JP5786006B2 - Image erasing device - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an image erasing apparatus that erases an image formed on a sheet.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an image erasing apparatus that erases the color material of an image on a sheet such as recording paper to become transparent by heating, and makes the sheet reusable. In such an image erasing apparatus, the image on the sheet is read by the reading unit, and after the image is stored in the storage unit, the color erasing process is performed.

  However, in the conventional image erasing apparatus, for example, when the erasing processing is performed on a plurality of sheets on which the same image is printed, all the images are stored in the storage unit even if they are the same image. There was a problem of consumption.

JP 2011-70540 A

  The problem to be solved by the embodiments of the present invention is to provide an image erasing apparatus that suppresses memory consumption caused by storing a plurality of identical images.

The image erasing apparatus according to the embodiment includes a conveyance unit, a reading unit, a color erasing unit, and a control unit. The conveyance unit conveys a sheet to be reused from a sheet feeding tray along a conveyance path. The reading unit is provided along the conveyance path, and executes a reading process of an image on the conveyed sheet. The erasing unit is provided downstream of the reading unit along the conveyance path, and performs erasing processing on an image on the conveyed sheet. The control unit determines whether or not the first image read by the reading unit and the second image stored in the storage unit overlap, and if it determines that they overlap, the first image The erasing process is executed without executing the saving process for saving the image in the storage unit, and if the determination is impossible, the storage process and the erasing process are not executed .

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the image erasing apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of a hardware configuration of the image erasing apparatus shown in FIG. 1. 7 is a control flowchart of a second decoloring mode in the first embodiment. 10 is a control flowchart of a second decoloring mode in the second embodiment.

  Embodiments for carrying out the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The image erasing apparatus performs a color erasing process for erasing the color of an image on a sheet such as a recording sheet on which an image is formed with a color erasable material such as a color erasable toner or a color erasable ink. The erasable color material includes a color developing compound, a color developer, and a color erasing agent. Examples of the color developing compound include leuco dyes. Examples of the developer include phenols. The decolorizer includes a substance that is compatible with the color developing compound when heated and does not have an affinity for the developer. Colors that can be erased develop color due to the interaction between the color developing compound and the developer, and the interaction between the color developing compound and the developer is interrupted by heating above the color erasing temperature. To do. Hereinafter, the erasable color material is simply referred to as a recording material.
(First embodiment)

  The configuration and operation of the image erasing apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described below. The image erasing apparatus according to the present embodiment performs storage processing on only the number of sheet images input by the user in the storage unit, and does not perform storage processing on subsequent sheet images.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an image erasing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment. As will be described in detail later, the image erasing apparatus 100 has a paper feed tray 110 and a paper feed member 120 provided at the upper part of the apparatus housing, a first transport path 190, and a first branch that branches from the first transport path 190 via a branch point 220. A second transport path 195, a third transport path 200, and a fourth transport path 205 branched from the third transport path 200. These conveyance paths are conveyance paths that selectively convey a sheet according to various processing requests for the sheet. For example, in the present embodiment, the conveyance path of the sheet is configured as a whole. The image erasing apparatus 100 is further provided at the junction point 225 of the first and second transport paths 190 and 195, the first branch member 210 provided at the branch point 220, and the branch point of the third and fourth transport paths 200 and 205. And a plurality of transport rollers 286 arranged in the first to fourth transport paths 190, 195, 200, and 205. The image erasing apparatus 100 has a first tray 165 and a second tray 170, and a first and second trays 165 and 170 provided at the lower part of the apparatus housing, respectively, for storing sheets conveyed by the conveyance path. It has the discharge member 180 provided correspondingly. The image erasing apparatus 100 further includes a reading unit 130 disposed in the first conveyance path 190, a color erasing unit 150 disposed in the second conveyance path 195, and an apparatus for erasing the sheet image in the present embodiment. It has the operation part 240 provided in the housing | casing upper part.

  The sheet feed tray 110 stacks sheets to be reused. The sheet to be reused is, for example, a sheet on which an image is formed with a recording material. The sheet may be various sizes such as A3, A4, and B5. The sheet feeding member 120 includes a pickup roller, a sheet supply roller, a separation roller disposed to face the sheet supply roller, and the like. The sheet feeding member 120 conveys the sheets on the sheet feeding tray 110 one by one to the first conveyance path 190 inside the image erasing apparatus 100.

  The paper feed tray 110 includes a detection sensor 112 that detects the presence or absence of a sheet on the paper feed tray 110. The detection sensor 112 may be, for example, a microsensor or a microactuator.

  The first transport path 190 has a plurality of transport rollers 286 and forms a transport path from the paper feed tray 110 toward the branch point 220. The first conveyance path 190 conveys the sheet fed via the reading unit 130 to the branch point 220.

  The reading unit 130 is arranged downstream of the junction 225 of the paper feed tray 110 and the second conveyance path 195 along the first conveyance path 190. The reading unit 130 includes, for example, a first reading unit 132a and a second reading unit 132b that are positioned to face each other with the first conveyance path 190 interposed therebetween. The first and second reading units 132a and 132b read the image on the first side and the image on the second side that is the back side of the conveyed sheet. That is, the reading unit 130 reads images on both sides of the sheet conveyed through the first conveyance path 190 by the first and second reading units 132a and 132b.

  The first branch member 210 is disposed at the branch point 220 of the first transport path 190 and the second transport path 195 downstream of the reading unit 130. The first branch member 210 switches the conveyance direction of the sheet that leaves the reading unit 130 and is conveyed to the branch point 220. The first branch member 210 selectively distributes the sheet conveyed on the first conveyance path 190 to the second conveyance path 195 or the third conveyance path 200. For example, the first branching member 210 allows the conveyance of the sheet from the first conveyance path 190 to the third conveyance path 200 in a normal state (non-driving state). On the other hand, in the driving state, the conveyance of the sheet from the first conveyance path 190 to the third conveyance path 200 is blocked. Accordingly, the sheet is conveyed to the second conveyance path 195.

  The second transport path 195 has a plurality of transport rollers 286 and branches off from the first transport path 190 at the branch point 220. Further, the second transport path 195 has a curved portion toward the junction 225 located upstream from the reading unit 130. For this reason, the second conveyance path 195 merges with the first conveyance path 190 at the merge point 225. That is, the first conveyance path 190 and the second conveyance path 195 form a conveyance path that circulates via the branch point 220 and the junction point 225. As described above, the decoloring unit 150 described later is disposed in the second transport path 195. Accordingly, the circulating conveyance path enables the sheet conveyed from the reading unit 130 to be conveyed again to the reading unit 130 via the erasing unit 150. More specifically, the image erasing apparatus 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment guides the sheet supplied from the sheet feeding member 120 to the reading unit 130 via the junction point 225 through the first conveyance path 190, and the reading unit 130 processes the sheet. The first sheet 210 is controlled to guide the sheet to the second conveyance path 195 at the branch point 220, and is conveyed in the order of the reading unit 130 via the decoloring unit 150 and the junction point 225.

  The erasing unit 150 includes, for example, a first erasing unit 152a and a second erasing unit 152b, and both units are arranged to face each other along the second conveyance path 195 as shown in FIG. A decoloring process is performed to erase the colors of the images on both sides of the conveyed sheet. The decoloring unit 150 decolorizes the color of the image formed on the sheet by the recording material, for example, by heating the sheet to the decoloring temperature in contact with the conveyed sheet. The first erasing unit 152a of the erasing unit 150 contacts and heats the sheet from one surface side of the sheet. The second erasing unit 152b contacts and heats the sheet from the other surface side of the sheet. That is, the erasing unit 150 erases the images on both sides of the conveyed sheet with a single conveyance.

  The third conveyance path 200 shown in FIG. 1 is connected to the first conveyance path 190 via the branch point 220, and conveys the sheet that has passed through the branch point 220 to the second branch member 215. As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet conveyed via the second branching member 215 is accommodated in either the first tray 165 or the second tray 170 that is disposed above and below. For example, the second branch member 215 is disposed in the vicinity of a discharge member 180 (to be described later) of the first tray 165, and the sheet conveyed via the first branch member 210 is transferred to the first tray 165 or the third conveyance path 200. It conveys to the 4th conveyance path 205 connected via the 2nd branch member 215. FIG. For example, in a normal state (non-driven state), the second branch member 215 prevents the sheet from being conveyed from the third conveyance path 200 to the fourth conveyance path 205, and the sheet is discharged to the first tray 165. . On the other hand, in the driving state, conveyance of the sheet from the third conveyance path 200 to the first tray 165 is blocked, and the sheet is conveyed to the fourth conveyance path 205. The fourth conveyance path 205 includes a conveyance roller 286 and conveys the sheet to the second tray 170.

