JPH04157482A - Color image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To record an image on a transfer body wholly or partly as a glossy image by making it possible to selectively form the glossy image and a non- glossy image on the transfer body. CONSTITUTION:A script D on an editor E is a photograph or others and consists of a glossy part D(L) desiring gloss and a non-glossy part D(N) desiring non- gloss, and the range of the glossy part D(L) is memorized in RAM for glossy range of a control part as it is indicated with a light pen L.P by an operator. Image exposure and following developing are carried out in the glossy range only at the first time by pressing of a copy button, and transfer paper P where a color image in the glossy range only is transferred is fixed as a glossy image in a fixing apparatus 45B. The transfer paper P further enters a reversal paper feeding passage 48, and it is fed into a timing roller 42 again. Abreast of this process, image exposure of in the non-glossy range at the second time is carried out, and its developing is carried out continuously. Consequently, it is possible to selectively form the glossy image and the non-glossy image on the transfer body.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a color image forming apparatus that can partially fix an image on a transfer member as a glossy image.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, image forming apparatuses such as electrophotographic copying machines have been equipped with means to monitor the toner concentration of the developer and automatically replenish toner, or to measure the average density of the document and change development conditions according to the results. Devices are known which attempt to obtain copies that are as faithful or legible as possible to the original. However, a color image forming apparatus capable of reproducing or setting the glossiness of an original image has not yet been realized.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

On the other hand, when looking at images recorded on transparent lenses used in over-the-top projectors, etc., gloss is applied because the gloss on the image surface prevents diffuse reflection of transmitted light and provides a clear projected image. There is a demand for highly accurate transferred images.

Furthermore, when the original is a photograph or the like, it is preferable that the image to be transferred onto the recording paper be glossy, thereby further improving the quality of the image.

In order to meet such demands, the present invention aims to provide a color image forming apparatus capable of recording an image on a transfer member as a glossy image in whole or in part.

[Means to solve the problem]

The above purpose is to create a glossy image and a non-glossy image on the transfer body through an image forming process in which the first toner image fixing is performed under glossy image forming conditions and the second toner image fixing is performed under non-glossy image forming conditions. This is achieved by a color image forming apparatus characterized in that it is possible to selectively form.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an example of a color image forming apparatus of the present invention. This image forming apparatus includes an image reading system, a router writing system 81, an image forming section C, and the like.

At the top of the image forming apparatus, there is a document tray made of a transparent glass plate, etc., and a document placement section 11 consisting of a document cover, etc. that covers the document placed on the document tray. , a first mirror unit 12, a second mirror unit 12 and a second mirror unit 12 are located inside the device body.
Mirror unit 13, main lens 20, color (, CD2
An image reading system A, which is an image reading section consisting of three components, is provided. The first mirror unit 12 is an exposure lamp I4.
, a first mirror I5, which is mounted parallel to the document tray and movable in a straight line in the horizontal direction of the drawing, optically scans the entire surface of the document tray. The second mirror unit 13
A mirror 16 and a third mirror 17 are integrally provided, and a predetermined optical path length is always maintained.
It moves straight in the same direction left and right at a speed of 172. Of course, the movement of the second mirror unit 13 is parallel to the document table similarly to the first mirror unit 12.

The image of the document on the document table illuminated by the exposure lamp 14 is focused by the main lens 20 onto the color CCD 23 via the first mirror 15, the second mirror 16, and the third mirror 7. ing.

The image data of each color obtained by the color C0D 23 is subjected to image processing and output from the laser writing system B as an image signal.

On the other hand, in the image forming section C of the apparatus main body, the image signal from the image reading system A is controlled by the control section to the drive motor 31,
A polygon mirror 32 and a semiconductor laser (not shown), f
When input to the writing system B, which includes a θ lens, a correction lens, etc., a copying operation is started. That is, since the photoreceptor drum 30 rotates clockwise as shown by the arrow and is charged by the charger 35, the laser beam from the laser writing system B causes the photoreceptor drum 30 to be written in a manner corresponding to the original document. An electrostatic latent image of a yellow (Y) image is formed. after that,
The electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor drum 30 is transferred to a developing device 36.
Development with Y toner is performed by Y to form a visible Y toner image. That is, a direct current or even alternating current bias voltage is applied to the developing sleeve containing the magnet roll of the developing device 36Y, and non-contact development is performed using a two-component developer serving as a developing means to form a Y toner image. . The photosensitive drum 30 on which the Y toner image has been formed passes under the cleaning device 39 where the blade 39A is retracted, and is further charged by the charger 35 and written with a magenta (M) image by the laser beam writing system B. A magenta (M) electrostatic latent image is formed on the Y toner image. This latent image is produced by developing device 36M containing magenta toner.
The image is developed into an M toner image. Subsequently, a cyan (C) toner image and a black (BK) toner image are similarly formed in a superimposed manner, and a multicolor toner image is formed on the photoreceptor drum 30.

On the other hand, a transfer body, that is, a transfer paper P, is conveyed from the paper feed cassette 40 by the rotation of a carry-out roller 41, and a timing roller 42 is used to synchronize with the toner image on the photoreceptor drum 30.
Paper is fed through the

The toner image on the photoreceptor drum 30 is transferred to the fed transfer paper P by the action of the transfer device 37, and after being separated from the photoreceptor drum 30 by the separator 38, the transferred image is passed through the conveyor belt 44. is transported to the fixing section.

The fixing section of the color image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a fixing device 45A set to normal fixing conditions, and whether the fixing temperature is higher than normal, or the pressure is larger than normal, or; For example, the fixing time is set to be longer than usual by increasing the length of the nip, or two or three of the above three conditions are combined, and the toner image is sufficiently fused and fixed. There are two fixing devices 45B with a reinforced fixing setting that fixes the image to have a glossy gloss. The toner image is fixed on the transfer paper P by a fixing device, and after the toner image is fixed to be glossy or non-glossy, it is discharged to the outside of the apparatus via a paper discharge roller 46.

Further, a switchable guide plate 47 is provided in the discharge path of the fixing device 45B, and when the guide plate 47 is in the position shown by the solid line, the image is gloss-fixed on the transfer paper in the fixing device 45B. P is directly conveyed to the paper ejection roller 46, but if it is switched to the position shown by the broken line,
The transfer paper P, which has once undergone the fixing action in the fixing device 45B, is discharged to the reversing paper feed path 48, and then transferred to the transport rollers 49A and 4.
After passing through 9B, the paper is fed to the transfer section via the timing roller 42 again.

Hereinafter, the process of transferring and fixing a toner image by the color image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described.

In the color image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to select between a glossy mode, a non-glossy mode, and a glossy and non-glossy mode.
00 selects the mode corresponding to the desired gloss of the copy image.

In other words, if the entire image is to be glossy, gloss copper 1
01, when the entire image is to be a non-glossy image, the non-glossy button 102 is selected, and when the image is partially to be a glossy image, the gloss and non-glossy button 103 is selected and pressed.

When the gloss and non-glossy button 103 is selected, the gloss range of the image is further set either by using an editor or by image discrimination.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, the gloss mode and gloss range information of the image is input to the gloss range storage RAM of the control unit, and the image to be fixed is selected in advance according to the subsequent image forming process. Processed in glossy mode, non-glossy mode, or some of the glossy and non-glossy modes.

The case where the gloss mode is first set will be explained.

In this case, first, by suppressing the brightening copper 101, the conveyor belt 44 is moved to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line, and the guide plate 4
7 is set at the position shown by the solid line.

Next, when the copy button 104 is pressed, the processes of the image reading system A, laser writing system B, and image forming section C are activated, and the transfer paper P on which the color image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 45B, where it is fixed into a glossy image. The glossy copy is then directly ejected to the outside of the apparatus via the ejection roller 46.

Next, when the non-glossy mode is set, the transfer belt 44 is set to the position shown by the solid line by pressing the non-glossy button 102, and the transfer paper P on which the color image has been transferred is set.
is conveyed to the fixing device 45A, where it is fixed into a non-glossy image, and a non-glossy copy is ejected to the outside of the apparatus via a paper ejection roller 46.

Additionally, if glossy and matte modes are set,
By pressing the glossy/non-glossy button 103, the conveyor belt 44 is moved back to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line and the guide plate 47 is pressed.
is set at the position indicated by the broken line.

Next, after the image gloss range is set, the copy button 104 is pressed.
is pressed, but first we will explain the process of setting the gloss range using the editor.

A manuscript is placed on the editor E as shown in FIG.

It is assumed that the document paper consists of a glossy part D (L) for which gloss is desired for photographs, etc. and a non-glossy part D (N) for which non-glossy is desired. The operator should check the glossy area D (shown with diagonal lines)
L) range (XIYI, X2Y2.X3Y3.X4Y4
) by using the light pens L and P, the range is stored in the gloss range RAM of the control unit as the gloss range.

By pressing the copy button 104, image exposure of only the glossy range and subsequent development are performed for the first time, and the transfer paper P to which only the color image of the glossy range has been transferred is fixed as a glossy image in the fixing device 45B.

The transfer paper P further hits the guide plate 47, enters the reversal paper feed path 48, and is again fed to the timing roller 42 via conveyance rollers 49A and 49B.

In parallel with this process, a second image exposure in a non-glossy range and subsequent development are performed, and furthermore, the conveyor belt 44
is rotated to the position shown by the solid line, the transfer paper P passes through the transfer device 37, and the color toner image in the non-glossy range is transferred onto the same surface.

In this way, the transfer paper P to which the glossy fixed image in the glossy range and the image in the non-glossy range have been transferred has the non-glossy range image fixed by the fixing device 45A to become a non-glossy image, and has the originally selected glossy and non-glossy gloss. A fixing process is performed according to the mode, and a copy with glossy and non-glossy areas is output.

Next, a process of setting a gloss range by image discrimination will be described.

In this case, when the glossy/non-glossy button 103 is pressed and the copy button 104 is pressed, preliminary scanning is performed prior to image reading, and the part to be made into a glossy image such as a photograph of the manuscript and the text are The area to be made into a glossy image is determined, and the area to be made into a glossy image is stored in the glossy range RAM of the control section. Incidentally, to distinguish between glossy portions and non-glossy portions, the incident angle of the exposure lamp 14 with respect to the document attached to the first mirror unit is periodically changed during preliminary scanning, and images are discriminated from the output fluctuations.

Figure 5 shows repeated movements between image discrimination positions 1 and 2.
This shows a state in which image discrimination is performed based on the reflectance of the original.

Next, image reading and scanning is performed, and a transfer paper P with a partially glossy image can be obtained through the same image forming and transfer/fixing processes as in the case of setting the gloss range by the editor described above.

Although two fixing devices, 45A and 45B, were used, it is also possible to change the fixing conditions from glossy image forming conditions to non-glossy image forming conditions to form glossy and non-glossy images using only the fixing device 45B. can. By doing so, the color image forming apparatus can have a simpler configuration, which is preferable.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, it is possible to freely transfer any part of an original image as a glossy image using general transfer paper, or to automatically record an image such as a photograph as a glossy image. It has become possible to prevent diffused reflection and a decrease in saturation, resulting in the provision of a color image forming apparatus that has high image quality and can provide a faithful transferred image that approximates the original image.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The first tffl is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of the color image forming apparatus of the present invention, the second factor is a diagram of the main parts of its operation section, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the control circuit, and FIG. 4 shows setting of gloss range by the editor. Explanatory diagram, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the case of glossiness detection by preliminary scanning. 30... Photosensitive drum 35... Charger 36Y,
36M, 36C, 36BK...Developer 37...Transfer device 38...Separator 39...Cleaning device 44...Transportation bell) 45A...(Non-glossy) Fixing device 45B... (for gloss) fixing device

Claims (1)

[Claims] The first toner image fixing is performed under glossy image forming conditions,
A color image forming apparatus characterized in that the second fixation of the toner image is performed in an image forming process under non-glossy image forming conditions, thereby making it possible to selectively form a glossy image or a non-glossy image on a transfer member.