A decoloring apparatus includes a sheet conveying unit, a scanner, a decoloring unit positioned downstream of the scanner, a user interface, and a controller. The user interface includes a resolution setting section configured to receive input for setting the resolution of the image to be scanned by the scanner, and a processing mode setting section configured to receive input for setting whether to execute scanning processing by the scanner and for setting whether to execute decoloring processing by the decoloring unit. The controller is configured to control contents of the user interface and to perform a mode limiting processing so that when one of the scanning processing and decoloring processing is set to be executed, the other of the scanning processing and decoloring processing cannot be set to be executed.

A laser marking system comprises at least one controller to control an array of optical devices, between a laser source and a scan head. The array applies a selected pattern of portions of the received spatial profile of the laser beam to the substrate to achieve a second intensity different from the first intensity of laser beam at a rate of power deposition relative to a rate of thermal diffusion in the substrate for a predetermined time interval to thermally heat locations of the substrate with the selected pattern of the portions. The second intensity effectuates carbonization of materials of the substrate to create a mark without ablation.

A drawing method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure to be performed on a heat-sensitive recording medium including a recording layer, the recording layer containing a leuco dye and a photothermal conversion agent that absorbs infrared wavelength light, includes: performing drawing in a plurality of first regions, the plurality of first regions each extending in one direction and having gaps therebetween; and thereafter detecting recorded states of the plurality of first regions, calculating differences from the input image information, and performing drawing in a plurality of second regions at recording intensities determined on a basis of the differences, the plurality of second regions each extending in the one direction and being provided at the gaps between the plurality of first regions.

A drawing method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure to be performed on a heat-sensitive recording medium including a recording layer, the recording layer containing a leuco dye and a photothermal conversion agent that absorbs infrared wavelength light, includes: performing drawing in a plurality of first regions, the plurality of first regions each extending in one direction and having gaps therebetween; and thereafter detecting recorded states of the plurality of first regions, calculating differences from the input image information, and performing drawing in a plurality of second regions at recording intensities determined on a basis of the differences, the plurality of second regions each extending in the one direction and being provided at the gaps between the plurality of first regions.

The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for imaging and cutting a label from a linerless label substrate 6, the substrate 6 comprising: a paper or polymeric film base layer; a colour change layer, incorporating a colour change compound operable to change colour in response to illumination by a laser 1; an adhesive layer; and a release layer adapted to have low adherence to the adhesive layer. The label substrate 6 is transported from a storage reel to an imaging area. At the imaging area, the label substrate 6 is selectively illuminated by laser 1 to form an image in the colour change layer. Subsequently, further laser illumination is used to cut the label substrate 6 thereby providing a single label for application to an object. The invention is characterised in that the laser spot size is varied for imaging and cutting.

An inkjet head includes a head chip and an ink chamber. The head chip has a nozzle substrate provided with nozzles which discharge ink. The ink chamber is located over the head chip. In the ink chamber, the ink to be supplied to the nozzles is stored. The inkjet head is mounted on a mounting member. Between the nozzle substrate and the ink chamber, the inkjet head has a position reference substrate provided with butting parts. The butting parts are butted against the mounting member to position the inkjet head when the inkjet head is mounted on the mounting member.

In accordance with an embodiment, an image decoloring apparatus comprises a conveyance path configured to convey a sheet on which an image is formed with a coloring agent that is decolored by heat; a first heat roller configured to be arranged at the upstream side of the conveyance path; and a second heat roller configured to be arranged at the downstream side of the conveyance path. Each of the first heat roller and the second heat roller includes a cylindrical portion and a heat source. The thickness of the cylindrical portion constituting the first heat roller is larger than the thickness of the cylindrical portion constituting the second heat roller. In this way, the heat capacity of the first heat roller is also larger than the heat capacity of the second heat roller.

Provided is an image erasing method including heating a thermoreversible recording medium with laser beams to erase an image which has been recorded on the thermoreversible recording medium, the thermoreversible recording medium reversibly changing between a colored state and a decolored state depending on a heating temperature and a cooling time; and measuring at least one of a surface temperature of the thermoreversible recording medium and an erasing environmental temperature before a beginning of erasing the image to obtain a measured temperature value and controlling a heating time with the laser beams to be emitted for erasing the image depending on the measured temperature value.

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.

According to an embodiment, a laser processing apparatus, that perform laser processing on an object with laser light, includes a plurality of optical heads. The optical heads each includes a laser head unit that emits a plurality of laser light beams in an arranged manner in a predetermined direction, and an optical system that focuses the emitted plurality of laser light beams on the object conveyed relatively with respect to the laser head unit in a conveying direction intersecting the predetermined direction. The optical heads each includes a first optical head group and a second optical head group in which the optical heads are adjacent to each other in the predetermined direction. The first optical head group and the second optical head group are adjacent to each other in the conveying direction and arranged while being shifted from each other by a predetermined length in the predetermined direction.