Patent ID: 7322574

Claim:
A separator sheet handling assembly for sorting a stack of separator sheets into different locations depending on their characteristics, said separator sheet handling assembly comprising: a lifting assembly adapted to receive a pallet having the stack of separator sheets piled thereon; a feed assembly adapted to consecutively engage a separator sheet positioned at the top of the stack of separator sheets, wherein the feed assembly includes at least one vacuum fitting for engaging the separator sheet positioned on the top of the stack of separator sheets and a positioning drive for moving the at least one vacuum fitting relative to the lift assembly, further wherein the positioning drive is connected to a chain that moves in an endless pattern, a portion of the chain being connected to a first bracket such that the first bracket moves along the path of the chain, the first bracket being pivotally connected to one end of a support arm such that the maneuvering of the first bracket by the positioning drive causes movement of the support arm, an opposite end of the support arm being pivotally connected to a second bracket that is connected to a support structure that secures the vacuum fittings such that the pivotal connection between the opposing ends of the support arm and the first end second brackets causes nonlinear motion of the chain to be translated to linear motion of the vacuum fittings; a test assembly for monitoring the separator sheets received from the feed assembly; a first storage assembly for receiving designated separator sheets; and a second storage assembly for receiving the remaining separator sheets.