Switchable automatic document feeder capable of feeding continuous form documents or single sheet documents

U.S. Patent Number: 5295616

Abstract: An automatic document feeder for use with an electrophotographic copier, digital copier or similar image recorder capable of transporting ordinary documents in the form of separate sheets and a continuous document in the form of computer form (CF) paper which is formed with equally spaced sprocket holes, as desired. A sprocket hole sensor is disposed on an imaginary line along which the sprocket holes of the CF paper are moved. A control device reversibly controls the transport of the CF paper to a predetermined reference position on a glass platen in association with the number of sprocket holes being counted. The document feeder is capable of not only copying a desired page of the CF paper but also implementing jam recovery in the event when a paper sheet jams the image recorder.

Inventors: Saeki; Shirou (Yokohama, JP), Nakazato; Yukitaka (Tokyo, JP), Hashimoto; Kenji (Tokyo, JP), Ikoma; Tadashi (Yokohama, JP)

Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd. (Tokyo, JP)

Application Number: 07/704,854

Issued: 1994-03-22

Expired: 2006-03-22

Classes: 226/110 ; 226/43; 226/45; 399/384; 400/708

Field of search: 226/108,109,110,42,43,45,101,2 400/703,708,711 355/308,310,316-318

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