Patent ID: 6189884
Filing Date: 2001-02-20
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
Apparatus for forming a gap between first and second portions of a staggered sheet flow, said flow containing mutually partly overlapping sheets, comprising:a feed conveyor moveable in a conveying direction and having, in the conveying direction, a front end;a gap formation conveyor,also moveable in the conveying direction and having a gap formation position situated at an effective tail end of the gap formation conveyor, regarded in the conveying direction;the feed conveyor feeding the sheet flow with a feed speed (Vs) to the gap formation position;the effective tail end being, for gap formation purposes, movable in the conveying direction at a gap formation speed (VL) which is higher than the feed speed (Vs);the effective tail end of the gap formation conveyor being movable to a lower level than the front end of the feed conveyor; andholding means for a last sheet of the first sheet flow portion, being provided in an area of the gap formation conveyor (31) following in the conveying direction on the gap formation position;said holding means being jointly movable with the effective tail end of the gap formation conveyor in the gap formation speed (VL) and in the conveying direction.