US3845949A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sorter control to prevent over-stacking in the sorter trays
Assignee: Xerox Corp
•
Filing: 1972-12-04
•
Granted: 1974-11-05
•
Expires: 1992-12-04
Abstract
Abstract An improved reproduction system incorporating a processor for making copies, a document handler for automatically feeding in seriatim documents to be copied to the processor and thereafter returning the documents to the document supply tray for either removal or recycling, and a sorter for either stacking or collating the copies, the sorter including a procession of copy receiving trays. To prevent overfilling of the sorter trays beyond their individual capacity, the system incorporates a control effective when the reproduction system is operated in the stacking mode to automatically switch over to the next sorter tray when the capacity of the preceding sorter tray is reached, and so on as necessary. Following completion of the copy program for the document then being copied, copies of the next succeeding document will be routed to the next empty sorter tray.
Inventors
- 👤 T Acquaviva
- 👤 W Kukucka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 13:35
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/65; G03G15/6538; B; B07; B07C; B07C3/00; B65; B65H; B65H29/00; B65H29/58; B65H29/60; B65H39/00; B65H39/10; B65H39/115
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
In a reproduction system the combination of: a processor for making copies of a plurality of original documents in succession; a sorter for sorting said copies into desired orientation, said sorter having a procession of copy receiving trays; and, control means responsive to the individual copy capacity of said sorter trays to automatically switch to the next succeeding sorter tray when the number of copies produced of one of said original documents exceeds the storage capacity of one or more individual sorter trays, said control means being adapted to control the operation of the sorter to automatically deliver copies of the succeeding document into the next succeeding empty sorter tray at the commencement of stacking of the copies of said succeeding document.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
In a reproduction system the combination of: a processor for making copies of a plurality of original documents in succession; a sorter for sorting said copies into desired orientation, said sorter having a procession of copy receiving trays; and, control means responsive to the individual copy capacity of said sorter trays to automatically switch to the next succeeding sorter tray when the number of copies produced of one of said original documents exceeds the storage capacity of one or more individual sorter trays, said control means being adapted to control the operation of the sorter to automatically deliver copies of the succeeding document into the next succeeding empty sorter tray at the commencement of stacking of the copies of said succeeding document.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
168 words
In a document copying system operative in a copy stacking mode to produce copies, said system including a processor for making copies, a document handler for automatically bringing a succession of documents to be copied into copying relationship with said processor, and a sorter for receiving copies made by said processor, said sorter having a procession of copy receiving trays, the combination of: control means for automatically switching copies from one tray to the next empty tray when the copy capacity of said one tray is reached whereby to prevent overfilling of said trays, said control means automatically switching from one tray to the next tray for commencing the placement of copies of the succeeding document in the next empty tray irrespective of the number of copies in the preceding tray to prevent inter-mingling of copies from each document being copied; and, means adapted when said system is in said stacking mode to actuate said control means to proceed from one empty tray to the next in progression.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
168 words
In a document copying system operative in a copy stacking mode to produce copies, said system including a processor for making copies, a document handler for automatically bringing a succession of documents to be copied into copying relationship with said processor, and a sorter for receiving copies made by said processor, said sorter having a procession of copy receiving trays, the combination of: control means for automatically switching copies from one tray to the next empty tray when the copy capacity of said one tray is reached whereby to prevent overfilling of said trays, said control means automatically switching from one tray to the next tray for commencing the placement of copies of the succeeding document in the next empty tray irrespective of the number of copies in the preceding tray to prevent inter-mingling of copies from each document being copied; and, means adapted when said system is in said stacking mode to actuate said control means to proceed from one empty tray to the next in progression.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-04 | 1978-05-06 | 1978-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-04 | 1982-05-06 | 1982-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-04 | 1986-05-06 | 1986-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |