Media depository
AssigneeNCR Corporation
InventorsOwen Wilson, Frank B. Dunn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bunch sheet depository is described. The depository comprises: a pressure plate for pressing on a bunch of sheets; a picker aligned with the pressure plate and arranged to remove sheets individually from the bunch of sheets; a link arm including (i) a pivot, (ii) an urging portion coupled to the pressure plate and (iii) a resilient member; and an actuator coupled to the resilient member. The actuator is operable, when actuated, to move the resilient member to rotate the link arm about the pivot and thereby cause compression of the bunch of sheets by the pressure plate using a force from the resilient member that reduces as the resilient member relaxes in response to the pressure plate moving as sheets are removed from the bunch of sheets.
Claims15
A bunch sheet depository comprising:
- a pressure plate for pressing on a bunch of sheets;
- a picker aligned with the pressure plate and arranged to remove sheets individually from the bunch of sheets;
- a link arm including (i) a pivot, (ii) an urging portion coupled to the pressure plate and (iii) a resilient member;
- and
- an actuator coupled to the resilient member and operable to tighten the resilient member, wherein the resilient member, when compressed, applies a force to rotate the link arm about the pivot and to move the pressure plate to press on the bunch of sheets;
- wherein the force from the resilient member reduces as the resilient member relaxes in response to the pressure plate moving as sheets are removed from the bunch of sheets.
A method of controlling separation of individual sheets from a bunch of sheets inserted into a depository, the method comprising:
- receiving a bunch of sheets;
- moving a resilient member to a compressed position;
- using the compressed resilient member to pivot a link arm to apply pressure to the bunch of sheets;
- picking individual sheets from the bunch;
- and
- allowing the resilient member to expand from the compressed position as sheets are removed from the bunch of sheets to ensure that a reduced spring force is applied to the bunch of sheets as individual sheets are picked from the bunch, but a relatively constant pinch force is applied to the bunch of sheets due to the reduction in weight of the bunch of sheets.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.