JPH0748058A - Transfer of continuous recording paper and device therefor, and electro photograph printing and device therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To avert the undesirable contact between a photosensitive drum and a continuous recording paper when printing is not carried out and to smoothly separate a continuous recording paper from the photosensitive drum after the completion of printing. CONSTITUTION:A transfer device for a continuous recording paper is equipped with a tractor unit 32 for sending a continuous recording paper F to a photoreceptor drum 40 through a convergence guide 54, and a belt conveyor 60 for transferring the continuous recording paper F on which a toner image is copied. When no continuous recording paper exists in a convergence guide 54, the tractor unit 60 sends out the continuous recording paper, and positions the top end of the continuous recording paper at a prescribed position in the convergence guide 54, and after the completion of printing, the part of the continuous recording paper F which is electrostatic-charged by a copying part 48a immediately before the stop of the operation of the copying part 48a advances, getting over the photoreceptor drum 40, and then the copying part 48a and the belt conveyor 60 are separated from the photoreceptor drum 40.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a continuous recording sheet conveying device and a conveying method applied to an electrophotographic printer, and an electrophotographic printer and an electrophotographic printing method using the conveying device and the conveying method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, an electrophotographic printer forms an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive medium, that is, a rotating photosensitive drum, develops the electrostatic latent image into a toner image, and transfers the toner image onto recording paper. , Fixing and printing, that is, printing. When continuous recording paper as recording paper, for example, fanfold paper, is used in the electrophotographic printer, the electrophotographic printer needs to print on the fanfold paper with a certain margin from the perforations.

Therefore, before the printing is started, the perforation of the fanfold paper is positioned in the vicinity of the transfer position of the photosensitive drum and is on standby, and according to the request for printing, the photosensitive drum is moved before the fanfold paper is conveyed. It is rotated to adjust the print start position on the fanfold paper, that is, its cueing. However, if the fanfold paper remains in contact with the photosensitive drum during this cueing, the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive drum will be scratched or abraded, shortening its life, and the residual toner on the photosensitive drum will cause the fan to lose its life. It will also make the fold paper dirty.

Therefore, in the electrophotographic printer disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-230782, in addition to the separating means for separating the transfer charger from the photosensitive drum at the time of cueing, fanfold paper is also used. It has a built-in escape promotion device that forces it to separate. This retraction promoting device is a paper slack lever that pushes down the fanfold paper on the upstream side of the photosensitive drum when viewed in the fanfold paper transport path.
It is an interlocking mechanism that drives this paper slack lever.

According to the above-described retracting and promoting device, the fanfold paper can be forcibly separated from the photosensitive drum side at the time of waiting for printing or at the end of printing, and the fanfold paper is not contaminated by the residual toner on the photosensitive drum. It is thought that it can be prevented.

[0006]

However, the known retreat promoting device not only complicates the structure inside the electrophotographic printer, but also forces the fan fold paper to be pushed down by the paper slack lever. A mechanism for pressing the fanfold paper is additionally required on the downstream side of the photosensitive drum, which further complicates the structure inside the electrophotographic printer.

Further, when it is necessary to print from the first page of the fanfold paper, the known retraction promoting device becomes ineffective. In this case, the front end of the first page is made to stand by at the transfer position of the photosensitive drum. If so, the above-mentioned trouble will occur similarly. The present invention has been made on the basis of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object thereof is to enable printing even from the leading edge of continuous recording paper by eliminating the above-mentioned problems associated with the cueing, and
A continuous recording paper conveying device and a conveying method capable of separating the continuous recording paper from the photosensitive drum at the time of printing standby or at the end of printing without requiring a special mechanism, and the conveying device and the conveying method are used. To provide an electrophotographic printer and an electrophotographic printing method.

[0008]

One conveying device of the present invention is a paper guide means for guiding a continuous recording paper toward a photosensitive medium of an electrophotographic printer, and when there is no continuous recording paper in the paper guiding means. Further, there is provided a paper preparation means for feeding the continuous recording paper into the paper guiding means and for positioning the leading end of the continuous recording paper at a predetermined position upstream of the photosensitive medium.

Another transporting device of the present invention is a paper guide means for guiding a continuous recording paper toward a photosensitive medium of an electrophotographic printer, and a transfer charger for transferring a toner image on the photosensitive medium in response to a print request. Paper conveying means for conveying the continuous recording paper sent from the paper guiding means toward the photosensitive medium while transferring it onto the continuous recording paper by urging the same.
After the printing is completed and before the operation of the transfer charger is stopped, the portion of the continuous recording paper charged by the transfer charger advances beyond the photosensitive medium, and then the paper conveying means is separated from the photosensitive medium. And a sheet separating means.

It is preferable that the latter conveying device further comprises a reverse feeding means for retracting the continuous recording paper to a predetermined position after the operation of the paper separating means. Further, the electrophotographic printer of the present invention is realized by incorporating any one of the above-mentioned both conveying devices. According to one carrying method of the present invention, when there is no continuous recording paper in the paper guiding means for guiding the continuous recording paper toward the photosensitive medium of the electrophotographic printer, the continuous recording paper is fed into the paper guiding means and the continuous recording paper is continuously fed. The leading edge of the recording paper is positioned at a predetermined position upstream of the photosensitive medium.

Further, according to another carrying method of the present invention, the continuous recording paper is guided toward the photosensitive medium of the electrophotographic printer, and the toner image on the photosensitive medium is transferred onto the continuous recording paper by a transfer charger in response to a print request. The continuous recording paper is conveyed toward the photosensitive medium while being urged to be transferred to the recording medium, and the portion of the continuous recording paper charged by the transfer charging is stopped before the printing is completed and the operation of the transfer charger is stopped. After proceeding past the photosensitive medium, the continuous recording paper is separated from the photosensitive medium.

In the latter transport method, it is preferable that the continuous recording paper is separated from the photosensitive medium and then the continuous recording paper is retracted to a predetermined position. Furthermore, the electrophotographic printing method of the present invention uses any one of the above-described two conveying methods,
It is realized by using it to convey continuous recording paper.

[0013]

According to the former transporting device and transporting method, and the electrophotographic printer and electrophotographic printing method using these transporting devices and transporting methods, the continuous recording paper will be recorded if there is no continuous recording paper in the paper guide means. It is fed and waits until its tip is positioned at a predetermined position upstream of the photosensitive medium.

On the other hand, according to the latter carrying device and carrying method, and the electrophotographic printer and electrophotographic printing method using these carrying devices and carrying methods, at the end of printing, immediately before the operation of the transfer charger is stopped. Then, the portion of the continuous recording paper charged by the transfer charger advances beyond the photosensitive medium and is separated from the photosensitive medium, and then the continuous recording paper is separated from the photosensitive medium.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an electrophotographic printer, which has a paper feed stack unit 2 and a paper feed unit 6, a paper feed unit 6, and a printing unit 8 as indicated by a chain double-dashed line block in the drawing. And a paper discharge unit 10 for printing paper. One of the paper feed stack units 2 is arranged in the upper part of the printer, and a large number of stacked cut sheets C are stored in the tray 12 of the paper feed stack unit 2. A take-out roller 14 is arranged above the tray 12, and the take-out roller 14 is located on the side of the paper feeding unit 6 and is in contact with the cut sheet C at the uppermost position in the tray 12. Therefore, the take-out roller 1
When 4 is rotated, the cut sheets in the tray 12 are fed one by one toward the sheet feeding section 6.

The other paper feed stack unit 4 is arranged below the one paper feed stack unit 2, and the fanfold paper F in the folded state is placed on the tray 16 of the paper feed stack unit 4. Has been done. An end detection sensor 18 is arranged above the tray 16, and the end detection sensor 18 is an optical sensor including a light emitting element and a light receiving element.

The paper feed unit 6 receives the print paper from one of the selected paper feed stack units, and sends the print paper toward the print unit 8. Specifically, the paper feeding unit 6
A pair of separating rollers 20 is provided on the side of the take-out roller 14 of the paper feed stack unit 2. By the rotation of the take-out roller 14, the cut sheet C taken out from the tray 12 enters between the pair of separation rollers 20, and the separation rollers 20 are rotated in opposite directions, so that the cut sheet C is It is sent out through the space between the separation rollers 20. A space for one sheet of cut paper C is provided between the separation rollers 20.
Send out one by one.

A pair of paper feed rollers 22 are provided on the downstream side of the pair of separation rollers 20 as viewed in the paper feed direction of the cut paper C. These paper feed rollers 22 are composed of a paper feed section 6 and a printing section 8. It is located at the boundary of. A plate-shaped register guide 24, a pair of register rollers 26, and a pair of introduction guides 28 are sequentially arranged between the pair of separation rollers 20 and the pair of paper feed rollers 22 from the separation roller 20 side.

The cut paper C delivered from the pair of separation rollers 20 has its leading end abutted against the pair of register rollers 26, and the delivery thereof is temporarily stopped. At this time, the rear end portion of the cut sheet C is pressed against the register guide 24 to bend, and as a result, the front end of the cut sheet C becomes parallel to the axis of the pair of registration rollers 26, and the paper feeding posture is corrected. It That is, here, the register correction of the cut sheet C is performed.

After that, when the pair of register rollers 26 is rotated, the cut sheet C is sent out from the register roller 26 through the pair of introduction guides 28 toward the pair of paper feed rollers 22, and further these paper feeds are performed. It is sent to the printing unit 8 by the rotation of the roller 22. The end detection sensor 30 is also arranged between the pair of register rollers 26 and the pair of paper feed rollers 22. This end detection sensor 30 is also an optical sensor composed of a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and these light emitting and light receiving elements are a pair of introduction guides 2.
It is positioned with 8 in between.

On the other hand, at the lower part of the paper feeding section 6, there is provided a preparation back feeding means 31 which constitutes a paper preparation means and a back feeding means. This preparation back-feeding means 31 includes a tractor unit 32, and the tractor unit 32 includes the tray 1
The fanfold paper F fed from 6 passes between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the end detection sensor 18 and is guided.

As the tractor unit 32 is driven,
As is well known, the fanfold paper F is sent toward the printing unit 8. A rotary encoder 34 is attached to the drive shaft of the tractor unit 32, and the rotary encoder 34 is electrically connected to a counter 36.
The counter 36 determines the number of rotations of the drive shaft of the tractor unit 32, that is, the delivery length of the fanfold paper F from the tractor unit 32.
It is calculated based on the pulse signal from.

Looking in the paper feed direction of the fanfold paper F,
The end detection sensor 3 is provided in front of the tractor unit 32.
8 is disposed, and the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the end detection sensor 38 are positioned with the conveyance path of the fanfold paper F interposed therebetween. A photosensitive drum 40 as a photosensitive medium is arranged in the printing unit 8, and the photosensitive drum 40 is positioned on the side of the paper feeding unit 6. As shown in FIG. 1, the photosensitive drum 40 is rotated counterclockwise at a constant peripheral speed as indicated by an arrow.

A charger 42 is arranged immediately above the photosensitive drum 40, and an exposure device 44 is provided around the photosensitive drum 40 in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 40 from the charger 42.
A developing device 46, a transfer / static eliminator 48, a peeling claw 50, and a cleaner unit 52 are sequentially arranged. Photosensitive drum 4
With the rotation of 0, the charger 42 uniformly charges the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 40, that is, the photosensitive surface, and then the photosensitive surface is exposed by the exposure device 44. The exposure device 44 includes an LED (light emitting diode) array, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive drum 40 by the light beam emitted from the LED array. The emission of the light beam from the LED array is controlled based on the image data supplied from the computer.

After this, the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 40 is
The toner image is developed by the developing device 46, and the toner image is transferred to the transfer / charger 8, that is, the transfer portion 48.
By a, at the transfer position P0, it is transferred to the printing paper such as the cut paper C or the fanfold paper F supplied so as to stick to the photosensitive drum 40. After the transfer of the toner image, in order to separate the printing paper from the photosensitive drum 40, the static eliminator of the transfer / static eliminator 48, that is, the static eliminator 48b applies an alternating voltage to the printing paper, whereby the printing paper in the charged state is removed. The charge is removed. After that, the residual toner on the photosensitive drum 40 is removed by the cleaning unit 52.

The peeling claw 50 prevents the printing paper passing through the photosensitive drum 40 from winding around the photosensitive drum 40. A sheet guide means 53 is arranged between the tractor unit 32 of the preparation reverse feeding means 31 and the photosensitive drum 40. The sheet guide means 53 is a confluence guide as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 54 is provided. The merging guide 54 is composed of a pair of upper and lower guide plates 56 and 58, and a part of a conveyance path common to cut sheets and fanfold sheets is formed between the guide plates 56 and 58. The upstream end of the upper guide plate 56 is bent upward in the vicinity of the paper feed roller 22 when viewed in the print paper conveyance direction, and the lower guide plate 5 is provided.
The downstream end of 8 is curved downward near the end detection sensor 38 described above. Therefore, the inlet defined between the upstream ends of the pair of guide plates 56, 58 is largely opened in the vertical direction.

The cut paper C that has passed through the paper feed roller 22 is
The fanfold paper F, which is guided by the upstream end of the upper guide plate 56 and guided between the guide plates 56 and 58, and is fed from the tractor unit 32, is guided to the upstream end of the lower guide plate 58 and guided by the guide plate. Guided between 56 and 58. As is apparent from FIG. 2, the lower guide plate 58 is the upper guide plate 56.
It is longer than the transfer position P0 of the photosensitive drum 40, that is, the downstream end thereof extends to the vicinity of the transfer portion 48a. Further, the downstream end portion of the lower guide plate 58 is curved so as to be convex toward the direction closer to the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive drum 40, that is, toward the photosensitive surface.

On the other hand, the downstream end of the upper guide plate 56 has a substantially triangular shape so as to project toward the photosensitive drum 40. As shown in FIG. 2, the paper feed roller 2
Even if the leading edge of the cut sheet C that has passed through 2 bends back upward and is guided between the guide plates 56 and 58 in this state,
The leading edge of the cut sheet C is forcibly guided downward by the downstream end of the upper guide plate 56, and as a result, the cut sheet C is properly guided to the transfer position P0.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral θ indicates the angle formed by the downstream end of the upper guide plate 56 and the central portion of the lower guide plate 58. As shown in FIG. 1, a sheet conveying unit 59 is arranged near the photosensitive drum 40, and the sheet conveying unit 59 includes a belt conveyor 60. The belt conveyor 60 extends horizontally from the vicinity of the transfer position P0 toward the discharge section 10, and conveys the printing paper received from the merging guide 54 toward the photosensitive drum 40 while urging it.

Although not shown in detail, the belt conveyer 60 has a plurality of conveying rollers 62 and 64 which are spaced apart in the front-rear direction and a plurality of rollers which are wound in parallel with each other in the conveying direction of the printing paper. Conveyor belt 6
6, each conveyor belt 66 has a large number of suction holes 67.
(Not shown). Inside the conveyor belt 66,
That is, a pair of suction devices 68, which are spaced apart in the front-rear direction, are disposed between the forward path side belt portion and the return path side belt portion. These suction devices 68 are suction fans (not shown).
This suction fan produces a flow of air from the upper side to the lower side.

Therefore, the printing paper which advances from the merging guide 54 toward the belt conveyor 60, while being attracted to the conveyor belt 66, is urged toward the photosensitive drum 40 and travels along the conveyor belt 66. It passes through the photosensitive drum 40 and is conveyed toward the discharge unit 10. A scuff roller unit 70 is arranged on the downstream end side of the belt conveyor 60, that is, between the belt conveyor 60 and the discharge unit 10. The scuff roller unit 70 includes a support roller 72 extending in parallel with the transport roller 64 of the belt conveyor 60, and a plurality of free rollers 74 arranged immediately above the support roller 72 along the support roller 72. Although not shown in detail, each free roller 74 is rotatably supported and is pressed and biased toward the support roller 72.

On the other hand, the conveyor roller 6 of the belt conveyor 60
4 and the support roller 72 are connected to each other so as to rotate in synchronization, and the support roller 72 is rotated by an electric motor (not shown). Here, the supporting roller 72 and the conveying roller 64 have the same diameter dimension, and therefore, the peripheral speed of the supporting roller 72 and the traveling speed of the conveyor belt 66, that is, the conveying speed of the printing paper are the same. .

The above-mentioned merging guide 54 and transfer / static eliminator 4
8 and the belt conveyor 60 are each supported by a sheet separating device, that is, a sheet separating device 90.
Details of the sheet separating device 90 will be described with reference to FIG. The sheet separating device 90 includes a support frame 92 located below the belt conveyor 60. The support frame 92 has a pair of side plates 94, which extend from the merging guide 54 to the end of the belt conveyor 60.

The supporting frame 9 is seen in the direction of conveyance of the printing paper.
A support shaft 96 is attached to the end located on the upstream side of 2, and the support shaft 96 extends across the side plates 94, and both ends thereof are rotatably supported by the corresponding side plates 94. There is. A transfer device holder 97 is attached to the support shaft 96, and the transfer device holder 97 has a pair of holder plates 98, and these holder plates 98 are opposed to each other in the support frame 92.

The merging guide 54 and the transfer / static elimination device 48 described above are fixed to the upper surface of the transfer device holder 97, that is, the upper edge of these holder plates 98 so as to straddle them. Each holder plate 98
A rectangular opening 100 is formed at the center of the roller, and a roller shaft 102 extends through the opening 100. Both ends of the roller shaft 102 are rotatably supported by the corresponding side plates 94, and one end is connected to an electric motor (not shown).

The roller shaft 102 has a pair of eccentric rollers 1
04 are attached, and these eccentric rollers 104 are rotatable within the openings 100 of the corresponding side plates 94. Further, a pair of short links 106 hang down from each holder plate 98. The upper ends of these short links 106 have corresponding holder plates 9
8 is rotatably connected, and its lower end is rotatably connected to the tip of the corresponding long link 108. These long links 108 extend below the belt conveyor 60 toward their ends, and their base ends are attached to the support shaft 111. This support shaft 111
Both ends of each are rotatably supported by the corresponding side plates 94.

At the center of each long link 108, the lower end of a support arm 110 is rotatably supported. The upper end of the support arm 110 is formed with a hook 112, and the hook 112 is engaged with a pin 114 protruding from the side surface of the belt conveyor 60. The support arm 110 and the long link 108 that form a pair form the extension coil spring 1
These tension coil springs 116 are connected to each other via 16 so that the support arm 11 extends in the direction in which the hook 112 is engaged with the pin 114, that is, in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG.
While 0 is rotationally biased, the long arm 108 is rotationally biased upward.

Further, a guide roller 118 is rotatably attached to the upper surface of each support arm 108 on its belt conveyor 60 side surface.
18 is movable along the guide groove 120. The guide groove 120 is provided on the side surface of the belt conveyor 60 and extends in the print paper conveyance direction. In the state shown in FIG. 3, the transfer device holder 97, that is, the pair of holder plates 98 is in a position pushed upward by the long ring 108 via the short link 106, and the merging guide 54 and the transfer / charge eliminator 48 are exposed to light. It is located in an operating position proximate to the drum 40. At this time, the belt conveyor 60 is also held in the horizontal posture in which it is lifted by the long link 108 via the support arm 110.

From the state shown in FIG. 5, the eccentric roller 10
When 4 is rotated in the opening 100 of the holder plate 98, the eccentric roller 104, as indicated by the chain double-dashed line, is shown.
Presses the corresponding holder plate 98 downward through the inner edge of the opening 100. As a result, the pair of holder plates 98, that is, the transfer device holder 97.
Is rotated downward about its support shaft 96, and the confluence guide 54 and the transfer / static eliminator 48 are also separated downward from the photosensitive drum 40.

Since the lowering of the holder plate 98 is converted into the rotation of the long link 108 via the short link 106, the pair of long links 108 resist the urging force of the tension coil springs 116 and support shafts. It is rotated downward about 111. Along with this, the support arm 110 is also pulled down, so that the belt conveyor 60 rotates downward about the transport roller 64 on the terminal side thereof, and the upstream end thereof is separated from the photosensitive drum 40. .

Further, when the support arm 110 is rotated clockwise as viewed in FIG. 3, the engagement between the hook 112 and the pin 114 on the belt conveyor 60 side is released, and the support arm 110 is guided. The belt conveyor 60 is largely rotated via the roller 118, and the belt conveyor 60 is pushed down as shown by the chain double-dashed line. As a result, the belt conveyor 60 is largely opened with respect to the photosensitive drum 40, and the jam of the printing paper on the belt conveyor 60 can be easily removed.

Immediately above the belt conveyor 60, a fixing device 122 is arranged on the terminal side thereof. The fixing device 122 has a lamp housing 12 whose bottom surface is open.
4, a halogen lamp 128 for preheating and a flash lamp 130 composed of a xenon lamp for fixing are sequentially arranged from the upstream side in the lamp housing 124 in the conveying direction of the printing paper.
8 and 130 are covered with reflecting plates 136 and 138 from above.

The lower surface opening of the lamp housing 124 is closed by a rectangular transparent glass plate 158, and cooling air is supplied into the lamp housing 124. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, on the downstream side of the belt conveyor 60, that is, on the downstream side of the scuff roller unit 70, a cutting disk 188 serving as a cutting device is located near the discharge unit 10. It is arranged. The cutting disk 188 has a diameter dimension that projects slightly above the printing paper transport path, and can be rotated while moving along a cutting path that traverses the printing paper transport path.

A pair of upper and lower guide plates 200 and 201 extend toward the inside of the discharge section 10 from the vicinity of the cutting path of the cutting disc 188, and above the upper guide plate 200, the cutting disc 188 is provided.
A plurality of holding pads 196 are provided on the side. These sandwiching pads 196 are arranged at a predetermined interval in a direction traversing the conveyance path of the printing paper, and in order to cut the fanfold paper F, these perforations are of the cutting disk 188. When aligned on the moving path, it descends through the opening formed in the upper guide plate 200, and the lower guide plate 2
The fanfold paper F is sandwiched between the paper and the paper 01.

Therefore, when the fanfold paper F is cut, the fanfold paper F is cut by the cutting disc 1.
88 on both sides of the cutting path, that is, the support roller 72 and the free roller 7 of the scuff roller unit 70.
4 and also between the lower guide plate 201 and the sandwiching pad 196. In this state, when the cutting disk 188 moves while rotating along the cutting path, the cutting disk 188 can surely push the fanfold paper F from its perforations. The cutting disc 18 is usually used.
Reference numeral 8 is positioned at a standby position secured outside the conveyance path of the printing paper.

Further, a detector 210 for detecting passage of the printing paper is arranged between the scuff roller unit 70 and the cutting path of the cutting disk 188. In the discharge unit 10, the above-mentioned upper guide plate 200 is curved upward, while the lower guide plate 201 is curved downward (FIG. 1).
reference).

A first discharge gate 214 is arranged between the guide plates 200 and 201.
The discharge gate 214 is rotated about its support shaft 216 according to the printing paper being conveyed, that is, whether the printing paper is the cut paper C or the fanfold paper F. In addition, the second discharge gate 218 is provided on the downstream side of the first discharge gate 214.
The paper discharge tray 220 (see FIG. 1) is sequentially arranged. The second discharge gate 218 also has its support shaft 222.
The paper discharge tray 220 can rotate about a support shaft (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 1, the upper guide plate 200 is connected to the discharge path of the cut sheet C, and this discharge path extends upward and then the belt conveyor 6
It is curved to the 0 side and opens toward the upper surface of the printer. When the cut sheet C is used as the printing paper, the first discharge gate 214 is in the lower position shown by the chain double-dashed line, while the second discharge gate 218 is in the lower position shown by the solid line in FIG. is there. In this case, the tip of the first discharge gate 214 intersects the lower guide plate 201 and closes the discharge path of the fanfold paper F along the lower guide plate 201, while the upper guide plate 20 is closed.
0, the discharge path of the cut sheet C along the 0 is opened, and the second discharge gate 218 also cuts the cut sheet C along the guide plate 200.
The discharge route of is open.

In such a state, the cut sheet C delivered from the belt conveyor 60 is guided by the first and second discharge gates 214, 214 along the upper guide plate 200.
Guided upward by the guide 218, and then cut paper C
Is discharged from the discharge path to the upper surface of the printer. In this case, the cut sheet C is discharged outside the printer in a face-down state with its printing surface facing downward.

On the other hand, the above-mentioned paper discharge tray 220 is rotated downward from the vertical posture shown by the solid line in FIG.
When positioned in the horizontal posture indicated by the chain double-dashed line, the second discharge gate 2 is interlocked with the movement of the paper discharge tray 220.
18 is rotated upward from its lowered position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 3 about its support shaft 222 and is positioned in the raised position indicated by the chain double-dashed line. In this case, the second discharge gate 218 has its tip crossing the upper guide plate 200 to close the discharge path of the cut sheet C along the upper guide plate 200, while discharging the second discharge gate 218 along the horizontal discharge tray 220. Open the paper path. In this case, the cut sheet C, after passing between the upper guide plate 200 and the first discharge gate 214, proceeds straight toward the discharge tray 220 and is received on the discharge tray 220. In this case, the cut paper C is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 220 in a face-up state with its printing surface facing upward.

On the other hand, when the printing paper is the fanfold paper F, the first discharge gate 214 is rotated to the raised position indicated by the solid line in FIG. In this raised position, the tip of the first discharge gate 214 intersects the upper guide plate 200 to close the discharge path of the cut sheet C along the guide plate 200, while the fan fold along the lower guide plate 201. Open the paper F discharge path. Therefore, the fanfold paper F that is conveyed is guided downward along the lower guide plate 201.

When the first discharge gate 214 is in the lowered position and the second discharge gate 218 is in the raised position,
The fanfold paper F is ejected from the printer as it passes over the paper ejection tray 220. As shown in FIG. 1, a discharge stacker 226 is provided below the discharge unit 10.
And the fanfold paper F guided along the lower guide plate 201 as described above.
Are placed on the paper output stacker 226 while being sequentially folded from the perforations.

In order to surely fold the fanfold paper F, an endless flat belt 228 and a chain belt 230 are arranged to face each other between the paper discharge stacker 226 and the lower guide plate 201. Therefore, a large number of claws 232 are projected from the flat belt 228 at a predetermined interval. When both the flat belt 228 and the chain conveyor 230 are traveling in one direction, when the fanfold paper F passes between the flat belt 228 and the chain conveyor 230, the claws 232 of the flat belt 228 and the chain conveyor 230. Cooperate with each other to fold the fanfold paper F alternately from the perforations.

The paper output stacker 226 can be lowered according to the stacking height of the fanfold paper F. Referring to FIG. 4, a control circuit of the printer is schematically shown, and the control circuit includes a controller 240. The controller 240 includes the above-mentioned exposure device 44, developing device 46, transfer / static eliminator 48, fixing device 122,
In addition to sensors, such as a sensor, a detector and a counter 36, each roller used for feeding the cut sheet C, the photosensitive drum 40, the tractor unit 32 and the belt conveyor 60, an electric motor or a manual switch 242. Further, the controller 240 can be connected to a computer that outputs print information to the printer.

Next, the printing process of the electrophotographic printer will be described. First, when a selection signal for the cut sheet C is given from the manual switch 242 of the computer or the printer to the controller 240 of the control circuit, the pair of paper feed rollers 22, the photosensitive drum 40, the belt conveyor 60 and the scuff roller unit of the printing unit 8 are provided. 70 are respectively driven. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, with respect to the peripheral speed VD of the photosensitive drum 40, the peripheral speed VF of the paper feed roller 22 and the conveyance speed VCC of the cut sheet C by the belt conveyor 60 and the scuff roller unit 70 are: They match as shown in the following equation.

VD = VF = VCC As shown in FIG. 4, the paper feed roller 22 and the photosensitive drum 40 are driven by a common electric motor 83, and the scuff roller unit 70 and the belt conveyor 60 are also common. It is driven by the electric motor 82.
Although the suction device 68 is not shown in FIG. 4,
The suction device 68 is operated simultaneously with the driving of the electric motor 82.

At this time, the sheet separating device 90 is in the up operation state in which the merging guide 54, the transfer / static eliminator 48 and the belt conveyor 60 are pushed up to the operation position. Further, at this time, the first discharge gate 214 of the discharge unit 10 is positioned at the lowered position, but the second discharge gate 218 is positioned at either the lowered position or the raised position.

On the other hand, the front end of the fanfold paper F is in the state of being returned to the tractor unit 32, that is, the state of paper parking, as shown in FIG. 4, for example. When a print start signal from the computer is given to the controller 240, the take-out roller 14 and the separation roller 20 are rotated to take out one sheet of cut paper C from the tray 12, and the cut paper C is transferred to the register roller 2
6, the pair of introduction guides 28 and the paper feed roller 22 reach the inside of the merging guide 54, and the merging guide 54 sends the toner to the transfer position P0 of the photosensitive drum 40.

The cut sheet C enters the introduction guide 28,
When the leading edge of the cut sheet C reaches the end detection sensor 30,
The end detection sensor 30 detects the leading edge of the cut sheet C and outputs the detection signal to the controller 240. After a lapse of a predetermined time from the output of the detection signal, the controller 240 operates the exposure device 44 and the developing device 46 based on the image data supplied from the computer, and the exposure device 44 electrostatically charges the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive drum 40. Write a latent image.

After the writing of the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 40 is started, the controller 240 simultaneously actuates the transfer / static eliminator 48 and the halogen lamp 128 of the fixing device 122, and thereafter, the fixing is performed. The flash lamp 130 of the container 122 is caused to flash. The electrostatic latent image written on the photosensitive drum 40 is then developed by the developing device 46 to become a toner image, and this toner image is transferred to the photosensitive drum 4.
When the photosensitive drum 40 reaches the transfer position P0 with the rotation of 0, the cut sheet C also reaches the transfer position P0 at the same time.
Therefore, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 40 is transferred to the cut paper C by the transfer portion 48a of the transfer / static eliminator 48 at the transfer position P0.

After the transfer of the toner image, the leading edge of the cut sheet C is peeled off from the photosensitive drum 40, so that the cut sheet C in the charged state is immediately neutralized by the static elimination section 48a of the transfer / static elimination unit 48. Further, at this time, the peeling claw 50 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 40, whereby the cut paper C
The leading end of the sheet is peeled off by the peeling claw 50, and the cut sheet C is prevented from wrapping around the photosensitive drum 40. Cut sheet C
After the tip of the sheet passes through the photosensitive drum 40, the peeling claw 50 is separated from the photosensitive drum 40.

When the trailing edge of the cut sheet C passes through the paper feed roller 22, the leading edge of the cut sheet C reaches the belt conveyor 60. Therefore, thereafter, the cut sheet C is conveyed to the belt conveyor 60. After being taken over, the cut sheet C is sucked and held by the conveyor belt 66 of the belt conveyor 60 and conveyed. When the cut sheet C conveyed on the belt conveyor 60 passes directly under the fixing device 122, the toner image on the cut sheet C is first preliminarily heated by the halogen lamp 128, and then the flash light of the flash lamp 130 is emitted. Received and fixed.

The cut sheet C that has undergone the fixing process is
From the belt conveyor 60, it passes through the scuff roller unit 70 that is driven in synchronization with the belt conveyor 60 and is sent to the discharge section 10. Then, the discharge posture is changed to the face according to the position of the second discharge gate 218. After being selected as either up or face down, the paper is ejected onto the paper ejection tray 220 or outside the printer.

The transfer / static eliminator 48 and the fixing device 12
The second halogen lamp 128 remains activated until the last cut sheet C to be printed has passed. Next, the printing process of the fanfold paper F will be described. The selection signal of the fanfold paper F from the computer or the manual switch 242 is sent to the controller 20.
4, when the photosensitive drum 40 is rotated at the peripheral speed VD, the fanfold paper F is in the paper parking state as shown in FIG. 5, that is, the conveyance from the tractor unit 32 to the belt conveyor 60. When there is no fanfold paper F in the path, that is, in the merging guide 54 of the paper guiding means 53, first, the paper preparation operation of the fanfold paper F, that is, the automatic setting operation is performed.

During the printing process of the fanfold paper F, the power transmission path between the electric motor 83 and the paper feed roller 22 is cut off and the paper feed roller 22 is not rotated. When the automatic setting operation is started, first, as shown in FIG. 6, the electric motor 85 of the tractor unit 32 is started.
Is driven, and the fanfold paper F is sent out from the tractor unit 32. When the front end of the fanfold paper F passes through the end detection sensor 38, a detection signal is output from the end detection sensor 38 to the controller 240, and from this output time point, the controller 240 is based on the counter value from the counter 36 of the tractor unit 32. , Add the feed length of the fanfold paper F.

Then, when the delivery length reaches a predetermined length, the controller 240 stops the driving of the tractor unit 32, and at this time, the leading end of the fanfold paper F is located upstream of the photosensitive drum 40 in the merging guide 54. The sheet is positioned at the sheet preparation position R defined therein, and the automatic setting operation is completed. Here, the sheet preparation position R is located away from the photosensitive drum 40, and the tip of the fanfold sheet F does not come into contact with the photosensitive drum 40. Therefore, even if the auto-setting operation is performed, the tip of the fanfold paper F does not come into contact with the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive drum 40, so that the photosensitive surface is not scratched and the tip of the fanfold paper F is exposed. It does not become dirty with the residual toner on the drum 40.

As is apparent from FIG. 6, when the auto-setting operation is performed, the sheet separating device 90 includes the merging guide 54, the transfer / static eliminator 48 and the belt conveyor 60.
Is lowered and is in a down operation state in which it is separated from the photosensitive drum 40. After the auto set operation is completed, the controller 2
40 is a print start request from the computer,
Based on the image data supplied from this computer,
Writing of the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 40 is started via the exposure unit 44, and the tractor unit 32 and the belt conveyor 6 are set using the start signal of this writing as a timing signal.
0 and the scuff roller unit 70 are driven to start feeding the fanfold paper F. At the same time,
The controller 240 activates the sheet separating device 90 up.

Here, the feeding speed VT of the fanfold paper F of the tractor unit 32 matches the peripheral speed VD of the photosensitive drum 40, but it is the drive source of the belt conveyor 60 and the scuff roller unit 70 in FIG. The electric motor 82 drives the belt conveyor 60 so that the speed VCF at which the fanfold paper F is conveyed by the belt conveyor 60 is about 10% faster than the peripheral speed VD of the photosensitive drum 40. At the same time as driving the belt conveyor 60,
It goes without saying that the suction device 68 is also activated at the same time.

When a predetermined time elapses after the timing signal is output, the controller 240 starts the operations of the transfer / static eliminator 48 and the fixing device 122 in the same manner as in the case of the cut sheet C described above. Tractor unit 32
Driving, the leading edge of the fanfold paper F is guided from the paper preparation position R in the merging guide 54 toward the transfer position P0 of the photosensitive drum 40, while the electrostatic latent image of the photosensitive drum 40 is developed and a toner image is formed. Therefore, this toner image also moves toward the transfer position P0 as the photosensitive drum 40 rotates.

Therefore, when the toner image on the fanfold paper F and the photosensitive drum 40 reaches the transfer position P0, the toner image is transferred from the photosensitive drum 40 to the fanfold paper F as in the case of the cut paper C described above. At this time, the toner image is transferred to the fanfold paper F with a predetermined margin from the tip of the fanfold paper F, that is, the print start position is found.

After that, the toner image on the fanfold paper F is fixed by the fixing device 122 as the fanfold paper F is conveyed.
Fanfold paper F fixed and printed by
Is folded onto the paper output stacker 226 of the paper output unit 10. Further, as in the case of the cut paper C, when the tip of the fanfold paper F passes the photosensitive drum 40, the peeling claw 5
0 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 40, and also here, the wrapping of the fanfold paper F around the photosensitive drum 40 is prevented.

In this case, it goes without saying that the first discharge gate 214 is rotated to the lowered position as shown in FIG. Further, when the front end of the fanfold paper F passes through the detector 210 and a detection signal is output from the detector 210, the controller 240 causes the length of the fanfold paper F fed from the tractor unit 32 to be counted by the counter. Calculation is performed based on the value of 36. This feeding length represents the transport distance of the fanfold paper F from the paper preparation position R to the cutting disk 188.

In the printing process of the fanfold paper F, since the conveying speed VCF by the belt conveyor 60 is set higher than the feeding speed VT by the tractor unit 32, the fanfold paper F has a suction force on the belt conveyor 60. While being received, it is conveyed while sliding on the belt conveyor 60 and the supporting roller 72 of the scuff roller unit 70. That is, since the fanfold paper F is conveyed while receiving tension, the print surface of the fanfold paper F becomes flat at the transfer position P0 position and the fixing position, which stabilizes the transfer and fixing of the toner image. It can be carried out.

