Method and an apparatus for singling stacked cards

A method for separating individual sheet-like elements from the end of a stack of such elements in a sequence in which the intervals between sequentially separated end elements is controlled with respect to time, said method employing a vacuum sucker movable parallel to the planes of the sheet-like elements, said method comprising the steps of:

• engaging the end element of the stack with the sucker;
• displacing the end element relative to the remainder of the stack in a direction parallel to the planes of the sheet-like elements by moving the remainder of the stack;
• inserting the displaced end element in a singling groove, the width of which corresponds to the end element;
• removing the displaced end element from the stack by movement of the sucker in a direction opposite to the relative direction of displacement of the end element;
• releasing the end element from the sucker to discharge the end element;
• and
• repeating the foregoing steps on the next appearing end element, the release of successively removed end elements by the sucker occurring such that the end elements are discharged with intervals controlled with respect to time between them.

Apparatus for sequentially separating individual sheet-like elements from the end of a stack of elements such that the interval between sequentially separated end elements is controlled with respect to time, said apparatus comprising:

• receptacle means in which the stack of elements is positioned, said receptacle means having an end toward which the elements move as individual elements are sequentially separated from the stack, said receptacle means having retaining means on said end engaging opposing edges of the end element of the stack for retaining the stack in the receptacle;
• singling means mounted proximate said end of said receptacle means and having a singling groove alignable with one of the opposing edges of the end element of the stack, said singling groove having a width corresponding to the thickness of the end element;
• and
• vacuum sucker means proximate said end of said receptacle means, said vacuum sucker means including drive means for moving said vacuum sucker means in a time controlled, repetitive, operative cycle that includes moving said vacuum sucker means in a first direction parallel to the planes of the sheet-like end elements and in a second direction that is parallel to the planes of the sheet-like end elements and opposite to said first direction;
• in each operative cycle, said vacuum sucker means engaging an end element, laterally displacing the end element relative to the stack so that said one of said opposing edges of said end element is inserted into said singling groove and the other of said opposing edges is displaced out of engagement with said retaining means by movement in said first direction, removing the displaced end element from the stack by movement in said second direction, and releasing the separated end element from said vacuum sucker means in a manner such that end elements released in successive operative cycles of said vacuum sucker means are discharged from the apparatus with intervals controlled with respect to time between them.

Apparatus for sequentially separating individual sheet-like elements from the end of a stack of elements such that the interval between sequentially separated end elements is controlled with respect to time, said apparatus comprising:

• receptacle means in which the stack of elements is positioned, said receptacle means having an end toward which the elements move as individual elements are sequentially separated from the stack, said receptacle means having retaining means on said end engaging opposing edges of the end element of the stack for retaining the stack in the receptacle means, said apparatus having means for moving said receptacle means parallel to the planes of the end elements;
• singling means mounted proximate said end of said receptacle means and having a singling groove alignable with one of the opposing edges of the end element of the stack, said singling groove having a width corresponding to the thickness of the end element for receiving the end element responsive to relative movement between the end element and the stack produced by movement of said receptacle means, said movement removing the other of the opposing edges of the end element from said retaining means;
• and
• vacuum sucker means proximate said end of said receptacle means, said vacuum sucker means including drive means for moving said vacuum sucker means in a time controlled, repetitive, operative cycle that includes moving said vacuum sucker means parallel to the planes of the sheet-like end elements;
• in each operative cycle, said vacuum sucker means engaging an end element, removing the displaced end element from the stack by said parallel movement of said vacuum sucker means following movement of said receptacle means, and releasing the separated end element from said vacuum sucker means in a manner such that end elements released in successive operative cycles of said vacuum sucker means are discharged from the apparatus with intervals controlled with respect to time between them.