Document handling apparatus

Abstract

A system for presenting documents to a slit-scan exposure station includes a first fluidic storage station in which a rack for storing documents is located. The rack includes a plurality of pockets in each of which a document may be stored, the rack being movable in a vertical direction. Fluid is used to move a document in a pocket partially out of the storage apparatus through an opening and into registration with a gate and a wall of the pocket. Thereafter, the gate is opened and a drive associated with the exposure station moves the partially ejected document past a scan window. The rack is then vertically stepped to align another pocket with the opening and the procedure is repeated. Exposed documents are moved to a second fluidic storage station, similar to the first. At this station fluid drawn through an opening moves a document into a pocket of a rack and vertical movement of the rack is used to provide a separate pocket for each of the documents. Reversal of the fluid streams in the storage stations and the drive may be used in cooperation with a gate at the opening of the second station to again move the documents past the exposure station.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.