Image Erasing Apparatus Tray Orientation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image erasing apparatuses face challenges in accurately determining the erasure status of images on sheets, leading to potential user confusion between reusable and non-reusable sheets, as they often discharge sheets with unprinted faces upwards to the reject tray, which can be mistaken for the reuse tray.
Innovation Solution
The image erasing apparatus includes a control unit that determines the erasure state of images on both faces of a sheet using CCD or CMOS sensors, and a reversion unit that reverses the sheet before discharge, ensuring that reusable sheets are directed to the reuse tray with the erased face upwards and non-reusable sheets are directed to the reject tray with the non-erased face upwards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the image erasing apparatus discharges sheets with unprinted faces upwards to the reject tray, then the discharge process is simple, but users may mistake the reject tray as the reuse tray causing confusion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inversion by reversing the conventional discharge orientation. Instead of discharging sheets with unprinted faces upwards to the reject tray, the system discharges sheets with erased faces upwards to the reuse tray and unprinted faces upwards to the reject tray. This reversal of the traditional discharge convention clearly distinguishes between the two trays through visual orientation, preventing user confusion while maintaining simple automated discharge operation.
2Extent of automation
If the apparatus determines erasure status based on scanning results, then automated determination is achieved, but accuracy may be insufficient leading to incorrect tray discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using the scanning results to automatically determine the erasure status of images on sheets and control the discharge process accordingly. The scanner unit scans sheets before and after erasing, and the control unit compares the scanning results to accurately determine whether erasure was successful. This feedback mechanism enables automated yet accurate determination, preventing incorrect tray discharge by continuously monitoring and verifying erasure status.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively prevents user confusion by clearly distinguishing between reusable and non-reusable sheets based on the erasure status, ensuring accurate disposal and reuse of sheets.
Implementation Method 1
The reading unit reads information of the face of the sheet
Data Source
AI summary
According to an embodiment, an image erasing apparatus that erases an image printed on a sheet is provided. When it is determined that a sheet after an erasing process of the image is not reusable, the image erasing apparatus accommodates the sheet in a reject tray in a state where a face with a small information amount of the erased image is directed in a state direction. When it is determined that the sheet after the erasing process of the image is not reusable, the image erasing apparatus accommodates the sheet in a reuse tray in a state where a face with a large information amount of the erased image is directed in the state direction.