IL50569A - Control mechanism for document handling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Control Mechanisms for Document Handling Apparatus The present invention relates to electronic control means and more particularly to novel electronic control means for use with document handling equipment as described in our co-pending Application No.42699, for feeding, separating documents which electronic equipment monitors all phases of the physical operations to provide reliable and accurate feeding, counting and stacking.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Document handling devices are presently employed in a large number of different applications. Some examples of such document handlers are devices for counting checks, punch cards, food stamps, paper currency and bank coupons, to name just a few. The basic requirements of such devices are to provide reliable operation at relatively high operating speeds in the feeding, separating, endorsing and stacking of the documents being handled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND OBJECTS The present invention is characterized by providing a control means which has the novel capability of increasing the flexibility and effectiveness of the document handling apparatus to perform a variety of document handling operations such as, for example, endorsing batching and statistical sampling not heretofore capable of being obtained through document-handlers and control devices which have heretofore been available.

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide novel electronic control mesas for document-handlers and the like having a capability of distinguishing between adjacent separated documents for counting purposes while ignoring perforations, punches, slits or mutilations withini a document as an erroneous indication of a separation between documents .

Another object of the present invention is to provide novel electronic control means for document-handling apparatus and the like to enhance the capability of such apparatus to perform operations such as reliable high speed counting, batching, statistical sampling and is capable of retaining an existing count and resuming counting even in the event of jams or temporary exhaustion of the supply of documents being counted.

These as well as other objects of the present invention will becoae apparent when reading the accompanying description and drawing in which: Figure 1 is a simplified elevational view of a document handling device for feeding, separating, counting and stacking paper documents and the like.

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the various feed elements of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the compensating quantizing threshold device employed for counting documents separated by the document-handler of Figures 1 and 2.

Figures 4a-4f are schematic diagtams which form the control circuitry for the document-handling device of Figures 1 and 2.

Figures 5a-5c show ivaveforms useful in explaining the circuitry of Figures 3 and 4a-4f.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figures 1 and 2 show, in simplified fashion a document-handling device which is described in greater detail in copending application Serial No. 41445, filed January 31st, 1973 and assigned to the assigness of the present invention. The detailed structure of the document-handling device of the aforementioned U.S. Application will be omitted herein for purposes of simplicity, it being understood that the structure described therein is incorporated in the present application by reference thereto.

The document-handling device has the major functions of providing means for feeding sheets of varying thicknesses, sizes, finishes and the like and of accepting such dissimilar sheet sizes without first collating sheets into groups having similar dimensional and/or surface characteristics and includes means for separating and counting the sheets and stacking the sheets once separated.

Device 10 of Figures 1 and 2 is comprised of a housing 11 having a base portion 12 for supporting device 10 upe.i any suitable surface such as, for example, a table or counter. The relatively snail sifcg. and light weight of the device greatly enhances its portability and facilitates handling of the device to enable its use in practically any desired location.

The housing 11 is provided with a front face 13 at its upper end which may be fitted or otherwise provided with control panels incorporating controls to be more fully described hereinbelow for turning the machine on and off, providing for statistical sampling or batch counting and the like and providing visually observable means indicating the count of the number of documents handled by the device.

Face 13 forms a portion of the front of housing 11 which is further provided with an infeed hopper 14 consisting of a plate member 15 for stacking sheets or other documents S.

The stack S has a portion of its weight resting upoa rearward end 15a of plate 15 and the sheets have their forward edges resting against ,' - f ~ ! a plate 16a. The inclination of the infeed stacker 14 is such that the weight of the sheets within the stack serve to retain the sheets within the infeed hopper without providing any top weight upon the stack, as well as serving to facilitate feeding of the documents from the infeed hopper, which features are described in detail in the aforementioned application and will be omitted herein for purposes of simplicity.

A picker wheel 19 mounted to rotate about shaft 20 is provided with an insert or raised portion 19a which protrsdes through a suitable opening provided in plate 15a to engage the lowermost sheet within the stack and advance this sheet toward a drive wheel 23 mounted to rotate in a direction shown by arrow 26 about shaft 24. Positioned above the drive wheel is a stripp mounted in a manner described in detail in the aforementioned U.S. application to perform a stripping operation. Wheel 52 rotates in the direction shown by arrow 54 and serves to move documents other than the bottom-most sheet in a rearward direction so as to permit only one document to pass between wheels 23 and 52 toward an acceleration wheel assembly to be more fully described.

