The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 04, 1998
Filed:
May. 21, 1996
Steven W Hendrix, San Diego, CA (US);
Ronald J Kaplan, San Marcos, CA (US);
Hewlett-Packard Company, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A beltless, automatic document feeder for a flat bed document scanner or other hard copy apparatus using a flat bed scanning station is disclosed. A paper path is formed between a feeder frame guide and a paper loading tray. A document sheet pulled from a stack loaded in the tray is transported along the path by a dual function driver. A pad overlaying the flat bed of the scanner is provided with a cooperative lip such that the leading edge of the pulled document sheet is directed from the paper path to the flat bed and under the pad. A second, bi-directional driver, associated with the pad and the flat bed, transports the document sheet to a fully scannable position between the pad and flat bed without releasing the trailing edge of the document sheet. After scanning, the second driver is reversed to remove the scanned document sheet from the bed and transport it to the dual function driver which then ejects the sheet along a second path. The first path and second path are on the same side of the flat bed.