Movable Document Cradle for Bound Page Imaging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Scanning bound documents is challenging due to issues with maintaining focus, uniform lighting, and alignment, as traditional flat-bed scanners require force on the spine, leading to potential damage and poor image quality, while platen-less scanners face page misalignment and focus problems during scanning.
Innovation Solution
A system with a cradle positioning mechanism, controlled by a controller and sensors, automatically adjusts the document cradle to maintain the spine or page surface plane in a consistent position relative to the camera, using a servo motor and bearing system, and includes a document securing mechanism to ensure accurate imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional flat-bed platen scanner is used to scan bound documents, then the document can be scanned, but force must be applied to the spine region which can damage the document and produces poor image quality
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of pressing down on the document from above (flat-bed scanner approach), the system positions the camera below the document and uses a light source to illuminate the underside of the pages. This inverts the traditional scanning geometry, allowing the document to remain flat without applying force to the spine region, thereby eliminating damage while maintaining image quality
2Productivity
If a flat-bed platen scanner is used, then bound documents can be scanned, but the process is tedious and time-consuming requiring manual lifting and repositioning after each page
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates an automatic page turning mechanism that autonomously turns pages one at a time without requiring manual intervention. The camera remains stationary while the page turning apparatus automatically advances to the next page, enabling continuous scanning operation and eliminating the time-consuming manual lifting and repositioning steps
3Object-affected harmful factors
If platen-less scanner is used to scan bound documents in face-up position, then no force is applied to the binding region, but pages become out of focus and misaligned during scanning
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the position of the document cradle along the optical axis during the scanning process. As each page is turned, the cradle is repositioned to maintain optimal focus distance for the camera, ensuring that pages remain sharp and aligned throughout the scanning sequence without requiring force on the binding region
4Ease of operation
If platen-less scanner is used, then documents are scanned in natural position, but image distortion from page curvature occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors to detect the curvature of pages and the position of the document cradle, providing feedback to a controller that adjusts the cradle position and camera parameters in real-time. This feedback mechanism compensates for image distortion caused by page curvature while maintaining the natural document position, ensuring accurate imaging without forcing the document into an artificial flat state
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for moving a document cradle to facilitate imaging of a bound document are disclosed. The system may include a cradle supporting a document, such as a book, a cradle positioner for selectively positioning the cradle relative to a camera, and a controller for controlling the positioner to automatically position the cradle based on the location of the page being imaged relative to the camera. The cradle may be positioned such that a gutter of the book or a surface plane of each page being imaged remains in approximately the same position relative to the camera. The cradle positioner may include a servo motor controlling a shaft to position the cradle supported and guided by a bearing. A sensor (e.g., 3D camera, range finder, laser, and/or edge detector) may be provided to facilitate the controller in controlling the cradle positioner based on the location of the page being imaged relative to the camera. The controller may control the positioner based on, for example, current page count tracked by the controller, total number of pages, thickness of the book, width of the gutter of the cradle, and/or weight of the book exerted on one or both sides of the cradle.