Mid form start CF document feeder

Claim 1

In a plural mode automatic document handling system for a copier with a platen imaging station for frictionally feeding conventional document sheets or continuous computer form web documents over said platen without using sprocket feeding, said automatic document handling system comprising a platen cover unit pivotably openable and closable relative to said platen and said copier, said platen cover unit containing platen transport means for feeding conventional documents sheets over said platen, the improvement comprising; first frictional computer form web document drive means mounted upstream from said platen, and second frictional computer form web drive means mounted downstream from said platen, for feeding continuous computer form web documents over said platen; wherein both said first and second frictional computer form web document drive means comprise a first set of drive rollers mounted to said platen cover until and pivotable away from said platen and said copier therewith, and a mating, opposing, second set of idler rollers mounted to said copier, which opposing sets of drive rollers and idler rollers form closed nips for said frictional computer form web document feeding when said platen cover unit is closed over said platen, but which nips are automatically opened when said platen cover unit is pivotably opened relative to said platen, to provide for intermediate web position loading of continuous computer form web documents into said opened nips and over said platen of said copier, without interference by said platen transport means; wherein said plural mode automatic document handling system additionally comprises common input means for inputting either conventional document sheet documents or one end of a continuous computer form web document, and common document path means for feeding either a conventional document sheet or a continuous computer form web document from said input means over said platen through said platen transport means; and means for sensing the acquisition of a continuous computer form web document by said document handling system whether inputed from said common input means or by said intermediate web position loading, further including additional retractable roller drive means in said common document path means for engaging conventional document sheets adjacent said platen transport means, which additional retractable roller drive means are automatically retractably disengaged in response to said means for sensing the acquisition of a continuous computer form web documented by said document handling system.