JP3506351B2 - How to use the image carrier repeatedly - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention forms an image made of an image forming substance on an image carrier in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer or a printing machine, and uses the image carrier as an information carrier. after use, to remove said image-forming substance from the image holding member, and at about the repeated use how the image carrier to reuse the image holding member to an image formed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, printers, copying machines, and printing machines using image forming methods such as electrophotography, thermal transfer, ink jet using hot melt ink, printing, and the like have become widespread, and a large amount of paper has been produced. It is used. However, since the paper generally used as an image carrier on which an image is formed is made of pulp obtained from wood, consuming a large amount of paper leads to deforestation and deterioration of the global environment. In recent years, it has become a social problem. Furthermore,
There is also a problem that a large amount of image carriers on which images have been formed by these image forming methods are discarded and it becomes difficult to dispose of dust.

For a transparent sheet which is an image carrier for an overhead projector (OHP), a plastic film such as a polyester film or an acetate film is usually used as a base material. The raw material of the film is synthesized from fossil materials such as petroleum,
It is manufactured from wood like paper, and it is not preferable to use a large amount of transparent sheets that are image carriers for overhead projectors (OHP) from the viewpoint of protecting petroleum resources and protecting the global environment. .

In order to deal with these problems, a method of recovering unnecessary paper or film and once disintegrating it into a pulp state or remelting it for reuse is conventionally practiced. However, this method has a drawback in that the energy efficiency for regeneration is poor, and the recycled product becomes more expensive or of poor quality than when a new raw material is used.

As a method for solving the above-mentioned conventional problems, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-300395 discloses a cleaning blade or the like after spraying or applying a solvent which dissolves a toner used in a copying machine onto a copy sheet. Discloses a method of removing toner on paper. Although many other proposals have already been made for such a method of dissolving or swelling an image-forming substance to remove the image-forming substance from the image carrier, a commonly used image-forming substance is dissolved or swelled. To do so, an organic solvent such as toluene, xylene, or tetrahydrofuran is required. It is not preferable to use these organic solvents in workplaces such as general offices that do not have a special ventilation device solvent recovery device.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-297294 uses an image carrier formed of a non-absorbent material such as plastic, metal, paper having poor liquid permeability, or ceramics.
A method of peeling an image from an image carrier by superimposing it on the image carrier while heating the heat-meltable peeling member is disclosed. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-55195 discloses an image carrier in which a surface silicone sealant is attached to a PET film and the surface is subjected to a release treatment. Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-64472 discloses an apparatus for peeling an image on an image carrier treated with the release agent. The methods and apparatus shown in these prior art examples are preferred in that no liquid is used to strip the image to remove the imaging material on the image carrier. However, the image carrier used in this method is
There is a big difference in terms of glossiness, surface property, thickness, etc. from the paper generally used as an image carrier, and there is a feeling of discomfort in general use. In addition, there is a drawback that the cost becomes high because an expensive release film is laminated. Further, since it has a release film on the surface, there is also a problem in the fixing property of the image, and there is a problem that the image may be dropped due to friction of clothes or fingers, or clothes and fingers may be soiled. there were.

In JP-A-4-333088, a case where a toner image on the surface of an image carrier is heated above a glass transition point and the heated toner image is transferred to an offset roller as a peeling member to be peeled off At this time, a method has been proposed in which the linear velocity corresponding to the moving speed of the offset roller is increased with respect to the moving speed of the image carrier to remove the toner on the image carrier. According to this method, the moving speed (linear velocity) of the offset roller is made faster than that of the image holding member, so that even when a part of the toner remains on the image holding member due to weak cohesive force when the toner is melted and softened. Since the new surface of the offset roller continuously faces the image carrier, a part of the remaining toner can be transferred to the new surface of the offset roller to be peeled off. This method is preferable in that no liquid is used to peel off the image. However, in this method, in order to remove all the image on the image carrier, the toner remaining on the image carrier is offset until all the toner is transferred to the offset roller while the offset roller and the image carrier are in contact with each other. The amount of deviation between the moving speed of the image carrier and the moving speed (linear speed) of the offset roller must be increased so that the new surface of the roller continuously faces the image carrier. In order to increase the amount of deviation between the moving speed of the image carrier and the linear velocity of the offset roller, it is necessary to keep the pressure applied between the image carrier and the offset roller low. This is because if the pressure is too high, the image carrier will be dragged by the offset roller, making it difficult to cause misalignment. However, if the above-mentioned pressure is suppressed to a low level, unless the image carrier is a smooth one such as a film, toner adhesion to the peeling member becomes insufficient and peeling of the image forming substance becomes difficult. As described above, the above method has a problem that it is difficult to set the pressure applied between the image carrier and the offset roller for removing all the images on the image carrier.

Therefore, as a method for solving the above problem,
The applicant of the present application has disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-13383 that an image carrier having at least a part composed of a paper-like layer containing cellulose fibers as a main component is used, and the image carrier is impregnated with a liquid containing water. We proposed a method of peeling the image-forming substance from the paper-like layer by pressing the image holding member and the peeling member while weakening the adhesive force between the layer and the thermo-flexible image-forming substance. This method is an excellent method in that an image formed on a commonly used paper can be peeled off and reproduced and there is no problem in safety.

The applicant of the present invention has also filed Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-363331.
And Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-36332.
A device configuration for implementing the reproducing method proposed in No. -13383 was proposed.

However, the applicant of the present invention described in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-
Also in the method proposed in No. 13383, since it is necessary to apply a liquid containing water (image removal accelerating liquid) to regenerate the image carrier, various problems may occur. Specifically, paper wet with water weakens the waist, so
There is a high probability that wrinkles or jams will occur in the playback device. Further, it is necessary to dry the paper that is wet with water, and if the wet paper is naturally dried, wrinkles and waviness will occur, and therefore a treatment for smoothing is also necessary. In addition, the size of paper wet with water changes, so when recycled paper is used in image forming devices such as copiers and printers, it may not be possible to put it in the paper cassette due to paper stretch, or it may shrink. There was a risk of causing multiple feeds. In addition, the recycled paper has a problem that curling is likely to occur. Further, when copying is performed using recycled paper, there is a drawback that wrinkles are generated on a fixing roller or the like during copying.

In order to solve the problems in the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-13383, the present applicant proposes a reproducing method and apparatus capable of reducing the amount of the image removal accelerating liquid containing water.
(1) By covering at least the swelling layer of the image holding member to which the image removal accelerating liquid is applied with a seal member that does not permeate water, while maintaining a state in which water evaporation from the swelling layer of the image holding member does not substantially occur. A reproducing method and apparatus for removing the image carrier from the image carrier by heating at least the swelled layer of the image carrier, and (2) applying pressure to the image carrier and the peeling member from the swelling layer of the image carrier. A method and apparatus for regenerating an image carrier for transferring the image forming substance on the image carrier to the peeling member by performing a plurality of times in a state in which the water evaporation of
And (3) The transfer processing of the image forming substance to the peeling member is performed by performing an operation such that the image carrier and the peeling member are misaligned while maintaining the state in which the water evaporation is not substantially generated. A reproducing method and apparatus have been proposed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-
44260).

[0012]

However, in the image holding member reproducing method and apparatus proposed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-44260, wrinkles, waviness, and size change due to the application of the liquid containing water. Although various problems such as the above can be improved, these problems have not been completely solved yet.

In order to more completely prevent the occurrence of the above-mentioned problems, the present inventors have made a plurality of pressure contact and separation between the image holding member and the peeling member without applying a liquid containing water to the image holding member. We paid attention to the fact that the configuration that is divided into two times is effective. The inventors of the present invention have conducted diligent research on a configuration in which the image holding member and the peeling member are pressed and separated a plurality of times, and as a result, once transferred to the peeling member in the plural times of pressure contact and separation. It was found that the image forming substance may be reversely transferred to the image carrier side. Such reverse transfer of the image-forming substance causes background stains on the image-holding member after the peeling process, resulting in a decrease in efficiency of removing the image-forming substance from the image-holding member.

The present invention has been made under the above background, and an object thereof is to damage an image carrier without using a liquid containing water that causes defects such as wrinkles, waviness, and size change. The image-forming substance can be satisfactorily peeled and removed from the image carrier without removing the image-forming substance, and the background transfer of the image-forming substance on the peeling member to the image carrier causes the occurrence of background stain and the removal efficiency of the image-forming substance. to provide a repeatedly used how the image carrier can be suppressed lower.

[0015]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention of claim 1 forms an image made of an image forming substance on an image carrier and utilizes the image carrier as an information carrier medium. after removing said imaging material from the image holding member, the method for reusing image holding member to reuse the image holding member to an image forming, the image holding member and the peeling member while heating the image carrier The image transfer material before forming an image is a reverse transfer inhibitor that suppresses the reverse transfer of the image forming material once peeled and transferred to the peeling member to the image holding body when the pressure contact and the separation are repeated a plurality of times. Image is formed on the image carrier previously provided with the reverse transfer inhibitor and then the image is formed on the image carrier.
Do not heat the image carrier without applying the removal accelerating liquid.
Further , pressure contact and separation between the image holding member and the peeling member are repeated a plurality of times, and the image forming substance on the image holding member is gradually peeled and transferred to the peeling member to be removed.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the method for repeatedly using the image carrier according to the first aspect, a surfactant is added as the reverse transfer inhibitor.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the method for repeatedly using the image carrier according to the second aspect, the amount of the surfactant applied is 0.002 per A4 size side of the image carrier.
It is characterized by being set to ˜0.2 g.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the method for repeatedly using the image carrier according to the first aspect, a hydrophilic polymer compound is added as the reverse transfer inhibitor.

[0019]

[0020]

[0021]

[0022]

[0023]

[0024]

[0025]

[0026]

[0027]

[0028] Oite repeated use how the image carrier of the claims 1 to 4, the peeling member when repeated a plurality of times pressure and separation of the peeling member image carrier while heating the image carrier once peeled transferred image forming substance is a reverse transcriptase inhibitor for inhibiting the reverse transcription the image carrier, previously applied to the image carrier before the formation of the image. By performing the process of applying the reverse transfer inhibitor, in the reproduction process after the image is formed on the image carrier, the image removal is promoted on the image carrier.
When the pressure contact and separation of the image carrier and the peeling member are repeated a plurality of times while heating the image carrier without applying the liquid, the image forming substance once peeled and transferred to the peeling member is reversely transferred to the image carrier side. Suppress.

[0029] Then, in the method for reusing image holding member of the claims 1 to 4, after forming an image on the image carrier imparted with the reverse transcription inhibitor, image on the image carrier
Do not heat the image carrier without applying the image removal accelerating liquid.
The pressure contact and separation between the peeling member al-image bearing member a plurality of times, without peeling transferred to the peeling member at once all of the image forming substance on the image carrier, stepwise image forming substance on the exfoliation member It is peeled off and transferred to and removed. Here, the separation direction is not limited to a specific direction, and for example, when the image carrier and the peeling member are separated in a state in which both are in contact with each other in a direction parallel to the pressure contact surface of both, , Ru <br/> Ah with those including the case where both the direction perpendicular to the piezoelectric contact surface is separated so as to separate.

By performing the heating, pressure contact, and separation, a part of the image forming substance on the image carrier comes into close contact with the peeling member, but since the image transfer medium is previously provided with the reverse transfer inhibitor. , Applying an image removal accelerating liquid to the image carrier
When the pressing and separation of the image carrier and the peeling member are repeated a plurality of times while heating the image carrier, the image forming substance once peeled and transferred to the peeling member does not reverse transfer to the image carrier side.

As the reverse transfer inhibitor, it is preferable to add a surfactant or a hydrophilic polymer compound having a high energy surface to the surface of the image carrier. The above surfactant is
It is easy to manufacture and safe, inexpensive and easily available, and there is no discomfort because there is no apparent change in the surface of the image carrier before and after the application process. Further, the hydrophilic polymer compound is difficult to be dyed by the dye usually contained in the image forming substance.

As the amount of the reverse transfer inhibiting agent applied, a desired reverse transfer inhibiting effect can be obtained, and when the image is formed on the image carrier, the image forming substance forming the image can be adhered with a predetermined adhesive force. It is preferably within the range. When the above-mentioned surfactant is applied, the preferable range of the applied amount is A of the image carrier.
It is 0.002-0.2 g per side of 4 sizes. By setting the amount of the surfactant added to 0.002 g or more, the desired reverse transfer inhibiting effect can be obtained. Further, when the amount of the surfactant applied is 0.2 g or less, the image-forming substance is adhered with a predetermined adhesive force and good fixability is obtained.

As the image carrier used in the repeated use of the image carrier according to the first to fourth aspects, paper mainly composed of cellulose fiber is preferable. Not only is such paper suitable for the adhesion of the image-forming substance, but the used paper is recycled from the cellulose fibers by the usual recycled paper manufacturing process including the usual disintegration treatment and repapermaking treatment. be able to. Furthermore, even if the above-mentioned surfactant and hydrophilic polymer compound are previously added to such a paper, the properties of the paper are almost the same as those of normal paper, and there is no discomfort during use, and the surface friction coefficient is different from that of normal paper. Since there is no big difference, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a jam due to a slip even when an image is formed by using the automatic paper feeder.

