Patent ID: 7726642
Filing Date: 2010-06-01
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
1. A dispenser for dispensing flat media seriatim to a discharge end, comprising: a media storage bin for storing a stack of flat media elements, the bin having a bottom end; a driven rear conveyor extending under the bottom end of the media storage bin for carrying away flat media elements from the bottom of the stack in a shingled relationship wherein the flat media elements lie flat on the conveyor with the leading edge of one said media element overlying the trailing edge of a preceding said media element, the driven rear conveyor being driven intermittently at a first linear velocity V a coarse media separator comprising a first nip roller defining a first nip with the rear conveyor, said first nip roller cooperating with the rear conveyor to feed said media elements off the bottom of the stack onto said rear conveyor in said shingled relationship; a first height adjustment mechanism for setting a first vertical spacing between the first nip roller and the rear conveyor to allow said media elements to pass through said first nip in said shingled relationship; a driven front conveyor downstream of said rear conveyor for receiving the flat media elements from the rear conveyor, the driven front conveyor being driven intermittently at a second linear velocity V a single media separator comprising a second nip roller cooperating with said driven front conveyor to define a second nip to separate said shingled media elements received from the rear conveyor into single media elements; a second height adjustment mechanism for setting a second vertical spacing between the second nip roller and the front conveyor to allow said media elements to pass through said second nip one at a time as separated media elements; a transport conveyor for carrying the separated media elements from said front conveyor to said discharge end, the transport conveyor being driven intermittently at a third linear velocity V a first sensor responsive to the presence or absence of a media element at the discharge end to stop operation of the transport conveyor; a second sensor responsive to the presence or absence of a media element on the transport conveyor to stop operation of the front conveyor; and a third sensor responsive to the presence or absence of a media element at an input to the front conveyor to stop operation of the rear conveyor.