Scanner Layout With Overhead Capture and Flat Placement Surface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image reading apparatuses face challenges in installing both a reading member and an image capturing member above a discharge portion due to spatial constraints, limiting the placement and capturing capabilities, especially when the surfaces involved have unevenness.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus is designed with a placement portion above the discharge portion, where both the reading member and image capturing member are installed, ensuring a flat upper surface for optimal image capture, and includes a movable second placement portion for expanded document placement, allowing documents to be placed from above, and enabling operation while standing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a reading member and an image capturing member are both installed above a discharge portion, then the functionality and precision of capturing and reading documents is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the image capturing member above the discharge portion in the vertical dimension, while the reading member is positioned to read documents during transport. This spatial arrangement in different dimensions allows both members to coexist and function simultaneously without interfering with each other, thereby improving versatility while managing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the document processing function into two separate members: a reading member for reading documents during transport and an image capturing member for capturing images of objects above the discharge portion. This segmentation allows each member to specialize in its specific function, improving overall functionality while organizing the system structure to manage complexity.
2Area of stationary object
If the placement portion is installed above the discharge portion, then the range for placing documents is increased, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The placement portion is installed above the discharge portion in the vertical dimension, effectively utilizing the vertical space to expand the document placement area without significantly increasing the horizontal footprint. This dimensional approach increases the placement range while minimizing the impact on overall device complexity.
3Measurement precision
If the upper surfaces of the reading member and placement portion are flat within the capturing range, then the capturing precision is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies that only the upper surfaces of the reading member and placement portion within the capturing range need to be flat, rather than the entire surfaces. This local quality approach focuses manufacturing precision requirements only on the critical areas that affect capturing precision, thereby improving measurement precision while reducing overall manufacturing precision requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
An image reading apparatus includes a reading member that reads an image of a document that is transported, a discharge portion onto which the document that is read by the reading member is discharged, a placement portion that is installed above the discharge portion, an object being placed on the placement portion such that at least a part of an upper surface of the reading member is covered, and an image capturing member that is installed above the placement portion and that captures an image of the object that is placed on the placement portion.