Abstract: An ink jet printer includes a rotatable support for supporting a sheet of paper. The support defines an interior vacuum chamber and a plurality of vacuum openings in the surface thereof which communicate with the vacuum chamber. A rotary drive rotates the support and a vacuum source is provided for partially evacuating the vacuum chamber. A paper supply adjacent the rotatable support, loads a sheet of paper onto the rotatable support. An ink jet print head is mounted adjacent the rotatable support for printing on a sheet of paper supported thereon. A sheet diverter is positioned adjacent the rotatable support between the ink jet print head and the paper supply for stripping sheets of paper from the rotatable support when the sheets are not firmly supported thereon. A paper sensor is mounted adjacent the rotatable support, intermediate the sheet diverter and the ink jet print head, for inhibiting operation of the ink jet print head when a sheet of paper is diverted by the paper diverter.

Abstract: Apparatus for moving discrete sheets along a first path has a rotary hollow cylindrical foraminous barrel which is located below a portion of the first path and is adjacent to the inlet of a second path along which selected sheets move when a chamber which is rotatable relative to and is located in the interior of the barrel is connected with a suction generating device. The chamber reaches the first path at the inlet of the second path together with the leaders of successive sheets and can be connected with the suction generating device by a solenoid-operated valve which is actuated by a switch which, in turn, is actuated by an adjustable cam on the rotary core which defines the chamber. When the chamber is sealed from the suction generating device, it is connected with a source of slightly compressed air so that streamlets of air which issue from the barrel compel successive sheets to remain in the first path.

Abstract: This specification discloses an automatic original handling device for use with a copying apparatus and for automatically placing an original to be copied at a predetermined position on the original carriage surface of the copying apparatus. The original conveyor means of the device is provided with registration means for pushing the trailing end of the original to register the trailing end to a predetermined position on the conveyor means or provided with the registration means and restraining means for stopping the original moved by the registration means to register the leading end of the original at a predetermined position, thus registering the trailing end or the leading end of the original at the predetermined position, whereafter the original is conveyed over a predetermined distance and placed at a proper position on the original carriage surface.

Abstract: A labeling station has a rotating gripper cylinder having gripper elements equally spaced therearound to define label divisions and a carrier rotating in the same sense bearing pickup elements thereon mounted for either rotary or rocking movement in a contrary sense with respect to the carrier during the label transfer. The movement is controlled such that the receiving surfaces of the pickup elements roll at least in the forward area against the gripper cylinder surface when the gripper cylinder rotates. The arc length of the receiving surface of each pickup element is greater than the arc length of each label division of the gripper cylinder and the trailing portion of each label is lifted by at least one of the slip surfaces on the front edges of the pickup elements and blow nozzles associated with the gripper elements on the gripper cylinder.

Abstract: Multiple size plate registration system having a platen with a top planar surface. Channels are formed in the platen and open through the top planar surface. Parallel grooves are formed in the platen spaced transversely of the platen, extending longitudinally of the platen and opening through the top planar surface. Endless belts travel in the grooves and are used for advancing a plate onto the planar surface of the platen. First and second stop pins are mounted in the platen and are extendable above the top planar surface. Controls are provided for causing the stop pins to be selectably movable between retracted positions below the top planar surface and extended positions above the top planar surface. A guide is carried by the top surface of the platen and extends longitudinally of the platen on one side of the planar surface.

Abstract: A low inertia rotary drum supports sheets of paper of different sizes for transport and processing. The drum has a plurality of leading edge ports formed in its surface along the length of the drum. A vacuum is selectively applied to one or more of the ports in accordance with the dimension of the paper in the direction of the length of the drum. The drum has a plurality of sets of trailing edge ports formed in its surface with each of the sets being disposed a predetermined arcuate distance from the set of leading edge ports in accordance with the other dimension of the paper. Each set of trailing edge ports has the ports arranged longitudinally along the drum and parallel to the set of leading edge ports. Only one set of trailing edge ports extends for the same length as the set of the leading edge ports. One of the sets of the trailing edge ports has a vacuum applied thereto with the same number of ports of the trailing edge set having the vacuum applied thereto as the number of the leading edge ports.

Abstract: The sheet loading device for supplying a sheet of material from a sheet supply station to any of a plurality of sheet supporting rotatable drums includes an endless belt continuously moving past the sheet supply station and the rotatable drums. A rotatable belt deflecting roller is mounted adjacent each of the drums. A sheet supply arrangement urges a sheet at the supply station into engagement with the belt such that the sheet is carried by the belt toward the drums. One of the belt deflecting rollers is translated toward its respective sheet supporting drum such that the belt is deflected to wrap partially around the drum, whereby the sheet carried by the belt will be loaded onto the drum.

Abstract: A paper web is maintained on a rotating apertured drum by means of a vacuum created inside of the drum. The paper length is slightly greater than the circumference of the drum thereby providing a tangentially projecting flap which is detected by a flap sensor. The concurrance of a pulse from the flap sensor with an end of message signal enables a counter. A first series of selected states of the counter are decoded and used to interrupt the vacuum causing the paper to come to rest against a shroud surrounding the drum. A second series of counter states, some of which coincide with the first series, open a discharge door covering a paper discharge opening in the shroud. When the vacuum is reapplied to the drum, upon expiration of the first series of counter states, the rotating drum boosts the paper out through the discharge opening.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing dust from dielectric receptor sheets which are about to be introduced into an ionography imaging chamber for exposure to object-modulated X-rays or for developing latent images on such sheets has a drum which rotates about a horizontal axis and has a first section of larger radius which is shorter than a sheet and a second section of smaller radius which is longer than a sheet. Both sections have suction ports and grooves which can attract sheets to their external surfaces. A sheet which adheres to the external surface of the second section bypasses the upper level of a supply of developing liquid in a tank which is located below the drum and is relieved of dust or other foreign matter by a corona discharge device which is operative when the second section carries a sheet.

Abstract: A gripper drum having in the peripheral surface thereof a number of apertures aligned in rows running parallel to the rotational axis of the drum, the rows defining an active suction zone. Each row of apertures is connected to a duct located below the surface of the drum and each duct is connected by a conduit to a bore in a stationary part of the drum, the bore being connected to a source of suction so that as the drum rotates about the inner stationary part suction is applied to the apertures. Pistons, one for each duct, are mounted on a plate which can be moved to insert the pistons into one end of each duct respectively, the opposite ends of the ducts being closed thereby sealing off the apertures from the suction source and altering the width of the active suction zone on the periphery of the drum. The conduits are connected to positions on the ducts progressively remote from the ends into which the pistons are inserted.

Abstract: Sheet sensing device in a rotary printing press having a sheet transferring drum provided at respective regions thereof with gripping means for gripping the leading and trailing edges of a sheet being transferred, includes sensing nozzles disposed in the region of the gripping means for gripping the trailing edge of a sheet, a line system connecting the sensing nozzles to a pneumatic pressure-generating source, and pressure monitoring means connected in the line system between the sensing nozzles and the pneumatic pressure-generating source.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling facing sheets for application to pressed board and other laminate stacks adapted to be bonded together comprises a feed device for causing engagement of the uppermost sheet of a pile of facing sheets with a pick-up device of a drum which destacks the sheets individually and advances them to an assembling table at which the laminate stack is formed. The drum is associated with a reversible drive for enabling the trailing end of the sheet to pass a discharge point, whereupon reversal of the direction of rotation of the drum feeds the sheet with its trailing end foremost to the laminate stack thereby enabling the facing sheets to be applied alternately with their top faces turned upwardly or downwardly.

Abstract: A suction conveying device which has a belt conveyor and at least one vacuum chamber extending parallel to the conveyor belt characterized by an obturator engaging an upper surface of the vacuum chamber to close the opening therein when a blank is not engaged thereon. The obturator is preferably a resilient sheet of spring steel which is lifted from a position closing the openings by the movement of a blank across the opening.

Abstract: A system for presenting documents to a slit-scan xerographic exposure station includes a fluidic storage station having a housing in which a rack for storing documents is located. The rack includes a plurality of pockets in each of which a document may be stored, the rack being movable in a vertical direction so that any one of its pockets may be aligned with an opening in the housing. A fluid stream is used to move a document in a pocket aligned with the opening out of the storage apparatus and into engagement with transport apparatus. The transport apparatus includes a vacuum document drum which moves a document past the exposure station and, in one mode of operation, inverts the document prior to its return to a pocket at the station. In another mode of operation, the direction of travel of the drum is reversed after the document has been exposed and the document is returned without inversion.

Abstract: A feed drum assembly for feeding sheets in succession to the impression cylinder of a lithographic printing press which includes a cylindrical mantle having an axially and circumferentially distributed array of spacers which are spaced radially outward from the surface of the mantle at a constant spacing to define a support for the sheet as it makes a partial turn about the drum. An axially extensive nozzle directs air at high velocity in a direction chordwise of the drum and into the region between the sheet and the mantle. The change in direction of the air as it strikes and tends to follow the curved surface of the mantle creates an inward suction upon the sheet to draw the sheet against the spacers and thereby prevent fluttering as the sheet is transported at high speed. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the spacers are in the form of small, individually rotatable rollers smoothly surfaces with ink repellent synthetic material.

