Hand scanner support and paper guide apparatus

A hand scanner support and paper guide apparatus is provided for mechanically scanning a thin sheet using two scanners originally designed to be hand-held. The apparatus includes a base assembly, a top assembly, and a hinge assembly connecting the base assembly and the top assembly together. The base assembly includes a base housing which includes a planar upper wall which serves as a flat surface along which the thin sheet is moved. A base scanner unit is supported by the base assembly a spaced distance below the planar upper wall as the thin sheet is moved past the base scanner unit. A guide assembly is connected to the base housing for guiding the thin sheet in a straight path as the thin sheet is moved along the planar upper wall. A drive assembly, a portion of which is housed within the base housing, is provided for moving the thin sheet past the base scanner unit. A top scanner unit is supported by the top assembly a spaced distance above the planar lower wall as the thin sheet is moved past the top scanner unit. A pinch roller is supported by the top housing. The pinch roller and the drive roller are positioned opposite each other. The pinch roller is driven by the thin sheet as the thin sheet is pinched between the drive roller and the pinch roller and as the thin sheet is driven by the drive roller.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates generally to document scanner devices and, 
more particularly, to support devices especially adapted for supporting a 
hand scanner. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
A hand scanner apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,173 of Wensink 
et al. This hand scanner apparatus has a number of advantages relating to 
providing the versatility and portability of a hand-held scanner and, at 
the same time, the consistency and reproducability of a mechanical scanner 
in the same scanning apparatus. There is one deficiency, however, with the 
apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,173 of Wensink et al. When a 
two-sided sheet of paper is placed in the device of U.S. Pat. No. 
5,330,173 of Wensink et al, only one side of the paper can be scanned. In 
order to scan the second side of the sheet of paper with the device 
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,173 of Wensink et al, the sheet of paper 
must be removed from the device, reversed in orientation, and replaced in 
the device. In this respect, it would be desirable if a hand scanner 
apparatus were provided that enabled a two-sided sheet of paper to be 
scanned with hand scanner apparatus without removing, reorienting, and 
replacing the paper after one side has been scanned. 
The foregoing desired characteristic is provided by the unique hand scanner 
apparatus of the present invention as will be made apparent from the 
following description thereof. Other advantages of the present invention 
over the prior art also will be rendered evident. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
To achieve the foregoing and other advantages, the present invention, 
briefly described, provides a hand scanner support and paper guide 
apparatus for mechanically scanning a thin sheet using two scanners 
originally designed to be hand-held. The apparatus includes a base 
assembly, a top assembly, and a hinge assembly connecting the base 
assembly and the top assembly together. The base assembly includes a base 
housing which includes a planar upper wall which serves as a flat surface 
along which the thin sheet is moved. A base scanner support assembly is 
supported by the base housing. A base scanner unit is supported by the 
base scanner support assembly a spaced distance below the planar upper 
wall as the thin sheet is moved past the base scanner unit. A guide 
assembly is connected to the base housing for guiding the thin sheet in a 
straight path as the thin sheet is moved along the planar upper wall. A 
drive assembly, a portion of which is housed within the base housing, is 
provided for moving the thin sheet past the base scanner unit. 
The drive assembly includes a first driven, thin-sheet-contacting element 
and a base slot in the planar upper wall for permitting the first driven, 
thin-sheet-contacting element to contact and move the thin sheet as it 
lies on the planar upper wall. 
The top assembly includes a top housing which includes a planar lower wall 
which serves as a flat surface below which the thin sheet is moved. A top 
scanner support assembly is supported by the top housing. A top scanner 
unit is supported by the top scanner support assembly a spaced distance 
above the planar lower wall as the thin sheet is moved past the top 
scanner unit. 
A second driven, thin-sheet-contacting element is supported by the top 
housing. A top slot in the planar upper wall is provided for permitting 
the second driven, thin-sheet-contacting element to contact and move the 
thin sheet as it lies on the planar upper wall. The second driven, 
thin-sheet-contacting element and the first driven, thin-sheet-contacting 
element are positioned opposite each other. the second driven, 
thin-sheet-contacting element is driven by the thin sheet as the thin 
sheet is pinched between the first driven, thin-sheet-contacting element 
and the second driven, thin-sheet-contacting element as the thin sheet is 
driven by the first driven, thin-sheet-contacting element. 
