JPH0784490A - Image forming substance removing device from image carrier using peeling member - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] Only the toner can be reliably removed from the transfer paper on the surface of which the toner is removed, and the transfer paper from which the toner has been removed can be reliably separated from the peeling member. Provide a device. [Structure] Transfer paper 1 on the surface of which toner is stably attached
In the toner removing device for removing the toner from the transfer paper by destabilizing the adhesion state between 0 and the toner, the peeling roller 302 having the adhesion force larger than the adhesion force between the surface and the toner is set to the toner. A toner peeling unit 3 is provided so as to be in contact with at least the toner on the surface on the surface side to which is attached. Further, the peeling roller 302 has a small diameter so that the curvature of the transfer paper 10 can be separated from the peeling roller 302.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer, a printing machine or the like, in which the image forming material is stably attached to the image holding member and the image forming material is in an unstable state. The present invention relates to an image forming substance removing apparatus for removing an image forming substance from the image holding member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are known various image forming substance removing methods and devices for removing an image forming substance such as toner from a sheet as a recorded image carrier. For example, as one using a solvent, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-10
In Japanese Patent No. 1576, a sheet on which toner is attached is immersed in a soluble solvent of a toner resin and ultrasonic vibration is applied to the sheet.
A method for removing an image-forming substance is disclosed in which the toner dissolved in a solvent is released from the paper surface. In addition, JP-A-4-3003
In Japanese Patent Publication No. 95, a solvent is attached to a printed portion of waste paper by a method such as dipping, spraying or coating to dissolve the toner,
An image forming substance removing method is disclosed in which the dissolved toner is removed by a method such as washing, air suction, contact with an adsorbent, mechanical peeling or electrostatic adsorption.

On the other hand, as one not using a solvent, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-55195 discloses a heat-meltable ink which is placed on a printing material having a support coated with a release agent by an electrophotographic method or a thermal transfer method. Toner is placed on the printed body with the ink release body passed through between the heating roller and the pressure roller,
An image forming substance removing method is disclosed in which the ink peeling body is cooled and then peeled off so that the ink peeling body adheres to the ink peeling body to be removed. Further, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-64472, at least an endless sheet having a heat-melting resin on the surface, a heat roller and a cooling roller for supporting and rotating the endless sheet, and a paper having a release treatment on its surface (erasable paper) There is disclosed an eraser including a pressing roller that presses against a softened or melted heat-melting resin, and a drive unit that moves these in conjunction with each other. In addition, JP-A-4-8298
In Japanese Patent Publication No. 3, two parallel rollers that rotate in pressure contact with each other to pass the paper through the pressure contact point, a heater that heats at least one of the two rollers, and a roller that passes through the pressure contact point. There is disclosed an image forming substance removing device including a scraping tool for separating paper from the roller, and a peeling device for removing the image forming substance attached to the roller from the roller.

By the way, when the above-mentioned solvent-free method and apparatus are used to remove an image-forming substance from a recorded image carrier on which an image is recorded on an ordinary paper having paper fibers exposed on the surface, for example, Since the image-forming substance is firmly fixed to the fibers on the surface of the image-holding member by fusing the image-forming substance containing a heat-meltable resin as a main component to the image-holding member in the fixing step of the electrophotographic method, When the image-forming substance is removed, the paper fibers on the surface are peeled off together with the image-forming substance and the paper quality is damaged.
In particular, when heat or pressure is applied to the above-mentioned ink stripper, endless sheet or roller in order to enhance the removability of the image-forming substance, the fixing between the image-forming substance and the image-holding member may be reversed depending on various conditions. In some cases, it has become difficult to remove because it has increased the property.

Therefore, the present applicant has previously proposed that the recorded image carrier contains water as a destabilizing agent, an aqueous solution containing a surfactant, an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble polymer, and a surfactant and a water-soluble polymer. Containing at least one kind of water or aqueous solution selected from the group consisting of aqueous solutions containing, and interposing a peeling member, heat-bonding or pressure-bonding the image-forming substance to the peeling member to peel it from the image carrier. An image forming substance removing method has been proposed (for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 4-255).
916). According to this, only the image-forming substance can be removed without relatively damaging the paper quality of the image carrier.

[0006]

However, in the conventional image-forming substance removing device from the image carrier, the image-forming substance adheres to the surface depending on the material, configuration, arrangement, etc. of the peeling member used. There is a possibility that only the image-forming substance cannot be reliably removed from the existing image carrier. Further, after the image forming substance on the image carrier to which the destabilizing agent or the like has been applied is removed by the peeling member, there is a fear that the image carrier cannot be reliably separated from the peeling member.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to remove only an image-forming substance from an image carrier having an image-forming substance adhered to its surface by using a predetermined peeling member. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for removing an image-forming substance from an image carrier, which is capable of surely removing the image-forming substance, and can reliably separate the image-bearing member from which the image-forming substance has been removed.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 makes it possible to prevent the adhesion state of an image carrier having an image forming substance stably attached to the surface thereof and the image forming substance. An image forming substance removing apparatus for removing an image forming substance from the image holding member in a stable state, wherein an adhesion force larger than an adhesive force between the surface and the image forming substance is applied to the image forming substance. A peeling member having a peeling member having a contacting surface of the image forming substance on at least the image forming substance on the surface side; A means for moving the peeling member so as to move through the contact portion, and a curvature such that the movement trajectory of the surface of the peeling member downstream of the contact portion is curvature-separated by the waist of the image carrier. It is characterized by being set to have That. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming substance removing apparatus from the image holding member according to the first aspect, the image forming substance attached to the image holding member is in contact with the peeling member or immediately before the peeling member is in contact. It is characterized in that a softening means for softening is provided. The invention of claim 3 is
The apparatus for removing an image-forming substance from an image carrier according to claim 1, wherein a destabilizing liquid that makes the stable state of adhesion between the surface and the image-forming substance unstable is applied to the surface. Coating means and softening means for heating and softening the image-forming substance on the image carrier, which is in contact with the peeling member, the adhesion state of which has been made unstable by the destabilizing liquid coating means. It is characterized in that the peeling member is provided by a member having air permeability. According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the image forming substance removing apparatus from the image carrier according to the third aspect,
It is characterized in that a pressing member for bringing the peeling member in contact with the softening unit into close contact with the image holding member is provided by using a member made of foam. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus for removing an image-forming substance from an image carrier according to the first aspect, the peeling member is formed in a sheet shape capable of endless movement, and a tip portion of the image holding body is the sheet-shaped peeling member. It is characterized in that the sheet-shaped peeling member is moved in the same direction as the moving direction of the image carrier only when the image holding member moves. The invention of claim 6 relates to claim 5
In the apparatus for removing an image-forming substance from the image carrier, the surface of the sheet-shaped peeling member is coated with a fluorine-containing filler.

[0009]

According to the invention of claim 1, the peeling member of the peeling means arranged on the surface side of the image carrier on which the image forming substance is adhered is arranged so as to contact at least the image forming substance on the surface, By having an adhesion force larger than that of the surface and the image-forming substance with respect to the image-forming substance,
After the peeling member is brought into contact with the surface, when the peeling member and the image holding member are separated from each other, the image forming substance can be surely separated from the image holding member and adhered only to the peeling member. become able to. Further, the peeling member is moved so that the surface of the peeling member moves through the contact portion with the image carrier conveying means, and the movement trajectory of the peeling member surface on the downstream side of the contact portion is moved to the image holding portion. By setting the body to have such a curvature that the curvature is separated by the waist, the tip of the image carrier that has passed through the contact portion with the peeling member can be reliably separated from the surface of the peeling member. Like

According to a second aspect of the invention, the softening means softens the image-forming substance adhering to the image holding body which is in contact with the peeling member or immediately before the peeling member is contacted, whereby the image is formed. The adhesive force between the holder and the image forming substance can be made smaller, and the adhesive force between the image forming substance and the peeling member can be increased.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the softening means, the image on the image carrier which is in contact with the peeling member is made unstable by the destabilizing liquid applying means. By heating and softening the forming material, the adhesion between the image carrier and the image forming material can be made smaller, and the adhesion between the image forming material and the peeling member can be increased. Since the peeling member has air permeability, even if the destabilizing liquid becomes steam by the heating, the steam can be emitted.

In the invention of claim 4, the pressing means for bringing the peeling member in contact with the softening means into close contact with the image carrier is made of foam, so that the destabilizing liquid is heated by the heating. Even if it becomes vapor, this vapor can be diffused through the pressing means.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the peeling member is formed in a sheet shape capable of endless movement, and only when the tip portion of the image carrier moves to the sheet-shaped peeling member.
Since the sheet-shaped peeling member is configured to move in the same direction as the moving direction of the image carrier, the sheet-shaped peeling member moves the image carrier except when removing the image-forming substance from the image carrier. Does not move in the same direction as the direction.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, since the surface of the sheet-shaped peeling member is coated with a fluorine-containing filler, the cleaning property can be improved.

[0015]

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the image holding method for removing a heat-melting toner (hereinafter, referred to as a toner) as an image forming substance from a transfer paper as an image holding member on which an image is formed by a transfer type electrophotographic copying machine. An embodiment applied to a device for removing an image forming substance from a body (hereinafter referred to as a toner removing device) will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an example of a toner removing device to which the present invention can be applied. First, a general description will be given of the toner removing device. The toner removing device includes a paper feeding unit 1 for separating and feeding the transfer papers 10 on which toner images are formed, which are accommodated in a stacked state, one by one, and the paper feeding unit 1. A liquid applying unit 2 that supplies liquid to the transferred transfer paper 10, a toner peeling unit 3 that removes toner from the transfer paper 10 that has been supplied, and a drying unit that dries the transfer paper 10 from which toner has been removed. 4 and a paper receiving unit 5 that receives the transfer paper 10 discharged from the drying unit 4. Then, the transfer paper 10 conveyed from the paper feeding unit 1 has a liquid destabilizing agent (hereinafter referred to as a processing liquid) 20 that makes the adhesion state of the transfer paper 10 and the toner in the liquid applying unit 2 unstable. At least the transfer liquid 1 is applied with the treatment liquid 20.
Permeate into the interface between 0 and toner. Then, the treatment liquid 20 is removed by the peeling roller 302 of the toner peeling unit 3.
After the toner is peeled off from the transfer paper 10 at the interface where the ink has penetrated, the transfer paper 10 is dried by the drying roller 402 of the drying unit 4 and discharged to the paper receiving unit 5.

Here, as the treatment liquid 20, water, an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble polymer, an aqueous solution containing a surfactant,
At least one kind of water or an aqueous solution selected from the group consisting of an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble polymer and a surfactant can be used. Further, the water or the aqueous solution may contain a predetermined organic solvent. Moreover, as the processing liquid 20, only an organic solvent can 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.), seaweed (Funori, agar, sodium alginate, etc.), plant mucilage (troloois,
Gum tragacanth, gum arabic, etc.), mucilage by microorganisms (dextran, levan, etc.), protein (glue,
Gelatin, casein, collagen, etc.) natural polymers, cellulose-based (viscose, methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, etc.), starch-based (soluble starch, carboxymethyl starch, dialdehyde starch) semi-synthetic polymers, Examples thereof include synthetic polymers, but are not limited thereto.

Examples of the above-mentioned surfactant include, for example,
Anionic (carboxylate, sulfonate, sulfate ester, phosphate ester, phosphonate, etc.), cationic (amine salt, quaternary ammonium salt, benzalkonium salt, benzethonium chloride salt, pyrinidinium) Salt, imidazolinium salt, sulfonium salt, polyethylene polyamine, etc.), amphoteric system (amino acid, carboxybetaine, sulfobetaine, aminosulfate, aminocarboxylic acid salt, imidazoline derivative, etc.), nonionic (ether type, ether ester type) , Ester type, nitrogen-containing type, polyhydric alcohol, amino alcohol, polyethylene glycol, etc.) and fluorine-based surfactants, but not limited thereto.

As the organic solvent contained in the water or the aqueous solution, turpentine, dipentene, butyl acetate, carbon tetrachloride, cellosolve acetate, xylene, toluene, ethyl acetate, diacetone alcohol, methyl cellosolve acetate, benzene, methyl ethyl ketone, Examples thereof include, but are not limited to, methyl acetate, methylene chloride, ethylene dichloride, cyclohexane, cellosolve, dioxane, acetone, methyl cellosolve, cyclohexanol, butanol and the like.

The above-mentioned organic solvents used alone include carbon-hydrogen type solvents such as hexane, heptane, octane, nonane, spirit, naphtha N01 to 6 (trade name of Shell Petroleum Co.), Isopar E, L, K, V (trade name of Exxon), 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. Further, Fluorinert FC40, 43, 70, 77 (trade name of Sumitomo 3M), which is a fluorine-based solvent,
Aflude E10, 16, 18, etc., Shin-Etsu Silicone KF96 (trade name) which is a silicone solvent, Toray Silicone SH200, 344 (trade name), Toshiba Silicone T
SF431 (trade name) and the like are included, but the invention is not limited thereto.

Next, the units 1, 2, 3 of the illustrated example
4, 5 will be described. The sheet feeding unit 1 feeds the transfer sheets 10 stacked on the bottom plate 101 from the lowermost one by a sheet feeding roller 102, separates the double feed by a separation mechanism (not shown), and forms one sheet of the transfer sheet 10. Only the registration roller pair 104 for timing adjustment and skew correction is sent out. The specific configuration and operation are the same as those of the paper feeding mechanism in the electrophotographic copying machine, and therefore detailed description will be omitted.

The liquid application unit 2 is in contact with the liquid container 201 filled with a predetermined amount of the processing liquid 20 and one surface (the upper surface in the drawing) of the transfer paper 10 and the processing liquid 20 in the liquid container 201.
The submerged conveying roller 202 that conveys the medium to guide the inside, the driving unit (not shown) of the submerged conveying roller 202, and the other surface (the lower surface in the drawing) of the transfer paper 10 into the processing liquid 20 of the liquid container 201. A submerged guide plate 203 for guiding, a pair of squeezing rollers 204 also functioning as a holding and conveying means, a squeezing rod 205 that is arranged to bite into the lower squeezing roller 204, and the like are provided.
In this unit 2, the transfer paper 10 fed from the paper feeding unit 1 is guided into the treatment liquid 20 in the liquid container 201 by the submerged conveying roller 202 and the submerged guide plate 203, and immersed in the treatment liquid 20. After being squeezed, the squeezing roller pair 204
The excess processing liquid 20 is removed by the above and is conveyed to the next toner peeling unit 3. Instead of directly passing the transfer paper 10 through the treatment liquid to apply the treatment liquid to the transfer paper 10 as in this example, the treatment liquid is applied to the surface of the transfer paper 10 by an application roller or transferred by a sprayer. The atomized treatment liquid may be attached or applied to the surface of the paper 10. Any other method can be used.

The toner peeling unit 3 includes a heating lamp 301 as a means for softening the toner T, and a pair of peeling rollers 302 as a pair of peeling members arranged in pressure contact with each other, and near the pressure contact portion on the transfer paper discharge side. Separation claw 30 arranged so as to contact the surface of the peeling roller 302 of
3, a cleaning device 304 for cleaning the surface of the peeling roller 302, a drive unit (not shown), and the like.
In addition, regarding another configuration example of the toner peeling unit 3,
More on this later.

