Abstract: A device for adding controlled amounts of moisture to one or both sides of a copy sheet. The device includes a pair of water jets, a reservoir for storing a quantity of liquid and connected to the water jet, a pair of generally cylindrical, pressure rolls, each having an outer cylindrical surface with the rolls being aligned with respect to one another along their axes so as to define a nip between the outer cylindrical surfaces, and a controller for controlling application of water from the water jets to selected portions of each sheet passing thereunder before each sheet enters the nip formed between the outer cylindrical surfaces. Alternatively, the water jets could apply the liquid to the cylindrical surfaces of the pressure rolls.

Abstract: A non-contact optical sheet size and/or position detection system for detecting the position of at least one edge of an outside (top or bottom) document sheet stacked in a sheet stacking tray in which thin document sheets of different sizes and/or positions are stacked on top of one another; with an illumination source for illuminating the potential sheet edge areas at an angle generating detectable sheet edge shadows, and an optical detection system remotely detecting the edge shadow positions to provide sheet edge location information to a control system for the imaging or offsetting of the sheet. In a document feeder for sequentially feeding a top or bottom sheet to be imaged, the detection system may be responsive only to a moving sheet edge shadow to determine the size of the sheet being fed to be imaged relative to other sheets in the stack irrespective of intermixed different sizes of sheets in the stack. For a bottom feeder the detection may be through an elongate aperture in the tray.

Abstract: A system which controls image dependent curl by moisturizing a sheet immediately after fusing, determines critical machine and environmental characteristics through a series of on-line sensors. An operator selectable table is used to indicate the type of sheet loaded in each sheet holding tray.

Abstract: A device and method for measuring the thickness of liquid on an adjustable metering roll. The device comprising a transfer roll that mates with a back-up roll to form a nip through which a sheet passes for wetting a side of the sheet. An adjustable metering roll mates with the transfer roll and has a portion thereof positioned in a liquid filled sump for liquid to be added to an outside surface thereof. An optical sensor is positioned to detect the type of reflected light from the liquid on the outside surface of the metering roll and give off a Go/No Go signal when indicating contact between the metering roll and the transfer roll. The correct liquid thickness is obtained on the surface of the metering roll by further adjsutment of the metering roll.

Abstract: A system for concurrently imaging the first and second sides of different sequential duplex documents in alternating image lines alternating between the first and second imaging stations. This system is shown in a system for imaging both of the first and second opposing sides of duplex documents with higher productivity, with a generally "V" shaped low profile document sheet feeding path with first and second arms merging at a base position having a document reversing system, for sequentially feeding documents from an input tray through the first arm to the base position, and then back through the second arm to an output tray. A first imaging station is in the first arm for imaging the first sides of the documents, and a second imaging station is in the second arm for imaging the second sides. Both imaging stations have a simple, partially shared fixed elements optical system mounted entirely inside the document path, which can share a single electro-optical digital imager.

Abstract: In a document reproduction apparatus with an imaging station and a sheet feeding system for feeding physical document sheets in a sheet feeding path at a first velocity in a document sheet motion direction to the imaging station to be imaged, with a transmissivity sensor for measuring the transmissivity of the document sheets to provide an imaging control signal for reducing show-through imaging defects from light transmissive document sheets including opposite side images of duplex documents, there is provided a document sheet light transmissivity measurement system with a scanning system for linearly moving a single scanner on a single axis at a second velocity across the sheet feeding path orthogonally of the document motion direction in coordination with the document sheet movement at the first velocity so that the scanner diagonally scans the document on two axes before the document is imaged, to provide a more accurate transmissivity measurement of the document sheet than a single axis transmissivity sc

Abstract: A system for imaging both of the first and second opposing sides of duplex documents with higher productivity, with a generally "V" shaped low profile document sheet feeding path with first and second arms merging at a base position having a document reversing system, for sequentially feeding documents from an input tray through the first arm to the base position, and then back through the second arm to an output tray. A first imaging station is in the first arm for imaging the first sides of the documents, and a second imaging station is in the second arm for imaging the second sides. Both imaging stations have a simple, partially shared fixed elements optical system mounted entirely inside the document path, which can share a single electro-optical digital imager. The duplex documents are not inverted, yet are returned to the output tray in the same orientation as the stack in the overlying input tray. Compatible simplex document copying can also be provided.

Abstract: A sheet stacking and registration system particularly suited for high speed sequentially stacking of the flimsy printed sheets output of a high speed reproduction apparatus in a sheet stacking area, with a stacking registration position; with a vacuum belt sheet transport system acquiring only a limited lead edge area of the sheets and transporting them over the stacking area with non-slip sheet feeding towards the registration position; and an integral system peeling the lead edges of the sheets off of the vacuum transport and guiding them downwardly and towards the lead edge registration position while reducing but partially maintaining the sheet's vacuum acquisition, and applying a normal force, preferably with a roller pressing down the lead edges of the peeled off sheet against the previously stacked sheets adjacent the registration position, to frictionally slow the sheet as it approaches the registration position, and also holding down the sheet after it reaches the stacking position.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the dimensions of a stack of sheets in the tray. An optical sensor is arranged so that movement of the sheet guides in a paper tray causes a variably graduated scale to be moved past the sensor. The sensor may either be a transmissive or reflective type analog sensor in which the strength of the signal generated by the sensor is converted into a position of the side guides and as the analog scale is continuously variable, there is no need for separate discrete sensors or switches and sheet sizes of any dimension can be accommodated. A recalibration process is used to prevent contamination of the gauge and the associated change in signal strength by this sensor from causing the size determinations to be inaccurate. Alternatively, a digital sensor in cooperation with a digital bar code or other digital scale can be utilized to determine the variable sheet size, which digital sensor and variable scale are insensitive to contamination by dirt or paper particles, etc.