[0034]

[0035]

[0036]

[0037]

[0038]

[0039]

[0040]

[0041]

[0042]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First, description will be given of an embodiment of the repeated use how the image carrier according to the present invention. As a method of forming an image on an image carrier, many methods have been proposed in the past. For example, electrophotographic method using dry toner or wet toner, thermal transfer method using heat-fusible ink sheet, thermal diffusion transfer method using thermal diffusible dye, ink jet method, thermal method using heat-developing material Examples thereof include a recording method, a silver salt photography method, an offset plate, an intaglio, a letterpress, and a printing method using a stencil. Repeated use how the image carrier according to the present embodiment, in the image forming method used from the conventional, ordinary electrophotographic method, a thermal transfer method, ink jet method or a printing method using a hot-melt ink And the like. A thermoplastic or heat-meltable image forming substance is used, and the image forming substance is formed in the form of a film in the vicinity of the surface of the image holding member. It is about the method of removing.

Here, the above-mentioned film form does not necessarily mean that the entire image forms one film, and that the image forming substance does not deeply penetrate into the inside of the image holding member, and the image containing substance contains a dye. It means that the image forming substance is not almost adsorbed to the image carrier at the molecular level as in the case of printing with the water-based ink. Therefore, for example, an image formed by an electrophotographic method using a dry toner,
If the toner image does not penetrate deeply into the image carrier even if the image is interrupted in one character image or if one toner particle exists independently, its removal From the principle, it can be regarded as a film-like image and is included in the category of images that can be removed by the method of the present embodiment.

The image carrier used in this embodiment is a general recording paper containing cellulose fiber as a main component, a plastic film, a laminate of plastic film and paper, a foamed polymer material film, a plastic. -Synthetic paper such as a film coated with a mixture of a pigment and a binder.

In the method of the present embodiment, the image removal accelerating liquid containing water, which is used in the method proposed by the present applicant in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-13383, is not used. In this way, without using an image removal promoting liquid containing water,
Without transferring all the image-forming substances on the image carrier to the peeling member by one contact and separation, the pressure contact and separation of the image carrier and the peeling member are repeated a plurality of times, and the image carrier is gradually stepped on the image carrier. The image forming substance of (1) is peeled off and transferred to the peeling member, and the image forming substance on the image holding body is removed without causing damage to the surface of the image holding body. Usually, the paper used as an image carrier is
Microscopically, the surface is not uniform, and the adhesiveness to the image-forming substance is higher or lower depending on the surface area. Further, generally, a commonly used image carrier has a large adhesive force with an image forming substance. Therefore, as in the method of the present embodiment, a plurality of image forming substances can be removed from a single image carrier without removing the image forming substance on the peeling member during the image removing process. In the method of repeatedly pressing and separating the image holding member and the peeling member and peeling and transferring the image forming substance to the peeling member in a stepwise manner, the image forming substance is peeled from the image holding member in the initial stage of the image removing process. The image-forming substance transferred to the member may be reversely transferred from the peeling member to the image holding member in the pressure contact between the image holding member and the peeling member in the latter stage of the process. In particular, when the image carrier is paper, the image forming substance in the portion having weak adhesion to the paper is transferred to the peeling member in the initial stage of the image removing process, but when the image carrier and the peeling member are pressed again. In addition, the image-forming substance that has once been brought into close contact with the peeling member is likely to be reversely transferred to a portion of the paper having strong adhesiveness.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem of reverse transfer, in the repeated use method of the image carrier according to the present embodiment, the image carrier previously treated with the reverse transfer inhibitor before the image formation is used. Specific examples of the reverse transfer inhibitor include high molecular compounds that form a low energy surface such as surfactants, hydrophilic polymer compounds, silicone resins, and fluororesins, sizing agents, power luna wax, poaching, paraffin, Examples include waxes such as synthetic waxes such as waxes, oils such as silicone oil, rapeseed oil and corn oil, metal soaps, and sizing agents used in the manufacturing process of paper. Among the image carriers which have been treated with these reverse transfer inhibitors, the paper which is mainly composed of cellulose fibers coated or impregnated with a surfactant and a hydrophilic resin is the most preferable image carrier. Paper mainly composed of cellulose fibers coated or impregnated with a surfactant or hydrophilic resin has not only an appropriate adhesive force between the image carrier and the image-forming substance, but also used paper is usually disaggregated. A recycled paper is produced by a recycled paper manufacturing process including a treatment and a papermaking process, and the cellulose fibers constituting the paper can be reused. Furthermore, the paper coated or impregnated with the above-mentioned surfactant and hydrophilic resin has almost no difference in properties from ordinary paper, so that there is no discomfort during use, and the friction coefficient is not significantly different from ordinary paper. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of paper jam due to slip, which tends to occur when wax, oil, or a high-molecular compound that forms a low energy surface is applied when forming an image with an automatic paper feeder.

Preferable examples of the surfactant used as the reverse transcription inhibitor are higher fatty acid salt, N-acyl amino acid salt, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether carboxylate, acylated peptide, alkyl sulfonate, alkylbenzene sulfonate. Salt, alkyl naphthalene sulfonate, mono- or dialkyl sulfosuccinate, α-
Olefin sulfonate, N-acyl sulfonate, alkyl sulfate, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate, polyoxyethylene alkyl aryl ether sulfate, alkyd amide sulfate, monoalkyl phosphate, dialkyl phosphate, trialkyl phosphate Anionic surfactants having a long-chain alkyl group such as salts, monopolyoxyethylene alkyl ether phosphates, bispolyoxyethylene alkyl ether phosphates, tris polyoxyethylene alkyl ether phosphates, polyoxyethylene alkylaryl ether hydrochlorides, Silicone-based surfactants such as carboxylic acid-modified polydimethylsiloxane and sulfonic acid-modified polydimethylsiloxane, perfluoroalkylcarboxylic acid salts, perfluoroalkylsulfonic acid salts, perfluoroalkenyl alcohols Rusuruhon salt, N- perfluorooctane sulfonyl glutamate, perfluoroalkyl -N- ethylsulfonyl glycine salts, 3- (.omega.
Examples thereof include fluorosurfactants such as fluoroalkanoyl-N-ethylamino) -1-propanesulfonic acid salts and perfluoroalkylethyl phosphoric acid ester salts.

Further, it is preferable to use the above-mentioned surfactants in terms of easiness of production, safety, and when applied to plain paper, there is no apparent change in appearance before and after the application treatment and no discomfort. Further, the amount of the surfactant applied is A
It is preferable that the four sizes are applied in an amount of 0.002 to 0.2 g per one side. The amount of surfactant applied is 0.0
If the amount is less than 02 g, the desired effect of preventing reverse transfer cannot be obtained, so that good removal of the image forming substance becomes impossible. On the other hand, when the amount of the surfactant is more than 0.2 g, the adhesive strength to the image forming substance is lowered, the fixing property and the transportability in the automatic paper feeding device are deteriorated, and not only the practical use becomes untenable, The cost of the image carrier as a whole is also high.

