DE19751610C1 - Sheet counting machine for stack of sheets in printer or copier - Google Patents

Abstract

The counting machine includes an adjustable holding-down device (4) and a roller (18). The control of the roller and holding-down device is coordinated so that a preset number of sheet edges can be caught by the surface of the roller when the holding-down device is placed on top of the stack of sheets, and provided for further processing. To release the sheets, the holding-down device is raised.

Description

The invention relates to a counting device for a number of sheets a sheet stack according to the preamble of claim 1.

A known counting device is a paper counting machine (Rotomatik- Paper counting machine, table model FR4; Foellmer), the unprinted and printed paper sheets of a paper stack counts and used in paper processing companies.

In order to count the paper sheets of a stack of sheets, this is put on one Angle plant table of the paper counting machine and the counting process started at the push of a button. A control device is connected to a Sheet stack side a counting head moved from bottom to top. That counting head comprises a hollow counter finger as a suction finger with a suction opening and a pin that rotates around the counting finger. If the counting head is moved upwards, the surface of the counting finger comes with her Intake opening in contact with the paper underside of the bottom stack leaves. The edge of the sheet is drawn in by the vacuum during suction sucks and the pen begins to rotate around the counting finger, the count fingers between the bottom two edges of the paper sheet by a slip pen creates a distance and the pen is in this space is removable. When the pen moves back around the counter finger the pin pushes the leaf margin under the counting finger, causing this  Sheet is isolated and countable. Then the counting finger starts with one same process to put the next sheet of paper on top where then ge it by the rotating pin under the counting finger is brought.

With this known paper counting machine, the number of sheets of paper stacks can be counted, with simultaneous injection of paper streak into the stack of stacked parcels with a predetermined number of sheets mar can be cated.

It is a pure paper counting machine with only one Counting is possible with insertable counting paper strips. A Counting and provision for grasping by means of transportation for a further processing of predeterminable sheet stack areas with predetermined The number of sheets is not possible here.

The task of picking up a certain number of sheets on a large stack of sheets count as a small stack of sheets from the large stack of sheets and one Feeding processed machine occurs in the industrial area especially in the manufacture of circuit board base material with glass fabric curved, as well as in the field of film processing and processing different types of composite materials. This counting of relatively small amounts of sheets on a large stack of sheets as well Grasping, transporting and loading processing machines NEN is usually done by hand. The Pa described at the beginning The pier counting machine is neither designed nor suitable for such applications net.

A photo paper dispenser is also known (US Pat. No. 4,431,176) with a Paper box in which a stack of paper from stacked photo papers is included. A controllable roller is attached above the paper stack,  which can be lowered and rotated onto the top photo paper. Through the whale When the roller is attached, the top paper sheet becomes one Arched sheet, which with a further rotation of the roller with a Sheet edge snaps onto the roller, causing the top sheet of paper from Sheet stack is isolated. In connection with another transport roller the isolated photo paper is then pushed out of the paper box.

A count and provision of a larger number of sheets on one Sheet stack is with such a photo paper dispenser, which is only one Sheet separation and ejection of individual sheets from a paper box performed, not possible.

In addition, a counting device is known (WO 95/00927 A1) with which the Number of sheets of a stack of sheets can be counted. To do this, a counting head move along the height of the sheet stack, whereby a disc-shaped Rotor engages between two superimposed blades and this intervention is used as a signal for a counting process. A supply of a certain, counted sheet quantity for a Further processing is not provided here.

A counting device for plates in a plate stack is also known (US Pat. No. 4,417,351), with which the stack height is measured and derived therefrom the number of stacked plates is closed. A Provision of a certain, counted number of plates on the Plate stack for further processing is with such an arrangement not possible.

The object of the invention is to provide a counting device with which a certain stack of sheets for one sheet stack Further processing can be provided.  

This object is achieved with the features of claim 1.

According to claim 1, the counting device has one in the direction of Stack surface controlled by a hold-down actuator hold-down device. At the beginning of a counting process, this is on the upper the first sheet of the sheet stack at an edge distance from an edge of the sheet this first sheet can be placed in the counting edge area of the sheet stack.

The counting device further comprises a ge by a roller actuator controls adjustable roller. The roller actuator can roughly linear adjustment movement between a contact position on the roller move the top sheet and a lifted position back and forth. Here is the roller with a roller pointing straight at the sheet stack seating area in the area of the edge distance and at a distance from the never at every counting step on the edge of the top sheet  settable. Through the roller and by means of an adhesive device on the rollers The contact area is the sheet edge from the sheet stack with one from the hold-down device outgoing bend can be lifted.

The roller can also be rotated under the control of a roller rotary drive an arrangement of the axis of rotation and the direction of rotation of the roller derge stalt that the roller contact area with an adhering sheet edge in Direction on the hold-down is rotatable.

The counting device further has a counting and preselection unit. Above is a counting and provisioning process by the following To Controllers of the hold-down device and the roller can be controlled:

After entering the desired number of pre-selected sheets at the wheel unit and after starting a counting and provisioning process the hold-down actuator is activated and thus the hold-down from one lifted position moved to the first, top sheet and opened there puts. The hold-down device remains there until the end of the respective and deployment process.

Then or at the same time the roller actuator is activated controls and thus places the roller on the first, top sheet. By the attachment sticks to the first leaf with a leaf area of its leaf oil on the respective roller contact patch. At the same time or on then the roller rotating drive is activated, whereby the attached leaf area by the roller rotation in the direction of the low holder is moved. This forms a bulge on the leaf margin bender leaf arch.

After or during the formation of this sheet sheet, An control of the roller actuator, the roller with the adhering sheet  of the first leaf from the underlying second leaf of the leaf stalk pels lifted off. When the roller continues to turn, the entire assembly snaps Sheet margin of the first sheet due to the flexibility of the sheet material below Alignment of the sheet arch and release the adhesive bond the roller top facing away from the sheet stack. This is the first Ver sheet in a first counting step from the sheet stack below individually and provided over the roller for further processing. At the The hold-down device continues to turn the top sheet on the stack held so that the roller without sticking under the first Blade continues to spin.

This completes the first counting step and one can match the, further counting step for the second sheet margin of the second sheet be performed. The first one sliding on the roller surface The edge of the sheet is also moved by the roller setting movement. Sight Lich, the geometry is to be dimensioned in this way, in particular the width of the raised sheet edge in relation to the roller travel that the raised leaf margin not in its starting position under the roller snaps back.

Now as many counting steps are processed in succession as this corresponds to the preselected and set number of sheets, each count step is detected and counted by the counting and preselection unit. After Er When the set number is reached, the process is stopped and a counting and deployment process is with the provision of a predetermined one Number of sheets on the sheet stack ended. To release the provided Sheets are then lifted from the sheet stack in a controlled manner.

Such a counting device is particularly suitable for automated providing a certain number of glass fabric sheets for Further processing and production of circuit board base material. The  Number of well countable with the counting device according to the invention and available sheets depend essentially on the sheet material, esp especially its strength and flexibility. During practical testing in connection with glass fabric sheets, foil sheets, composite materials like paper composite materials were counts and deployments of up to 10 and more sheets feasible, which for the above ge mentioned uses is sufficient.

According to claim 2 is provided for a good holding function and kinematics beat, form the hold-down strip and the roller to arrange parallel roller axis.

According to claim 3 and in a particularly preferred embodiment Arrangement proposed to count the sheet stack at a stack corner, then the counted sheets with the raised sheet corners over the roller are provided.

As an adhesive device on the roller surface, it can be according to claim 4 be sufficient to make them rough and easy to grip, especially re if the surface of the sheet material is correspondingly rough and is handy. It is advantageous for other, in particular smooth, leaf surfaces liable to form the roller as a suction roller for secure adhesion, where in the case of recesses in the surface of the roll to be counted Sheet margin or the sheet corner are sucked and adhered. The roller is to be designed as a hollow roller, the suction through the whale Zen cavity can be done.

According to claim 5, the adhesive roller surface is advantageous on the Top of the roller covered by a cover. So then snaps one raised edge of the sheet on the cover, of which none Stiction on the sheet margin lying thereon.  

The control of the roller actuator and / or the roller rotary drive can according to claim 6 during a counting process with the required Rotations and back and forth movements take place continuously continuously. Each according to the specific embodiment and depending on the leaf mat rialien it can also be advantageous to clock the control of the movements perform wisely and discontinuously.