The top assembly is adapted to rotate on the hinge assembly around the base 
assembly between two selectable positions. A closed position is provided 
for scanning the thin sheet such that the first driven, 
thin-sheet-contacting element and the second driven, thin-sheet-contacting 
element are located opposite each other. An open position is provided for 
placing and removing the base scanner unit in the base housing and for 
placing and removing the top scanner unit in the top housing. 
The first driven, thin-sheet-contacting element is a first roller, and the 
second driven, thin-sheet-contacting element is a second roller. 
The drive assembly includes a power supply for converting AC to DC power. A 
control and timing circuit assembly is powered by the power supply. An 
activation switch assembly is supported by the base housing and is 
electrically connected to the control and timing circuit assembly. A drive 
motor is electrically connected to the control and timing circuit 
assembly. The first driven, thin-sheet-contacting element is mechanically 
driven by the drive motor. The second driven, thin-sheet-contacting 
element is mechanically driven by the first driven, thin-sheet-contacting 
element through the thin sheet. A paper sensor is electrically connected 
to the control and timing circuit assembly. 
The top scanner support assembly includes a top scanner receiving slot, in 
the top assembly, for receiving the top scanner unit, and retention clips, 
supported by the top assembly, for retaining the top scanner unit within 
the top scanner receiving slot. The base scanner support assembly includes 
mounting straps for securing the base scanner unit to the base assembly. 
The above brief description sets forth rather broadly the more important 
features of the present invention in order that the detailed description 
thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the 
present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of 
course, additional features of the invention that will be described 
hereinafter and which will be for the subject matter of the claims 
appended hereto. 
In this respect, before explaining at least two preferred embodiments of 
the invention in detail, it is understood that the invention is not 
limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the 
arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or 
illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments 
and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be 
understood, that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for 
the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon 
which disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for 
designing other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the 
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, 
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions 
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved hand scanner apparatus which has all of the advantages of the 
prior art and none of the disadvantages. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved 
hand scanner apparatus which may be easily and efficiently manufactured 
and marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved hand scanner apparatus which is of durable and reliable 
construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved hand scanner apparatus which is susceptible of a low cost of 
manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly 
is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby 
making such hand scanner apparatus available to the buying public. 
Still yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved hand scanner apparatus which enables a two-sided sheet of paper 
to be scanned with hand scanner apparatus without removing, reorienting, 
and replacing the paper after one side has been scanned. 
These together with still other objects of the invention, along with the 
various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed 
out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
With reference to the drawings, a new and improved apparatus for use in 
connection with hand scanners and embodying the principles and concepts of 
the present invention now will be described in detail. 
The present invention comprises an improvement over the hand scanner 
apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,173 of Wensink et al the 
disclosure of which patent hereby is incorporated into and made part of 
this specification by this reference. 
Turning initially to FIGS. 1 through 4, there is shown a first exemplary 
embodiment of the improved hand scanner apparatus of the invention 
generally designated by reference numeral 10. In its preferred form, a 
hand scanner support and paper guide apparatus 10 is provided for 
mechanically scanning a thin sheet 11 using two scanners originally 
designed to be hand-held. The apparatus includes a base assembly 12, a top 
assembly 14, and a hinge assembly 16 connecting the base assembly 12 and 
the top assembly 14 together. The base assembly 12 includes a base housing 
18 which includes a planar upper wall 20 or top plate which serves as a 
flat surface along which the thin sheet 11 (see FIG. 6 showing document 
11) is moved. A base scanner support assembly 22 is supported by the base 
housing 18. A base scanner unit 24 is supported by the base scanner 
support assembly 22 a spaced distance below the planar upper wall 20 as 
the thin sheet 11 is moved past the base scanner unit 24. A guide assembly 
26 is connected to the base housing 18 for guiding the thin sheet 11 in a 
straight path as the thin sheet 11 is moved along the planar upper wall 
20. A drive assembly 28, a portion of which is housed within the base 
housing 18, is provided for moving the thin sheet 11 past the base scanner 
unit 24. 
The drive assembly 28 includes a first driven, thin-sheet-contacting 
element 30 and a base slot 32 in the planar upper wall 20 for permitting 
the first driven, thin-sheet-contacting element 30 to contact and move the 
thin sheet 11 as it lies on the planar upper wall 20. 
The top assembly 14 includes a top housing 34 which includes a planar lower 
wall 36 which serves as a flat surface below which the thin sheet 11 is 
moved. A top scanner support assembly 38 is supported by the top housing 
34. A top scanner unit 40 is supported by the top scanner support assembly 
38 a spaced distance above the planar lower wall 36 as the thin sheet 11 
is moved past the top scanner unit 40. 
A second driven, thin-sheet-contacting element 42 is supported by the top 
housing 34. A top slot 44 in the planar upper wall 20 is provided for 
permitting the second driven, thin-sheet-contacting element 42 to contact 
and move the thin sheet 11 as it lies on the planar upper wall 20. The 
second driven, thin-sheet-contacting element 42 and the first driven, 
thin-sheet-contacting element 30 are positioned opposite each other. As 
shown in FIG. 2, the second driven, thin-sheet-contacting element 42 is 
driven by the thin sheet 11 as the thin sheet 11 is pinched between the 
first driven, thin-sheet-contacting element 30 and the second driven, 
thin-sheet-contacting element 42 as the thin sheet 11 is driven by the 
first driven, thin-sheet-contacting element 30. 
The top assembly 14 is adapted to rotate on the hinge assembly 16 around 
the base assembly 12 between two selectable positions. A closed position 
is provided for scanning the thin sheet 11 such that the first driven, 
thin-sheet-contacting element 30 and the second driven, 
thin-sheet-contacting element 42 are located opposite each other. An open 
position is provided for placing and removing the base scanner unit 24 in 
the base housing 18 and for placing and removing the top scanner unit 40 
in the top housing 34. The top housing 34 serves to both retain the top 
scanner unit 40 and brace the second driven, thin-sheet-contacting element 
42. 
The first driven, thin-sheet-contacting element 30 is a first roller 30, 
and the second driven, thin-sheet-contacting element 42 is a second roller 
42. 
As shown in greatest detail in FIG. 6, the drive assembly 28 includes a 
power supply 46 for converting AC to DC power. A control and timing 
circuit assembly 48 is powered by the power supply 46. An activation 
switch assembly 45 is supported by the base housing 18 and is electrically 
connected to the control and timing circuit assembly 48. A drive motor 50 
is electrically connected to the control and timing circuit assembly 48. 
The first driven, thin-sheet-contacting element 30 is mechanically driven 
by the drive motor 50. The second driven, thin-sheet-contacting element 42 
is mechanically driven by the first driven, thin-sheet-contacting element 
30 through the thin sheet 11. A paper sensor 52 is electrically connected 
to the control and timing circuit assembly 48. In common parlance, the 
first driven, thin-sheet-contacting element 30 is a drive roller 30, and 
the second driven, thin-sheet-contacting element 42 is a pinch roller 42. 
More specifically, the power supply 46 is connected to the control and 
timing circuit assembly 48 by line 47. The activation switch assembly 45 
is connected to the control and timing circuit assembly 48 by line 49. The 
drive motor 50 is connected to the control and timing circuit assembly 48 
by line 51 and variable resistor 55 which serves as a speed adjustment 
device. More specifically, the control and timing circuit assembly 48 
regulates the speed of the drive motor 50 to insure the most economical 
speed of the thin sheet 11 to be scanned. The drive roller 30 is 
mechanically driven by linkage assembly 31 driven by the drive motor 50. 
The linkage assembly 31 can be a shaft. The pinch roller 42 is 
mechanically driven by the drive roller 30 through the thin sheet 11. The 
paper sensor 52 is connected to the control and timing circuit assembly 48 
by line 53. 
In use, two hand scanner units 24 and 40 are made immobile, and the thin 
sheet 11 is moved past the two hand scanner units. The base scanner unit 
24 scans one side of the thin sheet 11, and the top scanner unit 40 scans, 
such as by simultaneous scanning, the other side of the thin sheet 11. 
More specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the base scanner unit 24 and the 
top scanner unit 40 are connected to a computer 54 through scanner control 
and signal lines 56. In addition, a start scan signal line 58 is connected 
between the control and timing circuit assembly 48 and the computer 54. A 
signaling circuit could be included to used the DSR signal, Carrier 
Detect, the CTS Signal, or the Ring indicator on a serial port to signal 
the computer 54 that a scan is in progress. 
