Erasing Apparatus Surface Reusability Sorting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing erasing apparatuses fail to efficiently determine and discharge reusable surfaces of sheets after color erasing processing, often discharging the preferable surface randomly, leading to user inconvenience and potential reuse issues.
Innovation Solution
An erasing apparatus with a controller that scans both surfaces of a sheet, determines reusability based on image data, and directs the sheet to specific trays ensuring the reusable surface faces upward, using conveyance paths and sensors to manage sheet discharge effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the erasing apparatus discharges sheets after color erasing processing, then the sheets can be reused or discarded, but the preferable surface for reuse is discharged randomly causing user inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The reading unit reads the sheet surface before discharge to determine which surface is more suitable for reuse. The controller stores this surface orientation information and uses it to control the discharge unit to orient the preferable surface upward when discharging to the first storing unit, ensuring the useful information (surface quality) is preserved and utilized.
Solution Approach 2:
The system reads the sheet surface, determines reusability and preferable orientation, stores this information in memory, and then uses this stored information to control the discharge orientation. This feedback loop ensures that the discharge action is based on the evaluated surface quality, preventing random discharge and user inconvenience.
2Productivity
If the erasing apparatus determines reusability of sheet surfaces, then reusable sheets can be sorted efficiently, but additional reading and control mechanisms increase device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The reading unit serves multiple functions: it reads sheets before erasing processing to determine erasing targets, and reads sheets after erasing processing to determine reusability and surface orientation. This multi-functionality allows the system to perform both erasing control and discharge sorting without adding separate reading mechanisms, thereby improving productivity while limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge mechanism is segmented into multiple discharge units (first discharge unit for reusable sheets, second discharge unit for non-reusable sheets). The controller selectively activates appropriate discharge units based on the reading results, enabling efficient sorting of reusable and non-reusable sheets while maintaining a manageable device structure through modular segmentation.
Data Source
AI summary
An erasing apparatus includes a sheet feeding unit from which a sheet is fed into the erasing apparatus, an erasing unit configured to perform an erasing processing on both surfaces of the sheet, a scanning unit configured to scan and generate image data of a bottom surface and a top surface of the sheet, a first storing unit, a second storing unit, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine, based on the image data, whether the bottom surface of the sheet is reusable and whether the top surface of the sheet is reusable. Further, the controller is configured to cause, if both the bottom and top surfaces have been subject to the erasing processing and are determined to be reusable, the sheet to be conveyed to one of the first and second storing units based on a both-sides-erased criteria.