Scanning system for scanning reflective and transmissive images

A scanner for scanning an original document to obtain a digitized representation of said original document, said scanner comprising:

• a stationary reflective object focal plane;
• a stationary transmissive object focal plane disposed substantially parallel to and at a vertical distance below said stationary reflective object focal plane;
• means for selecting between said stationary reflective object focal plane and said stationary transmissive object focal plane;
• scanning means, enclosed within a scan carriage movably disposed for linear motion along a scanning axis, for illuminating a scan line of said original document located in said selected object focal plane, and for obtaining a digitized representation of said scan line;
• and
• means for moving said scan carriage along said scanning axis to obtain digitized representations of successive scan lines of said original document in said selected object focal plane, said digitized representations of said successive scan lines together comprising said digital representation of said original document.

An apparatus for scanning an original document to obtain a digitized representation of said original document, said apparatus comprising:

• a stationary reflective object focal plane;
• a stationary transmissive object focal plane disposed substantially parallel to and at a vertical distance below said stationary reflective object focal plane;
• means for selecting between said stationary reflective object focal plane and said stationary transmissive object focal plane;
• a scan carriage movably disposed for linear motion along a scanning axis, said scan carriage including means for illuminating a scan line of said original document located in said selected object focal plane, and means for obtaining a digitized representation of said scan line;
• and
• means for moving said scan carriage along said scanning axis to obtain digitized representations of successive scan lines of said original document in said selected object focal plane, said digitized representations of said successive scan lines together comprising said digital representation of said original document.