Apparatus and method for separating sheets from a stack that includes a pulsed suction assembly

An apparatus for individually separating outer sheets or outer sets of sheets of a stack, comprising

• a holder with a support structure for holding the stack with an outer sheet or an outer set of sheets in a particular initial position,
• a suction assembly, including a suction opening, for applying, in the area of said initial position, suction in a pulsed manner via the suction opening to at least one portion of the outer sheet or outer set of sheets of the stack for displacing said at least one portion of said outer sheet or said outer set of sheets from said initial position away from the stack to a discharge position, and
• a discharge structure for discharging a sheet or a set of sheets from said discharge position away from the stack,
• wherein the suction assembly generates said suction in a pulsed manner in a position spaced from said initial position only, and
• wherein the suction assembly has a chamber which has a volume which is variable in a pulsed manner between at least two volumes and which communicates with the suction opening.

An apparatus for individually separating outer sheets or outer sets of sheets of a stack, comprising:

• a holder with a support structure for holding the stack with an outer sheet or an outer set of sheets in a particular initial position,
• a suction assembly for generating, in the area of said initial position, a suction for applying suction to at least one portion of the outer sheet or outer set of sheets of the stack, for displacing said at least one portion of said outer sheet or said outer set of sheets from said initial position away from the stack to a discharge position, and
• a discharge structure for discharging the sheet or set of sheets from said discharge position away from the stack,
• wherein the suction assembly generates said suction in a pulsed manner in a position spaced from said initial position only, and
• wherein the holder is arranged for holding the stack stacked in a stacking direction, the apparatus further comprising:
• a separation element displaceable between a starting position outside the stack in the holder and a separation position at least partially in the stack or located below the stack in the stacking direction, said separating element in said separation position being at least partially located between said stack and said at least one portion of said outer sheet or said outer set of sheets displaced away from the stack,
• a drive for carrying out said displacement of the separation element, and
• control means for actuating said drive for carrying out said displacement in each case after the beginning of a suction pulse.

An apparatus for individually separating outer sheets or outer sets of sheets of a stack, comprising:

• holder with a support structure for holding the stack with an outer sheet or an outer set of sheets in a particular initial position,
• a suction assembly for generating, in the area of said initial position, a suction for applying suction to at least one portion of the outer sheet or outer set of sheets of the stack, for displacing said at least one portion of said outer sheet or said outer set of sheets from said initial position away from the stack to a discharge position,
• a blowing assembly for generating an air stream which is directed towards said initial position, and
• a discharge structure for discharging the sheet or set of sheets from said discharge position away from the stack,
• wherein the suction assembly is arranged for generating said suction in a pulsed manner in a position spaced from said initial position only.

A method for individually separating outer sheets or outer sets of sheets of a stack, comprising:

• applying suction via a suction opening connected to a suction assembly to at least one portion of an outer sheet or outer set of sheets in an initial position,
• displacing said at least one portion of the outer sheet or the outer set of sheets from said initial position, away from the stack,
• engaging the displaced at least one portion of the outer sheet or outer set of sheets with a discharge structure, and
• discharging said outer sheet or set of outer sheets engaged by said discharge structure away from the stack,
• wherein the suction of air is carried out in a pulsed manner and from a position in which said suction opening is spaced from said initial position of the outer sheet or the outer set of sheets only, and
• said suction being generated by varying a volume of a chamber of said suction assembly in a pulsed manner between at least two volumes, said chamber communicating with the suction opening.

A method for individually separating outer sheets or outer sets of sheets of a stack, wherein the stack is stacked in a stacking direction, comprising:

• applying a suction pulse to at least one portion of an outer sheet or outer set of sheets in an initial position,
• displacing said at least one portion of said outer sheet or said outer set of sheets from said initial position, away from the stack,
• displacing a separation element after the beginning of the suction pulse from a starting position outside the stack in the holder to a separation position at least partially in the stack or displaced below the stack in the stacking direction, said separation element in said separation position being located between said stack and said at least one portion of said outer sheet or said outer set of sheets displaced from said initial position,
• engaging the displaced at least one portion of the outer sheet or outer set of sheets with a discharge structure, and
• discharging said sheet or set of sheets engaged by said discharge structure away from the stack,
• wherein the suction pulse is applied from a position spaced from said initial position of the outer sheet or outer set of sheets only.

A method for individually separating outer sheets or outer sets of sheets of a stack, comprising:

• applying a suction pulse to at least a portion of an outer sheet or outer set of sheets in an initial position,
• displacing said at least one portion of said outer sheet or outer set of sheets from said initial position, away from the stack,
• engaging the displaced at least one portion of the outer sheet or outer set of sheets with a discharge structure, and
• discharging said sheet or set of sheets engaged by said discharge structure away from the stack,
• wherein the suction pulse is applied from a position spaced from said initial position of the outer sheet or outer set of sheets only,
• wherein said stack is stacked in a stacking direction,
• wherein a suction opening via which said suction pulse occurs is reciprocated between a position near the stack and a retracted position more remote in said stacking direction from said stack, and wherein the suction is started in each case after said position near the stack has been reached.

A method for individually separating outer sheets or outer sets of sheets of a stack, comprising:

• applying suction in a pulsed manner to at least a portion of an outer sheet or outer set of sheets in an initial position,
• displacing said at least one portion of said outer sheet or outer set of sheets from said initial position, away from the stack,
• engaging the displaced at least one portion of the outer sheet or outer set of sheets with a discharge structure, and
• discharging said sheet or set of sheets engaged by said discharge structure away from the stack,
• wherein the pulsed suction is carried out from a position spaced from said initial position of the outer sheet or outer set of sheets only, and
• wherein air is blown in the direction of said at least one portion of the outer sheet or outer set of sheets of the stack.