JPH09236953A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To actively control the humidity of a mount-paper storage part and to prevent slippage due to curl in paper and excessive amount of moisture in its surface by providing the mount-paper storage part for storing mount paper with a humidity adjustment means. SOLUTION: The mount paper with a paste layer spread on its surface is put in the transfer paper cassette as transfer paper to be used, and the transfer paper cassette is provided with the humidity adjustment device. The humidity adjustment device consists of a humidity sensor 301, a dehumidifying heater 302 for removing moisture, and a humidifier 303 for increasing moisture. The dehumidifying heater 302 and humidifier 303 are on/off controlled by a control part based on the result of the output of the humidity sensor 301. That is, when it is outputted that humidity in the transfer paper cassette is high by the humidity sensor 301, the humidifying heater 302 is turned on and the humidifier 303 is turned off. When it is outputted that the humidity in the transfer paper cassette is low by the humidity sensor 301, the dehumidifying heater 302 is turned off and the humidifier 303 is turned on.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile and a printer, and more specifically, a pattern used in a pattern forming method for forming a pattern on ceramics, enamel, glass or the like. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a mount for forming.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, a method using a transfer body has been widely adopted for forming a pattern on a transfer body such as ceramics, enamel and glass. FIG. 7 shows a method of manufacturing the transfer body and a method of forming a pattern on a transfer target body such as a ceramics using the transfer body. First, a paper 901 on which a water-soluble glue layer 902 is formed is prepared (FIG. 7A). On the surface of the glue layer 902, for example, a screen-printed pattern layer 9 is formed.
03 is formed (FIG. 7B). A resin layer 904 is formed by applying a synthetic resin to the surfaces of the pattern layer 903 and the glue layer 902 (FIG. 7C). As a result, the transfer body 900 is completed. In forming a pattern on a transfer target using the transfer body 900 manufactured in this manner,
First, the transfer body 900 is immersed in water to dissolve the glue layer 902,
The resin layer 904 with the pattern layer 903 is peeled off from the mount 901 (FIG. 7D). The resin layer 904 with the pattern layer is attached to the surface of the transfer-receiving body 905 such as ceramics (see FIG. 7).
(E)). Then, it is fired (FIG. 7 (f)). As a result, a pattern is formed on the transferred object 905 such as a ceramic.

The pattern layer 903 shown in FIG. 7B is usually formed by screen printing. However, screen printing is not suitable for high-mix low-volume production because it takes a lot of time to make a plate. Therefore,
It has been proposed to form the pattern layer using dry printing by a dry copying machine instead of screen printing (for example,
See JP-A-4-135798 and JP-A-7-199540. ).

[0004]

However, according to the research conducted by the present inventors, in the case of forming a toner image on the mount 901 with the adhesive layer 902 by using the image forming apparatus such as the dry copying machine. , It turned out that the following problems occur. That is, the mount 901 with the glue layer 902 may be curled or sticky on the surface depending on the humidity condition in the transfer paper cassette serving as the mount storage unit in which the mount 901 with the glue layer 902 is stored. For example, when the humidity is less than 30%, the adhesive layer 902 and the mount 901 are used.
Since the shrinkage rate differs depending on the water content of the, the curling occurs due to the shrinkage of the glue layer, which causes a jam during conveyance in the image forming apparatus. Also, for example, when the humidity is higher than 70%, the surface water content of the glue layer may cause slippage between the glue and the transport roller, or the glue may stick to the transport roller or stick to the guide plate. There is also a problem that it may cause a defective conveyance.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to positively control the humidity of a mount accommodating portion to prevent slipping due to curling of paper and excessive surface moisture. An image forming apparatus is provided.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is an image forming a toner image on a layer of a picture forming mount having a layer whose characteristics change with humidity. In the forming apparatus, a mount accommodating portion that accommodates the mount,
It is characterized in that a humidity adjusting means is provided.

In this image forming apparatus, the humidity is adjusted in the mount accommodating portion for accommodating the mount by the humidity adjusting means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the humidity adjusting means includes a humidity sensor, a heater, a humidifying device, and the heater and the humidifying device based on the output of the humidity sensor. It is characterized in that it is configured with a control means for controlling.

In this image forming apparatus, the control means controls the heater and the humidifying device based on the output of the humidity sensor to adjust the humidity.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First, an example of a color copying machine which is an image forming apparatus to which the present invention can be applied will be described.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a color copying apparatus, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view around a photoconductor / intermediate transfer belt. A color image reading device (hereinafter, referred to as a color scanner) 1 forms an image of a document 3 on a color sensor 7 via an illumination lamp 4, a mirror group 5, and a lens 6 to obtain color image information of the document, for example, Each color separation light of blue (Blue, hereinafter B), green (Green, hereinafter G), and red (Red, hereinafter R) is read and converted into an electrical image signal. And B, G, obtained by this color scanner 1,
Based on the color separation image signal intensity level of R, a color conversion process is performed in an image processing unit (not shown), and black (hereinafter, referred to as Bk), cyan (Cyan, hereinafter referred to as C),
Magenta (hereinafter referred to as M), yellow (Yel
low, hereinafter referred to as Y). This is sent to a color image recording device (hereinafter referred to as a color printer) 2. The color printer 2 visualizes Bk, C, M, and Y based on this color image data.
A four-color full-color image is formed in the following manner from the toner image thus obtained.

The writing optical unit 8 of the color printer 2 converts the color image data from the color scanner 1 into an optical signal, performs optical writing corresponding to the original image, and electrostatically charges the photoconductor 9 (for example, OPC). A latent image is formed (for example, image portion (LD data “255” portion) -80
~ -130 (V), non-image part (LD data "0" part)-
500--700 (V)). The photoconductor 9 rotates counterclockwise as indicated by the arrow, and around it, a photoconductor cleaning unit (including a pre-cleaning static eliminator) 10, a static eliminator 11, a charger 12, a potential sensor 13, and a Bk developing unit 14. , C developing unit 15, M developing unit 1
6, a Y developing unit 17, an optical sensor 18 for detecting a development density pattern, an intermediate transfer belt 19, and the like are arranged.

Each developing unit includes a developing sleeve (14a, 15a, 16a, 17a) which rotates by bringing a brush of the developer into contact with the surface of the photosensitive member 9 to develop the electrostatic latent image.
Developing paddle (14b, 15b, 16b, 17b) that rotates to pump and agitate developer, and toner concentration sensor for developer (14c, 15c, 16c, 17c)
It is composed of

Hereinafter, an outline of the copying operation will be described by taking an example in which the order of the developing operation (color image forming order) is Bk, C, M, and Y (however, the image forming order is not limited to this). . When the copying operation is started, reading of the Bk image data is started at a predetermined timing by the color scanner 1, and light writing by a laser beam and formation of a latent image are started based on the image data (hereinafter, electrostatic image formation by the Bk image data). The latent images are referred to as Bk latent images, and C, M, and Y are referred to as C latent images, M latent images, and Y latent images, respectively). Before the latent image front end reaches the developing position of the Bk developing unit 14 so that the front end of the Bk latent image can be developed, the developing sleeve 14a is started to rotate and the Bk latent image is developed with Bk toner. After that, the developing operation of the Bk latent image area is continued, and when the trailing edge of the latent image passes the Bk developing position, the developing operation is disabled. This is completed at least before the leading end of the C latent image based on the next C image data arrives.

The Bk toner image formed on the photosensitive member 9 is transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 19 which is driven at the same speed as the photosensitive member (hereinafter, the toner image transfer from the photosensitive member to the intermediate transfer belt is referred to as belt transfer). ). The belt transfer is performed by applying a predetermined bias voltage to the transfer bias roller 20a while the photoconductor 9 and the intermediate transfer belt 19 are in contact with each other. It should be noted that, on the intermediate transfer belt 19, the Bk, C, M, and Y toner images sequentially formed on the photoconductor 9 are sequentially aligned on the same surface to form a belt transfer image of four-color superimposition. , Perform bulk transfer to transfer paper. This intermediate transfer belt unit will be described later.

On the side of the photosensitive member 9, the Bk process is followed by the C process, but the C image data reading by the color scanner 1 is started at a predetermined timing, and the C latent image is formed by the laser light writing by the image data. The C developing unit 15 starts rotating the developing sleeve 15a after the trailing end of the previous Bk latent image has passed and before the leading end of the C latent image has reached the developing position, thereby developing the C latent image. Develop with C toner. After that, the development of the C latent image area is continued, and when the trailing edge of the latent image passes, the development is inoperable as in the case of the previous Bk developing unit. This is also completed before the leading end of the next M latent image arrives. In each of the steps M and Y, the operations of reading image data, forming a latent image, and developing are performed in the same manner as the steps Bk and C described above.

Next, the intermediate transfer belt unit will be described. The intermediate transfer belt 19 is stretched around a drive roller 21, a transfer bias roller 20a, a ground roller 20b, and a group of driven rollers, and is driven and controlled by a drive motor (not shown). Here, the intermediate transfer belt 1
9 is, for example, carbon-dispersed fluororesin ET
FE (ethylene / tetrafluoro / ethylene) volume resistivity of 10 ¹⁰ Ωcm and surface resistivity of 10 ⁹ Ω / □ can be used. As the transfer bias roller 20a, for example, a hydrin rubber roller is covered with a PFE tube,
A material having a volume resistivity of 10 ⁹ Ωcm can be used. The belt cleaning unit 22 includes a brush roller 22a, a rubber blade 22b, a mechanism 22c for contacting and separating from the belt, and the like, and transfers the second, third, and fourth colors after the first color Bk image is transferred to the belt. During this operation, the belt is separated from the belt surface by the contact / separation mechanism 22c. Then, the four color images are accurately aligned on the intermediate transfer belt 19 and the images of the respective colors are transferred one after another to form a four color superimposed image on the intermediate transfer belt 19.

The paper transfer unit 23 includes a paper transfer bias roller 23a, a roller cleaning blade 23b,
And a mechanism 23c for contacting and separating from the belt. The bias roller 23a is normally separated from the surface of the belt 19, but the contact / separation mechanism 23c is arranged at a timing when the superimposed image of four colors formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 19 is collectively transferred to the transfer paper. Pressed by the roller 2
A predetermined bias voltage is applied to 3a to perform transfer to paper. The transfer paper 24 is fed by the paper feed roller 25 and the registration roller 26 at the timing when the leading end of the four-color superimposed image on the intermediate transfer belt surface reaches the paper transfer position.

The transfer paper 24 on which the four-color superposed toner images are collectively transferred from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 19 is a paper transport unit 27.
Then, the toner image is conveyed to the fixing device 28, and the toner image is melted and fixed by the fixing roller 28a and the pressure roller 28b, which are controlled to a predetermined temperature, and is carried out to the copy tray 29 to obtain a full-color copy.

The photosensitive member 9 after the belt transfer is the photosensitive member cleaning unit 10 (pre-cleaning static eliminator 10).
a, the brush roller 10b, and the rubber blade 10c) are used to clean the surface, and the charge is uniformly removed by the charge removing lamp 11. After the transfer of the toner image onto the transfer paper 24, the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 19 is cleaned by pressing the cleaning unit 22 again by the contact / separation mechanism 22c.

At the time of repeat copy, the color scanner 1
The operation and the image formation on the photosensitive member 9 proceed to the second Bk (first color) image process at a predetermined timing after the first Y (fourth color) image process. In the intermediate transfer belt 19, the second Bk toner image is applied to the area where the surface is cleaned by the cleaning unit 22, following the batch transfer process of the first four-color superimposed image onto the transfer paper. The belt is transferred. After that, the operation is the same as that of the first sheet. The transfer paper cassettes 30, 31, 32,
Reference numeral 33 stores transfer papers of various sizes, which are fed and conveyed in the direction of the registration rollers 26 from the storage cassette of the size paper designated by the operation panel (not shown) at a certain timing. Reference numeral 34 denotes a manual paper feed tray for OHP paper and thick paper. The process speed is set to 180 mm / sec, for example.

The above is the description of the copy mode for obtaining four full colors, but in the case of the three-color copy mode and the two-color copy mode, the same operation as above is performed for the designated number of colors and the number of times. It will be. In the single-color copy mode, until the predetermined number of sheets are finished, only the developing unit of that color is in the developing operation (agent standing) state, and the intermediate transfer belt 19 remains in contact with the surface of the photoreceptor 9. The copying operation is performed in a state where the belt cleaner 22 is driven at a constant speed in the forward direction and the belt cleaner 22 is also in contact with the belt 19.

In this embodiment, C, M,
As each Y toner, a toner containing a heat-sinterable colorant and a binder resin (hereinafter referred to as “ceramic toner”) can be used. By using this toner, the image formed on the transfer medium by the copying machine according to the present embodiment is finally sintered on a transfer target such as a ceramic, so that the surface of the transfer target such as a ceramic is transferred. An image can be formed on.

In the present embodiment, a two-component developing method for developing an electrostatic latent image by using a two-component developing agent containing a ceramic toner and a carrier is used. None The developing unit may be configured to perform development by a so-called one-component developing method that visualizes the electrostatic latent image. Examples of the carrier used in the two-component developing method include iron, ferrite, glass peas, and the like as in the past. Incidentally, these carriers may be coated with a resin. The resin used in this case is carbon fluoride, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, phenol resin, polyvinyl acetal, silicone resin or the like. In any case, it is appropriate that the mixing ratio of the ceramic toner and the carrier is generally about 1 to 15 parts by weight of the ceramic toner with respect to 100 parts by weight of the carrier.

The ceramic toner used in this embodiment is mainly composed of at least a heat-sinterable colorant and a binder resin. Desirably, a mineralizer, a sintering material, a solvent, etc. are added to this ceramic toner. (Hereinafter, margin)

Examples of the heat-sinterable colorant include red iron oxide, chrome green as a metal oxide, and manganese pink, chrome alumina green, chrome titanium yellow, vanadium tin yellow, antimony tin gray blue as a solid solution of metal oxide. , lilac, vanadium zirconium yellow, as double oxides (Zn, Co) O · Al 2
O ₃ , ZnO. (Al, Cr) ₂ O ₃ , (Zn, Co) O
・ (Al, Cr) ₂ O ₃ , ZnO ・ (Al, Cr, Fe)
₂ O ₃ , MnO.Cr ₂ O ₃ , (Mn, Co) O. (Cr,
Fe) ₂ O ₃ , CuO.Cr ₂ O _{3 and the} like include antimony yellow as a solid solution of a complex oxide. In addition, silicates such as cobalt olipine, nickel olipin, and uvalovite, silicate solid solutions such as chrome tin pink, vanadium blue, turkish bull, praseodymium yellow, and coral red, sulfides such as cadmium orange, and selenium selenium compounds such as cadmium sulfide. Red,
Examples include selenium red and mandarin.

Mineralizers can be used to improve the fusability of the heat-sinterable colorant. Examples of mineralizers include hydroxides of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals such as lithium hydroxide, carbonates of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals such as lithium carbonate, chlorides of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals, and chlorides. Aluminum, boric acid, alkali metal or alkaline earth metal borate, alkali metal or alkaline earth metal metaborate, alkali metal or alkaline earth metal phosphate, alkali metal or alkaline earth metal pyrroline Acid salts, silicates of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals,
Alkali metal or alkaline earth metal metasilicate, zirconium silicate, bone ash, borax, ammonium metavanadate, tungsten oxide or vanadium pentoxide, soot oxide,
Examples of the basic material include metal oxides such as zirconium oxide, cerium oxide, and molybdenum oxide, metal fluorides such as calcium fluoride and aluminum fluoride, and glasslets, which may be used alone or in combination.

As the sinter material, lime feldspar, potassium feldspar, soda feldspar, feldspar amount such as betalite (lithium feldspar), kaolin, silica stone, wax stone, alumina, silica, quartz, titanium oxide, chamotte, etc. are used as basic materials. These may be used alone or as a mixture of two or more.

Further, a solvent medium is applied as an agent for adjusting the saturation, hue and lightness of the baked image. Examples of the solvent include natural minerals such as earth ash, limestone, magnesite, talc and dolomite, and compounds such as barium carbonate, zinc oxide and strontium carbonate as basic materials, and these may be used alone or in combination. .

These mineralizers, sinters, and solvents are not always necessary depending on the properties of the transfer medium used in the method of the present invention, the constituents, and the composition of the fired product, but in order to enhance versatility. In addition, it is preferable to simultaneously use the mineralizing agent and the sinter and the solvent together with the heat sinterable colorant. Also,
A so-called frit may be prepared by mixing these in advance or melting them after mixing.

In order to obtain proper charging characteristics and fixing characteristics on the transfer medium as the toner for electrophotography, the total amount of the heat-sinterable colorant, the mineralizer, the sintering material and the solvent medium is the binder resin 100. It is preferably 120 parts by weight or less with respect to parts by weight. Individually, with respect to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin, the heat-sinterable colorants 1 to 12 are used.
0 parts by weight, preferably 10 to 100 parts by weight can be used.
Further, the mineralizing agent is 0 to 100 parts by weight, and the sintering material is 0 to 40 parts by weight.
It is appropriate that the amount of the solvent is 0 to 40 parts by weight. As the materials other than the heat-sinterable coloring material, the mineralizer, the sintering material, and the solvent, all known materials can be used.

As the binder resin, polystyrene,
Polymers of styrene and its substitution products such as poly-p-chlorostyrene and polyvinyltoluene; styrene-p-chlorostyrene copolymers, styrene-propylene copolymers, styrene-vinyltoluene copolymers, styrene-vinylnaphthalene copolymers Coal, styrene-methyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-
Butyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-octyl acrylate copolymer, stellene-methyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-ethyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-butyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-α-chloromethacrylic acid Methyl copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-vinyl methyl ketone copolymer, styrene-bradiene copolymer, styrene-isoprene copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile-indene copolymer, styrene-maleic acid copolymer Polymer, styrene-
Styrene-based copolymers such as maleic acid ester copolymers; polymethyl methacrylate, polybutyl methacrylate, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, epoxy resin, epoxy polyol resin, polyurethane, polyamide, Polyvinyl, butyral, polyacrylic resin, rosin,
Examples thereof include modified rosin, terpene resin, aliphatic or alicyclic hydrocarbon resin, aromatic petroleum resin, chlorinated paraffin, and paraffin wax, which can be used alone or in combination.

The toner used in this embodiment may contain a charge control agent, if necessary. All known charge control agents can be used, for example, nigrosine dye, triphenylmethane dye, chromium-containing metal complex dye, molybdic acid chelate pigment, rhodamine thread dye, alkoxy amine, quaternary ammonium salt (fluorine modified). Four
Primary ammonium salts), alkylamides, phosphorus alone or compounds, tungsten alone or compounds, fluorine-based activators, salicylic acid metal salts, and salicylic acid derivative metal salts, and the like, and a plurality of these may be used in combination. .

The amount of the charge control agent used is determined by the type of binder resin, the presence or absence of additives used as necessary, and the toner production method including the dispersion method, and is uniquely limited. Not a thing, but a binder resin 10
0.1 to 10 parts by weight, preferably 2 to 0 parts by weight
The range is 5 parts by weight. If it is less than 0.1 part by weight, the amount of charge of the toner will be insufficient, which is not practical. If it exceeds 10 parts by weight, the chargeability of the toner is too great, and the electrostatic attraction with the carrier increases, resulting in a decrease in the fluidity of the developer and a decrease in the image density.

Other additives to the toner include colloidal silica, hydrophobic silica, fatty acid metal salts (zinc stearate, aluminum stearate, etc.), metal oxides (titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, tin oxide). , Antimony oxide, etc.) and fluoropolymers.

Below, Bk used in the present embodiment,
An example of a developer including a ceramic toner of each color of C, M, and Y and a carrier is shown. All parts below are parts by weight.

[Production Example of Mineralizing Agent, Sintering Material, Medium Solution (Fine Powder Mixture)] Na ₂ O 1 part K ₂ O 2 parts CaO 15 parts PbO 2 parts B ₂ O ₃ 13 parts Al ₂ O ₃ 2 parts SiO ₂ 35 parts The materials of the above formulation were ground with a stamp mill and further mixed with a Henschel mixer to obtain a prepared fine powder mixture.

Polyester resin 600 parts (oxidation = 3, hydroxyl value = 25, Mn = 45000, Mw
/Mn=4.0, Tg = 60 ° C.) (Mn, Co) O. (Cr, Fe) ₂ O ₃ 100 parts Fine powder mixture 300 parts Zinc salicylate derivative (Bontron E84, manufactured by Orient Chemical Co.) 2 parts The above formulation The above materials were mixed well with a Henschel mixer, and the mixture was kneaded with 3 rolls for 3 passes, cooled, pulverized with a pulverizer, and further finely pulverized with a jet mill. After that, classification was performed to obtain a toner having a volume average particle diameter of 7.5 μm. Further, 0.5 wt% of hydrophobic silica (R972, manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) was added and mixed with a mixer to obtain a Bk toner.

