Apparatus for separating a letter stack

US3981493A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Licentia Patent-Verwaltungs-GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Karl Klappenecker · Konstanz, DE
• Gisbert Burkhardt · Reichenau, DE
• Hans Rapparlie

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 27, 1974
• Grant date: Sep 21, 1976
• Expiry date: Feb 27, 1994

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B65H2701/131
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

In an apparatus for forwarding flat items individually from a stack, a withdrawing mechanism forwards the items in succession into the gripping zone of a feed mechanism for further conveyance. Between the withdrawing mechanism and the feed mechanism there is situated a sensor which is connected to a control circuit controlling the operation of the withdrawing mechanism. The location of the sensor determines a standby position for each item. The control circuit causes operation of the withdrawing mechanism only when either the sensor senses no item present or the sensor senses the presence of an item and there is applied a call signal to the control circuit. Each item is first forwarded by the withdrawing mechanism from the stack to the standby position and is advanced by the withdrawing mechanism from the standby position into the gripping zone of the feed mechanism only when the call signal is applied to the control circuit.