WO2006011373A1 - Image eraser - Google Patents

Abstract

An image eraser for erasing an image formed on a medium using a thermally erasable material by heating the medium, characterized by comprising a heating means (23) for erasing an image formed on the medium based on heating of the medium, a means (29) for cooling the medium, an operating means (77) for specifying an operation course, and a control means (59) performing drive control of the heating means (23) and the cooling means (29) depending on the specification result of the operation course.

Description

 Image erasing device

 Technical field

 The present invention relates to an image erasing apparatus that erases an image formed on a medium by heating the medium.

 Background art

 In recent years, the frequency of taking a hard copy has increased with an increase in the amount of information. This hard copy refers to printing an image displayed on a display screen as it is on a medium such as paper. The amount of medium used increases as the frequency of hard copies increases. Yes. For this reason, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2002-38039 describes that a hard copy is taken using a material that can be erased with heat or a solvent, and the medium is reused after the image is erased with heat or a solvent. Has been proposed.

 Disclosure of the invention

 Problems to be solved by the invention

 In order to erase an image with a solvent, a container for storing the solvent, a carry-in inlet for carrying the medium into the container, a carry-out roller for carrying out the medium from the container, a pump for circulating the solvent in the container, and the like are provided. An image erasing device is required. This image erasing apparatus is difficult to use in an indoor space such as an office because the overall configuration is large and the handling of the solvent requires attention. For this reason, the image erasing apparatus used in the indoor space is preferably the type that heats the medium, but an image erasing apparatus that can safely perform the process of erasing the image by heating the medium has been proposed. This is the actual situation.

 An object of the present invention is to provide an image erasing apparatus that can safely perform a process of erasing an image by heating a medium.

 Means for solving the problem

The present invention relates to an image erasing apparatus for erasing an image formed on a medium by heating the medium using a material that can be erased by heating, and heating the medium. In particular, heating means for erasing the image formed on the medium, and cooling the medium Cooling means; operating means for designating an operation course; and control means for driving and controlling the heating means and the cooling means in accordance with the designation result of the operation course.

 The invention's effect

 [0006] Since the image erasing apparatus of the present invention is provided with the heating means for heating the medium, the image formed on the medium can be erased by heat. For this reason, it is not necessary to pay attention to the handling of the solvent when using the image erasing device, and the overall structure of the image erasing device is more compact than that for erasing an image with a solvent. Can be easily used in indoor spaces. In addition, since the cooling means for cooling the medium is provided and the heating means and cooling means are driven and controlled according to the specification result of the operation course, the operation course for cooling the medium after erasing the image with heat is specified. The media can be cooled automatically just by doing. For this reason, the medium from which the image has been erased can be handled in a cooled state, which increases safety.

 Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image erasing apparatus showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

 FIG. 2 is a side view showing the internal configuration of the image erasing apparatus with the mechanism plate removed.

 FIG. 3 is a front view showing an internal configuration of the image erasing apparatus.

 FIG. 4A is a front view showing the internal structure of the door lock mechanism in a locked state.

 FIG. 4B is a front view showing the internal structure of the door lock mechanism in an unlocked state.

 FIG. 5 is a front view showing an operation sheet.

 FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration.

 FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a power supply path.

 FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the control contents of the control device.

 FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the control contents of the control device.

 FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between the operation time and the erasing temperature.

 FIG. 11 is a front view of an operation panel showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

 Explanation of symbols

[0008] 23 is a heating means, 29 is a cooling fan device (cooling means), 59 is a control device (control means), 6 8 is a lock LED (temperature raising notification means), 69 is an operation indicator (operation notification means), 77 is a start switch (operation means), and 80 is a course switch (operation means).

 BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0009] In order to explain the present invention in more detail, it will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

 1 to 10 show a first embodiment of the present invention.

 As shown in FIG. 2, the main body case 1 contains the lower heating plate 3. A lid case 2 is detachably attached to the main body case 1, and an upper heating plate 4 is accommodated in the lid case 2. The main body case 1 is a printed material such as paper corresponding to the medium placed on the bundle, and the upper heating plate 4 and the lower heating plate 3 receive the printed material based on the lid case 2 being operated in the closed state. Insert from both top and bottom. This printed material is an image formed using an image forming material. This image forming material refers to a material that can be erased by heating, and is colored by the action of a color developing compound and a developer. When this image forming material is heated, the binder resin and the coloration compound in the image forming material are preferentially compatible with each other, and when the color erasing agent is used, the color developer and the color erasing agent are used. Reacts with the agent and discolors. That is, the image erasing apparatus erases an image based on heating the printed material from both the upper and lower sides. The detailed configuration of the image erasing apparatus will be described below.

 [0010] The main body case 1 is constituted by joining a plurality of metal plates into a rectangular box shape having an upper surface opened, and the main body case 1 has a left rear corner as shown in FIG. Mounting base 5 is fixed at four locations, the right rear corner, the left front corner, and the right front corner. Each of these mounting bases 5 is made of a synthetic resin, and a head portion 6 having a small diameter is formed at the upper end of each mounting base 5.

A rectangular heat insulating plate 7 is accommodated in the main body case 1. The heat insulating plate 7 has a rectangular dish shape with an open top surface, and the bottom plate of the heat insulating plate 7 is located at four locations, the left rear corner, the right rear corner, the left front corner, and the right front corner. A through hole (not shown) is formed. The head portion 6 of the mounting base 5 is inserted into each of these through holes, and the bottom plate of the heat insulating plate 7 is supported by the mounting base 5 at four locations. This heat insulating plate 7 is a metal plate that divides the inside of the main body case 1 into an upper erasing chamber 8 and a lower heat insulating chamber 9, and a metal lower heat insulating case 10 is placed in the upper erasing chamber 8. It is stored. This lower heat insulation case 10 has an open top surface. It has a rectangular box shape, and is fixed to the upper end surfaces of the four head portions 6.

Each mounting base 5 is formed with a lower spring guide 11. A heater spring 12 that also has a compression coil spring force is fitted to the outer peripheral surface of each lower spring guide 11, and the upper end portion of each heater spring 12 penetrates the bottom plate of the heat insulating plate 7 and the bottom plate of the lower heat insulating case 10. It protrudes into the lower insulation case 10. A metal lower heating plate 3 is accommodated in the lower heat insulating case 10. The lower heating plate 3 has a rectangular shape. The lower heating plate 3 has upper spring guides 13 located at four locations, the left rear corner, the right rear corner, the left front corner, and the right front corner. Fixed! Each of the upper spring guides 13 is inserted into the heater spring 12, and the lower heating plate 3 is inertially supported by four heater springs 12.

 A lower heater presser 14 having a rectangular plate shape is screwed to the lower surface of the lower heating plate 3. A rectangular plate-shaped lower heater 15 is interposed between the lower heater presser 14 and the lower heating plate 3, and the lower heater 15 is in close contact with the lower heating plate 3 by the pressing force of the lower heater presser 14. And then. The lower heating plate 3, the lower heater presser 14 and the lower heater 15 constitute a lower heating source, and the temperature of the lower heating plate 3 is increased based on the heat generated by the lower heater 15. A metal paper tray 16 is placed on the upper surface of the lower heating plate 3 as shown in FIG. This paper tray 16 has a rectangular dish shape with an open top surface, and functions as an input container into which printed matter is input.

 As shown in FIG. 2, a rectangular lid case 2 is attached to the rear end portion of the main body case 1 so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis 2a. A plurality of pedestals 17 projecting are formed. The lid case 2 opens and closes the upper surface of the main body case 1, and a metal upper heat insulating case 18 is fixed to the plurality of bases 17. The upper heat insulating case 18 has a rectangular box shape with an open bottom surface, and the upper heat insulating case 18 contacts the lower heat insulating case 10 when the lid case 2 is closed. In this state, the lower surface of the upper heat insulation case 18 is blocked by the lower heat insulation case 10, and the upper surface of the lower heat insulation case 10 is blocked by the upper heat insulation case 18, and a space is formed between the lower heat insulation case 10 and the upper heat insulation case 18. A heating chamber (not shown) is formed.

A metal upper heating plate 4 is fixed in the upper heat insulating case 18 via a plurality of spacers 19. This upper heating plate 4 has a rectangular shape, and is marked when the lid case 2 is closed. The printed material comes into contact with the upper heating plate 4 by the spring force of the heater spring 12. A rectangular plate-like upper heater presser 20 is screwed to the upper surface of the upper heating plate 4. A rectangular plate-shaped upper heater 21 is interposed between the upper heater presser 20 and the upper calorie hot plate 4, and the upper heater 21 is in close contact with the upper heating plate 4 by the presser force of the upper heater presser 20. RU The upper heating plate 4, the upper heater presser 20, and the upper heater 21 constitute an upper heating source. The upper heating plate 4 is heated by the heat generated by the upper heater 21, and the printed matter in the paper tray 16 is moved upward. Heat from. The lower heater 15 and the upper heater 21 constitute a heating means 23.

 [0016] An upper temperature sensor 22 (see Fig. 6) is fixed to the upper heater presser 20, and a lower temperature sensor 79 (see Fig. 6) is also fixed to the lower heater presser 14 The temperature sensing part of the upper temperature sensor 22 is in contact with the upper heater 21, and the temperature sensing part of the lower temperature sensor 79 is in contact with the lower heater 15. The upper temperature sensor 22 and the lower temperature sensor 79 constitute temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the heating means 23, and the upper temperature sensor 22 outputs an electric signal at a level corresponding to the surface temperature of the upper heater 21. The lower temperature sensor 79 outputs an electric signal having a level corresponding to the surface temperature of the lower heater 15.

 As shown in FIG. 2, a duct 24 is fixed to the heat insulating plate 7, and a cylindrical fan casing 25 is fixed to the duct 24. A fan motor 26 (see FIG. 6) is fixed to the fan casing 25, and an axial flow type cooling fan 27 is fixed to the rotating shaft of the fan motor 26 as shown in FIG. The cooling fan 27 is housed in a fan casing 25, and an air inlet 28 is formed in the bottom plate of the main body case 1 so as to be positioned below the cooling fan 27. This air inlet 28 also has a plurality of through holes, and the cooling fan 27 is driven by the fan motor 26! As a result, the outside air is sucked into the main body case 1 from the air inlet 28 and heated through the duct 24. The printed matter in the heating chamber is cooled based on the air blown into the room. The fan motor 26 and the cooling fan 27 constitute a cooling fan device 29 corresponding to a cooling means.

[0018] A synthetic resin front cover 30 is detachably attached to the main body case 1. A space-like electrical compartment 31 is formed between the front cover 30 and the front plate of the main body case 1, and the electrical compartment 31 is closed and opened based on the attachment / detachment of the front cover 30. As shown in FIG. 3, a mechanism plate 32 is accommodated in the electrical chamber 31. This mechanism plate 32 is attached to the front plate of the body case 1. The mechanism plate 32 has a substantially L-shaped switch lever 33 mounted on the mechanism plate 32 so as to be rotatable about a shaft 34. The switch lever 33 has a projecting operation portion 35, and a lever spring 36 is mounted between the switch lever 33 and the mechanism plate 32. The lever spring 36 is a tension coinore spring, and the switch lever 33 is urged in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3 by the spring force of the lever spring 36.

 A lock ring 37 is fixed to the lid case 2. The lock ring 37 enters the electrical compartment 31 of the main body case 1 when the lid case 2 is closed. When the lock ring 37 enters the electrical compartment 31, the switch lever 33 is inclined by the lock ring 37. The switch lever 33 is rotated horizontally by the spring force of the lever spring 36 in a state in which the lock ring 37 is escaped from the electrical equipment chamber 31 by being pressed. That is, the lock ring 37 corresponds to an operating member for operating the switch lever 33, and the switch lever 33 is in a horizontal state when the lid case 2 is opened, and is in a tilted state when the lid case 2 is closed. Become.

 [0020] A lid switch 38 having a microswitch force is fixed to the mechanism plate 32. When the lid case 2 is closed, the operating portion 35 of the switch lever 33 is separated from the plunger switch of the lid switch 38. When the switch 38 is turned off and the lid case 2 is opened, the lid switch 38 is turned on based on the fact that the operating portion 35 of the switch lever 33 presses the plunger of the lid switch 38 upward. That is, the lid switch 38 changes its electrical state in accordance with the opening / closing of the lid case 2 and functions as an opening / closing detection means for detecting the opening / closing of the lid case 2.

