JPH08305230A - Device for removing image forming material from image support - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent an image support contact member from being deteriorated or damaged by heating by detecting whether an image support is set on a set part or not, and automatically switching between a standby mode of operating a heating means and a power saving mode of stopping the operation according to the detection result. CONSTITUTION: If the temperatures of upper and lower heat rollers 45, 46 are above such a temperature as to enable the processing of removing toner from a transfer device 10, it is detected whether there is a transfer paper sheet 10 in a paper feed unit 21 or not. If a paper feed detecting sensor 933 outputs a signal that there are transfer paper sheets, the toner removal processing is started, and the processing is continuously conducted until no transfer paper sheets remain. On the other hand, if the paper feed detecting sensor 933 outputs a signal that there is no transfer paper sheet 10, the detection of the existence/ absence of a transfer paper sheet 10 is continued, and timer count is started. When one minute passes while transfer paper sheets 10 are not placed, heating for the upper and lower heat rollers 45, 46 is stopped to set a power saving mode.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to image formation from an image carrier for removing the image forming substance from the image carrier having the image forming substance adhered to the surface thereof by an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer or a printing machine. The present invention relates to a substance removing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, various methods and apparatuses have been known for reproducing a recording sheet by removing an image forming substance such as toner from a recording recording sheet. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 101576 discloses a method of removing an image forming substance in which a sheet having toner attached thereto is immersed 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. . Also, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
No. 0395 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, contact with an adsorbent,
An image forming substance removing method is disclosed in which the image forming substance is removed by a method such as mechanical peeling or electrostatic adsorption.

Further, the applicant of the present invention previously applied to a recorded recording sheet, 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 recording sheet. A method for removing the image forming substance has been proposed (for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 4-2
55916, Japanese Patent Application No. 5-239075). According to this, only the image forming substance can be removed without relatively damaging the paper quality of the recording sheet.

Further, by using a predetermined peeling member having an adhesive force larger than the adhesive force between the surface of the recording sheet and the image forming substance with respect to the image forming substance, the recording in which the image forming substance is attached to the surface is performed. Has proposed an image-forming substance removing device capable of surely removing only the image-forming substance from the sheet (for example, see Japanese Patent Application No. 5-280417).

Further, at least a part of the water or the aqueous solution is efficiently removed from the recording sheet after the image-forming substance is removed in the state where the water or the aqueous solution as the destabilizing agent is applied. An image forming substance removing device capable of drying a sheet has been proposed (for example, Japanese Patent Application No.
-269873).

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION However, a peeling member whose surface is endlessly movable, and heating means arranged near the peeling member for heating and softening the image-forming substance are provided. In the image forming substance removing device having the peeling member, since the peeling member is continuously heated by the heating means when removing the image forming substance from the image carrier, the peeling member deteriorates due to heating, for example, the ability to remove the image forming substance gradually decreases. May be damaged or damaged.

For example, immediately after the main switch of the apparatus is turned on, the operation of the heating means is started to raise the temperature to a temperature at which the image-forming substance can be peeled off, and the period for which the processing start instruction is given or the removal is performed. When the heating means is continuously operated so as to keep the image-forming substance at a temperature at which the image-forming substance can be peeled during the waiting period until the processing of the next image carrier is started after the completion of the processing, the peeling member causes the main switch to operate. While being turned on, the heating from the heating means keeps heating.

As a material of the peeling member which continues to be heated in this way, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (hereinafter,
When PET) is used, since this PET has a glass transition point of about 80 ° C., it has a property of being deteriorated or deformed when heated at a temperature higher than that for a long time. On the other hand, the temperature at which the image-forming substance can be peeled off,
The temperature is about 110 ° C., which is the temperature at which the toner starts to flow. Therefore, for example, a portion of the peeling member which is in contact with the heating means has a temperature higher than the glass transition point, and when the peeling member is continuously heated at the temperature for a long time, the image forming substance removing ability is lowered only in that portion. For example, it may be deteriorated by heating, gradually damaged, or deformed.

Further, the problem of deterioration and damage caused by heating for a long time by the heating means as described above is an apparatus for removing an image-forming substance, which removes an image-forming substance from a recording sheet by applying water or an aqueous solution to the recording sheet. In the drying unit for drying the recording sheet wet with the water or the aqueous solution, the same may occur.

That is, for example, the recording sheet contact is driven so that the drying unit moves endlessly in a closed path including a region whose surface contacts the recording sheet wet with the water or the aqueous solution. A member and an image carrier drying means which is disposed in the vicinity of the recording sheet contact member and heats and dries the recording sheet in a state where the image forming substance is removed and the liquid remains attached. In this case, since the recording sheet contact member is continuously heated by the image holding member drying means when the wet image holding member is dried, the air permeability may be deteriorated depending on the material.

As a measure for preventing the peeling member or the recording sheet contact member from being locally heated by the heating means and locally rising in temperature, the peeling member or the recording sheet contact member is used. It is possible to move endlessly while waiting. According to this, even if the heating means is at a high temperature, the portion of the peeling member or the recording sheet contacting member that comes into contact with the heating means moves, so that the peeling member or the recording sheet contacting member is locally for a long time. It is no longer heated. However, according to this, since the peeling member and the recording sheet contact member are moved endlessly, noise is generated from the drive system. Further, it is inevitable that the peeling member as a whole is deteriorated as a whole by being continuously heated unnecessarily.