As the reverse transcription inhibitor, there is a hydrophilic polymer compound as described above. This hydrophilic polymer compound generally has a high surface energy and is usually 40 mN / m.
It has a larger surface tension. On the other hand, what is usually used as an image forming substance such as an electrophotographic toner, a thermal transfer ink and a hot melt ink jet ink has a surface tension in the range of about 30 to 40 mN / m, and the surface tension is more than 40 mN / m. Also has a large difference from a hydrophilic polymer compound having a large surface tension. Therefore, the image carrier which has been surface-treated with the hydrophilic polymer compound is hard to be wet with the image forming substance and is unlikely to cause reverse transfer.

Preferred examples of the hydrophilic polymer compound used as the reverse transfer inhibitor are alginate, polyacrylate, carboxy-methyl cellulose, gelatin, styrene-maleic acid copolymer, gellan gum, hyaluronate, polyethylene. Examples thereof include glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, acrylamide, gum arabic, and alcohol-soluble nylon. Among these hydrophilic polymer compounds, compounds having an anion group as a base polymer such as alginate, polyacrylate, cargoxy methylcellulose, and hyaluronate are less likely to be dyed by the dye exuding from the image-forming substance. Therefore, it is particularly preferable because the image can be easily removed. this is,
Usually, an anionic dye such as an acid dye, a metal-containing dye, or a direct dye is added to an image-forming substance as a main component of a colorant, a complementary colorant, a material having a special function such as a charge control agent. The reason is that the compound having an anion group as the base polymer is difficult to be dyed.

In the above-described repeated use of the image carrier, the surface of the image carrier is preliminarily prepared in advance so that the image forming substance is not reversely transferred from the peeling member to the image carrier by pressure contact between the image carrier and the peeling member. An image carrier is used which has been processed so that its adhesive strength with Therefore, this method of repeatedly using the image carrier realizes such a method because it is not necessary to newly use a method or means for preventing reverse transfer when the image is removed and the image carrier is reproduced. This is preferable in that the playback device can be simplified, downsized, and reduced in cost.

[0052]

[0053]

[0054]

[0055]

[0056]

[0057]

[0058] It should be noted that the repeated use how of the image carrier
Oite, in order to remove the image forming substance from the image holding body,
A peeling member for peeling and transferring the image forming substance on the image carrier is used. As a material for forming the peeling member,
It is necessary to show adhesiveness and heat resistance to a certain extent or more with the image forming substance, and examples of the material include synthetic rubber such as isoprene rubber, neoprene rubber, chloroprene rubber, silicone rubber, butadiene rubber, fluororubber, and natural rubber. Rubber, epoxy resin such as bisphenol-ehichlohydrin condensate, alkyd resin, urea formaldehyde resin, butyl urea formaldehyde resin, butylated melamine formaldehyde resin, benzoguanamine formaldehyde resin and other amino resins, terpene phenol resin, phenol ether resin, Phenolic thermosetting resin such as phenol resin, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, vinylidene chloride-acrylonitrile copolymer, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene -Tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, polyvinylidene fluoride, vinyl copolymer polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl formal, polypropylene, vinyl polymers such as polyethylene, polybutyl acrylate, polymethacrylic acid, acrylic tank fats such as polymethylmethacrylate, Polyimide, Polyamide such as 6,6-nylon, 6-nylon, Polycarbonate, Polyethersulfone, Polyetheretherketone, Polyethylene terephthalate, Polyethylene naphthalate, Polyester such as aromatic polyester, Polyphenylene sulfide, Polyparavalic acid, Polyether nitrile, Thermoplastic or thermosetting synthetic resin such as aramid, metal such as nickel, stainless steel, aluminum and its oxide, ceramic Box material, and the like.

These materials can be used alone, but can also be used in combination by laminating, alloying, adding other additives such as glass fiber, whiskers, carbon, silica, titanium oxide and the like. The optimum material for the peeling member should be selected according to the type of the image-forming substance to be peeled and the image-forming substance removing process, but repeated use of the peeling member is advantageous in various points such as a reduction in reproduction cost. In that case, relatively high heat resistance and surface stability are required. Examples of preferable material of the peeling member from the image removing property and durability are polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polyether ether ketone, polyphenylene sulfide, polyparavalanic acid, polyether nitrile, aramid, polyimide, polyether imide, stainless steel, Examples include nickel and alumite.

[0060] In addition, repeated use how of the image carrier
Transfer Oite, in addition to peeling transferred to the peeling member is softened by heating the image forming substance, the peeling member of the image forming substance on the image holding member by the adhesive using a peeling member having a surface tack It may be allowed to. The peeling member may be formed in any of a sheet shape, a block shape, a drum shape, and a roller shape.

Next, an embodiment of an image carrier reproducing apparatus suitable for realizing the above-described method of repeatedly using the image carrier will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment includes a peeling unit 10 as a peeling unit that peels and removes the image forming substance 2 from the image carrier 1, and a supply unit that supplies the image carrier 1 to the peeling unit 10. 30, a discharge unit 40 for discharging the image carrier 1 from the peeling unit 10, and the like. The image carrier 1 on which an image is formed by an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic system and which is no longer needed is housed on a tray 31 of a supply unit 30, and a paper feed guide 32a is fed from the tray 31 by a paper feed roller 32. It is conveyed toward the peeling unit 10 as a peeling means via 33b. The image carrier 1 that has undergone the peeling process in the peeling unit 10 is discharged to the tray 41 of the discharging unit 40. Since the supply unit 30 and the discharge unit 40 are provided together with the peeling unit 10 as described above, it is possible to automatically perform the reproduction processing of a large number or a large number of image carriers even in an unattended state.

The peeling unit 10 includes peeling members 11a, 1a which are processed into two upper and lower endless belts.
1b is a heating / pressurizing roller 12-16 capable of heating by having a heater (not shown) inside, and separation rollers 17a, 17
b, inlet rollers 18a, 18b, support rollers 19a, 1
It is stretched around 9b, 20a, 20b, 21a, and 21b, and is rotated in the arrow direction by a driving means (not shown). The driving means is arranged so that the heating and pressing rollers 15 to 16 are driven by the electric motor through the gears. The heating and pressing rollers 12 and 13 are the heating and pressing roller 14
˜16 are pressed by the peeling members 11a and 11b to rotate by friction. Heat and pressure roller 1
Reference numerals 2 and 13 denote rollers made of a metal such as aluminum or stainless steel, and are heating and pressing rollers 14 to 16.
Is a roller having a surface coated with an elastic member such as silicone or rubber. Heat and pressure roller 12 and rollers 14 and 1
5, and between the heating / pressurizing roller 13 and the rollers 15 and 16 by a biasing means such as a spring or hydraulic pressure (not shown).
Pressure is applied and a nip is formed between each heating and pressure roller.

The image carrier 1 having the image-forming substance on its surface is
The upper and lower peeling members 1 are provided between the entrance rollers 18a and 18b.
Inserted between 1a and 11b, the heating and pressing rollers 12 to 1
6 heats and pressurizes via the peeling members 11a and 11b.

