International Business Machines Corporation

Roger D Shepherd

Harvey R Markham

Mark A Beran

Richard A Lamos

Louis A Bustamante

Ben A Nilsson

Steven R Harding

Paul S Bach

Daniel A Barela

Ronald E Reese

Cecil M McDonald

Charles E Rohrer

Data processing elements such as microcode count the number of cut sheets fed from a supply bin and also monitor the amount of bin travel. This yields data correlated to actual sheet thickness and weights useful for a variety of applications. For instance, the detected sheet data makes it is possible to logically optimize control of machine operating elements which are sensitive to supply sheet quality parameters.

Machine control system utilizing paper parameter measurements

Sheet feeder having adaptive mechanism for assuring dependable automatic operation when the stack of sheets to be fed consists of sheets having varying thicknesses and weights. In a sheet feeder having pickers to move a document from the top of a stack of sheets supported by a moveable table to a feed-in position, the latter possibly including a vacuum belt for moving the document, sensors supply signals to indicate a sheet has been picked. After moving the pickers and table to initial positions, the controller moves the picker to a predetermined reference position. If a sheet is picked above or below the predetermined initial position, the position of the table is adjusted accordingly. In a second embodiment in a recirculating automatic sheet feeder, the table is initially positioned then after feeding the sheets from the stack once, it is initialized at a second predetermined position depending on the number of documents in the stack and on the position of the table prior to picking the documents a second time.

Adaptive document feed pick mechanism

In an electrophotographic copier, adjustments are made to synchronize copy sheet gating optics start of scan, and document conveyor registration. The adjustment to the copy sheet gating is effected by making a copy with the optics assembly inactivated, determining the length of undeveloped area adjacent to the leading or trailing edge of the copy, and adjusting the start of scan as a function of the determined length. The start of scan of the optics assembly is effected by positioning a test master document with dark portions adjacent to its leading and trailing edges, making a copy of the test master document, determining the length of undeveloped area adjacent to the leading or trailing edge of the copy, and adjusting the start of scan as a function of the determined length. The adjustment of the document conveyor registration is effected by feeding the test master document to the document glass, making a copy of the test master document, determining the length of undeveloped area adjacent to the leading or trailing edge of the copy, and adjusting the document conveyor as a function of the determined length. The determining steps may be done by visual inspection or by an optical sensor. The adjusting may be done manually, either electronically or mechanically. In the alternative, the adjusting may be done automatically in response to the optical sensor.

Synchronizing electrostatic copy formation

A document feeder system, interfaced with a copier system having, inter alia, a semi-automatic document feeder (SADF), an automatic document feeder (ADF) a document queue, and an associated logic control system that allows the suspending of a prior task being run on either of the foregoing document feeders and the commencing of a subsequent or urgent task on any one of the other foregoing document feeders immediately thereafter. Thus, when an urgent task operator selects a feeder suspending/commencing mode button, a single control panel is instantly made available so that the urgent task copy quantity and feature selections can be made. After the foregoing is accomplished, the single copying of the prior task original document on the document viewing glass is completed and the document stored in the document queue or ejected into a prior task exit pocket. Then the chosen urgent task feeder is enabled for feeding. In addition, the prior task status is retained for recall without having to reformat the single control panel. Accordingly, when the urgent task is completed, the urgent task operator de-selects the feeder suspending/commencing mode button thereby causing the copy quantity and feature selections of the prior task to be re-entered into the single control panel and the prior task to be immediately re-commenced without further operator intervention.

Document feeder system having a suspending/commencing mode

A document feeder system, interfaced with a copier system, with, inter alia, a semi-automatic document feeder (SADF), an automatic document feeder (ADF), a prior task document judgment queue and an associated logic control system that allows the suspending of a prior task being run on either of the foregoing document feeders and the commencing of a subsequent or urgent task on any one of the other foregoing document feeders. This feeder suspending/commencing mode is carried out with a judgment decision capability based on judgment criteria consisting of the combination of certain predetermined prior and subsequent tasks information. Thus, when an urgent task operator selects a feeder suspending/commencing mode button, a single control panel is instantly made available so that the urgent task copy quantity and feature selections can be made. After the foregoing is accomplished, a judgment decision is made as whether to finish the copying of the original document on the document viewing glass and eject it into a prior task exit pocket and then enable the chosen urgent task feeder, or whether to feed the original document on the document viewing glass to the prior task document judgment queue for storage and subsequent feeding back onto the document viewing glass after the urgent task is completed. Whichever decision is made, the prior task status is retained for recall without having to reformat the single control panel. Accordingly, when the urgent task is completed, the urgent task operator de-selects the feeder suspending/commencing mode button thereby causing the copy quantity and feature selections of the prior task to be reentered into the single control panel and the re-commencing of the prior task without further operator intervention.

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Nederland, CO, United States of America

Roger D Shepherd