SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SCANNING AND PROCESSING PRINTED MEDIA

• US 20100322373A1
• Filed: 01/13/2010
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John Eric Churilla
• Original Assignee: John Eric Churilla
• Inventors: Churilla, John Eric
• Granted Patent: US 9,068,920 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/4
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/04 and forming images of the material
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/046 using tomography, e.g. computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/083 the radiation being X-rays
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/087 using polyenergetic X-rays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00795 Reading arrangements details of scanning heads H04N1/024; scanning arrangements therefor H04N1/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00827 Arrangements for reading an image from an unusual original, e.g. 3-dimensional objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/04 Scanning arrangements , i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versaH04N1/387 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/12 using the sheet-feed movement or the medium-advance or the drum-rotation movement as the slow scanning component, e.g. arrangements for the main-scanningsheet-feed movement by translatory movement of a flat picture-bearing surface H04N1/1008; main-scanning using oscillating or rotating mirrors H04N1/113; using multi-element arrays H04N1/19
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0434 specially adapted for scanning pages of a book

Abstract

A mobile scanner is disclosed and may include a frame. A front axle and a rear axle may be attached to the frame. The front axle may include a first tire/wheel assembly mounted thereon and a second tire/wheel assembly mounted thereon. Further, the rear axle may include a first tire/wheel assembly mounted thereon and a second tire/wheel assembly mounted thereon. Moreover, a cab may be mounted on the frame and a body may be mounted on the frame adjacent to the cab. A volumetric document scanner may be disposed within the body. The volumetric document scanner may be configured to use x-ray computed tomography in order to scan documents and create a three-dimensional data set representing the documents.

Claims

1. A mobile scanner, comprising:

a frame;

a front axle attached to the frame, wherein the front axle includes a first tire/wheel assembly mounted thereon and a second tire/wheel assembly mounted thereon;

a rear axle attached to the frame, wherein the rear axle includes a first tire/wheel assembly mounted thereon and a second tire/wheel assembly mounted thereon;

a cab mounted on the frame;

a body mounted on the frame adjacent to the cab; and

a volumetric document scanner disposed within the body, wherein the volumetric document scanner is configured to use x-ray computed tomography in order to scan documents and create a three-dimensional data set representing the documents.

2. The mobile scanner of claim 1, wherein the body comprises:

a first portion; and

a second portion separated from the first portion, wherein the volumetric document scanner is installed within the second portion of the body.

3. The mobile scanner of claim 2, wherein the second portion of the body is shielded to prevent radiation from the volumetric document scanner from passing through the second portion of the body.

4. The mobile scanner of claim 3, wherein the second portion of the body comprises:

a first external access door on a first side of the body; and

a second external access door on a second side of the body.

5. The mobile scanner of claim 4, further comprising:

a first conveyor belt portion within the first external access door;

a second conveyor belt portion within the second external access door; and

a third conveyor belt portion disposed between the first conveyor belt portion and the second conveyor belt portion.

6. The mobile scanner of claim 5, wherein the first external access door and the second external access door are movable between an open position, in which access is provided to the scanner, and a closed position, in which access is not provided to the scanner.

7. The mobile scanner of claim 6, wherein the first conveyor portion, the second conveyor portion, and the third conveyor portion establish a conveyor system through the volumetric document scanner when the first external access door and the second external access doors are in the open position.

8. A method of scanning documents, the method comprising:

moving a mobile scanner to a location associated with one or more documents; and

scanning the documents in the mobile scanner using x-ray computed tomography in order to create scan data associated with the documents.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

storing the scan data in a removable memory within the mobile scanner.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

removing the removable memory from the mobile scanner.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

installing the removable memory in a computer at a central processing facility.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

processing the scan data at the central processing facility to create an electronic representation of the documents.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

outputting the electronic representation of the documents.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

transmitting the scan data to a central processing facility via a wireless link;

processing the scan data at the central processing facility to create an electronic representation of the documents; and

outputting the electronic representation of the documents.

15. A method of scanning documents, the method comprising:

moving a mobile scanner to a location associated with one or more documents;

scanning the documents in the mobile scanner using x-ray computed tomography in order to create scan data associated with the documents; and

processing the scan data at the location to create an electronic representation of the documents.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

storing the electronic representation of the documents in a removable memory within the mobile scanner.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

removing the removable memory from the mobile scanner.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

installing the removable memory in a computer at a central processing facility; and

transferring the electronic representation of the documents to the central processing facility.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

storing the electronic representation of the documents at the central facility.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

transmitting the electronic representation of the documents to a central processing facility via a wireless link; and

storing the electronic representation of the documents at the central processing facility.