Abstract: A sheet registration system includes a transport member on which a sheet is conveyed in a process direction, a vacuum shuttle, and a feedback system. The vacuum shuttle includes a vacuum head which applies suction to the sheet and actuators for rotating the vacuum head in a plane parallel to a plane of the transport member and translating the vacuum head in a cross-process direction. In response to feedback instructions generated by the feedback system, the actuators move the vacuum head, relative to the transport member, while the vacuum is applied to the sheet. The sheet registration system is suitable for use in a printer for reducing skew and lateral offset of sheets of print media.

Abstract: A device for positioning a plate element (7a, 7b, 7c) in an infeed station (2) of a machine for treating the element (1), fitted with a conveyor (8, 9), gripping the element (7a, 7b, 7c) which is found in a predetermined intermediate position, and carrying the element (7a, 7b, 7c) in a rated running into successive processing stations (3, 4, 6). The device includes a holding device (18) for temporarily holding the element (7a, 7b, 7c), the holding device moving longitudinally alternatively (A) from an upstream position to a downstream position, and vice-versa, to pick up the element (7a, 7b, 7c) in a rear position and bring it to the intermediate position, and to return empty. A motor (23) moves the holding device (18) longitudinally, from the upstream position to the downstream position, and vice-versa, as a function of the rated running. A detector (27) detects a rear longitudinal position in which the element (7a, 7b, 7c) is found, and emits a position signal.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, in a medium conveyance apparatus which securely supports and conveys a medium, by providing a function for applying a back tension to the medium, in a guide section which forms a guide for supporting the medium in a medium conveyance unit, it is possible to apply a back tension to the medium of which at least a portion is securely supported by the medium conveyance unit, thereby restricting the occurrence of creasing and floating when the medium is securely supported by the medium conveyance unit and maintaining the flatness of the medium which is securely supported by the medium conveyance unit.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus according to an aspect of the invention includes conveying suction belts which have a function of rotating an adsorbed sheet and a function of conveying the sheet; a suction fan 112 which adsorbs the sheet to the belts; CCDs which detect a position and an skew in a direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction while the sheet is adsorbed to the belts; and a control device for driving the belts to rotate the sheet according to signals of CCDs in order to correct an attitude of the sheet adsorbed to the belts.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a stream of overlapping sheets or stacks of sheets, includes a first transport device to deliver overlap-free sheets or stacks of sheets at a speed v1 along a plane of transport EV. A second transport device carries away the sheets or stacks of sheets at a speed v2 along a plane of transport EH. A decelerating device is arranged to receive the sheets or stacks of sheets at the speed v1 from the first transport device, decelerate the sheets or stacks of sheets to the speed v2 and deliver the decelerated sheets or stacks of sheets to the second transport device to form the stream of overlapping sheets or stacks of sheets. The decelerating device comprises a suction roller unit actuated independently of the transport devices. The suction roller unit comprises a stationary element and an unevenly driven movable element.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding and aligning sheets which are fed to a processing machine, e.g. a printing machine, includes at least two parallel transporting belts which, on a side directed toward the sheet, subject the sheet to different retaining forces, in such a way that the retaining force in outer peripheral regions is greater than in an inner region located therebetween. The transporting belts can be activated individually in dependence on the position of the sheet, and they can therefore align the sheet in its transporting direction and obliquely thereto.

Abstract: A sheet delivery mechanism for a sheet-fed printing machine which is adapted to reduce changes in the position of sheet material in a stack during a stack changeover operation and which facilitates the formation of a stack with properly aligned edges. The sheet-delivery mechanism includes at least one length adjustable edge guide 16 supported between a stack support plate 14 and a cross element 15 which can be detachably connected to the frame of the sheet delivery mechanism.

Abstract: An object arresting device prevents rebounding effects when an object is decelerated from a high velocity by causing an impact-induced flow of fluid such as ambient air through a lattice membrane to develop vacuum effects and vortex activity while absorbing and dissipating energy to prevent damage to the object and preventing collisions between objects in a high-speed, high-capacity sorting/transport system. The lattice membrane is preferably formed as a woven fabric of a smooth polymer or synthetic fiber of preferably circular cross-section which causes laminar flow over the fibers and rotational vortex effects in the corners of each aperture which produce a combination of vacuum effects in a direction to oppose rebound motion and energy dissipation effects. The effects produced are proportional to the impact energy and the device is thus adaptive to a wide range of mass and energy limited only by the forces the device can mechanically withstand.

Abstract: A sheet-braking system and method of operation for a delivery of a sheet-processing machine, includes a braking belt revolving during operation and undergoing periodic decelerating and accelerating phases. The braking belt further includes a braking strand passable over a suction region providing a suction effect passing through the braking strand. The suction region is overlapped throughout the duration of a respective decelerating phase, by a respective sheet deposited on the braking strand.

Abstract: A suction belt conveyor for a sheet processing machine includes an operationally revolving endless suction belt having, at an outer side thereof a filigree structure formed by indentations, the suction belt being formed with penetrating bores terminating in the indentations. In a variation of the foregoing, the suction belt conveyor for a sheet processing machine includes an operationally revolving endless suction belt formed with pores distributed in longitudinal and transverse directions of the suction belt, so that the suction belt is air permeable.

Abstract: A sheet-guiding suction box can be adapted to the size or format of a plurality of sizes of sheets to be guided. This is accomplished by structuring the guide box with a plurality of independently acting suction chambers. A central suction area of the guide surface of the suction box is smaller in size than the smallest format of a sheet to be guided.

Abstract: A continuous web of paper is subdivided into a series of discrete webs of finite length, and successive discrete webs of the series are provided with looped sections in zig-zag formation. Successive discrete webs of the series are moved forwardly and away from the next-following webs of the series while advancing toward a stacking station to thus establish between successive discrete webs gaps of predetermined width. The making of gaps involves advancing the discrete webs with the upper reaches of three parallel foraminous endless belt conveyors which attract the webs and move them toward the stacking station. The median belt conveyor is accelerated when it is approached by the trailing end of a discrete web and then advances the trailing end at a speed exceeding the speed of the other conveyors and of the leader of the next-following discrete web.

Abstract: A sheet transfer system on a rotary printing press has an apparatus provided beneath the delivered sheets to slow down the sheets at their trailing end by means of conveyor belts which are guided by drive and deflector rollers, and between which, beneath the conveyor belt, there is a suction chamber, whereby even with a tight sheet sequence and high machine speed, a collison of the sheets during the deceleration process is prevented so that the sheets are slowed down and lowered onto the sheet delivery stack.

Abstract: A suction roll sheet transfer device disposed between a sheet feed table and the front lays of a sheet fed rotary printing press including a first set of suction rolls adapted for oscillating movement between a position substantially in the plane of said feed table for engaging successive sheets under suction pressure and transferring the sheet in register toward the front lays of the press and a raised position for engaging a preceeding sheet and separating it from the following sheet disposed therebelow, even when the sheets are in strongly adhering relation to each other during high speed printing operations. Suction pressure is communicated to the suction rolls in predetermined timed intervals, commencing upon retraction of the suction rolls substantially to the plane of the feed table.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sheet delivery apparatus on printing presses which is fitted with pneumatically operating braking mechanisms and the function of which is to retard and tighten the merging sheet which is to be deposited. The pneumatic braking mechanisms may be of unipatite or bipartite construction and are fitted with braking rollers pressurized with suction air and adjusted to run on print-free areas of the printed image in order to prevent set-off of the newly printed underside of the sheet. In order to allow for adaptation of the braking force of the braking rollers to various types of paper and bearing in mind the varying width of the print-free areas of the sheet, depending upon the printed product, the braking rollers are disposed on a support shaft below the chain delivery and in front of the delivery pile and can readily be interchanged with others having wider or narrower sheet support areas.

Abstract: By means of a first band or belt conveyor an imbricated product stream or formation, formed by product packs, each composed of two overlying printed products, is inputted to a second band or belt conveyor. The conveying velocity of the second band conveyor is twice as large as the conveying velocity of the first band conveyor. Above the second band conveyor there is arranged a retarding or delay device containing an endless transport band. This endless transport band possesses a conveying velocity which is half as large as the conveying velocity of the second band conveyor. The transport band is perforated and travels over a negative pressure chamber operatively connected with a vacuum pump. During movement of a product pack past the negative pressure chamber the uppermost situated product of such pack is seized at its freely exposed region by the transport band and retained thereat by means of the prevailing negative pressure.

Abstract: A device for inverting a sheet includes an input and output transport means and a sheet receiving tray. Sheet deflectors are provided to deflect portions of a sheet as it leaves the input transport means and moves into the tray. A reversal drive arrangement, including a drive roller within a vacuum plenum, contacts a sheet supplied to the tray and moves the sheet into engagement with the sheet output transport means. This arrangement adds beam strength to a sheet entering the tray and permits a second sheet to be supplied to the tray prior to complete removal of the previously inverted sheet.

Abstract: A suction braking apparatus for the braking and overlapping of sheets coming from a duplex crosscutter is provided which has a single suction chamber and can be quickly changed over to accommodate sheets of a different width. The suction chamber is provided with two groups of suction holes arranged in a row in the direction of travel of the sheets and has cover plates perforated in register therewith and each has a perforated control belt. Each group of suction holes has associated therewith a cover slide which is movable at a right angle to the direction of sheet travel with the two cover slides reciprocally covering a group of suction holes, starting from one of the two side edges and up to a junction extending in the direction of sheet travel.

Abstract: Grippers pull the leading ends of sheets along a sheet transport path, and a guidance structure facilitates sheet travel. The guidance structure comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending guide bars provided with suction openings, the ribs spaced apart transverse to the sheet-transport direction. Intermediate the bars are large-surface-area plates having suction openings. When guiding sheets printed on only one side, the intermediate suction plates are at about the same level as the longitudinally extending guide bars, and the entire face of the sheet is engaged, with the help of suction force. When guiding sheets printed on both sides, the imtermediate suction plates all drop down out of contact with the sheet, leaving only the spaced apart and narrow longitudinal guide bars to engage the sheet. The guide bars are furthermore transversely shiftable, so that they can be brought into engagement with parts of the sheets bearing no printing.

Abstract: A sheet positioning mechanism for the feed table of a sheet-fed printing press which includes a set of releasable front stops and a side guide, with a wiper adjacent the side guide, the wiper having a limited zone of action. The sheets are fed in a straight stream, in shingled relation, along the feed table, the stream being laterally spaced from the side guide and out of the zone of action. A pair of swingable suckers are provided near the front end of the table and laterally spaced below the sheet path, the suckers being swung forwardly in unison about an arcuate path synchronized with the arrival of the sheet to be positioned so that such sheet is transported both forwardly in the direction of the front stops and laterally from its position in the stream into the zone of action of the wiper so that the wiper acts exclusively on the sheet to be positioned without interference by the overlapped closely following sheet.