U.S. patent application number 10/248576 was filed with the patent office on 2003-08-07 for reloading device for stacks of sheets of paper, plastic material, or the like and method for operating such reloading device.
This patent application is currently assigned to MATHIAS BAUERLE GMBH. Invention is credited to Pittelkow, Ralph.
Application Number | 20030146562 10/248576 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7713568 |
Filed Date | 2003-08-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030146562 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pittelkow, Ralph |
August 7, 2003 |
Reloading Device for Stacks of Sheets of Paper, Plastic Material,
or the Like and Method for Operating such Reloading Device
Abstract
A reloading device for stacks of sheets of paper or plastic has
at least one receptacle for receiving a stack and at least one
support onto which the stack is placed. At least one peeling device
is arranged at a bottom end of the at least one receptacle, wherein
the peeling device is configured to move transversely to the stack
and, when moving transversely to the stack, to peel in a peeling
step at least one sheet from a bottom end of the stack. The peeling
device is preferably a peeling blade.
Inventors: |
Pittelkow, Ralph; (St.
Georgen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GUDRUN E. HUCKETT
LONSSTR. 53
WUPPERTAL
42289
DE
|
Assignee: |
MATHIAS BAUERLE GMBH
Gewerbehallestr. 7-11
St. Georgen
DE
|
Family ID: |
7713568 |
Appl. No.: |
10/248576 |
Filed: |
January 30, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
271/18 ;
271/157 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 2301/42322
20130101; B65H 1/30 20130101; B65H 3/322 20130101; B65H 2301/422
20130101; B65H 2301/4233 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
271/18 ;
271/157 |
International
Class: |
B65H 003/00; B65H
001/26 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 1, 2002 |
DE |
10204188.1 |
Claims
1. A reloading device for stacks of sheets of paper or plastic,
comprising: at least one receptacle (1) for receiving a stack (2);
at least one support (5) onto which the stack (2) is placed; at
least one peeling device (14) arranged at a bottom end of the at
least one receptacle (1), wherein the at least one peeling device
(14) is configured to move transversely to the stack (2) and, when
moving transversely to the stack (2), to peel in a peeling step at
least one sheet (13) from a bottom end of the stack (2).
2. The reloading device according to claim 1, wherein the at least
one peeling device (14) is a peeling blade.
3. The reloading device according to claim 1, wherein the peeling
device (14) has an edge (15) shaped as a cutting edge.
4. The reloading device according to claim 3, wherein the edge (15)
has edge portions (19, 20) positioned relative to one another at a
slant to form a roof-shaped contour.
5. The reloading device according to claim 1, wherein the at least
one support (5) in a peeling area of the at least one peeling
device (14) has a through opening (10) allowing a sheet (13) peeled
off by the at least one peeling device (14) to pass through the at
least one support (5).
6. The reloading device according to claim 5, wherein the at least
one support (5) is movable relative to the stack (2).
7. The reloading device according to claim 6, wherein the at least
one support (5) moves together with the at least one peeling device
(14) relative to the stack (2) during the peeling step.
8. The reloading device according to claim 6, wherein the at least
one support (5) comprises rollers (6) diverting a load generated by
the stack (2) away from the at least one peeling device (14).
9. The reloading device according to claim 5, wherein in an initial
position of the at least one support (5) the through opening (10)
is located adjacent to a lateral limiting device of the receptacle
(1).
10. The reloading device according to claim 5, wherein sheets (13)
arranged on or close to the at least one support (5) have an edge
area located above the through opening (10).
11. The reloading device according to claim 1, wherein the at least
one peeling device (14) in an initial position is located outside
the stack (2).
12. The reloading device according to claim 1, further comprising
at least one air-supplying nozzle (22) arranged at the at least one
support (5) and oriented toward a bottom end of the stack (2).
13. The reloading device according to claim 1, further comprising a
bottom (9) arranged underneath the at least one support (5).
14. The reloading device according to claim 1, wherein the at least
one peeling device (14) is arranged vertically above the at least
one support (5) relative to a vertical extension of the stack
(2).
15. A method for operating a reloading device according to claim 1,
comprising the steps of: placing sheets (13) on top of a stack (2);
and peeling off sheets (13) from a bottom end of the stack (2).
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the step of placing
is carried out during the step of peeling off.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention.
[0002] The invention relates to a reloading device for stacks of
sheets of paper, plastic material, or the like, comprising at least
one receptacle for the stack that rests on at least one support.
The invention further relates to a method for operating such a
reloading device wherein sheets are removed from the bottom end of
the stack and sheets are placed on top of the stack.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art.
[0004] It is known in connection with feeding devices for folding
devices, collecting devices, and the like to arrange a paper stack
in a receptacle and to remove single sheets successively from the
bottom end of the stack. The paper stack can have only a minimal
height because the pressure on the bottom sheet becomes higher with
increasing height of the stack. It is then difficult to properly
remove the bottom sheet from the stack.
[0005] It is also known to fan or spread the sheets of a stack and
to then place the sheets onto the transport device. However, this
requires a long reload path.
[0006] It is also known to position the individual sheets at a
slant and to reload them individually by means of a transport belt
successively to the chute of a feeder.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0007] It is an object of the present invention to configure the
reloading device of the aforementioned kind and the method of the
aforementioned kind such that the sheets of the stack can be
removed reliably and without problems.
[0008] In accordance with the present invention, this is achieved
in connection with the device of the aforementioned kind in that in
the lower area of the receptacle at least one peeling device is
arranged which is movable transversely to the stack and peels at
least one sheet from the lower end (bottom end) of the stack. In
accordance with the present invention this is achieved in
connection with the method of the aforementioned kind in that from
the bottom end of the stack sheets are peeled off.
[0009] According to the present invention, the sheet at the lower
end (bottom end) of the stack is removed by means of a peeling
device which can be guided transversely to the vertical extension
of the stack through the lower stack end. The peeling device can be
adjusted such that only one sheet is removed from the lower end of
the stack. However, it is advantageous to remove several sheets
from the lower end of the stack. The peeled-off portion of the
stack then drops, for example, into the chute of a feeder arranged
underneath the peeling device, and the sheets are then individually
and sequentially supplied by the feeder in a way known in the art
to further processing devices.
[0010] Advantageously, the load which is exerted by the stack is
transmitted from the support onto stationary parts so that the
peeling device is not loaded by the stack. Accordingly, the stack
can be very tall without the peeling process being negatively
affected. In particular, in the reloading device according to the
invention new sheets can be placed onto the stack during the
peeling process. Since in connection with the device according to
the invention and in connection with the method according to the
invention at least the lowermost sheet of the stack is removed by
means of the peeling device moving transversely to the vertical
direction of the stack, the sheets can be supplied reliably to the
unit arranged downstream, which is preferably a feeder.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a first phase of the process of peeling
sheets from the bottom end of a paper stack in a reloading device
according to the invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 shows the second phase of peeling sheets from the
bottom end of a paper stack.
[0013] FIG. 3 shows the third phase of peeling sheets from the
bottom end of the paper stack.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a plan view onto a peeling device, in the form of
a peeling blade, of the reloading device of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] The reloading device, used, for example, in connection with
feeders, has a paper receptacle 1 in which a paper stack 2 can be
arranged. The receptacle 1 is open at the top and has
advantageously four sidewalls rectangularly positioned relative to
one another. FIG. 1 shows two sidewalls 3 and 4. In place of the
sidewalls as lateral limiting devices for the fixation of the paper
stack 2, the receptacle 1 can have lateral limiting devices in the
form of bars, rods or the like which are positioned at a spacing to
one another and secure the paper stack 2.
