Apparatus for overcoming sheet feeding jams in an imaging system

• US 7,009,720 B1
• Filed: 08/14/2000
• Issued: 03/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Frank J. Williams
• Original Assignee: Frank J. Williams
• Inventors: Williams, Frank J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Douglas Q.
• Application Number:
  US09/638,445
• Time in Patent Office: 2,031 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.12, 358/1.13, 358/1.14, 358/1.16, 358/1.17, 358/1.6, 358/505, 358/402, 358/403, 358/437, 355/407, 355/408, 271/3.06, 271/3.09, 271/3.15, 271/3.17, 271/3.18, 271/4.01, 271/4.02, 271/9.02, 271/9.04, 271/97, 271/106
• US Class Current: 358/1.12
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2220/01 indicating an entity as a function of which control, adjustment or change is performed, i.e. input
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2220/02 indicating an entity which is controlled, adjusted or changed by a control process, i.e. output
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2511/528 Jam
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2513/42 Route, path
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/60 diverting the stream into alternative paths B65H29/62 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 43/00 Use of control, checking, or safety devices, e.g. automatic devices comprising an element for sensing a variable
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/70 Detecting malfunctions relating to paper handling, e.g. jams
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00552 Purge of recording medium at jam
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0057 Conveying sheets before or after scanning arrangements for conveying sheets as part of the scanning operation H04N1/04 and subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00588 to the scanning position H04N1/00572, H04N1/00594 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00591 from the scanning position H04N1/00572 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00602 Feed rollers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00612 Path switches H04N1/00575, H04N1/00623, H04N1/00633 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00657 Compensating for different handling speeds of different apparatus or arrangements for handling a plurality of sheets simultaneously, e.g. mechanical buffering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3263 of reading apparatus or transmitter, e.g. original jam
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32635 of reproducing apparatus or receiver, e.g. out of paper
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32667 Restarting a communication or performing a recovery operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32678 Performing substitution, e.g. substitute reception or substituting a corrupted line of data H04N1/32384 takes precedence

Abstract

An image forming apparatus scans, stores, and forms images. The apparatus includes an optical scanning device adapted to produce optical images to be reproduced; and an image storing device, connected for receiving the optical images from the optical scanning device for temporary storage thereof. The apparatus also has a device for reproducing a corresponding image signal at a later time. A plurality of image formation devices are connected for receiving the image signal from the image storing device and are enabled for forming the image on sheets which move through the apparatus. The apparatus further includes a sheet feeding device, interconnected and adapted for selectively receiving sheets from a sheet storing device, delivering the sheets to at least one of the image forming devices for producing latent images of the optical images onto the sheets, and thereafter, delivering the sheets to a sheet receiving device. The apparatus further comprises a control system interconnected and adapted for selectively controlling the movement of the sheets from the sheet storage device, through the optical scanning device, to the sheet receiving device with selective alternative sheet movement depending upon sheet jams within the apparatus.

Claims

1. A high reliability imaging system comprising:

an optical scanning means adapted to produce optical images from an image source;

an image storing means, connected for receiving and storing the optical images from the optical scanning means;

a plurality of image forming means, each connected for receiving the optical images from the image storing means and enabled further for forming the images on recording sheets;

a multi-path sheet feeding means, connected and adapted for;

(i) selectively receiving sheets from any one of a plurality of sheet dispensing means, (ii) selectively delivering the sheets to the plurality of image forming means over any of a plurality of paths, so as to enable the forming of latent images onto the sheets, and (iii) thereafter, selectively delivering said sheets with latent images to a sheet receiving means over any of the plurality of paths;

a controlling means, adapted for selectively choosing paths for the sheets to move from the sheet dispensing means, through a selected one of the image forming means to the sheet receiving means, the controlling means adapted for sensing sheet jams, for activating jam clearance actions, and for selecting alternate sheet paths for optimizing apparatus reliability, and

a sheet jam sensor means and a jammed sheet receiving means, the sheet feeding means adapted for reversing sheet flow direction so as to move a jammed sheet from the sheet feeding means into the jammed sheet receiving means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sheet jam sensor means comprises a distributed array of a plurality of sensors, the plurality of sensors positioned for sensing each one of the sheets in turn and enabled for transmitting a signal to the controlling means upon sensing of each of the leading edges.

3. A high reliability imaging system comprising:

an image forming means enabled for forming images on recording sheets;

a sheet feeding means, connected for delivering the recording sheets to a sheet receiving means;

a controlling means adapted for sensing jams of the recording sheets in the sheet feeding means, and further adapted for activating jam clearance actions, and further adapted for selecting alternative sheet paths; and

a sheet jam sensor means and a jammed sheet receiving means, the sheet feeding means adapted for reversing sheet flow direction of a jammed recording sheet so as to move the jammed sheet from the sheet feeding means into the jammed sheet receiving means for clearing the jam and enabling the sheet feeding means to continue to operate with further recording sheets.