The surface of the peeling roller 302 is made of a material having an adhesive force greater than that of the transfer paper 10 and the toner to at least the softened toner. Specifically, the same or similar toner component resin as the above toner, component resin of an adhesive, or the like can be used,
In addition, aluminum-based, copper-based, nickel-based, iron-based, and other metal materials can be used, but are not limited thereto. The resin 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, and epoxy resin, but are not limited thereto. Not a thing.

As the component resin of the adhesive, protein adhesives such as glue, gelatin, albumin, and casein, and carbohydrate-based adhesives such as starch-based, cellulose-based, complex polysaccharide-based (arabic gum, tragacanth gum, etc.) Agents, vinyl acetate polymers and copolymers, acrylics,
Thermoplastic adhesive such as ethylene copolymer, polyamide, polyester, polyurethane, rubber adhesive such as polychloroprene-based, nitrile rubber-based, recycled rubber-based, SBR-based, natural rubber-based, rubber-based, acrylic-based, etc. Polyethylene terephthalate (PE) with pressure-sensitive adhesive and titanium oxide dispersed
T), etc., but not limited thereto.

Further, when the above resin is 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, when a roller-shaped peeling member is used as in the illustrated example, it is desirable to form a peeling member by forming a surface layer made of the above resin or the like on a base roller as a support. As a support for supporting the above resin,
For example, rubber rollers, sheets, cellophane tapes, kraft paper adhesive tapes, polyvinyl chloride tapes, acetone tapes, tapes such as filament reinforcing tapes, and the like can be used, but are not limited thereto.

Further, the heating lamp 301 of the upper and lower peeling roller 302 is in close contact with the front and back of the transfer paper 10 to heat and soften the toner adhered to the transfer paper 10, whereby the toner is softened.
The toner is easily separated from the fibers of the transfer paper 10. It is desirable to perform this heating to such an extent that the toner on the transfer paper 10 does not melt at the pressure contact portion. This is because if the toner melts, it will be difficult to transfer the toner on the transfer paper 10 to the peeling roller 302 side without dividing the toner between the paper side and the peeling roller 302 side. If it is heated too much, the transfer paper 1 is transferred while passing through the pressure contact portion of the pair of peeling rollers 302.
0 is too dry, and the fixing force of the toner to the transfer paper 10 is stronger than that when the transfer paper 10 is wet, and the transfer paper 10 is attached to the roller 302 through the toner and is separated by the separation claw 303. There is a risk that they will not be separated. Therefore,
It is desirable to heat the transfer paper 10 after passing through the heating unit to such an extent that a little damp air remains and the re-adhesion of the toner can be prevented. (Hereafter, margin)

The cleaning device 304 removes the toner T on the surface of the peeling roller 302, the scraper blade 306 that scrapes off the toner T on the cleaning roller 305, and the toner T scraped off by the scraper blade 306. A toner receiver (toner container) 307 for containing the toner is provided.

A belt having the same surface characteristics as the peeling roller 302 is used instead of the peeling roller 302, or the cleaning roller 305 of the cleaning device 304 is replaced with a cleaning blade or a scraper that directly contacts the surface of the peeling roller 302. You may use such as. These modifications will also be described in detail later.

The drying unit 4 is for drying the transfer paper 10, and is composed of an upper drying roller 402 made of, for example, aluminum and having a built-in heating lamp 401, and a lower drying roller 404 pressed against the upper drying roller 402. . The lower drying roller 404 is provided with a surface layer made of a liquid-supplying member, and a diaphragm blade 405 for squeezing the liquid on the surface layer is in contact therewith. Instead of or in addition to the pair of drying rollers 404, 404, a belt-shaped member may be used, or a hot air fan or an infrared lamp may be used.

The paper receiving unit 5 has a paper discharge tray 501 for receiving the transfer paper discharged from the drying unit 4.

Although not shown in the figure, the toner removing device includes a detecting means for detecting whether or not the transfer paper 10 is present on the paper feed table, a double feed detecting means for the transfer paper 10 by the paper feed unit 1, Liquid remaining amount detecting means in liquid container 201, liquid container 201
Means for automatically replenishing liquid to the transfer paper, means for detecting jam of the transfer paper 10 inside the apparatus, means for controlling lighting of each heating lamp, and toner receiving container 3
A means for filling the inside of 07 is provided.

In the above-mentioned structure, the transfer paper 10 sent from the paper feeding unit 1 is uniformly supplied with the liquid on the toner image surface by the liquid applying unit 2, and is sent to the toner peeling unit 3. In the toner peeling unit 3, the toner adhered to the paper is softened by heating from the peeling roller 302 and adheres to the surface of the peeling roller 302. Then, when the paper is separated from the peeling roller 302, the toner attached to the surface of the peeling roller 302 is peeled off from the paper, whereby the toner is removed from the paper. The paper from which the toner has been removed is the drying unit 4
Then, the paper is dried and discharged to the paper receiving unit 5.

As described above, according to this toner removing device, since the liquid is supplied to the paper on which the toner adheres and the liquid is permeated into the interface between the paper and the toner, the toner is peeled off, so that the paper fiber is damaged. Without, the toner can be removed.

Further, the surface of the peeling roller 302 is contacted with the peeling roller 302 while the surface of the paper is wet and heated to such an extent that the paper can be kept wet even when the paper is separated from the peeling roller 302. Even when it is made of an adhesive material, it is possible to prevent the paper surface itself from adhering to the surface of the peeling roller 302 to cause separation failure, and the separated paper portion re-contacts with the peeling roller 302 to re-use the toner. Can prevent metastasis.

In this toner removing device, the transfer paper 10 is held by the two peeling rollers 302 to remove the toner from both sides of the transfer paper 10. Therefore, the toner is removed from the bottom plate 101 of the paper feeding unit 1. It is not necessary to consider the front and back sides when setting the transfer paper 10 to be removed. Further, when it is desired to remove the toner on both sides of the transfer paper used on both sides, it is only necessary to pass the inside of the apparatus once.

Next, a configuration example of the toner peeling unit 3 which is a characteristic part of the present invention will be described in detail. In the overall configuration diagram of the toner removing device in FIG. 1, the transfer paper 10 is sandwiched by the two peeling rollers 302 to remove the toner from both surfaces of the transfer paper 10. However, in the following,
The case of the toner peeling unit 3 that removes toner from one surface of the transfer paper 10 by one peeling roller 302 will be described. Of course, the following configuration can also be applied to the toner peeling unit 3 configured to hold the transfer paper 10 between the two peeling rollers 302 as shown in FIG. 1 and remove the toner from both surfaces of the transfer paper 10.

A specific example of the toner peeling unit 3 having a smoothing means for smoothing the non-uniform toner adhered on the peeling roller 302 will be described with reference to FIG. The toner peeling unit 3 includes a hollow peeling roller 302 containing a heating lamp 301 as a softening unit for the toner T, a backup roller 308 arranged so as to contact the surface of the peeling roller 302, and a surface of the peeling roller 302. It is provided with a pressing roller 309 as a pressing member of the smoothing means, which is arranged so as to press while rotating, a drive unit (not shown), and the like.

The backup roller 308 and the drive section constitute a peeling member moving means for moving the surface of the peeling roller 302 in contact with the surface of the copy paper 10. The transfer paper 10 having the toner T adhered to the upper surface is sandwiched between the backup roller 308 and the peeling roller 302 and is conveyed to the left. The drive unit is a peeling roller 30.
2, only the backup roller 308, or both of them may be configured to be driven in the arrow direction. Here, when the backup roller 308 is driven and the peeling roller 302 is configured to follow the backup roller 308, the toner adhesion amount increases due to repeated use of the peeling roller 302, and the diameter of the peeling roller 302 increases. However, the moving speed of the surface of the peeling roller 302 and the conveying speed of the transfer paper 10 at the holding portion can be kept constant.

