Collection and processing apparatus of repeatedly used recording media
First Claim
1. A recording medium collection and processing apparatus for recycling recording media which are capable of erasably recording data and are repeatedly usable, said apparatus comprising:
- a main transport passage for transporting a recording medium taken in from outside;
a record data reader for reading at least data indicating the number of recycle times of the recording medium taken in from the outside, written in a specific area of the recording medium;
a controller for determining whether or not the recording medium is to be reused based on the read data indicating the number of recycle times, if the recording medium is not reused, said controller outputting a discarding command and if it is reused, said controller updating the number of recycle times and outputting data indicating the updated number of recycle times and a number-of-times write command;
a separation section for separating the recording medium for which the discarding command is issued from said main transport passage, leaving the recording medium which has been determined to be reused on said main transport passage;
an erasing section for erasing all record data being erasable written onto the recording medium which has been left on said main transport passage as a recording medium to be reused;
a number-of-times writer for writing data indicating the number of recycle times of the recording medium into a specific area of the recording medium where said record data has been erased upon receipt of the number-of-times write command; and
a first stacker for storing said recording medium which is reusable, onto which said data indicating the number of recycle times is written.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A collection and processing apparatus for recycling recording media which are capable of erasably recording data and are repeatedly usable is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a main transport passage (17) for transporting a recording medium (3) taken in from the outside, a record data reader (15) for reading at least data indicating the number of recycle times of the recording medium taken in from the outside, written in a specific area of the recording medium, a controller (110) for determining whether or not the recording medium is to be reused based on the read data indicating the number of recycle times, if the recording medium is not reused, the controller for outputting a discarding command and if it is reused, for updating the number of recycle times and outputting data indicating the updated number of recycle times and a number-of-times write command, a separation section (16) for separating the recording medium for which the discarding command is issued from the main transport passage, and a number-of-times writer (19) for writing data indicating the number of recycle times of the recording medium into a specific area of the recording medium upon receipt of the number-of-recycle-times command.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A recording medium collection and processing apparatus for recycling recording media which are capable of erasably recording data and are repeatedly usable, said apparatus comprising:
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a main transport passage for transporting a recording medium taken in from outside; a record data reader for reading at least data indicating the number of recycle times of the recording medium taken in from the outside, written in a specific area of the recording medium; a controller for determining whether or not the recording medium is to be reused based on the read data indicating the number of recycle times, if the recording medium is not reused, said controller outputting a discarding command and if it is reused, said controller updating the number of recycle times and outputting data indicating the updated number of recycle times and a number-of-times write command; a separation section for separating the recording medium for which the discarding command is issued from said main transport passage, leaving the recording medium which has been determined to be reused on said main transport passage; an erasing section for erasing all record data being erasable written onto the recording medium which has been left on said main transport passage as a recording medium to be reused; a number-of-times writer for writing data indicating the number of recycle times of the recording medium into a specific area of the recording medium where said record data has been erased upon receipt of the number-of-times write command; and a first stacker for storing said recording medium which is reusable, onto which said data indicating the number of recycle times is written. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An information recording medium on which information can be recorded visibly comprising:
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a recording layer on which information is recorded visibly and which is recycled for erasing recorded information and recording new information; and a number-of-recycle-times recording portion for recording information indicating the number of times said recording layer has been recycled, said recording layer and said number-of-recycle-times recording portion, respectively, being made of a substance that can be recycled a number of times, and said number-of-recycle-times recording portion having the information indicating the number of times said recording layer has been recycled in a bar code form. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A recording medium collection and processing apparatus for using a recording medium repeatedly by recycling a recording section thereof, the recording section including a material being capable of recording data by changing reversibly an optical characteristic locally, and being capable of erasing the recorded data, said apparatus comprising:
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a main transport passage for transporting a recording medium taken in from outside; a record data reader for reading data indicating the number of recycle times of the recording medium taken in from the outside, and written in a specific area of the recording section by changing the optical characteristic locally; a controller for determining whether or not the recording medium is to be reused based on the read data indicating the number of recycle times, if the recording medium, is not reused, said controller outputting a discarding command and if it is reused, said controller updating the number of recycle times and outputting data indicating the updated number of recycles times and a number- of-times write command; a separation section for separating the recording medium for which the discarding command is issued, from said main transport passage; an erasing section for erasing the record data being written, by changing reversibly the optical characteristic locally, on the recording section of the recording medium to be reused; and a number-of-times writer for writing the data indicating the number of recycle times of the recording medium into the specific area of the recording medium by changing reversibly the optical characteristic locally upon receipt of the number-of-recycle-times write command. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification