Automatic magazine speed control for document processing system
First Claim
1. A document processing system, comprising:
- a feed magazine for supporting a stack of flat documents in generally upstanding on-edge relation and advancing the documents along a feed path with the documents disposed generally transverse to the feed path;
a feeder assembly including document engaging means for engaging the leading document in the stack and feeding the leading document in a direction generally transverse to the feed path;
document sensing and control means comprising a document sensing lever disposed in operational relationship to said feeder assembly for sensing the presence or absence of at least one document advanced by said feed magazine for engagement by said feeder assembly, and further comprising a variable speed controller circuitry means for adjustably controlling the speed of the advance of documents on the feed magazine as a function of the pressure exerted by the documents on said document sensing lever and for providing adjustable minimum and maximum speeds at which the documents are advanced by said feed magazine.
21 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A document processing system includes a feed magazine for supporting a stack of flat documents in generally upstanding on-edge relation and advancing the documents along a feed path with the documents disposed generally transverse to the feed path, a feeder assembly including feeder belts defining at least one belt run for engaging the leading document in the stack and feeding the leading document in a direction generally transverse to the feed path, and a document sensing and control apparatus for sensing the pressure exerted by documents against the sensing control apparatus and the document feed magazine, and controlling the speed of the advance of documents on the feed magazine as a function of the pressure. The greater the pressure exerted by the documents, the slower the feed magazine will advance documents to the feeder. Conversely, upon the sensation of reduced pressure against the feeder, the document sensing and control apparatus will increase the speed of the feed magazine to maintain an adequate supply of documents for efficient processing.
39 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A document processing system, comprising:
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a feed magazine for supporting a stack of flat documents in generally upstanding on-edge relation and advancing the documents along a feed path with the documents disposed generally transverse to the feed path; a feeder assembly including document engaging means for engaging the leading document in the stack and feeding the leading document in a direction generally transverse to the feed path; document sensing and control means comprising a document sensing lever disposed in operational relationship to said feeder assembly for sensing the presence or absence of at least one document advanced by said feed magazine for engagement by said feeder assembly, and further comprising a variable speed controller circuitry means for adjustably controlling the speed of the advance of documents on the feed magazine as a function of the pressure exerted by the documents on said document sensing lever and for providing adjustable minimum and maximum speeds at which the documents are advanced by said feed magazine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 18)
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12. A document processing system, comprising:
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a feed magazine for supporting a stack of documents in generally upstanding on-edge relation and advancing the documents along a feed path with the documents disposed generally transverse to the feed path; feed magazine drive means for driving said feed magazine; a feeder assembly including a pivotal feeder belt frame and feeder belt means disposed on said frame to define a belt run for engaging the leading document in the stack and feeding the leading document in a direction generally transverse to the feed path; and document sensing and control means comprising a document sensing lever disposed in operational relationship to said feeder assembly, and being pivotally displaced by documents advanced by said feed magazine, for sensing the pressure exerted by documents against said document sensing lever and further comprising a variable speed controller circuitry means being electrically connected to said feed magazine drive means for adjustably controlling the speed of the advance of documents on the feed magazine as a function of said pressure and for providing adjustable minimum and maximum speeds at which said feed magazine is driven. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification