JPH07237781A - Transfer paper recycling device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] Even if a transfer paper attached with foreign matter such as a staple or a clip is fed, the toner peeling body that peels the toner from the transfer paper is damaged and the toner removing ability deteriorates. Prevent. [Structure] The transfer paper 1 is fed from the paper feed position A, and the transfer paper 1
Paper is discharged through a processing liquid supply unit 6 for supplying a predetermined processing liquid 9 to make the adhesion state of the toner unstable and a toner peeling unit 7 for bringing the toner into contact with the toner peeling body 10 and peeling it from the transfer paper 1. In the process of conveying in the direction of position B, a foreign substance attached to the transfer paper 1 is detected between the paper feed position A and the processing liquid supply unit 6, and when the foreign substance is detected, the processing liquid supply unit 6 is detected. The conveyance of the transfer paper 1 is blocked. As a result, the toner peeling body 10 is prevented from being damaged by the foreign matter attached to the transfer paper 1, and the deterioration of the toner removing ability is avoided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a transfer paper recycling apparatus for removing toner stably adhering to the surface of the transfer paper from the transfer paper by an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile or a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, demand for copy paper, printer paper, etc. has increased due to the rapid progress of office automation (OA). Such paper is usually produced from pulp as a raw material, but in recent years, from the viewpoint of protection of global resources and the global environment, there has been a strong movement to treat unnecessary paper and reuse it as recycled paper. Then, various techniques for recycling used paper, which can be executed even in offices, have been proposed.

As a conventional example of such a used paper recycling technique, as a technique using an organic solvent, 1) ultrasonic vibration is applied to a paper immersed in a soluble solvent of a toner resin to remove the toner. Technology (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-1015
76, JP-A-3-91096) 2) A technique of removing the toner by a method of adhering an organic solvent to dissolve the toner, washing the dissolved toner, air suction, contact with an adsorbent, mechanical peeling, electrostatic adsorption, etc. (JP-A-4-3003
No. 95, Sankaihei 4-118500) are known. Also, as a technology that uses special paper, 3) use a sheet with a release agent coated on the surface,
A technique for removing the toner by re-melting the toner fixed thereon, attaching a peeling member, and cooling (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-64).
Nos. 472, 4-64473, and 2-55161) are known. In addition, as a technique of using a special toner, 4) a technique of transferring the toner melted by pressure contact and heating to the peeling member side to remove the toner (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-82983) 5) A toner that can be erased by light There are known techniques for erasing toner by using laser light or the like (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 4-281096, 4-333699, and 4-356085). In addition, 6) a technique of removing the toner by remelting the toner, rapidly cooling and solidifying the toner (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 333088) is also known.

[0004]

However, in these techniques, the use of an organic solvent adversely affects the human body and the environment, requires the use of a special paper or toner, and the quality of the paper due to the peeling of the toner. Is significantly impaired. Therefore, the applicant of the present application is at least one kind of water or an aqueous solution selected from the group consisting of water, an aqueous solution containing a surfactant, an aqueous solution containing an aqueous solution polymer, and an aqueous solution containing a surfactant and an aqueous polymer. A treatment liquid is prepared, and the treatment liquid is supplied to the transfer paper to make the adhesion state of the toner stably adhering to the surface thereof unstable, and the toner is heat-bonded or pressure-bonded to the toner peeling body. As a result, a toner removal technique of a method of peeling from the transfer paper was proposed (for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 4-255916).
According to such a method, the use of special transfer paper or toner is not required, and the transfer paper is not significantly damaged,
Moreover, it is possible to realize a highly safe device that does not adversely affect the human body or the environment.

On the other hand, as the state of the transfer paper on which the reproduction process is executed, the transfer paper is in a state in which a plurality of transfer papers are stopped by a staple, a state in which a plurality of transfer papers are stopped by a clip or the like. It is expected that foreign matter is attached to the.
However, in the apparatus proposed by the present applicant in Japanese Patent Application No. 4-255916 and the like, since a heating or pressure roller is used as a toner peeling body for heat-adhering or pressure-adhering toner from transfer paper, foreign matter If the transfer paper with the attached is conveyed to the toner peeling body, the toner peeling body may be damaged by the foreign matter. as a result,
There is a disadvantage that the toner removing ability is deteriorated and the toner removing quality is deteriorated. Further, in such an apparatus proposed by the applicant, in order to quickly dry the transfer paper after the toner is peeled off in a wet state by applying the treatment liquid, the transfer paper after the toner peeling process is dried by a drying device. It has a structure for drying, and the use of a heating roller has been proposed as an example of a drying device. For this reason, when the transfer paper with the foreign matter attached thereto is conveyed to the heating roller, the heating roller may be damaged by the foreign matter, and in this case, the transfer paper may be defectively dried, which is inconvenient.

