JPH052927Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (a) Industrial application field This invention temporarily stores the media sheet that has passed through the exposure section during the exposure process before the pressure transfer section.
Regarding an image forming apparatus that guides stored media sheets to a pressure transfer section during a developing process, an image forming apparatus that prevents only media sheets having uncured photosensitive microcapsules from being pressurized in the pressure transfer section. Regarding equipment.

(b) Prior art Colors are developed on the image-receiving sheet by pressurizing a media sheet coated with photosensitive microcapsules containing a colorless dye, etc., and an image-receiving sheet coated with a developing material that develops color from the colorless dye. An image forming method in which an image is obtained has been proposed (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 88739/1983, etc.). In an image forming apparatus using such an image forming method,
In the exposure section, the media sheet is exposed to image light such as reflected light from the original to form a selectively cured image of the photosensitive microcapsules on the media sheet. Next, the media sheet that has passed through the exposure section is guided to the pressure transfer section together with the image receiving sheet, and a developing step is performed in which both are pressurized. This pressure transfer section is generally comprised of a pair of pressure rollers, between which a media sheet and an image receiving sheet are passed and pressed.

The speed at which the media sheet passes through the exposure section during the exposure step determines the exposure time for the media sheet, and this exposure time changes the cured state of the photosensitive microcapsules, that is, the state of formation of a selectively cured image. Furthermore, the speed at which the media sheet passes through the pressure transfer section in the development process determines the reaction time between the colorless dye and the developing material, and the state of image formation on the image-receiving sheet changes depending on this reaction time. Therefore, in order to obtain a clear image on the image-receiving sheet, the media sheet must be passed through the exposure section at an optimum exposure speed that can reliably cure the photosensitive microcapsules, and the media sheet and image-receiving sheet must be developed with a colorless dye. The material must be passed through the pressure transfer section at an optimum reaction rate to ensure a color reaction. However, the optimum exposure speed and the optimum reaction speed do not match, and when a rolled media sheet is continuously guided from the storage section to the pressure transfer section via the exposure section at a constant speed, the optimum exposure speed or The problem is that only one of the reaction speeds can be satisfied, and the media sheet cannot be conveyed at the optimal speed in both the exposure process and the development process, making it impossible to obtain a perfect image formation state on the image-receiving sheet. It was hot.

Therefore, for example, in Japanese Patent Application No. 63-64426, the applicant temporarily stores the media sheet that has passed through the exposure section between the exposure section and the pressure transfer section, and transfers the media sheet from the storage section through the exposure section to the storage section. proposed an image forming apparatus in which a media sheet is conveyed at an optimum exposure speed, and after the exposure process is completed and during a development process, the media sheet is conveyed from a storage section to a pressure transfer section at an optimum reaction speed. With this configuration, it is possible to give a difference between the speed at which the media sheet passes through the exposure section and the speed at which it passes through the pressure transfer section. It can be transported at an optimal reaction rate. This makes it possible to improve both the formation of a selectively cured image on the media sheet and the formation of a colored image on the image-receiving sheet, making it possible to obtain a clear image on the image-receiving sheet.

As a mechanism constituting the storage section, a buffer roller is provided between the exposure section and the pressure transfer section that moves in a direction away from the pressure transfer section from the home position during the exposure process, and the media sheet is transferred via this buffer roller. It is conceivable to transport the

(c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the above-mentioned conventional image forming apparatus having a storage section, the image receiving sheet may form a jam during the developing process, and when such a jam occurs, the drive of the main motor must be stopped. The image forming process is interrupted, but at this time, the media sheet remains in a part of the storage section. The media sheet remaining in this storage section includes a portion where a selectively cured image is formed by being irradiated with image light in the exposed section, and has uncured photosensitive microcapsules. In addition, the media sheet remaining in this storage section must be wound onto the take-up shaft via the pressure transfer section before the next image forming operation begins, but at this time, the media sheet must be left as it is. If the uncured photosensitive microcapsules are allowed to pass through the pressure transfer section alone, they will be destroyed by the pressure applied in the pressure transfer section, staining the pressure rollers that make up the pressure transfer section and the inside of the machine, as well as preventing the next image forming operation. At times, there was a problem of adhesion to the back side of the jam led to the pressure transfer section.

The purpose of this invention is to irradiate light to the media sheet remaining in the storage section during jam processing, completely harden the photosensitive microcapsules on the media sheet, and then wind it onto the winding shaft. It prevents leakage of colorless dyes due to the destruction of photosensitive microcapsules in the transfer section, prevents staining of the pressure transfer section and the inside of the machine, and prevents these from adhering to the image receiving sheet for the next image forming operation. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems The image forming apparatus of this invention temporarily stores the media sheet that has passed through the exposure section in a storage section between the exposure section and the pressure transfer section. In the image forming apparatus that guides the image to the take-up shaft via the pressure transfer section, the image forming apparatus includes a pressure release means for releasing the pressure in the pressure transfer section during the jam processing mode, and at least a storage section when the pressure is released by the pressure release means. The present invention is characterized by being provided with air feeding means for guiding the media sheet located at the winding shaft to the winding shaft.

(e) Effect In this invention, when a jam occurs in the image receiving sheet during the developing process of the image forming operation, the jam processing mode is executed, the pressure in the pressure transfer section is released by the pressure release means, and in this state, the air transport means As a result, the media sheet located in the storage section is wound onto the take-up shaft. If a jam occurs during the development process, a media sheet remains in the storage section, but this media sheet is guided to the winding shaft via a pressure transfer section where pressure is applied.

(f) Embodiment FIG. 2 is a schematic front sectional view showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus that is an embodiment of this invention.

A media sheet 34 on a roll is wound around a supply shaft 35 and stored approximately in the center of the image forming apparatus main body 21 . The media sheet 34 is fed from this supply shaft 35 to the exposure section 3 via rollers 37 and 38.
It leads to 0. Further, the media sheet 34 is guided via the roller 4 and the buffer roller 1 to a pressure transfer section 6 constituted by pressure rollers 2 and 3, and is wound onto a winding shaft 36. Paper cassettes 42 and 43 are provided on one side of the image forming apparatus main body 21.
is attached, and together with paper feed rollers 44 and 45 constitute a paper feed section 41. Paper cassette 4
Image receiving sheets 46a and 46b cut to a predetermined size are housed in each of the image receiving sheets 2 and 43, respectively.

Prior to the start of the development process, either one of the paper feed rollers 44 or 45 is selectively driven, and either the image receiving sheet 46a or 46b is fed to the position of the registration roller 5. Registration roller 5
rotates at a timing when the exposure start position of the media sheet 34 and the leading ends of the image-receiving sheets 46a, 46b coincide in the pressure transfer section during the development process, and guide the image-receiving sheets 46a, 46b to the pressure transfer section 6. The image receiving sheets 46a and 46b, which have been pressurized along with the media sheet 34 in the pressure transfer section 6, are guided by a conveyor belt 53 to a glossing device 31, where the image surface is glossed, and then transferred to a paper discharge tray 57 by a paper discharge roller 56. The paper is ejected. Note that passage of the image receiving sheets 46a and 46b through the pressure transfer section 6 is detected by sensors S1 and S2.

A document table 29 is formed on the upper surface of the image forming apparatus main body 21 and is made of a hard transparent glass material.
The upper surface of this document table 29 is covered with a document cover 20 . A light source 23 is provided on the lower surface of the document table 29.
An optical system device 22 composed of mirrors 24 to 27 and a lens 28 is provided. Of this optical system device 22, a light source 23 and mirrors 24 to 2
Reference numeral 6 moves the lower surface of the document table 29 in the directions of arrows G and H during the exposure process, and scans the image of the document placed on the document table 29. The light reflected from the original by the light source 29 is reflected from the mirror 24 to
The light is distributed to the exposure section 30 via the light source 27 and the lens 28, and irradiates the surface of the media sheet 34. During this exposure process, the buffer roller 1 moves in the direction of arrow A at a speed that is 1/2 of the optimum exposure speed V1.
This allows the media sheet 34 to reach the optimum exposure speed.
It passes through the exposure section 30 at V1. Thereafter, during the developing process, the buffer roller 1 is moved in the direction of arrow B by the rotation of the pressure rollers 2 and 3, and the media sheet 34 is moved.
passes through the pressure transfer section 6 at the optimum reaction speed V2.
Further, the sensor S3 detects whether the buffer roller 1 is located at the home position.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of essential parts of the image forming apparatus.

A buffer roller 1 is movable in the directions of arrows I and J between the exposure section 30 and the pressure transfer section 6. During the exposure process, the buffer roller 1 moves from a home position indicated by a solid line in the figure in the direction of arrow I to a position indicated by a two-dot chain line in the figure, and moves away from the pressure transfer section 6. Further, during the developing process, it moves in the direction of arrow J from the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in the figure to the home position and approaches the pressure transfer section 6. By moving the buffer roller 1 in the direction of arrow I during the exposure process, the media sheet 34 is stored in the storage section 10 in a loop shape. An inter-image exposure lamp 7 and a shielding plate 8 are provided at positions facing the lower surface of the media sheet 34 stored in the storage section 10 in a loop shape. The shielding plate 8 limits the light distribution range of the inter-image exposure lamp 7 between the pressure position P2 of the pressure transfer section 6 and the position P1' of the exposure start point P1 of the media sheet 34 in the storage section 10. .

During the exposure process, the buffer roller 1 moves in the direction of arrow I at half the optimum exposure speed V1. As a result, the media sheet 34 that has passed through the exposure section 30 at the speed V1 is stored in the storage section 10 in a loop shape. When the front arrow roller 1 starts to move, the inter-image exposure lamp 7 is turned on, and the media sheet 3 is placed between the pressure position P2 and the exposure start position P1'.
4 is irradiated with light from the inter-image exposure lamp 7. As a result, the photosensitive microcapsules located between the images of the media sheet 34 can be reliably cured.

FIG. 3 is a front sectional view showing the configuration of the pressure mechanism of the image forming apparatus.

Each of the pair of upper and lower pressure rollers 2 and 3 is pivotally supported by an upper guide 11 and a lower guide 12 at shaft portions 2a and 2b, respectively. The upper guide 11 and the lower guide 12 are mutually rotatable by a fulcrum 13 at one end.
A bolt 15 passes through the other end of each of the upper guide 11 and the lower guide 12 from above. A spring 14 is fitted onto a portion of the bolt 15 exposed downward from the lower guide 12, and a nut 16 is screwed onto the portion. Also, a screw 17c is provided between the upper guide 11 and the lower guide 12.
A lift 17 is provided that changes the distance between the parallel links 17a and 17b by rotating the lift 17. Each of parallel links 17a and 17b of this lift 17 is fixed to an upper guide 11 and a lower guide 12, respectively. A worm gear 18a is attached to the end of the screw 17c, and a worm roller 18b fixed to the rotating shaft of the motor M1 is screwed into the worm gear 18a.

As described above, the elastic force of the spring 14 urges the upper guide 11 and the lower guide 12 together with the pressure rollers 2 and 3 in the directions of arrows A and B about the fulcrum 13. On the other hand, when the motor M1 is rotated normally in the direction of arrow E, the parallel links 17a and 17b in the lift 17 move in the directions of arrow C and arrow D, respectively, and the distance between them becomes wider. This reduces the force acting on the pressure rollers 2, 3 from the spring 14. Further, when the motor M1 reverses in the direction of arrow F, the distance between the parallel links 17a and 17b becomes narrower, and the pressing force generated between the pressure rollers 2 and 3 becomes larger.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing part of the control section of the image forming apparatus.

The CPU 61 is connected to the cover switch SW1, sheet sensor S1,
Input/output devices such as S2, home position sensor S3, motor driver 65, lamp driver 66, solenoid driver 67, clutch driver 68, and panel controller 69 are connected. The above cover switch SW1 is the image forming device 2.
The open/closed state of the front cover 1 is detected. A main motor M1, a pressure release motor M2, an inter-image exposure lamp 7, a solenoid SOL1 and a clutch CLT1 are connected to the motor driver 65, lamp driver 66, solenoid driver 67 and clutch driver 68, respectively. Main motor M1
are the media sheet 34 and the image receiving sheet 46a,
Rotational force is supplied to rollers and the like that constitute the conveyance path 46b. Solenoid SOL1 selectively regulates the rotation of the supply shaft. Clutch CLT1 transmits the rotation of main motor M1 to the pressure roller. Also,
The panel controller 69 has a ready lamp 70.
Displays and switches on the operation panel are connected. The CPU 61 operates the drivers 65 to 68 according to the program written in the ROM 62 in advance.
and output control data to the controller 69,
Drivers 65 to 68 and controller 69 drive and control motor M1, inter-image exposure lamp 7, solenoid SOL1, clutch CLT1, ready lamp 70, etc. in accordance with this control data. Also
A memory area MA1 of the RAM 63 connected to the CPU 61 is allocated to a timer T, which will be described later.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a part of the processing procedure of the control section of the image forming apparatus.

