Facsimile and static presentation processing – Facsimile – Picture signal generator
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-13
2001-06-26
Grant, II, Jerome (Department: 2724)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Facsimile
Picture signal generator
C358S498000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06252684
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an automatic paper feeder which includes an upper light source and particularly an automatic paper feeder for use with a scanner that is able to automatically feed paper and facilitate both reflective and transparent documents scanning functions.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventional flatbed type scanning and copying equipment such as optical scanners and copiers usually have a document placed on a transparent platform stationary, then having a scanning means moving across the transparent platform to perform scanning process. This type of scanning equipment can process only one piece of document at a time. Its operation is labor intensive and not efficient for high volume scanning work. To remedy this problem, an automatic paper feeder has been introduced.
FIG. 1
shows an example of such device for scanning or copying machine use. The automatic paper feeder
1
includes a paper tray
11
which can hold a plurality of scanning documents
13
and a transmission unit
12
which has a plurality of rollers for automatically picking a sheet of document
13
at a time to feed into a channel
14
. There is a cable
15
to wire the paper feeder
1
to a control circuit board
21
in a scanner
2
. Then a software is employed to coordinate and control the operations of the paper feeder
1
and the scanner
2
.
When in use, the transmission unit
12
picks up a document
13
and feeds it into the channel
14
until it laid upon a scanning platform
22
. Then a scanning means
23
is activated to move across the scanning platform
22
to perform scanning process. After scanning completed, the transmission unit
12
discharges the document
13
from the scanning platform
22
, and picks up another document in the paper tray
11
for another cycle of scanning operation.
In this type of scanner, the scanning document is laid stationary on the scanning platform during scanning process. Document movement is intermittent and becomes a drag on operation which is still not very efficient if a lot of documents are to be scanned. In addition, it suits only reflection type scanning work. As it has only a lower light source
231
located in the scanning means
23
to project light through the transparent scanning platform
22
upon the document
13
held in the channel
14
. It generally is no good for transparency scanning (such as projection transparency, slide, negative film, and etc.) as the channel
14
has an allowance which makes the document cannot be held upon the platform closely or evenly. Therefore it often results in poor scanning quality such as double image, overlapping image or blurring image when performing transparency scanning.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of aforesaid disadvantages, it is therefore an object of this invention to provide an automatic paper feeder including an upper light source that moves the document against a stationary scanning means so that scanning process is continuous rather than intermittent. It thus greatly enhances scanning efficiency. Furthermore, the upper light source can provide light emitting through a transparent document when there is a need to perform transparency scanning. Reflection type scanning can also be performed by switching off the upper light source and use the lower light source in the scanning device for providing reflecting light. Its dual functionality is more flexible an versatile than conventional scanners.
In order to achieve aforesaid object, the automatic paper feeder according to this invention includes a paper tray which can hold a plurality of scanning documents, a base frame for mounting on a transparent platform of a scanner, a channel, an upper light source, a transmission unit for picking up document from the paper tray, a control unit for controlling the transmission unit and the upper light source, and a cable to connect the automatic paper feeder with the scanner. The base frame has a transparent zone at the bottom mating against the transparent platform of the scanner. The channel has one end engaging with the paper tray for receiving document and has another end extending over the transparent zone. The channel further has a transparent window and a reflection plate located above the transparent zone. The upper light source is located above the transparent window opposite to the transparent zone.
When in use, the base frame of the paper feeder of this invention is mounted on the scanner with the transparent zone located above the transparent platform. The scanning means of the scanner is moved to a desired position under the transparent zone. Then transmission unit picks up scanning document from the paper tray one by one continuously. The scanning document is carried by the transmission unit and passes the transparent zone and over the scanning means for scanning. The scanning documents are moving continuously while the scanning means is stationary. Therefore scanning process may be performed continuously like a feed-sheet type scanner at high speed rather than intermittently like a conventional flatbed type scanner. It thus has a much greater scanning efficiency.
When the scanning document is a transparency, the scanning means is moved under the transparent winder below the upper light source. The upper light source is turned on while a lower light source in the scanning means is turned off When the transparency passes over the transparent zone, the upper light source projects light through the transparency and trigger the scanning means to perform scanning process.
For reflective scanning, the scanning means is moved away from the transparent window and is located under the reflection plate. The upper light source is turned off while the lower light source is turned on. When an opaque document passes over the transparent zone, the lower light source projects light upon the opaque document and reflects the light back to the scanning means for scanning process. Therefore this invention can provide dual scanning function for one scanner.
In another embodiment of this invention, the automatic paper feeder may includes a pair of photo sensors (one emission member and one receiving member) located at two sides of the channel and in front of the transparent zone (in terms of paper movement direction). The photo sensors can detect if a passing document is transparent or opaque from light density difference at the receiving member, then activate the scanning means to move to a location desired for either transparency scanning or reflective scanning.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4954862 (1990-09-01), Lee
patent: 5239392 (1993-08-01), Suzuki et al.
patent: 5781311 (1998-07-01), Inoue et al.
patent: 5959737 (1999-09-01), Kaminaga
patent: 5973796 (1999-10-01), Schissler et al.
patent: 5991054 (1999-11-01), Hung
Dougherty & Troxell
Grant II Jerome
Umax Data Systems Inc.
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