Slide securing device for flatbed scanning system

• US 6,678,075 B1
• Filed: 06/07/2000
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2000
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Mind Fusion, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Mustek Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Tsai, Jenn-Tsair, Tsaur, Chieng-Ming
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Cheukfan
• Application Number:
  US09/588,642
• Time in Patent Office: 1,315 Days
• Field of Search: 358/487, 358/506, 358/497, 358/471, 358/474, 358/400, 399/378, 399/377, 355/75, 250/234-236, 353/120, 353/108, 353/103
• US Class Current: 358/487
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/60 Apparatus which relate to the handling of originals for photographic purposes in general G03B
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/1013 with sub-scanning by translatory movement of at least a part of the main-scanning components H04N1/107 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0406 Scanning slides
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0422 Media holders, covers, supports, backgrounds; Arrangements to facilitate placing of the medium H04N2201/0406 - H04N2201/0412, H04N2201/0434 take precedence

Abstract

A slide securing device, using in a flatbed scanner, includes a frame and a securing cell. The securing cell comprises an aperture, a first securing clip, a second securing clip, a first securing groove, a second securing groove, a picking portion, a first support member and a second support member. The slide securing device utilizes proper clips for holding slides. Thus, the scanner can directly scan the secured slides by predetermined parameters and reset mode, in order to save scanning time. Further, the securing grooves maintains slides at a fixed height to improve the scanning quality.

Claims

1. An apparatus for securing a slide, comprising:

a frame, placed on a document glass of a scanner; and

a securing cell, formed in said frame, comprising,

an aperture having a larger size than the size of a slide,

a first securing clip, located on a first side of said aperture, providing force to push a first edge of said slide and enforcing a second edge of said slide attaching a second side of said aperture, wherein said second side of said aperture opposite to said first side and said second edge of said slide opposite said first edge of said slide,

a second securing clip, located on a third side of said aperture, providing force to push a third edge of said slide and enforcing a fourth edge of said slide attaching a fourth side of said aperture, wherein said fourth second side of said aperture opposite to said third side and said fourth edge of said slide opposite said third edge of said slide, and

a first securing groove, located on said fourth side of said aperture, securing said fourth edge of said slide on said first securing groove during said second securing clip enforcing said third edge of said slide, in order to prevent the movement of slide and maintain a fixed height in said securing cell.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the size of said frame is same as the size of said document glass.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said aperture comprises a picking portion, located on the fourth side of said aperture, for picking said slide.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a first support member, extending from the bottom of said first side of said aperture, for supporting said slide in said securing cell; and

a second support member, extending from the bottom of said second side of said aperture, for supporting said slide in said securing cell.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first securing groove is V shape.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first securing groove is U shape.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said frame and said securing cell are molded in one piece.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second securing clip comprises:

a second securing groove, which is formed on the same plane of said first securing groove, securing said third edge of side slide on said second securing groove when said second securing clip enforces said third edge of said slide, in order to prevent the movement of said slide in said securing cell and maintain said slide at said fixed height.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first securing groove is V shape.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first securing groove is ∩

shape.