[0006]

The invention according to claim 1 is
A predetermined amount of treatment liquid is supplied to the transfer paper to destabilize the adhesion state of the toner that is stably adhering to the surface of the transfer paper, and the adhesion state to the surface of the transfer paper becomes unstable. A toner peeling unit that brings the formed toner into contact with a toner peeling body and peels it from the transfer paper; and a transfer paper conveying unit that conveys the transfer paper from the paper feeding position toward the paper ejection position through the processing liquid supply unit and the toner peeling unit. A foreign matter detection unit that is located between the paper feeding position and the processing liquid supply unit and detects foreign matter attached to the transfer paper; and a foreign matter detection unit that detects the foreign matter when the foreign matter is detected by the foreign matter detection unit. The transfer paper recycling apparatus includes a regular transfer blocking unit that blocks transfer of the transfer sheet.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the foreign matter detecting means includes a conveying roller for conveying the transfer sheet, and a pair of pressure detecting means for detecting pressures applied to both ends of the conveying roller. Section, a pressure difference calculating means for calculating a difference between detection values of these pressure detecting sections, and a foreign matter recognizing means for recognizing that there is a foreign matter when the calculation result by the pressure difference calculating means exceeds a predetermined value. did.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the normal conveyance preventing means is constituted by a conveyance stopping means for stopping the conveyance of the transfer sheet by the transfer sheet conveying section.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the transfer paper is conveyed from the paper feed position to the paper discharge position through the processing liquid supply unit and the toner peeling unit by the transfer paper conveyance unit, and in the process, the transfer paper is conveyed by the processing liquid supply unit. The adhered state of the toner is made unstable, and the toner is adsorbed to the toner peeling body and removed from the transfer paper at the toner peeling portion. And, prior to each such processing
If a foreign material such as a staple or a clip is attached to the transfer paper, the foreign material is detected by the foreign material detecting means, and if such a detection is made, the regular conveyance preventing means is used to transfer the transfer paper to the processing liquid supply portion. Transport is blocked. As a result, the toner peeling body is protected from damage due to foreign matter.
Moreover, when a foreign material is attached to the transfer paper, the transfer paper is prevented from being conveyed to the processing liquid supply unit, so that the transfer paper does not get wet with the processing liquid and the workability after that is good. Become.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the transfer sheet fed from the sheet feeding position passes through the conveying roller, the pressure applied to both ends of the conveying roller is detected by the pressure detecting section, and the pressure difference is the pressure. It is obtained by the difference calculation means. When the obtained pressure difference exceeds the predetermined value, the foreign matter recognition unit determines that the foreign matter is attached to the transfer sheet.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the foreign matter is detected by the foreign matter detecting means, the conveyance of the transfer paper is stopped by the conveyance stopping means which is the normal conveyance preventing means to protect the toner peeling body and wet the transfer paper. Prevention is achieved.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The apparatus of this embodiment is a transfer sheet recycling apparatus 2 configured to remove the heat-melting toner from the transfer sheet 1 on which an image is formed by, for example, a transfer type electrophotographic copying machine or a laser printer.

First, an outline of the basic structure of the transfer paper recycling apparatus 2 will be described with reference to FIG. The transfer sheet recycling apparatus 2 is roughly divided into a sheet feeding position A, and a sheet feeding section 3 for feeding a transfer sheet 1 having a toner image which is no longer required and is a target for producing recycled sheet, and a transfer section 3. A toner removal processing unit 4 that actually executes a toner removal process on the paper 1, and a paper ejection unit 5 located at a paper ejection position B at which the transfer paper 1 from which toner has been removed and becomes recycled paper is ejected. The transfer sheet 1 is configured by a transfer sheet transporting section C that guides the transfer sheet 1 from the sheet feeding section 3 to the toner removing section 4 to the sheet discharging section 5. The paper feeding unit 3 separates and feeds the transfer papers 1 on which the toner images are formed, which are accommodated in the stacked state, one by one toward the toner removal processing unit 4 side. The toner removal processing unit 4 includes a liquid applying unit 6 as a processing liquid supplying unit that supplies a predetermined liquid to the transfer paper 1 fed from the paper feeding unit 3, and the transfer paper 1 that receives the liquid. The toner removing unit 7 serves as a toner removing unit that removes the toner from the sheet, and the drying unit 8 that dries the transfer paper 1 from which the toner has been removed. Further, the transfer paper transporting section C is composed of a path for guiding the transfer paper 1, various rollers described later, and a transport motor M for driving these rollers.

