JP2012242579A - Color powder supply system and electrophotographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a color powder supply system which allows a trace of color powder to be obtained in a desired color by a desired amount, and an electrophotographic device.SOLUTION: The color powder supply system forms a color toner image with each color toner on an electrostatic latent image carrier on the basis of selected color information data, transfers the color toner image onto a support member, and discharges the color toner image to the outside of the system in a state where the color toner image is not fixed on the support member, to supply the color toner image as color powder. The electrophotographic device executes the color powder supply system.

Description

  The present invention relates to a color powder supply system using electrophotography and an electrophotographic apparatus including the color powder supply system.

For example, paints for personal use such as nail paint such as nail polish and gel nail, automotive paint such as touch-up paint, and hobby paint are required to have a wide variety of colors.
Specifically, nail paints are required to have a wide variety of colors in accordance with fashion and fashion. Therefore, when a nail paint having a color not on the market is desired, the nail paint having a desired color is obtained by mixing a plurality of kinds of nail paints and coloring materials. . However, such a method has a problem that the reproducibility is poor when the shortage is compensated.
Further, in the paint for automobiles, for example, when repairing a scratch on a vehicle body, a paint having a color that matches the color of the vehicle body is required. However, because the color of the car body varies slightly depending on the manufacturer and age, there are many cases where paints with a color that perfectly matches the car body color are not available on the market. The color paints that match the color of the car body are obtained by adjusting the colors by using paints of similar colors or by mixing colorants themselves.
Furthermore, the amount of paint used by individuals is often sufficient, and there is also a problem that the amount other than the necessary amount is left behind.

From the above, there is a demand for a system capable of supplying a small amount of various types of paints.
In response to such a demand, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes an apparatus capable of supplying a paint of a desired color in a custom-made manner. Even in this apparatus, the amount supplied is very small. However, the current situation is that we have not been able to supply a wide variety of paints in small quantities.

JP 2006-136684 A

  The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a color powder supply system and an electrophotographic apparatus that can obtain a small amount of color powder in a desired color and in a desired amount. There is to do.

  The color powder supply system of the present invention forms a color toner image with each color toner on an electrostatic latent image carrier based on selected color information data, and transfers the color toner image onto a support. The color toner image is discharged out of the system in an unfixed state with respect to the support and is supplied as color powder.

  In the color powder supply system of the present invention, the color toners are preferably yellow toner, magenta toner, and cyan toner.

  In the color powder supply system of the present invention, the color toners are preferably yellow toner, magenta toner, cyan toner and black toner.

  In the color powder supply system of the present invention, it is preferable that the color toners are yellow toner, magenta toner, cyan toner, black toner, and white toner.

  The electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention is characterized by executing the above color powder supply system.

The electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention forms an electrostatic latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image carrier, and forms a color toner image by developing the electrostatic latent image with each color toner. A toner-fixed image forming system for forming a toner-fixed image, comprising: a developing unit; a transferring unit that transfers the color toner image onto a support; and a fixing unit that fixes the color toner image transferred onto the support. An electrophotographic apparatus to perform,
A color toner image is formed by the electrostatic latent image forming unit and the developing unit, the color toner image is transferred onto a support by the transfer unit, and the color toner image is not fixed on the support. Execute the above color powder supply system that is discharged out of the system and supplied as color powder.
And a switching unit that switches between the toner-fixed image forming system and the color powder supply system.

  According to the color powder supply system of the present invention, the toned color toner image is discharged out of the system in an unfixed state and supplied as a color powder. Can be obtained in the amount of Further, even when trying to obtain the same color powder again, it is possible to obtain a desired color powder in a desired amount with high reproducibility.

According to the electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention, since the color powder supply system is executed, the toned color toner image is discharged out of the system in an unfixed state and can be taken out as color powder. The desired color powder can be obtained in a desired amount.
According to the electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention, among the means for executing the color powder supply system, the electrostatic latent image forming means, the developing means, and the transfer means for executing the toner-fixed image forming system are shared. In addition, by having a switching means for switching between the toner-fixed image forming system and the color powder supply system, a function for forming a toner-fixed image and a function for supplying a small amount of color powder in a desired color and in a desired amount Can be provided by a single device.

It is sectional drawing for description which shows an example of a structure of the electrophotographic apparatus of this invention.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail.

[Color powder supply system]
The color powder supply system of the present invention forms a color toner image with each color toner on an electrostatic latent image carrier based on selected color information data, and transfers the color toner image onto a support. The color toner image is supplied as a color powder in an unfixed state on the support, and uses electrophotography.

Specifically, the color powder supply system of the present invention is executed by an apparatus having the following means (1) to (6), for example.
(1) Color information data obtaining means for obtaining selected color information data (2) Blending data obtaining means for obtaining blending data by calculating a blending ratio of each color toner based on the obtained color information data (3) Obtaining Electrostatic latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image carrier based on the blended data (4) The electrostatic latent image formed on the electrostatic latent image carrier is converted into each color toner. (5) Transfer means for transferring the color toner image formed on the electrostatic latent image carrier onto the support (6) Color transferred onto the support Color powder supply means for taking out the toner image as color powder in an unfixed state on the support

(1) Color information data acquisition means The method for obtaining the selected color information data in the color information data acquisition means is not particularly limited, and includes, for example, a plurality of color samples within a color reproduction range reproducible by the apparatus. Color chart display means for displaying a color chart is provided, and for example, in the CIE-XYZ color system or CIE-L ^* a ^* b ^* color system based on a color sample arbitrarily selected by the user by this color chart display means A method for obtaining color values as color information data, or, for example, a scanner unit for reading a color image is provided, a color image composed of a desired color original is read by the scanner unit, and a color value based on the read color image is obtained as color information data. A method for obtaining color information data by inputting a desired color using computer software or the like. And the like.
Further, for example, as a method for obtaining the selected color information data, a plurality of color samples are provided with a quantity display means for displaying each quantity in stages, and the quantity information arbitrarily selected by the user by this quantity display means. In the case of using computer software or the like as a method for obtaining color information data or color information data acquisition means, the density or area of a figure to be produced can be set arbitrarily, and this amount information data can be obtained as color information data. it can. The amount of powder to be selected is preferably 2 mg to 1 g, for example.
The color information data for the same support may be one or plural.

(2) Blending Data Acquisition Unit The blending data acquisition unit calculates blending ratio of each color toner based on the color information data obtained by the color information data acquisition unit to obtain blending data. Specifically, for example, when three color toners of yellow toner, magenta toner, and cyan toner are mounted on the developing unit, the blending ratio of the three color toners is calculated from color information data such as color values. Get recipe data. As this blending data acquisition means, those generally used in electrophotography can be used.

(3) Electrostatic latent image forming unit In the electrostatic latent image forming unit, the electrostatic latent image forming unit electrostatically forms on the electrostatic latent image carrier based on the blending data according to the blending ratio of each color toner obtained by the blending data acquiring unit. A latent image is formed. As the electrostatic latent image forming means, those generally used in electrophotography can be used.

(4) Developing means In the developing means, a color toner image is formed by developing the electrostatic latent image formed in the electrostatic latent image forming means with each color toner. As this developing means, those generally used in electrophotography can be used. The color toner image may be formed on the electrostatic latent image carrier in a state in which the toner images of the respective colors are overlapped and toned according to the blending data, or the toner images of the respective colors are not overlapped. The image may be separately formed on the electrostatic latent image carrier.

(5) Transfer means In the transfer means, the color toner image formed by the developing means is transferred onto the support. As this transfer means, those generally used in electrophotography can be used.
As a support to which a color toner image is transferred, plain paper from thin paper to thick paper, high-quality paper, coated printing paper such as art paper or coated paper, commercially available Japanese paper, postcard paper, OHP, etc. Although various kinds, such as a plastic film and cloth, can be mentioned, it is not limited to these. A polyethylene terephthalate resin (PET) sheet is preferable from the viewpoint of the separation of the color powder from the support and the permeability of the dispersion medium described later to the support.

(6) Color powder supply means In the color powder supply means, the color toner image transferred onto the support is not fixed to the support, and the color toner image is directly discharged as color powder to the outside of the apparatus. To do. The color powder supply means is not particularly limited as long as the color toner image transferred onto the support can be discharged out of the apparatus without being melted or deformed by heat or pressure. It is preferable that the surface does not come into contact with surrounding members and can be discharged out of the apparatus.

The color powder obtained by this color powder supply means is dispersed or dissolved in, for example, a volatile solvent, a curable resin, a nail gel, a nail topcoat, various varnishes, etc. Thus, it is possible to obtain a wide variety of paints in a small amount.
In the case of dispersing the color powder in a solvent or the like, a dispersion medium can be added for the purpose of more uniformly dispersing, and the dispersion medium is preferably transparent or white. Things can also be used.

〔toner〕
The toner used in the color powder supply system of the present invention can be those generally used in electrophotography, and preferably contains at least yellow toner, magenta toner, cyan toner, black toner, Color toners such as white toner, orange toner, and green toner can also be added. Specifically, these toners are composed of toner particles containing at least a binder resin and a colorant. Further, the toner particles can contain a surfactant, a charge control agent, a release agent, an external additive, and the like as required.

(Binder resin)
When the toner particles constituting the toner according to the present invention are produced, for example, by a pulverization method, a dissolution suspension method, or the like, as a binder resin constituting the toner, a styrene resin, a (meth) acrylic resin, a styrene- (Meth) acrylic copolymer resins, vinyl resins such as olefin resins, polyester resins, polyamide resins, carbonate resins, polyethers, polyvinyl acetate resins, polysulfones, epoxy resins, polyurethane resins, urea resins And various known resins. Particularly preferred are styrene resins, acrylic resins, and polyester resins. These can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  Further, when the toner particles are produced by, for example, suspension polymerization method, miniemulsion polymerization aggregation method, emulsion polymerization aggregation method, etc., as a polymerizable monomer for obtaining a binder resin constituting the toner, for example, styrene , O-methylstyrene, m-methylstyrene, p-methylstyrene, α-methylstyrene, p-phenylstyrene, p-ethylstyrene, 2,4-dimethylstyrene, p-tert-butylstyrene, pn-hexyl Styrene or styrene styrene derivatives such as styrene, pn-octyl styrene, pn-nonyl styrene, pn-decyl styrene, pn-dodecyl styrene; methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, n-butyl methacrylate , Isopropyl methacrylate, isobutyl methacrylate, t-butyl methacrylate Methacrylic acid ester derivatives such as n-octyl methacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate, stearyl methacrylate, lauryl methacrylate, phenyl methacrylate, diethylaminoethyl methacrylate, dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate; methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, acrylic Acrylic acid ester derivatives such as isopropyl acid, n-butyl acrylate, t-butyl acrylate, isobutyl acrylate, n-octyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, stearyl acrylate, lauryl acrylate, and phenyl acrylate; ethylene Olefins such as styrene, propylene and isobutylene; vinyl fluorides such as vinyl fluoride and vinylidene fluoride; vinyl ethers such as vinyl propionate, vinyl acetate and vinyl benzoate. Stealtes; Vinyl ethers such as vinyl methyl ether and vinyl ethyl ether; Vinyl ketones such as vinyl methyl ketone, vinyl ethyl ketone and vinyl hexyl ketone; N-vinyl such as N-vinyl carbazole, N-vinyl indole and N-vinyl pyrrolidone Compounds; vinyl compounds such as vinyl naphthalene and vinyl pyridine; and vinyl monomers such as acrylic acid or methacrylic acid derivatives such as acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, and acrylamide. These vinyl monomers can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

Moreover, it is preferable to use combining what has an ionic dissociation group as a polymerizable monomer. The polymerizable monomer having an ionic dissociation group has, for example, a substituent such as a carboxyl group, a sulfonic acid group, and a phosphoric acid group as a constituent group, and specifically includes acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid. Acid, itaconic acid, cinnamic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid monoalkyl ester, itaconic acid monoalkyl ester, styrene sulfonic acid, allyl sulfosuccinic acid, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid, acid phosphooxyethyl methacrylate Etc.
Furthermore, as a polymerizable monomer, divinylbenzene, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, ethylene glycol diacrylate, diethylene glycol dimethacrylate, diethylene glycol diacrylate, triethylene glycol dimethacrylate, triethylene glycol diacrylate, neopentyl glycol dimethacrylate, neopentyl A binder resin having a crosslinked structure can also be obtained using a polyfunctional vinyl such as glycol diacrylate.

(Coloring agent)
Examples of the colorant for yellow toner include C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 3, 35, 65, 74, 98, 111, 9, 36, 83, 110, 139, 181 and 153.

Examples of magenta toner colorants include C.I. I. Pigment Red 2, 3, 6, 7, 15, 15, 16, 48: 1, 48: 3, 53: 1, 57: 1, 122, 123, 123, 139 144, 149, 166, 177, 178, 208, 208, 209, 222, and the like. Specific examples of the dye include C.I. I. Solvent Red 3, 14, 17, 18, 22, 23, 49, 51, 53, 87, 127, 128, 131, 145, 146, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 176, 179, 184, and the like.
Among these, C.I. I. Pigment red 9, C.I. I. Pigment red 208, C.I. I. Pigment Red 209 is preferably used.

  Examples of the colorant for the cyan toner include copper phthalocyanine compounds (specifically, CI pigment blue 15: 1 to 15: 3, CI pigment blue 78), zinc phthalocyanine compounds, aluminum phthalocyanine compounds, Examples thereof include silicon phthalocyanine compounds.

  Examples of the black toner colorant include carbon black such as furnace black, channel black, acetylene black, thermal black, and lamp black, and magnetic powder such as magnetite and ferrite.

  Examples of the colorant for white toner include inorganic pigments such as titanium oxide, zinc white, antimony white, and zinc sulfide, and mixtures thereof.

  The addition amount of the colorant is preferably 1 to 30% by mass, and more preferably 2 to 20% by mass with respect to the whole toner.

  The above toner can be used as a non-magnetic one-component developer, but may be mixed with a carrier and used as a two-component developer. As the carrier, magnetic particles made of conventionally known materials such as metals such as iron, ferrite and magnetite and alloys of these metals with metals such as aluminum and lead can be used, and ferrite particles are particularly preferable.

  The volume-based median diameter of the carrier is preferably 20 to 100 μm, and more preferably 20 to 60 μm. The volume-based median diameter of the carrier can be typically measured by a laser diffraction particle size distribution measuring apparatus “HELOS” (manufactured by SYMPATEC) equipped with a wet disperser.

[Particle size of toner particles]
The particle diameter of the toner particles constituting the toner is preferably 3.0 to 10.0 μm, more preferably 3.5 to 8.0 μm in terms of volume-based median diameter.

The volume-based median diameter of the toner particles is connected to a computer system (Beckman Coulter) equipped with data processing software "Software V3.51" to "Coulter Counter Multisizer 3" (Beckman Coulter 3). It is measured and calculated by using the apparatus.
As a measurement procedure, 0.02 g of a measurement sample (toner) was added to 20 ml of a surfactant solution (for example, a surfactant solution obtained by diluting a neutral detergent containing a surfactant component 10 times with pure water for the purpose of toner dispersion). ), Followed by ultrasonic dispersion for 1 minute to prepare a measurement sample dispersion. This measurement sample dispersion is pipetted into a beaker containing “ISOTON II” (manufactured by Beckman Coulter, Inc.) in a sample stand until the measured instrument concentration is 5 to 10%. By setting this concentration range, a reproducible measurement value can be obtained. In the measuring machine, the measurement particle count is set to 25000, the aperture diameter is set to 100 μm, the frequency value is calculated by dividing the measurement range of 2.0 to 60 μm into 256, and the volume integrated fraction is 50 % Particle diameter is defined as a volume-based median diameter.

The toner preferably has a coefficient of variation (CV value) in the volume-based particle size distribution of 2% or more and 35% or less, particularly 5% or more and 30% or less. .
The CV value indicates the degree of dispersion in the particle size distribution of toner particles on a volume basis, and is calculated by the following formula (CV).
This CV value indicates that the smaller the value is, the sharper the particle size distribution is. Therefore, it means that the toner particles have the same size.

Formula (CV): CV value (%) = {(standard deviation) / (volume-based average diameter)} × 100

  According to the color powder supply system of the present invention, a toned color toner image is supplied as a color powder in an unfixed state, thereby obtaining a desired color powder in a desired amount. it can. Further, even when trying to obtain the same color powder again, it is possible to obtain a desired color powder in a desired amount with high reproducibility.

[Electrophotographic equipment]
The electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention is one in which the above-described color powder supply system is executed. In particular, an electrostatic latent image forming unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image carrier, Developing means for forming a color toner image by developing the electrostatic latent image with each color toner, transfer means for transferring the color toner image onto the support, and fixing for fixing the color toner image transferred onto the support A toner-fixed image forming system for forming a toner-fixed image, and using an electrostatic latent image forming unit, a developing unit, and a transfer unit in the toner-fixed image-forming system. It is preferable that the color powder supply system is executed to include a switching unit that switches between the toner fixing image forming system and the color powder supply system. With such a configuration, a function of forming a toner-fixed image and a function of supplying a minute amount of color powder in a desired color and in a desired amount can be provided by one apparatus.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory sectional view showing an example of the configuration of the electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention.
The electrophotographic apparatus 40 includes charging means 52Y, 52M, 52C, and 52K and exposure means 53Y, 53M, 53C, and 53K that form electrostatic latent images on the electrostatic latent image carriers 51Y, 51M, 51C, and 51K. Electrostatic latent image forming means, and developing means 54Y, 54M for forming a color toner image by developing the electrostatic latent image with each color toner, specifically, yellow toner, magenta toner, cyan toner and black toner. 54C, 54K, transfer means 57Y, 57M, 57C, 57K for transferring the color toner image onto the support P, and fixing means 49 for fixing the color toner image transferred onto the support P. Thus, the toner fixing image forming system for forming the toner fixing image is executed, and the charging operation in the toner fixing image forming system is executed. 52Y, 52M, 52C, 52K, exposure means 53Y, 53M, 53C, 53K, developing means 54Y, 54M, 54C, 54K and transfer means 57Y, 57M, 57C, 57K to execute a color powder supply system It is. Further, the electrophotographic apparatus 40 includes a color chart display means 41a for displaying a color chart composed of a plurality of color samples, and a composition comprising a blending ratio of each color toner based on color information data based on the color values of the selected color samples. Mixing data acquisition means (not shown) for obtaining data, color powder supply means 60 for extracting a color toner image as color powder, and switching means (not shown) for switching between a toner fixed image forming system and a color powder supply system. Z)).

The image forming unit 50Y including the electrostatic latent image carrier 51Y, the charging unit 52Y, the exposure unit 53Y, the developing unit 54Y, and the transfer unit 57Y forms a yellow toner image. The image forming units 50M, 50C, The 50K has the same configuration as the image forming unit 50Y except that magenta, cyan, and black toner images are formed instead of forming yellow toner images. The image forming units 50Y, 50M, 50C, and 50K are provided along a belt-like intermediate transfer body 46 that is circulated and moved by support rollers 46A, 46B, and 46C.
Note that 58Y, 58M, 58C, and 58K are cleaning units that remove the toner remaining on the electrostatic latent image carriers 51Y, 51M, 51C, and 51K.

  Reference numeral 41 denotes an operation unit, 47Y, 47M, 47C, and 47K are toner cartridges for each color, and 42 is a paper feed cassette.

The electrophotographic apparatus 40 performs the following processing when the toner-fixed image forming system is executed.
A uniform potential is applied to the surfaces of the electrostatic latent image carriers 51Y, 51M, 51C, and 51K by the charging means 52Y, 52M, 52C, and 52K, and the exposure means 53Y, 53M, 53C, and 53 are based on image data to be formed. To form electrostatic latent images on the electrostatic latent image carriers 51Y, 51M, 51C, 51K, and develop the electrostatic latent images by developing means 54Y, 54M, 54C, 54K with the respective color toners. As a result, the toner image of each color is formed. The toner images of the respective colors are sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer body 46 by transfer means 57Y, 57M, 57C, and 57K, and are superimposed to form a color toner image. On the other hand, the support P accommodated in the paper feed cassette 42 is fed one by one by the paper feed roller 43, conveyed to the secondary transfer means 57A by the registration roller 44, and a color toner image is formed on the support P. Is secondarily transferred. Next, the support P is conveyed to the fixing means 49 and subjected to a fixing process. Thereafter, the support P is sandwiched between the discharge rollers 45 and discharged onto the discharge tray 48 outside the apparatus, and a toner fixed image is formed on the support P. It is formed.

The electrophotographic apparatus 40 performs the following processing when the color powder supply system is executed.
Based on the color information data arbitrarily selected by the color chart display means 41a, the blending data including the blending ratio of each color toner is obtained by the blending data acquisition means. A uniform potential is applied to the surfaces of the electrostatic latent image carriers 51Y, 51M, 51C, and 51K by the charging means 52Y, 52M, 52C, and 52K, and the exposure means 53Y, 53M, 53C, and 53 are used based on the blending data. By exposing, electrostatic latent images are formed on the electrostatic latent image carriers 51Y, 51M, 51C, 51K, and the electrostatic latent images are developed by the developing means 54Y, 54M, 54C, 54K with the respective color toners. A toner image of each color is formed by developing the image. The toner images of the respective colors are sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer body 46 by transfer means 57Y, 57M, 57C, and 57K, and are superimposed to form a color toner image. On the other hand, the support P accommodated in the paper feed cassette 42 is fed one by one by the paper feed roller 43, conveyed to the secondary transfer means 57A by the registration roller 44, and a color toner image is formed on the support P. Is secondarily transferred. Next, the support P is transported to the color powder supply means 60, and the color toner image is discharged onto the discharge tray 61 outside the apparatus in an unfixed state, and the color powder is supplied onto the support P. .

