Floating idler pulley retard system for mixed mail separation
US6276679A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 23, 1999 |
| Grant date | Aug 21, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 23, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65H2701/1916
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A retard module in a mail separator having a floating, middle idler to change the ingestion angle of the mail separator. The retard module further has a downstream idler, an upstream pulley driven by a motor, and an endless belt forming a loop around the idlers and the pulley to provide a retarding force against a feed module. The downstream portion of the retard belt and the belt of the feed module form a nip to ingest incoming mail. The floating idler and the downstream idler are mounted on a bracket which, in turn, is pivotally mounted on a frame of the retard module. Initially, the ingestion angle at the nip is acute and thereby reduces damage to the incoming mailpieces. But when a thick mailpiece enters the separator, it causes the floating idler to move away further from the feed module and thereby increases the ingestion angle. A large ingestion angle allows thicker mailpieces to pass through the nip without substantially increasing the nipping forces. With the floating idler mounted together with the downstream idler on the pivoting bracket, the endless belt maintains substantially the same length regardless of the ingestion angles. This feature keeps constant tension on th…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.