Patent ID: 7283758
Filing Date: 2007-10-16
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit configured to selectively operate in a first image-forming mode for forming an erasable image and in a second image-forming mode for forming an inerasable image; a detecting unit configured to detect recording-medium identification information that is provided on an image-erasable recording medium for identifying the image-erasable recording medium from a medium other than the image-erasable recording medium; a mode-control unit configured to prohibit formation of an erasable image in the first image-forming mode by said image forming unit, unless the detecting unit detects recording-medium identification information; and an information control unit configured to control said image forming unit to form mode-identification information on a recording medium during image formation in the first image-forming mode for identifying the image as being formed according to the first image-forming mode, wherein said image forming unit is configured to form the mode-identification information with an image-forming material that is identical to an image-forming material used to form images other than the mode-identification information on the recording medium.