JP2965368B2 - Recording medium reproducing apparatus and image forming method using the same - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording medium reproducing apparatus and an image forming method using the same.
The present invention relates to transport control including re-feeding of a recording medium after reproduction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recording paper used for so-called copying, printing and the like carries a visible image by adhering ink or toner to the surface thereof, and functions as a recording medium. By the way, such recording paper is made from pulp as a raw material, but in recent years, it has been proposed to reuse it in terms of resource conservation. That is, as a method of performing the above-described reuse, in a case where recording paper using deinkable ink and recording paper using non-deinkable ink are mixed, ink that can be deinked is used. There is a method of selecting and collecting used recording paper, converting it into fiber, and regenerating it. On the other hand, apart from such a reproduction process, it has been proposed to use a developer having a deinkable toner as a main part and to erase the toner to obtain a reproduced recording sheet.

[0003]

By the way, as for the recording paper regenerated by the latter method, not all the regenerated recording paper can be reused. In other words, some recording papers are insufficient in the degree of whiteness that can be reused, and thus need to be classified. However, there is a concern that such a classification operation may be troublesome, and a supply system of the recycled recording paper for a quick printing operation can be obtained. Therefore, supply may not be possible. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium reproducing apparatus capable of performing a quick printing operation by improving the usability of using a recording medium such as recording paper that has been subjected to reproduction processing in view of the above-described problem in reproducing the recording medium. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming method used.

[0004]

In order to achieve this object, the invention according to claim 1 comprises means for feeding a printed recording medium obtained by a printing device, and erasing a printed portion on the recording medium. A recording medium reproducing apparatus comprising: a reproduction processing unit for reproducing the recording medium; and a unit for storing the recording medium after the reproduction processing. Means for detecting the density of the reproduced reproduction surface of the recording medium, the density detection means being connected to the input side, and the output side having a transport path toward the storage means for the recording medium and a means for collecting the non-reusable recording medium. And a control unit to which a driving unit of means for switching between the conveyance path and the recording medium is connected, and the control unit determines that the density of the reproduction surface of the recording medium after the reproduction processing is equal to or lower than a predetermined density. To the storage means of the above recording medium It is characterized in that for switching settings of the transport path so as to set the conveying path. The invention according to claim 2 is a means for feeding a printed recording medium obtained by a printing apparatus, a reproduction processing means for erasing and reproducing a printed portion on the recording medium, and a recording medium after the reproduction processing. Storing means for detecting the density of the reproduction surface of the recording medium discharged from the reproduction processing means, and when the density is equal to or lower than a predetermined density, transporting the recording medium to the storage means; It is characterized in that it can be fed to the department.

[0005]

[0006]

[0007]

[0008]

[0009]

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, when the density of the reproduction surface on which printing has been erased is equal to or lower than a predetermined density corresponding to a reusable state, the sheet can be re-fed to the printing unit. The recording medium is conveyed to the storage means as described above.

[0010]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic layout diagram for explaining the overall configuration of a recording medium reproducing apparatus used in an image forming method according to an embodiment of the present invention. The recording medium reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. It is assumed that reproduction is performed on recording paper. For this reason, in the following description, this device is referred to as a recording paper reproducing device.

That is, the recording paper reproducing apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
Is a case where the paper feed unit 1B for storing the recording paper S after copying is provided on one wall of the housing 1A. The above-described paper feeding unit 1B includes a recording paper accommodation cassette 1B1 and this cassette 1B.
1 includes a feeding roller 1B2 and a feeding roller 1B3 which can be selectively moved toward and away from the leading edge of the recording paper S in the recording paper S. The recording in the cassette 1B1 is directed to a reproduction processing unit 1C to be described later. The paper S is fed out and fed.

On the other hand, the reproduction processing section 1C is provided with a recording paper transport path extending from the upper side to the lower side in the figure, and includes a printing surface of the recording paper (a surface indicated by a symbol A in the figure) in the transport path.
A meandering path 1Ca for reversing is provided. The reason why the printing surface A of the recording paper S is reversed is to make an unused surface of the reproduced recording paper S a printing surface when the paper is re-fed to the copying machine 2. In the case of the present embodiment, the reproduction processing unit 1C has a structure for erasing the printing unit when a biodegradable component is used as toner in the developer used in the copying machine 2. Specifically, the reproduction processing unit 1C1 and the drying unit 1C2 having the configurations shown in FIGS.
And a cleaning unit 1C3. That is, the regenerating unit 1C1 is composed of a decomposing agent storage tank 1C1a and a decomposing agent application device 1C1c made of, for example, felt and extended between the tank 1C1a and the recording paper surface on the conveyor belt 1C1b. The drying section 1C2 includes a far-infrared lamp 1C2a as a heater, a conveyor belt 1C2b, and a steam discharge fan 1C2c. Therefore, the recording paper S fed from the paper feeding unit
Is set by setting the conveying speed of the conveying belt 1C1b, the decomposed agent is applied by the decomposing agent applying device 1C1c, the printed portion on the surface is biodegraded and erased, and the drying portion 1C2
And is fed to a cleaning unit 1C3 described later. The inside of the regeneration processing unit 1C1 is controlled by a temperature / humidity sensor 1C1d to control the temperature / humidity for accelerating the decomposition. The setting of the temperature / humidity by the sensor 1C1d is performed by the ultrasonic humidifier 1C1e and the recording unit. Paper S
The processing is performed by a ceramic heater 1C1f in the conveyor belt 1C1b facing the non-reproduction processing surface.

On the other hand, the cleaning unit 1C3 described above
It has a function of removing toner of a printing portion which has been released on the surface of the recording paper by drying. Specifically, a rotary brush 1C3a capable of rubbing the surface of the recording paper, and a surface of the recording paper which comes into contact with the brush 1C3a. To remove toner that has been swept from
Cleaning blade 1C3b and cleaning blade 1C
The rotary brush 1 sandwiches the recording paper S with a toner collecting member 1C3c made of a paddle wheel or a screw body for collecting the toner removed from the rotary brush 1C3a by 3b.
The ultrasonic transducer 1C3d is disposed so as to face the C3a. And the cleaning unit 1C3
The recording paper S that has passed through the printing surface A is turned over and the non-reproduction surface
The recording paper is discharged to a recording paper storage stacker 1D for recording paper storage located on the exit side of the transport path with the so-called unused surface facing upward (the surface indicated by reference numeral A 'in FIG. 1). I have.

A plurality of recording paper storage stackers 1D are provided so that the recording paper S discharged from the reproduction processing section 1C1 can be classified into a plurality of types, one of which is a non-reusable recording paper. Is a collection stacker 1D1 that collects and the other is a size sorting stacker that classifies and stores by size. In the case of the present embodiment, for example,
The first that can accommodate A3 and A4 versions of A series
And a second re-feeding stacker 1D3.

For this reason, the recording paper transport path 1E extended from the reproduction processing section 1C1 can be introduced into each stacker with the non-reproduction processing surface of the recording paper S discharged from the reproduction processing section 1C1 being in the upper side in the drawing. A path is set, and among the respective stackers, a swingable first transport path as a transport path switching member is provided at a branch position to the collection stacker 1D1 and the first and second refeeding stackers D2 and 1D3. Switching claw 1E1
And the first and second re-feeding stackers 1D2, 1D
The second transport path switching pawls 1E2 are arranged at the branch position to D3, and these transport path switching pawls cannot move the recording paper in the normal state, for example, to any of the transport paths. The neutral orientation is set, and the attitude conversion from this attitude is driven and controlled by a control unit described later. On the other hand, the above-described re-feeding stackers 1D2, 1D3
A plurality of feeding rollers 1 are provided between the printer and a paper feed inlet 2a formed on the bottom of the copying machine 2 along the recording paper transport direction.
A re-feeding path 1F in which F1 is disposed is provided, and a feeding roller 1F2 that can contact and separate from the recording paper is provided above the stacker corresponding to the upstream side of the re-feeding path 1F in the recording paper conveyance direction. It is arranged. Stacker 1D for re-feeding described above
2 and 1D3, the rotation of the feeding roller is controlled by a control unit, which will be described later, when a mode using the reproduced recording paper is set separately from the paper feeding device on the copying machine 2 side. The recording paper is fed out.

Here, the structure of the toner to be decomposed in the above-mentioned reproduction processing section 1C1 will be described. The toner is made of biodegradable plastic.
For example, as a component configuration, a plastic classified as a polysaccharide is used. Ecostar and Ecostar Plus are specific examples of this plastic.
(All are trade names manufactured by Ogiwara Kogyo), and this plastic is used in an amount of 1 to 70 parts by weight, preferably 1.5 to 50 parts by weight, based on 100 parts of the binder resin. The particle size of the toner made of this plastic is about 30 μm.
Hereinafter, 3 to 20 μm is preferably selected. In order to improve the fluidity of the toner, TiO ₂ , Si
Other external additives such as O ₂ , SnO ₂ or Al ₂ O ₂ may be added. Further, when the above-mentioned biodegradable plastic is used, a lipase or a lipase compound is used as an enzyme for decomposing the toner. The lipases described above include esterase, phospholipase,
Lysophos lipase and the like may be used. Further, the lipase-active substance has the same action as lipase, and specifically, crude lipase, lipase-containing substances, lipase-producing bacteria and lipase-producing cultures are used. is there. Also, in order to promote the decomposition instinct, a buffer for maintaining the pH during decomposition,
In some cases, a surfactant is used to increase the contact area with the degrading enzyme. In this case, as a material,
In some cases, a first phosphate, a second phosphate, and a nonionic surfactant as a surfactant are used.

On the other hand, a photoreceptor 2A is provided inside the copying machine 2 so as to be rotatable in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG.
A charging device 2B, an exposure device 2C, a developing device 2D, a transfer device 2E, a separation device 2F, and a cleaning device 2G for performing a known electrophotographic copying process along the rotation direction.
Are arranged respectively. A sheet feeding device 2H, which will be described later, is arranged near the transfer device 2E, and a fixing device 2I is arranged near the separating device. The above-described paper feeding device 2H is located upstream of the transfer device 2E in the paper feeding direction indicated by an arrow, and the recording paper S fed from the paper feeding device 2H is provided near the transfer device 2E. The registration roller 2J performs positioning with the leading end of the image on the photosensitive member 2A. In the above-described paper feeder 2H, a plurality of paper feed cassettes 2H1 and 2H2 capable of accommodating recording sheets S of different sizes are detachably provided, and the above-described registration roller 2J is a rear end in the paper feed direction. The recording paper S is fed out by a feed roller 2H3 toward the paper feed path 2K.

The above-mentioned paper feed path 2K can communicate with the end of the paper feed path 1E in the recording paper reproducing apparatus 1 in addition to the path from the paper feed cassettes 2H1 and 2H2 to the registration roller 2J. The recording paper inlet 2a is formed so that the reproduced recording paper from the recording paper reproducing device 1 can be fed to the registration roller 2J. Further, to this paper feed path 2K, there is connected a reverse paper feed path 2M for reversing the recording paper S discharged from the fixing device 2I and setting a two-sided copying mode. Is
One of a plurality of swinging claws provided along the paper feeding direction in the middle thereof is operated to set the recording paper S on the loading tray-2N and to set the posture for re-feeding. It has become.

As shown in FIG. 4, the main part of the control unit 3 is constituted by a microcomputer 3A, and is connected to an external device via an I / O interface 3B. I have. That is, on the input side of the I / O interface 3B, the reflection type photosensor 4 and the copying machine 2 provided in the recording paper discharge section from the reproduction processing section 1C1 are provided.
The recycle paper use mode setting switch 5 provided on the side is connected, and the output side is provided with a drive circuit for the first and second conveyance path switching claws 1E1 and 1E2 and a feed roller 1F2 and a re-supply roller. A display unit 6 for displaying the number of sheets of recording paper stored in the paper stackers 1D2 and 1D3 is connected. The above-described photo sensor 4 is arranged, for example, at a position corresponding to each size in the longitudinal direction along the transport direction of the recording paper, and from the time when any one detects the passage of the recording paper to the end of the detection. Is output as a signal, and the density of the reproduction processing surface of the recording paper is detected.

Then, in the control section 3, as shown in FIG.
When the density of the reproduction processing surface is equal to or less than a predetermined value, it is determined that the recording sheet S can be reused, and the first and second conveyance path switching claws 1E1, 1E are set to set a conveyance path according to the size of the reproduced recording sheet S.
In addition to controlling the driving of the second driving circuit, the number of times each size is accommodated in the re-feeding stacker is counted and displayed. As a method of this counting, for example, the recording paper that has passed through the photosensor 4 is moved to the first transport path switching claw 1E1.
Therefore, when the sheet is introduced into the transport path other than the collection stacker 1D1, that is, when the sheet is introduced into the re-feeding stackers 1D2 and 1D3, the counting can be performed based on the set number of switching directions of the second transport path switching claw 1E2 on the transport path. Conceivable. In addition to the setting of the recording paper transport path after the above-described reproduction processing, the control unit 3 operates according to the copy size when the reuse mode setting switch 5 is operated on the copying machine 2 side. To feed out the recording paper from the re-feeding stacker in which the recording paper S is stored, a feeding roller 1F2 provided corresponding to the stacker is driven.

Since the present embodiment has the above configuration,
In the flowchart of FIG. 6 showing the operation of the control unit 3, when the recording paper S introduced from the paper feed unit 1B to the reproduction processing unit 1C is discharged from the reproduction processing unit 1C, the recording paper S passes through the photo sensor 4. At the same time, time measurement for size detection is started, information about size detection is taken into the storage unit, and the result of density detection is taken into the storage unit to determine whether the density is equal to or lower than a predetermined density. Then, the attitudes of the first transport path switching claw 1E1 and the second transport path switching claw 1E2 are set based on the above-described respective detection data. That is, when the density of the discharged recording paper S is not lower than the predetermined value, that is, when it is determined that the recording paper S is not reusable, the recording paper S can be introduced into the collection stacker 1D1. If the recording sheet S is determined to be reusable, the first transport path switching claw 1E1 is directed to one of the re-feeding stackers. Orientation is set so as to set the conveyance path in the direction, and the second conveyance path switching claw 1 is set.
E2 is set to a position which enables the introduction of the re-feeding stacker via the size detection data based on the size detection data. When the transport path to the re-feeding stacker is set, the recording paper is introduced into the corresponding re-feeding stacker based on the swing switching setting of the second transport path switching claw 1E2. The number is counted and the result is displayed. On the other hand, when the reusable mode setting switch 5 is turned on in the copying machine 2, for example, an automatic paper feeding mode or an operator for automatically selecting a recording paper size according to the copy size is manually recorded. In any case of manual selection of selecting the paper size, the control unit does not show,
Based on the result of the recording sheet selection processing in the copy sequence, one of the feeding rollers 1F2 of the re-feeding stacker is driven and the selected recording sheet is fed out. At this time, for example, in the case of manual selection, since the number of sheets accommodated in the re-feed stacker is displayed, it is not necessary for the operator to consider the balance with the number of copies.

