Abstract: A drum for a photoplotter has a base having a partially cylindrical recess formed therein which recess being defined by in part by a plurality of elevated surfaces providing a support bed on which is mounted a sheet of material providing an exposed surface for supporting a substrate thereon. The drum is formed by a method whereby a tool is provided about which the sheet material is drawn and is moved into engagement with the bed and is caused to maintain this shape by an adhesive interposed therebetween. A method for mechanically compensating for surface irregularities by fixing the scanner relative to the support surface after displacements have been made is also provided.

Abstract: A sheet transport drum utilizes a plurality of drum peripheral envelope surface elements which are each secured to spaced apart disks. Each of these drum envelope surface elements has a plurality of vacuum chambers which are supplied with vacuum in a circumferentially sequential manner. A sheet to be transported by the sheet transport drum is smoothly attracted to the drum's outer perforated envelope plate without wrinkling or buckling.

Abstract: A sheet removal apparatus for unloading a sheet from a hollow drum mounted for rotation about its axis and having a vacuum provided to the interior thereof and to first and second sets of vacuum openings through the surface of the drum. The sheet is arranged to overlie and close the first set of vacuum openings with the second set of openings extending substantially parallel with an edge of the sheet and comprising only a small portion of the total number of vacuum openings through the drum. An exit blade is disposed adjacent the drum and has an edge proximate the drum that extends substantially parallel to the edge of the sheet and forms an acute angle with the drum surface with the proximate edge of the blade closely adjacent the apex of the angle and parallel with the edge of the sheet. When the drum is rotated to a sheet removal position, the first set of vacuum openings lies beneath the acute angle when the edge of the sheet is disposed on the opposite side of the apex.

Abstract: A drum for transporting sheets includes a drum base body having a plurality of sheet leading edge grippers and a sheet trailing edge holding part. A plurality of movable suction nozzles are used to smooth the sheet on the surface of the drum and the drum base body and holding part are shiftable circumferentially to stretch the smoothed sheet so that all wrinkles and other defects will be removed from the sheet.

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 suction transfer actuation system for a transfer drum of a multi-color sheet-fed rotary printing press for turning successive sheets, by rear-edge turning, during the sheet transfer from one printing unit to another to facilitate printing on the back side of the sheets. A plurality of suction arms are rigidly connected to a hollow suction rocker shaft connected to actuating levers carrying guide rollers engaging curved guide cam surfaces on a guide bar mounted on the transfer drum. The suction actuation system is driven by way of a cam rigidly mounted on the press frame engaged by a cam follower roller to oscillate a drive lever coupled by a link to a drive arm on the rocker shaft to rock the suction arms toward and away from the one printing unit under the guiding influence of the guide cam and guide rollers.

Abstract: Registered conveying and feeding of sheets in a box finishing machine by a wheel or endless belt conveyor and positive air pressure provided on the side of the sheet opposite the conveyor to hold the sheet against movement relative to the conveyor. Air flow across the top surface of the sheet is restricted to establish a constant film of pressurized air above the top surface of the blank for securing the blank to the underlying conveyor.

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 conveying sheets having various widths. The apparatus includes a hollow drum having a plurality of holes disposed on the outer circumferential surface thereof, a suction device for sucking air through the plurality of holes toward an interior of the drum, and a plurality of conveying belts wound on the hollow drum and adapted to be conveyed around the drum and in sliding contact therewith. The conveying belts are spaced apart from one another in the widthwise direction of the sheets so as to define gaps therebetween. Additionally, a plurality of spaced apart pressing belts are alternatingly disposed with respect to the conveying belts such that the pressing belts oppose the gaps between. In this manner, the widthwise ends of the sheets are contacted by the inside edges of a pair of conveying belts so as to convey the sheets in the proper direction.

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: A graphics printer including a device for ensuring contact between a print medium and a guiding platform at the printing zone of the graphics printer, including a suction chamber, a suction means for creating a partial vacuum in the suction chamber located beneath the guiding platform and a plurality of orifices formed across the width of the platform communicating with the suction chamber, the print medium being guided over the platform covering a variable portion of the width of the platform as a function of the format of the print medium, the suction chamber being provided with one or more partitions separating the chamber width-wise into compartments while leaving a limited air passage section between the adjacent compartments.

Abstract: A drum for an image recording apparatus for absorbing and winding a recording material for the purpose of recording the image of 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: A sheet conveying apparatus uses spaced, serially arranged suction chambers to provide suction to overrunning conveying belts. The belts are divergent with respect to each other in the direction of sheet transport to effect a lateral stretching of the conveyed sheets. The conveying belts are slidably supported on an upper surface of the conveying table and may have their speeds individually varied.

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: A printing assembly having a guiding and driving system for moving an article past ink emission nozzles. A detecting device detects the movement of the article through the assembly and based on that detection triggers emission of ink by the nozzles. Compressed air jets are forced toward the article, creating suction due to the Bernoulli effect which effectively maintains the article a set distance from the nozzles.

Abstract: An improved recirculating document feeder for presenting sheets from a document sheet stack individually to a station of the reproduction apparatus for reproducing of information contained on such sheets. The improved recirculating document feeder comprises a housing containing a support for a document sheet stack. A feed path extends away from and then back to the document stack support, for directing sheets from the support into association with the reproducing station and then back to the stack. Document sheets are selectively fed from the stack seriatim about the feed path. The feed for the document sheets includes a transport assembly overlying at least a portion of the reproduction apparatus station.

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 vacuum drum is located in close proximity to the lowermost flat workpiece in a stack of workpieces in a hopper for applying a suction to remove the bottommost workpieces one at a time from the hopper for passing on to a conveyor to a printing press. The drum is mounted on a reciprocably rotatable hollow-cored shaft for reciprocable rotation therewith and has multiple sets of vacuum outlets which can be selectively positioned in vacuum communication with the hollow bore of the shaft for feeding vacuum from the shaft bore to a selected one of the multiple sets of vacuum outlets so that the drum can be used for a variety of workpieces.

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: A mechanism for shuttering of vacuum ports of a vacuum platen transport (VPT) plenum in correspondence with the size of the documents being transported from the document tray of a recirculating document handler. The shuttering mechanism is coupled to a movable side guide of the document tray and includes a flexible coiled tape mounted with respect to the vacuum plenum of the VPT and movable side guide of the document tray such that movement of the side causes the tape to seal off vacuum slots within the plenum that are not located beneath documents.

Abstract: A device for gripping and decollating a bottom blank comprises a rotary shaft with a flat outer peripheral portion. Suction orifices in the shaft extend through the flat surface portion and communicate with suction cups carried by the shaft. Free outer edges of the suction cups contact the bottom blank, whereupon the application of suction causes the suction cups to contract. The suction orifices include enlarged outer portions for receiving the contracted suction cups such that the bottom blank is pulled flush against the flat surface portion of the shaft for a more effective application of suction forces.

Abstract: Signature loader comprising a telescopically related main floor-mounted frame and a smaller auxiliary frame, first and second horizontal rotatable shafts between the frames spaced apart by a predetermined distance and so positioned that infeed belts thereon converge to define between them a signature infeed throat, one of said shafts being a pivot about which the auxiliary frame may be pivoted so the throat may be selectively positioned in one of two alternate attitudes.

Abstract: A disengageable coupling generally of the double slider type includes first and third components fixed to the end of shafts to be coupled. A second spider component is slidingly coupled to the first component by interlocking mating surfaces that permit limited radial sliding but prevent axial movement of the spider component. The spider component and third component have disengageable clutch surfaces which also permit radial movement of the spider component with respect to the third component.

Abstract: Cyclically operable signature machine having a one-way drive to incrementally advance a signature infeeding conveyor synchronously to the action of an oscillating suction finger for withdrawing a signature from a stack in a hopper; in a cycle where a signature is not to be fed, the suction finger is latched and simultaneously the one-way drive is disabled to prevent the stack from being compacted.

Abstract: A copy sheet feeding system for use in a printing, copying, duplicating and like machine includes a conveyor board for moving copy sheets thereover in seriatim fashion. A vacuum chamber extends lengthwise of the conveyor board, with openings extending longitudinally of the conveyor board and communicating with the vacuum chamber. An access mechanism is movable relative to the vacuum chamber and openings to effectivly expose the openings progressively in the direction of movement of the copy sheets. This effectively provides a moving vacuum device which moves with the copy sheets as the sheets move over the conveyor board.

Abstract: A sheet such as a stimulable phosphor sheet or a photographic film is fed in an auxiliary scanning direction by a sheet feed mechanism while the sheet is being scanned by a one-dimensionally deflected light beam along a main scanning line in a main scanning direction substantially perpendicular to the auxiliary scanning direction. The feed mechanism has an auxiliary scanning feed belt having a plurality of holes, a first suction chamber positioned upstream of the main scanning line with respect to the auxiliary scanning direction, a second suction chamber positioned downstream of the main scanning line with respect to the auxiliary scanning direction, and first and second valve bodies communicating with the first and second suction chambers, respectively. The sheet is attracted to the feed belt under an attractive force developed by only the first suction chamber while the sheet is being fed in the auxiliary scanning direction.

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: Labeling machine of the stack fed type in which the labels are precut and arranged vertically in a horizontal stack. Pressure is applied to the rear of the stack to move the stack forwardly as the labels are dispensed to a label transfer mechanism such as a vacuum drum. Air is blown into the stack from the bottom at the forward end of the stack to separate the foremost label, which is picked up from the stack by a rotating vacuum wheel.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading a sheet-shaped material comprises a sheet holding device capable of holding a sheet-shaped material at a predetermined position on an inwardly concave curved surface, and a sheet conveyor provided at an end portion of the sheet holding device for grasping the sheet-shaped material and conveying it to the predetermined position along the curved surface of the sheet holding device. A claw is connected with an urging member, and projected to a position on the curved surface at which a leading edge of the sheet-shaped material conveyed by the sheet conveyor contacts the claw. The claw is moveable on the curved surface against urging force of the urging member as the leading edge of the sheet-shaped material contacts the claw.

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: An automatic or semi-automatic document feeder (12) for conveying documents sheets (17) into and away from an imaging position (18) on a platen (14) of a copier, incorporating a plurality of spaced-apart belts (30) moving between a white backing surface (26) and the platen. A vacuum source applies a partial vacuum to the inter-belt gaps (32) to hold a document sheet against the belts so that the document is conveyed with the movement of the belts. A major portion of the backing surface (26) lies in a datum plane. Discrete protrusions (56) which extend above the datum plane are formed integrally on the backing surface in pairs or rows, against which the belts ride to hold the belts in spaced relation to the datum plane. The spaces (57) between the protrusions provide openings so that a partial vacuum applied beneath the belts may extend into the inter-belt gaps.

Abstract: The apparatus serves for a slipless conveyance of two coextensive parallel plates, which are in register and transversely spaced apart and supported on those broadsides which are remote from each other in respective planes of travel. The apparatus comprises at least two vacuum-applying conveyors, which are adapted to be driven in synchronism in a direction of travel and extend parallel to each other and are disposed opposite to each other and transversely spaced apart and are adapted to contact said plates on those broadsides which are remote from each other and to convey said plates in said direction of travel.

Abstract: A sheet transfer drum for a recto and verso printing press having a two-piece section device, each piece being mounted on a diagonal slide, the slides being angled in opposite directions, so that the two pieces hold the two corners of the trailing edge of the sheet and stretch the corners in opposite axial directions as well as the circumferential direction of the sheet transfer drum. The stretching of the sheet is synchronized to the rotation of the transfer drum and effected by a control cam cooperating with a cam fixed to the printing press frame. The suction of the suction device is synchronized to rotation of the transfer drum by a commuting air connection between the suction device and a source of suction external to the press frame. The suction device is also adjustably mounted to the shaft of the transfer drum so that sheets of various length may be stretched.

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: An applicator for applying patches to a traveling web, such as in a bag forming machine, includes a vacuum cylinder with an outer perforated sleeve, an inner slotted sleeve and a stationary core with shaped pressure chambers for applying patches cut from a roll to the traveling web. Cutting blades are included in the perforate outer sleeve to sever patch material from a roll as the vacuum cylinder rotates. The outer perforate sleeve is replaceable with sleeves of different outside diameters to accommodate different patch locations.

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: A plastic film handling apparatus includes an air table formed by a box having a surface crossed by a conveyor, in the form of endless belts surrounding the box, in which a multiplicity of individual air chambers is provided. Each of the individual chambers is selectively pressurized (negative or positive) by selective coupling of the chambers with a blower through a manifold chamber. Openings through the surface couple each chamber with an overlying plastic film. A second blower and manifold chamber, selectively coupled with the individual chambers, is provided so that at least two air pressure levels, different from atmospheric and one another, can be generated. The air manifold chambers are isolated from one another adjoining each of the individual air chambers and are selectively coupled with individual chambers by the removable gates therebetween or by the setting of other conventional settable air couplings between the individual chambers and each manifold chamber.

Abstract: A machine for receiving a handle strip from a dispenser, rotating the strip to align it with a predetermined location on a moving carton blank, and applying the strip to the blank. A vacuum head for gripping the strips is carried by an arm mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis extending transversely of the moving blanks. The vacuum head is rotated through rotation of a pinion, which itself is rotated by a reciprocating rack. A cam follower mounted in a stationary cam causes the rack to reciprocate, thereby postively moving the rack in both directions.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a vacuum channel (15), and two parallel endless belts (3), which extend on opposite sides of said vacuum channel. The working courses (3a) of said belts have forward surfaces which extend substantially in a common plane (6). The belts (3) are synchronously driven in the same direction. The vacuum channel is provided on the forward side of an elongate carrier (1) and communicates through at least one suction port (21) with a vacuum source. The working course (3a) of each of said belts (3) is in contact on the rear with backing rollers (14).

Abstract: A controlled paper transport arrangement utilizes a flexible belt which attracts the paper to its surface by the application of a reduced air pressure on the other side. In a preferred embodiment, the belt operates in a continuous loop and in combination with a vacuum feed roller, the belt and the vacuum feed roller being arranged on respective sides of a print strike bar. The presence of the paper against the flexible belt causes trip valves to change state such that the full force of the air pressure differential between the ambient air and the reduced air pressure, on either side of the flexible belt, is applied only in the vicinity of the paper to be printed. In some embodiments, the vacuum feed roller is sectored so that the reduced air pressure is applied only in the region which communicates with the paper to be printed. The flexible belt and its associated assembly is tiltable about its vacuum supply inlet for achieving compact storage and for delivering printed sheets to a storage bin.

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: The invention provides that a vacuum drum with rows of vacuum ports over its surface is used to transport self adhesive labels from a first location at which the labels are applied (adhesive surface outwards) to the drum to a second location at which the labels are detached from the drum. The labels are held to the drum during the transport by applying vacuum to the ports until the label reaches the second location, when the first and second rows of ports at the leading edge of the label are applied with air under pressure, the pressure of the air supplied to the second row of ports being less than that supplied to the first row and slightly in advance in the time sequence, so that the edge of the label is slightly inwardly of the adjacent label extremity, initially lifted from the drum and then the extremity is blown sharply away from the drum providing effective, positive and reliable detachment of the labels from the drum.

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

Abstract: A 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: Sheet transfer drum located between two printing units of a multicolor sheet-fed rotary printing press and having a cylindrical surface formed of a plurality of sheet-carrying elements arranged in succession around the circumference of the drum, including a suction means applicable to the trailing edge of a sheet of paper to be printed, mountings located at ends of the sheet transfer drum for carrying the sheet to be printed, each of the end mountings being formed by a respective guide channel oriented in circumferential direction of the sheet transfer drum, the guide channel having a radially outer portion and a radially farther inward portion, at least the outer of the radial portions being substantially equal in length to a maximum format of the sheet.

Abstract: A laundry feeding machine features a conveyor moving through a suction induction tunnel. Articles are held at their upper edges by an automatically releasing clamp to hang in front of the induction tunnel. Upon release of the clamp, a valving system is immediately actuated to apply suction to suck the article in to lie flat on the conveyor to be transported thereby. In one version of the invention, a nip roller based at the outlet of the system engages the leading edge of each article as it passes through, whereupon the valving system is actuated to suck the remainder of the article into a suction chamber having a smoothing blade at the entrance port thereof, so that as the article is drawn out of the suction chamber by the nip roller, a smoothing action occurs. A system of computer-controlled valve actuators responsive to properly laced photosensors governs all valving operations automatically.

Abstract: The device comprises a glue roller which picks up adhesive from a tray or tank, a scraper that wipes the glue roller, leaving the adhesive at prescribed points only, and a contact roller which takes sheets of wrapping material through an area where adhesive is applied to them. The contact roller is disposed about an axis parallel to the axis of the glue roller through positioned downstream thereof in the direction of movement of the sheets, such that a guide may be located beneath the contact roller adjacent to the cladding of the roller, designed to afford support to sheets carried by the contact roller and existing from the area where the adhesive is applied.