Method and apparatus for separating and processing a plurality of supple sheets in a single operation

Claim 3

A method as in claim 1 and including bringing said separated sheets together after said horizontal removal step so that the removed sheets are mutually connected in places located immediately above each other through apertures in said supporting means.

Claim 4

A method according to claim 2 whereby during the removal of the supporting members with the sheets lying thereon, the sheets are deposited in the correct position on said members by means of shifting movements of the sheets against positioning stops provided on the supporting members.

Claim 5

A method according to claim 3 whereby the shifting movements are achieved by horizontal vibration of the supporting members.

Claim 6

A method according to claim 4 whereby during each vibration period, the supporting members are subjected to a slow shift in the direction corresponding to the desired shift of the sheet to be moved towards the positioning stops and a rapid shift in the opposite direction.

Claim 7

A method according to claim 1 whereby the supporting members after having been moved between the separated sheets and the immediately underlying stacks are brought into contact with the sheets still attached to said pick-up devices, whereafter said pick-up devices release the sheets and the supporting members with the sheets lying thereon are lowered to their previous level prior to being removed in the horizontal direction from between said pick-up devices and the stacks immediately therebeneath.

Claim 8

A method according to claim 6 whereby during the removal of the supporting members with the sheets lying thereon, the sheets are deposited in the correct position on said members by means of suitable shifting movements of the sheets against positioning stops provided on the supporting members.

Claim 9

A method according to claim 7 whereby the shifting movements are achieved by horizontal vibration of the supporting members.

Claim 10

A method according to claim 8 whereby during each vibration period the supporting members are subjected to a slow shift in the direction corresponding to the desired shift of the sheet to be moved towards the positioning stops and a rapid shift in the opposite direction.

Claim 11

A method according to claim 1 whereby during the removal of the supporting members with the sheets lying thereon, the sheets are deposited in the correct position on said members by means of suitable shifting movements of the sheets against positioning stops provided on the supporting members.

Claim 12

A method according to claim 10 whereby the shifting movements are achieved by horizontal vibration of the supporting members.

Claim 13

A method according to claim 11 whereby during each vibration period, the supporting members are subjected to a slow shift in the direction corresponding to the desired shift of the sheet to be moved toward the positioning stops and a rapid shift in the opposite direction.

Claim 14

Apparatus for simultaneously separating at least one sheet from each of a plurality of stacks of sheets vertically spaced one above the other and removing the separated sheets into a desired position whereby at least one sheet is separated from each of said stacks at the same time, said apparatus comprising: a frame comprising a plurality of vertical edge sections having upper ends mutually connected by transverse sections, a plurality of pick-up heads secured to said transverse sections for engaging the top sheet in the upper most of said stacks and thereafter separating said top sheet from said uppermost of said stacks, a plurality of horizontal tables mounted to said frame for vertical movement between said vertical sections, a plurality of pick-up heads secured to of said tables for engaging and separating sheets from each of the remainder of said stacks, a bottom horizontal table mounted to said frame for vertical movement between said vertical sections, and including pressure means secured to the underside of said bottom table for raising and lowering said tables, horizontal supporting means for the separated sheets, and means for inserting said supporting means between said set of pick-up heads and the immediately underlying stack and for removing said supporting means from between said pick-up heads and said stacks.

Claim 15

Apparatus for simultaneously separating at least one sheet from each of a plurality of stacks of sheets vertically spaced one above the other and removing the separated sheets into a desired position whereby at least one sheet is separated from each of said stacks at the same time, said apparatus comprising: a frame comprising a plurality of vertical edge sections having upper ends mutually connected by transverse sections, a plurality of pick-up heads secured to said transverse sections for engaging the top sheet in the upper most of said stacks and thereafter separating said top sheet from said uppermost of said stacks, a plurality of horizontal tables mounted to said frame for vertical movement between said vertical sections, a plurality of pick-up heads secured to of said tables for engaging and separating sheets from each of the remainder of said stacks, a bottom horizontal table mounted to said frame for vertical movement between said vertical sections, and including pressure means secured to the underside of said bottom table for raising and lowering said tables, horizontal supporting means for the separated sheets, and means for inserting said supporting means between said set of pick-up heads and the immediately underlying stack and for removing said supporting means from between said pick-up heads and said stacks.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said supporting means includes apertures, and including means for bringing together the removed sheets and mutually connecting the removed sheets in superimposed position through said apertures.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 13 including: stops on said supporting means, and positioning means for engaging the separated sheet on said supporting means and for pushing the separated sheet against said stops during the removal of said supporting means.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the positioning means comprise brushes.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the supporting means comprise positioning means in the form of horizontally vibrating vibration elements with adjustable amplitude, frequency, direction and vibration duration.