Check feeding mechanism

Abstract

Abstract 899,481. Feeding sheets. NATIONAL CASH REGISTER CO. Oct 11, 1960 [Oct. 12, 1959], No. 34775/60. Class 100(1) Sheets are separated sequentially from a stack in a magazine by a first suction belt device, and double-separation is prevented by a second suction belt device which is effective to feed back a second sheet, if such is separated simultaneously with the first sheet. The apparatus is included in a machine for sorting business sheets or forms. As shown, the magazine comprises a front plate 78, side plate 79, and back plate 80 adjustably mounted in a slot 81 in the top 25 of the apparatus, and the sheets, such as cheques, are stacked on edge between the plates 78, 80. To assist sheet-separation, a cam or solenoid-operated member may project through an opening in the plate 78 to jog the stack periodically. The sheet-separator means comprises an endless upper belt 38 and a similar lower belt 42 (not shown) mounted on pulleys, such as 23, 26, 29, and 32, the pulley 23 being driven continuously from an electric motor. Opposing the two belts 38, 42, but staggered vertically with respect thereto, are three belts of which only the centre one, 57, is shown: these are mounted on pulleys such as 47, 50, and 54, the pulley 47 being driven from an electric motor such that the belts travel in the opposite direction to the belts 38, 42. The centre belt 57 is provided with openings throughout its entire length, and the two belts 38, 42 are provided with larger openings throughout a portion of their length. Two vacuum shoes 62 are arranged behind the perforated belts 38, 42, a third vacuum shoe 68 is arranged behind the reverse belt 57, and a fourth shoe 73 is arranged between the belts 38, 42 at a position where these belts are given a sharp bend by a pulley 39. The shoes 62 are connected to one motor-driven vacuum pump, and the shoes 68, 73 to a second pump. Due to the separate pumps and the different size of holes in the perforated belts, the sheet separating and feeding belts 38, 42 exert a greater suctional force on the sheets than the reverse or return belt 57. If two sheets are separated together from the stack, the second sheet is normally returned by the belt 57. If the second sheet is firmly attached to the first sheet, then it is detached at the sharp bend over the guide and vacuum shoe 73, and returned by the belt 57 and its associated friction belts. The sheets are fed to a rotatable synchronizer member 12, which spaces them out and passes them to a belt system 13 where they are fed past a reading head 14 and delivered to various compartments in accordance with the data recorded thereon.

Inventors

• 👤 Joseph F Cattorini
• 👤 Donald E Landis

Bibliographic Details