Automatic document handling apparatus

Claim 1

A document handling apparatus comprising a document driving belt extending across a work surface between first and second edges of the surface over which edges the documents are respectively fed onto and ejected from the surface; means for selectively driving the belt in one direction towards the second surface edge for advancing a document across the surface and in the opposite direction for positioning a document on the surface against a registration edge at said first surface edge; document drive means adjacent said second surface edge located laterally of said document driving belt and arranged to be driven with the belt in the document advancing direction only and act on a document in contact therewith to prevent the document from being driven by the belt as the belt is driven in the opposite direction, wherein said document drive means comprises a pair of rotary members flanking the belt adjacent the second edge of the surface, wherein said document driving belt is an endless belt passing over first and second belt-supporting rollers at said edges of the surface respectively and the rotary members comprise rollers mounted coaxially with the second belt-supporting roller; a pair of stationary curved guide surfaces at opposite sides of said rotary members and said second belt supporting roller and spaced therefrom, said guide surfaces being arranged to urge a sheet against the periphery of said rotary members and said second-belt supporting roller in a curved path.