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AssigneeLexmark International, Inc.
InventorsMark J. Edwards, Robert A. Pemberton, Robert W. Rumford, Gregory P. Washnock, Michael R. Wedding
Estimating the term…
A method for scanning a media sheet with a scanning apparatus includes feeding the media sheet through the first set of rollers into a scanning area, such that a first portion of the media sheet is available for scanning. A first partial media sheet image of the first portion is scanned. The media sheet is fed into the second set of rollers, then out of the first set of rollers, such that a second portion of the media sheet is available for scanning. A second partial media sheet image of the second portion of the media sheet is scanned. At least the first partial media sheet image is combined with the second partial media sheet image to generate a full image of the media sheet. In a further embodiment, the number of partial scans may be increased as necessary to provide a complete image of the scanned object, e.g., the media sheet. For example, one or more intermediate scans may be performed in accordance with the present invention in addition to the scans occurring at the ends of media sheet. In another embodiment, multiple image sheets may be sequentially scanned forming a plurality of first and second partial media sheet images that are stitched together to form a panoramic image.
A method for scanning a media sheet with a scanning apparatus having a scanning area and a media transport system for conveying said media sheet in a media feed direction, said media transport system having a first set of rollers located upstream of said scanning area with respect to said media feed direction and a second set of rollers located. downstream of said scanning area with respect to said media feed direction, said method comprising:
A method for copying a media sheet with a scanning apparatus having a scanning area and a media transport system for conveying said media sheet in a media feed direction, said media transport system having a first set of rollers located upstream of said scanning area with respect to said media feed direction and a second set of rollers located downstream of said scanning area with respect to said media feed direction, said method comprising:
A method for copying a media sheet with a scanning apparatus having a scanning area and a media transport system for conveying said media sheet in a media feed direction, said media transport system having a first set of rollers located upstream of said scanning area with respect to said media feed direction and a second set of rollers located downstream of said scanning area with respect to said media feed direction, said method comprising:
A method for copying a plurality of media sheets with a scanning apparatus having a scanning area and a media transport system for conveying each of said media sheets in a media feed direction, said media transport system having a first set of rollers located upstream of said scanning area with respect to said media feed direction and a second set of rollers located downstream of said scanning area with respect to said media feed direction, said method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Composing, repositioning or otherwise geometrically modifying originals: recombination of partial images to recreate the original image
Pictorial communication
About 2 years 5 months of term left · ends 8 Apr 2029 (estimated)
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to scanning methods, and more particularly to the scanning of small media sheets, such as photos into two or more overlapping portions which are subsequently stitched together.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a scanning apparatus embodying the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the scanning apparatus of FIG. 1, with a media sheet fed through a first set of rollers and into a scanning area, such that a first portion of the media sheet is available for scanning;
FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of the scanning apparatus of FIG. 1, except having an alternative configuration for the input tray;
It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless limited otherwise, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” and/or “mounted,” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings, and/or mountings. In addition, the terms “connected” and “coupled” and variations thereof are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.
In addition, it should be understood that embodiments of the invention include both hardware and electronic components or modules that, for purposes of discussion, may be illustrated and described as if the majority of the components were implemented solely in hardware. However, one of ordinary skill in the art, and based on a reading of this detailed description, would recognize that, in at least one embodiment, the electronic based aspects of the invention may be implemented in software. As such, it should be noted that a plurality of hardware and software-based devices, as well as a plurality of different structural components may be utilized to implement the invention. Furthermore, and as described in subsequent paragraphs, the specific mechanical configurations illustrated in the drawings are intended to exemplify embodiments of the invention and that other alternative mechanical configurations are possible.
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a block diagram of a scanning apparatus 10 embodying the present invention. Scanning apparatus 10 includes a controller 12, a memory 14, scanning device 16, a media transport system 18, and optionally (shown by dashed lines) an imaging engine 20. Controller 12 is communicatively coupled to each of memory 14, scanning device 16, media transport system 18, and imaging engine 20 via a communications link 22.