Stacking machine for handling individual sheets and a sheet dispensing system for providing individual sheets

A method of stacking individual sheets, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a stacking machine including a delivery station and a transfer station, the delivery station having a delivery table defining a first horizontal plane, the transfer station including a handling arm;
• (b) providing a receiving assembly having a platform configured for collecting the individual sheets;
• (c) delivering the sheets individually onto the delivery table;
• (d) moving the handling arm from a first position above the delivery table to a second position above the receiving assembly;
• (e) activating the holding members to contact each of the sheets individually;
• (f) transferring the sheets individually from the delivery table to the receiving assembly;
• (g) releasing the sheets individually at the receiving assembly;
• (h) moving the platform vertically from a first level to a second level, the first level being substantially in the same horizontal plane as the first horizontal plane of the delivery table, and the second plane level located parallel with and below the first horizontal plane, whereby the sheets are allowed to be stacked on top of the one another.

A method of stacking individual sheets the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a stacking machine including a delivery station and a transfer station, the delivery station having a delivery table defining a first horizontal plane, the transfer station including a handling arm including holding members, the stacking machine further comprising a reel loading station and a sheet dispenser station;
• wherein the reel loading station includes a supply reel containing a supply of a cellulose fiber-based web;
• wherein the sheet dispenser station includes a feeding mechanism and a cutting mechanism, the feeding mechanism having a tension roller and a feeding roller, the cutting mechanism including a reciprocating cutter assembly;
• (b) providing a receiving assembly having a platform configured for collecting the individual sheets;
• (c) providing a smoothing mechanism having a first guide roller and a second guide roller at one of the reel loading station, the sheet dispenser station, and the delivery station;
• (d) dispensing the cellulose fiber-based web to the feeding mechanism from the reel loading station;
• (e) cutting the cellulose fiber-based web by moving the reciprocating cutter assembly transversally relative to the cellulose fiber-based web from a first position to a second position at opposite sides of said cellulose fiber based web, and preventing cutting when the reciprocating cutter assembly is move from the second position to the first position;
• (e) adjusting at least one of the first guide roller and the second guide roller to alter a smoothing angle depending on the diameter of the supply of the cellulose fiber-based web on the supply reel in order to compensate for the curvature of the supply of the cellulose fiber-based web on the supply reel, thereby to provide non-curved individual sheets;
• (f) dispensing the individual sheets onto delivery table of the delivery station;
• (g) moving the handling arm from the first position to the second position;
• (h) activating the holding members of the handling arm to contact the sheets individually;
• (i) transferring the sheets individually from the delivery table to the receiving area with the handling arm;
• (j) activating the holding members to release the sheets individually onto the platform;
• and
• (k) moving the platform vertically from a first level to a second level, the first level being substantially in the same horizontal plane as the first horizontal plane of the delivery table, and the second level being located parallel with and below the first horizontal plane for stacking the individual sheets on top of the one another.