Sheet handling apparatus

Abstract

A sheet handling apparatus having a sheet input section, a sheet processing section, a sheet output section, a conveying mechanism adapted to convey sheets from the input section through the processing section to the output section, and a controller for the conveying mechanism. The controller is adapted to be switched between a feed through mode, in which the sheets are output by being fed through from the processing section to the output section, and a rewind mode, in which the sheets are output by being fed in a reverse direction from the processing section back to the input section.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sheet handling apparatus comprising a sheet input section;
 a sheet processing section;   a sheet output section;   a conveying mechanism adapted to convey sheets from the input section through the processing section to the output section; and   a controller for the conveying mechanism,   wherein the controller is adapted to be switched between a feed through mode, in which the sheets are output by being fed through from the processing section to the output section, and a rewind mode, in which the sheets are output by being fed in a reverse direction from the processing section back to the input section.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller has a sheet format information processing section and is adapted to select between the feed through mode and the rewind mode dependent upon the format of the sheets. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the controller is adapted to select the rewind mode, if the length of the sheets in transport direction is smaller than a predetermined threshold value. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising a sensor system capable of automatically detecting the format of the sheets. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the output section has exactly two guide rails, one guide rail on either side thereof, the guide rails extending in a direction in which the sheets are conveyed and being spaced apart by a distance that corresponds to the largest format of the sheets to be processed. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the output section is formed by a cage made of bent wire.