Image erasing method that selectively decolors a sheet based on user information encoded on the sheet

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9701148-B2
Application number	US-201715408804-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 18, 2017
Priority date	Dec 31, 2013
Publication date	Jul 11, 2017
Grant date	Jul 11, 2017

Abstract

An image erasing apparatus according to an embodiment includes a scanner that reads an image printed on a sheet with decolorable colorant, the image including a first owner information. A decoloring unit decolors the image printed on the sheet. An input device receives a second owner information. A controller identifies the first owner information included in the image read by the scanner, and determines whether the first owner information corresponds to the second owner information. Based on the determination, the controller selectively controls the decoloring unit to decolor the image.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image erasing apparatus comprising:
a scanner configured to read an image printed on a sheet with decolorable colorant, the image including a first owner information;
a decoloring unit configured to decolor the image printed on the sheet;
an input device configured to receive a second owner information; and
a controller configured to:
identify the first owner information included in the image read by the scanner,
determine whether the first owner information corresponds to the second owner information, and
based on the determination, selectively control the decoloring unit to decolor the image.

2. The image erasing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine a group corresponding to the first owner information,
determine an individual corresponding to the second owner information,
determine whether the individual is a member of the group, and
control the decoloring unit to decolor the image if the individual is determined to be a member of the group.

3. The image erasing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an erasing counter configured to count a number of sheets on which an image is decolored by the decoloring unit when the determination is that the first owner information corresponds to the second owner information.

4. The image erasing apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising:
a display unit configured to display the number of sheets counted by the erasing counter.

5. The image erasing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a sheet carrying unit configured to carry the sheet to the scanner and to discharge the sheet through a discharge port,
wherein, if the determination is that the first owner information does not correspond to the second owner information, the controller controls the sheet carrying unit to discharge the sheet while controlling the decoloring unit to not decolor the image.

6. The image erasing apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising:
a display unit configured to display a number of sheets that are discharged and not decolored.

7. The image erasing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a storage unit that stores a plurality of user names and a plurality of group names of groups which include the user names, wherein
the controller is further configured to:
retrieve a first group name from the storage unit based on the first owner information and a second group name from the storage unit based on the second owner information,
determine whether the first owner information corresponds to the second owner information by comparing the first group name with the second group name, and
control the decoloring unit to decolor the image if, based on the determination, the first group name is the same as the second group name.

8. The image erasing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first owner information in the image includes document properties comprising one or more of: an expiration date, a sheet printing date, a sheet printing place, and a sheet content, and
the controller is further configured to selectively control the decoloring unit to not decolor the image based on the document properties.

9. An image erasing apparatus comprising:
a scanner configured to read an image printed on a sheet with decolorable colorant, the image including a first owner information;
a decoloring unit configured to decolor the image printed on the sheet; and
a controller configured to:
identify the first owner information included in the image read by the scanner,
receive a second owner information input by a user,
determine whether the first owner information corresponds to the second owner information, and
based on the determination, selectively control the decoloring unit to decolor the image.

10. The image erasing apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine a group corresponding to the first owner information,
determine an individual corresponding to the second owner information,
determine whether the individual is a member of the group, and
control the decoloring unit to decolor the image if the individual is determined to be a member of the group.

11. The image erasing apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising:
an erasing counter configured to count a number of sheets on which an image is decolored by the decoloring unit when the determination is that the first owner information corresponds to the second owner information.

12. The image erasing apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising:
a display unit configured to display the number of sheets counted by the erasing counter.

13. The image erasing apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising:
a sheet carrying unit configured to carry the sheet to the scanner and to discharge the sheet through a discharge port,
wherein, if the determination is that the first owner information does not correspond to the second owner information, the controller controls the sheet carrying unit to discharge the sheet while controlling the decoloring unit to not decolor the image and the image.

14. The image erasing apparatus according to claim 13 , further comprising:
a display unit configured to display a number of sheets that are discharged and not decolored.

15. The image erasing apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising:
a storage unit that stores a plurality of user names and a plurality of group names of groups which include the user names, wherein
the controller is further configured to:
retrieve a first group name from the storage unit based on the first owner information and a second group name from the storage unit based on the second owner information,
determine whether the first owner information corresponds to the second owner information by comparing the first group name with the second group name, and
control the decoloring unit to decolor the image if, based on the determination, the first group name is the same as the second group name.

16. The image erasing apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein:
the first owner information in the image includes document properties comprising one or more of: an expiration date, a sheet printing date, a sheet printing place, and a sheet content, and
the controller is further configured to selectively control the decoloring unit to not decolor the image based on the document properties.

Assignees

• Toshiba Kk
• Toshiba Tec Kk

Inventors

• Konagaya Shoh

Classifications

• H04N2201/3246

  of data relating to permitted access or usage, e.g. level of access or usage parameters for digital rights management [DRM] related to still images · CPC title

• B41M7/009

  using thermal means, e.g. infrared radiation, heat · CPC title

• B41M5/287

  using microcapsules or microspheres only · CPC title

• H04N2201/3269

  of machine readable codes or marks, e.g. bar codes or glyphs · CPC title

• B41M5/305

  with reversible electron-donor electron-acceptor compositions · CPC title