JP6983926B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to an image forming apparatus.

As a form of an image forming apparatus, an image is printed on paper using a recording material, for example, decolorizable toner, and the image is formed by heating with a fuser for reuse of the paper on which the image is formed. There is known a toner provided with a so-called erasing device that erases an image printed on paper by subjecting the toner to erasing.

Such an image forming apparatus is used for various purposes such as image formation with decolorizable toner, image formation with non-decolorizable toner, and erasing processing of an image formed on paper with decolorizable toner. Will be done. These processes are realized by applying heat to the image formed on the paper. That is, the temperature required to fix the decolorizable toner, the temperature required to fix the non-decolorizable toner, and the temperature required to erase the image formed on the paper with the decolorizable toner. It is necessary to set a plurality of temperatures such as the decoloring temperature to operate the image forming apparatus. In this way, when there are multiple set temperatures of the fuser, it is necessary to lower the temperature of the fuser in order to shift from the high temperature set temperature to the low temperature set temperature depending on the processing content. Since it takes time, there is a problem that the usability becomes worse for the operator.

Japanese Patent No. 5453504

An object to be solved by the embodiment of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that is easy to use for an operator when performing a fixing process and an erasing process.

Therefore, in order to achieve the above problems, the following measures are taken in the embodiment of the present invention. A first fixing process for fixing an image on a recording medium formed of an image forming portion for forming an image and a color material erasable by the image forming portion on a recording medium, which cannot be erased by the image forming portion. A fuser and a fuser that execute a second fixing process for fixing an image on a recording medium formed of a color material and an erasing process for erasing an image formed of the erasable color material on a recording medium. The temperature of the fuser corresponding to the drive unit for transporting the recording medium at a predetermined drive speed, the first fixing process, the second fixing process, and the erasing process, and the fixing device. When two or more of the first fixing process, the second fixing process, and the erasing process are continuously executed, the storage unit stores the transfer speed of the drive unit. The fuser is set to the lowest temperature among the temperatures corresponding to the processes , and the first fixing process, the second fixing process, and the erasing process stored in the storage unit are supported. One of the first control for setting the drive unit at each of the transport speeds corresponding to the lowest temperature, the first fixing process, the second fixing process, and the erasing process. When executing one type of processing, the fixing device is set at each temperature corresponding to the processing stored in the storage unit, and the first fixing processing stored in the storage unit, said. An image forming apparatus including a control unit that selectively performs a second fixing process and a second control for setting the drive unit to the fastest transfer speed among the transfer speeds corresponding to the erasing process.

The cross-sectional view schematically which shows the image forming apparatus in this embodiment. The block diagram of the image forming apparatus in this embodiment. An explanatory diagram schematically showing a processing information file in this embodiment. An explanatory diagram schematically showing a setting file in this embodiment. An explanatory diagram schematically showing the relationship between the resist roller, the fuser, and the transfer unit in the present embodiment. The flowchart which shows the process of the print / erase job of the image forming apparatus in this embodiment. An explanatory diagram schematically showing a processed information file after a change in the present embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, an MFP (Multi-Function Peripherals) as an image forming apparatus will be described as an example.

The present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration example of the MFP 100 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the MFP 100 has a scanner unit 1, a printer unit 2, an operation panel 4, and a system control unit 5.

The scanner unit 1 is, for example, a device installed on the upper side of the main body of the MFP 100, which reads an image of a document and converts it into image data. The scanner unit 1 has a well-known configuration, and is configured by, for example, a CCD line sensor that converts an image of a document on a reading surface into image data. The scanner unit 1 may scan a document placed on a platen glass (not shown), or may read an image of a document conveyed by an automatic document feeder (ADF: Auto Document Feeder). It may be. The scanner unit 1 is controlled by the system control unit 5.

