Xerox Corporation

Michael J Tracy

William E Kramer

John L Webb

John E Forward

Donald L Pease

A compact sheet feeding and cutting apparatus is disclosed which is particularly suitable for retrofitting to an existing document reproduction machine. The sheet feeding and cutting components are located within a common housing which can be mechanically attached to an existing machine. In one embodiment, no electrical connections are required between the reproduction machine and the feeding and cutting apparatus. A sheet cutting length is entered into local memory and controls the operation of a dc stepper motor in a sheet cutting mode and a sheet feeding mode. The motor is reversed and operates in a sheet feeding mode to drive feed rollers causing the sheet to unroll from a supply roll. The motor is operatively connected to the drive feed rollers and to the sheet cutter through separate, one-way clutches. The sheet is fed from the roll at a faster speed than the speed of sheet travel within the reproduction machine as it advances to a transfer station. This speed mismatch periodically creates a buckle in the moving sheet which contacts a switch causing it to open and close. The switch thus controls an on/off operation of the motor changing it from a sheet feeding mode into a sheet cutting mode.

Compact sheet cutter for a document reproduction machine

A document transport system for transporting and selectively recirculating relatively large documents through a processing station. In accordance with this invention, a transport is provided which has a defined endless document path. A gripper bar is provided for selectively and releasably securing the leading edge of large documents, and a driven chain is also provided for supporting and moving the gripper bar at a predetermined imaging speed through an imaging station. Further, drive rollers are provided proximate the imaging station to urge documents in the document path through the imaging station at the predetermined imaging speed. The invention also includes control apparatus for halting the gripper bar at a first position downstream from the processing station to enable release of documents from the gripper bar and at a second position upstream from the processing station to enable selective insertion and retention of documents in the gripper bar. Finally, the chain also recirculates the gripper bar from the first position to the second position at a rate substantially faster than the imaging speed to enable rapid recirculation of documents for imaging and rapid insertion of a new document for imaging after release of a previously imaged document.

Document handler for transporting large documents

A roll-up apparatus is provided for automatically rolling up a plurality of media sheets, such as original documents being copied or output copy sheets. In one embodiment, a plurality of flexible, circular guide members are aligned perpendicular to the media sheet feed motion. The first and succeeding sheets are scrolled up within the circular interior space formed by the guide member. The guides are designed to expand radially outward along their width to accomodate the increasing area of successively rolled up media sheets.

Apparatus for automatically rolling up media sheets

In a recirculating document handler for a copier for recirculating document sheets from a stack thereof in a document tray of the document handler to be copied and to be restacked therein after copying, with a document feeder for feeding the documents from the stack which is automatically controlled in response to sensing the approximate height of the stack and sensing each time the stack has been so recirculated, in response to the position of elevation relative to the stack of a set separator finger, the improvement in the sensing system comprising two spaced switches positioned to be variably actuated in response to variable positions of the set separator finger, and the set separator finger being adapted for actuating one, none, or both of the switches at respective different positions thereof, and a control providing six different automatic controls in response to four different combinations of sensed actuations or non-actuations of the two spaced switches and the operating times at which the combinations of actuations or non-actuations are sensed, to provide respective signals responsive to a stack which is too high for reliable feeding, a stack which is high, a medium height stack, a low stack and no stack or the end of a circulation of the stack. The set separator finger is reset on top of the stack, in response to one of these four combinations of actuations or non-actuations, with a rotatable lever arm pivotally connected with the set separator finger to move it horizontally therewith and having a cam surface thereon spaced and positioned to engage and lift the set separator finger above the stack only after a predetermined distance of rotation of the lever arm away from the stack and then to release it after a predetermined distance of rotation towards the stack.

Document set separator and stack height sensor

A reproducing apparatus includes an illuminating station and a system for forming an image on a sheet of support material of an object positioned at the illuminating station. The viewing station includes a transparent viewing platen having a registration edge against which the object is placed for imaging. A support member is arranged adjacent to the registration edge of the platen. Apparatus is provided for supporting the member in a first position above the level of the platen, and for supporting the member for movement to a second position downwardly of the first position in response to the urging of an object placed on the viewing platen.

Growing community of inventors

Hilton, NY, United States of America

Michael J Tracy