Lexmark International, Inc.

Charles Brandon Langrel

Chengwu Cui

Allen Wayne Waugerman

Adam Christopher Kelty

Joshua Tyler Strow

John Edward Borsuk

Stephen Ray Wilson

Robert McAlister Whitesell

Gary E Beglau

Jie Chan

Nicholas Stephen Lowell

James Thomas Beegle

A system for calibrating a scan module of an automatic document feed (ADF) scanner. The system includes a rotatable frame disposed on a position opposite to an imaging surface of the ADF scanner. An image backer and a calibration surface portion formed along longitudinal portions of the frame extend substantially parallel to the imaging surface. The image backer and calibration surface portion have top surfaces of different reflectivity that respectively does not contact and contacts the imaging surface when the frame is rotated to position the image backer and the calibration surface portion in a field of view of the scan module. A drive mechanism coupled to the frame is controlled by a controller to rotate the frame and selectively position within the field of view of the image capture module the image backer during a scanning operation and the calibration surface portion during a calibration operation.

System for calibrating a stationary image capture module of an optical scanner

Disclosed are a method and a computer program product for dissipating heat produced in a scan head assembly of an imaging apparatus during scanning of media sheets in the imaging apparatus. The method includes determining at least one of a temperature of the scan head assembly and a media sheet scan count. The method further includes moving the scan head assembly between a first position of the scan head assembly and a second position of the scan head assembly for dissipating heat, based on at least one of the temperature of the scan head assembly and the media sheet scan count.

Method for dissipating heat produced in scan head assembly of imaging apparatus

An imaging apparatus includes an automatic document feeder having a media feeding section, a media collecting section and a media conveying path extending from the media feeding section to the media collecting section. The imaging apparatus includes a scan head adjacent to the automatic document feeder. The scan head is moveable to a raised position aligned with a portion of the media conveying path for scanning a media sheet in the portion of the media conveying path.

Raisable scan head for an imaging apparatus

Method and image scanning apparatus comprising an image capture unit having an illumination assembly for generating input light; a printed circuit board mounted to the image capture unit, a cooling unit generating an airflow which cools the illumination assembly of the image capture unit as well as the critical components mounted on the printed circuit board and the optical components of the image capture unit; and an adjustable baffle member moveably mounted to the frame of the image scanning apparatus for controlling the path of the airflow relative to the lamp. The cooling unit comprises at least one fan with the fan generating airflow for cooling the lamp of image capture unit. The baffle member is adjustable to control the airflow generated by the fan such that the airflow generated by the fan is redirected downward and passes the airflow under the image capture unit, thereby effectively and evenly cooling the lamp and redirecting contaminants to the end of the image scanning apparatus enclosure opposite the image capture unit.

Image scanning apparatus and methods

An apparatus and methods of use for adjusting a sliding guide rod for an imaging device of a flatbed scanner to improve scanner skew misalignment comprising an attachment member movably mounting the sliding guide rod at one end thereof to one side of the flatbed scanner so as to allow skew-adjusting movement of the sliding guide rod at an opposite end thereof relative to the flatbed scanner and a skew adjustment assembly attached to an opposite side of the flatbed scanner and movably coupling and supporting the opposite end of the sliding guide rod to the opposite side of the flatbed scanner and being actuatable to cause the sliding guide rod to undergo skew adjustment relative to the flatbed scanner to correct scanner skew misalignment of the imaging device. The skew adjustment assembly includes a skew adjustment bracket mounted to the opposite side of the flatbed scanner and movably coupled to and supporting the opposite end of the sliding guide rod to the opposite side of the flatbed scanner and a tension spring and a plurality of bracket locking fasteners coacting with the skew adjustment bracket and movably actuatable relative thereto to move the sliding guide rod to undergo the skew adjustment relative to the flatbed scanner.

Apparatus and method for scanner skew adjustment in an image forming device

A detachable transparent plate for a scan head assembly in a document scanning system that allows an operator to detach the transparent plate from the scan head assembly located above a media feed path to clean a top face of the transparent plate and easily reattach it to the scan head assembly. The scan head assembly has an optical system and a sealing member detachably mounted to a bottom end of the optical system. The transparent plate is received and supported by the sealing member and defines a portion of a bottom surface of the sealing member. The sealing member is detachable from the bottom end of the optical system to allow an operator access to the top face of the transparent plate of the sealing member for cleaning the top face of the transparent plate.

Detachable transparent plate for scan head assembly

A method for providing a visible reference marker on a scanning unit for orienting an item to be scanned or copied includes the steps of emitting a light from a light source, guiding the light to a scanning unit having a contact glass scanning surface, and redirecting the light to define an illuminated reference marker substantially adjacent to the contact glass. A reference marker assembly for accomplishing that method is provided, including a light source, a waveguide for guiding light emitted from the light source to a scanning unit having a contact glass, and a redirector for redirecting the light to define an illuminated reference marker adjacent to the contact glass, for orienting an item to be copied or scanned. The light source may be a light emitting diode, and the redirector may be a light diffuser for redirecting the collected light to define an illuminated reference marker adjacent to the contact glass.

Enhanced illuminated scanning unit reference marker

It is a first aspect of the present invention to provide a scanning device that includes a first imaging device adapted to convert contents of a first surface of a medium to a digital representation of the contents of the first surface of the medium, a scanning path adapted to guide the medium adjacent to the first imaging device, a first output path for guiding the medium to a first output tray, the first output path connected to the scanning path, a second output path for guiding the medium to a second output tray, the second output path connected to the scanning path, and a diverter guide adapted to direct the medium from the scanning path to one of the first output path and the second output path.

Dual path scanning system and method

A method for applying a pick retry using a modified pick roller force includes operating an actuator in a first duty cycle to cause a pick roller to impose a first force on a media stack ordinarily sufficient to pick and feed a top sheet from the media stack to a media path, sensing whether or not the sheet arrives in the media path, and retrying the actuator in a second duty cycle different than the first duty cycle to cause the pick roller to impose a second force on the media stack different from the first force in response to not sensing the arrival of the sheet in the media path. The second force may be greater than the first force. The second duty cycle may be longer than the first duty cycle. Also, the method includes rotating the pick roller concurrently with or subsequently to operating the actuator.

Method for applying pick retry using a modified pick roller force to reduce likelihood of failure to pick top sheet from stack

The present application is directed to embodiments for moving a media sheet within a scanning device. The methods include moving the media sheet through a separation mechanism that prevents multiple media sheets from being moved simultaneously along the media path. Further, a buckle is formed in the sheet at a point upstream from a scanner. The buckle acts as a buffer to absorb any load release that could occur as the media sheet exits the separation mechanism. The load release could cause a change in the velocity of the media sheet as it moves across the scanner.

Methods of moving a media sheet in a scanning device

An electrophotographic device is provided for transferring a copy of an image from at least one first media sheet to at least one second media sheet. The device has a height, a width, and a depth defining a device external dimension, and also a width and depth defining a horizontal footprint of the device. The device includes a body adapted to receive therein at least one interchangeable media output module, which module when placed at a predetermined operating position is integrated into the path of travel of a media sheet passing through the device. A variety of interchangeable media output modules may be provided, including without limitation a multi-bin mailbox module, an automated media fastener module, an offset media stacker module, and combinations thereof. Advantageously, inclusion of one or more of the interchangeable media output modules does not alter the electrophotographic device external dimension and/or footprint.

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Lexington, KY, United States of America

Charles Brandon Langrel