JPH0420958A - image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent failure of the image forming device by discriminating the front and back with a front and back detection sensor synchronized with the timing of feeding of a recording paper, and preventing a series of processing for image formation such as pressure developing or heat fixing from being carried out to a backside of a recording paper. CONSTITUTION:An output signal is emitted when the fed developing paper 28 is discriminated to be faced backwards by the front and back detection sensor 50, and this outputted signal is inputted to a controller 51. Although this outputted signal is inputted to a controller 51, it is not outputted to an exposure lamp control device 52 or a microcapsule paper carrying control device 53, and no special control is carried out. That is, the exposure operation is not stopped but carried out as it is, a latent image is formed on a microcapsule paper 12, and the microcapsule paper 12 with the latent image formed on it is wound up to the winding up shaft 24 as it is. As for the developing paper 28 which was fed on the wrong side by error, none of the series of processes for image formation such as the pressure developing or the heat fixing is carried out to prevent failure of the image forming device main body.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording paper whose front and back surfaces have different light reflectances, and in particular, an image forming apparatus that forms an image on recording paper whose front and back surfaces have different light reflectances, and in particular, an image forming apparatus that is capable of forming an image on a recording paper whose front and back surfaces have different light reflectances. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that detects when paper is formed and controls image forming processing operations.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, various image forming apparatuses have been developed. For example, microcapsule paper, which is a light-sensitive pressure-sensitive paper on which a latent image of an original document is formed by exposure, is pressed against recording paper (color developer paper) and developed. There is an image forming apparatus that forms an image on the surface of the image forming apparatus. Color developer paper, which is generally used as recording paper for such image forming apparatuses, has a base material coated with a predetermined color developer only on one side (surface).

Generally, this type of image forming apparatus is not equipped with any means for identifying the front and back sides of recording paper. For this reason, even if the recording paper is fed with the wrong front and back sides, the series of image forming processes continues as is.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, if the recording paper is fed with the wrong side facing up, no image will be formed on the recording paper even if a series of image forming processes are performed on the recording paper with the wrong front and back sides, and the recording paper will be wasted. It ends up. Also, at the heat fixing stage of image formation,
There has been a problem in that the recording paper adheres to the heat fixing device of the image forming apparatus, causing a paper jam, and furthermore, causing a failure of the image forming apparatus main body.

In addition, when a device for identifying the front and back sides of recording paper is provided, control of the main unit, especially control of photosensitive and pressure-sensitive paper, becomes important when paper is fed with the wrong front and back sides.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and detects when recording paper is fed face down, and processes the recording paper fed face down. However, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus in which the conveyance of the photosensitive and pressure sensitive paper can be controlled at high speed and is easy to control.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve this object, the image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a conveying means for conveying a continuous strip of photosensitive and pressure sensitive paper;
an optical device that exposes the light-sensitive pressure-sensitive paper based on a document;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a pressure developing device that pressure-develops an image on the recording paper by overlapping and pressurizing the exposed surface of the photosensitive pressure-sensitive paper and the front surface of a recording paper whose front and back surfaces have different light reflectances; In this method, a front/back detection sensor for determining the front and back sides of the recording paper by detecting the light reflectance of the fed recording paper is installed in the recording paper transport path upstream of the pressure developing device, and Based on an output signal indicating that the fed recording paper is the back side, only the recording paper fed face-up is processed.

[Effect]

According to the present invention having the above configuration, the front and back sides of the recording paper are determined by the front and back detection sensor in synchronization with the timing when the recording paper is fed, and when it is determined that the recording paper is the back side, an output signal is output and the paper is fed face down. Processing is performed on the recording paper fed face-down, that is, processing is performed to prevent a series of image forming processing operations from being performed on the recording paper fed face down. However, since no special control is performed on the photosensitive and pressure sensitive paper, it is possible to prevent an extension of time, especially during continuous copying operations.

〔Example〕

Embodiments embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, an original platen glass 2 and an original platen cover 3 are arranged on the upper part of the image forming apparatus 1, and a desired original 4 is placed face down on the original platen glass 2. Then, the document table cover 3 is closed.

Below the document table glass 2 in the upper part of the image forming apparatus 1, an exposure lamp 5a, a reflector 5b, and a reflection mirror 8 are provided.
A light source unit 5 is provided so as to be movable back and forth along a shaft 13 extending parallel to the document table glass 2. This light source unit 5 irradiates light in a line toward the document table glass 2 in a direction perpendicular to the movement direction. The irradiated light passes through the transparent original platen glass 2 and is reflected downward by the original 4 placed thereon.

A mirror portion 9 is disposed below the document table glass 2 and is movable separately from the light source section 5 and includes reflective mirrors 9a and 9b. ．．
The light beams 9a and 9b are reflected in this order and guided in parallel to the moving direction of the light source section 5.

A normally fixed projection lens 7 and a filter 6 for adjusting the color tone of the copied image are disposed below the document table glass 2, and the light reflected by the reflection mirror 9b is directed to the projection lens 7. incident.

The light projected by the projection lens 7 is reflected by a reflection mirror part 10 including reflection mirrors 10a and 10b.

An exposure table 11 for exposing microcapsule paper 12, which will be described later, is arranged on the right side of the reflecting mirror 10b.
A reflective mirror 10c for switching the optical path is disposed between the reflective mirror 10b and the exposure table 11. Exposure table 11
The image information on the original document 4 is imaged on the microcapsule paper 12 arranged along the document 4 to form a latent image.

In addition, although the reflecting mirrors 10a and 10b are normally fixed, when enlarging or reducing the size of the latent image formed on the microcapsule paper 12, the optical path length is changed according to the set projection magnification. In addition, it is configured to be able to move integrally in the axial direction of the shaft 13.

On the other hand, a cartridge 15 is removably installed in the center of the image forming apparatus 1. Inside this cartridge 32 is a long microcapsule paper 12 as a photosensitive and pressure sensitive paper.
is held in a wound state around the cartridge shaft 14. When this cartridge 15 is installed in a predetermined position of the image forming apparatus 1, the leading end of the microcapsule paper 12 is pulled out toward the exposure table 11.

Note that the microcapsule paper 12 used in this example
A large number of microcapsules are coated on the surface. These microcapsules contain a dye precursor that develops color by reacting with a color developer, which will be described later, and the details are described in U.S. Patent No. 4,399,209.
Explanation will be omitted.

A tension roller 19 is provided on the upstream side of the exposure table 11 in the direction in which the microcapsule paper 12 is transported. Further, on the downstream side of the exposure table 11 in the conveyance direction of the microcapsule paper 12, a feed roller 20 and a dancer for tension adjustment are provided.
A roller 21 is provided. Further, on the downstream side of the dancer roller 21, a pressure developing device 22 is provided which includes a large diameter roller 22a and a backup roller 22b. A separation roller 23 for separating the microcapsule paper 12 and the color developing paper 28 that are in close contact with each other is disposed downstream of the pressure developing device 22, as will be described later. A winding shaft 24 for winding up the microcapsule paper 12 is arranged between them.

As a result, the microcapsule paper 12 coming out from the upper part of the cartridge 15 is guided by the tension roller 19 and passes above the exposure table 11, and then the dancer roller 21,
After passing through the pressure developing device 22 and further being guided to the separation roller 23, it is wound onto the winding shaft 24. Note that the unexposed microcapsule paper 12 after leaving the cartridge 15 is maintained in an unexposed state by the light shielding cover.

A paper feed cassette 29 containing developer paper 28 as recording paper is installed below the pressure developing device 22 . This color developer paper 28 carries a color developer that develops color by reacting with the dye precursor described above.

Therefore, the developer paper 28 shows a difference in characteristics, particularly in light reflectance, between the front surface on which the developer is supported and the back surface without the developer.

Further, above the paper feed cassette 29, a suction cup-type paper feed mechanism 30 that sucks the developer paper 28 using a negative pressure suction bow is arranged, and the developer paper 28 is fed one by one by the paper feed mechanism 30. It will be carried out. Between the paper feeding mechanism 3o and the pressure developing device 22,
Feed guide 31d and feed rollers 31a, 31b, 31
c is provided, and the color developing paper 28 is transported by this feed roller 3.
1a.

31b, 31c and a feed guide 31d, and are carried into the pressure developing device 22.

A separation chute 2, which will be described later, is downstream of the pressure developing device 22.
7 is disposed, and a heat fixing device 32 is disposed downstream of the separation chute 27.

Further, downstream of the thermal fixing device 32, a paper discharge tray 33 is provided for storing the developer paper 28 on which an image is formed.

The image forming apparatus 1 also includes an autoloading mechanism for automatically setting the microcapsule paper 12 on a predetermined transport path within the apparatus.

This is a mechanism that automatically pulls out a leader film attached to the tip of the microcapsule paper 12 into the apparatus, transports it within the apparatus, and winds it around the winding shaft 24. Thereby, the microcapsule paper 12 following the leader film portion is also wound up on the winding shaft 24, and the setting into the apparatus is completed.

To configure this autoloading mechanism, a half-moon roller 17 is provided between the roller 19 and the cartridge 15 for pulling out the leader film portion, and a separation unit 27 is provided for guiding the leader film portion to the winding shaft 24. It is rotatably mounted. An upper winding guide 25 and a lower winding guide 26 are disposed around the winding shaft 24 in order to wind the front three-layer leader film portion.

A front/back detection sensor 50 shown in FIG. 1 is installed in the conveyance path of the color developing paper 28 upstream of the pressure developing device 22. This front/back detection sensor 50 detects the light reflectance of the color developer paper 28 to determine whether the color developer paper 28 fed to the conveying path is front or back, and detects the light reflectance of the color developer paper 28 in accordance with the timing when the color developer paper 28 is fed. This front and back sides are detected.

This front/back detection sensor 50 outputs an output signal when it determines that the fed color developing paper 28 is face down, and this output signal is input to the controller 51 . This controller 51 is connected to an exposure lamp control device 52 that controls the exposure lamp 5a and a microcapsule paper transport control bag W53 that controls the transport of the microcapsule paper 12.

However, when the front/back detection sensor 50 determines that the fed color developing paper 28 is face down, this output signal is input to the controller 51, but the exposure lamp control device 52 and the microcapsule paper transport control device 53, and no special control is performed. That is, the exposure operation is continued without stopping, and a latent image is formed on the microcapsule paper 12, and the microcapsule paper 12 on which this latent image is formed is wound up on the winding shaft 24 as it is.

On the other hand, for the developer paper 28 that was fed with the front and back sides wrong,
In order to prevent the main body of the image forming apparatus from malfunctioning, a series of image forming processes such as pressure development and heat fixing are not performed, and images are displayed on a panel (not shown) via the controller 51. Various processes are performed, such as sending the developing paper 28 back and carrying it out of the apparatus from the carrying-out path 35.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be explained.

When the cartridge 15 is installed in the image forming apparatus 1, autoloading is started. That is, the half-moon roller 17 rotates once to several times in the conveyance direction, and sends out the leader film portion of the microcapsule paper 12 to the roller 20. Thereafter, the half-moon roller 17 stops, and subsequent conveyance is performed by driving the roller 20.

The upper winding guide 25 and the lower winding guide 26 are rotated to the position shown by the - dotted chain line, and the separation shoe 27 is also rotated, so that the leader film part attached to the tip of the microcapsule paper 12 is unrolled. It is wound around the take-up shaft 24.

When this autoloading is completed, the upper winding guide 25, the lower winding guide 26, and the separation chute 27 return to their original positions, making it possible to form an image.

When a copy start key (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus is operated, the reflection mirror 8 and the exposure lamp 5 move at a moving speed, where v1 is a projection magnification of the microcapsule paper 12 and m is a transport speed of the microcapsule paper 12. The reflective mirrors 9a and 9b move at a speed of 1/2 mV.
Move with.

The moving speed of the microcapsule paper 12 is determined by the mirror 8.9a.
, 9b, latent images of predetermined lines of the document 4 are sequentially formed on the microcapsule paper 12 as it passes through the exposure table 11. Note that the predetermined speed ratio is predetermined based on the set value of the magnification.

The microcapsule paper 12 on which the latent image has been formed is conveyed to the pressure developing device 22, and in synchronization with this, the uppermost color developing paper 28 of the paper feed cassette 29 is transferred to the paper feed mechanism 30 and the feed roller 31.
a, 31b, 31c, etc., are conveyed to the pressure developing device 22.

The pressure developing device 22 is supplied with the microcapsule paper 12 and the color developer paper 28 in a state in which they are in close contact with each other and are integrated, and the microcapsule surface on which the latent image of the microcapsule paper 12 is formed and the color developer paper 28 are separated. While in contact with the agent-applied surface (surface), pressure is applied by being held together between the large-diameter roller 22a and the backup roller 22b. This pressure destroys the unexposed microcapsules, and the developer paper 2
An image is formed on 8.

The microcapsule paper 12 and the color developer paper 28 that have come out of the pressure developing device 22 are separated by a separation roller 23, and then the color development of the color developer paper 28 is promoted by the heat roller 32a of the heat fixing device 32 to form an image. , then the paper ejection roller 3
2b, the paper is delivered to the paper discharge tray 33. The separated microcapsule paper 12 is passed through a separation roller 23 and wound onto a winding shaft 24.

Here, the color developing paper 28 fed to the pressure developing device 22 is shown.
The front and back sides of the
Detected at 0. Then, only when it is determined that the paper is face down, the front/back detection sensor 50 outputs an output signal.

This output signal is input to the controller 51, and the output from the controller 51 is used to process the developer paper 28 that was incorrectly fed with the front and back sides of the paper 28 fed, that is, with respect to the developer paper 28 that was fed with the reverse side of the paper erroneously fed. In order to prevent the image forming apparatus from malfunctioning due to a series of image forming processes such as pressure development and heat fixing, displaying on the panel and sending back the color developer paper 28, etc. Various types of processing are performed.

On the other hand, no special control is performed by the exposure lamp control device 52 and the microcapsule paper conveyance control device 53, and the exposure operation continues without being stopped.
A latent image is formed on the microcapsule paper 12 on which the latent image is formed, and the microcapsule paper 12 on which this latent image is formed is wound up on the winding shaft 24 as it is.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As is clear from the detailed description above, according to the present invention,
Synchronizing with the timing when the recording paper is fed, a front/back detection sensor determines whether the front or back side is the front side, and when it is determined that it is the back side, a series of image forming processes such as pressure development and heat fixing are performed on the recording paper facing the reverse side. As a result, waste of recording paper can be saved (and paper jams of recording paper or failure of the image forming apparatus can be prevented from occurring).

Moreover, since there is no special control for the conveyance of microcapsule paper, the mechanism and control become complicated.
It has the advantage that it does not increase in size, is easy to control, and can reduce manufacturing costs.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 show embodiments embodying the present invention. FIG. 1 is a control block diagram using a front/back detection sensor, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the image forming apparatus. 1... Image forming device, 5a... Exposure lamp, 11.
...Exposure stand, 12...Microcapsule paper, 15...
・Cartridge, 22...Pressure developing device, 23...
Separation roller, 27... Separation chute, 28... Recording paper (developer paper), 32... Heat fixing device, 5o... Front/back detection sensor, 51... Controller, 52... Exposure lamp control device , 53... Microcapsule paper conveyance control device. Applicant's agent: Yasushi Ishikawa, younger brother

Claims (1)

[Claims] a conveyance means for conveying a continuous strip of light-sensitive pressure-sensitive paper; an optical device for exposing the light-sensitive pressure-sensitive paper based on a document; a surface of recording paper whose front and back surfaces have different light reflectances; and the light-sensitive pressure-sensitive paper. In an image forming apparatus equipped with a pressure developing device that pressure-develops an image on the recording paper by overlapping and applying pressure to the exposed surface of the recording paper, the image forming apparatus detects the light reflectance of the fed recording paper. A front/back detection sensor is installed in the recording paper transport path upstream of the pressure developing device, and based on an output signal from the front/back detection sensor indicating that the fed recording paper is the back side. ,
An image forming apparatus characterized in that it processes only recording paper fed face down.