JP2000214739A - Method for removing printing material on recyclable water-swellable recording material - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable continuous satisfactory removal of a printing material to be performed from a recyclable water-swellable recording material even if the recording material printed with the printing material is repeatedly applied by removing the printing material on the recording material and imparting a surfactant-containing liquid to the surface of the recording material. SOLUTION: A printing material 4 on a recyclable water-swellable recording material is removed and a surfactant-containing liquid is imparted to the surface of the recording material. The recording material is formed by laminating a surface layer 3 on a base material layer 1. A water resistant plastic film having a transparent surface or a water resistant plastic film opacified by adding inorganic fine particles is suitable for use as the base material layer 1. The surface layer 3 comprises a water-swellable resin prepared by crosslinking a water-soluble resin, e.g. a water-soluble resin having active hydrogen-containing functional groups such as hydroxyl or amino groups in the molecule.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording material capable of removing a printing material adhering to a recording material which can be repeatedly reused from the recording material by forming an image with a copying machine or a printer. And a method of removing a printing material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Today, electrophotographic copying (so-called copying) techniques using toner have become widespread, and recording materials such as paper and OHP sheets have been used in large quantities.

The printing material printed or copied on such a recording material cannot be easily removed, and since such a technique has not been put to practical use, printed matter generated in a large amount in an office becomes unnecessary. The reality is that they are just discarded.

It is obvious that this is not preferable for environmental protection and resource protection. Therefore, techniques for regenerating or recycling the recording material to be discarded are being actively studied. For example, in JP-A-7-31523 or JP-A-6-222604, a swelling layer that swells with water is formed on the surface of a recording material, and the swelling layer is swelled by wetting with water. A method for removing an image recorded on a recording material is disclosed. Also,
After removing the printing material, rinsing with water is generally performed.

[0005]

However, if one recording material is repeatedly applied to the method proposed so far, there arises a problem that the printing material cannot be sufficiently removed from the recording material relatively early. I was In addition, materials such as a swelling liquid and a rinsing liquid used when applying the above-described method are generally used without being disposable or exchanged and circulated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and even if a recording material on which a printing material is printed is repeatedly applied, the printing material can be continuously and satisfactorily removed from the recording material. An object of the present invention is to provide a method for removing a printing material on a water-swellable recording material.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention includes a step of removing a printing material on a recyclable water-swellable recording material and then applying a liquid containing a surfactant to the surface of the recording material. The present invention relates to a method for removing a printing material on a recyclable water-swellable recording material, which is characterized by the following.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The recording material used in the method of the present invention may be any recording material of a type having a water-swellable surface layer. FIG. 1A is a schematic sectional view of an example of a recording material to which the method of the present invention can be applied. FIG.
As shown in (a), this recording material is obtained by laminating a surface layer 3 on a base material layer 1. FIG. 1A shows a state in which the printing material 4 is printed on the surface of the surface layer 3. In addition,
FIG. 1A shows a configuration in which the surface layer 3 is formed on one surface of the base material layer 1, but a configuration in which the surface layer 3 is formed on both surfaces of the base material layer 1 may be used.

The substrate layer 1 is not particularly limited, but a plastic film having water resistance (strength) and having at least a transparent surface or an opaque plastic film containing inorganic fine particles is preferably used. The material of the plastic film is not particularly limited, but polyester, polycarbonate, polyimide, polymethyl methacrylate and the like are preferable in consideration of heat resistance and the like. Further versatility,
In consideration of price, durability and the like, polyester, particularly polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), and the like are desirable. It is also possible to use various sheets available as OHP. Also, so-called synthetic paper such as paper made of plastic fiber such as PET fiber is commercially available, and such synthetic paper is also useful as a base material. Besides this, metal foil,
Paper having improved water resistance, and composite materials such as resin, paper, and metal can also be used. In short, any material can be used as long as it can maintain flatness through printing and removal of the printing material, and has water resistance and appropriate mechanical strength.

The surface layer 3 formed on the base layer is made of a water-swellable resin. Water swelling means swelling but not dissolving in water or an aqueous solvent. Water-swellable resins are made by crosslinking water-soluble resins. Further, by adding a water-insoluble component to the water-soluble resin, a property of absorbing a solvent such as water and swelling but not dissolving in the solvent may be imparted.

The water-soluble resin includes a water-soluble resin having a functional group having an active hydrogen such as a hydroxyl group, an amino group, an amide group, a thiol group, a carboxyl group, a sulfonic acid group in a molecule, for example, polyvinyl alcohol, methyl cellulose,
Polyacrylic acid, carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylamide, diacetoneacrylamide, polyethylene oxide and the like can be used.

In order to crosslink the water-soluble resin, a crosslinking agent and, if necessary, an initiator may be added to the aqueous solution of the resin. Any crosslinking agent may be used as long as it has reactivity with a functional group such as a hydroxyl group, an amide group or a carboxyl group present in the water-soluble resin molecule and can crosslink the water-soluble resin. For example, epoxy compounds, isocyanate compounds,
Glyoxal, methylol compound, melamine resin,
Examples include dicarboxylic acid, aziridine, dihydrazide and the like.

When the above compound is added as a crosslinking agent, it is added in an amount of 0.1 to 100 parts by weight, preferably 1 to 50 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the water-soluble resin. If the amount is too small, the film strength may be insufficient at the time of swelling, or the film may be dissolved. If the amount is too large, the crosslinking agent becomes a bulk component, which causes a problem in the strength of the surface layer and the like.

Wettability to the resin solution constituting the surface layer,
A surfactant may be added to increase water permeability. As the surfactant, various surfactants such as anionic, cationic and nonionic can be used, and there is no particular limitation.

Further, inorganic fine particles such as silica, titanium oxide, alumina, zinc oxide and calcium carbonate may be added to the surface layer in order to improve the writability. When such inorganic fine particles are added, they are added in an amount of 5 to 200 parts by weight, preferably 10 to 100 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the water-soluble resin.

Further, an antistatic agent may be added to the surface layer as needed to improve paper passing properties. The antistatic agent may be added to the material forming the surface layer, or after forming the surface layer, a material dissolved and dispersed in an appropriate solvent may be applied. Examples of the antistatic agent include a cationic surfactant such as a quaternary ammonium salt.

The surface layer 3 may be formed by any method, for example, by a solvent coating method. Specifically, the above water-soluble resin, a crosslinking agent, and other additives as necessary, water, a water / organic solvent mixture,
Alternatively, the composition is dissolved and dispersed in an appropriate solvent such as an organic solvent, and applied on the intermediate layer so that the film thickness after heating and drying is 0.5 to 30 μm, preferably 3 to 20 μm.

The recording material to which the method of the present invention can be applied may have a configuration in which an intermediate layer is formed between a base layer and a surface layer. The intermediate layer is provided for the purpose of bonding the surface layer more firmly to the base material.

FIG. 1B is a schematic sectional view of an example of another recording material to which the method of the present invention can be applied. 1 is a substrate layer,
2 is an intermediate layer and 3 is a surface layer. FIG. 1B shows a configuration in which the printing material 4 is printed on the surface of the surface layer 3. Although FIG. 1B shows a configuration in which the intermediate layer 2 and the surface layer 3 are formed on one surface of the base material layer 1, a configuration in which the intermediate layer 2 and the surface layer 3 are formed on both surfaces may be used.

The intermediate layer 2 is made of a resin having a high adhesiveness, and the intermediate layer may contain a compound (reactive compound) having a functional group capable of chemically bonding to the resin constituting the surface layer.

As the resin having high adhesiveness constituting the intermediate layer, acrylic resin, styrene resin, polyester resin,
Examples thereof include a polycarbonate resin, a vinyl acetate resin, a vinyl chloride resin, and a urethane resin, and preferably, a polymethyl methacrylate resin, a polyester resin, a polycarbonate resin, a vinyl chloride resin, and a urethane resin. In particular, it is preferable to use a material having high adhesiveness to the base material layer.

The reactive compound preferably contained in the intermediate layer is not particularly limited as long as it has a functional group capable of chemically bonding to the resin constituting the surface layer. For example, a methylol compound, an isocyanate compound, an aldehyde compound,
Epoxy compounds, aziridine compounds and the like can be used. In addition, these compounds can be similarly used as a crosslinking agent for the water-soluble resin constituting the surface layer.

Examples of the methylol compound include methylolated melamine such as dimethylolmelamine and trimethylolmelamine, dimethylolated urea, and melamine-formaldehyde resin. In addition to these, various methylol compounds can be used, and those having a moderately high molecular weight and those having a moderately long molecular chain are preferable. From this viewpoint, among the methylol compounds exemplified above, melamine- Formaldehyde resins are preferred.

Examples of the aldehyde compound include glyoxal, glutaraldehyde and the like. In addition to these, various aldehyde compounds can be used. Examples of the epoxy compound include polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether, polypropylene glycol diglycidyl ether, sorbitol polyglycidyl ether, sorbitan polyglycidyl ether, and polyglycerol polyglycidyl ether. In addition to these, various epoxy compounds can be used.

As the isocyanate compound, those having two or more isocyanate groups in one molecule can be used. Examples of such isocyanates include 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (melting point 39 ° C.), 4,4′-methylenebiscyclohexyl isocyanate (melting point 45 ° C.), tris (p-isocyanatophenyl) thiophosphate, tris (p-isocyanate) Phenyl) methane, trimethylolpropane tolylene diisocyanate triadduct, aliphatic polyisocyanates having a hydrophilic group in the molecule, and the like can be used.
In addition, the isocyanate used in the present embodiment including these compounds may be protected with phenol, sulfurous acid and the like.

As the aziridine compound, for example, diphenylmethane-bis-4,4'-N, N'-diethyl urea, 2,2-bishydroxymethylbutanol-tris- [3- (1-aziridinyl) propinate] is used. can do. Further, an oxazoline group-containing polymer can also be used.

When a reactive compound is used, the amount thereof is, for example, 5 to 5 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the resin constituting the intermediate layer.
It can be 0 parts by weight.

The intermediate layer 2 may be formed by any method, for example, by a solvent coating method or a melt coating method in which a resin and, if desired, a solution obtained by dissolving the above reactive compound in an appropriate solvent are applied and dried. Is formed.
In the solvent coating method or the melt coating method, the intermediate layer has a thickness of about 0.5 μm to 20 μm, preferably 0.5 to 10 μm.
It is formed to have a thickness of about μm, more preferably about 0.5 to 6 μm.

When a paper or fibrous base material is used, the intermediate layer is formed by immersing the base material in a coating solution for forming the intermediate layer, impregnating the base material with the coating solution, and forming a space between the fibers constituting the base material. It may be formed so as to fill the intermediate layer material.

When a reactive compound is contained in the intermediate layer, at least the intermediate layer and the surface layer are heated to 50 to 180 ° C., preferably 50 to 150 ° C. after the application of the surface layer solution. It is thought that the functional group of the reactive compound added to the intermediate layer and the functional group of the resin constituting the surface layer are bonded by this heating, and the surface layer is firmly fixed to the intermediate layer.

The recording material as described above is recyclable, and can be effectively applied to the method of removing a printing material on a water-swellable recording material of the present invention described in detail below.

The method of the present invention comprises a step of removing a printing material on a recyclable water-swellable recording material as described above and then applying a liquid containing a surfactant to the surface of the recording material. It is characterized by the following. Specifically, the method of the present invention comprises the steps of: supplying a recording material on which a printing material is printed to a solvent capable of swelling the surface layer (swelling step); (A removing step) and a step of applying a liquid containing a surfactant to the surface of the recording material from which the printing material has been removed. Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a process flow chart for explaining the printing material removing method of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the recording material 100 has an intermediate layer and a surface layer formed on both sides of the base material layer 1, and the intermediate layer and the surface layer are collectively shown as 12. A printing material 4 such as toner is printed on the surface of the recording material. As a printing material, a toner used for electrophotography is preferably used. In addition, a recording material used for a thermal transfer method, a printing method, and the like, and a surface of a recording material such as another oil-based paint agent. A type that forms a film-like image by adhering to the surface can be used. The recording material is conveyed from right to left in the drawing.

In the method of the present invention, first, the recording material on which the printing material is printed is supplied to a solvent capable of swelling the surface layer. That is, in FIG. 2, first, a solvent capable of swelling the surface layer (hereinafter, referred to as a swelling liquid) is supplied from the solvent supply device 11 to the recording material on which the printing material 4 is printed. Aqueous solvent as swelling liquid,
That is, various kinds of water, a mixed solvent of water and a water-soluble organic solvent, or a water-soluble organic solvent can be used. Further, a desired additive such as a surfactant may be added to the swelling liquid. By adding such an additive, the ability of the recording material to absorb water is improved. Furthermore, swelling liquid,
By making it the same as the liquid containing a surfactant described below,
The internal structure of the device employing the method of the present invention can be simplified. In the following description, a case where water is used as the swelling liquid will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the water may be supplied by showering water from the shower device 11 onto the surface layer, or immersed in water (not shown). About 15 seconds to 10 minutes for water to penetrate the surface of the recording material,
It is preferable to make contact with water for about 60 to 200 seconds. The longer the contact time, the more water can be permeated, but the longer the treatment. When water penetrates into the surface of the recording material, the surface swells (the swollen surface is shown as 13), and the adhesive force between the printing material 4 and the surface decreases. At this time, the water temperature is about 15 ° C. to 45 ° C., preferably 25 ° C. to 40 ° C. If the temperature is too high, the evaporation of water increases, and if the temperature is too low, a sufficient cleaning effect may not be obtained.

Next, the printing material is removed by physical force from the surface of the recording material having the surface layer swollen in this way (removal step). That is, in FIG. 2, after the water has sufficiently penetrated into the surface layer of the recording material, the recording material is further transported to the print material removal area and is applied to the brush 14. The brush 14 is rotating, and the printing material 4 on the recording material 100 is removed by the brush. In the present invention, in addition to the brush, a means of applying a physical or mechanical force to the surface to rub or scrape the surface, such as a blade or a cloth, may be employed. Further, in the present invention, as a method of removing the printing material, a method of peeling the printing material from the recording material by heating or pressure bonding a peeling member such as a rubber roller to the swollen surface layer may be employed. Good. In FIG. 2, the brush 14 is disposed outside the liquid, but may be disposed in the liquid. The length of the bristles of the brush 14 is 5 to 20
The thickness can be about 10 mm. The material is not particularly limited, but nylon or the like is suitable.

The paper passing speed, that is, the recording material is the brush 14
May be determined in consideration of the balance between the processing time and the cleaning performance, for example, 0.5 cm /
Seconds to 5 cm / sec. The rotation speed of the brush is preferably 5 times or more, more preferably 10 times or more the transport speed.

In the present invention, a liquid containing a surfactant is applied to the surface of the recording material from which the printing material has been removed. That is, in FIG. 2, after the printing material 4 is removed, the recording material is conveyed to a shower area, and a liquid containing a surfactant (hereinafter, referred to as a surfactant-containing liquid) is applied to the entire surface of the recording material. .

Conventionally, after the printing material is removed, rinsing using water as a rinsing liquid is performed. When one recording material is repeatedly applied to the conventional printing material removing method,
There has been a problem that the printing material cannot be sufficiently removed from the recording material relatively early. However, in the present invention, after the printing material is removed in this way, a surfactant-containing liquid described in detail later is coated. By applying the recording material to the entire surface of the recording material, even when the recording material is repeatedly applied, the printing material can be continuously and favorably removed from the recording material over a relatively long period of time. Conventionally, the above-mentioned rinsing liquid has been generally circulated without being disposable or replaced.However, in such a situation, when water is used as the rinsing liquid, water is repeatedly applied to the recording material. By history,
Research by the inventors of the present invention has revealed that the expansion rate of the surface layer is reduced.

It is considered that such a decrease in the expansion rate of the surface layer is caused by a decrease in water absorption performance due to a change in the structure of the surface layer. The penetration (penetration) of the surfactant described below into the surface layer due to the application to the surface layer compensates for the disadvantage caused by the change in the surface layer structure, so that the initial high water absorption performance of the surface layer can be maintained, and the printing materials can be compared. It is thought that it can be satisfactorily removed for a long period of time.

Here, as a means for supplying a surfactant-containing liquid, the shower device 15 descends to the surface layer as shown in FIG. 2, but the liquid can come into contact with the entire surface of the recording material and the surfactant There is no particular limitation as long as the time for penetrating into the surface layer can be ensured, and for example, it may be immersed. The printing material remaining on the surface of the recording material can be washed away by applying the surfactant-containing liquid by a shower.

The surfactant-containing liquid is a liquid in which a surfactant is dissolved in an aqueous solvent or an organic solvent. The aqueous solvent in which the surfactant is dissolved is not particularly limited,
For example, an aqueous solvent that can be used for the swelling liquid can be exemplified, and as the organic solvent, it is possible to wet the swollen surface layer and dissolve the base layer, the intermediate layer and the surface layer of the recording material. Although no solvent can be exemplified, it is preferable to use an aqueous solvent from the viewpoint of environmental friendliness (environmental properties) and safety, and it is particularly preferable to use water.

The surfactant which can be used in the present invention is not particularly limited, and anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, nonionic surfactants and other various surfactants can be used. it can. Among them, a surfactant having high permeability to the surface layer is preferable.

Various examples of preferred surfactants include, for example, nonionic surfactants of HLB 9 to 15,
And a surfactant having the following structure: R ₁ -R ₂ -SO ₃ -A. . . . . (I) (R ₁ is a C7 to C14 alkyl group; R ₂ is phenylene or naphthylene; and A represents an alkali metal); R ₁ O (EO) n ₂ SO ₃ NH ((EO) n ₃ H) ₃ . . . (Ii) (R ₁ is a C7 to C14 alkyl group; n ₂ is an integer of 0 to 7, and n ₃ is an integer of 1 to 3)

Embedded image (R ₃ represents a C7 to C20 alkyl group; R ₄ represents H or CH ₂ CH ₂ OH; n ₁ represents an integer of ₁ to 10); R ₁ O (EO) n ₄ SO ₃ A. . . . . (Iv) (R ₁ is an alkyl group of C7 to C14; n ₄ is an integer of 1 to 7; and A represents an alkali metal), and other aerosol OT-type dialkyl sulfosuccinates and derivatives thereof. No. Two or more surfactants may be used in combination.

Examples of the nonionic surfactant having an HLB of 9 to 15 include polyethylene oxide alkyl ethers and polyethylene oxide alkyl phenyl ethers having an EO number of about 4 to 20. HLB is 9
When the above surfactants are used, a sufficient wetting / penetrating effect on the recording material can be easily obtained.

The compound having the structure of the general formula (i) is not limited to this, and examples thereof include sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate.

As the compound having the structure (ii),
Although not limited thereto, for example, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether triethanolamine sulfate such as polyoxyethylene lauryl ether triethanolamine sulfate can be exemplified. Examples of the compound having the structure (iii) include, but are not limited to, polyoxyethylene alkyl fatty acid ethanolamides such as polyoxyethylene coconut oil monoethanolamide, coconut oil diethanolamide, and lauric acid. Examples include alkyl fatty acid ethanolamides such as diethanolamide. Examples of the compound having the structure (iv) include, but are not limited to,
And sodium polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate.

The amount of the surfactant added to the surfactant-containing liquid is preferably 0.01 to 5% by weight, more preferably 0.05 to 1% by weight, based on the solvent. If the amount is too small, the effect of the present invention cannot be obtained, that is, the printing material cannot be sufficiently removed from the recording material relatively early. On the other hand, if the addition amount is too large, problems such as insufficient film strength and an increase in dissolved components occur. The liquid temperature is not particularly limited, and is about 20 to 50 ° C, preferably 25 to 40 ° C.
C is appropriate. If the temperature is too high, the evaporation of the solvent will increase.

In preparing the surfactant-containing liquid as described above, especially when the surfactant has poor solubility in a solvent, the medium is temporarily heated to 20 ° C. or higher, preferably 30 to 60 ° C. After heating, the surfactant can be added and stirred to dissolve.

When the recording material from which the printing material has been removed is immersed in the surfactant-containing liquid, the recording material is rinsed before or after the removal of the printing material and before or after the immersion in the surfactant-containing liquid. It is preferable to apply a liquid. This is because the residual printing material may not be completely washed away only by immersion in the surfactant-containing liquid.

The means for supplying the rinsing liquid at this time is not particularly limited, but it is preferable to use a shower.
The rinsing liquid is not particularly limited as long as it is a solvent that can wash away the printing material remaining on the surface of the recording material, and any of the above-mentioned aqueous solvents and organic solvents can be used. From the viewpoint of safety and safety, it is preferable to use an aqueous solvent, particularly water. Liquid temperature is 25 ~
40 ° C. is preferred.

The contact time between the surfactant-containing liquid and the recording material is such that the entire surface of the recording material can come into contact with the liquid at once,
There is no particular limitation as long as the surfactant can penetrate into the surface layer.

After the printing material is removed as described above, the recording material to which the surfactant-containing liquid has been applied is further conveyed to a drying area and dried by the dryer 16. The drying method may be a contact type such as a heat roller, or a contact type such as a far-infrared lamp. The heating temperature is suitably about 70 to 150 ° C.

In another embodiment of the method of the present invention, the recording material on which the printing material has been printed is supplied to the swelling liquid, and the surface of the recording material having the swollen surface layer is physically removed. The printing material may be removed by force, and the printing material remaining on the surface of the recording material may be washed away with the above-mentioned rinsing liquid, and then dried once to apply a surfactant-containing liquid. At this time, the drying condition and the application condition of the surfactant-containing liquid can be the same conditions as described above, but in consideration of the ease of drying after the application of the surfactant-containing liquid, the surfactant is dissolved. It is preferable to use the above organic solvent as the solvent. By using an organic solvent as the solvent in this manner, a new drying treatment after the liquid is applied can be omitted. In this embodiment, the contact time between the surfactant-containing liquid and the recording material is not particularly limited as long as the entire surface of the recording material can be contacted with the liquid and the surfactant can penetrate into the surface layer. It is not something to be done.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an embodiment of a cleaning apparatus to which the above-described method of the present invention can be applied. FIG.
The apparatus includes a cleaning tank 22 in a casing 23 for storing a swelling liquid 30 for swelling the surface layer of the recording material. In this apparatus, the surfactant-containing liquid and the swelling liquid are the same, and the surfactant-containing liquid is supplied by the shower 15. The cleaning tank 22 is connected to a pump 20 having a filter for removing a printing material in the liquid in the tank, and the pump 11 is connected to the shower 11 and the shower 15 via a pipe 31. .

The liquid in the cleaning tank 22 is supplied to the pump 20.
After being purified by a filter inside, it is sent to showers 11 and 15 through a pipe 31, and is used as a swelling liquid of the recording material in the shower 11 and as a surfactant-containing liquid and a rinsing liquid in the shower 15. You.

The recording material is introduced into the apparatus by the paper feed roller 21 and sprayed with the swelling liquid by the shower 11, and then passes through the guide 26 and the transport roller 24 and is immersed in the swelling liquid 30 in the cleaning tank 22. You. After being stopped for a predetermined time, the print material is sent to the opposite portion of the brush 14 by the transport roller 24 and the guide 28 to remove the printing material.

Thereafter, the recording material passes through the guide 29, the transport roller 25, and the guide 27, and is rinsed while the surfactant-containing liquid is sprayed by the shower 15,
Finally, it is dried by the drying roller 17 and discharged out of the apparatus. The supply of the surfactant-containing liquid to the recording material by the shower 15 is achieved over the entire surface of the recording material.

In such an embodiment, the contact time between the surfactant-containing liquid and the recording material is determined as the time from when the leading edge of the recording material passes through the brush area to when the surface of the surfactant-containing liquid reaches the liquid level. It indicates the sum of the time from when the tip enters the shower area to when it comes out.

FIG. 4 is a view showing another embodiment of the cleaning device. The apparatus includes a swelling liquid tank 43 for storing a swelling liquid 30 for swelling a recording material, and a tank 42 for storing a surfactant-containing liquid 50 applied after the surface is rubbed with a brush 14. , Each independently. The swelling liquid 30 stored in the swelling liquid tank 43 is pumped up by the pump 20 equipped with a filter,
It is sent to the shower 11 through the pipe 31 and the paper feed roller 2
A predetermined time or a predetermined amount is sprayed on the recording material 100 introduced by 1. The recording material passes through the guide 26 and the transport rollers 24 and 25 and is sent to the brush 14. The swelling liquid sprayed on the recording material 100 in the shower 11 falls, returns to the swelling liquid tank 43 located below the shower 11, and is circulated.

The recording material 100 from which the printing material has been removed by the brush 14 is sent to a shower 15 and a surfactant-containing liquid 50 is applied to the surface of the recording material. The supply of the surfactant-containing liquid to the recording material by the shower 15 is achieved over the entire surface of the recording material. The surfactant-containing liquid 50 stored in the tank 42 is supplied to a pump 4 having a filter.
It is pumped to zero and supplied to the shower area through a tube 41. The printing material scraped off by the brush and the printing material flowed by the supply of the surfactant-containing liquid fall on a filter 45 provided on the upper portion of the tank 42, and are filtered together with the shower liquid falling from the shower area, and printed. The material is filtered through a filter and the surfactant-containing liquid is stored in tank 4
It is returned to 2 and used cyclically. The recording material that has passed through the shower area passes through a guide 27, is finally dried by a drying roller 17 having a built-in heater, and is discharged outside the apparatus.

In such an embodiment, the contact time between the surfactant-containing liquid and the recording material indicates the time from when the leading edge of the recording material enters the shower area until it comes out.

Even if the recording material is repeatedly applied to the method of the present invention as described above, the printing material can be satisfactorily removed from the recording material over a relatively long period.
The present invention is described in more detail by the following examples.

