Image Reading Device Front Cover Slit Guide

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image reading devices for passports with and without front covers face complexity in guiding media of different sizes, leading to a complicated configuration.

Innovation Solution

The image reading device includes a mount table with a guide portion featuring a front cover slit, allowing for the precise alignment and capture of images from both passports with and without front covers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple guides or movable parts are used to guide media of different sizes, then the device can handle various passport types, but the device configuration becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle different passport typesVSAvoidconfiguration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the front cover guiding function from the main guide structure by providing a separate front cover guiding portion with a guiding surface. This allows the main guide to focus on the booklet medium while the extracted portion handles the front cover, simplifying the overall configuration while maintaining versatility for different passport types

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The guiding mechanism is segmented into distinct functional portions: a main guide for the booklet medium and a separate front cover guiding portion. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, reducing overall complexity while enabling the device to handle both passports with and without front covers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If a complex guiding mechanism is used to accommodate passports with and without front covers, then all passport types can be processed, but the image capture precision may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with different passport configurationsVSAvoidimage capture precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The front cover guiding portion acts as an intermediary element that positions the front cover independently from the main booklet medium. This intermediary structure ensures that the booklet medium is guided to the image capturer with precision while the front cover is separately managed, maintaining image capture precision across different passport types

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12273492B2Image reading device

Publication Date: 2025.04.08 PFU LTD

AI summary

An image reading device includes a mount table in which a mount surface is formed, a guide portion in which a guide surface is formed, the guide surface facing a side end face of a first portion of a booklet medium that is mounted on the mount table such that the mount surface faces the booklet medium, and an image capturer configured to capture an image of a second portion of the booklet medium, the second portion being different from the first portion, wherein a front cover slit is formed at an end of the guide portion on a side close to the mount surface.