David Richard Pham

US Patent:

52462234, Sep 21, 1993

Filed:

Jan 3, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/816824

Inventors:

Mario Ricciardi - Glenview IL
David Q. Pham - Chicago IL

Assignee:

Bell & Howell Company - Skokie IL

International Classification:

B65H 102
B65H 116

US Classification:

271149

Abstract:

A document processing system includes a feed magazine for supporting a stack of flat documents in generally upstanding on-edge relation and advancing the documents along a feed path with the documents disposed generally transverse to the feed path, a feeder assembly including feeder belts defining at least one belt run for engaging the leading document in the stack and feeding the leading document in a direction generally transverse to the feed path, and a document sensing and control apparatus for sensing the pressure exerted by documents against the sensing control apparatus and the document feed magazine, and controlling the speed of the advance of documents on the feed magazine as a function of the pressure. The greater the pressure exerted by the documents, the slower the feed magazine will advance documents to the feeder. Conversely, upon the sensation of reduced pressure against the feeder, the document sensing and control apparatus will increase the speed of the feed magazine to maintain an adequate supply of documents for efficient processing.