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US4600293A
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US
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Photocopying apparatus and method wherein the optical scanner acts as an alignment guide
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1984-03-30
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Granted: 1986-07-15
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Expires: 2004-03-30
Abstract
Abstract A copy machine includes a document table on which a document is placed aligning at the left end with the left end of the document table, and a lamp, under the document table, which scans from left to right for a distance corresonding to the width of a designated copy sheet. Before the start of the copying operation, a carriage for supporting the lamp is located at a position distanced from the left end of the document table by a length corresponding to the width of the copy sheet. A display is provided on the upper surface of the carriage. Before the copying operation starts, the display emits light to indicate a copy allowable range.
Inventors
- 👤 Junji Watanabe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 04:10
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/60; G03G15/605; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/00172; G03G2215/00177; G03G2215/00181; G03G2215/00185
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
An apparatus for photocopying a document including: means for selecting a first dimension of an image to be copied; document table means for supporting a document bearing an image to be copied, said table means including means defining a first alignment guide; optical scanning means, movably disposed under said document table means, for optically scanning said document to form an optical image thereof; scanner moving means, operatively coupled to said scanning means, for moving said scanning means to an initial resting position located a distance from said first alignment guide equal to said dimension selected by said selecting means, and for thereafter moving said optical scanning means between said initial position and the position of said first alignment guide so as to optically scan said document; and second alignment guide means, disposed on said optical scanning means and visible through said document table means, for permitting said document to be aligned between the initial position of said scanning means and the position of said first alignment guide.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
167 words
An apparatus for photocopying a document including: means for selecting a first dimension of an image to be copied; document table means for supporting a document bearing an image to be copied, said table means including means defining a first alignment guide; optical scanning means, movably disposed under said document table means, for optically scanning said document to form an optical image thereof; scanner moving means, operatively coupled to said scanning means, for moving said scanning means to an initial resting position located a distance from said first alignment guide equal to said dimension selected by said selecting means, and for thereafter moving said optical scanning means between said initial position and the position of said first alignment guide so as to optically scan said document; and second alignment guide means, disposed on said optical scanning means and visible through said document table means, for permitting said document to be aligned between the initial position of said scanning means and the position of said first alignment guide.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said scanning means includes: a carriage; scanning lamp means, disposed on said carriage, for illuminating said document; and auxiliary lamp means, disposed on said carriage, for visually indicating the initial position of said scanning means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein: said document table means comprises a sheet of transparent material including means defining at least one translucent edge; and said auxiliary lamp means is in registry with said translucent edge at last when said scanning means is at said initial position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus as in claim 2 further including means for actuating said auxiliary lamp means whenever said scanning means is at said initial position and for deactuating said auxiliary lamp means when said scanning means is moved away from said initial position.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
161 words
An apparatus for photocopying a document including: means for selecting first dimension of an image to be copied; document table means for supporting a document bearing an image to be copied, said table means including means defining a first alignment guide; optical scanning means, movably disposed under said document table means, for optically scanning said document to form an optical image thereof; scanner moving means, operatively coupled to said scanning means, for moving said scanning means to an initial resting position located a distance from said first alignment guide equal to said dimension selected by said selecting means, and for thereafter moving said optical scanning means between said initial position and the position of said first alignment guide so as to optically scan said document, wherein said scanning means includes: a carriage, scanning lamp means, disposed on said carriage, for illuminating said document, and auxiliary lamp means, disposed on said carriage, for visually indicating the initial position of said scanning means.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
161 words
