Media stacker
AssigneeNCR Corporation
InventorChristopher W. Wylie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A media stacker unit comprises: (i) at least one stacker wheel and (ii) a detent. The stacker wheel includes: a hub for mounting on an axle, and a plurality of arcuate tines, each tine being coupled to the hub at a hub end and extending transverse to the axle to a point radially spaced from the axle at a capture end. When the stacker wheel is rotated about the axle, the capture ends traverse a capture circumference. Each tine further comprises a resilient tine portion. The detent partially extends within the capture circumference for engaging with and temporarily retarding a capture end as the stacker wheel is rotated. This reduces the time during which that capture end blocks a media transport path, thereby reducing the possibility of a media item colliding with a capture end and jamming the media stacker unit.
Claims12
A media stacker unit comprising:
- (i) at least one stacker wheel including:
- a hub for mounting on an axle, and
- a plurality of arcuate tines,
- each tine being coupled to the hub at a hub end and extending transverse to the axle to a point radially distal from the axle at a capture end so that when the stacker wheel is rotated about the axle the capture ends define a capture circumference, each tine further comprising a flex point having a reduced cross section and a resilient tine portion extending therefrom;
- and
- (ii) a detent partially extending within the capture circumference for engaging with and temporarily retarding successive capture ends as the stacker wheel is rotated to reduce the time during which each capture end blocks a media transport path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.