Patent Publication Number: US-2006000556-A1

Title: Device for removing recording material from recording medium

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a recording material removing device for removing a recording material that has been transferred and recorded onto a recording medium, and remained on the recording medium. More particularly, the present invention relates to a recording material removing device for enabling reuse of a recording medium by removing a recording material having been used once for recording of characters, images, or the like and remained on the recording medium, and a cleaning technique of a separating member used in the recording material removing device.  
      2. Description of Related Art  
      Even though recent developments in electronic technology have heralded the arrival of a paperless era, the amount of consumption of recording medium such as copy paper or the like continues increasing in association with the increasing number of production of output devices such as a copying machine, a laser beam printer, and an ink jet printer.  
      Under such circumstances, the recycling of used paper has been brisk recently. Used paper sorted in offices has been recycled by way of used paper collectors and paper factories. However, the problems may occur that recycling takes a long time and causes an increase in cost and a deterioration in the quality of paper. Hence, attention has been given to a technique for reusing recording paper having been used for recording of characters, images, or the like.  
      Heretofore, there have been known various types of means for a removing recording material having been formed on a recording medium in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine. For instance, as the means using solvents, Japanese patent application laid-open No. H1(1989)-101576 discloses a recording material removing method in which paper onto which a recording material, or toner, has adhered is dipped into a soluble solvent of toner resin and a supersonic wave is vibrated to separate the toner dissolved in the solvent from the paper surface. Japanese patent application laid-open No. H4(1992)-300395 discloses a recording material removing method in which a solvent is attached to a printed portion of used paper by dipping, spraying or coating to dissolve toner so that the dissolved toner is removed by a method such as cleaning, air suction, adsorbent contact, mechanical separation, or electrostatic adsorption.  
      However, the method that the recording material is dipped into a recording material erasing accelerating agent, such as the solvent, needs provision of a means for supply and discharge of the solvent or regular replacement thereof. Maintenance of the accelerating agent would be sometimes difficult. Further, an additional step has to be provided to dry the recording medium having been dipped once in the recording material clearing accelerating agent. This may cause disadvantages in cost and space.  
      Using the solvent, which is consumable, this method may cause a high recycling cost. There is also concern about inflammability and toxicity resulting from the solvent. It is further necessary to provide a step of drying and removing the solvent saturated in the paper after removal of the recording material. This may cause an increase in size of the device and a need of heating energy for drying. Consequently, there is concern about air pollution by exhaust gas. When the paper processed once with the solvent is dried, furthermore, the quality of recycled paper may be deteriorated; for example, the paper becomes wavy and the fiber of a surface thereof fuzzes.  
      Furthermore, as a means using no solvent, for example, Japanese patent applications laid-open Nos. H4(1992)-082983 and H7(1995)-199757 disclose a recording material removing device including two rollers arranged in parallel and rotatable in close contact with each other to allow paper to pass through a contact portion, a heater for heating at least one of the rollers, a scrapping tool for separating the paper having passed through the contact portion from the roller, and a cleaning device for removing a recording material adhering to the roller from the roller.  
      This device is excellent in nonuse of extra consumable supplies and dangerous materials, and no damage to the recording medium which may be caused by mechanical direct separating to the recording medium.  
      This recording material removing device, however, would cause a problem that when the paper having passed through the contact portion is scraped by the scraping tool separated from the roller, the recording material having not solidified causes cobwebbing between the roller and the paper and remains on the paper.  
      This recording material removing device uses, as the cleaning device for removing the recording material adhering to the roller, a metallic or heat-resistant resinous blade, a brush, or a third roller provided in contact with the two parallel rollers to remove the recording material adhering to the third roller. However, the following problems are conceivable. When the blade leaves the recording material unremoved if once, the remaining material is transferred again to the paper. If the brush is soft, it could not remove the recording material. If the brush is firm, it would scratch the roller, so that the recording material remains in a scratched portion and may be transferred again onto the paper. The third roller would cause instability of transfer.  
      To solve the above problems, Japanese patent application laid-open No. H8(1996)-335012 discloses a recording material removing device which brings a belt-shaped separating member into contact with a recording material adhering to a recording medium to make the recording material adhere to the separating member. In this device, as a cleaning device for removing and cleaning the recording material adhering onto the belt-shaped separating member, a roller-shaped cleaning member having a spiral edge at the outer periphery which contacts with the surface of the separating member, driving means for driving the cleaning member to rotate, and a backup member having a surface portion formed of an elastic body which is brought into contact with the cleaning member through the separating member.  
      This device, which uses no extra consumable supplies and dangerous materials, is also excellent in that it would not cause damage to the recording medium which may caused by the mechanical direct separating to the recording medium.  
      Since the roller-shaped clearing member having the spiral edge at the outer periphery is a rigid body, however, it is difficult to adjust a clearance between the entire roller and the backup member having the surface portion formed of the elastic body. Adjustment error of the clearance would lead to a problem that the recording medium or the separating member may be shaved and a problem that the recording material may be left unremoved. Furthermore, the removed recording material does not flow out of the roller and stops between the spiral edges held in contact with the surface of the separating member, which is likely to interfere with an operation of removing the recording material from a surface of another separating member.  
      On the other hand, Japanese patent application laid-open No. H7(1995)-199757 has proposed a method of removing a recording material by pressing a blade against the recording material to scrape it off.  
      The method of removing the recording material by pressing the blade against the recording material to scrape it off needs no heat and no accelerating agent for clearing of a recording material and therefore is advantage in cost, space, and maintenance.  
      It is however supposed that the method for scraping the recording material off by merely pressing the blade against recording paper may cause a problem that the rigid blade, which is always in contact with the recording paper, scratches the surface of the recording paper. Since the blade is merely pressed against the recording paper to scrape the recording material off, the blade is more strongly pressed against the recording paper if the recording material could not be scraped off, leading to more deeply scratch the surface of the recording paper, which falls in a vicious cycle.  
      It is also supposed that the method of scraping the recording material off by pressing the blade against the recording paper may leave the recording material unremoved on edge portions of the recording paper depending on timings of conveying the recording paper and pressing the blade against the recording paper.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention has been made to solve the above problems and has an object to provide a reproducing device for a recording medium having thereon a separation layer, which can suppress the generation of waves and scratches in the recording medium and stably keep the quality of the recording medium even when the recording medium is repeatedly recycled.  
      More concretely, a first object is to provide a recording material removing device which brings a belt-shaped separating member into contact with a recording material adhering to a recording medium, thereby making the recording material adhere to the separating member, the recording material removing device having a simple structure capable of completely transferring the recording material onto the separating to prevent the recording material from remaining on the recording medium, thereby stably keeping the quality of the recording medium.  
      A second object is to provide a recording material removing device which brings a belt-shaped separating member into contact with a recording material adhering to a recording medium, thereby making the recording material adhere to the separating member, the recording material removing device having a simple structure capable of removing the recording material from the separating member to prevent a remaining recording material from flowing to a post-process, thereby preventing retransfer of the recording material to the recording medium and stably keeping the quality of the recording medium.  
      A third object is to provide a method of removing a recording material from a surface of recording paper by using a mechanical force, the method being able to minimize the mechanical force with as a simple structure as possible to remedy the cost and space problems and ensure a reduction in production cost of a removing means and regular replacement thereof, prevent damages such as scratches and streaks on the recording paper, and prevent the recording material from becoming unremoved on an edge or a part of the recording paper.  
      To achieve the purpose, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording material removing device in which a recording material having thermally been fixed on a recording medium is heated to be melted or softened, a belt-shaped separating member made of a material providing a surface thereof with a stronger adhesive force with respect to the recording material than an adhesive force between the recording medium and the recording material is brought into contact with the recording material, and then the separating member and the recording medium are separated, during which separation the recording material is separated and removed from the recording medium, wherein the recording material removing device is constructed to bond the recording medium to the separating member by the recording material melted or softened when the recording medium is brought into contact with the heated belt-shaped separating member, and separate the recording medium from the separating member when the recording material is cooled and solidified while the separating member and the recording medium are nipped by the nipping member.  
      In the above recording material removing device for the recording medium, the recording medium is bonded to the separating member with the recording material melted or softened when the recording medium is brought into contact with the heated belt-shaped separating member, and the recording material is nipped by the nipping member until the recording medium is separated from the separating member. Accordingly, it has an effect of solving the problem that the recording medium comes off from the separating member due to warping or the like of the recording medium before the recording material is cooled and solidified, and the unsolidified recording material causes cobwebbing between the separating member and the recording medium and remains on the recording medium.  
      According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording material removing device in which a recording material having thermally been fixed on a recording medium is heated to be melted or softened, a belt-shaped separating member made of a material providing a surface thereof with a stronger adhesive force with respect to the recording material than an adhesive force between the recording medium and the recording material is brought into contact with the recording material, and then the separating member and the recording medium are separated, during which separation the recording material is separated and removed from the recording medium, wherein the recording material removing device comprises a first separating member and a second separating member and is constructed to nip and convey the recording medium by the heated first separating member and the second separating member, and separate the recording medium from the first separating member and the second separating member when the recording material bonding the recording medium and the first separating member and the second separating member is cooled and solidified.  
      Since the above recording material removing device includes the first and second separating members to nip and convey the recording medium, it has an effect of solving the problem that the recording medium comes off from the first or second separating member and the unsolidified recording material causes cobwebbing between the first separating member and the recording medium or between the second separating member and the recording medium, and thus remains on the recording medium.  
      Further, the recording medium is separated from the first and second separating members when the recording material is cooled and solidified. Accordingly, there is an effect of solving a problem that the unsolidified recording material causes cobwebbing between the separating member and the recording medium and remains on the recording medium. Since the recording material can be removed simultaneously from both surfaces of the recording medium on which the recording material has thermally been fixed, there is an effect of producing the device for removing the recording material from both surfaces at low cost. Further, there is an effect of charging even the recording medium having one surface on which the recording material has thermally been fixed into the recording material removing device for the recording medium regardless of either surface, front or back.  
      According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording material removing device in which a recording material having thermally been fixed on a recording medium is heated to be melted or softened, a belt-shaped separating member made of a material providing a surface thereof with a stronger adhesive force with respect to the recording material than an adhesive force between the recording medium and the recording material is brought into contact with the recording material, and then the separating member and the recording medium are separated, during which separation the recording material is separated from the recording medium and removed, wherein the recording material removing device comprises a recording material removing blade for removing the recording material by coming in contact with a surface of the separating member and a supporting member in a position opposite to the recording material removing blade with the separating member being interposed therebetween, and the recording material removing blade is configured to reciprocate with respect to the separating member while pressing against the supporting member through the separating member.  
