JPH08114952A - Device for removing image forming substance - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent various failures from occurring by efficiently removing liquid vapor from the vicinity of a contact area between a pressuring member which presses an image holding body wetted by removing an image forming substance to a heating member and the heating member. CONSTITUTION: In an interposing and carrying area being a press-contact part between a paper pressuring belt 63 and a heating drum 61; a non-contact part shown by A where the belt 63 does not come in contact with the drum 61 is set. Then, a gap roller 68 supporting the belt 63 so that the belt 63 may be stretched to the outside from the drum 61, and pressing rollers 67a and 67b functioning as a pressing member exerting proper pressing force from the belt 63 side to the drum 61 side in the area so that the width of the non-contact part may be changed are disposed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention reproduces an image carrier by removing the image forming substance from a recorded image carrier having an image forming substance adhered to the surface thereof by an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine or a printer. The present invention relates to an image forming substance removing apparatus for an image carrier, which performs at least a liquid application process on the image carrier. More specifically, the present invention relates to an image forming substance removing device having a heating member for heating an image carrier and an image carrier pressing member for pressing the image carrier.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various methods and apparatuses for removing an image forming substance such as toner from a sheet as a recorded image carrier to regenerate the image carrier are known. For example, as a method using a solvent, JP-A-1-101
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 576 discloses a method of removing an image forming substance in which a sheet having a toner attached thereto is dipped in a soluble solvent of a toner resin and ultrasonic vibration is applied to release the toner dissolved in the solvent from the surface of the sheet. . In addition, JP-A-4-30039
No. 5 discloses that 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, mechanical peeling, electrostatic adsorption or the like. The method of removing an image-forming substance is disclosed.

Further, the applicant of the present invention previously mentioned that the recorded image bearing member contains water as a destabilizing agent and 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 an aqueous solution containing a surfactant and a water-soluble polymer is held, and a peeling member is interposed to remove the image-forming substance. A method for removing an image-forming substance is proposed, in which the member is heated or pressure-bonded to a member and peeled from the image carrier (for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 4-255916).
No.). According to this, only the image-forming substance can be removed without relatively damaging the paper quality of the image carrier.

[0004]

As described above, in order to remove the image-forming substance from the image-bearing member having the image-forming substance adhered to the surface and regenerate the image-bearing member, at least a liquid application process is applied to the image-bearing member. In the case of carrying out, for convenience of handling after reproduction, it is desirable to remove the liquid adhering to the image holding body and dry the image holding body after removing the image forming substance.

Therefore, a destabilizing liquid application means for applying a liquid to the image carrier having the image-forming substance adhered to the surface thereof to provide a destabilizing liquid that makes the adhesion between the surface and the image-forming substance unstable. And an image forming substance peeling means for separating the surface and the peeling body from each other after bringing the peeling body having an adhesion force larger than the surface of the image forming substance into contact with the image forming substance on the surface. It has been proposed that an image carrier reproducing apparatus having the above-mentioned means be provided with a means for drying the image carrier after peeling the image forming substance (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 5-269873).

However, as a result of subsequent research, in order to maintain the finishing effect of the image carrier, a drying means for drying the image carrier and the surface of the image carrier are closed including a region in contact with the image carrier in the state. Driven to move endlessly in the path,
It has been found that in a finishing device having an image holding member pressing member that presses the image holding member against the heating member, liquid vapor accumulated near the holding member pressing member causes various problems. Specifically, when the image holding member pressing member is used, the liquid vapor evaporated from the image holding member accumulates in the contact area where the image holding member pressing member presses the image holding member against the heating member. The vapor that has accumulated in the image holding member moves out of the contact area together with the image holding member as the image holding member pressing member moves. Then, the liquid vapor diverges in the vicinity of leaving this contact area, the diverged liquid vapor re-wets the image carrier, or adheres to the image carrier carrying member in the vicinity to cause dew condensation, which causes a jam of the image carrier. There is a problem that occurs.
Further, if the image carrier containing the liquid and having a length extended to some extent is dried in the contact region while being sandwiched between the image carrier contact member and the heating member and gripped, the original There is also a problem that it can not be returned to the length of, and it is finished as it is stretched.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to remove an image forming substance capable of effectively eliminating liquid vapor in the vicinity of the contact area and preventing the occurrence of the above problems. It is to provide a device.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the image forming substance removing device according to claim 1 removes the image forming substance from the image holding body having the image forming substance adhered to the surface thereof. In the image forming substance removing device for the image holding member, which performs at least the liquid applying process on the image holding member in order to regenerate the image, in order to dry the image holding member in a state where the liquid remains attached after the image forming substance is removed. Of the heating member and the surface thereof are driven so as to move endlessly in a closed path including a contact region in contact with the image holding member in this state, and press the image holding member against the heating member. And in the contact area,
A guide member that guides the image holding member pressing member so as not to partially contact the image holding member, and an air blower that generates an airflow near a position where the image holding member pressing member is separated from the image holding member by the guide member. And a moving device for moving the guide member, and an instructing unit for instructing the moving position of the guide member to the moving device.

[0009]

In the image forming substance removing device according to the first aspect, the image holding member is held by the guide member in the contact region where the image holding member in the state where the liquid remains attached is pressed against the heating member by the image holding member pressing member. The body pressing member is guided so as not to partially contact the image carrier. As a result, the image holding member pressing member is separated from the image holding member in the guided portion. An air flow is generated by the air blower in the vicinity of the separated location, and the liquid vapor in the vicinity of the contact area is discharged to another location inside the apparatus or outside the apparatus. Then, the guide member is moved by the moving device based on the instruction to the instruction means, and a portion where the image holding member pressing member and the heating member are partially separated,
An appropriate selection is made according to the type of image carrier and the amount of liquid held in the image carrier.

[0010]

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, according to the present invention, from a transfer paper as an image carrier on which an image is formed by a transfer type electrophotographic copying machine, a hydrophobic and thermo-flexible electrophotographic toner (hereinafter referred to as an image forming substance) An example applied to an image forming substance removing device (hereinafter, referred to as a toner removing device) for removing an image forming material from an image carrier will be described.

First, an outline of an example of a toner removing device to which the present invention can be applied will be described. In FIG. 1, the toner removing device includes a paper feed unit 20 for separating and feeding the transfer papers 10 on which toner images are formed and stored in a stacked state, and a transfer unit 20 for transferring the paper. Paper 1
0, a liquid supply unit 30 for supplying a liquid, a toner peeling unit 40 as a peeling means for peeling the toner from the transfer paper 10 to which the liquid is supplied, and the transfer paper 1 from which the toner has been removed.
A drying unit 60 as a finishing device for drying and finishing 0 by an image carrier drying means; and a drying unit 60.
Paper receiving unit 70 for receiving the transfer paper 10 discharged from
It has and.

The sheet feeding unit 20 feeds the transfer sheets 10 stacked on the sheet feeding table 21 from the lowermost one with the surface on which the toner image is formed (hereinafter referred to as the toner image surface) facing downward. The roller 22 feeds the sheet, the separation roller pair 23 separates the multi-fed sheet, and only one sheet of the transfer sheet 10 is sent out by the sheet feeding / conveying roller pair 24. 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 supplies the transfer paper 10 with a liquid 31 such as water or an aqueous solution containing a surfactant in order to improve the permeability of the transfer paper 10. In the illustrated example, a liquid container 32 for containing the liquid, and a coating roller provided so as to be partially submerged in the liquid in the liquid container 32 and pumping the liquid by rotation to supply it to the toner image surface of the transfer paper 10. 33, and a regulation roller 34 as a paper regulation member provided so as to face the coating roller 33 with the paper conveyance path interposed therebetween. This coating roller 33
As the material, a material having a liquid retaining property, for example, a roller made of a hydrophilic porous material, sponge, or a roller made of an elastic body such as rubber or a rigid body such as metal can be used.

