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:
Oct. 10, 2006
Filed:
Mar. 15, 2004
Todd C. Werner, St. Pete Beach, FL (US);
Todd C. Werner, St. Pete Beach, FL (US);
Pitney Bowes Inc., Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
A sheet feeder includes a bin into which items are stacked. The items are sequentially removed from the bottom of the stack as the sheet feeder operates. The items travel a longitudinal path of travel to a separator wheel that staggers the items as they exit the sheet feeder. A rocker plate at the bottom of the bin oscillates to jostle the items. The jostling breaks the bonds of friction between contiguous items so that the items are not bound to one another as they engage the separator wheel. A drive shaft transverse to the path of item travel rotates as the sheet feeder operates and carries a cam that rotates conjointly with the drive shaft and causes oscillation of a cam follower. The cam follower oscillates a transversely disposed bar about a transverse axis and the rocker plate is mounted to that bar.