      The above recording material removing device for the recording medium includes the recording material removing blade in contact with the surface of the separating member and removes the recording material and the supporting member placed opposite to the recording material removing blade through the separating member. The recording material removing blade is arranged to reciprocate with respect to the separating member while pressing against the supporting member through the separating member. Thus, the areas where the recording material removing blade removes the recording material from the separating member are overlapped, ensuring removal of the recording material from the separating member. There is an effect of eliminating the problem that the recording material could not be removed from the area where the blade has failed removing once.  
      According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording material removing device in which a recording material having thermally been fixed on a recording medium is heated to be melted or softened, a belt-shaped separating member made of a material providing a surface thereof with a stronger adhesive force with respect to the recording material than an adhesive force between the recording medium and the recording material is brought into contact with the recording material, and then the separating member and the recording medium are separated, during which separation the recording material is separated from the recording medium and removed, wherein the recording material removing device comprises a recording material removing blade for removing the recording material by coming in contact with a surface of the separating member, a supporting member in a position opposite to the recording material removing blade with the separating member being interposed therebetween, and a cleaning member for simultaneously cleaning the recording material removing blade and the separating member while the recording material removing blade removes the recording material from the separating member by pressing against the supporting member through the separating member.  
      The above recording material removing device includes the recording material removing blade in contact with the surface of the separating member and removes the recording material, the supporting member placed opposite to the recording material removing blade through the separating member, and the cleaning member for simultaneously cleaning the recording material removing blade and the separating member while the recording material removing blade removes the recording material from the separating member by pressing against the supporting member through the separating member. Accordingly, the cleaning member will clean the recording material removing blade just after removal of the recording material by the recording material removing blade. This provide an effect of resolving the problem that the recording material adheres to the blade, deteriorating a recording material removing capacity.  
      Even when the recording material disperses forward of the recording material removing blade while the recording material removing blade is removing the recording material from the separating member, the cleaning member will clean the recording material removing blade and the separating member just after dispersion. Accordingly, there is an effect of solving the problem that the recording material would be caught between the separating member and the recording material removing blade and remain unremoved.  
      According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording material removing device for removing a recording material on a recording medium by pressing a blade against a separation layer on the recording medium on which the recording material has thermally been fixed, wherein the recording material removing device comprises a squeezing member provided with an arc-shaped end at a distal end, a control member for controlling so that a surface of the recording medium having no separation layer comes in contact with the arc-shaped end of the squeezing member, a blade for removing the recording material thermally fixed on the separation layer on the recording medium in a control region to be controlled by the control member.  
      The above recording material removing device includes the squeezing member provided with the arc-shaped end at the distal end, the control member for controlling the recording medium so that the surface having no separation layer comes in contact with the arc-shaped end of the squeezing member, and the blade for removing the recording material having thermally been fixed onto the separation layer on the recording medium in the control region to be controlled by the control member. Accordingly, the control member first controls the recording medium so that the surface having no separation layer comes in contact with the arc-shaped end of the squeezing member, the adhesive force between the recording material thermally fixed on the separation layer on the recording medium and the separation member. The blade then removes the recording material having a reduced adhesive force between the recording material thermally fixed on the separation layer on the recording medium and the separation member. Consequently, there is no need to apply any additional force to the recording medium with the blade. Further, the recording material can easily be removed from the recording medium without damaging and scratching the recording medium. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      In the drawings,  
       FIG. 1  is a front view of a recording material removing device in a first embodiment;  
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the recording material removing device;  
       FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the recording material removing device;  
       FIG. 4  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 1 ) in which the recording material removing device transfers a recording material of a recording medium onto a belt-shaped separating member;  
       FIG. 5  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 2 ) in which the recording material removing device transfers the recording material of the recording medium onto the belt-shaped separating member;  
       FIG. 6  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 3 ) in which the recording material removing device transfers the recording material of the recording medium onto the belt-shaped separating member;  
       FIG. 7  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 4 ) in which the recording material removing device transfers the recording material of the recording medium onto the belt-shaped separating member;  
       FIG. 8  is an explanatory view showing a state where the blade is returned to a downstream side of the belt-shaped separating member;  
       FIG. 9  is an explanatory view showing a state where the blade is pushed to an upstream side of the belt-shaped separating member;  
       FIG. 10  is a front view of the recording material removing device for removing a recording material from both surfaces of a recording medium in a second embodiment;  
       FIG. 11  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 1 ) in which the recording material removing device for removing a recording material from both surfaces of a recording medium transfers the recording material of the recording medium onto a belt-shaped separating member;  
       FIG. 12  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 2 ) in which the recording material removing device for removing the recording material from both surfaces of the recording medium transfers the recording material of the recording medium onto the belt-shaped separating member;  
       FIG. 13  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 3 ) in which the recording material removing device for removing the recording material from both surfaces of the recording medium transfers the recording material of the recording medium onto the belt-shaped separating member;  
       FIG. 14  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 4 ) in which the recording material removing device for removing the recording material from both surfaces of the recording medium transfers the recording material of the recording medium onto the belt-shaped separating member;  
       FIG. 15  is a front view of a recording material removing device in a third embodiment;  
       FIG. 16  is a top view of the recording material removing device;  
       FIG. 17  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 1 ) in which the recording material removing device removes a recording material of a recording medium;  
       FIG. 18  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 2 ) in which the recording material removing device removes the recording material of the recording medium;  
       FIG. 19  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 3 ) in which the recording material removing device removes the recording material of the recording medium;  
       FIG. 20  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 4 ) in which the recording material removing device removes the recording material of the recording medium;  
       FIG. 21  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 5 ) in which the recording material removing device removes the recording material of the recording medium;  
       FIG. 22  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 6 ) in which the recording material removing device removes the recording material of the recording medium;  
       FIG. 23  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 7 ) in which the recording material removing device removes the recording material of the recording medium;  
       FIG. 24  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 8 ) in which the recording material removing device removes the recording material of the recording medium;  
       FIG. 25  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 9 ) in which the recording material removing device removes the recording material of the recording medium;  
       FIG. 26  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 10 ) in which the recording material removing device removes the recording material of the recording medium;  
       FIG. 27  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 11 ) in which the recording material removing device removes the recording material of the recording medium;  
       FIG. 28  is a schematic view of an optical sensor constituted of LEDs used in the present invention;  
       FIG. 29  is an explanatory view showing that a squeezing member and the blade remove the recording material from the recording medium;  
       FIG. 30  is an enlarged view showing an arc-shaped end of the squeezing member;  
       FIG. 31  is an explanatory view showing a method of removing a recording material thermally fixed on separation layers on both surfaces of a recording medium in a fourth embodiment;  
       FIG. 32  is an explanatory view showing another modification of a paper sensor using light; and  
       FIG. 33  is an explanatory view showing another modification of a paper sensor using a mechanical switch. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     First Embodiment  
      A detailed description of a first preferred embodiment of a recording material removing device for a recording medium embodying the present invention will now be given referring to the accompanying drawings. Firstly, a schematic structure of the recording material removing device in the first embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS.  1  to  3 .  FIG. 1  is a front view of the recording material removing device;  FIG. 2  is a top view of the recording material removing device; and  FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the recording material removing device.  
      In FIGS.  1  to  3 , the recording material removing device  1  principally includes a first conveyance-driving part  3  (at the right-hand center in FIGS.  1  to  3 ) for driving a first belt-shaped separating member  2  for conveyance; a first bonding part  4  (at the right-hand center in FIGS.  1  to  3 ) in which the first separating member  2  and a recording medium  74  are bonded by a recording material  107 ; a nipping-conveying part  5  (at the center in FIGS.  1  to  3 ) for nipping the first separating member  2  and the recording medium  74  until the recording material  107  bonding them is cooled and solidified; a first recording medium separating part  6  (at the left-hand center in FIGS.  1  to  3 ) for separating the recording medium  74  from the first separating member  2  while leaving the recording material  107  on the first separating member  2 ; a first recording material removing part  7  (at the lower center in FIGS.  1  to  3 ) for removing the recording material  107  remaining on the first separating member  2  from the first separating member  2 ; a first guide plate  8  (at the right-hand side in FIGS.  1  to  3 ) and a second guide plate  9  (at the left-hand side in FIGS.  1  to  3 ) for supporting and guiding the recording medium  74  at respective positions. These components are attached in a fixed or movable state to a frame  73 .  
      Herein, the structure (not shown) of recording medium  74  is explained. The recording medium  74  is formed of a base material and a separation layer bonded or pressed onto the base material. The base material may be for example polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, nylon, fluorocarbon resin, polybutylene terephthalate, acrylate resin, polyphenylene sulfide, polyethersulfone, poly (etheretherketone), polyether imide, or the like, or, reinforced plastic made of the above mentioned materials, polypropylene, polyethylene, or the like, with inorganic materials and fibrous materials added to them, or, pulp sheets such as bond paper, art paper, and coated paper. The separation layer may be for example a material containing at least one of olefin resins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene, polymethyl butene, polymethyl pentene and fluorocarbon materials. Alternatively, the recording medium  74  may be formed of the base material coated with the separation layer containing at least one of silicon-based materials, fluorine-based materials, or the like. Furthermore, the recording medium  74  may be formed of the base material and separation layer in combination made of a material containing at least one of for example olefin-based materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene, polymethyl butene, polymethyl pentene, and fluorine-based materials.  
      The structure of the first conveyance driving part  3  will be explained first. A first roller  10  is rotatably attached to the frame  73  through a first roller shaft  11  extending from the first roller  10 . A second roller  12  is rotatably attached to the frame  73  through a second roller shaft  13  extending from the second roller  12 . The belt-shaped separating member  2  made of metal such as  301  stainless steel is wound over these first and second rollers  10  and  12 . A first pulley  14  is mounted on the first roller shaft  11  of the first roller  10 . A second pulley  16  is mounted on a shaft  64  of a first drive motor  15  attached to the frame  73 . These first and second pulleys  14  and  16  are coupled through a first drive belt  17 . Placed above the first roller  10  is a pressure roller  18  which presses the first separating member  2  against the first roller  10 . The pressure roller  18  is rotatably attached to the frame  73  through a pressure roller shaft  19  extending from the pressure roller  18 . With this structure, driving force of the first drive motor  15  is transmitted to the first roller  10  and simultaneously the first separating member  2  is rotated counterclockwise by the pressure roller  18  pressing the first separating member  2  against the first roller  10 .  
      The structure of the first bonding part  4  will be explained below. The first roller  10  internally includes a first heater  20  such as a halogen lamp and serves as a heating roller to heat the first separating member  2 , thereby melting or softening the recording material  107  of the recording medium  74  conveyed from the first guide plate  8 . The pressure roller  18  placed above the first roller  10  (heating) serves as a support base to press the first separating member  2  and the recording medium  74 . With this structure, the first separating member  2  and the recording medium  74  are bonded by the recording material  107 . The first separating member  2  and the recording medium  74  bonded by the recording material  107  are pushed in a direction of a tangent line defined by the first roller  10  (heating) and the pressure roller  18  in order to prevent separation of the first separating member  2  and the recording medium  74 .  
      The structure of the nipping-conveying part  5  will be described below. The nipping-conveying part  5  is configured to nip and convey the recording medium  74  bonded to the first separating member  2  by the recording material  107  until the recording material  107  is cooled and solidified to prevent the recording medium  74  from coming off, thereby leaving the recording material  107  unremoved on the recording medium  74 . Further, the first separating member  2  and the recording medium  74  bonded by the recording material  107  are nipped by a pair of a first nip-support roller  21  and a first nip-pressure roller  22 , while the first nip-pressure roller  22  is pressed against the recording medium  74  by a first tension spring  23 . The first nip-support roller  21  is rotatably attached to the frame  73  through a first nip-support roller shaft  24  extending from the first nip-support roller  21 . Similarly, the first nip-pressure roller  22  is rotatably attached to the frame  73  through a first nip-pressure roller shaft  25  extending from the first nip-pressure roller  22 . The nipping-conveying part  5  includes this structure in a plurality of sets; in the first embodiment, five sets, i.e., a set of the first nip-support roller  21 , the first nip-pressure roller  22 , the first tension spring  23 , the first nip-support roller shaft  24 , and the fist nip-pressure roller shaft  25 , a set of a second nip-support roller  26 , a second nip-pressure roller  27 , a second tension spring  28 , a second nip-support roller shaft  29 , and a second nip-pressure roller shaft  30 , a set of a third nip-support roller  31 , a third nip-pressure roller  32 , a third tension spring  33 , a third nip-support roller shaft  34 , and a third nip-pressure roller shaft  35 , a set of a fourth nip-support roller  36 , a fourth nip-pressure roller  37 , a fourth tension spring  38 , a fourth nip-support roller shaft  39 , and a fourth nip-pressure roller shaft  40 , and a set of a fifth nip-support roller  41 , a fifth nip-pressure roller  42 , a fifth tension spring  43 , a fifth nip-support roller shaft  44 , and a fifth nip-pressure roller shaft  45 . With these sets, the nipping-conveying part  5  conveys the first separating member  2  and the recording medium  74 , while nipping them in the bonded state by the recording material  107  until the recording material  107  is cooled and solidified.  
      The structure of the first recording medium separation part  6  will be explained below. When the first separating member  2  and the recording medium  74  in a bonded state by the recording material  107  are conveyed, while cooling and solidifying, to the tangential line portion of the first separating member  2  and the second roller  12 , the recording medium  74  turns around and then is separated from the first separating member  2  because of stiffness, while leaving the recording material  107  on the first separating member  2 . The recording medium  74  is pushed out onto the second guide plate  9 . Further, a separating tab  67  (not shown) for assisting separation is provided near the second roller  12  and the first separating member  2 .  
      The structure of the first recording material removing part  7  will be explained below. A first blade  47  is fixed to a first blade holder  46  so as to be in contact with the first separating member  2 . A first supporting member  48  is placed in a position opposite to the first blade  47  with the first separating member  2  being interposed therebetween, thereby supporting the first blade  47  to prevent the first blade  47  from biting into the first separating member  2  while the first blade  47  removes the recording material  107  remaining on the first separating member  2 . A first blade holder sliding shaft  49  is provided on either end (upper and lower in  FIG. 3 ) of the first blade holder  46  so that each shaft  49  is slidable in a first blade holder slide groove  50  formed in the frame  73 . The first blade holder  46  is pulled back rightwards in FIGS.  1  to  3  by a first elastic member  54  hooked over a first elastic member stopper shaft  51  provided on the first blade holder  46  and a second elastic member stopper shaft  53  provided on a second drive motor supporting frame  52 . A second drive motor  55  is mounted on the second drive motor supporting frame  52  fixed to the frame  73 . A first disk  57  provided with a first rotating projection  56  is attached to a shaft  65  of the second drive motor  55 . Further, upon counterclockwise rotation of the second drive motor  55 , the first rotating projection  56  periodically pushes a first projection  58  of the first blade holder  46  leftwards in FIGS.  1  to  3  to make the first sliding shafts  49  of the first blade holder  46  slide in the first slide grooves  50  of the frame  73 . While not pushed, the first blade holder  46  is held on the right-hand side in FIGS.  1  to  3 . In this way, the first blade  47  is reciprocated with respect to the belt-shaped first separating member  2 .  
      A first cleaning brush  59  for simultaneously cleaning the first blade  47  and the first separating member  2  is rotatably attached to the frame  73  through a first cleaning brush shaft  60  extending from the first cleaning brush  59 . The first cleaning brush  59  is rotated when rotation of a third drive motor  61  fixed to the frame  73  is transmitted to a second gear  63  mounted on the first cleaning brush shaft  60  through a first gear  62  mounted on a shaft  66  of the third drive motor  61 . The cleaning brush  59  is rotated counterclockwise to clean the first blade  47  and the first separating member  2  at the same time.  
      Next, the recording material removing device  1  constructed as above will be explained focusing on movements of the recording medium  74 , referring to FIGS.  4  to  7 . Herein, the surface of the recording medium  74  with the separation layer on which the recording material  107  has been thermally fixed corresponds to a lower side of the recording medium  74  in the figures.  
       FIG. 4  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 1 ) in which the recording material removing device transfers the recording material of the recording medium onto the belt-shaped separation member. Herein, at the same time when the driving force of the first drive motor  15  is transmitted to the first roller  10 , the first separating member  2  is rotated counterclockwise by the pressure roller  18  pressing the first separating member  2  against the first roller  10 . The rotation of the second drive motor  55  causes the first blade  47  to reciprocate right and left in the figure in contact with the first separating member  2 . The first cleaning brush  59  is rotated counterclockwise by rotation of the third drive motor  61 , thereby simultaneously cleaning the first blade  47  and the first separating member  2 . The first roller (heating) is saturated at a preset temperature of about 190° C. (changeable from 150° C. to 240° C.) by the first heater  20 . The recording medium  74  is on standby on the first guide plate  8 , indicating a ready state for conveyance from the first guide plate  8 .  
       FIG. 5  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 2 ) in which the recording material removing device transfers the recording material of the recording medium onto the belt-shaped separating member. The recording medium  74  having been conveyed from the state shown in  FIG. 4  is nipped between the first separating member  2  and the pressure roller  18 . With the first roller  10  and the pressure roller  18 , the first separating member  2  and the recording medium  74  are conveyed under pressure. At this time, the first roller  10  is a heating roller and thus heats the first separating member  2  to melt or soften the recording material  107  of the recording medium  74 , so that the recording medium  74  and the first separating member  2  are bonded by the recording material  107 . The state is shown where the first separating member  2  and the recording medium  74  bonded by the recording material  107  are nipped and conveyed by the nipping-conveying part  5  until the recording material  107  is cooled and solidified to prevent the recording medium  74  from coming off and the recording material  107  from remaining on the recording medium  74 .  
       FIG. 6  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 3 ) in which the recording material removing device transfers the recording material of the recording medium onto the belt-shaped separating member. It shows that, from the state in  FIG. 5 , the first separating member  2  and the recording medium  74  nipped by the nipping-conveying part  5  to hold a bonded state bonded by the recording material  107 , while cooling and solidifying, are conveyed to a tangent portion of the first separating member  2  to the second roller  12 . At that time, because of the recording medium  74  turning around and the stiffness thereof, the recording medium  74  is separated from the first separating member  2  while leaving the recording material  107  on the first separating member  2 . Simultaneously, the recording medium  74  begins to be pushed out onto the second guide plate  9 . For assisting the separation, the separating tab  67  (not shown) for separating the recording medium  74  from the first separating member  2  is provided near the first separating member  2  and the recording medium  74 .  
       FIG. 7  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 4 ) in which the recording material removing device transfers the recording material of the recording medium onto the belt-shaped separating member. The separation is advanced from  FIG. 6 , the recording material  107  is completely removed from the recording medium  74 , and the recording medium  74  is discharged onto the second guide plate  9 . It shows the state where the first blade  47  is removing the recording material  107  remaining on the first separating member  2  by reciprocally moving in contact with the first separating member  2 . It further shows the state where the first cleaning brush  59  is rotated counterclockwise by rotation of the third drive motor  61 , thereby cleaning the first blade  47  and the first separating member  2  at the same time.  
      The following explanation will be made on the reciprocating motion of the first blade  47 , referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 .  FIG. 8  is an explanatory view showing a state where the blade has been returned to a downstream side in a rotating direction of the belt-shaped separating member.  FIG. 9  is an explanatory view showing a state where the blade is pushed toward an upstream side in the rotating direction of the belt-shaped separating member.  
      In  FIG. 8 , the second drive motor  55  is attached to the second drive motor supporting frame  52  fixed to the frame  73 , and the first disk  57  formed with the first rotating projection  56  is mounted on the shaft  65  of the second drive motor  55 . The second drive motor  55  is rotated counterclockwise. Further, until the first rotating projection  56  comes in contact with the first projection  58  of the first blade holder  46 , the first blade holder  46  is pulled back by the first elastic member  54  hooked over the first elastic member stopper shaft  51  of the first blade holder  46  and the second elastic member stopper shaft  53  of the second drive motor supporting frame  52 , and a right end  69  of the first blade holder sliding shaft  49  provided in the first blade holder  46  is held in contact with a right end  68  of the first blade holder slide groove  50  of the frame  73 .  
      In  FIG. 9 , when the first rotating projection  56  comes in contact with the first projection  58  provided in the first blade holder  46 , the first blade holder sliding shaft  49  of the first blade holder  46  is caused to slide in the first blade holder slide groove  50  of the frame  73 . The first blade holder  46  is moved leftwards in the figure until the first rotating projection  56  is disengaged from the first projection  58  provided in the first blade holder  46 . When the first rotating projection  56  is disengaged from the first projection  58  provided in the first blade holder  46 , the first blade holder  46  is returned to the state shown in  FIG. 8 . The motions in  FIGS. 8 and 9  are periodically repeated to reciprocate the first blade holder  46 .  
      Since the first blade  47  is attached to the first blade holder  46  so that the first blade  47  is in contact with the first separating member  2 , the first blade  47 , as with the first blade holder  46 , is reciprocated in contact with the surface of the first separating member  2  on which the recording material  107  remains unremoved. Further, when the first blade  47  is reciprocated at a faster moving speed than the moving speed of the first separating member  2 , increasing the amount of overlap of the reciprocating motion of the first blade  47 , which makes it possible to surely remove the recording material  107  from the first separating member  2 . For making the first blade  47  surely remove the recording material  107  and for preventing the first blade  47  from biting into the first separating member  2  during removal of the recording material  107  remaining on the first separating member  2 , the first supporting member  48  is provided in a place opposite to the first blade  47  with the first separating member  2  being interposed between them. Since this first supporting member  48  supports the first blade  47  through the first separating member  2 , the first blade  47  may be elasticized.  
      As explained above, in the recording material removing device  1  for the recording medium  74  in the first embodiment, the recording medium  74  is bonded to the first belt-shaped separating member  2  by the recording material  107  melted or softened when the recording medium  74  is brought into contact with the heated first separating member  2 , and the recording medium  74  is nipped by the nipping-conveying part  5  until the recording medium  74  is separated from the first separating member  2 . Accordingly, there is an effect of solving the problem that the recording medium  74  comes off the first separating member  2  due to warping of the recording medium  74  before the recording material  107  is cooled and solidified, which causes cobwebbing of the unsolidified recording material  107  between the first separating member  2  and the recording medium  74  and remains on the recording medium  74 .  
      It is further arranged such that the recording medium  74  is separated from the first separating member  2  after the recording material  107  is cooled and solidified. Accordingly, there is an effect of solving the problem that the unsolidified recording material  107  causes cobwebbing between the first separating member  2  and the recording medium  74  and remains on the recording medium  74 .  
      Further, the recording material removing device  1  is arranged such that the first separating member  2  and the recording medium  74  are nipped by the nipping-conveying part  5  until the recording medium  74  is separated from the first separating member  2 , and then the recording medium  74  is separated from the first separating member  2  after the recording material  107  is cooled to a glass-transition temperature (Tg) or less. Accordingly, complete cooling and solidifying of the recording material  107  makes it possible to solve the problem that the unsolidified recording material  107  causes cobwebbing between the first separating member  2  and the recording medium  74  and remains on the recording medium  74 .  
      Since the recording material removing device  1  is arranged such that the nipping-conveying part  5  is constituted of rollers, a load on the first conveyance driving part  3  which drives the first separating member  2  can be reduced. This provides an effect of reducing the cost of the recording material removing device  1  and also an effect of cooling the recording material  107 .  
      In the recording material removing device  1 , furthermore, the recording medium  74  is drawn, in a bonded state to the first separating member  2  heated to melt and soften the recording material  107 , along the tangent line to the first roller  10  (heating). Accordingly, there is an effect of preventing separation caused by displacement of the recording medium  74  from the first separating member  2  and by warping of the recording medium  74 .  
      The recording material removing device  1  for recording medium  74  in the first embodiment includes: the first blade  47  in contact with the surface of the first separating member  2  to remove the recording material  107 ; and the first supporting member  48  placed in the position opposite to the first blade  47  with the first separating member  2  being interposed therebetween. The first blade  47  is reciprocated with respect to the first separating member  2  while pressing against the first supporting member  48  through the first separating member  2 . Accordingly, the areas where the recording material  107  is removed from the first separating member  2  are overlapped and thus the blade  47  can reliably remove the recording material  107  from the first separating member  2 . This provides an effect of eliminating the problem that the recording material  107  could not be removed from the area where removing has been missed once.  
      The recording material removing device  1  is arranged to reciprocate the first blade  47  along a traveling direction of the first separating member  2 . This makes it possible to reciprocate the first blade  47  without separating from the first separating member  2  even during a reciprocating motion of the first blade  47  and therefore to facilitate a mechanism.  
      In the recording material removing device  1 , the reciprocating motion of the first blade  47  is faster than the moving speed of the first separating member  2 , so that the areas of the first separating member  2  from which the first blade  47  removes the recording material  107  are overlapped. This makes it possible to surely remove the recording material  107  from the first separating member  2  and prevent the generation of the unremoved recording material  107  caused by a slow reciprocating motion of the first blade  47 .  
      In the recording material removing device  1 , the first blade  47  is elasticized to absorb a clearance between the first separating member  2  and the first blade  47 , thereby ensuring removal of the recording material  107  from the first separating member  2 .  
      The recording material removing device  1  includes the first blade  47  in contact with the first separating member  2  to remove the recording material  107 , the first supporting member  48  placed in the position opposite to the first blade  47  with the first separating member  2  being interposed therebetween, and the first cleaning brush  59  for simultaneously cleaning the first blade  47  and the first separating member  2  while the first blade  47  removes the recording material  107  from the first separating member  2  by pressing against the first supporting member  48  through the first separating member  2 . Accordingly, the first cleaning brush  59  can clean the first blade  47  just after the first blade  47  removes the recording material  107 . Thus, there is an effect of solving the problem that the recording material  107  adheres to the first blade  47  and deteriorates the capacity for removing the recording material  107 .  
      Furthermore, even when the recording material  107  disperses forward of the first blade  47  when the first blade  47  removes the recording material  107  from the first separating member  2 , the first cleaning brush  59  cleans the first blade  47  and the first separating member  2  just after dispersion. Accordingly, the problem that the recording material  107  is caught between the first separating member  2  and the first blade  47  and remains unremoved can be solved.  
      The recording material removing device  1  includes the cleaning member constituted of a rotating brush. A low-cost cleaning member can be provided to clean the first blade  47  for removing the recording material  107  and the first separating member  2  at the same time by a simple structure.  
     Second Embodiment  
      In a second embodiment, a recording material removing device for removing a recording material from a recording medium both surfaces of which the recording material has thermally been fixed will be explained, referring to the accompanying drawings. A schematic structure of the recording material removing device in the second embodiment will be described first with reference to  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 10  is a front view of the recording material removing device for removing the recording material from both surfaces of the recording medium. It is to be noted that the members having the same structures as those in the first embodiment are assigned the same reference numerals.  
      In  FIG. 10 , a recording material removing device  201  principally includes: a first conveyance driving part  3  (at the lower right-hand center in  FIG. 10 ) for driving a first belt-shaped separating member  2  for conveyance; a second conveyance driving part  203  (at the upper right-hand center in  FIG. 10 ) for driving a second belt-shaped separating member  202  for conveyance; a second bonding part  204  (at the right-hand center in  FIG. 10 ) in which the second separating member  202  and a recording medium  74  are bonded by a recording material  107 ; a nipping-conveying part  5  (at the center in  FIG. 10 ) for nipping the first separating member  2  and the recording medium  74 , and, the second separating member  202  and the recording medium  74 , until the recording material  107  bonding them is cooled and solidified; a second recording medium separating part  206  (at the left-hand center in  FIG. 10 ) for separating the recording medium  74  from the first separating member  2  while leaving the recording material  107  on the first separating member  2  and simultaneously separating the recording medium  74  from the second separating member  202  while leaving the recording material  107  on the second separating member  202 ; a first recording material removing part  7  (at the lower center in  FIG. 10 ) for removing the recording material  107  remaining on the first separating member  2  from the first separating member  2 ; a second recording material removing part  207  (at the upper center in  FIG. 10 ) for removing the recording material  107  remaining on the second separating member  2  from the second separating member  2 ; and a first guide plate  8  (at the right-hand side in  FIG. 10 ) and a second guide plate  9  (at the left-hand side in  FIG. 10 ) for supporting and guiding the recording medium  74  at respective positions. These components are attached in a fixed or movable state to a frame  73 .  
      The structure of the first belt-shaped conveyance driving part  3  is the same as in the first embodiment where it is explained in detail, and it is therefore omitted herein (however, the pressure roller  18  is replaced by a third roller  210 ).  
      The structure of the second conveyance driving part  203  for driving the second separating member  202  for conveyance will be explained below. The third roller  210  (heating) is rotatably attached to a frame  73  through a third roller shaft  211  extending form the third roller  210 . A fourth roller  212  is rotatably attached to the frame  73  through a fourth roller shaft  213  extending from the fourth roller  212 . The second belt-shaped separating member  202  made of metal such as  301  stainless steel is wound over these third and fourth rollers  210  and  212 . A third pulley  214  is mounted on the third roller shaft  211  of the third roller  210 . A fourth pulley  216  is mounted on a shaft  264  of a fourth drive motor  215  attached to the frame  73 . These third and fourth pulleys  214  and  216  are coupled through a second drive belt  217 . Placed below the third roller  210  is a first roller  10  which presses the second belt-shaped separating member  202  against the third roller  210 . The first roller  10  is rotatably attached to the frame  73  through a first roller shaft  11  extending from the first roller  10 . With this structure, driving force of the fourth drive motor  215  is transmitted to the third roller  210  and simultaneously the third roller  210  and the first roller  10  press against the second separating member  202 , thereby rotating the second separating member  202  clockwise.  
      The structure of the second bonding part  204  will be described below. The first roller  10  internally includes a first heater  20  such as a halogen lamp and serves as a heating roller to heat the first separating member  2 . The third roller  210  internally includes a second heater  220  such as a halogen lamp and serves as a heating roller to heat the second separating member  202 . The first and second separating member  2  and  202  nip and heat the recording material  107  thermally fixed on both surfaces of the recording medium  74  having been conveyed from the first guide plate  8  to melt or soften, and the first roller  10  (heating) and the third roller  210  (heating) press the first separating member  2  and the recording medium  74  and the second separating member  202 . With this structure, the first separating member  2  and the recording medium  74  and the second separating member  202  are bonded by the recording material  107 . The first separating member  2  and the recording medium  74  and the second separating member  202  bonded by the recording material  107  are pushed in a direction tangent to the first roller  10  (heating) and the third roller  210  (heating) in order to prevent separation of the first separating member  2  and the recording medium  74  and the second separating member  202 .  
      The structure of the nipping-conveying part  5  will be described below. The nipping-conveying part  5  is configured to nip and convey the recording medium  74  bonded to the first separating member  2  and the second separating member  202  by the recording material  107  until the recording material  107  is cooled and solidified to prevent the recording medium  74  from coming off, thereby leaving the recording material  107  unremoved on the recording medium  74 . Further, the first separating member  2  and the recording medium  74  and the second separating member  202  bonded by the recording material  107  are nipped by a pair of a first nip-support roller  21  and a first nip-pressure roller  22 , while the first nip-pressure roller  22  is pressed against the recording medium  74  by a first tension spring  23 . The first nip-support roller  21  is rotatably attached to the frame  73  through a first nip-support roller shaft  24  extending from the first nip-support roller  21 . Similarly, the first nip-pressure roller  22  is rotatably attached to the frame  73  through a first nip-pressure roller shaft  25  extending from the first nip-pressure roller  22 . The nipping-conveying part  5  includes this structure in a plurality of sets; in the second embodiment, five sets, i.e., a set of the first nip-support roller  21 , the first nip-pressure roller  22 , the first tension spring  23 , the first nip-support roller shaft  24 , and the fist nip-pressure roller shaft  25 , a set of a second nip-support roller  26 , a second nip-pressure roller  27 , a second tension spring  28 , a second nip-support roller shaft  29 , and a second nip-pressure roller shaft  30 , a set of a third nip-support roller  31 , a third nip-pressure roller  32 , a third tension spring  33 , a third nip-support roller shaft  34 , and a third nip-pressure roller shaft  35 , a set of a fourth nip-support roller  36 , a fourth nip-pressure roller  37 , a fourth tension spring  38 , a fourth nip-support roller shaft  39 , and a fourth nip-pressure roller shaft  40 , and a set of a fifth nip-support roller  41 , a fifth nip-pressure roller  42 , a fifth tension spring  43 , a fifth nip-support roller shaft  44 , and a fifth nip-pressure roller shaft  45 . With these sets, the nipping-conveying part  5  conveys the first separating member  2  and the recording medium  74  and the second separating member  202 , while nipping them in the bonded state by the recording material  107  until the recording material  107  is cooled and solidified.  
      The structure of the second recording medium separating part  206  will be explained below. When the first separating member  2  and the second separating member  202  are bonded to the recording medium  74  by the recording material  107  in the second bonding part  204  and are conveyed in a bonded state by the nipping-conveying part  5 , while cooling and solidifying, to the tangent portion of the second roller  12  and the fourth roller  212 , the recording medium  74  turns around and then is separated from the first separating member  2  and the second separating member  202  at the same time because of stiffness, while leaving the recording material  107  on the first separating member  2  and the second separating member  202 . The recording medium  74  is pushed out onto the second guide plate  9 . Further, separating tabs  67  (not shown) for assisting separation are provided one near the second roller  12  and the first separating member  2  and one near the fourth roller  212  and the second separating member  202  respectively.  
      The structure of the first recording material removing part  7  is the same as in the first embodiment where it is explained in detail, and therefore it is omitted herein.  
      The structure of the second recording material removing part  207  will be described below. A second blade  247  is fixed to second blade holder  246  so as to be in contact with the second separating member  202 . A second supporting member  248  is placed in a position opposite to the second blade  247  with the second separating member  202  being interposed therebetween, thereby supporting the second blade  247  to prevent the second blade  247  from biting into the second separating member  202  while the second blade  247  removes the recording material  107  from the second separating member  202 . A second blade holder sliding shaft  249  is provided on either end of the second blade holder  246  so that each shaft  249  is slidable in a second blade holder slide groove  250  formed in the frame  73 . The second blade holder  246  is pulled back rightwards in  FIG. 10  by a fourth elastic member  254  hooked over a third elastic member stopper shaft  251  provided in the second blade holder  246  and a fourth elastic member stopper shaft  253  provided in a fifth drive motor supporting frame  252 . A fifth drive motor  255  is mounted on the fifth drive motor supporting frame  252  fixed to the frame  73 . A second disk  257  provided with a second rotating projection  256  is attached to a shaft  265  of the fifth drive motor  255 . Further, upon counterclockwise rotation of the fifth drive motor  255 , the second rotating projection  256  periodically pushes a second projection  258  provided in the second blade holder  246  leftwards in  FIG. 10  to make the second sliding shafts  249  of the second blade holder  246  slide in the second slide grooves  50  of the frame  73 . While not pushed, the second blade holder  246  is held on the right-hand side in  FIG. 10 . In this way, the second blade  247  is reciprocated with respect to the second separating member  202 .  
      A second cleaning brush  259  for simultaneously cleaning the second blade  247  and the second separating member  202  is rotatably attached to the frame  73  through a second cleaning brush shaft  260  extending from the second cleaning brush  259 . The second cleaning brush  259  is rotated when rotation of a sixth drive motor  261  fixed to the frame  73  is transmitted to a fourth gear  263  mounted on the second cleaning brush shaft  260  through a third gear  262  mounted on a shaft  266  of the sixth drive motor  261 . The second cleaning brush  259  is rotated counterclockwise to clean the second blade  247  and the second separating member  202  at the same time.  
      Next, the recording material removing device  201  constructed as above will be explained focusing on movements of the recording medium  74 , referring to FIGS.  11  to  14 . Herein, the surfaces of the recording medium  74  with the separation layers on which the recording material  107  has been thermally fixed correspond to both sides of the recording medium  74  in the figures.  
       FIG. 11  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 1 ) in which the recording material removing device for removing the recording material from both surfaces of the recording medium transfers the recording material of the recording medium onto the belt-shaped separation member. Herein, at the same time when the driving force is transmitted to the first roller  10 , the first separating member  2  is rotated counterclockwise by the third roller  210  pressing the first separating member  2  against the first roller  10 . The rotation of the second drive motor  55  causes the first blade  47  to reciprocate right and left in the figure in contact with the first separating member  2 . The first cleaning brush  59  is rotated counterclockwise by rotation of the third drive motor  61 , thereby simultaneously cleaning the first blade  47  and the first separating member  2 . The first roller (heating) is saturated at a preset temperature of about  190 ° C. (changeable from 150° C. to 240° C.) by the first heater  20 .  
      Moreover, at the same time when the driving force of the fourth drive motor  215  is transmitted to the third roller  210 , the second separating member  202  is rotated clockwise by the first roller  10  pressing the second separating member  202  against the third roller  210 . The rotation of the fifth drive motor  255  causes the second blade  247  to reciprocate right and left in the figure in contact with the second separating member  202 . The second cleaning brush  259  is rotated clockwise by rotation of the sixth drive motor  261 , thereby simultaneously cleaning the second blade  247  and the second separating member  202 . The third roller  210  (heating) is saturated at a preset temperature of about 190° C. (changeable from 150° C. to 240° C.) by the second heater  220 .  
      The recording medium  74  is on standby on the first guide plate  8 , indicating a ready state for conveyance from the first guide plate  8 .  
       FIG. 12  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 2 ) in which the recording material removing device for removing the recording material from both surfaces of the recording medium transfers the recording material of the recording medium onto belt-shaped separating member. The recording medium  74  having been conveyed from the state shown in  FIG. 11  is nipped between the first separating member  2  and the second separating member  202 . With the first roller  10  and the third roller  210 , the first separating member  2  and the recording medium  74  and the second separating member  202  are conveyed under pressure. At this time, the first roller  10  is a heating roller and thus heats the first separating member  2  and simultaneously the third roller  210  is a heating roller and thus heats the second separating member  202  to melt or soften the recording material  107  on both surfaces of the recording medium  74 , so that the first separating member  2  and the recording medium  74  and the second separating member  202  are bonded by the recording material  107 . The state is shown where the first separating member  2  and the recording medium  74  and the second separating member  202  bonded by the recording material  107  are nipped and conveyed by the nipping-conveying part  5  until the recording material  107  is cooled and solidified to prevent the recording medium  74  from coming off and the recording material  107  remaining on the recording medium  74 .  
       FIG. 13  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 3 ) in which the recording material removing device for removing the recording material from both surfaces of the recording medium transfers the recording material of the recording medium onto the belt-shaped separating member. It shows that, from the state in  FIG. 12 , the first separating member  2  and the recording medium  74  and the second separating member  202  nipped by the nipping-conveying part  5  to hold a bonded state by the recording material  107 , while cooling and solidifying, are conveyed to a tangent portion to the second roller  12  and the fourth roller  212 . At that time, because of the recording medium  74  turning around and the stiffness thereof, the recording medium  74  is separated from the first separating member  2  while leaving the recording material  107  on the first separating member  2  and also the recording medium  74  is separated from the second separating member  202  while leaving the recording material  107  on the second separating member  202 . Simultaneously, the recording medium  74  begins to be pushed out onto the second guide plate  9 . For assisting the separation, the separation tabs  67  (not shown) are provided one near the second roller  12  and the first separating member  2  and one near the fourth roller  212  and the second separating member  202  respectively.  
       FIG. 14  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 4 ) in which the recording material removing device for removing the recording material from both surfaces of the recording medium transfers the recording material of the recording medium onto the belt-shaped separating member. The separation is advanced from  FIG. 13 , the recording material  107  is completely removed from the recording medium  74 , and the recording medium  74  is conveyed onto the second guide plate. It shows the state where the first blade  47  is removing the recording material  107  remaining on the first separating member  2  by reciprocally moving in contact with the first separating member  2  and simultaneously the second blade  247  is removing the recording material  107  remaining on the second separating member  202  by reciprocally moving in contact with the second separating member  202 . It further shows the state where the first cleaning brush  59  is rotated counterclockwise by rotation of the third drive motor  61 , cleaning the first blade  47  and the first separating member  2  at the same time, and simultaneously the second cleaning brush  259  is rotated clockwise by rotation of the sixth motor  261 , cleaning the second blade  247  and the second separating member  202  at the same time.  
      As explained above, the recording material removing device  201  for the recording medium  74  in the second embodiment includes the first and second separating members  2  and  202  so that the recording medium  74  is nipped and conveyed by the first and second separating members  2  and  202 . Accordingly, the recording medium  74  is face-nipped from both sides. This makes it possible to solve the problem that the recording medium  74  comes off from the first separating member  2  or the second separating member  202  and the unsolidified recording material  107  causes cobwebbing between the first separating member  2  and the recording medium  74  or between the second separating member  202  and the recording medium  74  and thus remains on the recording medium  74 .  
      Further, it is arranged such that the recording medium  74  is separated from the first and second separating members  2  and  202  after the recording material  74  is cooled and solidified. Accordingly, the problem that the unsolidified recording material  74  causes cobwebbing between the first separating member  2  or the second separating member  202  and the recording medium  74  and remains on the recording medium  74 . Since the recording material  107  thermally fixed on the recording medium  74  can be removed from both surfaces thereof at the same time, the recording material removing device  201  for removing the recording material  74  from both surfaces can be made at low cost. Even the recording medium  74  having one surface on which the recording material  107  has thermally been fixed can be charged into the recording material removing device  201  regardless of either surface, front or back.  
      In the recording material removing device  201 , the recording medium  74  is nipped and conveyed by the first and second separating members  2  and  202 , and the recording medium  74  is separated from the first and second separating members  2  and  202  after the recording material  107  is cooled to a glass-transition temperature (Tg) or less. Accordingly, complete cooling and solidifying of the recording material  107  makes it possible to solve the problem that the unsolidified recording material  107  causes cobwebbing between the first separating member  2  or the second separating member  202  and the recording medium  74  and remains on the recording medium  74 .  
      Since the recording material removing device  201  is arranged such that the first separating member  2  and the second separating member  202  are further nipped by the rollers, a load on the first and third conveyance driving parts  3  and  203  which drive the first and second separating members  2  and  202  can be reduced. This provides an effect of reducing the cost of the recording material removing device  201  and also an effect of cooling the recording material  107 .  
      In the recording material removing device  201 , furthermore, the recording medium  74  is drawn, in a bonded state to the first and second separating members  2  and  202  heated to melt or soften the recording material  107 , along the tangent line to the first roller  10  (heating) and the third roller  210  (heating). Consequently, there is an effect of preventing separation caused by displacement of the recording medium  74  from the first separating member  2  or the second separating member  202  and by warping of the recording medium  74 .  
      The recording material removing device  201  for the recording medium  74  in the second embodiment includes: the first blade  47  in contact with the surface of the first separating member  2 ; and the first supporting member  48  placed in the position opposite to the first blade  47  with the first separating member  2  being interposed therebetween. The first blade  47  is reciprocated with respect to the first  22  while pressing against the first supporting member  48  through the first separating member  2 . Accordingly, the areas where the recording material  107  is removed from the first separating member  2  are overlapped and thus the blade  47  can reliably remove the recording material  107  from the first separating member  2 . This provides an effect of eliminating the problem that the recording material  107  could not be removed from the area where removing has been missed once.  
      The recording material removing device  201  further includes: the second blade  247  in contact with the surface of the second separating member  202  to remove the recording material  107 ; and the second supporting member  248  placed in the position opposite to the second blade  247  with the second separating member  202  being interposed therebetween. The second blade  247  is reciprocated with respect to the second separating member  202  while pressing against the second supporting member  248  through the second separating member  202 . Accordingly, the areas where the recording material  107  is removed from the second separating member  202  are overlapped and thus the blade  247  can reliably remove the recording material  107  from the second separating member  202 . This provides an effect of eliminating the problem that the recording material  107  could not be removed from the area where removing has been missed once.  
      The recording material removing device  201  is arranged to reciprocate the first blade  47  along a traveling direction of the first separating member  2 . This makes it possible to reciprocally move the first blade  47  without separating the first blade  47  from the first separating member  2  even during a reciprocating motion of the first blade  47  and therefore to facilitate a mechanism.  
      Further, the second blade  247  is reciprocated along a traveling direction of the second separating member  202 . This makes it possible to reciprocate the second blade  247  without separating the second blade  247  from the second separating member  202  even during a reciprocating motion of the second blade  247  and therefore to facilitate a mechanism.  
      In the recording material removing device  201 , the reciprocating motion of the first blade  47  is faster than the moving speed of the first separating member  2 , so that the areas of the first separating member  2  from which the first blade  47  removes the recording material  107  are overlapped. This makes it possible to surely remove the recording material  107  from the first separating member  2  and prevent the generation of the unremoved recording material  107  caused by a slow reciprocation of the first blade  47 .  
      Further, the reciprocation of the second blade  247  is faster than the moving speed of the second separating member  202 , so that the areas of the second separating member  202  from which the second blade  247  removes the recording material  107  are overlapped. This makes it possible to surely remove the recording material  107  from the second separating member  202  and prevent the generation of the unremoved recording material  107  caused by a slow reciprocation of the second blade  247 .  
      In the recording material removing device  201 , the first blade  47  is elasticized to absorb a clearance between the first separating member  2  and the first blade  47 , thereby ensuring removal of the recording material  107  from the first separating member  2 .  
      Furthermore, the second blade  247  is elasticized to absorb a clearance between the second separating member  202  and the second blade  247 , thereby ensuring removal of the recording material  107  from the second separating member  202 .  
      The recording material removing device  201  includes the first blade  47  in contact with the first separating member  2  to remove the recording material  107 , the first supporting member  48  in the position opposite to the first blade  47  with the first separating member  2  being interposed therebetween, and the first cleaning brush  59  for simultaneously cleaning the first blade  47  and the first separating member  2  while the first blade  47  removes the recording material  107  from the first separating member  2  by pressing against the first supporting member  48  through the first separating member  2 . Accordingly, the first cleaning brush  59  can clean the first blade  47  just after the first blade  47  removes the recording material  107 . Thus, there is an effect of solving the problem that the recording material  107  adheres to the first blade  47  and deteriorates the capacity for removing the recording material  107 .  
      Further, the recording material removing device  201  includes the second blade  247  in contact with the surface of the second separating member  202  to remove the recording material  107  and the second supporting member  248  placed in the position opposite to the second blade  247  with the second separating member  202  being interposed therebetween, and the second cleaning brush  259  for simultaneously cleaning the second blade  247  and the second separating member  202  while the second blade  247  removes the recording material  107  from the second separating member  202  by pressing against the second supporting member  248  through the second separating member  202 . Accordingly, the second cleaning brush  259  can clean the second blade  247  just after the second blade  247  removes the recording material  107 . Thus, there is an effect of solving the problem that the recording material  107  adheres to the second blade  247  and deteriorates the capacity for removing the recording material  107 .  
      Furthermore, even when the recording material  107  disperses forward of the first blade  47  when the first blade  47  removes the recording material  107  from the first separating member  2 , the first cleaning brush  59  cleans the first blade  47  and the first separating member  2  just after dispersion. Accordingly, the problem that the recording material  107  is caught between the first separating member  2  and the first blade  47  and remains unremoved can be solved. The recording material removing device  201  for recording medium can provide an equal effect.  
      Furthermore, even when the recording material  107  disperses forward of the second blade  247  when the second blade  247  removes the recording material  107  from the second separating member  202 , the second cleaning brush  259  cleans the second blade  247  and the second separating member  202  just after dispersion. Accordingly, the problem that the recording material  107  is caught between the second separating member  202  and the second blade  247  and remains unremoved can be solved.  
      The recording material removing device  201  includes the cleaning member constituted of a rotating brush. A low-cost cleaning member can be provided to clean the first blade  47  for removing the recording material  107  and the first separating member  2  at the same time by a simple structure.  
      Since the cleaning member is constituted of a rotating brush, a low-cost cleaning member can be provided to clean the second blade  247  for removing the recording material  107  and the second separating member  202  at the same time by a simple structure.  
     Third Embodiment  
      In a third embodiment, a recording material removing device for a recording medium embodying the present invention will be explained in detail, referring the drawings. A schematic structure of the recording material removing device for the recording medium in the third embodiment will be described first with reference to  FIGS. 15 and 16 .  FIG. 15  is a front view of the recording material removing device and  FIG. 16  is a top view of the recording material removing device.  
      In  FIGS. 15 and 16 , a recording material removing device  301  principally includes: a recording material removing part  302  (see the center in  FIGS. 15 and 16 ); a first recording medium feeding part  305  and a second recording medium feeding part  306  (see the right and left in the recording material removing part  302  at the center in  FIGS. 15 and 16 ) which are joined through the recording material removing part  302  and a third and fourth guide plates  303  and  304  for guiding the feeding of the recording medium  74 ; an feeding/ejecting part  309  (see the left center in  FIGS. 15 and 16 ) for the recording medium  74 , joined with the first feeding part  305  through a second guide plate  307  for guiding the feeding of the recording medium  74 , the feeding/ejecting part  309  including a first paper sensor  308 ; a first guide plate  310  for guiding the feeding of the recording medium  74  toward the left of the feeding/ejecting part  309  and an output tray  311  for storing the recording medium  74 ; and a fifth guide plate  312  following the right of the second recording medium feeding part  306  and for guiding the feeding of the recording medium  74 . These components are attached to a frame  73 . Further, a second paper sensor  313  is attached to the second guide plate  307 . A second paper sensor  314  is attached to the third guide plate  303 . A fourth paper sensor  315  is attached to the fourth guide plate  304 . A fifth paper sensor  316  is attached to the fifth guide plate  312 .  
      The structure (not shown) of the recording medium  74  used herein is identical to the recording medium  74  used in the first embodiment. It is explained in the first embodiment and the explanation thereof is omitted.  
      The structure of the recording material removing part  302  for the recording medium  74  will be explained first. Attached on a holder  317  is a squeezing member  318  with an arc-shaped end  370  pointing downward. Left and right control rollers  320  and  321  are rotatably mounted on a frame  373  so that the squeezing member  318  is interposed between the rollers during operation. Further, left and aright blades  322  and  323  are attached to blade holding members  319  and thus mounted on the frame  373  so that the squeezing member  318  is interposed between the blades.  
      The holder  317  is provided with an extended portion  324  extending from the holder  317 . A first spur gear  325  provided in the extended portion  324  is connected to a first drive motor  327  through a first drive gear  326 . The first drive motor  327  is fixed to a first motor supporting frame  328  which is fixed to the frame  373 . Hence, the holder  317  can be moved up and down together with the squeezing member  318  according to the rotating direction of the first drive motor  327 .  
      The structure of the first recording medium feeding part  305  will be described below. A first drive roller  329  made of a rubber material such as silicone and EPDM is formed in a cylindrical shape which covers a first drive roller shaft  330  made of metal. The first drive roller shaft  330  is rotatably attached to the frame  373 . A second drive motor  331  is fixed to the frame  373  and has a shaft  375  on which a first pulley  332  is mounted. Mounted on the first drive roller shaft  330  of the first drive roller  329  is a second pulley  333 . The first and second pulleys  332  and  333  are coupled through a first drive belt  334 . Thus, driving force of the second drive motor  331  is transmitted to the first drive roller shaft  330  of the first drive roller  329  to rotate the first drive roller  329 . According to the rotating direction of the second drive motor  331 , the first drive roller  329  is rotated normally or reversely.  
      Above the first drive roller  329 , a first pressure roller  335  made of a rubber material such as silicone and EPDM and formed in a cylindrical shape is placed. The first pressure roller  335  is centrally provided with a first pressure roller shaft  336  made of metal to rotate the first pressure roller  335 . The first pressure roller shaft  336  is rotatably engaged in a first shaft supporting hole  338  of a first pressure roller supporting frame  337 . The first pressure roller supporting frame  337  is provided with an extended portion  339  extending from the first pressure roller supporting frame  337 . A second spur gear  340  provided in the extended portion  339  is connected to a third drive motor  342  through a second drive gear  341 . The third drive motor  342  is fixed to a third motor supporting frame  343  which is fixed to the frame  373 . Hence, the first pressure roller supporting frame  337  can be moved up and down together with the first pressure roller  335  according to the rotating direction of the third drive motor  342 .  
      The structure of the second recording medium feeding part  306  will be described below. A second drive roller  344  made of a rubber material such as silicone and EPDM is formed in a cylindrical shape which covers a second drive roller shaft  345  made of metal. The second drive roller shaft  345  is rotatably attached to the frame  373 . A fourth drive motor  346  is also fixed to the frame  373  and has a shaft  376  on which a third pulley  347  is mounted. Mounted on the second drive roller shaft  345  of the second drive roller  344  is a fourth pulley  348 . The third and fourth pulleys  347  and  348  are coupled through a second drive belt  349 . Thus, driving force of the fourth drive motor  346  is transmitted to the second drive roller shaft  345  of the second drive roller  344  to rotate the second drive roller  344 . According to the rotating direction of the fourth drive motor  346 , the second drive roller  344  is rotated normally or reversely.  
