Apparatus for separating and delivering flat articles of random length and thickness from a stack
First Claim
1. Apparatus for separating individual flat articles of random thickness from one end of a stack of such articles and delivering separated articles, on command, to a transport device, said apparatus comprising:
- a pick-off device having a friction surface drivable in a direction of article delivery and oriented to engage an exposed surface on one article of random thickness at the one end of the stack and advance said one article in the direction of delivery;
an anti-doubling device including a single roller having a friction surface selectably engagedly drivable only in the direction of article delivery for restricting advancing movement of other articles by said pick-off device;
a delivery device having a drivable friction nip for pulling a separated article from said pick-off device in the direction of article delivery;
means for operating said pick-off device and said delivery device to position each separated article in said friction nip in readiness for delivery, on command, to the transport device;
said means for operating said pick-off device and said delivery device further comprising an article sensing device having first and second states to indicate respectively, the absence and presence of an article in a reference plane normal to the direction of article delivery, the reference plane being located downstream from said delivery device and upstream from the transport device; and
means for interrupting operation of the delivery device in response to a change of the sensing device from said first state to said second state.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for separating individual flat articles of random thickness from one end of a stack of such articles and delivering separated articles, on command, to a transport device. Included in the apparatus is a pick-off device having a friction surface drivable in a direction of article delivery and oriented to engage an exposed surface on one article at the one end of the stack and advance the one article in the direction of delivery, an anti-doubling device for restricting advancing movement of other articles by the pick-off device, a delivery device having a drivable friction nip for pulling a separated article from the pick-off device in the direction of article delivery, and a control system for operating the pick-off device and the delivery device to position each separated article in the friction nip in readiness for delivery, on command, to the transport device. The anti-doubling device is a friction roller supported for movement between a first position of contact with the friction surface of the pick-off device and a second position separated from the friction surface of the pick-off device by the thickness of an article advanced from the one end of the stack. A constant slip torque is imposed on the friction roller independent of friction roller speed, by a magnetic hysteresis device.
29 Citations
13 Claims
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1. Apparatus for separating individual flat articles of random thickness from one end of a stack of such articles and delivering separated articles, on command, to a transport device, said apparatus comprising:
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a pick-off device having a friction surface drivable in a direction of article delivery and oriented to engage an exposed surface on one article of random thickness at the one end of the stack and advance said one article in the direction of delivery; an anti-doubling device including a single roller having a friction surface selectably engagedly drivable only in the direction of article delivery for restricting advancing movement of other articles by said pick-off device; a delivery device having a drivable friction nip for pulling a separated article from said pick-off device in the direction of article delivery; means for operating said pick-off device and said delivery device to position each separated article in said friction nip in readiness for delivery, on command, to the transport device; said means for operating said pick-off device and said delivery device further comprising an article sensing device having first and second states to indicate respectively, the absence and presence of an article in a reference plane normal to the direction of article delivery, the reference plane being located downstream from said delivery device and upstream from the transport device; and means for interrupting operation of the delivery device in response to a change of the sensing device from said first state to said second state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification