Device and method to inhibit residue on platen glass while scanning

• US 20070189821A1
• Filed: 02/13/2006
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Waara, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 7,796,788 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/379
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/605 Holders for originals or exposure platens for photographic purposes in general G03B

Abstract

In an electrophotographic marking system a guard is provided to prevent fingerprint smears or markings on a platen glass. When fingerprint images are made, oil and other debris from the fingers mark the platen and cause subsequent images to reproduce these markings. This guard protects the platen from said marks via a convenient and economical expedient.

Claims

1. A platen glass structure useful in an electrophotographic marking system including fingerprint imaging which comprises in an operative arrangement a platen glass, and a movable clear transparent guard, said guard movably secured to said platen by a hinge adjacent to said platen glass, said hinge connected to both said platen and said guard and enabled to be moved to a scanning surface of said platen to the same location on each run, said guard containing a finger placement marked designation.

2. The transparent guard of claim 1 comprising said marked finger placement designation which corresponds to a scanning section of said platen and adapted to direct a user to a correct finger scanning location.

3. The guard of claim 1 taking the form of a member selected from the group consisting of a card shape, an unwindable roll and mixtures thereof.

4. The transparent guard of claim 1 wherein said guard takes the form of a flat card having one edge closest to said platen hinge attached to said platen.

5. The guard of claim 1 wherein said guard is enabled to be flipped onto said platen to provide a target area for placement of a finger during a fingerprinting imaging process.

6. The guard of claim 1 wherein said guard is from a portion of an unwindable roll having perforations for tearing off each guard section when desirable.

7. The guard of claim 1 wherein said guard is a section provided from a perforated unwindable roll, said section having printed thereon a finger placement designation having a specific color and shape for providing a clear target section for a user.

8. A platen glass section of an electrostatic marking system useful for making images of fingerprints, said section comprising in an operative arrangement, a flat platen glass (platen), a transparent guard, and a hinge, said hinge movably connecting said guard to a portion adjacent said platen glass, said platen comprising a portion that is enabled to be scanned when in a fingerprint imaging mode, said portion coinciding with a location on said platen where said guard is enabled to be moved and set, said guard adapted to be moved to said location on each imaging run conducted, said guard enabled to be replaced after constant and extended usage, said guard having printed thereon a finger placement designation area having a specific color and shape for providing a clear target for finger placement.

9. The transparent guard of claim 8 comprising said marked finger placement designation which corresponds to a scanning section of said platen and adapted to direct a user to a correct finger scanning location.

10. The guard of claim 8 taking the form of a member selected from the group consisting of a card shape, an unwindable roll and mixtures thereof.

11. The transparent guard of claim 8 wherein said guard takes the form of a flat card having one edge closest to said platen hinge attached to said platen.

12. The guard of claim 8 wherein said guard is enabled to be flipped onto said platen to provide a target area for placement of a finger during a fingerprinting imaging process.

13. The guard of claim 8 wherein said guard is from a portion of an unwindable roll having perforations for tearing off each guard section when desirable.

14. A platen glass section of an electrostatic marking system useful for making fingerprint images, said section comprising in an operative arrangement, a flat platen glass (platen), a transparent and clear guard, and a hinge, said hinge movably connected to a portion adjacent said platen glass, said platen comprising a portion that is enabled to be scanned when in a fingerprinting imaging mode, said portion coinciding with a location on said platen where said guard is enabled to be moved onto said platen and secured thereon, said guard adapted to be moved to said exact location on each fingerprint imaging run, said guard enabled to be replaced after wear and usage by either replacement of said guard alone or said guard and hinge, said guard enabled to prevent finger oil and other debris from contacting said platen, said portion enabled to be detected by a pre-scan if left on said platen after said fingerprint imaging run.

15. The section of claim 14 wherein said guard is enabled to be placed on said platen near a scan start point in order to minimize the amount of scanner movement.

16. The guard of claim 14 taking the form of a member selected from the group consisting of a card shape, an unwindable roll and mixtures thereof.

17. The transparent guard of claim 14 wherein said guard takes the form of a flat card having one edge closest to said platen hinge attached to said platen.

18. The guard of claim 14 wherein said guard is from a portion of an unwindable roll having perforations for tearing off each guard section when desirable.

19. The guard of claim 14 wherein said guard is a section provided from a perforated unwindable roll, said section having printed thereon a finger placement designation having a specific color and shape for providing a clear target section for a user.

20. The guard of claim 14 wherein said guard contains a finger placement designation, said designation taking the form of a green target marking wherein said green target marking is enabled to be detected by a pre-scan so that a user will be warned that there is something on the scanner and no jams will be caused by someone leaving said guard on said platen after being authenticated by said scanner.