Patent ID: 8848239

Claim:
A decoloring device comprising: a decoloring unit that decolors an image formed by a decolorable coloring agent on a sheet; a first sheet conveying unit that conveys the sheet to the decoloring unit; a second sheet conveying unit that conveys the sheet decolored by the decoloring unit from the decoloring unit toward a sheet discharge opening; a reversing and conveying unit that is disposed adjacent to an outer wall of the decoloring device and that conveys the sheet that has been conveyed to the second sheet conveying unit after being decolored by the decoloring unit, to the first sheet conveying unit; a manual feed tray that is provided on the outer wall side of the decoloring device adjacent to the reversing and conveying unit and that feeds a sheet to the reversing and conveying unit; a manual discharge tray that is provided on the outer wall side of the decoloring device adjacent to the reversing and conveying unit and at a position upstream from the manual feed tray in a conveying direction of a sheet conveyed by the reversing and conveying unit, and that receives a discharged sheet; an image reading unit that reads an image on a second surface of the sheet conveyed by the second sheet conveying unit after the decoloring is performed with respect to a first surface of the sheet by the decoloring unit; a decoloring necessity determining unit that determines whether or not the decoloring is necessary with respect to the second surface of the sheet based on the image read in the image reading unit; and a conveying control unit that controls the reversing and conveying unit to convey the sheet that has been conveyed to the second sheet conveying unit after being decolored by the decoloring unit, when the decoloring necessity determining unit determines that the decoloring with respect to the second surface of the sheet is necessary.