Scanner Gear Assembly for Multi-Path Document Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional scanners require user intervention for stitching and repositioning to scan oversized documents, which is inefficient and prone to errors.
Innovation Solution
A scanner system with a standard-sized scanning element that automatically stitches images from non-overlapping or overlapping scanning paths using a motor and gear assembly, allowing the scanning element to move in different orientations to cover the entire width of the document without user repositioning, enabling automatic image stitching independent of external computers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a standard-sized scanning element is used to scan oversized documents, then the device complexity and cost are reduced, but user intervention is required for stitching and repositioning which reduces productivity and increases operation time
Solution Approach 1:
The scanning element is made dynamically reconfigurable through a gear assembly mechanism that allows it to change its scanning path from a straight linear path to an angled path. This dynamic adjustment enables the scanning element to cover larger document areas automatically without requiring user intervention for repositioning, thus maintaining productivity while using a standard-sized scanning element.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs automatic image stitching through the controller that combines multiple scanned portions into a single composite image without user intervention. The gear assembly also enables automatic repositioning of the scanning element to different scanning paths, making the system self-sufficient for scanning oversized documents without requiring user操作 for stitching and repositioning.
2Device complexity
If manual stitching and repositioning operations are required, then a standard-sized scanning element can be used, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to user intervention requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic image stitching through the controller that combines multiple scanned portions into a single composite image without user intervention. The gear assembly also enables automatic repositioning of the scanning element to different scanning paths, making the system self-sufficient for scanning oversized documents without requiring user操作 for stitching and repositioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller receives signals from the gear assembly about the scanning element's position and automatically adjusts the scanning paths and stitching operations accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that the system can autonomously manage the complex operations of multi-path scanning and image composition without user intervention.
3Area of stationary object
If the scanning element moves in multiple orientations to cover larger areas, then the scanning coverage is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the gear assembly mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The gear assembly is divided into separate functional components: a first gear assembly for linear movement control and a second gear assembly for angular orientation control. This segmentation allows each gear assembly to be optimized for its specific function and simplifies the overall control architecture, making the complex multi-orientation scanning capability more manageable and maintainable.
Data Source
AI summary
A scanner comprises a first gear assembly on a frame, a stationary scan surface having a first width, and a scan module having a length substantially less than the first width. The scan module includes a second gear assembly configured to move the scan module, in a first orientation generally perpendicular to the first width, in a first scanning path relative to a first width portion of the scan surface and in a second, non-duplicative scanning path relative to a second width portion of the scan surface. The second gear assembly is releasably engageable to the first gear assembly to selectively shift the scan module, in a second orientation generally perpendicular to the first orientation, between the respective first and second scanning paths.