Sheet feeding or delivering – Delivering – To receiver for pack of sheets
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-21
2001-10-09
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)
Sheet feeding or delivering
Delivering
To receiver for pack of sheets
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299159
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to paper joggers. More specifically, the invention concerns a battery powered paper jogger designed for individual use.
BACKGROUND ART
Banks, credit unions and other financial institutions regularly process checks, deposit slips and other types of bank documents in order to execute financial transactions efficiently. Document processing systems have therefore become quite prevalent in the industry. In order for these document processing systems to accept and process stacks of documents, generally the edges of the documents must be substantially aligned. Before automation, this alignment was done by hand and was often quite time consuming. Over the years, however, automated paper joggers have evolved to support the increasing use of electronic document processing systems.
A substantial shortcoming of conventional paper joggers has been the size and audible noise associated with the joggers. For example, a typical paper jogger for aligning U.S. currency is floor standing, immobile, and produces significant noise and vibration. Similar systems are in use for checks, receipts, and deposit slips. Generally, due to the above problems a bank will locate such a paper jogger in an isolated location to prevent nuisance to customers and employees. Such a solution, however, is inefficient and costly.
The lack of efficiency and costliness of conventional paper joggers is also due to the fact that in the past few years, new document processing systems have been developed for individual use at the location of the bank teller. Thus, documents must be aligned in one location and processed in another. This increases the time required to service each customer and increases overhead costs. It is therefore desirable to provide a paper jogger which is small enough and quiet enough to be placed on a countertop for individual use.
Conventional paper joggers are also extremely complex. For example, it is not uncommon for such a device to incorporate multiple level jogging tables, offset weighting configurations, and complicated spring mechanisms. This complexity adds to the initial cost as well as upkeep of the device. These paper joggers also require AC power and have negligible mobility. It is therefore desirable to provide a paper jogger with fewer components and the ability to operate from a totally internal power supply.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a first aspect of the invention a paper jogger includes a power module for receiving DC power from a DC power source, and a vibration system for producing vibratory motion in response to the DC power. The paper jogger also includes a housing enclosing the power module and coupled to the vibration system such that the vibratory motion of the vibration system is transferred to the housing. A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a timer for generating a control signal upon expiration of a predetermined amount of time, and a switching mechanism disposed between the DC power source and the vibration system. The switching mechanism disconnects the DC power source from the vibration system in response to the control signal.
In a second aspect of the invention, a paper jogger power module for retrieving DC power from a DC power source includes a battery compartment, a timer, and a switch. The battery compartment retrieves the DC power from an internal battery, and the timer generates a control signal upon expiration of a predetermined amount of time. The switch is disposed between the DC power source and the vibration system and disconnects the DC power from the vibration system in response to the control signal.
In a third aspect of the invention, a method for jogging paper documents in response to a vibratory motion includes the step of retrieving DC power from a DC power source. Vibratory motion is produced in response to the DC power, and the vibratory motion is transferred to the paper documents. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method includes the steps of generating a control signal upon expiration of a predetermined amount of time, and disconnecting the DC power in response to the control signal.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2274713 (1942-03-01), Kushera
patent: 2277511 (1942-03-01), Daneke
patent: 2494075 (1950-01-01), Scheinker
patent: 2573164 (1951-10-01), Scheinker
patent: 2661950 (1953-12-01), Weyandt
patent: 2883191 (1959-04-01), Peugnet
patent: 3252703 (1966-05-01), Peugnet
patent: 3391929 (1968-07-01), Blair
patent: 3559984 (1971-02-01), Westra
patent: 3862752 (1975-01-01), Totten
patent: 4345753 (1982-08-01), Marshall
patent: 4371155 (1983-02-01), Astero et al.
patent: 11-157738-A (1999-06-01), None
Battle William Froman
Klug Philip D.
Bower Kenneth W
Ellis Christopher P.
Harness Dickey & Pierce
Starr Mark T.
Unisys Corporation
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