Patent ID: 6065746
Filing Date: 2000-05-23
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
In a method of decelerating items in a high-speed transport along a given path to be slowed at a given station therealong where contemplated variance in item-weight or speed could adversely affect deceleration mode, the steps of:providing flexure-spring decelerate means fixed at a first end and presenting an opposed, absorber-end for impacting said items; and providing prescribed associated spring-distort means arranged and adapted to selectively distort said flexure-spring means in the shape of a bubble according to prescribed indicated item characteristics to provide the desired deceleration, said bubble moving down the length of said flexure-spring means during deceleration of said document, said spring-distort means having piezoelectric strip means fastened along said flexure-spring means and energized to impart tension or compression to said spring.