Patent ID: 8164610
Filing Date: 2012-04-24
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for erasing and writing a predetermined image on a target object to be managed, wherein the predetermined image is reversibly displayed visually on a surface of a rewritable display medium which is provided on the target object, the apparatus comprising: an erasing unit that heats the surface of the rewritable display medium to erase a previous image reversibly displayed on the surface of the rewritable display medium; a surface-condition-information obtaining unit that obtains information on a condition of the surface of the rewritable display medium; a write-laser output unit that outputs a write laser to irradiate the rewritable display medium with the write laser to draw the predetermined image on the surface of the rewritable display medium so that the predetermined image is reversibly displayed on the surface of the rewritable display medium; and a control unit that performs an erase process by causing the erasing unit to erase the previous image on the surface of the rewritable display medium, and then performs a write process by causing the write-laser output unit to draw the predetermined image on the surface of the rewriteable display medium, wherein the control unit adjusts heat output from the erasing unit during the erase process depending on the information on the condition of the surface of the rewritable display medium, which has been obtained by the surface-condition-information obtaining unit before the erase process is executed.