초록 ▼

A first stream of non-overlapping spaced-apart sheets which move at a high speed is converted into a second stream of partially overlapping sheets by braking successive sheets of the first stream and deflecting the trailing portions of braked sheets laterally to enable the oncoming foremost sheets o

A first stream of non-overlapping spaced-apart sheets which move at a high speed is converted into a second stream of partially overlapping sheets by braking successive sheets of the first stream and deflecting the trailing portions of braked sheets laterally to enable the oncoming foremost sheets of the first stream to catch up with and partly overlap the preceding sheets. When the first stream exhibits a gap as a result of the absence of one or more sheets, or independently of the presence or absence of gaps, the deflection of the braked sheet is repeated at a location which is nearer to the braking station to thus insure that the trailing portion of the braked sheet preceding a gap is deflected laterally immediately before the sheet which follows the gap catches up therewith. The deflection of trailing portions which precede gaps in the first stream is effected by suction. The locus of such deflection can be shifted lengthwise of the path for the sheets in dependency on changes of the ratio of the speeds of first and second streams, on changes of the width of clearances between the sheets of the first stream and/or in dependency on changes of the length of sheets.

대표청구항 ▼

A method of forming a stream of partially overlapping flexible sheets, comprising the steps of transporting a series of discrete spaced-apart non-overlapping sheets at a relatively high first speed in a predetermined direction along a predetermined path; decelerating successive sheets of said series

A method of forming a stream of partially overlapping flexible sheets, comprising the steps of transporting a series of discrete spaced-apart non-overlapping sheets at a relatively high first speed in a predetermined direction along a predetermined path; decelerating successive sheets of said series in a first portion of said path to a lower speed whereby each sheet following the respective preceding sheet in said first portion of said path catches up with the preceding sheet in a second portion of said path upstream of said first portion, as considered in said direction; deflecting the trailing portion of each preceding sheet at a first deflecting station as it travels at said lower speed past said first station and when there is no gap in said series of discrete sheets due to the absence of at least one sheet in said series, said deflection occuring substantially immediately before the following sheet catches up therewith so that the leader of each following sheet overlies the trailing portion of the respective preceding sheet before the following sheet enters into and is decelerated in said first portion of said path; and deflecting the trailing portion of a decelerated sheet as it travels at the lower speed past a second deflecting station downstream from said first station, as considered in said direction when said series of discrete sheets exhibits a gap as a result of the absence of at least one sheet in said series so that the trailing portion of the sheet preceding a gap is deflected substantially immediately before the sheet following such gap catches up therewith.