1. A method for removing graphics components in an input binary document image, comprising: (a) determining whether each connected component in the input binary document image is a text component or a graphic component, and removing all connected components that are determined to be graphic components to generate an intermediate document image, the intermediate document image containing a plurality of connected components that are determined to be text components; (b) recovering at least some connected components of the input binary document image that have been removed in step (a) as recovered text components, wherein the recovering step recovers any connected component that is at least partially located within a pre-defined neighboring area around either a text component in the intermediate document image or another recovered text component; and (c) generating an output document image which contains only the connected components that are determined to be text components in step (a) and the connected components recovered in step (b).