ES2249164B1 - DEVICE AND PROCEDURE FOR DOWNLOADING LAMINARY ELEMENTS FROM A ROLLER, AND FORM AND TRANSFER BATTERIES OF SUCH LAMINARY ELEMENTS. - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus and procedure for unloading laminar elements from a roller, and forming and transferring batteries of such laminar elements. The method comprises unloading sheets from a roller (11) through a barrier (10); receive the sheets on a support (12) forming a stack in progress; interposing a separator (13) between two adjacent sheets, where a first sheet completes a finished stack on the support and the second sheet is retained by said separator to initiate a new stack in progress; move the support (12) to the level of an output support (15) and push the finished battery by means of a pusher (14) to transfer it from the support (12) to said output support (15); and move the support (12) to the separator level (13) and remove the separator (13) to transfer said stack in progress from the separator (13) to the support (12). The apparatus implements the previous procedure.

Description

Device and procedure for downloading items laminators from a roller, and form and transfer batteries of such laminar elements.

Field of the invention

The present invention concerns an apparatus and procedure for unloading laminar elements from a roller, and form and transfer piles of such laminar elements. The laminar elements can be, for example, labels, brochures, loose sheets, etc., of various materials, such as paper and plastic, among others.

Prior art

Various devices used to create are known stacks of laminar products in continuous. The laminar elements, such as, for example, labels, brochures, loose sheets, etc., are supplied by a part feed system upper of a driven roller to rotate relative to an axis in general horizontal. The roller includes means for retaining temporarily the laminar elements until they reach a part bottom of the roller, where they are separated by a barrier. The separate laminar elements fall on a stacking stand Where a battery is formed.

US patent application 2003/0082044 describes such an apparatus in which the roller is formed by a plurality of equidistant separate wheels that rotate in unison with respect to a common axis. Each wheel has a plurality of spiral configuration fingers arranged so that they partially overlap each other, intended to retain a web between each of them. According to one embodiment, two separating members alternate to interpose between two of the laminar elements such that the lower of said two elements constitutes the last element of a stack and the upper of said two elements constitutes the first element of the next stack , which is formed on the separating member. During the formation of a stack, the separating member that supports it moves as it grows while the other separating member deposits the previous finished stack on exit conveyor means and then moves out of the stacking area to position itself appropriate to interpose, when it is your turn, between two laminar elements and start a new stack on the
same.

According to another embodiment of said US 2003/0082044 patent application, only one separating member and the exit conveyor means are adapted to move, in a detained situation, upwards and down to act as a battery holder in training. Thus, the outgoing conveying means move first up until you receive the battery that is in formation on the separating member, which is released for move out of the stacking area in turn an appropriate position to interpose, in a timely manner, between two laminar elements. The outgoing conveying means they move down as the battery builds up. When the separating member gets between two elements laminar, a finished stack is arranged on the media outbound conveyors, which are launched to remove it, and a new stack starts over the member separator.

In the first of both embodiments, the two separating members are endowed with movements combined in two directions that require mechanisms considerably complicated, which has the disadvantage of making the device complex and expensive, both manufacturing and maintenance. In the second embodiment, the only separator member is provided also of movements in two directions, and the means output conveyors are equipped with lifting movements and decline, which together is also considerably complex. On the other hand, it has the disadvantage that the batteries formed are relatively "loose", since they are not provided means to press against the elements of the stack a as this is formed in order to eliminate air as much as possible from among them.

Exhibition of the invention

The present invention contributes to solve the previous ones and other inconveniences contributing an apparatus for unload laminar elements from a roller, and form and transfer piles of such laminar elements, characterized in that it comprises a barrier located in the trajectory of said elements laminar when transported by said roller, to unload  the laminar elements from the roller in a discharge zone; a support for stacking laminar elements discharged and detained by said barrier, forming a battery in progress; a separator adapted to be moved from a retracted position to an extended position interposed between first and second adjacent laminar elements, where said first laminar element completes a finished stack on said support and said second laminar element is momentarily retained by said separator to start a new stack in progress while said finished battery is ejected from the holder; and a pusher adapted to be moved from a retracted position to an extended position to push the finished battery and transfer it from the support to an output support.

