Original document feeder

Claim 2

An original document feeder comprising: stacker means for stacking original documents; feed means for one by one feeding of thus stacked original documents; means defining a first sheet path which curves downwardly for feeding, with inversion, an original document fed by said feed means; means defining a second sheet path branched from said first sheet path in a switchback fashion for guiding the original document to a process unit; transport means for positioning adjacent to the process unit and capable of a reverse rotation for discharging the original document, supplied from said second sheet path means, into said second sheet path means; document received means for receiving original documents; and means defining a third sheet path which curves downwardly and is branched from said first sheet path means in a switchback fashion, for feeding, with inversion, the original document discharged by said transport means to said document receiver means; wherein said stacker means, first sheet path means, second sheet path means, third sheet path means and document receiver means are constructed and arranged for positioning at an entrance to the process unit.

Claim 3

An original document feeder according to claim 1, further comprising means for detecting partitions between plural blocks of original documents, for the purpose of switching copying modes.

Claim 4

An original document feeder according to claim 2, wherein said partition detecting means comprises a partition sheet inserted between the blocks of original documents, and a sensor provided in said first sheet path means and adapted to detect the passing of said partition sheet.

Claim 5

An original document according to claim 3, further comprising means for controlling in such a manner that the partition sheet is discharged from said first sheet path means to the original document receiver means through said third sheet path.

Claim 6

An original document feeder according to claim 3, further comprising means for controlling in such a manner that the original document is guided from the first sheet path means to the process unit through the second sheet path means, and is then discharged from the second sheet path means to the document receiver means through the third sheet path means.

Claim 7

An original document handling device comprising: an original document feeder A including first stacker means for stacking original documents, said first stacker means being adapted to receive manually-set original documents; first feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents; means defining a first sheet path for guiding the original document fed by said first feed means; means defining a second sheet path for guiding an original document from said first sheet path means to a process unit; and means defining a third sheet path for guiding the original document from either said first sheet path means or said process unit to a document receiver means; an original document feeder B including second stacker means for stacking original documents, said second stacker means being adapted to receive manually-set original documents; second feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents; means defining a fourth sheet path for guiding an original document fed by said second feed means to the process unit; and means defining a fifth sheet path for guiding the original document discharged from the process unit to said second stacker means; and control means for advancing the original document from said document feeder A to said document feeder B when a process in said document feeder B is to be performed.

Claim 8

An original document handling device comprising: an original document feeder A including first stacker means for stacking original documents, said first stacker means being adapted to receive manually-set original documents; first feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents; means defining a first sheet path for guiding the original document fed by said first feed means; means defining a second sheet path for guiding an original document from said first sheet path means to a process unit; and means defining a third sheet path for guiding the original document from either said first sheet path means or said process unit to a document receiver means; an original document feeder B including second stacker means for stacking original documents, said second stacker means being adapted to receive manually-set original documents; second feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents; means defining a fourth sheet path for guiding an original document fed by said second feed means to the process unit; and means defining a fifth sheet path for guiding the original document discharged from the process unit to said second stacker means; and control means for advancing the original document from said document feeder A to said document feeder B when a process in said document feeder B is to be performed.

Claim 9

An original document feeder according to claim 6, further comprising means for detecting partitions between plural blocks of original documents, for the purpose of switching copying modes.

Claim 10

An original document feeder according to claim 7, wherein said partition detecting means comprises a partition sheet inserted between the blocks of original documents, and a sensor provided in said first sheet path means and adapted to detect the passing of said partition sheet.

Claim 11

An original document feeder according to claim 7, further comprising means for controlling said partition sheet so as to discharge the same from said first sheet path means to the document receiver means through said third sheet path means.

Claim 12

An original document feeder according to claim 7, further comprising means for guiding the original document from the first sheet path means to the process unit through the second sheet path means, and then discharging the same from the second sheet path means to the document receiver means through the third sheet path means.

Claim 13

An original document feeder according to claim 6, wherein the document feeder B further comprises means defining a sheet path for guiding the original document, discharged from the process unit, not to the second stacker means but to the process unit again with inversion of the document.

Claim 14

An original document feeder according to claim 11, further comprising means for advancing the original document from the document feeder A to the document feeder B, when obtaining one- or two-sided copies from two-sided original documents, or when recycling the original document plural times in order to obtain plural copies from an original document.

Claim 15

An original document feeder according to claim 6, wherein said original document feeder A and said original document feeder B are constructed and arranged to be at opposite sides of the process unit.

Claim 16

An original document handling device comprising: an original document feeder A including a fist stacker means for stacking original documents, said first stacker means being adapted to receive manually-set original documents; first feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents; means defining a first sheet inlet path for guiding an original document fed by said first feed means to a process unit; an original document feeder B including second stacker means for stacking original documents, said second stacker means adapted to receive manually-set original documents; second feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents; means defining a second sheet inlet path for guiding an original document fed by said second feed means to the process unit; and means defining a sheet back path for guiding the original document discharged from the process unit to said second stacker means; and control means for advancing the original document from said document feeder A to said document feeder B when processing in said document feeder B is to be performed.

Claim 17

An original document handling device comprising: an original document feeder A including a fist stacker means for stacking original documents, said first stacker means being adapted to receive manually-set original documents; first feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents; means defining a first sheet inlet path for guiding an original document fed by said first feed means to a process unit; an original document feeder B including second stacker means for stacking original documents, said second stacker means adapted to receive manually-set original documents; second feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents; means defining a second sheet inlet path for guiding an original document fed by said second feed means to the process unit; and means defining a sheet back path for guiding the original document discharged from the process unit to said second stacker means; and control means for advancing the original document from said document feeder A to said document feeder B when processing in said document feeder B is to be performed.

Claim 18

An original handling device according to claim 14, further comprising feeding means for introducing the original document to a position adjacent a reading means of the process unit, and wherein said document feeder A and said document feeder B are constructed and arranged to be positioned at opposite sides of the process unit.

Claim 19

An original document handling device according to claim 14, wherein said process unit comprises a platen glass for reading the original document and includes a reversible conveying belt for conveying the original document, and wherein said original document feeder A is provided at one end of said platen glass and said original document feeder B is provided at an opposite end of said platen glass.

Claim 20

An original document handling device according to claim 16, wherein said original document feeder B has a path for reversing a front and a rear surface of the original document.

Claim 21

An original document feeder comprising: stacker means for stacking plural blocks of original documents separated by partition sheets; feed means for one by one feeding of the stacked original documents; means defining a first sheet path for guiding an original document fed by said feed means; means defining a second sheet path for guiding the original document, guided by said first sheet path means, to a process unit; transport means for positioning adjacent the process unit and capable of reverse operation for discharging the original document, guided from said second sheet path means; document receiver means for receiving original documents and partition sheets; means defining a third sheet path for guiding the partition sheet guided by said first sheet path means and the original document discharged by said transport means to the document receiver means; said second and third sheet path means being branched from said first sheet path means in switchback fashion; selector means at the junction between the first and second sheet path means and a first reversible roller at the downstream side of the first sheet path means; and said first and third sheet path means being curved downwardly to invert the original document or the partition sheet passing therein; wherein said stacker means, first sheet path means, second sheet path means, third sheet path means and document receiver means are constructed and arranged to be positioned alongside an entrance to said process unit.

Claim 22

An original document feeder comprising: stacker means for stacking plural blocks of original documents separated by partition sheets; feed means for one by one feeding of the stacked original documents; means defining a first sheet path for guiding an original document fed by said feed means; means defining a second sheet path for guiding the original document, guided by said first sheet path means, to a process unit; transport means for positioning adjacent the process unit and capable of reverse operation for discharging the original document, guided from said second sheet path means; document receiver means for receiving original documents and partition sheets; means defining a third sheet path for guiding the partition sheet guided by said first sheet path means and the original document discharged by said transport means to the document receiver means; said second and third sheet path means being branched from said first sheet path means in switchback fashion; selector means at the junction between the first and second sheet path means and a first reversible roller at the downstream side of the first sheet path means; and said first and third sheet path means being curved downwardly to invert the original document or the partition sheet passing therein; wherein said stacker means, first sheet path means, second sheet path means, third sheet path means and document receiver means are constructed and arranged to be positioned alongside an entrance to said process unit.

Claim 23

An original document feeder according to claim 18, wherein the junction of the first and third sheet path means is positioned downstream of said first reversible roller, and further comprising a second reversible roller positioned further downstream of said junction.

Claim 24

An original document feeder comprising: stacker means for stacking plural blocks of original documents separated by partition sheets; feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked-original sheets and partition sheets; means defining a sheet feed path for guiding an original document, fed by said feed means, to the entrance of a process unit; means defining a sheet transport path for guiding the original document from said sheet feed path to a predetermined position of the process unit; transport means provided in said sheet transport path and capable of reverse operation for discharging the original document, guided from said entrance, back through said entrance; means defining a sheet discharge path for guiding the partition sheet guided from said sheet path and the original document discharged by said transport means, wherein said defining means branches from an intermediate portion of the sheet feed path; document receiver means for receiving the partition sheet and the original document guided through said sheet discharge path, said original document being reversed by said transport means in the process of being discharged; means for detecting a partition sheet between plural blocks or original documents, for the purpose of switching copying modes, wherein said partition detecting means comprises a sensor provided in said sheet feed path and adapted to detect the passing of the partition sheet; and means for controlling said partition sheet so as to discharge the same from the sheet feed path means to the document receiver means through the sheet discharge path means, wherein said stacker means, sheet feed path means, sheet transport path means, sheet discharge path means and document receiver means are constructed and arranged to be positioned alongside an entrance to said process unit.

Claim 25

An original document feeder comprising: stacker means for stacking plural blocks of original documents separated by partition sheets; feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked-original sheets and partition sheets; means defining a sheet feed path for guiding an original document, fed by said feed means, to the entrance of a process unit; means defining a sheet transport path for guiding the original document from said sheet feed path to a predetermined position of the process unit; transport means provided in said sheet transport path and capable of reverse operation for discharging the original document, guided from said entrance, back through said entrance; means defining a sheet discharge path for guiding the partition sheet guided from said sheet path and the original document discharged by said transport means, wherein said defining means branches from an intermediate portion of the sheet feed path; document receiver means for receiving the partition sheet and the original document guided through said sheet discharge path, said original document being reversed by said transport means in the process of being discharged; means for detecting a partition sheet between plural blocks or original documents, for the purpose of switching copying modes, wherein said partition detecting means comprises a sensor provided in said sheet feed path and adapted to detect the passing of the partition sheet; and means for controlling said partition sheet so as to discharge the same from the sheet feed path means to the document receiver means through the sheet discharge path means, wherein said stacker means, sheet feed path means, sheet transport path means, sheet discharge path means and document receiver means are constructed and arranged to be positioned alongside an entrance to said process unit.

Claim 26

An original document handling device, comprising: an original document feeder B including a first stacker means for stacking original documents, said first stacker means being adapted to receive manually-set original documents; first feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents; means defining a sheet inlet path for guiding an original document fed by said first feed means; a reversely rotatable conveying belt for positioning the original document guided through said sheet inlet path to a reading position; and means for defining a sheet back path for guiding the original document discharged from the reading position to said first stacker means; an original document feeder A disposed at an opposite side of said conveying belt with respect to original document feeder B and including second stacker means for stacking original documents, said second stacker means being adapted to receive manually-set original documents, second feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents fed by said second feed means to said conveying belt; and control means for advancing the original document from said original document feeder A to said original document feeder B when processing in said original document feeder B is to be performed.

Claim 27

An original document handling device, comprising: an original document feeder B including a first stacker means for stacking original documents, said first stacker means being adapted to receive manually-set original documents; first feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents; means defining a sheet inlet path for guiding an original document fed by said first feed means; a reversely rotatable conveying belt for positioning the original document guided through said sheet inlet path to a reading position; and means for defining a sheet back path for guiding the original document discharged from the reading position to said first stacker means; an original document feeder A disposed at an opposite side of said conveying belt with respect to original document feeder B and including second stacker means for stacking original documents, said second stacker means being adapted to receive manually-set original documents, second feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents fed by said second feed means to said conveying belt; and control means for advancing the original document from said original document feeder A to said original document feeder B when processing in said original document feeder B is to be performed.

Claim 28

An original document handling device according to claim 21, wherein said original document feeder B has a path for reversing the front and back surfaces of the original document.

