JPH0784489A - Device for removing image forming material from image holding body by using peeling member - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a device for removing toner from a transfer paper, capable of surely removing only the toner from the transfer paper on which the toner is stuck by using a prescribed peeling member. CONSTITUTION:In the toner removing device unstabilizing the sticking state of the transfer paper 10 whose surface has the stable sticking of the toner and it, to remove it from the transfer paper 10, a toner peeling unit in which a peeling roller 302 having sticking force larger than that of the surface to the toner with respect to it is arranged on the side of the surface to which the toner is stuck, so as to come into contact with the toner at least on the surface is provided. A heating lamp 301 for softening the toner sticking to the transfer paper 10 can be disposed inside the peeling roller 302 or a backup roller 308 and moreover, the diameter of the peeling roller 302 can be made small so that the transfer paper 10 can be curvedly separated from the peeling roller 302.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer, a printing machine or the like, in which the image forming material is stably attached to the image holding member and the image forming material is in an unstable state. The present invention relates to an image forming substance removing apparatus for removing an image forming substance from the image holding member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are known various image forming substance removing methods and devices for removing an image forming substance such as toner from a sheet as a recorded image carrier. For example, as one using a solvent, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-10
In Japanese Patent No. 1576, a sheet on which toner is attached is immersed in a soluble solvent of a toner resin and ultrasonic vibration is applied to the sheet.
A method for removing an image-forming substance is disclosed in which the toner dissolved in a solvent is released from the paper surface. In addition, JP-A-4-3003
In Japanese Patent Publication No. 95, a solvent is attached to a printed portion of waste paper by a method such as dipping, spraying or coating to dissolve the toner,
An image forming substance removing method is disclosed in which the dissolved toner is removed by a method such as washing, air suction, contact with an adsorbent, mechanical peeling or electrostatic adsorption.

On the other hand, as one not using a solvent, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-255195, a heat-meltable ink or a heat-meltable ink placed on a printed material coated with a release agent on a support by an electrophotographic method or a thermal transfer method is used. A method for removing an image forming substance in which toner is adhered to the ink peeling body and removed by stacking the ink peeling body on the printed body and passing the toner between the heating roller and the pressure roller and cooling the peeled ink peeling body. Is disclosed. Further, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication 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) There is disclosed an eraser including a pressing roller that presses against a softened or melted heat-melting resin, and a drive unit that moves these in conjunction with each other. In addition, JP-A-4-829
In Japanese Patent Publication No. 83, 83, two rollers provided in parallel to rotate in pressure contact with each other to pass the paper through the pressure contact point, a heater for heating at least one of the two rollers, and a roller passing through the pressure contact point A scraper for separating the paper from the roller,
An image forming substance removing device is disclosed, which comprises a peeling device that removes the image forming substance attached to the roller from the roller.

By the way, when the above-mentioned solvent-free method and apparatus are used to remove an image-forming substance from a recorded image carrier on which an image is recorded on an ordinary paper having paper fibers exposed on the surface, for example, Since the image-forming substance is firmly fixed to the fibers on the surface of the image-holding member by fusing the image-forming substance containing a heat-meltable resin as a main component to the image-holding member in the fixing step of the electrophotographic method, When the image-forming substance is removed, the paper fibers on the surface are peeled off together with the image-forming substance and the paper quality is damaged.
In particular, when heat or pressure is applied to the above-mentioned ink stripper, endless sheet or roller in order to enhance the removability of the image-forming substance, the fixing between the image-forming substance and the image-holding member may be reversed depending on various conditions. In some cases, it has become difficult to remove because it has increased the property.

Therefore, the present applicant has previously proposed that the recorded image carrier contains water as a destabilizing agent, an aqueous solution containing a surfactant, an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble polymer, and a surfactant and a water-soluble polymer. Containing at least one kind of water or aqueous solution selected from the group consisting of aqueous solutions containing, and interposing a peeling member, heat-bonding or pressure-bonding the image-forming substance to the peeling member to peel it from the image carrier. An image forming substance removing method has been proposed (for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 4-255).
916). According to this, only the image-forming substance can be removed without relatively damaging the paper quality of the image carrier.

[0006]

However, in the conventional image-forming substance removing device from the image carrier, the image-forming substance adheres to the surface depending on the material, configuration, arrangement, etc. of the peeling member used. There is a possibility that only the image-forming substance cannot be reliably removed from the existing image carrier. Further, after the image forming substance on the image carrier to which the destabilizing agent or the like has been applied is removed by the peeling member, there is a fear that the image carrier cannot be reliably separated from the peeling member.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a first object of the present invention is to obtain an image from an image carrier on the surface of which an image forming substance is adhered by using a predetermined peeling member. To provide an apparatus for removing an image forming substance from an image carrier capable of reliably removing only the forming substance,
A second object of the invention is to provide an image-forming substance removing apparatus for removing an image-forming substance from the image-holding member, which can reliably separate the image-holding member from which the image-forming substance has been removed.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above first object, the invention of claim 1 relates to the adhesion of an image carrier having an image forming substance stably attached to the surface thereof and the image forming substance. An image forming substance removing apparatus for removing an image forming substance from the image holding member, which makes the state unstable, in an image forming substance removing device from the adhesive force between the surface and the image forming substance with respect to the image forming substance. A peeling member provided with a peeling member having a large adhesive force so as to come into contact with at least the image forming substance on the surface on the surface side to which the image forming substance is attached, According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming substance removing apparatus from the image holding member according to the first aspect, the image forming substance attached to the image holding member is in contact with the peeling member or immediately before the peeling member is in contact. Characterized by having softening means for softening A.

In order to achieve the second object,
In the image forming substance removing apparatus from the image carrier according to claim 1 or 2, the invention according to claim 3 is such that the surface of the peeling member is moved so as to move through a contact portion with the image carrier conveying means. A means for moving the member is provided, and is between the conveyance direction of the image carrier conveying means immediately before the contact portion and the direction of the position where the tip of the image carrier is separated from the peeling member as seen from the end of the contact portion. According to the invention of claim 4, the peeling member is arranged so that the surface of the peeling member moves through the contact portion with the image carrier conveying means. A moving means is provided, and the movement locus of the surface of the peeling member on the downstream side of the contact portion is set so as to have a curvature such that the image carrier separates by the waist.

[0010]

According to the invention of claim 1, the peeling member of the peeling means arranged on the surface side of the image carrier on which the image forming substance is adhered is arranged so as to contact at least the image forming substance on the surface, By having an adhesion force larger than that of the surface and the image-forming substance with respect to the image-forming substance,
After the peeling member is brought into contact with the surface, when the peeling member and the image holding member are separated from each other, the image forming substance can be surely separated from the image holding member and adhered only to the peeling member. become able to.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the softening means softens the image forming substance adhering to the image holding body which is in contact with the peeling member or immediately before the peeling member is in contact with the peeling member. The adhesive force between the holder and the image forming substance can be made smaller, and the adhesive force between the image forming substance and the peeling member can be increased.

In the invention of claim 3, the peeling member is moved so that the surface of the peeling member moves through the contact portion with the image carrier conveying means, and the image carrier immediately before the contact portion. By making the angle between the conveying direction of the conveying means and the direction of the detaching position of the tip of the image carrier viewed from the end of the contact portion from the peeling member, that is, the separation angle of the image carrier, an acute angle. The tip of the image carrier that has passed the contact portion with the peeling member can be reliably separated from the surface of the peeling member.

