Patent ID: 9302493
Filing Date: 2016-04-05
CPC Classification: B41J,B41M

Claim Text:
1. An image erasing apparatus, comprising: a sheet supply section configured to supply a sheet; at least one discharge tray configured to receive the sheet; a first conveying path configured to convey the sheet from the sheet supply section toward the at least one discharge tray; a reader arranged on the first conveying path and configured to read a surface of the sheet; a second conveying path that branches from the first conveying path at a first position downstream of the reader in a sheet conveying direction and that merges with the first conveying path at a second position between the sheet supply section and the reader; an erasing unit arranged on the second conveying path and configured to erase an image formed on the sheet with image erasable material; a switching section arranged on the first conveying path at the first position and configured to switch a conveyance path of the sheet between the first conveying path towards the at least one discharge tray and the second conveying path towards the erasing unit; and a controller configured to control the first conveying path, the reader, the second conveying path, the erasing unit and the switching section depending on a mode selected from one of an erasing only mode in which the sheet is subject to erasing processing in the erasing unit and not subject to reading processing in the reader, a reading only mode in which the sheet is subject to reading processing in the reader and not subject to erasing processing in the erasing unit, and a reading plus erasing mode in which the sheet is subject to the erasing processing and the reading processing.