EP0082979B1 - Document handling apparatus - Google Patents

Document handling apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0082979B1
EP0082979B1 EP19820111118 EP82111118A EP0082979B1 EP 0082979 B1 EP0082979 B1 EP 0082979B1 EP 19820111118 EP19820111118 EP 19820111118 EP 82111118 A EP82111118 A EP 82111118A EP 0082979 B1 EP0082979 B1 EP 0082979B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
document
documents
processed
hopper
supporting
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP19820111118
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0082979A1 (en
Inventor
Adolph Broaddus Habich
Ronald Eugene Hunt
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
International Business Machines Corp
Original Assignee
International Business Machines Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by International Business Machines Corp filed Critical International Business Machines Corp
Publication of EP0082979A1 publication Critical patent/EP0082979A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0082979B1 publication Critical patent/EP0082979B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J13/00—Devices or arrangements of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, specially adapted for supporting or handling copy material in short lengths, e.g. sheets
    • B41J13/10—Sheet holders, retainers, movable guides, or stationary guides
    • B41J13/12—Sheet holders, retainers, movable guides, or stationary guides specially adapted for small cards, envelopes, or the like, e.g. credit cards, cut visiting cards
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H1/00—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated
    • B65H1/02—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated adapted to support articles on edge
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
    • B65H29/52—Stationary guides or smoothers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/02—Separating articles from piles using friction forces between articles and separator
    • B65H3/06—Rollers or like rotary separators
    • B65H3/0653—Rollers or like rotary separators for separating substantially vertically stacked articles

Definitions

  • This invention relates to document handling apparatus. Specifically, it relates to an apparatus to accomplish in a high speed printing environment the feed from and delivery back to a divided hopper of envelopes on edge.
  • U.S. patent 4,222,557 discloses for a printer, a platen driven document handling attachment with rear feed for on edge documents in one hopper.
  • the attachment comprises at least two distinct hoppers, one for the documents to be processed and oneforthe processed documents, and transporting means for bringing the fresh documents from the first hopper to the processing platen and then from the platen to the second hopper.
  • U.S. patent 3,372,923 presents a picker roller for documents superimposed in a stack on edge.
  • the picker roller has formed in its periphery a knife edge which when placed adjacent the bottom of the stack projects upwards by an amount less than the thickness efthe thinnest document to be transported.
  • the picker edge engages the endmost card when it is rotated counterclockwise to buckle this card which upon continued rotation of the picker roller springs back into a nip formed by the picker roller and a feed roller.
  • the picker roller is smooth.
  • the feed roller has a high coefficient of friction with regard to the document to be fed. At this point, the direction of the picker roller can be reversed and because of the relation of the coefficient of friction, the document is fed by substantially sliding over the surface of the picker roller.
  • IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 11, No. 10, March 1969, page 1201 to Lyon teaches having a belt at the base of a hopper for urging documents on edge to a picking area.
  • the subject-matter of the present invention as is claimed in claim 1, provides a simple attachment for a printer whereby envelopes placed on edge may be fed from and delivered to a single, divided hopper.
  • Endless belts which pass in part through the floor of the hopper assist in urging the printed envelopes away from the output throat area and into the output area of the hopper.
  • the movable bail which can be spring biased, acts as a hopper separator and urges fresh envelopes toward the picking section of the hopper.
  • each of said distinct hoppers need be large enough to contain the totality of documents to be processed, whereas the single hopper of the present invention need be of substantially the same size as any one of said distinct hoppers of the prior art.
  • the combination hopper 10 of the present invention is illustrated connected to a sheet handling attachment 12 for a high speed printer 14 which may be part of a word processing or other office automation system.
  • a high speed printer 14 which may be part of a word processing or other office automation system.
  • the illustrated device contemplates the batch preparation of letters followed by batch printing of the envelopes. That is, after the desired documents have been printed, the combination envelope hopper 10 of the instant invention is attached so as to be operatively connected to and driven by the platen 16 of printer 14.
  • hopper 10 to sheet feed device 12 is achieved on one side by spring biased plunger 22 which mates with a hole (not visible) in sheet feed device side wall 20.
  • the opposite end of shaft 18 which extends the width of hopper 10 terminates in an entry to a gear train drivingly connected with platen 16. This connection will be discussed in greater detail with reference to Fig. 2.
  • hopper 10 includes an input area 30 and output area 32 divided by a bail 34. Bail 34 is biased toward the back of hopper 10 by spring 36 for dynamically adjusting the relative sections on either side thereof.
  • the output area 32 includes transport guides 38. Hopper side walls 40 and 42 connected by back wall 44 complete the external structure of hopper 10. Mounted substantially at' the center of the top edge of back wall 44 is envelope top restraint 46.
  • Hopper floor 50 includes spaced apart apertures 52 which allow two endless belts 56 to comprise part of floor 50. Attached to the inner surfaces of transport guides 38 in close proximity to endless belts 56 are two leaf springs 58 which assist in envelope delivery back into hopper 10.
  • Fig. 2 is a rear cutaway perspective view of hopper 10 and its driving mechanism.
  • Shaft 18 is shown with its associated spring loaded plunger 22 for resiliently lodging hopper 10 in one side of sheet handling apparatus 12 of Fig. 1.
  • the opposite end of shaft 18 terminates in a coupling member 24 adapted to engage cone drive roller 60 for rotation therewith.
  • Cone roller 60 is driven by platen 16 through a gear train 61 comprising gears 62, 64, and 66.
  • Cone roller 60 drives shaft 18 clockwise in the direction of arrow 71.
  • Gear 70 is mounted on and for rotation with shaft 18.
  • Gear 70 drivingly engages gear 72 mounted on shaft 73.
  • Gear 72 is thus driven counterclockwise.
  • Gear 72 is in driving engagement with gear 74 mounted on shaft 75 which is thus driven to rotate in the same direction as shaft 18.
  • Shaft 75 has two pulleys 76 mounted thereon. Endless belts 56 are trained over pulleys 76.
  • a pulley 84 about which one loop of endless belt 86 is trained.
  • the other loop of endless belt 86 is on pulley 88 mounted on shaft 89.
  • Shaft 89 rests in groove 100 formed in the base 50 of hopper 10. Shaft 89 is held down by the tension in belt 86.
  • picker wheel 90 Coaxial with pulley 88 on shaft 89 is picker wheel 90. Its backup roller 92 is located adjacent to and on an axis parallel to that of pulley 88.
  • Gear 77 is the driving means for shaft 89 and thus picker 90.
  • Gear 72 rotating counterclockwise drives gear 78 in a clockwise direction.
  • Gear 78 drives gear 79 and 95 in a clockwise direction.
  • Gear 95 drives gear 96 in a counterclockwise direction and gear 96 engages gear 97 to drive it in a cidckwise direction.
  • Gear 97 engages gear 77 to drive it in clockwise direction, the original direction of driven gear 70 on shaft 18.
  • the illustrated and described gear train is an exemplary embodiment only. Obviously, those skilled in the art will understand that other gear reduction mechanisms may be designed to drive picker 90 off the platen 16 of the associated printer without departing from the scope of the present invention.
  • Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-section of hopper 10. The same structural components as shown in previous figures are identified by the same reference numerals. Fig. 3 is a simplified view of the complete envelope transport path followed by an envelope 104 from the input section 30 of hopper 10 to the hopper output section 32.
  • Upper envelope restraint 46 aids in keeping envelopes in proper alignment for being picked and fed.
  • an envelope 104 moves in the direction of arrow 120 through the throat created by feed roller 88 coaxial with picker roller 90 and the associated backup roller 92.
  • Envelope 104 enters on a path formed by continuously rotating belt 86 and rear guide 122.
  • Rear guide 122 is part of sheet handling apparatus 12 and not visible in Fig. 2.
  • the envelope continues in the direction of arrow 124 between platen 16 and bottom guide member 126. The print station is not shown.
  • the envelope 104 is then guided in the direction of arrow 130 between continuous belt 56 and front transport guide 38 until it reaches output throat area 134 which includes leaf spring 58 for urging the envelope 104, in print order, into section 32 of hopper 10.
  • Figs. 4, 5, and 6 will be discussed together as they illustrate in greater detail the picking action of picker roller 90.
  • a picking lip 92 is provided on picker 90 for engaging the edge of the rearmost envelope 104 in input area 30 of hopper 10.
  • As picker 90 rotates clockwise envelope 104 is engaged by lip 91 and is buckled as shown in Fig. 5. Further clockwise rotation of picker roller 90 causes the envelope 104 to snap over the picker roller 90 and into the nip formed by pulley 88 and backup roller 92.
  • picker roller 90 and pulley 88 are coaxially mounted in spaced apart relation on shaft 89.
  • envelope 104 snaps over picker 90, the envelope flexes to some extent in entering the feed nip since picker 90 is larger in diameter than pulley 88.
  • Figs. 7 and 8 are an enlarged views of the output throat area 134 of Fig. 3.
  • Low force leaf spring 58 is attached to transport guide 38. In its rest position leaf spring 58 conforms generally to the periphery of pulley 80 about which endless belt 56 is trained. When an envelope 104 travelling between front guide 38 and endless belt 56 enters throat area 134 it is gently urged by leaf spring 58 around pulley 80. The strength of leaf spring 58 is such that, as envelope 104 continues its upward movement, leaf spring 58 moves into the position shown in Fig. 8 at which point the bottom ' edge of envelope 104 comes under the influence of moving endless belt 56 and is urged into the output area 32 of hopper 10, thereby clearing output throat area 134.
  • the operation of the present invention is controlled by the printer to which it is attached.
  • the present envelope handling device is intended for batch printing.
  • the gear ratio of the driving connection between platen 16 and picker roller 90 (Fig. 2) is such that the envelope picked during each revolution of picker 90 enters the transport path in timed relation to that preceding. In other words, the space between succeeding envelopes is optimized in relation to the print speed.
  • a printer for which the present invention is a suitable attachment is provided with a sensor adjacent the platen to monitor the position of an envelope and indicate when the first writing line is reached.
  • Fig. 9 is an alternative embodiment of the transport path of the present invention. Those structural elements which are the same as the first described embodiment are given the same reference numerals. This modification, however, involves one rather than two endless belts (56 and 86, Fig. 2). An aperture in the floor 250 of the hopper is analogous to apertures 52 in Fig. 2. One belt 286 is trained over pulleys 290, 292 and 84. Pulley 84 is driven as previously described.
  • this embodiment is simplified because the single belt performs the dual functions of belts 56 and 86 of urging printed envelopes to be fed toward the picker 90 and at the same time urging envelopes in the direction of arrow 140 into the output area of the hopper.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
  • Delivering By Means Of Belts And Rollers (AREA)
  • Conveyance By Endless Belt Conveyors (AREA)
  • Handling Of Cut Paper (AREA)
EP19820111118 1981-12-29 1982-12-02 Document handling apparatus Expired EP0082979B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US33543881A 1981-12-29 1981-12-29
US335438 1999-06-17

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0082979A1 EP0082979A1 (en) 1983-07-06
EP0082979B1 true EP0082979B1 (en) 1986-02-26

Family

ID=23311773

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19820111118 Expired EP0082979B1 (en) 1981-12-29 1982-12-02 Document handling apparatus

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0082979B1 (US20030220297A1-20031127-C00009.png)
JP (1) JPS58116190A (US20030220297A1-20031127-C00009.png)
DE (1) DE3269503D1 (US20030220297A1-20031127-C00009.png)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6090787A (ja) * 1983-10-26 1985-05-21 Deyupuro Seizo Kk 宛名印字装置
JPS60101142U (ja) * 1983-12-15 1985-07-10 株式会社　東京商会 薬袋プリンタ
JPH0613231B2 (ja) * 1984-04-27 1994-02-23 株式会社ピーエフユー プリンタの紙送り装置
EP0702164B1 (en) * 1994-09-14 1998-10-14 Rexnord Corporation Convertible coupling for transmitting torque
JPH11328482A (ja) * 1998-05-13 1999-11-30 Fuji Electric Co Ltd 金銭処理装置および金銭処理方法
EP1142213B1 (en) 1999-01-08 2005-11-23 Nortel Networks Limited Dynamic assignment of traffic classes to a priority queue in a packet forwarding device

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3372923A (en) * 1965-11-30 1968-03-12 Rca Corp Feeder apparatus
US4089402A (en) * 1976-07-01 1978-05-16 Hy Grip Products Co. Sheet feeding mechanism for an automatic typewriter
JPS5451167A (en) * 1977-09-30 1979-04-21 Hitachi Ltd Heavy body shifter
CH620652A5 (US20030220297A1-20031127-C00009.png) * 1978-01-23 1980-12-15 Rutishauser Data Ag
US4222557A (en) * 1978-05-16 1980-09-16 Wang Laboratories, Inc. Printer feeding and stacking
DE7911076U1 (de) * 1979-04-14 1980-09-25 Stefan Sportschuhe Gmbh, St. Stefan (Oesterreich) Schischuh mit Hohlkammer-Innenschuh
JPS5647164Y2 (US20030220297A1-20031127-C00009.png) * 1979-07-12 1981-11-05

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS58116190A (ja) 1983-07-11
DE3269503D1 (en) 1986-04-03
EP0082979A1 (en) 1983-07-06
JPS6356139B2 (US20030220297A1-20031127-C00009.png) 1988-11-07

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