Air shingler
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorRonald E. Hunt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is disclosed apparatus for implementing a technique of shingling a stack (10) of cut sheets using fluid jets. Air (34), or other fluid under pressure, travels through a drum having exit holes arranged about its periphery. The passage of the air causes the drum (30) to self-propel. As each fluid jet contacts the uppermost sheets in the stack, a roll-wave is created. Continued rotation of the drum causes a fluid jet to describe a linear path relative to the stack surface.
Claims8
A method of separating sheets in a stack for feeding seriatim to an operating station including the steps of:
- (1) downwardly directing a fluid jet to the topmost sheet such that the jet includes a force component normal to the topmost sheet;
- and
- (2) moving the jet in the feed direction whereby uppermost sheets are shingled.
In combination, apparatus for separating documents in a stack comprising:
- (1) a source of fluid under pressure;
- (2) means for directing at least one jet of fluid under pressure toward the top of the stack;
- (3) means for moving the contact point of the jet linearly along the surface of the stack, whereby a roll wave is generated and propagated to the edges of the stack;
- (4) nip means for engaging the leading edge of the uppermost sheet;
- and
- (5) means for controlling the flow of fluid under pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.