JPH0792866A - Method for repetitively using image holding body, toner for electrophotography and method and device for recycling image holding body - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a paper recycling device where paper is not stained in the case of peeling toner, processing solution repetitively used is prevented from coloring and staining the paper, and the faulty peeling of the toner is prevented from occurring because the viscocity of the processing solution is increased. CONSTITUTION:After the processing solution consisting of a solution containing a surfactant is supplied to the surface of a toner image on the paper 10 by a solution supply unit 30, the paper is fed to a toner removing unit 40. In the unit 40, the toner stuck and fixed on the paper is softened by heating from heating rollers 45 and 46 and allowed to adhere to the surface of an offset belt 44. When the paper is separated from the belt 44, the toner adhering to the surface of the belt 44 is peeled from the paper. The paper where the toner is removed is dried in a drying unit 61, and ejected to a paper receiving unit 70. Toner whose composing material is substantially insoluble against hot water is used as this toner, so that a situation that toner coloring material is melted by heating at the time of removing the toner and the paper is stained is prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

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

[0002]

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

On the other hand, as a toner which does not use a solvent, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-255195 discloses a heat-melting toner which is placed on a printed material having a release agent coated on a support by an electrophotographic method or a thermal transfer method. Disclosed is a toner removing method in which a toner peeling body is superposed on the printed body, passed through a space between a heating roller and a pressure roller, cooled, and then the toner peeling body is peeled off to adhere the toner peeling body to the toner peeling body. There is.
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. Further, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 4-82983, two rollers provided in parallel to rotate in pressure contact with each other to pass the paper at the pressure contact point, a heater for heating at least one of the two rollers, A toner removing device is disclosed, which includes a scraping tool that separates a paper sheet that has passed through a pressure contact portion from the roller, and a peeling device that removes the toner attached to the roller from the roller.

[0004]

By the way, the above method and apparatus which does not use a solvent is used for removing toner from a recorded image carrier on which an image is recorded on ordinary paper having paper fibers exposed on the surface. When used, for example, in a fixing process of an electrophotographic method, the toner mainly composed of a heat-fusible resin is fused to the image holding member, so that the toner is firmly fixed to the fibers on the surface of the image holding member. When the toner is removed, the paper fibers on the surface are peeled off together with the toner, and the paper quality is damaged. In particular, in order to enhance the removability of the toner, the toner peeling body,
When heat or pressure is applied to the image carrier on the endless sheet or the roller, depending on various conditions, the fixing property between the toner and the image carrier may be increased to make removal difficult. .

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. An image by holding at least one kind of water or aqueous solution (hereinafter referred to as a treatment liquid) selected from the group consisting of aqueous solutions containing A method for removing toner from the holder has been proposed (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 4-255916). According to this, only the toner can be removed without relatively damaging the paper quality of the image carrier.

However, according to the research conducted by the present inventors, in carrying out the invention according to this prior application, there is a problem that a colored residual image remains on the image carrier after the toner is removed, depending on the type of toner. Found. Also,
When the treatment liquid is put in a container, the treatment liquid is supplied from the container to the image carrier, and the treatment liquid not retained by the image carrier is recovered in the container, the treatment liquid is repeatedly used in the container. It was found that the treatment liquid of No. 3 gradually becomes colored, and as a result, the image carrier is contaminated with the colored treatment liquid. Further, it has been found that when the treatment liquid is repeatedly used in this way, the toner removal gradually becomes incomplete. It was found that the cause of this incomplete toner removal is that the viscosity of the treatment liquid increases due to repeated use, the permeation of the treatment liquid into the paper is delayed, and the peelability of the toner from the paper deteriorates. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to prevent the image carrier from being contaminated when the toner is peeled off, and to perform the treatment even when the treatment liquid is repeatedly used. A method of regenerating an image carrier and a device therefor, which does not stain the image carrier to stain the image carrier or cause a toner separation failure due to an increase in the viscosity of the processing liquid, a method of repeatedly using the image carrier, and an electronic device. It is to provide a photographic toner.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a method of repeatedly using an image carrier according to claim 1 is to form an image by using a toner on a fibrous surface of the image carrier,
An image on which an image has been formed in a repeated use method of an image carrier in which the toner is removed from the image carrier after the image carrier is used as an information carrier and the image carrier is reused for image formation. The holder is water, an aqueous solution containing a surfactant,
After moistening with 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 an aqueous solution containing a surfactant and a water-soluble polymer, the toner on the image carrier is heated. , For the toner,
The toner is removed from the image holding member by adhering it to a toner peeling member having a larger adhesion than the toner and the surface, and peeling the toner from the surface of the image holding member. As the toner, a toner whose constituent material is substantially insoluble in hot water is used.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the image carrier is repeatedly used by forming an image on the fibrous surface of the image carrier by using a toner and using the image carrier as an information holding medium. Is repeatedly used for image formation by removing the image carrier from the image carrier, and the image carrier on which the image is formed is water, an aqueous solution containing a surfactant, or a water-soluble solution. After moistening with at least one kind of water or an aqueous solution selected from the group consisting of an aqueous solution containing a polymer and an aqueous solution containing a surfactant and a water-soluble polymer, the toner on the image carrier is heated, Toner is removed from the image holding member by adhering the toner to a toner peeling member having a larger adhesion force than the toner and the surface and peeling the toner from the surface of the image holding member. Do or , In which as the toner, the filtrate transmittance after boiling in water, characterized in that used as 90% or more.