In operating the hand scanner apparatus 10 of the invention, reference is 
made to FIG. 5. More specifically, a document 11 is mounted between the 
base scanner unit 24 and the top scanner unit 40. The upward bias of 
springs 57 prevents a scan from taking place by lifting the top assembly 
14 off of the base assembly 12 into a neutral position. When a person 
presses down upon the top assembly 14 to overcome the bias of the springs 
57, then the activation switch assembly 45 is switched to an "on" 
position, and the scanning can begin. The control and timing circuit 
assembly 48 sends a scan started signal through the start scan signal line 
58 to the computer 54. The control and timing circuit assembly 48 also 
activates the drive motor 50, and a timer portion of the control and 
timing circuit assembly 48 is also activated. When activated, the drive 
motor 50 turns the linkage assembly 31 which turns the first driven, 
thin-sheet-contacting element 30 which begins to move the thin sheet 11 
across the base scanner unit 24 and the top scanner unit 40 by pinching 
the thin sheet 11 between the first driven, thin-sheet-contacting element 
30 and the second driven, thin-sheet-contacting element 42. 
Both the base scanner unit 24 and the top scanner unit 40 have respective 
timing rollers 41 which are placed in alignment and begin to send signals 
to the computer 54 through the scanner control and signal lines 56 in the 
scanning process. When the end of the thin sheet 11 moves past the 
just-mentioned timing rollers, the scanning process stops. The timing 
portion of the control and timing circuit assembly 48 assures that the 
thin sheet 11 exits the hand scanner apparatus 10 of the invention by 
keeping the drive motor 50 activated for a predetermined period of time 
after the end of the scanning process. Then, the control and timing 
circuit assembly 48 resets the timing circuitry in preparation for the 
next document. At this time the operator releases downward pressure on the 
top assembly 14, and the springs 57 return the top assembly 14 to the 
neutral position. A gap 39 is present at the back of the hand scanner 
apparatus of the invention between the top assembly 14 and the base 
assembly 12 when the top assembly 14 is closed on the thin sheet 11. This 
gap 39 allows the thin sheet 11 to exit from an end of the hand scanner 
apparatus as the scan takes place. 
The hand scanner apparatus 10 of the invention takes hard-to-control hand 
operation out of the hand scanning process. With a base scanner unit 24 
and a top scanner unit 40 that have a scanning width of approximately 4 
inches, hand scanner apparatus 10 of the invention can be used to scan 
both sides of a thin sheet 11 in a 4 inch path in one pass. The hand 
scanner apparatus of the invention can be used in the banking industry to 
replace microfiche records of legal tender documents. With proper 
software, two passes of a document could copy both sides and match the 
full page. This device would provide an inexpensive alternative to a full 
page scanner. Because the top assembly 14 is designed to be open by the 
bias of the springs 57, the operator could clear possible jams easily. 
The hand scanner apparatus of the invention uses existing, inexpensive hand 
scanners to provide an affordable alternative to expensive full page 
scanners. By removing the hard-to-control manually scanning step from the 
hand scanning process, the hand scanner device is used more accurately and 
reproducably. Moreover, the hand scanner apparatus of the invention does 
not detract from the portability of a hand scanner. Such hand scanners are 
relatively inexpensive and widely available commercially. An exemplary 
preferred hand scanner capable of being employed in the present invention 
with excellent results comprises the Model No. 32, sold under the SCANMAN 
Trademark by Logitech, Inc., Redwood City, Calif. It will be appreciated 
that other hand scanners may be utilized instead and that the intrinsic 
mechanical and electrical details per se of the particular hand scanner 
employed with the present invention are well known and understood and are 
not necessary for a complete understanding of the present invention; 
hence, such details will not be further described herein. 
If desired a transport device can be used for transporting a thin sheet 11 
across the opposing timing rollers 41 and between the first driven, 
thin-sheet-contacting element 30 and the second driven, 
thin-sheet-contacting element 42. The transport device can be comprised of 
a pair of transparent, flexible, and semi-stiff plastic sheets that 
essentially jacket the thin sheet 11 as it is passed through the first 
driven, thin-sheet-contacting element 30 and the second driven, 
thin-sheet-contacting element 42. 
In accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention as shown 
in FIGS. 7 through 10, the top scanner support assembly 14a is in the form 
of a top scanner support bracket 59 adapted to be selectively removably 
snap-fitted into a fixed position relative to the base scanner assembly 
12. In its preferred form top scanner support bracket 59 includes a top 
scanner receiving slot 60, located in one sidewall thereof, for receiving 
the top scanner unit 40, and retention clips 62, supported on the opposed 
interior sidewalls of the opening in bracket 59 defining slot 60 for 
removably retaining the top scanner unit 40 within the top scanner 
receiving slot 60. The retention clips 62 can be spring loaded and be 
moved in opposite directions, as shown by arrows 63, to permit suitable 
installation of the top scanner unit 40 in the top scanner receiving slot 
60 and easy removal, if desired, for repair or replacement of the scanner 
unit as indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 10. 
The base scanner support assembly 12 includes mounting straps 64 for 
securing the base scanner unit 24 to the base assembly 12 substantially as 
shown. Alternatively, the base scanner unit 24 may be supported in a 
U-shaped bracket (not shown) suitably attached to the underside of the 
planar upper wall top plate 20 of assembly 12 utilizing a pair of 
resiliently biased retention clips 62 similar to that used in connection 
with the top scanner assembly 14a. When mounted in place substantially as 
depicted the base scanner unit faces upwardly through a complementary 
shaped and sized opening 65 so that it may be oriented in a fixed 
mirror-imaged position with respect to the top scanner unit when the 
latter is installed in its mounting position in snap-in bracket 59 and the 
bracket is, in turn, snap-fitted into place on top of the base scanner 
assembly 12. In order to facilitate the desired "mirror imaged" 
registration of the top scanner unit with the bottom or base scanner unit, 
a pair of opposed laterally spaced slots 67 are disposed in the top plate 
of base unit assembly 12 for receiving therein a corresponding pair of 
tabs 69 extending downwardly from the opposed sidewalls of bracket 59, 
respectively. Each slot 67 terminates in a bottom floor or abutment to 
engage the distal edge surface 70 of a corresponding tab and thereby 
define the relative positions of the top scanner unit and the base scanner 
unit so as to achieve an arrangement similar to that achieved in the first 
embodiment when the units are in the position shown in FIG. 2, for 
example. 
Preferably, a resilient finger may be disposed in each slot 67 (i.e. 
similar to retention clip 62) to engage a suitable shoulder or other 
engageable surface on each tab 69 when its distal surface 70 is bottomed 
in a corresponding slot 67 to positively retain the bracket 59 in place on 
the base scanner unit during operation, yet permit easy selective removal 
of the bracket by lifting in the upward direction when it is desired to 
repair or replace the top scanner unit or otherwise clean or service the 
device of the present invention as will occur to those of ordinary skill. 
It is thus seen that in the second preferred embodiment of the present 
invention, the top scanner rather than being supported relative to the 
base or bottom scanner via a hinged lid or top, is removably supported on 
a bracket which, in turn, may be "snap-fitted" into its appropriate 
operative position on the base scanner assembly 12. In all other respects, 
the operation and functions of the second embodiment, both mechanically 
and electrically, are the same as described above with respect to the 
first embodiment of the invention. 
The components of the hand scanner apparatus of the invention can be made 
from inexpensive and durable metal and plastic materials. 
As to the manner of usage and operation of the instant invention, the same 
is apparent from the above disclosure, and accordingly, no further 
discussion relative to the manner of usage and operation need be provided. 
It is apparent from the above that the present invention accomplishes all 
of the objects set forth by providing a new and improved hand scanner 
apparatus that is low in cost, relatively simple in design and operation, 
and which may advantageously be used to enable a two-sided sheet of paper 
to be scanned with hand scanner apparatus without removing, reorienting, 
and replacing the paper after one side has been scanned. 
Thus, while the present invention has been shown in the drawings and fully 
descried above with particularity and detail in connection with what is 
presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiment(s) of 
the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art 
that many modifications thereof may be made without departing from the 
principles and concepts set forth herein, including, but not limited to, 
variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of 
operation, assembly and use. 
Hence, the proper scope of the present invention should be determined only 
by the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as encompass all 
such modifications as well as all relationships equivalent to those 
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification. 
Finally, it will be appreciated that the purpose of the foregoing Abstract 
provided at the beginning of this specification is to enable the U.S. 
Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the 
scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar 
with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a 
cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of 
the application. Accordingly, the Abstract is neither intended to define 
the invention or the application, which only is measured by the claims, 
nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any 
way.