Image forming apparatus that forms an image with a decolorable material on an RFID tag

An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming unit configured to form an image with a decolorable material, a second image forming unit configured to form an image with a non-decolorable material, an RFID processor configured to write data in an RFID tag, a memory unit for storing a table indicating one or more attributes associated with the decolorable material and one or more attributes associated with the non-decolorable material, and a controller configured to control the first image forming unit to carry out image forming on a medium including the RFID tag for information of which attribute is associated with the decolorable material in the table, and control the second image forming unit to carry out image forming on the medium for information of which attribute is associated with the non-decolorable material in the table.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to an image forming apparatus, in particular, an image forming apparatus that forms an image with a decolorable material on an RFID tag.

BACKGROUND

An employee in a company may hold an employee identification card or a name tag on which an image of personal information is printed, for identification of the employee. The personal information printed on such an employee identification card, a name tag, or the like (below referred to as an image formation medium) typically include only minimum information necessary for the identification. When the personal information printed on the employee identification card is changed for certain reasons, a new employee identification card with the changed personal information printed thereon is issued to replace the old employee identification card. Preservation of the image formation medium (cards) without replacement of card would be desirable even upon such change of personal information.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a first image forming unit configured to form an image with a decolorable material, a second image forming unit configured to form an image with a non-decolorable material, an RFID processor configured to write data in an RFID tag, a memory unit for storing a table indicating one or more attributes associated with the decolorable material and one or more attributes associated with the non-decolorable material, and a controller configured to control the first image forming unit to carry out image forming on a medium including the RFID tag for information of which attribute is associated with the decolorable material in the table, and control the second image forming unit to carry out image forming on the medium for information of which attribute is associated with the non-decolorable material in the table.

The image forming apparatus according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In each of the drawings, the same components will be depicted with the same reference sign unless otherwise depicted.

FIG. 1illustrates a configuration example of an image processing system including an image forming apparatus, and a configuration example of the image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. The image processing system includes an image forming apparatus100, a network200, and a user terminal300. The image processing system is a system in which a printed matter (for example, employee identification card, name tag, and the like) is output from the image forming apparatus100. An image of personal information input in the user terminal300is formed on the printed matter.

The image forming apparatus100is, for example, a digital combined machine. The network200is, for example, a wired communication network such as a local area network (LAN), or a wireless communication network such as a wireless LAN. The user terminal300outputs a printing job, setting information, and the like to the image forming apparatus100through the network200. The user terminal300is, for example, a personal computer. The user terminal300includes, for example, a display device such as a liquid crystal display and an input device such as a mouse and a keyboard (not illustrated inFIG. 1).

The image forming apparatus100includes a control panel1, a scanner unit2, a printer unit3, a medium feeding unit4, a transporting unit5, and a control unit6. The image forming apparatus100receives a printing job from the user terminal300. The printing job includes an image file which is digital data. The image forming apparatus100forms an image on a card S, which is a medium, based on the digital data. Such image forming is performed according to an electrophotographic method with a recording agent. A specific example of the recording agent includes toner.

The image forming apparatus100includes two agents of a decolorable recording agent and a non-decolorable recording agent as the recording agent. When an image is formed on the card S, the image forming apparatus100forms an image with one or both of the decolorable recording agent and the non-decolorable recording agent. A toner material used as the decolorable recording agent has a function of being decolored by applying energy thereto. Applying energy means, for example, an external stimulus such as heat, light having a specific wavelength, and pressure. The decoloring in the present embodiment means that an image formed with a color (including an achromatic color such as white and black in addition to a chromatic color) which is different from a color of a background of the card S becomes visually unrecognizable by human eyes.

The card S is, for example, a sheet-like medium (image formation medium) such as an original document, a sheet in which letters, an image, or the like is printed, or a plain sheet. The size of the card S is not limited. The card S includes an RFID tag based on a radio frequency identifier (RFID) at a certain position therein. The RFID tag is an IC tag compatible with wireless communication through a frequency band such as an ultra high frequency (UHF) and a high frequency (HF). The RFID tag performs the wireless communication, for example, based on standards of the near field communication (NFC). The image forming apparatus100can read information from the RFID tag mounted in the card S, and write information in the RFID tag.