 A lock case 39 is fixed to the mechanism plate 32, and a lock motor 40 is housed in the lock case 39 as shown in FIG. 4A. The lock motor 40 is composed of a geared motor with a built-in reduction gear mechanism, and a circular rotary plate 42 is fixed to a rotary shaft 41 of the lock motor 40. A pin-shaped cam 43 is fixed to the outer peripheral portion of the rotating plate 42, and the cam 43 moves in the circumferential direction around the rotating shaft 41 based on the drive of the lock motor 40.

A cylindrical bearing 44 is formed in the lock case 39, and an annular stopper 45 is formed at the tip of the bearing 44. A plunger 46 is slidably fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the bearing 44, and a cylindrical lock pin 47 and a columnar spring receiver 48 are fixed to the tip of the plunger 46. A compression coil One end of a lock spring 49 made of a pull is fitted, and the other end of the lock spring 49 is fitted to the inner peripheral surface of a cylindrical spring receiver 50. The spring receiver 50 is fixed in the lock case 39, and the plunger 46 is urged by the spring force of the lock spring 49.

 A driven plate 51 is fixed to the plunger 46. This follower plate 51 has a square through hole 52, and a cam 43 is inserted into the through hole 52. The inner surface of the through hole 52 functions as a cam surface. As shown in FIG. 4A, when the cam 43 is separated from the cam surface 52, the distal end surface of the plunger 46 is locked by the spring force of the lock spring 49. Contact the stopper 45 of the screw 39. In this state, the lock pin 47 is held in a locked state protruding from the lock case 39 and is engaged in the lock ring 37 of the lid case 2 as shown in FIG. In the engaged state between the lock pin 47 and the lock ring 37, the lid case 2 is locked in the closed state, and the opening operation of the lid case 2 is prohibited.

 [0024] When the rotary shaft 41 of the lock motor 40 rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 4A with the lock pin 47 locked, the cam 43 presses the cam surface 52, and the lock pin 47 is locked as shown in FIG. 4B. Pile to 49 spring force and retract in lock case 39. In this state, the lock pin 47 is restrained from protruding so that the cam surface 52 comes into contact with the cam 43 by the spring force of the lock spring 49, and is held in the unlocked state retracted into the lock case 39. In the unlocked state of the lock pin 47, the engagement between the lock pin 47 and the lock ring 37 is released, and the opening operation of the lid case 2 is allowed.

A fixed contact 53 made of a leaf spring and a movable contact 54 made of a leaf spring are housed in the lock case 39. The fixed contact 53 and the movable contact 54 constitute a lock switch 55 (see FIG. 6). When the lock pin 47 is locked, the switch operating portion 56 pushes the movable contact 54 as shown in FIG. 4A. Based on this, it is elastically deformed so as to be in contact with the fixed contact 53. The switch operating portion 56 is formed on the driven plate 51. When the lock pin 47 is unlocked, the switch operating portion 56 is separated from the movable contact 54 and the movable contact 54 is Separated from fixed contact 53 by elastic restoring force. That is, the lock switch 55 detects the advance / retreat of the lock pin 47. The lock switch 55 is turned on when the lock pin 47 is locked, and is turned on when the lock pin 47 is unlocked. It is

 As shown in FIG. 2, a recess 57 is formed in the bottom plate of the main body case 1, and a control board 58 is accommodated in the recess 57. The control board 58 is fixed to the bottom plate of the main body case 1, and a control device 59 is mounted on the upper surface of the control board 58 as shown in FIG. The control device 59 is mainly composed of a microcomputer, and has a CPU 60, a ROM 61, and a RAM 62. This control device 59 corresponds to a control means, and controls the lower heater 15, the upper heater 21, the fan motor 26, and the lock motor 40.

 As shown in FIG. 1, an operation panel 63 is formed at the center in the left-right direction of the front cover 30. The operation panel 63 has an inclined surface shape that inclines backward as it goes upward, and an operation sheet 64 is fixed to the front surface of the operation panel 63 as shown in FIG. A power LED 65, an erasing LED 66, a cooling LED 67, and a lock LED 68 are fixed to the operation panel 63. These power LED 65 to lock LED 68 constitute an operation indicator 69 (see Fig. 6) corresponding to the operation notification means, and the controller 59 operates the user based on lighting control of the power LED 65 to lock LED 68. Inform the contents. The lock LED 68 corresponds to a temperature raising notification means.

As shown in FIG. 5, the operation panel 63 is provided with an on / off switch 70 and a cut-off switch 71. These on-switch 70 and off-switch 71 are self-returning push switches, and are interposed in the power supply path of the power supply circuit 72 as shown in FIG. This power supply circuit 72 generates driving power for the lower heater 15, the upper heater 21, the fan motor 26, the lock motor 40, the control device 59, the power LED 65 to the lock LED 68, and when the input switch 70 is operated. The power supply path of the power supply circuit 72 is closed, and the control device 59 is activated based on the drive power supplied from the power supply circuit 72 to the control device 59. The power supply circuit 72 has a normally open contact 74 of the power relay 73 interposed in the power supply path, and the control device 59 closes the normally open contact 74 based on turning on the coil 75 of the power relay 73 immediately after starting. And turn on the main power. When the switch 71 is operated while the main power is on, the power supply circuit 72 is opened and the control device 59 is stopped when the main power is cut off. Normally open contact 74 is opened based on 75 being turned off. The

 As shown in FIG. 7, an upper thermal switch 76 and a lower thermal switch 78 are interposed in the power supply path of the power circuit 72. The upper thermal switch 76 is mounted on the upper heater presser 20, and operates based on the surface temperature of the upper heater 21 reaching an abnormal value (specifically, 200 ° C) and opens the power supply path. The main power supply is shut off based on the The lower thermal switch 78 is attached to the lower heater presser 14 and operates based on the surface temperature of the lower heater 15 reaching an abnormal value (specifically, 200 ° C), and opens the power supply path. The main power supply is shut off based on this.

 As shown in FIG. 5, a start switch 77 is attached to the operation panel 63. The start switch 77 corresponds to an operating means, and the control device 59 sets an operation course based on the output signal from the start switch 77, and the lower heater 15 and the upper heater 21 based on the setting result of the operation course. The image erasing operation is executed by controlling the drive of the fan motor 26 and the lock motor 40. This processing is performed by the CPU 60 of the control device 59 based on a control program recorded in the ROM 61 in advance, and the RAM 62 functions as a work area. Hereinafter, the control program of the control device 59 will be described.

 [0031] The CPU 60 of the control device 59 turns on the main power based on energizing the coil 75 of the power relay 73 in step S1 of FIG. 8, and turns on the power LED 65 in step S2 to turn on the main power. Inform the user of the insertion. In step S3, the power off time measurement operation is started. In step S4, the operation state of the start switch 77 is determined.

 When CPU 60 detects that start switch 77 is not operated in step S4, CPU 60 compares the measurement result of the power-off time with the upper limit value recorded in advance in ROM 61 in step S5. Here, when it is detected that the measurement result of the power-off time has reached the upper limit value, the process proceeds to step S36 in FIG. 9, and the main power supply is shut off based on turning off the coil 75 of the power supply relay 73. That is, when the start switch 77 is not operated even when the operating force of the input switch 70 and the power-off time have elapsed, the main power supply is automatically shut off.

[0033] When the CPU 60 detects that the start switch 77 has been operated before the power-off time has elapsed in step S4 in FIG. 8, the CPU 60 starts measuring the start waiting time in step S6, and the driving course is determined in step S7. Initialize to erase course. Then erase in step S8 Based on the lighting of LED66 and cooling LED67, the user is notified of the erase course setting, and in step S9, the start waiting time measurement result is compared with the upper limit value recorded in ROM61. If the start waiting time measurement result reaches the upper limit and is detected, the process proceeds to step S10, and the operation state of the start switch 77 is determined again.

 When the CPU 60 detects that the start switch 77 has been operated in step S10, the CPU 60 determines the setting state of the driving course in step S11. For example, when it is detected that the driving course is set to the erase course, the driving course is changed to the cooling course in step S12, and the erase LED 66 is turned off in step S13. In this state, the cooling LED 67 lights up and the user is notified of the cooling course setting.