If the image-receiving sheets 46a, 46b are jammed in the conveying path during the developing process during image forming operation, the sheet sensors S1, S2, etc. continue to be turned on for a predetermined period of time or longer. This will cause the CPU
61 determines that a jam has occurred, and stops driving the main motor M1, and also closes the clutch CLT1.
n1, n2, the pressure release motor M2 is rotated forward, n3, the ready lamp 70 is turned off, n4. In this state, the image receiving sheet 4 is jammed by the operator.
Waits for removal of 6a and 46b. After this, the front cover is closed and cover switch SW1 is turned off.
When the sheet sensors S1, S2, etc. turn off, it is determined that the removal of the image receiving sheet is completed, and drives n5, n6 and solenoid SOL1 to regulate the rotation of the supply shaft 35, and also turns off the main motor M1 and the clutch.
n7 to n9 to turn on CLT1. The pressure roller 2 is driven by the main motor M1 and the clutch CLT1.
3 rotates, and the buffer roller 1 moves in the direction of arrow J.

Buffer roller 1 reaches the home position,
When home position sensor S3 turns on, n10,
n11 and n12 turn off solenoid SOL1 and start timer T. This timer T is assigned to the memory area MA1 of the RAM 63, and is
Media sheet 34 corresponding to the exposure width at 0
The time it takes to be fed out from the supply shaft is measured. When timer T times up, n13, clutch CLT1
Then, the main motor M1 is turned off (n14, n15), the pressure release motor M2 is reversed to pressurize the pressure rollers 2, 3 (n16), and the ready lamp 70 is turned on to end the jam processing (n17). In the above process, n3 corresponds to the pressure release means of this invention together with the configuration shown in FIG. 3, and n7 to n15 similarly correspond to the air feeding means.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when the image receiving sheets 46a, 46b are jammed, the pressure release motor M2 is rotated in the normal direction to remove the pressure rollers 2, 3.
The media sheet 34 located in the storage section 10 can be wound onto the winding shaft 36 with the pressing force released. Therefore, the image portion of the image forming operation that caused the jam is not pressurized, and the uncured photosensitive microcapsules are not destroyed.

In this embodiment, the media sheet 34 corresponding to the exposure width in the exposure section 30 is unrolled in excess, so that the leading edge of the image for the next image forming operation is accurately formed.

(g) Effects of the invention According to this invention, the media sheet stored in the storage part in the jam processing mode can be guided to the take-up shaft via the pressure transfer part without applying pressure. A selectively cured image is formed on the media sheet located in the storage section and contains uncured photosensitive microcapsules, but the media sheet is transported while the pressure at the pressure transfer position is released. Therefore, the uncured photosensitive microcapsules are not destroyed, the pressure transfer section and the inside of the machine are not stained, and the back side of the image receiving sheet is not stained in the next image forming operation.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the configuration of the main parts of an image forming apparatus that is an embodiment of this invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic front cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. Figure 4 is a front sectional view showing the main parts.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a part of the control section of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a part of the processing procedure of the control section of the image forming apparatus. 6... Pressure transfer section, 10... Storage section, 17...
Lift (pressure release means), 30...Exposure section, M2
...Pressure release motor.

Claims (1)

[Scope of claim for utility model registration] The media sheet that has passed through the exposure section is temporarily stored in a storage section between the exposure section and the pressure transfer section, and the media sheet located in the storage section is wound up via the pressure transfer section. In the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus includes a pressure release means for releasing the pressure in the pressure transfer section during the jam processing mode, and a pressure release means for releasing the pressure in the pressure transfer section at least when the pressure is released by the pressure release means, for moving the media sheet located at least in the storage section to the take-up shaft. An image forming apparatus comprising: air transport means for guiding the image.