JP5081671B2 - Image removal device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image removing apparatus that removes an image forming substance from a sheet-like recording medium having an image formed on the surface of the image forming substance.

Conventionally, an image removing apparatus that removes an image forming substance that forms an image from the surface of a sheet-like recording medium such as transfer paper on which an image is formed by an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic system or an inkjet system is disclosed in Patent Literature 1 is proposed.
A recording medium on which an image is formed is generally discarded as a used recording medium when it becomes unnecessary after being handled as a document or the like. As described above, discarding the used recording medium leads to waste of resources as a material of the recording medium. By removing the image forming substance on the surface from such a used recording medium by the image removing apparatus, the recording medium can be reused in the image forming apparatus and the like. Consumption can be reduced.

JP-A-10-278380

However, as a recording medium before the image forming substance on the recording medium is removed using the image removing device, there is a case where a corner of the sheet-like recording medium is broken, that is, a so-called ear fold occurs. . Further, since the recording medium on which the user intends to remove the image becomes unnecessary after being handled as a document or the like created by the user, there is a high possibility that the recording medium has been folded.
When the image material is removed with the ear folds generated in the recording medium and used as a reusable recording medium for image formation in the image forming apparatus, paper stuffing, resist failure, skew, etc. may occur due to the ear folds. There was a risk of poor transport. Further, if the recording medium is still bent, the possibility of problems other than poor conveyance increases. For example, in order to identify that the image forming apparatus is a reusable recording medium, a notch or an identification mark may be provided at the end of the recording medium. If such a notch in the recording medium or an edge fold occurs at the end where the identification mark is present, there is a possibility that the identification as to whether or not the recording medium is reused may be mistaken. In addition, when managing sheet-like recording media in an overlapping manner, if the recording medium has a folded edge, the volume of the bundle of stacked recording media may increase, or the folded portion may be caught by another recording medium. Phenomenon that hinders bundle management is likely to occur.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image removal apparatus capable of preventing the occurrence of problems caused by the ear folding of the recording medium after the image forming substance is removed. Is to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is an image removing apparatus for removing an image forming substance from a sheet-like recording medium on which an image made of an image forming substance is formed. have a ear fold correcting means corrects the broken ear has occurred on a recording medium conveyed, the recording medium supply for supplying an image removing means for removing the image forming substance from the recording medium, the recording medium to the image removal device And a recording medium discharge means for discharging the recording medium from which the image forming material has been removed by the image removing means to the outside of the apparatus, and the ear fold correction means is supplied from the recording medium supply means. disposed on a recording medium transport path until it is discharged by the recording medium discharging unit, the conveying direction in the recording medium conveying path of the recording medium, the ear fold correcting means to said image removal device And it is characterized in that it is arranged in the conveying direction upstream side.
Further, the invention of claim 2, the image removing device according to claim 1, said recording medium feeding means, to accommodate the sheet-like recording medium to be image removed, at least one recording medium to said image removal device A supply conveying means for conveying the recording medium supplied from the recording medium supply means to the image removing means, and a recording medium from which the image forming material has been removed by the image removing means. The image forming apparatus includes: a discharge unit that houses the discharge medium; and a discharge conveyance unit that conveys the recording medium from which the image forming material has been removed by the image removal unit to the discharge unit.
Further, the invention of claim 3, the image removing device according to claim 1 or 2, the image removal device has a heating means for heating the image forming substance on the recording medium, the image recording medium is formed An image peeling means comprising an image peeling member for transferring the image forming substance heated by the heating means in contact with the surface from the recording medium and peeling the image forming substance from the recording medium, and the image peeling member being a recording medium And a pressurizing unit that pressurizes the recording medium on the image peeling member at a position in contact with the image peeling member.
The invention of claim 4 is claimed in claim 1, 2 or in the image removing device 3, the ear fold correcting unit for holding or transporting a recording medium in the region of bending the ear by the ear fold correcting means it can be modified The strength of the force applied by the ear fold correction means to the recording medium provided with the conveying member and causing the folding of the ear is such that the recording medium is conveyed from the maximum static frictional force between the correcting portion conveying member and the recording medium. It is less than the magnitude | size of the force which pulled the force required in order to do.
The invention of claim 5, claim 1, in the image removing device 3 or 4, the ear fold correcting means, a contact type which rubs the ear folding portion of the recording medium as the ear fold correcting member The ear fold correction member is provided, and the ear fold correction member is used to return the ear fold correction portion by rubbing the ear fold correction portion of the recording medium.
The invention according to claim 6 is the image removing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein when the ear fold portion rubbing portion of the ear fold correction member rubs the ear fold portion on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium, It is characterized by comprising an ear fold correction member in which the moving speed of the folding portion rubbing portion in the recording medium conveyance direction is larger than the recording medium conveyance speed.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image removing apparatus according to the fifth or sixth aspect , the ear fold portion rubbing portion of the ear fold correcting member that rubs the ear fold portion of the recording medium is upstream in the conveyance direction of the recording medium. When the rubbing portion of the recording medium is rubbed, a folding device for correcting the folding of the ear is provided, in which the moving speed of the rubbing portion of the rubbing portion in the conveyance direction of the recording medium is smaller than the conveyance speed of the recording medium. is there.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image removing apparatus according to the fifth aspect , the ear fold portion rubbing portion of the ear fold correcting member for rubbing the ear fold portion of the recording medium is an ear on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium. When the folding part is rubbed, the movement speed of the folded part rubbing part in the recording medium conveyance direction is higher than the recording medium conveyance speed, and the folded part rubbing part is upstream of the recording medium conveyance direction. In addition, an ear fold correction member is provided in which the movement speed of the crease portion rubbing portion in the conveyance direction of the recording medium is smaller than the conveyance speed of the recording medium when the crease portion is rubbed. is there.
The invention of claim 9, claim 5 and 6, in the image removing device 8 was 7 or, dog-eared portion sliding part of the ear fold correcting member for rubbing a portion broken ear of the recording medium, It is characterized in that it contacts only at least one of the vicinity of the downstream end in the conveyance direction of the recording medium and the vicinity of the upstream end in the conveyance direction of the recording medium.
The invention of claim 10, claim 5,6, 7, in the 8 or the image removal device 9, the ear fold correcting member, said rotary asymmetrical shape with respect to the rotation axis and the rotation axis An eccentric rubbing member is provided that is rotatable about an axis and capable of rubbing the folded portion of the recording medium.
Further, an invention according to claim 11, claim 1, in the image removing device 3 or 4, the ear fold correcting means, a recording medium of the ear folding wind generator capable of applying a wind pressure to the site An ear fold correction member including means is provided, and the ear fold correction member returns the ear fold portion by applying wind pressure to the ear fold portion of the recording medium.
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the image removing apparatus according to the eleventh aspect , the wind pressure generating means is at least one of the vicinity of the downstream end in the conveyance direction of the recording medium and the vicinity of the upstream end in the conveyance direction of the recording medium. It is characterized in that the wind pressure is acted on.
The invention of claim 13, claim 5,6, the image removing device 7,8,9,10,1 1 or 12, the portion where correction of broken ear by the ear fold correcting member is made The ear fold correction member is disposed so as to be positioned on both sides of the recording medium that passes therethrough.
The invention of claim 14 is the image removing device according to claim 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,1 2 or 13, the ear fold correcting means Is provided with an ear fold correction member that acts to return the ear fold portion of the recording medium, and a liquid application means capable of applying a liquid component to at least the portion of the recording medium where the fold line of the ear fold portion is formed, The ear fold correcting means includes a recording medium disposed downstream of the position where the ear fold correcting member acts on the recording medium and the position where the liquid applying means applies a liquid component to the recording medium in the recording medium conveyance direction. A heating / pressurizing means capable of heating / pressurizing is provided.
Further, the invention of claim 15 is the image removing apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the liquid applying means includes a spray nozzle that ejects the liquid component toward the recording medium, and a liquid that contains the liquid component to be ejected from the spray nozzle. A container, a liquid transport pipe for sending a liquid component from the liquid container to the spray nozzle, an airflow generating means for generating an airflow at the spray nozzle, and an airflow for guiding the airflow generated by the airflow generating means to the spray nozzle And a guide tube.
According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image removing apparatus according to the eleventh or twelfth aspect , the wind pressure generating means generates an air flow, and the air pressure is applied to the folded ear portion of the recording medium, whereby the wind pressure is applied to the folded ear portion. The ear fold correcting means includes the wind pressure generating means, a liquid applying means capable of applying a liquid component to the air flow generated by the wind pressure generating means, and the wind pressure generating means applied to the recording medium. Heating / pressurizing means that can heat and pressurize the recording medium downstream of the position where the wind pressure is applied in the recording medium conveyance direction, It is characterized in that the wind pressure is applied by applying it to correct the broken ear part.
The invention according to claim 17 is the image removing apparatus according to claim 14, 15 or 16 , wherein the heating / pressurizing means is a roller disposed upstream of the image removing means in the conveyance direction of the recording medium. The roller pair includes a heating roller provided with a roller heating means for heating the roller surface, and a pressure roller formed of a surface layer made of a metal core and an elastic material. Or it has a drive means which transmits a drive to at least any one roller of this pressure roller, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.
The invention of claim 18 is the image removing device according to claim 14, 15, 1 6 or 17, the image removal device has a heating means for heating the image forming substance on the recording medium, the recording An image peeling means comprising an image peeling member that contacts an image-formed surface of the medium and transfers the image forming substance heated by the heating means from the recording medium to peel the image forming substance from the recording medium; A pressurizing unit that presses the recording medium on the image peeling member at a position where the image peeling member is in contact with the recording medium, and the image removing unit is also used as the heating / pressurizing unit. To do.
Further, according to Claim 19 invention, claim 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,1 7 or 18 of the In the image removing apparatus, an ear fold detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of an ear fold in the recording medium upstream of the ear fold correcting means, and detection of the presence of an ear fold by the ear fold detecting means. And control means for controlling the ear fold correction means to operate only when it is performed.
According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, in the image removing apparatus of the nineteenth aspect , the ear fold detection means includes a detection member that detects the presence or absence of the recording medium in the detection area, and is orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium. A central detection member having a detection region at a position where a central portion in the width direction of the recording medium passes, and an end having a detection region as a position at which an end portion in the width direction of the recording medium passes. When the end detection member detects that there is no recording medium at the timing when the center detection member detects that there is a recording medium, it detects that the recording medium is folded. It is characterized by this.
The invention of claim 21, were or claim 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,1 8 19. The image removing device according to 19, wherein the image removing means is disposed downstream of the ear fold correcting means with respect to the carrying direction of the recording medium in the recording medium carrying path, and removes the image forming substance from the recording medium. And a corrected downstream ear fold detection means for detecting the presence or absence of the ear fold of the recording medium on the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the ear fold correction means and on the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the image removing means. It is a feature.
The invention according to claim 22 is the image removal apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein when the corrected downstream ear fold detection means detects that there is no ear fold, the recording medium is conveyed to the image removal means, When it is detected that there is an ear fold, the recording medium is returned to the upstream side in the transport direction from the position where the ear fold correction means corrects the ear fold, and the ear fold correction means Control means for performing control to execute again the correction of the ear folds. The control means detects that there is an ear fold by the corrected downstream ear fold detection means, and corrects the ear fold correction by the ear fold correction means. With respect to the recording medium that has been executed again, the corrected downstream ear fold detection means detects the presence or absence of the second ear fold, and the second detection by the corrected downstream ear fold detection means detects that there is no ear fold. If The recording medium is transported to the image removing means, and when it is detected that there is an ear fold, the recording medium is controlled to be discharged out of the apparatus by the recording medium discharging means without removing the image. Is.
The invention of claim 23 is the invention of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 , 14 , 15, 16 , 17, 18 , 19 , 20 , 2 in 1 or the image removal device 22, the conveying direction in the recording medium conveying path of the recording medium, is disposed at the conveying direction downstream side with respect to the ear fold correcting means, the image forming substance from the recording medium An image removing unit that removes image correction, and a modified downstream-side ear fold detection that detects the presence or absence of an ear fold of the recording medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction with respect to the ear-folding correcting unit And a position downstream of the corrected downstream ear fold detecting means in the transport direction and upstream of the image removing means in the transport direction, and after passing through a position detected by the corrected downstream ear fold detecting means. The recording medium transport path, the recording medium A first conveyance path toward the image removal means, or a second conveyance path that can be switched to the second conveyance path toward the outside of the apparatus without passing through the image removal means. The conveyance path is switched so that the recording medium detected by the corrected downstream ear fold detection means is conveyed to the second conveyance path after the ear fold is corrected a predetermined number of times or more. It has the control means which controls a means, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

In the image removing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 23 , since the ear folding correction means is provided, the ear folding is corrected even when the ear folding occurs before the image removing apparatus handles the recording medium on which the image is removed. Can do.

According to the first to twenty- third aspects of the present invention, it is possible to correct the ear folding of the recording medium in which the ear folding has occurred. There is an excellent effect that it is possible to prevent occurrence of defects due to broken ears.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an image removing apparatus will be described.
FIG. 1 is a flowchart for explaining the basic configuration of the image removing apparatus. As shown in FIG. 1, the image removing apparatus includes an image removing unit that removes an image from a recording medium, a supplying unit that supplies the recording medium, and a supply conveying unit that conveys the recording medium supplied by the supplying unit. Is provided. Furthermore, a discharge conveyance unit for conveying the recording medium from which the image has been removed by the image removal unit to the discharge unit, and a discharge unit for discharging the recording medium conveyed by the discharge conveyance unit to the outside of the apparatus.
The supply means supplies at least one sheet-like recording medium from which an image is to be removed to the supply conveyance means. The discharge means discharges the recording medium from which the image has been removed to a storage container provided at a position where the user can easily take it.

  The image removing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an ear fold correcting unit that corrects an ear fold of the recording medium in which the ear fold has occurred between the supply unit and the discharge unit illustrated in FIG. In a state in which the recording medium is still bent, not only does the conveyance failure in the image forming apparatus easily occur, but also the conveyance failure in the image removal apparatus easily occurs. For this reason, it is preferable that the ear breakage correcting means is provided on the upstream side of the recording medium transport path in the image removing apparatus as much as possible. In the flowchart shown in FIG. It is preferable that a folding correction means is provided.

In the present embodiment, “ear folding” refers to the folding of the recording medium that occurs in the vicinity of the four corners of the rectangular sheet-like recording medium, and is caused by the folding of the recording medium surface that is normally flat. The triangle-shaped part which has stood up is called an ear fold part. Such a folding of the recording medium is likely to occur while the user handles the recording medium having an image formed on the surface outside the image forming apparatus or the image removing apparatus as a document. If you attempt to form an image with an image forming device by reusing a recording medium that has been folded, it is easy for paper jams, resist failures, skews, and other transport failures to occur due to the corner breaks. Become. In the present embodiment, “correction of the folded ear” refers to correcting the above-mentioned folded portion of the ear in the same state as a normal recording medium, that is, the rising triangular surface is flush with the recording medium surface. It points to correcting so that it becomes.
In the following description, the supply unit and the discharge unit in FIG. 1 are a recording medium supply unit and a recording medium discharge unit, respectively.

Next, an outline of an example of an image removing apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the image removal apparatus 100 of the present embodiment.
The image removing apparatus 100 includes a paper feed tray 12, a paper feed roller 13 as a recording medium supply unit, an ear fold correction unit 25 as an ear fold correction unit, a supply roller pair 27 and a conveyance guide 26 as supply and conveyance units, and an image removal unit. The image removing unit 11 is provided. Further, a discharge conveyance roller pair 22 as discharge conveyance means, a discharge roller pair 24 as recording medium discharge means, a discharge tray 23, and the like are provided.

The paper feed tray 12 is a container that accommodates the paper P that is a recording medium from which images are to be removed. . The sheet P that has passed through the ear folding correction unit 25 is conveyed to the image removal unit 11 by the conveyance guide 26 and the supply roller pair 27. The paper P from which the image forming material has been removed by the image removing unit 11 is conveyed by the discharge conveyance roller pair 22 and discharged to the discharge tray 23 by the discharge roller pair 24. The paper P discharged to the paper discharge tray 23 is stored in the paper discharge tray 23. Further, the paper feed roller 13 is a roller-shaped member for sending out the paper P one by one to the ear folding correction unit 25.
2 shows an example of a configuration that corrects the broken ear, and the example shown in FIG. 2 represents the best configuration for correcting the broken ear. It is not a thing.

Next, the image removal unit 11 will be described.
The image removing unit 11 includes a peeling belt 18 as an image peeling member that receives the transfer of the image forming material on the paper P and peels the image forming material from the paper P, and a pressure roller 19 as a pressure unit. In addition, a peeling belt cleaning device 20 that removes the image forming material transferred from the paper P from the peeling belt 18 is provided. The peeling belt 18 is an endless belt that is stretched by three stretching members: a heating block 15 that is an aluminum heating unit including a halogen lamp 14 as a heat source therein, a tension roller 16, and a cleaning backup roller 17. A peeling belt unit 10 as an image peeling means is constituted by three tension members, a heating block 15, a tension roller 16 and a cleaning backup roller 17, and a peeling belt 18 which is an endless belt stretched around these members. Further, the pressure roller 19 is opposed to the heating block 15 with the peeling belt 18 sandwiched between the paper P and the peeling belt 18 being heated, and presses the peeling belt 18. The peeling belt cleaning device 20 includes a spiral cleaning blade 28 for removing the image forming material on the surface of the peeling belt 18, a collection container 21 for collecting and storing the image forming material removed from the peeling belt 18, and the like. .

As the peeling belt 18, a metal such as aluminum, nickel, or stainless steel or a polymer compound such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyimide, aramid, polyethylene naphthalate, or polyetheretherketone can be used.
Further, as the pressure roller 19, a roller member made of an elastic portion such as silicon rubber, fluorine rubber, or polyurethane rubber and a core metal such as stainless steel, aluminum, or iron is used on the surface. The pressure roller 19 is pressed against the peeling belt 18 by a pressure mechanism (not shown) using a spring, water pressure, air pressure, or the like.

The image forming substance on the paper P is heated by coming into contact with the peeling belt 18 heated by the heating block 15. At this time, the paper P carrying the image forming substance on the surface is pressed by the pressure roller 19 together with the peeling belt 18 in a state where the image forming substance is in contact with the peeling belt 18. The image forming substance on the paper P is thermally transferred from the paper P to the peeling belt 18 by being heated and pressurized.
As shown in FIG. 2, the heating block 15 includes an edge portion on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the paper P with respect to the position where the heating block 15 and the pressure roller 19 face each other. The edge portion has a curvature with a radius of about 1 to 5 [mm], and the peeling belt 18 stretched around the heating block 15 moves along the curvature. The peeling belt 18 is separated.

  The image forming material transferred from the paper P to the peeling belt 18 reaches the facing portion between the peeling belt 18 and the spiral cleaning blade 28 due to the surface movement of the peeling belt 18. Here, the image forming substance on the peeling belt 18 is scraped off by the rotating spiral cleaning blade 28 and stored in the collection container 21. On the other hand, the paper P from which the image forming material has been removed is conveyed by the discharge conveyance roller pair 22 and discharged to the discharge tray 23 by the discharge roller pair 24.

In the image removing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 2, as an image removing means that can be used in the present invention, an image forming substance that forms an image on the paper P is transferred to a peeling belt 18 that is an image peeling member and removed. The image removal part 11 using is provided. In FIG. 2, as an example of the image removing unit, an image removing unit 11 is illustrated that uses a method in which an image forming substance that forms an image on paper P is removed by thermal transfer to a peeling belt 18 that is an image peeling member. As the image peeling member, it is also possible to use one having a sticky composition applied to the surface.
As another method for removing the image forming material from the paper P, the image forming material is removed from the surface of the paper P by rubbing the surface of the paper P on which the image is formed with a brush, a blade, or an abrasive having an uneven surface. The rubbing removal method is mentioned.
Further, the image forming substance is removed by washing by rubbing the paper P on which the image is formed in an aqueous solution containing a surfactant or an organic solvent with a roller having a brush, blade, cotton cloth or the like on the surface. Methods can also be used.

  Any of the image forming substance removing methods described above can be applied to the present invention, but it is particularly preferable to use a method of removing the image forming substance by thermal transfer to an image peeling member as described with reference to FIG. In this case, a thermoplastic or heat-meltable image forming material is used as the image forming material. Then, an image forming substance that forms an image on the paper P is adhered to the image peeling member, and the image peeling member and the paper P are separated to transfer the image forming material on the paper P to the image peeling member, The image forming substance is removed from the paper P. According to this method, the image forming substance that forms an image on the paper P can be removed satisfactorily, the configuration of the image removing apparatus becomes relatively simple, and the reliability of the image removing function can be obtained.

  In the present embodiment, the paper feed roller 13 is on the upstream side in the transport direction, and the paper discharge roller pair 24 is on the downstream side in the transport direction. The “leading portion of the paper P” refers to a portion near one side of the paper P on the downstream side with respect to the transport direction when the paper P is in the transport state in the image removing apparatus 100. Further, the “rear end portion of the paper P” refers to a portion in the vicinity of one side upstream with respect to the transport direction of the paper P in the transport state.