The apparatus organs previously mentioned are equipped with linear movements that can be easily operated by linear actuators, such as cylinders dynamic fluid, electric motors with nut mechanisms and Spindle, linear electric motors, among others.

The apparatus comprises means of support drive adapted to move the support moving it away from said discharge zone at a speed according to a growth rate of the stack in progress while maintaining a predetermined pressure between a last sheet element of the stack in progress and a cylindrical roller surface. With that, it substantially prevents air remaining between the laminar elements of the battery, making it more compact. To control the mentioned predetermined pressure, the apparatus incorporates means sensors arranged to detect a pressure between said latter laminar element of the stack in progress and a cylindrical surface of the roller. These sensor means are in connection with some control means to govern the drive means of support according to the pressure detected in order to maintain said predetermined pressure.

The support drive means are also adapted to move the support, once the shifting the separator to its extended position has completed the finished battery, moving it away from said discharge zone until put it at the level of said output support and, once the finished battery, bring the holder back to the separator to Receive the stack in progress from it. These displacements of distance and approach are carried out at a speed greater than said rate of growth of the stack in progress over the separator, which gives time to receive the stack in progress in the support when it is in an initial stage of its training. Also, the time it takes for the stack to progress to finishing on the support is enough to allow removal and resituation of the separator.

The present invention also provides a procedure suitable for being carried out by the apparatus of the invention described above. The procedure is characterized because he understands the steps of unloading the laminar elements from the roller in a discharge zone through a barrier located in the path of said laminar elements when they are transported by said roller; receive stacked by a support the laminar elements unloaded and stopped by said barrier forming a stack in progress; move a separator from a retracted position to an extended interposed position between first and second adjacent laminar elements, where said first sheet element completes a finished stack on said support and said second sheet element is retained momentarily by said separator to start a new battery in progress while said finished battery is ejected from the holder; Y push the finished battery and transfer it from the holder to a exit support by means of a pusher adapted to be moved from a retracted position to a position extended.

The procedure comprises moving the support by means of support drive means away from said discharge zone at a speed according to a speed of stack growth in progress, preferably maintaining a predetermined pressure between a last sheet element of the stack in progress and a cylindrical roller surface using said support drive means in order to avoid substantially the presence of air between the elements laminar

Brief description of the drawings

The above and other advantages and features of the present invention will be more fully understood fully from the following detailed description of some Examples of embodiment with reference to the attached drawings, in those who:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus for unloading laminar elements from a roller, and form and transfer piles of such laminar elements according with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the apparatus of the Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front view of the apparatus of the Fig. 1, from which the frame has been omitted for greater clarity;

Fig. 4 is a side view of a detail enlarged showing a separator in relation to a roller in the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a side view of a detail expanded showing an example of realization for some media pressure sensors; Y

Figs. 6A to 6F are schematic views in elevation illustrating a sequence of steps followed by the method of the present invention using an apparatus such as that of Fig. 1.

Detailed description of some embodiments

Referring firstly to Figs. 1 to 3 an apparatus is described according to an embodiment example of the present invention, which comprises a roller 11 arranged and actuated to rotate about a shaft 42 substantially horizontal. The roller 11 comprises a cylindrical surface 11a in which there are a plurality of suction holes 23 connected to a low pressure source to suction hold the laminar elements L on the roller 11 along a part of its turning path that goes between a reception area, associated with a supply device 43 of laminar elements L (Figs. 6A-6F) generally located in one part top of the roller 11, and a discharge zone, which generally found in a lower part of roller 11. The mentioned suction holes 23 are arranged in rows parallel to the axis 42 of the roller and in circumferential rows perpendicular to the axis 42 of the roller. Internal ducts 40 (indicated by dashed lines in Figs. 4 and 5) connect all suction holes 23 belonging to one or more of said rows with said low pressure source. In bliss cylindrical surface 11a of roller 11, and between said rows circumferential suction holes 23, are arranged annular grooves 24. As best shown in Fig. 4, the suction holes 23 are open on recessed surfaces 36, each of which forms with the cylindrical surface 11a a step 36a at its front end and converges with the surface cylindrical 11a at its rear end. The mentioned slots annulars 24 are deeper than said step 36a, and its function It will be explained below.

In the said discharge zone the device comprises a barrier 10, stationary, located on the path of said laminar elements L when they are transported by said roller 11. Upon reaching the barrier 10, the suction holes 23 of the roller 11 are disconnected from the suction means and the barrier 10 acts to discharge the laminar elements L from the roller 11 in said discharge zone. Next to the barrier 10 is find a support 12 arranged to receive on it the laminar elements L discharged and stopped by said barrier 10. Thus, the laminar elements L accumulate stacked on the support 12 forming a stack in progress L2. As seen better in Figs. 6A to 6F, barrier 10 and support 12 are orthogonal to each other and are slightly inclined to propitiate that the base of the battery be supported by gravity on the support 12 and one of its sides against the barrier 10. It will be understood, however, that the barrier 10 could be completely vertical, or in any other degree of inclination, or even completely horizontal, being in all cases the support 12 in general substantially perpendicular to the barrier 10.

The apparatus includes a separator 13 adapted for be displaced from a retracted position (Fig. 6A), in which the separator is away from the roller and out of interference, until an extended position and adjacent to the roller (Fig. 6B), in which the separator 13 is inserted in the annular grooves 24 in interference with the path of the laminar elements transported by the roller, so that a first element laminar L1 that reaches the discharge zone is located below the separator 13. Then the separator is moved quickly a short distance in the direction of the barrier 10 from said extended position and adjacent to the roller (Fig. 6B) to a extended and separated roller position (Fig. 6C). So when the rotation of the roller brings a second laminar element L2 (which follow the first laminar element L1) to the discharge zone, the separator 13 is interposed between said first and second laminar elements L1, L2, adjacent, so that said first laminar element L1 completes a finished stack P1 on said support 12 and said second laminar element L2 is retained momentarily by said separator 13 to start a new battery in progress P2 while said finished battery P1 is ejected from the support 12.

Finally, the apparatus comprises a pusher 14 adapted to be moved from a retracted position (Figs. 6A at 6D and 6F), in which the pusher is out of interference, to an extended position (Fig. 6E) making a path during which the pusher pushes the finished battery P1 until transfer it from bracket 12 to an outlet bracket 15. Preferably, next to said output support 15 is arranged a retainer 17 adapted to be moved from a position retracted (Figs. 6A to 6E), in which the retainer is out of interference, to an extended position (Fig. 6F) in which the retainer retains the finished battery P1 on the output support 15 when said pusher 14 is moved back into position withdrawn

According to an embodiment example, about support drive means 16 are in charge of effecting displacements of the support 12 away from said area of download or approaching it at different speeds. A example of such support drive means 16 comprise an electric motor 25 connected by a transmission 41 to spin a pair of twin nut and spindle mechanisms arranged on the side and side of a frame 50 of the apparatus. Each one of such mechanisms comprise a spindle 26 coupled to a nut 27 fixed to a mobile support 28 linearly guided by a pair of guides 29 mounted on frame 50. Bracket 12 is fixed by its ends to both movable supports 28. Obviously, the means of Support drive 16 described supports multiple variations. The essential thing is that the motor or drive motors are liable to be controlled electrically or electronically and that the mechanisms transmit with sufficient precision the movements the motor.

Thanks to this, during the formation of the pile, the support drive means 16 move the support 12 moving it away from said discharge zone at a speed according to the growth rate of the stack in progress P2, which depend on different factors, such as the speed of rotation of the roller, the size of the labels (that is, the number of they that fit in a certain portion of the surface of the roller), and the thickness of the labels. Once the battery is complete terminated P1, that is, once separator 13 has been moved to its extended position (Fig. 6B), these same means support drive 16 are adapted to move the support 12, moving it away from said discharge zone until it is placed level of said output support 15, at a speed greater than said growth rate of the stack in progress P2 over the separator 13. The separator is also adapted to be displaced at a distance from said discharge zone while form the stack in progress on it. Once the battery is finished P1 has been transferred to output support 15 by the pusher displacement 14, the drive means of support 16 are adapted to move support 12 by bringing it closer to said discharge zone at a speed greater than the speed at the one that grows the stack in progress P2 on the separator. This allows support 12 to receive the stack in progress P2 in a stadium initial of its formation when separator 13 is displaced from back to its retracted position (Fig. 6F).

An example of realization of a device that allows the means of support drive 16 move support 12 during the pile growth on it while maintaining a pressure default between one last laminar element L of the stack in progress P2 and the cylindrical surface 11a of the roller 11 with the in order to avoid the presence of air between the laminar elements and Get more compact batteries. The mentioned pressure can be indirectly detect as a pressure between a corner of last laminar element L of the stack in progress P2 and a pick diverter 38 that is part of the barrier 10. According to an example of embodiment, said diverting pin 38 is mounted on the barrier 10 so that it can rotate with respect to an axis 39, and means sensors 18 are arranged to detect any minimum offset of the diverting pin 38 indicative of the pressure exerted by each new last laminar element L added to the stack in progress P2. The mentioned sensor means 18 are in connection with control means to govern the means of support drive 16 according to the pressure detected to maintain said predetermined pressure.

As described above, the separator it is equipped with first movements between its positions retracted and extended and a few seconds offsets in a direction substantially parallel to barrier 10, between a position adjacent to roller 11 (Figs. 6A, 6B and 6F) and one position separated from roller 11 (Fig. 6C to 6E). To do this, the device comprises first means of separator drive 19 to drive the movements of the separator 13 between its retracted and extended positions and a few seconds seconds of separator drive 20 to operate the seconds shifts of separator 13 between its adjacent positions and separated from the roller 11. Preferably, the separator 13 is mounted to be displaced by said first means of separator drive 19, and the first means of separator drive 19 together with separator 13 are mounted to be displaced by said second means of separator drive 20.

As best shown in Fig. 2, the first separator drive means 19 comprise, each frame side 50, a linear actuator 30 with a movable part fixed to the separator 13 and a fixed part mounted on a mobile support 31 connected to at least one moving part 32 of a linear actuator 33 whose fixed part is connected to the frame 50 and which is part of the second separator drive means 20. Since the mentioned first and second movements of the separator 13 they must be relatively fast and do not require arrests in intermediate positions, pneumatic cylinders are appropriate to perform the functions of said linear actuators 30 and 33, although other types of linear actuator such as hydraulic cylinders, electric motors with nut mechanisms and spindle, linear electric motors, etc. For the guidance of first and second displacements are incorporated means guides that cooperate with the first and second means of separator drive 19, 20. With this arrangement, the separator 13 can be moved between four positions, namely: retracted and close to the roller (Fig. 6A); extended and next to roller (Fig. 6B); extended and separated from the roller (Figs. 6C to 6E); and retracted and separated from the roller (Fig. 6F).

Moreover, the displacements of said pusher 14 between their retracted and extended positions are at charge of pusher drive means 21 which they comprise, for example, on each side of the frame 50, an actuator linear 34 having a moving part fixed to the pusher 14 and a fixed part connected to frame 50. The displacements of the mentioned retainer 17 between its retracted and extended positions they are carried out by means of retainer actuation means that they comprise a linear actuator (not shown) on each side of the frame 50, with a fixed part mounted therein and a part mobile connected to retainer 17. Also in this case some cylinders  tires are suitable to perform the functions of the actuators linear, without this constituting a limitation. Also, the movements of pusher 14 and retainer 17 are guided by corresponding guidance means that cooperate with the pusher and retainer drive means.

Referring now in particular to Fig. 3, the barrier 10 is formed by a plurality of fingers of barrier 10a arranged in alignment with the rows circumferential suction holes 23 of roller 11 so that between said barrier fingers 10a some are formed regularly distributed separation spaces. The separator 13 it comprises a plurality of separator fingers 13a adapted for be introduced into the annular grooves 24 of the roller 11 through said separation spaces between the fingers of barrier 10a when the separator 13 is moved from its position retracted to its extended position. Also, those mentioned second movements of separator 13 between their positions adjacent to roller 11 and separated from roller 11 are made with the separator fingers 13a in the separation spaces between the barrier fingers 10a.

As shown in greater detail in Fig. 4, each of the separator fingers 13a has a wedge end 37 which is located near a bottom of the corresponding slot annular 24, in a position deeper than the steps 36a, when the separator is in its extended position and next to roller. This ensures that the first laminar element L1 remains  located at the bottom of the separator fingers 13a. A rapid movement of separator 13 from this position extended and next to the roller to its extended and separated position of the roller ensures that the second laminar element L2 that reaches then it is located at the top of the fingers of separator 13a and be separated from the roller by the diverting pin 38, described above and shown in Fig. 5. To do this, the barb diverter 38 has a similar wedge construction, although this It is stationary and consists of a plurality of barbed fingers 38a (Fig. 3) associated with the barrier fingers 10a of the barrier 10. Advantageously, the barbed fingers 38a and the separator fingers 13a are sized to share the available space within the annular grooves 24 of the roller 11.

The support 12 also comprises a plurality of support fingers 12a arranged in alignment with the fingers of barrier 10a and substantially perpendicular to them. These support fingers 12a are adapted to be displaced as length of the gap between the barrier fingers 10a when the support 12 is moved from the discharge zone to the level of said output support 15, and vice versa. He too pusher 14 comprises a plurality of pusher fingers 14a adapted to pass through the separation spaces between said barrier fingers 10a and through corresponding ones separation spaces formed between said support fingers 12a when pusher 14 is moved from its retracted position to its extended position. Also, retainer 17 is also formed by a plurality of retainer fingers adapted for pass between said pusher fingers 14a when retainer 17 is moved to its extended position.

With this arrangement, support 12, the separator 13, pusher 14 and retainer 17 can effect their displacements without interfering with each other or with the barrier 10 stationary

The procedure to download items laminators from a roller, and form and transfer batteries of such laminar elements according to the present invention are described below with reference to Figs. 6A to 6F. He procedure comprises first downloading the elements laminar L from the roller 11 in a discharge zone by means of a barrier 10 located in the path of said laminar elements L when transported by said roller 11. Next receive the laminar elements in a stack 12 L discharged and detained by said barrier 10 forming a battery in L2 progress (Fig. 6A). When the battery has reached the size desired, move a separator 13 from a retracted position up to an extended position and separated from the roller, interposed between adjacent first and second laminar elements L1, L2 (Figs. 6B to 6D), where said first laminar element L1 completes a terminated battery P1 on said support 12 and said second laminar element L2 is momentarily retained by said separator 13 to start a new stack in progress P2 while that stack finished P1 is ejected from support 12. Then, move the support 12 to the level of an output support 15 and push the P1 terminated battery for transfer from holder 12 to said output support 15 by means of a pusher 14 adapted to be moved from a retracted position to an extended position (Fig. 6E). Finally, move the support 12 to the level of the separator 13 and remove separator 13 to its retracted position (Fig. 6F) to transfer said new stack in progress P2 from the separator 13 to support 12, thus initiating a new cycle.