As in the reproducing apparatus of FIG. 1, when one side of the heating / pressurizing rollers 12 to 16 is made of an elastic body and one side is made of a rigid body such as metal, the rigid body roller bites into the elastic body roller.
A displacement occurs in the moving speed between the upper and lower peeling members 11a and 11b.

The process of removing the image forming substance will be described by taking as an example an image by an electrophotographic method using a dry toner which is generally used. Dry type electrophotographic toners generally contain a viscoelastic thermoplastic resin as a main component.
In the apparatus of FIG. 1, the image carrier 1 on which an image is formed is
Although it is sandwiched between the peeling members 11a and 11b and conveyed through a plurality of peeling portions, the image forming substance on the image carrier 1 passes through the nip between the heating and pressing rollers 12 to 26 at a predetermined temperature. Reaches and softens. The softened image forming substance is pressed in the nip formed by the heating and pressing rollers 12 to 26, and the image forming substance adheres to the peeling members 11a and 11b. The heating temperature should be selected at an appropriate level depending on the viscoelastic temperature characteristics of the image-forming substance used. When using a general dry type electrophotographic toner, 70 to 190 °
C is preferable, and it is particularly preferable to set so that the image carrier 1 is heated to 90 to 130 ° C. At a temperature lower than this temperature range, the fluidity of the image-forming substance is insufficient, so that the image-forming substance does not sufficiently adhere to the peeling members 11a and 11b, and peel transfer of the image-forming substance is less likely to occur. Further, at a temperature higher than the above temperature range, the fluidity of the image-forming substance becomes too high, and the image-forming substance penetrates into the image carrier such as paper. It may be difficult to separate the image carrier 1 from the peeling members 11a and 11b.

In the reproducing apparatus of FIG. 1, since the peeling members 11a and 11b after passing through one nip between the pressure heating rollers 12 to 16 are bent in the opposite directions, the peeling members between the upper and lower peeling members 11a and 11b. , Image carrier and peeling member 11
There is a speed difference between a and 11b. That is, a shearing force acts between the upper and lower peeling members and between the image holding member and the peeling member, so that a relative displacement parallel to the respective contact surfaces occurs. Due to the occurrence of this displacement, the image holding member 1 and the peeling members 11a and 11b which are adhered to each other via the image forming substance are separated, and the image forming substance on the image holding member 1 is peeled off.
Release and transfer to the 1b side.

The image carrier 1 and the peeling members 11a and 11 in the plurality of image peeling portions between the heating and pressing rollers 12 to 26.
By adjusting the amount of deviation from b to be in the range of 0.02 to 7% with respect to the transport speed (moving speed) of the image carrier 1, good peeling transfer is possible. When the amount of deviation is less than 0.02%, the image carrier 1 and the peeling member 11
Since the separation from a and 11b becomes insufficient, the effect of pressing and separating the image carrier 1 and the peeling members 11a and 11b a plurality of times is lost, and the removal of the image forming substance is not performed well.
On the other hand, when the amount of deviation is larger than 7%, the image carrier 1 and the peeling members 11a and 11b are forcibly separated from each other.
Since the image holding member 1 is pulled toward the side 11b, there is a problem that the image holding member 1 is wrinkled or the image holding member 1 is broken, especially in a document having a large image portion. This is because the image portion on the surface of the image carrier is pulled by the peeling member, while slippage occurs between the peeling member and the non-image portion. To change. In addition, the relative speed difference between the image carrier 1 and the peeling members 11a and 11b periodically changes (vibrates), and the image carrier 1
Is conveyed, that is, the peeling members 11a and 11b
If the conveyance speed of the image carrier 1 becomes slower or faster at the peeling portion with respect to the moving speed of, the deviation amount between the two does not become so large even if there is a sufficient speed difference between the two. As described above, the amount of displacement between the image portion and the non-image portion is small, and wrinkles are less likely to occur on the image carrier 1.

In the reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the image forming substance is peeled off and transferred from the image carrier 1 to the peeling members 11a and 11b through the above peeling process, but all of the image forming substance on the image carrier 1 is removed. The image carrier 1 and the peeling member 11a,
When an attempt is made to peel and transfer to a peeling member by one-time pressure contact and separation with 11b, an image having a fixing property sufficient for practical use has a large adhesive force between the image carrier 1 and the image forming substance, and therefore peeling transfer Becomes insufficient, and the image-forming substance becomes the image carrier 1.
However, there is a problem in that it may remain on the surface of the image carrier, or a part of the image carrier may be destroyed and transferred together with the image forming substance to the peeling members 11a and 11b. Further, the separation between the image carrier 1 and the peeling members 11a and 11b becomes defective, and the image carrier 1 is wound around the peeling members 11a and 11b, which causes a problem that a jam occurs.

Therefore, in the reproducing apparatus of this embodiment, the image carrier 1 is formed by pressing and separating the image carrier and the peeling member once.
The above pressure contact and separation are repeated a plurality of times without transferring all the above image forming substances to the peeling members 11a and 11b,
The image forming substance on the image carrier 1 is gradually removed from the peeling member 11a,
The above-mentioned problem is solved by removing and transferring the image forming substance on the image carrier by peeling and transferring to 11b. That is, the image-forming substance can be removed well, the image carrier can be prevented from being damaged, and the occurrence of jam due to the poor separation between the image carrier and the peeling member can be prevented.

In the reproducing apparatus of the above embodiment, a plurality of peeling means for peeling the image forming substance on the image carrier to the peeling member stepwise by contacting / separating the image carrier and the peeling member. It is preferable that the part is configured to include any one or a combination of two or more of the following. In the case of this configuration, in each peeling portion, the peeling action is enhanced by strengthening the adhesive force to the image forming substance remaining on the image holding body on the downstream side as compared with the upstream side in the image carrier conveying (moving) direction. By strengthening, better peeling results can be obtained. In the image removing process, if the adhesive force between the image forming material and the image holding member is too large in the initial stage, all the image forming material on the image holding member is transferred to the peeling member by one contact / separation. Similarly, problems may occur. The contact pressure per unit area between the peeling member and the image carrier at the peeling portion on the downstream side is increased. The heating temperature of the image-forming substance in the peeling section on the downstream side is increased. The contact area between the peeling member and the image carrier at the downstream peeling portion is increased.