In the invention of claim 4, the peeling member is moved so that the surface of the peeling member moves through the contact portion with the image carrier conveying means, and the peeling member downstream of the contact portion. By setting the movement locus of the surface so that the image carrier has a curvature that is separated by the waist of the image carrier, the tip of the image carrier that has passed through the contact portion with the peeling member is fixed to the peeling member. Can be reliably separated from the surface of.

[0014]

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the image holding method for removing a heat-melting toner (hereinafter, referred to as a toner) as an image forming substance from a transfer paper as an image holding member on which an image is formed by a transfer type electrophotographic copying machine. An embodiment applied to a device for removing an image forming substance from a body (hereinafter referred to as a toner removing device) will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an example of a toner removing device to which the present invention can be applied. First, a general description will be given of the toner removing device. The toner removing device includes a paper feeding unit 1 for separating and feeding the transfer papers 10 on which toner images are formed, which are accommodated in a stacked state, one by one, and the paper feeding unit 1. A liquid applying unit 2 that supplies liquid to the transferred transfer paper 10, a toner peeling unit 3 that removes toner from the transfer paper 10 that has been supplied, and a drying unit that dries the transfer paper 10 from which toner has been removed. 4 and a paper receiving unit 5 that receives the transfer paper 10 discharged from the drying unit 4. Then, the transfer paper 10 conveyed from the paper feeding unit 1 has a liquid destabilizing agent (hereinafter referred to as a processing liquid) 20 that makes the adhesion state of the transfer paper 10 and the toner in the liquid applying unit 2 unstable. At least the transfer liquid 1 is applied with the treatment liquid 20.
Permeate into the interface between 0 and toner. Then, the treatment liquid 20 is removed by the peeling roller 302 of the toner peeling unit 3.
After the toner is peeled off from the transfer paper 10 at the interface where the ink has penetrated, the transfer paper 10 is dried by the drying roller 402 of the drying unit 4 and discharged to the paper receiving unit 5.

Here, as the treatment liquid 20, water, an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble polymer, an aqueous solution containing a surfactant,
At least one kind of water or an aqueous solution selected from the group consisting of an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble polymer and a surfactant can be used. Further, the water or the aqueous solution may contain a predetermined organic solvent. Moreover, as the processing liquid 20, only an organic solvent can be used.

Examples of the water-soluble polymer include starchy substances (branch starch, potato starch, tapioca starch, wheat starch, corn starch, etc.),
Mannan (konjac, etc.), seaweed (Funori, agar, sodium alginate, etc.), plant mucilage (troloois,
Gum tragacanth, gum arabic, etc.), mucilage by microorganisms (dextran, levan, etc.), protein (glue,
Gelatin, casein, collagen, etc.) natural polymers, cellulose-based (viscose, methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, etc.), starch-based (soluble starch, carboxymethyl starch, dialdehyde starch) semi-synthetic polymers, Examples thereof include synthetic polymers, but are not limited thereto.

Examples of the above-mentioned surfactant include, for example,
Anionic (carboxylate, sulfonate, sulfate ester, phosphate ester, phosphonate, etc.), cationic (amine salt, quaternary ammonium salt, benzalkonium salt, benzethonium chloride salt, pyrinidinium) Salt, imidazolinium salt, sulfonium salt, polyethylene polyamine, etc.), amphoteric system (amino acid, carboxybetaine, sulfobetaine, aminosulfate, aminocarboxylic acid salt, imidazoline derivative, etc.), nonionic (ether type, ether ester type) , Ester type, nitrogen-containing type, polyhydric alcohol, amino alcohol, polyethylene glycol, etc.) and fluorine-based surfactants, but not limited thereto.

As the organic solvent contained in the water or the aqueous solution, turpentine, dipentene, butyl acetate, carbon tetrachloride, cellosolve acetate, xylene, toluene, ethyl acetate, diacetone alcohol, methyl cellosolve acetate, benzene, methyl ethyl ketone, Examples thereof include, but are not limited to, methyl acetate, methylene chloride, ethylene dichloride, cyclohexane, cellosolve, dioxane, acetone, methyl cellosolve, cyclohexanol, butanol and the like.

As the organic solvent used alone, carbon-hydrogen solvents such as hexane, heptane, octane, nonane, spirit, naphtha N01-6 (trade name of Shell Petroleum Co.), Isopar E, L, K, V (trade name of Exxon), IP Solvent (trade name of Idemitsu Oil Co., Ltd.), Shell-sol 70, 71, Solvesso 100,
150 (trade name of Shell Oil), Ascom OMS,
460 (trade name of Spirits), Vegasol 103
0,2130,3040 (trade name of Mobil Oil Co., Ltd.) and the like. Further, Fluorinert FC40, 43, 70, 77 (trade name of Sumitomo 3M), which is a fluorine-based solvent,
Aflude E10, 16, 18, etc., Shin-Etsu Silicone KF96 (trade name) which is a silicone solvent, Toray Silicone SH200, 344 (trade name), Toshiba Silicone T
SF431 (trade name) and the like are included, but the invention is not limited thereto.

Next, the respective units 1, 2, 3, in the illustrated example
4, 5 will be described. The sheet feeding unit 1 feeds the transfer sheets 10 stacked on the bottom plate 101 from the lowermost one by a sheet feeding roller 102, separates the double feed by a separation mechanism (not shown), and forms one sheet of the transfer sheet 10. Only the registration roller pair 104 for timing adjustment and skew correction is sent out. The specific configuration and operation are the same as those of the paper feeding mechanism in the electrophotographic copying machine, and therefore detailed description will be omitted.

The liquid applying unit 2 contacts the liquid container 201 filled with a predetermined amount of the processing liquid 20 and one surface (the upper surface in the drawing) of the transfer paper 10 while the processing liquid 20 in the liquid container 201 is being contacted.
The submerged conveying roller 202 that conveys the medium to guide the inside, the driving unit (not shown) of the submerged conveying roller 202, and the other surface (the lower surface in the drawing) of the transfer paper 10 into the processing liquid 20 of the liquid container 201. A submerged guide plate 203 for guiding, a pair of squeezing rollers 204 also functioning as a holding and conveying means, a squeezing rod 205 that is arranged to bite into the lower squeezing roller 204, and the like are provided.
In this unit 2, the transfer paper 10 fed from the paper feeding unit 1 is guided into the treatment liquid 20 in the liquid container 201 by the submerged conveying roller 202 and the submerged guide plate 203, and immersed in the treatment liquid 20. After being squeezed, the squeezing roller pair 204
The excess processing liquid 20 is removed by the above and is conveyed to the next toner peeling unit 3. Instead of directly passing the transfer paper 10 through the treatment liquid to apply the treatment liquid to the transfer paper 10 as in this example, the treatment liquid is applied to the surface of the transfer paper 10 by an application roller or transferred by a sprayer. The atomized treatment liquid may be attached or applied to the surface of the paper 10. Any other method can be used.

The toner peeling unit 3 includes a heating lamp 301 as a means for softening the toner T, and a pair of peeling rollers 302 as a pair of peeling members arranged in pressure contact with each other, in the vicinity of the pressure contact portion on the transfer paper discharge side. Separation claw 30 arranged so as to contact the surface of the peeling roller 302 of
3, a cleaning device 304 for cleaning the surface of the peeling roller 302, a drive unit (not shown), and the like.
In addition, regarding another configuration example of the toner peeling unit 3,
More on this later.

