Paper set feeding apparatus

Abstract

A set feeding apparatus ( 10 ) separates an uppermost set of paper sheets from a staggered stack of sets ( 36 ) with a platform ( 34 ) that biases the stack toward a carriage ( 42 ) that is moveable with respect to the stack. The carriage includes a cam-activated pic and a knife head that combine to raise the uppermost set from the stack. A plow then engages the raised portion of the uppermost set to move the set off of the stack.

I claim as my invention:  
     
         1 . A sheet set feeding apparatus for separating and feeding successive sheet sets from a stack of sheet sets, said successive sheet sets being offset relative to adjacent sheet sets in said stack, said sheet set feeding apparatus comprising: 
 a set picker, said set picker exerting a temporary downward force on said stack of sheet sets during operation; and;    a support surface adapted to support said stack of sheet sets, said support surface having an upper surface with a rest position, said upper surface being pliant and resilient such that the upper surface deflects from the rest position in response to said downward force exerted on the supported stack of sheet sets and said upper surface returns to substantially its rest position upon removal of the downward force.    
     
     
         2 . The sheet set feeding apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the support surface includes a pad.  
     
     
         3 . The sheet set feeding apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said pad comprises foam.  
     
     
         4 . The sheet set feeding apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a platform disposed subjacent said support surface.  
     
     
         5 . The sheet set feeding apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the pad is at least ½ inch thick.  
     
     
         6 . The sheet set feeding apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the pad is at least 1 inch think.  
     
     
         7 . The sheet set feeding apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the support surface deflects no more than ½ inch during operation of the set picker.  
     
     
         8 . A sheet set feeding apparatus for separating and feeding successive sheet sets from a stack of sheet sets, said stack of sheet sets including at least an uppermost set having a lower surface, and a penultimate set disposed subjacent said lower surface and having an upper surface, said penultimate set being offset from said uppermost set to present an upper exposed portion, said penultimate set being disposed offset from the sheet sets of said stack of sheet sets disposed subjacent said penultimate set such that the stack of sheet sets presents staggered sheet set edges at opposed ends of the stack of sheet sets, said sheet set feeding apparatus comprising: 
 a support surface adapted to support said stack of sheet sets;    a set picker assembly, said set picker assembly including 
 a pic adapted to create a separation between the uppermost set and the penultimate set, said pic comprising a rotatable camming arrangement including a protrusion disposed to engage said staggered sheet set edges and moveable through an arc to exert a downward force on the exposed portion of the penultimate set, continued rotation exerting a separation force on the lower surface of the uppermost set to cause said separation between the lower surface of the uppermost set and the upper surface of the penultimate set, and  
 a set removal device disposed to engage the separated uppermost set and remove the uppermost set from the stack of sheet sets.  
   
     
     
         9 . The sheet set feeding apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the camming arrangement includes an eccentric, said protrusion extending toward said sheet set stack from said eccentric, rotation of said eccentric resulting in rotation of said protrusion through said arc.  
     
     
         10 . The sheet set feeding apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said pic is moveably mounted to be disposed at the opposed ends of the stack of sheet sets, and said protrusion is rotatable in either direction dependent upon the location of the pic at either of the opposed ends of the stack of sheet sets.  
     
     
         11 . The sheet set feeding apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the set removal device is disposed at a first end of the opposed ends of the stack of sheet sets, and the pic is moveably mounted to cause said separation at the opposed end opposite the first end, said pic mounted to continue to exert the separation force on the lower surface of the uppermost set while traversing the stack of sheet sets to dispose said separation along said first end.  
     
     
         12 . The sheet set feeding apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the pic does not traverse the stack of sheet sets when causing said separation at the first end of the opposed ends of the stack of sheet sets.  
     
     
         13 . The sheet set feeding apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising a separation enhancer, said separation enhancer being disposed at the first end of the opposed ends of the stack of sheet sets to enter the separation between the uppermost and penultimate sets to enhance the separation.  
     
     
         14 . The sheet set feeding apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising a separation enhancer, said separation enhancer being disposed to enter the separation between the uppermost and penultimate sets to enhance the separation,  
     
     
         15 . The sheet set feeding apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the set removal device is a plow which exerts a pushing force on the uppermost set.  
     
     
         16 . The sheet set feeding apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the set removal device is a grasping device which grasps and exerts a pulling force on the uppermost set.  
     
     
         17 . The sheet set feeding apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising a stabilizer disposed to selectively exert a downward force on stack of sheet sets.  
     
     
         18 . The sheet set feeding apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising a stabilizer disposed to exert a downward force on the stack of sheet sets during at least traversing of the pic.  
     
     
         19 . The sheet set feeding apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the support surface has an upper surface with a rest position, said upper surface being pliant and resilient such that said upper surface deflects fro said rest position in response to said downward force and said upper surface substantially returns to its rest position upon removal of the downward force.  
     
     
         20 . A sheet set feeding apparatus for separating and feeding successive sheet sets from a stack of sheet sets, said stack of sheet sets including at least an uppermost set having a lower surface, and a penultimate set disposed subjacent said lower surface and having an upper surface, said penultimate set being offset from said uppermost set to present an upper exposed portion, said penultimate set being disposed offset from the sheet sets of said stack of sheet sets disposed subjacent said penultimate set such that the stack of sheet sets presents staggered sheet set edges at opposed ends of the stack of sheet sets, said sheet set feeding apparatus comprising: 
 a support surface adapted to support said stack of sheet sets;    a set picker assembly, said set picker assembly including 
 a pic adapted to create a separation between the uppermost set and the penultimate set, said pic being mounted to be substantially linearly moveable to traverse the stack of sheet sets, said pic being operable to create said separation at either of the opposed ends of the stack depending upon the location of the exposed portion of the penultimate set, said pic further being adapted to maintain said separation while traversing the stack of sheet sets,  
 a separation enhancer disposed at a first end of said opposed ends of the stack of sheet sets, and  
 a set removal device disposed to engage the separated uppermost set and remove the uppermost set from the stack of sheet sets.  
   
     
     
         21 . The sheet set feeding apparatus of  claim 20  further comprising a stabilizer disposed to exert a downward force on the stack of sheet sets during at least traversing of the pic.