Method and apparatus for dismantling a stack of flat objects piece by piece
AssigneeFerag AG
InventorsWilly Leu, Erwin Müller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for dismantling a stack (1) of flat objects (2, 3) piece by piece, in which the top object (2) of the stack (1) is moved in its plane, gripped at its freed edge and removed from the stack (1). The top object (2) is moved against a stop (5), at least in the region of one of its corners (2b), by a movable separating element (6, 6′) and, as a result of further movement, is bent in such a way that it escapes from the stop (5) and is moved out of the stack (1). The invention further relates to an apparatus for dismantling a stack (1) of flat objects (2, 3) piece by piece.
Claims17
A method for producing an overlapping formation of flat objects arranged offset with respect to one another by dismantling a stack of flat objects piece by piece, comprising the steps of:
- bringing a movable separating element into a forcible or frictional engagement with the top object of the stack in a region closely adjacent one of the edges of the top object;
- pivoting the separating element from an initial position about a pivotal axis of rotation running substantially perpendicular to the plane of the top object so as to rotate the top object of the stack in its plane against a stop which is located at least in the region of one of the corners of the stack opposite the one edge where the separating element acts;
- bending, as a result of the rotational movement and its engagement with the stop, the top object in such a way that it escapes from the stop but still overlaps with the object underlying the top object;
- moving the separating element back to the initial position and bringing it into engagement with the object underlying the top object;
- rotating the object underlying the top object by again pivoting the separating element about said pivotal axis of rotation, while maintaining an overlapping formation of the top object and the object underlying the top object;
- and
- gripping the top object at a freed edge which is opposite said one edge and removing it from the stack.
An apparatus for producing an overlapping formation of flat objects by dismantling a stack of flat objects piece by piece, comprising a supporting surface for the stack, a separating element which is mounted for movement in a plane running parallel to the supporting surface and for pivotal movement about an axis of rotation running substantially perpendicular to the supporting surface so as to be capable of moving at least the top object in its plane in a forcible or frictional connection, thereby rotating the top object about the axis of rotation, and further comprising a stop which is located at the side of the stack and against which the top object is moved by the separating element such that the top object, as a result of such movement is bent in such a way that it escapes from the stop and is moved out of the stack, and wherein the separating element is configured to act in a region closely adjacent the edge of the top object which is opposite the stop.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.