Image decoloring device

• US 10,112,427 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2015
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Iguchi, Ken, Yahata, Isao, Kawaguchi, Takahiro, Taguchi, Hiroyuki, Tsuchihashi, Hiroyuki, Taki, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Herzfeld, Nathaniel
• Application Number:
  US14/966,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20160114610A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 432 32, 271 315- 317, 271262, 27126501-26504, 271270, 347139, 347346, 430 19
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/4753 using thermosensitive substrates, e.g. paper
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 7/0009 Obliterating the printed matter; Non-destructive removal of the ink pattern, e.g. for repetitive use of the support
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/00 Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge

Abstract

An image decoloring device operates in a power-saving mode and in a normal mode. The image decoloring device includes a decoloring processing unit which removes a color of a decolorable colorant that forms an image on a sheet by applying heat to the sheet. A sheet carrying unit conveys the sheet through the decoloring processing unit. A processor controls the sheet carrying unit. If the image decoloring device is operating in the power-saving mode, a conveyance speed of the sheet through the decoloring processing unit is a first speed. If the image decoloring carrying unit is operating in the normal mode, the conveyance speed of the sheet through the decoloring processing unit is a second speed greater than the first speed.

Claims

1. An image decoloring device comprising:

a decoloring processing unit configured to remove a color of a decolorable colorant that forms an image on a sheet by applying heat to the sheet;

a sheet carrying unit configured to convey the sheet through the decoloring processing unit; and

a processor configured to;

determine a selection of a decoloring mode of the decoloring processing unit as one of a normal mode and a power-saving mode, and

control the decoloring processing unit and the sheet conveying unit to perform decoloring processing in accordance with the selected decoloring mode, wherein

when the selected decoloring mode is the normal mode, the processor performs the decoloring processing by controlling the decoloring processing unit to apply heat at a first temperature to the sheet and controlling the sheet carrying unit to convey the sheet through the decoloring processing unit at a first speed, and

when the selected decoloring mode is the power-saving mode, the processor performs the decoloring processing by controlling the decoloring processing unit to apply heat at a second temperature lower than the first temperature to the sheet and controlling the sheet carrying unit to convey the sheet through the decoloring processing unit at a second speed slower than the first speed.

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an operational unit configured to receive an input for setting the decoloring mode of the image decoloring device as one of the power-saving mode and the normal mode.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the processor determines the decoloring mode of the image decoloring device to be one of the power-saving mode and the normal mode based on the received input.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the decoloring processing unit comprises a heatable roller.

5. A method of controlling an image decoloring device which performs decoloring processing in a power-saving mode and in a normal mode, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a decoloring mode for the decoloring processing as one of the power-saving mode and the normal mode;

conveying a sheet through a decoloring processing unit, wherein when the determined decoloring mode is the normal mode, the sheet is conveyed at a first speed, and when the determined decoloring mode is the power-saving mode, the sheet is conveyed at a second speed slower than the first speed; and

decoloring, with the decoloring processing unit, a color of a decolorable colorant that forms an image on the sheet by applying heat to the sheet, wherein when the determined decoloring mode is the normal mode, the decoloring processing unit applies the heat at a first temperature to the sheet, and when the determined decoloring mode is the power-saving mode, the decoloring processing unit applies the heat at a second temperature lower than the first temperature to the sheet.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

receiving an input for setting the decoloring mode of the image decoloring device as one of the power-saving mode and the normal mode.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein

the decoloring mode of the image decoloring device is determined to be one of the power-saving mode and the normal mode based on the received input.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the decoloring processing unit comprises a heatable roller.