The coefficient of friction of the periphery of wheel 23 is greater than the coefficient of friction of the periphery of wheel 52 so that v.tyhen only a single sheet passes between these wheels ( as the result of either a stripping operation or the feed of only a signle sheet), drive wheel 23 exerts the major influence upon the sheet causing it to be fed in the forward feed ditection toward acceleration wheel 60 mounted to rotate in the direction shown by arrow 62 about shaft 61. The acceleration wheel 60 cooperates with free-wheeling rollers 64 mounted to rotate about shaft 66. The acceleration wheel 60 rotates at a speed greater than the rotating speed of wheel 23 causing the sheet to be fed between wheel 60 and free-wheeling roller 64 to be advanced toward a stacking location at a speed greater than the speed achieved by a sheet passing between wheels 23 and 52. This operation causes a small gap to be formed between the trailing edge of the sheet fed between wheels 60 and 64 add the leading edge of the next document being fed* toward wheel 60 by wheels 23 and 52. This gap is sensed by means of a light source 65 cooperating with a light-sensitive transistor 72 or other suitable light-sensitive device which generates a count pulse when the "gap" is in the region between light source 65 and transistor 72. Obviously, plates 15a and 16a are provided with suitable openings (not shown) to permit the passage of light between devices 65 and 72 when the "gap" is in this region.

Sheets advanced by acceleration wheel 60 are "kicked" into a stacker mechanism comprised of a stacker plate 81 and a kicker wheel 84 mounted to rotate about a shaft 85 in the direction shown by arrow 91 so as to neatly stack counted sheets within the stacker mechanism. The stacking plate 81 is urged in the direction of arrow 97 by suitable bias means described in greater detail in the aforementioned U.S. application. As the number of sheets in the stacker is increased, the sheets urge plate 81 in the direction shown by arrow 98 against the force of the b ating means to firmly retain the sheets within the stacker.

Figure 2 shows the driving mechanisms employed for operating the various wheels described hereinabove in connection with Figure 1. The apparatus is provided with a motor M having an output shaft 129 .extending through machine frame F to which motor M is securely fastened. A pulley 130 is rigidly secured to shaft 129 and drives the acceleration wheel shaft 61 by means of a belt 63 entrained about pulley 130 and a pulley 62 mounted to acceleration wheel shaft 61. The opposite end of shaft 61 is provided with pulleys 133 and 134. Pulley 133 is locked to. shaft 61 and drives the kicker wheel shaft 85 by a belt 132, which is entrained about pulley 133 and a pulley 89 locked to shaft 85. Belt 142 is a resilient 0-ring type belt and is looped in a "figure-eight" fashion to rotate shaft 85 in a direction reverse from that of shaft 61.

Thus, whenever motor M is energized, shafts 61 and 85, which are directly coupled thereto, are rotated.

Shaft 61 is further provided with a clutch mechanism 131 which, when energized, causes the pulley.134 mounted upon clutch 131 to rotate. When deenergized, clutch 131 causes pulley 134 to be free-wheeling relative to shaft 61. Belt 135 is entrained about pulley 134 and a pulley 136, locked to one end of drive wheel shaft 24. The opposite end of drive wheel shaft 24 has two pulleys 25 and 138 locked to the shaft. A belt 142 is entrained about pulley 25 and pulley 21, which is locked to the picker wheel shaft 20.

Belt 140 is entrained about pulley 138 and idler shaft pulley 42 which is locked to the idler shaft 39. Shaft 39 serves to impart rotatin to the stripper wheels 52, 52 by means of a belt 45 entrained about pulleys 44 and 38, respectively, locked to shafts 39 and 31. A second pulley portion of pulley 38 imparts rotation to a pulley 51 mounted to stripper wheel shaft 47 by means of a belt 50. This "floating mechanism" for the stripper wheels 52, 52 serves to impart rotation to stripper wheels 52, 52 while freely permitting the stripper wheel assembly 30 to "float" above the drive wheels 23-23c in a manner which is set forth in detail in the aforementioned U.S. patent application.

Pulleys 133 and 89 are provided with semi-circular grooves around their periphery for receiving 0-ring type belt 132.

All of the remaining pulleys are provided with gear-like outer peripheries for engaging teeth provided on the belts which they engage, which belts are commonly referred to as timing belts. All of the belts have been shown in Figure 2 in phantom Figure 2.

An electromagnetic brake 137 is fastened to machine frame F and selectively engages one end 20a of picker wheel shaft 20. When energized, brake 137 abruptly stops shaft 20 from rotating. When deenergized, brake 137 permits shaft 20 to freely rotate.

In operation, shafts 61 and 85 continuously rotate so long as motor is energized. Cluth 137 permits drive wheel shaft 24, idler shaft 39, and picker wheel shaft 20 to be selectively disengaged from motor M when it is energized. Clutch 131 and brake 137 are operated substantially simultaneously to both disengage and abruptly halt the rotation of shafts 24, 39 and 20, even though motor M is energized.

The advantageous features of the driving and control mechanisms for the document-handling apparatus can best be appreciated from a description of the gate assembly 200 of Figure la, which is provided for performing "statistical sampling" and/or collating operations and comprises a gate member 201 rigidly secured to shaft 202. At least one end of shaft 202, which extends to one side wall of the machine frame (not shown for purposes of simplicity) is fitted with a lever arm 203 rigidly secured thereto. A relay 204 has its armature 204a coupled to arm 203 and, when deenergized, maintains the gate 201 in the solid line position. Energization of the relay causes the gate and arm to move against the force of a biasing spring (not shown) to the dotted line position 2011.

Let it be assumed that it is desired to count a large number of sheets while retaining only "statistical samples" of the sheets being counted (for example, every 100th sheet). The gate is maintained in the dotted line position 201* causing sheets advanced by the acceleration wheels 60 to pass over gate 201 and be fed between belts 207 and 208 entrained about roller pairs 209-210 and 211-212, respectively. Belts 207 and 208 advance the sheets in the direction of arrow 213 where a curved plate 214 deflects the counted sheets into a waste container or other suitable depository 215. As the trailing edge of the "99th" sheet clears gate 201 and enters between belts 207 and 208, relay 204 is energized to move the gate to a solid line position 201, causing the "100th" sheet to be moved toward stacker 80. Aa the 100th sheet passes gate 201, relay 204 is energized to cause the next sheet to be fed between belts 207 and 208. This operation is repeated wherein the document-handling device counts the total number of sheets and retains only every 100th sheet in stacker 80, as a " statistical sample". The remaining sheets in the depository 215 may be discarded or put to any other desired use.

Any desired statistical sample may be selected by means of an adjustable switch means to be described in greater detail in connection with the dectronic control circuitry. As the gap between separated sheets is detected by sensor 72, the counter provided in the electronic control unit to be more fully described hereinbelow has its count advanced for each gap sensed. The accumulated count in the counter is compared against the setting of the desired statistical sample to activate relay 204 so as to accumulate only the statistical samples in stacker 80 while feeding remaining sheets to the depository 215. The clutch and brake mechanisms as described hereinabove are selectively activated by an "N-l" signal and "N+l" signal to assure the presence of a gap G of sufficient length between the sheet preceding the "Nth" sheet and the sheet im-4 * mediately following the "Nth" sheet to provide sufficient time for physical movement of gate 201. Decoding circuitry within the electronic control means generates an N-l signal when the trailing edge of the sheet preceding the "Nth" sheet passes sensor 72, causing the drive, stripper and picker wheels to be disengaged from the motor drive and be abruptly halted as a result of actuation of the electromagnetic brake 137 so as to "slow down" the "Nth" document. Gate 201 is moved from the dotted line position 201' and the brake and clutch mechanisms are then released to continue the feed operation. When the trailing edge of the "Nth" sheet is sensed, the above operation is repeated in the reverse order to set the gate to the dotted line position 201'. The feed operation is again restored until the next statistical sample approaches sensor 72. The gate assembly described hereinabove may also be employed for collating. For example, it may be desired to stack every "odd" sheet (an original) in one pile and every "even" sheet (a carbon copy of the original sheet) in a separate stack. This may be done by operating the gate as described above between every sheet fed to the apparatus. It is also possible, for example, to stack original sheets in the stacker and, for example, five carbon copies of each original sheet in the depository 215 for further collating or processing, if desired.

The document handler in Figures 1 and 2 may also be employed for performing "batching" operations. For example, let it be assumed that a large number of sheets are to be piled into separate stacks with each stack containing an equal predetermined number of sheets. For example, let it be assumed that a large number of dollar bills (paper currency) are to be stacked into stacks each containing one hundred one-dollar bills. The paper currency may be stacked in infeed hopper 14 and may contain any number of bills up to the maximum capacity which can be handled by the infeed hopper A "start" button is depressed and the mechanism begins to count bills. When the "lOOth" bill passes sensor 72 the counter compares its count against the matching count set into the electronic control mechanism to generate a signal after the passage of the 100th bill which energizes electromagnetic brake 137 and deenergizes clutch 131 so as to abruptly halt the picker, stiipper and drive wheels while continuously rotating the aoaeleration and picker wheels to assure positive stacking of the 100th bill within stacker 80. The machine then automatically turns off, at which time a stack of exactly one hundred one-dollar bills will be neatly stacked in the stacker 80, The operation may then be repeated by depressing the "start" button to count and stack the next group of one hundred done-dollar bills.

Let it be assumed that the "start" button has been depressed and that the document-handling apparatus 10 counts up and stacks seventy one-dollar bills, at which time t&e supply of bills to be counted in hopper 14 is exhausted. Whereas the stripper, drive, picker, acceleration and picker wheels will continue to rotate, no further coujint will be developed within the counter of the electronic control means and therefore the count of the bills already counted and stacked will remain undisturbed. The operator need only place a fres stack of one-dollar bills in infeed hopper 14 whereupon the counting operation will continue as is described hereinabove. ft Turning now to a description of the electronic control means for reliably and accurately operating the document-handling device, figure 4b is a schematic diagram showing the electronic counter and selector switch of the control device.

The electronic counter 340 is comprised of units, tens and hundreds counting stages 341, 342 and 343 electrically interconnected so as to be capable of developing a binary count representative of any decimal quantity from 000 through 999. The electronic counter accumulates one count each time it is triggered by a square pulse developed at the output 319b of one-shot multivibrator 319. This is applied to input terminal 341a of units stage 341.

Each of the units, tens and hundreds stages further includes input means coupled to appropriate input terminals in each of the stages 341, 342 and 343 which are coupled to settable thumbwheel switch assemblies mounted at the control panel 13 of the document-handling device 10 (See Fig. 1). The thumbwheel switches 344 (units), 345 (tens) , and 346 (hundreds) are each provided with a number wheel visible at the control panel of the device 10 to provide a visually observable indication of the position of each of the thumbwheels for indicating a count of any decimal number from 000 through 999.

The thumbwheel switches provide outputs in "nines complement" from which significantly simplifies the electrical connections re uired in the electronic counter as was more full described in our co-pending application No.

The use of the "nines complement" form reduces the number output connections from each of the electronic counter stages to two (2) output levels per counter, namely the decimal eight and decimal one outputs respectively. In the units stage, the decimal eight and decimal one outputs are terminals 341b and 341c, respectively, and hence the hundreds outputs are similarly labeled as 342b and 342c and 343b and 343c respectivel) The output of each counter stage, in binary coded decimal "nines complement" form is 1001, which is the equivalent of a 0000 reading in straight binary coded decimal form. However, the straight binary coded decimal (BCD) form would require a connection of all four output stages to the peripheral logic circuitry whereas in the present arrangement only two output connections are required from each stage to sense the nines complement decimal "9" condition.

The outputs 342b and 342d in "tens" stage 342 and the outputs 343b and 343d in "hundreds" output stage 343 are all coupled to associated inputs of AND gate 349 which provides an output when the binary coded decimal nines complement output of each of the stages 342 and 343 are simultaneously in the form 1001. This output is inverted by inverter 350 whose output 350a is coupled to input lead 351 shown in Figure 4c which is a schematic diagram showing the various switches and other controls provided in the operator's panel 13 of Figure 1.

Lead 351 is coupled to one stationary terminal 352a of a batch/statistical sampling switch 352 provided with a second stationary terminal 352b and a movable switch arm 352c. When the movable sxtfitch arm 352c engages stationary contact 352a, the high output from inverter 350 is simultaneously coupled through lead 353 to one input of each of the AND gates 354, 355 and 356 shown in Figure 4d.

AND gate 354 has its remaining inputs coupled to the decimal "8" output 341b of units counter stage 341 (Figure 4b) and the output 316a of NOR gate 316 which forms the Single Shot Filter circuit (SS-Filter) with NOR gate 317 (Figure 4a) and fully described in our co-pending application No.

AND gate 354 provides an foutput at 354a which is low when all of its three inputs are high indicating the units stage of the electronic counter has reached a decimal "8" state, that the tens and hundreds stages have each reached a decimal "9" state and that the output of NOR igate 316 is high indicating that the leading edge of the "49th" sheet has been sensed. This output is coupled to NOR gate 324 which provides a high output when the output of gate 354 or AND gate 354 is low (see Figure 4a). This condition is reversed by inverter 325 to place a low input level at NOR gate 380 of Figure 4e for controlling the operation of electromagnetic brake 137 and clutch 131 in a manner to be more fully described. The specific actuation of the electromagnetic brake and clutch in accordance with the logical gating circuitry of Figure 4a will be described in greater detail hereinbelow.

AND gate 355 has its remaining inputs coupled respectively, to the decimal "8" output 341b of the units electronic counter stage 341 and the output 317a of NOR gate 317 indicating the presence of a document of Figure 4a and provides a low level output when the tens and hundreds counter stages are each in the decimal "9M state, when the unit stage output 341b is high (indicating a decimal "8") and when the output of inverter 317 is high (indicating the absence of a document) . This low level output is coupled to one input of an NOR gate 357 which is cross-coupled with NOR gate 358 to form a Flip Flop (Gate ff) .

The output 357a or NOR gate 357 is coupled to one input of NOR gate 358 while the output 358a of NOR gate 358 is coupled to the remaining input of NOR gate 357. The remaining inputs of NOR gate 358 are coupled to the start sxfitch 385 through gates 373 and 374 (Figure 4e) and to lead 361 of Figure 4e which is coupled to the stationary terminal 362a of statistical sampling switch 362 further conprising a movable switch arm 362b and a stationary contact 362c (see Figure 4c). Movable sv/itch am 362b is coupled to grounded bus 363 to couple ground potential (iei low level) to the associated input of gate 355 when in the statistical sampling mode.' Movable switch arm 362b is ganged to the movable switch arm 364b of batch switch 364 further conprising stationary contacts 364a and 364c respectively. The ganged connection is represented by dotted line 365 such that when one of the switch arms (for example, switch arm 302b) is in the upper position engaging its stationary contac 362c, the regaining switch ar™ (for example, switch arm 364b) will engage it«3 ur?'s'r stationary contact 364c.

Thus, vrhei? the document handler is in tne statistical sampling mode, AND gate 355 will provide a low output when the units thereby providing a low level input at NOR gate 357.

This causes the output 358a of NOR gate 358 to go lo^, thtaeoy applying a low level input to NOR gate 412 of Bigure 4i which functions to develop a "gate" signal in a manner to be more fully described.

The sequence of batch completion is such that, AND gate 356 has its output go low when the units counter stage 341 is in decimal "9" and when the tens and hundreds stages are also in the decimal "9" state causing its output to go low thereby applying a low level to NOR gate 366 whose other input is coupled to the output 321a of inveTter 321 (see Figure 4a) which is high so long as jam delay circuit 320 fully described in our co-pending application No. is not timed out. The output of gate 366 goes high and is inverted by inverter 36*7 to apply a low level output to lead 368 which is coupled to stationary contact 364c of switch 364. Hhen this switch is in the closed position, the low level is coupled through switch arm 364b and lead 369 to one input of NOR gate 376 of Figure 4e which operates in conjunction with gate 375 to form the RUN Flip Flop which controls electromagnetic clutch 131, electromagnetic brake 187, Motor , and indicator 389 in a manner to be more fully described.

Gate 370 and inverter 372 have their inputs coupled to tbe output 321a (see Figure 4a). The output of inverter 372 is coupled to the base electrode of transistor and normally maintains transistor Q5 non-conductive until the jam delay circuit 320 times out, at which time the output of inverter 321 goes low causing the output of inverter 372 to go high and render tran- sistor Q tj conductive. Its collector electrode is coupled to lead 390a of Figure 4c to light the jam indication lamp 391.

The remaining input of gate 370 is coupled to the output 376a of r!OR gafce 376 which is low when the Start button of the control unit is depressed. Thus, if the start button has been depressed, the output of gate 370 is high causing the output of inverter 371 to go loitf so as to render transistor non-conductive. The collector output of transistor is coupled through lead 388 to "batch complete" lamp 389 of Figure 4c causing the lamp to be extinguished when a batch has not been completed.

AND gate 393 of Figure 4d has one of its inputs coupled to lead 361 of Figure 4c which, in turn, is coupled to the statistical sample switch 362. A second lead is coupled through inverter 394 to the output of AND gate 356 while the remaining lead is coupled to the output 317a of NOR gate 317 (see Figure 4a) so as to develop a negative going output when the count pulse is high signifying that a document is not present in the counting region of gate 201, when all stages of the electronic counter are in the decimal "9" state and when the sample select switch is in its upper position. This negative going signal is applied to the input of single shut 397 producing a negative pulse.

The output of gate 356 is simul^t'taneously coupled to one input of OR gate 366 and inverter 394. The output of OR gate 366 is switch 364 and via lead 369 (when the batch switch 364 is in its upper position) to one input of NOR gate 376 resulting in a high condition to AND gate 370 thereby rendering transisftpr Q6 to be conductive so as to illuminate a lamp 389 indicating the completion of a batch.

When the inputs of gate 393 are all high, the negative going inpulse is applied to one-shot multivibrator 397 which functions as a pulse widening device to apply an output pulse to one input of NOR gate 373 of Figure 4e for a purpose to be described in more detail hereinbelow.

Figure 4e is comprised of a NOR gate 373 having one input coupled to the output 397a of one-shot multivibrator 397 (see Figure 4d) and the remaining input coupled to lead 398 of Figure 4c which is coupled to the stationary contact 38Sa of start switch 385 which further comprises a movable switch arm 385d. This is a momentary switch device which may be depressed to close switch arm 385b. However, when the switch button is released, the switch arm 385b disengages from stationary contact 385a by suitable biasing means (not shown for purposes of simplicity). This condition (the depression of the start switch) places a low level upon NOR gate 373 causing it to go high which condition is inverted by inverter 374 causing one input of NOR gate 375 to go low. Nor gate 375, together with cross-coupled NOR gate 376, forms a bistable flip-flop circuit (RUN FF) .

The output of inverter 374 is coupled to lead 359 of Figure 4b. ., g o um wheel switches 344-34 Qto be transferred to electronic counter 34-0, as will be further described. When the input of NOR gate 375 goes low, its output goes high causing a high input level to be impressed upon one input of NOR gate 376 whose ' j utput goes low when no halt condition is present.

The high output of NOR gate 375 is coupled to one input of ND gate 379 whose remaining inputs, are coupled to start s tch 385 an the output oS. NOR gate 377 which is cross-coupled with NOR gate 378 to form a second bistable flip-flop circuit (STOP FF). The outputs df NOR gates 37¾\and 377 are both high when the counter is running and the start button has been depressed and subsequently released causing the, output of iND gate 379 to go low, which condition is applied to NOR gate 381 causing its output ¾o go high rendering transistor Q7 conductive. This condition causes n ' soleoid coil to be energized thereby causing switch arm 402a of switch 402 to engage stationary contact 402b.

Switch arm 402a is magnetically coupled to solenoid; · as designated by dashed line 403· The closure of switch arm 402 couples ¾¾the ϋ-G. supply 404 to lead 405 which is coupled to the control gate of a speed control circuit 406 which is a triac assembly which controls the percentage of each half-cycle of the i.C. waveform to be delivered to bridge rectifier 462 to develop a D.C. output.

