Abstract: In the region of a turner device in a sheet processing machine, a sheet-guiding device is disposed at a great spacing from the turner drum on the other side of a common tangent between a turner drum and a transfer drum.

Abstract: A sheet guide apparatus comprises gripper devices for holding and transporting a printed sheet, an impression cylinder and a transfer cylinder for holding and transporting the printed sheet received from the gripper device, and a first guide device for guiding the printed sheet being transported. A front end portion of the first guide device is located upstream, in the flow direction of the printed sheet, from a transfer position, where the printed sheet is transferred from the gripper device to the impression cylinder, and the front end portion of the first guide device is also located near the transfer position. Suction holes opening in a front end portion of a plate-shaped guide of the first guide device are provided for sucking air. The sheet guide apparatus suppresses fluttering or instability of the sheet.

Abstract: An intermediate cylinder comprising a main body, and a plurality of suction boxes formed in the main body at positions different with respect to a rotation axis of the main body. The intermediate cylinder further comprises a plurality of suction bores formed in the suction boxes so that they are open at an outer peripheral surface of the main body, an air suction source for generating suction force within the suction boxes, and a switching means for selectively switching connections between the plurality of suction boxes and the air suction source.

Abstract: A printing press for one-sided or two-sided printing of a sheet includes a transfer cylinder disposed in a travel direction of the sheet between a first and a second impression cylinder, respectively, of two printing units, and a sheet support assigned to the transfer cylinder for receiving the sheet thereon before the sheet is transferred to the second impression cylinder, an inverting drum disposed in the travel direction of the sheet between the sheet support and the second impression cylinder, the inverting drum serving for picking up the sheet from the sheet support and transporting the sheet to the second impression cylinder; and a method of operation.

Abstract: A vacuum platen assembly for a fluid-ejection device of one embodiment of the invention is disclosed that includes a platen that has a number of vacuum holes, and one or more aerosol-collection recesses. A number of ribs extend from the platen, against which position of media is maintained by suction effect from the vacuum holes.

Abstract: A sheet transport system (20) comprising at least one sheet transporter (30,36) that receives and hands off a sheet being transported by the system so as to transport the sheet from a first position to a second position, wherein the at least one transporter (30,36) comprises at least one orifice (44) through which air is aspirated to create a vacuum that grips a sheet when it is received by the transporter (30,36); a vacuum system coupled to the at least one orifice (44) controllable to aspirate air through the at least one orifice (44) to grip the sheet; at least one vacuum sensor (60) that generates signals responsive to magnitude of vacuum of the at least one orifice (44); and a controller (49) that receives the signals generated by the at least one vacuum sensor (60) and provides a signal indicative of a location of the sheet in the transport system (20) from the signals.

Abstract: A device for holding a sheetlike article on a movable underlying surface for transporting the sheetlike article in at least one direction selected from the group consisting of a direction into and a direction out of an operating station having a printing unit, includes a member having a surface underlying the sheetlike article, the sheetlike article being retainable by pneumatic pressure on the surface, a screening device disposed locally fixedly with respect to an operating station, the screening device serving for reducing an airflow in a region of the printing unit at least with respect to adjacent regions, the reduction in the airflow resulting from the sheetlike article being held on the underlying surface.

Abstract: Vertical pocket feeder signature handling equipment which supplies signatures in an on-edge orientation one at a time to bindery equipment. The vertical pocket feeder particularly cooperates with a hopper loader apparatus which transfers and separates individual signatures of sheet materials from a vertically aligned, stack of such signatures. The separated, individual signatures may then be subjected to bindery operations such as stapling or stitching.

Abstract: There are provided a suction unit which sucks a recording medium, and a unit which changes sucking force of the suction unit according to the property of the recording medium. Hereby, since the sucking force of the suction unit can be set according to a state of the recording medium. Therefore, for example, even if the recording medium is greatly curled, since its recording medium can be surely sucked on the transporting surface of the recording medium by the suction unit. Further, even if the recording medium has little rigidity and is thin, it is possible to prevent the recording medium from being stuck on the transporting surface of the recording medium by the suction unit.

