Sheet feeding or delivering – Delivering – By pneumatic conveyor
Reexamination Certificate
2001-08-13
2003-06-03
Walsh, Donald P. (Department: 3651)
Sheet feeding or delivering
Delivering
By pneumatic conveyor
C271S272000, C271S314000, C399S167000, C399S388000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06572100
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to apparatus to transporting documents past one or more document processing stations. More particularly, the invention relates to pinch force generation at various drive wheels or capstans of document transport apparatus.
FIGS. 1
a,
1
b,
1
c
illustrate the basic components of a conventional document transport system for stopping a document
102
after traveling at high speed in transport
100
so that information can be printed on document
102
with document processing apparatus, such as a printer
104
. Printing magnetic ink character (MICR) amount fields on a check is a typical example of documents being processed. However, this invention applies to any other device that requires a document to be transported accurately in order to process it.
FIGS. 1
a, b, c
illustrate the case of a relatively short document
102
. In the document's stopped position at printer
104
, only one drive roller, in this case capstan
112
, is in contact with the document
102
. Typically, document
102
is moved at high speed up to a print station
104
with an entrance transport
106
, usually running at a high, constant speed. A typical entrance transport includes an input drive roller
108
and a companion pinch roller
110
, between which document
102
travels. When document
102
is in the grip of the capstan
112
and its associated pinch roller
114
only, capstan
112
and hence document
102
is decelerated to the desired stop position relative to the document processing station, in this example, print station
104
.
Edge sensor
116
is positioned a known distance from the desired stop position. Motion of the capstan
112
is controlled by a single motor (not shown) which is a part of a servo feedback control loop. Such methods of positioning documents are well known to those practiced in the art of document processing.
After printing on document
102
using hammer bank
118
, print drum
120
and ribbon
121
of print station
104
, document
102
is accelerated up to the speed of the exit transport
122
by the capstan
112
. The exit transport
122
, usually running at high, constant speed, moves document
102
to other devices for further processing or to a document transport exit via drive roller
124
and its associated pinch roller
126
.
Pinch rollers
110
and
126
are normally spring loaded against the entrance and exit drive rollers
108
and
124
, respectively, and pinch roller
114
against the capstan
112
to provide drive force for the document
102
. This is likewise common practice in the art.
During deceleration of document
102
by capstan
112
, pinch roller
114
must also undergo this same deceleration. However, as a practical matter, pinch rollers, such as
114
, have considerably more inertia than a document, such as a check. Therefore, the inertia of pinch roller
114
can carry document
102
with it and cause the document
102
to go past its intended stop position, if document
102
slips on capstan
112
.
Previous practice increased the force on pinch roller
114
to help prevent document slippage or sliding with respect to capstan
112
. However, large pinch forces can result in excessive loads on capstan
112
, pinch rollers
110
,
114
and
126
and their support systems and bearings, causing premature failure of these components. Large pinch forces also require capstan drive motors to provide large amounts of power thereby wasting energy.
The above problems with pinch rollers also apply during the document's acceleration. In this case, document
102
won't accelerate as fast as capstan
112
. This, in turn, leads to two negative effects. First, documents behind document
102
being processed may crash into it. Second, document
102
may not get up to the exit transport speed before it enters the nip of the exit transport, thereby causing poor document control.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, in one aspect of this invention, a document transport including at least one drive roller includes apparatus for providing pinch force to a document abutting the drive roller. A nozzle has an inlet and an outlet, the outlet facing the drive roller and spaced therefrom for permitting documents to pass therebetween. A source of compressed fluid, such as air, is coupled to the inlet of the nozzle thereby enabling it to provide pinch force pneumatically by a compressed fluid flow towards the drive roller.
In another aspect of the invention, a document transport system for carrying documents past a document processing station includes an entrance transport including at least one entrance drive roller adapted to propel documents into the transport system, a capstan positioned downstream of the at least one entrance drive roller, the capstan positioned upstream of the document processing station and adapted to propel documents into the document processing station, an exit transport including at least one exit drive roller adapted to propel documents away from the processing station, and a pneumatic pinch force generator positioned opposite at least one of the at least one entrance drive roller, the capstan and the at least one exit drive roller for applying pinch force to a document passing between the pneumatic pinch force generator and at least one of the at least one entrance drive roller, the capstan and the at least one exit drive roller.
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Brooks & Kushman P.C.
Rode Lise A.
Schlak Daniel K
Starr Mark T.
Unisys Corporation
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