Method and apparatus for evaluating and sorting sheets in a high speed manner

摘要

Electronic solid state circuitry incorporating the microprocessor for automatically controlling document handling apparatus. Sheets are advanced from a stack of sheets arranged in an infeed stacker and are moved one at a time at high speed through an examining location where sensors examine the sheets to determine their condition. The microprocessor periodically initiates an adjustment in the brightness level and gain control level of the lamps and sensor elements employed in the sensor array; tracks each sheet as it moves through the document handling apparatus; and evaluates the outputs developed by the sensors to determine the fitness of each sheet. A gating roller assembly, under control of the microprocessor, is operated to divert each sheet toward one of a plurality of output stackers according to the results of the evaluation performed by the microprocessor. Timing of the electronic circuitry is controlled by timing signals derived from the document handling apparatus to synchronise the electronic circuitry with the document handling apparatus. The sheets are tested during their high speed movement for a variety of conditions which are operator selectable and which conditions are operator adjustable.