Document reproduction system including a duplex document handler with

Abstract

The invention is directed to a document reproduction system which includes an improved apparatus for imaging both sides of a duplex document while also providing for simplex side only imaging. A document feeder, operating in a constant velocity transport mode, moves a document to be copied along a continuous path from a feed tray to a deposit tray. Two illumination and scanning stations are positioned adjacent two locations of the path of the document travel, each scanning station adapted to scan one side of the document, either simplex or duplex. The scanning station associated with scanning the simplex side of the document projects line images of the scanned document along an optical path onto a light sensitive image medium. In a first embodiment, the projection device is a linear gradient index lens array and the light sensitive member is a linear sensor array. The scanning station associated with scanning the second, duplex, side of the document projects the duplex side line images, via a second gradient index lens array, along an optical path which is generally optically aligned with, and includes, the first optical path. Thus, the duplex line images are projected through a first gradient index lens array whose output is optically coupled into and projected by the lens array associated with the simplex scanning. Control devices are provided to enable a simplex or duplex mode of operation. Several embodiments of the invention are provided to demonstrate feasibility with document feeder inputs at different locations.