JP2016210195A - Thermal treatment apparatus of transportation medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To save energy by effectively utilizing thermal energy used for heat treatment of a medium.SOLUTION: A thermal treatment apparatus of a transportation medium comprises: a heating part for heating the medium; a first medium transportation part for transporting the medium to the heating part; a second medium transportation part for transporting the medium passed through the heating part; and a heat move part comprising a thermal storage part, and for moving heat from the second medium transportation part to the first medium transportation part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The embodiment relates to a heat treatment apparatus for a transport medium that heats the medium while the medium is transported.

  There is an apparatus for erasing an image by heating an erasable image on a recording medium. However, the great amount of heat energy used for erasing the image is not effectively utilized after erasing, and there is a risk of hindering energy saving.

JP 2010-113337 A JP 2011-209711 A

  A problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a heat treatment apparatus for a transport medium that saves energy by reusing the heat energy used for the heat treatment of the medium to effectively use the energy of the heat treatment of the medium. It is.

  In order to achieve the above object, a heat treatment apparatus for a conveyance medium according to an embodiment includes a heating unit that heats a medium, a first medium conveyance unit that conveys the medium to the heating unit, and the heating unit that has passed through the heating unit. A second medium transport unit that transports the medium, and a heat storage unit that includes a heat storage unit and moves heat from the second medium transport unit to the first medium transport unit.

The schematic block diagram which shows the decoloring apparatus of embodiment. Schematic explanatory drawing which shows the decoloring part of embodiment. Schematic explanatory drawing which shows a part of cooling guide and 1st heat flow path of embodiment. Schematic explanatory drawing which shows a part of heat storage capsule of embodiment, a 1st heat flow path, and a 2nd heat flow path. Schematic explanatory drawing which shows a part of preheating guide and 2nd heat flow path of embodiment. Schematic explanatory drawing which shows the heat transfer mechanism of embodiment. The schematic block diagram which shows the control system of the principal part which mainly has the heat transfer mechanism of the decoloring apparatus of embodiment. The flowchart which shows operation of the pump 1 of embodiment. The flowchart which shows operation of embodiment pump 2. FIG. The graph which shows transition of the temperature of the preheating guide, cooling guide, and thermal storage capsule during erasing with the decoloring apparatus of embodiment. The graph which shows transition of the temperature of the cooling guide of a comparative example.

  A heat treatment apparatus for a transport medium according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows a decoloring apparatus 10 which is an example of a heat treatment apparatus for a transport medium. The erasing apparatus 10 includes, for example, a paper feeding unit 11, a transport mechanism 12, a sensor 13, a erasing unit 14 that is a heating unit, a paper discharge mechanism 16, a heat transfer mechanism 17 that is a heat transfer unit, and a control panel 18.

  The paper feeding unit 11 feeds a sheet P that is a medium. The sheet feeding unit 11 includes, for example, a sheet feeding tray 11a for stacking sheets P for erasing an image, a pickup roller 11b for taking out the sheet P from the sheet feeding tray 11a, and a separation roller 11c.

  The transport mechanism 12 transports the fed sheet P in the direction of the sensor 13, the erasing unit 14, or the paper discharge mechanism 16. The transport mechanism 12 includes a first transport path 20, a second transport path 21 that is a first medium transport unit, and a third transport path 22 that is a second medium transport unit. The first conveyance path 20 reaches the first branching section 24 from the sheet feeding section 11 through the sensor 13. The second transport path 21 extends from the first branch part 24 to the decoloring part 14. The third conveyance path 22 reaches from the decoloring section 14 to the junction 26 upstream of the sensor 13. That is, a circulation type conveyance path is formed by a part of the first conveyance path 20, the second conveyance path 21, and the third conveyance path, and the sensor 13 is disposed at a predetermined position of the circulation type conveyance path. ing.

  The second conveyance path 21 includes a conveyance guide (not shown) and includes a preheating guide 27. The preheating guide 27 rises in temperature due to heat from the heat transfer mechanism 17 and preheats the sheet P conveyed in the second conveyance path 21. The preheating guide 27 is made of, for example, a copper plate having high thermal conductivity. The third conveyance path 22 includes a conveyance guide (not shown) and includes a cooling guide 28. The cooling guide 28 cools the sheet P heated by the decoloring section 14, which has been lowered in temperature by the movement of heat by the heat transfer mechanism 17 and is conveyed by the third conveyance path 22. The cooling guide 28 is made of, for example, a copper plate having high thermal conductivity. The material of the preheating guide 27 or the cooling guide 28 is not limited as long as the thermal conductivity is good.

  The sensor 13 includes a first scanner unit 13a and a second scanner unit 13b that are opposed to each other with the first conveyance path 20 interposed therebetween. The first scanner unit 13a and the second scanner unit 13b include a reading unit such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) scanner or a CMOS sensor, for example. The first scanner unit 13 a reads an image on the front surface of the sheet P passing through the first conveyance path 20, and the second scanner unit 13 b reads an image on the back surface of the sheet P passing through the first conveyance path 20.

  The erasing unit 14 heats the sheet P to the erasing temperature of the image to erase the image formed on the sheet P. As shown in FIG. 2, the erasing unit 14 includes a first erasing unit 31 for erasing the image on the front surface of the sheet P, and a second erasing unit for erasing the image on the back surface opposite to the front surface of the sheet P. A color unit 32 is provided. The first erasing unit 31 includes a heat roller 31b, a press roller 31c, and a temperature sensor 31d that incorporate a heat lamp 31a. The second erasing unit 33 includes a heat roller 33b incorporating a heat lamp 33a, a press roller 33c, and a temperature sensor 33d.

  The paper discharge mechanism 16 discharges the sheet P after erasing. The paper discharge mechanism 16 includes a paper discharge tray 36 that stores a sheet S1 that can be reused after erasing, and a reject tray 37 that stores a sheet S2 that cannot be reused after erasing. The paper discharge mechanism 16 includes a first paper discharge path 36a from the first branch section 24a to the paper discharge tray 36 via the second branch section 24b, and a second paper discharge path 37a from the second branch section 24b to the reject tray 37. Is provided.

  The heat transfer mechanism 17 heats the preheating guide 27 by moving the heat released from the cooling guide 28. The heat transfer mechanism 17 includes a first heat flow path 40 that is a first heat transfer unit, a first pump 41 that is a stop unit, a heat storage capsule 42 that is a heat storage unit, and a second heat flow that is a second heat transfer unit. A passage 43 and a second pump 44 are provided.

  Details of the heat transfer mechanism 17 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6. FIG. 3 shows a part of the cooling guide 28 of the third conveyance path 22 and the first heat flow path 40 of the heat transfer mechanism 17. The cooling guide 28 is downstream of the conveying roller pair 22a that conveys the sheet P in the arrow q direction. The 1st heat flow path 40 circulates the water which is a heat medium in the hollow inside of the 1st pipe 40a made from copper with high heat conductivity. The first pipe 40a is in close contact with the surface of the cooling guide 28 in a meandering state. On the cooling guide 28, the surface of the first pipe 40a is covered with a heat insulating material 40b such as urethane. The cooling guide sensor 28 a detects the temperature of the cooling guide 28.

  FIG. 4 shows the heat storage capsule 42 of the heat transfer mechanism 17, a part of the first heat channel 40 and a part of the second heat channel 43. The heat storage capsule 42 is formed, for example, by filling a heat storage material in a highly heat conductive container. The heat storage capsule 42 uses, for example, sodium acetate that changes phase from solid to liquid at 58 ° C. as a heat storage material. The first pipe 40 a of the first heat flow path 40 is in close contact with the surface of the heat storage capsule 42 while meandering. On the heat storage capsule 42, the surface of the first pipe 40a is covered with a heat insulating material 40b such as urethane. The heat storage sensor 42 a detects the temperature of the heat storage capsule 42. A second pipe 43a of a second heat flow path 43, which will be described later, is in close contact with the surface of the heat storage capsule 42 on the side facing the first pipe 40a of the heat storage capsule 42.

  The heat transferred from the first heat flow path 40 to the heat storage capsule 42 heats sodium acetate in the heat storage capsule 42 and is used for energy that changes phase from solid to liquid. The heat storage capsule 42 does not rise above the phase change temperature (58 ° C.) until the sodium acetate is completely liquid from the solid. The heat storage sensor 42 a detects the temperature of the heat storage capsule 42.

  When the temperature of the liquid sodium acetate is slowly lowered, the liquid sodium acetate remains in a liquid state and does not become a solid even if the temperature falls below the phase change temperature (58 ° C) that changes from a liquid to a solid due to a supercooling phenomenon. (Supercooled state). The supercooled sodium acetate rapidly changes from a liquid to a solid when a fine phase as a nucleus is generated by generating a trigger such as vibration or an electric signal (nucleation). Sodium acetate generates heat by nucleating and rapidly changing from liquid to solid.

  FIG. 5 shows a part of the preheating guide 27 of the second conveyance path 21 and the second heat flow path 43 of the heat transfer mechanism 17. The second heat flow path 43 circulates water as a heat medium in the hollow interior of the second pipe 43a made of copper with high thermal conductivity. The second pipe 43a is in close contact with the surface of the preheating guide 27 while meandering. On the preheating guide 27, the surface of the second pipe 43a is covered with a heat insulating material 43b such as urethane. The second heat flow path sensor 22 a detects the temperature of the preheating guide 27.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the heat transfer mechanism 17 connects the cooling guide 28 and the heat storage capsule 42 via the first heat flow path 40, and moves heat between the cooling guide 28 and the heat storage capsule 42. The first heat flow path 40 circulates the water inside the hollow of the first pipe 40 a from the arrow r direction to the arrow s direction, and moves the heat of the cooling guide 28 to the heat storage capsule 42.

  The cooling guide 28 rises in temperature by continuously conveying the sheet P heated by the decoloring section 14. The cooling guide 28 does not rise in temperature until, for example, (phase change temperature of sodium acetate (58 ° C.) + Α ° C.) or more until the sodium acetate in the heat storage capsule 42 is completely liquid from the solid.

  The first pump 41 actively circulates water in the first pipe 40a or stops circulation. The heat transfer mechanism 17 turns on the first pump 41, circulates the water in the first pipe 40a, and moves the heat released from the cooling guide 28 to the heat storage capsule 42. The heat transfer mechanism 17 turns off the first pump 41, stops the circulation of water in the first pipe 40a, and stops the heat transfer between the cooling guide 28 and the heat storage capsule 42.

  The second heat flow path 43 is connected to the heat storage capsule 42 and the preheating guide 27, and moves heat between the heat storage capsule 42 and the preheating guide 27. The second heat flow path 43 circulates the water inside the hollow of the second pipe 43 a from the arrow t direction to the arrow u direction, and moves the accumulated heat accumulated in the heat storage capsule 42 to the preheating guide 27. When the sodium acetate in the heat storage capsule 42 has reached the phase change temperature (58 ° C.), the preheating guide 27 maintains (phase change temperature of sodium acetate (58 ° C.) − Β ° C.).

  The second pump 44 actively circulates water in the second pipe 43a or stops circulation. The heat transfer mechanism 17 turns on the second pump 44 to circulate the water in the second pipe 43 a and moves the heat of the heat storage capsule 42 to the preheating guide 27. The heat transfer mechanism 17 turns off the second pump 44, stops the circulation of water in the second pipe 43a, and stops the heat transfer between the heat storage capsule 42 and the preheating guide 27.

  Between the cooling guide 28 and the heat storage capsule 42, the heat insulating material 40b covers the first pipe 40a coaxially. Between the heat storage capsule 42 and the preheating guide 27, the heat insulating material 43b covers the second pipe 43a coaxially. The first pipe 41a or the second pipe 43a is not limited to copper as long as the thermal conductivity is good. The heat medium in the first pipe 41a or the second pipe 43a is not limited to water. The heat storage material is not limited to sodium acetate. When the phase change temperature changes by changing the heat storage material, the temperature held by the cooling guide 28 changes due to the heat transfer of the heat transfer mechanism 17.