Thus, roughly, it is a destabilizing agent that causes the liquid applying unit 6 to make the adhesion state of the transfer sheet 1 and the toner on the transfer sheet 1 conveyed from the sheet feeding section 3 unstable. The treatment liquid 9 is applied so that the treatment liquid 9 permeates at least the interface between the transfer paper 1 and the toner. Then, after the toner is peeled from the transfer paper 1 at the interface where the treatment liquid 9 has penetrated by the peeling roller 10 as a toner peeling body provided in the toner peeling unit 7, the transfer paper 1 is provided in the drying unit 8. It is configured to be dried by the drying roller 11 and discharged to the paper discharge unit 5.

Here, the treatment liquid 9 is at least one selected from the group consisting of water, an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble polymer, an aqueous solution containing a surfactant, and an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble polymer and a surfactant. Water or an aqueous solution can be used. Further, these water or aqueous solution may contain a predetermined organic solvent. Furthermore, the processing liquid 9
Alternatively, only the organic solvent may be used.

Examples of the water-soluble polymer include starchy substances (branch starch, potato starch, tapioca starch, wheat starch, corn starch, etc.), mannan (konjac, etc.), seaweeds (funnel, agar, sodium alginate, etc.), plants. Natural polymers such as mucilages (Trolloiye, tragacanth, acacia, etc.), microbial mucilages (dextran, levan, etc.), proteins (such as glue, gelatin, casein, collagen, etc.),
Cellulose type (viscose, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, etc.), starch type (soluble starch,
Carboxymethyl starch, dialdehyde starch, etc.)
However, the present invention is not limited to these.

Examples of the surfactant include, for example,
Anionic (carboxylate, sulfonate, sulfate ester, phosphate ester, phosphonate, etc.), cationic (amine salt, quaternary ammonium salt, benzalkonium salt, benzethonium chloride salt, pyrivinium) Salt, imidazolinium salt, sulfonium salt, polyethylene polyamine, etc.), amphoteric system (amino acid, carbocybetaine, sulfobetaine, aminosulfate ester, aminocarboxylic acid salt,
(Imidazoline derivative, etc.), non-ionic type (ether type, ether ester type, ester type, nitrogen-containing type, polyhydric alcohol, amino alcohol, polyethylene glycol, etc.)
However, the present invention is not limited to these.

Further, as the organic solvent contained in water or an aqueous solution, for example, terbentine, dibenten,
Butyl acetate, carbon tetrachloride, cellosolve acetate, xylene, toluene, ethyl acetate, diacetone alcohol, methyl cellosolve acetate, benzene, methyl etiketone, methyl acetate, methylene chloride, ethylene dichloride, cyclohexane, cellosolve, dioxane, acetone, methyl cellosolve , Cyclohexanol, butanol and the like, but are not limited thereto.

On the other hand, as the organic solvent which can be used alone, hexane, heptane, octane, nonane, spirit, naphtha Nos. 1 to 6 (trade name of Shell Petroleum Co.) which are carbon-hydrogen type solvents, Isopar E, L, K , V (trade name of Exxon Co.), IP Solvent (trade name of Idemitsu Oil Co., Ltd.), Shell-sol 70, 71, Solvesso 100,
150 (trade name of Shell Oil), Ascom OMS,
460 (trade name of Spirits), Vegasol 103
0,2130,3040 (trade name of Mobil Oil Co., Ltd.) and the like. Furthermore, Fluorinert FC40, 43, 70, 77 (trade name of Sumitomo 3M), Aflude E10, 16, 18 etc. which are fluorine-based solvents, Shin-Etsu Silicone KF96 (trade name) which is a silicone solvent, Toray Silicone SH200, 344 (trade name), TOSHIBA SILICONE TSF431 (trade name) and the like can be cited, but the present invention is not limited to these.

Next, each part will be described in more detail.

[Paper Feed Unit 3] First, the paper feed unit 3 includes a bottom plate 12
The transfer paper 1 stacked on top is fed from the uppermost paper side to the paper feed roller 1
3 is used to feed the sheet, a separating mechanism (not shown) separates the double-fed sheet, and only one sheet is sent out by the registration roller pair 14 for timing adjustment and skew correction. The specific configuration and operation are the same as those of the paper feeding mechanism in the electrophotographic copying machine or the like, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

[Liquid Application Unit 6] Liquid Application Unit 6
Is in contact with one side (here, the upper surface) of the transfer paper 1 and the liquid container 15 filled with a predetermined amount of the processing liquid 9,
5, the submerged conveyance roller 16 that conveys the treatment liquid 9 so as to guide it, the drive unit (not shown) of the submerged conveyance roller 16, and the other surface (the lower surface here) of the transfer paper 1 to the liquid container. A submerged guide plate 17 for guiding the processing liquid 9 into the processing liquid 9, a pair of squeezing rollers 18 also functioning as a holding and conveying means, and
The squeezing rod 19 that is arranged to bite into the squeezing roller 18 on the lower side.
And so on. In the liquid applying unit 6, the transfer paper 1 fed from the paper feed unit 3 is guided into the treatment liquid 9 in the liquid container 15 by the submerged conveying roller 16 and the submerged guide plate 17, and the treatment liquid 9 is supplied. After being immersed in the toner, the excess processing liquid 9 is removed by the squeeze roller 18 and is conveyed to the toner peeling unit 7.

[Toner Peeling Unit 7] The toner peeling unit 7 has a built-in heating lamp 20 that functions as a toner softening means, and has a pair of peeling rollers 10 arranged in pressure contact with each other and a pressure contact portion on the transfer paper discharge side. A separating claw 21 arranged so as to come into contact with the surface of the peeling roller 10 in the vicinity,
A cleaning device 22 for cleaning the surface of the peeling roller 10 and a driving unit (not shown) are provided. The surface of the peeling roller 10 is configured to have an adhesive force that is greater than the adhesive force between the transfer paper 1 and the toner with respect to at least the softened toner. Specifically, the same or similar toner component resin as the above toner,
A component resin for the adhesive may be used, and a metal material such as an aluminum-based or copper-based nickel-based material may be used, but the material is not limited to these. Further, these resins may be water-soluble or water-insoluble.

Examples of the toner component resin include polystyrene resin, acrylic resin, methacrylic resin, styrene-butyl acrylic copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, polyester resin, epoxy resin, and the like. It is not limited.

As the component resin of the adhesive, protein-based adhesives such as glue, gelatin, albumin and casein, and carbohydrate-based adhesives such as starch-based, cellulose-based, complex polysaccharide-based (arabic gum, tragacanth etc.) Agents, vinyl acetate polymers and copolymers, acrylics,
Thermoplastic adhesives such as ethylene-based co-aggregates, polyamides, polyesters, polyurethanes, polychloroprene-based, nitrile rubber-based, regenerated rubber-based, SBR-based, rubber-based adhesives such as natural rubber-based, rubber-based, acrylic-based Polyethylene terephthalate (P
ET) and the like, but not limited thereto.

When these resins are used, it is desirable to have a multi-layer structure of at least two layers of a support and a surface layer from the viewpoints of preventing elongation due to tension and heat, durability and the like, that is, FIG. In the case of using a roller-shaped peeling member as shown in (4), it is desirable to form a peeling member by forming a surface layer made of these resins on a base roller as a support. As the support for supporting such a resin, for example, a rubber roller, a sheet, a cellophane tape, a kraft paper adhesive tape, a polyvinyl chloride tape, an acetone tape, a tape such as a filament reinforcing tape, or the like can be used, but is not limited thereto. Not something.

Further, the heating lamps 20 of the upper and lower peeling rollers 10 are in close contact with the front and back surfaces of the transfer paper 1 to heat and soften the toner adhered to the transfer paper 1, whereby the toner of the transfer paper 1 is removed. It is easy to peel from the fiber. It is desirable to perform this heating to such an extent that the toner on the transfer paper 1 does not melt at the pressure contact portion. This is because if the toner melts, it becomes difficult to transfer the toner on the transfer paper 1 to the peeling roller 10 side without dividing the toner on the paper side and the peeling roller 10 side. Further, if the heating is excessively performed, the transfer paper 1 is excessively dried while passing through the pressure contact portions of the pair of peeling rollers 10, and the fixing force of the toner to the transfer paper 1 becomes stronger than that when the transfer paper 1 is wet, There is a possibility that it may stick to the peeling roller 10 via the transfer paper 1 and may not be separated by the separation claw 21. Therefore, it is desirable to heat the transfer paper 1 after passing through the heating unit to such an extent that a small amount of damp air remains and toner re-adhesion can be prevented.

The cleaning device 22 is a cleaning roller 2 for removing toner on the surface of the peeling roller 10.
3, scraper blade 24 for scraping off the toner on cleaning roller 23, scraper blade 2
The toner receiver 25, which stores the toner scraped off in 4, is provided.

A belt having the same surface characteristics as the peeling roller 10 may be used in place of the peeling roller 10, a cleaning blade directly contacting the surface of the peeling roller 10 in place of the cleaning roller 23 of the cleaning device 22, A scraper or the like may be used.

[Drying unit 8] The drying unit 8
Is for drying the transfer paper 1, and is composed of a drying roller 11 including a heating lamp 26 and made of, for example, aluminum, a drying roller 27 that is pressed against the drying roller 11 from below, and the like. ing. The drying roller 27 is provided with a surface layer made of a liquid-supplying member, and a diaphragm blade 28 for squeezing the surface layer liquid is in contact therewith. Instead of or in addition to the pair of drying rollers 11 and 27, a belt-shaped member may be used, or a hot air fan, an infrared lamp, or the like may be used.

[Paper Discharge Unit 5] The paper discharge unit 5 is a drying unit 8
A paper discharge tray 29 for receiving the processed transfer paper 1 discharged from is provided.

[Sheet Selector 30] Here, although not described in the outline of the basic configuration of the transfer sheet reproducing apparatus 2 described above with reference to FIG. 1, the transfer sheet reproducing apparatus 2 in the present embodiment. Is located between the paper feed unit 3 and the liquid applying unit 6 in the transfer path of the transfer paper 1.
A sheet selection unit 30 is provided. This paper sorting unit 30
Is a foreign matter detection means 31 for detecting foreign matter attached to the transfer paper 1, for example, a staple or a clip, and when the foreign matter is detected by the foreign matter detection means 31, the transfer paper 1 for the toner removal means 4 is detected. It is composed of a regular conveyance preventing means 32 for preventing conveyance.

(1) Foreign Object Detection Unit 31 First, the foreign object detection unit 31 will be described in detail. The foreign matter detecting means 31 has a configuration corresponding to the invention of claim 2. As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a paper feed path 33 for the transfer paper 1 including a semicircular bent path is formed from the paper feed section 3 toward the toner removal processing section 4. Further, in the paper feed path 33, a pair of transport rollers 34 are arranged to face each other across the paper feed path 33. Of these transport rollers 34, one is a drive-side transport roller 34a that is driven by the transport motor M to rotate, and the other is a driven-side transport roller 34b that is rotated by being driven by the drive-side transport roller 34a. The driven-side transport roller 34b is provided so as to come into contact with and separate from the drive-side transport roller 34a. That is, the driven-side transport roller 34b is rotatably attached to the pair of roller support arms 35 that rotate about the arm fulcrum s.
By the rotation operation of the roller support arm 35, the driven side transport roller 34b can be brought into contact with and separated from the drive side transport roller 34a. A roller coil spring 37 is in contact with the ends of the pair of roller support arms 35 via a pressure sensor 36 as a pressure detection unit. In other words, the roller coil spring 37 applies a biasing force to the roller support arm 35 in the direction in which the driven-side transport roller 34b contacts the drive-side transport roller 34a. Here, the pressure sensor 36 is connected to a microcomputer 39 including a CPU 38 that centrally controls each electronic component in the transfer paper reproducing apparatus 2. The pressure sensor 36
Is composed of a pressure sensor A36a contacting one of the roller support arms 35 and a pressure sensor B36b contacting the other of the roller support arms 35. Further, the transport motor M that applies a driving force to the drive-side transport roller 34a and the like is also connected to the microcomputer 39. Further, the microcomputer 39 is also connected to a carrying roller clutch 40 which is an electromagnetic clutch for intermittently transmitting the driving force of the carrying motor M to the driving side carrying roller 34a. Then, in an unillustrated ROM in the microcomputer 39, an operation program (pressure difference calculation means) for calculating an output difference between the pressure sensor A 36a and the pressure sensor B 36b, and this output difference are predetermined. Also, an operation program (foreign matter recognition means) for recognizing that the predetermined value is exceeded is stored. The foreign matter detecting means 31 is configured here.

(2) Regular Transport Blocking Means 32 Next, the regular transport blocking means 32 will be described.
The paper feed path 33 is branched at a position between the transport roller 34 and the liquid applying unit 6, that is, divided into a regular path 33a and a paper discharging path 33b which communicate with the front liquid applying unit 6, and this discharge is performed. At the end of the paper path 33b, a pair of paper discharge rollers 41 driven by the transport motor M is provided.
A discharge stocker 42 is arranged at the discharge position of the transfer paper 1 discharged by these discharge rollers 41. Here, the diversion position of the paper feed path 33 is set to a position where the distance 1 between the diversion position and the transport roller 34 is longer than the length of the transfer paper 1. Therefore, a transport roller (not shown) is provided between the diverting position and the transport roller 34. A branch claw 43 for deciding the conveyance direction of the transfer paper 1 is rotatably provided at the branch position. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the branch claw 43 is divided into three parts, and each end is fixed to a support shaft 44 rotatably supported. A switching arm 45 is fixed to one end of the support shaft 44, and a free end of the switching arm 45 is pulled by a branch pawl coil spring 46. In this state, the branch claw 4
3 is switched to the direction in which the paper discharge path 33b is closed and the regular path 33a is opened. On the other hand, in the switching arm 45, the switching arm 45 is rotated against the force of the branch claw coil spring 46 to close the regular path 33a and open the paper discharge path 33b. A claw switching solenoid 47 for rotating the branch claw 43 is connected. Here, a stacker clutch 48, which is an electromagnetic clutch that interrupts the transmission of the driving force of the transport motor M to the paper discharge roller 41, is provided, and this stacker clutch 48 is connected to the microcomputer 39. Further, the microcomputer 39 has
The claw switching solenoid 47 and the display operation unit 49 are also connected. Then, in the ROM (not shown) in the microcomputer 39, the pressure sensor A36a and the pressure sensor B3 are set by the operation setting of the display operation unit 49.
When it is judged that the output difference between the normal conveyance preventing means 32 and 6b exceeds a predetermined constant value, the normal conveyance preventing means 32 is provided.
A program for executing the paper feed mode and a program for executing the paper ejection mode are stored. In stop mode,
By the switching operation of the transport roller clutch 40, the drive transmission of the transport rollers 34 and the like is cut off, and the transport of the transfer sheet 1 is stopped (transport stop unit). This stop mode
This is an operation mode corresponding to the invention of claim 3. In one sheet discharge mode, the claw switching solenoid 4 is operated so that the branch claw 43 rotates in the direction of opening the sheet discharge path 33b.
7 is driven, and the stacker clutch 48 is driven so that the driving force is transmitted to the paper discharge roller 41. Here, the normal transport preventing means 32 is configured.

Although not shown in the drawing, the transfer sheet reproducing apparatus 2 of this embodiment is provided with a detecting means for detecting whether or not the transfer sheet 1 is set in the sheet feeding section 3, and the sheet feeding section 3. Double feed detection means for the transfer paper 1, liquid remaining quantity detection means in the liquid container 15, automatic liquid supply means for the liquid container 15, jam detection means in the apparatus for the transfer paper 1, lighting control means for each heating lamp, The toner receiving container 25 has a full-fill detecting means and the like appropriately provided.

In such a structure, the transfer paper 1 sent from the paper supply unit 3 is uniformly supplied with the treatment liquid 9 on the toner image surface of the liquid applying unit 6 and then sent to the toner peeling unit 7. The toner fixed to the transfer paper 1 in the toner peeling unit 7 is softened by heating from the peeling roller 10,
It adheres to the surface of the peeling roller 10. The transfer paper 1 from which the toner has been removed is dried by the drying unit 8 and discharged to the paper discharge unit 5. As a result, the recycled transfer paper 50 from which the toner has been removed
Is obtained.

