Abstract: Apparatus for removing a sheet from a container such as a sheet film from a cassette, by a suction device mounted for movement rectilinearly at an angle to the plane of the sheet.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for picking up sheets of paper, cardboard or similar, especially porous material, one at a time from a pile of sheets for onward transfer, using a gripping apparatus fitted with gripping means and a sheet support disk, and a gripping apparatus for effecting the method. According to the invention when the gripping apparatus is brought to the pile of sheets it achieves the following steps:a. the pile of sheets is pressed on its top in the central region thereof,b. the gripping means is moved and presses the top of the pile on both sides of said central region,c. the top sheet on the pile is distorted preferably from both sides of the central region of the pile by making use of movement of the gripping means towards the central region of the pile so that said top sheet bends partly clear from the sheet under it,d.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for moving sheets from substrates without substantially moving the substrate and, specifically, where the sheets are sheets of X-ray film and the substrates are screens found in conventional X-ray cassettes or other sheets in a closely packed stack of sheets. The method and apparatus use at least one suction cup for curling and, thereby, lifting a portion of a sheet near an edge thereof allowing air to partially enter underneath the sheet. The suction cup has a sheet contacting face with a recess extending into the face where the recess is defined by an inner conical surface, a first planar surface and a second planar surface.

Abstract: A sheet supplying device is disclosed comprising a drive shaft, a first arm, a second arm, an elevator arm having a suction cup for attracting a sheet, and a roller. When the drive shaft starts to rotate counterclockwise, the first arm rotates counterclockwise together with the elevator arm until the roller disposed on the elevator arm is in contact with the uppermost sheet. When the roller contacts the uppermost sheet, the elevator arm starts to slide along the first arm and rotates clockwise about a point at which the roller contacts the uppermost sheet. The elevator arm and the first arm continue to move until the suction cup contacts the uppermost sheet, and then the suction cup is actuated to attract the uppermost sheet. When the suction cup has attracted the uppermost sheet, the drive shaft starts to rotate clockwise, the first arm rotates clockwise, and then the elevator arm with the suction cup attracting the sheet slides along the first arm.

Abstract: A sheet feeding system for ensuring feed of a single sheet includes a suction cup for holding the uppermost sheet of a stack. During initial lifting of the sheet, movement of the suction cup is halted for a predetermined time to allow sheets which have clung, by static attraction or otherwise to the uppermost sheet, to return to the stack. The initial lifting of the sheet takes place by swinging the suction cup about an axis. Thereafter the suction cup is lifted vertically to bring the topmost sheet into position to be taken up by portion feeding rollers and fed into a feed path. A stack empty detector employs a swinging arm which is positioned above the position the position of initial displacement of the suction cup so that, even if the last few sheets of the stack are initially attracted by the suction cup, the indicator will be prevented from giving a spurious "stack empty" signal.

Abstract: A device for controlling feeder blowing air and feeder suction air in a sheet feeder of a printing machine having a sheet delivery, including a first control unit for controlling feeder blowing air and a second control unit for controlling feeder suction air, manual operating controls located both at the sheet feeder and the sheet delivery of the printing machine for separately actuating the first and the second control units by remote control, the first and the second control units, respectively, comprising a rotary valve with a valve housinhg and a valve member turnable in the valve housing and formed with a main opening for passing main air through the housing as well as with at least one auxiliary opening for residual air.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing the uppermost article from a stack of alternating first and second articles. The apparatus includes a plurality of pins and a plurality of suction devices, the pins and suction devices being supported from the lower side of a support structure. The support structure, with the suction devices and pins, comprise a head or end effector for sequentially removing the alternating articles from the stack. Means are provided for moving the head from the stack to two respective locations for receiving the first and second articles in respective piles of the articles. The stack of alternating articles, and the respective piles of the articles after they are removed from the stack, are preferably held in an inclined cassette that aligns the articles and maintains the articles in alignment.