Abstract: A device for delivering pieces of flat material, which are cut out of a web, into delivery containers is described. This device is to be so improved upon that full delivery containers can be replaced by empty delivery containers, without having to interrupt the delivery process. In order to achieve this, it is proposed to provide at least a first and a section suction roll, which is driven by way of rotation and can be applies with vacuum to retain the pieces of flat material in the peripheral area of said rolls, and at least a first and a second delivery container for delivering the pieces of flat material, in which the vacuum application can be so controlled by means of a vacuum controlling device that the pieces of flat material alternatively can be fed either to the first or the second delivery container.

Abstract: An air turning bar for a take-off device for plastic films has a hollow cylindrical body having a depression in the region of the bar around which the film is wrapped. The remaining region of the bar is circular cylindrical. Air outlet openings are provided within the depression. Narrow circular cylindrical strips adjoin the ends of the depression which are provided in the longitudinal direction of the air turning bar.

Abstract: A transport device for transporting flat goods has at least one transport belt having longitudinal edges and a transport area. At least one vacuum device and at least one guide with sidewalls are provided. The transport area of the at least one transport belt is arranged in the at least one guide such that at least one vacuum slot is formed between at least one of the longitudinal edges of the transport belt and one of the sidewalls neighboring the at least one longitudinal edge. The at least one transport belt has a profiling configured such that vacuum acts on the flat goods via the profiling.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for reversing sheet material in a sheet-processing machine having at least two printing units, a reversing drum with a gripper system, and an impression cylinder that can be operated as a storage drum in perfecting mode and to which a further gripper system for one edge of the sheet material is assigned. In perfecting mode, one of the edges of the sheet material is gripped at an angular offset before the transfer centerline between the reversing drum and the storage drum, before the edge of the sheet material fixed to the storage drum is released.

Abstract: An intermediate cylinder comprising a main body, and a plurality of suction boxes formed in the main body at positions different with respect to a rotation axis of the main body. The intermediate cylinder further comprises a plurality of suction bores formed in the suction boxes so that they are open at an outer peripheral surface of the main body, an air suction source for generating suction force within the suction boxes, and a switching means for selectively switching connections between the plurality of suction boxes and the air suction source.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement of sheet-holding systems at storage drums in turning devices of sheet-fed printing machines. It is an object of the invention to provide an arrangement of sheet-holding systems at storage drums, which ensures a stiff construction of the storage drum and a simple adjustment of the sheet-holding systems relative to one another.

Abstract: A device for decurling flat printing materials for a machine for processing the printing materials has a guide surface section whereover the printing materials are drawable. The guide surface section are formed with a decurling notch, and with suction openings arranged along and in the decurling notch and penetrating the guide surface section, and an evacuation system fluidically connected to the suction openings. The suction openings are formed in successive groups thereof, and the evacuation system including a plurality of chambers, of which respective chambers are assigned to a respective one of the groups of suction openings, the chambers being selectively settable with at least one of equal and unequal negative pressures therein during operation, and a machine for processing the printing materials having the decurling device therein.

Abstract: A sheet-processing machine includes a revolving sheet holding device for aiding in transporting sheets to be processed. A device for producing suction air or air blast has a movable air delivery element accommodated on the revolving sheet holding device. An actuating element cooperatively engages with the air delivery element for driving the air delivery element. The actuating element is either fixed to a frame of the machine or is movable relative to the sheet holding device.

Abstract: A suction roller is used to transport aligned sheets in a sheet processing machine. A portion of the circumferential surface of the roller has suction ports. A drive motor is provided for the suction roller and can drive the suction roller at varying speeds. Sheets are transported by the suction roller to a subsequent transport system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a storage drum in turning drives of sheet-printing machines. It is an object of the invention to change the relative angular position of sheet-holding positions at a storage drum in turning devices with little expense and simple means. Pursuant to the invention, this objective is accomplished owing to the fact that sheet-holding systems (8, 9) are provided at the storage drum for taking hold of the sheets (7) in the front and rear regions, the sheet-holding systems (8, 9) can be adjusted relative to one another in the circumferential direction, the sheet-holding systems (8) for the front region of the sheet at the basic body (12) and the sheet holding systems (9) for the rear region of the sheet is assigned to a central axis (13), which is taken up by the basic body (12) and the sheet-holding systems (8, 9) are connected to one another by a clutch (18, 20), which can be released by means of the oil of an oil-under-pressure connection (29, 30, 31, 32).

