Patent ID: 8480077

Claim:
A method of operating a document processing apparatus having a document transport path which extends from an upstream end to a downstream end, the method comprising: sensing speed of movement of a document which is being transported along the document transport path from the upstream end to the downstream end, including engaging a major surface of the document by a sensor located between an upstream document drive located at the upstream end and a downstream document drive located at the downstream end; detecting a first speed of movement of the document by the sensor after the major surface of the document has made contact with the upstream document drive and as a leading edge of the document is reaching the sensor; detecting a second speed of movement of the document by the sensor after the major surface of the document has made contact with the downstream document drive and as a trailing edge of the document is leaving the upstream document drive; determining that speed of movement of the document along the document transport path has increased from the first speed to the second speed which is greater than the first speed; and upon determining the speed of movement of the document increasing from the first speed to the second speed, actuating a downstream-located processing device to begin operating and thereby to begin further downstream processing of the document being transported along the document transport path.