Abstract: The invention is directed to a device for automatically clamping and releasing film material onto or, respectively, from the recording drum of a reproduction device with vacuum suctioning. The device is composed of a roll film cassette, of a conveying and guide surface, of a film cutting means, of a film length measuring means, of a pressure means having a pressure roller, of a lift-off means having lift-off finger, as well as drives for turning the recording drum and for conveying the film material to the recording drum. The recording drum comprises axially proceeding suction hole rows for suctioning the film material by vacuum. A vacuum distributor controllable by the rotational motion is arranged in the recording drum, this vacuum distributor successively connecting the individual suction hole rows to the stationary vacuum pump during clamping, so that the suction hole rows are charged with vacuum step-by-step with increasing wrap of the recording drum by the film material.

Abstract: An overwidth slitting method slits a metal strip into two lengthwise pieces while trimming the side edges from the strip. The metal strip is placed on parallel spaced apart conveyors adjacent a slitter for conveying the strip to the slitter. The conveyors are raised above a plurality of vacuum cups which are disposed between the conveyors and are spaced along the length of the strip. The raised metal strip is aligned with respect to the slitter and the raised conveyors are lowered to a position where the bottom surface of the aligned strip engages the vacuum cups between the conveyors. A vacuum is applied to the vacuum cups for holding the strip in alignment relative to the slitter and then the metal strip is advanced on the conveyors into the slitter while sequentially releasing the vacuum from each vacuum cup engaged with the bottom surface of the metal strip as it advances. The advancing metal strip is simultaneously slit into two lengthwise pieces while the side edges are trimmed therefrom.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for stacking flat workpieces, which are conveyed on a transport cylinder provided with holding tongs, on a stacking table put against the transport cylinder. The apparatus is provided with a control for opening the holding tongs before reaching the stacking table, and with a braking arrangement for decelerating the workpieces such that the workpieces are set down on the stacking table at a lower speed than the peripheral speed of the transport cylinder. In accordance with the invention the braking arrangement consists of a row of suction nozzles or a suction belt circulating at a lower speed that the transport cylinder.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which toner images are transferred using a combination of heat and pressure to a receiving sheet includes a transfer drum with a vacuum holding means for the receiving sheet. To prevent a loss of nip pressure over vacuum holes, the drum is formed of a metallic core with a slot running generally parallel to the core's axis of rotation. A thin metallic sheet is positioned around the core, which sheet has very thin slots running across the slot in the core. A vacuum is applied to the core slot which communicates through the sheet slots to hold a receiving sheet to the outside surface of the metallic sheet.

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 includes a supply of donor sheets and receiver sheets which are independently fed to a writing drum. The sheets are selectively wound in supply rolls so that the "active" surfaces are oriented properly at the imaging station and have a "set" which matches the curve of the drum.

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 system includes apparatus 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.

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 includes an automatic supply for donor sheets and receiver sheets which are supported independently to a writing platen or drum. Apparatus is provided which selectively loads and unloads the donor sheets from superposition with the receiver sheet without disturbing the registration of the receiver sheet.

Abstract: The device comprises a conveying cylinder (1) for the sheets (3) to be checked, which is provided with a bar of sheet-clamps (2) and at least one detector (4). In proximity to the detector (4), there is provided a calibrating strip (6) mounted in a movable manner with respect to the surface of the cylinder (1) and linked to a mechanism (5) enabling it to be lifted intermittently when the clamps (2) pass below, and adjusting mechanism (12-15) for setting the distance from said strip to the cylinder in its operating position to a determined value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supplying gas to a vacuum drum device and which substantially reduces or eliminates the problem of particle and debris buildup in the vacuum passages of the device is provided. The apparatus supplies gas, preferably at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, to the vacuum ports of a vacuum drum and includes a source of vacuum, a source of gas, and a rotatable vacuum drum. The drum includes a plurality of vacuum ports on the surface thereof, with the vacuum ports communicating with a plurality of vacuum passages extending generally outwardly from the interior of the drum. A valve alternately connects the passages to the vacuum source and to the source of gas. The selective exposure of the vacuum ports to either a source of vacuum or a source of gas prevents smoke, particles, and other contaminants from being drawn into the vacuum passages of the drum during operation of the system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the sequential handling and delivery of individual flexible products, such as plastic bags or containers, is provided which enables the use of extended length orbital packer fingers for removing closely spaced flexible products from a transfer drum and delivering them to a stacking table. The apparatus includes a product drum for delivering a series of closely spaced individual flexible products to a transfer point, and a transfer drum positioned at the transfer point for transferring the flexible products to a delivery point while maintaining substantially the same spacing between the products. Adjacent the transfer drum is an orbital packing mechanism including a shaft mounted adjacent the transfer drum for orbital movement and a plurality of packer fingers secured to the shaft and extending into the annular grooves for removing the flexible products sequentially from the transfer drum and delivering them to the delivery point.