The surface of the peeling roller 302 is made of a material having an adhesive force greater than that of the transfer paper 10 and the toner to at least the softened toner. Specifically, the same or similar toner component resin as the above toner, component resin of an adhesive, or the like can be used,
In addition, aluminum-based, copper-based, nickel-based, iron-based, and other metal materials can be used, but are not limited thereto. The resin may be water-soluble or water-insoluble.

Examples of the toner component resin include, but are not limited to, polystyrene resin, acrylic resin, methacrylic resin, styrene-butyl acrylic copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, polyester resin and epoxy resin. Not a thing.

As the component resin of the adhesive, protein adhesives such as glue, gelatin, albumin, and casein, and carbohydrate-based adhesives such as starch-based, cellulose-based, complex polysaccharide-based (acacia gum, tragacanth gum, etc.) Agents, vinyl acetate polymers and copolymers, acrylics,
Thermoplastic adhesive such as ethylene copolymer, polyamide, polyester, polyurethane, rubber adhesive such as polychloroprene-based, nitrile rubber-based, recycled rubber-based, SBR-based, natural rubber-based, rubber-based, acrylic-based, etc. Polyethylene terephthalate (PE) with pressure-sensitive adhesive and titanium oxide dispersed
T), etc., but not limited thereto.

When the above resin is used, it is desirable to have a multi-layer structure of at least two layers of a support and a surface layer from the viewpoints of preventing elongation due to tension and heat, durability and the like. That is, when a roller-shaped peeling member is used as in the illustrated example, it is desirable to form a peeling member by forming a surface layer made of the above resin or the like on a base roller as a support. As a support for supporting the above resin,
For example, rubber rollers, sheets, cellophane tapes, kraft paper adhesive tapes, polyvinyl chloride tapes, acetone tapes, tapes such as filament reinforcing tapes, and the like can be used, but are not limited thereto.

The heating lamp 301 of the upper and lower peeling rollers 302 is in close contact with the front and back of the transfer paper 10 to heat and soften the toner adhered to the transfer paper 10.
The toner is easily separated from the fibers of the transfer paper 10. It is desirable to perform this heating to such an extent that the toner on the transfer paper 10 does not melt at the pressure contact portion. This is because if the toner melts, it will be difficult to transfer the toner on the transfer paper 10 to the peeling roller 302 side without dividing the toner between the paper side and the peeling roller 302 side. If it is heated too much, the transfer paper 1 is transferred while passing through the pressure contact portion of the pair of peeling rollers 302.
0 is too dry, and the fixing force of the toner to the transfer paper 10 is stronger than that when the transfer paper 10 is wet, and the transfer paper 10 is attached to the roller 302 through the toner and is separated by the separation claw 303. There is a risk that they will not be separated. Therefore,
It is desirable to heat the transfer paper 10 after passing through the heating unit to such an extent that a little damp air remains and the re-adhesion of the toner can be prevented.

The cleaning device 304 removes the toner T on the surface of the peeling roller 302, the scraper blade 306 for scraping off the toner T on the cleaning roller 305, and the toner T scraped off by the scraper blade 306. A toner receiver (toner container) 307 for containing the toner is provided.

A belt having the same surface characteristics as the peeling roller 302 may be used instead of the peeling roller 302, or the cleaning roller 305 of the cleaning device 304 may be replaced with a cleaning blade or a scraper that directly contacts the surface of the peeling roller 302. You may use such as. These modifications will also be described in detail later.

The drying unit 4 is for drying the transfer paper 10 and is composed of an upper drying roller 402 made of, for example, aluminum and having a built-in heating lamp 401, and a lower drying roller 404 pressed against the upper drying roller 402. . The lower drying roller 404 is provided with a surface layer made of a liquid-supplying member, and a diaphragm blade 405 for squeezing the liquid on the surface layer is in contact therewith. Instead of or in addition to the pair of drying rollers 404, 404, a belt-shaped member may be used, or a hot air fan or an infrared lamp may be used.

The paper receiving unit 5 is provided with a paper discharge tray 501 for receiving the transfer paper discharged from the drying unit 4.

Although not shown in the figure, the toner removing device includes a detecting means for detecting whether or not the transfer paper 10 is present on the paper feeding table, a double feeding detecting means for the transfer paper 10 by the paper feeding unit 1, Liquid remaining amount detecting means in liquid container 201, liquid container 201
Means for automatically replenishing liquid to the transfer paper, means for detecting jam of the transfer paper 10 inside the apparatus, means for controlling lighting of each heating lamp, and toner receiving container 3
A means for filling the inside of 07 is provided.

In the above-described structure, the transfer paper 10 sent from the paper feeding unit 1 is uniformly supplied with the liquid on the toner image surface by the liquid applying unit 2, and is sent to the toner peeling unit 3. In the toner peeling unit 3, the toner adhered to the paper is softened by heating from the peeling roller 302 and adheres to the surface of the peeling roller 302. Then, when the paper is separated from the peeling roller 302, the toner attached to the surface of the peeling roller 302 is peeled off from the paper, whereby the toner is removed from the paper. The paper from which the toner has been removed is the drying unit 4
Then, the paper is dried and discharged to the paper receiving unit 5.

As described above, according to this toner removing device, since the liquid is supplied to the paper on which the toner is attached and the liquid is permeated into the interface between the paper and the toner, the toner is peeled off, so that the paper fiber is damaged. Without, the toner can be removed.

Further, the surface of the peeling roller 302 is contacted with the peeling roller 302 while the surface of the paper is wet and heated to such an extent that the paper can be kept wet even when the paper is separated from the peeling roller 302. Even when it is made of an adhesive material, it is possible to prevent the paper surface itself from adhering to the surface of the peeling roller 302 to cause separation failure, and the separated paper portion re-contacts with the peeling roller 302 to re-use the toner. Can prevent metastasis.

In this toner removing device, the transfer paper 10 is held by the two peeling rollers 302 to remove the toner from both sides of the transfer paper 10. Therefore, the toner is removed from the bottom plate 101 of the paper feeding unit 1. It is not necessary to consider the front and back sides when setting the transfer paper 10 to be removed. Further, when it is desired to remove the toner on both sides of the transfer paper used on both sides, it is only necessary to pass the inside of the apparatus once.

Next, an example of the structure of the toner peeling unit 3 which is a feature of the present invention will be described in detail. In the overall configuration diagram of the toner removing device in FIG. 1, the transfer paper 10 is sandwiched by the two peeling rollers 302 to remove the toner from both surfaces of the transfer paper 10. However, in the following,
The case of the toner peeling unit 3 that removes toner from one surface of the transfer paper 10 by one peeling roller 302 will be described. Of course, the following configuration can also be applied to the toner peeling unit 3 configured to hold the transfer paper 10 between the two peeling rollers 302 as shown in FIG. 1 and remove the toner from both surfaces of the transfer paper 10. (Hereafter, margin)

A specific example of the toner peeling unit 3 having a smoothing means for smoothing the non-uniform toner adhered on the peeling roller 302 will be described with reference to FIG. The toner peeling unit 3 includes a hollow peeling roller 302 containing a heating lamp 301 as a softening unit for the toner T, a backup roller 308 arranged so as to contact the surface of the peeling roller 302, and a surface of the peeling roller 302. It is provided with a pressing roller 309 as a pressing member of the smoothing means, which is arranged so as to press while rotating, a drive unit (not shown), and the like.

