US4703186A — Hand-held scanner with a speed control device

Claim 1

Independent Claim 135 words

A hand-held scanner moved on a document by a motive force given by an operator for inputting an image on the document, comprising: a scanning unit comprising a light source for emitting light to irradiate the document, and means for converting reflected light from the document to electric signals; a guide roller mounted on the scanning unit and rolling on the document by the motive force given by the operator to move the scanning unit; and speed control means coupled to the guide roller for producing a resistance force in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the guide roller when the guide roller is rolled on the document and the speed of rotation of the guide roller exceeds a predetermined rotating speed thereby controlling the scanner to move at a constant speed.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 135 words

A hand-held scanner moved on a document by a motive force given by an operator for inputting an image on the document, comprising: a scanning unit comprising a light source for emitting light to irradiate the document, and means for converting reflected light from the document to electric signals; a guide roller mounted on the scanning unit and rolling on the document by the motive force given by the operator to move the scanning unit; and speed control means coupled to the guide roller for producing a resistance force in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the guide roller when the guide roller is rolled on the document and the speed of rotation of the guide roller exceeds a predetermined rotating speed thereby controlling the scanner to move at a constant speed.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 80 words

The hand-held scanner according to claim 1, wherein the speed control means comprises a friction disc rotated by the rotating force of the guide roller, and a frictional housing encasing therein the friction disc, the friction disc being expanded radially by a centrifugal force to be brought into contact with an inner surface of the frictional housing when the rotating speed of the guide roller exceeds the predetermined rotating speed thereby causing a frictional resistance acting as the resistance force.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 77 words

The hand-held scanner according to claim 1, wherein the speed control means comprises a weight revolved by the rotating force of the guide roller, and a frictional pipe encasing therein the weight, the weight being moved radially by a centrifugal force to be brought into contact with an inner surface of the frictional pipe when the rotating speed of the guide roller exceeds the predetermined rotating speed thereby causing a frictional resistance acting as the resistance force.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 31 words

The hand-held scanner according to claim 1, further comprising a flywheel connected to the guide roller for rotation therewith thereby absorbing a minute variation of the moving speed of the scanner.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 155 words

A hand-held scanner used by manual movement thereof over the surface of a document to be copied, comprising: a scanning unit comprising a light source for transmitting light onto the surface of the document to be copied, means for converting light reflected from the document into electrical signals and a casing in which said light source and said converting means are housed; at least one guide roller rotatably mounted on said casing, said at least one guide roller having a cylindrical outer surface which rolls in contact with the surface of the document to be copied when said scanning unit is moved manually across the document to be copied; and speed control means disposed on said casing and connected to said at least one guide roller for producing a force resisting rotation of said at least one guide roller when the speed of rotation of said at least one guide roller exceeds a predetermined value.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 155 words

A hand-held scanner used by manual movement thereof over the surface of a document to be copied, comprising: a scanning unit comprising a light source for transmitting light onto the surface of the document to be copied, means for converting light reflected from the document into electrical signals and a casing in which said light source and said converting means are housed; at least one guide roller rotatably mounted on said casing, said at least one guide roller having a cylindrical outer surface which rolls in contact with the surface of the document to be copied when said scanning unit is moved manually across the document to be copied; and speed control means disposed on said casing and connected to said at least one guide roller for producing a force resisting rotation of said at least one guide roller when the speed of rotation of said at least one guide roller exceeds a predetermined value.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 39 words

The hand-held scanner according to claim 5, wherein said speed control means produces a force resisting rotation of said at least one guide roller which is proportional to the speed of rotation of said at least one guide roller.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 51 words

The hand-held scanner according to claim 5, wherein said speed control means comprises a frictional housing, a friction disc rotatable mounded in said frictional housing, said friction disc being expandable radially due to rotation thereof, and means connecting said friction disc to said at least one guide roller for rotation therewith.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 26 words

The hand-held scanner according to claim 7, wherein said means connecting said friction disc to said at least one guide roller comprises a plurality of gears.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 24 words

The hand-held scanner according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of gears includes a worm gear connected to said friction disc for rotation therewith.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 81 words

The hand-held scanner according to claim 5, wherein said speed control means comprises a pipe, a rotary shaft mounted for rotation in said pipe and connected to said at least one guide roller for rotation therewith, at least on weight connected to said rotary shaft for rotation therewith within said pipe, said at least one weight being movable radially outwardly away from said rotary shaft and into contact with an inner surface of said pipe when said rotary shaft is rotated.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 34 words

The hand-held scanner according to claim 10, wherein frictional resistance between said at least one weight and said inner surface of said pipe is proportional to the speed of rotation of said rotary shaft.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 22 words

The hand-held scanner according to claim 10, further comprising a flywheel connected to said at least one guide roller for rotation therewith.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 18 words

The hand-held scanner according to claim 10, wherein said at least one guide roller comprises two guide rollers.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 64 words

The hand-held scanner according to claim 10, wherein said at least one weight comprises two weights, each of said weights being carried by supports extending between a pair of spaced-apart collars, one of said collars being movable axially along said rotary shaft, and a spring being disposed between said collars for adjusting frictional force between said weights and said inner surface of said pipe.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 92 words

The hand-held scanner according to claim 5, wherein said speed control means comprises a DC motor connected to said at least one guide roller such that said motor is rotated in a reverse direction when said at least one guide roller is rotated whereby said motor generates an electromotive force proportional to the speed of rotation of said at least one guide roller, said electromotive force resisting rotation of said at least one guide roller to thereby cause substantially uniform motion of said scanning unit when said scanning unit is moved manually.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 49 words

The hand-held scanner according to claim 5, further comprising a rotary encoder for providing pulse signals to a signal processing circuit of said scanning unit when said scanning unit is moved manually whereby the position of said scanning unit along a subscanning direction can be determined with high accuracy.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1990-10-26	1991-04-27	1991-10-27	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1994-10-26	1995-04-27	1995-10-27	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1998-10-26	1999-04-27	1999-10-27	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Hand-held scanner with a speed control device

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