Therefore, conventionally, in a copying machine or the like, in order to save power consumption during standby, a dedicated key such as a preheat key is provided, and a user operates a key to shut off the power to the heating means to heat it. It is also conceivable to use a power-saving technique for reducing power consumption by stopping or controlling the heating temperature to a low level for an apparatus for removing an image-forming substance from an image carrier.
However, if the power saving technology for this copying machine or the like is simply diverted, there is a problem that the cost is increased by the provision of the dedicated key and the operability is deteriorated because a special key operation is required. In particular, the apparatus for removing the image-forming substance from the image carrier is such that after a large amount of the image carrier to be processed is set on a tray or the like and the processing is started, the apparatus is left as it is for a long time, and in some cases, , There is a possibility that the user will not return to the device until the next morning. In this case, the user cannot operate the dedicated key.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to heat, for example, a peeling member or an image carrier contact member arranged in the vicinity of the heating means by the heating means. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for removing an image forming substance from an image carrier, which can prevent deterioration and damage due to continued operation, and can save power and noise of the apparatus.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is an image carrier for removing an image forming substance from an image carrier having an image forming substance stably attached to the surface thereof. In the image forming substance removing device, the image forming substance has an adhesion force larger than that of the surface of the image carrier and the image forming substance, and the surface is configured to be endlessly movable. After contacting the surface of the image carrier during endless movement,
A peeling member that transfers and removes the image forming substance from the surface of the image carrier by separating it from the surface of the image carrier, and a driving unit that drives the peeling member so that the surface of the peeling member moves endlessly. A heating unit arranged near the peeling member, for heating and softening the image forming substance to facilitate transfer to the peeling member side; a setting unit for setting an image carrier to be processed; Set detecting means for detecting whether or not a holder is set in the setting portion, and the heating means for maintaining a state in which the image forming substance can be heated and softened based on the detection result of the set detecting means. Is provided with a mode switching control means for switching between a standby mode for appropriately operating the heating means and a power saving mode for stopping the operation of the heating means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus for removing an image-forming substance from the image holding member according to the first aspect, the image holding member is set in the setting section by the set detecting means when in the power saving mode. When the fact is detected, the low power mode is released.

According to a third aspect of the invention, in the image forming substance removing device from the image carrier according to the first aspect, the time during which the image detecting member is not set in the setting section by the setting detecting means during the standby mode. A time measuring unit for measuring is provided, and the mode switching control unit is switched to the power saving mode when it is determined that the period in which the image carrier is not set has passed a predetermined time based on the time measuring result in the time measuring unit. It is characterized by being configured in.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the apparatus for removing an image-forming substance from the image carrier according to the first aspect, the heating means is operated by turning on the power source of the apparatus to heat and soften the image-forming substance. It is characterized in that the mode switching control means is configured so that the mode switching is performed after the above-mentioned change.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus for removing an image forming substance from an image carrier according to the first aspect, in the power saving mode, when the temperature of the heating means is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, the surface of the peeling member is kept for a predetermined time. It is characterized in that a drive control means for performing the above movement is provided.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, an image from the image carrier is subjected to at least a liquid application process to remove the image forming substance from the image carrier having the image forming substance stably attached to the surface thereof. In the forming substance removing device, the surface of the image carrier contact member is driven so as to move endlessly in a closed path including a region in contact with the image carrier in the state, and the surface of the image carrier contact member is A driving unit that drives the image holding member contact member so as to move endlessly, and an image holding member that is arranged in the vicinity of the image holding member contact member and is in a state where the image forming substance is removed and the liquid remains attached. An image carrier heating and drying means for heating and drying, a setting part for setting the image carrier to be processed, a set detecting means for detecting whether or not the image carrier is set in the setting part, and Based on the detection result of the set detection means A mode switching control means for switching between a standby mode in which the heating means is appropriately operated to maintain a state in which the image-forming substance can be heated and dried, and a power saving mode in which the operation of the heating means is stopped. It is characterized by being provided. (Hereinafter, margin)

[0020]

EXAMPLES In the following, 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 as an image forming substance ( Hereinafter, an embodiment applied to an image forming substance removing device (hereinafter, referred to as a toner removing device) from an image carrier for removing the toner 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.
Drying unit 60 as a finishing device for drying 0
And a paper receiving unit 70 for receiving the transfer paper 10 discharged from the drying unit 60.

The paper feed unit 20 feeds the transfer paper 10 stacked on the paper feed table 21 from the bottom, 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 transfer paper 10 sent from the paper supply unit 20 is guided to a portion (hereinafter, referred to as a liquid supply unit) 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.
Toner offset belt (hereinafter referred to as offset belt) 44 as a peeling member 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 supporting rollers that support the offset belt 44, the belt around the supporting roller (hereinafter referred to as the separating roller) 43 around which the belt portion after passing through the pressure portions of the upper and lower heating rollers 45 and 46 winds. 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 used.
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 peeling unit 40 also includes
Transfer paper 10 sent from liquid supply unit 30 side,
There are also provided a pair of relay conveyance rollers 53 as a holding conveyance means for advancing into the pressurizing section, and an upper and lower 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 is 10% or less of the paper weight, and the transfer paper 10 is wound around the heating drum 61 with a built-in heating lamp 61a and made of, for example, aluminum, and a plurality of support rollers 62. The heating drum 61 is composed of a paper pressing belt 63 as an image holding member contact member that moves endlessly 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.

