JPH06258980A - Electrophotographic device with color vanishing function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an electrophotographic device with a color vanishing function capable of executing the formation of an image and the vanishing of color without taking the much handling time and labor, at a low cost CONSTITUTION:A recycled paper is carried from a feeder used exclusively for color vanishing 17 to a fixing device 15. The fixing device 15 is driven at a speed slower than that in normal fixing, to heat the recycled paper. On the other hand, an illuminating lamp 3 and scanning reflection mirrors 4, 5 and 6 are moved to the lower side left end (the position shown by a dotted line) of an original platen glass 2. Moreover, a turnable mirror 8 is turned from the position of a continuous line to the position of the dotted line, Then, the illuminating lamp 3 is lighted to illuminate a reflecting plate for the color vanishing 27 and the light is reflected to the reflection mirrors 4, 5, 6, 8 and 16, to be cast on the recycled paper heated by the fixing device 15. The recycled paper having the completion of the color vanishing is housed in an intermediate tray 23 through a carrying path 22. After that, the paper having the completion of the color vanishing is carried to a resist roller 19 to take a normal copying action.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic apparatus used in a printer, a copying machine, etc., and more specifically,
The present invention relates to an electrophotographic apparatus having a decoloring function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, from the viewpoint of resource and environmental protection, recycling of papers used in offices has been demanded. Therefore, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, the recording material such as toner or ink using a decolorizable colorant is printed on the paper, and when it is no longer needed, it is erased and reprinted to reuse the paper. Is proposed.

For example, in an electrophotographic apparatus which is widely used in copying machines, printers, etc., when a toner containing an erasable colorant is used in place of carbon black which is a colorant, it becomes blue under general illumination. Can be printed, and the same visibility as normal recording can be obtained.

Printing by such a printing and recording method can be made colorless by irradiating light with heating, and the recording can be erased.

By the way, in the electrophotographic apparatus, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member is developed with toner, and this toner image is transferred onto the recording paper fed from the paper feeding device. Then, the unfixed toner image transferred onto the recording paper is fixed by the fixing device. As this fixing device, a heat roller type fixing device composed of a fixing roller having a heater built therein and a pressure roller is widely used. And
The recording paper on which the toner image has been fixed is discharged to the discharge tray.

On the other hand, in an electrophotographic apparatus having a color erasing function, recording paper printed with a color erasable colorant (hereinafter referred to as recycled paper) is conveyed through the same paper conveyance path as that used for image formation. It is common to heat and irradiate with light to erase the color. Then, the erased recording paper is ejected to the paper ejection tray.

[0007]

However, in an electrophotographic apparatus having a conventional erasing function, it is difficult for the apparatus to automatically discriminate between unused recording paper and recycled paper. Therefore, when the unused paper and the recycled paper are set in the apparatus together, the unused paper may be erased or an image may be formed on the recycled paper that has not been erased. In order to prevent this, the sheets to be set in the apparatus have to be exchanged between the time of image formation and the time of erasing, which is very time-consuming and impractical.

Further, conventionally, when the image is formed on the reused paper after the erasing work, it takes time and effort to set the reused paper again in the paper feeding device or the paper feeding port. It was

Further, as described above, it is necessary to heat the recycled paper in order to erase the color, but it has been proposed to use the fixing device in order to heat the recycled paper at a low cost. ing. However, in order to carry out the erasing, it is necessary to give the recycled paper an amount of heat larger than that for fixing the unfixed toner image, and the fixing device cannot be used for erasing as it is. However, if a dedicated heat source is provided for heating the recycled paper, the cost will increase.

Further, in order to erase the color, it is necessary to irradiate the recycled paper with light, but providing a dedicated light source leads to an increase in cost.

By the way, when the image is formed on the reused paper after the erasing work, the reused paper (hereinafter referred to as the erasing paper) which has been erased is set again in the paper feeding device or the paper feed port. In order to save the trouble of carrying out, it is conceivable that the decolorized paper is not discharged to the paper discharge tray but is automatically conveyed to the registration roller and the image formation is started. However, when performing continuous copying (copying multiple sheets) using recycled paper, after erasing one recycled paper, the paper is automatically conveyed to form an image, and this operation is repeated to make multiple copies. The method of performing continuous copying with a piece of recycled paper is not efficient because different operations of erasing and image forming are repeated. That is, when continuous copying is performed using recycled paper, it is more efficient to continuously perform image formation after continuously erasing a plurality of recycled paper sheets. However, to take the latter method,
It is necessary to have an intermediate tray for stocking a plurality of erased sheets in succession, and if an intermediate tray dedicated to erased paper is provided, the cost will increase.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned troublesome problem and cost increase problem in an electrophotographic apparatus having a erasing function.

[0013]

According to the present invention, an object of the present invention is to provide, in an electrophotographic apparatus having an erasing function, an erasing mode designating key which is provided on an operation panel for designating an erasing operation, and the erasing function. This is solved by providing a dedicated erasing device that operates by inputting a mode designation key.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention further comprises an erasing paper conveying means for conveying the recording paper after the erasing operation to the image forming section, and the erasing mode designating key is pressed. In this case, it is proposed that the decoloring operation is first performed, and then the decolorized recording paper is conveyed to the image forming unit to start the image forming operation.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is provided so that the recording paper conveyance speed of a fixing unit for fixing an unfixed toner image on a recording paper is variable, and the erasing mode designation key is provided. When is pressed, it is proposed that the recording paper conveyance speed of the fixing unit is slower than that during image formation.

Further, in order to solve the above problems, the present invention has an optical path changing means for changing the optical path from the exposing means, and when the erasing mode designating key is pressed, the optical path changing means is used. It is proposed to change the optical path and use the exposing means for erasing work.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention stores a recording paper on which an image is formed for double-sided recording or multiplex recording in an intermediate tray and then conveys it again to the image forming section. When the erasing mode designation key is pressed with a sheet feeding unit, the image forming operation is started after storing the recording sheet after the erasing operation in the intermediate tray of the recording sheet re-feeding unit. To propose.

[0018]

In the electrophotographic apparatus having the erasing function, when the erasing mode designating key for designating the erasing operation is pressed, only the erasing dedicated sheet feeding device of the sheet feeding devices is operated and the erasing is performed. Feed only recycled paper that should be used.

Other functions will be apparent from the description of the embodiments below.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an electrophotographic copying machine having a double-sided printing mechanism will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an operation panel (display panel) of the copying machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. Operation panel 100
A start key 101 for instructing the start of the copying operation and the erasing operation, and an erasing key 120 for specifying the erasing mode are installed in the. When the color erasing key 120 is pressed, it blinks to clearly indicate that the color erasing mode has been designated. In addition, the start key 101 and the erasing key 120
It is colored in a different color from the one so that it can be distinguished at a glance. Further, on the operation panel 100, there are provided another key group for setting the number of copies, copy density, etc., and a display panel showing the state of the apparatus.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic structure of the copying machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the copying machine 1 shown in FIG. 2, 2 is a platen glass on which an original is placed, 3 is an illumination lamp (exposure lamp) for illuminating the original, 4, 5 and 6 are scannings for changing the optical path of the reflected light of the original. Is a reflecting mirror, 7 is an image forming lens, 8 is a rotating mirror rotatably supported with its lower end as a fulcrum, 9 is a fixed reflecting mirror, and 27 is an erasing reflecting plate. The illumination lamp 3 and the scanning reflection mirrors 4, 5,
6 is supported below the platen glass 2 so as to be movable in the direction of arrow AB.

Reference numeral 10 is a photosensitive member rotatably supported in the direction of arrow m, 11 is a charging device, 12 is a developing device, 13 is a transfer and separation charger, and 14 is a cleaning unit.

Reference numeral 15 is a fixing device, 16 is a reflection mirror for erasing, 17 is a paper feeding device exclusively for erasing containing recycled paper,
Reference numeral 18 is a paper feeding device that stores unused recording paper, 19 is a registration roller, and 20 is a paper discharge tray.

Further, 21 is a double-sided recording conveyance path, 22 is a multiplex recording conveyance path, 23 is an intermediate tray, 24, 25, 2
6 is a paper feed roller.

Next, the operation of the copying machine 1 will be described.

The copying operation when the unused recording paper is used is the same as that of the conventionally known electrophotographic copying machine, and therefore the description thereof is omitted. If double-sided copying is performed,
The recording paper on which one-sided copying has been completed is not discharged to the discharge tray 20, but is guided to the double-sided recording conveyance path 21 by a flapper (not shown). The recording paper that has passed through the transport path 21 is turned over and enters the intermediate tray 23. After that, the recording paper is conveyed toward the registration roller 19 by the paper feed roller 24,
Recording on the back side is performed by a copying operation similar to one-sided copying. When multiple recording is performed, the recording paper on which the first copy is completed is guided to the multiple recording transport path 22 and enters the intermediate tray 23. At this time, the recording paper is not turned upside down, and thereafter, copying is performed on the same side as the first copy.

The copying operation using recycled paper by the copying machine 1 (when copying is performed after erasing) is shown in FIG.
Will be described with reference to.

