# US 2013/0155434 A1 · Sorting a media stack using a scanning apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0155434 A1 - Document ID: US20130155434A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/327,828 - Filed: 2011-12-16 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-16 - Inventors: Gary Alan Kneezel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130155434A1 ## CPC - H04N 1/00575: {Inverting the sheet prior to refeeding} - H04N 1/00588: {to the scanning position (H04N1/00572, H04N1/00594 take precedence)} - H04N 1/00591: {from the scanning position (H04N1/00572 takes precedence)} - H04N 1/00602: {Feed rollers} - H04N 1/00612: {Path switches (H04N1/00575, H04N1/00623, H04N1/00633 take precedence)} - H04N 1/00726: {Other properties of the sheet, e.g. curvature or reflectivity} - H04N 1/00737: {using the scanning elements as detectors} - H04N 1/00774: {Adjusting or controlling} - H04N 1/2323: {according to characteristics of the reproducing medium, e.g. type, size or availability} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A scanning apparatus includes a scan element disposed proximate a scan window; a document input holder; a document output holder; an automatic document feeder configured to move sheets of media from the document input holder past the scan window for scanning by the scan element; and a controller including: a first selectable mode that includes ordering a randomly oriented stack of recording medium provided to the automatic document feeder; and a second selectable mode that includes scanning images for information content on documents provided to the automatic document feeder. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A scanning apparatus comprising: a scan element disposable proximate a scan window; a document input holder; a document output holder; an automatic document feeder configured to move sheets of media from the document input holder past the scan window for scanning by the scan element; and a controller including: a first selectable mode that includes ordering a randomly oriented stack of recording medium provided to the automatic document feeder; and a second selectable mode that includes scanning images for information content on documents provided to the automatic document feeder. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The scanning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a sorting storage unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The scanning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising duplexing capability. ### Claim 4 A multifunction printer comprising: a printing apparatus including a print media input holder; and a scanning apparatus including: a scan element disposed proximate a scan window; a document input holder; a document output holder; an automatic document feeder configured to move sheets of media from the document input holder past the scan window for scanning by the scan element; and a controller including: a first selectable mode that includes ordering a randomly oriented stack of recording medium provided to the automatic document feeder for loading into the print media input holder of the printing apparatus; and a second selectable mode that includes scanning images for information content on documents provided to the automatic document feeder. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The multifunction printer of claim 4, wherein the scanning apparatus further includes a sorting storage unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The multifunction printer of claim 4, wherein the scanning apparatus further includes duplexing capability. ### Claim 7 A method of automatically ordering a randomly oriented stack of recording medium provided to an automatic document feeder of a scanning apparatus, the method comprising: (a) using the automatic document feeder to move a sheet of recording medium past a scan element of the scanning apparatus; (b) using the scan element to scan a first side of the sheet of recording medium to provide scan data; (c) analyzing the scan data to determine whether the first side of the sheet has previously been marked on; (d) moving the sheet to a first site in the scanning apparatus if it is determined that the first side has been previously marked on; and (e) moving the sheet to a second site in the scanning apparatus if it is determined that the first side has not been previously marked on. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein the first location includes a sorting storage unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein the scanning apparatus includes duplexing capability. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein moving the sheet to the first site includes using the duplexing capability to turn the sheet over. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7 further comprising repeating steps (a) through (e) for each successive sheet in the randomly oriented stack of recording media, thereby providing a first set of sheets in the first site and a second set of sheets in the second site. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11 further comprising: providing the first set of sheets to the automatic document feeder; and repeating steps (a) through (d) for each successive sheet in the first set of sheets, thereby providing a group of sheets in the first site of the scanning apparatus, wherein each sheet in the group of sheets has previously been marked on both the first side and on a second side opposite the first side. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, the scanning apparatus being included in a multifunction printer, the method further comprising loading the second set of sheets of recording medium into a print media input holder of a printing apparatus of the multifunction printer for subsequent printing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, the scanning apparatus being included in a multifunction printer, the method further comprising: turning over the first set of sheets; adding the turned over first set of sheets to the second set of sheets; and loading the first and second sets of sheets of recording medium into a print media input holder of a printing apparatus of the multifunction printer for subsequent printing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11 further comprising: providing instructions to place the first set of sheets at an input to the automatic document feeder; and repeating steps (a) through (d) for each successive sheet in the first set of sheets, thereby providing a group of sheets in the first site of the scanning apparatus, wherein each sheet in the group of sheets has previously been marked on both the first side and on a second side opposite the first side. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, the scanning apparatus being included in a multifunction printer, the method further comprising providing instructions to load the second set of sheets of recording medium into a print media input holder of a printing apparatus of the multifunction printer for subsequent printing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, the scanning apparatus being included in a multifunction printer, the method further comprising: providing instructions to add the first set of sheets to the second set of sheets; and providing instructions to load the first and second sets of sheets of recording medium into a print media input holder of a printing apparatus of the multifunction printer for subsequent printing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11 further including recognizing that a media sort mode has been selected.