To adapt to different circumstances, especially under Different leaf materials and leaf thicknesses make it advantageous to use the geome trien and adjustment speeds to make adjustable according to claim 7. Suitable positions and speeds can then be determined by simple Experiments are determined, for which no specialist personnel are required.

Known according to claim 8, directly mechanically as a counter working counters and / or non-contact counters, especially optical ones Counters can be used as light barriers. Such counters record every counting step, for example via the linear movement Roller adjustment or the passage of a lifting sheet edge as Point of delivery. These metering points are added up and preselected with the th and set number of sheets as a threshold value. After Errei After this threshold, a counting process is completed and the Counting is stopped, the corresponding number of sheets for one Registration and further processing is available.

Capturing, pulling or lifting and transporting the ready provided sheets from the sheet stack is useful according to claim 9 of a pliers device performed automatically. However, it is also a The counted sheets can be transported by hand.  

The gripping and pressing force of a pliers device are corresponding the respective circumstances depending on the sheet materials and Choose sheet thicknesses and the transport routes.

The number of sheets provided is good for easy detection a gap that is as wide as possible and possibly continuous on one side of the stack between the sheets provided and the rest below Sheet stack required. According to claim 10, a large engagement gap advantageous and simple through a device in connection with a Strip steel can be created under the raised sheet edges or Sheet corners are inserted flat into the stack and then to Widening of the engagement gap is placed upright. This band too steel device can automatically in connection with the counting process and the pliers device work with an adjusted timing.

In a compact, preferred embodiment of the counting device According to claim 11, at least the hold-down device and the roller are included their drive and support frames are designed as a single structural unit, which can be installed in a fixed position and to each of which a stack of sheets for Ab work can be moved. The control device should also be preferred and, if necessary, the strip steel device can be integrated in this structural unit or at least as complete building modules separately in the area of the counting device be arranged.

The invention is explained in more detail with reference to a drawing.

Show it:

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a counter for a number of sheets of a sheet stack,

Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of a counting device, and

Fig. 3 to 10 is a schematic representation of successive counting steps.

In Figs. 1 and 2, a purely schematic structure is a Zählvor device 1 illustrated, whose function will be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 10.

This counting apparatus 1 is shown only schematically in Fig. 1 comprises a hold-down actuator 2 and a roller actuator 3. The hold-down actuator 2 comprises, as is also evident from Fig. 2, a strip-shaped running down device 4, via a Nie derhaltergestell 5 with two spindle drives 6 are connected, which are spaced opposite one another in accordance with the longitudinal hold-down extension. The spindle drives 6 each comprise a drive spindle 8 , which is only shown in broken lines in the schematic illustration of FIG. 1 and which is driven by an electric motor 10 at its upper spindle ends 9 are and are stored with their lower spindle ends 11 in a spindle bearing 12 . The connection of the hold-down frame 5 to the drive spindles 8 takes place via a spindle nut 7.

As shown in FIG. 2, an optical transmitter 14 is arranged on a hold-down frame side 13 , which cooperates with a receiver 16 arranged on the opposite hold-down frame side 15 as an optical counter.

As can be seen from the schematic representations of FIGS. 1 and 2, the roller actuator 3 comprises a roller 18 which is spaced from the hold-down device 4 with a parallel axis of rotation 19 in the direction of the spin delantrtriebs 6 of the hold-down actuator drive 2 offset.

The roller 18 is rotatably mounted on a roller frame 20 , the roller rotation by an only schematically shown in FIG. 2, arranged on the roller 18 , electric roller rotating motor 21 it follows.

The roller 18 is connected via a roller frame 20 to two spindle drives 23 which are spaced from one another in accordance with the longitudinal extension of the roller. The spindle drives 23 each comprise a drive spindle 24 , which is only shown in dashed lines in the schematic illustration of FIG. 1, which are each driven by an electric motor 26 at their upper spindle ends 25 and are mounted with their lower spindle ends 27 in a spindle bearing 28 . The connection of the Walzenge stells 20 to the drive spindles 24 is done via a spindle nut ter 22nd

Both the spindle drives 6 of the hold-down actuator 2 and the spindle drives 23 of the roller actuator 3 are mounted in the region of the lower spindle ends 11 , 27 on a base plate 29 , which is preferably connected to the base 30 . Instead of the spindle drives 6 , 23 , other drives are also possible, for. B. a linear drive with a rack or a drive with toothed belt and / or deflections.

Furthermore, the counting device 1 comprises a control device 32 with a counting and preselection unit 33. This control device 32 is connected via lines 34 and 35 to the electric motors 10 , 26 of the spindle drives 6 , 23 , respectively. In addition, the control device 32 is connected via a line 36 to the roller rotating motor 21 and via a line 37 to the optical transmitter 14 .

As can be seen from FIG. 2, the roller 18 is designed as a hollow suction roller with a vacuum pump 38 which is only shown schematically, so that a sheet corner which is to be counted can be drawn in through recesses 39 in the roller surface. The vacuum pump 38 is connected to the control device 32 via a line 45 . The roller surface on the top of the roller 18 is covered by a cover 40 , which can be formed in one piece or, as is shown schematically in FIG. 2, in several parts by several brackets.

As can be seen in particular from FIG. 2, in the Zählvorrich device 1 is a sheet stack 42 to be counted with a sheet stack corner 43 via a transport carriage 44 in the area of the hold-down device 4 and the roller 18 of the counting device 1 that the axis of rotation 19 the roller 18 extends transversely to the sheet stack corner 43 .

The function of the counting device 1 shown only schematically in FIGS . 1 and 2 is explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS . 3 to 10:

At the beginning of the counting process, a desired number of preselected sheets is entered on the control device 32 via the counting and preselection unit 33 . Then, in a process shown in FIG. 3, the hold-down actuator 2 is controlled via the lines 35 at the beginning of a counting process, so that the electric motors 10 drive the drive spindles 8 . These are driven so that the hold-down device 4 is moved towards the uppermost, first sheet 46 of the sheet stack 42 and is placed on it.

Then or simultaneously with the hold-down actuator 6 is driven by the control device 32 via the lines 34 of the Walzenan 3 , so that the electric motors 26 drive the drive spindles 24 to. This drive of the drive spindles 24 also takes place here so that the roller 18 is placed on the first, top sheet 46 .

Now the control device 32 controls the vacuum pump 38 via the line 45 , as a result of which the first, uppermost sheet 46 is sucked in its corner region 50 onto the roller contact area. At the same time or subsequently, the control device 32 controls the roller rotator 21 via the line 36 , so that the adhering corner area 50 is moved in the direction of the hold-down device 4 by the roller rotation counterclockwise. As a result, an arching sheet 51 is formed on the sheet corner 50 , as is shown schematically in FIG. 4.

After or during the formation of this sheet sheet 51 , the Wal zenstellantrieb 3 is driven with the drive spindles 24 so that the roller 18 with the adhering corner area 50 , as shown in Fig. 5 Darge is from the underlying second sheet 47 of the sheet stack 42 abge is raised. Since the roller 18 continuously rotates counterclockwise, the sheet corner 50 then snaps due to the flexibility of the sheet material while aligning the sheet sheet 51 and releasing the adhesive bond to the cover 40 , as is shown schematically in FIG. 6.

So that this first sheet 46 is separated in a first counting step from the underlying sheet stack 42 and counted over the roller 18 provides ready. The top sheet 46 is still held by the holding-down device 4 on the stack 42 , so that the roller 18 continues to spin under the first sheet 46 as it rotates without sticking. In the course of this first counting step, the optical transmitter / receiver unit 14 , 16 detects the passage of the lifted sheet corner 50 in the counting and preselection unit 33 as a counting point, which is compared with the preselected and set number of sheets as a threshold value.

Now begins a substantially analogous to the first counting step ablau fender second counting step, in which the roller 18 is moved to a sheet corner 53 of the second sheet 47 lying under the first sheet 46 and is set on. Subsequently, this sheet corner 53 is sucked in by the vacuum pump on the roller contact area, the adhering sheet corner 53 being moved in the direction of the hold-down device 4 by the roller rotation. As a result, a bulging sheet arch 54 forms at the sheet corner 53 , as is shown schematically in FIG. 7.

Subsequently, the roller 18 with the suctioned and curved sheet corner 53 is lifted from an underlying sheet corner 55 of a third sheet 48 of the sheet stack 42 , as is shown schematically in FIG. 8. When the roller continues to rotate, the sheet corner 53 of the second sheet 47 then snaps because of the flexibility of the sheet material under alignment of the sheet sheet 54 and with the release of the suction connection onto the cover 40 under the sheet corner 50 of the top, first sheet 46 already arranged there the roll surface two sheet corners 50, 53 one above the other, wherein the bearing on the cover 40 of the top corner of the sheet 50, the first sheet 46 with all of these movements Walzenstellbe each zwangsmitbewegt.

This completes the second counting step, with the optical transmitter / receiver unit 14 , 16 in the course of this second counting step again detecting the passage of the lifted sheet corner 53 in the counting and pre-selection unit 33 as a counting point and adding it up to a counting value which corresponds to the preselected one and the set number of sheets as a threshold value. To provide and count z. B. five preset sheets are now the counting steps three to five processed in the same way, so that five sheet corners are counted on the surface Walzenoberflä provided. After reaching the set number of z. B. five sheets, the counting process is stopped by the Steuerein device 32 . After this counting process has been stopped, the hold-down device 4 , as shown schematically in FIG. 10, is lifted from the sheet stack 42 by actuating the hold-down actuator drive 2 via the control device 32 .

Subsequently, the sheets counted and provided in this way are automatically gripped by a pliers device 49 , as is shown schematically in FIG. 10, and drawn off from the sheet stack 42 . In order to enable a good possibility of capturing the sheets already counted and provided by the clamp device 49, a not shown here, steel strip may be provided in conjunction with the counting device 1, the flat-inserted after the counting of the preset number of sheets among the at elevated sheet corners in the sheet stack 42 and is then placed upright to widen an engagement gap.

Then the entire counting process for the next five sheets can be done can be repeated in the same way.

Claims (11)

1. Counting device for a number of sheets of a stack of sheets which are aligned one above the other at least on one counting edge of the sheet stack, characterized in that
that the counting device ( 1 ) in the direction of the stack surface by a hold-down actuator ( 2 ) controlled adjustable hold-down device ( 4 ), which on a top at the beginning of a counting process, the first sheet ( 46 ) of the sheet stack ( 42 ) at an edge distance a sheet edge ( 50 ) of the first sheet ( 46 ) can be placed in the counting edge area,
that the counting device ( 1 ) further comprises a roll ( 18 ) which can be controlled by a roll actuator ( 3 ) and which has a roll placement surface pointing straight onto the sheet stack ( 42 ) in the region of the edge distance and at a distance from the hold-down device ( 4 ) at each counting step on a sheet ( 46 , 47 , 48 ) made of flexible material to be counted, it can be placed on the sheet stack ( 42 ) and the sheet edge ( 50 , 53 , 55 ) of this sheet ( 46 , 47. ) adhering to the roll mounting surface by means of an adhesive device , 48 ) can be lifted off the sheet stack ( 42 ) with a bend ( 51 , 54 ) starting from the hold-down device ( 4 ),
that the roller ( 18 ) is controlled by a roller rotary drive ( 21 ) in a rotatable manner in an arrangement of the axis of rotation ( 19 ) and direction of rotation of the roller ( 18 ) such that when the roller rotary drive ( 21 ) is activated, the roller contact area with an adhering sheet edge ( 50 , 53 , 55 ) can be rotated in the direction of the hold-down device ( 4 ),
that the counting device ( 1 ) further comprises a control device ( 32 ) with a counting and preselection unit ( 33 ), by means of which a counting and preparation process for a preselectable number of sheets can be controlled in such a way,
that after entering the prefix number and after starting a counting and provisioning process, the hold-down actuator ( 2 ) is actuated and the hold-down device ( 4 ) is thus placed on the first, top sheet ( 46 ), where it remains until the end of the respective counting process. and the provisioning process remains,
that then or at the same time the roller actuator ( 23 ) is controlled and thus the roller ( 18 ) is placed on the first, top sheet ( 46 ), the he most sheet ( 46 ) with a sheet region of the sheet edge ( 50 ) is liable,
that subsequently or simultaneously the roller rotation drive ( 21 ) is controlled, whereby the adhering sheet area is hung with the roller rotation and initially in the direction of the hold-down device ( 4 ) to form a bulging sheet sheet on the sheet edge,
that the roller actuator ( 3 ) in the other direction opposite to the attachment direction is driven so that the roller ( 18 ) with the adhering sheet area of the first sheet ( 46 ) lifts off from the underlying sheet ( 47 ) of the sheet stack ( 42 ) and when the roller ( 18 ) continues to rotate, the entire first sheet edge ( 50 ) snaps through the flexibility of the sheet material while aligning the sheet sheet ( 51 ) and releasing the adhesive connection to the top of the roller facing away from the sheet stack ( 42 ), whereby the first sheet edge snaps in one the first counting step is separated from the sheet stack ( 42 ) underneath and is provided above the roller ( 18 ) for further processing,
