# US 2018/0027137 A1 · Automatic document feeder

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- Number: US 2018/0027137 A1
- Document ID: US20180027137A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/546,758
- Filed: 2015-04-07
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2015-04-07
- Assignees: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
- Applicants: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P .
- Inventors: Sean BS Lim; Lim Cheng Woon; Praveen Francis
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180027137A1

## CPC

- B65H 7/20: Controlling associated apparatus
- B65H 5/00: Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines ({B65H9/00 takes precedence; } identical mechanisms or parts for delivering or advancing articles from machines B65H29/00; recirculating articles B65H85/00 {, G03B27/6257})
- B65H 7/02: by feelers or detectors
- G03G 15/00: Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern (G03G16/00, G03G17/00 take precedence)
- G03G 15/602: {for transporting}
- H04N 1/00588: {to the scanning position (H04N1/00572, H04N1/00594 take precedence)}
- H04N 1/00602: {Feed rollers}
- H04N 1/00734: {Optical detectors}
- H04N 1/00745: {Detecting the leading or trailing ends of a moving sheet}
- H04N 1/0075: {Detecting a change in reflectivity}
- H04N 1/00782: {Initiating operations}
- B65H 2301/544: Reading; Scanning
- B65H 2553/82: with regard to the direction of transport of the handled material
- B65H 2801/03: Image reproduction devices
- B65H 2801/39: Scanning
- H04N 2201/0081: Image reader (H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence)
- B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

An automatic document feeding system includes an image reader including an optical window and a light source illuminating the optical window, and an automatic document feeder including a reflective flag positioned within a viewing region of the optical window.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An automatic document feeding system, comprising:
an image reader including an optical window and a light source illuminating the optical window; and
an automatic document feeder including a reflective flag positioned within a viewing region of the optical window.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The automatic document feeding system of claim 1, wherein the reflective flag is rotational about a pivotal axis in a direction of a media path.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The automatic document feeding system of claim 1, wherein the image reader is an optical scanner.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The automatic document feeding system of claim 2, wherein the reflective flag includes a trigger extending into the media path at a location prior to the optical window.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The automatic document feeding system of claim 1, wherein movement of a medium against the trigger initiates rotational movement of the reflective flag and signals the leading edge of the medium.

### Claim 6

A method of automatic document feeding, comprising:
reflecting a light source with a reflective surface of a flag in an optical window of a document feeding device in a first state;
initiating movement of a medium through the document feeding device;
contacting the medium against a trigger of the flag;
rotating the reflective surface of the flag out of the optical window in response to movement of the medium past the trigger;
changing light reflectance in the optical window to a second state;
detecting a leading edge of the medium in response to the change of state prior to the medium passing into the optical window; and
continuing movement of the medium through the document feeding device.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, comprising:
signaling a scanner to begin scanning a predetermined time after he change to the second state.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, comprising:
scanning the reflective surface to calibrate the light reflectance of the reflective surface.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, comprising:
storing a value of a light reflectance of the reflective surface.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, comprising:
comparing the value of the light reflectance of the reflective surface to other values of light reflectance scanned.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, comprising:
returning the flag to the first state as the trailing edge is moved past the trigger; and
detecting a trailing edge of the medium in response to the return to the first state.

### Claim 12

A scanning device, comprising:
an automatic document feeder to move a medium through the scanning device, the automatic document feeder includes a reflective flag, the reflective flag includes a trigger and a reflective surface radial spaced from the trigger; and
a scanning assembly including an image reader having a scan window,
wherein the reflective flag is oriented toward the scan window in a first position and away from the window in a second position.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The scanning device of claim 12, wherein the reflective surface is moved from the first position to the second position in response to movement of the medium against the trigger.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The scanning device of claim 13, wherein movement of the trigger in response to movement of the medium against the trigger causes the reflective flag to transition from the first position to the second position.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The scanning device of claim 12, wherein movement of the reflective flag signals the scanning assembly to begin scanning.