Abstract: The present invention relates to a machine (50) for the processing of linen items (L) in an industrial laundry (1), such as for receiving, reorienting and transferring a linen item (L) from a loader (100) to a movable linen carrier (20), with a transfer mechanism (200) comprising: a carriage (250), a drive (201) for moving said carriage (250) between a loading posi-tion and a discharge position, said carriage (250) including a frame structure (257) with two spaced apart clamping structures (270), each being rotationally connected to the frame structure (257), each clamping structure (270) comprising two spaced apart activata-ble clamps (229), and actuators (251, 280) for said rotation and said activation of said clamps (229).

Abstract: There is provided a recording apparatus including a recording section and a transport mechanism, which has a guide surface, a driving roller, and a driven spur. A length X (mm) of a front end surface of the driven spur and an angle Y of the driven spur are configured to be within a first area surrounded by a mathematical expression 1 which is X>0, a mathematical expression 2 which is Y>0, a mathematical expression 3 which is Y=40.1X+1.6, a mathematical expression 4 which is Y=?9.0X+5.6, a mathematical expression 5 which is Y=?12.1X+6.0, and a mathematical expression 6 which is Y=?14.7X+7.1.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a recording section configured to jet a liquid, and a transport mechanism configured to transport a recording medium on which an image is recorded by the liquid jetted from the recording section. The transport mechanism includes a guide surface extending linearly and configured to guide one of two lateral ends of the recording medium transported, a driving roller configured to contact with one surface of the recording medium on a side with no image recorded and to transport the recording medium; and a driven spur having at least one spur configured to contact with the other surface of the recording medium on the side with the image recorded so as to nip the recording medium in cooperation with the driving roller, and to rotate along with the transport of the recording medium by the rotation of the driving roller.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes: a separation sheet feeding mechanism having a paper feeding belt and a separation roller; and an adjustment mechanism that changes contact state of the paper feeding belt to the separation roller by changing relative position of the paper feeding belt and the separation roller, and changes and adjusts separation performance of the separation roller for the subsequent sheet, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a cam follower member changing the relative position of the feeding belt and the separation roller, the cam member includes a first cam face and a second cam face which are formed at each rotation radius position in accordance with the rotation angle position, and are spaced apart in the rotation radius direction, and the cam follower member has a contact unit guided by the first cam face and the second cam face.

Abstract: The carrying apparatus is a carbon fiber-containing resin sheet carrying apparatus for carrying a carbon fiber-containing resin sheet W heated in a heating furnace to a pressing device, comprising a slider 4 that moves between the heating furnace and the pressing device and a sheet holder 10 that is mounted thereon and chucks both the end parts of the carbon fiber-containing resin sheet W to apply tension. The sheet holder 10 can have a structure such that it comprises chuck claws 13, 16 and a tension unit 19 that displaces these chuck claws to the outside. The sheet holder 10 may have a structure such that it comprises a holding metal fitting with a spring, that is arranged inside a holding frame and a chuck claw that chucks this holding frame.

Abstract: A device and method for transferring flexible flat objects, in particular printed products, between two conveyors. The device includes a first gripper conveyor with first grippers moved along a first gripper conveyor path for hanging transport of the objects in a conveyor direction by gripping a first object edge, a second gripper conveyor with second grippers moved along a second gripper conveyor path, for receiving the objects by gripping a second object edge which lies opposite the first object edge, and at least one actuation device for opening and closing the first and second grippers such that, in a transfer region, the objects may be transferred from the first grippers to the second grippers. The distances of the first and the second grippers are different to one another in front of the transfer region, wherein the distances of the first grippers are smaller than that of the second grippers.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device intermittently feeds a sheet according to commanded feeding amounts included in successively generated feeding commands. The sheet feeding device includes upstream and downstream feeding rollers rotated by respective first and second amounts of rotation corresponding to the commanded feeding amount. The sheet feeding device includes an obtaining portion for obtaining an overrun amount of the sheet immediately after a trailing edge of the sheet member has left the upstream feeding roller, based on a difference obtained by subtracting a product of a first radius and the first amount of rotation of the upstream feeding roller, from a product of a second radius and the second amount of rotation of the downstream roller. The obtained overrun amount is subtracted from the next commanded feeding amount, when estimating that the trailing edge leaves the upstream feeding roller during feeding of the sheet according to the next feeding command.

