Pneumatic feed and separation system, substrate handling system, method for pneumatic feeding and separation of flat substrates, computer program product, memory medium

Abstract

The invention relates to a pneumatic feed and separation system ( 1 ) for flat substrates ( 3 ) such as papers and the like in a stack ( 5, 5′, 5″ ), and to a corresponding method. The system has: a rear edge separating apparatus ( 10 ) for separation of a top substrate ( 3 ) from the stack ( 5, 5′, 5″ ) in the area of the rear edge ( 9 ) of the stack ( 5, 5′, 5″ ) in the transport direction ( 7 ), a transport apparatus ( 20 ) for the top substrate ( 3 ) in the area of the front edge ( 8 ) of the stack ( 5, 5′, 5″ ) in the transport direction ( 7 ), and a control unit ( 30 ). In order to ensure automatic adjustment of the system, in particular automatically optimized operation of the system, the invention provides that the rear edge apparatus ( 10 ) and/or the transport apparatus ( 20 ) comprise/comprises an automatically controllable pneumatic system—in particular with a compressed-air-based separating unit and a suction-air-based separating unit, in particular an automatically controllable separating mechanism with a restraint function for substrates below the top substrate ( 3 ), in particular a suction-air-based transport unit—and an automatically controllable motor system. The control unit ( 30 ) is designed for automatic presetting of substrate-dependent parameter information—in particular at least for the compressed-air-based separating unit, for the suction-air-based separating unit, for the separating mechanism, for the separating motor system and for the transport unit—and the associated pneumatic system and/or motor system are/is designed for automatic adjustment thereof on the basis of the parameter information.

1 - 39 . (canceled)  
   
   
       40 . Pneumatic feed and separation system for flat substrates in a stack having: 
 a rear edge separating apparatus for separation of a top substrate from the stack in an area of a rear edge of the stack in a transport direction;    a transport apparatus for the top substrate in an area of a front edge of the stack in the transport direction;    a control unit;    at least one of the rear edge separating apparatus and the transport apparatus comprising an automatically controllable pneumatic system and an automatically controllable motor system; and    the control unit being configured for automatic presetting of substrate-dependent parameter information for the pneumatic system and the motor system, and being configured for automatic adjustment on a basis of the parameter information.    
   
   
       41 . Feed and separation system according to  claim 40 , wherein the automatically controllable pneumatic system has an automatically controllable separating pneumatic system with a compressed-air-based separating unit and a suction-air-based separating unit, and at least one of said units being controlled automatically.  
   
   
       42 . Feed and separation system according to  claim 40 , wherein the rear edge separating apparatus has an automatically controllable separating mechanism with a restraint function for substrates below the top substrate.  
   
   
       43 . Feed and separation system according to  claim 40 , wherein the automatically controllable pneumatic system has an automatically controllable transport pneumatic system comprising an automatically controllable, suction-air-based transport unit.  
   
   
       44 . Feed and separation system according to  claim 43 , wherein the control unit is configured for automatic presetting of substrate-dependent parameter information for at least one of the compressed-air-based separating unit, the suction-air-based separating unit, the separating mechanism, and the suction-air-based transport unit.  
   
   
       45 . Feed and separation system according to  claim 44 , wherein the motor system has a plurality of motors, with each said motor being associated with at least one of the compressed-air-based separating unit, the suction-air-based separating unit, the separating mechanism, and the suction-air-based transport unit.  
   
   
       46 . Feed and separation system according to  claim 40 , having at least one of a suction-air-based transport unit, a suction drum, and a transport motor system for the top substrate.  
   
   
       47 . Feed and separation system according to  claim 41 , wherein the compressed-air-based separating unit has at least one loosening nozzle and/or at least one separating nozzle.  
   
   
       48 . Feed and separation system according to  claim 41 , wherein the suction-air-based separating unit has at least one suction cup.  
   
   
       49 . Feed and separation system according to  claim 40 , wherein the separating apparatus has a restraint function and has at least one sprung separating element comprising a leaf spring with strain gauges.  
   
   
       50 . Feed and separation system according to  claim 40 , wherein the stack is arranged on a lifting table.  
   
   
       51 . Feed and separation system according to  claim 41 , further comprising a control bus, which is connected to the control unit, for transmission of the parameter information for automatic adjustment at least to the compressed-air-based separating unit, to the suction-air-based separating unit, to a separating mechanism and to a separating motor system.  
   
   
       52 . Feed and separation system according to  claim 40 , wherein the parameter information is stored in a variable form in a memory module.  
   
   
       53 . Feed and separation system according to  claim 40 , further comprising an operator unit connected to the control unit for selection and/or variation of at least one of a substrate type and the parameter information.  
   
   
       54 . Feed and separation system according to  claim 40 , further comprising a monitoring sensor system connected to the control unit for monitoring at least one of the feed operation, the separation operation, and performance.  
   
   
       55 . Feed and separation system according to  claim 40 , wherein the substrate-dependent parameter information is based on the substrate type.  
   
   
       56 . Feed and separation system according to  claim 40 , wherein the substrate-dependent parameter information is based on at least one substrate characteristic selected from the group consisting of: weight, thickness, bending strength, surface roughness, ripple, static friction values, dynamic friction values, length, width, temperature, moisture.  
   
