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US 8,662,346 B2Granted
Apparatus and method for dispensing and folding of sheets from a stack
AssigneeInfostop, B.V.
InventorsJohannes Christina Langen, Herman Josef Langen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A removing mechanism is disclosed for removing the bottom or top sheet from a stack of sheets; a delaying member for a delay of a predetermined time between the dispensing of two successive sheets; and an actuating mechanism for driving the removing mechanism, wherein the actuating mechanism is driven via a physically supplied mechanical drive force of an operator of the dispensing apparatus.
Claims25
Dispensing apparatus for sheets, comprising:
- a removing mechanism configured to contact a bottom sheet of a stack of sheets, the removing mechanism configured to grip and fold the bottom sheet using a frictional force;
- a delaying member for a delay of a predetermined time between the dispensing of two successive sheets;
- an actuating mechanism for driving the removing mechanism, wherein the actuating mechanism is driven by way of a physically supplied mechanical drive force of an operator of the dispensing apparatus;
- and
- an engaging structure located on lateral sides of the removing mechanism and configured to pull ends of the bottom sheet in an outward direction to fan out the bottom sheet, the outward direction existing in a plane that is about perpendicular to a direction of sheet discharge from the dispensing apparatus, the engaging structure including lifting plates, the lifting plates provided with openings through which at least one of pins, strips and bands contact the bottom sheet to pull on the ends of the bottom sheet.
2 more elements
Removing mechanism for removing a sheet from the bottom of a stack of sheets, comprising:
- a support member for supporting the stack of sheets;
- two counter-rotatable rollers configured to contact the bottom sheet of the stack, the counter-rotatable rollers configured to grip and fold the bottom sheet;
- an actuating mechanism for driving the counter-rotatable rollers;
- means for causing an engagement, by way of frictional forces, between at least one of the rollers and the bottom sheet of the stack during one or more rotation stages of the rollers;
- an engaging structure located on lateral sides of the two counter-rotatable rollers and configured to pull ends of the bottom sheet in an outward direction to fan out the bottom sheet, the outward direction being a direction that is away from, and about perpendicular to, a longitudinal length of the counter-rotatable rollers, the engaging structure including lifting plates, the lifting plates provided with openings through which at least one of pins, strips and bands contact the bottom sheet to pull on the ends of the bottom sheet.
2 more elements
Method for dispensing sheets from a stack, comprising:
- stacking the sheets;
- fanning out a bottom sheet of the stack of sheets by pulling on ends of the bottom sheet in an outward direction using an engaging structure, the outward direction existing in a plane that is about perpendicular to a sheet discharge direction, the engaging structure including lifting plates, the lifting plates provided with openings through which at least one of pins, strips and bands contact the bottom sheet to pull on the ends of the bottom sheet;
- contacting a bottom sheet of the stack of sheets, while the bottom sheet remains on the stack of sheets, with two counter-rotatable rollers;
- gripping a mid-section of the bottom sheet with the rollers using a frictional force applied by at least one of the rollers, wherein the gripping step includes the rollers only gripping the bottom sheet, and not multiple sheets, due to the fanning out of the bottom sheet by the engaging structure;
- and
- drawing the bottom sheet through the rollers via rotation of the rollers;
- folding the bottom sheet as the bottom sheet is drawn through the rollers;
- and
- discharging the sheet in the sheet discharge direction.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.