Claim 29

An original handling device, comprising: an original document feeder B not having a reserve function for reserving a sequence of plural sheet bundles and including first stacker means for stacking original documents, said first stacker means adapted to receive manually-set original documents; first feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents; means for defining a first sheet inlet path for guiding an original document fed by said first feeding means to a reading position; and means for defining a sheet inversion path for guiding the original document discharged from the reading position to the reading position again with inversion of the document; and an original document feeder A having a reserve function for reserving a reading sequence of plural sheet bundles and including second stacker means for stacking original documents, said second stacker means being adapted to receive manually-set original documents; second feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents; and means for defining a second sheet inlet path for guiding an original document fed by said second feed means to said original document feeder B.

Claim 30

An original handling device, comprising: an original document feeder B not having a reserve function for reserving a sequence of plural sheet bundles and including first stacker means for stacking original documents, said first stacker means adapted to receive manually-set original documents; first feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents; means for defining a first sheet inlet path for guiding an original document fed by said first feeding means to a reading position; and means for defining a sheet inversion path for guiding the original document discharged from the reading position to the reading position again with inversion of the document; and an original document feeder A having a reserve function for reserving a reading sequence of plural sheet bundles and including second stacker means for stacking original documents, said second stacker means being adapted to receive manually-set original documents; second feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents; and means for defining a second sheet inlet path for guiding an original document fed by said second feed means to said original document feeder B.

Claim 31

An original document handling device, comprising: an original document feeder B including a first stacker means for stacking original documents, said first stacker means being adapted to receive manually-set original documents; first feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents; means defining a sheet inlet path for guiding an original document fed by said first feed means to a process unit; and means for defining a first sheet back path for guiding the original document discharged from the process unit to said first stacker means; an original document feeder A including second stacker means for stacking original documents, said second stacker means being adapted to receive manually-set original documents; second feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents; means defining a second sheet inlet path for guiding an original document fed by said second feed means to said original document feeder B; and control means for advancing the original document from said original document feeder A to said original document feeder B when processing in said original document feeder B is to be performed.

Claim 32

An original document handling device, comprising: an original document feeder B including a first stacker means for stacking original documents, said first stacker means being adapted to receive manually-set original documents; first feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents; means defining a sheet inlet path for guiding an original document fed by said first feed means to a process unit; and means for defining a first sheet back path for guiding the original document discharged from the process unit to said first stacker means; an original document feeder A including second stacker means for stacking original documents, said second stacker means being adapted to receive manually-set original documents; second feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents; means defining a second sheet inlet path for guiding an original document fed by said second feed means to said original document feeder B; and control means for advancing the original document from said original document feeder A to said original document feeder B when processing in said original document feeder B is to be performed.

Claim 33

An original document handling device, comprising: an original document feeder B including first stacker means for stacking original documents, said first stacker means being adapted to receive manually-set original documents; first feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents; means defining a first sheet inlet path for guiding an original document fed by said first feed means; a reversibly rotatable conveying belt for positioning the original document guided through said first sheet inlet path to a reading position; and means for defining a first sheet back path for guiding the original document discharged from the reading position to said first stacker means; an original document feeder A disposed at an opposite side of said conveying belt with respect to original document feeder B and including second stacker means for stacking original documents, said second stacker means being adapted to receive manually-set original documents; second feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents, means defining a second sheet inlet path for guiding an original document fed by said second feed means to said original document feeder B; and control means for advancing the original document from said second document feeder to said first document feeder when processing in said original document feeder B is to be performed.

Claim 34

An original document handling device, comprising: an original document feeder B including first stacker means for stacking original documents, said first stacker means being adapted to receive manually-set original documents; first feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents; means defining a first sheet inlet path for guiding an original document fed by said first feed means; a reversibly rotatable conveying belt for positioning the original document guided through said first sheet inlet path to a reading position; and means for defining a first sheet back path for guiding the original document discharged from the reading position to said first stacker means; an original document feeder A disposed at an opposite side of said conveying belt with respect to original document feeder B and including second stacker means for stacking original documents, said second stacker means being adapted to receive manually-set original documents; second feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents, means defining a second sheet inlet path for guiding an original document fed by said second feed means to said original document feeder B; and control means for advancing the original document from said second document feeder to said first document feeder when processing in said original document feeder B is to be performed.

