US2008099977A1PendingUtilityA1

Singulation module/belt for separating sheet material

36
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Oct 31, 2006Filed: Oct 31, 2006Published: May 1, 2008
Est. expiryOct 31, 2026(~0.3 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:James A. SalomonJames HouJimmy Hai
B65H 3/5292B65H 2404/22B65H 2404/513B65H 2404/52131B65H 2701/1916B65H 2801/78
36
PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

A singulating module/belt including a conveyor belt for moving a stack of sheet material toward a pair of take-away rollers in one direction and a singulation belt moving in an opposing direction for retarding the motion of the upper sheets of the stack. The singulation belt is characterized by a compliant face surface which separates sheet material without damaging or tearing the sheets during singulation. In the described embodiment, the cross section of the belt includes a plurality of grooves defining a plurality of longitudinal ribs therebetween. The ribs define a cumulative width dimension in contact with the sheet material which is within a range of between about 0.55 to about 0.85 of the width dimension of the belt. Furthermore, the height dimension of each rib is within a range of between about 0.20 to about 0.8 of the height dimension of the belt. Moreover, each rib thereof defines an aspect ratio (RW/RH) including a width dimension RW in contact with the sheet material and a height dimension RH measured from a core of the singulation belt. The aspect ratio is within a range of between about 0.5 to about 2.0.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A singulation belt for a mailing machine, comprising:
 a belt having a characteristic cross sectional configuration, the cross section having a width and height dimension;   the cross section, furthermore, having a plurality of grooves defining a plurality of longitudinal ribs therebetween, the ribs operative to reduce to width dimension in contact with sheet material during singulation of a sheet from the stack.   
     
     
         2 . The singulation belt according to  claim 1  wherein the ribs define an aspect ratio defined by a rib width dimension divided by a rib height dimension, the aspect ratio being within a range of between about 0.5 to about 2.0. 
     
     
         3 . The singulation belt according to  claim 1  wherein each of the ribs define a height dimension, the height dimension of each rib being within a range of between about 0.20 to about 0.80 of the height dimension of the belt. 
     
     
         4 . The singulation belt according to  claim 1  wherein the ribs define a cumulative width dimension in contact with the sheet material, the cumulative width dimension being within a range of between about 0.55 to about 0.85 of the width dimension of the belt. 
     
     
         5 . The singulation belt according to  claim 4  wherein each of the rib define a height dimension, the height dimension of each rib being within a range of between about 0.25 to about 0.40 of the height dimension of the belt. 
     
     
         6 . The singulation belt according to  claim 1  wherein the belt is composed of a solid polyurethane elastomer having a Shore A hardness between about 10 A to about 50 A. 
     
     
         7 . The singulation belt according to  claim 1  wherein the belt is composed of a microcellular urethane rubber having a Shore A hardness between about 10 A to about 50 A. 
     
     
         8 . A singulating module for separating sheet material, comprising:
 a pair of opposing take-away rollers;   a conveyor belt for moving a stack of sheet material toward the take-away rollers in one direction;   a singulation belt moving in a direction opposing the direction of the conveyor belt for retarding the motion of the upper sheets of the stack, the singulation belt having a characteristic cross section, the cross section having a width and height dimension;   the cross section, furthermore, having a plurality of grooves defining a plurality of ribs therebetween,   each rib defining an aspect ratio including a width dimension in contact with the sheet material and a height dimension measured from a core portion of the singulation belt;   the aspect ratio being within a range of between about 0.5 to about 2.0.   
     
     
         9 . The singulation module according to  claim 1  wherein the aspect ratio is within a range of between about 0.7 to about 1.5. 
     
     
         10 . The singulation module according to  claim 8  wherein the ribs define a cumulative width dimension in contact with the sheet material, the cumulative width dimension being within a range of about 0.55 to 0.85 of the width dimension of the belt. 
     
     
         11 . The singulation module according to  claim 8  wherein each of the rib define a height dimension, the height dimension of each rib being within a range of between about 0.20 to about 0.8 of the height dimension of the belt. 
     
     
         12 . The singulation module according to  claim 11  wherein each of the rib define a height dimension, the height dimension of each rib being within a range of between about 0.25 to about 0.40 of the height dimension of the belt. 
     
     
         13 . The singulation module according to  claim 8  wherein the belt is composed of a solid polyurethane elastomer having a Shore A hardness between about 10 A to about 50 A. 
     
     
         14 . The singulation module according to  claim 8  wherein the belt is composed of a microcellular urethane rubber having a Shore A hardness between about 10 A to about 50 A.

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