  In more detail, the discharge member 180 is provided on each of the first tray 165 and the second tray 170 that are disposed below the image erasing apparatus 100 in the vertical direction. The discharge member 180 discharges the sheet to the first tray 165 or the second tray 170, respectively. For example, the first tray 165 accommodates a sheet that has been erased and can be reused. The second tray 170 accommodates sheets that are determined to be unusable. Hereinafter, the first tray 165 is referred to as a reuse tray, and the second tray 170 is referred to as a reject tray. It should be noted that the first tray 165 and the second tray 170 can replace the sheets to be received. Therefore, the name is changed depending on the attribute of the sheet to be accepted. The setting of what sheets each tray accommodates, that is, the setting of the sheet transport destination can be made from the operation unit 240, for example.

  The image erasing apparatus 100 includes a plurality of sheet detection sensors that detect sheets conveyed through the first to fourth conveyance paths 190, 195, 200, and 205. The sheet detection sensor may be, for example, a microsensor or a microactuator. The sheet detection sensor is disposed at an appropriate position on the conveyance path.

  The operation unit 240 includes, for example, a touch panel type display unit 245 and various operation keys, and is arranged on the upper part of the image erasing apparatus 100 main body. The operation keys include, for example, a numeric keypad, a stop key, and a start key. The user instructs a functional operation of the image erasing apparatus 100 such as start of the erasing process or reading of an image of a sheet to be erased via the operation unit 240. The display unit 245 displays setting information, operation status, log information, and the like of the image erasing apparatus 100.

  The operation unit 240 may be configured to be connected to an operation device of an external device via a network and to be operated from the external operation device, for example. Alternatively, the operation unit 240 may be configured to operate the image erasing apparatus 100 by wired or wireless communication in a form independent of the image erasing apparatus 100 main body. That is, the operation unit 240 according to the present embodiment may be any unit that can instruct the image erasing apparatus 100 to perform processing, browse information, and the like.

  Hereinafter, control of the image erasing apparatus 100 having the above-described configuration will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the hardware configuration of the image erasing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. The image erasing apparatus 100 includes a reading unit 130, a decoloring unit 150, an operation unit 240, a control unit 250, a storage unit 260, a detection unit 270, a conveyance unit 280, and a communication interface (I / F) unit 290. Each unit of the image erasing apparatus 100 is connected via a bus line 300.

  The control unit 250 includes a processor 252 including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) and a memory 254. The memory 254 is, for example, a semiconductor memory, and includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 256 that stores various control programs and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 258 that provides a temporary work area to the processor 252. For example, the ROM 256 stores a sheet printing rate as a threshold value for whether or not reuse is possible, a density threshold value for determining whether or not an image has been erased, and the like. The RAM 258 may temporarily store the image read by the reading unit 130. The control unit 250 controls each unit of the image erasing apparatus 100 based on various programs stored in the ROM 256 or the storage unit 260.

  The storage unit 260 stores the image read by the reading unit 130. The storage unit 260 may be, for example, a hard disk drive, another magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, a semiconductor storage device such as a flash memory, or any combination thereof. For example, before the color erasing unit 150 performs the color erasing process, the control unit 250 saves the sheet image read by the reading unit 130 in the storage unit 260, so that data of an image that has been erased later is required. In this case, image data can be acquired.

  The detection unit 270 includes the detection sensor 112 illustrated in FIG. 1 and a sheet detection sensor (not shown) that detects a sheet conveyed in each of the conveyance paths described above. The control unit 250 determines the presence / absence of a sheet on the paper feed tray 110 and the presence / absence of a jam based on a signal from the detection sensor 112.

  The conveyance unit 280 includes first to fourth conveyance paths 190, 195, 200, and 205 shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of conveyance rollers 286 disposed in the conveyance path, a discharge member 180, and a plurality of rollers that drive these rollers. It has a transport motor.

