JP2014074929A - Decoloring apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a cost in a decoloring apparatus.SOLUTION: A decoloring apparatus comprises: a paper feeding section for feeding recording media; a first conveyance passage that continues from the paper feeding section to a paper ejecting section for ejecting the recording media, comprises reading sections for reading images of the recording media and conveys the recording media; a second conveyance passage that comprises a decoloring section for decoloring the images of the recording media, branches off from a downstream of the reading section of the first conveyance passage and becomes confluent with an upstream of the reading section of the first conveyance passage; and a control part for controlling a route changing section for changing a route through which the recording media are conveyed.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an erasing apparatus that erases an image on a sheet on which an image is formed by an image forming apparatus, and an image storage system that stores an image read by a reading unit of the erasing apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art There is known a decoloring apparatus that performs a decoloring process on paper by heat and erases the color of an image. The erasing apparatus includes a reading unit that reads an image to leave an image before erasing, and a reading unit that reads an image to determine whether erasing has been performed normally after image erasing. Provided. However, if a reading unit that reads an image for leaving an image and a reading unit that reads an image for determining whether or not the image can be reused are provided separately, there is a problem that costs increase.

JP 2010-113337 A

  The problem to be solved by the embodiments of the present invention is to reduce the cost.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an erasing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a paper feeding unit that feeds a recording medium, a paper discharging unit that discharges a recording medium, and the paper discharging unit to the paper discharging unit A first conveyance path that forms a conveyance path toward the first, a reading unit that is arranged in the first conveyance path and reads an image on a recording medium, and branches from the downstream of the reading unit of the first conveyance path, A second conveyance path that merges upstream of the reading unit in the first conveyance path; a decoloring unit that is disposed in the second conveyance path and decolorizes an image of the recording medium; and a downstream of the reading unit And a path changing unit that changes the path for conveying the recording medium to the paper discharge unit or the decoloring unit, and the conveyance path for the recording medium is controlled via the path changing unit. A control unit that determines whether the read recording medium is reusable.

It is a system configuration figure in a first embodiment. It is a block diagram of the decoloring apparatus in 1st embodiment. It is a block diagram of a decoloring apparatus, a client PC, and a server in the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows conveyance of the paper in the 1st conveyance path of the decoloring apparatus in 1st embodiment. It is a figure which shows conveyance of the paper in the 2nd conveyance path of the erasing apparatus in 1st embodiment. It is a figure which shows conveyance of the paper in the 1st conveyance path after the decoloring process of the decoloring apparatus in 1st embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the decoloring process in 2nd embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the reading process in 2nd embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the classification process in 2nd embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the reading and decoloring process in 2nd embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process of decoloring and classification in 2nd embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process of reading, decoloring, and classification in 2nd embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating conveyance of a first sheet on a second conveyance path and conveyance of a second sheet on a first conveyance path in a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating conveyance of a first sheet from a second conveyance path to a first conveyance path and conveyance of a second sheet on a second conveyance path in a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating conveyance of a second sheet on a second conveyance path and conveyance of a third sheet on a first conveyance path in the third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating conveyance of a second sheet from a second conveyance path to a first conveyance path and conveyance of a third sheet in the second conveyance path in the third embodiment. It is a figure which shows the process order at the time of 4 sheet | seat processing in 3rd embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a decoloring apparatus will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(First embodiment)
The erasing apparatus of the first embodiment reads an image by the same reading unit before and after image erasing.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of the first embodiment. The image storage system includes, for example, a plurality of decoloring apparatuses 100, a plurality of client PCs (Personal Computers) 101, and a server 102 as a system configuration. Each component of the system is connected via a network 103.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the erasing apparatus. The erasing apparatus 100 erases the image of the paper (recording medium) on which the image is formed by the image forming apparatus, and enables the paper to be reused. The erasing apparatus 100 includes a paper feeding unit 10, a first conveyance path 11, a second conveyance path 12, a first reading unit 13, a second reading unit 14, a decoloring unit 15, a conveyance roller 16, and a path change. Unit 17, first paper discharge unit 19, and second paper discharge unit 20.

The paper feeding unit 10 feeds the image on the paper P to be reused into the erasing apparatus 100 in order to erase the image. The paper feed unit 10 includes a paper feed tray 22 and a pickup roller 18. The paper feed tray 10 is loaded with paper P for reuse. The pickup roller 18 takes out the paper P one by one from the paper feed tray 10 and sends it out to the first transport path 11.

  The first transport path 11 and the second transport path 12 have a plurality of transport rollers 16. The conveying roller 16 is composed of a pair of a driving roller and a driven roller. The first transport path 11 has a pair of first reading unit 13 and second reading unit 14. The first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14 have a two-dimensional CCD scanner. The first reading unit 13 reads one side of the sheet conveyed from the sheet feeding unit 10. The second reading unit 14 reads the surface on the opposite side of the reading surface of the first reading unit 13. Images read by the first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14 are stored in a RAM (Random Access Memory) 203 that is a storage unit. The storage destination of the images read by the first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14 is not limited to the RAM 203, but may be a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a memory, or the like.

  The images read by the first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14 are not limited to being stored in the RAM 203 of the erasing apparatus 100 but may be stored in the RAM 302 of the client PC 101 or the RAM 402 of the server 102. In addition, when the erasing apparatus 100 has a login / logout function for personal authentication of the user, when the erasing apparatus 100 logs out, the image data stored in the RAM 203 of the erasing apparatus 100 is stored in the RAM 302 of the client PC 101. Alternatively, it may be transmitted to the RAM 402 of the server 102 and stored.

  Further, the first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14 read the surface in order to determine whether or not the paper P is usable and whether or not the printing of the paper has been erased.

  Reading by the first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14 is performed twice. The first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14 digitize the read image in the first reading and store it in the storage unit. The first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14 determine whether or not the paper P can be reused in the second reading after the color erasing.

  The image may be stored in the first reading, and it may be determined whether or not the image is unusable due to wrinkles, stapling, memo writing that cannot be erased, or the like. In this case, if it is determined that the reusable state is obtained by the first reading, a decoloring process is performed, and it is determined whether the image of the paper P is decolored by the second reading, Paper is discharged to the first paper discharge unit 19 or the second paper discharge unit 20. If it is determined that the state cannot be reused by the first reading, the first paper discharge unit 19 or the second paper discharge unit 20 is performed without performing the second time reading. Paper is discharged. Further, if it is determined in the first reading that the state cannot be reused, the first paper discharge unit 19 or the second paper discharge unit is performed without performing the decoloring process and the second reading. The paper may be discharged to 20. These settings can be selected and set in advance. The first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14 are not limited to a pair of two-dimensional CCD scanners, and may be CMOS sensors.

  The first transport path 11 is connected from the paper supply unit 10 to the first paper discharge unit 19 or the second paper discharge unit 20. The second transport path 12 branches from a branch point downstream of the first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14 of the first transport path 11, and the first reading unit 13 of the first transport path 11. And merge at the merging point upstream of the second reading unit 14. A first route changing unit 17 is arranged at the branch point.

  The second transport path 12 has a decoloring unit 15 in the transport path. The erasing unit 15 includes a roller pair 21 and a heater 205. The roller pair 21 is heated by the heater 205. By applying a certain temperature or heat to the sheet P through the roller pair 21 heated by the heater 205, the image of the sheet P formed using the erasable image forming material is heated, and the coloring material Is colorless. The erasing unit 15 can erase the image on both sides of the paper P by erasing the image with the roller pair 21.

  The paper discharge unit 23 includes a first paper discharge unit 19 and a second paper discharge unit 20. The paper P subjected to various processes is discharged to the first paper discharge unit 19 or the second paper discharge unit 20. The user may be selectable so that the paper P can be discharged to either the first paper discharge unit 19 or the second paper discharge unit 20.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the erasing apparatus 100, the client PC 101, and the server 102. A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 200 that is a control unit of the decoloring apparatus 100 includes a ROM 202, a RAM 203, a first reading unit 13, a CCD sensor 204 of the second reading unit 14, and a decoloring unit 15 via a system bus 201. The heater 205 is connected to an interface (I / F) 206 for inputting data from the outside and outputting data to the outside. The CPU 200 communicates with the client PC 101 and the server 102 via the I / F 206 connected via the system bus 201.

  The CPU 200 includes a path change control driving unit 207 that controls the path changing unit 17, a paper transport motor control drive unit 208 that controls a paper transport motor 209 that drives the transport roller, an operation unit 210, and a display unit 211. Connected.

  The ROM 202 stores a program for operating the CPU 200, a sheet printing rate as a guideline for reusability, and a density threshold for determining whether or not an image has been erased. Further, when determining the wrinkle depth and the like in the first image reading, a density threshold value used for determining the wrinkle depth and the like is stored. The RAM 203 stores an image obtained when the image of the paper P is read. The CCD sensor 204 is arranged as a single line sensor and detects the density of the paper P. The heater 205 uses an IH heater or the like, and applies heat to the paper P through the roller pair 21 while the paper P passes through the erasing unit 15 to make the color material colorless.

  The operation unit 210 has various keys, and the display unit 211 displays various processing modes of the erasing apparatus 100. The operation unit 210 can select a processing mode. The processing mode will be described later. The display unit 211 may be a touch panel type or may serve as an operation unit.

  The CPU 200 controls the route change control drive unit 207 to drive the route change unit 17 to sort the paper P to be transported from the first transport path 11 to the second transport path 12, Sorting is performed so that the paper P is transported from the transport path 11 to the first paper discharge unit 19 and the second paper discharge unit 20. Further, the CPU 200 determines whether or not the color erasing is normally performed after the image erasing, that is, whether or not the paper P is reusable.

  The client PC 101 includes a CPU 300, a ROM 301, a RAM 302, an operation unit 303, a display unit 304, and an I / F 305. A CPU 300 that is a control unit of the client PC 101 is connected to a ROM 301, a RAM 302, an operation unit 303, a display unit 304, and an I / F 305 via a system bus 306. Further, the images read by the first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14 of the erasing apparatus 100 may be stored in the RAM 302 of the client PC 101.

  The server 102 includes a CPU 400, a ROM 401, a RAM 402, and an I / F 403. A CPU 400 that is a control unit of the server 102 is connected to a ROM 401, a RAM 402, and an I / F 403 via a system bus 4040. Further, the images read by the first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14 of the erasing apparatus 100 may be stored in the RAM 402 of the server 102.

  4 to 6 are diagrams illustrating conveyance of the paper P in the first conveyance path 11 and the second conveyance path 12 of the erasing apparatus 100. FIG.

  FIG. 4 shows a state in which the paper P fed from the paper feeding unit 10 is transported through the first transport path 11. The arrows in the figure indicate the traveling direction of the paper P. The paper P is transported to the first transport path 11 and an image is read by the first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14. When the first reading unit 13 or the second reading unit 14 detects a sheet, the path changing unit 17 rotates in the direction in which the sheet P is conveyed from the first conveyance path 11 to the second conveyance path 12. The paper P whose image has been read by the first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14 is distributed to the second conveyance path 12.

  FIG. 5 shows a state in which the paper P is transported through the second transport path 12. The image of the paper P transported from the first transport path 11 to the second transport path 12 is erased by the decoloring unit 15. When the image on the paper P is erased by the erasing unit 15, the paper P on which the image has been erased is conveyed upstream of the first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14 in the first conveyance path 11.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the conveyance of the paper P in the first conveyance path 11 after the image erasing process. The image of the sheet P conveyed from the second conveyance path 12 to the first conveyance path 11 is read again by the first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14. When the first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14 read the image again, the path changing unit 17 rotates in the direction in which the paper P is conveyed from the first conveyance path 11 to the paper discharge unit 23. . The paper P from which the image has been read again is distributed to the first paper discharge unit 19 or the second paper discharge unit 20.

  The first paper discharge unit 19 is a paper discharge destination for reusable paper P, and the second paper discharge unit 20 is a paper discharge destination for non-reusable paper P. From the images read by the first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14, the CPU 200 determines whether or not the paper P can be reused. If the paper P is transported to the unit 19 and cannot be reused, the paper P is transported to the second paper discharge unit 20. Not limited to this, the paper P is transported to the second paper discharge unit 20 if reusable, and the paper P is transported to the first paper discharge unit 19 if reusable. Also good.

  When performing image reading and separation of reusable paper and non-reusable paper P after image erasing, the paper P is loaded twice in the first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14. Transport. When processing the paper P one by one, the first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14 normally perform image reading for leaving an image before erasing and erasing after image erasing. The image reading for determining whether or not has been performed is performed alternately.

  Further, the CPU 200 changes the conveyance speed of the paper P when the first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14 read the image and when the image erasing unit 15 erases the image. If the color erasing unit 15 transports at a speed faster than a predetermined speed when performing the color erasing process, a sufficient amount of heat cannot be applied to the color material, and the color erasing process may not be performed normally. . On the other hand, although the maximum speed of the reading unit varies depending on the member, the maximum conveyance speed at the time of image reading is faster than the maximum conveyance speed for the erasing process. Therefore, at the time of erasing processing, the relationship between the erasing speed V1 and the reading speed V2 is V1 <V2.

  On the other hand, when the reading process is performed without performing the decoloring process, it is not necessary to make the reading speed V2 equal to the conveying speed of the decoloring unit 15 as V1 at the time of the decoloring process. The erasing unit 15 is conveyed. By changing the transport speed of the paper P during image reading and image erasing, the processing can be speeded up.

  The decoloring apparatus 100 as described above includes a reading unit that reads an image for leaving an image and a reading unit that reads an image for determining whether or not the image has been normally erased as the same reading unit. By doing so, the cost can be reduced. In addition, it is possible to increase the processing speed by changing the conveyance speed of the paper P during image reading and image erasing.

(Second embodiment)
The erasing apparatus of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 to 12 has a plurality of processing modes. In the figure, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  The first is the erasing mode, the second is the reading mode, and the third is the sorting mode. The fourth is a mode that combines reading and erasing, the fifth is a mode that combines erasing and sorting, and the sixth is a mode that combines reading, erasing and sorting.

  The erasing mode will be described. In the erasing mode, the erasing process is performed without performing image reading.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the erasing mode. In 500, the paper P is fed, and in 501, the paper P is transported to the first transport path 11. In 502, the path changing unit 17 is driven to transport the paper P from the first transport path 11 to the second transport path 12, and in 503, the image on the paper P is decolored. Thereafter, in 504, the paper P is transported from the second transport path 12 to the first transport path 11, and in 505, the paper P is discharged to the first paper discharge unit 19 or the second paper discharge unit 20. ,finish.

  The reading mode will be described. In the reading mode, image reading processing is performed without performing image erasing.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the reading mode. In 600, the paper P is fed, and in 601, the paper P is transported to the first transport path 11. In 602, the first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14 read the image of the paper P. In 603, the paper P is discharged to the first paper discharge unit 19 or the second paper discharge unit 20. And exit.

  The classification mode will be described. In the sorting mode, image erasing is not performed, and whether or not the paper P can be reused is sorted.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the sorting mode. In 700, the paper P is fed, and in 701, the paper P is transported to the first transport path 11. In 702, the first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14 read the image of the paper P, and in 703, it is determined whether or not the paper P can be reused. If reusable (Yes in 703), the paper is discharged to the first paper discharge unit 19 in 704, and the process ends. If reusability is not possible (No in 703), the paper is discharged to the second paper discharge unit 20 in 705, and the process ends.

  A mode combining reading and erasing will be described. In the mode combining reading and erasing, the separation process is not performed, and the erasing process is performed after the image is read.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a mode in which reading and erasing are combined. In 800, the paper P is fed, and in 801, the paper P is transported to the first transport path 11. In 802, the first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14 read an image on the paper P, and in 803, the path changing unit 17 is driven, and the first transport path 11 to the second transport path. The paper P is transported to 12, and in 804, the image on the paper P is erased. Thereafter, in 805, the paper P is transported from the second transport path 12 to the first transport path 11, and in 806, the paper P is discharged to the first paper discharge unit 19 or the second paper discharge unit 20. ,finish.

  A mode combining erasing and sorting will be described. In a mode in which erasing and sorting are combined, the reading process before erasing is not performed, and after the erasing process, whether or not the paper P can be reused is sorted.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a mode in which erasing and sorting are combined. In 900, the paper P is fed, and in 901, the paper P is transported to the first transport path 11. In 902, the path changing unit 17 is driven to transport the paper P from the first transport path 11 to the second transport path 12. In 903, the image of the paper P is decolored. Thereafter, in 904, the paper P is transported from the second transport path 12 to the first transport path 11, and in 905, the first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14 read the image of the paper P. . In 906, it is determined whether or not the paper P can be reused. If reusable (Yes in 906), the paper is discharged to the first paper discharge unit 19 in 907, and the process ends. If it cannot be reused (No in 906), the paper is discharged to the second paper discharge unit 20 in 908, and the process ends.

  A mode in which reading, erasing and sorting are combined will be described. In a mode in which reading, erasing, and classification are combined, the erasing process is performed after the image is read, and the classification process is performed.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a mode in which reading, erasing and sorting are combined. In 1000, the paper P is fed, and in 1001, the paper P is transported to the first transport path 11. In 1002, the first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14 read the image of the paper P, and in 1003, the path changing unit 17 is driven to move from the first conveyance path 11 to the second conveyance path. The paper P is conveyed to 12, and in 1004, the image on the paper P is erased.

  Thereafter, in 1005, the paper P is transported from the second transport path 12 to the first transport path 11, and in 1006, the first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14 read the image of the paper P. . In 1007, it is determined whether or not the paper P can be reused. If reusable (Yes in 1007), in 1008, the paper is discharged to the first paper discharge unit 19, and the process ends. If it cannot be reused (No in 1007), in 1009, the paper is discharged to the second paper discharge unit 20, and the process ends.

  When a mode that combines reading, decoloring, and separation is selected and the paper P is processed one by one, the first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14 leave an image before decoloring. The reading and the image reading for determining whether or not the color erasing is normally performed after the image erasing are alternately performed.

  Each mode described above can be selected by the operation unit 210 of the erasing apparatus 100, and a mode desired by the user can be selected. Selection of each mode may be performed not only by the operation unit 210 of the erasing apparatus 100 but also by the operation unit 303 of the client PC 101.

  The CPU 200 changes the conveyance speed of the paper P depending on the mode when reading the image with the first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14 and when erasing the image with the erasing unit 15. If the color erasing unit 15 transports at a speed faster than a predetermined speed when performing the color erasing process, a sufficient amount of heat cannot be applied to the color material, and the color erasing process may not be performed normally. . On the other hand, although the maximum speed of the reading unit varies depending on the member, the maximum conveyance speed at the time of image reading is faster than the maximum conveyance speed for the erasing process. Therefore, the relationship between the decoloring speed V1 and the reading speed V2 during the decoloring process is V1 <V2.

  Therefore, in the case of the decoloring mode, in the mode in which reading and decoloring are combined, in the mode in which decoloring and classification are combined, or in the mode in which reading, decoloring and classification are combined, the decoloring speed V1 and reading are performed. The relationship of the speed V2 is V1 <V2.

  The decoloring apparatus 100 as described above includes a reading unit that reads an image for leaving an image and a reading unit that reads an image for determining whether or not the image has been normally erased as the same reading unit. By doing so, the cost can be reduced.

  Also, the processing time can be reduced by selecting the mode and changing the transport speed of the paper P depending on the mode.

(Third embodiment)
The erasing apparatus of the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 to 17 performs reading processing, erasing processing, and sorting processing continuously for a plurality of sheets, and performs parallel processing by shifting processing for each sheet. In the figure, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. The arrows in the figure indicate the traveling direction of the paper P.

  For the decoloring process of the first sheet P, the reading process is performed by the first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14 which are reading units, the decoloring process is performed by the decoloring unit 15, and the first reading is performed again. The reading process is performed by the unit 13 and the second reading unit 14, and the process is performed in the order of the sorting process for determining whether or not it can be reused. When attention is paid to one sheet of paper P, processing similar to the flowchart shown in FIG. 12 is performed.

  In the following, processing for three consecutive sheets of reading processing, erasing processing, and sorting processing will be described. The preceding paper P is designated as the first paper P1, and the paper conveyed next to the first paper P1 is designated as the second paper P2 and the third paper P3 in order. The first sheet P1 is fed and conveyed through the first conveyance path 11, and reading processing is performed by the first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14 (FIG. 4).

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 13, the first sheet P <b> 1 is transported through the second transport path 12, and the second sheet P <b> 2 is fed while the decoloring unit 15 performs the decoloring process. The first conveyance path 11 is conveyed, and the first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14 perform reading processing.

  After that, as shown in FIG. 14, the first sheet P1 is conveyed on the first conveyance path 11, the image is read by the first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14, and the separation process is performed. While paper is discharged to one paper discharge unit 19 or the second paper discharge unit 20, the second paper P <b> 2 is transported through the second transport path 12, and the color erasing unit 15 performs a color erasing process.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 15, the second paper P2 is transported through the second transport path 12, and the third paper P3 is fed while the erasing process is performed in the erasing unit 15. The first conveyance path 11 is conveyed, and the first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14 perform reading processing.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 16, the second paper P2 is transported through the first transport path 11, the image is read by the first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14, and the separation process is performed. While the paper is discharged to the first paper discharge unit 19 or the second paper discharge unit 20, the third paper P <b> 3 is transported through the second transport path 12, and the color erasing unit 15 performs a decoloring process. Thereafter, the processing is repeated as described above.

  When the above processing is repeated, reading processing is performed in the following order. First reading process, second reading process, first sheet sorting process, third sheet reading process, second sheet sorting process, and finally (N-2) th sheet sorting process , N-th reading process, (N-1) -th sorting process, and N-th sorting process. N is an integer.

  FIG. 17 shows the processing order when processing four sheets. In 1100, the first sheet P1 is fed, and in 1101, the reading process is performed. In 1102, the first sheet P1 is transported to the second transport path 12. Thereafter, the erasing process in 1103, the sorting process in 1104, and the paper are discharged in 1105.

  While the first sheet P1 is transported to the second transport path 12 at 1102, the second sheet P2 is fed at 1106, and when the first sheet P1 is decolored at 1103, the first sheet P1 is transported at 1107. The second sheet P2 is read. While the first paper P1 is being sorted in 1104, the second paper P2 is transported to the second transport path 12 in 1108, while the first paper P1 is discharged in 1105, the second in 1109. The paper P2 is erased. After that, the second paper P2 is discharged at 1110, and is discharged at 1111.

  The third sheet P3 is fed at 1112 while the first sheet P1 is sorted in 1104 and the second sheet P2 is transported to the second transport path 12 in 1106. While the first sheet P1 is discharged in 1105 and the second sheet P2 is decolored in 1109, the reading process of the third sheet P3 is performed in 1113. While the second paper P2 is being sorted in 1110, the third paper P3 is transported to the second transport path 12 in 1114. While the second paper P2 is discharged in 1111, the third paper P3 is decolored in 1115. Thereafter, the third paper P3 is sorted in 1116 and discharged in 1117.

  In 1110, the fourth sheet P 4 is fed in 1118 while the second sheet P 2 is sorted in 1110 and the third sheet P 3 is transported to the second transport path 12 in 1114. While the second paper P2 is discharged at 1111 and the third paper P3 is erased at 1115, the fourth paper P4 is read at 1119. While the first paper P3 is being sorted in 1116, the fourth paper P4 is transported to the second transport path 12 in 1120. While the third sheet P3 is discharged in 1117, the fourth sheet P4 is decolored in 1121. Thereafter, the fourth paper P4 is sorted in 1122 and discharged in 1123.

  When the four sheets are repeated, the reading process is performed in the following order. First sheet reading process, second sheet reading process, first sheet sorting process, third sheet reading process, second sheet sorting process, fourth sheet reading process, third sheet sorting process, 4 The process is performed in the order of the sorting process for the first sheet.

  The decoloring apparatus 100 as described above includes a reading unit that reads an image for leaving an image and a reading unit that reads an image for determining whether or not the image has been normally erased as the same reading unit. By doing so, the cost can be reduced.

  Further, if the reading unit processes the second sheet P2 after processing the first sheet P1, it takes a long time, but the erasing apparatus 100 as described above shifts the process for each sheet and performs parallel processing. By performing the processing, the processing time can be reduced.

  The conveyance speed of the paper P may be changed when the image is read by the reading unit and when the image is erased by the decoloring unit. If the color erasing unit 15 transports at a speed faster than a predetermined speed when performing the color erasing process, a sufficient amount of heat cannot be applied to the color material, and the color erasing process may not be performed normally. . On the other hand, although the maximum speed of the reading unit varies depending on the member, the maximum conveyance speed at the time of image reading is faster than the maximum conveyance speed for the erasing process. Therefore, the relationship between the decoloring speed V1 and the reading speed V2 during the decoloring process is V1 <V2.

  On the other hand, when the reading process is performed without performing the decoloring process, it is not necessary to make the reading speed V2 equal to the conveying speed of the decoloring unit 15 as V1 at the time of the decoloring process. Thus, it is possible to speed up the processing by transporting the decoloring section 15.

  Although several embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the gist of the invention, and in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Paper feed part 11 1st conveyance path 12 2nd conveyance path 13 1st reading part 14 2nd reading part 15 Decoloring part 16 Conveyance roller 17 Path change part 18 Pickup roller 19 1st paper discharge part 20 Second paper discharge unit 21 Roller pair 22 Paper feed tray 23 Paper discharge unit 100 Erasing device 101 Client PC
102 server 200 CPU
202, 301, 401 ROM
203, 302, 402 RAM
205 Heater 210, 303 Operation unit 211, 304 Display unit

In order to solve the above-described problems, an erasing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention forms a paper discharge unit that discharges a recording medium and a conveyance path that conveys the fed recording medium to the paper discharge unit. a first conveyance path, said first conveyance path the recording reading an image reading unit of the medium conveyed and a second conveying path branched from the first downstream side of the transport path, the second A color erasing unit for erasing the image of the recording medium conveyed to the conveyance path, and a path for conveying the recording medium read by the reading unit, arranged on the downstream side of the first conveyance path. A path changing unit that changes to a paper discharge unit or the second transport path, and a control unit that controls the transport path of the recording medium via the path changing unit.

Claims (17)

A paper feed unit for feeding a recording medium;
A paper discharge unit for discharging the recording medium;
A first transport path that forms a transport path from the paper feed unit to the paper discharge unit;
A reading unit that is arranged in the first conveyance path and reads an image on a recording medium;
A second conveyance path that branches from the downstream of the reading unit of the first conveyance path and merges upstream of the reading unit of the first conveyance path;
A decoloring unit disposed in the second conveyance path and decoloring the image of the recording medium;
A path changing unit that is arranged downstream of the reading unit and changes the path for conveying the recording medium to the paper discharge unit or the decoloring unit;
A control unit that controls a conveyance path of the recording medium via the path changing unit and determines whether or not the recording medium read by the reading unit is reusable;
An erasing apparatus comprising:   The erasing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit that stores an image read by the reading unit.   The erasing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reading unit performs image reading for leaving an image before image erasing by the erasing unit.   4. The decoloring according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines whether or not the recording medium is reusable from an image after decoloring read by the reading unit. 5. apparatus.   4. The decoloring according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines whether or not the recording medium can be reused from an image before decoloring read by the reading unit. apparatus.   When the control unit determines that the recording medium is reusable from the image before erasing read by the reading unit, the control unit conveys the recording medium to the second conveyance path and erases the recording medium at the erasing unit. 6. The erasing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein color erasing is performed, and it is determined whether or not the recording medium can be reused based on an image after erasing read by the reading unit.   When the control unit determines that the recording medium cannot be reused from the image before erasing read by the reading unit, the control unit removes the recording medium without performing erasing processing by the erasing unit. The erasing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the erasing apparatus is configured to discharge the paper.   When the control unit determines that the recording medium cannot be reused from the image before color erasure read by the reading unit, the control unit conveys the recording medium to the second conveyance path, and the color erasing unit 6. The erasing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein erasing processing is executed.   The reading unit alternately performs image reading for leaving an image before image erasing by the erasing unit and image reading for determining whether or not the image can be reused after image erasing. The decoloring apparatus according to claim 1.   2. The erasing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a plurality of recording media are processed, parallel processing is performed by shifting processing for each recording medium.   The reading order in the reading unit is the first reading process, the second reading process, the first sorting process, the third reading process, the second sorting process, and finally (N The decoloring apparatus according to claim 10, wherein: -2) sheet sorting process, N-th reading process, (N-1) -th sheet sorting process, and N-th sheet sorting process.   The paper discharge unit discharges a recording medium determined to be reusable by the control unit, and discharges a recording medium determined not to be reusable by the control unit. The erasing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second paper discharge unit that performs the operation.   13. The erasing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the erasing unit decolors an image on the recording medium by heating the recording medium. Feed the recording medium,
The image of the recording medium is read by a reading unit included in the first conveyance path,
The image is erased by the decoloring part of the second conveyance path that branches from the downstream of the reading section of the first conveyance path and joins the upstream of the reading section of the first conveyance path,
Transporting the recording medium from the second transport path to the upstream of the reading unit of the first transport path;
The recording medium from which the image has been erased by the erasing unit is read by the reading unit of the first conveyance path, and it is determined whether or not it can be reused, and discharged.
A decoloring device characterized by that. A decoloring apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14,
An electronic device having a storage unit for storing an image read by the reading unit;
An image storage system comprising: A decoloring apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14,
A server having a storage unit for storing an image read by the reading unit;
An image storage system comprising: Feed the recording medium,
An image of the recording medium is read by a reading unit disposed in the first conveyance path;
A color erasing unit that is arranged in a second conveyance path that branches from the downstream of the reading unit of the first conveyance path and merges from the second conveyance path to the upstream of the reading unit of the first conveyance path. To erase the image,
Transporting the recording medium from the second transport path to the upstream of the reading unit of the first transport path;
The recording medium from which the image has been erased by the erasing unit is read by the reading unit, whether or not it can be reused, and discharged.
An image erasing method characterized by the above.

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