Abstract: A cylinder-type paper feeding device designed so that the air suction fan in the paper feed cylinder is suspended at the moment each document conveyed by rotation of the paper feed cylinder reaches a sensor placed along the conveyer path, and after the lapse of a predetermined time, the paper feed cylinder is reversely rotated to return to the initial position.

Abstract: Device for supplying air to at least one electromegnetic linearly driven air consumer in a sheet-processing machine, includes a fixedly disposed air supply bar, the air consumer being arranged so as to be movable along the air supply bar.

Abstract: A process for selecting a single stacked flat object from a stack of flat objects. The lowermost flat object is downwardly detached from the rest of the stack of flat objects by negative pressure on at least one of its edge areas) running parallel to the take-off direction. In at least one suction area, the flat object is held by negative pressure onto a conveyor that can move back and forth. The flat object is advanced underneath a scraper and then further conveyed. The device for carrying out this process has a hopper for the stack of flat objects, a scraper, at least one suction device to partially detach the lowermost flat object, a conveyor, and a take-off device.

Abstract: A sheet material supplying apparatus having a low-cost sucker adsorbing unit of a simple structure is provided for the carrying of sheet materials that are used under a high-humidity environment or that include humidity, to ensure a proper separation of each sheet material. Sheet materials accommodated in a tray are being sandwiched between a push-up panel and an engagement claw. At the time of taking out the sheet materials from the tray, the push-up panel is pressed down by a cam to cancel the state of sandwiching between the engagement claw and the push-up panel. Accordingly, only the top layer sheet material is taken out from the tray, with the rest of the lower layer sheet materials being dropped by their self-weight. Further, the sheet materials are carried by the sucker adsorbing unit.

Abstract: A device for transporting to a printing press, sheets singly separated from a sheet pile, includes an electromagnetic linear drive mechanism; and a method of operation of the device.

Abstract: A multiple station in-line product handling machine (40) is provided which has infeed stations (42-46) equipped with improved feeder and receiving units (60, 62) as well as a unique pusher chain assembly (78). The feeder units (60) include a sucker shaft (88) adapted to successively grip the leading ends (336) of the bottom products (334) in a stack thereof and to pivot such leading ends (336) downwardly without any substantial translational movement of the product (334); the downwardly pivoted ends (336) are then engaged by a cooperating nip roller (100) and feed belt assembly (71) to withdraw the product (334) from the stack. Preferably, the sucker shaft (88) and nip roller (100) are driven by respective cams (106, 108) mounted on a powered shaft (110). The receiving units (62) have receiving structure (74) together with a rotatable wheel (76) equipped with a resilient peripheral product-engaging element (174) which quickly and reliably move the fed product (334) along the length of the machine (10).

Abstract: A unit for supplying blanks on a packing machine, wherein a wheel, rotating about a respective axis, continuously feeds a blank pickup head along an endless path through a loading station where the pickup head, oscillating with respect to the wheel about an axis parallel to the axis of the wheel, engages a bottom opening of a blank store to withdraw a blank, and then through an unloading station where the pickup head, rotating together with the wheel, feeds the blank onto a conveyor roller.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus module for a vending machine is provided that enables stacked articles to be lifted off of the stack and translated from a loading station to a discharge station. An elevator apparatus is provided for progressively moving articles to a load station. A conveying apparatus with a linkage assembly for supporting a section nozzle can contact the uppermost article and lift it off the stacked array. The conveying apparatus can move the article to a discharge station for releasing the article to the user. A self-contained suction source is provided in the dispensing apparatus to provide low atmospheric pressure to the suction nozzle.

Abstract: An imaging system for imaging media while supported at an imaging position on a support surface, the imaging system, includes a storage device for storing media to be imaged and a loading device for moving a medium to be imaged to the imaging position on the support surface. A delivery device moves the medium to be imaged over the support surface at a distanced therefrom, to thereby deliver the medium from the storage device to the loading device. By moving the medium to be imaged over the support surface, the medium can be removed from the storage device and buffered close to the loading device while another medium is positioned on the support surface.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus has a sheet supporting device for supporting a plurality of sheets, a sheet absorb device for absorbing by air suction the uppermost of the sheets, and a convey device for conveying the absorbed sheet. A contact preventing air blowing device injects air between the uppermost sheet absorbed by the sheet absorb device and the next sheet to keep the next sheet from being conveyed while the absorbed sheet is being conveyed, and an air adjusting device increases or decreases an amount of air injected from the contact preventing air blowing device during conveyance of the sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus for the charging a processing line with printed sheets is comprised of a conveying device which pulls off the printed sheets from a bottom side of a stack, with a separating apparatus that partially lifts off the printed sheet to be pulled off from the stack being arranged upstream of the conveying device. The separating apparatus positions the lifted off printed sheet in an open gripper arrangement that rotates with the conveying device and releases it, once the printed sheet has been gripped by the gripper arrangement, so that the printed sheet can be pulled out of the magazine without deflection.

Abstract: A sheet feeder for use in a book assembling machine comprises a magazine having a movable base which defines a support plane for a stack of folded sheets. The feeder also includes a pneumatic separator, which creates a gap between a corner of the lowermost sheet of a stack in the magazine and the next adjacent sheet, and a device for injecting air into the thus formed gap to produce an air cushion. The movable magazine base functions as a conveyor to move, with the assistance of the air cushion, the leading edge of the lowermost sheet in the stack in a planar manner to a withdrawal conveying system where the sheet is engaged and subsequently pulled from the magazine. The withdrawn sheet moves, under the influence of a transfer mechanism in one embodiment, into registration with an assembly conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying sheets has a sheet containing portion containing a number of sheets therein, a conveying mechanism for absorbing the uppermost one of the number of sheets in the sheet containing portion, and taking the absorbed sheet out of the sheet containing portion, and a protuberance absorbing portion provided in the sheet containing portion, the absorbing portion being adapted to absorb the partial protuberance of the number of sheets during at least the sheet absorbing by the conveying mechanism.

Abstract: A flexible sheet to which manufacturing processes are to be applied is tensioned within a carrying fixture having tacky surfaces to which the flexible sheet is fastened. One version of the fixture includes an "L"-shaped attachment surface on a frame member and two tensioning members deflected toward the frame member in mutually perpendicular directions. When the flexible sheet has been fastened to the carrying fixture, the tensioning members are allowed to return toward their undeflected positions while applying tensioning forces to the flexible sheet. Another version of the fixture includes "L"-shaped attachment surfaces on both a frame member and a tensioning member. A loading station includes a stack of unprocessed flexible sheets, a fixture for deflecting tensioning member(s) within the carrying fixture, and a robot arm moving a transport fixture capable of carrying a flexible sheet and a carrying fixture.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet supplying apparatus which has a sheet supporting device for supporting a sheet, a sheet absorbing device for absorbing the sheet supported by the sheet supporting device by utilizing an absorbing force generated by an absorbing force generating device, and a shift device for shifting the sheet absorbing device to bring the sheet absorbed by the sheet absorbing device to a sheet supply device disposed downstream in a sheet supplying direction. The sheet absorbing device and the shift device receive respective driving forces from the single or common drive source.

Abstract: A cylinder-type paper feeding device designed so that the air suction fan in the paper feed cylinder is suspended at the moment each document conveyed by rotation of the paper feed cylinder reaches a sensor placed along the conveyer path, and after the lapse of a predetermined time, the paper feed cylinder is reversely rotated to return to the initial position.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for engaging at least a portion (20b) of a signature (20a) in a hopper (14) and moving the portion relative to a stack of signatures (20) in the hopper includes a stem member (110) and a suction cup (150) mounted on the stem member. The stem member (110) is supported for movement toward and away from the stack of signatures (20) A venturi tube (160) is provided in the stem member (110) for generating a vacuum which is communicated to the suction cup (150). The vacuum in the suction cup (150) causes the portion (20b) of a signature (20a) to be gripped by the suction cup (150) and moved relative to the stack of signatures (20) in the hopper (14) upon movement of the stem member (110).

Abstract: A film sheet picker assembly comprising: a picker member which is movable into and out of proximity with the top film sheet of a stack of film sheets; a plurality of vacuum cups rotatably mounted on the picker member; means for biasing the plurality of vacuum cups at an angle relative to the top surface of the top film sheet; a roller assembly operatively associated with the plurality of vacuum cups; and a control for moving the picker member into proximity with the top film sheet of a stack of film sheets, such that the roller assembly contacts the top film sheet and rotates the plurality of vacuum cups into vacuum engagement with the top film sheet and for moving the picker member out of proximity with the stack of film sheets such that the biasing means rotates the vacuum cups to move the top film sheet out of contact with the stack of film sheets.

Abstract: A sheet supply device of a sheet-fed machine, in particular a printing press, includes a sheet guide element that is adjustable lengthwise and crosswise to a sheet format. Strips that guide the top leading region of a sheet rising on an air cushion extend above a sheet stack downward from a suction head at an incline relative to the surroundings toward a transfer point to the sheet-fed machine. The bands are rolled up onto winding rollers that are acted upon by a restoring force, so that the bands are kept wound or are always kept under tension. In another version, the bands are constructed as elastic bands. At sides of the transfer point, outer bands are mounted on a lateral stack stop and inner bands are mounted on mounts which are adjustable crosswise of the sheets. When the suction head and the lateral stack stops are adjusted, the bands shorten or lengthen in accordance with the adjustment, so that for each format the sheet is guided over its full width.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding and unloading sheets of material, including a first sheet attraction device for lifting a topmost sheet from a stack; a device for checking that only a single sheet has been lifted; and a second sheet attraction device movable between operable and inoperable positions, whereby when in the operable position the second sheet attraction device can be attached to a sheet adhering beneath the topmost sheet, the first and second sheet attraction devices can be moved apart to separate the adhering sheets, and the topmost sheet suspended beneath the first sheet attraction device can be carried away.

Abstract: A machine tool control system is provided that is capable of detecting a one-sheet takeout failure. The system includes a workpiece takeout schedule which indicates the plate thickness and number of sheets to be taken out from a stack of workpieces for each product. A one-sheet takeout sensor is also provided to detect when a one-sheet takeout device fails to takeout or suck one-sheet from the pallet of workpieces. In addition, the system includes a restoration setting key which permits an operator to select one of a plurality of modes to continue control operation of a machine tool with a controller when a one-sheet takeout failure is detected. When information from the one-sheet takeout sensor indicates a one-sheet takeout failure, based on the set mode of the restoration setting key, the controller changes the measuring range, the accumulating place for the sucked workpiece, or skips the workpiece takeout schedule based on a detected plate thickness.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a method for loading a sheet-like medium onto a drum without tension. The drum may be a vacuum drum of an imagesetter for example, or a vacuum drum of an input scanning machine.In order to load a sheet-like medium onto a drum without any tension, the sheet-like medium is taken over by take-over means before fixing it on the drum.

Abstract: A vacuum high-speed feeding apparatus equipped structure for moving suction nozzles attached to a cylindrical body towards sheet feeding rollers. The application of suction force is suspended upon detection that a drawn sheet has been caught and its conveyance has been stated by feeding rollers. This is done by detection of a leading edge of the sheet by a first sensor. The cylindrical body is restored to its home position when feeding of the sheet by a given distance is detected by a second sensor. The suction force is again applied when passage of the rear edge of the sheet through the feeding rollers is detected by the first sensor.

Abstract: A feeder for feeding material along a feed path. The feeder includes a conveyer, a sensor and a control system. The conveyer operates at a normal cyclical rate to transfer the material along the feed path. The sensor mounts on the feeder and detects the material being fed. The sensor detects and signals fault when the material is fed in an undesirable manner. The control system couples with the conveyer and with the sensor and responds to the sensor to slow the conveyer to a reduced cyclical rate when the sensor signals fault. The reduced cyclical rate is less than the normal cyclical rate to enable the feeder to self-correct and thereby eliminate the fault. When the conveyer operates at the reduced cyclical rate and the feeder has self-corrected, the sensor ceases to detect fault and the control system speeds the conveyer back to the normal cyclical rate.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing printed products to a gatherer, including a product supplier for feeding printed products, a product separator positioned to receive printed products from the product supplier and to separate the printed products into a separated stream, a printer positioned adjacent to the separated stream and positioned to print on the separated printed products, and a gripper conveyor positioned to receive the separated printed products from the printer and to form a shingled stream.

Abstract: A feeder system is disclosed having suction members (30,60) attached to a cage assembly (101) containing sprockets (102,103) and a belt. These suction members (30,60) act simultaneously, but out of phase with one another, picking up, moving and releasing the sheets (TS).

Abstract: A plate feeding system for grasping and moving a plate from a stack of plates. The system includes an arm mechanism having a plate grasping member for grasping the plate and a plate interposing member for interposing between the plate and an adjacent plate. Also disclosed is a method of feeding a plate from a stack of plates. The method includes grasping the plate, using a plate grasping member of an arm mechanism, interposing a member between the plate and an adjacent plate, and transporting the plate.

Abstract: A feeder for separating sheet form elements, such as envelopes, from a stack has a suction device and a mechanical gripper mounted together on a movable head. The movement of the head is controlled by a lever mechanism and cams so that an envelope is first pulled by the suction in the stacking direction and then gripped and pulled laterally from the stack by the gripper.

Abstract: A label pickup mechanism for an in-mold blow molding machine has a rotating magazine system which allows the captive stack of labels to rotate about a center point by sliding on a circular track of a radius common to the base plate of the label magazine and a front plate carried in the label support apparatus. Such rotation prevents the label stack to lose its coordinate position while trying to address label askewness. The label stack is kept compressed against retaining tabs by using label pushers.

Abstract: A suction lifter in a feeder of a sheet processing machine is cyclically reciprocated for separating and picking up sheets from a sheet pile and transferring them to a towing sucker. A suction lifter drive is operatively connected to the suction lifter and the suction height, i.e. the spacing between the lifter and the top sheet on the sheet pile, may be adjusted with the suction lifter drive. The drive is a control cylinder which rotates around a cylinder axis and which is axially shiftable along the axis for the purpose of adjusting the suction height of the suction lifter.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus with a sheet supporting unit for supporting sheets, a sheet absorb device for air-absorbing a lowermost sheet from among the sheets supported by the sheet supporting unit, a conveyer for conveying the sheet absorbed to the sheet absorb device, a regulator for regulating a downward movement of the sheets supported by the sheet supporting unit by abutting tip ends of such sheets against the regulator, a passage arranged between the conveyer and the regulator and adapted to guide the sheet conveyed by the conveyer, and a controller for driving the conveyer in a reverse direction after the sheet conveyed by the conveyer is fed out through the passage.

Abstract: A transaction terminal (2) which incorporates a control unit (4) for controlling the operation of the terminal. Terminal operation is monitored by a plurality of sensors (110-116) in communication with the control unit (4). The control unit (4) can access data characteristic of predetermined acceptable terminal operation and the outputs of the sensors (110-116) are compared with said data. The control means (4) is adapted to alter terminal operation in dependence on the output of the sensors (110-116) so as to compensate for any variation from the acceptable terminal operation. The sensors (110-116) also include additional sensors (118,120) arranged to monitor ambient environmental conditions, and the control unit (4) is arranged to alter terminal operation dependent on changes in the ambient environmental conditions as detected by the additional sensors (118,120).

Abstract: A system for light-tight handling of a supply of media between a supply station, a workstation and a collecting station, comprises a media handling apparatus defined by a frame and a housing enclosing an internal confine. Within this confine are a supply station and a collecting station disposed at opposite ends of the frame. A positioning drive is suspended above the supply and collecting stations to move media between the supply, collecting and work stations. A lifting shoe is provided as part of the positioning drive and includes a flexible material handling sheet which assumes a first and a second given radius when respectively energized and reverse energized to engage the media supported in curved form. Also, supply and collecting cassettes are provided with a tambour coverings for respectively automatically uncovering and covering the supported media while still maintained in the light-tight confines of the housing.

Abstract: Pocket signature feeding machines have been provided with a double indicia scale on a pocket backplate and the scale is related to the centerline of the pocket so that the signatures may be precisely centered in the pocket when the left and right signature guides have their respective indicators pointing to the same indicia on the pocket backplate scale. A sheet that is 10 inches in width can be centered by having the respective left and right indicators set at a number 10 on each scale portion of the double scale. The signatures are bowed by side guides engaging opposite vertical edges of the signatures in the hopper. Also, an outer scale with indicia thereon is provided for setting the side guides at a distance that will cause an automatic, correct bowing of signatures. A gripper mechanism cooperating with a signature picker times the drop of signatures onto the saddle of the gathering conveyor.

Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus of uncomplicated structure which can be easily controlled and does not require the necessity of a large motor is implemented at low cost without undergoing the lowering of an attracting force, air leakage and paper contamination. To the outer circumferential surface of a drum-shaped cylinder with air holes are attached, ring-shaped collar having respective air holes and following conveyance elements. The cylinder is inserted through the ring-shaped collars and the following conveyance elements. Each following conveyance element includes a bearing covered with a cover to prevent paper contamination. The bearing is secured to the cylinder by the securing action of the collars.

Abstract: In a sheet separating apparatus, for example an automated teller machine (ATM) in which banknotes are removed one by one from a stack (12) of banknotes, includes a vacuum pump (32), and suction unit (10A,B,C,D) connectable alternately between a vacuum enable port (30) of the vacuum pump (32) when a note is picked from the stack (12), and a vacuum release port (42) of the pump (32), when the note is released from the suction unit. Pre-filtered air from the vacuum pump (32) is therefore partially recycled, and dust is substantially excluded from the system.

Abstract: In order to increase the reliability in selectively disabling a signature feeding apparatus, and to avoid the problems which are inherent in mechanical systems, a unique dual mode pneumatic system is contemplated for use with a cyclically operable signature feeding apparatus. The feeding apparatus will generally include a driven rotary drum having a plurality of signature grippers disposed about the periphery thereof. The signature grippers are adapted to grip signatures seriatim from a signature supply hopper. A suction assembly is driven by a cam for shifting signatures seriatim from the signature supply hopper to the rotary drum for gripping by the signature grippers. The suction assembly includes oscillating suction grippers in communication with a source of vacuum. The signature feeding apparatus further includes a cam follower assembly operatively associated with the suction assembly to control movement of the oscillating suction grippers toward and away from the signature supply hopper.

Abstract: Stacks of part-products are arranged on the circumference of a rotating processing drum that has radial receiving compartments that open along the drum circumference. Rotatable rollers are provided in the region of the introduction opening of each receiving compartment on which the stacks of part-products are supported. Each stack has a separating device with a suction head separating member that seizes the bottom part-product in the stack and moves it to a location between the rollers of successive receiving compartments. The part-product that has been seized, in this manner, is fully detached from the stack by the roller and is deposited into the corresponding receiving compartment where it can be processed. For example, the part-product can be folded or cut at the borders, and assembled with other part-products by collating or inserting to form a multi-part end product.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device conveys sheets by using a suction conveyor belt having small holes. The lowermost sheet stacked on a sheet table is conveyed while being adsorbed on the conveyer belt. A suction fan sucks the lowermost sheet by way of an air suction port formed in a suction duct and the small holes. Sucked air is introduced into an air nozzle through a guide duct. Air blown off from the air nozzle raises the second sheet from the lowermost sheet and the subsequent sheets, to separate the sheets from the lowermost sheet. The suction duct is provided with an auxiliary suction port for ensuring the amount of air blown off from the air nozzle.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating stacked printed products includes suction heads anchored on a rotor by a respective swivel arm. The swivel arms are driven with regard to their swivel position by a swiveling drive superposed on the rotary drive of the rotor such that they enter the takeover point in pushing operation and leave the latter in pulling operation. At the deflecting point, the suction heads have time to suck against the edge of the respectively outermost product; by their tilting movement at the deflecting point, the seized product edge is separated definitely and reliably from the neighboring product. In connection with a transporting-away device with grippers circulating successively one after the other, the edge of the products is placed into the grippers by the suction heads swiveled during the circulation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for conveying individual blanks, one at a time, from a stack of blanks in a magazine to a form chamber in an erecting machine. The magazine includes bottom and side guides and a conveyor for moving the blanks into a pickup position. A suction cup device is utilized to grip an upper portion of the blank in the pickup position and swing the blank into engagement with a bolster roller set. A segment device having a curved surface is also disclosed for coacting with the bolster roller for swinging the blank from a substantially vertical position to a substantially horizontal position for conveying into an erecting machine.

Abstract: An automatic mailing machine includes a mail transport device for moving individual pieces of mail, which can be of varying shapes and sizes, from a mail bundle to an oppositely disposed apparatus for weighing such pieces of mail and to then move same to a further station for additional processing. The automatic mailing machine may include apparatus for detecting the size of the piece of mail being processed and weighed which then compares that information against a norm. The automatic mailing machine is configurable to occupy a much smaller space than conventional mailing machines.

Abstract: The palletization of packs (8) of sheets, books or the like is carried out through the conveyance of the packs (8), by a roller assembly (7) formed by powered rollers, in a programmed way stopping certain rollers beneath those packs (8) which are to be stopped in a programmed position and through the transfer and the putting down of the first row of packs (8) on a palletization stand (12) together with the picking up and the putting down of a separating sheet (10) on every complete layer of packs (8) formed on the palletization stand (12).

Abstract: A flat object transfer device for transferring flat objects, particularly flat objects of varying thickness, to a sorting device from the output of an unstacking device. The flat object transfer device includes a gripping device for gripping a flat object initially located in a transfer plane. The gripping device includes a set of pinch rollers and pulleywheels on opposite sides of each pinch roller. A set of drive belts are trained around each pinch roller and the pulleywheels on opposite sides of the pinch roller. At least one of the pinch rollers in the set of pinch rollers can move in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transfer plane. A double pick separator device is provided for retaining flat objects except for a flat object to be gripped by the gripping device. The double pick separator device is disposed between two levels of the drive belts trained around the pinch rollers and pulleywheels.

Abstract: The front bag (12) of a supply of bags (12) stored in a magazine (250) is removed by an unloading device (252) including four linkages (254, 256, 258, 260) which are pivoted to attach suction cups (264) thereto. The unloading device (252) inserts the bag (12) between nip rollers (52, 54) including spaced wheels (56, 58) which drive the bag (12) downward until the closed end (20) rests upon an adjustable stop (72). A tucking plate (90) moves from a retracted position to an extended position generally perpendicular to the bag (12) to drive the bag (12) into a slot (46) of a fixture (32), with the bag (12) having a U-shaped configuration around the tucking plate (90). The bag (12) is prevented from moving from the slot (46) with the tucking plate (90) as the tucking plate (90) moves from the extended position to the retracted position by a compression roller (208) pivotable by a cam (214) movable with the tucking plate (90) to sandwich the side edges of the bag (12).

Abstract: 1. Apparatus for the storage and extraction of blanks (10) consisting of thin cardboard from a blank magazine (12).2.1. An extraction unit (16) having a sun wheel (17) and planet wheels (18, 19) rotating about the latter serves for the continuous extraction of blanks (10) consisting of thin cardboard from a blank magazine (12). Each planet wheel (18, 19) rotating about its own axis extracts a lower blank (10) of a blank stack (11) in the blank magazine (12) and transfers this onto the sun wheel (17). The blank is transferred from the latter, in conjunction with a transport disc (51, 52), into a blank track (14).2.2. The sun wheel (17) and the planet wheels (18, 19) grasp the blanks (10) solely in a middle region, namely in the region of a blank middle strip (46), with the exclusion of lateral folding tabs (39, 40; 41, 42).

Abstract: In a system and method for feeding sheets from a stack, a support arrangement is provided having a plurality of rows of rollers mounted on support levers to support the stack above a first carrier. The rollers are lowered so that a lowermost sheet of the stack contacts the first carrier which is driven to cyclically accelerate the lowermost sheet in a direction perpendicular to the rows so that the sheet achieves a linear velocity. A second carrier is driven at a constant speed to transport the sheet away from the first carrier at the linear velocity. Each row of rollers is sequentially raised when a trailing edge of the sheet has moved beyond that particular row.

Abstract: A rotary placer for picking, transferring and placing a carton from a stack of cartons or sleeves in a magazine to an assembly position. The rotary placer includes a frame driven for rotation about a first axis and supporting an arm having an inner end and an outer end. The outer end of the arm has vacuum cups for engaging and releasably retaining a carton for movement from the pick position to the place position. The arm is reciprocated from an extended position to a retracted position. The vacuum cups engage a carton when the arm is in the extended position and the arm retracts to remove the carton from the magazine and carry it toward the place position. The arm again is extended as it reaches the place position. A cam guide controls the movement of the vacuum cups so they move linearly away from a carton in the magazine.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing paper products from a stack on a hopper comprises a rotatably mounted gripper drum for rotating about a central axis at a substantially constant angular velocity. A stationary cam is rigidly mounted adjacent the gripper drum. A gripper mechanism is mounted on the gripper drum and rotates with the drum. The gripper mechanism is provided for gripping a paper product, removing the paper product from a stack and for entraining the paper product with the rotating gripper drum. A linkage mechanism which is also mounted on the gripper drum and which rotates with the drum is provided for angularly displacing the gripper mechanism relative to the gripper drum, i.e. to accelerate and to decelerate the gripper, and for operatively linking the gripper mechanim with the cam.

Abstract: A feeder for a sheet-processing machine includes at least one lifting sucker carried by a suction head for lifting a paper sheet from a sheet pile, a device for taking over the lifted paper sheet and for conveying the paper sheet from the lifted position thereof above the sheet pile to a sheet-processing unit, a device for applying a continuously acting force potential upon the lifting sucker downwardly in a direction towards the sheet pile, a suction device for cyclically controllably raising the lifting sucker in a direction opposing the force potential, the suction device being disposed rotationally symmetrically with respect to an axis of the lifting sucker, and being controllable for maintaining the lifting sucker in the raised position thereof on the suction head.