JP2016001245A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor with high operability capable of recommending a user to use recommended paper.SOLUTION: The image processor includes: a changing part that changes an identifier which represents attribute of a sheet previously printed on the sheet; a conveyance part that conveys the sheet to the changing part; a first reading part positioned at the upstream side in a conveyance direction of the sheet in the changing part to read the identifier on the sheet; a second reading part positioned at the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the sheet in the changing part to read the identifier on the sheet; a notification part; and a control section that compares the read result by the first reading part and the read result by the second reading part, and when determining that the identifier is not changed, controls the notification part to output a notification.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an image processing apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, paper used for image formation in an image processing apparatus is a recommended paper recommended by the manufacturer of each image processing apparatus for use in the image apparatus. Performances such as transport performance, fixing performance, development performance, and exposure performance that affect the paper passing quality and print quality of the image processing apparatus are set based on the recommended paper. In other words, in the image processing apparatus, various settings are made so as not to cause a problem when performing printing using recommended paper. The recommended papers are defined for general papers such as plain paper and thick paper, special papers for specific uses, and types such as OHP. For this reason, for example, thick paper has a variety of paper thicknesses and materials, so it is necessary to consider heat distribution due to the fixing function. If thick paper that is not recommended is used, fixing failure may occur. There is. Also, even plain paper may have a special coating treatment on the paper, which not only deteriorates the paper passing quality and print quality, but also causes the paper to be caught in the fixing unit and the coating material to adhere. There is a risk of affecting. For this reason, it is required to determine whether the paper used for printing is a recommended paper or a non-recommended paper.

JP 2000-43353 A

  An object of the embodiment of the present invention is to provide a high-quality image processing apparatus by recommending the use of recommended paper to an operator.

  Therefore, in order to achieve the above-described problem, the following measures are taken in the embodiment of the present invention. A change unit that changes an identifier that indicates an attribute of a sheet that has been preprinted on the sheet; a conveyance unit that conveys the sheet to the change unit; and an upstream side of the change unit in the conveyance direction of the sheet, A first reading unit that reads an identifier; a second reading unit that is positioned downstream of the changing unit in the sheet conveyance direction; and that reads the identifier of the sheet; an informing unit; and reading by the first reading unit A control unit that controls the notification unit to perform notification when it is determined that the identifier has not changed by comparing the result with the reading result of the second reading unit. .

1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an image processing apparatus in the present embodiment. 1 is a block diagram of an image processing apparatus in the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sheet in the present embodiment. 6 is a flowchart of a detection job of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The figure which shows the fixing device, the mark detection sensor before fixation, and the mark detection sensor after fixation in this Embodiment.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, an explanation will be given by taking an MFP (Multi-Function Peripheral) as an example of the image processing apparatus.

(First embodiment)
An image processing apparatus according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a configuration example of the MFP 100 according to the embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the MFP 100 includes a scanner unit 1, a printer unit 2, an operation panel 4, and a system control unit 5.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the mark M is printed as an identifier on the paper P in the embodiment by toner that can be erased by heat. A mark M is printed on the edge of the sheet to indicate that it is recommended paper. The position of the mark M is printed in advance outside the printable area by the MFP or the like, or at the end of the area that can be printed by the image processing apparatus such as a header or footer defined by the document software. And This mark M corresponds to a paper attribute.

  The erasing toner is, for example, a toner that can be decolored (colorless) by heating to a predetermined temperature or higher. The erasing toner is formed, for example, by adding a color material to a binder resin. The erasable color material includes a color developing compound, a developer, and an erasing agent. Examples of the color developing compound include leuco dyes. Examples of the developer include phenols. Examples of the erasing agent include a substance that is compatible with the color developing compound when heated and does not have an affinity for the developer. The erasable colorant develops color due to the interaction between the color developing compound and the developer, and is erased because the interaction between the color developing compound and the developer is interrupted by heating at an erasing temperature or higher. In this embodiment, the color of the erasing toner is erased at a fixing temperature applied when fixing a normal toner other than the erasing toner by the fixing device.

