Low-cost document feeder for copiers

Abstract

Document sheet handling apparatus for a copier for sequentially feeding document sheets on to and off of the copying platen with a document feeder frictionally engaging a document sheet inserted at a first side of the platen and transporting a document sheet over the platen by continued engagement, and a flexible platen cover integrally connecting to the document feeder for movement therewith over the platen, and a reel system, including a retracting spring for reeling up the flexible platen cover into a scroll adjacent the first side of the platen and above the document sheet input, so that a document sheet may be fed under the scroll, the flexible platen cover being unreeled to extend over the platen by the movement of the integral document feeder to overly the platen and provide an opague and light reflective platen cover, and a releasable latch adjacent the opposite side of the platen for latching the document feeder and the flexible platen cover over the platen in a position for copying the document, and an automatic release for unlatching the releasable latch in response to the completion of the selected number of copies of the document, so that the document feeder and document are automatically returned to the first side of the platen, moved theretowards by the retracting spring while being overlaid by the flexible platen cover, to eject the document automatically from the same first side.