All the image data from the computer is supplied to the exposure device 44 via the controller 240, the writing operation of the exposure device 44 is completed, and the photosensitive drum 4
When all the toner images on No. 0 are transferred to the fanfold paper F, print end processing as shown in FIGS. 8 to 11 is performed. In order to make the operation of the print end processing easy to understand, here, as shown in FIG. 8, the print end processing is started when one perforation M of the fanfold paper F reaches the transfer position P0. explain. In addition, in FIGS. 8 to 11, the merging guide 54
Is shown only for its lower guide plate 58,
The upper guide plate 56 is omitted.

When the state shown in FIG. 8 is reached, the controller 240 first stops the operation of the transfer portion 48a of the transfer / static eliminator 48. At this time, the transfer holder 97 and the belt conveyor 60 are maintained in the up operation position, and
The operation of the charge removing portion 48b of the transfer / charge eliminator 48 and the driving of the tractor unit 32 and the belt conveyor 60 are continued.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the perforation M of the fanfold paper F passes the transfer position P0 and advances by a predetermined distance, and the perforation M moves away from the photosensitive drum 40. At this point, the operation of the static eliminator 48b of the transfer / static eliminator 48 is stopped, and at the same time, the controller 24
0 starts the operation of the sheet separating device 90, and as shown in FIG. 10, in addition to the transfer holder 97, that is, the lower guide plate 58 and the transfer / static eliminator 48, the belt conveyor 60 is placed below the photosensitive drum 40. Lower to. During this time, the driving of the tractor unit 32 and the belt conveyor 60 is continued, and the perforation M of the fanfold paper F further advances toward the belt conveyor 60.

After the lower guide plate 58 and the transfer / static eliminator 48 reach the lowered position, the controller 240
After a predetermined time has passed since the driving of the tractor unit 32 and the belt conveyor 60 was stopped, the belt conveyor 6
With 0 stopped, the tractor unit 32 is driven in the opposite direction. Therefore, the fanfold paper F is pulled back to the tractor unit 32 side. Then, as shown in FIG. 11, when the perforation M reaches the transfer position P0 of the photosensitive drum 40, the controller 240 stops the reverse drive of the tractor unit 32.

After that, the controller 240 stops the rotation of the photosensitive drum 40 and the operation of the fixing device 122 to complete the print ending process. The above-mentioned print end processing is apparent from the time chart of FIG. 12, and in FIG.
t1 indicates the time when the perforation M of the fanfold paper F reaches the transfer position P0 of the photosensitive drum 40, and t2 indicates the time when the perforation M leaves the photosensitive drum 40.

At time t2, the tractor unit 32 is
The counter 36 can be used to make a determination based on the feed length of the fanfold paper F from the time point t1. Further, regarding the positioning of the perforation M with respect to the transfer position P0, the feed length of the fanfold paper F is also determined. Can be controlled based on. In the case of this embodiment, at time t2 when the perforation M of the fanfold paper F is separated from the photosensitive drum 40, that is, at a portion which is upstream from the perforation M and which is charged by the transfer portion 48a of the transfer / static eliminator 48. Since the transfer holder 97, that is, the lower guide plate 58 is down-operated after the charge is removed by the charge removing portion 48b and after the charge is separated from the photosensitive drum 40, the fanfold paper F may be smoothly separated from the photosensitive drum 40. Therefore, the fanfold paper F is not rubbed against the photosensitive drum 40, and the fanfold paper F is not contaminated by the residual toner on the photosensitive drum 40.

At this point, as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 12, at the time t1 when the perforation M of the fanfold paper F reaches the transfer position P0 of the photosensitive drum 40, under the merging guide 54. Side guide plate 58 and transfer / static eliminator 4
When 8 is simultaneously down-operated, the charged perforation area M of the fanfold paper F is still in close contact with the photosensitive drum 40 at this time, so that the traveling of the Fanford paper F is unstable. The photosensitive drum 40
And the fanfold paper F may rub against each other, and in this case, the fanfold paper F may be soiled by the residual toner.

The above-described print end processing has been described by focusing on one perforation M of the fanfold paper F. However, in the actual print end processing, the last toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 40 is fanfolded. It is started after being transferred to the paper F. When returning the fanfold paper F, as described above, at the start of the print end process,
The part of the fanfold paper F that was at the transfer position P0 may be returned to the transfer position P0 as well, or the fanfold paper F may be returned so that the next perforation is positioned at the paper preparation position R. .

Therefore, when the printing process of the fanfold paper F is restarted after the print end processing, the toner image should be transferred to the fanfold paper F subsequently to the previously transferred toner image. Alternatively, the toner image can be transferred with a predetermined margin from the beginning of the next page. After the print end processing, the computer and the manual switch 242
When the selection signal of the cut sheet C is given from the controller to the controller 240 to switch from the fanfold sheet F to the cut sheet C, the fanfold sheet F undergoes the cutting process, and then the paper parking process continues. Be seen.

That is, in this case, after the print end processing, the controller 240 re-drives the tractor unit 32, and the fanfold paper F continues until the perforation at the last printed page end is located in the cutting path described above. Sent in. During this time, the controller 240 operates the fixing device 122 to fix the unfixed toner image on the fanfold paper F remaining between the photosensitive drum 40 and the fixing device 122 in the previous printing process.

Thereafter, the fanfold paper F is sandwiched between the supporting roller 72 and the free roller 74 of the scuff roller unit 70, and the sandwiching pad 196 and the lower side of the fanfold paper F are sandwiched between the supporting rollers 72 and the free roller 74 as described above. The fan-folded paper F is cut and separated from the perforations by the cutting disk 188 moving while rotating along the cutting path while being sandwiched between the guide plate 201 and the guide plate 201. The upstream portion of the separated fanfold paper F is folded and stacked on the paper output stacker 226 of the paper output unit 10.

When the above cutting process is completed, the controller 240 drives the tractor unit 32 in the reverse direction, and pulls back the fanfold paper F remaining on the belt conveyor 60. When the cut end of the fanfold paper F is detected by the end detection sensor 38, at this time,
The controller 240 stops the reverse drive of the tractor unit 32, the fanfold paper F returns to the paper parking state shown in FIG. 5, and thereafter, the printing process of the cut C can be similarly performed. Become.

