Abstract: An information processing apparatus to output control information for controlling a suction device configured to suction a packaged object includes an input unit and an output unit. The input unit inputs an image obtained by performing image capturing of a surface of the packaged object. The output unit outputs the control information to control timing at which suction is started by the suction device, based on a state of the surface of the packaged object specified from the image.

Abstract: Nebulizers are used to deliver a medicine to a patient's lungs in the form of an airstream, with fluid comprising the medicine entrained in the airstream. To enable the fluid to be entrained in the airstream, a nebulizer contains an aerosol generator typically comprising a vibratory element (28) with a piezoelectric actuator. There is a need to frequently sterilize the nebulizer. This involves dipping the nebulizer in boiling water for a significant time. It has been found that repeated sterilization cycles can force water through gaps in the vibratory element, and its encapsulation (26), and damage the piezo element. The present invention proposes to more effectively seal the piezo of the vibratory element (28) from the effects of water ingress. In particular, it is proposed to create, at an interface of the vibratory element (28) and the encapsulating element (26), a discontinuity which provides a barrier geometry.

Abstract: A sheet suction device includes a sheet carrier, a suction unit, and a rotary body. The sheet carrier has a carrying region. The carrying region includes a plurality of suction openings. The sheet carrier is configured to rotate while holding a sheet. The suction unit is configured to communicate with the plurality of suction openings and suck air via the plurality of suction openings. The rotary body is disposed between the plurality of suction openings and the suction unit. The rotary body is configured to rotate to change a number of suction openings that communicate with the suction unit, among the plurality of suction openings of the sheet carrier.

Abstract: An image forming device includes an image forming unit to form an image on a work, a conveyance unit to convey the work in a predetermined conveyance direction, a conveyance guide member, a suction unit, and a suction control unit. The conveyance guide member is a plate-shaped member which has a plurality of suction holes and guides conveyance of the work by the conveyance unit from below. The suction unit includes a suction device which generates suction air by sucking air in a space on an upper side of the conveyance guide member via the plurality of suction holes, and closely contacts the work to the conveyance guide member by the suction air. The suction control unit changes a sucking force of the suction device according to a length in the work width direction of the work guided by the conveyance guide member.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printing unit that performs printing on a medium, an apparatus main body that houses the printing unit therein and that has outer surfaces including an upper surface and a front surface that adjoiningly intersects the upper surface, a paper feed port that is provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body and that enables the medium to be fed into the apparatus main body, a feed path that is guiding the medium fed from the paper feed port toward the printing unit and that has a curved portion for inverting the medium during the guiding, a pair of rollers that are provided at the upstream of the curved portion and that feed the medium toward the printing unit via the feed path by rotating while nipping the medium fed from the paper feed port from both front and rear sides.

Abstract: Certain examples described herein relate to printing systems and methods of operating the same. In an example of a printing system, a porosity determiner determines a porosity of a print medium and a signal generator generates a signal relating to a state of a printing fluid collector based on the porosity determined. In an example of a method of operating a printing system, a pressure measurement is obtained from a vacuum system of the printing system when a print medium is present on a media path of the printing system. This is compared to at least one predefined pressure range and, based on the comparison, an indication is provided setting out a state of a printing fluid collector.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device, which is included in an image forming apparatus and an image forming system, includes a sheet loader, an air drawing body, an attracting and conveying device, an air duct and a blocking device. The sheet loader is a device on which a bundle of sheets is loaded. The air drawing body is configured to generate suction air. The attracting and conveying device is configured to attract a sheet on top of the bundle of sheets by the suction air and convey the sheet. The air duct is configured to intake the suction air drawn by the air drawing body, to the attracting and conveying device. The blocking device is configured to block the suction air in the air duct.

Abstract: A vacuum wheel for transporting a substrate includes a fixed conduit that is connectable to a suction source. A vacuum surface on a circumference of the vacuum wheel includes vacuum openings that are distributed around the circumference, such that rotation of the wheel causes the vacuum openings to successively fluidically connect to the fixed conduit. When suction is applied to the fixed conduit, suction is applied to one or more of the vacuum openings that are currently fluidically connected to the fixed conduit. At least one contact surface on the circumference of the vacuum wheel is adjacent to, and extends outward beyond, the vacuum surface. When suction is applied to the vacuum openings, the substrate is drawn toward the vacuum surface so as to contact the contact surface without contacting the vacuum surface, creating a friction force that enables transport of the substrate when the wheel rotates.

Abstract: A sheet feeding unit, attached to a sheet feeding apparatus that feeds a sheet, includes an endless belt, first and second rotary members, and a holding device. The endless belt contacts a sheet stacked on a stacking device to feed the sheet. The first and second rotary members contact an inner periphery of the endless belt to support the endless belt. The second rotary member faces, via the endless belt, a separation device that separates the sheet from the endless belt. The holding device holds the first and second rotary members. The endless belt includes protruding and depressed portions on the inner periphery. The second rotary member includes protruding and depressed driving portions that mesh with the protruding and depressed portions to transmit a driving force to the endless belt to, in turn, rotate the endless belt to feed the sheet in contact with the endless belt.

Abstract: A holding device (1) for a succession of sheet-shaped elements circulating in a processing machine (100) along conveying path T. The holding device (1) has two series (10, 20) of a plurality of suction members (11, 21). At least one series of suction members 20 extends along and is movably mounted parallel to the transport path T of the sheets, between a retracted position and a deployed position. Each series is in an array, parallel to the transport path and the suction members are arranged spaced apart alongside one another, so that the array of members extend perpendicular to the conveying path T of the sheets and the suction members (11, 21) of each series (10, 20) are transversely offset relative to the suction members (11, 21) of the other series (10, 20).

Abstract: A feeding device to feed a conveyed medium stacked on a stacker, includes a first suction unit, a second suction unit, and third suction units. The first suction unit includes a suction chamber; a suction fan to exhaust air from the suction chamber; and a first driver to rotate the suction fan. The suction units are disposed above the conveyed medium stacked on the stacker. The second suction unit includes a rotary fan including a board and a plurality of walls extending from the board; and a second driver to rotate the rotary fan. The second suction unit generates a vortex flow directed to the conveyed medium. The plurality of third suction units is disposed in a direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the conveyed medium and attracts ends of the conveyed medium in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction.

Abstract: This invention discloses a corner peeling device, a film peeling apparatus, and a film peeling method, and relates to the technical field of liquid crystal panel manufacture, for the purpose of solving the problem concerning low efficiency in film peeling. The corner peeling device comprises: a movable rack; a roller pivoted on the upper part of the rack; an evacuating device in communication with the air channel; and an automatic revolving device, which is connected to the roller so that at the beginning of corner peeling and after corner peeling, the opening of the same sucking hole at one end of the plurality of the sucking holes arranged at intervals is upward. The corner peeling device is used for peeling a corner of a release film adhered to a plate-like substrate. The film peeling apparatus comprises the corner peeling device mentioned in the technical solution described above.

Abstract: To take blanks of sheets for producing laminated glass, from a cutting table, an adjustable takeoff roller onto which the sheet blanks are wound is used. To fix the beginning of the sheet blank to be taken off to the takeoff roller, openings for applying negative pressure are provided in the lateral surface of the takeoff roller. When a sheet blank is taken from the cutting table, the takeoff roller is brought into position at the beginning of the sheet blank to be taken off, the blank is fixed to the takeoff roller and the takeoff roller is then moved along the cutting table while rotating about its own axis, and so the sheet blank is wound up around the lateral surface of the takeoff roller. For laying down the sheet blank onto a glass pane during the production of laminated glass, a correspondingly reversed procedure may be used.

Abstract: A vacuum roll includes an inner rotor, an intermediate stator, and an outer shell roll. The inner rotor has open and closed portions and is adapted to rotate within the intermediate stator which is rotationally fixed and also has open and closed portions. The outer shell roll has open and closed portions and is adapted to move around the intermediate stator. Together the inner rotor and the intermediate stator define an internal rotary valve interface adapted to control fluid communication between the interior chamber and the outer shell.

Abstract: A paper sheet pickup device including a valve device is disclosed. The valve device includes a first air hole configured to be formed in a main body block to extend through it, have one end communicating with an air chamber and the other end connected to the negative pressure side of an air drawing source, a second air hole configured to be formed in a main body block to extend through it, have one end communicating with the air chamber and the other end connected to the positive pressure side of the air drawing source, and a rod-shaped valve member configured to be arranged in the main body block to cross the first air hole and the second air hole.

Abstract: A paper sheet pickup device including a valve device is disclosed. The valve device includes a first air hole configured to be formed in a main body block to extend through it, have one end communicating with an air chamber and the other end connected to the negative pressure side of an air drawing source, a second air hole configured to be formed in a main body block to extend through it, have one end communicating with the air chamber and the other end connected to the positive pressure side of the air drawing source, and a rod-shaped valve member configured to be arranged in the main body block to cross the first air hole and the second air hole.

Abstract: A medium feeding device includes a loading member; a holding member that includes a movable holding-member body having a gas suction opening, and a suction device connected to the gas suction opening, the holding member being configured to attract and hold each of mediums on the loading member while the suction device performs suction; a holding-member-moving mechanism that moves the holding member between a suction position where the medium is attracted to the holding member and a feed position on a downstream side with respect to the suction position; a transport member that transports the medium held by the holding member at the feed position toward the downstream side; and a suction-force-changing mechanism that reduces a suction force after the medium is attracted to the holding member and before a trailing end of the medium attracted to the holding member passes over the gas suction opening.

Abstract: A medium feeding device includes a medium-accommodating container, a loading member supported within the container and loading a medium thereon, a holding member, and a blocking unit. The holding member has a holding member body, gas suction openings, a peripheral member, a chamber surrounded by the peripheral member, and a suction unit connected to the gas suction openings and performing gas suction. The holding member holds the medium by suction. The gas suction openings include a gas suction opening disposed inside an edge of the peripheral member and outside an edge of the medium. The blocking unit blocks the suction of gas through the aforementioned gas suction opening.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes drawing and conveying a sheet, applying negative pressure for sheet suction via a suction opening, moving a shutter member between a closing position where the suction opening in an upstream side in a sheet feeding direction is partially closed and an open position where the suction opening is opened, and controlling the shutter member to follow a preceding sheet that is drawn onto the suction conveyance member to move to the downstream side in the feeding direction to close the suction opening, and return to an open position at a predetermined timing to draw the sheets onto the suction conveyance member in a state where an upstream edge of the preceding sheet in the feeding direction and a downstream edge of the subsequent sheet in the feeding direction are overlaid by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A device for controlling a pneumatic consumer in a sheet-processing machine, for example a printing press or a diecutter, includes a rotary valve supplying a fluid, such as suction air, to the pneumatic consumer to be driven in a sinusoidal manner in accordance with a cycle of the sheet-processing machine. The rotary valve is drivable by an electric motor for increased flexibility. A rotary printing press or diecutter having the device is also provided.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device includes a support unit that supports a sheet; plural suction ports placed on the support unit; a suction unit that suctions the sheet toward the support unit, the suction unit being connected to the plural suction ports; plural valve systems, each valve system being placed between the corresponding suction port and the suction unit, each valve system being openable and closeable; plural valve interlocked suction ports that are to be covered by the sheet when the sheet is conveyed, the plural valve interlocked suction ports being arranged separately from the plural suction ports; and plural opening and closing units that open and close the plural valve systems, each opening and closing unit being placed between one of the valve interlocked suction ports and one of the valve systems.

Abstract: In a paper feeder, an air hole that allows air to pass through is formed on a paper transport belt, a fan for breathing and exhausting air and an exhaust duct having an opening for exhausting air. Air is exhausted from the fan through the exhaust duct, the fan and an air intake duct for breathing air are connected to each other, and air is breathed from the air hole through the air intake duct towards the fan. This paper feeder includes: an air state detection unit for detecting at least one of an air pressure and an air flow rate in the air intake duct; an opening and closing unit provided to the air intake duct for opening and closing the opening; and a control unit for opening and closing the opening based on a result of detection by the air state detection unit.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus are provided. When sheets are adsorbed to an adsorption conveyance belt, a suction shutter is switched from a block position to block a negative pressure to an adsorption position to adsorb the sheets by the negative pressure. When the sheets conveyed in an overlapping manner reaches a predetermined number and the next sheet is adsorbed, the timing to switch the suction shutter to the adsorption position is delayed compared to the timing at which a preceding sheet adsorbed in advance and a subsequent sheet overlap.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus, having: a sheet stacking table to stack sheets; a sheet feeding device to feed the sheets one by one from an upper most section of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking table; an assist air blower device to blow an assist air at a lateral side, a front side or a rear side of the sheet fed from the sheet stacking table so as to assist sheet feeding; a detecting device to detect a behavior of the sheet assisted by the assist air; and a control device to set an amount of the assist air used in image forming to be an optimum air amount based on a detected result which is obtained by detecting the behavior of the sheet when the assist air blower device is operated at a predetermined timing while image forming is not carried out.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus are provided. Timing when a subsequent sheet is adsorbed by an adsorbing and conveying mechanism of a sheet feeding device which adsorbs and conveys sheets blown up by air blowing is controlled, and the subsequent sheet is conveyed while being overlapped partially at an overlapping amount with a preceding sheet Sa adsorbed by the adsorbing and conveying mechanism earlier regardless of the size, basis weight, and kind of sheets.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a sheet stacking unit that stacks sheets, a sheet feeding unit that sequentially feeds the uppermost sheet of a stack of sheets stacked in the sheet stacking unit, an airflow supply unit that supplies an airflow to a side surface of the stack of sheets from an opening, a shield member that is disposed between the opening and the stack of sheets and a mechanism that changes the airflow from the airflow supply unit with respect to a stacking direction of the sheets by changing a relative position between the opening and the shield member in a direction other than the stacking direction of the sheets.

Abstract: A medium feeding device includes a loading member; a holding member that includes a movable holding-member body having a gas suction opening, and a suction device connected to the gas suction opening, the holding member being configured to attract and hold each of mediums on the loading member while the suction device performs suction; a holding-member-moving mechanism that moves the holding member between a suction position where the medium is attracted to the holding member and a feed position on a downstream side with respect to the suction position; a transport member that transports the medium held by the holding member at the feed position toward the downstream side; and a suction-force-changing mechanism that reduces a suction force after the medium is attracted to the holding member and before a trailing end of the medium attracted to the holding member passes over the gas suction opening.

Abstract: A medium feeding device includes a medium-accommodating container, a loading member supported within the container and loading a medium thereon, a holding member, and a blocking unit. The holding member has a holding member body, gas suction openings, a peripheral member, a chamber surrounded by the peripheral member, and a suction unit connected to the gas suction openings and performing gas suction. The holding member holds the medium by suction. The gas suction openings include a gas suction opening disposed inside an edge of the peripheral member and outside an edge of the medium. The blocking unit blocks the suction of gas through the aforementioned gas suction opening.

Abstract: A sheet take-out apparatus includes a supplying structure configured to move a plurality of sheets supplied in a stacking state in a stacking direction and supply a sheet at a leading edge thereof in a movement direction to a take-out position, a take-out structure configured to make contact with the sheet supplied to the take-out position and rotate, thereby taking out the sheet in a direction almost orthogonal to the stacking direction, and move the sheet to a conveying route, a suction structure configured to generate an air current to suck the sheet at the leading edge in the movement direction to the take-out position on an upstream side of a position where the take-out structure makes contact with the sheet in the sheet take-out direction by the take-out structure, and a controller configured to control an operation of the suction structure so as to decrease suction force by the suction structure when the sheet at the leading edge in the movement direction is not taken out by the take-out structure.

Abstract: A valve device is provided with a first block connected to an upstream-side suction tube that is connected to a negative-pressure chamber, a second block connected to a downstream-side suction tube that is connected to a pump, first and second shielding plates rotatably interposed between the first and second blocks, and servo motors for rotating the shielding plates. Each of the shielding plates has a plurality of air passing holes, and are rotated in opposite directions.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for transferring sheet-like objects from a stack, said apparatus including separate lifting elements gripping by suction to the upper surface of the sheet-like object to be transferred, positioned in a row extending over the stack of the sheet-like objects, and transfer elements for transferring the lifted sheet-like object. The suction effect of the lifting elements is controlled by means of a control device including a light source making a substantially line-shaped illumination pattern. The illumination of the light source is focused at an inclined angle to the surface of the sheet stack, substantially parallel to the lifting element row. A camera means for observing the illumination pattern forwards information about the uniformity of the uppermost layer of the stack.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes: a lift-blowing unit which blows air to a plurality of sheets stacked on a tray to lift an uppermost sheet from the sheets; a sheet absorbing unit which absorbs the sheet lifted by the lift-blowing unit by a negative pressure; an air suctioning unit which supplies the negative pressure to the sheet absorbing unit by air suction; a handling-blowing unit which handles the sheets by blowing air to the sheets absorbed onto the sheet absorbing unit; and a sheet transporting unit which transports the absorbed sheet, wherein the handling-blowing unit adjusts a volume of air blown thereby.

Abstract: A paper sheet pickup device includes a pickup belt configured to run along one of accumulated paper sheets, which is positioned at the most downstream side with respect to a direction of accumulation, and a negative pressure chamber provided inside the pickup belt. The negative pressure chamber is connected to a pump, and a valve unit is interposed therebetween. Further, an air inlet tube is connected to the negative pressure chamber for supplying air therein.

