CONSTANT GAP DOCUMENT FEEDER AND METHOD OF OPERATION THEREOF

摘要

A controller (25) ensures a desired constant gap between a trailing edge of a first document and a leading edge of a subsequent document. The controller (25) decreases the speed of a feeder transport (22) upon the detection of a leading edge of a first document at an entrance to a take-away transport (24). The controller (25) then linearly increases the speed of the feed transport (22) along a speed ramp (R) until a trailing edge of the first document is detected. Upon the detection of the trailing edge of the first document, the controller (25) sets the speed of the feeder transport (22) to a constant value (S4). Thereafter the controller (25) detects a leading edge of the subsequent document. The controller (25) determines the magnitude of an initial gap (I) between the trailing edge of the first document and the leading edge of the subsequent document.