摘要 |
A space-saving scanner assembly and method are disclosed. The scanner assembly can be manufactured with optical scanning components typical of flatbed scanners. The scanner may be enclosed within a housing a substantially vertical source-contact surface with a channel and a flap coupled to the source-contact surface. The flap having a source-backing surface substantially parallel to the source-contact surface of the housing and arranged such that the source-contact surface, the source-backing surface, and the channel form an opening for receiving an edge of a source document to be scanned. The housing and the flap are configured with a number of features, which permit an operator to easily place a source over a platen forming a portion of the source-contact surface. A method for operating a space-saving scanner is also presented. The method can be broadly summarized by the following steps: providing a scanner with a housing with a substantially vertical source-contact surface and a channel extending therefrom, the vertical source-contact surface including a transparent platen portion, the channel adjacent to a lower edge of the transparent platen; and providing a flap coupled to the source-contact surface, the flap having a source-backing surface substantially parallel to the source-contact surface of the housing, wherein the source-contact surface, the source-backing surface, and the channel form an opening for receiving an edge of a source to be scanned.
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