The material of the surface of the pressing roller 309 is preferably a material having excellent releasability from the toner T, and a specific example thereof is Teflon.

Although the heating lamp 30 is used as the softening means in this example, a pressure device or the like for softening the toner by pressure may be provided instead. In addition, the heating lamp, the pressurizing device, and the like include the peeling roller 302 and the transfer paper 10.
It may be provided on the upstream side of the contact portion with.

In this example, the transfer paper 10 having the toner T adhered to the upper surface thereof is sandwiched between the peeling roller 302 and the backup roller 308 and conveyed leftward. In this holding section, the surface of the transfer paper 10 and the toner T are
Peeling roller 302 having an adhesive force greater than that of
The surface of the transfer paper 10 on which the toner T is adhered is pressed against the surface,
After that, when the transfer paper 10 passes through the holding section, the toner T remains attached to the surface of the peeling roller 302,
It is peeled from the surface.

At this time, the peeling roller 302 is heated by the heating lamp 301, and the toner T on the transfer paper 10 held by the peeling roller 302 and the backup roller 308 is held.
Is softened, the adhesive force between the toner T and the transfer paper 10 is further reduced, and the toner T and the peeling roller 302 are
The adhesive force with the surface is increased, and the toner T is removed by the peeling roller 3
02 It is easy to peel from the surface.

The toner T peeled from the surface of the transfer paper 10 and adhering to the surface of the peeling roller 302 has unevenness corresponding to the image pattern on the transfer paper 10, but this uneven uneven toner. The adhesion is smoothed by the pressing roller 309 pressing the surface of the peeling roller 302.
The surface of the peeling roller 302 whose toner adhesion is smoothed contacts the surface of the transfer paper 10 to which the toner T is adhered, and is used for the next peeling process.

Further, another specific example of the toner peeling unit 3 having the smoothing means will be described with reference to FIG. The toner peeling unit 3 is provided with a pressing blade 310 arranged to press the surface of the peeling roller 302 instead of the pressing roller 309 as a pressing member of the smoothing means. In this example, the peeling roller 3 has an uneven shape corresponding to the image pattern on the transfer paper 10.
The toner non-uniformly attached on the surface 02 is smoothed by being pressed by the pressing blade 310. The surface of the peeling roller 302 whose toner adhesion is smoothed contacts the surface of the transfer paper 10 to which the toner T is adhered, and is used for the next peeling process.

As described above, by providing the smoothing means,
The uneven toner adhesion corresponding to the image pattern on the peeling roller 302 is smoothed, and the contact state of the surface of the peeling roller 302 with the surface of the transfer paper 10 is eliminated, so that peeling unevenness such as local peeling failure occurs. The peeling roller 302 can be repeatedly used.

In the toner peeling unit 3, as shown in FIG. 4, a releasing agent applying roller 311 as a releasing agent applying means for applying a releasing agent such as silicone oil to the surface of the pressing roller 309, and a pressing roller. A scraper blade 312 may be provided as an image forming substance removing unit that scrapes off the toner T on the surface 309. In this case, the toner T on the surface of the pressing roller 309 is applied by applying the releasing agent to the surface of the pressing roller 309 by the releasing agent applying roller 311.
The toner T adhering to the surface of the pressing roller 309 can be scraped off by the scraper blade 312, so that the pressing roller 309 can be removed.
It is possible to prevent the toner from adhering to the surface, and it is possible to surely smooth the toner T that is adhering irregularly on the peeling roller 302.

Next, with reference to FIG. 5, a specific example of the toner peeling unit 3 having a toner removing device 304 as an image forming substance removing means for removing the toner T adhering to the surface of the peeling roller 302 will be described. The toner peeling unit 3 has the same configuration as that of FIG. 1 and is arranged so as to come into contact with the surface of the peeling roller 302 and the hollow peeling roller 302 having the heating lamp 301 as a softening means for the toner T built therein. A backup roller 308, a drive unit (not shown) and the like are provided. As the toner removing means, the cleaning roller 305 and the cleaning roller 305 that remove the toner T on the surface of the peeling roller 302.
A scraper blade 306 that scrapes off the upper toner T and a toner receiver (toner container) 307 that stores the toner T scraped off by the scraper blade 306 are provided.

At least the surface of the cleaning roller 305 has the toner T adhering to the peeling roller 302.
Of the peeling roller 302 is inferior in releasability to the toner. Specific examples of the material include, but are not limited to, aluminum-based, copper-based, nickel-based, iron-based metal materials, and polymer materials such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in which titanium oxide is dispersed. It is not something that will be done.

In this example, the toner T peeled from the surface of the transfer paper 10 and attached to the surface of the peeling roller 302.
Are removed by the cleaning roller 305. The toner T adhering to the cleaning roller 305 is scraped off by the scraper blade 306 to receive the toner (toner container).
It is housed in 307.

The toner removing device 304 is shown in FIG.
The toner T on the peeling roller 302 may be directly scraped off by the scraper blade 313 as shown in FIG. Toner T scraped off by scraper blade 313
Are stored in a toner receiver (toner container) 307. Here, the scraper blade 313 is formed of, for example, a metal, and is coated with Teflon or the like so as to have a good releasing property with respect to the toner T, so that the toner adhesion to the surface can be prevented. it can. Further, the upper part of the toner receiver (toner container) 307 is configured to be movable along a guide rail 314 provided on the apparatus main body side, and the toner receiver (toner container) 307 is provided as necessary.
Take out 307 to the outside of the device and receive the toner (toner container)
The toner in 307 can be discarded.

The toner removing device 304 is shown in FIG.
The toner T on the peeling roller 302 may be removed by a web (belt) 315 stretched so as to come into pressure contact with the peeling roller 302 as shown in FIG. Web 31 supplied from unused web roll 316
5 is driven with a speed difference with respect to the moving speed of the surface of the peeling roller 302 while being in pressure contact with the surface of the peeling roller 302 to which the toner T is attached, and after removing the toner T, it is taken up by a take-up roll 317. .

As described above, by providing the toner removing device 304, the toner T adhering to the surface of the peeling roller 302 can be removed at all times or when necessary, and it becomes possible to prevent excessive toner adhesion. The peeling performance of 302 can be maintained and used for a long period of time.

A toner collecting device, which is a collecting means for collecting the toner T removed by the toner removing device 304, may be provided. As a specific example of this toner collecting device,
As described in FIG. 6, the toner receiver (toner container)
The upper part of 307 can be moved along a guide rail 314 provided on the apparatus main body side.
As a result, the toner receiver (toner container) 307 can be taken out of the apparatus and the toner in the toner receiver (toner container) 307 can be discarded as necessary.

Further, a toner collecting device as shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C can be provided. In this toner collecting device, the backup roller 308 also serves as a transfer paper transporting body that sucks and transports the transfer paper 10, and the screw 3
Toner transport path 319 and toner transport path 31 with built-in 18
Heater 320 and toner container 30 provided at the end of
7, a compression member 321 as a compression unit that compresses the toner T in the toner container 307, a drive unit (not shown) of the screw 318, a heater power supply (not shown), and the like. The compression member may be manually driven or may be provided with a drive unit that is automatically driven. In this example, as shown in FIG. 8A, the toner T adhering to the surface of the peeling roller 302 is the scraper blade 31.
At 3, the toner is scraped into the toner transport path 319. Then, as shown in FIG. 8B, the toner T in the toner carrying path 319 is carried to the end portion of the toner carrying path 319 by the screw 318 and heated by the heater 320.
While being melted in 9, the toner is stored in the toner container 307. Then, as shown in FIG. 8C, the toner container 30
The toner T contained in the toner 7 is compressed by the compression member 321, the density of the toner T is increased, and the toner T is solidified. The toner T in the toner container 307 is discarded at any time.

