Sheet set separation using folded strips

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

• means for advancing said strip from said roll into a path along which said sheet set is advanced and holding said strip in said path with a free end of said strip extending substantially beyond a first major side of said stack and a substantial portion of said strip connected to said roll extending substantially beyond a second major side of said sheet set opposite said first major side;
• means for advancing said sheet set in said path such that the downstream edge of said sheet set engages said strip between said strip free end and said substantial strip portion;
• first and second rollers disposed to form a nip positioned in said path to receive said sheet set and said strip engaged thereby advanced by said sheet set advancing means, said rollers folding said strip at the downstream edge of each of said major sides as said sheet set and said engaged strip advance through said rollers;
• and
• means for severing said strip from said roll.

A method for identifying sets of stacked sheets comprising:

• holding a strip of sheet material in a path along which a set of stacked sheets and said strip are moved relative to each other;
• advancing said strip from a roll thereof such that said strip has a free end extending substantially beyond a first major side of said sheet set and is attached to said roll substantially beyond a second major side of said sheet set;
• relatively moving said sheet set and said held strip such that the downstream edge of said stack engages said strip with portions of said strip extending beyond opposed major sides of said sheet set;
• severing said strip from said roll after said strip is engaged by said downstream edge of said sheet set;
• and
• applying said strip to said sheet set around said downstream edge of said sheet set with said strip portions extending generally adjacent said major sides as said sheet set and said strip relatively move past each other.

A method of applying a strip of material from a roll thereof to a set of stacked sheets for separating that set from other sets, comprising:

• advancing said strip from said roll into a path along which said sheet set is being advanced and holding said strip in said path with a free end of said strip extending substantially beyond a first major side of said sheet set and a substantial portion of said strip connected to said roll extending substantially beyond a second major side of said sheet set opposite said first major side;
• advancing said sheet set of sheets in said path such that the downstream edge of said sheet set engages said strip with said strip portions extending beyond said first and second opposed major sides of said sheet set;
• further advancing said sheet set and said strip engaged by the downstream edge thereof into the nip of opposed rollers, such that said rollers fold said strip at each of said major sides;
• and
• severing said strip from said roll.