The function of gate 407 is energization of motor M which is controlled by the presence of a document under the sensor except during a jam condition. This insures fun-out of any document in flow when the STOP button is depressed and when the document is the last one of a batch. Gate 407 is low to keep relay energized so long as there is no jam condition (321a - Figure 4a) and a document is passing the sensor, as described in our co-pending application No.

Gate 381 also energizes rela^ either when the STiiRT button is depresssed, or the RUN FF is ON or when the STOP FF is OFF (i.e. reset).

NOR gate 380 has its output go high when any one of its inputs are low causing a high input level to be applied to inverter 382 and to emitter electrode of transistor Qg. Thus, whenever the document handling device is either not in the running state or is i^- the "stop" state or when the jam prevention delay circujzlit has timed out its input goes high causing its transistors Qg andQ^ to become energized so as to apply an energizing signal to the electromagnetic brake 137 shown in Figure 2.

The inverter 382 has its output coupled to the base electrode of transistor Q^Q wn:-c » together with transistor is energized to energize electromagnetic clutch 131 when the output of inverter 382 goes high, which condition occurs as an inverse function of the Qg and Q^ energization logic statement.

Figure 4f is comprised of a gate 4I¾o having one of its inputs coupled to lead 411 of Figure 4c which is coupled to the movable switch arm 412b of switch 412 having stationary contacts 412a amd 412c. Contact arm 412b ^.engages stationary contact 412c when in the normal stacking state and engages contact 412a when in the statistical sampling state. The remaining input to gete 410 is coupled to switch arm 83b of switch 383 which engages its upper stationary contact 383a^ when in the normel state causing the output of gate 410 to go low when both of its inputs are high (when in the normal and stacking state). This low condition is applied to one input of NOR gate 412 whose output goes high so long as one of its inputs is low to cause transistor Q to conduct. Thisί. energizes coil K2 causing switch arm 413a magnetically coupled to its coil 2 as represented by dash line 414 to apply a ground level potential to the gate output lead 415 which energizes solenoid 204 (see Figure la) whose armature is mechanically linked to gate 201 driving gate 201 to the position which guides documents into stacker 80. Zener diode CR^ serves to suppress excessive back-EMF when the reley Ί contacts1? are subsequently opened.

Figure 4f further comprises an inverter 416 whose input is coupled to the switch 383 which is low when in the statistical sampling state causing a- high input "'.to be coupled to one input of l ID gate 417, whose, other input is coupled to lead 419 of Figure 4c which, in turn, is coupled .ito the stationary contact 362a of the statistical samplin switch 362 which is high when switch arm 362b is connected to upper stationary terminal 362c causing the output of gate 417 to go low and thereby sustain the ener ization of relay coil K^.

Returning to a consideration of Figure 4c , there is shown therein the settable thumbwheel switches 344-346 each provided with a manuelly operated thumbwheel 344a-346e for setting its associated number wheel so as to set any decimal number (for units, tens and hundreds) at the windows 344b-346b, respectively. Figure 4c, for example, shows a ^ setting of 050 indicating a batch or statistical sampling count of 50. Thus, each batch will contain 50 sheets or, alternatively every 50th sheet will be statistically sampled.

The control panel is further provided with electromagnetic counter means 426 for indicating the count at any given instant for either a batch count or a continuous count. The pulsing input 426a is coupled to the emitter electrode of transistor shown in Figure 4a. The operator1 s panel is further provided with a stop switch 387 having switch arm 387b and a stationary contact 387a. A continue switch having movable switch arm 386b and stationary contact 386a is also provided.

The counting process will continue as long as documents are supplied to the input hopper 14 (Figure 1). The document- handling device may be stopped for any reason by depressing stop switch 387 which couples ground potential through movable contact 387b and stationary contact 387a to one input of NOR gate 378. This causes its output to go high setting the output of NOR gate 377 low which causes the output of NAND gate 379 to go high thereby setting the STOP-FF. This condition, together with a high condition at the output of AND gate 407 • (see Figure 4d) causes the output of NOR gate 381 to go low to decouple the A.C. supply from motor M. The output of NOR gate 377 is further coupled to NOR gate 380 causing its output to go high and thereby energizing the brake and de- energizing the clutch. This prevents documents being engaged by either the picker wheel, drive wheel or stripper wheel assemblies from being prevented from further movement into ^ the document-handling device. The brake, is simultaneously energized to abruptly halt the picker, drive and stripper wheels. Depressing either the CONTINUE key of the STOP key will cause the STOP FF (Figure 4e) to be reset.

The statistical sampling operation is performed in the following manner: Switch ara^ 412b is placed in the "discard" position, switch arm 360b is placed in the "stat" position and .switch arm 352c is placed in the "batch/stat" position.

The thumbwheels are manipulated so that their number r eels show the size of the batch desirTed. As an example, Figure 4c shows the setting where each batch is to contain 50 sheets.

The start button is depressed. The number in the thumb wheel switches is set into the electronic counter 340 as a result of the ground condition from the depression of start switch 385 being coupled through NOR gate .373 (whose output goes high) to develop a low level at the output of inverter 374 causing inputs 341c-343c of counter, stages 341-343 respectively, to go low thereby causing the setting of the thumbwheel switches to be set into the electronic counter.

