Facsimile and static presentation processing – Facsimile – Picture signal generator
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-18
2003-09-30
Coles, Edward (Department: 2622)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Facsimile
Picture signal generator
C358S496000, C358S473000, C250S208100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06628433
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is related generally to a modular document scanning system and particularly to a modular scanner supporting both sheet fed and platen scanning of documents. More particularly, the invention relates to a modular scanning system with a detachable platen element for single sheet scanning.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Document scanners have become a popular computing accessory both in the home and the office. Essentially, document scanners (or simply “scanners”) come in three distinct varieties: sheet fed scanners, platen scanners and combination sheet fed with platen capability scanners. With respect to sheet fed scanners, an image forming subsystem, such as a camera, typically a CCD or “charge couple device” and a lens in combination with an illumination source, scans an image by moving a sheet of paper past the camera, which sits in a stationary position. Individual raster lines are imaged by the camera and then pieced together to create a 2D image representation of the original document. With sheet fed scanners, the camera is basically looking at one sliver of the document many times as the document is moved across a lens. The paper motion supplies one dimension of the document while the width is supplied by the camera. The in-paper travel direction and the width of the document is determined by the optics magnification and the charged couple device (CCD) within the image forming subsystem.
In some cases, the shape of the sheet fed scanners paper path is semi-circular. For example, some scanners have a semi-circular paper path where sheets can be fed from a tray on top and exit beneath (or vice versa). In other cases, the paper path is “straight through.”
With a platen scanner, a document is placed face down onto a stationary flat, usually glass surface, of the scanning unit and the image forming subsystem (camera and illumination source) moves underneath the fixed document to perform the scanning operation. In this case, the camera's motion is providing the length while the camera's optics provides the width of the scanned document.
Production scanners vary in speed, function and cost and are often used by businesses for scanning large quantities of documents. For example, scans of several hundred (100) to several hundred thousand (100,000) pages per job are typical for “production” scanners. One type of production scanner attempts to combine the functionality of a sheet fed scanner with that of a platen scanner. Essentially, with such combination production scanners, multiple sheets are fed from a stack past a stationary camera, thus eliminating the need for lifting a lid and placing document sheets face down one at a time. The platen capability is also employed to deal with documents that do not feed from a stack reliably. Production scanners of this type are manufactured as a single unit that combine the platen scanning functions with the sheet moving functions in a single box.
In one common configuration, a dual camera image forming subsystem is used with a paper path extending between the cameras and the scanner adapted to operate in two distinct scanning modes. In a sheet fed or straight-through scanning mode, documents are fed from a stack in between the cameras so that they are imaged on both the top and bottom during the same scanning operation. In a platen scanning mode, one of the cameras can be made to mimic the functionality of a platen scanner by placing a platen element adjacent to it and moving the camera beneath a stationary document placed on the platen. In this way, a stationary camera assumes the role of a platen image forming subsystem. Such combination production scanners are often known as platen scanners with autofeed capability. Essentially, this class of scanning devices utilizes a small paper path in combination with a camera that can operate in both a parked position for the auto-feed with subsequent movement of a document for sheet fed scanning as well as a moving operation for a stationary document during platen scanning.
With prior sheet fed, platen, or combination scanners, the user must select one type in favor of another. For those customers whose primary need is for a sheet fed scanner but who occasionally need the platen utility, they must purchase a combination device or two separate scanners (one sheet fed and one platen). Purchasing both types of scanning devices may be cost prohibitive or impossible and, in either case, impractical for applications where portability is desired. For example, service bureaus require the ability to pick up the scanner and host computer, which is attached to the scanner, in order to transport both systems to the jobsite. After the job is finished, the scanner and computer must be brought back to the service bureau headquarters or to the next jobsite. Thus, portability and the ability to reconfigure and perform multiple scanning functions are critical to people who buy scanners to scan documents as a service.
Other limitations of the prior art scanners are the relatively high cost and large size of the form factor associated with the combination production scanners that combine platen and sheet feeding functions in one unit. Since the form factor must be increased, the cost of manufacture is increased over the single function scanning device. Typically, such combination production scanners only come in one of various classes suitable for scanning a single size or style of document. For example, the platen portion of the combination scanner can be equipped to handle 8½×11 inch or European sized documents (also known as A4) or they can be equipped to handle 11 by 17 inch documents (also known as A3). Thus, the prior art combination production scanners may not be configured to scan the size of documents that the customer desires have scanned.
As such, a relatively low cost scanning device that can handle various paper sizes in a unit having a relative small footprint, and which combines the functionality of a platen scanner with that of a sheet fed scanner would provide numerous advantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a modular scanner with a detachable platen element for either single sheet and/or multiple page scanning which “docks” or attaches to a scanning unit providing sheet fed scanning. With the present invention, the end customer is given the functionality of a platen scanner and the ability to selectively mount or store the platen device. The space associated with the platen element can be saved on the desktop as well as the possibility to purchase the scanner with or without the platen accessory. In addition, the size of the platen element can vary to accommodate various sizes and documents.
Accordingly, disclosed in one embodiment is a scanning subsystem supporting platen and sheet fed scanning of documents. The scanning system comprises a first scanning unit with a first enclosure housing a first set of mechanisms for enabling full sheet fed scanning functions. The first scanning unit also includes a second set of mechanisms for enabling partial platen scanning functions and a docking interface defining an opening in the first enclosure. A second scanning unit with a second enclosure can be attached to the first scanning unit through the docking interface. The second scanning unit includes a third set of mechanisms for enabling complete platen scanning of documents in operable combination with the second set of mechanisms within the first scanning unit.
In one embodiment, the first scanning unit includes a feeder opening through which paper documents can be fed for sheet fed scanning. A first exit opening is provided and adapted to deliver scanned documents from a first location of the first scanning unit. A paper pathway and extends from the feeder opening through the first exit opening. A first image forming subsystem is predisposed within the first scanning unit and configured to scan images appearing on paper documents fed through the feeder opening and transported over the first paper pathway. A feed rolle
Maysick Randall R.
Westcott Robert M.
Blish Nelson Adrian
Coles Edward
Eastman Kodak Company
Sherrill Jason
LandOfFree
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