Apparatus for forming partial stacks from printed sheets standing one

Abstract

An apparatus for forming partial stacks by separation of a stack of printed sheets standing one behind the other includes an approximately horizontal stack guide having a feed end for receiving printed sheets fed in a direction perpendicular to the stack guide from a feeding apparatus and stacking the printed sheets on edge to form a stack in a horizontal direction. A separating device is arranged along the horizontal stack guide for forming the partial stacks. The separating device includes a guide arrangement disposed parallel to the horizontal direction of stack forming. First and second components of the separating device are seated one behind the other on the guide arrangement and are displaceable along the guide arrangement. The first and second components are jointly displaceable to the feed end of the stack guide and are controllable to be separable from one another in a stack separating position. Spreading elements are pivotally connected to the first and second components of the separating device. The spreading elements are displaceable jointly with the first and second components to the feed end of the stack guide. Support elements each associated with a respective one of the first and second components of the separating device are driven into the stack of printed sheets between the spreading elements for separating the spreading elements from one other between two printed sheets thereby keeping the two printed sheets apart from one another and forming the partial stacks of printed sheets.