A document image processing system for correcting the skew of an optically read document image includes a scanner including a first plurality of pixels which are operationally divided into a second plurality of blocks, a second plurality of detecting sections each comprised of a decoder and a pair of latches and each corresponding to one of said second plurality of blocks, a pixel counter for counting the pixel number in the main scanning direction, a line counter for counting the line number of scanning lines, a circuit for determining the skew amount and its direction, a memory for storing the document image information and write/read controller for writing data in or reading data out of the memory.

Document image processing system

A film sheet load magazine is adapted to hold a stack of superimposed films with at least central portions of the films in a curved configuration and leading ends of the films adjacent a film separator mechanism. The curvature of the films is such that they retain themselves in desired positions in the magazine independent of the orientation of the films with respect to gravity. When a top cover of the magazine is opened, floating primary feed rollers are raised by spring-biasing assemblies to facilitate loading of the films under the rollers, and when the top cover is subsequently closed, the rollers are moved into feeding engagement with an innermost film, and the films are held in position by leaf biasing springs. A cleaning mechanism removes contaminants from the primary feed rollers, which feed each film to secondary feed rollers driven at a faster speed than the primary feed rollers. A number-of-films-remaining mechanism, which may be of a mechanical or electrical type which is adjustable for films of different thicknesses, and which is automatically preset to the number of films in the magazine upon closing of the cover, is responsive to downward movement of the primary feed rollers as each innermost film is fed from the stack. A system also is provided for indicating if enough films remain in the magazine for a particular film processing operation and to inhibit operation of an associated device if insufficient films remain. The magazine may be self-driven or driven from an associated device.

Film sheet load magazine

An apparatus for use with an office machine for allowing operational conditions of the machine to be set up with ease and promoting easy handling of a menu sheet on which information for selecting the operational conditions are to be written. An operator can condition the machine for desired operation modes simply by marking a menu sheet and then inserting it in a menu sheet reader. Even when the menu sheet jams a transport path defined in the menu sheet reader, for example, it can be dealt with by simple processing.

Operational condition setting device for an office machine

A thermal printer for printing linerless labels is operated so that the pressure sensitive adhesive of the second face of the labels does not stick to a drive roller which advances and reverses the labels, and cooperates with the thermal print head to effect printing. A cutter is disposed downstream of the print head and drive roll from a linerless label roll takeoff. Between the cutter and the drive roller is an air knife which directs a substantially uniform flow of gas to the peripheral surface of the drive roller to prevent the adhesive of the labels from sticking to the drive roller peripheral surface. Air flow through the air knife is at a pressure of about 20-50 psi (preferably about 30 psi) and the air flow may be provided continuously or only during initiation and continuation of printing and advancing the printer. Operation of the drive roller is also controlled to prevent sticking by advancing the roll of linerless labels so that the leading edge is aligned with the cutter, completely formatting the printer while the leading edge is aligned with the cutter, reversing the label leading edge by operating the drive roll so that the leading edge moves to an initial position for printing of the leading label of the roll, and with a delay of less than 0.5 seconds (i.e. substantially immediately) initiating printing and advancing so that the adhesive does not have any opportunity to stick to the drive roller.

Linerless label printer control

In a document sheet feeding and registration apparatus for deskewing a document sheet relative to a desired copying position on a copier platen while feeding the document sheet onto the platen into said copying position, there is disclosed a method and apparatus including obtaining an electrical signal corresponding to the actual velocity of the document sheet being fed onto the platen, and actuating an automatic document sheet deskewing device at a precise actuating time occurring slightly before the document sheet reaches the copying position, so that the actuating time of said document sheet deskewing corresponds to the actual velocity of the document sheet. The electrical signal corresponding to the actual document sheet velocity may be obtained by counting the elapsed time between the actuation of first and second switches substantially spaced from one another along the document sheet path upstream of the copier platen. The actuating time of the document sheet deskewing device may be a resettable time delay count after the actuation of said second switch, which time delay count is resettable by a change in the counted time period between the actuation of said first and second switches. The automatic document sheet deskewing device may comprise a releaseable skew preventing document feeder releasing the document sheet at said actuating time to another feeder for briefly driving the document sheet into a registration aligning edge while freely allowing deskewing movement of the document sheet thereagainst after said actuating time.

Document deskewing system

An electrostatographic reproduction machine for producing permanent copies of engineering drawings or the like. A photoconductive drum is rotated past various processing stations including a charging station, an exposure station for exposing documents to be reproduced, a transfer station at which electrostatic images are transferred from the drum member onto sheets of paper. The drum is cleaned and recycled for producing multiple prints of the same document or different prints of different documents. The copies are delivered to the front or rear of the machine after being permanently fixed by a fusing apparatus. The documents are directed to the front or rear of the machine at the option of the machine operator. One of the document paths intersects with one of the copy paths and an electrical control circuit is provided to prevent documents being delivered to the rear when copies should be delivered to the front.

Electrostatographic copying machines

A puffer for removing flexible sheets from a surface, comprising a plurality of air jet orifices that are spaced apart from one another, and a masking member mounted for movement to any one of a plurality of predetermined positions to selectively mask or uncover said orifices. In this way it is possible to ensure that air is puffed only over the paper-carrying part of an electrostatographic drum.

Flexible sheet handling device

A document sheet feeding apparatus 24 for delivering successive documents to an imaging station of a copier 10, including a document input tray 21 for receiving documents to be copied, a cover 44 arranged to be guided between a first position, in which the tray 21 is uncovered, allowing documents to be loaded therein, and a second position in which the cover 44 covers the tray 21. A drive system is provided for automatically driving the cover 44 from the first position to the second position, and a control system 100 controls the drive system so that the cover 44 is automatically driven into the second position prior to a document feeding operation from the tray 21.

Dennis M. Bendall

Papers

Electrostatographic copying machines

Flexible sheet handling device

Automatic document handler tray cover system