# US 9,039,162 B2 · Media multi-feed rejection process with an encoded counter-rotating roller > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,039,162 B2 - Document ID: US9039162B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/412,009 - Filed: 2006-04-25 - Published: 2007-10-25 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2006-04-25 - Assignees: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Applicants: Gary L. Miller; Ed Tucker; Jon Johnson - Inventors: Gary L. Miller; Ed Tucker; Jon Johnson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039162B2 ## CPC - B41J 23/025: {using a single or common power source for two or more functions} - B65H 3/5261: {Retainers of the roller type, e.g. rollers} - B65H 2403/72: Clutches, brakes, e.g. one-way clutch +F204 - B65H 2513/40: Movement - B65H 2513/512: Starting; Stopping - B65H 2553/51: Encoders, e.g. linear - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES ## Abstract This invention relates to a media multi-feed rejection apparatus, comprising: a plurality of feed rollers; a feed roller driving means operatively connected to one of the plurality of feed rollers; a clutch means operatively connected to the other of the plurality of feed rollers; and a single channel encoder means operatively connected to the clutch means to measure a rotation of the other of the plurality of feed rollers. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: rotating a first feed roller in a first rotational direction to cause sheets of media to move towards a printing mechanism; rotating a second feed roller in the first rotational direction to cause surfaces of the first feed roller and the second feed roller to rotate in opposite directions in a nip between the first and second feed roller; preventing the second feed roller from rotating in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction while sheets of media are being fed into the nip; ascertaining rotational velocity of the second feed roller in the first rotational direction; and determining that a multi-feed separation is being performed in response to a determination that the ascertained rotational velocity of the second feed roller in the first rotational direction exceeds a threshold value. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as in claim 1, further comprising: contacting the second feed roller with a lower sheet of media in a media multi-feed such that the rotation of the second feed roller causes the lower sheet of media to be rejected. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method as in claim 2, wherein the contacting further comprises: changing the rotational velocity of the second feed roller in the first rotational direction to a level that is above a target velocity. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method as in claim 1, further comprising: determining the threshold value. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method as in claim 1, wherein the ascertaining further comprises: utilizing a single channel encoder to determine the ascertained rotational velocity of the second feed roller. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method as in claim 1, wherein the ascertaining further comprises: ceasing rotation of the second feed roller in response to contact of the second feed roller with only one sheet of media. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method as in claim 6, wherein the contacting further comprises: changing velocity of the second feed roller to a level that is below a target velocity. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method as in claim 1, further comprising: imposing a maximum time limit on how long the ascertained rotational velocity of the second feed roller can be maintained above the threshold value. ### Claim 9 A non-transitory computer-readable medium tangibly embodying instructions that, when executed by the computer cause the computer to perform a method comprising: rotating a first feed roller in a first rotational direction to cause sheets of media to move towards a printing mechanism; rotating a second feed roller in the first rotational direction to cause surfaces of the first feed roller and the second feed roller to rotate in opposite directions in a nip between the first and second feed roller; preventing the second feed roller from rotating in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction while sheets of media are being fed into the nip; ascertaining rotational velocity of the second feed roller in the first rotational direction; and determining that a multi-feed separation is being performed in response to a determination that the ascertained rotational velocity of the second feed roller in the first rotational direction exceeds a threshold. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer-readable medium as in claim 9, wherein the method further comprises: contacting the second feed roller with a lower sheet of media in a media multi-feed such that the rotation of the second feed roller causes the lower sheet of media to be rejected. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The non-transitory computer-readable medium as in claim 10, wherein the contacting comprises: changing velocity of the second feed roller in the first rotational direction to a level that is above a target velocity. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The non-transitory method as in claim 9, wherein method further comprises: determining the threshold value. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer-readable medium as in claim 9, wherein the ascertaining comprises: utilizing a single channel encoder to determine the ascertained rotational velocity of the second feed roller. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer-readable medium as in claim 9, wherein the ascertaining comprises: ceasing rotation of the second feed roller in response to contact of the second feed roller with only one sheet of media. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The non-transitory computer-readable medium as in claim 14, wherein the contacting comprises: changing velocity of the second feed roller in the first rotational direction to a level that is below a target velocity. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer-readable medium as in claim 9, wherein the method further comprises; imposing a maximum time limit on how long the ascertained rotational velocity of the second feed roller can be maintained above the threshold value.