Method and apparatus for scanning and printing

A method of processing an image of indicia present on a top surface of a sheet of paper, comprising the steps of:

• providing a shuttle assembly including a housing, a propelling mechanism that includes an electric rotationally coupled to a rolling member mounted under the housing, and an optical for sensing the image of indicial present on the top surface of the sheet of paper;
• guiding the shuttle assembly over a top surface of a sheet of paper by activating the motor of the propelling mechanism as the rolling member frictionally engages the top surface of the sheet of paper;
• and
• activating the optical sensor as the shuttle assembly is propelled over the surface of the sheet of paper, thereby generating an electric image signal representative of the image, wherein the step of guiding the shuttle assembly over the top surface of the sheet of paper includes activating the motor of the propelling mechanism in response to the optical sensor sensing a feature of the sheet of paper.
• wherein the step of guiding the shuttle assembly over the top surface of the substrate includes mining the shuttle assembly by activating the motor so as to propel the shuttle along a serpentine path.

A method of processing an image of indicia present on a top surface of a first substrate, comprising the steps of:

• providing a shuttle assembly including a housing, a propelling mechanism that includes an electric motor rotationally coupled to a rolling member mounted under the housing, and an optical sensor for sensing the image of indicia present on the top surface of the first substrate;
• guiding the shuttle assembly over a top surface of a first substrate by activating the motor of the propelling mechanism as the rolling member frictionally engages the top surface of the substrate;
• and
• activating the optical sensor as the shuttle assembly is propelled over the surface of the first substrate, thereby generating an electric image signal representative of the image, wherein the step of guiding the shuttle assembly over the top surface of the substrate includes activating the motor of the propelling mechanism in response to the optical sensor sensing a feature of the substrate, wherein:
• the shuttle assembly further includes a memory device and a printing mechanism mounted on the housing;
• and
• the method further comprises the steps of:
• storing a record of the electric image signal in the memory device;
• guiding the shuttle assembly over a top surface of a second substrate by activating the motor of the propelling mechanism as the rolling member frictionally engages the top surface of the second substrate;
• generating a print signal based upon the record of the electric image signal;
• and
• using the printing mechanism to create indicia on the surface of second substrate in response to the print signal received by the printing mechanism, wherein the indicia on the second substrate is visually representative of the image of indicia present on the first substrate.

An apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• an optical sensor mounted on the housing;
• and
• a propelling means for propelling the shuttle assembly over a top surface of a substrate, the propelling means including:
• a rolling member mounted under the housing for frictionally engaging the top surface of the substrate;
• and
• an electric motor disposed within the housing for coupling rotational energy to the rolling member;
• and
• the apparatus further comprising a printing mechanism mounted on the housing for writing on the top surface of the substrate as the motor propels the apparatus over the top surface of the substrate;
• and
• means for activating the motor of the propelling means in response to the optical sensor sensing an edge of the substrate.