 [0034] When the CPU 60 detects that the operation course is set to the cooling course in step S11, the CPU 60 changes the operation course from the cooling course to the erase course in step S14, and turns on the erase LED 66 in step S15. In this state, the erasing LED 66 and the cooling LED 67 are lit to notify the user of the erasing course setting. That is, the erase course and the cooling course are alternately switched every time the start switch 77 is operated, and cannot be switched based on the start waiting time.

 When the CPU 60 detects that the start waiting time measurement result has reached the upper limit value in step S9, the CPU 60 determines the setting state of the driving course in step S16. Here, when it is detected that the erase course is set, the process proceeds to step S17, and the opening / closing of the lid case 2 is determined based on the output signal from the lid switch 38.

 [0035] When the CPU 60 detects that the lid case 2 is closed in step S17, the lock pin 47 protrudes into the locked state based on driving the lock motor 40 in step S18, and the lid case 2 is closed. Lock to state. In step S19, the lock LED 68 blinks to notify the user that the lid case 2 is locked in the closed state. That is, the lock pin 47 is operated to move to the unlocked state force locked state on condition that the lid case 2 is closed, and is held in the unlocked state when the lid case 2 is opened.

When CPU 60 blinks lock LED 68 in step S19, CPU 60 starts an erase course in step S20. In this erase course, the lower heater 15 and the upper heater 21 are recorded in the ROM 61 in advance. Driving is started with the same recorded temperature rising pattern. This temperature rise pattern is for continuously supplying power to the lower heater 15 and the upper heater 21, and the lower heater 15 and the upper heater 21 are driven by the temperature rise pattern as shown in FIG. The temperature rises based on

[0037] When the CPU 60 starts the erase course in step S20 in FIG. 8, the CPU 60 notifies the user of the start of the erase course based on blinking the erase LED 66 in step S21. In step S22, the temperature of the upper heater 21 is detected based on the output signal from the upper temperature sensor 22, and the temperature of the lower heater 15 is detected based on the output signal from the lower temperature sensor 79. Are compared with the erase temperature (specifically, 120 ° C.) recorded in ROM 61 in advance. Here, when it is detected that both the detected temperature of the upper heater 21 and the detected temperature of the lower heater 15 have reached the erasing temperature, the process proceeds to step S23, and the control mode is validated. In the effective state of this control mode, the upper heater 21 is turned on / off based on the output signal from the upper temperature sensor 22, the lower heater 15 is turned on / off based on the output signal from the lower temperature sensor 79, and the upper heating plate 4 Both the lower heating plate 3 and the lower heating plate 3 are maintained at a constant erasing temperature.

 [0038] When the control mode is turned on in step S23, the CPU 60 starts the erase time measurement operation in step S24 of FIG. 9, and compares the erase time measurement result with the upper limit value recorded in ROM 61 in step S25. To do. That is, the erasing time is started on condition that both the lower heating plate 3 and the upper heating plate 4 reach the same erasing temperature.

 When the CPU 60 detects that the erase time measurement result has reached the upper limit value in step S25, the detected temperature of the upper heater 21 and the detected temperature of the lower heater 15 are detected in advance in the ROM 61 in step S26. (Specifically, 150 ° C). For example, if the erase time reaches the upper limit without both the detected temperature of the upper heater 21 and the detected temperature of the lower heater 15 rising to an abnormal temperature, the process proceeds from step S25 to step S27. Turn off upper heater 21. In step S28, the erase LED 66 is turned off, and the user is informed of the end of the erase operation.

[0039] When the erase LED 66 is turned off in step S28, the CPU 60 starts the cooling operation based on turning on the fan motor 26 in step S29, and the user is prompted to blink the cooling LED 67 in step S30. Notify that cooling operation is in progress. During this cooling operation Cooling air is sent from the cooling fan 27 into the heating chamber, and the printed matter in the heating chamber is cooled.

