APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR STACKING AND SEPARATING SHEETS DISCHARGED FROM A STARWHELL ASSEMBLY

摘要

An apparatus (10) and method for creating stacks of sheets. In some embodiments, the sheets separated are those in or issuing from a starwheel assembly (14). The present invention includes a first separator finger (38) that is inserted between two adjacent sheets to separate first and second sheets. The first separator finger (38) retains the first sheet (56B) upstream to begin a first stack (60B) upstream of the first separator finger (38) and allows the second sheet (56A) to complete another stack (60A) downstream of the first separator finger (38). In some embodiments, the first separator finger (38) is inserted between the two adjacent sheets in a closed position and, after the first separator finger is inserted, the first separator finger (38)moves to an open position to create a gap between the first and second (60A) stacks.