Patent ID: 6068254
Filing Date: 2000-05-30
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
Film sheet handling apparatus comprising:means for removing a film sheet from a film sheet stack by bending a front area of the top film sheet and then removing the top film sheet from the stack;a pair of multiple sheet detector jaws mounted at the free end of a rotatable lever, said jaws being spaced apart a fixed distance which will allow a single film sheet but not multiple film sheets to slide between said jaws;means for rotating said lever so that said jaws are moved into the bent front area of the top film sheet while the film sheet is still located on said stack, allowing said film sheet to slide between said jaws if a single film sheet is separated so that said lever and jaws are rotated to a first position, and blocking said jaws if multiple film sheets are contacted, so that said lever and jaws are rotated to a second position in advance of said first position; anda sensor assembly, which is stationarily mounted relative to said lever and said jaws, for selectively sensing whether said lever and jaws are rotated to said first position to indicate that only one film sheet has been separated, or to said second position to indicate that more than one film sheet has been separated.