JPH0667569A - Image forming device for reversible thermosensitive recording film - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve operability, convenience and working efficiency by inhibiting a mode for recording an image on a reversible thermosensitive film (TC film) and a mode for feeding a specified paper from being simultaneously selected. CONSTITUTION:A toner image is transferred on the TC film fed toward a photosensitive body 10 by resist rollers 9 and 40 rotating in timing by a preresist sensor 31 from the photosensitive body 10 by a transfer separation means 8. A 1st operation mode in which toner carried on the TC film is removed from the surface of the film by a toner removing means and a 2nd operation mode in which the specified paper is fed by selecting a paper housing means housing the specified paper for every specified image forming are inhibited from being simultaneously selected. Since the selection of the mode which is not utilized, such as the simultaneous selection of the mode for recording the image on the TC film and the mode for feeding the specified paper, or which is not advantagous even though it is utilized is inhibited, the operability and the convenience of a device are improved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to image formation of a reversible thermosensitive recording film which can be used for recording an image between a plain paper sheet and a reversible thermosensitive recording film by an electrophotographic process such as a copying machine, a facsimile or a printer. Regarding the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the protection of the global environment including forest resources has become one of the major problems in various industrial fields. In the OA equipment industry as well, the reuse of recording sheets used in image forming apparatuses such as copying machines is steadily being implemented as part of this environmental protection measure. In the currently practiced method for reusing recording sheets, it is general to collect used recording sheets collectively and to chemically process them in a reprocessing plant such as a paper manufacturing factory to produce recycled paper.
However, in such a chemical treatment method, there is a physical limit to the number of retreatments (progress of fiber decomposition), and a certain amount of new wood is required for the retreatment.

On the other hand, as another method for reusing a recording sheet, a rewritable recording material which can be re-used any number of times, more specifically, a reusable recording material which is initialized by heating to a predetermined temperature A method using a recording material (hereinafter referred to as a reversible thermosensitive recording film; TC film) has been variously proposed for its easy handling.

[0004]

The present invention is to study reusable TC films among the above-mentioned conventional techniques. By the way, in the conventional image forming method on the TC film, the heat generating means (thermal head) is directly contacted with the film surface to record the image information. In addition, although various uses of this TC film are considered, it is widely spread, and the amount of paper used is huge, so that it is expected that the effect of paper reuse will be great. Alternatively, in an image forming apparatus such as a laser beam printer, the apparatus to which the TC film can be applied has not yet been put into practical use. This is because the conventional image forming apparatus usually uses the electrophotographic process as the image forming method, and therefore, in order to make the TC film applicable to this type of image forming apparatus, the conventional electrophotographic process means is used. In addition to this, an image forming means (for example, a heat generating means, a conveying means, a control means, etc.) dedicated to the TC film must be newly provided. That is, the image forming apparatus having the structure in which the image forming means dedicated to the TC film is added is, in other words, a device which is a combination of a conventional copying machine and the image forming device of the TC film, and is a special technique. However, from the perspective of the entire device, it is inevitable that the cost will increase significantly, the size will increase, and the image forming control system will become complicated, and this point will not be put to practical use. it is conceivable that.

Therefore, the TC film dedicated image forming means (toner removing means, heat generating means, transporting means, etc.) and the plain paper sheet dedicated image forming means are configured to be shared. This makes it possible to form an image on a TC film by using an electrophotographic process for forming an image on an existing plain paper sheet without adding a large-scale image forming means dedicated to the TC film. By the way, in the image forming apparatus to which the plain paper sheet and the TC film can be applied, a paper storage means for storing a specific paper such as a cover paper (cover) is selected every predetermined image formation, and this identification is performed. If a mode for feeding paper is added, even if this mode for feeding specific paper is selected when recording an image on TC film, it has no utility value, and rather its operability and convenience are reduced. Will cause a problem. Further, in the image forming apparatus having the mode for feeding the specific sheet, when the image is recorded on the TC film, this mode is erroneously operated, so that the TC film on which the image is recorded does not have a cover sheet or the like. Since other specific paper is mixed, the mixed specific paper is used for the TC on which the image is recorded.
It becomes an obstacle when reusing the film. Further, in the image forming apparatus having the mode for feeding the specific sheet, there is a possibility that the TC film may be mistakenly fed as the specific sheet. In the mode for feeding the specific sheet, the TC film may be wrongly fed. However, there is a problem in that the work efficiency is lowered due to the paper feeding.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to simultaneously select an image recording mode for TC film and a mode for feeding a specific sheet, or to feed a specific sheet. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus for a reversible thermosensitive recording film which can improve the operability, the convenience and the working efficiency by prohibiting the feeding of the TC film when the mode to be selected is selected.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is directed to a latent image writing means for writing image information on a photoconductor as an electrostatic latent image, and an electrostatic image formed on the photoconductor. A developing unit that visualizes the latent image with toner, a paper feeding and conveying unit that feeds and conveys a plain paper sheet for image recording to the image forming unit, and a plain paper sheet that is fed and conveyed to the image forming unit. It has a transfer means for transferring the toner image formed on the photoreceptor and a fixing means for fixing the transferred toner image on a plain paper sheet, and is initialized by heating to a predetermined temperature. An available reversible thermosensitive recording film is fed and conveyed to the image forming section by the paper feeding and conveying means, and the latent image writing means and the developing means expose the photosensitive material on the reversible thermosensitive recording film fed and conveyed. G formed on the body The image is formed on the reversible thermosensitive recording film by an irradiation unit that transfers the image by the transfer unit and heats the transferred toner image by irradiating the reversible thermosensitive recording film on which the toner image is transferred. After the image formation, the first operation mode in which the toner carried on the reversible thermosensitive recording film is removed from the film surface by the toner removing means, and the paper storing means storing the specific paper every predetermined image formation are selected. Then, in the image forming apparatus of the reversible thermosensitive recording film capable of operating in the second operation mode for feeding the specific sheet, simultaneous selection of the first operation mode and the second operation mode is prohibited.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention uses a latent image writing means for writing image information as an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductor, and a toner for the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor. Developing means for making the image visible by means of, and a paper feeding and conveying means for feeding and conveying a plain paper sheet for image recording to the image forming section,
Transfer means for transferring the toner image formed on the photoconductor onto the plain paper sheet fed and conveyed to the image forming section;
A reusable reversible thermosensitive recording film which is initialized by heating to a predetermined temperature and which has a fixing means for fixing the transferred toner image on a plain paper sheet; The toner image formed on the photoconductor by the latent image writing means and the developing means is transferred by the transfer means onto the reversible thermosensitive recording film fed and conveyed to the forming section, and
An image is formed on the reversible thermosensitive recording film by an irradiation means that heats the transferred toner image by irradiating the reversible thermosensitive recording film on which the toner image is transferred. After the image is formed, the reversible thermosensitive recording film is formed on the reversible thermosensitive recording film. An image forming apparatus configured to remove the carried toner from the film surface by a toner removing unit, and feeds the specific sheet by selecting a sheet storing unit storing a specific sheet for each predetermined image formation. In the image forming apparatus of the reversible thermosensitive recording film which can be operated in the mode, the feeding of the reversible thermosensitive recording film as the specific sheet is prohibited.

[0009]

According to the present invention, the first operation mode for recording an image on the TC film and the second operation for feeding the specific sheet by selecting the sheet storing means for storing the specific sheet for each predetermined image formation. Simultaneous selection with mode is prohibited.

Further, according to the present invention, it is prohibited to feed the TC film as the specific sheet in the mode for selecting the sheet storing means storing the specific sheet for each predetermined image formation and feeding the specific sheet. To be done.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the disclosure of the configuration, action, etc. within a range that can be clearly recalled from the description of the present specification is omitted or simplified in order to avoid complication of the description.

The image forming apparatus in which the present invention is implemented includes a plain paper sheet (hereinafter, simply referred to as plain paper), a reversible thermosensitive recording film, and a thermochromic film (hereinafter, T).
It is characterized in that an image can be recorded using a common image forming means for C film). First, an example of an image forming apparatus equipped with a TC cleaning unit as a toner removing unit for a TC film to be controlled in the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

This image forming apparatus, as shown in FIG.
It has two paper feed trays, a paper feed tray A and a paper feed tray B. These paper feed trays A and B are arranged in parallel, and both paper feed trays are configured without any difference. Here, for convenience of explanation, the paper feed tray A is
It is assumed that the TC film is set in the sheet and the plain paper is set in the sheet feeding tray B.

In FIG. 1, the bundle of plain papers set in the paper feed tray B is pulled out from the paper feed tray B by the paper feed roller 1, and only the uppermost one sheet is fed by the separation pad 35. Is conveyed by the rotation of. Paper feed roller 1
The plain paper conveyed by is conveyed by the conveying roller 37 to a pair of registration rollers composed of the registration driving roller 9 and the registration driven roller 40, and is abutted against the nip portion of the registration roller. At this time, the front end of the plain paper is detected by the pre-registration sensor 31, and the timing for writing an image on the plain paper is set.

