# US 2014/0193169 A1 · Image forming apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0193169 A1 - Document ID: US20140193169A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/076,605 - Filed: 2013-11-11 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-08 - Assignees: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha; Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba - Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha; Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba - Inventors: Eiji Shinohara - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140193169A1 ## CPC - B41M 7/0009: {Obliterating the printed matter; Non-destructive removal of the ink pattern, e.g. for repetitive use of the support} - G03G 15/50: {Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control (sequencing control G03G21/14)} - G03G 21/00: Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge - B41M: PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING, (correction of typographical errors B41J; processes for applying transfer pictures or the like B44C1/16; fluid media for correction of typographical errors by coating C09D10/00; printing textiles D06P) - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus which has a function of performing an erasing process of erasing an image formed on a recording medium and an image forming process of forming an image on the recording medium is provided. The image forming apparatus automatically performs the erasing process when a state where an operation panel does not receive a process request from a user continues during a predetermined time or more. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus which forms an image on a recording medium, comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium; an erasing unit configured to erase the image formed on the recording medium; an operation panel configured to receive a process request including an image forming process performed by the image forming unit and an erasing process performed by the erasing unit; and a control unit configured to control the units to perform a process corresponding to the process request received by the operation panel, and control the erasing unit to perform the erasing process when a state where the operation panel does not receive the process request continues during a predetermined time or more. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of cassettes that accommodate a recording medium of an image forming process target and an erasing process target, wherein the operation panel receives designation of a cassette that accommodates the recording medium of the erasing process target in the plurality of cassettes. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a plurality of trays that discharge the recording medium subjected to the image forming process and the erasing process, wherein the operation panel receives designation of a tray that discharges the recording medium subjected to the eraisng process in the plurality of trays. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the operation panel includes a display unit that displays a setting screen receiving the designation of the cassette and the designation of the tray. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the setting screen receives the designation of the cassette and the tray by associating the cassette with the tray. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a sensor that detects whether there is a recording medium in the designated cassette when a state where the operation panel does not receive the process request continues during a predetermined time or more, wherein the control unit controls the erasing unit to perform the erasing process when there is the recording medium in the designated cassette as a detection result of the sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control unit controls the erasing unit to perform the erasing process for all the sheets accommodated in the designated cassette based on the detection result of the sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control unit has a normal power mode of controlling power supply to the image forming unit and the erasing unit and a power saving mode of further reducing power supply to the image forming unit or the erasing unit than the normal power mode, as a power control mode, and the control unit transfers the power control mode from the normal power mode to the power saving mode when there is no recording medium in the designated cassette as the detection result of the sensor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, the control unit transfers the power control mode to the power saving mode after the recording medium is removed from the designated cassette by the erasing process when there is the recording medium in the designated cassette as the detection result of the sensor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when the operation panel receives the process request while the erasing unit performs the erasing process on the sheet accommodated in the designated cassette, the control unit stops performing of the erasing process and controls performing of a process corresponding to the request received by the operation panel.