Method and apparatus for separating a collation from a supply stack
US6502812B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 28, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jan 7, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 18, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65H2553/42
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for separating an entire collation of individual sheets from a supply stack for downstream processing. The apparatus generally includes a supply stack tray for containing the supply stack while the collations in the supply stack are being separated; a separator device positioned adjacent to the supply stack tray for separating a corner of each sheet of the collation from the supply stack; a deflector positioned adjacent to an edge of the collation for deflecting the collation from the supply stack after the collation has been separated by the separator; and a gripper device positioned in a plane proximate to the first sheet in the collation for gripping the entire collation after the collation has been deflected from the supply stack and for moving the entire collation downstream for processing. The method for separating a collation of individual sheets from a supply stack includes the steps of separating a corner of each of the individual sheets in the collation from the supply stack; deflecting the collation from the supply stack; and gripping the entire collation and moving the entire collation from the supply stack fo…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.