Patent ID: 7036814

Claim:
A media separating device for a media feeder in a media processing device wherein individual pieces of media are picked from a stack of media and advanced for individual handing in the media processing device, said separating device comprising: a separator having a surface thereof disposed in a substantially confronting position relative to the stack of media to confront the leading edges of pieces of media removed from the stack; an array of formations on said surface of said separator, each formation including; a blocking surface positioned for confronting the leading edges of the moving media, causing the leading edges to deflect when abutted against said blocking surface; a passing surface in a substantially non-confronting position relative to the leading edges of the media over which the media will slide; and an apex at a connection between said blocking and passing surfaces, said apex positioned relative to said passing surface and the movement of said leading edges for directing the leading edges over the passing surface, and such that the media does not contact the passing surface as it passes over the apex; and said array providing a succession of said formations along a path of travel by the leading edges of media removed from the stack; and means for driving pieces of media from the stack against the separator.