Abstract: A device for pulling in flat-stock pieces and precisely-aligned transporting of the flat-stock pieces at a work station of a machine for processing the flat-stock pieces has a gripper apparatus that grabs a forward edge of a piece of flat stock and accelerates the flat-stock piece, and a sheet pick-up roller that picks up the accelerated piece of flat stock from the gripper apparatus, whereby the sheet pick-up roller has a roller gripper effective at a circumference thereof for grabbing the accelerated piece of flat stock. The roller gripper can move between a closed position in which the piece of flat stock is held fast and an open position in which the piece of flat stock is released. Suction holes operable to be charged with intake air are disposed in a part of a circumference of the sheet pick-up roller following in a direction of rotation behind the roller gripper.

Abstract: A transport device which accomplishes transport well by means of a linear motor mechanism well even if a chain is elongated. The transport uses the chain in a first transport section, and the linear motor mechanism in a second transport section. A coupling pin of the chain is disengaged from a chain coupling portion of a table when the table is transferred to the second transport section and the coupling pin is brought into engagement with the chain coupling portion again when the table is transferred to the first transport section. A driving speed at which a pair of rotary members are driven by the chain driving mechanism is corrected in accordance with the elongated condition of the chain, based on a count of driving pulses in the chain driving mechanism during the passage of the coupling pin through the second transport section.

Abstract: A gripping device for a manipulation system, particularly a robot, for receiving workpieces and feeding them from a readied stack of the workpieces to a manufacturing plant such as a metal sheet folding machine, punching press, welding plant, etc. The device has a gripper head fitted with gripping means such as suction cups, magnets, tongs, etc., and a detection system for detecting characteristics of the workpiece gripped by the gripping means. A pulse emitter excites vibrations in the workpiece and the vibration spectrum of the workpiece is compared to reference vibration data to determine characteristics of the gripped workpiece, such as whether two or more workpieces are stuck together, or whether the workpiece is the correct workpiece.

Abstract: A sheet delivery for a press has a linear guide in which a single holding crossmember (e.g., a gripper bar) is mounted such that it can be moved to and fro periodically. The holding crossmember is mounted in a further linear guide such that it can be moved to and fro periodically along the further linear guide axis as well. The axes of the linear guides are aligned at an angle to each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus by means of which sheet like products which follow one after the other along a feed section are transferred to a conveying arrangement with individually controllable grippers which can be moved in the conveying direction, are arranged one behind the other and are designed for gripping the products at their leading edge, the feed section having, in its end region which is directed toward the conveying arrangement, a conveying nip, in which the sheet-like products are retained, at least in part, on both sides, in the case of which apparatus, in the product-receiving region of the grippers, a positive stop, which is active during each product transfer, is provided for the leading edges of the products, the spacing between the positive stop and conveying nip being selected such that the trailing edges of the products are still located in the conveying nip when the leading edges strike against the positive stop.

Abstract: A device according to the invention for monitoring two sheet products transported by means of a clamp of a transport device. The device has at least two sensors that are intended to generate signals on the basis of which the number of products held in the clamp can be determined. A first sensor hereby generates a first detection signal referred to as reference signal when a clamp passes a reference area assigned to this first sensor. The second sensor is arranged in such a way that it generates a second detection signal when at least one section of one of the products in a second side edge area free from the clamp passes through its assigned detection area.

Abstract: A transport system is configured for a machine that processes printing material. The transport system has a guide device with one or more diverters and one or more runners that travel along the guide device. An electric linear drive of the transport system has a primary part formed with winding cores and a secondary part formed by the runner. In the region of the diverter, at least one of the cores has a lower height than the cores outside the region of the diverter. This forms a cutout or depression for at least one guide segment of the guide device.