  With reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. 7, the control system 50 of the principal part which makes the heat transfer mechanism 17 of the decoloring apparatus 10 a main part is demonstrated. The erasing device controller 51 of the control system 50 includes a processor and controls the entire erasing device 10. The erasing device control unit 51 is connected to a motor 52 that drives the transport mechanism 12 or the erasing unit 14. The decoloring device control unit 51 is connected to the heat lamp 31a and temperature sensor 31d of the first decoloring unit 31 and the heat lamp 32a and temperature sensor 32d of the second decoloring unit 32 of the decoloring unit 14. The decoloring device control unit 51 controls the temperature of the heat lamp 31a based on the detection result of the temperature sensor 31d, and controls the temperature of the heat lamp 32a based on the detection result of the temperature sensor 32d.

  The erasing device control unit 51 is connected to the paper feeding unit 11, the paper discharge mechanism 16, the control panel 18, and the first branching unit 24a and the second branching unit 24b. The erasing device control unit 51 is connected to the first scanner unit 13 a and the second scanner unit 13 b of the sensor 13. The erasing device control unit 51 feeds the sheet P from the paper feeding unit 11 in response to a erasing start input from the control panel 18. The erasing device control unit 51 controls the first branching unit 13a to branch the sheet P to be erased in the direction of the second conveyance path 21, and to remove the sheet P that has been erased or not erased in the direction of the paper discharge mechanism 16. Branch to

  The erasing device control unit 51 controls the second branching unit 13 b according to the image reading result of the sheet P by the sensor 13. The erasing device control unit 51 controls the second branching unit 13b to branch the sheet P from which the image has been erased toward the paper discharge tray 36 via the first paper discharge path 36a. The erasing device control unit 51 controls the second branching unit 13b so that the sheet P that does not erase the image or the sheet P that cannot erase the image passes through the second paper discharge path 37a in the reject tray 37 direction. Branch to

  The decoloring device control unit 51 is connected to the first pump 41, the second pump 42, the cooling guide sensor 28 a, the preheating guide sensor 27 a, the heat storage sensor 42 c, and the trigger generation unit 46 of the heat transfer mechanism 17. The trigger generator 46 generates, for example, an electric pulse as a trigger in the heat storage capsule 42. The erasing device control unit 51 performs on / off control of the first pump 41 or the second pump 42 based on the detection result of the cooling guide sensor 28a, the preheating guide sensor 27a, or the heat storage sensor 42c. The erasing device control unit 51 drives the trigger generation unit 46 in response to a erasing start input from the control panel 18.

  When the image is erased, the user sets the sheet P on the sheet feeding tray 11 a of the erasing apparatus 10 and starts the erasing operation from the control panel 18. The decoloring apparatus 10 controls the decoloring apparatus control unit 51 to drive the pickup roller 11 a, the separation roller 11 b, and the first conveyance path 20 to convey the sheet P to the sensor 13. From the reading result of the sheet P by the sensor 13, if the sheet P can be reused, the decoloring apparatus 10 conveys the sheet P to the decoloring unit 14 via the first branching unit 24 a and the second conveyance path 21. If the sheet P cannot be reused, the erasing apparatus 10 discharges the sheet P from the first conveyance path 20 to the reject tray 37 via the second discharge path 37a.

  The preheating guide 27 in the second conveyance path 21 preheats the sheet P until the sheet P is conveyed to the decoloring section 14. The decoloring unit 14 decolorizes the image on the sheet P by heating both surfaces of the sheet P with the first decoloring unit 31 and the second decoloring unit 32. The decoloring apparatus 10 conveys the decolored sheet P again from the junction 26 to the sensor 13 via the third conveyance path 22.

  The erasing device control unit 51 determines that the sheet P can be reused from the read data read by the sensor 13 if the image is erased. The erasing device control unit 51 drives the first branch unit 24a and the second branch unit 24b to discharge the sheet P determined to be reusable from the first transport path 20 through the first discharge path 36a. Paper is discharged. The erasing apparatus control unit 51 determines from the read data read by the sensor 13 that the sheet P cannot be reused if the image is not erased. The erasing apparatus 10 discharges the sheet P determined to be unusable to the reject box 37.

  For example, if the decoloring apparatus 10 does not cool the sheet P in the third conveyance path 22 and conveys the sheet P to the sensor 13 at a high temperature, the temperature of the sensor 13 increases. If the sensor 13 is heated by the passage of the high-temperature sheet P and the sensor 13 is heated to a temperature upper limit or more, the characteristics of the first scanner unit 13a or the second scanner unit 13b may change. When the characteristics of the first scanner unit 13a or the second scanner unit 13b change, the sensor 13 may significantly impair reading accuracy. The erasing apparatus 10 cools the sheet P that has passed through the erasing unit 14 while it is conveyed by the third conveyance path 22 in order to maintain the reading accuracy of the sensor 13 in a good manner. The erasing apparatus 10 cools the sheet P in the third conveyance path 22, while using the heat transfer mechanism 17 to accumulate energy consumed for erasing and effectively use the energy. The operation of the heat transfer mechanism 17 will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

  FIG. 8 shows driving of the first pump 41 of the heat transfer mechanism 17. The heat transfer mechanism 17 turns on the first pump if the heat of the cooling guide 28 can be stored in the heat storage capsule 42 while the power of the erasing device 10 is on. The decoloring device control unit 51 compares the detection result of the cooling guide sensor 28a with the detection result of the heat storage sensor 42a, and if the temperature T2 of the cooling guide sensor 28a is higher than the temperature T3 of the heat storage sensor 42a (Yes in ACT70). The first pump 41 is turned on (ACT 71).

  When the first pump 41 is turned on, the water in the first pipe 40 a circulates from the direction of the arrow r to the direction of the arrow s, moves the heat of the cooling guide 28 to the heat storage capsule 42, and accumulates heat in the heat storage capsule 42. . When the temperature T2 of the cooling guide 28 falls below the temperature T3 of the heat storage capsule 42 (No in ACT 70), the decoloring device controller 51 turns off the first pump 41 (ACT 72). When the first pump 41 is turned off, the water in the first pipe 40a stops circulating, and the movement of heat from the cooling guide 28 to the heat storage capsule 42 is stopped. Alternatively, the heat transfer from the heat storage capsule 42 to the cooling guide 28 is stopped by turning off the first pump 41. The decoloring apparatus 10 repeatedly turns on / off the first pump 41 while the power is turned on, and accumulates heat in the heat storage capsule 42.

  FIG. 9 shows driving of the second pump 44 of the heat transfer mechanism 17 during erasing. When the erasing operation is started by input from the control panel 18 or the like after the power is turned on, the erasing apparatus control unit 51 turns on the trigger generation unit 46 (ACT 76) and proceeds to ACT 77. In ACT 76, the trigger generation unit 46 transmits an electric pulse to the heat storage capsule 42. When sodium acetate in the heat storage capsule 42 is in a supercooled state, the sodium acetate is nucleated by the electric pulse, and suddenly changes from a liquid to a solid to generate heat. If the sodium acetate in the heat storage capsule 42 is not supercooled, the sodium acetate maintains the current temperature regardless of the input of the electric pulse.

  In ACT77, the decoloring device control unit 51 compares the detection result of the heat storage sensor 42a with the detection result of the preheating guide sensor 27a, and if the temperature T3 of the heat storage sensor 42a is higher than the temperature T1 of the preheating guide sensor 27a (Yes in ACT77). ), The second pump 44 is turned on (ACT 78). When the second pump 44 is turned on, the water in the second pipe 43 a circulates from the arrow t direction to the arrow u direction, and moves the accumulated heat of the heat storage capsule 42 to the preheating guide 27. The preheating guide 27 heated by the movement of the accumulated heat preheats the sheet P conveyed in the second conveyance path 21.

