JP5866042B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an image forming apparatus having an erasing function capable of erasing printed characters and images.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, some image forming apparatuses have an erasing function that can erase print information such as characters and images. In an image forming apparatus having an erasing function, characters or images formed on a sheet are converted into electronic data by a scanning unit and stored, and characters or images formed on the sheet based on the stored electronic data are stored. The image has been erased.

  However, it is automatically determined whether the erased paper is erased by scanning the erased paper, but if the single-sided printing paper cannot be erased and is discharged onto the reject tray on the original blank side, it will be difficult for the user. There was a problem that it was easily mistaken for a reuse tray.

JP 2011-191762 A

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of notifying the user that the erasing can be performed with the reuse tray, and that the erasing failure can be notified to the user with the reject tray. is there.

An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment includes a transport unit that transports a sheet on which erasable print information is formed, a print erase unit that erases the print information formed on the sheet by heating, and the print erase A scanner unit that reads both sides of the paper as image data, a storage unit that stores the image data read by the scanner unit, and a print erasure unit that prints the print information from the image data. When the erasing state is determined and the paper is determined to be reused from the erasing state, the paper is stocked as reused paper. When the paper is determined not to be reused, the print information remaining without being erased is stored . And a control unit that controls so that a large number of sides face up and is stocked as reject paper.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a first embodiment related to an image forming apparatus. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an operation example of the first embodiment related to the image forming apparatus. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a second embodiment relating to an image forming apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a first embodiment relating to an image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system in the image forming apparatus 100.

  The image forming apparatus 100 described below will be described as an apparatus having only a function capable of erasing characters and images. However, the image forming apparatus 100 may be a combination apparatus that switches between a normal printing function using non-erasable toner and a printing function using disappearing toner.

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes a paper slot 11, a first scanner unit 12, a print erasing unit 13, a second scanner unit 14, a transport unit 15, a paper reversing unit 16, a stack unit 17, a control unit 18, and a control panel 19. Has been.

  The paper insertion slot 11 is a tray on which erasable paper P is placed. The paper slot 11 also includes a sensor S that detects whether the paper P is installed in the paper slot 11.

  The first scanner unit 12 reads information printed on the paper P and converts it into electronic data. The first scanner unit 12 scans both sides of the paper P at the same time. The first scanner unit 12 is provided with CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensors 12a and 12b, which are image pickup elements, symmetrically on the top and bottom of the paper P in order to read print information.

  The print erasing unit 13 includes heaters 13 a and 13 b that apply a predetermined temperature to the paper P read by the first scanner unit 12, and decolorizes the toner formed on the paper P. The heaters 13a and 13b are disposed so as to abut on both sides of the sheet P being conveyed. The print erasing unit 13 can heat both sides of the paper P.

  The second scanner unit 14 detects whether the toner formed on the paper P in the print erasing unit 13 has become colorless. The second scanner unit 14 is configured in the same manner as the first scanner unit 12. The second scanner unit 14 is provided with CCD sensors 12a and 12b which are image pickup elements symmetrically on the upper and lower sides of the paper P in order to simultaneously scan both sides of the paper P and read print information.

  Note that the image pickup device that acquires print information by the first and second scanner units 12 and 14 is not limited to a CCD sensor, but may be a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor.

  The conveyance unit 15 includes flappers F1 and F2, conveyance rollers (not shown), and a conveyance belt. The transport unit 15 transports the paper P from the paper insertion slot 11 in the order of the first scanner unit 12, the print erasing unit 13, the second scanner unit 14, and the paper reversing unit 16.

  The paper reversing unit 16 is provided with a mechanism for reversing the paper P surface based on a command. The paper reversing unit 16 is installed in the middle of the transport unit 15, for example, at the subsequent stage of the print erasing unit 13. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-148893 discloses a technique related to a sheet reversing unit that reverses a sheet being conveyed.

  The stack unit 17 stocks the sheets discharged through the print erasing unit 13 in the reuse tray 17a and the reject tray 17b. The reuse tray 17a stocks paper to be reused. The reject tray 17b stocks paper that is not reused. Sorting between the reuse tray 17a and the reject tray 17b is performed by the flappers F1 and F2. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the flapper F2 is rotated clockwise and stocked on the reject tray 17b.

  The control unit 18 is a unit that comprehensively controls the hardware of the image forming apparatus 100. The control unit 18 includes a processor 181 that is an arithmetic processing unit (for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit)), and a storage unit 182 that includes volatile and nonvolatile storage units.

  The processor 181 plays a role of performing various processes in the image forming apparatus 100. The processor 181 also plays a role of realizing various functions by executing a program stored in the storage unit 182.

  The storage unit 182 includes, for example, RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), VRAM (Video RAM), HDD (Hard disk drive), and the like. Consists of.

  The storage unit 182 has a role of storing various information and programs used in the image forming apparatus 100. The storage unit 182 stores data and programs that need to be stored in a nonvolatile manner. The storage unit 182 stores characters, images, and the like of electronic data converted by the first scanner unit 12.

  Note that the functions realized using the processor 181 and the storage unit 182 may be realized by mounting using an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

  The control panel 19 has a touch panel display and a keyboard, receives parameter designations and instructions from the user, and displays the progress of processing and the state of equipment to the user.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an operation example of the first embodiment of the image forming apparatus 100.

  The start key is operated with the operation unit 191 of the control panel 19. The processor 181 determines whether or not a sheet is set in the sheet insertion slot 11 based on the detection result from the sensor S (ACT11). Here, it is assumed that the sheet to be set is printed with decoloring toner.

  In ACT11, when a sheet is set, the processor 181 drives the conveyance unit 15 to convey the sheet (ACT12).

  The processor 181 conveys the paper to the first scanner unit 12 and drives the first scanner unit 12. The first scanner unit 12 simultaneously scans both sides of the sheet being conveyed by the CCDs 12a and 12b, and reads the print information formed on the sheet (ACT 13).

  The processor 181 stores the read information in the storage unit 182 and checks the amount of information printed on the paper from the print information read by the CCDs 12a and 12b (ACT 14).

  The processor 181 causes the sheet to reach the print erasing unit 13 by the transport unit 15. The print erasing unit 13 heats the paper with the heaters 13a and 13b. The print erasure unit 13 erases the print information formed on the paper with the color erasing toner and erases it (ACT 15). A technique for decoloring by heating is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-203734.

  When the image forming apparatus 100 is first used, it is conceivable that the temperatures of the heaters 13a and 13b do not reach a predetermined value until the paper reaches. For this reason, the processor 181 monitors the temperature of the heaters 13a and 13b, and starts conveying the paper when the temperature reaches a predetermined value. It is assumed that the heaters 13a and 13b on which the image forming apparatus 100 is on standby are reduced in power or turned off to support power saving.

  The processor 181 conveys the paper to the second scanner unit 14 and drives the second scanner unit 14. The processor 181 scans both sides of the paper discharged from the print erasing unit 13 with the CCDs 14 a and 14 b of the second scanner unit 14. The processor 181 converts the print information formed on the paper into electronic data and stores it in the storage unit 182 (ACT 16).

  The processor 181 determines whether the sheet can be reused based on the print information read by the scanning of ACT 16 (ACT 17). The determination by the processor 181 is performed by comparing the print information before erasure stored in the storage unit 182 with the print information after erasure. By this comparison, the amount of print information after erasure can be calculated, and it can be determined which side of the print information amount remains.

  When the processor 181 determines that it can be reused in the ACT 17 (Yes), the flap F1 is rotated in the clockwise direction, moves to the ACT 18 and is stocked in the reuse tray 17a.

  If the processor 181 determines that the ACT 17 cannot be reused (No), whether the surface with a small print amount that can be erased is discharged on the surface based on the print information read by the second scanner unit 14 stored in the storage unit 182 It is determined whether or not (ACT 19).

  In ACT 19, when it is determined that the side with a small print amount that can be erased is the front side (Yes), the flap F2 is rotated clockwise with the surface with the small print amount that can be erased facing upward. Sheets are stocked on the reject tray 17b with the side with a small amount of prints that can be erased facing up (ACT20).

  If it is determined in ACT 19 that the amount of printing that can be erased on the back side is small (No), the sheet reversing unit 16 is driven. The paper reversing unit 16 reverses the front and back of the paper (ACT 21). Then, the reject tray 17b is stocked with a small amount of print that has been erased from the front side.

  As described above, when it is determined that the information can be reused based on the result of scanning the print information on the paper, the information is stocked in the reuse tray 17a. If it is determined that it cannot be reused, the side with the most remaining print information on the scanned paper is displayed as a table and stocked on the reject tray 17b. The non-reusable paper stocked on the reject tray 17b has the print information on the front side. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the user from reusing the paper not intended for reuse by mistake.

  Further, even in the case of rejecting information printed on both sides, it can be stocked on the reject tray 17b with the sheet surface with a small print amount erased up based on the scanning information of the second scanner section 14 capable of scanning both sides. .

  In this embodiment, in the reuse tray, it is possible to notify the user at a glance that the user has been erased. The reject tray can inform the user at a glance that the erasure is defective.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the second embodiment relating to the image forming apparatus. 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. Note that the same processing as in the flowchart of FIG. 3 is described with the same ACT number.

  In the processes of ACT11 to S17, it is possible to determine whether or not the paper to be used is a reusable paper.

  If it is determined in ACT 17 that the sheet cannot be reused (No), it is determined whether the surface with a small print amount that can be erased in ACT 19 is the front side. In the case of the surface, it is stocked on the reject tray 17b as it is. The processor 181 that has determined that the surface with a small print amount that has been erased is not the front side, drives the paper reversing unit 16, reverses the paper (ACT 21), and stocks it on the reject tray 17b.

  If it is determined in ACT 17 that the sheet is a sheet that can be reused (Yes), it is determined based on the scan result in ACT 16 stored in the storage unit 182 whether or not the sheet with a large amount of print that can be erased is discharged. (ACT41).

  In ACT 41, if the processor 181 determines that the surface with a large print amount that has been erased is the front surface (Yes), it is stocked in the reuse tray 17 a as it is. When the processor 181 determines that the surface with a large print amount that can be erased is not the front surface (No), the paper reversing unit 16 is driven, the paper is reversed (ACT 42), and stocked in the reuse tray 17a.

  As described above, when it is determined that the information can be reused based on the result of scanning the print information on the paper, the information is stocked in the reuse tray 17a. When it is determined that it can be reused, the surface with the large amount of erased print on the paper is set as the surface. This makes it easy for the user to visually determine whether the paper in the reuse tray 17a can be reused.

  Also. When erasing double-sided printing information, one side may be a reuse target and the other side may be a rejection target. In this case, it is possible to easily determine a sheet that can be reused even if it is stored in the reuse tray 17a with the side having a large amount of print information that can be erased as a table.

  Further, if it is determined that reuse is not possible, the scanned paper is stocked on the reject tray 17b with the side with less print information that can be erased. Since the non-reusable paper stocked on the reject tray 17b has a surface with a small amount of print information that can be erased, the user can be notified at a glance that it cannot be reused.

  In this embodiment, the paper surface when the paper stocked in the reuse tray is not erased or remains erased with respect to the paper printed on both sides can be notified at a glance.

  Although several embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been 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, combinations, 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 forming apparatus 11 Paper inlet 12 1st scanner part 13 Print erasing part 14 2nd scanner part 15 Carrying part 16 Paper reversing part 17 Stack part 17a Reuse tray 17b Reject tray 18 Control part 181 Processor 182 Storage part 19 Control panel

Claims (5)

A transport unit for transporting paper on which erasable print information is formed;
A print erasure unit for erasing the print information formed on the paper by heating;
A scanner unit that is provided at a subsequent stage of the print erasing unit and reads both sides of the paper as image data;
A storage unit for storing the image data read by the scanner unit;
The erasure state of the print information by the print erasure unit is determined from the image data, and when it is determined from the erasure state that the paper is a reuse target, the paper is stocked as a reuse paper and is determined not to be a reuse target. In the case, the control unit that controls the surface with a large amount of the print information remaining without being erased and stocks it as reject paper;
An image processing apparatus comprising: A first tray for storing reused paper and a second tray for storing rejected paper;
The control unit controls the conveying unit to stock the paper determined to be reused in the first tray, and the print information remaining without being erased on the paper determined not to be reused. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein stock is stored in the second tray with a large number of surfaces facing up. When the control unit determines that the paper is to be reused, the control unit stocks the paper as a reused paper with the side of the print information remaining without being erased after passing through the print erasing unit facing upward. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is controlled as follows. A reversing unit for reversing the paper;
The control unit reverses the reject paper by the reversing unit before performing the stocking when the control unit determines that the surface with a large amount of the print information remaining without being erased is placed on the reject paper. Item 4. The image processing device according to any one of Items 1 to 3.   5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the control unit determines that one side of the sheet is a reuse target, the control unit controls the sheet to be stocked as a reuse sheet. 6.

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