Method and apparatus for feeding multi-sheet documents
A feed mechanism for the singulation and delivery of multi-sheet documents. The feed mechanism includes a support surface for receiving a stack of multi-sheet documents, a conveyor mechanism for transporting a lowermost document of the multi-sheet document stack and a restraint assembly defining an opening for the passage of the lowermost document. The restraint assembly is, furthermore, operative to retard the motion of documents disposed above the lowermost document during singulation and delivery thereof. The feed mechanism is characterized by a contour generator disposed in combination with the support surface which contour generator is operative to generate an arcuate cross section in connection with the stack of multi-sheet documents during singulation and delivery. The arcuate cross-sectional shape is disposed a plane orthogonal to the feed path of the multi-sheet documents.
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This invention relates to feed mechanisms and, more particularly, to a new and useful method and apparatus for feeding/singulating multi-sheet documents for use in sheet handling equipment such as printing apparatus.
BACKGROUND ARTFeed mechanisms or modules are commonly employed to supply printers with various size media for printing. One such feed mechanism, to which the present invention is directed, is a feeder for supplying multi-sheet documents such as newspapers and magazines to a printing apparatus. Such documents may be fed to print mailing address information on a face sheet of the multi-sheet document.
To assist the gravity feed and lower the surface friction, it is common to incorporate a plurality of linearly aligned wedges 120 along the support surface 114 of the feed mechanism 110. The wedges 120 produce an inclined surface 122 to produce a gravity-assisting downward force on the stack 110 while additionally reducing the surface area in contact with the support surface 114. With respect to the latter, it will be appreciated that the wedges 120 raise the lowermost document 110L away from the support surface 114 thereby reducing surface friction.
While feed mechanisms 100 are most reliable for feeding single sheet documents, greater difficulty has been experienced when feeding multi-sheet documents. For example, the predetermined thickness dimension between the rollers/belts 116 and restraint assembly 118 must be precisely controlled to ensure that a multi-sheet document is properly singulated before entering the printing device 112E. That is, should the thickness dimension deviate from the optimum position, there is a propensity for the multiple sheets to separate and roll open about the fold line. That is, the upper restraint assembly 118 may prevent the upper sheets from sliding past the opening while the lower sheets move at the rate of the lower belts 116 of the conveyor. The difference in feed rate between the upper and lower sheets can cause the multi-sheet document 110 to separate about the fold line 110F and jam when entering the printing apparatus 112. Consequently, painstaking trial and error may be required to achieve the optimal opening to facilitate singulation of multi-sheet documents 110.
A need, therefore, exist for a feed mechanism which is less reliant upon the dimensional characteristics of the print feed opening, and reliably singulates multi-sheet documents for feeding the same to printing apparatus.
The accompanying drawings illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below serve to explain the principles of the invention. As shown throughout the drawings, like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts.
A feed mechanism is provided for singulation and delivery of multi-sheet documents along a feed path. The feed mechanism includes a support surface for receiving a stack of multi-sheet documents, a conveyor mechanism for transporting a lowermost document of the multi-sheet document stack and a restraint assembly defining an opening for the passage of the lowermost document. The restraint assembly is, furthermore, operative to retard the motion of documents disposed above the lowermost document during singulation and delivery thereof. The feed mechanism is characterized by a contour generator disposed in combination with the support surface which contour generator is operative to generate an arcuate cross section in connection with the stack of multi-sheet documents during singulation and delivery. The arcuate cross-sectional shape is disposed a plane orthogonal to the feed path of the multi-sheet documents.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONThe present invention is described in the context of a mechanism for feeding multi-sheet documents to a printing apparatus. While the print feed mechanism is useful for feeding singulated documents to a device for printing delivery or address information on a face sheet of the multi-sheet document, it will be appreciated that the invention is broadly applicable to any mechanism for feeding multi-sheet documents to any material/sheet handling device. For example, devices receiving multi-sheet documents may include collation, sortation and/or mailpiece handling equipment. Hence, the described embodiment is intended to exemplify a feed mechanism and/or adaptation thereof which highlights the teachings and advantages of the present invention.
In the broadest sense of the invention, the feed mechanism is adapted to support a stack of multi-sheet documents so as to produce a favorable cross-sectional shape. The cross-section is in a plane orthogonal to the feed path of the multi-sheet stack and is operative to enhance the handling qualities of documents during delivery and singulation. More specifically, the feed mechanism includes a contour generator disposed beneath the multi-sheet stack to effect an arcuate cross sectional shape. Furthermore, the arcuate shape is effected by the weight of the stack and force due to gravity. The arcuate cross section forms a shallow U-shape which enhances the stiffness of each individual document while, at least in part, increasing the frictional forces between individual sheets of the multi-sheet document.
In the described embodiment, the inventive feed mechanism 6, shown in
Similar to methods employed in prior art feed mechanisms, a restraint assembly 18 is employed to inhibit all but the lowermost document 10L from being delivered to the print apparatus 12. That is, the restraint assembly 18 is spatially positioned retard the movement or passage of documents 10U residing above the lowermost document 10L. The restraint assembly 18 may be any device which defines an opening, i.e., between the restraint assembly 18 and the conveyor 16, for the passage of a single multi-sheet document. In the described embodiment, the restraint assembly 18 includes a positionable gate/finger 18R which rides or slides in a vertical track 18T. The gate 18R is vertically positioned within the track 18T to define an opening OR suitable for the passage of the lowermost multi-sheet document 10L.
In
In the described embodiment, the wedges 24P1, 24P1 define inclined surfaces 28 to produce a slope ranging from about thirty-five (35) to about sixty (60) degrees relative to a horizontal plane. Though, the inclination or slope of the surfaces 28 will also depend, inter alia, on factors such as (i) the position or distance of each angled wedge from the central bifurcating plane BP, (ii) its angle relative to the feed path FP (shown as angle θ in
The support surface 14 of the feed mechanism 6 may include a central slot 30 to provide a means for adjusting the location and contour of the stack 10S relative to the entrance area or opening OR for accepting each multi-sheet document 10S. In
In
In
While the contour generator 20 has been described and depicted in terms of a plurality of connected wedges, it will be appreciated that other structures and shapes can effect a similar arcuate shape in connection with a stack of multi-sheet documents 10S. The arcuate shape enhances the handling qualities of such multi-sheet documents during singulation and delivery to other material/sheet handling equipment. Specifically, the arcuate cross section enhances the stiffness of each individual document while, at the same time, increasing the frictional forces between individual sheets of the multi-sheet document.
Although the invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and various other changes, omissions and deviations in the form and detail thereof may be made without departing from the scope of this invention.
Claims
1. A feed mechanism for singulation and delivery of multi-sheet documents along a feed path, comprising:
- a support surface for receiving a stack of multi-sheet documents;
- a conveyor mechanism disposed along the support surface for transporting a lowermost document of the multi-sheet document stack;
- a restraint assembly disposed above the conveyor and defining an opening therebetween for the passage of the lowermost document, the restraint assembly, furthermore, operative to retard the motion of documents disposed above the lowermost document during singulation thereof; and
- a contour generator disposed in combination with the support surface and operative to generate an arcuate cross section in connection with the stack of multi-sheet documents during singulation and delivery, the cross section disposed a plane orthogonal to the feed path of the multi-sheet documents.
2. The feed mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the contour generator is includes at least two angle wedges disposed on opposing sides of a central bifurcating plane, the angle wedges defining inclined surfaces disposed inwardly toward the bifurcating plane.
3. The feed mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the contour generator includes a plurality of angle wedges, wherein each of the angle wedges defines an inclined surface having a slope, and wherein the slope of each angle wedge varies along a length of the shaft.
4. The feed mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the support surface defines a central bifurcating plane, wherein contour generator includes a plurality of angle wedges each defining a base and height dimension, and wherein the base and height dimension increase proportionally from a location proximal to the bifurcating plane to a location distal from the bifurcating plane.
5. The feed mechanism according to claim 2 wherein the angle wedges are connected by a shaft and wherein the connecting shaft is detachably mounted to the support surface.
6. The feed mechanism according to claim 3 wherein the angle wedges are connected by a shaft and wherein the connecting shaft is detachably mounted to the support surface.
7. The feed mechanism according to claim 4 wherein the angle wedges are connected by a shaft and wherein the connecting shaft is detachably mounted to the support surface.
8. The feed mechanism according to claim 2 wherein the angle wedges have an inclined surface defining an angle relative to a horizontal plane, the angle ranging from about thirty-five (36) degrees to about sixty (60) degrees.
9. A method for singulation and delivery of multi-sheet documents along a feed path, comprising:
- receiving a stack of multi-sheet documents along a support surface;
- supporting the multi-sheet stack along the support surface so as to generate an arcuate cross section in a plane orthogonal to the feed path of the multi-sheet documents.
- conveying a lowermost document of the multi-sheet document stack along the support surface; and
- restraining the motion of documents disposed above the lowermost document during singulation and delivery of the lowermost document.
10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the step of supporting the multi-sheet stack is performed by providing a contour generator having at least two angle wedges disposed on opposing sides of a central bifurcating plane, the angle wedges defining inclined surfaces disposed inwardly toward the bifurcating plane.
11. The method according to claim 9 wherein the step of supporting the multi-sheet stack is performed by providing a contour generator having a plurality of angle wedges, each of the angle wedges defining an inclined surface having a slope, and the slope of each angle wedge varying along a length of the shaft
12. The method according to claim 9 wherein the step of supporting the multi-sheet stack is performed by providing a contour generator having a plurality of angle wedges each defining a base and height dimension, the base and height dimension increasing proportionally from a location proximal to a central bifurcating plane to a location distal from the bifurcating plane.
13. A contour generator for the singulation and delivery of multi-sheet documents along a feed path, the multi-sheet documents being fed as a stack along a support surface of a feed mechanism, the contour generator comprising:
- a connecting shaft detachably mounting to the support surface;
- a plurality of angle wedges disposed along and mounting to the connecting shaft, the angle wedges adapted to generate an arcuate cross section in connection with a stack of multi-sheet documents during singulation and delivery, the cross section disposed a plane orthogonal to the feed path of the multi-sheet documents.
14. The contour generator according to claim 13 wherein at least two angle wedges are disposed on opposing sides of a central bifurcating plane, the angle wedges defining inclined surfaces disposed inwardly toward the bifurcating plane.
16. The contour generator according to claim 13 wherein each of the angle wedges defines an inclined surface having a slope, and wherein the slope of each angle wedge varies along a length of the connecting shaft.
17. The contour generator according to claim 14 wherein the angle wedges each define a base and height dimension, and wherein the base and height dimension increase proportionally from a location proximal to the bifurcating plane to a location distal from the bifurcating plane.
18. The contour generator according to claim 13 wherein the connecting shaft is detachably mounted to the support surface.
19. The contour generator according to claim 14 wherein the connecting shaft is detachably mounted to the support surface.
20. The contour generator according to claim 13 wherein the angle wedges have an inclined surface defining an angle relative to a horizontal plane, the angle ranging from about thirty-five (36) degrees to about sixty (60) degrees.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 10, 2006
Publication Date: Sep 4, 2008
Applicant: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Stamford, CT)
Inventor: Jeffrey S. Hall (Shelton, CT)
Application Number: 11/545,412
International Classification: B65H 5/00 (20060101);