Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Article handling
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-23
2001-11-20
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Article handling
C271S185000, C271S186000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06321136
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to an image reproduction apparatus that can operate in a simplex, or one-sided, reproduction mode and a duplex, or two-sided, reproduction mode. More particularly, this invention relates to handling the feed path of the original document to control output of the original document.
2. Description of Related Art
To accomplish duplex copying, it is generally necessary to invert the original document to effect reproduction of both sides of the document. Inversion adds time to each copy job and generally requires a longer feed path with additional hardware elements to invert the document and control the elements in the assembly.
Duplex copying can reproduce both sides of an original document, either on a single sheet (two-sided reproduction) or on two different sheets (one-sided reproduction). With either type of reproduction, it is desirable to output the original document and the reproduced pages in the same order and orientation as the original input documents. When original documents are inverted during reproduction, it has been necesary to pass the original document sheets back through the feed path to output the sheets to face the same direction and be in the same page order as when input.
In Many conventional duplex reproduction devices, the original document is fed through an extended feed path in which one side of the original document is reproduced and then the original document is flipped over and returned to an original supply tray for reproduction of the other side. During the second pass the document is again inverted and output. One such example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,325 to Batchelor et al. that uses a deflector to direct sheets bearing a reproduced image facing a first direction to a return transport that delivers the reproduced sheets facing a second, opposite direction to an auxiliary supply tray for duplex copying. However, such an extended feed path requires additional space within the device and time to transport the copied sheets to the auxiliary supply for refeeding.
Other reproduction devices use, what is commonly termed, an inverter. An inverter effectively reverses the sheet orientation in its direction of motion. In other words, the lead edge and the trail edge orientation of the sheet is reversed. Depending on the location and orientation of the inverter, such reversal may also cause the sheet to be inverted (turned over). Generally, an inverter is associated with a sheet by-pass path and gate so that a sheet may selectively enter or by-pass the inverter, thus providing a choice between inversion and non-inversion. Inverters are very useful in many different reproduction applications, but suffer from reliability problems.
An example of an inverter for use in a recirculating document handler is U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,828 to Burger et al. that uses an inverting roller to selectively invert or not invert a sheet as it is fed back to a bottom feed supply tray. For duplex copying when the sheets are finally stacked, they are each inverted from their original orientation.
Another example is U.S. Pat. No. 4,384,782 to Acquaviva in which documents are top fed in
1
-N order from a supply to a feed loop that selectively inverts the documents prior to reproduction and then restacks the originals from the bottom of the supply.
There are various known ways to control duplex reproduction. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,278,344 to Sahay an inverter is actuated only during single document circulation and is inhibited during successions of contiguous plural document copying circulations. Thus opposite sides of the documents are copied in alternate successions. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,355,880 to Stemmle, copying documents in serial page order is accomplished by circulating the documents in a first and last circulation through a non-inverting reversing document path between the stack and the imaging station. Some devices, such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,468,114 to Pels et al., adjust the circulation based on the particular copy job for increased efficiency.
Additional circulation such as in the above devices to effect proper document orientation, however, adds time and increases energy consumption and thus adversely impacts efficiency and general wear on the reproduction machines. Reproduction devices must provide reliability and are generally required to have the ability to operate at high speed. It is also often desirable to provide compatible circulation of simplex and duplex documents in the same document handler.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the invention is to decrease copy job time and energy requirements by employing only two passes for duplex reproduction. Such a design provides a simplified and shortened feed path. This also increases reliability of the machine by reducing the number of passes for all duplex print jobs and allows a device designed in accordance with the invention to effect 100% productivity.
An additional aspect of the invention is to allow for flexibility with respect to serial page order in the document supply. This invention allows feeding of original documents in an established order, including both
1
-N pages and N-
1
pages.
One embodiment of the invention provides a single input feeder with a dual feed head. Alternatively, separate feeders can be used without redesigning the feed head. The ability and latitude of an active retard feed head is also increased.
Another aspect of the invention is to provide an efficient control system. By this, document handling control can be provided directly from the automatic document feeder. Remote control is also possible.
An image reproduction device according to the invention can be operable in at least a simplex reproduction mode and a duplex reproduction mode. The device includes a feeder assembly that supports a stack of original document sheets in an established page order, such as
1
-N or N-
1
. An image reproduction station creates an image based on each sheet of the original document, and a sheet transport with a feed path transports each original document sheet through the feed path from the feeder assembly past the image reproduction station. An output receives the stack of original document sheets in the same relative page order from the sheet transport with each successive sheet stacking on top of a previously output sheet. A controller is connected to the sheet transport and operates in a simplex mode in which each original document sheet passes through the feed path only once and a duplex mode in which each original document sheet passes through the feed path only twice.
According to this invention, a stack of original document sheets are fed through an image reproduction apparatus by the method of placing a stack of original document sheets in a feeder in an established page order and selecting one of a simplex reproduction mode and a duplex reproduction mode. Each of the sheets is fed through a feed path including an image reproduction station, wherein the sheets are fed through the feed path once in the simplex mode and twice in the duplex mode. The stack of original document sheets is output in the same relative page order with each sheet stacked on the previously output sheet.
The invention is also embodied in a recording medium that stores a control program for use by a reproduction apparatus. The control program includes instructions for selecting one of a simplex reproduction mode and a duplex reproduction mode for reproducing a stack of original document sheets arranged in an established page order. The program controls feeding of each of the sheets through a feed path including an image reproduction station, wherein the sheets are fed through the feed path once in the simplex mode and twice in the duplex mode, such that the stack of original document sheets are output in the same relative page order with each output sheet stacked on a previously output sheet.
Other aspects, advantages and salient features of the invention will be become apparent from the following detailed description, which taken i
Bloomer Edward Thomas
Faguy Gary Arthur
Crawford Gene O.
Ellis Christopher P.
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
Xerox Corporation
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