Abstract: A storage phosphor panel for storing image information and an X-ray cassette with such a storage phosphor panel are proposed. The storage phosphor panel contains a carrier layer and a storage phosphor layer, which is applied on the carrier layer. The storage phosphor panel furthermore has a contour which is configured as an autonomous part relative to the carrier layer and is connected to the carrier layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hologram-recording dry plate fabrication process and system that can be used to fabricate a transmission or reflection hologram-recording dry plate particularly best suited for applications where high precision and high cleanliness are required. The hologram-recording dry plate comprises a substrate feeding means for feeding a substrate, a film feeding means for feeding a sheet-cut form of film having a separator, a separator releasing means for releasing the separator from the thus fed film, and a lamination means for laminating the film from which the separator is released on one surface of the thus fed substrate from the side of the film from which the separator is released.

Abstract: A sheet-fed printing machine having a feed system for feeding sheets from a sheet feeder to the sheet-fed printing machine, and an imaging device for setting an image on a printing plate disposed on the plate cylinder are provided. The feed system includes at least one oscillatingly moving pregripper and a drive device for the feed system, the pregripper being uncoupled from the drive device.

Abstract: A pre-gripper driving device for a pre-gripper cyclically driven oscillatingly and serving for transporting individual sheets in a sheet-processing machine, includes sheet grippers disposed at a free end of a rocking lever pivotable about a pivot pin fixed to a frame, the sheet grippers being movable relative to a gripper support about a gripper shaft aligned parallel to the pivot pin, for closing and opening the sheet grippers, and an activatable and regulatable drive for producing the movement of the grippers, the drive, on one hand, being connected to the sheet grippers and, on the other hand, being supported on one of the rocking lever and the frame; and a printing unit, a digital printing unit, a rotary printing machine and a multicolor rotary printing machine, respectively including the pre-gripper driving device.

Abstract: A device for positioning sheets in a station of a sheet-processing machine comprising a movable bearing surface for holding at least one edge zone of a sheet, actuators driving the bearing surface in the plane thereof, sheet grippers accompanying the motion of the bearing surface and adapted to grip or release the edge zone of the sheet between sheet grippers and the bearing surface. The sheet grippers are connected to the bearing surface by at least one joint comprising a number of levers forming a parallelogram articulated around horizontal pivot axes. A piston comprising a permanently compressed spring eliminates the radial clearance between the pivot axes. Lateral clearance thereof is eliminated by a spring strip which is rigid in the transverse direction.

Abstract: A method of aligning flat copies in a sheet-processing machine includes the steps of determining the actual position of a sheetlike material in relation to a coordinate system; implementing a nominal position of a cylinder that accommodates the sheetlike material to be aligned on the jacket surface of the cylinder by correctively controlling non-contacting radial/axial magnetic bearings so as to compensate for position changes of the cylinder or components thereof from the nominal position; and maintaining the cylinder in the nominal position thereof until the aligned sheet material is transferred to transport units arranged farther downline; a device for performing the method; a printing unit having the device; and a multicolor rotary printing machine having the device.

Abstract: The apparatus has a conveying arrangement (10) with clamps (12) which are arranged one behind the other and are driven along the circulatory path (18) in the direction of circulation (U). In the receiving section (16), the mouth (14) of the clamps (12) is directed in the direction of circulation (U) and intended for gripping at the trailing edge (22′), as seen in the direction of circulation (U), a sheet-like article (22) arranged on the bearing element (20). The bearing element (20) has two bearing rails (60, 62), the upstream bearing rail (60), as seen in the direction of circulation (U), being designed such that it can be pushed away by the clamps (12).

Abstract: The transmission mechanism comprises a lever (12) which can rotate around an eccentric shaft (11) of a rotating disk-crank (10). The lever (12) is guided in its movement by cam means (15a) and acts upon an arm (19) which is attached for joint rotation to an output shaft (3). Advantageously the disk-crank (10) is driven through a connecting rod (8) from another disk-crank (1) which can rotate around a shaft which is different from that of the first disk-crank (10). It doesn't require adjustment or setting up and it has a low cost. The transport device has on the output shaft the wheels for drawing chains with transporting bars provided with clamps for the sheets.

Abstract: With regard to an installation designed to handle sheet-like pieces by means of gripper arms (1) provided with gripper clutches (9, 10), a particularly simple and economical structure requiring less components can be obtained by a design according to which the distribution crankshaft gear carries a distributing disk with operating cams (18, 11a, 18a, 113) for enabling oscillatory movements by the gripper arm (1), said disk interacting with the cam follower (17) in an actuating mechanism which is coupled with the swivelling gripper clutch (10) of the clamping device (3) and mounted on the gripper arm (1). The distributing disk has been specially designed for that purpose.

Abstract: Apparatus for reducing peak tensions and tearing in perforated sheet (40) being drawn along a flow path from a stack (S) into a finishing machine (F) is comprised of a drag unit (22), for retarding motion of the sheet; an assist unit (20) for urging the sheet along the flow path; and, a dancer unit (24) for changing the length of the flow path. The assist unit comprises a pair of constant speed rollers (42, 44) supported by mounting blocks (40). The orientation of the assist unit is changed by rotating the mounting blocks. The roller (30) of the dancer unit is spring biased against the sheet.

Abstract: A device for driving a pregripper having a swivellably mounted main lever and a swivellably mounted guide lever, and a gripper bar mutually coupling the main lever and the guide lever, includes a cyclical swivel drive for the main lever, and an eccentrically swivellable bearing location for the guide lever.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus is disclosed for feeding astride signatures (3) to a collection path. The signatures (3) are removed from a magazine (4) with a conveyor drum (6) and transferred to an opening device (16). The transport speed of the signature lifted from the magazine (4) is first increased relative to a circumferential speed of the conveyor drum, in order to lengthen the time interval until the next signature (3) is removed. Thereafter, the transport speed of the signature (3) is decreased again either before or inside a region of the discharge location or in a capture region of the opening device, whereby the signature (3) is moved again in the opposite direction with respect to the circumference of the conveyor drum.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for intermittently and successively feeding sheet materials such as plastic bags into a plurality of sheet material processing stations which are spaced from each other along the feeding passage of the sheet material. The apparatus comprises movable elongated member means extending parallel to the feeding direction of sheet material, a fixed elongated member means extending parallel to the feeding direction of sheet material and disposed side by side with the movable elongated member means. The movable elongated member means is reciprocatingly moved in the longitudinal direction thereof at a stroke corresponding to the distance between the processing stations. The sheet materials are held by the holding means of the movable elongated member means and released from the holding member of the fixed elongated member means when the movable elongated member means is forwardly moved.

Abstract: A drive system for an oscillating gripper of a sheet-fed printing machine has a main drive train and a controlled drive. The pregripper is mechanically coupled to the main drive train. The controlled drive supplies energy required to drive the pregripper in accordance with a position of the pregripper. The controlled drive at least approximately meets the discontinuous energy requirement of the pregripper.

Abstract: A device for applying a liquid to a print carrier sheet in a sheet-fed rotary printing machine. The device has an applicator cylinder, an impression cylinder assigned to the latter and at least one gripper. The applicator cylinder carries a cylinder sleeve which applies the liquid to the print carrier and which has at least one recess, into which the gripper penetrates when the applicator cylinder and the impression cylinder roll one on the other.

Abstract: A method for smear-free guidance of a printed sheet on a given sheet-guiding cylinder of a printing press includes taking over a leading edge of the sheet by a gripper device of the given sheet-guiding cylinder from a preceding or up-line sheet-guiding cylinder and, after the take-over of the leading edge of the sheet by the gripper device, fixing a first section of the underside of the sheet to the circumferential surface of the preceding or up-line sheet-guiding cylinder in a manner that the sheet, which has been pushed onwardly by the preceding or up-line sheet-guiding cylinder, is kept spaced from the circumferential surface of the given sheet-guiding cylinder, and the circumferential surface of the given sheet-guiding cylinder is located, as viewed in radial direction, within a circular path described by the gripper device during the rotation of the given cylinder.

Abstract: A recording medium transporting apparatus is shown including a rowel spur. The rowel spur is designed to control the amount of ink adhering to the rowel spur, thus preventing image quality problems associated with slippage between the rowel spur and the recording medium and smudging of ink that is not adhered to the recording medium, as well as maintaining good transporting of the recording medium. The recording medium transporting apparatus transports a sheet shaped recording medium by using a rowel spur. Each tooth of the rowel spur is formed with a plate-like radially inner portion having a substantially constant thickness in a direction parallel to the central axis of the rowel spur, and a wedge-shaped radially outer portion. The wedge-shaped portion includes at least one slanted axial face that intersects a side of the tooth facing in the direction parallel to the central axis.

Abstract: Sheet delivery in a printing press, wherein, at acceptance of a sheet, a gripper bar of the delivery has a speed which is increased in comparison with a sheet-surrendering or transferring gripper bar includes delivery chains, and a drive for driving the chains so as to increase the speed of the gripper bar of the delivery at an instant at which a sheet is transferred to the gripper bar of the delivery by the sheet-surrendering gripper bar.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling and automatically positioning film samples such that individual film samples can be retrieved from a magazine and moved precisely to a position where a subsequent operation can be performed such as the reading thereof by a densitometer. Individual samples are acquired from the magazine by means of a vacuum pad supported on a rotatable arm. Once acquired, the sample is repositioned in a horizontal plane through rotation of the arm. A second arm is moved into position such that clamping jaws grasp one end of the sample. Once the sample has been grasped by the clamping jaws, the sample is released from the vacuum pad. The second arm which is rotatable in a horizontal plane is mounted on a linear slide such that through operation of the linear slide and rotation of the arm, the acquired film sample can be automatically and precisely positioned through computer control thereof.

Abstract: Gripper control for a cyclically rockingly driven pregripper for single-sheet feeding in a sheet-fed printing press, the pregripper being disposed at a free end of a rocker lever, which is swivelable about a rocker shaft fixed to a frame of the printing press, and having at least one sheet gripper forcibly movable by cams about an articulated shaft disposed parallel to the rocker shaft, for closing and opening the sheet gripper when the sheet is taken over and transferred, respectively, one of the cams being revolvable a single revolution, and another of the cams being disposed on a locally stationarily swivelable roller lever carrying a cam roller engaging with the one cam, the other cam being swivelable cyclically in the position thereof, the position of the cams determining the closing time and opening time of the gripper, includes an indexing mechanism for fixing the other cam on the locally stationarily swivelable roller lever, the other cam having a first gripper-closing cam region and a first gripper-o

Abstract: A device for controlling the gripping action of grippers on a plate-like workpiece at the end of the feeding table of a machine that processes sheet-like workpieces has an arrangement for controlling the upper mechanisms for positioning, respectively, the gripper bar, the sheet pull-down appliance, and a stop-carrying tablet and a mechanism for opening the grippers. This device includes a horizontal common axle arranged to extend crosswise to the sheet travelling direction and mounted for rotation around its lengthwise axis so as to be able to be oscillated through a predetermined angle by a single lower drive arrangement consisting of a cam, a lever follower and a pull linkage. Each lateral end of this common axle carries a symmetrical series of articulated arms and cam which actuate the above-mentioned upper mechanisms.

Abstract: The printed products, overlapping one another in an imbricated manner, are moved, by means of the conveying device, past the first printing station in a conveying direction, where the first outer side of the printed products is provided with typographical labeling in the exposed border region. Before the printed products are guided past the second printing station, the border region of the second outer side of the printed products is exposed; for example by turning over the printed products. Printed products are then provided with typographical labeling in the border region by means of the second printing station.

Abstract: Device for avoiding registration errors at an oscillating pregripper of a sheet-processing machine includes a gripper bar deflectable in synchronism with the machine so that a respective sheet being processed therein undergoes stretching in a trailing region of the sheet. The gripper bar, in a middle region thereof, is guided and driven in a flexurally bending-resistant manner. A feeder cylinder carries thrust pads at both sides thereof for deflecting the gripper bar at the ends thereof in a sheet travel direction before a respective transfer of a sheet at the feeder cylinder, and for maintaining the deflection until sheet transfer has been completed.