The printer unit 2 forms an image on paper P as a recording medium. In the present embodiment, the printer unit 2 is an electrophotographic image forming unit. In the case of a color image, the printer unit 2 uses a plurality of types of toner (for example, five types of yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), black (K), and decoloring (D)) for an image. To form. The yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K) toners are non-decolorizable toners that cannot be decolorized even when heat of a predetermined fixing temperature or higher is applied. The decolorizing toner (D) is a toner that can be decolorized by heating at a predetermined temperature or higher exceeding the fixing temperature. The color of the decolorizing toner (D) is, for example, dark blue or black. The details of the well-known configuration for generating an image by the printer unit 2 will be described later.

The decolorizing toner used in this embodiment is, for example, a binder resin containing a coloring material. Coloring materials that can be decolorized include color-developing compounds, color-developing agents, and erasing agents. Examples of the color-developing compound include leuco dyes. Examples of the color developer include phenols. Examples of the erasing agent include substances that are compatible with the color-developing compound when heated and do not have an affinity with the color-developing agent. The decolorizable color material develops color by the interaction between the color-developing compound and the color-developing agent, and the interaction between the color-developing compound and the color-developing agent is cut off by heating above the decolorization temperature, so that the color is decolorized. Will be done.

In the configuration example shown in FIG. 1, the printer unit 2 has a paper cassette 20 (20A, 20B, 20C) as a paper feeding unit. For example, each of the paper cassettes 20A, 20B, and 20C is provided in a state where it can be inserted and removed from the lower part of the MFP 100 main body. These paper cassettes 20A, 20B, and 20C accommodate the paper P of the type (for example, size, paper quality) set for each. Further, it is also possible to accommodate papers P having different sizes in the paper cassettes 20A, 20B, and 20C, and then set each size in each of the corresponding paper cassettes. Each paper cassette 20A, 20B, 20C is provided with a paper feed sensor. The paper feed unit sensor detects the amount of paper stored in the paper feed tray 22. This paper feed sensor is, for example, an infrared sensor. Mechanical sensors can also be used, such as by using well-known microswitches. This paper feed unit sensor transmits the detection result to the system control unit 5 described later. Further, the printer unit 2 may have a well-known manual feed tray (not shown) or the like as another paper feed unit. In the present embodiment, for example, a blank sheet P is placed on the paper feed cassette 20A in order to form an image. Then, the paper P for the purpose of erasing is placed on the paper feed cassette 20B. In other words, the paper P on which the image has already been formed by the decolorizable toner is placed on the paper cassette 20B.

Setting information and the like regarding the paper P accommodated in each of the paper cassettes 20A, 20B, and 20C are stored in the non-volatile memory. The printer unit 2 selects a paper cassette containing the paper P used for the printing process according to the setting information. The printer unit 2 prints an image on the paper P fed from the selected paper cassette. When the printer unit 2 has a manual feed tray, the size of the paper P loaded in the manual feed tray input from the operation panel 4 may be stored in the above-mentioned non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory is the HDD 55 described later.

In the following description, since the paper is conveyed from the paper feed unit 20 to the paper discharge unit 30, the paper feed unit 20 side is the upstream side with respect to the paper transfer direction, and the paper discharge unit 30 side is the paper transfer unit. It is on the downstream side with respect to the direction.

The transport roller 22 shown in FIG. 1 is arranged in the printer unit 2 along the paper transport path to transport the paper P. The transport roller 22 is driven by a motor (not shown). The transport roller 22 transports the paper P supplied from the paper cassette 20A, 20B, or 20C corresponding to the pickup rollers 21A, 21B, or 21C to the resist roller 24 arranged on the upstream side of the transfer unit 28 described later. do. The resist roller 24 conveys the paper P to the transfer position at the timing of transferring the image from the intermediate transfer belt 27, which will be described later, to the paper P.