that a second, appropriately controlled counting step is carried out for the second sheet edge ( 53 ) of the second sheet ( 47 ), the first sheet edge ( 50 ) remaining during this second counting step on the roller top in an installation and being positively moved and the second sheet edge ( 53 ) at the end of the second counting step snaps under the first sheet margin ( 50 ),
that depending on the presetting, a corresponding third or further counting steps are carried out,
that each counting step is counted and counted by the counting and preselection unit ( 33 ) until the number of counting steps corresponds by comparing the preselected number of sheets, whereupon the process for executing further counting steps is stopped and a counting and provisioning process with a provision of preselected counted sheets ( 46 , 47 , 48 ), which are raised on the top of the roll with sheet edges ( 50 , 53 , 55 ) and otherwise lie on the sheet stack ( 42 ), and
that to release the sheets provided ( 46 , 47 , 48 ) the Niederhal ter ( 4 ) by controlling the Niederhalterstellenantriebs ( 2 ) is lifted from the sheet stack ( 42 ). 2. Counting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the hold-down device ( 4 ) is strip-shaped and the roller ( 18 ) is arranged with a parallel roller axis ( 19 ). 3. Counting device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the sheet edge is a sheet corner ( 50 , 53 , 55 ) on a stacking corner ( 43 ) on which the roller ( 18 ) in a plan view with the stacking corner ( 43 ) is arranged transversely to the roller axis ( 19 ), so that the sheet corners ( 50 , 53 , 55 ) are counted and provided on the top of the roller in a lying position after a counting process. 4. Counting device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the adhesive device is produced by a friction lining on the roller surface and / or by suction through recesses ( 39 ) in the roller surface as a suction roller. 5. Counting device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the roller surface on the roller top is covered by a cover ( 40 ), on each of which a raised sheet edge ( 50 , 53 , 55 ) snaps. 6. Counting device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the actuation of the roller actuator ( 23 ) and / or the roller rotary drive ( 21 ) during a counting process takes place continuously or intermittently discontinuously. 7. Counting device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the edge distance and thus the contact distance of the never derhalters ( 4 ) from the stack edge, optionally from a stacking corner, is adjustable and / or the lifting distance of the roller ( 18 ) and / or whose adjustment speed and / or whose rotational speed is adjustable. 8. Counting device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that
that the counting and preselection unit ( 33 ) contains a mechanical counter, which detects a sequence of movements of the roller adjustment in a counting step as a point of counting and / or a contactless counter, preferably an optical counter ( 14 , 16 ), which also corresponds to a sequence of movements the roller adjustment and / or the passage of a lifting sheet edge ( 50 , 53 , 55 ) as the point of detection, and
that the unit compares the sum of the metering points with a preselected and preset number of sheets as a threshold. 9. Counting device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a tongs device ( 49 ) is provided, wherein the sheet edges raised above the roller surface and provided after a counting process ( 50 , 53 , 55 ) with the tongs device ( 49 ) are detectable and can be lifted and / or removed from the sheet stack ( 42 ). 10. Counting device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that for improved provision of the sheet edges ( 50 , 53 , 55 ) under the raised sheet edges ( 50 , 53 , 55 ), in particular under raised sheet corners and under the sheet stack ( 42 ) Abge raised roller ( 18 ) a steel strip can be inserted by a device in its flat position, which can then be brought into the upright position, so that a continuous, wide engagement gap, preferably for a pliers handle, is then formed over the entire stack width. 11. Counting device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that at least the hold-down device ( 4 ) and the roller ( 18 ) with their drives ( 10 , 21 , 26 ) and support frames ( 5 , 20 ) form a structural unit of the counting device ( 1 ) form and preferably also the Steuereinrich device ( 32 ) with the counting and preselection unit ( 33 ) and optionally a strip steel device are parts of the structural unit and / or separately arranged building modules of the counting device ( 1 ).