Apparatus and method for indicating the thickness of record media by

Abstract

Apparatus for indicating the thickness of a document being fed along a feed path comprises cooperating upper and lower roll sets (20 and 32) between which a document passes. The lower roll set (20) is driven by the document transport, while the upper roll set (32) is rotatably mounted on a pivotally mounted arm (36), which is urged by a spring (42) to cause the upper roll set (32) to move toward engagement with the lower roll set (20). The upper roll set (32) includes a central cylindrical portion (30) of reduced diameter. A further roll (46) is mounted so that its circumference is normally spaced from the surface of the cylindrical portion by a predetermined distance. A timing disc (52) is mounted for rotation with the further roll (46), and a sensing device (58) is associated with the timing disc (52) to generate pulses as the further roll (46) rotates. If a document of more than a predetermined thickness equal to the predetermined distance passes between the two roll sets (20 and 32) the upper roll set (32) is rocked and engages the further roll (46) to rotate the further roll and the timing disc (52). Pulses are generated, indicating a document in excess of said predetermined thickness. Counting of the pulses by a data processor (68) enables the apparatus to distinguish between a crease in the document and an entire document in excess of said predetermined thickness.