JPH08305229A - Optical color erasing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To accomplish better color erasing by letting the air flow from an intake fan uniformly into a diaphragm to apply hot air to a recording medium with little nonuniformity of temperature. CONSTITUTION: An optical color erasing device comprises a conveying means or conveying a recording medium along a designated conveying path, a color erasing light source disposed in the midway of the conveying path for color- erasing recording on the recording medium, a diaphragm 36 which surrounds the color erasing light source with the conveying path side opened and has a slit-like opening part 36a extended parallel to the color erasing light source, an intake fan 39 for supplying the air from the slit-like opening part 36a to the inside of the diaphragm 36, and an exhaust fan provided on a frame, wherein the slit-like opening part 36a is provided with a straightening plate 45 for equalizing the stream of air.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical system capable of erasing the recording on a recording medium recorded with a recording material containing an optically erasable dye, such as aqueous ink, oil-based ink, toner and the like. Erasing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, near-infrared erasable 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 a recording paper recorded with a recording agent containing such a dye can be reused by repeating recording and erasing, and can contribute to the protection of forest resources. The near-infrared color erasable dye is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-4-362935.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 6-175537 discloses a sheet feeding cassette as a lightweight and compact erasing device capable of efficiently erasing optically erasable toner and having a short erasing time per sheet. There has been proposed an erasing device including a paper feed roller, a guide member, a light source, a concave mirror that collects light emitted from the light source, a paper discharge tray, and a housing.

Further, the applicant of the present application has previously filed Japanese Patent Application No. 6-19.
In 9653, a new optical erasing device is proposed. In this optical erasing device, erasing light sources are arranged above and below the conveyance path, each erasing light source is surrounded by a partition plate, and air is supplied from the intake fan to the inside of the partition plate. This air is heated by the heat of the erasing light source to form warm air. Therefore, it becomes possible to apply warm air to the recording medium at the same time as irradiating the recording medium with the erasing light source, and to perform a more excellent erasing action.

[0005]

In the implementation of the optical erasing device of the above-mentioned prior application of the present application, the partition plate has the slit-shaped opening extending parallel to the erasing light source (halogen lamp), and the intake fan. The air blown from the air strikes the erasing light source through the slit-shaped opening, and then spreads over a wide area and hits the recording medium. Due to the design of the device, it is necessary to place the intake fan close to the partition plate.

Since the diameter of the intake fan is smaller than the length of the slit-shaped opening of the partition plate, when the intake fan is in the immediate vicinity of the partition plate, the air blown from the intake fan is evenly distributed in the long slit-shaped opening. However, there is a problem in that the temperature of the air heated by the erasing light source does not flow and the temperature becomes uneven. In particular, when a motor-integrated fan is used as the intake fan, the air flow tends to be poor in the central portion behind the motor, and the air volume tends to increase toward the peripheral portion. However, since the fan integrated with the motor is inexpensive and easy to install in the optical decoloring device, there is a demand for improving the air flow so that the fan can be used.

Further, when air is supplied from the intake fan to the inside of the partition plate and hot air is applied to the recording medium, there is an appropriate temperature, and it is preferable to control the temperature of this air by various methods. Do you get it. Further, since it is not good for the warm air discharged from the exhaust fan to hit a person, there is a demand for preventing the warm air from hitting a person.

It is an object of the present invention to allow air to uniformly flow from an intake fan into a partition plate so that warm air with less temperature unevenness hits a recording medium to achieve better erasing. To provide a static erasing device.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an optical decoloring device capable of more reliably decoloring by appropriately controlling the temperature of warm air in the partition plate.

[0009]

An optical erasing device according to the present invention includes a frame, a conveying means for conveying a recording medium along a predetermined conveying path in the frame, and a recording on the recording medium. A partition plate having an erasing light source provided in the middle of the conveying path and a slit-shaped opening that surrounds the erasing light source with an opening on the conveying path side and extends in parallel with the erasing light source. And an intake fan for supplying air from the slit-shaped opening to the inside of the partition plate, and an exhaust fan provided on the frame, and averages the air flow in the slit-shaped opening. It is characterized in that a rectifying plate is provided.

An optical erasing device according to another aspect of the present invention is a frame, a conveying means for conveying a recording medium along a predetermined conveying path within the frame, and a recording on the recording medium is erased. An erasing light source provided in the middle of the conveying path, and a partition plate having an opening on the conveying path to surround the erasing light source and having a slit-shaped opening extending parallel to the erasing light source. An intake fan for supplying air from the slit-shaped opening into the partition plate, an exhaust fan provided in the frame, and a temperature for detecting the temperature of the air heated by the erasing light source. It is characterized by comprising a detection means and a control means for controlling the temperature of the air heated by the erasing light source within the range of 100 to 400 ° C. based on the output of the detection means. More preferably, the temperature of the air in the partition plate should be controlled within the range of 120 to 200 ° C.

[0011]

In the first construction, the slit-shaped opening is provided with the rectifying plate for equalizing the flow of air, so that the air flows evenly in the partition plate and the color erasing is performed in the partition plate. When the light source is heated, it is heated to form hot air, which strikes the recording medium together with the light from the light source for erasing and accelerates the erasing action.

In the above optical erasing device, the erasing light source, the partition plate and the intake fan are arranged in the conveying path (P).
A device having a compact design can be obtained by arranging the rectification plates on the upper side and the lower side of the partition plate, and the straightening plates are provided in the slit-shaped openings of at least one of the partition plates.

If a plurality of the straightening vanes are provided in the slit-shaped opening and are arranged substantially symmetrically with respect to the center of the slit-shaped opening, the air flow can be made more uniform. In this case, it is preferable that the rectifying plate at the end of the plurality of rectifying plates is the largest, and the length of the slit-shaped opening in the longitudinal direction is 20 mm or less. The width of the slit-shaped opening may be 50 mm or less.

The intake fan may be composed of an axial fan integrated with a motor. The motor-integrated axial fan is inexpensive and can be easily installed.
Preferably, the straightening vane is at least partially arranged at a portion overlapping the intake fan.

The upper intake fan is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the slit-shaped opening of the upper partition plate, and the lower intake fan is relatively separated from the slit-shaped opening of the lower partition plate. In a configuration in which the rectifying plate is provided at a position and at least the slit-shaped opening of the upper partition plate is provided, a compact layout of the device can be enabled.

A temperature sensor is attached to the partition plate,
Therefore, the temperature of the air heated by the erasing light source can be detected. A linear transport guide is provided along the transport path in the region of the erasing light source, and the linear transport guide is resin-coated. Further, the conveying means includes a paper feed roller and a discharge roller, and at least the discharge roller is resin-coated. This makes it difficult for the melted toner and the like to adhere to the linear conveyance guide and the discharge roller, and prevents the conveyance action from deteriorating. A wire mesh is provided between the linear conveyance guide and the erasing light source to prevent dust or the like from adhering to the erasing light source.

The erasing light source comprises a plurality of lamps,
By configuring the plurality of lamps to emit lights having different wavelengths from each other, more reliable decoloring action can be performed even when recording on the recording medium is multicolor. Even if the plurality of lamps are similar to each other, it is possible to change the light emission temperature of the lamps by changing the applied voltage, and thus the wavelengths specific to the light emission temperature can be made different.
The temperature of the filament of the lamp is 2000 ~ 3000 ° K
And the temperature of the (glass) surface of the lamp is 500-6
It reaches 00 ° C. If you know the color of the recording on the recording medium,
It is also possible to irradiate light having a color temperature corresponding to the color tone of the recording of the recording medium to be erased.

Further, it goes without saying that the lamp itself can be a different lamp. In this case, a halogen lamp, a xenon lamp, a mercury lamp, or a xenon mercury lamp can be selected and used as the erasing light source.

Further, the temperature of the air heated by the erasing light source is 100 ° C. to 400 ° C. (preferably 120 ° C. to 200) based on the output of the optical erasing device having another characteristic, that is, the temperature detecting means. In the configuration provided with the control means for controlling the temperature in the range of (° C.), for example, by controlling the erasing light source, the conveying means, the intake fan, the exhaust fan, etc. The recording medium is controlled within an appropriate range where it does not burn, and the erasing action is promoted by the light from the warm air and the erasing light source.

In this case, when the temperature of the air heated by the erasing light source is below a predetermined value, the recording mediums are conveyed one by one per unit time for erasing and are heated by the erasing light source. When the temperature of the air is equal to or higher than the predetermined value, the recording medium can be conveyed by two sheets per unit time and erased. As a result, after the optical erasing device is turned on when the power is turned on, the recording mediums are conveyed one by one and erased, and when the temperature rises thereafter, two recording media are conveyed and erased by two. The efficiency of erasing can be improved and still reliable erasing can be performed. Further, even at the stage where the recording medium is conveyed two by two and erased, the temperature of the air is controlled within the above range.

Preferably, the erasing light source, the partition plate and the intake fan are respectively arranged on the upper side and the lower side of the transport path, and the temperature detecting means is attached to the lower partition plate. As a result, the temperature of the air heated by the erasing light source can be detected easily and reliably.

If a room temperature detecting sensor is provided and the intake fan and the exhaust fan are controlled based on the output of the room temperature detecting sensor, fluctuations in the temperature of the air in the partition plate including the erasing light source are reduced. To do. If the intake fan and the exhaust fan are stopped later than the stop of the erasing light source when the optical erasing device is switched off, heat is not accumulated after the device is stopped, and safety is improved. Come on.

Further, if an approach detecting means for detecting that a person approaches the exhaust fan is provided and the operation of the exhaust fan is stopped or powered down when the person approaches the exhaust fan, a person nearby Is less affected by wind pressure and bad odor caused by warm air discharged from the exhaust fan.

[0024]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an optical decoloring apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a lower portion of a conveyance path of a recording medium of the optical decoloring apparatus shown in FIG.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the optical erasing device 1 is used.
0 has a frame 12, a hopper 14 is attached to one end of the frame 12, and a stacker 16 is provided to the other end of the frame 12. Paper feed rollers 18 and 20 and discharge rollers 21 and 22 are arranged in the frame 12, and a conveyance path P for the recording medium is formed along these rollers. Each roller includes a nip roller.
A paper feed sensor 24 is provided in front of the paper feed roller 18, and an ejection sensor 26 is provided after the ejection roller 22.

In the hopper 14, a recording medium S such as copy paper which has been printed or copied and whose record can be erased is inserted. The recording on the recording medium S is performed as characters, figures, etc. by using a recording material containing an optically decolorizable dye, for example, water-based ink, oil-based ink, toner or the like. The recording media S are taken out one by one from the hopper 14 and are conveyed along the conveyance path P.

Inside the frame 12, an inner cover 27 is provided along the side wall of the frame 12 between the paper feed roller 20 and the discharge roller 21. In the inner cover 27, halogen lamps 28 and 30 as light sources for erasing are arranged. The halogen lamp 28 is located above the transport path P,
The halogen lamp 30 is located below the transport path P. Further, the linear transport guides 32 are provided above and below the transport path P. Each linear transport guide 32 includes a plurality of rods extending in the transport direction and arranged parallel to the width direction. Further, wire meshes 34 are provided above and below the linear conveyance guide 32. The wire netting 34 prevents dust and foreign matter from entering the halogen lamps 28 and 30. If the mesh size of the wire net 34 is too small, the air flow from the intake fan to the exhaust fan, which will be described later, is hindered.

The recording medium S is guided by a linear conveyance guide 32 between the paper feed roller 20 and the discharge roller 21. The front end portion and the rear end portion of the linear transport guide 32 are respectively curved up and down in order to smoothly receive or eject the recording medium S. The interval between the upper and lower linear transport guides 32 is wide on the inlet side and narrow on the outlet side. The linear transport guide 32 and the discharge rollers 21 and 22 are resin-coated with a fluororesin to prevent melted toner and the like from adhering to the linear transport guide 32 and the discharge rollers 21 and 22 and prevent the transport operation from deteriorating. .

Halogen lamp 28 as a light source for erasing,
30 are arranged above and below the linear conveyance guide 32, respectively. The halogen lamps 28 and 30 have a length substantially corresponding to the widthwise dimension of the recording medium S to be erased, and are arranged so as to extend perpendicularly to the traveling direction of the recording medium S. The upper and lower halogen lamps 28 and 30 are preferably arranged so as to be displaced from each other in the traveling direction of the recording medium S.

However, the arrangement of the halogen lamps 28 and 30 is not limited to this. For example, a plurality of halogen lamps can be arranged on the upper side of the conveyance path P, or a plurality of halogen lamps can be arranged on the lower side of the conveyance path P. A plurality of halogen lamps may be configured to emit light having different wavelengths, including the case of the embodiment in which the halogen lamps 28 and 30 are arranged above and below the transport path P.

As a result, even if the recording on the recording medium is multicolor, a more reliable decoloring action can be performed. That is, the blue dye is well erased when irradiated with light having a wavelength of 820 nm, and the violet dye is 6
Irradiation with light having a wavelength of 00 nm often erases the color, red dyes are well erased by irradiation with light having a wavelength of 550 nm, and yellow dyes are well erased by irradiation with light having a wavelength of 450 nm. It Therefore, by irradiating light of various wavelengths, it is possible to more surely erase multicolor recording on the recording medium.

In order to emit lights having different wavelengths, a plurality of halogen lamps may be similar to each other. In this case, the applied voltage is changed to change the light emission temperature of the lamp, and thus the light emission. The wavelength specific to the temperature can be different. The temperature of the filament of the halogen lamp is 2000-3000 ° K and the temperature of the (glass) surface of the lamp is 500-600 ° C. If the color of the recording on the recording medium is known, it is possible to irradiate with light having a color temperature corresponding to the color tone of the recording on the recording medium to be erased.

Also, the halogen lamp itself may be different. Further, as the erasing light source, not only a halogen lamp but also other light sources such as a xenon lamp, a mercury lamp, a xenon mercury lamp, and a metal halide lamp can be selected and used. Further, it is also possible to use a flash lamp which emits light intermittently instead of being continuously lit in this way.

A partition plate 36 is arranged between the left and right inner covers 27. The partition plate 36 has a gutter-like shape with one surface opened, and encloses the halogen lamps 28 and 30 with the conveyance path P side opened. The partition plate 36 extends in parallel with the halogen lamps 28, 30 as a whole, and has a slit-shaped opening 36a extending in parallel with the halogen lamps 28, 30 on the wall opposite to the transport path P side. The halogen lamps 28 and 30 are arranged near the slit-shaped opening 36a. It should be noted that the partition plate 36 does not concentrate light in one direction like the reflector of a conventional light, but reflects light in as many directions as possible so that the light strikes one location of the recording medium S in a concentrated manner. It is preferable that the hits are made as evenly as possible.

The ducts 37 and 38 are slit-shaped openings 3
It is connected to the partition plate 36 so as to communicate with 6a. The duct 37 is connected to the upper partition plate 36, and the other duct 38 is connected to the lower partition plate 36. The intake fan 39 is arranged in the upper duct 37, and the intake fan 40 is arranged in the lower duct 38. Intake fans 39, 40
Supplies air into the partition plate 36 from the slit-shaped opening 36a. Further, the upper inner cover 27 has an exhaust port 27a, and the exhaust port 12a is provided on the top wall of the frame 12.
a is provided, and the exhaust fan 42 is arranged at the exhaust port 12 a of the frame 12.

In this way, air is forcibly applied to the halogen lamps 28 and 30 by the intake fans 39 and 40 to lower the surface temperature of the halogen lamps 28 and 30, and the air is heated, and the generated warm air is the recording medium. I try to hit S. At this time, the slit-shaped opening 36a
Serves as a throttle so that substantially all of the intake air hits the halogen lamps 28 and 30 and is uniformly heated. For this purpose, the width of the slit-shaped opening 36a is 5
It is preferably 0 mm or less, and the halogen lamp 2
It is preferably about 1/2 of the diameter of 8, 30. In the embodiment, the width of the slit-shaped opening 36a is 10 mm.

A temperature sensor 44 for detecting the temperature of the warm air applied to the recording medium S is attached to the outer wall of the lower partition plate 36, and is applied to the recording medium S based on the output of the temperature sensor 44. Control is performed so that the temperature of the warm air to be maintained is maintained in the range of 100 ° C to 400 ° C, preferably 120 ° C to 200 ° C.

As shown in FIG. 4, the intake fan 39 is a motor-integrated axial fan. That is, the motor 39b is attached to the center of the frame 39a of the intake fan 39, and the blades 39c are rotated by this motor 39b. The air flows through the motor 3 as indicated by the arrow in FIG.
9b flows from the side where there is no motor to the side where there is no motor, and there is a considerably small amount of air in the area shaded by the motor 39b. The other intake fan also consists of a similar motor-integrated axial fan.

As shown in FIG. 1, the upper intake fan 39 has a slit-like opening 36a in the upper partition plate 36.
The intake fan 40 on the lower side is disposed in the vicinity of the slit-shaped opening 36a of the partition plate 36 on the lower side. This configuration is preferable because of the compact layout of the device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the upper partition plate 36 as seen from below. The intake fan 39 is shown by a broken line.
A plurality of rectifying plates 45 are provided in the slit-shaped opening 36a. In this case, each rectifying plate 45 is arranged in a bridge shape so as to partially close the slit-shaped opening 36a.

