| (19) |
 |
|
(11) |
EP 0 263 568 B1 |
| (12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
| (45) |
Mention of the grant of the patent: |
|
07.01.1993 Bulletin 1993/01 |
| (22) |
Date of filing: 08.10.1987 |
|
|
| (54) |
A method and an apparatus for successively dispensing flat, flexible members from
a magazine by means of a suction head system
Verfahren und Apparat zum Vereinzeln von flachen, biegsamen Gegenständen aus einem
Magazin mit Hilfe eines Saugkopfes
Procédé et appareil pour enlever des articles plans et flexibles du magasin à l'aide
d'une tête à ventouses
|
| (84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
|
AT BE CH DE ES FR GB GR IT LI LU NL SE |
| (30) |
Priority: |
08.10.1986 DK 4790/86
|
| (43) |
Date of publication of application: |
|
13.04.1988 Bulletin 1988/15 |
| (73) |
Proprietor: Thorsted Maskiner A/S |
|
DK-8700 Horsens (DK) |
|
| (72) |
Inventor: |
|
- Kragh, Ernst Dahl
DK-8700 Horsens (DK)
|
| (74) |
Representative: Smulders, Theodorus A.H.J., Ir. et al |
|
Vereenigde Octrooibureaux
Nieuwe Parklaan 97 2587 BN 's-Gravenhage 2587 BN 's-Gravenhage (NL) |
| (56) |
References cited: :
DE-B- 1 084 278
|
DE-C- 401 933
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
|
[0001] The present invention relates to a method for dispensing flexible sheets from a magazine
by means of a suction device which is brought to pull out the foremost sheet in the
magazine for delivering the sheet to a conveyor device. Many methods and devices have
been suggested and used herefor, and it should just be mentioned summarily that there
is always a need for devices which may operate with improved operational reliability
and greater speed in the simplest possible manner.
[0002] The invention is based on the consideration that a high reliability of the individual
taking out of flat members such as paper sheets, periodicals, cardboard sheets, newspapers
etc. will be obtained by an active bending out of a relatively small width of an edge
area of the foremost member, while the remainder thereof is supported by a front wall
of the magazine, such a bending being effectable by means of guided sucking discs
with a very small or no risk of the corresponding edge of the next member being bent
outwards equally, as this will require a very unusual force of adhesion between the
edge areas. Furthermore, the edge area may be bent out past an inwardly protruding
holder nose on the magazine along the free edge of the body, whereby an even greater
reliability is obtained. The bent-out edge area is brought to engagement with a drawing
device which may draw out the remaining portion of the member from the magazine by
a lateral, outwards drawing movement and deliver the member to suitable conveyor means.
[0003] For obtaining a simple drawing device, the bent-out edge area may be brought into
surface contact with a rotating drawer roller cooperating with a co-rotating dolly
roller, but certain problems occur as to the introduction of the edge area between
two such rollers upon a pure bending out of the edge area, and by the invention it
is indicated how these problems may be solved in a simple manner. It has already been
suggested that the sucking discs are swung outwards until the projecting front edge
of the sheet member is caught by a pair of drawer rollers, and that the sucking discs
are swung back after the drawing out of the sheet. However, for beginning the next
operation cycle this return movement has to wait until the first sheet is entirely
drawn out, which in practice implies a considerable delay in time. The invention provides
for a method by which the sucking discs may be brought to engage the sheet already
before the previous sheet has been completely drawn out from the magazine.
[0004] A method of successively dispensing flat flexible members according the preamble
of claim 1 and a dispenser according the preamble of claim 3 is disclosed in DE-B-1,084,278,
in which a suction head is caused to swing out the front edge area of the sheet to
a position in which it projects into a recess in a rotating disc arranged laterally
of the sucking head, such that during further rotation of the disc a wall of the recess
will hit the sheet and draw it off the sucking head and then automatically guide the
sheet end portion into a driving engagement between the periphery of the disc and
a cooperating pressure roller. Hereby the sucking head may be returned very soon,
without waiting for the entire sheet to be pulled out, but an associated drawback
is that the sucking head is subjected to a heavy wear by the said drawing off of the
high number of consecutive sheets therefrom. The sucking head, of course, can be made
by a rigid and wear resistant material, but only at the expense of the sheet gripping
safety thereof. For that reason it is highly preferable to use a traditional semisoft
suction disc.