Abstract: A paper cutting apparatus includes an elongated fixed blade, a movable blade, a fixed member, a pair of paper holding members, and a coupling portion. The movable blade reciprocates along the fixed blade in the direction of the width of paper to cut the paper in cooperation with the fixed blade. The fixed member is arranged midway along the path of the movable blade. The paper holding members are movably arranged on two sides of the fixed member and alternately hold the cut end portion of the paper cut by the movable blade. The coupling portion detachably couples the movable blade and the paper holding members with a predetermined coupling force, and cancels the coupling between the movable blade and one of the paper holding members by using the fixed member, while coupling the movable blade and the other of the paper holding members during movement of the movable blade in a paper cutting operation.

Abstract: A paper conveying apparatus for a sheet-fed press includes a shaft, a gripper shaft, a plurality of grippers, a gripper pad, levers, a rod, a slide member, rollers, and cam plates. The shaft has two ends pivotally supported by a pair of frames. The gripper shaft extends parallel to the shaft and swings upon pivotal movement of the shaft. The plurality of grippers are aligned on the gripper shaft. The gripper pad extends to be parallel to the gripper shaft and swings upon pivotal movement of the shaft. The grippers and the gripper pad grip the end portion of a sheet conveyed from upstream a paper conveying direction by cooperation thereof, and convey the sheet to a cylinder downstream the paper conveying direction. The levers, the rod, the slide member, the rollers, and the cam plates reciprocally move in the axial direction of the shaft to flex the central portions of the gripper pad and gripper shaft in the paper conveying direction.

Abstract: The invention is a take-off apparatus for removing sheets of stock from the bed of a screen printing press where the apparatus accommodates variations in the shape, position and size of the stock and includes a carriage member slidably mounted to a take-off frame which travels from a pick-up point through a drop-off point, and adjustable gripper bars mounted to the carriage member for gripping the stock at the pick-up point and for releasing the stock at the drop-off point. To accommodate variable arrangements of the forward edge, each gripper bar of the invention is adjustable on the carriage member laterally for selective positioning of the gripper bars along and longitudinally for selective positioning of the gripper bars at a forward edge of the stock.

Abstract: An external media transport buffer has a carriage supported for linear motion on parallel guide rails between an imagesetter and a processor. A pair of transport rollers is mounted for rotation on the carriage. Two sensors are mounted within the buffer to detect media movement. A first sensor is positioned at an entrance to the buffer and a second sensor is positioned on the carriage on an exit side of the transport rollers. Signals are sent from the sensors to a roller transport motor and carriage transport motor and the signals are coordinated to start and stop the motors according to a predetermined sequence. A leading end of media enters the nip of the transport rollers and is held in the nip as the carriage travels from the imagesetter to the processor. A slack loop of media forms between the carriage and the imagesetter as the imagesetter feeds the media to the buffer faster than the carriage travels to the processor.

Abstract: Gripper control for a cyclically swingably driven pregripper for transporting single sheets in a sheet-fed printing press, the pregripper having at least one sheet gripper mounted on a free end of a swivel lever motorizingly pivotable about a frame-fixed swivel shaft, the gripper control including cams for forcibly moving the sheet gripper about an articulated shaft oriented parallel to the swivel shaft so as to close and open the sheet gripper upon sheet acceptance and sheet transfer, one of the cams being revolvable in a single revolution for cyclically shifting the other of the cams in the position thereof, the other of the cams being secured to a roller lever supported pivotally at a fixed location and having a cam roller resting on the one cam, relative positions of the cams being adjustable for determining the instants of closing and opening of the gripper, the other of the cams being a cam segment having two successive circular cam regions with radii of curvature of different length and a common center

Abstract: A statement presenter for an automated teller machine includes a pair of upper belts (30) and a pair of lower belts (32). A paper stop (28) is mounted on a frame assembly (40). Cooperating arm members (42, 52) are operable to move the upper belts downwardly as the paper stop is moved upwardly and vice versa. In operation, the upper belts are moved upwardly while said paper stop is moved downwardly and a stack of papers (12) is accumulated. After accumulation of the stack, the paper stop is moved upwardly as the upper belt moves downwardly to engage the stack. Thereafter, the stack is moved outward to an exit slot (32) where the stack may be taken by a customer. If the customer fails to take the stack the direction of the belts is reversed until the stack engages a diverter plate (36) and passes into a storage bin (39) wherein the stack is held within the automated teller machine.