Further, 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 and the paper pressing belt, and the transfer paper 10 guided by this are received. A paper discharge roller pair 65 for discharging paper is provided on the paper receiving surface of the unit 70.

In the above structure, the transfer 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 the toner peeling unit 4
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 61,
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 61, in addition to the drying by heating from the heating lamp 61a inside the heating drum 61, the paper pressing belt 63 is pressed. It is also possible to exert a drying promoting function by adhering the liquid 31 of the transfer paper 10 to the belt 61 for use.

Next, with reference to FIG. 2, a control section as a control means for operating the toner removing device will be described. FIG. 2 is a control block diagram for operating the toner removing device of FIG. In FIG. 2, the commercial power source 9
When AC power is supplied from 01 and the main switch 902 is turned on, DC power supply (PSU) 903 supplies DC power supply voltage to each control IC. Powered CPU
904 resets the program counter etc.
Based on the program contents written in OM905,
Start control. The CLK oscillator 906 supplies a reference clock (CLK) necessary for CPU operation.

When data for turning on the relay 911 is sent to the parallel interface 908 through the address data bus 907, the contact drive coil 911a of the relay 911 is energized via the driver 910 connected to the output port of the parallel interface. , The contact of relay 911 closes.

Then, the solid state relay SSR1
When the data for turning on (912) and SSR2 (913) are sent to the driver 910 in the same manner as above,
SSR1 (912) is turned on via the driver 910
Then, current flows through the resistors 914a and 914 corresponding to the heating lamps 45a and 46a that heat the upper and lower heating rollers 45 and 46, and the heating of the rollers 45 and 46 is started. Further, the SSR2 (913) is turned on through the driver 910, and the heating lamp 61 that heats the heating drum 61.
An electric current flows through the resistor 915 corresponding to a, and the drum 6
The heating of 1 is started. The temperatures of the upper and lower heating rollers 45, 46 and the heating drum 61 are the thermistor 916a,
A / D converter 918 detected by 916b and 917
Is input to and converted from analog data to digital data. The control temperature of each roller is written in the RAM 919, and the temperature is controlled by comparing with that value. This control temperature data is stored in the control unit 92 of the operation display unit (not shown).
RA from 0 through serial interface 921
It is also possible to write in M919.

The driver 910 includes a paper feeding motor 9
23, registration motor 924, main drive motor 92
2. Application roller motor 9 for driving the application roller 33
25, heating roller motors 926a and 926b for driving the upper and lower heating rollers 45 and 46, respectively, and a rotating brush roller motor 92 for driving the rotating brush roller 50.
7, a relay conveyance roller motor 928 that drives the relay conveyance roller pair 53, a heating drum motor 929 that drives the heating drum 61, and a discharge roller motor 930 that drives the discharge roller pair 65 are also connected.

As described above, in the toner removing device of FIG.
During the toner removing process, the offset belt 44 and the paper pressing belt 63 are continuously heated by the upper and lower heating rollers 45 and 46 and the heating drum 61. By continuing to be heated in this manner, the offset belt 44 has a reduced toner peeling ability of peeling toner from the transfer paper 10, and the toner peeled from the transfer paper 10 and adhering to the surface thereof is melted by heat, so that the belt cleaning device described above. There is a possibility that the cleaning performance may be deteriorated such that it cannot be completely removed by 47, and that the surface may be damaged such as a surface crack due to the deterioration of the flexibility of the belt.
Further, since the paper pressing belt 63 is also continuously heated by the heating drum 61, a decrease in air permeability occurs, or the transfer paper 10 cannot be pressed against the heating drum 61 due to a decrease in flexibility. The surface may be cracked.

Therefore, the toner removing apparatus according to the present embodiment has been improved to reduce the performance deterioration and damage due to the heating of the offset belt 44 and the paper pressing belt 63 as described above. The improvement will be described below.

The toner removing device according to the present embodiment has a structure shown in FIG.
, The thermistors 916a for detecting the temperatures of the upper and lower heating rollers 45, 46 and the heating drum 61,
In addition to 916b and 917, thermistors 931 and 932 are provided for detecting the surface temperatures of the offset belt 44 and the paper pressing belt 63, respectively. Of these, the thermistor 931 for detecting the temperature of the offset belt 44
Is disposed in the vicinity of the facing portion of the upper and lower heating rollers 45, 46 so as to face the surface of the offset belt 44. The thermistor 932 for detecting the temperature of the paper pressing belt 63 is arranged so as to face the partial surface of the paper pressing belt 63 which is in contact with the heating drum 61.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an example of control for reducing performance deterioration and damage due to heating of the offset belt 44 and the paper pressing belt 63. 4, when the main switch 902 (see FIG. 2) is turned on, the toner removing device first detects whether or not the toner removal processing start key is turned on, as shown in FIG. 4 (step 1). If the start key is turned on, the toner removal process is executed (step 2), and then the start key press detection process of step 1 is executed again. If the start key is not turned on, the intermittent movement mode is set. Enter (step 3).

