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EP0512103B1 - Introducteur de documents a recirculation - Google Patents

Introducteur de documents a recirculation Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0512103B1
EP0512103B1 EP92900606A EP92900606A EP0512103B1 EP 0512103 B1 EP0512103 B1 EP 0512103B1 EP 92900606 A EP92900606 A EP 92900606A EP 92900606 A EP92900606 A EP 92900606A EP 0512103 B1 EP0512103 B1 EP 0512103B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
document
sheet
stack
sheets
reproduction apparatus
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP92900606A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0512103A1 (fr
Inventor
Matthew Jouette Russel
John Edward Cockayne
Gary Paul Lawniczak
Michael James Bergeron
Joel John Ruggiero
Alan Earl Rapkin
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Eastman Kodak Co
Original Assignee
Eastman Kodak Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US07/617,247 external-priority patent/US5116035A/en
Priority claimed from US07/617,336 external-priority patent/US5076559A/en
Priority claimed from US07/617,249 external-priority patent/US5098077A/en
Priority claimed from US07/617,246 external-priority patent/US5076560A/en
Priority claimed from US07/617,230 external-priority patent/US5108083A/en
Priority claimed from US07/617,337 external-priority patent/US5085418A/en
Priority claimed from US07/617,248 external-priority patent/US5076558A/en
Application filed by Eastman Kodak Co filed Critical Eastman Kodak Co
Publication of EP0512103A1 publication Critical patent/EP0512103A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0512103B1 publication Critical patent/EP0512103B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H5/00—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines
    • B65H5/02—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines by belts or chains, e.g. between belts or chains
    • B65H5/021—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines by belts or chains, e.g. between belts or chains by belts
    • B65H5/025—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines by belts or chains, e.g. between belts or chains by belts between belts and rotary means, e.g. rollers, drums, cylinders or balls, forming a transport nip
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/08—Separating articles from piles using pneumatic force
    • B65H3/12—Suction bands, belts, or tables moving relatively to the pile
    • B65H3/124—Suction bands or belts
    • B65H3/126—Suction bands or belts separating from the bottom of pile
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/46—Supplementary devices or measures to assist separation or prevent double feed
    • B65H3/48—Air blast acting on edges of, or under, articles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H5/00—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines
    • B65H5/22—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines by air-blast or suction device
    • B65H5/222—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines by air-blast or suction device by suction devices
    • B65H5/224—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines by air-blast or suction device by suction devices by suction belts
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H5/00—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines
    • B65H5/26—Duplicate, alternate, selective, or coacting feeds
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H5/00—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines
    • B65H5/34—Varying the phase of feed relative to the receiving machine
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H7/00—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles
    • B65H7/02—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles by feelers or detectors
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H7/00—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles
    • B65H7/16—Controlling air-supply to pneumatic separators
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H7/00—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles
    • B65H7/18—Modifying or stopping actuation of separators
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H83/00—Combinations of piling and depiling operations, e.g. performed simultaneously, of interest apart from the single operation of piling or depiling as such
    • B65H83/02—Combinations of piling and depiling operations, e.g. performed simultaneously, of interest apart from the single operation of piling or depiling as such performed on the same pile or stack
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H9/00—Registering, e.g. orientating, articles; Devices therefor
    • B65H9/06—Movable stops or gauges, e.g. rising and falling front stops
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H9/00—Registering, e.g. orientating, articles; Devices therefor
    • B65H9/10—Pusher and like movable registers; Pusher or gripper devices which move articles into registered position
    • B65H9/103—Pusher and like movable registers; Pusher or gripper devices which move articles into registered position acting by friction or suction on the article for pushing or pulling it into registered position, e.g. against a stop
    • B65H9/106—Pusher and like movable registers; Pusher or gripper devices which move articles into registered position acting by friction or suction on the article for pushing or pulling it into registered position, e.g. against a stop using rotary driven elements as part acting on the article
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/60—Apparatus which relate to the handling of originals
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/60—Apparatus which relate to the handling of originals
    • G03G15/602—Apparatus which relate to the handling of originals for transporting
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2403/00—Power transmission; Driving means
    • B65H2403/40—Toothed gearings
    • B65H2403/41—Rack-and-pinion, cogwheel in cog railway
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2403/00—Power transmission; Driving means
    • B65H2403/40—Toothed gearings
    • B65H2403/41—Rack-and-pinion, cogwheel in cog railway
    • B65H2403/411—Double rack cooperating with one pinion, e.g. for performing symmetrical displacement relative to pinion
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2406/00—Means using fluid
    • B65H2406/30—Suction means
    • B65H2406/32—Suction belts
    • B65H2406/323—Overhead suction belt, i.e. holding material against gravity
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
    • B65H2511/10—Size; Dimensions
    • B65H2511/12—Width
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
    • B65H2511/10—Size; Dimensions
    • B65H2511/15—Height, e.g. of stack
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
    • B65H2511/20—Location in space
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
    • B65H2511/20—Location in space
    • B65H2511/21—Angle
    • B65H2511/212—Rotary position
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
    • B65H2511/50—Occurence
    • B65H2511/51—Presence
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2513/00—Dynamic entities; Timing aspects
    • B65H2513/40—Movement
    • B65H2513/42—Route, path
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2513/00—Dynamic entities; Timing aspects
    • B65H2513/50—Timing
    • B65H2513/512—Starting; Stopping
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2515/00—Physical entities not provided for in groups B65H2511/00 or B65H2513/00
    • B65H2515/10—Mass, e.g. mass flow rate; Weight; Inertia
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2553/00—Sensing or detecting means
    • B65H2553/60—Details of intermediate means between the sensing means and the element to be sensed
    • B65H2553/61—Mechanical means, e.g. contact arms
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
    • G03G2215/00172—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes relative to the original handling
    • G03G2215/00337—Document set detector
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
    • G03G2215/00362—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes relating to the copy medium handling
    • G03G2215/00367—The feeding path segment where particular handling of the copy medium occurs, segments being adjacent and non-overlapping. Each segment is identified by the most downstream point in the segment, so that for instance the segment labelled "Fixing device" is referring to the path between the "Transfer device" and the "Fixing device"
    • G03G2215/00417—Post-fixing device
    • G03G2215/00421—Discharging tray, e.g. devices stabilising the quality of the copy medium, postfixing-treatment, inverting, sorting

