Document handling and counting device having guide fingers for

Abstract

A document handling and counting device in which documents arranged in a stack within an infeed tray are bottom-fed through a document stripping and separating means so as to be fed at spaced intervals and in a one-at-a-time fashion through a document processing stage whereupon the documents are then restacked in their original order. Document stripping and separating is performed by cooperating stripper means and feed means imparting counteracting forces upon documents fed therebetween. Guide finger assemblies cooperating with the stripper means serve to fan the lower portion of the document stack preparatory to being fed between the stripper means and drive means and are further comprised of either resilient members or resiliently mounted relatively rigid members arranged to apply a force sufficient to incoming documents between the stripper and the drive means even in the event that the documents are curled, folded or creased and are further adapted to yield and thereby reduce the force imposed upon the incoming documents to prevent the wedging and hence resulting jamming of documents. After stripping, separation and processing of the documents, the documents are fed into an outfeed stacker having a guide plate designed to facilitate abrupt downward movement of the upstream ends of the documents toward the floor of the stacker in order to be assured that their upstream edges are removed from the path of incoming documents to assure neat, orderly stacking.