Paper set feeding apparatus
OwnerJames Russo, Samuel Amdahlinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A set feeding apparatus (10) separates an uppermost set of paper sheets from a staggered stack of sets (36) with a platform (34) that biases the stack toward a carriage (42) that is moveable with respect to the stack. The carriage includes a cam-activated pic and a knife head that combine to raise the uppermost set from the stack. A plow then engages the raised portion of the uppermost set to move the set off of the stack.
Claims21
A sheet set feeding apparatus for separating and feeding successive sheet sets from a stack of sheet sets, said successive sheet sets being offset relative to adjacent sheet sets in said stack, said sheet set feeding apparatus comprising:
- a set picker, said set picker exerting a temporary downward force on said stack of sheet sets during operation;
- and;
- a support surface adapted to support said stack of sheet sets, said support surface having an upper surface with a rest position, said upper surface being pliant and resilient such that the upper surface deflects from the rest position in response to said downward force exerted on the supported stack of sheet sets and said upper surface returns to substantially its rest position upon removal of the downward force.
A sheet set feeding apparatus for separating and feeding successive sheet sets from a stack of sheet sets, said stack of sheet sets including at least an uppermost set having a lower surface, and a penultimate set disposed subjacent said lower surface and having an upper surface, said penultimate set being offset from said uppermost set to present an upper exposed portion, said penultimate set being disposed offset from the sheet sets of said stack of sheet sets disposed subjacent said penultimate set such that the stack of sheet sets presents staggered sheet set edges at opposed ends of the stack of sheet sets, said sheet set feeding apparatus comprising:
- a support surface adapted to support said stack of sheet sets;
- a set picker assembly, said set picker assembly including
- a pic adapted to create a separation between the uppermost set and the penultimate set, said pic comprising a rotatable camming arrangement including a protrusion disposed to engage said staggered sheet set edges and moveable through an arc to exert a downward force on the exposed portion of the penultimate set, continued rotation exerting a separation force on the lower surface of the uppermost set to cause said separation between the lower surface of the uppermost set and the upper surface of the penultimate set, and
- a set removal device disposed to engage the separated uppermost set and remove the uppermost set from the stack of sheet sets.
A sheet set feeding apparatus for separating and feeding successive sheet sets from a stack of sheet sets, said stack of sheet sets including at least an uppermost set having a lower surface, and a penultimate set disposed subjacent said lower surface and having an upper surface, said penultimate set being offset from said uppermost set to present an upper exposed portion, said penultimate set being disposed offset from the sheet sets of said stack of sheet sets disposed subjacent said penultimate set such that the stack of sheet sets presents staggered sheet set edges at opposed ends of the stack of sheet sets, said sheet set feeding apparatus comprising:
- a support surface adapted to support said stack of sheet sets;
- a set picker assembly, said set picker assembly including
- a pic adapted to create a separation between the uppermost set and the penultimate set, said pic being mounted to be substantially linearly moveable to traverse the stack of sheet sets, said pic being operable to create said separation at either of the opposed ends of the stack depending upon the location of the exposed portion of the penultimate set, said pic further being adapted to maintain said separation while traversing the stack of sheet sets,
- a separation enhancer disposed at a first end of said opposed ends of the stack of sheet sets, and
- a set removal device disposed to engage the separated uppermost set and remove the uppermost set from the stack of sheet sets.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.