  The communication I / F unit 290 is an interface connected to an external device. The communication I / F unit 290 is, for example, an external device on a network via an appropriate wireless or wired connection such as IEEE 802.15, IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.3, IEEE 3304 such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), infrared connection, or optical connection. Communicate with. The communication I / F unit 290 may further include a USB connection unit to which a USB standard connection terminal is connected, a parallel interface, and the like. The control unit 250 communicates with the multifunction peripheral and other external devices via the communication I / F unit 290. Since the reading unit 130, the decoloring unit 150, and the operation unit 240 have already been described, description thereof will be omitted.

  Below, each process which the image erasing apparatus 100 of this embodiment performs is demonstrated.

For example, the image erasing apparatus 100 has the following processing modes. The above-described sheet conveyance path is appropriately changed by controlling the first or second branch member 210 or 215 based on each processing mode executed by the image erasing apparatus 100. In the separation process referred to below, the control unit 250 determines whether or not the sheet can be reused based on the image indicating the surface state of the sheet read by the reading unit 130, and the reuse tray 165 is determined according to the determination result. Alternatively, it is a process of selectively distributing to the reject tray 170. The saving process is a process of saving the image on the sheet read by the reading unit 130 in the storage unit 260. The details of the sorting process and the saving process will be described later.
(1) First erasing mode: Only the erasing process is performed without performing the saving process.
(2) Second erasing mode: The erasing process is performed after the storage process.
(3) Third color erasing mode: The storage process is not performed, and the classification process is performed after the color erasing process.
(4) Fourth erasing mode: After the storage process, the erasing process is performed, and the separation process is further performed.
(5) Fifth erasing mode: After separation processing, erasing processing is performed as necessary, and further separation processing is performed.
(6) Reading mode: The storage process is performed without performing the decoloring process.
Each processing mode described above can be selected by the operation unit 240 of the image erasing apparatus 100. The selection of each processing mode is not limited to the operation unit 240 of the image erasing apparatus 100 but may be set from an external terminal. In the first to fifth erasing modes, the sheet is always conveyed to the erasing unit 150. On the other hand, in the reading mode, the image erasing apparatus 100 does not convey the sheet conveyed through the first conveyance path 190 to the erasing unit 150 via the second conveyance path 195, but from the reading unit 130 to the branch point 220 and The paper is discharged via the third conveyance path 200. In this case, as described above, the first branch member 210 is in a non-driven state, and the first transport path 190 and the third transport path 200 are in communication.

  For example, the control unit 250 controls the reading unit 130, the decoloring unit 150, and other configurations in accordance with the above-described processing modes set by the operation unit 240. For example, when the first to fifth erasing modes are selected, the control unit 250 causes the erasing unit 150 to erase the sheet image.

  When the erasing unit 150 erases the sheet image and the reading unit 130 reads the erased sheet image (third erasing mode, fourth erasing mode, and fifth erasing mode), control is performed. Based on the image data read by the reading unit 130, the unit 250 determines whether or not the sheet can be reused based on the presence or absence of a shadow due to a crease, tear, or wrinkle of the sheet, and the ratio of the unerased portion. . Based on the determination result, the control unit 250 determines the sheet transport destination as the reuse tray 165 or the reject tray 170 (sorting process).

  In the first separation process in the fifth color erasing mode, the control unit 250 determines whether there is a shadow due to a fold, tear, or wrinkle of the sheet based on the image data read by the reading unit 130 and prints. It is determined whether the sheet can be reused based on the rate. Based on the determination result, the control unit 250 determines the sheet transport destination to be the erasing unit 150 or the reject tray 170. Further, this separation process may also serve as a storage process to be described later. That is, the control unit 250 determines whether or not the image can be reused based on the read image and stores the image in the storage unit 260.

  On the other hand, when the reading unit 130 reads the image of the sheet before the sheet is conveyed to the erasing unit 150 (second erasing mode, fourth erasing mode), the control unit 250 reads the image on the reading unit 130. The image is saved in the storage unit 260 (save process). Here, the control unit 250 may determine whether or not the image data of the sheet read by the reading unit 130 includes prohibited data that should be prohibited from being decolored such as confidential data.

