Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises a container mounted on a side wall of the image processing apparatus and comprising a bottom extending upwards in the vertical direction at a predetermined angle from the side wall for supporting an end of a sheet and a wall member vertically arranged on the bottom and forming a space with the bottom, and configured to house a sheet in the space through an opening formed on the upper side of the container; and a pickup unit located adjacent to the bottom of the container and having a pickup roller and configured to move the pickup roller to the inside of the container if a pickup operation for conveying the sheet to the inside of the image processing apparatus is executed, and keep the pickup roller at a waiting position outside of the space of the container if the pickup operation is not executed.

Abstract: A sheet binding device includes a sheet shifting unit, a tape cutter, and a tape attachment unit. The sheet shifting unit has a guide and is configured to stack multiple sheets on the guide with edge portions that are shifted from each other to form a sheet bundle. The tape cutter cuts tape with a target length that is varied in accordance with a thickness of the sheet bundle. The tape attachment unit is configured to attach the cut tape having the target length to an edge portion of the sheet bundle.

Abstract: An erasing apparatus of embodiments has a color erasing device, the color erasing device has: a first heating member; a second heating member provided at a position facing the first heating member so as to form a nip portion therebetween through which the sheet is passed; a halogen lamp configured to heat the second heating member from outside thereof; and a reflector provided at a position opposite to the second heating member with the halogen lamp interposed therebetween and having a reflective surface configured to reflect heat received from the halogen lamp toward the second heating member, the reflector forming a guiding section configured to be in sliding contact with the sheet being conveyed so as to guide the sheet to the nip portion, the guiding section being heated by the halogen lamp.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes a detector, a heater, and a controller. The detector detects an image formed on a sheet. The heater applies a predetermined heat amount onto the sheet to carry out erasing processing on the sheet. The controller controls, based on a detection result of the detector, the number of times the erasing processing is to be carried out on the sheet and a heat amount to be applied onto the sheet in the erasing processing.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a sheet processing apparatus comprises a decoloring section, a stacking section, an image forming section, a sheet feed roller and a combined roller. The decoloring section carries out a decoloring processing on a sheet. The sheet subjected to the decoloring processing is discharged to the stacking section. The image forming section carries out an image forming processing on the sheet fed from the stacking section. The sheet feed roller feeds a sheet stacked in the stacking section to a conveyance path through which the sheet is fed to the image forming section. The combined roller aligns the sheets to be discharged to the stacking section at a reference position in a conveyance direction in which the sheets are conveyed to the sheet feed roller, and feeds the sheets stacked in the stacking section to the sheet feed roller along the conveyance direction.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image erasing apparatus includes a sheet supply section, a discharge tray, a first conveying path, a reader, a second conveying path, an erasing unit and a switching section. A controller controls the first conveying path, the reader, the second conveying path, the erasing unit and the switching section depending on a selected mode. When the selected mode is an erasing mode, the sheet is conveyed on the first conveying path without being read by the reader, conveyed on the second conveying path where the image is erased by the erasing unit, and then conveyed to the discharge tray. When the selected mode is a reading mode, the sheet is conveyed on the first conveying path where the surface of the sheet is read by the reader, and then conveyed to the discharge tray without being conveyed on the second conveying path.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a sheet processing apparatus comprises a decoloring section, a stacking section, an image forming section, a sheet feed roller and a combined roller. The decoloring section carries out a decoloring processing on a sheet. The sheet subjected to the decoloring processing is discharged to the stacking section. The image forming section carries out an image forming processing on the sheet fed from the stacking section. The sheet feed roller feeds a sheet stacked in the stacking section to a conveyance path through which the sheet is fed to the image forming section. The combined roller aligns the sheets to be discharged to the stacking section at a reference position in a conveyance direction in which the sheets are conveyed to the sheet feed roller, and feeds the sheets stacked in the stacking section to the sheet feed roller along the conveyance direction.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises a container mounted on a side wall of the image processing apparatus and comprising a bottom extending upwards in the vertical direction at a predetermined angle from the side wall for supporting an end of a sheet and a wall member vertically arranged on the bottom and forming a space with the bottom, and configured to house a sheet in the space through an opening formed on the upper side of the container; and a pickup unit located adjacent to the bottom of the container and having a pickup roller and configured to move the pickup roller to the inside of the container if a pickup operation for conveying the sheet to the inside of the image processing apparatus is executed, and keep the pickup roller at a waiting position outside of the space of the container if the pickup operation is not executed.

Abstract: An image erasing apparatus according to an embodiment includes a sheet supply portion that supplies a sheet and an ejector. A first conveying path conveys the sheet from the sheet supply portion toward the ejector. A reader arranged on the first conveying path reads an image on the sheet. A second conveying path branches from the first conveying path at a downstream of the reader on the first conveying path and merges with the first conveying path at an upstream of the reader on the first conveying path. An erasing unit is arranged on the second conveying path. A conveying path changing portion is arranged at a branching portion. An operating portion receives a setup of the processing to the sheet. A controller changes a conveying path of the sheet in accordance with the setup received by the operating portion before the sheet is supplied from the sheet supply portion.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a first conveying path to form a conveying path from the sheet supply portion toward the ejector, a reader arranged on the first conveying path to read an image on a surface of the sheet, an erasure to erase the image on the sheet formed with image erasable material, a switching portion arranged on the first conveying path at a downstream side of the reader in a sheet conveying direction to switch the sheet conveying direction to a direction of the ejector or a direction of the erasure, and a second conveying path having the erasure which, at a position where the switching portion is arranged, branches from the first conveying path at the downstream side of the reader and merges with the first conveying path at a meeting point between the sheet supply portion and the reader.