[0005] It is the purpose of the invention to provide a dispensing method and device, by
which the drawing out of the single sheet is effectable in a rapid and reliable manner
with the use of an efficient sucking disc without this being subject to pronounced
wear.
[0006] According to the invention this is achieved by the features according the characterizing
part of claim 1 and 3, respectively. By said features the sucking head is operationally
being released from the sheet just before the sheet is engaged by said wall of the
recess in the rotating disc and then be moved ahead of the sheet end portion and retracted
from the moving path thereof without being engaged by the sheet end portion. Thus,
when the sucking head is released from the sheet and then moved actively away from
the sheet no sliding wear will occur at the suction head, which, therefore, may well
be made as an efficient semisoft suction disc.
[0007] In the following the invention, which is defined more closely in the claims and also
comprises an apparatus for excuting the method, is explained in more detail below
with reference to the drawing in which
Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an apparatus according to the invention,
whilst
Figs. 2-8 are side views of this apparatus.
[0008] The system shown in Fig. 1 consists of a magazine 2 for flat, bendable members 4,
e.g. sheets or periodicals, which are desired to be delivered individually from the
lower end of the magazine. The majority of the bottom of the magazine is covered by
a bottom plate 6, between the front edge of which and the front side of the magazine
is left an open bottom portion 8, the front side of the magazine having, however,
a lower, shortly backwardly projecting holder nose 10, which carries the front end
of the members 4.
[0009] Underneath the open bottom portion 8, on a row of carrier arms 12, is placed a row
of sucking discs 14, which may cooperate with the exposed underside of the lowermost
member 4 in the magazine pile, see also Fig. 2. The carrier arms 12 are connected
to a common carrier beam 16 which is arranged rigidly projecting from a connecting
rod 18, which at its upper end is rotably connected with an excentric pivot 20 on
a flywheel 22 which is kept in constant rotation by an axle 24. The lower end of the
connecting rod 18 has a laterally outwardly projecting pin 26 which cooperates with
a guiding track 28 in a fixed guiding block 30 such that hereby the sucking discs
are movable through a desired trajectory path for each rotation of the wheel 22. This
trajectory is designated 32 in Fig. 2.
[0010] In the respective spaces between the sucking discs 14, underneath the bottom portion
8, a row of wheels 34 is arranged on a common shaft 36, and in front of each of these
wheels another row of wheels 40 of a larger diameter is placed on another common shaft
38.
[0011] As indicated in Fig. 2 the wheels 34 are entirely round while the wheels 40 are provided
with a peripheral depression 42 between shoulder 44 and 46, of which the shoulder
44 leads from the outer wheel periphery 48 down to the depression 42, while the shoulder
46 leads from the depression 42 upwards or outwards to an intermediate peripheral
level 50, which through a further shoulder 52 is led outwards to the outer periphery
48. The outer periphery is located closely against the wheel 34, the distance between
the shafts 36 and 38 being adaptable, in an adjustable or resilient manner, such that
the individual members 4 may be squeezed in between the wheels 34 and 40.
[0012] The shaft 38 of the wheels 40 is rotated synchronically with the flywheel 22, while
the axle 36 and thereby the wheels 34 may optionally be arranged in a freely rotatable
manner.
[0013] In an initial position for an operation cycle of the system the parts assume the
positions shown in Fig. 2, in which the sucking discs 14 have just been brought to
about the lower, foremost edge area of the lowermost member 4 in the magazine 2, while
the depressions 42 of the wheels 40 are positioned right outside the lower front end
of the magazine, while rotating in the rotation direction of the wheel 40 indicated
by an arrow. The sucking discs 14 are activated through the carrier arms 12, which
are suction conduits connected with a non-illustrated vacuum source through a cyclical
ly activated valve. By means of the moving system shown to the right in Fig. 1 the
sucking discs 14 are movable downwards along a first, arched partial portion I of
the trajectory 32, whereby the sucking discs are rotated rearwards to the position
indicated in dotted lines, being moved hereby as if they were rotated downwards about
the front edge of the fixed magazine bottom plate 6. By this movement a downwards
drawing of the front end area of the lowermost member 4 is carried out, and the front
area will be drawn down past the holding nose 10 and so as to be swung down about
the front edge of the bottom plate 6. As this swinging down is effected only on a
foremost, relatively narrow partial portion of the member 4, the movement must be
carried out with a considerable force and preferably with a rather accurately controlled
movement of the sucking discs 14, and hereby a good reliability is obtained for the
corresponding edge area of the overlying body 4 not following the downward rotation
movement, this further being ensured by the presence of the holder nose 10.
[0014] The concerned swung-down position of the front edge area of the member 4 is indicated
in full lines in Fig. 3. It is seen that the wheel 40 has at the same time been rotated
to a position in which the depression 42 is brought inside the outer edge of the swung-down
edge area, such that the down-swinging may continue slightly further without being
obstructed by the wheels 40.
[0015] Thereafter the suction on the sucktion cups 14 is relieved and the cups 14 are moved
through a trajectory portion II (Fig. 2), whereby they are very quickly swung downwards
and forwards to a position outside the front edge of the bent-down member area. This
movement is illustrated by an intermediate position in Fig. 4, wherein it is also
shown that in the meantime the wheels 40 have been rotated so far that their shoulders
46 will abut the front edge of the member 4 and thereby not only keep the bent-down
member area from being resiliently bent backwards, but actually effect a further bending
down of the member area for this to rest against the wheels 34, while the sucktion
discs 14 are rapidly brought outside the movement path of the front edge of the member
4 and thereafter led back towards the said initial position along a trajectory portion
designated III, Fig. 2.
[0016] By the further rotation of the wheels 40 the shoulders 46 as shown in Fig. 5 will
cause the outer end of the bent-down front edge area of the member 4 to be led inwardly
against the wheel 34 while partially entwining this, the front end of the member 4
now being supported against the periphery of the intermediate depression 50. This
depression does not provide for any fixed abutment pressure against the opposite wheel
34, i.e. the front edge of the member 4 remains stationary while the sucktion discs
14 are removed entirely from the area adjacent this front edge.
[0017] Thereafter - Fig. 6 - the same front edge will be forcefully pressed against the
wheels 34, when the shoulder 52 is led past the engagement area and thereby constricts
the same to the area between the wheels 34 and the outer peripheries of the wheels
40. Hereby, by the rotation of the wheels 40, a strong pull will be effected in the
bent-out portion of the lower member 4, such that this member will be drawn downwards
and thereby be drawn out from its planar position between the magazine bottom plate
6 and the overlying members 4. By this drawing-down with an associated drawing-out
of the member 4 from the magazine the member 4 may be delivered to any suitable, non-illustrated
device for further conveying of the individual, successively dispensed members 4.
[0018] The outer circumference 48 of the wheels 40 naturally has to be sufficiently large
for ensuring that a complete drawing out of the single members 4 from the magazine
may be effected before a new operation cycle begins.
[0019] In the embodiment shown in Figs. 7 and 8 some downwardly projecting holder fingers
54 are placed at the front edge of the magazine, e.g. as indicated in dotted lines
in Fig. 1. These fingers, which may consist of flat springs, are downwardly and backwardly
projecting such that their lower ends are positioned just inside the movement path
of the front edge of the member 4 when this is bent down during the first phase of
the operation sequence. The front edge of the member 4 will thereby slip down underneath
the holder fingers, as indicated in Fig. 8, whereby the front edge will be kept from
slipping back when the sucktion disc engagement is released and the sucking disc removed;
this occurs briefly before the shoulder 46 on the wheel 40 reaches the member front
edge and by relatively thick or stiff members 4 the front edge area might otherwise
be swung resiliently backwards such that it would not be caught by the shoulder 46.