The process of the invention also it comprises moving support 12 by means of support drive 16 away from said discharge zone a a speed according to a growth rate of the stack in progress P2 and preferably maintain a pressure default between one last laminar element L of the stack in progress P2 and a cylindrical surface 11a of roller 11 using said support drive means 16.

A subject matter expert will come up with variations and modifications in the embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the invention according to It is defined in the attached claims.

Claims (28)

1. Apparatus for unloading laminar elements from a roller, and forming and transferring piles of such laminar elements, characterized in that it comprises: a barrier (10) located in the path of said laminar elements (L) when transported by said roller (11), to unload the laminar elements (L) from the roller (11) in a discharge zone; a support (12) for stacking the laminar elements (L) unloaded and stopped by said barrier (10) forming a stack in progress (L2); a separator (13) adapted to be displaced from a retracted position to an extended position interposed between first and second laminar elements (L1, L2) adjacent, where said first laminar element (L1) completes a finished battery (P1) on said support (12) and said second laminar element (L2) is momentarily retained by said separator (13) to start a new stack in progress (P2) while said finished battery (P1) is ejected from the support (12); Y a pusher (14) adapted to be displaced from a retracted position to an extended position to push the finished battery (P1) and transfer it from the holder (12) to an output support (15). 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises support drive means (16) adapted to move the support (12) away from said discharge area at a speed according to a cell growth rate. in progress (P2). 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that said support drive means (16) are adapted to maintain a predetermined pressure between a last sheet element (L) of the stack in progress (P2) and a cylindrical surface ( 11a) of the roller (11). 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises sensor means (18) for detecting a pressure between said last sheet element (L) of the stack in progress (P2) and said cylindrical surface (11a) of the roller ( 11), in connection with control means to govern the support drive means (16) in accordance with the pressure detected to maintain said predetermined pressure. 5. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that said support drive means (16) are adapted to move the support (12), once the finished battery (P1) is completed by the displacement of the separator (13) to its extended position, moving it away from said discharge zone until it is placed at the level of said output support (15), at a speed greater than said growth rate of the stack in progress (P2) on the separator (13). 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the separator (13) is adapted to be moved at a distance from said discharge area while the battery in progress (P2) is formed thereon. 7. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that said support drive means (16) are adapted to move the support (12), once the finished battery (P1) has been transferred to the output support (15) by the displacement of the pusher (14), bringing it closer to said discharge zone, at a speed greater than said growth rate of the stack in progress (P2), to receive the stack in progress (P2) initiated on the separator (13) when the separator (13) is moved back to its retracted position. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the support drive means (16) comprise a motor (25) connected to rotate at least one spindle (26) coupled to a nut (27 ) fixed to a mobile support (28) linearly guided by at least one guide (29) mounted on a frame (50), the support (12) being fixed to said mobile support (28). 9. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a retainer (17) adapted to be moved from a retracted position to an extended position to retain the finished battery (P1) on the output support (15) when said pusher (14) is moved back to its retracted position. 10. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises first means of separator actuation (19) for driving the movements of the separator (13) between its retracted and extended positions. 11. Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises a second means of separator actuation (20) for driving displacements of the separator (13), in a direction substantially parallel to the barrier (10), between an adjacent position to the roller (11) and a separate position of the roller (11). An apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the separator (13) is mounted to be displaced by said first separator actuation means (19), and the first separator actuation means (19) together with the separator (13) are mounted to be displaced by said second separator drive means (20). 13. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the first separator drive means (19) comprise at least one linear actuator (30) with a movable part fixed to the separator (13) and a fixed part mounted on a support mobile (31) connected to at least one rod (32) of a linear actuator (33) mounted on a frame (50). 14. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises pusher actuation means (21) for driving the movements of said pusher (14) between its retracted and extended positions. 15. Apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that said pusher drive means (21) comprise a linear actuator (34) with a moving part fixed to the pusher (14) and a fixed part mounted on a frame (50) . 16. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises means for retaining the actuator for driving the movements of said retainer (17) between its retracted and extended positions. 17. Apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that said retainer drive means comprise at least one linear actuator mounted on a frame (50). 18. Apparatus according to claim 13, 15 or 17, characterized in that said linear actuator (30, 33, 34) is a dynamic fluid cylinder. 19. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the roller (11) comprises suction holes (23) for holding the laminar elements (L) on a cylindrical surface (11a) of the roller (11) along a part of its turning path between a supply device (43) of laminar elements (L) and said discharge zone, said suction holes (23) being arranged in rows parallel to the axis of the roller and in circumferential rows perpendicular to the axis of the roller, and annular grooves (24) being arranged on said cylindrical surface (11a) of the roller (11) between said circumferential rows of suction holes (23). 20. Apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in that said suction holes (23) are open on recessed surfaces (36), each of which forms a step (36a) with its cylindrical surface (11a) in its front end and converges with the cylindrical surface (11a) at its rear end, said annular grooves (24) being deeper than said step (36a). 21. Apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that the barrier (10) comprises a plurality of barrier fingers (10a) arranged in alignment with the circumferential rows of suction holes (23) of the roller (11), and the separator (13) comprises a plurality of separator fingers (13a) adapted to be introduced into the annular grooves (24) of the roller (11) through a gap between said barrier fingers (10a) when the separator (13) is moved to its extended position. 22. Apparatus according to claim 21, characterized in that each of the separator fingers (13a) has a wedge end (37) that is located near a bottom of the corresponding annular groove (24) in a further position deep than the steps (36a). 23. An apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that the support (12) comprises a plurality of support fingers (12a) arranged in alignment with the barrier fingers (10a) and substantially perpendicular thereto, said fingers being support (12a) adapted to be displaced along said separation spaces between the barrier fingers (10a) when the support (12) is displaced between the discharge zone and the level of said output support (15). 24. Apparatus according to claim 23, characterized in that said pusher (14) comprises a plurality of pusher fingers (14a) adapted to pass through a gap between said barrier fingers (10a) and through some separation spaces between said support fingers (12a) when the pusher (14) is moved to its extended position. 25. Apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that it comprises a retainer (17) adapted to be moved by retainer actuation means from a retracted position to an extended position to retain the finished battery (P1) on the support of exit (15) when said pusher (14) is moved back to its retracted position, said retainer (17) comprising a plurality of retainer fingers (17a) adapted to pass between said pusher fingers (14a) when the retainer (17 ) is moved to its extended position. 26. Procedure for unloading laminar elements from a roller, and forming and transferring batteries of such laminar elements, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: download the laminar elements (L) from the roller (11) in a discharge zone by means of a barrier (10) located in the path of said laminar elements (L) when they are transported by said roller (11); receive stacked by a support (12) the laminar elements (L) unloaded and stopped by said barrier (10) forming a stack in progress (L2); move a separator (13) from a position retracted to an extended position interposed between first and second adjacent laminar elements (L1, L2), where said first laminar element (L1) completes a finished stack (P1) on said support (12) and said second laminar element (L2) is momentarily held by said separator (13) to initiate a new battery in progress (P2) while said finished battery (P1) is ejected from the support (12); move the support (12) to the level of a output support (15) and push the finished battery (P1) to transfer it from the support (12) to said output support (15) by means of a pusher (14) adapted to be moved from a retracted position to an extended position; Y move the support (12) to the level of the separator (13) and remove the separator (13) to its position retracted to transfer said new stack in progress (P2) from the separator (13) to the support (12). 27. Method according to claim 26, characterized in that it comprises moving the support (12) by means of support actuating means (16) away from said discharge zone at a speed according to a growth rate of the stack in progress (P2). 28. Method according to claim 27, characterized in that it comprises maintaining a predetermined pressure between a last sheet element (L) of the stack in progress (P2) and a cylindrical surface (11a) of the roller (11) using said means of support drive (16).