JPH09179453A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make image formation easily effaceable so as to make recording paper reclaimable, and allow image information to remain as it is on the recording paper in the case of not needing to efface by storing a first paper feeding part with recording paper easily absorbing toner, and storing a second paper feeding part with recording paper hardly absorbing toner. SOLUTION: A paper feeding cassette 18a is stored with recording paper formed of material containing synthetic paper such as polypropylene hardly absorbing toner, and a paper feeding cassette 18b is stored with recording paper formed of paper easily absorbing toner. These recording paper are conveyed to a transfer part respectively through rollers 29, 30 or a roller 35. In the case of desiring to reclaim recording paper, the recording paper hardly absorbing toner is used to make the toner easily effaceable afterwards so that the recording paper can be reclaimed. In the case of not needing to efface image information, the recording paper easily absorbing toner is used so that image information can remain on the recording paper.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, and more specifically, a recording sheet can be reused by making it easy to erase image information of an original formed on the recording sheet. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, global warming and abnormal weather due to air pollution and increase of CO _{2 and the} like, increase of ultraviolet rays due to CFC gas, deforestation due to acid rain or acid fog, depletion of oxygen concentration due to deforestation, etc. The environmental destruction that surrounds the world remains unabated.

In particular, many forests are felled as a raw material for producing recording paper such as building materials for houses, copying machines and computer output paper. Moreover, computers and copiers are expected to become more and more popular in the future, and the demand for recording paper is also expected to increase accordingly. And it is clear that the increase in the amount of use of this recording paper will have a great influence on the deforestation of more forests, and that it will promote the environmental destruction on a global scale.

[0004]

However, it is difficult to actively reduce the production of recording paper in order to reduce such recent cutting of forests, and it is difficult to increase the production of recording paper in the future. There was no effective way to control logging. That is, for example, in a general copying machine, as shown in FIG. 6, image information of a document is read by a predetermined scanning optical system and imaged on a photosensitive surface such as a photosensitive drum whose surface is charged (exposure step). 1) Then, according to the image information, toner is attached to the photosensitive surface to develop the image information (developing step 2), then recording paper is supplied (paper feeding step 3), and the toner corresponding to the image information is supplied. Is transferred to a recording sheet (transfer step 4), and then the toner is fixed to the recording sheet (fixing step 5) to form (copy) the image information formed on the original on the recording sheet.

Therefore, the image information cannot be formed again on the recording paper on which the image information has been formed once. For example, the recording paper used for conference materials or test printing is discarded after use. However, there is a problem that there is no treatment method and the amount of recording paper used increases, which increases the purchase cost of recording paper and promotes environmental destruction due to deforestation.

Therefore, the present invention makes it easy to erase the image information of the original formed on the recording paper so that the recording paper can be reused, the production amount of the recording paper is reduced, and To provide an image forming apparatus capable of reducing the purchase cost and reducing the deforestation even slightly, and when the deletion of the image information is unnecessary, the image information can be left as it is on the recording paper. It is an object.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
In order to solve the above problems, image information is formed on an image carrier, and toner is attached to the image carrier in accordance with the image information formed on the image carrier to form an image on a recording paper. First and second image forming means for forming information and a recording paper, which stores the recording paper and supplies the recording paper to the image carrier.
In an image forming apparatus having a paper feeding unit, the first paper feeding unit stores normal recording paper made of a material that easily absorbs toner, and the second paper feeding unit holds toner. It is characterized in that a recording paper made of a material which is hard to absorb is stored.

In this case, when it is desired to reuse the recording paper, a recording paper that hardly absorbs toner is used, and the toner is attached to the recording paper so that the toner can be easily erased from the recording paper later. The recording paper can be reused, the production amount of the recording paper can be reduced, and the purchase cost of the recording paper can be reduced. As a result, deforestation of the forest can be reduced to a small extent, and it can contribute significantly to the suppression of environmental destruction of the earth.

When it is not necessary to erase the image information, a recording paper which easily absorbs the toner is used, and the toner is attached to the recording paper, whereby the image information can be left on the recording paper. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the first aspect of the invention, the image forming unit includes a first developing device that includes a normal toner that is made of a material that is difficult to peel off from a recording sheet. It is characterized in that the apparatus is provided with a second developing device having a toner composed of a material that is easily peeled off from the recording paper by performing a predetermined process.

