Sheet substrate with surface patterns to facilitate sheet feeding

Abstract

A paperboard sheet and a method of using the paperboard sheet is provided in which a surface of the paperboard sheet provides a pattern of indentations, the indentations reducing the surface area between adjacent sheets to facilitate the transfer of a top sheet from a stack of similar sheets.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A process of improving the separation of a single sheet in a stack of a plurality of similar sheets comprising:
 providing a single sheet, a first surface of the sheet defining a pattern of textured surface features, there by providing modified sheet;   stacking a plurality of the modified sheets;   displacing a single sheet from the plurality of stacked sheets, the single sheet having a lower coefficient of friction with an adjacent sheet, thereby lessening the separation force needed for sheet separation.   
     
     
         2 . A paperboard sheet adapted for placement within a stack supply of similar sheets in a sheet feeder comprising:
 a paperboard substrate having a first surface and a second surface;   a textured pattern formed on at least the first surface of the sheet, the textured pattern reducing the surface area contact within an adjacent flat sheet by at least about 10%.   
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein step of providing a single sheet further includes providing a sheet in which both a first surface of the sheet and a second surface of the sheet define a pattern for the modified sheet. 
     
     
         4 . The paperboard sheet according to  claim 2  wherein the textured pattern reduces the surface area contact between adjacent flat sheets by at least about 15%. 
     
     
         5 . The paperboard sheet according to  claim 2  wherein the textured pattern is formed on first surface of the sheet and a second surface of the sheet, the pattern being raised relative to a first surface of the sheet and being recessed relative to the second surface of the sheet. 
     
     
         6 . A paperboard sheet adapted for use as a slip sheet or tier sheet comprising:
 a paperboard substrate having a first surface, a second surface, and a thickness of substantially about 0.010 inches;   a raised textured pattern formed on an upper surface of the sheet, the textured pattern reducing the contacting surface area with an adjacent sheet in contact with the first surface by at least about 10%;   a second textured pattern formed on the second surface of the sheet, the second pattern being a recessed pattern formed integral with the raised pattern wherein when the paperboard sheets are placed in a stacked arrangement, the contact area between a first surface of one sheet and a second surface of an adjacent sheet reduces a surface area contact between the adjacent sheets by at least about 10%.   
     
     
         7 . The paperboard sheet according to  claim 6  wherein the textured pattern is formed from an embossed region on the paperboard sheet, and a width of the embossed line forming the pattern is about 1/16 th  of an inch.