Patent ID: 6554271
Filing Date: 2003-04-29
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
Apparatus for propelling paper sheets each having a predetermined thickness and a leading edge one at a time in a downstream direction comprising:a. means for loading a stack of the paper sheets; b. a pickoff wheel in contact with a topmost paper sheet loaded on the means for loading the stack of sheets, the pickoff wheel rotating about an axis of rotation to propel the topmost sheet in the downstream direction; and c. a gate tip comprising: i. a singulator pivotable toward and away from the pickoff wheel; ii. a singulator spring that biases the singulator against the pickoff wheel; and iii. a singulator screw having a shank with an end at a predetermined clearance from the singulator, the topmost sheet propelled by the pickoff wheel entering a nip between the pickoff wheel and the singulator and pivoting the singulator away from the pickoff wheel to take up at least part of the clearance between the singulator and the singulator screw.