[0016] The paper stack 2 is positioned on a support 5 which
comprises rollers 6 as well as belts 7 positioned at a spacing to
one another. Across the width of the paper stack 2 advantageously
several parallel belts 7 are arranged adjacent to one another so
that the paper stack 2 is provided with a proper support in the
receiving duct 8. Instead of the belts 7 it is also possible to
employ a strap or band which has a corresponding width. The belts
7, with the rollers 6 positioned therebetween, are endless and
configured to circulate. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the support 5
extends underneath the receptacle 1. On both sides of the
receptacle 1, the belts 7 are guided across deflection rollers (not
illustrated). The paper stack 2 is supported by means of the
rollers 6 on components of the reloading device.
[0017] The support 5 is provided in the support area of the paper
stack 2 with an interruption or through opening 10 which is located
in an initial position of the reloading device adjacent to a
sidewall 4 of the receptacle 1. The sidewalls 3, 4 extends into
close proximity of the support 5. Underneath the support 5, a
downstream processing unit such as a feeder is arranged. This
processing unit, preferably a feeder, has a bottom 9 and sidewalls
11, 12 which are advantageously aligned with the sidewalls 3, 4 and
extend into close proximity of the support 5. In the initial
position illustrated in FIG. 1, the interruption (through opening)
10 of the support 5 extends to the sidewall 4. Since the
interruption 10 matches the width of the paper stack 2, the paper
stack 2 is not supported in this area. This has the result that the
lower sheets or bottom sheets 13 of the paper stack 2 are slightly
curved downwardly and are thus fanned or spread apart.
Advantageously, the interruption 10 has such a width that even the
greatest size of paper stack 2 is not supported in this area.
[0018] A peeling device in the form of a peeling blade 14 is
arranged on the support 5. In the initial position according to
FIG. 1, the peeling blade 14 is arranged such that it does not
project into the chute 8 of the receptacle 1. This peeling blade 14
can be fixedly connected to the belts 7 of the support 5 and
projects past the belts 7 in the direction toward the paper stack
2. It is also possible to secure the peeling blade 14 separately.
The peeling blade 14 can be optimally supported on the belts 7.
[0019] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the plate-shaped peeling blade 14
is provided with a slanted edge 15 having a roof-shaped contour. It
has ascending edge portions 19, 20 beginning at the opposed narrow
sides 16, 17 and ascending in the peeling direction 18 such that at
half the length of the peeling blade 14 they intercept one another
at an obtuse angle and form a tip. The peeling blade 14 is
advantageously thin so that during the peeling process to be
described in the following it can easily move between the sheets 13
of the paper stack 2. Advantageously, the edge 15 is beveled or
chamfered such that a type of cutting edge 21 is formed with which
the peeling blade 14 reliably engages between the sheets 13.
[0020] In order for the peeling blade 14 to move easily and without
problems between the sheets 13, in the area of the sidewalls 4, 12
at least one air nozzle 22 is arranged whose outlet opening is
oriented toward the sheets 13 such that the air exiting from the
air nozzle 22 optimally spreads apart or fans out the sheets 13.
Advantageously, several air nozzles 22 are arranged adjacent to one
another across the width of the paper stack 2.
[0021] In order to peel off the sheets 13 in the lower (bottom)
area of the paper stack 2, the peeling blade 14 is moved to the
left from the initial position according to FIG. 1. The support 5
is moved by the same amount and rolls on the underside of the paper
stack 2 during the peeling process like a crawler-type track and
securely supports the paper stack 2 in this way. The support 5 is
supported in the device laterally outside of the paper stack 2 so
that the load which is exerted by the paper stack 2 is diverted to
the reloading device.
[0022] At the beginning of the peeling process, the compressed air
is blown through the air nozzle 22 in the direction toward the
slightly downwardly projecting edges of the lower sheets 13 in the
paper stack 2 so that the edges of the sheets 13 are spread apart
or fanned out. The peeling blade 14 can move with its cutting edge
21 reliably between two sheets 13. In order for the sheets 13 to be
reliably peeled off in the downward direction through the
interruption 10 of the support 5, the interruption 10 has a
sufficient width in the peeling direction 18 so that the sheets 13
can be removed from the lower stack end by peeling without there
being the risk of damaging the sheets 13.
