Color Erasing Apparatus Reading Area Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional color erasing apparatuses incorrectly determine sheets as non-reusable due to staple or punched holes, leading to inconvenience for users who want to reuse such sheets.
Innovation Solution
A color erasing apparatus with a control panel and reading section that allows users to set a customizable reading area, enabling the apparatus to distinguish between holes and image erasure, thus determining reusability based on the color erasure state rather than the presence of holes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the sorting function determines reusability based on the presence of staple holes or punched holes, then sheets with holes are automatically classified as non-reusable, but this causes inconvenience for users who want to reuse such sheets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sheet into a reading area and a non-reading area. The reading area is specifically defined to exclude regions containing staple holes or punched holes, while focusing on the central document area. This segmentation allows the system to accurately determine reusability based on color erasure in the reading area without being interfered by holes in other areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different evaluation criteria to different regions of the sheet. The reading area (central region excluding holes) is evaluated for color erasure to determine reusability, while the non-reading area (peripheral regions containing holes) is excluded from this evaluation. This local quality approach ensures that holes do not incorrectly affect the reusability determination.
2Measurement precision
If the reading area includes the entire sheet surface, then the sorting function can detect holes and mark sheets as non-reusable, but this prevents reuse of sheets that actually have erased images and should be reusable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sheet into a reading area and a non-reading area. The reading area is configured to exclude regions with staple holes or punched holes, typically by defining a margin or exclusion zone around the sheet edges where holes are likely to occur. This allows the system to detect color erasure status without being confused by holes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts or removes the problematic regions (areas with staple holes or punched holes) from the reading area. By excluding these specific regions from the color erasure evaluation, the system can accurately determine whether the document content has been erased without being influenced by the presence of holes in the extracted regions.
3Productivity
If the color erasing apparatus processes all sheets through color erasing, then sheets with holes are still processed but incorrectly classified as non-reusable, leading to wasted processing time and reduced productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary detection of the reading area and evaluation of color erasure status before the sheet is classified as reusable or non-reusable. By pre-defining the reading area to exclude holes and evaluating color erasure in this area first, the system can make accurate reusability determinations earlier in the process, reducing unnecessary reprocessing and improving overall productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with one embodiment, a color erasing apparatus capable of erasing the color of an image formed with a color erasable material on a sheet comprises a color erasing section configured to erase the color of an image formed on the sheet; a control panel configured to set a reading area of the sheet; and a reading section configured to read the image of the area set on the sheet and determine the state of the image erased by the color erasing section.