Abstract: A vacuum article pickup apparatus is disclosed which is capable of picking up single articles such as pieces of mail or sheets of paper, from a random assortment of articles of varying sizes, shapes, weights, thicknesses, and porosities. The apparatus provides a vacuum gripper and a spacer which spaces the vacuum gripper from the articles. Provision is made for adjusting the height of the vacuum gripper and the spacer to compensate for differences in height of the random assortment of articles. Provision is also made for locking the vacuum gripper and the spacer at this height during the engagement of the uppermost article, and for withdrawing the spacer from contact with the random assortment of articles after the uppermost article has been engaged by the vacuum gripper.

Abstract: A label injector for placing labels in the hems of towels, or the like, is disclosed. The labels are extracted from a vertical magazine onto the surface of a wheel by a combination of suction into openings on the surface of the wheel and upward movement of the magazine. The wheel is then rotated until the extracted label passes through a slot in the adjacent hemming track into the hem being folded. Suction is terminated, releasing the label, and the wheel is returned to its original orientation to receive another label. Other embodiments disclose a magazine for double thickness labels, and an applicator carrying a belt in a peripheral groove to assist in moving the labels.

Abstract: A device for the removal of sheet-like films from an X-ray film cassette or a film magazine by means of at least one sucker which has a suction lip with a frustoconical inner surface by which a front edge of a film is lifted from the stack. The suction lip has at the inner surface in the proximity of the mouth of the suction conduit a flat projection extended towards the film being lifted but is spaced therefrom.

Abstract: An envelope feeder (20) for use in a photographic order-finishing station, including a base (22) to which a retaining plate (28) is mounted. A stack-holding tray (30) is biased toward the retaining plate to compress a stack (18) of envelopes placed therebetween for feeding. Suction heads (50) move arcuately to contact and grip the outermost envelope (36) on the stack by application of a partial vacuum, and the move back to peel and lift a portion of that envelope from the stack. A shuttle assembly (52) with a plurality of narrow shuttle fingers (108) is included for insertion between the partially lifted outermost envelope (36) and the underlying envelope (68) to split any adhesions formed between them and separate the outermost envelope from the stack.

Abstract: A sheet feed mechanism has an array of suction cups into and out of contact with an uppermost one of stacked sheets in a sheet cassette. After the suction cups are held against the uppermost sheet, a vacuum is developed in the suction cups to enable the suction cups to attract the uppermost sheet. Then, the suction cups are lifted with the uppermost sheet attracted thereto, and a leading end of the attracted and lifted uppermost sheet is nipped, and the sheet is delivered into a sheet feed path. When the suction cups are lifted, they are angularly moved about an axis to cause the leading end of the attracted uppermost sheet to be obliquely separated from other stacked sheets.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for separating, delivering, and depositing material blanks, for use in the textile industry or the like which improves heat transfer to the gripping surface in a device in which the heating device is arranged in such a way that it is protected from external forces. The device comprises a heatable gripping plate, which has a gripping surface and an expansion chamber adjacent thereto, in which a refrigerant is able to expand and thus cool the gripping plate to below the freezing point so that a material blank will freeze onto said gripping surface.

Abstract: A sheet feeding system for feeding single sheets from a magazine containing plural sheets arranged in a stack. A vacuum type sheet pick-up mechanism picks up and deforms one end of the top most sheet to facilitate that sheets separation from the stack. Static and movable separators then act on the top most sheet to complete its separation from the stack and elevate the leading edge to bring it into contact with a friction drive mechanism. The friction drive mechanism is then activated by an external device to cause the sheet to be driven from the magazine. A programmed logic control system sequentially controls the cycling of the mechanism.

Abstract: A unit for the automatic loading of sheet units onto functional machines equipped with a conveyor which comprises a base frame which can be moved on corresponding rails along a track parallel to the direction of advance of the conveyor member of the machine to which the unit is connected, and a frame bearing one or more members for picking up sheet units, transported by the base frame, equipped with elements for movement comprising elements effecting horizontal lateral movement in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the base frame and element effecting vertical displacement together achieving a displacement between a pick-up position over an area in which sheet units are accumulated and a setting-down position overlying the conveyor in which extreme positions the picked up sheet unit lies substantially horizontal with an intermediate position in which the sheet unit picked up lies in an inclined position, together with controllable elements for translational coupling between the conveyor

Abstract: An input hopper apparatus (40) including input hopper receptacle (42) for receiving a stack of cards (44). A pick mechanism (60) is disposed proximate a second end of the input hopper receptacle (42) for individually picking a card from the stack of cards (44) by use of a suction cup assembly (62). A transfer mechanism (70) is included for transferring the picked card to a card transfer path (59).

Abstract: An apparatus for removing signatures from a hopper includes a rotatable drum. A first feeder mounted within the drum removes a first signature from the hopper during rotation of the drum through a predetermined acruate distance. A second feeder mounted within the drum partially removes a second signature from the hopper during rotation of the drum through the predetermined arcuate distance before the feeding of the first signature from the hopper is completed. The second feeder engages the second signature and starts removal of the second signature from the hopper while the first feeder is finishing removal of the first signature from the hopper.

Abstract: An automatic loading system includes an automatic loading apparatus for automatically loading, onto a pallet, a glass sheet product as it lies substantially horizontally and is delivered along a feed path to a terminal position of the feed path. The automatic loading apparatus has a suction mechanism for attracting the lower surface of the glass sheet product at the terminal position and for moving the glass sheet product to a loading position to load the glass sheet product onto the pallet. The automatic loading system also includes an apparatus for putting an interleaving sheet on an upper surface of the glass sheet product in the feed path. The interleaving sheet putting apparatus comprises a mechanism for moving an uppermost interleaving sheet of a stack of interleaving sheets over the glass sheet product, and a holder mechanism for holding the uppermost interleaving sheet against an upper surface of the glass sheet product.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a process and device for the gripping at a storage station, transfer and placement of a sheet of flexible plastic material at the stacking station in an automatic production process for compound structures, especially compound panes. In accordance with the process, the sheet made of flexible plastic material is grasped by suction connected to a swinging stamp, first exerting suction on the median part of the sheet, while extending this suction progressively up to one end of the sheet, then by swinging back, extending said suction over the entire surface thereof, while the sheet is simultaneously placed flush on its support, generally the subjacent sheet.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing currency notes one by one from a stack of notes (82) includes a rotating suction drum (16) having openings (26) formed therein, and a fixed member (88) against which an end note (82') in the stack is urged. The fixed member (88) includes a curved portion (94) disposed adjacent to, and extending partially around the drum (16), the curved portion (94) being provided with a plurality of parallel slots (96) which are respectively disposed in cooperative relationship with the openings (26) in the drum (16). During rotation of the drum (16), vacuum is applied to the end note (82') so as to draw the lower part of this note into engagement with the curved portion (94), with the end of the note projecting slightly beyond the end of the curved portion (94). Feed rolls (38) are then moved into engagement with the end of the note, the rolls (38) and drum (16) thereafter drawing the end note away from the remainder of the stack.

Abstract: The battery plate stacker includes a plurality of heads having pickup members located on the ends thereof for temporarily attaching either separators or plates to the heads as is appropriate. The heads are pivotal between stacks of plates or separators and a conveyor that is disposed between the stacks of plates and stacks of separators. The stacker includes control apparatus that prevents retraction of the heads unless a plate or separator is attached thereto and prevents swinging of the heads between the stacks and the conveyor until all of the heads are retracted.

Abstract: Sheet feeding apparatus comprises suction cups which initially engages the bottom surface of a bottommost sheet in a stack of sheets, with the suction plane thereof parallel to the sheet. The suction cups are then raised a small distance where the cups are tilted in a direction away from a support ledge without any substantial horizontal movement thereof, and following which the suction cups are lowered to pull the front end of the bottommost sheet past the support ledge with a wiping contact and down upon the top and front portions of a drive roller. Adjustable suction cup position control apparatus is provided including a manually progressively adjustable member for varying the peak elevation reached by the suction cups. A stationary cam is provided against which a pivotable follower portion of a suction cup mounting member rides, to vary the inclination of the mounting member and the suctoin cups carried thereby as the elevation of the suction cups is varied.