Abstract: A sheet paper feed apparatus has a hollow center shaft, a roller which has peripheral holes and rotates around the center shaft, and a negative pressure source communicating with the center shaft. Rotation of the roller causes the peripheral holes to successively create a suction action to adhere and feed the sheet paper. The center shaft has an opening at a position shifted by a predetermined angle in the direction of sheet feed with respect to a surface that is vertical with respect to the sheet paper feed surface and passes through a center of the center shaft.

Abstract: A vacuum drum for securing and retaining different sizes of flexible sheet media has cylindrical surface holes connection different sets of longitudinal bores connected to right and left end radial bore distribution rings. The rings are adapted to be selectively separately connected to external sources of vacuum to provide first and second evacuation zones on the drum surface. A preferred embodiment has left and right shaft section ports connected so that application of a vacuum source to the left port evacuates a first drum zone for holding a smaller sized media, and connection of both left and right ports to a vacuum source evacuates both first and second drum zones for holding a larger media.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring individual slices of food material from a food material supply source to a support member includes at least two rotating hollow drums disposed on and rotating around two associated stationary inner drums. The first rotating drum is disposed proximate to the food material supply, while the second rotating drum is disposed proximate to the support member and the first rotating drum. The stationary drums have hollow inner cores to which negative air pressure in the form of a vacuum is supplied which causes individual material slices to adhere to the outer shell of the first drum and transfer to the outer shell of the second drum.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring individual slices of material which are sliced from a material supply to a support web includes a rotating hollow drum disposed on and rotating around a stationary inner drum. The rotating outer drum is disposed proximate to a slicing station and material supply. The rotating drum and the stationary drum have hollow inner cores to which negative and positive air pressure is alternately applied to cause individual material slices to alternately adhere to the outer shell of the drum and to leave the outer shell of the drum.

Abstract: A rotary vacuum wicketting device has a stationary hub and a rotary hub that has a number of vacuum arms that carry plastic bags or similar work pieces from a first work station to a second work station. Each of the rotary and stationary hubs has a main body portion and a split-disc wear plate, which is formed of a plastic synthetic resin that has been filled with a suitable lubricating agent. The radial arms also each have a removable wear strip carried on a forward surface. The wear plate of the rotating hub has an annular raised surface portion that slidably contacts the facing surface of the stationary hub wear plate.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for making individual flexible web products whereby a web material is tucked outwardly from the surface of a product drum by fixed projections, severed and sealed, and provided to one or more transfer points. The products are there transferred to one or more transfer drums with corresponding indentations, which deliver the products to packing devices. An alternative embodiment provides multiple delivery points by using lateral-shifting transfer drums. The apparatus and method vary and control flexible product width introducing a multiplicity of moving parts, and enhance separation of individual products during transfer while increasing overall production rates.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for receiving and rotating a strip of material toward a continuously moving surface, and then orienting the strip of material so that it is surfacely placed generally flat with the continuously moving surface.

Abstract: In a drum having a flexible sheet material removably held on to an outer surface thereof, a method for reducing aerodynamic lift of an edge of the material, comprising the step of introducing a thin sealing strip between the outer surface of the drum and an inner surface of the film at the edge of the material. The lift may be caused by the natural tendency of the sheet material to curl at its edges and may be exacerbated by the flow of air under the edges as the drum rotates.

Abstract: A high speed product delivery system is provided which delivers individual flexible web products from a product drum to three or more transfer drums. The transfer drums, in turn, deliver products to further transfer drums or to packaging devices. The system permits increases in the production rate of the products without increasing the demand on the packing devices.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supplying gas to a vacuum drum device and which substantially reduces or eliminates the problem of particle and debris buildup in the vacuum passages of the device is provided. The apparatus supplies gas, preferably at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, to the vacuum ports of a vacuum drum and includes a source of vacuum, a source of gas, and a rotatable vacuum drum. The drum includes a plurality of vacuum ports on the surface thereof, with the vacuum ports communicating with a plurality of vacuum passages extending generally outwardly from the interior of the drum. A valve alternately connects the passages to the vacuum source and to the source of gas. The selective exposure of the vacuum ports to either a source of vacuum or a source of gas prevents smoke, particles, and other contaminants from being drawn into the vacuum passages of the drum during operation of the system.

Abstract: A high speed product delivery system is provided which delivers individual flexible web products from a product drum to a plurality of transfer drums. The transfer drums, in turn, deliver products to further transfer drums or to packaging devices. The system permits increases in the production rate of the products without increasing the demand on the packaging devices.

Abstract: A drum for an image recording apparatus for absorbing and winding a recording material for the purpose of recording the image by an exposure head thereof. The main body of the drum is structured by arranging a plurality of cylindrical members having a relatively smaller axial direction. Since the drum is formed by arranging the cylindrical members, the drum can be readily manufactured. A guide is provided on the outer surface of the drum, this guide guiding, pressing, and retaining the front portion of the recording material to the outer surface of the drum so that the absorption of the recording material is conducted assuredly. The shaft of the drum is borne by a radial ball bearing which has a sealing member so that air leakage when the absorption is conducted is prevented.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring individual strips of material which are sliced from a material supply to a support web includes two counterrotating rollers. The first roller is disposed proximate to a slicing station and material supply while the second roller is disposed proximate to the first roller. Both of the first and second rollers have hollow inner cores which are encircled by rotatable outer shells. A vacuum is drawn in the inner cores of the first and second rollers which causes individual material strips to adhere to the outer shell of the first roller and the support web to the outer shell of the second roller. Bands which encircle the first roller urge the material strips off onto the support web.

Abstract: A suction type sheet carrying mechanism for a high speed image forming apparatus, in which a sheet is separated from an electrophotosensitive drum by air suction performed by mechanically combining fixed air suction holes of a hollow shaft and rotated air suction holes of belt pulleys. The sheet is stuck onto rotating endless belts and carried along a curved route by air suction performed by combining moving air holes of moving endless belts. High speed air flows through ditches provided on a belt guide board placed under the endless belts. The sheet is carried through a fixing unit under high temperature circumstances by rotating air suction metal rollers arranged perpendicular to the direction in which the sheet is carried. Fixed air suction holes in a hollow shaft and rotating air suction holes at ring-shaped ridges of a cylinder rotated around the hollow shaft of each air suction metal roller combine to form suction to hold the sheet.

Abstract: An improved heater construction for an ink jet printer of the kind having a rotary print platen for holding and transporting a print sheet through a print path. The platen heater includes a hollow shell mounted for rotation through the print path and has vacuum holes for sheet attachment. A heating foil is detachably mounted in heat transfer relation with a major portion of the interior periphery of said shell and is coupled by brush contacts to an electrical power source.

Abstract: A conveyor system for transporting a succession of thin flexible sheets such as plastic bags from a bag forming device to a bag stacking device. The conveyor system includes a first conveyor having vacuum holes for holding the bags in place, with portions of the bags extending beyond the conveyor's edges. The system further includes bag support apparatus such as a pair of auxiliary conveyors located alongside the first conveyor and supporting the overhanginig portions of the bags. The auxiliary conveyors terminate short of the end of the first conveyor, such that for a predetermined distance the overhanging portions of the bags are unsupported, thus permitting a bag stacking device to lift the bags and deposit them onto a stack.

