Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
An apparatus for successively stacking and removing piles of sheets conveyed to the apparatus, comprising: at least one carrier element for the piles which is movable along the sheet transport direction and along the sheet piling direction; means for separating finished piles from subsequently conveyed sheets; means for introducing the separating means at the front edge of the pile, along the sheet transport direction; means for removing finished piles; means for driving the at least one carrier element to follow the finished piles in the sheet transport direction as they are removed, the leading edge of the carrier element, relative to the sheet transport direction, moving near the trailing edge of the finished pile being removed and substantially in a plane defined by the top surface of the finished pile; holding means for engaging the rear region of the bottom surfaces of newly forming piles during removal of finished piles and introduction at the at least one carrier element below the newly forming piles; and, means for introducing the holding means vertically between parts of the at least one carrier element.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
181 words
An apparatus for successively stacking and removing piles of sheets conveyed to the apparatus, comprising: at least one carrier element for the piles which is movable along the sheet transport direction and along the sheet piling direction; means for separating finished piles from subsequently conveyed sheets; means for introducing the separating means at the front edge of the pile, along the sheet transport direction; means for removing finished piles; means for driving the at least one carrier element to follow the finished piles in the sheet transport direction as they are removed, the leading edge of the carrier element, relative to the sheet transport direction, moving near the trailing edge of the finished pile being removed and substantially in a plane defined by the top surface of the finished pile; holding means for engaging the rear region of the bottom surfaces of newly forming piles during removal of finished piles and introduction at the at least one carrier element below the newly forming piles; and, means for introducing the holding means vertically between parts of the at least one carrier element.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
139 words
An apparatus for successively stacking and removing piles of sheets conveyed to the apparatus, comprising: two alternatively operable carrier elements for the piles; means operable at the front edge of the pile, relative to the transport direction, for separating finished piles from subsequently conveyed sheets; means for removing finished piles; first means for alternatively driving each said carrier element along the sheet transport direction, the leading edge of each said carrier element moving near the trailing edge of a finished pile being removed and substantially in a plane defined by the top surface of the finished pile; and, second means for alternatively driving each said carrier element along the sheet piling direction, substantially perpendicular to the sheet transport direction, whereby the carrier elements alternatively support newly forming piles until each completed pile is engaged by the pile removal means.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
139 words
An apparatus for successively stacking and removing piles of sheets conveyed to the apparatus, comprising: two alternatively operable carrier elements for the piles; means operable at the front edge of the pile, relative to the transport direction, for separating finished piles from subsequently conveyed sheets; means for removing finished piles; first means for alternatively driving each said carrier element along the sheet transport direction, the leading edge of each said carrier element moving near the trailing edge of a finished pile being removed and substantially in a plane defined by the top surface of the finished pile; and, second means for alternatively driving each said carrier element along the sheet piling direction, substantially perpendicular to the sheet transport direction, whereby the carrier elements alternatively support newly forming piles until each completed pile is engaged by the pile removal means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the carrier elements are guided parallel to one another in the fashion of a paternoster.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising: flexible drive means for effecting the horizontal paternoster type movement of the carrier elements; and, swinging levers arranged to effect vertical movement of the carrier elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: a pile table disposed in the plane of the pile removal means; and, means enabling each of the carrier elements to transfer a pile of sheets supported thereon onto the pile table.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising means for adjusting the vertical distances between the pile table and the sheet transport plane in the region of the pile and between the pile table and the uppermost position of the carrier element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the pile table is in fixed position, and stays fixed during adjustment for varying the pile height.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: a holding device; and, means for moving the holding device to engage the rear region of the bottom surface of newly forming piles during the removal of stacked piles and introduction of the carrier elements below the newly forming piles.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the holding device comprises suction devices.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising means for introducing the holding device vertically between parts of the carrier elements.