JPH07239643A - Method and apparatus for removing image-forming substance from image carrier - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [PROBLEMS] To provide a method and an apparatus capable of removing toner from a transfer paper without deforming the transfer paper or reducing the mechanical strength of the transfer paper. A method and apparatus for removing toner from a transfer paper, which comprises applying an external force to the toner on the transfer paper in a direction in which the toner separates from the transfer paper, and heating the toner to which the external force is applied. An electrostatic force may be used as the external force. Further, it is preferable that the toner is heated above its softening point temperature. Further, it is preferable to use a radiation light source for heating the toner.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image for removing an image forming substance such as a toner image or an ink image formed by an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer or a printing machine from an image carrier. The present invention relates to a forming substance removing device.

[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, JP-A-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. A method for removing an image forming substance in which toner is adhered to the ink peeling member to remove the toner by stacking the ink peeling member on the printed body, passing the ink between the heating roller and the pressure roller, cooling the toner, and peeling off the ink peeling member. Is disclosed. 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-4-8
Japanese Patent No. 2983 discloses two rollers provided in parallel, which rotate in pressure contact with each other and pass paper through a pressure contact point.
A heater for heating at least one of the rollers of the book, a scraping tool for separating the paper passing through the pressure contact portion from the roller, and a peeling device for removing the image-forming substance adhering to the roller from the roller An image forming material removal device is disclosed.

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, in order to improve the removability of the image-forming substance, when heat or pressure is applied to the ink peeling member, the endless sheet or the roller, depending on various conditions, the space between the image-forming substance and the image carrier may be reversed. In some cases, the fixability of the above is increased, which makes removal difficult.

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 image forming substance removing method proposed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application No. 4-255916, there is a liquid applying step of applying the treatment liquid consisting of water or an aqueous solution to the image carrier. Since it has, the image carrier swells and its size changes, and the image carrier deforms (elongates,
The strength of the image carrier, that is, the paper strength may be reduced due to waviness, wrinkles, etc.). Further, unlike a toner image used for normal copying, in the case of a printed matter using a general ink, the penetration of the ink into the paper fiber is deep, and the strength of the ink film is strong and dense, so that the paper of the treatment liquid is not printed. It is difficult to remove the ink by the above proposed method for removing the image-forming substance, because the swelling action is blocked.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to obtain an image from an image carrier without deforming the image carrier or reducing the mechanical strength of the image carrier. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming substance removing method and apparatus capable of removing the forming substance.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 provides an image forming substance on an image carrier,
The method is characterized by including a step of applying an external force in a direction in which the image forming substance is separated from the image carrier and a step of heating the image forming substance to which the external force is applied.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an external force applying means for applying an external force to the image forming substance on the image holding member in a direction of separating the image forming substance from the image holding member, and the external force are applied. And a heating means for heating the image forming substance.

Further, in the image forming substance removing device from the image carrier of the second aspect, the invention of the third aspect generates centrifugal force in a direction in which the image forming substance is detached from the image carrier as the external force applying means. The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that a centrifugal force generating means is provided, and as the external force applying means, an electric field generating means for generating an electrostatic force in a direction in which the image forming substance is detached from the image holding body is provided. The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the image-forming substance is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than its softening point temperature. The invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that It is characterized by using a radiation light source.

[0011]

As shown in FIG. 1, when the image carrier 2 such as transfer paper or recording paper to which the image forming substance 1 such as toner or ink adheres is heated, the softened or melted image forming substance 1 holds the image. It becomes difficult to remove because it also digs into the fibers of the body 2. Therefore, in the invention of claim 1 or claim 2, as shown in FIG.
In addition, an external force F in the direction in which the image forming substance 1 is separated from the image carrier 2 is applied to heat the image forming substance 1 to which the external force F is applied. Here, when the external force F is larger than the volume force of the image forming material 1, that is, the surface tension, the image forming material 1 is deformed such as a bulge and easily comes off from the image carrier 2. If the external force F is greater than the adhesion between the image forming substance 1 and the image carrier 2, the image forming substance 1 separates from the surface of the image carrier 2 and flies.

When the image forming substance is an ink used for general printed matter, a vehicle such as a varnish or a synthetic resin varnish which is a vehicle of the ink is heated while the external force is applied to the ink. The softening, melting, or sublimation causes the ink to easily separate from the image holding body or separate from the image holding body.

Further, in the invention of claim 3, a centrifugal force is used as the external force F, and the external force applying means is:
Centrifugal force generating means for generating a centrifugal force in a direction in which the image forming material is detached from the image carrier is provided. As illustrated in FIG. 3, when the image carrier 2 is rotated about the rotation axis A in the arrow B direction at an angular velocity ω with the surface on which the image is formed by the image forming material 1 facing outward, the image forming material 1 is formed. 1 and the image carrier 2 in a direction away from the rotation axis A

The centrifugal force Fcen represented by the following equation acts. here,
m is the mass of the image-forming substance 1 or the image carrier 2, v is the tangential velocity of the image-forming substance 1 or the image carrier 2, r is the distance from the rotation axis A to the image-forming substance 1 or the image carrier 2. is there.

## EQU1 ## Fcen = mω ² r = mv ² / r

When the image carrier 2 in FIG. 3 is rotated while being fixed on the concentric circle C, the image forming substance 1 receives a centrifugal force Fcen which is an external force for separating from the image carrier 2. . The image forming substance 1 is heated while receiving this external force.

Further, in the invention of claim 4, an electrostatic force is used as the external force F, and the external force applying means is:
An electric field generating means for generating an electrostatic force in a direction in which the image forming material is detached from the image carrier is provided. Generally, the force Fe acting on a unit volume of an object when the object is placed in a certain electric field is

It is expressed by Here, q is the charge amount of the object, E is the electric field strength, and ε is the dielectric constant. Fc of the first item of this formula
(= QE) is a Coulomb force that acts on an object placed in an electric field when the object is charged. Fg of the second item
(= 1/2 · E ² · grad ε) is the gradient force that acts on an object placed in an electric field when the object is not charged (Reference: Ueda et al., “Basics of Electrostatics”, p. 15). , Showa 4
Published by Asakura Shoten in 6 years). This gradient force Fg
Occurs when the electric field strength is spatially non-uniform, and when an uncharged object is placed in the electric field, the object receives a force toward a region where the electric field strength is high.

[Equation 2] Fe = Fc + Fg = qE + 1/2 · E ² · gradε

An electric field is formed in the space where the image forming substance exists so that the electrostatic force such as the Coulomb force and the gradient force becomes an external force for separating the image forming substance from the image holding member, and this electrostatic force acts. The image-forming substance is heated while being heated.

In the fifth aspect of the invention, by heating the image-forming substance above its softening point temperature, the viscosity of the image carrier can be lowered to soften or melt it. In particular, when the above-mentioned external force is applied to the softened or melted image-forming substance, the image-forming substance can freely flow according to the external force, and the adhesive force between the image-forming substance and the image carrier is increased. As a result, the image-forming substance is ready to be removed from the image carrier or is easily removed.

In the invention of claim 6, the radiation source is used for the heating means, so that the image forming substance on the image carrier can be heated without contact. Further, it is possible to efficiently irradiate the image forming substance with the radiant light from the radiant light source by using a condensing member or the like for heating. Further, especially when the image forming substance is black or a color close to black, the radiant light is selectively absorbed by the image forming substance, and the image forming substance is intensively heated.

[0019]

EXAMPLE An example in which the present invention is applied to a toner removing device for removing a toner image formed by an electrophotographic copying machine (hereinafter referred to as a copying machine) which is an image forming apparatus from a transfer paper will be described below. [Embodiment 1] FIG. 4A shows a state in which a toner 1 as an image forming substance on a transfer paper 2 as an image carrier is subjected to a centrifugal force in a direction in which the toner 1 is separated from the transfer paper 2. It is a perspective view showing an example of 1 composition of a toner removal device which heats this toner 1 with a lamp which is a radiant light source. This toner removing device has a circular lamp 3 as a heating means for heating the toner 1 on the transfer paper 2 and a centrifugal force generating means for holding the transfer paper 2 on the surface thereof and being rotationally driven in the arrow direction by a motor (not shown). Cylindrical holding member 4, holding member 4 by reflecting light from circular lamp 3
A mortar-shaped reflector 5 for irradiating the transfer paper 2 held on it
And so on. Here, in order to use the radiant heat from the circular lamp 3 more effectively, a reflector may be arranged above the circular lamp 3.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the transfer paper 2 is held on the holding member 4 so that the image forming surface of the toner 1 is on the outside. The circular lamp 3 has a diameter between the outer diameter of the holding member 4 and the diameter of the upper circular end of the reflection plate 5, and is arranged above the holding member 4. Further, the reflection surface inside the reflection plate 5 is designed so that the absorption rate for the light from the lamp 3 is minimized. The light from the circular lamp 3 is reflected by the reflection surface inside the reflection plate 5 as indicated by the broken line arrow in FIG. 4A, and is applied to the toner 1 on the transfer paper 2 held by the holding member 4. .

The graph of FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the temperature of the toner and the irradiance of the light with which the toner is irradiated. This graph, for example to the temperature of the toner to 200 to 300 [° C is found to be necessary irradiance ^{1kJ / cm 2 ~10kJ / cm 2} . An experiment was conducted to observe the melting state of the toner in a high temperature furnace.
It was confirmed in C that the toner was deformed even if the heating time was within 5 seconds.

Using the apparatus shown in FIG. 4, the transfer paper 2 was rotated under the conditions of a radius r of rotation of the transfer paper 2 of 50 mm and a rotation speed of 2000 rpm. Then, while the transfer paper 2 is being rotated, the power switch of the circular lamp 3 composed of the xenon flash lamp (400 W) is turned on, and 0.5 ms
When irradiated only for ec, the irradiance became 2.0 J / m ² , and the toner surface temperature exceeded 300 ° C. After that, when the surface of the toner was observed, it was found that 10 μm from the surface of the toner
It was confirmed that the toner deformed to the depth of, and the toner partially flew and separated.

In the configuration example shown in FIG. 4, light is emitted from the toner image forming surface of the transfer paper 2, but as shown in FIG. 6, toner is emitted from the surface opposite to the toner image surface. It may be configured to be heated. The holding member 4 that holds the transfer paper 2 is made of a transparent material that hardly absorbs heat rays. For example, quartz glass or the like is preferable. Further, as the radiation light source, the rod-shaped lamp 3 arranged on the rotation axis of the holding member 4 can be used.

As the lamp 3 used in the above embodiment, an infrared lamp, a halogen lamp or the like can be used in addition to the xenon flash lamp.

[Embodiment 2] In FIG. 7, the toner 1 and the transfer paper 2 are used.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a main part of a toner removing device that uses an electrostatic force as an external force in a direction of detaching the toner from the toner removing device. This toner removing device is composed of an electrostatic roller 6 as an electric field generating means having a structure in which an electrode 61 is embedded in an insulating layer such as a Teflon layer on the surface portion, and a cylindrical member 72 containing a heating lamp 71 as a heating means. A heating roller 70 as a holding and conveying member is provided. In FIG. 7, the insulating layer 62 of the electrostatic roller 6 is not shown, but only a schematic structure of a part of the electrode 61 is shown. Further, as the holding / conveying member for holding and conveying the transfer paper 2, the heating roller 7 is used.
In addition to 0, an endless belt supported by a plurality of support rollers, a horizontally movable flat plate, or the like can be used.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show an example of the structure of the electrode 61 on the surface of the electrostatic roller 6. In the configuration example of the electrode 61 of FIG. 8A, two sets of cylindrical comb-teeth-shaped electrodes 61a and 61b are arranged at a depth of several tens μm to several hundreds μm from the surface of the insulating layer 62 of the electrostatic roller 6. It is embedded to prevent contact. Further, in the configuration example of the electrode 61 of FIG. 8B, two sets of ribbon-shaped electrodes 61a and 61b are spirally wound in the circumferential direction. The electrode width and the electrode interval of the electrodes 61a and 61b are both several hundred μm to several mm. Further, a high voltage power source 8 that outputs positive and negative voltages is connected to the electrodes 61a and 61b, and positive and negative voltages having different polarities are applied based on the toner removal start signal. The absolute value of the applied voltage is several hundred volts to several kilovolts.

The heating roller 7 holds the transfer paper 2 on its surface, and is arranged so that the toner on the transfer paper 2 approaches or contacts the surface of the electrostatic roller 6.

FIG. 9 shows two sets of electrodes 61 of the electrostatic roller 6.
It is explanatory drawing which showed the generation | occurrence | production state of the electric field E and the electrostatic force (gradient force) Fg, when the positive / negative voltage from which the high voltage power supply 8 each differs in polarity is applied to a and b. First,
When the voltage is applied from the high voltage power source 8 to the electrodes 61a and 61b, a non-uniform electric field as indicated by arrow E is generated near the surface of the electrostatic roller 6. After that, when the toner 1 on the transfer paper 2 held by the holding and conveying member 7 approaches or contacts the surface of the electrostatic roller,

The uncharged toner 1 on the transfer paper 2 receives an external force such that it is attracted to the electrostatic roller 5 side by the electrostatic force shown by the second term of the equation (2), that is, the so-called gradient force. Then, when the heating device (not shown) of the holding and conveying member 7 is turned on while the toner 1 is receiving such an external force, the toner 1 on the transfer paper 2 is melted and separated from the surface of the transfer paper 2. The transfer paper 10 from which the toner 1 is thus removed can be used again as a paper for image formation.

[Third Embodiment] The toner removing apparatus according to the third embodiment uses an electrostatic force as an external force applied to the toner 1 as in the second embodiment. It differs from the second embodiment in that the generated toner is sucked by the Coulomb force.

10 (a) and 10 (b) show how the corona charging device 9 as the charging means charges the toner and the electrostatic force (Coulomb force) Fc near the surface of the electrostatic roller 6 is generated. FIG. The electrostatic roller 6 used in the third embodiment is composed of a conductor member 63 such as aluminum coated with an insulating layer 62 of several tens μm to several hundreds μm. The corona charging device 9 is arranged so as to face the surface of the holding / conveying member 7 on the upstream side of the position facing the electrostatic roller 6 in the conveying direction of the transfer paper 2. The corona wire 91 of the corona charging device 9 is connected to the charging high-voltage power supply 10 that outputs a voltage of either positive or negative polarity (positive in the example in the figure), and the shield case 92 is connected to the ground. . Further, the conductive member 63 is connected to a high voltage power source 8 that outputs a voltage having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner 1 (negative polarity in the example in the figure), and the voltage is applied based on the toner removal start signal. It The absolute value of the applied voltage is several hundred volts to several kilovolts.

The holding and conveying member 7 of the third embodiment is the conductor layer 7.
2 has a structure in which an insulator layer 73 is formed on the front surface, and the conductor layer 72 on the back surface is connected to serve as a counter electrode of the corona charging device 9.

In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10A, first, the toner 1 on the transfer paper 2 held on the holding / conveying member 7 by the corona charging device 9 has either positive or negative polarity ( In the example in the figure, it is positively charged. When a voltage having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner 1 (negative polarity in the example in the figure) is applied from the high voltage 8 to the conductive member 63 of the electrostatic roller 6, the conductive member 63 of the electrostatic roller 6 and A large electric field in the direction of separating the toner 1 from the transfer paper 2 is generated between the holding and conveying member 7 and the conductor layer 72 on the back surface.
After that, when the toner 1 on the transfer paper 2 held by the holding and conveying member 7 approaches or contacts the surface of the electrostatic roller,

The charged toner 1 on the transfer paper 2 is transferred to the electrostatic roller 5 by the electrostatic force indicated by the first term of the equation (2), so-called Coulomb force.
Receive an external force that is sucked to the side. Then, while the toner 1 is receiving such an external force, the holding and conveying member 7
When a heating device (not shown) is turned on, the toner 1 on the transfer paper 2 is melted and separated from the surface of the transfer paper 2. The transfer paper 10 from which the toner 1 is thus removed can be used again as a paper for image formation.

[Fourth Embodiment] The toner removing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment uses an electrostatic force as an external force applied to the toner 1 in the same manner as in the second or third embodiment, but the toner is subjected to Coulomb force and gradient force. The point that suction is performed is different from the second or third embodiment.

11 (a) and 11 (b) show the charging of the toner by the corona charging device 9 as the charging means, the electric field E near the surface of the electrostatic roller 6 and the electrostatic force (Coulomb force, gradient force) Fc. , Fg is an explanatory view showing the appearance of Fg. The electrostatic roller 6 used in the fourth embodiment has an insulating layer 62 in which two sets of electrodes 61a and 61b are embedded as shown in FIG. It is composed of a conductor layer 63.
The corona charging device 9 has a holding / conveying member 7 on the upstream side of a position facing the electrostatic roller 6 in the conveying direction of the transfer paper 2.
It is arranged so as to face the surface. The corona wire 91 of the corona charging device 9 is connected to the charging high-voltage power supply 10 that outputs a voltage of either positive or negative polarity (positive in the example in the figure), and the shield case 92 is connected to the ground. . The electrodes 61a and b of the electrostatic roller 6 are connected to voltage output terminals of the high voltage power source 8 having different polarities, and the conductive member 63 has a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner 1 of the high voltage power source 8. A voltage (negative polarity in the example in the figure) output terminal is connected, and the voltage is applied based on the toner removal start signal. The absolute value of the applied voltage is several hundred volts to several kilovolts.

The holding and conveying member 7 of the fourth embodiment is the conductor layer 7.
2 has a structure in which an insulator layer 73 is formed on the front surface, and the conductor layer 72 on the back surface is connected to serve as a counter electrode of the corona charging device 9. (Hereafter, margin)

In the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11A, first, the toner 1 on the transfer paper 2 held on the holding / conveying member 7 by the corona charging device 9 has either positive or negative polarity ( In the example in the figure, it is positively charged. Then, a voltage having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner 1 (negative polarity in the example in the figure) is applied from the high voltage 8 to the conductive member 63 of the electrostatic roller 6, and voltages having different polarities are applied to the electrodes 61a and 61b. Is applied, a large electric field in the direction of separating the toner 1 from the transfer paper 2 is generated between the conductive member 63 of the electrostatic roller 6 and the conductive layer 72 on the back surface of the holding and conveying member 7, and the electrostatic roller 6 A non-uniform electric field as indicated by arrow E is generated near the surface. After that, when the toner 1 on the transfer paper 2 held by the holding and conveying member 7 approaches or contacts the surface of the electrostatic roller,

The transfer paper 2 is generated by the electrostatic force, the so-called Coulomb force and the gradient force shown in the first and second terms of
The upper charged toner 1 receives an external force that is attracted to the electrostatic roller 5 side. Then, when the heating device (not shown) of the holding and conveying member 7 is turned on while the toner 1 is receiving such an external force, the toner 1 on the transfer paper 2 is melted and separated from the surface of the transfer paper 2. The transfer paper 10 from which the toner 1 is thus removed can be used again as a paper for image formation.

As described above, according to each of the above-described embodiments, the toner 1 is heated in the state where the external force for separating the toner 1 from the transfer paper 2 is applied to the toner 1, so that the toner 1 is transferred to the inside of the transfer paper 2. Since the adhesion of the toner 1 to the transfer paper 2 can be reduced without digging in, the toner removal efficiency in the subsequent processing steps can be improved, or the toner 1 can be removed from the transfer paper 2. In that case, the transfer paper 2 can be reused as it is for the next image formation.

Further, since it is not necessary to apply water or a special solution to the transfer paper 2, the transfer paper 2 is deformed (elongated, wavy,
It is possible to suppress the occurrence of wrinkles and the reduction of the paper strength (mechanical strength) of the transfer paper 2. Further, in the conventional method using the liquid, thermal energy (539 cal / cc) was required for drying the transfer paper to which the liquid was applied, but such energy is not required.

In each of the above embodiments, when the toner 1 is heated in a non-contact manner by using the radiation light source as the heating means, the heating member is brought into contact with the toner 1 on the transfer paper 2. The toner image is not crushed and the toner 1 is not reattached to the transfer paper 2. Further, when the radiant heat from the radiant light source is used to heat the toner, the heat transfer path becomes simple, and the amount of liquid such as the heating means of the conventional toner removing device for applying the liquid to the transfer paper is insufficient and the heat is not generated. It has high reliability because there are no control parameters such as rubber material with poor conductivity and heat capacity of heating roller. Further, when the light from the radiant light source is directly applied to the toner 1 to heat it, the toner 1 is usually black and the transfer paper 2 is white. Therefore, the radiant heat from the light source is selected only for the toner 1. Are absorbed, and the efficiency of heating the toner can be improved.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, when the toner 1 is heated above its softening point temperature, the viscosity of the toner decreases and it becomes free to flow in accordance with an external force, and the toner 1 is transferred to the transfer paper 2. It is possible to reduce the adhesion of the toner, or to easily remove the toner 1 from the transfer paper 2.

Further, particularly in the case of the toner removing device using the centrifugal force as the external force, the magnitude of the external force is changed by changing the rotation speed of the holding member 4 and the like, and the transfer paper 2 of the toner 1 is changed. You will be able to control the removal capacity from. Further, it is not necessary to clean the surface of the peeling member as in the case of using the conventional peeling member.

Further, particularly in the case of the toner removing device using the electrostatic force as the external force, the magnitude of the external force is changed by changing the magnitude of the voltage applied to the electrode of the electrostatic roller 6. , The ability to remove the toner 1 from the transfer paper 2 can be controlled. In addition, the electrostatic roller 6
The toner 1 removed from the transfer paper 2 can be easily separated from the electrostatic roller 6 by releasing the electric field generated by or by switching the direction of the electric field in the opposite direction, as in the case of using a conventional peeling member. Cleaning of the surface of the peeling member becomes unnecessary.

The apparatus of each of the above embodiments is a toner removing apparatus for removing the toner from the transfer paper 2 by applying water or a special solution to the transfer paper 2 and then bringing a peeling member into contact with the transfer paper 2. Since the device configuration is simpler than the above, cost reduction can be achieved.

Further, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the conventional peeling member is used when not only the adhesive force between the toner 1 and the transfer paper 2 is reduced but also the toner 1 can be separated from the transfer paper 2. There is no need. The adhesive force of the conventional peeling member to the toner is low in reliability depending on the physical characteristics of the material used (surface energy, SP value, cleanliness, temperature, etc.). Therefore, since it is not necessary to use such a conventional peeling member, a device with higher reliability can be configured.

In each of the above embodiments, the image forming substance is a toner used in a copying machine or the like, but the present invention can be applied even when the image forming substance is an ink used for general printed matter. . In this case, the printed matter is heated in a state where an external force is applied to the printed matter, which is the image carrier, so that the varnish or synthetic resin varnish, which is the vehicle of the ink, is softened and melted. Alternatively, sublimation can reduce the adhesion of the ink or remove the ink.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the present invention is applied to the transfer paper 2 on which an image is formed by the transfer type electrophotographic copying machine, but other image forming apparatuses such as a facsimile, a printer and a printing machine. It can also be applied to an image carrier such as recording paper used in. 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 is applicable may be, for example, a laminate in which the surface layer of a base sheet such as a plastic layer is a material layer such as paper.

[0047]

According to the first or second aspect of the present invention, the image forming substance is heated while an external force is applied to the image forming substance so that the image forming substance is separated from the image carrier. Since the adhesion of the image forming substance to the image carrier can be reduced without the image forming substance penetrating into the image carrier, the toner removing efficiency in the subsequent processing steps can be improved. . Alternatively, when the image forming substance can be removed from the image carrier, the image carrier can be reused as it is for the next image formation.

Furthermore, since it is not necessary to apply water or a special solution to the image carrier, the image carrier is deformed (elongated, wavy,
There is an effect that it is possible to suppress the occurrence of wrinkles) and the reduction of the paper strength (mechanical strength) of the image carrier.

In particular, according to the invention of claim 3, in addition to the above effect, the centrifugal force generated by the centrifugal force generating means is used as the external force applied to the image forming substance.
By changing the rotation speed or the like of the rotating member of the centrifugal force generating means, the magnitude of the external force can be changed to easily control the removal ability of the image forming substance from the image carrier. There is. Further, there is also an effect that cleaning of the surface of the peeling member, which is required when using the conventional peeling member, becomes unnecessary.

