Document reader having a document registration and retention system
View Patent ↗A document scanning device and method of use are disclosed. The document scanning device includes a document bed and one or more document retention devices positioned along the document bed to define a document positioning surface. The document scanning device also includes a scanning module slidably attached to the document bed to pass over the document positioning surface. The document retention device retains a document in place on the document positioning surface as the scanning module slides over the document.
1. A document scanning device comprising:
a document bed;
one or more document retention devices positioned along the document bed to define a document positioning surface; and
a scanning module slidably attached to the document bed to pass over the document positioning surface;
wherein the one or more document retention devices retain a document in place on the document positioning surface as the scanning module slides over the document, each document retention device including a pin extending upward from a substantially flat surface of the document bed, the pin being a spring-biased pin movable between extended and retracted positions.
2. The document scanning device of claim 1 , wherein the substantially flat surface includes the document positioning surface.
3. A document scanning device comprising:
a document bed;
one or more document retention devices positioned along the document bed to define a document positioning surface; and
a scanning module slidably attached to the document bed to pass over the document positioning surface;
wherein the one or more document retention devices retain a document in place on the document positioning surface as the scanning module slides over the document, a portion of each of the one or more document retention devices extending upward from the document bed is depressible into the document bed.
4. The document scanning device of claim 3 , wherein the depressible portion of each of the one or more document retention devices is depressible to a position substantially level with the document positioning surface.
5. A document scanning device comprising:
a document bed;
one or more document retention devices positioned along the document bed to define a document positioning surface; and
a scanning module slidably attached to the document bed to pass over the document positioning surface;
wherein the one or more document retention devices retain a document in place on the document positioning surface as the scanning module slides over the document, the one or more document retention devices each include a pin at least partially extending upward through the document bed, the pin being a spring-biased pin movable between extended and retracted positions.
6. The document scanning device of claim 5 , wherein the pin is positioned within a guide sleeve housing.
7. A document scanning device comprising:
a document bed;
one or more document retention devices positioned along the document bed to define a document positioning surface, the one or more document retention devices retain a document in place on the document positioning surface as the scanning module slides over the document; and
a scanning module slidably attached to the document bed to pass over the document positioning surface;
wherein the scanning module includes an actuation surface positioned to depress at least one of the one or more document retention devices to a retracted position as the scanning module slidably passes over the document positioning surface.
8. The document scanning device of claim 7 , wherein the actuation surface is a beveled surface having an approximately 15 degree inclination relative to the document base.
9. The document scanning device of claim 7 , wherein, in the retracted position, at least a portion of the document retention device extends above the document positioning surface.
10. The document scanning device of claim 7 , wherein the one or more document retention devices includes a plurality of document retention devices located along at least two sides of a document positioning surface.
11. The document scanning device of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of document retention devices are positioned such that a document retention devices is located along at least two edges of the document positioning surface.
12. The document scanning device of claim 7 , wherein each document retention device includes a pin having a tip with a radius of curvature designed to introduce a drag force on the actuation surface.
13. The document scanning device of claim 7 , wherein the document positioning surface is sized to receive a personal check.
14. The document scanning device of claim 7 , wherein the scanning module includes a contact image sensor arranged to pass across a document at a level about 0.01 inches above the document when placed on a document positioning surface.
15. The document scanning device of claim 7 , wherein the scanning module includes a magnetic character reader.
16. A document scanning device comprising:
a document bed;
one or more document retention devices positioned along the document bed to define a document positioning surface; and
a scanning module slidably attached to the document bed to pass over the document positioning surface;
wherein the one or more document retention devices retain a document in place on the document positioning surface as the scanning module slides over the document, the one or more document retention devices extending through the document bed to define a document positioning surface, the pin being a spring-biased pin movable between extended and retracted positions.
17. A method of capturing information from a printed document, the method comprising:
placing a document on a document positioning surface of a document bed, the document bed having a plurality of registration assemblies extending therethrough to retain the document in a stationary position during a document scanning procedure;
scanning at least a portion of the document by moving a scanning module across a surface of the document to capture information printed on the surface;
processing the scanned document information; and
depressing a portion of one or more registration assemblies with the scanning module while moving a scanning module across a surface of the document.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein scanning at least a portion of the document includes sliding the scanning module across the surface of the document.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein scanning at least a portion of the document includes scanning one or more magnetic characters with a magnetic character reader.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein scanning at least a portion of the document includes scanning an image of the document with a contact image sensor.
21. The method of claim 17 , further comprising communicating the scanned document information to a computing system.
22. A check scanner comprising:
a document bed;
a plurality of document retention devices positioned on the document bed to define a check positioning surface, the plurality of document retention devices each including a spring-biased pin movable between extended and refracted positions; and
a scanning module slidably attached to the document bed to pass over the check positioning surface, the scanning module including an actuation surface facing the check positioning surface and arranged to, as the scanning module slides across the check positioning surface, engage one or more of the document retention devices, moving the devices from an extended position to a retracted position.
23. The check scanner of claim 22 , wherein the check positioning surface is sized to receive a personal check.
24. The check scanner of claim 22 , wherein the scanning module includes a magnetic character reader.