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

The toner peeling unit 40 includes a plurality of belt supporting rollers (hereinafter referred to as supporting rollers) 41, 4.
A toner offset belt (hereinafter referred to as an offset belt) 44 as a peeling belt wound around 2, 43
And upper and lower heating rollers 45, 46 with built-in heating lamps 45a, 46a provided so as to press each other with the offset belt 44 interposed therebetween, and a belt cleaning device 47 for removing toner from the surface of the offset belt 44. . At least the surface of the offset belt 44 is made of a material having a larger adhesive force to the softened toner than the adhesive force between the surface of the transfer paper 10 and the toner. For example, the belt itself is made of a metal material such as an aluminum-based material, a copper-based material, a nickel-based material, or a polymer-based material such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in which titanium oxide is dispersed.

Of the support rollers that support the offset belt 44, the belt portion around the support roller (hereinafter referred to as a separation roller) 43 around which the belt portion after passing through the pressure portions of the upper and lower heating rollers 45 and 46 winds up. Of the transfer paper 1 from the offset belt 44 by rapidly changing the moving direction of the
A curvature separation of 0 is performed. In addition, a guide roller 48 for increasing the change in the moving direction of the belt.
A tension roller 49 is also provided.

The upper and lower heating rollers 45 and 46 are
The toner image surface of the transfer paper 10 is brought into close contact with the offset belt 44, and the toner fixed to the transfer paper 10 is heated and softened.

The belt cleaning device 47 is also provided.
Is a rotating brush roller 50 that applies intermittent scratching force to the circumferential surface of the offset belt 44 to remove the adhered toner.
And a pad 51 on the downstream side of the rotating brush roller 50 in the belt moving direction to remove the adhered toner by scrubbing by the frictional force by contacting with the peripheral surface of the belt. It is adapted to be housed in the casing 52.

The toner stripping unit 40 also includes
Transfer paper 10 sent from liquid supply unit 30 side,
Also provided are a pair of relay conveyance rollers 53 as a holding conveyance means for advancing into the pressurizing section, and a guide member 54 for guiding the transfer paper 10 having the curvature separated from the offset belt 44 to the drying unit 60 side.

The drying unit 60 is, for example, the transfer paper 1.
The transfer paper 10 is dried so that the liquid holding amount of 0 becomes 10% or less of the paper weight, and the heating drum 61 as a heating member made of, for example, aluminum with a built-in heating lamp 61a.
And a paper pressing belt 63 as an image holding member pressing member that is wound around a plurality of support rollers 62 and is endlessly moved while being wound around the peripheral surface of the heating drum 61 at a constant angle. In the illustrated example, one support roller 62 also serves as a tension roller. As the material of the paper pressing belt 63, a material having heat resistance and air permeability, for example, cloth such as canvas cloth, cotton cloth, and Tetoron cloth can be used.

In the drying unit 60, an upper and lower guide member 64 for guiding the transfer paper 10 that has passed through the holding region between the heating drum 61 and the paper pressing belt 63, and the transfer paper 10 guided by the vertical guide member 64. Paper receiving unit 7
A paper discharge roller pair 65 for discharging the paper is provided on the zero paper receiving surface.

In the above structure, the transfer paper 10 sent from the paper feed unit 20 is supplied with the liquid uniformly on the toner image surface by the liquid supply unit 30, and the toner peeling unit 4 is provided.
Sent to 0. In the toner peeling unit 40, the toner adhered to the transfer paper 10 is softened by heating from the heating rollers 45 and 46 and adheres to the surface of the offset belt 44. When separating the transfer paper 10 and the offset belt 44 around the separation roller 43, the offset belt 4
The toner adhering to the surface is separated from the transfer paper 10, and the toner is removed from the transfer paper 10. The transfer paper 10 from which the toner has been removed is dried by the drying unit 60,
The paper is discharged to the paper receiving unit 70.

According to the above construction, the liquid is supplied to the transfer paper 10 to which the toner adheres, and the toner is peeled off while the liquid permeates the interface of the transfer paper 10 with the toner, so that the paper fiber is damaged. The toner can be removed without

Further, since the paper pressing belt 63 having water absorbency is brought into contact with the transfer paper 10 in the drying unit 60, in addition to the drying by the heating from the heating lamp 61a inside the heating drum 61, the paper pressing belt 63 is pressed. The drying acceleration function can be exerted by adhering the liquid 31 of the transfer paper 10 to the application belt 63.

By the way, in the toner removing device of FIG. 1, the paper pressing belt 63 is transferred from the heating lamp 61a built in the heating drum 61 via the transfer paper 10 and the heating drum 61 which are conveyed in the holding area. However, the heat from the heating lamp 61a is mainly applied to the liquid 31 adhering to the transfer paper 10 in this holding and conveying area.
Therefore, the paper pressing belt 63 leaves the holding and conveying region while being wet to some extent with the liquid 31 transferred from the transfer paper 10. And this paper pressing belt 6
The wetness of 3 is alleviated to some extent by evaporating the liquid 31 adhering to it by direct contact with the heating drum 61 when the transfer paper 10 is not present in the holding and conveying region with the heating drum 61.

Here, the moisture evaporated by the drying of the transfer paper 10 collects in the contact portion and is discharged together with the transfer paper from the exit side of the finishing device. For this reason, the vapor diverges near the exit of the finishing device to cause dew condensation at the exit-side transport portion, so that the dried transfer paper is wetted again, and the transfer paper 1
It caused the jam of 0.

An example of the structure of the drying unit 60 that solves the above problems will be described below with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, unlike the drying unit 60 of FIG. 1, at the entrance,
A transfer paper guide plate 54 that supports the transfer paper 10 from the toner peeling unit 40 is provided, and the paper is conveyed from above into the holding and conveying area that is the pressure contact portion between the paper pressing belt 63 and the heating drum 61. The paper pressing belt 63 is configured to be discharged later from below and in the area.
Does not contact the heating drum 61, so as to set a non-contact portion indicated by A in the figure, a gap roller 68 that supports the belt 63 so as to pull it outward from the heating drum 61, and a paper pressing belt 63 side in the area. From heating drum 61
Pressing rollers 67a and 67b are provided as pressing members that apply an appropriate pressing force to the side to change the width of the non-contact portion.
A guide plate 69 is provided in order to prevent the transfer paper 10 passing through the non-contact portion from being wound around the gap roller 68. Then, the transfer paper 10 after drying is heated by the heating drum 6
In order to surely remove the sheet from the sheet 1 and discharge the sheet, a separation claw 66 is provided so that the leading end of the transfer sheet 10 comes into contact with or comes close to the drum 61. The paper pressing belt 63 and the gap roller 68 are suitable for exhibiting a drying promoting function,
It is preferable to use a material having excellent water absorption such as cotton and silk.

In the above-mentioned structure, the transfer paper 10 is conveyed to the holding area where the transfer paper is held by the heating drum 61 and the paper pressing belt 63 along the entrance guide plate 54 after completion of the peeling transfer, and the heat generated by the heating drum 61 is transferred. , And the pressure in the clamping region provides a dry finish. Then, the steam generated by drying is removed at the non-contact portion, and dry finishing is performed while being gripped by the paper pressing belt 63 again. Here, this drying effect is improved as the heat or pressure is increased. Here, since the purpose of the drying unit 60 is to quickly evaporate and dry the moisture of the transfer paper after removing the toner, the finishing condition is generally determined by the moisture content of the transfer paper 10.

Next, in FIG. 3, the steam generated in the non-contact portion is quickly and efficiently discharged to the outside of the apparatus in the belt surface direction by the suction fan 71 and the discharge fan 72 mounted in the front and back of the unit. An example is shown. As a result, the generated steam is prevented from dew condensation in the device.
The dried transfer paper 10 is not rewetted and there is no risk of skewing in the rewetted transfer paper 10 device.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show an example of a mechanism for moving the position of the non-contact portion. The three rollers 67a, 67b, 68 forming the non-contact portion are integrated by the side plate 73 of the moving body. And this side plate 73 that is integrated
4 transmits the drive of the motor 75 via the pinion gear 74 to the rack formed on the upper part of the side plate.
As shown in (b), the pressure rollers 67 a and 67 b are configured to move in parallel by a distance that does not separate from the heating drum 61. Further, stoppers 76 that limit the amount of movement of the side plate 73 are provided on both sides of the side plate.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show a mechanism for varying the width of the non-contact portion. The variable mechanism shown in FIG. 5A has a lever a.
A pushing roller 67a is attached to the tip of (77), and the gap roller 68 and one end of the lever b (78) are connected to the shaft center provided at the center of the lever a (77), and the lever b
A pressing roller 67b is attached to the other end of (78). Furthermore, the other end of the lever a (77) is connected to one end of a lever c (79) whose center fulcrum is fixed to the device, and the plunger of the solenoid 80 is connected to the other end of the lever c (79). It is connected. In addition, the pushing rollers 67a, 67
A spring 81 is provided between b and is urged in a direction to reduce the width of the non-contact portion, and when the solenoid 80 is OFF,
This width is L1.

In the variable mechanism, as shown in FIG. 5B, the solenoid 80 is turned on by the control means.
Then, the solenoid 80 acts in the direction of attracting the plunger, so that the lever c (79) rotates counterclockwise about the fulcrum fixed to the device, and the lever c (79) rotates.
The pushing roller 67a provided at the other end of the lever 77 connected to one end of (79) and the lever b (78) whose one end is connected to the shaft center of the lever a (77). The pressing roller 67b provided at the end is connected to the heating drum 6
Push it to the 1 side. As a result, the pressing rollers 67a, 6a
The distance between 7b extends from L1 to L2. Therefore, the width of the non-contact portion of the paper pressing belt 63 changes. When the solenoid 80 is turned off, the pressing rollers 67a, 67
Since the distance L2 between b is contracted by the spring 81, the width of the non-contact portion returns to the original state.

FIG. 6 shows an example in which a heating lamp 82 is provided inside the gap roller 68. This allows
The vapor generated from the transfer paper 10 by heating is prevented from being absorbed again by the transfer paper.

Next, the control means for controlling the variable mechanism according to the transfer sheet state will be described. For example, as an example of controlling the contact / separation mechanism by paying attention to the thickness of the transfer paper, the relationship between the thickness of the transfer paper 10 and the width of the non-contact portion pressed against the transfer paper 10 is stored in advance in the storage device 85 or the like. The operation unit 84 is provided in the main body of the apparatus as shown in FIG. 7, and the user selects the thickness of the transfer paper 10 with the set button 83 on the operation unit. The width of the non-contact portion is determined according to the thickness, an ON signal is sent to the solenoid 80, and the pressing rollers 67a, 67b are pressed.
Is moved to pull the paper pressing belt 63 to change the non-contact width. As a result, the non-contact width according to the designated transfer paper thickness is obtained.

As another control example, the variable mechanism may be controlled by paying attention to the amount of water contained in the transfer paper 10 and detecting this in advance. For example, in FIG.
A temperature detecting sensor 86 such as a thermistor is provided at the peeling portion of the toner peeling unit 40 shown in (a), and this temperature detecting sensor 86 detects the temperature decrease amount ΔT when the transfer paper passes. The temperature decrease amount ΔT at this time is, for example, as shown in FIG.
It changes as shown in (b). Then, the heating lamps 45a and 46a are turned on / off to compensate for this temperature decrease, and the temperature at the peeling portion is adjusted to be constant. Here, it is known that the temperature decrease amount ΔT, the transfer paper thickness, and the liquid supply amount have the relationships shown in Table 1.

[Table 1] That is, when the temperature decrease amount ΔT is large, the transfer paper thickness is thick or the liquid supply amount is large, and conversely, when the temperature decrease amount ΔT is small, the transfer paper thickness is thin or the liquid supply amount is small. It is in. Therefore, based on this relationship, for example, the ON / OFF condition of the solenoid 80 is stored in the storage device 85 in advance, and the temperature detection sensor 8 is stored.
6 and the storage device 85.
Based on the result of comparison with the condition of (1), an ON signal is given to the solenoid 80 as necessary to change the width of the non-contact portion.

[0036]

According to the image forming substance removing device of the first aspect, the image holding member pressing member is not brought into partial contact with the image holding member in the contact area where the image holding member pressing member presses the heating member. Since the airflow is generated by the air blower and the liquid vapor in the vicinity of the contact area is discharged to another place in the apparatus or outside the apparatus, a problem caused by the liquid vapor accumulated in the contact area is prevented. it can. Further, the location where the image holding member pressing member and the heating member are partly separated from each other can be appropriately selected based on the instruction of the instruction means, depending on the type of the image holding member, the liquid holding amount of the image holding member, and the like. So
Vapor trouble can be prevented regardless of the type of the image carrier and the liquid holding amount of the image carrier. If the image carrier containing the liquid and having a length extended to a certain extent is dried in the contact region while being sandwiched between the image carrier contact member and the heating member and gripped, the original However, according to the image forming substance removing device of claim 1, the image holding member pressing member is partially provided in the contact area. Since a portion that does not come into contact with the image carrier is provided, it is possible to shrink the image carrier by drying at this position. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the problem that the finished product is stretched.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner removing device to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a configuration example of a drying unit according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the drying unit.

FIG. 4A is a partial front view of the drying unit. (B)
Is a partial rear view of the drying unit

5A and 5B are explanatory views of the operation of the constituent members in the drying unit.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a drying unit according to a modified example.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an operation unit of the toner removing device.

8A and 8B are explanatory views of a toner peeling unit of the toner removing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Transfer Paper 30 Liquid Supply Unit 40 Toner Peeling Unit 44 Offset Belt 45 Upper Heating Roller 46 Lower Heating Roller 54 Transfer Paper Guide Plate 60 Drying Unit 61 Heating Drum 61a Heating Lamp 61b Temperature Detection Sensor 62 Paper Pressing Belt Support Roller 63 Paper Pressing Belt 64 Guide member 65 Discharge roller pair 66 Separation claw 67a Pushing roller a 67b Pushing roller b 68 Gap roller 69 Guide plate 70 Paper receiving unit 71 Intake fan 72 Discharge fan 73 Moving body side plate 74 Pinion gear 75 Motor 76 Stopper 77 Lever a 78 Lever b 79 Lever c 80 Solenoid 81 Spring 82 Heating lamp 83 Set button 84 Operation part 85 Storage device 86 Temperature detection sensor A Non-contact part

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Removal of an image-forming substance from an image-bearing member, wherein at least a liquid application process is performed on the image-bearing member to regenerate the image-bearing member by removing the image-forming substance from the image-bearing member having the image-forming substance attached to the surface thereof. In the apparatus, a heating member for drying the image carrier in a state where the liquid remains adhered after the image-forming substance is removed, and a closed surface including a contact area for contacting the image carrier in the state An image carrier pressing member that is driven to move endlessly in the path and presses the image carrier against the heating member, and the image carrier pressing member partially contacts the image carrier within the contact area. A guide member that guides the guide member so that the guide member does not move, an air blower that causes the guide member to generate an airflow in the vicinity of a position where the image holding member pressing member is separated from the image holding member, a moving device that moves the guide member, and the moving device. Of the guide member Image forming substance removing apparatus characterized by comprising an indication means for indicating the turned position.