Abstract: A vacuum belt feeder comprising a means of conveyance having a pitch, for retrieving items from a supply zone, and then distributing them at target locations in a discharge zone.

Abstract: A sheet handling device for wide format sheets including a sheet support plate having a top surface containing suction holes which are connected to at least one suction chamber, the at least one suction chamber being divided into compartments that are connected, though an opening, to a suction device adapted to create a subatmospheric pressure in the compartments, wherein at least one internal wall between adjacent ones of the compartments defines a flow restriction orifice, and at least one of the compartments is directly connected to the suction device, and at least another one of the compartments is indirectly connected to the suction device through the orifice.

Abstract: A configuration for generating blowing air or suction air, in particular a directing element in a sheet-processing machine, has a throttle path formed with vortex chambers. The vortex chambers generate vortex flows in a flow channel and they are formed by projections on just one side of the flow channel. This allows the element to be advantageously produced by molding, such as injection molding, thermo-molding, or stamping.

Abstract: A sheet turning apparatus includes a vacuum source used to capture and hold a sheet onto a rotatable disc that is connected to a servo motor. Actuation of the servo motor causes rotation of the disc which in turn rotates the sheet 90°.

Abstract: A self-valving vacuum distribution system for a belt-driven sheet conveyor utilizes the sheets to automatically open vacuum control valves sequentially in a downstream direction as the sheet is carried on the belts. The system also automatically adjusts for varying sheet widths to automatically apply vacuum holding force only to the belt conveyor area covered by the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet-processing machine, particularly a rotary printing press, includes a blast-air supply system and a pneumatic sheet-guiding device connected thereto. The sheet-guiding device has a sheet-guiding surface formed with air passage openings and serves for having the sheets dragged thereover in a sheet travel direction. The air passage openings serve for expelling sheet-carrying air flows during operation. The sheet-guiding device further includes flow ducts for aligning sheet-carrying air flows. The air passage openings in the sheet guiding surface form opening cross-sections of the flow ducts in the form of slots having a length which is many times greater than the width thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for improving sheet feeding in a direction of movement to a process station, including: a contact surface having ribs spaced along contact surface in the direction of movement, apertures being defined in the space between each rib; a blower; and an air plenum for supplying a vacuum generated by the blower to the contact surface so that when an leading edge of the sheet passes by the contact surface the vacuum pulls the leading edge of the sheet towards contact surface.

Abstract: A fuser entrance guide in an electrophotographic apparatus, which supports a sheet of copy medium as it enters the fuser section. The guide has a curved base plate that has vacuum ports both at the edges and across the central area thereof. The ports in the central area are arranged in rows with the exits of all ports in a respective row being fluidly connected by a groove formed in the lower surface of the base plate. The recessed area of the grooves reduce the total contact area of the sheet thereby reducing the drag forces on the sheet but, at the same time, increasing the holding force of the vacuum on the sheet.

Abstract: A conveyor system for transporting a printing plate in a platemaking system includes: a carriage riding on a track and one or more low friction substantially horizontal planar support surfaces provided as a high wear laminate, positioned above the carriage and the track, for supporting the printing plate on the non-emulsion side without the use of rollers, belts, bearings or air cushioning. The carriage includes one or more engagement mechanisms for engaging a bottom, non-emulsion side of the printing plate, and the track includes an air cylinder. The engagement mechanisms can be, for example, suctions cups which engage the plate by a vacuum, suction cups which engage the plate by pressure and adhesion, other adhesive devices, or a mechanical gripper for gripping the plate. The track or linear actuating system is preferably an air cylinder. Alternatively the linear actuating system could include a belt and pulleys, a chain and gears, or a threaded lead screw.

Abstract: A media holddown device a plastics vacuum guide attached to a sheet metal vacuum beam, the guide includes vacuum chambers in communication with the beam through openings to control the negative pressures applied to media of varying widths by a fan. Dividing walls are provided between the chambers to maintain the value of the negative pressure larger than a predetermined value, especially for media with conventional widths. An intermediate wall divides the guide into front and rear chambers to increase the control of media leading edges. The number, size and pattern of arrangement of openings are selected to produce desired air flow characteristics.

Abstract: An intermediate cylinder comprising a main body, and a plurality of suction boxes formed in the main body at positions different with respect to a rotation axis of the main body. The intermediate cylinder further comprises a plurality of suction bores formed in the suction boxes so that they are open at an outer peripheral surface of the main body, an air suction source for generating suction force within the suction boxes, and a switching means for selectively switching connections between the plurality of suction boxes and the air suction source.

Abstract: There are provided a sucking unit having a recording medium transportation surface including a plurality of sucking holes, a decompression chamber communicating with the sucking holes and a sucking device for sucking air in the decompression chamber, and a delivering device for adsorbing a recording medium supplied onto the recording medium transportation surface of the sucking unit onto the recording medium transportation surface through the sucking hole by the sucking device, and delivering the recording medium from an upstream side of the sucking unit to a downstream side thereof. Each sucking hole of the sucking unit is formed by a through hole section communicating with the decompression chamber and a sucking chamber having a larger area of a sucking surface opposed to the recording medium than a sectional area of the through hole section.

Abstract: A device for holding a sheetlike article on a movable underlying surface for transporting the sheetlike article in at least one direction selected from the group consisting of a direction into and a direction out of an operating station having a printing unit, includes a member having a surface underlying the sheetlike article, the sheetlike article being retainable by pneumatic pressure on the surface, a screening device disposed locally fixedly with respect to an operating station, the screening device serving for reducing an airflow in a region of the printing unit at least with respect to adjacent regions, the reduction in the airflow resulting from the sheetlike article being held on the underlying surface.

Abstract: A stacker for stacking labels die-cut from a continuous web by a die cutter into vertical stacks. The stacker is of the kind that includes at least one stacking chute having an upper opening and a number of mainly vertically arranged walls, at least one overlying belt conveyor having a conveyor belt designed with a number of suction holes distributed along the belt and having a lower run with a direction of conveyance running from the die cutter to the stacking chute, and a suction box located above the lower run and connected to a vacuum source communicating with the suction holes of the lower run via the suction box in an area around the die cutter but not in an area around the stacking chute. A channel for receiving the lower run of the conveyor belt or a lower part of this run is designed in at least a front wall of the walls of the stacking chute, seen in the direction of conveyance, said channel is extending in this direction.

Abstract: Apparatus for keeping a receiving material flat against a plate during the application of an ink image thereto, wherein the plate is provided with V-shaped channels which extend in the direction in which the receiving material is movable stepwise over the plate. Ribs which separate the channels from one another are provided with suction openings in order to draw, by negative pressure, bubbles which have been formed by moisture absorption in the receiving material, into the channels in order to prevent the bubbles from coming into contact with ink application means movable over the plate. The outermost channels are provided with suction openings in the channel walls in order to keep wrinkles and corrugations at the sides of the receiving material out of contact with the ink application means.

Abstract: An intermediate cylinder comprising a main body, and a plurality of suction boxes formed in the main body at positions different with respect to a rotation axis of the main body. The intermediate cylinder further comprises a plurality of suction bores formed in the suction boxes so that they are open at an outer peripheral surface of the main body, an air suction source for generating suction force within the suction boxes, and a switching means for selectively switching connections between the plurality of suction boxes and the air suction source.

Abstract: A smoothing device includes guide surface sections for a flat printing material whose leading edge is pulled in a direction of travel over the guide surface sections. The guide surface sections have openings which communicate with throttling ducts that are pressurized with compressed air during operation. The guide surface sections form a smoothing notch and have air passage openings which communicate with a flow duct. The air passage openings are configured to cause pressure conditions when there is an air throughflow during operation such that the flat printing material forms a bead projecting into the smoothing notch.

Abstract: A delivery for a machine for processing flat printing materials, includes a sheet guide surface with suction openings opening into the sheet guide surface, a suction chamber communicating with the suction openings, and a sheet conveyor for gripping a respective sheet at an edge thereof extending in a sheet-conveying direction and for dragging the respective sheet over the sheet guide surface, the suction chamber being formed as a throttling duct; a machine for processing flat printing materials including the delivery; and a sheet-processing printing machine including the delivery.

Abstract: A feeding system for difficult web and sheet materials, such as bubble wrap. A drive roller having a high friction surface is spaced over a flexible platen having a low friction transport surface. The gap between the platen and the drive roller is adjustable, and the drive roller is driven to advance web and sheet materials between the drive roller and the transport surface. The transport surface has a very low coefficient of static friction, and the surface of the drive roller has a very high coefficient of static friction, with the coefficients of friction differing by at least 0.5.

Abstract: The apparatus and the method serve to adjust an air flow, which varies sheet transport, in a printing machine. The apparatus has an air flow regulating device. An operating parameter of the air flow that varies the sheet transport serves as a controlled variable. The controlled variable may be the air flow rate or the static air pressure of the air flow.

Abstract: A paper web is drawn into a printing and can be guided along a selected one of several paths. The paper web is weakened along a line of separation and is then held by a retaining system that can move the web in a conveying direction along a first path. The web is fed to a different conveying path and is separated ot torn along the line of separation. This line of separation or weakening is formed at an angle to the production direction.

Abstract: A hardcopy apparatus including a main roller and a loading mechanism to load a medium into the hardcopy apparatus, said loading mechanism including a vacuum holddown input unit to hold media down onto a surface of said holddown unit. In addition, a method of loading a medium into a hardcopy apparatus including a vacuum holddown unit, a driving roller and a secondary roller, comprises the steps of: manually positioning the medium onto a surface of the holddown unit; by rotating the secondary roller, advancing the medium towards the main roller; and engaging the medium to the main roller.

Abstract: An air blowing unit is arranged so as to blow air toward a side edge of a sheet discharged from a discharging port. Alternatively, the air is blew from below the discharged sheet.

Abstract: A wide format thermal printer for printing a multicolor graphic product on a printing sheet; a vacuum workbed for supporting a sheet material for performing work operations, such as cutting, printing or plotting, thereon; a replaceable donor sheet assembly, which includes a memory, for use with a thermal printer; methods and apparatus for improved thermal printing, including methods and apparatus for conserving donor sheet and reducing the amount of time required to print a multicolor graphic product; a thermal printhead including a memory; methods and apparatus for the alignment of a sheet material for printing or performing other work operations on the sheet material; and methods and apparatus for controlling the tension of the donor sheet during printing with a wide format thermal printer. The wide format thermal printer can include provision for the automatic loading of cassettes of donor sheet from a cassette storage rack.

Abstract: A vacuum transport for a printer or copier guides a sheet through a machine, such as from a photoreceptor toward a fuser. The vacuum transport includes a partially enclosed vacuum chamber having rollers rotatably mounted therein. Portions of the rollers protrude through openings in the top of the chamber. A series of ribs are disposed between the openings. Some of the ribs extend diagonally toward one end of the width of the paper path over the transport.

Abstract: A suction unit in a sheet-fed rotary printing press includes a plurality of suction wheels, a plurality of supports, a drive shaft, a motor, a shaft, a coupling, a bearing, a sleeve, and a gear, and a knob and a screw. The suction wheels are provided below a sheet convey path to draw a sheet-like printing product in a slidable contact by suction. The supports support the suction wheels to be movable in a sheet convey direction. The drive shaft, motor, shaft, coupling, bearing, sleeve, and gear drive the suction wheels in the sheet convey direction. The knob and screw detachably fix the suction wheels to the supports. The suction wheels are connected to/disconnected from the drive shaft, motor, shaft, coupling, bearing, sleeve, and gear when the suction wheels are fixed to/released from the supports by the knob and screw.

Abstract: A hardcopy apparatus comprising a main roller and an outputting mechanism for moving a medium outside the hardcopy apparatus, said outputting mechanism being characterised by including a vacuum holddown output unit for holding at least a portion of media down onto a surface of the outputting mechanism. In addition, a method of outputting a medium from a hardcopy apparatus including a vacuum source, a main driving roller and a secondary roller, includes the steps of: advancing the medium up to contact said secondary roller; generating a negative pressure, by means of the vacuum source, capable of engaging the back of the medium with the surface of the secondary roller: by rotating the main roller and the secondary roller, disengaging the medium from the main roller; and by rotating the secondary roller, advancing the medium towards the outside of the apparatus.

Abstract: A media transport system for transporting a media sheet in a marking device includes an entrance drive assembly, an exit drive assembly and a vacuum generator that applies a vacuum force to the media sheet to form a wide, flat printing zone. The entrance drive assembly receives and transports the media sheet in a process direction by contacting top and bottom surfaces of the media sheet, thereby exerting an entrance drive force on the media sheet. The exit drive assembly receives and transports the media sheet by contacting the top and bottom surfaces of the media sheet, thereby exerting an exit drive force on the media sheet. The vacuum force is applied to the media sheet in an area of the media sheet between the entrance drive assembly and the exit drive assembly. The vacuum force on the media sheet acts in a vacuum force direction substantially normal to the process direction.

