Patent ID: 6615105
Filing Date: 2003-09-02
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
A method for feeding sheets of paper to an inserter system, comprising the steps of:supplying individual sheets at a controlled supply rate from a sheet supplying device; receiving the individual sheets in a sheet stacking device from the sheet supplying device; stacking the individual sheets in the stacking device; feeding individual sheets from the sheet stack in the stacking device to another device in the inserter system coupled downstream to the sheet stacking device; monitoring a variable out-feed rate at which individual sheets are fed from the sheet stack; monitoring a height of the sheet stack; comparing the height of the sheet stack to a predetermined nominal height; if the height of the sheet stack is greater than the predetermined nominal height, adjusting the controlled supply rate to be less than the variable out-feed rate; if the height of the sheet stack is less than the predetermined nominal height, adjusting the controlled supply rate to be greater than the variable out-feed rate; comparing the height of the sheet stack to a predetermined maximum height; comparing the height of the sheet stack to a predetermined minimum height; if the height of the sheet stack is greater than the maximum height, adjusting the controlled supply rate to zero; if the height of the sheet stack is less than the minimum height, adjusting the controlled supply rate to a maximum supply rate; determining a height difference between the predetermined nominal height and the height of the sheet stack; and wherein a magnitude of adjustments to the controlled supply rate relative to the out-feed rate is a function of the height difference, the function defining a relationship whereby the greater the height difference, the greater the magnitude of the adjustment; and wherein the following definition apply: the controlled supply rate is Sc, the variable out-feed rate is Sof, the height of the sheet stack is H, the predetermined nominal height is Hnom, the predetermined maximum height above Hnom is Htolâ€”hi, the predetermined minimum height below Hnom is Htolâ€”lo, and the maximum supply rate is 1; and whereby the steps of adjusting the controlled supply rate include making adjustments in accordance with equations as follows: Sc=Sof&it;(1-(H-Hnom)Htol_hi)Sc=Sof+(1-Sof)&it;((Hnom-H)Htol_lo).