In step S30, the CPU 60 blinks the cooling LED 67. In step S31, the CPU 60 compares the detected temperature of the upper heater 21 and the detected temperature of the lower heater 15 with the cooling temperature recorded in the ROM 61 in advance. When it is detected that both the detected temperature of the upper heater 21 and the detected temperature of the lower heater 15 have dropped to the cooling temperature, the process proceeds to step S32, and the cooling operation is completed based on turning off the fan motor 26. Then, the process proceeds to step S33, and the user is notified of the end of the cooling operation based on turning off the cooling LED 67. That is, the cooling operation is stopped on condition that both the temperature of the upper heater 21 and the temperature of the lower heater 15 are lowered to the cooling temperature.

 [0040] When the cooling LED 67 is turned off in step S33, the CPU 60 retracts the lock pin 47 to the unlocked state based on driving the lock motor 40 in step S34, and turns off the lock LED 68 in step S35. And informs the user that the lid case 2 is unlocked. Then, in step S36, the coil 75 of the power supply relay 73 is turned off, and the processing is finished based on the main power supply being cut off (auto power off).

 [0041] When the CPU 60 detects that the cooling course is set in step S16 in FIG. 8, the CPU 60 starts the cooling operation based on turning on the fan motor 26 in step S29 in FIG. 9, and cools in step S30. Make LED67 blink. When it is detected in step S31 that the upper heater 21 and the lower heater 15 have dropped to the cooling temperature, the fan motor 26 is turned off in step S32, and the cooling LED 67 is turned off in step S33. Next, the lock of the lid case 2 is released in step S34, the lock LED 68 is turned off in step S35, and the main power is shut off in step S36.

 For example, when the user operates the switch 71 during the erasing operation, the main power supply is shut off while the lid case 2 is locked. In this case, the main power is turned on again based on the operation of the input switch 70, and if the start switch 77 is pressed twice within the start waiting time, the cooling course is set, and the cooling operation is performed without performing the erase operation. Operation starts. Then, since the lid case 2 is unlocked in conjunction with the end of the cooling operation, the printed matter can be additionally charged or taken out while the temperature is lowered based on the opening operation of the lid case 2.

[0043] The CPU 60 determines that at least one of the upper heater 21 and the lower heater 15 is in step S26 of FIG. When it is detected that the temperature has risen to the abnormal temperature, the erase operation is forcibly stopped halfway based on turning off the lower heater 15 and the upper heater 21 in step S27, and the erase LED 67 is turned off in step S28. Then, the cooling operation is started in step S29, the fan motor 26 is turned off in step S32 on the condition that the upper heater 21 and the lower heater 15 are detected to have cooled to the cooling temperature in step S31, and the lid is closed in step S34. Unlock case 2. That is, when at least one of the lower heater 15 and the upper heater 21 is abnormally heated during the erasing operation, the erasing operation is immediately stopped and the heating chamber is forcibly cooled to the cooling temperature. Then, the opening operation of the lid case 2 is allowed in the cooling state in the heating chamber.

[0044] According to the first embodiment, the following effects are obtained.

 Since the image erasing apparatus is equipped with the heating means 23 for heating the printed material, the image formed on the printed material can be erased by heat. For this reason, it is not necessary to pay attention to the handling of the solvent when using the image erasing device, and the overall structure of the image erasing device is more compact than that for erasing an image with a solvent. Can be easily used in indoor spaces. Also, the cooling fan device 29 that cools the printed material is installed in the image erasing device, and the heating means 23 and the cooling fan device 29 are driven and controlled according to the operation of the start switch 77. Prints can be automatically cooled just by specifying the course. For this reason, the printed material from which the image has been erased can be handled in a cooled state, so that the safety of the image erasing apparatus is increased.

 [0045] An operation course was set according to the operation content of the start switch 77, and the lower heater 15, the upper heater 21, the fan motor 26, and the lock motor 40 were driven and controlled in a pattern according to the setting result of the operation course. For this reason, when the cooling course is set, the cooling operation is performed without performing the erasing operation, and the lid case 2 is unlocked in conjunction with the end of the cooling operation, so the lid case 2 is unlocked. The waiting time is shorter than when the cooling operation is performed after the erase operation. Therefore, when the user designates the cooling course, it is possible to shorten the waiting time when the printed material is additionally input into the paper tray 16 or the printed material is taken out from the paper tray 16.