Abstract: A feeder for a sheet-fed printing press includes a feeding table having a surface which, at least in subregions thereof, is formed with through openings, over which sheets separable or singlable by a suction head are transportable against lays for aligning the sheets and through which air feedable under the sheet in the region of the suction head is dischargeable in a downward direction, the feeding-table surface having edge portions formed with a respective inclination, the edge portions defining the openings.

Abstract: A shuttling media movement system moves media in a hardcopy device, such as an inkjet printing mechanism, a facsimile machine or a multi-function device. The shuttling media movement system has a first member with a first set of fingers for periodically supporting the media, and a second member having a second set of fingers for periodically supporting the media. A motor drive is coupled to the second member to periodically interleave the second set of fingers into and out of engagement with the first set of fingers to move the media with respect to the first member in the interaction zone. Vacuum forces or electrostatic forces are used to periodically grip the media against the sets of fingers. A hardcopy device is provided with such a shuttling media movement system, along with a method for moving media in an interaction zone of a hardcopy device.

Abstract: A market based controller controls the motion of an object on a transport assembly. The transport assembly is formed using sensors and actuators that are proximately coupled in physical space. To efficiently allocate a fixed amount of air pressure directed to the actuators, the market controller maps each market agent to points in space on the transport assembly, as well as, points in time relative to a system clock. Using information gathered from the sensor units, each market agent determines whether to bid on the fixed amount of air pressure each bid interval. Using the bids submitted by the market agents, a market equilibrium price and quantity are computed by a market auctioneer. The air pressure purchased by each market agent is then distributed to the actuators mapped thereto.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes laterally spaced, longitudinally arranged conveyors for supporting edge regions of a sheet, the conveyors driven to deliver the sheet horizontally to a stacking area. At the stacking area the conveyors are separated to drop the sheet onto a stack of sheets. During the delivery of the sheet to the stack, the mid-span of the sheet is supported from above to prevent sagging of the sheet. The mid-span is supported by at least one low pressure chamber which extends along the delivery path of the sheet. The low pressure chamber includes a plurality of suction compartments arranged in sequence, each suction compartment including a horizontally disposed air nozzle and an air outlet to create a horizontal "Fanno effect" air stream adjacent a top surface of the sheet to create suction within the low pressure chamber which holds the sheet in sliding contact against a bottom surface of the low pressure chamber.

Abstract: Embedded in a transport assembly are arrays of microelectromechanical devices for detecting and making adjustments for perceived changes in their environment. The arrays of sensors and actuators are tightly coupled to each other so that coordinated action of neighboring actuators minimizes the cumulative effort required to move the object. The sensors and actuators are controlled using a multi-hierarchical organization of computational elements. Each computational element in lower levels of the multi-hierarchy communicates with one or more higher level computational elements to define zones of control. An object moving along the transport assembly lies principally in the domain of at least one zone of control. As an object moves along the transport assembly, dominant control over the object moves along the transport with the object.

Abstract: A multi-agent control system controls a transport assembly for moving objects. The transport assembly is formed using sensors and actuators that are proximately coupled in physical space. The multi-agent control system includes a learning mechanism which takes advantage of the proximate coupling between the sensors and actuators. The learning mechanism improves system performance by making iterative changes to an interaction matrix that represents the organizational structure of the multi-agent control system. In operation, the learning mechanism makes iterative changes to several of the elements a.sub.ij, of the interaction matrix at one time, around a randomly chosen location (i,j) in the matrix. Changes to the interaction matrix continue to be made so long as the changes result in improved performance of the transport assembly.

Abstract: A contact-free sheet guidance device in a sheet-fed printing press, having a sheet guiding surface, includes at least one blast air nozzle formed in the sheet guiding surface and having a cross section directed obliquely downwardly with respect to the sheet guiding surface, the sheet guiding surface being formed with an opening for an air outlet directed substantially vertically at a sheet being fed in the sheet travel direction, the air outlet opening being disposed upstream of the blast air nozzle in the sheet travel direction and being smaller in cross section than the cross section of the blast air nozzle.

Abstract: A substrate transport assembly having an air mover that moves air through an air housing such that a substrate is biased against a drive member. The substrate assembly further includes an air plenum that receives moving air and directs that air along a predetermined path. The air plenum expands when air is moving but is otherwise collapsed.

Abstract: Device for removing copies diverted from a conveyed stream thereof in a rotary cross cutter or delivery in a sheet-fed rotary printing press includes a device for decelerating the copies which are transported at an incoming conveying speed, the decelerating device being disposed so as to act upon both sides of the copies which are to be decelerated, a device for defining a copy-transport plane, a copy guide forming a diverter disposed down-line from the decelerating device and above the device for defining a copy-transport plane, and respective structures defining two conveying planes disposed down-line from the copy guide, at least one of the conveying plane-defining structures including a pneumatically acted-upon conveying device.

Abstract: An automatic sheet printing and alignment system includes a holding table; a transport system for moving the table through a plurality of stations; a first station for positioning a sheet on the table; a second station for printing features on the sheet positioned on the table; a third station for receiving the printed sheet from its position on the table to compile a stack of sheets with their printed features in predetermined alignment; and a control system for sequentially moving the table through the stations for repeatedly printing and stacking each sheet aligned with prior printed and stacked sheets received, transported and printed by the same table.

Abstract: A fabric panel loader for automatically feeding a fabric panel from a stack of fabric pieces to a work station. The apparatus includes a fabric pickup assembly for removing the fabric panel from the stack of fabric pieces and transferring the panel to a smoothing table. The smoothing table receives the fabric panel and automatically moves the fabric panel from the stack of fabric pieces to a predetermined orientation. A panel loader removes the fabric panel from the table and transfers the panel to the work station.

Abstract: A vacuum assisted sheet transfer assembly has an array of support bars which support the unprinted side of a freshly printed sheet along a sheet transfer path. The support bars overlie the airflow inlet of a manifold housing, with the longitudinal axis of each support bar extending across the sheet transfer path. The support bars provide smooth surfaces for engaging and supporting the unprinted side of the sheet material as it is pulled along the transfer path while simultaneously limiting the flow of inlet air through elongated inlet apertures. As air is drawn through the inlet apertures, the unprinted side of the sheet is sucked into engagement with the support bars as it moves along the sheet transfer path. The sheet transfer assembly eliminates the need for conventional skeleton wheels and the like. Marking, smearing and smudging are prevented since the printed side of the sheet is not handled or contacted in any way as the sheet is conveyed along the sheet transfer path.

Abstract: An improved protective coin return for a telephone paystation having a pivoted outer sweep flap and at least one pivotable inner flap, all made from a high strength material. The outer sweep flap and the at least one inner flap replace the conventional door on coin returns so as to provide an open front portion whereby a telephone user may look into the coin retrival area. Additionally, the outer and inner flaps cooperate together to expel unwanted materials from the coin return and substantially block and dissipate the force and gasses of any explosive materials detonated therein.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a device for clamping sheet-shaped film material onto the recording drum of a reproduction device and is directed to the operation of this device. The recording drum comprises axially proceeding suction-hole rows for the vacuum-fixing of the recording material. Suction channels, each of which connects the suction holes of a suction hole row to one another, proceed in the wall of the recording drum. A vacuum distributor controllable by the rotational movement of the recording drum is arranged in the recording drum, this controllable vacuum distributor selectively bringing the individual suction channels, the corresponding suction hole rows into communication with a stationary vacuum pump. The vacuum distributor is controllable such that that suction hole row on which the starting region of the recording material lies is first charged with vacuum during the clamping event.

Abstract: An imaging system comprising a source of light movable with respect to a writing element and projectable thereon to generate an image, a focusing system is provided for focusing a light source which generates a first beam of light of a wavelength selected to be actinic with respect to the writing element. At least a portion of the first beam of light is absorbed by the writing element. The apparatus comprises a material supply to automatically supply donor sheets and receiver sheets independently to a writing platen or drum, and to selectively load and unload the donor sheets from superposition with the receiver sheet without disturbing the registration of the receiver sheet. The material transport is arranged to selectively contact the donor and the receiver materials so that there is no cross-contamination.

Abstract: A material handling system employs a sheet separator capable of handling sheets of varied thickness and flexibility and a positioner which repetitively positions sheets relative to a pressing unit in a fixed location. A sheet stacker receives and stacks the processed sheets at a rate of up to five sheets per minute.

