Patent ID: 6106219
Filing Date: 2000-08-22
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
An apparatus for processing documents that are sequentially provided to the apparatus, comprising:a stacking assembly comprising:a compartment capable of sequentially receiving the documents,a stacking mechanism forming the bottom of said compartment and including a pair of rotor assemblies mounted for rotation about parallel side by side horizontal axes, with each rotor assembly having at least one longitudinally and radially extending obstructing portion, and with said rotor assemblies being operative for rotation in opposite directions so that the obstructing portions are adapted to rotate into the compartment and stop to provide a closed configuration which is capable of supporting a stack of documents and to thereafter rotate so that the obstructing portions rotate downwardly to an open configuration wherein the compartment is open and the stack of documents is free to drop, anda drive assembly operative for repeatedly rotating said rotor assemblies in opposite directions to said closed configuration, then to said open configuration, and then back to said closed configuration, said drive assembly comprising a first programmable servo motor, anda conveyor assembly below said stacking assembly for sequentially receiving the stacks of documents dropped from said stacking assembly and conveying the received stacks to a remote location, said conveyor assembly comprising:a support surface onto which the stacks are sequentially dropped from said stacking assembly,an endless conveyor proximate to said support surface and defining a conveyor circuit,a plurality of pusher members mounted in a spaced apart arrangement along said endless conveyor, anda conveyor drive assembly for sequentially advancing said endless conveyor a predetermined distance around said conveyor circuit such that upon each sequential advance one of said pusher members advances across said support surface to push away a stack that has been dropped on said support surface by said stacking mechanism, said conveyor drive assembly comprising a second programmable servo motor.