Definitions

  • This invention relates in general to recirculating document feeders for use with electrostatographic reproduction apparatus, and more particularly to a recirculating document feeder having improved document sheet handling reliability and enhanced ease of operation.
  • Recirculating document feeders such as shown for example in U.S. -A- 4,169,674 deliver document sheets seriatim to the reproduction apparatus exposure station and return the sheets to the document stack in order. At the exposure station, only one reproduction of each respective document sheet is made on one circulation. The desired number of reproductions is made by recirculating the document sheets from the stack to the exposure station and then back to the stack a corresponding number of times. By such reproduction sequence, the reproduction set of the document set is received at an output hopper in collated order. Thus no subsequent operational steps on the reproduction set are required.
  • recirculating document feeders While recirculating document feeders have proven very popular in that they enhance productivity and increase ease of use of the reproduction apparatus, they require complex construction to reliably recirculate the document sheets and effectively handle the document sheets in a manner to prevent damage thereto. Additionally, the use of the recirculating document feeder can be complicated for an untrained operator, particularly when a sheet jam occurs in the feeder or reproduction apparatus and the document set has to be rearranged in the feeder.
  • EP-A-0 045 061 discloses a sheet feeding apparatus adapted for use in a document copier for feeding sheets seriatim from a document supply tray to an exposure station.
  • a vacuum-operated sheet transport mechanism is used for further advancing a sheet along a desired path.
  • the device is provided with an additional sheet turnover drum which is located at the end of the transport mechanism.
  • This invention is directed to a recirculating document feeder, for use with a reproduction apparatus, which is constructed to improve its document sheet handling reliability and enhance its ease of use.
  • the improved recirculating document feeder comprises a support for a document sheet stack, with a selected side of each sheet facing up and with a selected side of the topmost sheet in the stack oriented for ready viewing.
  • a first feed path extends away from and then back to the support, for directing sheets from the bottom of a stack into association with the reproducing station of a reproduction apparatus and then to the top of the stack, the first feed path defining with the support a closed-loop that inverts a sheet and directs the sheet into association with the reproducing station with the selected side down and then inverts the sheet again and directs the sheet to the top of the stack with the selected side up.
  • a second feed path communicates with the first feed path between the portion for directing sheets from the bottom of a stack and the reproducing station, for inverting a sheet in the first feed path
  • a third feed path communicates with the first feed path between the reproducing station and the portion for directing sheets to the top of the stack, for inverting a sheet in the first feed path.
  • Document sheets are selectively fed from the stack seriatim in a first mode of operation along the first feed path from and back to the support, or in a second mode of operation along the first feed path from and back to the support through the second feed path prior to association with the reproducing station and through the third feed path subsequent to association with the reproducing station, whereby in each of the feed modes the selected side of each sheet always faces up when in the stack.
  • Fig. 1 shows a typical reproduction apparatus 10 having the improved recirculating document feeder according to this invention, designated generally by the numeral 12, associated therewith.
  • the reproduction apparatus 10 may be for example an electrostatographic copier, a thermal or electronic printer, or a photographic printer.
  • the requirement common for any selected typical reproduction apparatus is that it includes a reproducing station where a document sheet is received, and information contained on the document sheet is extracted for reproduction by the apparatus.
  • An example of such a reproducing station is a transparent platen where a document sheet placed thereon is exposed by a light source to obtain a reflected light image of the contained information.
  • the reproduction apparatus 10 includes an electronically based control system, or the like, such as a microprocessor based controller, which communicates with the recirculating document feeder 12 to operate the feeder in coordinated synchronism with the reproduction apparatus.
  • the improved recirculating document feeder 12 includes a housing 16 attached to the reproduction apparatus 10 for pivotable movement about an axis A (see Fig.1) to a position for locating the feeder in operative association with the reproducing station 14, or a position remote from the station to provide ready access thereto.
  • a document sheet stack receiving hopper 18 having a tray formed by a stack supporting surface 18a is located within the housing 16. When the housing is operatively associated with the reproducing station 14, the hopper supporting surface 18a is positioned at an angle to the horizontal.
  • a document sheet stack (designated generally by the letter S) placed in the hopper 18 on the surface 18a is urged by gravity such that the individual sheets in the stack are respectively aligned along one edge against a locating wall 20 disposed transversely relative to the document sheet travel path to be described hereinbelow.
  • Side guides 22 (see Figs. 3, 4) are adjustably positioned to engage marginal edges of the document sheet stack adjacent to the sheet edge engaging the wall 20 to properly locate the sheet stack in the direction transverse to the sheet travel path. Adjustment of the side guides is accomplished, for example, by a manually operated rack-and-pinion system 22a as shown in Fig. 3.
  • a mechanism 22b such as an adjustable potentiometer connected by a gear to the system 22a for example, provides a signal to the operating computer of the reproduction apparatus 10 to indicate the setting (document sheet size) of the side guides 22.
  • the area immediately above the hopper 18 is unobstructed so that the operator can readily place a document sheet stack S in the hopper and always have a clear view of the document sheets in the stack in the hopper.
  • the document sheet stack is loaded in the hopper 18 in its natural (page sequential) order with the first page of information facing upwardly.
  • the stack supporting surface 18a of the hopper has a depressed portion 18b located adjacent to the side of the hopper opposite the wall 20.
  • a document sheet removal device 24 is located in juxtaposition with the depressed portion 18b of the stack supporting surface 18a of the hopper 18.
  • the document sheet removal device 24 includes a plurality of belts 26.
  • the belts 26, which are selectively driven about a closed loop path, are entrained around a vacuum plenum 28 connected to a vacuum blower V (see Fig. 2) and have a run at a level substantially coincident with the depressed portion 18b.
  • the plenum 28 has a series of ports 28' in the upper surface thereof, such ports communicating with apertures 26' in the belts 26. Vacuum in the plenum draws the bottommost document sheet in the stack S on the supporting surface 18a into the depressed portion 18b to effect attachment of such sheet to the belts 26 (see Fig. 5). Movement of the belts 26 about their path will then cause such bottommost sheet to be removed from the stack.
  • a document sheet can be removed from the bottom of a document sheet stack is dependent, at least in part, upon the sheet stiffness and weight, the overall weight of the document sheet stack, and the frictional force relationship between the bottommost sheet and the sheet immediately thereabove, the bottommost sheet and the supporting surface 18a of the hopper 18, and the bottommost sheet and the belts 26.
  • pressurized air is directed from an air pump P through an air jet assembly 30 toward the edge of the stack opposite the stack edge engaging wall 20 (i.e., the lead edge of the stack in the direction of sheet travel).
  • the orientation of nozzles 30' of the air jet assembly 30 causes positive pressure air flow to be introduced between individual sheets of the document sheet stack S in the hopper 18.
  • Such air flow levitates and separates the document sheets of the sheet stack. The force necessary to remove the bottom most sheet from the stack is thus reduced and misfeeds or multiple sheet feeds are substantially prevented.
  • the introduction of positive pressure air flow by the air jet assembly 30 reduces the frictional force between the bottommost sheet and the sheet immediately above it.
  • air flow also increases the frictional force between the bottommost sheet and the hopper supporting surface 18a.
  • the coefficient of friction properties of the feed belts 26 in contact with the bottommost sheet, the coefficient of friction between bottommost sheet and the supporting surface 18a, and the areas and surface roughnesses of these interacting elements must be taken into account to establish a desired level of vacuum necessary for the feed belts to remove only the bottommost sheet from the hopper 18a for delivery into a downstream travel path.
  • Fig. 9 shows the air jet assembly operating window for the recirculating document feeder 12 according to this invention, which extends from one document sheet to well over 100 sheets.
  • the graphical representation of Fig. 9 shows the air jet assembly operating window for the recirculating document feeder 12 according to this invention, which extends from one document sheet to well over 100 sheets.
  • the operation of the recirculating document feeder 12 has been reliable with document sheets in the range of thin papers (e.g., 48.88 g/m2 (13 lb. bond)) up to and including heavy index and cover grades (e.g., 200.2 g/m2 and 216,0 g/m2 (110 lb. index stock and 80 lb. cover stock)).
