Gloss-imparting device and color image-forming apparatus

Abstract

A gloss-imparting device for imparting a gloss on a color image, the gloss-imparting device has a transparent toner image-carrying body, a transparent toner image-forming unit, a heating/pressurizing unit, and a cooling/releasing unit. The transparent toner image-carrying body carries a transparent toner image formed of a transparent toner thereon. The transparent toner image-forming unit forms the transparent toner image on the transparent toner image-carrying body. The heating/pressurizing unit heats and pressurizes the transparent toner image and the base material to bring them into contact. The cooling/releasing unit cools the transparent toner image and releases the base material from the transparent toner image-carrying body. The transparent toner image is transferred and fixed onto the base material by the heating/pressurizing unit.

1. A color image forming apparatus for forming a color image with a gloss, the color image forming apparatus comprising:
 a color toner image forming unit that forms a color toner image on a base material;  
 a transparent toner image forming unit that forms a transparent toner image on the color image on the base material;  
 a heating/pressurizing unit that heats and pressurizes the transparent toner image, the color toner image and the base material; and  
 a cooling unit that cools at least the transparent toner image heated and pressurized by the heating/pressurizing material.  
 
     
     
       2. A color image forming apparatus comprising:
   a color toner image forming device comprising a photoreceptor and a developing unit that forms a color toner image on the photoreceptor, the color toner image being placed on a recording medium;        a transparent toner image forming device comprising a photoreceptor and a developing unit that forms a transparent toner image on the photoreceptor, the transparent toner image being placed on the color toner image on the recording medium;        a fuser comprising a fixing rotatable body and a pressure rotatable body, at least the fixing rotatable body is provided with a heater; and        a cooler located downstream of a nip between the fixing rotatable body and the pressure rotatable body of the fuser in a processing direction of the image formation, the cooler cooling the transparent toner image, color toner image and the recording medium that have been heated and pressurized by the fuser.     
     
     
       3. A color image forming apparatus comprising:
   a color toner image forming device comprising a photoreceptor and a developing unit that forms a color toner image on the photoreceptor, the color toner image being placed on a recording medium;        a transparent toner image forming device comprising a photoreceptor and a developing unit that forms a transparent toner image on the photoreceptor, the transparent toner image being placed on the color toner image on the recording medium;        a fuser comprising a fixing roller and a pressure roller, at least the fixing roller is provided with a heater; and        a cooler located downstream of a nip between the fixing roller and the pressure roller of the fuser in a processing direction of the image formation, the cooler cooling the transparent toner image, color toner image and the recording medium that have been heated and pressurized by the fuser.     
     
     
       4. A color image forming apparatus comprising:
   a color toner image forming device comprising a photoreceptor, a developing unit and an intermediate transfer member, the developing unit forming a color toner image on the photoreceptor, the color toner image being transferred to the intermediate transfer member and further being transferred onto a recording medium;        a transparent toner image forming device comprising a photoreceptor, a developing unit and an intermediate transfer member, the developing unit forming a transparent toner image on the photoreceptor, the transparent toner image being transferred to the intermediate transfer member and further being transferred onto the color toner image on the recording medium;        a fuser comprising a fixing rotatable body and a pressure rotatable body, at least the fixing rotatable body is provided with a heater; and        a cooler located downstream of a nip between the fixing rotatable body and the pressure rotatable body of the fuser in a processing direction of the image formation, the cooler cooling the transparent toner image, color toner image and the recording medium that have been heated and pressurized by the fuser.     
     
     
       5. A color image forming apparatus comprising:
   a color toner image forming device comprising a photoreceptor, a developing unit and an intermediate transfer member, the developing unit forming a color toner image on the photoreceptor, the color toner image being transferred to the intermediate transfer member and further being transferred onto a recording medium;        a transparent toner image forming device comprising a photoreceptor, a developing unit and an intermediate transfer member, the developing unit forming a transparent toner image on the photoreceptor, the transparent toner image being transferred to the intermediate transfer member and further being transferred onto the color toner image on the recording medium;        a fuser comprising a fixing roller and a pressure roller, at least the fixing roller is provided with a heater; and        a cooler located downstream of a nip between the fixing roller and the pressure roller of the fuser in a processing direction of the image formation, the cooler cooling the transparent toner image, color toner image and the recording medium that have been heated and pressurized by the fuser.