Rotation of a document through a finite angle
First Claim
1. Apparatus for rotating a sheet, comprising:
- a conveyance surface on which a sheet, having a first orientation, travels in a first direction;
first and second rollers for engaging a sheet travelling on said conveyance surface and spaced from each other in a second direction, generally transverse to said first direction;
first and second drive means, operatively driving said first and second rollers, respectively, independently of each other, at least one of said drive means being reversible;
sensing means for sensing the leading edge of a sheet, having said first orientation, with respect to said rollers, said sensing means located downstream of said rollers in a first direction;
control means for controlling the speed and direction of rotation of said drive means in response to said sensing means to rotate the sheet so that it has a second orientation, significantly angularly displaced from the first orientation, comprising computer means for controlling said drive means to effect rotation of the sheet by driving the first roller so that the tangential velocity thereof is in the first direction, and by driving the second roller so that the tangential velocity thereof is in a second direction, opposite the first direction;
a nip wheel associated with each of said first and second rollers for holding a sheet in contact therewith, said nip wheels being located above said conveyance surface; and
conveyance means associated with said conveyance surface for delivering a sheet to said first and second rollers, and for transporting said sheet away from said first and second rollers, in said first direction.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Sheets, such as business forms, are turned so that their orientation is changed from landscape to portrait mode, or vice versa. Simple apparatus effects sheet rotation, and includes a conveyance surface on which a sheet travels in a first direction, first and second rollers for engaging the sheet traveling on the conveyance surface, and first and second drives (e.g., D.C. stepper motors) for driving the first and second rollers independently of each other. A sensor senses the position of the sheet just downstream of the rollers, and a controller (computer)--in response to the sensor--controls the speed and direction of rotation of the motors so that one roller rotates with a given tangential speed in a first direction of rotation, while the other roller rotates at that same speed in an opposite direction of rotation.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. Apparatus for rotating a sheet, comprising:
-
a conveyance surface on which a sheet, having a first orientation, travels in a first direction; first and second rollers for engaging a sheet travelling on said conveyance surface and spaced from each other in a second direction, generally transverse to said first direction; first and second drive means, operatively driving said first and second rollers, respectively, independently of each other, at least one of said drive means being reversible; sensing means for sensing the leading edge of a sheet, having said first orientation, with respect to said rollers, said sensing means located downstream of said rollers in a first direction; control means for controlling the speed and direction of rotation of said drive means in response to said sensing means to rotate the sheet so that it has a second orientation, significantly angularly displaced from the first orientation, comprising computer means for controlling said drive means to effect rotation of the sheet by driving the first roller so that the tangential velocity thereof is in the first direction, and by driving the second roller so that the tangential velocity thereof is in a second direction, opposite the first direction; a nip wheel associated with each of said first and second rollers for holding a sheet in contact therewith, said nip wheels being located above said conveyance surface; and conveyance means associated with said conveyance surface for delivering a sheet to said first and second rollers, and for transporting said sheet away from said first and second rollers, in said first direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method of re-orienting a sheet using first and second drive means, rotating first and second rollers, respectively, independently of each other, the rollers being spaced apart in a second direction, generally transverse to the first direction, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) feeding the sheet, with a leading edge and in a first orientation, in a first direction to a sensing location adjacent, but downstream of in the first direction, the first and second rollers; (b) at the sensing location, sensing the leading edge of the sheet; and (c) in response to step (b), controlling the drive means to, in turn, control both the speed and direction of rotation of the rollers, so that the rollers rotate the sheet to a predetermined second orientation, significantly angularly displaced from the first orientation, by controlling the first drive means so that the tangential velocity of the first roller is in a second direction, opposite the first direction, to move the sheet through an angle of approximately 90°
. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A sheet handling assembly, comprising:
-
a substantially planar, generally horizontal, conveyance surface; first and second driven shafts having substantially in-line axes of rotation; first and second rollers driven by said first and second driven shafts, respectively, independently of each other; said first and second rollers each having a circumferential peripheral surface portion thereof extending up through said generally horizontal surface, so that said peripheral surfaced of each is above said generally horizontal surface;
said rollers being of low inertia material with the circumferential peripheral surfaces thereof having a high coefficient of friction;a sensor having a sensing element extending into a position along said generally horizontal surface adjacent said rollers; a controller operatively connected to said driven shafts and to said sensor; and conveyor means cooperating with said generally horizontal surface for conveying a sheet therealong into operative association with, and away from, said rollers. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. Apparatus for rotating a sheet, comprising:
-
a conveyance surface on which a sheet, having a first orientation, travels in a first direction; first and second rollers for engaging a sheet travelling on said conveyance surface and spaced from each other in a second direction, generally transverse to said first direction; first and second drive means, operatively driving said first and second rollers, respectively, independently of each other, at least one of said drive means being reversible; sensing means for sensing the leading edge of a sheet, having said first orientation, with respect to said rollers, said sensing means located downstream of said rollers in a first direction, said sensing means consisting of a single sensor; and control means for controlling the speed and direction of rotation of said drive means in response to said sensing means to rotate the sheet so that it has a second orientation, significantly angularly displaced from the first orientation.
-
-
20. A method of re-orienting a sheet using first and second drive means, rotating first and second rollers, respectively, independently of each other, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) feeding the sheet, with a leading edge and in a first orientation, in a first direction to a sensing location adjacent, but downstream of in the first direction, the first and second rollers; (b) at the sensing location, sensing the leading edge of the sheet; and (c) in response to step (b), controlling the drive means to, in turn, control both the speed and direction of rotation of the rollers, so that the rollers rotate the sheet to a predetermined second orientation, significantly angularly displaced from the first orientation, the first and second drive means rotating the first and second rollers at the same speed, but in opposite directions of rotation.
-
Specification