JP3058477B2 - Paper supply control method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Attorney Docket No. D / 90006, which discloses a basic exemplary document processing device and electronic platen scanning system similar to that disclosed herein.
Issued "Dual Mod Document Positioning System (Dual Mod
e Document Registration System) "in 1990
U.S. Patent Application No. 07 / 546,984 , filed on July 2, 2013 , filed by the same assignee, with corresponding Japanese patent application:
Japanese Patent Application No. 3-161724) are mutually referred to.

The present invention is an improved method for detecting and signaling a document sheet set or sheet feed for imaging a job, particularly in a recirculating document processing apparatus of a copier or other document imaging system. It is about the system.

For a small set of documents, a predetermined short-time signal from a conventional electronic document presence sensor in the document feed tray is preceded by a restacking of the initially fed document sheets. This signal indicates the end of the set, i.e., the feed of the last sheet, and this signal is a conventional electromechanically actuated device which is commonly used in each case to prepare the end-of-set feed signal. A copier with an automatic document feeder, which has been found to be described in the text that can also be used to provide a feed signal for the end of a set instead of a set separator. Alternatively, an improved control system for a document imaging system is disclosed.

[0004] Depending on the overall length of the document circulation path of a recirculating document processor, the system of the present disclosure can be used in small document set jobs of up to four document sheets. . These small sets of documents are of a very common size for copying or imaging jobs that are commonly involved in the rapid and frequent operation of an electromechanical set separator.
Therefore, a high degree of wear, an increase in the risk of jamming, and a shutdown of the apparatus may be caused. The system allows the operation of the electromechanical set separator to be paused in such a small number of situations, but still provides a reliable set end signal, so that it can be provided in a normal manner. It is connected to a document feed counter and prepares various control functions by counting the number of sheets of fed documents in the document set. The system can reduce the risk of wear, jams, or miscounting of assembly circulations as compared to normal operation of the electromechanical assembly separation device. In an embodiment of the system disclosed below, the set end detection and control signals are instead provided by a predetermined short-term electrical signal from a non-mechanical optical paper-in-tray absence detector. The sets of documents must have a small number of document sheets in each cycle, such that all document sheets temporarily remain in the document recirculation path after the last sheet of the set has been ejected from the document tray. As such, the optical paper presence detector will send a short signal that no document paper is present in the tray, indicating that the last paper in the minority set has been fed. This same predetermined maximum time duration signal is also used to automatically override the standard electromechanical set end detector for further set circulation of the job.

With respect to the disclosed exemplary recirculating document processing device (RDH) or document feeder, essentially only modifications of the desired well-known form of low-level control functions as described below are provided. It is desirable to be provided. Such RDHs are well known for conventional optical light lens type copiers, but are described herein in connection with an electronic document scanner type imaging system as described below. I have.

As background art, here, such R
As a specific example of the DH, a well-known double-input type RDH, that is, RDH / SADH is disclosed. RDH / SADH
Is a top tray document loaded recirculating document processor (RD
H) General abbreviation for a well-known type of document processing device having a mode and an integrated selection surface document entry or SADH slot for preparing a unidirectional document input of a semi-automatic document processing device (SADH). It is. The RDH system of the present disclosure allows documents to be automatically or semi-automatically fed onto an imaging platen from any feed location. Specific examples of related patents are cited below. However, this is merely exemplary, and the present invention is not limited to any particular type of recirculating document processor or general tray restacking document processor or document feeder. .

As additionally disclosed herein, particularly as part of a conventional optical (non-electronic imaging) pre-verification copier with a multiple recirculating document processor. Although useful, the system of the present disclosure may equally well be used in a system for feeding a set of documents for electronic imaging.

In a document feeder of an electronic document imaging and printing system, a set of documents typically needs to be fed only once to be imaged and is stored electronically, The maximum number of copies to be printed is created. Whereas the document processor must reverse image each side of each document in one direct order, the well-known recirculating document processor (RDH) as cited herein comprises: A two-sided (two-sided) document is fed and the document set is recirculated twice with reversal during the first cycle, forming an image on all even-numbered pages followed by all odd-numbered pages. This may be desirable for quick and efficient copying of both sides of a document.

An example of such an electronic document imaging and printing system is described by Rourke et al.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,757,348 issued to Xerox Corporation on Jul. 12, 1987 and U.S. Pat.
No. 716,438. It can be used in conjunction with the present system as needed. Among many other embodiments of the platen scanning electronic imaging system itself are Xerox Corporation US Pat. No. 4,295,167 or related US Pat. No. 4,287,536. The terms copying and imaging are used interchangeably in this particular case.

[0010] Also with regard to the specific hardware elements of the subject device, as is usual, various such special hardware elements include those set forth in the art cited herein. , Are well known per se in other devices or applications and need not be described again here. The disclosed RDH document processing system which is specifically set forth is disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,579, Xerox Corporation issued April 1, 1986 to Pinkney and Sanchez.
No. 444 (D / 84074) and / or other RDH technologies cited therein. 4,579,4
The '44 patent is a suitable background art which is relevant as an indication of the general nature of the particular embodiment of the disclosed document processing apparatus and platen. Other specific examples of prior art recirculating document processing devices are disclosed in B. RB Sahay
No. 4,27 issued on July 14, 1981
8, 344; J. No. 4,270, issued June 2, 1981 to TJ Hamlin
746, M.P. G. FIG. 1 against MG Reid
4,076,408 issued on February 28, 978
No. 4,087,045, issued to the U.S. Pat. Similarly, Nos. 4,176,945 and 4,330,
197, 4,466,733 and 4,428,
No. 667 is also disclosed in each US patent.

Of particular relevance are M. G. FIG. U.S. Pat. No. 4,076,408, issued Feb. 28, 1978 to Reid et al., Discloses an independent document tray in a document tray that detects the presence (loading) or absence of documents in the tray. Also includes optical emitter / detectors 149,151. A similar disclosure is provided by J.A. L. Konin (JL
No. 4,099,860, issued July 11, 1978 to Connin). More typically, the document presence sensor of such a document tray is a conventional integral bottom corner light beam sensor unit, and a light transmitter in the positioning sidewall slightly above the tray bottom directs the light beam to the tray. It emits downward at an angle into an adjacent receiver or sensor in the bottom, as this light beam is obstructed by a document sheet (even one) in the tray located on the tray bottom. is there. However, heretofore, this information has been stored in the document tray for the copier controller when the RDH tray mode of operation is in use or when the jam has been cleared, ie, there is a document to be removed. Was used only to signal that the other had been reloaded.

