Abstract: The apparatus for separating and stacking stacked sheets is used for a pneumatic sheet separation and conveying mechanism in a sheet feeder of sheet processing machines. In the apparatus of the invention the blowing under of a sheet separated from the stack in the first motion stage of the conveying suction mechanism is maintained and a reliable separation of the sheets is guaranteed by an operational separation of a second type of conveying suction device located between the separating suction devices at the sheet edge remote from the first conveying suction devices. The second conveying suction device separate from the first conveying suction devices is associated with a second separating suction device operating according to the pressure difference principle.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding sheets from a stack of sheets on a sheet stack supporting tray which includes a sheet transport for feeding sheets from the tray. An air knife is disposed adjacent the front wall of the tray to inject air between the sheet to be separated and the remainder of the stack. The air knife includes at least one elastomeric member attached to its front wall that extends to a point immediately above, below or touching the sheet transport in order to inhibit multifeeding of sheets from the tray.

Abstract: A paper feeding device for a collator is provided wherein a drive mechanism for moving suction heads between the upper surface of a stack on a paper supply shelf and feed rollers disposed at a paper feeding station in front of the paper supply shelf includes a four-bag linkage mechanism pivotally carried at a horizontally extending pivot. The four-bar linkage machanism comprises four elemental links pivotally connected tail-to-head in a closed loop, one pair of the adjacent links being pivotally carried at the pivot, one of the other pair of the adjacent elementary links supporting the suction heads. The two elemental links pivotally carried at the pivot are synchronously oscillated about the pivot to produce a composite movement at the elemental link supporting the suction head whereby the suction heads moves the upper surface and the feed rollers.

Abstract: A blank feeder for feeding blanks. It has a feed table on which a plurality of blanks are stacked, a suction unit provided under the table to suck the lowermost one of the stack downward, a motor-driven first feed rolls mounted in the suction unit and adapted to feed the lowermost blank in contact therewith, and second feed rolls located downstream of the first feed rolls and adapted to be driven at a constant speed. The first feed rolls are accelerated from zero speed to the speed of the second feed rolls before the front end of the blank reaches the second rolls, then driven synchronized with the second feed rolls, and decelerated to zero speed again by the time the next cycle begins. A kicker for pushing out the blank may be provided. The kicker is moved forward so as to be synchronized with the second feed rolls before the front end of the blank reaches the second feed rolls. Once synchronized, this state is maintained until the rear end of the blank gets off from the kicker.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for the extraction of pack blanks (10) from a blank magazine (25). A special problem with high-performance packing machines is the extraction of blanks from the blank magazine (25) of the packing machine, especially thin cardboard blanks which are produced outside the packing machine. The "transfer rollers" so far mainly used herefore take a lot of time and are ponderous due to their complex motions. In order to extract respective lowermost blanks (10) from a blank magazine (25), there is provided an extractor in the form of a blank segment (39) which grasps a blank at one side and leads the blank (10) with slight deformation, namely in an acute angle, to the plane of a conveyor track (38). Because of the very sparse movements of the blank (10) during extraction, the extraction process can be performed within short strokes.

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 sheet feeding apparatus capable of feeding corrugated cardboard sheet without the need for feed rolls which comprises a support for sheet having a feed end and a delivery end. The support further includes feed elements comprising at least one feed element driven at a variable speed and at least one feed element driven at a constant speed. The variable speed feed element transfers the sheet from the feed end to the constant speed feed element. The constant speed feed element transfers the sheet from the variable speed feed element to the delivery end. The variable speed feed element is driven by a variable speed generating mechanism which generates a motion cycle including a constant speed output segment which is equal to the constant speed of the constant speed feed element. The sheet feeding apparatus provides a smooth continuous, controlled transfer of the sheet from the feed end to the delivery end of the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing sheet products includes a rotatable drum having a plurality of pockets adapted to receive individual sheet products. Plural rollers are disposed along the periphery of the drum between adjacent pocket openings. The rollers are rotated through a portion of the drum movement and locked against rotation through the remainder of the drum movement. Cam means are provided to lift the pockets radially outward, tilt the pockets, and open and close sidewalls of the pockets to facilitate ingress and egress of the sheet products.

Abstract: A device for moving film from a supply magazine to a cassette loading station, the film removing device being in a unit with a film holding channel formed by parallel groups of rollers which engage opposed edges of the film.

Abstract: A sheet supplying device for supplying an uppermost sheet of a stack of sheets in a sheet cassette used in an image forming apparatus includes suction cups movable into and out of contact with the uppermost sheet in the sheet cassette, an evacuator for developing a vacuum in the suction cups to enable the suction cups to attract the uppermost sheet, a moving member for upwardly and downwardly moving the suction cups to pick up the sheet from the sheet cassette, a sheet feeding member for feeding the sheet from the moving member along a sheet feed path, and a control system for judging on the basis of a detection signal from each sensor for detecting an image forming error provided in the image forming apparatus whether the error occurs during the sheet supplying operation, and when judging that the image forming error occurs during a sheet supplying operation, the control unit ceasing the sheet supplying operation and controlling the driving of at least one of the suction cups, the evacuator, moving member an

Abstract: A method and device for continuously feeding blanks for the formation of hard cigarette packs, whereby the blanks are withdrawn successively from the bottom opening of a feedbox and fed on to the outer periphery of a conveyor roller by means of mobile suction heads guided cyclically by crank mechanisms along a route having a portion substantially perpendicular to the bottom opening of the feedbox, and a further portion substantially tangent to the periphery of the conveyor roller and which further route portion is followed by the suction heads at a speed substantially equal to the surface speed of the conveyor roller itself.

Abstract: An in-mold labeling method and apparatus for a blow molding machine having a primary circular multiple mold path. A continuous drive closed circuit is provided by a guide track means and forms a secondary path in which a carriage or trolley carrying an air actuated means for picking and holding a label for transport to a matched segmental transfer station at which the mold parts and the carriage move in unison at zero relative velocity during which the label is automatically deposited in a mold for application to the plastic part being formed by the mold. Thereafter, the carriage or trolley is conditioned to pick up another label. The continuous driving of both the blow molding machine and the in-mold label dispenser is synchronized for unison uninterrupted operation.

Abstract: A sheet storage case for storing therein a stack of sheets. The sheet storage case is assembled into a sheet feeding device which feeds out an uppermost sheet of the stack of sheets. The sheet storage case includes a bottom plate, a first positioning member fixedly secured to the bottom plate and a slidably movable second positioning member provided in the bottom plate. The second positioning member has a sheet receiving portion for receiving the stack of sheets. The second positioning member is movable toward and away from the first positioning member. To mount a stack of sheet on the sheet storage case, the second positioning member is moved away from the first positioning member, the sheets are placed on the sheet receiving portion, and then the second positioning member is moved toward the first positioning member. The side edges of the sheets are aligned, because the sheets are fittedly interposed between the two positioning members.

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 portable envelope feeder that is not dedicated to a specific offset printer but can be used with multiple offset printers is described. The portable feeding apparatus is clamped to the feed elevator in order to supply an envelope stack to the offset printer. The envelope feeder has the capability of tilting back to facilitate loading of the envelope stack. A sliding weight in one of the vertical members holds the envelopes in place and also counters the moment created when the sucker foot on the printing press grips the individual envelope and pulls the envelope into the offset press. A height control bar insures that the envelope stack is always at the correct position for the sucker foot to grip and envelope. By utilizing a different size plate where the envelope stack rests and making a slight adjustment on the base plate, the present invention can feed a plurality of envelope sizes.

Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus is provided wherein a paper supply shelf with a stack of paper sheets, from which the uppermost paper sheet of the stack is picked up, is guided for vertical movement and urged upwardly by the resilient force of a spring, and the upward movement of the paper supply shelf is limited by the engagement of the uppermost sheet of the stack with a stopper. The shelf is intermittently pushed down for a predetermined constant stroke by a click and ratchet arrangement. The picking up operation of the uppermost paper sheet of the stack is interlocked with the intermittently pushing down operation of the paper supply shelf, so that when the uppermost paper sheet of the stack is picked up, the paper supply shelf is synchronously lowered for a constant stroke.

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: A feeder for paperboard blanks includes a transport, vertical relationship changing structure to alternately provide active and passive positions for the transport, a suction device, and a transmission with input and output shafts operatively connected so that the output shaft undergoes controlled acceleration during an initial portion of each revolution of the input shaft, whereby the transport engages and grips a blank by static friction and moves accelerates that blank to nip rolls without slippage occurring and so that each blank enters the nip rolls in register whereupon the blank is disengaged from the transport.

Abstract: An apparatus applicable to a sheet article processing system for temporarily accumulating sheet articles which come in arbitrarily one by one or in a bunch and sending them out one by one at predetermined intervals. The apparatus includes a drive mechanism capable of starting and stopping the movement of a suction belt instantaneously, a sensor responsive to the leading edge of a sheet article which has been nipped by a downstream transport path, and a sensor responsive to the presence/absence of an interval between successive sheet articles which occurs between the downstream transport path and a reverse belt. Other sensors are provided for determining an interval between successive articles. A pick-up roller pair is driven at a controllable speed in matching relation to the interval between successive articles determined.

Abstract: A rotary feeder feeds sheets or board-like articles to nip rolls in a box-making machine. The boards are successively and individually fed from the bottom of a stack whose forward edge engages a gate below which the boards are fed by driven feed members such as wheels, rolls or endless belts which engage the underside of the lowermost board. To raise and lower the boards relative to the surface of the feed members, a vertically reciprocable grate is provided between the drive members. The grate and drive members are mounted in a vacuum box in which a vacuum is established to hold the boards in proper position on the feed members when the grate is lowered. The vacuum is also utilized to hold the boards with sufficient force to produce necessary friction between the boards and the feed members for feeding.

Abstract: Sheet feeder for a printing machine includes a receiving device adjustable in height for taking up a pile formed of individual sheets, a front stop for leading edges of the sheets, and at least one side stop for the side edges of the sheets at one side of the pile; alignment elements located at least at an upper end of the pile and exerting alignment forces on the pile towards the front and the side stops; a loosening device for neutralizing, at least partly, adherence of the upper sheets to one another; a conveying device for withdrawing the respective uppermost sheet from the pile and feeding it into the printing machine; and an additional sheet alignment device acting upon the surface of the respective uppermost sheet, at least until it is taken over by the conveying device, in a way that the alignment device exerts alignment forces upon the sheet towards at least one of the stops; the additional sheet alignment device being offset with respect to the conveying device towards respective trailing edges of t

Abstract: Suction head includes a vertically adjustable lifting suction device having a respective guiding element, and an axially displaceable, telescopically guided suction chamber arranged on the guiding element, the suction chamber having at least two suction nozzles disposed adjacent one another transversely to a direction in which sheets are conveyed, the suction nozzles being united into a double suction chamber so as to form a narrowly defined vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A stack of signatures is transformed into a moving stream of individually arranged signatures by feeding a stack of signatures on edge to a transfer station, individually transporting the signatures as a moving stream away from an entrance location laterally offset from the stack, and carrying each signature of the stack in turn laterally to the entrance location as such signature arrives at the transfer station. As each signature is carried laterally to the entrance location, such signature is separated from the stack so as to prevent mutilation due to friction with the adjacent signature on the stack. The signatures are carried to the entrance location by suction cups that form part of a transfer arm. The transfer arm is momentarily transported away from the stack as it carries the signature to the entrance location so as to effect separating of the signature from the stack.

Abstract: A gathering machine for book binding separates each sheet from the bottom of its hopper by a vertically pivotable suction head. The suction is induced by a venturi rather than by vacuum.

Abstract: A feeder for paperboard blanks includes a transport, vertical relationship changing structure to alternately provide action and passive positions for the transport, a suction device, and a transmission with input and output shafts operatively connected so that the output shaft undergoes controlled acceleration during an initial portion of each revolution of the input shaft and is stationary during a last portion of each revolution of the input shaft, whereby the transport engages and grips a blank by static friction and moves and accelerates that blank to nip rolls without slippage occurring and so that each blank enters the nip rolls in register whereupon the blank is disengaged from the transport.

Abstract: An autofeeding apparatus for automatically transporting exposed photosensitive plates, which may be of different sizes, one by one from a nearly vertical stack to an automatic developing station. The photosensitive plates are placed in a vertical stack on a stack holder, and a supporting device disposed opposite the holder supports the lower ends of the plates. A transport device transfers the lower end of the uppermost one of the photosensitive plates from the holder to the supporting device. A separating device separates the uppermost plate from the holder. A lifting device, driven separately from the separating device, lifts the supporting device to feed the uppermost plate to the automatic developer with the upper end of the plate at the head.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing sheet products includes a rotatable drum having a plurality of pockets adapted to receive individual sheet products. Plural rollers are disposed along the periphery of the drum between adjacent pocket openings. The rollers are rotated through a portion of the drum movement and locked against rotation through the remainder of the drum movement. Cam rollers are provided to lift the pockets radially outward, tilt the pockets, and open and close sidewalls of the pockets to facilitate ingress and egress of the sheet products.

Abstract: A bottom vacuum corrugation feeder includes a vacuum chamber with a bi-level support surface that support a plurality of apertured belts. The bi-level support surface has a series of raised members on a portion of its surface that corrugate the bottom sheet of a stack of sheets that are supported on a stacking tray. The stacking tray inclues raised members on its stack support surface that allow the venting of air from an air knife positioned in front of the sheet stack for separating the bottom sheet in the stack from the remainder of the stack. Recesses are included in the stack support surface of the stacking tray in order to reduce vacuum leak around the front edge of the sheet stack.

Abstract: A sheet transfer device and method are disclosed for transferring sheets from a sheet stack to a utilization area such as a can pallet. A base unit causes pivoting of a beam about a moveable pivot point so that a sheet picked up from the sheet stack is moved upwardly for a substantial distance and then pivoted to a point above a can pallet, after which the sheet is moved downwardly and deposited on the upwardly extending tops of a horizontal layer of cans on the can pallet. Suction is supplied through a plurality of cups brought into engagement with the top sheet of a sheet stack to lift the top sheet from the stack, with the suction being terminated when the sheet is deposited on the can pallet to thereby release the sheet.

Abstract: A measuring device (60) measures the value (t) of a chosen parameter (thickness) of what has been lifted by a lifting assembly (40) from a stack of sheets (1) of material and allows the lifted material to be moved from the stack when the value is in a predetermined relationship to a reference value (T). One (45a) of a plurality of selectively releasable members (45) on the lifting assembly (40) is moveable in two horizontal directions to locate a sheet attached to the one releaseable members (45a) against locating pins (5, 6) on the work table (3) of the punch press (4). The entire system may be operated automatically by a controller (90).

Abstract: A device for supplying/discharging PS plates in an inclined-type step and repeat machine having a rearwardly inclined exposing table which includes a supplying holder disposed on a side of the exposing table for supplying the PS plate thereto, the holder having a surface thereof rearwardly inclined at the same angle with respect to the horizontal as that of a surface of the exposing table, a pair of endless chains respectivley disposed along both side edges of the holder and adapted to move up and down longitudinally of the holder in synchronism with each other, metal support supported by the chains at both ends thereof, support bars also supported by the chains at respective both ends thereof via metal pieces the chains being driven to move up while carrying the PS plate which is being held by the metal support and support bars, and a guide provided on the top of the supplying holder and bent backwardly for guiding upward the plate being discharged.

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: Method and apparatus for loading an unexposed film on a rotary drum in a exposure/recording apparatus, such as raster plotter or a color scanner, and unloading the exposed film out of the drum, the replacement of films being automatically carried out by the use of a supply pallet and a discharge pallet, suckers, and maneuverable linkages so as to enable the film to travel from the supply pallet to the drum, and, after exposure, to the discharge pallet.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus with a sheet support tray, a rear vacuum plenum chamber adapted to acquire the rear portion of a sheet, a front vacuum plenum chamber positioned over the front of the sheet and adapted to acquire the front portion of a sheet, a sheet transport associated with the front vacuum plenum to transport a sheet acquired in a forward direction and an air knife positioned at the rear of the stack of sheets to inject air between the trailing edge of the top sheet in a stack and the remainder of the stack. The trail edge of a sheet in a stack is separated by the air knife, acquired by the rear vacuum plenum then acquired by the front vacuum plenum and transported in a forward direction. As the trailing edge clears the rear vacuum, the rear vacuum, which together with the air knife is continuously actuated, acquires the next sheet in the stack.

Abstract: An applicator for applying elongated strip members to a moving member. The applicator is particularly adapted to apply handle assemblies to moving closure panels of containers such as cartons. Hot melt adhesive stripes are applied to the moving closure panel and thereafter a handle assembly is applied over the hot melt adhesive. The apparatus includes, in addition for moving containers at a uniform rate and spacing, a hopper overlying the path of movement, a picker device for periodically withdrawing a lowermost handle assembly from the hopper, and a combined guide and presser member for first receiving in guided relation an end of a withdrawn handle member remote from the picker device, and thereafter pressing the handle member against the adhesive strip beginning at the right end of the withdrawn handle assembly.

Abstract: Stacks of fabric plies are sequentially positioned by a carousel feeding apparatus in an unloading position where the uppermost ply in a stack, so positioned, is individually and sequentially separated from the stack, and an edge thereof presented between the jaws of a gripping device. Once the gripping device is satisfied that one and only one fabric ply is in place between the jaws, the single ply is transferred over onto the receiving end of a conveyor for further processing. The fabric separation occurs by means of an aerodynamic technique which tends to lift by suction the uppermost ply from the remainder of the stack. A proximity switch determines the spacing between the gripper jaws which spacing confirms the existence of one and only one fabric ply therein.

Abstract: In order to be able in a simple manner to supply one or more suction pick devices periodically moved relative to the surface of a stack with driving energy, the suction pick-up device is connected to an air volume or source having substantially constant negative pressure over overpressure, and a valve assembly that periodically connects the suction pick-up device to the outside air. The valve assembly is incorporated in the connecting line between the suction pick-up device and the air volume. The valve assembly may be embodied with a control piston that is subject to the action of a restoring force, by a pneumatic multi-way valve having a regulattable frequency, or by a magnetic valve connected to a regulattable frequency generator.

Abstract: A stream feeder for moving a shingled stream of signatures forwardly to maintain a small upright stack of signatures at a packer box of a bindery line collator has a transversely extending impaling pin bar movably mounted on a forward end portion of the stream feeder frame, and a line of impaling pins that are individually adjustable in the pin bar have free ends projecting into the path of movement into the packer box of signatures from the small upright stack. Mechanism for moving the pin bar to simultaneously adjust the extent of projection of all the pins includes a manually movable adjustment control member mounted at a position spaced from the pin bar where it is readily accessible to an operator attending the bindery line.

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: The article separator comprises at least one transfer station (20) receiving the articles to be transferred to the entrance of at least one delivery conveyor (4). Each transfer station is equipped with at least one pickup arm (21) with a suction head (22) at one end, driven between the transfer station and the delivery conveyor and having a plurality of orifices (23) which can be selectively connected to a vacuum source or a blown air source under the control of a video processing circuit (33) coupled to a camera (32) that registers the scene at the front of the transfer station. The separator can handle mail deemed to be non-mechanically-sortable hereto.

Abstract: A stack stop assembly is on a sheet feeder of a printing press having an impression cylinder with grippers disposed thereon formed with respective sheet stops. A row of suckers and a pair of conveyor rollers are disposed between the sheet feeder and the impression cylinder. An uppermost sheet of a stack of sheets is liftable at a leading edge thereof by the row of suckers over and beyond stack stops of the stack stop assembly and being feedable to the pair of conveyor rollers for advancing the uppermost sheet to the sheet stops formed on the impression-cylinder grippers. The stack stop assembly includes swivel bearings supporting the stack stops, respectively, at both sides thereof, each of the stack stops having a journal pin to which a pivot arm is secured.

Abstract: Stacked fabric parts are separated and fed seriatim by apparatus having an endless conveyor which feeds the stack into position for separating the uppermost part from the stack. A mechanism having a knife edge bar or opposed fabric engaging needles is lowered and engages the part for dragging the part to be separated off of the stack. The second part on the stack is held with the stack by a pressure force by a series of vacuum providing orifices or recesses in a horizontally disposed support surface and/or by retractable fabric piercing needles. The part separating and translating bar is connected to a support plate which may be vibrated in a generally horizontal plane to assist in breaking the frictional connection between the part to be separated and the remaining parts in the stack as they are separated from each other. The separated parts are presented seriatim to a guide surface which guides the part under the conveyance of an air jet stream along a feed path to another work station.

Abstract: A feeder for paperboard blanks includes a transport, vertical relationship changing structure to alternately provide active and passive positions for the transport a suction device, and a transmission with input and output shafts operatively connected so that the output shaft undergoes controlled acceleration during an initial portion of each revolution of the input shaft and is stationary during a last portion of each revolution of the input shaft, whereby the transport engages and grips a blank by static friction and moves and accelerates that blank to nip rolls without slippage occurring and so that each blank enters the nip rolls in register whereupon the blank is disengaged from the transport.

Abstract: In a suction roller for a paper processing machine of the type having at st one supply passage leading to a control head disposed at an end face, the improvement which includes the suction opening being a suction slit. The suction roller may have an insert disposed in a recess at the periphery of the roller, the insert having a side surface cooperating with the recess to define a suction slit.

Abstract: A sheet feeder of a printing machine has sheet separating and conveying facilities and a stack table which raises a stack of sheets by means of a controlled lift drive so that a respective uppermost sheet of the stack is in an operating position for the sheet separating and conveying facilities, the sheet separating facility including separating suckers for raising, in timed sequence, a respective trailing sheet end, as viewed in sheet conveying direction through the feeder, a suction line connecting the separating suckers to a suction source, a pressure measuring device connected in the suction line for determining an actual instant of time at which a respective sheet is sucked up by the separating suckers, a comparator device for comparing the actual suction instant of time with a nominal suction instant of time generated in synchronism with rotation of the printing machine to determine a difference value, a comparator device for comparing the difference value with a value corresponding to an optimum height

Abstract: A suction device is movable between a receiving position in which it removes a sheet of film from a magazine and a delivery position in which it transfers the sheet to a conveyor. The effective width of the suction device approximates or equals the width of the smallest sheet of film to be transferred. Sheets having a width greater than the smallest width are gripped in the region of one end thereof leaving the remainder of such a sheet free to deflect. In order to permit proper transfer of all sheets into the conveyor, the latter is provided with grooved rollers which lift the deflected portions of larger sheets into the conveyor. In the delivery position, the suction device is located opposite one portion of the conveyor. The conveying force exerted by this portion of the conveyor is smaller than the gripping force which the suction device exerts on a sheet but larger than the conveying force exerted by a laterally adjacent portion of the conveyor.

Abstract: Transfer cylinder for conveying a sheet from one printing unit to another, comprising a cylindrical drum, a row of rubber suction pads for temporarily holding the sheet, the row of suction pads being disposed at an end of a sheet format length on the cylindrical surface of the drum, the rubber suction pads extending in axial direction of the drum, and paper supports disposed in vicinity of the rubber suction pads for respectively applying suction to and supporting the sheet.

Abstract: An arrangement for separating and transporting uppermost sheets of a stack of sheets or sheet-like objects has a movable suction mouthpiece in which negative pressure acting for adhering the sheet simultaneously controls the movement of the suction mouthpiece in a longitudinal direction in a guide, the movable suction mouthpiece is connected with a valveless pump which produces in a connecting conduit between the suction mouthpiece and the pump periodically alternating negative pressure and positive pressure phases, and the guide of the movable suction piece is arranged so that a movement direction provided by the guide is inclined relative to the direction of the force of gravity at such an angle that the resultant of a lifting movement of the sheet produced during the lower pressure phase of the movable suction mouthpiece and the falling movement produced during the positive pressure phase has a component acting in a desired transporting direction of the sheet.

Abstract: An automatic label emplacer is designed for easy attachment to a commercially-available lock-stitch sewing machine. The label emplacer comprises an improved label dispenser which cooperates with a simplified pressure frame that allows for a 360.degree. or more stitching path circumscription of the label. Operation of the label emplacer is pneumatically and mechanically controlled.