On the other hand, while the plain paper is being fed and conveyed as described above, the original image is written as a latent image on the photoconductor 10 by the optical unit 5, and the latent image on the photoconductor 10 is The toner supplied from the developing unit 4 visualizes the image. Then, the plain paper sent toward the photoconductor 10 by the registration roller rotating at a timing by the pre-registration sensor 31 is transferred and separated by the transfer separation means 8.
Thus, the toner image is transferred from the photoconductor 10. The plain paper on which the toner image is transferred is conveyed toward the fixing unit 34 while being attracted to the conveyance guide plate 13 by the suction force of the fan 36 arranged on the back side of the conveyance guide plate 13. The plain paper conveyed to the fixing unit 34 is pressed and heated by a pair of pressure roller 19 and heating roller 20 to fix the transferred toner image.

A TC cleaning means 24, which functions only when recording an image on a TC film, is disposed downstream of the fixing means 34, and when recording an image on plain paper, a TC cleaning means 24 is provided.
This TC cleaning means 24 is indicated by an arrow a in FIG.
It is retracted to the position displaced in the direction (position shown by the solid line). As a result, the plain paper that is guided by the fixing outlet upper guide plate 22 and the fixing outlet lower guide plate 23 and discharged from the fixing unit 34 is in the state as it is, and the transport roller 3 is used.
Further, the sheet is further conveyed by 8, and is ejected onto a sheet ejection tray 30 by a sheet ejection roller 29 through a sheet ejection guide plate 28.

Next, the image recording on the TC film in this image forming apparatus will be described. In FIG. 1, the bundle of TC films set in the paper feed tray A is pulled out from the paper feed tray A by the paper feed roller 1, and only the topmost sheet is rotated by the rotation of the paper feed roller 1 by the separating pad 35. Be transported. Here, the TC film set in the paper feed tray A has been initialized (whitened) in advance. The TC film transported by the paper feed roller 1 is transported by the transport roller 37 to a pair of registration rollers including the registration driving roller 9 and the registration driven roller 40, and is abutted against the nip portion of the registration roller.
At this time, the front end of the TC film is detected by the pre-registration sensor 31, and the timing of writing an image on the TC film is set.

On the other hand, while the TC film is being fed and conveyed as described above, the optical unit 5 is attached to the photoreceptor 10.
The original image is written as a latent image by the
The latent image on 0 is visualized by the toner supplied from the developing unit 4. Next, the toner image is transferred from the photoconductor 10 to the TC film sent by the pre-registration sensor 31 toward the photoconductor 10 by the rotating registration roller at a timing. The image forming process on the TC film thus far is no different from the image forming process on the plain paper described above.

At the time of recording an image on the TC film, the TC film on which the toner image is transferred is attracted to the transport guide plate 13 by the suction force of the fan 36 arranged on the back side of the transport guide plate 13. When being conveyed while being conveyed, the irradiation lamp 16 of the irradiation means 15 is arranged so as to face the conveyance guide plate 13 across the conveyance path.
Lights up. The light emitted from the irradiation lamp 16 is reflected by the reflection plate 1.
7 and the condensing lens 18 cause T on the transport guide plate 13
The film surface of C film is focused and irradiated. At this time, the TC film itself is in a cloudy state, and an unfixed toner image is transferred to the surface thereof. Therefore, the irradiation light that is irradiated and condensed by the irradiation lamp 16, the reflection plate 17, and the condenser lens 18 is absorbed by the unfixed toner image portion that is the black portion of the film surface of the TC film, and the black portion of this black portion is absorbed. Even if the temperature is raised, it is reflected at the other part of the film surface that becomes cloudy (non-image part) and has no effect. This causes a temperature difference between the toner image portion and the non-image portion on the film surface of the TC film, and only the toner image portion of the TC film changes from the cloudy state to the transparent state due to this temperature difference, An image composed of a cloudy portion (non-image portion) and a transparent portion (toner image portion) is recorded on the TC film surface.

The TC film on which an image is recorded due to the heat discoloration of the cloudy portion is conveyed toward the fixing means 34 while being attracted to the conveyance guide plate 13 by the suction force of the fan 36. Here, at the time of recording an image on the TC film, the film surface of the TC film conveyed to the fixing unit 34 comes into contact with the heating roller 20 and is reheated, so that the image recorded on the film surface is imaged. In order to prevent the heat loss from being lost, the heating roller 20 of the fixing means 34 is displaced in advance in the direction of arrow b in FIG.
The TC film is retracted to a position where it does not come into contact with the film surface (chain line position), that is, to a position where the heat of the heating roller 20 is not transferred to the TC film.

Further, at the time of recording an image on the TC film, the TC cleaning means 24 is operated by an arrow a in FIG.
To a position displaced in the opposite direction (position shown by a chain line) at a timing to be described later, and positioned on the back surface of the TC film (the surface on which the toner image is not transferred) of the transport roller 38 including a pair of rollers. On the peripheral surface of the roller 38a
The blade 25 of this cleaning means 24 is in contact. Here, the blade 25 for the roller 38a
Is set so that the frictional force between the roller 38a and the TC film is larger than the frictional force between the blade 25 and the TC film. As a result, the TC film that has passed through the fixing means 34 without being reheated is guided by the fixing outlet upper guide plate 22 and the fixing outlet lower guide plate 23, and is conveyed in accordance with the rotation of the roller 38a. When the TC film is conveyed by the roller 38a, the toner transferred onto the film surface is scraped off by the blade 25. The toner scraped off from the film surface of the TC film is collected in the collection bottle 27 by the collection roller 26 provided in the cleaning unit 24. The TC film on which an image composed of a cloudy portion (non-image portion) and a transparent portion (image portion) is recorded by scraping off the transfer toner in this manner is further conveyed by the conveying roller 38 including a pair of rollers. Then, the sheet is guided by the sheet discharge guide plate 28 and discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 30 by the sheet discharge rollers 29.

In FIG. 1, the paper feed guide plate 2 is
It has a function of guiding the plain paper and the TC film fed by the paper feed roller 1 while being conveyed to the registration driving roller 9 and the registration driven roller 40. The pre-transfer guide plate 11 has a function of guiding the plain paper or the TC film conveyed by the registration driving roller 9 and the registration driven roller 40 toward the photoconductor 10. Fixing entrance upper guide plate 14 and fixing entrance lower guide plate 3
9 is plain paper or T which is separated and conveyed from the photoconductor 10.
It has a function of guiding the C film to the nip portion of the pressure roller 19 and the heating roller 20 of the fixing means 34. The thermistor T provided in the fixing unit 34 is the heating roller 2
It has a function of detecting the surface temperature of 0, and the heater 2 arranged in the heating roller 20 based on this detection signal.
By controlling the heat generation amount of 1, the heating temperature of the heating roller 20 is changed. The charging unit 6 arranged around the photoconductor 10 has a function of initializing the surface potential of the photoconductor 10 by discharging. A paper discharge sensor 32, which is arranged on the paper feed path of the paper discharge guide plate 28, detects whether or not the plain paper or TC film conveyed from the fixing unit 34 has passed at a predetermined timing, and jams the plain paper or TC film. Etc. are being detected.

As described above, according to this image forming apparatus, since the image can be formed on the TC film by using the conventional electrophotographic process for forming the image on the plain paper, it is possible to record the image on the TC film. It is not necessary to add a large-scale dedicated image forming means, and it is possible to suppress an increase in cost and device volume and a complicated image forming control system.

In order to initialize a used TC film in this image forming apparatus, an image is not written on the TC film fed and conveyed,
The same process as that for feeding plain paper may be executed. Specifically, first, a used TC film is set in the paper feed tray A or the paper feed tray B, and the uppermost layer is set by the paper feed roller 1, the transport roller 37, the registration drive roller 9, and the registration driven roller 40. The used TC film is fed and conveyed. At this time, the image signal is not sent and the optical unit 5 does not write an image as a latent image on the photoconductor 10 so that the toner is not attached to the photoconductor 10 by the developing means 4. As a result, the used TC film passes through the transfer / separation unit 8 without the toner attached to the film surface. The used TC film that has been conveyed without toner adheres to the fixing means 3 when passing through the fixing means 34.
The heating roller 20 of No. 4 heats the entire surface of the TC film to a temperature at which the transparent part (image part) of the TC film is turned into a cloudy color. As a result, the entire surface of the TC film is initialized to a cloudy color, and the used image recorded by the transparent part and the cloudy part is erased. In this erasing process, the toner is not attached to the film surface of the TC film, so T
The C cleaning unit 24 moves to the arrow a in FIG. 1 and faces the state where the blade 25 is separated from the transport roller 38a. The TC film thus initialized is further transported by the transport rollers 38, guided by the paper discharge guide plate 28, and discharged onto the paper discharge tray 30 by the paper discharge rollers 29.

Next, the control operation of the above-mentioned image forming apparatus will be described with reference to the overall control block diagram shown in FIG. Various input, output, and control signals of this image forming apparatus are collectively processed by the main control unit 901 shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, as the operation request input to the main control unit 109, the setting input by the operator's key press from the operation unit 903 shown in FIG. 5 and the image information input represented by the fax receiver or the host computer, etc. There are image information and commands from the unit 904. The inputs for controlling the apparatus include a timing detection signal from the pre-registration sensor 31, the paper discharge sensor 32, a temperature detection signal from the thermistor T, and a temperature detection signal from the in-machine temperature sensor 906. Outputs and control signals from the main control unit 901 are supplied to the sheet feeding roller 1, the registration driving roller 9, the optical unit 5, the developing unit 4, the charging unit 6, the transfer separating unit 8, the photoconductor 10, the conveyance switching unit 12, and the irradiation unit. 15, the pressure roller 19, the heating roller 20, the heater 21, the TC cleaning unit 24, the discharge roller 29, and the like. Here, a control program, various setting data necessary for program execution, and the like are stored in a storage unit 902 such as a ROM, and an internal timer 905 is used to generate timing during operation. To be done.

ONE-like the image forming apparatus
As a control example of the PATH system, a timing chart of the image recording operation on the TC film is shown in FIG. 3, and a timing chart of the image recording operation on the plain paper is shown in FIG.
That is, at the time of recording an image on the TC film, as shown in FIG. 3, first, by receiving a start signal, the paper feed roller 1 is activated to start feeding the TC film, and at the same time, the developing means 4 is started. , Charging means 6, discharge roller 29
At the same time, the position of the fixing means 34 is changed so that the TC film passes through the fixing portion. Next, reception of image information from the image information input unit 904 is started, the paper feed roller 1 is stopped based on the detection signal of the TC film front end of the pre-registration sensor 31, and the image on the photoconductor 10 by the optical unit 5 is stopped. The writing of information is started, the registration driving roller 9 is activated at a timing, and then the transfer separation unit 8, the irradiation unit 15, and the TC cleaning unit 24 are activated. Then, when the input of the image information is completed, the operations of the optical unit 5 and the charging means 6 are stopped, and the registration driving roller 9 is stopped based on the detection signal of the TC film rear end of the pre-registration sensor 31. Further, when the discharge completion of the TC film is detected by the discharge sensor 32, the transfer separation unit 8 and the developing unit 4 are stopped, and subsequently, the discharge roller 29, the irradiation unit 15, the fixing unit 34, and the TC cleaning. The operation of the means 24 is stopped.

When recording an image on plain paper, first, as shown in FIG. 4, by receiving a start signal,
The paper feed roller 1 is activated to start feeding the plain paper, and at the same time, the operations of the developing unit 4, the charging unit 6, and the paper discharge roller 29 are started, and the plain paper is passed through the fixing unit. The position of the fixing unit 34 is changed to, the heater 21 is turned on, and the fixing unit 34 is activated. Next, reception of image information from the image information input unit 904 is started, the paper feed roller 1 is stopped based on the detection signal of the front edge of the plain paper from the pre-registration sensor 31, and the image is formed on the photoconductor 10 by the optical unit 5. The writing of information is started, the registration driving roller 9 is activated at a timing, and then the transfer separation unit 8 is activated. Then, when the input of the image information is completed, the operations of the optical unit 5 and the charging unit 6 are stopped, and the registration drive roller 9 is stopped based on the detection signal of the rear end of the plain paper of the pre-registration sensor 31. Further, when the discharge sensor 32 detects that the plain paper has been discharged, the transfer / separation unit 8 and the developing unit 4 are stopped, and subsequently, the operations of the discharge roller 29 and the fixing unit 34 are stopped.