Although the fanfold paper F is used as the continuous recording paper in the above-described embodiment, it is possible to use roll paper without perforations in place of the fanfold paper F.

[0087]

As described above, according to the present invention, when there is no continuous recording paper in the paper guiding means when printing is started, the continuous recording paper is fed into the paper guiding means to perform continuous recording. Since the leading edge of the paper is positioned at a predetermined position upstream of the photosensitive medium, the leading edge of the continuous recording paper contacts the photosensitive medium until the toner image on the photosensitive medium is substantially transferred to the continuous recording paper. There is nothing to do. As a result, the contact does not damage or wear the photosensitive medium itself, and the residual toner on the photosensitive medium does not adhere to the continuous recording paper to stain the continuous recording paper.

At the end of printing, after the continuous recording paper charged by the transfer charger has advanced beyond the photosensitive medium before the operation of the transfer charger is stopped, the paper separating means Since the sheet conveying means is separated from the photosensitive medium by the operation, the continuous recording sheet can be smoothly separated from the photosensitive medium without using a means for forcibly separating the continuous recording sheet from the photosensitive medium. As a result, when the continuous recording paper is separated from the photosensitive medium, the continuous recording paper does not run unstablely, and the photosensitive medium and the continuous recording paper do not rub against each other. It is possible to prevent the continuous recording paper from being contaminated by the residual toner.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an electrophotographic printer.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing the periphery of a photosensitive drum of the printer.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing in detail a sheet separating device of the printer.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing a control circuit of the printer.

FIG. 5 is a partial schematic view of the printer during a printing process of cut sheets.

FIG. 6 is a partial schematic view of the printer showing an auto-set state of fanfold paper.

FIG. 7 is a partial schematic view of the printer during a fanfold paper printing process.

FIG. 8 is a partial schematic diagram of the printer showing a start state of print end processing when printing of fanfold paper is stopped.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the next stage from the state of FIG. 8 in the print end processing.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the next stage from the state of FIG. 9 in the print end processing.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a completed state of the print end process from the state of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a timing chart showing operating states of the transfer / static eliminator, the transfer holder, and the tractor unit in the print end process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Paper feed stack section 4 Paper feed stack section 8 Printing section 10 Ejection section 12 Tray 14 Ejection roller 16 Tray 18 End detection sensor 20 Separation roller 22 Paper feed roller 24 Register guide 26 Register roller 28 Installation guide 30 End detection sensor 32 Tractor unit 31 Preparation Back-Feeding Means (Paper Preparing Means, Back-Feeding Means) 34 Rotary Encoder 36 Counter 38 End Detection Sensor 40 Photosensitive Drum 42 Charging Device 44 Exposure Device 46 Developer 48 Transfer / Electrifier 48a Transfer Part (Transfer Charger) 48b Electrification Part 50 Separation Claw 52 Cleaner Unit 53 Paper Guide Means 54 Confluence Guide 56 Upper Guide Plate 58 Lower Guide Plate 58 Paper Conveying Means 60 Belt Conveyor 62 Conveying Rollers 64 Conveying Rollers 66 Conveyor Belts 68 Suction Device 7 0 Scuff roller unit 72 Support roller 74 Free roller 82 Electric motor 83 Electric motor 85 Electric motor 90 Paper separating device (paper separating means) 92 Support frame 94 Side plate 96 Support shaft 97 Transfer holder 98 Holder plate 100 Opening 102 Roller shaft 104 Eccentricity Roller 106 Short link 108 Long link 110 Support arm 111 Support shaft 112 Hook 114 Pin 116 Tensile coil spring 118 Guide roller 122 Fixer 124 Lamp housing 128 Halogen lamp 130 Flash lamp 136 Reflector 138 Reflector 158 Glass plate 188 Cutting disk 196 Holding Pad 200 Guide plate 201 Guide plate 214 First discharge gate 216 Support shaft 218 Second discharge gate 220 Paper output tray 222 Support shaft 226 Paper output stacker 228 Flat belt 230 Chain belt 240 Controller 242 Manual switch C Cut paper F Fanfold paper P0 Transfer position R Paper preparation position

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A paper guide means for guiding a continuous recording paper toward a photosensitive medium of an electrophotographic printer, and when there is no continuous recording paper in the paper guiding means, the continuous recording paper is fed into the paper guiding means, And a sheet preparation unit for positioning the leading edge of the continuous recording sheet at a predetermined position upstream of the photosensitive medium. 2. A paper guide means for guiding a continuous recording sheet toward a photosensitive medium of an electrophotographic printer, and a transfer charger for transferring a toner image on the photosensitive medium onto the continuous recording sheet in response to a print request. A sheet conveying means for conveying the continuous recording paper fed from the sheet guiding means toward the photosensitive medium while urging it, and charging by the transfer charger before printing is completed and the operation of the transfer charger is stopped. And a sheet separating unit that separates the sheet conveying unit from the photosensitive medium after the portion of the continuous recording sheet that has passed over the photosensitive medium advances. 3. The continuous recording paper conveying device according to claim 2, wherein the paper conveying means includes a backward feeding means for retracting the continuous recording paper to a predetermined position after the operation of the paper separating means. 4. An electrophotographic printer having the continuous recording paper conveying device according to claim 1. 5. The continuous recording paper is fed into the paper guiding means when the continuous recording paper is not present in the paper guiding means for guiding the continuous recording paper toward the photosensitive medium of the electrophotographic printer, and the leading end of the continuous recording paper. Is positioned at a predetermined position on the upstream side of the photosensitive medium. 6. A continuous recording paper for guiding a continuous recording paper toward a photosensitive medium of an electrophotographic printer, and transferring a toner image on the photosensitive medium onto the continuous recording paper by a transfer charger in response to a print request. Of the continuous recording paper charged by the transfer charger over the photosensitive medium before printing is completed and the operation of the transfer charger is stopped before being conveyed toward the photosensitive medium. A method of transporting continuous recording paper, characterized in that the continuous recording paper is separated from the photosensitive medium after proceeding. 7. The method of transporting continuous recording paper according to claim 6, wherein the continuous recording paper is retracted to a predetermined position after the continuous recording paper is separated from the photosensitive medium. 8. An electrophotographic printing method using the method for transporting continuous recording paper according to claim 5, 6, or 7.