JP6458660B2 - Coating agent - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a coating agent.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, with the diversification of user needs, an image forming apparatus has an image on a special recording medium such as a so-called label paper having an adhesive layer made of an adhesive in addition to plain paper as a recording medium for forming an image. Is required to form. In such an image forming apparatus, as a technique related to feeding a special recording medium made of label paper or the like, for example, those disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 4 have already been proposed.

  According to Patent Document 1, the paper stacking unit is displaced according to the paper stacking amount so that the height of the top surface of the stacked paper is set to a substantially constant position, and the paper is sequentially fed from the top surface paper. In the paper device, a cleaning member is provided in the paper stacking portion, and the cleaning member is configured to abut on the inner wall surface of the side fence positioned so as to sandwich the paper stacking portion.

  Patent Document 2 includes a stacking tray for stacking sheets, a feeding member for feeding sheets stacked on the stacking tray, and a removing member for removing an adhesive substance attached to an end surface in the width direction of the sheet. Is configured to contact the end face in the width direction of the sheet fed from the stacking tray and remove the adhesive substance.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 includes a sheet feeding table on which sheets are stacked, and a side fence that guides an end surface along the sheet feeding direction of the sheets stacked on the sheet feeding table, from the uppermost sheet stacked on the sheet feeding table. In a sheet feeding device that feeds one sheet at a time, the side fence is configured such that a plurality of concavities and convexities that are integrally formed of the same material as the side fence are formed on the surface on which the sheet end surface to be fed abuts. is there.

  Patent Document 4 includes a liquid lubricant, a lubricant container that contains a liquid lubricant, and a lubricant supply unit that is attached to the lubricant container and applies a liquid lubricant, and the lubricant is a printing machine. It is constructed so as to be applied directly to the cross section of the original fabric that moves.

JP 2009-51589 A JP 2010-89845 A JP 2010-137947 A Japanese Patent No. 4891447

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a coating agent capable of suppressing the transfer of the adhesive to the other member as compared with the case where the recording medium having the adhesive layer is in direct contact with the other member. There is to do.

The invention described in claim 1 includes a vaporizable liquid,
A powder for reducing the adhesiveness mixed in the liquid;
A liquid mixture containing
The mixed liquid is applied to a recording medium having at least an adhesive layer or a contacted member with which the recording medium comes into contact, so that the powder contained in the mixed liquid is interposed in the adhesive layer, or the adhesive layer A powder contained in the mixed solution is interposed between the contacted member and the contacted member.

  The invention described in claim 2 is the coating agent according to claim 1, wherein the liquid is made of any one of hydrofluoroether, ethyl ether, and acetone.

  The invention described in claim 3 is characterized in that the powder is made of any one of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), zinc stearate (ZnSt), and calcium carbonate. It is an agent.

  The invention described in claim 4 is the coating agent according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the powder has a number average particle diameter of 0.5 μm or more and 14 μm or less.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to suppress the pressure sensitive adhesive from moving to the other member as compared with the case where the recording medium having the pressure sensitive adhesive layer is in direct contact with the other member.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, the liquid has better volatility than the case where a liquid other than hydrofluoroether, ethyl ether or acetone is used.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, compared to the case where a powder other than PMMA, ZnSt, or calcium carbonate is used as the powder, the adhesion suppressing effect of the adhesive and the suppression of the burying of the powder in the adhesive are suppressed. The effect is good.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the adhesion suppressing effect of the pressure-sensitive adhesive and its maintainability are better than those having a powder particle size outside the range.

It is a block diagram which shows the image forming apparatus to which the coating agent which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention is applied. It is a block diagram which shows the image formation part of the image forming apparatus to which the coating agent which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention is applied. It is a section lineblock diagram showing label paper. It is a block diagram which shows a control circuit. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the particle size of powder, and tack force. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the particle size of a powder, a tack suppression effect, and burial resistance. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the volatilization rate according to the kind of liquid, and particle dispersibility. It is a block diagram which shows the application member of the coating device to which the coating agent which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention is applied. It is a block diagram which shows an application member. It is a figure which shows the edge part of the label paper which the protrusion of the adhesive has arisen. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the leaving time of a label paper in the high temperature, high humidity environment, and the protrusion of a release paper. It is a graph which shows the adhesion state of the adhesive according to the material of the surface base material of label paper. It is a graph which shows the running conditions and experiment result of the label paper in an image output device. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the holding | maintenance amount of the liquid mixture in the material of an application member, and application amount. It is a block diagram which shows the image forming apparatus to which the coating agent which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention is applied. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part of the image forming apparatus to which the coating agent which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention is applied.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[Embodiment 1]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an overall outline of an image forming apparatus to which a coating agent according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is applied.

<Overall Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus>
The image forming apparatus 1 to which the coating agent according to Embodiment 1 is applied is configured as a color printer, for example. The image forming apparatus 1 includes an image output apparatus 2 that forms an image using toners of four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), and an example of a recording medium. A paper feed device 3 that supplies continuous paper 5, a paper discharge device 4 that discharges and stores the continuous paper 5 on which an image is formed by the image output device 2, and an image output device provided above the paper discharge device 4. 2 and a control device 100 that controls the paper feeding device 3 and the paper ejection device 4. In the illustrated image forming apparatus 1, the paper feeding device 3, the paper discharging device 4, and the control device 100 are separately arranged outside the image output device 2. Of course, the apparatus 2, the paper feeding device 3, the paper ejection device 4, and at least a part of the control device 100 may be integrally arranged.

  The image output apparatus 2 includes an electrophotographic image forming unit 106 as an example of an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium based on image data. The image forming unit 106 holds a plurality of image forming apparatuses 10 that form toner images developed with toner constituting the developer, and the toner images formed by the respective image forming apparatuses 10 and finally continuously. An intermediate transfer device 20 that transports the paper 5 to a secondary transfer position for secondary transfer, a transport device 60 that transports the required continuous paper 5 to be supplied to the secondary transfer position of the intermediate transfer device 20, and the intermediate transfer device 20. And a fixing device 40 as an example of a fixing unit including a heating step for fixing the toner image on the continuous paper 5 that has been secondarily transferred.

  The image output device 2 can be configured as a color copying machine when an image reading device as an image reading unit (not shown) for inputting a document image to be formed on the continuous paper 5 is additionally provided. . Reference numeral 2a in the figure denotes a housing of the image output apparatus 2, and the housing 2a is composed of a supporting component, an exterior cover, and the like.

  The image forming device 10 includes four image forming devices 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K that respectively form four color toner images exclusively for yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). It is configured. These four image forming devices 10 (Y, M, C, K) are arranged in a line in the internal space of the housing 2a.

  As shown in FIG. 2, each image forming device 10 includes a photosensitive drum 11 as an example of a rotating image carrier, and the following devices are mainly disposed around the photosensitive drum 11. Has been placed. The main devices are a charging device 12 that charges a peripheral surface (image holding surface) on the photosensitive drum 11 on which an image can be formed to a required potential, and image information (on the charged peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 11). The exposure device 13 as an electrostatic latent image forming unit that forms an electrostatic latent image (for each color) having a potential difference by irradiating light based on the signal), and the developer of the corresponding color A developing device 14 as an example of a developing unit that develops toner to form a toner image, a primary transfer device 15 that transfers each toner image to the intermediate transfer device 20, and an image holding surface of the photosensitive drum 11 after the primary transfer. A drum cleaning device 16 that removes and removes adhering matter such as toner that remains on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11, and a static elimination device 17 that exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 to remove the remaining charges.

  The photosensitive drum 11 is formed by forming an image holding surface having a photoconductive layer (photosensitive layer) made of a photosensitive material on the peripheral surface of a cylindrical or columnar base material to be grounded. The photosensitive drum 11 is supported so as to rotate in a direction indicated by an arrow A when power is transmitted from a rotation driving device (not shown).

  The charging device 12 includes a contact-type charging roll that is disposed in contact with the photosensitive drum 11. A charging voltage is supplied to the charging device 12. As the charging voltage, when the developing device 14 performs reversal development, a voltage or current having the same polarity as the charging polarity of the toner supplied from the developing device 14 is supplied.

  The exposure device 13 forms an electrostatic latent image by irradiating the charged surface of the photosensitive drum 11 with light LB configured according to image information input to the image output device 2. To do. When the latent image is formed, the exposure device 13 receives information (signal) of an image that is input to the image output device 2 by any means and subjected to image processing by the image processing unit.

  In each of the developing devices 14, a developing roll that holds the developer and conveys it to the developing area facing the photosensitive drum 11 inside the housing in which the opening and the developer storage chamber are formed, and the developer are stirred. The agitating / conveying member such as two screw augers that convey the toner to be supplied to the developing roll, and the layer thickness regulating member that regulates the amount (layer thickness) of the developer held on the developing roll are arranged. Is. A developing bias voltage is supplied to the developing device 14 between the developing roll and the photosensitive drum 11 from a power supply device (not shown). Further, the developing roll and the stirring and agitating member are rotated in a required direction by receiving power from a rotation driving device (not shown). As the developer, for example, a two-component developer containing a nonmagnetic toner and a magnetic carrier is used.

  In FIG. 1, reference numerals 140 (Y, M, C, K) denote toner cartridges as developer containers that contain a developer containing at least toner to be supplied to the corresponding developing device 14. In this embodiment, only toner is contained in the toner cartridge 140.

  The primary transfer device 15 is a contact-type transfer device including a primary transfer roll that rotates in contact with the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 11 and is supplied with a primary transfer voltage. As the primary transfer voltage, a DC voltage having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner is supplied from a power supply device (not shown).

  The drum cleaning device 16 is disposed so as to come into contact with the container-shaped main body, which is partially open, and the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 11 after the primary transfer at a required pressure, and removes adhered matters such as residual toner to clean the drum. And a collecting device for collecting deposits removed by the cleaning plate.

  The static eliminator 17 is configured by an LED, a light emitting lamp, or the like that removes charges remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 by exposing the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 to light.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the intermediate transfer device 20 is disposed so as to exist at a position below each image forming device 10 (Y, M, C, K). The intermediate transfer device 20 includes an intermediate transfer belt 21 that rotates in a direction indicated by an arrow B while passing a primary transfer position between the photosensitive drum 11 and the primary transfer device 15 (primary transfer roll), and an intermediate transfer belt 21. A plurality of belt support rollers 22 to 24 that hold the toner in a desired state from the inner periphery thereof, and on the outer peripheral surface (image holding surface) side of the intermediate transfer belt 21 supported by the belt support roll 24. A secondary transfer device 30 that is arranged to secondary-transfer the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 21 to the recording paper 5, and a toner that remains and adheres to the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 21 after passing through the secondary transfer device 30. The belt cleaning device 25 includes a blade-shaped cleaning member (cleaning blade) 26 that removes and removes adhered substances such as paper dust.

  As the intermediate transfer belt 21, for example, an endless belt made of a material in which a resistance adjusting agent such as carbon black is dispersed in a synthetic resin such as polyimide resin or polyamide resin is used. The belt support roll 22 is configured as a drive roll, the belt support roll 24 is configured as a secondary transfer backup roll, and the belt support roll 23 is configured as a tension applying roll.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the secondary transfer device 30 is configured such that the intermediate transfer belt 21 has a secondary transfer position at the secondary transfer position that is the outer peripheral surface portion of the intermediate transfer belt 21 supported by the belt support roll 24 in the intermediate transfer device 20. It is a contact type transfer device provided with a secondary transfer roll that rotates in contact with a peripheral surface and is supplied with a secondary transfer voltage. Further, a DC voltage having a polarity opposite to or opposite to the charging polarity of the toner is supplied as a secondary transfer voltage to the secondary transfer roll 30 or the support roll 24 of the intermediate transfer device 20.

  The fixing device 40 includes a roll-type or belt-type heating rotator 41 that is heated by heating means so that the surface temperature is maintained at a predetermined temperature (about 150 ° C. to 180 ° C.), and the heating rotator. A roll-type or belt-type pressurizing rotator 42 rotating in contact with a required pressure at 41 is arranged. In the fixing device 40, the contact portion where the heating rotator 41 and the pressing rotator 42 come into contact becomes a fixing processing unit that performs a required fixing process (heating and pressing) including a heating step of heating the recording medium 5. .

  By the way, the paper feeding device 3 includes a roll paper 51 obtained by winding a continuous long continuous paper 5 as a recording medium in a roll shape, and supplies the continuous paper 5 from the roll paper 51. Further, the paper feeding device 3 is arranged in a state of being separated as a separate unit on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the continuous paper 5 of the image output device 2. As the continuous paper 5, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, an adhesive or adhesive such as glue on a release paper 51 generally made of glassine paper that serves as a mount and is discarded when used. A surface substrate 53 made of a synthetic resin sheet such as PP (polypropylene) or PET (polyethylene terephthalate), or a paper such as fine paper or coated paper, is provided in the uppermost layer via an adhesive layer 52 as an intermediate layer made of So-called label paper to which is adhered is used. The label paper 5 is used after the design and characters are printed on the surface of the surface base material 53. The label paper 5 is supplied as, for example, a roll paper 51 wound in a roll shape so that the surface base 53 side is positioned on the surface (outer peripheral surface) which is an image forming surface, depending on the application.

  The paper feeding device 3 includes a roll paper 61 that is rotated in a clockwise direction by a driving unit (not shown), and a tension applying unit 62 that applies tension to the label paper 5 that is fed as the roll paper 61 rotates. . The tension applying unit 62 includes transport rollers 62a and 62b that transport the label paper 5, and a tension roller 62c that is provided with an elastic force in a direction away from the transport rollers 62a and 62b.

  The image output apparatus 2 includes a manual sheet feeding device 63 for feeding a recording medium from the outside on a side surface of the housing 2a located on the sheet feeding device 3 side. Further, the image output apparatus 2 includes a transport device 60 that transports the label paper 5 fed from the manual paper feed device 63 to the secondary transfer position inside the housing 2a. The transport device 60 includes a transport roll 61 that transports the label paper 5 in contact with the surface opposite to the image forming surface (the back surface in the illustrated example). The transport device 60 is configured to include a pair of transport rolls that transport the label paper 5 in between and a discharge roll (not shown) that discharges the label paper 5 on which an image is formed on the downstream side of the fixing device 40 to the outside. May be. Further, the transport device 60 only needs to transport the label paper 5 as a recording medium, and tension applying units 62 and 65 disposed inside the paper feeding device 3 and the paper discharge device 4 and a recording medium as the recording medium. You may comprise so that the conveyance roll etc. which change the conveyance direction of the label paper 5 etc. which are not shown in figure may be included.

  Further, on the downstream side of the image output device 2, a paper discharge device 4 that discharges and stores the label paper 5 on which an image is formed by the image output device 2 is disposed. The paper discharge device 4 includes a tension applying unit 65 that applies tension to the label paper 5 and a take-up roll 66 that is rotatably arranged in the clockwise direction in the drawing and winds the label paper 5 in a roll shape. The tension applying unit 65 includes transport rolls 65a and 65b that transport the label paper 5, and a tension applying roll 65c to which an elastic force is applied in a direction away from the transport rolls 65a and 65b. Note that a cutting device 67 for cutting the label paper 5 may be disposed at the entrance of the paper discharge device 4 as necessary.

  FIG. 4 shows a control device that controls the operation of the image forming apparatus.

  In FIG. 4, reference numeral 101 denotes a CPU that controls the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus 1 in an integrated manner. The CPU 101 refers to a program stored in the ROM 102, parameters stored in the RAM 103, and the like. To control.

  Reference numeral 104 denotes a user interface unit for the user to input the type and size of the recording medium 5 including the label paper on which an image is formed, or the number of prints, 107 denotes an image input device, and 105 denotes an image output device 2. Reference numeral 106 denotes an environmental sensor that detects at least one of environmental temperature and environmental humidity, 106 denotes an image forming unit of the image output apparatus 2, and 70 denotes a coating apparatus that applies a coating agent to the label paper 5 as will be described in detail later. ing. The user interface unit 104 can specify the size, type, and the like of the label paper 5 at the time of image formation.

<Basic operation of image forming apparatus>
Hereinafter, a basic image forming operation by the image output apparatus 2 of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.

  Here, a full-color image constituted by combining four color (Y, M, C, K) toner images using the four image forming devices 10 (Y, M, C, K) of the image output device 2. An image forming operation when forming the image will be described. The four image forming devices 10 (Y, M, C, K) of the image output device 2 are used to form a toner image of one or more of the four colors (Y, M, C, K). The image forming operation when doing this is the same.

  When the image output device 2 receives the command information of the request for the image forming operation (printing), the image forming device 10 (Y, M, C, K), the intermediate transfer device 20, the secondary transfer device 30, and the fixing device. 40 etc. starts.

  In each image forming device 10 (Y, M, C, K), each photoconductor drum 11 is first rotated in the direction indicated by an arrow A, and each charging device 12 makes a required surface of each photoconductor drum 11 on the surface. It is charged with a polarity (negative polarity in the first embodiment) and a potential. Subsequently, an image obtained by the exposure device 13 converting the information of the image input to the image output device 2 into each color component (Y, M, C, K) on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 after charging. The light LB emitted based on this signal is irradiated, and an electrostatic latent image of each color component composed of a required potential difference is formed on the surface thereof.

  Subsequently, each developing device 14 (Y, M, C, K) has a corresponding color charged with a required polarity (minus polarity) with respect to the electrostatic latent image of each color component formed on the photosensitive drum 11. (Y, M, C, K) toners are respectively supplied and electrostatically adhered to perform development. By this development, the electrostatic latent images of the respective color components formed on the respective photosensitive drums 11 are visualized as toner images of four colors (Y, M, C, K) respectively developed with the corresponding color toners. It becomes.

  Subsequently, when each color toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 11 of each image forming device 10 (Y, M, C, K) is conveyed to the primary transfer position, the primary transfer device 15 causes each color image. The toner image is primarily transferred in such a manner that the toner image is sequentially superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 21 rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow B of the intermediate transfer device 20.

  In each image forming device 10 after the primary transfer is completed, the drum cleaning device 16 cleans the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 by removing the adhering matter such as toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 so as to scrape off. Thereafter, the charge removal device 17 removes the charge remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11. Thereby, each image forming apparatus 10 is brought into a state in which the next image forming operation can be performed.

  Subsequently, in the intermediate transfer device 20, the toner image primarily transferred by the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 21 is held and conveyed to the secondary transfer position. On the other hand, in the paper feeding device 3 and the paper ejection device 4, the label paper 5 is introduced from the paper feeding device 3 into the housing 2a of the image output device 2 via the manual paper feeding device 63 prior to the image forming operation. The leading edge of the label sheet 5 is led out of the image output apparatus 2 from the conveying roll 64 of the conveying apparatus 60 through the secondary transfer position and the fixing apparatus 40, and the take-up roll via the tension applying section 65 of the paper discharging apparatus 4. 66. At the time of image formation, the label paper 5 fed from the paper feeding device 3 is transported through the image output device 2 at a required transport speed and then accommodated in the paper discharge device 4.

  At the secondary transfer position, the secondary transfer device 30 collectively transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 21 onto the label paper 5. Further, in the intermediate transfer device 20 after the secondary transfer is completed, the belt cleaning device 25 removes and removes adherents such as toner remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 21 after the secondary transfer.

  Subsequently, the label paper 5 on which the toner image is secondarily transferred is peeled from the intermediate transfer belt 21 and the secondary transfer roll 30 and then conveyed to the fixing device 40. In the fixing device 40, necessary fixing processing (heating and pressing) is performed to fix the unfixed toner image on the label paper 5. Finally, the label sheet 5 after the fixing is completed is discharged to the outside of the image output apparatus 2 and is taken up by a take-up roll 66 provided inside the paper discharge apparatus 4.

  Through the above operation, the label paper 5 on which a full color image formed by combining four color toner images is output.

<Configuration of Characteristic Part of Image Forming Apparatus>
1 is a block diagram showing a coating apparatus to which a coating agent according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is applied.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the coating device 70 includes a storage container 72 that stores a mixed liquid 71 in which powder and liquid are mixed, and stirring means that stirs the mixed liquid 71 stored in the storage container 72. An agitation device 73 as an example, an application member 74 that applies the mixed liquid 71 to both ends of the label paper 5, and a supply device 75 as an example of a supply unit that supplies the mixed liquid 71 from the storage container 72 to the application member 74 It has. Further, the container 72, the coating member 74, and the supply device 75 are connected to each other by a transport tube 76 that transports and supplies the mixed liquid 71.

  Inside the storage container 72, a mixed liquid 71 as a coating agent in which powder and liquid are mixed is stored. As the powder, for example, silica, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), zinc stearate (ZnSt), calcium carbonate, talc and the like can be used. The particle size (number average particle size) of the powder is preferably set to 0.5 μm or more and 14 μm or less, for example. When the particle size of the powder is less than 0.5 μm, it is difficult for the powder to be embedded in the adhesive layer 72 of the label paper 5 and it is difficult to maintain the tack (adhesive adhesion) suppression effect. When the diameter exceeds 14 μm, the initial tack (adhesive adhesion) suppression effect tends to be insufficient, which is not desirable.

  More specifically, the powder has a high tack suppressing effect for suppressing the adhesive constituting the adhesive layer 52 exposed at the end of the label paper 5 from moving to another member, and at the end of the label paper 5. It is desirable that it is difficult to be buried in the exposed adhesive.

  In accordance with the inclined ball tack test, which is the “adhesive tape / adhesive sheet test method” standardized in JIS Z 0237, the present inventors have used a roll instead of a ball to achieve a relative tack suppression effect. An evaluation test to evaluate was conducted. The evaluation test of the tack-inhibiting effect is as follows. As a powder, silica having a particle size (number average particle size) of 0.04 μm, PMMA having a particle size of 0.5 μm, ZnSt having a particle size of 6 μm, and particle size of 14 μm Calcium carbonate, and talc having a particle size of 40-80 μm. The powder was applied by preparing a mixed liquid 71 mixed with hydrofluoroether (Sumitomo 3M: trade name “Novec”) at a concentration of 3% by weight as a liquid. Further, as label paper 5, PP / KV11 manufactured by Lintec Corporation was used.

  The embedding property of the powder is determined by the powder on the adhesive layer 52 of the label paper 5 before and after the label paper 5 with the mixed liquid 71 applied to the end passes through the secondary transfer position of the image output device 2. It was qualitatively evaluated by observing the buried state of the body using an electron microscope.

  5 and 6 are graphs and charts showing the evaluation results.

  As apparent from FIG. 5, silica, PMMA, ZnSt and calcium carbonate all have a tack test stop angle showing a tack force as very small as 2.5 to 4.0 degrees, and show an excellent tack suppression effect. I found out. On the other hand, talc is 29.0 degrees, which is lower than the stop angle of 71.5 degrees, which shows the tack force when no powder is applied, and is significantly larger than silica or PMMA. A large value was shown, and it was found that the tack suppression effect was insufficient. This is not caused by the material of the talc itself, but the particle size of talc is 40-80 μm, which is large compared to other powders, and has a sufficient tack suppressing effect when attached to the adhesive layer 52 of the label paper 5. This is probably because it is difficult to obtain.

  As is clear from FIG. 6, although silica has a very good desired tack-inhibiting effect, the particle size is 0.04 μm, which is very small compared to PMMA and the like, and an electron microscope was used. According to the observation result, it was easily embedded in the adhesive layer 52 of the label paper 5, and it was found that the resistance to burying was insufficient.

  In addition to the particle size, there is also an effect of the shape of the powder (practical sphericity) regarding the embedment resistance of the powder. In this embodiment, when compared with the same particle size, for example, 6 μm, the practical sphericity is It was found that the burial resistance was obtained when the thickness was 0.8 or less, whereas the burial resistance was insufficient when it exceeded 0.8. Here, in the case of a powder having a particle size of 6 μm, it is difficult to produce a powder having a practical sphericity of less than 0.15, and the practical sphericity is desirably 0.15 or more and 0.8 or less.

The practical sphericity referred to here refers to a value calculated from the following equation in the form of a projected image obtained by analyzing an image of a powder photographed using an electron microscope. Incidentally, in the case of a spherical shape, the value is 1, and the value becomes smaller as the shape becomes irregular.
Practical sphericity = Diameter of circle equivalent to projected area / Diameter of minimum circumscribed circle

On the other hand, as the liquid of the mixed liquid 71, various liquids can be used as long as the powder can be held in a dispersed state. However, considering the persistence when applied to the label paper 5, the room temperature ( It is desirable that it has a vaporization property at about 25 ° C.). Examples of the liquid include hydrofluoroether (manufactured by Sumitomo 3M: trade name “Novec”), ethyl ether, acetone, silicone oil, water (H ₂ O), and the like. As shown in FIG. 7, it is desirable that the liquid of the mixed liquid 71 has a high particle dispersibility and a high volatilization rate and is easy to volatilize. When the liquid of the mixed liquid 71 has a low volatilization rate such as water or silicone oil, the label paper 5 is applied to the label paper 5 and then the image forming means such as the transport roll 64 or the intermediate transfer belt 21 is used. It is difficult to evaporate until it comes into contact with the toner, and it is not desirable because secondary troubles such as adhesion of the label image 5 to the intermediate transfer belt 21 and the like to disturb the toner image are likely to occur. Among these, hydrofluoroether (manufactured by Sumitomo 3M Co., Ltd .: trade name “Novec”) has a low surface tension and viscosity, and is easily mixed with the powder. In addition, it can be prevented from remaining on the member and contaminated, and it can easily adhere to the recording paper edge or belt, is practically non-toxic, has no flash point, is safe, and the liquid itself is easy to handle. It is particularly desirable because it can be supplied in a simple configuration, has volatility (boiling point: 34 ° C. to 98 ° C.), has high thermal and chemical stability, and can prevent contamination of the fixing member.

  The concentration of the powder with respect to the liquid of the mixed liquid 71 is determined in consideration of the tack (adhesive adhesion) suppressing effect, the applicability of the mixed liquid 71, the dispersibility of the powder, and the like. % Is set. In this embodiment, a mixed solution 71 having a powder concentration of 6% by weight is used. Note that the concentration of the powder is merely an example, and may be set to other values.

  The agitator 73 agitates the mixed liquid 71 to uniformly disperse the powder in the liquid. In the case where a liquid that can uniformly disperse powder in the liquid is used as the mixed liquid 71, the stirring device 73 is not necessarily used. In the case where a volatile liquid is used as the stirring device 73, in order to prevent the liquid from volatilizing, it is considered that a container that can be hermetically sealed is used as the storage container 72. It is desirable to use a magnetic stirrer that performs a stirring action by arranging a rotor to be rotated and rotating the rotor by a magnetic force from the outside. However, the stirring device 73 is not limited to a magnetic stirrer, and other types of stirring devices such as a rotary blade method may be used as long as the liquid can be prevented from volatilizing.

