Patent ID: 8240652

Claim:
A method for separating a package from a stack of interfolded sheets, during the production of packages of paper products, comprising the steps of: feeding a succession of sheets, where at least two successive sheets are connected by a tab-bond connection; forming in a vertical direction an interfolded stack of said sheets on a table located underneath wherein all sheets of the stack are interfolded with respect to each other; separating two successive sheets once a predetermined height of the growing stack is achieved in such a way that a formed stack is separated from a growing stack, said separation at said tab-bond caused by moving first and second separators laterally into the stack from opposite sides with respect to the stack in order to physically detach the formed stack from the growing stack and to tear said tab-bond; said stacks having a width, and said first and second separators are introduced in said stack for about a half of said width, such that said first and second separators support together said growing stack, each for about half of said width; laterally inserting a single sheet stretching board distinct from said first and second separators between said first and second separators and the table for completing the separation of the formed stack from the growing stack; progressively lowering the formed stack by the table; wherein said laterally inserting step of said sheet stretching board comprises: while said first and second separators have been introduced for about half of said width for supporting together said growing stack, laterally moving said single sheet stretching board for at least one portion of the width of said stack under said first and second separators and between said separator and said table; lowering said single sheet stretching board, along with said table and said formed stack, which is arranged between them, while moving away from said first and second separators that support the growing stack, said moving away travel of said sheet stretching board along with said table and said formed stack from said first and second separators introduced for about a half of said width causing the separation of the interfolded sheets and causing said tab-bond to tear, in such a way that the release of said at least one wing is obtained hanging from said growing stack; moving upwards said single sheet stretching board independently from said table, back to said growing stack below said separators, said single sheet stretching board withdrawing to a position external to said formed stack; laterally moving said single sheet stretching board from a position external to said formed stack up to under the forming stack and stretching said hanging wing of said growing stack for preparing the return of said table; wherein prior to said step of lowering said single sheet stretching board and said table, a step is provided of: approaching said table and said sheet stretching board up to arrange them at a determined distance at which they compress said formed stack between them.