As a further background, various conventional optical light beam document sensors per se are disclosed in US Pat.
No. 143, No. 4,281,919, No. 4,344,7
No. 03, No. 4,366,219, No. 4,338,02
No. 4, No. 4,540,887, No. 4,456,372
No. 4,568,181, No. 4,585,332
No. 4,391,505, or in Xerox Disclosure Journals 19
February 1986, Vol. 11, No. 1, page 33 or 1987
No. 4,357,09 in January 12, Vol. 5, pp. 239-40, or in a moving platen system.
No. 5, 4,505,574 or 4,659,2
No. 14 is indicated by the reflection of the document illumination lamp light as in each of the U.S. Pat. The present system should be distinguished from such various prior art systems which merely attempt to detect the presence, location or size of the document itself.

[0013] These RDH patents disclose the recirculation of documents from the RDH tray to the platen and back to the same tray multiple times (to make one or two copies per circulation). It also discusses the importance of a recirculating document processor in loading multiple copies of a pre-matched document set into an RDH input tray to prepare a pre-matched copy. This is desirably accomplished by feeding document papers out of the bottom of the stack, back again to the top of the stack in the RDH tray, and feeding them sequentially and sequentially.

However, an efficient pre-verification RDH copy is:
It is necessary to know when one complete rotation of a document set or stack by RDH is completed before the next document set rotation. Until now, it has usually been "set sepa
rator) ", e.g. J. Tracy (MJ Trac
y) issued May 20, 1986 to Xerox Corporation US Pat. No. 4,589,6.
As described in No. 45 and the art cited therein, it is provided with an arm located at the top of the document so that when the last sheet of the set is fed out from under the arm, it descends and activates the switch. This has been done by the device The disclosure of the set separation device of U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,645 is partially included herein.

In the disclosure of the set separating apparatus of the above-mentioned US Pat. J. Wente (S.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,320, issued Sep. 4, 1984 to J. Wenthe, additionally states "Xerox Disclosure Journal.
osure Journal), July / August 1981, Volume 6, Volume 4
As pointed out on page 167, in an automatic recirculating document processor, the document set separating finger or paper bar system feeds from the document tray which has been returned to the document tray following the copy operation. It is used to separate or distinguish document papers to be made. Fingers or paper retainers are typically lightly placed on top of a stack of documents and fall down by gravity as paper is fed from under the fingers. When there are no more documents under the finger, it will descend and activate a switch indicating that all documents have been copied. The finger or paper retainer is then automatically re-installed on top of the stack by a solenoid or other drive mechanism that pulls the finger back and lifts it to the re-installation position to initiate the next paper feed cycle.

As noted, an important feature of the above and other set separator systems is the reliable detection of the feeding of all sheets of a set from the stack support or tray area. The set separation device is also known in the art as a set counter or paper press bar. This must be signaled to the system each time a complete document set is rotated, ie, to keep track of the number of set rotations.

The set termination signal of the set separator is typically coupled to another sensor or counter for counting the number of sheets fed through the logic system of the copier. With the combination of these two inputs or signals, the exact number of document sheets in the document set can be easily determined after the first cycle. For example, as a further background art, R.A. B. 1 against RB Sahay
U.S. Pat. No. 4,27, issued Jul. 14, 981
No. 8,344 and the references cited therein. It is also well known that this actual set count information can be used to set or reset the parameters of the compressed air pneumatic knife or other document feeder, as described above.

Such a set separating apparatus can also be used in paper supply applications other than the RDH system. For example,
They are disclosed in British Published Application No. B. 2,058,023
As taught in U.S.A., track and separate duplex sheet sets produced in duplex buffer trays for duplex printed copy sheets, i.e., in automatic duplex (duplex) copiers. It can also be used for The system disclosed herein could also be utilized in such other applications.

As pointed out in the incorporated US Pat. No. 4,589,645, the resetting of the fingers at the top of the stack is achieved by employing and incorporating a stack height sensor as part of the set separator system. The position indicates the height of the stack and can be used to automatically adjust the vacuum, air or normal force pressure in the document feeder to compensate for the weight or height of the stack. Variations in stack height will variably reposition the fingers with respect to the sensor. One or more sensors may be prepared for various reset positions of potential fingers. Important matters, uses and problems with such systems are described in S.A. J. Wente (SJ Went
he) is also discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,320 issued Sep. 4, 1984.

However, such electromechanical set separation devices have been found to have undesirable consequences, such as those pointed out in the Xerox Disclosure Journal published March / April 1987, Vol. 12, No. 2, p. Due to a mistake in lowering or re-installing the arm, or a jam caused by rolled-up paper),
They are susceptible to mechanical failure. The announcement also describes the protection of such a set separator from a failure at a predetermined maximum allowable document count.

Although this document set separator technique is well developed, as shown by many of the references above and below, the exact number of many different designs that have been utilized are related to certainty and other factors. Indicates a problem.

The following supplemental exemplary techniques are listed and listed in numerical order with respect to the set separator or paper bar system itself. A. Howard (A. Howar
d) No. 3,556,513 issued January 19, 1971 to (Xerox); A. Hoyer
No. 3,815,896 issued June 11, 1974 to Xerox (see especially FIGS. 7a to 7c); 1975 against Heuer (Xerox)
No. 3,861,671 issued on January 21, 1980,
A. No. 3,895,790, issued Jul. 22, 1975 to Heuer et al. (Xerox); 1976 against K. Liechty et al. (Xerox)
No. 3,941,376 issued on March 2, 2003;
197 against D. Gerbasi (Xerox)
No. 3,954,259, issued May 4, 2006, to Berlew et al. (Eastma Kodak)
No. 4,078,787 issued on Mar. 14, 1978 (reference numbers 90, 91, 92,
125, second section of column 8, fifth section of column 10, and first section of column 11); Adamek (J. Ada
No. 4,116,558 issued to mek) et al. (Xerox) on September 26, 1978 (items 61, 61).
a, 61b), T.A. McGrain (T.McGrain
) (Eastman Kodak) August 1979
No. 4,164,347 issued on Thursday, March 14. 19 against T. Kaneko et al. (Ricoh)
No. 4,231,561 issued on Nov. 4, 1980 (see column 11, lines 35-46, for example); 1980 against T. Hori (Savin)
No. 4,231,562 issued on Jan. 4, W.M.
J. No. 4,433,836 issued Feb. 28, 1984 to WJ Kulpa et al. (Pitney Bowes); P. No. 4,451,138, issued May 29, 1984 to CP Anderson (Ricoh), U.S. Pat. B. 2,058,023A, Recentia Patent Fairwaltungs (Lice
ntia Patent-Verwaltungs GMBH)
German Patent Application No. OLS. 2232
No. 023, W.C. E. FIG. United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Defense Publication No. T964,008, published on November 1, 1977, by WEHunt (Eastman Kodak), June 1977. No. 1584
No. 2 and No. 20433 of April 1981 in the United Kingdom, Research Disclos Journal.
ure Journal) ”, and the 5th of July / August 1980
Vol. 4, page 375, November 1980, December 5, Vol. 6, page 625-6, and May, 1983, page 8
Vol. 3, pp. 189-190, "Xerox Disclosure Journal".

Other reference patents specifically mentioned as incidental background art related to the subject system include:
No. 284,080, No. 4,285,508, No. 4,6
37,598, 4,629,311 and 4,
No. 480,824 is incorporated by reference.
As disclosed, inter alia, 3,284,08
No. 0,285,285 describes a document feeder with a sensor and control system that functions after a predetermined time interval;
No. 508 shows a plurality of optical paper sensors,
U.S. Pat. No. 7,598 is particularly relevant as showing an integral optically reflective set separator and optical paper presence sensor in the document feed tray.
No. 311 also has an optical paper presence sensor in the recirculating document feed tray, and No. 4,480,824 discloses an optical sensor for the document paper and the associated time delay in the recirculating document feed tray. Jam (stacking mistake)
Of particular relevance as an indication of control.

As pointed out in the prior art, as the speed of electrophotographic and other copiers increases and becomes more automatic, they are faster and more reliable with respect to document paper being copied. It becomes increasingly important to prepare for automatic processing or input to the copier.

The preferred form of the copier's document processing system is one that can utilize existing or generally conventional copier optical imaging systems. That is,
The use of an outer transparent copying window (known as a platen or imager) of the copier. In a document processing system, a document is automatically copied and placed on selected portions of a full-size (full frame) platen that is at least as large as the largest document to be copied normally. It is desirable that the positioning be performed. In such systems, it is desirable that the document be scanned or flashed while held stationary on the platen at the desired location.

In the context of the present text, the term "document" or "paper" refers to ordinary thin sheets of paper, plastic, or other conventional discrete image substrate, and is generally much more. It does not refer to microfilm or electronic images that are easily processed. A “document” is a sheet (document or previous copy) that is duplicated on a sheet on which an image is formed, that is, a “copy sheet” which can be abbreviated as “copy” in a copying machine. Multiple documents, or copies thereof, imaged as a group in some desired related arrangement, even though not in actual page order, are referred to as a "set." A "two-sided" document is a paper that is desired to be copied on both sides, as opposed to a "one-sided" or only one sided imaged document.

A feature of certain embodiments disclosed herein is that a plurality of paper sets are stacked in a paper stack supply tray.
Kneaded, continuously fed for processing and
Pass the paper circulation path of multiple paper lengths to stack again.
And recirculate the paper circulation path for reprocessing
And re-stacked on the tray,
Non-mechanical light to detect the presence or absence of paper in the tray
Paper presence detector and paper in tray
And the optical paper presence detector is closed,
A signal is dynamically supplied, and the
Each circulation from the tray is controlled by an electromechanical paper separation arm system.
System, the last sheet of the sheet set is removed from the tray.
Mechanically fall when fed, each circulation of the paper set
End detection signal is supplied, electromechanical paper separation arm
The system includes a system in the tray for each circulation of the paper set.
In the paper supply control method reset at the upper end of the paper set
Providing a signal indicating the presence of paper in the tray.
To operate the optical paper presence detector.
Loading the tray with a sheet set; said optical sheet present
Supply the paper set while the signal from the detector is being emitted.
Feeding and circulating and detecting the optical paper presence
Even if the container is short during the circulation of the paper set,
A signal is sent that there is no paper in the tray
In this way, the number of the paper sets is 5 sheets or less,
Of paper, all of which are in the paper circulation path.
And there is paper in the tray during the circulation
Depending on the signal of the optical paper presence detector
The continuous electromechanical paper separation arm system
Automatically disables the action and removes the electromechanical paper separation
System, but not from the optical paper presence detector.
Supplying the end detection signal
It is another object of the present invention to provide a paper supply control method characterized by the following.

[0028] Further features provided by the system disclosed in the text is a paper feed system for you include in the individually or in combination which was prepared as described below.
The set of sheets having a sufficiently small number of sheets is a set of four or less sheets and / or the set of sheets having a sufficiently small number of sheets is a set of one to three sheets. And / or when the set of sheets is a set of four or fewer sheets, the electromechanical sheet separation arm system may be configured such that the set of sheets is only for the first sheet of the set of sheets from the tray. Mechanically operated only once after being stacked in the tray, and / or the paper supply system is a document recirculation processor, and the paper set is the paper circulation path for image formation. And / or wherein the end detection control signal of the set is such that the electromechanical paper separator is only for the short-term signal with a duration of less than 2 seconds .
The paper supply system is a document recirculation processor, wherein the paper supply system is a document recirculation processor, rather than being prepared from the system, and is automatically prepared by the short-time signal from the optical paper presence detector. The set of few sheets is constituted by a set of four or less documents recirculated a plurality of times in the sheet circulation path for image formation.

