Howtek, Inc.

Mark W Magee

Richard F Lehman

Robert Howard

Richard A Williams

Michael Varanka

Richard R Helinski

Calvin M Winey

Richard A Loder

Thomas W Bosse

Ronald L Searcy

Robert C Daggett

Calvin Winey, Iii

A sheet feeding mechanism for a digitizing scanner particularly adapted to feed transparent and translucent film sheets provides two pairs of feed rollers each located on an opposing side of the scanner camera's image line. A tray for supporting a feed stack is provided. The tray pivots into and out of engagement with a pick roll at predetermined times during the feed cycle. The pick roll rotates to feed the top sheet of the stack into the feed rollers. The top sheet must climb a curved stripper that resists downstream movement of the next sheets in the stack. A pair of edge sensors are located upstream of the upstream feed rollers and downstream of the downstream feed rollers. The sensors sense, respectively, the trail edge and the lead edge of the sheet, respectively and enable a central processing unit to automatically determine the length of the sheet. The sheet can, thereby, be reversed and scanned fully over its entire length. The sheet can be reversed and rescanned based upon the CPU's information about the sheet's length.

Sheet feeder for digitizing scanner

A dual drum rotary image scanner has a headstock and a tailstock between which may be mounted drums of different diameter. The tailstock has substantially annular surfaces which contact corresponding surfaces on the different diameter drums. The different drums, when held in the scanner, each create a different separation between the headstock and tailstock. These different separations are detected by photodetectors, the outputs of which are received by a system controller. The controller uses the photodetector signals to control motors that position the scanning head and the transmittance illuminator relative to the surface of the particular drum mounted in the scanner. The motors turn pinions which, in turn, move racks to which are attached the scanning head and the transmittance illuminator, respectively. The movement of the scanning head also results in the modification of the optical path within the optics box of the scanner. In a first position, the light from the scanning head follows a first optical path which includes a movable mirror in a first angular orientation. As the scanning head is moved to a second position, the angular orientation of the movable mirror is changed, and the light from the scanning head follows a second optical path which includes the movable mirror in its new orientation. Support arms are also provided which adjust to support the different diameter drums during loading, and mounting surfaces between the drum being mounted and the headstock and tailstock are shaped to allow the drum to be lifted off the supports as the headstock and tailstock are brought together.

Rotary image scanner capable of mounting drums of various diameters

A high quality, relatively inexpensive rotary scanner provides both transmission and reflection scanning of documents mounted on a rotary drum. The drum translates with respect to an imaging lens located adjacent the drum and on the exterior thereof. A first illuminating element surrounding the imaging lens illuminates the document on the drum for reflection scanning; a second illuminating element mounted on a cantilevered arm extending along the axis of the drum illuminates the document for transmission scanning. Focusing of the image is performed either automatically or under the control of the user. A high resolution and wide dynamic range is provided by a set of photomultiplier tubes which receive light from the imaging lens by way of an aperture wheel which provides apertures of selectable size in accordance with the desired resolution. User replaceable lamp modules allow the precise positioning of high intensity replacement lamps without need for a technician.

Rotary scanner

A drum for a rotary scanner operable in both a transmissive and a reflective mode is manufactured to high concentricity yet relatively inexpensively by mounting an oversized (in thickness) drum blank of possibly varying diameter and thickness on a cylindrical mandrel and thereafter turning it on a lathe to the required external radius. End caps containing mounting means defining the effective scan axis are then secured to the drum for subsequent mounting in a rotary scanner.

Method of manufacturing a rotary scanning drum

A solid ink delivery system for supplying sticks of solid ink to a ink jet printer is disclosed. The solid ink delivery system includes a delivery assembly for each color ink stick supplied to the printer. Each delivery assembly includes a tube assembly where the ink sticks are stacked prior to their delivery to the printer. A triggerable ink stick feed assembly is provided for normally holding the in sticks in place. When triggered, the ink stick feed assembly releases the bottommost ink stick or sticks to an opening in the printer adapted to receive them, and restricts the movement of the above stacked ink sticks. The solid ink delivery system is adapted for use with a moving print head having a number of reservoir openings each adapted to receive ink sticks of a different color. A positioning means aligns the print head so the reservoir openings are under the tube assemblies that supply them with the appropriate color ink. Registration assemblies inhibit the triggering of the ink stick feed assemblies unless a reservoir opening for the color ink stick they supply is properly aligned.

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Derry, NH, United States of America

Mark W Magee