Discharge of paper or other leaves from a stack

Abstract

A discharge of paper or other leaves from the top (S) of a stack is by a rotating feed-roller ( 17;41 ) mounted on a carrier ( 7,11;35 - 39 ) that moves progressively along the stack in maintaining the roller ( 17;41 ) engaged with the top leaf. The carrier ( 7,11;35 - 39 ), which has a slot-mouth ( 8;52 ) through which the leaves are discharged successively by the roller ( 17;41 ), is guided in its downward movement by side-wall slots ( 12;40 ) of a casing ( 2;32 ) holding the stack, and has counter-balancing weights ( 23;50 ) attached for adjustment of the pressure of the roller ( 17;41 ) on the stack. In one form, the carrier is mounted on a plate which carries a motor for belt-drive to the roller, and which has sliding pivotal movement in the casing to enable the carrier to follow the guide-slots. Alternatively, the motor is located within the roller and ears of brackets on the carrier are located in the guide-slots to hold the carrier from tipping.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
   
   
       13 . A method for discharge of leaves in spread distribution from a stack of leaves, the method comprising the step of progressively moving a carrier, which carries a rotating member, downwardly of the stack and maintaining the rotating member engaged with a top leaf of the stack as the leaves of the stack are discharged leaf by leaf through a mouth defined in the carrier. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising the step of using a rotating roller as the rotating member. 
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising the step of providing the roller with one of a rubber and grit surface for engagement with the top leaf of the stack. 
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising the step of using a slot defined in the carrier as the mouth. 
   
   
       17 . A machine for discharge of leaves in spread distribution through a mouth of the machine from a stack of leaves, the machine comprising:
 means for holding the stack of leaves,   a carrier which includes means for defining the mouth of the machine,   means mounting the carrier for movement downwardly of the stack,   a rotatable member carried by the carrier for engaging a top leaf of the stack, and   means for rotating the rotatable member to discharge the leaves of the stack leaf by leaf from the top of the stack of leaves through the mouth of the machine.   
   
   
       18 . The machine according to  claim 17 , wherein the rotatable member is a roller. 
   
   
       19 . The machine according to  claim 17 , including guides defined in the means for holding the stack of leaves, the carrier having spaced parts for guiding the carrier in movement downwardly of the stack of leaves by engagement of said spaced parts of the carrier with the guides. 
   
   
       20 . The machine according to  claim 19 , wherein the means for holding the stack is a casing of the machine, and the guides are slots in the casing. 
   
   
       21 . The machine according to  claim 19 , wherein the rotatable member is mounted for rotation on a shaft that engages with the guides. 
   
   
       22 . The machine according to  claim 19 , wherein the carrier is mounted on a further member, the further member is mounted for sliding pivotal movement relative to the means for holding the stack of leaves, the sliding pivotal movement enabling the carrier to follow the guides, and the means for rotating the rotatable member is carried by the further member. 
   
   
       23 . The machine according to  claim 19 , wherein the means for rotating the rotatable member is carried by the carrier. 
   
   
       24 . The machine according to  claim 23 , wherein the means for rotating the rotatable member comprises a motor located within the rotatable member.