A decoloring apparatus includes a reading unit that reads an image formed on a sheet and outputs image information corresponding to the read image. A control unit is configured to recognize the image information output by the reading unit and determine whether decoloring using the decoloring unit is performed on the sheet based on the recognized image information.

The disclosure relates to ink compositions for digital printing on an external surface of a plastic article. The ink compositions comprise an ink removal-promoting additive. In some aspects, the ink removal-promoting additive can facilitate the separation or loosening of the image from the external surface of the article when the image is exposed to a liquid-based solution at an elevated temperature. Also disclosed are recyclable plastic articles having an external surface with an image printed thereon using the disclosed ink composition and methods for removing cured ink from a plastic container. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

A wider variety of printing is performed more appropriately using ink that generates heat by energy radiation. A printing method of performing a printing on a medium using a color ink includes a water-soluble ink layer forming step of forming a water-soluble ink layer that is a layer of ink that becomes water-soluble after fixing, a color ink layer forming step of ejecting the color ink to the medium to form a color ink layer that is a layer of the color ink, and a water-soluble ink layer removing step of removing the water-soluble ink layer. The color ink includes a colorant and a solvent and generates heat by radiation of an energy ray. In the color ink layer forming step, the energy ray is emitted to the color ink after ink droplets landing to remove by evaporation at least a part of the solvent included in the color ink.

A method for demanding a more flexible printing processing by an image forming apparatus which comprises a first storage section and a second storage section involves deciding whether to print the image information contained in the file; determining whether or not an image indicated by the emphasis information stored in the second storage section is contained in the image information contained in the file if the decision is carried out; creating a print command to print the image indicated by the emphasis information with a decolorable recording material in a case in which it is determined that the image indicated by the emphasis information is contained in the image information contained in the file; and sending the created print command through the communication section.

A method of reusing a notebook provides a notebook having a synthetic-paper page. The method also provides a thermochromic ink pen which, when used to write on the synthetic paper page, leaves thermochromic ink markings. The method further provides a moisture carrier configured to have a liquid diffused therein. The moisture carrier is configured to erase the thermochromic ink markings from the synthetic-paper page by contacting the thermochromic ink markings when the moisture carrier is moist. The method then writes with thermochromic ink on at least a portion of the synthetic-paper page. Liquid is diffused in the moisture carrier, and the portion of the synthetic-paper page having the thermochromic ink is wiped with the moist moisture carrier, such that the thermochromic ink is erased from the synthetic-paper page.

An image forming apparatus includes first and second sheet storages, a sheet conveyer, an image reading unit configured to read a surface of a sheet conveyed from the first sheet storage by the sheet conveyer, an image forming unit configured to form an image on the sheet conveyed from the image reading unit, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine an amount of a color material appearing on the surface of the sheet based on image data generated by the image reading unit, determine one of the image forming unit and the second sheet storage as a sheet feeding destination, based on the determined amount of the color material and a threshold value that is associated with at least one of a type and content of an image to be formed on the sheet, and control the sheet conveyer to convey the sheet to the sheet feeding destination.

A method of reusing a notebook provides a notebook having a synthetic-paper page. The method also provides a thermochromic ink pen which, when used to write on the synthetic paper page, leaves thermochromic ink markings. The method further provides a moisture carrier configured to have a liquid diffused therein. The moisture carrier is configured to erase the thermochromic ink markings from the synthetic-paper page by contacting the thermochromic ink markings when the moisture carrier is moist. The method then writes with thermochromic ink on at least a portion of the synthetic-paper page. Liquid is diffused in the moisture carrier, and the portion of the synthetic-paper page having the thermochromic ink is wiped with the moist moisture carrier, such that the thermochromic ink is erased from the synthetic-paper page.

An erasing unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is a unit that performs erasing of information written on a reversible recording medium. This erasing unit includes: a light source section including one or a plurality of laser devices; and a controller that controls the light source section to cause the light source section to emit a smaller number of laser light beams having emission wavelengths than the number of the recording layers included in the reversible recording medium.

According to an embodiment, an image erasing apparatus includes a reading unit, an erasing unit, an image forming unit, and a controller. The reading unit reads identification information formed on a sheet conveyed. The erasing unit erases a part or all of a first image formed on the sheet after the identification information is read. The controller obtains image data corresponding to the identification information that is read by the reading unit. The controller controls the image forming unit so as to form a second image, which is indicated by the obtained image data, onto the sheet from which the first image has been erased.

A decoloring apparatus includes a sheet conveying unit, a scanner, a decoloring unit, and a controller. The decoloring unit decolors the image on the sheet conveyed through the sheet conveying unit. The decoloring unit is positioned downstream of the scanner in a sheet conveying direction. A distance along the sheet conveying direction between the scanner and the decoloring unit is shorter than a length of a first predetermined sheet size and longer than a length of a second predetermined sheet size. A controller determines whether the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying unit is the first predetermined sheet size or the second predetermined sheet size. The controller performs a mode limiting process if the sheet size is determined to be the first predetermined sheet size.