Roll-wave sheet separator structure

摘要

A roll-wave sheet separator is provided which comprises a sheet support for supporting a stack of sheets and a sheet separator mounted adjacent to the stack which comprise a rotatable shaft having a helical peripheral thread coaxial with the shaft, and a follower rotatable around the shaft which follows the helical thread to move along the shaft axis. The follower supports at least one circular element which is preferably freely rotatable. The apparatus further includes a motor for rotating the shaft in one direction to drive the follower and its supported circular elements against the surface of the outermost sheet in the stack so that rotation of the circular element against the uppermost sheet in the stack will shingle that sheet from the stack. A brake is provided for abruptly stopping the rotation of the shaft whereby the follower and its supported element will then move back along the shaft out of engagement with the sheet surface. At this point the sheet may be removed, after which the circular elements are again driven into engagement with the next uppermost sheet to shingle the same.