According to such a transfer paper regenerating apparatus 2, the processing liquid 9 is supplied to the transfer paper 1 to which the toner is attached to transfer the transfer paper 1.
Since the toner is peeled off with the treatment liquid 9 permeating the interface with the toner, the toner can be removed without damaging the paper fibers. Further, the surface of the peeling roller 10 is contacted with the peeling roller 10 while the surface of the paper is wet with the treatment liquid 9 and heated to such an extent that the paper can be kept wet even when the paper is separated from the peeling roller 10. Even when it is made of an adhesive material, the paper surface itself has the peeling roller 10
It can prevent the separation failure due to adhesion to the surface.
It is possible to prevent retransfer of the toner due to the separated paper portion coming into contact with the peeling roller 10 again. The transfer paper 1 for removing the toner and the toner removed from the transfer paper 1 are not required to be of a special type.

Here, due to the nature that the used transfer paper 1 is set in the paper feed unit 3, a plurality of transfer papers 1 are stapled or clipped in the paper feed unit 3. That is, it is expected that the foreign object will be set with it attached. In such a case, the transfer paper 1 is fed to the paper feed path 33 with foreign matter attached, and the transfer roller 34 is fed.
Be transported to. In the transport roller 34, the driven-side transport roller 34 b is the roller coil spring 3 depending on the thickness of the transfer paper 1.
The output value of the pressure sensor 36 fluctuates by being displaced in the direction away from the driving side transport roller 34a against the force of 7.
When a foreign matter is attached to the transfer paper 1, the displacement amount of the driven-side conveying roller 34b is further increased due to the thickness thereof, and the output value of the pressure sensor 36 is also greatly changed. here,
Usually, foreign matter attached to the transfer paper 1, such as a staple or a clip, is usually attached to one side of the transfer paper 1, so that the transfer paper 1 attached with the foreign matter passes through the transport roller 34. Then, the displacement amount of the driven-side transport roller 34b is generally larger on one side than on the other side. Therefore, a difference occurs between the output values of the two pressure sensors 36, and such a difference between the output values is calculated by the CPU 38 that monitors the output value of the pressure sensor 36 (pressure difference calculation means). . Therefore, when the difference between the output values exceeds a preset predetermined value, the CPU 38 recognizes that there is a foreign substance (foreign substance recognition means). In this way, the foreign matter detecting means 31 detects that the transfer paper 1 is attached with a foreign matter such as a staple or a clip.

Then, the transfer paper 1 is detected by the foreign matter detecting means 31.
When it is detected that a foreign matter is attached to the transfer paper 1 to the liquid applying unit 6 by the regular conveyance preventing means 32.
Is prevented from being transported. Such a normal conveyance preventing means 32
There are a stop mode and a paper discharge mode as execution modes, and which mode is executed is determined by a setting operation on the display operation unit 49. [Stop Mode] When the stop mode is selected, when the attachment of a foreign matter to the transfer sheet 1 is detected, the transfer operation of the transfer sheet 1 is stopped, and a message to that effect is displayed on the display operation unit 49. That is, the transport roller clutch 40 is disengaged, and the power transmission from the transport motor M to the transport roller 34 is cut off (transport stop means). As a result, the sheet feeding path 33 is opened and the transfer sheet 1 is prepared for post-processing. [Paper Discharge Mode] When the paper discharge mode is selected, the claw switching solenoid 47 is driven and the branch claw coil spring 46 is driven.
The branch claw 43 is switched to the direction in which the regular path 33a is closed and the paper discharge path 33b is opened against the force of. Further, the stacker clutch 48 is engaged, and the driving force of the carry motor M is transmitted to the paper discharge roller 41. As a result, the transfer paper 1 is guided to the paper discharge path 33b and is discharged to the paper discharge stocker 42 by the paper discharge roller 41. As described above, in any of the execution modes, when it is detected that the transfer paper 1 has a foreign substance attached thereto by the regular conveyance preventing unit 32,
The transfer paper 1 is not conveyed from the liquid applying unit 6 to the downstream side. As a result, the peeling roller 10 and the drying rollers 11, 2 are
Damage to various rollers such as 7 due to foreign matter is prevented. In particular, preventing the peeling roller 10 from being damaged is effective in preventing deterioration of the toner removing ability, and thus contributes to maintaining the toner removing quality. Further, the prevention of damage to the drying rollers 11 and 27 is effective for maintaining the drying ability. Moreover, the transfer paper 1 attached with the foreign matter is not conveyed to the liquid applying unit 6. Therefore, such a transfer paper 1 is not immersed in the treatment liquid 9 and is recovered in a dry state. Therefore, the recovery work and the workability thereafter are improved.

[0040]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the processing liquid supply unit supplies a predetermined processing liquid to the transfer paper to make the adhesion state of the toner stably adhering to the surface of the transfer paper unstable. And a toner peeling section that peels the transfer paper from the transfer paper by bringing the toner whose adhesion state to the surface of the transfer paper is unstable to the toner peeling body, and the processing liquid supply section and the toner peeling section from the feeding position of the transfer paper. A transfer sheet conveying section that conveys the transfer sheet in the direction of the sheet discharge position, and a foreign matter detecting section that is located between the sheet feeding position and the processing liquid supply section to detect a foreign matter attached to the transfer sheet. When a foreign substance is detected, the transfer paper is fed to the processing liquid supply unit, and the transfer paper is fed with foreign substances such as staples and clips attached. The foreign matter is detected by the foreign matter detection means, Since the transfer paper can be prevented from being conveyed to the processing liquid supply section by the regular conveyance preventing means, the toner peeling body and the like can be protected from being damaged by foreign matter, and therefore, the toner removing ability is prevented from deteriorating. In addition, when a foreign material is attached to the transfer paper, it is possible to prevent the transfer paper from being conveyed to the processing liquid supply unit. Therefore, the transfer paper that is not subjected to the toner removal processing is wetted with the processing liquid. It is possible to prevent it from occurring and to improve the workability after that, and so on.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the foreign matter detecting means includes a conveying roller for conveying the transfer sheet, and a pair of pressure detecting means for detecting pressures applied to both ends of the conveying roller. Section, a pressure difference calculating means for calculating a difference between detection values of these pressure detecting sections, and a foreign matter recognizing means for recognizing that there is a foreign matter when the calculation result by the pressure difference calculating means exceeds a predetermined value. Because I did
The foreign matter detecting means can be configured with a simple structure in which only the pressure difference applied to both ends of the conveying roller is detected, and therefore, the structure of the device can be simplified.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, since the normal conveyance preventing means is constituted by the conveyance stopping means for stopping the conveyance of the transfer sheet by the transfer sheet conveying section, the toner removing process is executed. No special structure such as a stacker dedicated to transfer paper and its transport path is required, and it is possible to prevent transport of the transfer paper to the treatment liquid supply unit with an apparatus having a simple structure.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional side view of an entire apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing a transfer paper conveyance path from a paper feed position to a processing liquid supply unit.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a transfer paper conveyance path to a processing liquid supply unit.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing electrical connection of each unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Transfer paper 6 Processing liquid supply unit 7 Toner peeling unit 10 Toner peeling body 31 Foreign matter detecting unit 32 Regular conveyance preventing unit 34 Conveying roller 36 Pressure detecting unit A Paper feeding position B Paper discharging position C Transfer paper conveying unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A processing liquid supply unit for supplying a predetermined processing liquid to a transfer paper to make the adhesion state of toner stably adhering to the surface of the transfer paper unstable, and a surface for the transfer paper. A toner peeling unit that peels the transfer paper by bringing the toner whose adhesion state is unstable into contact with a toner peeling body, and a discharging position from the paper feed position through the processing liquid supply unit and the toner peeling unit. Direction, a transfer paper transport unit, a foreign matter detection unit located between the paper feed position and the processing liquid supply unit for detecting foreign matter attached to the transfer paper, and a foreign matter detection unit for detecting foreign matter. The transfer paper recycling apparatus further comprises a normal transfer blocking unit that blocks the transfer of the transfer paper to the processing liquid supply unit when is detected. 2. The foreign matter detecting means includes a conveying roller for conveying the transfer sheet, a pair of pressure detecting portions for detecting pressures applied to both ends of the conveying roller, and a difference between detection values of the pressure detecting portions. 2. The transfer paper recycling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a pressure difference calculating means for calculating and a foreign matter recognizing means for recognizing that there is a foreign matter when the calculation result by the pressure difference calculating means exceeds a predetermined value. . 3. The transfer paper recycling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the normal transfer preventing means is a transfer stop means for stopping transfer paper transfer by the transfer paper transfer section.