Passive media separating device

A media separating device for a media feeder in a media processing device wherein individual pieces of media are picked from a stack of media and advanced for individual handing in the media processing device, said separating device comprising:

• a separator having a surface thereof disposed in a substantially confronting position relative to the stack of media to confront the loading edges of pieces of media removed from the stack;
• an array of formations on said surface of said separator, each formation including;
• a blocking surface positioned for confronting the leading edges of the moving media, causing the leading edges to deflect when abutted against said blocking surface;
• a passing surface in a substantially non-confronting position relative to the leading edges of the media over which the media will slide;
• an apex at a connection between said blocking and passing surfaces, said apex positioned relative to said passing surface and the movement of said leading edges for directing the leading edges over the passing surface,
• said array providing a succession of said formations along a path of travel by the leading edges of media removed from the stack;
• means for driving pieces of media from the stack against the separator;
• and
• a holder secured in said media feeder, said holder defining a slot and said formations projecting through said slot and said separator being movably held by said holder, said separator having shoulders extending outwardly from opposite sides thereof, and arms connected to said shoulders extending along and spaced from said separator,
• said holder having blocks with angled surfaces thereon, and said arms having tips abutting and sliding along said angled surfaces for deflecting said arm.

A media feeder for a media processing device, comprising:

• a media tray for holding a stack of media, said media tray having a discharge point;
• a feeding mechanism for moving a first piece of media from the stack toward the discharge point;
• and
• a media separating device including a surface facing leading edges of media in a stack of media held in the tray, said surface including a series of surface formations, each formation including;
• a blocking surface positioned for confronting the leading edges of the moving media, causing the leading edges to deflect when abutted against said blocking surface;
• a passing surface in a substantially non-confronting position relative to the leading edges of the media over which the media will slide;
• and
• an apex at a connection between said blocking and passing surfaces, said apex positioned relative to said passing surface and the movement of said leading edges for directing the leading edges over the passing surface such that the media does not contact the passing surface as it passes over the apex.

A media separating device assembly for a media feeder, said assembly comprising:

• a separator holder including:
• a panel defining a slot;
• sides on opposite edges of said panel, said sides defining a path therebetween;
• and
• blocks on a surface of said panel, said blocks disposed on opposite sides of said slot near one end of said slot, each said block having an angular surface angling from one of said sides inwardly toward said slot and outwardly toward said one end;
• and
• a separator component slidable relative to said panel between said sides on opposite edges of the panel, said separator component including:
• an elongated separator having an array of formations thereon, said elongated separator positioned in said slot with said formation projecting beyond an opposite surface of said panel;
• arms connected to said elongated separator and extending along and spaced from said separator;
• and
• tips of said arms engaging said angular surfaces of said blocks.