JPS638166A - Image forming device equipped with multi-transfer function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve fixation efficiency by providing a means for stopping image formation at a processing part of a image forming device which realized multi-transfer and realizing image formation when a transfer material in an auxiliary transfer passage passes through the processing part. CONSTITUTION:Paper from a paper feed part 31 is transcribed with an image at a processing part 27 composed of a photosensitive drum 22, an electrification charge 23, a developing device 24, a transfer/release charge 25 and a cleaner 26, etc. and discharged to a sorter by a discharge roller 58 after passing through a main passage 42 and being fixed and the image formation at the processing part 27 is stopped. When forming the image on the back of the paper too, the paper is returned to an auxiliary passage 62 by a flapper 59 and the sides of the paper are turned over at a switch back transfer passage 61 and housed in an intermediate tray 72. Next the processing part 27 is set to an image formation mode and then the paper is discharged 78 and transferred 38 and an image is formed on the back of the paper at the processing part 27 and the paper is discharged 58 after being fixed 35. Hereby the fixation efficiency is improved by repeating the fixation.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Technical Field> This invention provides a main conveyance path and a sub-conveyance path (nN
In addition, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus equipped with a multiple single-shell feeding function for selectively passing a transfer material through a processing section once or multiple times in succession.

<Summary of the Invention> In summary, the image forming apparatus with the multiplex and single general transport function according to the present invention is equipped with an image forming stop means for stopping the image forming operation in the process section, and is capable of transferring images in the multiplex transport mode. When the material passes through the process section for the second and subsequent times, the image formation stop means is set to a slow effect, so that the fixing process is performed multiple times on the image transferred to the transfer material to obtain a sufficient fixing effect. This is what I did.

<Prior art and its drawbacks> In an image forming apparatus using electrophotography, an overprint transfer film (hereinafter referred to as OII P film) is used in addition to regular paper as a transfer material.
I)) A developer image may be formed on a film. When forming the OT-IP film-1 and ζ images as described above, a developer containing a polyester toner having excellent translucency is used. However, polyester toner has a rough surface after the normal copying process, and when light is irradiated with a projector, it reflects diffusely on the surface of the image, resulting in insufficient color reproducibility of color toner. , the color of the statue becomes darker.

For this reason, conventionally, once the copying process has been completed, the OHP film to which the image has been transferred is manually fed again and passed through the image forming apparatus without forming an image. This is for the purpose of smoothing the surface of the image by heating and pressurizing it again once the fixing process has been completed, thereby preventing diffused reflection. However, once the OHP film has been delivered to the paper output section, it must be manually fed again.
The disadvantage was that the work became complicated and took a long time.

In addition, when forming images using OfIP filter as a transfer material, the feeding speed of the fixing device is reduced to lengthen the contact time of the transfer material with the fixing device to improve fixing performance and smooth the surface. There was something that was made to form. This is designed to improve the fixation effect without requiring any operator effort. However, the image forming apparatus described above has the disadvantage that the transfer material conveying device must be configured to have a variable speed, resulting in an increase in one stroke. In addition, due to the prolonged contact time between the OHP film and the fixing device,
There is a drawback that the amount of heat that can be applied to the IP film reaches an upper limit, and the OHP film, which has thermoplastic properties, is deformed.

<Object of the Invention> The object of the invention is to use an image forming apparatus having a multi-conveyance function to - guide an OHP film on which image formation has been completed to a fixing device multiple times to smooth the surface of a developer image; In this way, we have developed an image forming apparatus that has a multi-conveyance function that can easily form images with a smooth surface on OHP films, prevent increases in equipment costs, and eliminate deformation of OHP films. It is about providing.

<Structure of the Invention> The image forming apparatus with the multi-conveyance function of the present invention connects the main conveyance path from the paper feed section to the paper discharge section via the process section and the section from the paper discharge section to the process section. In an image forming apparatus equipped with a secondary conveyance path and a multi-transfer function that enables selection of a multiple single-transfer mode in which the transfer material that has passed through the process section is guided to the process section again, Select an image formation stop mode that enables the image formation stop means that stops the forming operation and the image formation stop means that activates the image formation stop means when the transfer material passes through the sub-conveyance path and passes through the process section in the multi-conveyance mode.Manual mode A selection means is provided.

<Operation> Due to the configuration of the IL, (1) The image forming operation in the process section is stopped by enabling the image forming means.

■ If the image formation stop mode is turned off using the mode selection means.
When a large IR is input, the image forming stop means becomes effective when the transfer material passes through the process section for the second time and thereafter in the multiple conveyance mode.

(2) By activating the image formation stop means in the multi-conveyance mode, the developer image formed on the transfer material passes through the fixing device multiple times.

<Effects of the Invention> According to the present invention, by selectively inputting the image formation stop mode, the transfer material on which the developer image is formed can be passed through the fixing device multiple times. As a result, the surface layer of the developer image receives a sufficient fixing effect and its surface is smoothed. Therefore, the OHP on which the developer image was formed
Even when the film is projected by a projector, the light from the projector is not diffusely reflected on the surface of the developer image, and the colors of the developer image can be faithfully reproduced. Moreover, since the multi-conveyance function already installed in the image forming apparatus is used, a dedicated structure is not required, and the complexity of the apparatus and cost increase can be prevented. Furthermore, since the transfer material is passed multiple times through the main conveyance path and the sub-conveyance path formed inside the image forming apparatus, manual work by the operator is not required, and the work can be simplified. Also, OHP
Fill J is passed through the fixing device at the same speed as the normal speed.
b, the amount of heat applied to the OHP film is excessively 1"
It cannot be damaged and does not cause deformation.

<Example> The invention will be described below using a copying machine as an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front sectional view of a copying machine equipped with a multi-conveyance function, which is an embodiment of the present invention.

A photosensitive drum 22 is provided in the center of the interior of the copying machine main body 21, and a charger 23 and a developing device 2 are provided on the outer periphery of the photosensitive drum 22.
4. The transfer/separation charger 25 constitutes a copying process section 27 together with a cleaner 26 and the like. Copying machine body 21
Paper containers 1 to 28 and 29 and a manual paper feed tray 30 are attached to one side of the paper feed section 31. This paper feeding section 31 includes paper feeding rollers 32 to 34.
is provided, and feeds paper from either the paper cassette 28, 29 or the manual paper feed tray 30. Copy 1
A fixing device 35 including a pair of rollers is provided inside the main body 21 . The temperature of the pair of 11-ra is raised by a heat lamp (not shown) to a temperature at which the developer can be melted, and the transfer material is heated and pressurized to fix the developer image. This fixing device 35 is provided near the other side of the copying machine main body 21, and the paper that has passed through the fixing device 35 is discharged to the outside from a paper discharge section 37 by a paper discharge roller 36. The first general feed rollers 38 to 40 and the conveyance heald 41 are provided between the paper feed section 31, the copy process section 27, the paper discharge section 37, the main conveyance rollers 52 to 54, and the switch hack roller 55. 57 and a discharge roller 58 are provided. The switch hack rollers 55 to 57 are configured to be rotatable in both forward and reverse directions.
A general transport path 61 is formed. In addition, the sub-1 general feed roller 52
A flapper 59 is provided between the conveyance roller 54 and the discharge roller 58, and a flapper 60 is provided between the sub-transport roller 54 and the switch hack roller 57. The switch hack rollers 55 to 57 are configured to be rotatable in both forward and reverse directions, and form a switch hack 1 general feed path 6. The flapper 59 is swingable, and transfers the transfer material discharged from the paper discharge section 37 to the discharge roller 58 or the sub-first general feed path 62.
Lead to either. The flapper 60 is also swingable, and an intermediate tray 72 is provided inside the cap 71 that guides the transferred transfer material through the secondary I shell transport path 62 to either the switch transport path 61 or the one-way transport path 71. 111 hours have been received. This intermediate tray 72 is equipped with paper input rollers 73-76, feeding rollers 77, 78, and flappers 79-81. The flappers 71] to 81 are swingable, and the one corresponding to the size of the transfer material stored in the intermediate tray 72 swings upward from the state shown in the figure. The above paper input rollers 73 to 76, intermediate tray 7
2 and feeding roller 77. ' 78 allows the sub conveyance path 62
extends to the paper feed section 31 and connects the paper discharge section 37 and the paper feed section 31.

In this way, inside the copying machine main body 2I, the transport path 4 is
2 is formed, and an auxiliary conveyance path 62 is formed inside the cabinet 71 and the side surface 51 attached to the side surface of the copying machine main body 21. During normal one-sided copying work, the paper fed from the paper feed section 31 is transferred to the main 1 general feed path 42.
iJ]lI, and is discharged from the paper discharge section 37 to the outside via the discharge roller 58.

During double-sided copying work in which images are formed on both sides of a transfer material, the transfer material fed from the paper feed section 31 is once transferred to the copy process section 2.
After passing 7jm, the sub! It is guided to a general transport path 62 and a switch bank transport path 61. After the transfer direction has been completely reversed in the final transport path 6I, the transfer material is guided to the intermediate tray 72. After the original for the back side is set, the transfer material in the intermediate tray 72 is guided between the paper feeding section 31 and the copying process section 27 by the feeding rollers 77 and 78, and is transferred again to the copying process section by the conveying rollers 38 and 40. 27
transported to. At this time, due to the reversal of the first general feeding direction in the switchback conveyance path 61, the previous photoconductor 1 ram 20
The back side of the surface that was facing the photosensitive drum J, 27 now faces the photoreceptor drum J, 27, and images are formed on both sides of the transfer material. The transfer material with images formed on both sides in this manner is discharged from the paper discharge section 37 via the discharge roller 58 into one set.

During composite copying work in which images of multiple originals are formed on the same side of a transfer material, the transfer material that has passed through the copying process 27 is used as a sub-I.
λq is directly transferred from the II feed path 62 to the intermediate tray 72. After replacing the original, the transfer material stored in the intermediate tray is guided between the paper feed section 3 and the copy process section 27 by feed rollers 77 and 78, and then transferred to the copy process section 27 by the first general feed rollers 38 and 40. transported. At this time, the previous photosensitive drum 2
The surface facing 2 faces the photoreceptor drum 22 again this time,
Images of multiple documents are formed on the same side of the transfer material.

The transfer material on which a plurality of images have been formed in this way is delivered to the paper discharge section 3.
7, and is discharged to the first part via the discharge roller 58.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control section of an image forming apparatus having the above-mentioned multiplex and single general feed function.

On data of the image forming mode key 18, print i switch 19, etc. is input to the CI"Ull from the operation panel control section 16 via the I10 interface 14.

This image formation stop mode key 18 is mode selection means of the present invention. In addition, the detection data of the detection switch 91 should also be input to CPtJll. This detection switch 91 is provided inside the fixing device 35 and detects when the transfer material passes 1ffi. Key and switch ON data t: t: manually input from the operation panel control unit 16 is recorded in the respective memory areas of the RAM 13 ↑a. The ROM 12 stores a program that calculates control data for each device according to input data. The CPU II calculates control data based on the data written in the memory area of RAMl3, and! 10 interface 15 to the solenoid driver 17, copying process control section 20, and motor driver 94. The solenoid driver 17 turns solenoids 1 to 3 on/off based on control data.
I wholesale. Further, the copying process control section 20 turns on/off the developing device 24 and the transfer/separation charger 25 based on the control data, and also controls the lighting of the erase lamp 23a. The motor driver 94 controls on/off of the main motor 92, sorter motor 93, and cash net motor M.

Each of the solenoids 1 to 3 is provided to each of the flapper 59, the flapper 60, and the flappers 79 to 81. When the solenoid is turned on, the flapper 59 swings upward, and the sub conveyance path 62 Open direction. When the solenoid 2 is turned on, the flapper 60 swings to the left,
The switchback conveyance path 61 direction is closed and the lay 72 direction to the intermediate 1 is opened. Further, when the solenoid 3 is turned on, one of the flappers 79 to 81 selectively swings upward, and the transfer material is guided to the intermediate tray 72. When the single-sided copy mode is selected, CPtJll is activated by the solenoid driver 17.
The ON data of the solenoids 1-3 is not outputted, and the flappers 59, 60, 79-81 are in the state shown in FIG.

As a result, the transfer material is transferred from the paper ejection section 37 to the ejection roller 58.
guided by.

When the double-sided copy mode is selected, the solenoid 1. And the on data of solenoid 3 is output. As a result, the flapper 59 moves upward once, and the transfer material that has passed through the paper discharge section 37 is guided to the sub-primary general transport path 62 and the switch puncture transport path 61, and then stored in the intermediate tray 72. When the transfer material is fed from the intermediate l/ray 72 in the double-sided copying mode, that is, during the second copying operation, the solenoid 1
3 to 3 are turned off, and the transfer material is guided from the paper discharge section 37 to the discharge roller 58.

In the composite copy mode, the solenoid 1.2 is turned on, and the solenoid 3 is controlled to be turned on according to the size of the transfer material. As a result, the flapper 59 swings upward, and the flapper 60
swings to the left. Therefore, the paper that has passed through the paper discharge section 37 is guided from the sub-transport path 62 to the intermediate tray 72. During the final copying operation in the composite copying mode, solenoids 1 to 3 are turned off, and the transfer material is guided from the paper discharging section 37 to the discharging roller 58.

When the image formation stop mode key 18 is operated and the image formation stop mode is selected and input, cpUll outputs the same data as in the composite copy mode 1 to the solenoid driver 17. As a result, the solenoid driver 17 turns on the solenoids 1' and 2, and turns on the solenoid 3 in response to the → noise of the transfer material. Therefore, the transfer material fed from the paper feed section 31 has a developer image transferred thereto in the 7M printing process section 27, undergoes fixing of the image in the fixing device 35, and is guided from the paper discharge section 37 to the sub-conveyance path 62. . Thereafter, the transfer material is guided from the intermediate tray 72 to the copying process section 27 again. At this time, control data for the image formation stop mode is output from CPtJll to the copying process control section 20. As a result, the erase lamp 23a is turned on over the entire width of the photosensitive drum 22, and the developing device 24 and the transfer/separation charger 25 are turned off. Due to this operation, no developer image is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 22, and no developer image is formed on the surface of the transfer material fed from the intermediate tray 72. During this time, the solenoids 11 to 3 are turned off, and the transfer material that has passed through the fixing device 35 is transferred to the paper discharge section 37.
The paper is guided from there to the paper discharge roller 58.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image forming apparatus equipped with the multi-conveyance function described in -1-.

When the power is turned on, the memory area in the RAM 13 is cleared and the warming amplifier of the fixing device starts (
nl, n2). When the warming amplifier is completed, copy data and copy mode settings are input, and then the printer waits for the print switch 19 to be operated (n3 to n5). The manually entered copy data and copy mode are recorded in respective memory areas of the RAM 13.

When the print switch 19 is operated, it is determined whether or not the image formation stop mode is set (n6). When using an OHP film as a transfer material, the image formation stop mode key 18 is operated to select the image formation stop mode.

If the image formation stop mode key 18 is operated during mode setting, the process advances to nl and outputs ON data for each of the solenoids 1 to 3 to the solenoid driver 17 (nl). Thereafter, the OHP film is fed from the paper feeding section 31 and the copying process is executed (n8).