  A scanner unit 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a device that reads an image of a document and converts it into image data. The scanner unit 1 has a known configuration, and includes a scanner that optically scans an image of a document on a reading surface and reads the image, and a CCD line sensor that converts the read image into image data, for example. The scanner unit 1 may scan a document placed on a platen glass (not shown), or may read an image of a document conveyed by an automatic document feeder (ADF). It may be. The scanner unit 1 is installed on the upper side of the main body of the MFP 100, for example. The scanner unit 1 is controlled by the system control unit 5.

  The printer unit 2 forms an image on a sheet P as an image forming medium. For example, the printer unit 2 is an electrophotographic image processing apparatus. The printer unit 2 forms a color image using toners of a plurality of colors (for example, four colors of yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K)).

  In the configuration example illustrated in FIG. 1, the printer unit 2 includes a plurality of paper feed cassettes 20 </ b> A, 20 </ b> B, and 20 </ b> C as the paper feed unit 20. For example, each of the paper feed cassettes 20A, 20B, and 20C is provided in a detachable state at the bottom of the MFP 100 main body. These paper feed cassettes 20A, 20B, and 20C store paper P of the type (for example, size and paper quality) set to each. The printer unit 2 may include a manual feed tray (not shown) as another paper feeding unit. The paper feed cassette 20 supplies paper P for printing an image.

  Setting information such as information on the paper P stored in each of the paper feed cassettes 20A, 20B, and 20C is stored in a nonvolatile memory. The printer unit 2 selects a paper feed cassette that stores the paper P used for the printing process according to the setting information. The printer unit 2 prints an image on the paper P fed from the selected paper feed cassette. In the case where the printer unit 2 has a manual feed tray, the size of the paper P set in the manual feed tray input from the operation panel 4 may be stored in the nonvolatile memory described above.

  The transport unit 22 transports paper within the printer unit 2. The transport unit 22 transports the paper P supplied from the paper feed cassettes 20A, 20B, and 20C to the registration rollers 24 by the pickup rollers 21A, 21B, and 21C. The registration roller 24 conveys the sheet to the transfer position at a timing at which an image is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 27 described later to the sheet.

  The image forming unit 25, the exposure unit 26, the intermediate transfer belt 27, and the transfer unit 28 function as an image forming unit that forms an image. The image forming unit 25 forms an image to be transferred onto the paper P. In the configuration example shown in FIG. 1, the image forming unit 25Y forms an image corresponding to yellow with yellow toner by color-separating the original image, which will be described in detail later. Similarly, the image forming unit 25M forms an image with magenta toner. Similarly, the image forming unit 25C forms an image with cyan toner. Similarly, the image forming unit 25K forms an image with black toner. The image forming units 25Y, 25M, 25C, and 25K superimpose and transfer the images of the respective colors on the intermediate transfer belt 27. Each of the image forming units 25Y, 25M, 25C, and 25K includes a well-known configuration, for example, a photosensitive drum, a charging charger, a developing unit that includes toner, and a discharging unit.

  The exposure unit 26 forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum (image carrier) of each of the image forming units 25Y, 25M, 25C, and 25K with a laser beam by a known method. The electrostatic latent image formed on each photosensitive drum is an image developed with toner of each color. That is, the exposure unit 26 irradiates the photosensitive drum with laser light corresponding to each image forming unit controlled according to the image data through an optical system such as a polygon mirror. The exposure unit 26 controls the output of the laser beam according to the control signal from the system control unit 5. The exposure unit 26 also controls the modulation amount of the pulse width for controlling the emission of the laser light according to the control signal from the system control unit 5.

  As described above, each of the image forming units 25Y, 25M, 25C, and 25K develops the electrostatic latent images formed on the respective photosensitive drums with toner of each color by the developing unit. Each of the image forming units 25Y, 25M, 25C, and 25K forms a toner image as a visible image on the photosensitive drum. The intermediate transfer belt 27 is an intermediate transfer member. Each of the image forming units 25Y, 25M, 25C, and 25K transfers (primary transfer) the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum onto the intermediate transfer belt 27. Specifically, each of the image forming units 25Y, 25M, 25C, and 25K applies a transfer bias to the toner image at the primary transfer position. Each of the image forming units 25Y, 25M, 25C, and 25K controls the transfer bias by the transfer current. The toner image on each photosensitive drum is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 27 by a transfer bias at each primary transfer position. The system control unit 5 controls the transfer current that each image forming unit uses for the primary transfer process.

  Each of the image forming units 25Y, 25M, 25C, and 25K has a sensor such as a potential sensor and a density sensor. The potential sensor is a sensor that detects the surface potential of the photosensitive drum. In each of the image forming units 25Y, 25M, 25C, and 25K, the charging charger charges the surface of the photosensitive drum before it is exposed by the exposure unit 26. The system control unit 5 can change the charging condition by the charging charger. The potential sensor detects the surface potential of the photosensitive drum whose surface is charged by the charging charger. The density sensor detects the density of the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 27. The density sensor may detect the density of the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum.

  The transfer unit 28 transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 27 to a sheet at the secondary transfer position. The transfer unit 28 includes a support roller 28a and a secondary transfer roller 28b provided along the paper conveyance path, and the support roller 28a and the secondary transfer roller 28b are intermediate transfer belts at the secondary transfer position. It is a position which opposes across 27. The transfer unit 28 applies a transfer bias controlled by a transfer current to the belt 27 at the secondary transfer position. The transfer unit 28 transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 27 to a sheet by a transfer bias. The system control unit 5 controls a transfer current used for the secondary transfer process.

  The fixing device 29 (corresponding to the changing portion) has a configuration that applies heat and pressure to the paper P in order to perform a fixing process. In the configuration example shown in FIG. 1, the fixing device 29 includes a heat roller 29b having a built-in heating unit 29a and a pressure roller 29c in contact with the fixing belt heated by the heat roller 29b in a pressurized state. The heating unit 29a may be a heater capable of controlling the temperature. For example, the heating unit 29a may be configured by a heater lamp such as a halogen lamp, or may be an induction heating (IH) type heater. Moreover, you may comprise the heating part 29a with a some heater.

  For example, when performing a fixing process for fixing a toner image on the paper P, the system control unit 5 controls the fixing device 29 to a fixing temperature. The fixing device 29 controlled to the fixing temperature heats the paper P on which the toner image is transferred by the transfer unit 28 at the fixing temperature while applying pressure. As a result, the fixing device 29 fixes the toner image on the paper P. The fixing device 29 conveys the fixed sheet P to either the paper discharge unit 30 or an automatic duplex unit (ADU) 31.

  When the paper P fixed by the fixing device 29 is discharged, the paper P is carried out to the paper discharge unit 30. When an image is also formed on the back surface of the paper P fixed by the fixing device 29, the paper P is once transported to the paper discharge unit 30 side, then switched back and transported to the ADU 31. In this case, the ADU 31 supplies the paper P reversed by the switchback to the upstream side of the registration roller 24 again. Since the paper is transported from the paper feed unit 20 to the paper discharge unit 30, the paper feed unit 20 side is the upstream side with respect to the paper transport direction, and the paper discharge unit 30 side is with respect to the paper transport direction. The downstream side.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, a pre-fixing mark detection sensor 35 (corresponding to the first reading unit) is provided on the upstream side of the fixing device 29 in the sheet conveyance direction. A post-fixing mark detection sensor 36 (corresponding to a second reading unit) is provided on the downstream side in the paper transport direction. The pre-fixing mark detection sensor 35 and the post-fixing mark detection sensor 36 are sensors for detecting the mark M printed on the paper P shown in FIG. This mark M is printed with erasable toner. The pre-fixing mark detection sensor 35 is provided in the conveyance path from the paper feeding unit to the fixing device 29. The post-fixing mark detection sensor 36 is provided in the conveyance path from the fixing device 29 to the paper discharge unit 30. In the case of an image processing apparatus capable of double-sided printing, the post-fixing mark detection sensor 36 may be provided in the conveyance path from the fixing device 29 to the branch point where the switchback is performed. In the present embodiment, the pre-fixing mark detection sensor 35 is provided in the conveyance path between the paper feeding unit and the transfer unit 28, and the post-fixing mark detection sensor 36 extends from the fixing device 29 to the branch point where the switchback is performed. It is provided in the conveyance path between. Both the pre-fixing mark detection sensor 35 and the post-fixing mark detection sensor 36 are optical sensors. The pre-fixing mark detection sensor 35 includes a light emitting unit 35a and a light receiving unit 35b, for example, in the same casing. The light emitted from the light emitting unit 35a is reflected by the surface of the paper P, and the reflected light is received by the light receiving unit 35b. Similarly, the post-fixing mark detection sensor 36 includes a light emitting unit 36a and a light receiving unit 36b. And the light emitted from the light emission part 36a receives the reflected light in the light-receiving part 36b.

  The operation panel 4 shown in FIG. 1 is a user interface. The operation panel 4 includes various buttons and a display unit 4a (corresponding to a notification unit) including a touch panel 4b. The system control unit 5 controls the contents displayed on the display unit 4 a of the operation panel 4. Further, the operation panel 4 outputs information input to the touch panel 4b or the button of the display unit 4a to the system control unit 5. The operation panel 4 has mode selection keys. This mode selection key has a partial erase mode key. When the partial erase mode key is pressed, the mode shifts to the partial erase mode. More specifically, after the partial erase mode is selected, when the scanner unit 1 reads the paper P and performs copying, if the system control unit 5 determines that the read paper P contains important information, the important information Is printed using an erasing toner.

  Next, the configuration of the control system of MFP 100 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of MFP 100 according to the present embodiment. Via a system bus 52, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 51, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 53, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 54, a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 55, an external I / F (Interface) 56, a printer unit. 2. An operation panel 4, a pre-fixing mark detection sensor 35, and a post-fixing mark detection sensor 36 are connected. Further, the CPU 51, ROM 53, and RAM 54 constitute the system control unit 5.

  The ROM 53 stores a program for operating the CPU 51 and a threshold value in advance. Also. A threshold value used for determining whether the mark M is written on the paper P is stored.

  Various memory areas such as a work area serving as a work area for data processing by a program are dynamically formed in the RAM 54. Each of the pre-fixing mark detection sensor 35 and the post-fixing mark detection sensor 36 is provided with a flag area for managing whether or not the colored mark M described on the sheet has been read. Specifically, a pre-fixing flag area and a post-fixing flag area are provided. The pre-fixing flag area stores 1 when the pre-fixing mark detection sensor 35 reads the mark M written on the paper P. The post-fixing flag area stores 1 if the post-fixing mark detection sensor 36 does not read the mark M written on the paper P. In both cases, the default value is 0, and is reset to 0 each time printing of one sheet is completed.

  The HDD 55 is a large-capacity storage device. The HDD 55 stores, for example, an OS (Operating System) for realizing predetermined control by the CPU 51, and also includes an area for temporarily storing an image read by the scanner unit 1.

  The external I / F 56 is an interface for communicating with an external device such as a client terminal (PC). For example, the external I / F 56 receives print data corresponding to a print request from an external device. The external I / F 56 may be an interface that performs data communication with an external device. For example, the external I / F 56 may be an object (USB memory or the like) locally connected to the external device, or a network for communicating via a network. It may be an interface.

  Since the scanner unit 1, the printer unit 2, and the operation panel 4 have been described above, a description thereof will be omitted.

  The pre-fixing mark detection sensor 35 and the post-fixing mark detection sensor 36 are optical sensors for detecting the mark M on the paper P as described above. Then, the reflected light value measured by the light receiving unit 35 b of the pre-fixing mark detection sensor 35 is transmitted to the system control unit 5. Further, the post-fixing mark detection sensor 36 sends the value of the reflected light measured by the light receiving unit 36 b to the control unit 5. The system control unit 5 compares the sent value with the threshold value stored in the ROM 53, and whether the mark detection sensor 35 or 36 has read the mark M on the paper P, that is, whether the mark P is on the paper P. Determine whether or not. If it is a recommended paper, the mark M written on the paper P should have disappeared (discolored) by heat for fixing the image. For this reason, if it is recommended paper, if the system control unit 5 determines the value received from the post-fixing mark detection sensor 36, the system control unit 5 cannot detect the mark M, that is, the paper P has no mark. Become.

  In MFP 100 having the above configuration, MFP 100 executes the detection job shown in FIG. 4 based on a preset program.

  First, in describing the detection job performed by the MFP 100, it is assumed that the paper P is already stored in the paper supply unit 20. Then, the operator places a document to be copied on the platen glass of the scanner unit 1 and operates the operation panel 4 to input predetermined print information (number of copies, paper P size, density information, etc.) of the copy job. . The input information is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 54. Then, a start button is pressed to start the printing process. All printing is assumed to be single-sided. In the following description, the reading of the original by the scanner unit 1 and the image forming operation by the exposure unit 26 and the image forming unit 25 are not mentioned, but the toner image is primarily transferred to the transfer belt 27 by the operation of each unit described above. Shall be.

  The system control unit 5 operates a cassette that accommodates the paper P of the input size of the paper feeding unit 20, for example, a pickup roller 21A corresponding to 20A, and the paper P contained in the paper feeding cassette 20A. The conveyance is started (ACT1).

  Simultaneously with the start of conveyance, the system control unit 5 determines whether 0 is stored in each of the post-fixing flag area and the pre-fixing flag area of the RAM 54 (ACT2).

  When the system control unit 5 determines that 0 is not stored in each of the post-fixing flag area and the pre-fixing flag area of the RAM 54 (ACT2 No), the system control unit 5 controls the transport unit 22 to control the sheet P. , And after the secondary transfer is performed by the transfer unit 28, the image is fixed by the fixing device 29. (ACT12) When the mark M is present on the paper P, the fixing device 29 fixes the image, and at the same time, the mark M printed with the erasing toner is erased.

  Thereafter, the system control unit 5 controls the transport unit 22 to transport the paper P to the paper discharge unit 30. Then, the system control unit 5 determines whether all jobs have been completed, in other words, all the copies to be stored in the RAM 54 have been printed (ACT 11).

  On the other hand, when the system control unit 5 determines that 0 is stored in each of the post-fixing flag area and the pre-fixing flag area of the RAM 54 (ACT2 Yes), the system control unit 5 uses the pre-fixing mark detection sensor 35. It is detected whether or not the mark M is present on the conveyed paper P (ACT 3).

  When the system control unit 5 determines that the mark P is present on the paper P based on the information transmitted from the pre-fixing mark detection sensor 35 (Yes in ACT3), the system control unit 5 controls the transport unit 22. The paper P is conveyed and fixed by the fixing device 29 (ACT 6). If the mark M is present on the paper P, the fixing device 29 fixes the image and at the same time, the mark M printed with the erasing toner is erased.

  On the other hand, if the system control unit 5 determines that there is no mark M on the paper P based on the information transmitted from the pre-fixing mark detection sensor 35 (No in ACT3), the system control unit 5 displays the pre-fixing flag area in the RAM 54. 1 is stored in (ACT4).

  Then, the system control unit 5 displays on the display unit 4a of the operation panel 4 that the used paper P is not a recommended paper (ACT5).

  Thereafter, the system control unit 5 controls the transport unit 22 to transport the paper P, performs secondary transfer at the transfer unit 28, and then fixes the image at the fixing unit 29 (ACT 6).

  After the image is fixed by the fixing device 29, the system control unit 5 determines whether 0 is stored in the pre-fixing flag area of the RAM 54 (ACT 7). When the system control unit 5 determines that 0 is not stored in the pre-fixing flag area (No in ACT7), the system control unit 5 controls the transport unit 22 to transport the paper P to the paper discharge unit 30. Then, the system control unit 5 determines whether all jobs have been completed, in other words, all the copies to be stored in the RAM 54 have been printed.

  On the other hand, when the system control unit 5 determines that 0 is stored in the pre-fixing flag area (Yes in ACT7), the system control unit 5 uses the post-fixing mark detection sensor 36 to mark the sheet M being conveyed. Is detected (ACT8).

  If the system control unit 5 determines that there is no mark M on the paper P based on the information transmitted from the post-fixing mark detection sensor 36 (No in ACT 8), all jobs have been completed, in other words, stored in the RAM 54. The system control unit 5 determines whether or not all the copies to be stored have been printed (ACT 11).

  On the other hand, when the system control unit 5 determines that the mark P is present on the paper P based on the information transmitted from the post-fixing mark detection sensor 36 (Yes in ACT8), the system control unit 5 sets the post-fixing flag in the RAM 54. A value of 1 is stored in the area (ACT 9).

  Then, the system control unit 5 displays on the display unit 4a of the operation panel 4 that the paper P being used is not a recommended paper (ACT 10).

  Then, the system control unit 5 controls the transport unit 22 to transport the paper P to the paper discharge unit 30. Subsequently, the system control unit 5 determines whether all jobs have been completed or, in other words, all the copies to be stored in the RAM 54 have been printed (ACT 11).

  If the system control unit 5 determines that all jobs have not been completed (No in ACT11), the system control unit 5 performs the process in ACT1 again.

  On the other hand, when the system control unit 5 determines that all jobs have been completed, the display unit 4a of the operation panel 4 is turned off, and the pre-fixing flag area and post-fixing flag area and predetermined values in the RAM 54 are set to the default value (0). Reset processing (ACT12), and the detection job is terminated.

As described above, the mark M is printed on the paper P with the erasable toner in advance, and it is determined whether the paper is the recommended paper based on the change in the state of the mark M. Thus, when non-recommended paper is used, a warning can be issued to the display device. Further, by detecting before and after erasure of erasable toner, it is possible to prevent the recommended paper from being disguised with the non-erasable toner. In particular, if the mark M is provided outside the printing area of a normal MFP, the effect of preventing forgery is improved.
Further, the recommended paper as in the present embodiment does not give the operator an unpleasant feeling because the mark M is erased after printing.

  Although the erasable toner is used in the embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a toner whose color and density change with heat may be used. Of course, the pre-fixing mark detection sensor 35 and the post-fixing mark detection sensor 36 read the change in the toner state to determine whether or not the paper is recommended.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, an MFP has been described as an example of an image processing apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a decoloring device for erasing toner that can be decolored by heat as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-113337 is also included. In this case, the color erasing unit that applies heat to the paper to erase the toner corresponds to the detection unit.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this embodiment is shown as an example and is not intending limiting the range of invention. The novel embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. This embodiment and its modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Scanner 2 Printer 4 Operation panel 5 System control part 35 Pre-fixing mark detection sensor 36 Post-fixing mark detection sensor

Claims (6)

A change unit for changing an identifier indicating the attribute of the paper preprinted on the paper;
A transport unit that transports the paper to the change unit;
A first reading unit that is located upstream of the changing unit in the conveyance direction of the sheet and reads an identifier of the sheet;
A second reading unit that is positioned downstream of the changing unit in the sheet conveyance direction and reads the identifier of the sheet;
A notification unit;
A control unit that controls the notifying unit to perform notification when comparing the reading result of the first reading unit and the reading result of the second reading unit and determining that the identifier has not changed; ,
An image processing apparatus. The changing unit applies heat to the identifier,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identifier is changed by heat of the changing unit.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identifier is formed on the sheet with toner that can be erased by applying predetermined heat. An image forming unit that forms an image on the paper;
4. The fixing device according to claim 2, wherein the changing unit is a fixing unit that fixes the image formed on the sheet by the image forming unit and erases the identifier by heat. An image processing apparatus according to 1. It further has a paper feed unit that is located upstream of the fixing device in the paper transport direction and feeds the paper.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first reading unit is located between the paper feeding unit and the fixing unit and detects an identifier of a sheet conveyed to the fixing unit. A paper discharge unit that is positioned downstream of the fixing device in the sheet conveyance direction and that receives paper discharged from the fixing device;
6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second reading unit is located between the paper discharge unit and the fixing device, and detects an identifier of a sheet discharged from the fixing device. 7. Image processing device.

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