The electrophotographic toner of claim 3 is characterized in that the constituent materials are substantially insoluble in hot water.

The toner for electrophotography according to claim 4 is characterized in that the filtrate has a transmittance of 90% or more after boiling in water.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of regenerating an image carrier in which the toner is removed from the image carrier having an image formed on the fibrous surface with toner. The image carrier is wetted with at least one kind of water or an aqueous solution selected from the group consisting of water, an aqueous solution containing a surfactant, an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble polymer, and an aqueous solution containing a surfactant and a water-soluble polymer. After that, the toner on the image carrier is heated to such an extent that the constituent materials thereof do not substantially melt into the water or the aqueous solution, and the adhesive force between the toner and the surface is applied to the toner. It is characterized in that it is attached to a toner peeling member having a larger adhesive force and is peeled from the surface of the image carrier.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reproducing device for an image carrier in which an image is formed on the fibrous surface by removing the toner from the image carrier on which an image is formed. The image carrier is wetted with at least one kind of water or an aqueous solution selected from the group consisting of water, an aqueous solution containing a surfactant, an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble polymer, and an aqueous solution containing a surfactant and a water-soluble polymer. Liquid applying means, heating means for heating the infiltrated toner on the image carrier to such an extent that its constituent materials do not substantially melt into the water or aqueous solution, and the heated toner is retained and wet. A toner for adhering the toner on the image holding member to a toner peeling member having a larger adhesion to the toner than the toner and the surface for peeling the toner from the surface of the image holding member. Peeling hand In which characterized in that a and.

[0014]

EXAMPLE The present invention was applied to the present invention in which an image made of toner was formed on a paper as an image carrier by an electrophotographic copying machine, the copy was used as an information holding medium, and then the toner was removed from the paper and the paper was reused. An example applied to the repeated use of the paper used will be described. In this embodiment, as a method of regenerating a paper by removing toner from the paper, the paper on which the toner image is formed is moistened with the treatment liquid described above, and then the toner is heated and brought into contact with a member having affinity with the toner. The method of peeling the toner from the paper is adopted. This paper recycling method does not stain the paper when the toner is peeled off, the treatment liquid is colored during repeated peeling and the entire paper is colored, and the viscosity of the treatment liquid increases to prevent the treatment liquid from penetrating into the paper. In order to prevent the delayed releasability from deteriorating, a toner whose constituent material is substantially insoluble in hot water is used as the toner.

First, a method for recycling the above paper will be described. In this paper recycling method, the paper on which the toner image is formed is wetted with the treatment liquid, thereby weakening the adhesiveness between the paper and the toner. As described above, this treatment liquid is at least one kind of water selected from the group consisting of water, an aqueous solution containing a surfactant, an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble polymer, and an aqueous solution containing a surfactant and a water-soluble polymer. Alternatively, it is an aqueous solution.

The above-mentioned surfactant accelerates the permeation of water into the interface between the paper and the toner. For example, anionic (fatty acid derivative, carboxylate, sulfonate, sulfate ester, phosphate ester, phosphonate, etc.), cationic (amine salt, quaternary ammonium salt, ester-bonded amine and ether) Quaternary ammonium salt having bond, heterocyclic amine, amine derivative, benzalkonium salt, benzethonium chloride salt, pyridinium salt, imidazolinium salt, sulfonium salt, polyethylene polyamine, etc., amphoteric system (amino acid, carboxybetaine, sulfo) Ordinary surface activity of betaine, aminosulfate, aminocarboxylate, imidazoline derivative, etc., non-ionic type (ether type, ether ester type, ester type, nitrogen-containing type, polyhydric alcohol, amino alcohol, polyethylene glycol, etc.) Agents and fluorosurfactants Door can be.

The above water-soluble polymer enters the eyes of the paper fibers in this manner in order to efficiently remove the toner which is hard to adhere to the surface of the peeling member, which will be described later, by entering the eyes of the paper fibers. It acts as a binder between the existing toner and the surface of the peeling member. For example, starchy substances (branch starch, potato starch, tapioca starch, wheat starch, cornstarch, etc.), mannan (konjac, etc.), seaweeds (fungi, agar, sodium alginate, etc.), plant mucilage (troloois, tragacanth gum, gum arabic, etc.) , Natural substances such as mucilages by microorganisms (dextran, levan, etc.), proteins (such as glue, gelatin, casein, collagen), cellulosics (viscose, methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, etc.), starches (soluble) Semi-synthetic polymer of starch, carboxymethyl starch, dialdehyde starch), polyvinyl alcohol, sodium polyacrylate, polyethylene oxide, isobutylene-anhydrous It can be employed including synthetic polymers such as maleic acid.

In this paper recycling method, the toner on the paper which has been wetted with the treatment liquid is heated and the toner peeling member has a larger adhesive force to the toner than the adhesive force between the toner and the surface. And then peeled off from the surface of the image carrier. It is desirable that this heating be performed to such an extent that the toner is softened but not melted. Further, as the peeling member, those whose surface is made of a toner component resin which is the same as or similar to the toner, a component resin of an adhesive, or the like, an aluminum-based member,
It is also possible to use a material made of a metal material such as a copper-based material, a nickel-based material, or an iron-based material.

As the component resin of the above adhesive, glue,
Protein-based adhesives such as gelatin, albumin and casein, starch-based, cellulose-based, carbohydrate-based adhesives such as complex polysaccharides (eg gum arabic and tragacanth), vinyl acetate polymers and copolymers, acrylics, ethylene Thermoplastic adhesives such as copolymers, polyamides, polyesters, polyurethanes, polychloroprene-based, nitrile rubber-based, recycled rubber-based, SBR-based, rubber-based adhesives such as natural rubber-based, rubber-based, acrylic-based pressure-sensitive An adhesive, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in which titanium oxide is dispersed, or the like can be used.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an example of a paper recycling apparatus for carrying out the above-described paper recycling method. In FIG. 1, this paper recycling apparatus includes a paper feeding unit 20 for separating and feeding the papers 10 on which toner images are formed, which are housed in a stacked state, one by one.
And a liquid supply unit 30 for supplying the processing liquid to the paper 10 sent from the paper supply unit 20, and the paper 1 to which the liquid is supplied.
Toner removal unit 40 for removing toner from 0, and drying unit 60 for drying the paper 10 from which toner has been removed
And a paper receiving unit 70 for receiving the paper 10 discharged from the drying unit 60.

The paper feeding unit 20 is arranged such that the surface on which a toner image is formed (hereinafter referred to as a toner image surface) faces downward, and one sheet of paper 10 stacked on a paper feeding table (not shown) from the lowermost one. It sends out one by one. 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 supply unit 30 has an aqueous solution (hereinafter, simply referred to as liquid) 31 containing a surfactant as a treatment liquid.
For supplying liquid to the paper 10 and containing a liquid 3
2, an application roller 33 that is provided so as to be partially submerged in the liquid in the liquid container 32, and pumps the liquid by rotation to supply it to the toner image surface of the paper 10; 33, and a regulation roller 34 as a paper regulation member provided so as to face 33. The coating roller 33 is provided at a portion facing the paper 10 so that a desired amount of liquid is applied to the paper 10.
Specifically, it is 35% or more of the paper mass, preferably 40 to 12
It is rotationally driven at a rotational speed such that even if a liquid equivalent to 0% is taken onto the paper 10, the liquid will not run out at the facing portion.

The regulating roller 34 is the coating roller 33.
So that the paper 10 can be sandwiched and conveyed between and, the paper 10 is opposed to the application roller 33 with a gap larger than the thickness of the paper 10 in a state of being pressed against the surface of the application roller 33 or increased by supplying water. It is driven to rotate clockwise.

The liquid supply unit 30 is a first paper guide for guiding the paper 10 sent from the paper feed unit 20 to a portion (hereinafter referred to as a liquid supply unit) facing the application roller 33 and the regulation roller 34. A mechanism 35 and a second paper guide mechanism 36 that guides the paper 10 that has passed through the liquid supply unit to the toner removal unit 40 side are provided.

The toner removing unit 40 sandwiches the offset belt 44 and a toner offset belt (hereinafter referred to as an offset belt) 44 as a toner peeling member wound around a plurality of support rollers 41, 42 and 43. Heating lamp 4 provided so as to be pressed against each other
Upper and lower heating rollers 45 and 46 built in 5a and 46a, and a belt cleaning device 47 that removes toner from the surface of the offset belt 44 are provided. At least the surface of the offset belt 44 is formed of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in which titanium oxide is dispersed, which is a material that is easily attached to the softened toner.

