Document feeder which determines a document path using a determined page length

A scanning apparatus, comprising:

• a document table for holding an original document;
• a document feeder which operates in a recycling mode and a reciprocating mode;
• a stationary scanner for scanning the original document;
• a sensor mounted in an original document path;
• means for detecting a length of the document using information from said sensor;
• and
• means for selecting the recycling mode when the detected document length is less than a predetermined length and for selecting the reciprocating mode when the detected length is greater than the predetermined length,
• wherein said means for selecting includes:
• a selector whose position changes due to a pressure of the original document.

A scanning apparatus, comprising:

• a document table for holding an original document;
• a document feeder which operates in a recyling mode and a reciprocating mode;
• a stationary scanner for scanning the original document;
• a sensor mounted in an original document path;
• means for detecting a length of the document using information from said sensor;
• and
• means for selecting the recycling mode when the detected document length is less than a predetermined length and for selecting the reciprocating mode when the detected length is greater than the predetermined length,
• wherein said means for selecting includes:
• an elastomer.

A scanning apparatus, comprising:

• document table for holding an original document;
• a document feeder which operates in a recycling mode and a reciprocating mode;
• a stationary scanner for scanning the original document;
• a sensor mounted in an original document path;
• means for detecting a length of the document using information from said sensor;
• means for selecting the recycling mode when the detected document length is less than a predetermined length and for selecting the reciprocating mode when the detected length is greater than the predetermined length;
• and
• a second sensor mounted in the path of the original document proximate to the scanner used for detecting when changes in a reciprocating movement of the original document are to occur.

A method of scanning a page using a document feeder having a reciprocating mode and a recycling mode, comprising the steps of:

• inputting a number of copies of the page which are to be made;
• determining a length of the page;
• moving the page to a scanner using the document feeder by rotating a belt in a predetermined direction;
• scanning the page;
• ejecting the page by continuing the rotating of the belt in the predetermined direction, regardless of a size of the page, when the number of copies of the page which are to be made is one;
• using the recycling mode of the document feeder to scan the page a second time, when the number of copies to be made is greater than one and the length of the page was determined to be less than a predetermined length;
• and
• using the reciprocating mode of the document feeder to scan the page a second time, when the number of copies to be made is greater than one and the length of the page was determined to be greater than the predetermined length.