Claim 35

An original handling device, comprising: an original document feeder B not having a reserve function for reserving sequence of plural sheet bundles and including first stacker means for stacking original documents, said first stacker means adapted to receive manually-set original documents; first feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents; means for defining a first sheet inlet path for guiding an original document fed by said first feeding means to a reading position; and means for defining a first sheet back path for guiding the original document discharged from the reading position; and an original document feeder A having a reserve function for reserving a reading sequence of plural sheet bundles and including second stacker means for stacking original documents, said second stacker means being adapted to receive manually-set original documents; second feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents; means for defining a second sheet inlet path for guiding an original document fed by said second feed means to said original document feeder B.

Claim 36

An original handling device, comprising: an original document feeder B not having a reserve function for reserving sequence of plural sheet bundles and including first stacker means for stacking original documents, said first stacker means adapted to receive manually-set original documents; first feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents; means for defining a first sheet inlet path for guiding an original document fed by said first feeding means to a reading position; and means for defining a first sheet back path for guiding the original document discharged from the reading position; and an original document feeder A having a reserve function for reserving a reading sequence of plural sheet bundles and including second stacker means for stacking original documents, said second stacker means being adapted to receive manually-set original documents; second feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents; means for defining a second sheet inlet path for guiding an original document fed by said second feed means to said original document feeder B.

Claim 37

An original document handling device according to claim 26, wherein said original document feeder A and said original document feeder B are disposed at opposite sides of said reading position.

Claim 38

An original document handling device according to claim 26, wherein said original document feeder B is a recyclic document feed.

Claim 39

An original document handling device according to claim 28, further including a both-surface path.

Claim 40

An original document handling device comprising: an original document feeder A including a first stacker means for stacking original documents, said first stacker means being adapted to receive manually-set original documents; first feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents; and means defining a first sheet inlet path for guiding an original document fed by said first feed means to a process unit; an original document feeder B including second stacker means for stacking original documents, said second stacker means adapted to receive manually-set original documents; second feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents; means defining a second sheet inlet path for guiding an original document fed by said second feed means to the process unit; and means defining a sheet inversion path for guiding the original document discharged from the process unit to the process unit again with inversion of the document; and control means for advancing the original document from said document feeder A to said document feeder B when processing in said document feeder B is to be performed.

Claim 41

An original document handling device comprising: an original document feeder A including a first stacker means for stacking original documents, said first stacker means being adapted to receive manually-set original documents; first feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents; and means defining a first sheet inlet path for guiding an original document fed by said first feed means to a process unit; an original document feeder B including second stacker means for stacking original documents, said second stacker means adapted to receive manually-set original documents; second feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents; means defining a second sheet inlet path for guiding an original document fed by said second feed means to the process unit; and means defining a sheet inversion path for guiding the original document discharged from the process unit to the process unit again with inversion of the document; and control means for advancing the original document from said document feeder A to said document feeder B when processing in said document feeder B is to be performed.

Claim 42

An original document handling device, comprising: an original document feeder B including a first stacker means for stacking original documents, said first stacker means being adapted to receive manually-set original documents; first feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents; means defining a sheet inlet path for guiding an original document fed by said first feed means to a process unit; and means for defining a sheet inversion path for guiding the original document discharged from the process unit to the process unit again with inversion of the document; an original document feeder A including second stacker means for stacking original documents, said second stacker means being adapted to receive manually-set original documents; second feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents; and means defining a second sheet inlet path for guiding an original document fed by said second feed means to said original document feeder B; and control means for advancing the original document from said original document feeder A to said original document feeder B when processing in said original document feeder B is to be performed.

Claim 43

An original document handling device, comprising: an original document feeder B including a first stacker means for stacking original documents, said first stacker means being adapted to receive manually-set original documents; first feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents; means defining a sheet inlet path for guiding an original document fed by said first feed means to a process unit; and means for defining a sheet inversion path for guiding the original document discharged from the process unit to the process unit again with inversion of the document; an original document feeder A including second stacker means for stacking original documents, said second stacker means being adapted to receive manually-set original documents; second feed means for one-by-one feeding of the stacked original documents; and means defining a second sheet inlet path for guiding an original document fed by said second feed means to said original document feeder B; and control means for advancing the original document from said original document feeder A to said original document feeder B when processing in said original document feeder B is to be performed.