According to the electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention, by executing the color powder supply system, the toned color toner image can be taken out as color powder in an unfixed state, so that the color of the desired color can be obtained. The powder can be obtained in the desired amount.
According to the electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention, among the means for executing the color powder supply system, the electrostatic latent image forming means, the developing means, and the transfer means for executing the toner-fixed image forming system are shared. In addition, by having a switching means for switching between the toner-fixed image forming system and the color powder supply system, a function for forming a toner-fixed image and a function for supplying a small amount of color powder in a desired color and in a desired amount Can be provided by a single device.

  Examples of the present invention will be described below, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[Example 1]
The electrophotographic apparatus “bizhub C353” (manufactured by Konica Minolta Co., Ltd.) has been modified so that the desired powder amount for the color powder supply system can be selected by removing the fixing device, and is commercially available for “bizhub C353”. Of yellow toner, magenta toner, cyan toner and black toner. An A4-sized OHP film “VF-5” (manufactured by KOKUYO) was used as the support. A personal computer was connected to the electrophotographic apparatus, and image editing software “Adobe Illustrator (registered trademark)” (manufactured by Adobe) was used to create a desired red circle with the color mode set to YMCK color. In the modified electrophotographic apparatus, when the amount of powder was selected as 4 mg and outputted, a circular figure was outputted on the OHP film. When the powder forming this figure was collected, 4 mg of a color powder toned in red was obtained. The obtained color powder was a red color that can be visually judged to be the same as the red color created by the image editing software.

[Examples 2 to 7]
In Example 1, except that the desired color and powder amount were changed as shown in Table 1 below, the output was performed in the same manner, and the color powder and powder amount of the color shown in Table 1 below were obtained. It was. Also in the color powder obtained in Examples 2-7, it was the color which can be visually judged to be the same compared with the color created with image editing software.

40 Electrophotographic apparatus 41 Operation unit 41a Color chart display means 42 Paper feed cassette 43 Paper feed roller 44 Registration roller 45 Paper discharge roller 46 Intermediate transfer bodies 46A, 46B, 46C Support rollers 47Y, 47M, 47C, 47K Toner cartridge 48 Paper discharge Tray 49 Fixing means 50Y, 50M, 50C, 50K Image forming units 51Y, 51M, 51C, 51K Electrostatic latent image carriers 52Y, 52M, 52C, 52K Charging means 53Y, 53M, 53C, 53K Exposure means 54Y, 54M, 54C , 54K Developing means 57Y, 57M, 57C, 57K Transfer means 57A Secondary transfer means 58Y, 58M, 58C, 58K Cleaning means 60 Color powder supply means 61 Paper discharge tray P Support

Claims (6)

  Based on the selected color information data, a color toner image is formed with each color toner on the electrostatic latent image carrier, the color toner image is transferred onto the support, and the color toner image is transferred to the support. The color powder supply system is characterized in that it is discharged out of the system in an unfixed state and supplied as color powder.   2. The color powder supply system according to claim 1, wherein each of the color toners is a yellow toner, a magenta toner, and a cyan toner.   2. The color powder supply system according to claim 1, wherein each color toner is a yellow toner, a magenta toner, a cyan toner, and a black toner.   2. The color powder supply system according to claim 1, wherein each of the color toners is a yellow toner, a magenta toner, a cyan toner, a black toner, and a white toner.   An electrophotographic apparatus that executes the color powder supply system according to claim 1. An electrostatic latent image forming unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image carrier, a developing unit that forms a color toner image by developing the electrostatic latent image with each color toner, and the color toner image An electrophotographic apparatus that executes a toner-fixed image forming system that forms a toner-fixed image, comprising: a transfer unit that transfers toner onto a support; and a fixing unit that fixes a color toner image transferred onto the support. ,
A color toner image is formed by the electrostatic latent image forming unit and the developing unit, the color toner image is transferred onto a support by the transfer unit, and the color toner image is not fixed on the support. The color powder supply system according to claim 1, wherein the color powder supply system is discharged from the system and supplied as color powder.
An electrophotographic apparatus comprising switching means for switching between the toner-fixed image forming system and the color powder supply system.