[0023] The beveled edge of the peeling blade 14 which extends at a
slant downwardly and to the rear in the peeling direction 18
ensures that the peeled-off sheets are deflected reliably
downwardly through the interruption 10. During the peeling process
the paper stack 2 is supported substantially across its entire
length on the support 5 while the peeling blade 14 is substantially
relieved of any load. The peeled-off sheets 13 which drop
downwardly through the interruption (cutout) 10 fall onto the
bottom 9 of the downstream unit and are then transported away from
the bottom 9. The peeling blade 14 is moved to such an extent until
its edge 15 reaches the area between the sidewalls 3, 11 (FIG. 3).
In this phase, the lower sheets 13 are completely removed from the
lower or bottom end of the paper stack 2 and have dropped through
the interruption (cutout) 10 downwardly onto the bottom 9. From
this position shown in FIG. 3, the peeling blade 14 and the support
5 are moved back into the initial position illustrated in FIG. 1.
During this return movement, no sheets are removed from the lower
end of the paper stack 2.
[0024] However, it is also possible to peel off sheets 13 at the
lower end of the paper stack 2 during the return movement into the
initial position off FIG. 1. In this case, the support 5 is
provided with an additional peeling blade which relative to the
peeling blade 14 is rotated by 180 degrees and arranged at the
other edge of the interruption 10.
[0025] The number of sheets that can be removed from the lower end
of the paper stack 2 depends on the spacing between the support
side of the support 5, measured in the vertical direction, and the
edge 15 of the peeling blade 14. The greater this distance, the
more sheets can be removed at the lower end of the paper stack
2.
[0026] During peeling, the paper stack 2 remains stationary while
the peeling blade 14 is moved in the described way relative to the
paper stack 2. Since the paper stack 2 is supported on the rollers
6 and the belts 7 of the support 5, the peeling blade 14 is loaded
only minimally so that the sheets 13 in the lower area of the paper
stack 2 can be removed easily and effortlessly.
[0027] Since the forward edge 15 of the peeling blade 14, viewed in
the peeling direction 18, has edge portions 19, 20 that are slanted
relative to one another in a roof shape, the peeling blade 14 does
not move immediately with its entire length between the sheets 13
but gradually as the peeling process continues. In this way, the
sheets 13 can be peeled from the lower end of the paper stack in a
gentle way.
[0028] Since the sheets 13 are removed at the lower end of the
paper stack 2, the receiving chute 8 itself can be reloaded from
the top during the peeling process. The paper stack 2 can be tall
because it is supported on the rollers 6 and the belts 7 and does
not load the peeling blade 14. The reloading device requires only a
minimal space for its installation because of its small footprint
resulting from the fact that the individual sheets 13 of the stack
2 are positioned on top one another (are vertically stacked or
aligned).
[0029] In the described way, it is also possible to stack large
size sheets and to remove large size sheets at the lower end of the
stack by peeling. In the case of such large size sheets, a simple
reloading is possible even during the peeling process. It is
advantageous to automatically reload the sheets in small stack
units of, for example, 50 to 100 sheets from above so that in the
receptacle chute 8 always the same conditions and a uniform removal
of the sheets 13 are ensured. Since the sheets in the receptacle
chute 8 and within the stack 2 are not moved, no friction occurs
and thus also no static charging. The paper stack 2 must also not
be spread apart or fanned so that a simple operation is
ensured.
[0030] At least the topside of the peeling blade 14 is comprised
advantageously of a friction-reducing material, for example, poly
tetrafluoro ethylene (PTFE).
[0031] The support 5 must not be a circulating one. Since the
support, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, is only moved back and
forth, it is also possible to operate the two parts of the support
5 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 separately or to connect them at
their ends facing away from the interruption 10 by push/pull
means.
[0032] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown
and described in detail to illustrate the inventive principles, it
will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise
without departing from such principles.
* * * * *