Sheet set separation using wide folded strips

Apparatus for applying a strip of material to a set of stacked sheets for separating that set from other sets, comprising:

• means for holding a strip of material in a path along which a set of stacked sheets is being advanced;
• first and second belt conveyers disposed opposite and aligned with each other to define a run therebetween, said first belt conveyer comprising a first rolling means and a first belt passing adjacent thereto and said second belt conveyer comprising a second rolling means and a second belt passing adjacent thereto, said first and second rolling means being positioned to form with said first and second belts a nip, said nip defining an entrance to said run;
• means for driving said belts in synchronism;
• an additional first rolling means disposed adjacent said first rolling means, said first belt not passing adjacent said additional first rolling means;
• an additional second rolling means disposed adjacent said second rolling means aligned with and opposite said additional first rolling means, said second belt not passing adjacent said additional second rolling means;
• said additional first and second rolling means cooperating with said nip to form a composite nip wider than said nip;
• and
• means for advancing said sheet set towards said strip and said composite nip, past said strip and into and through said composite nip such that the downstream edge of said sheet set engages said strip with portions of said strip extending beyond first and second opposed major sides of said sheet set and advances into said composite nip, whereby said strip is folded about said downstream edge of said sheet set portions of said folded strip extending generally parallel to and adjacent said major sides as said sheet set.

Apparatus for applying a strip of material to a set of stacked sheets for separating that set from other sets, comprising:

• means for holding a strip of material in a path along which a set of stacked sheets is being advanced;
• first and second belt conveyers disposed opposite and aligned with each other to define a run therebetween, said first belt conveyer comprising a first pulley, a first shaft supporting said first pulley and a first belt passing around said first pulley, said second belt conveyer comprising a second pulley and a second belt passing around said second pulley, a first roller disposed adjacent said second pulley and a second shaft supporting said first roller, said second belt passing in tangential contact with said first roller, said first pulley and said first roller being positioned to form with said first and second belts a nip, said nip defining an entrance to said run;
• means for driving said belts in synchronism;
• a third roller mounted to said first shaft adjacent said first pulley, said first belt not passing around said third roller;
• a fourth roller mounted to said second shaft adjacent said first roller and opposite said third roller, said second belt not passing in contact with said fourth roller;
• third and fourth rollers cooperating with said nip to form a composite nip wider than said nip;
• and
• means for advancing said sheet set towards said strip and said composite nip, past said strip and into and through said composite nip such that the downstream edge of said sheet set engages said strip with portions of said strip extending beyond first and second opposed major sides of said sheet set and advances into said composite nip, whereby said strip is folded about said downstream edge of said sheet set portions of said folded strip extending generally parallel to and adjacent said major sides of said sheet set.