Image erasing method and image erasing apparatus
US8284222B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 14, 2010 |
| Grant date | Oct 9, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 12, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41M2205/40
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An image erasing apparatus including: a semiconductor laser array in which a plurality of semiconductor laser light sources are linearly aligned; a width direction collimating unit provided on an output surface of the semiconductor laser array, and configured to collimate, in a width direction, broadening of laser beams emitted from the semiconductor laser array so as to form a linear beam; and a length direction light distribution controlling unit configured to control a length of a major axis of the linear beam to be longer than a length of a major axis of an emission part of the semiconductor laser array, and to attain uniform light distribution in the length direction of the linear beam; wherein the linear beam, which has the major axis whose length is longer than the length of the major axis of the emission part of the semiconductor laser array and uniform light distribution in the length direction thereof, is to be applied to and heat a thermoreversible recording medium, in which any of transparency and color tone thereof reversibly changes depending on temperature, so as to erase an image recorded on the thermoreversible recording medium.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.