Platens for imaging devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9674382-B2
Application number	US-201213532318-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 25, 2012
Priority date	Jun 25, 2012
Publication date	Jun 6, 2017
Grant date	Jun 6, 2017

Abstract

Platens for imaging devices are disclosed. An example platen for an imaging device includes a body to be removably coupled to an upper surface of the imaging device. The body includes a first portion and a second portion opposite the first portion. An object whose image is to be captured is to be placed on the first portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a platen to be removably coupled to an upper surface of an imaging device, the platen including a first portion and a second portion opposite the first portion, an object whose image is to be captured is to be placed on the first portion, a paper output path being defined between the platen body and the upper surface of the imaging device,
wherein the first portion is to face a camera pivotably coupled to the imaging device via an articulating arm, the camera being disposed at an end of the articulating arm, the articulating arm being independently moveable relative to the platen between a non-use position and a use position, in the non-use position the end and the camera being spaced a first distance from the platen, in the use position the end and the camera being spaced a second distance from the platen, the first distance being less than the second distance to enable the image to be captured of the object.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first portion is to face an image capture device, the image capture device to face the paper output path to enable the image of the object to be captured, the platen to be disposed between the paper output path and the image capture device, the image capture device pivotabiy coupled to the imaging device.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first portion is removably coupled to the second portion to enable either a first surface of the first portion or a second surface of the first portion to face the image capture device, when the first portion is coupled to the second portion and the first surface faces the second portion, the second surface faces the image capture device, when the first portion is coupled to the second portion and the second surface faces the second portion, the first surface faces the image capture device.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first and second portions are removably coupled with magnets.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the first surface includes a first color and the second surface includes a second color, the first and second colors associated with a background to be removed from around the image.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the first portion includes a varying thickness portion to enable the first portion to be reversed to place either the first surface or the second surface facing the image capture device.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 , herein at least a portion of the platen is non-transparent to the image capture device from including the upper surface of the imaging device in the image, the upper surface facing the second portion of the platen.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the imaging device includes a printer and the object includes a three-dimensional object.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including a plurality of posts that extend from the second portion to matingly engage the imaging device.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the posts or the imaging device includes magnets to removably couple the platen to the imaging device.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the platen includes a rib to enable the platen to be aligned relative to the imaging device.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second portion includes a plurality of ribs extending from the platen body toward the upper surface, the ribs at least partially define the paper output path of the imaging device.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second portion receives the first portion in a clam-shell arrangement.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the platen is opaque.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the platen is to be removably coupled to the upper surface of the imaging device to enable access to at least one of a paper jam within the imaging device and a consumable within the imaging device.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second portion includes a perimeter wall defining a cavity to removably receive the first portion.

17. The platen of claim 1 wherein the platen includes a guide that at least partially defines the paper output path of the imaging device.

18. The platen of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of he platen is transparent.

19. A platen for an imaging device, comprising:
a platen body to be removably coupled to an upper surface of the imaging device, the platen body including a first portion and a second portion opposite the first portion, an object whose image is to be captured is to be placed on the first portion, a paper output path being defined between the platen body and the upper surface of the imaging device, the first portion to face an image capture device, the image capture device pivotably coupled to the imaging device, the second portion defines a receptacle to receive at least a portion of the image capture device when the image capture device is in a non-use position, the image capture device being immediately adjacent the receptacle in the non-use position, the image capture device being spaced from the receptacle and the platen body in a use position.

20. The platen of claim 19 , wherein the image capture device being immediately adjacent the receptacle in the non-use position is to prevent condensation from forming on the image capture device during a printing operation of imaging device.

21. An apparatus, comprising:
a housing;
an image capture device operably coupled to the housing; and
a platen removably coupled to the housing between the housing and the image capture device to facilitate capture of an image of an object on the platen, a paper output path being defined by the housing and the platen, wherein the platen includes a guide that at least partially defines the paper output path of an imaging device.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the platen includes a plurality of locators to align the platen relative to the imaging device.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the platen includes a plurality of pegs extending therefrom that are to be received in apertures of the housing to removably couple the platen to the housing.

24. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the housing includes a plurality of pegs extending therefrom that are to be received in apertures of the platen to removably couple the platen to the housing.

25. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the guide includes a plurality of ribs.

26. The apparatus of claim 21 , further including an, arm coupled between the housing and the image capture device, the arm pivotably coupling the image capture device to the housing.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 , wherein the arm is pivotably coupled to the image capture device at a pivot, the platen spaced from the pivot when the platen is removably coupled to the housing.

28. The platen of claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of the platen is transparent to show a portion of the paper output path.

Assignees

• Larson David B
• Blue D Matthew
• Richtsmeier Dean J
• Hewlett Packard Development Co Lp

Inventors

• Larson David B
• Blue D Matthew
• Richtsmeier Dean J

Classifications

• H04N1/19594

  using a television camera or a still video camera · CPC title

• H04N1/12

  using the sheet-feed movement {or the medium-advance or the drum-rotation movement} as the slow scanning component, {e.g. arrangements for the main-scanning}({sheet-feed movement by translatory movement of a flat picture-bearing surface H04N1/1008; main-scanning using oscillating or rotating mirrors H04N1/113; } using multi-element arrays H04N1/19) · CPC title

• H04N2201/0081

  Image reader (H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence) · CPC title

• H04N1/00551 Primary

  Top covers or the like · CPC title

• H04N2201/0091

  Digital copier; digital 'photocopier' (H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence) · CPC title