Book Scanner With Angled Tables And Dual Scanning Units

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing scanners face issues with scanning two adjacent pages in bound documents, such as curved bookbinding areas leading to twisted images and difficulty in separating image files, due to inadequate design and compatibility with different manufacturing tolerances.

Innovation Solution

A book scanner with two movably disposed image scanning units and a conveying device, where the scanning tables form an included angle to create a crest line for flat placement of pages, allowing each unit to be adjusted independently for optimal image quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a single image scanning unit is used to scan two adjacent pages simultaneously, then scanning efficiency is improved, but image quality becomes inconsistent due to different depths of field

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescanning efficiencyVSAvoidimage quality consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the single image scanning unit into two separate image scanning modules, each independently positioned above one scanning table. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized for its specific scanning table, ensuring consistent image quality while maintaining the ability to scan two pages simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each image scanning module is independently adjustable to match the specific characteristics of its corresponding scanning table. This local optimization ensures that each module operates at optimal depth of field for its designated table, resolving the image quality inconsistency problem.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Shape

If two scanning tables are connected at an angle to form a crest line, then flat placement of book pages is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflat placement capabilityVSAvoidscanning table structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the scanning tables adjustable in angle and position, allowing them to be dynamically configured to match different book formats and binding styles. This dynamic adjustment capability maintains the flat placement benefit while reducing complexity for specific applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The angled scanning table design serves multiple functions: it creates the crest line for flat book placement, accommodates various book sizes and binding types, and provides adjustable angles for different scanning requirements, thereby justifying the increased structural complexity through enhanced versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a customized inverse V-shaped image scanning unit is designed, then compatibility with angled scanning tables is improved, but ease of manufacture decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with scanning tablesVSAvoidproduct parts management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of designing a single customized inverse V-shaped unit, the patent segments the system into two independent image scanning modules that can be independently manufactured and assembled. This approach improves ease of manufacture while maintaining compatibility through standardized mounting interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Rather than customizing the image scanning unit to fit the scanning tables, the patent inverts the approach by making the scanning tables adjustable to accommodate standard image scanning modules, thereby simplifying manufacturing while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables simultaneous high-quality scanning of two pages with uniform depth of field and image processing, addressing the issues of image distortion and file separation.

Implementation Method 1

Each of the image scanning units having a light source is provided for projecting a scanning light through the window of each scanning table

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight: Light

Implementation Method 2

the detectors of the arrays receive the light reflected by the pages and transform the light to image data

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoelectric Effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS7551333B2Book scanner

Publication Date: 2009.06.23 GUANGZHOU LUXVISIONS INNOVATION TECH LTD

AI summary

A book scanner for scanning two adjacent pages in documents bound in volume includes a housing, two image scanning units, and a conveying device. The housing has two scanning tables connected to each other. An included angle is formed between the two scanning tables and a crest line is formed at a connection of the two scanning tables. The two image scanning units are movably disposed in the housing to project a scanning light through a window of each scanning table respectively, so as to scan images of the two adjacent pages. The two image scanning units are connected to the conveying device to be supported and moved relative to the corresponding scanning tables in a direction parallel to the crest line, so as to be moved simultaneously and to scan the images of the two adjacent pages respectively.