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An aeration device adapted to aerate one or more sheets of a stack of sheets includes a side blower configured to selectively provide an air stream at an outlet thereof along an airstream direction so as to impinge against at least a portion of the stack. A height detecting device is configured to d

An aeration device adapted to aerate one or more sheets of a stack of sheets includes a side blower configured to selectively provide an air stream at an outlet thereof along an airstream direction so as to impinge against at least a portion of the stack. A height detecting device is configured to detect a height of an uppermost sheet of the stack. A side blower adjustment device is configured to adjust a height of the side blower and/or an angle of the airstream direction so as to track, by the air stream, the uppermost sheet of the stack based on an input from the height detecting device.

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1. An aeration device adapted to aerate one or more sheets of a stack of sheets, the aeration device comprising: a side blower configured to selectively provide an air stream at an outlet thereof along an airstream direction so as to impinge against at least a portion of the stack and to lift an upp

1. An aeration device adapted to aerate one or more sheets of a stack of sheets, the aeration device comprising: a side blower configured to selectively provide an air stream at an outlet thereof along an airstream direction so as to impinge against at least a portion of the stack and to lift an uppermost sheet of the stack;a height detecting device configured to detect a height of the uppermost sheet of the stack; anda side blower adjustment device configured to adjust, based on an input from the height detecting device, at least one of a height of the side blower and an angle of the airstream direction as the uppermost sheet of the stack is being lifted from the stack so as to track, by the air stream, the uppermost sheet. 2. The aeration device of claim 1, further comprising a stabilizing device configured to at least one of inhibit movement of the uppermost sheet of the stack in the airstream direction, limit a height of the uppermost sheet of the stack, and dampen an undulating motion of the uppermost sheet of the stack. 3. The aeration device of claim 2, wherein the side blower adjustment device includes a control device and wherein the stabilizing device includes a top blower configured to blow air onto the uppermost sheet of the of the stack so as to provide a height limiting force, the top blower being configured to be driven by the control device. 4. The aeration device of claim 3, wherein the side blower includes a main impeller driven by a shaft, and wherein the stabilizing device includes a second impeller driven by the shaft of the side blower and configured to generate an airflow that is directed towards the uppermost sheet of the stack by a duct. 5. The aeration device of claim 2, wherein the side blower adjustment device includes a control device configured to drive the stabilizing device. 6. The aeration device of claim 1, wherein the side blower includes an impeller based radial blower. 7. The aeration device of claim 1, wherein the height detecting device includes a mechanical sensor lever configured to contact with a free end thereof the uppermost sheet and connect to the side blower at another end thereof. 8. The aeration device of claim 1, wherein the height detecting device includes a non-contacting distance sensor configured to sense the height of the uppermost sheet of the stack in the vicinity of the air stream and to provide a signal indicative of the height to the side blower adjustment device. 9. The aeration device of claim 1, wherein the side blower adjustment device includes a control device and wherein the height detecting device is contactless and configured to provide a signal to the control device. 10. The aeration device of claim 1, wherein the side blower adjustment device includes at least one of: a lever having an end configured to contact the uppermost sheet of the stack and an end connected to the side blower, anda servo mechanical driver connected to a control device and drivable by the control device so as to adjust the height of the side blower. 11. The aeration device of claim 1, wherein the control device includes a mechanical lever connected at one end thereof to the side blower and adapted for contact with the uppermost sheet of the stack at another end thereof. 12. The aeration device of claim 1, further comprising a lift table configured to selectively adjust the height of the uppermost sheet of the stack. 13. The aeration device of claim 12, wherein the side blower adjustment device includes a control device and wherein the height detecting device comprises: a sensing element configured to follow the uppermost sheet of the stack;a high level switch configured to provide a high level signal to the control device when the sensing element is at a high level limit; anda low level switch configured to provide a low level signal to the control device when the sensing element is at a low level limit;wherein the control device is configured to raise the lift table until the high level signal is provided when the low level signal has been provided during operation while the stack has not been depleted. 14. The aeration device of claim 1, further comprising a height position limiting force device for limiting the height position of the uppermost sheet, the height position limiting force device being configured to apply a force that includes a force component that acts orthogonally on the uppermost sheet of the stack in a vicinity of the height detecting device. 15. The aeration device of claim 1, wherein the side blower adjustment device comprises: a vertical rod, the side blower being slidably disposed on the vertical rod; anda resilient element disposed to suspend at least a portion of a weight of the side blower;wherein height changes of the uppermost sheet of the stack operate to provide corresponding vertical displacements to the free end of the lever, which is configured to provide corresponding vertical displacements of the side blower along the vertical rod. 16. The aeration device of claim 1, wherein the side blower adjustment device further comprises: a vertical support pole having an upper hanger connected thereto;a support member connected to and extending substantially horizontally from the vertical support pole at a location below the upper hanger;a pin joint pivotally connecting the side blower with the support member;a resilient element disposed between the side blower and the upper hanger, the resilient element configured to maintain the side blower at a substantially horizontal position;wherein height changes of the uppermost sheet of the stack operate to provide corresponding vertical displacements of the free end of the lever, which is configured to provide corresponding angular displacements of the side blower by rotation of the side blower relative to the vertical support pole about the pin joint. 