The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 02, 2002
Filed:
Aug. 03, 2001
Willy Leu, Pfäffikon, CH;
Ferag AG, Hinwil, CH;
Abstract
An apparatus for feeding sheet-like articles, such as newspapers, periodicals, and inserts therefor, from a vertical stack of the articles. The stack is supported on a fixed rest , and a sucker arrangement and a pushing away unit are mounted on a load bearing structure which is supported so as to float with the height of the stack. The sucker arrangement includes a pair of suction heads which are mounted for movement between a lowered extended position and a raised retracted position, and the suction heads have suction openings which are permanently connected to a source of negative pressure. In operation, the suction heads engage the uppermost one of the articles in the stack, which closes the suction openings and causes the suction heads and uppermost article to be lifted. The pushing away unit then engages and laterally moves the article away from the suction heads. The suction openings are thereby opened and the heads are then biased to their extended positions in engagement with the next article in the stack. The sequence is then repeated.