Gripping device

A gripping device for transporting a stack of flexible sheets, comprising:

• two substantially horizontally spaced, parallel tines arranged for supporting the stack;
• said two tines defining a horizontally extending spacing therebetween;
• a bearing shaft disposed near said two tines and defining a horizontal rotation axis;
• two fork rods disposed between said bearing shaft and said two tines;
• said two fork rods having first and second ends, each said fork rod being rotatably attached at its first end to respective ones of said tines, and each said fork rod being attached at its second end to said bearing shaft;
• a counterelement supported above the tines in alignment with the horizontal spacing therebetween;
• said counterelement having a horizontal dimension in a direction parallel to the horizontal spacing between the two tines, said horizontal dimension being smaller than the horizontal length of said spacing between said two tines;
• and
• means for moving said counterelement substantially vertically towards or away from said two tines, whereby, when an unstabilized stack of flexible sheets is received on said two tines and said counterelement is moved towards said two tines for gripping and stabilizing the stack therebetween, said counterelement and said two tines produce a curvilinear bending in the stack about a horizontal axis oriented parallel to said two tines when said counterelement is moved past an initial plane containing a top layer of the unstabilized stack.