Abstract: A separation member that is used to separate a conveyance object from two rotation members, the conveyance object having been sent out from a nip that is formed by the two rotation members that are in contact with one another, the separation member includes a wavy part directed toward the nip and inclined from a normal to a center line of the two rotation members at a predetermined angle. The wavy part covers a contact zone where the conveyance object can come into contact with the separation member along a conveyance direction and along a width direction of the conveyance object, and the wavy part has a plurality of depressions parallel to each other and extending in a direction inclined from the conveyance direction and inclined from the width direction, at least two of the depressions overlapping along the conveyance direction.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressuring member, a separating claw separating a recording medium from the fixing member and a moving mechanism of the separating claw. The moving mechanism includes a biasing member, coaxial two input gears having different numbers of teeth, a bearing depression and a shaft protrusion. The two input gears rotate according to rotation the fixing or pressuring member while shifting by a difference of the numbers of teeth for each rotation. The bearing depression is depressed in one input gear, and has an inclined contact face. The shaft protrusion is protruded from the other input gear, and has an inclined distal end face contact with the contact face. The two input gears rotate to repeat coincidence of inclination directions of the contact face and the distal end face and shifting the inclination directions, and reciprocatingly move the separating claw.

Abstract: A fuser apparatus includes first and second rollers in nip relation to transport a receiver member therebetween. A stripping mechanism a skive assembly having an elongated, thin, flexible skive finger, wherein a tip of the skive finger is beveled with first and second bevel surfaces with respective sweep angles forming a sharp edge along an upper surface of the skive finger. A mounting mechanism positions the skive finger in operative relation to the first roller with a bottom surface of the skive finger contacting the surface of the first roller at a contact point spaced apart from the tip of the skive finger such that the sharp edge along the first surface of the skive finger is spaced apart from the surface of the first roller by a distance of between 50 and 120 microns.

Abstract: A separation device includes a separator that separates a recording medium from a rotator and a plurality of recesses disposed on a conveyance path side face of the separator over which the recording medium is conveyed in a recess span in a recording medium conveyance direction and at least in a conveyance span where the recording medium is conveyed. The plurality of recesses includes a first recess extending in a first extension line that is oblique relative to the recording medium conveyance direction and a second recess being adjacent to the first recess in a direction perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction. The second recess extends in a second extension line that is oblique relative to the recording medium conveyance direction and overlaps the first extension line of the first recess in the direction perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction to define an overlap span.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, a transfer device contacting the image bearer to form a transfer portion, a transfer bias power source, and a controller. A ratio of a time period of application of the opposite-directional bias to a total time period of one cycle of the AC component of the superimposed bias is greater than 50%. A ratio of a value of the DC component of the superimposed bias output within a region ranging from a leading end of the recording medium to a predetermined length to a value of the DC component of the superimposed bias output outside the region is greater than a ratio of a value of the AC component of the superimposed bias output within the region to a value of the AC component of the superimposed bias output outside the region.

Abstract: A separation device separates a recording medium ejected from a fixing nip formed between a first rotator and a second rotator from the first rotator. The separation device includes a separator including a front end disposed opposite the fixing nip and the recording medium and a plurality of recesses disposed on the front end of the separator at least in a conveyance span on the separator where the recording medium is conveyed. The plurality of recesses includes a first recess extending in a first extension line that is oblique relative to a recording medium conveyance direction and a second recess adjacent to the first recess and extending in a second extension line that is oblique relative to the recording medium conveyance direction. The second extension line overlaps the first extension line in a direction perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction to define an overlap span.

Abstract: A fixing device includes two rotary bodies and a recording-medium separation unit. The two rotary bodies are pressed against each other to form a nipping portion. The recording-medium separation unit is disposed at a position downstream from the nipping portion in a direction in which the recording medium is conveyed. The recording-medium separation unit includes a separation plate holder, a separation plate, and a spring. The separation plate holder extends in a longitudinal direction of one of the rotary bodies to hold the separation plate away from the one of the rotary bodies. The separation plate holder has rotation fulcrums and positioning surfaces at both ends in the longitudinal direction. The positioning surfaces are urged by the spring toward the one of the rotary bodies. Each of the positioning surfaces has a bent side to form a flange surface having one of the rotation fulcrums.

