Background of the Invention
Field of the Invention
[0001] An apparatus for processing a variety of document types enables processing of multiple
types in a single configuration.
Description of Related Art
[0002] A variety of document handlers are known. One is the continuous feed format handling
device such as my co-invented, United States Patent N1 5,887,864 entitled "Method
of and apparatus for processing and stacking printed forms" which issued March 30,
1999, which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. Direct feeding
into an envelope inserter is also taught in the Golicz United States Patent N1 4,928,944
entitled "High speed sheet feeder singulator" which issued May 29, 1990, also incorporated
by reference as if fully set forth herein.
Brief Description of the Invention
[0003] This invention has a special uniqueness in the automated mailing industry and provides
distinct competitive advantages such as a smaller foot print, lower cost, central
control of combined operations, sheet and continuous merged and nest folded documents,
and flexibility through a wide range of form types, formats and sizes.
[0004] The invention enables the combination of both cut sheet and continuous document processing
in one integrated and centrally controlled product.
[0005] The merging of cut sheet and continuous documents in the same process for accumulation
and nested folding of said documents prior to the delivery to a down stream device
such as an accumulator, folder, collector and to a document inserting machine in an
in-line inserting systems application. In one embodiment the invention provides a
universal processing method of processing paper documents comprising the steps of:
feeding continuous sheet documents or cut sheet documents to a document transport;
reading optically printed indicia on said continuous sheet documents or said cut sheet
documents and programmably determining subsequent steps based on indicia;
selectively passing said continuous sheet documents or said cut sheet documents to
a subsequent step or holding said continuous sheet documents or said cut sheet documents
in said document transport while waiting for other continuous sheet documents or cut
sheet documents;
sequencing and merging said continuous sheet documents or said cut sheet documents
to create a merged set; and
passing said merged set from said document transport to a subsequent step while initiating
the creation of a second merged set until a predetermined number of merged sets are
created.
[0006] Desirably, said selective passing or holding step being performed by reading said
indica and determining said continuous sheet documents or said cut sheet documents
have been printed in the formats of North/South, West/East or East/West.
[0007] Said sequencing and merging step may be performed by a sequencer merger receiving
said continuous sheet documents or said cut sheet documents from said continuous feed
processor or said cut sheet processor, directing said continuous sheet documents or
said cut sheet documents in a selected order and transporting said continuous sheet
documents or said cut sheet documents to an output end, said sequencer merger adaptable
to process said continuous sheet documents or said cut sheet documents as a stack.
[0008] The invention may also provide a universal processing method of processing paper
documents comprising the steps of:
programming a CPU for electronically reading optically printed indica on cut sheet
documents or continuous sheet documents to set the number and configuration of merged
sets;
signaling the feed of said cut sheet documents or said continuous sheet documents
to a document transport;
selectively passing said continuous sheet documents or said cut sheet documents through
said document transport or holding said continuous sheet documents or cut sheet documents
in said document transport while waiting for other continuous sheet documents or cut
sheet documents;
sequencing and merging said continuous sheet documents or cut sheet documents held
in said document transport to create a merged set;
passing said merged set from document transport to a subsequent step while selectively
initiating the passage of other cut sheet or continuous sheet documents or holding
said continuous sheet documents or cut sheet documents to create another merged set.
[0009] In a further embodiment a universal document processor is provided for merging continuous
sheet documents or cut sheet documents comprising:
at least one continuous sheet document processor, adapted to feed said continuous
sheet documents;
at least one cut sheet document processor, adapted to feed said cut sheet documents;
a document transport, adapted to receive documents from said at least one cut sheet
document processor and said at least one continuous sheet document processor;
a central processor unit for controlling said at least one continuous sheet document
processor, said at least one cut sheet document processor and said document transport
adapted vary the quantity, makeup and number of merged sets;
said document transport located downstream from said at least one continuous sheet
document processor and said at least one cut sheet document processor and adapted
to selectively pass said cut sheet documents or said continuous sheet documents or
merge said cut sheet documents or said continuous sheet documents into said merged
sets;
whereby said cut sheet documents, said continuous sheet documents and said merged
sets are expelled from said document transport.
[0010] Said document transport may be operatively connected to an optical reading device
adapted to read indicia affixed on said forms;
said document transport, said at least one cut sheet processor, and said at least
one continuous sheet processor being controlled by a computer;
said computer, said document transport, said at least one cut sheet processor,
and said at least one continuous sheet processor being operable independent of an
inserter and being operable in coordination with said inserter for off-line or on-line
operation.
[0011] Said at least one continuous sheet document processor, said at least one cut sheet
document processor, central processing unit and said document transport desirably
share a common supplier of motive power.
[0012] These and other features of the present invention will be better understood with
reference to the following drawings.
Description of the Drawings
[0013]
Figure 1 is a plan view of a universal document processor in an inserter line, in
accordance with the present invention.
Figure 2 is a plan view of a pair of universal document processors in an inserter
line including a continuous processor and a cut sheet processor.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the universal document processor shown with the
high capacity document cut sheet processor disconnected from the continuous document
processor.
Figure 4 is a plan view showing the general layout of the apparatus used in practicing
the method.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
[0014] The universal document processor 10, as shown in figure 1, will intelligently process
a variety of cut sheet documents with 1-up and 2-up continuous documents. The continuous
document processor (100) and the cut sheet document processor (101) share the same
output devices such as an accumulator (102), folder (103), collector (104), and inserter
(105). This invention saves floor space and provides for ergonomic operator interfacing.
Unique features are that the continuous (120) and cut sheet (122) documents can be
merged together for processing prior to delivery to any downstream device such as
an accumulator (102), folder (103) collector (104) and inserter (105) and both cut
sheet (122) and continuous (120) operations are centrally controlled via CPU (116).
Existing industry configurations consist of a separate cut sheet processor with output
devices (106) and separate continuous processor with output devices (107) (figure
2). Existing industry configurations use additional floor space for the 2nd document
processor, operators have to walk around each document processor to get to the others'
control and set-up areas, and the output from each processor cannot be merged and
nested prior to folding and delivering to the inserter.
[0015] The continuous document processor (100), as shown in figure 4, delivers a cut sheet
(122) or a continuous sheet (120) document into the document transport (108) delivering
it to the transport dump rollers (109), shown best in figure 3, in the document transport
(108) where the cut sheet (122) or continuous sheet (120) document waits for the next
upstream document from the continuous document processor (100) or a document from
the cut sheet document processor (101). The document transport (108) has two inputs,
the feeder input (112) and transport input (113) whereas documents from the cut sheet
document processor (101) and continuous document processor (100) can be staged or
merged in the document transport (108).
[0016] These inputs, as shown in figure 1, can be used integrally allowing documents to
be merged in the document transport (108) or a downstream device (114) such as an
accumulator (102), folder (103), collector (104), and inserter (105). Whereas documents
are fed from the cut sheet document processor (101) or continuous document processor
(100) into the document transport input (113) via round transfer belts (115) and held
at the transport dump rollers (109), shown best in figure 3. The CPU (116) can be
set to a predetermined page quantity (a set) divided between the cut sheet document
processor (101) and continuous document processor (100) or from either the cut sheet
document processor (101) or the continuous document processor (100), either directly
by the user or automatically via an integrated OMR, BCR or OCR reading system. The
reading system scans both the cut sheet documents and the continuous documents for
the presence of controlling indicia to be read. Thereby, controlling indicia that
is read may be present on both the cut sheet documents and continuous documents, or
either ones. As a result, the system is reversible by being capable of being solely
or altematingly controlled by indicia on documents emanating from either or both cut
sheet and continuous sheet document processors. More than one of each type processor
may also be employed, as one skilled in the art would appreciate. This provides a
universal system. A page set can be either single-page or multiple pages. When merging
in a downstream device (114), see figure 1, the document transport (108) empties the
first page of a merging set into the downstream device (114) and the CPU (116) simultaneously
initiates the next document in that set from either the continuous document processor
(100) or cut sheet document processor (101) to be fed into the document transport
(108). This process continues until the pre-determined page set (qty) is reached in
the down stream device (114) such as an accumulator (102), folder (103), collector
(104) and inserter (105). When merging in the document transport (108) the document
transport (108) holds the first page of a merging set fed from either the cut sheet
document processor (101) or continuous document processor (100) waiting for the subsequent
pages for that set to be delivered to the document transport (108) from the cut sheet
document processor (101) or continues document processor (100). Once the set is complete
it is delivered to a downstream device such as an accumulator (102), folder (103),
collector (104) and inserter (105). Documents may thus be expelled from the document
transport (108) individually or in merged sets.
[0017] It will be appreciated that the apparatus and process of the invention involve the
capability of scanning both cut sheet documents and continuous sheet documents for
controlling indicia on either or both. In a preferred embodiment the cut sheet documents
are used as a control document. In accordance with the present invention there is
a selective feeding of documents that are selected from continuous sheet documents
and/or cut sheet documents. All documents that are fed, which may emanate from either
or both type of document processors, are read for controlling indicia. Thus, the system
is reversible by being capable of being solely or altematingly controlled by indicia
on the continuous cut sheets or continuous sheets, or both, since the system involves
scanning all such documents that are being fed. The system is thereby reversible and
overcomes the deficiencies in the prior art.
[0018] As will be clear to those skilled in the art, multiple units of cut sheet and continuous
sheet processors may be provided to feed documents to the document transport and controlled
by a CPU that is in communication with the reader (e.g., an optical scanner or the
like).
[0019] As such many and varied modifications of the subject matter of this invention will
become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description given hereinabove,
it will be understood that the present invention is limited only as provided in the
claims appended hereto.
1. A universal processing method of processing paper documents into merged sets comprising
the steps of:
selectively feeding documents selected from continuous sheet documents and cut sheet
documents to a document transport;
scanning the documents for the presence of controlling printed indicia thereon and
reading controlling printed indicia present;
programmably determining subsequent steps based on the read controlling indicia;
selectively passing documents selected from said continuous sheet documents and said
cut sheet documents to a subsequent step or holding said documents in said document
transport while waiting for other documents;
sequencing and merging said documents to create a merged set; and
passing said merged set from said document transport to a subsequent step while initiating
the creation of a second merged set until a predetermined number of merged sets are
created.
2. The method according to claim 1 and said sequencing and merging step being performed
by a sequencer merger receiving said documents, directing said documents in a selected
order and transporting said documents to an output end, said sequencer merger adaptable
to process said documents selected from the continuous sheet documents and said cut
sheet documents as a stack.
3. A universal processing method of processing paper documents comprising the steps of:
programming a CPU for electronically reading optically printed indica on cut sheet
documents and/or continuous sheet documents to set the number and configuration of
merged sets;
signaling the feed of said documents to a document transport;
selectively passing said documents through said document transport, or holding said
documents in said document transport while waiting for other documents and sequencing
and merging said documents held in said document transport to create a merged set;
passing said merged set from the document transport to a subsequent step while selectively
initiating the passage of other documents or holding other documents to create another
merged set.
4. A universal document processor for merging documents selected from continuous sheet
documents and/or cut sheet documents comprising:
at least one continuous sheet document processor adapted to feed said continuous sheet
documents;
at least one cut sheet document processor-, adapted to feed said cut sheet documents;
a document transport adapted to receive documents from said at least one cut sheet
document processor and/or said at least one continuous sheet document processor;
a reader for reading controlling indicia on said continuous sheet documents and/or
said cut sheet documents;
a central processor unit in communication with said reader for controlling:
said at least one continuous sheet document processor;
said at least one cut sheet document processor; and,
a document transport adapted to vary the quantity, makeup and number of merged sets;
said document transport located downstream from said at least one continuous sheet
document processor and said at least one cut sheet document processor and adapted
to selectively pass documents selected from said cut sheet documents and/or said continuous
sheet documents, or merge documents selected from said cut sheet documents and/or
said continuous sheet documents into merged sets;
whereby said documents are expelled from said document transport individually or in
merged sets.
5. The processor according to claim 4 and
said document transport being operatively connected to an optical reading device
adapted to read controlling indicia affixed on said documents;
said document transport, said at least one cut sheet processor, and said at least
one continuous sheet processor being controlled by a computer;
said computer, said document transport, said at least one cut sheet processor,
and said at least one continuous sheet processor being operable independent of an
inserter and being operable in coordination with said inserter for off-line or on-line
operation.