   
       57 . Feed and separation system according to  claim 56 , further comprising a sensor system for recording said at least one characteristic.  
   
   
       58 . Feed and separation system according to  claim 41 , wherein the parameter information comprises adjustment parameters which are selected from the group consisting of: 
 airflow rate and/or distance between the compressed-air-based separating unit and the stack;    airflow rate and/or distance between the suction-air-based separating unit and the stack; and    distance between a separating mechanism and the stack.    
   
   
       59 . Feed and separation system according to  claim 40 , wherein the parameter information comprises adjustment parameters, which are selected from the group consisting of: 
 height of a lifting table;    distance between the rear edge separating apparatus and the stack; and    distance between a stack side holder and the stack.    
   
   
       60 . Feed and separation system according to  claim 58 , further comprising a sensor system for recording at least one adjustment parameters.  
   
   
       61 . Feed and separation system according to  claim 40 , further comprising a regulation module connected to the control unit for demand-dependent adaptation of the parameter information and/or a readjustment of adjustment parameters before and/or during feed and/or separation operation.  
   
   
       62 . Substrate handling system comprising a copying and/or printing and/or scanning system and/or deformation system, having a feed and separation system according to  claim 40 .  
   
   
       63 . Method for pneumatic feeding and separation of flat substrates from a stack using a pneumatic feed and separation system, comprising: 
 separating a top substrate from the stack in an area of a rear edge of the stack in a transport direction; and    transporting the top substrate in an area of a front edge of the stack in the transport direction, wherein the top substrate is separated and/or transported pneumatically, and    carrying out the separation and/or transportation of the top substrate automatically and by motor control, with substrate-dependent parameter information being predetermined at least for the pneumatic separation, and automatically adjusting the pneumatic feed and separation system by the motor control on the basis of the parameter information.    
   
   
       64 . Method according to  claim 63 , wherein the separating step comprises separating the top substrate on the basis of compressed air and/or suction air, with at least one separating step being preset and being carried out automatically and with the motor control.  
   
   
       65 . Method according to  claim 63 , further comprising during separation, restraining substrates below the top substrate that have been adjusted automatically and by the motor control with said restraining being readjusted automatically and by the motor control.  
   
   
       66 . Method according to  claim 63 , further comprising automatically determining at least one substrate characteristic selected from the group consisting of length, width, temperature, moisture, ripple, static friction values, dynamic friction values.  
   
   
       67 . Method according to  claim 63 , further comprising predetermining and automatically adjusting an upper distance between the top substrate and a transport apparatus as a function of the substrate by raising the stack and monitoring by sensors.  
   
   
       68 . Method according to  claim 63 , further comprising predetermining and automatically adjusting an upper distance between the top substrate and a rear edge separating apparatus as a function of the substrate by lowering of the rear edge separating apparatus and monitoring by sensors.  
   
   
       69 . Method according to  claim 63 , further comprising predetermining and automatically adjusting an airflow rate of a compressed-air-based separating unit as a function of the substrate and monitoring the airflow rate passing through a loosening nozzle by sensors.  
   
   
       70 . Method according to  claim 63 , further comprising predetermining and automatically adjusting a lateral distance between a separating mechanism in the form of a spring with a restraint function for substrates under the top substrate, and a rear edge of the stack as a function of the substrate as monitored by sensors using a strain gauge and by spacing of the spring.  
   
   
       71 . Method according to  claim 63 , further comprising predetermining and automatically adjusting an airflow rate of a compressed-air-based separating unit as a function of the substrate with the airflow rate flowing through a separating nozzle being monitored by sensors.  
   
   
       72 . Method according to  claim 63 , further comprising predetermining and automatically adjusting an airflow rate of a suction-air-based separating unit as a function of the substrate with the airflow rate of a suction cup being adjusted and/or readjusted automatically and monitored by sensors.  
   
   
       73 . Method according to  claim 63 , further comprising predetermining and automatically adjusting an airflow rate of a suction-air-based transport unit as a function of the substrate with a suction vacuum of a suction drum for the top substrate being adjusted and/or readjusted automatically and being monitored by sensors.  
   
   
       74 . Method according to  claim 63 , further comprising predetermining and automatically adjusting a drive for a mechanical transport unit is as a function of the substrate, with a drive for extraction rollers being adjusted and/or readjusted automatically and being monitored by sensors.  
   
   
       75 . Method according to  claim 63 , further comprising during feed and/or separation operation, automatically adapting the parameter information as required, and/or automatically readjusting adjustment parameters at least for a compressed-air-based separating unit, for a suction-air-based separating unit, for a separating mechanism and for a separating motor system.  
   
   
       76 . Method according to  claim 75 , further comprising automatically readjusting a lateral distance between the separating mechanism and a rear edge of the stack and/or an airflow rate of the compressed-air-based separating unit by being matched to one another on the basis of sensor monitoring of the separating mechanism.  
   
   
       77 . Computer program product having at least one program module by means of which a pneumatic feed and separation system can be caused to carry out a method according to  claim 63 .  
   
   
       78 . Memory medium having a computer program product having at least one program module by means of which a pneumatic feed and separation system can be caused to carry out a method according to  claim 63.