Verifying accuracy of a scanned document

Abstract

A document scanner ( 10 ) includes an input tray ( 30 ) for holding documents ( 20 ) and an input image capture device ( 40 ) for capturing images of the documents ( 20 ) in the input tray ( 30 ) prior to transporting the document for imaging; an output tray ( 150 ) for holding documents ( 20 ) after the documents ( 20 ) exit the scanner; an output image capture device ( 140 ) for capturing images of the output tray; an image processor for determining characteristics of the output tray or characteristic of the documents ( 20 ) before imaging and after the documents ( 20 ) exit the scanner; and scanner functions are modified based on the output tray characteristics or the document characteristics.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of verifying accuracy of a raster scanned image of a document comprising:
 providing an input tray for holding documents prior to imaging; 
 capturing an image of an unaltered document in the input tray with an input imaging device; 
 transmitting the captured input tray image to an image processor; 
 transporting the unaltered document through a document scanner; 
 capturing a raster scanned image of the unaltered document with a raster capture device; 
 transmitting the raster scanned image to the image processor; 
 verifying the accuracy of the raster scanned image by comparing the raster scanned image of the unaltered document to the captured input tray image of the unaltered document; and 
 modifying scanner functions if the raster scanned image of the unaltered document does not match the captured input tray image of the unaltered document. 
 
     
     
       2. The method as in  claim 1  wherein the scanner functions are selected from a group consisting of rotation of the raster capture device, changing a color capture mode, or cleaning image optics. 
     
     
       3. The method as in  claim 1  wherein the input tray image of the unaltered document is captured as an area image rather than as a raster scanned image. 
     
     
       4. The method as in  claim 1  wherein the input tray image of the unaltered document is low resolution. 
     
     
       5. The method as in  claim 1  wherein the input tray image of the unaltered document is high resolution. 
     
     
       6. The method as in  claim 1  comprising:
 alerting a document scanner operator if the raster scanned image of the document does not match the input tray image of the unaltered document. 
 
     
     
       7. The method as in  claim 1  comprising:
 providing an output tray for holding documents after the documents exit the scanner; 
 capturing an output tray image of the document in the output tray with an output imaging device; 
 transmitting the captured output tray image to the imaging processor; and 
 verifying the accuracy of the raster scanned image by comparing the raster scanned image of the document to the input tray image of the unaltered document or the output tray image of the document or both.