Abstract: In a high speed two up electronic printing system in which dual page images are concurrently printed side by side onto image substrate material and outputted as two parallel individual sheets paired laterally transverse the printing path direction, to increase printing throughput, a sheet output lateral sheet merging and stacking system laterally overlaps the two printed output sheets on top of one another in sheet pairs, and consecutively stacks the sheet pairs on top of one another, to provide a collated output, preferably using a compact a disk stacking system which laterally shifts and superposes the printed paired sheets on top of one another while both sheets of the pair are being arcuately supported and rotated for inversion. Also disclosed is a paired cut sheet input feeding and outside edge sheet registration and spacing system and an interrupted line printing system therefor.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a document reproduction system which includes an improved apparatus for imaging both sides of a duplex document while also providing for simplex side only imaging. A document feeder, operating in a constant velocity transport mode, moves a document to be copied along a continuous path from a feed tray to a deposit tray. Two illumination and scanning stations are positioned adjacent two locations of the path of the document travel, each scanning station adapted to scan one side of the document, either simplex or duplex. The scanning station associated with scanning the simplex side of the document projects line images of the scanned document along an optical path onto a light sensitive image medium. In a first embodiment, the projection device is a linear gradient index lens array and the light sensitive member is a linear sensor array.

Abstract: A toner meter for determining a rate of toner usage per print in a printing machine of the type having operator actuatable settings effecting the rate of toner usage per print. The meter has a controller for calculating the rate of toner usage per print responsive to actuation of an operator actuatable setting and a indicator in communication with the controller, for indicating the calculated rate of toner usage.

Abstract: An apparatus for copying printed irregular sheets such as tab sheets, transparencies or sheets with holes (i.e., hole for 3 ring binder) on a copier equipped with a Recirculating Document Handler (RDH) so that unwanted images of the platen transport on the copies do not appear. The apparatus includes an alternate semiautomatic document handling side loading slot on a copying station of a copier. Feeders are provided for feeding an irregular sheet from the semiautomatic document handling side loading slot to the copy station and a blank sheet from the recirculating document handler to the copy station. A tacking system is provided for tacking the blank sheet to the irregular sheet before the irregular sheet reaches the copy station to be copied.

Abstract: A document handler for a scanner having a scanning assembly for scanning documents including a first imaging station with a slit-like scanning aperture therein through which the scanning assembly scans the document. A transport system is provided for moving the document at a predetermined scanning speed through the second imaging station and across the scanning aperture in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of scan by the scanning assembly. The transport system includes a document feed roll, the periphery of the feed roll cooperating with the first imaging station to form a scanning window through which a first side of the document to be scanned passes.

Abstract: A sheet transport system for automatically transporting sheets is provided. The system includes a primary path apparatus for feeding printed sheet images there, along a printing station to imprint sheets. The sheet transport system also provides an apparatus for transporting selected ones of the sheets along the path to a sheet path portion remote from the primary path and for returning selected ones of the sheets to the other fed sheets so that the combined sheets are arranged in a collated manner corresponding to the predetermined sequence. The system also includes, in the secondary or shunt path, a buffer for holding sheets previously passing through the printing station. The secondary path is arranged to permit selected return of ones of the sheets in the shunt path to the primary path. The system may also include a path for returning printed sheets in the primary path to the printing station.

Abstract: A low cost, compact inverter for reversing the lead and trail edges of a sheet. The inverter includes a reversible roller of about 2" in diameter onto which a sheet is scrolled and subsequently unscrolled, thereby reversing the lead and trail edges of the sheet.

Abstract: A system and method of designating edit information for an original document. The system includes a mechanism for designating a location on the original document while the document is in a document feeder tray. The mechanism does not deface the original document.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for selectively altering the sensitivity of an optical sensor. The sensor has both a light source and a detector which are optically aligned with one another. The detector produces a first output signal level in response to light having an illumination intensity greater than or equal to a threshold intensity, and a second output signal level in response to light having an illumination intensity less than a threshold intensity. The sensor further includes the ability to selectively alter the illumination intensity of the light emitted by the light source to a lower level between the threshold intensity and the normal operating intensity. Hence, operating at the lower intensity enables the sensor to detect translucent sheets or facilitates identification of marginally operable sensors.

Abstract: An image producing device such as a copier or a printer includes sensors for determining the presence of output from a previous job in the paper path or a finishing device. A particular operator's access rights are determined through a login process. Depending on the operator's access level, i.e., authority to view sensitive documents, the image producing device enables a purge of the existing sensitive documents or electronic images or prevents operation until an authorized operator initiates a purge.

Abstract: A document handling system and method for automatically and successively transporting documents is provided. The system includes a primary path and means feeding documents in a predetermined sequence along the primary path from a stack of documents. The document handler system also provides a means for transporting selected ones of the document along the path to an upstream portion of the primary path out of the sequence and means for returning the selected ones of the documents to the other fed documents so that the combined documents are arranged in a collated manner corresponding to the predetermined sequence. The method of the present invention includes the steps of feeding documents in sequence along the path from a stack of documents, diverting selected ones of the fed documents from the defined path to an upstream portion of the path output so that the combined documents are in sequence again.