In particular, according to the invention of claim 4, by using the electrostatic force generated by the electric field generating means as the external force applied to the image forming substance, in addition to the above effects,
By changing the voltage or the like applied in the electric field generating means, it is possible to change the magnitude of the external force and easily control the ability to remove the image forming substance from the image carrier. Further, by releasing the electric field for generating the electrostatic force or switching the direction of the electric field in the opposite direction, the image forming substance removed from the image carrier can be easily formed from the electrode member or the like for generating the electric field. The separation is made possible, and there is also an effect that cleaning of the surface of the peeling member becomes unnecessary as in the case of using the conventional peeling member.

Further, according to the invention of claim 5, in particular, by heating the image-forming substance to a temperature equal to or higher than its softening point temperature, the viscosity of the image carrier can be lowered to soften or melt it. it can. When the external force is applied to the softened or melted image-forming substance, the image-forming substance can freely flow in accordance with the external force, and the adhesion between the image-forming substance and the image carrier decreases. . Therefore, there is an effect that the image forming substance is more easily removed from the image carrier or is easily removed.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, since the image forming substance on the image carrier can be heated in a non-contact manner by using a radiation light source for the heating means, the transfer paper 2 can be heated. There is an effect that the toner image is not crushed as in the case where the heating member is brought into contact with the toner 1, and the toner 1 is not redeposited on the transfer paper 2. Further, it is possible to efficiently irradiate the image forming substance with the radiant light from the radiant light source by using a condensing member or the like, and in particular, when the image forming substance is black or a color close to it, The radiant light is selectively absorbed by the image forming substance and the image forming substance is intensively heated, so that there is an effect that the image forming substance can be efficiently heated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing changes in toner on a transfer paper before and after heating in a conventional example.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing changes in toner on a transfer paper before and after heating according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a centrifugal force that acts on toner.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a toner removing device using a centrifugal force according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7B is a perspective view of a transfer paper holding member in the toner removing device.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relationship between the temperature of the toner and the irradiance of the light with which the toner is irradiated.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a toner removing device using centrifugal force according to a modification.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a toner removing device using electrostatic force according to a second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8A is a perspective view showing a configuration example of electrodes of an electrostatic roller of the toner removing device. FIG. 6B is a perspective view of an electrode according to a modified example of the electrostatic roller.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing how an electric field and a gradient force are generated in the toner removing device.

FIG. 10A is an explanatory diagram showing a state of toner charging in the toner removing device using electrostatic force according to the third exemplary embodiment. FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram showing how the electric field and Coulomb force are generated in the toner removing device.

FIG. 11A is an explanatory diagram showing a state of toner charging in the toner removing device using electrostatic force according to the fourth exemplary embodiment. FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram showing how the electric field, Coulomb force, and gradient force are generated in the toner removing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Toner (image forming substance) 2 Transfer paper (image carrier) 3 Heating lamp 4 Holding member 5 Reflector plate 6 Electrostatic roller 7 Holding / transporting member 8 High voltage power supply 9 Corona charging device 10 High voltage power supply for charging 61 Electrode 62 Insulator layer 63 Conductor Layer 70 Heating Roller 71 Heating Lamp 72 Conductor Layer 73 Insulator Layer

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (72) Inventor Tadashi Saito 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A step of applying an external force to the image forming material on the image carrier in a direction in which the image forming material separates from the image carrier, and a step of heating the image forming material to which the external force is applied. And a method for removing an image-forming substance from an image carrier. 2. An external force applying means for applying an external force to the image forming material on the image holding member in a direction of separating the image forming material from the image holding member, and heating the image forming material to which the external force is applied. An image forming substance removing apparatus for removing an image forming substance from an image carrier. 3. The image carrier according to claim 2, further comprising, as the external force applying means, a centrifugal force generating means for generating a centrifugal force in a direction in which the image forming substance is separated from the image holding body. Image forming substance removing device. 4. The image holding member according to claim 2, wherein the external force applying means includes an electric field generating means for generating an electrostatic force in a direction in which the image forming substance is separated from the image holding member. Image forming substance removing device. 5. The apparatus for removing an image-forming substance from an image carrier according to claim 2, wherein the image-forming substance is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than its softening point temperature. 6. An apparatus for removing an image forming substance from an image carrier according to claim 2, wherein a radiation light source is used as the heating means.