Machine for cutting stacks of paper sheets and the like

Abstract

A guillotine type cutting machine for stacks of paper sheets has a table which supports the stock to be cut and a knife which can sever the stock in a vertical cutting plane. A feeding unit is provided to advance the stock along the table across the cutting plane, and a hold-down device is provided at the cutting plane to engage and press upon the stock opposite the descending knife while the stock is being severed. This hold-down device further serves to bear upon the stock during expulsion of air from the stock preparatory to the first cutting step. The air expelling unit has a roller which is lowered onto the stock adjacent the hold-down device and is then moved along the stock toward the feeding unit to expel air from pockets between the sheets. A cover is placed between the roller of the air expelling unit and the stock so that the roller need not directly engage the topmost sheet of the stock. A pusher is provided on the feeding units to shift the stock against a lateral stop upon completion of the air expelling step but prior to the first severing step.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.