Dual scanning array raster input scanner

A raster input scanner for scanning either or both sides of a moving document passing through a scanning station, and for scanning one side of a stationary document on a scanning platen, comprising:

• said scanning station, comprising first and second scanning elements, each element including a scanning array of photosensitive sensors for detecting light reflected from said document, a light source for illuminating a document and a lens for directing light reflected from a document to said scanning array;
• said scanning platen arranged generally adjacent said scanning station for supporting said stationary document for scanning;
• a document input tray for supporting a stack of documents for scanning;
• a document path for conducting said moving document to be scanned from said input tray to said scanning station and to an output;
• a document transport for advancing documents from said input tray along said document path and to said output;
• said first and second scanning elements supported closely adjacent and opposite each other on opposite sides of said document path with said scanning elements supporting said scanning arrays slightly offset from one another for scanning substantially simultaneously both sides of said moving document as it passes through said scanning station;
• and
• a scanning support member supporting one of said first and second scanning elements in a fixed scanning position closely adjacent the other one of scanning elements for scanning advancing documents, and for scanning movement across said scanning platen.

A raster input scanner for scanning either or both sides of a moving document passing through a scanning station, and for scanning one side of a stationary document on a scanning platen, and selectively operable in three modes, comprising:

• said scanning station, including first and second scanning elements, each element including a scanning array of photosensitive sensors for detecting light reflected from a document, a light source for illuminating a document and a lens for directing said light reflected from a document to said scanning array;
• said scanning platen arranged generally adjacent said scanning station for supporting said stationary document for scanning;
• a document transport for advancing said documents from said input tray through said scanning station to an output;
• said first and second scanning elements supported closely adjacent each other in opposed relationship for scanning substantially simultaneously both sides of an advancing document for a first mode of operation;
• a single document and form feed input between said document input tray and said scanning station for advancing single documents through said scanning station and to said output for scanning in a second mode of operation;
• and
• a scanning support member supporting one of said scanning elements in a fixed scanning position closely adjacent the other one of scanning elements for said scanning advancing documents in said first and second modes, and for scanning movement across said scanning platen for scanning documents in a third mode.