Media scanning devices are typically used to scan and convert physical documents or photographs (generally referred to herein as “media”) into a digital format, such as, for example, a digital file. Once converted, the digital file may be more easily stored and shared via electronic devices (e.g., computers, servers, smartphones, tablets, etc.)
Some media scanning devices, including multifunction printers (MFPs) and other devices, are capable of scanning, converting, and reproducing (e.g. print) two-sided documents. In some cases, these devices use two separate scanning devices to scan both sides of the document as the document is fed through the automatic document feeder (ADF) of the device.
Various examples of the disclosure will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters denote like elements. Examples to be explained in the following may be modified and implemented in various different forms.
When it is stated in the disclosure that one element is “connected to” or “coupled to” another element, the expression encompasses not only an example of a direct connection or direct coupling, but also a connection with another element interposed therebetween. Further, when it is stated herein that one element “includes” another element, unless otherwise stated explicitly, it means that yet another element may be further included rather than being excluded.
As used herein, including in the claims, the word “or” is used in an inclusive manner. For example, “A or B” means any of the following: “A” alone, “B” alone, or both “A” and “B”.
Within the context of this disclosure, the “first” or “front” side of a document to be scanned is understood to be the side of the document that faces upward or outward (e.g., is visible) when the document is fed into an automatic document feeder of a scanning device. The “second” or “back” side of the document to be scanned is the side of the document that faces downward or inward (e.g., is not visible) when the document is fed into the ADF.
Media scanners may be used to digitize some types of media. In some circumstances, media scanners may include an ADF that is to draw media from an input tray, traverse the media past one or more scanning devices, and then dispense the media into an output tray.
In one example, a media scanner may include an input tray, an output tray, a media feeder, an upper scanning device, and a lower scanning device. Some scanning devices that are capable of reproducing two-sided documents position include two separate scanning devices, such as the upper scanning device and the lower scanning device. The document to be scanned then passes between the respective scan lines of the upper scanning device, and the lower scanning device, and each scanning device scans (along its respective scan line) one side of the document. This configuration shortens the paper path through the ADF of the scanning device and reduces the overall device size. However, this configuration has also been shown to accumulate dust and debris to the upper scanning device and to the lower scanning device. This accumulation of dust and debris causes the appearance of undesirable streaks in the scanned image or printed copy of the media.
The printer 202 may comprise any suitable device for placing or affixing an image onto a recording medium. For example, the printer 202 may comprise an inkjet printer, a laser printer, etc. In this example, the printer 202 includes a printer housing 204 and an output tray 206 for receiving media following a printing operation.
The printing and scanning device 200 may scan a piece of media using the media scanner 100. The printing and scanning device 200 may print images upon a recording medium, such as, but not limited to, paper, via the printer 202.
Over the course of time, dust and debris is bound to build up over the scanning lines of the lower scanning device 340 and the upper scanning device 350. While advancing media may wipe over a scanning line of the lower scanning device 340, which may remove some dirt or debris on top of a scanning line of the lower scanning device 340, when advancing along the C-path, the media does not wipe over a scanning line of the upper scanning device 350.
As an example, the media scanner may include an input tray 410, an output tray 420 disposed above the input tray, a media feeder 430 to advance media along a media path 460 from the input tray to the output tray, an upper scanning device 450 to generate a first scan line 470, and a lower scanning assembly 440. The upper scanning 450 device may be disposed to face downward to scan a first side of the media. The lower scanning assembly 440 may be disposed vertically below the upper scanning device 450 and may be disposed to face upward to scan a second side of the media. The media path 460 extends from the input tray 410 to below the upper scanning device 450, to above the lower scanning assembly 440, and to the output tray 420. The upper scanning device 450 may be disposed at an angle with respect to the media path 460 to cause a front edge of the media advancing along the media path 460 to contact the upper scanning device 450 at or before the first scan line 470.
The output tray 420 is located vertically above the input tray. The ADF 430 advances media from the input tray 410 along the inverted C-path to pass an upper scanning device 450 first to be scanned at a scan line 470 of the upper scanning device 450. The location of the automatic document feeder 430 is a non-limiting example and may be placed at various other locations and may include additional rollers to advance the media long the inverted C-path. Then the media continues advancing along the inverted C-path 460 and passes a lower scanning assembly 440 to be scanned at a scan line 480 of the lower scanning assembly 440. The upper scanning device 450 may be located vertically above the lower scanning assembly 440. Then the media continues along the inverted C-path and is output into the output tray 420.
The upper scanning device 450 may include a lower surface that may be transparent such that light may freely pass through the lower surface. The lower surface may be a pane of transparent glass, but may also be other types of transparent materials. The upper scanning device 450 may comprise any suitable device or collection of devices that are to scan a surface or side of media during operations. For example, upper scanning device 450 may include a camera or collection of cameras that capture an image of a side of media.