Abstract: An improved transfer apparatus for use in an electrostatographic copier including a dielectric member adapted to carry electrostatically developed marking particle images. The transfer apparatus comprises a cylindrical roller mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis and located such that its peripheral surface is in operative relation with the dielectric member of the copier. A receiver member is selectively tacked, at least at its lead marginal edge, on the peripheral surface of the roller by vacuum attraction, such vacuum being effective through ports in the roller. At least one trough is formed in the roller substantially aligned with the vacuum ports. Such trough minimizes contact of the tacked lead edge of the receiver sheet to the peripheral surface of the roller, thereby facilitating release of the sheet from the roller at a desired time.

Abstract: A high speed product delivery system is provided which delivers individual flexible web products from a product drum to a plurality of transfer drums. The transfer drums, in turn, deliver products to further transfer drums or to packaging devices. The system permits increases in the production rate of the products without increasing the demand on the packaging devices.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transfer device for receiving a series of flexible products from a single path and delivering the flexible products to a plurality of paths where they can be separately stacked and packaged. The device includes a vacuum transfer drum and apparatus for rotating the drum. The transfer device also includes a rotating product drum for supplying flexible products such as plastic bags in a single row along a path to the drum. Further, the transfer device includes apparatus on the drum for securing the leading edges of the flexible products to the surface of the drum, for shifting selected flexible products transversely from the path as the drum rotates, and for securing the trailing edges of the selected flexible products during the shifting thereof. This transverse shifting of selected flexible products permits delivery by the transfer drum along a plurality of paths.

Abstract: A rotary vacuum wicketting device has a stationary hub and a rotary hub that has a number of vacuum arms to carry plastic bags or similar workpieces from a first work station to a second work station where they are placed on a wicket. The rotary and stationary hubs are both molded of a plastic synthetic resin which has been filled with a suitable lubricating agent. The radial arms are also formed of the plastic synthetic resin and are molded to have a square cross section from the radially outward end to and including the male portion that fits into a square cross section socket in the peripheral wall of the rotating hub. The tubular arms have a removable end cap to facilitate cleaning debris that may have collected inside the arms. A removable plastic wear plate is carried on the forward-facing surface of each of the arms to absorb wear and abrasion from action of the plastic film workpieces.

Abstract: A wicket type bag stacking machine is provided with apparatus for accumulating articles being stacked on a temporary stack so that stacked articles on the production stacking station can be removed. Upon removal of stacked articles from the production stacking station an empty stacking station is provided and the articles temporarily stacked on the temporary stack are positioned on the production stacking station.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying a sheet member by a conveyor roller having an axis perpendicular to the direction of convey of the sheet member, suitable for use in effecting a sub-scan by an electron beam over the surface of the sheet member. The apparatus has at least one suction roller constituting the conveyor roller and having a hollow cylindrical body and a multiplicity of suction holes formed in the wall of the cylindrical body; and an arrangement for allowing only selected suction holes to be exposed for the suction of the sheet material. The arrangement may include a chamber rotatably receiving the suction roller and communicating with a vacuum source, the chamber having a wall provided therein with at least one elongated slit through which the suction holes in a region parallel to the axis of the suction roller are exposed.

Abstract: A suction system is arranged in a sheet guiding cylinder of a printing machine which is switchable from the first form mode to the printing on both sides of the sheet which is turned over by the suction system around its rear edge. The suction system includes an arrangement for automatically controlling suction air for operating a suction head which is movable in a sucker body of the suction system.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling and stacking thin flexible objects or strips, which is particularly useful for labels and may also be used for tickets, cards, etc. In the preferred embodiment shown a supply of the strips is provided by withdrawing an elongated sheet from roll stock and cutting it into strips by coacting knife drum and strip support drum apparatus. A vacuum drum picks up the strips from the strip support drum and transfers the strips to a stacking apparatus. The transfer drum has grooves formed in its periphery to receive stripping fingers extending from the stacking apparatus. The stripping fingers divert the strips from the transfer drum to a stacking position at the stacking apparatus. A magazine and strip pusher are disposed on the opposite sides of the stacking position. Side and bottom wall extensions of the magazine define the stacking position and support the strip therein. The strip pusher includes a frame positioned across from the magazine opening.

Abstract: A transfer roller apparatus for use for example in an electrographic copier including a dielectric member adapted to carry electrostatically developed marking particle images. The transfer roller apparatus employs a locating and tacking mechanism of simple construction which is capable of accurately locating a receiver member on the periphery of the transfer roller without damaging the dielectric member of the copier. Such apparatus includes a cylindrical roller to which an electrical bias is applied to establish a transfer field between the roller and the dielectric member to effect transfer of marking particle images from the dielectric member to a receiver member accurately located on the peripheral surface of the roller. A flexible member having a receiver member locating feature is associated with the roller.

Abstract: A covering for sheet-supporting cylinders and drums on rotary offset printing machines for printing both on single and both sides of a sheet, the covering having a smooth surface on one side thereof and a textured surface on the opposite side thereof, with sheet-supporting surfaces projecting from the textured surface and formed of hydrophilic and chemically and wear-resistant material includes a device for defining perforations formed in the textured surface, and a device connected to the perforations for selectively applying blowing air and suction therethrough.

Abstract: Apparatus for opening signatures comprises a conveyor having a concave section onto which, in use, the signatures to be opened are deposited. Above this concave section of the conveyor there is disposed a series of rotating suckers mounted on a movable frame which is joined to a mechanism for displacing it with a reciprocating arcuate movement which follows the curve of the concave section of the conveyor. The rotating suckers are carried on bars mounted eccentrically and rotatably on associated suction heads. These bars are hollow and communicate, through a duct, with a suction source, the communication being controlled by a solenoid valve. Each of the said eccentric bars is driven to rotate by a spindle to which is rigidly connected a sprocket engaged by a slidable chain which acts as a rack.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying labels in the molds of a plastic blow molding machine of the type wherein a plurality of sets of molds are mounted on a wheel rotatable about a horizontal axis and the molds are moved toward and away from one another to enclose a parison and the parison is then blown to the confines of the cavity between the mold sections which comprises removing labels successively from one or more magazines, depositing the labels on an endless conveyor which transports the labels to a position adjacent an open mold and laterally transferring the labels from the conveyor to a position within the molds such that when a mold closes about a plastic parison and the parison is blown, the labels become adhered to the blown plastic bottle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rotary vacuum arm bag or sheet transferring and stacking device and a stack-handling system enabling an indexing of counted bag stacks. The transferring device grasps and retains the bags adjacent margins transverse to the direction of web advance while at least a portion of the opposed margins parallel to such directions are spaced inwardly from the arms to define a slot or gap thru which stack-retaining fingers project contributing to remove a bag from a pair of arms and retaining the bag in a stack wherein respective margins overlie each other. Also disclosed is a stack-handling system having the ability to remove a completed stack from the stacking station and yet allow, if desired, continuous bag machine operation and, as a result, uninterrupted transfer of sheets or bags to the stacking stations.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rotary vacuum arm bag or sheet transferring and stacking device and a stack-handling system enabling an indexing of counted bag stacks. The transferring device grasps and retains the bags adjacent margins transverse to the direction of web advance while at least a portion of the opposed margins parallel to such direction are spaced inwardly from the arms to define a slot or gap thru which stack-retaining fingers project contributing to remove a bag from a pair of arms and retaining the bag in a stack wherein respective margins overlie each other. Also disclosed is a stack-handling system having the ability to remove a completed stack from the stacking station and yet allow, if desired, continuous bag machine operation and, as a result, uninterrupted transfer of sheets or bags to the stacking stations.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rotary vacuum arm bag or sheet transferring and stacking device and a stack-handling system enabling an indexing of counted bag stacks. The transferring device grasps and retains the bags adjacent margins transverse to the direction of web advance while at least a portion of the opposed margins parallel to such direction are spaced inwardly from the arms to define a slot or gap thru which stack-retaining fingers project contributing to remove a bag from a pair of arms and retaining the bag in a stack wherein respective margins overlie each other. Also disclosed is a stack-handling system having the ability to remove a completed stack from the stacking station and yet allow, if desired, continuous bag machine operation and, as a result, uninterrupted transfer of sheets or bags to the stacking stations.

Abstract: A vacuum media capturing and retention system for a drum type printer or recorder is disclosed. The apparatus includes a vacuum drum with two regions of vacuum passages, one for capturing the leading edge of the media and the second for retaining the trailing edge of the media. When the leading edge of the media is initially captured the vacuum level in the drum is at one level. After the leading edge of the media is captured the vacuum level is dropped to a lower level until the trailing edge of the media is captured. Following the capture of the media trailing edge, the vacuum level within the drum is again increased to retain the media thereto during the copying or recording operation of the overall device.

Abstract: A vacuum feed mechanism for precision feeding a printed continuous double-backed corrugated paper board web to a platen die cutter for producing printed foldable box blanks. The feeder has several adjacent horizontal endless belts, with each belt having spaced cleats extending over the width of the belt facing outward and a row of holes between each cleat. A vacuum plenum extends through each belt with a lower wall containing longitudinal slots in registration with the belt holes. A suction fan removes air from the vacuum plenum producing air flow from the edges of the belts between adjacent cleats, through the belts and into the vacuum chamber to draw the belt into contact with the plenum chamber wall and the web in contact with the belt cleats, holding the web without slippage while the web is intermittently fed to the platen die cutter.

Abstract: Apparatus for severing window patches from a web of patch material includes a mechanism for applying adhesive to selective portions of the web, a pair of cooperating rolls to feed the web to the adhesive applying mechanism, a vacuum roll engaging successive window patches with adhesive, a severing mechanism cutting successive window patches of a pre-selected length from the web in spaced relation to a portion of the web engaged to the surface of the vacuum roll, a vacuum conveyor positioned between the adhesive applying mechanism and the severing mechanism to advance the web along a path from the adhesive applying mechanism toward the severing mechanism, a discharging end portion of the vacuum conveyor being spaced from the severing mechanism. The vacuum conveyor is constructed and arranged to transport the web from the adhesive applying mechanism, a pre-selected distance through the vacuum roll before the web is transferred to the vacuum roll and from the latter to the severing mechanism.

Abstract: In stacking apparatus for flat articles such as flattened bags, radial arms mounted on each of two spaced hubs and having suction nozzles at their leading sides place the articles onto needles. The arms are rotatable about their longitudinal axes. They can be turned outwards through an acute angle by cam and cam follower means and are turned back after the articles have been placed on the needles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stacker for flat objects, in which a conveyor moves the objects to be stacked in in an edgewise manner. A drum rotates permanently in front of the orifice of a hollow cylindrical body, connected to a suction source. The stack of already stacked objects is engaged against said drum. A shell, controlled in rotation, controls the application of suction through the openings of the drum, of an object inserted between the drum and the stack. Suction application is timed to correspond to a displacement of the leading edge of the object inserted between the orifice and the stopping border of the receptacle. Application to postal sorting.

Abstract: A device for controlling the vacuum at a rotating vacuum cylinder in a high peed paper converting machine by means of a control head having a conical shape which is supported coaxially therewith and which is secured against rotation. The conically shaped control head is telescoped into a complementarily shaped opening in the vacuum cylinder with an exact fit. The two cooperating control surfaces lie on the outer cone surface of the control head and on the inner cone surface of the vacuum cylinder.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus, associated with a rotary transfer device having a plurality of radially extending circumferentially spaced arms, for flattening and maintaining thermoplastic web segments or bags in a flat condition at a pick-up or transfer station so that successive segments or bags are being engaged and transferred by the arms of the transfer device are free of folds or wrinkles and thus insure proper stacking on one or more upwardly extending posts at a stacking station.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing the bottom sheets from a stack of sheets or inserting sheets at the bottom of a stack of sheets including an air knife to provide an air cushion between the stack of sheets and the bottom sheet in the stack and a reversible drive roll mounted within a vacuum plenum for driving sheets beneath or away from the sheet stack.

Abstract: An apparatus for the exposure of photosensitive plates on two sides, in particular for the preparation of printed circuits for electronic devices, comprises two similar exposure devices, mechanically connected and arranged adjacent to each other, each being equipped under a copying frame with an illuminating system, wherein a glass plate filling the format is arranged in the copying frame onto which a negative or positive master may be placed, together with a photosensitive plate above it, with a reversing station being associated with each of the exposure devices and both between each exposure device and the reversing station associated with it, and between the reversing stations a pivoting arm rotatable by 180 degrees each being arranged. The light source of each exposure device is arranged in or under the associated reversing station, wherein the beam of light may be conducted to the plate to be exposed of each exposure station.