  If the temperature T3 of the heat storage capsule 42 falls below the temperature T1 of the preheating guide 27 (No in ACT 77) while the accumulated heat of the heat storage capsule 42 is moved to the preheating guide 27, the decoloring device control unit 51 uses the second pump. 44 is turned off (ACT80). When the second pump 44 is turned off, the water in the second pipe 43 a stops circulating, and the movement of the accumulated heat from the heat storage capsule 42 to the preheating guide 27 is stopped. Alternatively, the transfer of heat from the preheating guide 27 to the heat storage capsule 42 is stopped by turning off the second pump 44.

  If the erasing operation of the erasing apparatus 10 is continued (No in ACT 81), the erasing apparatus control unit 51 returns to ACT 77 and corresponds to the relationship between the temperature T3 of the heat storage sensor 42a and the temperature T1 of the preheating guide sensor 27a. Thus, the second pump 44 is on / off controlled. If the erasing operation of the erasing apparatus 10 is completed (Yes in ACT 81), the sheet P is not conveyed on the second conveying path 21. The erasing device controller 51 turns off the second pump 44 (ACT 82), and ends the operation of the second pump 44.

  The transition of the temperature of the preheating guide 27, the cooling guide 28, and the heat storage capsule 42 during the erasing operation by the erasing apparatus 10 will be described with reference to the graph shown in FIG. After the decoloring device 10 is turned on, for example, it is assumed that the heat guide 27 and the cooling guide 28 are cooled to approximately room temperature, and the heat storage capsule 42 has accumulated some heat due to the previous decoloring operation. The temperature T1 of the preheating guide sensor 27a, the temperature T2 of the cooling guide sensor 28a, and the temperature T3 of the heat storage sensor 42a are T3> T1 = T2.

  When the user inputs the start of the decoloring operation from the control panel 18 at time m1, the decoloring device control unit 51 drives the trigger generation unit 46, and since T3> T1, the decoloring device control unit 51 performs the second operation. The pump 44 is turned on. Sodium acetate is nucleated by an electric pulse from the trigger generating unit 46 in a supercooled state, and suddenly changes from a liquid to a solid to generate heat. If sodium acetate is not in a supercooled state, it does not generate heat even if an electric pulse is generated from the trigger generator 46.

  For example, if the sodium acetate is not in a supercooled state at the start of the decoloring operation at time m1, the heat storage capsule 42 is not heated. When the second pump 44 is turned on and the water in the second pipe 43 a is circulated, the heat storage capsule 42 moves the accumulated heat to the preheating guide 27. The temperature of the preheating guide 27 rises due to the heat from the heat storage capsule 42.

  When the conveyance of the sheet P is started at time m2, the second conveyance path 21 preheats the sheet P with the preheating guide 27 while conveying the sheet P to the decoloring section 14. The third conveyance path 22 cools the sheet P by the cooling guide 28 while conveying the sheet P heated to about 90 to 100 ° C. by the erasing unit 14. As the sheet P is conveyed, the temperature of the cooling guide 28 rises and T2> T3. At time m <b> 3 when T <b> 2> T <b> 3, the erasing device controller 51 turns on the first pump, circulates the water in the first pipe 40 a, and moves heat from the cooling guide 28 to the heat storage capsule 42.

  The heat storage capsule 42 accumulates heat from the cooling guide 28 through which the first heat flow path 40 moves, and rises in temperature while moving the accumulated heat to the preheating guide 27 through the second heat flow path 43. The preheating guide 27 rises in temperature due to accumulated heat that the second heat flow path 43 moves.

  When the heat storage capsule 42 reaches the phase change temperature of sodium acetate (58 ° C.), the sodium acetate begins to change from solid to liquid and maintains the phase change temperature (58 ° C.) until it is completely liquid. The temperature of the cooling guide 28 does not rise above (58 + α) ° C. (for example, 63 ° C.), which is lower than the temperature upper limit of the sensor 13. The cooling guide 28 that maintains (58 + α) ° C. takes the heat of the sheet P heated by the decoloring section 14. The third transport unit 22 transports the sheet P, whose temperature has dropped below the upper temperature limit of the sensor 13, toward the downstream sensor 13. The erasing apparatus 10 can suppress the temperature rise of the sensor 13 that reads the sheet P after erasing.

  While the sodium acetate in the heat storage capsule 42 maintains the phase change temperature (58 ° C.), the preheating guide 27 maintains (58−β) ° C. (for example, 53 ° C.). The second conveyance path 21 preheats the sheet P at about room temperature to, for example, about 48 ° C. by the preheating guide 27 while conveying the sheet P to the erasing unit 14.

  When the erasing operation is finished at time m4 and the conveyance of the sheet P is finished, the preheating operation of the sheet P by the preheating guide 27 is finished, so the erasing device control unit 51 turns off the second pump 44. When the second pump 44 is turned off, the movement of the accumulated heat from the heat storage capsule 42 to the preheating guide 27 by the second heat channel 43 is stopped. The temperature of the preheating guide 27 and the cooling guide 28 gradually decreases. When the cooling guide 28 becomes equal to or lower than the phase change temperature (58 ° C.) of sodium acetate at time m5, the decoloring device control unit 51 turns off the first pump 41. When the first pump 41 is turned off, the movement of heat from the cooling guide 28 to the heat storage capsule 42 by the first heat flow path 40 is stopped.

  Thereafter, the temperature of the preheating guide 27 and the cooling guide 28 continues to drop to substantially room temperature. After the heat storage capsule 42 continues the phase change temperature (58 ° C.), the temperature gradually decreases to near room temperature. If the sodium acetate is in a supercooled state, the heat storage capsule 42 maintains a liquid state without changing to a solid when the temperature gradually decreases after the decoloring operation.

  When the user inputs the start of the next decoloring operation from the control panel 18 at time m6, the decoloring device control unit 51 drives the trigger generation unit 46 and turns on the second pump 44 as in the case of m1. . For example, when sodium acetate is in a supercooled state, the heat storage capsule 42 is nucleated by an electric pulse from the trigger generation unit 46, and suddenly changes from a liquid to a solid to generate heat.

  The heat generated by the heat storage capsule 42 moves to the preheating guide 27 through the second heat channel 43 and heats the preheating guide 27. When conveyance of the sheet P is started at time m7, the second conveyance path 21 preheats the sheet P with the preheating guide 27 and conveys the sheet P to the decoloring unit 14. The cooling guide 28 cools the sheet P heated in the decoloring part. When the cooling guide 28 rises in temperature due to the conveyance of the sheet P and T2> T3 at time 7, the erasing device control unit 51 turns on the first pump.

  The heat storage capsule 42 accumulates heat from the cooling guide 28 and transfers the accumulated heat to the preheating guide 27, reaches the phase change temperature (58 ° C.) of sodium acetate, and reaches the phase change temperature (58 ° C.) until it is completely liquid. ). The cooling guide 28 rises in temperature while transferring heat to the heat storage capsule 42 by the first heat flow path 40 and maintains (58 + α) ° C. The preheating guide 27 rises in temperature due to the movement of accumulated heat from the heat storage capsule 42 by the second heat flow path 43, and maintains (58−β) ° C.

  Thereafter, while repeating the end of the decoloring operation and the start of the decoloring operation, at the start of the decoloring operation, the decoloring device control unit 51 drives the trigger generating unit 46 to transfer the electric power from the trigger generating unit 46 to the heat storage capsule 42. Generate a pulse.

  The erasing apparatus 10 uses the heat transfer mechanism 17 to keep the cooling guide 28 at (58 + α) ° C. lower than the upper temperature limit of the sensor 13 and cool the sheet P heated by the erasing unit 14 during the erasing operation. The erasing apparatus 10 suppresses the temperature rise of the sensor 13 that reads the sheet P after erasing.

  On the other hand, the transition of the temperature of the cooling guide 28 of the comparative example in which the decoloring apparatus 10 is not provided with the heat transfer mechanism 17 is shown in FIG. In the comparative example, while the heated sheet P is continuously conveyed, the cooling guide 28 continues to rise in temperature until the decoloring operation is completed. In the comparative example, the temperature continues to rise even when the cooling guide 28 reaches the upper temperature limit of the sensor 13, so the sheet P reaches the sensor 13 without being cooled by the cooling guide 28. The sensor 13 rises in temperature by reading the high-temperature sheet P, so that the reading accuracy is remarkably impaired and the reading becomes impossible.