The apparatus of the present disclosure can be easily operated and controlled in a conventional manner by a conventional control system. A supplemental embodiment of a control system for various prior art copiers with a document processing device that includes switches and sensors for detecting paper, etc. is disclosed in US Pat.
No. 54,380, No. 4,062,061, No. 4,07
No. 6,408, No. 4,078,787, No. 4,09
9,860, 4,125,325, 4,13
No. 2,401, No. 4,144,550, No. 4,15
No. 8,500, No. 4,176,945, No. 4,17
9,215, 4,229,101, 4,27
Nos. 8,344, 4,284,270 and 4,47
No. 5,156, each of which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. It is generally known and desirable to program and execute such control functions and control logic with conventional software instructions to a conventional microprocessor. This is taught by these and other patents and various commercially available copiers. Such software will, of course, vary depending on the particular functionality utilized, the particular software system, and the particular microprocessor or microcomputer system, but, according to those skilled in the art, Without experimental work, it can be readily applied by means of verbatim descriptions of functions as presented in the text, or conventional knowledge of those functions that are conventional along with general knowledge in software and computer technology. Will be able to be programmed. The controller may also be selectively provided by utilizing a variety of other known or suitable hardwired logic or switching systems. As also shown in the above cited art, the control of an exemplary document and copy paper handling system in a copier is as follows:
Signals from the copier control, directly or indirectly in response to simple programmed instructions, further select the number of copies to be made in the operation, select one-sided or two-sided copies, and From the conventional selective activation or deactivation of a copier switch input by a copier operator, such as a switch that selects whether the printer is single-sided or double-sided and selects a copy paper supply tray or the like. Can be achieved by operating them conventionally. The resulting controller signals, in selected steps or in a programmed sequence, trigger various conventional solenoid or cam-controlled sheet deflector fingers, motors, or clutches in the copier. It can be operated as before. Conventional paper path sensors, switches, and paper press bars coupled to the controller are provided with document and copy paper as is well known in the art and as taught in the above and other patents and products. Can be used to sense and time the position of Known copying systems utilize such conventional microprocessor control circuitry with such connection switches and sensors to count documents and copy sheets as they are fed and circulated. To keep track of their positions and count the number of completed circulations and completed copies, etc., thereby controlling the operation of the document and copy sheet supply and reversing devices.

All references cited herein and their references are incorporated herein by reference where appropriate as supplementary or alternative details, features and / or technical teachings on the technical background. Will be incorporated as

[0031] Various of the above and further features and advantages will be apparent from the claims, as well as from the specific devices and features described in the following examples. Accordingly, the present invention will be more clearly understood from the description of an embodiment thereof, which includes drawings (substantially to scale).

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary RDH document processing apparatus with an exemplary document set termination control system.
1 is a schematic side view of one embodiment of the system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial top view schematically showing an enlarged part of the embodiment of FIG.

FIGS. 3 to 7 are illustratively disclosed with respect to the set separation apparatus itself of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 taken from US Pat. No. 4,589,645, cited above. FIGS. 4 to 7 are prior art drawings in which FIG.
The previous figures are partial (simplified) front views of the set separating device of the prior art embodiment of FIG. 3 showing their different operating positions.

Referring now to the exemplary embodiment in greater detail with reference to the drawings, the end-of-document set detection and control system 90 of the present disclosure is illustrated in FIGS. Part of an exemplary integrated document processing and imaging or copying system 10 with a recirculating document processor 20 shown as an example of a document processor used and / or controlled by a control system It is shown as

The RDH 20 may be conventional and may be mounted as part of any conventional copier. In addition, the system can be applied to many other paper supply systems, which is merely one example. Further details are described in the references cited above and other references and need not be repeated here. In this other respect, the conventional recirculating document sheet processor 20 can be used for pre-verification copying, wherein the stacks of individually thin document sheets 14 are both stacked 14 as shown. The restack tray 16 is sequentially fed from the bottom of the stack 14 by a vacuum belt or other individual paper output supply 17 assisted by an air knife, which is adjacent to the front or downstream end of the stack 14. Is mounted on a generally horizontal, planar bottom surface. After each sheet is fed out of the copier platen and copied, the sheet is fed back from the back of the stack to the top of the stack 14 to release the sheet and to align the stack between the aligned end guides. It is sent back through a restacking feeder or transport mechanism that is restacked by lowering to the top. Thus, the document sheets can be continuously cycled in the same order, as often desired.

The dual-mode document positioning type document processing apparatus 20 of the present disclosure is, for example, 28.94 cm × 4.
It has special and different operating modes for large documents such as 3.18 centimeters (11 inches by 17 inches) or A3 documents. However, this is merely exemplary, and the invention is not limited to any particular type of document processing device or document supply device. In this particular document processing device or supply device 20, a large document is placed on a selective side entrance of the document processing device 20, namely SADH.
Desirably, it is fed into slot 22, whereas a normal size document could be inserted either there or on top of RDH stack tray 21.

The exemplary document processing device 20 shown
Is a dual input RDH / SA very similar to that shown in Xerox US Pat. No. 4,579,444 issued Apr. 1, 1986, cited above.
FIG. 1 shows a mirror image or a rear view of the DH device, which is inverted with respect to FIG. 1 here. Thus, this RDH / SADH 20, including its exemplary aspect, SADH inlet 22, may be essentially as described in that patent, except for those novel features described herein. . Similarly, R
The DH / SADH 20 and its driving mechanism and sensors are generally connected to and controlled by a conventional programmable controller 100 that is programmed as described further herein.

Normally, as described in the cited and other techniques, a set of normal sized documents or stacks 14 is placed in the top document tray 16 of the RDH 20. They are counted continuously by being fed from the tray 16 by a pneumatic bottom separator / feeder 17 and fed through a conventional optical paper edge sensor 13. They further pass through an arcuate path 19, which also feeds an optional S
When the sheet meets the passage of the ADH document inlet 22 and merges, the sheet is fed onto the platen 30 at the upstream end of the platen transport belt 24 and the feeding position 25. Document first platen 3
This feed position 25, which is fed above zero and is now trapped in the nip between the platen transport belt 24, is substantially downstream of the upstream end 30 a of the platen 30.

Immediately upstream of the document feed position 25, there is another conventional document edge optical sensor 29 (corresponding to reference numeral 31 in the cited 4,579,444). ing. This particular RDH
At 20, the underlying light-reflective baffle 26 of the underlying pivotable infeed area, which is preferably liftable by a solenoid 28, has a platen 30 in the area extending from the upstream end 30a of the platen to the infeed position 25.
It is placed close to the top. The light baffle 26 in this feed area is otherwise somewhat similar to that shown and described in XDJ (Xerox Disclosure Journal) Vol. 7, No. 4, July 1982, page 4, page 275. is there.

Electronic document image forming system 1 of the present disclosure
1 could be used instead of a conventional optical lens imaging system, which would provide electronic document imaging for subsequent or integrated printing presses. The electronic optical scanning system 11 includes an imaging platen 30.
The document image on the screen. As schematically disclosed herein in FIG. 1, the exemplary electronic image scanning system 11 includes a scanner 40 mounted on a typical horizontal optical scanning carriage and reciprocally driven. A scan from beneath the platen 30 can be prepared. The electronic image scanning system 11 comprises:
Provide scanning across the entire length or area of platen 30 from end 30a to end 30b (see the movement arrow) so that any size document that can be loaded onto the upper surface of platen 30 can be imaged. ing. By convention, the document illumination lamp and the reflector light source can be located on the same scanning carriage.

The electronic imaging member 40 can be, for example, as shown in US Pat. No. 3,977,777.
With a conventional full-width imaging bar or scanhead CCD sensor array, it is desirable to have an integral conventional lens strip, such as the well-known Selfoc® multi-element lens or fiber optics array. possible. Electronic digitization of such document images requires conventional digital copying, printing, facsimile transmission, and / or other digital image processing, image enhancement, and / or operability due to conventional digital image processing. It is becoming more important and decisive than conventional copying by optical lens optical input or the like. This is "EFE" or "electronic front end"
It is sometimes called. Specific examples cited above include Nos. 4,757,348 and 4,295,167.
Nos. 4,287,536 and Xerox Corporation, respectively. Electronic image scanning is described, for example, in G. 1 against G. Dali
As can be seen from Eastman Kodak U.S. Pat. No. 4,150,873 and Xerox Corporation U.S. Pat. No. 4,205,350, issued Apr. 24, 979, it is bidirectional. obtain. Furthermore,
Various electronic buffer and page matching systems are disclosed in the above cited references, 4,099,254 or 4,2,
No. 13,694, each of IBM's U.S. Pat. No. 13,086,23 of Eastman Kodak Co.
No. 1 or GB 1,531,401 and Xerox Corporation's "1200" printing press and "970"
As disclosed in a "0" printing press or the like, it can be connected to or formed as part of an EFE.

According to the document processing apparatus 20, a medium sized document can be moved in a generally conventional manner by a non-slip platen transport belt 24 which is servo driven.
Paper is fed, positioned and ejected in a single overall direction on the platen 30. Therefore, the automatically fed normal-size document is generally positioned downstream of the baffle 26 at a location below the platen transport belt 24.

However, according to this particular document processing device 20, a large oversized document (only) is first fed on the platen 30 in the same manner and direction, but then
It will be treated differently automatically as it is sensed that it is oversized when it is sent. Feeding of large documents is done in the downstream or front end area of large documents.
until the (lead edge area) is fed past the platen downstream end 30b (so that the front end area of the document is practically easily entered into the document exit or exit area 31 after passing the platen). Do) continue. At this point, the trail edge of the oversized document is passing through the feed position 25, past the upstream document edge sensor 29 and the downstream end 26b of the baffle 26, and therefore the length and length of the document. The property of being oversized is recognized by the control device 100 of the copying machine. The oversized document has a portion that extends beyond the downstream end 30b of the platen 30 at the infeed point exiting from the infeed position 25 so that the image will be so formed if processed as a normal document. Documents that would be lost. In response to that oversized information, the document platen transport mechanism is automatically reversed (but preferably operated at a reversal speed much slower than the forward speed),
The document is "retracted" to the desired copy position positioned relative to the upstream platen end 30a. The reversing motion of the large document to the copy position moves the rear end area of the large document back under the feed baffle 26 toward the upstream end 30a of the platen. This retraction of the document, and the coordinated lifting of the baffle 26 at the downstream end 26b by the solenoid 28 as described herein, occurs automatically only for documents that are sensed to be oversized. All documents are input area 25
Will be fed over the platen 30 via a normal SADH or RDH input passage guide baffle leading to the baffle 26 as shown. . The ends of these document entry baffles provide a document entry entrance location in the input area 25 through which the rear edge of the document must pass.

In this embodiment, the solenoid 28 is connected to the upstream end 26a of the baffle 26, and the movement of the baffle 26 in the horizontal downstream direction by the operation of the solenoid 28 pulls the downstream lip 26b of the baffle 26 away from the platen 30 to cause the platen 30 to move. The conveyor belt 24 is lifted above the lower plane. In its raised position, the baffle lip 26b and the lower surface of the associated (here inclined) baffle 26 are essentially stripping gates or deflectors, here for large documents being reversed. This will ensure that the previous rear end retracts below the baffle 26 instead of above it.

When the solenoid 28 is not actuated, the baffle 26 is lowered to its normal substantially horizontal position resting directly on the platen 30 by being lowered substantially to the plane of the platen. I have. The lower surface of the baffle 26 is preferably desirably normally allowed to rest flat on the upper surface of the platen 30 by gravity when the solenoid 28 is released. That is, here the input path for large documents as well as ordinary documents is on top of the baffle 26, and it is desirable that the baffle be in its lowered position as described above. For medium sized documents, solenoid 28 need not be actuated at all, so
The baffle 26 can remain lowered directly flat against the top of the area of the platen that it always covers.

Turning now to the embodiments disclosed with respect to the specific system of the present invention, the overall embodiment 90 of a sensing and control system integrated with the automatic recirculating document processor 20 will be described. For reference, the system 90 detects the end of document set feeding by performing set separation, i.e., signaling the last sheet in the document set, and furthermore, should be fed in the stack 14. It includes a document presence sensor 80 and a set separation device 50 that distinguishes documents from those that have been returned to the document tray 16 and restacked. Both the document presence sensor 80 and the set separation device 50 are connected to the control device 10 as described later.
Connected to 0.

Turning first to the exemplary set separation device 50, which is essentially positioned here in the positioning tray near the rear or restack end of the document tray 16 of the RDH 20 U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,6.
45 is a specific example of the prior art from No. 45. It includes an integral finger, arm or paper press 52, which is typically lightly resting on the stack 14. Finger 5
The 2 descends by gravity as the paper is fed from the bottom of the stack 14 and thus from below the fingers 52. When the document under the finger 52 is exhausted, it descends to a position via a slot in the bottom of the tray 16 as shown in FIG. 2 and all of the sets are copied or cycled once. The photo switch for notifying that the document sheet has been sent from the tray 16 is operated. The finger 52 is then automatically reset by the solenoid actuation mechanism to an initial or reset position at the top of the stack 14 to initiate the next cycle.

Before the document feeding is started, fingers 52
The position of the finger 52 at the top of the stack 14 at which is to be automatically positioned indicates the height of the stack, for example, cited 4,589,645 or 4,469,320. To automatically adjust the vacuum, air and / or normal force pressure in the document feeder to compensate for the stack height (and thus indirectly with respect to weight), as further described in US Pat. It can also be used for

Document Set Separation / Circulation Counter System 50
The mechanical structure and function of this device will be further described from U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,645 with reference to FIG. The need for the paper retainer 52 to be controlled directly by only its eccentric pivotal connection to the independently rotated arm or sector 54 with the cam 58, withdrawing, lifting, re-stretching and lowering the paper retainer or finger 52. Prepare all the exercises that will be done. The set separator 50 is actively driven by its arm 54 and cam 58 through a reset cycle. Increasing the length of separation finger 52 reduces the angle at which it rests on top of document stack 14.

The paper holding arm or finger 52 is returned to the top of the document stack 14 with a minimum number of parts. Finger 52 is a rotating arm or sector 5 to be rotated by an attached cable pulley.
4 so as to be pivotable. The arm 54 and its integral cam 58 are partially rotated by approximately 60 degrees by a solenoid 56 via a cable attached to a pulley. For the first 25 degrees or so, finger 52 is pulled back essentially horizontally. Finger 52
Will be moved about one-half of its total retraction amount before beginning the upward movement to ensure that it is well behind the stack before being lifted.
Then, for the last 35 degrees, finger 52 is
Lifted by 8. The spring action then returns the solenoid, pushing the arm 52 back through its return path and onto the document stack. Since a simple and inexpensive linear (or rotary) solenoid 56, preferably provided with connecting cables, pulleys and spring 38 devices as shown, can be used, pulling back of the paper presser 52 off the stack is accomplished by a solenoid. Due to the retraction of 56, the return movement will be due to the opposing spring force that causes the arm 54 to rotate toward the stack (in the opposite direction).

In other words, the document set separating apparatus 50 of the present disclosure includes a finger or an extended paper presser 52 whose one end is eccentrically mounted on an oscillating solenoid driven arm or disk 54. Having. The arm 54 has a cam surface 58 that swings together, which will function intermittently in the middle of the finger 52. This combination drive mechanism initially retreats somewhat linearly away from underneath the end of the stack 14 of previously lowered separation fingers or paper retainers 52, and then the arcuate shape once released from the end of the stack. To provide a somewhat linear return to the top of the stack (preferably with the help of a raised holding cam surface or magnet), and extend the fingers 52 onto the stack without contacting them, It will drop to the top surface of the stack, well away from the edges, so that it is not restrained, it will drop to the top surface level of that particular stack. About half of the entire travel of the paper presser 52 is basically only in the horizontal direction. This stroke is prepared on the paper presser 52 in the initial retraction movement away from the end of the stack. This will ensure that the end of the finger 52 is completely separated from under the end of the stack 14 before the lifting of the finger 52 begins.

It is noted that the unique shape of the central portion of the arm or paper retainer 52 itself controls the blocking and unblocking of the two commercially available photo-optical pair sensors 31 and 32. These are an upper stack height sensor 31 and a lower set separation sensor 32. here,
As will be explained later, these sensors are directly activated by the paper presser arm 52 itself for more accurate stack height sensing. See Finger 5
A pre-formed notch 34 is provided on one side of 2 and a projection tab 36 is provided on the other side.
It will be appreciated that other suitable shapes may be provided. Regarding the vertical distance between the two sensors 31 and 32, a predetermined vertical distance (the arm 52)
Width), and both the notch 34 and the tab 36 have a predetermined horizontal length. Its horizontal length controls the blocking and unblocking of the sensor during the reset operation when the arm is fully retracted, as will be explained later. Tabs 36 and notches 34 allow the two sensors to be further separated and not unstable with respect to the position of the arm movement, i.e., to connect their input devices to a conventional microprocessor controller 100. It provides a more accurate indication of stack height that is less affected by the sensor mounting location for more accurate input, and then, as described in each of the above-cited patents, the controller 100 can be configured to operate with a stack feeder. 17 and, in particular, its air level regulation.

The two spaced sensors or switch means 31 and 32 are variably actuated by the notches 34 and tabs 36 in response to the variable position of the set separation finger 52, and in each vertical (and horizontal) position. It is positioned such that one or both of the sensors 31 and / or 32 are activated or neither is activated. In response, the controller 100 determines the four different combinations of the sensed active or inactive states of the two separation sensors 31 and 32 and the operation when the combination of active or inactive states is sensed. Depending on the time, six different automatic control outputs will be presented. These six different automatic controls in response to four different combinations of active or inactive state of the sensor are:
Each signal provides a stack that is too high for reliable feeding, a high stack, a medium height stack, a low stack, no stack, or the end of stack circulation.

In response to one of the four combinations of the activated and deactivated states of the switch means 31 and 32, the solenoid 56 is actuated by the controller 100 to pull the set separating fingers 52 out of the stack 14;
Reset it to the top of the stack as described. It will be appreciated that at the end of the set of FIGS. 3 and 4 (ie, no document is present), both sensors 31 and 32 are released and unobstructed. That is, the opposing light source for each sensor reaches each sensor without being blocked by the set separation finger 52 therebetween. This initiates and initiates the reset cycle shown in each figure. The retraction movement is started as indicated by the movement arrow in FIG.

Here, paying particular attention to the variously shown operating positions of the set separating device 50 shown in each of FIGS. 3 to 7, FIGS. Thus, a system that is about to be reset shortly after being lowered through a slot in tray 16 is shown. FIG. 5 shows the system near the end of the retraction phase of the reset operation of the finger 52, with the cam 58 lifting the finger 52 vertically. FIG. 6 shows the return movement of this reset operation. FIG. 7 shows three different stack heights.
The finger 52 is shown in its returned (reset) stack height sensing position.

At the end of the retraction stroke of the solenoid 56, the pin 39 on the finger 52 has been raised above the rear lip of the complementary (optional) return cam 59. The cam 59 is pivotally spring loaded and will positively spring back under the pin 39 at that point (see its dashed position relative to the solid position of the cam 59 in FIG. 5). Thus, when current is removed from the solenoid 56, the spring 38 rotates the arm 54 in the forward direction as shown in FIG. 6 and the pin 39 rides on top of the cam 59 to move the finger 52 to the highest possible stack. 14 and the fingers 52
Is forwarded on the stack 14. Pin 3
When 9 reaches the end of the cam surface of the cam 59, the fingers 52, regardless of the height of the stack, cause the end of the stack at the end of the stack not to trample or be affected by the winding of the end of the document. At a position well beyond the top, it will be free to descend onto the top of the stack.

In the reset operation as described above,
Sensors 31 and 32 perform their functions. The logic of controller 100, when it indicates an actuation signal to solenoid 56, "watches" for inputs from these sensors, shutting off upper sensor 31 and lowering it as shown in FIG. Of the sensor 32 is not interrupted. When such a combination of the three signals occurs, controller 100 causes finger 5
It is known that 2 has been lifted or "struck" by cam 58 and is in the correct position to deactivate the solenoid and perform the return or reset movement of finger 52. This is accomplished by terminating the notch 34 in the finger 52 at a point where the uncut portion of the finger 52 blocks the sensor 31 with respect to the "struck" position of the finger 52. It is noted that there is. It is also noted that the sensor 31 is not only vertically spaced above the sensor 32 but also positioned horizontally behind it. The combination of the solenoid operating signal and the sensor 31 being shut off gives a signal to release the finger 52, promptly jumps forward and then immediately descends to determine the stack height. Will be detected.

As the outer or height-sensitive end of the finger 52 descends above the stack, its inner portion correspondingly containing the tab 36 passes continuously through the sensors 31 and 32. It will descend to provide stack height sensing information.

First, an "overstacking" condition is assumed, as indicated by the dashed position at the top of stack 14 and finger 52 in FIG. In such a situation (too many documents for reliable document supply), neither sensor 31 nor sensor 32 will be obstructed. The downward movement of the finger 52 is stopped before the finger 52 descends sufficiently to cover the upper sensor 31. In this position, the tab 36
It is noted here that it is in front of the sensor 31 and cannot be shut off.

A high, but not overstacked, stack 14 level is illustrated by the solid line position in FIG. Such a “high” stack level has a predetermined range, which is sensed by the fact that only sensor 31 is shut off and sensor 32 is not shut off, as shown. This is the "large amount" from the controller 100.
To provide a higher level of air knife level control. This “high” (but not “overstacked”) range can be, for example, a stack height of 25 mm to 6.5 mm.

When the height of the stack 14 is in the "medium" range, the system is designed so that both sensors 31 and 32 are shut off in this range. In this "medium" stack area, the tab 36 covers the sensor 32, and the sensor 31 also remains covered by the rear of the finger 52. This "medium" stack height range extends from the above-described "high" range to the "low" stack position to the initial reset position of the finger 52. This "medium" stack height range is, for example, a stack height of 6.5 mm to 1.5 mm and can be set and used to accommodate a moderate level of air control. .

The "low" stack height is indicated by the dashed position under finger 52 and stack 14 in FIG. For a "low" stack, only the lower sensor 32 is shut off and the upper sensor 31 is not covered here. The combination of the signal 32 lacking this 31 informs the controller 100 that there are several sheets in tray 16 but a small number.
The pressure level of the air knife can be reduced accordingly, avoiding excessive lifting of a small number of stacks. Therefore, the set separation device 5 here
0 can automatically provide a variable air setting for the paper feed, including the correct air knife level for a particular thickness of the stack of paper being fed, thereby providing Paper errors or jams will be minimized.

If the finger 52 drops down immediately after the reset operation so as not to cover both sensors, the controller 100 indicates that there is no stack, that is, that no documents have been loaded or that Know that it has been removed from the tray.
On the other hand, if this descent signal occurs after a time delay after a normal reset to one of the stack height positions, it will provide a signal of the end of the set cycle.

Turning now to system 90 in the text, information signals from document sheet set separator 50 or other set separators can be used in controller 100 with document sheet presence sensor 80. A long-lived document presence sensor 80 in maintaining the integrity of a set of jobs with a small number of documents, i.e., many temporary, fragmentary jobs of a document set.
Is a relatively short-lived group separation device 50
A control algorithm is provided that allows for Its implementation would be less costly as it would require only simple software.

This system 90 effectively utilizes a conventional existing descending arm switch type set separator, such as reference numeral 50, but is modified to provide each set of documents from the RDH tray. It signals the end of each cycle. As described, such a set separation device 50
Then, each time each document set is sent out, the arm 52
It will first be placed at the top of the stack of documents 14 in the RDH tray 16 and then fall down whenever the last sheet is fed from under the arm, activating the switch means (the arm will again be automatically placed on top of the stack). Will also signal that it should be reset.) Here, the set separating apparatus 50 is still automatically used as usual for a document set including four or more documents loaded on the tray 16.

However, in the improved system 90 of the present invention, an RDH document circulation loop that travels from the RDH tray 16 to the tray 16 before all one to three documents are returned to the tray and stacked again. For one-, two- or three-sheet document set jobs or stacks 14, which are fed into the aisle, the existing optics at the bottom of the tray (optically looking at one side edge corner) There is a short time interval during which the typical document presence sensor 80 will be exposed (unblocked) because there are no documents in the tray 16 at that point in such a small number of job cycles. It was discovered that The controller 100 to be connected is
Such a signal is sent for that short time interval of only a few seconds or less. However, once the first fed document sheet returns to the bottom of the tray 16 and is restacked, the "document present" sensor 80 is again shut off until the end of the next completed minority sheet set. Such a signal is sent to the controller 100. [On the other hand, if the document was otherwise removed from tray 16, document presence sensor 80 would remain unblocked and send such a signal forever. Become. ]

Accordingly, the controller 100, of course, having an internal timing comparison available, uses the short, limited predetermined (eg, 2 seconds) coming out of the connecting optical and electronic document presence sensor 80. It can simply be easily programmed to listen for and respond to the "no document set" signal for a time interval (not longer), and the recognized signal will be the first set cycle and all other subsequent It has been discovered that with respect to group circulation, rather than, or in addition to, the lowering switch of arm 52 of group separator 50, it can also be used to signal the sending of a complete document set. In response to the recognized signal, the "set separator" arm 52 may be automatically and effectively disabled or paused for the remainder of the job. That is, the solenoid 56 is not actuated again, and the arm 52 is left lowered,
It is not reset after the first cycle, i.e., the delivery of the set, and similarly, the sensors 31 and 32 also have their job regardless of the number of set cycles, i.e. with respect to the recirculation of all subsequent document sets after the first Will not be called for the rest of the copying operation.

Preferably, a swing or reset of arm 52 is used in all cases (only) for initial circulation to confirm document presence and initial paper feed, and / or as described above. To provide information on the stack height. When a document is first loaded into tray 16, the actual number of documents is typically not known by controller 100 unless the number is manually entered into the associated keypad or keyboard by an operator. If the set separation device 50 has a stack height measurement system, it can be used to confirm that the system 90 may be usable "a few"
, But the initial appropriate short "no document set" signal and / or the actual total number of document sets is the sum of the document counter 13 when the arm 52 descends. , And cannot be confirmed until it is first received in an initial document cycle.

Depending on the overall length of the RDH document circulation path, this system 90 can function not only for a one to three sheet document set, but also for a four sheet document set. It is. These small sets of documents are all "jobs" of a very common size and are commonly involved in the quick and frequent operation of the set separator 50, and therefore have a high degree of wear and increased risk of jams. In addition, the operation of the apparatus may be stopped.

In summary, here the end-of-set detection control signal is generated, usually by the electromechanical sheet set separator in the sheet stack tray being operated mechanically each time the last sheet of the stack is fed. In a device for continuously feeding and restacking sheets, the end detection control signal of the set is maintained even after the last sheet of the set is fed out of the document tray. its respect document sets that all document sheets have a sufficiently small number of document sheets enough in the document recirculation path, optical from the usual set of termination detector of the sheet set separator is non-mechanical The provision is made by automatically switching to the function of the paper presence detector, so that the optical paper presence detector gives a brief signal that there is no document paper in the tray. Because That.

While the embodiments disclosed herein are preferred, various teachings, alternatives, modifications, changes, or improvements may be made by those skilled in the art from the teachings herein, which It will be appreciated that it is intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of one embodiment of the system of the present invention, illustrating an exemplary RDH document processing device with an exemplary document set termination control system.

FIG. 2 is a partial top view schematically showing an enlarged part of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 cited US Pat. No. 4,589,64.
FIG. 3 is a schematic side view, taken in section 5, of the prior art exemplarily disclosed with respect to the set separation device itself of the embodiment of FIGS.

FIG. 4 is a partial (simplified) front view of the set separation device of the prior art embodiment of FIG. 3 shown in the set end position;

5 is a partial (simplified) front view of the prior art embodiment set separation device of FIG. 3, shown near the end of the retraction phase of the reset operation.

6 is a partial (simplified) front view of the set separating device of the prior art embodiment of FIG. 3, shown in a starting position of the return movement of the reset operation.

FIG. 7 is a partial (simplified) front view of the set separation device of the prior art embodiment of FIG. 3 reset to three different stack heights.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Copying system, 11 Document image forming system, 1
3 paper edge sensor, 14 stacks, 16 restack trays, 17 paper output supply device, 19 arcuate path,
Reference Signs List 20 recirculating document processor, 21 RDH stack tray, 22 SADH slot, 24 platen transport belt, 25 feeding position, 26 light reflecting baffle, 28
Solenoid, 29 Document edge optical sensor, 30 Platen, 31, 32 Stack height sensor, 34 notch, 36 tab, 39 pin, 40 scanner, 50 set separation device, 52 finger, 54 arm, 56 solenoid, 58, 59 Cam, 80 document presence sensor, 9
0 control system, 100 programmable controllers

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of paper sets are stacked in a paper stack supply tray, continuously fed for processing, returned through a paper circulation path of a plurality of paper lengths for restacking on said tray, and reprocessed. Recirculating the paper circulation path for re-stacking on the tray,
A non-mechanical optical paper presence detector for detecting the presence or absence of paper in the tray, and the optical paper presence detector is closed when paper is present in the tray.
Ri is intended to automatically signal is obtained, the circulation from the paper set in the tray, the electromechanical paper separating arm system, when the sheet set in the last sheet is fed from the tray A sheet supply that is mechanically dropped and an end detection signal of each cycle of the sheet set is supplied, and the electromechanical sheet separation arm system is reset at an upper end of the sheet set in the tray in each cycle of the sheet set; A control method, comprising loading a sheet set in the tray and detecting the presence of the optical sheet.
Activate the dispenser to indicate the presence of paper in the tray.
And continuously feeding and circulating the paper set while the signal from the optical paper presence detector is being emitted , if any, for a short period of time during the circulation of the paper set. In between, before
From the optical paper presence detector, paper is present in the tray.
If a signal indicating that there is no paper
For the total length of sheets of paper less than 5 sheets
The paper shall be in the circulation path and shall be
The optical paper presence that there is no paper in the tray.
The electromechanical paper separation arm in response to a signal from the presence detector.
Automatically disables the continuous operation of the
Not from the mechanical paper separation arm system, but from the optical
That for paper supply control method having a respective step of emitting end detection signal from the sheet presence detector. Wherein electrical mechanical paper automatically disabled for work <br/> separation arm system, according to claim 1 paper according to the paper set number of sheets to be circulated only occurs in the case of 1 to three Supply control method. Wherein when the sheet set is a sheet of four or less, electrostatic <br/> air mechanical sheet separation arm system Gato respect sheet set at the beginning of sheet feeding from the laser alone, the sheet set is in the tray mechanically operated Ru請 Motomeko 1 sheet supply control method according once after stacked. 4. For feeding set is several times recycled Ru請 Motomeko 1 Symbol mounting sheet supply control method for the paper circulation path for imaging. End of 5. A signal from the optical biological paper presence detector
Is less than 2 seconds in duration from the optical paper presence detector.
2. The sheet supply control method according to claim 1, wherein the method is automatically performed by a signal .