Scanning system with automatic file folder refiler
A scanner for inserting a sheaf of papers into a file folder, which includes a first roller, a second roller, a third roller, and a fourth roller, each roller attached to a frame of the scanner, a first paper guide and a second paper guide attached to the frame of the scanner, a folder lifter attached to the frame of the scanner, a conveyor belt attached to the frame of the scanner, and a control circuit configured to control the scanner, where the first roller and the second roller are configured to feed a file folder toward the first paper guide, the first paper guide is configured to guide it toward the third and fourth rollers, where the first paper guide further guides the file folder onto the folder lifter, and the third and fourth rollers are configured to feed the file folder toward the second paper guide.
1. A scanner folder-handling-equipped for readying a file folder for replacement of a document sheaf into the file folder, the scanner comprising:
a frame;
a pair of first and second rollers carried on respective roller arms mounted on the frame, the first roller arm being shiftable onto the opened-out inner side of an essentially flat file folder, where the first roller is disposed spaced apart from the second roller to an extent predetermined to allow the first and second rollers to apply pressure to a file folder fed between them;
a first paper guide attached to the frame, folder-feed downstream of the pair of first and second rollers, for bending the file folder around the second roller, along the file-folder hinge;
a pair of third and fourth rollers carried on respective roller arms mounted on the frame, folder-feed downstream of the pair of first and second rollers, the third roller arm being shiftable onto the opened-out outer side of file folder, as fed from the first paper guide by the pair of first and second rollers, where the third roller is disposed spaced apart from the fourth roller to an extent predetermined to allow the third and fourth rollers to apply pressure to a file folder fed between them, and the arm carrying the fourth roller being retractable;
a second paper guide disposed opposing the first paper guide and attached to the frame folder-feed downstream of the pair of third and fourth rollers, for bending the file folder around the fourth roller, along the file-folder hinge;
a folder lifter vertically shiftably attached to the frame and disposed between the first and second paper guides;
a conveyor belt attached to the frame and disposed beneath the pair of first and second rollers, the pair of third and fourth rollers, and the first and second paper guides;
a roller movement assembly for rotationally driving the pair of first and second rollers and the pair of third and fourth rollers, and for operating the roller arms respectively carrying the rollers; and
a control circuit configured to control the scanner, the roller movement assembly, and the folder lifter; wherein
the control circuit operates the roller movement assembly to cause the pair of first and second rollers to feed the file folder toward the first paper guide;
the first paper guide is of conformation for guiding a file folder from the pair of first and second rollers toward the pair of third and fourth rollers;
the control circuit operates the folder lifter so that a file folder fed from the first paper guide is guided onto the folder lifter;
the control circuit operates the roller movement assembly to cause the pair of third and fourth rollers to feed the file folder toward the second paper guide; and
the second paper guide is of conformation for guiding the file folder bent around the fourth roller to position the folder-feed leading side of the file folder between the fourth roller and the conveyor belt.
2. The scanner according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuit operates the folder lifter to cause the folder lifter to lift the folder-feed trailing side of the file folder so that the bent-over file folder is open and can receive a sheaf of papers, and operates the roller movement assembly to cause the roller arm carrying the fourth roller to retract so as to remove the fourth roller from the folded-over file folder.
3. The scanner according to claim 2 , further comprising a paper pusher assembly configured to push a sheaf of papers into the bent over file folder with its folder-feed trailing side on the conveyor belt and its folder-feed trailing side lifted by the folder lifter.
4. The scanner according to claim 3 , wherein the control circuit is configured to move a belt of the conveyor belt in a direction away from the folder lifter, after the sheaf of papers has been pushed in the file folder.
5. The scanner according to claim 4 , wherein the roller arm carrying the fourth roller is configured to retract laterally in order to remove itself from inside of a file folder.
6. The scanner according to claim 5 , wherein the folder lifter comprises:
a first and second piston assembly; and
a wire extending between the first and second piston assembly.
7. The scanner according to claim 5 , wherein the folder lifter comprises:
a first and second piston assembly;
a first paddle configured to support a file folder; and
a second paddle configured to be placed underneath a file folder; wherein
the first paddle is attached to a proximal end of the first piston assembly and the second paddle is attached to a proximal end of the second piston assembly.