As described with reference to FIG. 4, the flow of air blown from the intake fan 39 is small in the central portion behind the motor 39b and large in the peripheral portion. If the intake fan 39 is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the slit-shaped opening 36a of the partition plate 36, the slit-shaped opening 36
The air flow passing through a directly follows the tendency of the air flow from the intake fan 39, and the slit-shaped opening 36a
The volume of air passing through is small in the central part and large in the peripheral part. As a result, the temperature distribution of the air that hits the halogen lamp 39 varies and the decoloring action also varies. On the other hand, the lower intake fan 40 has the slit-shaped opening 36a of the lower partition plate 36.
Since it is located relatively far away from, there is no problem.

The current plate 45 is for equalizing the flow of air passing through the slit-shaped opening 36a. For this purpose, it is preferable that the straightening vanes 45 are arranged substantially symmetrically with respect to the center of the slit-shaped opening 36a. Further, the current plate 45 is at least partially disposed in a portion that overlaps with the intake fan 39 (that is, a portion that overlaps with the blades 39c), and the air hitting the current plate 45 has the slit-shaped opening 3.
6a is made to flow into the central portion (the portion shaded by the motor 39b).

Further, the amount of air blown from the intake fan 39 is large in the peripheral portion thereof, and a large amount of air flows into the peripheral portion of the slit-shaped opening 36a. Therefore, the rectifying plate 45 on the end side of the slit-shaped opening 36a is made the largest so that the air hitting the rectifying plate 45 flows into the slit-shaped opening 36a toward the center. In this case, the slit-shaped opening 3 of the current plate 45 on the end side
The length of 6a in the longitudinal direction is preferably 20 mm or less. As an example, a case where an intake fan having a fan diameter of 50 mm and a motor portion diameter of 40 mm is used is shown below. The length of the partition plate is 180 mm, the width of the slit opening is 10 mm,
The length is as long as 50 mm in the central part. From the center to both ends, symmetrically with two 10 mm long straightening vanes and a length of 10
2 mm openings are arranged alternately, and the length is 2 at the end.
A 0 mm rectifying plate was placed, and 5 mm long openings were left at both ends.

In FIG. 1, a room temperature sensor 46 is arranged on the frame 12 to detect the temperature inside the room outside the frame 12. Further, a proximity sensor 48 is arranged near the exhaust fan 42 on the frame 12.
The proximity sensor 48 detects that a person approaches the exhaust fan 42, and for example, an ultraviolet sensor or the like can be used.

A control means 50 including a CPU is provided, and the paper feed sensor 24, the discharge sensor 26, and the temperature sensor 4 are provided.
4, the outputs of the room temperature sensor 46, the proximity sensor 48, and other sensors are input to the control means 50. Control means 5
0 is the halogen lamps 28 and 30, and the paper feed roller 18,
20 and the drive motors (not shown) for the discharge rollers 21 and 22, and the intake fans 39 and 40 and the exhaust fan 42.
Control.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a flow chart of control of the optical decoloring device 10. This example shows basic control. In step 61, the power is turned on. When the power is turned on, the halogen lamps 28, 3
0, the intake fans 39, 40, and the exhaust fan 42 are turned on to raise the temperature of the halogen lamps 28, 30 and the air around them to prepare for the erasing process.

The temperature sensor 44 is a halogen lamp 28, 3
The temperature T _{D of} the air heated at 0 is detected. In addition,
The tip of the temperature sensor 44 is inside the partition plate 36. The temperature of the air around the halogen lamps 28 and 30 is slightly higher on the upper partition plate 36 side and lower on the lower partition plate 36 side. Ideally, it is preferable to detect the average value of the temperature on the upper partition plate 36 side and the temperature on the lower partition plate 36 side.
In the embodiment, the temperature sensor 44 is the lower partition plate 3
Since it is attached to No. 6, the detected value is slightly lower than the average value of the temperature of the upper partition plate 36 side and the temperature of the lower partition plate 36 side. However, the average value can be estimated by the detection value of the temperature sensor 44 attached to the lower partition plate 36.

In step 62, it is judged whether the temperature T _{D of} the air detected by the temperature sensor 44 has reached 120 ° C. or higher. For example, when the detection value of the temperature sensor 44 is 120 ° C., the average temperature of air is 123.5 to
It is in the range of 165 ° C. If the determination in step 62 is no, the starter lamp is turned off in step 64 and the temperature rise is awaited. If the determination in step 62 is yes, the starter lamp is turned on (on) in step 63. The starter lamp is provided on the control panel, and the lighting of the starter lamp informs that the temperature of the air around the halogen lamps 28 and 30 has risen sufficiently to perform decoloring. Therefore, when the starter lamp is turned on, the operator can press the starter switch at any time to start the erasing process.

Further, in step 65, it is judged whether the temperature T _{D of} the air detected by the temperature sensor 44 is 150 ° C. or lower. For example, the temperature sensor 44
When the detection value of is 150 ℃, the average temperature of air is 150
It is in the range of ˜185 ° C. If the determination in step 65 is NO, 1PPM is conveyed in step 67, and if the determination in step 65 is YES, 2PPM is conveyed in step 66. Here, 1PPM transport and 2PP
The M conveyance is to change the conveyance speed of the sheet, for example, 1PPM conveyance is to convey one A4 sheet at a rate of 1 sheet per minute, and 2PPM conveyance is 2 sheets of A4 sheet per minute.
It is to convey at a rate of one sheet. In addition, the transport speed can be changed according to the temperature rise.

Then, when the starter switch is pressed, the drive motors for the paper feed rollers 18 and 20 and the discharge rollers 21 and 22 are activated, and the recording medium S made of copied paper or the like is started.
(Hereinafter, simply referred to as paper) are sucked one by one from the hopper 14 and are conveyed along the conveyance path P at a predetermined speed. The paper is heated by hot air and simultaneously irradiated with the halogen lamps 28 and 30, and the recording of characters and figures is erased. The color-erased sheet exits the linear transport guide 32 and is then sent to the stacker 16 by the discharge roller 22. At that time, the discharge sensor 26 optically detects whether or not the paper is jammed, and a static elimination brush (not shown).
Eliminates static electricity on the paper.

Next, in step 68, the temperature sensor 44
It is determined whether or not the temperature T _{D of} the air detected by is 175 ° C. or lower. For example, when the detection value of the temperature sensor 44 is 175 ° C., the average temperature of air may exceed 200 ° C. If the determination in step 68 is yes, in step 70 the intake fans 39, 40 and the exhaust fan 42 are operated at the first level. This first level is a standard level, and is set to the first level when the power is turned on.

If the determination in step 68 is no, in step 69 the intake fans 39, 40 and the exhaust fan 42 are operated at the second level. This second level is the first
This is an operating level in which the air volume is increased above the level. Therefore, if the temperature of the air around the halogen lamps 28, 30 rises excessively, the supply air volume is increased to increase the temperature of the air around the halogen lamps 28, 30. To fall within the desired temperature range.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the operating state. When the detected temperature reaches 120 ° C. at the time point A, the color erasing process is carried out by 1 PPM conveyance, and at the time point B when the detected temperature reaches 150 ° C., 2 PPM. When the decoloring process is performed during the conveyance, and the detected temperature reaches 175 ° C. at time C, the intake fan 39,
40 and the exhaust fan 42 are operated. After the time point C, feedback control is performed aiming at the point where the detected temperature reaches 175 ° C.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a flow chart of a modification example of the control, which can be added to the flow chart of FIG. In this example, the room temperature _Tr outside the frame 12 detected by the room temperature sensor 46 is used. Step 71
At, it is determined whether the room temperature T _r is higher than 15 ° C., for example. If the determination in step 71 is no,
Since the temperature of the air in the room is considerably low and therefore the temperature of the air supplied around the halogen lamps 28, 30 is also quite low, the routine proceeds to step 73, where the air volumes of the intake fans 39, 40 and the exhaust fan 42 are reduced. Control and
The temperature of the air around the halogen lamps 28 and 30 is less likely to decrease.

If the determination in step 71 is yes,
In step 74, it is determined whether the room temperature T _r is lower than 25 ° C., for example. If the determination in step 74 is NO, the temperature of the air in the room is considerably high, and therefore the temperature of the air supplied around the halogen lamps 28, 30 becomes high.
The air volumes of 9, 40 and the exhaust fan 42 are controlled to be increased so that the temperature of the air around the halogen lamps 28, 30 does not rise excessively. If the determination in step 74 is yes, the temperature of the indoor air is within the standard range, so the intake fans 39, 40
Further, the air volume of the exhaust fan 42 is not specifically changed, and the operation is performed, for example, at the first level or the second level in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a flow chart of another modification of the control, which can be added to the flow chart of FIG. In this example, a signal detected by the proximity sensor 48 indicating that a person has approached the exhaust fan 42 is used. In step 81, the power is turned on. When the power is turned on, the halogen lamps 28, 30, and the intake fans 39, 40 and the exhaust fan 42 are turned on to raise the temperature of the halogen lamps 28, 30 and the air around them to prepare for the decoloring process.

In step 82, erasing processing is performed.
The erasing process is performed as described with reference to FIG. 5 by pressing the start switch to activate the drive motors for the paper feed rollers 18 and 20 and the discharge rollers 21 and 22. In step 83, it is determined whether the proximity sensor 48 is turned on. For example, when a person who was in the stacker 16 moves toward the hopper 14 to pass paper, it passes near the exhaust fan 42, and the proximity sensor 48 is turned on. The exhaust fan 42 discharges warm air and contains a bad odor associated with the decoloring action. Therefore, a person feels uncomfortable when passing near the exhaust fan 42. In such a case, if the exhaust fan 42 is stopped or powered down, the wind pressure or the bad smell due to such warm air is received. Is alleviated. Step 84
At, the exhaust fan 42 is deactivated or powered down.

In step 85, the power supply is turned off. In this case, only the halogen lamps 28 and 30 are stopped, and the intake fans 39 and 40 and the exhaust fan 42 are not stopped. Further, when the transport drive motor is being driven, the drive motor is not stopped. Therefore, step 8
In step 6, it is determined whether or not the paper is discharged. If the result is no, in step 87, the drive motor for carrying is continuously rotated to carry the paper, and if yes, step 8
At 8, the drive motor for transportation is stopped.

Further, in step 89, it is judged whether or not the temperature T _{D of} the air detected by the temperature sensor 44 is lower than 50 ° C. And the temperature T _{D of} the air is 5
When the temperature becomes lower than 0 ° C., that is, when the inside of the device is cooled, the process proceeds to step 90 and the intake fans 39, 4
0 and the exhaust fan 42 are stopped, and the program ends there.

[0060]

As described above, according to the present invention, air is made to uniformly flow from the intake fan into the partition plate, and warm air with less temperature unevenness hits the recording medium. Good decoloring can be performed, and moreover, decoloring can be performed more reliably by maintaining the temperature inside the apparatus within an appropriate range.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an embodiment of an optical decoloring device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a lower part of a conveyance path of a recording medium of the optical erasing device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the partition plate of FIG. 1 as viewed from below.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the intake fan of FIG. 1.

5 is a diagram showing a flowchart of control of the optical decoloring apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an operating state according to the control of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a modification example of the control of FIG.

8 is a diagram showing a flowchart of another modification of the control of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 14 ... Hopper 16 ... Stacker 18, 20 ... Paper feeding roller 21, 22 ... Ejection roller 28, 30 ... Halogen lamp 36 ... Partition plate 36a ... Slit-shaped opening 39, 40 ... Intake fan 42 ... Exhaust fan 44 ... Temperature sensor 45 ... Rectifier plate 46 ... Room temperature sensor 48 ... Proximity sensor

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Masayuki Kubota, 1405 Daimaru, Inagi-shi, Tokyo, inside the Fujitsu A Isotech Co., Ltd. (72) Hirofumi Haga, 1405, Daimaru, Inagi-shi, Tokyo Inside the Fujitsu A Isotech

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. A frame (12), a transport means (18, 20, 21, 22) for transporting a recording medium (S) along a predetermined transport path (P) within the frame, and a recording medium on the recording medium. An erasing light source (28, 30) provided in the middle of the conveying path for erasing the recording, and an opening on the conveying path side to surround the erasing light source and extend in parallel with the erasing light source. Partition plate (36) having slit-shaped openings (36a)
And an intake fan (39, 40) for supplying air into the partition plate from the slit-shaped opening, and an exhaust fan (42) provided in the frame. Baffle (4
5) An optical erasing device characterized by being provided. 2. The erasing light source (28, 30), the partition plate (36), and the intake fan (39, 40) are arranged on the upper side and the lower side of the conveyance path (P), respectively, and the rectification is performed. The plate (45) is provided in the slit-shaped opening (36a) of at least one of the partition plates.
An optical decoloring device according to item 1. 3. The flow regulating plate (45) is provided in a plurality of slit-shaped openings (36a), and is arranged substantially symmetrically with respect to the center of the slit-shaped openings.
Or the optical decoloring device according to item 2. 4. The straightening vane (45) at the end of the plurality of straightening vanes (45) is the largest, and the length of the slit-shaped opening (36a) in the longitudinal direction is 20 mm or less. The optical decoloring device according to claim 3, wherein the optical decoloring device is present. 5. The width of the slit-shaped opening (36a) is 5
It is 0 mm or less, The optical decoloring apparatus of Claim 4 characterized by the above-mentioned. 6. The optical erasing device according to claim 1, wherein the intake fan (39, 40) is an axial fan integrated with a motor. 7. The intake plate (3) is provided with the straightening vane (45).
The optical decoloring device according to claim 6, wherein the optical decoloring device is arranged at least partially in a portion overlapping with 9). 8. The upper intake fan (39) is located in the immediate vicinity of the slit-shaped opening of the upper partition plate (36), and the lower intake fan (40) is the lower partition plate. The rectifying plate (45) is provided at a position relatively distant from the slit-shaped opening (36a) of (36), and the rectifying plate (45) is provided at least in the slit-shaped opening of the upper partition plate. 2. The optical decoloring device according to item 2. 9. A temperature sensor (4) is attached to the partition plate (36).
4) is attached, characterized in that
An optical decoloring device according to any one of 1. 10. A linear transport guide (32) is provided along the transport path in the region of the erasing light source (28, 30), and the linear transport guide is resin-coated. The optical decoloring device according to claim 1. 11. The optical erasing device according to claim 10, wherein a wire mesh (34) is provided between the linear conveying guide (32) and the erasing light source (28, 30). apparatus. 12. The conveying means is a paper feed roller (18, 2).
0) and discharge rollers (21, 22), at least the discharge rollers being resin-coated. 13. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the erasing light source (28, 30) comprises a plurality of lamps, and the plurality of lamps emit lights having different wavelengths. Decoloring device. 14. A frame (12), carrying means (18, 20, 21, 22) for carrying the recording medium (S) along a predetermined carrying path (P) within the frame, and on the recording medium. An erasing light source (28, 30) provided in the middle of the conveying path for erasing the recording, and an opening on the conveying path side to surround the erasing light source and extend in parallel with the erasing light source. Partition plate (3) having slit-shaped openings (36a)
6), an intake fan (39, 40) for supplying air into the partition plate from the slit-shaped opening, an exhaust fan (42) provided in the frame, and the erasing light source. A temperature detecting means (44) for detecting the temperature of the air heated by (28, 30), and a temperature of the air heated by the erasing light source (28, 30) based on the output of the temperature detecting means. Control means for controlling the temperature within the range of 100 to 400 ° C. (5
0) and an optical decoloring device. 15. The optical erasing device according to claim 14, wherein the temperature of the air heated by the erasing light source (28, 30) is controlled within a range of 120 to 200 ° C. 16. When the temperature of the air heated by the erasing light source (28, 30) is below a predetermined value, the recording medium is conveyed one by one per unit time to erase the color, and the erasing is performed. Light source (2
15. The optical erasing device according to claim 14, wherein when the temperature of the air heated in (8, 30) is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the recording medium is conveyed by two sheets per unit time for erasing. . 17. The erasing light source (28, 30), the partition plate (36) and the intake fan (39, 40) are arranged above and below the conveying path (P), respectively, and the temperature 15. Optical erasing device according to claim 14, characterized in that the detection means (44) are attached to the lower partition plate (36). 18. A room temperature detection sensor (46) is provided, and the intake fan (39, 4) is based on the output of the room temperature detection sensor.
0) and the exhaust fan (42) are controlled. 19. The intake fan (39, 40) and the exhaust fan (42) when the optical erasing device is switched off.
15. The optical erasing device according to claim 14, wherein the erasing is stopped after the erasing light source (28, 30) is stopped. 20. An approach detection means (48) for detecting that a person approaches the exhaust fan (42) is provided, and when the person approaches the exhaust fan (42), the operation of the exhaust fan is stopped or the power is down. The optical decoloring device according to claim 14, wherein