Abstract: A vacuum assisted sheet transfer assembly has an array of support bars which support the unprinted side of a freshly printed sheet along a sheet transfer path. The support bars overlie the airflow inlet of a manifold housing, with the longitudinal axis of each support bar extending across the sheet transfer path. The support bars provide smooth surfaces for engaging and supporting the unprinted side of the sheet material as it is pulled along the transfer path while simultaneously limiting the flow of inlet air through elongated inlet apertures. As air is drawn through the inlet apertures, the unprinted side of the sheet is sucked into engagement with the support bars as it moves along the sheet transfer path. The sheet transfer assembly eliminates the need for conventional skeleton wheels and the like. Marking, smearing and smudging are prevented since the printed side of the sheet is not handled or contacted in any way as the sheet is conveyed along the sheet transfer path.

Abstract: A vacuum assisted sheet transfer assembly has an array of support bars which support the unprinted side of a freshly printed sheet along a sheet transfer path. The support bars overlie the airflow inlet of a manifold housing, with the longitudinal axis of each support bar extending across the sheet transfer path. The support bars provide smooth surfaces for engaging and supporting the unprinted side of the sheet material as it is pulled along the transfer path while simultaneously limiting the flow of inlet air through elongated inlet apertures. As air is drawn through the inlet apertures, the unprinted side of the sheet is sucked into engagement with the support bars as it moves along the sheet transfer path. The sheet transfer assembly eliminates the need for conventional skeleton wheels and the like. Marking, smearing and smudging are prevented since the printed side of the sheet is not handled or contacted in any way as the sheet is conveyed along the sheet transfer path.

Abstract: A vacuum assisted sheet transfer assembly has an array of support bars which support the unprinted side of a freshly printed sheet along a sheet transfer path. The support bars overlie the airflow inlet of a manifold housing, with the longitudinal axis of each support bar extending across the sheet transfer path. The support bars provide smooth surfaces for engaging and supporting the unprinted side of the sheet material as it is pulled along the transfer path while simultaneously limiting the flow of inlet air through elongated inlet apertures. As air is drawn through the inlet apertures, the unprinted side of the sheet is sucked into engagement with the support bars as it moves along the sheet transfer path. The sheet transfer assembly eliminates the need for conventional skeleton wheels and the like. Marking, smearing and smudging are prevented since the printed side of the sheet is not handled or contacted in any way as the sheet is conveyed along the sheet transfer path.

Abstract: A vacuum assisted sheet transfer assembly has an array of support sections which support the unprinted side of a freshly printed sheet along a sheet transfer path. The support sections overlie the airflow inlet of a manifold housing, with the longitudinal axis of each support section extending across the sheet transfer path. The support sections provide smooth surfaces for engaging and supporting the unprinted side of the sheet material as it is pulled along the transfer path while simultaneously limitting the flow of inlet air through elongated inlet apertures. As air is drawn through the inlet apertures, the unprinted side of the sheet is sucked into engagement with the support sections as it moves along the sheet transfer path. The sheet transfer assembly eliminates the need for conventional skelton wheels and the like. Marking, smearing and smudging are prevented since the printed side of the sheet is not handled or contacted in any way as the sheet is conveyed along the sheet transfer path.

Abstract: A vacuum transfer apparatus for use in a sheet fed rotary printing press for supporting the unprinted side of a freshly printed sheet as it is moved from the press impression cylinder along a transfer path to a further processing station of the press, the apparatus including a vacuum chamber supporting a plurality of rotatable elongated rollers arrayed in spaced side-by-side parallel relationship laterally across the transfer path, and a vacuum pump connected to the chamber for producing a pressure differential across the freshly printed sheet to draw the unprinted side of the sheet into engagement with the support rollers by drawing air into the vacuum chamber through the spaces between the rollers as the sheet is pulled along the transfer path so that the printed side of the sheet can not be marked or marred.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming device for forming a toner image on a photosensitive member; a transfer device for transferring the toner image to a recording paper sheet; a fixing device for fixing the toner image onto the recording paper sheet, which is so provided as to be spaced a predetermined distance from the transfer device; a guide member which has first and second inclined faces for guiding the recording paper sheet obliquely upwardly and downwardly to the fixing device, respectively; the first and second inclined faces being, respectively, formed with first and second suction openings; a transport belt device for transporting the recording paper sheet to the fixing device along the first and second inclined faces, which is wound along the first and second inclined faces and is formed with a plurality of holes; and a suction device which sucks air above the first inclined face through the holes of the transport belt device and the first suction opening and sucks air above the