Recycling automatic document feeder

Abstract

A recycling automatic document feeder (RADF) for use with a copier or similar equipment for feeding a stack of documents to an illuminating position one by one, then returning each document, and repeating the cycle to illuminate the documents a plurality of times. A gate pawl is located movable into and out of contact with a document table. A feeding section has feeding means for feeding, a stack of documents on the table one by one. A transporting section transports the document fed from the feeding section to a predetermined illuminating position and, then, discharges the document. A returning section turns over the document transported by transporting means. The returning section returns the document discharged to the top of the stack of documents. Sensors sense a condition in which the documents are fed or transported. A controller performs control in response to output signals of the sensors such that when the stack of documents is to be illuminated a plurality of times, the gate pawl is moved away from the table after the illumination of the last document of the first cycle to start the feed of the second cycle, then the gate pawl is brought into contact with the top of the stack, and then the gate pawl is moved away from the top of the stack to transport the remaining documents to a feed position one by one, dividing the first and second cycles of documents.