PILE SHEET REMOVER

Abstract

Provided is a pile sheet remover system for preparing a pile of sheets with a height, a free end, and a side of sheet edges for processing in a pile preparation unit. The PSR may include a sheet removing unit having a support frame supporting a moving frame, configured for a linear movement in an attack direction towards the side and the free end of the pile of sheets. The moving frame may have a side support plate with a side support face arranged to face and apply to the side of the pile of sheets. The PSR may have a grab plate arranged with a grab face essentially perpendicular to the side support face and extending beyond the side support face in the attack direction, configured with a grab actuator for a grab movement towards the free end of the pile of sheets.

Claims

1. A pile sheet remover system for preparing a pile of sheets with a height, a free end and a side of sheet edges for processing in a pile preparation unit, the system comprising: a sheet removing unit having a support frame supporting a moving frame configured for a linear movement in an attack direction towards the side and the free end of the pile of sheets, the moving frame having a side support plates with a side support face arranged to face and to apply to the side of the pile of sheets, a grab plate arranged with a grab face essentially perpendicular to the side support face and extending beyond the side support face in the attack direction and configured with a grab actuator for a grab movement towards the free end of the pile of sheets, one or more attack knives arranged to face the side of the pile of sheets configured with one or more attack actuators for at least one attack movement in the attack direction for insertion of the one or more attack knives between a pair of sheets, wherein there is a first attack knife for a first attach movement and a second attack knife for a second attack movement; wherein the first attack knife is a smaller knife with a blade in the attack direction and the second attack knife is a larger knife, wherein the pile sheet remover system further comprises: a marking unit arranged to mark the sheet on an uncovered free end of the pile of sheets.

2. The pile sheet remover system according to claim 1, wherein one or more first attack knives are configured with one or more edge lift actuators for a lift movement transverse to the line of the attack direction and perpendicular to the direction of sheet edges.

3. The pile sheet remover system according to claim 1, wherein one or more second attack knives are configured with one or more transverse actuators for a transverse movement that is transverse to the line of the attack direction and parallel to the sheet edges.

4. The pile sheet remover system according to claim 1, wherein one or more attack knives are configured for a second attack movement extending the first attack movement in the attack direction for further insertion of the one or more attack knives between the pair of sheets.

5. The pile sheet remover system according to claim 1, wherein one or more attack knives are configured with an upwardly one-sided Chisel-type of edge and optionally a substantially linear edge extending opposite to the attack direction.

6. The pile sheet remover system according to claim 1, being arranged in a pallet change module comprising a pallet portal with movable pallet engagement for engaging with a pallet for extraction from and/or insertion of a pallet.

7. The pile sheet remover system according to claim 1, wherein the sheet removing unit is arranged cooperatively with the pile preparation unit that is configured to receive a pile of sheets on a pallet, turning the pile of sheets on the pallet up-side-down, releasing the pallet from the pile of sheets creating a free end, which relative position of the free end between the sheet removing unit and the pile preparation unit is adjustable for engagement of side support plate and adjustable for the insertion or attack of one or more attack knives.

8. A method of preparing a pile of sheets for processing, the method comprising acts of: providing a pile of sheets to be processed and having a free end and a side of sheet edges; inserting a first attack knife in a first attack movement in the attack direction and in between a pair of sheets; lifting the first attach knife; inserting deeper one or more second attack knives in a second attack movement; performing one or more of the following acts: traversing one or more of the interested attack knives in a transverse movement transverse to the line of attack direction and parallel to the sheet edges; grapping a number of sheets from the free end of the pile of sheets; removing the number of sheets from the free end; wherein the method before the act of inserting the first attack knife further comprises acts of: providing a pile remover system comprising a marking unit arranged to mark the sheet on an uncovered free end of the pile of sheets; marking the sheet on an uncovered free end of the pile of sheets with said marking unit; and engaging a side support face on a sheet removing unit in an attack direction to the side of the sheet edges at the free end.

9. The method of preparing a pile of sheets for processing according to claim 8, wherein the act of providing a pile of sheets is performed in a pile preparation unit that is configured to receive and rotate a pile of sheets on a pallet, and further comprising acts of: rotating the pile of sheets on the pallet up-side-down; releasing the pallet from the pile of sheets creating a free end; adjusting the position repeatedly of the created free end for the acts of engaging and inserting; applying the released pallet or another pallet to the created free end; and rotating the pile of sheets with the applied pallet.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0108] Embodiments of the invention will be described in the figures, whereon:

[0109] FIG. 1 illustrates a pile of sheets inside a pile preparation unit and part of a pile sheet remover;

[0110] FIG. 2 illustrates the pile sheet remover system;

[0111] FIG. 3 illustrates the removal of a sheet;

[0112] FIG. 4 illustrates the marking unit;

[0113] FIG. 5 illustrates a close-up of the marking unit;

[0114] FIG. 6 illustrates a pile sheet remover cooperating with a marking unit; and

[0115] FIG. 7 illustrates a pile sheet remover system connected with a pile preparation unit.

[0116] FIG. 8 illustrates a method of preparing a pile of sheets for processing including removing a number of sheets from the pile; and

[0117] FIG. 9 illustrates a method of preparing a pile of sheets for processing further including rotating the pile of sheets before removing a number of sheets from the pile.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0118] FIG. 1 illustrates a pile of sheets 210 inside a PPU 500. The pile of sheets 210 has a height 240, a free end 250 and a side 230 of sheet edges 260. A PSR 100 is positioned next to the free end 250 of the pile of sheets 210.

[0119] FIG. 2 illustrates the PSR 100.

[0120] FIG. 2A illustrates a top view of the PSR 100 having a sheet removing unit 110 with a support frame 120 supporting a moving frame 130.

[0121] The moving frame is configured for a linear movement in an attack direction 440 towards the side 230 and the free end 250 of the pile of sheets 210. The moving frame 130 has a side support plate 150 with a side support face 160 arranged to face and apply to the side 230 of the pile of sheets 210.

[0122] The PSR 100 has a grab plate 300. The grab plate 300 is arranged with a grab face 310 essentially perpendicular to the side support face 160 and extending beyond the side support face 160 in the attack direction 440. The grab plate 300 is configured with a grab actuator 320 for a grab movement 420 towards the free end 250 of the pile of sheets 210.

[0123] FIG. 2B illustrates a close-up of the PSR 100 front.

[0124] In the figure the PSR100 has two attack knives 170 arranged, below the grab plate 300, to face the side 230 of the pile of sheets 210. The two attack knives 170 are configured in an attack knives support 175 movable in an attack knives support guide 176 in the moving frame 130 with one or more attack actuators 184, 186 (see FIGS. 2C and 2D) for at least an attack movement and here first attack movement 410 and a second attack movement 412 in the attack direction 440 for insertion of two attack knives 170 between a pair of sheets 220.

[0125] In this embodiment the PSR 100 has two attack knives 170 and two attack actuators, a first attack actuator 184 and a second attack actuator 186 (see FIGS. 2C and 2D).

[0126] In FIG. 2B the PSR 100 has two attack knives 170 configured with two transverse actuators 180 for a transverse movement 400. The transverse movement 400 is transverse to the line of the attack direction 440 and parallel to the sheet edges 260.

[0127] In another embodiment the PSR 100 may have one or more attack knives 170 and one or more transverse actuators 180.

[0128] In FIG. 2B the PSR 100 has two attack knives 170, which are configured with an edge lift actuators 190 (see FIGS. 2C and 2D) for a lift movement 430 transverse to the line of attack direction 440 and perpendicular to direction the sheet edges 260, i.e. the lift movement 430 is perpendicular to the line of attack direction 440 and the transverse direction 400.

[0129] In another embodiment the PSR 100 has one or more attack knives 170 and one or more edge lift actuators 190.

[0130] In FIG. 2B the PSR 100 has two attack knives 170, which are configured for a second attack movement 412 extending the first attack movement 410 in the attack direction 440 for further insertion of the two knives 170 between the pair of sheets 220. The second attack movement 412 may be a result of activation of second attack actuators 186 (see details in FIGS. 2C and 2D).

[0131] In one embodiment the PSR 100 has one or more attack knives 170 configured with an upwardly one-sided Chisel-type of edge and optionally a substantially linear edge extending opposite to the attack direction 440.

[0132] FIGS. 2C and 2D illustrate a cross-section of the front end of a PSR 100 from FIGS. 2A and 2B. The cross section is in the center of the PSR 100 in the transverse direction.

[0133] In particular the figure illustrates exemplary details of the configuration of the lift actuator 190 connected to the side support plate 150 and for activating the lift movement 430 of the attack-knives 170.

[0134] The first attack actuator 184 is here a pneumatic-type actuator for a possible distinct sharp movement. The lift actuator 190 is here a pneumatic-type actuator for a possible distinct sharp movement. The second attack actuator 186 is here an actuator for a continuous and slower linear motion as compared to the distinct sharp movement. FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate the removal of a sheet 200.

[0135] In FIG. 3A the side support face 150 is connected to the side 230 of the pile of sheets 210 and the two attack knives 170 have performed a first attack movement 410 in the attack direction. The attack knives 170 may perform a second attack movement 412.

[0136] The attack knives 170 are inserted between a pair of sheets 220.

[0137] The grab plate 300 makes a grab movement 420 between FIGS. 3A and 3B and the PSR 100 moves in the reverse attack direction 440.

[0138] In FIG. 3B a single sheet 200 is removed from the pile of sheets 210.

[0139] Adjusting the position of the pile of sheets will regulate the position of attack into the pile of sheets and more sheets may be removed from the pile of sheets 210.

[0140] FIG. 4 illustrates the marking unit 510 arranged to mark the sheet on the uncovered free end 250 of the pile of sheets 210.

[0141] FIG. 5 illustrates a close-up of a marking unit 510. The marking unit 510 is configured to position a marker and to mark a sheet (not seen). The position of the marker, before marking, can be adjusted as is evident from the figure.

[0142] FIG. 6 illustrates a pile preparation unit implementation with a marking unit 510 and a pile sheet removal unit 100 arranged for marking of a sheet 200 laid free after removal of one or more sheets and thus establishing a new free end 250.

[0143] FIG. 7 illustrates a PSR 100 connected with a PPU 500. The sheet removing unit 110 is arranged cooperatively with the PPU 500 that is configured to receive a pile of sheets 210 on a pallet 270 and for turning the pile of sheets on the pallet upside down. The PPU 500 is configured for releasing the pallet 270 from the pile of sheets 210 creating a free end 250. The free end 250 has a relative position between the sheet removing unit 110 and the PPU 500 that is adjustable for engagement of the side support plate 150 and adjustable for the insertion or attack of one or more attack knives 170.

[0144] FIG. 8 illustrates a method 700 of preparing a pile of sheets 210 for processing

[0145] The method comprises the following acts.

[0146] There is an act of providing 710 a pile of sheets 210 to be processed and having a free end 250 and a side 230 of sheet edges 260.

[0147] There is an act of engaging 720 a side support face 160 on a sheet removing unit 110 in an attack direction 440 to the side 230 of the sheet edges at the free end 250.

[0148] There is an act of inserting 730 one or more attack knives 170 in a first attack movement 410 in the attack direction 440 and in between a pair of sheets.

[0149] Optionally there are one or more of the following optional acts.

[0150] There is an optional act of lifting 740 the attack knives 170.

[0151] There is an optional act of inserting 730 deeper one or more attack knives 170 in a second attack movement.

[0152] There is an optional act of traversing 750 one or more of the interested attack knives in a transverse movement 400 transverse to the line of attack direction 440 and parallel to the sheet edges 260.

[0153] There is an act of grapping 760 a number of sheets from the free end 250 of the pile of sheets 210.

[0154] There is an act of removing 770 the number of sheets from the free end 250 by performing a movement in the reverse direction of the attack direction.

[0155] FIG. 9 illustrates further method with additional acts as disclosed in FIG. 8.

[0156] The method 700 of preparing a pile of sheets 210 for processing as disclosed and wherein the act of providing 710 a pile of sheets is performed in a pile preparation unit 500 that is configured to receive and rotate a pile of sheets on a pallet 270. The method 700 has further comprising acts as follows.

[0157] There is an act of rotating 780 the pile of sheets on the pallet up-side-down. There is an act of releasing 790 the pallet from the pile of sheets creating a free end 250. There is an act of adjusting 800 the position repeatedly of the created free end 250 for the acts of engaging and inserting. There is an act of applying 810 the released pallet or another pallet to the created free end 250), and there is an act of rotating 780 the pile of sheets with the applied pallet.

[0158] The acts may be performed by a pile preparation unit 500 illustrated in FIG. 7.

TABLE-US-00001 Item No Pile sheet remover system 100 Sheet removing unit 110 Support frame 120 Moving frame 130 Side support plate 150 Side support face 160 Attack knives 170 First attack knife 171 Second attack knife 172 Attack knife support 175 Attack knife support guide 176 Transverse actuators 180 First attack actuator 184 Second attack actuator 186 Lift Actuators 190 Sheet 200 Pile of sheets 210 Pair of sheets 220 Side 230 Height 240 Free end 250 Sheet edge 260 Pallet 270 Grab plate 300 Grab face 310 Grab actuator 320 Transverse movement 400 Attack movement 410 First attack movement 411 Second attack movement 412 Grab movement 420 Lift movement 430 Attack direction 440 Pile preparation unit 500 Marking unit 510 Control unit 520 Pallet change module 600 Pallet portal 620 Movable pallet engagement means 630 Method 700 Providing 710 Engaging 720 Inserting 730 Lifting 740 Traversing 750 Grapping 760 Removing 770 Rotating 780 Releasing 790 Adjusting 800 Applying 810