Claims
- 1. An apparatus for dividing a stack of items resting on a base and standing upright against a supporting wall, comprising:walls within said base defining an opening; at least one supporting finger for dividing said stack, said at least one finger having an arc shape in a direction of said supporting wall and positioned within said opening; a drive mechanism functionally associated with said at least one finger so as to urge said at least one finger through said opening in a non perpendicular upward direction and engage said stack; and a distance between said opening and supporting wall set so as not to be greater than a length of a smallest item in said stack.
- 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one supporting finger comprises a plurality of supporting fingers, said plurality of fingers being interlaced.
- 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of supporting fingers comprise different lengths.
- 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said drive mechanism further comprises means for individually driving each of said plurality of supporting fingers.
- 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein at least one of said plurality of supporting fingers comprises an arc directed away from said supporting wall.
- 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said interlaced fingers are effected by at least a first supporting finger comprising a groove therein, said groove accommodating at least a second supporting finger therein.
- 7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said first finger must completely extend before another finger may extend from said opening.
- 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said drive mechanism engages a first end of said at least one supporting finger, said at least one supporting finger comprises an arc such that upon extension by said drive mechanism, a second end of said supporting finger extends in a direction proximate to said base.
- 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said at least one supporting finger converges from said first end to said second end.
- 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a radius of curvature of one of said at least one supporting finger is set such that a maximum height of said one of said at least one supporting finger does not extend beyond a height of said smallest item.
- 11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a radius of curvature of another of said at least one supporting finger is set such that a maximum height of said another of said at least one supporting finger extends beyond a height of a tallest item.
- 12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said items comprises mail items.
- 13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a supporting finger is associated with said smallest item, and said supporting finger comprises an open hollow section, said section accommodating other supporting fingers therein.
- 14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said drive means further comprises a number of pivoting rotary arms located below said base and controlled by a rotary drive, such that each of said arms is associated to one of said at least one supporting fingers so that when said rotary arm pivots, said associated finger is urged through said opening.
- 15. An apparatus for dividing a stack of items resting on a base and standing upright against a supporting wall, comprising:walls within said base defining an opening; a plurality of interlaced supporting fingers for dividing said stack, said fingers positioned within said opening and comprising different lengths, at least one of said fingers comprises an arc shape in a direction towards said supporting wall and another of said fingers comprises an arc shape in a direction away from said supporting wall, and at least a first of said fingers comprises a groove therein, said groove accommodating at least a second supporting finger therein; a drive mechanism functionally associated with said fingers so as to urge at least one finger through said opening and engage said stack, said drive mechanism further comprising means for individually driving each of said plurality of supporting fingers; and a distance between said opening and supporting wall set so as not to be greater than a length of a smallest item in said stack.
- 16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said first finger must completely extend before another finger may extend from said opening.
- 17. An apparatus for dividing a stack of items resting on a base and standing upright against a supporting wall, comprising:walls within said base defining an opening such that a distance between said opening and said supporting wall is set so as not to be greater than a length of a smallest item in said stack at least two supporting fingers for dividing said stack, said at least one of said fingers having an arc shape in a direction of said supporting wall and positioned within said opening, wherein a supporting finger is associated with said smallest item, and said supporting finger comprises an open hollow section accommodating other supporting fingers therein; and a drive mechanism functionally associated with said at least two finger so as to urge said at least one of said at least two fingers through said opening and engage said stack.
Priority Claims (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
100 40 229 |
Aug 2000 |
DE |
|
01962614 |
Aug 2001 |
EP |
|
CONTINUATION DATA
The present invention is a continuation of and claims priority to international application: PCT/DE01/03024, filed Aug. 15, 2001, and further claims priority to German patent application 10040229.1, filed Aug. 17, 2000 and European patent application 01962614.2, filed Aug. 15, 2001, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
US Referenced Citations (13)
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
PCT/DE01/03024 |
Aug 2001 |
US |
Child |
10/360660 |
|
US |