Among the rollers supporting the offset belt 44, around the small diameter roller 43 around which the belt portion after passing through the pressing portions of the upper and lower heating rollers 45 and 46 is wound,
The direction of movement of the belt can be drastically changed to separate the curvature of the paper 10 from the offset belt 44.

Further, the upper and lower heating rollers 45 and 46 make the toner image surface of the paper 10 adhere to the offset belt 44 and heat the toner adhered to the paper 10 to soften it. This heating is performed to the extent that the toner on the paper 10 is not melted at the pressure contact portion between the upper heating roller 45 and the offset belt 44. The upper heating roller 45 is the paper 10
The toner on the toner image surface is heated to a temperature near its softening point via the, but if it is heated too much, the paper 10 is too dry while passing through the pressure contact portion between the upper heating roller 45 and the offset belt 44, and The small diameter roller 43 is passed through the pressure contact portion
When the front end of the paper, which is separated by the curvature, re-contacts the surface of the offset belt 44 due to its own weight, the toner once attached to the surface of the offset belt 44 may be transferred to the paper again. Therefore, the paper 10 that has passed through the heating unit may have some dampness, for example, 4 g of A4 size paper that has a liquid content (12 to 63%) of about 0.5 to 2.5 g of liquid. It is heated to such an extent that it can be prevented from remaining and reattachment of the toner can be prevented. Specifically, the surface temperature of the upper heating roller 45 is 8
Lighting control of the built-in heating lamp 45a is performed so as to maintain the set temperature within the range of 0 ° C to 115 ° C.

The lower heating roller 46, together with the upper heating roller 45, is for softening the toner adhered to the paper 10. Also in this case, the paper 10 is heated so as not to be too dry. Specifically, the lighting control of the built-in heating lamp 46a is performed so that the surface of the peeling roller is maintained at a set temperature within the range of about 70 ° C to 115 ° C.

The toner removing unit 40 includes
A relay conveyance roller pair 53 is provided as a sandwiching conveyance means for causing the paper 10 sent from the liquid supply unit 30 side to enter the pressurizing section. Also, passing through the pressurizing unit,
Further, an upper and lower guide member 54 is also provided for guiding the paper 10, which is curvature-separated from the offset belt 44 by the small-diameter roller portion, to the drying unit 60 side. (Hereafter, margin)

Here, the linear velocity of the relay conveying roller pair 53 of the toner removing unit 40 is greater than the linear velocity of the paper feeding conveying roller pair 24 by the amount of extension due to liquid penetration of the paper 10 (for example, the above 3).
%) Is set to be faster. In particular,
The linear velocity of the paper feed transport roller pair 24 is 49.5 mm / sec, and the linear velocity of the relay transport roller pair 53 of the toner removing unit 40 is 5
It is set to 1.0 m / sec. Also, the upper heating roller 4
5 at the pressure contact portion between the offset belt 44 and the offset belt 44.
It is set to be slightly faster than the linear velocity of 3.

The drying unit 60 is for drying the paper 10 so that, for example, the liquid holding amount of the paper 10 is 10% or less of the paper weight, and the heating drum 61 having a built-in heating lamp 61a and made of, for example, aluminum. A plurality of support rollers 62
And a paper pressing belt 63 that is endlessly moved around the heating drum 61 at a fixed angle. In the illustrated example, one support roller 62 also serves as a tension roller. Further, the paper 1 sent from the nip portion formed by the heating drum 61 and the paper pressing belt 63.
Also provided are vertical guide members 64, 64 for guiding 0 and a discharge roller 65 for discharging the paper 10 to the paper receiving unit 70.

In the above structure, the paper 10 sent from the paper feeding unit 20 is supplied with the liquid uniformly on the toner image surface by the liquid supply unit 30 and sent to the toner removing unit 40. In the toner removing unit 40, the toner adhered to the paper is softened by the heating from the heating rollers 45 and 46 and adheres to the surface of the offset belt 44. When the paper is separated from the offset belt 44 around the small diameter roller 43, the toner adhering to the surface of the offset belt 44 is peeled off from the paper, whereby the toner is removed from the paper. The paper from which the toner has been removed is dried by the drying unit 61 and discharged to the paper receiving unit 70. According to this paper recycling apparatus, since the liquid is supplied to the paper on which the toner adheres and the liquid is permeated into the interface between the paper and the toner, the toner is heated and peeled off without damaging the paper fiber. , The toner can be removed.

Next, an image forming toner suitable for repeated use of the paper of this embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the paper is not stained when the toner is peeled by the above-described paper recycling method, and the treatment liquid is colored during repeated peeling to color the entire paper, or the viscosity of the treatment liquid increases and the treatment liquid increases. In order to prevent the deterioration of the releasability of the toner due to its slow penetration into the paper, a toner whose constituent material is substantially insoluble in hot water is used as the toner for image formation.

The suitability of such a toner can be clarified by a comparative study of a toner that causes the above-mentioned problems and a toner that does not. That is, as one of the comparative studies, the solubility in hot water was evaluated by the following procedure, for example. 1
After 0.5 g of the toner and 50 cc of water are put in a 00 cc beaker and sufficiently dispersed with a small amount of a surfactant, the mixture is boiled for 15 minutes and filtered. The filtrate was put into a quartz cell having an optical path length of 10 mm, and the transmittance was measured with a Poic densitometer (manufactured by Nippon Seimitsu Optical Co., Ltd.).

If the toner contains a coloring material that dissolves in hot water, when the toner is heated while the paper is wet with the treatment liquid, the coloring material in the toner begins to melt and a colored residual image is formed on the paper along the toner image. I understood it. It has been found that if the transmittance of the filtrate after boiling the toner is not 90% or more, the afterimage is formed and the paper is contaminated. In addition, when coloring is observed even when the filtrate transmittance after boiling the toner is 90% or more, if the toner is repeatedly peeled using the same treatment liquid, the treatment liquid will be colored and the entire paper after peeling will be colored. It was also confirmed to do. Further, it was also found that if the toner contains a material such as a resin component that dissolves in hot water, the viscosity of the treatment liquid increases, the permeation of the treatment liquid into the paper is delayed, and the releasability deteriorates.

The material of the toner of the present invention may be the same as that of a normal toner, except for the characteristics other than the solubility in water. Examples of the charge control agent include quaternary ammonium salts, salicylic acid derivatives and phenol compounds.

As the binder resin used in the present invention, those which have been used as the binder resin for toner so far can be basically applied. Specifically, homopolymers of styrene such as polystyrene, polychloroethylene, and polyvinyltoluene, and their substitution products; styrene-P chlorostyrene copolymer, styrene-propylene copolymer, styrene-
Vinyltoluene copolymer, styrene-vinylnaphthalene copolymer, styrene-methyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-butyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-octyl acrylate copolymer, Styrene-methylmethacrylate copolymer, styrene-ethylmethacrylate copolymer, styrene-butylmethacrylate copolymer, styrene-α-chloromethylmethacrylate copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-vinylmethyl Ether copolymer, styrene-vinyl ethyl ether copolymer, styrene-vinyl methyl ketone copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-isoprene copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile-indene copolymer, styrene-maleic acid Copolymer, styrene Maleic acid ester copolymer, styrene copolymers and the like; polymethyl methacrylate,
Polybutyl methacrylate, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyvinyl butyl butyral, rosin, modified rosin, terpene resin, phenol resin, aliphatic or alicyclic hydrocarbon resin, aromatic petroleum resin, Examples include chlorinated paraffin and paraffin wax, which may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The pigments and dyes used in the present invention are
All of the pigments, dyes, and polarity control agents that have been used conventionally can be applied. Specifically, ultramarine, nigrosine dye, aniline blue, chalco oil blue, DuPont oil red, quinoline yellow, methylene blue chloride, phthalocyanine blue, phthalocyanine green, rhodamine 6C lake, quinacridone, benzidine yellow,
Malacyanide Green, Hansa Yellow G, Malachide Green Hexalate, Oil Black, Azo Oil Black, Rose Bengal, Monoazo Dyes and Pigments, Disazo Dyes and Pigments, Trisazo Dyes and Pigments, Quaternary Ammonium Salts,
Metallic salts of salicylic acid and salicylic acid derivatives, and mixtures thereof can be mentioned. It goes without saying that attention should be paid to the solubility in water or hot water.

A releasing agent may be contained in the toner of the present invention. As release agents, in addition to synthetic waxes such as low molecular weight polyethylene and polypropylene, plant waxes such as candelilla wax, carnauba wax, rice wax, wood wax, jojoba oil, beeswax, lanolin, whale wax, etc. Animal waxes, mineral waxes such as montan wax and ozokerite, and oil-based waxes such as hydrogenated castor oil, hydroxystearic acid, fatty acid amides, and phenol fatty acid esters. In addition to the above components, the toner of the present invention contains various plasticizers (dibutyl phthalate, dioctyl phthalate, etc.), resistance, etc. for the purpose of adjusting the thermal properties, electrical properties, physical properties, etc. of the toner as necessary. Modifiers (tin oxide, lead oxide,
It is also possible to add auxiliary agents such as antimony oxide).

If desired, the toner of the present invention may be mixed with additives other than the above-mentioned toner resin and colorant. Examples of the additive include a fluidizing member such as colloidal silica, titanium oxide, and aluminum oxide. It is preferable that the fluidizing agent has a primary particle size smaller than 0.1 μm, and the surface thereof is subjected to a hydrophobic treatment with a silane coupling agent, silicone oil or the like.

Specific examples and comparative examples of the toner of the present invention will be described below. The parts in the description are parts by weight and Mn.
Means the number average molecular weight of the resin, Mw means the weight average molecular weight (thus Mw / Mn is the dispersion ratio), and Tg means the glass transition point.

SPECIFIC EXAMPLE 1 Styrene-n-butyl methacrylate copolymer (copolymerization ratio 7/3) 90 parts Mw 67.400 Mw / Mn 3.8 Tg 60 ° C. carbon black 10 parts quaternary ammonium salt ( TP302, Hodogaya Kagaku) 2 parts Polypropylene wax (Sun Wax 660P, Sanyo Kasei) 2 parts The above materials were mixed by a mixer and then melt-kneaded by a two-roll mill. The kneaded material is rolled and cooled, and then pulverized and classified to obtain an average particle size of 1
Particles of 1 μm were obtained. The obtained toner was dispersed in water and boiled, and the transmittance of the filtrate was measured and found to be 94%. The obtained toner was mixed with a silicone coated carrier to prepare a two-component developer. An image was formed using a Ricoh PPC copier FT4525 using this developer. When the obtained copy was passed through the paper recycling apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and the toner was peeled off, there was no afterimage on the paper. In addition, continuous peeling device 500
Although the paper was passed through, no coloration or increase in viscosity of the peeling liquid was observed, and neither coloring on the paper nor defective peeling was observed.

Specific Example 2 Styrene-n-butylmethacrylate copolymer (copolymerization ratio 7/3) 90 parts Mw 67.400 Mw / Mn 3.8 Tg 60 ° C. carbon black 10 parts Zinc salicylate (E84 , Orient Chemistry) 2 parts A toner was prepared from the above materials by the same procedure as in Specific Example 1.
The filtrate transmittance after boiling the obtained toner in water was 95%. The obtained toner was mixed with a silicone coated carrier to prepare a two-component developer. An image was formed with this developer using a digital PPC copier MF530 manufactured by Ricoh. When the obtained copy was passed through the paper recycling apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and the toner was peeled off, there was no afterimage on the paper. Further, although 500 sheets were continuously passed through the peeling device, neither coloring of the peeling liquid nor increase in viscosity was observed, and neither coloring of the paper nor defective peeling was observed.

Specific Example 3 Styrene-n-butyl methacrylate copolymer (copolymerization ratio 7/3) 90 parts Mw 67.400 Mw / Mn 3.8 Tg 60 ° C. carbon black 10 parts Zinc salicylate (E84 , Orient chemistry) 2 parts Chromium-containing azo dye (Bontron S34, Orient chemistry) 0.3 part A toner was prepared in the same procedure as in Example 1.
The filtrate transmittance after boiling the obtained toner in water was 91%. The obtained toner was mixed with a silicone coated carrier to prepare a two-component developer. An image was formed with this developer using a digital PPC copier MF530 manufactured by Ricoh. When the obtained copy was passed through the paper recycling apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and the toner was peeled off, there was no afterimage on the paper. Further, when 500 sheets of paper were continuously passed through the peeling device, coloring of the peeling liquid was observed, and the entire paper was colored purple.

Specific Example 4 Styrene-n-butyl methacrylate copolymer (copolymerization ratio 7/3) 90 parts Mw 67.400 Mw / Mn 3.8 Tg 60 ° C. Isobutylene-maleic anhydride copolymer 1 Parts carbon black 10 parts salicylic acid zinc salt (E84, Orient Chemistry) 1 part A toner was prepared using the above materials in the same procedure as in Example 1.
The filtrate transmittance after boiling the obtained toner in water was 95%. The obtained toner was mixed with a silicone coated carrier to prepare a two-component developer. An image was formed with this developer using a digital PPC copier MF530 manufactured by Ricoh. When the obtained copy was passed through the paper recycling apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and the toner was peeled off, there was no afterimage on the paper. Further, when 500 sheets were continuously passed through the peeling device, the viscosity of the peeling liquid was increased, and defective peeling of the toner was observed.

Comparative Example 1 Styrene-n-butyl methacrylate copolymer (copolymerization ratio 7/3) 90 parts Mw 67.400 Mw / Mn 3.8 Tg 60 ° C. carbon black 10 parts Chromium azo dye (Bontron S34, Orient Chemistry) 2 parts A toner was prepared using the above materials in the same procedure as in Specific Example 1.
The filtrate transmittance of the obtained toner after boiling in water was 42%. The obtained toner was mixed with a silicone coated carrier to prepare a two-component developer. An image was formed with this developer using a digital PPC copier MF530 manufactured by Ricoh. When the obtained copy was passed through the paper recycling apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and the toner was peeled off, a purple residual image was observed on the paper. Further, when 30 sheets were continuously passed through the peeling device, the peeling liquid became purple, and the paper after peeling the toner was colored.

Comparative Example 2 Styrene-n-butylmethacrylate copolymer (copolymerization ratio 7/3) 90 parts Mw 67.400 Mw / Mn 3.8 Tg 60 ° C. carbon black 10 parts Chromium-containing dye (TRH -1, Hodogaya Chemical Co., Ltd.) 2 parts A toner was prepared using the above materials in the same procedure as in Specific Example 1.
The filtrate transmittance of the obtained toner after boiling in water was 38%. The obtained toner was mixed with a silicone coated carrier to prepare a two-component developer. An image was formed with this developer using a digital PPC copier MF530 manufactured by Ricoh. When the obtained copy was passed through the paper recycling apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and the toner was peeled off, a purple residual image was observed on the paper. Further, when 30 sheets were continuously passed through the peeling device, the peeling liquid became purple, and the paper after peeling the toner was colored.

Comparative Example 3 Styrene-n-butylmethacrylate copolymer (copolymerization ratio 7/3) 90 parts Mw 67.400 Mw / Mn 3.8 Tg 60 ° C. carbon black 10 parts Nigrosine dye (Bontron N -11, Orient Chemistry) 2 parts Polypropylene wax (Sun Wax 660P, Sanyo Kasei) 2 parts A toner was prepared in the same procedure as in Specific Example 1.
The obtained toner had a filtrate transmittance of 28% after boiling in water. The obtained toner was mixed with a silicone coated carrier to prepare a two-component developer. An image was formed using a Ricoh copier FT4525 using this developer. When the obtained copy was passed through the paper recycling apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and the toner was peeled off, a black residual image was observed on the paper. Further, when 30 sheets were continuously passed through the peeling device, the peeling liquid was colored black, and the paper after peeling the toner was colored.

As described above, according to the reusable use method of the paper of this embodiment, when the toner is removed and the paper is regenerated, the paper on which the toner image is formed is wetted with the treatment liquid, whereby the paper and the toner are regenerated. Since the toner is heated and the toner is adhered to the peeling member to be peeled from the paper in a state where the adhesiveness with the is weakened, the toner can be removed without damaging the paper fiber. Further, as the toner for image formation, since the constituent material is substantially insoluble in hot water, the paper is not soiled when the toner is peeled off, and the treatment liquid is colored during repeated peeling, and the entire paper is It is possible to prevent coloring and deterioration of the releasability due to the increased viscosity of the treatment liquid and the delayed penetration of the treatment liquid into the paper.

[0050]

According to the method for repeatedly using an image carrier according to claims 1, 2, 5 and 6, the image carrier on which an image is formed is treated with water, an aqueous solution containing a surfactant and a water-soluble polymer. Containing an aqueous solution and at least one kind of water selected from the group consisting of an aqueous solution containing a surfactant and a water-soluble polymer or an aqueous solution, and then heating the toner on the image carrier and applying the toner to the toner. On the other hand, the toner is removed from the image holding member by adhering it to a toner peeling member having an adhesive force larger than that between the toner and the surface and peeling it from the surface of the image holding member. The toner can be removed and the image carrier can be regenerated without damaging the fibrous surface of the image carrier.

In particular, according to the method of repeatedly using the image carrier according to the first aspect, the fifth aspect, and the sixth aspect, the toner for forming an image having a constituent material substantially insoluble in hot water is used.
Alternatively, since the heating means heats the infiltrated toner on the image carrier to such an extent that the constituent material thereof does not substantially melt into the water or the aqueous solution, heating at the time of removing the toner for regenerating the image carrier. As a result, coloring materials will not melt. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an afterimage from occurring on the reproduced image carrier. Further, even when the treatment liquid is repeatedly used, the coloring material of the toner does not melt due to the heating at the time of removing the toner, so that the image carrier can be prevented from being stained due to the coloring of the treatment liquid. Further, since the constituent materials of the toner do not melt and the viscosity of the processing liquid does not increase due to the heating at the time of removing the toner, the toner removability due to poor penetration of the processing liquid into the fibrous surface of the image carrier due to an increase in the viscosity of the processing liquid. It can also prevent deterioration.

According to the method of repetitively using the image carrier of the image carrier according to the second aspect, since the toner for forming an image having a transmittance of the filtrate after boiling in water of 90% or more is used. It is possible to prevent an afterimage from occurring on the reproduced image carrier.

Further, according to the toner for electrophotography of claim 3, since the constituent materials are substantially insoluble in hot water, an image carrier on which an image is formed on a fibrous surface using this toner,
Even after the toner on the image carrier is heated after being moistened with the processing liquid, the coloring material and the like do not melt. Therefore, in order to regenerate an image carrier on which an image is formed using this toner, after the image carrier is moistened with the treatment liquid, the toner on the image carrier is heated and Even when a method in which the toner is adhered to a toner peeling member having a larger adhesion than the toner and the surface and is peeled from the surface of the image carrier, the residual image is regenerated on the reproduced image carrier. Can be prevented. Also, even when the treatment liquid is repeatedly used, it prevents the stain on the image carrier due to the coloring of the treatment liquid and the deterioration of the toner peeling property due to the poor penetration of the treatment liquid onto the fiber surface of the image carrier due to the increase in the viscosity of the treatment liquid. it can.

Further, according to the toner for electrophotography of claim 4, since the transmittance of the filtrate after boiling in water is 90% or more, the image carrier on which an image is formed is reproduced by using this toner. In addition, after the image carrier is moistened with the treatment liquid, the toner on the image carrier is heated, and the toner has a larger adhesive force to the toner than the adhesive force between the toner and the surface. Even when a method of applying the toner to the toner peeling member and peeling it from the surface of the image carrier is applied, it is possible to prevent the afterimage from being generated on the reproduced image carrier.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner removing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Paper 30 Liquid Supply Unit 31 Treatment Liquid 40 Toner Removal Unit 44 Offset Belt 45 Upper Heating Roller 46 Lower Heating Roller 60 Drying Unit

Front page continued (72) Inventor Ryo Shingu 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoichi Asaba 1-3-3 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Sadao Takahashi 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo In Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Yoshiyuki Kimura 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo In Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Kazuhiro Ando 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo In Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tadashi Saito 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo In-Ricoh Co., Ltd.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image is formed on a fibrous surface of an image carrier by using a toner, the image carrier is used as an information carrier, and then the toner is removed from the image carrier to obtain the image. In a repeated use method of an image carrier for reusing the carrier for image formation, the image carrier on which the image is formed is treated with water, an aqueous solution containing a surfactant, an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble polymer, and a surfactant and an aqueous solution. Water and an aqueous solution of at least one selected from the group consisting of an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble polymer, the toner on the image carrier is heated, and the toner and the surface of the toner are applied to the toner. The toner is removed from the image holding member by adhering it to a toner peeling member having an adhesive force larger than that of the image holding member, and peeling it from the surface of the image holding member. Virtually heat Method for reusing image holding member, which comprises using those which are insoluble in. 2. An image is formed using a toner on the fibrous surface of an image carrier, the image carrier is used as an information carrier, and then the toner is removed from the image carrier to obtain the image. In a repeated use method of an image carrier for reusing the carrier for image formation, the image carrier on which the image is formed is treated with water, an aqueous solution containing a surfactant, an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble polymer, and a surfactant and an aqueous solution. Water and an aqueous solution of at least one selected from the group consisting of an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble polymer, the toner on the image carrier is heated, and the toner and the surface of the toner are heated. The toner is removed from the image holding member by adhering it to a toner peeling member having an adhesive force larger than that of the image holding member, and peeling it from the surface of the image holding member. After boiling Method for reusing image carrier filtrate transmittance is characterized by using not more than 90%. 3. A toner for electrophotography, wherein the constituent materials are substantially insoluble in hot water. 4. The transmittance of the filtrate after boiling in water is 90%.
The toner for electrophotography as described above. 5. A method of regenerating an image carrier in which the toner is removed from the image carrier on which an image is formed by using toner on a fibrous surface, wherein the image carrier on which the image is formed is treated with water, a surfactant. On the image carrier after wetting with at least one kind of water or an aqueous solution selected from the group consisting of an aqueous solution containing an agent, an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble polymer, and an aqueous solution containing a surfactant and a water-soluble polymer. While heating the toner to such an extent that the constituent materials thereof do not substantially melt into the water or the aqueous solution,
The toner is attached to a toner peeling member having a larger adhesive force than the adhesive force between the toner and the surface,
A method for reproducing an image carrier, which comprises peeling from the surface of the image carrier. 6. An image carrier reproducing apparatus for removing toner from an image carrier on which an image is formed by using toner on a fibrous surface, wherein the image carrier on which the image is formed is treated with water and a surface active agent. Liquid applying means for moistening with at least one kind of water or an aqueous solution selected from the group consisting of an aqueous solution containing an agent, an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble polymer, and an aqueous solution containing a surfactant and a water-soluble polymer; Heating means for heating the toner on the body to such an extent that the constituent material thereof does not substantially melt into the water or aqueous solution; and the toner on the image carrier that holds and wets the heated toner, And a toner peeling unit that is attached to a toner peeling member having a larger adhesive force than the toner and the surface to peel the toner from the surface of the image carrier. Statue Reproducing apparatus of the lifting body.