JPH0944043A - Regenerating device for image holding body - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a useless standby state where regeneration processing is not started and to make the operability of a device excellent by starting the regeneration processing when a paper feed detecting sensor detects that an image holding body is set. SOLUTION: A reflection type paper feeding detecting sensor 933 is provided at the lower part of the paper feeding table 21 of a paper feeding unit 20. A signal 1 in the case that transfer paper 10 exists and the signal 0 in the case that the transfer paper 10 does not exist are sent from the sensor 933 to a main control part. The main control part detects the output of the sensor 933, and drives paper feeding rollers when the transfer paper 10 is set, and successively regenerates and processes the transfer paper 10 on the paper feeding table 21. When it finishes regeneration processing of all the transfer paper 10 on the paper feeding table 21, the output of the sensor 933 becomes 0 which means no transfer paper 10, and the device completes the regeneration processing and is made to be in the standby state. Therefore, the regeneration processing is started without necessitating a special operation made by a user such as depressing a start key or the like, so that the operability of the device is improved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

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

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an image carrier of this type, an image carrier for removing an image forming substance and reusing the image carrier without damaging the fibers of the image carrier. Has been proposed (for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 5-2390).
75).

There has also been proposed a device capable of surely removing only the image-forming substance from the image carrier having the image-forming substance adhered to the surface thereof by using a predetermined peeling member (for example, Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 5 (1999) -135242). -280417).

Further, in order to remove the image-forming substance from the image carrier, a liquid is applied to the image carrier to remove the image-forming substance, and then a part of the liquid is efficiently removed from the image carrier to carry out image holding. A device for regenerating the body has also been proposed (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 5-269873).

[0005]

However, in the concrete example of the image carrier reproducing apparatus that has been proposed in the past, even when the image carrier to be reproduced is set in the paper feed tray or the like as the setting unit. , The playback process was not started until the user pressed the start key.

However, in the image carrier reproducing apparatus, setting the image carrier in the paper feed tray is an action for the purpose of performing the reproducing process of the set image carrier. The playback process does not start unless you press the start key after setting the, which is bothersome for the user, and also when the user forgets to press the start key or does not know it. Will lead to wasting time before realizing it.

When the main switch is turned on, the reproducing apparatus for the image carrier, which is set in the reproducible state and is in the stand-by state, enters the stand-by state.
Even if the image carrier is set in the paper feed tray, the reproduction process does not start until the start key is pressed. Such a state is not only meaningless to the apparatus, but also increases power consumption for maintaining the reprocessable state during standby.

Particularly, in a reproducing device for an image carrier having a heating means and a heating member which is heated to a predetermined temperature or higher by the heating means and can be reproduced, the heating member is started immediately after the main switch is turned on. After heating is started and heated to a predetermined temperature or higher, the temperature of the heating member must be maintained at the predetermined temperature or higher in order to maintain the standby state.
Therefore, if the start key is not pressed for a long time after the image holding member is set in the paper feed tray, the long-time reproduction processing is not started while maintaining the reproduction processing possible state, and the reproduction processing possible state is maintained. Useless power is consumed for heating.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a first object of the present invention is to perform a reproduction process even when the apparatus is in a reproduction processable state and the image carrier is set. Is to improve the operability of the device by eliminating a meaningless waiting state in which the start is not started. A second purpose thereof is to reduce waste of power when the device consumes power in order to maintain the reproducible state.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned first object, an image carrier reproducing apparatus according to a first aspect of the invention is a reproducing apparatus for an image carrier having an image-forming substance stably attached to the surface thereof. In a reproducing device for an image carrier for removing an image forming substance for reproduction, a set part for setting the image carrier, and a set detecting means for detecting whether or not the image carrier is set in the set part. It is characterized in that it is arranged to start the reproducing process when the set detecting means detects that the image carrier is set.

In this image carrier reproducing apparatus, the reproducing process is automatically started only by setting the image carrier in the setting section, so that the user does not have to perform a special operation such as pressing the start key. Then, the reproduction process can be started.

In order to achieve the above first and second objects, the image carrier reproducing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the image carrier reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the apparatus is in a reproducible state. Further, when the setting detecting means detects that the image carrier is set, the reproducing process is started.

In this image carrier regenerating apparatus, if the apparatus is in a reproducible state, the user can immediately start the regenerating process by setting the image carrier in the setting section, so that the regenerating apparatus can be regenerated. In this state, there is no meaningless standby state in which the reproduction process is not started even though the image carrier is set. Further, when the image holding member is set in the setting unit when the apparatus is not in the reproducible state, the regenerating process is automatically started after waiting until the apparatus is in the reproducible state.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reproduction apparatus for an image carrier.
The image carrier reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a heating unit,
A heating member capable of being regenerated by being heated to a predetermined temperature or higher by the heating means, and setting the temperature of the heating member to be equal to or higher than the recyclable temperature is a recyclable state. It is what

In this image carrier regenerating apparatus, the regenerative processable state of the apparatus is judged by the temperature of the heating member, and at least when the heating member is at the reprocessable temperature or higher and the image carrier is set. Since the reproduction process is started immediately, the heating member will not be wastefully heated without the reproduction process being started even though the image carrier is set. Also, when the image carrier is set in the setting unit when the temperature of the heating member is not the temperature at which the reprocessing is possible,
After waiting until the temperature reaches the temperature at which the reprocessing is possible, the reprocessing is automatically started.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, according to the present invention, from a transfer paper as an image carrier on which an image is formed by a transfer type electrophotographic copying machine, to a hydrophobic and thermo-flexible electrophotographic image forming material. An embodiment applied to a reproducing device (hereinafter, referred to as a toner removing device) of an image carrier for removing toner for use (hereinafter, referred to as 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 feeding unit 20 has the transfer paper 10 stacked on a paper feeding table 21 as a setting unit with the surface on which a toner image is formed (hereinafter referred to as a toner image surface) facing down at the bottom. Paper is fed from a paper feed roller 22 and separated by a separation roller pair 23 to separate the double-fed paper, and only one sheet of transfer paper 10 is fed out by a paper feed and conveyance roller pair 24. Since the specific configuration and operation are the same as those of the paper feeding mechanism in the electrophotographic copying machine, detailed description is 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 example shown in the figure, a liquid container 32 for storing a liquid, and an application roller provided so as to be partially submerged in the liquid in the liquid container 32 and for drawing up the liquid by rotation and supplying the liquid to the toner image surface of the transfer paper 10 33, and a regulating roller 34 as a paper regulating member provided to face the application roller 33 with the paper transport path interposed therebetween. This application roller 33
For example, a roller having a liquid retaining property, for example, a roller made of a hydrophilic porous material or sponge, or a roller made of an elastic material such as rubber or a rigid material such as metal can be used.

The liquid supply unit 30 also guides the transfer paper 10 sent from the paper supply unit 20 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 comprises 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 heating member wound around 2, 43
And upper and lower heating rollers 45 and 46 as heating means with built-in heating lamps 45a and 46a provided so as to press each other across the offset belt 44, and a belt cleaning device 47 that removes toner from the surface of the offset belt 44. Is equipped with. At least the surface of the offset belt 44 is applied to the transfer paper 1 against the softened toner.
It is made of a material having an adhesive force greater than the adhesive force between the surface of the toner and the toner. For example, the belt itself is formed of a metal material such as aluminum, copper, or nickel, or a polymer material such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in which titanium oxide is dispersed.

Of the supporting rollers for supporting the offset belt 44, the belt portion around the supporting roller (hereinafter referred to as a separating roller) 43 around which the belt portion after passing through the pressing portions of the upper and lower heating rollers 45, 46 is wound around the belt. 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 adhered to the transfer paper 10 is heated and softened.

Further, the belt cleaning device 47
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.

Further, the toner peeling unit 40 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 a paper pressing belt 63 as a heating member that is wound around a plurality of support rollers 62 and 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.

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 supply unit 20 is supplied with the liquid uniformly on the toner image surface by the liquid supply unit 30, and the toner peeling unit 4 is provided.
Sent to 0. In the toner peeling unit 40, the toner adhered to the transfer paper 10 is softened by heating from the heating rollers 45 and 46 and adheres to the surface of the offset belt 44. When separating the transfer paper 10 and the offset belt 44 around the separation roller 43, the offset belt 4
4 The toner adhered to the surface is peeled off from the transfer paper 10, whereby 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 in a state where the liquid permeates into 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 absorbability 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. (Hereinafter, margin)

Next, referring to FIG. 2, a control section as a control means for operating the toner removing device will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control unit of the toner removing device of FIG. In FIG. 2, when the AC power is supplied from the commercial power supply 901 and the main switch 902 is turned on, the DC power supply voltage is supplied from the DC power supply (PSU) 903 to each control I.
C. The CPU 904 to which power has been supplied resets the program counter and the like, and starts control based on the contents of the program written in the ROM 905. 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.

As described above, the main switch 902
When is turned on, the toner removing device is ready for regeneration processing.

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.

Next, in order to improve the operability of the apparatus, it is possible to eliminate the meaningless standby state when the apparatus is in the removal processable state and the transfer paper is placed on the paper feed table. The improvement will be described.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a reflection type sheet feeding detection sensor 933 is provided below the sheet feeding table 21 of the sheet feeding unit 20. This sensor 933
Is connected to an A / D converter 918 as shown in FIG. 2 so that the detection result is converted from analog data to digital data. Specifically, the transfer paper 1
If 0 is present, a 1 signal is sent, and if not, a 0 signal is sent from the paper feed detection sensor 933 to the main control unit.

In the main control section, the paper feeding detection sensor 93
3 output is detected, and if the transfer paper 10 is set,
The paper feed roller is driven, and the transfer paper 10 on the paper feed tray is sequentially regenerated. When the reproduction processing of all the transfer paper 10 on the paper supply table 21 is completed, the output of the paper supply detection sensor 933 becomes 0 without the transfer paper 10, and the apparatus ends the reproduction processing and enters the standby state. After that, when the transfer paper 10 is newly set on the paper feed table 21, the reproduction process is started again.

Here, when the transfer paper 10 is set on the paper feed tray 21 immediately after the main switch 902 is turned on, or when the main switch 902 is turned on while the transfer paper 10 is still set on the paper feed tray 21, The temperature of the offset belt 44 and the paper pressing belt 63 may not be in the reprocessable state such as not being the reprocessable temperature. If the reproduction process is started without the reproduction process being possible, the transfer paper 10 may not be reproduced properly.

In order to prevent the above-mentioned problems from occurring, the toner removing device according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, has the thermistors 916a for detecting the temperatures of the upper and lower heating rollers 45 and 46 and the heating drum 61. , 916b, 917
Besides, the offset belt 44 and the paper pressing belt 63
Thermistor 93 for detecting each surface temperature
1,932 are provided. The thermistor 931 for detecting the temperature of the offset belt 44 includes the upper and lower heating rollers 45, 4
6 is arranged in the vicinity of the facing portion 6 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. 3 is a flow chart showing the control of the toner removing device having the above-mentioned structure according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 3, when the main switch 902 is turned on (step 1), first, SSR1 and SSR2 are turned on (step 2), and heating of the upper and lower heating rollers 45 and 46 and the heating drum 61 is started (step 3). ). Then, it is detected whether the temperatures of the offset belt 44 and the paper pressing belt 63 are equal to or higher than the recyclable temperature (step 4).

Here, when the temperatures of the offset belt 44 and the paper pressing belt 63 are higher than the recyclable temperature (Y in step 4), it is detected whether or not the transfer paper 10 is present on the paper feed table 21. (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 reproducing process is started (step 6) and the paper feed tray 2 is started.
The process is continuously performed until the transfer paper 10 of No. 1 is exhausted, and when the transfer paper 10 of the paper feed table 21 is exhausted, the reproduction process is ended (step 7), the process returns to step 4, and the offset belt 44 and the paper pressing belt 63. It is detected whether or not the temperature of is equal to or higher than the recyclable temperature. Then, after the temperatures of the offset belt 44 and the paper pressing belt 63 become equal to or higher than the recyclable temperature, the standby state is set until the transfer paper 10 is set on the paper feed table 21.

In step 5 above, the paper feed detection sensor 933 is used.
Even when 0 without the transfer paper 10 is output as the signal of, the standby state is set until the transfer paper 10 is set on the paper feed table 21.

If the temperatures of the offset belt 44 and the paper pressing belt 63 are not higher than the recyclable temperature in the above step 4, wait until the belts 44 and 63 reach the recyclable temperature, and then automatically. Start the playback process.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the user simply places the transfer paper 10 on the paper feed table 21 to start the reproduction process. Therefore, the special operation such as pressing the start key is troublesome. Not only can it be omitted, but even if the user forgets or does not know such a special operation, the reproduction process can be started smoothly, the operability of the device is improved, and the user can transfer the transfer paper 10 Paper feed table 21
There is no waste of time from the time when it is placed on the top to the time when the regeneration process is started.

When the apparatus is in the recyclable state and the transfer paper 10 is placed on the paper feed table 21, the replay processing is started immediately, so that the transfer paper 10 is placed. It is possible to reduce waste of electric power due to maintaining the state where the regeneration processing is possible without performing the regeneration processing as it is.

Immediately after the main switch 902 is turned on, the transfer paper 10 is set on the paper feed tray 21, or the transfer paper 10 is left set on the paper feed tray 21 and the main switch 9 is turned on.
Even when 02 is turned on, the reproduction processing is automatically performed after waiting until the reproduction processing is possible. Therefore, the reproduction processing may be started while the state of the apparatus is incomplete for the reproduction processing. Therefore, the regenerated state of the transfer paper 10 can always be kept good.

Since the start key need not be provided, the device can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

In the above-described embodiment, when the temperatures of the offset belt 44 and the paper pressing belt 63 reach the reproducible temperature, the regenerating process of the apparatus is set to the reproducible state and the regenerating process is started. Since the toner removing device is in the recyclable state, if there are predetermined conditions other than the temperature of the belt members 44, 63, etc., it is detected whether or not these are also in the recyclable state. Alternatively, the reproduction processing may be controlled to start after the detection results are in the reproduction processing enabled state.

[0051]

According to the reproducing apparatus of the image carrier of the first to third aspects, the reproducing process is automatically started only by setting the image carrier in the setting section, so that the start key is depressed. The reproduction process can be started without requiring any special operation by the user, the operability of the device can be improved, and it has an excellent effect that even a user who does not know how to operate the device can easily use it. . Also,
Since it is not necessary to provide a start key, the device can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

According to the image carrier reproducing apparatus of the second and third aspects, when the apparatus is in a reproducible state, the regenerating process is started immediately by setting the image carrier in the setting section. Is in a reproducible state, and even though the image carrier is set, the reproducible processing is not started and there is no meaningless standby state for maintaining the reproducible state.
Power consumption can be reduced. In addition, even if the image carrier is set in the setting unit when the device is not in the reproducible state, the regenerating process is automatically started after waiting until the device is in the reproducible state. Even if the user sets the image holding member in the setting unit when the apparatus is not in the reproduction processing ready state immediately after the power is turned on, the reproduction processing can be favorably performed.

In particular, according to the reproducing apparatus of the image carrier of the third aspect, the regenerative processing state of the apparatus is judged by the temperature of the heating member, and at least the heating member is at the reprocessing temperature or higher, and the image holding Since the regeneration process is started immediately after the body is set, the regeneration process is not started even though the image carrier is set, and the waste of electric power due to unnecessary heating of the heating member is reduced. be able to.

[0054]

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control unit of the toner removing device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a control example of the toner removing device according to the present embodiment.

[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

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A reproducing device for an image carrier, wherein an image carrier having an image-forming substance stably attached to its surface is subjected to a reproducing process to remove the image-forming substance for reproduction, and a setting unit for setting the image carrier. And a set detecting means for detecting whether or not the image carrier is set in the setting part, and when the set detecting means detects that the image carrier is set, a reproducing process is started. An image carrier reproducing apparatus characterized by the above. 2. A reproducing apparatus for an image carrier according to claim 1, wherein the reproducing process is started when the apparatus is in a reproducible state and the setting detecting means detects that the image carrier is set. An apparatus for reproducing an image carrier, which is configured to 3. The image carrier regenerating apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a heating unit and a heating member that is heated to a predetermined temperature or higher by the heating unit to enable a regenerating process. A reproducing apparatus for an image carrier, characterized in that the temperature becomes equal to or higher than a temperature at which reproduction processing is possible in the reproduction processing possible state.