[0020] By using the holder fingers 54 the possibility of a continuous operation is thus
obtained also by the handling of thick of semi-stiff objects, the sucktion discs 14
being allowed to release the member and be led out in front of the front edge thereof
before the front edge is caught by the shoulder 46 for further displacement by the
shoulder 52.
[0021] It would be possible to obtain that the sucktion discs 14 remained in engagement
with the front edge of the sheet member until the shoulder 46 reached this area, but
in that case the sucktion discs would have to be led hastily downwards after the release,
whereby their movement would be inappropriately jerky and long, with corresponding
requirements as to a high speed for the same cycle time.
[0022] For a desired rapid removal of the suction discs 14 from the front edge area of the
member 4 it is appropriate that the sucktion discs are guided in such a manner that
they are not led downwards and outwards, but are simultaneously swung horizontally
through a horizontal position as indicated by the sequence according to Figs. 3, 4
and 5, as the inwardly oriented edges of the sucktion discs are hereby particularly
quickly removed from the moving path of the front edge area of the member 4. The desired
movement characteristic for the sucktion discs may be obtained in a simple manner
just by means of the control system illustrated in Fig. 1, but will be appreciated
that a suitable guiding will also be obtainable by other means.
[0023] As indicated the carrier arms 12 of the sucktion discs are placed on a common carrier
beam, which may also function as a vacuum connection, but in practice it may be preferred
that the sucktion discs have individual carrier and movement systems, preferably of
the illustrated simple type, inasfar as it is hereby possible to operate the suction
discs with a certain mutual phase displacement.
[0024] A possible alternative to the recess 50 will be a radial displacement by one of the
wheels 34 or 40, such that these wheels (Fig. 5) are first kept slightly apart while
the sucking head is removed from the area, and only thereafter are moved together
for an effective drawing out of the member from the magazine.
1. A method of successively dispensing flat, flexible members (4) from a magazine by
means of a suction head system (14,12), which is brought to draw out a front edge
area of the foremost member (4) in the magazine by a bending out of the front edge
area from the magazine and hereby transferring the bent-out area to a draw-out system
comprising cooperating wheels and rollers (40,34) for drawing out the foremost member
(4) from the magazine and delivering it to a receptable or a conveyor while the suction
head system (14,12) is returned to an initial position for initiating a renewed taking
out of the next member (4) from the magazine, said draw-out system comprising one
or more rotating wheels (40) provided with a recess (42,50) for receiving the bent-out
front edge portion of the member (4) and, by the associated rotation, bringing this
portion into a clamping engagement between this or these wheels (40) and one or more
pressure rollers (34) cooperating with the peripheral surface of the wheels (40),
the engagement between the suction head system (14) and the front portion of the member
(4) being released when the front portion has been moved into the said wheel recess
(42,50), characterized in that the release of the engagement between the suction head
system and the front portion of the member (4) is effected by the suction being switched
off prior to the rotating wheel or wheels (40) engaging the front portion, and that
the suction head or heads are thereafter moved rapidly ahead of and outside the front
portion to enable the same to be further moved by its engagement with the rotating
wheel or wheels (40) without the sucking head or heads (14) being drawn along the
surface of the front portion.
2. A method according to claim 1, whereby the front portion of the member 4, upon being
released from the suction head (14), is retained in a bent-out position in non-operative
engagement with the drawing system (34,40) during a time interval sufficient to permit
the suction head (14) to be moved out of the following movement path of said front
portion.
