US3556512A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Document feed apparatus
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1968-12-04
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Granted: 1971-01-19
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Expires: 1988-12-04
Abstract
Abstract Document feed apparatus for transporting one document at a time from a supply tray to a work station and back to the supply tray on completion of the work cycle, the apparatus having relatively high speed first document transport means for feeding each document to the work station and returning the document to the supply tray, relatively low speed second transport means for bringing the next document forward to a point adjacent the work station inlet, and means to maintain documents returned to the supply tray segregated from documents awaiting feeding to the work station, the last-mentioned means being adapted, where the cycle is repeated, to automatically move onto the topmost one of the returned documents following return of the last document to the supply tray.
Inventors
- 👤 George E Fackler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:00
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B27/00; G03B27/32; G03B27/52; G03B27/62; G03B27/6207; G03B27/625; G03B27/6264; B; B65; B65H; B65H29/00; B65H29/20; B65H29/22; B65H5/00; B65H5/06; B65H5/062; B65H9/00; B65H9/14; B65H2301/00; B65H2301/40; B65H2301/42; B65H2301/421; B65H2301/4214; B65H2301/42146; B65H2403/00; B65H2403/20; B65H2403/21
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
In a document feed apparatus including means for supporting documents to be fed at a first location, the combination of: means for feeding one document at a time forward from said first location to a second location; document transport means for feeding documents forward from said second location to a third location; means for reversing said document transport means to return documents to said first location; and document-deflecting means adapted to route returning documents around said document-feeding means to enable said feeding means to bring the next succeeding document forward to said second location before said transport means returns the preceeding document to said first location.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
In a document feed apparatus including means for supporting documents to be fed at a first location, the combination of: means for feeding one document at a time forward from said first location to a second location; document transport means for feeding documents forward from said second location to a third location; means for reversing said document transport means to return documents to said first location; and document-deflecting means adapted to route returning documents around said document-feeding means to enable said feeding means to bring the next succeeding document forward to said second location before said transport means returns the preceeding document to said first location.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 including return transport means for feeding returning documents from said deflecting means to said first location.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 including registering means adapted to preposition documents at said third location.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 in which said registering means includes at least one protruding register surface disposed in the path of document movement and engageable with one edge of a document to preposition said document at said third location.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus according to claim 4 in which said register surface is disposed proximate the inlet to said third location whereby documents feeding to said third location pass over said register surface, said transport means being adapted, when reversed following feeding of a document beyond said register surface, to bring the document trailing edge into abutment with said register surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus according to claim 4 in which said register surface is disposed opposite the inlet to said third location, said transport means being adapted to bring the leading edge of a document into abutment with said register surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 in which said apparatus includes base means for supporting documents between said second location and said third location, said deflecting means comprising at least one rockable guide finger projecting into releasable contact with said base means, said finer finger serving to intercept with said returning documents and route said returning documents to said return transport means, documents fed forward from said second location to said third location being adapted to pass under guide finger.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus according to claim 7 in which said base means is recessed, said guide finger projecting into contact with said base means recess.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
In a document feed apparatus adapted for use with a document-reproducing machine of the type having a platen for supporting the document to be reproduced, the combination of: first document-feeding means for transporting a document to be copied to said platen; and second document-feeding means adapted following feed of the first mentioned document toward said platen to transport a second document to a station adjacent the inlet of said platen.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
70 words
In a document feed apparatus adapted for use with a document-reproducing machine of the type having a platen for supporting the document to be reproduced, the combination of: first document-feeding means for transporting a document to be copied to said platen; and second document-feeding means adapted following feed of the first mentioned document toward said platen to transport a second document to a station adjacent the inlet of said platen.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 including document registering means cooperable with said first feeding means to preposition said first document on said platen said second feeding means being adapted to simultaneously transport said second document to said station.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus according to claim 10 in which said first feeding means comprises a reversible document feeder adapted to transport said first document forward onto said platen and thereafter transport said first document backwards toward said platen inlet, said registering means being engageable with the trailing edge of said first document to preposition said first document on said platen.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 11 including means to retract said document-registering means to enable said document feeder to remove said first document from said platen.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 including means to actuate said second feeding means while said machine reproduces said first document.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
102 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 in which said second feeding means includes a pair of normally contacting feeding elements from between which documents are emitted to said station and said platen, first drive means for moving said first feeding means including one of said second feeding means elements at relatively high speed; second drive means for moving said second feeding means including the other of said feeding elements at relatively slow speed; and clutch means adapted to uncouple said other feeding element from said second drive means when said first drive means moves said one feeding element at said high speed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus according to claim 14 in which said first drive means is reversible whereby to move said first feeding means in either a forward or reverse document transporting direction; and second clutch means adapted to uncouple said one feeding element from said first drive means on reversing of said first drive means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-18 | 1974-07-20 | 1975-01-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-18 | 1978-07-20 | 1979-01-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-18 | 1982-07-20 | 1983-01-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |