Eastman-kodak Company

Kodak Alaris Inc.

Kodak Company

Robert M Westcott

Randall R Maysick

Stephen M Reinke

Charles E Brugger

Stephen A Horstman

Jude A SanGregory

Craig F Robillard

Scott P Haude

Philip A Stern

Brian J Joseph

Thomas W Mort

Steven L Moore

William J Greene

George O Simmons

Thomas W Ebert

Randy R Maysick

Robert S Breslawski

Randall Maysick

Jude Anthony Sangregory

Embodiments are directed at a systems, methods, and apparatuses for automatically aligning the lead edges of a document stack loaded in a scanner system. An automated jogger system includes feeder gate elements which are driven forward and backwards in an oscillating motion. This motion causes the documents in the stack to slide between each other, causing the documents to move and rotate towards the feeder gate elements, aligning the lead edges of the stack prior to being fed into the document scanner.

Document scanner with automated document alignment system

A method of scanning documents and moving such documents along a path such that during scanning a method of improving the documents velocity and the documents image quality is disclosed. The method includes providing a plurality of documents in an input tray and transporting each document along the path from the input tray at a transport velocity past the scanner to obtain scanned image data. By monitoring and controlling the velocity profile of the transport system, the scanning system may provide higher image quality, reduce slippage, misfeeds and jams, and provide alerts to an operator in the even slippage, misfeeds, or jams do occur.

System and method for monitoring and controlling document velocity in a scanning system

An image scanner system and method with document sorting capability that includes the ability to sort based on image content is described. A processor instructs drive motors and rollers of the transport system moving the document along a transport path within the scanner to stop movement, such that document is stopped at a position after it is imaged to provide time for the processor to analyze the image content and make a sorting decision. The transport system is then restarted and the document is delivered to a paper path switching mechanism to provide the physical sort. Based on the processing, the switching mechanism is positioned such that the document will follow a transport path into a desired output tray. The system may reverse the transport system to back up the document before being restarted in order to allow for paper path switching of longer documents.

System and method for sorting scanned documents to selected output trays

A scanning apparatus comprising a sheet fed scanner and a flatbed scanner. An input tray and an output tray for the sheet fed scanner as well as the platen for the flatbed scanner all face one side of the scanning apparatus resulting in a compact ergonomic scanning system.

Forward facing scanner

An ergonomic, compact scanner operation is achieved by providing a flatbed scanner and a sheet fed scanner in a space efficient arrangement with optimal access features for users. Documents traverse the sheet fed scanner along a path that allows inclusion of an easily accessible flat bed scanner.

A method of scanning documents and moving such documents along a path such that after scanning sorting such documents is disclosed. The method includes providing a plurality of documents in an input tray and transporting each document along the path from the input tray at a transport velocity past the scanner to obtain scanned image data. The method further includes providing at least two movable members including two rotatable exit rollers, movable belts, or a movable belt and a rotatable exit roller along the path to provide a nip for the documents; and selectively driving the movable members to provide selectable exit velocities so that such documents are sorted in accordance with their selected exit velocity.

Sorting by controlling scanned document velocity

A combination platen and sheet fed scanner has a retractable lamp which comprises a sheet fed scanning unit (). A sheet feeding mechanism is in the sheet fed scanning unit (). A first camera images a first side of a document fed through the sheet feeding mechanism. A second camera images a side of the document. A platen () is detachably mounted to the sheet fed scanning unit (). A mechanism moves the second camera from the sheet fed scanning unit () to the platen (). A lamp is associated with the second camera, the lamp is retractably mounted to the second camera.

Retractable lamp for an improved document scanner paper path

A scanning system which supports platen and sheet fed scanning of documents comprises a first scanning unit with a first enclosure housing a first set of mechanisms enables full sheet fed scanning functions. A second set of mechanisms enables partial scanning functions. The first scanning unit also comprises a docking interface defining an opening of the first enclosure. A second scanning unit with a second enclosure is capable of attachment to the first scanning unit through the docking interface and includes a third set of mechanisms which enables complete platen scanning of documents in operable combination with the second set of mechanisms.

