Method of, and apparatus for, detecting the position of a marking or separating element in a stack of substantially flat products

Abstract

For detecting and pushing up marking or separating elements in a stack of labels, there are provided a detector arrangement and an ejector element, both of which are mounted at a support or carriage connected to a revolvingly drivable traction element. By setting a driving motor in operation, the support or carriage is moved along the underside of the stack. As soon as the detector arrangement reaches a position in which it is aligned with a marking element, the presence of the marking element is detected by means of the thereby resulting brightness difference. The ejector element is then brought into alignment with the respective marking element and the latter is pushed up by means of the ejector element, so that the marking element protrudes somewhat from the top of the stack. Subsequently, the label package located directly in front or downstream of this marking element is separated from the remaining part of the stack by means of a part-off blade which is driven into the stack, directly behind or upstream of the pushed-up marking or separating element.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.