Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet-feeding mechanism and an image processing device using the same. The sheet-feeding mechanism comprises: an upper housing and a lower housing disposed opposite the upper housing, an input tray, a main roller, a separating device, a first auxiliary roller and a first pressing unit.

Abstract: A system for assisting the linear movement of a pull-out component relative to a housing includes a first bracket coupled to a slide member of the housing, a second bracket coupled to the pull-out component, and a strut that is pivotally coupled to the first and second brackets at its respective ends. The strut includes an outer hollow member that houses a primary spring, a cylindrical piston that translates through one end of the outer hollow member, and a reverse damping mechanism. A free end of the primary spring is held inside the outer hollow member by a clevis for the first bracket, and its opposite end rests on the piston. The piston's free end includes a clevis for the second bracket. An inner hollow member houses a second spring which regulates movement of a damper shaft such that damping occurs when the shaft is pulled out of the damper.

Abstract: The present invention provides a feeding mechanism and an image processing apparatus using the same. The feeding mechanism includes an upper casing, a lower casing disposed opposite the upper casing, a sheet tray, a main feeding roller, a sheet-separation member and a first auxiliary roller. The upper casing and the lower casing form a transporting path. The sheet tray for loading a sheet is coupled with the lower casing. The main feeding roller for feeding the sheet in a feeding direction is disposed in the lower casing. The sheet-separation member, disposed at a downstream position of the main feeding roller with respect to the feeding direction, separates the sheet from another sheet. The first auxiliary roller is disposed in the lower casing and on a lateral side of the main feeding roller for feeding the sheet in the feeding direction.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus for scanning a bound document includes a scanning flatbed, a lighting device, and a scanning head assembly. The scanning flatbed includes a platen and an inclined plane, wherein the platen is adjoined with the inclined plane, and the platen supports a document to be scanned. The lighting device, facing the scanning flatbed, projects light onto the document, wherein the lighting device includes a first portion and a second portion, and the first portion and the second portion respectively comprise a plurality of LEDs arranged in an array. The scanning head assembly, coupled to the lighting device, scans the document. The first portion is located closer to the inclined plane than the second portion, and intervals between the LEDs of the first portion are smaller than intervals between the LEDs of the second portion.

Abstract: A cover structure for a scan device comprises a cover mounted on a housing of the scan device and an angle-positioning mechanism disposed between the housing and the cover. The cover includes a first cover portion and a second cover portion. The angle-positioning mechanism includes at least a first locating device and a second locating device. When the first cover portion and second cover portion are lifted, the first locating device will produce an interference action to position the first cover portion at a desired opening angle, and the second locating device also will produce an interference action to position the second cover portion at a desired opening angle.

Abstract: A scanner includes a platen assembly, a sheet feeder and a scanning module. The platen assembly and the sheet feeder are combined together to form a non-linear paper path. The paper path has a scan region. The sheet feeder includes a feeding mechanism, a transporting mechanism and a discharging mechanism. The feeding mechanism feeds a document into the paper path. The transporting mechanism transports the document from the feeding mechanism to the scan region. The document is transported past the scan region in a direction substantially parallel to a scan plane in the scan region. The discharging mechanism transports the document out of the paper path from the scan region. The scanning module movably disposed in the platen assembly acquires an image of the document transported past the scan region.

Abstract: A method includes the steps of rotating an input roller to transport a first leading edge of a first document from an input tray to an input passageway, a scanning position and an output passageway sequentially; rotating the input roller to transport a second leading edge of a second document from the input tray to the input passageway after a first trailing edge of the first document deviates from the input roller; rotating an output roller to transport the first leading edge from the output passageway to an output tray; and generating a linear speed difference between the input roller and the output roller, after the first trailing edge deviates from the scanning position, to transport the first trailing edge to the output tray, such that the second leading edge is still within the input passageway or the input tray when the first trailing edge deviates from the output roller.

Abstract: A book scanner for scanning a book having first and second inner surfaces and a ridge. The scanner includes a transparent platen for supporting the first inner surface, a housing, and a scanning module. The housing has a housing platen for supporting the second inner surface, and the housing and transparent platen are connected to define a first angle smaller than 180 degrees. The module is moved along a direction parallel to the ridge to scan the first inner surface. The module includes a lighting device having first and second sections. The two sections define a second angle smaller than 180 degrees; and the second section has a second end, and a first end closer to a first plane containing the transparent platen than the second end. The bent second section may provide extra light rays to compensate the brightness and thus enhance the edge image quality.

Abstract: An automatic sheet feeder includes a sheet passageway, an opening formed in the sheet passageway and a sheet transporting mechanism. The sheet transporting mechanism transports a sheet through the sheet passageway. The sheet transporting mechanism includes a first transporting assembly and a second transporting assembly, which is disposed downstream of the first transporting assembly. The first transporting assembly transports the sheet to the opening at a first speed, and the second transporting assembly transports the sheet away from the opening at a second speed higher than the first speed. A scan apparatus using the automatic sheet feeder is also disclosed.

Abstract: A scanning device includes a transparent platen, a scanning module, a document transporting mechanism and a flexible pressing member. The scanning module is located in a scan zone and acquires through the transparent platen an image of a document. The document transporting mechanism transports the document along a passageway and across the scan zone. The flexible pressing member is disposed in the passageway, upstream of the scan zone or within the scan zone and located apart from the transparent platen by a gap. The flexible pressing member is deformed in a direction away from the transparent platen due to a force applied by the document transported across the scan zone.

Abstract: An image-capturing device including a body, an optical module and an upper cover is provided. The body has an upper surface and a first inclined plane, wherein the upper surface has an image-capturing area, and the first inclined plane is connected and located adjacent to the upper surface. The optical module is movably disposed in the body and is for capturing an image of a document inside the image-capturing area. The upper cover has a lower surface and a second inclined plane, wherein the second inclined plane is connected and located adjacent to the lower surface. When the upper cover is closed upon the body, the second inclined plane is placed atop the first inclined plane. The included angle between the second inclined plane and the lower surface is at least equal to the included angle between the first inclined plane and the upper surface and less than 180 degrees.

Abstract: A scan module and a scanner using the same are provided. The scanner includes a housing and a scan module. The housing has a scan platform for supporting a to-be-scanned document. The scan module disposed inside the housing includes a light emitting diode (LED) light source, a reflector and an optical module. The LED light source for emitting a light beam is directed towards the reflector. The reflector is for reflecting the light beam, and the light beam reflected by the reflector is projected on the to-be-scanned document. The optical module is for receiving the light beam reflected from the to-be-scanned document placed on the scan platform. The light beam emitted by the LED light source is reflected by the reflector at least once before arriving at the to-be-scanned document.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes a paper tray, a pick-up roller and a sheet-lifting mechanism. A plurality of sheets including a first sheet and a second sheet disposed above the first sheet is stored in the paper tray. The paper tray includes a bottom plate in contact with the first sheet, and a stopper for stopping leading edges of the first sheet and the second sheet. The pick-up roller, which is movable and rotatable, picks up the second sheet and enables the leading edge of the second sheet to pass over the stopper. The sheet-lifting mechanism disposed on the paper tray lifts up the leading edges of the second sheet and the first sheet from the bottom plate.

Abstract: A paper feeder and an image processing apparatus using the same are provided. The paper feeder includes a feeding plate, a paper guide, a paper-feeding unit and a friction provider. The feeding plate is for supporting at least one sheet of paper. The paper guide is disposed on a side of the feeding plate for aligning the sheet of paper. The paper-feeding unit is disposed at a paper-feeding end of the feeding plate for conveying the sheet of paper. The friction provider is disposed on one lateral side of the paper-feeding unit, for increasing the friction between the sheet of paper and the surface of the feeding plate, and the paper guide is disposed on the other lateral side of the paper-feeding unit.

Abstract: A book scanner with a minimized scan margin scans an open book, which has a first inner surface, a second inner surface and a binding section. The book scanner includes a book supporting structure and a scanning module. The book supporting structure is composed of a transparent first portion and a second portion, which define a first angle smaller than 180 degrees and a ridge. The scanning module scans the first inner surface of the book contacting the first portion. The scanning module can scan a scan region of the first inner surface and a distance from the scan region to the ridge is substantially shorter than 4 millimeters.

Abstract: A scanning device with multiple LED light sources and an application thereof. The scanning device includes a housing, a chassis, a main LED light source and an auxiliary LED light source. A horizontal plane of the housing is connected to a sloped plane of the housing to form a connecting section. The main LED light source has a length extending in a longitudinal direction substantially perpendicular to a moving direction of the chassis. The main LED light source provides a main light ray to illuminate the horizontal plane, and includes a first circuit board mounted on the chassis and first LEDs mounted on the first circuit board. The auxiliary LED light source includes a second circuit board mounted on the chassis and a second LED mounted on the second circuit board. The second LED provides an auxiliary light ray to illuminate the connecting section.

Abstract: A book scanner comprises a transparent platen, a carriage and a housing. The carriage is disposed in the housing, and the transparent platen with an angular structure is disposed on the housing for an original placed to be scanned. The carriage has a strip-shaped light tube disposed corresponding to the transparent platen. The part of the light source that has the highest luminance is disposed in the position farthest away from the transparent platen, while the part of the light source that has the lower luminance is disposed in the position closer to the transparent platen to assure a uniform and stable luminous intensity of light on each scan line when the light source illuminates the original.

Abstract: A calibration mechanism of a scanner includes a second light source, a calibration element having an opening, a first light source and a scanning module. The second light source is assembled with the calibration element, and the first light source is disposed at a position opposite to the calibration element. During the shading correction, the calibration element is rotated by an angle so that the first light source illuminates on a surface of the calibration element, and the reflected light enters the scanning module. When a transmissive original is being scanned, the light of the second light source passes through the opening of the calibration element and the transmissive original, and then enters the scanning module.

Abstract: An auto-lock mechanism to be mounted on an image input/output device includes a first swingable element and a second swingable element. When the image input/output device is not slantwise and an upper cover of the device is opened, one of the first and second swingable elements swings but does not hook the other of the first and second elements. When the image input/output device is slantwise, both of the first and second swingable elements simultaneously swing, approach and hook each other such that the upper cover remains closed and is free from detachment to hurt a user.

Abstract: A paper pick-up mechanism for a feeder includes a pick-up roller, a pick-up roller shaft, a separation roller, a transmission shaft, a gear set and a transmission gear shaft. Two one-way clutches are respectively coupled to the transmission shaft and the transmission gear shaft in parallel. When the transmission shaft is rotated in a direction opposite to a sheet-feeding direction, the gear set, through the cooperation of the two one-way clutches are used as a planetary gear set to lift up the pick-up roller.