Dual Flatbed Scanner with Spine Detection for Binding Documents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional scanners face difficulties in scanning binding documents like books, as the spine of the book makes it hard to lay flat, leading to unsatisfactory scanning results, and are unable to recognize discontinuous pages, causing clarity issues and confusion during previewing and printing.
Innovation Solution
A scanning apparatus with a dual flatbed system and a control unit that includes sensors and a recognition unit to detect the book spine and automatically generate insertion images between discontinuous pages, ensuring proper alignment and orientation of all pages in the finished document.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a conventional flatbed scanner with one inclined surface is used, then the book spine can be properly placed and pages can be laid flat for clear scanning, but the scanner can only scan one page at a time and requires manual 180 degree rotation for discontinuous pages
Solution Approach 1:
The scanning apparatus divides the scanning surface into two separate flatbeds (first flatbed and second flatbed), each capable of independently scanning pages. This segmentation allows simultaneous scanning of odd pages on one flatbed and even pages on the other, eliminating the need for manual rotation and significantly improving scanning productivity while maintaining clear image quality on both flatbeds.
2Ease of operation
If a conventional scanner is used, then the scanning operation is simple, but the scanner is incapable of recognizing discontinuous pages
Solution Approach 1:
The scanning apparatus employs sensors (such as optical sensors or cameras) to detect the presence and orientation of pages on each flatbed. The control unit processes this feedback information to automatically recognize discontinuous pages, determine their orientation, and adjust scanning parameters accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables automatic page continuity recognition while maintaining ease of operation, as users simply need to place pages on the flatbeds without manual intervention for detection.
3Reliability
If manual page rotation is required for discontinuous pages, then the scanner can scan all pages, but the process requires user intervention and time
Solution Approach 1:
The scanning apparatus performs self-service by automatically detecting page orientation through sensors, identifying discontinuous pages, and adjusting scanning parameters without user intervention. The control unit autonomously manages the scanning process for both flatbeds, ensuring complete page scanning while eliminating the time loss associated with manual rotation operations.
4Device complexity
If a single flatbed is used, then the device structure is simple, but discontinuous pages cause confusion in orientation and positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The scanning apparatus uses two separate flatbeds instead of a single flatbed, with each flatbed independently positioned and scanned. This segmentation allows discontinuous pages to be scanned on separate flatbeds without causing orientation or positioning confusion. The control unit manages each flatbed independently, ensuring proper page alignment and orientation while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.
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
The solution allows for clear scanning of binding documents by accommodating the book spine and recognizing discontinuous pages, resulting in correctly aligned and oriented images, enhancing the scanning quality and usability of the output.
Implementation Method 1
The sensor is disposed in the casing for sensing the object so as to send a detection signal
Data Source
AI summary
A scanning apparatus for scanning an object includes a casing, a scanning module, at least one sensor, and a control unit. The control unit is electrically connected to the scanning module and the sensor for receiving a detecting signal generated by the sensor so as to actuate the scanning module to scan, and the scanning module then generates a first image of a first scanned page and a second image of a second scanned page. The control unit further includes a recognition unit for recognizing whether the first image along with the second image are continuous. As the recognition unit recognizes the first image and the second image to be discontinuous, the control unit generates an insertion image between the first image and the second image.