Document handling system
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorDenis J. Stemmle
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automatic document handling system for copying documents in a pre-collated recirculation manner with minimal document handling to provide pre-collated output copy sets. The documents may be loaded manually in a cassette unit removed from a xerographic copier. The cassette unit comprises two document retaining webs commonly wound on two scrolls. The documents are retained on a first web at all times. The second web separates from the first web only in the optical imaging area so as to allow unobstructed exposure of the documents. The second web separates by forming a loop around the scrolls from separating rollers at opposite sides of the imaging area, and winds up on one scroll as it is unwound from the other scroll. Positive document retention is provided by the second web even though the first web is outside wound.
Claims10
In an automatic document handling system of a copying apparatus for making pre-collated copy sheet sets by repeated collated imaging of a set of original document sheets, the improvement comprising:
- an elongated windable document holding first web;
- means for forming a spaced pair of wound scrolls of said first web for winding up a set of otherwise unattached documents on said first web therein and retaining said documents between turns of said first web on both said web scrolls;
- said first web having a minor intermediate unwound segment extending between said web scrolls for transporting exposed documents between said web scrolls and onto which documents are insertable and removable;
- means for recirculatingly winding and unwinding said first web between one said web scroll and the other said web scroll to recirculating expose individual documents on said intermediate segment of said first web between said web scrolls in a pre-collated order;
- a second web commonly wound with said first web on at least one of said scrolls for retaining documents thereon wound between said first and second webs;
- optical imaging means for imaging documents on said intermediate segment of only said first web between said web scrolls for copying said documents;
- and
- separating means for separating said second web from said first web and guiding it away from said intermediate segment after said first and second webs have unwound from said scroll and before said first web passes through said intermediate segment so that said second web is not interposed between said optical imaging means and said intermediate segment of said first web.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.