When the copying process has been completed (P film passes through the fixing device 35 and reaches the detection switch 9I, the contents of the counter C is incremented, and the copying process controller 20 is informed of the ON data of the erase lamp 23a and the developing device 24). The ON data of the transfer/peeling charger 25 is output (n9 to n11).This nil is the first stage of image formation stop in this invention.The contents of the counter C are checked here, and it is determined whether or not it matches the set value A. A determination is made (n12).This set value A is the number of times the OHP film is passed through the fixing device 35 in the image formation stop mode, and a predetermined value is stored in the ROM 12 in advance.Contents of the counter C The OHP film is transported through the main transport path 42 - sub transport path 62 - intermediate tray 72 until the set value matches A.
→The course of the copy process unit 27-main conveyance path 42 fixing device 35 is repeated once (n 12-=n 9-
n10-n1l→n12). When the contents of the counter C match the set value A, the solenoids 1 to 3 are turned off, the OHP film is guided from the paper ejection section 37 toward the ejection roller 58, and ejected to the outside, and the motors 92, 93, . Stop M (
n 13. n 14. n15).

Note that if the image formation stop mode is not selected at n6, the process advances to n16 and other processing is performed depending on the set mode.

FIG. 4 is a time chart of each device constituting the copying machine equipped with the above multi-conveyance function.

At time t1, the print switch 19 is turned on, and each device in the copying process section 27 including the copying/separating charger 25 is driven. Furthermore, solenoids 1-3 are turned on, and either flapper 59, 60 or flapper 79-81 operates. When the OTI P film to which the developer image has been transferred passes through the fixing bag W35, the detection switch 91 is turned on at time t2, the erase lamp 23a is turned on, and at the same time the developing device 24 and the transfer/separation charger 25 are turned off. Ru. Main motor 92, sorter motor 9
Since the motor M continues to be driven, the OTI P film is again guided to the copying process section 27 via the sub-transport path 62. Furthermore, the fixing device 35
When the detection switch 91 is turned on at time 3, the erase lamp 23a is turned off and the solenoid 1 is turned on.
~3 is turned off. At this time, the motors 92, 93. M is being driven continuously, and OI (P film is being driven at the paper ejection section 37).
The paper is then discharged to the outside via a discharge roller 58. After this, at time L4, when a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the motors 92, 93 . Driving of M is stopped and all operations are completed.

I? According to this embodiment, as shown in λ, the OHP film to which the developer image has been transferred is passed through the main transport path 42 again via the sub transport path 62 and guided to the fixing device 35. Therefore, the OHP film passes through the fixing device 35 twice for one copying process, and the fixing effect of the developer image can be improved. Therefore, by smoothing the surface, it is possible to prevent irregular reflection on the surface when projecting with a projector.

Although this embodiment has been described using a copying machine as an example, the present invention can be implemented in the same manner in other image forming apparatuses using electrophotography.

Furthermore, it can also be used for other transfer materials that require a smooth image surface. It is also possible to take a value of 2 or more as the set value, and the transfer material can be passed through the fixing device three times or more for one copying process to further improve the fixing effect.
1-.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a flowchart showing the operation of a copying machine equipped with a multi-conveyance function which is an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a schematic front cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the copying machine, and Fig. 3 is a control of the copying machine. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the copying machine, and a time chart of each device constituting the copying machine. 27-process section, 31-paper feed section, 37-sheet discharge section, 42-main conveyance path, 62-sub-conveyance path.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) Equipped with a main conveyance path from the paper feed section to the paper discharge section via the process section, and a sub-conveyance path that connects the paper discharge section to the process section. In an image forming apparatus equipped with a multi-conveyance function that allows selection of a multi-conveyance mode leading to a process section, there is provided an image forming stop means for stopping the image forming operation in the process section, and a transfer section that passes through a sub-conveyance path during the multi-conveyance mode. mode selection means for selecting and inputting an image formation stop mode that enables the image formation stop means when the material passes through the process section;
An image forming apparatus equipped with a multi-conveyance function.