Document handling apparatus with dynamic infeed mechanism and related method

A document handling apparatus comprising:

• (a) a sheet input device comprising a first input roller and a second input roller, wherein a sheet feed plane is defined between the first and second input rollers;
• (b) a sheet receiving surface disposed downstream from the sheet input device;
• (c) a front stop mechanism disposed downstream from the sheet input device, the front stop mechanism comprising a front stop member and an actuator connected to the front stop member, wherein the front stop member is movable by the actuator into and out of the sheet feed plane;
• and
• (d) an electronic controller communicating with the sheet input device for operating the sheet input device according to a repeatable dynamic speed profile defined by an initial input speed, a subsequent varying speed curve, and a final input speed

A method for inputting sheets into a sheet handling apparatus, comprising the steps of:

• (a) feeding a sheet at an initial input speed to a dynamic in-feed device, the dynamic in-feed device comprising a sheet-driving device and a variable-speed motor operatively engaging the sheet-driving device;
• (b) controlling an operational speed of the sheet-driving device by controlling an operational speed of the variable-speed motor according to a repeatable dynamic speed profile, the dynamic speed profile being defined by the initial input speed, a subsequent varying speed curve, and a final input speed;
• (c) using the sheet-driving device to engage the sheet and drive the sheet into a sheet receiving section of the sheet handling apparatus according to the dynamic speed profile, whereby the sheet is driven at the initial input speed, and the initial input speed is changed according to the varying speed curve until the final input speed is reached and the sheet has reached a final position in the sheet receiving section;
• (d) detecting the presence of the sheet in the final position;
• and
• (e) upon detection of the sheet in the final position, inputting a new sheet by repeating steps (a)-(d) for the new sheet.

A method for inputting a sheet into a document handling apparatus, comprising the steps of:

• (a) receiving a leading edge of the sheet at an initial speed;
• (b) initially feeding the sheet, including its leading edge, into the document handling apparatus at a first input speed substantially equal to the initial speed;
• (c) continuing to feed the sheet, including a portion of the sheet following the leading edge, into the document handling apparatus according to a varying speed curve;
• and
• (d) completing the feeding of the sheet, including a trailing edge of the sheet, into the document handling apparatus at a final input speed.