As described above, by providing the toner collecting device, the toner T in the toner container 307 can be collected and discarded, so that the toner peeling unit 3 can be used for a long time. Further, since the density of the toner T in the toner container 307 can be increased and the volume of the toner T can be reduced, the toner accommodating efficiency can be increased and the apparatus can be made compact. Furthermore, since the collected toner can be easily discarded, maintenance and maintenance of the apparatus can be facilitated, that is, operability and serviceability of the apparatus can be improved.

Next, the toner adhesion amount on the peeling roller 302 is detected, and the peeling roller 302 is detected based on the detection result.
The toner peeling unit 3 having a control means for controlling the use of the toner will be described. A specific example of the toner peeling unit 3 having the control means will be described with reference to FIG. The toner peeling unit 3 includes a peeling belt 323 as a peeling member stretched around the conveying rollers 322a, 322b, and 322c, and an elastic member 324 such as a spring.
23 a pressing roller 30 urged to press against the surface
9, a backup roller 308 that is urged by an elastic member 324 such as a spring to come into pressure contact with the conveying roller 322a via the peeling belt 323, a toner adhesion amount detection device 325 that detects the toner adhesion amount on the peeling belt 323, a CPU ，
It is provided with a control unit (not shown), which is the above-mentioned control unit, including a RAM, a ROM, an I / O unit, and the like. The toner adhesion amount detecting device 325 irradiates light to the reflecting plate 327 and the reflecting plate 327 which have the light reflecting surface 327a and are urged by the elastic member 324 such as a spring so as to come into contact with the surface of the peeling belt 323. Reflective photo sensor 3 for detecting the intensity of reflected light
28 and the like.

In this example, the transfer paper 10 having the toner T adhered to the upper surface is nipped between the peeling belt 323 and the backup roller 308 and conveyed in the left direction in the drawing. When the transfer paper 10 passes through the holding portion, the toner T
Are peeled off, adhere to the surface of the peeling belt 323, and are laminated. The toner layer is smoothed by the pressing roller 309, and then the left end portion of the reflection plate 327 contacts with the toner layer. At this time, the reflection plate 327 moves in the left-right direction in accordance with the thickness of the toner layer on the peeling belt 323, and the intensity of the reflected light from the reflection surface 327a fluctuates.
The output voltage Vsp of No. 8 varies depending on the toner layer thickness on the peeling belt 323. Output voltage V of the photo sensor 328
sp is input to the control unit and can be used for various controls described below.

In an example of the control based on the output voltage by the photo sensor 328, the output voltage V1 of the photo sensor 328 corresponding to the toner layer thickness requiring the replacement of the peeling belt 323 is set as a reference value and stored in the control unit in advance. Keep it. Then, the output voltage Vsp of the photo sensor 323 is compared with the reference value V1, and when it is determined that the peeling belt 323 needs to be replaced or when it is determined that the time for replacement is approaching, the display on the display panel or a warning sound is generated. It is possible to control so as to notify the operator by, for example.

In another example of the above control, the transfer paper 10
The output voltage V2 of the photo sensor 328 corresponding to the toner layer thickness at which it is impossible to hold and convey the toner is set as a reference value,
It is stored in the control unit in advance. Then, the photo sensor 32
When the output voltage Vsp of No. 3 becomes substantially the same as the reference value V2, the driving of the entire device can be controlled to be stopped. As a result, it is possible to prevent the transfer paper 10 from being jammed. The entire apparatus may be stopped after the peeling belt 323 has rotated a predetermined number of times. In that case, for example, a convex detection mark is formed on the peeling belt 323, and the photo sensor 323 is used.
After the output voltage Vsp of the toner has become substantially the same as the reference value V2, the toner adhesion amount detection device 3 is caused to pass the detection mark.
25, the number of rotations of the peeling belt 323 is counted, and the count result is used for control.

Next, the transfer paper 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
A specific example of the toner peeling unit 3 having a separating unit that separates the transfer paper 10 from the surface of the peeling roller 302 after peeling the toner T from 0 will be described. Here, the liquid applying unit 2 which is more effective when used in combination with the separating means will be described together.

The toner peeling unit 3 according to this example includes a peeling roller 203, a backup roller 308 having a built-in heating lamp 201, a separating claw 303 and a separating claw 303 as a separating means rotatable about a rotating shaft 303a. An elastic member 324 such as a spring that biases the tip of the separating portion to contact the surface of the peeling roller 302, a solenoid 329 that drives the separating claw 303 so that the tip of the separating portion separates from the surface of the peeling roller 302, and a driving portion thereof. And so on. When the toner removal processing is not performed, the separation claw 303
The tip of the separating portion is separated by a solenoid 329 so as not to damage the surface of the peeling roller 302 and to scrape off the adhered toner on the surface of the peeling roller 302.
At the time of separation, by turning off the solenoid 329, the surface of the peeling roller 302 is lightly contacted by the urging force of the elastic member 324, for example, 0.1 to 10 gf.

Further, the liquid applying unit 2 according to the present example has a liquid container 201 containing the processing liquid 20, a liquid supply pipe 212,
A processing liquid spraying device including a pump 213, a nozzle 216, and the like, a conveyance guide plate 221, a sheet leading edge sensor 234 for detecting the leading edge of the transfer sheet 10 conveyed from the sheet feeding unit 1, and the like are provided. As the paper edge sensor 234, for example, a transmissive type, a reflective type, or a photosensor with a filler can be used.

Further, in this example, a control unit (not shown) for controlling the sheet leading edge sensor 234, the solenoid 329, and the like.
Is equipped with. This control unit is, for example, a CPU, RA
It can be composed of an M, a ROM, an I / O unit and the like.

In the present example, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 11, the leading edge of the transfer sheet 10 conveyed from the sheet feeding unit 1 is detected by the sheet leading edge sensor 234, and a predetermined time t _{1 is} delayed after the detection. Then, the controller 213 controls the pump 213 to be turned on to eject the treatment liquid 20 from the nozzle 216 toward the transfer paper 10 side. As a result, a few mm (preferably 2 to 10) from the front end of the transfer paper 10
mm) to provide a region where the processing liquid 20 is not applied. As a result, after the next peeling process in the toner peeling unit 3, the tip of the transfer paper 10 is easily separated from the surface of the peeling roller 203 by the waist of the transfer paper 10 itself. In addition, as shown in the timing chart of FIG.
The control unit controls the solenoid 329 to be turned on immediately before the lapse of a predetermined time t ₂ after detecting the front end of the transfer paper 1, and the urging force of the elastic member 324 causes the front end of the separation unit of the separation claw 303 to contact the surface of the peeling roller 302. In contact with each other, the transfer paper 10 is mechanically separated from the surface of the peeling roller 302 in addition to the separation of the transfer paper 10 by the waist as shown in FIG. This makes it possible to more reliably separate the tip of the transfer paper 10 from the surface of the peeling roller 302. The separation by the separation claw 303 is more effective when combined with the method of providing the processing liquid non-application area on the leading end of the transfer paper 10.

Next, another specific example of the toner peeling unit 3 will be described with reference to FIG. The toner peeling unit 3 according to this example includes a peeling roller 302 having a small diameter (preferably about 30 mm or less). In this example, the conveyance direction immediately before the contact portion between the peeling roller 302 and the transfer paper 10 and the tip of the transfer paper 10 (two-dot chain line in the figure) seen from the end of the contact portion are separated from the peeling roller 302. The angle with respect to the direction of the position, that is, the separation angle of the transfer paper 10 (θ in the figure) becomes an acute angle. In other words, the movement trajectory of the surface of the peeling roller 302 on the downstream side of the contact portion is the transfer paper. 10 has a curvature such that the waist separates the curvatures. Therefore, the transfer paper 1 that has passed through the contact portion
The tip of 0 can be reliably separated from the surface of the peeling roller 302. As described above, according to this example, the leading end of the transfer paper 10 can be reliably separated from the peeling roller 302 without providing a complicated separating unit. (Hereafter, margin)

The configuration of this example is more effective when combined with the configuration of FIG. Further, the configuration of this example can be applied to the case where a peeling belt which is a belt-shaped peeling member stretched by a conveying roller is used. In this case,
The diameter of the conveying roller on the downstream side of the contact portion between the peeling belt and the transfer paper 10 may be reduced.

Next, another specific example of the toner peeling unit 3 having the above-mentioned separating means will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15. Here, the liquid applying unit 2 which is more effective when used in combination with the separating means will be described together.

The toner peeling unit 3 according to this example is shown in FIG.
4 (a) and 4 (b), a peeling roller 203, a backup roller 308 having a built-in heating lamp 201,
A side separation plate 330 and the like for guiding the side end portion of the transfer paper 10 in a predetermined conveyance direction without contacting the surface of the peeling roller 302 are provided. It is desirable that the surface of the side separation plate 330 be treated with a fluorine resin (for example, Teflon) so that the side separation plate 330 has a releasability that does not easily adhere to the toner. Further, the extension distance of the side separation plate 330 from the end on the transfer paper 10 side is preferably about 3 to 10 mm. Further, as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the liquid applying unit 2 according to the present example includes a processing liquid spraying device including a nozzle 216 and the like, a transport guide plate 221 and the like, but the transfer paper 10 The conveyance guide plate 221 is extended so that the processing liquid 20 is not applied to the side end portion (the left end portion in FIG. 15B) of the. The extension distance from the end of the transfer guide plate 221 on the transfer paper 10 side is preferably 1 to 10 mm.

In this example, the transfer paper 10 conveyed from the paper supply unit 1 has its side end portion at the side separation plate 3.
It is guided along the lower side of 30 to reach the contact portion with the peeling roller 302. Then, after passing through the contact portion,
The transfer paper 10 is further conveyed while its side end portion is guided along the lower side of the side separation plate 330. As a result, toner is prevented from adhering to the peeling roller 302, and the transfer paper 10 can be reliably separated from the surface of the peeling roller 302. Further, since the area where the treatment liquid 20 is not applied is provided in advance at the side end portion of the transfer paper 10, it becomes possible to further prevent toner adhesion to the peeling roller 302.
Further, since the stiffness of the transfer paper 10 is not weakened, the separation of the transfer paper 10 from the peeling roller 302 only on the side can be further ensured.

Next, another specific example of the toner peeling unit 3 having the above separating means will be described with reference to FIG. The toner peeling unit 3 according to this example includes the peeling roller 2
03, a backup roller 308 having a built-in heating lamp 201, and the like. This backup roller 308
A concave portion is provided in a part of the surface of the sheet, and an openable / closable clamp claw 331 that holds the leading end of the transfer paper 10 in the concave portion is provided in the concave portion. The clamp claw 331 is biased by a biasing member such as a spring (not shown) so as to be opened in a normal state.

Further, in this example, the sheet leading edge sensor 234 for detecting the leading edge of the transfer sheet 10 transported from the sheet feeding unit 1, the sheet leading edge sensor 234, the drive unit of the backup roller 308, and the transport roller pair 209. A control unit (not shown) for controlling the drive unit and the like is provided. As the paper leading edge sensor 234, for example, a transmissive type, a reflective type, or a photosensor with a filler can be used, and the control unit is, for example, a CPU, a RAM,
It can be composed of a ROM, an I / O unit, and the like.

In this example, the leading edge of the transfer sheet 10 conveyed from the sheet feeding unit 1 is detected by the sheet leading edge sensor 234, and after a lapse of a predetermined time, the backup roller 308 is driven and the concave portion of the clamp claw 331 in the open state is driven. Transfer paper 10
The clamp claw 331 is moved in synchronization with the tip end at this time.
Is pushed by the surface of the peeling roller 302, reaches the biasing member, enters the concave portion, and passes through the contact position with the peeling roller 302 while holding the transfer paper 10 in a pressed state. After that, when the backup roller 308 rotates by a predetermined distance and then the clamp claw 331 separates from the peeling roller 302, the clamp member 331 is opened by the biasing member to open the front end of the transfer paper 10. As a result, the leading end of the transfer paper 10 can be reliably separated from the peeling roller 302.

Next, still another specific example of the toner peeling unit 3 having the above separating means will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 17 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a toner removing device including the toner peeling unit 3 according to this example. First, the overall outline will be described. In this toner removing device, like the toner removing device according to FIG. 1, the transfer papers 10 on which the toner images stored in the stacked state are formed are separated and fed one by one. Sheet feeding unit 1 to be used, and sheet feeding unit 1
A liquid applying unit 2 that supplies liquid to the transfer paper 10 sent from the device, a toner peeling unit 3 that removes toner from the liquid-supplied transfer paper 10, and a drying process that dries the toner-free transfer paper 10. Unit 4 and.

The sheet feeding unit 1 feeds the transfer sheet 10 set in a predetermined cassette 105 with the toner image forming surface facing downward and pressed by the pressing roller 106 to rotate in the direction of arrow a in the figure. Paper is fed by the roller 102, and the double feed is separated by the feed roller 107 and the separate roller 108 that rotate in the direction of arrow b in the figure, and one transfer sheet 1
Only 0 is sent to the liquid application unit 2. The specific configuration and operation are the same as those of the paper feeding mechanism in the electrophotographic copying machine, and therefore detailed description will be omitted.

The liquid application unit 2 rotates in the direction of the arrow c in the figure, and applies the application liquid 240 to the transfer paper 10, the application roller 240 and the liquid container 201 that contains the application liquid 20, and the application roller 240. It is composed of a pressing roller 241 which opposes the roller 240 and presses the transfer paper 10 that has entered the facing portion of the application roller 240 from above. The coating roller 240 may be made of a liquid-supplying material such as a sponge material.

The toner peeling unit 3 includes a heater 34.
A heating unit 341 as a softening means containing 0,
The drive roller 342 and the idle roller 34 which are rotationally driven.
3a, 3b, and a peeling belt 323 stretched between the heating unit 341, and the peeling belt 323 is interposed to face the heating unit 341 so that the peeling belt 323 and the transfer paper 10 are pressed against the heating unit 341. A pressure roller 345 provided as a pressing unit and a peeling belt 32.
3 and a cleaning device 346 that cleans the surface. The cleaning device 346 includes a scraper blade 347 that scrapes off the toner T on the surface of the peeling belt 323, and a toner receiver (toner container) 34 that stores the toner T scraped off by the scraper blade 347.
Eight.

The peeling belt 323 is the peeling roller 30.
Transfer paper 10 that is at least softened, similar to the surface of FIG.
At least the surface is made of a material having an adhesive force larger than the adhesive force between the transfer paper 10 and the toner with respect to the above toner, for example, a toner component resin which is the same as or similar to the above toner, a component resin of an adhesive, or the like. A resin film is used, and a breathable film is used in this device.

By the way, when the peeling belt 323 has a one-layer structure composed of, for example, only the above-mentioned film, there is a drawback that the toner may not be sufficiently scraped off by the cleaning device 346 because the adhesive force is too strong. In order to eliminate this drawback, it is conceivable to form a fluorine coating layer having releasability on the belt surface to improve the cleaning property. However, even if the fluorine coating layer is simply formed on the belt surface, the toner peeling performance may be deteriorated. Here, the conventional fluorine coating is used for improving the mold release property, but the filler is 4%.
It is known that the release effect is reduced when the above is exceeded.
Therefore, in the peeling belt 323 according to this device, as shown in FIG. 18, the base belt 3 made of the above film is used.
By forming a fluorine coating layer 323b containing 4% or more of a filler on the surface of 23a, the releasability of the toner from the surface of the peeling belt 323 is improved and the cleaning performance by the cleaning device 346 is improved.
The predetermined toner peeling performance is maintained.

The thickness of the peeling belt 323 is preferably 100 μm or less in consideration of the thermal efficiency of the heating unit 341 and the life of the belt. In the experiments conducted by the present inventors, the peeling belt 323 having a thickness of 30 μm was used to efficiently heat the belt. did it.

An opening (not shown) is formed in the heating unit 341, and the pressure roller 34 is further provided.
5 is made of foam. Here, the opening is
For example, the heating unit 341 is formed of a communication hole that communicates from the upper surface to the lower surface. The opening may be a hole formed on the surface of the heating unit 341 that contacts the peeling belt 323. With the above configuration, even if steam is generated from the transfer paper 10 due to the heating by the heating unit 341, the steam is held by the peeling belt 323 and conveyed to the downstream side in the transfer paper 10 conveying direction by the movement of the peeling belt 323. And is diffused into the air on the downstream side, is diffused into the air through the film and the communication hole, is released to the hole formed in the heating unit 341, and is applied to the pressure roller 345 at the nip portion. It is absorbed. Due to these, the drying efficiency in the drying process in the drying unit 4 which will be described later can be improved. In particular, when the foaming holes of the pressure roller 345 are in the form of continuous foams, the water vapor is discharged into the air through the foaming holes, which is very effective.

The peeling belt 323 is run by rotating the driving roller 342.
When the toner is peeled off from the transfer paper 10, that is, when the transfer paper 10 is moved from the liquid applying unit 2 side to the drying unit 4 side, the driving roller 342 is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow d to run the peeling belt 323. Let In addition,
The peeling belt 323 is configured to run only when the leading end portion of the transfer paper 10 reaches the substantially idle roller 343b. In order to realize this operation, for example,
A transfer sheet leading edge detection sensor for detecting the leading edge of the transfer sheet 10 is provided above the idle roller 343b, and when the leading edge of the transfer sheet 10 is detected by the transfer sheet leading edge detection sensor, the drive roller 342 is driven to rotate. The peeling belt 323 may start running.

The transfer paper 1 of the heating unit 341 is also used.
0 The downstream end in the transport direction is formed of a curved surface with a curvature r of 10 or less, and the peeling belt 323 has θ ≦≦ on the end side.
It is bent at 90 °. Further, the heater 340 of the heating unit 341 is arranged so as to contact the peeling belt 323.

The drying unit 4 is for drying the transfer paper 10, and has a guide plate 407 for guiding the transfer paper 10 conveyed from the toner peeling unit 3 and an upper drying roller made of, for example, aluminum and having a heating lamp 408 built therein. 40
9 and a lower drying roller 411 with a built-in heating lamp 410 that comes into pressure contact therewith from below. The lower drying roller 411 has a surface layer made of a liquid supply member.
Further, instead of such a drying roller pair 409, 411,
Alternatively, a belt-shaped member may be used, or a hot air fan or an infrared lamp may be used.

In the toner removing device having the above structure, when the transfer paper 10 is conveyed to the liquid applying unit 2 by the paper feed roller 102 and the feed roller 107 of the paper feed unit 1, the application roller 240 is rotated. The treatment liquid 20 is supplied to the surface of the transfer paper 10. As a result, the treatment liquid 20 permeates into the interface between the transfer paper 10 and the toner.

The leading end of the transfer paper 10 is substantially idle roller 3.
When the peeling belt 323 is reached, the driving roller 342 is rotationally driven and the peeling belt 323 runs.
The transfer paper 10 is supported on the peeling belt 323 by the traveling of and is conveyed to the pressure contact portion between the peeling belt 323 and the pressure roller 345.

Then, when the transfer paper 10 in which the treatment liquid 20 has penetrated is conveyed to the pressure contact portion between the peeling belt 323 and the pressure roller 345, the toner entangled in the transfer paper 10 is heated by the heater of the heating unit 341. It is heated by 340 and softened so as to be easily peeled off from the transfer paper 10, and is pressed by the heating unit 341, the peeling belt 323 and the pressure roller 345 and peeled off from the transfer paper 10 by the peeling belt 323.

The transfer paper 10 from which the toner has been peeled from the entire surface of the transfer belt 10 passing through the pressure contact portion by the traveling of the peeling belt 323 moves the peeling belt 323 at the downstream end of the heating unit 341 in the transfer paper 10 transport direction. Due to the abrupt change in direction, the separation belt 323 is separated from the curvature.

Then, the transfer paper 10 which has been curvature-separated from the peeling belt 323 is guided by the guide plate 407 to the pressure contact portion between the upper drying roller 409 and the lower drying roller 411, and the treatment liquid 20 remaining at this pressure contact portion is moved downward. Drying roller 4
11 is absorbed by the surface layer composed of the liquid-supplying member,
It is dried by heating the heating lamps 408 and 410.

The peeling belt 323 which has finished transferring the transfer paper 10 to the drying unit 4 stops its movement when the driving roller 342 is stopped.

According to the toner removing device having the above-described structure, the peeling belt 323 is bent at θ ≦ 90 ° on the downstream end side of the heating unit 341 in the transfer paper 10 conveying direction, and the moving direction thereof is sharp. Since it has changed to 1
0 can be well separated from its surface. Further, since the peeling belt 323 is bent at the above-mentioned angle by utilizing the downstream end of the heating unit 341 in the transfer paper 10 transport direction, the transfer paper 1
A special member for zero separation is not required, and an inexpensive toner removing device can be obtained. Further, since the peeling belt 323 has air permeability, even if steam is generated from the transfer paper 10 due to heating by the heating unit 341, this steam can be easily dissipated, and drying in the next drying step is performed. The efficiency can be improved. Further, since the pressure roller 345 is formed of a foamed material, air permeability is maintained, and vapor generated from the transfer paper 10 generated as described above is taken into the foaming hole at the nip portion and easily diffused. Therefore, the drying efficiency in the next drying step can be improved. Further, since the peeling belt 323 is configured to run only when the leading end of the transfer paper 10 reaches the substantially idle roller 343b, the life of the peeling belt 323 can be improved. Further, the heater 340 of the heating unit 341 is the peeling belt 323.
Since the toner is heated only through the peeling belt 323, the heater is provided inside the roller that supports the conventional belt and heats the toner through the roller and the belt. Compared to the configuration like
The thermal efficiency can be improved. Also, the peeling belt 3
Since the surface of 23 is made of the fluorine coating layer 323b, the cleaning property can be improved and the life of the belt can be extended.

By the way, in the toner removing apparatus of the above-mentioned embodiment, instead of separately providing the liquid applying unit 2 and the toner peeling unit 3, a large-diameter rotary member (as a holding member for holding and conveying the transfer paper on the surface thereof ( A liquid application unit / toner peeling unit having a paper holding drum) may be provided. In the liquid applying unit and toner removing unit of this toner removing device, the transfer paper from the paper feeding unit 1 is sandwiched between the paper holding drum and the application roller provided so as to be in pressure contact with the transfer paper, and the processing liquid is applied. Then, the paper is conveyed while being in close contact with the surface of the paper holding drum. Next, the toner on the transfer paper is adhered and removed by a peeling roller provided so as to be in pressure contact with the paper holding drum. At this time, since the suction force of the processing liquid acts between the transfer paper and the paper holding drum, the adhesive force between the peeling roller and the transfer paper or between the toner and the transfer paper is resisted. Then, the transfer paper remains attached to the surface of the paper holding drum and moves to the contact position with the next drying roller having the built-in drying lamp. Then, the transfer paper is separated from the surface of the paper holding drum at a position where at least the leading end of the transfer paper is dried by the drying roller.

Further, by applying a large amount of the processing liquid 20 to the transfer paper 10 by the liquid applying unit 2, the transfer paper 10 can be separated from the peeling roller 302 without using a rotating body having a large diameter as the backup roller 308. Will be able to be done reliably. In this case, in order to further ensure the separation of the transfer paper 10 from each roller, a separation claw 303 as shown in FIG. 12 and the like may be appropriately provided.

In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to the transfer paper 10 on which an image is formed by a transfer type electrophotographic copying machine, but other image forming such as a paper such as a facsimile, a printer or a printing machine. It can also be applied to an image carrier such as recording paper used in the apparatus. Further, the present invention is not limited to an image carrier having a fibrous structure, but can be applied to an image carrier capable of forming an image. The image carrier to which the present invention can be applied may be, for example, a laminate in which the surface layer of the base sheet such as a plastic layer is a material layer having a liquid absorbing property and elasticity such as paper.

[0096]

According to the invention of claim 1, the peeling means is arranged so as to be in contact with at least the image-forming substance on the surface of the image-holding member on the surface side to which the image-forming substance is attached. The member has an adhesive force with respect to the image-forming substance that is greater than the adhesive force between the surface and the image-forming substance, so that the peeling member and the image-holding member are brought into contact with the peeling member after the contact with the surface. When separating the body, the image forming substance can be reliably separated from the image holding member and can be attached only to the peeling member, so that only the image forming substance is surely removed from the image holding member. The effect is that you will be able to. Further, the peeling member is moved so that the surface of the peeling member moves through the contact portion with the image carrier conveying means, and the movement trajectory of the peeling member surface on the downstream side of the contact portion is moved to the image holding portion. By setting the body to have such a curvature that the curvature is separated by the waist, the tip of the image carrier that has passed through the contact portion with the peeling member can be reliably separated from the surface of the peeling member. Therefore, with a simple structure, the image carrier can be reliably separated from the peeling member,
There is an effect that it can be transported to the next processing step.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the softening means softens the image forming substance adhering to the image holding body which is in contact with the peeling member or immediately before the peeling member is brought into contact with the peeling member. Since the adhesive force between the image carrier and the image forming substance can be made smaller and the adhesive force between the image forming substance and the peeling member can be increased, only the image forming substance can be further removed from the image carrier. The effect is that it can be reliably removed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the destabilizing solution applying means makes the adhesion state unstable on the image holding body with which the peeling member is in contact with the softening means. By heating and softening the image-forming substance, the adhesive force between the image-holding member and the image-forming substance can be made smaller and the adhesive force between the image-forming substance and the peeling member can be increased. Therefore, there is an effect that only the image forming substance can be more surely removed from the image carrier. Further, even if the destabilizing liquid becomes steam by the heating,
Since this vapor can be diffused through the peeling member, there is an effect that efficiency can be improved in the drying step in the case of a configuration in which the image holding member after drying the image forming substance is dried.

According to the invention of claim 4, even if the destabilizing liquid becomes vapor by the heating, the vapor can be diffused through the pressing means. In the case of the structure for drying, the efficiency in the drying process can be improved.

According to the invention of claim 5, the sheet-shaped peeling member does not move except when the image-forming substance is removed from the image carrier, so that the life of the sheet-shaped peeling member can be improved.

According to the invention of claim 6, cleaning performance can be improved by coating the surface of the sheet-shaped peeling member with a fluorine-containing filler, so that the life of the sheet-shaped peeling member can be improved. You can

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner removing device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner peeling unit of the toner removing device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner peeling unit according to a modification.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner peeling unit according to another modification.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner peeling unit according to still another modification.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner peeling unit according to still another modification.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner peeling unit according to still another modification.

FIG. 8A is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner peeling unit according to still another modification. FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the toner recovery unit of the toner peeling unit. (C) is an explanatory view of a compression member of the toner recovery unit.

FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner peeling unit according to still another modification.

FIG. 10 is a toner peeling unit according to another modification,
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a liquid applying unit.

FIG. 11 is a timing chart of the operations of the toner peeling unit and the liquid applying unit.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of a contact portion of a separation claw of the toner peeling unit.

FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner peeling unit according to still another modification.

FIG. 14A is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner peeling unit according to still another modification. FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the toner peeling unit.

FIG. 15A is a front view of a liquid applying unit of a liquid applying unit used together with the toner peeling unit. (B) is a side view of the liquid applying part.

FIG. 16 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner peeling unit according to still another modification.

FIG. 17 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner removing device including a toner peeling unit according to another modification.

FIG. 18 is a schematic cross-sectional configuration diagram of a peeling belt of the toner peeling unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 liquid applying unit 3 toner peeling unit 4 drying unit 10 transfer paper 20 processing liquid 301 heating lamp 302 peeling roller 308 backup roller

Front page continuation (72) Inventor Yoshiyuki Kimura 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Kazuhiro Ando 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Tadashi Saito 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo In Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoichi Asaba 1-3-3 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo In Ricoh (72) Invention Kiyoshi Tanigawa 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoshiaki Miyashita 1-3-3 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo In-house Ricoh (72) Inventor Kei Shingu Ricoh Co., Ltd. 1-3-3 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo (72) Inventor Shinichi Kuramoto 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Within Ricoh Co., Ltd.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image carrier having an image-forming substance stably attached to the surface thereof and an image-forming substance are made in an unstable state,
An image forming substance removing apparatus for removing an image forming substance from the image holding member, comprising: a peeling member having an adhesion force to the image forming substance that is greater than an adhesion force between the surface and the image forming substance. On the surface side to which the image-forming substance is attached, at least the peeling means arranged so as to come into contact with the image-forming substance on the surface, and the surface of the peeling member passes through the contact portion with the image-holding body conveying means. And a means for moving the peeling member so that the image carrier has a curvature such that the movement trajectory of the surface of the peeling member on the downstream side of the contact portion is curvature-separated by the waist. An apparatus for removing an image-forming substance from an image carrier, which is characterized by being set. 2. The image holding device according to claim 1, further comprising softening means for softening the image forming substance adhering to the image holding member which is in contact with the peeling member or immediately before coming into contact with the peeling member. A device for removing image-forming substances from the body. 3. A destabilizing solution applying means for applying a destabilizing solution for destabilizing a stable adhesion state between the surface and the image-forming substance to the surface and the peeling member are in contact with each other. And a softening means for heating and softening the image forming substance whose adhesion state has been made unstable by the destabilizing liquid application means on the image carrier, and the peeling member having air permeability. 2. The apparatus for removing an image-forming substance from an image carrier according to claim 1, wherein 4. An image carrier according to claim 3, further comprising a pressing means for bringing the peeling member in contact with the softening means and the image carrier into close contact with each other by using a member made of foam. Image forming substance removing device. 5. The peeling member is formed as an endlessly movable sheet, and the sheet-shaped peeling member is moved to the image holding member only when the front end of the image holding member moves to the sheet-shaped peeling member. The apparatus for removing an image-forming substance from an image carrier according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to move in the same direction as the moving direction. 6. An apparatus for removing an image-forming substance from an image carrier according to claim 5, wherein the surface of said sheet-shaped peeling member is coated with fluorine containing a filler.