Importance

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Abstract

A lifting platform for feeding stacks of panels to a machining line, in synchronism with the operation of a composite pusher (12) which skims the top side of a stack on the platform, and has transverse beams (5-5') for locally lifting the stack. The pusher has fingers in the same vertical ideal planes as the transverse beams. Above the stack are dimension feelers (14), one for each beam and vertically aligned therewith. At the beginning of each feeding cycle, the lifting platform is in its lowest position, the feelers (14) are completely lowered and the platform is then lifted by a predetermined amount (X) which is detected and evaluated by the feeler(s) first engaging the top of the stack, whereupon the feeler(s) causes the platform to stop. Thereafter, the feelers that had not reached the predetermined dimension are also raised to the same plane by selectively actuating the underlying beams (5-5') which lift the interposed portion of stack by an appropriate amount. After said dimension feelers have been raised, the pusher (12) engages portions of a stack having the same thickness (X).

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First Claim