Patent ID: 8113337

Claim:
An apparatus for separating flat objects each extending in an object plane, the apparatus comprising: a first separator; a second separator; an overlap detection device; a control device; each of said first and second separators being configured for extending a plurality of the flat objects, which overlap at least partially, in in each case a direction parallel to object planes and for separating them as a result; the apparatus transporting a flat object from said first separator to said second separator; said overlap detection device checking automatically whether the flat object which is transported by said second separator contains a single flat object or a plurality of overlapping flat objects; said control device being configured, when said overlap detection device has detected that a transported item contains a plurality of overlapping flat objects, to switchover said second separator into a separation mode, in which said second separator separates the overlapping flat objects, and said second separator able to operated in a transport mode, in which said second separator transports the flat objects; said second separator containing a transport element, a retaining element and a drive for said transport element; the apparatus transporting the flat objects to be separated through between said transport element and said retaining element of said second separator; said drive driving said transport element such that said transport element is moved relative to said retaining element and, as a result, extending of at least partially overlapping flat objects is brought about; said transport element and said retaining element are configured such that a path which the flat object covers between said transport element and said retaining element is longer than a greatest extent of the flat object in a transport direction; and said overlap detection device is configured for measuring, at at least two instants, a respective length of a same one item which is transported through between said transport element and said retaining element of said second separator, and, when at least two lengths which are measured for a same item differ from one another, deciding automatically that the item contains a plurality of overlapping flat objects.