On the other hand, in FIG. 5, a timer key 701 is provided.
Is pressed when setting the time of the timer, and the timer display 702 is turned on when the timer is set by the timer key 701 and when the timer is operating. Also, the program key 703
Is pressed when the program is stored and when the program is called, and the program display 704 is turned on when the program is being used. The enter key 705 is pressed when changing the dimensions, setting the editing function, and setting the program number. The ten-key pad 706 is pressed when setting the number of copies (image recording), changing the size, setting the binding margin width, setting the program, and setting the program number. The guidance key 707 is pressed when it is desired to display a copy operation method or an explanation of the operation of each key on the guidance display unit 708, and when the guidance key 707 is being used, the guidance key display 708 is turned on. Various information is displayed on the display panel 709. The size scaling key 710 is pressed when inputting the size of the document, and in the size scaling selection state, the size scaling display 711 is turned on. The centering key 712 is pressed to move the copy image to the center of the paper (plain paper or TC film), and the centering display 713 is lit in the centering selection state. Binding adjustment key 71
4 is pressed to make a binding margin (margin) on the left and right of the copy, and the binding margin display 715 displays the selected binding margin. The sorter key 719 is pressed when the sorter is used, and when the sorter is used and the sort state is set,
The sort display 717 is turned on (optional). The stack display 718 is turned on when the sorter is used and is in the stack state (optional). The double-sided key 720 is pressed to make a double-sided copy, and in the double-sided copy state, the double-sided display 716 is turned on. The page continuous copy key 722 is used to automatically copy a two-page spread original one by one, and to automatically copy a two-sided original (however, this optional two-sided original requires an automatic paper feeder; DF) one-sided. In the page continuous shooting state, the page continuous shooting display 721 is turned on. Erase key 72
4 is pressed when making an edit copy such as frame erase, outside erase, and inside erase, and in the state of this edit copy, the erase display 723 is turned on. The paper designation scaling key 726 is pressed to make a paper designation scaling copy, and in the state of the paper designation scaling copy, the paper designation scaling display 725 is turned on. The zoom scaling key 727 is pressed when freely selecting the copy magnification. The reduction key 728 is pressed when making a reduction copy. The enlargement key 729 is pressed when making an enlargement copy. The current key 730 is pressed when returning to the current copy. The paper selection key 731 is
Pressed when selecting the copy paper size. The automatic paper selection key 732 is pressed when the size of copy paper is automatically selected. The density adjustment key 733 is pressed when adjusting the shade of a copy image. Automatic concentration key 7
Reference numeral 34 is pressed when the density of the copy image is automatically adjusted. The clear / stop key 735 is pressed when it is desired to change the set number of sheets, when it is desired to stop continuous copying in the middle, and when the program number is set. The start key 736 is pressed when making a copy, that is, when forming an image on plain paper or TC film. The interrupt key 737 is pressed when it is desired to interrupt another document for copying during the continuous copying. The preheat display 738 is turned on when the heat generating portion of the device is in the preheat state. The mode clear / preheat key 739 is pressed when returning various modes to the standard mode, when switching between the preheat state and the normal state, and when setting the program number. The cover mode key 740 is pressed when attaching a cover and making a copy. TC mode key 741
Pressed when recording an image on TC film. The additional image formation mode key 742 is pressed when additional image formation is performed on the TC film. One-touch print key 743 is TC
Pressed when recording again on plain paper after trial recording on film.

In FIG. 5, when a single key has a plurality of displays, the rotation display is made by pressing the keys, and the modes are not compatible. Further, the guidance display unit of the operation unit 903 is configured to display a message for operating the image forming apparatus and warning as described above. Although a copying machine has been described as an example of the image forming apparatus here, an image forming apparatus other than the copying machine, such as a printer or a facsimile, is similarly configured.

By the way, when a series of originals are copied, a mode in which a specific sheet such as a colored sheet or a thick sheet corresponding to a cover sheet or a slip sheet is fed to the recording sheet and a cover is attached to the recording sheet (copy) , This mode is called cover mode)
However, it is generally known. In the image forming apparatus to which the plain paper sheet and the TC film as described above can be applied, a paper storage means for storing a specific paper such as a cover paper (cover) is selected every predetermined image formation, and the specific paper is selected. When a cover mode for feeding paper is added, even if the mode for feeding this specific paper is selected at the time of recording an image on TC film, there is no value in use, and the operability and convenience are reduced. Will cause a problem. Further, in the image forming apparatus having the mode for feeding the specific sheet, when the image is recorded on the TC film, this mode is erroneously operated, so that the TC film on which the image is recorded does not have a cover sheet or the like. Since the other specific paper is mixed, the mixed specific paper becomes an obstacle when the TC film on which the image is recorded is reused. Further, in the image forming apparatus having the mode for feeding the specific sheet, there is a possibility that the TC film may be mistakenly fed as the specific sheet. In the mode for feeding the specific sheet, the TC film may be wrongly fed. However, there is a problem in that the work efficiency is lowered due to the paper feeding.

Therefore, in the image forming apparatus for the reversible thermosensitive recording film according to the present invention, when the image recording mode on the TC film and the mode for feeding the specific sheet are simultaneously selected or the mode for feeding the specific sheet is selected. In this configuration, it is possible to prohibit the feeding of TC film in.

FIG. 6 shows the T in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
6 shows a default control program for C mode. In this TC mode initial setting program, the TC mode flag indicating whether or not the TC mode is selected is cleared, and the TC mode display LED provided on the operation unit 903 is turned off.

FIG. 7 shows T in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
The control program of the setting of C mode is shown. In this TC mode setting program, it is first determined whether or not there is an input from the operation unit 903, and then it is determined whether or not the input from the operation unit 903 is an input from the TC mode key 741. Here, if there is an input from the operation unit 903 and this input is the TC mode key 741,
If the TC mode flag is "0", the TC mode flag is set to "1" and the TC mode display LED is turned on. If there is an input from the operation unit 903 and this input is the TC mode key 741 and the TC mode flag is "1", this TC mode flag is set to "0". , TC mode display LED
To turn off. As a result, the TC mode key 741 is used to toggle the TC mode setting. Here, a special mode called the TC mode is provided, but in order to facilitate maintenance of the apparatus, the logging of the number of recorded sheets and the number of jammed sheets, which is generally performed, is performed by the TC mode.
A counter may be provided exclusively for the film.

FIG. 8 shows the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
The processing program for setting the paper feed stage (paper feed cassette consisting of a plurality of stages) to be fed as cover paper is shown. In this cover paper feed stage setting processing program, first, a predetermined paper feed stage is selected from a plurality of paper feed cassettes, the cover paper feed stage is input, and then the selected paper feed stage is selected. It is determined whether or not the recording paper set in is a TC film. In this determination, if the recording paper set in the selected paper feed stage is TC film, it immediately returns and it is determined that the recording paper set in the selected paper feed stage is not TC film. Only when the new cover sheet has been set, the new paper feed stage is changed. As a result, the TC mode (first operation mode) for recording an image on the TC film, and the cover mode (second mode) for selecting the sheet storage means storing the specific sheet for each predetermined image formation and feeding the specific sheet are selected. Simultaneous selection with the operation mode) is prohibited. It should be noted that this control is not limited to the cover mode, and can be applied to other modes that require the feeding of specific sheets, such as the slip sheet mode.

FIG. 9 shows a processing program of a portion for setting the TC mode and the cover mode in the image forming apparatus (copier) having the above-mentioned cover mode. In this processing program, first, an input from the operation unit 903 is waited, and when there is an input from the operation unit 903, it is determined whether or not the input is the input of the TC mode key 741. Here, if the input is the TC mode key 741, if the TC mode flag is "1", the TC mode flag is reset to "0", and the TC mode flag is "0". For example, the TC mode flag is set to "1" only when the cover mode flag is not "1". On the other hand, if the input is not the TC mode key 741 but the cover mode key 740,
Similarly, if the cover mode flag is "1", the cover mode flag is reset to "0", and if the cover mode flag is "0", the cover mode is set only when the TC mode flag is not "1". Set the flag to "1". This prevents the TC mode and the cover mode from being set at the same time. Here, when one mode is set, the method of prohibiting the other mode is controlled so as to prevent simultaneous setting of both modes. For example, when one mode is set, When the other mode is set, control may be performed so as to prevent simultaneous setting of both modes by a method of automatically canceling a preset mode.

FIG. 10 shows a program for a recording mode selection process using the above-described mode flags. In this selection processing program, when the TC mode flag is "1", recording is performed in the TC mode, and when the cover mode flag is "1", recording is performed in the cover mode. If neither the TC mode flag nor the cover mode flag is "1", control is performed so that recording is performed in the normal mode. It should be noted that this control is not limited to the cover mode, and can be applied to other modes that require the feeding of specific sheets, such as the slip sheet mode.

[0037]

According to the present invention, the simultaneous selection of the image recording mode on the TC film and the mode for feeding the specific paper,
Alternatively, since it is prohibited to select a mode that is not used or has no advantage when used, such as TC film feeding when selecting a mode for feeding a specific sheet, operability of the apparatus and The convenience can be improved.

Further, according to the present invention, when recording an image on the TC film, it is possible to prevent other specific sheets such as a cover sheet from being mixed, and it is possible to reuse the image-recorded TC film.

Further, according to the present invention, since the TC film is not erroneously fed in the mode of feeding the specific sheet, the working efficiency thereof is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus capable of recording on a reversible thermosensitive recording film and a plain paper sheet according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall control block diagram of an image forming apparatus capable of recording on a reversible thermosensitive recording film and a plain paper sheet according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a TC in an image forming apparatus capable of recording on a reversible thermosensitive recording film and a plain paper sheet according to the present invention.
It is a general control timing chart at the time of film recording.

FIG. 4 is an overall control timing chart during plain paper recording in an image forming apparatus capable of recording on a reversible thermosensitive recording film and a plain paper sheet according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing an operation unit of an image forming apparatus capable of recording on a reversible thermosensitive recording film and a plain paper sheet according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of TC mode initialization in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of TC mode setting in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a control operation for setting a paper feed stage of cover paper in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a mode setting operation in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a control operation for setting a recording mode in the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Paper Feed Roller 2 Paper Feed Guide Plate 4 Developing Means 5 Optical Unit 6 Charging Means 7 Photosensitive Body Cleaning Means 8 Transfer Separation Means 9 Registration Driving Rollers 10 Photoconductors 11 Pre-Transfer Guide Plates 12 Conveyance Switching Means 13 Conveyance Guide Plates 14 Fixing Entrance guide plate 15 Irradiation means 16 Irradiation lamp 17 Reflection plate 18 Condenser lens 19 Pressure roller 20 Heating roller 21 Heater 22 Fixing exit upper guide plate 23 Fixing exit lower guide plate 24 TC cleaning means 25 Blade 26 Collecting roller 27 Collecting bottle 28 Paper ejection guide plate 29 Paper ejection roller 30 Paper ejection tray 31 Pre-registration sensor 32 Paper ejection sensor 34 Fixing unit 35 Separation pad 36 Fan 37, 38 Conveying roller 39 Fixing entrance lower guide plate 40 Registration driven roller 740 Cover mode key 741 T Mode key 901 main control unit 902 storage unit 903 operation unit 904 image information input unit 905 internal timer A, B tray

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification number Reference number within the agency FI Technical indication location G03G 15/00 115 302 21/00 (72) Inventor Yasuhiro Sagawa 1-3 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo No. 6 in Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masato Otani 1-3-3 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo (72) Inventor Hideki Toinaga 1-3-3 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Issue / Stock Company Ricoh

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A latent image writing unit for writing image information as an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive member, a developing unit for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member with toner, and an image recording unit. Paper feeding and conveying means for feeding and conveying the plain paper sheet to the image forming section, and transfer means for transferring the toner image formed on the photoconductor onto the plain paper sheet fed and conveyed to the image forming section, A reusable reversible thermosensitive recording film which is initialized by heating to a predetermined temperature and which has a fixing means for fixing the transferred toner image on a plain paper sheet; The toner image formed on the photoconductor by the latent image writing means and the developing means is transferred by the transfer means onto the reversible thermosensitive recording film fed and conveyed to the forming section, and Toner image An image is formed on the reversible thermosensitive recording film by irradiation means for irradiating the transferred reversible thermosensitive recording film to heat the transferred toner image, and after the image formation, the image is carried on the reversible thermosensitive recording film. There is a first operation mode in which the toner is removed from the film surface by the toner removing means, and a second operation mode in which the paper storing means storing the specific paper is selected for each predetermined image formation and the specific paper is fed. In an image forming apparatus for an operable reversible thermosensitive recording film, the first operation mode and the second operation mode are used.
An image forming apparatus for a reversible thermosensitive recording film, characterized in that simultaneous selection with an operation mode is prohibited. 2. A latent image writing means for writing image information as an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductor, a developing means for visualizing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor with toner, and an image recording means. Paper feeding and conveying means for feeding and conveying the plain paper sheet to the image forming section, and transfer means for transferring the toner image formed on the photoconductor onto the plain paper sheet fed and conveyed to the image forming section, A reusable reversible thermosensitive recording film which is initialized by heating to a predetermined temperature and which has a fixing means for fixing the transferred toner image on a plain paper sheet; The toner image formed on the photoconductor by the latent image writing means and the developing means is transferred by the transfer means onto the reversible thermosensitive recording film fed and conveyed to the forming section, and Toner image An image is formed on the reversible thermosensitive recording film by irradiation means for irradiating the transferred reversible thermosensitive recording film to heat the transferred toner image, and after the image formation, the image is carried on the reversible thermosensitive recording film. The image forming apparatus is configured to remove the toner from the film surface by the toner removing unit, and selects the sheet storing unit storing the specific sheet for each predetermined image formation to feed the specific sheet. An image forming apparatus for a reversible thermosensitive recording film which is operable, wherein feeding of the reversible thermosensitive recording film as the specific sheet is prohibited.