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.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, the marking apparatus comprises a marking section configured to print, with a color erasable material, a mark in the margin area of a sheet and a marking control section configured to overprint, using the marking section, a mark at a specific position of the sheet every time an image is formed in the image printing area of the sheet with a color erasable material.

Abstract: A color erasing apparatus according to an embodiment comprises a paper feeding section configured to supply to a conveying path a paper on which images are formed by a heat-erasable coloring material, a sensor configured to output a sensor signal indicative of a thickness of the paper, and a paper thickness detector configured to determine the thickness of the paper based on the sensor signal. The color erasing apparatus further comprises a color erasing section including a heat source configured to heat the paper; and a heat source temperature controller configured to control the heat source in the color erasing section to a predetermined temperature based on the determined thickness of the paper.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a reading unit configured to read a mark formed on a sheet an erasing unit configured to erase an image formed on the sheet, and a control unit configured to determine the number of times an image on the sheet have been erased based on the mark, and cause a first sheet to be separated from a second sheet if an image on the first sheet has been erased a predetermined number of times and an image on the second sheet has been erased less than the predetermined number of times.

Abstract: A decoloring system has a scanner that reads an image on a paper sheet and generates image data; a first roller that applies heat on the paper sheet to decolor the image on the paper sheet; a heater that heats the roller; a first transporting mechanism that transports the paper sheet to the scanner; a second transporting mechanism that transports the paper sheet via the first transporting mechanism to the heater; and a controller that determines the operating condition of the heater and the transporting speed of the paper sheet on the basis of a specific code or a printing set-up printed on the paper sheet.

Abstract: When the presence or absence of a malfunction is respectively determined in a decoloring section or a separation device, and it is determined that either the decoloring section or the separation device is malfunctioning, only the other is executable.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a medium includes an image forming material erasable by heat, a storage medium having stored therein information concerning temperature for heating the image forming material, and a controller configured to control an image forming operation on the basis of the information concerning the temperature stored in the storage medium. The information concerning the temperature includes forming temperature, which is temperature for heating the image forming material during image formation, and erasing temperature, which is temperature for heating the image forming material during image erasing.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an erasing apparatus comprises a conveying unit that transports a sheet on which a color is developed by a developing material and a decoloring unit that comprises a heating unit that heats up the sheet to decolor the color. The heating unit has a variable heat quantity output to enable rapid warm up of the apparatus, but reduce energy waste during decoloring.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a reading section configured to read an original; an information acquisition section configured to acquire color erasing times mark information specifying how to print a color erasing times mark, which is printed when a sheet on which an image is formed with a color-erasable image forming material is subjected to a color erasing processing to represent the times of color erasing processing, on a sheet; a color erasing times mark detection section configured to detect a color erasing times mark contained in the image data based on the color erasing times mark information acquired by the information acquisition section; and an image processing section configured to generate image data from which the detected color erasing times mark is eliminated.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a feed section configured to feed a medium; an image forming section configured to form an image on the surface of the medium with a thermally erasable recording material or a recording material which is not thermally erasable; a heating section configured to heat the medium; a control section configured to conduct a control in a color erasing mode. The image forming apparatus also comprises a color erasing counter configured to count up, according to the size of the medium, the number of the mediums the color of which is thermally erased in the color erasing mode; and a print counter configured to count up, according to the size of the medium, the number of the mediums on which an image is fixed in the image formation mode.

Abstract: A decoloring system has a scanner that reads an image on a paper sheet and generates image data; a first roller that applies heat on the paper sheet to decolor the image on the paper sheet; a heater that heats the roller; a first transporting mechanism that transports the paper sheet having the image to the scanner; a second transporting mechanism that transports the paper sheet via the first transporting mechanism to the heater; an operation panel that receives a read condition of the image as input by a user; and a controller that determines an operating condition of the heater, and a transporting speed of the paper sheet by the first transporting mechanism and the second transporting mechanism on the basis of the image read condition input by the user through the operation panel.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cartridge includes an ink ribbon onto which decolorizable ink is applied, a transfer unit configured to thermally transfer the decolorizable ink on the ink ribbon to a recording medium such that an image is formed on the recording medium as the ink ribbon is conveyed, and a heating unit configured to heat a portion of the ink ribbon that has passed the transfer unit when the image was formed on the recording medium, at a temperature at which the decolorizable ink is decolorized.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image erasing apparatus that erases an image printed on a sheet is provided. When it is determined that a sheet after an erasing process of the image is not reusable, the image erasing apparatus accommodates the sheet in a reject tray in a state where a face with a small information amount of the erased image is directed in a state direction. When it is determined that the sheet after the erasing process of the image is not reusable, the image erasing apparatus accommodates the sheet in a reuse tray in a state where a face with a large information amount of the erased image is directed in the state direction.

Abstract: A device for erasing an image on a sheet includes a reading unit that reads an image formed on a sheet. An erasing unit erases the image formed on the sheet by heating the sheet after the sheet has passed through the reading unit. A conveyance path conveys the sheet from the erasing unit back to the reading unit. The conveyance path includes a curved portion between the erasing unit and the reading unit. A cooling unit cools the sheet which passes through the conveyance path. The cooling unit includes at least one fan that supplies cooling air generally along a sheet conveying direction. A rate of the cooling air supplied to an outer peripheral portion of the curved portion of the conveyance path is larger than a rate of the cooling air supplied to an inner peripheral portion of the curved portion of the conveyance path.

Abstract: A decoloring device according to an embodiment comprises a decoloring unit configured to erase a first image formed with erasable colorant on a first side of a sheet and a second image formed with erasable colorant on a second side of the sheet, and a reading unit configured to read the first and second sides of the sheet and determine whether the first side and the second side are reusable. The decoloring device further comprises a single-side reusable paper tray configured to stack the sheet if the reading unit determines that only one of the first and second sides is reusable, and a reversing unit configured to reverse the sheet and discharge the sheet to the single-side reusable paper tray so that the one of the first and second side determined to be reusable is stacked on the single-side reusable paper tray in a predetermined orientation.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an erasing apparatus includes a paper feed tray configured to feed a sheet, a reading unit configured to read an image on the sheet, an erasing unit configured to erase the image on the sheet, a cutting apparatus configured to cut the sheet allowed to be cut, a reject box configured to accumulate the sheet which is judged to be not-reusable and a control unit configured to judge the category of the sheet based on the output of the reading unit and change the conveyance destination of the sheet according to the category of the sheet.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a substrate processing device, such as a printing device. In some embodiments, the device includes a substrate supply, a reusable card, an operative unit, at least one transport mechanism, and a controller. The substrate supply is configured to support a plurality of operative substrates. The reusable card is stored in a dedicated storage area, which does not receive the operative substrates. The controller is configured to control the at least one transport mechanism and the operative unit to deliver the reusable card from the storage area to the operative unit, to process the reusable card with the operative unit, and return the reusable card to the storage area, multiple times.

Abstract: According to the embodiments, there is provided an image forming apparatus and an image erasing apparatus. The image forming apparatus forms, on a recording medium, an image showing the color material information about the erasing temperatures of a plurality of erasable color materials used for forming an image to be printed together with the image to be printed. The image erasing apparatus heats the plurality of erasable color materials to the highest erasing temperature or higher in the different erasing temperatures of the erasable color materials forming the image printed on the recording medium in order to erase the erasable color materials forming the image.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a method for color erasing process includes the steps of: supplying a power to a heat source configured to heat a sheet having an image formed thereon using a color erasable material so as to cause heat generation as warming-up control; stopping the power supply to the heat source for a predetermined period of time in the warming-up control if the temperature of the heat source is increased starting from a temperature lower than a predetermined reference value that is lower than a color erasing temperature of the color erasable material and exceeds the predetermined reference value; performing maintenance control that is power supply control to maintain the temperature of the heat source at the target temperature; and performing, after the passage of the predetermined period of time, a color erasing process by the heat source.

Abstract: A decolorizing device includes a paper feed unit that feeds a sheet, on which an image has been formed using a color-erasable colorant, into a conveying path. A decolorization unit conveys the sheet fed by the paper feed unit into the conveying path while heating the sheet to a prescribed heat source setting temperature to decolorize the image on the sheet. A scanner reads and electronically processes the image and outputs an image density before and after decolorizing. A reject determination part determines the sheet, on which the image remains, as a reject sheet based on the image density after decolorizing. For the sheet determined as a reject sheet by the reject determination unit, when it is determined that the image density after decolorizing is lower than the image density before decolorizing, a decolorization condition setting part controls the heat source setting temperature in the decolorization unit to be higher.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image erasing apparatus that erases an image formed on a recording medium is provided. The image erasing apparatus includes an erasing unit that erases an image, a reading unit that reads a size of the recording medium, a classification device that classifies the erasing-processed recording medium, and a control unit. The control unit recognizes the size of the erasing-processed recording medium based on data about the size, and controls the classification device to classify each recording medium from which the image has been erased for each different size.

Abstract: An erasing device includes a line scanner on an upstream side in a recording medium conveying direction, includes a thermal head downstream in the recording medium conveying direction of the line scanner, and includes a platen in a position opposed to the thermal head as a heating device across a recording medium conveying path. The erasing device causes the heat generating elements of the thermal head in positions corresponding to color and density sensors in positions of an image detected by the line scanner to generate heat. The erasing device controls, according to detected colors or density, a quantity of heat to be generated.

Abstract: An environmental protection supporting apparatus comprises a storage section configured to store, based on the result of an erasing processing of heating a recording medium on which an image is formed with a color erasable coloring agent to erase the image formed thereon, the erasing log of the recording medium which is at least determined as reusable; a rejection information generation section configured to generate, based on the erasing log, rejection information obtained from the rejection of the reusable recording medium as environmental load reduction information; and a presenting section configured to display the environmental load reduction information on a display section.

Abstract: An image erasing apparatus includes: a first carrying section carrying a recording medium; a second carrying section carrying the recording medium; a branching section branching a carrying path into the first carrying section and the second carrying section; a first erasing section erasing an image of the recording medium in the first carrying section; a second erasing section erasing the image of the recording medium in the second carrying section; a third carrying section carrying the recording medium passing through the first erasing section to the second carrying section; and a control section selecting the carrying path of the recording medium depending on an image erasing mode.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an environmental contribution supporting apparatus provided for a system including a printing apparatus and an erasing apparatus includes a duplex-reduction calculating unit, an aggregation-reduction calculating unit, a sheet-reduction-ratio calculating unit, a printing-state-character selecting unit, a sheet-reuse-ratio calculating unit, a reuse-state-character selecting unit, a sheet-reduction-message selecting unit, a sheet-reuse-message selecting unit, an advice setting unit, and a report creating unit configured to edit a character selected by the printing-state-character selecting unit, a character selected by the reuse-state-character selecting unit, and a message set by the advice setting unit into a predetermined form.

Abstract: a sheet processing apparatus comprises a main body side guiding module, a first movable module, a second movable module and a connection module. The main body side guiding module guides a sheet. The first movable module moves to a second position to open the conveyance path through motion from a first position opposite to the main body side guiding module, towards a first direction. The second movable module holds a detachable processing module for carrying out a given processing on the sheet, and moves integrally with the first movable module from the first position to the second position. The connection module connects the second movable module with the first movable module in such a manner that the second movable module can move to a third position to expose the processing module through motion from the second position in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a color erasing apparatus includes a color erasing section which erases a color of an image formed with an erasable color material on a sheet conveyed at first speed, a reading section which reads an image on the surface of the sheet conveyed at second speed higher than the first speed, a first conveying section, and a second conveying section. The first conveying section includes a first conveying roller arranged downstream in a sheet conveying direction of the color erasing section and conveys the sheet at the first speed. The second conveying section includes a second conveying roller arranged upstream in the sheet conveying direction of the reading section and in a position where the second conveying roller nips the conveyed sheet simultaneously with the first conveying roller. The second conveying section conveys the sheet to the reading section at the second speed.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a color erasing apparatus includes a color erasing section which erases a color of an image formed with an erasable color material on a sheet conveyed at first speed, a reading section which reads an image on the surface of the sheet conveyed at second speed higher than the first speed, a first conveying section, and a second conveying section. The first conveying section includes a first conveying roller arranged downstream in a sheet conveying direction of the color erasing section and conveys the sheet at the first speed. The second conveying section includes a second conveying roller arranged upstream in the sheet conveying direction of the reading section and in a position where the second conveying roller nips the conveyed sheet simultaneously with the first conveying roller. The second conveying section conveys the sheet to the reading section at the second speed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a feed section configured to feed a medium; an image forming section configured to form an image on the surface of the medium with a thermally erasable recording material or a recording material which is not thermally erasable; a heating section configured to heat the medium; a control section configured to conduct a control in a color erasing mode. The image forming apparatus also comprises a color erasing counter configured to count up, according to the size of the medium, the number of the mediums the color of which is thermally erased in the color erasing mode; and a print counter configured to count up, according to the size of the medium, the number of the mediums on which an image is fixed in the image formation mode.

