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.

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.

An image erasing apparatus according to an embodiment includes a sheet supply portion that supplies a sheet and an ejector. A first conveying path conveys the sheet from the sheet supply portion toward the ejector. A reader arranged on the first conveying path reads an image on the sheet. A second conveying path branches from the first conveying path at a downstream of the reader on the first conveying path and merges with the first conveying path at an upstream of the reader on the first conveying path. An erasing unit is arranged on the second conveying path. A conveying path changing portion is arranged at a branching portion. An operating portion receives a setup of the processing to the sheet. A controller changes a conveying path of the sheet in accordance with the setup received by the operating portion before the sheet is supplied from the sheet supply portion.

An image erasing apparatus according to an embodiment includes a sheet supply portion that supplies a sheet and an ejector. A first conveying path conveys the sheet from the sheet supply portion toward the ejector. A reader arranged on the first conveying path reads an image on the sheet. A second conveying path branches from the first conveying path at a downstream of the reader on the first conveying path and merges with the first conveying path at an upstream of the reader on the first conveying path. An erasing unit is arranged on the second conveying path. A conveying path changing portion is arranged at a branching portion. An operating portion receives a setup of the processing to the sheet. A controller changes a conveying path of the sheet in accordance with the setup received by the operating portion before the sheet is supplied from the sheet supply portion.

A thermoreversible recording medium including a support, and a thermoreversible recording layer, which is disposed on the support, and contains a leuco dye, and a reversible color developer, wherein an average particle diameter of granules in the thermoreversible recording layer is 0.35 micrometers or smaller.

A decoloring device according to an embodiment includes a decoloring unit that erases a first image formed with erasable colorant on a first side of a sheet and a second image formed with erasable colorant on a second side of the sheet. A reading unit reads the first and second sides of the sheet and determines whether the first side and the second side are reusable. A single-side reusable paper tray stacks the sheet if the reading unit determines that only one of the first and second sides is reusable. A marking unit adds a mark to the one of the first and second sides that is determined to be not reusable when only one of the first and second sides is determined to be reusable.

A decoloring apparatus comprises a decoloring unit configured to carry out a decoloring processing which decolors the color of an image formed on a paper with a decolorable color material; a scanner configured to scan the papers to which the decoloring processing is carried out; a memory configured to store data of a predetermined image indicating a predetermined form formed on the paper; a conveyance section configured to convey the paper scanned by the scanner to a plurality of paper discharging positions; and a control section configured to determine whether or not the scan image generated by the scanner is consistent with the predetermined image, and to drive the conveyance section to respectively convey the papers on each of which the scan image is consistent with the predetermined image and the papers on each of which the scan image is not consistent with the predetermined image to different positions.

In accordance with an embodiment, a sheet processing apparatus comprises a decoloring section, a stacking section, an image forming section, a sheet feed roller and a combined roller. The decoloring section carries out a decoloring processing on a sheet. The sheet subjected to the decoloring processing is discharged to the stacking section. The image forming section carries out an image forming processing on the sheet fed from the stacking section. The sheet feed roller feeds a sheet stacked in the stacking section to a conveyance path through which the sheet is fed to the image forming section. The combined roller aligns the sheets to be discharged to the stacking section at a reference position in a conveyance direction in which the sheets are conveyed to the sheet feed roller, and feeds the sheets stacked in the stacking section to the sheet feed roller along the conveyance direction.

In accordance with one embodiment, a color erasing apparatus comprises a conveyance path, a color erasing section and a control section. The conveyance path conveys a sheet. The color erasing section erases the color of an image formed with color erasable recording agent serving as recording agent containing coloring agent the color of which can be erased by heating. The control section carries out a control, in a case where the image formed on the sheet is not an image formed with the color erasable recording agent, so that the sheet is not subjected to a color erasing processing by the color erasing section.