Patent Document

This application is based on application No. H10-253724 filed in Japan on Sep. 8, 1998, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a print material removing apparatus, particularly to a print material removing apparatus utilizing a liquid. 
     Conventionally, from the point of view of sheet recycling, there have been proposed a variety of apparatuses for removing the print material on a sheet as a recording member, on which characters or images are recorded by an electrophotographic apparatus, by impregnating the sheet with a liquid to reuse the sheet. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2-111987 discloses an apparatus in which an OHP sheet printed by an electrophotographic copying machine is immersed into a treating bath filled with organic solvent to swell the toner as a print material which is then removed from the OHP sheet by a brush roller. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 7-140554 discloses an apparatus in which a sheet having a water-swelling surface layer is immersed into a treating bath filled with water to swell the surface layer and then the print material is removed by a brush roller. 
     In such print material removing apparatus utilizing a liquid, the liquid is brought out by adhering to the sheet and vaporizes from the treating bath. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically replenish the treating bath with the liquid. Since the liquid becomes foul or deteriorated, it is also necessary to timely drain the liquid from the treating bath. Thus, the apparatus has been desired to easily conduct replenishment and drainage of the liquid. Furthermore, in such apparatus, when a sheet jam is caused in the liquid, not only handling for taking the sheet out of the liquid is difficult, but also user&#39;s hands are fouled with the liquid, making the user uncomfortable. Thus, there has been a disadvantage that jam treatment or maintenance such as cleaning of the treating bath can not be easily conducted. 
     Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2-111987 discloses an apparatus provided with a trap channel on the bottom of a treating bath filled with organic solvent and with a waste chamber via a gate valve under the trap channel. The apparatus is possible to drain the sediment in the trap channel of the treating bath into the waste chamber by opening the gate valve. However, the waste chamber of the apparatus described in the above publication is provided only for draining the sediment and never used at jam treatment. The waste chamber has not a construction that the liquid drained in the waste chamber can be transferred to the treating bath. Therefore, even if the liquid in the treating bath is discharged into the waste chamber via the gate valve at the occurrence of jam, the liquid can not be reused. This means that the apparatus can not be immediately restored to an operable condition. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel useful print material removing apparatus having a superior maintenance-ability. 
     It is an another object of the present invention to provide a print material removing apparatus having a simple construction capable of easily conducting a maintenance such as replenishment and exchange of liquid, jam treatment, cleaning or the like and also capable of being shortly recovered from such maintenance conditions. 
     In order to solve the aforementioned problems, the present invention provides a print material removing apparatus for removing a print material from a printed record medium, the apparatus comprising: 
     a treating bath filled with a treating liquid, the treating bath removing the print material from the printed record medium immersed into the treating liquid; 
     a feed path for feeding the treating liquid to the treating bath; 
     a discharge path for discharging the treating liquid from the treating bath; 
     a feed cartridge to be detachably connected to the feed path; and 
     a discharge cartridge to be detachably connected to the discharge path. 
     In the print material removing apparatus according to the present invention having above construction, the feed cartridge and the discharge cartridge are to be detachably connected to the feed path and discharge path respectively. Thus, the replenishment of the treating liquid to the treating bath can be easily conducted only by filling the feed cartridge with the treating liquid outside the apparatus and then connecting the feed cartridge to the feed path. Further, the treating liquid in the treating bath can be discharged into the discharge cartridge and then the discharge cartridge is easily disconnected from the discharge path to dispose of the treating liquid. For example, in the case that jam of the recording medium occurs, user can remove the recording medium without touching the treating liquid in the treating bath by discharging the treating liquid in the treating bath into the discharge cartridge via the discharge path. After completion of jam treatment, the treatment liquid can be fed into the treating bath via the feed path, enabling to immediately operate the print material removing apparatus again. 
     Thus, with the simple construction, maintenance such as replenishment and exchange of the treating liquid, jam treatment and cleaning can be easily conducted. Further, recovery from these treatment can be accomplished at a short time, producing superior maintenance ability. 
     Preferably, the feed cartridge and the discharge cartridge may be interchangeable with each other. Thus, the discharge cartridge into which the treating liquid in the treating bath is discharged can be used as a feed cartridge as it is, enhancing user-friendliness. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description taken in conjunction with the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a print material removing apparatus according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of a cartridge and a cartridge guide of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III—III in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a plane view showing a removing and mounting operation of the cartridge with respect to the cartridge guide; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a positional relation of a feed port and a discharge port of the cartridge; and 
     FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view showing an another embodiment of a cartridge and a cartridge guide. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 shows a print material removing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus comprises a treating bath  3  opened upwardly. The treating bath  3  is filled with a liquid  2  for removing the print material on a sheet  1  as a recording member. On the left side of the treating bath  3  in FIG. 1 is provided a sheet feed roller  4 , while on the right side is provided a drying roller  5 . At the downstream side of the sheet feed roller  4  is disposed a first shower unit  6  for showering the both surfaces of the sheet  1  with the liquid  2  to removing the print material on the sheet  1 . At the upstream side of the drying roller  5  is disposed a second shower unit  7  for washing down the print material remaining on the sheet  1 . 
     As the liquid for removing the print material, in the case of removing the print material by dissolving or swelling the print material, organic solvent having a property of dissolving or swelling the print material or such organic solvent with additive such as surface-active agent can be used. In the case of removing the print material by swelling the surface of the sheet, liquid such as water or aqueous solvent having a property of swelling the surface of the sheet, or such liquid with additive such as surface-active agent can be used. 
     Inside the treating bath  3  are disposed first and second sheet conveying rollers  8  and  9  between which a scraping roller  10  is disposed. Between the sheet feed roller  4  and the first sheet conveying roller  8 , between the first sheet conveying roller  8  and the scraping roller  10 , between the scraping roller  10  and the second sheet conveying roller  9 , and between the second sheet conveying roller  9  and the drying roller  5 , there are disposed sheet guides  11 ,  12 ,  13  and  14  for guiding the both side of the sheet  1 . 
     Outside the treating bath  3  is arranged a liquid circulation line  16  which starts from the bottom of the treating bath  3  via a pump  15 , leads to the first shower unit  6  and the second shower unit  7 , and returns to the treating bath  3  from the first and second shower units  6 ,  7 . 
     Above the treating bath  3  is disposed a feed cartridge guide  17  having a configuration of rectangular plate for guiding and mounting a feed cartridge  31  which will be described hereinafter. As shown in FIG. 2, the feed cartridge guide  17  is formed with a mounting hole  18 . On the under surface of the feed cartridge guide  17 , a cross bar  19  is fixed so that the cross bar  19  crosses the mounting hole  18 . The cross bar  19  is provided with two projections  20  projecting upwardly into the mounting hole  18 . From the mounting hole  18  of the feed cartridge guide  17  is arranged a liquid feed line  22  to the top of the treating bath  3  via a gate valve  21 . The gate valve  21  is arranged to close when a liquid level sensor  23  detects a predetermined liquid level. The gate valve  21  has a lock mechanism for holding the valve in a closing state if necessary, for example, in the case of jam treatment. There is arranged a circulation hose  26  which starts from the bottom of the treating bath  3  via a cock  24  and a pump  25  with built-in filter, and leads to a feed port  34  of a feed cartridge  31  which will be described hereinafter. The cock may be opened at predetermined time interval when no maintenance work such as jam treatment is conducted. 
     Under the treating bath  3  is disposed a discharge cartridge guide  27  having a configuration of rectangular plate for guiding and mounting a discharge cartridge  32  which will be described hereinafter. The discharge cartridge guide  27  is formed with a mounting hole  28  in the same manner as the feed cartridge guide  17 . In the discharge cartridge guide  27 , no provisions such as the cross bar  19 , its projections  20  and the liquid feed line  22  in the aforementioned mounting hole  18  of the feed cartridge quid  17  are provided. There is arranged a discharge circulation hose  30  which starts from the bottom of the treating bath  3  via a cock  29 , and leads to a discharge port  34  of a discharge cartridge  32 . 
     The feed cartridge  31  and the discharge cartridge  32  to be mounted on the feed cartridge guide  17  and the discharge cartridge guide  27  respectively will be explained below on the assumption that both are same. 
     The two cartridges  31 ,  32  are rectangular vessels respectively. On the top surface of each cartridges  31 ,  32  is formed with a circular feed port  34  closable with a cap  33 . On the bottom surface of each cartridges  31 ,  32  is formed with a discharge port  36  comprising two openings  35 ,  35 . The discharge port  36  is also closable with a cap  33 . Inside the discharge port  36  is rotatably attached a bow-like slide valve  38  around an axis  37  as shown in FIG. 3 so that the two openings  35  are opened and closed by the rotation of the slide valve  38 . 
     Operation of the print material removing apparatus having above construction will be described hereinafter. 
     The printed sheet  1  is fed in a direction of arrow in FIG. 1 by the sheet feed roller  4  and showered with the liquid by the first shower unit  6 . Then the sheet  1  passes through the sheet guide  11  and is immersed in the liquid  2  in the treating bath  3 . Thus, in the case that the liquid for dissolving or swelling the print material is used, the liquid penetrates into the print material on the sheet to dissolve or swell the print material. In the case that the sheet having a water-swelling surface layer is used, an aqueous solvent penetrates into the surface layer of the sheet to swell the sheet surface layer. As a result, adhesiveness between the print material and the sheet surface are weakened, leading to a condition that the print material is easily removed from the sheet surface. It is also possible to extend the penetration time of the sheet  1  into the liquid  2  in the treating bath  3  by temporarily stopping conveying the sheet  1  in order to enhance the penetration of the liquid. 
     Consequently, the sheet  1  is conveyed to the scraping roller  10  through the first sheet conveying roller  8  and the sheet guide  12 , where the print material on the sheet  1  is scraped. Then, the sheet  1  emerges from the liquid  2  through the sheet guide  13 , the second sheet conveying roller  9  and the sheet guide  14 . After the print material remaining on the sheet  1  is washed down by the second shower unit  7 , the sheet  1  is dried by the drying roller  5  and discharged outside of the apparatus. As a result, the sheet  1  becomes reusable. 
     When occurrence of sheet jam is detected by a jam sensor S during the removing operation of the print material, the gate valve  21  is locked to keep closed. Then, the cock  29  at the bottom of the treating bath  3  is opened to transfer the liquid  2  in the treating bath  3  to the discharge cartridge  32  via the discharge hose  30 . In this case, prior to opening the cock  29 , the discharge cartridge  32  has been mounted beforehand on the discharge cartridge guide  27  by engaging the discharge port  36  closed by the cap  33  with the mounting hole  28  of the discharge cartridge guide  27 , while the discharge hose  30  has been inserted into the feed port  34  opened by taking off the cap  33 . 
     The liquid  2  in the treating bath  3  is not necessarily transferred thoroughly but may be transferred to an extent that the liquid level becomes slightly lower than the conveying path of the sheet  1  so that the jam treatment can be easily conducted. If the liquid  2  is deteriorated, the discharge cartridge  32  would be recovered to dispose of the liquid  2  as a waste liquid. If the liquid  2  is reusable, the discharge cartridge  32  would be interchanged with the feed cartridge  31  mounted on the feed cartridge guide  17 . 
     In order to dismount the feed cartridge  31  from the feed cartridge guide  17 , as shown in FIG. 4, the feed cartridge  31  is slid in a direction of arrow “a” from a state shown in two-dots chain line and rotated by a predetermined angle around the discharge port  36 . Then, the slide valve  38  is pushed by the projections  20  of the mounting hole  18  to relatively rotate, whereby the discharge port  36  is closed. Consequently, upon lifting up the feed cartridge  31 , the feed cartridge  31  can be dismounted from the feed cartridge guide  17  without spilling the liquid. 
     Subsequently, in order to mount the discharge cartridge  32  on the feed cartridge guide  17 , as shown in FIG. 4, the discharge cartridge  32  is put on the feed cartridge guide  17  in a rotating state with respect to the feed cartridge guide  17  in a predetermined angle so that the discharge port  36  of the discharge cartridge  32  can be fit in the mounting hole  18  of the feed cartridge guide  17 . Then, the discharge cartridge  31  is slid in a direction of arrow “b” from a state shown in solid line and rotated by a predetermined angle around the discharge port  36 . Then, the slide valve  38  is pushed by the projections  20  of the mounting hole  18  to relatively rotate, whereby the discharge port  36  is opened. Consequently, the feed cartridge  31  can be mounted on the feed cartridge guide  17  without spilling the liquid. 
     After completion of the jam treatment, the switch SW is ON and the gate valve  21  of the feed line  22  is unlocked to open. As a result, the liquid in the discharge cartridge  32  mounted on the discharge cartridge guide  17  flows out of the discharge hole  35  and returns to the treating bath  3  through the feed line  22 . When the liquid  2  in the treating bath  3  becomes to the predetermined liquid level, the liquid level sensor  23  detects this, allowing the gate valve  21  to be closed. Thus, the print material removing apparatus can be operated again. 
     In the case that a serviceman cleans the treating bath  3  in his regular service, the liquid  2  in the treating bath  3  is transferred thoroughly to the discharge cartridge  32 . Thus, he can take the treating bath  3  with no liquid out of the apparatus to clean it. After completion of cleaning, the liquid is fed from the feed cartridge  31  to the treating bath  3 , or the liquid is returned to the treating bath  3  by mounting the discharge cartridge  32  instead of the feed cartridge, whereby the apparatus can be immediately operated again. If the liquid is deteriorated, the liquid is discharged into the discharge cartridge  32  and then fresh liquid is fed from a new feed cartridge  31 . 
     In FIG. 1, the circulation hose  26  is provided so as to constantly keep the liquid clean by circulating the liquid. The print material such as toner and other impure ingredient are removed by the filter build in the pump  25  so as not to enter into the circulation hose  26 . In the case that the liquid is consumed little by little due to takeout by adhering to the sheet or vaporization and becomes short, the liquid can be replenished by dismounting the feed cartridge  31  to fill it with fresh liquid and then mounting it again, or by mounting an another feed cartridge  31  filled with fresh liquid. In order to simplify the construction of the apparatus, it is possible not to provide the circulation hose  26 . In this case, at the time when the feed cartridge  31  becomes empty, the feed cartridge may be exchanged with a new feed cartridge  31  filled with fresh liquid, or the feed cartridge  31  may be dismounted to fill it with fresh liquid and then mounted again. 
     In the aforementioned embodiment, two cartridges  31 ,  32  have the same configuration. However, those may have different configuration from each other if the position of the feed port  34  and the discharge port  36 , i.e., the dimensions “a”, “b”, “c” and “d” from the side surfaces are same. 
     FIG. 6 shows an another embodiment of the present invention, in particular an another embodiment of valve construction of a discharge port  47  of a feed cartridge  41  and a discharge cartridge  42 . 
     In this embodiment, a valve  44  is provided inside the discharge port  47  so that a valve shaft  45  extends to the outside from the inside of the discharge port  47 . The valve  45  is biased downwardly by means of a spring  46  so that the valve  45  can close openings  43  of the discharge port  47  formed on the bottom of the cartridges  41 ,  42 . The discharge port  47  is closable with a cap  48 . On the other hand, on the inner surface of the liquid feed line  22  of the feed cartridge guide  17  is formed a protrusion  49  facing to the valve shaft  45  of the valve  44  via the mounting hole  18 . Thus, when the cartridges  41 ,  42  are mounted on the discharge cartridge guide  17 , the valve shaft  45  of the valve  44  is push up by the projection  49  as shown in two-dots chain line in FIG. 6, causing the openings  43  to be opened. A bias means for biasing the feed cartridge  41  downwardly may be provided above the feed cartridge  41 . 
     In this embodiment, comparing to the embodiment of FIG. 2, the cartridges  41 ,  42  can be easily handled because the cartridges  41 ,  42  are mounted by just putting them on the cartridge guide  17 . 
     Although the present invention has been fully described by way of the examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted here that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, unless such changes and modifications otherwise depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention, they should be construed as being included therein.

Technology Category: 3