The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 24, 2002
Filed:
Dec. 19, 2000
Robert J. Allen, Danbury, CT (US);
Michael S. Doery, Monroe, CT (US);
Thomas M. Lyga, Southbury, CT (US);
Francesco Porco, Fairfield, CT (US);
Pitney Bowes Inc., Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
A sheet accumulator has a circular paper path and a compact design. Individual sheets of paper moving along a main linear path are diverted into the accumulator one by one, and each sheet enters a gripper having jaws that grip the sheets of paper. The gripper jaws pull the sheets along the circular paper path until the gripper returns to a home location, at which point the gripper stops, opens, accepts another sheet, closes, and makes another rotation. When the accumulation is complete, the gripper jaws open to release an accumulated stack of sheets, and a roller is then engaged to exit the sheets out of the accumulator and into the main linear paper path.