Elevator tray position control apparatus

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein; said first sensor actuator comprises a first tab; and said second sensor actuator comprises a second tab, spaced from said first tab.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said uniformly spaced elements comprise, a comb integrally connected to said frame and extending therefrom, said comb including a plurality of teeth of equal width, said teeth defining apertures therebetween, the width of said apertures equaling the width of said teeth, whereby the teeth of said comb actuate said second sensing means.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said comb further comprises; a solid tab, disposed at one end thereof and in alignment with said teeth, to actuate said second sensing means when the tray is located at said first selected position, to enable the controlling means to further distinguish the location of the tray at either the first selected position or the second selected position.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controlling means further comprises: means, responsive to the signal generated by the first sensing means and the signal generated by the second sensing means, for determining whether the tray is located at the first selected position or the second selected position.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first sensing means further comprises a binary switch which indicates the presence of said first sensor actuator or said second sensor actuator within an active sensing region of said switch by an active signal, and otherwise outputs an inactive signal, said controlling means being responsive to the active signal from said switch.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said binary switch further comprises an optical switch.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second sensing means further comprises a binary switch which indicates the presence of said second actuating means within an active sensing region of said binary switch by an active signal, and otherwise outputs an inactive signal, thereby enabling the controlling means to directly monitor the incremental movement of the tray as indicated by the alternating signal from said second sensing means.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said binary switch further comprises an optical switch.

Claim 11

An electrophotographic printing machine of the type in which successive copy sheets, having indicia recorded thereon are advanced to a finishing station having a tray for holding a stack of the copy sheets, a drive system adapted to move the tray in a vertical direction, a position sensor detecting the position of the uppermost copy sheet of the stack of the copy sheets on the tray, and means for controlling the drive system in response to signals received from the position sensor so as to maintain the uppermost copy sheet of the stack at a predetermined location, wherein the improvement comprises: first means for sensing the tray at a first selected position and at a second selected position, spaced from the first selected position, said first sensing means transmitting a signal to the controlling means indicating that the tray is at the first selected position or the second selected position, which inhibits movement of the tray and causes the drive system to reverse the direction of subsequent movement of the tray; second means for sensing motion of the tray, so that a signal, indicative of movement of the tray, is sent from said second sensing means to the controlling means; a frame, operatively associated with the tray, said frame being adapted to move in unison with the tray; a first sensor actuator, located on said frame and extending outwardly therefrom, for positively actuating said first sensing means in response to the tray being positioned at the first selected position; and a second sensor actuator, located on said frame and extending outwardly therefrom, for positively actuating said first sensing means in response to the tray being positioned at the second selected position; and a plurality of uniformly spaced elements, located on said frame, to actuate said second sensing means in response to movement of the tray, so that said second sensing means transmits an alternating binary signal, indicative of movement of the tray, to the controlling means enabling the controlling means to monitor the location of the tray.

Claim 12

An electrophotographic printing machine of the type in which successive copy sheets, having indicia recorded thereon are advanced to a finishing station having a tray for holding a stack of the copy sheets, a drive system adapted to move the tray in a vertical direction, a position sensor detecting the position of the uppermost copy sheet of the stack of the copy sheets on the tray, and means for controlling the drive system in response to signals received from the position sensor so as to maintain the uppermost copy sheet of the stack at a predetermined location, wherein the improvement comprises: first means for sensing the tray at a first selected position and at a second selected position, spaced from the first selected position, said first sensing means transmitting a signal to the controlling means indicating that the tray is at the first selected position or the second selected position, which inhibits movement of the tray and causes the drive system to reverse the direction of subsequent movement of the tray; second means for sensing motion of the tray, so that a signal, indicative of movement of the tray, is sent from said second sensing means to the controlling means; a frame, operatively associated with the tray, said frame being adapted to move in unison with the tray; a first sensor actuator, located on said frame and extending outwardly therefrom, for positively actuating said first sensing means in response to the tray being positioned at the first selected position; and a second sensor actuator, located on said frame and extending outwardly therefrom, for positively actuating said first sensing means in response to the tray being positioned at the second selected position; and a plurality of uniformly spaced elements, located on said frame, to actuate said second sensing means in response to movement of the tray, so that said second sensing means transmits an alternating binary signal, indicative of movement of the tray, to the controlling means enabling the controlling means to monitor the location of the tray.

Claim 13

The electrophotographic printing machine of claim 10 wherein; said first sensor actuator comprises a first tab; and said second sensor actuator comprises a second tab, spaced from said first tab.

Claim 14

The electrophotographic printing machine of claim 10, wherein said uniformly spaced elements comprise, a comb integrally connected to said frame and extending therefrom, said comb including a plurality of teeth of equal width, said teeth defining apertures therebetween, the width of said apertures equaling the width of said teeth, whereby the teeth of said comb actuate said second sensing means.

Claim 15

The electrophotographic printing machine of claim 12, wherein said comb further comprises; a solid tab, disposed at one end thereof and in alignment with said teeth, to actuate said second sensing means when the tray is located at said first selected position, to enable the controlling means to further distinguish the location of the tray at either the first selected position or the second selected position.

Claim 16

The electrophotographic printing machine of claim 10, wherein the controlling means further comprises: means, responsive to the signal generated by the first sensing means and the signal generated by the second sensing means, for determining whether the tray is located at the first selected position or the second selected position.

Claim 17

The electrophotographic printing machine of claim 10, wherein the first sensing means further comprises a binary switch which indicates the presence of said first sensor actuator or said second sensor actuator within an active sensing region of said switch by an active signal, and otherwise outputs an inactive signal, said controlling means being responsive to the active signal from said switch.

Claim 18

The electrophotographic printing machine of claim 15, wherein said binary switch further comprises an optical switch.

Claim 19

The electrophotographic printing machine of claim 10, wherein the second sensing means further comprises a binary switch which indicates the presence of said second actuating means within an active sensing region of said binary switch by an active signal, and otherwise outputs an inactive signal, thereby enabling the controlling means to directly monitor the incremental movement of the tray as indicated by the alternating signal from said second sensing means.

Claim 20

The electrophotographic printing machine of claim 17, wherein said binary switch further comprises an optical switch.