Abstract: A plate positioning system for presses, comprising a feeding slide guided along a first axis which is moved to and from the cutting tool of the press, at least a pair of releasable gripping mechanism (preferably gripping pliers), which are guided by the slide along a second axis to be adjustable relative to the first axis, a serving slide which is adjustable along the first axis, which serving slide includes releasable gripping mechanism (preferably gripping pliers) to advance a plate into a transfer position to be taken by the first gripping mechanism, wherein the gripping mechanism engage opposite sides of a plate at a trailing edge thereof, wherein the transfer position corresponds to the plate position for the first cut and wherein the transfer of the plate to the first gripping mechanism is performed during the first cut, the serving slide bringing the plate into the transfer position only when the gripping mechanism have reached their receiving position along both axes.

Abstract: A measurement device for detecting the presence of a sheet is disclosed. A paper sheet processing machine has front lays with stop surfaces at which the leading edges of paper sheets are aligned. The paper sheets are accelerated by pre-grippers to a speed sufficient for transferring the paper sheets to a paper sheet processing unit, such as a transfer drum in a sheet-fed rotary offset printing machine. The measurement device comprises upper and lower sensor members between which a gap is defined. The leading edges of sheets which are aligned at the front lays are disposed within the gap. The upper and lower sensor members forming upper and lower boundaries, respectively, of a scanning region which is defined vertically relative to the plane of the paper sheet. Paper sheets which cross the scanning region between the sensor members and which are aligned along the stop surfaces of the front lays are detected. A method and a corresponding pre-gripper assembly are disclosed as well.

Abstract: A rotating print medium retaining clamp is disclosed which securely clamps the print medium or printed image final receiving surface to prevent horizontal or X-axis misregistration while drawing the print medium in a generally circular path through the nip between the platen and the print head. Only the retaining clamp assembly rotates while the support guide remains stationary. The support guide has space for a printing platen to be positioned along the print medium guide path.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a sheet spreader for a sheet feeder apparatus comprising at least one pair of sheet clamps, a guideway extending along an entry to a sheet feeder, clamps mounted on the guideway for movement along the entry to the sheet feeder and a plurality of sheet loading stations located at fixed positions opposite the guideway. Each loading station has a sheet clipping system to receive and support a pair of corners of a sheet and for effecting transfer of the sheet corners from the clipping system to the pair of sheet clamps on the guideway when the clamps are located in a transfer position adjacent the loading station. The sheet clamps of each pair move independently of one other, first together in a transfer position at a respective loading station and then apart to spread the sheet received at a loading station for entry to the sheet feeder.

Abstract: A take-off device for gripping and releasing an article has a gripper heat capable of imparting a downward force to an article gripped thereof. The gripper head has a lower jaw and an upper jaw, the lower jaw being capable of moving linearly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the take-off device. The upper jaw is capable of pivotal movement below the line of linear movement of the lower jaw after the lower jaw has moved linearly to release the article gripped by the gripper head, whereby a downward force to an article gripped and released by the take-off device may be imparted.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a vibration member having at least one circular-arc portion, for generating a travelling wave, and a sheet guide for guiding a sheet. Since an amplitude of vibration at an inner circumferential side of the vibration member is smaller than an amplitude of vibration at an outer circumferential side, a distortion is produced in the vibration member in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the sheet. The sheet guide is provided at an inner circumferential side of the vibration member, so that the sheet is fed due to the distortion while being pressed against the sheet guide. Hence, an oblique movement of the sheet due to unevenness in the thickness of the sheet can be prevented.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device for feeding a sheet by a vibration wave includes a pair of rotatable rollers each having a rotary shaft orthogonal to the direction of conveyance of the sheet and substantially parallel to the surface of the sheet. The sheet feeding device is designed such that the sheet is nipped by and between the pair of rollers with suitable pressure, thereby eliminating lateral shift and inclination for any extraneous force applied to the sheet.