Release of the start button 386 causes NAND gate 379 to go low which causes the output of NOR gate 381 to go high thereby couplying power to motor M.

The setting of. switches 3649 362, 383 and 352 result in high levels developed by gates 410 and 417 (Figure 4f) and onto the inputs of gate 412 whose remaining input is quies- ^ cently in the high state (output 3S8a of gate 358 - Figure 4d) . The output of gate 412 is low rendering Q12 non-conductive, thereby deenergizing relay Kg. This permits gate relays-" 204 to move under the force of the biasing means toward the dotted line position 201' enabling documents to be discarded via conveyor belts 20,^208 Figure la).

When the tens and hundreds stages of the counter fully described in our co-pending application No. . are in decimal "9" state and when the unit stage has reached the decimal "8" state, and when the state of the count pulse Igg indicates that the output of gate 355 in Figure 4d goes low a document is not present in the region of gate 204, causing the output of gate 358 (forming one-half of the flip-flop comprised of gates 357 and 358) to go low. This level is coupled to one input of NOR gate 412 whereby the output goes high to energize transistor Qj^ thereby coupling power to the gate relay 204 to set it to the solid line position 201 of Figure lb causing the sampled sheet to be stacked in stacker 80.

Just prior to the movement of the gate to the solid line position of Figure lb, the "sampled" sheet is slowed up by actuation of the clutch and braking mechanisms which occurs when the units stage of the electronic counter reaches a count of decimal "8". This condition is coupled through gate 354 (Fig. 4d) , gates 324 and 325 (Fig. 4a) and gate 380 (Fig. 4e) to actuate the brake and clutch mechanism 137 and 131, respectively, who slow down the "statistically sampled" sheet to provide the gate sufficient time to move.

This pulse is developed at the leading edge of the document preceding the statistical sample (i.e. the 49th document), and is active for the full duration of time that document is between the light source 61 and sensor 72. φ After the passage of the trailing edge of the document preceding the statistical sample (i.e. the 49th document) the output of gate 354 goes high to actuate the cluthh and brake mechanisms. Upon the occurrence of the gap between the trailing edge of the 49th document and the leading edge of the 50th document, the gate is set. As soon as this pulse is terminated and before the electronic counter is advanced by one count, gate 355 (Fig. 4d) sets the gate flip-flop (gates 357 and 358) to energize solenoid coil Kg (see Fig. 4f) and set it to its solid state position shown in Figure lb. After counting the gap between the trailing edge of the statistically sampled document, the output of gate 356 goes low causing gate 393 to be enabled (see Fig. 4d) to develop a statistical sample reset pulse by multivibrator 397 which applied a low-going pulse on one input of gate 373 resulting in a low-going pulse on the output of inverter 374 to be applied to inputs 341c, 342c, 343c, thereby re-initializing the respective counters an preparation for the following quantityT} of documents.

The documents following the "statistically sampled" document the next statistically sampled count is developed in the same way as was previously described.

In the batch operation, the switch 364b is connected to stationary contact 364c' Switch arm 352c is connected to stationary contact 352a and thumbwheel switches are set to provide the proper batch quantity.

Depressing the start button puts the contents on the count selected by thumbwheel switches 344-346 into the electronic counter through lead 359. The motor is prepped to start in the same manner as was previously described but does not start until the start button is released. This arrangement assures that the count of the count select switches 344-346 (Fig. 4c) is transferred into the electronic counter before the machine begins operation. When the START key is released, the load line 359 is no longer activated and the electronic counter 340 is free to count. As documents pass transistor 72, count pulses are applied to one-shot 319 (Fig. 4a) which causes counter 340 to increase its count. .

The BATCH mode enables decoding gates 349, 355 and 356 to function. When a count of "999" is developed, Run FF (Figure 4e) is reset to stop the further flow of documents and turn on the Batch Complete lamp 389 (Figure 4c). Gate 381 (Figure 4e) allows motor M to run as long as there is a document under detector 72 (Figure 3) and so long as the Jam Detector circuit 320 has not been activated. This ensures run-out of the last document when batching or when depressing the stop key.

Documents are separated, counted and stacked in stacker 80 (see Figure 1) until the 50th document is detected. This causes gate 356 (Figure 4d) to be enabled which enables gate^1 366 to develop a high output which is inverted by inverter 367. The low output of inverter 367 is coupled through switch 364 to the input of gate 376 (Figure 4e) which enables gates 370, 371 and transistor Qg (Figure 4d) to couple power to the lamp 389 indicating that a batch has been completed. Simultaneously therewith the output of NOR gate 375 (Figure 4e) goes low, causing gate 379 to go high and NOR gate 381 to go low, deenergizing transistor Q7 and decoupling power from motor M.

Simultaneously therewith gate 356 when enabled couples a halt condition through gate 366 and inverter 367 (Figure 4d) and switch 364 to one input of NOR gate 376 to operate the clutch and braking mechanisms.

The completed batch may then be removed from the stacker 80 and the Start button is depressed to begin counting and stacking of the next batch.

