Image forming device

Abstract

To prevent a non-color fadable toner from being printed on reuse paper due to wrong operation.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus has: a heating rotating body that heats an unfixed toner image; a pressure rotating body that is in contact with and applies a pressure to an outer surface of the heating rotating body, wherein the pressure rotating body applies a pressure to the heating rotating body to form a fixing nip part, and fixing processing of fixing the unfixed toner image to a recording material at the fixing nip part, and decolorization processing of heating an image formed by a color fadable toner to decolorize the color fadable toner at the fixing nip part can be performed; and a display unit that performs display for a user to select between performing printing using the color fadable toner or performing printing using the non-color fadable toner, wherein the display unit performs display for the user to select whether the recording material used for printing is reuse paper or not, and when the reuse paper is selected, the color fadable toner is selected as the type of toner used for printing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] The image forming apparatus has a fixing device that fixes an unfixed toner image on a recording material to the recording material. The fixing device has a pair of rotors: a heating rotor that applies heat to the unfixed toner and is driven to rotate, and a pressure rotor that applies pressure to the heating rotor to form a fixing nip between the heating rotor and the pressure rotor, which is also driven to rotate. When the recording material with unfixed toner on it is conveyed to the fixing nip, the heat of the heating rotor and the pressure from the pressure rotor are applied to the recording material, and the unfixed toner is fixed to the recording material.

[0003] In recent years, toner (erasable toner) that erases when it reaches a predetermined temperature has been used. Patent Document 1 shows that a process of erasing an image formed on a recording material with erasable toner is performed by applying heat to the image. This allows the recording material to be reused. Recording material that has been subjected to an erasing process at least once in the past is also called reusable paper. In image forming devices that perform an erasing process, reused paper often continues to be printed with erasable toner until it is finally discarded. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-180485 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Since a recording material that has been erased once is often repeatedly used by printing with erasable toner and then erasing it, it is preferable that the recording material continue to be printed with erasable toner until it is finally discarded.

[0006] However, when printing on reusable paper with decolorizable toner, there is a risk that non-decolorizable toner may be selected by mistake and printing may be performed, making the paper unusable.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the image forming apparatus of the present invention is to prevent printing of non-erasable toner due to erroneous operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is capable of carrying out a fixing process in which a recording material carrying an unfixed toner image is nipped and conveyed through the fixing nip portion to fix the unfixed toner image to the recording material, and an image formed with decolorizable toner is heated in the fixing nip portion to decolorize the decolorizable toner. The image forming apparatus has a display unit that displays a message to allow a user to select whether to print with the decolorizable toner or the non-decolorizable toner, and the display unit displays a message to allow a user to select whether to print with the decolorizable toner or the non-decolorizable toner. Gari A display will be displayed to allow users to select whether or not the paper is reused. , Li When used paper is selected, the decolorizing toner is automatically set as the type of toner used for printing, and the type of toner used for printing can be changed from the decolorizing toner to the non-decolorizing toner. , Li After the use paper is selected, when the type of toner used for printing is changed from the decolorizing toner to the non-decolorizing toner, the user is notified of information that the recording material cannot be reused, and is prompted to select whether or not to change, and based on the selection of whether or not to change, it is determined whether to print with the decolorizing toner or the non-decolorizing toner. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The image forming apparatus of the present invention can prevent printing of non-erasable toner due to erroneous operation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 10 is a schematic diagram showing a fixing device and a path b in the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a block diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the temperature characteristics of the decolorizing toner in the present embodiment. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart showing a decoloring process. [Figure 6] This is a display unit that displays a message to allow the user to select either printing processing or erasing processing. [Figure 7] This is a display unit that displays a print setting screen. [Figure 8] This is a display unit that displays a paper setting screen. [Figure 9] This is a display unit that displays a paper feed setting screen. [Figure 10] 1 is a flowchart showing a printing flow in the first embodiment. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart showing a printing flow according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Example 1 <Image forming device> Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of image forming apparatus 100. As shown in Fig. 1, image forming apparatus 100 has five types of image forming units arranged along the movement direction of intermediate transfer belt 17: yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, which are non-erasable toners (non-erasable toners), and blue, which is erasable toner (erasable toner). First, the process of forming a toner image on intermediate transfer belt 17 will be described using yellow image forming unit PY as an example.