Abstract: An image erasing apparatus includes a heating member and a pressure member positioned adjacent one another, such that a sheet having an erasable image thereon may be passed between the heating member and the pressure member with the pressure member pressing the image on the sheet against the heating member, and a separation member positioned adjacent to the heating member and adjacent to a portion of a transport path of a sheet to be erased in the erasing apparatus.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an erasing apparatus for a sheet includes a conveying path configured to convey a sheet on which an image is formed with a coloring agent that is erased by heating, a first erasing section including, on an upstream side of the conveying path, a first heating member provided on one surface side of the sheet and a first rotating roller provided to be opposed to the first heating member, and a second erasing section including, on a downstream side of the first erasing section, a second heating member provided on the other surface side of the sheet and a second rotating roller provided to be opposed to the second heating member.

Abstract: A heat source opening and closing mechanism, around a rotation shaft of which a plurality of spring members are wound, is opened and closed an outside unit including a first heating member and a second press roller against an inside unit including a second heating member and a first press roller. The heat source opening and closing mechanism is opened and closed among a closed position where the first press roller faces to the first heating member and the second press roller faces to the second heating member, a first open state in which the load by the outside unit is commensurate with a first elastic force of the spring member, and a second open state in which an opening angle is larger than that in the first open state.

Abstract: An image erasing apparatus includes a scanning unit; a memory unit; an erasing unit; a first conveying unit includes a first conveying direction as a conveying direction of the sheet; a storage unit that stores the sheet which is scanned by the scanning unit and is not conveyed to the erasing unit by the first conveying unit; a second conveying unit that once conveys the sheet from the first conveying unit to the storage unit, then return the sheet to the first conveying unit; and an interface unit that displays the image data stored in the memory unit and receives an instruction from a user, when the instruction for erasure is received, the interface unit operates the first conveying unit and the second conveying unit so as to conveys to the erasing unit, the sheet stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: According to the above-described embodiment, provided is an image forming apparatus that has an image forming function of forming an image on a recording medium and an erasing function of erasing an image formed on a recording medium. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a delivery unit, and an image erasing unit. The delivery unit delivers information requiring users to supply a recording medium having an image formed thereon by an erasable color material to the apparatus.

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: There is provided a decoloring device including a decoloring unit, a first sheet conveying unit, a second sheet conveying unit, a reversing and conveying unit, a manual feed tray, and a manual discharge tray. The reversing and conveying unit is disposed adjacent to an outer wall of the decoloring device in relation to the first sheet conveying unit, and conveys once again the sheet, which is temporarily brought into the second sheet conveying unit after being decolored by the decoloring unit and is switch-back conveyed, to the first sheet conveying unit. The manual feed tray is provided at an outer wall side of the decoloring device adjacent to the reversing and conveying unit. The manual discharge tray is provided at a position of the outer wall side of the decoloring device adjacent to the reversing and conveying unit.

Abstract: A method for uniformly erasing an image recorded on a thermo-reversible recording medium. The image erasing apparatus includes an LD array, which emits a laser light whose cross section has a line shape; optics which include at least one cylindrical lens which converts, into a converging light which converges in a width direction, a line-shaped laser light which is emitted from the LD array and emits the converging light; and a mono-axial galvano mirror which deflects the laser light emitted from the optics in the width direction to scan the deflected laser light onto the thermo-reversible recording medium.

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, an image forming apparatus having an image forming function to form an image on a recording medium, and an image erasing function to erase an image formed on a recording medium is provided. The image forming apparatus has an erasing unit which erases the image formed on the recording medium under an erasing condition changeable in accordance with whether or not erasable coloring material used in the image formed on the recording medium is predetermined coloring material, when the image erasing function is performed.

Abstract: An image erasing apparatus includes an inlet receiving recording mediums sheet by sheet, a door key limiting the opening of a security box, an overlap feed sensor sensing the overlap feed of the recording mediums, plural size sensors sensing the sizes of the recording mediums, a movable tray on which the recording mediums input from the inlet are placed, a recovery box disposed below the movable tray to recover the recording mediums, and a recording medium carrying mechanism carrying the recording mediums.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an environmental contribution supporting apparatus provided for a system including a printing apparatus and an erasing apparatus includes a duplex-reduction calculating unit, an aggregation-reduction calculating unit, a sheet-reduction-ratio calculating unit, a printing-state-character selecting unit, a sheet-reuse-ratio calculating unit, a reuse-state-character selecting unit, a sheet-reduction-message selecting unit, a sheet-reuse-message selecting unit, an advice setting unit, and a report creating unit configured to edit a character selected by the printing-state-character selecting unit, a character selected by the reuse-state-character selecting unit, and a message set by the advice setting unit into a predetermined form.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, first and second branch paths of a decoloring apparatus are formed downstream in a sheet conveying direction of a reading section in a conveying path. A diverting section is provided at a branch point of the first and second branch paths in the conveying path. A control section determines on the basis of image data whether decoloring processing should be applied to a sheet, diverts, if determining that the decoloring processing should be applied to the sheet, the sheet to the first branch path with the diverting section, and diverts, if determining that the decoloring processing should not be applied to the sheet, the sheet to the second branch path with the diverting section. A decoloring section is provided between the reading section and the branch point in the conveying path and heats the sheet to decolor an image formed with a decolorable color material.

Abstract: A device for erasing an image on a sheet according to an embodiment includes a reading unit that reads an image formed on the sheet. An erasing unit erases the image formed on the sheet by heating the sheet. A conveyance path for the sheet between the reading unit and the erasing unit is formed guide plates arranged in an opposed manner. A cooling unit cools the sheet which passes through the conveyance path and includes at least one fan that supplies cooling air generally along a sheet conveying direction. A plurality of slits is formed in each of the guide plates such that cooling air from the at least one fan flows through the slits into the conveyance path.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cartridge includes an ink ribbon onto which decolorizable ink is applied, a transfer unit configured to thermally transfer the decolorizable ink on the ink ribbon to a recording medium such that an image is formed on the recording medium as the ink ribbon is conveyed, and a heating unit configured to heat a portion of the ink ribbon that has passed the transfer unit when the image was formed on the recording medium, at a temperature at which the decolorizable ink is decolorized.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image erasing apparatus includes an erasing unit, an input unit, and a control unit. The erasing unit erases an image formed on a recording medium. The input unit inputs identification data which identifies an apparatus which forms the image on the recording medium. The control unit controls an operation of the erasing unit based on the identification data input by the input unit. According to another embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit which forms an image on a recording medium, the erasing unit, the input unit, and the control unit.

Abstract: A device for erasing an image on a sheet includes a reading unit that reads an image formed on a sheet. An erasing unit erases the image formed on the sheet by heating the sheet after the sheet has passed through the reading unit. A conveyance path conveys the sheet from the erasing unit back to the reading unit. The conveyance path includes a curved portion between the erasing unit and the reading unit. A cooling unit cools the sheet which passes through the conveyance path. The cooling unit includes at least one fan that supplies cooling air generally along a sheet conveying direction. A rate of the cooling air supplied to an outer peripheral portion of the curved portion of the conveyance path is larger than a rate of the cooling air supplied to an inner peripheral portion of the curved portion of the conveyance path.

Abstract: An image erasing device includes first and second erasing sections. The first erasing section includes a first heating roller and a first pressing roller. The first heating roller and the first pressing roller are disposed on opposite sides of a conveying path. The first heating roller is configured to contact a first side of the sheet. The second erasing section is disposed downstream from the first erasing section, and includes a second heating roller and a second pressing roller. The second heating roller and the second pressing roller are disposed on opposite sides of the conveying path. The second heating roller is configured to contact a second side of the sheet. At least one of the second heating roller and the second pressing roller has a diameter smaller than one of a diameter of the first heating roller and a diameter of the first pressing roller.

Abstract: A system in an embodiment includes an image forming apparatus, an erasing apparatus, a first apparatus, and a display unit. The image forming apparatus forms an image on a sheet using a decolorable color material. The erasing apparatus decolorizes an image. The first apparatus computes, from a reduction in the number of sheets achieved by a setting for image formation in the image forming apparatus, the amount of a reduction in environmental burdens achieved by use of the image forming apparatus and computes, from the number of sheets erased by the erasing apparatus, the amount of a reduction in environmental burdens achieved by use of the erasing apparatus. The display unit simultaneously displays the amount of the reduction in environmental burdens achieved by the image forming apparatus and the amount of the reduction in environmental burdens achieved by the erasing apparatus.

Abstract: According to the embodiments, there is provided an image forming apparatus and an image erasing apparatus. The image forming apparatus forms, on a recording medium, an image showing the color material information about the erasing temperatures of a plurality of erasable color materials used for forming an image to be printed together with the image to be printed. The image erasing apparatus heats the plurality of erasable color materials to the highest erasing temperature or higher in the different erasing temperatures of the erasable color materials forming the image printed on the recording medium in order to erase the erasable color materials forming the image.