Pickoff mechanism for mail feeder

US7766318B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Industry, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Simon Jan Krause · Konstanz, DE
• Rajeev Dwivedi · Plano, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 5, 2008
• Grant date: Aug 3, 2010
• Expiry date: Aug 5, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B65H2701/1916
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A pickoff system for removal of mail pieces one at a time from the end of a stack includes a pickoff belt mechanism positioned to frictionally engage an outer surface of a mail piece at the end of the stack and transport it transversely, which mechanism includes one or more belts mounted on a drive roller at one end driven by a drive motor and a follower roller at a trailing end. A pivot mechanism permits the trailing end to swing towards and away from the stack. A drive is connected to the pivot mechanism to move the trailing end towards and away from the stack, and a controller is connected to the drive to cause the drive to swing the trailing end towards the stack and swing the trailing end away from the stack in a manner effective to improve operation of the pickoff system.