Flat-article separating apparatus for an automatic mail handling system and the like
Patent 3955812 Issued on May 11, 1976. Estimated Expiration Date: 
May 11, 1993. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
May 11, 1993. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent References 2988355 3276771 3283163 3514100 3724657 InventorAssigneeApplicationNo. 332843 filed on 02/15/1973US Classes:271/286, With means to cause offset271/182, Means to retard sheets271/265.01, Responsive to sheet sensor271/303With movable diverterExaminersPrimary: Blunk, Evon C.Assistant: Stoner, Bruce H. Jr. Attorney, Agent or FirmForeign Application Priority Data1972-02-17 JAAbstractA flat article separating apparatus for separating overlapping articles traveling along a feeding belt is disclosed. The apparatus includes a slipping section for causing overlapping articles to slip with respect to each other. Thereafter, the articles pass through a detector which detects the presence of an article and in response to such a detection, activates a moving roller aligned with a branching section of the feeding belt to cause the belt in the area of the branching section to bend. Bending of the feeding belt in the vicinity of the branching section allows the article in the branching section to be directed to a branch path of the feeding belt. Articles whose leading edges have passed the branching section at the time the moving roller is activated, continue to move along the main path of the feeding belt.Field of SearchMeans to retard sheets | |
