A scanner comprising a platen positioned along a first plane and configured to support an article to be scanned; one or more illuminators positioned below the platen along a second plane parallel to the first plane, and configured to emit light beams; one or more mirrors positioned between the platen and the one or more illuminators, each of the mirrors being configured to direct a light beam having a directional component parallel to the first and second planes emitted by the illuminators onto the article on the platen at the imaging point; one or more sensors configured to detect the light reflecting off the article at the imaging point along a sensor optical path; and a carriage mechanism constructed to affect relative movement parallel to the first and second planes between platen, and the one or more illuminators and the one or more mirrors in a scanning direction.