The backup roller 308 and the drive section constitute a peeling member moving means for moving the surface of the peeling roller 302 in contact with the surface of the copy paper 10. The transfer paper 10 having the toner T adhered to the upper surface is sandwiched between the backup roller 308 and the peeling roller 302 and is conveyed to the left. The drive unit is a peeling roller 30.
2, only the backup roller 308, or both of them may be configured to be driven in the arrow direction. Here, when the backup roller 308 is driven and the peeling roller 302 is configured to follow the backup roller 308, the toner adhesion amount increases due to repeated use of the peeling roller 302, and the diameter of the peeling roller 302 increases. However, the moving speed of the surface of the peeling roller 302 and the conveying speed of the transfer paper 10 at the holding portion can be kept constant.

The material of the surface of the pressing roller 309 is preferably a material having excellent releasability from the toner T, and a specific example thereof is Teflon.

Although the heating lamp 30 is used as the softening means in this example, a pressure device or the like for softening the toner by pressure may be provided instead. In addition, the heating lamp, the pressurizing device, and the like include the peeling roller 302 and the transfer paper 10.
It may be provided on the upstream side of the contact portion with.

In this example, the transfer paper 10 having the toner T adhered to the upper surface is sandwiched between the peeling roller 302 and the backup roller 308, and is conveyed leftward. In this holding section, the surface of the transfer paper 10 and the toner T are
Peeling roller 302 having an adhesive force greater than that of
The surface of the transfer paper 10 on which the toner T is adhered is pressed against the surface,
After that, when the transfer paper 10 passes through the holding section, the toner T remains attached to the surface of the peeling roller 302,
It is peeled from the surface.

At this time, the peeling roller 302 is heated by the heating lamp 301, and the toner T on the transfer paper 10 held by the peeling roller 302 and the backup roller 308 is held.
Is softened, the adhesive force between the toner T and the transfer paper 10 is further reduced, and the toner T and the peeling roller 302 are
The adhesive force with the surface is increased, and the toner T is removed by the peeling roller 3
02 It is easy to peel from the surface.

The toner T peeled from the surface of the transfer paper 10 and adhering to the surface of the peeling roller 302 has unevenness corresponding to the image pattern on the transfer paper 10, but this uneven uneven toner. The adhesion is smoothed by the pressing roller 309 pressing the surface of the peeling roller 302.
The surface of the peeling roller 302 whose toner adhesion is smoothed contacts the surface of the transfer paper 10 to which the toner T is adhered, and is used for the next peeling process.

Further, another specific example of the toner peeling unit 3 having the smoothing means will be described with reference to FIG. The toner peeling unit 3 is provided with a pressing blade 310 arranged to press the surface of the peeling roller 302 instead of the pressing roller 309 as a pressing member of the smoothing means. In this example, the peeling roller 3 has an uneven shape corresponding to the image pattern on the transfer paper 10.
The toner non-uniformly attached on the surface 02 is smoothed by being pressed by the pressing blade 310. The surface of the peeling roller 302 whose toner adhesion is smoothed contacts the surface of the transfer paper 10 to which the toner T is adhered, and is used for the next peeling process.

As described above, by providing the above-mentioned smoothing means,
The uneven toner adhesion corresponding to the image pattern on the peeling roller 302 is smoothed, and the contact state of the surface of the peeling roller 302 with the surface of the transfer paper 10 is eliminated, so that peeling unevenness such as local peeling failure occurs. The peeling roller 302 can be repeatedly used.

In the toner peeling unit 3, as shown in FIG. 4, a releasing agent applying roller 311 as a releasing agent applying means for applying a releasing agent such as silicone oil to the surface of the pressing roller 309, and a pressing roller. A scraper blade 312 may be provided as an image forming substance removing unit that scrapes off the toner T on the surface 309. In this case, the toner T on the surface of the pressing roller 309 is applied by applying the releasing agent to the surface of the pressing roller 309 by the releasing agent applying roller 311.
The toner T adhering to the surface of the pressing roller 309 can be scraped off by the scraper blade 312, so that the pressing roller 309 can be removed.
It is possible to prevent the toner from adhering to the surface, and it is possible to surely smooth the toner T that is adhering irregularly on the peeling roller 302.

Next, with reference to FIG. 5, a specific example of the toner peeling unit 3 having a toner removing device 304 as an image forming substance removing means for removing the toner T adhering to the surface of the peeling roller 302 will be described. The toner peeling unit 3 has the same configuration as that of FIG. 1 and is arranged so as to come into contact with the surface of the peeling roller 302 and the hollow peeling roller 302 having the heating lamp 301 as a softening means for the toner T built therein. A backup roller 308, a drive unit (not shown) and the like are provided. As the toner removing means, the cleaning roller 305 and the cleaning roller 305 that remove the toner T on the surface of the peeling roller 302.
A scraper blade 306 that scrapes off the upper toner T and a toner receiver (toner container) 307 that stores the toner T scraped off by the scraper blade 306 are provided.

At least the surface of the cleaning roller 305 has the toner T adhering to the peeling roller 302.
Of the peeling roller 302 is inferior in releasability to the toner. Specific examples of the material include, but are not limited to, aluminum-based, copper-based, nickel-based, iron-based metal materials, and polymer materials such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in which titanium oxide is dispersed. It is not something that will be done.

In this example, the toner T peeled from the surface of the transfer paper 10 and attached to the surface of the peeling roller 302.
Are removed by the cleaning roller 305. The toner T adhering to the cleaning roller 305 is scraped off by the scraper blade 306 to receive the toner (toner container).
It is housed in 307.

The toner removing device 304 is shown in FIG.
The toner T on the peeling roller 302 may be directly scraped off by the scraper blade 313 as shown in FIG. Toner T scraped off by scraper blade 313
Are stored in a toner receiver (toner container) 307. Here, the scraper blade 313 is formed of, for example, a metal, and is coated with Teflon or the like so as to have a good releasing property with respect to the toner T, so that the toner adhesion to the surface can be prevented. it can. Further, the upper part of the toner receiver (toner container) 307 is configured to be movable along a guide rail 314 provided on the apparatus main body side, and the toner receiver (toner container) 307 is provided as necessary.
Take out 307 to the outside of the device and receive the toner (toner container)
The toner in 307 can be discarded.

The toner removing device 304 is shown in FIG.
The toner T on the peeling roller 302 may be removed by a web (belt) 315 stretched so as to come into pressure contact with the peeling roller 302 as shown in FIG. Web 31 supplied from unused web roll 316
5 is driven with a speed difference with respect to the moving speed of the surface of the peeling roller 302 while being in pressure contact with the surface of the peeling roller 302 to which the toner T is attached, and after removing the toner T, it is taken up by a take-up roll 317. .

As described above, by providing the toner removing device 304, the toner T adhering to the surface of the peeling roller 302 can be removed all the time or when necessary, and it becomes possible to prevent the excessive toner adhesion. The peeling performance of 302 can be maintained and used for a long period of time.

A toner collecting device, which is a collecting means for collecting the toner T removed by the toner removing device 304, may be provided. As a specific example of this toner collecting device,
As described in FIG. 6, the toner receiver (toner container)
The upper part of 307 can be moved along a guide rail 314 provided on the apparatus main body side.
As a result, the toner receiver (toner container) 307 can be taken out of the apparatus and the toner in the toner receiver (toner container) 307 can be discarded as necessary.

Further, a toner collecting device as shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C can be provided. In this toner collecting device, the backup roller 308 also serves as a transfer paper transporting body that sucks and transports the transfer paper 10, and the screw 3
Toner transport path 319 and toner transport path 31 with built-in 18
Heater 320 and toner container 30 provided at the end of
7, a compression member 321 as a compression unit that compresses the toner T in the toner container 307, a drive unit (not shown) of the screw 318, a heater power supply (not shown), and the like. The compression member may be manually driven or may be provided with a drive unit that is automatically driven. In this example, as shown in FIG. 8A, the toner T adhering to the surface of the peeling roller 302 is the scraper blade 31.
At 3, the toner is scraped into the toner transport path 319. Then, as shown in FIG. 8B, the toner T in the toner carrying path 319 is carried to the end portion of the toner carrying path 319 by the screw 318 and heated by the heater 320.
While being melted in 9, the toner is stored in the toner container 307. Then, as shown in FIG. 8C, the toner container 30
The toner T contained in the toner 7 is compressed by the compression member 321, the density of the toner T is increased, and the toner T is solidified. The toner T in the toner container 307 is discarded at any time.

As described above, by providing the toner collecting device, the toner T in the toner container 307 can be collected and discarded, so that the toner peeling unit 3 can be used for a long time. Further, since the density of the toner T in the toner container 307 can be increased and the volume of the toner T can be reduced, the toner accommodating efficiency can be increased and the apparatus can be made compact. Furthermore, since the collected toner can be easily discarded, maintenance and maintenance of the apparatus can be facilitated, that is, operability and serviceability of the apparatus can be improved.

Further, in the toner peeling unit 3 including the toner removing device 304 from the peeling roller 302 and the toner collecting device, the peeling roller 302 is at the time when the collection amount limit of the toner container 307 of the toner collecting device becomes the limit.
The capacity of each toner container 307 and the release material for the surface layer of the release roller 302 can be configured so as to be approximately the same as the time when the release limit is reached. In this case, when the toner container 307 has reached the collection amount limit, for example, information on the collection amount limit is displayed by an operation display unit (not shown), and after the operator recognizes the display, the peeling roller 302 is displayed. Since the use of the peeling roller 302 can be stopped and the peeling roller 302 can be replaced, it is possible to prevent the peeling roller 302 from being used beyond the peeling limit.

Next, the toner adhesion amount on the peeling roller 302 is detected, and the peeling roller 302 is detected based on the detection result.
The toner peeling unit 3 having a control means for controlling the use of the toner will be described. A specific example of the toner peeling unit 3 having the control means will be described with reference to FIG. The toner peeling unit 3 includes a peeling belt 323 as a peeling member stretched around the conveying rollers 322a, 322b, and 322c, and an elastic member 324 such as a spring.
23 a pressing roller 30 urged to press against the surface
9, a backup roller 308 that is urged by an elastic member 324 such as a spring to come into pressure contact with the conveying roller 322a via the peeling belt 323, a toner adhesion amount detection device 325 that detects the toner adhesion amount on the peeling belt 323, a CPU ，
It is provided with a control unit (not shown), which is the above-mentioned control unit, including a RAM, a ROM, an I / O unit, and the like. The toner adhesion amount detecting device 325 irradiates light to the reflecting plate 327 and the reflecting plate 327 which have the light reflecting surface 327a and are urged by the elastic member 324 such as a spring so as to come into contact with the surface of the peeling belt 323. Reflective photo sensor 3 for detecting the intensity of reflected light
28 and the like.

In this example, the transfer paper 10 having the toner T adhered to the upper surface is nipped between the peeling belt 323 and the backup roller 308 and conveyed in the left direction in the drawing. When the transfer paper 10 passes through the holding portion, the toner T
Are peeled off, adhere to the surface of the peeling belt 323, and are laminated. The toner layer is smoothed by the pressing roller 309, and then the left end portion of the reflection plate 327 contacts with the toner layer. At this time, the reflection plate 327 moves in the left-right direction in accordance with the thickness of the toner layer on the peeling belt 323, and the intensity of the reflected light from the reflection surface 327a fluctuates.
The output voltage Vsp of No. 8 varies depending on the toner layer thickness on the peeling belt 323. Output voltage V of the photo sensor 328
sp is input to the control unit and can be used for various controls described below.

In an example of the control based on the output voltage by the photo sensor 828, the output voltage V1 of the photo sensor 328 corresponding to the toner layer thickness requiring the replacement of the peeling belt 323 is set as a reference value and stored in the control unit in advance. Keep it. Then, the output voltage Vsp of the photo sensor 323 is compared with the reference value V1, and when it is determined that the peeling belt 323 needs to be replaced or when it is determined that the time for replacement is approaching, the display on the display panel or a warning sound is generated. It is possible to control so as to notify the operator by, for example.

In another example of the above control, the transfer paper 10
The output voltage V2 of the photo sensor 328 corresponding to the toner layer thickness at which it is impossible to hold and convey the toner is set as a reference value,
It is stored in the control unit in advance. Then, the photo sensor 32
When the output voltage Vsp of No. 3 becomes substantially the same as the reference value V2, the driving of the entire device can be controlled to be stopped. As a result, it is possible to prevent the transfer paper 10 from being jammed. The entire apparatus may be stopped after the peeling belt 323 has rotated a predetermined number of times. In that case, for example, a convex detection mark is formed on the peeling belt 323, and the photo sensor 323 is used.
After the output voltage Vsp of the toner has become substantially the same as the reference value V2, the toner adhesion amount detection device 3 is caused to pass the detection mark.
25, the number of rotations of the peeling belt 323 is counted, and the count result is used for control.

Next, the transfer paper 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
A specific example of the toner peeling unit 3 having a separating unit that separates the transfer paper 10 from the surface of the peeling roller 302 after peeling the toner T from 0 will be described. Here, the liquid applying unit 2 which is more effective when used in combination with the separating means will be described together.

The toner peeling unit 3 according to this example includes a peeling roller 203, a backup roller 308 having a built-in heating lamp 201, a separating claw 303 and a separating claw 303 as a separating means rotatable about a rotating shaft 303a. An elastic member 324 such as a spring that biases the tip of the separating portion to contact the surface of the peeling roller 302, a solenoid 329 that drives the separating claw 303 so that the tip of the separating portion separates from the surface of the peeling roller 302, and a driving portion thereof. And so on. When the toner removal processing is not performed, the separation claw 303
The tip of the separating portion is separated by a solenoid 329 so as not to damage the surface of the peeling roller 302 and to scrape off the adhered toner on the surface of the peeling roller 302.
At the time of separation, by turning off the solenoid 329, the surface of the peeling roller 302 is lightly contacted by the urging force of the elastic member 324, for example, 0.1 to 10 gf.

Further, the liquid applying unit 2 according to the present example has a liquid container 201 containing the processing liquid 20, a liquid supply pipe 212,
A processing liquid spraying device including a pump 213, a nozzle 216, and the like, a conveyance guide plate 221, a sheet leading edge sensor 234 for detecting the leading edge of the transfer sheet 10 conveyed from the sheet feeding unit 1, and the like are provided. As the paper edge sensor 234, for example, a transmissive type, a reflective type, or a photosensor with a filler can be used. (Hereafter, margin)

Further, in this example, a control unit (not shown) for controlling the sheet leading edge sensor 234, the solenoid 329, and the like.
Is equipped with. This control unit is, for example, a CPU, RA
It can be composed of an M, a ROM, an I / O unit and the like.

In the present example, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 11, the leading edge of the transfer sheet 10 conveyed from the sheet feeding unit 1 is detected by the sheet leading edge sensor 234, and a predetermined time t _{1 is} delayed after the detection. Then, the controller 213 controls the pump 213 to be turned on to eject the treatment liquid 20 from the nozzle 216 toward the transfer paper 10 side. As a result, a few mm (preferably 2 to 10) from the front end of the transfer paper 10
mm) to provide a region where the processing liquid 20 is not applied. As a result, after the next peeling process in the toner peeling unit 3, the tip of the transfer paper 10 is easily separated from the surface of the peeling roller 203 by the waist of the transfer paper 10 itself. In addition, as shown in the timing chart of FIG.
The control unit controls the solenoid 329 to be turned on immediately before the lapse of a predetermined time t ₂ after detecting the front end of the transfer paper 1, and the urging force of the elastic member 324 causes the front end of the separation unit of the separation claw 303 to contact the surface of the peeling roller 302. In contact with each other, the transfer paper 10 is mechanically separated from the surface of the peeling roller 302 in addition to the separation of the transfer paper 10 by the waist as shown in FIG. This makes it possible to more reliably separate the tip of the transfer paper 10 from the surface of the peeling roller 302. The separation by the separation claw 303 is more effective when combined with the method of providing the processing liquid non-application area on the leading end of the transfer paper 10.

Next, another specific example of the toner peeling unit 3 will be described with reference to FIG. The toner peeling unit 3 according to this example includes a peeling roller 302 having a small diameter (preferably about 30 mm or less). In this example, the conveyance direction immediately before the contact portion between the peeling roller 302 and the transfer paper 10 and the tip of the transfer paper 10 (two-dot chain line in the figure) seen from the end of the contact portion are separated from the peeling roller 302. The angle with respect to the direction of the position, that is, the separation angle of the transfer paper 10 (θ in the figure) becomes an acute angle. In other words, the movement trajectory of the surface of the peeling roller 302 on the downstream side of the contact portion is the transfer paper. 10 has a curvature such that the waist separates the curvatures. Therefore, the transfer paper 1 that has passed through the contact portion
The tip of 0 can be reliably separated from the surface of the peeling roller 302. As described above, according to this example, the leading end of the transfer paper 10 can be reliably separated from the peeling roller 302 without providing a complicated separating unit.

The configuration of this example is more effective when combined with the configuration of FIG. Further, the configuration of this example can be applied to the case where a peeling belt which is a belt-shaped peeling member stretched by a conveying roller is used. In this case,
The diameter of the conveying roller on the downstream side of the contact portion between the peeling belt and the transfer paper 10 may be reduced.

Next, another specific example of the toner peeling unit 3 having the above-mentioned separating means will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15. Here, the liquid applying unit 2 which is more effective when used in combination with the separating means will be described together.

The toner peeling unit 3 according to this example is shown in FIG.
4 (a) and 4 (b), a peeling roller 203, a backup roller 308 having a built-in heating lamp 201,
A side separation plate 330 and the like for guiding the side end portion of the transfer paper 10 in a predetermined conveyance direction without contacting the surface of the peeling roller 302 are provided. It is desirable that the surface of the side separation plate 330 be treated with a fluorine resin (for example, Teflon) so that the side separation plate 330 has a releasability that does not easily adhere to the toner. Further, the extension distance of the side separation plate 330 from the end on the transfer paper 10 side is preferably about 3 to 10 mm. Further, as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the liquid applying unit 2 according to the present example includes a processing liquid spraying device including a nozzle 216 and the like, a transport guide plate 221 and the like, but the transfer paper 10 The conveyance guide plate 221 is extended so that the processing liquid 20 is not applied to the side end portion (the left end portion in FIG. 15B) of the. The extension distance from the end of the transfer guide plate 221 on the transfer paper 10 side is preferably 1 to 10 mm.

In this example, the transfer paper 10 conveyed from the paper supply unit 1 has its side end portion at the side separation plate 3.
It is guided along the lower side of 30 to reach the contact portion with the peeling roller 302. Then, after passing through the contact portion,
The transfer paper 10 is further conveyed while its side end portion is guided along the lower side of the side separation plate 330. As a result, toner is prevented from adhering to the peeling roller 302, and the transfer paper 10 can be reliably separated from the surface of the peeling roller 302. Further, since the area where the treatment liquid 20 is not applied is provided in advance at the side end portion of the transfer paper 10, it becomes possible to further prevent toner adhesion to the peeling roller 302.
Further, since the stiffness of the transfer paper 10 is not weakened, the separation of the transfer paper 10 from the peeling roller 302 only on the side can be further ensured.

Next, another specific example of the toner peeling unit 3 having the above separating means will be described with reference to FIG. The toner peeling unit 3 according to this example includes the peeling roller 2
03, a backup roller 308 having a built-in heating lamp 201, and the like. This backup roller 308
A concave portion is provided in a part of the surface of the sheet, and an openable / closable clamp claw 331 that holds the leading end of the transfer paper 10 in the concave portion is provided in the concave portion. The clamp claw 331 is biased by a biasing member such as a spring (not shown) so as to be opened in a normal state.

Further, in this example, the sheet leading edge sensor 234 for detecting the leading edge of the transfer sheet 10 transported from the sheet feeding unit 1, the sheet leading edge sensor 234, the drive unit of the backup roller 308, and the transport roller pair 209. A control unit (not shown) for controlling the drive unit and the like is provided. As the paper leading edge sensor 234, for example, a transmissive type, a reflective type, or a photosensor with a filler can be used, and the control unit is, for example, a CPU, a RAM,
It can be composed of a ROM, an I / O unit, and the like.

In this example, the leading edge of the transfer sheet 10 conveyed from the sheet feeding unit 1 is detected by the sheet leading edge sensor 234, and after a lapse of a predetermined time, the backup roller 308 is driven and the concave portion of the clamp claw 331 in the open state is driven. Transfer paper 10
The clamp claw 331 is moved in synchronization with the tip end at this time.
Is pushed by the surface of the peeling roller 302, reaches the biasing member, enters the concave portion, and passes through the contact position with the peeling roller 302 while holding the transfer paper 10 in a pressed state. After that, when the backup roller 308 rotates by a predetermined distance and then the clamp claw 331 separates from the peeling roller 302, the clamp member 331 is opened by the biasing member to open the front end of the transfer paper 10. As a result, the leading end of the transfer paper 10 can be reliably separated from the peeling roller 302.

Next, another specific example of the toner peeling unit 3 having the above-mentioned separating means will be described with reference to FIGS. Toner peeling unit 3 shown in FIG.
Is a peeling roller 302 having a built-in heating lamp 301, a backup roller 308 arranged to hold the transfer paper 10 between the peeling roller 302, and the transfer paper conveyance from the contact start position of the tip of the transfer paper to the peeling roller 302. A separating claw 303 as a separating means arranged so as to contact the surface of the separating roller 302 on the downstream side in the direction.

Further, the toner peeling unit 3 shown in FIG.
Is a peeling belt 323 as a peeling member wound around a plurality of supporting rollers 332a, 332b, and c, and a supporting roller 33.
The backup roller 308 is provided so as to be pressed against each other with the peeling belt 323 interposed therebetween, and the tension roller 333 and the like for pushing the peeling belt 323 inward between the supporting rollers 332b and 332c. Here, the support roller 332 a has a built-in heating lamp 301 for softening the toner on the transfer paper 10. Further, at least the surface of the peeling belt 323 that contacts the transfer paper 10 is
It is formed of a material that is easily attached to the softened toner. Further, among the supporting rollers that support the peeling belt 323, the supporting roller 332 a and the backup roller 308.
The diameter of the support roller 332b around which the belt portion is wound after passing through the pressurizing section between and is made small, and the support roller 332b is used as a separating means. This small diameter support roller 332
Around b, the moving direction of the peeling belt 323 is suddenly changed to separate the transfer paper 10 from the peeling belt 323 by curvature.

By the way, the above-mentioned FIGS.
In the toner peeling unit 3 of Nos. 7 and 18, the transfer paper 10
When the paper is separated from the peeling roller 302 or the like, the transfer paper 10 may be damaged or jammed. Therefore, the waist is returned to the end of the transfer paper 10 and
The transfer paper 10 may be separated from the peeling roller 302 or the like after the end of the transfer paper 10 is dried so that the end of the transfer paper 10 can be easily separated from the surface of the peeling roller 302 or the like. .

For example, in the case of the toner peeling unit 3 shown in FIG. 13, the transfer paper 10 is separated from the peeling roller 302 by the curvature when the front end of the transfer paper 10 dries.
The diameter of the peeling roller 302 is set.

Further, for example, in the case of the toner peeling unit 3 of FIG. 14, the transfer paper 10 is guided by the side separation plate 330 and separated from the peeling roller 302 when the front end of the transfer paper 10 is dried. So that the side separation plate 3
The shape of 30 is processed and arranged. More specifically, on the downstream side in the transfer paper conveyance direction, the side separation plate 330 is formed so as to follow the surface of the peeling roller 302 until the transfer paper 10 is dried.
The shape of the side separation plate 330 is processed to remove the separation roller 30.
Place at the end of 2.

For example, in the case of the toner peeling unit 3 shown in FIG. 16, when the front end of the transfer paper 10 dries, the clamp claw 331 is opened and the transfer paper 10 is separated from the backup roller 308. Thus, the opening / closing operation of the clamp claw 331 is controlled.

Further, for example, in the case of the toner peeling unit 3 shown in FIG. 17 or 18, the disposing position of the separating claw 303 or the small-diameter support roller 332b is set to the position where the leading end of the transfer paper 10 dries. . For example, the temperature (heating temperature) of the surface of the peeling roller 302 or the surface of the peeling belt 332b at the pressure contact position with the backup roller 308 is 80 to 1
When the peripheral speed of the peeling roller 302 or the peeling belt 332b is 50 to 65 cm / s at 00 ° C, the distance l from the holding position of the transfer paper 10 in the figure to the separation position by the separation claw 303 or the small-diameter support roller 332b is set. Set to 80-100 mm. Here, the toner peeling unit 3 of FIG. 17 or FIG. 18 is configured to convey the transfer paper 10 in the vertical direction at the peripheral speed of 60 cm / s, and using A4 plain paper as the transfer paper 10, When the wetting amount of the front end portion of the transfer paper 10 was examined at a position where the distance from the holding position of the transfer paper 10 was 100 mm, it was possible to observe that 80 to 90% of the front end portion was dry. It was

When the transfer paper 10 is separated from the peeling roller 302 or the like after the end portions of the transfer paper 10 are dried as in the above modification, the transfer paper 1 is separated when the transfer paper 10 is separated.
A so-called waist returns to the dried end portion of 0, and the waist allows the end portion of the transfer paper 10 to be easily separated from the surface of the peeling roller 302 or the like. Therefore, the transfer paper 10
At the time of separation, the transfer paper 10 can be reliably separated at the above-described separation position without damaging the transfer paper 10 by the separation claw 303 or the like or causing a jam of the transfer paper 10.

In the toner peeling unit 3 shown in FIGS. 10 to 18, after the toner at the end of the transfer paper 10 adheres to the surface of the peeling roller 302 or the like and solidifies, the transfer paper 10
May be separated from the peeling roller 302 and the like.

For example, in the case of the toner peeling unit 3 shown in FIG. 10, when the toner at the tip of the transfer paper 10 adheres to the surface of the peeling roller 302 or the like and is solidified, the separating claw 30
The contact position of the separation claw 303 to the surface of the peeling roller 302 is set so that the transfer paper 10 is separated from the peeling roller 302 or the like at 3.

For example, in the case of the toner peeling unit 3 shown in FIG. 13, the transfer paper 10 is peeled off when the toner at the tip of the transfer paper 10 adheres to the surface of the peeling roller 302 and solidifies. The diameter of the peeling roller 302 is set so as to be separated by the curvature from.

For example, in the case of the toner peeling unit 3 shown in FIG. 14, when the toner at the tip of the transfer paper 10 adheres to the surface of the peeling roller 302 and solidifies, the transfer paper 10 is separated by the side separation plate. The side separation plate 330 is processed and arranged so as to be separated from the peeling roller 302 by being guided by 330. More specifically, the side separation plate 3 is provided on the downstream side in the transfer paper conveyance direction until the toner at the front end of the transfer paper 10 adheres to the surface of the peeling roller 302 and solidifies.
The shape of the side separation plate 330 is processed so that 30 is along the surface of the peeling roller 302, and the side separating plate 330 is arranged at the end of the peeling roller 302.

Further, for example, in the case of the toner peeling unit 3 shown in FIG. 16, a peeling belt 323 is used instead of the peeling roller 302, and the toner at the end portion of the transfer paper 10 adheres to the surface of the peeling belt 323 and solidifies. At this point, the contact distance of the peeling belt 323 to the transfer paper 10 on the backup roller 308 is set so that the transfer paper 10 held on the backup roller 308 is separated from the peeling belt 323.

Further, for example, in the case of the toner peeling unit 3 of FIG. 17 or 18, the separation claw 303 or the support roller 332b having a small diameter is arranged at the position where the toner at the end portion of the transfer paper 10 is on the peeling belt 323. Set to the position where it adheres to the surface and solidifies.

As in the above-described modified example, after the toner at the end portion of the transfer paper 10 adheres to the surface of the peeling roller 302 or the like and is solidified, the transfer paper 10 is separated from the peeling roller 302 or the like, so that the transfer paper 10 is separated. At the time of separation, the cohesive force of the toner at the end portion of the transfer paper, which has been lowered due to the application of the treatment liquid 20, becomes large, and the so-called waist returns to the end portion, and this waist causes the surface of the peeling roller 302 or the like to move. The end of the transfer paper 10 can be easily removed. Therefore, when the transfer paper 10 is separated, it is possible to reliably separate the transfer paper 10 at the separation position without damaging the transfer paper 10 by the separation claw 303 or the like or causing a jam of the transfer paper 10. become.

Further, instead of separately providing the liquid applying unit 2 and the toner peeling unit 3 as in the toner removing device of the above-mentioned embodiment, a large-diameter rotating member is held as a holding member for holding and conveying the transfer paper on the surface. A liquid application unit / toner stripping unit having a (paper holding drum) may be provided.
In the liquid applying unit and toner removing unit of this toner removing device, the transfer paper from the paper feeding unit 1 is sandwiched between the paper holding drum and the application roller provided so as to be in pressure contact with the transfer paper, and the processing liquid is applied. Then, the paper is conveyed while being in close contact with the surface of the paper holding drum. Next, the toner on the transfer paper is adhered and removed by a peeling roller provided so as to be in pressure contact with the paper holding drum. At this time, since the suction force of the processing liquid acts between the transfer paper and the paper holding drum, the adhesive force between the peeling roller and the transfer paper or between the toner and the transfer paper is resisted. Then, the transfer paper remains attached to the surface of the paper holding drum and moves to the contact position with the next drying roller having the built-in drying lamp. Then, the transfer paper is separated from the surface of the paper holding drum at a position where at least the leading end of the transfer paper is dried by the drying roller. Also in this case, the transfer paper on the paper holding drum may be separated from the peeling roller after the toner at the leading end of the transfer paper adheres to the surface of the peeling roller and solidifies.

Further, by applying a large amount of the processing liquid 20 to the transfer paper 10 by the liquid applying unit 2, the transfer paper 10 can be separated from the peeling roller 302 without using a rotating body having a large diameter as the backup roller 308. Will be able to be done reliably. In this case, in order to further ensure the separation of the transfer paper 10 from each roller, a separation claw 303 as shown in FIG. 12 and the like may be appropriately provided.

In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to the transfer paper 10 on which an image is formed by the transfer type electrophotographic copying machine, but other image forming such as a paper such as a facsimile, a printer, a printing machine, etc. It can also be applied to an image carrier such as recording paper used in the apparatus. Further, the present invention is not limited to an image carrier having a fibrous structure, but can be applied to an image carrier capable of forming an image. The image carrier to which the present invention can be applied may be, for example, a laminate in which the surface layer of the base sheet such as a plastic layer is a material layer having a liquid absorbing property and elasticity such as paper.

[0093]

According to the invention of claim 1, the peeling means is arranged so as to be in contact with at least the image-forming substance on the surface of the image-holding member on the surface side to which the image-forming substance is attached. The member has an adhesive force with respect to the image-forming substance that is greater than the adhesive force between the surface and the image-forming substance, so that the peeling member and the image-holding member are brought into contact with the peeling member after the contact with the surface. When separating the body, the image forming substance can be reliably separated from the image holding member and can be attached only to the peeling member, so that only the image forming substance is surely removed from the image holding member. The effect is that you will be able to.

According to the invention of claim 2, the softening means softens the image forming substance adhering to the image holding body which is in contact with the peeling member or immediately before the peeling member is brought into contact with the peeling member. Since the adhesive force between the image carrier and the image forming substance can be made smaller and the adhesive force between the image forming substance and the peeling member can be increased, only the image forming substance can be further removed from the image carrier. The effect is that it can be reliably removed.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the peeling member is moved so that the surface of the peeling member moves through the contact portion with the image carrier conveying means, and the image holding portion immediately before the contact portion is moved. An acute angle is formed between the conveying direction of the body conveying means and the direction of the position of the tip of the image carrier from the end of the contact portion to the position where the image carrier separates from the peeling member. As a result, the tip of the image holding member that has passed through the contact portion with the peeling member can be reliably separated from the surface of the peeling member. Therefore, the image holding member can be separated from the surface of the peeling member with a simple configuration. Therefore, there is an effect that it can be reliably separated and can be conveyed to the next processing step.

According to the invention of claim 4, the peeling member is moved so that the surface of the peeling member moves through the contact portion with the image carrier conveying means, and the peeling member is provided downstream of the contact portion. By setting the movement trajectory of the surface of the member so that the image carrier has a curvature such that the waist separates the curvature, the tip of the image carrier that has passed through the contact portion with the peeling member is peeled off. Since the image carrier can be reliably separated from the surface of the member, the image carrier can be reliably separated from the peeling member with a simple structure and can be conveyed to the next processing step.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner removing device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner peeling unit of the toner removing device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner peeling unit according to a modification.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner peeling unit according to another modification.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner peeling unit according to still another modification.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner peeling unit according to still another modification.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner peeling unit according to still another modification.

FIG. 8A is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner peeling unit according to still another modification. FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the toner recovery unit of the toner peeling unit. (C) is an explanatory view of a compression member of the toner recovery unit.

FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner peeling unit according to still another modification.

FIG. 10 is a toner peeling unit according to another modification,
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a liquid applying unit.

FIG. 11 is a timing chart of the operations of the toner peeling unit and the liquid applying unit.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of a contact portion of a separation claw of the toner peeling unit.

FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner peeling unit according to still another modification.

FIG. 14A is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner peeling unit according to still another modification. FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the toner peeling unit.

FIG. 15A is a front view of a liquid applying unit of a liquid applying unit used together with the toner peeling unit. (B) is a side view of the liquid applying part.

FIG. 16 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner peeling unit according to still another modification.

FIG. 17 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner peeling unit according to still another modification.

FIG. 18 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner peeling unit according to still another modification.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 liquid applying unit 3 toner peeling unit 4 drying unit 10 transfer paper 20 processing liquid 301 heating lamp 302 peeling roller 308 backup roller

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Tadashi Saito 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Within Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Yoichi Asaba 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Shares Inside Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Kiyoshi Tanigawa 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stock Company Ricoh (72) Inventor Yoshiaki Miyashita 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Tokyo Ota-ku, Ltd. Ricoh Company ( 72) Inventor Ryo Shingu 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo, Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Shinichi Kuramoto 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo In Ricoh Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image carrier having an image-forming substance stably attached to the surface thereof and an image-forming substance are made in an unstable state,
An image forming substance removing apparatus for removing an image forming substance from the image holding member, comprising: a peeling member having an adhesion force to the image forming substance that is greater than an adhesion force between the surface and the image forming substance. An image forming substance removing apparatus from an image carrier, further comprising: a peeling unit arranged so as to contact at least the image forming substance on the surface on the surface side to which the image forming substance is attached. 2. The image holding device according to claim 1, further comprising softening means for softening the image forming substance adhering to the image holding member which is in contact with the peeling member or immediately before coming into contact with the peeling member. A device for removing image-forming substances from the body. 3. A means for moving the peeling member so that the surface of the peeling member moves through a contact portion with the image carrier conveying means, the means for moving the image carrier just before the contact portion. The image holding device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an angle between a conveying direction and a direction of a position where the front end of the image holding body is separated from the peeling member when viewed from the end of the contact portion is an acute angle. A device for removing image-forming substances from the body. 4. A means for moving the peeling member so that the surface of the peeling member moves through a contact portion with the image carrier conveying means, and the movement of the peeling member surface downstream of the contact portion. The apparatus for removing an image forming substance from an image carrier according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the locus is set so as to have a curvature such that the waist of the image carrier separates.