[0012] The surface of the photosensitive drum 11, which is driven to rotate by the charger 12, is uniformly charged (charging). Then, the exposure device 13 irradiates the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 with a laser beam according to input image data, forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 (exposure). Then, the development device 15 forms a yellow toner image on the photosensitive drum (development). A primary transfer blade 16 applies a voltage of the opposite polarity to the potential polarity of the yellow toner image to the intermediate transfer belt 17. This transfers the yellow toner from the photosensitive drum 11 to the intermediate transfer belt 17 (primary transfer). Any remaining yellow toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 is scraped off and removed by a toner cleaner. This process is repeated for magenta PM, cyan PC, black PK, and blue B1. As a result, a full-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 17. The recording material is fed one sheet at a time from a recording material cassette 18 or a multi-sheet feed tray 19, which serves as a paper feeder, and is fed into a pair of registration rollers 20. The pair of registration rollers 20 temporarily receives the recording material, and if the recording material is skewed, corrects the skew of the recording material so that it is perpendicular to the conveying direction. The pair of registration rollers 20 then synchronizes with the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 17 and feeds the recording material between the intermediate transfer belt 17 and the secondary transfer roller 21.

[0013] The toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 17 is transported to a secondary transfer section formed by a pair of secondary transfer rollers 21. In synchronization with the transport of the toner image, recording materials (paper sheets) are taken out one by one from a recording material cassette 18 and fed to the secondary transfer section. Then, the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 17 is transferred to the recording material (secondary transfer).

[0014] The recording material bearing the unfixed toner image is transported to the fixing device 30, where it is fixed by heat and pressure (fixing). The recording material with the fixed toner image is discharged onto the discharge tray 52.

[0015] Image forming apparatus 100 can also form monochrome images. When forming monochrome images, only the black image forming station PK is driven among the multiple image forming stations.

[0016] When forming an image using the decolorizable toner blue B1, only the blue image forming unit B1 is driven among the multiple image forming units. By forming an image using the decolorizable toner, it is possible to form a decolorizable image, and the recording material can be reused.

[0017] Double-sided printing, in which images are formed on both sides of a recording material, will be described using Figures 1 and 2. After a recording material with an image formed on one side is discharged from fixing device 30, it is transported to path b by a flapper. Just before being transported to path b, the recording material is switched back. As a result, the recording material is transported to path b in an inverted state. After the recording material is transported to paper path 43, it is then transported again to the secondary transfer unit, where the toner image is transferred, and the unfixed toner image is fixed by fixing device 30. The recording material that has been double-sided printed is then discharged to output tray 51.

[0018] The image forming process starts with this charging and ends with the recording material on which the toner image is fixed being discharged onto the discharge tray 51. The period during which the image formation is being performed is referred to as the image forming process in progress.

[0019] <Block diagram> FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the functional block configuration of the image forming apparatus 100. The image forming apparatus 100 includes a control unit 200, a display unit 300, a printer unit 320, an image reading unit 330, a CPU 210, a ROM 220, and a DRAM 230. Each functional unit is connected to enable data communication. The control unit 200 controls each connected functional unit. The ROM 220 stores various control programs required for the control unit 200 to operate, such as programs for controlling image formation processing and image decoloring processing. The CPU 210 performs various arithmetic processing based on the control programs and information stored in the ROM 220. The DRAM 230 is used as a temporary data storage area when the control unit 200 executes a program. The display unit 300 is, for example, a liquid crystal display unit with multiple buttons. The display unit 300 accepts user operations and outputs a signal corresponding to the operation to the control unit of the multifunction peripheral 100.

[0020] <Fixing device> The fixing device 30 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. The fixing device 30 has a heating rotor with a heating roller 31 and a pressure rotor with a pressure belt 32. The heating roller 31 is a hollow roller with an outer diameter of 40 mm. The hollow roller is an aluminum pipe with a thickness of 2 mm, and the outer surface of the aluminum is coated with a PFA tube as a surface layer. The PFA tube also functions as a release layer, preventing the toner from adhering to the surface of the heating rotor when fixing the toner on the recording material. A halogen heater is disposed inside the hollow roller. The temperature of the halogen heater is controlled by the control unit 200. The heating roller 31 is also connected to a motor (not shown) and is rotated by the motor.

[0021] The pressure rotating member includes a pressure belt 32 that transports the recording material, a pressure pad 33 that forms a fixing nip with the heating rotating member, and a suspension roller 34. The pressure belt 32 is an endless, rotatable belt composed of a base layer, an elastic layer, and a release layer. The base layer is made of a heat-resistant resin, such as polyimide, with a thickness of 60 μm. The elastic layer is made of heat-resistant silicone rubber with a thickness of 300 μm. The release layer is made of a PFA tube with a thickness of 30 μm. The pressure belt 32 is suspended between two suspension rollers. A pressure pad 33 contacts the inner surface of the pressure belt 32, and the pressure belt 32 abuts against the heating roller 31. The pressure pad 33 presses the heating roller 31 through the pressure belt 32, forming a fixing nip. The width of the fixing nip in this embodiment is 19 mm. The pressure pad 33 is made of a heat-resistant, heat-insulating material, such as phenolic resin, polyimide resin, or polyamide resin. The fixing nip portion is formed, and the pressure belt 32 is rotated by the rotation of the heating roller 31 .

[0022] When the recording material is conveyed to the fixing nip, it is sandwiched and conveyed between the heating roller 31 and the pressure belt 32, and heat and pressure are applied in the fixing nip. As a result, the unfixed toner on the recording material is fixed to the recording material. The fixing device 30 in this embodiment is a so-called lower belt type fixing device 30 composed of the heating roller 31 and the pressure belt 32 using a halogen heater. However, this is not limited to this. Any fixing device that can fix the unfixed toner to the recording material may be used. For example, a configuration having a planar heating element and an endless film heating rotor may be used.

[0023] <Erasing toner> The image forming apparatus 100 in this embodiment is capable of forming images using erasable toner. Therefore, the erasable toner will be described below. The erasable toner is configured by incorporating a decolorizable coloring material into a binder resin. For example, it is configured to use a color former such as a leuco dye and a color developer such as a phenol. The decoloring mechanism is simple: the color develops due to an interaction between the color former and the phenol, and when the temperature rises above a certain level, the interaction is broken and the toner is erased.

[0024] The temperature characteristics of the decolorizing toner will be explained with reference to Fig. 4. The decolorizing toner used in this embodiment melts when it reaches 80°C and becomes fixable to the recording material. On the other hand, the decolorizing toner is decolorized when its temperature reaches 110°C. Therefore, in this embodiment, when an image is formed using the decolorizing toner, the fixing temperature is set to 80°C or higher and lower than 110°C, and the decolorizing temperature is set to 110°C or higher.

[0025] <Fixing process of erasing toner> When fixing the decolorizable toner, it is necessary to fix the decolorizable toner to the recording material without decolorizing it. Therefore, the surface temperature of the heating roller 31 is heated to 105°C, which is between 80°C and 110°C. The pressure belt 32 is also heated to 95°C. The decolorizable toner is fixed in a state heated to the above temperature. This prevents the decolorizing of the decolorizable toner while fixing it.

[0026] <Decolorization process> To erase the erasing toner, the erasing toner must be heated to 110°C or higher. Therefore, the heating roller 31 is heated to 140°C. Furthermore, the pressure belt 32 is heated to 125°C. In a state where the recording material is heated to the above temperatures and has the erasing toner fixed thereon, the recording material is conveyed to the fixing nip portion and is erased. In the fixing nip portion, the erasing toner fixed on the surface that comes into contact with the heating roller 31 is heated to 110°C or higher and erased. In this manner, the process of erasing the erasing toner (erasing process) is carried out.

[0027] Next, a conventional decoloring process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of the decoloring process.

[0028] The image forming apparatus 100 can perform decoloring processing by selecting from a plurality of decoloring modes including a single-sided decoloring mode for decoloring one side and a double-sided decoloring mode for decoloring both sides.

[0029] First, the user feeds the recording material to be erased into the recording material cassette 18. With the recording material to be erased set in the recording material cassette 18 in this manner, the flow chart shown in FIG.

[0030] A01 The user selects the erasing operation from the display unit 300. The display unit 300 is equipped with a monitor and performs various operations. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the display unit 300, which allows the user to select either a print mode for forming an image on a recording material or an erasing mode for erasing the erasing toner. The display unit 300 is equipped with a start switch 71, a monitor 73, a print button 74, and an erasing button 75. When the user selects the erasing button 75 on the display unit 300, the process proceeds to A02.

[0031] A02 When the user selects the erasing mode from the display unit 300, an erasing operation setting screen is displayed. The paper type, basis weight, number of sheets to be erased, paper size, paper feed tray, etc. can be set. After setting the erasing information, the user selects the erasing processing mode. In this embodiment, either the single-sided erasing mode or the double-sided erasing mode is selected. If the single-sided erasing mode is selected, the process proceeds to A03, and if the double-sided erasing mode is selected, the process proceeds to A06.

[0032] A03 When the one-sided decoloring mode is selected, the heating roller 31 is heated to 140° C. and the pressure belt 32 is heated to 125° C. The heating roller 31 and the pressure belt 32 reach their respective target temperatures. Then, the process proceeds to A04.

[0033] A04 The recording material is conveyed from the recording material cassette 18. The surface that comes into contact with the heating roller 31 is subjected to decoloring processing. Therefore, the recording material needs to be fed into the recording material cassette 18 so that the surface on which the decolorized toner image is formed faces the heating roller 31. Therefore, it is preferable to specify whether the image forming surface should be placed on the recording material cassette 18 or the multi-paper feed tray 19, top or bottom.

[0034] A05 The erasing process continues until all the recording materials to be erased are gone from the recording material cassette 18. If there is any paper to be erased, the process returns to A04, and if there is no more, the process goes to END.

[0035] A06 When the double-sided erasing mode is selected on the display unit 300 in A02, the double-sided erasing mode is set. The heating roller 31 is heated to 140°C, and the pressure belt 32 is heated to 125°C. The heating roller 31 and the pressure belt 32 reach their respective target temperatures. Then, the process proceeds to A07.

[0036] A07 A recording material is conveyed from the recording material cassette 18. The surface that comes into contact with the heating roller 31 is subjected to decoloring processing. After the recording material passes through the fixing device 30, it proceeds to A08.

[0037] A08 After the decoloring process on one side is completed, the recording material passes through the fixing device 30 and is guided to the path b, which is a reversing path. The process proceeds to A09.

[0038] A09 The feeding of subsequent sheets is temporarily stopped.

[0039] A10 A sensor detects whether the recording material guided to path b, which is the reversing path, has reached the registration rollers 20, and if it has reached the registration rollers 20, the process proceeds to A11. If it has not reached the registration rollers 20, the process returns to A09. Once the recording material has reached the registration rollers 20, it is transported to the fixing device 30, where the side that has not been subjected to the erasure process is subjected to the erasure process. Once the erasure process has been performed on both sides of the recording material, it is discharged to the discharge tray 52.

[0040] A11 The feeding of recording material from the recording material cassette 18 is resumed.

[0041] A12 The erasing process continues until all the recording materials to be erased are gone from the recording material cassette 18. If there is any paper to be erased, the process returns to A07, and if there is no more, the process goes to END.

[0042] As described above, the decoloring process is performed on one side or both sides. The productivity of the decoloring process in this embodiment is 81 g / m2 for a paper size of A4. 2 When using this printer, the speed is 20 sheets per minute for single-sided printing and 10 sheets per minute for double-sided printing. The conveying speed is 100 mm / sec. Productivity here refers to the number of sheets of decolorized recording material that are discharged per unit time.

[0043] Here, we refer to a recording material that has been printed with erasing toner and then subjected to an erasing process as reused paper. Because reused paper has undergone fixing and erasing processes at least once, there is a possibility that the erasing process will not be complete and the erasing toner will remain on the recording material. For this reason, a use case is envisioned in which reused paper is printed with erasing toner and then subjected to an erasing process. In other words, it is reused.

[0044] <Erasing toner is automatically selected> Since a recording material that has been erased once is often repeatedly used by printing with erasable toner and then erasing it, it is preferable that the recording material continue to be printed with erasable toner until it is finally discarded.

[0045] However, when printing on reusable paper with decolorizable toner, there is a risk that non-decolorizable toner may be selected by mistake and printing may be performed, making the paper unusable.

[0046] Therefore, in this embodiment, when reused paper is selected as the recording material to be used for printing, decolorizing toner is automatically selected, thereby preventing erroneous operation of selecting non-decolorizing toner. Details of this are described below. Figure 10 is used for explanation. Figure 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of printing processing in this embodiment. Note that explanations that overlap will be omitted.

[0047] First, when the user selects the print button 75 on the display unit 300 shown in Fig. 6, the process proceeds to B01 in Fig. 10. When the erase button 75 is selected, the process proceeds to A02 in Fig. 5. The explanation of A02 and subsequent steps has been given above, so the explanation will be omitted here.

[0048] B01 The display unit 300 displays the print processing setting screen shown in Fig. 7. Next, when paper settings are selected, the display unit 300 displays a screen for selecting the type of paper to be used for printing, as shown in Fig. 8(a). The screen for setting the recording material to be used for printing, as shown in Fig. 8(a), is referred to as the paper setting screen. Specifically, the display unit 300 displays a screen for selecting whether the paper is reused paper or not. Note that the paper setting screen may display information indicating that reused paper refers to paper that has previously been printed with erasing toner and then erased. If reused paper is selected, the process proceeds to B02; if reused paper is not selected, the process proceeds to B05.

[0049] B02 The control unit 200 determines that reused paper has been selected. The control unit 200 then sets the toner used for printing to decolorizing toner. Figure 8(a) is a diagram showing the case where reused paper has been selected. If the toner used for printing was non-decolorizing toner before reused paper was selected, the setting of the toner used for printing is changed to decolorizing toner. Alternatively, if the toner used for printing was decolorizing toner before reused paper was selected, the setting of the toner used for printing is not changed, and the toner used for printing becomes decolorizing toner. Then, proceed to B03.

[0050] B03 Fig. 8(a) shows the display on the monitor 73 of Fig. 6. If non-erasable toner is selected here, proceed to B04, and if the start switch 71 is pressed without selecting non-erasable toner, printing using the decolorizable toner begins.

[0051] B04 In the print settings, if the recording material used for printing is reusable paper and the toner used for printing is non-erasable toner, the display unit 300 displays a warning message. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8(b), a message is displayed stating that the recording material will no longer be reusable. The display unit 300 also displays a message that allows the user to select whether or not it is okay for the recording material to no longer be reusable. If "it is okay for the material not to be reusable" is selected and the start switch 71 is pressed, printing using non-erasable toner will begin. On the other hand, if "no" is selected, the process proceeds to B02, in which decolorizable toner will be selected.

[0052] B05 If reusable paper is not selected in B01, proceed to B05. In B05, the toner to be used for printing is selected. When decolorizable toner is selected and start switch 71 is pressed, printing is performed using the decolorizable toner, and when non-decolorizable toner is selected and start switch 71 is pressed, printing using the non-decolorizable toner begins. In this embodiment, the printing operation is performed as described above.

[0053] On the paper setting screen (FIG. 8), the display unit displays "reused paper" among the options for the recording material to be used for printing. When "reused paper" is selected, the control unit 200 sets the toner to be used for printing to decolorizable toner. This makes it possible to prevent the user from accidentally selecting non-decolorizable toner when printing on reusable paper with decolorizable toner is desired. Even if the user accidentally selects non-decolorizable toner, the display unit 300 warns that the recording material will no longer be reusable. This makes it possible to prevent printing with non-decolorizable toner from being performed even if the user accidentally selects non-decolorizable toner.

[0054] <Modification> A modified example will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0055] The image forming means of the modified example is the same as in Example 1. In this example, when the user sets the recording material cassettes 18 shown in Figure 1 as a cassette exclusively for reuse and a cassette exclusively for regular paper, the decolorizing toner is automatically selected in accordance with the setting. For example, the image forming apparatus 100 has a plurality of recording material cassettes 18, and the cassette exclusively for reused paper is set as cassette 1 and the cassette exclusively for non-reused paper is set as cassette 2 on the setting screen of the display unit 300.

[0056] C01 The display unit 300 displays the setting screen for the printing process shown in Fig. 7. Next, when paper settings are selected, the display unit 300 displays a screen for selecting the recording material cassette 18 to be used for printing, as shown in Fig. 9(a). The screen for setting the recording material to be used for printing, shown in Fig. 9(a), is referred to as the paper feed setting screen.

[0057] If cassette 1 is selected, proceed to C02, and if cassette 1 is not selected, proceed to C05.

[0058] C02 The control unit 200 determines that cassette 1 has been selected. Then, the control unit 200 sets the toner used for printing to decolorizing toner. Figure 9(a) is a diagram showing the case where cassette 1 has been selected. If the toner used for printing was non-decolorizing toner before cassette 1 was selected, the setting of the toner used for printing is changed to decolorizing toner. Alternatively, if the toner used for printing was decolorizing toner before cassette 1 was selected, the setting of the toner used for printing is not changed, and the toner used for printing becomes decolorizing toner. Then, proceed to B03.

[0059] C03 Fig. 9(a) shows the display on the monitor 73 of Fig. 6. If non-erasable toner is selected here, the process proceeds to C04, and if the start switch 71 is pressed without selecting non-erasable toner, printing using the decolorizable toner begins.

[0060] C04 In the print settings, if the recording material used for printing is cassette 1 and the toner used for printing is non-erasable toner, the display unit 300 displays a warning message. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9(b), a message is displayed stating that the recording material will no longer be reusable. The display unit 300 also displays a message that allows the user to select whether or not it is okay for the recording material to no longer be reusable. If "it is okay for the material not to be reusable" is selected and the start switch 71 is pressed, printing using non-erasable toner begins. On the other hand, if "no" is selected, the process proceeds to C02, in which decolorizable toner is selected.

[0061] C05 If cassette 1 is not selected in C01, the process proceeds to C05. In C05, the toner to be used for printing is selected. When decolorizable toner is selected and start switch 71 is pressed, printing is performed using the decolorizable toner, and when non-decolorizable toner is selected and start switch 71 is pressed, printing using the non-decolorizable toner begins. As described above, by setting at least one of the multiple recording material cassettes 18 as a cassette exclusively for reuse, it is possible to obtain the same effect as in Example 1.

Claims

1. a heating rotor for heating the unfixed toner image; a pressure rotating body that contacts and presses the outer surface of the heating rotating body; The pressure rotating body presses the heating rotating body to form a fixing nip portion, a fixing process in which a recording material carrying an unfixed toner image is nipped and conveyed to the fixing nip portion, and the unfixed toner image is fixed to the recording material; and a decoloring process in which the image formed by the decoloring toner is heated in the fixing nip portion, thereby decoloring the decoloring toner. a display unit that displays a message prompting the user to select whether to print using the decolorizing toner or the non-decolorizing toner, the display unit displays a message that allows the user to select whether the recording material used for printing is reused paper or not; When reused paper is selected, the decolorizing toner is automatically set as the type of toner used for printing, and the type of toner used for printing can be changed from the decolorizing toner to the non-decolorizing toner, When the type of toner used for printing is changed from the decolorizable toner to the non-decolorizable toner after reusable paper is selected, the image forming device notifies the user that the recording material can no longer be reused, and allows the user to select whether or not to make the change, and determines whether to print with the decolorizable toner or the non-decolorizable toner based on the selection of whether or not to make the change.

2. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording material that has been subjected to a decoloring process in the past is reused as paper.

3. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the temperature of the heating rotator when the decolorizing toner is fixed to the recording material is lower than the temperature when the decolorizing process is performed.

Images