Abstract: A method of separating and feeding sheets from a stack comprises the steps of bringing a pick-up head into engagement with an intermediate portion of the top sheet of the stack while leaving the opposite ends of the sheet free, applying an air stream from each of the opposite sides of the stack and directed inwardly to impinge against the stack and to cause the free ends of the top sheets of the stack to separate from the underlying sheets, and moving the pick-up head with the picked-up top sheet away from the stack.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for ensuring sheet separation of a single sheet workpiece from a stack of workpiece sheets which consists of a lifting assembly having at least three spaced sets of sheet workpiece holding suction members with at least a poriton of one set being reciprocatable in a vertical movement to cause flexure of a sheet being raised by the lifting device to cause separation of an underlying sheet which may have adhered to the sheet being lifted.

Abstract: Both positive pressure fluid and negative pressure fluid are used in a method and by an apparatus to at least partially separate a sheet prior to the feeding of the sheet. A carriage 22 having registration arms 160 resiliently coupled thereto is rotated toward a sheet lying in a storage position in a hopper 200. The carriage 22 bears both a positive pressure-communicating port 54 and negative pressure-communicating orifice, preferably in the form of two bellows-type sucker cups 56A, 56B. Positive pressure fluid is applied through port 54 in a manner whereby at least a portion of sheet 220 is attracted to a surface 52 in which ports 54 lie. While positive pressure fluid is being applied, the carriage 22 is rotated away from the storage position of the sheet 220, thereby deflecting at least a portion of the sheet about a first axis 208 of the sheet 220.

Abstract: This relates to a label separator which is operative to separate a foremost label from a stack of labels in advance of such label being picked by a picker so as to assure that only one label is picked at a time and that the other labels in a stack of labels will not be disturbed. One end or edge portion of a foremost label is displaced relative to the remainder of the stack and after a gap has been formed between the displaced label and the next adjacent label in the stack, a blade enters in between these two labels so as to separate completely the foremost label from the remaining labels in the stack. The apparatus which effects the initial displacement has associated therewith a label support whereby the displaced label remains supported in its original alignment for reception by the picker.

Abstract: A bottom sheet feeding apparatus including a sheet separator and feeder and a sheet stacking tray which has a planar base portion defining a base plane, the front of the base portion having an opening within which the bottom sheet separator and feeder is positioned, the tray further including two sloping planar side wings, one at each side of the opening in the base portion. In a preferred embodiment, the sheet separator and feeder includes a slide plate with a vacuum applied thereto. The slide plate has a sloping front portion for more positively separating the bottom sheet in a sheet stack from the remaining sheets.

Abstract: Sheet feeding apparatus with an adjustable stack support in confronting relation to a feed opening able to accommodate sheets of various widths, so that one or more stacks of sheets can be supported along the feed opening with the longitudinal center line of any stack being positionable along different selected points along the length of the feed opening. At least about eight selectively controlled suction cups are aligned parallel to the length of the feed opening and encompass most of the opening engaging the bottom surface of the bottom sheet in any stack of sheets and withdraw the sheet from the stack. The spacing between contiguous margins of the suction cups is much less than about two diameters of each cup. The suction cups are preferably supported on the top of a pneumatic tube and are raised with the tube to engage the bottommost sheet in the stack. The pneumatic tube is mounted for pivotal movement upon a rockable carrier framework.

Abstract: Quickly exchangeable inserts for sheet feeding vacuum cups are provided to accommodate an extended range of sheet permeability. Projecting form structure inserted within a feed cup bellows provides a surface discontinuity for the vacuum nozzle to retard and inhibit double sheet feeding of either highly permeable or highly impermeable paper. Single sheet feed reliability is thereby improved.

