Method and device for stacking an incoming sheet stream

Abstract

Device for stacking an incoming sheet stream wherein the device includes a sheet conveying device that feeds sheets to be stacked, a receiver device adapted to support a stack of the sheets, a separating element for separating the stack into a collected stack and a pre-collected stack, whereby the collected stack can be removed before the pre-collected stack, and a holding device for holding the pre-collected stack. The holding device has a first crossbeam and a plurality of holding elements arranged on the first crossbeam. A separating table is adapted to receive the pre-collected stack during stack changing. A forward guiding device is a adapted to at least one of guide the stack and align the stack. A rear guiding device is adapted to at least one of guide the stack and align the stack. The rear guiding device has a movable guide arrangement adapted to move vertically relative to a plane of the separating table. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Description

[0001] The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119 of German Patent Application No. 103 07 785.5, filed on Feb. 14, 2003, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.[0002] 1. Field of the Invention[0003] The invention is concerned with a device for stacking an incoming sheet stream, in particular for stacking sheets made from paper, cardboard, film or the like, formed in, e.g., site cutters. The device includes a feed belt for the sheets to be stacked, a receiver to form a stack from the sheets, a separating element for separating the stack into a collected stack to be changed, on the one hand, and a pre-collected stack, on the other hand. A holding element is also provided for holding the pre-collected stack, which is formed from several elements arranged on a crossbeam. A separating table is utilized to receive the pre-collected stack during the stack change. A forward front stop and a rear detector are provided for ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] The guide element is advantageously formed from several telescoping rails arranged at a distance from one another. Guiding is thus possible in a particularly simple and safe manner, since the telescoping rails are continuously adapted to the height of the stack.

[0010] In a preferred development of the invention, the telescoping rails can be moved out or moved in inevitably by moving the crossbeam vertically relative to the plane. Complete guiding of the pre-collected stack during the entire change process is ensured by this design. Guiding is always effected in the region of the stack which is particularly sensitive to slipping or displacement during changing of a stack.

Problems solved by technology

However, such devices have the disadvantage that the stack with the pre-collected sheets, that is the stack situated on the separating table, is as it were guide-less during changing--more precisely during withdrawal of the separating table--at least on the side of the stack facing the feed belt, since the detector only extends in the upper edge region of the stack.

Hence, particularly during stacking of sheets or stack change of finished full stacks of sheets, for example made from paper, cardboard or the like, there is slipping of the pre-collected stack, particularly in the region of the side of the stack facing the feed belt.

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