Decoloring Apparatus Sheet Conveyance Speed Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional decoloring apparatuses face challenges in maintaining precise sheet conveyance speed, which affects image scanning quality due to unstable conveyance and interference from sheet feeding resistance, especially when the sheet length exceeds the distance between the scanner and decoloring unit.
Innovation Solution
The decoloring apparatus incorporates a controller and user interface that allow for resolution setting and processing mode selection, ensuring that either scanning or decoloring processing is executed without simultaneous operation, and adjusts the decoloring unit's position to maintain consistent sheet conveyance speed, particularly by using a switching flapper and up/down driving unit to manage sheet flow and prevent conveyance speed changes during high-resolution scanning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the distance between the scanner and decoloring unit is shortened to improve processing efficiency, then processing time is reduced, but the sheet conveyance speed becomes unstable and image scanning quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sheet processing into distinct temporal phases: a first conveyance phase where the sheet is moved to the scanner at a first conveyance speed for high-quality scanning, and a second conveyance phase where the sheet is moved to the decoloring unit at a second conveyance speed. This segmentation allows each phase to be optimized independently, resolving the contradiction between processing efficiency and scanning quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of the decoloring unit's position and conveyance speed based on the sheet's location and processing requirements. The controller adjusts the decoloring unit's position to maintain optimal scanning conditions while allowing the sheet to be conveyed at appropriate speeds for each processing stage, enabling the system to adapt to different sheet positions and requirements.
2Productivity
If the sheet conveyance speed is increased to improve processing speed, then productivity increases, but the conveyance speed becomes unstable due to sheet feeding resistance and image scanning quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the conveyance process into two distinct phases with different speed requirements. The first conveyance phase uses a first conveyance speed optimized for scanning stability, while the second conveyance phase uses a second conveyance speed optimized for decoloring processing. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high productivity overall while maintaining conveyance speed stability during the critical scanning phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary conveyance of the sheet to the scanner at a controlled first conveyance speed before the sheet reaches the decoloring unit. This preliminary action ensures that the sheet is positioned and scanned under stable conveyance conditions, and only after scanning is completed does the system proceed to the decoloring phase at a potentially different speed, preventing speed instability from affecting scanning quality.
3Productivity
If both scanning and decoloring processing are performed simultaneously to improve efficiency, then processing time is reduced, but the sheet conveyance speed becomes unstable and scanning quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the processing operations into distinct temporal sequences: scanning is performed first when the sheet is conveyed at a first conveyance speed, and decoloring is performed second when the sheet is conveyed at a second conveyance speed. This temporal segmentation eliminates the conflict between simultaneous operations, allowing both processes to be completed efficiently while maintaining scanning resolution and conveyance stability.
Data Source
AI summary
A decoloring apparatus includes a sheet conveying unit, a scanner, a decoloring unit, and a controller. The decoloring unit decolors the image on the sheet conveyed through the sheet conveying unit. The decoloring unit is positioned downstream of the scanner in a sheet conveying direction. A distance along the sheet conveying direction between the scanner and the decoloring unit is shorter than a length of a first predetermined sheet size and longer than a length of a second predetermined sheet size. A controller determines whether the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying unit is the first predetermined sheet size or the second predetermined sheet size. The controller performs a mode limiting process if the sheet size is determined to be the first predetermined sheet size.