US 6,252,684 B1 · Automatic paper feeder including an upper light source

Abstract

An automatic paper feeder including an upper light source comprises of a paper tray for holding a plurality of scanning documents, a base frame for mounting on the scanning platform of a scanner, a channel for guiding the scanning document to move along a desired direction and path, an upper light source, a transmission unit for picking up and moving the scanning document, a control unit for controlling the transmission unit and the upper light source, and a cable for wiring the automatic paper feeder to the scanner. The paper feeder enables the scanner to perform paper-feeding type scanning at high scanning efficiency. Beside providing automatic single page feeding, the automatic paper feeder also able to perform transparency scanning through its upper light source. The scanner equips with this automatic paper feeder thus able to perform dual function of reflective type and transparency scanning.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An automatic paper feeder including an upper light source, comprising:

a paper tray for holding at least one sheet of scanning document;
a base frame having a transparent zone at a bottom thereof;
a channel for guiding movement direction and path of the scanning document having one end thereof engageable with the paper tray, another end thereof extending beyond the transparent zone to enable the scanning document be moved over the transparent zone and a transparent window located above the transparent zone,
an upper light source located above the transparent window;
and
a transmission unit linking the channel and the paper tray for moving the scanning document from the paper tray over the transparent zone.

3 more elements

An automatic paper feeder for use with a scanner to perform reflective and transparent scanning, the scanner having a scanning means movable across a scanning platform for scanning process and a control circuit board for controlling the scanning means which has a lower light source, the automatic paper feeder comprising:

a paper tray for holding at least one sheet of scanning document,
an upper light source,
a base frame mountable on the scanning platform having a transparent zone mating against the scanning platform,
an upper light source located above the transparent zone for projecting light toward the transparent zone and the scanning platform,
a transmission unit linking to the paper tray for picking the scanning document from the paper tray and moving the scanning document to pass over the transparent zone,
a control unit wiring to the transmission unit and the upper light source for controlling operation thereof;
a cable connecting the automatic paper feeder with the scanner for signal transmission between the control unit and the control circuit board and coordinates motion among the transmission unit, the upper light source, the light source and the scanning means;
said paper feeder having a channel for guiding the scanning document to a desired path and direction, the channel having one end engageable with the paper tray and having another end thereof extending over the transparent zone for the scanning document to move over the transparent zone, the channel further having a transparent window and a reflection plate, the size of the transparent window and the reflection plate being smaller than the transparent zone, the upper light source being located above the transparent window.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Automatic paper feeder including an upper light source

Life of this patent

Automatic paper feeder including an upper light source

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18