First, by pressing the erasing key 120,
The signal is sent to the control means 200. Control means 200
Is composed of a CPU, a ROM, a RAM and the like (not shown). The CPU follows the control procedure stored in the ROM to feed the paper feed unit 300, the exposure drive unit 400, the transport drive unit 500,
The display means 600 and the other driving section 700 are controlled.
The RAM is also used for storing input data.

Decoloring key 120 input to the control means 200
Is sent to the display means 600, and here, the erasing key 120 is made to blink. The display means 600 is a display panel or the like on the operation panel 100 shown in FIG.

Then, when the start key 101 is pressed, the signal is sent to the sheet feeding drive section 300 via the control means 200. Then, the sheet feeding roller 25 of the decoloring dedicated sheet feeding device 17 is driven to start the conveyance of the reused sheet. Similarly, a signal is also sent from the control means 200 to the conveyance drive section 500 to drive the sheet conveyance means such as the registration rollers 19,
The recycled paper is conveyed toward the fixing device 15. Similarly, the fixing device 15 is also started to drive, and the reused paper passes between the two rollers of the fixing device 15 to perform the heating necessary for erasing. At this time, the fixing device 15 is driven at a speed slower than that in the normal copying operation. Therefore, the recycled paper is given more heat than the unused recording paper on which the unfixed toner image is fixed.

On the other hand, from the control means 200, the exposure drive unit 4
A signal is also sent to 00. Then, the illumination lamp 3 and the scanning reflection mirrors 4, 5 and 6 move to the lower left end (position indicated by the dotted line) of the predetermined document table glass 2. Further, a switching solenoid (not shown) is driven, and the rotating mirror 8 is rotated clockwise from the position indicated by the solid line to the position indicated by the dotted line with the lower end thereof as a fulcrum. Then, the illumination lamp 3 is turned on to illuminate the erasing reflection plate 27. The light reflected by the reflection plate 27 is reflected by the reflection mirrors 4, 5 and 6, passes through the imaging lens 7, passes through the rotary lens 8 and the erasing reflection mirror 16 shown by dotted lines, and then the fixing device 15 Irradiates recycled paper that has been sufficiently heated by.

By this heating and irradiation of light, the record printed on the recycled paper with the toner using the decolorizable colorant is erased. The erased reused paper (erased paper) is guided to the multi-recording conveyance path 22 by the flapper described above and stored in the intermediate tray 23.

The decolorized paper stored in the intermediate tray is conveyed to the registration roller 19 by the paper feed roller 24, and the normal copying operation is started. The recording paper for which copying has been completed is discharged to the discharge tray 20. The decolorized paper that has passed through the transport path 22 is stored inside the intermediate tray 23 without being turned over. Therefore, when copying is performed on the decolorized paper, the copying is performed on the same surface as the decolored surface.

By the way, when the erasing key 120 is pressed,
It is controlled so that only the decoloring dedicated paper feeding device 17 operates and the paper feeding device 18 does not operate. Therefore, when the erasing mode is designated, the erasing work is not performed on the unused recording paper.

When continuous copying (copying a plurality of sheets) is performed using recycled paper, after the number of copies is set from the operation panel 100 described above, the decoloring key 120 and the start key 101 are pressed. . Here, it is assumed that n copies are designated. Feeding of recycled paper is started from the erasing dedicated paper feeding device 17, and erasing is performed by the same erasing operation as described above. The erased paper passes through the transport path 22 and the intermediate tray 2
3 is stored. When n copies are designated, the n sheets of recycled paper are continuously erased. When the erasing of n sheets is completed, n sheets of erasing paper stored in the intermediate tray 23 are started to be conveyed toward the registration roller 19,
The copying of the sheets is continued. Then, the sheets for which copying has been completed are sequentially discharged to the discharge tray 20. At this time,
It goes without saying that the paper feeding device 18 that stores unused paper does not operate.

If the reusable paper in the erasing dedicated paper feeding device 17 runs out during the erasing operation, the erasing operation is automatically stopped and the image forming operation is started. That is, the erasing operation is terminated when all the reusable paper in the erasing dedicated paper feeding device 17 is erased, and the erasing paper stored in the intermediate tray is conveyed toward the registration rollers. Then, copying is performed for the number of erased sheets. If recycled paper is not stored in the dedicated erasing paper feeder 17 from the beginning, the erasing mode is not set even if the erasing key 120 is pressed.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The structure of this embodiment is the same as that of the above-mentioned embodiment.

In the present embodiment, when continuous copying (copying a plurality of sheets) is performed using recycled paper, if the recycled paper in the erasing dedicated paper feeding device 17 runs out during the erasing operation, The erasing mode is automatically released, the erasing operation is terminated, and the image forming operation is started. That is, the color erasing is performed and the color erasing paper stored in the intermediate tray is conveyed to the registration rollers to start the copying operation. Then, after copying is performed by the number of erased sheets, the insufficient number of unused recording sheets are automatically fed from the sheet feeding device 18 to continue the copying operation (at this time, the erased mode is already set). Has been released). For example,
It is assumed that 20 sheets are set to be copied when only 15 sheets of reusable paper are stored in the sheet erasing device 17 dedicated to erasing. Then, first, 15 sheets of recycled paper are erased.
After copying on a piece of erased paper, the paper feeder 18 automatically
Starting to feed unused recording paper, the copying of the remaining 5 sheets is executed.

Needless to say, the present invention can also be applied to an apparatus that does not have a double-sided printing mechanism. Even if the device does not have a double-sided printing mechanism, it is possible to provide a decoloring paper feeding unit that feeds the recording paper after the decoloring operation to the image forming unit, and the decolorized recording paper is automatically transferred to the image forming unit. By conveying and forming an image on the recording paper, it is possible to save the trouble of setting the erased recording paper again in the paper feeding device or the paper feeding port.

[0042]

As described above, according to the electrophotographic apparatus with the erasing function of the present invention, the erasing mode designating key for designating the erasing operation and the dedicated erasing sheet feeding operated by the input of the key. Since a device is provided, there is no need to erase the unused paper and to form an image on the reused paper that has not been erased. No need to replace.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the reused paper after decolorization is automatically conveyed to the image forming section to start the image forming operation, the decolorized reused paper is fed again to the sheet feeding device or the sheet feeding device. There is no need to set it in the paper slot.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the sheet conveying speed at the time of erasing the color of the fixing device is made slower than the sheet conveying speed at the time of fixing. Therefore, the fixing device can be used for decoloring work, and the cost can be reduced.

According to the structure of claim 4, since the optical path changing means for changing the optical path of the exposing means is provided, the exposing means can be used for decoloring work. Therefore, the cost can be reduced.

In the electrophotographic apparatus having the recording paper re-feeding means for double-sided recording or multiple recording according to the structure of claim 5, the recording paper after the erasing operation is finished is the intermediate tray of the recording paper re-feeding means. Since the image forming operation is started after being stored in, the intermediate tray for double-sided recording or multiple recording can be used as an intermediate tray necessary for continuous copying using recycled paper. Therefore, the cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an operation panel of an electrophotographic copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an electrophotographic copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an operation of the copying machine shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electrophotographic copying machine 3 Illumination lamp (exposure lamp) 4, 5, 6 Reflecting mirror for scanning 8 Rotating mirror 15 Fixing device 16 Reflecting mirror for erasing color 17 Paper feeding device for erasing 18 Paper feeding device 21 Transport for double-sided recording Path 22 Multi-recording transport path 23 Intermediate tray 24, 25, 26 Paper feed roller 27 Decoloring reflector 100 Operation panel 101 Start key 120 Decoloring key 200 Control means 300 Paper feed drive section 400 Exposure drive section 500 Conveyance drive section 600 display means 700 other drive units

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location G03G 15/00 106 108 7369-2H 302 15/04 111 9122-2H 15/20 101 21/00 ( 72) Inventor Sotohiro Tsujihara 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Yasuhiro Kodaira 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Company

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. In an electrophotographic apparatus having a erasing function, an erasing mode designation key provided on an operation panel for designating an erasing operation, and a dedicated erasing device operated by inputting the erasing mode designation key. An electrophotographic apparatus comprising a paper device. 2. A decoloring paper feeding means for feeding the recording paper after the decoloring operation to the image forming section, and when the decoloring mode designating key is pressed, the decoloring operation is executed first, and then, The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the decolored recording paper is conveyed to the image forming unit to start an image forming operation. 3. A recording paper conveyance speed of a fixing unit for fixing an unfixed toner image on a recording paper is variable, and when the erasing mode designation key is pressed, the recording paper conveyance of the fixing unit is carried out. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the speed is set lower than that at the time of image formation. 4. An optical path changing means for changing an optical path from the exposing means, wherein when the erasing mode designation key is pressed,
The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an optical path is changed by the optical path changing unit, and the exposure unit is used for decoloring work. 5. A decoloring mode designating key is provided which has a recording sheet re-feeding means for storing a recording sheet on which an image has been formed for double-sided recording or multiplex recording in an intermediate tray and then conveying it again to the image forming section. 2. When the button is pressed, the image forming operation is started after the recording paper after the erasing operation is stored in the intermediate tray of the recording paper re-feeding means. apparatus.