Document Guide Systems And Methods Employing A Document Platen

A document guide system employing a document platen, the document guide system comprising:

• a document platen having a first, document-faceable side and a second, opposing side, the document platen further having an entry portion and an exit portion, the entry portion having an entry edge and the exit portion having an exit edge, wherein the document platen further comprises:
• a first roller coupled to the document platen and located at least partially within a cutout portion of the entry edge of the document platen;
• and
• a second roller coupled to the document platen and located at least partially within a cutout portion of the exit edge of the document platen and
• a document support sub-system adjacent the first side of the document platen;
• wherein the document support sub-system and the first side of the document platen are adapted to receive a document therebetween, the document having a direction of travel from the entry portion to the exit portion of the document platen;
• wherein the document platen forms an aperture adapted to allow electromagnetic radiation therethrough;
• and
• wherein the first roller and the second roller are rotatable to facilitate movement of the document in the document direction of travel.

A document guide system employing a document platen, the document guide system comprising:

• a document platen having a first, document-faceable side and a second, opposing side, the document platen further having an entry edge and an exit edge;
• a document support sub-system adjacent the first side of the document platen, wherein the document support sub-system and the first side of the document platen are positioned to allow a document to pass between the document support sub-system and the first side of the document platen, and wherein the document platen forms an aperture located at approximately a midpoint between the entry edge and the exit edge;
• one or more electromagnetic radiation sources aimed at the aperture of the document platen to illuminate at least a portion of the document platen;
• and
• an imaging device aimed at the aperture of the document platen to capture an image of at least a portion of the document at the aperture of the document platen, the imaging device positioned on an opposite side of the document platen than the document support sub-system, the imaging device having a line of sight substantially perpendicular to the first side of the document platen,
• wherein the document support sub-system comprises a guide plate positionable adjacent the first side of the document platen to form a document passage between the guide plate and the first side of the document platen;
• and
• wherein the document guide system further comprises a belt to hold the document against the first side of the document platen and move the document through the document passage and across the aperture of the document platen.