Patent Publication Number: US-2007115515-A1

Title: Buffer devices and scanners with buffer capability

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The invention relates to buffer devices and scanners with buffer capability.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Conventionally, in a contact image sensor (CIS) scanner, a spacer is disposed on a scan module to separate a transparent plate from the scan module by a preferred distance.  
      When the scan module initializes, the scan module and the spacer may vibrate due to instantaneous momentum, thus degrading scan quality.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
      A Buffer devices and scanners with buffer capability are provided.  
      An exemplary embodiment of a buffer device includes a body, a movable component, and an elastic structure. The body includes a groove. The movable component is slidingly disposed in the groove. The elastic structure is connected between the body and the movable component.  
      An embodiment of a scanner with buffer capability includes a housing, a scan module, and a buffer device. The housing includes a transparent plate bearing a scan target. The scan module is movably disposed in the housing to scan the scan target through the transparent plate. The buffer device includes a body, a movable component, and an elastic structure. The body is disposed on the scan module and includes a groove. The movable component is slidingly disposed in the groove and substantially contacts the transparent plate. The elastic structure is connected between the body and the movable component.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
      The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a diagram of an embodiment of a scanner with buffer capability;  
       FIG. 2   a  is a diagram of a buffer device in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 2   b  is an exploded view of a buffer device in  FIG. 2   a;    
       FIG. 2   c  is a sectional view of a buffer device in  FIG. 2   a;    
       FIG. 2   d  shows that an elastic rib is deformed when a scan module moves to make a body and a movable component move;  
       FIG. 3  is a diagram of another embodiment of a scanner with buffer capability;  
       FIG. 4   a  is a diagram of a buffer device in  FIG. 3 ; and  
       FIG. 4   b  is an exploded view of a buffer device in  FIG. 4   a ; and  
       FIG. 4   c  shows the body moves along an arrow A. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION  
      The following description is of the best-contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. This description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and should not be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is best determined by reference to the appended claims.  
      A principle aim of the invention is to add a buffer device in a scanner to absorb instantaneous momentum generated when a scan module initializes, thus improving scan quality.  
       FIG. 1  is a diagram of an embodiment of a scanner  100  with buffer capability.  
      As shown, the scanner  100  includes a housing  101 , a scan module  102 , and two buffer devices  103 .  
      The housing  101  includes a transparent plate  105  bearing a scan target  104 .  
      The scan module  102  is movably disposed in the housing  101  to scan the scan target  104  through the transparent plate  105 .  
       FIG. 2   a  is a diagram of a buffer device  103  in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 2   b  is an exploded view of the buffer device  103  in  FIG. 2   a .  FIG. 2   c  is a sectional view of the buffer device  103  in  FIG. 2   a.    
      As shown, the buffer device  103  includes a body  106 , a movable component  107 , and an elastic structure  108 .  
      The body  106  includes a groove  109 , a hook  110  and a hole  112 . The body  106  engages with the scan module  102  by the hook  110  (shown in  FIG. 1 ).  
      The movable component  107  is slidingly disposed in the groove  109 . The movable component  107  includes two spacer portions  111  and an opening  113 . The spacer portions  111  substantially contact the transparent plate  105  to separate the transparent plate  105  from the scan module  102  by a preset distance (shown in  FIG. 1 ).  
      The spacer portions  111  are smooth and wearproof salients.  
      The elastic structure  108  is an elastic rib connected between the body  106  and the movable component  107 , absorbing instantaneous momentum generated when the scan module  102  initializes. In detail, one end of the elastic rib is engaged in the hole  106  of the body  112 , and the other end is engaged in the opening  113  of the movable component  107 .  FIG. 2   d  shows that the elastic rib is deformed when the scan module  102  moves to make the body  106  and the movable component  107  move.  
       FIG. 3  is a diagram of another embodiment of a scanner  200  with buffer capability.  
      As shown, the scanner  200  includes a housing  201 , a scan module  202 , and two buffer devices  203 .  
      The housing  201  includes a transparent plate  205  bearing a scan target  204 .  
      The scan module  202  is movably disposed in the housing  201  to scan the scan target  204  through the transparent plate  205 .  
       FIG. 4   a  is a diagram of a buffer device  203  in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 4   b  is an exploded view of the buffer device  203  in  FIG. 4   a.    
      As shown, the buffer device  203  includes a body  206 , a movable component  207 , and an elastic structure  208 .  
      The body  206  includes a groove  209 , a stopper  212 , and a hook  210 . The body  206  engages with the scan module  202  by the hook  210  (shown in  FIG. 3 ).  
      The stopper  212  is disposed in the groove  209 . The movable component  207  includes an opening  213 . The elastic structure  208  includes a first spring  214  and a second spring  215 , absorbing instantaneous momentum generated when the scan module  202  initializes.  
      The first spring  214  and the second spring  215  are compression springs.  
      The movable component  207  is slidingly disposed in the groove  209 . The stopper  212  is in the opening  213  such that the opening  213  forms a first space  216  and a second space  217 . Additionally, the first spring  214  is disposed in the first space  216 , and the second spring  215  is disposed in tie second space  217 . The first spring  214  and second spring  215  are respectively installed on two ends of the stopper  212 . The first spring  214  connects to the stopper  212  and the spacer portions  211 . The second spring  215  connects to the stopper  212  and the spacer portions  211 . When the movable component  207  slides along an arrow A on the body  206 , the first spring  214  and second spring  215  absorb instantaneous momentum (shown by  FIG. 4   c ).  
      Moreover, the longitudinal direction of the first spring  214 , the longitudinal direction of the second spring  215 , and the moving direction of the scan module  202  are virtually the same (shown in  FIG. 3 ).  
      The movable component  207  further includes two spacer portions  21   1 . The spacer portions  211  substantially contact the transparent plate  205 , separating the transparent plate  205  from the scan module  202  by a preset distance (shown in  FIG. 3 ).  
      The spacer portions  211  are smooth and wearproof salients.  
      The scanner of the invention utilizes a buffer device disposed on a scan module to absorb instantaneous momentum generated when the scan module initializes, thus avoiding vibration of the scan module and improving scan quality.  
      While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.