An apparatus for photocopying a document including: means for selecting first dimension of an image to be copied; document table means for supporting a document bearing an image to be copied, said table means including means defining a first alignment guide; optical scanning means, movably disposed under said document table means, for optically scanning said document to form an optical image thereof; scanner moving means, operatively coupled to said scanning means, for moving said scanning means to an initial resting position located a distance from said first alignment guide equal to said dimension selected by said selecting means, and for thereafter moving said optical scanning means between said initial position and the position of said first alignment guide so as to optically scan said document, wherein said scanning means includes: a carriage, scanning lamp means, disposed on said carriage, for illuminating said document, and auxiliary lamp means, disposed on said carriage, for visually indicating the initial position of said scanning means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus as in claim 5 wherein: said document table means comprises a sheet of transparent material including means defining at least one translucent edge; and said auxiliary lamp means is in registry with said translucent edge at least whenever said scanning means is at said initial position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus as in claim 5 further including means for actuating said auxiliary lamp means whenever said scanning means is at said initial position and for deactuating said auxiliary lamp means when said scanning means is moved away from said initial position.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of photocopying a document including the steps of: (1) selecting a first dimension of a document to be copied; (2) moving an optical scanner movably disposed under a document table to an initial position located a distance from a first alignment guide disposed on said document table equal to said first dimension selected by said selecting step (1); (3) resting said scanner at said initial position; (4) disposing a document to be photocopied onto said document table between said first alignment guide and said optical scanner initial position; and (5) subsequent to said disposing step (4), optically scanning said document with said optical scanner between said initial position and the position of said first alignment guide, wherein said disposing step (4) further includes the step of aligning said document with a second alignment guide disposed on said optical scanner and visible through said document table.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of photocopying a document including the steps of: (1) selecting a first dimension of a document to be copied; (2) moving an optical scanner movably disposed under a document table to an initial position located a distance from a first alignment guide disposed on said document table equal to said first dimension selected by said selecting step (1); (3) resting said scanner at said initial position; (4) disposing a document to be photocopied onto said document table between said first alignment guide and said optical scanner initial position; and (5) subsequent to said disposing step (4), optically scanning said document with said optical scanner between said initial position and the position of said first alignment guide, wherein said disposing step (4) further includes the step of aligning said document with a second alignment guide disposed on said optical scanner and visible through said document table.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method as in claim 8 wherein: said method further includes the step of illuminating a spot on said document table with an auxiliary lamp disposed on said optical scanner during said resting step (3); and said disposing step (4) further includes the step of aligning said document between said first alignment guide and said illuminated spot.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 9 wherein said illuminating step includes the step of shining light onto a translucent portion of said document table.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of photocopying a document including the steps of: (1) selecting a first dimension of a document to be copied; (2) moving an optical scanner movably disposed under a document table to an initial position located a distance from a first alignment guide disposed on said document table equal to said first dimension selected by said selecting step (1); (3) resting said scanner at said initial position; (3A) illuminating a spot on said document table with an auxiliary lamp disposed on said optical scanner during said resting step (3); (4) disposing a document to be photocopied onto said document table between said first alignment guide and said optical scanner initial position; and (5) subsequent to said disposing step (4), optically scanning said document with said optical scanner between said initial position and the position of said first alignment guide, said disposing step (4) including the step of aligning said document between said first alignment guide and said illuminated spot.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of photocopying a document including the steps of: (1) selecting a first dimension of a document to be copied; (2) moving an optical scanner movably disposed under a document table to an initial position located a distance from a first alignment guide disposed on said document table equal to said first dimension selected by said selecting step (1); (3) resting said scanner at said initial position; (3A) illuminating a spot on said document table with an auxiliary lamp disposed on said optical scanner during said resting step (3); (4) disposing a document to be photocopied onto said document table between said first alignment guide and said optical scanner initial position; and (5) subsequent to said disposing step (4), optically scanning said document with said optical scanner between said initial position and the position of said first alignment guide, said disposing step (4) including the step of aligning said document between said first alignment guide and said illuminated spot.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 11 wherein said illuminating step includes the step of shining light on a translucent portion of said document table.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-07-14 | 1990-01-13 | 1990-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-07-14 | 1994-01-13 | 1994-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-07-14 | 1998-01-13 | 1998-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |