SETUP AND PROCEDURE FOR SCANNING RECEIPTS

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for scanning documents according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for scanning documents according to the preamble of claim 12.

[0002] Devices for scanning documents, for example for archiving purposes, are known in the art. When scanning larger quantities of documents, such as incoming mail or records in companies or government agencies, the scanning devices should be able to automatically feed the documents to the optical capture unit. This is usually done by means of feed devices that grip and move the individual documents at their edges. For this purpose, feed devices have driven rollers that grip each individual document by means of static friction and transport it into the scanning area of ​​the optical capture unit, where the document is then optically scanned. A scanning device is known from US 10,212,304.

[0003] Small, irregularly shaped, or fragile documents, such as very old ones, pose a particular challenge. Because these are difficult to scan and transport using rollers, they usually have to be scanned using a flatbed scanner. The disadvantage of this method is that the documents have to be placed manually onto the scanner's glass plate. This is not only cumbersome but also prone to errors, as the documents can slip when the lid is closed.

[0004] Furthermore, such manual steps take a certain amount of time, during which the flatbed scanner must pause.

[0005] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for scanning documents and a corresponding method for scanning documents which at least partially eliminate the aforementioned problems.

[0006] This problem is solved according to the invention by a device for scanning documents with the features of claim 1 and a method for scanning documents with the features of claim 12. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in the respective dependent claims.

[0007] The provision includes a device for scanning documents, comprising a scanning unit and a document transport device, wherein the scanning unit is designed to optically scan the documents in a scan acquisition area, wherein the document transport device is designed to receive the documents and transport them into the scan acquisition area, wherein the document transport device comprises two endless belts which run parallel to each other at least in the scan acquisition area and are designed to guide the documents between their mutually facing belt surfaces in the scan acquisition area, and wherein at least one of the endless belts has a section transparent to the scanning unit.

[0008] This allows the documents to be transported and scanned by the scanning device without relative movement, friction, or the risk of them getting stuck.

[0009] Advantageous further developments of the invention may include the following features.

[0010] The continuous belts can run in the scan area in such a way that their surfaces facing each other touch.

[0011] Both endless tapes can have sections transparent to the scanning unit, and the scanning unit can have a first optical scanning device with a first optical scanning detection area and a second optical receiving device with a second optical scanning detection area, and the scanning detection area can be formed by the first scanning detection area and the second scanning detection area, wherein the first scanning device is arranged behind the tape surface of one endless tape and the second scanning device is arranged behind the tape surface of the second endless tape and the second scanning detection area is offset in the tape travel direction relative to the first scanning detection area, such that the second scanning detection area is arranged outside the first scanning detection area.

[0012] In this way, the documents can be scanned on both sides (front and back) simultaneously, i.e. in a single pass through the scanning device.

[0013] The document transport device can be designed such that the two endless belts run horizontally at least in the scan capture area, with one of the endless belts being a lower endless belt and the other being an upper endless belt.

[0014] The device may further feature: A document reception area in the direction of belt travel in front of the scan acquisition area, in which the lower continuous belt runs horizontally and without obstruction from the upper continuous belt.

[0015] The device may also include: A document output area in the direction of belt travel after the scan capture area, in which the lower continuous belt runs vertically and without obstruction from the upper continuous belt.

[0016] The facility may also include: a facility for cleaning the endless belts.

[0017] The facility may also include: A device for drying the endless belts.

[0018] Furthermore, the device may include: a device for electrostatically charging one of the endless tapes and at least one device for electrostatically discharging the endless tapes, wherein the device for electrostatic charging is arranged in the tape direction in front of the scan detection area and at least one device for electrostatic discharge is arranged in the tape direction behind the scan detection area.

[0019] Furthermore, the device may include a belt guiding device which guides the endless belts perpendicular to the belt surface by means of an air cushion effect.

[0020] A belt centering device may also be provided, which centers the endless belts in the belt plane transversely to the direction of travel.

[0021] According to a further aspect of the invention, a method for scanning documents is provided, in particular by means of a device according to the invention described above and its variants, wherein the documents are picked up by means of a document transport device and transported to a scan acquisition area of ​​a scan unit and are optically scanned by the scan unit, wherein the documents are transported by means of two endless belts which run parallel to each other at least in the scan acquisition area and guide the documents between their mutually facing belt surfaces in the scan acquisition area and wherein at least one of the endless belts has a section transparent to the scan unit.

[0022] In this process, the endless belts can run in the scan area in such a way that their surfaces facing each other touch.

[0023] Both endless tapes can have sections transparent to the scanning unit, and the documents can be optically scanned by the scanning unit by means of a first optical scanning device with a first optical scanning detection area and by means of a second optical receiving device with a second optical scanning detection area, and the scanning detection area can be formed by the first scanning detection area and the second scanning detection area, wherein the first scanning device is arranged behind the tape surface of one endless tape and the second scanning device is arranged behind the tape surface of the second endless tape, and the second scanning detection area can be offset in the tape direction relative to the first scanning detection area, so that the second scanning detection area is arranged outside the first scanning detection area.

[0024] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing. It shows: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a device for scanning documents according to an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2 an enlarged detail from Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 an endless ribbon.

[0025] Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows a sectional view of a device 1 for scanning documents according to an embodiment of the invention. The device 1 for scanning documents is designed as a stationary unit and has a housing 30 with feet 40. The scanning device 1 is configured to scan the documents.

[0026] The scanning device 1 comprises a scanning unit 20 and a document transport device 50, wherein the scanning unit 20 is configured to optically scan the documents in a scan acquisition area 25, and wherein the document transport device 50 is configured to pick up the documents and transport them into the scan acquisition area 25. The scanning unit 20 is stationary. It generates scan images of the documents by optically scanning the document surfaces.

[0027] The document transport device 50 comprises two endless belts 51, 53, which run parallel to each other at least in the scan acquisition area 25 and are designed to guide the documents between their mutually facing belt surfaces 52, 54 of the endless belts 51, 53 in the scan acquisition area 25.

[0028] The endless belts 51, 53 run not only parallel but also horizontally in the scan acquisition area 25. Their mutually facing surfaces 52, 54 contact each other with a certain contact pressure, and also with the documents transported between the two surfaces 52, 54.

[0029] The document transport device 50 is designed such that the two endless belts 51, 53 move within the scan acquisition area 25 at the same belt speed v and in the same direction, i.e., synchronously with each other, so that the transported documents can be transported virtually without sliding friction, meaning they do not move relative to either endless belt 51, 53. The belt travel direction 55 of both endless belts 51, 53 is also defined there. The belt travel direction 55 of the two endless belts 51, 53 is horizontal within the scan acquisition area 25.

[0030] The present embodiment is designed to optically scan each document with its front and back in a single pass through the scan acquisition area 25 and to generate images. Accordingly, both continuous belts 51, 53 for the scan unit 20 have transparent sections 56, 57, and the scan unit 20 comprises two scanning devices 21, 23, one for the front of the documents and one for their back.

[0031] Fig. 2Figure 20 shows an enlarged view of the scanning unit 20. The scanning unit 20 comprises a first, upper optical scanning device 21 with a first optical scanning detection area 22 and a second, lower optical receiving device 23 with a second optical scanning detection area 24. The scanning detection area 25 is formed by the first scanning detection area 22 and the second scanning detection area 24. The first scanning device 21 is arranged behind the tape surface 52 of one continuous tape 51, while the second scanning device 23 is arranged behind the tape surface 54 of the second continuous tape 53. That is, the respective scanning devices 51 and 53 are each arranged on the side of the continuous tape facing away from the tape surface in the scanning detection area 25.

[0032] The second scanning detection area 24 is offset in the tape travel direction 55, i.e., horizontally, relative to the first scanning detection area 22, so that the second scanning detection area 24 is located outside the first scanning detection area 22 and the first scanning detection area 24 is located outside the second scanning detection area 24. This ensures in a simple way that one scanning device 21, 23 does not appear in the background of the scan image of the other scanning device 23, 21.

[0033] The background 61, 62 in the respective scanning area should generally be uniform, i.e. white, black or grey or otherwise a single color, so that the scanned documents can stand out well from the background 61, 62 in the scan images.

[0034] The scanning devices 21, 23 can be CCD line cameras, but area cameras could also be used. Accordingly, the respective scanning detection area 22, 24 is either linear or area-based.

[0035] The document transport device 50 further comprises a document receiving area 58 in the belt travel direction 55 in front of the scanning unit 20, in which the lower continuous belt 53 runs horizontally and without obstruction from the upper continuous belt 51. The documents to be scanned can be placed on the lower continuous belt 53 there, either manually or automatically, e.g., by means of a loading device.

[0036] Furthermore, the document transport device 50 has a document discharge area 59 in the belt travel direction 55 after the scan acquisition area 25, in which the lower continuous belt 53 runs vertically and without obstruction from the upper continuous belt 51. There, the scanned documents can be discharged from the document transport device 50 by falling from the lower continuous belt 53, for example into a collection container (not shown).

[0037] The document transport device comprises a deflection device 90 for each continuous belt 51, 53, by which the respective continuous belt 51, 53 is deflected. The deflection device of the first continuous belt 51 is arranged above the scan detection area 25, while the deflection device of the second continuous belt 53 is arranged below the scan detection area 25. In this way, the upper continuous belt 51 is returned upwards, while the lower continuous belt 53 is returned downwards.

[0038] The document transport device 50 further comprises a device 65 for cleaning the endless belts 51, 53. These can be liquid basins, e.g. containing water or cleaning fluids, through which the respective endless belts 51, 53 are passed.

[0039] Furthermore, a device 66 is provided for drying the endless belts 51, 53. This can be done, for example, by means of an airflow directed in the belt direction downstream of the cleaning device onto the respective endless belt 51, 53.

[0040] To improve adhesion of the documents to the document transport device 50, a device 70 for electrostatically charging at least one of the endless belts 51, 53 is provided, e.g., an ionization bar. This device 70 is arranged in the belt travel direction 55 upstream of the document holder 56, specifically on the lower belt 53.

[0041] Furthermore, a device 80 for electrostatic discharge of the endless belts is provided, which is arranged downstream of the scan detection area 25 in the direction of belt travel for the lower endless belt 53. For the upper endless belt 51, such a discharge device 80 can be arranged both upstream and downstream of the scan detection area 25.

[0042] The documents are thus initially held by electrostatic charging on the lower endless belt 53 until the upper endless belt 51 is added and the documents are then clamped between the two endless belts 51, 53.

[0043] Then the electrostatic charge of the endless ribbons is removed as quickly as possible.

[0044] The document transport device 50 further includes a belt guide device 94, which guides the endless belts 51, 53 perpendicular to the belt surface, e.g. by means of an air cushion effect.

[0045] Also provided is a belt centering device 91, which centers the endless belts 51, 53 in the belt plane transverse to the belt running direction 55.

[0046] Furthermore, a tensioning device 92 is provided, which ensures the correct belt tension of the endless belts 51, 53.

[0047] Naturally, a drive mechanism is also provided to drive the two endless belts 51 and 53, ensuring that the two endless belts 51 and 53 move at the same belt speed v, i.e., synchronously with each other. The belt speed v itself may be variably adjustable.

[0048] All of the facilities mentioned 90-93 can include roles.

[0049] Fig. 3Figure 51 illustrates the continuous belt 51, 53. In the exemplary embodiment, both continuous belts 51, 53 must be optically transparent at least in the longitudinal surface section 56, 57 for the scan acquisition area 25 of the scan unit 20 where the documents rest. Preferably, the continuous belts 51, 53 are optically transparent across their entire width. A suitable material for the continuous belts is plastic, e.g., TPU. However, it is also possible for the continuous belts 51, 53 to have non-transparent areas, e.g., at their edges. In these areas, the continuous belts 51, 53 could have a different structure; for example, reinforcements could be provided to facilitate the drive or centering of the continuous belts and / or reduce belt wear.

[0050] In the embodiment described above, the documents can be optically scanned simultaneously on both sides, i.e., the front and back of the documents. If scanning a single document side is sufficient, the scanning unit 20 comprises only a single scanning device 51. In this case, only one of the continuous belts 51, 53 needs to be transparent, namely the one facing the scanning device 51 in the scan area 25. The other continuous belt then forms the background in the scan area 25 and can be a single color.

[0051] It could also be provided that document feeding and document removal take place from the same side of the scan capture area 25. In that case, the belt direction 55 is reversible.

[0052] Furthermore, the belt direction 55 in the scan area 25 does not have to be strictly horizontal. Depending on the static friction of the endless belts, configurations can be formed in which the belt direction 55 in the scan area 25 deviates from the horizontal.

[0053] The endless belts 51, 53 could both be routed either above or below the scan detection area 25. This could reduce the height of the housing 30, because then, for example, one of the liquid basins of the belt cleaning device 65 could be eliminated. Both endless belts 51, 53 could pass through a single liquid basin of the belt cleaning device 65.

[0054] By placing the documents between the two continuous belts 51 and 53, they can be reliably fed to the scanning unit 20, optically scanned, and then transported away. Because the documents are gripped and secured across their entire surface by the continuous belts 51 and 53 and moved together with them, document jams and resulting damage to the documents being scanned during transport are virtually eliminated. Furthermore, the documents may be irregularly shaped; they can even be small fragments such as paper scraps or brittle documents. It is also not necessary for the documents to be precisely aligned during insertion, as is required, for example, with conventional document feeders. Reference symbol list

[0055] 1 Document scanning device 20 Scanning unit 21 First scanning device 22 First scanning detection area 23 Second scanning device 24 Second scanning detection area 25 Scan detection area 30 Housing 40 Stand 50 Document transport device 51 First, upper endless belt 52 First facing surface 53 Second, lower endless belt 54 Second facing surface 55 Belt direction 56 Transparent section 56A In-transparent section 57 Transparent section 57A In-transparent section 58 Document pickup area 59 Document output area 61 Background 62 Background 65 Cleaning device 66 Drying device 70 Electrostatic charging device 80 Electrostatic discharging device 90 Deflection device 91 Belt centering device 92 Tensioning device 94 Belt guide device Belt speed

Claims

1. Apparatus (1) for scanning documents, comprising a scanning unit (20) and a document transport device (50), the scanning unit (20) being designed to optically sample the documents in a scan capture region (25), the document transport device (50) being designed to receive the documents and transport them into the scan capture region (25), characterized in that the document transport device (50) comprises two continuous belts (51, 53) which run in parallel with one another at least in the scan capture region (25) and are designed to guide the documents between their mutually facing belt surfaces (52, 54) in the scan capture region (25), and in that at least one of the continuous belts (51, 53) has a portion (56, 57) that is transparent to the scanning unit (20).

2. Apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the continuous belts (51, 53) run in the scan capture region (25) in such a way that their mutually facing surfaces (52, 54) touch.

3. Apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that both continuous belts (51, 53) have portions (56, 57) that are transparent to the scanning unit (20) and in that the scanning unit (20) comprises a first optical sampling device (21) with a first optical sample capture region (22) and a second optical capturing device (23) with a second optical sample capture region (24) and the scan capture region (25) is formed by the first sample capture region (22) and the second sample capture region (24), the first sampling device (21) being arranged behind the belt surface (52) of one continuous belt (51) and the second sampling device (23) being arranged behind the belt surface (54) of the second continuous belt (53) and the second sample capture region (24) is offset in the belt travel direction (55) with respect to the first sample capture region (22), so that the second sample capture region (24) is arranged outside the first sample capture region (22).

4. Apparatus (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the document transport device (20) is designed such that the two continuous belts (51, 53) run horizontally at least in the scan capture region (25), with one of the continuous belts being a lower continuous belt and the other of the continuous belts being an upper continuous belt.

5. Apparatus (1) according to the preceding claim, further comprising a document receiving region (58) arranged upstream of the scan capture region (25) in the belt travel direction (55), in which receiving region the lower continuous belt (53) runs horizontally and without being covered by the upper continuous belt (51).

6. Apparatus (1) according to either claim 4 or claim 5, further comprising a document delivery region (59) downstream of the scan capture region (25) in the belt travel direction (55), in which delivery region the lower continuous belt (53) runs vertically and without being covered by the upper continuous belt (51).

7. Apparatus (1) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising: an apparatus for cleaning the continuous belts.

8. Apparatus (1) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising: an apparatus for drying the continuous belts (51, 53).

9. Apparatus (1) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising: an apparatus (70) for electrostatically charging at least one of the continuous belts (53) and at least one apparatus (80) for electrostatically discharging the continuous belts (51, 53), wherein the apparatus (70) for electrostatically charging is arranged upstream of the scan capture region (25) in the belt travel direction (55) and at least one apparatus (80) for electrostatically discharging is arranged downstream of the scan capture region (25) in the belt travel direction (55).

10. Apparatus (1) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising: a belt guiding apparatus (94) which guides the continuous belts (51, 53) by means of an air cushion effect perpendicular to the belt surface.

11. Apparatus (1) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising: a belt centering apparatus (91) which centers the continuous belts (51, 53) in the belt plane transverse to the direction of travel.

12. Method for scanning documents using an apparatus (1) according to any of the preceding claims, the documents being picked up by means of a document transport device (50) and transported to a scan capture region (25) of a scanning unit (20) and being optically sampled by the scanning unit (20), characterized in that the documents are transported by means of two continuous belts (51, 53) which run in parallel with one another at least in the scan capture region (25) and guide the documents between their mutually facing belt surfaces (52, 54) in the scan capture region (25) and in that at least one of the continuous belts (51, 53) has a portion (56, 57) that is transparent to the scanning unit (20).

13. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that the continuous belts (51, 53) run in the scan capture region (25) in such a way that their mutually facing surfaces (52, 54) touch.

14. Method according to any of claims 12-13, characterized in that both continuous belts (51, 53) have portions (56, 57) that are transparent to the scanning unit (20) and in that the documents are optically sampled by the scanning unit (20) by means of a first optical sampling device (21) with a first optical sample capture region (22) and by means of a second optical capturing device (23) with a second optical sample capture region (24) and the scan capture region (25) is formed by the first sample capture region (22) and the second sample capture region (24), the first sampling device (21) being arranged behind the belt surface (52) of one continuous belt (51) and the second sampling device (23) being arranged behind the belt surface (54) of the second continuous belt (53) and the second sample capture region (24) is offset in the belt travel direction (55) with respect to the first sample capture region (22), so that the second sample capture region (24) is arranged outside the first sample capture region (22).

15. Method according to any of claims 12-14, characterized in that the two continuous belts (51, 53) run horizontally at least in the scan capture region (25), with one of the continuous belts being a lower continuous belt and the other of the continuous belts being an upper continuous belt.