A device for changing a sheet pile (14) in a sheet feeder (10) for a sheet treating machine comprises a main pile supporting unit (18) with a main pile actuating unit (20) for lifting and lowering the main pile supporting unit (18), wherein the main pile supporting unit (18) comprises a supporting surface (22) adapted to support a pallet (16) carrying a sheet pile (14). The device further comprises a residual pile supporting unit (24) with a residual pile actuating unit (26) for lifting and lowering the residual pile supporting unit (24). The residual pile supporting unit (24) comprises a plurality of residual pile bars (38) extending substantially parallel to each other and being substantially parallel to the supporting surface (22) of the main pile supporting unit (18), wherein the residual pile bars (38) are coupled to a bar actuating unit (43) adapted to move the residual pile bars (38) on a line parallel to the direction of extension of the respective residual pile bar (38) into a sheet pile region (30) and retract the residual pile bars (38) from the sheet pile region (30). The bar actuating unit (43) is configured to retract the residual pile bars (38) while introducing an oscillatory movement of the residual pile bars (38) along the direction of extension of the residual pile bars (38).

Further, a method for changing a sheet pile (14) in a sheet feeder (10) is presented.

A medium support device includes: a first support section that transits between a first position and a second position relative to a main body; a second support section that transits between a retracted position and a protruding position relative to the first support section; and a locking mechanism configured to set a lock the second support section. When the first support section is in the first position and the second support section is retracted into the first support section, the retracted state is formed. When the first support section is in the second position and the second support section protrudes from the first support, the extended state is formed. The locking mechanism locks the second support section retracted into the first support section when the first support section is in the first position and releases the lock when the first support section is in the second position.

A separator (1) for temporarily receiving sheet elements (9) that are to be transferred from a stacking table (2) to an output conveyor (3) of bundles of sheet elements comprises: a support (10) mounted with the ability to slide in a vertical direction; a drive device (11) for driving the support in the vertical direction; several arms (13) extending in a longitudinal horizontal direction, spaced apart in a transverse direction, at least one arm (13) being mounted with the ability to move in the longitudinal horizontal direction with respect to the support, the movement of the arm modifying its overhanging length with respect to the support (10) on a first side in the longitudinal horizontal direction; a drive system (12) configured to simultaneously move the arm in the longitudinal horizontal direction and to keep another of the arms in its longitudinal position.

A medium support device includes: a first support section that transits between a first position and a second position relative to a main body; a second support section that transits between a retracted position and a protruding position relative to the first support section; and a locking mechanism configured to set a lock the second support section. When the first support section is in the first position and the second support section is retracted into the first support section, the retracted state is formed. When the first support section is in the second position and the second support section protrudes from the first support, the extended state is formed. The locking mechanism locks the second support section retracted into the first support section when the first support section is in the first position and releases the lock when the first support section is in the second position.

The invention relates to an insert-sheet pick-up device (13) for an insert-sheet loading device (10) of a station for receiving copy (500). The pick-up device (13) includes a suction element (20) configured to pick up an insert sheet. The pick-up device (13) includes a pivoting axis (30) and at least one telescopic arm (33) including a proximal arm (33a), one end of which is fixed to the pivoting axis (30), and a distal arm (33b), able to move with respect to the proximal arm (33a), and one end of which is pivot-articulated to the suction element (20) to move the suction element (20) between a raised position and a lowered position according to a vertical movement of the suction element (20). Also, the invention also relates to an insert-sheet loading device, a copy-receiving station and a machine for processing elements in sheet form including the insert-sheet pick-up device.

An insert sheet loading device (10) comprising a movable carriage (12; 12) for inserting insert sheets into a receiving area (2) of a blank-receiving station (500). The movable carriage (12; 12) has a plurality of longitudinal bars (27a, 27b). At least one longitudinal bar (27a) has a suction channel (35) leading out, via at least one suction opening (30), onto the surface of the longitudinal bar (27a) for receiving an insert sheet, the suction channel (35) is connected to a vacuum source (31) for holding, by suction, the insert sheet transported by the movable carriage (12; 12). Also a blank-receiving station, a sheet-shaped element processing machine, and a method for transporting an insert sheet in a receiving area of a blank-receiving station are disclosed.

A separator (1) for temporarily receiving sheet elements (9) that are to be transferred from a stacking table (2) to an output conveyor (3) of bundles of sheet elements comprises: a support (10) mounted with the ability to slide in a vertical direction; a drive device (11) for driving the support in the vertical direction; several arms (13) extending in a longitudinal horizontal direction, spaced apart in a transverse direction, at least one arm (13) being mounted with the ability to move in the longitudinal horizontal direction with respect to the support, the movement of the arm modifying its overhanging length with respect to the support (10) on a first side in the longitudinal horizontal direction; a drive system (12) configured to simultaneously move the arm in the longitudinal horizontal direction and to keep another of the arms in its longitudinal position.

A device for changing a sheet pile (14) in a sheet feeder (10) for a sheet treating machine comprises a main pile supporting unit (18) with a main pile actuating unit (20) for lifting and lowering the main pile supporting unit (18), wherein the main pile supporting unit (18) comprises a supporting surface (22) adapted to support a pallet (16) carrying a sheet pile (14). The device further comprises a residual pile supporting unit (24) with a residual pile actuating unit (26) for lifting and lowering the residual pile supporting unit (24). The residual pile supporting unit (24) comprises a plurality of residual pile bars (38) extending substantially parallel to each other and being substantially parallel to the supporting surface (22) of the main pile supporting unit (18), wherein the residual pile bars (38) are coupled to a bar actuating unit (43) adapted to move the residual pile bars (38) on a line parallel to the direction of extension of the respective residual pile bar (38) into a sheet pile region (30) and retract the residual pile bars (38) from the sheet pile region (30). The bar actuating unit (43) is configured to retract the residual pile bars (38) while introducing an oscillatory movement of the residual pile bars (38) along the direction of extension of the residual pile bars (38). Further, a method for changing a sheet pile (14) in a sheet feeder (10) is presented.

The invention relates to an insert-sheet pick-up device (13) for an insert-sheet loading device (10) of a station for receiving copy (500). The pick-up device (13) includes a suction element (20) configured to pick up an insert sheet. The pick-up device (13) includes a pivoting axis (30) and at least one telescopic arm (33) including a proximal arm (33a), one end of which is fixed to the pivoting axis (30), and a distal arm (33b), able to move with respect to the proximal arm (33a), and one end of which is pivot-articulated to the suction element (20) to move the suction element (20) between a raised position and a lowered position according to a vertical movement of the suction element (20). Also, the invention also relates to an insert-sheet loading device, a copy-receiving station and a machine for processing elements in sheet form including the insert-sheet pick-up device.

An insert sheet loading device (10) comprising a movable carriage (12; 12) for inserting insert sheets into a receiving area (2) of a blank-receiving station (500). The movable carriage (12; 12) has a plurality of longitudinal bars (27a, 27b). At least one longitudinal bar (27a) has a suction channel (35) leading out, via at least one suction opening (30), onto the surface of the longitudinal bar (27a) for receiving an insert sheet, the suction channel (35) is connected to a vacuum source (31) for holding, by suction, the insert sheet transported by the movable carriage (12; 12). Also a blank-receiving station, a sheet-shaped element processing machine, and a method for transporting an insert sheet in a receiving area of a blank-receiving station are disclosed.