Eastman-kodak Company

Floyd E Stearns

Gary P Lawniczak

Richard S Perriello

Robert D LeRoy

Roger E Ditzel

Jeffery A Pitas

A restacking hopper assembly selectively restacks individual originals and fan-folded originals as the originals emerge from a document reproduction machine. The hopper assembly includes a base securable to the reproducing machine at a location on the reproducing machine were copied originals emerge from the reproducing machine and a tray having first and second ends. The tray is pivoted to the base at the second end thereof adjacent the lower end of the base and pivots between a first mode for restacking individual originals in the tray and a second mode for restacking fan-folded originals on the tray. Devices associated with the base respectively facilitate restacking of individual originals and feed fan-folded originals in the tray. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the tray includes a slot proximate first end thereof for restacking individual originals therein and a surface between the first and second ends of the tray for restacking fan-folded originals thereon.

Hopper assembly for selectively restacking both individual originals and

A sheet separating device is particularly usable in an intermediate tray of a copier. A drive belt separates the outside sheet from a stack and feeds the sheet through a nip with a retard roller. The retard roller is braked by a motor. The motor is adjustable between a braking condition in which it prevents rotation of the retard roller when two sheets are in the nip and a free-wheeling condition in which it permits rotation when one sheet is in the nip. When applied to an intermediate tray of a copier, the logic and control of the copier knows when one sheet is left in the tray and switches the motor to its free-wheeling condition.

Sheet separating device and apparatus for use therein

An apparatus for receiving sheets traveling seriatem along a path, and accumulating such sheets in a stack justified along one marginal edge thereof. The apparatus includes a tray into which sheets are directed, one after another, from the sheet travel path for accumulating such sheets into a stack on the tray. A striker plate is associated with one marginal edge of the tray. The accumulated sheets are continuously urged into engagement with the striker plate to justify one margin of the accumulated sheet stack. The mechanism for urging the sheets into engagement with the striker plate is supported relative to the striker plate on the opposite side from the sheet travel path and extending over the tray, and under the influence of gravitational forces follows the level of the topmost sheet in the stack.

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Warsaw, NY, United States of America

Floyd E Stearns