Abstract: A packaging machine includes a series of stations or assemblies for packaging a series of products. A carton feeding system and a product conveyor that receives a series of articles or products are provided at a first, upstream or intake end of the packaging machine. The carton feeding system feeds carton blanks into registration with products, which generally can be grouped to form 4, 6, 8 packs, etc. Thereafter, the product groups, with the carton blanks applied thereto, will be moved through one or more downstream folding and wrapping or packaging assemblies or stations of the packaging machine.

Abstract: An apparatus for picking a product, including a control circuit, at least one vacuum cup arranged to adhere at least one sheet of material to the at least one vacuum cup, and at least one sensor configured to monitor an area proximate the at least one vacuum cup, and transmit at least one signal regarding a presence of at least one sheet of material in the area, wherein the apparatus is arranged to displace to a second location while continuously monitoring the area proximate the at least one vacuum cup, the at least one sensor is configured to transmit the at least one signal, and the control circuit is arranged to determine, responsive to the at least one signal, the sheet of material is not present in the area, and generate an error signal indicating that the at least one sheet of material is not present in the area.

Abstract: The present application relates to techniques and equipment to manufacture mailpieces containing inserts. The equipment can be an inserter or an envelope wrapper that collects documents and inserts on a collating track before the material is inserted into an envelope by inserting equipment or wrapped with paper or film to make an envelope by wrapping equipment. More specifically, the present application relates to a rotary insert feeder that feeds inserts to a collating track on inserting or wrapping type equipment.

Abstract: Means (17, 22, 23, 24, 25) is provided for intermittently lifting a stack (13) of paper so that the topmost sheet is captured by the suction of a traction device (15) and carried forward by the endless belt of the latter to the input end (21) of a laminating machine. Before the trailing end of the captured sheet has left the traction device (15) the lifting means again lifts the stack (13) so that the next sheet is captured in an overlapping relation to the first.

Abstract: A method and device to supply a processing section adjoining the device with print products withdrawn from a stack of print products in a feeder. The device including a magazine to contain the stack of print products and a separating device to separate a lowest print product from the stack along an edge region of the lowest print product formed by a sheet edge or a last fold. The device further includes a rear holder that is displaceable in coordination with the separating device to support the stack remaining during a cycle of withdrawing the lowest print product from the stack. A withdrawing device withdraws the lowest print product from an underside of the stack and includes a gripper to grip a front end of the lowest print product in the withdrawing direction while operating with timing of the separating device and the rear holder in the cycle.

Abstract: For separating individual flat and bendable objects (2) from the underside of a stack of such objects (2), and for the onward transportation of the objects, the invention provides a stacking space (1), a carrier wheel (3) on which suction devices (4) and grippers (5) are mounted, and transportation means (16), wherein the carrier wheel (3) is disposed below the stacking space (1) in such a manner that the suction devices (4), rotating with the carrier wheel (3), can consecutively take hold of an edge region of the object (2) at the bottom of the stack and bend it downward into the jaws of the following gripper (5), and in such a manner that the object (2) is then transported onward by the gripper (5) and can be deposited on the transportation means (6).

Abstract: A device for separating battery plates from stacks comprises a lifting device (30) with which vertical stacks (14) are gradually lifted to a plate placer (51). The plate placer (51) lifts the uppermost plate from the stack (14) and places it onto a conveyor belt (60), whose loading end is located underneath the plate placer (51) and which comprises conveying elements (61) that are moved underneath the plate placer (51) after a plate has been lifted from the stack (14). The delivery end of the conveyor belt (60) is situated underneath the loading end of a vacuum conveyor belt (70). The vacuum conveyor belt (70) receives separated plates from the conveyor belt (60) and moves them to devices located downstream.

Abstract: A label feeder unit associated with a machine for packing tobacco products holds a stack of labels placed in a channel presenting an infeed end, and an outfeed end from which the labels are released to a take-up station, then picked up singly and transferred to a further unit of the machine. The outfeed end of the channel incorporates a transfer mechanism comprising a pair of contrarotating rollers placed on either side of the channel at a distance less than the width of the stack in such a way as to intercept the labels and transfer them to the take-up station, which is movable relative to the outfeed end of the channel under the pressure transmitted to the station by the labels taken up between the rollers. The transfer mechanism forms part of a feedback control loop by which the pressure registering through the labels at the take-up station is kept within prescribed limits.

Abstract: This invention discloses an apparatus and method for separating and feeding flat products from a stack to a gripper drum. The invention employs a specially-positioned pivoting and articulating sucker bar, having several degrees of motion, operating in timed relationship with a reciprocating and articulating pusher blade, to reduce the travel distance of vacuum suckers, to reduce the diameter of the gripper drum, and to increase the speed at which products are separated from the stack and transferred to the gripper drum.

Abstract: A media hold down system includes electrodes configured to create an electric field at a surface and a vacuum source configured to create a vacuum at the surface.

Abstract: Sheet take-out apparatus 2 includes sheet-feeding member 22 on which sheets P are placed, air spout unit 26 that spouts out air toward a side of the sheets depressed by depression unit 27, take-out unit 30 that takes out a sheet from the sheets P toward which air spouts out the air and depression unit 27 that depress the sheets against sheet-feeding member 22 on a rear edge side located behind a central portion of the sheets P with respect to a taking-out direction of take-out unit 30. Further, a method of taking-out sheets by means of sheet take-out apparatus 2 is disclosed. Sheet take-out apparatus 2 and a method of taking out sheets are capable of taking out one necessary sheet at a time regardless of surface conditions of the sheets.

Abstract: A bag placer magazine such as for feeding flat pleated paper or plastic bags to a bag filling apparatus. The bag magazine accommodates flat pleated bags stacked horizontally on a moveable conveyor platform which circulates around the stacked bags. Bags are removed one at a time from the bottom of the stack. Vacuum operated grippers are sequenced to extend upwardly through sequentially moved openings in the circulating conveyor and pull down an end of the bottom bag and then strip the bottom bag from the stack. The bag falls below the circulating conveyor to a deposit platform where it is indexed to a precise position and then routed to a bag filler station. The bag stack is replenished from the top while bags are being stripped from the bottom so that there is no interruption of the production line process.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing a stack 1 of flat, flexible articles, in particular printed products, having bearing elements 3 which are moved along a continuous circulatory path U and, in a first sub-section A1 of the circulatory path U, U1, U2, form a stack rest 7. The apparatus has at least one separating element 5 which is capable of raising off a region 4a of the lowermost article 4 located in the stack 1 such that at least one of the bearing elements 3 can move in between the lowermost article 4 and the rest of the stack 1 and can separate off the lowermost article 4 from the rest of the stack 1 as it moves further. The apparatus further comprises a belt conveyor 8 which is arranged beneath the stack rest 7 and on which the articles come to rest once they have been separated off.

Abstract: A feeder device for removing folded or unfolded signatures from a stack of signatures in an adjacent signature magazine and feeding a production line with the signatures. The device includes a conveying rotor having an approximately circular circumference and being rotatable in a conveying direction. The conveying rotor includes a recess at the approximately circular circumference for holding a front edge, in the conveying direction, of a printed product removed from the stack of signatures. A conveying belt partially rests against the circumference of the conveying rotor, and is drivable in the same direction as the conveying rotor, and together with the conveying rotor forms a conveying gap through which the signatures are conveyed to the processing line. At least one synchronously driven separating element includes a control device comprising a pivotal control shaft arranged parallel to the rotational axis of the conveying rotor.

Abstract: A method and device for transporting flat, flexible products away from a stack of the products. The leading edge of each individual product is bent away downward from the underside of the stack of products by means of a suction element. The individual product is then transported away by means of a gripper that grips the leading edge region. The direction of movement of the gripper in the region of the underside of the stack of products runs substantially from the leading edge region to the trailing edge region of the products in the stack of products.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a flat product from a pile of flat products includes at least two needles arranged in at least one needle group on a respective needle block. The needle blocks and needle groups are movable from a closing position to an opening position, the needles supporting the bottom of the pile of flat products in the closing position. A respective adjustment device is provided for adjusting the position of each needle group, while a respective individual needle adjustment device may additionally provided for each needle.

Abstract: A tray for holding a stack of sheets of paper for feeding into a printer includes opposite paper guides one of which is adjustable relative to the other for varying the spacing between the paper guides. The adjustable paper guide is slideable across the tray and includes a releasable lock which engages the tray for locking the paper guide in position. The releasable lock is preferably a spring biased lever which includes a tooth that normally engages a rack in the paper tray until released by operation of the lever for the paper guide to be adjusted. As the paper guide is locked in position it cannot move away from its location during feeding of papers from the tray. The paper guide may also include a spring arm for applying a bias against the edge of the sheets of paper as they are fed from the tray to prevent them from skewing.

Abstract: For removing blanks (10) from a blanks magazine (14, 15) a transfer roller (18, 19) is employed which grips the blank (10) with a suction head (20) and takes it along its circumference. The transfer roller (18, 19) must be moved back and forth along a linear path of movement below the blanks magazine (14, 15) by rotating about its own axis. This movement is driven by a crank gear —crank arm (24) and strut (26) —which are directly, i.e. by means of a swivel arm (28), connected to the transfer roller (18, 19). A differential gear (23) acts to produce a linear movement of the transfer rollers (18, 19).

Abstract: Sheet feeder comprising a holder with a guide for guiding a stack of sheets and with an abutment structure which defines an abutment plane for keeping a stack of sheets in a position with an outer sheet positioned against the abutment plane. The abutment structure is provided with a slit for allowing a sheet or a set of sheets to pass therethrough, which slit is movable relative to the guide along the abutment plane, with a directional component transverse to the slit for peeling outer sheets abutting against the abutment structure off a stack of sheets in the holder. Further, a method for separating sheets from a stack is described. Because sheets are peeled off a stack without sliding relative to each other, they can be separated without hindrance due to friction between them.

Abstract: Flat rectangular objects, such as printed products, arrive in an overlapping formation and have a specific first extent A1 and a variable second extent A2, A2′ running at right angles thereto. The objects 10 are conveyed in an overlapping stream S at a constant predetermined overlap distance B and with a first extent A1 running in the conveying direction F. As viewed in the conveying direction F, the edges running in the conveying direction F are mutually aligned on one side and are at the same location. A specific number of the objects 10 is in each case gripped by a single transport clamp 18 to transport them onward.

Abstract: For individually separating outer sheets (9, 109) of a stack (6, 106) in a holder (1, 101), in each case in the area of an outer sheet or an outer set of sheets a suction is generated for sucking at least a portion of an outer sheet or set of sheets (9, 109) from an initial position, away from the stack, to a discharge position. From that discharge position a sheet or set of sheets is discharged away from the stack (6, 106) by a discharge structure engaging the sheet or set of sheets. The suction assembly (12, 112, 212) in each case generates a pulsed suction in a position spaced from the initial position. As a result, the sheets or sets of sheets can be reliably displaced one by one to the discharge position, while the intended operation of the apparatus is little sensitive to the suction strength set.

Abstract: A device for continuous separation of blanks for book cover material, envelopes for brochures or similar bendable sheets of a stack of sheets from a magazine with a conveyor belt with a non-skid surface and openings acted upon by air suction, bearing the stack of sheets, feeding the lowest sheet in each case in timed fashion from the magazine, which has a suction element grasping the lowest sheet and removing it from the stack of sheets, with an air blower for creating an air cushion between the raised sheet and the following sheet and with a removal conveyor system receiving and further transporting the sheet fed with respect to a functionally reliable separation of large-format flexible sheets is characterized by supports (17, 18) on both sides of an open space supporting a stack of sheets (1) in the edge area and by a suction element (14) capable of being driven under the stack of sheets (1), grasping a sheet (1a) in the open space in the edge area, and pulling down from the stack of sheets (1) in order to

Abstract: An automatic document feeder for use with an image forming apparatus, for conveying a document on a platen of the apparatus, includes a rotating conveyance belt for pressing the document to the platen thereby conveying the document along the platen; a pressing roller for applying pressure to the rotating conveyance belt and subsequently onto the document. The pressing roller includes a plurality of rows of rollers in a conveying direction of the document, and each of the plurality of rows is provided with a plurality of the pressing rollers. Tracks in an axis direction of the plurality of pressing rollers followed by at least two rows are different from each other, so that the tracks pass over different portions of the conveyance belt with respect to the conveying direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for the charging a processing line with printed sheets is comprised of a conveying device which pulls off the printed sheets from a bottom side of a stack, with a separating apparatus that partially lifts off the printed sheet to be pulled off from the stack being arranged upstream of the conveying device. The separating apparatus positions the lifted off printed sheet in an open gripper arrangement that rotates with the conveying device and releases it, once the printed sheet has been gripped by the gripper arrangement, so that the printed sheet can be pulled out of the magazine without deflection.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus has a stacking portion on which sheets are stacked, a separating unit for separating and paying away the sheets tacked on the stacking portion, a feeder for feeding the sheets downstream of the separating unit, a plurality of conveyance paths leading from the separating unit to the feeder, and a switching device for switching the plurality of conveyance paths, the separating unit being effective to feed the sheets at a speed higher than the feeding speed of the feeder.

