Burroughs, Inc.

Andrew H McMillan

William B Templeton

Daniel A Wisner

John M Chambors

A self configuring track controller for a diverter gate motor in a stacker area of a document sorting system having pockets in which documents are selectively directed includes identical devices for governing each diverter gate motor in the stacker area. Integral with each track controller is a data line using binary, serial signals to teach each track controller its sequential position in the stacker area relative to other track controllers.

Self configuring controller for the stacker area of a document sorting

A plurality of pockets of a document sorter are controlled by a time-division multiplexed controller, in order to insure that the bottom and leading edges of documents within each pocket are aligned. The controller utilizes a programmed microcomputer in a time-division multiplexed arrangement in order to increase hardware efficiency.

Multiplexed incremental position controller

An apparatus and process for detecting overlapped documents in a document processing apparatus by detecting the translucency of the documents. The disclosed apparatus includes a transport path for guiding documents and drive wheels for moving the documents along the transport path. Four LED (light source) phototransistor (light detector) pairs are located across the transport path. One LED-phototransistor pair is used together with electronics to detect when a document is present. Two LED-phototransistor pairs are used together with edge detection electronics to detect sudden significant changes in document translucency from the immediately previous translucency of the same document as the documents pass thereby. The other LED phototransistor pair is used together with level detect electronics to sample and hold the translucency level at the beginning of each document, and then to detect when the present translucency level of the document exceeds predetermined guardbands on either side of the translucency level at the beginning of the document as the documents pass thereby. Overlap indicating electronics indicates overlapped documents when the outputs of the two edge detects and the level detect are continuously coincident for 1 millisecond, and then the output of the level detect remains continuously present for an additional 5.6 milliseconds.

Document overlap-detecting apparatus and process

An apparatus and process for detecting document jams in a document processing apparatus by detecting the translucency of the documents. The disclosed apparatus includes a transport path for guiding documents and drive wheels for moving the documents along the transport path. An LED light source located on one side of the transport path illuminates at least a portion of the moving document as it passes along the transport path. A phototransistor light detector located on the other side of the transport path detects light from the LED that passes through translucent portions of the document. Electronics connected to the light detector indicate a document jam when the translucency of a document is generally unchanged for a period of time while the document is between the light source and light detector. The electronics includes circuitry for detecting the presence of a document, circuitry for detecting the absence of rapid changes in document translucency and circuitry for remembering the absence of such rapid changes in document translucency.

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Wayne, MI, United States of America

Andrew H McMillan