Abstract: An image erasing method, according to an embodiment, includes the steps of supplying a sheet from a sheet supply section and conveying the sheet from the sheet supply section on a first conveying path. The method further includes controlling, based on a selected mode, the first conveying path, a reader, a second conveying path, an erasing unit, and a switching section. When the selected mode is an erasing mode, the sheet is conveyed on the first conveying path without being read by the reader, conveyed on the second conveying path where the image is erased by the erasing unit, and then conveyed to a discharge tray. When the selected mode is a reading mode, the sheet is conveyed on the first conveying path where the surface of the sheet is read by the reader, and then conveyed to the discharge tray without being conveyed on the second conveying path.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image erasing apparatus includes a sheet supply section, a discharge tray, a first conveying path, a reader, a second conveying path, an erasing unit and a switching section. A controller controls the first conveying path, the reader, the second conveying path, the erasing unit and the switching section depending on a selected mode. When the selected mode is an erasing mode, the sheet is conveyed on the first conveying path without being read by the reader, conveyed on the second conveying path where the image is erased by the erasing unit, and then conveyed to the discharge tray. When the selected mode is a reading mode, the sheet is conveyed on the first conveying path where the surface of the sheet is read by the reader, and then conveyed to the discharge tray without being conveyed on the second conveying path.

Abstract: An image erasing method, according to an embodiment, includes the steps of supplying a sheet from a sheet supply section and conveying the sheet from the sheet supply section on a first conveying path. The method further includes controlling, based on a selected mode, the first conveying path, a reader, a second conveying path, an erasing unit, and a switching section. When the selected mode is an erasing mode, the sheet is conveyed on the first conveying path without being read by the reader, conveyed on the second conveying path where the image is erased by the erasing unit, and then conveyed to a discharge tray. When the selected mode is a reading mode, the sheet is conveyed on the first conveying path where the surface of the sheet is read by the reader, and then conveyed to the discharge tray without being conveyed on the second conveying path.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a first conveying path to form a conveying path from the sheet supply portion toward the ejector, a reader arranged on the first conveying path to read an image on a surface of the sheet, an erasure to erase the image on the sheet formed with image erasable material, a switching portion arranged on the first conveying path at a downstream side of the reader in a sheet conveying direction to switch the sheet conveying direction to a direction of the ejector or a direction of the erasure, and a second conveying path having the erasure which, at a position where the switching portion is arranged, branches from the first conveying path at the downstream side of the reader and merges with the first conveying path at a meeting point between the sheet supply portion and the reader.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a first conveying path to form a conveying path from the sheet supply portion toward the ejector, a reader arranged on the first conveying path to read an image on a surface of the sheet, an erasure to erase the image on the sheet formed with image erasable material, a switching portion arranged on the first conveying path at a downstream side of the reader in a sheet conveying direction to switch the sheet conveying direction to a direction of the ejector or a direction of the erasure, and a second conveying path having the erasure which, at a position where the switching portion is arranged, branches from the first conveying path at the downstream side of the reader and merges with the first conveying path at a meeting point between the sheet supply portion and the reader.

Abstract: A sheet discharge mechanism according to an embodiment includes a tray with a loading surface on which discharged sheets are loaded. An alignment plate extends from a downstream side of the loading surface in a sheet discharge direction. An alignment roller contacts an uppermost sheet loaded on the loading surface at a predetermined position, and rotates while contacting the uppermost sheet to align the sheets against the alignment plate. A support mechanism elastically supports the tray so that at least a portion of the tray around the predetermined position moves downward in accordance with an increase in weight of sheets loaded on the loading surface. A height adjustment mechanism maintains a minimum height of sheets when the portion of the tray around the predetermined position moves downward by a predetermined distance or more in accordance with the increase in weight of sheets loaded on the loading surface.

Abstract: A shading device includes: a shading member to pass a conveying path for conveying a recoding medium to plural image reading sections and reach the plural image reading sections; and a moving member to move the shading member between the plural image reading sections and a retracted position on the outside of the conveying path.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a first discharging unit and a second discharging unit discharge a sheet. A first conveying path extends from a scanning unit to the first discharging unit. A second conveying path branches off from the first conveying path at a branch point of the first conveying path and extends to the second discharging unit. A conveying member discharges the sheet to the first discharging unit when a discharging destination of the sheet is the first discharging unit, and the conveying member makes part of the sheet project from the first conveying path to the first discharging unit, locates an upstream tip end of the sheet in a sheet conveying direction, at a position downstream in the sheet conveying direction from the branch point, and conveys the sheet to switchback to the second conveying path, when the discharging destination of the sheet is the second discharging unit.

Abstract: A sheet feed apparatus which includes a sheet feed tray in which a plurality of sheets is loaded in piles; a sheet feed roller which is provided at a forward position of the sheet feed tray in a sheet feed direction, and sends the loaded sheets inside thereof; and a lift detection sensor which detects, by using a movable lever, a lift of a sheet bundle which occurs when the sheet bundle, of which a rear or a side in a sheet feed direction is bound, is sent by the sheet feed roller therein, the lift detection sensor being provided at a side position of the sheet bundle in a width direction and at a backward position with respect to the center of the sheet bundle in the sheet feed direction.

Abstract: A sheet discharging device includes a first conveying path that guides a sheet to be conveyed. A second conveying path branches from the first conveying path. A sorting section sorts a sheet being conveyed on the first conveying path into either a downstream side of the branch point or the second conveying path. A first discharge tray is placed at a position downstream of the first conveying path and receives a sheet discharged from the first conveying path at a first sheet loading surface. A second discharge tray is placed at a position downstream of the second conveying path and below the first discharge tray, and receives a sheet discharged from the second conveying path at a second sheet loading surface whose distance to the first sheet loading surface increases toward a downstream side thereof in a sheet discharging direction.