Facing ply separator

Apparatus for sequentially separating into a plurality of stacks, alternate layers of fabric workpieces from a single feed stack of fabric workpieces, the apparatus comprising means for differentiating each top workpiece layer from the feed stack and means for transporting the differentiated top workpieces alternately to a first location and to a second location, the differentiating means including a pair of differentiating heads carried by the transporting means, each differentiating head including a first horizontal bar, a pair of cylindrical elements, means for rotatably and horizontally mounting the cylindrical elements parallel to each other and at opposite ends of the first bar, needles mounted in the curved surfaces of the cylindrical elements so as to project exteriorly of the curved surfaces and in a direction away from the center of the first bar, at least one, separate needle mounted stationary on the first bar so as to project beneath the first bar and normal to a hypothetical plane lying tangent to corresponding portions of the curved surfaces of the cylindrical elements, and means for selectively counter-rotating the cylindrical elements with respect to each other to engage and disengage with the top workpiece of the feed stack, depending on the direction of counter-rotation, and wherein the transporting means includes a carriage reciprocatable between the first and second locations, a second horizontal bar mounted on the carriage, the differentiating heads being mounted at opposite ends of the second bar, the single feed stack being located midway between the first and second locations at which the differentiated workpieces are released and midway in the length of carriage travel, the length of the second horizontal bar being equal to one half the distance between the first and second locations whereby as one differentiating head is releasing a differentiated workpiece at one of the first or second locations the other differentiating head is differentiating the topmost workpiece from the single feed stack.

Apparatus for sequentially separating alternate layers of sheet-like workpieces from a single feed stack, the apparatus comprising means for separating each top workpiece layer from the feed stack and means for transporting the separated top workpieces alternately to a first location and to a second location, the separating means including at least one differentiating head having a pair of rotatable elements, means for mounting the rotatable elements so that their axes of rotation are parallel and opposite to each other, needles mounted in the rotatable elements so as to project exteriorly of the elements and in a direction away from the opposite rotatable element, means for selectively rotating at least one of the rotatable elements with respect to the other to engage and disengage the projecting needles of the rotated element with the top workpiece of the feed stack, depending on the direction of rotation, and for moving at least one rotatable element with respect to the other to decrease the spacing between the axes of rotation of the rotatable elements upon rotation of the rotatable element in a direction which engages its projecting needles in the topmost workpiece, whereby at least one edge of the topmost workpiece is curled upwardly and, upon movement of said rotated element toward the other element, the topmost workpiece is pulled away from the corresponding edge of the next underlying workpiece by the force of the engaged rotatable element needles to thereby separate the topmost workpiece from the stack.

Apparatus for sequentially separating alternate layers of sheet-like workpieces from a single feed stack, the apparatus comprising means for separating each top workpiece layer from the feed stack and means for transporting the separated top workpieces alternately to a first location and to a second location, the separating means including at least one differentiating head having a pair of rotatable elements, means for mounting the rotatable elements parallel and opposite to each other, needles mounted in the rotatable elements so as to project exteriorly of the elements and in a direction away from the opposite rotatable element, means for selectively rotating at least one of the rotatable elements with respect to the other to engage and disengage the projecting needles of the rotated element with the top workpiece of the feed stack, depending on the direction of rotation, and for moving only one of said elements, alternately, with respect to the other to vary the spacing between the rotatable elements while the top workpiece is so engaged such that upon rotation of said one rotatable element in a direction which engages its projecting needles in the topmost workpiece, at least one edge of the topmost workpiece is thereby curled upwardly and, upon movement of said rotated element with respect to the other element, the topmost workpiece is pulled away from the corresponding edge of the next underlying workpiece by the force of the engaged rotatable element needles to thereby separate the topmost workpiece from the stack.

Apparatus for sequentially separating alternate layers of sheet-like workpieces from a single feed stack, the apparatus comprising means for separating each top workpiece layer from the feed stack and means for transporting the separated top workpieces alternately to a first location and to a second location, the separating means including at least one differentiating head having a pair of rotatable elements, means for mounting the rotatable elements parallel and opposite to each other, needles mounted in the rotatable elements so as to project exteriorly of the elements and in a direction away from the opposite rotatable element, means for selectively rotating at least one of the rotatable elements with respect to the other to engage and disengage the projecting needles of the rotated element with the top workpiece of the feed stack, depending on the direction of rotation, and for moving at least the one rotatable element to vary the spacing between the rotatable elements while the top workpiece is so engaged such that upon rotation of the rotatable element in a direction which engages its projecting needles in the topmost workpiece, at least one edge of the topmost workpiece is thereby curled upwardly and, upon movement of said rotated element with respect to the other element, the topmost workpiece is pulled away from the corresponding edge of the next underlying workpiece by the force of the engaged rotatable element needles to thereby separate the topmost workpiece from the stack, and further including at least one separating bar and means for moving the separating bar between the rotatable elements while simultaneously pressing the bar against the topmost workpiece after the workpiece is engaged with the needles of the moving rotatable element to produce, in the topmost workpiece, a bend which is moved across the topmost workpiece during its separation from the stack.

Apparatus for sequentially separating alternate layers of sheet-like workpieces from a single feed stack, the apparatus comprising means for separating each top workpiece layer from the feed stack and means for transporting the separated top workpieces alternately to a first location and to a second location, the separating means including at least one differentiating head having a pair of rotatable elements, means for mounting the rotatable elements parallel and opposite to each other, needles mounted in the rotatable elements so as to project exteriorly of the elements and in a direction away from the opposite rotatable element, means for selectively rotating at least one of the rotatable elements with respect to the other to engage and disengage the projecting needles of the rotated element with the top workpiece of the feed stack, depending on the direction of rotation, and for simultaneously moving both rotatable elements toward or away from each other to vary the spacing between the rotatable elements while the top workpiece is so engaged such that upon rotation of the rotatable element in a direction which engages its projecting needles in the topmost workpiece, at least one edge of the topmost workpiece is thereby curled upwardly and, upon movement of said rotated element with respect to the other element, the topmost workpiece is pulled away from the corresponding edge of the next underlying workpiece by the force of the engaged rotatable element needles to thereby separate the topmost workpiece from the stack and further including a pair of separating bars and means for moving the separating bars between the rotatable elements while simultaneously pressing them against the topmost workpiece after the workpiece is engaged with the needles of the rotatable elements to produce, in the topmost workpiece, a pair of bends which are moved across the topmost workpiece during its separation from the stack.