[Production Example of C Toner] 600 parts of polyester resin (oxidation = 3, hydroxyl value = 25, Mn = 45000, Mw
/Mn=4.0, Tg = 60 ° C.) Vanadium blue 100 parts Fine powder mixture 300 parts Zinc salicylate derivative (Bontron E84, manufactured by Orient Chemical Co., Ltd.) 2 parts The ingredients of the above formulation are well mixed with a Henschel mixer, and Was kneaded with 3 rolls for 3 passes, cooled, pulverized with a pulverizer, and further finely pulverized with a jet mill. After that, classification was performed to obtain a toner having a volume average particle diameter of 7.5 μm. Further, 0.5 wt% of hydrophobic silica (R972, manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) was added and mixed with a mixer to obtain a C toner.

[Production Example of M Toner] 600 parts of polyester resin (oxidation = 3, hydroxyl value = 25, Mn = 45000, Mw
/Mn=4.0, Tg = 60 ° C.) ZnO. (Al.Cr) ₂ O ₃ 100 parts Fine powder mixture 300 parts Zinc salicylate derivative (Bontron E84, manufactured by Orient Chemical Co., Ltd.) 2 parts The mixture was thoroughly mixed with a shell mixer, kneaded with 3 rolls for 3 passes, cooled, pulverized with a pulverizer, and further pulverized with a jet mill. After that, classification was performed to obtain a toner having a volume average particle diameter of 7.5 μm. Further, 0.5 wt% of hydrophobic silica (R972, manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) was added and mixed with a mixer to obtain an M toner.

[Production Example of Y Toner] 600 parts of polyester resin (oxidation = 3, hydroxyl value = 25, Mn = 45000, Mw
/Mn=4.0, Tg = 60 ° C.) Chromium titanium yellow 100 parts Fine powder mixture 300 parts Zinc salicylate derivative (Bontron E84, manufactured by Orient Chemical Co., Ltd.) 2 parts The ingredients of the above formulation are well mixed with a Henschel mixer. This was kneaded with 3 rolls for 3 passes, cooled, pulverized with a valpelizer 1, and further pulverized with a jet mill. After that, classification was performed to obtain a toner having a volume average particle diameter of 7.5 μm. Further, 0.5 wt% of hydrophobic silica (R972, manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) was added and mixed with a mixer to obtain a Y toner.

[Production Example of Carrier] Silicone resin solution (KR50, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 100 parts Carbon blank (manufactured by Cabot, BP2000) 3 parts Toluene 100 parts Dispersed and coated with a homomixer for 30 minutes using the above-mentioned formulation material. A layer forming liquid was prepared. This coating layer forming liquid has an average particle size of 50
A coating layer was formed on the surface of 1000 parts of spherical ferrite having a diameter of μm using a fluidized bed type coating device to obtain a carrier.

The carrier 400 g and the Bk toner 2
The Bk developer obtained by placing 0 g in a ball mill and stirring for 30 minutes was put in the Bk developing unit 14 of the color copying apparatus and used. Similarly, the carrier 400 g and the C
C developer obtained by placing 20 g of toner in a ball mill and stirring for 30 minutes was used in C developing unit 15. Further, 400 g of the carrier and 20 g of the M toner were put in a ball mill and stirred for 30 minutes, and the M developer obtained was put in the M developing unit 16 for use. In addition, the carrier 4
A Y developer obtained by placing 00 g and 20 g of the above Y toner in a ball mill and stirring for 30 minutes was put in a Y developing unit 17 and used.

In this embodiment, the mineralizing agent, the sintering material, and the solvent mixture (fine powder mixture) are added to each color toner, but this fine powder mixture is added to the resin layer for toner image protection. In addition, in the case where it is applied to the surface of a transfer target such as a ceramic as a pattern forming object before the sintering process, it is not always necessary to add it to the toner of each color.

Further, in this embodiment, a mount 901 having a glue layer 902 attached to the surface thereof, for example, a mount 901 having a size of about 95 μm, a natural product such as gum arabic or starch or a modified product thereof, polyvinyl alcohol or the like is synthesized. 10 to 30 μm of synthetic paste material consisting of paste material, vinyl acetate, acrylic acid and its ester, olefin and maleic acid copolymer
The sheet having a thickness of 3 mm and formed on the surface is used as the transfer sheet 24 by being placed in the transfer sheet cassettes 30, 31, 32, and 33. Even in such a case, the transfer paper cassette 3 is prevented so that curling and stickiness of the surface do not occur.
Humidity adjusting devices 300 are provided at 0, 31, 32, and 33 to adopt a configuration capable of adjusting humidity. Hereinafter, this configuration operation will be described. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of the humidity adjusting device 300 provided in the transfer paper cassette. The humidity controller 300 includes a humidity sensor 301, a dehumidifying heater 302 for dehumidifying, and a humidifier 3 for humidifying.
And 03. The dehumidifying heater 302 and the humidifier 303 are on / off controlled by a control unit (not shown) based on the output result of the humidity sensor 301.
That is, when the humidity sensor 301 outputs that the humidity in the transfer paper cassette is high, the dehumidifying heater 302
Is turned on and the humidifier 303 is turned off. Further, when the humidity sensor 301 outputs that the humidity in the transfer paper cassette is low, the dehumidifying heater 302 is turned off to turn on the humidifier 30.
Turn on 3.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the humidifier 303 has an opening 304 in the upper part, and water 305 for humidification is provided.
And a humidifying heater 307 for heating and evaporating the water 305. A lid 308 that can be opened and closed by swinging about the central axis O is provided above the opening 304.
When the heater 302 for dehumidification is used for dehumidification, the solenoid 309 is turned on to push the lid 308 in the direction of arrow A, so that the lid 308 opens.
Is covered. In this case, the heat of the dehumidifying heater 302 does not evaporate the water in the water container 306. When the humidifier 303 is used for humidification, the solenoid 309 is turned off, and the lid 310 is urged by the spring 310.
08 is extruded in the direction opposite to arrow A. In this case, the water which is heated by the humidifying heater 307 and becomes steam is
It spreads from the opening 304 into the transfer paper cassette and is humidified.

Here, the dehumidifying heater 302 and the opening 304 of the humidifier 303 may be arranged at positions sufficiently separated from each other without providing the lid 308. With this arrangement, the dehumidifying heater does not evaporate the water in the water container 306.

The temperature adjusting device 300 constructed as described above.
This makes it possible to adjust the humidity in the transfer paper cassette 30, 31, 32, 33. Here, the glue layer 9 is formed on the surface.
It has been known that the curl of the mount 901 to which 02 is attached is apt to occur when the humidity is lower than 30% and the stickiness of the surface is apt to occur when the humidity is higher than 70%. Therefore, by the humidity adjusting device 300,
When adjusting the humidity in the transfer paper cassettes 30, 31, 32, 33, it is desirable to keep the humidity within the range of 30 percent to 70 percent. As a result, even when the mount 901 having the adhesive layer 902 attached to the surface is used as the transfer paper 24, the curl and the stickiness of the surface do not occur and it is possible to prevent the conveyance failure in the image forming apparatus.

In the temperature adjusting device 300, a dehumidifying / humidifying device 311 as shown in FIG. 4 may be used instead of the dehumidifying heater 302 and the humidifier 303. The dehumidifying / humidifying device 311 includes a dehumidifying / humidifying heater 312, a water container 313,
And a lid 314. Here, the heater 31 for dehumidification / humidification
2 is the dehumidifying heater 302 and the humidifying heater 303
Combines the functions of. The lid 314 can be opened and closed by a lid opening / closing mechanism 315 as shown in FIG. That is, when humidifying, the solenoid 316 is turned on to push out the plunger 317, and the arm 318 is fixed to the fixed pin 3.
It swings around 19 in the direction of arrow B. At this time, the lid 314
Since the unevenness provided on the back surface of the arm meshes with the unevenness provided on the surface of the arm 318, the lid 314 swings in the direction of the arrow B ′ and is brought into an open state as shown in FIG. Then, the dehumidifying / humidifying heater 312 evaporates the water in the water container 313 to humidify the inside of the transfer paper cassette. When dehumidifying, the solenoid 316 turns off and the plunger 3
17, the arm 318 swings around the fixed pin 319 in the direction opposite to the arrow B. At this time, the lid 314 swings in the direction opposite to the arrow B ′, and becomes the closed state as shown in FIG. The water in the water container 313 does not evaporate, and the dehumidifying / humidifying heater 312 heats the inside of the transfer paper cassette to dehumidify it. According to this configuration, since it is not necessary to provide the heaters for dehumidification and humidification respectively, the structure is simplified.

As described above, according to the above embodiment, the humidity in the transfer paper cassettes 30, 31, 32, 33 can be adjusted to keep the water content of the transfer paper 24 within a predetermined range. Mount 901 with a glue layer 902 attached to the surface
Also when using, curling does not occur due to the difference in shrinkage ratio depending on the water content of the backing sheet 901 and the adhesive layer 902, and stickiness does not occur at high humidity. As a result, it is possible to prevent defective conveyance due to the curl and stickiness. (Hereinafter, margin)

The transfer paper cassettes 30, 31, 32,
When accommodating the mount 901 having the adhesive layer 902 attached to the surface of 33, it is desirable to stack the adhesive layer 902 face down. According to this, it is possible to further suppress curling to the glue layer side at low humidity due to the weight of the paper.

[0051]

According to the inventions of claims 1 and 2, since the humidity is adjusted by the humidity adjusting means in the mount accommodating portion for accommodating the mount, the moisture content of the mount is kept within a predetermined range. You can Therefore, there is an excellent effect that the characteristics of the layer of which the characteristics change depending on the humidity can be kept constant. For example, as the above mount,
Even when a backing sheet having a glue layer attached to the surface is used, curling does not occur due to the difference in shrinkage ratio between the backing sheet and the glue layer depending on the water content, and stickiness does not occur at high humidity. As a result, there is an excellent effect that it is possible to prevent conveyance defects due to the curl and stickiness.

In particular, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the control means controls the heater and the humidifying device based on the output of the humidity sensor to adjust the humidity so that the water content of the mount in the mount accommodating portion. Since it can be kept within a predetermined range, there is an excellent effect that the characteristics of the layer of which the characteristics change depending on the humidity can be kept constant. Therefore, there is an excellent effect that it is possible to prevent the conveyance failure due to the change in the characteristics of the layers.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of an electrophotographic copying machine according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view around a photoconductor and an intermediate transfer belt of the electrophotographic copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of a humidity adjusting device 300 provided in a transfer paper cassette of the electrophotographic copying machine.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the temperature adjusting device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a lid opening / closing mechanism in the temperature adjusting device.

6A and 6B are cross-sectional views taken along line XX ′ of FIG.

7A to 7F are explanatory views of a method for manufacturing a transfer body and a method for forming a pattern on a ceramics or the like using the transfer body.

[Explanation of symbols]

 9 Photoconductors 14a, 15a, 16a, 17a Developing sleeve 19 Intermediate transfer belt 26 Registration roller 28a Fixing roller 28b Pressure roller 30, 31, 32, 33 Transfer paper cassette 300 Humidity adjusting device 301 Humidity sensor 302 Dehumidifying heater 303 Humidifier 304 Opening 305 Water 306 Water container 307 Humidifying heater 308 Lid 309 Solenoid 310 Spring 311 Dehumidifying / humidifying device 312 Dehumidifying / humidifying heater 313 Water container 314 Lid 315 Lid opening / closing mechanism 316 Solenoid 317 Plunger 318 Arm 319 Fixed pin 900 Transferring body 901 Mount 902 Adhesive layer 903 Picture layer 904 Resin layer 905 Ceramics

Front page continuation (72) Inventor Kenzen Sekine 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Within Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takashi Misasai 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Shares Company Ricoh

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. In an image forming apparatus for forming a toner image on a layer of a picture forming mount having a layer whose characteristics change with humidity, a humidity adjusting means is provided in a mount accommodating section for accommodating the mount. An image forming apparatus characterized by the above. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the humidity adjusting means includes a humidity sensor, a heater, and a humidifying device.
An image forming apparatus comprising: a controller that controls the heater and the humidifier based on the output of the humidity sensor.