Method and device for feeding flat items to individualization

Abstract

Flat items ( ) which have an irregular and/or changeable thickness profile are individualized from a substantially lying stack ( ), wherein the stack serves as buffer between the individualization and the supply of the items ( ) and wherein the items ( ) arranged in the stack are guided in a stack channel ( ) towards the individualization. In order to allow individualization speeds in the range of several tens of thousands of items per hour, the items ( ) are supplied to a pre-stack ( ) in which the items are conveyed towards individualization in a loose order and being individually laterally guided, the pre-stack ( ) is transformed into an individualizing stack ( ) and the items are individualized only from the individualizing stack ( ). In the individualizing stack ( ) the items ( ) are guided and conveyed and held in a stable order as a stack, i.e. with forces transmitted via the items. The pre-stack ( ) takes over the buffer function and therefore comprises a substantially freely selectable number of items ( ) which varies within wide limits. The number of items ( ) in the individualizing stack ( ) is considerably smaller and is kept constant within tight limits.