8. The scanner according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a fifth roller, a sixth roller, a seventh roller and an eight roller, wherein
the fifth roller, the sixth roller, the seventh roller and the eighth roller, are paired with the first roller, the second roller, the third roller, and the fourth roller respectively.
9. The scanner according to claim 1 , wherein the folder lifter comprises:
a first moveable arm and a second movable arm configured to be spaced apart from one another so that a file folder can fit in between them, the first and second movable arms being configured to move up and down by movement means; and
a supporting structure located toward proximal ends of the first moveable arm and second moveable arm is configured to hold the file folder.
10. The scanner according to claim 9 , wherein:
the first and second moveable arms are pistons; and
the supporting structure is a wire connected between the first moveable arm and the second moveable arm.
11. The scanner according to claim 10 , wherein the first moveable arm and the second moveable arm are configured to retract at a same time and rate, so that a file folder can be lifted evenly.
12. The scanner according to claim 9 , wherein the supporting structure is a set of two paddles, a first paddle being attached to the first moveable arm and a second paddle being attached to the second moveable arm, the first and second paddles being configured to fold so that they become coplanar with the file folder.
13. The scanner according to claim 12 , wherein the first moveable arm and the second moveable arm are configured to retract at a same time and rate so that a file folder can be lifted evenly.
14. In scanner folder-handling-equipped for readying a file folder for replacement of a document sheaf into the file folder, the scanner comprising a frame, a pair of first and second rollers carried on respective roller arms mounted on the frame, the first roller arm being shiftable onto the opened-out inner side of an essentially flat file folder, where the first roller is disposed spaced apart from the second roller to an extent predetermined to allow the first and second rollers to apply pressure to a file folder fed between them, a first paper guide attached to the frame, folder-feed downstream of the pair of first and second rollers, for bending the file folder around the second roller, along the file-folder hinge, a pair of third and fourth rollers carried on respective roller arms mounted on the frame, folder-feed downstream of the pair of first and second rollers, the third roller arm being shiftable onto the opened-out outer side of file folder, as fed from the first paper guide by the pair of first and second rollers, where the third roller is disposed spaced apart from the fourth roller to an extent predetermined to allow the third and fourth rollers to apply pressure to a file folder fed between them, and the arm carrying the fourth roller being retractable, a second paper guide disposed opposing the first paper guide and attached to the frame folder-feed downstream of the pair of third and fourth rollers, for bending the file folder around the fourth roller, along the file-folder hinge, a folder lifter vertically shiftably attached to the frame and disposed between the first and second paper guides, a conveyor belt attached to the frame and disposed beneath the pair of first and second rollers, the pair of third and fourth rollers, and the first and second paper guides, and a roller movement assembly for rotationally driving the pair of first and second rollers and the pair of third and fourth rollers, and for operating the roller arms respectively carrying the rollers, a method of inserting a sheaf of papers into a file folder, comprising:
driving the file folder into the first paper guide by holding the file folder between the first and second rollers and rotating the first roller, to drive the file folder against the first paper guide and guide the file folder around the first roller and onto the folder lifter;
driving the file folder into the second paper guide by holding the file folder between the third and fourth rollers and using the third and forth rollers to drive the file folder against the second paper guide and guide the file folder around the third roller and onto the conveyor belt, to close the file folder onto itself, forming a mouth;
retracting the third roller to expose the mouth of the file folder; and
inserting the sheaf of papers into the file folder with a paper pushing assembly.
15. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising retracting the folder lifter when the file folder is resting on the folder lifter.
16. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising rotating the conveyor belt after the sheaf of papers is placed in the file folder to move the folder-feed trailing side of the file folder off of the folder lifter.
17. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising retracting the paper pusher assembly after the sheaf of papers has been inserted into the file folder.
18. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the folder lifter is retracted before the sheaf of papers is inserted into the file folder.
19. The method according to claim 18 , further comprising lowering the folder lifter to receive a subsequent file folder.