When the start key is not turned on in step 1 and the intermittent movement mode is entered, first, the thermistor 931 for detecting the temperature of the offset belt 44 and the thermistor 932 for detecting the temperature of the paper pressing belt 63 are operated. The signal is input to the A / D converter 918, and the temperatures of the offset belt 44 and the paper pressing belt 63 are detected.

Then, in the intermittent movement mode, as shown in FIG. 5, it is judged whether or not the temperature of the offset belt 44 detected by the thermistor 931 is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature (step 3-1).

Here, for example, the main switch 902
Immediately after turning on (see FIG. 2), the upper and lower heating rollers 4
When the temperature of the offset belt 44 is lower than the predetermined temperature because the temperature of the offset belts 44 is not sufficiently heated, the upper and lower heating rollers 45 and 46 are not rotated and the offset belt 44 is stopped (step 3-2). .

Next, it is judged whether or not the temperature of the paper pressing belt 63 detected by the thermistor 932 is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature (step 3-3). For example, the main switch 902 is operated as described above. When the heating drum 61 is not sufficiently heated such as immediately after being turned on and therefore the temperature of the paper pressing belt 63 is lower than the predetermined temperature, the heating drum 61 is not rotated and the paper pressing belt 63 is stopped. (Step 3-4).

As described above, the main switch 902 is turned off.
After N, the start key is not turned on, and when the offset belt 44 and the paper pressing belt 63 are below the predetermined temperature,
The offset belt 44 and the paper pressing belt 63 are stopped. The predetermined temperature (threshold value) of the offset belt 44 and the paper pressing belt 63 is the highest temperature within a range where the offset belt 44 and the paper pressing belt 63 are not deteriorated or damaged.

Start key ON after the toner removal processing is completed
When the start key is not turned on and the intermittent movement mode is entered in the detection state (step 1 in FIG. 4) (step 3 in FIG. 4)
Such as the offset belt 44 and the upper and lower heating rollers 45, 4
In the case where the temperature is sufficiently heated by 6, the temperature of the offset belt 44 is determined to be equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature in step 3-1 and the heating lamps 45a and 46a are turned off and the offset belt 44 is moved intermittently ( Steps 3-5).

In the intermittent movement mode, the CPU 904 sends the parallel interface 908 and the driver 910.
Through the heating roller motors 926a and 926b,
A signal as shown in FIG. 6 is sent, and when the signal is ON, the offset belt 44 is moving, and when it is OFF, the offset belt 44 is stopped.

After the offset belt 44 is intermittently moved, the temperature of the paper pressing belt 63 is also detected in step 3-3, but the paper pressing belt 63 is pressed after the toner removal processing as described above. When the belt 63 for heating is sufficiently heated by the heating drum 61, it is determined in step 3-3 that the temperature of the belt 63 for pressing the paper is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature, the heating lamp 61a is turned off, and the offset belt is turned on. The signal of the pattern shown in FIG. 6 similar to the case of intermittently moving 44 is sent to the heating drum motor 929 to intermittently move the paper pressing belt 63 (step 3-6).

Here, the predetermined temperature of the offset belt 44 in step 3-1 and the predetermined temperature of the paper pressing belt 63 in step 3-3 are different from each other.
Further, since the temperatures of the offset belt 44 and the paper pressing belt 63 detected in steps 3-1 and 3-3 are different from each other, for example, the offset belt 44 moves intermittently, but the paper pressing belt 63 stops. It may happen that

Further, the heating roller motors 926a, 9b
26b and O of the signal sent to the heating drum motor 929.
The heating roller motor 926a,
The signal sent to 926b is different from the signal sent to the heating drum motor 929. For example, in the present embodiment, the OFF time of the signal (offset belt 4
(4, paper pressing belt 63 stop time) is a time within a range in which each belt does not deteriorate even if it is continuously heated. Further, the ON time of the signal (movement time of the offset belt 44 and the paper pressing belt 63) is determined by the position of the offset belt 44 in contact with the upper and lower heating rollers 45 and 46 and the paper pressing belt 63.
It is assumed that the position in contact with the heating drum 61 of (1) moves to a position not in contact with the upper and lower heating rollers 45, 46 and the heating drum 61, respectively.

In the intermittent movement mode, a long time elapses without the start key being turned on, and the step 3-
When it is determined in 1 that the temperature of the offset belt 44 is not equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature, the offset belt 44 stops the intermittent movement and stops. Similarly, when it is determined in step 3-3 that the temperature of the paper pressing belt 63 is not higher than the predetermined temperature, the paper pressing belt 63 stops the intermittent movement and stops.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the heating lamps 45a, 46a, 61a are turned off when the offset belt 44 and the paper pressing belt 63 reach a predetermined temperature or higher. , 63 can be prevented from being further heated. Since the belts 44 and 63 are moved intermittently, the belt 4
Since the air around 4, 63 moves, it is better than the case where the heat accumulated in the belts 44, 63 is naturally radiated by stopping the movement of the belts 44, 63. You can also let it radiate heat. As described above, further heating of the belts 44 and 63 is prevented, and the heat accumulated in the belts 44 and 63 is radiated, so that the deterioration of the belts 44 and 63 due to the heat can be prevented.

In order to dissipate heat from the offset belt 44 and the paper pressing belt 63, the belt 44,
Since 63 is moved intermittently, the belt 4
Power saving and noise reduction can be achieved as compared with the case where 4, 63 are moved continuously. (Hereinafter, margin)

Further, the upper and lower heating rollers 45, 4 for moving the offset belt 44 and the paper pressing belt 63.
6 and the heating roller motors 926a and 926b for rotating the heating drum 61 and the heating drum motor 929,
Since it operates intermittently, the motor 926a,
It is possible to prevent the 926b and 929 from being overheated and damaged.

Further, in the present embodiment, the thermistor 931 for detecting the temperature of the offset belt 44 is arranged in the vicinity of the facing portion of the upper and lower heating rollers 45, 46, and the thermistor 932 for detecting the temperature of the paper pressing belt 63. Are arranged so as to oppose the surface of the paper pressing belt 63 that is in contact with the heating drum 61.
The temperature of the heated portion of the heating lamp is properly detected, and the heating lamps 45a, 46a, 61a are turned on based on the detection result.
Since the belts 44 and 63 are FFed so as to be moved intermittently, the heating lamp 4 is
5a and 46a and the heating lamp 61a are continuously heated, and the upper and lower heating rollers 45 and 46 and the heating drum 61 are heated.
Unlike the case where the rotation of the offset belt 44 and the paper pressing belt 63 is stopped, the upper and lower heating rollers 45 and 46 of the offset belt 44 and the paper pressing belt 63 and the heating drum It is possible to favorably prevent deterioration and damage of only the portion in contact with 61 due to heating for a long time.

In the present embodiment, for example, the toner peeling roller provided with a toner peeling member on the surface thereof and having a heating means such as a heating lamp in the inside is the upper heating roller 45.
You may arrange | position so that it may oppose.

The drying unit 60 is composed of, for example, a pair of rollers each having a heating means such as a heating lamp therein, and the transfer paper 10 conveyed from the toner peeling unit 40 is dried between the pair of rollers. You may allow it.

The heating of the offset belt 44 and the paper pressing belt 63 is performed by the main switch 902.
The main switch 902 is turned off immediately after the toner removal processing is completed, not only while (see FIG. 2) is turned on.
It also occurs when it is done. That is, even after the main switch 902 is turned off and the heating lamps 45a, 46a, 61a are turned off immediately after the completion of the toner removal processing as described above, the upper and lower heating rollers 45 having the heating lamps 45a, 46a, 61a inside, 46 and the heating drum 61 have residual heat, the offset belt 4
4 and the paper pressing belt 63 continue to be heated.

Turning off the main switch 902 as described above
In order to prevent performance deterioration and damage due to continued heating of the offset belt 44 and the paper pressing belt 63 after that, the offset belt 44 and the paper pressing belt 63 are intermittently moved even after the main switch 902 is turned off. It is desirable to configure it as follows. Hereinafter, this control example will be described. Also in the control example according to the following description, the configuration of the toner removing device is the same as that in FIGS. 1 and 3, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted. Further, the configuration of the control unit of the toner removing device in the present control example is shown in FIG. 2 in that the direct current power supply (PSU) 903 is connected between the commercial power supply 901 and the main switch 902 as shown in FIG. Since only the configuration of the control unit shown is different, other detailed description will be omitted.

In this control example, as shown in FIG. 7, since the DC power supply (PSU) 903 is connected between the commercial power supply 901 and the main switch 902, the DC power supply (PSU) is turned off even if the main switch 902 is turned off. PSU) 903 is energized, and CPU 904, ROM 905, CLK oscillator 906, and RAM 919 are in an operable state.

When the main switch 902 is turned off, the CPU 904 causes the parallel interface 9
08 and the driver 910, signals of the same pattern as in FIG. 6 are applied to the heating roller motors 926a and 926b.
And heating drum motor 929. When this signal is turned on, the heating roller motors 926a, 92
6b and the heating drum motor 929 start rotating, the offset belt 44 and the paper pressing belt 63 start moving, and the belts 44 and 63 continue to move while the signal is ON. When this signal is turned off, the heating roller motors 926a and 926b and the heating drum motor 929 stop rotating, and the offset belt 44 and the paper pressing belt 63 stop moving.
4,63 continue to stop.

After that, the CPU 904 sends the CLK oscillator 90
The signals of No. 6 are counted and the predetermined time is reached. Therefore, signals similar to those of FIG. 6 are sent to the heating roller motors 926a and 926b.
Then, the offset belt 44 and the paper pressing belt 63 are intermittently moved by continuously feeding them to the heating drum motor 929.

The predetermined time period during which the offset belt 44 and the paper pressing belt 63 perform the intermittent movement in the present control example differ depending on the material of the belt. As for the offset belt 44, the belt 44 is not deteriorated. Heating roller motors 926a and 926b
Is the time until the temperature of the heating drum motor 929 of the paper pressing belt 63 is decreased to such an extent that the belt 63 is not deteriorated.

Further, in the present control example, the signals (see FIG. 6) sent to the heating roller motors 926a and 926b and the heating drum motor 929 are turned off from the OFF state.
The timing for switching to the N state is the heating roller motor 9
26a and 926b, the signals sent to the heating drum motor 929 are timings at which the contact portions of the offset belt 44 with the upper and lower heating rollers 45 and 46 are not deteriorated by the residual heat of the rollers 45 and 46. Is a timing at which the contact portion of the paper pressing belt 63 with the heating drum 61 is not deteriorated by the residual heat of the drum 61.

As described above, according to the present control example, even when the upper and lower heating rollers 45 and 46 and the heating drum 61 have residual heat, as in the case where the main switch 902 is turned off immediately after the completion of the toner removal processing, the residual heat is generated. This makes it possible to prevent the offset belt 44 and the paper pressing belt 63 from being continuously heated and from being deteriorated or damaged in their performance.

Next, in each of the above control examples, the on / off of the upper and lower heating rollers 45 and 46 and the heating drum 61, which are performed to prevent local performance deterioration of the offset belt 44 and the like, power saving, noise prevention, etc., are performed. Offset belt 4
As shown in FIG. 1, the drive control of the No. 4 and the like is performed on the lower side of the paper feed table 21 of the paper feed unit 20 by the reflection type paper feed detection sensor 9
An embodiment will be described in which 33 is provided and whether or not paper is set by the paper feed detection sensor 933 is used. FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the electric component part. As shown in FIG. 8, the sensor 933 is connected to the A / D converter 918, and the detection result is converted from analog data to digital data. There is. Specifically, when the transfer paper 10 is present and when it is not 1, a signal of 0 is sent from the paper feed detection sensor 933 to the main control unit. The other mechanical structure and the basic operation control during the toner removing operation are the same as those in the above-described embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of the operation of the toner removing device in this embodiment. In FIG. 9, when the main switch is turned on (step 1), first, SSR1
And SSR2 are turned on (step 2), and heating of the upper and lower heating rollers 45, 46 is started (step 3). Then, it is detected whether or not the temperatures of the upper and lower heating rollers 45 and 46 have become higher than the temperature at which the toner removal process from the transfer paper 10 is possible (step 4).

Here, when the temperature of the upper and lower heating rollers 45 and 46 is higher than the temperature at which the toner removal process from the transfer sheet 10 is possible (Y in step 4), it is determined whether or not the transfer sheet 10 is present in the sheet feeding unit 20. It is detected (step 5).

Then, in step 5, when the signal of the paper feed detection sensor 933 outputs 1 indicating that the transfer paper 10 is present, the toner removal processing can be started and whether the toner removal processing start key is turned on or not. It is detected (step 6).

When the start key is turned on (Y in step 6), the toner removing process is started (step 7), and the process is continuously performed until the transfer paper 10 in the paper feeding unit 20 is exhausted. When the transfer paper 10 in the paper unit 20 is exhausted, the toner removal processing is ended (step 8), the process returns to step 5, and the presence or absence of the transfer paper 10 in the paper supply unit 20 is detected. Here, instead of continuously performing the toner removal processing until the transfer paper 10 in the paper feeding unit 20 is exhausted, after performing a predetermined number of removal processings, the process returns to step 5, It is also possible to provide an input key for the number of processed sheets, which can be input from outside.

If the start key is not turned on (N in step 6), the process waits until the start key is turned on. This is because it is generally considered that there are few cases where the start key is not turned on for a long time with the transfer sheet 10 placed on the sheet feeding unit 20.

In step 5 above, the paper feed detection sensor 933 is used.
When 0 indicating that there is no transfer paper 10 is output as the signal of (1), the timer count is started (step 9), and the presence or absence of the transfer paper 10 in the paper feeding unit 20 is detected until 1 minute has elapsed (step 5). At the same time, the timer is counted (step 9). When the timer count exceeds 1 minute without the transfer sheet 10 being placed on the sheet feeding unit 20 (Y in step 10), SSR1 and SSR2 are turned off.
Then, the heating of the upper and lower heating rollers 45 and 46 is stopped and the power saving mode is set (step 1).
2).

Since the upper and lower heating rollers 45 and 46 have stopped heating at the time of entering the power saving mode, the temperature of the portion of the offset belt 44 near the heating rollers 45 and 46 gradually decreases. Therefore, the offset belt 44 is detected by the offset belt surface temperature detecting sensor 931.
It is detected whether or not the surface temperature of is above a predetermined temperature (step 13). Here, in the present embodiment, the predetermined temperature is set to 70 ° C., which is lower than the glass transition point of the offset belt 44.

The surface temperature of the offset belt 44 is 7
When the temperature is 0 ° C. or higher (Y in step 13), the offset belt 44 is moved (step 14), and the presence or absence of the transfer paper 10 in the paper feeding unit 20 is detected (step 1).
6). If the temperature is lower than 70 ° C. (N in step 13), the movement of the offset belt 44 is stopped (step 15), and the presence or absence of the transfer paper 10 in the paper feeding unit 20 is detected (step 16).

When it is detected in step 16 that the transfer paper 10 is absent (N in step 16), the process returns to step 13, the surface temperature of the offset belt 44 is detected, and the drive control of the offset belt 44 is repeated. Due to the movement and drive control of the offset belt 44, the offset belt 44 is not locally kept at 70 ° C. or higher for a long time, so that deformation and deterioration due to overheating do not occur.

Immediately after the transfer paper 10 is set in the paper supply unit 20, 1 indicating that the transfer paper 10 is present is output to the signal of the paper supply detection sensor 933 (Y in step 16).
Move the offset belt 44 (step 17),
The power saving mode is canceled (step 18) and step 2
Then, SSR1 and SSR2 are turned on to start heating the upper and lower heating rollers 45 and 46 (step 3), and the temperatures of the upper and lower heating rollers 45 and 46 are detected (step 4). As described above, during the power saving mode, the paper feed detection sensor 933
The output signal of the
The control is such that the power saving mode is released immediately when 0 is supplied.

As described above, according to the toner removing apparatus of this embodiment, the heating of the upper and lower heating rollers 45 and 46 is stopped when the toner removing process is not performed, and the deformation and deterioration of the offset belt 44 due to the heating in the power saving mode. When there is no risk of occurrence of the above, the movement of the belt 44 is stopped, so that unnecessary power consumption can be reduced. In addition, the power-saving mode is automatically switched between the power-saving mode and the power-saving mode depending on the presence or absence of the transfer paper 10 in the paper-feeding unit 20, so that no special operation or a dedicated key is provided, and unnecessary power consumption is eliminated. Can be reduced.

Further, after the main switch is turned on and the temperature of the upper and lower heating rollers 45 and 46 reaches the temperature at which the toner removal processing is possible or after the toner removal processing of the transfer paper 10 of the paper feeding unit is completed, the paper feeding unit 20 is turned on. Even if the transfer paper 10 is not supplied (N in step 5), the temperature of the upper and lower heating rollers 45, 46 is kept at a temperature at which toner removal processing is possible for 1 minute, and after 1 minute, the heating rollers 45, 46 Control is performed to stop heating. Therefore, while the upper and lower heating rollers 45 and 46 are continuously maintained at the temperature at which the toner removal processing can be performed, the user can transfer the transfer paper 10 during the one minute.
Is supplied, the toner removal processing of the transfer paper 10 is immediately performed, and the waiting time for the user can be reduced.

Immediately after the main switch is turned ON, the upper and lower heating rollers 45 and 46 are once heated regardless of the presence or absence of the transfer paper 10 in the paper feeding unit 20, and the heating rollers 45 and 46 are immediately charged with toner. Since the temperature is set so that the removal process can be performed, the transfer paper 1 is transferred to the paper feeding unit 20.
A user who does not know that the power saving mode is automatically entered when there is no 0 is set in the paper feeding unit 20 with the transfer paper 10
Even if the sheet is not placed, the temperature of the heating rollers 45 and 46 becomes the temperature at which the toner removal processing is possible. By this action,
A comfortable operability for the user can be obtained. Also here, if the user leaves the apparatus for a while and the transfer sheet 10 is not supplied to the sheet feeding unit 20 for one minute or more, the power saving mode is entered, so that the offset belt 44 is heated. It does not deform or deteriorate.

In the above embodiment, when the transfer paper is supplied to the paper supply unit (Y in step 5), the start key is O
When the start key is not turned on (N in step 6), the control is performed so as to continue waiting until the start key is turned on. Instead of such a control method, when the start key is not turned on (N in step 6) , Start timer counting,
The control may be performed so that the power saving mode is entered after 1 minute has elapsed. By doing so, even if the start key is not turned on for a long time with the transfer paper 10 placed, the offset belt 44 is deformed by being kept at 70 ° C. or higher for a long time. And deterioration can be prevented.

The above-described control example of the toner removing device is the drive control of the upper and lower heating rollers 45 and 46 as the heating means and the offset belt 44 as the peeling member. Similarly, the same drive control as in the above control example can be performed for the heating drum 61 as the image holding member heating / drying means and the paper pressing belt 63 as the image holding member contact member.

According to this, if the power saving mode is applied to the heating drum 61 and the paper pressing belt 63, deterioration and damage due to heating of the paper pressing belt 63 can be prevented without performing a special operation. You can When the toner removing process is not performed, the heating of the heating drum 61 is stopped,
In the power saving mode, the movement of the paper pressing belt 63 is stopped when there is no risk of deterioration and damage due to heating, so unnecessary power consumption can be reduced. The predetermined temperature of the heating drum 61 in the case where the power saving mode is applied to the drive control of the heating drum 61 and the paper pressing belt 63 in this way is set within a range in which the paper pressing belt 63 is not deteriorated or damaged.

[0085]

According to the invention of claim 1 or 6, set detection is performed to detect whether or not the image carrier is set in the setting unit for setting the image carrier to be processed, and based on the result. In order to maintain the softening state by heating the image forming substance, the standby mode in which the heating means is appropriately operated and the power saving mode in which the operation of the heating means is stopped are automatically switched. It is possible to reduce power consumption without the need for operation. In addition, since the power saving mode can be set when the image holding member is not set in the setting unit, when the removing process is not performed for a predetermined time or after the image forming substance removing process, the peeling member or the paper holding member contacts. It is possible to prevent the member from being continuously heated.

According to the invention of claim 2, even when a motor or the like is used as the driving means for the peeling member, the motor or the like operates intermittently.
It is possible to prevent the motor and the like from being overheated and damaged.

According to the third aspect of the invention, when it is determined that the period in which the image carrier is not set has passed the predetermined time, the mode is switched to the power saving mode. Then, when it is desired to process another image carrier subsequently, it is possible to prevent a problem that the power saving mode is set immediately after the previous processing.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the power is turned on without setting the image holding member on the setting portion, the heating means can be operated once to heat and soften the image forming substance. Since the state is set, the operability is good as compared with the case where the power saving mode is set immediately when the image holding member is not set in the setting unit when the power is turned on.

According to the invention of claim 5, the surface of the peeling member can be moved and moved for a predetermined time in the initial stage of the power saving mode of claim 1, so that the heat accumulated in the peeling member can be radiated. It is possible to prevent damage due to accumulated heat. Further, since the movement is only for a predetermined time, it is possible to reduce noise.

[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 block diagram of a control unit of the toner removing device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part of a toner peeling unit and a drying unit according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a control example of the toner removing device according to the first embodiment.

5 is a flowchart of the intermittent movement mode in FIG.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of signals sent to a heating roller motor and a heating drum motor in an intermittent movement mode.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a control unit of a toner removing device according to another control example of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a control unit of the toner removing device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a control example of the toner removing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 40 Toner Peeling Unit 44 Offset Belt 45 Upper Heating Roller 45a Heating Lamp 46 Lower Heating Roller 46a Heating Lamp 61 Heating Drum 61a Heating Lamp 63 Paper Pressing Belt 916a Upper Heating Roller Thermistor 916b Lower Heating Roller Thermistor 931 Offset Belt Thermistor 932 Belt thermistor for paper pressing 933 Paper feed detection sensor

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] May 2, 1995

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0086

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

According to the invention of claim 2, in the power saving mode, when the setting detecting means detects that the image holding member is set in the setting portion, the power saving mode is released. By setting the image carrier on the setting unit, it is possible to switch to a state in which the image forming substance can be removed.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for removing an image-forming substance from an image-holding member, which removes the image-forming substance from the image-holding member, the image-forming substance being stably attached to the surface of the image-holding member; It has an adhesion force larger than that of the image-forming substance, and its surface is configured to be endlessly movable. After contacting the surface of the image carrier during the endless movement, the surface of the image carrier is A peeling member that transfers and removes the image-forming substance from the surface of the image holding member by separating, a driving unit that drives the peeling member so that the surface of the peeling member moves endlessly, and a vicinity of the peeling member. A heating unit that is arranged to heat and soften the image forming substance to facilitate transfer to the peeling member side, a setting unit for setting the image holding member to be processed, and the image holding member for the setting unit. Detect whether it is set to And a standby mode in which the heating means is appropriately operated to maintain a state in which the image forming substance can be heated and softened based on the detection result of the set detection means, and the operation of the heating means is stopped. An apparatus for removing an image-forming substance from an image carrier, which is provided with a mode switching control means for switching between a power saving mode and a power saving mode. 2. The low power mode is released when the setting detection means detects that the image carrier is set in the setting portion in the power saving mode. Image-forming substance removing device from the image carrier. 3. A time measuring means for measuring the time during which the image holding member is not set in the setting section by the set detecting means during the standby mode is provided, and the mode switching control means is provided to the time measuring means. The image forming substance removal from the image carrier according to claim 1, wherein the image forming substance is configured to be switched to the power saving mode when it is determined that the period in which the image carrier is not set exceeds a predetermined time. apparatus. 4. The mode switching control means for switching the mode after the power supply of the apparatus is turned on to operate the heating means to once heat the image-forming substance to a state where it can be softened. An apparatus for removing an image forming substance from an image carrier according to claim 1, which is configured. 5. The image according to claim 1, further comprising drive control means for moving the surface of the peeling member for a predetermined time when the temperature of the heating means is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature in the power saving mode. Image forming substance removing device from a holding body. 6. An apparatus for removing an image-forming substance from an image carrier, wherein at least a liquid application process is performed on the image-bearing member to remove the image-forming substance from the image-bearing member having the image-forming substance stably attached to the surface thereof. An image carrier contact member whose surface is driven to move endlessly in a closed path including a region in contact with the image carrier in the state, and the surface of the image carrier contact member to move endlessly. Driving means for driving the image carrier contact member, and an image carrier disposed in the vicinity of the image carrier contact member, in a state where the image forming substance is removed and the liquid remains attached, is heated and dried. Image carrier heating / drying means, setting part for setting the image carrier to be processed, set detecting means for detecting whether or not the image carrier is set in the setting part, and detection by the set detecting means Based on the results the imaging substance A mode switching control means for switching between a standby mode in which the heating means is appropriately operated to maintain a state in which the heating means can be dried and a power saving mode in which the operation of the heating means is stopped are provided. An apparatus for removing an image forming substance from an image carrier.