The upper scanning device 450 may include any suitable device or collection of devices that are to scan a surface or side of media during operations. The upper scanning device 450 may include a camera or collection of cameras that capture an image of a side of media. The upper scanning device 450 may include a contact image sensor (CIS) module, a reduction optics module, or some other combination of optics. The upper scanning device 450 may include optics for scanning a first side of media advancing along the media path 460. The upper scanning device 450 may include a CIS module as further illustrated in
As an example, with reference to
The lower scanning assembly 440 includes a lower scanning device 495. The lower scanning assembly 440 may also include a transparent platen 490.
The lower scanning assembly 440 includes optics for scanning a second side of media advancing along the media path 460. The lower scanning assembly 440 may include any suitable device or collection of devices that are to scan a surface or side of media during operations. For example, lower scanning assembly 440 may include a camera or collection of cameras that capture an image of a side of media. The lower scanning assembly 440 may include a contact image sensor (CIS) module, a reduction optics module, or some other combination of optics. The lower scanning assembly 440 may generate a scan line 480 along which scanning of the second side of the advancing media is scanned.
The transparent platen 490 may include a first or upper surface and a second or lower surface. The transparent platen 490 may be transparent such that light may freely pass through the surfaces of the transparent platen 490 during operations. One example of a transparent platen 490 is a pane of transparent glass. However, other types of transparent materials may be used as the transparent platen 490.
The upper scanning device 450 may be disposed to face downward to scan a first side of the media at the scan line 470 of the upper scanning device 450. The first side of the media may be the front side of the media. The lower scanning device 440 may be disposed to face upward to scan a second side of the media at the scan line 480 of the lower scanning device 440. The second side of the media may be the back side of the media. In an example, the scanning side of the upper scanning device 450 faces the scanning side of the lower scanning assembly 440.
The advancing media then may proceed to contact the upper surface of the lower scanning assembly 440 before passing the scan line 480 of the lower scanning assembly 440. As an example, the media contacting the platen 490 of the lower scanning assembly 440 at or before passing the scan line 480 of the lower scanning assembly 440 may cause the advancing media to hit and wipe across the scan line 480 of the lower scanning assembly 440. This may then remove dust and debris from the lower scanning assembly 440 at the scan line 480 of the lower scanning assembly 440.
In an example, the lower scanning device 495 may be located in close proximity to the upper scanning device 450. In an example, the lower scanning device 495 may be located 4.5 mm to 7.0 mm vertically apart from the upper scanning device 450. In an example, the lower scanning device 495 may be located within 6.0 mm vertically of the upper scanning device 450. In an example, the lower scanning device 495 may be located within 5.5 mm vertically of the upper scanning device 450. In an example, the lower scanning device 495 may be located within 5.0 mm vertically of the upper scanning device 450. In an example, the focal distance of the upper scanning device 450 may be within 2.5 mm of the focal distance of the lower scanning assembly 440. In an example, the platen 490 of the lower scanning assembly 440 may be located between 0.5 mm and 1.8 mm vertically of the upper scanning device 450. In an example, the platen 490 of the lower scanning assembly 440 may be located within 1.5 mm vertically of the upper scanning device 450. In another example, the platen 490 of the lower scanning assembly 440 may be located within 1 mm vertically of the upper scanning device 450. In another example, the platen 490 of the lower scanning assembly 440 may be located within 0.5 mm vertically of the upper scanning device 450.
In an example, the scan line 470 of the upper scanning device 450 may be between 10 mm and 25 mm horizontally apart from the scan line 480 of the lower scanning assembly 440. In an example, the scan line 470 of the upper scanning device 450 may be within 13 mm horizontally of the scan line 480 of the lower scanning assembly 440. In another example, the scan line 470 of the upper scanning device 450 may be within 10 mm horizontally of the scan line 480 of the lower scanning assembly 440. In another example, the scan line 470 of the upper scanning device 450 may be within 17 mm horizontally of the scan line 480 of the lower scanning assembly 440. In another example, the scan line 470 of the upper scanning device 450 may be within 22 mm horizontally of the scan line 480 of the lower scanning assembly 440. When the lower scanning device 440 is located in close proximity to the upper scanning device 450, each side of the advancing media can be scanned at similar times.
In an example, the upper scanning device 450 is disposed at an angle of 5 to 18 degrees with respect to the front edge of the media advancing along the inverted C-path. In another example, the upper scanning device 450 is disposed at an angle of 6 to 10 degrees with respect to the front edge of the media advancing along the inverted C-path. In another example, the upper scanning device 450 is disposed at an angle of 7 to 9 degrees with respect to the front edge of the media advancing along the inverted C-path. In another example, the upper scanning device 450 is disposed at an angle of 8 degrees with respect to the front edge of the media advancing along the inverted C-path.
The foregoing examples are merely examples and are not to be construed as limiting the disclosure. The disclosure can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. Also, the description of the examples of the disclosure is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims.
While the disclosure has been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the scope of the disclosure is defined by the claims described hereinafter and should not be construed as being limited to the above-described examples and/or drawings. It is to be clearly understood that improvements, changes, and modifications that are obvious to those skilled in the art are also within the scope of the disclosure as defined in the claims.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2019/029992 | 4/30/2019 | WO | 00 |