Patent ID: 8599446
Filing Date: 2013-12-03
Classification: G03G,H04N

Abstract:
1. An image processing apparatus comprising: a light source for reading, configured to apply an illuminating light onto a surface of an original document in order to read the original document; a light source for erasing, configured to apply a light of a specific wavelength onto the surface of the original document, wherein the light of the specific wavelength decolorizes a color-changing printing agent having the characteristic that the agent usually exhibits a specific color and is changed to become colorless or transparent after being irradiated with the light of the specific wavelength; a reading section, configured to receive a reflected light from the original document onto which the illuminating light is applied by the light source for reading; an output section configured to output a read image data of the original document by the reading section; and a control section; wherein the control section is configured: (1) to obtain a first image data from the reading section, by applying the illuminating light from the light source for reading to an area of the surface of the original document; (2) to apply the light of the specific wavelength from the light source for erasing onto the area of the surface of the original document onto which the illuminating light from the light source for reading has been irradiated to obtain the first image data; (3) to obtain a second image data from the reading section, by applying the illuminating light, from the light source for reading, onto the area of the surface of the original document where it is presumed that any image formed by the color-changing printing agent is expected to have been changed to become colorless or transparent after being irradiated with the light of the specific wavelength; (4) to determine whether or not the-color-changing printing agent has been used in an image of the original document based on the first image data and the second image data; and (5) to change at least one of (a) a reading operation of the reading section to read the original document, and (b) an output operation of the output section to output the image data having been read, of the original document, based on the result of the determination; and wherein, in a case in which the control section determines, while the reading operation is activated to read the original document, that the color-changing printing agent has been used in an image of the original document, the control section is configured to deactivate the reading operation.