In this case, when it is desired to reuse the recording paper, the recording paper which is difficult to absorb the toner is used, and the toner composed of the material which is easily peeled off from the recording paper by performing a predetermined process on the recording paper. If it is not necessary to erase the image information, a recording paper that easily absorbs the toner is used, and a normal toner made of a material that is difficult to peel off from the recording paper is attached to the recording paper.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a third aspect of the present invention is, in the first aspect of the invention, a first mode and a second mode in which the image forming process is switched depending on whether the recording paper is reused or saved. In the first mode, the recording paper which is hard to absorb the toner stored in the second paper feeding unit is selectively fed, and in the second mode, the recording paper stored in the first paper feeding unit is selected. It is characterized by selectively feeding paper.

In this case, the reuse and storage of the recording paper can be arbitrarily set according to the user's judgment, and the usability of the image forming apparatus can be improved. In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 4 has the first mode and the second mode in which the image forming processing is switched depending on whether the recording paper is reused or saved. The first mode supplies the toner of the second developing device, and the second mode supplies the toner of the first developing device.

In this case, it is possible to arbitrarily set the reuse and the storage of the recording paper according to the judgment of the user, and it is possible to improve the usability of the image forming apparatus.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are diagrams showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and show an example in which the image forming apparatus is applied to a copying machine. First, the configuration will be described. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 is a copying machine.
Is composed of a document table 12, a scanning optical unit 13, a photosensitive drum (image carrier) 14, a developing unit 15, a fixing unit 16, a transfer unit 17, paper feed cassettes 18a and 18b, a paper discharge cassette 19, and the like.

An original document (not shown) on which predetermined image information is formed is placed on the original table 12, and the image information of the original document is supplied to the scanning optical unit 1.
3 read. The scanning optical unit 13 is composed of a light source 20, mirrors 21 to 24, a lens 25, and the like. By changing the position of the lens 25, zooming is performed as necessary, and image information of a document is read to read the information. It is sent to the photosensitive drum 14. The photosensitive drum 14 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the circumferential surface which is a photosensitive surface is charged by the charging corona 26, and the image information sent from the scanning optical unit 13 is recorded on the circumferential surface.

In the vicinity of the developing unit 15, the developing unit 1
And toner cartridge 2 that constitutes a second developing device together with 5.
7 is provided in the cartridge 27. As a predetermined process, a toner made of a material such as polyester which is easily dissolved by a solvent such as alcohol is stored in the cartridge 27. Then, the developing unit 15 electrostatically attaches the toner sent from the toner cartridge 27 according to the image information recorded on the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 14.

Further, a toner cartridge (not shown) which constitutes the first developing device together with the developing section 15 is arranged at a position adjacent to the toner cartridge 27, and the cartridge is made of a plastic material or the like which is difficult to melt. Normal toner is stored, and the developing unit 15 electrostatically adheres the toner according to the image information recorded on the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 14.

On the other hand, the paper feed cassette 18a contains recording paper (not shown) made of a material containing a synthetic paper such as polypropylene which is hard to absorb toner. Fed, roller 30
And the like to the transfer unit 17. The transfer unit 17 has a transfer corona 31.
The toner is attached to the recording paper according to the image information recorded on the circumferential surface of the. In the present embodiment, the paper feed cassette 18
a and the rollers 29 and 30 form a second sheet feeding section.

This recording paper is fed through the conveyance path 32 to the fixing unit 1.
6, the recording paper is conveyed to the fixing unit 16, and the toner is not completely absorbed in the recording paper by the pressure bonding rollers 33 and 34 in the fixing unit 16.
At the normal temperature, the toner is pressed to the extent that the toner is not peeled off and is discharged to the paper discharge cassette 19. Also, the paper feed cassette 18b
A recording paper (not shown) made of paper that easily absorbs toner is stored in the storage unit, and the recording paper is conveyed to the transfer unit 17 via the roller 35. In the present embodiment, the paper feed cassette 18b and the roller 35 form a first paper feed unit.

On the other hand, reference numeral 41 in FIG. 2 is an erasing device, and the device 41 is a container 42 filled with a solvent composed of a predetermined solvent such as alcohols, and a pair of rollers 43 which are brought into contact with each other and heated. And 44 and roller 43
And a guide member 47, 48 for guiding the recording paper 46 on which predetermined image information is formed on the rollers 43, 44.

In the erasing device 41, when the recording paper 46 is placed on the guide members 47 and 48 and the power source (not shown) is operated, the rollers 43 and 44 rotate in the directions of arrows a and b and the supply member 45 is removed from the container 42. The solvent is supplied to the roller 43 via the roller 43. Although not shown, the paper feed cassettes 18a and 18b
And the selection and execution of the cartridge 27 and the cartridge (not shown) are performed by switching a selection mode provided on a display unit (not shown) to a first mode and a second mode described later.

In this embodiment, the scanning optical unit 13,
Photosensitive drum (image carrier) 14, developing unit 15, fixing unit 1
6. The transfer unit 17 constitutes an image forming unit. next,
The operation will be described. First, in the case where it is assumed that the recording paper is no longer needed once it is used due to the preparation of conference materials or proof printing, for example, after placing the conference materials on the platen 12, the selection mode is set to the first mode. Switch to and press the start button. For this reason, the scanning optical unit 13 reads the image information formed on the document and outputs the image information to the photosensitive drum 1.
Record on the circumference of 4. At this time, toner is supplied from the cartridge 27 to the photosensitive drum 14, and the toner is attached according to the image information recorded on the photosensitive drum 14. Then, the roller 29 is operated to feed the recording paper made of a material that hardly absorbs toner from the paper feed cassette 18 a, and the recording paper is supplied to the transfer unit 17 via the roller 30. Therefore, the toner attached to the photosensitive drum 14 is transferred to the recording sheet side and electrostatically attached to the recording sheet. Next, the recording paper is conveyed to the fixing unit 16 through the conveying path 32, and the rollers 33 and 34 pressurize the toner to such an extent that the toner is not completely adsorbed on the recording paper and is not separated at room temperature. The paper is discharged to the cassette 19. Therefore, image information corresponding to the image information of the document is formed (copied) on the recording paper.

Then, when the image information formed on the recording paper becomes unnecessary, the recording paper can be reused by the erasing device 41. That is, the recording paper is guided to the guide members 47, 4
When you press the start button after inserting it between 8
3 and 44 rotate in the directions of arrows a and b and are heated. At this time, the solvent is supplied from the container 42 to the roller 43 via the supply member 45, and the solvent is supplied onto the circumferential surface of the roller 43. Therefore, the toner, which is the image information formed on the recording paper, is melted by the solvent, and returns to a blank state before use. Then, this recording paper is fed again to the paper feed cassette 1
The image information of another original can be copied on this recording paper by being stored in 8a.

On the other hand, when it is desired to save the image information formed on the original, the selection mode is switched to the second mode and the start button is pressed. Therefore, the photosensitive drum 14 is supplied with normal toner made of a plastic material from a toner cartridge (not shown), and the roller 3
5 operates to supply normal recording paper from the paper feed cassette 18b to the transfer unit 17, and toner is electrostatically attached to the recording paper according to the image information of the original. Then, this recording paper is conveyed to the fixing unit 16 and is transferred to the rollers 33, 34 as described above.
Then, the toner is fixed on the recording sheet by the pressure applied by the sheet, and then the sheet is ejected to the sheet ejection cassette 19. This recording paper is composed of ordinary paper that easily adsorbs toner, and since the recording paper has toner attached that is difficult to melt with a solvent,
It is kept in a normal copy state and stored semipermanently.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the toner is desired to be erased, the recording paper which is hard to absorb the toner is used,
A toner composed of a material which is easily dissolved by a predetermined solvent is attached to the recording paper to form image information formed on the original on the recording paper, and then the toner is fixed on the recording paper, and then the toner is fixed on the recording paper. Since the toner is erased from the recording paper by applying the predetermined solvent, the recording paper can be reused, the production amount of the recording paper can be reduced, and the purchase cost of the recording paper can be reduced. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the amount of deforestation even if only a little, and it is possible to contribute to the suppression of the environmental destruction of the earth.

When it is not necessary to erase the image information, a recording paper which easily absorbs the toner is used, and a normal toner made of a plastic material which is difficult to dissolve from the recording paper is attached onto the recording paper. , The image information can be left on the recording paper. Further, it has a first mode and a second mode in which the image forming process is switched depending on whether the recording paper is reused or saved, and the first mode is for recording paper which is hard to absorb the toner stored in the paper feed cassette 18a. In the second mode, the recording paper stored in the paper feed cassette 18b is selectively fed, and in the first mode, the toner cartridge 27 is used.
Of the toner cartridge, and the toner of the toner cartridge (not shown) is supplied in the second mode. Therefore, it is possible to arbitrarily set the reuse and the storage of the recording paper according to the user's judgment. Usability can be improved.

Further, in this embodiment, the toner is pressed in the fixing unit 16, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the roller 3 is used.
It is also possible to heat the toners 3 and 34 so that the toner is not completely adsorbed on the recording paper and is not peeled off at room temperature. Further, although the toner that is easily dissolved by a predetermined solvent is stored in the cartridge 27, the present invention is not limited to this, and the toner that is made of a solvent that is easily vaporized at a predetermined temperature is stored as a predetermined process. The image information of the original is formed on the recording sheet by adhering the solvent to the recording sheet, and when the image information is erased, the erasing device 41 heats the rollers 43 and 44 to a predetermined temperature to vaporize the toner. You may do it. In this case, the other toner cartridge may contain a toner made of plastic or the like that is hard to vaporize at a predetermined temperature.