The control panel1is a portion of an input unit that causes an operator to input information for operating the image forming apparatus100. The control panel1includes a touch panel or various hard keys which includes a button for performing an instruction of starting print, a button for setting operation modes, a button for setting print conditions, and the like. The control panel1includes an operation display unit which is a touch panel display device. The operation display unit of the control panel1displays, for example, a screen for setting whether an image is formed with decolorable toner (decolorable recording agent) or with normal toner (non-decolorable recording agent). The control panel1outputs a signal in accordance with an operation performed by a user, to the control unit6of the image forming apparatus100.

The scanner unit2outputs image information of a matter to be copied (an image), based on intensity of light reflected by the matter to be copied. The scanner unit2outputs the image information to the printer unit3.

The printer unit3forms a toner image on the card S based on an image signal from the outside thereof, with the decolorable toner or the normal toner, and the formed toner image is fixed onto the card S. The image signal is, for example, an image signal included in a printing job received from the user terminal300through the network200. The printing job is used for performing an instruction of performing printing on an employee identification card.

The medium feeding unit4feeds a card S to the printer unit3one by one, at a timing at which the printer unit3forms a toner image. The medium feeding unit4includes a plurality of sheet feeding cassettes20A,20B, and20C, and pickup rollers21A,21B, and21C which respectively correspond to the sheet feeding cassettes20A,20B, and20C. The sheet feeding cassettes20A,20B, and20C respectively can store plural types of cards S. The transporting unit5includes feeding rollers22A,22B, and22C, a transporting roller23, a resist roller24, and an RFID tag processing unit25.

The RFID tag processing unit25is provided immediately upstream the transporting roller23in a transporting direction of the card S. The RFID tag processing unit25performs processing on an RFID tag mounted in the card S fed to the transporting roller23. The RFID tag processing unit25performs processing of reading tag information from an RFID tag mounted in a card S, and performs processing of writing tag information in an RFID tag mounted in a card S. The RFID tag processing unit25is operated in accordance with control of the control unit6so as to output the tag information read from the RFID tag to the control unit6.

Next, a detailed configuration of the printer unit3will be described. The printer unit3includes an intermediate transfer belt27, a transfer unit28, a fixing machine29, a transfer belt cleaning unit31, and image forming units35K,35C,35M, and35Y.

Each of the image forming units35C,35M, and35Y forms a toner image on a photoconductor drum with the normal toner, in accordance with image data of a corresponding color. The recording-agent image forming unit35K forms a toner image on the photoconductor drum with the decolorable toner, in accordance with corresponding image data. The image forming units35K,35C,35M, and35Y perform multiple transfer (primary transfer) onto the intermediate transfer belt27so as to overlap the toner images of the normal toners of colors and the toner image of the decolorable toner, which are on the photoconductor drums, with each other. The transfer unit28includes a support roller28aand a secondary transfer roller28b. The transfer unit28transfers the toner image which is primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt27, onto a surface of the card S at a secondary transfer position (secondary transfer).

The fixing machine29heats and presses the card S so as to fix the toner images which are transferred to the card S. The fixing machine29has a function of decoloring the image of the decolorable toner by heating. The decolorable toner is decolored by heating to a temperature higher than a temperature for fixing. The fixing machine29has a function of heating the card S at the temperature higher than the temperature for fixing, and thus can perform decoloring. The transfer belt cleaning unit31includes a blade32which scrapes residual toner on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt27.

The printer unit3also includes a reversing unit30. The reversing unit30transports the card S discharged from the fixing machine29, to the transporting roller23. The reversing unit30may reverse the card S by switchback, and transports the reversed card S to the transporting roller23. The card S passing through the fixing machine29is ejected to an ejection tray when the card S does not pass through the reversing unit30.

The control unit6includes a network communication unit61, and controls the components of the image forming apparatus100, in accordance with an operation mode, and the like. The network communication unit61is configured to communicate with the user terminal300through the network200. The network communication unit61receives print conditions, personal information, and setting information which are used for forming images for the employee identification card, from the user terminal300.

The user terminal300includes a print setting unit301, an information setting unit302, and a personal information DB (database)303.

The print setting unit301corresponds to a first application that performs print setting for the image forming apparatus100. The print setting unit301provides a user with a print condition screen for designating an image portion to be printed with the decolorable toner, and an image portion to be printed with the normal toner. The print condition screen includes, for example, a screen for designating a color condition. The color condition includes a color of the normal toner, and a color of the decolorable toner. The print condition screen includes, for example, a screen for designating an image condition which is an attribute of an image to be printed with the decolorable toner.

A user or a system manager may freely check setting for the color condition and the image condition, and thus may set the color of the decolorable toner and an image to be printed with the decolorable toner. A color selected as the color of the decolorable toner and a color selectable as the color of the normal toner are set on the print condition screen, so as to be different from each other. Thus, it can be recognized which information can be decolored, based on the color. The print condition screen may be a screen on which other print conditions when printing is performed with the decolorable toner may be preset at the next page and the like, when necessary.

The information setting unit302corresponds to a second application that performs processing relating to personal information in the employee identification card. The information setting unit302displays a screen relating to input of the personal information in the employee identification card. The personal information DB303stores personal information input through the information setting unit302. The information setting unit302displays a selection screen for selecting an item of the personal information, which functions as a target of being written in the RFID tag. The information setting unit302displays a setting screen for setting an attribute and the like of the personal information selected as the target to be written in the RFID tag. The selection screen and the setting screen may be the same as each other or different from each other.

In the setting screen, a position, a color, decolorable or non-decolorable (type of toner), the size, and the like when an image is formed on a card S may be set as the attribute of each personal information. In the setting screen, whether or not to protect the personal information when recording in the RFID tag is performed may be set as the attribute of each personal information. An administrator of personal information or a system manager checks a setting item on a selection setting screen and a designation setting screen, and sets an attribute and the like for each personal information. The user terminal300transmits print conditions set on the print condition screen through the print setting unit301, and personal information and setting information which are selected on the setting screen through the information setting unit302, to the image forming apparatus100.

In addition to the personal information used for the employee identification card, more detailed personal information of a person is stored in association with identification information of the person, in the personal information DB303. The identification information of the person includes an employee number of the person (employee), for example. The more detailed personal information includes information regarding a superior, a colleague, and the like of the person, information regarding a start date of employment, a type of employment, the possessed qualification, and the previous affiliation, and information of a reward and punishment history, and the like.

Next, a detailed configuration example of the control function of the control unit6will be described.

FIG. 2illustrates detailed configuration example of the control function of the control unit6. The control unit6includes an operation control unit60, a network communication unit61, a control-panel control unit62, a non-decolorable print control unit63, a decolorable print control unit64, a heater control unit65, and an RFID tag control unit66.

The control unit6controls the RFID tag processing unit25to read or write tag information from or in an RFID tag S1mounted in a card S.

The RFID tag S1mounted in the card S includes a built-in memory S11for recording the tag information. The tag information includes personal information related to an employee identification card. The built-in memory S11includes a first memory region S11afor storing rewritable personal information, and a second memory region S11bfor storing non-rewritable personal information, which is protected through protection setting.

The operation control unit60controls the other units in the control unit6. The operation control unit60includes an information storage unit601for storing personal information required for forming an image on an employee identification card or a name tag, and authentication information. The operation control unit60generates tables (authentication information table and attribute setting table) and the like which will be described below, based on the print conditions, the personal information, and the setting information which are received by the network communication unit61. The operation control unit60stores the generated tables in the information storage unit601.

The operation control unit60performs authentication of a user using the authentication information stored in the information storage unit601. The operation control unit60stores the personal information received from the user terminal300, in the information storage unit601. The operation control unit60updates personal information stored in the information storage unit601, based on the personal information received from the user terminal300.

The personal information storage unit601includes a first memory area601a, a second memory area601b, an authentication information table601c, and an attribute setting table601d. The first memory area601ais for recording personal information which may be changed usually, such as an affiliation or a telephone number. The second memory area601bis for recording personal information which is not usually changed, such as an employee number, a name, a company name, and a format image, such as a design of the employee identification card. The personal information recorded in the first memory region S11aof the built-in memory S11of the above-described RFID tag S1corresponds to some or all of information recorded in the first memory area601a. The personal information recorded in the second memory region S11bof the built-in memory S11of the above-described RFID tag S1corresponds to some or all of information recorded in the second memory area601b.

The second memory area601bmay store personal information that is less likely to be changed, for example, information that is changed once per several years to several ten years. The authentication information table601cstores authentication information. The authentication information is, for example, information regarding employee numbers and names of all employees who are authorized to use the image forming apparatus100.

