Paul E Keyes, 57905 Summit St SW, North Canton, OH 44720

5330173, Jul 19, 1994

Mar 11, 1993

8/029718

Gary L. Wensink - Miami OK
Paul E. Keyes - Killeen TX

B65H 506

271240

A hand scanner support and paper guide apparatus is disclosed for mechanically scanning a thin sheet, e. g. a sheet of paper, using a scanner designed to be hand-held. The apparatus includes a housing which includes a planar upper wall which serves as a flat surface along which the thin sheet is moved. A support assembly is connected to the housing and supports the scanner a spaced distance above the planar upper wall as the thin sheet is moved past the scanner. A guide assembly is connected to the housing and guides the thin sheet in a straight path as the thin sheet is moved along the planar upper wall. A drive assembly is housed within the housing and moved the thin sheet past the scanner. The drive assembly includes a driven, thin-sheet-contacting element such as a cylindrical roller; and a slot, in the planar upper wall, permits the cylindrical roller to contact and move the thin sheet as it lies on the planar upper wall. The scanner support assembly includes a first support element which supports the scanner from below the scanner; and the scanner support assembly also includes a second support element which supports the scanner from above the scanner.