Securing device for transparent documents in a flatbed scanning system

Abstract

A transparent document securing device, using in a flatbed scanner, includes a securing frame. The securing frame comprises at least a securing cell, wherein the securing cell further includes a concave, a cover and a clip mechanism. The concave includes a least a first opening and an open slot. The cover includes at least a second opening. The securing device employs the cover to mount a transparent document in a concave. A user is therefore be able to place the securing device along with the transparent document in the document glass of a scanning system. By a predetermined mode, the scanning system is able to directly scan the transparent document; no need to preview the scanned image to adjust the scanning area. Thus, the time for scanning is saved. Further the fixed depth of the concave is utilized to proved a precise focus of the scanning system. The quality of the scanned image is therefore improved.

1. A securing device for transparent documents in a scanning system, comprising:
 a securing frame, placed on a document glass of a scanner; and  
 a securing cell, formed in said securing frame, comprising, 
 a concave having a larger size than the size of a transparent document in order to contain said transparent document in said concave, wherein said concave further comprises a first opening having a smaller size than the size of said transparent document, and  
 a cover, wherein a first side of said cover linearly contacts a first side of said concave in order to let said cover be able to close said concave, said cover further comprising a second opening, wherein the area of said second opening is smaller than the area of said transparent document.  
 
 
     
     
       2. The securing device of  claim 1 , wherein the size of said frame is same as the size of said document glass. 
     
     
       3. The securing device of  claim 1 , wherein said securing cell further comprises:
 a clip mechanism, located on a second side of said concave and a second side of said cover, the second side of said cover opposite to the first side of said cover, the second side of said concave opposite to the first side of said concave, wherein said cover can be mounted on said concave by said clip mechanism when said cover is closed in said concave.  
 
     
     
       4. The securing device of  claim 3 , wherein said clip mechanism comprises:
 a mounting clip, located on the second side of said cover, wherein the second side of said cover is opposite to the first side of said cover, the extending direction of said mounting clip being perpendicular to the surface of said cover; and  
 a mounting slot, located on the second side of said concave, wherein the position of said mounting slot is the same as the position of said mounting clip when said cover closes on said concave in order to mount said mounting clip on said mounting slot.  
 
     
     
       5. The securing device of  claim 3 , wherein said clip mechanism further comprises:
 a cushion aperture, located on the second side of said cover, for providing an elastic force in a parallel direction of the surface of said cover.  
 
     
     
       6. The securing device of  claim 1 , wherein the side of said cover is smaller than the size of said concave, the thickness of said cover is less than the thickness of said concave in order to make the surface of said cover the same as the surface of said concave when said cover is closed in said concave. 
     
     
       7. The securing device of  claim 1 , wherein the area of said first opening is same as the area of said second opening; the position of said first opening is same as the position of said second opening. 
     
     
       8. The securing device of  claim 1 , wherein said concave comprises:
 an open slot, located on the second side of said concave, the second side of said concave being opposite to the first side of said concave, for convenient usage of opening said cover from said concave.  
 
     
     
       9. The securing device of  claim 1 , wherein said securing frame and securing cell are made in one piece during manufacture. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus for securing a transparent document on a document glass in a scanning system, the apparatus comprising:
   a securing frame configured to be placed on the document glass; and        a securing cell in the securing frame, the securing cell including      a concave for receiving the transparent document; and        a cover configured to close over the concave and secure the transparent document in the concave, wherein the cover pivots about an inner edge portion of the concave to close over the concave.       
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the securing frame is at least approximately the same size as the document glass. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the securing cell further includes a clip mechanism for securing the cover over the concave. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the securing cell further includes a clip mechanism for securing the cover over the concave, the clip mechanism including
   at least one mounting clip carried by the cover; and        at least one mounting slot carried by the securing frame, wherein the mounting slot receives the at least one mounting clip.     
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the securing cell further includes a cushion aperture for cushioning at least a portion of the cover on the securing frame. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the cover has an area that is smaller than an area of the concave, and wherein the cover has a thickness that is less than a depth of the concave. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the securing frame and the concave form a unitary structure. 
     
     
       17. A scanning apparatus, comprising:
   a frame for supporting a transparent document in a scanning system during scanning;        means for receiving the transparent document in a recessed opening in the frame, wherein the receiving means is carried by the frame; and        means for securing the transparent document within the opening, wherein the securing means rotates about an inner edge portion of the opening.     
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a document glass member for receiving the frame, wherein the frame has an area that is at least approximately the same size as an area of the document glass member. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising means for releasably attaching the securing means over the opening. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising means for releasably attaching the securing means over the opening, wherein the releasably attaching means includes
   at least one mounting clip; and        at least one mounting slot for receiving the at least one mounting clip, wherein the at least one mounting clip engages the at least one mounting slot.     
     
     
       21. The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising means for cushioning the securing means against at least a portion of the frame. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the securing means has a size that is smaller than a size of the recessing means, and the securing means has a thickness that is less than a depth of the opening. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the supporting means and the receiving means form a unitary structure.