The details of image formation will be described below. The image forming unit 25, the exposure unit 26, the intermediate transfer belt 27, and the transfer unit 28 shown in FIG. 1 function as well-known image forming means for forming an image. The image forming unit 25 forms an image to be transferred to the paper. In the configuration example for generating the color image shown in FIG. 1, as will be described in detail later, the image forming unit 25Y color-separates the original image and forms an image corresponding to yellow with yellow toner. The image forming unit 25M similarly forms a corresponding image with magenta toner. The image forming unit 25C forms a corresponding image with cyan toner. The image forming unit 25K forms a corresponding image with black toner. Then, each image forming unit 25Y, 25M, 25C, 25K superimposes and transfers the toner images of each color on the intermediate transfer belt 27. On the other hand, the image forming unit 25D is a color-erasable toner, which is used when the paper is reused to form an erasable original image. As described above, the color of the toner that can be decolorized is dark blue or black. Therefore, the image formed by the image forming unit 25D is a monochrome (monochromatic) image. Each image forming unit 25Y, 25M, 25C, 25K, 25D has a well-known configuration, for example, a photoconductor drum, a charged charger, a developing unit containing toner, a static elimination unit, and the like (only shown in FIG. 1). The image forming unit 25D is used only when the paper is reused, but only the toner used is different, and the configuration and operation are the same as those of other image forming units. Therefore, the image forming unit 25D will be described at the same time in the following description.

The image formation by the electrophotographic method will be described in detail below. Each image forming unit 25Y, 25M, 25C, 25K, 25D has a well-known sensor such as a potential sensor and a density sensor, which are not shown, respectively. The potential sensor is a sensor that detects the surface potential of a well-known photoconductor drum possessed by each image forming unit. In each image forming unit 25Y, 25M, 25C, 25K, 25D, a well-known charging charger charges the surface of the photoconductor drum before it is exposed by the exposure unit 26 described later. The system control unit 5 can change the charging conditions by the charging charger. The potential sensor detects the surface potential of the photoconductor drum whose surface is charged by the charging charger. The density sensor detects the density of the toner image transferred on the intermediate transfer belt 27, which will be described later. Further, the density sensor may detect the density of the toner image formed on the photoconductor drum.

As described above, the exposure unit 26 forms an electrostatic latent image of the original image acquired by the scanner unit 1 by laser light on the charged photoconductor drums of the image forming units 25Y, 25M, 25C, 25K, and 25D. .. The electrostatic latent image formed on each photoconductor drum is an image developed with toner of each color. That is, the exposure unit 26 irradiates each photoconductor drum with a laser beam corresponding to each image forming unit controlled according to the image data via an optical system such as a polygon mirror. The exposure unit 26 controls the power of the laser beam according to the control signal from the system control unit 5. The exposure unit 26 also controls the amount of pulse width modulation for controlling the emission of the laser beam according to the control signal from the system control unit 5.

As described above, each image forming unit 25Y, 25M, 25C, 25K, 25D develops an electrostatic latent image formed on each photoconductor drum with toner of each color by the developing unit. Each image forming unit 25Y, 25M, 25C, 25K, 25D forms a toner image as a visible image on the photoconductor drum. The intermediate transfer belt 27 is an intermediate transfer body. When a color image is formed with the above-mentioned non-decolorable toner, each image forming unit 25Y, 25M, 25C, 25K transfers the toner image formed on the photoconductor drum onto the intermediate transfer belt 27 (1). Next transfer). Specifically, each image forming unit 25Y, 25M, 25C, 25K gives a transfer bias to the toner image at the primary transfer position (for example, the portion where the photoconductor drum and the transfer belt are in contact with each other). Each image forming unit 25Y, 25M, 25C, 25K controls the transfer bias by the transfer current. The toner image on each photoconductor drum is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 27 by the transfer bias at each primary transfer position. The system control unit 5 controls the transfer current used by each image forming unit for the primary transfer process. On the other hand, when the paper is reused, that is, when a monochrome image is formed by the decolorizable toner, the image forming unit 25D forms a toner image as a visible image on the photoconductor drum. This toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 27 as described above.

The transfer unit 28 has a support roller 28a and a secondary transfer roller 28b provided along the transfer path of the paper P, and transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 27 to the paper P at the secondary transfer position. do. The secondary transfer position is a position where the support roller 28a and the secondary transfer roller 28b face each other with the intermediate transfer belt 27 interposed therebetween. The transfer unit 28 applies a transfer bias controlled by a transfer current to the belt 27 at the secondary transfer position. The transfer unit 28 transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 27 to the paper P by the transfer bias. The system control unit 5 controls the transfer current used for the secondary transfer process.

The fuser 29 arranged on the downstream side of the transfer unit 28 has a function of fixing the toner to the paper P. For example, in the embodiment, the fuser 29 fixes the toner image on the paper P by the heat and pressure applied to the paper P.

In the configuration examples shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the fuser 29 has a heat roller (heating section) 29b having a built-in heating source 29a and a pressurizing roller (pressurizing section) 29c that is in contact with each other in a pressurized state by a pressurizing mechanism 29d. Consists of. The heating source 29a may be a well-known heater whose temperature can be controlled. For example, the heating source 29a may be configured by a heater lamp such as a halogen lamp, or may be an induction heating (IH) type heater. Further, the heating source 29a may be composed of a plurality of heaters. Further, the fuser 29 further has a temperature sensor 29e for measuring the temperature of the heat roller 29b. The temperature sensor 29e transmits the temperature of the heat roller 29b to the system control unit 5 described later. The system control unit 5 controls the heating source 29a based on the temperature sent from the temperature sensor 29e to control the temperature of the heat roller 29b. The pressurizing mechanism 29d presses the pressurizing roller 29c against the heat roller 29b. The pressurizing mechanism 29d is composed of an elastic member or the like. When the pressurizing roller 29c is not pressed against the heat roller 29b by the pressurizing mechanism 29d, the pressurizing roller 29c and the heat roller 29b are separated from each other, and a gap is formed between them. Further, the heat roller 29b is rotationally driven by the drive unit 29f. When the pressure roller 29c is pressed by the heat roller 29b, the pressure roller 29c is driven to rotate according to the heat roller 29b. As shown in FIG. 5, the resist roller 24, the transfer unit 28, and the fixing device 29 are provided as they go downstream in the transport direction.

When performing a fixing process for fixing a toner image on the paper P or an erasing process for erasing an image formed on the paper P, the system control unit 5 sets the temperature of the fixing device 29 to a predetermined fixing temperature or a predetermined decoloring temperature. To control.

In the fixing process, the paper P stored in the paper feed cassette 20A is picked up by the pickup roller 21A to the transport path, and the paper P is transported to the transfer unit 28. The image is transferred to the paper P by the transfer unit 28 as described above. The fuser 29 heats the paper P on which the toner image is transferred by the heat roller 29b and the pressure roller 29c that have reached a predetermined fixing temperature at the fixing temperature while pressurizing the paper P. As a result, the fixing device 29 fixes the toner image on the paper P. Further, in the erasing process, the paper P stored in the paper feed cassette 20B is picked up by the pickup roller 21B to the transport path and transported to the fuser 29. At this time, the transfer by the transfer unit 28 is not performed. The fuser 29 heats the paper P on which the image is formed with the decolorizable toner by the heat roller 29b and the pressure roller 29c having reached the predetermined decolorization temperature at the decolorization temperature while pressurizing. As a result, the fuser 29 erases the toner and erases the image formed on the paper P.

When the fixing process or the erasing process is completed, a well-known branching mechanism (not shown) arranged downstream of the fixing device 29 causes the fixing-processed paper P to be ejected to the paper ejection unit 30 or ADU (Automatic Duplex) according to the processing request of the user. It is transported to any of Unit) 31. When the paper P that has been fixed by the fuser 29 is discharged, the paper P is carried out to the paper ejection unit 30. Further, when an image is formed on the back surface of the paper P fixed by the fixing device 29, the paper P is once conveyed to the paper ejection unit 30 side, then switched back and conveyed to the ADU 31. In this case, the ADU 31 supplies the paper P inverted by switchback to the upstream side of the resist roller 24 again as shown in FIG.

The operation panel 4 is a user interface. The operation panel 4 is usually arranged on the upper front side of the MFP 100 main body, and has various well-known input buttons and a display unit 4a including a touch panel 4b. The system control unit 5 controls the contents displayed on the display unit 4a of the operation panel 4. Further, the operation panel 4 outputs the information input by the touch panel 4b of the display unit 4a or the input button to the system control unit 5. The operator operates the operation panel 4 to select one of two modes, a print mode and an erase mode. As described above, the print mode is a mode in which an image is formed on the paper P set in the paper feed cassette 20A with non-decolorizable toner or decolorizable toner, and the fixing process is executed. The erasing mode is a mode for executing an erasing process of an image formed on the paper P set in the paper cassette 20B. That is, the erasing mode does not use the image forming unit 25, the exposure unit 26, the intermediate transfer belt 27, and the transfer unit 28 of the printer unit 2, but uses the paper feeding unit 20, the transport unit 22, and the fixing device 29 to make paper. Erase the image formed in. Information related to each process, such as information necessary for printing such as the number of printed sheets and density input in the print mode and the number of erased sheets input in the erase mode, is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 54 described later as process information (. This operation panel 4 corresponds to an input unit).

Next, the configuration of the control system of the MFP 100 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the MFP 100 of the present embodiment. CPU (Central Processing Unit) 51, ROM (Read Only Memory) 53, RAM (Random Access Memory) 54, HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 55, external I / F (Interface) 56, transport unit via the system bus 52. 57, the printer unit 2, and the operation panel 4 are connected. The system control unit 5 is composed of the CPU 51, the ROM 53, and the RAM 54.

The program and the threshold value executed by the CPU 51 are stored in the ROM 53 in advance.

In the RAM 54, various memory areas such as an area for developing a program executed by the CPU 51 and a work area for data processing by the program are dynamically formed. The RAM 54 has an image storage area for storing image information to be printed. Image formation is performed based on the image information stored in this image storage area, and primary transfer is performed on the intermediate transfer belt 27. The image information stored in the image storage area is received from the outside through the external I / F 56, or the image of the paper P is captured and stored through the scanner unit 1.

Further, the RAM 54 has a processing information file 70 (see FIG. 3) that stores the processing information input from the operation panel 4 or the like. The processing information is information input regardless of whether it is automatic or manual in order to execute each processing. As shown in FIG. 3, the processing information file 70 includes a number area, a processing area, a number of sheets area, an image area, and the like. The print information stored in the processing information file 70 includes the density, the paper size, and the like, and FIG. 3 illustrates a part thereof. The number area is the priority of the printing. The corresponding processing is performed in ascending order of this number. The processing area is an area for storing whether the processing is a processing for erasing an image or a processing for printing an image. In this processing area, three processes of erasing fixing for printing with decolorizable toner, normal fixing for printing with non-decolorizable toner, and erasing processing for erasing the image formed on the paper P are stored. Will be done. The system control unit 5 reads the contents of this processing area and determines the processing to be executed. The number of sheets to be printed in the process is stored in the number of sheets area. The image area stores information for specifying the image information to be printed in the process, such as the name of the image information to be printed and the save destination path.

Then, the system control unit 5 refers to the processing area of the processing information file 70 and determines whether to operate the MFP 100 in the temperature change mode or the speed change mode. The temperature change mode is a mode in which the target temperature of the heat roller 29b is changed for each process and the heat roller 29b is driven at a temperature most suitable for fixing or erasing the paper. The temperature change mode is selected by the system control unit 5 when a single process is stored in the process area of the RAM 54. The transport speed of the paper P is constant in the temperature change mode. The maximum transfer speed of the paper P in the MFP is desirable. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that 60 CPM (COPYPER MINUTES: the number of sheets to be processed in one minute. 60 CPM processes 60 sheets in one minute). The speed change mode is a mode in which the CPM is changed for each process. The speed change mode is selected by the system control unit 5 when a plurality of processes are stored in the processing area of the RAM 54. In the speed change mode, the target temperature of the heat roller 29b is constant. In the speed change mode, the target temperature of the heat roller 29b is set to the lowest of the three temperatures of the fixing temperature of the decolorizable toner, the fixing temperature of the non-decolorizable toner, and the decoloring temperature of the erasing process. do. In the present embodiment, the target temperature is, for example, 96 degrees, which is the fixing temperature of the lowest decolorizable toner.

An OS (Operating System) for operating the MFP 100 is installed in the HDD 55. Further, as described above, in the predetermined area of the HDD 55, what kind of paper is stored in each of the paper feed cassettes 20A, 20B, and 20C is stored. It also has a configuration file 80 as shown in FIG. The setting file 80 stores the values to be set in the temperature change mode and the speed change mode. The configuration file 80 has a CPM area and a temperature area corresponding to the processing area. The processing area is an area for storing the processing performed by the MFP 100. In this processing area, erasing and fixing for printing with decolorizing toner, normal fixing for printing with non-decolorizing toner, and erasing processing for erasing the image formed on the paper P are stored. The CPM area is a CPM value corresponding to the processing stored in the processing area. In the temperature area, the target temperature of the heat roller 29b corresponding to the processing stored in the processing area is stored. The value of each mode will be described. In the temperature change mode, refer to the temperature change file as shown in FIG. 4A. The value stored in FIG. 4A is a set value used in the temperature change mode. In the temperature change mode, it is fixed at 60 CPM as described above. Then, in normal fixing, which is fixing with non-decolorizable toner, the target temperature of the heat roller 29b is, for example, 160 degrees. In erasing fixing, which is fixing of decolorizable toner, the target temperature of the heat roller 29b is, for example, 96 degrees. The target temperature of the heat roller 29b in the erasing process for erasing the image formed on the paper P is, for example, 130 degrees. In the speed change mode, the speed change file as shown in FIG. 4B is referred to. The value shown in FIG. 4B is a set value used in the speed change mode. In the speed change mode, the target temperature of the heat roller 29b is fixed at, for example, 96 degrees. Then, in normal fixing, which is fixing with non-decolorizable toner, the MFP 100 is driven by, for example, 30 CPM. In erasing fixing, which is fixing of decolorizable toner, the MFP 100 is driven by, for example, 60 CPM. In the erasing process for erasing the image formed on the paper P, the MFP 100 is driven by, for example, 45 CPM.

Returning to FIG. 2, the external I / F 56 is an interface for communicating with an external device such as a client terminal (PC). The external I / F 56 receives print data in response to a print request from an external device. The external I / F 56 may be an interface for data communication with an external device, for example, a device (USB memory or the like) locally connected to the external device, or a network for communication via a network. It may be an interface (this external I / F56 may serve as an input unit).

The transport unit 57 includes a plurality of motors and rollers for transporting the paper P, such as each transport roller in the MFP 100, a resist roller 24, and a drive unit 29f. The motor of the transport unit 57 is controlled by the system control unit 5, and the rotation speed of each roller such as the heat roller 29b and the resist roller 24 is changed. It should be noted that each roller can individually change the stop, drive, speed, etc. as needed.

Since the configurations of the scanner unit 1, the printer unit 2, and the operation panel 4 have been described above, they will be omitted.

In the MFP 100 having the above configuration, the MFP 100 executes the print / erase job shown in FIG. 6 based on a preset program.

The speed change mode and the temperature change mode will be explained. Regarding the case where the speed change mode is selected, as described above, the blank paper P is placed in the paper cassette 20A of the paper feed unit 20. Then, the paper P on which the image has already been formed by the decolorizable toner is placed on the paper cassette 20B. Further, in order to perform the three processes of erasure fixing, normal fixing, and erasing processing, the operator operates the operation panel 4 and inputs the processing information as shown in FIG. Further, it is assumed that the processing information file 70 of the RAM 54 stores the three processes of erasing and fixing, normal fixing, and erasing processing, and the corresponding number of sheets and image information, as shown in FIG. In the temperature change mode, a case where "normal fixing" is stored in all of the processing information files 70 of the RAM 54 will be described as an example.

First, the speed change mode will be described. The system control unit 5 detects the input of the key signal of the start key of the operation panel 4 (ACT101).

Upon confirming the input of the key signal of the start key, the system control unit 5 accesses the processing area of the processing information file 70 of the RAM 54 and determines whether a plurality of processes are stored or a single process is stored. Do (ACT102).

As shown in FIG. 3, if a plurality of processes are stored in the process area of the process information file 70 of the RAM 54 (Yes of the ACT 102), the system control unit 5 operates the MFP 100 in the speed change mode. Specifically, the system control unit 5 reads the value of the temperature area of the speed change file of the setting file 80 of the HDD 55 shown in FIG. 4B, and heats the heat roller 29b to 96 degrees (ACT103).

Subsequently, the contents of the processing area corresponding to the lowest numerical value stored in the number area of the processing information file 70 of the RAM 54 are read out. In this embodiment, "erasure fixing" is read out. Then, the value of the processing area read from the RAM 54 is searched from the processing area of the speed change file of the setting file 80 of the HDD 55. Then, the system control unit 5 controls the transport unit 57 based on the value of the corresponding CPM area of the setting file 80 of the HDD 55. In the case of FIG. 4B, the paper is conveyed at 30 CPM (ACT104).

The system control unit 5 refers to the content of the processing area corresponding to the lowest numerical value stored in the number area of the processing information file 70 of the RAM 54, and executes the processing (ACT105). In the case of FIG. 3, printing is performed using a decolorizable toner. With reference to the image area of the processing information file 70 of the RAM 54, the image information to be stored in the image storage area is specified, and printing is performed for the number of sheets stored in the number of sheets area. In the case of erasing and fixing, the system control unit 5 drives the pickup roller 21A to feed the blank paper P. The system control unit 5 drives the image forming unit 25, the exposure unit 26, the intermediate transfer belt 27, and the transfer unit 28, and transfers the image formed of the decolorizable toner to the paper P. When the transfer of the image to the paper P is completed, the paper P is conveyed to the fixing device 29, and the image formed on the paper P is fixed. Then, the fixed image finishes printing and is discharged to the paper ejection unit 30. This process is executed for the number of sheets (3 sheets).

When the processing is completed in the ACT 105, the information corresponding to the lowest numerical value in the number area of the processing information file 70 of the RAM 54 is deleted (ACT 106). In the case of the setting information area of the RAM 54 shown in FIG. 3, the "erasure fixing" of the processing area corresponding to the number area "01", the "03" of the number of sheets area, and the "AAAA" of the image area are deleted. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the value corresponding to the number area “02” is carried up to the number area “01”. That is, after the completion of ACT 106, the values corresponding to the number area "01" of the processing information file 70 of the RAM 54 become the processing area "normal fixing", the number of sheets area "04", and the image area "BBBB".

Subsequently, the system control unit 5 determines whether or not the processing information to be processed is stored in the processing information file 70 of the RAM 54 (ACT107). When the system control unit 5 determines that the processing information is stored in the processing information file 70 of the RAM 54 (Yes of the ACT 107), it returns to the ACT 104 again and corresponds to the lowest numerical value stored in the number area of the processing information file 70 of the RAM 54. Read the contents of the processing area to be processed. In this embodiment, the "erasing process" is read out. Then, the value of the processing area read from the RAM 54 is searched from the processing area of the speed change file of the setting file 80 of the HDD 55. Then, the system control unit 5 controls the transport unit 57 based on the value of the corresponding CPM area of the setting file 80 of the HDD 55. In the case of FIG. 4B, the paper is conveyed at 45 CPM (ACT104).

On the other hand, when the system control unit 5 determines that nothing is stored in the processing information file 70 of the RAM 54 (No of ACT 107), the print / erase job is terminated.

Next, the temperature change mode will be described. As described above, the case where "normal fixing" is stored in all of the processing information files 70 of the RAM 54 will be taken as an example. Based on the above conditions, the system control unit 5 determines that "normal fixing", which is a single process, is stored in the processing area of the processing information file 70 of the RAM 54 (No of ACT 102), and the system control unit 5 determines the temperature. Operate the MFP 100 in the change mode. Specifically, the system control unit 5 reads the value of the CPM area of the temperature change file of the setting file 80 of the HDD 55 shown in FIG. 4A, and drives the transport unit 57 with the corresponding CPM value. In the example shown in FIG. 4A, it is driven at 60 CPM (ACT108).

