Patent ID: 8028987

Claim:
A device for separating flat articles from a lying stack, in which the articles stand on one edge lined-up one behind the other with article main surfaces aligned in parallel, the device comprising: a stack support ( 4 ) configured to support articles in a consistent orientation, standing on one edge and lined-up one behind the other, with main surfaces of the articles aligned in parallel, the stack support having a stationary front end, means for feeding the articles towards the front end of the stack support, at least one suction device arranged for separating the articles from the stack via attachment to the main surface of an article, the suction device being capable of moving along a suction device track, and a gripper conveyor comprising a plurality of grippers arranged for conveying away the articles upward after separation from the stack, and moving in an upward conveying away direction along a gripper track, wherein the gripper track comprises a transfer position at which each of the plurality of the grippers are closed, wherein the suction device track comprises a turning point in a zone of the front end of the stack support and wherein the suction device track, at least in a zone of said turning point, is oriented essentially perpendicular to the main surfaces of the stacked articles, and wherein a part of the suction device track leading away from the turning point branches off towards the transfer position, intersecting with the gripper track and then extending to a side of the gripper track opposite a side where the stack support is located, such that the suction device is capable of separating from the front end of the stack one article at a time and accelerating the article in an upward direction which is parallel to the main surface of the article in the conveying away direction, wherein the plurality of grippers of the gripper conveyor are driven at a constant speed in the upward conveying away direction and are synchronized with the suction device for each gripper to take over from the suction device one separated and accelerated article in the transfer position, wherein at the transfer position the article has an upward velocity component, provided by the suction device, in the conveying away direction, and wherein the gripper track at the transfer position is generally parallel to the orientation of the main surface of the articles as supported by the stack support.