Method and systems of automated document processing described herein include activating in sequence a plurality of illumination modules of an illumination source to illuminate a document, where the plurality of illumination modules are located at different positions relative to the document. The document can be imaged each time the document is illuminated by an illumination module to provide a plurality of images. A shadow profile of the document can be obtained based on the plurality of images. One or more of a boundary of the document and presence of a fastener attached to the document can be identified using the shadow profile. Any fasteners present may be removed using a robot arm.

A scanner unit includes a first reading section that reads a medium via a transparent member; and a bracing member that pushes the medium toward the transparent member by a coil spring. The bracing member includes a contact portion coming into contact with the transparent member in a downstream of a first reading region, and a gap forming surface that is positioned in a direction further away from the transparent member than the contact portion, which includes the first reading region, in an upstream of the contact portion, and is formed with a gap in which the medium is configured to be transported between the pushing member and the transparent member. A pressing position of the pushing member by the coil spring is shifted from a position of the contact portion in a medium transporting direction.

Method and systems of automated document processing described herein include activating in sequence a plurality of illumination modules of an illumination source to illuminate a document, where the plurality of illumination modules are located at different positions relative to the document. The document can be imaged each time the document is illuminated by an illumination module to provide a plurality of images. A shadow profile of the document can be obtained based on the plurality of images. One or more of a boundary of the document and presence of a fastener attached to the document can be identified using the shadow profile. Any fasteners present may be removed using a robot arm.

A scanner unit includes a first reading section that reads a medium via a transparent member; and a bracing member that pushes the medium toward the transparent member by a coil spring. The bracing member includes a contact portion coming into contact with the transparent member in a downstream of a first reading region, and a gap forming surface that is positioned in a direction further away from the transparent member than the contact portion, which includes the first reading region, in an upstream of the contact portion, and is formed with a gap in which the medium is configured to be transported between the pushing member and the transparent member. A pressing position of the pushing member by the coil spring is shifted from a position of the contact portion in a medium transporting direction.

Devices and methods automatically detach a note sheet from a document to which the note sheet is detachably attached and scanning the note sheet separately from the note-sheet-detached document to yield digitalized copies of the document and note-sheet. A note display-processing unit involving the devices and methods processes the digitalized document copy and the digitalized note-sheet copy to generate note-embedded document data producing, when the note-embedded document data is displayed on a computer display, a digitalized document copy with a note-sheet-representing icon, added to the digitalized document copy at a predetermined position thereon, that causes the digitalized note-sheet copy to appear whenever a display-interactive cursor moves over the icon. The note sheet may be automatically reattached to the document in the note sheet's original position on the document.

An image reading apparatus according to an embodiment includes an image reading unit configured to generate reference data by reading a reference surface and to generate image data by reading a sheet. A reference unit has a reference surface. A shading correction unit determines whether a portion of the reference surface includes a contaminant based on image data generated by the image reading unit reading the portion of the reference unit. When the portion of the reference surface is determined to not include a contaminant, the shading correction unit generates reference data based on the image data generated by the image reading unit reading the portion of the reference surface determined to not include a contaminant.

In one example, an apparatus includes a transparent platen to receive a document to be scanned. The transparent platen includes a scan line, an ingress edge positioned prior to the scan line in the document path, and a chamfered egress edge positioned subsequent to the document path. A light source is positioned to illuminate the document with light while the document passes across the scan line, and a focusing mechanism is positioned to focus a portion of the light that is reflected by the document onto a sensor that senses the portion of the light.

A scanner includes a paper feeding roller set, a paper exporting roller set, a scanning module, a background and calibration roller, a main driving assembly, a first sleeve, a torque limiter and a stop-driving assembly. The paper feeding roller set and the paper exporting roller set are driven by the main driving assembly. The background and calibration roller includes a black background section, a white background section and at least one calibration section. The first sleeve sleeves the first end and is linked to the main driving assembly. The torque limiter is disposed between the background and calibration roller and the first sleeve and contacts the same. The stop-driving assembly is selectively abutted against two portions of the background and calibration roller.

An image reading apparatus according to an embodiment includes an image reading unit configured to generate reference data by reading a reference surface and to generate image data by reading a sheet. A reference unit has a reference surface. A shading correction unit determines whether a portion of the reference surface includes a contaminant based on image data generated by the image reading unit reading the portion of the reference unit. When the portion of the reference surface is determined to not include a contaminant, the shading correction unit generates reference data based on the image data generated by the image reading unit reading the portion of the reference surface determined to not include a contaminant.

Method and systems of automated document processing described herein include activating in sequence a plurality of illumination modules of an illumination source to illuminate a document, where the plurality of illumination modules are located at different positions relative to the document. The document can be imaged each time the document is illuminated by an illumination module to provide a plurality of images. A shadow profile of the document can be obtained based on the plurality of images. One or more of a boundary of the document and presence of a fastener attached to the document can be identified using the shadow profile. Any fasteners present may be removed using a robot arm.