Abstract: An ink-jet apparatus is disclosed having a vacuum type print media transport subsystem for moving the print media through a printing zone. A transport belt is provided with an array of perforations such that vacuum flow is restricted. The perforations only pass vacuum induced airflow through the belt when over vacuum ported platen regions.

Abstract: A vacuum drum assembly for a printing machine has a drum with an array of passageways distributed along its length and around its periphery. The passageways permit air to flow from outside the drum to inside the drum in response to reduced air pressure inside the drum. The assembly also has an array of valve members, each valve member being movable between a closed position in which that valve member restricts at least one of the passageways and an open position in which the restriction of that passageway or those passageways is reduced. The assembly is arranged such that, when a partial area of the drum is wrapped with a sheet of material, at least some of the valves for the passageways adjacent the edges of that area are open, and the valves for the passageways which are not covered by the sheet and are not adjacent the edges of that area are closed.

Abstract: A machine for processing sheets, in particular a sheet-fed rotary printing machine, includes a transporting cylinder for transporting the sheets and having air nozzles disposed offset in relation to one another in a direction other than an axis-parallel direction of the transporting cylinder, and having a directing configuration for directing the sheets and having air nozzles, the configuration being assigned to the transporting cylinder. The machine is distinguished in that the air nozzles include throttled air nozzles and unthrottled air nozzles.

Abstract: A device for transferring segregated flat-shaped products includes a transfer device and a transport device by which the products transferred from the transfer device are further transported along a transport path. The transport device includes a moveable transport surface having suction openings communicative with a vacuum container. The transfer device includes a roll arranged transverse to the transport path and having suction orifices arranged about a circumference thereof. The roll has internal channels having openings in opposed axial end faces of said roll which are communicative with the suction orifices. Vacuum chamber members are disposed axially at the opposed end faces of the roll which is rotatable relative to the vacuum chamber members. Each of the vacuum chamber members has a concentric grove and a ventilation channel which correspond to the openings of the internal channels.

Abstract: In a device for guiding sheets in a sheet-fed apparatus, preferably, a rotary printing press, sheet guide elements that are charged with blasted air are disposed at the sheet guide cylinder, and the air blast nozzles include a combination of conventional free jet nozzles and throttled nozzles, which are independently charged with different pressure levels.

Abstract: A device for automatically changing printing plates is provided in a printing machine having a plate cylinder to which a printing plate is to be fed and on which the printing plate is to be fixed detachably. The device includes a transport system for conveying the printing plate while permitting axial compensating movements thereof. The transport system has at least one driven transport roller and an air cushion for holding the conveyed printing plate in contact with the transport roller. The plate-holding air cushion is formed between a counterpressure element, on one side, and the printing plate, on the other side.

Abstract: A sheet transport cylinder in a machine that processes sheets of printing material includes air nozzles for sheet formats of the printing-material sheets. The printing-material sheets are dimensioned from a minimum format up to a maximum format. The sheet transport cylinder is distinguished by the fact that the air nozzles are throttled air nozzles disposed to be matched to the minimum format.

Abstract: With an article transfer apparatus 1 of the present invention, when a negative pressure is applied on an air outlet 20 in a non-attracting state, the amount of air that is sucked through suction holes 6 in a front attracting section 2f is greater than the amount of air that is sucked through suction holes 7 in a rear attracting section 2b. Therefore, the suction amount through the front attracting section 2f is increased while reducing the suction loss of the attracting pad 2, thereby improving the reliability of the attraction operation.

Abstract: A method of retaining a sheet on at least one of a transfer cylinder and a guide surface of a sheet-guiding device in a sheet-processing machine by pneumatically activatable nozzles for producing an air cushion beneath the respective sheet, which comprises producing an air cushion by an air-pressure distribution resulting in air flows beneath the respective sheet, the air-pressure distribution being based virtually only on radially decelerated air flow, and being capable of retaining the respective sheet in position; and a retaining device for performing the method.

Abstract: A multistage printing machine is disclosed with a vacuum conveyor between stages, and in which supplemental air is provided adjacent at least one printing cylinder.

Abstract: An ink jet printer wherein a belt transports an image receiving member past a printhead is equipped with guiding means (18) for creating a bulge, d, in the belt, extending towards the ink ejecting means, thus keeping the “throw distance” constant and/or with rollers for moving the belt, one of the rollers having a flange and being positioned so as to force the belt agains the flange.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the transport of workpieces (W), in particular of suspended, panel-shaped workpieces (W), such as sheets or plates. This apparatus has at least one rotationally driven conveyor belt (1, 2) for the workpieces (W) to be laid onto the latter and a holding device (3), past which the conveyor belt (1, 2) is led. The holding device (3) retains the workpieces (W) on the conveyor belt (1, 2) by means of a magnetic field passing through the latter (1, 2) and/or by generating a vacuum at suction orifices (4) of the conveyor belt (1, 2). The holding device (3) possesses at least one magnetic device (3a), with a magnetic conveyor belt (1), and at least one vacuum device (3b) separated from this and having a vacuum conveyor belt (2). The magnetic device (3a) and/or the vacuum device (3b) can be displaced with their respective conveyor belt (1, 2) relative to a common reference member (5) and can be brought into contact with the workpieces (W) to be transported.

Abstract: A deceleration drum assembly has a deceleration drum with at least one gripper for gripping and transporting signatures. A guide surface assembly is provided which produces a fluid flow for transporting the signature in a contactless manner above the guide surface assembly.

Abstract: A printing-machine cylinder includes a basic cylinder body and a covering element fitted to the basic cylinder body, one of the basic cylinder body and the covering element being formed with a multiplicity of recesses connectable to one of a suction-air source and a blast-air source and having, in the region of the recesses, through-channels extending from the recesses to the peripheral surface of the covering element and defining blasting/suction sections for acting upon the underside of a sheet conveyed on the peripheral surface of the cylinder; a printing machine Including the cylinder; and a method for producing the cylinder.

Abstract: A device for transporting a sheet for a sheet-processing machine in a processing direction includes first grippers for gripping the sheet at a leading gripper edge, as viewed in the direction of processing, the first grippers revolving in a first direction during operation. Also provided is a cylinder bearing the first grippers, and having a support surface formed at the circumference thereof for supporting the sheet gripped by the first grippers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for feeding flat objects overlapping in slats, particularly metal sheets, at least to a front edge stopper of a processing machine, particularly a tin printing machine or a tin-plate varnishing machine, with a first conveyor on which the objects lie.

Abstract: A recording-medium transport device includes a pair of pinch rollers arranged closer to a printing head than to a subordinate roller and pinching and transporting a belt and a sheet of paper toward the printing head. The pair of pinch rollers can pinch the sheet of paper together with the belt, while maintaining the belt flat. As such, an image of high quality can be formed, e.g., printed on the recording medium. Furthermore, the recording medium does not divert from a transporting path. Thus reliable image formation can be achieved.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting print medium through a printzone of a printing device. The apparatus including a print media movement mechanism configured to advance a first portion of a print medium through the printzone and a reciprocally translating vacuum platen downstream of the print media movement mechanism. The vacuum platen receives the print medium and conveys a remaining portion of the print medium through the printzone so that a printing mechanism can print at a bottom margin of the print medium.

Abstract: A sheet to be scanned is conveyed to a sheet holding device provided with a support member having an arcuate and concave sheet holding surface and a sheet holding mechanism for holding the sheet on the sheet holding surface in which the sheet is conveyed along the sheet holding surface in its circumferential direction and is positioned in a predetermined position on the sheet holding surface. Air is blown into between the sheet holding surface and the sheet when the sheet is conveyed to and out of the sheet holding device through an air blow hole formed in the sheet holding surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting envelope blanks in an envelope making machine comprises at least one conveyor belt having a plurality of perforation holes therein, on which envelope blanks are transported through the machine in a conveyor plane. Beneath the conveyor belt is at least one suction chamber by means of which ambient air can be sucked through the perforation holes to retain blanks on the conveyor belt. At least one guide belt is provided on at least one side beside the conveyor belt in the direction of movement thereof. The conveyor belt and the guide belt are drivable so as to move synchronously in the direction of travel of the envelope blanks.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus is formed of a transfer unit and an image reading unit. The transfer unit includes a transfer belt disposed along a contact glass held vertically for transferring a document or photograph to a reading position; a first suction portion for allowing the photograph to be sucked onto the belt; and a second suction portion for sucking the photograph at an upstream side of the first suction portion in a transfer direction. The first and second suction portions hold the photograph at a reading position apart from the contact glass by a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A sucking hole is formed at a longitudinal groove at a leading end chuck side end of the longitudinal groove. In a clamp of the leading end chuck, a shut-off valve facing the sucking hole is provided at a clamp portion which opposes a leading end of the printing plate. When the longitudinal groove is not covered with the printing plate, a cap portion of the shut-off valve enters the longitudinal groove so as to shut the sucking hole. In this way, negative pressure is supplied only to the longitudinal groove which is covered with the printing plate, and leakage of negative pressure from the sucking holes of the longitudinal grooves not covered by the printing plate is prevented. As a result, desired suction adhesion can be obtained without need for a large-capacity negative pressure source.

Abstract: A media outputting device for a hardcopy apparatus includes a media source and at least one roller having an outer surface with a contact region for engaging media, where the roller is rotatable for outputting the media. The media outputting device also includes a negative pressure mechanism for creating a negative pressure distribution on the contact region where at least one portion of the contact region that is farther from the media source has a greater negative pressure than at least one portion of the contact region that is closer to the media source.

Abstract: A printer with a media transport has a rigid, air-transmissive platen. A movable air-transmissive flexible web overlies the platen and moves along a feed axis. A suction device communicates with the platen to draw air through the web and through the platen so that a sheet of media carried on the web is biased toward the platen. A manifold underlies the platen and has a number of separate chambers open to the platen, so that the suction device is connected to each of the chambers. A controller operates to selectably prevent communication between the suction device and at least some of the chambers.

Abstract: A print media preheating method and apparatus uses heat, vacuum, and mechanisms for drying and flattening a sheet prior to ink-jet printing thereon. Pre-shrinking the media, driving out and substantially reducing inherent moisture content prior to depositing wet ink thereon provides greater flatness in the print-zone whereby ink-jet print quality is improved.

Abstract: The invention relates to a suction roll for the transport of aligned sheets. Said roll may be intermittently driven for the transport of a sheet, until said sheet is taken by a subsequent transport system.

Abstract: A plurality of shuttle bars are guided in a feed direction below a guide body. The shuttle bars are spaced to fit between a plurality of conveyor belts which transport a sheet of material suspended below them toward a press. The guide body is lowered to move the shuttle bars far enough between the conveyor belts to disengage the sheet of material from the conveyor belts. The shuttle bars each includes a device for attachment to the sheet of material, whereby the sheet of material is conveyed the remainder of the way to the press attached to the shuttle bars.

Abstract: An intermediate cylinder comprising a main body, and a plurality of suction boxes formed in the main body at positions different with respect to a rotation axis of the main body. The intermediate cylinder further comprises a plurality of suction bores formed in the suction boxes so that they are open at an outer peripheral surface of the main body, an air suction source for generating suction force within the suction boxes, and a switching means for selectively switching connections between the plurality of suction boxes and the air suction source.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for drying a receiver media (30) in an ink jet printer. The apparatus generally comprises a means for creating a pressure differential between the upper surface (20) and the lower surface (50) of the receiver media (30), wherein the pressure at the lower surface (50) of the receiver media (30) is lower than the pressure at the upper surface (20) of the receiver media (30). The pressure differential-creating means may include a vacuum pump (70) adapted to generate a vacuum at the lower surface (50) of the receiver media (30) or an air pump (130) adapted to pass air currents (140) across the lower surface (50) of the receiver media (30) to cause a “Bernoulli effect”.

Abstract: An ink-jet apparatus is disclosed having a vacuum type print media transport subsystem for moving the print media through a printing zone. A transport belt is provided with an array of perforations such that vacuum flow is restricted. The perforations only pass vacuum induced airflow through the belt when over vacuum ported platen regions. In an alternative embodiment, belt lifting is controlled and substantially eliminated via vacuum ports associated with non-perforated regions of the transport belt.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to decelerate printed product in a stacking process is provided. The printed product may be a product such as printed paper, foil, or plastic. A continuous web of product may be cut into single items, one item at a time, and then the items may be stacked on top of one another. The apparatus may be comprised of a cylinder, which is comprised of a vacuum chamber having perforations and a blowing chamber having perforations. A first slow delivery tape, and first and second fast delivery tapes may also be provided. Each of the delivery tapes may have perforations to allow air to pass through and from or to the cylinder. The first slow delivery tape is wrapped around the cylinder. The first and second fast delivery tapes are wrapped around rollers and may help to create separation between individual cut items and may control moving items. The first slow delivery tape may slow down items to allow stacking of items.