      Above the second drive roller  344 , a second pressure roller  350  made of a rubber material such as silicone and EPDM and formed in a cylindrical shape is placed. The second pressure roller  350  is centrally provided with a second pressure roller shaft  351  made of metal to rotate the second pressure roller  350 . The second pressure roller shaft  351  is rotatably engaged in a second shaft supporting hole  353  of a second pressure roller supporting frame  352 . The second pressure roller supporting frame  352  is provided with an extended portion  354  extending from the second pressure roller supporting frame  352 . A third spur gear  355  provided in the extended portion  354  is connected to a fifth drive motor through a third drive gear  356 . The fifth drive motor  357  is fixed to a fifth motor supporting frame  358  which is fixed to the frame  373 . Hence, the second pressure roller supporting frame  352  can be moved up and down together with the second pressure roller  350  according to the rotating direction of the fifth drive motor  357 .  
      The structure of the feeding/ejecting part  309  for the recording medium  74  will be explained below. A feeding/ejecting plate  359  for feeding and ejecting the recording medium  74  is rotatably attached to the frame  373  through a fourth rotating shaft  360 . Provided on an end face of the feeding/ejecting plate  359  is a slide shaft  361  which is engaged in a slide groove  363  formed in an end of a feeding/ejecting guide frame  362 .  
      Provided in the other end of the feeding/ejecting guide frame  362  is an extended portion  365  formed with a fourth spur gear  364 . The fourth spur gear  364  is connected to a sixth drive motor  367  through a fourth drive gear  366 . The sixth drive motor  367  is fixed to the frame  373 . Hence, the feeding/ejecting guide frame  362  can be moved up and down according to the rotating direction of the sixth drive motor  367 . Such movements enable rotation of the feeding/ejecting plate  359  about the fourth rotating shaft  360 , thereby moving the end of the plate  359  toward the first guide plate  310  or the output tray  311 .  
      Next, the recording material removing device  301  constructed as above will be explained focusing on movements of the recording medium  74 , referring to FIGS.  17  to  27 . The recording medium  74 , which is not fixed to any structure, is moved itself in response to respective operations of the first and second recording medium feeding parts  305  and  306 .  
      FIGS.  17  to  27  are explanatory views showing steps in which the recording material removing device removes the recording material of the recording medium. Herein, the surface of the recording medium  74  having the separation layer on which the recording material  107  has been thermally fixed corresponds to a lower side of the recording medium  74  in the figures.  
       FIG. 17  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 1 ) in which the recording material removing device removes the recording material of the recording medium.  FIG. 17  shows a state of the recording material removing device  301  in which the feeding/ejecting plate  359  is in an upper position by the sixth drive motor  367  and the first pressure roller  335  is in a lower position by the third drive motor  342 , i.e., in a position for feeding the recording medium  74 , the squeezing member  318  is in an upper position by the first drive motor  327 , i.e., in a position for allowing the recording medium  74  to pass, and the second pressure roller  350  is in a lower position by the fifth drive motor  357 , i.e., in a position for feeding the recording medium  74 . The first and second pressure rollers  335  and  350  are rotated by the second and fourth drive motors  331  and  346  so as to convey the recording medium  74 . The recording medium  74  with the recording material  107  side turning down is on standby on the first guide plate  310 .  
       FIG. 18  an explanatory view showing a step ( 2 ) in which the recording material removing device removes the recording material of the recording medium.  FIG. 18  shows a state of the recording material removing device  301  in which the feeding/ejecting plate  359  is in the upper position, the first pressure roller  335  is in the lower position, the squeezing member  318  is in the upper position, and the second pressure roller  350  is in the lower position. This is a state where the recording medium  74  is conveyed (rightwards in the figure) by driving of the second drive motor  331  and the fourth drive motor  346 , and the fifth paper sensor  316  just detects a front edge A of the recording medium  74 . When the fifth paper sensor  316  detects the front edge A of the recording medium  74 , the state goes into a state shown in  FIG. 19 .  
       FIG. 19  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 3 ) in which the recording material removing device removes the recording material of the recording medium.  FIG. 19  shows a state the recording material removing device  301  in which the feeding/ejecting plate  359  is in the upper position, the first pressure roller  335  is in an upper position by the third drive motor  342 , i.e., in a position unrelated to feeding of the recording medium  74 , the squeezing member  318  is in a lower position by the first drive motor  327 , i.e., in a position where the squeezing member  318  squeezes the recording medium  74  controlled to move along the arc-shaped end  370  of the squeezing member  318  by the first left and right control rollers  320  and  321 , thereby removing the recording material  107  by the right blade  323 , and the second pressure roller  350  is in the lower position. This is a state where the second drive motor  331  is stopped and the fourth drive motor  346  is driven to move the recording medium  74  rightwards in the figure, starting to remove the recording material  107  by the right blade  323 .  
       FIG. 20  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 4 ) in which the recording material removing device removes the recording material of the recording medium.  FIG. 20  shows an advanced state of removal of the recording material  107  from the state of  FIG. 19 . In this state, the recording material  107  remains on the recording medium  74  from the front edge A thereof to the right blade  323 .  
       FIG. 21  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 5 ) in which the recording material removing device removes the recording material of the recording medium.  FIG. 21  shows a state of the recording material removing device  301  in which the feeding/ejecting plate  359  is in the upper position, the first pressure roller  335  is in the upper position, the squeezing member  318  is in the lower position, and the second pressure roller  350  is in the lower position. This is a state where the recording medium  74  is conveyed (rightwards in the figure) by driving of the fourth drive motor  346  while the recording material  107  having adhesive force reduced by squeezing of the recording medium  74  by the squeezing member  318  is removed by the right blade  323 , and a back edge B of the recording medium  74  is just detected by the fourth paper sensor  315 .  
      Just after that, the fourth drive motor  346  is stopped driving, establishing a state where the feeding/ejecting plate  359  in the upper position, the first pressure roller  335  is in the lower position by the third drive motor  342 , the squeezing member  318  is in the upper position by the first drive motor  327 , and the second pressure roller  350  is in the lower position, and further a state where the second drive motor  331  and the fourth drive motor  346  are driven to convey the recording medium  74  (leftwards in the figure).  
       FIG. 22  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 6 ) in which the recording material removing device removes the recording material of the recording medium.  FIG. 22  shows a state of the recording material removing device  301  in which the feeding/ejecting plate  359  is in the upper position, the first pressure roller  335  in the lower position, the squeezing member  318  in the upper position, and the second pressure roller  350  is in the lower position. This is a state just after the second paper sensor  313  detects the back edge B of the recording medium  74  conveyed (leftwards in the figure) by driving of the second drive motor  331  and the fourth drive motor  346 .  
       FIG. 23  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 7 ) in which the recording material removing device removes the recording material of the recording medium.  FIG. 23  shows a state of the recording material removing device  301  in which the feeding/ejecting plate  359  is in the upper position, the first pressure roller  335  is in the lower position, the squeezing member  318  is in the lower position by the first drive motor  327 , i.e., in a position where the left and right control rollers  320  and  321  controls the recording medium  74  to move along the arc-shaped end  370  of the squeezing member  318 , thereby squeezing the recording medium  74 , and the recording material  107  is removed by the left blade  322 , and the second pressure roller  350  is in an upper position, i.e., in a position unrelated to the feeding of the recording medium  74 . This is a state where the fourth drive motor  346  is stopped and the second drive motor  331  is driven to move the recording medium  74  leftwards in the figure, starting to remove the recording material  107  by the left blade  322 .  
       FIG. 24  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 8 ) in which the recording material removing device removes the recording material of the recording medium.  FIG. 24  shows a further advanced state of removal of the recording material  107  from the state of  FIG. 23 .  
       FIG. 25  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 9 ) in which the recording material removing device removes the recording material of the recording medium.  FIG. 25  shows a state of the recording material removing device  301  in which the feeding/ejecting plate  359  is in the upper position, the first pressure roller  335  is in the lower position, the squeezing member  318  is in the lower position, and the second pressure roller  350  is in the upper position. This is a state where the second drive motor  331  is driven to convey the recording medium  74  leftwards in the figure while the recording material  107  is removed by the left blade  322 , and the first paper sensor  308  just detects the back edge B of the recording medium  74 .  
       FIG. 26  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 10 ) in which the recording material removing device removes the recording material of the recording medium.  FIG. 26  shows a state of the recording material removing device  301  in which the feeding/ejecting plate  359  is in a lower position by the sixth drive motor  367 , the first pressure roller  335  is in the lower position, the squeezing member is in the lower position, and the second pressure roller  350  is in the upper position. When the first paper sensor  308  detects the back edge B of the recording medium  74 , the sixth drive motor  367  is driven to bring the feeding/ejecting plate  359  to the lower position, thus conveying the recording medium  74  onto the output tray  11 .  
       FIG. 27  is an explanatory view showing a step ( 11 ) in which the recording material removing device removes the recording material of the recording medium.  FIG. 27  shows a state of the recording material removing device  301  in which the feeding/ejecting plate  359  is in the lower position, the first pressure roller  335  is in the lower position, the squeezing member  318  in the lower position, and the second pressure roller  350  in the upper position, i.e., a state near termination of the feeding from the state of  FIG. 26 . After that, the first pressure roller  335  is stopped rotating and the feeding/ejecting plate  359  is lifted up to the upper position by the sixth drive motor  367 , i.e., toward the first guide plate  310 . A series of the motions is thus terminated. By the above steps, the recording material  107  thermally fixed to the separation layer of the recording medium  74  can be removed completely from the recording medium  74 .  
      Next, each structure of the first to fifth paper sensors  308 ,  313 ,  314 ,  315 , and  316  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 28 .  FIG. 28  is a schematic view of an optical sensor constituted of LEDs used in the present invention. A light emitting device  368  and a photoreceptor device  369  are paired up. The light emitting device  368  and the photoreceptor device  369  are designed to be turned ON when the recording medium  74  exists therebetween, that is, when light is interrupted, and to be turned OFF when the recording medium  74  does not exist therebetween, that is, light is transmitted. Under this condition, the control of the drive motor is conducted sequentially according to a program, but its explanation is omitted herein.  
      The explanation will be made on a process of removing the recording material  107  from the recording medium  74  by the squeezing member  318 , referring to  FIG. 29 .  FIG. 29  is an explanatory view showing the squeezing member and the blades that remove the recording material from the recording medium. The recording medium  74  is drawn under control of the left and right control rollers  320  and  321  so that the surface of the recording medium  74  having no separation layer comes in contact with the arc-shaped end of the squeezing member  318 . When the left and right control rollers  320  and  321  control the recording medium  74  so that it is drawn along the arc-shaped end  370  of the squeezing member  318 , the adhesive force between the recording material  107  and the separation layer is reduced. In this state, when the right blade  323  placed before the right control roller  321  is placed in contact with the recording medium  74  so as to wipe the recording material  107  having the reduced adhesive force, the recording material  107  can easily be removed from the recording medium  74 . Since the recording material  107  is removed from the recording medium  74  by the right blade  323  while the recording medium  74  is drawn rightwards in the figure, the recording material  107  can be removed from the recording medium  74  without remaining on the back edge B thereof. When the recording material  107  is removed from the recording medium  74  by the left blade  322  while the recording medium  74  is drawn leftwards in the figure, the recording material  107  can be removed from the recording material  107  without remaining on the front edge thereof.  
      Moreover, the arc-shaped end  370  of the squeezing member  318  used in the present invention will be explained with reference to  FIG. 30 .  FIG. 30  is an enlarged view showing the arc-shaped end of the squeezing member. The radius of the arc-shaped end  370  is preset in a range of 0.25 recording material to 0.75 recording material. If the radius of the arc-shaped end is smaller than the range, the arc-shaped end will take a larger load when the recording medium  74  is drawn and the recording medium  74  is likely to get damaged or scratched. If the end of the squeezing member  318  is too round, it will cause a problem that unsatisfactory squeezing could not reduce the adhesive force between the recording material  107  and the separation layer and a problem that the recording material  107  remains unremoved.  
      As explained above, the recording material removing device  301  in the third embodiment includes the squeezing member  318  provided with the arc-shaped end at a distal end, the left and right control rollers  320  and  321  for controlling the recording medium  74  so as to bring the surface having no separation layer into contact with the arc-shaped end  370  of the squeezing member  318 , and the left and right blades  322  and  323  for removing the recording material  107  thermally fixed on the separation layer of the recording medium  74 , the blades  322  and  323  being provided in a control region of the recording medium  74  to be controlled by the left and right control rollers  320  and  321 . Accordingly, the left and right control rollers  320  and  321  first control the recording medium  74  to bring the surface having no separation layer into contact with arc-shaped end  370 , thereby reducing the adhesive force between the recording material  107  thermally fixed on the separation layer of the recording medium  74  and the separation layer. Then, the recording material  107  having thermally been fixed on the separation layer of the recording medium  74  and having the reduced adhesive force with respect to the separation layer is removed by the left and right blades  322  and  323 . Consequently, there is no need to apply any additional force to the recording medium  74  by the left blade  322  or the right blade  323 . It is further possible to easily remove the recording material  107  from the recording medium  74  without damaging or scratching the recording medium  74 .  
      In the recording material removing device  301 , furthermore, the recording medium  74  is not fixed for feeding and only the recording medium  74  is allowed to reciprocate, thereby removing the recording material  107  from the entire surface of the recording medium  74 . Accordingly, it is possible to extremely easily remove the recording material  107  from the entire surface of the recording medium  74  including the fixed portion, the front edge A, and the back edge B of the recording medium  74  from which the recording material could not be removed so far.  
      In the recording material removing device  301 , squeezing of the recording medium  74  and removal of the recording material  107  are performed by the squeezing member  318  of which the arc-shaped end  370  has a radius of 0.25 recording material to 0.75 recording material. It is therefore possible to provide the recording material removing device  301  capable of preventing damages or scratches to the recording medium  74  which would be caused by an excessively sharp end of the squeezing member  318  or preventing unsatisfactory squeezing and unremoved recording material  107  which would be caused by an excessively round end of the squeezing member  318 .  
      In the recording material removing device  301  for the recording medium, squeezing of the recording medium  74  and removal of the recording material  107  are performed under control of the two left and right control rollers  320  and  321  which interpose the recording medium  74  therebetween so as to bring the recording medium  74  into contact with the arc-shaped end  370  of the squeezing member  318 . Consequently, it is possible to reduce frictional resistance caused by drawing of the recording medium  74 .  
     Fourth Embodiment  
      In a fourth embodiment, a method of removing the recording material  107  having thermally been fixed on the separation layers of both surfaces of the recording medium  74  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 31 .  FIG. 31  is an explanatory view showing the method of removing the recording material thermally fixed on the separation layers of both surfaces of the recording medium. Removal of the recording material  107  is simultaneously performed from an upper and lower surfaces of the recording medium  74  which will be mentioned below, so that the recording material  107  thermally fixed on the separation layers of both surfaces of the recording medium  74  can be removed by one reciprocal motion of the recording medium  74 . The recording medium  74 , which is not fixed to any structure, is moved itself in response to respective operations of the first and second recording medium feeding parts  305  and  306 .  
      The method of removing the recording material  107  thermally fixed on the separation layers on the upper surface of the recording medium  74  will be explained first. The recording medium  74  is drawn under control of the left and right control rollers  320  and  321  which bring the upper surface of the recording medium  74  into contact with the arc-shaped end  370  of the squeezing member  318 . By squeezing under control of the left and right control rollers  320  and  321  which bring the recording medium  74  into contact with the arc-shaped end  370  of the squeezing member  318 , the adhesive force between the recording material  107  and the separation layer is reduced. In this state, when the recording medium  74  is drawn so as to be squeezed by the squeezing member  318 , the recording material  107  can easily be removed from the recording medium  74 . Since the recording material  107  is removed from recording medium  74  by drawing the recording medium  74  rightwards in the figure, the recording material  107  can be removed without remaining on the back edge B of the recording medium  74 . Further, when the recording material  107  is removed from the recording medium  74  by drawing the recording medium  74  leftwards in the figure, the recording material  107  can be removed without remaining on the front edge of the recording medium  74 .  
      The method of removing the recording material  107  thermally fixed on the separation layer of the lower surface of the recording medium  74  will be explained below. The recording medium  74  is drawn under control of the left and right control rollers  320  and  321  which bring the upper surface of the recording medium  74  into contact with the arc-shaped end  370  of the squeezing member  318 . By squeezing under control of the left and right control rollers  320  and  321  which bring the recording medium  74  into contact with the arc-shaped end  370  of the squeezing member  318 , the adhesive force between the recording material  107  and the separation layer is reduced. In this state, when the right blade  323  placed before the right control roller  321  comes in contact with the recording medium  74  so as to wipe the recording material  107 , the recording material  107  can easily be removed from the recording medium  74 . Since the recording material  107  is removed from the recording medium  74  by the right blade  323  while the recording medium  74  is drawn rightwards in the figure, the recording material  107  can be removed from the recording medium  74  without remaining on the back edge B thereof. Further, when the recording material  107  is removed from the recording medium  74  by the left blade  322  while the recording medium  74  is drawn leftwards in the figure, the recording material  107  can be removed from the recording material  107  without remaining on the front edge thereof.  
      As explained above, in the recording material removing device  301  for the recording medium, the recording medium  74  having the separation layers on both surfaces on which the recording material  107  has thermally been fixed is not fixed for feeding and is allowed to reciprocate, thereby removing the recording material  107  from both surfaces of the recording medium  74  at the same time. Accordingly, the recording material  107  can be removed from both surfaces of the recording medium  74  by one reciprocal motion. Furthermore, it is possible to extremely easily remove the recording material  107  from both entire surfaces of the recording medium  74  including the fixed portion, the front edge A, the back edge B of the recording medium  74  from which the recording material could not be removed so far.  
      The present invention is not limited to the first to fourth embodiments and may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof For instance, in the above first and second embodiments, metal such as  301  stainless steel is used for the first separating member  2  and the second separating member  202 , but polyimide resin and polycarbonate resin may be used.  
      Further, in the above second embodiment, two heaters, the heater  20  and the heater  220 , are used, but only either one may be used.  
      In the above second embodiment, individual drive motors are used for explanation of operations, but some of them may be shared. For example, the first drive motor  15  and the fourth drive motor  215 , the third drive motor  61  and the sixth drive motor  261 , and others are shared.  
      In the above first and second embodiments, furthermore, metal is used for the first blade  47  and the second blade  247 , but resin such as polycarbonate resin or the like may be used.  
      In the above first embodiment, the first rotating projection  56  is periodically brought into contact with the first projection  58  to reciprocate the first blade  47 . Alternatively, a link mechanism (crank mechanism) may be used. This can also be applied to the first blade  47  and the second blade  247  in the second embodiment.  
      In the above first embodiment, the drive motors are used individually, but some of them may be shared. For example, the second drive motor  55  and the third drive motor  61  may be shared. This can also be applied to the fifth drive motor  255  and the sixth drive motor  261  in the second embodiment.  
      In the third and fourth embodiments, the optical sensor of a transmitting type is used as the paper sensor, but it is not limited thereto. For example, an optical sensor of a reflecting type in which the light emitting devices  368  and the photoreceptor devices  369  are arranged in parallel as shown in  FIG. 32  to detect the light reflected from the recording medium  74  may be used.  FIG. 32  is an explanatory view showing the example of the paper sensor using light. Alternatively, a mechanical switch sensor shown in  FIG. 33  in which the recording medium  74  pushes a pressing piece  372  of a mechanical switch  371  to thereby turn the switch ON/OFF may be used.  FIG. 33  is an explanatory view of the example of the paper sensor using the mechanical switch.  
      Moreover, in the above third and fourth embodiments, some of the drive motors may be shared. For example, the second drive motor  331  and the fourth drive motor  346  may be shared when the function of one of them is made unused.  
      In the above third and fourth embodiments, in the first recording medium feeding part  305  of  FIG. 15 , the rotation of the second drive motor  331  is transmitted to the first drive roller  329  through the first pulley  332 , the second pulley  333 , and the first drive belt  334 . The rotation however may be transmitted through gears. Similarly, in the second recording medium feeding part  306  of  FIG. 15 , the rotation of the fourth drive motor  346  is transmitted to the second drive roller  344  through the third pulley  347 , the fourth pulley  348 , and the second drive belt  349 . The rotation however may be transmitted through gears.  
      In the above third and fourth embodiments, further, the left blade  322  and the right blade  323  shown in  FIG. 29  may be configured to have elasticity so that the left blade  322  and the right blade  323  come in closer contact with the recording medium  74 .  
      In the above third and fourth embodiments, the squeezing member  318  shown in  FIG. 29  may be formed in inverted triangular shape and with an arc-shaped end having a radius of 0.25 to 0.75 mm recording material at the apex of the triangle. Further, a pressure sensor may be attached to the left blade  322  and the right blade  323  to control the first drive motor  327  according to a detection signal representative of the pressure which the blades receive from the recording medium  74  so that the pressure becomes optimum for removing the recording material  107 .  
      In the above third and fourth embodiments, in the state shown in  FIG. 25 , the first paper sensor  308  stops the detection of the back edge B of the recording medium  74  whereas the third paper sensor  314  detects the front edge B of the recording medium  74 , and returning to the step of  FIG. 18 , the step of  FIG. 18  and subsequent steps are repeated, thereby causing the recording medium  74  to reciprocate by the desired number of times to remove the recording material  107 .