Automatic document page turning apparatus

Claim 2

A page turning apparatus comprising means for driving a multiple-page document along a feed path to a page turning station, means positioned adjacent the feed path and supported for movement in a direction for engaging and moving a page of the document positioned at the turning station to a bowed condition when actuated, means for actuating said engaging and moving means, page turning means positioned adjacent the turning station for engaging the page and moving the page to a partially turned position, and means driving the document a further distance along the feed path for enabling the page turning means to move the page to a fully turned position.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 including means for sensing the bowed condition of the page at the page turning station.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 including guide means positioned adjacent the page turning station and movable along the feed path to permit advancement of the document for engagement by the page turning means to move the page to the bowed condition.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 including means for detecting the position of the document being advanced by the driving means along the feed path.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 including sequence controlling means responsive to the position of the document relative to the page turning station and to the bowed condition of the page.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1 including pressure means opposed to said driving means for gripping said document as said document advances past said page turning station.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 1 including retry controlling means for operating the page turning means at least a second time to ensure moving of the page to a partially turned position.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for driving comprises a plurality of drive rollers and opposed driven rollers spaced along the feed path of the document on either side of the page turning station.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the engaging and moving means comprises a plate member positioned at the page turning station and movable in a direction normal to the path of the document.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the page turning means comprises a roller positioned adjacent the page turning station and responsive to the means for driving the documents a further distance along the feed path.

Claim 12

A page turning apparatus comprising means forming a guide chute for supporting a multi-page document along a feed path, first roller means adjacent the guide chute for driving the document along the feed path to a page turning station, pressing means positioned adjacent the guide chute and supported for movement in a direction for engaging and moving a page of the document positioned at the page turning station to a bowed condition when actuated, means for actuating said pressing means, second roller means positioned adjacent said guide chute for engaging the page and moving the page to a partially turned position, means for rotating said second roller means for moving the page to the partially turned position, and means for driving the document a further distance along the feed path for enabling the second roller means to move the page to a fully turned position.

Claim 13

A page turning apparatus comprising means forming a guide chute for supporting a multi-page document along a feed path, first roller means adjacent the guide chute for driving the document along the feed path to a page turning station, pressing means positioned adjacent the guide chute and supported for movement in a direction for engaging and moving a page of the document positioned at the page turning station to a bowed condition when actuated, means for actuating said pressing means, second roller means positioned adjacent said guide chute for engaging the page and moving the page to a partially turned position, means for rotating said second roller means for moving the page to the partially turned position, and means for driving the document a further distance along the feed path for enabling the second roller means to move the page to a fully turned position.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 11 including means adjacent the first and second roller means for sensing the bowed condition of the page at the page turning station.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 11 including means for detecting the position of the documents being advanced by the first roller means along the feed path.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 11 including sequence controlling means responsive to the position of the document relative to the page turning station and to the bowed condition of the page.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 11 including at least one pressure roller opposed to said first roller means for gripping said document as said document advances past said page turning station.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 11 including retry control means for operating the page turning means at least a second time to ensure moving of the page to a partially turned position.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the pressing means comprises a plate member positioned at the page turning station and movable in a direction normal to the path of the document.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the sequence control means comprises detecting means responsive to the position of the document relative to the page turning station and means for advancing the document closer to the second roller means dependent upon the condition of the document page.