Next, the paper P, which is a recording medium from which the image on the surface is removed by the image removing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, will be described.
As the paper P, a general recording medium used for image formation such as high-quality paper, medium-quality paper, art paper, synthetic paper, and plastic film can also be used. However, as the paper P of this embodiment, a reusable medium is used. Use. This reusable medium is a recording medium that can easily remove image information formed on the surface thereof as compared with a general recording medium. Specifically, paper, synthetic paper, plastic film, etc. used as a general recording medium is used as a base, and the fixing strength with an image forming substance on the surface or in the vicinity thereof is lower than that of a general recording medium. The one provided with a simple composition is used. In addition, if the image forming material penetrates from the surface of the paper P into the inside or enters the concave portion on the surface, it becomes difficult to remove the image forming material from the paper P. A composition provided with a composition near the surface is also used.

Specific examples of reusable media include the following.
A sheet provided with a composition containing a silicon compound such as a silicon resin or a silane coupling agent on the surface. A sheet provided with a composition containing waxes such as carnauba wax, beeswax, polyethylene wax, and microcrystalline wax. A sheet provided with a composition comprising an acrylate ester having a fluorinated alkyl group, a methacrylate ester polymer, or a sea surface activator containing a fluorinated alkyl group. Paper with paper sizing agents such as alkyl ketene dimer and alkenyl succinic anhydride added in a significantly larger amount than that used for general paper, and a sheet provided with a composition containing these sizing agents near the surface . A sheet provided with a composition containing a surfactant containing a higher alkyl group or an alkenyl group or a saponified olefin-maleic anhydride polymer.

  Among the examples of the reusable media described above, the sheet provided with the composition containing the saponified olefin-maleic anhydride polymer can appropriately adjust the adhesion between the image forming substance and the reusable media. For this reason, it is possible to facilitate the removal of the image forming material from the reusable medium by the image removing device while securing the fixing property of the image forming material during image formation. Furthermore, it is excellent in durability of repeated use, and can be a coating solution using water as a medium, and safety during production can be ensured. Therefore, it is preferable to use a sheet provided with a composition containing a saponified olefin-maleic anhydride polymer as a reusable medium.

  In the vicinity of the surface of the reusable medium, a polymer compound can be used to smooth the surface in order to adjust the adhesive force between the surface and the image forming substance or to fix the above-described compound. As a compound for reducing the adhesiveness between the surface of the reusable medium and the image forming substance or reducing the wettability between the surface of the reusable medium and the image forming substance, a composition in which a resin compound is mixed may be provided. it can. Examples of the resin compound include acrylic resin, polyvinyl alcohol, carboxymethyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, polyacrylamide, polyvinyl acetate emulsion, polystyrene / butadiene resin emulsion, starch, oxidized starch, and esterified starch.

As the base material of the reusable medium that can be used in the present embodiment, paper, synthetic paper, plastic film, or the like used in a general recording medium as described above can be used. There is no particular limitation on the material of the base material, but a composition for reducing the adhesive strength with the image forming substance and preventing the penetration and intrusion of the image forming substance is applied to plain paper without a sealing layer. In the case of coating, the coating is applied so that the amount of adhesion is 0.5 to 15 [g / m ² ], particularly 2.0 to 6.0 [g / m ² ], on the image forming surface. It is preferable to do. If the amount of adhesion is less than this range, the image forming substance can easily penetrate or penetrate into the recesses or holes near the surface of the paper, making it difficult to remove the image forming substance. There is a possibility that the image forming substance may remain on the paper P later. If the image forming substance remains on the paper P, the number of repeated uses of the paper P, which is a reusable medium, is limited. On the other hand, if the adhesion amount is larger than the above range, it is likely to be difficult to ensure the fixing property of the image forming substance. Further, the surface smoothness of the paper P becomes too high, and it may be difficult to transport the paper P inside the image forming apparatus or the image removing apparatus.

Although reusable media based on synthetic paper or plastic film can also be used, since these are usually made from fossil resources, there is a drawback that the environmental impact is greater than when paper is used as the base material. . Further, in the electrophotographic recording type image forming apparatus, the sheet P is charged, so that a problem of receiving an electric shock when the user touches the sheet P or an electrostatic force acts between the sheets P, and the image forming apparatus and the image Problems such as difficulty in stacking the sheets P easily occur at the discharge unit of the removing device.
When paper is used as a base material, a sealing layer is provided on the paper, and then a composition for reducing the adhesive strength with the image forming substance or preventing penetration or intrusion of the image forming substance is provided. Reusable media can also be used for the paper P of this embodiment. For the sealing layer, a composition in which the above-described resin compound is used as a binder and pigments such as kaolin, clay, calcium carbonate, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, barium sulfate, polystyrene cross-linked product, and polyacrylic resin cross-linked product are dispersed is used. Can do.
When using synthetic paper or plastic film as the base material, or when using paper with a sealing layer, the adhesive strength with the image-forming substance may be reduced, or the penetration or intrusion of the image-forming substance may be prevented. Even if the adhesion amount of the composition for reducing is reduced, the composition can be uniformly applied on the surface of the paper P. Therefore, in this case, even if the composition material for reducing the adhesive strength between the paper P and the image forming substance or preventing the penetration and intrusion of the image forming substance is 2.0 [g / m ² ] or less. A good image forming substance can be removed.

When a reusable medium is used as the paper P, the paper P to which reuse identifying means indicating that the paper P is a reusable medium may be used.
As the reuse identifying means for indicating reusable media, a conventionally known one can be used. That is, a part or the entire surface of the sheet-like paper P is colored with a recognizable dye or pigment, a barcode that can be read by the image forming apparatus, or a mark other than the barcode is printed. May be. The coloring material to be colored may be a material that absorbs ultraviolet light or infrared light, a material that emits fluorescence, or a magnetic ink in addition to a material that absorbs visible light. Further, an IC chip that is sensitive to electromagnetic waves may be used. Such reuse identification means is preferably provided in the vicinity of the edge of the paper P so that it does not interfere with the image when the image information formed on the surface of the paper P is utilized. Those that do not disappear when the image is removed are preferred.

  Further, when a reusable medium provided with reuse identification means in the vicinity of the sheet-like edge is used as the paper P, even if the image forming apparatus that forms an image by reuse can identify the reuse identification means, If the portion provided with the reuse identifying unit becomes broken, the reuse identifying unit may not be identified. On the other hand, the image removing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes the ear folding correction unit 25. Therefore, even if the ear folding has occurred in the paper P before removing the image, the image is removed to remove the paper P. When the paper is discharged out of the apparatus, the paper P is in a state where there is no ear folding. For this reason, even if the ear fold occurs at the position where the reuse identification unit for the paper P is provided, it is possible to prevent the reuse identification unit from being identified by the image forming apparatus that forms an image by reuse.

  In the image removing apparatus 100, the ear fold correction means that is the ear fold correction means is provided in the recording medium conveyance path between the paper feed roller 13 that is the recording medium supply means in the recording medium conveyance path and the image removal section 11 that is the image removal means. Part 25 is arranged. In other words, it is arranged upstream in the transport direction with respect to the image removing unit 11 in the transport direction of the paper P in the recording medium transport path. When the image forming substance is removed by the image removing unit 11 in the state in which the ear fold occurs in the portion where the image is formed on the paper P in the state where the image is formed, There is a possibility that an image fixed on a hidden portion is difficult to remove and remains. In the image removing apparatus 100, since the image forming substance is removed by the image removing unit 11 after the ear folding correcting unit 25 corrects the ear folding, even if the corner folding has occurred at the portion where the image of the paper P is formed. It is possible to prevent the image from remaining.

  Further, by using a reusable medium having reduced fixability to an image forming substance as the paper P, it is not necessary to apply a peeling liquid to the paper P in the image removal process, and the image can be removed with a device having a simple configuration. Can do. However, an image removal apparatus that removes an image on a reusable medium needs to be distinguished from a general recording medium. When a general recording medium is mixed as the paper P of the image removing apparatus that removes an image from the reusable medium, the adhesive force between the image forming substance and the recording medium is large, so the peeling belt 18 and the paper P are heated and pressurized. Both cannot be separated later, and there is a risk of poor conveyance in the image removal apparatus 100. In addition, when a problem occurs in which the separation belt 18 and the paper P cannot be separated, the separation belt 18 may not be usable. Therefore, there are some media which are provided with an identification mark so that the media can be identified. In order to prevent the identification mark from interfering with the image formed on the paper P, it is advantageous to provide the identification mark near the end of the paper P. If the fold occurs, the identification mark may be hidden. If the identification mark is hidden due to the folded ear, the identification mark cannot be detected by the image removing apparatus 100 or the image forming apparatus at the time of reuse, and there is a possibility that the identification mark is defective. On the other hand, since the image removal apparatus 100 includes the ear fold correction unit 25, even if an ear fold occurs at the end portion to which the identification mark is given, the ear fold correction unit 25 restores the ear fold. Identification failure can be prevented.

Next, the principle of correcting the ear break without adversely affecting the holding and conveyance of the paper P will be described.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the principle of correcting the corner folding without adversely affecting the holding and conveyance of the paper P by the image removing apparatus 100. FIG. 3A is an explanatory diagram in the case of correcting the folded ear portion E generated at the leading end portion of the paper P, and FIG. 3B is an illustration of correcting the bent ear portion E generated at the rear end portion of the paper P. It is explanatory drawing in the case. Note that the direction of arrow A in FIG.

  In the image removing apparatus 100 of FIG. 2, a plurality of transport rollers such as a paper feed roller 13, a supply roller pair 27, a discharge transport roller pair 22, and a paper discharge roller pair 24 impart a transport force to the paper P. Depending on the timing, a plurality of transport rollers apply a transport force to the paper P. In FIG. 3, in order to simplify the explanation, an ear fold correction portion transport member is provided as a member that applies a transport force to one sheet of paper P in a region where the ear fold correction portion 25 can be corrected at a certain timing. This is expressed as a conveyance roller 1. 2 corresponding to the conveyance roller 1 shown in FIG. 3 differs depending on the position of the paper P in the recording medium conveyance path. Specifically, in a state where only the leading end portion of the paper P has reached the ear folding correction portion 25, the member corresponding to the transport roller 1 is the paper feed roller 13, and only the rear end portion of the paper P is in the ear folding correction portion 25. In the state, the pressure roller pair 42 included in the ear fold correction unit 25 described later in detail is a member corresponding to the transport roller 1. Further, in a state where the leading end side of the paper P is in contact with the pressure roller pair 42 and the rear end side of the paper P is in contact with the paper feeding roller 13, the pressure roller pair 42 and the paper feeding roller 13 correspond to the transport roller 1. It is a member.

  When the paper P is in a state of being transported to the transport roller 1 as the transport means, the peripheral speed of the transport roller 1 is equal to the transport speed of the paper P, and both the transport roller 1 and the paper P are held by static frictional force. Has been. While the static friction coefficient is acting, there is no influence on the holding / conveying state of the paper P. However, if the force required to transport the paper P exceeds the maximum static frictional force, which is the maximum value of the static frictional force between the transporting roller 1 and the paper P, the peripheral speed of the transporting roller 1 and the moving speed of the paper P are increased. A difference occurs, which adversely affects the holding / conveying state of the paper P.

  In the explanatory view of FIG. 3, a transport force F <b> 1 that is a force for pushing the paper P to transport the paper P works. When the transport force F1 is acting on the paper P, the transport friction force T1 is working between the paper P and the transport roller 1. The conveyance friction force T1 is the same magnitude as the conveyance force F1 and a reverse force.

In the case of correcting the folded ear portion E generated at the front end portion of the paper P as shown in FIG. 3A, a force (hereinafter referred to as an ear folded portion) that acts to correct the broken ear portion against the bent ear portion E of the front end portion. F2 works in the transport direction of the paper P. Then, when the earfold correction force F2 is acting, the earfold correction friction force T2, which is a friction force acting at the time of the earfold correction, acts between the paper P and the transport roller 1. The ear break correction frictional force is the same magnitude as the ear break correction force F2 and is a reverse force.
In the case of FIG.
(Conveyance friction force T1) + (Ear fold correction friction force T2)> (Maximum static friction force between the conveyance roller 1 and the paper P)
That is,
(Conveying force F1) + (Ear folding correction force F2)> (Maximum static frictional force between the conveying roller 1 and the paper P)
Then, the paper P and the transport roller 1 slip and the transport speed of the paper P fluctuates.
For this reason, by applying an ear fold correction force F2 satisfying the following expression (1) to the ear fold portion E of the leading end of the paper P, the ear fold portion is not adversely affected on the holding and conveying state of the paper P. E can be modified.
(Conveying force F1) + (Ear folding correction force F2) ≦ (Maximum static frictional force between the conveying roller 1 and the paper P) (1)

On the other hand, when correcting the bent ear part E generated at the rear end of the paper P as shown in FIG. 3B, the bent ear acts to correct the bent ear with respect to the bent ear part E at the rear end. The correction force F2 acts in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction of the paper P. When the ear-fold correction force F2 is applied, an ear-fold correction frictional force T2 that is the same magnitude as the ear-fold correction force F2 and a reverse force is applied between the paper P and the transport roller 1. is working.
In the case of FIG.
(Conveyance friction force T1) + (Ear fold correction friction force T2)> (Maximum static friction force between the conveyance roller 1 and the paper P)
That is,
(Conveying force F1) + (Ear folding correction force F2)> (Maximum static frictional force between the conveying roller 1 and the paper P)
Then, the paper P and the transport roller 1 slip and the transport speed of the paper P fluctuates. For this reason, by applying an ear fold correction force F2 satisfying the following expression (2) to the ear fold portion E at the rear end of the paper P, the ear fold is not adversely affected on the holding and conveying state of the paper P. The part E can be corrected.
(Conveying force F1) + (Ear folding correction force F2) ≦ (Maximum static frictional force between the conveying roller 1 and the paper P) (2)

  Next, a description will be given of the position at which the ear fold correction member provided in the ear fold correction unit 25 is provided. The edge folds generated on the paper P mainly occur at both ends in the width direction (direction perpendicular to the transport direction) of the leading end portion or the rear end portion of the paper P, that is, at the four corners of the paper P. Therefore, the ear fold correction member provided in the ear fold correction unit 25 of the image removing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment may be any member that rubs at least both ends at the front end portion and the rear end portion of the paper P. Specifically, the member is preferably a member capable of rubbing in the range of 0 [cm] to 5 [cm] from both ends in the width direction of the paper P and 0 [cm] to 5 [cm] from the front and rear ends of the paper P. .

[Example 1]
Next, a first example (hereinafter referred to as Example 1) of the ear break correction unit 25 will be described.
FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the ear fold correction unit 25 according to the first embodiment. 4A is a schematic top view of the paper feed tray 12, the paper feed roller 13, and the ear fold correction unit 25. FIG. 4B is a schematic side view of the paper feed tray 12, the paper feed roller 13, and the ear fold correction unit 25.
4 is provided for rubbing and correcting an edge-folded portion generated at the downstream end (leading end) in the transport direction of the paper P that is a recording medium. A brush roller pair 41 is provided as a contact-type ear break correction member. The roller rotation motor 40 and the control unit 60 which are correction member driving means for rotating the brush roller pair 41 rotate the brush roller pair 41 at a peripheral speed faster than the conveyance speed of the paper P. In addition, a pressure roller pair 42 that pressurizes the paper P is provided so that the corner fold E corrected by the brush roller pair 41 so as to be flush with other portions of the paper P does not rise again. The pressure roller pair 42 presses against the paper P passing between the two rollers by pressing two rollers constituting the roller pair by a pressure structure (not shown) using a spring, water pressure, air pressure, or the like. Is.

In FIG. 4 and the description thereof, the pair of brush rollers 41 is taken as an example of the ear fold correction member. This is not a limitation.
FIG. 5 shows an example of an ear fold correction member applicable to the first embodiment.

  FIG. 5A is a roller-shaped ear fold correcting member made of a soft material such as a sponge or rubber having a porous surface, and FIG. 5B is a brush-shaped ear fold correcting member whose entire roller surface is a brush. is there. FIG. 5 (c) shows an edge fold correction member provided with a gap that allows paper P to pass between two cylindrical members. FIG. 5 (d) shows a prismatic shape, and FIG. 5 (e) shows a blade shape. This is an ear fold correction member provided with a gap that allows the sheet P to pass between the two members.

  5 (a) and 5 (b), the roller-shaped ear fold correction member indicated by α in FIG. 5 does not move, but the fold portion rubbing portion is a portion that rubs against the fold portion E. The section moves at a speed faster than the conveyance speed of the paper P. 5 (a) and FIG. 5 (b), the roller-shaped one has a peripheral speed faster than the conveyance speed of the paper P, and also affects the conveyance speed and quality of the paper P. The roller rotation motor 40 rotationally drives the roller-shaped member so that the ear-folded portion rubbing portion moves with no force. The corner fold portion of the paper P is rubbed by the corner fold portion rubbing portion, and a force is applied to the corner folding portion. The edge-folded part rubbing portion is a roller surface in FIG. 5A and a brush provided on the roller surface in FIG. 5B.

  5 (c), FIG. 5 (d), FIG. 5 (e), and FIG. 5 (f) indicated by β in FIG. This is for rubbing the folded part of the tip of the ear. In these cases, the entire ear fold correction member moves in the transport direction of the paper P, and the ear fold portion rubbing portion of the ear fold correction member moves in the transport direction to rub the ear fold portion of the paper P. A force is applied to the bent portion. In FIG. 5C, FIG. 5D, and FIG. 5E, the vicinity of the gap between the two members is an ear-folded portion rubbing portion. In FIG. 5 (f), the film-like members respectively fixed to the two supports are the ear-folded site rubbing portions. Also, the shape that the earliest contact when the earfold correction member and the earfold part E contact each other is in contact with the inner surface of the earfold (the inner surface of the trough) before the apex of the earfold It is preferable that

Next, a description will be given of the correction of the folding of the ear in the folding-of-folds correcting unit 25 in which the folding-of-folds correction member described in the first embodiment is the brush roller pair 41.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram immediately before the paper P in which the edge fold has occurred at the leading end passes through the ear fold correction unit 25 described with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 6A is a schematic top view of the paper feed tray 12, the paper feed roller 13, and the ear fold correction unit 25, and FIG. 6B is a schematic side view as seen from the side.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining a process in which the folded paper is corrected when the paper P having the folded edge at the leading edge passes through the folded ear correction unit 25.
As shown in FIG. 7A, the paper P in the state where the ear breakage is accommodated in the paper feed tray 12 is transferred to the brush roller pair 41 provided for raising the ear breakage portion E by the paper feed roller 13. It is conveyed. The paper P conveyed between the two brush rollers of the brush roller pair 41 is rubbed by a raised portion 41a as a brush of the brush roller as shown in FIG. 7B. The portion that has been bent by being rubbed against the raised portions 41a is gradually raised, resulting in a flat sheet P that is not bent as shown in FIG. 7C.

  In the case of correcting the edge folding using the brush roller pair 41 as in the first embodiment, the peripheral speeds of the two brush rollers of the brush roller pair 41 are set faster than the conveyance speed of the paper P (the peripheral speed of the paper feed roller 13). To do. As a result, only the speed of the ear-folded portion E to which force is applied by the raised portions 41a on the surface of the brush roller is relatively higher than the speed at which the entire paper P in which the ear-fold has occurred is conveyed, so The site | part E can be raised easily. The process of correcting the corner breakage of the paper P that has been corrected in a flat shape due to the occurrence of the folded ear E through the pair of pressure rollers 42 that pressurizes the paper P so that the portion that was the folded ear E does not rise again. Is completed.

[Example 2]
Next, a second example (hereinafter, referred to as Example 2) of the ear break correction unit 25 will be described.
FIG. 8 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the ear fold correction unit 25 of the second embodiment. FIG. 8A is a schematic top view of the paper feed tray 12, the paper feed roller 13, and the ear fold correction unit 25, and FIG. 8B is a schematic side view of this viewed from the side. .
8 is provided for rubbing and correcting an edge-folded portion E generated at the upstream end (rear end) in the transport direction of the paper P as a recording medium. A correction guide 72 is provided as the bent ear correction member. In addition, a correction unit guide guide 71 for guiding the paper P conveyed by the paper supply roller 13 to the correction guide 72 is provided on the upstream side of the correction guide 72 in the conveyance direction. Further, a pressure roller pair 42 that presses the paper P is provided on the downstream side of the correction guide 72 in the conveyance direction so that the folded-back portion E corrected by the correction guide 72 does not rise again.
Since the paper P is transported by a transport member such as the paper feed roller 13 and the pressure roller pair 42, even if the ear folding correction member is a member fixed in the transport path as shown in FIG. A force can be applied to the broken ear E at the rear end. In the correction guide 72 according to the second embodiment, a portion where the ear-folded portion E of the paper P passing through can come into contact is the ear-folded portion rubbing portion.

In FIG. 8 and the description thereof, the correction guide 72 is taken as an example of the ear fold correction member. However, as the ear fold correction member applicable for correcting the ear fold at the rear end portion of the paper P in the second embodiment, It is not limited to.
FIG. 9 shows an example of an ear fold correction member applicable to the second embodiment.
Examples similar to the correction guide 72 described with reference to FIG. 8 include a cylindrical member of FIG. 9C indicated by β in FIG. 9, a prismatic member of FIG. 9D, and FIG. 9E. And a film-like member shown in FIG. 9 (f). 9 is not limited to a member that is fixed in the conveyance path, and these ear fold correction members are moved in the same direction as the conveyance direction of the paper P at a moving speed slower than the conveyance speed of the paper P. It may move.

  Further, the member may be a member that applies a force to the edge folding portion E at the rear end portion of the paper P so that the moving speed of the ear folding portion E is relatively slower than the conveyance speed of the paper P. As such a member, there is an elastic roller made of rubber or sponge shown by α in FIG. 9 or a pair of brush rollers shown in FIG. 9B. The roller-shaped member may be rotated so that the surface movement direction of the roller-shaped member is opposite to the conveyance direction of the paper P, or the conveyance speed of the paper P (the peripheral speed of the paper supply roller 13). ), The roller-shaped member may be rotated forward at a lower peripheral speed.

  In addition, the cylindrical member, the prismatic member, the blade member, and the film member fixed to the support shown by β in FIG. 9 can be moved in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction of the paper P. Member driving means may be provided. Also, the shape that the earliest contact when the earfold correction member and the earfold part E contact each other is in contact with the inner surface of the earfold (the inner surface of the trough) before the apex of the earfold It is preferable that

Next, a description will be given of the correction of the folding of the ear in the bent ear correction unit 25 in which the bent ear correction member described in the second embodiment is the correction guide 72.
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining a process in which the folded paper is corrected when the paper P in which the folded edge has occurred at the rear end portion passes through the folded ear correcting section 25.
FIG. 10A is a schematic diagram immediately before the paper P in which the folded ear portion E is generated at the rear end passes through the folded ear correction portion 25, and the folded ear portion E contacts the correction guide 72. It is a figure which shows time. FIG. 10B shows a state where the paper P has moved in the transport direction from the state of FIG. Since the paper P is transported by the supply roller pair 27 and the pressure roller pair 42 which are the supply and transport means, the speed of the folded ear portion E is relatively higher than the transport speed of the paper P other than the folded corner portion E. To be late. As a result, the folded-back portion E is rubbed by the correction guide 72, and the bent portion of the folded-back portion E is easily raised, resulting in a flat sheet P having no folded-back as shown in FIG. On the downstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to the correction guide 72, the folding portion E of the sheet P is raised so that the correction guide 72 slides and rubs to form a flat ear-folding portion E that does not rise again and becomes the ear-folding portion. The process of correcting the corner folding of the sheet P corrected to a flat shape is completed through the pressure roller pair 42 that pressurizes the sheet P so that the portion that was the corner folding part E does not rise again.

Example 3
Next, a third example (hereinafter, referred to as Example 3) of the ear break correction unit 25 will be described.
FIG. 11 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the ear fold correction unit 25 according to the third embodiment. FIG. 11A is a schematic top view of the paper feed tray 12, the paper feed roller 13, and the ear fold correction unit 25, and FIG. 11B is a schematic side view of this viewed from the side. .
The ear fold correcting unit 25 according to the first embodiment corrects the ear fold portion E generated at the downstream end (leading end) in the conveyance direction of the paper P. The ear fold correcting unit 25 according to the second embodiment The broken ear E generated at the upstream end (rear end) in the transport direction was corrected. On the other hand, the ear fold correction unit 25 of the third embodiment uses a single contact-type ear fold correction member, and the edge fold portion E generated at the upstream end (rear end) in the conveyance direction of the paper P and the paper P It corrects both the broken ear E generated at the downstream end (front end) in the transport direction. In the correction blade 73 according to the third embodiment, the portion where the ear fold portion E of the paper P passing through can come into contact is the ear fold portion rubbing portion.

  The edge fold correcting portion 25 of Example 3 shown in FIG. 11 is a blade-shaped ear fold provided for rubbing the edge fold portions E generated at the front end portion and the rear end portion of the paper P as a recording medium. A correction blade 73 as a correction member is provided. In addition, a pressure roller pair 42 that presses the paper P is provided on the downstream side of the correction blade 73 in the conveyance direction so that the folded corner E corrected by the correction blade 73 does not rise again. Further, the correction blade 73 can be moved downstream in the conveyance direction (pressure roller side) at a speed faster than the conveyance speed of the paper P, and the correction blade 73 is moved upstream in the conveyance direction (feed roller side). A correction member parallel movement motor 70 and a control unit 60 are provided as correction member driving means that can be moved. The correction blade 73 moves to the downstream side in the transport direction at a faster speed than the paper P and overtakes the leading edge of the paper P, thereby correcting the ear folding when the ear folding portion E occurs at the leading edge of the paper P. be able to. In addition, the correction blade 73 moves upstream in the transport direction after overtaking the leading edge of the paper P, and the paper P passes between the correction blades 73 facing each other in the vertical direction, so that the rear edge of the paper P is folded. Ear breakage in the case where the region E has occurred can be corrected. Note that an arrow C in FIG. 11 indicates that the correction blade 73, which is an edge folding correction member, can move so as to move in parallel with respect to the transport path, upstream and downstream in the transport direction of the paper P.

In FIG. 11 and the description thereof, the correction blade 73 is taken as an example of the ear fold correction member. Is not limited to this. The ear fold correction member used in the third embodiment is a member that rubs the ear fold part E with a force that does not affect the conveyance speed and the paper quality of the paper P and applies a force to raise the ear fold part E of the paper P. I just need it.
FIG. 12 shows an example of an ear fold correction member applicable to the third embodiment.
Examples similar to the correction blade 73 described with reference to FIG. 11 include the cylindrical member of FIG. 12C indicated by β in FIG. 12, the prismatic member of FIG. 12D, and FIG. And a film-like member shown in FIG. 12 (f). 12 is provided as long as it is equipped with the ear fold correction member indicated by β in FIG. 12 and can be moved in parallel with the conveyance direction by the correction member parallel movement motor 70. Any broken ears at the front and rear ends of P can be corrected. Also, the shape that the earliest contact when the earfold correction member and the earfold part E contact each other is in contact with the inner surface of the earfold (the inner surface of the trough) before the apex of the earfold It is preferable that

  Further, like the elastic roller made of rubber or sponge in FIG. 12A shown in α of FIG. 12 or the brush roller pair in FIG. 12B, the ear fold correcting member itself does not move, but the ear folds by surface movement. An ear breakage correcting member that corrects the above is also applicable. 12 (a) or 12 (b), the fold-off portion rubbing portion that rubs against the fold-folded portion E until the leading end portion of the paper P passes between the two rollers. Near the roller surface moves in the same direction as the transport direction of the paper P at a speed faster than the transport speed of the paper P. That is, when the direction from the left side to the right side in FIG. 12 is the conveyance direction of the paper P, the elastic roller in FIG. 12A and the brush roller pair in FIG. Rotates at a peripheral speed faster than the transport speed. Here, in the case where the folded ear portion E is generated at the leading end of the paper P, the broken ear is corrected. When the trailing edge of the sheet P passes between the two rollers, the rotation direction of the rollers is reversed and rotates in the direction of arrow F in FIG. Here, in the case where the folded ear portion E is generated at the rear end portion of the paper P, the folded ear is corrected. When the trailing edge of the sheet P passes between the two rollers, the rotation direction of the roller is not limited to the reverse rotation, but the rotation speed is slowed with the rotation direction indicated by the arrow D in FIG. The peripheral speed may be slower than the transport speed of the paper P.

Next, a description will be given of the correction of the ear break in the ear break correction portion 25 in which the ear break correction member described in the third embodiment is the correction blade 73.
FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining a process in which the folded paper is corrected when the paper P in which the folded ear has occurred at the leading end portion and the trailing end portion passes through the folded ear correcting portion 25.
In FIG. 13A, the paper P with the ear folds at the front end and the rear end is fed from the paper feed tray 12 by the paper feed roller 13, and the front end fold portion Ef is a correction member for correcting the folds. It is a figure which shows the state which passed between the braid | blade which opposes up and down of the braid | blade 73. When the leading end of the sheet P passes through the gap of the correction blade 73, the correction blade 73 moves in the conveyance direction of the sheet P as shown in FIG. At this time, since the moving speed of the correction blade 73 is driven relatively faster than the conveyance speed of the paper P (the peripheral speed of the paper feed roller 13), the fold-back portion in contact with the fold-back correcting member is rubbed. It is possible to cause the tip portion ear break site Ef. Then, the portion forming the gap of the correction blade 73 overtakes the leading end of the paper P, thereby correcting the state where the paper P where the leading edge folding portion Ef has occurred is returned as shown in FIG. Can do. Then, the portion where the leading edge folding portion Ef of the paper P is generated is pressurized by the pressure roller pair 42 so that the leading edge folding portion Ef that has been corrected to the returned state does not break again. Thereby, the front-end | tip ear | edge folding part Ef which had arisen in the front-end | tip part of the paper P like FIG.13 (d) can be corrected. When correcting the leading edge bending portion Ef, as shown in FIG. 13C, the paper P is rubbed by the correction blade 73 until just before the leading edge of the paper P enters the nip of the pressure roller pair 42. Preferably it is driven. Thereby, it can prevent that the front-end | tip part broken part Ef which was in the returned state rises, and it becomes a broken ear again.

  Even after the leading end of the sheet P passes through the pressure roller pair 42, the sheet P is continuously conveyed by the conveying means. At this time, as shown in FIG. 13 (e), the correction blade 73 is moved in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction of the paper P, so that the correction blade 73 causes the rear edge portion Eb of the rear end portion to be bent at the rear end portion of the paper P. Can be rubbed. As a result, it is possible to return the rear end portion ear-folded part Eb. Then, when the paper P in a state where the rear end portion folded part Eb is returned passes through the pressure roller pair 42, the rear end part folded part Eb can be corrected as shown in FIG. In addition, when returning the rear-end part folding part Eb with the correction blade 73, you may make it hold | maintain not only the thing which moves the correction blade 73 in the reverse direction of a conveyance direction but the correction blade 73 not moving. Alternatively, the paper P may be moved in the same direction as the paper P at a speed slower than the transport speed of the paper P.

  While the sheet P passes through the ear fold correction unit 25, the correction blade 73 moves as described with reference to FIG. 13, so that the leading edge fold portion Ef and the trailing edge fold portion Eb of the paper P Can be modified together.

Example 4
Next, a fourth example (hereinafter, referred to as Example 4) of the ear break correction unit 25 will be described.
FIG. 14 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the ear fold correction unit 25 according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 14A is a schematic top view of the paper feed tray 12, the paper feed roller 13, and the ear fold correction unit 25, and FIG. 14B is a schematic side view of this viewed from the side. .
In the fourth embodiment, the ear fold correcting portion 25 is configured such that the contact-type ear fold correcting member rubs the paper P only at the front end portion and the rear end portion of the paper P.

  14 is a roller-shaped ear fold provided to rub the edge fold E generated at the front end and the rear end of the paper P that is a recording medium. A correction roller pair 31 is provided as a correction member. In addition, a pressure roller pair 42 that pressurizes the paper P is provided on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the correction roller pair 31 so that the folded-back portion E corrected by the correction roller pair 31 does not rise again. Further, a correction member position control unit is provided that controls the position of the correction roller pair 31 so that the correction roller pair 31 that is the ear fold correction member contacts the paper P only at the front end portion and the rear end portion of the paper P. The correction member position control means of the ear break correction unit 25 shown in FIG. 14 controls the drive of the correction member contact / separation motor 30 and the correction member contact / separation motor 30 that drive the correction roller pair 31 close to or away from each other by driving. 60. The correction member driving means for rotating the correction roller pair 31 includes a roller rotation motor 40 and a control unit 60.

  An arrow G written on the correction roller pair 31 in FIG. 14 indicates that by driving the correction member contact / separation motor 30, an operation in which the roller members facing each other above and below the correction roller pair 31 can approach or separate from each other is possible. Show. This operation may be an operation that approaches or moves away from the surface of the paper P that passes between the roller members facing each other vertically. As another example, the ear fold correction member is operated like a pendulum so that the ear fold portion rubbing portion of the ear fold correction member contacts the surface of the paper P, and the ear fold portion is rubbed. Also good. Further, the correction roller pair 31 according to the fourth embodiment is controlled to be driven symmetrically by the roller rotation motor 40 and the control unit 60 with respect to a conveyance surface that is a virtual plane that passes when the paper P is conveyed. It is desirable. The timing at which the correction roller pair 31 that is an ear-fold correction member is brought into contact with the ear-folded part E is the conveyance speed of the paper P (the peripheral speed of the paper feed roller), the size of the paper P being conveyed, the position of the correction roller pair 31, etc. It can be easily set based on the information.

FIG. 15 shows an example of an ear fold correction member applicable to the fourth embodiment.
FIG. 15A shows a roller-shaped ear break correction member made of a soft material such as a sponge or rubber having a porous surface, and FIG. 15B shows a brush-shaped ear break correction member whose entire roller surface is a brush. . FIG. 15C shows an ear fold correcting member in which a gap that allows the paper P to pass between two cylindrical members is provided. Further, FIG. 15D shows a corner-folding correction member in which a gap that allows paper P to pass is provided between two prismatic members and FIG. 15E is a blade-like member.
15A to 15F, when the ear break correction member is used, as in the ear break correction portion 25 described with reference to FIG. It is configured to be able to approach or separate by means.

FIG. 15 (a) is a roller member in which the roller surface serving as an edge slidable rubbing portion is made of a soft material such as sponge or rubber, and FIG. 15 (b) is a brush in which a brush-like member is provided on the entire roller surface. It is a roller member. 15 (a) and 15 (b), the roller-type ear fold correction member indicated by α in FIG. 15 rotates clockwise so as to rub the ear fold portion E at the front end portion and the rear end portion of the paper P. Alternatively, control is performed by the roller rotation motor 40 and the control unit 60 so as to rotate counterclockwise.
When each example shown by β in FIG. 15 is used, the front and rear ends of the paper P are sequentially moved with respect to the transport direction of the paper P so that the ear folds E are rubbed to correct the ear folds. Correction member driving means for moving the whole ear folding correction member in the direction or the reverse direction is provided.

FIG. 16 shows an example of a correction roller pair 31 that is applicable to the fourth embodiment and that is a bent corner correction member that does not require the correction member position control means. FIG. 16A is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the rotation of the correction roller pair 31 is stopped, and FIG. 16B is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the correction roller pair 31 is rotating.
The example shown in FIG. 16 is a correction roller pair 31 that is a roller-type member having a fixed rotation shaft, and includes a spring 33 provided on the rotation shaft inside the roller, and a sheet attached to the tip of the spring 33. And a rubbing member 32. Further, a cylindrical member 34 having a slit is provided so that the paper rubbing member 32 can enter and exit outside the roller surface. Further, the roller-type member can be rotated in the forward direction and the reverse direction with respect to the conveyance direction of the paper P, and includes a roller rotation motor and a control unit similar to the ear fold correction unit 25 shown in FIG. Correction member drive means is provided. When the correction roller pair 31 shown in FIG. 16 is used, the roller member is rotated in the forward direction with respect to the conveyance direction of the paper P when the leading end of the paper P passes between the upper and lower roller members. When the rear end portion passes, it is rotated in the reverse direction.

As shown in FIG. 16 (a), the sheet rubbing member 32 is housed inside the cylindrical member 34 when stationary, and the sheet rubbing member is disposed on the sheet P conveyed between the upper and lower roller members. 32 does not touch. On the other hand, when the correction roller pair 31 is rotationally driven, the paper rubbing member 32 protrudes from the slit provided in the cylindrical member 34 to the outside of the cylindrical member 34 by centrifugal force as shown in FIG. At this time, the rotation shaft of the correction roller pair 31 is fixed at a position where the paper rubbing member 32 can rub at least the ear-folded portion E of the front end portion and the rear end portion of the paper P.
In the case of the correction roller pair 31 as shown in FIG. 16, it is possible to vertically move the ear fold correction member that is necessary when applying the ear fold correction member of the example shown in FIGS. No correction member position control means is required. That is, the correction member contact / separation motor 30 provided in the ear fold correction unit 25 shown in FIG. 14 is not necessary, and only the roller rotation motor 40 is required as a drive source controlled by the control unit 60. For this reason, the front end portion and the rear end portion of the paper P can be rubbed with a simple drive / control configuration.
Also, the shape that the earliest contact when the earfold correction member and the earfold part E contact each other is in contact with the inner surface of the earfold (the inner surface of the trough) before the apex of the earfold It is preferable that

Next, a description will be given of the correction of the folding of the ear in the bent corner correcting unit 25 in which the bent corner correcting member described in the fourth embodiment is the correction roller pair 31.
FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram for explaining a process in which the folded edge of the paper P in which the edge breakage has occurred at the front end portion and the rear end portion passes through the edge breakage correcting portion 25 and is corrected.
Before the leading end of the sheet P approaches between the upper and lower roller members opposed to the correction roller pair 31, the roller member of the correction roller pair 31 is not in contact with the sheet P as shown in FIG. Yes. When the leading end of the sheet P passes between the correction roller pair 31, the roller members facing each other in the vertical direction move as shown by an arrow H in FIG. The surface of a certain roller contacts the paper P. At this time, the correction roller pair 31 is rotationally driven so as to move in the forward direction with respect to the conveyance direction of the paper P as indicated by an arrow D in FIG. As a result, the leading edge fold portion Ef of the paper P is rubbed by the correction roller pair 31, and the portion where the leading edge fold portion Ef of the paper P is generated can be corrected to be returned. Then, the paper P is pressed by the pressure roller pair 42 so that the tip end folded portion Ef corrected to the returned state does not be folded again. As a result, it is possible to correct the leading edge folding portion Ef that has occurred at the leading edge of the paper P.
After the leading edge of the paper P has passed, the roller members facing each other in the vertical direction move away from each other as indicated by the arrow I in FIG. .

  The same applies to the case where the rear end portion of the sheet P passes between the roller members facing each other above and below the correction roller pair 31. As shown in FIGS. 17D to 17F, the roller member of the correction roller pair 31 approaches and slides the paper P only when the rear end portion of the paper P passes between the correction roller pair 31. The correction roller pair 31 moves to a position where it can be rubbed. As shown in FIG. 17 (e), when the trailing edge of the sheet P passes between the correction roller pair 31, the correction roller pair 31 moves to the sheet P as shown by the arrow F in FIG. It is driven to rotate so that the surface moves in the opposite direction to the conveying direction. As a result, the rear end portion of the folded portion Eb is rubbed by the correction roller pair 31 and the portion where the rear end portion of the folded end portion Eb of the paper P has been returned is restored, and the pressure roller pair 42 applies pressure. Thus, the rear end portion of the ear fold portion Eb is corrected.

When the entire surface of the paper P is rubbed with the ear fold correction member, the ear fold correction member may be worn out and deteriorated due to friction at the time of the rubbing between the ear fold site rubbing portion and the paper P. Further, when using a reusable medium having a composition that lowers the fixing property on the surface as the paper P, the composition that lowers the fixing property on the surface may fall off due to rubbing with the ear fold correcting member. .
As in the correction roller pair 31 of the fourth embodiment, by using the ear fold correcting member that rubs only the front end portion and the rear end portion of the paper P, while correcting the ear fold generated at the end portion of the paper P, Deterioration due to wear of the ear fold correction member can be suppressed. Furthermore, when using reusable media as the paper P, it is possible to prevent the composition that lowers the fixing property of the surface from dropping out, so that the number of times that the reusable media can be used can be extended. Here, although the leading edge and the trailing edge of the paper P that is rubbed against the ear fold correction member are deteriorated due to wear, an image is not formed so much on the edge of the paper P. The impact is small.
In addition, if the edge fold correcting member corrects the edge fold portion E of the front end portion of the paper P as in the brush roller pair 41 of the first embodiment, the brush roller pair 41 is used only when the front end portion of the paper P passes. May be moved to a position where it can come into contact with the paper P. Further, in the case of the edge folding correction member that corrects the edge folding portion of the rear end portion of the paper P as in the correction guide 72 of the second embodiment, the correction guide 72 only when the rear end portion of the paper P passes. May be moved to a position where it can come into contact with the paper P.

Example 5
Next, a fifth example (hereinafter referred to as Example 5) of the ear fold correction unit 25 will be described.
FIG. 18 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the ear fold correction unit 25 of the fifth embodiment. FIG. 18A is a schematic top view of the paper feed tray 12, the paper feed roller 13, and the ear fold correction unit 25, and FIG. 18B is a schematic side view of this viewed from the side. .
As in the fourth embodiment, the ear fold correcting portion 25 of the fifth embodiment is such that the contact-type ear fold correcting member rubs the paper P only at the front end portion and the rear end portion of the paper P. The fifth embodiment includes an ear fold correction member that is asymmetrical with respect to the rotation axis, and drives and controls the ear fold correction member so that the ear fold correction member contacts only the leading edge and the rear edge of the paper P due to the rotation. This is different from the fourth embodiment.

  The ear fold correction unit 25 of Example 5 shown in FIG. 18 includes a rotating shaft 51a provided for rubbing the ear fold site E generated at the leading end and the rear end of the paper P that is a recording medium, And an eccentric rubbing member 51 that is asymmetric with respect to the rotation shaft 51a and is rotatable about the rotation shaft 51a. In the ear fold correcting portion 25 of the fifth embodiment, the ear fold correcting member is composed of a rotating shaft 51 a and an eccentric rubbing member 51. In addition, a pressure roller pair 42 that pressurizes the paper P is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction of the eccentric rubbing member 51 so that the ear-folded portion E corrected by the eccentric rubbing member 51 does not rise again. Further, the eccentric rubbing member 51 is rotated only when the leading end and the rear end of the paper P pass through the conveyance path facing the eccentric rubbing member 51, and the surface of the eccentric rubbing member 51 is the leading end of the paper P. An eccentric member rotating motor 50 and a control unit 60 are provided as correction member driving means for driving and controlling the rear end portion so as to be slidable.

FIG. 19 shows an example of an eccentric rubbing member 51 applicable to the fifth embodiment.
Examples of the eccentric rubbing member 51 include a cylindrical roller-shaped member in FIG. 19A, an elliptical roller-shaped member in FIG. 19B, a prismatic rotating body in FIG. 19C, and FIG. (D) a member provided with a brush-like rubbing portion on a part of the roller, a member having a film-like rubbing portion on the side surface of a rod-like or columnar shaft portion having a rotating shaft in FIG. Is mentioned.
In each of FIGS. 19A to 19E, a solid line indicates a state where the edge-folded portion rubbing portion of the eccentric rubbing member 51 is in contact with the paper P, and a broken-line arrow written around the rotation shaft 51a. Indicates that it is possible to rotate both clockwise and counterclockwise. Even when any example is used as the eccentric rubbing member 51, the eccentric member rotating motor 50 is controlled by the control unit 60 so that the ear-folded portion rubbing portion is in contact with the paper P only at the leading end and the rear end of the paper P. Control. The eccentric rubbing member 51 in the fifth embodiment is desirably controlled so as to be driven symmetrically with respect to the conveyance surface which is a virtual plane that passes when the sheet-like paper P is conveyed. In addition, the timing at which the ear-folded portion rubbing portion of the eccentric rubbing member 51 that is the ear-folding correcting member is brought into contact with the leading end portion and the rear end portion of the paper P is the conveyance speed of the paper P (the peripheral speed of the paper feeding roller), It can be easily set based on information such as the size of the conveyed paper P, the size of the eccentric rubbing member 51, the rotation speed, and the position. In addition, a member that is shaped so that the ear fold correcting member comes into contact with the inner surface (the inner surface of the valley fold) earlier than the apex of the ear fold is preferable.

Next, a description will be given of the correction of the folding of the ear in the folding-of-folds correcting portion 25 in which the bending-correcting member described in the fifth embodiment is the eccentric rubbing member 51.
FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram for explaining a process in which the folded corner is corrected by passing the sheet P having the folded corner at the leading end and the trailing end through the folded corner correcting section 25.
Before the leading end of the paper P approaches between the two upper and lower eccentric rubbing members 51, the eccentric rubbing member 51 is in a position where it does not contact the paper P as shown in FIG. The eccentric member rotating motor 50 is driven at the timing when the leading end of the sheet P passes between the eccentric rubbing members 51, and the surface movement direction of the eccentric rubbing member 51 is the direction of the sheet P as indicated by an arrow J in the figure. The eccentric rubbing member 51 rotates forward so as to be in the same direction as the transport direction. Only when the leading end of the paper P passes between the eccentric rubbing members 51 as shown in FIG. 20B by this rotation, the rubbing surface which is the ear-folded portion rubbing portion of the eccentric rubbing member 51 is the paper. Contact P. At this time, the rubbing surface of the eccentric rubbing member 51 rubs the front end portion of the paper P, and the front end portion folded portion Ef can be corrected as shown in FIG. Then, the paper P is pressed by the pressure roller pair 42 so that the tip end folded portion Ef corrected to the returned state does not be folded again. As a result, it is possible to correct the leading edge folding portion Ef that has occurred at the leading edge of the paper P. Further, after the leading end portion of the paper P has passed, the eccentric member rotating motor 50 is driven until the eccentric rubbing member 51 reaches a position where it does not contact the paper P, and the eccentric rubbing member 51 is rotated.

  The same applies to the case where the rear end portion of the sheet P passes between the eccentric rubbing members 51 as shown in FIGS. 20 (d) to 20 (f). The eccentric member rotating motor 50 is driven in accordance with the timing when the rear end portion of the sheet P passes between the eccentric rubbing members 51, and the surface movement direction of the eccentric rubbing member 51 is the sheet as indicated by an arrow K in the figure. The eccentric rubbing member 51 rotates in the reverse direction so as to be in the direction opposite to the conveying direction of P. By this rotation, the rubbing surface of the eccentric rubbing member 51 comes into contact with the paper P only when the rear end portion of the sheet P passes between the eccentric rubbing members 51 as shown in FIG. At this time, the rubbing surface of the eccentric rubbing member 51 rubs the front end portion of the paper P, and the rear end ear folded portion Eb can be corrected as shown in FIG. Then, the paper P is pressed by the pressure roller pair 42 so that the rear end earfold portion Eb that has been corrected to the returned state does not bend again. As a result, the rear end portion of the paper P can be corrected at the rear end portion of the paper P. Further, after the rear end portion of the paper P has passed, the eccentric rubbing member 51 is rotated by driving the eccentric member rotating motor 50 until the eccentric rubbing member 51 reaches a position where it does not contact the paper P.

Example 6
Next, a sixth example (hereinafter, referred to as Example 6) of the ear break correction unit 25 will be described.
FIG. 21 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the ear fold correction unit 25 of the sixth embodiment.
In the first to fifth embodiments, an ear provided with a contact-type ear fold correcting member that corrects the ear fold generated in the paper P by bringing a rigid body or an elastic body into contact with the ear fold portion E of the paper P and rubbing it. The bend correction unit 25 has been described. On the other hand, the ear break correction part 25 of Example 6 is an ear break correction means by a compressed air ejection mechanism. This is a non-contact type that corrects the edge folding generated in the paper P by applying the wind pressure generated by jetting compressed air by the compressed air jetting mechanism which is a wind pressure generating means to the ear folding site E of the paper P. The ear breakage correcting member is provided. As such an ear breakage correction member, a nozzle provided so as to be able to eject air to the ear breakage portion E generated at at least one of the leading end portion and the rear end portion of the paper P, and the nozzle A pipe for sending compressed air, an air compression means for compressing air to send air through the nozzle, and a valve for releasing the compressed air produced in the air compression means . By adopting such a configuration, by blowing the compressed air created by the air compression means from the nozzle, it is possible to act wind pressure on the ear fold site E, as with the contact type ear fold correction member, Ear breakage can be corrected without contact. As described above, the ear fold correcting unit 25 according to the sixth embodiment can correct the ear fold as in the case of the contact-type ear fold correcting member by ejecting compressed air and applying wind pressure to the ear fold site. it can.

As in the sixth embodiment, the ear fold correction means using the compressed air ejection mechanism is necessary for satisfying the conditions of the above-described formulas (1) and (2) and returning the ear fold portion E of the paper P to the returned state. Deliver a sufficient amount of compressed air. As described above, it is preferable that the control is performed so as to send out an amount of compressed air necessary and sufficient to bring the folded-back portion E of the paper P into the returned state.
Further, from the viewpoint of energy consumed by the air compressing means, cost required for providing the air compressing means, and noise generated from the air compressing means, it is desirable that the air compressing means is driven only at a necessary timing. That is, if the earfold part E of only the leading edge or only the trailing edge of the paper P is to be corrected, the air compression means is driven only when the target edge to be corrected passes through the air ejection position of the nozzle. Is desirable. Further, if both the front and rear end portions E of the paper P are corrected, the air compression means is used only at the timing when the front and rear ends of the paper P pass through the air ejection position. It is desirable to drive.
In addition, the valve is not limited to driving the air compression means only at the required timing, and the valve may be driven and controlled so that the valve is opened only at the required timing. That is, if only the leading edge portion or only the trailing edge portion E of the paper P is to be corrected, it is created by the air compressing means only when the correction target end portion passes the air ejection position by the nozzle. The valve may be driven and controlled to release the compressed air. Further, if both the front and rear edge portions E of the paper P are corrected, the air compression means is used only at the timing when the front and rear ends of the paper P pass the air ejection position. The valve may be driven and controlled to release the created air.

Next, a description will be given of the ear fold correcting portion 25 of the sixth embodiment provided with a mechanism for ejecting compressed air to the ear fold site E with reference to FIG.
As illustrated in FIG. 21, the ear fold correction unit 25 according to the sixth embodiment is a compressed air for causing a wind pressure to act by jetting compressed air to the ear fold portions E generated at the front end portion and the rear end portion of the paper P. The nozzle 93 which is a jetting means is provided. In addition, a pump 91 which is an air compression means as a wind pressure generating means for compressing air ejected from the nozzle 93, a hose 94 for guiding the air compressed by the pump 91 to the nozzle 93, and opening / closing of a connecting portion between the hose 94 and the pump 91 A valve 92 for performing the above is provided. The nozzle 93 preferably has a shape for concentrating and ejecting compressed air at the ejection position, and the compressed air can be concentrated and ejected at the ear-folded portion E of the paper P. The nozzle 93 of the ear fold correction unit 25 according to the sixth embodiment has a shape in which the compressed air that has reached from the valve 92 through the hose 94 is concentrated and ejected at the ejection position, and the leading edge and the trailing edge of the paper P are ejected. Compressed air is concentrated and ejected only when the position is reached. In the ear fold correcting part of the sixth embodiment described with reference to FIG. 21, the wind pressure generating means is constituted by the nozzle 93, the pump 91, the hose 94, the valve 92 and the like.
With respect to the conveyance direction of the paper P, on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the ejection position where the compressed air ejected from the nozzles 93 is concentrated, the folded ear E corrected by the compressed air ejected from the nozzles 93 does not rise again. A pressure roller pair 42 for pressing the paper P is provided. Furthermore, a control unit 60 is provided as control means for controlling the driving of the pump 91, the opening and closing of the valve 92, the driving of the paper feed roller 13, and the like in accordance with an image removal start signal from the outside. With such a configuration, by driving and controlling the valve 92 so as to open the valve 92 only when the leading end and the trailing end of the sheet P reach the ejection position, the folded portion E of the leading end and the trailing end of the sheet P is controlled. Only the wind pressure can be applied to the folds to correct the broken part E.

As shown in FIG. 21, it is preferable that the nozzles 93 that eject the compressed air are provided above and below the conveyance surface of the paper P. In addition, as shown in FIG. 21, when the compressed air is ejected from the upper and lower nozzles 93 on the transport surface of the paper P, the upper and lower nozzles are preferably installed symmetrically with respect to the transport surface of the paper P. It is preferable that the timing and amount at which the nozzles are ejected from the nozzle are equal. Further, it is preferable to drive and control the pump 91 and the valve 92 so that the compressed air is continuously ejected from the nozzle 93 until immediately before the leading end and the trailing end of the paper P are pressurized by the pressure roller pair 42.
As in the case of the ear fold correction unit 25 of the sixth embodiment, a contact type ear fold may be used as long as the air is ejected from the nozzle 93 to the ear fold portion E of the paper P and the ear fold portion E is returned by wind pressure. There is no need to rub the paper P unlike the correction member, and it is possible to prevent the members constituting the ear folding correction portion 25 from being deteriorated by the friction with the paper P. Furthermore, since the edge-folding rubbing member does not rub the paper P as in the first to fifth embodiments, the composition reduces the fixability to the image forming material applied on the paper P when the paper P is a reusable medium. It is possible to prevent wear and tear of the reusable media surface such as falling off of objects. Thereby, it is possible to extend the number of times the reusable medium is used. Further, by controlling the shape and arrangement of the nozzles 93 and the timing of generating the wind pressure, the force acting on the folded edge E of the paper P can be concentrated on the folded edge E of the paper P. Can be prevented from adversely affecting the conveyance of the sheet.

Next, a description will be given of the correction of the folding of the ear in the folding-of-folds correcting unit 25 provided with a compressed air jetting mechanism that is a wind pressure generating means of the sixth embodiment.
FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram for explaining a process in which the folded paper is corrected when the paper P in which the folded ear has occurred passes through the folded ear correcting unit 25 of the sixth embodiment.
Before the paper P approaches the discharge position from the nozzle 93 as shown in FIG. 22A, the ejection of compressed air from the nozzle 93 is stopped. Thereafter, the control unit 60 controls the pump 91 so that preparation of compressed air is started in the pump 91 in response to an input signal for starting an image removal operation input from an input unit (not shown). Then, the control unit 60 opens the valve 92 so that the compressed air is ejected from the nozzle 93 at the timing when the leading end of the paper P passes the discharge position as shown in FIG. When compressed air is ejected from the nozzle 93, a wind pressure in the same direction as the conveyance direction of the paper P acts on the folded edge E of the leading edge of the paper P to return the folded corner E of the leading edge of the paper P Can be corrected. Then, the paper P is pressurized by the pressure roller pair 42 so that the folded edge E at the leading edge of the paper P corrected to the returned state does not become the folded ear again. As a result, it is possible to correct the ear-folded part E that has occurred at the leading end of the paper P. At this time, the paper P is placed in the pressure roller pair so that the ear fold part E does not rise again at the leading end of the paper P before the ear folded part E is returned by the compressed air and reaches the pressure roller pair 42. It is preferable to control the pump 91 and the valve 92 so that the compressed air continues to be ejected from the nozzle 93 until reaching 42. As shown in FIG. 22 (c), when the leading end of the sheet P passes through the ejection position and reaches the pressure roller pair 42, the pump 91 and the valve 92 are set so as to stop the ejection of the compressed air from the nozzle 93. Control.

  In FIG. 22, a configuration has been described in which the bent portion E generated at the front end portion of the paper P by correcting the compressed air is corrected. When correcting the edge fold generated at the rear end portion of the paper P, wind pressure in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction of the paper P acts on the ear fold correction portion 25 shown in FIG. Thus, by providing a rear end correction nozzle capable of ejecting compressed air, it is possible to correct an edge break at the rear end portion of the paper P. In this case, control is performed so that the valve 92 is opened at the timing when the trailing edge of the paper P passes through the ejection position of the trailing edge correction nozzle. Further, driving means for changing the direction of the hose of the leading end correction nozzle is provided, and the operation of the driving means is controlled so that the wind pressure acts on the fold of the rear end of the paper P in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction of the paper P. It may be. Further, as a configuration in which the compressed air is not ejected to the rear end portion of the paper P, the valve is closed when the ejection of the compressed air to the front end portion of the paper P is finished. The rear end as described in the second embodiment is used. It is also possible to correct the ear break at the rear end of the paper P by a contact-type ear break correcting member that corrects the ear bend.

  The contact-type ear fold correction member according to the first to fifth embodiments and the compressed air ejecting means according to the sixth embodiment are illustrated as being provided substantially symmetrically with respect to the conveyance surface across the conveyance surface of the paper P. At this time, the contact-type ear fold correction member or the compression member is compressed so that the magnitude and direction of the force applied to the paper P from the contact-type ear fold correction member or the compressed air ejecting means are equally applied across the conveyance surface. It is preferable to drive and control the air blowing means.

Example 7
Next, a description will be given of a seventh example (hereinafter referred to as Example 7) of the ear break correction unit 25.
FIG. 23 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the ear fold correction unit 25 according to the seventh embodiment.
The ear fold correcting portion 25 of the seventh embodiment is a blade-shaped ear fold correcting member provided to rub the ear fold portions E generated at the front end portion and the rear end portion of the paper P as a recording medium. A correction blade 73 and a moisture applying device 300 as a liquid component applying unit capable of applying water, which is a liquid component, to at least a portion of the paper P that is a broken line of the ear fold are provided. Further, the ear break correction unit 25 includes a heating and pressing roller pair 310 that heats and pressurizes the paper P to which moisture has been applied by the moisture applying device 300. As shown in FIG. 23, the heating and pressure roller pair 310 is located at a position where the correction blade 73 which is an ear folding correction member rubs the paper P and a position where the moisture applying device 300 applies moisture to the paper P. Is also arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction of the paper P. Then, at least a portion that is a broken line of the folded portion of the paper P is heated and pressurized.
FIG. 23 shows a part from the paper feed tray 12 and the paper feed roller 13 to the heat and pressure roller pair 310 as a recording medium supply unit of the image removing apparatus 100. A supply roller pair 27 (not shown in FIG. 23), which is a supply / conveyance means, is arranged on the downstream side in the conveyance direction as in the image removing apparatus 100 described with reference to FIG. Since the configuration on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the paper P from the supply roller pair 27 can be the same as that of the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 2, the description thereof is omitted here. The heating / pressurizing roller pair 310 may also serve as a supply / conveyance unit for the supply roller pair 27.

The image removing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 23 includes a paper feed tray 12, a paper feed roller 13, and an ear fold correcting unit 25 as an ear fold correcting means. The paper feed tray 12 is a container for storing paper P, which is a recording medium from which images are to be removed, and the paper feed roller 13 feeds the paper P in the paper feed tray 12 to the edge folding correction unit 25 one by one. And send it out. The paper P that has passed through the ear folding correction unit 25 is conveyed to the image removal unit 11 (not shown in FIG. 23).
23. As in the third embodiment described with reference to FIG. 11, the correction blade 73 and the correction blade 73 are transported in the conveyance direction of the paper P as the ear fold correction member provided in the ear fold correction section 25 of the image removing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. And a correction member parallel movement motor 70 that moves in parallel with the motor.
In addition, as an ear fold correction | amendment member with which the ear fold correction part 25 provided with a liquid component provision means and a heating / pressurization means is not restricted to the correction blade 73 shown in FIG. 23, Examples 1-5 Any of the ear breakage correcting members described in (1) can be applied. Further, as in the sixth embodiment, an ear fold correction unit 25 including a compressed air ejection mechanism as the ear fold correction member is also applicable.

  As the liquid component applying means, a device using the same principle as the so-called “mist spray” like the moisture applying device 300 in FIG. 23 is preferable. The moisture applying apparatus 300 which is an example of such a configuration includes a moisture tank 301 which is a liquid container for storing moisture, and a spray nozzle 302 for ejecting moisture to the folded portion of the paper P. Further, the moisture applying device 300 includes a moisture hose 303 as a liquid transport pipe for sending moisture in the moisture tank 301 to the spray nozzle 302, and an airflow hose that is an airflow induction pipe for sending compressed air to the spray nozzle 302. 304. Further, the moisture applying device 300 includes a spray pump 305 that is an air flow generating means for generating compressed air to be sent to the spray nozzle 302, and a spray valve 306 that opens and closes a connection portion between the air flow hose 304 and the spray pump 305. . With such a configuration, the moisture in the moisture tank 301 can be made into a mist and sprayed onto the folding line of the folded portion of the paper P.

Next, a spray nozzle 302 that can be used in the moisture applying apparatus 300 will be described.
FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram of the spray nozzle 302. 24A is a perspective explanatory view of the spray nozzle 302, FIG. 24B is an explanatory view of a state before the spray valve 302 is opened, and FIG. 24C is a state of the spray valve 302 being opened. FIG. 24D is an explanatory diagram of a state where moisture is sprayed.
As the spray nozzle 302, as shown in FIG. 24A, a part of the inner diameter of the tube from the first connection port 302b to the jet port 302a is narrowed in a drum shape, and the jet port 302a and the first connection port 302b are narrowed. In addition, a structure having a second connection port 302c can be used. As shown in FIG. 24B, an air flow hose 304 to which compressed air is sent from the spray pump 305 is connected to the first connection port 302b, and moisture connected from the moisture tank 301 to the second connection port 302c. A hose 303 is connected. In this manner, by connecting the spray pump 305 and the water tank 301 to the spray nozzle 302, a basic configuration of so-called spraying can be achieved.
The air compressed by the spray pump 305 in FIG. 23 is compressed at a pressure p1 higher than the atmospheric pressure p0 when the spray valve 306 is closed. At this time, as shown in FIG. 24B, since the inside of the moisture tank 301, the spray nozzle 302, and the airflow hose 304 is open to the atmosphere, all the pressures are atmospheric pressure p0 and the flow velocity is 0.
When the spray valve 306 is opened, the air compressed in the spray pump 305 generates an air flow through the air flow hose 304 and the spray nozzle until the pressure in the spray pump 305 becomes p0. At this time, if the flow velocity in the vicinity of the second connection port 302c is V, the atmospheric pressure in the second connection port 302 and the moisture hose 303 is a pressure p2 lower than the atmospheric pressure p0 without airflow, according to Bernoulli's theorem. Therefore, since the atmospheric pressure p0 of the moisture tank 301> the pressure p2 in the moisture hose 303, the moisture in the moisture tank 301 is sucked up by the pressure gradient as shown in FIG. Since the sucked-up water collides with the air flow V of compressed air, it becomes a mist and is ejected from the ejection port 302a.
When the air pressure is p, the air density is ρ, the airflow velocity is v, the height is z, and the gravitational acceleration is g, the following equation (3) is established from Bernoulli's theorem.
(1/2) ρv ² + ρgz + p = const. .... (3)

  The control unit 60 provided in the image removal apparatus 100 of FIG. 23 drives the spray pump 305, opens / closes the spray valve 306, drives the sheet feeding roller 13, and translates the correction blade 73 based on an image removal start signal from the outside. Controls driving of the motor 70 and the like. With such a configuration, the spray valve 306 is opened only at the timing when the leading edge and the trailing edge of the paper P reach the ejection position, and the leading edge and the trailing edge of the paper P pass through the gap of the correction blade 73. By driving and controlling the correction blade 73 to move in parallel at the timing, it is possible to apply moisture to only the front and rear edge portions of the paper P and to rub the corner portions.

The reason for providing the heating / pressurizing means for heating / pressurizing the broken ear part after the correction of the broken ear is as follows. That is, by heating and pressurizing the paper P, which is a recording medium with corrected ear breakage, the moisture imparted to the paper P evaporates, particularly at the earfold portion to which moisture has been imparted. Is obtained. For this reason, it is because the site | part used as the ear breakage can be extended more strongly than the case where water | moisture content is not provided.
Various methods can be used as the heating / pressurizing unit. However, as in the heating / pressurizing roller pair 310 shown in FIG. It is preferable that the roller pair is disposed in the transport path on the upstream side in the transport direction from the removing unit. The heating and pressing roller pair 310 includes a metal heating roller provided with a heating means for heating the roller surface, and a pressure roller having a surface layer made of a metal cored bar and a rubber elastic member. In addition, a driving unit that includes a pressing unit (not shown) that presses at least one of the two rollers toward the other, and applies a driving force for conveying the recording medium to the image removing unit to one of the rollers. A drive motor 311 is provided.
By adopting such a configuration, a nip is formed at a portion where the metal roller and the roller having a rubber layer on the surface are in contact with each other, so that the recording medium provided with moisture can be heated and pressurized in the nip. . Furthermore, since the roller is rotated by the driving means, the recording medium can be transported to the downstream side of the transport path while being heated and pressurized.

As for the position where the liquid component applying means applies the liquid to the recording medium, as shown in FIG. 23, the liquid component applying means is installed so that the gas component can be applied on the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the ear folding correction member. It is not limited. At least, it is only necessary to be provided on the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the heating / pressurizing means for heating / pressurizing the folded ear part after the correction of the broken ear.
For example, moisture as a liquid component is applied to the paper P that passes through the conveyance path on the downstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to the edge-folding correction blade 73 shown in FIG. A configuration in which a spray nozzle 302 is provided may be possible.

Example 8
Next, an eighth example (hereinafter referred to as Example 8) of the ear break correction unit 25 will be described.
FIG. 25 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the ear fold correction unit 25 according to the eighth embodiment.
The image removing apparatus 100 according to the eighth embodiment is similar to the sixth embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 21 and 22, and the spray nozzle 302 is provided so as to be able to eject air to the folded portion of the paper P. And a wind pressure generating means including a pump 91 as an air compressing means, a hose 94 for guiding the air compressed by the pump 91 to the spray nozzle 302, a valve 92 for opening and closing a connection portion between the hose 94 and the pump 91, and the like. . This wind pressure generating means generates an air flow and applies the air pressure to the folded ear portion of the recording medium by applying the air flow to the folded ear portion of the recording medium. In addition to the wind pressure generating unit, the ear fold correcting unit 25 according to the eighth embodiment includes a moisture applying device 300 that is a liquid applying unit that can apply moisture, which is a liquid component, to the airflow generated by the wind pressure generating unit. Prepare. Further, the ear break correction unit 25 includes a heating and pressing roller pair 310 that heats and pressurizes the paper P to which moisture has been applied by the action of wind pressure due to the airflow to which moisture has been applied. As shown in FIG. 25, the heat and pressure roller pair 310 is arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction of the paper P from the position where the water pressure is applied to the paper P due to the wind pressure caused by the air flow to which the water is applied. . Then, the sheet P is heated and pressurized so as to include at least a portion that is a broken line of the folded ear portion.
As described above, the ear fold correction unit 25 included in the image removing apparatus 100 according to the eighth embodiment corrects the ear fold site by applying wind pressure by applying an air stream containing moisture to the ear fold site of the paper P. It is.
FIG. 25 shows a portion from the paper feed tray 12 and the paper feed roller 13 to the heating and pressing roller pair 310 as the recording medium supply means of the image removing apparatus 100. A supply roller pair 27 (not shown in FIG. 25), which is a supply / conveyance means, is arranged on the downstream side in the conveyance direction as in the image removing apparatus 100 described with reference to FIG. Since the configuration on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the paper P from the supply roller pair 27 can be the same as that of the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 2, the description thereof is omitted here. The heating / pressurizing roller pair 310 may also serve as a supply / conveyance unit for the supply roller pair 27.

As shown in FIG. 25, a member similar to the spray nozzle 302 described in FIG. 24 can be used as the spray nozzle 302 included in the wind pressure generating means of the ear fold correction unit 25 of the eighth embodiment. Specifically, a wind pressure generating unit including a pump 91, a valve 92, and a hose 94 is connected to the first connection port 302b of the spray nozzle 302, and further, a moisture tank 301 that stores moisture in the second connection port 302c of the spray nozzle 302. A moisture applying device 300 consisting of a moisture hose 303 connected to is connected.
Thus, in the ear fold correction part 25 of Example 8, the ear fold correction member is constituted by the wind pressure generating means including the spray nozzle 302 and the moisture applying device 300, and the ear fold after the ear fold correction is made. A heating and pressing roller pair 310 for heating and pressing the part is provided.
With this configuration, when the air compressed by the pump 91 is opened by the valve 92 and passes through the spray nozzle 302 via the hose 94, the moisture in the moisture tank 301 is sucked up as described with reference to FIG. Is sprayed with compressed air. Thereby, at the same time as correcting the broken ear correction part E by the wind pressure, moisture can be applied to the broken ear part. Then, the water applied to the paper P evaporates by heating and pressurizing with the heat and pressure roller pair 310, and it becomes possible to extend the folded part.
As shown in FIG. 25, the spray nozzles 302 are preferably provided above and below the transport surface of the paper P, as in the sixth embodiment. Then, as shown in FIG. 25, when the compressed air to which moisture is applied is ejected from the spray nozzles 302 above and below the transport surface of the paper P, the upper and lower nozzles may be installed symmetrically with respect to the transport surface of the paper P. Preferably, the timing and the amount of compressed air to which moisture has been applied are ejected from the spray nozzle 302 are preferably equal. Further, the pump 91 and the valve 92 are driven and controlled so that the compressed air is continuously ejected from the spray nozzle 302 until the front end portion and the rear end portion of the paper P are heated and pressurized by the heat and pressure roller pair 310. It is preferable.

  25 controls the drive of the pump 91, the opening / closing of the valve 92, the drive of the paper feed roller 13 and the like based on the image removal start signal from the outside. In such a configuration, the valve 92 is driven and controlled so that the valve 92 is opened at the timing when the leading edge and the trailing edge of the paper P pass through the gap of the spray nozzle 302. That is, when the leading end of the sheet P reaches the compressed air ejection position, ejection of the compressed air from the spray nozzle 302 starts, and the leading end of the sheet P passes through the compressed air ejection position and the heating and pressure roller pair 310. When the valve reaches 92, the valve 92 is driven and controlled so as to stop the ejection of compressed air from the spray nozzle 302. Further, the valve 92 is similarly driven and controlled at the timing when the rear end portion of the paper P passes the compressed air ejection position. In this manner, the pump 91 and the valve 92 are controlled so that the compressed air starts and stops being ejected. Thereby, the wind pressure of the airflow to which moisture has been applied can be applied only to the ear-folded portions of the front and rear ends of the paper P.

Example 9
Next, a ninth example (hereinafter referred to as Example 9) of the ear break correction unit 25 will be described.
FIG. 26 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the ear fold correction unit 25 according to the ninth embodiment.
In the paper P as a recording medium from which an image is removed by the image removing apparatus 100 of the ninth embodiment, an image formed on the surface thereof is made of a thermoplastic image forming substance. The image removing unit 11 serving as an image removing unit of the image removing apparatus 100 is in contact with a heating unit that heats an image forming substance on the paper P and an image-formed surface of the paper P, and is heated by the heating unit. Image peeling means including an image peeling member that transfers the image forming material from the paper P and peels the image forming material from the paper P. Further, a pressurizing unit that pressurizes the image P at the position where the image peeling member contacts the paper P is superimposed on the image P at the image peeling member. In addition, the image removing apparatus 100 according to the ninth embodiment includes a moisture applying device 300 as a liquid component applying unit that can apply water as a liquid component to at least a portion of the paper P that is a broken line of the folded ear. And heating / pressurizing means for heating / pressurizing the paper P to which moisture has been imparted by the moisture imparting device 300. In the image removing apparatus 100 according to the ninth embodiment, the image removing unit 11 is also used as a heating / pressurizing unit.

In FIG. 26, the image removing device 100 including the moisture applying device 300 in the ear fold correcting unit 25 shows the paper supply tray 12 and the paper supply roller 13 to the image removing unit 11 as recording medium supply means. Since the configuration on the downstream side in the transport direction of the paper P from the image removing unit 11 can be the same as that in the embodiment described with reference to FIG.
The ear fold correcting unit 25 according to the ninth embodiment includes the same components as those of the eighth embodiment as the ear fold correcting member. It is to be corrected.
However, the present embodiment is different from the eighth embodiment in that the heating / pressurizing roller pair 310 for heating and pressurizing the broken ear portion after the broken ear portion is corrected is not provided. It should be noted that the ear breakage correcting member is not limited to the same member as that of the eighth embodiment shown in FIG. 26. The contact-type earfold correcting member described in the first to fifth embodiments is described in the sixth embodiment. The present invention can be applied to any non-contact type ear breakage correcting member.

As the image removing unit 11 that is an image removing unit applicable to the ninth embodiment, the image formed of the thermoplastic image forming material described with reference to FIG. 2 is removed by thermal transfer to an image peeling member. belongs to. The peeling member is not limited to the one using a belt-like member as the image peeling member such as the peeling belt 18 in FIG. In such an image removing unit 11, the image forming material on the paper P is heated in order to thermally transfer the image made of the thermoplastic image forming material on the paper P to the image peeling member in a heat-melted state. Heating means for pressing, and pressurizing means for superposing and pressing the recording medium on the image peeling member at a position where the image peeling member contacts the recording medium. In FIG. 26, the peeling belt 18 corresponds to the image peeling member, the heating block 15 corresponds to the heating means, and the pressure roller 19 corresponds to the pressure means.
In this way, the heating block 15 and the pressure roller 19 provided in the image removing unit 11 are the same as the heating and pressure roller pair 310 provided in the ear fold correcting unit 25 described in the seventh and eighth embodiments. In addition, it is possible to heat and pressurize the folded ear part to which moisture has been imparted by the moisture imparting device 300. For this reason, it is possible to strongly extend the part that has been folded in the ear without providing a heating / pressurizing unit separately from the heating block 15 and the pressure roller 19 of the image removing unit 11.

As in the present embodiment, in the image removing apparatus 100 including the ear fold correction unit 25 that is an ear fold correction unit, whether or not the paper P is folded before the paper P reaches the ear fold correction unit 25. There may be provided an ear breakage detecting means for detecting.
FIG. 27 is a flowchart for explaining the basic configuration of an image removing apparatus including an ear break detection unit and an ear break correction unit. As shown in FIG. 27, the image removing apparatus includes an image removing unit that removes an image from a recording medium, a supply unit that houses and supplies a recording medium from which an image is to be removed, and a recording supplied by the supplying unit. Supply conveyance means for conveying the medium to the image removing means is provided. Further, a discharge conveyance means for conveying the recording medium from which the image has been removed by the image removal means to the discharge means, the recording medium conveyed by the discharge conveyance means is discharged to the outside of the apparatus, and the recording medium is discharged outside the apparatus. A discharging means for storing the container is provided. The supply means accommodates a sheet-like recording medium from which an image is to be removed, and supplies at least one sheet to the supply conveyance means. The discharge means discharges the recording medium from which the image has been removed to a storage container provided at a position where the user can easily take it.
These points are in common with the basic configuration described with reference to FIG. 1, and have an ear fold correcting means for correcting an ear fold of the recording medium between the supply means and the image removing means. It differs from FIG. 1 in that it has an ear fold detection means for detecting an ear fold on the upstream side in the recording medium conveyance direction. The ear fold detection means determines whether or not the paper P to be conveyed has a fold in the ear, and this ear fold detection means is arranged as upstream as possible in the recording medium conveyance path in the image removing apparatus. It is preferable. In addition, the image removing apparatus shown in the flowchart of FIG. 27 uses the ear fold correcting means so that the ear fold correcting means operates when the ear fold detecting means detects that the paper P has been folded. Control means (not shown) for controlling is provided.

Example 10
Next, an example (hereinafter referred to as Example 10) provided with a broken ear detection means will be described.
FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram showing from the supply means to the ear break correction means of the image removing apparatus provided with the ear break detection means. Since the configuration on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the paper P with respect to the edge folding correcting means can be the same as that of the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 2, the description thereof is omitted here.
The image removal apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 28 includes a paper feed tray 12, a paper feed roller 13 as a recording medium supply unit, an ear fold correction unit 25 as an ear fold correction unit, a supply roller pair 27 as a supply conveyance unit, and the like. . The paper feed tray 12 is a container for storing paper P, which is a recording medium from which an image is to be removed, and the paper feed roller 13 feeds the paper P in the paper feed tray 12 to the edge folding correction unit 25 one by one. Send it out. The paper P in which the corner folding has occurred passes through the corner folding correction unit 25 and is conveyed to the image removal unit (not shown) by the supply roller pair 27.

The edge break correction unit 25 of the image removing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 28 is parallel to the correction member 73 that moves the correction blade 73 and the correction blade 73 in parallel with the conveyance direction of the paper P as the ear break correction member as in the third embodiment. A moving motor 70. Further, the image removing apparatus 100 has an ear fold as an ear fold detection unit in the recording medium conveyance path immediately after the paper P is fed from the paper supply roller 13 on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the paper P with respect to the ear fold correction unit 25. A detection sensor 200 is arranged. Furthermore, the image removal apparatus 100 includes a control unit 60 as a control unit that receives a detection signal of the broken ear detection sensor 200 and controls driving of the correction member parallel movement motor 70 based on the detection signal. The control unit 60 drives the correction member parallel movement motor 70 only when it is determined that “ear breakage” is detected based on the detection signal of the ear break detection sensor 200.
Note that the ear fold correction unit 25 of the image removing device 100 including the ear fold detection sensor 200 is not limited to the correction blade 73 as the ear fold correction member, and any ear fold correction described in the first to fifth embodiments. Members are also applicable. Further, as in the sixth embodiment, an ear fold correction unit 25 including a compressed air ejection mechanism is also applicable.

Next, an example of an ear break detection sensor 200 that is an ear break detection means will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram of the broken ear detection sensor 200. FIG. 29A and FIG. 29B are explanatory diagrams when the leading edge of the paper P on which no ear breakage has occurred passes over the ear break detection sensor 200. FIG. FIGS. 29C and 29D are explanatory diagrams when the leading edge of the paper P in which the ear breakage has occurred passes over the ear break detection sensor 200. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 29, the ear fold detection sensor 200 is provided in the recording medium conveyance path immediately after the paper P is conveyed from the paper supply tray 12 by the paper supply roller 13. The ear fold detection sensor 200 is provided with an optical sensor that detects the light reflection characteristics of the conveyed paper P at locations where the center and both ends pass in the width direction of the paper P (the direction perpendicular to the transport direction in the transport surface). The optical sensor is disposed at a position where at least the center and both ends of the front end portion and the rear end portion of the paper P pass. 29, the center optical sensor is the first sensor 201, the optical sensor on the left side in the transport direction (upper side in the figure) is the second sensor 202, and the optical sensor on the right side in the transport direction (lower side in the figure). Let the sensor be the third sensor 203.

  The broken ear detection sensor 200 includes a light amount detected by the first sensor 201 installed at a position where the center of the paper P passes, a second sensor 202 and a third sensor arranged at positions where both ends of the paper P pass. The amount of light detected at 203 is compared. And when the light quantity value equal to the light quantity value obtained by the first sensor 201 is obtained by the second sensor 202 and the third sensor 203, “no ear folding”, it differs from the light quantity value obtained by the first sensor 201. If the light quantity value is obtained by at least one of the second sensor 202 and the third sensor 203, it is determined that “ear breakage” occurs. The control unit 60 shown in FIG. 28 includes such a function as an ear fold determination unit that determines the presence or absence of an ear fold. The controller 60 controls the driving of the correction member parallel movement motor 70 based on the determination result as the ear fold determination means.

  As shown in FIG. 29B, when the paper P in which no ear breakage has occurred passes over the ear break detection sensor 200, the light amount value obtained from the first sensor 201 and the light amounts of the second sensor 202 and the third sensor 203. The value becomes equal. Specifically, since the light quantity values of the first sensor 201 and the second sensor 202 are equal, the left side in the transport direction of the paper P is determined to be “no ear folding”, and the light quantity values of the first sensor 201 and the third sensor 203 are also determined. Since they are equal, it is also determined that the right side in the transport direction of the paper P is “no ear folding”. Then, when the paper P that has been determined as “no ear folding” passes through the ear folding correction unit 25, the ear folding correction unit 25 does not operate, and the paper P is sent to the image removal unit 11 that is an image removal unit. .

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 29 (d), when the paper P in which the ear breakage has occurred passes over the ear break detection sensor 200, the second sensor 202 or the second sensor 202 with respect to the light amount value obtained from the first sensor 201. Of the three sensors 203, the light intensity values of the sensors on the side where the ear breakage occurs are different. Specifically, since the light quantity values of the second sensor 202 and the first sensor 201 that are arranged at the position where the left side in the conveyance direction of the paper P in which the ear fold has occurred are different, the left side in the conveyance direction of the paper P is “ear-folded. Is determined. In addition, since the light quantity values of the third sensor 202 and the first sensor 201 arranged at a position where the right side in the conveyance direction of the paper P where the edge folding does not occur are equal, the right side in the conveyance direction of the paper P is “no corner folding”. Is determined. Then, when the paper P that has been determined to be “ear-folded” passes through the ear-fold correcting section 25, the ear-fold correcting section 25 is activated, and the paper P is corrected for the ear-folding to the image removing section 11. Sent. In addition, when the corner folding correction member of the corner folding correction unit 25 can be driven independently by the separate members on the right side and the left side in the conveyance direction of the paper P, the side on which the corner folding has occurred (FIG. 29). In (d), only the left corner correcting member may be operated.
Note that the broken ear detection sensor 200 shown in FIG. 29 uses an optical sensor that detects light reflection characteristics, but may be an optical sensor that detects light transmission characteristics.

Example 11
Next, a description will be given of an embodiment (hereinafter referred to as Embodiment 11) in which the ear fold correction unit 25 is provided with a liquid component applying unit and includes the ear fold detection unit.
FIG. 30 is a schematic diagram illustrating the supply unit to the ear fold correction unit of the image removal apparatus 100 according to the eleventh embodiment. Since the configuration on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the paper P with respect to the edge folding correcting means can be the same as that of the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 2, the description thereof is omitted here.
The image removing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 30 includes a paper feed tray 12 and a paper feed roller 13 that are recording medium supply means, an ear fold correction unit 25 as an ear fold correction means, a supply roller pair 27 that is a supply conveyance means, and the like. . The paper feed tray 12 is a container for storing paper P, which is a recording medium from which images are to be removed, and the paper feed roller 13 feeds the paper P in the paper feed tray 12 for each pair of supply rollers 27 (FIG. 30). (Not shown) is a roller-shaped member for sending out to the unillustrated. In the image removing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 30, as an ear break detection means, the recording medium transport path immediately after the paper P is fed from the paper feed roller 13 on the upstream side in the transport direction of the paper P with respect to the ear break correction unit 25. The broken ear detection sensor 200 is arranged.

  The ear fold correction unit 25 is provided in the conveyance path on the downstream side of the ear fold detection sensor 200 and on the upstream side of the supply roller pair 27, and a correction blade 73 is used as an ear fold correction member in the same manner as in the seventh embodiment. , And a correction member parallel movement motor 70 for moving the correction blade 73 in parallel with the conveyance direction of the paper P. In addition, the apparatus includes a moisture applying device 300 that is a liquid component applying unit, and the moisture applying device 300 includes a moisture tank 301 that stores moisture and a spray nozzle 302 that ejects moisture to the folded portion of the paper P. Further, the moisture applying device 300 includes a moisture hose 303 for sending moisture in the moisture tank 301 to the spray nozzle 302 and an airflow hose 304 for sending compressed air to the spray nozzle 302. Furthermore, the moisture applying apparatus 300 includes a spray pump 305 as compressed air generating means for creating compressed air, and a spray valve 306 that opens and closes a connection portion between the airflow hose 304 and the spray pump 305.

Further, the ear fold correction unit 25 includes a heating and pressing roller pair 310 that heats and presses the paper P after the moisture is applied by the moisture applying device 300 and the ear fold is corrected, and a heating and pressing roller pair 310. And a drive motor 311 for driving. As shown in FIG. 23, the heat and pressure roller pair 310 is arranged at a position where the correction blade 73 which is an ear folding correction member rubs the paper P and a position where the moisture applying device 300 applies moisture to the paper P. On the other hand, it is disposed in the transport path on the downstream side in the transport direction of the paper P. Then, at least a portion that is a broken line of the folded portion of the paper P is heated and pressurized.
In addition, in a present Example, it is applicable in any of Examples 1-6 as an ear fold correction member. Further, when the ear fold correcting means includes a liquid component applying means and a heating / pressurizing means in addition to the ear fold correcting member, those described in the seventh and eighth embodiments can be used. Further, in the case of using an image removing unit that removes an image formed of a thermoplastic image forming substance by thermal transfer to an image peeling member, the image removing unit 11 performs the same as in the ninth embodiment. The paper P may be heated and pressurized.

In the image removing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 30, the ear fold detection means is provided in the conveyance path of the paper P immediately after the paper P is sent from the paper supply roller 13 on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the paper P with respect to the ear fold correction unit 25. The broken ear detection sensor 200 is arranged. Further, the image removal apparatus 100 receives the detection signal of the broken ear detection sensor 200 and drives the correction member parallel movement motor 70 and the drive motor 311 of the heating and pressure roller pair 310 based on the detection signal. The control part 60 as a control means to control is provided. The controller 60 drives the correction member parallel movement motor 70 and the drive motor 311 of the heating and pressure roller pair 310 only when it is determined that “ear breakage” is detected based on the detection signal of the ear break detection sensor 200.
Note that the ear fold correction unit 25 of the image removing device 100 including the ear fold detection sensor 200 is not limited to the correction blade 73 as the ear fold correction member, and any ear fold correction described in the first to fifth embodiments. Members are also applicable. Further, as in the sixth embodiment, an ear fold correction unit 25 including a compressed air ejection mechanism is also applicable.
As the broken ear detection sensor 200 of the eleventh embodiment, the same one as the broken ear detection sensor 200 of the tenth embodiment described with reference to FIG. 29 can be used. Then, the control unit 60 controls the driving of the correction member parallel movement motor 70 and the drive motor 311 of the heating and pressure roller pair 310 based on the determination result as the ear fold determination unit.

As in the present embodiment, in the image removal apparatus 100 including the ear fold correction unit 25 that is the ear fold correction unit, whether or not the ear fold remains on the paper P after the paper P passes through the ear fold correction unit 25. There may be provided a modified downstream-side ear break detecting means for detecting
Hereinafter, an image removing apparatus having a second ear fold detection means as a corrected downstream ear fold detection means will be described.
FIG. 31 is a flowchart for explaining the basic configuration of an image removing apparatus that has a second ear fold detection means on the downstream side in the transport direction of the paper P with respect to the ear fold correction means.
The image removal apparatus shown in FIG. 31 contains an image removal means for removing an image from a recording medium, a supply means for storing and supplying a recording medium to be removed, and an image removal for the recording medium supplied by the supply means. Supply transport means for transporting to the means. Further, a discharge conveyance means for conveying the recording medium from which the image has been removed by the image removal means to the discharge means, the recording medium conveyed by the discharge conveyance means is discharged to the outside of the apparatus, and the recording medium is discharged outside the apparatus. A discharging means for storing the container is provided. The supply means accommodates a sheet-like recording medium from which an image is to be removed, and supplies at least one sheet to the supply conveyance means. The discharge means discharges the recording medium from which the image has been removed to a storage container provided at a position where the user can easily take it. Further, an ear fold correcting means for correcting the ear fold of the recording medium is provided between the supply means and the image removing means, and the ear fold is detected upstream of the ear fold correcting means in the recording medium conveyance direction. It has a detection means. Further, the image removing apparatus shown in the flowchart of FIG. 31 has the ear fold correcting means so that the ear fold correcting means is activated when the ear fold detecting means detects that the paper P has been folded. Control means (not shown) for controlling is provided.
These points are the same as the basic configuration described with reference to FIG. 27, and are different from FIG. 27 in that the second ear break detection unit detects the second ear break on the downstream side of the ear break correction unit in the recording medium conveyance direction. Different. The image removal apparatus shown in the flowchart in FIG. 31 has the second ear break detection unit, and thus whether or not the ear break of the recording medium has been corrected in the conveyance path from the ear break correction unit to the image removal unit. Can be confirmed. Further, a control unit (not shown) provided in the image removing unit controls the conveyance of the recording medium, the image removal by the image removing unit, and the like according to the detection result of the second ear fold detecting unit.

Next, the operation of the image removing apparatus including the second broken ear detection means that is the modified downstream ear break detection means will be described.
FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing a series of operations of the image removing apparatus including the second ear break detection means.
As shown in FIG. 32, the recording medium supplied by the supply means (a) is (S1), and the ear break detection means (b) determines whether or not there is an ear break (S2). Here, with respect to the recording medium detected as “no ear breakage”, the image removal not shown in the flowchart of FIG. 32 is performed by the supply conveyance means (c) on the downstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to the second ear breakage detection means. It is conveyed to the image removal unit of the means (S3), and the image removal unit removes the image. The recording medium from which the image has been removed is transported to the discharge means by the discharge transport means.
On the other hand, the recording medium detected as “ear breakage” in the ear break detection means (b) is corrected in the ear break correction means (d) (S4). The recording medium in which the ear fold correction unit (d) has corrected the ear folds is reliably detected by the second ear fold detection unit (e) provided downstream of the ear fold correction unit. It is determined whether or not correction has been made (whether the ear is broken again) (S5).
The recording medium determined by the second ear fold detection means (e) as “no ear folds” is supplied to the second ear fold detection means by the supply conveyance means (c) on the downstream side in the conveyance direction. The image is removed by the image removing unit and conveyed to the discharging unit by the discharging and conveying unit (S3).
The recording medium that has been determined as “ear breakage” by the second ear break detection means (e) is the second ear break when the second ear break detection means (e) detects the first ear break. By the operation of the supply conveyance means (f) on the upstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to the detection means, it is returned to the upstream of the ear fold correction means (d) (S7). Then, again, the ear break correction means (d) corrects the ear break.
After being detected by the second ear break detection means (e), the recording medium returned to the ear break correction section (d) and corrected for the ear break is stored in the second ear break detection means (e). A second determination is made as to whether the fold has been corrected. Here, the recording medium determined as “no folds” is conveyed to the image removal unit of the image removal unit by the supply and conveyance unit (c) on the downstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to the second ear fold detection unit (S3). Then, the image is removed by the image removing unit and conveyed to the discharging means by the discharging and conveying means. On the other hand, the recording medium determined as “ear-folded” is transported by the discharge transport means (g) and sent to the discharge means without being subjected to image removal processing.

Example 12
Next, an example (hereinafter referred to as Example 12) of an image removing apparatus provided with second ear breakage detection means will be described.
FIG. 33 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image removing apparatus 100 according to the twelfth embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 33, the image removal apparatus 100 according to the twelfth embodiment includes a second ear break detection sensor 400 that is a second ear break detection unit, in addition to the ear break detection sensor 200. The second broken ear detection sensor 400 has the same configuration as the broken ear detection sensor 200 described in the tenth embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 28 and 29 and the eleventh embodiment described with reference to FIG. be able to.
The second broken ear detection sensor 400 can be applied by being provided in the conveyance path from the broken ear correction unit 25 to the image removing unit 11, but in the conveyance path immediately downstream of the broken ear correction unit 25. It is desirable to be provided. Note that the configuration on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the paper P from the image removing unit 11 can be the same as that in the embodiment described with reference to FIG.

The ear break correction unit 25 of the image removal apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 33 includes the ear break correction unit 25 similar to that described in the eighth embodiment described with reference to FIG. Specifically, the spray nozzle 302 described in FIG. 24 is provided, and a wind pressure generating means comprising a pump 91, a valve 92, and a hose 94, which are air compression means, is connected to the first connection port 302b of the spray nozzle 302. A moisture applying device 300 including a moisture hose 303 connected to a moisture tank 301 for storing moisture is connected to the second connection port 302c of 302. Further, the ear fold correcting unit 25 heats and pressurizes the paper P after the water is applied to the paper P by the action of wind pressure due to the air flow to which water has been applied, and the ear fold of the ear fold is corrected. A heating and pressure roller pair 310 is provided.
In the twelfth embodiment, the configuration including the wind pressure generation unit as the ear break correction unit 25 has been described. However, the ear break correction unit 25 of the image removing device including the second ear break detection unit is not limited thereto. Any of the ear breakage correcting members described in the first to fifth embodiments is applicable.
Further, the liquid component applying means and the heating / pressurizing means included in the ear fold correcting unit 25 of the image removing apparatus including the second ear fold detecting means are not limited to the form of the twelfth embodiment, Any form described in the eighth embodiment is applicable. Further, in the case of using an image removing unit that removes an image formed of a thermoplastic image forming substance by thermal transfer to an image peeling member, the image removing unit 11 performs the same as in the ninth embodiment. The paper P may be heated and pressurized.

In the image removing apparatus 100 according to the twelfth embodiment, the function as the ear fold determination unit that receives the detection signals of the ear fold detection sensor 200 and the second ear fold detection sensor 400 and determines the presence or absence of the ear fold is the control shown in FIG. The unit 60 includes. Further, based on the determination result, the control unit 60 follows the operation flowchart shown in FIG. 32. The paper feed roller 13 provided in the recording medium supply unit, the pump 91 and the valve 92 provided in the ear fold correction unit 25, the heating A function of controlling the rotation direction of the drive motor 311 of the heating and pressure roller pair 310 that is a pressing unit and the operation of pressing the pressure roller 19 provided in the image removing unit 11 is also provided.
When the second folded paper detection sensor 400 determines that the paper break P is corrected by the second broken ear detection sensor 400, the control unit 60, based on this detection signal, The paper P being conveyed is moved to the position before the correction of the ear folds by the correcting unit 25, preferably to the position at which the leading edge of the paper P is detected by the ear fold detection sensor 200. The operation of the drive means (not shown) of the paper feed roller 13 and the drive motor 311 of the heating and pressure roller pair 310 is controlled so as to return to the upstream side.
The paper P returned to the ear fold detection sensor 200 is subjected to the determination of whether or not the ear fold is corrected by the second ear fold detection sensor 400 after the ear fold correction unit 25 corrects the ear fold. . Here, when it is determined again that “ear breakage” occurs, the control unit 60 performs control so as to cancel the operation of pressing the pressure roller 19 of the image removing unit 11 based on the detection signal. In the state in which the pressure roller 19 pressurizes, the paper P does not adhere to the peeling belt 18, so the paper P passes through the image removing unit 11 without being subjected to image removal and is conveyed to the paper discharge tray 23. Is done.

Example 13
Next, an example (hereinafter referred to as Example 13) of an image removal apparatus provided with a conveyance path provided with a second recording medium discharge means in addition to an image removal apparatus provided with a second ear break detection means will be described. .
FIG. 34 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image removal apparatus 100 according to the thirteenth embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 34, the image removal apparatus 100 according to the thirteenth embodiment includes a second ear break detection sensor 400 that is a second ear break detection means. Further, on the downstream side of the second ear breakage detection sensor 400 in the conveyance direction of the paper P, a first conveyance path 206 and a first conveyance path where the paper P passes through the image removing unit 11 and goes to the paper discharge tray 23. Apart from 206, the sheet P is different from the image removing apparatus 100 of the eleventh embodiment in that the sheet P includes a second conveyance path 216 that does not pass through the image removing unit 11 and goes to the second sheet discharge tray 211.
The first transport path 206 includes an image removal unit 11 similar to that included in the image removal apparatus 100 described with reference to FIG. 2, a discharge transport roller pair 22 serving as a discharge transport unit, and a discharge roller pair serving as a recording medium discharge unit. 24, a paper discharge tray 23, and the like. On the other hand, the second transport path 216 is a second discharge tray 211 provided outside the image removing apparatus 100 and a second recording medium discharge unit for transporting the paper P to the second discharge tray 211. A second discharge conveyance roller pair 212, a second discharge roller pair 213, and a conveyance guide 214 are provided. Further, a transport path switching member 215 that is a transport path switching unit that switches the transport path of the paper P that has passed the detection position by the second ear break detection sensor 400 to the first transport path 206 or the second transport path 216 is provided. .

The ear break correction unit 25 of the image removal apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 34 includes the ear break correction unit 25 similar to that described in the eighth embodiment described with reference to FIG. Specifically, the spray nozzle 302 described in FIG. 24 is provided, and a wind pressure generating means comprising a pump 91, a valve 92, and a hose 94, which are air compression means, is connected to the first connection port 302b of the spray nozzle 302. A moisture applying device 300 including a moisture hose 303 connected to a moisture tank 301 for storing moisture is connected to the second connection port 302c of 302. Further, the ear break correction unit 25 is heated and pressurized to heat and pressurize the paper P after the water break is corrected by the action of wind pressure caused by the air flow to which the water has been applied and the ear break is corrected. A roller pair 310 is provided.
In the thirteenth embodiment, the configuration including the wind pressure generation unit as the ear break correction unit 25 has been described. However, the ear break correction unit 25 of the image removing device including the second ear break detection unit is not limited thereto. Any of the ear breakage correcting members described in the first to fifth embodiments is applicable.
Further, the liquid component applying means and the heating / pressurizing means included in the ear fold correcting unit 25 of the image removing apparatus including the second ear fold detecting means are not limited to the form of the twelfth embodiment, Any form described in the eighth embodiment is applicable. Further, in the case of using an image removing unit that removes an image formed of a thermoplastic image forming substance by thermal transfer to an image peeling member, the image removing unit 11 performs the same as in the ninth embodiment. The paper P may be heated and pressurized.

In the image removing apparatus according to the thirteenth embodiment, the detection signals of the ear fold detection sensor 200 and the second ear fold detection sensor 400 are received, and on the basis of the detection signals, the sheet feeding roller 13 provided in the recording medium supply unit is driven. The operation of the means, the operation of the pump 91 and the valve 92 provided in the ear break correction unit 25, the rotation direction of the drive motor 311 of the heating and pressure roller pair 310, the conveyance provided downstream of the second ear break detection sensor 400 A control unit 60 that is a control unit that controls the operation of the driving unit of the path switching member 215 is provided.
In the image removing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 34, the conveyance path switching member 215 has a wedge shape having a rotation axis, and illustrates a configuration in which the conveyance path switching member 215 can be operated around the axis by a driving unit (not shown). Yes. The shape and operation of the transport path switching member 215 are not limited to this, and the transport path can be switched so that the paper P can be transported to one of the two transport paths provided on the downstream side of the transport path switching member 215. Anything is applicable.

FIG. 35 is an explanatory diagram showing how the paper P is conveyed according to the detection result of the second ear break detection sensor 400.
FIG. 35A shows a state in which the paper P determined as “no ear break” by the second ear break detection sensor 400 is transported to the first transport path 206 in which the image removing unit 11 is arranged. It is a schematic diagram. FIG. 35 (b) shows that the second paper break detection sensor 400 determines that the paper P, which is also determined to have “ear folds” in the second ear fold detection result, passes through the second transport path 216 to the second paper discharge tray. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state where the sheet is conveyed to 211. Also in the image removal apparatus 100 of the thirteenth embodiment, the paper P that has been corrected for the ear fold correction in the ear fold correction section 25 as in the twelfth embodiment is determined by the second determination of the second fold detection sensor 400 as “ If it is determined that there is a “folded ear”, the control unit 60 preferably, based on this detection signal, reaches the position before the folded ear correction unit 25 corrects the broken ear, preferably the leading edge of the paper P is the folded ear detection sensor 200. The drive means (not shown) of the paper feed roller 13 and the drive motors of the heating and pressure roller pair 310 are set so that the paper P being transported is returned to the upstream side of the transport path to the position when the presence / absence of the ear fold is determined by 311 is controlled. The paper P returned to the ear fold detection sensor 200 is subjected to the determination of whether or not the ear fold is corrected by the second ear fold detection sensor 400 after the ear fold correction unit 25 corrects the ear fold. . As described above, the second determination result of whether or not the ear break has been corrected performed in the second ear break detection sensor 400 is the second ear break detection result described above.

  When it is determined that the ear break detection result of the second ear break detection sensor 400 is “no ear break”, the control unit 60 determines that the transport path switching member 215 is based on the signal from the second ear break detection sensor 400. The operation is controlled so as to be in the state of 35 (a). As a result, it is possible to transport only the paper P with no ear folding to the image removing unit 11. On the other hand, when it is determined that the second ear break detection result of the second ear break detection sensor 400 is “ear break”, the control unit 60 determines whether the second ear break detection sensor 400 has a conveyance path based on the signal from the second ear break detection sensor 400. The operation is controlled so that the switching member 215 is in the state shown in FIG. As a result, the paper P that has not been subjected to the correction of the folding of the ears by the folding mechanism 25 is transported to the second transport path 216 and discharged to the second paper discharge tray 211.

In the image removing apparatuses 100 according to the seventh, eighth, ninth, eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth embodiments, the configuration including the moisture applying device 300 that applies moisture to the paper P as the liquid component applying unit has been described. Here, the liquid applied to the paper P is not limited to moisture. For example, you may use the liquid containing the compound provided to the surface when manufacturing reusable media, or a solvent. When using a sheet provided with a composition containing an olefin-maleic anhydride polymer saponified product as the reusable medium described above, examples of liquids other than water include “a composition containing an olefin-maleic anhydride polymer saponified product”. It is possible to use a coating solution containing the same compound as the solute and water as a medium.
The coating solution can be used at a concentration lower than the concentration of the coating solution to be adjusted when manufacturing the reusable media, but the viscosity increases at room temperature even if the concentration of the coating solution is low. Is assumed. For this reason, when trying to apply such a coating liquid to the paper P using a liquid application unit such as the moisture application device 300 described above, in addition to the configuration of the liquid application unit, heating / heating for lowering the viscosity of the coating liquid is performed. Problems such as the need for stirring means and clogging of hoses and nozzles may also occur. Therefore, it is preferable to use “water” as the solvent of the coating solution.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the image removal apparatus 100 includes the ear fold correction unit 25 that is the ear fold correction means, the ear fold occurs before the image removal apparatus 100 handles the paper P that is a recording medium. Even so, it is possible to correct the broken ears. For this reason, the sheet P after the image forming material is removed by the image removing apparatus 100 can be in a state in which there is no corner folding. As a result, when the paper P is reused, there is a problem such as a conveyance failure in the image forming apparatus, an identification mark indicating that the paper P is a reusable medium, an obstacle to management of the bundle of paper P, and the like. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of defects.

  Further, the ear folding correction unit 25 is arranged in a recording medium conveyance path through which the paper P passes from the paper supply roller 13 which is a recording medium supply unit in the image removing apparatus 100 to the paper discharge roller pair 24 which is a recording medium discharge unit. Therefore, the sheet P discharged out of the image removing apparatus 100 from which the image has been removed by the image removing apparatus 100 can be in a state in which there is no ear folding.

  Further, the ear fold correction unit 25 is disposed on the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction with respect to the image removal unit 11 serving as an image removal unit. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the remaining of the image caused by the broken ear. Further, by disposing the ear folding correction unit 25 as far as possible in the recording medium conveyance path in the image removal apparatus 100, the conveyance failure of the paper P such as jam, skew, and resist defect in the image removal apparatus occurs. This can be prevented. In other words, even when the user does not notice that the paper P is folded, it is set on the supply tray, and the conveyance failure of the paper P such as jam, skew, and resist in the image removing apparatus occurs. Can be prevented.

  Further, the recording medium supply unit included in the image removing apparatus 100 includes a sheet feeding tray 12 that stores the sheet P, which is a sheet-like recording medium from which an image is to be removed, and a sheet in the image removing unit 11 that is an image removing unit. The sheet feeding roller 13 supplies P at least one by one. The image removal apparatus 100 also includes a supply roller pair 27 and a conveyance guide 26 that are supply and conveyance means for conveying the paper P supplied from the paper supply tray 12 by the paper supply roller 13 to the image removal unit 11. Further, the paper discharge roller pair 24 and the paper discharge tray 23 which are discharge means for storing the recording medium from which the image forming material has been removed by the image removing unit 11, and the paper from which the image forming material has been removed by the image removing unit 11. It has a discharge conveyance roller pair 22 which is a discharge conveyance means for conveying P toward the discharge roller pair 24. In this way, by arranging each member, it is possible to realize a configuration in which the ear folding correction unit 25 is provided on the upstream side of the image removal unit 11.

In addition, the image removing unit 11 contacts the image forming substance that forms an image on the paper P with the heating block 15 that is a heating unit and the surface on which the image of the paper P is formed and is heated by the heating block 15. The image forming apparatus includes a peeling belt unit 10 as an image peeling means including an image peeling member 18 that transfers an image forming material from the paper P and peels the image forming material from the paper P. The peeling belt 18 is the paper P. A pressure roller 19 is provided as a pressure unit that pressurizes the sheet P in a state where the sheet P is superimposed on the separation belt 18 at a position in contact with the sheet. Thus, if the image forming material on the paper P is a thermoplastic image forming material, the image on the paper P can be removed.
As the image removing means for removing the image forming substance from the recording medium, it is preferable to use a method of removing the image forming substance by thermal transfer to the image peeling member as in the image removing apparatus 100 described with reference to FIG. According to this method, an image forming substance that forms an image on a recording medium can be removed satisfactorily, the configuration of the image removing apparatus is relatively simple, and the reliability of the image removing function can be obtained. However, in the image removing apparatus using this method, when the recording medium is inserted into the image removing unit in a state in which the folded portion is generated in the recording medium, the recording medium remains in close contact with the image peeling member. There is a risk that the image peeling member cannot be separated and the image peeling member cannot be used. In the image removing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the image removing unit 11 is a method of removing the image forming material by thermally transferring it to the peeling belt 18 that is an image peeling member. By providing the ear fold correction unit 25, it is possible to avoid the above-described inconvenience that the image removing apparatus cannot be used, so that the reliability of the image removing apparatus can be further improved.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, it includes a conveyance roller 1 as a correction unit conveyance member that holds or conveys the paper P in a region where the ear fold correction can be corrected by the ear fold correction unit 25. The magnitude of the force applied to the sheet P is set to be equal to or less than the magnitude obtained by subtracting the force required for the conveyance roller 1 to convey the paper P from the maximum static frictional force between the paper P and the conveyance roller 1. It is possible to prevent the paper P and the transport roller 1 from slipping (slip is generated between the paper P and the transport roller 1), and to prevent the folded corner E from adversely affecting the holding and transport state of the paper P. It can be corrected. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of conveyance failure such as jam, skew, and resist misalignment in the image removing apparatus 100.
In the image removing apparatus 100, means for supplying, transporting, and discharging the paper P, which is a recording medium, includes a paper feed roller 13, a supply roller pair 27, a discharge transport roller pair 22, and a paper discharge roller pair 24. , Held or transported by the frictional force of the member, and supplied, transported and discharged. Then, the force that is applied to correct the broken ear part E in the broken ear correction part 25 is greater than the frictional force between the paper P and the member that holds or conveys the paper P at the timing of correcting the broken ear part E. The weak corners are corrected so as not to adversely affect the holding and conveying state of the paper P. As a result, the ear fold can be corrected while the paper P is being conveyed, so that the occurrence of a conveyance failure such as a jam, skew, or resist failure does not occur and the processing performance of the image removal apparatus 100 is not degraded. Breakage can be corrected.

