GB2433228A

GB2433228A - Reclamation or rejuvenation of printed matter

Info

Publication number: GB2433228A
Application number: GB0525801A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Davies
Original assignee: Carglass Luxembourg SARL Zug Branch
Current assignee: Carglass Luxembourg SARL Zug Branch
Priority date: 2005-12-19
Filing date: 2005-12-19
Publication date: 2007-06-20
Also published as: GB0525801D0; WO2007071973A1

Abstract

A method of reclamation or rejuvenation of printed matter, wherein light energy delivery apparatus 3 is operated to transmit light energy to the printed surface of printed matter 1. The light energy is tailored to be of sufficient quality to effect a physical change at the print and/or substrate surface of the printed matter, resulting in a rejuvenated appearance in which print is either substantially removed from the printed matter substrate or the resolution of the print is significantly diminished. The mechanism for reclamation or rejuvenation may be an ablative or pyrolising mechanism by localised heating of the substrate and print, or a bleaching mechanism by irradiation with ultraviolet radiation. The light energy may be delivered according to a predetermined pulse regime.

Description

Reclamation or Reluvenation of Printed Matter The present invention

relates to reclamation or rejuvenation of printed matter.

The present invention seeks to enable printed matter to be subjected to a treatment which removes or diminishes the resolution of the print present such that the underlying substrate can either be reused, disposed of confidentially, or recycled. Recycling of printed matter having the print removed from the substrate (such as paper) will be improved and produce higher quality recycled material. Removal of the print from confidential printed matter provides a secure means of maintaining the integrity of the confidential information and will provide an alternative or additional security measure to shredding or the like.

According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a method of reclamation or rejuvenation of printed matter, by means of arranging light energy delivery means adjacent the printed matter; and operating the light energy delivery means to transmit light energy to the printed matter, the light energy being of sufficient quality to effect a physical change at the print and/or substrate surface of the printed matter, resulting in a rejuvenated appearance in which print is either substantially removed from the printed matter substrate or the resolution of the print is significantly diminished.

A primary mechanism for reclamation/rejuvenation of the printed matter appearance may typically be an ablative/pyrolysing mechanism in which there is a significant localised heating of the substrate and print in S a short time. The rapid elevation in temperature results in a thermal expansion differential between the materials of the substrate and the print or pyrolisation of the print material and/or partial pyrolisation of a layer of the substrate material.

Accordingly the light energy delivered is preferably of wavelengths absorbed by the print material, and therefore preferably substantially in the range 300nm -l,500nm.

Beneficially, the light energy delivery means is arranged to deliver light across a relatively wide spectrum of visible light simultaneously.

Optical energy delivered is typically in the range of a 50 -1,500 Joules total exposure. Typically the light energy is delivered according to a predetermined pulse regime.

The intensity of light (or light pulse event) being required to be sufficiently high to ensure that the required thermal heating effect at the surface is achieved in the duration of the pulse event.

Additionally or alternatively, a mechanism for reclaiming/rejuvenating the printed matter may be a bleaching mechanism in which case it is preferred that at least part of the spectrum of the light energy delivered is in the ifV (ultraviolet) region of the spectrum.

To the end of delivering the required light energy spectrum at suitable intensities to effect performance of the invention, beneficially a gas discharge device/flashlamp system is utilised as the light energy delivery means.

Beneficially, the light energy intensity attenuates with distance from an output zone (typically an output window or light transmissive platen) of the apparatus. Preferably the light energy intensity immediately adjacent the output means of the light energy delivery apparatus is significantly higher than the light energy intensity 10 - 20cm away from the light output means of the apparatus.

The light therefore attenuates (diffuses rapidly) with distance from the energy delivery means apparatus. This provides enhanced user safety because, providing the output device is maintained at a safe distance (typically 10 - 20cm) from the user, discharge will not result in personal physical damage.

According to a second aspect, there is provided printed matter reclamation/rejuvenation apparatus comprising light energy delivery means arrangeable adjacent a printed matter object and operable to transmit light energy to interact with the printed matter object, the light intensity being sufficient to effect a physical change either at the printed matter substrate or the print, resulting in a rejuvenated appearance in which the print is either removed from the substrate or significantly diminished in resolution.

The light energy delivery means as mentioned previously, preferably comprises electrical gas discharge/flashlamp apparatus which is preferably controlled to limit the pulse rate and/or duration of the light pulse event. In one embodiment, the operation of the gas discharge apparatus may be controlled by: (i) Charging a capacitor arrangement; (ii) initiating a trigger pulse to discharge the capacitor arrangement; and (iii) discharging the capacitor arrangement preferably through an inductor to the gas discharge apparatus.

The apparatus may comprise a unit similar to current photocopier units known in the art. The apparatus may include such collation, documentation/paper feeder mechanisms and arrangements as known in photocopier technology. It is envisaged that the apparatus would include a glass platen similar to the glass platen arrangements of current photocopier apparatus known in the art, the printed material being placed on or adjacent the glass platen (which acts as a window through which the light energy is projected) . Effectively the apparatus would be capable of acting as a photocopier machine in reverse, wherein printed matter sheets or documents may be fed into the apparatus, rejuvenated clean sheets being recovered from the machine subsequent to operation, the print having been removed or significantly diminished in resolution.

The intensity of light delivered to the printed matter substrate is preferably substantially in the range 5J/cm2 -150J/cm2.

Additionally or alternatively, the apparatus or method may be used in combination with document shredding apparatus, the rejuvenated/reclaimed matter being subsequently fed either manually or automatically to a shredding station for shredding and subsequent disposal and/or recycling.

The apparatus is preferably controllable to deliver the light energy in the form of a pulse of light and preferably includes means to adjust and/or limit the pulse repetition rate of successive light pulse events and/or the duration of a light pulse event, and/or the intensity or wavelength of light delivered. The light energy delivery means preferably includes a trigger or switch (preferably a manually actuatable trigger or switch) for initiating a light pulse event when the delivery means is in position.

Where electrical gas discharge/flashlamp apparatus is used, the apparatus may include one or more light emitting discharge tubes, preferably a pair or more of light emitting discharge tubes, beneficially arranged in side by side arrangement.

The light footprint' of the apparatus projected onto the printed matter (via the output window or platen) is preferably relatively large.

The apparatus may include a pulse forming network having a capacitor and/or inductor arrangement, for example, in which the capacitor discharges through an inductor drive the electrical gas discharge/f lashlamp apparatus to produce a non-monochromatic, preferably relatively wide light spectrum, beneficially including light in the LIV (ultraviolet) range. A trigger network is preferably provided for initiating the capacitor discharge.

The apparatus preferably includes a reflector arrangement to direct emitted light in a predetermined direction (typically through the light output window or platen previously described) . Desirably the reflector arrangement is arranged to produce a diffusing/diverging light effect to maximise the light footprint size projected onto the printed matter.

A preferred embodiment of the apparatus may comprise: (i) a light energy delivery station including an electrically operable light emitting element; (ii) a platen or window against which the printed matter substrate may rest or be placed; and (iii) electrical power supply and control means for initiating and controlling operation of the light emitting element (or elements) The invention will now be further described in a specific embodiment, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of optical light energy delivery apparatus according to the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram showing generally an exemplary embodiment of apparatus according to the invention; Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram showing more specifically an exemplary embodiment of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, a sheet 1 of paper carrying print is placed print side down on a platen window 2 of the apparatus. The print side surface of sheet 1 is illuminated by an optical light energy delivery unit 3 which directs a pulse of high intensity light energy to impinge upon the surface of sheet 1.

The optical unit 3 comprises a flashlamp electrical gas discharge tube 22 (preferably two or more are provided in parallel -side by side arrangement) , and a housing 4 comprising a shaped reflector wall portion 5 and a light output window 7. The light output window 7 and shaped reflector are arranged to produce a diffusing outlet light footprint' in order to create as large a light footprint' as possible projected through the glass platen 2.

The output of the flashlamp tube 22 is non-coherent and non-collimated which results in a rapid attenuation of light intensity with distance from the output window 7, and consequent rapid attenuation with distance above the platen 2. The platen 2 is arranged with respect to the light output unit 3 such that the intensity of light reaching the print on substrate 1 is sufficient to cause the required thermal effects (to be described in detail later) . However at a distance above platen glass 2 of a few centimetres, the light intensity is of such a low level that it would not damage the skin of a user.

The light intensity is sufficient at the surface of sheet 1 such that ablation, thermal pyrolisation or other thermal or physical interaction with the print material and/or the sheet 1 substrate material occurs to cause a resolution diminution or eradication of print from the surface of sheet 1.

Typically the light energy delivered during a pulse event of the flashtubes would be in the range 50 -1,500 Joules, providing a preferred energy density at the surface substantially at or in the range 5J/cm2 to 150J/cm2.

In certain embodiments it is preferred that the wavelength spectrum produced by the flashlamp includes, particularly, wavelengths in the ultra-violet region of the spectrum.

This is because enhanced effect has been achieved when using ISV wavelengths. Enhanced effects are believed to occur due to bleaching of the material of the sheet 1 and/or the pigments/dyes, ink or other material comprising the print on sheet 1.

Typically the optical delivery unit 3, including the flashtubes 12 and housing 4 (having reflector 5 and window 7) will be provided in a housing or casing 20. The housing or casing 20 includes a power supply 10 and a control unit 11. Mains electricity is supplied to the housing 20 and a power supply 10 converts the AC mains voltage to a higher voltage DC.

Referring now to Figure 3 additionally, the power supply unit 10 also houses a pulse forming network 18 including a capacitor. The high voltage DC output is used to charge the capacitor for storage of electrical energy. The capacitor remains charged until an operator or user is ready to use the apparatus. When the operator triggers the optical output, the energy stored in the capacitor is delivered to the flashtubes 12 through a suitable high voltage switch 17. The electrical energy is converted by the flashtubes 12 into optical (light) energy, the duration and intensity of the optical light pulse event being determined by the amount of energy stored in the capacitor and the rate of discharge. The flashtubes 12 are typically selected to deliver light energy across a wide range of visible spectrum, preferably including a portion of the spectrum in the ultra-violet region.

An embodiment of the present invention has been described above by way of example only. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A method of reclamation or rejuvenation of printed matter,

by means of arranging light energy delivery means adjacent the printed matter; and operating the light energy delivery means to transmit light energy to the printed matter, the light energy being of sufficient quality to effect a physical change at the print and/or substrate surface of the printed matter, resulting in a rejuvenated appearance in which print is either substantially removed from the printed matter substrate or the resolution of the print is significantly diminished.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein a mechanism for reclamation/rejuvenation of the printed matter appearance is an ablative/pyrolysing mechanism in which there is a significant localised heating of the substrate and print in a short time.

3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a mechanism for reclaiming/rejuvenating the printed matter may be a bleaching mechanism, wherein at least part of the spectrum of the light energy delivered is in the U'! (ultraviolet) region of the spectrum.

4. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the light energy delivered is of wavelengths absorbed by the print material, and substantially in the range 300nm -l,500nm.

5. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the light energy delivery means is arranged to deliver light across a relatively wide spectrum of visible light simultaneously.

6. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the optical energy delivered is typically in the range of -1,500 Joules total exposure.

7. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the light energy is delivered according to a predetermined pulse regime.

8. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the intensity of a light pulse event is sufficiently high to ensure that the required thermal heating effect at the surface is achieved in the duration of the pulse event.

9. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein a gas discharge device/flashlamp system is utilised as the light energy delivery means.

10. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the light energy intensity attenuates with distance from an output zone of the apparatus.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the output zone comprises an output window or light transmissive platen.

12. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the light energy intensity immediately adjacent the output means of the light energy delivery apparatus is significantly higher than the light energy intensity -20cm away from the light output means of the apparatus.

13. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the light attenuates (diffuses rapidly) with distance from the energy delivery means apparatus.

14. Printed matter reclamation/rejuvenation apparatus comprising light energy delivery means arrangeable adjacent a printed matter object and operable to transmit light energy to interact with the printed matter object, the light intensity being sufficient to effect a physical change either at the printed matter substrate or the print, resulting in a rejuvenated appearance in which the print is either removed from the substrate or significantly diminished in resolution.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the light energy delivery means comprises electrical gas discharge/f lashlamp apparatus.

16. Apparatus according to claim 14 or claim 15, including means for controlling the pulse rate and/or duration of a light pulse event.

17. Apparatus according to any of claims 14 to 16, wherein the intensity of light delivered to the printed matter substrate is substantially in the range 5J/cm2 -150J/cm2.

18. Apparatus according to any of claims 14 to 17, in combination with document shredding apparatus, the rejuvenated/reclaimed matter being fed either manually or automatically to a shredding station for shredding and subsequent disposal and/or recycling.

19. Apparatus according to any of claims 14 to 18, wherein the apparatus is controllable to deliver the light energy in the form of a pulse of light (pulse event) and includes means to adjust and/or limit the pulse repetition rate of successive light pulse events and/or the duration of a light pulse event, and/or the intensity or wavelength of light delivered.

20. Apparatus according to any of claims 14 to 19, wherein the light energy delivery means includes a manually actuatable trigger or switch for initiating a light pulse event when the delivery means is in position.

21. Apparatus according to any of claims 14 to 20, wherein the apparatus includes a reflector arrangement to direct emitted light in a predetermined direction (typically through a light output window or platen) 22. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the reflector arrangement is arranged to produce a diffusing/diverging light effect to maximise the light footprint size projected onto the printed matter.

23. Apparatus according to any of claims 14 o 22, wherein the apparatus includes: (i) a light energy delivery station including an electrically operable light emitting element; (ii) a platen or window against which the printed matter substrate may rest or be placed; and (iii) electrical power supply and control means for initiating and controlling operation of the light emitting element (or elements) 24. A method substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

25. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.