The present disclosure is generally related to an apparatus having cutter elements for destroying articles such as paper sheets and a mechanism for separating at least a sheet from a stack in a tray. A paper feed mechanism feeds paper that is separated from the stack by a stack separation mechanism to the cutter elements. The feed and separation mechanisms can be activated by rotation of the cutter elements. In one embodiment, the stack separation mechanism moves in an alternating manner between retracted and extended positions to disengage and engage and insert the stack to separate (with its edge) paper therefrom to feed to the feed mechanism for shredding. The paper stack separation mechanism can move in an non-undulating manner relative to the stack. A device for stripping stapled pages, a pivotable support plate, and pressure plate can also be used, as well as a number of sensors.

A transfer system for transferring a stack (101) of flat elements to a processing device includes a delivery ramp (103) with a receiving surface (104) for receiving the stack (101), a first comb structure (121) having at least one first supporting platform (123) on which at least an edge portion (115) of the stack (101) is supportable, wherein the first comb structure (121) is mounted to the delivery ramp (103), and a second comb structure (122) having at least two second supporting platforms (124) on which at least the edge portion (115) of the stack (101) is supportable, wherein the second comb structure (122) is configured for supplying the stack (101) to the processing device. The first supporting platform (123) and the second supporting platforms (124) are arranged along a first direction (109), one after another, in an interleaved manner such that the edge portion (115) is supportable on the first supporting platform (123) and the second supporting platforms (124). The first comb structure (121) and the second comb structure (122) are movable along a lifting direction (110) with respect to each other such that the edge portion (115) of the stack (101) is supportable selectively by the first supporting platform (123) or by the second supporting platforms (124), wherein the two second supporting platforms (124) are spaced along the first direction (109) such that the first supporting platform (123) is movable along the lifting direction (110) through a space between the two second supporting platforms (124).

A labelling machine for labelling a stack of elements is intended for the automated placement of a label located between elements forming part of the stack, and includes a support structure; printing means configured for printing a label to be placed on a stack of elements; a head supported on the support structure, the head being provided with printing means, the head being movable and adjustable at least in height through guiding means and motorized means; and separation means intended for separating two elements superimposed on one another forming part of the stack, such that they vertically separate an element to be handled, generating a free space between the two elements intended for the arrangement of the label.

When sheet products 1 are discharged, the sheet products are collided against shutter bars 5 so as to fall and stack on a feed conveyor 4. Then, each of protrusion bodies 7 and 8 are lowered by a first drive 9 so as to nip the sheet products between the protrusion bodies and the feed conveyor. Then, coming products are successively discharged and stacked on the protrusion bodies. And then, a second drive 12 is operated in conjunction with the feed conveyor so as to feed the sheet products nipped between the protrusion bodies and the feed conveyor 4. The shutter bars 5 are elevated and lowered by a third drive for adjusting the height position thereof.

A blank supply unit, for providing flat blanks for production of dimensionally stable outer packaging, includes an input magazine for receiving a stack of blanks, a buffer magazine arranged downstream of the input magazine for receiving stacked blanks, a transfilling unit arranged between the input magazine and the buffer magazine, and a discharge unit for withdrawing a blank from the stacked blanks in the buffer magazine and transporting the blank on to a next processing station for the blank. The transfilling unit is configured for automatic, batch-wise refilling of the buffer magazine with blanks from the input magazine.

A labelling machine for labelling a stack of elements is intended for the automated placement of a label located between elements forming part of the stack, and includes a support structure; printing means configured for printing a label to be placed on a stack of elements; a head supported on the support structure, the head being provided with printing means, the head being movable and adjustable at least in height through guiding means and motorized means; and separation means intended for separating two elements superimposed on one another forming part of the stack, such that they vertically separate an element to be handled, generating a free space between the two elements intended for the arrangement of the label.

The invention concerns a gripper (1) adapted to be used in an automated system for handling flexible substrates provided in a pile. The gripper (1) is rotatably arranged on an arm (6) of a robot and comprises a lower finger (7) and an upper finger (8). The lower finger (7) comprises a sharp, wedge-shaped edge (14), which is adapted to enable insertion of the lower finger (7) between substrates of the pile. The lower finger (7) has a round tip (11), which extends to at least one side of the lower finger (7) and forms a smooth, wedge-shaped edge (15), wherein the sharp, wedge-shaped edge (14) is arranged on the at least one side remote from the round tip (11) and substantially in level with but protruding further than the smooth, wedge-shaped edge (15).

The invention concerns a gripper (1) adapted to be used in an automated system for handling flexible substrates provided in a pile. The gripper (1) is rotatably arranged on an arm (6) of a robot and comprises a lower finger (7) and an upper finger (8). The lower finger (7) comprises a sharp, wedge- shaped edge (14), which is adapted to enable insertion of said lower finger (7) between substrates of said pile. Said lower finger (7) has a round tip (11), which extends to at least one side of the lower finger (7) and forms a smooth, wedge-shaped edge (15), wherein said sharp, wedge-shaped edge (14) is arranged on said at least one side remote from said tip (11) and substantially in level with but protruding further than said smooth, wedge-shaped edge (15).

The invention concerns a method of handling stacks of flexible substrates (14) by means of a gripper (8) as well as a robot cell (1) for carrying out the method. The gripper (8) is arranged on an arm (6) of a robot (2) and has a lower finger and a corresponding upper finger. The method comprises the steps of inserting said lower finger below a bottom substrate (14) of a stack resting on a base and said upper finger above a top substrate (14) of the stack, and gripping the stack by clamping it between said lower and upper finger. Then by means of the gripper (8) starting at a stack front the entire stack is lifted into a pendent state and moved to a support (16). There the stack is lowered such that a stack rear, which is opposite to said stack front, comes into contact with the support (16). Finally the entire stack is laid out on the support (16) with said bottom substrate (14) up by further lowering and while horizontally displacing the gripper (8) in a bottom-to-top substrate direction before letting the gripper (8) release the stack.

The present disclosure is generally related to an apparatus having cutter elements for destroying articles such as paper sheets and a mechanism for separating at least a sheet from a stack in a tray. The separation mechanism can be activated by rotation of the cutter elements. In one embodiment, the separation mechanism is provided in the form of a helical mechanism configured for insertion into the stack and to receive separated sheets from the stack in between its space(s) as it is rotated. The separated sheets can fall via gravity into the shredder mechanism. Optionally, a paper feed mechanism can feed separated paper to the cutter elements. The tray can include an edge to assist in directing separated paper towards the cutter elements. One or more staple picking support mechanisms can also be provided to assist in separating sheets from a stapled set of pages.