  • thin papers e.g., 48.88 g/m2 (13 lb. bond)
  • heavy index and cover grades e.g., 200.2 g/m2 and 216,0 g/m2 (110 lb. index stock and 80 lb. cover stock
  • a set count assembly 32 (see Figs. 3 and 6) is provided.
  • the set count assembly 32 is located adjacent to wall 20 at the trailing edge of the document sheet stack S, and includes an elongated separator member in the form of a movable finger 32a.
  • the finger 32a extending through a slot 20a in the wall so as to overlie the trailing edge of the stack in the hopper 18, is supported on interconnected pivot rods R1, R2 for pivotal movement about the two mutually perpendicular longitudinal axes of such rods.
  • the rod R1 permits the finger 32a to pivot such that the finger can freely follow the level of the initial topmost document sheet in the stack S supported on the stack supporting surface 18a of the hopper 18.
  • rod R2 is coupled to a rotary solenoid RS which upon actuation of the solenoid pivots the finger 32a to and from a remote position (phantom line position of Fig. 6a).
  • the end portion of the finger 32a opposite to the end portion engaging the initial topmost document sheet in the stack S, engages a cam member C.
  • the cam member C has a profile which, upon pivot movement of the finger 32a about the longitudinal axis of rod R2 by the rotary solenoid RS after the initial topmost sheet is fed from the hopper 18, causes the finger to move to its remote position, to be raised to a level above the maximum stack height accommodated in the hopper, and returned to its initial position (solid line position of Fig. 6a) to once again engage the initial topmost sheet returned to the stack S.
  • the set count finger 32a is located so as to contact the initial topmost sheet of the document sheet stack.
  • a sensor 34 detects the position (height above the stack supporting surface 18a) of the set count finger 32a resting on the top of the document sheet stack S, and thus enables the thickness of the stack (which is also a simple measure of the number of sheets in the stack) to be determined.
  • the sensor 34 provides a signal which communicates with the operating computer of the reproduction apparatus 10 to enable the computer to set the speed of the vacuum blower V and/or adjust various valves (not shown) to proportion the pressurized air and vacuum levels to levels that have been predetermined to provide satisfactory operation for the detected number of document sheets in the stack.
  • several switches may be used to accomplish measurement of the document sheet stack height, detecting for example that the stack contains less than 10, between 10 and 50, or more than 50 sheets.
  • the set count assembly 32 also includes a sensor 36 which detects when the last document sheet of the stack S (the one which initially was topmost at the start of the reproduction cycle) has been fed from the hopper 18.
  • An opening 18c defined in the sheet supporting surface 18a of the hopper is located to enable the set count finger 32a to drop through the supporting surface to a position below the supporting surface when the last document sheet has been fed.
  • the sensor 36 "sees" the set count finger and provides a signal which communicates with the reproduction apparatus computer to indicate that a reproduction of the entire document sheet stack has been completed.
  • the computer can then precisely determine the number of document sheets in the stack, since it has been counting the number of sheets fed as the reproduction cycle has progressed.
  • the computer can readjust the pressurized air and vacuum levels to levels corresponding to the optimum operating levels for the particular number of document sheets in that document sheet stack.
  • a sensor 38 (see Fig. 3) is mounted in association with the side guides 22 to detect the location thereof.
  • the sensor 38 provides a signal which communicates with the reproduction apparatus computer to indicate the setting for which the side guides 22 have been adjusted (i.e., for the size of the document sheets that the side guides have been adjusted to accommodate).
  • Input of the size of the document sheets enables the computer to calculate or otherwise determine the total weight of the document sheets in the hopper 18. Based upon the determined total weight of the document sheet stack, the computer can then provide for an additional adjustment of the pressurized air and vacuum levels to produce optimum performance and maximum reliability of the recirculating document feeder 12.
  • the reproduction apparatus computer is programmed to pause after the end of a reproduction cycle for the document sheet stack set (as determined by sensor 36 detecting the set count finger 32a), and turn off the air pressure momentarily. This enables the stack to settle in the hopper 18 and the set count finger 32a to return reliably to rest on the top sheet of the settled stack. Then the computer, knowing exactly the number of document sheets, can readjust the pressurized air and vacuum level settings.
  • the reproduction apparatus computer can calculate the thickness of each sheet.
  • there is only one stack height sensor e.g., sensor 34
  • the set count finger 32a is placed on top of the stack. If the sensor detects that there are more than ten sheets of paper, the computer does not know how many more sheets are in the stack, nor does it know what the thickness (and thus the weight) of each sheet is, nor can it calculate the total weight of the stack.
  • the computer counts 25 sheets when it senses the end of reproduction of the first document sheet stack set, it still does not know the thickness of each sheet.
  • the best the computer can do is adjust the pressurized air and vacuum levels to levels corresponding to the center of the operating window for 25 sheets with a weight equivalent to 75.2 g/m2 (20 lb. bond) paper (most commonly use nearest to average sheet weight). If, however, the sheets are actually 200.2 g/m2 (110 lb. index stock) instead, they will weigh about twice as much as 25 sheets of 75.2 g/m2 (20 lb. bond) paper.
  • the pressurized air and vacuum level settings should be relatively increased to provide better levitation of the stack above the bottommost sheet and an increased driving force between the drive belts and the bottommost sheet to better pull the bottommost sheet out from underneath the weight of the stack above it. If, however, the stack height sensor 34 initially detects that there are fewer than ten sheets of 75.2 g/m2 (20 lb. bond) paper, the computer can set the pressurized air and vacuum levels accordingly, but it still does not know exactly how many sheets there are in the stack, nor their weight.
  • the following method may be employed.
  • the sensor 34 detects that more than the equivalent of ten sheet of 75.2 g/m2 (20 lb bond) paper are contained in the stack in the hopper 18.
  • the reproduction apparatus computer on receipt of the appropriate signal from the sensor 34, sets the initial pressurized air and vacuum levels.
  • the set count finger 32a will pass through the point at which it senses ten sheets of 75.2 g/m2 (20 lb. bond) paper. From that point on, the computer tallies a second count of the number of sheets to the completion of reproduction of the document sheet stack set.
  • the computer counts approximately ten sheets, then it knows that the sheets are probably 75.2 g/m2 (20 lb. bond) paper; if it counts approximately five sheets, then it can deduce that the sheets are a heavier grade, like 200.2 g/m2 (110 lb.) index stock; and if it counts approximately twenty sheets, then it can deduce that the sheets are probably 48.88 g/m2 (13 lb. bond) paper.
  • the computer has enough information to determine the weight of the entire stack since it also knows the total number of sheets in the document stack and can multiply the total number of sheets by the deduced weight of each sheet. This additional information is sufficient to alter the pressurized air and vacuum level settings to approximate optimum level setting for the determined stack height and weight.
  • the setting of pressurized and and vacuum levels is most critical for sheet stacks of heavy weight papers.
  • the described additional intelligence that the computer gains from deducing the individual sheet weight allows the earliest possible optimization of operating parameters for the recirculating document feeder 12 to be attained.
  • precise setting of the vacuum level is not as important. That is, with smaller stacks, excess gripping force between the feed belts 26 and the bottommost sheet is not a disadvantage unless the paper is porous enough so that the next bottommost sheet in the sheet stack is also attracted to the belts (which can result in a multiple sheet feed).
  • the second stack height sensor 34a enables a finer determination of the height of the document sheet stack to be made; e.g., less than five sheets, between five and ten sheets, and more than ten document sheets sheets.
  • the reproduction apparatus computer can tally the number of sheets required for actuating the different stack height sensors as the set count finger 32a passes through the range from the start of the reproduction cycle to the end of the cycle. If the computer starts out knowing, for example, that there are more than ten sheets, it can wait until the ten-sheet sensor is actuated, then tally the number of feed cycles necessary to detect the actuation of the five-sheet sensor.
  • the document sheets are probably 75.2 g/m2 (20 lb. bond) paper. If the tally is only two or three, then the sheets are probably 200.2 g/m2 (110 lb. index stock), and the pressurized air and vacuum level settings can be adjusted without having to wait until the end of a reproduction cycle for the document sheet stack set. The earlier the setting determination is made, the sooner the operating parameters can be optimized so as to enhance the reliability of document sheet separation and feeding.
  • the concept of utilizing multiple stack height detection sensors can be carried to its ultimate extent by employing an analog stack height sensor rather than the discrete (digital) sensors (34, 34a) described above.
  • the analog sensor When the set count finger of the set count assembly comes to rest on the top of the document stack, the analog sensor provides an analog voltage signal (directly corresponding to stack height) to the reproduction apparatus computer. Accordingly, for each position of the set count finger, the computer can calculate the number of document sheets in the stack.
  • the graph of Fig. 10 shows a straight-line correspondence between the document sheet stack (set count finger) height and number of document sheets for various weights of paper (i.e., line E corresponds to 200.2 g/m2 (110 lb.
  • line F corresponds to 75.2 g/m2 (20 lb. bond) paper
  • line G corresponds to 48.88 g/m2 (13 lb. bond) paper).
  • the computer can match the slope of the actual straight line correspondence between the set count finger height and the number of sheets with one of the theoretical paper weight lines (lines E, F, or G) to determine the individual sheet weight. According to such determination, the computer can accurately predict the number of sheets in the document sheet stack and the weight of the stack within only a few sheets, and readjust the pressurized air and vacuum level to optimum settings.
  • FIG. 10 Another way of looking at the concept of utilizing the analog stack height sensor 34' to determine stack weight can also be seen in Fig. 10.
  • line G six sheets of 48.88 g/m2 (13 lb. bond) paper
  • line F four sheets of 75.2 g/m2 (20 lb. bond) paper
  • line E two sheets of 200.2 g/m2 (110 lb. index stock)
  • the computer calculates that the analog sensor voltage is changing at the rate of so many sheets per volt, multiplying the value of sheets per volt times the initial analog sensor voltage determines the number of initial sheets, or the total number of sheets in the stack and thus allows the calculation of the total weight of the stack. This can be done within just a few feed cycles at the beginning of reproduction of the document sheet stack, then updated at mid-stack or at the end of the reproduction cycle for the stack.
  • the transport belt and wheel arrangement may include multiple belts and corresponding wheels positioned in spaced relation along the longitudinal axis L1 of wheel 52).
  • the belt 50/wheel 52 arrangement defines a sheet travel path between the hopper 18 and the platen 14 of the reproduction station of apparatus 10. As the lead edge of the sheet is captured, it passes across a lead edge fed sensor 54. This tells the reproduction apparatus computer that the sheet has been successfully fed and that the vacuum applied to the plenum 28 (and thus feed belts 26) can be turned off.
  • the drive for the feed belts 26 continues so that the belts do not present a frictional drag on the sheet; and the drive for the feed belts 26 is turned off after the trailing edge of the document sheet has passed the area of such belts. At that time, vacuum is re-established in the plenum 28 so as to cause the next document sheet (now the new bottommost document sheet of the stack) to adhere to the belts 26 to ready such sheet for feeding in the proper timed sequence. However, such sheet is not yet drawn into the stream of the sheet travel path because the belts 26 are stationary.
  • the first document sheet is fed by transport belt 50 and continues its travel around wheel 52.
  • the document sheet is directed onto the platen 14 past platen entrance sensor 56.
  • the document sheet is driven by transport belt 50 until the lead edge is adjacent apertured platen drive belts 60.
  • the platen drive belts 60 are entrained about rollers 62, ad are selectively driven in a closed loop path in the direction of the associated arrow with the lower run of the belts in juxtaposition with the platen 14.
  • a multi-chamber vacuum plenum 64 is located within the closed loop path and has a ported lower surface so as to operatively communicate with the lower run of the apertured platen drive belts 60.
  • the belts 60 effectively grasp the document sheet and transport it across the platen 14.
  • the speed of the platen drive belts 60 is slowed so that as the sheet is brought into contact with a lead edge registration gate 66, the sheet does not strike the gate with such force as to damage its leading edge.
  • vacuum to the first chamber 64a of the multi-chamber plenum 64 is turned off, leaving only the vacuum applied to the second chamber 64b and the portion of the belts 60 nearest the lead edge of the sheet at registration gate 66.
  • the document sheet is registered in a cross-track direction (transverse to the sheet travel path) by a crosstrack registration mechanism 70.
  • the mechanism 70 includes a first solenoid 72 which when actuated rotates a pivotable crank arm 74 to cause a foot 76 to lower against the platen 14. This establishes a registration edge for the front marginal edge of the document sheet (the edge nearest the operator). The registration edge defines a position for the document sheet where the image of information contained on the document sheet can be properly and consistently reproduced on an aligned receiver sheet in the reproduction apparatus 10.
  • a second solenoid 78 of the cross-track registration mechanism 70 is actuated after the foot 76 engages the platen 14.
  • the second solenoid 78 rotates a pivotable rocker arm 80 to bring a rotating wheel 82 down onto the document sheet.
  • the rotating wheel 82 moves the document sheet laterally across the platen 14 (transverse to the direction of travel of the document sheet about the closed loop path from the hopper 18 to the platen 14 and back to the hopper) until the front marginal edge of sheet is registered against the foot 76.
  • the solenoid 78 thereafter effects raising of the rotating wheel 82 so as to not disturb the registered sheet.
  • the reproduction apparatus 10 exposes the sheet in any well known manner to obtain an image of the information contained on the sheet. Subsequent to exposure of the document sheet, the lead edge registration gate 66 is lowered to a remote position out of the document sheet travel path, and platen drive belts 60 are allowed to transport the sheet off the platen 14. The document sheet is then directed into engagement with transport belt 90 and wheel 92 which capture the sheet and carry the sheet around the wheel 92 (in a manner similar to the transport effected by the transport belt 50 and wheel 52) defining a travel path between the platen 14 and the hopper 18.
  • the normal document sheet travel path from hopper 18 via belt 50/wheel 52 to platen 14 assures that the top (information bearing) face of the document sheet will be placed face down on the platen 14. Thereafter, return of the document sheet from its face down orientation on the platen 14 via belt 90/wheel 92 to the hopper 18 will always return the document with a face up orientation in the hopper.
  • the return of document sheets to the hopper 18, for proper restacking on the stack S supported on the surface 18a, is assisted by a driven nip roller assembly 140.
  • the nip roller assembly located downstream of the belt 90/wheel 92 (in the direction of document sheet travel), maintains control of respective document sheets until they are well into the area over the stack S.
  • at least one flexible strip of material 142 intercepts the travel path of the returning document sheets exiting from the nip roller assembly 140. The strip 142 urges the returning document sheets downwardly toward the stack. However, it takes some time for a document sheet to settle on the stack in the hopper 18.
  • an air jet assembly 144 is provided.
  • the air jet assembly directs pressurized air from above the document sheet travel path toward the stack S downstream (in the direction of document sheet travel) of the flexible strip 142.
  • the positive air pressure acts on the returning document sheets to cause the respective sheets to be expeditiously restacked with the least amount of resettling time.
  • the recirculating document feeder 12 is constructed in a particularly described manner to selectively turn document sheets over whereby information contained on both sides thereof can be imaged in proper sequence by the reproduction apparatus 10. Accordingly, the apparatus 10 can accomplish duplex copying or simplex copying from duplex document sheet stacks, while maintaining the document sheets in face up order in the hopper of the recirculating document feeder 12 to enable an operator to always be able to see such face.
  • alternating reproduction cycles image the back side of each document sheet in the stack and then the front side of each document sheet.
  • the respective cycles for imaging of the front sides of the document sheets is carried out in the manner described above.
  • a document sheet is fed from the hopper 18 by the document sheet removal device 24 described above, and progresses across the top of diverter 100 to be captured by belt 50 and wheel 52.
  • belt 50 and wheel 52 are stopped by a clutch/brake assembly (not shown).
  • Diverter 100 is then rotated slightly counter clockwise to its phantom line position in Fig. 2, into intercepting relation with the document sheet travel path, and belt 50 and wheels 52 are driven to rotate in a reverse direction. Accordingly, the captured document sheet is transported in a reverse direction and directed by the diverter 100 into a secondary travel path P s1 .
  • the document sheet is detected by the platen entrance sensor 56 as it is transported onto platen 14.
  • the signal from the sensor 56 to the reproduction apparatus computer causes the sequence of platen transport events described above to be carried out in the manner described above.
  • the transport of the document sheet through the secondary travel path P s1 effects an inversion of the document sheet so that the back side thereof is face down on the platen 14 for imaging of the information contained thereon. Meanwhile, as the trail edge of the document sheet passes the platen entrance sensor 56, diverter 100 is returned to its normal (solid line) position, the direction of drive for the belt 50 and wheel 52 are reversed (to their initial drive direction), and the drive belts 26 are readied to accept another document sheet feed command.
  • registration gate 66 is lowered, platen drive belts 60 are actuated to drive the document sheet off the platen 14, and the document sheet is transported to the belt 90 and wheel 92 for capture thereby.
  • the sheet would end up in hopper 18 with its front side (originally upwardly oriented face) oriented downwardly. This condition would cause confusion for the operator and would place the document sheets in an improper page sequential order.
  • return sensor 102 detects the lead edge of the document sheet and provides an appropriate signal for the reproduction apparatus computer.
  • Such signal causes the diverter 104 to be rotated slightly counter-clockwise to its phantom line position in Fig. 2, into intercepting relation with the document sheet travel path, and the direction of drive for belt 90 and wheel 92 to be reversed through a clutch/brake (not shown).
  • the document sheet is thus directed to proceed through a secondary travel path P s2 .
  • the sensor detects the sheet and provides an appropriate control signal for the computer.
  • the diverter 104 is returned to its normal (solid line) position where it is ready for directing travel of the next document sheet.
  • the document sheet proceeds along the secondary travel path P s2 back into hopper 18, and completion of the feed cycle for such sheet is determined by the return sensor 102 which detects the trailing edge of the sheet. This process is repeated for each document sheet in the stack, and for the number of times equal to the operator selected desired number of reproductions of the document stack.
  • An important aspect of the recirculating document feeder 12 according to this invention is the use of an adaptive timing control of the various transport elements of the feeder as opposed to a strict fixed time sequencing of events. This has been found to be necessary since experience has shown that the physical characteristics of the document sheets varies not only from brand to brand, but from sheet to sheet, even within the same ream. It is natural, therefore, to expect that the passing of a sheet over mechanical devices that induce drag, frictional forces and other influences can present different timing effects on each sheet even if all document sheets of a stack are created from paper from within the same ream. Moreover, the individual document sheets of a stack may not all be the same kind, brand, weight or texture.
  • a more individualistic operational approach is utilized.
  • the sensors that control the timing of individual events are best shown in Fig. 2.
  • Sensor 54 detects that a document sheet has actually been fed from the hopper 18 sufficiently for the transport belt 50/wheel 52 to capture and control the transport of the sheet.
  • Platen entrance sensor 56 detects that the document sheet has properly negotiated the turn about the wheel 52 and is progressing toward the platen 14. As the lead edge of the document sheet is detected by the platen entrance sensor 56, the reproduction apparatus computer effects establishment of the vacuum levels in the multi-chamber plenum 64 and sets the appropriate speed of the transport belts 60.
  • the drive for the transport belts 60 is adjusted to start slowing down the belts to a second appropriate speed so as to prevent lead edge damage as the document sheet is registered at the gate 66.
  • Platen exit sensor 106 detects that the document sheet has actually left the platen 14 and effects an increase in the velocity of the belts 60 to transport the sheet off the platen as quickly as possible.
  • a control signal to the computer indicates that the document sheet has been captured by the transport belt 90/wheel 92 sufficiently to be the sole transporting mechanism for the document sheet, and that the gate 66 can be returned to its travel path intercepting position in readiness for registration of the next document sheet.
  • Return sensor 102 detects that the document sheet is returning to the hopper area as the lead edge of the sheet is detected, and that the sheet has completely left the transport belt 90/wheel 92 as the trailing edge of the sheet is detected by such sensor.
  • the diverter 100 can be allowed to return to its solid line position in preparation for directing the next document sheet.
  • an appropriate signal to the computer indicates that it is safe to move the diverter 104 to its phantom line position so that the document sheet, on reversed travel, can enter into the respective secondary return travel path P s2 .
  • the times of the document sheet transport events is monitored as each document sheet progresses around the travel path from hopper 18 to platen 14 and back to the hopper. Comparing the nominal estimated times for these events with the actual times enables the computer to decide, based on experience criteria, to allow the document sheet transportation cycle (and thus the reproduction cycle) to continue, or to stop the sheet transport entirely in order to prevent a jam condition from causing damage to the document sheet. Additionally, the individual sheet timing measurements can be used to alter the velocity of travel path transport belts, rollers ad drives so as to correct the document sheet travel velocities in various portions of the travel path and bring them back to a nominal condition.
  • This sort of adaptive timing will enable the recirculating document feeder 12 to accommodate for things like excessive friction buildup in drive shafts, bearings and the like, or for loss of sheet velocity because of slippage on frictional surfaces.
  • adjustments can be made in the velocities of drive shafts, as long as there is a limit to the amount of adjustment correction imposed. That is, a certain amount of speed correction is employed in conjunction with statistical data collection and analysis that points to diverse occurrences such as potential bearing seizures, friction surface changes and the like, which are communicated to service personnel to indicate that certain mechanical or electrical components are in need of replacement or other attention.
  • such feeder is constructed to enable an operator to introduce a single sheet onto the platen without having to place it in the hopper 18.
  • a document sheet D is placed on a work surface 110 of the reproduction apparatus 10 adjacent to the feeder 12.
  • the document sheet is manually urged into the feeder 12 until the sheet intercepts a document present sensor 122.
  • This action signals the feeder to complete its present reproduction cycle, reverse the direction of transport belt 50/wheel52, and to actuate solenoid 114 which pulls cam lever 116 so as to raise plate 118.
  • Raising the plate 118 brings roller 120 into engagement with belt 50 to capture the document sheet D between roller and the belt, and transport the sheet forward (toward the left in Fig. 8) until it strikes gate 122. Since the document sheet is being constantly urged against the gate 122 by the belt 50, any skew in the document sheet is corrected by alignment of the sheet with the gate.
  • solenoid 124 is actuated to raise gate 122, allowing the properly aligned document sheet to proceed onto the platen 14.
  • the document sheet is transported across the platen 14 by belts 60 up to gate 66 where sheet alignment is corrected a second time if necessary.
  • gate 66 is lowered, diverter 104 is moved to its phantom line position, and the document sheet is transported off the platen 14 into a collection hopper 126 (shown in Fig. 1). Successive document sheets can be introduced into the recirculating document feeder 12 in a like manner.
  • the recirculating document feeder 12 can also be used in a manual mode.
  • manual mode use the operator lifts the feeder about its pivot connection with the reproduction apparatus 10 and places a document on the platen 14. The feeder is then returned to its closed position if the document has no substantial thickness (i.e., a sheet of paper), or remains in the partially raised position in the instance where the document is a book or solid object while the reproduction apparatus makes a reproduction.
  • the reproduction apparatus 10 can be used to make reproductions of continuous computer forms (fan-fold sheets).
  • a tractor drive mechanism (not shown) is attached to the reproduction apparatus to pull the continuous computer forms across the platen 14 under the recirculating document feeder in its closed position without having to thread the forms through any part of the feeder. Further, the recirculating document feeder can be raised or closed without disturbing the continuous computer forms path.
  • Another aspect of the recirculating document feeder according to this invention is to provide a constant gap between the base plate 130 ad the platen 14. Since document sheets must pass through this gap in their travel across the platen, this spacing is a critical parameter. That is, if the gap is too large, the document sheet may not properly register at the gate 66 and foot 76 and may be held out of the depth of focus for the imaging system of the reproduction apparatus 10; on the other hand, if the gap is too small, the document sheet may jam between the base plate and the platen.
  • the base plate 130 supported in the housing 16 of the recirculating document feeder 12, carries the platen transport belts 60 (and associated multi-chamber vacuum plenum 64) and the cross-track registration assembly 70.
  • the support for the base plate 130 includes springs 132 urging the base plate in a direction toward the platen 14 when the recirculating document feeder 12 is in operative relation with the reproduction apparatus 10. Accordingly, the base plate 130 will "float" relative to the remainder of the recirculating document feeder when the feeder is lifted off the platen, but will come to rest against fixed spacer pads 134 when the feeder is in operative association with the reproduction apparatus.
  • the spacer pads 134 accurately determine the spacing between the base plate and the surface of the platen. With this described spacer pad arrangement, there are no adjustments necessary to guarantee the spacing between the base plate ad the platen during operative association of the recirculating document feeder with the reproduction apparatus.

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Abstract

Est décrit un introducteur de documents à recirculation (12) amélioré pour présenter des feuilles d'une pile (S) successivement à un poste (14) d'un appareil de reproduction (10) afin de reproduire des informations contenues sur lesdites feuilles. Ledit introducteur comprend un support (18a) destiné à une pile de feuilles, un côté choisi de chaque feuille étant situé face dessus, et le côté choisi de la feuille situé sur le dessus de la pile permettant un contrôle aisé de la part de l'utilisateur. Les feuilles sont sélectivement introduites, par prélèvements successifs dans la pile, dans un premier mode de fonctionnement, le long d'un premier trajet d'alimentation partant du support pour y revenir en une boucle fermée qui permet de retourner la feuille et de la diriger afin qu'elle soit reprise par le poste de reproduction, côté choisi face dessous, et permet ensuite de retourner à nouveau la feuille pour la diriger vers le sommet de la pile, côté choisi face dessus, ou bien dans un deuxième mode de fonctionnement, le long du premier trajet d'alimentation partant du support pour passer par le poste de l'appareil de reproduction et revenir au support par un deuxième trajet d'alimentation avant qu'elle soit reprise par le poste de reproduction pour être retournée, et par un troisième trajet d'alimentation suite à la reprise de la feuille par le poste de reproduction pour son inversion, le côté choisi de chaque feuille se trouvant toujours face dessus dans la pile pour chacun des modes d'alimentation.

Claims (12)

  1. Dispositif d'avance de documents à circulation bouclée (12) pour présenter des feuilles individuelles provenant d'une pile (S) de feuilles de document à la suite les unes des autres à un poste (14) d'un appareil de reproduction pour reproduire des informations contenues sur ces feuilles, ledit dispositif d'avance de documents à circulation bouclée (12), comprenant :
       des moyens (18) pour supporter une pile (S) de feuilles de document avec un côté choisi de chaque feuille de document tourné vers le haut et avec le côté choisi de la feuille de document au sommet de la pile facilement observable par un opérateur,
       des moyens (24, 100, 50, 52, 104, 90, 92) définissant un premier trajet de feuille s'étendant depuis ledit support (18) de la pile (S) de documents et revenant à celui-ci, pour amener des feuilles de document provenant d'une pile (S) sur ledit support (18) de pile de documents en association avec ledit poste de l'appareil de reproduction et les ramener à cette pile (S), ledit premier trajet de feuille définissant avec ledit support (18) de la pile de documents (S) une boucle fermée qui retourne une feuille de document et amène la feuille de document en association avec ledit poste de l'appareil de reproduction côté choisi tourné vers le bas et retourne ensuite de nouveau le feuille de document et dirige la feuille jusqu'à cette pile côté choisi tourné vers le haut,
       des moyens (104, 90, 92), définissant un troisième trajet de feuille (Ps2) communiquant avec ledit premier trajet de feuille entre ledit poste de l'appareil de reproduction et la partie destinée à diriger des feuilles de document jusqu'à cette pile (S), pour retourner une feuille de document dans ledit premier trajet de feuille, et
       des moyens (24), fonctionnellement associés audit support (18) de la pile de documents et auxdits moyens définissant lesdits premier et troisième trajets, pour avancer de manière sélective des feuilles de document respectives depuis la pile à la suite les unes des autres dans un premier mode de fonctionnement le long dudit premier trajet de feuille depuis ledit support (18) de la pile de documents et en retour jusqu'à celui-ci, d'où il s'ensuit que dans ledit premier mode d'avance le côté choisi de chaque feuille de document est toujours tourné vers le haut lorsqu'elle est dans cette pile (S), caractérisé par :
       des moyens (100, 50, 102), définissant un second trajet de feuille (Ps1) communiquant avec ledit premier trajet de feuille entre la partie destinée à diriger des feuilles de document provenant d'une pile (S) et ledit poste de l'appareil de reproduction, pour retourner une feuille de document dans ledit premier trajet de feuille,
       des moyens (100, 50, 60), fonctionnellement associés aux moyens définissant ledit second trajet de feuille, pour avancer de manière sélective des feuilles de document respectives depuis la pile à la suite les unes des autres dans un second mode de fonctionnement le long dudit premier trajet de feuille depuis ledit support (18) de pile de feuilles et en retour jusqu'à celui-ci suivant le second trajet de feuille avant l'association avec ledit poste de l'appareil de reproduction et suivant ledit troisième trajet de feuille après l'association avec ledit poste de l'appareil de reproduction, d'où il s'ensuit que dans ledit second mode d'avance le côté choisi de chaque feuille de document est toujours tourné vers le haut lorsqu'elle est dans cette pile (S).
  2. Dispositif d'avance de documents à circulation bouclée selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit support (18) de pile de documents comprend une trémie destinée à recevoir une pile (S) de documents, et des moyens pour diriger (30') un flux d'air sous pression contre une pile reçue dans ladite trémie afin de faciliter la séparation des feuilles de document individuelles dans cette pile (S).
  3. Dispositif d'avance de documents à circulation bouclée selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit support (18) de pile de documents comprend une trémie comportant un plateau de support (18a) destiné à recevoir une pile (S) de documents, et dans lequel les moyens définissant ledit premier trajet de feuille comprennent un premier mécanisme d'avance de feuille (24) situé en juxtaposition avec ledit plateau de support (18a) pour diriger des feuilles de document depuis le dessous d'une pile (S) de documents sur ledit plateau de support (18a), et des moyens de transport (140) pour renvoyer ces feuilles de document au sommet de cette pile (S) de documents sur ledit plateau de support (18a).
  4. Dispositif d'avance de documents à circulation bouclée selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que ledit premier mécanisme d'avance de feuille (24) comprend au moins une courroie perforée (26) montée pour se déplacer suivant un trajet en boucle fermée comprenant une partie de course associée audit plateau de support (18a), et des moyens associés (28, 28', V) à ladite courroie (26) pour appliquer de manière sélective un vide afin de coller la feuille de document du dessous dans une pile (S) de documents à ladite courroie (26) pour l'enlever de cette pile (S) de documents.
  5. Dispositif d'avance de documents à circulation bouclée selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que ledit premier mécanisme d'avance de feuille (24) comprend une paire de courroies (26) perforées espacées, et ledit plateau de support (18a) comprend une partie en creux (18b) entre ladite paire de courroies de sorte que la feuille de document de dessous collée auxdites courroies (26) est entraînée dans la partie en creux (18b) dudit plateau de support afin de faciliter sa séparation des feuilles de document restantes dans cette pile de feuilles (S).
  6. Dispositif d'avance de documents à circulation bouclée selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que les moyens définissant ledit premier trajet comprennent un second mécanisme d'avance de feuille (50, 52) pour transporter une feuille de document dudit premier mécanisme d'avance de feuille (24) audit poste de l'appareil de reproduction (14), et un troisième mécanisme d'avance de feuille (90, 92) pour transporter une feuille de document dudit poste (14) de l'appareil de reproduction auxdits moyens de transport en retour (140) de la feuille de document.
  7. Dispositif d'avance de documents à circulation bouclée selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que lesdits second (50, 52) et troisième (90, 92) mécanismes d'avance de feuille comprennent respectivement au moins un rouleau de relativement grand diamètre (52, 92) monté pour effectuer une rotation sélective dans l'un ou l'autre sens autour de son axe longitudinal (L₁, L₂), et un agencement de courroie en boucle fermée (50, 90) ayant une partie de course en contact avec une partie substantielle de la circonférence dudit rouleau (52, 92) afin de former un intervalle de transport de feuille avec celui-ci.
  8. Dispositif d'avance de documents à circulation bouclée selon la revendication 7, caractérisé en ce que l'intervalle de transport de feuille dudit second mécanisme d'avance de feuille (50, 52) s'étend depuis une zone alignée avec ledit premier mécanisme d'avance de feuille (24) afin de recevoir une feuille de document provenant de celui-ci jusqu'à une zone alignée avec ledit poste (14) de l'appareil de reproduction afin d'avancer un document jusqu'à celui-ci, et dans lequel l'intervalle de transport de feuille dudit troisième mécanisme d'avance de feuille (90, 92) s'étend depuis une zone alignée avec ledit poste (14) de l'appareil de reproduction afin de recevoir une feuille de document de celui-ci jusqu'à une zone alignée avec ledit moyen de transport en retour (140) de la feuille de document afin d'avancer une feuille de document jusqu'à celui-ci.
  9. Dispositif d'avance de documents à circulation bouclée selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que les moyens définissant ledit second trajet de feuille comprennent un guide, et dans lequel ledit dispositif d'avance de documents à circulation bouclée comprend en outre un premier déviateur (100) situé entre ledit premier mécanisme d'avance de feuille (24) et ledit second mécanisme d'avance de feuille (50, 52), ledit premier déviateur (100) pouvant être déplacé de manière sélective à une première position afin de diriger une feuille de document depuis ledit premier mécanisme d'avance de feuille (24) dans l'intervalle entre ledit agencement de courroie en boucle fermée (50) et ledit rouleau (52) dudit second mécanisme d'avance de feuille lorsque ledit rouleau tourne dans un premier sens afin de transporter cette feuille de document jusqu'audit poste (14) de l'appareil de reproduction le long d'un trajet de renversement, et à une seconde position afin de diriger cette feuille de document dans ledit guide des moyens définissant ledit second trajet de feuille lorsque ledit rouleau (52) tourne dans un sens opposé.
  10. Dispositif d'avance de documents à circulation bouclée selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que les moyens définissant ledit troisième trajet de feuille comprennent un guide, et dans lequel ledit dispositif d'avance de documents à circulation bouclée comprend en outre un second déviateur (104) situé entre ledit poste (14) de l'appareil de reproduction et ledit troisième mécanisme d'avance de feuille (90, 92), ledit second déviateur (104) pouvant être déplacé d'une manière sélective à une première position afin de diriger une feuille de document depuis ledit poste (14) de l'appareil de reproduction dans l'intervalle entre ledit agencement de courroie en boucle fermée (90) et ledit rouleau (92) dudit troisième mécanisme d'avance de feuille lorsque ledit rouleau tourne dans un premier sens afin de transporter cette feuille de document jusqu'audit moyen de transport en retour (140) de la feuille de document suivant un trajet de retournement, et à une seconde position afin de diriger cette feuille de document dans ledit guide (104) des moyens définissant ledit troisième trajet de feuille lorsque ledit rouleau (92) tourne dans un sens opposé.
  11. Dispositif d'avance de documents à circulation bouclée selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que ledit dispositif d'avance de documents à circulation bouclée comprend en outre des moyens définissant un quatrième trajet de feuille contournant les moyens définissant ledit premier trajet de feuille et communiquant directement avec ledit poste (14) de l'appareil de reproduction, d'où il s'ensuit qu'une feuille de document individuelle peut être introduite directement dans ledit quatrième trajet de feuille pour une reproduction immédiate.
  12. Procédé d'avance à circulation bouclée de feuilles de documents en utilisant un dispositif d'avance de documents à circulation bouclée pour présenter des feuilles individuelles de document provenant d'une pile (S) de feuilles de document à la suite les unes des autres à un poste d'un appareil de reproduction pour reproduire des informations contenues sur ces feuilles de document, procédé d'avance à circulation bouclée de feuilles de document dans lequel la feuille de document au sommet de ladite pile (S) est toujours facilement observable, le procédé comprenant les étapes consistant à :
       supporter une pile (S) de feuilles de document avec un côté choisi de chaque feuille de document tourné vers le haut et avec le côté choisi de la feuille de document du dessus de ladite pile (S) facilement observable par un opérateur, et
       avancer de manière sélective des feuilles de document respectives à partir de la pile (S) à la suite les unes des autres dans un premier mode de fonctionnement suivant un premier trajet d'avance dans lequel ces feuilles de document sont amenées à partir d'une pile (S) de documents supportée en association avec le poste (14) de l'appareil de reproduction et sont renvoyées à cette pile (S) suivant une boucle fermée qui retourne une feuille de document et amène la feuille en association avec ledit poste (14) de l'appareil de reproduction le côté choisi tourné vers le bas puis retourne de nouveau la feuille de document et dirige la feuille jusqu'à cette pile côté choisi tourné vers le haut, caractérisé par l'étape consistant à :
       avancer de manière sélective des feuilles de document respectives dans un second mode de fonctionnement suivant un premier trajet de feuille depuis cette pile de documents et en retour jusqu'à celle-ci, et suivant un second trajet de feuille communiquant avec ledit premier trajet de feuille entre la partie destinée à diriger des feuilles de document depuis une pile (S) de documents et le poste (14) de l'appareil de reproduction, pour retourner une feuille de document dans le premier trajet de feuille avant son association avec le poste (14) de l'appareil de reproduction, et suivant un troisième trajet de feuille communiquant avec le premier trajet de feuille entre le poste (14) de l'appareil de reproduction et la partie destinée à diriger des feuilles jusqu'à une pile de documents, afin de retourner une feuille de document dans ledit premier trajet de feuille après l'association avec le poste (14) de l'appareil de reproduction, d'où il s'ensuit que dans chacun desdits modes d'avance le côté choisi de chaque feuille est toujours tourné vers le haut lorsqu'elle est dans cette pile de documents.
EP92900606A 1990-11-23 1991-11-22 Introducteur de documents a recirculation Expired - Lifetime EP0512103B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (15)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US617230 1990-11-23
US617247 1990-11-23
US07/617,336 US5076559A (en) 1990-11-23 1990-11-23 Separation member for an improved recirculating document feeder
US617246 1990-11-23
US07/617,249 US5098077A (en) 1990-11-23 1990-11-23 Recirculating document feeder with stack weight determined pressurized air/vacuum levels and method
US07/617,246 US5076560A (en) 1990-11-23 1990-11-23 Recirculating document feeder and method
US617249 1990-11-23
US07/617,230 US5108083A (en) 1990-11-23 1990-11-23 Recirculating document feeder having a self-adjusting base plate
US617336 1990-11-23
US07/617,337 US5085418A (en) 1990-11-23 1990-11-23 Recirculating document feeder having a cross-track registration mechanism and method
US07/617,247 US5116035A (en) 1990-11-23 1990-11-23 Recirculating document feeder with sequential control of the document sheet transport mechanisms and method
US07/617,248 US5076558A (en) 1990-11-23 1990-11-23 Mechanism for facilitating document sheet settling in an improved recirculating document feeder
US617337 1990-11-23
US617248 1990-11-23
PCT/US1991/008671 WO1992009513A1 (fr) 1990-11-23 1991-11-22 Introducteur de documents a recirculation

