセリン脂肪酸エステル、ポリオキシエチレンソルビタン脂肪酸エステル、ポリオキシエチレンソルビトール脂肪酸エステル等のエーテルエステル系、ポリエチレングリコール脂肪酸エステル、脂肪酸モノグリセリド、ポリグリセリン脂肪酸エステル、ソルビタン脂肪酸エステル、プロピレングリコール脂肪酸エステル、しょ糖脂肪酸エステル等のエステル系、脂肪族アルカノールアミド、ポリオキシエチレン脂肪酸アミド、ポリオキシエチレンアルキルアミン、アルキルアミンオキサイド等の含窒素系が挙げられる。
シリコーン系界面活性剤としては、ポリオキシアルキレン変性シロキサン、カルボキシル化ポリオキシアルキレン変性シロキサンが挙げられる。
本発明の画像除去促進液におけるアルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩，フッソ系界面活性剤以外の前記各界面活性剤の添加量は特に制限はないが、、画像除去促進液に含有される界面活性剤全体の８０重量％以下、特に５０重量％以下の含有量とすることが、前記の被記録材や画像形成物質への濡れ性と再付着作用防止の両方の効果を得る上で好ましい。
【００１７】
画像除去促進液には画像形成物質と相溶する比較的高沸点の液状化合物を添加することにより、画像形成物質を除去した後の被記録材表面の傷みを低減でき、良好な画像形成物質の除去特性が得られる。更に、画像除去手段として、剥離部材と被記録材とを密着して加熱加圧する方法を用いる場合には、画像除去促進液には画像形成物質と相溶する比較的高沸点の液状化合物を添加することにより、良好な画像形成物質の除去が可能となる温度を下げることができ、したがって必要電力消費量の低減が可能となる。
前記効果をもたらし、本発明に用いられる化合物として、２−メトキシエタノール、２−エトキシエタノール、２−（メトキシメトキシ）エタノール、２−イソプロポキシエタノール、２−ブトキシエタノール、２−イソペンチルオキシエタノール、２−フェノキシエタノール、２−ベンジルオキシエタノール等のセロソルブ類およびフルフリルアルコール、テトラヒドロフルフリルアルコール、ジエチレングリコールモノメチルエーテル、ジエチレングリコールモノエチルエーテル、ジエチレングリコールモノブチルエーテル等のカルービトール類、またはそれらの誘導体類として、２−メトキシエチルアセテート、２−エトキシエチルアセテート、２−ブトキシエチルアセテート、ジエチレングリコールモノエチルエーテルアセテート、ジエチレングリコールモノブチルエーテルアセテート等がある。さらにトリエチレングリコールモノメチルエーテル、テトラエチレングリコール、１−メトキシ−２−プロパノール、１−エトキシ−２−プロパノール、ジプロレングリコールモノメチルエーテル、ジプロレングリコールモノエチルエーテル、トリプロレングリコールモノメチルエーテルおよびポリオキシエチレンーオキシプロレン誘導体類、２−ピロリジノン、Ｎ−メチル−２−ピロリジノン、エチレンカーボネート、プロレンカーボネート、γ−ブチロラクトン、１，３−ジメチルイミダゾリジノン、モルホリン、γ−バレロラクトン等を挙げることができる。
また、既述の界面活性剤中にも前記の化合物と同様な効果を示すものがある。具体的には、脂肪族アルコールのエチレンオキサイド付加物、ポリオキシエチレンアルキルエーテル系、ポリオキシエチレンポリオキシプロピレンアルキルエーテル系、アルキルアミンオキサイド類が同様な効果を示す。
前記の化合物を画像除去促進液に添加した時に、前記のように良好な画像形成物質の除去特性が得られたり、画像形成物質の除去が可能な温度を下げることが出来るのは、前記の化合物が画像形成物質の除去時に画像形成物質を可塑化しているためと推定される。
【００１８】
本発明の画像除去促進液には、前記の界面活性剤等とともに画像形成物質の除去特性および再生状態を改良したり、粘度等物性値を調整し、画像除去促進液の付与を容易にする目的で水溶性高分子の添加を行うことができる。
画像除去促進液中に添加できる水溶性高分子としては、天然系では、アラビアガム、トラガンガム、グーアガム、カラヤガム、ローカストビーンガム、アラビノガラクトン、ペクチン、クインスシードデンプン等の植物性高分子、アルギン酸、カラギーナン、寒天、ふのり等の海藻系高分子、ゼラチン、カゼイン、アルブミン、コラーゲン等の動物系高分子、キサンテンガム、デキストラン等の微生物系高分子、半合成系では、メチルセルロース、エチルセルロース、ヒドロキシエチルセルロース、ヒドロキシプロピルセルロース、カルボキシメチルセルロース（ＣＭＣ）等の繊維素系高分子、可溶性デンプン、カルボキシメチルデンプン（ＣＭＳ）、ジアルデヒドデンプン、デンプングリコール酸ナトリウム、デンプンリン酸エステルナトリウム等のデンプン系高分子、アルギン酸ナトリウム、アルギン酸プロピレングリコールエステル等の海藻系高分子、純合成系では、ポリビニルアルコール、ポリビニルピロリドン、ポリビニルメチルエーテル等のビニル系高分子、非架橋ポリアクリルアミド、ポリアクリル酸及びそのアルカリ金属塩、水溶性スチレンアクリル樹脂等のアクリル系樹脂、水溶性スチレンマレイン酸樹脂、水溶性ビニルナフタレンアクリル樹脂、水溶性ビニルナフタレンマレイン酸樹脂、ポリビニルピロリドン、ポリビニルアルコール、β−ナフタレンスルホン酸ホルマリン縮合物のアルカリ金属塩、四級アンモニウムやアミノ基等のカチオン性官能基の塩を側鎖に有する高分子化合物、セラック等の天然高分子化合物等が挙げられる。
これら水溶性高分子の画像除去促進液に対する添加量は、画像除去促進液を被記録材に付与する方法により異なるが、０．１〜２０重量％、好ましくは０．１〜１０重量％の範囲で添加される。
その他の画像除去促進液に添加されるものとしては、ｐＨ調整剤がある。画像除去液のｐＨを５〜８に調整することで該液の保存安定性を向上できる。ｐＨ５以下では接液性が悪く錆が発生しやすく、ｐＨ８以上では画像除去促進液に添加されたエステルが加水分解し物性が変化する。但し、ｐＨ調整剤の種類としては、画像除去促進液に悪影響をおよぼさずにｐＨを５〜８に調整できるものであれば、任意のｐＨ調整物質を使用することができる。
その例として、例えばジエタノールアミン、トリエタノールアミン等のアミン、水酸化リチウム、水酸化ナトリウム、水酸化カリウム等のアルカリ金属元素の水酸化物、水酸化アンモニウム、第４級アンモニウム水酸化物、第４級ホスホニウム水酸化物、炭酸リチウム、炭酸ナトリウム、炭酸カリウム等のアルカリ金属の炭酸塩等が挙げられる。
【００１９】
本発明の画像除去促進液に、添加できるその他の化合物として、防腐防黴剤が挙げられる。その例としては、デヒドロ酢酸ナトリウム、ソルビン酸ナトリウム、２−ピリジンチオール−１−オキサイドナトリウム、安息香酸ナトリウム、ペンタクロロフェノールナトリウム等が本発明に使用できる。
重金属イオンの封止剤で剥離助剤として画像除去促進液に添加されるキレート試薬としては、例えば、エチレンジアミン四酢酸ナトリウム、ニトリロ三酢酸ナトリウム、ヒドロキシエチルエチレンジアミン三酢酸ナトリウム、ジエチレントリアミン五酢酸ナトリウム、ウラミル二酢酸ナトリウム等がある。
その他、例えば、酸性亜硫酸塩、チオ硫酸ナトリウム、チオジグリコール酸アンモン、ジイソプロピルアンモニウムニトライト、四硝酸ペンタエリスリトール、ジシクロヘキシルアンモニウムニトライト等を防錆剤として、また再生後の被記録材の白色度を向上する目的で漂白剤を添加することができる。具体的には酸化漂白剤として過酸化水素、過酸化ナトリウム、過炭酸ナトリウム、次亜塩素酸ナトリウム等が挙げられる。蛍光染料、青み付け染料、酵素等を添加することもできる。さらに、電子写真方式では荷電制御剤、熱転写インクではビヒクルとして各種ワックスおよび粘着剤としてロジン（アビエチン酸）誘導体が含有されていても良い。
【００２０】
次に、本発明の被記録材の再生方法を詳しく説明する。
本発明の被記録材の再生方法においては、画像除去促進液を付与手段により被記録材に付与する。具体的な付与方法として、容器中の画像除去促進液に被記録材を浸積させて付与する方法、ローラーに画像除去促進液を付着させた後にローラーを被記録材に接触させて塗布する方法、画像除去促進液を霧状もしくは小滴状にし、被記録材に向けて噴射し付与する方法等がある。付与する液量は、被記録材上の画像を完全に除去できる範囲で、画像除去促進液を大量に付与させることに伴う前記の諸問題が生じないように最小限に押さえることが望ましい。
液中の成分が、再生処理後の被記録材中に残存することにより再利用時の筆記不良、画像除去促進液の定着不良などの問題を引き起こすことがある。従って、界面活性剤等の画像除去促進液に含有させる化合物は、同様に、被記録材上の画像形成物質を完全に除去できる範囲で、最小限の濃度に押さえることが望ましい。より具体的には、目的、対象とする画像形成物質や被記録材の種類、画像形成物質を除去するプロセス、画像除去促進液を付与する方法により使用できる範囲は異なるが、例えば、１種のみの画像除去促進液を使用する場合には、画像除去促進液中のアルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩濃度としては、０．０１重量％から２０重量％の範囲で調製されることが好ましく、特に、前記の理由により、０．１重量％から１０重量％の範囲が好ましい。画像除去促進液の付与量としては、８００μｇ／ｃｍ^２から８ｍｇ／ｃｍ^２（Ａ４判あたり０．５ｇから５ｇ）の範囲で用いることが好ましいが、特に、アルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩を使用しない画像除去促進液を用いる場合に比較して効果が大きいのは、前記のように３．２ｍｇ／ｃｍ^２（Ａ４判あたり２ｇ）以下の付与量とした場合である。
【００２１】
本出願人は、画像形成物質の除去特性が改善したり、画像除去促進液の使用量を低減できる効果を得る方法として同一成分からなる画像除去促進液を被記録材に付与する工程を分割し、同一被記録材に対して複数回の画像除去促進液の付与を行う方法を先に提案したが、本発明の画像除去促進液はそのような被記録材に複数回で付与する方法により、さらに優れた特性が得られる。
また、本出願人は、画像形成物質の除去特性が改善したり、画像除去促進液の使用量を低減できる効果が更に大きくなる方法として、界面活性剤を５から１００重量％の高い濃度で含有する高濃度液体と界面活性剤を５重量％未満の低い濃度で含有する水溶性液体または水からなる低濃度液体との２種以上の画像除去促進液を用いる方法を提案した。アルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩を含有する画像除去促進液をこの方法で用いることにより、前記の効果が大きくなり、より少量で良好な画像形成物質の除去特性が得られる。すなわち、この方法においては、少なくともアルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩を５から１００重量％の高い濃度で含有する高濃度液体とアルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩および／または他の界面活性剤を５重量％未満の低い濃度で含有する水溶性液体または水からなる低濃度液体との２種以上の画像除去促進液を用いる。高濃度液体を被記録材の画像形成物質を保持する面に１６μｇ／ｃｍ^２から１．６ｍｇ／ｃｍ^２（Ａ４判あたり０．０１ｇから１ｇ）の範囲で付与した後、低濃度液体を１６μｇ／ｃｍ^２から３．２ｍｇ／ｃｍ^２（Ａ４判あたり０．０１ｇから２ｇ）の範囲で付与することにより、被記録材の劣化をおこさず、特に優れた再生品質を得ることができる。
高濃度液体中のアルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩が５重量％未満の場合、被記録材に付与する画像除去促進液の総量を少量にした場合に充分に画像形成物質の除去がなされない。良好な画像形成物質の除去が可能であること、液を被記録材に付与する適正な物性値が得られること、同一の被記録材を用いて画像形成・画像形成物質の除去による再生の繰り返しが多数回できることから、特に好ましい高濃度液体の濃度は５重量％〜５０重量％である。
また、低濃度水溶性液体として、アルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩および／または他の界面活性剤を５重量％以上にすると、画像形成物質の剥離が可能な条件ではあるが、再生された被記録材の特性が変化し、筆記性や再利用時の画像品質が低下する等の問題が生じる。完全な画像形成物質の除去が可能であり、前記の再生された被記録材の品質が良好であること、繰り返し再生・使用が可能であることを達成するためには、低濃度水溶性液体として、アルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩および／または他の界面活性剤濃度範囲は１重量％以下である。
高濃度液体または低濃度液体の被記録材への付与量は、１６μｇ／ｃｍ^２（Ａ４判あたり０．０１ｇ）よりも少量であると、被記録材から充分に画像形成物質を除去することができない。高濃度液体を被記録材に１．６ｍｇ／ｃｍ^２（Ａ４判あたり１ｇ）以上付与すると、前記のように再生された被記録材の特性が変化し、再生された被記録材の再利用に不適となる。
【００２２】
本発明の被記録材の再生方法を用いられる剥離部材を図１に示した再生装置の作用に基づき、より具体的に説明する。電子写真のトナー、熱転写インク等の皮膜状の画像形成物質が形成された、セルロース等の水を含む液体膨潤する表層を有する被記録材を供給する給紙トレイ（１−１）から給紙ローラ（１−２）によりガイド板（１−３）を通して搬送ローラ（１−４）で剥離部材ローラ（１−５）に導かれる。該剥離部材ローラ（１−５）の表面に給液ローラ（１−６）によりアルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩を含有する画像除去促進液（１−７）が塗布され、前記搬送ローラ（１−４）から搬送されてきた被記録材に画像除去促進液（１−７）が塗布含浸される。画像除去促進液（１−７）が塗布含浸され、剥離部材と接触している被記録材は、加熱ローラ（１−８）で加熱加圧された後、分離爪（１−９）で剥離部材から分離される。剥離部材ローラ（１−５）と加熱加圧されることにより、被記録材上の画像形成物質と剥離部材ローラ（１−５）との間に接着力が生じる。被記録材と画像形成物質との接着力は、被記録材に画像除去促進液が付与されることにより弱まっているので、被記録材を剥離部材ローラ（１−５）から分離すると、画像形成物質は被記録材から剥離部材ローラ（１−５）側へ転写され、被記録材上の画像形成物質は被記録材から除去される。画像が除去された被記録材は、搬送ローラ（１−１１）によって、乾燥ベルト（１−１２）上に導かれ、乾燥される。乾燥された無画像の被記録材は搬送ローラ（１−１１）によって、排紙トレイ（１−１３）に排出されて、再複写・再印字可能な被記録材が得られる。
画像が転写された剥離部材ローラ（１−５）上の画像形成物質は、クリーニング部（１−１０）で剥離部材ローラ（１−５）の表面から掻き落とされ、剥離部材ローラ（１−５）は、再度画像除去に使用される。
【００２３】
図２に示した再生装置は、本発明にかかる被記録材の再生方法を実施することのできる別の装置の例である。
この装置の動作により本発明の再生方法について、更に説明を加える。図２の装置は、１、２、３、４、５の各ユニットからなる。
給紙ユニット１において、画像が形成された被記録材１０は、底板１０１上に集積され、最上部のものから給紙ローラ１０２で給紙される。画像除去促進液付与ユニット２においては、給紙ユニット１から給送された被記録材１０は、液中搬送ローラ２０２と液中ガイド板２０３とによって、液容器２０１のアルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩を含有する画像除去促進液２０中に案内させ、画像除去促進液２０中に浸積された後、絞りローラ対２０４によって余分な画像除去促進液２０が除去され、次の画像形成物質剥離ユニット３へと搬送される。
画像形成物質剥離ユニット３は、加熱ランプ３０１を内蔵し互いに圧接状態で配置された１対の剥離部材ローラ３０２、転写紙排出側の圧接部近傍の剥離部材ローラ３０２の表面に接触するように配置された分離爪３０３、剥離部材ローラ３０２の表面をクリーニングするクリーニング装置３０４、駆動部（図示せず）等を備えている。クリーニング装置３０４は、剥離部材ローラ３０２の表面上の画像形成物質を除去するクリーニングローラ３０５、クリーニングローラ３０５上の画像形成物質を掻き落とすスクレーパブレード３０６、スクレーパブレード３０６で掻き落とした画像形成物質を収容する画像形成物質受け３０７（図示せず）を備えている。
画像除去促進液が付与された被記録材は、剥離部材ローラ３０２のニップに搬送され加熱・加圧される。
被記録材が剥離部材ローラ３０２と加熱加圧されることにより、図１の場合と同様に被記録材上の画像形成物質と剥離部材ローラ（１−５）との間に接着力が生じる。被記録材と画像形成物質との接着力は、被記録材に画像除去促進液が付与されることにより弱まっているので、被記録材を剥離部材ローラ３０２から分離すると、画像形成物質は被記録材から剥離部材ローラ３０２側へ転写され、被記録材上の画像形成物質は被記録材から除去される。
乾燥ユニット４においては、被記録材１０は、加熱ランプ４０１を内蔵する、例えばアルミニウムからなる乾燥ローラ４０２とこれに隣接する乾燥ローラ４０３とにより形成されるニップ間を通過することにより乾燥され、再利用が可能な被記録材が再生される。
紙受けユニット５においては、乾燥ユニット４から排出された被記録材が排紙トレー５０１にストックされる。
【００２４】
図３に、画像形成物質の除去操作において、画像形成物質の剥離部材への接着と剥離部材と被記録材の分離を同一の被記録材について複数回繰り返す方法を実施するための再生装置の例を示す。図３の画像形成物質の除去操作は、剥離ユニット３で行われる。剥離ユニット３は、加熱ランプ３０１を内蔵する複数の加熱・加圧ローラ３０２、１対の入り口ローラ３０５、１対の分離ローラ３０６、およびこれらのローラを内接するように張り回らされたエンドレス・ベルト３０８、３０９等から構成される。エンドレス・ベルト３０９は、剥離部材ベルトであり、比較的画像形成物質との接着力が大きい。例えば、ポリエチレンテレフタレート、ポリエチレンナフチレート、ポリカーボネート等のポリマーで形成される。画像除去促進液が付与された被記録材は、入り口ローラ３０５部において、エンドレス・ベルト３０８と３０９の間に挿入され、分離ローラ３０６部に至るまで、エンドレス・ベルト３０８と３０９の間に挟持されたまま搬送される。この間に、加熱・加圧ローラ３０２により、被記録材は、加熱され、画像形成物質が軟化し、剥離部材ベルトに加圧されるので、画像形成物質は剥離部材に接着する。図のように、ジグザクに配置されたローラに１対のベルトを巻き付けて、被記録材を１対のベルトの間に挟持したまま搬送すると、被記録材とベルトとの間に搬送速度の差が生じる。搬送速度の差は、ミクロ的に被記録材と剥離部材との分離が生じていることを意味している。このミクロ的な被記録材と剥離部材との分離により、画像形成物質は被記録材から剥離部材側へ転写される。図３の構成の装置において、被記録材がエンドレス・ベルト３０８と３０９の間に挟持されたまま搬送される間に、前記の画像形成物質の剥離部材ベルト３０９への接着と被記録材から剥離部材側へ転写が繰り返される。本発明において、このような画像形成物質の除去操作がなされているときに、画像除去促進液としてアルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩を含有する液を使用することにより、前記のように少量の画像除去促進液の付与により、被記録材１０の表面を損傷させずに画像形成物質を除去することが可能となる。
なお、図３の液付与ユニット２は、液容器２０１、液汲み上げローラ２０７、液塗布ローラ２０８、押さえローラ２０９等よりなり、液容器２０１中から液汲み上げローラ２０７によって汲み上げられた画像除去促進液は、液塗布ローラ２０８との間で絞られて定量化され、液搬送ローラ２０８と押さえローラ２０９との間に搬送される被記録材に付与される。
また、被記録材への画像除去促進液への付与を、同一被記録材に対して複数回行うには、液付与ユニット部に、例えば液容器２０１、液汲み上げローラ２０７、液塗布ローラ２０８、押さえローラ２０９等よりなる画像除去促進液の付与ステーションを、１つだけではなく、複数のステーションを設けるようにすることができる。
以上の本発明の被記録材の再生方法を実施するための装置として、画像形成物質を除去・加圧して剥離部材に転写する方法についてのみ例を挙げたが、本発明における、画像形成物質の除去方法は、これに限定されるものではなく、アルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩を含有する画像除去促進液を付与した被記録材を、ブラシで擦る、粘着性の剥離部材に転写する等の他の手段で、画像形成物質を除去する方法も本発明の範囲に含まれる。
次に本発明の実施例をより具体的に示すが、本発明は、これらの実施例に限定されるものではない。なお、％は重量％を示す。
【００２５】
【実施例】
参考例１
＜電子写真トナー処方＞下記処方にてトナーＡを作製した。
ポリエステル樹脂 （結着樹脂） ４３％
スチレンアクリル樹脂 （結着樹脂） ４３％
含Ｃｒモノアゾ染料 （荷電制御剤） ３％
カルナウバワックス （離型剤） ４％
カーボンブラック （着色剤） ７％
以上の物質をブレンダーで１０分混合した後、１２０〜１４０℃に熱した２本のロールによって溶融混練した。混練物を自然放冷後、カッターミルで粗粉砕し、ジェット気流を用いた粉砕機で粉砕後、風力分級を用いて体積平均粒径１０μｍのトナーを得た。
＜電子写真トナー処方＞下記処方にてトナーＢを作製した。
ポリエステル樹脂 （結着樹脂） ７０％
スチレンアクリル樹脂 （結着樹脂） １６％
サリチル酸誘導体亜鉛塩 （荷電制御剤） ３％
カルナウバワックス （離型剤） ４％
カーボンブラック （着色剤） ７％
以上の物質をブレンダーで１０分混合した後、１２０〜１４０℃に熱した２本のロールによって溶融混練した。混練物を自然放冷後、カッターミルで粗粉砕し、ジェット気流を用いた粉砕機で粉砕後、風力分級を用いて体積平均粒径８μｍのトナーを得た。
＜ホットメルトインクの処方＞下記処方にてホットメルトインクＣを作製した。
ローダミンＢレーキ顔料 ３％
Ｃ．Ｉ．ソルベントレッド４９ ０．５％
密ロウ ４８％
パラフィンワックス １０％
ステアリン酸アミド ３６．３％
酢酸ビニル−エチレン共重合体（分子量約３０００）１．８％
２−ｔ−ブチル−４−メトキシフェノール ０．３８％
３−ｔ−ブチル−４−メトキシフェノール ０．０２％
上記処方の混合物を１３０℃に加熱しながら、ボールミルで分散、撹拌溶解し、熱時遠心分離を行い、最大粒子を除去してホットメルトインク組成物Ｃを得た。
【００２６】
実施例１
下記処方の組成物を撹拌溶解し、ｐＨ８となるように水酸化リチウム１０％液で調整し画像除去促進液１を作製した。
化合物（１−Ａ） １％
２−プロパノール １％
デヒドロ酢酸Ｎａ ０．１％
水酸化リチウム ０．１％
純水 残量
上記処方にて作製したトナーＡを用い電子写真方式のＰＰＣ複写機にて市販のＡ４判上質紙Ａ上に画像を形成した後に、図１に示す装置に前記画像除去促進液１セットし、処理速度２０ｍｍ／ｓｅｃ、加熱温度１３０℃にて再生処理を行った。剥離部材としてポリエチレンテレフタレートを用い、液１の付与量は４．５ｇとした。再生された紙には実使用上問題となる量のトナーは残っていなかった。再生された紙を用いて、前記の複写機にて再使用したところ、未使用の紙と同等の複写画像を得ることができた。
前記と同様にして、再使用された紙に対し再生処理を施したところ、同様に再生された紙には実使用上問題となる量のトナーは残っていなかった。その後、画像形成および再生処理を繰り返し３回行ったが、いずれの回においても再生された紙にはトナーの残りは観察されず、画像形成を行った場合も、未使用の上質紙上のものとほぼ同等の綺麗な複写画像が得られた。
同様にして実施例２〜１２および比較例１〜１３について被記録材の再生の状態を調べた。
【００２７】
実施例２
下記処方にて撹拌溶解後、水酸化ナトリウムでｐＨ９として画像除去促進液２を作製した。
化合物（１−Ｃ） ２％
化合物（２−Ａ）２５％水溶液 ０．８％
エタノール ２％
ソルビン酸Ｎａ ０．１％
純水 残量
トナーＢを用い電子写真方式のＰＰＣ複写機にて市販のＡ４判上質紙Ｂ上に画像を形成した後、実施例１と同様に前記画像除去促進液２を用いて再生処理を行った。このとき液２の付与量は３．８ｇであった。得られた紙にはトナーの残りは観察されなかった。再生された紙を前記の複写機にて再使用したところ、未使用の紙と同等な綺麗な複写画像を得ることができた。
前記と同様にして、再使用された紙に対し再生処理を施したところ、同様に再生された紙には実使用上問題となる量のトナーは残っていなかった。その後、画像形成および再生処理を繰り返し３回行ったが、いずれの回においても再生された紙にはトナーの残りは観察されず、画像形成を行った場合も、未使用の上質紙上のものとほぼ同等の綺麗な複写画像が得られた。
【００２８】
実施例３
下記処方にて撹拌溶解後、水酸化リチウムでｐＨ９として画像除去促進液３を作製した。
化合物（１−Ｇ） ０．５％
ソフタノール７０ ０．５％
（日本触媒製：ポリオキシエチレンアルキルエーテル系界面活性剤）
化合物（２−Ｃ）２５％水溶液 ０．１％
安息香酸Ｎａ ０．１％
純水 残量
実施例１と同様にして市販のＡ４判上質紙Ａ上に画像を形成した後、実施例１と同様に前記画像除去促進液３を用いて再生処理を行った。このとき液３の付与量は４．５ｇであった。得られた紙にはトナーの残りは観察されなかった。再生された紙を前記の複写機にて再使用したところ、未使用の紙と同等な綺麗な複写画像を得ることができた。
前記と同様にして、再使用された紙に対し再生処理を施したところ、同様に再生された紙には実使用上問題となる量のトナーは残っていなかった。その後、画像形成および再生処理を繰り返し３回行ったが、いずれの回においても再生された紙にはトナーの残りは観察されず、画像形成を行った場合も、未使用の上質紙上のものとほぼ同等の綺麗な複写画像が得られた。
【００２９】
実施例４
下記処方にて撹拌溶解後、水酸化リチウムでｐＨ８として画像除去促進液４を作製した。
化合物（１−Ｉ） ０．３％
ソフタノール１２０（日本触媒製） ０．５％
ペンタクロロフェノールＮａ ０．１％
純水 残量
実施例２と同様にして市販のＡ４判上質紙Ｂ上に画像を形成した後、実施例１と同様にして前記画像除去促進液４を用いて再生処理を行った。このとき液４の付与量は４．０ｇであった。得られた紙にはトナーの残りは観察されなかった。再生された紙を用いて、前記の複写機にて再使用したところ、未使用の紙と同等な綺麗な複写画像を得ることができた。
前記と同様にして、再使用された紙に対し再生処理を施したところ、同様に再生された紙には実使用上問題となる量のトナーは残っていなかった。その後、画像形成および再生処理を繰り返し３回行ったが、いずれの回においても再生された紙にはトナーの残りは観察されず、画像形成を行った場合も、未使用の上質紙上のものとほぼ同等の綺麗な複写画像が得られた。
【００３０】
実施例５
下記処方にて画像除去促進液ｅを作製した。
化合物（１−Ｈ） １％
化合物（１−Ｂ） ０．２％
過炭酸ナトリウム ０．１％
２−ピリジンチオール−１−オキサイドＮａ ０．１％
純水 残量
公知の圧電素子を用いたオンディマンド型のホットメルトインクジェットプリンターを用い、ヘッドが１２０℃になるように加熱して前記のインクＣをヘッドに充填し、市販のＡ４判上質紙Ｃ上へ印字を行ったものについて、実施例１と同様にして前記画像除去促進液５を用いて再生処理を行った。このとき液５の付与量は４．３ｇであった。得られた紙にはトナーの残りは観察されなかった。再生された紙を前記の複写機にて再使用したところ、未使用の紙と同等な綺麗な複写画像を得ることができた。
前記と同様にして、再使用された紙に対し再生処理を施したところ、同様に再生された紙には実使用上問題となる量のトナーは残っていなかった。その後、画像形成および再生処理を繰り返し３回行ったが、いずれの回においても再生された紙にはトナーの残りは観察されず、画像形成を行った場合も、未使用の上質紙上のものとほぼ同等の綺麗な複写画像が得られた。
【００３１】
実施例６
下記処方で撹拌溶解後、水酸化ナトリウムでｐＨ７として画像除去促進液６を作製した。

実施例１と同様にして市販のＡ４判上質紙上に画像を形成した後、図２に示す装置に画像除去促進液６をセットし、それを用いて再生処理を行った。このとき液６の付与量は４．２ｇであった。得られた紙にはトナーの残りは観察されなかった。再生された紙を前記の複写機にて再使用したところ、未使用の紙と同等な綺麗な複写画像を得ることができた。
前記と同様にして、再使用された紙に対し再生処理を施したところ、同様に再生された紙には実使用上問題となる量のトナーは残っていなかった。その後、画像形成および再生処理を繰り返し３回行ったが、いずれの回においても再生された紙にはトナーの残りは観察されず、画像形成を行った場合も、未使用の上質紙上のものとほぼ同等の綺麗な複写画像が得られた。
【００３２】
実施例７
下記処方にて画像除去促進液７（ｐＨ８）を作製した。

実施例２と同様にして市販のＡ４判上質紙Ｂ上に画像を形成した後、実施例６と同様に前記画像除去促進液７を用いて再生処理を行った。このとき液７の付与量は４．０ｇであった。得られた紙にはトナーの残りは観察されなかった。再生された紙を前記の複写機にて再使用したところ、未使用の紙と同等な綺麗な複写画像を得ることができた。
前記と同様にして、再使用された紙に対し再生処理を施したところ、同様に再生された紙には実使用上問題となる量のトナーは残っていなかった。その後、画像形成および再生処理を繰り返し３回行ったが、いずれの回においても再生された紙にはトナーの残りは観察されず、画像形成を行った場合も、未使用の上質紙上のものとほぼ同等の綺麗な複写画像が得られた。
【００３３】
実施例８
下記処方で撹拌溶解後、水酸化ナトリウムでｐＨ９として画像除去促進液８を作製した
化合物（１−Ｆ） １％
Ｓ１４５（旭ガラス製） １．５％
ペンタクロロフェノールＮａ ０．１％
純水 残量
実施例５と同様にして市販のＡ４判上質紙Ｃ上に画像を形成した後、実施例６と同様にして前記画像除去促進液８を用いて再生処理を行った。このとき液８の付与量は４．０ｇであった。得られた紙にはトナーの残りは観察されなかった。再生された紙を前記の複写機にて再使用したところ、未使用の紙と同等な綺麗な複写画像を得ることができた。
前記と同様にして、再使用された紙に対し再生処理を施したところ、同様に再生された紙には実使用上問題となる量のトナーは残っていなかった。その後、画像形成および再生処理を繰り返し３回行ったが、いずれの回においても再生された紙にはトナーの残りは観察されず、画像形成を行った場合も、未使用の上質紙上のものとほぼ同等の綺麗な複写画像が得られた。
【００３４】
実施例９
下記処方で撹拌溶解後、水酸化ナトリウムでｐＨ７として画像除去促進液９を作製した

実施例１と同様にして市販のＡ４判上質紙Ａ上に画像を形成した後、図３に示す装置と画像除去促進液９を用いて再生処理を行った。ここで図４（ア）に示す装置を図３中の画像除去促進液付与ユニットに代えて組み込み、画像除去促進液９を２回に分けて付与した。このとき液９の付与量は計２．３ｇであった。得られた紙にはトナーの残りは観察されなかった。再生された紙を前記の複写機にて再使用したところ、未使用の紙と同等な綺麗な複写画像を得ることができた。
前記と同様にして、再使用された紙に対し再生処理を施したところ、同様に再生された紙には実使用上問題となる量のトナーは残っていなかった。その後、画像形成および再生処理を繰り返し３回行ったが、いずれの回においても再生された紙にはトナーの残りは観察されず、画像形成を行った場合も、未使用の上質紙上のものとほぼ同等の綺麗な複写画像が得られた。
【００３５】
実施例１０
下記処方で撹拌溶解後、水酸化リチウムでｐＨ７として画像除去促進液１０を作製した

実施例１と同様にして市販のＡ４判上質紙Ａ上に画像を形成した後、図２に示す装置と画像除去促進液１０を用いて再生処理を行った。このとき液１０の付与量は４．０ｇであった。得られた紙にはトナーの残りは観察されなかった。再生された紙を前記の複写機にて再使用したところ、未使用の紙と同等な綺麗な複写画像を得ることができた。
前記と同様にして、再使用された紙に対し再生処理を施したところ、同様に再生された紙には実使用上問題となる量のトナーは残っていなかった。その後、画像形成および再生処理を繰り返し３回行ったが、いずれの回においても再生された紙にはトナーの残りは観察されず、画像形成を行った場合も、未使用の上質紙上のものとほぼ同等の綺麗な複写画像が得られた。
【００３６】
実施例１１
下記処方で撹拌溶解後、水酸化リチウムでｐＨ７として画像除去促進液１１（高濃度液体）を作製した

実施例１と同様にして市販のＡ４判上質紙上Ａ上に画像を形成した後、図２に示す装置と画像除去促進液１１を用いて再生処理を行った。ここで図４（イ）に示す装置を図２中の画像除去促進液付与ユニットに代えて組み込み、画像除去促進液１１をローラにより０．０６ｇ付与し、次に水を霧状にして１．４ｇ付与した後、剥離を行った。得られた紙にはトナーの残りは観察されなかった。再生された紙を用いて、前記の複写機にて再使用したところ、未使用の紙と同等な綺麗な複写画像を得ることができた。
前記と同様にして、再使用された紙に対し再生処理を施したところ、同様に再生された紙には実使用上問題となる量のトナーは残っていなかった。その後、画像形成および再生処理を繰り返し３回行ったが、いずれの回においても再生された紙にはトナーの残りは観察されず、画像形成を行った場合も、未使用の上質紙上のものとほぼ同等の綺麗な複写画像が得られた。
【００３７】
実施例１２
下記処方で撹拌溶解後、水酸化ナトリウムでｐＨ８として画像除去促進液１２（高濃度液体）を作製した
エアロゾールＯＴ１００（三井サイアナミド製） ２０％
２−ピリジンチオール−１−オキサイドＮａ ０．１％
純水 残量
実施例２と同様にして市販のＡ４判上質紙上Ｂ上に画像を形成した後、図３に示す装置と画像除去促進液１２を用いて再生処理を行った。ここで図４（イ）に示す装置を図３中の画像除去促進液付与ユニットに代えて組み込み、画像除去促進液１２をローラにより０．１ｇ付与し、次に水を霧状にして１．１ｇ付与した後、剥離を行った。得られた紙にはトナーの残りは観察されなかった。再生された紙を前記の複写機にて再使用したところ、未使用の紙と同等な綺麗な複写画像を得ることができた。
前記と同様にして、再使用された紙に対し再生処理を施したところ、同様に再生された紙には実使用上問題となる量のトナーは残っていなかった。その後、画像形成および再生処理を繰り返し３回行ったが、いずれの回においても再生された紙にはトナーの残りは観察されず、画像形成を行った場合も、未使用の上質紙上のものとほぼ同等の綺麗な複写画像が得られた。
【００３８】
実施例１３
下記処方で撹拌溶解後、水酸化ナトリウムでｐＨ８として画像除去促進液１３（高濃度液体）を作製した
エアロゾールＯＴ１００ １０％
パーフルオロアルキルカルボン酸 １０％
２−ピリジンチオール−１−オキサイドＮａ ０．１％
純水 残量
実施例１１と同様にして市販のＡ４判上質紙上Ｂ上に画像を形成した後、図３に示す装置と画像除去促進液１３を用いて再生処理を行った。画像除去促進液１３をローラにより０．０８ｇ付与し、次に水を霧状にして０．９ｇ付与した後、剥離を行った。得られた紙にはトナーの残りは観察されなかった。再生された紙を前記の複写機にて再使用したところ、未使用の紙と同等な綺麗な複写画像を得ることができた。
前記と同様にして、再使用された紙に対し再生処理を施したところ、同様に再生された紙には実使用上問題となる量のトナーは残っていなかった。その後、画像形成および再生処理を繰り返し３回行ったが、いずれの回においても再生された紙にはトナーの残りは観察されず、画像形成を行った場合も、未使用の上質紙上のものとほぼ同等の綺麗な複写画像が得られた。
【００３９】
実施例１４
下記処方で撹拌溶解後、水酸化ナトリウムでｐＨ８として画像除去促進液１４（高濃度液体）を作製した
エアロゾールＯＴ１００ １０％
パーフルオロアルキルカルボン酸 １０％
２−プロパノール ５％
２−ピリジンチオール−１−オキサイドＮａ ０．１％
純水 残量
実施例１１と同様にして市販のＡ４判上質紙上Ｂ上に画像を形成した後、図３に示す装置と画像除去促進液１４を用いて再生処理を行った。画像除去促進液１４をローラにより０．０６ｇ付与し、次に水を霧状にして０．５ｇ付与した後、剥離を行った。得られた紙にはトナーの残りは観察されなかった。再生された紙を前記の複写機にて再使用したところ、未使用の紙と同等な綺麗な複写画像を得ることができた。
前記と同様にして、再使用された紙に対し再生処理を施したところ、同様に再生された紙には実使用上問題となる量のトナーは残っていなかった。その後、画像形成および再生処理を繰り返し３回行ったが、いずれの回においても再生された紙にはトナーの残りは観察されず、画像形成を行った場合も、未使用の上質紙上のものとほぼ同等の綺麗な複写画像が得られた。
【００４０】
実施例１５
実施例１４記載の画像除去促進液１４を１段目とし、実施例５記載の画像除去促進液５を２段目として、実施例１４と同様にして１段目に０．０５ｇ、２段目に０．４ｇの液付与量で再生処理を施した。得られた紙にはトナーの残りは観察されなかった。再生された紙を前記の複写機にて再使用したところ、未使用の紙と同等な綺麗な複写画像を得ることができた。
前記と同様にして、再使用された紙に対し再生処理を施したところ、同様に再生された紙には実使用上問題となる量のトナーは残っていなかった。その後、画像形成および再生処理を繰り返し３回行ったが、いずれの回においても再生された紙にはトナーの残りは観察されず、画像形成を行った場合も、未使用の上質紙上のものとほぼ同等の綺麗な複写画像が得られた。
【００４１】
実施例１６
下記処方で撹拌溶解後、水酸化リチウムでｐＨ９として画像除去促進液１６（高濃度液体）を作製した
エアロゾールＭＡ８０（三井サイアナミド製） １％
エチレンカーボネート ２％
１，３−ジメチルイミダゾリジノン ２％
ソルビン酸ナトリウム ０．１％
純水 残量
実施例１と同様にして市販のＡ４判上質紙上Ａに画像を形成した後、図２に示す装置と画像除去促進液１６を用いて再生処理を行った。このとき液１６の付与量は３．２ｇであった。得られた紙にはトナーの残りは観察されなかった。再生された紙を前記の複写機にて再使用したところ、未使用の紙と同等な綺麗な複写画像を得ることができた。
前記と同様にして、再使用された紙に対し再生処理を施したところ、同様に再生された紙には実使用上問題となる量のトナーは残っていなかった。その後、画像形成および再生処理を繰り返し３回行ったが、いずれの回においても再生された紙にはトナーの残りは観察されず、画像形成を行った場合も、未使用の上質紙上のものとほぼ同等の綺麗な複写画像が得られた。画像消去を行ったところトナー残像がなく、再利用可能であった。画像消去を行ったところ画像の残像がなく、また再複写可能であった。
【００４２】
比較例１
実施例１の画像除去促進液１の化合物（１−Ａ）を除きＢＴ５（日光ケミカルズ製：ペンタオキシエチレン２級アルキルエーテル系界面活性剤 商品名）に変えた以外は同様にして画像除去促進液ａを作製し、この画像除去促進液を用いて実施例１と同様にして画像再生処理を行った。このときの画像除去促進液ａの付与量は、浸透性が低いため、２．５ｇであった。再生処理後に得られた紙にはトナー画像の残像が認められ、再使用に耐えられないものであった。
比較例２
実施例２の画像除去促進液２の化合物（１−Ｅ）を除きソフタノール３００（日本触媒製 ポリオキシエチレン２級アルキルエーテル系界面活性剤 商品名）に変えた以外は同様にして画像除去促進液ｂを作製し、この画像除去促進液を用いて再生処理は実施例２と同様にして行った。このときの画像除去促進液ｂの付与量は、浸透性が低いためか、３．０ｇであった。再生処理後に得られた紙にはトナー画像の残像が認められ、再使用に耐えられないものであった。画像除去促進液ｂとして同様にして市販の上質紙上の画像消去を行なったところ僅かにトナー画像の残像が認められた。
【００４３】
比較例３
実施例３の画像除去促進液３の（１−Ｇ）を除いた以外は同様にして画像除去促進液ｃを作製し、この画像除去促進液を用いて再生処理は実施例３と同様にして行った。このときの画像除去促進液ｃの付与量は、３．１ｇであった。再生処理後に得られた紙にはトナー画像の残像が認められた。またトナーが剥離した部分も、荷電制御材によると思われる著しい着色がみられたため、再使用に耐えられないものであった。
【００４４】
比較例４
実施例４の画像除去促進液４の（１−Ｉ）を除いた以外は同様にして画像除去促進液ｄを作製し、この画像除去促進液を用いて再生処理は実施例４と同様にして行った。このときの画像除去促進液ｄの付与量は、３．５ｇであった。再生処理後に得られた紙にはトナー画像の残像が認められた。
【００４５】
比較例５
実施例６の画像除去促進液６のエアロゾールＯＰを除き、界面活性剤としてソルビタン脂肪酸エステルを用いたいた以外は同様にして画像除去促進液ｅを作製し、この画像除去促進液を用いて再生処理は実施例６と同様にして行った。このときの画像除去促進液ｅが浸透性に劣るため付与量は、２．３ｇであった。特に、画像部では画像除去促進液ｅは、紙の内部には浸透していなかった。再生処理後に得られた紙は、画像のあったところを中心に全面にわたり紙の表面が剥がれており、再使用に耐えられないものであった。
【００４６】
比較例６
実施例７の画像除去促進液７のエアロゾールＭＡ８０を除き、界面活性剤としてポリエチレングリーコール脂肪酸エステルを用いたいた以外は同様にして画像除去促進液ｆを作製し、この画像除去促進液を用いて再生処理は実施例７と同様にして行った。画像除去促進液ｆの付与量は、３．０ｇであった。再生処理後に得られた紙には、トナー画像の残像が認められ、再使用に耐えられないものであった。
【００４７】
比較例７
実施例８に記載した画像除去促進液８の化合物（１−Ｆ）を除き、プロピレングリーコール脂肪酸エステルを用いた以外は同様にして画像除去促進液ｇを作製し、この画像除去促進液を用いて再生処理は実施例８と同様にして行った。画像除去促進液ｇの付与量は、２．４ｇであった。画像形成物質と紙との界面に液が浸透しないため、再生処理後に得られた紙には、トナー画像の残像が認められ、画像が除去された部分の紙表面も繊維が毛羽立つているなど、再使用に耐えられないものであった。
【００４８】
比較例８
実施例１１に記載した画像除去促進液１０のＭＡ８０を除き、界面活性剤としてポリオキシエチレン脂肪酸アミドを用いた以外は同様にして画像除去促進液ｈを作製し、この画像除去促進液を用いて、再生処理は実施例１０と同じ条件で再生処理をこのとき１段目の液１８は、０．０５ｇ付着し、２段目の純水は０．７ｇ付着した。再生処理後に得られた紙には、トナー画像の残像が認められ、画像が除去された部分の紙表面も繊維が毛羽立つているなど、再使用に耐えられないものであった。
【００４９】
比較例９
実施例１２に記載した画像除去促進液１２のＯＴ１００を除き、プロピレングリーコール脂肪酸エステル界を用いた以外は同様にして画像除去促進液ｉを作製し、この画像除去促進液を用いて、実施例１２と同様にして市販上質紙上の画像の除去を行った。ここで１段目の画像除去促進液ｉは、０．０７ｇ付着し、２段目の水は０．５ｇ付着した。再生処理後に得られた紙には、トナー画像が剥離されないで残った。この画像除去促進液を用いて画像を除去する場合、実施例１２と同等の再生紙を得るのに、０．０９ｇの画像除去促進液と２．３ｇの水を要した。さらに、必要液量の増加に伴い、電力量も増加した。
【００５０】
比較例１０
実施例１５の１段目画像除去促進液１４の付与量を０．０５ｇとし、２段目の画像除去促進液５を実施例１５と同じ０．４ｇ付与して再生処理を行った。実施例１５と同様にして処理を行ったが、再生処理後に得られた紙は、ほとんどのトナーが残存し、再使用に耐えられないものであった。
【００５１】
比較例１１
実施例１５の１段目画像除去促進液１４の付与量を２ｇとした以外は、比較例１０と同じ条件で再生処理を行ったところ、再生処理後の紙から、ほとんどのトナーが完全に除去された。しかしこのようにして再生処理された紙上に、実施例２に記した画像形成を行うと、トナーの定着が悪く、綺麗に画像が形成されなかった。また、このようにして再生処理された紙に水性インクで筆記した場合、にじみがひどく使用に耐えられなかった。
【００５２】
【効果】
（１） 本発明によれば、アルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩を含有する画像除去促進液を使用しているので、画像形成物質や被記録材に対する濡れ性および被記録材への浸透性が向上するので、再生処理に要する画像除去促進液の必要液量が低減でき、かつ、再生処理の高速化が可能になる。
（２） 本発明によれば、アルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩が、画像形成物質の被記録材への再付着を防止する作用を有するので、画像除去促進液の付与量を少量にした場合にも、画像形成物質の残りが無く、かつ、再生後の被記録材の表面を傷めることなく画像形成物質を被記録材から除去することが可能になる。
（３） 本発明によれば、アルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩を画像除去促進液に添加することで、前記（１）及び（２）の効果が大きいばかりでなく、保存特性や安全性に優れた画像除去促進液を提供することができる。
（４） 本発明によれば、前記化合物（１）のカウンターイオンとして請求項４記載の陽イオンを選択することで画像除去の特性の経時安定性に優れた画像除去促進液を提供することができる。
（５） 本発明によれば画像除去促進液にアルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩に加えてフッ素系界面活性剤を添加することで、被記録材への画像形成物質の再付着がさらに効果的に防止され、画像除去促進液の付与量を少量にした場合にも、画像形成物質の残りがなく、かつ再生後の被記録材の表面を傷めること無く画像形成物質を被記録材から除去することが可能になる。
【００５３】
（６） 本発明によれば画像除去促進液にアルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩に加えて画像形成物質を可塑化する化合物を添加することで、被記録材表面の損傷を押さえることが可能となる。また、加熱により剥離部材と画像形成物質を接着させて剥離を行う場合は、剥離に必要な温度を低下することが可能となり、被記録材の再生に要する電力消費量を低減したり、再生装置に使用する部材の耐熱性の制限を緩和することができる。
（７） 本発明によれば、画像除去促進液にアルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩に加えて脂肪族１価アルコールを添加することで、画像形成物質の残りが無く、かつ再生後の被記録材の表面を傷めること無く画像形成物質を被記録材から除去することが可能となるとともに、経時の後も良好に画像形成物質を被記録材から除去することが可能になる。信頼性の高い画像除去促進液を提供することができる。
（８） 本発明によれば、画像除去促進液を同一被記録材に対して複数回に分けて付与されるので、画像形成物質と被記録材との接点に画像除去促進液が浸透しやすく、少量の画像除去促進液の付与により、画像形成物質の残りが無く、かつ、再生後の被記録材の表面を傷めること無く、画像形成物質を被記録材から除去することが可能になる。
（９） 本発明によれば、少なくともアルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩を含む画像除去促進液を使用し、画像除去促進液を付与する方法が、同一被記録材に対して複数回に分けて付与され、かつ、複数回に分けて付与される画像除去促進液中の、アルキルスルホ琥珀酸塩および他の界面活性剤の含有濃度が、後工程の付与になるに従って低くなるので、先に付与した画像除去促進液により十分に濡れ性が高くなった被記録材へ次工程の画像除去促進液が供給されるため、少量の画像除去促進液を付与した場合にも、画像除去促進液と被記録材との接点に画像除去促進液が浸透し易く、画像形成物質の残りが無く、かつ、再生後の被記録材の表面を傷めること無く画像形成物質を被記録材から除去することが可能になる。更に、１回の再生操作に使用する界面活性剤の総量を低減できるために、再生された被記録材の筆記性、画像形成物質の定着性などの劣化を防止することができ、何回も再生・再利用のサイクルを繰り返すことが出来る。
（１０）本発明によれば、密着した被記録材と剥離部材との間に”ずれ”を生じせしめて複数回の画像形成物質の剥離部材への接着と剥離が生じる方法によるものである場合に、特に、少量の画像除去促進液を付与した場合においても、画像形成物質の残りが無く、かつ再生後の被記録材の表面を傷めることなく画像形成物質を被記録材から除去することが可能となる。
（１１）本発明によれば、画像除去促進液に水溶性高分子を添加することで剥離特性を改良し再生後の被記録材の強度等の特性を改善することができ、再利用の用途を広めることができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の再生方法で使用する装置の例の概略図である。
【図２】本発明の再生方法で使用する装置の他の例の概略図である。
【図３】本発明の再生方法で使用する装置の他の例の概略図である。
【図４】本発明の再生方法で使用する装置の２段階画像除去促進付与ユニットの概略図である。
（ア）ローラ塗布を２回行うもの
（イ）ローラ塗布後、非接触方式で液を付与するもの
【図５】被記録材上に形成された皮膜状画像の断面を模式的に示す図である。
【符号の説明】
１−１ 給紙トレイ
１−２ 給紙ローラ
１−３ ガイド板
１−４ 搬送ローラ
１−５ 剥離部材ローラ
１−６ 給液ローラ
１−７ 画像除去促進液
１−８ 加熱ローラ
１−９ 分離爪
１−１０ クリーニング部
１−１１ 搬送ローラ
１−１２ 乾燥ベルト
１−１３ 排紙トレイ
１ 給紙ユニット
２ 画像除去促進液付与ユニット
３ 画像形成物質剥離ユニット
４ 乾燥ユニット
５ 紙受けユニット
１０ 被記録材
１１ 皮膜状画像形成物
１０１ 底板
１０２ 給紙ローラ
１０４ 搬送ローラ
２０ 画像除去促進液
２０１ 液容器
２０２ 液中搬送ローラ
２０３ 液中ガイド板
２０４ 絞りローラ対
２０６ 絞りローラ対
２０７ 液汲み上げローラ
２０８ 液塗布ローラ
２０９ 押さえローラ
３０１ 加熱ランプ
３０２ 剥離部材ローラ
３０３ 分離爪
３０４ クリーニング装置
３０５ クリーニングローラ
３０６ スクレーパブレード
３０７ 画像形成物質受け
３０８ エンドレス・ベルト
３０９ エンドレス・ベルト
４０１ 加熱ランプ
４０２ 乾燥ローラ
４０３ 乾燥ローラ
５０１ 排紙トレー[0001]
【Technical field】
The present invention relates to an electrophotographic copying machine, a printer, and a thermal transfer method in which a thermoplastic or heat-meltable image-forming substance is placed in the vicinity of the surface of a recording material, which is at least a surface on which an image is formed is swollen with a liquid containing water. The present invention relates to a reproducing method for reusing a recording material fixed and imaged by a printer or hot melt ink jet, and an image removal accelerating liquid used in the reproducing method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
With recent OA, printer paper and copy paper have been used in large quantities. As a result, the problem of deteriorating the global environment due to the felling of forests has been caused. Conventionally, there has been a method for solving this problem by removing ink (deinking) once used paper, dipping it again, reusing it, and using it as recycled used paper. However, as Iwasaki et al. [Paper Pulp Technology Times, 33, 6 (1990)] pointed out, OA waste paper is difficult to deink or bleach because the printing method is different from normal printing, and difficult with conventional recycling technology alone. However, although toner deinking has been studied [Tappi Journal, March, 102 (1986), etc.], there are problems such as a large system and high cost. Recently, however, paper has been developed in which character images on paper once used can be removed by cleaning and reused for copying or printing. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 4-67043 discloses a sheet-like support that has been released from the surface of the sheet-like support, particularly only one side, and the release-treated recording material is marked to distinguish it from plain paper. Has been. However, this is a problem with special paper, such as difficulty in fixing, and there is a problem in using it as general copy paper. JP-A-1-101576 and JP-A-1-101777 disclose that an image is removed by ultrasonically treating a toner on a recording material in an organic solvent that dissolves the toner. However, there are problems with pollution, ignition, and toxicity due to organic solvents, and there are problems when used in general offices and homes.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-297294 uses an image recording material made of plastic, metal, poorly liquid permeable paper or ceramic, and heat-melts the image formed on the recording material. Although there is disclosed a cleaning method in which an image is peeled off from a recording material by heating with an adhesive peelable body, a special sheet having a surface subjected to a release treatment must be used.
In view of this, the present applicant previously used a recording material composed of a paper layer mainly composed of cellulose fibers as a main component in JP-A-5-202557, and a liquid containing water in the recording material. In this state, the recording material and the peeling member are brought into pressure contact with each other in a state where the adhesive strength between the paper quality layer and the ink is weakened. This method is excellent in that it can recycle commonly used copy paper and printer paper and is safe.
However, in the reproducing method according to JP-A-5-202557, in order to completely remove the image forming substance, a large amount of image removal accelerating liquid must be applied. The problem that the energy consumed for drying the image removal promoting liquid applied in the material reproduction operation becomes large, and a large amount of the image removal promoting liquid component (for example, water) generated by the drying causes an electric circuit inside and outside the reproducing apparatus. The problem of easy occurrence of trouble, the problem of rust and other corrosion and flaws, and the influence of the components in the image removal accelerating liquid, especially the water contained in the image removal accelerating liquid. As a result, the recording material jams in the reproducing apparatus, which causes problems such as difficulty in conveyance.
In addition, the types of image forming substances and recording materials that can be removed have been limited so far, and the reproducible process conditions are so narrow that precise control of the heat and pressure applied during image separation is necessary. There existed a problem that the cost of an apparatus was expensive and the reliability with respect to reproduction | regeneration processing was low.
The applicant of the present invention aims to solve the problems in the invention that has been filed, and as a result of repeated studies on the invention, the reproduction method of the invention is an adhesion between an image forming substance and a recording material using an image removal promoting liquid. It is considered that the phenomenon of weakening the force is used, and it is estimated that the recording material is reproduced by the following action.
That is, first, by applying an image removal accelerating liquid to a recording material on which a film-like image is formed, the image removal accelerating liquid penetrates into the recording material and the recording material swells. As a result of the swelling of the recording material, stress is generated at the interface between the recording material swollen by the image removal accelerating liquid and the film-like image forming substance that is hardly swollen by the image removal accelerating liquid, and the recording material and the image forming substance Since peeling occurs in the meantime, the adhesive force between the recording material and the film-like image forming substance is reduced. After the adhesive force between the recording material and the film-like image forming material is reduced, the image forming material is removed from the recording material by the image removing means.
The recording material from which the image-forming substance has been removed from the surface by the above method is subjected to removal of the liquid component remaining on the recording material in the drying process, finishing such as smoothing, etc., as necessary. A reproduction recording material is obtained.
[0003]
【the purpose】
The present invention is to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.
That is, one object of the present invention is to improve the removal characteristics of a film-form image forming material, an electrophotographic toner or the like image forming material having thermoplasticity or heat melting property from a recording material, and particularly to remove a small amount of image. An object of the present invention is to provide a method for reproducing a recording material and an image removal accelerating liquid that can obtain good image forming substance removal characteristics even when the accelerating liquid is applied.
Another object of the present invention is to improve the removal characteristics of the image forming substance from the recording material, and particularly when the recording material is rough, such as when the surface of the recording material is rough, even when a small amount of the image removal accelerating liquid is applied. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording material reproducing method and an image removal accelerating liquid capable of removing an image forming substance without causing damage.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a recording material reproduction method and an image removal accelerating liquid capable of expanding the range of types of image forming substances and recording materials from which good image forming substance removal characteristics can be obtained. It is in.
Another object of the present invention is to expand the process conditions that can be reproduced, and to expand the range of types of image forming substances and recording materials that can obtain good image forming substance removal characteristics even in an inexpensive reproducing apparatus. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording material reproducing method and an image removal accelerating liquid for removing an image without damaging the recording material after applying the above to the recording material.
[0004]
【Constitution】
The present invention is at least Hydrophobic An image removal accelerating liquid is formed on a recording material in which the vicinity of the surface on the image forming side is composed of a layer swollen by a liquid containing water (image removal accelerating liquid) and a film-like image forming substance is fixed. The film-like image of the recording material and the adhesive strength of the recording material are weakened, and after the adhesive strength is reduced, the hydrophobic image is peeled from the paper layer by an image peeling means. In the recording material playback method use Image removal accelerating solution A dialkylsulfosuccinate represented by the formula (1) and water Is an image removal accelerating liquid.
In the present invention Leave After weakening the adhesive force between the image forming substance and the recording material with the image removal accelerating liquid, Peeling Various removal means can be used to achieve this. For example, a method of physically scraping the image forming substance with a blade or a brush, a method of removing the image forming substance by applying ultrasonic vibration, a bending of the recording material, and the rigidity of the image forming substance and the recording material Separation method based on difference, adhesive member and method of peeling off the image forming substance on the recording material, plasticizing or melting the image forming substance, and peeling that adheres to the image forming substance stronger than the recording material Examples include a method in which an image forming substance is adhered by contact or pressure contact with a member, and then a recording material and a peeling member are separated and peeled off from the recording material.
[0005]
The recording material to be reproduced by the reproducing method of the present invention includes a recording material having a layer that is swollen by an image removal accelerating liquid containing water at least near the surface on the image forming side. Specific examples thereof include papers mainly composed of polysaccharide natural polymers such as cellulose fibers, especially copying or printing papers made of high-quality paper and medium-quality paper. A composite recording material in which a hydrophilic synthetic polymer compound such as polyvinyl alcohol or a paper layer such as cellulose fiber is provided on a sheet-like member made of a molecular compound can also be preferably used.
[0006]
As a method for forming an image to be removed by the reproduction method of the present invention, electrophotography using dry toner or wet toner, thermal transfer method using a hot-melt ink sheet, inkjet method using a hot-melt ink, or offset plate And a printing method using a relief plate and a stencil. According to the method of the present invention, the image is formed on the recording material in the form of a film (see FIG. 5), and the amount of swelling of the image forming substance by the application of the image removal accelerating liquid is different from the amount of swelling of the recording material. This is the condition under which the image forming substance is removed from the recording material.
Therefore, even in the image forming method described above, if these conditions are not satisfied, the image forming substance on the recording material cannot be removed by the present invention. On the contrary, if these conditions are satisfied, the reproduction of the recording material according to the present invention can be applied without being limited to the above image forming method.
Here, the film form does not necessarily mean that the entire image forms one film as shown in FIG. 5, but the image forming substance does not penetrate deeply into the recording material. This means that the image forming substance is not almost adsorbed on the recording material at the molecular level as in the case of printing with a water-based ink containing a dye.
In the present invention, after applying the image removal accelerating liquid, the peeling member and the recording material are brought into close contact with each other, and the image forming substance on the recording material is transferred to the peeling member by heating and pressurizing to remove the image forming substance. In this method, it is necessary to use a thermoplastic or heat-meltable material as the image forming substance.
Specific examples of the thermoplastic or hot-melt material include ordinary dry electrophotographic toner, thermal transfer recording ink, and hot-melt ink for ink jet or printing.
These thermoplastic or heat-meltable image-forming substances are generally composed of a thermoplastic or heat-meltable resin and a coloring material such as a pigment or dye. Specific examples of the thermoplastic or heat-meltable resin are as follows. Examples include polystyrene, polyalkyl acrylate, polyalkyl methacrylate, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-acrylic copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, polyamide, polyethylene, polypropylene, alkyd resin, epoxy resin, Examples thereof include polyvinyl acetate, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), unsaturated polyester, polyvinyl chloride, and silicone resin.
In the recording ink for thermal transfer, the ink for ink jet, and the hot melt ink for printing, various waxes, rosin (abetic acid) derivatives and the like are used as vehicles. Examples of the color material contained in the image forming substance include inorganic and organic pigments such as carbon black, quinacridone derivatives, phthalocyanine derivatives, and benzidine yellow. Oil-soluble dyes are also used.
[0007]
The image peeling member is a member for adhering to an image forming substance on a recording material and transferring and peeling from the recording material. As a material constituting the image peeling member, an adhesive tape is used on a film. It is also possible to use a material coated with a sticky substance, but the peeling member used by bonding the image-forming substance after heating and plasticizing or melting it has a certain degree of adhesion and heat resistance to the image-forming substance. It is necessary to show.
In the present invention, specific examples of the release member that can be used by heating and plasticizing or fusing the image-forming substance and then bonding them include, for example, isoprene rubber, neoprene rubber, chloroprene rubber, silicon rubber, butadiene rubber, fluorine Synthetic rubbers such as rubber, natural rubbers, epoxy resins such as bisphenol and hydrhydrin condensates, alkyd resins, urea formaldehyde resins, butyl urea formaldehyde resins, butylated melamine formaldehyde resins, amino resins such as benzoguanamine formaldehyde resins, terpenes Phenolic resin, phenol ether resin, phenolic thermosetting resin such as phenolic resin, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, vinylidene chloride-acrylonitrile copolymer, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate Copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, polyvinylidene fluoride, vinyl copolymer polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl formal, polypropylene, polyethylene and other vinyl polymers, polybutyl acrylate, poly Acrylic resins such as methacrylic acid and polymethyl methacrylate, polyamides such as polyimide, 6,6-nylon and 6-nylon, polycarbonate, polyethersulfone, polyetheretherketone, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, and polyester such as aromatic polyester , Thermoplastic or thermosetting synthetic resins such as polyphenylene sulfide, polyparabalic acid, polyether nitrile, aramid, nickel, iron, aluminum, etc. Metals and oxides thereof, such as stainless steel, aluminum, and oxides thereof, Ni steel, stainless steel, Fe—Ni alloy, Co—Al alloy, metal alloys such as Monel, Inconel, Duralumin, ceramic materials, etc. it can.
The thermoplastic or thermosetting resin is not only used alone, but can also be used as a blend or alloyed, and other additives such as glass fiber, whisker, carbon, silica, titanium oxide are added. It can also be used in combination. These materials can be used even in a single layer, but can be laminated in order to improve durability and properties such as peeling properties.
The optimal release member material should be selected according to the type of image forming substance to be peeled off, the type of image forming substance, and the image forming substance removal process conditions, but repeated use of the release member lowers the regeneration cost. In this case, relatively high heat resistance and surface stability are required. Examples of release members that are preferable in terms of image removal characteristics and durability include polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polyether ether ketone, polyphenylene sulfide, polyparavalic acid, polyether nitrile, aramid, polyimide, polyetherimide, stainless steel, nickel , Anodized.
The present invention can be implemented even if the peeling member is formed in any of a sheet shape, a block shape, a drum shape, or a roller shape.
[0008]
Next, the image removal accelerating liquid used in the present invention will be described.
The image removal promoting liquid used in the present invention is based on water as a main component. However, when two or more kinds of image removal promoting liquids are used for the operation of removing the image forming substance, it is not always necessary that each of the image removal promoting liquids is mainly composed of water. In this case, the present invention also uses one in which water is contained in any of the two or more kinds of image removal promoting liquids.
The feature of the image removal accelerating solution used in the present invention is that at least one alkylsulfosuccinate is added as a surfactant and at least one alkylsulfosuccinate.
The present inventor has shown that an image removal accelerating liquid to which at least one of alkyl sulfosuccinates is added exhibits good removal characteristics from a recording material, and further, an image forming substance can be applied to a recording material even in a small application amount. Thus, the present invention has been found to have an effect of removing an image without damaging the surface of the recording material and excellent in safety, storage stability, etc.
In the method of applying the image removal accelerating solution at a time, an image removal accelerating solution containing an alkylsulfosuccinate is always used in the present invention. In the method in which the image removal accelerating liquid is applied to the same recording material in a plurality of times or the reproduction method using two or more kinds of image removal accelerating liquids, all of the plurality of image removal accelerating liquids are all alkylsulfosuccinates. Need not be contained.
The alkylsulfosuccinate used in the present invention may be a monoalkylsulfosuccinate or a dialkylsulfosuccinate, but a dialkylsulfosuccinate represented by the following formula (1) is particularly preferred.
[Chemical 3]

(Wherein R ₁ , R ₂ : An alkyl group having 4 to 14 carbon atoms which may be the same or different and may be branched, M: alkali metal ion, quaternary ammonium, quaternary phosphonium, alkanolamine cation)
Further, the dialkylsulfo group wherein M in the above formula (1) is selected from the group consisting of sodium ion, lithium ion, quaternary ammonium, quaternary phosphonium and alkanolamine cation represented by the following formula (2). The use of an acid salt is more preferable because the change over time of the image removal promoting liquid is small and stable removal characteristics can be obtained.
[Formula 4]

Wherein X is nitrogen or phosphorus, R ₃ ~ R ₆ Is hydrogen, alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkyl group, halogenated alkyl group)
[0009]
Next, specific examples of the surfactant used in the present invention are shown in the free acid form below, but the surfactant used in the present invention is not limited to the following.
[Chemical formula 5]

[Chemical 6]

Commercially available surfactants containing these surfactants as the main component include Aerosol IB45, Aerosol AY100, Aerosol MA80, Aerosol OT100, Aerosol TR70 (manufactured by Mitsui Cyanamid), Aerol OB70 (manufactured by Toho Chemical) , Neocor (Daiichi Kogyo Seiyaku), Perex OT-P (Kao) and the like, but are not limited thereto.
The addition amount of these surfactants is 0.01 to 20% by weight, preferably 0.1 to 5% by weight.
[0010]
The present invention of The image removal promoting liquid Besides water, The dialkyl sulfosuccinates can be used alone or in combination. Moreover, what mixed other surfactants other than dialkyl sulfo succinate can also be used.
The preparation of the alkylsulfosuccinate used in the present invention can be introduced, for example, by adding sodium hydroxide and lithium hydroxide to the corresponding free acid in the case of sodium salt and lithium salt, respectively. In the case of a quaternary ammonium salt, a phosphonium salt, an alkanolamine cation, the corresponding free salt includes, for example, the following (2-A) to (2-F) It can introduce | transduce by adding the hydroxide and alkanolamine which are shown in.
[Chemical 7]

[Chemical 8]

In order to obtain good image-forming substance removal characteristics over time, the formula (2-A) to (2-F) The amount of hydroxide and alkanolamine as shown by the formula (1) is preferably added so as to be 30% by weight or more, more preferably 50% by weight or more based on the number of moles of the compound of the formula (1).
[0011]
It is not necessary for all of the cation ions of the alkylsulfosuccinate used in the present invention to be selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, quaternary ammoniums, quaternary phosphounimes and alkanolamine cations. Some of the ions may be cations other than the above group.
When the compound (1) is used in combination with an aliphatic alcohol as compared with an aqueous solution alone, the removal characteristics are further improved, and an image removal accelerating liquid having stable removal characteristics over time can be obtained. Examples of the aliphatic alcohol include ethanol, 2-propanol, propanol, butanol and the like. The content of the aliphatic alcohol can be added in the range of 0.01 wt% to 20 wt%, more preferably in the range of 0.1 wt% to 5 wt%.
[0012]
In the present invention, the reason why a good image forming substance removal property can be obtained by using an alkyl sulfosuccinate as an image removal accelerating liquid, particularly when the amount of the image removal accelerating liquid applied to the recording material is reduced. The reason why good image forming substance removal characteristics can be obtained will be described. In the reproducing method of the present invention, the adhesion of the image forming substance to the recording material is decreased by the application of the image removal accelerating liquid. The swelling amount of the film-like image forming substance and the recording material is mainly as described above. It is estimated that a shearing force is generated between the two due to the difference. Therefore, in order to reproduce the recording material by processing at a practical speed, the image removal accelerating liquid permeates the recording material immediately after application as a characteristic of the applied image removal accelerating liquid, and an image is formed. It is necessary to be able to swell the vicinity of the surface of the recording material on the side where the recording is performed. It is estimated that the shear force between the image forming substance and the recording material is particularly increased when the image removal accelerating liquid penetrates to a portion as close as possible to the interface of the recording material in contact with the image forming substance. Therefore, when the image removal accelerating liquid penetrates to the interface where the recording material and the image forming substance are in contact with each other, a good image forming substance removal characteristic can be obtained. The penetration of the image removal accelerating liquid to the interface where the recording material and the image forming substance contact with each other not only causes shearing force due to swelling, but also the components of the image removal accelerating liquid, particularly water. It is also conceivable that the adhesive force acting between the image forming substance and the recording material is weakened by being interposed between the image forming substance and the recording material.
[0013]
In the present invention, one of the reasons why the alkylsulfosuccinate provides good image-forming substance removal properties is that the image removal accelerating liquid containing the alkylsulfosuccinate has wettability to the image-forming substance and the recording material. Therefore, it is presumed that the penetration into the recording material occurs rapidly, and the image removal accelerating liquid quickly penetrates to the interface between the image forming substance and the recording material.
Also, after weakening the adhesive force between the recording material and the image forming substance by applying an image removal accelerating liquid, the image forming substance is heated and pressed against the peeling member to cause an adhesive force between the peeling member and the image forming substance. In the reproducing method for separating the peeling member and the recording material after that, and removing the image forming substance on the recording material, by using an image removal accelerating liquid containing an alkylsulfosuccinate, The removal property of the image formation is improved. This effect is presumed to be based on the following actions.
That is, in this recording material reproduction method, the step of heating and pressing the image forming substance against the peeling member not only acts to generate an adhesive force between the image forming substance and the peeling member but also removes the image. The adhesive force between the recording material and the image forming substance once reduced by the application of the accelerating liquid is increased again (this function is hereinafter referred to as a reattachment action). The second action of the image removal accelerating liquid containing alkylsulfosuccinate to improve the removal characteristics of the image forming substance is to reduce or eliminate the reattachment action that occurs when the recording material and the peeling member are pressed against each other after heating. It is thought that there is to do.
The above-described re-adhesion action is usually remarkable particularly when the amount of the image removal accelerating liquid applied to the recording material is reduced. When applying a large amount of the image removal accelerating liquid to the recording material, particularly when applying a large amount of the image removal accelerating liquid containing water, the components of the image removal accelerating liquid applied to the recording material, particularly water. However, it has an effect of weakening the adhesive force between the recording material and the image forming substance and preventing the re-adhesion action.
Therefore, the image removal accelerating liquid containing an alkylsulfosuccinate is effective for obtaining good image forming substance removal characteristics even when the application amount of the image removal accelerating liquid to the recording material is reduced. .
[0014]
As a method of obtaining good image-forming substance removal characteristics even when a small amount of image removal accelerating liquid is applied, the applicant of the present application has adhered the image-forming substance to the peeling member and separated the peeling member and the recording material. Proposed a method to repeat multiple times for the same recording material, and a method of causing "displacement" between the recording material in close contact with the peeling member and causing the image forming substance to adhere and peel to the peeling member multiple times. .
In this reproduction method, in order to obtain a good image-forming substance removal property, a process of adhering and peeling the image-forming substance to the peeling member is performed a plurality of times. It is important to maintain the surface of the recording material so that it does not occur. Particularly in this method, the amount of the image removal accelerating liquid applied to the recording material is about 3.2 mg / cm. ² In the case of (2g / A-4) or less, using an image removal accelerating liquid adjusted so as not to cause re-adhesion has a great effect on improving the removal property of the image forming substance. Since the image removal accelerating liquid containing an alkylsulfosuccinate has a large effect of preventing the re-adhesion action as described above, in particular, the process of bonding and peeling the release member of the image forming substance multiple times. In the accompanying recording material reproduction method, there is an effect of giving good reproduction quality.
The present inventor uses the alkyl sulfosuccinate and the fluorosurfactant in combination with the image removal accelerating liquid, so that the removal property of the image forming substance is further improved as compared with the case where each is used alone. That is, it has been found that the image forming substance on the recording material can be removed by applying a smaller amount of the image removal promoting liquid without damaging the surface of the recording material.
The use of alkylsulfosuccinate and a fluorosurfactant in combination with the image removal accelerating liquid is considered to improve the removal characteristics of the image forming substance due to the following actions.
That is, when an image removal accelerating liquid containing a fluorosurfactant is applied to the recording material, the fluorosurfactant is an image of the surface of the recording material on the surface portion of the recording material from which the image forming substance has been removed. Since the wettability to the forming substance is reduced and the re-adhesion between the image forming substance and the recording material is difficult to be performed, the image removal accelerating liquid to which a fluorosurfactant is added has a great effect of preventing reattachment. .
However, when a fluorosurfactant is used alone as the image removal accelerating liquid, the wettability to the recording material and the image forming substance is insufficient, and the adhesive force between the recording material and the image forming substance is sufficient. However, the preferred removal characteristics cannot be obtained, but the wettability and re-adhesion to the recording material and the image forming substance can be achieved by using a mixture of alkylsulfosuccinate and fluorosurfactant. A synergistic effect that can satisfy both of the action preventing effect can be exhibited, and an extremely excellent removal property of the image forming substance can be obtained.
[0015]
Specific examples of the fluorosurfactant capable of providing the above-described effects in the present invention include anionic systems such as fluoroalkylcarboxylates, fluoroalkylsulfonates, and fluoroalkylphosphates, and fluoroalkyl-introduced betaines. Examples include amphoteric systems, nonionic systems such as fluoroalkylethylene oxide adducts, fluoroalkyl oligomers, and fluoroalkylamine oxides, and cationic systems such as fluoroalkyltrimethylammonium salts.
The mixing ratio of the fluorosurfactant and the alkyl sulfosuccinate is preferably in a range depending on conditions such as the method for removing the image forming substance, process conditions such as speed, and the type of image forming substance and recording material used. Usually, it is particularly preferable to use in the range of 0.01 to 5.
[0016]
The image removal accelerating liquid in the present invention may contain other surfactants in addition to the alkylsulfosuccinate and the fluorosurfactant according to the purpose. Specific examples of other surfactants that can be added include, as anionic surfactants, alkyl carboxylates, N-acyl amino acid salts, alkyl ether acetates, carboxylates such as acylated peptides, and alkyl sulfonates. Sulfonates such as alkylbenzene sulfonate, alkylnaphthalene sulfonate, sulfosuccinate, α-olefin sulfonate, N-acyl sulfonate, sulfated oil, alkyl sulfate, alkyl ether sulfate, alkyl Examples thereof include sulfuric acid ester salts such as amide sulfates, and phosphoric acid ester salts such as alkyl phosphates, alkyl ether phosphates, and alkylaryl phosphates.
Examples of the cationic surfactant include aliphatic amine salts, alkyl quaternary ammonium salts, aromatic quaternary ammonium salts, and heterocyclic quaternary ammonium salts.
Examples of amphoteric surfactants include betaine types such as carboxybetaine and sulfobetaine, aminocarboxylates, and imidazoline derivatives.
Nonionic surfactants include polyoxyethylene alkyl and aryl ethers, polyoxyethylene styrene ethers, polyoxyethylene lanolin derivatives, ethylene oxide derivatives of alkylallyl formaldehyde condensates, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene block copolymers, Ether type such as polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene glycerin fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene sorbitol fatty acid ester and other ether ester type, polyethylene glycol fatty acid ester, fatty acid monoglyceride, polyglycerin fatty acid Esters, sorbitan fatty acid esters, propylene glycol fatty acid esters, sucrose fatty acid esters, etc. Ester, aliphatic alkanolamide, polyoxyethylene fatty acid amides, polyoxyethylene alkyl amines, nitrogen-containing type such as alkyl amine oxides.
Examples of the silicone surfactant include polyoxyalkylene-modified siloxane and carboxylated polyoxyalkylene-modified siloxane.
The addition amount of each of the surfactants other than the alkylsulfosuccinate and the fluorosurfactant in the image removal accelerating solution of the present invention is not particularly limited, but the total surfactant contained in the image removal accelerating solution is not limited. A content of 80% by weight or less, particularly 50% by weight or less is preferable for obtaining both the wettability to the recording material and the image forming substance and the effect of preventing the reattachment action.
[0017]
By adding a liquid compound having a relatively high boiling point that is compatible with the image forming substance to the image removal accelerating liquid, it is possible to reduce the scratches on the surface of the recording material after the image forming substance is removed. Removal characteristics are obtained. Further, when using a method in which the peeling member and the recording material are in close contact with each other and heated and pressed as an image removing means, a liquid compound having a relatively high boiling point that is compatible with the image forming substance is added to the image removal promoting liquid. By doing so, the temperature at which good image forming substance can be removed can be lowered, and hence the required power consumption can be reduced.
As the compounds that bring about the above effects and are used in the present invention, 2-methoxyethanol, 2-ethoxyethanol, 2- (methoxymethoxy) ethanol, 2-isopropoxyethanol, 2-butoxyethanol, 2-isopentyloxyethanol, 2 -Cellosolves such as phenoxyethanol and 2-benzyloxyethanol, and carbitols such as furfuryl alcohol, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether and diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, or derivatives thereof, Ethyl acetate, 2-ethoxyethyl acetate, 2-butoxyethyl acetate, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate, There are ethylene glycol monobutyl ether acetate, and the like. Further triethylene glycol monomethyl ether, tetraethylene glycol, 1-methoxy-2-propanol, 1-ethoxy-2-propanol, diprolene glycol monomethyl ether, diprolene glycol monoethyl ether, triprolene glycol monomethyl ether and polyoxyethylene Oxyprolene derivatives, 2-pyrrolidinone, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, ethylene carbonate, prolen carbonate, γ-butyrolactone, 1,3-dimethylimidazolidinone, morpholine, γ-valerolactone, etc. .
Some of the aforementioned surfactants exhibit the same effects as the above-mentioned compounds. Specifically, ethylene oxide adducts of aliphatic alcohols, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene alkyl ethers, and alkylamine oxides show similar effects.
When the above compound is added to the image removal accelerating liquid, it is possible to obtain a good image forming substance removal property as described above or to lower the temperature at which the image forming substance can be removed. This is presumably because the image forming material is plasticized when the image forming material is removed.
[0018]
The image removal accelerating liquid of the present invention is intended to improve the removal characteristics and reproduction state of the image forming substance together with the above-mentioned surfactants, etc., or to adjust the physical properties such as viscosity to facilitate the application of the image removal accelerating liquid. The water-soluble polymer can be added at
As a water-soluble polymer that can be added to the image removal accelerating solution, in a natural system, vegetable polymers such as gum arabic, tragan gum, guar gum, karaya gum, locust bean gum, arabinogalactone, pectin, quince seed starch, alginic acid, Seaweed polymers such as carrageenan, agar and funari, animal polymers such as gelatin, casein, albumin and collagen, microbial polymers such as xanthene gum and dextran, and semisynthetic systems such as methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxy Fibrous polymers such as propyl cellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), soluble starch, carboxymethyl starch (CMS), dialdehyde starch, starch glycolate sodium, starch phosphate ester Starch-based polymers such as um, seaweed polymers such as sodium alginate and propylene glycol alginate, and pure polymers, vinyl polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone and polyvinyl methyl ether, non-crosslinked polyacrylamide, polyacrylic Acids and alkali metal salts thereof, acrylic resins such as water-soluble styrene acrylic resins, water-soluble styrene maleic acid resins, water-soluble vinyl naphthalene acrylic resins, water-soluble vinyl naphthalene maleic resins, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, β-naphthalene sulfone Examples include alkali metal salts of acid formalin condensates, polymer compounds having a salt of a cationic functional group such as quaternary ammonium or amino group in the side chain, natural polymer compounds such as shellac, and the like.
The amount of these water-soluble polymers added to the image removal accelerating liquid varies depending on the method of applying the image removal accelerating liquid to the recording material, but is in the range of 0.1 to 20% by weight, preferably 0.1 to 10% by weight. Is added.
A pH adjuster is added to the other image removal promoting liquid. The storage stability of the liquid can be improved by adjusting the pH of the image removing liquid to 5-8. If the pH is 5 or less, the wettability is poor and rust is likely to be generated. However, as the kind of pH adjuster, any pH adjusting substance can be used as long as the pH can be adjusted to 5 to 8 without adversely affecting the image removal promoting liquid.
Examples thereof include amines such as diethanolamine and triethanolamine, hydroxides of alkali metal elements such as lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, quaternary ammonium hydroxide, quaternary Examples thereof include alkali metal carbonates such as phosphonium hydroxide, lithium carbonate, sodium carbonate, and potassium carbonate.
[0019]
Other compounds that can be added to the image removal accelerating liquid of the present invention include antiseptic and antifungal agents. Examples thereof include sodium dehydroacetate, sodium sorbate, sodium 2-pyridinethiol-1-oxide, sodium benzoate, sodium pentachlorophenol and the like.
Examples of the chelating reagent added to the image removal accelerating solution as a peeling aid with a heavy metal ion sealant include, for example, sodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate, sodium nitrilotriacetate, sodium hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetate, sodium diethylenetriaminepentaacetate, uramil Examples include sodium acetate.
In addition, for example, acid sulfite, sodium thiosulfate, ammonium thiodiglycolate, diisopropylammonium nitrite, pentaerythritol tetranitrate, dicyclohexylammonium nitrite, etc. are used as rust inhibitors, and the whiteness of the recording material after reproduction is improved. A bleaching agent can be added for the purpose. Specific examples of the oxidizing bleaching agent include hydrogen peroxide, sodium peroxide, sodium percarbonate, sodium hypochlorite and the like. Fluorescent dyes, bluing dyes, enzymes and the like can also be added. Further, the electrophotographic method may contain a charge control agent, and the thermal transfer ink may contain various waxes as a vehicle and a rosin (abietic acid) derivative as an adhesive.
[0020]
Next, the recording material reproducing method of the present invention will be described in detail.
In the recording material reproducing method of the present invention, the image removal accelerating liquid is applied to the recording material by the applying means. As a specific application method, a method in which a recording material is immersed in an image removal accelerating liquid in a container for application, and a method in which the roller is brought into contact with the recording material after applying the image removal accelerating liquid to the roller. Further, there is a method in which the image removal accelerating liquid is made into a mist or droplet and is sprayed toward the recording material. The amount of the liquid to be applied is preferably within a range where the image on the recording material can be completely removed so that the above-mentioned problems associated with applying a large amount of the image removal accelerating liquid do not occur.
The components in the liquid may remain in the recording material after the reproduction process, thereby causing problems such as poor writing during reuse and poor fixing of the image removal promoting liquid. Accordingly, it is desirable that the compound contained in the image removal accelerating liquid such as a surfactant is similarly suppressed to a minimum concentration within a range in which the image forming substance on the recording material can be completely removed. More specifically, the range that can be used varies depending on the purpose, the type of image forming substance or recording material, the process of removing the image forming substance, and the method of applying the image removal accelerating liquid. In the case of using the image removal accelerating liquid, the alkylsulfosuccinate concentration in the image removal accelerating liquid is preferably prepared in the range of 0.01% by weight to 20% by weight. For reasons, the range of 0.1% to 10% by weight is preferred. The applied amount of the image removal accelerating liquid is 800 μg / cm. ² To 8mg / cm ² Although it is preferable to use in the range of 0.5 g to 5 g per A4 size, the effect is particularly large as compared with the case of using an image removal accelerating solution that does not use alkylsulfosuccinate as described above. 3.2 mg / cm ² (2 g per A4 size) This is a case where the amount is set as follows.
[0021]
The present applicant divides the process of applying an image removal accelerating liquid composed of the same component to the recording material as a method for obtaining the effect of improving the removal characteristics of the image forming substance or reducing the amount of the image removal accelerating liquid used. The method of applying the image removal accelerating liquid a plurality of times to the same recording material has been previously proposed, but the image removal accelerating liquid of the present invention is applied to such a recording material a plurality of times, Further excellent characteristics can be obtained.
In addition, the present applicant contains a surfactant at a high concentration of 5 to 100% by weight as a method of further improving the effect of improving the removal characteristics of the image forming substance and reducing the amount of the image removal accelerating liquid used. A method of using two or more kinds of image removal accelerating liquids, ie, a high-concentration liquid and a water-soluble liquid containing a surfactant at a low concentration of less than 5% by weight or a low-concentration liquid composed of water has been proposed. By using an image removal accelerating solution containing an alkylsulfosuccinate in this method, the above-described effect is enhanced, and good image-forming substance removal characteristics can be obtained with a smaller amount. That is, in this method, a high concentration liquid containing at least alkylsulfosuccinate in a high concentration of 5 to 100% by weight and a low concentration of alkylsulfosuccinate and / or other surfactants of less than 5% by weight. Two or more kinds of image removal accelerating liquids, which are a water-soluble liquid or a low-concentration liquid comprising water, are used. A high-concentration liquid is applied to the surface of the recording material holding the image forming substance at 16 μg / cm. ² To 1.6 mg / cm ² After applying in the range (0.01 g to 1 g per A4 size), the low concentration liquid is 16 μg / cm. ² To 3.2 mg / cm ² By applying in the range of (0.01 g to 2 g per A4 size), the recording material is not deteriorated, and particularly excellent reproduction quality can be obtained.
When the alkylsulfosuccinate in the high-concentration liquid is less than 5% by weight, the image forming substance is not sufficiently removed when the total amount of the image removal accelerating liquid applied to the recording material is reduced. It is possible to remove a good image forming substance, to obtain an appropriate physical property value for applying a liquid to a recording material, and to repeat reproduction by image formation and removal of an image forming substance using the same recording material. In particular, the concentration of the high-concentration liquid is preferably 5% by weight to 50% by weight.
In addition, when the alkylsulfosuccinate and / or other surfactant is 5% by weight or more as a low-concentration water-soluble liquid, the image-forming substance can be peeled off. The characteristics change, causing problems such as deterioration in writability and image quality during reuse. In order to achieve complete removal of the image-forming substance, good quality of the reconstructed recording material, and reproducibility and use, it is necessary to use a low-concentration water-soluble liquid. The alkylsulfosuccinate and / or other surfactant concentration range is 1% by weight or less.
The amount of the high concentration liquid or low concentration liquid applied to the recording material is 16 μg / cm. ² If the amount is less than (0.01 g per A4 size), the image forming substance cannot be sufficiently removed from the recording material. 1.6 mg / cm of high-concentration liquid on the recording material ² If it is applied (1 g per A4 size) or more, the characteristics of the recording material reproduced as described above change, and it becomes unsuitable for reuse of the reproduced recording material.
[0022]
The peeling member that uses the recording material reproducing method of the present invention will be described more specifically based on the operation of the reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. Feed roller from sheet feed tray (1-1) for supplying a recording material having a liquid-swelling surface layer containing water such as cellulose on which a film-like image forming material such as electrophotographic toner and thermal transfer ink is formed (1-2) is guided to the peeling member roller (1-5) by the conveying roller (1-4) through the guide plate (1-3). An image removal accelerating liquid (1-7) containing an alkylsulfosuccinate is applied to the surface of the peeling member roller (1-5) by a liquid supply roller (1-6), and the transport roller (1-4) The recording material transported from the recording medium is impregnated with the image removal accelerating liquid (1-7). The recording material impregnated with the image removal accelerating liquid (1-7) and in contact with the peeling member is heated and pressurized by the heating roller (1-8) and then peeled by the separation claw (1-9). Separated from the member. By being heated and pressed with the peeling member roller (1-5), an adhesive force is generated between the image forming substance on the recording material and the peeling member roller (1-5). Since the adhesive force between the recording material and the image forming substance is weakened by applying the image removal accelerating liquid to the recording material, when the recording material is separated from the peeling member roller (1-5), image formation is performed. The substance is transferred from the recording material to the peeling member roller (1-5) side, and the image forming substance on the recording material is removed from the recording material. The recording material from which the image has been removed is guided onto the drying belt (1-12) by the conveying roller (1-11) and dried. The dried non-image-recording material is discharged to the paper discharge tray (1-13) by the transport roller (1-11), and a re-copying / re-printing recording material is obtained.
The image forming material on the peeling member roller (1-5) to which the image has been transferred is scraped off from the surface of the peeling member roller (1-5) by the cleaning unit (1-10), and the peeling member roller (1-5). ) Is again used for image removal.
[0023]
The reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 2 is an example of another apparatus that can carry out the recording material reproducing method according to the present invention.
The operation of this apparatus will further explain the reproducing method of the present invention. The apparatus shown in FIG. 2 includes units 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
In the paper feeding unit 1, the recording material 10 on which an image is formed is collected on the bottom plate 101 and fed from the top by the paper feeding roller 102. In the image removal accelerating liquid applying unit 2, the recording material 10 fed from the paper feeding unit 1 contains the alkyl sulfosuccinate in the liquid container 201 by the submerged transport roller 202 and the submerged guide plate 203. After being guided in the image removal promoting liquid 20 and immersed in the image removal promoting liquid 20, the excess image removal promoting liquid 20 is removed by the squeezing roller pair 204, and the next image forming substance peeling unit 3 is transferred. Be transported.
The image forming substance peeling unit 3 includes a heating lamp 301 and a pair of peeling member rollers 302 disposed in pressure contact with each other, and is disposed so as to contact the surface of the peeling member roller 302 in the vicinity of the pressure contact portion on the transfer paper discharge side. The separation claw 303, the cleaning device 304 for cleaning the surface of the peeling member roller 302, a drive unit (not shown), and the like are provided. The cleaning device 304 contains a cleaning roller 305 that removes the image forming material on the surface of the peeling member roller 302, a scraper blade 306 that scrapes off the image forming material on the cleaning roller 305, and an image forming material that is scraped off by the scraper blade 306. An image forming material receptacle 307 (not shown) is provided.
The recording material to which the image removal accelerating liquid is applied is conveyed to the nip of the peeling member roller 302 and heated and pressurized.
When the recording material is heated and pressed with the peeling member roller 302, an adhesive force is generated between the image forming material on the recording material and the peeling member roller (1-5) as in the case of FIG. Since the adhesive force between the recording material and the image forming material is weakened by applying the image removal accelerating liquid to the recording material, when the recording material is separated from the peeling member roller 302, the image forming material is recorded. The image forming material on the recording material is removed from the recording material by being transferred from the material to the peeling member roller 302 side.
In the drying unit 4, the recording material 10 is dried by passing through a nip formed by a drying roller 402 made of, for example, aluminum and a drying roller 403 adjacent to the heating lamp 401. The recording material that can be used is reproduced.
In the paper receiving unit 5, the recording material discharged from the drying unit 4 is stocked on the paper discharge tray 501.
[0024]
FIG. 3 shows an example of a reproducing apparatus for performing a method of repeating the adhesion of the image forming substance to the peeling member and the separation of the peeling member and the recording material a plurality of times for the same recording material in the image forming substance removing operation. Indicates. The image forming substance removing operation shown in FIG. The peeling unit 3 includes a plurality of heating / pressure rollers 302 including a heating lamp 301, a pair of entrance rollers 305, a pair of separation rollers 306, and an endless belt stretched around the rollers so as to be inscribed therein. 308, 309, etc. The endless belt 309 is a peeling member belt and has a relatively large adhesive force with an image forming substance. For example, it is formed of a polymer such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthylate, or polycarbonate. The recording material to which the image removal accelerating liquid is applied is inserted between the endless belts 308 and 309 at the entrance roller 305, and is sandwiched between the endless belts 308 and 309 until reaching the separation roller 306. It is transported as it is. During this time, the recording material is heated by the heating / pressure roller 302, the image forming substance is softened, and is pressed against the peeling member belt, so that the image forming substance adheres to the peeling member. As shown in the figure, when a pair of belts are wound around rollers arranged in a zigzag and the recording material is conveyed while being sandwiched between the pair of belts, the difference in the conveying speed between the recording material and the belt. Occurs. The difference in the conveyance speed means that the recording material and the peeling member are microscopically separated. By this separation of the micro recording material and the peeling member, the image forming substance is transferred from the recording material to the peeling member side. In the apparatus having the configuration shown in FIG. 3, the recording material is adhered to the peeling member belt 309 and peeled off from the recording material while the recording material is conveyed while being sandwiched between the endless belts 308 and 309. The transfer is repeated to the member side. In the present invention, when such an image-forming substance removal operation is performed, a liquid containing an alkylsulfosuccinate is used as the image removal accelerating liquid. Thus, the image forming substance can be removed without damaging the surface of the recording material 10.
3 includes a liquid container 201, a liquid pumping roller 207, a liquid application roller 208, a pressing roller 209, and the like. The image removal accelerating liquid pumped up from the liquid container 201 by the liquid pumping roller 207 is Then, it is squeezed between the liquid application roller 208 and quantified, and applied to the recording material conveyed between the liquid conveyance roller 208 and the pressing roller 209.
Further, in order to apply the image removal accelerating liquid to the recording material a plurality of times for the same recording material, for example, a liquid container 201, a liquid pumping roller 207, a liquid application roller 208, It is possible to provide not only one image removal accelerating liquid application station including the pressing roller 209 but a plurality of stations.
As an apparatus for carrying out the above-described recording material reproducing method of the present invention, only an example of a method for removing and pressurizing an image forming substance and transferring it to a peeling member has been described. The removal method is not limited to this, but other means such as rubbing the recording material provided with the image removal accelerating liquid containing alkylsulfosuccinate with a brush or transferring it to an adhesive release member Thus, a method of removing the image forming substance is also included in the scope of the present invention.
Next, examples of the present invention will be described more specifically, but the present invention is not limited to these examples. In addition,% shows weight%.
[0025]
【Example】
Reference example 1
<Electrophotographic toner formulation> Toner A was prepared according to the following formulation.
Polyester resin (binder resin) 43%
Styrene acrylic resin (binder resin) 43%
Cr-containing monoazo dye (charge control agent) 3%
Carnauba wax (release agent) 4%
Carbon black (colorant) 7%
The above materials were mixed with a blender for 10 minutes, and then melt-kneaded with two rolls heated to 120 to 140 ° C. The kneaded product was allowed to cool naturally, then coarsely pulverized by a cutter mill, pulverized by a pulverizer using a jet stream, and then a toner having a volume average particle diameter of 10 μm was obtained using air classification.
<Electrophotographic toner formulation> Toner B was prepared according to the following formulation.
Polyester resin (binder resin) 70%
Styrene acrylic resin (binder resin) 16%
Salicylic acid derivative zinc salt (charge control agent) 3%
Carnauba wax (release agent) 4%
Carbon black (colorant) 7%
The above materials were mixed with a blender for 10 minutes, and then melt-kneaded with two rolls heated to 120 to 140 ° C. The kneaded product was allowed to cool naturally, then coarsely pulverized by a cutter mill, pulverized by a pulverizer using a jet stream, and then a toner having a volume average particle diameter of 8 μm was obtained using air classification.
<Prescription of hot melt ink> Hot melt ink C was prepared according to the following prescription.
Rhodamine B lake pigment 3%
C. I. Solvent Red 49 0.5%
Beeswax 48%
10% paraffin wax
Stearic acid amide 36.3%
Vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer (molecular weight about 3000) 1.8%
2-t-butyl-4-methoxyphenol 0.38%
3-t-butyl-4-methoxyphenol 0.02%
While the mixture having the above-mentioned formulation was heated to 130 ° C., it was dispersed and stirred and dissolved in a ball mill, followed by centrifugal separation during heating to remove the largest particles, thereby obtaining a hot melt ink composition C.
[0026]
Example 1
The composition having the following formulation was dissolved by stirring, and adjusted with a 10% solution of lithium hydroxide so as to have a pH of 8 to prepare an image removal promoting liquid 1.
Compound (1-A) 1%
2-propanol 1%
Dehydroacetic acid Na 0.1%
Lithium hydroxide 0.1%
Pure water remaining
An image is formed on a commercially available A4 size fine paper A using an electrophotographic PPC copying machine using the toner A prepared in the above-mentioned formulation, and then the image removal accelerating liquid 1 set is set in the apparatus shown in FIG. Regeneration treatment was performed at a speed of 20 mm / sec and a heating temperature of 130 ° C. Polyethylene terephthalate was used as the peeling member, and the amount of liquid 1 applied was 4.5 g. There was no toner remaining in the recycled paper that would cause problems in actual use. When the recycled paper was reused in the copying machine, a copied image equivalent to the unused paper could be obtained.
When the recycled paper was subjected to the recycling process in the same manner as described above, the amount of toner that would cause a problem in actual use did not remain on the recycled paper. Thereafter, image formation and reproduction processing were repeated three times, but the remaining toner was not observed on the regenerated paper at any time, and even when image formation was performed, A nearly equivalent clean copy image was obtained.
Similarly, the reproduction state of the recording material was examined for Examples 2 to 12 and Comparative Examples 1 to 13.
[0027]
Example 2
After stirring and dissolving according to the following formulation, an image removal accelerating solution 2 was prepared at pH 9 with sodium hydroxide.
Compound (1-C) 2%
Compound (2-A) 25% aqueous solution 0.8%
Ethanol 2%
Sorbate Na 0.1%
Pure water remaining
After an image was formed on a commercially available A4 size fine paper B using an electrophotographic PPC copying machine using toner B, a reproduction process was performed using the image removal promoting liquid 2 in the same manner as in Example 1. At this time, the application amount of the liquid 2 was 3.8 g. No toner residue was observed on the resulting paper. When the recycled paper was reused with the above-mentioned copying machine, a beautiful copied image equivalent to the unused paper could be obtained.
When the recycled paper was subjected to the recycling process in the same manner as described above, the amount of toner that would cause a problem in actual use did not remain on the recycled paper. Thereafter, image formation and reproduction processing were repeated three times, but the remaining toner was not observed on the regenerated paper at any time, and even when image formation was performed, A nearly equivalent clean copy image was obtained.
[0028]
Example 3
After stirring and dissolving according to the following formulation, an image removal accelerating liquid 3 was prepared by adjusting the pH to 9 with lithium hydroxide.
Compound (1-G) 0.5%
Softanol 70 0.5%
(Nippon Shokubai: polyoxyethylene alkyl ether surfactant)
Compound (2-C) 25% aqueous solution 0.1%
Sodium benzoate 0.1%
Pure water remaining
An image was formed on a commercially available A4 size fine paper A in the same manner as in Example 1, and then a regeneration process was performed using the image removal promoting liquid 3 in the same manner as in Example 1. At this time, the application amount of the liquid 3 was 4.5 g. No toner residue was observed on the resulting paper. When the recycled paper was reused with the above-mentioned copying machine, a beautiful copied image equivalent to the unused paper could be obtained.
When the recycled paper was subjected to the recycling process in the same manner as described above, the amount of toner that would cause a problem in actual use did not remain on the recycled paper. Thereafter, image formation and reproduction processing were repeated three times, but the remaining toner was not observed on the regenerated paper at any time, and even when image formation was performed, A nearly equivalent clean copy image was obtained.
[0029]
Example 4
After stirring and dissolving according to the following formulation, an image removal accelerating liquid 4 was prepared at a pH of 8 with lithium hydroxide.
Compound (1-I) 0.3%
Softanol 120 (made by Nippon Shokubai) 0.5%
Pentachlorophenol Na 0.1%
Pure water remaining
An image was formed on a commercially available A4 size fine paper B in the same manner as in Example 2, and then regenerated using the image removal promoting liquid 4 in the same manner as in Example 1. At this time, the application amount of the liquid 4 was 4.0 g. No toner residue was observed on the resulting paper. When the recycled paper was reused in the above-mentioned copying machine, it was possible to obtain a beautiful copied image equivalent to unused paper.
When the recycled paper was subjected to the recycling process in the same manner as described above, the amount of toner that would cause a problem in practical use did not remain in the similarly recycled paper. Thereafter, image formation and reproduction processing were repeated three times, but the remaining toner was not observed on the regenerated paper at any time, and even when image formation was performed, A nearly equivalent clean copy image was obtained.
[0030]
Example 5
An image removal accelerating solution e was prepared according to the following formulation.
Compound (1-H) 1%
Compound (1-B) 0.2%
Sodium percarbonate 0.1%
2-Pyridinethiol-1-oxide Na 0.1%
Pure water remaining
Using an on-demand type hot melt ink jet printer using a known piezoelectric element, the head is heated to 120 ° C., the ink C is filled in the head, and printing is performed on a commercially available A4 size fine paper C In the same manner as in Example 1, reproduction processing was performed using the image removal promoting liquid 5. At this time, the application amount of the liquid 5 was 4.3 g. No toner residue was observed on the resulting paper. When the recycled paper was reused with the above-mentioned copying machine, a beautiful copied image equivalent to the unused paper could be obtained.
When the recycled paper was subjected to the recycling process in the same manner as described above, the amount of toner that would cause a problem in actual use did not remain on the recycled paper. Thereafter, image formation and reproduction processing were repeated three times, but the remaining toner was not observed on the regenerated paper at any time, and even when image formation was performed, A nearly equivalent clean copy image was obtained.
[0031]
Example 6
After stirring and dissolving according to the following formulation, an image removal accelerating solution 6 was prepared at pH 7 with sodium hydroxide.

After an image was formed on commercially available A4 size fine paper in the same manner as in Example 1, the image removal accelerating liquid 6 was set in the apparatus shown in FIG. At this time, the application amount of the liquid 6 was 4.2 g. No toner residue was observed on the resulting paper. When the recycled paper was reused with the above-mentioned copying machine, a beautiful copied image equivalent to the unused paper could be obtained.
When the recycled paper was subjected to the recycling process in the same manner as described above, the amount of toner that would cause a problem in practical use did not remain in the similarly recycled paper. Thereafter, image formation and reproduction processing were repeated three times, but the remaining toner was not observed on the regenerated paper at any time, and even when image formation was performed, A nearly equivalent clean copy image was obtained.
[0032]
Example 7
An image removal accelerating solution 7 (pH 8) was prepared according to the following formulation.

An image was formed on a commercially available A4 size fine paper B in the same manner as in Example 2, and then regenerated using the image removal promoting liquid 7 in the same manner as in Example 6. At this time, the application amount of the liquid 7 was 4.0 g. No toner residue was observed on the resulting paper. When the recycled paper was reused with the above-mentioned copying machine, a beautiful copied image equivalent to the unused paper could be obtained.
When the recycled paper was subjected to the recycling process in the same manner as described above, the amount of toner that would cause a problem in actual use did not remain on the recycled paper. Thereafter, image formation and reproduction processing were repeated three times, but the remaining toner was not observed on the regenerated paper at any time, and even when image formation was performed, A nearly equivalent clean copy image was obtained.
[0033]
Example 8
After stirring and dissolving with the following formulation, image removal promoting solution 8 was prepared with sodium hydroxide at pH 9
Compound (1-F) 1%
S145 (Asahi Glass) 1.5%
Pentachlorophenol Na 0.1%
Pure water remaining
An image was formed on commercially available A4 size fine paper C in the same manner as in Example 5, and then regenerated using the image removal promoting liquid 8 in the same manner as in Example 6. At this time, the application amount of the liquid 8 was 4.0 g. No toner residue was observed on the resulting paper. When the recycled paper was reused with the above-mentioned copying machine, a beautiful copied image equivalent to the unused paper could be obtained.
When the recycled paper was subjected to the recycling process in the same manner as described above, the amount of toner that would cause a problem in practical use did not remain in the similarly recycled paper. Thereafter, image formation and reproduction processing were repeated three times, but the remaining toner was not observed on the regenerated paper at any time, and even when image formation was performed, A nearly equivalent clean copy image was obtained.
[0034]
Example 9
After stirring and dissolving with the following formulation, image removal promoting liquid 9 was prepared with sodium hydroxide to pH 7

In the same manner as in Example 1, an image was formed on a commercially available A4 size fine paper A, and then a reproduction process was performed using the apparatus shown in FIG. Here, the apparatus shown in FIG. 4A was incorporated in place of the image removal accelerating liquid application unit in FIG. 3, and the image removal accelerating liquid 9 was applied in two portions. At this time, the application amount of the liquid 9 was 2.3 g in total. No toner residue was observed on the resulting paper. When the recycled paper was reused with the above-mentioned copying machine, a beautiful copied image equivalent to the unused paper could be obtained.
When the recycled paper was subjected to the recycling process in the same manner as described above, the amount of toner that would cause a problem in practical use did not remain in the similarly recycled paper. Thereafter, image formation and reproduction processing were repeated three times, but the remaining toner was not observed on the regenerated paper at any time, and even when image formation was performed, A nearly equivalent clean copy image was obtained.
[0035]
Example 10
After stirring and dissolving with the following formulation, an image removal accelerating liquid 10 was prepared by adjusting the pH to 7 with lithium hydroxide.

In the same manner as in Example 1, an image was formed on a commercially available A4 size fine paper A, and then a reproduction process was performed using the apparatus shown in FIG. At this time, the application amount of the liquid 10 was 4.0 g. No toner residue was observed on the resulting paper. When the recycled paper was reused with the above-mentioned copying machine, a beautiful copied image equivalent to the unused paper could be obtained.
When the recycled paper was subjected to the recycling process in the same manner as described above, the amount of toner that would cause a problem in actual use did not remain on the recycled paper. Thereafter, image formation and reproduction processing were repeated three times, but the remaining toner was not observed on the regenerated paper at any time, and even when image formation was performed, A nearly equivalent clean copy image was obtained.
[0036]
Example 11
After stirring and dissolving with the following formulation, the image removal promoting liquid 11 (high concentration liquid) was prepared by adjusting the pH to 7 with lithium hydroxide.

In the same manner as in Example 1, an image was formed on a commercially available A4 size fine paper A, and then a reproduction process was performed using the apparatus shown in FIG. 4 (a) is incorporated in place of the image removal accelerating liquid application unit in FIG. 2 and 0.06 g of image removal accelerating liquid 11 is applied by a roller. After 4 g was applied, peeling was performed. No toner residue was observed on the resulting paper. When the recycled paper was reused in the above-mentioned copying machine, it was possible to obtain a beautiful copied image equivalent to unused paper.
When the recycled paper was subjected to the recycling process in the same manner as described above, the amount of toner that would cause a problem in actual use did not remain on the recycled paper. Thereafter, image formation and reproduction processing were repeated three times, but the remaining toner was not observed on the regenerated paper at any time, and even when image formation was performed, A nearly equivalent clean copy image was obtained.
[0037]
Example 12
After stirring and dissolving with the following formulation, image removal accelerating liquid 12 (high concentration liquid) was prepared at pH 8 with sodium hydroxide.
Aerosol OT100 (Mitsui Cyanamid) 20%
2-Pyridinethiol-1-oxide Na 0.1%
Pure water remaining
In the same manner as in Example 2, an image was formed on a commercially available A4 size fine paper B, and then a reproduction process was performed using the apparatus shown in FIG. Here, the apparatus shown in FIG. 4 (a) is incorporated in place of the image removal promoting liquid application unit shown in FIG. After 1 g was applied, peeling was performed. No toner residue was observed on the resulting paper. When the recycled paper was reused with the above-mentioned copying machine, a beautiful copied image equivalent to the unused paper could be obtained.
When the recycled paper was subjected to the recycling process in the same manner as described above, the amount of toner that would cause a problem in practical use did not remain in the similarly recycled paper. Thereafter, image formation and reproduction processing were repeated three times, but the remaining toner was not observed on the regenerated paper at any time, and even when image formation was performed, A nearly equivalent clean copy image was obtained.
[0038]
Example 13
After stirring and dissolving with the following formulation, image removal promoting liquid 13 (high concentration liquid) was prepared at pH 8 with sodium hydroxide.
Aerosol OT100 10%
Perfluoroalkylcarboxylic acid 10%
2-Pyridinethiol-1-oxide Na 0.1%
Pure water remaining
In the same manner as in Example 11, an image was formed on a commercially available A4 size fine paper B, and then a reproduction process was performed using the apparatus shown in FIG. 0.08 g of the image removal accelerating liquid 13 was applied by a roller, and then 0.9 g of water was applied in the form of a mist, followed by peeling. No toner residue was observed on the resulting paper. When the recycled paper was reused with the above-mentioned copying machine, a beautiful copied image equivalent to the unused paper could be obtained.
When the recycled paper was subjected to the recycling process in the same manner as described above, the amount of toner that would cause a problem in practical use did not remain in the similarly recycled paper. Thereafter, image formation and reproduction processing were repeated three times, but the remaining toner was not observed on the regenerated paper at any time, and even when image formation was performed, A nearly equivalent clean copy image was obtained.
[0039]
Example 14
After stirring and dissolving with the following formulation, image removal promoting liquid 14 (high-concentration liquid) was prepared at pH 8 with sodium hydroxide.
Aerosol OT100 10%
Perfluoroalkylcarboxylic acid 10%
2-propanol 5%
2-Pyridinethiol-1-oxide Na 0.1%
Pure water remaining
In the same manner as in Example 11, an image was formed on a commercially available A4 size fine paper B, and then a reproduction process was performed using the apparatus shown in FIG. 0.06 g of the image removal accelerating liquid 14 was applied with a roller, and then 0.5 g of water was applied in the form of a mist, followed by peeling. No toner residue was observed on the resulting paper. When the recycled paper was reused with the above-mentioned copying machine, a beautiful copied image equivalent to the unused paper could be obtained.
When the recycled paper was subjected to the recycling process in the same manner as described above, the amount of toner that would cause a problem in actual use did not remain on the recycled paper. Thereafter, image formation and reproduction processing were repeated three times, but the remaining toner was not observed on the regenerated paper at any time, and even when image formation was performed, A nearly equivalent clean copy image was obtained.
[0040]
Example 15
The image removal accelerating liquid 14 described in Example 14 is the first stage, the image removal accelerating liquid 5 described in Example 5 is the second stage, and in the same manner as in Example 14, 0.05 g in the first stage Was subjected to a regeneration treatment with a liquid application amount of 0.4 g. No toner residue was observed on the resulting paper. When the recycled paper was reused with the above-mentioned copying machine, a beautiful copied image equivalent to the unused paper could be obtained.
When the recycled paper was subjected to the recycling process in the same manner as described above, the amount of toner that would cause a problem in practical use did not remain in the similarly recycled paper. Thereafter, image formation and reproduction processing were repeated three times, but the remaining toner was not observed on the regenerated paper at any time, and even when image formation was performed, A nearly equivalent clean copy image was obtained.
[0041]
Example 16
After stirring and dissolving with the following formulation, image removal promoting liquid 16 (high concentration liquid) was prepared with lithium hydroxide at pH 9
Aerosol MA80 (Mitsui Cyanamid) 1%
Ethylene carbonate 2%
1,3-dimethylimidazolidinone 2%
Sodium sorbate 0.1%
Pure water remaining
In the same manner as in Example 1, an image was formed on a commercially available A4 size fine paper A, and then a reproduction process was performed using the apparatus shown in FIG. At this time, the application amount of the liquid 16 was 3.2 g. No toner residue was observed on the resulting paper. When the recycled paper was reused with the above-mentioned copying machine, a beautiful copied image equivalent to the unused paper could be obtained.
When the recycled paper was subjected to the recycling process in the same manner as described above, the amount of toner that would cause a problem in practical use did not remain in the similarly recycled paper. Thereafter, image formation and reproduction processing were repeated three times, but the remaining toner was not observed on the regenerated paper at any time, and even when image formation was performed, A nearly equivalent clean copy image was obtained. When the image was erased, there was no toner afterimage and it was reusable. When the image was erased, there was no afterimage of the image and it was possible to recopy.
[0042]
Comparative Example 1
Except for the compound (1-A) of the image removal accelerating liquid 1 of Example 1, the image removal accelerating liquid was similarly changed to BT5 (manufactured by Nikko Chemicals: pentaoxyethylene secondary alkyl ether surfactant). a was prepared, and image reproduction processing was performed in the same manner as in Example 1 using this image removal promoting liquid. The applied amount of the image removal accelerating liquid a at this time was 2.5 g because of low permeability. The paper obtained after the recycling treatment showed an afterimage of the toner image and could not withstand reuse.
Comparative Example 2
Except for the compound (1-E) of the image removal accelerating liquid 2 of Example 2, the image removal accelerating liquid was similarly changed except that it was changed to Softanol 300 (trade name of polyoxyethylene secondary alkyl ether surfactant manufactured by Nippon Shokubai). b was prepared, and the reproduction process was performed in the same manner as in Example 2 using this image removal promoting liquid. The applied amount of the image removal accelerating liquid b at this time was 3.0 g because of low permeability. The paper obtained after the recycling treatment showed an afterimage of the toner image and could not withstand reuse. When image erasure on commercially available high-quality paper was similarly performed as the image removal accelerating liquid b, a slight residual image of the toner image was observed.
[0043]
Comparative Example 3
An image removal accelerating liquid c was prepared in the same manner except that (1-G) of the image removal accelerating liquid 3 of Example 3 was removed. went. The application amount of the image removal accelerating liquid c at this time was 3.1 g. An afterimage of the toner image was observed on the paper obtained after the regeneration treatment. Also, the part where the toner was peeled off was not able to withstand reuse because it was markedly colored due to the charge control material.
[0044]
Comparative Example 4
An image removal accelerating liquid d was prepared in the same manner except that (1-I) of the image removal accelerating liquid 4 of Example 4 was removed, and reproduction processing was performed in the same manner as in Example 4 using this image removal accelerating liquid. went. The application amount of the image removal promoting liquid d at this time was 3.5 g. An afterimage of the toner image was observed on the paper obtained after the regeneration treatment.
[0045]
Comparative Example 5
An image removal accelerating solution e was prepared in the same manner except that sorbitan fatty acid ester was used as a surfactant except for the aerosol OP of the image removal accelerating solution 6 of Example 6, and reproduction was performed using this image removal accelerating solution. The treatment was performed in the same manner as in Example 6. Since the image removal accelerating liquid e at this time was inferior in permeability, the applied amount was 2.3 g. In particular, the image removal accelerating liquid e did not penetrate into the paper in the image area. The paper obtained after the recycling treatment was unbearable for reuse because the surface of the paper was peeled over the entire surface centering on where the image was.
[0046]
Comparative Example 6
An image removal accelerating solution f was prepared in the same manner except that polyethylene glycol fatty acid ester was used as a surfactant except for the aerosol MA80 of the image removal accelerating solution 7 of Example 7, and this image removal accelerating solution was used. The reproduction process was performed in the same manner as in Example 7. The application amount of the image removal promoting liquid f was 3.0 g. The paper obtained after the recycling treatment showed an afterimage of the toner image and could not withstand reuse.
[0047]
Comparative Example 7
An image removal accelerating solution g was prepared in the same manner except that propylene glycol fatty acid ester was used except for the compound (1-F) of the image removal accelerating solution 8 described in Example 8, and this image removal accelerating solution was used. The reproduction process was performed in the same manner as in Example 8. The application amount of the image removal accelerating liquid g was 2.4 g. Since the liquid does not penetrate into the interface between the image forming substance and the paper, afterimage of the toner image is recognized on the paper obtained after the regeneration process, and the paper surface of the part where the image is removed has fluffy fibers, etc. It could not withstand reuse.
[0048]
Comparative Example 8
An image removal accelerating solution h was prepared in the same manner except that polyoxyethylene fatty acid amide was used as a surfactant except for MA80 of the image removal accelerating solution 10 described in Example 11, and this image removal accelerating solution was used. The regeneration process was performed under the same conditions as in Example 10. At this time, 0.05 g of the first-stage liquid 18 adhered and 0.7 g of the second-stage pure water adhered. The paper obtained after the recycling treatment showed an afterimage of the toner image, and the paper surface where the image was removed was fluffy on the paper surface.
[0049]
Comparative Example 9
Except for OT100 of the image removal accelerating liquid 12 described in Example 12, an image removal accelerating liquid i was prepared in the same manner except that the propylene glycol fatty acid ester world was used. In the same manner as in No. 12, the image on the high-quality commercial paper was removed. Here, 0.07 g of the first-stage image removal accelerating liquid i adhered, and 0.5 g of the second-stage water adhered. The toner image remained without being peeled off on the paper obtained after the regeneration treatment. When the image was removed using this image removal accelerating liquid, 0.09 g of the image removal accelerating liquid and 2.3 g of water were required to obtain recycled paper equivalent to Example 12. Furthermore, the amount of electric power increased with the increase in the amount of liquid required.
[0050]
Comparative Example 10
The application amount of the first-stage image removal accelerating liquid 14 of Example 15 was 0.05 g, and the second-stage image removal accelerating liquid 5 was applied in the same amount of 0.4 g as in Example 15 to perform a reproduction process. Processing was carried out in the same manner as in Example 15. However, the paper obtained after the recycling treatment had almost no toner remaining and could not withstand reuse.
[0051]
Comparative Example 11
Except for the application amount of the first-stage image removal accelerating solution 14 of Example 15 being 2 g, when the regeneration process was performed under the same conditions as in Comparative Example 10, most of the toner was completely removed from the paper after the regeneration process. It was. However, when the image formation described in Example 2 was performed on the paper thus regenerated, the toner was poorly fixed and the image was not formed cleanly. In addition, when the paper thus reclaimed was written with water-based ink, the blur was so severe that it could not be used.
[0052]
【effect】
(1) According to the present invention, since the image removal accelerating liquid containing an alkylsulfosuccinate is used, the wettability with respect to the image forming substance and the recording material and the permeability to the recording material are improved. Therefore, the required amount of the image removal accelerating liquid required for the reproduction process can be reduced, and the reproduction process can be speeded up.
(2) According to the present invention, since the alkyl sulfosuccinate has an action of preventing re-adhesion of the image forming substance to the recording material, even when the application amount of the image removal accelerating liquid is reduced, It is possible to remove the image forming material from the recording material without causing any remaining image forming material and without damaging the surface of the recording material after reproduction.
(3) According to the present invention, by adding alkylsulfosuccinate to the image removal promoting liquid, not only the effects of (1) and (2) are great, but also an image having excellent storage characteristics and safety. A removal promoting liquid can be provided.
(4) According to the present invention, by selecting the cation according to claim 4 as the counter ion of the compound (1), it is possible to provide an image removal accelerating solution having excellent temporal stability of image removal characteristics. it can.
(5) According to the present invention, the addition of the fluorosurfactant to the image removal promoting liquid in addition to the alkylsulfosuccinate further effectively prevents the image forming substance from reattaching to the recording material. Even when the application amount of the image removal accelerating liquid is reduced, the image forming substance can be removed from the recording material without remaining the image forming substance and without damaging the surface of the recording material after reproduction. become.
[0053]
(6) According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress damage to the surface of the recording material by adding a compound that plasticizes the image forming substance in addition to the alkylsulfosuccinate to the image removal promoting liquid. Also, when peeling is performed by bonding the peeling member and the image forming substance by heating, the temperature required for peeling can be lowered, reducing the power consumption required for reproducing the recording material, or reproducing apparatus The restriction of the heat resistance of the member used in the process can be relaxed.
(7) According to the present invention, an aliphatic monohydric alcohol is added to the image removal accelerating liquid in addition to the alkylsulfosuccinate, so that no image forming substance remains and the surface of the recording material after reproduction is reproduced. The image forming substance can be removed from the recording material without damaging the recording medium, and the image forming substance can be satisfactorily removed from the recording material even after aging. A highly reliable image removal promoting liquid can be provided.
(8) According to the present invention, since the image removal accelerating liquid is applied to the same recording material in a plurality of times, the image removal accelerating liquid easily penetrates into the contact point between the image forming substance and the recording material. By applying a small amount of the image removal accelerating liquid, it is possible to remove the image forming substance from the recording material without leaving the image forming substance and without damaging the surface of the recording material after reproduction.
(9) According to the present invention, a method of applying an image removal accelerating liquid using at least an alkylsulfosuccinate and applying the image removal accelerating liquid is applied to the same recording material in a plurality of times. In addition, the content of alkylsulfosuccinate and other surfactants in the image removal accelerating solution that is applied in multiple batches becomes lower as the post-process is applied. Since the image removal accelerating liquid in the next process is supplied to the recording material whose wettability is sufficiently increased by the accelerating liquid, even when a small amount of image removal accelerating liquid is applied, the image removal accelerating liquid and the recording material Thus, the image removal promoting liquid easily permeates into the contact points, there is no remaining image forming substance, and the image forming substance can be removed from the recording material without damaging the surface of the recording material after reproduction. Furthermore, since the total amount of the surfactant used for one reproduction operation can be reduced, it is possible to prevent deterioration in the writability of the reproduced recording material, fixability of the image forming substance, etc. Recycle / reuse cycle can be repeated.
(10) According to the present invention, a case in which a “displacement” is caused between the recording material and the peeling member that are in close contact with each other to cause adhesion and peeling of the image forming substance to the peeling member multiple times. In particular, even when a small amount of image removal accelerating liquid is applied, the image forming substance can be removed from the recording material without any remaining image forming substance and without damaging the surface of the recording material after reproduction. It becomes possible.
(11) According to the present invention, by adding a water-soluble polymer to the image removal accelerating liquid, the peeling characteristics can be improved and the characteristics such as the strength of the recording material after reproduction can be improved. Can spread.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an example of an apparatus used in a reproduction method of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of another example of an apparatus used in the reproduction method of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of another example of an apparatus used in the reproduction method of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a two-stage image removal promotion and provision unit of an apparatus used in the reproduction method of the present invention.
(A) Roller application twice
(A) Non-contact liquid application after roller application
FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a cross section of a film-like image formed on a recording material.
[Explanation of symbols]
1-1 Paper tray
1-2 Paper feed roller
1-3 Guide plate
1-4 Transport roller
1-5 Peeling member roller
1-6 Supply roller
1-7 Image removal accelerating solution
1-8 Heating roller
1-9 Separating nails
1-10 Cleaning section
1-11 Transport roller
1-12 Drying belt
1-13 Output tray
1 Paper feed unit
2 Image removal accelerating liquid application unit
3 Image forming substance peeling unit
4 Drying unit
5 Paper receiving unit
10 Recording material
11 Film-like image formation
101 Bottom plate
102 Paper feed roller
104 Conveying roller
20 Image removal accelerating solution
201 Liquid container
202 Submerged conveying roller
203 Guide plate in liquid
204 Diaphragm pair
206 Diaphragm pair
207 Liquid pumping roller
208 Liquid application roller
209 Pressing roller
301 Heating lamp
302 Peeling member roller
303 Separation nail
304 Cleaning device
305 Cleaning roller
306 Scraper blade
307 Image-forming substance receiver
308 Endless Belt
309 Endless Belt
401 Heating lamp
402 Drying roller
403 Drying roller
501 Output tray

Claims (6)

Following formula (1)

(Wherein R ₁ , R ₂ : An alkyl group having 4 to 14 carbon atoms which may be the same or different and may be branched, M: alkali metal ion, quaternary ammonium, quaternary phosphonium, alkanolamine cation)
A liquid containing at least one hydrophobic surface on which a hydrophobic image is formed (image removal accelerating liquid), characterized in that it contains at least one dialkylsulfosuccinate represented by the formula (1) and water. An image removal accelerating liquid is applied to a recording material composed of a swellable layer and to which a film-like image forming substance is fixed, and the hydrophobic image is peeled off from the paper layer by an image peeling means. Image removal accelerating liquid for use in the reproduction method. In the dialkylsulfosuccinate, M in the above formula (1) is sodium ion, lithium ion, formula (2)

(X: nitrogen or phosphorus, R ₃ ~ R ₆ : At least one group selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a hydroxyalkyl group, and a halogenated alkyl group. )
2. The image removal accelerating solution according to claim 1, wherein the image removal accelerating solution is selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium and quaternary phosphonium. The image removal accelerating liquid according to claim 1 or 2, which contains a fluorosurfactant. The image removal accelerating liquid according to claim 1, which contains a compound that plasticizes the image forming substance. Compounds that plasticize the image-forming substance are cellosolves and derivatives thereof, carbitols and derivatives thereof, triethylene glycol monomethyl ether, tetraethylene glycol, 1-methoxy-2-propanol, 1-ethoxy-2- Propanol, dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether, dipropylene glycol monoethyl ether, tripropylene glycol monomethyl ether and polyoxyethylene-oxypropylene derivatives, 2-pyrrolidinone, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, γ- At least selected from the group consisting of butyrolactone and polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, 1,3-dimethylimidazolidinone, morpholine and γ-valerolacto The image removal accelerating liquid according to claim 4, which is one or more compounds. 6. The image removal accelerating liquid according to claim 1, which contains an aliphatic monohydric alcohol.

Images