In the above-described reproduction processing unit 1C, a structure is shown on the premise that the toner is made of a biodegradable plastic. However, the present invention is not limited to such a toner. FIG. 7 shows the above toner.
This figure shows a structure in which a photo-decomposable plastic is used. In this case, a decomposition processing section is composed of a print decomposition processing section 10C and a cleaning section 1C3 having the same structure as that shown in FIG. I have. The above-described print disassembly processing unit 10C is configured by a closed space in which openings 10Ca and 10Cb that can be opened and closed are formed in an introduction portion and a discharge portion of the recording paper S, and includes a light irradiation device 10C1 and a transport belt 10C2 inside. I have. The light irradiation device 10C1 described above uses a light source having a short wavelength such as a xenon lamp, a mercury lamp, an LED, and a lamp using laser light. Then, the light irradiation device 10C1 starts to turn on in response to the detection member (not shown) detecting that the feeding of the recording paper S is started, and the light irradiation device 10C1 detects the recording paper S positioned in the print disassembly processing unit 10C. The entire surface is illuminated.

The transport belt 10C2 is wrapped around a driving pulley 10C3 and a driven pulley 10C4. The driving pulley 10C3 is driven by a driving motor (not shown) so that the recording paper S Can be moved in the conveying direction of the recording paper S described above, and can be stopped while the light irradiation from the light irradiation device 10C1 is performed. In the case where the entire surface irradiation by the above-described light irradiation device 10C1 cannot be performed or partial decomposition is performed, the transport belt 10C2 moves intermittently at a time interval necessary for decomposition, or It is also possible to move at a low speed. Therefore, the print disassembly processing unit 10
The recording paper S introduced into C moves according to the setting of the moving speed or the moving state of the transport belt 10C2, and can be subjected to a photolysis process by the light irradiation device 10C1.

A toner using a photo-decomposable plastic which is erased in the decomposition processing section 10C.
Is made of a plastic containing a polymer of a vinyl ketone monomer, and specifically has the following components. Methyl vinyl ketone, methyl isopropenyl ketone, t-
Butyl vinyl ketone, ethyl vinyl ketone, phenyl vinyl ketone, divinyl ketone, acetoxymethyl ketone, chloromethyl ketone, α-acetoxymethyl vinyl ketone, β-chlorovinyl methyl ketone, α-chloromethyl vinyl ketone. Further, the polymer of these vinyl monomers may be a homopolymer or a copolymer, and specific examples of the monomer of the copolymer include ethylene, styrene, and methyl vinyl monomers. Examples include methacrylate, α-butyl methacrylate, α-ethylenehexyl methacrylate, vinyl chloride, α-methylstyrene, acrylonitrile, vinyl acetate, and propylene. This plastic is used in an amount of 1 to 70 parts by weight, preferably 1.5 to 50 parts by weight, based on 100 parts of the binder resin. Examples of the photodegradation accelerator include aldole-α-naphthylamine condensate, acetylacetone, metal diethyl-dithiocarbamate iron, saltyl aldehyde, α-methylcaptobenzothiazol, metal stearate, and thiodipropion. Acids, iron acetylacetonate, p-benzonequinone, α-naphthoquinone, anthraquinone and derivatives thereof are selected. Further, by adding the above-mentioned decomposition accelerator to the above-mentioned binder resin, 1 to 70 parts by weight is selected, preferably 1.5 to 50 parts by weight, based on 10 C0 parts of the binder. The decomposition accelerators may be used alone or in combination of two or more. The toner particle size is about 30 μm or less, preferably 3 to 20 μm. In order to improve the fluidity of the toner, TiO ₂ , SiO ₂ , Sn
Other additives such as O ₂ and Al ₂ O ₃ may be added.

The above-mentioned photo-decomposable plastic is a toner.
When light is irradiated, the ketone group in the light-absorbing agent efficiently absorbs light energy, and functions such as fixing adhesion as a toner are removed in order to cut a -CC bond.
Therefore, as a light source used for light irradiation, short-wavelength light having good absorptivity is preferable, and therefore, a lighting device such as a xenon lamp or a mercury lamp containing a large amount of ultraviolet light is preferably used. In addition, instead of these illumination light sources, a short wavelength laser
May be used. Further, the short wavelength light described above is
Such a light source using short-wavelength light is advantageous because it effectively acts on the decomposition accelerator added to the binder resin.

Further, the above-mentioned reproduction processing unit is provided with a recording paper S
The image formed on the surface may be a case where a developing toner composed of an electron-accepting color-forming organic compound or an electron-donating color-forming organic compound and a color developer containing the dye is used. As shown in FIG. 8, the decolorizing processing unit 30A and the drying unit 30B are arranged from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction of the recording paper S (the direction of the arrow in the drawing) as shown in
It consists of.

Hereinafter, this structure will be described. That is, the color erasing section 30A is a part for color erasing a toner composed of an electron-accepting color-forming organic compound or an electron-donating color-forming organic compound and a developer containing the dye,
In FIG. 8, a decolorizing agent container 30A1 containing a toner decoloring agent therein, a decolorizing agent application device 30A2, and a decolorizing agent recovery device 30A3 are provided. The above-described decolorizing agent application device 30A2 has a structure in which a decoloring agent having a component configuration described later is supplied to the entire printing surface of the recording paper, and specifically, is built in the decolorizing agent storage container 30A1. A coating roller 30A5 made of a rigid body such as metal or an elastic body such as rubber and rotatably positioned between the application felt 30A4 and the conveyance path of the recording paper S. The coating device 30A4 receives the supply of the decoloring agent via the coating felt 30A4 incorporated in the decolorizing agent container 30A3,
The decoloring agent is applied by contacting the image surface of the recording paper S being conveyed. Coating roller 3 described above
0A5 is integrated with the output shaft of the drive motor 30A5a so that it can rotate upon receiving a driving force.

The decolorizing agent collecting device 30A5 can contact the decolorizing agent applying device 30A2 with the recording paper S interposed therebetween.
A driven roller made of a rigid body such as metal or an elastic body such as rubber
Roller 30A6, a scraper 30A7 in contact with the peripheral surface of the driven roller 30A6, and a collection container 30A in which the driven roller 30A6 and the scraper 30A7 are disposed.
8 so as to collect the decoloring agent remaining on the peripheral surface of the decoloring agent application device 30A2 when the recording paper does not pass. On the other hand, the drying unit 30B is provided with the transport belt 30B1.
And heaters 30B2 and 30B3, which are vertically opposed to each other across the recording paper mounting surface side of the transport belt 30B1, and which dry the recording paper S supplied with the decoloring agent in the print disassembling section 30A. It is supposed to do. Among these heaters, heater 30B2 located below recording paper S
Has a function of drying the recording paper S, and therefore, the transport belt 30B1 is made of a material having good heat conduction. In addition to this heater, a heater located above the recording paper S, together with a heater below it, promotes drying of the recording paper S to prevent the occurrence of curls and the like, and can be reused. It is intended to be in a state.

In the above-described configuration, the decolorizing agent is supplied to the entire printing surface of the recording paper S. However, in consideration of a reduction in the time required for thinking, the necessary portion of the printing surface, that is, the toner is actually removed. You may make it supply a decoloring agent only to the part which has adhered. FIG. 9 shows a configuration example in the case described above. In this configuration, the supply of the decoloring agent is performed by jetting the decoloring agent. That is, the structure shown in FIG. 9 includes a position detecting unit 60 for detecting a toner-attached portion in a printing unit on recording paper and a decoloring unit 70. The above-described position detection unit 69 includes a charge-coupled device (CCD) 6 extended in a width direction corresponding to a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording paper S.
0A is a main part, and the position of the toner adhering to the printing surface of the recording paper S being conveyed is developed at the coordinate position,
Further, the amount of the attached toner is detected as the density. The start of the detection by the charge-coupled device 60A is started in response to the detection of the leading end of the recording paper S by the reflection type photosensor 60B located on the upstream side in the transport direction of the recording paper S. In addition, the recording paper S that has passed through the position detection unit 60 has its transport path converted from a horizontal direction to a vertical direction, and faces the decoloring unit 70 at this vertical position.

That is, the decoloring section 70 includes an ejection head 70A that can move in the width direction of the recording paper S. The ejection head 70A is slidably supported on, for example, two rods 70A1 that are parallel to each other along the width direction of the recording paper S, and the movement on the rods 70A1 is positioned at both ends in the width direction. The endless belt 70A3 has a folded portion formed by the pulley 70A2 and the ends thereof are fixed to both end surfaces of the ejection head 70A in the width direction, and a driving pulley located at one of the folded portions of the endless belt 70A3. And the drive motor 70A4 integrated with the output shaft. The drive control of the drive motor 70A4 is performed by a signal from a control unit described later. The ejection head 70A has an ejection opening facing the printing surface of the recording paper S whose conveyance direction has been changed in the vertical direction, and for example, a machine that ejects ink by changing the pressure in the ink chamber by a vibrator. Ink jet apparatus of a well-known structure including one using a mechanical principle, or one using a physical principle in which ink ejected by a vibrator is drawn using a grid and ink is drawn out by electrostatic force. This is the same structure as that described above, except that a decoloring agent can be ejected instead of ink. In the drawings, reference numerals 60C and 70C indicate pinch rollers, respectively. Reference numeral 70A5 indicates, for example, a decolorizing agent storage tank having a built-in pump for filling the decoloring agent.

The ejection timing of the decoloring agent from the ejection head 70A is determined by a drive signal from the control unit 80 shown in FIG. It is to be set. That is, in the control unit 80, the detection of the toner adhesion position on the coordinates by the charge-coupled device 60A and the amount of the toner adhesion from the point of time when the position detection unit 60 detects the leading edge of the recording paper by the photo sensor 60B Detected, the detection information is loaded into the storage unit, and based on this information, based on the conveyance speed of the recording paper S in the decoloring unit 70, the time when the leading edge of the recording paper is detected by the photo sensor 70B A drive command for injecting the decoloring material and a device for filling the decoloring agent, such as a pump, are driven at a time when the decoloring material is opposed to the toner on the printing surface of the recording paper. At a position where the recording paper S passes through the above-described ejection head 70A, a guide plate 90 for changing the transport path of the recording paper S from a vertical direction to a horizontal direction is provided. The guide plate 90 changes the transport direction. The recording paper S that has been placed is transported by being placed on the transport belt 100, and is discharged toward the separation unit 4 described above. Since the present embodiment is configured as described above, the supply state of the decoloring agent can be controlled, for example,
By judging the condition of the toner adhered to the printing surface of the recording paper, the amount of the agent necessary for decoloring can be set, and the maximum decoloring can be performed with the minimum necessary amount. The effect can be brought out. In addition, this leads to a reduction in cost when obtaining the reproduction recording paper. Note that the above-described structure is a case where the ejection head facing one side of the recording paper S is provided. However, without being limited to this, double-side printing is performed by installing the ejection head on both sides of the recording paper as necessary. It is also possible to configure so as to erase the recording paper.

Here, the toner and the decoloring agent used in the structures shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 will be described below. As described above, the recording paper reproduced by the recording paper reproducing apparatus having the structure shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 contains the electron-accepting color-forming organic compound or the electron-donating color-forming organic compound and the dye. Colorless or light-colored electron-accepting organic compounds include phthalene and fluoresceins. Specific examples thereof include the following. Timol-phthalein, phenol-phthalein, 0-cresol-phthalein, 1,4-dimethyl-5-hydroxybenzenesulfophthalein, m-cresol-sulfophthalein, α
-Naphtho-lephthalein, 0-cresol-sulfophthalein, phenol-sulfophthalein, fluorescein, sulfofluoroscein, tetrabromofluoroscein, tetrachlorofluoroscein and the like. Further, as a developer of the electron-accepting color developing organic compound, octylamine, laurylamine, stearylamine, dibutylamine, tripropylamine, dimethylaniline,
P-toluidine, β-naphthylamine, pyridine, picoline, lutidine, quinoline, piperidine, imidazo-
And quaternary ammonium salts such as tetraethylammonium salt, amino acids such as glycine and alanine, and inorganic salts such as potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide.

Further, as the binder resin, known resins for toner can be used, and specific examples thereof are as follows. Homopolymers of styrene such as polystyrene, poly-p-styrene and polyvinyltoluene and their substituted polymers, styrene-p-chlorostyrene polymer, styrene-propylene copolymer, styrene-vinyltoluene copolymer, styrene-acrylic acid Methyl copolymer, styrene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-butyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-α-chloromethyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-vinyl methyl ether copolymer Styrene copolymers such as styrene-vinyl methyl ketone copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-isobrene copolymer, styrene-maleic acid copolymer, styrene-maleic acid ester copolymer, polyethyl Methacrylate, polybutyl methacrylate, Vinyl chloride polyvinyl acetate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, polyamide, polyester resin, epoxy resin, polyvinyl butyral, polyacrylic acid resin, rosin, modified rosin, terpene resin, phenol resin, aliphatic or aliphatic hydrocarbon Resins, aromatic petroleum resins, chlorinated paraffins, paraffin waxes and the like are used alone or in combination.

Further, the above-mentioned toner may be used in a small amount of a polarity controlling agent, for example, in order to obtain more efficient charging.
It may contain dyes and pigments, charge control agents, etc., but those that do not impair the colorless or light-colored function are used.Specific examples of the polarity control agent include, for example, metal complex salts of monoazo dyes and nitrohumin. Acid and its salts, salicyl, naphthoic acid, metal complex salts of dicarboxylic acids and their derivatives such as Co, Cr and Fe, sulfonated copper phthalocyanine pigment, nitro group, styrene oligomer into which halogen is introduced, chlorinated paraffin, Melamine resin and the like. If necessary, a fluidizing agent for fine powder of metal oxide such as colloidal silica, titanium oxide and aluminum oxide, an abrasive such as silicon carbide, and a lubricant such as a fatty acid metal salt may be contained. The toner described above can be used as a one-component developer or as a two-component developer by mixing with a carrier. As the carrier, a known carrier is used. Specifically, the carrier has a particle size of 20 to 200 μm.
m of iron powder, nickel powder, ferrite powder, magnetite powder, glass beads, or as a core material,
A resin whose surface is coated with a resin such as a fluorine-based resin, a silicone resin, a water-based resin, or an acrylic resin is used.

On the other hand, examples of the decoloring agent include the following. n-octyl alcohol, n-nonyl alcohol,
n-lauryl alcohol, n-stearyl alcohol,
Cyclohexanol, benzyl alcohol, cinnamyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol
, Triethylene glycol, propylene glycol,
Alcohols such as trimethyl propane, pentaerythritol, solvit, mannitol, octyl acetate, butyl propionate, ethyl laurate, ethyl benzoate,
Esters such as dimethyl phthalate, dioctyl phthalate and dicyclohexyl phthalate; ketones such as benzophenone, methylcyclohexanone, acetonylacetone and diacetone alcohol; diphenyl ether, dioxane, ethylene glycol diethyl ether and the like. There are acid amides such as ethers, acetamide and propionamide, compounds having a phenolic hydroxyl group and derivatives thereof, and compounds having a carboxyl group and derivatives thereof. The above-mentioned compounds having a phenolic hydroxyl group and derivatives thereof include monophenols to polyphenols and metal salts thereof, and further, as substituents thereof, alkyl groups, aryl groups, acyl groups, Examples include an alkoxycarbonyl group and a halogen group. Examples of these compounds include nonylphenol, styrenated phenols, α-naphthol, β-naphthol, hydroquinone, butyl p-oxybenzoate, 4,4-methylenediphenyl, and bisphenol A. , Bisphenol S, octyl gallate, phenolic resin, and the like. Examples of the metal salt include sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium, zinc, aluminum, nickel, cobalt, and the like of the compound having a phenolic hydroxyl group. There are metal salts such as iron, titanium, lead, and molybdenum. Examples of the compound having a carboxyl group and a derivative thereof include a monocarboxylic acid to a polycarboxylic acid, a substituted derivative thereof, and a metal salt thereof. These compounds include acetic acid, propionic acid, cabronic acid, cabric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, balmitic acid, stearic acid, behenic acid, 12
-Hydroxystearic acid, benzoic acid, protocatechuic acid, gallic acid, phthalic acid, naphthalenedicarboxylic acid,
Sebacic acid, naphthenic acid, citric acid and the like, and as the metal salt, sodium, potassium,
Metal salts such as lithium, calcium, zinc, aluminum, iron, nickel, cobalt, titanium, lead, molybdenum,
There are inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid and nitric acid.

When the above-described decoloring agent is used as a liquid, it can be whitened by applying it on recording paper by the decoloring agent coating device 30A4 shown in FIG. When used in a liquid form, a water-soluble substance is diluted with water, and a solvent-soluble substance is diluted with an organic solvent such as alcohol, acetone or toluene at an arbitrary ratio. If necessary, polyvinylpyrrolidone, ethylene glycol, glycerin and the like may be mixed so as to obtain an arbitrary viscosity in the liquid. Hereinafter, an example using the above-described component configuration will be described.

(1) Styrene / n-butyl methacrylate copolymer 100 parts by weight (weight average molecular weight 190,000 softening point 125 ° C.) Tetrachlorotetrabromofluorocein 3 parts by weight 2-aminobenzothiazole 6 3 parts by weight Bontron E-84 (charge control agent = trade name, manufactured by Orient Chemical Co., Ltd.) 3 parts by weight The above raw materials were mixed with a Henschel mixer, kneaded with a three-roll mill, and cooled. Thereafter, the kneaded material was coarsely pulverized and further pulverized by a jet pulverizer to obtain a toner having an average particle diameter of 10.8 μm by an air classifier. To 100 parts by weight of this toner, 1 part by weight of hydrophobic silica fine particles (R972 = trade name, manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) was added and mixed with a Hensial mixer.
Further, a two-component developer is mixed with a silicone resin coat carrier to form an image by a normal electrophotographic copying process, and this image is formed as shown in FIG. 7 supplied with a 1.5% aqueous solution of citric acid. After passing through the indicated decolorizing agent application device 30A4, it was almost completely erased. In addition, when the recording paper after passing through the decolorizing agent coating device was left for 20 days, it was thought that the effect of carbon dioxide in the air or the effect of acidic substances in the paper was observed, but almost all the images were erased and the It became white.

(2) Styrene / n-butyl methacrylate copolymer 100 parts by weight (weight average molecular weight 190,000 softening point 125 ° C.) 3,3-dimethoxyphenol-phthalphthalein 4 parts by weight di-0-tolylguanidine 8 4 parts by weight Bontron E-84 (charge control agent = trade name, manufactured by Orient Chemical Co., Ltd.) 4 parts by weight A kneading toner was prepared from the above materials in the same manner as in (1), and an image was formed. 1.5% of citric acid
Decolorizing agent application device 3A4 shown in FIG. 1 to which an aqueous solution is supplied
, Almost completely erased. When the recording paper after passing through the decolorizing agent application device was left for 20 days, the effect of carbon dioxide in the air or

On the other hand, the following example shows the result when the inventor has performed similar decoloring processing on an image using a conventional toner with a pigment. Styrene / n-butyl methacrylate copolymer 100 parts by weight (weight average molecular weight 190,000 softening point 125 ° C) Carbon black 5 parts by weight Bontron E-84 (charge control agent = Orient Chemical Co., Ltd .: trade name) 2 parts by weight A kneading toner was prepared from the above raw materials in the same manner as in (1), and an image was formed.
Decolorizing agent application device 30A shown in FIG. 8 to which an aqueous solution is supplied
After passing through No. 4, no change in the image occurred and it remained. When this image was left for 20 days, no change was observed in the image.

Next, an example of the decoloring action by the structure shown in FIG. 8 will be described. Generally, an ink used when forming an image by an ink jet device is water or a liquid obtained by mixing water and alcohol in consideration of pollution, availability, ease of preparation, and the like. Although a medium is preferable, the above-mentioned dye composed of an electron-accepting or electron-donating organic compound cannot be obtained as an image because the color is erased by alcohol, and therefore, FIG. When the reproduction processing unit having the structure shown is used, water is used as ink for forming an image to be erased. The amount of the liquid medium and the recording agent composed of the above-mentioned organic compound and dye is 1 to 50 parts by weight, preferably 3 to 30 parts by weight, based on 100 parts of the liquid medium. The particle size of the recording agent, that is, the toner, is 0.01 to 30 μm, preferably 0.01 to 8 μm. Also, as mentioned above,
A viscosity adjuster, a surface tension adjuster, a specific resistance adjuster, and a lubricant are appropriately used as additives.

Examples of the toner containing the above-described dye and a developer of the dye include the following. In the case of a dye of an electron-accepting coloring organic compound and a developer of the dye, tetrachlorotetrabromofluorescein 3 parts by weight 2-aminobenzothiazole 6 parts by weight Water 91 parts by weight

4,3-dimethoxyphenolphthalein 4 parts by weight Di-0-tolylguanidine 8 parts by weight Water 88 parts by weight

In the case of a dye of an electron donating organic compound and a developer of the dye, PSD-150 (fluoran leuco dye; trade name of Nisso Kako) 5 parts by weight Bisphenol A zinc salt 12 parts by weight Water 83 parts by weight Department

Crystal violet lactone 4 parts by weight 2,3-xylyl acid phosphate 10 parts by weight Water 86 parts by weight

[0045]

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention,
When the density of the reproduction surface on which the printing has been erased is equal to or lower than a predetermined density corresponding to a reusable state, the recording medium is conveyed to the storage unit so that the recording medium can be re-fed to the printing unit. Thus, when the recording medium after the reproduction processing is reusable, the recording medium is stored in a state where the recording medium can be fed to the printing unit without bothering the operator. A quick printing operation can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a layout diagram for explaining an overall configuration of a recording medium reproducing apparatus used in an image forming method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view for explaining a part of a reproduction processing unit in the recording medium reproduction device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view for explaining another part of the reproduction processing unit in the recording medium reproducing device shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration of a control unit used in the recording medium reproducing device shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining characteristics of the control unit shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the control unit shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view for explaining another configuration of the reproduction processing unit in the recording medium reproduction device shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an arrangement relation for explaining another structure of a reproduction processing unit in the recording medium reproducing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an arrangement relation for explaining another structure of the reproduction processing unit shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram for explaining a control configuration of another structure shown in FIG. 9;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recording paper reproduction | regeneration apparatus for the recording paper which is one of the recording media 1B Paper supply part 1C Reproduction processing part 1D Stacker equivalent to the storage means of a recording medium 1D1 Collection stacker equivalent to collection means 1D2, 1D3 Printing part 1E transport path 1E1 first transport path switching means 1E2 corresponding to transport path switching means 1E2 second transport path switching means 1F corresponding to transport path switching means Refeeding path 2 Copier equivalent to printing device 3 Control unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Toru Iida 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo, Ricoh Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-4-234056 (JP, A) (58) ) Surveyed field (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G03G 21/00 570-578 B41J 29/00-29/70

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. Means for feeding a printed recording medium obtained by a printing apparatus, reproduction processing means for erasing and reproducing a printed portion on the recording medium, and means for storing the recording medium after the reproduction processing And a means for detecting the density of a reproduction surface of the discharged recording medium, which is disposed in a transport path of the recording medium discharged from the reproduction processing means, and the density detection means. A control unit connected to an input side, and a drive unit of means for switching a transport path to a storage unit of the recording medium and a transport path to a recovery unit of a non-reusable recording medium are connected to an output side. The control unit, when determining that the density of the reproduction surface of the recording medium after the reproduction processing is equal to or lower than a predetermined density, setting the conveyance path switching to set the conveyance path to the storage unit of the recording medium. Characterized by performing The recording medium reproducing apparatus. 2. A means for feeding a printed recording medium obtained by a printing device, a reproduction processing means for erasing and reproducing a printed portion on the recording medium, and a means for storing the recording medium after the reproduction processing. Detecting the density of the reproduction surface of the recording medium discharged from the reproduction processing means, and when the density is equal to or lower than a predetermined density, conveys the recording medium to the storage means; An image forming method, wherein feeding is possible.