Patent ID: 6676364
Filing Date: 2004-01-13
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
A process for automatically and continuously changing a sheet stack in a sheet feeder of a sheet-processing machine including a main stack lifting mechanism and a remaining-stack carrying device having a plurality of parallel remaining-stack bars and a remaining-stack lifting rail disposed in transverse relation to said parallel remaining-stack bars, the stack changing process comprising the steps of:sliding the remaining-stack bars horizontally to a first waiting position wherein the remaining-stack bars are arranged in a stack zone in grooves of a pallet underneath a first sheet stack prior to the first sheet stack reaching a minimal height whereupon it is converted to a remaining-stack, lifting the remaining-stack bars synchronously with the main stack lifting mechanism after the first stack is converted to a remaining-stack such that the remaining-stack bars are moved vertically past the level of said remaining-stack lifting rail without horizontally moving said remaining-stack lifting rail until a lower edge of the remaining-stack bars is arranged at least at a level corresponding to an upper edge of the remaining-stack lifting rail, sliding the remaining-stack bars horizontally into a second final slid-in stack position wherein at least a portion of the remaining-stack bars overlies the remaining-stack lifting rail, raising the remaining-stack by raising the remaining-stack bars with the remaining-stack lifting rail while the pallet is lowered by the main stack lifting mechanism, and depositing said remaining-stack on a newly fed-in second sheet stack which has been moved by the main stack lifting mechanism into position below said remaining-stack by removing the remaining-stack bars from the remaining-stack.