  The supply device 75 supplies the mixed liquid 71 stored in the storage container 72 to the application member 74. In this embodiment, a tubing dispenser is used as the supply device 75. The supply device 75 is arranged in the middle of a continuous conveyance tube 76 that supplies the mixed liquid 71 from the storage container 72 to the application member 74, and is conveyed by a rotating body in which a plurality of balls or rolls are arranged along the circumferential direction. The mixed liquid 71 is moved and supplied by pressing the transport tube 76 from the upstream side to the downstream side by rotating the rotating body. The supply device 75 changes the diameter of the transport tube 76 and the rotation speed of the rotating body, thereby increasing the supply amount of the mixed liquid 71 per unit time over a range of, for example, 0.02 cc to 14 cc / min (± 1). ˜5%). As the tubing dispenser 75, for example, the product name: Tubing Dispenser TOM. 1000 can be used. Further, as the transfer tube 76, for example, a tube made of Teflon (registered trademark) or silicon rubber is used. The supply device 75 is not limited to this, and any other system such as a liquid pump may be used as long as the liquid mixture 72 can be supplied. It is desirable to use a tubing dispenser in that it is possible to set a minute supply amount with high accuracy.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the application member 74 is disposed on the outer surface of the image output apparatus 2 and is mounted on a manual sheet feeder 63 as an example of a sheet feeding unit for feeding the label sheet 5 while guiding it. ing. As shown in FIG. 8, the manual sheet feeding device 63 is disposed on the back side (release paper 51 side) of the label paper 5, and the vertical direction of the label paper 5 (hereinafter, “thickness direction”). And a plate-like tray main body 630 that regulates the position of the tray paper 630, and is movable along a direction (hereinafter also referred to as a “width direction”) that intersects the tray main body 630 with the conveyance direction of the label paper 5. A pair of guide members 631 and 632 as an example of a guide member that is arranged and guides while restricting the positions of both end portions along the width direction of the label paper 5 is provided.

  The application member 74 is disposed inside the pair of guide members 631 and 632 so as to be movable together with the guide members 631 and 632 and detachable as necessary. The applicator member 74 includes an upper applicator member 741 and a lower applicator member 742 disposed on the front surface side and the back surface side of the label paper 5, respectively. The upper application member 741 is arranged in an inclined state so as to be positioned above the end of the label paper 5 with respect to the surface of the guide body 630. On the other hand, the lower application member 742 is disposed horizontally along the surface of the guide body 630. As shown in FIG. 9, the upper application member 741 and the lower application member 742 are flat sheet-like members 743 and 744 made of nonwoven fabric or sponge and having liquid impregnation properties, and the sheet-like members 743 and 744. The brush members 745 and 746 are arranged so as to face each other and are partially crossed. The front end portion of the transport tube 76 is branched into two, and the front end portions 761 and 762 of the branched transport tube 76 are connected to application members 74 arranged on both sides of the manual paper feeder 63, respectively. . The liquid mixture 71 supplied to the application member 74 is supplied to the brush members 745 and 746 via the sheet-like members 743 and 744 by capillary action.

  The application member 74 is not necessarily arranged on the front surface side and the back surface side of the label paper 5, and is disposed only on the side of the continuous paper 5 where the adhesive layer 52 is exposed (for example, the surface base material 53 side). Also good. Further, the application member 74 does not include both the sheet-like members 743 and 744 and the brush members 745 and 746, but does not include the brush members 745 and 746 as shown in FIG. You may comprise so that it may have only the sheet-like members 743 and 744 which consist of.

<Operation of Characteristic Part of Image Forming Apparatus>
Hereinafter, the operation of the characteristic part by the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.

  In the image forming apparatus 1, as described above, in the image output apparatus 2, an image using yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toner is displayed on the surface of the label paper 5. It is formed on the material 53. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, the label paper 5 is different from the material constituting the release paper 51 and the material constituting the surface base material 53. When the amount of expansion due to moisture absorption of the surface substrate 53 is large, such as in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment, due to the difference in expansion rate and shrinkage rate when dried, etc., the end surface of the label paper 5 In some cases, the adhesive layer 52 may be exposed.

  Then, the adhesive (adhesive layer) exposed portion located on the end surface of the label paper 5 is transferred to the transport roll 64, the intermediate transfer belt 21, or the secondary transfer roll 30 and the fixing roll 41 as shown in FIG. In the case of contact, the adhesive constituting the adhesive layer 52 may move from the label paper 5 to the image forming means such as the transport roll 64 and the intermediate transfer belt 21 and adhere thereto.

  FIG. 10 is a photomicrograph showing the result of observing the edge of the label paper 5 left for 1 day (24 hours) in a high temperature and high humidity environment with an optical microscope (manufactured by Keyence Corporation: Digital Microscope VH-8000).

  As is clear from FIG. 10, the release paper 51 located on the back side of the label paper 5 absorbs moisture and protrudes about 0.2 mm from the end of the surface base material 53 made of polypropylene (PP). It can be seen that the adhesive forming the layer 52 is exposed from the upper surface of the release paper 51 to the end surface of the surface base material 53.

  In addition, the present inventors have released the release paper 51 that protrudes from the end of the label paper 5 when the label paper 5 is left for a long period (15 days) in a high temperature and high humidity environment (28 ° C., relative humidity 80%). An experiment was conducted to measure the amount of protrusion (the amount of deviation from the surface base material 53). As the label paper 5, PP / KV11 manufactured by Lintec Corporation having a width of 3 inches, 7 inches, and 10 inches was used.

  FIG. 11 is a graph showing the results of the above experimental example.

  As is apparent from the figure, the label paper 5 having a width of 7 inches and 10 inches has a tendency that the amount of protrusion of the release paper 51 increases rapidly with time in a high temperature and high humidity environment. The increasing tendency was saturated in about 6 days, and even after 15 days had passed, the amount of protrusion of the release paper 51 was as large as about 0.7 mm, which is the same value as after 6 days.

  On the other hand, the label paper 5 having a width of 3 inches, like the label paper 5 having a width of 7 inches and 10 inches, has a tendency that the amount of the protruding release paper 51 increases with time in a high temperature and high humidity environment. This increasing tendency is saturated in about 3 days and reaches a certain amount, and after 15 days, the protruding amount of the release paper 51 tends to increase slightly compared to the point when 6 days have passed, but about 0.3 mm or less. And a relatively small value.

  Next, the inventors made a prototype bench model of the image forming apparatus 1 as shown in FIG. 1 and conducted an experiment for confirming the state of occurrence of contamination by the adhesive. As the label paper 5, the surface base material 53 is prepared of three types of coated paper, polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The label paper 5 is run for 400 m in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment, and intermediate transfer is performed. An experiment was conducted to visually observe and evaluate the amount of the adhesive adhering to the surfaces of the belt 21, the secondary transfer roll 30 and the fixing roll 41.

  FIG. 12 is a chart showing the results of the above experiment.

As is clear from FIG. 12, in the case of the label paper 5 using the coated paper as the surface base material 53, a slight adhesion of the adhesive to the intermediate transfer belt 21 was observed, but there was no problem level (◯ ^- )Met. On the other hand, in the case of the label paper 5 using polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as the surface base material 53, the pressure-sensitive adhesive that forms the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 52 to the intermediate transfer belt 21 when traveling for 100 m. As a result, it was found that it was at a level (XX) that was problematic in practical use.

  On the other hand, the adhesion of the adhesive to the secondary transfer roll 30 and the fixing roll 41 is good when the surface base material 53 is not coated paper, polypropylene (PP), or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). ○). This is because, when the surface base 53 is made of coated paper, the expansion rate of the release paper 51 is substantially the same as that of the release paper 51, and the amount of protrusion of the release paper 51 is small. It is considered that the pressure-sensitive adhesive is difficult to adhere because it is located on the 51 side), and the pressure-sensitive adhesive is also difficult to adhere because the fixing roll 41 has releasability.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the application member 74 of the application device 70 is applied to the manual paper supply device 63 that conveys the label paper 5 supplied from the paper supply device 3 to the inside of the image output device 2. As shown in FIG. 8, a mixed liquid 71 obtained by mixing powder and liquid is applied to the end portions along the width direction of the front surface side and the back surface side of the label paper 5 by the application member 74. It is composed. At this time, as the liquid of the mixed liquid 71, for example, volatile hydrofluoroether is used, and therefore, the label paper 5 is vaporized before it comes into contact with an image forming unit as a contacted member such as the intermediate transfer belt 21. Only the powder in the mixed liquid 71 is attached to the exposed adhesive layer 52 (adhesive) of the label paper 5.

  Therefore, even when the label paper 5 is transported and passes through the secondary transfer position that contacts the intermediate transfer belt 21, the liquid mixture 71 is present between the adhesive exposed portion of the label paper 5 and the intermediate transfer belt 21. It is possible to prevent or suppress the adhesive from being transferred to and adhered to the intermediate transfer belt 21 from the adhesive exposed portion of the label paper 5 due to the tack suppressing effect of the powder. In this embodiment, since the powder is applied to the label paper 5 as the mixed liquid 71 mixed with the liquid, the powder is uniformly dispersed in the liquid of the mixed liquid 71, and the powder is uniformly distributed. And it becomes possible to apply | coat to the edge part of the label paper 5 reliably.

  Similarly, even when the label paper 5 passes through the secondary transfer roll 30, the fixing device 41, the transport roll 64, or the like, it is between the adhesive exposed portion of the label paper 5 and the contacted member such as the transport roll 64. It is possible to prevent or suppress the adhesive from moving and adhering to the transport roll 64 or the like from the adhesive exposed portion of the label paper 5 by interposing the powder.

  The application of the mixed liquid 71 by the coating apparatus 70 may be performed at all times, but the CPU 101 determines that at least one of the environmental temperature and / or the environmental humidity detected by the environmental sensor 105 is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold. In this case, or only when the recording medium 5 designated by the user interface 104 is a predetermined label paper, the liquid mixture 71 may be applied to the label paper 5 from the coating device 70. In this case, what is necessary is just to comprise so that the liquid mixture 71 may be supplied or stopped with respect to the application | coating member 74 by driving or stopping the supply apparatus 75 of the coating device 70. FIG. Examples of the predetermined label paper 5 include those having a large amount of pressure-sensitive adhesive, and label paper using a pressure-sensitive adhesive material having a low glass transition temperature, such as a refrigeration label.

Experimental example 1
Next, the inventors made a prototype of the bench model of the image forming apparatus 1 as shown in FIG. 1 and confirmed the occurrence of contamination due to the adhesive and image disturbance due to the adhesion of the liquid in the mixed liquid 71. An experiment was conducted to confirm the occurrence of secondary damage. In the sustainability test in which a predetermined type of label paper 5 is continuously run as the label paper 5, the surface base material is made of polypropylene (PP) and the width is 210 mm. In a system test in which paper is used and different types of label papers 5 are appropriately changed to a laboratory environment, a high temperature and high humidity environment, or a low temperature and low humidity environment and run under conditions close to actual usage conditions, the surface substrate 53 is coated paper. A plurality of types of label paper made of any one of uncoated paper, polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), having a width of 7 to 13 inches and a length of 10 to 400 m, were used as appropriate. The travel distance of the label paper 5 in the sustainability test was 10500 m (50 KPV), and the travel distance of the label paper 5 in the system test was 7300 m (35 KPV).

  The liquid mixture 71 is a mixture of zinc stearate (ZnSt) having a particle size of 6 μm as powder and hydrofluoroether (manufactured by Sumitomo 3M: trade name “Novec 7100”) as a liquid at a concentration of 6% by weight. Using. Moreover, the application amount of the mixed liquid 71 was set to two types of 8 g / 400 m and 16 g / 400 m on one side of the label paper 5.

  FIG. 13 is a chart showing the results of Experimental Example 1.

  As can be seen from FIG. 13, both the maintainability test and the system test were free from adhesive (glue) contamination and secondary damage to the intermediate transfer belt 21, and good results were obtained in either case.

  The surface of the intermediate transfer belt 21 after the sustainability test was observed with a microscope. However, the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 21 after passing through the blade 26 of the cleaning device 25 adhered to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 21 and filmed. The occurrence of was not seen.

Experimental example 2
In addition, the present inventors conducted an experiment to measure the coating rate relative to the amount of liquid mixture retained when the material of the coating member 74 is varied. As the application member 74, one using brush members 745 and 746 as shown in FIG. 9A and one using sheet-like members 743 and 744 made of non-woven fabric as shown in FIG. 9B. It was used. As the brush members 745 and 746, nylon brushes added with carbon were used, and as the sheet-like members 743 and 744, those made of a general nonwoven fabric were used with different densities.

  FIG. 14 is a graph showing the results of Experimental Example 2.

  As is apparent from FIG. 14, the coating rate with respect to the holding amount of the mixed liquid 71 is higher for the coating member 74 using the brush members 745 and 746 and for the coating member 74 using the sheet-like members 743 and 744. It was found to show a good value.

[Embodiment 2]
FIG. 15 shows an outline of the entire image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the image forming apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 2 is applied to both ends of the label paper 5 by the application member 74 of the application device 70 inside the housing 2 a of the image output device 2. A blower 80 is provided as a vaporization promoting means for promoting the vaporization of the liquid in the mixed liquid 71.

  The air blower 80 may be disposed above the application member 74 mounted on the manual paper feeder 53. However, when the air flow from the air blower 80 directly contacts the application member 74, the air supply device Since the liquid in the mixed liquid 71 before being held and applied to the label paper 5 may also be vaporized, it is configured to blow the label paper 5 after the mixed liquid 71 is applied by the application member 74. Is desirable.

  Further, as the vaporization promoting means, a heating device that promotes vaporization of the liquid in the mixed liquid 71 by heating the label paper 5 coated with the mixed liquid 71 separately from or together with the blower 80, An exhaust device that promotes vaporization of the liquid in the mixed liquid 71 by exhausting the air around the label paper 5 may be used. The vaporization promoting means is particularly effective when a liquid having relatively low volatility is used as the liquid in the mixed liquid 71.

[Embodiment 3]
FIG. 16 shows an overview of the entire image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the image forming apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 3 does not apply the mixed solution to the recording medium 5, but forms an image where the adhesive exposed portions (both ends) of the recording medium 5 come into contact. The mixed liquid 71 is applied to the intermediate transfer belt 21 as a means. The image output apparatus 2 includes application members 74 at positions corresponding to both end portions along the width direction of the label paper 5 on the downstream side of the black (K) image forming apparatus 10K. The liquid mixture 71 is supplied to the application members 74 from the supply device 75 of the application device 70.

  The liquid mixture 71 applied to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 21 is in a state where only the powder is applied to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 21 as the liquid volatilizes. Therefore, when the intermediate transfer belt 21 moves and comes into contact with the label paper 5 at the secondary transfer position, only the powder in the mixed liquid 17 is interposed between the intermediate transfer belt 21 and the exposed adhesive of the label paper 5. Is interposed.

  The powder in the mixed liquid 17 is interposed between the intermediate transfer belt 21 and the exposed adhesive of the label paper 5, and the exposed adhesive of the label paper 5 moves to and adheres to the intermediate transfer belt 21. Can be prevented or suppressed.

  At this time, the protruding amount of the release paper 51 of the label paper 5 is about 0.7 mm as is clear from the experimental results shown in FIG. About 2 mm may be sufficient. Further, the powder applied to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 21 is cleaned by the belt cleaning device 25.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the electrophotographic method is adopted as the image forming unit has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the image forming unit may be an inkjet recording method, an electrostatic recording method, or an offset. A printing method such as printing may be employed.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the coating device 70 is arranged in the image output device 2 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the coating device 70 is arranged in the paper feeding device 3. Also good.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the mixed liquid 71 is applied to the label paper 5 supplied from the roll paper 61 has been described. However, the mixed liquid 71 may be applied to the roll paper 61 itself. In this case, the mixed liquid 71 can be applied when the roll paper 61 is manufactured or after the roll paper 61 is manufactured, and the liquid constituting the mixed liquid 71 is applied to the roll paper 61 when the roll paper 61 is applied. Volatility is not necessarily required unless it causes problems such as wrinkles and the like in the label paper 5 constituting the sheet. In this case, the roll paper 61 to which the mixed liquid 71 is applied and the powder adheres to the adhesive exposed at the end (cross section) of the label paper 5 is distributed as a recording medium.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus 2 ... Image output device 5 ... Label paper 70 ... Application | coating apparatus 71 ... Powder 72 ... Storage container 73 ... Agitation apparatus 74 ... Application | coating member 75 ... Supply apparatus.

Claims (4)

Vaporizable liquid,
A powder for reducing the adhesiveness mixed in the liquid;
A liquid mixture containing
The mixed liquid is applied to a recording medium having at least an adhesive layer or a contacted member that contacts the recording medium, so that the powder contained in the mixed liquid is attached to the adhesive layer, or the adhesive layer The coating agent characterized by interposing the powder contained in the mixed solution between the contacted member and the contacted member.   The coating liquid according to claim 1, wherein the liquid is made of any one of hydrofluoroether, ethyl ether, and acetone.   The coating agent according to claim 1, wherein the powder is made of any one of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), zinc stearate (ZnSt), and calcium carbonate.   The coating agent according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the powder has a number average particle size of 0.5 µm or more and 14 µm or less.