Document scanning system with dockable platen flatbed providing sheet fed and platen scanning functions

A modular scanning system ( ) consisting of a first scanning unit ( ) and a detachable platen element ( ) provides for both sheet fed and platen scanning of documents. The first scanning unit ( ) includes all the mechanisms necessary to permit sheet fed scanning of documents using a stationary image forming subsystem ( ). The platen element ( ) provides a second scanning unit ( ) which is capable of accepting a second image forming subsystem ( ) from the first scanning unit ( ) via a docking interface ( ). The second image forming subsystem ( ) can perform platen scanning of documents placed on a glass piece ( ) of the platen element ( ). Since the platen element ( ) is detachable, the user has the option to select the platen scanning functionality but with the additional flexibility of selectively mounting or storing the platen element ( ).

An intelligent feeding and separating device for consistently separating an outermost sheet of media from a stack and feeding it to an imaging rendering apparatus, includes: a) a sheet transport mechanism; b) a feed device for feeding sheets to the sheet transport mechanism; c) a separation mechanism adjacent to the feed mechanism; d) at least one drive mechanism in operable association with the feed or separation mechanisms, and comprising a feed or separation roller reversal mechanism; e) a plurality of different types of sensor devices adjacent to the feed mechanism for measuring characteristics of the sheets being fed; and f) a microprocessor in communication with the sensor devices and the feed or separation roller direction reversal mechanism; wherein, depending upon input from the sensor devices, the microprocessor outputs to the feed or separation roller direction reversal mechanism to address feed-related problems encountered during operation.

Intelligent feeder

A media supply receptacle (,) includes: a) a horizontally inclined base plate (,); b) a movable, slotted input tray (,) generally parallel to and above the base plate (,), with a generally flat upper surface for supporting a stack of sheet media; c) evenly spaced, parallel control rod slots (,) in the input tray; and d) at least one media adjustment guide member (,), which includes identical, evenly spaced control rods (,). The control rods are vertically positioned with respect to the horizontally aligned input tray (,), and at least one passes through a corresponding control rod slot (,). Each control rod (,) has a lower end affixed to the base plate, and an opposite, upper end affixed to a guide cap. Each guide cap (,) extends across the upper ends of the control rods (,) in the guide member (,) and over the input tray. The receptacle (,) is adapted for feeding the stack of sheet media to the adjacent image forming or rendering apparatus, a sheet at a time.

Media adjustment guides for image forming apparatus

The present invention relates an image reading device and a sheet feeding method for feeding sheets or documents to the image reading device. In the device and method of the present invention, a controller which is associated with at least one of a sheet feeder or a feed sensor, controls an engagement and disengagement of the sheet feeder based on a comparison of a length of a first document fed into the image reading device with subsequent documents. With the device of the present invention, it is possible to increase document throughput rates by controlling the gap between documents.

Sheet feeding control for image reading device

A sheet feeding device (2) for separating an outermost sheet (4) from a stack (6). The sheet feeding device (2) comprises a stack support means (8) positioned in a first portion (10) of a housing (12), and a feed module (14) detachably mounted to a second portion (16) of the housing (12) and adapted to be positioned in contact with the stack (6). The feed module (14) includes an urging means (18) mounted on the feed module (14) by an infeed shaft (20) and a feed means (22) mounted on the feed module (14) by a feed roller shaft (24). A separation means (26) is detachably and pivotally mounted to the second portion (16) of the housing (12) by a support means (28). The separation means (26) is positioned adjacent to the feed means (22) so as to define a nip therebetween. A drive means (32) for driving the feed module (14) is mounted to the second portion of the housing (12). A clutch means (90) attached to the drive means (32) transmits an intermittent drive force to the feed module (14). A method for feeding an outermost sheet from a stack through a sheet feeding device is also described.

Sheet feeding device

A support assembly, in an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus having multiple development stations respectively containing different color marking particles for selective development of a plurality of latent image-wise charge patterns on a moving dielectric member so that such apparatus is capable of making multi-color reproductions. The support assembly includes a plurality of members adapted to receive the plurality of development stations respectively. The plurality of members are simultaneously movable to a first position where development stations received by the members are remote from the dielectric member to facilitate removal of such development stations from the apparatus, and to a second position where such development stations are in juxtaposition with the dielectric member. Additionally, the plurality of members, once in said second position where development stations received by the members are located to bring marking particles into development contact with the dielectric member, are independently movable to a third position where such development stations are located to prevent marking particles from coming into contact with the dielectric member.

Growing community of inventors

Holley, NY, United States of America

Robert M Westcott