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0512103A1 EP0512103A1 (fr) 1992-11-11
EP0512103B1 true EP0512103B1 (fr) 1995-11-08

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP92900606A Expired - Lifetime EP0512103B1 (fr) 1990-11-23 1991-11-22 Introducteur de documents a recirculation

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EP (1) EP0512103B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2923052B2 (fr)
DE (1) DE69114475T2 (fr)
WO (1) WO1992009513A1 (fr)

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102009014948B3 (de) * 2009-03-30 2010-09-02 Ernst Reiner Gmbh & Co. Kg, Feinmechanik Und Apparatebau Vorrichtung zum Ablegen von flachen Gegenständen oder Belegen
JP2011251788A (ja) * 2010-05-31 2011-12-15 Toshiba Tec Corp 用紙排出装置、用紙排出方法、画像形成装置および画像形成方法
JP5133375B2 (ja) * 2010-07-12 2013-01-30 東芝テック株式会社 用紙排出装置、用紙排出方法、画像形成装置および画像形成方法

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0045061A1 (fr) * 1980-07-25 1982-02-03 EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY (a New Jersey corporation) Appareil d'alimentation en feuilles

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1957780C3 (de) * 1968-11-20 1974-10-10 Xerox Corp Stapelvorrichtung, insbesondere für Kopiermaschinen, zur Lagerung von Bogen
US4169674A (en) * 1974-11-13 1979-10-02 Eastman Kodak Company Recirculating sheet feeder
DE3228570A1 (de) * 1981-07-30 1983-02-17 Minolta Camera K.K., Osaka Zweiseitenaufzeichnungssystem
GB2178411B (en) * 1985-07-02 1990-03-14 Konishiroku Photo Ind Document feeding apparatus

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0045061A1 (fr) * 1980-07-25 1982-02-03 EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY (a New Jersey corporation) Appareil d'alimentation en feuilles

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69114475T2 (de) 1996-05-30
JPH05503494A (ja) 1993-06-10
JP2923052B2 (ja) 1999-07-26
EP0512103A1 (fr) 1992-11-11
WO1992009513A1 (fr) 1992-06-11
DE69114475D1 (de) 1995-12-14

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