  When the reading mode for reading the sheet image without performing the decoloring process is set, the reading unit 130 reads the sheet image and stores the read image in the storage unit 260 (save processing). The control unit 250 does not drive the first branching member 210, and therefore, the sheet that has been read is not conveyed to the erasing unit 150, and is discharged to the reject tray 170 by controlling the second branching member 215. In this reading mode, the control unit 250 may perform not only the storage process but also the classification process or both the storage process and the classification process. That is, the control unit 250 reads the image of the sheet in the reading mode, stores the read image in the storage unit 260, and determines, for example, whether or not the sheet can be reused based on the image. The sheets may be sorted into the reuse tray 165 or the reject tray 170.

  Hereinafter, the storage process of the first embodiment will be described in detail. In the present embodiment, as an example, a color erasing process is performed on a sheet bundle in which a plurality of documents including a plurality of sheets are collected. Of the sheet bundle, for the sheets constituting the first document of the first copy, the image before the decoloring process formed on the sheet is read and stored in the storage unit 260 (save process). The sheet subjected to the storage process is subjected to a decoloring process by the decoloring unit 150. On the other hand, the sheet constituting the second and subsequent documents is subjected to a decoloring process without performing a storing process.

  Note that the acquisition unit acquires how many sheets the first copy of the document to be stored is made up of. The acquisition unit is, for example, the operation unit 240 that receives input from the user, or the communication I / F unit 290 that receives input from an external device. Below, the operation part 240 is demonstrated as an acquisition part. Further, the number information (threshold value P) acquired from the acquisition unit is stored in the RAM 258 or the storage unit 260. Hereinafter, the threshold value P is stored in the RAM 258.

  In summary, when the control unit 250 feeds a sheet, if the cumulative total number N up to that time is equal to or less than a threshold value P, which is the number of sheets constituting the first document, the image on the sheet is displayed. Since the storage process has not been performed, it is read by the reading unit 130 and stored in the storage unit 260. On the other hand, when the cumulative number N exceeds the threshold value P, the same image as the image on the sheet has already been stored as an image of the sheet constituting the first document. It is conveyed to the branch point 220 without being read.

  FIG. 3 is a control flow of the second decoloring mode in the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the second erasing mode in which the erasing process is performed on the sheet after the storage process will be described as an example.

  The user inputs the number of sheets constituting the first copy of the document, that is, the threshold value P, from the operation unit 240. The control unit 250 stores the acquired threshold value P in the RAM 258 (ACT 101). Next, when the user designates the second erasing mode and starts processing, the control unit 250 drives the sheet feeding member 120 and conveys the sheet to the first conveyance path 190 (ACT 102). Here, the control unit 250 adds 1 to the cumulative number N of sheets to be conveyed (ACT 103). In the case of the processing flow shown in FIG. 3, the initial value of the cumulative number N is zero. When the cumulative number N after the addition is equal to or less than the threshold value P (ACT 104, Yes), the control unit 250 conveys the sheet to the reading unit 130. The reading unit 130 performs a reading process on the sheet conveyed along the first conveyance path 190 (ACT 105). Next, the control unit 250 performs a storage process on the image read by the reading unit 130 (ACT 106). The control unit 250 conveys the sheet that has been stored to the branch point 220. On the other hand, when the cumulative number N of sheets fed from the paper feed tray 110 in the ACT 104 exceeds the threshold P (ACT 104, No), the control unit 250 passes the reading unit 130 and conveys the sheet to the branch point 220. To do. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, the reading process and the saving process are not executed. Next, the controller 250 drives the first branch member 210 to move the sheet from the branch point 220 via the second conveyance path 195 regardless of whether the reading process and the storing process for the sheet are performed. It is conveyed to the erasing unit 150. The decoloring unit 150 performs a decoloring process on the conveyed sheet (ACT 107). The control unit 250 conveys the sheet, which has been subjected to the decoloring process, to the branch point 220 again via the second conveyance path 195, the junction point 225, and the first conveyance path 190. The controller 250 conveys the sheet to the third conveyance path 200 without driving the first branch member 210. The control unit 250 discharges the sheet to the reuse tray 165 (ACT 108). Here, the control unit 250 confirms whether or not processing has been completed for all the sheets on the paper feed tray 110 (ACT 109). The control unit 250 can confirm the presence / absence of a sheet on the paper feed tray 110 by an input from the detection sensor 112. When there is a sheet on the sheet feeding tray 110 (ACT 109, No), the control unit 250 starts processing along the above flow for the sheet positioned at the top (ACT 102). On the other hand, when the processing is completed for all sheets (ACT 109, Yes), the control unit 250 resets the cumulative number N and the threshold value P stored in the RAM 258 (ACT 110), and ends the processing. Of the cumulative number N and the threshold value P, the threshold value P can be overwritten if the next input is made, so it is not always necessary to reset it every time processing is completed.

