Document handler with variable size input tray varying with registration

Abstract

In a document handling system for sequentially feeding document sheets from a stack of document sheets to an imaging station and then to an output, with a document input tray in which stacks of documents of varying sizes may be supportably loaded, and a document output tray for the output, underlying the input tray, and the document input tray has a resettable stack registration side guide system with upstanding opposing document edge guides resetably conformable to the lateral dimensions of the stack of document sheets loaded in the document input tray by movement of at least one the edge guide towards or away from another; the document input tray has a substantially planer document stack supporting tray surface which automatically varies in lateral area upon the resetting of the resettable side guide system so as to substantially reduce the overlying area of the input tray over the output tray for smaller documents loaded into the input tray, and to reduce obstruction of and access to documents in the output tray by the input tray. Preferably, the stack supporting tray surface includes at least one telescoping slide member, and the document edge guide is mounted adjacent to its outer edge to define one side of the document input tray, so that the repositioning of the edge guide correspondingly repositions the telescoping slide member and that side of the input tray.