Device for aligning flat objects

Abstract

A device for aligning flat objects includes a supporting device, two boundary elements, a drive for the backwards and forwards movement of the boundary elements and a motor. The supporting device has two flat aligning surfaces for aligning the objects, wherein the aligning surfaces lie in two planes that abut each other at a straight edge. Both aligning surfaces slope steeply towards the edge. The motor sets both aligning surfaces in vibration. Both boundary elements can be swiveled into an engaging position. In this engaging position, the at least two boundary elements hold the stack of the objects when the stack is located on the supporting surfaces and between the boundary elements. The drive is connected to the boundary elements in such a way that it moves the boundary elements backwards and forwards parallel to the edge when the boundary elements are in the engaging position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for aligning several flat objects, each of which extends in an object plane and together form a stack, comprising:
 a supporting device for supporting the objects;   at least two boundary elements configured to swivel into an engaging position;   a drive for moving the boundary elements backwards and forwards, with the at least two boundary elements in the engaging position holding the stack, if the stack with the objects is located on the supporting surface and positioned between the boundary elements;   wherein the supporting device includes two aligning surfaces for aligning the objects,   wherein the aligning surfaces lie in two planes that abut each other at a straight edge,   wherein both aligning devices slope steeply towards the edge;   wherein the device includes a motor for setting the aligning surfaces in vibration, and   wherein the drive is connected to the boundary elements to move the boundary elements backwards and forwards parallel to the edge when said boundary elements are in the engaging position.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device has at least one further boundary element configured to be set to an engaging position and in the engaging position divides a stack, located between the first two boundary elements, into two part-stacks. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the drive is connected to each further boundary element in such a way that it then moves the further boundary element backwards and forwards parallel to the edge when said boundary element is in the engaging position. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the device has a holding device and each boundary element is attached to the holding device to be swivelable. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein each boundary element is attached to the holding device to swivel into the engaging position independently of all other boundary elements. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein each boundary element is attached to the holding device to swivel so that the boundary elements cannot be pushed in the direction of the edge, and wherein the drive is designed for backwards and forwards movement of the holding device parallel to the edge. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the holding device includes a shaft on which the boundary elements are rotatably mounted. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the drive is connected by an oblong, flexible transmission element to all the boundary elements, and is designed for the backwards and forwards pulling of the transmission element. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each boundary element is attached to a holding device so that the boundary element is moveable forwards and backwards parallel to the edge. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the drive is configured to move the boundary elements backwards and forwards at a variable frequency. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein both aligning surfaces abut each other at the straight edge and are connected to each other along the edge. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein a slot that extends along the edge is located between both aligning surfaces. 
     
     
         13 . A method for aligning several flat objects each of which extending in an object plane, comprising:
 placing the objects as a stack on a supporting device of an aligning device;   swiveling at least two boundary elements of the aligning device into an engaging position in which the stack is located between the boundary elements and are held by the boundary elements; and   moving the boundary elements backwards and forwards using a drive of the aligning device,   wherein the supporting device has two flat aligning surfaces,   wherein the aligning surfaces lie in two planes that abut each other at a straight edge,   wherein both aligning surfaces slope steeply towards the edge,   wherein the stack is positioned on the aligning surfaces so that the object planes are vertical relative to the edge,   wherein a motor of the device sets the aligning surfaces ( 1 ,  2 ) in vibration and   wherein the drive moves the boundary elements backwards and forwards parallel to the edge.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 swiveling at least one further boundary element of the aligning device into an engaging position in which it divides the stack into two part-stacks, and   moving the further boundary element backwards and forwards via the drive.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 swiveling both boundary elements into the engaging position;   placing the stack between the boundary elements;   placing at least one further boundary element in the engaging position so that it divides the stack into two part-stacks;   switching the drive on;   moving via the switched-on drive all the boundary elements backwards and forwards;   switching the drive off;   swiveling the boundary elements out of the engaging position; and   removing the aligned objects from the aligning surfaces.