17. The aeration device of claim 16, further comprising a lower bumper disposed on the vertical support pole below the support member, wherein the lower bumper is configured to limit the upward angular displacement of the side blower to be below a predetermined angle. 18. The aeration device of claim 1, wherein the side blower is configured to direct the airstream so as to impinge at least partially against at least one planar side wall of the stack. 19. The aeration device of claim 1, wherein the side blower is configured to selectively adjust an air flow rate and an air velocity of the air stream such that a thickness of an air gap created between adjacent sheets in the uppermost part of the stack is selectively providable. 20. The aeration device of claim 1, wherein the stack has at least two vertical side walls that meet at a corner and wherein the side blower is configured to direct the airstream so as to impinge at least partially against at least one of the corner and one of the vertical side walls of the stacks. 21. The aeration device of claim 1, wherein the side blower adjustment device comprises: a side blower sensing element configured to follow the uppermost sheet of the stack;a blower high level switch configured to provide a blower high level signal to the control device when the side blower sensing element is at a high level blower limit;a blower low level switch configured to provide a blower low level signal to the control device when the side blower sensing, element is at a low level blower limit; anda control device configured to raise the side blower until the blower high level signal is provided when the blower low level signal has been provided during operation while the stack has not been depleted. 22. The aeration device of claim 21, wherein the side blower adjustment device comprises: a vertical support member;a support arm connected to the vertical support member and extending substantially horizontally therefrom;a lift motor connected to the vertical support member and having an output shaft;a threaded rod rotatably connected to the support arm;a drive mechanism operably disposed to transmit a rotational motion of the output shaft to the threaded rod;at least one threaded nut threadably engaged on the threaded rod;wherein the frame is connected to the at least one threaded nut and constrained from rotating relative to the vertical support member such that rotation of the threaded rod by the motor causes a vertical displacement of the side blower. 23. A method for aerating one or more sheets of a stack of sheets, the method comprising: selectively providing, by a side blower, an air stream at an outlet of the side blower along an airstream direction so as to impinge against at least a portion of the stack so as to lift an uppermost sheet of the stack;detecting, by a height detecting device, a height of the uppermost sheet of the stack; andadjusting, by a side blower adjustment device, based on an input from the height detecting device, at least one of a height of the side blower and an angle of the airstream direction as the uppermost sheet of the stack is being lifted from the stack so as to track, by the airstream, the uppermost sheet. 24. The method of claim 23, further comprising operating a stabilizing device so as to at least one of inhibit movement of the uppermost sheet of the stack in the airstream direction, limit a height of the uppermost sheet of the stack, and dampen an undulating motion of the uppermost sheet of the stack. 25. The method of claim 23, wherein the adjusting step includes dynamically and selectively positioning the side blower at more than two positions. 26. An aeration device adapted to aerate one or more sheets of a stack of sheets, the aeration device comprising: a side blower configured to selectively provide an air stream at an outlet thereof along an airstream direction so as to impinge against at least a portion of the stack;a height detecting device configured to detect a height of an uppermost sheet of the stack; anda side blower adjustment device configured to adjust, based on an input from the height detecting device, at least one of a height of the side blower and an angle of the airstream direction so as to track, by the air stream, the uppermost sheet,wherein the side blower adjustment device includes at least one of:a lever having an end configured to contact the uppermost sheet of the stack and an end connected to the side blower; anda servo mechanical driver connected to a control device and drivable by the control device so as to adjust the height of the side blower. 27. An aeration device adapted to aerate one or more sheets of a stack of sheets, the aeration device comprising: a side blower configured to selectively provide an air stream at an outlet thereof along an airstream direction so as to impinge against at least a portion of the stack, the side blower being configured to selectively adjust an air flow rate and an air velocity of the air stream such that a thickness of an air gap created between adjacent sheets at an uppermost part of the stack is selectively provided;a height detecting device configured to detect a height of an uppermost sheet of the stack; anda side blower adjustment device configured to adjust, based on an input from the height detecting device, at least one of a height of the side blower and an angle of the airstream direction as to track, by the air stream, the uppermost sheet. 28. An aeration device adapted to aerate one or more sheets of a stack of sheets having at least two vertical side walls that meet at a corner, the aeration device comprising: a side blower configured to selectively provide an air stream at an outlet thereof along an airstream direction so as to impinge at least partially against at least one of the corner and one of the vertical side walls of the stack;a height detecting device configured to detect a height of an uppermost sheet of the stack; anda side blower adjustment device configured to adjust, based on an input from the height detecting device, at least one of a height of the side blower and an angle of the airstream direction so as to track, by the air stream, the uppermost sheet.