Document Feeder Using Gas Flow For Document Separation and Methods of Using and Manufacturing

Abstract

A document feeder includes a feed belt, a vacuum system, a drive system, and a separator arrangement. The feed belt defines multiple openings through the feed belt and the vacuum system provides a vacuum through the openings of the feed belt to draw a top document into contact with the feed belt. The separator arrangement provides a gas flow directed toward at least a first edge region of the top document to separate at least the first edge region of the top document from one or more documents immediately below the top document. Preferably, the separator arrangement utilizes the Coanda effect to separate the top document. The drive system rotates the feed belt.

1 . A document feeder comprising:
 a feed belt, the feed belt defining a plurality of openings through the feed belt;   a vacuum system configured and arranged to provide a vacuum through the openings of the feed belt to draw a top document into contact with the feed belt;   a drive system configured and arranged to rotate the feed belt; and   a separator arrangement configured and arranged to provide a gas flow directed toward at least a first edge region of the top document to separate at least the first edge region of the top document from one or more documents immediately below the top document.   
     
     
         2 . The document feeder of  claim 1 , further comprising a tray configured and arranged to hold a plurality of documents including the top document and the one or more documents immediately below the top document. 
     
     
         3 . The document feeder of  claim 1 , wherein the separator arrangement is configured and arranged to provide the gas flow against a back side of the top document and the feed belt is configured and arranged to receive a top side of the top document. 
     
     
         4 . The document feeder of  claim 1 , wherein the separator arrangement comprises an outlet and a surface configured and arranged to direct the gas flow from the outlet towards the top document. 
     
     
         5 . The document feeder of  claim 4 , wherein the surface is a convex surface along which the gas can flow from the outlet to the bottom side of the top document. 
     
     
         6 . The document feeder of  claim 1 , wherein the separator arrangement is configured and arranged to provide an air flow as the gas flow. 
     
     
         7 . The document feeder of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum system comprises a vacuum generator. 
     
     
         8 . The document feeder of  claim 1 , further comprising a lift motor configured and arranged to lift at least a leading edge of the feed belt when a document is attached to the feed belt. 
     
     
         9 . The document feeder of  claim 8 , further comprising a lift actuator coupled to the vacuum system and configured and arranged to activate the lift motor when a document is attached to the feed belt. 
     
     
         10 . The document feeder of  claim 8 , further comprising a sensor configured and arranged to activate the drive system when the leading edge of the feed belt is lifted 
     
     
         11 . The document feeder of  claim 1 , wherein the separator arrangement is configured and arranged to utilize the Coanda effect to separate the top document from the one or more documents immediately below the top document. 
     
     
         12 . A method of feeding documents, the method comprising:
 directing a gas flow against a first edge region of a top document to lift at least the first edge region toward a feed belt and separate at least the first edge region of the top document from one or more documents immediately below the top document;   drawing the top document to the feed belt; and   feeding the top document by rotating the feed belt.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein directing a gas flow comprising directing the gas flow against a back side of the first edge region of the top document. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein directing a gas flow comprises direction the gas flow over a convex surface to the first edge region of the top document. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising lifting at least a leading edge of the feed belt after drawing the top document to the feed belt. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein feeding the document comprises activating a drive system to rotate the feed belt after the leading edge of the feed belt has been lifted. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein drawing the top document to the feed belt comprises providing a vacuum through one or more holes in the feed belt to draw the top document to the feed belt. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising utilizing the vacuum to activate a lift actuator when the top document is drawn to the feed belt. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising activating a lift motor when the lift actuator is activated. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a document feeder comprising
 a feed belt, the feed belt defining a plurality of openings through the feed belt, 
 a vacuum system configured and arranged to provide a vacuum through the openings of the feed belt to draw a top document into contact with the feed belt, 
 a drive system configured and arranged to rotate the feed belt, and 
 a separator arrangement configured and arranged to provide a gas flow directed toward at least a first edge region of the top document to separate at least the first edge region of the top document from one or more documents immediately below the top document; and 
   a receiving device configured and arranged to receive documents from the document feeder.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the apparatus is a printer, copier, fax machine, collator, scanner, sorter, or any combination thereof.