Further, in the reproducing apparatus of this embodiment,
As described above, without transferring all the image-forming substances on the image carrier to the peeling member by pressing and separating once, multiple times,
By repeatedly pressing and separating the image carrier and the peeling member, the image forming substance on the image carrier is peeled and transferred to the peeling member in stages to remove the image forming substance on the image carrier. The device is designed so that the image-forming substance transferred from the image carrier to the peeling member in the initial stage of the removal process does not reversely transfer from the peeling member to the image carrier due to the pressure contact between the image carrier and the peeling member in the latter stage of the process. You have to As a means for preventing this reverse transfer, as described above, a method of pre-treating the image carrier with a reverse transfer inhibitor so that the image-forming substance does not easily adhere to the surface of the image carrier, reproduction There is a method of applying in the device. In the case of the reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, since the reproducing apparatus is not provided with means for applying a reverse transfer inhibiting agent, an image carrier pretreated with the reverse transfer inhibiting agent is used. The fact that paper mainly composed of cellulose fibers coated or impregnated with a surfactant is more preferable as the image carrier has already been described in the above description of the reproducing method. In addition to this surfactant, power luna wax,
Waxes such as poaching, synthetic waxes such as paraffin and wax, oils such as silicone oil, rapeseed oil and corn oil, metal soaps, and sizing agents used in the paper manufacturing process are pre-applied to the surface of the image carrier. It can also be provided.

In the reproducing apparatus of FIG. 1, the image forming substance of the image carrier 1 is peeled and transferred to the peeling members 11a and 11b, but the image forming substance on the peeling members 11a and 11b is the cleaning member 22a. 22b, the peeling members 11a and 11b are repeatedly used. The image forming material removed by the cleaning members 22a and 22b is stored in the container 2
It is accommodated in 3a and 23b. The cleaning member 2
As 2a and 22b, a roller having a spiral blade, a roller having a scrubbing surface wound with a fine wire of metal or organic polymer in a loop, and a roller having metal or organic polymer wire flocked are preferably used. However, it is not always necessary to use a rotatable roller, and the peeling member can be cleaned with a fixed blade of metal, ceramics, or organic polymer. By thus removing the image-forming substance on the peeling members 11a and 11b and repeatedly using the peeling members, it is possible to reduce the cost of the recycling process, and an apparatus suitable for environmental protection with less dust emission. Can be provided.

The reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 has a structure using two endless belt-shaped peeling members 11a and 11b. In such a structure, the image carrier 1 and the peeling members 11a and 11b are used. And the removal of the image-forming substance is excellent. Further, in the reproducing apparatus having this configuration, heating of the image carrier 1 is performed by 1 as compared with the case where the peeling process is performed on each side when removing the image of the double-sided copy.
The image-forming substance is removed in an energy-efficient manner because it can be performed only once. Further, since both surfaces are peeled off at the same time, the processing speed is increased and the mechanical structure can be simplified.

[0074]

Next, with reference to FIG. 2, a description of another embodiment of the image carrier of the playback apparatus of the present invention. Figure 2
Is a device suitable for realizing the above-described repeated use method of the image carrier, in which one endless belt-shaped peeling member 11 has a heater inside and a drum 24 capable of heating. The inlet roller 18, the tracking roller 25 whose shaft position is set to be movable to correct the deviation of the belt-shaped peeling member 11, the belt driving roller 26a that drives the peeling member 11, the backup roller 27 of the cleaning unit, and the tension. The roller 28 and the separation roller 27 are rotatably stretched around each other. Inside the endless belt-shaped peeling member 11, there are heating and pressure rollers 29a to 29 capable of heating by having a heater inside.
d is provided so as to be in pressure contact with the drum 24 via the peeling member 11, and each heating and pressing roller 29 a to 29 d and the drum 2 are provided.
A nip is formed between the nip and the nip 4. Each of the heating / pressurizing rollers 29a to 29d is urged to come into pressure contact with the drum 24 by an urging means such as a spring or hydraulic pressure (not shown).

The drum 24 has a clamp portion (not shown), and the front end of the image carrier 1 being conveyed is clamped by a clamp so that the displacement between the image carrier 1 and the surface of the drum 24 is minimized during the conveying process. It is structured like this. Drum 24
The peeling member 11 and the peeling member 11 are driven by driving means such as a pulse motor (not shown) so that each surface moves at an independent linear velocity. That is, the moving speed of the peeling member 11 is determined by the rotating speed of the belt driving roller 26a. A pressure is applied between the belt drive roller 26a and the belt drive auxiliary roller 26b by a biasing means such as a spring or hydraulic pressure (not shown), whereby the peeling member 11 does not slip and the belt drive roller 26a moves. A frictional force is applied to move according to the rotation speed.

The heating and pressing rollers 29a to 29d are
It rotates by friction with the peeling member 11. The heating / pressurizing rollers 29a to 29d are rollers made of aluminum having an elastic body of silicone rubber on the surface. Silicone rubber and aluminum were used in the reproducing apparatus of FIG. 2 , but materials such as stainless steel, brass, phenol resin, and epoxy resin can be used as the material of the roller, and fluororubber and nitrile rubber can be used as the elastic body. Etc. can also be used. Further, the drum 24 is a drum made of aluminum whose surface is fluorinated so that dirt is not easily attached.

The image carrier 1 on which the image made of the image forming material is formed is provided between the drum 24 and the entrance roller 18 by the sheet feeding roller 13 of the sheet feeding unit 30 as in the reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. Is inserted. The image carrier 1 inserted is
It is sandwiched between the drum 24 and the peeling member 11 and conveyed, and is discharged to the tray 41 of the discharge unit 40 from between the separation roller 17 and the drum 24. While being held between the drum 24 and the peeling member 11 and conveyed, the drum 24 and the heating and pressing rollers 29a to 29d heat the image forming substance on the image holding member 1 and the peeling member 11 and the image. The pressure contact and separation with the holder are repeated a plurality of times.

The reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 2 has a simplified structure in which the image-forming substance is removed from only one surface of the image carrier when the image carrier having an image formed on only one surface is processed. Has been. Further, according to the reproducing apparatus of FIG. 2 , when removing the image-forming substance from one surface of the image carrier, it is not necessary to apply a liquid containing water to the one surface as in the conventional case, so that the image carrier is curled. It does not occur .

[0080]

EXAMPLES Next, more specific examples of the present invention will be described together with comparative examples. Example 1 A mixed solution having the following formulation was prepared. Alkylsulfosodium succinate 5wt% Fluorosurfactant 5wt% Ion exchange water Remaining amount

Commercially available copy paper (trade name:
(Type 6200, manufactured by Ricoh Co., Ltd.) was coated on both surfaces so that the coating amount was about 0.15 g / A4 (2.4 g / m ² , the surfactant amount was 0.015 g / A4) per side, and dried. Using paper coated with this surfactant,
Copying was performed on both sides of the paper with a commercially available copying machine (trade name: M6500, manufactured by Ricoh Company). I made 30 copies in succession,
The obtained image was a normal image, with no clear difference observed as compared with the image of the paper to which the above-mentioned surfactant was not applied. Generally, when a copy is made on paper having poor fixing properties, the toner image on the copy paper is transferred to the fixing roller of the copying machine. As a result, there is a problem that the image density decreases or the background stains occur due to the offset.
From the above results, it was estimated that when the paper of this example was used, the transfer of toner to the fixing roller was very small or did not occur. Further, it was determined that this copied image did not fall off even if it was rubbed with a fingertip, and was sufficiently practical.

Using the reproducing apparatus of FIG. 1 of the above embodiment,
Remove the image copied on the paper coated with the surfactant,
I recycled the paper. As the peeling members 11a and 11b, those obtained by forming a film made of polyethylene naphthalate resin into an endless belt by ultrasonic bonding were used. As the heating / pressurizing rollers 12 to 16, rollers having a diameter of 30 mm were used. The heating / pressurizing rollers 12 and 13 use stainless steel rollers having a halogen lamp as a heat source inside, and the heating / pressurizing rollers 14 to 16 also have a halogen lamp and have a thickness of 3 mm of silicone. -Used an aluminum roller having a rubber layer. A force of 25N is applied between the heating / pressurizing roller 12 and the heating / pressurizing rollers 14 and 15 (effective roller length 320 m).
m), heating / pressurizing roller 13 and heating / pressurizing roller 15,
A force of 40 N was applied between 16 and. That is, in the transfer / peel process, the contact pressure on the downstream side was set high.

Using the above reproducing apparatus, the paper conveying speed is 20 m.
When processed at m / sec and a roller temperature of 105 ° C,
The image on the copy paper was removed on both sides. At this time, the amount of deviation between the copy paper and the peeling members 11a and 11b was 0.6 mm (linear velocity ratio 3%).

Using the regenerated paper, copying was performed again on both sides of the paper with the above copying machine. Similar to the first time, 30 sheets were continuously copied, but no clear difference was observed in the image as compared with the image of the paper not coated with the surfactant, and a normal image was obtained. Further, it was determined that this copied image did not fall off even if it was rubbed with a fingertip, and was sufficiently practical. Further, during continuous copying of 30 sheets, there were no troubles such as jamming and wrinkling of the paper. The image reproduced on the regenerated paper was removed under the same conditions as described above by using the reproduction apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and the paper was regenerated. The image on the paper is
Both sides were removed. In the same manner, copying and image removal were repeated up to the fifth time, but there was no abnormality in the copied image, and neither jam nor wrinkle occurred in the copy removal. The image was also removed well.

[Comparative Example 1] Example 1 is the same as Example 1 except that copying is performed on a copy sheet without applying the surfactant.
Copy and paper recycling processing was performed in the same manner as in. At this time, in the reproducing apparatus, the sheet and the peeling members 11a and 11b remain adhered to each other via the toner, and the sheet is caught in the cleaning member 22b together with the peeling members 11a and 11b, which causes a jam. I got it.

[Comparative Examples 2, 3, 4] A mixed solution containing the above-mentioned surfactant was applied on each side at about 0.010 g / A.
4, 0.015 g / A4, 2.5 g / A4 (0.001 g / A4, 0.0015, respectively as the amount of surfactant)
g / A4, 0.25 g / A4) except that the both sides were coated so that the copy and the paper were recycled. The amount of surfactant is 0.010g / A
For the paper of 4, 0.015 g / A4, 30 copies were continuously made in the same manner as in Example 1 above, but the obtained image was the same as the image of the paper to which the surfactant was not applied. No clear difference was observed in comparison, which was normal. However, when an attempt is made to reproduce the copied sheet by the reproducing apparatus, as in Comparative Example 1, the sheet and the peeling member 11 are removed.
The sheets a and 11b are still adhered to each other via the toner, and the sheet is caught in the cleaning member 40b together with the peeling members 11a and 11b, resulting in a jam. When the jammed paper was peeled off from the peeling member, the surface of the paper where the image was present peeled off together with the toner.

Further, the amount of the surfactant is 0.25 g / A4.
With respect to the paper, when 30 sheets were continuously copied, the obtained copy had a background stain. This was estimated to be the background stain due to the offset on the fixing roller. Moreover, the image of the obtained copy was peeled off when rubbed with a fingertip.

[Comparative Example 5] In the reproducing apparatus of FIG. 1, except that the spring between the other heating / pressurizing rollers is released so that pressure is applied only between the heating / pressurizing roller 13 and the heating / pressurizing roller 16. In the same manner as in Example 1 above, a copy process and a paper recycling process were performed. Under this condition, the removal rate of the image on the paper is about 70%, not only the image remains and the processed paper cannot be reused, but also the fiber of the paper after the image is peeled off. Is gone, and the paper has a watermark.

[0089]

[0090]

[0091]

[0092]

[0093]

[0094]

Example 2 A mixed solution having the following formulation was prepared. Alkylsulfo sodium succinate 10 wt% Inpropyl alcohol 20 wt% Ion-exchanged water Remaining amount

Commercially available copy paper (trade name:
My Paper, manufactured by NBS Ricoh Co., Ltd.) and applied on both sides so that the amount applied is about 0.25 g / A4 (4.0 g / m ² , the surface-active agent amount is 0.025 g / A4) on one side.
It was dried at 10 ° C. Using the paper coated with this surfactant, copying was performed on both sides of the paper with a commercially available copying machine (trade name: FT2200, manufactured by Ricoh). Although 30 copies were continuously made, no clear difference was observed in the image as compared with the image of the paper not coated with the above-mentioned surfactant, and a normal image was obtained. The apparatus of FIG. 2 of the above-described embodiment was used as the sheet reproducing apparatus, and the image copied on the surface of the paper coated with the surfactant was removed, and the sheet was reproduced.

In this embodiment, the surface temperature of the drum 24 and the heating / pressurizing rollers 29a to 29d is 105 ° C., and the pressing force between the heating / pressurizing roller and the drum 24 is 10N to 30N. The pressing force was set to increase toward the downstream side of 29d (roller effective length 320 mm). The diameter of the drum 24 is 100
As the peeling member 11, a film made of polyethersulfone resin was ultrasonically bonded into an endless belt. The linear velocity on the surface of the drum 24 is set to 10 mm / sec, the moving speed of the peeling member 11 is set to be 1% slower than that of the drum 24, and an image is formed on the paper treated with the liquid containing the surfactant. Then, the toner having 100% of toner was removed.

Using the regenerated paper, the paper was copied again by the above copying machine. Similar to the first time, 30 copies were continuously made, but no clear difference was observed in the image compared with the image of the paper not coated with the liquid containing the surfactant, and a normal image was obtained. Was given. Further, it was determined that this copied image did not fall off even if it was rubbed with a fingertip, and was sufficiently practical. Further, there was no trouble such as jamming and wrinkling of the paper during continuous copying of 30 sheets.

In the same manner, copying and image removal were repeated up to the fifth time, but no abnormalities occurred in the copied image, and no jam or grain was generated during copy removal. The image was also removed well.

[Embodiments 3, 4, 5, 6 ] The moving speed of the peeling member 11 is 0.3%, 0.7% from the linear speed of the surface of the drum 24, that is, the conveying speed of the image carrier.
Processing was carried out in the same manner as in Example 2 except that the processing was delayed by 2% and 4%, and in each case, 100% of the toner was removed.