[0064]

EXAMPLES (Production of Recording Material I) Base Layer: A 100 μm thick polyethylene terephthalate (PET) sheet was used as the base layer. Intermediate adhesive layer: A resin solution was prepared by dissolving 14 g of polycarbonate resin in 186 g of 1,4-dioxane. To the resin solution was added 2 g of a melamine-formaldehyde resin (SUMIREZE 613; manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.) and the mixture was stirred. The obtained solution was applied to a substrate layer with a bar coater, heated at 50 ° C. for 15 minutes, and further subjected to corona discharge treatment to a thickness of 4 μm.
Was formed. Surface layer: polyvinyl alcohol CM-3 as a water-soluble resin
12 (manufactured by Kuraray) was dissolved in 188 g of water to prepare a resin solution. To the resin solution were added 0.5 g of a melamine-formaldehyde resin (Sumilez 613; manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.) and 0.6 g of ammonium chloride, followed by stirring for 5 minutes.
The obtained liquid is applied on the intermediate adhesive layer with a bar coater,
Heat at 20 ° C. for 2 hours to form a 10 μm thick surface layer,
This was designated as recording material I.

(Production of Recording Material II) Base Layer: A 100 μm thick polyethylene terephthalate (PET) sheet was used as the base layer. Intermediate adhesive layer: A mixture of 200 g of polyurethane aqueous solution (HUX-232, manufactured by Asahi Denka Co., Ltd.) and 0.4 g of surfactant polyoxyethylene nonylphenyl ether (Nonipol 60, manufactured by Sanyo Chemical Co., Ltd.) is applied to the base material layer using a bar coater. And
Heating was performed at 50 ° C. for 15 minutes, and a corona discharge treatment was further performed to form an intermediate adhesive layer having a thickness of 4 μm. Surface layer: polyvinyl alcohol KM-6 as a water-soluble resin
16 (manufactured by Kuraray) was dissolved in 184 g of water to prepare a resin solution. An epoxy crosslinking agent (EX-3) is added to the resin solution.
13; Nagase Kasei Co., Ltd.) and 0.4 g of polyoxyethylene nonylphenyl ether were added and stirred for 5 minutes. The obtained liquid was applied on the intermediate adhesive layer with a bar coater, and heated at 120 ° C. for 30 minutes to form a surface layer having a thickness of 10 μm, which was used as a recording material II.

Example 1 A commercially available electrophotographic copying machine (EP-4)
050; manufactured by Minolta Co., Ltd.). The recording material on which the image was formed was subjected to image removal (ink removal) and drying using the apparatus shown in FIG. Water was used as the swelling liquid, and a 0.05% aqueous solution of polyoxyethylene coconut oil fatty acid monoethanolamide was used as the surfactant-containing liquid.

The operating conditions of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4 are as follows.・ Use a brush roller with a core diameter of 12 mm having nylon brush bristles with a hair length of 10 mm and a thickness of 30 μm. ・ A liquid temperature of 30 ° C. in the swelling liquid tank 43 and a liquid temperature of 30 ° C. in the tank 42. 3 cm / sec-Contact time with swelling liquid for 3 minutes, contact time with surfactant-containing liquid for 1 minute-Brush rotation speed / paper passing speed = 30-Heat roller temperature 110 ° C

Using the obtained recording material, the above-mentioned reproduction operation (image formation-image removal and drying) is further performed for one more time.
Repeated 9 times. When the recording material obtained in the twentieth reproduction operation was visually observed, the printing material was sufficiently removed. During the regenerating operation 20 times, the same swelling liquid and surfactant-containing liquid in the apparatus were continuously used without replacing them with new ones.

Example 2 A reproduction operation (image formation-image removal and drying) was repeated 20 times in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 was used instead of the apparatus shown in FIG. When the recording material obtained in the twentieth reproduction operation was visually observed, the printing material was sufficiently removed. The liquid in the tank was polyoxyethylene nonyl phenyl ether (nonipol 6).
0, HLB 11), a 0.2% aqueous solution, manufactured by Sanyo Chemical Industries, Ltd. was used.

The operating conditions of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 are as follows.・ Use a brush roller with a core bar diameter of 12 mm having nylon brush bristles with a hair length of 10 mm and a thickness of 30 μm ・ Temperature of the liquid in the tank 30 ° C. ・ Paper passing speed 3 cm / sec ・ Before removing the printing material, that is, 3 minutes of contact time of the recording material with the liquid in the tank before passing through the brush 14, and 1 minute of contact time with the liquid in the tank after removing the printing material, that is, after passing the brush 14 of the recording material. Speed / sheet passing speed = 30 ・ Heat roller temperature 110 ° C

Example 3 A recording material II was used as a recording material, and a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether (Emulmin L-
90-S, Sanyo Kasei Co., Ltd., HLB13) A regeneration operation was performed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that a 0.05% aqueous solution was used.
Repeated 0 times. When the recording material obtained in the twentieth reproduction operation was visually observed, the printing material was sufficiently removed. Example 4 A reproducing operation was performed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the recording material II was used as the recording material, and a 0.05% aqueous solution of sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate was used as the surfactant-containing liquid.
Repeated 0 times. When the recording material obtained in the twentieth reproduction operation was visually observed, the printing material was sufficiently removed.

