US 7,802,786 B2Granted

Duplex automatic document feeder and duplex document scanning method using the same

AssigneeLite-On Technology Corporation

InventorsChen-Tsai Tsai, Keng-Wei Shih, Hsuan-Yang Lin

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A duplex automatic document feeder includes first, second, third, and fourth paths, an ejecting path, a scanning module, first and second reversing roller units, a feeding tray, and an ejecting tray. A document is moved from the feeding tray to the scanning module for scanning of a first side surface thereof. Subsequently, the document is moved along a second-side scanning path defined by the first reversing roller unit, the third path, a portion of the first path, the fourth path, and the first reversing roller unit to allow for scanning of a second side surface thereof. After the first and second side surfaces are scanned, the document is moved along a document-inverting path defined by the second reversing roller unit, a portion of the fourth path, the ejecting path, a portion of the second path, the first reversing roller unit, and the ejecting tray.

Claims4

Dependent claims

A duplex document scanning method comprising the steps of:

(a) moving a document along a first path to pass through a scanning module so as to perform a scanning operation on a first side surface of the document;
(b) moving the document along a second path into a first reversing roller unit;
(c) driving the first reversing roller unit to reverse and move the document from the first reversing roller unit onto the first path via a third path to thereby pass again through the scanning module so as to perform a scanning operation on a second side surface of the document opposite to the first side surface;
(d) moving the document along a fourth path into a second reversing roller unit;
and
(e) driving the second reversing roller unit to reverse and move the document from the second reversing roller unit into the first reversing roller unit via a portion of the fourth path, an ejecting path, and a portion of the second path, to thereby drop onto an ejecting tray.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/003,800Filed 2 Jan 2008 · continuation in part
Priority: TW 96129815 A13 Aug 2007
Published: US 2008/0067736 A131 Jul 2008
Granted: 28 Sep 2010
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

B65H 29/58
Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles: article switches or diverters
H04N 1/00572
Conveying sheets before or after scanning: with refeeding for double-sided scanning, e.g. using one scanning head for both sides of a sheet
H04N 1/00578
Inverting the sheet prior to refeeding: using at least part of a loop, e.g. using a return loop
H04N 1/0058
Inverting the sheet prior to refeeding: using at least one dead-end path, e.g. using a sheet ejection path

Family

Application11/699,374Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 30 Jan 2007
US 2008/0179819 A1Pre-grant publication · published 31 Jul 2008
US 7,578,504 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2008/0067736 A1Published application
US 7,802,786 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.