The attribute setting table601dis a table (attribute storing unit) in which an attribute is set for each item of the personal information. The operation control unit60stores the personal information in the first memory area601aor the second memory area601b, based on the attribute setting table601d. The operation control unit60performs the above storage processing at a timing at which the personal information is received, or at a timing at which the personal information is updated. The attribute setting table601dincludes a plurality of attribute setting tables generated for different users. In the attribute setting table601d, for example, the attribute setting table of each user is stored in correlation with the user's employee number.

Here, a specific example of the attribute setting table601dwill be described.FIG. 3illustrates an example of personal information and attribute setting table of the personal information.

A column401in the attribute setting table601dindicates attribute of the personal information. As indicated by the column401, the attributes of the personal information include “company name”, “employee number”, “name”, “age”, “affiliation”, “address”, “telephone number”, and the like. The attributes illustrated inFIG. 3are an example, and may include another attribute for the employee identification card.

The area the built-in memory S11of the RFID tag S1for storing the corresponding personal information (i.e., the first memory region S11aor the second memory region S11b) is set for each row in a column402of the attribute setting table601d. The column402includes a column402aand a column402b. In the column402a, “o” is set for each of attributes to be recorded in the first memory region S11aof the built-in memory S11. In the column402b, “o” is set for each of attributes to be recorded in the second memory region S11bof the built-in memory S11.FIG. 3indicates that “company name”, “employee number”, and “name” are recorded in the second memory region S11bwhich is protected so as to be non-rewritable.FIG. 3also indicates that “age”, “affiliation”, “address”, and “telephone number” are recorded in the first memory region S11aso as to be rewritable.

Whether an image is formed with the decolorable recording agent or the non-decolorable recording agent is set in a column403of the attribute setting table601d. The column403includes a column403aand a column403b. In the column403a, “o” is set for each of attributes to be printed with the decolorable recording agent. In the column402b, “o” is set for each of attributes to be printed with the non-decolorable recording agent.FIG. 3indicates that “company name” and “employee number” are printed with the non-decolorable recording agent.FIG. 3also indicates that “name”, “age”, “affiliation”, and “address” are printed with the decolorable recording agent. Regarding “telephone number”, “-” is set, which means that no image is printed. In the attribute setting table601d, some of the personal information may be set as non-printed information. Thus, a user can freely set information not to be printed on the employee identification card.

The network communication unit61performs communication through the network200as illustrated inFIG. 1. The control-panel control unit62controls a display and the like of the control panel1. The control-panel control unit62receives personal information of a user of which authentication succeeds, from the operation control unit60. When there is a user-customized print setting screen which is customized for the user, the control-panel control unit62displays the user-customized print setting screen, based on the received personal information. The print setting screen may include a user interface for changing setting which is set by a printer driver, to another setting customized for the user.

The non-decolorable print control unit63controls the image forming units35K,35C,35M, and35Y to form images with the normal toner of the corresponding colors. The decolorable print control unit64controls the image forming units35K,35C,35M, and35Y to form images with the decolorable toner of corresponding colors.

The heater control unit65controls a heating temperature of the fixing machine29. The heater control unit65controls the heating temperature of the fixing machine29to be at, for example, 100 degrees, when fixation processing is performed. The heater control unit65controls the heating temperature of the fixing machine29to be at, for example, 130 degrees, when decoloring processing is performed.

The RFID tag control unit66controls the RFID tag processing unit25to read and write tag information from or in the RFID tag S1mounted in the card S. The RFID tag control unit66outputs personal information included in the tag information read from the RFID tag S1, to the operation control unit60. The operation control unit60performs authentication of a user using the personal information included in the tag information received from the RFID tag control unit66, and authentication information stored in the information storage unit601.

The operation control unit60records information of the column402aof the attribute setting table601din the first memory area601a. The operation control unit60records information of the column402bof the attribute setting table601din the second memory area601b.

The operation control unit60instructs the RFID tag control unit66to store the personal information recorded in the first memory area601ain the first memory region S11aof the RFID tag S1. The operation control unit60also instructs the RFID tag control unit66to store the personal information recorded in the second memory area601bin the second memory region S11bof the RFID tag S1. The operation control unit60makes the instruction to the RFID tag control unit66, for example, based on the tag information at a timing at which authentication of the user is performed.