[Embodiment 7 ] The moving speed of the peeling member 11 and the linear speed of the drum 24 are 3H.
Processing was performed in the same manner as in Example 2 except that the peeling member 11 and the drum 24 were driven while vibrating so that a maximum speed difference of 7% was generated in the z cycle. Was 100% removed.

Comparative Example 6 The peeling member 11 and the drum 24 are not driven independently,
The peeling member 11 is driven by the frictional force with the drum 45, and is the same as that of the second embodiment except that the toner is peeled and transferred to the peeling member 11 in a state where there is almost no difference in moving speed between the peeling member 11 and the sheet. When processed in the same manner, the toner removal rate was about 65%.

[Comparative Examples 7 and 8 ] The conveying speed of the peeling member 11 was 9% and 15% from the drum 24.
When the processing was performed in the same manner as in Example 2 except that the processing was delayed, wrinkles were generated on the copy paper in all cases.

Example 8 According to the following formulation, first, sodium polyacrylate, which is a hydrophilic polymer compound, was dissolved in water, and clay was dispersed in the solution. This dispersion was applied onto a commercially available high-quality paper for copying (trade name: My Paper, manufactured by NBS Ricoh Co., Ltd.) so that the coating amount was 2 g / A4 per one side in terms of solid content and dried. Sodium polyacrylate 3wt% Clay 3wt% Water Remaining amount

Using the paper coated with the above hydrophilic polymer, copying was performed on both sides of the paper with a commercially available copying machine (trade name: FT2200, manufactured by Ricoh Company). Thirty copies were continuously made, but the obtained image was a normal image with no apparent difference compared with the image of the paper not coated with the hydrophilic polymer.

When the reproduction apparatus of FIG. 1 was used to reproduce a copy of the paper coated with the hydrophilic polymer compound under the same conditions as in Example 1, the image was removed. The regenerated paper was used to copy again on both sides of the paper with the above copying machine. Like the first time, I made 30 copies in succession.
As for the image, no clear difference was observed compared with the image of the paper not coated with the hydrophilic polymer, and a normal image was obtained. Further, it was determined that this copied image did not fall off even if it was rubbed with a fingertip, and was sufficiently practical. Also,
During the continuous copying of 30 sheets, there were no troubles such as jamming and wrinkling of the paper.

[0107]

According to the inventions of claims 1 to 4 , the image holding is carried out.
Repeated several times the pressure contact and separation between the peeling member image carrier while heating the body, since the removed stepwise peeled transferring an image forming substance on the image carrier to the exfoliation member, the image carrier Unlike the case where all of the above image-forming substances are peeled and transferred to the peeling member at once, there is an effect that all the images can be removed from the image carrier without damaging the image carrier.

Further , when the above-mentioned pressure contact and separation are repeated a plurality of times while applying heat to the image carrier without applying the image removal promoting liquid containing water prior to the peeling treatment, the image forming substance once peeled and transferred to the peeling member. May reversely transfer to the image holding member, but by applying a reverse transfer inhibitor to the image holding member before forming an image, the peeling member may be applied to the peeling member even if a peeling process in which the pressure contact and the separation are repeated a plurality of times is performed. Since the image forming substance once peeled and transferred is not reversely transferred to the image carrier, there is an effect that it is possible to suppress the occurrence of background stain and the decrease in the removal efficiency of the image forming substance due to the reverse transfer.

Further, since it is not necessary to apply the image removal promoting liquid containing water prior to the peeling process, there is an effect that problems such as wrinkles, waviness and size change due to the application of the image removing promoting liquid can be prevented.

In particular, according to the invention of claim 2, a surfactant which is excellent in easiness of production and safety as the above-mentioned reverse transfer inhibitor, and which is inexpensive and easily available is provided in advance on the image carrier. There is an effect that the production of the image carrier to which the image-retarding agent is applied in advance is simplified and the image carrier having excellent safety can be produced at low cost. Further, the above-mentioned surfactant also has an effect that there is no discomfort in handling the image carrier because the surface of the image carrier is not apparently changed before and after the applying treatment.

Further, according to the third aspect of the invention, since the hydrophilic polymer compound which is difficult to be dyed by the dye usually contained in the image-forming substance is used as the reverse transfer inhibitor, the dye after peeling treatment There is an effect that it is possible to prevent the apparent reduction in the image removal efficiency due to the residue.

Further, according to the invention of claim 4, in particular, 0.002 to 0.2 g of a surfactant is preliminarily applied to the image carrier per one side of the image carrier of A4 size, so that the desired reversal can be achieved. In addition to the effect of suppressing the image transfer, the image forming substance is adhered with a predetermined adhesive force to obtain good fixing property, and further, the cost of the entire image carrier can be suppressed.

[0113]

[0114]

[0115]

[0116]

[0117]

[0118]

[0119]

[0120]

[0121]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image carrier reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image carrier reproducing apparatus according to another embodiment .

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image carrier (paper) 2 Image forming substance (toner) 3 Coating liquid (liquid containing reverse transfer inhibitor) 10 Peeling unit 11 Peeling member 12-16 Heating / pressurizing roller 17 Separation roller 18 Inlet roller 19-21 Support roller 22 a cleaning member 24 a drum 25 tracking roller 26a belt driving roller 27 backup roller 28 tension roller 29a~29d heating and pressing roller 30 supply unit 40 discharging unit

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Kiyoshi Tanigawa 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Tadashi Saito 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Within Ricoh Co., Ltd. (56) Reference JP-A-7-84396 (JP, A) JP-A-8-44260 (JP, A) JP-A-8-123267 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated ( Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 21/00 G03G 21/00 570-578

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image-forming material comprising an image-forming material formed on an image-holding member, the image-holding material being used as an information-holding medium, and the image-forming material being removed from the image-holding material. in repeated use of the image holding member to reuse the body image formation, it is once peeled transferred to the peeling member when repeated a plurality of times pressure and separation of the peeling member and the image bearing member while heating the image carrier A reverse transfer inhibitor that suppresses reverse transfer of the image forming substance to the image carrier is previously applied to the image carrier before image formation, and the image is transferred to the image carrier to which the reverse transfer inhibitor is previously applied. And then applying an image removal promoting liquid to the image carrier.
Without removing the image forming substance on the image carrier by gradually peeling and transferring the image forming substance on the image carrier to the peeling member while heating the image carrier and repeating the pressure contact and the separation between the image carrier and the peeling member a plurality of times. A method of repeatedly using an image carrier, characterized by: 2. The method for repeatedly using the image carrier according to claim 1, wherein a surfactant is added as the reverse transfer inhibitor. 3. The method of repeatedly using the image carrier according to claim 2, wherein the amount of the surfactant applied is set to 0.002 to 0.2 g per one side of the A4 size of the image carrier. . 4. The method for repeatedly using the image carrier according to claim 1, wherein a hydrophilic polymer compound is added as the reverse transfer inhibitor .