Image Processing Apparatus Sheet Position Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image processing apparatuses face difficulties in accurately extracting the image of a sheet part from an irregular sheet when the sheet back surface material color is similar to the sheet ground color, leading to challenges in distinguishing the contour line and requiring additional mechanisms that increase manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a front surface reading section, a back surface reading section, and corresponding processing sections that read and process both sides of the sheet simultaneously, using gradation conversion processing to enhance the level difference between the sheet ground and back surface material colors, allowing for precise sheet position detection and image extraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a member having a color distinguishable from the sheet part is arranged on the sheet back surface, then the contour line on the sheet part can be identified, but a special mechanism which controls addition of the member and a position of the member is necessary, leading to an increase in manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of adding physical distinguishable members with an image processing system. The sheet position detection section uses image processing techniques to detect the sheet position from the back surface image, eliminating the need for mechanical mechanisms to add and control distinguishable members.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the sheet back surface image as an intermediary to solve the color similarity problem. By capturing and processing the back surface image, the system can detect the sheet position indirectly through the presence or absence of the sheet back surface, avoiding the need for direct color differentiation on the front surface.
2Ease of manufacture
If the sheet back surface material color is similar to the sheet ground color, then the sheet cover can effectively cover the image, but it becomes difficult to identify the contour line and extract the sheet part image
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from analyzing color information in the front surface image to analyzing positional information in the back surface image. By switching to another dimension (the back surface), the system can detect sheet position without being affected by color similarity between the sheet cover and sheet ground.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the back surface image as a copy or alternative representation of the sheet position information. Instead of directly analyzing the problematic front surface image, the system creates and analyzes a copy from the back surface, which contains the necessary positional information without the color differentiation problem.
3Device complexity
If conventional image processing methods are used, then the reading process is simple, but it is impossible to correctly extract the sheet part image when colors are similar
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image processing into two independent parts: capturing the back surface image and detecting sheet position from it. This segmentation allows the use of simple image processing for back surface capture while achieving precise sheet position detection through the specialized detection algorithm.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by capturing the back surface image before attempting to extract the sheet part image from the front surface. This preliminary back surface image capture provides the necessary position information that simplifies the subsequent front surface image extraction process.
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with an embodiment, an image processing apparatus comprises a front surface reading section, a back surface reading section, a back surface image processing section and a front surface image processing section. The front surface reading section reads a range containing a front surface of a sheet. The back surface reading section reads a range containing a back surface of the sheet. The back surface image processing section detects a position of a sheet part in back surface image data based on the back surface image data obtained by reading the sheet back surface. The front surface image processing section extracts an image on the sheet part from front surface image data obtained by reading the sheet front surface based on the position of the sheet part in the back surface image data.