Further, instead of heating or pressurizing the toner by the rollers 33 and 34, as shown in FIG. 3, the toner is easily absorbed in the vicinity of the rollers 33 and 34 and is not easily absorbed by the recording paper. The container 51 filled with the synthetic resin may be provided to constitute the synthetic resin fixing portion. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the recording paper, to which the image information formed on the original through the exposure process 52, the development process 53, the paper feeding process 54 and the transfer process 55 is attached, is conveyed to the roller 33 via the conveyance path 32. When conveyed to 34, the synthetic resin is supplied onto the circumference of the roller 32, and the surface of the recording paper is covered with the resin (resin attaching step 56).

With such a structure, when the recording paper is reused, the toner 59 is removed together with the resin 57 when the resin 57 is peeled off from the recording paper 58 as shown in FIG.
It can be peeled from the top to be a blank sheet, and it is not necessary to melt or vaporize the toner by the erasing device 41, and the device cost can be reduced. In this embodiment, the method of reusing recording paper is applied to a copying machine, but the image is recorded on the recording paper according to a command from a computer or the like to which the image information of the original is input without illuminating the original by the optical scanning system. It may be applied to a CRT printer or the like that forms information.

[0030]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when it is desired to reuse the recording paper, the recording paper which is hard to absorb the toner is used, and the toner is adhered onto the recording paper. The recording paper can be reused so that the toner can be easily erased from the recording paper, the production amount of the recording paper can be reduced, and the purchase cost of the recording paper can be reduced.
As a result, deforestation of the forest can be reduced to a small extent, and it can contribute significantly to the suppression of environmental destruction of the earth.

When it is not necessary to erase the image information, a recording paper which easily absorbs the toner is used and the toner is attached on the recording, so that the image information can be left on the recording paper. According to the second aspect of the invention, when it is desired to reuse the recording paper, the recording paper is used which is hard to absorb the toner, and is made of a material which is easily separated from the recording paper by performing a predetermined process. By attaching the toner to the recording paper, the recording paper can be reused so that the toner can be more easily erased from the recording paper later.

When it is not necessary to erase image information, a recording paper which easily absorbs toner is used, and a normal toner made of a material which is hard to be peeled from the recording paper is attached to the recording paper. The image information can be more surely left on the recording paper. According to the third and fourth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to arbitrarily set the reuse and the storage of the recording paper according to the judgment of the user, and it is possible to improve the usability of the image forming apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a copying machine as an image recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an erasing device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another aspect of the embodiment, and is a schematic configuration diagram of a synthetic resin coating section thereof.

FIG. 4 is a process chart showing a copying process of another aspect.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which a synthetic resin is peeled off from a recording paper of another aspect.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a conventional copying process.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 Copier (Image Forming Device) 13 Scanning Optical Unit (Image Forming Unit) 14 Photosensitive Drum (Image Carrier, Image Forming Unit) 15 Developing Unit (Image Forming Unit, First Developing Device, Second Developing Device) 16 Fixing Unit (Image forming unit) 17 Transfer unit (Image forming unit) 18a Paper feeding cassette (Second paper feeding unit) 18b Paper feeding cassette (First paper feeding unit) 27 Toner cartridge (Second developing device) 29, 30 Roller (No. 2 paper feed unit) 35 roller (first paper feed unit) 46 recording paper 58 recording paper 59 toner

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. Forming image information on an image carrier,
An image forming unit configured to form image information on recording paper by adhering toner on the image carrier according to the image information formed on the image carrier, and the recording paper An image forming apparatus having a first and a second paper feeding unit for feeding a recording paper to the recording medium, wherein the first paper feeding unit stores normal recording paper made of a material that easily absorbs toner. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the second paper feeding unit accommodates a recording paper made of a material that hardly absorbs toner. 2. The image forming means is composed of a first developing device having a normal toner composed of a material which is hard to be peeled from the recording paper, and a material which can be erased from the recording paper by performing a predetermined process. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second developing device having the toner. 3. A first mode and a second mode in which the image forming process is switched depending on whether the recording paper is reused or saved, and the first mode absorbs the toner stored in the second paper feed unit. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording paper that is difficult to feed is selectively fed, and in the second mode, the recording paper stored in the first feeding unit is selectively fed. 4. A first mode and a second mode in which the image forming process is switched depending on whether the recording paper is reused or saved, and the first mode supplies the toner of the second developing device, The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the toner of the first developing device is supplied in the two modes.