US3713646A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Document handling apparatus
Assignee: Fujitsu Services Ltd
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Filing: 1970-09-03
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Granted: 1973-01-30
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Expires: 1990-09-03
Abstract
Abstract In a document feeding apparatus which separates an edge of a document from a stack prior to feeding the separated document, a document thickness sensing device is employed to detect whether more than one document edge has been separated or whether there has been a failure to separate an edge. The sensing device consists of a finger which is moved over the separated part of a document as it lies on a reference surface. The finger carries a magnetic insert which is magnetically coupled to an inductor so that the displacement of the finger alters the inductance of the inductor.
Inventors
- 👤 R Derc
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:41
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H7/00; B65H7/02; B65H7/06; B65H7/12; G; G06; G06K; G06K13/00; G06K13/02; G06K13/06; G06K13/067
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
Document handling apparatus including a reference surface; meanS to maintain document material in engagement with said surface; thickness sensing means movable relative to said surface into a position in which it is spaced from the surface by the thickness of document material engaged therewith; a circuit element having a variable electrical response characteristic; and coupling means between the circuit element and the sensing means arranged to produce, in response to movement of the sensing means in a direction substantially perpendicular to said reference surface a corresponding continuous variation in said response characteristic to detect the thickness of said document material; in which the sensing means includes a carrier; means for moving the carrier in a direction substantially parallel to said reference surface; a sensing finger supported in said carrier for movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to said reference surface, the sensing finger being moved along said reference surface by movement of said carrier and being displaced from said surface by document material engaged thereon; and in which the circuit element consists of an inductor supported on said carrier and magnetically coupled to said sensing finger, whereby movement of said sensing finger in said perpendicular direction produces a variation in the effective inductance of said inductor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
Document handling apparatus including a reference surface; meanS to maintain document material in engagement with said surface; thickness sensing means movable relative to said surface into a position in which it is spaced from the surface by the thickness of document material engaged therewith; a circuit element having a variable electrical response characteristic; and coupling means between the circuit element and the sensing means arranged to produce, in response to movement of the sensing means in a direction substantially perpendicular to said reference surface a corresponding continuous variation in said response characteristic to detect the thickness of said document material; in which the sensing means includes a carrier; means for moving the carrier in a direction substantially parallel to said reference surface; a sensing finger supported in said carrier for movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to said reference surface, the sensing finger being moved along said reference surface by movement of said carrier and being displaced from said surface by document material engaged thereon; and in which the circuit element consists of an inductor supported on said carrier and magnetically coupled to said sensing finger, whereby movement of said sensing finger in said perpendicular direction produces a variation in the effective inductance of said inductor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
206 words
Document handling apparatus including a reference surface; meanS to maintain document material in engagement with said surface; thickness sensing means movable relative to said surface into a position in which it is spaced from the surface by the thickness of document material engaged therewith; a circuit element having a variable electrical response characteristic; and coupling means between the circuit element and the sensing means arranged to produce, in response to movement of the sensing means in a direction substantially perpendicular to said reference surface a corresponding continuous variation in said response characteristic to detect the thickness of said document material; in which the sensing means includes a carrier; means for moving the carrier in a direction substantially parallel to said reference surface; a sensing finger supported in said carrier for movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to said reference surface, the sensing finger being moved along said reference surface by movement of said carrier and being displaced from said surface by document material engaged thereon; and in which the circuit element consists of an inductor supported on said carrier and magnetically coupled to said sensing finger, whereby movement of said sensing finger in said perpendicular direction produces a variation in the effective inductance of said inductor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
206 words
Document handling apparatus including a reference surface; meanS to maintain document material in engagement with said surface; thickness sensing means movable relative to said surface into a position in which it is spaced from the surface by the thickness of document material engaged therewith; a circuit element having a variable electrical response characteristic; and coupling means between the circuit element and the sensing means arranged to produce, in response to movement of the sensing means in a direction substantially perpendicular to said reference surface a corresponding continuous variation in said response characteristic to detect the thickness of said document material; in which the sensing means includes a carrier; means for moving the carrier in a direction substantially parallel to said reference surface; a sensing finger supported in said carrier for movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to said reference surface, the sensing finger being moved along said reference surface by movement of said carrier and being displaced from said surface by document material engaged thereon; and in which the circuit element consists of an inductor supported on said carrier and magnetically coupled to said sensing finger, whereby movement of said sensing finger in said perpendicular direction produces a variation in the effective inductance of said inductor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
Document handling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said inductor includes an open-ended magnetic structure and a coil wound on said structure, and in which the finger carries a magnetic member positioned adjacent the open ends of said magnetic structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
Document handling apparatus as claimed in claim 2, including circuit means connected to said coil, the circuit means being arranged to produce an output signal if the inductance of said inductor is set to a predetermined magnitude in response to the positioning of the sensing finger at a distance from the reference surface corresponding to a single document thickness.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-30 | 1976-07-31 | 1977-01-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-30 | 1980-07-31 | 1981-01-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-30 | 1984-07-31 | 1985-01-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |