Method and apparatus for feeding multi-sheet documents

Abstract

A feed mechanism for the singulation and delivery of multi-sheet documents. The feed mechanism includes a support surface for receiving a stack of multi-sheet documents, a conveyor mechanism for transporting a lowermost document of the multi-sheet document stack and a restraint assembly defining an opening for the passage of the lowermost document. The restraint assembly is, furthermore, operative to retard the motion of documents disposed above the lowermost document during singulation and delivery thereof. The feed mechanism is characterized by a contour generator disposed in combination with the support surface which contour generator is operative to generate an arcuate cross section in connection with the stack of multi-sheet documents during singulation and delivery. The arcuate cross-sectional shape is disposed a plane orthogonal to the feed path of the multi-sheet documents.

1 . A feed mechanism for singulation and delivery of multi-sheet documents along a feed path, comprising:
 a support surface for receiving a stack of multi-sheet documents;   a conveyor mechanism disposed along the support surface for transporting a lowermost document of the multi-sheet document stack;   a restraint assembly disposed above the conveyor and defining an opening therebetween for the passage of the lowermost document, the restraint assembly, furthermore, operative to retard the motion of documents disposed above the lowermost document during singulation thereof; and   a contour generator disposed in combination with the support surface and operative to generate an arcuate cross section in connection with the stack of multi-sheet documents during singulation and delivery, the cross section disposed a plane orthogonal to the feed path of the multi-sheet documents.   
   
   
       2 . The feed mechanism according to  claim 1  wherein the contour generator is includes at least two angle wedges disposed on opposing sides of a central bifurcating plane, the angle wedges defining inclined surfaces disposed inwardly toward the bifurcating plane. 
   
   
       3 . The feed mechanism according to  claim 1  wherein the contour generator includes a plurality of angle wedges, wherein each of the angle wedges defines an inclined surface having a slope, and wherein the slope of each angle wedge varies along a length of the shaft. 
   
   
       4 . The feed mechanism according to  claim 1  wherein the support surface defines a central bifurcating plane, wherein contour generator includes a plurality of angle wedges each defining a base and height dimension, and wherein the base and height dimension increase proportionally from a location proximal to the bifurcating plane to a location distal from the bifurcating plane. 
   
   
       5 . The feed mechanism according to  claim 2  wherein the angle wedges are connected by a shaft and wherein the connecting shaft is detachably mounted to the support surface. 
   
   
       6 . The feed mechanism according to  claim 3  wherein the angle wedges are connected by a shaft and wherein the connecting shaft is detachably mounted to the support surface. 
   
   
       7 . The feed mechanism according to  claim 4  wherein the angle wedges are connected by a shaft and wherein the connecting shaft is detachably mounted to the support surface. 
   
   
       8 . The feed mechanism according to  claim 2  wherein the angle wedges have an inclined surface defining an angle relative to a horizontal plane, the angle ranging from about thirty-five (36) degrees to about sixty (60) degrees. 
   
   
       9 . A method for singulation and delivery of multi-sheet documents along a feed path, comprising:
 receiving a stack of multi-sheet documents along a support surface;   supporting the multi-sheet stack along the support surface so as to generate an arcuate cross section in a plane orthogonal to the feed path of the multi-sheet documents.   conveying a lowermost document of the multi-sheet document stack along the support surface; and   restraining the motion of documents disposed above the lowermost document during singulation and delivery of the lowermost document.   
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein the step of supporting the multi-sheet stack is performed by providing a contour generator having at least two angle wedges disposed on opposing sides of a central bifurcating plane, the angle wedges defining inclined surfaces disposed inwardly toward the bifurcating plane. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein the step of supporting the multi-sheet stack is performed by providing a contour generator having a plurality of angle wedges, each of the angle wedges defining an inclined surface having a slope, and the slope of each angle wedge varying along a length of the shaft 
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein the step of supporting the multi-sheet stack is performed by providing a contour generator having a plurality of angle wedges each defining a base and height dimension, the base and height dimension increasing proportionally from a location proximal to a central bifurcating plane to a location distal from the bifurcating plane. 
   
   
       13 . A contour generator for the singulation and delivery of multi-sheet documents along a feed path, the multi-sheet documents being fed as a stack along a support surface of a feed mechanism, the contour generator comprising:
 a connecting shaft detachably mounting to the support surface;   a plurality of angle wedges disposed along and mounting to the connecting shaft, the angle wedges adapted to generate an arcuate cross section in connection with a stack of multi-sheet documents during singulation and delivery, the cross section disposed a plane orthogonal to the feed path of the multi-sheet documents.   
   
   
       14 . The contour generator according to  claim 13  wherein at least two angle wedges are disposed on opposing sides of a central bifurcating plane, the angle wedges defining inclined surfaces disposed inwardly toward the bifurcating plane. 
   
   
       16 . The contour generator according to  claim 13  wherein each of the angle wedges defines an inclined surface having a slope, and wherein the slope of each angle wedge varies along a length of the connecting shaft. 
   
   
       17 . The contour generator according to  claim 14  wherein the angle wedges each define a base and height dimension, and wherein the base and height dimension increase proportionally from a location proximal to the bifurcating plane to a location distal from the bifurcating plane. 
   
   
       18 . The contour generator according to  claim 13  wherein the connecting shaft is detachably mounted to the support surface. 
   
   
       19 . The contour generator according to  claim 14  wherein the connecting shaft is detachably mounted to the support surface. 
   
   
       20 . The contour generator according to  claim 13  wherein the angle wedges have an inclined surface defining an angle relative to a horizontal plane, the angle ranging from about thirty-five (36) degrees to about sixty (60) degrees.