Patent GB-942579-A (GB)
Title: Device for separating two sheets of laminar material
IPC: B65H29/64
Filed: 1961-02-14
Abstract: 942,579. Sheet-delivery apparatus. CHEMISCHE FABRIEK L. VAN DER GRINTEN N.V. Feb. 14, 1961 [March 28, 1960], No. 5503/61. Heading B6H. In photoprinting or other apparatus wherein two moving superimposed sheets are delivered, means for separating the two sheets from one another comprises a number of spaced axiallyaligned driven rollers which contact the outside of one sheet, and a number of spaced axiallyaligned discs or endless belts which are staggered in relation to the rollers, driven in a direction opposite to that of the sheets, and which contact the outside of the other sheet, there being sheet-supporting members arranged between the rollers to co-operate with the disc or belts, and sheet-supporting members between the discs or belts to co-operate with the rollers. In Fig. 1, a shaft 2 has secured thereon a number of spaced rubber-covered rollers 6 and is driven clockwise, and a shaft 3 has secured thereon a number of spaced rubber-covered discs 7 which are also driven clockwise, and at a greater speed, the discs being staggered relatively to the rollers. A rod 8 supports resilient strips 9, coated with plastic material, arranged between the rollers 6 and pressing lightly on the peripheries of the discs 7. Similarly, a rod 10 supports coated resilient strips 11 which press against the peripheries of the rollers 6. The superimposed sheets to be separated are fed by rollers 12, 13 between the rollers and discs, and the lower sheet, due to the greater width of the rollers 6 exerting a higher frictional force than the discs 7, is forwarded over a plate 16. The upper sheet is arrested by the contra-rotating discs 7, separated from the bottom sheet so that it bulges between the discs and roller 13, and is finally guided to a table 17. In Fig. 5, there are three shafts 25, 26, 27, the latter being movably supported, which each carry several rollers supporting endless belts consisting of supporting belts and alternate conveyer belts. The shaft 27 is not power driven, and the rollers 34, 35 thereon are not fixed on the shaft. The shafts 25, 26 are power driven, the rollers 30 and 32 are fixed to their shafts, and the rollers 31 and 33 are not fixed. As shown, each belt 36 is driven in one direction by the roller 30, and each belt 37 is driven in the opposite direction by the roller 32. The conveyer rollers 30 are covered with a highfriction surface, the belts 36, 37 have a lowerfriction surface, and the driving rollers 32 are rubber-covered. Superimposed sheets, such as a light-sensitive sheet and an original from a a photo-printing apparatus, are stripped from a suction conveyer belt so that they enter the separator between the shafts 25, 27 and are gripped between the rollers 30, 31 and the belts 36, 37. Due to the greater frictional driving force of the conveyer rollers 30, the top (lightsensitive) sheet adjacent thereto is carried upwardly : the bottom (original) sheet is arrested by the separating belts 37, is looped back, and is finally disengaged from the top sheet. In a modification, means is provided for adjusting the tension in each of the belts 36, 37 to facilitate the separation of sheets of different compositions and materials.