According to the first embodiment described above, since the storage process is not performed for sheets other than the number of sheets designated by the user via the operation unit 240, duplicate images are not stored. That is, the memory consumption of the storage unit 260 can be suppressed.
(Second Embodiment)

  Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the image erasing apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment will be described. The image erasing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, for example, targets a sheet bundle obtained by collecting a plurality of documents composed of a plurality of sheets, as in the first embodiment. For example, when the page number of an image on a sheet is read and the page number of an image that has already been subjected to a storage process, the storage process is not performed on the image. The description of the same parts as those in the first embodiment will be omitted.

  In the storage process of the image erasing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the control unit 250 extracts a page number from the image read by the reading unit 130. The control unit 250 stores the extracted page number and the image in the storage unit 260 (storing process). Note that the page number storage destination may be the RAM 258 instead of the storage unit 260. If the page number has already been saved, the scanned image is discarded without being saved. When the processing is completed for one job, that is, all the sheet bundles stacked on the paper feed tray 110, the page numbers stored in the storage unit 260 or the RAM 258 are reset. With the above configuration, since the storage process is not performed for images with duplicate page numbers, memory consumption can be suppressed.

  Further, for example, when it is not possible to determine whether or not the page number is stored because the page number could not be read, the control unit 250 does not store the sheet image in the storage unit 260 and does not perform the decoloring process. . That is, the control unit 250 discharges the sheet to, for example, the reject tray 170 (see FIG. 4) without performing the storage process and the decoloring process. The discharged sheet is confirmed by the user as to whether or not storage processing and erasing processing are necessary. In this manner, by allowing the user to confirm whether or not the storage process is necessary, it is possible to prevent memory consumption due to inadvertent storage and image destruction due to easy decoloring processing. At this time, it may be displayed on the display unit 245 that an undeterminable sheet has been conveyed. In addition, whether or not the storage process and the decoloring process are necessary may be input from the user through the operation unit 240. The control unit 250 performs processing according to the input.

  FIG. 4 is a control flow of the second decoloring mode in the second embodiment. In the present embodiment, the second erasing mode in which the erasing process is performed on the sheet after the storage process will be described as an example. In the following description, the read page number is stored in the RAM 258.

  When the user starts the second erasing mode, the control unit 250 drives the sheet feeding member 120 and conveys the sheet to the first conveyance path 190 (ACT 201). The reading unit 130 performs a reading process on the sheet conveyed along the first conveyance path 190 (ACT 202). Next, the control unit 250 extracts a page number from the image read by the reading unit 130 (ACT 203). When the page number cannot be extracted (ACT 204, No), the control unit 250 discharges the sheet to, for example, the reject tray 170 (ACT 205). On the other hand, when the page number is extracted (ACT 204, Yes), the control unit 250 determines whether or not the page number is stored in the RAM 258 (ACT 206). When the page number is not stored in the RAM 258 (ACT 206, No), the control unit 250 performs the image saving process (ACT 207). In the saving process, the control unit 250 saves the page number in the RAM 258 and saves the image in the storage unit 260. The control unit 250 conveys the sheet that has been stored to the branch point 220. On the other hand, when the page number is stored in the RAM 258 in ACT 206 (ACT 206, Yes), the control unit 250 conveys the sheet to the branch point 220 without performing the saving process. The control unit 250 drives the first branch member 210 to convey the sheet from the branch point 220 to the decoloring unit 150 via the second conveyance path 195. The decoloring unit 150 performs a decoloring process on the conveyed sheet (ACT 208). The control unit 250 conveys the sheet, which has been subjected to the decoloring process, to the branch point 220 again via the second conveyance path 195, the junction point 225, and the first conveyance path 190. The controller 250 conveys the sheet to the third conveyance path 200 without driving the first branch member 210. The control unit 250 discharges the sheet to the reuse tray 165 (ACT 209). Here, the control unit 250 confirms whether or not processing has been completed for all the sheets on the paper feed tray 110 (ACT 210). The control unit 250 can confirm the presence / absence of a sheet on the paper feed tray 110 by an input from the detection sensor 112. When there is a sheet on the sheet feeding tray 110 (ACT 210, No), the control unit 250 starts processing along the above flow for the sheet positioned at the top (ACT 201). On the other hand, when the processing is completed for all sheets (ACT 210, Yes), the control unit 250 resets the page number stored in the RAM 258 (ACT 211), and ends the processing.

  According to the second embodiment described above, the reading unit reads the page number on the sheet, and the image having the page number that has already been read is not stored, so that the storage is performed as in the first embodiment. The amount of memory consumption of the part can be suppressed. In addition, since the number of pages is automatically read to determine the storage process, the user does not have to input the number of sheets to be stored in advance.

  In the second embodiment, the page number printed on the image on the sheet is compared to determine whether to save the image in the storage unit. For example, a header, a footer, or other An image or the like may be extracted and compared with an image stored in the storage unit. Note that it is preferable to compare a part of images rather than comparing the whole image because the time for comparison is shortened.

  Note that the sheet discharge destination of the indistinguishable sheet is a reject tray, but a new tray may be provided as a reuse tray or a hold sheet discharge destination.

  According to at least one embodiment described above, it is possible to suppress memory consumption of the storage unit by not storing a plurality of identical images.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made. The “decoloring process” is described as erasing the color of the image, but may include the meaning of erasing the image. That is, the image erasing apparatus described in the present embodiment is not limited to an apparatus that erases the color of an image by heat. For example, a device that erases the color of an image on a sheet by light irradiation or a device that erases an image formed on a special sheet may be used. Alternatively, the image erasing apparatus may be an apparatus that removes (erases) an image on a sheet. The image erasing device may be configured so as to make the image on the sheet invisible so that the sheet can be reused.

  Further, the storage unit is not limited to the inside of the image erasing apparatus as described in the above embodiments. The location where the image is saved by the saving process may be, for example, a storage unit of a server connected via a network or a storage unit of another external device. Further, it may be stored in a USB memory connected to the USB connection unit.

  In the above-described embodiment, the program that embodies the processes of FIGS. 3 and 4 is provided by being incorporated in advance in a storage medium (ROM or storage unit) included in each device, but is not limited thereto and can be installed. Alternatively, the file may be recorded in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, CD-R, or DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) in a format or executable format. Furthermore, the storage medium is not limited to a medium independent of a computer or an embedded system, but also includes a storage medium in which a program transmitted via a LAN, the Internet, or the like is downloaded and stored or temporarily stored.

  Further, the program executed by each device of the above embodiment may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network, or via a network such as the Internet. It may be configured to be provided or distributed.

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

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Image erasing apparatus 110 ... Paper feed tray 130 ... Reading part 150 ... Decoloring part 190 ... 1st conveyance path 195 ... 2nd conveyance path 245 ... Display part 250 ... Control part 260 ... Memory | storage part 280 ... Conveyance part

Claims (5)

A transport unit that transports a sheet to be reused from a paper feed tray along a transport path;
A reading unit that is provided along the conveying path and executes a reading process of an image on the conveyed sheet;
A decoloring unit that is provided downstream of the reading unit along the conveyance path and performs a decoloring process on the image on the sheet being conveyed;
It is determined whether or not the first image read by the reading unit and the second image stored in the storage unit overlap. If it is determined that the first image is overlapped, the first image is stored in the storage unit. A controller that performs the decoloring process without executing the storage process to be stored in the storage unit, and performs control to execute neither the storage process nor the decoloring process when the determination is impossible ;
An image erasing apparatus comprising: The image erasing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit performs the determination based on whether or not the first image and the second image are the same image . The said control part judges whether the said 1st image and the said 2nd image are the same by comparing the specific area | region in the said 1st image and the said 2nd image. 2. The image erasing apparatus according to 2. A paper feed tray on which sheets to be fed to the main body are placed;
An acquisition unit that acquires information on the number of sheets per sheet bundle;
The control unit determines that, among the sheets fed from the sheet feeding tray, the number of sheets corresponding to the number information acquired by the acquiring unit do not overlap, and thereafter the sheets placed on the sheet feeding tray The image erasing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image erasing apparatus determines that they overlap . A display unit for displaying processing information formed by the control unit;
Wherein, prior to SL if judgment is not possible, the image erasing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 notifies on the display unit.

Images