International Business Machines Corporation

Donald F Colglazier

Ernest P Kollar

Fred R Mares

John L Fallon

Donovan M Janssen

Mark A Beran

John Paul Mantey

James A Valent

James H Hubbard

William H Ashbee

Robert T Ritchie

Ronald J Martin

Larry E Rittenhouse

Michael L Morris

George P Kimble

Gerald P Patch

An electrophotographic copying apparatus includes a multi-function document feeder for feeding original document sheets to a platen viewing station for copying. The document feeder selectively provides (1) semiautomatic document feeding (SADF), (2) automatic document feeding (ADF), (3) recirculating automatic document feeding (RADF), and (4) manual placement of a document on the platen. A multi-function output copy module is provided for holding copies produced by the copying apparatus. The output module proivdes (1) a collator section comprising a vertical stack of collator bins, the unobstructed top bin of which also comprises (2) an exit tray, and (3) a large capacity exit bin that is located under the bottom one of the collator bins. The mode of operation of the output module is automatically determined in accordance with (1) the manner in which the operator elects to use the document feeder, and (2) the copier features, such as the number of copies or copy sets requested, use of a stapler, and/or job queuing, that are selected by the operator. In an embodiment of the invention, when a number of copy sets are to be made from an original set, the original set is first fed to the platen using the ADF. During this procss, the first copy set is produced. As the sheets thereafter leave the platen, the sheets are fed to the RADF. The original set is then recirculated to the platen, one recirculation for each of the remaining copy sets to be produced.

Copying method and apparatus

A servo-controlled recirculating automatic document feeder (RADF) includes a plurality of independently driven document transport devices. A picker mechanism separates documents in seriatim from a stack. An entry turnaround transport device buffers and delivers picked documents to a platen transport device for exposure. After exposure, the document is transported along a simplex or duplex path for duplex or simplex copying. The document is then buffered in an exit turnaround transport device and is subsequently returned to the stack. Each transport device is independently driven by a motor and a closed-loop servo. A common reference oscillator generates source signals for the servo-loops. A microcomputer operates on the source signals and generates reference signals for driving the transport devices.

Servo-controlled automatic document feeder

Documents are inserted into a bin beneath a document stack already in the bin. An air bearing holds the document stack above the floor of the bin. A lifting mechanism lifts the stack along one edge so that a document is driven between the last sheet in the stack and the floor of the bin. A selectively activated drive means positioned on the floor of the bin advances the document into proper registration into the bin. Documents can be fed from the top of the stack simultaneously with the bottom stacking operation.

Bottom-up stacker

A sheet registration apparatus for positioning sheets in a registered position on a work surface such as the document platen of a convenience copier/duplicator machine. The apparatus includes a bidirectional servo-controlled sheet transport for conveying the sheet over the work surface. A sheet sensing device is disposed within the path of sheet travel. A controller monitors the sensing device and activates a position control routine following the occurrence of a predetermined level change in the signal generated by the sensing device. At the end of the position control routine, the transport is stopped thereby positioning the sheet in the registration zone. The apparatus enables sheet registration for a machine operating in a duplex and/or simplex mode. The apparatus further enables registration at any point on the document platen.

Document feeder electronic registration gate

An automatic vacuum document feeder particularly adapted for feeding sheet-like documents in seriatim from a stack onto a utilization device, such as the document platen of a convenience copier. The documents are disposed in a tray. A vacuum lifter descends and lifts the topmost document along a vertical path to a position above the stack and beyond the bottom surface of a vacuum transport. The vacuum transport is disposed in a plane perpendicular to the vertical path of the vacuum lifter. The vacuum transport strips the document from the vacuum lifter and transports the document to the utilization device. The entire system is configured so that there is no relative motion occurring between the document being transported and the transport hardware. A document restraint device, including air jets and stripper fingers, coact with the stack to eliminate double feed.

Vacuum document feeder

A multibin, cut-sheet xerographic copier capable of operating in a simplex or a duplex copy mode, wherein sheets are fed from a selected sheet stack, one at a time, to the copier's transfer station, by a sheet feeding means which includes a combing wheel. The combing wheel shingles the leading edge of the stack's top sheet to an open feed roller nip, to be sensed there by a pneumatic sensor. Sensing of this leading edge causes the combing wheel to be lifted off the stack. Subsequently, at a time determined by the copier's control logic, the drive nip closes to thereby feed the top sheet to the copier's paper registration gate, and then to its transfer station. As soon as this sheet's trailing edge has cleared the pneumatic sensor, and the drive nip has opened, the next sheet is staged at the shingled position, in the open drive nip. Side-one copied sheets, of intended duplex copies, are automatically stacked in a duplex bin. The bottom of the duplex bin includes a flat, resilient bottom-of-the-bin pad. This pad's position is adjustable in a plane parallel to the bottom of the duplex bin, to facilitate control of the direction in which side-one copied sheets are fed out to the copier's paper registration gate, for side-two copying.

Cut-sheet xerographic copier having combing wheel sheet feed and a

An electrophotographic copier having a cut sheet, two-bin, paper feed module which is selectively secured in copier-operative position, whereat it is operable to feed sheets to the copier's paper aligner and transfer station, or is removable to a copier-inoperative position whereat the module remains operative to feed sheets for the purpose of examination, analysis, and/or repair and maintenance of the paper feed module.

Copier having removable paper feed module

A multibin, cut-sheet xerographic copier capable of operating in a simplex or a duplex mode, wherein sheets are fed from a selected sheet stack, one at a time, to the copier's transfer station, by a sheet feeding structure which includes a resilient combing wheel. The combing wheel is of a unique resilient construction, such that it exhibits a spring rate and damping factor which minimizes acoustical noise and enhances reliable, repeatable shingling of the top sheet of a stack to a closable sheet drive nip.

Combing wheel

A multibin, cut-sheet xerographic copier capable of operating in a simplex or a duplex copy mode, wherein sheets are fed from a selected sheet stack, one at a time, to the copier's transfer station, by a sheet feeding means which includes a combing wheel. The combing wheel shingles the top few sheets, and particularly the single top sheet's leading edge, to a normally open feed nip. This nip is closed by copier logic to feed the top sheet to the transfer station. The feed nip comprises a fixed position, continuously rotating feed roller adapted to cooperate with the top surface of the top sheet. A solenoid controlled, nip-closing, composite pad is pivotable upward to press the top sheet against the feed roller. This composite pad includes a first low friction, nonresilient pressure pad cooperating with the feed roller, and a second, reduced thickness, resilient pad cooperating with the leading edge of the shingled sheets under the top sheet. A spring biases all shingled sheets away from the feed roller and toward the solenoid controlled composite pad.

Combing wheel feed nip with second sheet restraint

A multibin, cut-sheet xerographic copier capable of operating in a simplex or a duplex copy mode, wherein sheets are fed from a selected sheet stack, one at a time, to the copier's transfer station, by a sheet feeding means which includes a combing wheel. The combing wheel shingles the leading edge of the stack's top sheet to an open feed roller nip, to be sensed thereat by a pneumatic sensor. Sensing of this leading edge causes the combing wheel to be lifted off the stack. Subsequently, at a time determined by the copier's control logic, the drive nip closes to thereby feed the top sheet to the copier's paper registration gate, and then to its transfer station. As soon as this sheet's trailing edge has cleared the pneumatic sensor, and the drive nip has opened, the next sheet is staged at the shingled position, in the open drive nip. Means are provided to deshingle the stack when the copier's paper supply drawer is opened, as for reloading paper. The combing wheel, drive nip and associated assemblies are supported by a single frame member, and are thus removable as a unit for replacement or repair.

Growing community of inventors

Longmont, CO, United States of America

Donald F Colglazier