Abstract: A scanning device capable of quickly starting scanning is placed on a base platform. The scanning device includes a housing, a glass platen, a scanning module, a control circuit and a scan-start unit. The housing has a top surface and a bottom surface. The glass platen, on which a to-be-scanned document is placed, is mounted on the top surface. The scanning module is movably installed within the housing to scan the to-be-scanned document. The control circuit controls the scanning module to proceed with a scan operation. The scan-start unit is electrically connected to the control circuit and mounted on the housing and in direct contact with the base platform. When a user applies a direct/indirect pressing force on the to-be-scanned document, the scanning module is triggered to start the scan operation.

Abstract: A self-closing mechanism for drawer slides includes a stationary housing, a slider, and a latch. The slider is configured to slide relative to the housing, and the latch is configured to translate along with the slider and to rotate within the slider to lock and unlock the slider at predetermined locations. The housing may be coupled to a cabinet member, with a drawer member adapted to engage the latch as the drawer is opened and/or closed. In embodiments of the invention, the self-closing mechanism may include a damper mechanism, such as, e.g., a cylindrical damper or a rotary gear damper.

Abstract: A document ejecting mechanism includes an output roller, a roller shaft, an idle roller, an idle shaft and an adjusting device. The roller shaft inserts through the output roller, which rotates the idle roller. The idle shaft inserts through the idle roller. The adjusting device adjusts a distance between the output roller and the idle roller. A document feeder using the document ejecting mechanism is also disclosed.

Abstract: In a printing device capable of increasing a printing speed, a sheet-feeding mechanism selectively feeds to-be-printed sheets placed in a longitudinal tray and a transversal tray. A memory stores a transversal maximum printing dimension corresponding to a printing unit. A processor receives a printing signal containing first and second dimensions. The processor judges whether or not a maximum of the first dimension and the second dimension is smaller than or equal to the transversal maximum printing dimension. If yes, the processor enables the sheet-feeding mechanism to feed the to-be-printed sheet placed in the transversal tray. The processor further judges whether or not the first dimension is smaller than the second dimension. If yes, the processor rotates a printing content corresponding to the printing signal by 90 degrees and then outputs a rotated content to the printing unit. If not, the processor directly outputs the printing signal to the printing unit.

Abstract: A scanning device includes a transparent platen, a scanning module, a sheet-feeding mechanism, a section and a pressing unit. The scanning module is disposed at a scan position and acquires an image of a document through the transparent platen. The sheet-feeding mechanism transports the document in a transporting direction across the scan position. The section is located downstream of the scan position, and has a low point at a level lower than that of an upper surface of the transparent platen. The pressing unit is disposed opposite the section and limits a distance between the document and the transparent platen.

Abstract: A scanning module disposed on one side of a transparent platen of a scanner for scanning a document disposed on the reverse side of the transparent platen is provided. The scanning module comprises a base, a lamp, a holder and an optical sensing component. The lamp for illuminating the document comprises a first section and a second section. The first section extends substantially parallel to a plane of the transparent platen. A first end of the second section is connected to one end of the first section. The shortest distance between a second end of the second section and the transparent platen is greater than that between the first section and the transparent platen. The holder is disposed on the second section for fixing the lamp to the base. The optical sensing component is used for receiving the light reflected by the document and converting that into an image signal.

Abstract: A separation roller includes a body, a shaft assembly and two friction roller assemblies. The shaft assembly is connected to the body. The friction roller assembly is mounted on two ends of the shaft assembly and located on two sides of the body. The friction roller assembly contacts a sheet, and the body is separated from the sheet. The body provides a limiting torque to the friction roller assemblies through the shaft assembly to limit movement of the sheet. A sheet separating mechanism using the separation roller is also disclosed.

Abstract: A torque limiter includes a shaft assembly, a torque limiting element and two friction rollers. The shaft assembly has a middle section and two ends on two sides of the middle section. The torque limiting element coils around the middle section of the shaft assembly and contacts with the shaft assembly to provide a limiting torque to the shaft assembly. The friction rollers are respectively fixed to the two ends of the shaft assembly.

Abstract: A method for managing an image processing apparatus is disclosed. The method includes receiving a signal of selecting a color image output mode, requesting an input of verification data, determining the validity of the verification data, and performing an image outputting procedure according to the validity of the verification data. The step of performing the image outputting procedure according to the validity of the verification data comprises outputting a color image when the verification data is determined valid and outputting a monochromatic image when the verification data is determined invalid.

Abstract: A sheet-fed scanning device capable of detecting a document edge includes a scanning module and an automatic document feeder. The scanning module scans a document with a light ray. The automatic document feeder feeds the document across a scanning region on a sheet passageway for the scanning module to scan. In this invention, a section of a guide plate of the sheet passageway located within the scanning region is formed with a concave portion, wherein the document moving across the scanning region is located between the concave portion and the scanning module, such that the intensity of a first brightness of the concave portion sensed by the scanning module is far smaller than the intensity of a second brightness of the document sensed by the scanning module. Thus, it is possible to facilitate the document edge detection and the document skew correction.

Abstract: A flat-bed scanner in combination with a sheet feeder. The flat-bed scanner includes a first glass window having a top surface and a second glass window having a top surface. A height step is formed without increasing the difficult between the top surfaces of the first and second glass windows. When the sheet feeder is placed on the flat-bed scanner, the scanned documents may pass the first glass window smoothly, consequently, good scanning quality may be obtained.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes a front feeding roller set, a rear feeding roller set, a document control roller and a movement-driving mechanism. The document control roller is disposed between the front feeding roller set and the rear feeding roller set and is located above a scan platen with a gap left therebetween. The front feeding roller set transports a document across the scan platen and then to the rear feeding roller set. The document control roller is rotated to assist in transporting the document and to press the document toward the scan platen. The movement-driving mechanism moves the document control roller such that the gap between the document control roller and the scan platen is adjusted. Thus, a scanning module below the scan platen can scan an image of the document.

Abstract: A scanning device includes a housing, a transparent plate, an image acquiring module, a light source module and an elastic member. The transparent plate for supporting an original is mounted on an opening of the housing. The image acquiring module for acquiring an image of the original is movable in a first direction in the housing. The light source module for emitting light to illuminate the original is movable in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction on the image acquiring module. The elastic member for pushing the light source module towards the transparent plate connects the light source module to the image acquiring module. When the transparent plate is not pressed, a distance between the transparent plate and the light source module is kept such that the transparent plate contacts the light source module without losing its degree of freedom when the transparent plate is pressed.

Abstract: An automatic sheet feeder including a sheet input tray, a sheet output tray, a first passageway and a second passageway, a temporary storage region, and a sheet-feeding mechanism. The sheet-feeding mechanism transports a first sheet from the sheet input tray to the temporary storage region at a first time through the first passageway, successively transports the first sheet from the temporary storage region to the second passageway, from the second passageway to the first passageway, and from the first passageway to the temporary storage region at a second time, and then outputs the first sheet from the temporary storage region to the sheet output tray. The sheet is transported across an image processing region twice in either the simplex or duplex feeding mode.

Abstract: A calibration mechanism for an optical module of a sheet-fed scanner is disclosed. The calibration mechanism includes a calibration strip and a driving unit. The calibration strip is moved by the driving unit, and the calibration strip may be moved relative to the optical module for calibrating color depth. The driving unit includes a roller and a flexible strip. One end of the flexible strip is mounted to the roller, and the calibration strip is mounted or formed on the flexible strip. The flexible strip is moved by the roller action so that the calibration strip is moved relative to the optical module, and the optical module may accordingly calibrate the color depth.

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 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: 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 scanning method using a light-shielding device includes the steps of: providing a light-shielding device; supporting the light-shielding device by a scan platen of a scanner such that the light-shielding device and the scan platen form a window; supporting a reflective original by the scan platen and in the window; and scanning the reflective original.

Abstract: A continuous scanning method with a multi-page preview function includes the steps of scanning a first former document having a first format to obtain a first image signal; scanning a second former document having a second format different from the first format to obtain a second image signal; displaying a first image corresponding to the first image signal for a user to preview; displaying a second image corresponding to the second image signal for the user to preview; receiving a first configuration and a second configuration, which are set by the user and respectively correspond to the first and second former documents; and continuously scanning or processing a first latter document having the first format and a second latter document having the second format according to the first and second configurations, respectively.