JP2016178365A - Device for heat discoloring recording agent use determination and determination device for heat discoloring recording agent use - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for heat discoloring recording agent use determination and a determination device for heat discoloring recording agent use, capable of properly determining whether or not a heat discoloring recording agent is used.SOLUTION: Disclosed is a device for heat discoloring recording agent use determination which includes: a sheet placement part 14 on which a sheet P is placed; heating means 15 for heating at least a part of the sheet; and image reading means 16 for reading an image on the sheet before and after heating by the heating means. This device includes sheet fixing means 2a, 2b for fixing the sheet to the sheet placement part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a heat-decoloring recording agent use determination apparatus and a heat-decoloring recording agent use determination apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, writing tools such as a ballpoint pen using a heat-erasable ink that is a heat-erasable recording agent that shifts from a colored state to a decolored state by heating are known.

  For example, Patent Document 1 describes a ballpoint pen using a heat-erasable ink that develops color at room temperature (25 [° C.]) and becomes colorless at 60 [° C.] or higher. The cap part of the ballpoint pen is provided with a friction body, and the character written on the sheet paper with the heat-erasable ink is rubbed with the friction body several times to heat the character with frictional heat and to generate 60 [ [° C.] or more, the characters can be erased. Further, even after the characters are erased in this way, even if the heat-erasable ink is cooled to room temperature, the heat-erasable ink does not develop color and the characters remain erased.

  Since ink characters written with a ballpoint pen using heat-erasable ink can be erased, there is a risk that actions such as erasing and rewriting the characters after approval of the document may be performed.

  The applicant of the present application reads the image on the sheet placed in the sheet holder by the image reading unit before and after heating the sheet by the heating unit, and compares the images before and after heating to determine whether a heat-erasable recording agent is used. We are developing a heat-decoloring recording agent usage determination device that determines whether or not it is used. However, when the image reading unit reads the image before and after the heating, if the position of the sheet placed on the sheet placing portion is shifted before and after the heating, the position of the image before and after the heating read by the image reading unit is also compared. It will shift | deviate and the said determination cannot be performed appropriately.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a sheet placement unit on which a sheet is placed, a heating unit that heats at least a part of the sheet, and an image that reads an image on the sheet before and after heating by the heating unit. An apparatus for determining the use of a heat-erasable recording agent comprising a reading means, comprising: a sheet fixing means for fixing a sheet to the sheet placement portion.

  As described above, according to the present invention, there is an excellent effect that it is possible to appropriately determine whether or not a heat-erasable recording agent is used.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a heating / decoloring ink use determination device according to Configuration Example 1; 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a heating / decoloring ink use determination device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a heating / decoloring ink use determination device according to Configuration Example 2; FIG. 5 is a control block diagram for determining whether to use heat-erasable ink. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of heat decoloring ink use determination control in the heat decoloring ink use determination device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a heating / decoloring ink use determination device according to a second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a heating / decoloring ink use determination device according to Configuration Example 3; FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of a heating / decoloring ink use determination device according to Configuration Example 4; 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of heat decoloring ink use determination control in the heat decoloring ink use determination device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a heating / decoloring ink use determination device according to a third embodiment. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a heating / decoloring ink use determination device according to a third embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of heat decoloring ink use determination control in the heat decoloring ink use determination device according to the third embodiment. (A) The figure which shows an example of the display before a heat decoloring ink determination start, (b) The figure which shows an example of the display after a heat decoloring ink determination. The figure which shows the operation display part which expanded and displayed the part in which the heat decoloring ink was used. The figure which shows the other example of a display of an operation display part. FIG. 6 is a control flow diagram for determining whether to use heat-erasable ink so that an image range can be specified. The figure which shows an example of the range setting screen displayed on an operation display part.

[Embodiment 1]
Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a heat-erasable ink use determination apparatus which is a heat-decoloration recording agent use determination apparatus will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the heating / decoloring ink use determination device 1 according to the first embodiment. The heating / decoloring ink usage determination device 1 includes an upper lid 12 that can be opened and closed around a rotation shaft 13 with respect to a sheet holding table 11. The upper surface facing the upper lid 12 of the sheet holding base 11 is a sheet placing portion 14 made of a transparent plate member for placing the sheet P.

  An image reading unit 16 that reads an image on the sheet P placed on the sheet placing unit 14 is provided in the sheet holding table 11. The image reading unit 16 is placed on the sheet placing unit 14 below the image reading unit 16. A heating unit 15 for heating the sheet P is provided. Further, a determination unit 6 a that determines whether or not the heat-erasable ink is used based on the image information before and after heating read by the image reading unit 16 is provided in the sheet holding table 11. In the present embodiment, the determination unit 6 a is provided on the sheet holding table 11, but the determination unit 6 a is not necessarily provided on the sheet holding table 11.

  As notification means for notifying the determination result of whether or not the heat-erasable ink is used, the lamp 17 and the operation display unit 50 are provided on the upper surface of the upper lid 12, and the speaker 18 is provided on the side surface of the sheet holding base 11. It has been. Note that the heating / decoloring ink use determination apparatus 1 and a personal computer may be connected, and the personal computer side may be provided with functions of notification means such as the lamp 17, the speaker 18, and the operation display unit 50.

  In the heating / decoloring ink use determination apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the heating unit 15 and the image reading unit 16 are provided on the sheet holding table 11, so that at least one of the heating unit 15 and the image reading unit 16 is the upper lid 12. The weight of the upper lid 12 can be reduced as compared with the case where the upper lid 12 is provided. As a result, the user can easily perform the opening / closing operation of the upper lid 12, and the load applied to the movable portion (rotating shaft 13) of the upper lid 12 with respect to the sheet holding base 11 can be reduced to make it difficult to break.

[Configuration example 1]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heating / decoloring ink use determination device 1 according to Configuration Example 1. FIG. In the heating / decoloring ink usage determination device 1 according to this configuration example, as a sheet fixing unit that fixes the sheet P to the sheet placement unit 14, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a pressing member that presses a part of the sheet P. It has belt-shaped holding bands 2a and 2b. The holding bands 2a and 2b are provided at positions corresponding to the corners of the two corners on the diagonal line of the sheet P on the sheet placing portion 14. The presser bands 2 a and 2 b are fixed at both ends in the longitudinal direction to the sheet holder 14, and the inner surface, which is the side facing the sheet holder 14, is in contact with the surface of the sheet holder 14. Then, by inserting the corner portion of the sheet P between the holding bands 2a and 2b and the sheet placing portion 14, the corner portion of the sheet P is pressed by the holding bands 2a and 2b, and the sheet P is placed on the sheet placing portion 14. Fixed. The pressing bands may be provided at positions corresponding to the four corners of the sheet P on the sheet placement unit 14.

  As described above, when the corners of the sheet P are pressed by the holding bands 2a and 2b and the sheet P is fixed to the sheet placing unit 14, the image reading unit 16 reads the image before and after the heating of the sheet P. It is possible to suppress the displacement of the position of the sheet P before and after heating. Thereby, the image before heating and the image after heating read by the image reading unit 16 can be appropriately compared, and the determination accuracy of whether or not the heat-erasable ink is used can be improved.

  Further, in order to fix the sheet P to the sheet placing portion 14, for example, a plate-like magnet may be used as a pressing member that presses a corner portion of the sheet P. In this case, at least the periphery of the sheet holder 14 is made of a magnetic metal plate. Thereby, after placing the sheet P on the sheet placing portion 14, the magnet is attached to the metal plate of the sheet placing portion 14 across the sheet P by placing the magnet on the corner portion of the sheet P, and the sheet placing portion 14, the sheet P can be fixed.

[Configuration example 2]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the heating / decoloring ink use determination device 1 according to Configuration Example 2. In the heating and decoloring ink use determination apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 3, the edges of the two long sides and the short side on the rotating shaft side of the clear sheet 3, which is a transparent rectangular sheet-like member, are formed on the sheet placement unit 14. It is fixed. Then, the sheet P is inserted between the sheet placing portion 14 and the clear sheet 3 from the short side opposite to the rotating shaft 13 that is not fixed to the sheet placing portion 14 in the clear sheet 3. And the clear sheet 3 sandwich the sheet P. As a result, the entire sheet is pressed by the clear sheet 3, and the sheet P can be more securely fixed to the sheet placing portion 14.

  Instead of the clear sheet 3 as described above, a clear fixing member in the form of a clear file is installed on the sheet placing portion 14, and the sheet P is put into the fixing member in the manner of putting the sheet P in the clear file. Thus, a configuration for fixing the sheet P can also be employed.

  FIG. 4 is a control block diagram for determining whether to use the heat decoloring ink. As shown in FIG. 4, the heating / decoloring ink use determination device 1 is provided with a memory 5 serving as a nonvolatile storage unit. In this memory 5, a pre-heating image information storage unit 5 a that stores the pre-heating image data read by the image reading unit 16 and a post-heating image information storage unit that stores the post-heating image read by the image reading unit 16. 5b.

  When it is determined that the heat-erasable ink is not used, the pre-heating image data stored in the pre-heating image information storage unit 5a and the post-heating image data stored in the post-heating image information storage unit 5b are obtained. Erased. On the other hand, when it is determined that the heat-erasable ink is used, the image data before heating and the image data after heating are stored as they are. As described above, when it is determined that the heat-erasable ink is used, the image data before heating and the image data after heating are stored in the memory 5 without being erased. The image data can be used as evidence that heat decoloring ink has been used.

  In addition, characters written in the heat-erasable ink disappear when heated, but when it is determined that the heat-erasable ink is used, the image data before heating is stored in the memory 5 without being erased. By doing so, an image disappeared by heating can be confirmed. In addition, it may be necessary to rewrite a character that has disappeared by heating with a writing instrument that uses ink other than the heat-erasable ink. In particular, when a long sentence is described using a heat-erasable ink, it is very troublesome to re-describe it with a writing instrument using an ink other than the heat-erasable ink. However, by storing the image data before heating in the memory 5 without erasing, the image data before heating can be transmitted to a printer or the like for printing. Thereby, the trouble of rewriting again with a writing instrument using ink other than the heat decoloring ink does not occur. Further, the image formed by the printer is not erased by heating.

  Further, the heat-erasable ink use determination device 1 has a control unit 6 that controls the entire device such as heating control of the heating unit 15. The control unit 6 includes a determination unit 6a that compares the pre-heating image and the post-heating image to determine whether the heat-erasable ink has been used. Based on the result determined by the determination unit 6a, the control unit 6 controls the operation display unit 50 as a determination result notification unit to display a result as described later. Further, the lamp 17 serving as a determination result notification unit is turned on, or a warning sound is generated by the speaker 18 serving as a sound generation unit.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the heat decoloring ink use determination control in the heat decoloring ink use determination apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. First, the user uses the holding band 2a, 2b or the clear sheet 3 as described above to place the sheet P on which the use of the heat decoloring ink is determined with the surface on which the determination target image is formed facing the sheet placement unit 14 side. The sheet is pressed and fixed to the sheet holder 14 (S1). Then, after closing the upper lid 12 with respect to the sheet holding table 11, the image on the sheet P is read by the image reading unit 16 (S2). Thus, the pre-heating image data read by the image reading unit 16 is stored in the pre-heating image information storage unit 5a of the memory 5 (S3).

