Scanner and scanning method having adjustable length of turn region

Abstract

A scanner and a scanning method having adjustable length of turn region are disclosed. The scanner comprises a first fixed element having an entry for a paper-in end; a U-turn element; and a second fixed element having an exit for a paper-out end. In addition, the scanner further comprises at least one first movable element located between the exit of the first fixed element and the entry of the U-turn element; and at least one second movable element located between the exit of the U-turn element and the entry of the second fixed element. Moreover, the scanning method comprises: firstly inputting the length of the document into the scanner; comparing the length of the document with the length of turn region; adjusting the length of turn region according to the comparison result; scanning the document.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A scanner having an adjustable length of a turn region suitable for double-side scanning a document, wherein when the scanner is used to scan the document having a first size, the turn region has a first path, and the scanner comprises: 
 a first fixed element, wherein an entry of the first fixed element is a paper-in end;    a U-turn element, wherein two hooks of an entry of the U-turn element are engaged with two hooks located on an exit of the first fixed element respectively; and    a second fixed element, wherein two hooks located on an entry of the second fixed element are engaged with two hooks located on an exit of the U-turn element respectively, and an exit of the second fixed element is a paper-out end;    wherein when the scanner is used to scan the document having a second size, the U-turn element moves towards the entry of the first fixed element and the exit of the second fixed element, thereby enabling the document to pass a second path.    
     
     
         2 . The scanner according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one first movable element, wherein two hooks located on an entry of each of the at least one first movable element are engaged with two hooks located on an exit of another of the at least one first movable element or the two hooks located on the exit of the first fixed element respectively, and two hooks located on an exit of each of the at least one first movable element are engaged with two hooks located on an entry of another of the at least one first movable element or the two hooks located on the entry of the U-turn element respectively; and at least one second movable element, wherein two hooks located on an entry of each of the at least one second movable element are engaged with two hooks located an exit of another of the at least one second movable element or the two hooks located on the exit of the U-turn element respectively, and two hooks located on an exit of each of the at least one second movable element are engaged with two hooks located on an entry of another of the at least one second movable element or the two hooks located on the entry of the second fixed element respectively.  
     
     
         3 . The scanner according to  claim 1 , further comprising an image-reading device, wherein before the document enters the first fixed element, the image-reading device is used to scan one side of the document; and after the document leaves the second fixed element, the image-reading device is used to scan the other side of the document.  
     
     
         4 . The scanner according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a worm gear, wherein one end of the worm gear is connected to the U-turn element, and the other end of the worm gear is a free end; and    a gear making the worm gear to proceed with translation by rotation, thereby driving the U-turn element to move.    
     
     
         5 . The scanner according to  claim 1 , further comprising a roller located on an inner side of the U-turn element.  
     
     
         6 . A scanner having an adjustable length of a turn region suitable for double-side scanning, wherein the scanner comprises: 
 a first fixed element, wherein an entry of the first fixed element is a paper-in end;    a first movable element, wherein two hooks located on an entry of the first movable element are engaged with two hooks located on an exit of the first fixed element respectively, and the first movable element is retractile;    a U-turn element, wherein two hooks located on an entry of the U-turn element are engaged with two hooks located on an exit of the first movable element respectively;    a second movable element, wherein two hooks located on an entry of the second movable element are engaged with two hooks located on an exit of the U-turn element respectively, and the second movable element is retractile; and    a second fixed element, wherein two hooks located on an entry of the second fixed element are engaged with two hooks located on an exit of the second movable element respectively, and an exit of the second fixed element is a paper-out end.    
     
     
         7 . The scanner according to  claim 6 , further comprising an image-reading device, wherein before a document enters the first fixed element, the image-reading device is used to scan one side of the document; and after the document leaves the second fixed element, the image-reading device is used to scan the other side of the document.  
     
     
         8 . The scanner according to  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 a worm gear, wherein one end of the worm gear is connected to the U-turn element, and the other end of the worm gear is a free end; and    a gear making the worm gear to proceed with translation by rotation, thereby driving the U-turn element to move.    
     
     
         9 . The scanner according to  claim 6 , further comprising a roller located on an  10  inner side of the U-turn element.  
     
     
         10 . A scanning method having an adjustable length of a turn region suitable for double-side scanning a document, wherein when a scanner is used to scan the document having a first size, the turn region has a first path, and the scanning method comprises: 
 inputting a length of the document into the scanner;    comparing the length of the document with the length of the turn region;    adjusting the length of the turn region according to a result from the comparing step; and    scanning the document.    
     
     
         11 . The scanning method according to  claim 10 , wherein the inputting step is achieved via a computer.  
     
     
         12 . The scanning method according to  claim 10 , wherein the inputting step is achieved via a user interface (UI) of the scanner.  
     
     
         13 . The scanning method according to  claim 10 , wherein the scanner comprises: 
 a first fixed element, wherein an entry of the first fixed element is a paper-in end;    a U-turn element, wherein two hooks located on an entry of the U-turn element are engaged with two hooks located on an exit of the first fixed element respectively; and    a second fixed element, wherein two hooks located on an entry of the second fixed element are engaged with two hooks located on an exit of the U-turn element respectively, and an exit of the second fixed element is a paper-out end;    wherein when the scanner is used to scan the document having a second size, the U-turn element moves towards the entry of the first fixed element and the exit of the second fixed element, thereby making the document to pass a second path.    
     
     
         14 . The scanning method according to  claim 13 , wherein the scanner further comprises at least one first movable element, wherein two hooks located on an entry of each of the at least one first movable element are engaged with two hooks located on an exit of another of the at least one first movable element or the two hooks located on the exit of the first fixed element respectively, and two hooks located on an exit of each of the at least one first movable element are engaged with two hooks located on an entry of another of the at least one first movable element or the two hooks located on the entry of the U-turn element respectively; and at least one second movable element, wherein two hooks located on an entry of each of the at least one second movable element are engaged with two hooks located an exit of another of the at least one second movable element or the two hooks located on the exit of the U-turn element respectively, and two hooks located on an exit of each of the at least one second movable element are engaged with two hooks located on an entry of another of the at least one second movable element or the two hooks located on the entry of the second fixed element respectively.  
     
     
         15 . The scanning method according to  claim 13 , wherein the scanner further comprises an image-reading device, wherein before the document enters the first fixed element, the image-reading device is used to scan one side of the document; and after the document leaves the second fixed element, the image-reading device is used to scan the other side of the document.  
     
     
         16 . The scanning method according to  claim 13 , wherein the scanner further comprises: 
 a worm gear, wherein one end of the worm gear is connected to the U-turn element, and the other end of the worm gear is a free end; and    a gear making the worm gear to proceed with translation by rotation, thereby driving the U-turn element to move.    
     
     
         17 . The scanning method according to  claim 13 , wherein the scanner further comprises a roller located on an inner side of the U-turn element.