Unit for selecting and separating reams from a stack of sheets of paper or similar materials

Abstract

A ream is selected and separated from a stack of sheets by a separating member which is inserted inside the stack at an insertion region defined by images acquired by an optical device, such as a television camera, moved vertically to scan a given scanning region of the stack. The optical device and the separating member are oriented with respect to each other such that the insertion region lies in the scanning region.

1 . A unit for selecting and separating reams from a stack of sheets of paper or similar materials, the stack comprising a number of sheets stacked in a given direction, and having a front face substantially parallel to said direction; the unit comprising information-acquisition optical means facing the front face; actuating means for moving the stack and the optical means with respect to each other, to permit acquisition by the optical means of information relative to the sheets at a given scanning region; separating means which are inserted inside the stack at a given insertion region to separate a ream from the stack; and logic control means for counting a number of sheets in said scanning region, and for controlling movement of the insertion region in said direction as a function of the number of sheets counted by means of the information acquired by said optical means; and being characterized in that the optical means and the separating means are so oriented with respect to each other that the insertion region lies in the scanning region.  
   
   
       2 . A unit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the optical means have a given optical axis, and detecting means for continuously determining, during acquisition of the information, a distance, measured parallel to the optical axis, between the optical means and the front face; the actuating means moving the optical means parallel to the optical axis in response to a signal from said detecting means, so as to maintain said distance substantially constant.  
   
   
       3 . A unit as claimed in  claim 1 , and also comprising a pointing device for indicating the location of said insertion region in said direction; the logic control means controlling movement of said separating means in said direction as a function of a signal from the pointing device.  
   
   
       4 . A unit as claimed in  claim 1 , and also comprising lighting means for illuminating said scanning region.  
   
   
       5 . A unit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the optical means have an optical axis at an angle of other than 90° with respect to said front face.  
   
   
       6 . A unit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the optical means have an optical axis at an angle of substantially 90° with respect to said front face.  
   
   
       7 . A unit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the optical means comprise a television camera for acquiring an image of the sheets in the stack at said scanning region.  
   
   
       8 . A unit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the optical means comprise a laser sensor for determining a profile of the sheets in the stack at the scanning region.  
   
   
       9 . A unit for selecting and separating reams from a stack of sheets of paper or similar materials; the stack comprising a number of sheets stacked in a given direction, and having a front face substantially parallel to said direction; the unit comprising information-acquisition optical means facing the front face and having a given optical axis; actuating means for moving the stack and the optical means with respect to each other, to permit acquisition by the optical means of information relative to the sheets at a given scanning region; separating means which are inserted inside the stack at a given insertion region to separate a ream from the stack; and logic control means for counting a number of sheets in said scanning region, and for controlling movement of the insertion region in said direction as a function of the number of sheets counted by means of the information acquired by said optical means; and being characterized by also comprising detecting means for substantially continuously determining, during acquisition of the information, a distance, measured parallel to the optical axis, between the optical means and the front face; the actuating means moving the optical means parallel to the optical axis in response to a signal from said detecting means, so as to maintain said distance substantially constant.  
   
   
       10 . A unit for selecting and separating reams from a stack of sheets of paper or similar materials, the stack comprising a plurality of sheets stacked in a predetermined direction and having a front face substantially parallel to the predetermined direction, the unit comprising: 
 an information-acquisition optical section that faces the front face;    an actuator for moving the stack and the optical section with respect to each other to permit acquisition by the optical section of information relative to the sets at a predetermined scanning region;    at least one separating member adapted to be inserted into the stack at a predetermined insertion region to separate a ream from the stack; and    a logic controller capable of counting a number of sheets in the scanning region and controlling movement of the insertion region in the predetermined direction as a function of the number of sheets counted according to the information acquired by the optical section, wherein the optical section and the separating member are oriented with respect to each other such that the insertion region is within the scanning region.