The operation control unit60outputs image forming control information to the non-decolorable print control unit and the decolorable print control unit64, based on information of the column403of the attribute setting table601d. The non-decolorable print control unit63performs image forming processing for personal information with the normal toner, based on the information of the column403bof the attribute setting table601d. The decolorable print control unit64performs image forming processing for personal information with the decolorable toner, based on the information of the column403aof the attribute setting table601d.

The operation control unit60determines whether or not an employee number and a name included in the personal information received from the RFID tag control unit66are included in authentication information stored in the authentication information table601c. The operation control unit60performs authentication of a user based on the determination.

Next, the processing of the control unit6will be described by a specific example of an employee identification card (card S) on which an image is formed using the attribute setting table601dand the personal information.

FIG. 4illustrates an example of the employee identification card (card S) on which personal information of an employee is printed. Specifically, a company name501, an affiliation502, an employee number503, a name504, an age505, and an address506are printed on an employee identification card50. The employee identification card50has an RFID tag S1mounted therein. The company name501, the employee number503, and the name504on the employee identification card50are printed with the normal toner, for example, of a first color. The affiliation502, the age505, and the address506on the employee identification card50are printed with the decolorable toner, for example, of a second color which is different from the first color. In the RFID tag S1of the employee identification card50, “XX Corporation” as company name, “AAA123” as employee number, and “YAMADA XYZ” as name is recorded in the first memory region S11a. In the RFID tag S1of the employee identification card50, “XYΔ Department YY×Section” as affiliation, “30 years old” as age, and “AA Prefecture BB City CC Town 10-1” as address is recorded in the second memory region S11b. In the RFID tag S1of the employee identification card50, “03-WXYZ-1111” as telephone number is also recorded in the second memory region S11b.

A device configuration of the control unit6includes appropriate hardware and a computer. The computer includes a CPU, a memory, an input and output interface, an external storage device, and the like. The memory and the external storage device configure a storage unit of the control unit6. The control unit6causes the computer to execute a control program, and thus achieves the above-described control functions. In addition, the control unit6operates appropriate hardware, and thus achieves the above-described control functions.

Next, an image forming operation of the image forming apparatus100will be described using an operation when an image is formed on the employee identification card illustrated inFIG. 4, as an example.

FIG. 5andFIG. 6are flowcharts illustrating an image forming operation carried out by the image forming apparatus100. Here, it is assumed that the following processes (1) to (4) have been completed: (1) an input process of personal information, setting information, and the like in the user terminal300; (2) an acquiring process of personal information, setting information, and the like used for an employee identification card, from the user terminal300of the image forming apparatus100; (3) a process in which a user places a card S for the employee identification card, on the sheet feeding cassette of the image forming apparatus100; and (4) a process in which a user presses a button to start printing images for the employee identification card, on the control panel1of the image forming apparatus100.

The image forming apparatus300extracts one card S from the sheet feeding cassette and transports the extracted card S to a position immediately upstream the transporting roller23in the transporting direction (ACT11). The position of the card S immediately upstream the transporting roller23is a position at which the RFID tag S1mounted in the card S and the RFID tag processing unit25can wirelessly communicate with each other. The control unit6reads tag information from the RFID tag S1in the card S through the RFID tag processing unit25(ACT12).

The control unit6determines whether initial image forming processing for the card S is performed or image forming processing for rewriting is performed, based on the tag information read from the RFID tag S1(ACT13). For example, when the control unit6determines that personal information is not included in the read tag information (which means that no personal information is recorded in the RFID tag S1), the control unit6determines that the initial image forming processing for the card S is performed. A configuration for determining whether the initial image forming processing for the card S is performed is not limited to the above configuration. For example, a user may set whether the initial image forming processing is performed or the image forming processing for rewriting is performed, through the control panel1.

Here, when it is determined that the initial image forming processing is performed (first time in ACT13), the control unit6controls the RFID tag processing unit25to write personal information in the RFID tag S1mounted in the card S (ACT14). The non-decolorable print control unit63performs image forming processing for personal information with the normal toner, based on the information of the column403bof the attribute setting table601d(ACT15). The non-decolorable print control unit63operates to form the company name501, the employee number503, and the name504illustrated inFIG. 4as an image on the card S, with the normal toner.

After the image is formed with the normal toner, the decolorable print control unit64performs image forming processing for personal information with the decolorable toner, based on the information of the column403aof the attribute setting table601d(ACT16). The decolorable print control unit64operates to form the affiliation502, the age505, and the address506illustrated inFIG. 4as an image on the card S, with the decolorable toner. Through the above processing, the image forming apparatus100performs image formation on the card S or the like, and outputs an employee identification card (illustrated inFIG. 4).

Next, processing when it is determined that image forming processing for rewriting is performed, in ACT13ofFIG. 5, will be described with reference toFIG. 6.

For example, when personal information is included in the read tag information (which means that recording of personal information in the RFID tag S1has been done previously), the control unit6determines that image forming for rewriting is performed.

Here, when it is determined that the image forming processing for rewriting is performed (rewriting of ACT13), the control unit6performs authentication of a user using personal information (below referred to as first personal information) included in the tag information (ACT21). The control unit6acquires personal information (below referred to as second personal information) of the user of which authentication succeeds, from the first memory area601aand the second memory area601b(ACT22).

The control unit6performs processing of writing the second personal information in the RFID tag S1(ACT23). Thus, information recorded in the RFID tag S1is updated from the first personal information to the second personal information. Specifically, the image forming apparatus100writes all or part of the second personal information as the personal information that is set to be stored in the first memory region S11aof the RFID tag S1.

Then, the control unit6changes the operation mode of the image forming apparatus100to a decoloring mode (ACT24). The image forming apparatus100performs the decoloring processing by heating the card S at the temperature higher than the temperature for fixing, by controlling the fixing machine29(ACT25). Specifically, the image forming apparatus100decolors images of the affiliation502, the age505, and the address506printed on the card S.

Then, the control unit6changes the operation mode of the image forming apparatus100from the decoloring mode to an image forming mode (ACT26). When the operation mode is changed to the image forming mode, the image forming apparatus100transports the card S subjected to the decoloring processing, to the resist roller24without reversing the card S bypassing through the reversing unit30. The image forming apparatus100forms an image on the card S with the decolorable toner (ACT27). Specifically, the image forming apparatus100forms an image (new image) of the affiliation502, the age505, and the address506on the card S with the decolorable toner.

When the decoloring processing of the card S is performed by an external device and the like, ACT24, ACT25, and ACT26may be omitted. Here, it is assumed that a user places the employee identification card for which decoloring has been completed, on the sheet feeding cassette.

As described above, the image forming apparatus100can form an image with the decoloring toner and the normal toner in accordance with the attribute setting table601d. The attribute setting table601dcorresponds to setting for forming an image of personal information which is likely to be changed, with the decoloring toner and for forming an image of personal information which is less likely to be changed, with the normal toner. According to the image forming apparatus100of the present embodiment, decoloring may be performed on the personal information which is likely to be changed when the change is required, and the changed personal information may be printed with the decolorable toner in an area on which the decoloring has been performed. Accordingly, when a portion of the personal information described on the employee identification card is changed, the employee identification card can be continuously used replacement with another employee identification card.

The above-described image processing system according to the embodiment includes one image forming apparatus100and one user terminal8. However, the configuration of the image processing system is not limited thereto. The image processing system may include a plurality of image forming apparatuses100and a plurality of user terminals8. In addition, a position of the RFID tag processing unit25in the above-described image forming apparatus100is an example. As long as the RFID tag processing unit25is positioned upstream of the printer unit3in a transporting direction, the RFID tag processing unit25may be positioned at any of the transporting path of the card S.

A developer included in each of the image forming units35K,35C,35M, and35Y may accommodate both the decolorable toner and the normal toner of a corresponding color. In this case, the image forming units35K,35C,35M, and35Y can form an image by switching a type of toner between the decolorable toner and the normal toner.

The printer unit3of the image forming apparatus100according to the above-described embodiment forms an image by fixing a toner image. However, the configuration of the printer unit3is not limited thereto. The printer unit3of the image forming apparatus100may form an image by an ink jet method.

According to at least one embodiment which is described hitherto, descriptions of a portion of an employee identification card can be decolored in accordance with change of the personal information, and thus new descriptions may be overwritten. Thus, it is possible to reuse the employee identification card without waste. Even when the contents of the personal information written in the RFID tag as the tag information can be limited, more detailed personal information can be retrieved from the user terminal300based on the tag information. Thus, it is possible to refer to more detailed personal information than personal information stored in an image formation medium or an RFID tag, when an image is formed on an employee identification card.