  Thereafter, the heating unit 15 is turned on and the sheet P is heated by the heating unit 15 (S4). The heating unit 15 is controlled so that the sheet P can be heated at a temperature equal to or higher than the temperature (for example, 60 [° C.]) at which the heat-erasable ink is erased. As a result, the image written on the sheet P using the heat decoloring ink is decolored by the heating of the heating unit 15. The image reading unit 16 reads an image on the sheet P at a timing when a predetermined time during which the preset heat-erasable ink can be erased by heat has elapsed after the heating unit 15 starts heating the sheet P ( S5). The image data after heating read by the image reading unit 16 is stored in the image information storage unit 5b after heating in the memory 5 (S6). When the image reading unit 16 reads the image after heating, the heating unit 15 is turned off.

  When the image reading unit 16 reads the pre-heating image, the control unit 6 performs color separation on the pre-heating image data read by the determination unit 6a. As a mode for decomposing, either the RGB mode or the CMYK mode may be used. Next, the color-separated image data of each color is binarized to calculate the number of pixels of black (pixel value 1). When the image reading unit 16 reads the heated image, the heated image data read by the determination unit 6a is color-separated, and the image data of each color is binarized to calculate the number of black pixels. Then, the determination unit 6a calculates the difference S for each color by subtracting the number of black pixels in the image data after heating from the number of black pixels in the image data before heating for each color (S7). This difference S is the number of pixels changed from black (pixel value 1) to white (pixel value 0), and represents the number of pixels changed before and after heating.

  Next, the determination unit 6a calculates a change rate R (%) for each color using the difference S and the number of black pixels of the image data before heating (change rate R (%) = (difference S / heating). The number of black pixels in the previous image) × 100). The degree of change R is the ratio of pixels that have changed from black (pixel value 1) to white (pixel value 0) before and after heating. It is checked whether or not the calculated degree of change R of each color exceeds a set determination threshold T (S8). In the present embodiment, the determination threshold T is set to 5 [%].

  The image described with the heat-erasable ink disappears by being heated by the heating unit 15. Therefore, when the heat-erasable ink is used, the number of black pixels in the image data after heating is smaller than the number of black pixels in the image data before heating. Therefore, the degree of change R increases and the degree of change R exceeds the determination threshold T. On the other hand, when the heat-erasable ink is not used, the images are the same before and after heating. Therefore, the number of black pixels in the image data after heating is substantially the same as the number of black pixels in the image data before heating. Therefore, the degree of change R is ≈0 and is equal to or less than the determination threshold T. Therefore, when at least one of the calculated change degrees R of the colors exceeds the determination threshold T (Yes in S8), the determination unit 6a determines that the heat-erasable ink is used (S9). On the other hand, when all the calculated degrees of change R of each color are equal to or less than the determination threshold T (No in S8), the determination unit 6a determines that the heat-erasable ink is not used (S10).

  The determination threshold T may be arbitrarily set by the user. For example, when there are more than half of the entire image where there is a possibility that the heat-erasable ink is used, such as a report, the determination can be made with high accuracy even if the determination threshold T is increased. On the other hand, if the proportion of the entire image, such as invoices and contracts, where there is a possibility of using the heat-erasable ink is small, there is a possibility that the determination cannot be made correctly unless the determination threshold T is set small. is there. Therefore, by making the determination threshold T arbitrarily settable by the user, the optimum determination threshold T according to the document to be determined can be set, and a more convenient device can be provided.

  In this embodiment, the image data before and after heating is color-separated and the use of the heat-erasable ink is determined for each color. However, binarization is performed and the number of black pixels is determined without performing color separation. It may be calculated. In this embodiment, the degree of change R (difference S is the ratio of the number of pixels of the image before heating) is used to determine the use of the heat-erasable ink. However, the difference S indicating the number of changed pixels is used. Based on this, use of the heat decoloring ink may be determined. In this embodiment, the number of changed pixels is grasped on the basis of the number of pixels of black (pixel value 1) in the binarized image data, but white (pixel) in the binarized image data. The number of changed pixels may be grasped based on the number of pixels of value 0). In this case, the difference S (number of pixels changed before and after heating) can be calculated by subtracting the number of white pixels before heating from the number of white pixels after heating.

  When the determination unit 6a determines that the heat-erasable ink is not used, the control unit 6 includes pre-heating image data corresponding to the determined sheet P stored in each image information storage unit of the memory 5, and after-heating. Erase image data. On the other hand, when the determination unit 6a determines that the heat-erasable ink is used, the operation display unit 50 is controlled to notify the user that the heat-erasable ink is being used. Further, the lighting of the lamp 17 is controlled or a warning sound is generated by the speaker 18 to notify the user that the heat-erasable ink is being used. Further, the pre-heating image data stored in the pre-heating image information storage unit 5a and the post-heating image data stored in the post-heating image information storage unit 5b are stored in the memory 5 as they are without being erased.

  In the present embodiment, it is possible to determine whether or not an image such as a character written on the sheet P is written with heat-erasable ink. Therefore, for example, an approver who approves the contents described in the document sets the document in the heating / decoloring ink use determination device 1 before approving the document, and determines whether or not the heating / decoloring ink has been used. Make a decision. Then, it is possible to approve only documents that are determined not to use heat-erasable ink.

  Whether or not the heat-erasable ink has been used is determined by rubbing the written characters and applying frictional heat to the characters, so that the characters written with the heat-erasable ink disappear and the heat-erasable ink is used. It can be determined whether or not. However, it is troublesome and troublesome for the approver to check whether or not the heat-erasable ink has been used for each document by rubbing the written characters. In particular, when approving a large amount of documents, it is a very complicated operation. On the other hand, by using the heating / decoloring ink use determination device 1, the approver simply places the document to be approved on the sheet placing unit 14 and opens / closes the upper lid 12 so that the heating / decoloring ink is applied to the document to be approved. It is possible to grasp whether or not it has been used. Therefore, it is possible to grasp whether or not the heat-erasable ink is used without taking time and effort.

[Embodiment 2]
The second embodiment (hereinafter referred to as “embodiment 2”) in which the present invention is applied to a heat-erasable ink use determination device that is a heat-erasable recording agent use determination device will be described below. Note that, among the basic configurations of the heating / decoloring ink usage determination device 1 according to the second embodiment, the description of the configuration common to the heating / decoloring ink usage determination device 1 according to the first embodiment is omitted.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the heating / decoloring ink use determination device 1 according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, in the heating / decoloring ink use determination apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, a sheet fixing unit 4 for fixing the sheet P to the sheet holder 14 is provided in the sheet holding table 11. . On the upper surface of the upper lid 12, notification means such as the lamp 17, the speaker 18, and the operation display unit 50 are provided. A heating unit 15 is provided on the rotation axis side of the upper lid 12, and an image reading unit 16 such as a camera is provided on the distal end side of the upper lid 12. The heating of the sheet P by the heating unit 15 is performed with the upper lid 12 closed with respect to the sheet holding table 11. Further, the image reading unit 16 captures and reads an image of the sheet P placed on the sheet placing unit 14 of the sheet holding table 11 in a state where the upper lid 12 is opened with respect to the sheet holding table 11.

  When the image reading unit 16 provided on the upper lid 12 captures the entire surface of the sheet and reads the image, the reading accuracy of the image deteriorates if the image reading position on the sheet P by the image reading unit 16 is not constant. Resulting in. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, a position detection sensor 20 that detects the position of the upper lid 12 with respect to the sheet holding base 11 (opening / closing angle θ of the upper lid 12 with respect to the sheet holding base 11) is provided in the vicinity of the rotation shaft 13. As a result, the position of the upper lid 12 with respect to the sheet holding base 11 is detected by the position detection sensor 20, and the upper lid 12 is at a fixed position relative to the sheet holding base 11 (for example, the position where the opening / closing angle θ is 70 degrees). Then, the entire surface of the sheet is photographed by the image reading unit 16 to read the image. Thus, the image reading accuracy can be improved as compared with the case where the image reading position on the sheet P by the image reading unit 16 is not constant. As the position detection sensor 20, for example, a rotary encoder can be used, but the position detection sensor 20 is not limited to this, and the position of the upper lid 12 with respect to the sheet holding base 11 (opening / closing angle θ of the upper lid 12 with respect to the sheet holding base 11). Anything that can be detected is acceptable.

  Further, in the heating / decoloring ink usage determination device 1, as shown in FIG. 6, an upper lid open / close detection sensor 30 for detecting the open / closed state of the upper lid 12 with respect to the sheet holding base 11 may be provided. The upper lid opening / closing detection sensor 30 protrudes upward from the sheet holding portion 14 without contacting the upper lid 12 when the upper lid 12 is opened with respect to the sheet holding base 11. 12 is detected as being open. On the other hand, when the upper cover 12 is closed with respect to the sheet holding table 11, the upper cover 12 is pushed into the sheet holding table 11 by the upper cover 12, and the upper cover 12 is closed with respect to the sheet holding table 11. Detected. When the upper lid 12 is detected by the upper lid opening / closing detection sensor 30, heating by the heating unit 15 is started. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the heating by the heating unit 15 from being started except when the upper lid 12 is closed with respect to the sheet holding table 11.

  In the heating / decoloring ink use determination apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the sheet P placed on the sheet placing unit 14 of the sheet holding table 11 and the upper cover 12 with the upper cover 12 opened with respect to the sheet holding table 11. It is possible to earn a distance from the heating unit 15 provided in the. As a result, when the heating / decoloring ink use determination is performed for different sheets P in succession, even if the heating unit 15 is hot after the determination of the previous sheet P, the next sheet placed on the sheet setting unit 14 The image of P is not affected by the heat. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the next image before heating of the sheet P from being decolored before being read by the image reading unit 16.

[Configuration example 3]
FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of the heating / decoloring ink use determination device 1 according to Configuration Example 3. The heating / decoloring ink use determination apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 7 has an electrode 41 and a power source 42 as the sheet fixing means 4. The electrode 41 is provided on the sheet holding table 11, and a positive voltage is applied to the electrode 41 from the power supply 42 to charge the surface of the sheet holder 14 with a positive charge. Then, by placing the sheet P on the surface of the sheet holder 14 charged with a positive charge in this way, a negative charge is induced by dielectric polarization on the surface layer on the sheet holder 14 side of the sheet P that is a dielectric. . As a result, the sheet P is attracted and fixed to the sheet holder 14 by an electrostatic force that can be generated by the positive charge of the sheet holder 14 and the negative charge of the sheet P. Therefore, since the sheet P is attracted and fixed by the electrostatic force only by placing the sheet P on the sheet placing portion 14, the work of fixing the sheet P to the sheet placing portion 14 is simplified. be able to.

[Configuration Example 4]
In the heating / decoloring ink use determination apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 8, as the sheet fixing unit 4, three intake fans 43 a, 43 b, and 43 c are provided in the sheet holding table 11 along the sheet holder 14. Then, a suction airflow is generated by the intake fans 43a, 43b, and 43c so as to suck air through the plurality of ventilation holes 14a. Accordingly, by placing the sheet P on the sheet placing portion 14, the sheet P is attracted and fixed to the sheet placing portion 14 by the suction airflow generated by the intake fans 43a, 43b, and 43c. Therefore, since the sheet P is adsorbed and fixed to the sheet holder 14 by the suction airflow only by placing the sheet P on the sheet holder 14, the work of fixing the sheet P to the sheet holder 14 can be simplified. it can.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of heating / decoloring ink use determination control in the heating / decoloring ink use determination device 1 according to the second embodiment. First, the user places the sheet P to be used to determine whether to use the heat-erasable ink on the sheet placing unit 14 with the surface on which the image to be judged is formed facing the upper lid 12, and the electrostatic force or The sheet P is fixed to the sheet holder 14 by the suction airflow (S1). Then, the user closes the upper lid 12, and the image on the sheet P is read by the position detection sensor 20 at a position where the opening / closing angle θ of the upper lid 12 with respect to the sheet holding base 11 becomes a predetermined angle (70 degrees). (S2). Thus, the pre-heating image data read by the image reading unit 16 is stored in the pre-heating image information storage unit 5a of the memory 5 (S3).

  Thereafter, when the upper lid 12 is closed and the upper lid opening / closing detection sensor 30 detects that the upper lid 12 is closed with respect to the sheet holding base 11 (S4), the heating unit 15 is turned on and the heating unit 15 turns on the sheet. P is heated (S5). The heating unit 15 is controlled so that the sheet P can be heated at a temperature equal to or higher than the temperature (for example, 60 [° C.]) at which the heat-erasable ink is erased. As a result, the image written on the sheet P using the heat decoloring ink is decolored by the heating of the heating unit 15. After the sheet P is heated by the heating unit 15, the upper lid 12 is opened, and the image on the sheet P is read by the position detection sensor 20 at a position where the opening / closing angle θ is a predetermined angle (70 degrees). 16 (S6). The image data after heating read by the image reading unit 16 is stored in the image information storage unit 5b after heating in the memory 5 (S7). The upper lid 12 is opened, and when the upper lid 12 is detected by the upper lid opening / closing detection sensor 30 to be in a state where the upper lid 12 is open with respect to the sheet holding base 11, the heating unit 15 is turned off.

  When the image reading unit 16 reads the pre-heating image, the control unit 6 performs color separation on the pre-heating image data read by the determination unit 6a. As a mode for decomposing, either the RGB mode or the CMYK mode may be used. Next, the color-separated image data of each color is binarized to calculate the number of pixels of black (pixel value 1). When the image reading unit 16 reads the heated image, the heated image data read by the determination unit 6a is color-separated, and the image data of each color is binarized to calculate the number of black pixels. Then, the determination unit 6a calculates the difference S for each color by subtracting the number of black pixels in the image data after heating from the number of black pixels in the image data before heating for each color (S8).

  Next, the determination unit 6a calculates a change rate R (%) for each color using the difference S and the number of black pixels of the image data before heating (change rate R (%) = (difference S / heating). The number of black pixels in the previous image) × 100). Then, it is checked whether or not the calculated degree of change R of each color exceeds the set determination threshold T (S9). In the present embodiment, the determination threshold T is set to 5 [%]. If at least one of the calculated degrees of change R of the colors exceeds the determination threshold T (Yes in S9), the determination unit 6a determines that the heat-erasable ink is being used (S10). On the other hand, when all the calculated change degrees R of each color are equal to or less than the determination threshold T (No in S9), the determination unit 6a determines that the heat-erasable ink is not used (S11).

  When the determination unit 6a determines that the heat-erasable ink is not used, the control unit 6 includes pre-heating image data corresponding to the determined sheet P stored in each image information storage unit of the memory 5, and after-heating. Erase image data. On the other hand, when the determination unit 6a determines that the heat-erasable ink is used, the operation display unit 50 is controlled to notify the user that the heat-erasable ink is being used. Further, the lighting of the lamp 17 is controlled or a warning sound is generated by the speaker 18 to notify the user that the heat-erasable ink is being used. Further, the pre-heating image data stored in the pre-heating image information storage unit 5a and the post-heating image data stored in the post-heating image information storage unit 5b are stored in the memory 5 as they are without being erased.

[Embodiment 3]
Hereinafter, a third embodiment (hereinafter referred to as Embodiment 3) in which the present invention is applied to a heat-erasable ink use determination device that is a heat-decoloring recording agent use determination device will be described. Note that, among the basic configurations of the heat-erasable ink use determination device 1 according to Embodiment 3, the description of the configuration common to the heat-decolorization ink use determination device 1 according to Embodiment 1 will be omitted as appropriate.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of the heating / decoloring ink use determination device 1 according to the third embodiment. An upper surface of the sheet holding table 11 of the heating / decoloring ink use determination device 1 is a sheet placing portion 14 for placing the sheet P. A heating unit 15 for heating the sheet P placed on the sheet placing unit 14 is provided below the sheet placing unit 14 in the sheet holding table 11. In addition, an image reading unit 16 that reads an image of the sheet P placed on the sheet placing unit 14 from above is provided in the upper housing 12 that extends from the sheet holding base 11 to above the sheet placing unit 14.

  Here, in the configuration in which an image is read by the image reading unit 16 from above (away from) the sheet P as in the heating / decoloring ink use determination device 1 according to the present embodiment, the images before and after heating are compared. In addition, it is necessary to specify the position of the sheet P with respect to the sheet placement unit 14. As an example of a method for specifying the position of the sheet P with respect to the sheet placement unit 14, an edge portion of the sheet P placed on the sheet placement unit 14 is detected by the image reading unit 16, and the sheet P with respect to the sheet placement unit 14 is detected. Identify the location.

  In addition, by registering the color of the surface of the sheet holder 14 in the memory 5 or the like in advance, the edge portion of the sheet P can be easily detected from the difference between the color of the surface of the sheet holder 14 and the color of the sheet P. can do. On the other hand, even when the color of the surface of the sheet holder 14 and the color of the sheet P are the same, if the sheet P is fixed to the sheet holder 14 as will be described later, image comparison before and after heating is accurate. Can be done well.

  Further, a control unit 6 having a determination unit 6 a that determines whether or not the heat-erasable ink is used based on image information before and after heating read by the image reading unit 16 is provided in the sheet holding table 11. ing. In the present embodiment, the determination unit 6 a is provided on the sheet holding table 11, but the determination unit 6 a is not necessarily provided on the sheet holding table 11.

  An operation display unit 50 is provided on the upper housing 12 of the sheet holding base 11 as a notification means for notifying the determination result of whether or not the heat-erasable ink is used, and a lamp is provided on the side surface of the sheet holding base 11. 17 and a speaker 18 are provided. Note that the heating / decoloring ink use determination apparatus 1 and a personal computer may be connected, and the personal computer side may be provided with functions of notification means such as the lamp 17, the speaker 18, and the operation display unit 50.

  FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the heating / decoloring ink use determination device 1 according to the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11, in the heating / decoloring ink usage determining apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, as in the heating / decoloring ink usage determining apparatus 1 shown in FIG. Belt-shaped holding bands 2a and 2b are provided at positions corresponding to the corners of the two corners. Then, by inserting the corner portion of the sheet P between the holding bands 2a and 2b and the sheet placing portion 14, the corner portion of the sheet P is pressed by the holding bands 2a and 2b, and the sheet P is placed on the sheet placing portion 14. Fixed.

  Thus, when the corners of the sheet P are pressed by the holding bands 2a and 2b and the sheet P is fixed to the sheet placing portion 14, when the image reading unit 16 reads the image before and after the heating of the sheet P, It is possible to suppress the displacement of the position of the sheet P before and after heating. Therefore, the image before heating and the image after heating read by the image reading unit 16 can be appropriately compared, and the determination accuracy of whether or not the heat-erasable ink is used can be improved.

  In the heating / decoloring ink use determination apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, as the sheet fixing means for fixing the sheet P to the sheet placing portion 14, the entire sheet is pressed by the clear sheet 3 as described in the first embodiment. It is also possible to adopt a configuration that fixes the In addition, a configuration in which the sheet P is attracted and fixed to the sheet placing portion 14 by electrostatic force, a configuration in which the sheet P is attracted and fixed to the sheet placing portion 14 by a suction airflow, and the like can also be employed.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of heat decoloring ink use determination control in the heat decoloring ink use determination device 1 according to the third embodiment. First, the user places the sheet P to be used to determine whether to use the heat-erasable ink on the sheet placement unit 14 with the surface on which the determination target image is formed facing the image reading unit 16, and the corner of the sheet P is placed on the sheet P. The sheet P is fixed to the sheet holder 14 by being pressed by the pressing bands 2a and 2b (S1). Then, when the user presses the reading start button 50a displayed on the operation display unit 50, the image on the sheet P is read by the image reading unit 16 (S2). Thus, the pre-heating image data read by the image reading unit 16 is stored in the pre-heating image information storage unit 5a of the memory 5 (S3).

  Thereafter, the heating unit 15 is turned on and the sheet P is heated by the heating unit 15 (S4). The heating unit 15 is controlled so that the sheet P can be heated at a temperature equal to or higher than the temperature (for example, 60 [° C.]) at which the heat-erasable ink is erased. As a result, the image written on the sheet P using the heat decoloring ink is decolored by the heating of the heating unit 15. The image reading unit 16 reads an image on the sheet P at a timing when a predetermined time during which the preset heat-erasable ink can be erased by heat has elapsed after the heating unit 15 starts heating the sheet P ( S5). The image data after heating read by the image reading unit 16 is stored in the image information storage unit 5b after heating in the memory 5 (S6). When the image reading unit 16 reads the image after heating, the heating unit 15 is turned off.

  When the image reading unit 16 reads the pre-heating image, the control unit 6 performs color separation on the pre-heating image data read by the determination unit 6a. As a mode for decomposing, either the RGB mode or the CMYK mode may be used. Next, the color-separated image data of each color is binarized to calculate the number of pixels of black (pixel value 1). When the image reading unit 16 reads the heated image, the heated image data read by the determination unit 6a is color-separated, and the image data of each color is binarized to calculate the number of black pixels. Then, the determination unit 6a calculates the difference S for each color by subtracting the number of black pixels in the image data after heating from the number of black pixels in the image data before heating for each color (S7).

  Next, the determination unit 6a calculates a change rate R (%) for each color using the difference S and the number of black pixels of the image data before heating (change rate R (%) = (difference S / heating). The number of black pixels in the previous image) × 100). Then, it is checked whether or not the calculated degree of change R of each color exceeds a set determination threshold T (S8). In the present embodiment, the determination threshold T is set to 5 [%]. If at least one of the calculated degrees of change R of the colors exceeds the determination threshold T (Yes in S8), the determination unit 6a determines that the heat-erasable ink is being used (S9). On the other hand, when all the calculated degrees of change R of each color are equal to or less than the determination threshold T (No in S8), the determination unit 6a determines that the heat-erasable ink is not used (S10).

  When the determination unit 6a determines that the heat-erasable ink is not used, the control unit 6 includes pre-heating image data corresponding to the determined sheet P stored in each image information storage unit of the memory 5, and after-heating. Erase image data. On the other hand, when the determination unit 6a determines that the heat-erasable ink is used, the operation display unit 50 is controlled to notify the user that the heat-erasable ink is being used. Further, the lighting of the lamp 17 is controlled or a warning sound is generated by the speaker 18 to notify the user that the heat-erasable ink is being used. Further, the pre-heating image data stored in the pre-heating image information storage unit 5a and the post-heating image data stored in the post-heating image information storage unit 5b are stored in the memory 5 as they are without being erased.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display on the operation display unit 50. FIG. 13A is a diagram illustrating an example of a display before the start of the heat decoloring ink determination, and FIG. 13B is a diagram illustrating an example of a display after the heat decoloring ink determination.

  In the heating / decoloring ink use determination device 1 according to the first, second, and third embodiments, for example, when the user places the sheet P on the sheet placing unit 14, an image as illustrated in FIG. 13A is displayed on the operation display unit 50. Is displayed, and the heating / decoloring ink determination operation can be started. Then, by pressing the reading start button 50a or by opening and closing the upper lid 12, the image before heating and the image after heating are read by the image reading unit 16 as described above, and the determination unit described above In 6a, it is determined whether the heat-erasable ink has been used. When the determination is performed by the determination unit 6a described above, the determination result is displayed on the operation display unit 50 as shown in FIG. When the decoloring ink is used, “with decoloring” is displayed, and the read image before heating and the image after heating are displayed. In this way, by displaying the pre-heating image and the post-heating image on the operation display unit 50, the difference between the pre-heating image and the post-heating image can be confirmed, and the heating decoloring ink is used in any part of the sheet P. You can see what was being done. In the example shown in FIG. 13B, it can be confirmed that the heat decoloring ink was used in the description of the amount.

