US 4,485,949 A · Controlled frictional feeding of computer forms web

Abstract

A document feeding method and apparatus for frictionally (non-sprocket) feeding computer forms web having sprocket holes to the imaging station of a copier for copying, compatible with individual document sheet feeding. After automatically determining that a computer forms web rather than an individual document sheet is being frictionally fed to the imaging station the computer forms web is automatically frictionally fed incrementally in selected incremental lengths and registered to the imaging station with a controllable frictional servo-drive system without engaging the sprocket holes. A system is provided for sensing and accumulating first signals corresponding to the movement of the controllable frictional drive system, and for sensing and accumulating second signals corresponding to the number and position of sprocket holes in the computer forms web being so frictionally fed, including a system of validating sensed holes as being sprocket holes by validating hole dimensions and positions. A system is provided for compensating for slip in the frictional feeding of the computer forms web by comparing the first and second signals to maintain registered stopping positions for the controllable drive system for the selected incremental lengths of computer forms web. The disclosed slip compensation utilizes a resettable sprocket hole zone boundary system. There is also disclosed automatic compensation for missing, plugged or torn sprocket holes.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A document feeding method for frictionally feeding computer forms web having sprocket holes, independent of the sprocket holes, to the imaging station of a copier for copying compatibly with individual document sheet feeding, comprising the steps of:

automatically determining whether a computer forms web or an individual document sheet is being fed to said imaging station;
in response to a determination that a computer forms web is being so fed, automatically frictionally feeding the computer forms web incrementally in selected incremental lengths to said imaging station by controlling a controllable frictional non-sprocket drive system;
sensing and accumulating first signals corresponding to the movement of said controllable frictional drive system;
sensing and accumulating second signals corresponding to the number and position of sprocket holes in the computer forms web being so frictionally fed, including validating sensed holes as being sprocket holes;
and
compensating for slip in said frictional feeding of the computer forms web by comparing said first and second signals to maintain registered stopping positions for said controllable drive system for said selected incremental lengths of computer forms web feeding to provide registration of said incremental lengths of computer forms web to said imaging station.

3 more elements

A method of frictionally feeding and registering computer forms web having sprocket holes, independent of the sprocket holes, in selected incremental lengths of said computer forms web with a controllable frictional web drive system, comprising the steps of:

sensing and accumulating signals corresponding to the movement of said controllable frictional drive system;
sensing and accumulating signals corresponding to the number and position of sprocket holes in the computer forms web being so frictionally fed, including validating whether sensed holes are sprocket holes, and
compensating for slip in said frictional feeding of the computer forms web by comparing and coordinating said drive system movement signals with said validated hole signals to determine incremental stopping positions for said controllable frictional drive system so as to maintain registration of said selected incremental lengths of computer forms web being frictionally fed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Controlled frictional feeding of computer forms web

Life of this patent

Controlled frictional feeding of computer forms web

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15