Abstract: An improved form of vacuum-operated printing cylinder for a printing press, providing a practical means for holding the printing plate on the cylinder by vacuum alone. The cylinder comprises a hollow supporting shaft forming a pre-evacuation chamber. A plurality of axially spaced support rings are secured to the shaft and support a hollow cylinder sleeve. The cylinder sleeve, support rings and shaft form a hollow printing cylinder structure having a plurality of vacuum chambers. Each of the vacuum chambers is provided with independently valved air passage means for communication between the chamber and the pre-evacuation chamber. The cylinder sleeve is provided with a plurality of appropriately distributed radial passages for vacuum communication between the vacuum chambers and the exterior surface of the printing cylinder. The pre-evacuation chamber is connected by piping to a vacuum source and kept evacuated.

Abstract: A labeling machine of the kind wherein labels are removed one at a time from a stack of labels by a rotating picker provided with axially spaced annular picking surfaces disposed for rotation about an axis parallel to the endmost label in the stack at a distance therefrom such that the annular picking surfaces of the picker are tangent to the plane of the endmost label. The annular picking surfaces contain diametrically disposed slots which are connected to a vacuum as they are moved into engagement with the endmost label and thereafter at a predetermined place in the further rotation of the picker are disconnected to release the label characterized in that there is a needle fixed in each slot with its pointed end flush with the annular picking surface of the picker and with which the portion of the label crossing the slot is held engaged during the period the picker is taking hold of the label and releasing it.

Abstract: A length of face sealing valve stock is formed into individual face sealing valves and applied to end closures of pressurized dispensers. The stock advances in steps by a feed dog in vent slots in the tape. The tape is held against advancement by an index dog at all other times. Lost motion in the feed dog drive accommodates the drive to tape arrest and permits shutdown and startup at a known, predetermined position in a cycle. A head carries a punch and shear blade which form vent slots and cut the tape to valve length during the time that the tape is stopped. Tape is sheared to valve length at an index wheel which holds the tape by vacuum during shear and successive 90.degree. transports for solvent activation of adhesive and transfer from the wheel by bonding the activated adhesive to an end closure. A proximator forces an end closure into contact with a valve during transfer.

Abstract: Improved document handling for a xerographic copier with automatic feeding onto, and ejection of documents from, a full size conventional document copying platen is provided by a vacuum belt system in a platen cover unit. The document support surface of the vacuum belt is spaced slightly above the platen for low friction document movement, yet maintained within copying focus. This document support and background surface of the belt is smooth, planar and continuous and stationary during copying so as to provide document flattening and allow document copying on the platen by the conventional stationary document copying optics. Book copying or manual copying can be provided on the same platen by pivotal removal of the platen cover unit away from the platen. A document pre-registration and skew-correction system is disclosed in which over-platen registration is not required. A pivotal system is also disclosed for limited lifting of the vacuum belt system for document ejection assistance.

Abstract: A sheet transfer device of a printing press includes a plurality of conveyor belts of relatively narrow cross section compared to the width of a sheet being transferred thereby, and an elongated suction chamber formed with an elongated orifice extending in the direction of sheet transfer. Sealing beads formed at each end of the orifice cooperate with the belts at each side of the orifice to form a sealing extension of the elongated orifice.

Abstract: In a label applicating apparatus a self-contained vacuum generating means is incorporated in the applicator drum so that a partial vacuum may be established at a predetermined peripheral portion of the drum in response to the rotation of said drum. The generated partial vacuum is maintained for a predetermined portion of each cyclically rotary movement of the drum.

Abstract: A first and a second printing roller are provided, each of which prints a different side of a sheet. A transfer roller is located between these printing rollers and forms tangent points with the same.

Abstract: A sheet-fed rotary printing press includes a transfer drum assembly includes a rotatable transfer drum having a sheet-supporting peripheral surface, a gripper device carried by the transfer drum for gripping the leading edge portion of a sheet being transferred, and a suction device secured to the transfer drum at the end of the peripheral sheet-supporting surface, as viewed in rotary direction of the transfer drum, for gripping the trailing edge portion of the sheet. The suction device includes a plurality of suckers having suction surfaces disposed in the peripheral surface of the transfer drum and formed with respective suction orifices.

