Apparatus and method for separating a stack of sheets from a pile of sheets
First Claim
1. An apparatus for separating a stack of sheets from a pile of sheet material, each sheet having at least one tear path, the pile of sheet material being arranged so that the tear paths of a plurality of sheets form a tear surface, the apparatus comprising:
- a first clamp for clamping the pile at a first side of the tear surface, the first clamp comprising a sustaining member and an upper member and being adapted to change between an opened and closed condition, wherein the sustaining member has a sustaining member surface for supporting the sheet material;
a second clamp for clamping the pile at a second side of the tear surface;
a stationary frame supporting the first and second clamps; and
an axis about which the sustaining member of the first clamp is rotatable relative to the second clamp, the rotation bringing about the separation of a stack of sheets from the pile of sheet material along the tear surface, the axis being moveable relative to the stationary frame and the sustaining member along one or more guide bars defining a path that is generally perpendicular to the sustaining member surface, such that the distance between the axis and the sustaining member is adjustable, wherein movement of the axis along the guide bars occurs during the operation of clamping the pile so as to adjust a position of the upper member as a function of a height of the pile of sheet material.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for separating a stack of sheets from a pile of sheet material that is arranged so that tear paths of a plurality of sheets form a tear surface includes a first clamp for clamping the pile at a first side of the tear surface and a second clamp for clamping the pile at a second side of the tear surface. At least the first clamp includes a sustaining member having at least one sustaining point for supporting the pile, and an upper member having at least one contact point for contacting the pile. Rotation of the first clamp relative to the second clamp brings about the separation of a stack of sheets from the pile of sheet material by breaking the tear paths present in the tear surface.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus for separating a stack of sheets from a pile of sheet material, each sheet having at least one tear path, the pile of sheet material being arranged so that the tear paths of a plurality of sheets form a tear surface, the apparatus comprising:
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a first clamp for clamping the pile at a first side of the tear surface, the first clamp comprising a sustaining member and an upper member and being adapted to change between an opened and closed condition, wherein the sustaining member has a sustaining member surface for supporting the sheet material; a second clamp for clamping the pile at a second side of the tear surface; a stationary frame supporting the first and second clamps; and an axis about which the sustaining member of the first clamp is rotatable relative to the second clamp, the rotation bringing about the separation of a stack of sheets from the pile of sheet material along the tear surface, the axis being moveable relative to the stationary frame and the sustaining member along one or more guide bars defining a path that is generally perpendicular to the sustaining member surface, such that the distance between the axis and the sustaining member is adjustable, wherein movement of the axis along the guide bars occurs during the operation of clamping the pile so as to adjust a position of the upper member as a function of a height of the pile of sheet material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for separating a stack of sheets from a pile of sheet material, the pile of sheet material being arranged so that tear paths of a plurality of sheets form a tear surface, the apparatus comprising:
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a first clamp having a first clamping member and a second clamping member for clamping the pile at a first side of the tear surface, the first clamping member having a first clamping member surface for supporting the sheet material and being provided on a first side relative to the pile and the second clamping member provided on a second side relative to the pile opposite the first side; a second clamp for clamping the pile at a second side of the tear surface; a stationary frame supporting the first and second clamps; and an axis about which the first clamp is rotatable relative to the second clamp, the axis being moveable relative to the stationary frame along one or more guide bars in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the first clamping member surface such that the distance between the axis and the first clamping member surface is adjustable, wherein movement of the axis along the guide bars occurs during the operation of clamping the pile so as to adjust a position of the second clamping member as a function of a height of the pile of sheet material. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification