Multimode stack and shingle document feeder

Abstract

A feeder for feeding media items from a tray includes a first nudger roller and a second nudger roller. The first and the second nudger roller are moveably mounted to the feeder. The first and the second nudger rollers are in a first position when a tray of a first type is connected to said feeder the first and said second nudger rollers are in a second position when a tray of a second type is connected to said feeder. The tray of a first type may be a shingle feed tray and the tray of a second type may be a stacks feed tray. With the shingle feed tray the first position for the first and the second nudger rollers are where each nudger roller engages each media item in a shingles tray when each such media item is positioned in the shingles tray to exit the shingles tray and to be moved from the shingles tray into said feeder. With the stacks feed tray the second position for the first and the second nudger rollers are where the first nudger roller is positioned out of engagement with media items in a stacks tray and the second nudger rollers is positioned to each engage each media item in the stacks tray when each such media item is positioned in said stacks tray to exit the stacks tray and to be moved from the stacks tray into said feeder.

1 . A feeder for feeding media items from a tray, comprising: 
 a first nudger roller and a second nudger roller, said first and said second nudger roller moveably mounted to said feeder;    said first and said second nudger rollers in a first position when a tray of a first type is connected to said feeder; and,    said first and said second nudger rollers in a second position when a tray of a second type is connected to said feeder.    
   
   
       2 . A feeder for feeding media items from a tray as defined in  claim 1  wherein said first position when a tray of said first type is connected to said feeder is such that said first and said second nudger rollers are positioned to each engage each media item in said tray of said first type when each such media item is positioned in said tray to exit said tray of said first type and to be moved from said tray of said first type into said feeder.  
   
   
       3 . A feeder for feeding media items from a tray as defined in  claim 1  wherein said second position when a tray of a second type is connected to said feeder is such that said first nudger roller is positioned out of engagement with each media items in said tray of said second type and said second nudger rollers is positioned to each engage each media item in said tray of said second type when each such media item is positioned in said tray to exit said tray and to be moved from said tray into said feeder.  
   
   
       4 . A feeder for feeding media items from a tray as defined in  claim 1  wherein said first position when a tray of said first type is connected to said feeder is such that said first and said second nudger rollers are positioned to each engage each media item in said tray of said first type when each such media item is positioned in said tray to exit said tray of said first type and to be moved from said tray of said first type into said feeder and wherein said second position when a tray of a second type is connected to said feeder is such that said first nudger roller is positioned out of engagement with each media items in said tray of said second type and said second nudger rollers is positioned to each engage each media item in said tray of said second type when each such media item is positioned in said tray to exit said tray and to be moved from said tray into said feeder.  
   
   
       5 . A feeder for feeding media items from a tray as defined in  claim 4  wherein said first nudger roller includes plural nudger elements.  
   
   
       6 . A feeder for feeding media items from a tray as defined in  claim 4  wherein said plural nudger elements are two nudger elements positioned equidistant from the center line of the path of movement of media items from said tray of a first type when said tray is connected to said feeder.  
   
   
       7 . A feeder for feeding media items from a tray as defined in  claim 4  wherein said second nudger roller includes a series of ribbed surfaces.  
   
   
       8 . A feeder for feeding media items from a tray as defined in  claim 2  wherein said tray of said first type is connected to said feeder such that that said first and said second nudger rollers are prevented from movement due to depletion of a stack of media items in said tray of said first type as media items are moved from a stack of media items in said tray of said first type into said feeder.  
   
   
       9 . A feeder for feeding media items from a detachable tray as defined in  claim 1  wherein said first and said second nudger roller moveably mounted to said frame such that when said tray of said first type is connected to said feeder said first and said second nudger rollers are moved into said first position and when said tray of said second type is connected to said feeder said first and said second nudger rollers are moved into said second position.  
   
   
       10 . A feeder for feeding media items from a tray as defined in  claim 2  wherein said tray of said second type is connected to said feeder such that that said second nudger roller is enabled for movement due to depletion of a stack of media items in said tray of said second type as media items are moved from a stack of media items in said tray of said first into said feeder.  
   
   
       11 . A feeder for feeding media items from a detachable tray, comprising: 
 a first nudger roller and a second nudger roller, said first and said second nudger roller moveably mounted to said feeder;    said first and said second nudger rollers in a first position when a shingles tray of media items is connected to said feeder such that said first and said second nudger rollers are positioned to each engage each media item in said shingles tray when each such media item is positioned in said shingles tray to exit said shingles tray and to be moved from said shingles tray into said feeder; and,    said first and said second nudger rollers in a second position when a stacks tray of media items is connected to said feeder such that said first nudger roller is positioned out of engagement with media items in said tray and said second nudger rollers is positioned to each engage each media item in said stacks tray when each such media item is positioned in said stacks tray to exit said stacks tray and to be moved from said stacks tray into said feeder.    
   
   
       12 . A feeder for feeding media items from a tray as defined in  claim 11  wherein said first nudger roller includes plural nudger elements.  
   
   
       13 . A feeder for feeding media items from a tray as defined in  claim 12  wherein said plural nudger elements are two nudger elements positioned equidistant from the center line of the path of movement of media items from said shingle tray when said shingle tray is connected to said feeder.  
   
   
       14 . A feeder for feeding media items from a tray as defined in  claim 12  wherein said second nudger roller includes a series of ribbed surfaces.  
   
   
       15 . A feeder for feeding media items from a tray as defined in  claim 11  wherein said shingle tray is connected to said feeder such that that said first and said second nudger rollers are prevented from movement due to depletion of a stack of media items in said shingle tray as media items are moved from a stack of media items in said shingle tray into said feeder.  
   
   
       16 . A feeder for feeding media items from a tray as defined in  claim 11  wherein said stacks tray is connected to said feeder such that that said second nudger roller is enabled for movement due to depletion of a stack of media items in said stacks tray as media items are moved from the stack of media items in said shingle tray into said feeder.  
   
   
       17 . A feeder for feeding media items from a detachable tray as defined in  claim 11  wherein the said shingle feed tray and said stacks feed tray are each connect to said feeder such that the connection of each of said trays causes said nudger rollers to be properly positioned for operation with the tray.  
   
   
       18 . In a feeder for feeding media items from a tray of a first type and a tray of a second type and having a first nudger roller and a second nudger roller, a method comprising the steps of: 
 moving said first and said second nudger rollers into a first position when said tray of a first type is connected to said feeder; and,    moving said first and said second nudger rollers into a second position when said tray of a second type is connected to said feeder.    
   
   
       19 . A method as defined in  claim 18  wherein said first position when a tray of said first type is connected to said feeder is such that said first and said second nudger rollers are positioned to each engage each media item in said tray of said first type when each such media item is positioned in said tray to exit said tray of said first type and to be moved from said tray of said first type into said feeder.  
   
   
       20 . A method as defined in  claim 18  wherein said second position when a tray of a second type is connected to said feeder is such that said first nudger roller is positioned out of engagement with each media items in said tray of said second type and said second nudger rollers is positioned to each engage each media item in said tray of said second type when each such media item is positioned in said tray to exit said tray and to be moved from said tray into said feeder.  
   
   
       21 . A method as defined in  claim 18  wherein said first position when a tray of said first type is connected to said feeder is such that said first and said second nudger rollers are positioned to each engage each media item in said tray of said first type when each such media item is positioned in said tray to exit said tray of said first type and to be moved from said tray of said first type into said feeder and wherein said second position when a tray of a second type is connected to said feeder is such that said first nudger roller is positioned out of engagement with each media items in said tray of said second type and said second nudger rollers is positioned to each engage each media item in said tray of said second type when each such media item is positioned in said tray to exit said tray and to be moved from said tray into said feeder.  
   
   
       22 . A method as defined in  claim 18  further comprising the step of: preventing said first and said second nudger rollers from movement due to depletion of a stack of media items in said tray of said first type as media items are moved from a stack of media items in said tray of said first type into said feeder when said tray of said first type is connected to said feeder.  
   
   
       23 . A method as defined in  claim 18  further comprising the step of: enabling said second nudger roller for movement due to depletion of a stack of media items in said tray of said second type as media items are moved from a stack of media items in said tray of said first into said feeder when said tray of said second type is connected to said feeder.  
   
   
       24 . A method as defined in  claim 18  further comprising the steps of: preventing said first and said second nudger rollers from movement due to depletion of a stack of media items in said tray of said first type as media items are moved from a stack of media items in said tray of said first type into said feeder when said tray of said first type is connected to said feeder and enabling said second nudger roller for movement due to depletion of a stack of media items in said tray of said second type as media items are moved from a stack of media items in said tray of said first into said feeder when said tray of said second type is connected to said feeder.  
   
   
       25 . In a feeder for feeding media items from a tray of a stacks feed tray and a shingles feed tray and having a feedhead assembly, a method comprising the steps of: 
 connecting said stacks feed tray to said feeder;    enabling the rotation of said feedhead assembly over a first range of rotation by connecting said stacks feed tray to said feeder;    connecting a shingles feed tray to said feeder;    enabling the rotation of said feedhead asembly over a second range of rotation by connecting said shingles feed tray to said feeder.    
   
   
       26 . A method as defined in  claim 25  wherein said second range of rotation is smaller than said first range of rotation.  
   
   
       27 . A method as defined in  claim 26  wherein said first range of rotation is related to the amount of media said stacks feed tray is adapted to accommodate and said second range of rotation is unrelated to the amount of media in said shingles feed tray is adapted to accomodate.