Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Mitsuaki Urakawa

Tsuneo Kurotori

Katsuhiro Echigo

Kunio Hibi

Hisamitsu Mizuno

Kiyoshi Sakai

Tatsuo Tani

Yasushi Akiba

Hisashi Ishijima

Shohzoh Miyawaki

Hiroyasu Itou

Tetsuo Yamaoka

Teruzo Hasumi

A recycling system has a recycle information memory database for storing as recycle information, the information on all reutilizable products such as products produced or used under the management of the system, products treated as wastes, and products currently being used in the market. A virtual recycle product designing section is provided for estimating times when the reutilizable products are recovered as products usable for recycling as well as their volumes, based on the recycle information stored in the recycle information memory database. A production scheduling section is provided for setting a production schedule of a recycle product using the reutilizable products based on the estimated times and volumes.

Recycling system and recycling method

A method of repetitively using a sheet or similar toner image carrier produced from an image forming apparatus, and a toner applicable thereto. A toner forming an image on the toner image carrier is removed to erase the image. The toner image carrier is implemented as a synthetic sheet. Use is made of a toner whose adhering force to the sheet is weaker than the adhering force of a conventional toner.

Method and apparatus for repetitively using a toner image carrier sheet

An apparatus for removing images on an image carrier sheet to allow the image carrier sheet to be repeatedly used. The apparatus includes an image removing member for removing images from an image carrier sheet, the images being fixed on the image carrier sheet. A liquid supply supplies a liquid to the image removing member and a transporting mechanism transports the image carrier sheet with the fixed images to the image removing member. The fixed images on the image carrier sheet are removed by the image removing member when the liquid supplied to the image removing member is applied to a surface of the image carrier sheet. A pressing member presses the surface of the image carrier sheet against the image removing member, the image removing member including a squeeze roller. The liquid supply means includes a liquid supply roller and the transporting mechanism comprises a pair of transport rollers. The squeeze roller is rotated at a higher speed than the pair of transport rollers.

Apparatus for repetitively using a toner image carrier

A device for removing only a toner forming a toner image on a toner image carrier produced from an image forming apparatus form the toner image carrier, so that the carrier may be repetitively used. The toner image carrier is implemented as a synthetic sheet. Use is made of a toner whose adhering force to the sheet is weaker than the adhering force of a conventional toner.

Device for removing a toner from a toner image carrier

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Yokohama, Japan

Mitsuaki Urakawa