Document scanner having one-piece housing for holding an image sensor, drive roller and document sensors in close alignment with each other

Abstract

A one-piece housing holds an image sensing module having a transparent image sensing surface and a document drive roller in close alignment. A cover closely fits around the housing and is positioned in close alignment with respect to the housing. The cover and housing cooperate to define a document entry path in which a plurality of sensors are located: a set of document-skew-detecting sensors and a set of document-insertion-detecting sensors, the sets of sensors acting independently of each other. The number and spacing of the sensors is the set of document-insertion-detecting sensors is such that the narrowest expected document encounters at least one such sensor. The cover and housing also cooperated to define a document scanning path and one or more document exit paths. The cover includes a movable member adjustable by a user to either one of two positions, the member cooperating with the cover and housing to define a first document exit path directing documents toward the user and a second document exit path directing documents away from the user. The cover includes a plurality of cover portions, the cover portions interlocking to accurately position the cover portions with respect to each other and the housing.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.