Agfa Division, Bayer Corporation

Agfa Corporation

Mark G Brook, Iii

Mark E Tellam

John F Omvik

Kevin J Haded

Joseph A Wheeler

Marc L Cresens

David M Leclerc

Christopher R Duval

Aron M Mirmelshteyn

John A MacNeill

Patrick Pandelaers

A flat-bed scanner for scanning an original document, comprising a scanner housing and a scan carriage movably disposed for motion relative to the scanner housing. A sensing system is mounted to the scan carriage for scanning the original document. A media holder supports the original document for scanning along a scan line such that the original document is positioned at an object focal plane of the sensing system. The media holder support system dynamically maintains a portion of the original document proximate to the scan line coincident with the object focal plane during scanning. The support system includes a first mounting device pivotally attaching a first end of the media holder to the housing for allowing a pivot motion of the media holder with respect to the scanner housing and a second and a third mounting device are affixed and movable with the scan carriage for movably supporting the media holder during the motion of the carriage. The second and third mounting device support the media holder substantially below the scan line and proximate to marginal edges of the media holder outside the field of view of the scan line.

Mounting system for a removable media holder in a scanning apparatus

A scanning apparatus providing separate fixed object focal planes for transmissive and reflective original documents to be scanned, wherein a scan carriage containing illumination, sensor, and optical elements is moved together to scan an original document and to obtain a digitized representation thereof. The movable scan carriage has an illumination source disposed between the reflective and transmissive object focal planes, with the object focal plane to be used selected by changing the position of one or more optical elements within the scan carriage. The resolution of the digitized representation of the scanned original document can be determined independently of the selection of object focal plane.

Scanning system for scanning reflective and transmissive images

A scanning apparatus providing separate fixed object focal planes for transmissive and reflective original documents to be scanned, wherein a scan carriage containing illumination, sensor, and optical elements is moved together to scan an original document and to obtain a digitized representation thereof. The movable scan carriage has an illumination source disposed between the reflective and transmissive object focal planes, with the object focal plane to be used selected by changing the position of one or more optical elements within the scan carriage. A dark slide provides protection against flare during scanning, and can be closed to provide for dark current calibration as well as to seal the system from dust when not in use.

Combined dust protection and dark calibration slide for a flat-bed

A scanning apparatus providing separate fixed focal planes for transmissive and reflective original documents to be scanned, wherein a scan carriage containing illumination, sensor, and optical elements is moved together to scan an original document and to obtain a digitized representation thereof. The movable scan carriage has an illumination source disposed between the reflective and transmissive object focal planes, with the object focal plane to be used selected by changing the position of one or more optical elements within the scan carriage. The resolution of the digitized representation of the scanned original document can be determined by rotation of at least one lens about an axis substantially perpendicular to its optic axis.

Scanning system

A scanning apparatus providing separate fixed object focal planes for transmissive and reflective original documents to be scanned, wherein a scan carriage containing illumination, sensor, and optical elements is moved together to scan an original document and to obtain a digitized representation thereof. The movable scan carriage has an illumination source disposed between the reflective and transmissive object focal planes, with the object focal plane to be used selected by changing the position of one or more optical elements within the scan carriage. The illumination source comprises a removable lamp cartridge with one or more lamps disposed for correct illumination of the selected object focal plane.

Illumination system for a flat-bed scanning system

A cover for holding a document to be scanned against the transparent scanning surface of a scanning system. The cover includes at least one hinged 'bending axis' about which a portion of the cover may be pivotally displaced without affecting the remaining portion(s) of the cover. Preferably, the bending axes are such that the cover may be pivoted about either of two lines corresponding to the diagonal axes of the rectangular cover.

Scanning system cover having a plurality of bending axes

A scanning apparatus providing an object focal plane for original documents to be scanned, wherein a scan carriage containing illumination, sensor, and optical elements is moved together to scan an original document and to obtain a digitized representation thereof. The movable carnage further includes an automatically-positioned alignment grid for aligning original documents, such that the grid is visible at the surface and moves with the scan carriage.

Apparatus for alignment of material to be scanned in a flat-bed scanner

Method and apparatus for positioning a focusing lens

A scanning apparatus providing separate fixed object focal planes for transmissive and reflective original documents to be scanned, wherein a scan carriage containing illumination, sensor, and optical elements is moved together to scan an original document and to obtain a digitized representation thereof. The movable scan carriage has an illumination source disposed between the reflective and transmissive object focal planes, with the object focal plane to be used selected by changing the position of one or more optical elements within the scan carriage. The scan carriage is suspended along an axis substantially parallel to a scan line of a scanned original document and passing through a point substantially coincident with the scan line, thereby minimizing variations in lighting conditions due to vibration of the scan carriage.

Scanner drive system having minimum rotational error carriage suspension

A scanner cover including a rigid top cover component and a lower flexible cover component releasably mounted therebelow. The cover components may be coupled together for use as a single unit, or separately to allow for the placement, adjustment, viewing and/or removal of original(s) without disturbing other original(s) on the scanning surface.

Growing community of inventors

Londonderry, NH, United States of America

Mark G Brook, Iii