Image Forming Apparatus Sub-Region Process Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming apparatuses face inefficiencies in accurately detecting and processing multiple forms with similar formats, leading to cumbersome manual selection and reduced work efficiency when scanning documents with different formats or languages.

Innovation Solution

An image forming apparatus with a document reader that divides the scanning region into sub-regions, allowing for automatic process selection based on document position, orientation, and type, using a process selector and controller to execute specific processes on each sub-region, thereby enhancing work efficiency without user intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If automatic format detection is used, then processing speed is improved, but accuracy deteriorates when multiple forms have similar formats

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidformat detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The scanning region is divided into multiple sub-regions, and each sub-region is assigned a specific form type. This segmentation allows the system to accurately identify and process different forms without confusion, resolving the accuracy issue while maintaining automatic processing speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sub-regions are assigned different processing characteristics based on the specific form types they contain. This local differentiation enables accurate format detection in each region while maintaining overall efficient processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Measurement precision

If manual format selection is used, then accuracy is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveformat detection accuracyVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically identifies the form type based on the document placed in the scanner and selects the appropriate processing mode without requiring user intervention. This self-service mechanism maintains high accuracy while significantly improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-configures multiple processing modes corresponding to different form types and automatically selects the appropriate one based on the scanned document. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for manual selection during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple forms with similar formats are scanned, then versatility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveform type handling capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The scanning area is divided into multiple sub-regions, each dedicated to a specific form type. This physical segmentation simplifies the system's processing logic by clearly defining which form processing routine to execute, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The scanner is designed to handle multiple form types through a unified architecture where the same scanning hardware serves different form processing functions by activating different sub-regions and processing routines, avoiding the need for separate dedicated systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11012584B2Image forming apparatus, method of processing image, and recording medium storing image processing program

Publication Date: 2021.05.18 SHARP KK

AI summary

An image forming apparatus includes a document reader that scans a document and outputs an image of the document, a process selector that selects a process to be executed on the image depending on a document scanning region scanned in the document reader, and a controller that performs control to execute the process selected by the process selector on the image.