Adaptive flag weight for document handling apparatus
AssigneeUnisys Corporation
InventorsJ. Michael Spall, Johan P. Bakker
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Abstract
An arrangement for adaptively driving the flag element of a document-handling device, such as a document sorter. The rotation of a first cam exerts a first force on the flag element. The profile of the first cam is such that the first force exerted on the flag element varies in accordance with the size of the document stack of the document-handling device. Alternatively, a second cam, rotatably connected to the first cam, causes a rotation of the first cam such that the first cam exerts a second force on the flag element. The first cam is shaped such that the second force exerted on the flag element is constant.
Claims27
A document-handling apparatus, comprising:
- a hopper for supporting a document stack, including one or more individual sheets;
- a flag element supported by said hopper for applying a force to said document stack;
- a motor for producing a constant torque;
- arrangement for adaptively driving said document stack, said arrangement including:
- first drive means driven by said motor and connected to said flag element for applying a variable force on said flag element;
- and,
- second drive means rotatably connected to said first drive means for causing a rotation of said first drive means to exert a constant force on said flag element.
An arrangement for adaptively driving a flag element against a document stock in a document-handling device comprising:
- means for producing a constant torque;
- a first cam connected to said flag element, and driven by said constant torque means to exert a variable force on said flag element,
- a secondary force generating means;
- and,
- a second cam and coupled to said secondary force generating mechanism, wherein said secondary force generating means and said second cam produce a varying torque, which causes rotation of said first cam to exert a constant force on said flag element.
An arrangement for adaptively driving a flag element against a document stack of a document-handling device comprising:
- a first cam connected with said flag element, wherein rotation of said first cam exerts a first force on said flag element, said first cam having a vari-radial shape, said vari-radial shape increasing from a first minimal radius to a second maximum radial distance, such that said first force exerted on said flag element varies in accordance with said size of said document stack of said document-handling device;
- and,
- a second cam rotatably connected to said first cam, wherein rotation of said second cam produces a second torque, said second torque causing rotation of said first cam to exert a second force on said flag element, said first cam being shaped such that said second force exerted on said flag element is constant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.