Image forming apparatus, and control program and operation method thereof

Abstract

According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a decoloring unit that performs decoloring processing on an image formed on a sheet using decolorable material. An image forming unit forms an image on a sheet. A reuse tray can receive a sheet. Anew sheet tray can receive a sheet. A processor performs processing to determine whether to convey a sheet from the reuse tray or the new sheet tray to the image forming unit to form an image thereon. When it is determined that the sheet is conveyed from the reuse tray, the processor controls the decoloring unit to perform the decoloring processing on the sheet, and update a rewards account of the user.

1 .- 2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
 a decoloring unit configured to perform decoloring processing on an image formed on a sheet using decolorable material;   an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet using decolorable material;   a reuse tray configured to receive a sheet provided by a user; and   a processor configured to:
 perform processing to obtain identification information of the user and locate an rewards account of the user using the identification information; 
 control the decoloring unit to perform the decoloring processing on the sheet from the reuse tray; 
 perform processing to determine whether the user is to receive a point for the rewards account based on the identification information; and 
   update the rewards account of the user when it is determined that the user is to receive the point.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the processor is further configured to increase a rewards balance associated with the rewards account of the user by a predetermined amount. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a reading unit configured to generate image data by reading an image which is formed on a sheet, wherein   the processor is further configured to perform processing to determine whether the sheet is reusable based on image data which is obtained from the sheet by the reading unit after the sheet has been subjected to the decoloring processing in the decoloring unit.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the image forming unit forms the image on the sheet using image data obtained by the reading unit from an original sheet provided by the user. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a reuse sheet sensor configured to provide a signal indicating whether a reuse sheet is on the reuse tray;   a new sheet tray configured to receive another sheet different from the sheet provided by the user; and   a new sheet sensor configured to provide a signal indicating whether any sheet is provided on the new sheet tray, wherein   the processor is further configured to:
 determine whether a sheet is on the new sheet tray based on the signal from the new sheet sensor, and 
 when it is determined that a sheet is not on the reuse tray, and that a sheet is on the new sheet tray, control the image forming unit to form an image on the sheet from the new sheet tray. 
   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein when the image forming unit forms an image on the sheet from the new sheet tray, the processor performs processing to decrease a rewards balance associated with the rewards account of the user by a predetermined amount. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the rewards account of the user is updated by adding a discount coupon for purchasing goods or services according to a rewards balance associated with the reward account.