Document scanner and vacuum table therefor
US5486932A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 2, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jan 23, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 2, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N2201/0422
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A vacuum table (10) for holding a document in position e.g. during scanning comprises a supporting surface (11) and a vacuum distribution line (13) which, in the absence of such a document, is in gas flow communication with the ambient atmosphere over a vacuum zone (A, B, C, D) on the table surface (11) via an array of openings (12) distributed over that surface. The table (10) further comprises means (20) such as a flexible curtain for obstructing such gas flow communication over a selected length of such array of openings (12) whereby the length (A, B) of the vacuum zone (A, B, C, D) may be matched to the length of a said document, and means (32) for selectively obstructing such gas flow communication over the width of the array whereby the width (B, C) of the vacuum zone may be matched to the width of such document.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.