Subsequently, the value of the processing area corresponding to the lowest numerical value stored in the number area of the processing information file 70 of the RAM 54 is read out. Then, the contents of the processing area read from the RAM 54 are searched from the processing area of the temperature change file of the setting file 80 of the HDD 55. Then, the system control unit 5 sets the target temperature of the heat roller 29b based on the value of the corresponding temperature area of the setting file 80 of the HDD 55. In the embodiment, "normal fixing" is read from the processing information file 70 of the RAM 54. Then, the "160 degrees" of the temperature area corresponding to the "normal fixing" of the setting file 80 of the HDD 55 (see FIG. 4A) is read out and set as the target temperature of the heat roller 29b. Then, the system control unit 5 heats the heat roller 29b to 160 degrees (ACT109).

The system control unit 5 refers to the value of the processing area corresponding to the lowest numerical value stored in the number area of the processing information file 70 of the RAM 54, and executes the processing (ACT110).

When the processing is completed in the ACT 110, the information corresponding to the lowest numerical value in the number area of the processing information file 70 of the RAM 54 is deleted. Since the processing is the same as that of the above-mentioned ACT 106, detailed description thereof will be omitted (ACT 111).

Subsequently, the system control unit 5 determines whether or not the processing information to be processed is stored in the processing information file 70 of the RAM 54 (ACT 112). When the system control unit 5 determines that nothing is stored in the processing information file 70 of the RAM 54 (No of ACT112), the system control unit 5 ends the print / erase job.

On the other hand, when the system control unit 5 determines that the processing information is stored in the processing information file 70 of the RAM 54 (Yes of the ACT 112), it returns to the ACT 104 again and is the lowest value stored in the number area of the processing information file 70 of the RAM 54. The transport unit 57 is driven by the CPM corresponding to the value of the processing area corresponding to.

As described above, for example, when the erasing process is performed and then the fixing process is performed with the toner that can be continuously decolorized, the MFP 100 of the present embodiment operates in the speed change mode (see FIG. 4B). That is, the heat roller 29b is heated at a target temperature of 96 degrees, and the drive unit 57 operates at 45 CPM during the erasing process, and the drive unit 54 operates at 60 CPM when the fixing process is performed with the decolorizable toner. As a result, it is not necessary to wait for the temperature of the heat roller 29b to drop from 130 degrees, which is the temperature at which the erasing process is performed, to 96 degrees. As a result, the speed of processing the paper of the MFP 100 is improved, so that it is possible to provide the operator with an easy-to-use MFP.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the fixing temperature of the toner that cannot be decolorized> the decoloring temperature of the toner that can be decolorized> the fixing temperature of the toner that can be decolorized, but the present invention is not limited to this.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, this embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. This novel embodiment can be implemented in various other embodiments, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. This embodiment and its modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

5 System control unit 29 Fuser 54 RAM
55 HDD
100 MFP

Claims (1)

An image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium,
The first fixing process for fixing an image on a recording medium formed of an erasable color material by the image forming unit, fixing an image on a recording medium formed of an erasable color material by the image forming unit. A fixing device that executes a second fixing process for erasing the image formed of the erasable color material on the recording medium, and an erasing process for erasing the image.
A drive unit that conveys the recording medium at a predetermined drive speed in the fuser,
A storage unit that stores the temperature of the fuser and the transport speed of the drive unit corresponding to each of the first fixing process, the second fixing process, and the erasing process.
When two or more of the first fixing process, the second fixing process, and the erasing process are continuously executed, the first fixing process and the second fixing process stored in the storage unit are performed. The fuser is set at the lowest temperature among the temperatures corresponding to the fixing process and the erasing process , and the drive unit is set at each of the transport speeds corresponding to the processes stored in the storage unit. When any one of the first control , the first fixing process, the second fixing process, and the erasing process is executed, each of the processes corresponding to the processes stored in the storage unit is executed. The fuser is set at the temperature of the above, and the transfer speed is the fastest among the transfer speeds corresponding to the first fixing process, the second fixing process, and the erasing process stored in the storage unit. A control unit that selectively performs a second control for setting the drive unit, and a control unit that selectively performs the second control.
An image forming apparatus having.

Images