  Further, in the example shown in FIG. 13B, when the decolored portion enlargement button is displayed and the user touches the button, the pre-heating image and the post-heating image on the operation display unit 50 are displayed as shown in FIG. A portion where the heat-erasable ink is used is enlarged and displayed at the display location. For example, a part where the heat-erasable ink is used is a part, and the part where the heat-erasable ink is used can be grasped from the pre-heating image and the entire display of the image after heating shown in FIG. May be difficult. At this time, the user touches the decolored portion enlargement button 50b to enlarge and display the portion where the heat decolored ink is used, as shown in FIG. It can be easily grasped.

  When the heat-erasable ink is used, the read pre-heat image data and post-heat image data are not erased from the memory 5 but are stored as they are. Then, by operating the operation display unit 50, the pre-heating image data and the post-heating image data stored in the memory 5 can be displayed and the contents can be confirmed. However, a document for determining whether or not heat-erasable ink is used is a confidential document or the like, which may cause a problem when viewed by a third party. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 15, a save setting image may be displayed on the operation display unit 50, and it may be set whether or not the read image is saved in the memory 5.

  If the document to be determined is a confidential document or the like and is a problem that can be seen by a third party, the user touches the “OFF” button of the save setting image 50c. Thereby, even when it is determined by the determination unit 6a that the heat-erasable ink is used, the image data before heating and the image data after heating stored in each image information storage unit of the memory 5 after the determination are deleted. Thereby, it is possible to determine whether or not the heat-erasable ink is used while maintaining confidentiality of the document. Further, a range for determining the use of the heat-erasable ink may be designated.

  FIG. 16 is a control flow diagram for determining whether to use the heat decoloring ink so that the image range can be specified. First, the user operates the operation display unit 50 to execute the image range designation mode. When the heating / decoloring ink use determination device 1 is used by being connected to a personal computer, an image range designation mode is executed from application software installed on the personal computer. When the image range designation mode is executed, the control unit 6 displays an instruction to close the upper lid 12 by placing the sheet P for range designation on the sheet placing unit 14 on the operation display unit 50 or the screen of the personal computer. When the user places a sheet P whose range is specified in the sheet placing unit 14 and closes the upper lid 12, the image on the sheet P is read by the image reading unit 16. At this time, the heating unit 15 is OFF. Then, the image read by the image reading unit 16 is displayed on the operation display unit 50 or the screen of the personal computer.

  FIG. 17 is an example of a range setting screen displayed on the operation display unit 50. As shown in FIG. 17, the read range designation image is displayed, and the designation range setting screen 50d is displayed. A designation frame 50f is also displayed on the read range designation image. The user designates a range by inputting a numerical value into “□” on the designated range setting screen 50d. “Upper” on the designated range setting screen corresponds to the position of the upper end of the designated frame 50f, and “Lower” on the designated range setting screen corresponds to the position of the lower end of the designated frame 50f. Further, “right” in the designated range setting screen corresponds to the right end position of the designated frame 50f, and “left” in the designated range setting screen corresponds to the left end position in the designated frame 50f. For example, if a numerical value larger than “98” displayed in “□” of “Up” on the designated range setting screen is input, the position of the upper end of the designated frame 50f moves upward, and the vertical direction of the designated frame 50f. The range expands.

  Returning to FIG. 16, while confirming the image for which the range is designated and the designation frame 50f, a numerical value is input to the designated range setting screen “□” to designate the image range to be judged (S11). When the designation of the image range to be determined is finished, the user touches the designation end button 50e. When the designation end button 50e is pressed, the control unit 6 associates the image for which the range is designated with the designated range (the input up / down / left / right values) and stores them in the nonvolatile memory. Thus, the range setting operation can be omitted when the use of the heat-erasable ink is determined next time for the same document.

  In FIG. 17, the position is designated by the number of pixels (pixels), but the position may be designated by a length (mm) from the paper reference end. Also, the user may be able to select whether to set the pixel or the length.

  When the image range to be determined is specified in this way, the image reading unit 16 reads the pre-heating image and the post-heating image as described above (S12, S13). At this time, the image range read by the image reading unit 16 is the designated image range. Thereby, the data of the read image can be reduced. Next, the difference S for each color is calculated by the determination unit 6a (S14). In this case, the image data before and after heating is color-separated or binarized to calculate the number of pixels. However, since the image data is small, the calculation load is small and the difference S can be quickly calculated. Can be calculated.

  Next, the degree of change R is calculated based on the calculated difference S, and it is checked whether the degree of change R exceeds the determination threshold T (S15). Also in this case, since the image range to be determined is designated, it is possible to increase the sensitivity of detecting the heat-use ink. As shown in FIG. 17, the designated image range is a range that is less than 10% of the entire image data. In addition, in the image shown in FIG. 17, there is a possibility that the heat-erasable ink may be used in the column for entering the amount of money next to “¥”, and the entire image data is larger than the designated image range. The share is small. As a result, depending on the contents of the document, even if heat-erasable ink is used, the degree of change R may be several [%].

  On the other hand, by designating the image range to be determined, it is possible to increase the proportion of the portion where the heat-erasable ink may be used. As a result, when the heat-erasable ink is used, the degree of change R increases. Thereby, the sensitivity of detection of the heat-use ink can be increased, and an accurate determination can be performed.

  If even one of the calculated degrees of change R of the colors exceeds the determination threshold T (Yes in S15), the determination unit 6a determines that the heat-erasable ink is being used (S16). On the other hand, when all the calculated change degrees R of the respective colors are equal to or less than the determination threshold T (No in S15), the determination unit 6a determines that the heat-erasable ink is not used (S17).

What has been described above is merely an example, and the present invention has a specific effect for each of the following modes.
(Aspect A)
A sheet placement unit such as a sheet placement unit 14 on which a sheet such as the sheet P is placed, a heating unit such as a heating unit 15 that heats at least a part of the sheet, and images on the sheet before and after heating by the heating unit In the heating / decoloring recording agent use determination apparatus provided with an image reading unit such as an image reading unit 16 for reading the sheet, sheet fixing units such as pressing bands 2a and 2b for fixing the sheet to the sheet placing unit are provided. .
In (Aspect A), since the sheet is fixed to the sheet placement unit by the sheet fixing unit, it is possible to suppress the displacement of the position of the sheet placed on the sheet placement unit before and after the heating of the sheet by the heating unit. it can. Thereby, when the image on the sheet before and after heating is read by the image reading unit, it is possible to suppress the displacement of the position of the image before and after heating read by the image reading unit. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately determine whether or not the heat-erasable recording material is used by comparing the images before and after heating read by the image reading means.
(Aspect B)
In (Aspect A), a sheet position detecting unit using an image reading unit 16 or the like for detecting the position of the sheet fixed to the sheet placing unit is provided. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, the sheet before and after heating is detected by detecting the edge portion of the sheet placed on the sheet placement unit using the image reading unit 16 or the like as the sheet position detection unit. In order to compare the images, the position of the sheet can be specified.
(Aspect C)
In (Aspect A) or (Aspect B), image information storing means such as a memory 5 for storing image information read by the image reading means is provided. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, the contents of the pre-heating image information and the post-heating image information can be confirmed later.
(Aspect D)
In any one of (Aspect A) to (Aspect C), the sheet fixing means such as the holding bands 2a and 2b presses a part of the sheet against the sheet placement portion and fixes the sheet to the sheet placement portion. To do. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, the sheet can be fixed to the sheet placing portion with a simple configuration.
(Aspect E)
In any one of (Aspect A) to (Aspect C), the sheet fixing means such as the clear sheet 3 presses the entire sheet against the sheet placement unit and fixes the sheet to the sheet placement unit. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, the sheet can be more reliably fixed to the sheet placement portion.
(Aspect F)
In any one of (Aspect A) to (Aspect C), the sheet fixing means using the electrode 41, the power source 42, and the like adsorbs and fixes the sheet to the sheet placement portion by static electricity. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, it is possible to simplify the work of fixing the sheet to the sheet placement unit.
(Aspect G)
In any one of (Aspect A) to (Aspect C), the sheet fixing means such as the intake fans 43a, 43b, and 43c fix the sheet by adsorbing the sheet to the sheet placement portion by an air flow. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, it is possible to simplify the work of fixing the sheet to the sheet placement unit.
(Aspect H)
In a heating / decoloring recording agent usage determining apparatus such as the thermal decoloring ink usage determining apparatus 1, the heating / decoloring recording agent usage determining apparatus according to any one of (Aspect A) to (Aspect G) and the image reading unit And a determination unit such as a determination unit 6a for determining whether or not the heat-erasable recording agent is used based on the image information before and after heating. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, the use determination of the heat-erasable recording agent can be appropriately performed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Heating decoloring ink use determination apparatus 2a Holding band 2b Holding band 3 Clear sheet 4 Sheet fixing means 5 Memory 5a Image information storage part before heating 5b Image information storage part after heating 6 Control part 6a Determination part 11 Sheet holding stand 12 Upper lid 13 Rotating shaft 14 Sheet placing part 14a Ventilation hole 15 Heating part 16 Image reading part 17 Lamp 18 Speaker 19 Upper housing 41 Electrode 42 Power supply 43a Intake fan 43b Intake fan 43c Intake fan 50 Operation display part 50a Read start button 50b Decoloring part Enlarge button 50c Save setting image 50d Designated range setting screen 50e Designated end button 50f Designated frame

JP 2006-123324 A

Claims (8)

A sheet placement section on which the sheet is placed;
Heating means for heating at least a part of the sheet;
In the heating / decoloring recording agent use determination apparatus comprising image reading means for reading images on the sheet before and after heating by the heating means,
An apparatus for determining the use of a heat-erasable recording agent, comprising sheet fixing means for fixing a sheet to the sheet placement portion. In the apparatus for determining use of a heat-erasable recording agent according to claim 1,
An apparatus for determining the use of a heat-erasable recording agent, comprising sheet position detecting means for detecting the position of a sheet fixed to the sheet placing portion. In the apparatus for determining the use of the heat decoloring recording agent according to claim 1 or 2,
An apparatus for determining use of a heat-erasable recording agent, comprising image information storage means for storing image information read by the image reading means. In the heat-decoloring recording agent use determination apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The apparatus for determining the use of a heat erasable recording agent, wherein the sheet fixing means presses a part of the sheet against the sheet placement section and fixes the sheet to the sheet placement section. In the heat-decoloring recording agent use determination apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The apparatus for determining use of a heat erasable recording agent, wherein the sheet fixing means presses the entire sheet against the sheet placement section and fixes the sheet to the sheet placement section. In the heat-decoloring recording agent use determination apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The apparatus for determining the use of a heat erasable recording agent, wherein the sheet fixing means adsorbs and fixes a sheet to the sheet placement portion by static electricity. In the heat-decoloring recording agent use determination apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The apparatus for determining the use of a heat-erasable recording agent, wherein the sheet fixing means fixes the sheet by adsorbing the sheet to the sheet placement portion with an air flow. An apparatus for determining the use of a heat-erasable recording agent according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
A heating / decoloring recording agent use determination apparatus comprising: a determination unit that determines whether or not a heating / decoloring recording agent is used based on image information before and after heating read by the image reading unit. .

Images