Patent · US Expired

Aligner mechanism for a mail handling system

US6328300A · kind A · utility

20Cited by
14References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 4, 1999
Grant dateDec 11, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 4, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65H2301/4452
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

The present invention provides an aligner apparatus which bottom edge aligns documents and separates documents and provides adequate gap between documents for subsequent processing. The an aligner apparatus includes first and second guide walls, forming an alley along the document feed path in which the documents are relieved of interdocument forces allowing bottom edge alignment of the documents with the document feed path. A trap assembly including first and second trap levers is lever mounted along the document feed path on a side of the guide wall and when actuated, cause opposing forces on one-another in order to grab the documents as they move along the feed path in the aligner apparatus so as to control the gap between the documents. It apparatus further provides an adequate gap between documents while reducing noise. Each trap lever has a head portion which is fitted with a resilient pad which is attached to the trap arm in a manner that forms a gap between the head and the pad. The resilient pad and the gap operate to reduce noise created by the trap arm when actuated.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.