Erasing apparatus

An erasing apparatus, comprising:

• a paper feed section configured to feed a sheet on which an image is formed with a coloring agent which is erased by heating;
• a reading section configured to read the image formed on the sheet;
• a first conveyance path configured to convey the sheet from the paper feed section to the reading section;
• a second conveyance path configured to convey the sheet from the reading section;
• a first erasing unit disposed on the second conveyance path downstream from the reading section and configured to heat the sheet when the sheet is conveyed between a first heating component and a first press component arranged on opposite sides of the conveyance path;
• a second erasing unit disposed on the second conveyance path downstream from the first erasing unit and configured to heat the sheet when the sheet is conveyed between a second heating component and a second press component arranged on opposite sides of the conveyance path, wherein the second heating component and the second press component are arranged with respect to the conveyance path in reverse positions compared to the first heating component and the first press component, respectively;
• a third conveyance path configured to convey the sheet from the first and the second erasing units to the reading section;
• a paper discharging section configured to determine whether the sheet is reusable based on the image read by the reading section and to then discharge the sheet;
• and
• a control section configured to control a temperature of the first heating component at a first temperature at which the image on the sheet can be erased and to control a temperature of the second heating component at a second temperature lower than the first temperature.

A method of erasing a sheet on which an image is formed with a coloring agent which is erased by heating, the method comprising:

• conveying the sheet to a first erasing unit;
• heating the sheet in the first erasing unit as the sheet is conveyed between a first heating component and a first press component arranged on opposite sides of a conveyance path;
• conveying the sheet to a second erasing unit disposed on the conveyance path downstream from the first erasing unit;
• heating the sheet in the second erasing unit as the sheet is conveyed between a second heating component and a second press component arranged on opposite sides of the conveyance path, wherein the second heating component and the second press component are arranged with respect to the conveyance path in reverse positions compared to the first heating component and the first press component, respectively;
• controlling a temperature of the first heating component at a first temperature at which the image on the sheet can be erased;
• and
• controlling a temperature of the second heating component at a second temperature lower than the first temperature.