GB1218433A - Devices for picking up pieces of sheet material from a stack of pieces - Google Patents

Abstract

1,218,433. Separating sheets. D. OLDROYD. 26 Feb., 1969 [9 Feb., 1968], No. 6629/68. Heading B8R. A device for picking up pieces of sheet material from a stack comprises means for gripping the top piece or pieces and lifting them from the stack and tubular means for piercing the upper piece or pieces and introducing gas directly between them and the next lower piece. Separating device. Fig. 2.-Metal strips 6, 13 are mounted on one face of a vertical support 5 so that strip 6 is generally fixed to the support 5, and strip 13 is slidable over the face of strip 6 in the horizontal direction. The horizontal movement of strip 13 is limited by stops 14, (15), Fig. 1 (not shown), thereon engaging with members 7, 8 rigid with strip 6. The complete assembly, comprising members 7, 8 and strips 6, 13, can be adjusted vertically by means of slots 24, 25 in members 7, 8 and releasable bolts 23. Depending from the bottom of strips 6, 13, respectively, are a series of oppositely-slanted teeth 18, 19. In an initial position, Fig. 1 (not shown), the teeth are positioned side-by-side on the strips; after penetrating the top piece of a stack 33, strip 13 is moved to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, so that the teeth securely grip the top-piece. The entire device, including support 5 or raised and traversed to a different location where the teeth are again moved together and the sheet is dropped. Both series of teeth 18, 19 could be movable, and the depth of penetration can be adjusted for pick-up of more than one sheet. Assisting separation.-Air is supplied under pressure through tube 30 to needle member 28, the end of which extends below the points of teeth 18, 19. The needle member is suitably adjustable in penetration by means of clamp 31 and bolts 32. Suction separator.-In an alternative embodiment, Fig. 4 (not shown), the gripping teeth are replaced by a vacuum chamber (35) contacting the top piece. A needle (36) again projects through the top piece and has air under pressure supplied through it. The pressure in chamber (35) may be increased to above atmospheric to deposit the piece after separation. Cylindrical separator.-A further embodiment, not shown, involves the forming of the two series of teeth on concentric cylinders, the teeth generally pointing axially but inclined in opposite directions circumferentially of the cylinder, the tubular needle also projecting axially.