  According to the first embodiment, the heat of the cooling guide 28 that conveys the sheet P heated by the decoloring unit 14 is moved to the heat storage capsule 42 by the heat transfer mechanism 17. The cooling guide 28 is held below the upper temperature limit of the sensor 13 to accumulate heat in the heat storage capsule 42. The heat transfer mechanism 17 moves the accumulated heat of the heat storage capsule 42 to the preheating guide 17 to preheat the sheet P conveyed to the decoloring section 14.

  The cooling guide 28 cools the sheet P heated by the erasing unit 14 and suppresses the temperature rise of the sensor 13 that reads the sheet P after erasing. Even when the sheet P is continuously decolored, the characteristics of the first scanner unit 13a and the second scanner unit 13b of the sensor 13 are not impaired, and the sensor 13 maintains good reading accuracy.

  By heating the preheating guide 27 using the energy used for erasing and preheating the sheet P before erasing, the energy consumed in the erasing portion can be reduced. By accumulating the energy used for erasing and using it for preheating, the energy can be used effectively and the energy consumption of the erasing apparatus 10 can be saved.

  In the embodiment described above, the heat transfer of the heat transfer part is performed by turning the pump on and off. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a valve is provided in the heat flow path to prevent heat transfer by closing the valve. Also good. In the embodiment, the erasing apparatus is shown as an example of the heat treatment apparatus for the conveyance medium. However, the heat treatment apparatus for the conveyance medium may be mounted on the image forming apparatus. For example, in an image forming apparatus capable of double-sided printing, a cooling guide is provided in the reverse conveyance path of a sheet that has been fixed on one side to cool the sheet. By transferring the cooled sheet to the transfer unit again, the transfer accuracy of the toner image transfer on the back surface is improved. The heat of the cooling guide in the reverse conveyance path may be moved to the fixing device to save the fixing energy. Further, the medium is not limited to paper, and any medium may be used as long as it can be conveyed by the first and second medium conveying units such as plastic.

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described, this embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the 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 10 ... Decoloring apparatus 13 ... Sensor 14 ... Decoloring part (heating apparatus)
17 ... Heat transfer mechanism 21 ... Second transport path (first medium transport mechanism)
22 ... Third transport path (second medium transport mechanism)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 27 ... Preheating guide 28 ... Cooling guide 40 ... 1st heat flow path 41 ... 1st pump 42 ... Thermal storage capsule 43 ... 2nd heat flow path 44 ... 2nd pump 46 ... Trigger generating part 51 ... Decoloring apparatus control part

In order to achieve the above object, a heat treatment apparatus for a conveyance medium according to an embodiment includes a heating unit that heats a medium, a first medium conveyance unit that conveys the medium to the heating unit, and the heating unit that has passed through the heating unit. A second medium transport unit configured to transport a medium; and provided between the first medium transport unit and the second medium transport unit, and heat of the second medium transport unit is transferred to the first medium transport unit. A heat transfer unit that moves toward the unit, and an image reading unit that transports the medium that has passed through the heating unit via the second medium transport unit and reads an image of the transported medium .

Claims (2)

A heating unit for heating the medium;
A first medium transport unit that transports the medium to the heating unit;
A second medium transport unit that transports the medium that has passed through the heating unit;
An apparatus for heat-treating a transport medium, comprising: a heat storage section; and a heat transfer section that transfers heat from the second medium transport section to the first medium transport section. The heat transfer part moves a stored heat from the second heat transfer part to the first medium transfer part and a second heat transfer part that transfers the heat released from the second medium transfer part to the heat storage part. And a heat transfer part of
The said 1st heat transfer part is further provided with the stop part which stops the movement of the said discharge | release heat | fever, The heat processing apparatus of the conveyance medium of Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned.

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