Abstract: A system for automatically fixing information bearing labels to randomly delivered articles includes: a transport for the articles; a sensor for detecting the articles as they are moved by the transport; a label source for providing labels when articles are detected; and a label transfer wheel driven at a uniform rate for fixing labels from the source to the articles. The label transfer wheel has a cylindrical surface, a stationary chamber communicating with a vacuum source, and a plurality of holes on the surface which periodically communicate with the chamber to pneumatically hold labels as they are transferred from the label source to the articles.

Abstract: A labeling system for automatically fixing information bearing labels to articles includes: a conveyor belt; means for placing articles on the conveyor belt at a variable periodic rate; a source of labels providing labels at said periodic rate; and a label transfer wheel, coupled to the drive source, for fixing each of the labels from the source to a different one of the articles. The label transfer wheel has a cylindrical surface, a stationary chamber communicating with a vacuum source, and a plurality of holes on the surface which periodically communicate with the chamber to pneumatically hold labels as they are transferred from the label source to the articles.

Abstract: Sheet guiding cylinder for printing machines formed with a cylinder channel and having a clamping device disposed in the channel for gripping a sheet that is to be imprinted, the cylinder having a rotary axis and being rotatable in a given rotary direction, and includes a cylinder casing whereon a sheet to be imprinted is supportable, a plurality of rows of nozzles connectible to pressurized air-producing means, the rows of nozzles being disposed in the cylinder casing and extending parallel to the cylinder axis, and a plurality of peripheral flow channels formed at the outer surface of the cylinder casing and being at least partly coverable by the sheet to be imprinted, the nozzles of the rows of nozzles communicating respectively with the flow channels, the flow channels being disposed substantially parallel to the cylinder axis and having a cross section increasing with increasing distance from the nozzles in a peripheral direction opposite to the given rotary direction of the cylinder.

Abstract: An improved document feeding system includes a flat perforated vacuum transport belt mounted to move one surface thereof across a scanning station, and a perforated document support plate for accurately placing a document on the belt. The plate is supported in a drawer, and the corner of the drawer and registration fingers serve to position the document on the support plate. After a document is positioned on the support plate, the drawer is slid to a position opposite the one surface of the belt, and then the support plate with the document thereon is moved to a position immediately adjacent that surface to position the document on the belt where the document is held via vacuum. The plate is then retracted into the drawer, and the belt with the document thereon is moved across the scanning station.

Abstract: A label transfer wheel includes a cylindrical structure having an annular cavity extending into a side thereof; an axially extending hole engageable by a rotary drive; and two circular series of holes, each hole extending radially from the cylindrical surface of the structure to a cylindrical surface bounding the cavity. A plate rotatably coupled to the structure generally covers the cavity and includes a port adapted for connection to a vacuum source. The plate is coupled to a pair of devices located within the cavity, each of the devices having a polyurethane foam seal which is in abutment with the bottom boundary of the cavity and a section of the cylindrical surface bounding the cavity to provide, in combination with the plate, a fluid tight chamber coupling the port to arcuate sets of holes of the series of holes. The devices are movable with respect to each other to permit varying the size of the chamber and the number of holes communicating therewith.

Abstract: A photocopying machine which includes a band conveyor for transporting sheet material through the machine, the conveyor including end drums supporting a band of seamless and endless perforated metal with its upper run disposed over a suction chamber.

Abstract: A sheet feeding table has pull-type side lays and front lays. Mounted beneath the feeding table and nearer the front lays are suction drums spaced apart and rotated by a transversely extending drive shaft on which they are mounted. The shaft is driven through toothed wheels having relative axial movement with respect to each other. A cam plate rotates with the shaft and a pair of fixedly mounted rollers guide the cam plate and impart reciprocating motion to the shaft and the suction drums. The lateral shifting of the suction drums clears the sheet from the pull-type side lay for the successive sheet. Each drum has a suction piece sealed and biasedly positioned adjacent a portion of the inside peripheral surface of the drum which rotates thereby and brings the drum suction holes into communication with the suction chamber within the suction piece. The suction chamber is in communication with a vacuum supply and a control valve is interposed in the supply.

Abstract: An apparatus for advancing a sheet of material comprises a rotary member having a longitudinal axis about which it is rotated and having projecting helical propelling ridges. Equipment is provided for biasing the sheet of material to be transported towards the rotary member by drawing air through apertures at the projecting ridges. The rotary member advances the sheet of material essentially in parallel to the longitudinal axis.