Patent GB-1012970-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for separating folded sheets or folded groups of sheets from a stack thereof
Inventor: KAUFMANN WERNER
IPC: B65H5/30
Filed: 1962-09-11
Abstract: 1,012,970. Feeding sheets. LEIPZIGER BUCHBINDEREIMASCHINENWERKE VEB. Sept. 11, 1962, No. 34701/62. Heading B6B. Apparatus for separating folded sheets (or folded groups of sheets) from a stack, opening each sheet, and placing it on a V-shaped support, comprises a unit 2 rotatable about a shaft 1 in a counterclockwise direction and supporting a stack 5 of sheets, one or more cylindrical sheet separators 3 in the unit each driven always in a clockwise direction about its own axis, and sheet-supporting rollers 4, belts, or guides arranged at the periphery of the unit 2, the arrangement being such that the separation of a sheet, and the release and transfer thereof at the periphery of the unit 2 are effected in an uninterrupted flow movement. As shown, the rollers 4 are also driven clockwise, and the peripheral speeds of the rollers 3 and 4, and the unit 2 are equal. The stack 5 is arranged between a fixed guide 6 and an adjustable guide 7. There are three separator rollers 3, and each roller has a set of front suction nozzles 9 which can be adjusted according to the length of the sheets, and an adjustable rear set of grippers or suction nozzles 10, and each roller is partially surrounded by a sheet guide 8. A sheet guide 12 is arranged to the left of the unit 2 to guide a sheet 17 to a V-shaped saddle 13, and adjacent the saddle is an arrangement for opening and feeding the sheet comprising a sucker 15 which moves in a path 16. In operation, the suckers 9 on a roller 3 engage the folded edge of the bottom sheet 17, which abuts the guide 7, and peel it from the stack beneath the guide 8, and the grippers 10 then abut and grip the open ends of that sheet to assist in and complete the separation. To prevent buckling of the sheet by the grippers 10, further intermediate suction nozzles on the roller 3 may be provided. The sheet 17 is thrust with its folded edge against the guide 12, the following support rollers 4 slide thereunder and place it entirely on the periphery of the unit 2. As shown, a sheet 17 has the inner side still held by the separator roller 3<SP>1</SP>, but the outer open sheet side 19 flies out, and a slide 14 on the support 13 is moved upwardly between the open sides of the sheet. The opening of the sheet sides can be assisted by airblasts from the grippers 10, or from the slide 14. When the roller 3<SP>1</SP> releases the inner sheet side, the outer side 19 is grasped by the sucker 15, and at this stage the sheet is stationary. The opened sheet is now pulled on to the support 13 while the slide 14 returns to its initial position. The sucker 15 can be replaced by feed rollers; the sheet guide 8 can also be replaced by an air cushion. In further modifications (Figs. 6-9, not shown), the separating rollers 3 are each driven at cyclically varying speed such that the suckers 9 are stationary when they first contact the bottom sheet of the stack 5, and a continuous suction belt replaces the sucker 15. The rollers 4 can be replaced by slide plates or by endless belts, and the rollers 3 may be replaced by discs. The grippers 10 may be replaced by stops, and the inner sheet is then held to the roller by fixed brushes on the sheet guides 8.