Patent ID: 6238175
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
An apparatus for destacking foil sheets, comprising:a stack station provided with means for holding at least one stack of foil sheets;a deposition station, horizontally spaced from the stack station and provided with holding means for receiving foil sheets;a transfer station between said stack station and said deposition station, said transfer station comprising:a transfer platform extending between said deposition station and said stack station,a pair of guide rails disposed on opposite sides of said transfer platform,a suction beam extending between said guide rails and displaceable thereon back and forth between said stack station and said deposition station for withdrawing a foil sheet from said stack onto said transfer platform and along said transfer platform to said deposition station,means forming a pivot axis for said transfer platform, said guide rails and said suction beam at a downstream side of said transfer station and at a side of said deposition station adjoining said transfer station for enabling upward and downward swinging of an upstream side of said transfer station relative to said stacking station and relative vertical displacement of said suction beam and said holding means, said holding means being provided as two holding means at said stack station and each of said holding means being in vertically spaced relationship, each receiving a respective stack of foil sheets, said upstream side of said transfer station being swingable about said axis to position said suction beam selectively at either of said stacks, said axis being located in a horizontal plane substantially midway between the two holding means; anda swinging mechanism at said stack station operatively connected to said upstream side of said transfer station for swinging said transfer platform, said guide rails and said suction beam about said axis to position said suction beam selectively at either of said stacks, said transfer platform being formed with a rotatable alignment table pivotable in all directions in a plane of the table.