JPH07181713A - Method for repeated use of image holding body - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To rapidly peel a toner from an image holding body without damaging the surface fiber of the image holding body and to decolor the remaining toner by using decolorizable toner and performing a toner removing process and a decoloring process. CONSTITUTION:A thermosoftening toner is fixed on a fibrous surface of the image holding body by heat and pressure to form an image. After the image holding body is used as an information holding medium, the toner is removed from the image holding body and the image holding body is reused to form another image. In this method to repeatedly use the image holding body, the method described below is effective to remove the toner and reuse the image holding body. The toner on the image holding body is heated while being in contact with a toner peeling member having higher adhesion strength than the adhesion strength between the toner and the surface of the toner holding body is adhered to the toner to peel the toner from the surface of the image holding body. The color of the toner remaining on the surface is decolored by irradiation with light. The binder resin used for the decolorizable toner is polystyrene or the like.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention removes toner from an image carrier on which an image has been formed using toner by an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer, etc. The present invention relates to a method of repeatedly using an image carrier for use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the reuse and recycling of used paper has been reviewed for the purpose of nature protection, particularly forest resource protection and waste reduction in urban areas. As part of this effort, the reuse of used copiers, printed matter, facsimile paper, etc. that are no longer needed in corporate offices is being considered. However, since most of these papers are internal company confidential documents, which are generally regarded as trade secrets, it is extremely difficult to collect and recycle these papers outside the company. Moreover, since the recording members such as prints and copies cannot be easily erased, it is unavoidable to incinerate them, crush them, and dispose of them. Reusing such papers is practically almost impossible. It was thought to be possible.

Therefore, conventionally, various methods and apparatuses for regenerating an image carrier for removing toner from a sheet as a recorded image carrier have been known. For example, in JP-A-1-101576, which uses a solvent, the paper to which the toner is attached is dipped in a soluble solvent of the toner resin and ultrasonic vibration is applied to the toner dissolved in the solvent from the surface of the paper. A method of removing toner that is released is disclosed. Further, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-300395, a solvent is attached to a printed portion of waste paper by a method such as dipping, spraying or coating to dissolve the toner, and the dissolved toner is washed, air suction, adsorbent contact, A toner removing method is disclosed in which the toner is removed by a method such as mechanical peeling or electrostatic adsorption.

On the other hand, as one that does not use a solvent, for example, in JP-A-2-255195, a heat-melting toner which is placed on a printed material coated with a release agent on a support by an electrophotographic method or a thermal transfer method is disclosed. Disclosed is a toner removing method in which a toner peeling body is superposed on the printed body, passed through a heating roller and a pressure roller, cooled, and then the toner peeling body is peeled off so that the toner peeling body adheres to the toner peeling body and is removed. There is.
Further, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-64472, at least an endless sheet having a heat-melting resin on the surface, a heat roller and a cooling roller for supporting and rotating the endless sheet, and a paper having a release treatment on its surface (erasable paper) A pressing roller for pressing the softened or melted heat-melting resin,
There is disclosed an eraser including a driving unit that can move these in conjunction with each other. Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-82983,
Two rollers provided in parallel that rotate in pressure contact with each other and pass the paper through the pressure contact point, a heater that heats at least one of the two rollers, and the paper that has passed through the pressure contact point is separated from the roller. There is disclosed a toner removing device including a scraping tool and a peeling device that removes toner attached to the roller from the roller. In addition, JP-A-5-
Japanese Patent No. 134447 discloses a toner containing a near-infrared light erasable recording material capable of absorbing, decomposing and erasing near infrared rays.

[0005]

By the way, in the above method and apparatus which does not use a solvent, toner is removed from a recorded image carrier on which an image is recorded on a normal paper whose surface is exposed with paper fibers. When used for, the toner is firmly fixed to the fibers on the surface of the image holding body by, for example, fusing the toner mainly composed of a heat-fusible resin to the image holding body in the fixing process of the electrophotographic system. When the toner is removed, the paper fibers on the surface are peeled off together with the toner, and the paper quality is damaged. In particular, when heat or pressure is applied to the toner peeling body, the endless sheet, or the image holding body on the roller in order to improve the toner removability, the fixing between the toner and the image holding body may be reversed depending on various conditions. In some cases, it has become difficult to remove because it has increased the property.

Further, depending on the type of toner, there is a problem that the toner is not completely separated from the image carrier and remains. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to remove toner from an image carrier rapidly without damaging the surface fibers of the image carrier and to remove residual toner. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method capable of erasing and repeatedly using the image carrier.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a heat-softening toner is fixed on a fibrous surface of an image carrier by heating and pressurizing to form an image, and the image carrier is recorded with information. In a method of repeatedly using an image carrier, in which the toner is removed from the image carrier after being used as a holding medium, and the image carrier is reused for image formation, while heating the toner on the image carrier, Toner is removed from the image holding member by adhering the toner to a toner peeling member having a larger adhesion force than the toner and the surface and peeling the toner from the surface of the image holding member. It is effective to use the image carrier repeatedly by erasing the residual toner by irradiating it with light.

In this paper recycling method, the toner on the image carrier is heated, and the toner is adhered to a toner peeling member having a larger adhesive force than the adhesive force between the toner and the surface. , Peeling from the surface of the image carrier. It is desirable to apply this pressure to such an extent that the toner is softened but not melted. The above-mentioned peeling member has a surface made of a toner component resin which is the same as or similar to the toner, a component resin of an adhesive, or the like, or a metal material such as an aluminum-based, copper-based, nickel-based or iron-based material. Can also be used. As the component resin of the above-mentioned adhesive, there are protein-based adhesives such as glue, gelatin, albumin and casein, carbohydrate-based adhesives such as starch-based, cellulose-based, complex polysaccharide-based (eg gum arabic and tragacanth gum), and vinyl acetate. Thermoplastic adhesives such as polymers and copolymers, acrylics, ethylene copolymers, polyamides, polyesters and polyurethanes, rubber adhesives such as polychloroprene-based, nitrile rubber-based, recycled rubber-based, SBR-based and natural rubber-based A rubber-based or acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in which titanium oxide is dispersed, or the like can be used. The surface of the toner peeling member is formed of a material having a large adhesive force to the heated toner as described above. The toner peeling member is preferably used in the form of a belt, a roll or the like. Also, after mechanically scraping off the toner layer with a brush or roller,
The method of erasing is also effective. At that time, it is effective to weaken the toner layer by bending the paper.

Specific examples of the binder resin used in the decolorizable toner of the present invention include polystyrene, chloropolystyrene, poly-α-methylstyrene and styrene-
Chlorostyrene copolymer, styrene-propylene copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-vinyl chloride copolymer, styrene-vinyl acetate copolymer, styrene-maleic acid copolymer, styrene-acrylic acid ester copolymer Polymers (styrene-methyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-butyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-octyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-phenyl acrylate copolymer, etc.),
Styrene-methacrylic acid ester copolymer (styrene-
Methyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-ethyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-butyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-phenyl methacrylate copolymer, etc.), styrene-α-chloromethyl acrylate copolymer, styrene- Acrylonitrile-acrylic ester copolymer and other styrene resins (styrene or styrene-substituted homopolymer or copolymer), vinyl chloride resin, styrene-vinyl acetate copolymer, rosin-modified maleic acid resin, epoxy resin , Polyester resin, polyethylene,
Examples thereof include heat-melting resins such as polypropylene, ionomer resins, polyurethane resins, ketone resins, ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymers, xylene resins and polyvinyl butyral, and waxes such as natural or synthetic waxes. These are used alone or as a mixture. In the present invention, the near-infrared absorbing dye has the general formula (I):

[0010]

[Chemical 4]

(Wherein X represents a halogen ion, a perchlorate ion, PF ₆ ⁻ , SbF ₆ ⁻ , OH ⁻ , a sulfonate ion or BF ₄ ⁻ ) or the general formula (II):

[0012]

[Chemical 5]

(Wherein R ¹ , R ² , R ³ and R ⁴ are each independently a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group or a hydrocarbon group containing a hetero atom; Y has absorption characteristics in the near infrared region. A compound represented by (indicating a cation) is used.

Examples of the halogen ion include fluorine ion, chlorine ion, bromine ion and iodine ion, and examples of the sulfonate ion include CH ₃
SO ₃ ^- methyl sulfonic acid ion such as, FCH ₂ S
O ₃ ⁻ , F ₂ CHSO ₃ ⁻ , F ₃ CSO ₃ ⁻ , ClCH ₂ S
O ₃ ⁻ , Cl ₂ CHSO ₃ ⁻ , Cl ₃ CSO ₃ ⁻ , CH ₃ OCH ₂
Substituted methyl sulfonate ion such as SO ₃ ⁻ , (CH ₃ ) ₂ NCH ₂ SO ₃ ⁻ , phenyl sulfonate ion such as C ₆ H ₅ SO ₃ ⁻ , CH ₃ C ₆ H ₄ SO ₃ ⁻ , (CH ₃ ). ₂ C ₆ H ₃ SO _{3
^{-, (CH 3) 3 C}} 6 H 2 SO 3 -, HOC 6 H 4 SO 3 -, (H
_{O) 2 C 6 H 3 SO} 3 -, (HO) 3 C 6 H 2 SO 3 -, CH 3 O
^{_{C 6 H 4 SO 3 -,}} C 6 H 4 ClSO 3 -, C 6 H 3 Cl 2 S
O ₃ ⁻ , C ₆ H ₂ Cl ₃ SO ₃ ⁻ , C ₆ HCl ₄ SO ₃ ⁻ , C ₆ Cl
^{_{5 SO 3 -, C 6 H}} 4 FSO 3 -, C 6 H 3 F 2 SO 3 -, C 6 H 2 F
₃ SO ₃ ⁻ , C ₆ HF ₄ SO ₃ ⁻ , C ₆ F ₅ SO ₃ ⁻ , (CH ₃ ) ₂
Substituted phenyl sulfonate ion such as NC ₆ H ₄ SO ₃ ⁻ and the like can be mentioned. In the general formula (II), R
Specific examples of ¹ , R ² , R ³ and R ⁴ include, for example, hydrogen atom, alkyl group, aryl group, allyl group, aralkyl group, alkenyl group, alkynyl group, silyl group, heterocyclic group, substituted alkyl group, and substituted Aryl group, substituted allyl group,
Examples thereof include a substituted aralkyl group, a substituted alkenyl group, a substituted alkynyl group, and a substituted silyl group. Specific examples of preferable ones among these include, for example, hydrogen atom, phenyl group, anisyl group, n-butyl group, n-pentyl group,
n-hexyl group, n-heptyl group, n-octyl group, n
-Dodecyl group, cyclohexyl group, cyclohexenyl group, methoxytyl group, methoxyethyl group, ethoxyphenyl group, toluyl group, t-butylphenyl group, fluorophenyl group, chlorophenyl group, diethylaminophenyl group, vinyl group, allyl group, triphenyl Silyl group, dimethylphenylsilyl group, dibutylphenylsilyl group,
Examples thereof include a trimethylsilyl group, a piperidyl group, a thienyl group and a furyl group. Also, R ¹ , R ² , R ³ and R ⁴
At least one of them is preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and more preferable examples of the alkyl group include, for example, n-butyl group and n-butyl group.
Examples thereof include an alkyl group having 4 to 12 carbon atoms such as a pentyl group, an n-hexyl group, an n-heptyl group, an n-octyl group and an n-dodecyl group.

Preferred as Y in the near-infrared absorbing dye represented by the general formula (I) are, for example, cyanine, triarylmethane, aminium, diimmonium, thiazine, xanthene, which have absorption characteristics in the near-infrared region. Examples thereof include oxazine, styryl and pyrylium-based cationic dyes. As a typical example of such Y, for example,

[0016]

[Chemical 6]

[0017]

[Chemical 7]

And the like. The amount of the near-infrared absorbing dye blended is 0.01 to 25 parts, preferably 0.1 to 1 with respect to 100 parts of the binding resin (parts by weight, hereinafter the same).
5 copies. When the compounding amount of such a near-infrared absorbing dye is less than the above range, sufficient coloring is not imparted to the obtained toner, and when it is more than the above range, the amount of tripoelectric charge peculiar to the obtained toner is obtained. May be adversely affected. In the present invention, the general formula (III) as the decoloring agent:

[0019]

[Chemical 8]

(In the formula, R ⁵ , R ⁶ , R ⁷ and R ⁸ are each independently an alkyl group, an aryl group, an allyl group, an aralkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, a silyl group, a heterocyclic group or a substituted alkyl group. Group, a substituted aryl group, a substituted allyl group, a substituted aralkyl group, a substituted alkenyl group, a substituted alkynyl group or a substituted silyl group, wherein at least one of R ⁵ , R ⁶ , R ⁷ and R ⁸ has 1 to 12 carbon atoms. Alkyl groups: R ⁹ , R ¹⁰ , R ¹¹ and R ¹² are each independently a hydrogen atom, alkyl group, aryl group, allyl group, aralkyl group, alkenyl group, alkynyl group, heterocyclic group, substituted alkyl group, substituted A group represented by an aryl group, a substituted allyl group, a substituted aralkyl group, a substituted alkenyl group or a substituted alkynyl group) is used.

Specific examples of the decoloring agent include tetramethylammonium n-butyltriphenylboron, tetramethylammonium n-butyltrianisylboron, tetramethylammonium n-octyltriphenylboron and tetramethylammonium n-octyl. Trianisyl boron, tetraethylammonium n-butyltriphenylboron, tetraethylammonium n
-Butyltrianisyl boron, tetrabutylammonium n-butyltriphenylboron, tetrabutylammonium n-butyltrianisylboron, tetraoctylammonium n-octyltriphenylboron, tetrabutylammonium n-dodecyltriphenylboron,
Trimethylhydrogen ammonium n-butyltriphenylboron, triethylhydrogen ammonium n
-Butyl triphenyl boron, tetrahydrogen ammonium n-butyl triphenyl boron, tetramethyl ammonium tetrabutyl boron, tetraethyl ammonium tetrabutyl boron, tetra n-butyl ammonium tetra n-butyl boron, tetramethyl ammonium tri n-butyl (triphenyl (Silyl) boron, tetraethylammonium tri-n-butyl (triphenylsilyl) boron, tetrabutylammonium n-butyl (triphenylsilyl) boron, tetramethylammonium tri-n-butyl (dimethylphenylsilyl) boron, tetraethylammonium tri-n-butyl (Dimethylphenylsilyl) boron, tetrabutylammonium n-butyl (dimethylphenylsilyl) boron, tetramethylammonium n Octyldiphenyl (di-n-butylphenylsilyl) boron, tetraethylammonium n-octyldiphenyl (di-n-butylphenylsilyl) boron, tetrabutylammonium n-octyldiphenyl (di-n-butylphenylsilyl) boron, tetramethylammoniumdimethylphenyl Examples thereof include (trimethylsilyl) boron, tetraethylammonium dimethylphenyl (trimethylsilyl) boron, tetrabutylammonium dimethylphenyl (trimethylsilyl) boron, and these decolorizers may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The blending amount of the decoloring agent cannot be unconditionally determined because it varies depending on the kind of the near-infrared absorbing dye, but usually 1 to 2500 parts per 100 parts of the near-infrared absorbing dye, Preferably, it is selected from the range of 5 to 1000 parts. When the compounding amount of the decoloring agent is less than the above range, the decoloring speed becomes slower, and when it is more than the above range, the light resistance of the print and image formed by using the obtained toner is low. It becomes dull, discolored, and fading.

Examples of the releasing agent include low molecular weight polyolefins such as low molecular weight polyethylene, low molecular weight polypropylene and low molecular weight polybutene, such as maleic acid ethyl ester, maleic acid butyl ester, stearic acid methyl ester, stearic acid butyl ester and palmitic acid. Fatty acid ester such as cetyl ester and montanic acid ethylene glycol ester or partially saponified product thereof,
For example, paraffin wax such as natural paraffin, micro wax, and synthetic paraffin, and amide wax such as stearic acid amide, oleic acid amide, palmitic acid amide, lauric acid amide, behenic acid amide, methylenebisstearamide, and ethylenebisstearamide. , Carnauba wax and the like can be used.
If necessary, the toner of the present invention may be blended with an appropriate amount of additives such as an ultraviolet absorber, a charge control agent, a plasticizer and a coloring pigment.

Further, fine powders of silica, alumina, titanium oxide, etc. can be added and mixed to the toner of the present invention in order to improve fluidity. The method for producing the toner of the present invention is, for example, a method in which an ultraviolet absorber is melt-kneaded in a binder resin with heating, a decoloring agent, a polyolefin wax and other additives are added thereto, and after kneading and cooling, for example, a hammer mill. After roughly pulverizing with a cutter mill or the like, finely pulverizing with, for example, a jet mill or the like to perform classification to obtain toner particles.

[0025]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described below with reference to specific apparatus examples. Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an example of a paper recycling apparatus for carrying out the above-described paper recycling method.

In FIG. 1, a heat-softening toner is fixed on the fibrous surface of an image carrier by heating and pressurization to form an image, and the toner is used as an image carrier after the image carrier is used as an information carrier. In a method of repeatedly using an image carrier which is removed from the carrier and reused in the image formation, the toner on the image carrier is heated and the toner and the surface are The toner is removed from the image holding member by adhering it to a toner peeling member having an adhesive force larger than that of the image holding member, and peeling the toner from the surface of the image holding member, and the image holding member after the removal. This is a detailed description of a method of repeatedly using the image carrier for erasing the residual toner by irradiating it with light.

In FIG. 1, the paper reproducing apparatus is fed from a paper feeding unit 20 for separating and feeding the papers 1 on which the toner images are formed, which are accommodated in a stacked state, one by one, and a paper feeding unit. A toner removing unit 30 for removing toner from the paper 1, a toner erasing unit 40 for erasing the residual toner on the paper from which the toner has been removed, and a carrying unit 50 for carrying the paper from which toner has been removed and erased, And a paper receiving unit 60 for receiving the conveyed paper. The paper feeding unit 20 feeds the paper 1 stacked on the paper feeding table 2 with the surface on which the toner image is formed (hereinafter referred to as a toner image surface) downward from the lowermost one by the paper feeding roller 3. Paper is separated, the double feed is separated by the separation roller pair 4, and only one sheet of paper 1 is sent out by the paper feed / conveyance roller pair 5. The specific structure and operation are the same as those of the paper feeding mechanism in the electrophotographic copying machine, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The toner removing unit 30 is provided with a belt for offsetting toner (hereinafter referred to as an offset belt) 6 as a member for removing toner, which is wound around a plurality of supporting rollers 9, and is provided so as to be in pressure contact with each other. Lamp 7
a and 8a are provided with upper and lower heating rollers 7 and 8 and a belt cleaning blade 10 that removes toner from the offset belt 6. At least the surface of the offset belt 6 is formed of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in which titanium oxide is dispersed, which is a material that easily adheres to the softened toner. The upper and lower heating rollers 7 and 8 are arranged on the toner image surface of the paper by the offset belt 6
The toner fixed to the paper 1 is heated and softened by heating the toner fixed to the paper 1. Then, the paper 1 from which the toner has been removed by the toner removing unit 30 is sent to the toner erasing unit 40. The lamp unit 11 irradiates the residual toner, which has not been completely peeled off from the paper 1, to erase the color.

Then, the toner 1 is peeled off by the toner removing unit 30 and the toner 1 is erased by the toner erasing unit 40 passes through the conveyance guide plate, and the paper ejection tray 1 is ejected.
It is discharged to 3. In the above configuration, the paper feeding unit 2
The paper 1 sent from 0 is sent to the toner removing unit 30. In the toner removing unit 30, the toner adhered to the paper is softened by heating from the heating rollers 7 and 8,
It adheres to the surface of the offset belt 6. When separated from the offset belt 6, the toner adhering to the surface of the offset belt 6 is peeled off from the paper, whereby the toner is removed from the paper. Next, the toner passes through the toner erasing unit 40 and is irradiated with a lamp to erase the residual toner, and then the toner is discharged to the paper discharge tray 13.

Example 2 FIG. 2 shows that after the heat softening toner is fixed on the fibrous surface of the image carrier by heat and pressure to form an image and the image carrier is used as an information carrier, In a repeated use method of an image carrier for removing the toner from the image carrier and reusing the image carrier for image formation, a toner layer on the image carrier is detached by a mechanical operation to form an image. This is a detailed description of a method of repeatedly using an image carrier for erasing the toner by irradiating the residual toner on the carrier with light.
In FIG. 2, the paper recycling apparatus includes a paper feed unit 20 for separating and feeding the papers 1 in each of which a toner image is formed, which are stored in a stacked state, and a paper 1 sent from the paper feed unit. A toner removing unit 30 for removing toner from the
A toner erasing unit 40 for erasing the residual toner on the paper from which the toner has been removed, and a paper receiving unit 60 for receiving the conveyed paper are provided.

In the paper feeding unit 20, the paper 1 stacked on the paper feeding table 2 with the surface on which the toner image is formed (hereinafter referred to as the toner image surface) facing upward is fed from the uppermost paper feeding roller. 3 is used to feed the sheet, the separation roller pair 4 separates the double-fed sheet, and only one sheet 1 is fed out by the sheet feeding / conveying roller pair 5.
The specific configuration and operation are similar to those of the paper feeding mechanism in the electrophotographic copying machine, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted. The paper 1 is transported by the transport belt 14 supported by the belt support roller 15. As the paper 1 bends during conveyance, the strength of the toner layer on the paper 1 is slightly reduced.
Although it is preferable to take the conveyance path as shown in (3), it may be conveyed in a straight line.

The toner removing unit 30 has a cleaning brush 16. The toner layer on the paper 1 is scraped off by the cleaning brush 16, and the paper is guided to the toner erasing unit 40 along the conveyance guide plate 12. The toner erasing unit 40 includes upper and lower heating rollers 7 and 8 and a lamp unit 11. The toner adhered to the paper 1 is heated and softened by the upper and lower heating rollers. The remaining toner that has not been scraped off of the paper 1 sent from the toner removing unit is irradiated with the lamp unit 11 to erase the color.

Then, the toner is removed by the toner removing unit 30, and the paper 1 whose toner is erased by the toner erasing unit 40 passes through the conveyance guide plate and the paper ejection tray 1 is ejected.
It is discharged to 3. In the above configuration, the paper feeding unit 2
The paper 1 sent from 0 is sent to the toner removing unit 30. In the toner removing unit 40, the toner layer on the paper 1 is scraped off by the cleaning brush 16, and in the toner erasing unit 40, the toner fixed by the heating rollers 7 and 8 is heated and softened, and the lamp is irradiated. The residual toner is erased and discharged to the paper discharge tray 13.

[0034]

The effect of the present invention is that the toner is rapidly peeled from the image carrier without damaging the surface fibers of the image carrier, and the decolorizable toner is used to remove the toner in the toner removing step. This means that the toner remaining without being cut off can be erased and the toner on the image carrier can be completely removed. In other words, it provides a method that allows the image carrier to be used repeatedly and can recycle copy paper, reducing paper dust from offices, reducing the absolute amount of paper used in offices, etc., environmental conservation, that is, resource saving. It has the effect of saving energy and contributing to environmental problems.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Paper 2 Feeding Table 3 Feeding Roller 4 Separation Roller Pair 5 Conveying Roller 6 Toner Offset Belt 7 Upper Heating Roller 7a Upper Heating Lamp 8 Lower Heating Roller 8a Lower Heating Lamp 9 Belt Support Roller 10 Belt Cleaning Blade 11 Lamp Unit 12 Conveyance guide plate 13 Paper discharge tray 14 Conveyor belt 15 Belt support roller 16 Cleaning brush 20 Paper feeding unit 30 Toner removing unit 40 Toner erasing unit 50 Conveying unit 60 Paper receiving unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A heat-softening toner is fixed on a fibrous surface of an image carrier by heat and pressure to form an image, the image carrier is used as an information carrier, and then the toner is carried on the image carrier. In a method of repeatedly using an image carrier which is removed from the body and reused in the image formation, the toner has a decolorizing property, and is composed of a toner removing step and a toner decoloring step. A method of repeatedly using an image carrier, which is characterized in that 2. A decolorizable toner is represented by the general formula (I): (In the formula, X is a halogen ion, perchlorate ion, P
_{^{F 6 -, SbF 6 -,}} OH -, sulfonic acid ion or BF ₄
^- ) Or general formula (II): (In the formula, R ¹ , R ² , R ³ and R ⁴ are each independently a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group or a hydrocarbon group containing a hetero atom; Y is a cation having an absorption property in the near infrared region. ) Near-infrared absorbing dye, and the general formula (II
I): [Chemical 3] (In the formula, R ⁵ , R ⁶ , R ⁷ and R ⁸ are each independently an alkyl group, aryl group, allyl group, aralkyl group, alkenyl group, alkynyl group, silyl group, heterocyclic group, substituted alkyl group, substituted An aryl group, a substituted allyl group, a substituted aralkyl group, a substituted alkenyl group, a substituted alkynyl group or a substituted silyl group, wherein at least one of R ⁵ , R ⁶ , R ⁷ and R ⁸ is an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms. R ⁹ , R ¹⁰ ,
R ¹¹ and R ¹² are each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an allyl group, an aralkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, a heterocyclic group, a substituted alkyl group, a substituted aryl group, a substituted allyl group, a substituted aralkyl group. , A substituted alkenyl group, or a substituted alkynyl group), and a method for repeatedly using the image carrier according to claim 1. 3. A heat-softening toner is fixed on a fibrous surface of an image carrier by heating and pressurization to form an image, and the toner is used as an information carrier after the image carrier is used. In a method of repeatedly using an image carrier which is removed from the body and reused for image formation, the toner on the image carrier is heated and
The toner is removed from the image holding member by adhering it to a toner peeling member having a larger adhesion than the toner and the surface, and peeling from the surface of the image holding member. A method for repeatedly using an image carrier, which comprises irradiating the residual toner on the subsequent image carrier with light to erase the toner. 4. A heat-softening toner is fixed on a fibrous surface of an image carrier by heat and pressure to form an image, the image carrier is used as an information carrier, and then the toner is carried on the image carrier. In a repeated use method of an image carrier for removing the toner from the body and reusing the image carrier for image formation, the toner layer on the image carrier is detached by a mechanical operation to remain on the image carrier. A method of repeatedly using an image carrier for erasing the toner by irradiating the toner with light.