Device and method for changing a sheet pile in a sheet feeder

A method for changing a sheet pile in a sheet feeder for a sheet treating machine, the method comprising:

• detecting a limit height of a sheet pile being processed in the sheet feeder, wherein the sheet pile is supported on a pallet being arranged on a main pile supporting unit,
• supporting the sheet pile by a residual pile supporting unit by pushing a plurality of residual pile bars into respective slots of the pallet,
• withdrawing the pallet on the main pile supporting unit from the sheet pile and placing a replacement pallet carrying a replacement sheet pile on the main pile supporting unit,
• bringing an upper end of the replacement sheet pile in contact with the plurality of residual pile bars such that the plurality of residual pile bars are engaged between a lower end of the sheet pile and the upper end of the replacement sheet pile, and
• retracting the plurality of residual pile bars from a sheet pile region such that the sheet pile is supported on the replacement sheet pile, wherein the plurality of residual pile bars are freely movable in a direction orthogonal to a pallet surface while being retracted.

A device for changing a sheet pile in a sheet feeder for a sheet treating machine, the device comprising:

• a residual pile supporting unit comprising a plurality of residual pile bars extending substantially parallel to each other and being substantially parallel to a supporting surface,
• the plurality of residual pile bars being coupled to a bar actuating unit adapted to move the plurality of residual pile bars into a sheet pile region and retract the plurality of residual pile bars from the sheet pile region, the plurality of residual pile bars being arranged in the residual pile supporting unit such that the plurality of residual pile bars are positionable in respective slots of a pallet being supported when the plurality of residual pile bars are in the sheet pile region,
• each of the plurality of residual pile bars are movable within a predefined range of movement in a direction substantially orthogonal to the supporting surface, and
• the plurality of residual pile bars are movable independently from each other.