(19)
(11) EP 0 825 141 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
23.12.1998 Bulletin 1998/52

(43) Date of publication A2:
25.02.1998 Bulletin 1998/09

(21) Application number: 97114564.4

(22) Date of filing: 22.08.1997
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)6: B65H 3/52, B65H 3/06
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

(30) Priority: 22.08.1996 US 703992

(71) Applicant: PITNEY BOWES INC.
Stamford Connecticut 06926-0700 (US)

(72) Inventor:
  • Doery, Michael S.
    Monroe, Connecticut 06468 (US)

(74) Representative: Avery, Stephen John et al
Hoffmann Eitle, Patent- und Rechtsanwälte, Arabellastrasse 4
81925 München
81925 München (DE)

   


(54) Sheet separating and feeding device


(57) A sheet separating and feeding device (10) for use as a component of a sheet processing apparatus is disclosed in which a first feeding device (24) acts on the top of a stack of sheets to feed the top sheet toward a take away feeder (70) for removal from the stack, during which a retaining device (26) applies a force to the upper surface of the exposed trailing edge portion of the next to top sheet to apply a retaining force thereto and to the rest of the stack, and simultaneously lifts the first feeding device (24) off of the top sheet to remove the normal force from the weight of this device from the stack. When the top sheet is entirely removed from the stack, the first feeding device (24) is lowered to engage the new top sheet and the retaining force is removed therefrom so that it can now be fed to the take away feeder (70).






Search report