Example 5 The same as Example 1 except that the recording material II was used as the recording material, and a 0.05% aqueous solution of Sandet LTM (triethanolamine alkyl sulfate, manufactured by Sanyo Chemical Co., Ltd.) was used as the surfactant-containing liquid. Then, the regeneration operation was repeated 20 times. 2
When the recording material obtained in the 0th reproduction operation was visually observed, the printing material was sufficiently removed. Example 6 The procedure of Example 1 was repeated except that a recording material II was used as a recording material, and a 0.05% aqueous solution of Sandet ENM (sodium polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate, manufactured by Sanyo Chemical Industries, Ltd.) was used as a surfactant-containing liquid. The regenerating operation was repeated 20 times. When the recording material obtained in the twentieth reproduction operation was visually observed, the printing material was sufficiently removed.

Example 7 A reproducing operation was performed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the recording material II was used as the recording material, and a 0.05% aqueous solution of sodium dialkyl sulfosuccinate was used as the surfactant-containing liquid.
Repeated times. When the recording material obtained in the twentieth reproduction operation was visually observed, the printing material was sufficiently removed.

Comparative Example 1 Sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate 1 was used as a swelling liquid.
20 times of the regenerating operation (image formation-image removal and drying) in the same manner as in Example 1, except that a water solution was used as a rinsing solution without using a surfactant-containing solution, Repeated. After about 10 repetitions, it was visually observed that the printing material remained on the obtained recording material.

Comparative Example 2 A reproduction operation (image formation-image removal and drying) was repeated 20 times in the same manner as in Example 2 except that mere water containing no surfactant was used as the liquid in the tank. Was. After about 10 repetitions, it was visually observed that the printing material remained on the obtained recording material.

[0076]

As described above, even if one recording material is repeatedly applied to the method of the present invention, the printing material can be satisfactorily removed from the recording material over a relatively long period.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic cross-sectional views each showing an example of the configuration of a recording material to which the method of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a process flow chart for explaining a method for removing a recording material.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a cleaning device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a cleaning device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: base material layer 2: intermediate layer 3: surface layer 4: printing material 11: shower device 12: intermediate layer + surface layer 13: swollen surface layer 14: brush 15: shower 16: dryer 100: recording material

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C061 AP01 AP04 AQ06 AS13 GG15 GG28 GG37 2H034 FA00

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A method for removing a printing material on a recyclable water-swellable recording material, and then applying a liquid containing a surfactant to the surface of the recording material. A method for removing a printing material from a water-swellable recording material. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the surfactant is HLB.
9. A method for removing a printing material on a recyclable water-swellable recording material, wherein the non-ionic surfactant is a nonionic surfactant of 9 to 15. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the surfactant is R ₁ -R ₂ -SO ₃ -A. . . (I) (R ₁ is a C7 to C14 alkyl group; R ₂ is phenylene or naphthylene; and A is an alkali metal); R ₁ O (EO) n ₂ SO ₃ NH ((EO) n ₃ H) ₃ . . . (Ii) (R ₁ is a C7 to C14 alkyl group; n ₂ is an integer of 0 to 7; n ₃ is an integer of 1 to 3) (R ₃ represents a C7 to C20 alkyl group; R ₄ represents H or CH ₂ CH ₂ OH; n ₁ represents an integer of ₁ to 10); R ₁ O (EO) n ₄ SO ₃ A. . . (Iv) (the alkyl group of R ₁ is from C7 C14; n ₄ is 1-7 integer; and A represents an alkali metal) and is at least one or more materials selected from the group consisting of 2. The method for removing a printing material on a recyclable water-swellable recording material according to claim 1. 4. A step of supplying the recording material on which the printing material has been printed to a solvent capable of swelling the surface layer, and a step of removing the printing material by physical force from the surface of the recording material having the surface layer swelled. 4. A recyclable water-swellable recording material according to claim 1, further comprising a step of applying a liquid containing a surfactant to the surface of the recording material from which the printing material has been removed. How to remove the above printing material. 5. The recyclable water-swellable recording material according to claim 1, wherein the solvent capable of swelling the surface layer and the liquid containing a surfactant are the same. How to remove printing material.