Sheet Processing Device for Information Erasure and Whitening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sheet processing technologies require large-scale equipment and fail to completely obliterate information on recovered paper, leading to difficulties in recycling and producing whitened sheets from recycled materials.

Innovation Solution

A sheet processing device comprising an image inspector, an image analyzer, an ink masking agent applicator, and a shredder, which applies a specific type and amount of ink masking agent, such as white ink, to the printed sheets based on image information, followed by shredding and defibration to erase image information and impart whiteness to the new sheets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If wet-process deinked pulp manufacturing method is used, then ink can be separated from pulp, but a large amount of chemicals and process water are required, leading to large system size

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveink separation effectivenessVSAvoidsystem size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the need for wet chemical processes by using dry sorting technology. The sorting device separates recovered paper by color and type without chemicals or water, directly removing the source of the problem (chemicals and process water) while maintaining effective separation of paper materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the chemical-based wet-process system with a mechanical/optical sorting system. The sorting device uses image recognition and mechanical separation to classify recovered paper, substituting chemical reactions with physical detection and separation mechanisms, thereby eliminating the need for large chemical processing systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Loss of information

If paper erasing machine with white toner is used, then printed portions can be developed, but areas that when printed may be difficult to see and read are created

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation obliterationVSAvoidreadability degradation

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies preliminary classification and sorting actions before recycling. By using image inspection to identify and separate papers with printed information from those without, the system prevents information-containing papers from being mixed into recycled material, thereby completely preventing information leakage while maintaining readability of all recovered papers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the potential harm of printed information in recovered paper into a benefit by using image recognition technology to detect and flag these papers. The printed portions that were previously a problem become detectable features that enable automatic sorting and separation, turning the information content from a security risk into a sorting criterion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Loss of information

If large scale equipment is used for sheet processing, then complete erasure of image information can be achieved, but the equipment is not scaled for use in a business office

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage information erasureVSAvoidequipment scale

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the sheet processing function into separate, integrated components: image inspection unit, sorting control unit, and shredding unit. This segmentation allows the system to be implemented in a distributed manner within existing office environments, reducing the need for large centralized equipment while achieving complete information erasure through coordinated operation of smaller components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

Enables complete erasure of image information and whitening of sheets without the need for large-scale equipment, ensuring confidentiality and improving sheet quality in a business office setting.

Implementation Method 1

Because ink easily bleeds into the sheet, when the ink is applied to a sheet, the ink penetrates deeply into the sheet and bleeds into the part of the image that has penetrated into the sheet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS10369816B2Sheet processing device, and sheet manufacturing apparatus

Publication Date: 2019.08.06 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

Provided is technology enabling reliably erasing information on recovered paper, and whitening (reducing blackening) of the sheet. A sheet processing device has an image inspector configured to determine from a sheet printed with image information at least one of a background color of the sheet, and position, size, and color of the image information on the sheet; an image analyzer configured to determine, based on the evaluation result from the image inspector, a type of ink masking agent and an amount of ink masking agent; an ink masking agent applicator configured to apply to the image information printed on the sheet an ink masking agent of the specific type and specific amount determined by the image analyzer; and a shredder configured to comminute the sheet to which the ink masking agent was applied by the ink masking agent applicator.