Printer operable in duplex print mode

1. A printer operable in a duplex print mode for printing an image on one side of a sheet-like recording medium and then printing an image on the other side of said sheet-like recording medium, said printer comprising:

at least one print drum;

at least one press roller facing said print drum for pressing the recording medium against said print drum; and

a roller pressed against said press roller by a preselected pressure for removing ink deposited on the surface of said press roller by causing said ink to be transferred to said roller,

wherein said roller comprises an elastic roller having an adhesive surface while said elastic roller comprises rubber and is caused to rotate by said press roller, and

wherein said press roller comprises, when configured to press the other side of the recording medium against said print drum, an elastic body having a fluorine compound layer on a surface thereof, said fluorine compound layer including a film tube closely fitted on the surface of said elastic body.

2. The printer as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said elastic body comprises rubber.

3. The printer as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said elastic body comprises rubber while said fluorine compound layer is formed by coating.

4. The printer as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising cleaning means for removing ink deposited on a surface of said press roller.

5. The printer as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said cleaning means is located between a position for transferring an image to the recording medium and a position for refeeding the recording medium, which carries the image on one side thereof, in a direction of rotation of said press roller.

6. The printer as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said cleaning means comprises:

a roller pressed against said press roller by preselected pressure for wiping off ink deposited on said press roller; and

drive means for causing said roller to rotate at a peripheral speed different from a peripheral speed of said press roller.

7. The printer as claimed in claim 6 , wherein at least a surface of said roller is porous.

8. The printer as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said cleaning means comprises:

coating means for coating a small amount of liquid on the surface of said press roller; and

a blade contacting the surface of said press roller.

9. The printer as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said roller is formed of either one of rubber and metal and has a smooth surface, said printer further comprising a blade configured to scrape off the ink deposited on said smooth surface.

10. In a printer operable in a duplex print mode by forming in a master a first and a second image, which are to be respectively transferred to one side and the other side of a sheet-like recording medium, side by side in a circumferential direction of a print drum, wrapping said master around said print drum, pressing said sheet-like recording medium against said print drum with a press roller to thereby print said first image on said one side, and then pressing said sheet-like recording medium against said print drum with said press roller to thereby print said second image on said other side, said press roller comprises an elastic body having a fluorine compound layer on a surface thereof, said fluorine compound layer including a film tube closely fitted on the surface of said elastic body and further comprising a roller pressed against said press roller by a preselected pressure for removing ink deposited on the surface of said press roller by causing said ink to be transferred to said roller, wherein said roller comprises an elastic roller having an adhesive surface while said elastic roller comprises rubber and is caused to rotate by said press roller.

11. The printer as claimed in claim 10 , wherein said elastic body comprises rubber.

12. The printer as claimed in claim 10 , wherein said elastic body comprises rubber while said fluorine compound layer is formed by coating.

13. The printer as claimed in claim 10 , further comprising cleaning means for removing ink deposited on a surface of said press roller.

14. The printer as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said cleaning means is located between a position for transferring an image to the recording medium and a position for refeeding the recording medium, which carries the image on one side thereof, in a direction of rotation of said press roller.

15. The printer as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said cleaning means comprises:

a roller pressed against said press roller by preselected pressure for wiping off ink deposited on said press roller; and

drive means for causing said roller to rotate at a peripheral speed different from a peripheral speed of said press roller.

16. The printer as claimed in claim 15 , wherein at least a surface of said roller is porous.

17. The printer as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said cleaning means comprises:

coating means for coating a small amount of liquid on the surface of said press roller; and

a blade contacting the surface of said press roller.

18. The printer as claimed in claim 10 , wherein said roller is formed of either one of rubber and metal and has a smooth surface, said printer further comprising a blade configured to scrape off the ink deposited on said smooth surface.

19. A printer operable in a duplex print mode for printing an image on one side of a sheet-like recording medium and then printing an image on the other side of said sheet-like recording medium, said printer comprising:

at least one print drum; and

at least one press roller facing said print drum for pressing the sheet-like pressing member against said print drum;

wherein said press roller comprises, when configured to press the other side of the sheet-like recording medium against said print drum, an elastic body on which a film, formed with fine projections by surface treatment, is coated or adhered, and

wherein said elastic body comprises rubber while said film comprises at least one of fine glass grains and fine ceramic grains.

20. The printer as claimed in claim 19 , wherein said fine glass grains and said fine ceramic grains both are spherical.

21. The printer as claimed in claim 19 , wherein said fine glass grains and said fine ceramic grains both are not spherical.

22. The printer as claimed in claim 19 , further comprising cleaning means for removing ink deposited on a surface of said press roller.

23. The printer as claimed in claim 22 , wherein said cleaning means is located between a position for transferring an image to the recording medium and a position for refeeding the recording medium, which carries the image on one side thereof, in a direction of rotation of said press roller.

24. The printer as claimed in claim 22 , wherein said cleaning means comprises:

a roller pressed against said press roller by preselected pressure for wiping off ink deposited on said press roller; and

drive means for causing said roller to rotate at a peripheral speed different from a peripheral speed of said press roller.

25. The printer as claimed in claim 24 , wherein at least a surface of said roller is porous.

26. The printer as claimed in claim 22 , wherein said cleaning means comprises:

coating means for coating a small amount of liquid on the surface of said press roller; and

a blade contacting the surface of said press roller.

27. The printer as claimed in claim 19 , further comprising a roller pressed against said press roller by preselected pressure for removing ink deposited on the surface of said press roller by causing said ink to be transferred to said roller.

28. The printer as claimed in claim 27 , wherein said roller comprises an elastic roller having an adhesive surface while said elastic roller comprises rubber and is caused to rotate by said press roller.

29. The printer as claimed in claim 19 , wherein said roller is formed of either one of rubber and metal and has a smooth surface, said printer further comprising a blade configured to scrape off the ink deposited on said smooth surface.

30. In a printer operable in a duplex print mode by forming in a master a first and a second image, which are to be respectively transferred to one side and the other side of a sheet-like recording medium, side by side in a circumferential direction of a print drum, wrapping said master around said print drum, pressing said sheet-like recording medium against said print drum with a press roller to thereby print said first image on said one side, and then pressing said sheet-like recording medium against said print drum with said press roller to thereby print said second image on said other side, said press roller comprises an elastic body on which a film, formed with fine projections by surface treatment, is coated or adhered,

wherein said elastic body comprises rubber while said film comprises at least one of fine glass grains and fine ceramic grains.

31. The printer as claimed in claim 30 , wherein said fine glass grains and said fine ceramic grains both are spherical.

32. The printer as claimed in claim 30 , wherein said fine glass grains and said fine ceramic grains both are not spherical.

33. The printer as claimed in claim 30 , further comprising cleaning means for removing ink deposited on a surface of said press roller.

34. The printer as claimed in claim 33 , wherein said cleaning means is located between a position for transferring an image to the recording medium and a position for refeeding the recording medium, carrying the image on one side thereof, in a direction of rotation of said press roller.

35. The printer as claimed in claim 33 , wherein said cleaning means comprises:

a roller pressed against said press roller by preselected pressure for wiping off ink deposited on said press roller; and

drive means for causing said roller to rotate at a peripheral speed different from a, peripheral speed of said press roller.

36. The printer as claimed in claim 35 , wherein at least a surface of said roller is porous.

37. The printer as claimed in claim 33 , wherein said cleaning means comprises:

coating means for coating a small amount of liquid on the surface of said press roller; and

a blade contacting the surface of said press roller.

38. The printer as claimed in claim 30 , further comprising a roller pressed against said press roller by preselected pressure for removing ink deposited on the surface of said press roller by causing said ink to be transferred to said roller.

39. The printer as claimed in claim 38 , wherein said roller comprises an elastic roller having an adhesive surface while said elastic roller comprises rubber and is caused to rotate by said press roller.

40. The printer as claimed in claim 38 , wherein said roller is formed of either one of rubber and metal and has a smooth surface, said printer further comprising a blade configured to scrape off the ink deposited on said smooth surface.

41. A printer operable in a duplex print mode for printing an image on one side of a sheet-like recording medium and then printing an image on the other side of said sheet-like recording medium, said printer comprising:

at least one print drum; and

at least one press roller facing said print drum for pressing the sheet-like recording medium against said print drum;

wherein said press roller comprises, when configured to press the other side of the sheet-like recording medium against said print drum, an elastic body having a surface formed with fine projections, and

wherein said elastic body comprises rubber while said projections are formed by at least one of fine glass grains and fine ceramic grains.

42. The printer as claimed in claim 41 , wherein said fine glass grains and said fine ceramic grains both are spherical.

43. The printer as claimed in claim 41 , wherein said fine glass grains and said fine ceramic grains both are not spherical.

44. The printer as claimed in claim 41 , further comprising cleaning means for removing ink deposited on a surface of said press roller.

45. The printer as claimed in claim 44 , wherein said cleaning means is located between a position for transferring an image to the recording medium and a position for refeeding the recording medium, which carries the image on one side thereof, in a direction of rotation of said press roller.

46. The printer as claimed in claim 44 , wherein said cleaning means comprises:

a roller pressed against said press roller by preselected pressure for wiping off ink deposited on said press roller; and

drive means for causing said roller to rotate at a peripheral speed different from a peripheral speed of said press roller.

47. The printer as claimed in claim 44 , wherein at least a surface of said roller is porous.

48. The printer as claimed in claim 44 , wherein said cleaning means comprises:

coating means for coating a small amount of liquid on the surface of said press roller; and

a blade contacting the surface of said press roller.

49. The printer as claimed in claim 41 , further comprising a roller pressed against said press roller by preselected pressure for removing ink deposited on the surface of said press roller by causing said ink to be transferred to said roller.

50. The printer as claimed in claim 49 , wherein said roller comprises an elastic roller having an adhesive surface while said elastic roller comprises rubber and is caused to rotate by said press roller.

51. The printer as claimed in claim 49 , wherein said roller is formed of either one of rubber and metal and has a smooth surface, said printer further comprising a blade configured to scrape off the ink deposited on said smooth surface.

52. A printer operable in a duplex print mode for printing an image on one side of a sheet-like recording medium and then printing, within 3 seconds, an image on the other side of said sheet-like recording medium, said printer comprising:

at least one print drum; and

at least one press roller facing said print drum for pressing the sheet-like recording medium against said print drum,

wherein said press roller comprises, when configured to press the other side of the sheet-like recording medium against said print drum, a surface formed with a number of projections, each having a peak provided with a radius of 0.04 mm or below, at a mean pitch of 0.4 mm or below, and

wherein said projections are formed on an elongate sheet member having a preselected width and spirally wrapped around the surface of said press roller.

53. The printer as claimed in claim 52 , wherein said projections are formed of synthetic resin and provided with a conical or polygonal pyramidal shape whose peak angle is 100° or below each.

54. The printer as claimed in claim 52 , further comprising cleaning means for removing ink deposited on the surface of said press roller.

55. The printer as claimed in claim 54 , wherein said cleaning means comprises a porous cleaning roller caused to rotate at a lower peripheral speed than said press roller during printing.

56. The printer as claimed in claim 55 , wherein said cleaning roller is pressed against said pressure roller by a biasing force of 3N or below.

57. In a printer operable in a duplex print mode by forming in a master a first and a second image, which are to be respectively transferred to one side and the other side of a sheet-like recording medium, side by side in a circumferential direction of a print drum, wrapping said master around said print drum, pressing said sheet-like recording medium against said print drum with a press roller to thereby print said first image on said one side, and then pressing, within 3 seconds, said sheet-like recording medium against said print drum with said press roller to thereby print said second image on said other side, said press roller comprises a surface formed with a number of projections, each having a peak provided with a radius of 0.04 mm or below, at a mean pitch of 0.4 or below, and

wherein said projections are formed on an elongate sheet member having a preselected width and spirally wrapped around the surface of said press roller.

58. The printer as claimed in claim 57 , wherein said projections are formed of synthetic resin and provided with a conical or polygonal pyramidal shape whose peak angle is 100° or below each.

59. The printer as claimed in claim 57 , further comprising cleaning means for removing ink deposited on the surface of said press roller.

60. The printer as claimed in claim 59 , wherein said cleaning means comprises a porous cleaning roller caused to rotate at a lower peripheral speed than said press roller during printing.

61. The printer as claimed in claim 60 , wherein said cleaning roller is pressed against said pressure roller by a biasing force of 3N or below.

62. A printer operable in a duplex print mode for printing an image on one side of a sheet-like recording medium and then printing, within 3 seconds, an image on the other side of said sheet-like recording medium, said printer comprising:

at least one print drum; and

at least one press roller facing said print drum for pressing the sheet-like recording medium against said print drum;

wherein said press roller comprises, when configured to press the other side of the sheet-like recording medium against said print drum, a surface including a stepped portion formed by a number of spherical bodies, each having a radius of 0.1 mm or below, arranged with a maximum difference in height of 0.03 mm or above and a mean pitch of 0.15 mm or above between nearby highest peaks.

63. The printer as claimed in claim 62 , wherein said projections are formed of synthetic resin and provided with a conical or polygonal pyramidal shape whose peak angle is 100° or below each.

64. The printer as claimed in claim 63 , wherein said projections are formed on an elongate sheet member having a preselected width and spirally wrapped around the surface of said press roller.

65. The printer as claimed in claim 62 , further comprising cleaning means for removing ink deposited on the surface of said press roller.

66. The printer as claimed in claim 65 , wherein said cleaning means comprises a porous cleaning roller caused to rotate at a lower peripheral speed than said press roller during printing.

67. The printer as claimed in claim 66 , wherein said cleaning roller is pressed against said pressure roller by a biasing force of 3N or below.

68. In a printer operable in a duplex print mode by forming in a master a first and a second image, which are to be respectively transferred to one side and the other side of a sheet-like recording medium, side by side in a circumferential direction of a print drum, wrapping said master around said print drum, pressing said sheet-like recording medium against said print drum with a press roller to thereby print said first image on said one side, and then pressing, within 3 seconds, said sheet-like pressing member against said print drum with said press roller to thereby print said second image on said other side, said press roller comprises a surface including a stepped portion formed by a number of spherical bodies, each having a radius of 0.1 mm or below, arranged with a maximum difference in height of 0.03 mm or above and a mean pitch of 0.15 mm or above between nearby highest peaks.

69. The printer as claimed in claim 68 , wherein said projections are formed of synthetic resin and provided with a conical or polygonal pyramidal shape whose peak angle is 100° or below each.

70. The printer as claimed in claim 69 , wherein said projections are formed on an elongate sheet member having a preselected width and spirally wrapped around the surface of said press roller.

71. The printer as claimed in claim 68 , further comprising cleaning means for removing ink deposited on the surface of said press roller.

72. The printer as claimed in claim 71 , wherein said cleaning means comprises a porous cleaning roller caused to rotate at a lower peripheral speed than said press roller during printing.

73. The printer as claimed in claim 72 , wherein said cleaning roller is pressed against said pressure roller by a biasing force of 3N or below.