Patent ID: 8711191
Filing Date: 2014-04-29
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. An image erasing apparatus which erases an image on a sheet on which the image is formed with a color material which is decolorized at a temperature equal to or higher than an erasing temperature, the apparatus comprising: a paper feeding unit which feeds a sheet; a conveying mechanism which conveys the sheet; a detection unit which detects a state of the sheet that is fed; a collecting device which is provided downstream in a sheet conveyance direction from the detection unit in a sheet conveying path and collects the sheet; a heating device which heats the sheet to a temperature equal to or higher than the erasing temperature and thus decolorizes the image formed on the sheet with the color material; and a control unit which controls the sheet conveyance direction of the conveying mechanism and causes the collecting device to collect the sheet if it is determined that the sheet cannot be fed to the heating device based on an output from the detection unit, and which controls the sheet conveyance direction of the conveying mechanism and causes the heating device to erase the image on the sheet if it is determined that the sheet can be fed and conveyed to the heating device.