Patent Publication Number: US-9834026-B2

Title: Decoloring apparatus and paper conveyance method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 14/969,432 filed Dec. 15, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     Embodiments described herein relate generally to a decoloring apparatus and a paper conveyance method. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A decoloring apparatus heats a paper to decolor the color of image printed on the paper. The processing of decoloring the color of image is referred to as a decoloring processing. After the decoloring apparatus carries out the decoloring processing, a scanner scans the paper to determine whether or not there is an image left on the paper to which the decoloring processing is carried out. Then, when there is an image left on the paper, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) determines the paper as a defective paper (that is, the paper that cannot be reused). 
     A predetermined form may be printed on the paper with non-decolorable toner in advance. The predetermined form may be a frame in a predetermined format, or a predetermined mark. When an image is formed with a decolorable toner on the paper where the predetermined form is printed, the predetermined form still remains even if the decoloring processing is carried out on the paper. 
     As stated above, when the paper on which the image is left is determined as the defective paper, the paper on which the predetermined form still remains should also be determined as the defective paper. However, if the color of the image of which the color should have been decolored is decolored, the paper on which only the predetermined form remains can be reused and shouldn&#39;t be thought as the defective paper. 
     The purpose of this invention is to provide a decoloring apparatus which can distribute other papers and the paper on which only the predetermined form still remains among the papers to which the decoloring processing is carried out. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating the whole constitution of a decoloring apparatus; 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a processing of registering a predetermined image; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram of the predetermined image; 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating a decoloring processing and a processing for distributing papers to which the decoloring processing is carried out in a first embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating a scan image containing a stain or a rip; 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating a decoloring processing and a processing for distributing papers to which the decoloring processing is carried out in a second embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is diagrams illustrating scan images on which predetermined forms are respectively formed at different positions; 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating a decoloring processing and a processing for distributing papers to which the decoloring processing is carried out in a third embodiment; and 
         FIG. 9  is a top view illustrating a decoloring apparatus according to a fourth embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In accordance with an embodiment, a decoloring apparatus comprises a decoloring unit, a scanner, a memory, a conveyance section and a control section. The decoloring unit carries out a decoloring processing which decolors the color of an image formed on a paper with a decolorable color material. The scanner scans the papers to which the decoloring processing is carried out. The memory stores data of a predetermined image indicating a predetermined form formed on the paper. The conveyance section conveys the papers scanned by the scanner to a plurality of paper discharging positions. The control section determines whether or not the scan image generated by the scanner is consistent with the predetermined image, and drives the conveyance section to respectively convey the papers on each of which the scan image is consistent with the predetermined image and the papers on each of which the scan image is not consistent with the predetermined image to different positions. 
     Various Embodiments will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     First Embodiment 
     Hereinafter, the decoloring apparatus according to the first embodiment is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     A decoloring apparatus  1  carries out a decoloring processing for decoloring the color of an image (decolorable color material) on a paper on which the image is formed with decolorable color material (toner or ink). 
     The decolorable color material includes color generation compound, color developing agent and decoloring agent. For example, the color generation compound may be leuco dye. For example, the color developing agent may be phenols. The decoloring agent is compatible with the color generation compound when being heated, and has no affinity with the color developing agent. The color material develops color through the interaction of the color generation compound and the color developing agent. Further, the color of the color material will be decolored as the interaction between the color generation compound and the color developing agent is eliminated by the heating at a temperature above a decoloring temperature. 
     Further, the “decoloring” herein refers to make an image formed with a color material in a color (containing not only a chromatic color but also an achromatic color such as white and black) different from the base color of paper invisible. 
     The decoloring apparatus  1  comprises a device main body  10  and three cassettes  21 ˜ 23 . Further, the number of cassettes can be properly set. 
     The device main body  10  includes a paper feed tray  11 , a decoloring unit  12 , a scanner  13 , a CPU  14 , a memory  15 , an operation section  16 , and a conveyance section  17 . The CPU  14  acts as a control section of the present invention. 
     The paper feed tray  11  is arranged above the device main body  10  to store papers S. A paper feed roller  31  feeds the paper S stored in the paper feed tray  11  to a conveyance path P 1 . Further, it is not necessary to arrange the paper feed tray  11  above the device main body  10 , and for example, the paper feed tray  11  can be arranged on the lateral sides of the device main body  10 . 
     The decoloring unit  12  includes a heater which heats the papers S. When the image formed on the paper S is an image formed with the decolorable color material, the decoloring unit  12  heats the paper S to erase the color of the image. The scanner  13  scans the paper S and outputs image data generated through the scan operation to the CPU  14 . 
     The CPU  14  controls the operations of the whole decoloring apparatus  1 . The memory  15  stores predetermined information. The predetermined information contains information required to control the operations of the decoloring apparatus  1  by the CPU  14 , and the image data generated by the scanner  13 . 
     The operation section  16  is used to input the predetermined information to the decoloring apparatus  1 . The operation section  16  includes a touch panel type display section and various operation keys, and for example, can be arranged at the upper part of the device main body  10 . The user operates the operation section  16  to instruct the operations of the decoloring apparatus  1  such as starting a decoloring processing. Further, the decoloring apparatus  1  may be provided with no operation section  16 . For example, the operation section  16  may be arranged in an external device connected with the decoloring apparatus  1  in a wired or wireless manner. 
     Conveyance rollers  32  and the conveyance path P 1  are arranged between the paper feed tray  11  and the scanner  13  to convey the paper S, and the conveyance rollers  32  are arranged along the conveyance path P 1 . The conveyance roller  32  guides the paper S fed from the paper feed tray  11  to the scanner  13  along the conveyance path P 1 . Conveyance rollers  33  and a conveyance path P 2  are arranged between the scanner  13  and the decoloring unit  12  to convey the paper S, and the conveyance rollers  33  are arranged along the conveyance path P 2 . The conveyance roller  33  guides the paper S passing through the scanner  13  to the decoloring unit  12  along the conveyance path P 2 . 
     Conveyance rollers  34  and the conveyance path P 3  are arranged between the decoloring unit  12  and the scanner  13  to convey the paper S, and the conveyance rollers  34  are arranged along the conveyance path P 3 . The conveyance roller  34  guides the paper S passing through the decoloring unit  12  to the scanner  13  along the conveyance path P 3 . One part of the conveyance path P 3  is overlapped with one part of the conveyance path P 1 , and the conveyance rollers  32  are arranged on the overlapped part of the conveyance paths P 3  and P 1 . 
     The conveyance rollers  33  and conveyance rollers  35  and the conveyance path P 4  are arranged between the scanner  13  and the first cassette  21 , and the conveyance rollers  35  are arranged along the conveyance path P 4 . The conveyance roller  35  guides the paper S passing through the scanner  13  to the first cassette  21  along the conveyance path P 4 . One part of the conveyance path P 4  is overlapped with one part of the conveyance path P 2 , and the conveyance rollers  33  are arranged on the overlapped part of the conveyance paths P 4  and P 2 . A flapper  41  which switches the conveyance paths P 4  and P 2  is arranged at the branching part of the conveyance paths P 4  and P 2 . 
     Conveyance rollers  36  and a conveyance path P 5  are arranged between the scanner  13  and the second cassette  22 , and the conveyance rollers  36  are arranged along the conveyance path P 5 . The conveyance roller  36  guides the paper S passing through the scanner  13  to the second cassette  22  along the conveyance path P 5 . One part of the conveyance path P 5  is overlapped with one part of each of the conveyance paths P 2  and P 4 . The conveyance rollers  33  are arranged on the overlapped part of the conveyance paths P 5  and P 2 , and the conveyance rollers  35  are arranged on the overlapped part of the conveyance paths P 5  and P 4 . A flapper  42  which switches the conveyance paths P 4  and P 5  is arranged at the branching part of the conveyance paths P 4  and P 5 . 
     Conveyance rollers  37  and a conveyance path P 6  are arranged between the scanner  13  and the third cassette  23 , and the conveyance rollers  37  are arranged along the conveyance path P 6 . The conveyance roller  37  guides the paper S passing through the scanner  13  to the third cassette  23  along the conveyance path P 6 . One part of the conveyance path P 6  is overlapped with one part of each of the conveyance paths P 2 , P 4  and P 5 . The conveyance rollers  33  are arranged on the overlapped part of the conveyance paths P 6  and P 2 , the conveyance rollers  35  are arranged on the overlapped part of the conveyance paths P 6  and P 4 , and the conveyance rollers  36  are arranged on the overlapped part of the conveyance paths P 6  and P 5 . A flapper  43  which switches the conveyance paths P 5  and P 6  is arranged at the branching part of the conveyance paths P 5  and P 6 . 
     The CPU  14  controls the operations of the paper feed roller  31 , the conveyance rollers  32 ˜ 37  and the flappers  41 ˜ 43 . Further, the conveyance section  17  includes the conveyance rollers  33 ,  35 ˜ 37  and the flappers  41 ˜ 43  arranged on the conveyance paths P 4 ˜P 6 . 
     Different categories of papers S can be respectively distributed to the first cassette  21 , the second cassette  22  and the third cassette  23 . In the present embodiment, the category of the paper S can be distinguished through the surface state of the paper S, and for example, it means that there is only an image of a predetermined form described later on the paper S, there is no any image, stain or rip on the paper S, and there is an image, a stain or a rip other than the predetermined form on the paper S. Consequently, it is possible to store only one category of papers S in each of the cassettes  21 ˜ 23 . The user can operate the operation section  16  to assign the different categories of the papers S to each of the cassettes  21 ˜ 23 . 
     Next, the operations of the decoloring apparatus  1  are described. 
     First, the decoloring apparatus  1  can carry out the processing shown in  FIG. 2 . The processing shown in  FIG. 2  refers to storing image data of a paper (referred to as predetermined paper) S on which only a predetermined form is printed in the memory  15 . 
     The predetermined form is an image printed on the paper S in advance. For example, the predetermined form may be a frame in a predetermined format or a predetermined mark. When printing the predetermined form on the paper S, a non-decolorable color material is used. Herein, this color material will not be decolored even if a decoloring processing is carried out. Further, an image can be formed on the predetermined paper S with a decolorable material. 
     When the predetermined paper S is placed on the paper feed tray  11 , the predetermined paper S passes through the conveyance path P 1 , and then move to the scanner  13  by the conveyance roller  32 . Then the scanner  13  scans the predetermined paper S (ACT  101 ). Through the scanning of the scanner  13 , for example, an image (predetermined image) TG shown in  FIG. 3  can be obtained. The predetermined image TG that is shown in  FIG. 3  contains a predetermined form TF indicating a predetermined frame. 
     The CPU  14  stores the data of the predetermined image TG generated by the scanner  13  in the memory  15  (ACT  102 ). The CPU  14  drives the conveyance rollers  33  and  35  and the flappers  41  and  42  to enable the predetermined paper S passing through the scanner  13  to move along the conveyance path P 4  and to be discharged to the first cassette  21  (ACT  103 ). Herein, the first cassette  21  is used to store the predetermined paper S. Further, the cassettes to which the predetermined paper S is discharged can be selected properly. 
     Next, the decoloring apparatus  1  can carry out the processing shown in  FIG. 4 . When the processing shown in  FIG. 4  is started, the papers S on which images are formed with the decolorable material are stored in the paper feed tray  11 . 
     The paper S stored in the paper feed tray  11  passes through the conveyance path P 1 , the scanner  13  and the conveyance path P 2 , and then moves to the decoloring unit  12 . Herein, the paper S just passes through the scanner  13  directly without being scanned by the scanner  13 . The decoloring unit  12  heats the paper S to decolor the color of the decolorable color material (ACT  201 ). 
     In the decoloring processing carried out by the decoloring unit  12 , though the color of all images (referred to as decoloring image) formed with the decolorable color material are decolored, the color of part of decoloring image may remain. Further, if there is an image handwritten with a non-decolorable color material on the paper S, this image will remain on the paper S even if a decoloring processing is carried out on the paper S. In addition, even if a decoloring processing is carried out on the paper S on which the predetermined form is printed, the predetermined form will remain on the paper S because the predetermined form is formed with the non-decolorable color material. 
     The paper S to which the decoloring processing is carried out passes through the conveyance path P 3  and moves to the scanner  13 . The scanner  13  scans the paper S to which the decoloring processing is carried out (ACT  202 ). The CPU  14  determines whether or not the image (referred to as scan image) SG generated by the scanner  13  is consistent with the predetermined image TG that is obtained through the processing shown in  FIG. 2  and stored in the memory  15  (ACT  203 ). Specifically, whether or not the scan image SG is consistent with the predetermined image TG can be determined by carrying out a matching processing between the scan image SG and the predetermined image TG. 
     When the scan image SG is consistent with the predetermined image TG, the CPU  14  determines that only the predetermined form is printed on the paper S. Then, the CPU  14  drives the conveyance rollers  33  and  35  and the flappers  41  and  42  to enable the scanned paper S to move along the conveyance path P 4  and to be discharged to the first cassette  21  (ACT  204 ). In this way, the first cassette  21  stores the predetermined papers S only. 
     When the scan image SG is not consistent with the predetermined image TG, the CPU  14  carries out the processing in and after ACT  205 . 
     When the scan image SG is not consistent with the predetermined image TG, there exists two cases. In the first case, since there is stain or rip on the paper S and an image different from the predetermined form TF is formed on the paper S, the scan image SG is not consistent with the predetermined image TG regardless of whether or not the predetermined form TF is contained on the paper S. In the second case, since there is no stain or rip on the paper S and no image is formed on the paper S, the scan image SG is not consistent with the predetermined image TG. 
       FIG. 5  is an example of the scan image SG. In addition to the predetermined form TF, the scan image SG shown in  FIG. 5  includes an image G 1  indicating a stain and an image G 2  indicating a rip. As the predetermined image TG shown in  FIG. 3  does not include the images G 1  and G 2 , the scan image SG shown in  FIG. 5  is not consistent with the predetermined image TG shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     As long as the scan image SG includes at least one of the images G 1  and G 2 , the scan image SG is not consistent with the predetermined image TG. Further, though the scan image SG includes the predetermined form TF in  FIG. 5 , regardless of whether or not there is the predetermined form TF in the scan image SG, the scan image SG is not consistent with the predetermined image TG as long as the scan image SG includes the image G 1  and the image G 2 . 
     In the processing in ACT  203  in  FIG. 4 , when the scan image SG is not consistent with the predetermined image TG, the CPU  14  determines whether or not there is an image in the entire area of the scan image SG (ACT  205 ). When there is a stain or rip on the paper S, the scan image SG includes the image G 1  indicating stain and the image G 2  indicating rip as shown in  FIG. 5 . When extracting the images G 1  and G 2  from the scan image SG, the CPU  14  can determine that there are images in the entire area of the scan image SG. 
     Further, in the case in which the scan image SG is not consistent with the predetermined image TG, when an image different form a stain or rip is formed on the paper S, the CPU  14  can also determine that there is an image in the entire area of the scan image SG. As stated above, the image different from a stain or rip may be, for example, the image handwritten with the non-decolorable color material. 
     When extracting no image (the images G 1 , G 2  and the like) from the scan image SG, the CPU  14  can determine that there is no image, stain, or rip on the paper S. 
     When there is no image in the entire area of the scan image SG, the CPU  14  drives the conveyance rollers  33 ,  35  and  36  and the flappers  41 ˜ 43  to enable the scanned paper S to move along the conveyance path P 5  and to be discharged to the second cassette  22  (ACT  206 ). As there is no stain or rip and no image is formed on the paper S stored in the second cassette  22 , such a paper S can be reused. Consequently, the second cassette  22  can only store the papers S that can be reused. 
     When there is an image in the entire area of the scan image SG, the CPU  14  drives the conveyance rollers  33 ,  35 ˜ 37  and the flappers  41 ˜ 43  to enable the scanned paper S to move along the conveyance path P 6  and to be discharged to the third cassette  23  (ACT  207 ). Consequently, the third cassette  23  only stores the paper S on which there is a stain, a rip or an image other than the predetermined form TF. 
     According to the decoloring apparatus  1  in the present embodiment, it is determined that whether or not the scan image SG is consistent with the predetermined image TG stored in the memory  15  in advance, and in this way, it is possible to specify the paper S on which only the predetermined form TF is printed. Then, by discharging the paper S on which only the predetermined form TF is printed to a predetermined cassette (the first cassette  21  in the present embodiment) , such a paper S can be distinguished from other category of papers S. Further, the papers S on each of which only the predetermined form TF is printed can be collected in the predetermined cassette, and those papers S collected in the predetermined cassette can be used as papers S that can be reused. 
     Second Embodiment 
     In the first embodiment, one predetermined image TG is stored in the memory  15 . In the present embodiment, a plurality of categories of predetermined images TG is stored in the memory  15 . As long as the processing shown in  FIG. 2  is respectively carried out on a plurality of papers S on which different predetermined forms TF are printed, a plurality of predetermined images TG containing different predetermined forms TF can be stored in the memory  15  respectively. 
     For example, the operations of the decoloring apparatus  1  when two predetermined images (a first predetermined image and a second predetermined image) TG are stored in the memory  15  are described with reference to  FIG. 6 . In  FIG. 6 , the same processing as those described in  FIG. 4  is applied with same reference numerals. 
     In the processing in ACT  202 , after the scanner  13  scans the paper S, the CPU  14  determines whether or not the scan image SG is consistent with the first predetermined image TG (ACT  208 ). When the scan image SG is consistent with the first predetermined image TG, the CPU  14  drives the conveyance rollers  33  and  35  and the flappers  41  and  42  to enable the scanned paper S to move along the conveyance path P 4  and to be discharged to the first cassette  21  (ACT  204 ). 
     When the scan image SG is not consistent with the first predetermined image TG, the CPU  14  determines whether or not the scan image SG is consistent with the second predetermined image TG (ACT  209 ). When the scan image SG is consistent with the second predetermined image TG, the CPU  14  drives the conveyance rollers  33 ,  35  and  36  and the flappers  41 ˜ 43  to enable the scanned paper S to move along the conveyance path P 5  and to be discharged to the second cassette  22  (ACT  206 ). When the scan image SG is not consistent with the second predetermined image TG, the CPU  14  drives the conveyance rollers  33 ,  35 ˜ 37  and the flappers  41 ˜ 43  to enable the scanned paper S to move along the conveyance path P 6  and to be discharged to the third cassette  23  (ACT  207 ). 
     According to the present embodiment, the papers S are classified by each kind of the predetermined form TF, and the papers S on each of which same predetermined form TF is printed can be collected in the same cassette. 
     Third Embodiment 
     In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, it is determined that whether or not the scan image SG is consistent with the predetermined image TG. In the present embodiment, regardless of the position of the predetermined form TF in the scan image SG, it is determined that whether or not the scan image SG includes the predetermined form TF. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the predetermined form TF may exist in only part of area in the scan image SG according to the categories of the predetermined form TF. In addition, only the positions of the predetermined forms TF are different from each other. In this case, it can be determined that whether or not the scan image SG includes the predetermined form TF. In order to carry out this determination, only the image data of the predetermined form TF can be stored in the memory  15  in advance. 
     The determination processing is described with reference to  FIG. 8 . Further, in  FIG. 8 , the same processing as those described in  FIG. 4  is applied with same reference numerals. 
     In the processing in ACT  202 , after the scanner  13  scans the paper S, the CPU  14  determines whether or not the scan image SG includes the predetermined form TF (ACT  210 ). Specifically, the CPU  14  uses the image of the predetermined form TF stored in the memory  15  as a template to carry out template matching. In this way, it is possible to determine whether or not the scan image SG includes the predetermined form TF. 
     When the scan image SG includes the predetermined form TF, the CPU  14  determines whether or not there is an image in an area of the scan image SG other than the predetermined form TF (ACT  211 ). Such an image may be an image indicating a stain or a rip, or an image formed with a color material that cannot be decolored. When the CPU  14  extracts no image from the area of the scan image SG other than the predetermined form TF, the CPU  14  discharges the scanned paper S to the first cassette  21  (ACT  204 ). 
