Sheet handling apparatus

Abstract

A sheet handling apparatus having a sheet input section, a sheet processing section, a sheet output section, a conveying mechanism adapted to convey sheets from the input section through the processing section to the output section, and a controller for the conveying mechanism. The controller is adapted to be switched between a feed through mode, in which the sheets are output by being fed through from the processing section to the output section, and a rewind mode, in which the sheets are output by being fed in a reverse direction from the processing section back to the input section.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a Continuation of International Application No. PCT / EP2014 / 055968, filed on Mar. 25, 2014, and for which priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. §120. PCT / EP2014 / 055968 claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to Application No. 13161057.8, filed in Europe on Mar. 26, 2013. The entire contents of each of the above-identified applications are hereby incorporated by reference into the present application.BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to a sheet handling apparatus having a sheet input section, a sheet processing section, a sheet output section, a conveying mechanism adapted to convey sheets from the input section through the processing section to the output section, and a controller for the conveying mechanism.[0004]2. Description of Background Art[0005]An example of a sheet handling apparatus of this type is a stand-alone scanner in which the processing s...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet handling apparatus in which sheets, in particular sheets of different formats, can be handled reliably and efficiently.

[0009]In this apparatus, sheets which have a relatively small format may be handled in the rewind mode, which is most convenient for the operator. On the other hand, when processing a large format sheet, in particular a sheet which has a large dimension in the transport direction, it would be time-consuming to rewind the sheet to the input section. In this case, the apparatus may be switched to the feed through mode, so that the processed large format sheets will be output by feeding them forward to the output section in the same direction in which the sheets are fed in. As a consequence, a plurality of large format sheets may be fed through in close succession, so that a high throughput may be obtained.

[0010]The present invention is particularly advantageous for apparatus that are designed for handling sheets with formats that vary in a large range, e.g. from A0 to A4. Then, the output section, which will be needed only for large format sheets does not have to be designed for handling small format sheets, which permits a low-cost design. The small format sheets, which will be rewound towards the input section can readily be taken out by the operator, so that the input section is not required to be capable of reliably guiding and collecting the small format sheets.

Problems solved by technology

On the other hand, when processing a large format sheet, in particular a sheet which has a large dimension in the transport direction, it would be time-consuming to rewind the sheet to the input section.

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