3. An apparatus for successively dispensing flat, flexible members (4) from a magazine
by the method according to claim 1, the apparatus comprising a movable suction head
system (14,12) operable to draw out a front edge area of the foremost member in magazine,
a draw-out system comprising cooperating wheels and rollers (40,34) for receiving
the thus bent out front edge area of the member (4) and for consequently drawing out
the foremost member from the magazine and delivering it to a receptable or a conveyor
while the suction head system (14,12) is returned to an initial position for initiating
a renewed taking out of the next member (4) from the magazine, the wheels and rollers
(40,34) of the draw-out system comprising one or more receiver wheels (40) provided
with a peripheral recess (42,50) for receiving the bent-out front edge portion of
the member (4) and, by the associated rotation, bringing the rotating wheel or wheels
(40) into engagement with the bent-out front edge portion so as to urge the same into
a clamping engagement between the said wheels (40) and one or more pressure rollers
(34) cooperating therewith, and means for controlling the movements of the sucking
head system (14,12) and the front edge portion, respectively, characterized in that control means are provided for switching off the suction of the sucking head
system (14) prior to the rotating wheel or wheels (40) engaging the bent-out front
portion of the member (4), and that the means (22,30) for moving the suction head
system (14) are adapted so as to immediately thereafter cause the suction head system
to be moved ahead of and outside the front portion of the member (4) and thus keep
the suction head system (14) free of contact with the said front portion while this
is engaged and moved further by the rotating wheel or wheels (40).
4. An apparatus according to claim 3, in which the recess (42) of the rotating wheel
(40) continues in a recess portion (50) of reduced depth.
5. An apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, in which a resilient holding member (54) is
provided for snap locking the bent-out member portion against return movement after
release of the suction head therefrom.
6. An apparatus according to claim 3, in which the suction head or heads are mounted
on a carrier system protruding from a cyclically moved base member (18), which is
at one end pivoted to a rotating eccentric (22), while at its other end it is guided
reciprocally along a cam track (28).
1. Verfahren zum Vereinzeln von flachen, biegsamen Gegenständen (4) aus einem Magazin
mit Hilfe eines Saugkopfes (14,12), der den Vorderrand des vordersten Gegenstandes
(4) im Magazin durch Abbiegen dieses Vorderrandes aus dem Magazin herauszieht und
den abgebogenen Vorderrand auf eine Auszieheinrichtung überträgt, die mit zusammenarbeitenden
Rädern und Rollen (40,34) versehen ist, um den vordersten Gegenstand (4) aus dem Magazin
herauszuziehen und diesen Gegenstand einem Behälter oder einer Fördereinrichtung zu
übergeben, während der Saugkopf (14,12) in eine Ausgangsstellung zurückgebracht wird,
um ein Herausziehen des nächsten Gegenstandes (4) aus dem Magazin einzuleiten, wobei
die Auszieheinrichtung ein oder mehrere rotierende Räder (40) aufweist, die mit einer
Aussparung (42,50) versehen sind, um den abgebogenen Vorderrand des Gegenstandes (4)
aufzunehmen und, durch entsprechende Rotation, diesen Vorderrand zwischen dieses Rad
oder diese Räder (40) und eine oder mehrere mit der Umfangsfläche der Räder (40) zusammenwirkende
Druckrollen (34) zu klemmen, wobei der Saugkopf (14) von dem Vorderrand des Gegenstandes
(4) gelöst wird, wenn der Vorderrand in die Radaussparung (42,50) aufgenommen worden
ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß man den Saugkopf oder die Saugköpfe von dem Vorderrand
des Gegenstandes (4) löst, indem man vor dem Erfassen des Vorderrandes durch das rotierende
Rad oder die rotierenden Räder (40) die Saugung abschaltet und daß man den Saugkopf
oder die Saugköpfe danach schnell vor und aus dem Bereich des Vorderrandes bewegt,
so daß dieser Vorderrand infolge seines Erfassens durch das rotierende Rad oder die
rotierenden Räder (40) weiterbewegt werden kann, ohne daß der Saugkopf oder die Saugköpfe
(14) über die Oberfläche des Vorderrandes gezogen wird bzw. werden.
2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, bei dem der Vorderrand des Gegenstandes (4), nachdem er
vom Saugkopf (14) gelöst worden ist, während einer Zwischenzeit, die ausreicht, um
den Saugkopf (14) aus dem nächsten Förderweg des Vorderrandes zu bewegen, in einer
abgebogenen Stellung unwirksam von der Auszieheinrichtung (34,40) erfaßt wird.
3. Apparat zum Vereinzeln von flachen, biegsamen Gegenständen (4) aus einem Magazin durch
das Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, enthaltend einen beweglichen Saugkopf (14,12) zum Herausziehen
eines Vorderrandes des vordersten Gegenstandes (4) im Magazin, eine Auszieheinrichtung
mit zusammenarbeitenden Rädern und Rollen (40,34), die den entsprechend abgebogenen
Vorderrand des Gegenstandes (4) aufnehmen und daraufhin den vordersten Gegenstand
aus dem Magazin herausziehen und einem Behälter oder einer Fördereinrichtung übergeben,
während der Saugkopf (14,12) in eine Ausgangsstellung zurückgebracht wird, um ein
Herausziehen des nächsten Gegenstandes (4) aus dem Magazin einzuleiten, wobei die
Räder oder Rollen (40,34) der Auszieheinrichtung ein oder mehrere Aufnahmeräder (40)
aufweisen, die mit einer Aussparung (42,50) versehen sind, um den abgebogenen Vorderrand
des Gegenstandes (4) aufzunehmen und, durch entsprechende Rotation, diesen abgebogenen
Vorderrand mit dem rotierenden Rad oder den rotierenden Rädern (40) in Berührung zu
bringen, um den Vorderrand zwischen die Räder (40) und eine oder mehrere mit diesen
zusammenarbeitende Druckrollen (34) zu klemmen, und Mittel zum Steuern der Bewegungen
des Saugkopfes (14,12) bzw. des Vorderrandes, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß Steuermittel
vorgesehen sind, um vor dem Erfassen des abgebogenen Vorderrandes des Gegenstandes
(4) durch das rotierende Rad oder die rotierenden Räder (40) die Saugung des Saugkopfes
(14) abzuschalten, und daß die Mittel (22,30) zum Steuern des Saugkopfes (14) den
Saugkopf sofort darauf schnell vor und aus dem Bereich des Vorderrandes des Gegenstandes
(4) bewegen könner und so den Saugkopf (14) außer Berührung mit dem Vorderrand halten,
während dieser Vorderrand von dem rotierenden Rad oder den rotierenden Rädern (40)
erfaßt und weiterbewegt wird.
4. Apparat nach Anspruch 3, bei dem die Aussparung (42) des rotierenden Rades (40) sich
in eine Aussparung (50) von geringerer Tiefe fortsetzt.
5. Apparat nach Anspruch 3 oder 4, bei dem ein federndes Halteorgan (54) vorgesehen ist,
um den abgebogenen Gegenstand gegen eine Rückbewegung, nachdem der Saugkopf vom Gegenstand
gelöst worden ist, schnappend zu verriegeln.
6. Apparat nach Anspruch 3, bei dem der Saugkopf oder die Saugköpfe auf einer an einem
zyklisch bewegten Basisorgan (18) vorstehenden Trägereinrichtung angeordnet ist bzw.
sind, welches Basisorgan an einem Ende gelenkig mit einem rotierenden Exzenter verbunden
ist, während es an seinem anderen Ende über eine Nockenbahn (28) hin und her beweglich
geführt ist.
1. Procédé d'alimentation d'une succession d'éléments (4) plats et flexibles hors d'un
magasin, à l'aide d'un système (14, 12) à tête aspirante amené à extraire un bord
frontal de l'élément (4) situé le plus en avant dans un magasin en pliant vers l'extérieur
le bord frontal du magasin, ce qui transfère la partie pliée vers un système d'extraction
comprenant des roues et des rouleaux (40, 34) coopérant en vue d'extraire du magasin
l'élément situé le plus en avant (4) et de le déposer dans un réceptacle ou un dispositif
de transport pendant que le système (14, 12) à tête aspirante revient vers une position
initiale pour entamer une nouvelle rotation sur un élément (4) suivant du magasin,
ledit système d'extraction comprenant une ou plusieurs roues rotatives (40) dotées
d'un creux (42, 50) de réception de la partie pliée du bord frontal de l'élément (4)
et amenant, grâce à la rotation induite, cette partie à s'accrocher entre cette ou
ces roues (40) et un ou plusieurs rouleaux de pression (34) coopérant avec la surface
périphérique des roues (40), la liaison entre le système (14) à tête aspirante et
la partie frontale de l'élément (4) étant interrompue lorsque la partie frontale a
été placée dans ledit creux (42, 50) de roue, caractérisé en ce que la libération
de l'accrochage de la partie frontale de l'élément (4) par le système à tête aspirante
est effectuée en interrompant l'aspiration avant que la roue rotative ou les roues
rotatives (40) accroche ou accrochent la partie frontale, et en déplaçant ensuite
rapidement la tête aspirante ou les têtes aspirantes vers l'avant et vers l'extérieur
de la partie frontale, pour assurer que celle-ci soit entraînée par son accrochage
à la roue rotative ou aux roues rotatives (40), sans que la tête aspirante ou les
têtes aspirantes (14) soit ou soient tirées le long de la surface de la partie frontale.
2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel lorsque la partie frontale de l'élément
(4) est libérée de la tête aspirante (14), cette partie frontale est maintenue en
une position pliée en accrochage non-actif au système d'extraction (34, 40), pendant
un intervalle de temps suffisant pour permettre que la tête aspirante (14) soit éloignée
du parcours ultérieur de ladite partie frontale.
3. Appareil destiné à alimenter une succession d'éléments (4) plats et flexibles hors
d'un magasin, selon le procédé de la revendication 1, l'appareil comprenant un système
mobile à tête aspirante (14, 12) pouvant être actionné en vue d'extraire un bord frontal
de l'élément situé le plus en avant dans le magasin, un système d'extraction comprenant
des roues et des rouleaux (40, 34) coopérant pour réceptionner le bord frontal ainsi
plié de l'élément (4) et pour ensuite extraire l'élément situé le plus en avant du
magasin et de le placer sur un réceptacle ou un dispositif de transport pendant que
le système à tête aspirante (14, 12) est renvoyé dans sa position initiale pour entamer
à nouveau l'extraction de l'élément (4) suivant hors du magasin, les roues et rouleaux
(40, 34) du système d'extraction comprenant une ou plusieurs roues réceptrices (40)
dotées d'un creux périphérique (42, 50) destiné à recevoir la partie pliée du bord
frontal de l'élément (4) et, par la rotation induite, amener la roue rotative ou les
roues rotatives (40) à accrocher la partie pliée du bord frontal de manière à pousser
celui-ci à s'accrocher par pinçage entre lesdites roues (40) et l'un ou plusieurs
des rouleaux (34) qui coopèrent avec ces dernières, et des moyens en vue de contrôler
les déplacements du système à tête aspirante (14, 12) et de la partie frontale du
bord, caractérisé en ce que des moyens de contrôle sont prévus pour interrompre l'aspiration
du système (14) à tête aspirante avant que la roue rotative ou les roues rotatives
(40) accroche ou accrochent la partie pliée du bord frontal de l'élément (4), et en
ce que les moyens (22, 30) destinés à déplacer le système (14) à tête aspirante sont
adaptés de manière provoquer immédiatement ensuite le déplacement du système à tête
aspirante vers l'avant et l'extérieur de la partie frontale de l'élément (4), et à
maintenir ainsi le système (14) à tête aspirante hors du contact avec ladite partie
frontale lorsque celle-ci est saisie et éloignée par la roue rotative ou les roues
rotatives (40).
4. Appareil selon la revendication 3, dans lequel le creux (42) de la roue rotative (40)
se prolonge en un creux (50) de profondeur réduite.
5. Appareil selon la revendication 3 ou 4, dans lequel un élément de maintien (54) élastique
est prévu pour bloquer par pinçage la partie pliée de l'élément, pour empêcher son
mouvement de retour lorsque la tête aspirante en a été libérée.
6. Appareil selon la revendication 3, dans lequel la ou les têtes aspirantes sont montées
sur un système porteur débordant d'un élément de base (18) se déplaçant suivant des
cercles, et qui tourne à une extrémité autour d'un excentrique rotatif (22), son autre
extrémité étant guidée dans les deux sens le long d'une piste de came (28).

