JP3231293B2 - Decoloring method and decoloring apparatus for performing the decoloring method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a decoloring method for decolorizing a recording agent on a recording surface of a recording medium recorded with a recording agent comprising a near-infrared decolorable dye, for example, an aqueous ink, an oil-based ink, or a toner. And a decoloring apparatus for performing the decoloring method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, near-infrared decolorable dyes have attracted attention as dyes for recording agents used in various printers, copying machines, and the like. This is because a recording medium such as recording paper recorded with such a recording agent can be repeatedly reused, and can contribute to protection of forest resources. More specifically, the near-infrared decolorable dye is a compound comprising a near-infrared absorbing cationic dye-boron anion complex as disclosed in, for example, JP-A-4-362935, and this compound is irradiated with near-infrared light. (700 nm wavelength or more), it is decomposed into a transparent substance, but stable under visible light. Therefore, it is possible to use the near-infrared decolorable dye as a recording agent used in various printers, such as various inks and toner dyes. Thus, the recording paper can be reused.

In order to improve the efficiency of recording paper reuse,
It is necessary to rapidly perform the decomposition treatment of the near-infrared decolorable dye, that is, the decolorization treatment of the recording agent. Decomposition of the near infrared decolorable dye is promoted in the presence of a suitable catalyst such as tetrabutylammonium butyl triphenyl borate. In the above-mentioned JP-A-4-362935, an ink or toner is proposed as a recording agent comprising a near-infrared decolorable dye and a catalyst (sensitizer). Since the decolorable dye is rapidly decomposed due to the catalyst at the time of near-infrared irradiation, it is possible to speed up the decoloring process of the recording agent, that is, to improve the efficiency of reusing the recording paper.

[0004]

By the way, natural light or room illumination light contains light having a wavelength of 700 nm or more. Therefore, the recording paper recorded with the catalyst-containing recording agent is left for a long period of time. In such a case, the recording density on the recording paper, that is, the printing density, gradually decreases due to the catalyst, so that the storage stability of the recording paper becomes a problem. Also,
It has also been pointed out as a problem that once the printing density is reduced, the recording agent cannot be completely decolored even if the recording agent is actively irradiated with near-infrared rays.
On the other hand, it is also known that the decolorizing property of the recording agent as described above is promoted at a high temperature, and therefore, it has been proposed to heat the recording paper at the time of decoloring and then perform near-infrared irradiation. I have. In this case, both a heating source for heating the recording paper and a near-infrared irradiation source are required. Needless to say, providing both a heating source and a near-infrared irradiation source results in an increase in the manufacturing cost of the decoloring apparatus. Therefore, a first object of the present invention is a decoloring technique for decolorizing a recording agent on a recording surface of a recording medium recorded with a recording agent comprising a near-infrared decolorable dye, This makes it possible to ensure the long-term stabilization of the concentration of the above recording agent to enhance the storability of the recording medium and to perform the decoloring treatment of the recording agent on the recording surface of the recording medium substantially completely. To provide a decoloring technique. A second object of the present invention is a decoloring technique for decoloring a recording agent on a recording surface of a recording medium recorded with a recording agent comprising a near-infrared decolorable dye, wherein the recording of the recording medium is performed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a decoloring technique that does not require the use of both a heating source and a near-infrared irradiation source separately when decolorizing a recording agent on a surface.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is assumed that recording is performed on a recording medium with a catalyst-free recording agent comprising a near-infrared decolorable dye. During the color processing, 0.5 to 0.5 on the recording surface of the recording medium
A liquid catalyst having a catalyst concentration of 5% by weight and containing a volatile solvent such as alcohol, acetone or water is applied, and then the recording medium is heated to irradiate the liquid catalyst coated surface of the recording medium with near infrared rays. Is done. In the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-362935, a sensitizer effective for decolorizing a compound comprising a near-infrared absorbing ionic dye-boron anion complex is defined as a catalyst. Therefore, a case where this catalyst is not contained in a recording agent such as toner and ink is referred to as a “catalyst-free recording agent” in this specification. According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is assumed that recording is performed on a recording medium with a catalyst-containing recording agent comprising a near-infrared decolorable dye, and recording on a recording surface of the recording medium is performed. During the decoloring treatment of the agent, heating of the recording medium and near-infrared irradiation on the recording surface of the recording medium are performed simultaneously by a heat radiation and near-infrared irradiation source.
In the present specification, a recording agent such as a toner or an ink containing a catalyst that promotes the decomposition of the near infrared decolorable dye is referred to as a “catalyst-containing recording agent”.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is assumed that recording is performed on a recording medium with a catalyst-free recording agent, so that the concentration of the recording agent on the recording surface is stable for a long time. Can be maintained. That is, long-term storability of the recording medium can be guaranteed. On the other hand, since the liquid catalyst is applied to the recording surface of the recording medium during the decoloring process, the specific liquid catalyst quickly penetrates into the entire recording agent, so that the recording agent on the recording surface of the recording medium is It can be decolored well by heating and near-infrared irradiation. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the heating of the recording medium and the near-infrared irradiation on the recording surface of the recording medium during the decoloring process of the recording material on the recording surface of the recording medium are both heat radiation and near-infrared. Since the irradiation is performed simultaneously by the infrared irradiation source, it is not necessary to separately provide the heating source and the near-infrared irradiation source.

[0007]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects and various advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a principle configuration of a decoloring apparatus for performing a decoloring method according to a first aspect of the present invention. A heating / near-infrared irradiation unit 12 disposed adjacent to the coating unit 10; a pair of paper feed rollers 14 for supplying a recording medium such as a recording paper to the liquid catalyst coating unit 10; A pair of paper transport rollers 1 arranged adjacent to the irradiation unit 12
6, 16 are provided. In FIG. 1, reference numeral P indicates a paper path of a recording medium such as a recording paper. After passing above the near-infrared irradiating means 12, the sheet is discharged from the decoloring apparatus through the sheet conveying roller 16. During operation of the decoloring apparatus, the paper feed rollers 14, 14 and the paper transport rollers 16, 16 are respectively driven to rotate in the directions shown in the drawing. In addition,
Although not shown in FIG. 1, the paper path P is defined by appropriately disposing a guide plate.

The liquid catalyst application means 10 comprises a holding tank 10a for holding the liquid catalyst, and a roller assembly disposed in the holding tank 10a. Holding tank 10
The liquid catalyst held in a has a catalyst concentration in the range of 0.5 to 5% by weight, and a volatile solvent such as alcohol, acetone or water is used as a solvent. The roller assembly comprises a lower roller 10b, an intermediate roller 10c and an upper roller 10d, these three rollers being vertically aligned, and two adjacent rollers being in contact with each other. During operation of the decoloring device, each roller is driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure. Lower roller 1
Ob functions as a transport roller for the liquid catalyst, and its surface is preferably subjected to a roughening treatment in order to enhance the transportability of the liquid catalyst. The intermediate roller 10c functions as a liquid catalyst application roller, and its periphery is covered with the liquid catalyst conveyed from the lower roller 10b. The upper roller 10d functions as a backup roller for the intermediate roller 10c. The recording paper is passed between the intermediate roller 10c and the upper roller 10d. At this time, the recording surface of the recording paper, that is, the recording agent holding surface recorded with a catalyst-free recording agent composed of a near-infrared decolorable dye is used. Is directed to contact the intermediate roller 10c, whereby the recording agent on the recording paper is applied with a liquid catalyst.

The heating and near-infrared irradiation means 12 includes a reflecting concave mirror member 12a and a heat radiation and near-infrared irradiation source such as a halogen lamp 1 disposed at the focal point of the reflecting concave mirror member 12a.
2b. The light obtained from such a halogen lamp 12b contains much near-infrared light, and this light is efficiently directed to the paper path P side of the recording paper by the reflective concave mirror member 12a. Further, the halogen lamp 12b also emits a large amount of heat, and this heat is also efficiently directed to the paper path P side of the recording paper by the reflective concave mirror member 12a. Thus, when the recording paper that has passed through the liquid catalyst application means 10 passes above the heating and near-infrared irradiation means 12 along the paper path P, the recording agent holding surface of the recording paper is exposed to the heat radiation and near-infrared irradiation source 1.
2b receives sufficient near-infrared radiation and is heated,
Thereby, the recording material on the recording paper is erased, and the recording paper can be reused. Decomposition of near-infrared decolorable dyes is accelerated in a high-temperature atmosphere, so the decolorization processing temperature should be raised to improve the efficiency of the decolorization processing. Must be prevented from discoloring. Further, the erasing processing temperature should be set in relation to the recording paper feeding speed, and it is possible to increase the recording paper feeding speed by increasing the erasing processing temperature. Therefore, in the above-described erasing method, it is very good to always detect the erasing processing temperature and change the recording paper feed speed. Generally, the decolorizing temperature can be set in the range of about 130 ° C to about 420 ° C. In this embodiment, the halogen lamp 12b is used as the heat radiation and near-infrared irradiation source, but another lamp such as a metal halide lamp may be used.

It should be noted that the decoloring method according to the first aspect of the present invention relates to the decoloring of a recording medium on a recording medium recorded with a catalyst-free recording agent comprising a near-infrared decolorable dye. Is that it is turned. Therefore, since the catalyst is not contained in the recording agent on the recording medium, the concentration of the recording agent is stably maintained over a long period of time, thereby improving the storability of the recording medium. On the other hand, when the recording paper is reused, a liquid catalyst is applied to the recording agent, and then the recording paper is heated and irradiated with near-infrared light. Can do.

In the above-described decoloring method, the catalyst concentration of the liquid catalyst is one of the important parameters. This is because if the catalyst concentration of the liquid catalyst is too low, good decoloring treatment cannot be achieved, while if the catalyst concentration of the liquid catalyst is too high, a large amount of catalyst remains on the recycled recording paper, Therefore, when recording is performed on the reusable recording paper with a recording agent composed of a near-infrared decolorable dye, the recording density is reduced, and the storage stability of the recording paper is deteriorated. Therefore, when the decoloring process is performed with liquid catalysts having four types of catalyst concentrations, that is, 0.3%, 0.5%, 5.0%, and 6.0%, the respective decoloring processing states and storage of reusable recording paper An experiment was performed on gender. The experimental conditions are as follows. (a) Recording was performed on an A4 cut paper with an optical density of 0.8 (OD) using a catalyst-free recording agent comprising a near infrared decolorable dye. (b) The liquid catalyst is applied to such A4 cut paper using the liquid catalyst applying means 10 as shown in FIG. 1, and at this time, the feed speed of the A4 cut paper is about 20 mm / sec, and the applied amount of the liquid catalyst is It was about 1.5 g. (c) The A4 cut paper was then passed over a 400 watt halogen lamp at a speed of about 20 mm / sec, separated therefrom by about 3 cm. (d) Next, recording is performed on the A4 cut paper that has undergone the decoloring treatment (that is, the reusable recording paper) at an optical density of 0.8 (OD) with a catalyst-free recording agent comprising a near-infrared decolorable dye, and thereafter
It was left under 100-lux fluorescent light for 50 hours.
The experimental results were as shown in the table below.

[Table 1] In general, a recording density of 0.6 (OD) is necessary for sufficiently recognizing recorded characters, etc. Decoloring processing is required. As is clear from the above table, it is preferable to maintain the catalyst concentration of the liquid catalyst in the range of 0.5 to 5.0%.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the erasing apparatus according to the present invention, in which the erasing method described above is carried out. In FIG. 2, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those shown in FIG.
Reference numeral P and arrow A indicate a paper path of a recording medium such as recording paper and a moving direction of the recording paper, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 2, the liquid catalyst coating means 1
0, heating and near-infrared irradiation means 12, a pair of paper feed rollers 1
The paper transport rollers 4 and 14 and the pair of paper transport rollers 16 and 16 are both housed in a housing 18 of the erasing apparatus. The liquid catalyst applying means 10 has the same configuration as that of FIG. 1 and its holding tank 10a contains a liquid catalyst using alcohol, acetone, water or the like as a solvent (catalyst concentration is in the range of about 0.5 to about 5% by weight). A roller assembly including a lower roller 10b, an intermediate roller 10c, and an upper roller 10d is disposed in the holding tank 10a, and each roller has a function similar to that of FIG. The heating and near-infrared irradiation means 12 also has a reflective concave mirror member 12a as in the case of FIG.
A heat radiation and near-infrared radiation source 12b such as a halogen lamp is disposed at the focal point of the reflecting concave mirror member 12a.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a heat-resistant glass plate 20 is disposed as a light-transmitting plate above the heating and near-infrared irradiating means 12, and the heat-resistant glass plate 20 is connected to a metal plate 22 disposed thereabove. In cooperation, the paper path P of the recording paper is partially defined. That is, the heat-resistant glass plate 20 and the metal plate 2
Numeral 2 functions as a guide plate for the recording paper. When the recording paper passes over the heat-resistant glass plate 20, it receives near-infrared radiation from the heating and near-infrared radiation means 12 through the heat-resistant glass plate 20. A large number of perforations are formed in the metal plate 22 to prevent heat from being trapped between the heat-resistant glass plate 20 and the metal plate 22 due to the large number of perforations. As shown in FIG.
A temperature sensor 2 such as a thermistor is provided on the metal plate 22.
The temperature sensor 24 detects the temperature of the metal plate 22 and monitors the temperature in the paper passage regulated by the heat-resistant glass plate 20 and the metal plate 22. In addition, a number of perforations 26 are formed in a part of the upper wall of the housing 18, and a cooling fan 28 is provided inside the upper wall part, thereby suppressing a rise in the temperature inside the housing 18.

In the present embodiment, the decoloring device includes a paper feed hopper 3 for accommodating a bundle SP of recording papers to be reused.
The paper feed hopper 30 is disposed at a position of a paper introduction opening 32 formed in an upper wall portion of the housing 18. Each recording surface of the recording paper of the bundle SP is directed toward the bottom surface of the paper feed hopper. The feed hopper 30 includes a feed roller 34, which is connected to a rotary drive source via an electromagnetic clutch 36. Only when the electromagnetic clutch 36 is actuated, the feeding roller 34 receives the rotational driving force from the rotational drive source and is driven to rotate. When the electromagnetic clutch 36 is operated, the feeding roller 34 is rotated, whereby only one recording sheet is fed from the bundle SP, and the recording sheet is fed by a guide plate 38 provided in the housing 18 to a feeding roller. 14 and 14. A paper detector, for example, a contact switch 40 is incorporated in the paper feed hopper 30,
The paper detector 40 detects the presence or absence of paper in the paper feed hopper 30.

The recording paper guided by the paper feed rollers 14 passes between the intermediate roller 10c and the upper roller 10d of the liquid catalyst applying means 10 and is sent to the heating and near-infrared irradiating means 12. A paper detector, for example, a contact switch 42 is provided on the paper introduction side of the heating and near-infrared irradiating means 12.
From the recording paper toward the heating and near-infrared irradiation means 12 is detected. A paper detector, for example, a contact switch 44 is also provided on the paper introduction side of the paper transport rollers 16, 16, and the paper detector 44 is a recording paper that has passed through the liquid catalyst applying means 10 and the heating and near-infrared irradiation means 12. Is detected. Formed on the side wall of the housing 18 is a paper discharge opening 46 aligned with the paper transport rollers 16, 16, through which the recording paper is discharged to the outside of the housing 18 by the paper transport rollers 16, 16. Thus, the paper is stacked on a paper discharge stocker 48 provided outside the side wall. As described later, the recording paper discharged from the paper discharge opening 46 is not suitable for reuse.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, a paper circulation path P 'extends from the paper discharge side of the paper transport rollers 16, 16 to the paper introduction side of the heating and near-infrared irradiation means 12 in the housing 18. The paper circulation path P ′ is also defined by appropriately arranging the guide plates as in the case of the paper path P. A pair of paper transport rollers is disposed at an appropriate position in the paper circulation path P '. In this embodiment, two pairs of paper transport rollers 50, 50 and 52, 52 are provided. The paper transport rollers are driven to rotate in the directions of the arrows shown in FIG. On the other hand, an optical decoloring sensor 54 is disposed on the paper discharge side of the heating and near-infrared irradiation means 12.
Reference numeral 4 detects whether or not the recording agent has been successfully decolored from the recording paper that has passed through the heating and near-infrared irradiation means 12. For example, the optical decoloring sensor 54 has a large number of CCs arranged on one line.
D, and the reflection optical density (OD) on the recording paper is detected.
By comparing this reflection optical density with a predetermined threshold value,
It is determined whether or not the recording material has been successfully erased from the recording paper. When it is determined that the recording material has not been erased from the recording paper, the recording paper is sent from the paper path P to the paper circulation path P ′, and is again passed through the heating and near-infrared irradiation means 12.

To change the direction of the recording paper from the paper path P to the paper circulation path P ', a paper switch 56 is provided on the paper discharge side of the paper transport rollers 16, 16. The details of the paper switch 56 are shown in FIG. 3 is shown. In the figure, reference numerals 58 and 60 denote guide plates defining a paper path P, respectively, and reference numerals 62 and 64 denote guide plates defining a paper circulation path P ', respectively. Paper switch 56
Is a pivotable curved flap 56a which forms an extension of the guide plate 64 of the paper circulation path P ', and an electromagnetic member for rotating the curved flap 56a between the solid line position and the broken line position in FIG. And a solenoid 56b. The tip of the operating rod of the electromagnetic solenoid 56b is a curved flap 56a.
When the electromagnetic solenoid 56b is not operated, that is, when it is in an “off” state that is not electrically energized,
The operating rod is retracted, whereby the curved flap 56a is placed at the solid line position, and at this time, the recording paper is guided from the paper path P to the paper circulation path P '. On the other hand, when the electromagnetic solenoid 56b is operated, that is, when it is in the "on" state, which is electrically biased, the operating rod of the electromagnetic solenoid 56b is in the extended state.
a is rotated from the solid line position to the broken line position, and at this time, the recording paper is discharged onto the paper discharge stocker 48 through the paper opening 46. During normal operation of the decoloring device, the curved flap 56a is kept at the position indicated by the solid line in FIG.

A similar paper switch 66 is also provided on the paper introduction side of the paper transport roller 52.
Details of 6 are shown in FIG. In FIG.
Reference numerals 8 and 70 denote guide plates that define a paper circulation path P ', respectively, and reference numerals 72 and 74 denote guide plates that define a paper discharge path P ″, respectively.
Reference numeral 6 denotes a pivotable curved flap 66a which forms an extension of the guide plate 74 of the paper circulation path P ', and rotates the curved flap 66a between a solid line position and a broken line position in FIG. And an electromagnetic solenoid 66b. The tip of the operating rod of the electromagnetic solenoid 66b is a curved flap 66
When the electromagnetic solenoid 66b is not actuated, i.e., in the "off" state, which is not electrically energized, the actuation rod is retracted, whereby the curved flap 66a is placed in the solid line position. At this time, the recording paper is guided from the paper circulation path P 'to the paper discharge path P ". As shown in FIG. 2, the paper discharge path P" is directed toward the paper discharge opening 76 formed in the top wall of the housing. Extending outside the paper discharge opening 76, a pair of paper discharge rollers 78, 78 and a paper discharge stocker 80 are provided. As will be described later, the recording paper on which the color erasing process has been performed satisfactorily is a paper circulation path P '.
From the paper discharge rollers 78 and 7
8, the paper is discharged onto the paper discharge stocker 80. on the other hand,
When the electromagnetic solenoid 66b is operated, that is, when it is in an electrically energized “on” state, the electromagnetic solenoid 66b
Is turned into an extended state, whereby the curved flap 66a is rotated from the solid line position to the broken line position. At this time, the recording paper is fed toward the paper introduction side of the heating and near-infrared irradiation means 12 in the paper circulation path P '. Will go further. During normal operation of the decoloring device, the curved flap 66a
Are retained at the position indicated by the solid line in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, a similar paper switch 82 is also provided on the paper introduction side of the heating and near-infrared irradiation means 12, and details of this paper switch 82 are shown in FIG. In the figure, reference numerals 84 and 86 denote guide plates defining a paper path P, respectively, and reference numerals 88 and 90 denote guide plates defining a paper circulation path P ', respectively. The paper switching device 82 is configured to form an extension of the guide plate 90 of the paper circulation path P ', and to pivot the curved flap 82a between the solid line position and the broken line position in FIG. And an electromagnetic solenoid 82b to be rotated. The tip of the operating rod of the electromagnetic solenoid 82b is pivotally attached to the curved flap 82a,
When inactive, i.e., in the "off" state, which is not electrically energized, the operating rod is extended,
As a result, the curved flap 82a is placed at the solid line position. At this time, the paper circulation path P 'is closed by the curved flap 82a, but the paper path P is released. That is,
The recording paper is heated and near-infrared radiated by the liquid catalyst applying means 10 without being disturbed by the curved flap 82a.
2 can pass through the paper path P. On the other hand, when the electromagnetic solenoid 82b is operated, that is, when it is in the “on” state that is electrically energized, the electromagnetic solenoid 8b is turned on.
The operating rod 2b is retracted, whereby the curved flap 82a is rotated from the solid line position to the broken line position, at which time the paper circulation path P 'is communicated with the paper path P, and thus the recording paper is moved to the paper circulation path. From P ′, it is guided to the paper path P. In short, the recording paper that has passed through the paper circulation path P 'is transported again on the heating and near-infrared irradiation means 12. During normal operation of the decoloring apparatus, the curved flap 66a is kept at the position indicated by the solid line in FIG.

In this embodiment, a marker 92 (FIG. 18) is provided in the housing 18 near the paper discharge opening 76, and the marker 92 is provided in the margin area of the recording paper discharged onto the discharge stocker 80. It is used as needed to provide an appropriate mark on the. As described above, the recording paper reproduced by the decoloring apparatus, that is, the recycled paper contains a catalyst, and therefore, when recorded again with a recording agent comprising a near-infrared decolorable dye, The concentration of the recording agent can be reduced in the presence of a catalyst. Therefore,
It is not preferable to use the reusable recording paper as a stored document for a long time. By using such a marker 92, it is possible to identify whether the recording paper is reusable paper or new.

Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a control block diagram of the erasing apparatus shown in FIG. 2, and a control circuit 94 constituted by a microcomputer is shown in the control block diagram. As is apparent from FIG. 6, the microcomputer is a central processing unit (CPU) 94a and a read-only memory (ROM) storing operation programs, constants and the like.
94b, a writable / readable memory (RAM) 94c for storing temporary data and the like, and an input / output interface (I / O) 94d.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 96 denotes a main motor of the decoloring apparatus, for example, a pulse motor. 34,
It is used as a drive source for the paper transport rollers 50 and 52, the paper discharge roller 78, and the like. The main motor 96 includes the drive circuit 9
The drive circuit 98 is driven by the drive pulse from the drive circuit 8, and is controlled by the control circuit 94 through the I / O 94d. The electromagnetic clutch 36 is operated by a power supply circuit 100, and this power supply circuit 100 is
Controlled through 94d. The halogen lamp 12b is turned on and off by a power supply circuit 102, which is controlled by a control circuit 94 through an I / O 94d. As described above, in the present embodiment, the paper detector 42,
44 and 40 are each configured as a contact switch, and each contact switch is an I / O of the control circuit 94.
94d. Each contact switch is “off”
At this time, the output signal is at the low level "L", but when each contact switch is turned on, the output signal changes from the low level "L" to the high level "H". Outputs of the temperature sensor 24 and the optical decoloring sensor 54 are converted into digital signals by A / D converters 104 and 106, respectively, and taken into the control circuit 94 through the I / O 94d. Electromagnetic solenoids 56b, 66b and 8
2b are operated by power supply circuits 108, 110 and 112, respectively, and each power supply circuit is
/ O94d. The instruction lamp 114 is used to instruct the user to prompt the user to increase the voltage applied to the halogen lamp 12b as described later. The instruction lamp 114 is turned on by a power supply circuit 116, and the power supply circuit 116 is controlled by the control circuit 94 through the I / O 94d. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 118 denotes a start switch. When the start switch 118 is turned on after the power switch (not shown) is turned on, the operation of the decoloring apparatus is started.

Next, the operation of the above-described decoloring apparatus will be described with reference to the operation routine shown in FIGS. When the power switch of the decoloring apparatus is turned on, the main motor 96 is driven by the control circuit 94, the halogen lamp 12b is turned on, and the start switch 118 is turned on. 9 are executed.

In step 701, the A / D converter 104
, The detection data of the temperature sensor 24 is taken in, and it is determined whether or not the detected temperature is a temperature suitable for the decoloring process. For example, if the detected temperature is in the range of 130 to 200 degrees, it is determined that the temperature is appropriate, and the routine proceeds to step 702, where the electromagnetic clutch 36 is operated. as a result,
The feeding roller 34 is driven, and only one sheet of recording paper is fed from the bundle SP in the sheet feeding hopper 30, and the recording sheet is guided to the sheet feeding rollers 14 by a guide plate 38 provided in the housing 18. The liquid catalyst is passed through the liquid catalyst applying means 10 to apply the liquid catalyst to the recording surface of the recording paper. Next, at step 703, it is determined whether the sheet detector (SW1) 42 is "ON" / "OFF", that is, whether its output is at a high level "H" or a low level "L". When the output of the paper detector (SW1) 42 becomes high level "H", that is, when the leading edge of the recording paper is detected by the paper detector (SW1) 42, the process proceeds to step 704, where the operation of the electromagnetic clutch 36 is performed. Is released. The recording paper is irradiated with near-infrared light by the heating and near-infrared irradiation means 12 and is heated. Step 7
In 05, whether the elapsed time T ₁ is is determined. The time T ₁ is the time required from when the leading edge of the recording paper is detected by the paper detector (SW 1) 42 to when it reaches the position where the optical decoloring sensor 54 is installed. The time T ₁ is one which is previously stored in the ROM94b as a constant.

When the time T ₁ has elapsed, the process proceeds to step 706, where one line of erase data I _i is fetched from the optical erase sensor 54 via the A / D converter 106.
Next, at step 707, the operation of ΣI _i is performed.
In step 708, the calculation result of ΣI _i
It is determined whether it is smaller than H. When ΔI _i ≦ TH, it means that the recording material on the recording paper, more precisely, the color erasure of the recording material corresponding to one line described above was successfully performed, and when ΔI _i ≧ TH At one point, it means that the decolorization of the recording agent was incomplete. In the latter case, the process proceeds to step 709, where the flag F is rewritten from "0" to "1", and then proceeds to step 710. In the former case, that is, when the decoloring is successfully performed, the process proceeds from step 708 to step 710.

[0027] At step 710, whether the elapsed time T ₂ is determined. The time T ₂ is a time period after the leading edge of the recording paper is detected by the paper detector (SW 1) 42 and the paper detector 44.
It is the time required to reach the installation location of (SW2). Time to T ₂ has elapsed, whether the decoloring processing is performed well is monitored returns to step 706. When the time T ₂ elapses, steps 710 to 71
The program proceeds to step 1 where it is determined whether the sheet detector (SW2) is "ON" / "OFF", that is, whether its output is at a high level "H" or a low level "H". Paper detector
When the output of (SW2) 44 becomes high level "H", that is, when the leading edge of the recording paper is detected by the paper detector (SW1) 44, This means that the sheet passed through the heating / near-infrared irradiation unit 12 without causing paper jam. The time T ₂ are those previously stored in the ROM94b as well constants time T _1.

Subsequently, at step 712, a paper detector
It is determined whether the (SW1) 42 is "OFF" / "ON", that is, whether its output is at a low level "L" or a high level "H". When the paper detector (SW1) 42 is "ON", this indicates that the trailing edge of the recording paper is still in the paper detector (SW1) 4.
No. 2 is not passed. Until the trailing edge of the recording paper has passed the paper detector (SW1) 42, the process returns from step 712 to step 706, and it is continuously monitored whether or not the erasing process has been properly performed.

When the paper detector (SW1) 42 is turned off in step 712, that is, when the trailing edge of the recording paper passes through the paper detector (SW1) 42, the process proceeds to step 713, where the time T _{1 is set.} Is determined. Time T ₁ is the time required for the trailing edge of the recording paper has finished passing through the installation position of the optical decoloring sensor 54 from after passing through the paper detector (SW1) 42, this time the leading edge of the recording sheet This is the same as the time required from the detection by the paper detector (SW1) 42 to the arrival at the installation location of the optical decoloring sensor 54. Step 71 is performed until the time T ₁ elapses.
The process returns from step 3 to step 706, and it is continuously monitored whether or not the decoloring process is performed properly.

When the time T ₁ elapses in step 713,
That is, when the trailing edge of the recording paper has passed the location where the optical decoloring sensor 54 is installed, the process proceeds to step 714, where it is determined whether the flag F is "0" or "1". If F = 0, that is, if the decoloring process of the recording material on the recording paper has been successfully performed, the process proceeds to step 715, where the electromagnetic solenoids 66b and 82b are turned off. In the initial state, all the electromagnetic solenoids 56b, 66
b and 82b are in the "off" state. Then
In step 716, it is determined whether or not the counter C is "0". If C = 0, the process proceeds to step 717.
As will be apparent from the description below, step 709 is executed.
Unless the flag F is set to "1", the counter C is kept in the initial state. In step 717, it is determined whether the sheet detector (SW3) 40 is "off" / "on", that is, whether its output is low level "L" or high level "H". When the output of the paper detector (SW3) 40 is at a high level "H",
When the recording paper remains in 0, the process returns to step 701, and when the output of the paper sensor 40 is at the low level "L", that is, when no recording paper remains in the paper feeding hopper 30, the operation routine ends. I do.

As described above, in the initial state, all the electromagnetic solenoids 56b, 66b and 82b are in the "OFF" state, so that the heating and near-infrared irradiation means 1
The recording paper that has passed through the paper path 2 is sent from the paper path P to the paper circulation path P 'by the paper switch 56, and then sent from the paper circulation path P' to the paper discharge path P "by the paper switch 66, where the recording paper Is marked on the margin area by a marker 92. Subsequently, the recording paper is discharged onto a discharge stacker 80 by a discharge roller 78. The recording paper discharged onto the discharge stacker 80 is used. Has been subjected to a good decoloring process, so that the recording paper can be reused.

When returning to step 701, if the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 24 is out of the range of 130 to 200 degrees, the process proceeds to step 718, where it is determined whether or not the temperature is 200 degrees or more. If it is more than 200 degrees, there is a risk of discoloration of the recording paper.
Then, an appropriate alarm means such as an alarm lamp (not shown) is turned on to warn the user. At the time of the initial operation, that is, when the temperature is 130 ° C. or less immediately after the halogen lamp 12b is turned on, the process proceeds from step 701 to 718. Until then, the decoloring device is in a standby state.

If the leading end of the recording paper is not detected by the paper detector (SW2) 44 in step 711 even though the time T ₂ has elapsed, the recording paper is jammed by the heating and near-infrared irradiation means 12. At this time, the process proceeds to step 719 to turn off the halogen lamp 12b and warn the user with an appropriate alarm means.

When F = 1 in step 714, this means that the erasing process of the recording material on the recording paper has not been properly performed.
The process proceeds to 1, where it is determined whether the count value of the counter C is 3 or more. In the initial state, since C = 0, the process proceeds to step 722, where the electromagnetic solenoids 66b and 82b of the sheet changers 66 and 82 are operated, whereby the curved flaps 66a and 82a rotate from the solid line position to the broken line position. (FIGS. 4 and 5). Thus, the recording paper sent from the paper path P to the paper circulation path P 'is returned to the heating and near-infrared irradiation means 12 without being sent to the paper discharge path P ". In step 723, the flag F is set to" From "1" back to "0",
Next, at step 724, the value of the counter C is counted up by "1". In step 725, it is determined whether the sheet detector (SW1) 42 is "ON" / "OFF", that is, whether its output is at a high level "H" or a low level "L". In short, when the leading edge of the recording paper re-directed from the paper circulation path P 'to the heating and near-infrared irradiation means 12 is detected by the paper detector (SW1) 42,
Proceeding to step 705, the erasing process is repeated again and the erasing process is evaluated. Again, if the decoloring process has not been successfully performed, at step 709, F = 1
Therefore, the process proceeds from step 714 to step 721.

Even if the same recording paper is repeatedly sent to the heating and near-infrared irradiation means 12 three times to perform the decoloring process, if the decoloring process is defective, the decolorizable recording is performed on the recording paper. It is assumed that recording is performed with a recording material other than the coloring agent (for example, a pencil or a ballpoint pen) or the recording material is contaminated with other coloring agents. Outside, that is, the discharge stacker 4
8 is discharged. More specifically, in step 721, C =
When it is set to 3, the process proceeds from step 721 to step 726, where the electromagnetic solenoid 56b of the paper switch 56 is turned on,
The curved flap 56a is moved from the solid line position to the broken line position. Next, in step 727, the flag F is returned from "1" to "0", and subsequently, in step 728, the counter C is reset. In step 729, it is determined whether the sheet detector (SW1) 42 is "ON" / "OFF", that is, whether its output is at a high level "H" or a low level "L". In short, when the same recording paper is detected by the paper detector (SW1) 42 when the leading end of the recording paper when the heating and near-infrared irradiation means 12 is directed to the heating and near-infrared irradiation means 12 four times, the process proceeds from step 729 to step 730. advances, where whether the time T ₂ has elapsed. As already mentioned, the time T ₂ are leading edge of the recording sheet paper detector
(SW1) After being detected by 42, the paper detector 44 (SW
2) The time required to reach the installation location. When the time T ₂ has elapsed, the process proceeds to step 731, where the paper detector (SW2) "on" / "off", i.e. whether the high level output is at low level "H""H"
Is determined. When the output of the paper detector (SW2) 44 becomes high level “H”, that is, when the leading edge of the recording paper is detected by the paper detector (SW2) 44,
This means that the recording paper has passed through the heating and near-infrared irradiation unit 12 without causing a paper jam in the heating and near-infrared irradiation unit 12. If the paper detector (SW2) 44 is "ON", Steps 732 to 732 are performed.
And then turn the paper detector (SW2) “OFF” / “ON”
That is, it is determined whether the output is low level "L" or high level "H". That is, it is determined whether or not the trailing edge of the recording paper has passed the installation location of the paper detector (SW2) 44. Then, in step 733, whether the elapsed time T ₃ is determined. Time T ₃
Is the time required for the trailing edge of the recording paper to pass through the paper detector (SW2) 44 and be discharged onto the discharge stacker 48. After the time T _3, the process proceeds from step 733 to step 734, where the electromagnetic solenoid 56b is "off", the curved flap 56a is returned from the broken line position to the solid line position (Fig. 3), then the process proceeds to step 717.

If it is determined that the erasing process is good when the same recording paper is repeatedly sent to the heating and near-infrared irradiation means 12 once or three times, in step 716, the count number of the counter C is increased. 1 ≦ C ≦ 3. In this case, the process proceeds from step 716 to step 735, where the instruction lamp 114 for urging the user to increase the voltage applied to the halogen lamp 12b is turned on. This is because, when the same recording paper is repeatedly sent to the heating and near-infrared irradiation means 12 once or three times to perform the decoloring process, if the decoloring process is determined to be good, This is because it was assumed that infrared irradiation was not sufficiently performed. Next, after the counter C is reset in step 736, the process proceeds to step 717.

In the above embodiment, the set value of the counter C in step 721 is set to "3", but the set value may be 3 or less or 3 or more. That is, when it is determined that the decoloring process of the recording paper is defective, at least one
What is necessary is just to return to the heating and near-infrared irradiation means 12 at least twice.
On the other hand, the recording paper may be sent to any one of the discharge stackers 48 and 80 only by evaluating the first decoloring process of the recording paper. That is, if the evaluation of the decoloring process when the recording paper is first passed through the heating and near-infrared irradiation means 12 is poor, the recording paper is sent to the discharge stacker 48, and the recording paper is heated and near-irradiated. If the evaluation of the color erasing process when first passed through the infrared irradiation means 12 is good, the recording paper is sent to the paper discharge stacker 80.

In the decoloring apparatus shown in FIG. 2, it is premised that the recording paper is recorded with a non-catalyst-containing recording agent composed of a near-infrared decolorable dye. It is not intended to eliminate the decoloring processing of the recording paper on which the recording was performed with the agent. That is, by applying the liquid catalyst to the recording paper recorded with the catalyst-containing recording agent and performing the color erasing process, the color erasing process can be performed more quickly.

Referring to FIG. 10, a modified example of the operation routine shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 is shown. In this modification, in step 735, the voltage applied to the halogen lamp 12b is raised from the standard value by a predetermined width, and this is performed by controlling the power supply circuit 102 by the control circuit 94. Step 737 is added after step 717, in which the halogen lamp 12b
The voltage applied to is returned to the standard value. In short, in the operation routine shown in FIG. 10, when the same recording paper is repeatedly sent once or three times to the heating and near-infrared irradiating means 12, if the decoloring process is judged to be good, the halogen lamp 12b is The applied voltage is increased by a predetermined width from the standard value, and when the recording paper in the paper feed hopper 30 is completely exhausted and the decoloring process is once completed, the voltage applied to the halogen lamp 12b is returned to the standard value.

In the example of the operation routine shown in FIG. 10, the heating and near-infrared irradiation means 12 controls the heating of the recording paper and the near-infrared irradiation by adjusting the voltage applied to the halogen lamp 12b. However, while the voltage applied to the halogen lamp 12b is always kept constant, the heating and near-infrared irradiation means 12 is movable with respect to the paper path P as shown in FIG. It is also possible to adjust the heating and near-infrared irradiation of the recording paper from 12. More specifically, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the heating and near-infrared irradiation means 12 is mounted on a movable carriage 120, and the movement of the movable carriage 120 in the front-rear direction with respect to the paper path P is regulated by a vertical guide rail 94. Also, the movable carriage 120
Is mounted with a vertically extending rack 122, and a pinion 124 is engaged with the rack 122.
By driving the pinion 124 in both directions, the heating / near-infrared irradiation unit 12 approaches or goes away from the paper path P, so that the heating and near-infrared irradiation on the recording paper can be adjusted. An appropriate motor, for example, a pulse motor (not shown) is used to drive the pinion 124. The control of the pulse motor may be performed by a manual operation of a user, or may be performed by the control circuit 94.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the reflecting concave mirror member 12a of the heating and near-infrared irradiation means 12 has two portions 12a.
is divided into a ₁ and 12a _2, the two portions are respectively mounted on the block elements 126 ₁ and 126 _2, they block element is fixed on each rotatably supported parallel shafts 128 ₁ and 128 ₂ . At least one end of the parallel shafts 128 ₁ and 128 ₂ has gears 130 ₁ and 130, respectively.
₂ is installed. One of the gears 130 ₁ and 130 ₂ is engaged with the drive gear 132 and the drive gear 1
32 If is rotationally driven in either direction, the two parts 12a ₁ and 12a ₂ or is spread, or by or narrowed, allowed to adjust its upper opening area,
Thus, the heating and near-infrared irradiation from the heating and near-infrared irradiation means 12 to the recording paper can be adjusted. Drive gear 132
The control of the drive motor may be performed by a user's manual operation as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, or may be performed by the control circuit 94.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, an adiabatic shielding plate 134 is disposed between the liquid catalyst applying means 10 and the heating and near-infrared irradiating means 12, and the heat insulating and near-infrared irradiating means 12 separates the heat insulating and shielding plate 134. The heat radiation to the liquid catalyst applying means 10 is blocked, whereby the liquid catalyst applying means 10
Excessive evaporation of the solvent of the liquid catalyst held in the holding tank 10a can be prevented.

In the embodiment shown in FIG.
Since 0 is contaminated with paper dust or the like, the heat-resistant glass plate 20 must be periodically cleaned to remove such paper dust and the like. Needless to say, if the heat-resistant glass plate 20 is contaminated with paper dust or the like and the amount of transmitted near-infrared rays decreases, it is impossible to perform an appropriate decoloring process. In the embodiment shown in FIG.
Instead of the heat-resistant glass plate, a cylindrical light-transmitting roller 136 is used, and this cylindrical light-transmitting roller 136 is also preferably formed of a heat-resistant glass material. A backup roller 138 is applied to the cylindrical light transmitting roller 136, and the recording paper is passed between the cylindrical light transmitting roller 136 and the backup roller 138. When the color erasing device is operated, the cylindrical light transmitting roller 136 and the backup roller 138 are driven to rotate in a direction in which the recording paper is sent to the left.
The concave reflecting member 12a of the heating and near-infrared irradiating means 12 accommodates a cylindrical heat-resistant glass roller 136, and the halogen lamp 12b is arranged in the cylindrical light transmitting roller 136 along the longitudinal axis direction. As shown in FIG. 14, the cylindrical light transmitting roller 136 is engaged with a pivoting scraper element 140 as a cleaning element, and the scraper element 140 is provided with a suitable tension spring 142 so that the scraper element 140 Cylindrical translucent roller 13
6 are elastically contacted. According to such a configuration, the surface of the cylindrical light transmitting roller 136 can be constantly cleaned by the scraper element 140 when the decoloring device is operated.

The intermediate roller 10c of the liquid catalyst applying means 10
When the recording paper does not pass between the upper roller 10d and the upper roller 10d, the liquid catalyst entrained by the intermediate roller 10c also moves to the upper roller 10d. The liquid catalyst is applied to the upper surface of the recording paper when it is introduced during the period, and the liquid catalyst is consumed by that amount. In order to eliminate such wasteful consumption of the liquid catalyst, it is preferable to perform a water-repellent treatment on the surface of the upper roller 10d. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, a Teflon coating 144 can be applied to the upper roller 10d. In this case, the adhesion of the liquid catalyst to the surface of the upper roller 10d is minimized due to the Teflon coating 144, whereby wasteful consumption of the liquid catalyst may be omitted.

In order to adjust the amount of the liquid catalyst applied to the recording paper by the liquid catalyst applying means 10, it is preferable that the lower roller 10b can be displaced with respect to the intermediate roller 10c. The application amount of the liquid catalyst can be adjusted by changing the rotation speed of the roller assembly, but in this case, it cannot be adopted because the recording paper feed speed varies. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 16, each end of the lower roller 10b is connected to the drive pulley 146 and the endless drive belt 148,
By applying the tension pulley 150 to an appropriate portion of the endless drive belt 148, the application amount of the liquid catalyst can be adjusted without changing the recording paper feed speed. Specifically, the lower roller 10b is rotatably mounted on a shaft 10b 'of the lower roller 10b.
One end of a long rack member 152 is fixed to both ends of b '. The long rack member 152 is vertically movably supported by a suitable guide member (not shown) as indicated by an arrow in the figure, and a pinion 154 is engaged with a rack gear 152a of the long rack member 152. Be combined. The tension pulley 150 receives the elastic biasing force of the tension coil spring 156, whereby the endless drive belt 148 is always kept in a tension state. The driving pulley 146 receives a rotational driving force from the main motor 96 (FIG. 6), and
4 is driven by an independent rotary drive source, for example, a pulse motor (not shown). According to such a configuration, it is possible to adjust the nip width between the lower roller 10b and the intermediate roller 10c while rotating and driving the lower roller 10b at a constant speed, and by increasing the nip width. The amount of the liquid catalyst entrained by the intermediate roller 10c increases, while the amount of the liquid catalyst entrained by the intermediate roller 10c decreases by decreasing the nip width.

It is possible to incorporate the liquid catalyst application amount adjusting mechanism shown in FIG. 16 into the liquid catalyst applying means 10 of the decoloring apparatus shown in FIG. , Halogen lamp 12b
The applied amount of the liquid catalyst to the recording paper may be increased by a predetermined amount at the same time when the voltage applied to the recording paper is increased by a certain width.

Referring to FIG. 17, there is shown a principle configuration of a decoloring apparatus for performing the decoloring method according to the second aspect of the present invention. This decoloring apparatus is different from the decoloring apparatus shown in FIG. This corresponds to omitting the catalyst application means 10. In the decoloring method according to the second aspect of the present invention, it is assumed that recording is performed on a recording paper with a catalyst-containing recording agent comprising a near infrared decolorable dye. It is characterized in that the heating of the recording paper and the near-infrared irradiation on the recording surface of the recording paper are simultaneously performed by the heating and near-infrared irradiation means 12 during the decoloring process of the above recording agent. That is, when the recording paper conveyed by the paper feed rollers 14 passes through the recording path P on the heating and near-infrared irradiating means 12, the recording paper is heated and near-infrared by the heating and near-infrared irradiating means 12. Near-infrared radiation is received simultaneously with heating from the irradiation source, that is, the halogen lamp 12b.

The above-mentioned features can be applied to the case of the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. However, the decoloring method and the decoloring apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention employ a heating source. It should be understood that this can be achieved even when the and the near-infrared irradiation source are separately provided. For example,
As another embodiment of the decoloring method and the decoloring device according to the first aspect of the present invention, an embodiment using a heat roller as a heating source and a light emitting diode array as a near-infrared irradiation source can be established.

Referring to FIG. 18, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the decoloring apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, and the decoloring method of FIG. 17 is also performed in this decoloring apparatus. The decoloring apparatus shown in FIG. 18 is different from the decoloring apparatus shown in FIG.
In FIG. 18, the same reference numerals are used for the same configurations as those of the decoloring apparatus in FIG. Also, the operation of the decoloring device of FIG. 18 can be described in a manner similar to the operation routine shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 and FIG.

It is fully conceivable that writing is performed with a writing instrument on recording paper recorded with a recording agent comprising a near-infrared decolorable dye. In this case, it is necessary to ensure reuse of the recording paper. Writing instruments must also use near infrared decolorable dyes. When writing on recording paper using a writing instrument, writing mistakes naturally accompany, etc.
It is preferable that such miswriting can be easily erased. FIG. 19 shows a portable erasing apparatus, and the entire erasing apparatus takes the form of a writing instrument. More specifically, the portable decoloring apparatus includes an elongated cylindrical casing 158, and a half portion of the cylindrical casing 158 is provided with a liquid catalyst application unit 160. The liquid catalyst applying means 160 includes a holding tank 160a for holding the liquid catalyst,
And a rigid felt element 160b extending from 60a. As shown, one end of the rigid felt element 160b protrudes from one end of the cylindrical casing 158, and an intermediate portion thereof is covered with a sponge material 160c. The hard felt element 160b includes a number of capillaries, whereby the liquid catalyst in the holding tank 160a is conveyed through the hard felt element 160b to its protruding end, whereupon the sponge material 160c stores sufficient liquid catalyst. . When the portable decoloring device is not used, the protruding end of the hard felt element 160b is covered by the cap 162,
The cap 162 is preferably provided with a clip 162a as in the case of a fountain pen cap.

A heating and near-infrared ray irradiating means 164 is provided in a half portion on the opposite side of the cylindrical casing 158, and the heating and near-infrared ray irradiating means 164 includes a concave reflecting mirror element 164a.
And a halogen lamp 164b disposed at the focal point of the concave reflecting mirror element 164a. Concave reflector element 1
A transparent glass 164c is provided in the opening of the hole 64a, thereby protecting the halogen lamp 164b. Also,
In this half portion of the cylindrical casing 158, a dry battery 166 is housed as a power source for the halogen lamp 164b,
The N / OFF switch 168 selectively supplies power from the dry battery 166 to the halogen lamp 164b.

In brief, the mode of use of the portable decoloring apparatus is as follows. First, the cap 162 is removed from the cylindrical casing 158, and the liquid catalyst is applied to the writing defect on the recording paper with the protruding tip of the hard felt element 160b. Next, the halogen lamp is turned on by the ON / OFF switch 168, and near-infrared radiation is applied to the coated surface of the liquid catalyst and heat is applied thereto. In this way, it is possible to easily erase colors such as writing errors.

FIG. 20 shows another preferred embodiment of the erasing apparatus constructed in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, which is basically the same as the erasing apparatus shown in FIG. However, in the embodiment of FIG. 20, the decoloring process can be performed more quickly and efficiently than in the embodiment of FIG. 20, the same reference numerals are used for the same components as those of the decoloring apparatus shown in FIG. 2, and the functions of those components are also substantially the same. Also, in FIG.
Reference numeral P indicates a paper path of a recording medium such as recording paper, reference numeral SP indicates a bundle of recording papers mounted on the paper supply hopper 30, and arrow A indicates the direction of movement of the recording paper from the paper supply hopper 30. Is shown.

The decoloring apparatus of FIG. 20 differs from the decoloring apparatus of FIG. 2 in the following points. (1) In the erasing apparatus shown in FIG. 2, a paper circulation path P 'is provided. However, in the erasing apparatus shown in FIG. 20, such a paper circulation path is used for performing the erasing process quickly and efficiently. Omitted. That is, in the erasing apparatus of FIG. 20, each recording sheet undergoes the erasing process only once. (2) In the decoloring apparatus shown in FIG. 2, the paper detector or contact switch 42 is disposed between the liquid catalyst applying means 10 and the heating and near-infrared irradiating means 12, and the paper detector or contact switch 44 comprises a pair of papers. Transport roller 1
6, the contact switch 42 is disposed between the liquid catalyst applying means 10 and the pair of paper feed rollers 14 and 14, in the embodiment of FIG.
The contact switch 44 is a heating and near-infrared irradiating means 12
Placed close to the side. (3) In the decoloring apparatus of FIG. 2, the decoloring processing speed (ie,
The recording paper feed speed) is fixed, but in the decoloring apparatus of FIG. 20, the decoloring processing speed is variable according to the change in the decoloring processing temperature. In the erasing apparatus shown in FIG. 20, the erasing processing temperature is monitored at two points in order to safely perform the erasing processing operation. That is, on the one hand, the metal plate 22 is detected by the temperature sensor 24.
, And on the other hand, a temperature sensor 170 is provided on the heat-resistant glass plate 20 to detect the temperature of the heat-resistant glass plate 20 with which the recording surface of the recording paper is in direct contact. The temperature sensor 170 is installed at the side edge of the heat-resistant glass plate 20 which is off the recording paper path. (4) In the decoloring apparatus shown in FIG. 20, in addition to the cooling fan 28 provided on the upper wall of the housing 18, a cooling fan 172 is provided on the side wall of the housing 18. A number of perforations 173 are formed at the location where the cooling fan 172 is installed. Cooling fan 28 is driven to exhaust heated air in housing 18, while cooling fan 172 is driven to introduce cool air into housing 18. Therefore, when both the cooling fans 28 and 172 are driven at the same time, the outside air actively flows through the housing 18, so that a great cooling effect can be obtained. In the decoloring apparatus shown in FIG. 20, a control circuit board 174 for controlling the operation is provided.
Is disposed adjacent to the cooling fan 172, and the control circuit board 174 is provided with a temperature sensor 176 for detecting the temperature. Generally, the control circuit board 1
In order to guarantee the operational reliability of 74, its temperature should be kept below 70 degrees.

Referring to FIG. 21, there is shown a control block diagram of the color erasing apparatus shown in FIG. 20, and this control block diagram corresponds to the control block diagram shown in FIG. In FIG. 21, the same reference numerals are used for the same components as those in FIG. The control circuit 94 shown in the control block diagram of FIG.
This microcomputer is a central processing unit (CPU) 9
4a, a read-only memory (ROM) 94b storing an operation program, constants, etc., and a writable / readable memory (RAM) 94c storing temporary data, etc.
And an input / output interface (I / O) 94d.

In FIG. 21, reference numeral 96 denotes a main motor of the decoloring apparatus, for example, a pulse motor, similarly to FIG. 6, and the main motor 96 is a roller assembly of the liquid catalyst applying means 10, the paper feed roller 14, and the paper transport. It is used as a drive source for the roller 16, the feeding roller 34, and the like. The main motor 96 is driven by a drive pulse from a drive circuit 98, and the drive circuit 98 controls the main motor 96 by a control signal output from the control circuit 94 via an I / O 94d.
Control is performed so as to drive at a variable speed in stages. That is,
The main motor 96 is driven at one of a low speed level, a medium speed level, and a high speed level. Further, the drive circuit 98 is connected to the I / O 9 via a counter circuit 176 which counts drive pulses output to the main motor 96 therefrom.
4d, and the count circuit 176 includes a control circuit 9
4 outputs an appropriate reset signal via the I / O 94d. In short, the control circuit 94 can appropriately capture the drive amount of the main motor 96 as data. The electromagnetic clutch 36 is operated by a power supply circuit 100, which is controlled by a control circuit 94 through an I / O 94d. The halogen lamp 12b is connected to the power supply circuit 10
The power supply circuit 102 is turned on by the control circuit 9.
4 controls the halogen lamp 12b to be turned on at two voltage levels by a control signal output via the I / O 94d. That is, the halogen lamp 12b is selectively turned on at two voltage levels, a high level voltage, that is, a rated voltage of 100 volts, and a low level voltage, for example, 60 volts. The paper detector or contact switches 42, 44 and 40 are connected to the I / O 94 of the control circuit 94.
d, the output signal is low level "L" when each contact switch is "off". However, when each contact switch is "on", the output signal is changed from low level "L" to high. It changes to level "H". Outputs of the temperature sensors (thermistors) 24, 170, and 176 are converted into digital signals by A / D converters 180, 182, and 184, respectively, and then taken into the control circuit 94 via the I / O 94d. Cooling fans 28 and 1
72 is operated by drive circuits 186 and 188, respectively, and each drive circuit 186, 188 is controlled by control circuit 94 through I / O 94d. In FIG. 21, reference numerals 190, 192 and 194 are the same as those in FIG.
Shows various switches provided on an operation panel board (not shown) of the erasing apparatus, a switch 190 is a power switch of the erasing apparatus, and a switch 192 arbitrarily preheats the erasing apparatus so as to speed up the rise thereof. Switch 194 is a start switch for causing the decoloring device to perform a decoloring process operation.

Next, the preheating operation of the decoloring apparatus shown in FIG. 20 will be described with reference to the preheating routine shown in FIG.
The preheating routine of FIG. 22 is an interruption routine that is executed at predetermined time intervals, for example, every 10 ms when the power switch 190 is turned on.

First, at step 2200, the flag F₁
Is “0” or “1”, and the initial state
Then, F₁= 0, the process proceeds to step 2201,
So flag F_TwoIs “0” or “1”
Refused. In the initial state, F _Two= 0,
Proceed to step 2202, where the temperature sensor 170
Outgoing temperature T₀Is connected to the control circuit 94 via the A / D converter 182.
It is taken in. Next, in step 2203, the detection
Temperature T₀Is compared with, for example, 130 ° C., and T₀≤130 ℃
Proceeds to step 2204, where the halogen lamp 1
2b is lit at a low level voltage, eg, 60 volts. Stay
In step 2205, the value of the counter C (0 in the initial state)
Is counted up by “1”, and then step 22
06 and the value of the counter C is a predetermined constant C₀Is compared to
C ≧ C₀If so, the preheating routine ends once. What
Contact, constant C₀Is stored in the ROM 94b in advance
And its value is, for example, 20,000. Then preheating
The routine is repeated every 10ms, but the temperature sensor
170 detected temperature T₀As long as the temperature is below 130 ° C.
Only the value of data C is incremented by "1".
In the meantime, the halogen lamp 12b is turned on,
The temperature of the bath 20 is gradually increased.

If T ₀ > 130 ° C. in step 2203, the process proceeds from step 2203 to step 2207, where the detected temperature T ₀ of the temperature sensor 170 is compared with, for example, 180 ° C., and when T ₀ ≦ 180 ° C., the process proceeds to step 2205. advances, where the value of the counter C is counted up by "1", then the value of the counter C at step 2206 is compared with a predetermined constant C _0. If C ≧ C ₀ , the preheating routine ends once. After that, the preheating routine is repeatedly executed every 10 ms.
_As long as ₀ is equal to or lower than 180 ° C., the value of the counter C is only incremented by “1”, and during that time, the temperature of the heat resistant glass 20 is further increased by turning on the halogen lamp 12b.

When T ₀ > 180 ° C. in step 2207, the process proceeds from step 2207 to step 2208, where the halogen lamp 12b is turned off. Then, the process proceeds to step 2205, where the value of the counter C is counted up by "1", then the value of the counter C at step 2206 is compared with a predetermined constant C _0. If C ≧ C ₀ , the preheating routine ends once. After that, the preheating routine is repeatedly executed every 10 ms.
As long as the detected temperature T _{0 of} 70 does not drop below 130 ° C.,
Only the value of the counter C is incremented by "1". The temperature T ₀ detected by the temperature sensor 170 is again 130 ° C.
In the following cases, the halogen lamp 12b is turned on at a low level voltage (60 volts). In short, heat-resistant glass 20
Is preheated by turning on the halogen lamp 12b, and the preheating temperature is maintained within 130 to 180 ° C.

When the value of the counter C reaches 20,000, that is, when 20 minutes (20,000 × 10 ms) have elapsed since the power switch 190 was turned on, the process proceeds from step 2206 to step 2209, where the light 12b is turned off. If the halogen lamp 12b is turned off when the value of the counter C reaches 20,000, step 2
In 209, only the light-off state is maintained. Next, at step 2210, the counter C is reset,
After rewritten to a flag F ₂ is "1" in the step 2211 is followed, the preheating routine is temporarily terminated. afterwards,
The preheating routine is repeatedly executed every 10 ms. At this time, since F ₂ = 1, the process proceeds from step 2202 to step 2212, where the preheating switch 192 is turned on.
It is determined whether or not it has been performed. When the preheating switch 192 is "on" by the user, the process proceeds from step 2212 to 2213, where the flag F ₂ is rewritten to "0", over the next 20 minutes preheat heat resistant glass 20 is performed again. On the other hand, unless the preheat switch 192 is turned "on", the preheat routine will simply consist of steps 2201,2.
Just going through 202 and 2212, there is no progress. It goes without saying that the preheating operation as described above can be similarly applied to the decoloring devices shown in FIGS. 2 and 18, respectively.

Next, the operation of the decoloring apparatus shown in FIG. 20 will be described with reference to the routines shown in FIGS. The operation routine is executed by turning on the start switch 194. First, step 230
In step 1, it is determined whether the output of the sheet detector (micro switch) 40 is at a high level "H" or a low level "L", that is, whether or not a recording sheet is mounted on the sheet feeding hopper 30. When the recording paper is loaded on the paper feed hopper 30,
That is, when the output of the paper detector 40 is at the high level “H”, the process proceeds to step 2302.

[0063] At step 2302, the flag F ₂ is rewritten to "1", thereby even while the heat-resistant glass plate 20 is preheated (Fig. 22), the preheating is stopped immediately. Next, at step 2303, the flag F
₁ is rewritten to "1", thereby substantially preventing preheating by the preheating routine even if the preheating switch 192 is accidentally turned "on" during operation of the decoloring device. That is, the preheating routine of FIG. 22 is executed every 10 ms even during the operation of the decoloring apparatus, but is merely ended after step 2201.

In step 2304, the cooling fan 172
Is driven, and in step 2305, the halogen lamp 12b is turned on at a high level voltage, that is, a rated voltage of 100 volts. In step 2306, the temperature sensor 170
Then, the detected temperature T ₀ is taken into the control circuit 94 via the A / D converter 182, and then, in step 2307, the detected temperature T ₀ is compared with, for example, 200 ° C. T ₀ <200 ° C
In this case, the process returns to step 2306. That is, in step 2307, it is monitored whether the temperature of the heat-resistant glass plate 20 has reached 200 ° C. When the above-described preheating operation is performed, the temperature of the heat-resistant glass plate 20 can quickly reach 200 ° C.

When the temperature of the heat-resistant glass plate 20 reaches 200 ° C. in step 2307, the process proceeds to step 2308, where the detected temperature T ₀ of the temperature sensor 170 is compared with, for example, 290 ° C. If T ₀ <290 ° C., proceed to step 2309, where main motor 96 is driven at a low speed level. Next, at step 2310, the electromagnetic clutch 36 is operated, whereby the feeding roller 34 is driven,
Only one sheet of recording paper is fed from the bundle SP in the sheet feeding hopper 30, and the recording sheet is guided to the sheet feeding rollers 14 by a guide plate 38 provided in the housing 18.

In step 2311, the output of the sheet detector 42 is monitored from the low level "L" to the high level "H". When the output of the paper detector 42 becomes high level "H", that is, when the leading edge of the recording paper is detected by the paper detector 42, the process proceeds to step 2312, where the counter circuit 178 is reset. The operation of the electromagnetic clutch 36 is released. Thereafter, the recording paper is conveyed by paper feed rollers 14 and 14, the liquid catalyst is applied to the recording surface of the recording paper when passing through the liquid catalyst application means 10, and the recording paper is then heated and irradiated by near-infrared irradiation means 12. Upon being irradiated with near-infrared rays and heated, the recording surface of the recording paper undergoes a decoloring process.

In step 2314, the counter circuit 17
8, the count value CC ₀ is taken into the control circuit 94,
Next, at step 2315, the count value CC ₀ is set to the predetermined value L.
Compared to ₁ . The count value CC ₀ is the main motor 96
The amount of rotation, that is, corresponds to the feeding amount of the recording paper, the predetermined value L ₁ is a numerical value leading edge of the recording sheet corresponding to the amount of movement when moving from the sheet detector 42 to the paper detector 44. That is, in step 2315, the time required for the leading edge of the recording paper to reach the paper detector 44 from the paper detector 42 is measured. When the count value CC ₀ is counted up to L _{1 in} step 2315, step 231
The program proceeds to step 6, where it is determined whether the sheet detector 44 is "ON" / "OFF", that is, whether its output is at a high level "H" or a low level "L". When the output of the paper detector 44 is at the high level "H", that is, when it is confirmed that the leading end of the recording paper has been detected by the paper detector 44, the process proceeds to step 2317, where the counter circuit 178 is reset again. You.

At step 2318, the counter circuit 17
Count value CC from 8₀Is taken into the control circuit 94 again.
Then, in step 2319, the count value CC₀Is prescribed
Value L _TwoIs compared to As described above, the count value CC₀
Is a predetermined value L corresponding to the feed amount of the recording paper._TwoIs
It corresponds to the amount of movement when the recording paper passes through the paper detector 44.
It is a numerical value. That is, in step 2319, the recording
The time required for the paper to pass through paper detector 44 is measured.
It is. At step 2319, the count value CC₀Is L_TwoUntil
If it is counted, it proceeds to step 2320, where
"ON" / "OFF" of the paper detector 44, that is, its output
Is high level “H” or low level “L”
It is determined whether or not. Output of paper detector 44 is low level
When "L", that is, when the recording paper
When it is confirmed that the vehicle has passed, proceed to step 2321.
No.

At step 2321, the detected temperature t ₀ is taken from the temperature sensor 24 into the control circuit 94, and then at step 2322 the detected temperature t ₀ is compared with 200 ° C.
It is not preferable from the viewpoint of safety that the temperature t ₀ detected by the temperature sensor 24, that is, the temperature at the location of the metal plate 22 becomes 200 ° C. or more. If t ₀ <200 ° C., step 23
23, where the detected temperature tt is detected from the temperature sensor 176.
₀ is taken into the control circuit 94, and then the step 232 is executed.
At 4, the detected temperature t ₀ is compared with 70 ° C. Note that the control circuit board 174 should not be exposed to an environment of 70 ° C. or higher in order to maintain its operation reliability. If t ₀ <70 ° C., go to step 2325.

In step 2325, it is determined whether the output of the paper detector 40 is at a high level "H" or a low level "L". When the output of the paper detector 40 is at the high level "H", that is, when there is a recording paper in the paper feed hopper 30, the process returns to step 2305 again, and the same operation is repeated.

If the detected temperature T ₀ of the temperature sensor 170 exceeds 290 ° C. in step 2308, the process proceeds to step 2326, where the detected temperature T ₀ of the temperature sensor 170 is, for example, 39.
Compared to 0 ° C. When T ₀ <390 ° C., step 23
27, where the main motor 96 is driven at the medium speed level. Next, the process proceeds to step 2310, where the above-described operations are sequentially performed. However, since the main motor 96 is driven at the medium speed level, the erasing processing speed of the recording paper is increased. For example, when the recording paper is A4 size, when the driving speed of the main motor 96 is at the low speed level, the number of erase processing sheets per minute is one, but when the driving speed of the main motor 96 is at the medium speed level. , 1
The number of decoloring processed sheets per minute is three.

If the detected temperature T ₀ of the temperature sensor 170 exceeds 390 ° C. in step 2326, the process proceeds to step 2328, where the detected temperature T ₀ of the temperature sensor 170 is, for example, 41
Compared to 0 ° C. When T ₀ ≦ 410 ° C., step 23
Proceed to 29 where the main motor 96 is driven at a high speed level. Next, the process proceeds to step 2310, and the above-described operations are sequentially performed. The main motor 96
Is driven at a high speed level, the number of erase-processed sheets per minute is five when the recording paper is A4 size.

If the detected temperature T ₀ of the temperature sensor 170 exceeds 410 ° C. in step 2328, the process proceeds to step 2330, where the cooling fan 28 is driven, thereby preventing the temperature of the heat-resistant glass plate 22 from rising. Cooling fan 28
After the driving, the detected temperature T ₀ is taken into the control circuit 94 from the temperature sensor 176 in step 2331, and then the detected temperature T ₀ is compared with, for example, 420 ° C. in step 2332. When T ₀ ≦ 420 ° C., the process proceeds to step 2310, and the above-described operations are sequentially performed.

The temperature of the heat-resistant glass plate 22 is 430
Above ° C, the recording paper can burn and discolor due to heat.
Therefore, when the detected temperature T ₀ of the temperature sensor 170 exceeds 430 ° C., which is slightly lower than 420 ° C., the process proceeds to step 2333, where the halogen lamp 1
2b is turned off. In step 2334, the detected temperature T ₀ is taken again from the temperature sensor 176 into the control circuit 94, and then in step 2335, the detected temperature T ₀ is, for example, 40
Compared to 0 ° C. When T ₀ > 400 ° C., step 23
Returned to 34. That is, in step 2335, the process waits until the temperature of the heat-resistant glass plate 20 falls to 400 ° C. or lower, during which the decoloring process is interrupted. When the detected temperature t ₀ from the temperature sensor 170 becomes equal to or lower than 400 ° C. in step 2335, the process proceeds to step 2336, where the halogen lamp 12b is turned on again at the high level voltage, and then proceeds to step 2310 to restart the decoloring process. .

When the output of the paper detector 40 is at the low level "L" in step 2325, that is, when the paper feed hopper 3
When there is no recording paper in 0, the process proceeds to step 2337, where the halogen lamp 12b is turned off, and then, in step 2338, the driving of the cooling fans 28 and 172 is stopped. In step 2339, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed. Note that the predetermined time is a sufficient time until the recording paper is discharged onto the paper discharge stocker 48 through the paper discharge opening 46 by the paper conveyance rollers 16. After a predetermined time, the process proceeds to step 2340, where it is driven stop of the main motor 96, and then after rewriting the flag F ₁ "0" at step 2329, operation routine ends. In order to operate the decoloring apparatus of FIG. 20 again, the operation switch 192 may be turned on, and when preheating is performed, the preheating switch 190 may be turned on.

In step 2316, when the output of the paper detector 44 is at the low level "L", that is, even though the time required for the leading edge of the recording paper to reach the paper detector 44 from the paper detector 42 has elapsed. When the leading edge of the recording paper is not detected by the paper detector 42, the paper detector 4
Since it is considered that a paper jam has occurred between the paper detector 2 and the paper detector 44, the process proceeds to step 2342 in this case,
Then, the halogen lamp 12b is turned off, and then the process proceeds to step 2343, where an alarm is displayed. Such an alarm display can be made by a warning lamp or a liquid crystal display provided on the operation panel of the decoloring apparatus. After the alarm display, the process proceeds to step 2340, where it is driven stop of the main motor 96, and then after rewriting the flag F ₁ "0" at step 2329, operation routine ends.

In step 2320, the sheet detector 44
Is high, that is, when the recording paper is detected by the paper detector 42 despite the lapse of the time required for the recording paper to pass through the paper detector 44, Since it is considered that a paper jam has occurred in the passage on the near-infrared irradiating means 12, the process also proceeds to step 2342 in this case, and the above-described operations are sequentially performed.

Further, at step 2322, the temperature detector 24
If the detected temperature t ₀ exceeds 200 ° C., the heat-resistant glass plate 2
Since the temperature at 0 is considered to be higher than 430 ° C., the process also proceeds to step 2342 in this case, and the above-described operations are sequentially performed. Note that the temperature detector 24 functions as an auxiliary temperature detector, and the operation of the decoloring device can be safely stopped even if one of the two temperature detectors 24 and 170 fails. On the other hand, in step 2324, the temperature sensor 17
When the detected temperature tt ₀ from 6 exceeds 70 ° C., the control circuit board 174 may be damaged. In this case as well, the process proceeds to step 2342, and the above-described operations are sequentially performed.

In step 2301, when the output of the paper detector 40 is at the low level "L",
If no recording paper is loaded at 0, the flow advances to step 2344, where an error is displayed, and the operation routine immediately ends. Such an error display is preferably made on a liquid crystal display or the like provided on the operation panel of the erasing device.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 20 to 25,
The decolorization processing temperature is set in three temperature ranges, that is, 200 ° C or higher29
0 ° C or lower, 290 ° C or higher and lower than 390 ° C or 290 ° C or higher 410
Although the number of sheets of recording paper processed per unit time (erasing processing speed) is made variable by dividing the temperature into lower than ° C., it should be understood that these temperature divisions are exemplary.
Further, the decolorization processing temperature does not necessarily need to be divided into three temperature ranges, and may be divided into two temperature ranges, or the recording paper may be divided into three or more temperature ranges and run for a unit time. Can be further subdivided. The monitoring of the erasing processing temperature using the auxiliary temperature detector and the monitoring of the temperature of the control circuit board are also applicable to the erasing apparatus shown in each of FIGS. .

FIG. 26 shows a modified embodiment of the control block diagram shown in FIG. 21. In this modified embodiment, the safety during the decoloring operation is further enhanced. To elaborate,
A shutoff circuit 196 is interposed between the halogen lamp 12b and its power supply circuit 102, while comparison circuits 198 and 200 are connected to the output lines of the temperature sensors 24 and 170, respectively.
0 is connected to the cutoff circuit 196 via the OR circuit 202. The reference voltage of the comparison circuit 198 is 200
When the output voltage of the temperature sensor 24 is equal to or lower than the reference voltage (that is, when the temperature sensor 24 detects a temperature of 200 ° C. or lower), the comparison circuit 198 is set. Is low level "L", but when the output voltage of the temperature sensor 24 exceeds the applied reference voltage (that is, when the temperature sensor 24
When a temperature of 0 ° C. or more is detected), the output signal from the comparison circuit 198 switches from low level “L” to high level “H”. The reference voltage of the comparison circuit 200 is set as an output voltage when the temperature sensor 170 detects a temperature of 420 ° C. When the output voltage of the temperature sensor 170 is equal to or lower than the reference voltage (that is, when the temperature sensor 170 detects 420 ° C.).
When the following temperature is detected), the output signal from the comparison circuit 200 is at the low level “L”.
When the output voltage 70 exceeds the reference voltage (that is, when the temperature sensor 170 detects a temperature of 420 ° C. or more), the output signal from the comparison circuit 200 changes from low level “L” to high level “H”. Switch. Therefore, when one of the output signals of the comparison circuits 198 and 200 goes to the high level “H”, the output signal from the OR circuit 202 switches from the low level “L” to the high level “H”. Is operated, and the connection between the halogen lamp 12b and the power supply circuit 102 is cut off. According to such a configuration, the cutoff circuit 19
6, the comparison circuits 198 and 200, and the OR circuit 202
Since the control system is independent of the control circuit 94, the halogen lamp 12b can be turned off even if the control circuit 94 fails during the decoloring process, so that the internal temperature of the decoloring device becomes abnormal. It does not rise. In addition,
Needless to say, such considerations can be similarly applied to the control block diagram shown in FIG.

FIG. 27 shows another preferred embodiment of the erasing apparatus constructed in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention. This embodiment is basically the same as the erasing apparatus shown in FIG. However, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 27, the erasing process can be performed more quickly and efficiently than in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, similarly to the erasing apparatus shown in FIG. In short, the decoloring apparatus of FIG. 27 corresponds to the decoloring apparatus of FIG. 20 from which the liquid catalyst applying means 10 is omitted, and in FIG. Used. Also, the operation of the decoloring apparatus of FIG. 27 can be described in the same manner as in the case of the decoloring apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 28 shows the heating and near-infrared irradiation means 12.
In this embodiment, the length of the halogen lamp 12b is made larger than the width of the heat-resistant glass plate, and the halogen lamp 12b is arranged obliquely with respect to the recording paper feed direction indicated by the arrow B. In this case, the reflecting concave mirror portion 12a is also tilted similarly to the halogen lamp 12b as shown. According to such a configuration, the irradiation amount of near-infrared rays on the recording surface of the recording paper is increased, and thereby the efficiency of the decoloring process can be improved.

FIG. 29 shows the heating and near-infrared irradiation means 12.
In this embodiment, a U-shaped halogen lamp 12b is accommodated in a reflecting concave mirror portion 12a, and the recording paper is placed in a direction indicated by an arrow B in the heat-resistant glass plate 2.
0. U-shaped halogen lamp 12
By using b, the near-infrared irradiation area on the heat-resistant glass plate 20 is expanded, and the efficiency of the decoloring process can be improved.

FIG. 30 shows the heating and near-infrared irradiation means 12.
Another preferred embodiment of is shown, in which
Each side of the reflecting concave mirror portion 12a, that is, the reflecting surface on each side divided by the longitudinal axis thereof is formed so as to exhibit an independent light collecting action. To elaborate,
As shown in FIG. 30, the light emitted from the left half of the halogen lamp 12a and incident on the left reflecting surface of the reflecting concave mirror portion 12a is located at a position indicated by reference numeral C (that is, a substantially central position of the left half of the heat-resistant glass plate 20). The same is true for the right reflecting surface of the reflecting concave mirror portion 12a.
Even with such a configuration, the near-infrared irradiation area on the heat-resistant glass plate 20 is expanded, and thereby the efficiency of the decoloring process can be improved. The plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the halogen lamp 12a and the condensing point C is 25 to 30 with respect to the vertical plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the halogen lamp 12.
° angle.

[0086]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, since the decoloring process of the recording material on the recording medium can be performed quickly and reliably, it is possible to reuse the recording paper. Efficiency can be improved. Further, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since it is premised that the recording medium is recorded with a catalyst-free recording agent comprising a near-infrared decolorable dye, the recording agent of such a recording medium is used. Since the concentration is kept stable over a long period of time, its storage stability is greatly improved. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the heating and near-infrared irradiation on the recording medium can be simultaneously performed using the heat radiation and near-infrared irradiation source at the time of the decoloring process, so that the decoloring apparatus is provided at low cost. can do.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a principle configuration of a decoloring apparatus for performing a decoloring method according to a first aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a preferred embodiment of a decoloring device configured according to the first aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a sheet switching device of the decoloring apparatus of FIG. 2 in detail.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing another sheet changer of the decoloring apparatus of FIG. 2 in detail.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing still another sheet switching device of the decoloring apparatus of FIG. 2 in detail.

FIG. 6 is a control block diagram of the decoloring apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a part of an operation routine for explaining the operation of the decoloring apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a part of an operation routine for explaining the operation of the decoloring apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a part of an operation routine for explaining the operation of the decoloring apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a part of a modification of the operation routine shown in FIGS. 7 to 9;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a modification of the heating and near-infrared irradiation means shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing another modification of the heating and near-infrared irradiation means shown in FIG. 2;

13 is a schematic view showing a modified embodiment in which a heat insulating shielding plate is provided between the liquid catalyst applying means and the heating and near-infrared irradiation means shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing still another modification of the heating and near-infrared irradiation means shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 15 is a schematic view showing another modified example of the liquid catalyst application unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the amount of liquid applied by the liquid catalyst applying means of FIG. 2;

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing a principle configuration of a decoloring apparatus for performing a decoloring method according to a second aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing a preferred embodiment of a decoloring device configured according to the second aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a longitudinal sectional view showing one embodiment of the portable decoloring device according to the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram illustrating another preferred embodiment of the decoloring apparatus configured according to the first aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a control block diagram of the decoloring apparatus of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating a preheating routine for explaining a preheating operation of the decoloring apparatus of FIG. 20;

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a part of an operation routine for explaining the operation of the decoloring apparatus of FIG. 20.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a part of an operation routine for explaining the operation of the decoloring apparatus of FIG. 20;

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a part of an operation routine for explaining the operation of the decoloring apparatus of FIG. 20;

FIG. 26 is another control block diagram of the decoloring apparatus of FIG. 20.

FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram illustrating another preferred embodiment of the decoloring apparatus configured according to the second aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a plan view showing a preferred embodiment of a heating and near-infrared irradiation means.

FIG. 29 is a plan view showing another preferred embodiment of the heating and near-infrared irradiation means.

FIG. 30 is a plan view showing still another preferred embodiment of the heating and near-infrared irradiation means.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Liquid catalyst application means 12 ... Heating and near-infrared irradiation means 14 ... Paper feed roller 16 ... Paper transport roller 18 ... Housing 20 ... Heat resistant glass plate 22 ... Metal plate 24 ... Temperature sensor 26 ... Vent hole 28 ... Cooling fan 30 ... Paper feed hopper 32 ... Paper introduction opening 34 ... Paper feed roller 36 ... Electromagnetic clutch 38 ... Guide plate 40 ... Paper detector 42 ... Paper detector 44 ... Paper detector 48 ... Paper discharge stacker 50 ... Paper transport roller 52 ... Paper transport Roller 54 Optical decoloring sensor 56 Paper switch 66 Paper switch 82 Paper switch 92 Marker 94 Control circuit 94a Central processing unit (CPU) 94b Read-only memory (ROM) 94c Input / output Interface (I / O) 96 ... Main motor

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yu Uemura 1405 Daimaru Daimaru, Inagi-shi, Tokyo Inside Fujitsu Isotec Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masayuki 1405 Daimaru Daimaru, Inagi-shi, Tokyo Inside Fujitsu Isotec ( 72) Inventor Hirofumi Haga 1405 Daimaru, Inagi-shi, Tokyo Fujitsu Isotec Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-6-59500 (JP, A) JP-A-5-127571 (JP, A) 6-11938 (JP, A) JP-A-5-204278 (JP, A) JP-A-4-356085 (JP, A) JP-A-4-362935 (JP, A) JP-A-6-175537 (JP, A) A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 21/00 550-578 B41J 29/26-29/373

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method for decolorizing a recording agent on a recording surface of a recording medium recorded with a catalyst-free recording agent comprising a near-infrared decolorable dye, comprising: A coating step of applying a liquid catalyst having a catalyst concentration of 5 to 5% by weight and containing alcohol, acetone or water as a component; a heating step of heating a recording medium coated with the liquid catalyst; Irradiating near-infrared light to the liquid catalyst coated surface of the recorded recording medium.
And the heating step and the irradiation step are heat radiation and near infrared
A decoloring method characterized by being performed simultaneously by an irradiation source . 2. A decoloring apparatus for decolorizing a recording agent on a recording surface of a recording medium recorded with a recording agent comprising a near-infrared decolorable dye, wherein 0 Liquid catalyst application means (10) for applying a liquid catalyst having a catalyst concentration of 0.5 to 5% by weight and containing alcohol, acetone or water as a component.
The recording medium coated with the liquid catalyst by the liquid catalyst coating means (10) is heated by a heat radiation and near-infrared irradiation source .
A decoloring device for erasing the recording agent on the recording surface by irradiating the recording surface of the recording medium with near-infrared rays at the same time . 3. A decoloring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said liquid catalyst applying means and said decoloring processing means convey a recording medium in one direction.
Wherein the liquid catalyst application means (10) is located upstream of the decolorization processing means (12).