Abstract: A sheet-feeding device for the cyclic feeding of separated sheets from a sheet stack of a sheet feeder to a sheet processing machine or an onward conveying device is provided. The sheet-feeding device includes one or more first conveying rollers of relatively small diameter which are rotatably arranged close to the leading edge of the sheet stack of the sheet feeder and around which one or more endless drive tapes are guided, the latter starting from the first conveying roller, extending approximately in the conveying direction and wrapping around a second conveying roll that is arranged at a distance from the first conveying roller. The device also includes an upper conveying roller mounted above the first conveying roller for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of the first conveying roller.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the separation of stacked objects, the device comprising a stack bearing area, which is formed by a grid of rollers, travelling along the bottom area of the stack, whereby the rollers of the grid of rollers are positioned at an angle relative to the roller grid's direction of motion, and the device comprising a suction element and a conveyor, which reaches under the stack surface, in order to take away the flat objects separated from the stack. The invention provides an arrangment that automatically sets the rollers of the grid of rollers into self-rotation.

Abstract: A device for decollating stacks of flat objects includes a stack magazine. The base of the stack magazine supports the stack and includes revolving rollers that form a continuously moving series of rollers, pass underneath the stack magazine, and roll along the lowest object of the stack. A conveyor system is arranged underneath the upper run of the series of rollers and extends at an angle to the series of rollers. The lowest object that is removed from the stack by one passing roller is deposited on the conveyor system. A suction device moves or suction devices move between the rollers in the cycle in which the rollers pass underneath the magazine. The suction device or devices pulls or pull down one lateral edge of the lowest object between two rollers. The leading roller still supports the stack via the object and the trailing roller passes between the object and the object situated above so as to cause a secure separation of the lowest object from the stack.

Abstract: A feeder for separating sheet form elements, such as envelopes, from a stack has a suction device and a mechanical gripper mounted together on a movable head. The movement of the head is controlled by a lever mechanism and cams so that an envelope is first pulled by the suction in the stacking direction and then gripped and pulled laterally from the stack by the gripper.

Abstract: An arrangement for separating flat stacked objects is composed of a stacking hopper, the base of which supports the stack and is composed of rolls. The rolls pass through at intervals and roll against the respective bottommost workpiece. The rolls are provided in a traveling series and are driven in a rotating manner. A conveyor belt for transporting material away is arranged below the series of rolls. The respective bottommost workpiece successively peeled off the stack by each roll passage is placed onto the conveyor belt. In sync with the passage of the rolls, suction boxes grip and pull down a lateral edge of the respective bottommost workpiece between two rolls in such a way that the roll that arrives below the stack still supports the stack through the workpiece. The subsequent roll passes between the workpiece and the workpiece located above the previous workpiece and causes a reliable separation of the respective bottommost piece from the stack.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet original supply apparatus including a conveyor for conveying a sheet original at a reading portion, and a supply device arranged upstream of the conveyor and adapted to send the sheet original to the conveyor, wherein after the sheet original starts to be conveyed by the conveyor and before the sheet original is read at the reading portion, the restraint of the sheet original by the supply device is released.

Abstract: The front limit stop of the stack receiving magazine of a sheet separator is provided, in the region contacted by the lowermost sheets of the stack, with a retractable wall portion. The movements of this retractable wall portion are synchronized with the operation of a device which causes downward deflection of the edge region of a sheet located adjacent the magazine front limit stop. Accordingly, simultaneously with the application of the deflecting force, the frictional retaining force is removed from the edge region of the sheet to be separated.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in handling sheet material articles includes a feed drum which is rotatable to sequentially pull sheet material articles from a hopper. A separator assembly includes a rotatable separator disk in which a plurality of gaps are formed. A plurality of suction applicator heads are rotatable with the separator disk relative to the hopper. Each of the suction applicator heads is aligned with a gap in the separator disk. During rotation of the separator disk and suction applicator heads together relative to the hopper, the suction applicator heads are operable to sequentially apply suction to lower side surfaces of lowermost sheet material article in the hopper. The feed drum pulls one sheet material article from the hopper while a next succeeding sheet material article in the hopper is engaged by a suction applicator head.

Abstract: A conventional pocket for delivering signatures in a bindery line is modified by providing a lift plate which is hinged to the leading edge of the pocket's signature support tray. A suitable actuator under control of the system's computer is made to raise and lower that lift plate, depending upon the number of machine cycles which will be executed before that particular pocket will be called upon to deliver a signature to the magazine being assembled. If more than a predetermined number of machine cycles will take place before a signature must be delivered, the actuator lifts the lift plate and, in doing so, elevates the leading edge of the signature stack to the point where the lowermost signature is positioned out of contact with the hopper's separator disc. This prevents unwanted abrasion and marring of signatures.

Abstract: The sheet-feeder (B), designed as a buffer store, has a magazine (24) for receiving vertically stacked sheets and having a base (26), which leaves free an edge strip (R) of the sheet stack (S). Along this edge strip there moves an endless belt (18), articulated on which are separating elements (1), provided with a curved suction surface, followed by a plurality of spacers (11). The edge strip of the lowermost sheet is bent away downward from the remaining stack as it is sucked against the curved suction surface, and has the following spacers engage over it, on which the remaining stack is supported. After passing of a separating element by the edge strip, this edge strip bears against the undersides of the spacers, bent away completely from the remaining stack.

Abstract: A right parallelepipedal stack space (12) for receiving a stack of folded printing products (14) is arranged above a stack rest (1), which is formed by dividing rollers (2) driven in a circulating manner. The stack space (12) is slanted with one corner (12a) facing against the direction of movement (A) of the dividing rollers (2). In the region of this corner (12a) of the stack space (12), there is arranged a suction member (18) which can enter periodically between two neighboring dividing rollers (2) for taking up and drawing through the corner of the respectively lowermost printing product (14). The printing products (14) detached from the stack by the dividing rollers (2) moved along the stack base area are laid onto a removal conveyor (24) lying one above the other in the manner of roof tiles.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for the extraction of pack blanks (10) from a blank magazine (25). A special problem with high-performance packing machines is the extraction of blanks from the blank magazine (25) of the packing machine, especially thin cardboard blanks which are produced outside the packing machine. The "transfer rollers" so far mainly used herefore take a lot of time and are ponderous due to their complex motions. In order to extract respective lowermost blanks (10) from a blank magazine (25), there is provided an extractor in the form of a blank segment (39) which grasps a blank at one side and leads the blank (10) with slight deformation, namely in an acute angle, to the plane of a conveyor track (38). Because of the very sparse movements of the blank (10) during extraction, the extraction process can be performed within short strokes.

Abstract: In order to increase considerably the output of a rotary feeder (6) for removing individual blanks (1) from a stack (2), the invention proposes that the speed of the rotary movement of rotary suckers (7) is slowed down while they are being pressed against the blank (5) that is to be removed. This retardation operation is brought about by a special gear unit that drives a rotor (12) to which the rotary suckers (7) are attached.

Abstract: A lead-frame separating apparatus includes an inclined stationary stocker placed with a plurality of rectangular sheet-type lead-frames in alignment, and a chuck unit capable of taking two positions consisting of a stand-by position above conveying rails where it swings within a vertical plane and extends beneath the stocker, and a chuck position where it adjoins the first lead-frame on the stocker. At the chuck position, the chuck unit holds and takes out the first lead-frame, which is released at the stand-by position and transferred onto the conveying rails.

Abstract: In order to constitute means for reliably separating sheets positioned at the lowermost level in a magazine one by one, there are provided two stages of main and auxiliary side hooks which can be rocked in the direction for supporting the sheets and in the direction for releasing the same as operated inversely to the seam hooks, on the both left and right sides of the magazine so that the side hooks can be rocked in correlation with suction arms, each of the respective side hooks has its supporting position for the sheets made variable, and the side hooks are adjustably disposed so that the interval between the side hooks on the left and right sides of the magazine can be varied with the main and auxiliary side hooks on each side held integrally.

Abstract: A device for placing articles such as coupons or the like in cartons being conveyed past a work station containing the device. The device includes an upright coupon or the like article supply hopper, a reciprocatory mechanism for inserting the articles into the cartons as they are conveyed past and momentarily stopped adjacent thereto and a reciprocating vacuum or suction mechanism for removing the coupons from the supply hopper and placing them in the path of the inserting mechanism for placement into cartons.

Abstract: This relates to a label separator which is operative to separate a foremost label from a stack of labels in advance of such label being picked by a picker so as to assure that only one label is picked at a time and that the other labels in a stack of labels will not be disturbed. One end or edge portion of a foremost label is displaced relative to the remainder of the stack and after a gap has been formed between the displaced label and the next adjacent label in the stack, a blade enters in between these two labels so as to separate completely the foremost label from the remaining labels in the stack. The apparatus which effects the initial displacement has associated therewith a label support whereby the displaced label remains supported in its original alignment for reception by the picker.

Abstract: According to the invention, separator plates bevelled at the front edges provided on the rotating feed segments of a sheet feeder, more particularly for envelope machines, which finally separate from the pile of blanks a blank for feeding, the front edge of the bottom flap of the blank having been separated from the pile by means of a tongue and vacuum device. The separator plates align the blank in the direction of conveyance, smooth it out, and then feed it to the extractor roller and engagement edge of the rotating feed segments.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for singly removing the bottom one of a sheet from a stack of sheets, and utilizing counter rotating discs or plates which sweep the bottom sheet toward its opposite edges and thus create a flat and smooth bottom surface for contact by suction cups to remove the sheet from the stack. The plates are adjustable relative to the widths of the sheets, to thereby accommodate various widths of sheets. An intermediate or central portion of the lower sheet of the stack is made smooth and flat for contact by a suction cup which can therefore remove the sheets at high speeds.

Abstract: In a rotary collating and/or inserting machine where individual sheets are peeled from the bottom of a plurality of stacks of sheets arranged spaced around a circle on a table and are moved down through one or more radial slots in the table, the separation of the bottom sheet of each stack, preferably at a corner, is initiated by creating changes in air pressure in a cyclically controlled manner at or adjacent to the upper region of at least one slot. This can be accomplished by the provision of suction holes along the length of at least one slot or by changing the contour of the table surface, such as by incorporating a bellows. To aid onward movement of a sheet into a slot after initial separation from the stack, the initial suction effect which either acts directly on the sheet or changes the contour of the table surface is shut off or reversed as the bottom sheet passes down through the slot. Cyclically controlled suction devices are preferably provided at or adjacent to the lower region of each slot.

Abstract: An insertion machine includes an insert supply station 10 located alongside a conveyor 30. Associated with the supply station 10 are a selector 16 for deflecting a lowermost piece of material 15 contained in a hopper 12; a separator foot 25 for segregating the deflected piece from the hopper 12; a monitoring means 40 for determining whether only the lowermost piece 15 was, in fact, deflected; and, a gripper arm 18 for extracting the lowermost piece 15 and depositing the same on the conveyor 30. In one embodiment, the monitoring means 40 comprises an infrared source 29 which directs a signal to a sensor 27 mounted in the separator foot 25.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling sheets in a hopper, whereby the stack of sheets is partially supported at various elevations along the stack so that only a portion of the weight of the stack bears downwardly on the sheet removal devices. The stack support members are movable into and out of supporting position relative to the stack, by virtue of a solenoid or the like, for passing a discrete lower portion of the stack down to the take-off device, and a feeler is provided for sensing the need for passing more sheets downwardly, in accordance with the rate of removing the sheets from the bottom of the stack.

Abstract: A magazine (2) for stamps is provided with an escapement mechanism in the form of upper and lower gripping means (24, 26) which alternately support the stack of stamps, thereby allowing the stamps to be fed at a constant head to a withdrawal rotor (10). The upper and lower gripping may each be constituted by a rubber tube (38) which is inflatable against the side of the stack via a thin pivotal strip (36).

Abstract: An apparatus for positioning an interleave on a finished sheet product prior to transferring and depositing the latter in a stacked relation. The apparatus includes a stripper means for removing the lowermost interleave from a stack of such interleaves and advancing the same on a conveyor arrangement to a pick-up station whereat the interleave is raised into engagement with a pair of gripping arms of a reciprocal shuttle. The shuttle transports the interleave to a forward position in vertically spaced relation to the sheet product for subsequent deposit thereon prior to removal of the sheet article along with the overlying interleave by a transfer apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating the bottom sheet of a stack of sheets contained in a stationary magazine. A rotating disc supports substantially the entire bottom surface of a stack of sheets contained in a sheet stack magazine disposed above the disc, the corner of the magazine pointing oppositely to the direction of rotation of the disc. The latter has a recess (17,18) extending radially from its periphery and also another recess (20,21) extending in the direction of rotation from the first-mentioned recess and covering an angle of rotation of about 90.degree.. A suction element (19) is adapted to be moved through the recess to the corner of the stack of sheets and in synchronism with the rotating recesses grips the corner of the bottom sheet, tips it over, and transports it to a table under the disc. A clamp lever takes over the corner of the sheet, which has been tipped over from the stack of sheets, before it is released by the suction element and holds it on the table during the peeling-off operation.