     In the processing in ACT  210 , when the scan image SG does not include the predetermined form TF, the CPU  14  determines whether or not there is an image in the entire area of the scan image SG (ACT  205 ). Such an image may be an image indicating a stain or a rip, or an image formed with a color material that cannot be decolored. When there is no any image, stain or rip on the paper S, there is no image in the entire area of the scan image SG. In this case, the scanned image S is discharged to the second cassette  22  (ACT  206 ). When there is an image in the entire area of the scan image SG, or in an area of the scan image SG other than the predetermined form TF, the scanned paper S is discharged to the third cassette  23  (ACT  207 ). 
     According to the present embodiment, regardless of the position of the predetermined form TF on the paper S, the papers S on each of which only the predetermined form TF is printed can be collected in one cassette. Further, it is just required to store only the images of the predetermined forms TF in the memory  15  in advance, and thus there is no need to store the plurality of categories of predetermined images of which the positions of the predetermined forms are different from each other in the memory  15  in advance. Consequently, it is easy to guarantee the free space of the memory  15 . 
     Fourth Embodiment 
     In the first-third embodiments, different categories of papers S are assigned and distributed to the cassettes  21 - 23 . In the present embodiment, the plurality of categories of papers S is discharged to a same paper discharge tray and the paper discharging positions of the papers S are deviated from each other in the paper discharge tray according to the categories of the papers S. 
     The constitution of a decoloring apparatus of the present embodiment is described with reference to  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 9  is a top view of the decoloring apparatus  1 . 
     The decoloring apparatus  1  shown in  FIG. 9  includes a paper discharge tray  51  and a sort unit  52 . The sort unit  52  can discharge the scanned papers S to a plurality of paper discharging positions on the paper discharge tray  51 . Specifically, the sort unit  52  can differentiate the paper discharging positions of the papers S in the discharge direction D 1  of the paper S, and can differentiate the paper discharging positions of the papers S in a direction D 2  orthogonal to the discharge direction D 1 . Herein, the sort unit  52  can differentiate the paper discharging positions of the papers S at least in one of the direction D 1  and the direction D 2 . 
     When differentiating the paper discharging positions of the papers S in the discharge direction D 1 , the sort unit  52  changes the discharge speed of the paper S. The higher the discharge speed of the paper S is, the farther the paper discharging position of the paper S is away from the sort unit  52 . In other words, the lower the discharge speed of the paper S is, the closer the paper discharging position of the paper S is to the sort unit  52 . 
     When differentiating the paper discharging positions of the papers S in the direction D 2 , the sort unit  52  deviates a conveyance roller pair in a state of holding the paper S in the direction D 2  before the paper S is discharged to the paper discharge tray  51 . The deviation amount of the conveyance roller pair in a state of holding the paper S in the direction D 2  can be varied, and thus a plurality of paper discharging positions can be set. 
     According to the present embodiment, by differentiating the paper discharging positions on the paper discharge tray  51  according to the categories of the papers S, a plurality of categories of papers S can be sorted. Herein, the category of the paper S can be distinguished through the surface state of the paper S, and for example, it means that there is only image of predetermined form described later on the paper S, there is no any image, stain or rip on the paper S, and there is an image, stain or rip other than the predetermined form on the paper S. 
     Though it is described in the first-fourth embodiments that the “decoloring processing” is a processing of erasing the color of the image (toner), it also means to eliminate the image. That is, the decoloring apparatus of the present embodiment is not limited to an apparatus which erases the color of image by heating. For example, the decoloring apparatus may be an apparatus which erases the color of image by irradiating the paper with light, or an apparatus erasing the image formed on a special sheet. In order to reuse the paper, it is only required that the decoloring apparatus can make the image on the paper invisible. 
     Though it is described in the first-fourth embodiments that the image of predetermined form is read by the scanner and the image data is stored in the memory, the present invention is not limited to this case. That is, the image data of predetermined form may be received from an external device such as a personal computer, and then is stored in the memory. 
     According to the decoloring apparatus with the constitution above, it is possible to distribute the papers (the papers on which only the predetermined forms remain) on each of which the scan image is consistent with the predetermined image and the papers (other papers) on each of which the scan image is not consistent with the predetermined image. 
     While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.