The jam protection devices described in our co-pending application No. anticipate potential jam conditions so as to protect the equipment from being damaged before a jamming condition can reach serious proportions.

The jam delay circuit 320 of Figure 4a will time out after a time interval which is lessthan the normal time duration between the sensing of two "gaps" causing gate 313 (Figure 4a) from preventing further counts to be coupled into circuit ^ 310. The output is also coupled to switch 364 at the operator's panel (Figure 4c) to provide a halt signal which is coupled into NOR gate 376 (Figure 4e) and causes the bistable comprised of gates 375 and 376 to reverse state to energize the brake and clutch mechanisms through gates 380, 382 and transistors Q8~Qg and Simultaneously therewith, the output of inverter 321 (Figure 4a) is coupled through inverter 372 and transistor Q5 (Figure 4d) to lead 390 of Figure 4c to illuminate the jam lamp 391. The resetting of the bistable comprised of gates 375 and 376 also causes gate 379 (Figure 4e) to go high. When the other input is high which occurs when gate 407 (Figure 4d) has its input level from inverter 321 low, the output of NOR gate 381 goes low to decouple power from mot#r M by opening switch arms 402a and 402b through the deenergization of relay solenoid Kj.

The jam prevention delay circuit 330 which has a slightly shorter time limit will time out causing transistor Q2 to be rendered non-conductive. This high level is reversed through inverter 323 applying a low input to gate 324 causing its output to go high. This stafce is reversed by inverter 325 causing its output to go low. This condition is applied to one input of NOR- gate 380 (Figure 4a) to operate the clutch and brake mechanism in the same manner as was previously described and thereby preventing a jam before its possible occurrence. The jam prevention delay circuit 330 has a shorter time out period than jam delay circuit 320 so as to activate the clutch and brake mechanisms in anticipation of a jam.

The jam delay circuit 320 goes one step further in that it deenergizes motor M which is caused to time out.

It can be seen from the foregoing description that the present invention provides novel control means for document handling devices and the like which are adapted for accepting ,sheets or other documents, preventing more than one document from passing through the drive and stripper means and fof providing a gap between the separated document for counting purposes wherein the control means provides the functions of counting small or large numbers of documents, counting batches of documents of any predetermined batch size, counting documents and retaining statistical samples of the counted documents and further provides means for protecting the equipment against damage due to delays by anticipating any potential delay and immediately deenergizing the document handling equipment and providing an alarm indication in the form of a lamp (and/or audible alarm if desired) to alert the operator to a possible jam condition.

The electronics of the control system is further adapted to provide count pulses by sensing the separation between documents before they pass through the stacker to automatically adjust for changes in ambient conditions which may effect the sensitivity of the detector and to prevent perforations or mutilations within the documents themselves from being erroneously interpreted as a "gap" between separated documents.

The circuit 310 of Figure 4a is adapted so as to prevent such erroneous detections for mutilations or other per¬ forations within the document passing between the lamp and light-sensitive transistor of openings as large as three-quarter inches measured in the direction of feed of the documents.

Although there has been described a preferred embodiment of this novel invention, many variations and modifications will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore this invention is to be limited, not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appending claims.

Claims (1)

WHAT IS- CLAIMED IS:

1. Control means for operating apparatus for counting and , stacking documents comprising: first means for receiving a stack of documents; second means for separating said stack of documents and advancing said separated documents one at a time in a feed direction; stacking means; third means for accelerating- documents advanced by second means toward said stacking means to create gaps between adjacent documents; motor means; clutch means for selectively coupling said second means to said motor means ; braking means for selectively halting said second means; means coupled between said motor means and said third means for operating said third means so long as said motor means is energized; the control means being characterized by sensing means for detecting the presence of each gap to generate counting pulses; means coupled to said sensing means for counting said documents setaable means for setting .said counter means to any predetermined count N, said settable means including first gate means respponsive to said counting means, for "generating an output when said counting means reaches a count of N-l; diverter gate means for normally extending into the path of movement of said documents diverting documents accelerated by said third means away from said ^stacking means; second gating means coupled between said gate means and diverter means for moving said diverter means out of the pat of movement of said documents when said first gate means detects a count of N-l; said second gating means including means for operating said braking means and. said clutch means to decouple said second means from said motor means and to abruptly halt said second means to provide sufficient time for said diverter means to move out of the path of movement of said documents; means coupled between said sensing means _ and said second gating means for causing said second gating means output to terminate after a predetermined time interval to cause said braking means to be released and said clutch means to couple said motor means to said second means; third gating means coupled to said counting means for generating an output when said counting means reaches a count of N; means coupled between said third gating means and said -diverter means for moving said diverter means into the path of movement of the documents; said third gating means including first bistable means coupled to said brake and clutch means for decoupling said second means from said motor means and abruptly halting said second means when a count of N is achieved; delay means coupled to said third gating means for resetting said bistable means after a predetermined interval to release said brake means and cause said clutch means to couple said motor means to said second means after said diverter means, is moved into the path of movement of said documents. 31