alt.CES - DIY full auto book scanner

abs.gif

fabs_whole.jpg


  1. The Shuttle/The Glider

  2. The Balance

  3. Controller

  4. Computer

  5. Scanner

  6. Rack

  7. Printer

balance_side.jpg

balance_top.jpg

  • The Glider is wound up, The Shuttle is at the right position.
  • The Shuttle moves to the left.
  • The Glider winds down until it touches the book.
  • The Shuttles moves to the right. The Glider, touching the book, filps the page.
  • The Glider winds up.
  • The Balance is lift up. The computer detects the event and sends message to the scanner.
  • The machiene pauses for 35 seconds, while the scannaer is working.
  • The Balance lifts down.
  • Repeat.

This is just what I was hoping someone had built! Totally awesome. Now it just needs to add OCR and text-to-speech to convert to MP3s that you can listen to. Thanks to woyzeck in the comments for the link.


Recent Entries

Comments

Oldest comments listed first.

Posted by: Bert on January 11, 2009 at 1:57 AM

Camera instead of scanner

With todays multimegapixel camera's it would be much easier to use that instead of a scanner. The scanner is much harder to control, especially over twain, and the machine is very slow. With a camera you can have the electronics hit the shutter with every page, and get to several pages per minute.
Only problem is the page must be flat. The incredible depth of field of a scanner is better with these curved pages.


Posted by: scarr on January 11, 2009 at 8:45 AM

Bacon instead of scanner

to Bert:

are you not just saying that if a camera was better than this would be better with a camera used? because even as you say, the camera cannot get the images/scans needed.

because if you used a camera, you would have fast, not useable, large images.


well, if bacon worked better they should use that too.


Posted by: KBSoftware on January 11, 2009 at 10:07 AM

Using a camera is more then possible

I love this project.
It would be very possible to do this project with a digital camera and it would be much faster.

There's an article or two with video on ways to do just that right here on Make. I've also experimented a bit with a program called Snapper, it works great but $50 pfft.
Google the idea and you end up with tons and tons of ways to deal to accomplish the goal on the cheap.

I love DIY and bacon :)


Leave a comment


Subscribe to MAKE!Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

Subscribe today, save 42% and get web access to MAKE free. MAKE Digital Edition is available only to subscribers.

$34.95 / 1 year
(4 Quarterly Issues)

Subscribe now


Void your warranty, violate a user agreement, fry a circuit, blow a fuse, poke an eye out. Make: The risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things... Welcome to Make: Online!


CRAFT Maker Shed Maker Faire MAKE television
Holiday Gift Guides from MAKE
Gifts for Dads
Science and Chemistry
Gifts Under $20
More guides: Santa Claus Machines, Geek Toys for Grown Up Girls & Boys


Check out all of the episodes of Make: television

Alex Rider Dream Gadget Contest
Make: Science Room

Connect with MAKE

Be a MAKE fan on Facebook MAKE on Facebook
Visit our Facebook page and become a fan of MAKE!
MAKE on Twitter MAKE on Twitter
Follow our MAKE tweets!
MAKE Flickr Pool MAKE on Flickr
Join our MAKE Flickr Pool!
    make_tips on Twitter




    Maker SHED

    Advertise here with FM.

    Why advertise on MAKE?
    Read what folks are saying about us!

    Click here to advertise on MAKE!



    Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

    Make: Online authors!

    Gareth BranwynGareth Branwyn
    Senior Editor


    Phillip TorronePhillip Torrone
    Senior Editor
    | AIM | Twitter


    Becky SternBecky Stern
    Associate Editor
    | AIM | Twitter


    Marc de VinckMarc de Vinck
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter


    John ParkJohn Park
    Contributing Writer
    | Twitter


    Sean RaganSean Ragan
    Contributing Writer
    | Twitter


    Matt MetsMatt Mets
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter


    Dale DoughertyDale Dougherty
    Editor & Publisher
    | Twitter


    Shawn ConnallyShawn Connally
    Managing Editor
    | Twitter


    Goli MohammadiGoli Mohammadi
    Associate Managing Editor

    Kip KayKip Kay
    Weekend Projects
    | AIM | Twitter


    Collin CunninghamCollin Cunningham
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter

    Adam FlahertyAdam Flaherty
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter



    More contributors: Mark Frauenfelder (Editor-in-Chief, MAKE magazine), Kipp Bradford (Technical Consultant/Writer), Chris Connors (Education), Diana Eng (Guest Author), Peter Horvath (Intern), Brian Jepson (O'Reilly Media), Robert Bruce Thompson (Science Room)

    Suggest a Site!

    Current Podcast

    itunesdl.gif Weekend Project: Beetlebot Simple robot from your parts bin that avoids obstacles. Thanks go to Jerome Demers for the original article in MAKE, Volume 12. To download the Beetlebot video, click here or subscribe in iTunes. Check out the complete Beetlebot article... More...

    Get the Make: Online sent via email
    Enter your email to receive Make: Online each day:



    MAKE Fascination video series brought to you by Dow

    Make: Education
    MAKE: en EspaƱol MAKE: Japan
    Important please read


    Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

    Recent Posts from the Craft: Blog