Abstract: A paper sheet attracting system includes a suction air casing and a paper sheet attracting unit which has a bottom wall provided with a plurality of air intake openings. The paper sheet attracting unit is movably connected to the suction air casing via a flexible duct. The paper sheet attracting system further includes a pressure roller for depressing the paper sheets to be supplied. The paper sheet attracting unit is rotatable around the pressure roller, whereby the paper sheet attracting unit rotates, when driven by a drive motor, in a manner that a contacting point of the pressure roller and the paper sheets functions as a support point of the rotation. The attracting suction force created through the air intake openings is varied depending on the thickness of the paper sheet.

Abstract: An envelope hopper (20) is capable of selectively handling stacks of short envelopes (SE), stacks of long envelopes (LE), or stacks of envelopes of intermediate dimensions. The envelope stack rests on a table frame (26) in such a manner that at least a portion of a bottom-most envelope overhangs a breaker plate edge (32). At appropriate points in an machine cycle suction cups (64) rise from below a breaker plate (30) to attract the underside of the overhanging envelope and then fall to deflect the attracted envelope. Rotating arcuate surfaces (202) of segmented rollers (66) thereafter make contact with the underside of the deflected envelope. Cooperating rollers (72) are pivoted into a position to contact the upperside of the deflected envelope, to engage the deflected envelope between the rollers (72) and the driven segmented roller (66), and to apply a pressure which facilitates displacement of the envelope from the stack by the application of rotational motion from the segmented roller (66).

Abstract: Single sheet feed reliability for suction cup mechanisms handling highly permeable paper sheet is improved with a quickly and conveniently attached rigid cup enclosure of an extensible bellows cup. An internal thread is provided in the suction pipe ends for receipt of an externally threaded T-nut shank. The T-nut secures both, the rigid cup enclosure and the extensible bellows.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for introducing and positioning a label the walls of a mold formed in two parts separated by a mold joint, in a machine with a reciprocating cycle for the extrusion/blow molding of hollow bodies, of the type comprising:--a member for storing labels disposed above the open mold,--a vertically mobile jack, disposed above the open mold, associated with means adapted to grip a label in the storage member, then to lower this label into the open mold,--means adapted to maintain the deposited label against the walls of the mold during the path of transfer of this mold, wherein a jack adapted to generate a reciprocating vertical movement is associated with a vertical rigid rod bearing at its end a rigid member adapted to pivot about this end, this pivoting rigid member comprising two rigidly connected arms, one forming a pivot stop when its abuts on the upper part of the mold, the other, vertical, bearing at its other end the label to be deposited.

Abstract: According to the invention, separator plates bevelled at the front edges provided on the rotating feed segments of a sheet feeder, more particularly for envelope machines, which finally separate from the pile of blanks a blank for feeding, the front edge of the bottom flap of the blank having been separated from the pile by means of a tongue and vacuum device. The separator plates align the blank in the direction of conveyance, smooth it out, and then feed it to the extractor roller and engagement edge of the rotating feed segments.

Abstract: A paper sheet attracting system includes a suction air casing, a paper sheet attracting unit which has a bottom wall provided with a plurality of air intake openings, and a pressure roller for depressing the paper sheets to be supplied. The leading edge of a paper sheet attracted by the paper sheet attracting unit is caught by a paper sheet feeding member for transferring the paper sheet. When the paper sheet feeding member is enabled, the pressure roller is driven to shift upward so that the pressure roller is separated from the paper sheets. Furthermore, when the paper sheet feeding member is enabled, the suction operation conducted by the paper sheet attracting unit is interrupted, whereby the paper sheet is transferred without disturbance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for feeding single bags to automatic bag inserting apparatuses, picking them up and also unsticking the bag being picked up from the underlying ones, in case they are glued to one another because of glue drops during the bag manufacture. The system substantially comprises (see FIG. 3) three units: a first unit provided with suction cups, picking up the bag at its transversal middle portion, where accidental adhesion of bags cannot happen, and lifting it to allow that two unsticking units, including bars being inserted under the bag and unsticking it from the underlying one with a spreading action, are inserted between said bag being picked up and the underlying one. One of the two units is also provided with pincers blocking the bag edges on the open unsticking arms and, in the return stroke of the unit to the starting position, transferring it on to the feeding device of the bag inserting apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring sheets from a relatively wide or relatively narrow stack of sheets into a transporting device has a pair of suction cups which engage the leader of the topmost sheet in the stack and turn it through 90.degree. so that the leader becomes separated from the leader of the sheet therebelow. The suction cups are thereupon raised to the level of the nips of driven advancing rolls in the transporting device to move the leader into a plane which includes the nips and is parallel to the planes of sheets in the stack, and such leader is introduced into the nips so that the advancing rolls engage the leader while the latter becomes detached from the suction cups.

Abstract: An arrangement for supplying originals for a copying apparatus has a supply stack arranged above an illumination location of a copying apparatus, guiding members forming a transport path for guiding the original from the stack to the illumination location, a transporting device arranged to turn the original removed from the stack and supply the original to the illumination location, wherein the transporting device includes a rotatable transport cylinder connected with the transport path and having a peripheral portion with a turnable suction nozzle member with a plurality of suction nozzles forming the separating device, the stack has a stack-supporting surface with an end section forming a tangent with the periphery of the transport cylinder and having an opening extending from a contact point with the cylinder and to a front stack abutment, and a control device is provided and arranged to switch off the transport cylinder in a position in which the suction nozzle member is located in the region of the openi

Abstract: A note separating and delivering apparatus for use in a note handling machine includes a delivery mechanism. The delivery mechanism comprises grabbing rollers disposed at the middle portion thereof for grabbing the note from the suction heads. The delivery mechanism further comprises feeding members disposed at the opposite sides of the grabbing rollers for compensating for the delay of the notes at the side portions thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided to pick up single sheets of semi rigid material from a stack and convey them to a further location. The pick up mechanism employs a primary carriage assembly supported for horizontal linear movement. A row of vertically movable suction devices mounted on the carriage lift the sheet adjacent a trailing edge. A secondary carriage including finger elements engages the raised sheet to push it across the stack into nip rollers.

Abstract: A bottom-type sheet feeding mechanism having a suction-type separator includes a linkage system (38,40) mounting the suction-type separator (10) to a main frame (42) for imparting an arcuate path (12') to the suction-type separator (10). The linkage system (38,40) is mounted on the convex side of the arcuate path (12'). The linkage system (38,40) includes two links (38,40) which are pivotally attached to the main frame (42) and to the suction-type separator (10). The lengths of the links (38,40), and the positions of their pivots (44,46,50,52) on the suction-type separator (10) and the main frame (42) are such as to cause arcuate movement of the suction-type separator (10) about an axis (0) positioned close to a plane of a bottom-most sheet (14) on the concave side of the arcuate path (12'). The arcuate path (12') extends about the axis (0) over an angle of approximately 23.degree..

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing a microscopic specimen by lifting up coverslips in a piled state one by one, comprises a step of means for holding the upper-most coverslip on one spot on its upper surface and pushing the same on another spot on one end portion of its upper surface apart from the holding spot in a longitudinal direction of the coverslip. The holding spot of the coverslip is then lifted and, with a delay time; the pushing spot of the coverslip is lifted so as to bend the coverslip while it is held, within its elastic limit edge of the coverslip is then pushed downwardly to bend the coverslip and cause another coverslip which may be stuck to the bottom of the uppermost coverslip, to drop off. The curvature is then eliminated.

Abstract: A sheet receptacle is provided which is capable of carrying a multiplicity of sheets to be separated and conveyed, in theform of a stack. A suction device which shaped like an inverted cup is located above the receptacle and is supported by an associated support member. A piping connects the suction device with an air suction source, which may be operated to apply an air suction. The sucker support member forms part of a mechanism which imparts a rotary motion to the suction device, which is also associated with another mechanism which causes a movement of the suction device in the vertical direction as well as in the fore-and-aft direction. An air intake opening may be formed in the air flow path which connects the suction device with the air suction source, and is provided with a sheet receiver which can be covered by a sheet to be separated and conveyed or a sheet which is equivalent thereto.

Abstract: A new and improved vacuum document feeder provides a vacuum cup support mechanism which follows a somewhat crescent-shaped coupler curve that eliminates the vacuum cup wear-producing disadvantages of the prior art; improves separation of documents, and provides for increased feeding rates. A four-bar system moves a table over the somewhat crescent-shaped coupler curve, while at all times holding an edge of the table parallel to the documents. Two vacuum cups are individually pivotally mounted on the table, to sweep over an angle which accommodates leaning documents. Cams on a drive pulley associated with the transport system coordinates the table movement with both the pivoting and vacuumizing of the cups. The cups move in a manner to cause the document to buckle thereby improving separation between documents and eliminating double feeding.

Abstract: A single paper sheet product separator, feeder and transport mechanism is provided capable of high speed in line product feed rates from a stack of products of 60,000 per hour for on-line operations with high speed rotary presses, trimmers, binding machines, folders, etc. By initially bending only a bottom edge of the product stacked on edge, reliable high speed separation is feasible. A scalloped periphery rotary member provides indentations for precisely seating and spacing the individual documents and grasping them to pull them substantially horizontally from the stack, in shingled array if desired. The products are retained against the rotary member by a moving belt over an arc of substantially 180.degree. to be discharged substantially horizontally onto a conveyor belt for further transport.

Abstract: A sheet feeder employing a vacuum feed belt in conjunction with a vacuum control plenum immediately adjacent the downstream edge of the vacuum belt, a self actuating valve being provided to shut off the vacuum supply to the feed belt when the sheet being fed blocks the openings in the control plenum to prevent acquisition of a second sheet by the feed belt until the trailing edge of the sheet being fed clears the control plenum.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating the bottom sheet of a stack of sheets contained in a stationary magazine. A rotating disc supports substantially the entire bottom surface of a stack of sheets contained in a sheet stack magazine disposed above the disc, the corner of the magazine pointing oppositely to the direction of rotation of the disc. The latter has a recess (17,18) extending radially from its periphery and also another recess (20,21) extending in the direction of rotation from the first-mentioned recess and covering an angle of rotation of about 90.degree.. A suction element (19) is adapted to be moved through the recess to the corner of the stack of sheets and in synchronism with the rotating recesses grips the corner of the bottom sheet, tips it over, and transports it to a table under the disc. A clamp lever takes over the corner of the sheet, which has been tipped over from the stack of sheets, before it is released by the suction element and holds it on the table during the peeling-off operation.

Abstract: To insure accuracy in feeding a sheet of paper from an overlapped, shingled paper supply on a make-ready table, a suction pick-up picks up the sheet and moves it upwardly for a limited distance of about 1 mm before initiating the forward movement of the sheet to transfer it to a gripper mechanism of a printing cylinder or transport drum while, simultaneously, moving it transverse to the plane of the sheet to bring it into proper alignment with the drum or cylinder gripper mechanism.

Abstract: A suction type separating element is assembled of a base body supported for a reciprocating vertical movement above the sheet edge, a hollow cylinder of elastomeric material having a circumferentially variable thickness and being provided in the region of the minimum thickness with an inwardly directed constriction preferably in the form of an annular section. The lower base of the elastomeric cylinder is terminated with a suction head adapted for abutment against the sheet to be lifted. Upon the formation of a vacuum in the hollow cylinder, the latter deforms in the range of the constriction and lifts the suction head with the sheet portion upwardly.

Abstract: There is disclosed transport apparatus for transporting flexible sheet-like rticles, especially envelopes. The apparatus comprises a transport cylinder, which is mounted on a shaft rotatably journalled in a frame and which comprises two cylindrical body portions. The body portions are each provided with axial suction ducts with outlet openings communicating with the circumferential surfaces of the body portions. The body portions are provided at their mutually remote ends with bores into which project bushes, which are mounted to the frame to be secure against rotation. A suction device is connected in a certain rotational position of the cylinder, through passages which are provided in the bushes and open at the circumferential surfaces of the bushes, with the suction ducts of the cylinder body portions. In another rotational position of the cylinder, the suction ducts of the body portions are ventilated by the bushes. The apparatus is capable of high operating speeds with minimum noise production.