[0046] An erase course and a cooling course were set according to the number of operations of the start switch 77. This Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated switch for setting the erasure course and a dedicated switch for setting the cooling course, so that the configuration is simplified.

 An operation indicator 69 is provided to display the progress of operation. For this reason, since the user can know the current operation content, convenience is enhanced.

 After starting to drive both the lower heater 15 and the upper heater 21, the lid case 2 is locked in the closed state until both the detected temperature of the lower temperature sensor 79 and the detected temperature of the upper temperature sensor 22 are lowered to the cooling temperature. With the lid case 2 closed, the lock LED 68 blinks continuously. For this reason, the user cannot open the lid case 2 and safety is improved. Moreover, it can be seen from the flashing of the lock LED 68 that the printed material has been heated to a temperature higher than the cooling temperature.

 [0047] Since both the detected temperature of the upper temperature sensor 22 and the detected temperature of the lower temperature sensor 79 reach the erasing temperature and the erasing time elapses, the upper heater 21 and the lower heater 15 are stopped driving. Considering that the temperature rise time (see Fig. 10) until both the detected temperature of the upper temperature sensor 22 and the detected temperature of the lower temperature sensor 79 reach the erasing temperature varies depending on the outside air temperature. There is no need to set the operation time (see Fig. 10).

 FIG. 11 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, and only the parts different from the first embodiment will be described.

 As shown in FIG. 11, the operation switch 63 is equipped with a course switch 80 corresponding to the operation means, and the control device 59 is provided with a small number of courses, a standard number of courses, and a large number of sheets according to the number of times of operation of the course switch 80. Select the course selectively and set the erase time based on the result of setting the driving course. The small number course is selected when the number of printed materials is small, and when the small number course is set, the erasing time is set to a short time. The standard number course is selected when the number of printed sheets is a standard number. When the standard number course is set, the erase time is set to the standard time. The multi-sheet course is selected when a large number of printed materials are input, and when the multi-sheet course is set, the erase time is set to a long time.

According to the second embodiment, the erasing time is adjusted by designating an operation course according to the number of printed materials input. For this reason, images can be erased in a short time according to the number of printed products. Driving efficiency is increased.

 [0049] In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the force used to notify the heating of the printed material using the lock LED 68 is not limited to this. For example, a dedicated high-temperature LED blinks. Based on the, you may be alerted.

 In the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above, 1S uses both the surface temperature of the lower heater 15 and the surface temperature of the upper heater 21 as control data for controlling the erase operation. For example, one of the surface temperature of the lower heater 15 and the surface temperature of the upper heater 21 may be used, or the room temperature of the heating chamber may be used.

 [0050] In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, 1S using both the surface temperature of the lower heater 15 and the surface temperature of the upper heater 21 as control data for controlling the cooling operation is not limited to this. For example, one of the surface temperature of the lower heater 15 and the surface temperature of the upper heater 21 may be used, or the room temperature of the heating chamber may be used.

 [0051] In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the progress of driving is reported by light, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be reported by video or sound.

 In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the fact that the printed matter is high temperature is notified by light, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be notified by video or sound. Availability

[0052] As described above, the image erasing apparatus of the present invention can safely perform the process of erasing an image by heating a medium, and thus is useful for use in an indoor space.

Claims

The scope of the claims  [1] In an image erasing apparatus that erases an image formed on a medium using a material that can be erased by heating, by heating the medium,  Heating means for erasing an image formed on the medium based on heating the medium (23)  Cooling means (29) for cooling the medium;  Operation means (77) for specifying the driving course;  The heating means (23) and the cooling means (29) are provided with a control means (59) for controlling the driving according to the contents according to the designated result of the operation course. [2] In the image erasing apparatus according to claim 1,  The operation means (77) designates a driving course according to the number of operations of the operation means (77). [3] In the image erasing apparatus according to claim 1,  The operation means (77) is characterized by designating an operation course according to the amount of the medium. [4] In the image erasing apparatus of claim 1,  An operation notifying means (69) for notifying the progress state of the operation is provided. [5] The image erasing apparatus according to claim 1,  A temperature rise notifying means (68) for notifying that the temperature of the medium is higher than a set temperature is provided.