Abstract: This invention provides a simple vacuum level switch to be used inside the feedhead's vacuum plenum to detect when the vacuum level exceeds a predefined threshold. This switch is composed of an opening in the plenum that is covered by a cap which is in turn spring-loaded against the opening. The mechanical properties of the spring are such that the cap is pushed away from the opening by ambient air pressure at the point when the vacuum threshold has been reached during sheet acquisition. A Hall Effect or optical sensor is used to detect this motion and the corresponding signal is sent to the feeder controller. This enables more intelligent control of the feeder while also providing an inexpensive method for tracking sheet acquisition times.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet take out apparatus includes a supply table on which sheets are stacked; a detecting portion configured to detect a state of a top surface of the stacked sheets; a cylindrical take out rotor which is rotatably provided so as to face an end portion on a take out side of a top sheet and partially includes a suction hole to attract the sheet, the take out rotor taking out the sheets one by one by attracting the end portion on the take out side of the sheet with rotation; a suction portion which is provided inside the take out rotor and includes an air hole to attract the sheet through the suction hole, the suction portion provided so as to allow the air hole to rotationally move between a first opening position and a second opening position, the first opening position having a first distance away from the end portion on the take out side of the sheet, the second opening position having a second distance, which is longer than the first distance, away from the end portion on the

Abstract: In paper feeder apparatus, the combination comprising first means including a support for a paper stack and transfer elements for successively transferring paper sheets from the top of the stack upwardly and laterally to a delivered position, and optical control means to determine the level of an upper paper or papers in the stack to control the vertical positioning of papers on the stack, to enable said upwardly and laterally sheet delivering as the stack height diminishes, and a controller for cyclically controlling said transfer elements to integrate cyclic upward and lateral movement of successive sheets transferring from the stack.

Abstract: A valve device is provided with a first block connected to an upstream-side suction tube that is connected to a negative-pressure chamber, a second block connected to a downstream-side suction tube that is connected to a pump, first and second shielding plates rotatably interposed between the first and second blocks, and servo motors for rotating the shielding plates. Each of the shielding plates has a plurality of air passing holes, and are rotated in opposite directions.

Abstract: A vacuum control assembly for use in an image production device is provided. The assembly has a plenum, a perforated plate, a plurality of valve assemblies, and a controller. Each valve assembly has a rotating valve having a vacuum passage, and a chamber body having a plurality of chambers. Each valve is rotatable between a first position that fluidly connects the vacuum passage with at least one of the chambers to complete a fluid path between the plenum and the perforated plate, and a second position at which the vacuum passage connects the plenum with none of the chambers. The controller controls the plurality of valve assemblies to provide vacuum to a first predetermined portion of the perforated plate while also providing no vacuum to a second predetermined portion of the perforated plate.

Abstract: A paper sheet pickup device includes a pickup belt configured to run along one of accumulated paper sheets, which is positioned at the most downstream side with respect to a direction of accumulation, and a negative pressure chamber provided inside the pickup belt. The negative pressure chamber is connected to a pump, and a valve unit is interposed therebetween. Further, an air inlet tube is connected to the negative pressure chamber for supplying air therein.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for separating first and second flat objects from a stack in which the flat objects are provided substantially in pairs and differ from one another in terms of weight per unit area and/or flexibility. The apparatus includes at least one suction element for attracting the objects by suction, a drive apparatus for moving the suction element, and a control apparatus for controlling the drive apparatus. The control apparatus drives the drive apparatus such that the suction element is moved to a first position, in which the first object that has a lower weight per unit area and/or a greater flexibility than the second object is attracted by the suction of the suction element. The first position is at a minimum distance from a stack surface.

Abstract: This invention relates to a picker assembly for a printer having rollers to feed a sheet of porous print media past a printhead. The picker assembly includes a pivot rod linked to a pick-up bar by means of swing arms, a motor connected to the pivot rod operatively reciprocated between a stack of sheets and the rollers. The assembly also includes a number of fluid ports located on the pick-up bar, said ports having pads to facilitate contact with the print media, and a pump configured to deliver air to and extract air from the fluid ports via a fluid delivery manifold and a fluid extraction manifold, respectively. Further included is a valve arrangement alternately connecting the delivery manifold and extraction manifold to the pump in time with the reciprocating motion of the pivot rod, so that the sheet is lifted from the stack and fed between the rollers each time the pivot bar is reciprocated from the stack to the rollers.