  Further, the ear fold correction unit 25 of the first to fifth embodiments includes a contact-type ear fold correction member that rubs and rubs the ear fold portion E of the paper P as the ear fold correction unit. By rubbing the ear-folded portion E of the paper P at the ear-folded portion rubbing portion of the member, the ear-folded portion can be restored. In addition, if the earfold part E is returned to the paper P by rubbing the earfolding rubbing member, the earfold correction unit 25 can be configured with comparatively simple components, which can be downsized. Cost reduction can be achieved. Further, since the folded ear portion E is returned by rubbing, there is little noise generation.

  In particular, as in the first exemplary embodiment, the edge fold correcting member is the brush roller pair 41, and the raised portion 41a that is the edge fold portion rubbing portion of the brush roller pair 41 is on the downstream side in the transport direction of the paper P. The pair of brush rollers so that the peripheral speed of the brush roller pair 41, which is the moving speed of the raised portion 41a in the transport direction of the paper P, when sliding on the ear-folded part E of the part is larger than the transport speed of the paper P. By rotating 41, not only can the folded-back portion E generated at the leading end of the paper P be returned, but also the surface of the paper P can be damaged or the image forming substance provided near the surface of the paper P can be removed. It is also possible to prevent the composition from dropping out such that the fixing strength is lower than that of a general recording medium. As a result, even if the folded-back portion E is generated at the leading end portion of the paper P, there is no folded-back state at the time of reuse, and the recording medium on the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the folded-back portion 25 in the image removing apparatus 100. It is possible to prevent conveyance failure in the conveyance path and in the recording medium conveyance path in the image forming apparatus when reusing. When the image removal unit 11 is located downstream in the conveyance direction of the ear break correction unit 25 as in the image removal apparatus 100, the ear break is corrected before the image is removed, so that part of the image is hidden by the ear break. The remaining image can be prevented. Furthermore, by rotating the brush roller pair 41 so as to be larger than the conveyance speed of the paper P, the folded ear portion E can be corrected while the paper P is being conveyed. Sometimes, it is not necessary to stop the sheet P being conveyed, and the image removal processing in the image removal apparatus 100 can be speeded up. In addition to the brush roller pair 41 shown in FIG. 4, any shape of the members shown in FIG.

  In particular, as in the second embodiment, if the correction member 72 is a correction guide 72 fixed to the image removing apparatus 100, the corner folding portion E at the rear end of the paper P that is upstream in the conveyance direction of the paper P is slid. When rubbing, the moving speed of the correction guide 72 is smaller than the transport speed of the paper P. When a member having a moving speed smaller than the conveyance speed of the paper P contacts and rubs against the folded-back portion E, a force in a direction opposite to the transport direction acts on the folded-fold portion E. The broken ear E generated at the rear end can be returned. As a result, even when an ear fold portion E occurs at the rear end of the paper P, there is no ear fold when reused, and recording on the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the ear fold correction unit 25 in the image removing apparatus 100 is performed. It is possible to prevent the conveyance failure in the medium conveyance path and the recording medium conveyance path in the image forming apparatus when reusing. When the image removing unit 11 is located downstream in the conveyance direction of the ear fold correcting unit 25 as in the image removing apparatus 100, the ear fold is corrected before the image is removed, so that part of the image is hidden by the ear fold. It is possible to prevent image residue caused by the above. Furthermore, the corner fold at the rear end of the sheet P is corrected by the conveyance of the sheet P, and the corner fold E can be corrected while the sheet P is being conveyed. There is no need to stop the sheet P being conveyed, and the image removal processing in the image removal apparatus 100 can be speeded up. The correction guide 72 is not limited to a member that is fixed to the image removal apparatus 100 and stopped in the conveyance direction of the paper P, and moves in the same direction as the conveyance direction of the paper P. The movement speed is higher than the conveyance speed of the paper P. Even if the member is slow, the member whose moving speed is lower than the conveying speed of the sheet P will rub against the ear-folded part E, and the sheet P has the same structure as that described with reference to FIG. The broken ear portion E generated at the rear end can be returned. Further, even if the member moves in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction of the paper P, a member whose movement speed in the conveyance direction of the paper P is smaller than the conveyance speed rubs the ear-folded portion. Similarly to the configuration described with reference to FIG. 8, the folded-back portion E generated at the rear end portion of the paper P can be returned. In addition to the correction guide 72 shown in FIG. 8, the same effects can be obtained with any shape of the ear fold correction member shown in FIG. 9.

  In particular, as in the third embodiment, the edge folding correction member is the correction blade 73, and the correction blade is faster than the conveyance speed of the paper P in the conveyance direction of the paper P when the edge folding portion Ef at the leading end of the paper P is rubbed. By quickly moving 73, the folded ear portion Ef generated at the leading end of the paper P can be returned. Further, when the correction blade 73 slides and rubs at the ear-folded part Ef at the rear end of the paper P, the correction blade 73 is moved in the direction opposite to the transport direction of the paper P, thereby reversing the transport direction of the paper P. The force in the direction acts on the bent ear portion Eb, and the bent ear portion Eb generated at the rear end portion of the paper P can be returned. With such a correction blade 73, if there is one member that returns both the folded ear portion Ef at the front end of the paper P and the bent ear portion Eb at the rear end, the configuration of the bent ear correcting portion 25 is simple. Thus, it is possible to reduce the size and cost of the image removing apparatus 100 while preventing a problem caused by the occurrence of the folding of the paper P. In addition to the correction blade 73 shown in FIG. 11, any of the ear break correction members described with reference to FIG.

  In particular, as in the fourth embodiment, the edge folding correction member is the correction roller pair 31, and the two roller members of the correction roller pair 31 come close to each other only at the timing when the leading end and the rear end of the paper P pass. By rubbing the ear-folded part E, it is possible to suppress deterioration due to wear of the correction roller pair 31 serving as the ear-fold correcting member while correcting the ear-folding generated at the end of the paper P. In addition to the correction roller pair 31 shown in FIG. 14, the same effects can be obtained in any shape of the ear breakage correction member shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 as such an earfold correction member.

  In particular, as in the fifth embodiment, as an ear folding correction member, an eccentric slide that can rotate around the rotation shaft 51a with an asymmetric shape with respect to the rotation shaft 51a and the rotation shaft 51a and can rub the corner folding portion of the paper P. The friction member 51 is provided so that the eccentric friction member 51 rubs the paper P at the timing when the leading end portion and the rear end portion of the paper P pass through a position where the eccentric friction member 51 and the paper P can contact each other. The eccentric rubbing member 51 is driven to rotate. As a result, it is possible to correct the bent corner portion E generated at the leading edge or the trailing edge of the paper P. Further, at the timing when the portion excluding the front end portion and the rear end portion of the sheet P passes through the position where the eccentric rubbing member 51 and the sheet P can come into contact with each other, from the position where the eccentric rubbing member 51 rubs the sheet P. The eccentric rubbing member 51 does not come into contact with the paper P by being rotated, or a state in which almost no frictional force is generated even when it comes into contact can be obtained. As described above, since the paper P can be rubbed only with the front end portion and the rear end portion of the paper P by a simple operation such as a rotation operation, the image removing apparatus 100 can be reduced in size and cost. In addition to the eccentric rubbing member 51 shown in FIG. 18, the same effect can be obtained with any shape of the ear bending correcting member shown in FIG.

  In particular, as in the sixth embodiment, an ear fold correcting member including a nozzle 93 that is a compressed air jetting unit serving as a wind pressure generating unit capable of causing wind pressure to act on the ear fold portion E of the sheet P. By returning the bent ear part E by applying wind pressure to the bent ear part E, the bent ear part E of the paper P can be returned. Further, since the bent ear portion E is returned by wind pressure, unlike the contact-type bent ear correcting member, the member of the bent ear correcting portion 25 and the paper P are not rubbed, so the members included in the bent ear correcting portion 25 are provided. As a result, it is possible to prevent the ear breakage correcting portion 25 from extending its life. Further, since the ear-brushing / rubbing member does not rub the paper P, a reusable medium such as a composition that drops the fixability to the image forming substance applied to the paper P when the paper P is a reusable medium can be used. It is possible to prevent wear and deterioration. Thereby, it is possible to extend the number of times the reusable medium is used.

  Further, by controlling the pump 91 and the valve 92 so that the compressed air is ejected from the nozzle 93 only at the timing when the leading edge and the trailing edge of the paper P pass through the position where the nozzle 93 ejects the compressed air, Since the ear-folded portion E that can occur at the leading edge or the trailing edge of the paper P can be returned, and when it is not necessary, the ejection of compressed air is stopped. Generation of noise can be suppressed. Further, the air pressure can be accumulated by the pump 91 in a time zone other than the timing at which the leading edge or the trailing edge of the paper P passes, and a strong wind pressure can be generated with a small and inexpensive device. The ear fold of the paper P can be returned by the wind pressure.

  Further, in any of the ear break correction members of Examples 1 to 6, by providing the ear break correction members so as to be positioned on both sides with the paper P passing through the portion where the ear break correction is performed, Even if the folding part E is folded on either of the two sides of the paper P, the folded part E can be returned. Further, by providing the ear fold correction member so as to be substantially the target with the surface of the paper P sandwiched between the passing paper P, the force due to the ear fold correction operation is applied from both sides of the paper P almost simultaneously. Since the pressure applied from both sides is substantially the same, it is possible to prevent the conveyance direction of the paper P from being bent, and it is possible to prevent the paper P from being jammed or skewed due to the ear fold correction operation.

Further, in the image removing apparatus 100 according to the seventh and eighth embodiments, the ear fold correcting unit 25 that is the ear fold correcting means is an ear fold correcting member that acts to return the ear fold portion of the paper P that is a recording medium. There is provided a correction blade 73 and a moisture applying device 300 which is a liquid applying means capable of applying moisture as a liquid component to at least a portion of the paper P which is a broken line of the ear fold. Further, the ear fold correcting unit 25 according to the seventh embodiment has a position where the correction blade 73 acts on the paper P and a downstream side in the transport direction of the paper P from a position where the moisture applying device 300 applies water to the paper P. A heating / pressurizing roller pair 310 that is a heating / pressurizing unit capable of heating / pressurizing the paper P so as to include at least a portion that has become a broken line of the folded ear portion is provided.
In such an image removing apparatus 100, even if the paper P in which the ear fold has occurred is set in the paper feed tray 12, the moisture applying apparatus 300 applies moisture to the fold line of the ear fold portion of the paper P, and the ear fold is caused. After correcting the folding of the ears by the correction blade 73 which is a correction member, it is heated and pressed by the heat and pressure roller pair 310. As a result, the same effect as wrinkle stretching using a so-called iron can be obtained, so that the ear fold is corrected after the ear fold is corrected rather than when the ear fold correction member is used to correct the ear fold without applying moisture. Since the folded part is stretched strongly, the possibility that the folded part of the ear that has been corrected for the broken ear will rise again and become a folded part of the ear can be further reduced. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a conveyance failure such as a jam caused by an edge break in the process of conveyance to the image removing unit 11 or the paper discharge tray 23 provided on the downstream side of the ear folding correction unit 25. Further, when the paper P is used again for image formation, the conveyance failure such as a jam or the image formation failure caused by the folding of the paper P during the paper conveyance in the image forming apparatus is prevented. be able to.

In particular, in the image removing apparatus 100 of the seventh embodiment, the moisture applying apparatus 300 that is a liquid applying unit is a liquid nozzle that contains a spray nozzle 302 that ejects moisture toward the paper P and moisture that is ejected from the spray nozzle 302. A moisture tank 301, a moisture hose 303 connected to the spray nozzle 302 from the bottom of the moisture tank 301 to send moisture to the spray nozzle 302, a spray pump 305 that is an airflow generating means for generating an airflow at the spray nozzle 302, An air flow hose 304 that guides the air flow generated by the spray pump 305 to the spray nozzle 302. The spray pump 305 is compressed air generating means for generating an air flow by sending compressed air to the spray nozzle 302. A piston may be used as the compressed air generating means.
Thus, by making the water | moisture-content provision apparatus 300 into a structure which consists of a piston or a pump, the means to provide water | moisture content can be comprised with a comparatively simple structural component, and size reduction and cost reduction can be achieved. . Furthermore, by using the spray nozzle 302, a small amount of water can be sprayed in the form of a mist, so that it is possible to apply water to a wide range in the vicinity of the folded ear part.

In particular, in the image removing apparatus 100 according to the eighth embodiment, the wind pressure generating unit including the spray nozzle 302, the pump 91, the hose 94, the valve 92, and the like generates an air flow, and applies the air flow to the folded portion of the recording medium. The ear fold correcting unit 25 is a liquid applying unit that can apply moisture as a liquid component to the air pressure generated by the wind pressure generating unit and the air flow generated by the wind pressure generating unit. And a granting device 300. Furthermore, at least a portion that is a broken line of the folded portion of the paper P, which is disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction of the paper P from the position where the wind pressure generating means applies the wind pressure to the paper P, can be heated and pressurized. A heating and pressure roller pair 310 is provided. Then, the ear fold correction unit 25 of Example 8 corrects the ear fold site by applying wind pressure by applying an air current containing moisture to the ear fold site of the paper P.
Then, as in the eighth embodiment, when the means for imparting moisture to the ear fold portion of the paper P is provided in the ear fold correcting section 25 having the wind pressure generating means which is a non-contact type ear fold correcting member, Since the pump 91, which is an air compressing means of the compressed air ejection mechanism provided in the fold correcting member, can be used as an air flow generating means for generating an air flow in the spray nozzle, the ear fold correction provided with means for applying moisture The part 25 can be configured to be simpler. As a result, a small and inexpensive device can be realized, and a strong wind pressure with moisture applied to the folded portion of the paper P can be sprayed, so that the folded ear can be more reliably restored by this wind pressure. .

  Further, the heating / pressurizing unit included in the ear fold correcting unit 25 shown in the seventh and eighth embodiments is from a roller pair arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction of the paper P with respect to the image removing unit 11 as an image removing unit. This is a heating and pressure roller pair 310. The heating and pressure roller pair 310 includes a heating roller having roller heating means for heating the roller surface, and a pressure roller formed of a surface layer made of a metal core and an elastic material. Furthermore, it has a drive motor 311 which is a drive means for transmitting the drive to either the heating roller or the pressure roller. By having such a heat and pressure roller pair 310, not only can the paper P to which moisture has been applied be heated and pressurized, but also a conveyance force that conveys the paper P to the downstream side of the conveyance path is imparted. It becomes possible to do. As a result, the paper folding P does not stagnate in the ear folding correction unit 25, and a series of processes for correcting the ear folding can be performed efficiently.

In particular, in the image removing apparatus 100 according to the ninth embodiment, the image removing unit 11 serving as the image removing unit has the heating block 15 serving as the heating unit that heats the image forming material on the paper P and the image of the paper P formed thereon. An image forming substance heated in contact with the surface and heated by the heating block 15 is thermally transferred from the sheet P, and the image forming substance is separated from the sheet P, and includes a peeling belt unit 10 including a peeling belt 18 that is an image peeling member. A pressure roller 19 is provided as a pressurizing unit that presses the paper P on the peeling belt 18 at a position where the peeling belt 18 contacts the paper P, and the image removing unit 11 is applied to the paper P by the moisture applying device 300. It is also used as a heating / pressurizing means for evaporating the moisture and correcting the ear breakage of the paper P.
In the case where the image removing unit 11 is to thermally transfer the image made of the thermoplastic image forming material on the paper P to the image peeling member as in the ninth embodiment, the paper P A heating block 15 for heating the above image forming substance and a pressure roller 19 for pressing the recording medium on the image peeling member are provided. For this reason, it is set as the structure provided with the ear fold correction member as described in Examples 1-6, and the water | moisture-content provision apparatus 300 which provides a water | moisture content at least to the broken line of an ear fold site | part as the ear fold correction part 25. Thus, the same effects as those of the seventh embodiment and the eighth embodiment can be obtained. Therefore, the peeling belt unit 10 having the heating block 15 provided in the image removing unit 11 and the pressure roller 19 can be provided without providing the heating / pressurizing unit in the ear folding correction unit 25 as in the seventh and eighth embodiments. Thus, it is possible to correct the ear break while evaporating the moisture applied by the moisture applying apparatus 300. Further, even if the heating / pressurizing unit is not provided in the ear fold correction unit 25, conveyance to the image removal unit 11 and the paper discharge tray 23 provided on the downstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to the ear fold correction unit 25 can be performed. it can. Further, since the folding of the ear can be corrected more reliably than the case where moisture is not applied, when the paper P is used in the image forming apparatus, the paper being conveyed in the image forming apparatus is not folded. It is possible to prevent a conveyance failure such as a jam and an image formation failure that may occur due to the occurrence of the failure. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to provide heating / pressurizing means in the ear fold correction means, it is possible to reduce energy consumption required for correcting the ear fold part and simplify the configuration of the ear fold correction section 25. Can do.

  Further, in the image removing apparatuses of the tenth and eleventh embodiments, the ear fold detection unit serves as an ear fold detection unit that detects the presence or absence of the ear fold of the paper P on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the paper P with respect to the ear fold correction unit 25. By including the sensor 200, it is possible to grasp the paper P on which the ear-folded part E is generated. Furthermore, if the ear fold correcting portion 25 includes a contact-type ear fold correcting member by operating the ear fold correcting portion 25 only when the paper P that has detected that the ear fold portion E has occurred passes, Further, it is possible to prevent wear deterioration of the ear fold rubbing portion of the ear fold correction member and wear deterioration of the paper P. In particular, when the paper P is a reusable medium, the composition that lowers the fixability of the image forming substance applied to the surface of the paper P can be prevented from falling off due to friction with the ear fold correcting member. The number of uses can be extended. Further, in the case of the ear fold correction unit 25 that ejects compressed air from the nozzle as in the sixth embodiment, the pump 91 that is an air compressing unit is continuously connected while preventing generation of unnecessary noise when the air is discharged. It is possible to prevent the pump 91 from being deteriorated.

  Further, the first sensor as a center detection member having a detection region in which the center portion in the width direction of the paper P passes is used as a detection member for detecting the presence or absence of the paper P in the detection region. 201, and a second sensor 202 and a third sensor 203 as end detection members whose detection regions are positions where the end of the sheet P in the width direction passes, and the detection result of the first sensor 201 and the second sensor 202. Alternatively, when the detection result of the second sensor 202 or the third sensor 203 is detected at the timing when the first sensor 201 detects the presence of the paper P, the detection result of the third sensor 203 is compared with the detection result of the third sensor 203. It is detected that the corner break has occurred in the paper P. As described above, the ear break detection sensor 200 can detect the ear break with a simple configuration. Therefore, the image removal apparatus 100 including the ear break detection sensor 200 can be reliably folded with a small and inexpensive configuration. Can be corrected.

  In addition, the image removing apparatus 100 according to the twelfth and thirteenth embodiments conveys the paper P that is a recording medium in the conveyance direction in the recording medium conveyance path with respect to the ear fold correction unit 25 that is an ear fold correction unit. An image removing unit 11 that is disposed on the downstream side and is an image removing unit that removes the image forming substance from the paper P, and the downstream side in the conveying direction with respect to the ear fold correcting unit 25 and the conveying direction with respect to the image removing unit 11 On the upstream side, a second ear fold detection sensor 400, which is a modified downstream ear fold detection means for detecting whether or not the paper P is folded, is provided. As a result, it is possible to detect the paper P in which the folded ear part is not corrected although it has passed through the folded ear correction unit 25.

Further, in the image removing apparatus 100 according to the twelfth and thirteenth embodiments, when the second ear break detection sensor 400 detects that the second ear break detection sensor 400 detects that there is no ear break, the control unit 60 serving as a control unit proceeds to the image removal unit 11. And the paper P is conveyed, and when it is detected that the ear fold is detected, the paper fold P is returned to the upstream side in the transport direction from the position where the ear fold correction unit 25 corrects the ear fold. Control is performed to execute again the correction of the broken ear in the broken ear correction unit 25. Furthermore, the control unit 60 detects that the second ear breakage detection sensor 400 detects that there is an ear break, and detects the second ear break for the paper P for which the ear break correction unit 25 has corrected the ear break again. The sensor 400 detects whether or not there is a second ear break. When the second detection by the second ear break detection sensor 400 detects that there is no ear break, the paper P is conveyed to the image removing unit 11. On the other hand, when it is detected that there is a folded ear, the paper P is not removed by the paper discharge roller pair 24 (second discharge roller pair 213 in the thirteenth embodiment) outside the apparatus without image removal. Is discharged to the paper discharge tray 23 (second discharge tray 211 in the thirteenth embodiment).
As described above, the image removal apparatus 100 according to the eleventh and twelfth embodiments confirms whether the ear fold correction unit 25 has corrected the ear fold of the paper P immediately after the ear fold correction unit 25 on the downstream side. A second ear break detection sensor 400 for receiving the detection signal of the second ear break detection sensor 400 and conveying the paper P to the image removal unit 11 based on the detection signal, It is possible to determine whether the paper P is sent to the paper discharge tray as it is without image removal. By adopting such a configuration, even if an ear fold portion has occurred in the paper P after the ear fold correction has been performed in the ear fold correction unit 25, it occurs due to the fact that the ear fold portion has occurred in the paper P. It is possible to prevent conveyance failure such as jamming and image residual. In particular, in the image removing apparatus 100 in which the image removing material 11 is applied with a method of thermally transferring the image forming material to the peeling member, the sheet P is inserted into the image removing section 11 with the earfolds remaining on the sheet P. In this case, it is possible to avoid the trouble that the paper P cannot be separated while being in close contact with the peeling member, which may occur in the case where it is done.

  In particular, in the image removing apparatus according to the twelfth embodiment, the image removing unit 11 is an image removing unit that removes the image forming material formed on the paper P by thermal transfer, and the control unit 60 is configured to detect the second ear breakage detection sensor 400. Based on the detection result, control is performed so as to cancel the operation of the pressurizing means of the image removing unit 11. For this reason, even if the paper P that has not been corrected in the ear fold correction unit 25 is conveyed to the image removing unit 11, the paper P is controlled so as not to adhere to the peeling belt 18 that is a peeling member. The trouble that the paper P cannot be separated while being in close contact with the belt 18 can be avoided.

In particular, the image removal apparatus 100 according to the thirteenth embodiment is located on the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the second ear break detection sensor 400 and on the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the image removal unit 11. 400, the first conveyance path 206 toward which the sheet P passes the image removal unit 11 or the second conveyance path toward the outside of the apparatus without passing through the image removal unit 11. A transport path switching member 215 that is a transport path switching unit that can switch to H.216 is provided. Then, after the ear fold correction unit 25 corrects the ear fold twice, the control unit 60 uses the second ear fold detection sensor 400 to detect the paper P that has been detected as having the ear fold. The conveyance path switching member 215 is controlled so as to be conveyed to H.216.
As described above, the image removal apparatus 100 according to the thirteenth embodiment includes the second ear break detection sensor 400 to the image removal apparatus provided separately from the first transport path 206 from the second ear break detection sensor 400 to the image removal unit 11. 100, a second transport path 216 for transporting the recording paper P to the second paper discharge tray 211 outside the transport path, a transport path switching member 215 for switching the transport path for transporting the paper P, and second ear breakage detection And a control unit 60 that controls the operation of the transport path switching member 215 so as to switch the transport path based on the detection result of the sensor 400. Then, the paper folding P that has not been subjected to the correction of the folded ear portion in spite of being subjected to the process of correcting the broken ears one or more times in the ear folding correction unit 25 is conveyed to the second conveyance path 216. Thus, since the operation of the transport path switching member 215 can be controlled, it is possible to reliably prevent the paper P with the folded-folded portion from being inserted into the image removing unit 11.

The flowchart explaining the basic composition of an image removal apparatus. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image removal apparatus of an embodiment. An explanatory view of the principle of correcting the ear break, (a) is an explanatory view when an ear break occurs at the leading edge of the paper, and (b) is an explanatory view when an ear break occurs at the rear end of the paper P. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Schematic explanatory drawing of the ear fold correction part of Example 1, (a) is an upper surface schematic diagram, (b) is a side schematic diagram. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an example of an ear fold correction member applicable to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram immediately before a paper sheet with a folded edge at the leading edge passes through the folded ear correction part of Example 1, (a) is a schematic top view, and (b) is a schematic side view. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a process of correcting the folding of the paper sheet in the ear folding correction unit according to the first exemplary embodiment; FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the state in which the force which returns the folded ear part of a paper is acting, (c) is explanatory drawing which shows the state immediately after the force which returns to the folded ear part of a paper has acted. FIG. 6 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an ear fold correction unit according to the second embodiment. (A) is a schematic top view, (b) is a schematic side view. Explanatory drawing of the example of the ear fold correction member applicable to Example 2. FIG. Schematic diagram illustrating a process in which a paper sheet in which a rear end portion has been folded passes through the ear fold correction part of Example 2 and the ear folds are corrected, (a) is a state immediately before the paper has completely passed through the ear fold correction part. FIG. 4B is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the edge fold portion of the rear end portion of the paper is being returned by the correction blade, and FIG. 5C is an explanatory diagram immediately after the paper passes through the ear fold correction portion. FIG. 6 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an ear fold correction unit according to a third embodiment. (A) is a schematic top view, (b) is a schematic side view. Explanatory drawing of the example of the ear fold correction member applicable to Example 3. FIG. FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram for explaining a process in which an edge fold is corrected by passing a paper in which an edge fold has occurred at the leading edge and the trailing edge through the ear fold correcting section of Example 3, and FIG. The figure which shows the state which passed between the braid | blades, (b) is explanatory drawing of the state by which the edge fold of the front-end | tip part of paper is corrected by the correction blade, (c) is a figure which correct | amends the edge fold of the front-end | tip part of paper by the correction blade (D) is an explanatory diagram of a state where the leading edge of the paper has passed through the pressure roller pair, and (e) a trailing edge of the paper when the correction blade moves in a direction opposite to the paper transport direction. Explanatory drawing of the state which corrects an ear fold part, (f) Explanatory drawing immediately after the paper passed the ear fold correction part. FIG. 6 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an ear fold correction unit according to a fourth embodiment. (A) is a schematic top view, (b) is a schematic side view. Explanatory drawing of the example of the ear fold correction member applicable to Example 4. FIG. Explanatory drawing of the correction roller pair which is applicable to Example 4 and which does not require the correction member position control means, (a) is a state where the correction roller pair is stopped, (b) is a rotation of the correction roller pair. Explanatory drawing which shows the state. FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram for explaining a process in which a paper with a folded edge at the leading edge and a trailing edge passes through the curved folding part of Example 4 to correct the folded corner; FIG. An explanatory diagram before the leading edge approaches, (b) an explanatory diagram of a state where the leading edge of the paper has reached the position of the correction roller pair, and (c) an explanatory diagram of a state where the leading edge of the paper has passed the position of the correcting roller pair. FIG. 4D is an explanatory diagram before the trailing edge of the sheet approaches the correction roller pair, FIG. 4E is an explanatory diagram in a state where the trailing edge of the sheet reaches the position of the correcting roller pair, and FIG. Explanatory drawing of the state which the edge part passed through the position of the correction roller pair. FIG. 9 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an ear fold correction unit according to a fifth embodiment. (A) is a schematic top view, (b) is a schematic side view. Explanatory drawing of the example of the ear fold correction member applicable to Example 5. FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining a process in which a paper sheet in which an ear break occurs at the leading end and the rear end passes through the ear break correcting part of Example 5 and the ear break is corrected, (a) is a sheet on an eccentric rubbing member. An explanatory view before the leading edge of the sheet approaches, (b) an explanatory view of the state where the leading edge of the paper has reached the position of the eccentric rubbing member, and (c) is a drawing where the leading edge of the sheet has passed the position of the eccentric rubbing member. (D) is an explanatory diagram before the trailing edge of the sheet approaches the eccentric rubbing member, (e) an explanatory diagram of the state where the trailing edge of the sheet has reached the position of the eccentric rubbing member, f) An explanatory view of a state in which the rear end portion of the sheet has passed the position of the eccentric rubbing member. FIG. 10 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an ear break correction unit according to a sixth embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining a process of correcting the corner folding of the paper in the ear folding correction unit of Example 6, (a) is an explanatory diagram showing immediately before the wind pressure acts on the leading edge of the paper, and (b) is the leading edge of the paper. Explanatory drawing which shows the state in which the wind pressure is acting on a part, (c) is explanatory drawing which shows the state immediately after wind pressure has finished acting on the front-end | tip part of a paper. FIG. 10 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an ear fold correction unit according to a seventh embodiment. Explanatory drawing of a spray nozzle, (a) is a perspective explanatory view of the spray nozzle, (b) is an explanatory view of an example of a moisture applying device using the principle of spraying, (c) is an air in the spray nozzle. Explanatory drawing in a spray nozzle when it was poured, (d) is explanatory drawing of the state where a water | moisture content comes out like a mist from the jet nozzle of a spray nozzle. FIG. 10 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an ear fold correction unit according to an eighth embodiment. Schematic explanatory drawing of the ear fold correction part of Example 9. FIG. The flowchart explaining the basic composition of the image removal apparatus provided with the ear break detection means and the ear break correction means. The schematic diagram which showed from the supply means of the image removal apparatus of Example 10 provided with the ear break detection means to the ear break correction means. Explanatory diagram of the ear fold detection sensor, (a) is an explanatory diagram just before the leading edge of the paper where the ear fold is not generated passes over the ear fold detection sensor, and (b) is a diagram of the paper where the ear fold is not generated. Explanatory drawing of a state where the leading edge passes over the ear fold detection sensor, (c) is an explanatory diagram immediately before the leading edge of the paper in which the folding of the ear has occurred passes over the broken ear detection sensor, (d). FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the leading edge of the paper in which the ear breakage has occurred passes over the ear breakage detection sensor. Schematic explanatory drawing of the ear fold correction part of Example 11. FIG. The flowchart explaining the basic composition of the image removal apparatus provided with the ear break detection means, the ear break correction means, and the second ear break detection means. The flowchart which showed a series of operation | movement of the image removal apparatus provided with a 2nd ear break detection means. FIG. 15 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image removal device according to Embodiment 12. FIG. 14 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image removal device according to Embodiment 13. Explanatory drawing of a mode that a sheet is conveyed according to a detection result of a second ear fold detection sensor in the image removal apparatus of Example 13, (a) is an explanatory diagram in the case of a detection result that there is no ear fold. b) Explanatory drawing in the case of a detection result that there is a broken ear.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Conveyance roller 10 Peeling belt unit 11 Image removal part 12 Paper feed tray 13 Paper feed roller 15 Heating block 18 Peeling belt 19 Pressure roller 22 Discharge conveyance roller pair 23 Paper discharge tray 24 Paper discharge roller pair 25 Ear fold correction part 26 Conveyance Guide 27 Supply roller pair 28 Spiral cleaning blade 30 Correction member contact / separation motor 31 Correction roller pair 41 Brush roller pair 50 Eccentric member rotation motor 51 Eccentric rubbing member 60 Control unit 72 Correction guide 73 Correction blade 100 Image removal device 200 Ear folding Detection sensor 206 First transport path 211 Second discharge tray 212 Second discharge transport roller pair 213 Second discharge roller pair 214 Transport guide 215 Transport path switching member 216 Second transport path 300 Moisture applying device 301 Moisture tank 302 Sprayer Le 302a spout 302b first connection port 302c break the second connection port 303 the water hoses 304 stream hose 305 spray pump 306 spray valve 310 heat-pressure rollers 311 drive motor 400 second ear sensor

Claims (23)

In an image removing apparatus for removing an image forming substance from a sheet-like recording medium on which an image made of an image forming substance is formed,
Have a ear fold correcting means corrects the broken ear has occurred on the recording medium being conveyed in the image removal device,
Image removing means for removing the image forming substance from the recording medium;
Recording medium supply means for supplying a recording medium to the image removing means;
A recording medium discharging means for discharging the recording medium from which the image forming substance has been removed by the image removing means to the outside of the apparatus,
The ear fold correction means is disposed in the recording medium conveyance path from when it is supplied by the recording medium supply means until it is discharged by the recording medium discharge means ,
The image removing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ear fold correcting means is arranged upstream of the image removing means in the conveying direction with respect to a conveying direction of the recording medium in the recording medium conveying path. The image removing apparatus according to claim 1 .
The recording medium supply means accommodates a sheet-like recording medium to be subjected to image removal, and supplies the recording medium to the image removal means at least one by one.
A supply conveying means for conveying the recording medium supplied from the recording medium supply means to the image removing means;
Discharging means for storing the recording medium from which the image forming substance has been removed by the image removing means;
An image removing apparatus comprising: a discharge conveying unit that conveys the recording medium from which the image forming substance has been removed by the image removing unit to the discharging unit. The image removing device according to claim 1 or 2,
The image removing means includes a heating means for heating the image forming substance on the recording medium, and an image forming substance heated by the heating means in contact with the surface on which the image is formed on the recording medium is transferred from the recording medium. An image peeling means including an image peeling member for peeling the image forming substance from the recording medium, and a pressurizing means for superposing and pressing the recording medium on the image peeling member at a position where the image peeling member contacts the recording medium; An image removing apparatus comprising: The image removing device according to claim 1, 2 or 3,
An ear fold correction portion transporting member for holding or transporting a recording medium in a region where the ear fold correction can be corrected by the ear fold correction means;
The magnitude of the force that the ear fold correction means acts on the recording medium in which the ear fold has occurred is the force required to transport the recording medium from the maximum static frictional force between the correction section transport member and the recording medium. An image removing apparatus characterized in that it is equal to or less than the magnitude of the force obtained by subtracting. Claims 1, 3 or in the image removing device 4,
The ear fold correction means includes a contact-type ear fold correction member that rubs and rubs an ear fold portion of a recording medium as an ear fold correction member. An image removing apparatus that returns the folded part of the ear by doing the above. The image removing apparatus according to claim 5 .
When the ear fold portion rubbing portion of the ear fold correcting member rubs the ear fold portion downstream of the recording medium in the conveyance direction, the moving speed of the ear fold portion rubbing portion in the recording medium conveyance direction is the recording medium. An image removal apparatus comprising an ear fold correction member that is larger than the conveyance speed of the image. In the image removal apparatus of Claim 5 or 6 ,
When the ear fold portion rubbing portion of the ear fold correction member that rubs the ear fold portion of the recording medium rubs the ear fold portion on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium, the recording medium of the ear fold portion rubbing portion is recorded. An image-removing device comprising an ear-fold correcting member whose moving speed in the transport direction is smaller than the transport speed of the recording medium. The image removing apparatus according to claim 5 .
The recording medium of the crease portion rubbing portion when the crease portion rubbing portion of the ear fold correction member that rubs the crooked portion of the recording medium rubs the ear fold portion downstream of the recording medium in the conveyance direction. The moving speed in the transport direction of the recording medium is larger than the transport speed of the recording medium, and the ear fold portion rubbing portion of the ear fold portion rubbing portion is rubbed when the ear fold portion rubbing portion rubs the ear fold portion upstream of the recording medium in the transport direction. An image removing apparatus comprising an ear-fold correcting member whose moving speed in the conveyance direction of the recording medium is smaller than the conveyance speed of the recording medium. The image removing device according to claim 5, 6, 7 or 8,
The ear fold portion rubbing portion of the above-mentioned ear fold correction member that rubs the ear fold portion of the recording medium is only at least one of the vicinity of the recording medium conveyance direction downstream end and the recording medium conveyance direction upstream end. An image removing apparatus that is in contact with the image. The image removing device according to claim 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9,
The ear fold correcting member includes an eccentric rubbing member that is rotatable about the rotating shaft in a shape that is asymmetric with respect to the rotating shaft and capable of rubbing the ear fold portion of the recording medium. An image removing apparatus characterized by the above. Claims 1, 3 or in the image removing device 4,
The ear fold correction means includes an ear fold correction member provided with wind pressure generating means capable of applying wind pressure to the ear fold portion of the recording medium, and the ear fold correction member is provided at the ear fold portion of the recording medium. An image removing apparatus that returns a folded part of an ear by applying wind pressure. The image removal apparatus according to claim 11 .
The image removing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wind pressure generating means applies wind pressure only to at least one of the vicinity of the downstream end in the conveyance direction of the recording medium and the vicinity of the upstream end in the conveyance direction of the recording medium. Claim 5,6, 7,8,9,10,1 1 or the image removal device 12,
An image removing device, wherein the ear fold correction member is disposed so as to be positioned on both sides of a recording medium passing through a portion where the ear fold correction member is corrected. The image removing device according to claim 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,1 2 or 13,
The ear fold correcting means acts so as to return the ear fold portion of the recording medium, and the liquid application capable of applying a liquid component to at least a portion of the recording medium where the ear fold portion is a fold line. Means and
The ear fold correcting means includes a recording medium disposed downstream of the position where the ear fold correcting member acts on the recording medium and the position where the liquid applying means applies a liquid component to the recording medium in the recording medium conveyance direction. An image removing apparatus comprising heating / pressurizing means capable of heating / pressurizing. The image removing apparatus according to claim 14 .
The liquid application means includes a spray nozzle that ejects the liquid component toward the recording medium, a liquid container that stores the liquid component that is ejected from the spray nozzle, and a liquid that sends the liquid component from the liquid container to the spray nozzle. An image removing apparatus comprising: a conveying pipe; an airflow generating means for generating an airflow at the spray nozzle; and an airflow guide pipe for guiding the airflow generated by the airflow generating means to the spray nozzle. The image removal apparatus according to claim 11 or 12 ,
The wind pressure generating means generates an air flow, and applies the air pressure to the folded ear portion of the recording medium to apply the air pressure to the folded ear portion.
The ear fold correcting means includes the wind pressure generating means, the liquid applying means capable of applying a liquid component to the air flow generated by the wind pressure generating means, and the position where the wind pressure generating means applies the wind pressure to the recording medium. A heating / pressurizing means capable of heating / pressurizing the recording medium is provided on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium,
An image removing apparatus that corrects an ear-folded part by applying an air pressure by applying an air stream containing a liquid component to the part of the folded-back part of a recording medium. The image removing device according to claim 14, 15 or 16 ,
The heating / pressurizing unit is composed of a roller pair arranged on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium from the image removing unit,
The roller pair includes a heating roller provided with a roller heating means for heating the roller surface, and a pressure roller formed from a surface layer made of a metal core and an elastic material,
An image removing apparatus comprising driving means for transmitting driving to at least one of the heating roller and the pressure roller. The image removing device according to claim 14, 15, 1 6 or 17,
The image removing means includes a heating means for heating the image forming substance on the recording medium, and an image forming substance heated by the heating means in contact with the surface on which the image is formed on the recording medium is transferred from the recording medium. An image peeling means including an image peeling member for peeling the image forming substance from the recording medium, and a pressurizing means for superposing and pressing the recording medium on the image peeling member at a position where the image peeling member contacts the recording medium; With
An image removing apparatus, wherein the image removing means is also used as the heating / pressurizing means. The image removing device according to claim 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,1 7 or 18,
Only when it is detected by the ear fold detection means that there is an ear fold detection means for detecting the presence or absence of the ear fold of the recording medium on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium with respect to the ear fold correction means, An image removing apparatus comprising: control means for controlling the ear fold correction means to operate. The image removal apparatus of claim 19 ,
The ear fold detection means includes a detection member that detects the presence or absence of the recording medium in the detection region, and a central portion in the width direction of the recording medium with respect to the width direction of the recording medium that is a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording medium. The detection results of the center detection member whose detection area is the position where the recording medium passes and the end detection member whose detection area is the position where the end of the width direction of the recording medium passes are compared. An image removing apparatus that detects that the recording medium is folded when the end detection member detects that there is no recording medium at the timing when the presence is detected. The image removing device according to claim 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,1 8 or 19,
An image removing unit disposed on the downstream side in the conveying direction with respect to the ear folding correction unit with respect to the conveying direction of the recording medium in the recording medium conveying path, and removing an image forming substance from the recording medium;
And a modified downstream-side ear fold detection means for detecting the presence or absence of the ear fold of the recording medium on the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the ear fold correction means and on the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the image removing means. Image removal device. The image removal apparatus of claim 21 ,
When the corrected downstream ear fold detection means detects that there is no ear fold, the recording medium is conveyed to the image removing means, and when it is detected that there is an ear fold, the ear fold correction means Control means for performing control to return the recording medium to the upstream side in the conveyance direction from the position for correcting the ear folds, and to perform again the correction of the ear folds in the ear fold correction means on the recording medium,
The control means detects the broken ear by the corrected downstream ear fold detection means, and the corrected downstream ear fold detection means for the recording medium on which the ear fold correction by the ear fold correction means is executed again. Detect the presence or absence of the second ear break by
In the second detection by the modified downstream-side ear fold detection means, when it is detected that there is no ear fold, the recording medium is conveyed to the image removing means, and when it is detected that there is an ear fold, recording is performed. An image removing apparatus, wherein the medium is controlled to be discharged out of the apparatus by a recording medium discharging means without removing the image. Image of claim 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,2 1 or 22 In the removal device,
An image removing unit disposed on the downstream side in the conveying direction with respect to the ear folding correction unit with respect to the conveying direction of the recording medium in the recording medium conveying path, and removing an image forming substance from the recording medium;
Modified downstream ear fold detection means for detecting the presence or absence of an ear fold of the recording medium downstream in the conveyance direction with respect to the ear fold correction means and upstream in the conveyance direction with respect to the image removal means;
A recording medium that is disposed downstream in the transport direction with respect to the corrected downstream ear fold detection means and upstream in the transport direction with respect to the image removal means and has passed through a position detected by the corrected downstream ear fold detection means. A transport path switching means that can switch the transport path of the recording medium to the first transport path toward the image removal means or the second transport path toward the outside of the apparatus without passing through the image removal means. ,
After the ear fold correction means has corrected the ear folds at least once a predetermined number of times, the recording medium detected by the corrected downstream ear fold detection means is detected to be conveyed to the second conveyance path. An image removing apparatus comprising control means for controlling the transport path switching means.

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