Jogger/aerator

An apparatus for aerating a stack of sheets, comprising:

• a) a base;
• b) a frame mounted to the base for rotatable movement between a vertical and a horizontal position;
• c) a first platen plate fixed to the frame;
• d) a second platen plate mounted to the frame and variably positionable on the frame in substantially parallel relation to the first platen plate to clamp a stack of sheets therebetween;
• e) an air table having a surface having portions defining a plurality of openings therein, the openings being directed toward the stack of sheets;
• f) a means for producing a flow of air through the air table surface, wherein the means is adjustable by an operator to selectably produce a desired flow of air, the means being adapted to produce any desired quantity of air flow between zero and an upper limit of air flow, such variable air flow allowing the aeration of a variety of sheet materials on the apparatus.

An apparatus for aerating a stack of sheets, comprising:

• a) a base;
• b) a frame rotatably mounted to the base;
• c) a table mounted to the frame, wherein the table is adapted to engage the edges of a plurality of sheets in a stack;
• d) two platens mounted to the frame, wherein the distance between the platens is adjustable to clasp the stack of sheets engaged by the table therebetween;
• e) portions of the table defining a plurality of openings;
• f) a blower adapted to direct a flow of air through the table openings and between adjacent sheets within a stack;
• g) a variable speed motor connected to the blower to drive the motor to produce a variable flow of air through the air deck opening;
• and
• h) a controller adapted to control the speed of the motor and the position of the platens, wherein the controller is movable and positionable for use by an operator to control the flow of air through and the clasping of a sheet stack to achieve aeration thereof.

An apparatus for jogging and aerating a stack of sheets, comprising:

• a) a fixed base;
• b) a frame mounted for rotatable motion on the base;
• c) a first platen plate mounted to the frame;
• d) a movable platen plate spaced from the first platen plate and movable in substantially parallel relation away from and toward the first platen, wherein the first platen and the movable platen are adapted to clasp a stack of sheets therebetween;
• e) an air table mounted to the frame which underlies a stack of sheets clasped between the movable platen plate and the first platen plate, wherein the air table has a planar front surface, and wherein the table has portions defining a plurality of openings therein for directing a flow of air substantially perpendicular to the front surface;
• f) an air blower connected to direct a flow of air into the air table;
• g) a valve connected between the blower and the air table, wherein the valve is controllable to direct a portion of the air flow to the air table and the remaining portion away from the air table;
• h) a sensor positioned in the flow of air to detect air flow attributes;
• and
• i) a controller adapted to receive air flow attribute data from the sensor and adapted to control the valve in response to air flow attributes to control air flow at a desired level, and wherein the controller may be manipulated by an operator to adjust the air flow level.