Abstract: A sheet reversing device including a first conveyance unit, second conveyance unit, third conveyance unit, and sheet pressing member. The first conveyance unit includes a first holder, and a support surface that supports the sheet, and conveys the sheet with an edge held by the first holder, and its entire surface supported by the support surface. The second conveyance unit includes second holders, which convey the sheet. The third conveyance unit is supported to be swingable between a reception position at which the third conveyance unit receives the sheet, and a transfer position at which the third conveyance unit transfers the sheet to the second conveyance unit. The third conveyance unit includes a third holder, and conveys the sheet held by the third holder. The sheet pressing member presses the sheet, transferred from the third conveyance unit to the first conveyance unit, against the first conveyance unit support surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus or cartridge is provided that includes an image carrier configured to be rotated while carrying a developer and transfer the developer onto a recording sheet at a transfer position. The image forming apparatus or cartridge may include a separating member disposed downstream from the transfer position in a rotating direction of the image carrier. The separating member may include a contact portion configured to contact the image carrier to separate the recording sheet from the image carrier, and an aperture configured to allow the developer to pass through the separating member from a first side of the separating member to a second side of the separating member opposite the first side, wherein the aperture is positioned farther away from the image carrier than the contact portion.

Abstract: The printing products (24) are supplied to the discharge station (16) by receiving elements (32) of the processing device (12). The discharge station has on the one hand a removal conveyor (18) and on the other hand a clamp transporter (20) arranged downstream with respect to the removal conveyor in the direction of circulation (U) of the receiving elements (32). The gripper tongs (22) of the removal conveyor (18) grip the printing products (24) at the side rim (26) and discharge the printing products from the receiving elements (32). The respectively trailing wall (36) of each receiving element (32) is provided with a guide element (50) which respectively supports the printing product (24) in question and introduces the printing product into an opened clamp (28) of the clamp transporter (20). The clamps (28) grasp the printing products (24) at the edge (30) with which the printing products (24) previously rested against the floor (42) of the receiving elements (32).

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide a sliding member for sheet-shaped recording material detachment having superior resistance to abrasion and superior heat resistant rigidity, and either a seal ring for an automobile or a seal ring or a sliding member for an industrial gas compressor, having high mechanical strength while ensuring flexibility. The objective is achieved with a sliding member for sheet-shaped recording material detachment, and either a seal ring for an automobile or a seal ring or a sliding member for an industrial gas compressor, made from a resin composite comprising: as a first element, either an adhesive fluorocarbon resin (A) or a resin compound of the resin (A) and a fluorocarbon resin (B) which differs from the resin (A), which are in a volumetric ratio (AB) of 5/95 to 99/1; and as a second element, 0.5 to 99 volume % of a thermoplastic polyimide (C).

Abstract: A medium transport device includes a rotating member forming a nip region with a facing member; a guide member configured to rotate in first and second directions opposite to each other; a protrusion serving as a positioning reference for the guide member; and a restricting member including first and second surfaces. The restricting member restricts rotation of the guide member in the first direction such that the guide member does not rotate beyond a position at which the first surface is in contact with the protrusion and at which the guide member guides a sheet medium in an intended direction, and restricts rotation of the guide member in the second direction such that the guide member does not rotate beyond a position at which the second surface is in contact with the protrusion and at which the guide member is not in contact with the facing member.

Abstract: The sheet compartments of a stacking wheel of a stacking device, as used in sheet goods processing devices, in particular in banknote processing machines and automated money deposit and/or withdrawal machines, have a wavy contour. The braking effect on the banknotes fed into the sheet compartments is thereby increased, so that the banknotes can be fed into the sheet compartments at increased speed without being damaged.

Abstract: A fixing device is provided with a fixing roller, a peeling claw that peels a recording paper from the fixing roller, a peeling claw holder that rotatably supports the peeling claw, and a support member that movably supports the peeling claw holder to enable the peeling claw to retract by moving apart from the fixing roller, wherein not less than two directions are set as retracting directions of the peeling claw holder to be moved when the peeling claw is caused to retract by moving apart from the fixing roller.

Abstract: This device has an arrival corridor via which the articles arrive, an article-receiving zone on which a stack (P) of said articles is formed, and a rotary actuator (22) suitable for pushing said articles away against a retaining element (32) for retaining the stack. The actuator (22) has at least one protective member (281, 282) for protecting the last article (N) in the stack (P) being formed, said protective member being suitable for being interposed between said last article and a current article (N+1) coming from the arrival corridor.

Abstract: A stripper blade system has been developed for high throughput inkjet printers. The stripper blade system includes a metallic blade having a leading edge that is less than 0.06 mm in thickness, a blade holder to which the metallic blade is mounted, and an actuator that is associated with the blade holder to move the metallic blade into and out of contact with an intermediate imaging member.

Abstract: A system is provided for stacking mail having an escort assembly for handling each mailpiece. The system comprises a containment device, a transport mechanism and a detachment mechanism. The containment device includes a base, vertical walls extending from the base and an open end for accepting the mailpieces therein. The containment device, furthermore, has a slot formed in at least one of the vertical walls thereof. The transport mechanism includes first and second transport segment, the first transport segment conveying escort assemblies and respective mailpieces over an open end of the containment device and the second transport segment lowering the escort assemblies and respective mailpieces into the open end of the containment device. The transport mechanism furthermore aligns the edges of the mailpieces along one of the vertical walls of the containment device and positions the escort assembly through the slot of the containment device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which uses toner to form an image on a sheet may cause the sheet to experience curl after passing through a fixing device which uses heat and pressure to fix the toner image on the sheet. A pair of discharge rollers and/or a sheet separating board may be utilized to correct the curl on the sheet, for both thin and heavy paper weights. The angle of the sheet separating board relative to a line which is perpendicular to a sheet discharging direction is preferably set from 75° to 95°, and a nip depth of a pair of sheet discharging rollers is preferably set from 0 mm to 3 mm.

Abstract: A document stacking module comprises a rotatably mounted stacking wheel (10) having at least one generally radially outwardly extending slot (14-16) which can be aligned with a document delivery position so as to receive a document. The wheel (10) is rotatable to a stacking position where the wheel cooperates with a stripper member (19) to extract a document from the slot whereby the document is stacked at the stacking position. A motor rotates the stacking wheel (10). A control system controls operation of the motor. The outer surface of part (22) of the stacking wheel (10) is shaped so that, when said part is presented to the document delivery position, the document fed through the document delivery position towards the stacking wheel engages the shaped part of the outer surface of the stacking wheel and is diverted away from the stacking wheel.

Abstract: A device for collecting printed products includes a rotating collecting cylinder to and a controllable holding device that holds and releases the printed products collected in a peripheral area of the collecting cylinder. A diverter includes an exposed end and a support roller. The diverter has an operational position to lift the products off the collecting cylinder and transfer them onto a conveying device, and a non-operational position for collecting the products on the collecting cylinder. A control unit moves the diverter from the non-operational position during an interval between two successive printed products and with the timing of the supplied printed products, to the operational position in which the diverter's exposed end is inserted in the surface area of the collecting cylinder. A circulating control member is drive-connected to the collecting cylinder and includes at least one control cam associated with the support roller in the non-operational and operational positions of the diverter.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a sheet discharge device is provided. The sheet discharge device may include a drive roller and a driven roller driven by the drive roller. Also, the sheet discharge device can have a flange portion disposed at one end of the driven roller in a longitudinal direction thereof so as to rotate together with the driven roller. The flange portion may include a cutout having a first guide surface and a second guide surface disposed downstream of the first guide surface in a rotating direction of the driven roller. The first guide surface may be longer than the second guide surface.

Abstract: A fixing unit includes a heating rotary member for heating a sheet, a pressing rotary member that is pressed against the heating rotary member with a specific pressure, forming a nip in between, and at least one separating member having a far end directed toward a surface of one of the rotary members with a narrow gap (d) on a downstream side of the nip so that the far end of the separating member hooks on and separates the sheet which is going to turn with the one rotary member. The gap (d) between the far end of said separating member and the surface of the one rotary member and a minimum width (L) of a top margin of the sheet along a leading edge thereof where the toner image is not formed are set to satisfy a relationship expressed by the inequality: d+1.5?L?3d+1.5.

Abstract: The sheet conveying apparatus includes a first member configured to convey a sheet along a predetermined conveying path while holding the sheet, a second member configured to convey a sheet along the predetermined conveying path while holding the sheet, and a changing unit configured to change a first state in which the first member and the second member convey the same sheet along the predetermined conveying path and a second state in which the first member and the second member convey different sheets in the predetermined conveying path according to a length of a sheet along the predetermined conveying path.

Abstract: An apparatus and method transport a sheet on a tray. In one embodiment, feet carried by an endless member contact a bottom and edge of the sheet to move the sheet off of the tray. In one embodiment, the sheet is arced while it is being engaged by the feet.

Abstract: A sheet delivery for a press has a linear guide in which a single holding crossmember (e.g., a gripper bar) is mounted such that it can be moved to and fro periodically. The holding crossmember is mounted in a further linear guide such that it can be moved to and fro periodically along the further linear guide axis as well. The axes of the linear guides are aligned at an angle to each other.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention provides a paper separation claw disposed near the surface of at least one of fixing rollers that fix toner on recording paper transported in a sandwiched manner, the paper separation claw being disposed in order to separate the recording paper, and a cavity portion that is open facing the surface of the fixing roller is formed in the paper separation claw.

Abstract: A stacker wheel is described which has two different types of slots defined by the tines. The first type of slot has an end which is positioned closer to the centre of the stacker wheel than the second type of slot such that the first type of slot can hold media closer to the centre of the stacker wheel than the second type of slot.

Abstract: A method for positioning a second flat item atop a flat first item includes the steps of: providing a first conveyor for transporting the first item and rotatably mounting a hard nip roller on an axle so that the hard nip roller engages the first conveyor. A second conveyor for transporting the second item is disposed at an angle relative to the first conveyor and a discharge end of the second conveyor meets the first conveyor at the hard nip roller. First and second soft nip rollers are mounted on the axle on opposite sides of the hard nip roller and are spaced apart from one another by a distance less than a width of the second item. The hard nip roller and the first and second soft nip rollers simultaneously engage the second item and separate it from the second conveyor, depositing the second item onto the first item.

Abstract: A transfer wheel removes flat products from one location, such as an overhead conveyor, spaces the products apart, reorients them and then transfers the products to a second conveyor or other location. The transfer wheel is eccentrically mounted within a circular frame. Grippers mounted on radially-moving spokes of the transfer wheel rotate as the wheel turns, to reorient the products, for example from vertical to horizontal, so they can be laid flat on the second conveyor. The eccentric mounting of the wheel causes the spokes to increase the spacing between adjacent products as the wheel turns, to prepare the products for later processing.

Abstract: A paper or sheet buffering system is provided which avoids having to shut down the entire system when the paper path or transport is overloaded. A rotating disk having an attached collection and dispensing finger(s) is used to pull excess sheets off the transport and hold them until it is suitable to dispense them back on to the transport.

Abstract: A printer of the invention includes a main body, an exit roller and at least one kicking mechanism. The exit roller is rotatably disposed on the main body and comprises a shaft and a rolling portion disposed on the shaft and rotated by the shaft to send paper out of the main body. The kicking mechanism is joined to the shaft and periodically exceeds the exit roller in a paper exit direction to kick the paper from the exit roller.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for aligning at least the front edge of several sheets arranged in a stack, one above the other, whilst maintaining the order of the sheets. Said device comprises a stacking table, one side of which is provided with a front edge stop for aligning the front edge of the sheets. A supporting platform, upon which a stack of sheets can be placed with non-aligned front edges, is arranged upstream of the stacking table. The device is provided with a sheet feeder, which removes the sheets from the supporting platform by placing them in an overlapping stream with the front edges placed under the preceding sheets. A turning device is provided downstream of the sheet feeder, said device turning the overlapping stream in such a way that the front edge area of each sheet is freely accessible.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus has a development unit with a photoconductor. A transport belt conveys a printing medium onto which a toner image is transferred from the photoconductor. A separator is disposed inside the transport belt, and is capable of extending outwardly to push the printing medium to separate the printing medium from the transport belt after transferring the toner image.

Abstract: A roller mechanism for separating paper has a fusing roller, a following roller, and at least two paper-separating rings. The fusing roller is formed with at least two annular grooves on a periphery thereof. The two paper-separating rings are respectively mounted in the annular grooves correspondingly. The following roller is contiguous to the fusing roller for heating a paper therebetween and transporting out the paper smoothly.

Abstract: A sheet separating mechanism includes a separation claw arranged on the surface of a rotatable member such that the separation claw can be rotated around a shaft of the rotatable member with which a claw portion can be brought into slidable contact. A holder rotatably holds the separation claw through the rotating shaft, the holder being rotatably arranged on an attaching portion of the body of the apparatus. A leaf spring elastically holds the holder at a predetermined position when the holder is attached to the attaching portion.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus for a printer includes a paper separating unit. The fixing apparatus also includes a heating unit which fixes an image on paper by heating paper passing through a developing unit, a pressing unit which contacts the heating unit, presses paper passing through an interface with the heating unit and helps to fix the image on the paper, and a paper separating unit which includes a separation member having a sharp end contacting the heating unit to separate paper, an arm member having one end to which the separation member is attached and pivots, centering on a hinge shaft at a predetermined angle, and an elastic member which is connected to the other end of the arm member and applies an elastic force so that the arm member is maintained in a correct position.

Abstract: This invention relates to a separation finger used in an Electro photographic device such as photocopying devices and laser-beam printers. More specifically, it relates to a separation finger with remarkably improved durability which has a sharp tips and is capable of preventing paper jams, caused by, for example, adhesion of the toner, over extended periods of time.

Abstract: A fixing device of the present invention includes a rotary body and a peeler rotatable about a support shaft and including an edge portion capable of contacting the surface of the rotary body. The edge portion includes a guide surface opposite to a surface that faces the rotary body. A first biasing device exerts on the peeler a force that tends to cause the edge portion to contact the rotary body about the support shaft. A guide guides the support shaft between a contact position where the edge portion contacts the rotary body and a non-contact position where the former is released from the latter. A second biasing device biases the support shaft toward the contact position. A guide member includes a guide surface that becomes substantially flush with the guide surface of the edge portion when the peeler is moved from the contact position toward the non-contact position against the action of the second biasing device.

Abstract: A sheet separation mechanism includes a separation claw arranged on the surface of a rotatable member such that the separation claw can be rotated around a shaft of the rotatable member with which a claw portion can be brought into slidable contact. A holder rotatably holds the separation claw through the rotating shaft, the holder being rotatably arranged on an attaching portion of the body of the apparatus. A leaf spring elastically holds the holder at a predetermined position when the holder is attached to the attaching portion.

Abstract: There are disposed a star-wheel 21 in the form of a thin wall-thickness having a sharp projecting portion 21a as auxiliary member which strips off a recording paper P from the surface of a photosensitive body 2, and an inversion preventing member 22 formed from a synthetic resin sheet having flexibility. The star-wheel 21 is disposed with a spacing between the surface of the photosensitive body 2 and an extreme end of the projecting portion 21a held by a fixed distance G. The inversion preventing member 22 has its extreme end placed in contact with the projecting portion 21a of the star-wheel 21 so that the star-wheel 21 is not allowed to be rotated in the direction reversed to the direction of rotation where the recording paper P passes through a normal carrying route.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder is combined with an optical machine module, and feeds a document to be scanned into the scanning area so that the optical machine module can capture the image on the document. The automatic document feeder according to the invention is designed so that single-sided and double-sided scanning of a manuscript can be attained. It mainly comprises a delivery route that can feed a manuscript through the scanning area, a return route and guiding-out route respectively connected with the delivery route. The manuscript can come out of the exit to complete single-sided scanning after passing through the scanning area. Or, the manuscript can be turned over to its other side and guided back to the delivery route to pass through the scanning area again to process the second scanning. Finally, the manuscript is guided out of the exit and the double-sided image capture is completed.

Abstract: Paper separator 311 may be equipped with plurality of paper-separating fingers 312 for separating sheet(s) of paper 100 for image formation and abutting and/or backed off from photosensitive body or bodies 310b, paper separator 311 optionally comprising finger body or bodies 313 capable of abutting photosensitive body or bodies; spur(s) 314a capable of touching so as to guide sheet(s) of paper for image formation which has or have separated from photosensitive body or bodies; and/or support component(s) 315 pivotably supporting paper-separating finger(s) 312 so as to impart restoring force(s) thereto urging paper-separating finger(s) 312 to under the force(s) of its or their own weight(s) bring finger body or bodies 313 into abutting engagement with photosensitive body or bodies 310b, and so as to, when spur(s) is or are touching sheet(s) of paper for image formation, cause finger body or bodies 313 to at least partially overcome restoring force(s) produced by weight(s) of paper-separating finger(s) or portio

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus that enables to transversely move a sheet separator without a dedicated drive source and with a simplified construction to thereby reduce production cost of the apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a thrust driving mechanism for reciprocating the sheet separator in an axial direction of a heater roller. The mechanism includes a worm gear which is rotated by a driving force of a drive source for rotating the heater roller, a helical gear which is meshed with the worm gear, and an eccentric cam which is mounted coaxially with an axis of rotation of the helical gear. A guide member for supporting the sheet separator is reciprocated in the axial direction of the heater roller in accordance with rotation of the eccentric cam.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stacking slices of food products such as wrapped cheese slices and the like at high speeds. The apparatus comprises a vacuum conveyor for supporting slices from above, and at least one transfer bridge for mechanically peeling the slices sequentially from the conveyor and directing them downward into one or more stacking locations. The transfer bridge preferably comprises a plurality of downwardly sloping surfaces disposed beside the belts. To assist the transfer bridge in separating the slices from the belts, and to control slice position after separation, fluid pressure is applied to the slices during and after separation from the belts.

Abstract: A device for feeding suction air or blowing air to a sheet-retaining device displaceable relative to a machine element in a sheet-processing machine, includes a first air-feeding element connectible in terms of flow to a suction-air or blowing-air source. A second air-feeding element cooperates telescopically with the first air-feeding element for forming an air through-passage duct connected in terms of flow to the sheet-retaining device.

Abstract: An upper skive plate and a method for quickly installing and removing the skive plate in the fuser section of an electrophotographic apparatus without damaging the roller therein. The skive plate carries a plurality of skives which strip a sheet of paper from the roller during operation of the apparatus. To install the skive plate, guide openings in the plate are positioned on locator pins which are affixed to the load arms which, in turn, support the roller. The plate is moved forward on the pins and is releasably latched in position by a pair of rotatable pawls on the plate which cooperate with clamping surfaces on the load arms. To remove the skive plate, this procedure is reversed.

Abstract: An apparatus for decelerating signatures moving in tandem fashion through sheet processing equipment is provided. A pair of counter-rotating cams lying in general face-to-face relation along a travel path of the signatures reach into the travel path of the signatures to effectively grab the trailing end of each signature so as to decrease the speed of each signature as the signature continues or to further processing equipment in the sheet handling system. Also provided is a guide assembly which increases control over the signatures during the decelerating process and during transport of the signatures to further downstream processing equipment. The guide assembly includes grooved rollers which act as pulleys for belts near the exit stream of the slow-down equipment, wherein the protruding segments between belt grooves act to push the signatures away from the belt.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conveying printed products in an imbricated formation with different spacings between the products, from a feed conveyor to the grippers on a removal conveyor. The printed products are introduced into the grippers in groups without any change in the spacing between successive printed products, and the conveying speeds of the feed conveyor and the removal conveyor are coordinated such that the portion of each group of products which projects into a gripper is less than the depth of the mouth of the gripper. Also, a deflection device at the transfer location serves to deflect the leading end of each group of products toward the approaching gripper. Alternatively, the grippers are controlled so that in the transfer location, a leading clamping part of the approaching gripper engages a trailing clamping part of the preceding gripper so as to guide the next group of products into the mouth of the approaching gripper.

Abstract: A sheet stripping method and apparatus are provided for stripping a sheet coming out of a process nip, from a surface of a moving roller forming part of the process nip. The sheet stripping method employing the apparatus includes the steps of (i) first contacting with a central portion of a stripping device, a central section of a lead edge of the sheet coming out of the process nip; and (ii) next contacting with a first edge portion and a second edge portion of the stripping device, a first edge section and a second and opposite edge section of the lead edge of the sheet coming out of the process nip, thereby preventing damage to the sheet taking advantage of a difference between self-stripping tendencies of the central and edge sections of the lead edge of a sheet coming out of a process nip.

Abstract: A conveyor assembly and method for rotating a strip of material via one or more transfer elements angularly disposed relative to the initial orientation of the strip of material and placing the rotated strip of material toward a continuously moving surface.