Abstract: An air current distributing apparatus includes: a cylinder having a first air port communicated with a supply source of an air current and also having a second, a third, a fourth and a fifth air port respectively communicated with an injection port of the air current; a main rotor rotated in the cylinder; and a subrotor rotated in the cylinder, wherein the main rotor has a cutout portion for selectively communicating the first air port with at least one of the second and the third air port according to the rotary position, and the subrotor has a cutout portion for selectively communicating the first air port with at least one of the fourth and the fifth air port according to the rotary position. When the air current distributing apparatus is used, a plurality of air currents are formed by one blower.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus for blowing air against sheets in feeding the sheets. The apparatus includes a suction duct disposed over a sheet stacking unit and having a suction opening facing the sheet stacking unit, a negative pressure generating unit for generating negative pressure in the suction duct, a sheet conveyance unit suctioning the sheet thereto with the negative pressure so as to convey the sheet, a communicating opening adapted to communicate with an exterior and provided in the suction duct. The communicating opening is closed by a cover according to a magnitude of a negative pressure in the suction duct. When a detection unit detects that the communicating opening has been closed with the cover, a control unit drives the sheet conveyance unit.

Abstract: In order to separate printing plates and intermediate layers present in pairs, suckers having a delimiting device are known which, on the basis of the different flexibility of intermediate layers and printing plates, permit these to be separated from one another. For particularly thin intermediate layers, this configuration reaches its limits. Accordingly, by moving a suction element slowly downward at a speed V1 from a second position at a distance from the printing plate stack, accurate gripping of an intermediate layer by the suction element can be ensured. This is improved substantially further in particular as a result of the fact that the suction element is moved slowly toward the stack surface by the intermediate steps in a range from 0.25 mm to 0.5 mm.

Abstract: A sheet separating and feeding system for separating a top sheet from a stack of sheets for sheet feeding, wherein a vacuum feed head has a two dimensional array of multiple vacuum tubes for vacuum engaging the top sheet, and a control system whereby at least a portion of the multiple vacuum tubes are variably positionally controlled relative to the top sheet to engage the top sheet at different levels in a different plane than the external surfaces of the other vacuum tubes so as to provide a variable three dimensional sheet corrugation inducing surface with the multiple vacuum tubes that is variable for different sheet properties.

Abstract: A sheet feeder assembly for acquiring and conveying a sheet comprises a plenum connectable to a vacuum source and having an opening facing the sheet to be conveyed, and a slide plate covering the opening. The slide plate has an acquisition surface facing the sheet to be conveyed and defining apertures in communication with the plenum. A drive mechanism is connected to the slide plate and supported within the plenum, and is operable to translate the slide plate relative to the plenum to convey the acquired sheet while maintaining the vacuum through the apertures. The drive mechanism includes a motor and eccentrically driven link connected to a carriage supporting the slide plate. The motor is coupled to a cam element that drives a flapper valve disposed between the plenum and a vacuum duct. The cam element also drives a height sensing arm supported to contact the top of the stack.

Abstract: A method of feeding porous sheets from a stack is provided in which one or more air outlet nozzles and one or more air inlet nozzles are positioned in a pick-up position proximate a first sheet of the stack, a flow of air from the outlet nozzle(s) sufficient to penetrate the first sheet is generated so that a cushion of air is generated between the first sheet and a second sheet of the stack so as to lift the first sheet from the second sheet, a flow of air into the inlet nozzle(s) is generated so that the lifted first sheet is drawn against a pick-up surface defined by the inlet nozzle, and the inlet and outlet nozzles are reciprocally displaced between the pick-up position and a feed position in which a feed mechanism engages the first sheet.

Abstract: In a sheet sucking/removing device, suction cups are controlled to a state of a first negative pressure which is a minimum pressure needed to suck and remove only one uppermost printing plate, and sucking/removing is carried out. Thereafter, the suction cups are controlled to a state of a second negative pressure which is needed for conveying and supplying the printing plate, and conveying/supplying of the printing plate is carried out.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the delivery of flat objects to a friction/suction picking device with a suction head, the objects standing in a stack on a thin edge thereof on a support surface arranged on a stop surface and transported in the direction of the picking point using conveyor means. A sensor for measuring the vacuum in the suction head, is arranged on or in the suction head, which is connected to the drive controller on the conveyor means. Depending on the measured vacuum the conveyor means can be controlled such that the front object has an inclination as low as possible with the lowest possible stack pressure on the at least one friction picking device.

Abstract: In a spring-action suction head for separating sheets from a sheet stack, a first suction chamber, which can be subjected to vacuum is provided for lifting the sheet. The first suction chamber is surrounded coaxially by a second suction chamber, which can be subjected to vacuum, for holding and lowering the spring-action suction head in a controlled manner.