RIBBON DISCARD PROCESSING APPARATUS AND RIBBON DISCARD PROCESSING METHOD

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ribbon discard processing apparatus and a ribbon discard processing method which makes the reversed printed contents of used ink ribbons unreadable so that they are discarded. SOLUTION: In the ribbon discard processing apparatus, a freezing processing apparatus 2 is composed of a pressure-proof tank 23 containing liquid nitrogen 22 for immersing the used ink ribbons 10, and the used ink ribbons 10 are frozen to a temperature equal to or less than a brittle point. A pressure is applied to the used ink ribbons 10 and the ribbons are crashed by the freezing processing unit 2 and a crashing processing unit. Since the used ink ribbons 10 are frozen to a temperature equal to or less than the brittle point, the used ink ribbons 10 can be crashed to keep the reversed printed contents unreadable merely by applying a pressure to the used ink ribbons 10. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT